Financial Advisory - Service Advisor

Kestra Holdings•Lexington, KY

About The Position

The Service Advisor services and manages client relationships, generally Tier 3 and 4 clients, with potential for select Tier 2 relationships. The role delivers financial planning, investment, and wealth management advice with limited oversight. Building on CFP® knowledge and real-world experience, the Service Advisor manages the full client-service process for an assigned book of business and consults a Lead Advisor or Director of Wealth Management on complex or high-stakes decisions. This is a developing professional role for someone who deepens existing relationships, mentors Support Advisors, and is on the path toward the Lead Advisor role. The Service Advisor reflects the firm's Simple Excellence and Collaborative Team values.

Requirements

CFP® preferred; Series 65 required at minimum.
Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline such as Accounting, Finance, or Economics.
Typically 3 to 5 years of financial planning, service delivery, and client interaction.
Track record of successful contributions to client service and project management.
Solid working knowledge of financial planning, investment management, and wealth management.
Ability to independently manage a book of client relationships with limited oversight.
Strong client-facing communication and presentation skills.
Sound judgment in recognizing when to escalate complex decisions.
Proficiency in financial planning, CRM, and portfolio management systems.
Ability to mentor and train Support Advisors.
Ability to coordinate successfully across advisory, client service, and operations teams.
Commitment to professionalism, accountability, and client focus.

Nice To Haves

CFP® certification.
Developing knowledge of the macroeconomic environment in the context of portfolio selection and ability to communicate the topic successfully with clients.

Responsibilities

Manage an assigned book of client relationships, generally Tier 3 and 4 with potential for select Tier 2 clients, and serve as the primary advisor for those relationships.
Initiate and complete client service and other tasks with minimal supervision, navigating client challenges with limited oversight.
Set personal milestones for client retention.
Independently manage significant portions of the seven-step financial planning process for standard cases; prepare, deliver, and update plans, and finalize assumptions with the Lead Advisor.
Apply insurance, investment, tax, retirement, and estate planning knowledge to typical client needs; identify tax-efficient opportunities, evaluate policy options, design retirement income strategies, and coordinate with attorneys and CPAs on moderately complex matters.
Apply and explain the firm's investment models and communicate their rationale to clients; develop knowledge of the macroeconomic environment in relation to portfolio selection and communicate it to clients.
Uphold ethical standards in client interactions, disclose potential conflicts, maintain continuing education, and role-model professionalism for staff.
Grow the assigned book by identifying opportunities for additional services and generating referrals from existing clients.
Mentor Support Advisors, share knowledge with peers, and help develop teammates.
Analyze client scenarios using planning tools, weigh options, address more complex cases, and recommend process improvements.
Coordinate across advisory, client service, and operations teams.
Meet measures of success that include client retention and satisfaction, growth of existing relationships, referrals generated, and performance evaluations completed by the Director of Wealth Management.