Client Manager (paraplanner)

Job content

Equilibrium are an award winning Chartered Financial Planning company based in Handforth, Cheshire. Officially one of the top 10 companies to work for in the Best Companies Top 100 List 2021 and the number 1 Best financial Services Company to work for in the country. We oversee more than £1 billion worth of assets.

We provide a positive and collaborative environment for all team members to ensure we achieve everyone’s full potential.

Since 1995, we have been providing friendly expertise on wealth and investment management, pensions and estate planning strategies. Going beyond just providing advice on investments, we develop long-term financial plans for clients, making a positive difference to people so that clients can live the life they want, look after the ones they love and leave a legacy.

Our purpose is a simple one: making people’s lives better. That applies to our team, our clients, our community and anyone that we interact with.

We believe we offer a different role to a traditional paraplanner. Within the role you will support our Financial Planners whilst having day to day responsibility for a bank of clients and will be expected to proactively manage and build relationships with the client, whilst providing support and planning for key areas of the planning process including:

• Tax planning: ISA and pension contributions, CGT planning and tax wrapper selection
• Estate planning: inheritance tax mitigation and trust planning
• Intergenerational planning: facilitating the smooth transfer of client’s wealth
• Ongoing portfolio reviews: review portfolio’s to assess tax position and analyse portfolio returns.

To achieve this, our new Client Manager will:

• Maintain an ongoing relationship with the clients, keeping them informed, answering queries and arranging review meetings
• Attend client meetings alongside the Financial Planner and create meeting minutes which accurately reflect the information gathered in order to fully document a client’s financial needs and objectives
• Work alongside the Financial Planner following meetings to discuss the client’s circumstances and be involved in creating and implementing a financial strategy to meet the client’s financial objectives and circumstances.
• Carry out research and analyse products and services that are appropriate to each client’s financial circumstances then discussing appropriate solutions with the Financial Planner
• Prepare clear investment strategy, mandate, and recommendation reports, ensuring adherence with regulatory standards for review by the Financial Planner
• Complete quarterly reviews of clients’ portfolios to support the ongoing client relationship, including maintaining a client file review system to regularly assess client holdings and changing financial priorities
• Effectively use research and planning systems such as Analytics, O&M, Voyant, Curo and Volume and wrap platforms such as Nucleus and 7IM.
• Be responsible for ensuring that recommendations are fully implemented in a timely manner
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the industry, compliance and regulatory developments
• Develop productive working relationships with colleagues and clients throughout the financial services environment, both within and outside of Equilibrium

The person we need to take on this role will:

• Have a high attention to detail & accuracy
• Have the ability to manage time and organise effectively
• Have excellent people, interpersonal and listening skills
• Be able to write reports, with ability to explain financial terminology in plain English
• Be motivated with a ‘batteries included’ attitude
• Be comfortable in a fast paced environment
• Be committed to providing excellence to our clients and colleagues
• In line with our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Growth and Simplicity
• Be authentic and real, we don’t want any phoneys
• Ideally have experience within a similar role

In an ideal world you would have achieved:

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning

CII Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning (Chartered Financial Planner)

Institute of Financial Planning Certified Financial Planner

CM Certification or Fellowship Certificate in Discretionary Management

So why join us?

At Equilibrium, the pace is fast. Our team thrives off the dynamic environment and we easily adapt quickly to changes. Our hard-working, fast paced, friendly team have fostered a healthy working environment that aims to bring out the best in everyone that works here.

In return for all this excellence we reward our team members with a highly competitive salary along with a fantastic benefits package such as discretionary bonus/profitshare, contributory pension, life assurance (4 x salary) and income protection. We also offer private medical insurance after 2 years of service.

We have a flexible working framework which gives our team the opportunity to spend some of their working week outside of the office and the freedom to work at a time that suits them where possible.

Everyone on the team has access to Perkbox which gives plenty of rewards and discounts for high street shops, cinema tickets, 24/7 access to a GP online and lots more. We also offer gym discounts and a cycle to work scheme.

We recognise the importance of mental health as well as physical health and have recently added a Headspace subscription as an option to our teams benefits, alongside group meditation and yoga. We also offer financial support for private counselling sessions for everyone in the team should they wish to talk to someone.

We provide a complimentary breakfast to all staff in the office every day, and offer a very generous holiday entitlement of 33 days plus bank holidays, rising to a maximum of 38 days, linked with length of service.

Our Spirit Team organise regular team socials and events, including our annual end of year party and the addition of a Summer Fete this year!

To support our team’s growth and development, we cover the cost of study materials and exam fees for qualifications relevant to the role, as well as the option to take paid study and exam leave.

And if all that wasn’t enough, we even celebrate National Pizza Day!