Senior Financial Planning Associate

The Company:

Merit is a fast growing, pioneering financial services firm that invests heavily in the growth and

development of team members. Merit seeks to establish, educate, and help individuals reach their

financial goals as they transition into and experience retirement. With an unswerving commitment

to excellence and reliability, Merit provides objective financial advice and believes in establishing

long-lasting relationships. By offering an array of services, clients can receive tailored solutions

that promote growth and help them achieve financial goals.

Merit believes in addressing the retirement challenges in America by helping clients reach

financial freedom and confidence to the working population and retirees alike. This focus on

comprehensive financial wellness enables us to deliver the ultimate client experience.

Headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, with 42 locations across the country, Merit balances tactical

advice with innovative strategy. Our 260 hardworking employees are leaders rooted in humility

and we are poised to grow. Merit is a multi-generational firm with a foundation built around servant

leadership and total team leadership. We have been recognized as a “Best Places to Work” by

InvestmentNews and have made the fastest growing companies list in both INC 5000 and

Georgia’s Fastest 40. As we expand and work to bring our relationship-driven approach to the

financial industry, we are looking for the right individuals to join our team.

The Position:

The Senior Financial Planning Associate will work virtually and closely with advisor teams

across the country to gather financial planning facts and prepare financial plans for clients. This

role is responsible for the design of initial financial plans and make updates to existing plans.

This role will also generate specific planning recommendations that can be implemented by

local advisor teams.

Responsibilities:

• Generate specific planning recommendations and next steps that advisors and clients

can use while designing financial plans or evaluating the plans designed by Merit

Paraplanning Associates.

• Provide advanced planning support in areas such as retirement income planning, tax

planning, estate planning, insurance planning, and education planning for advisors who

are working to illustrate planning techniques to clients.

• Projects will include the transition support of client data from alternative planning tech

tools to the Merit eMoney license.

• Present planning techniques in client meetings alongside advisors in the field, virtually or

in person, as required.

• Financial planning content creation for Merit website and social media.

• Financial planning content support for prospecting campaigns

• Collaboration with the VP of Financial Planning to constantly improve planning

workflows, tech tool engagement, and communication with advisors and their clients.

• Planning research as required by the VP of Financial Planning

• Assist the VP of Financial Planning with the instruction of advisors in the field of the

“Merit Way” of financial planning both virtually and in person.

• Support of Merit advisors who need tech tool assistance such as making or amending

connections, sharing client profiles with supporting staff, or amending advisor ownership

of clients within the tools.

• Some responsibilities may vary depending on area of experience and specialization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in financial planning, finance, accounting, business, economics or

related field is required.

• 5 years of plan design, including advisor support

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Certified Public Accountant

(CPA)/Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), or equivalent required.

• Must have eMoney experience!

Experience with Salesforce, eMoney, Holistiplan, Covisum, Caribou, Wealth.com, and

MoneyGuide are preferred.

• Experience analyzing financial planning documents such as personal tax returns, pay-

stubs, investment account statements, Social Security benefits reports, pension estimate

statements, and estate planning documents are required.

• Investment industry experience is encouraged including SIE, Series 7, and Series 66

licenses. Ability to earn such licenses encouraged.

Salary Benefits:

● Competitive, based on experience

● Medical Insurance

● Dental/Vision Insurance

● Life & Personal Accident Insurance

● Short-term Disability Insurance

● Long-term Disability Insurance

● Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA) or Dependent Care

FSA

● 401(k) Plan with company matching

● Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays

Best Places To Work for Financial Advisors 2018-2024: Best Places to Work for Financial

Advisors 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 – Recognized firms were required to be

a registered investment advisor (RIA) that has been in business at least one year and having a

minimum of 15 full-time/part-time employees. The assessment consisted of a questionnaire on

benefits and policies completed by human resources staff along with an engagement &

satisfaction survey completed by a minimum of 40% of staff. 50 firms were selected for this award

from an undisclosed list of submissions. There was no charge to be included in this award listing.