Wealth Strategist

Focus Partners Wealth•Deerfield, IL

About The Position

The Wealth Strategist is a senior planning professional dedicated to the firm’s most complex and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) client relationships. Financial planning is the foundation of Focus Partners Wealth, and this role delivers deep subject matter expertise where client circumstances demand sophisticated, multi-disciplinary planning. Partnering closely with advisors and their teams, the Wealth Strategist develops, structures, and helps implement advanced financial plans with particular emphasis on sophisticated estate and wealth transfer planning and complex income tax strategy. The role serves as a trusted resource who helps advisors identify planning opportunities, apply the appropriate level of expertise, and coordinate the firm’s specialty resources so that UHNW clients receive a consistent, high-quality planning experience. To succeed in this role, you must be highly motivated, polished, and able to engage clients and advisors with confidence and sophistication, while exercising discretion, confidentiality, and integrity in handling sensitive client information.

Requirements

CFP®, or an advanced degree or designation (e.g., JD, LLM, MT, CPA, AEP®) required, with an emphasis on estate and/or tax planning.
5+ years of financial planning experience directly serving or supporting complex and ultra-high-net-worth client relationships.
Demonstrated expertise in sophisticated estate and wealth transfer planning and complex income tax strategy.
Strong analytical and technical planning skills, with the ability to translate complex strategies into clear, actionable client recommendations.
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills; highly organized and able to excel in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, etc.) required.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team.
Discretion in working with confidential information, with a demonstrated commitment to integrity and the fiduciary standard.
Comfort engaging directly with sophisticated clients and their outside advisors (attorneys, CPAs, and centers of influence).

Nice To Haves

Competency with eMoney, Holistiplan, and/or other planning, tax, or estate planning software preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and help implement advanced financial plans for the firm’s complex and ultra-high-net-worth client relationships.
Serve as a subject matter expert in sophisticated estate and wealth transfer planning, advising advisors and clients on strategies appropriate to significant and complex estates.
Provide guidance on complex income tax planning strategies, identify opportunities, and coordinate with clients’ outside professionals as appropriate.
Partner with advisors to identify planning opportunities within UHNW relationships and determine the appropriate depth and resources needed to address them.
Co-present with advisors in client and prospect meetings on advanced planning matters, increasing client confidence and satisfaction.
Coordinate the firm’s specialty resources (Tax, Risk/Insurance, Trust & Estate, Business Owner Solutions) so that engagement is focused where specialized expertise adds the most value.
Serve as a trained resource for specialized planning tools and software that are most effective in complex situations, increasing their availability to advisory teams.
Coordinate internal and external service providers and ensure timely execution of planning deliverables, agendas, and post-meeting action items.
Increase advisor proficiency in planning through mentoring, coaching, and sharing of planning frameworks and best practices.
Support the firm’s growth by participating in the planning aspects of the prospect and onboarding process, including data gathering, opportunity identification, and demonstrating the value of comprehensive planning.
Provide thought-leadership content in the form of articles, webinars, and internal materials.
Research specific topics, legislation, and planning matters unique to complex client situations and internal projects.