SVP-Client Advisor, Head of Office

Whittier Trust is the oldest privately owned multi-family office headquartered on the West Coast, providing exceptional client service and highly customized investment solutions for high-net-worth individuals and their families.

Our dedicated professionals work with clients and their families to deliver a broad array of services including investment management, fiduciary, philanthropic, and family office. Our founding family’s century-long history of entrepreneurship continues to guide our activities for clients today. Entrusted with private family assets, our teams employ a consulting approach to tailor solutions for complex family situations.

Whittier Trust attracts professionals who have a desire to grow while building their skills in the service to our clients. Our organization is flat, nimble, and uniquely attuned to the needs and desires of both today’s entrepreneurs as well as legacy family members who may be several generations removed from the wealth creators. Our corporate culture is one of client-focus, collaboration, performance and accountability, family orientation and long-term career satisfaction. Employee turnover is low because of a high level of engagement and career fulfillment.

The position offers a competitive compensation package including base salary, performance bonus, equity consideration, excellent medical, and retirement plans.

Position Summary

The SVP Client Advisor and Office Manager is a key member of the leadership team responsible for growing and expanding the awareness of Whittier Trust’s high touch service delivery model in the Western region, nationally and within their local region.  The SVP/EVP Head of office will be a seasoned relationship executive or trust officer with a proven business development track record who aligns well with the firm’s culture. Whittier Trust’s culture is one that is performance/accountability driven, client focused, family oriented and supports the long term career satisfaction of its employees.  All of this is reflected in Whittier Trust’s unusually low employee turnover rate.   

This is also a position for high net worth clients.  It involves extensive client contact and a working knowledge of trust and agency account administration including fiduciary accounting, securities, finance, real estate, taxes and estate planning.  A high priority goal for this position is the development of new business.  This is accomplished by working independently, as well as with staff across the organization, through professional networking and direct solicitation of qualified prospects. The officer should have a strong established network of legal, accounting and other professionals, as well as client prospects.  The officer has an assistant and together has total administrative responsibility for a book of accounts, and shares relationship management with an assigned investment officer.  The job also requires the ability to travel to call on active clients, referral sources and prospective clients.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Office Management

• Office culture-promote collaboration among departments, coordinate office-wide internal events for staff
• Day-to day management of office, and overseeing team
  • Conduct quarterly all-office meetings
• Facilities management
  • Oversight of any expansion and or renovation projects (coordination of construction, management of budget, configuration of workspace, selection of furnishings and interior décor)
  • Oversee IT equipment requisitions, security, furniture, equipment, etc.
• Outside vendor management, including approval of office bills and negotiation and approval of new and old relationships

Client Advisory Team Management

• Manage local office client advisory team
  • Assess workload and distribution of relationships
  • Review performance, compensation, etc.
    • Review all direct reports in writing and in-person quarterly
  • Assign new relationships
  • Manage client retention, servicing, and engagement
  • All client advisory staff with the title of AVP and above report to SVP
  • Conduct monthly client advisory team meetings
• Personnel /staffing-hiring, terminations, retirements, recruitment, internship program

Marketing and Business Development

• Subject matter expert in estate planning, wealth transfer and trust law
• Assist office sales team and colleagues from other offices in business development efforts
• Participate in business development events
• Develop new business through existing clients, COIs, marketing efforts
• Assist with content and aesthetics with respect to Whittier Trust marketing pieces and advertising
• Management of strategic partnerships with nonprofits

Community engagement

• Engagement in charity boards in addition to providing personal financial support and involvement with local charities

Senior Client Advisor

• Client relationship and engagement
• Assist clients with implementation and planning for intergenerational wealth transfer, estate tax reduction, and philanthropy.
• Golden rolodex, “connector” for clients with respect to other advisors (CPA, attorneys, etc.)
• Assist clients with family office (including rent collection, management of loans/notes/mortgages, bill pay, property and casualty insurance, life insurance, cash flow, personal budgeting, banking and lending needs, private aviation needs, private personal and cyber security, tax payments, social security, health care, appraisals for property, etc.)
• Money movement (ACH, wires)
• Assets-set ups, delivering off, capital calls, receipt of distributions, subdocument preparation and coordination, etc.
• Discretionary distributions
• Balance sheet preparation
• Estate Plan evaluation and analysis related to potential estate tax liability
• Conduct administration account reviews for all relationships per compliance guidelines
• Meet annually or more frequently with all clients

DESIRED EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4 year university
• Industry certification/s – CTFA, CFP, CFA, CPA
• Advanced degree preferred – JD, MBA

DESIRED EXPERIENCE

• Minimum ten preferred fifteen years’ experience in a similar role with a successful track record in new business development and office management.
• Superior ability to identify and build relationships with qualified prospects and a proven outstanding business development track record
• Established network of legal, accounting and insurance professionals in the area and surrounding communities.
• Background in wealth management, client administration, and portfolio management or foundation services.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Strong people skills
• Client service focus
• Outstanding and effective verbal and written communication skills
• High integrity with a diligent work ethic
• Team/people oriented and the ability to motivate and develop employees
• Highly organized with good time management skills
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel by airplane.

COMPENSATION
A competitive base salary, performance bonus, and benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, life, long term disability, and 401(k) with company match.

Base salary range: $200,000 - $300,000.