Associate General Counsel - Personal Wealth Products

empower; United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Empower is seeking a seasoned attorney to join our legal team as lead counsel for Personal Wealth products. You will partner with product, compliance, risk and business leaders from concept through launch, ensuring practical solutions and speed to market.

You will navigate SEC, FINRA, ERISA and state fiduciary rules, shape product structures and disclosures, and help us responsibly use AI and data-driven tech in wealth solutions across direct-to-consumer and advisor channels.

Qualifications

• J.D. and active bar membership.
• 15+ years of experience advising retail wealth management businesses (RIA, broker-dealer, or hybrid).
• Strong knowledge of wealth management legal and regulatory frameworks including SEC, FINRA, and state regimes (duties of care, disclosure, conflicts of interest).
• Exposure to Emerging wealth products including direct indexing, alternatives, retirement income strategies.
• Experience supporting product strategy, development and launch in fast-paced or tech-enabled environment.
• Sound judgment balancing legal/regulatory risk with business objectives.
• Comfort operating in evolving regulatory environments.
• Senior individual contributor with cross-functional influence.
• Executive presence communicating practical legal guidance to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead counsel to the Personal Wealth product organization from design through launch.
• Partner with product, compliance, risk and business leaders to ensure aligned solutions and speed to market.
• Coordinate with Empower's broader legal team for a unified guidance approach.
• Navigate frameworks like the Investment Advisers Act, Exchange Act, SEC/FINRA rules, ERISA/DOL fiduciary standards, and state laws.
• Advise on product structures and distribution across direct-to-consumer and advisor channels.
• Provide guidance on fiduciary obligations, Reg BI, and client disclosures.
• Advise on AI/data-driven wealth tech and evolving regulatory guidance and rulemaking.
• Support product governance, regulatory filings and client-facing materials.
• Advise on third-party partnerships and fintech capabilities; monitor regulatory developments.
• Translate regulatory changes into practical guidance for product, compliance and stakeholders.

Skills

Lead counsel

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Education

J.D. and active bar membership

Job description

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

Empower is transforming how Americans experience wealth, bridging workplace retirement and personal wealth products and services to deliver more holistic, accessible financial solutions. We are seeking a seasoned attorney to join our legal team as a strategic partner to our Personal Wealth product organization.

This role has primary accountability for supporting the development and delivery of personal wealth products. You will partner across retirement, wealth, compliance, and business teams where those areas intersect. Few organizations operate at this scale across both retirement and personal wealth, creating a unique opportunity to design integrated solutions for millions of customers.

You will help design and launch next-generation wealth solutions that reach millions of customers. If you are energized by building, not just reviewing, and want to help shape the future of retail wealth, this role offers a unique platform to do so.

What you will do:

• Serve as lead counsel to the Personal Wealth product organization, advising on the design, development, implementation and distribution of innovative wealth offerings


• Partner closely with product, compliance, risk and business leaders from concept through launch, ensuring aligned, practical solutions across legal, risk and compliance while enabling speed to market


• Coordinate across Empower's broader legal team to deliver aligned, consistent, and business-oriented guidance, ensuring a \"one voice\" approach to legal advice


• Navigate complex legal and regulatory frameworks, including the Investment Advisers Act, the Exchange Act, SEC and FINRA rules, ERISA/DOL fiduciary standards, and state laws and regulations


• Advise on product structures and distribution across direct-to-consumer and advisor-led channels


• Provide guidance on SEC and ERISA fiduciary obligations as applicable, Reg BI, conflicts of interest management, and client disclosures


• Advise on and help shape Empower's approach to the responsible use of artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies in wealth products, including evolving state and federal guidance and rulemaking related to predictive analytics, conflicts of interest, model governance, and client communications


• Support product governance, regulatory filings and client-facing materials


• Advise on third-party partnerships and evolving fintech capabilities


• Monitor regulatory and industry developments, translating them into practical guidance for product, compliance, and other legal stakeholders

What Sets This Role Apart

• Direct impact: Shape products that support millions of retirement plan participants and personal wealth clients as their financial needs evolve


• Builder mindset: Work closely with the product organization to shape strategy and enable execution


• Innovation with purpose: Help expand access to sophisticated wealth solutions


• Enterprise impact: Shape products and solutions that serve millions of investors across their financial lifecycle


• Strategic seat at the table: Partner directly with senior product and business leaders to shape product direction, not just advising on execution


• Innovation in a regulated environment: Help navigate and define approaches in emerging areas like AI, digital advice, and retail access to new products and services

What You Bring

• J.D. and active bar membership


• 15+ years of experience advising retail wealth management businesses (RIA, broker-dealer, or hybrid)


• Strong knowledge of wealth management legal and regulatory frameworks including deep familiarity with SEC, FINRA, and state regulatory regimes particularly related to duties of care, disclosure, and conflicts of interest


• Exposure to emerging wealth products including direct indexing, alternatives, retirement income strategies


• Experience supporting product strategy, development and launch, ideally in a fast-paced or technology-enabled environment


• Sound judgment and ability to balance legal and regulatory risk with business objectives


• Comfort operating in evolving or ambiguous regulatory environments


• Operates as a senior individual contributor with strong cross-functional influence


• Executive presence and ability to communicate practical legal guidance clearly to senior business, product and other legal stakeholders

Preferred Experience

Experience at integrated retirement/wealth service providers, asset managers