Reference Number: HRJ7829
Location: Sacramento, California (Remote) Mountain or Pacific Time Zones Only

Judson Group has been retained by a highly respected, fee-only, independently owned Registered Investment Advisor with over $1.8B in AUM to identify an Associate Financial Advisor to help support and grow existing client relationships.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a collaborative, client-first firm that serves HNW and UHNW families through a truly holistic approach—integrating financial planning, investment management, and tax-aware strategies. The firm is known for its thoughtful culture, evidence-based investment philosophy, and commitment to developing future advisors.

The firm’s Investment Committee includes the thought leaders who literally wrote the books on passive investing—Burton Malkiel (A Random Walk Down Wall Street), Charles Ellis (Winning the Loser’s Game and former chair of Yale’s Investment Committee), Jay Vivian (retired CIO of IBM Retirement Fund), and Kristi Craig (CIO of National Geographic Society). They invest 100% of client assets in low-cost index funds using sophisticated, tax-efficient strategies guided by decades of academic research—not market predictions or active trading. Combined with comprehensive financial planning delivered by CFP professionals, they help clients Live Well and Retire With More at fees well below traditional wealth managers.

The Associate Financial Advisor is a hands-on, growth-oriented support role designed to provide leverage to Senior VP Financial Advisors. You’ll focus on the technical, analytical, and planning work that allows senior advisors to spend more time in high-value client conversations—while you rapidly deepen your expertise and client exposure. Over time, you’ll transition from learning and supporting to directly managing a portfolio of smaller-balance clients, with ongoing guidance and oversight from senior advisors. This role is ideal for someone who loves financial planning, enjoys digging into details, and wants a clear runway toward becoming a lead advisor.

Why You’ll Love This Role:

• Sit in on real client meetings, work closely with senior advisors, and gain deep exposure to complex planning for HNW and UHNW clients.
• This role is intentionally designed to evolve—moving from support to client ownership as your skills and confidence grow.
• Gain experience with sophisticated, appreciative clients and meaningful financial challenges.
• Learn from seasoned advisors who are invested in your development and success.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Support Senior VP Financial Advisors by attending client meetings and executing follow-up items (sending documents, updating records, coordinating with third parties).
• Proactively identify opportunities to create leverage for senior advisors (meeting prep, agenda creation, drafting client communications, researching planning topics).
• Build and maintain comprehensive financial plans in eMoney (EMX), including retirement projections, cash flow analysis, and goal-based planning.
• Deliver high-quality, accurate financial plans with minimal revisions.
• Complete Holistiplan training and become proficient in tax analysis.
• Identify tax-planning opportunities (e.g., Roth conversions, tax-efficient strategies).
• Actively seek feedback and demonstrate continuous improvement in technical knowledge and client service skills.
• Gradually assume responsibility for a book of smaller-balance clients within your first year.

Competencies:

These are the specific skills, behaviors, and qualities required for success in this role:

Technical Skills

• Financial Planning Proficiency: CFP certification or will complete CFP within 18 months of hire. Demonstrated ability to build financial plans using e-Money or similar software.
• Investment Knowledge: Strong understanding of modern portfolio theory, asset allocation, and passive investing principles. Ability to explain index fund strategies, global diversification, and rebalancing in accessible terms.
• Technology Competence: Highly comfortable with cloud-based systems and virtual collaboration tools. Proficient in Excel, CRM platforms, and financial planning software. Quick to learn proprietary systems.
• Analytical Ability: Draws insightful conclusions from financial information. Exhibits a probing mind when analyzing client situations.

Client Relationship Skills

• Trust Building: Earns trust quickly and maintains confidences absolutely. Speaks plainly and truthfully even when delivering difficult messages. Develops credibility beyond years of experience.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and concisely. Translates complex financial concepts into accessible language for ‘highly intelligent laypeople.’
• Empathy & Listening: Genuinely understands client concerns and life circumstances. Active listener who seeks to understand viewpoints before responding. Patient and empathetic in addressing client anxieties about money and retirement.
• Advisory Presence: Demonstrates competence and confidence that establishes credibility with clients in the $500K-$2M net worth range. Upbeat, enthusiastic, and genuinely wants to create ‘life-changing financial advice.’

Cultural Fit & Work Approach

• Collaborative Spirit: Reaches out to peers and senior advisors proactively. Establishes collaborative working relationships. Genuine, nice, and respectful of others.
• Remote Work Excellence: Highly productive in work-from-home/remote environment. Self-directed and disciplined with excellent time management. Maintains responsiveness and availability to clients and team.
• Resourcefulness: Scrappy and able to work with fewer resources than larger firms. Uses common sense in problem-solving and finds creative solutions.
• Growth Mindset: Actively solicits feedback and reacts calmly to criticism. Learns quickly and demonstrates ability to absorb and apply new information. Keeps ego in check.
• Client & Firm Protection: Protective of both the firm’s reputation and clients’ best interests. Operates with highest ethical standards.
• Sense of Urgency: Responds promptly to client and internal requests. Able to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining quality.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• CFP® certification or actively pursuing (must be completed within 18 months).
• Series 65 (or Series 7 + 66).
• 2–5 years of experience in financial planning or investment management.
• Experience working with or exposure to clients with $500K–$2M in net worth.
• Experience with financial planning software; eMoney preferred.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a proactive mindset.
• Desire to grow into a client-facing advisory role over time.
• Travel requirements: Quarterly Bay Area meetings, requiring 1-2 nights away from home.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Highly competitive base salary + bonus opportunities
• Full suite of benefits

Reference Number: HRJ7829
Location: Sacramento, California (Remote) Mountain or Pacific Time Zones Only