Location: San Francisco, CA (Hybrid – 3 days in office)
Compensation:
Base Salary: $130,000–$180,000 (depending on experience and credentials)
Bonus: 10–25% based on client retention, engagement, and team contribution
Business Development Incentive: Additional variable comp tied to new client revenue (typically 5–10% of first-year revenue or structured payout)
Total Compensation Potential: $160,000–$250,000+
Our client is a highly respected, team-oriented wealth management firm with a strong track record of long-term client relationships and internal collaboration. The team is tenured, supportive, and genuinely enjoys working together. They take pride in delivering thoughtful, high-touch advice and celebrating wins as a group.
They are seeking a Lead Financial Advisor who can step into a meaningful client-facing role immediately, managing sophisticated relationships while contributing to the continued growth of the firm.
This is not a “build your own book” role. You will inherit and lead relationships, supported by a strong internal team, with the opportunity to grow organically over time.
Key Responsibilities:
Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of high-net-worth client relationships
Lead client meetings, deliver comprehensive financial advice, and guide decision-making across planning areas
Build trust quickly and maintain deep, long-term relationships with clients
Collaborate closely with internal team members (planning, operations, client service) to deliver a seamless client experience
Identify opportunities to deepen existing client relationships and support retention efforts
Participate in business development efforts, primarily through referrals and natural relationship expansion (not cold prospecting)
Contribute to a positive, collaborative team culture
Qualifications:
CFP designation required
7–15+ years of experience in wealth management or financial planning
Proven ability to manage and advise high-net-worth or complex client relationships
Strong communication skills with the ability to simplify complex topics
Team-oriented mindset with a low-ego, collaborative approach
Experience leading client meetings independently
Business development mindset, with a natural ability to generate referrals and new opportunities
Ability to work in-office in San Francisco three days per week
30 / 60 / 90 Day Plan (with Metrics)
First 30 Days
Learn the firm’s client philosophy, service model, and planning approach
Meet internal team members and understand roles/responsibilities
Shadow client meetings and review existing client relationships
Get up to speed on CRM, planning tools, and workflows
Metrics:
Attend or shadow 15–25 client meetings
Complete training/onboarding across all core systems (CRM, planning tools, reporting)
Demonstrate understanding of top 20–30 client households (notes, plans, key details)
Build internal relationships with all key team members
60 Days
Begin co-leading and then leading select client meetings
Take ownership of portions of client relationships with support
Identify opportunities to enhance planning and client experience
Establish consistent communication cadence with clients
Metrics:
Co-lead or lead 10–15 client meetings
Take partial ownership of 15–25 client households
Identify at least 3–5 planning opportunities or client experience improvements
Maintain 100% follow-up on client action items within agreed timelines
90 Days
Fully own a segment of client relationships as the lead advisor
Confidently lead client meetings and ongoing communication
Begin contributing to organic growth through referrals and relationship expansion
Be fully integrated into the team and contributing to overall client strategy
Metrics:
Fully own 30–50 client relationships (depending on complexity)
Lead 15–25 client meetings independently
Generate 2–4 referral opportunities or new client introductions
Maintain high client satisfaction (qualitative feedback from team and clients)
Achieve near 100% retention across assigned client relationships