Associate Advisor

centurawealth; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Centura Wealth Advisory in San Diego, CA invites an Associate Advisor to support Wealth Advisors in delivering comprehensive financial, tax, investment, and estate planning solutions for high-net-worth clients.

You will manage client meeting preparation, model financial scenarios in Excel, and prepare advanced planning deliverables. The role includes mentoring junior staff and driving process improvements within a collaborative advisory team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and CFP designation mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Review client facts, assumptions, and goals to draft tax planning opportunities.

Skills

Financial planning

Tax planning

Estate planning

Excel

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, economics, or related field

CFP designation

Tools

Salesforce

Financial planning software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Centura Wealth Advisory has an opening for an Associate Advisor supporting the Wealth Advisor(s) in delivering comprehensive financial, tax, investment, and estate planning solutions for high-net-worth clients. This role manages client meeting preparation, conducts financial modeling, prepares advanced planning deliverables, and collaborates with internal and external professionals to ensure accurate and effective implementation of client strategies. Additionally, this role contributes to the firm’s growth by identifying and implementing process improvements, managing critical project elements, and actively mentoring and developing junior team members to maintain a high-performing advisory practice.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Review client facts, assumptions, and goals to prepare a first draft of tax planning strategies and opportunities for consideration.
• Design and model income tax and estate planning strategies under the guidance of the Wealth Advisor.
• Prepare advanced planning deliverables for internal team review and client presentation, ensuring accuracy and clarity in Excel and other systems to effectively “tell the client story.”
• Review client tax returns (personal, corporate, trust, and gift) to identify planning opportunities, errors, and overall financial positioning.
• Contribute technical insights, ask questions, and show hunger to learn during internal case preparation and planning discussions.

Client Interaction & Meeting Support:

• Present planning deliverables and quarterly client performance review materials, including entity charts, balance sheets, and portfolio summaries.
• Assist Wealth Advisors in client meetings by clearly explaining assumptions, recommendations, and strategy rationale.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through day-to-day interactions, listening for additional needs, assisting with questions or requests, and facilitating the flow of information to the advisory team.
• Provide best-in-class client service by supporting timely responses and accurate follow-up.

Project & Process Management:

• Internally manage one of the team’s key revenue lines, providing weekly status updates to the team, tracking progress toward goals, and coordinating next steps.
• Support the management of the annual “Report Card” process for all wealth management clients through creation of proposed scope of work and recap of planning value added in the prior year.
• Identify process inefficiencies in client case development, documentation, and financial plan creation, recommending solutions to improve workflow and accuracy.
• Develop and implement systems, templates, and tools to enhance efficiency and standardization of the Liberated Wealth Process.
• Manage the team’s annual tax project by coordinating Diamond Team to ensure deadlines are met, project progress is tracked, and returns are accurate and complete.

Collaboration (Internal & External):

• Coordinate with CPAs, EPAs, and other external professionals to support accurate implementation of tax, estate, and investment plans.
• Collaborate with external center’s of influence, client & their support team, and other internal departments to ensure alignment on planning strategy design & execution.
• Train and mentor Diamond Team interns through regular check‑in meetings to support learning, questions, and professional growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned, contributing to a collaborative and high-performance team environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of financial, tax, and estate planning principles and documentation.
• Technical proficiency with Salesforce, financial planning software, and Microsoft Office.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• High emotional intelligence, adaptability, and transparency in fast-paced, client-focused environments.
• Hunger to learn and grow in the role, with willingness to ask questions and seek guidance when needed.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, including formulas, formatting, and presenting data clearly.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external professionals while maintaining accuracy, timeliness, and quality of deliverable.
• Confident working with the UHNW/HNW.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business Administration, Economics, or related field.
• Undergraduate degree – Required.
• Certified Financial Planning “CFP” designation – Required.
• Life & Health license in the State of CA – Optional.
• 3+ years minimum experience in wealth management.
• Proficient with Excel, Outlook, and Salesforce.

Competencies:

• Accountability
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Client Orientation
• Emotional Intelligence
• Relationship Building

At Centura Wealth Advisory, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and respected. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Expected salary range: $65,000 to $95,000