Head of Financial Planning Strategy & Execution

Guardian Life Insurance

3d•$277,000 - $335,650

About The Position

As a member of the Client Solutions leadership team, this role sets and executes Guardian’s enterprise financial planning strategy across channels and client segments. The leader builds a protection-first, holistic planning model that integrates insurance, retirement, investments, and wealth management; converts advanced-market expertise into actionable solutions; and scales consistent delivery for advisors and clients.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in financial services, wealth management, financial planning, or a related field, including significant leadership responsibility.
Experience leading planning or advice strategy within an insurance, investment, or wealth management organization.
Demonstrated experience supporting complex HNW and UHNW client needs and building scalable models for multiple client and advisor segments.
Deep understanding of how life insurance, annuities, retirement, investments, and protection solutions work together in a holistic financial plan.
Knowledge of advanced planning concepts and the ability to translate complex technical information into actionable, client- and advisor-friendly solutions.
Experience using technology, digital capabilities, data, and performance measures to improve planning quality, adoption, productivity, and business outcomes.
Proven ability to lead teams and influence senior stakeholders across distribution, product, operations, technology, marketing, legal, and compliance.
Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, communication, judgment, integrity, and collaboration skills.
Commitment to Guardian’s purpose of helping clients protect what matters and achieve long-term financial security.
FINRA Series 7, 66, 63/65 required.
FINRA Series 24 required to obtain within 90 days upon hire.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Responsibilities

Design, evolve, and execute a comprehensive protection first, holistic financial planning strategy and framework.
Define the planning function’s governance, workflows, technology platforms, service standards, decision rights, and process improvements.
Clarify how each planning discipline is reflected within the enterprise framework and how solutions align to distinct client and advisor segments.
Monitor competitive dynamics, industry trends, regulatory developments, and evolving client needs.
Design scalable planning models and deliverables for clients and advisors, with tailored approaches for complex HNW and UHNW needs.
Lead the evolution and adoption of digital planning capabilities.
Translate complex financial concepts and technical thought leadership into practical tools, frameworks, case designs, and client-friendly recommendations.
Evaluate and integrate third-party capabilities.
Lead the GWAM strategy and team across thought leadership, case consultation, case design, business development, and sales campaigns.
Advance sophisticated solutions for HNW and UHNW clients, including estate planning, tax-efficient structures, insurance strategies, and legacy planning.
Partner with advisors, product teams, and internal and external specialists to address complex client needs.
Identify opportunities to strengthen Guardian’s HNW and UHNW value proposition.
Establish planning best practices, advisor enablement programs, training, and coaching strategies.
Foster a planning-first culture centered on client needs, protection, implementation, and long-term relationship building.
Collaborate with Park Avenue Wealth Management and field partners to drive consistent execution.
Partner with marketing and communications to ensure the protection-first, holistic planning approach is reflected clearly and consistently in internal and external content.
Influence product development, distribution strategy, and executive decision-making through data-driven insights, client outcomes, market intelligence, and planning trends.
Lead cross-functional initiatives by aligning stakeholders, managing dependencies, and accelerating enterprise priorities.
Define metrics and reporting for plan utilization, advisor adoption, planning quality, client outcomes, productivity, and revenue impact.
Establish accountability and performance-management disciplines.
Partner with legal and compliance to ensure advanced planning strategies, solutions, and supporting practices align with regulatory requirements, risk standards, and firm policies.
Build and lead a high-performing team of financial planning and advanced-market professionals.
Set clear priorities, operating rhythms, and development expectations; allocate expertise against the highest-value enterprise, advisor, and client needs.
Model sound judgment, integrity, collaboration, and executive-level communication while influencing senior stakeholders across the enterprise.