Business Development Consultant, Planner Growth

Edelman Financial Engines, LLC; California; On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Health plan

401(k) contributions

Job summary

Edelman Financial Engines, LLC is seeking a Business Development Consultant, Planner Growth in California to identify and recruit top financial planners across wealth management. You will develop sourcing plans, build pipelines, and articulate our hire-to-retire value proposition to attract top talent.

The role emphasizes proactive outreach, market storytelling, and collaboration with internal stakeholders to align talent needs with business priorities.

Qualifications

• 3-7 years of experience in business development, recruiting, or relationship management within financial services or wealth management.
• Strong understanding of the financial planning ecosystem (RIA, wirehouse, broker-dealer models).
• Proven ability to engage and influence passive talent through consultative outreach.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to position a compelling career narrative.
• Highly proactive, with a hunter mindset and strong pipeline discipline.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment.
• Strategic sourcing & prospecting.
• Influencing & relationship-building.
• Market storytelling & employer branding.
• Resilience and persistence.
• Collaboration and stakeholder alignment.

Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and proactively engage high-quality financial planners across the wealth management industry.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of passive and active candidates through outbound outreach, networking, and market mapping.
• Develop strategic sourcing plans aligned to hiring priorities and market trends.
• Clearly articulate EFE’s hire-to-retire value proposition, including career growth, client access, compensation, and stability.
• Position EFE as a differentiated destination for planners seeking long-term career development and client impact.
• Tailor messaging to resonate with planners at various career stages (early, mid, senior).
• Establish and nurture long-term relationships with financial planners, acting as a trusted industry contact.
• Maintain ongoing engagement with prospects, even when immediate opportunities are not available.
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders to align talent needs and messaging.
• Stay informed on industry trends, competitor talent strategies, and compensation benchmarks within wealth management.
• Provide insights to leadership on talent availability, competitor positioning, and candidate sentiment.
• Drive candidate engagement through the recruiting funnel in partnership with key EFE stakeholders.
• Ensure a high-quality candidate experience from initial outreach through offer stage.
• Track and report on pipeline activity, conversion rates, and sourcing effectiveness.

Skills

Business development

Recruiting

Relationship management

Communication

Hunter mindset

Pipeline discipline

Market storytelling

Employer branding

Collaboration

Influencing

Job description

Business Development Consultant, Planner Growth

California

At Edelman Financial Engines (EFE), our purpose is to guide people with the financial advice they need to thrive.

We believe that every dollar saved represents a lifetime of hard work and aspirations, and every dollar invested has a job to do for our clients. That’s why we are committed to managing our clients’ investments by truly understanding them as people first and then delivering advice, strategies and solutions to help them feel confident about the plans they are making, whether for today, tomorrow, or in the great unknown future. Our goal is to build long-term relationships based on respect, integrity, and a belief that our responsibility is to help people make smart investments decisions in every stage of their lives.

Our culture is grounded in our CORE values: Client First, One Team, Respectful Candor, and Endless Curiosity. These values guide everything we do, for our clients and each other. We are committed to moving forward together. If you are inspired by purpose-driven work and a collaborative, values-led culture, we invite you to explore a career with us.

Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and proactively engage high-quality financial planners across the wealth management industry
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of passive and active candidates through outbound outreach, networking, and market mapping
• Develop strategic sourcing plans aligned to hiring priorities and market trends
• Clearly articulate EFE’s "hire-to-retire" value proposition, including career growth, client access, compensation, and stability
• Position EFE as a differentiated destination for planners seeking long-term career development and client impact
• Tailor messaging to resonate with planners at various career stages (early, mid, senior)

Relationship Management

• Establish and nurture long-term relationships with financial planners, acting as a trusted industry contact
• Maintain ongoing engagement with prospects, even when immediate opportunities are not available
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders to align talent needs and messaging
• Stay informed on industry trends, competitor talent strategies, and compensation benchmarks within wealth management
• Provide insightstoleadership on talent availability, competitor positioning, and candidate sentiment
• Drive candidate engagement through the recruiting funnel in partnership with key EFE stakeholders
• Ensure a high-quality candidate experience from initial outreach through offer stage
• Track and report on pipeline activity, conversion rates, and sourcing effectiveness

Requirements

• 3-7 years of experience in business development, recruiting, or relationship management within financial services or wealth management
• Strong understanding of the financial planning ecosystem (RIA,wirehouse, broker-dealer models)
• Proven ability to engage and influence passive talent through consultative outreach
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to position a compelling career narrative
• Highly proactive, with a hunter mindset and strong pipeline discipline
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced,metrics-driven environment
• Strategic sourcing & prospecting
• Influencing & relationship-building
• Market storytelling & employer branding
• Resilience and persistence
• Collaboration and stakeholder alignment

Edelman Financial Engines takes a market-based approach to pay. The expected base salary range for this role nationally is $125,000 to $155,000. However, final base pay will be carefully determined based on several factors, including responsibilities, job-related skills, relevant experience, geographic location, and market conditions. Additionally, this role may be eligible for other forms of compensation and benefits, such as a discretionary bonus, health, dental and other wellness plans, and 401(k) contributions.

Your recruiter can share more about the specific benefits eligible for this role during the hiring process.

Edelman Financial Engines takes a market-based approach to pay. The expected base salary range for this role nationally is below. However, final base pay will be carefully determined based on several factors, including responsibilities, job-related skills, relevant experience, geographic location, and market conditions. Additionally, this role may be eligible for other forms of compensation and benefits, such as a discretionary bonus, health, dental and other wellness plans, and 401(k) contributions.

Pay Range

$125,000 - $155,000 USD

About Edelman Financial Engines

Since 1986, Edelman Financial Engines has been committed to always acting in the best interests of our clients. We were founded on the belief that all investors – not just the wealthy – deserve access to personal, comprehensive financial planning and investment advice. Recognized by Barron’s as a top RIA firm for eight years in a row(awarded each September (2018-2025) based on prior 12-month data through June 30) 1 ,wesupportmorethan1.27 million clientsacross 140+ offices nationwide and manage over$324billionin assets 2 .Our unique approach to serving clients combines our advancedmethodologyand proprietary technology with the attention of a dedicated personal financial planner. Every client’s situation and goals are unique, and the powerful fusion of high-tech and high touch allows Edelman Financial Engines to deliver the personal plan and financial confidence that everyone deserves.

For California residents, please see the link for the Privacy Notice for Candidates . California law requires that we provideyouthis notice about the collection and use of your personal information. Please read it carefully.

Edelman Financial Engines encourages success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy; marital, domestic partner or civil union status; national origin, citizenship, ancestry, ethnic heritage, genetic information, age, legally recognized disability, military service or veteran status.

Accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the hiring process that would enable you to fully participate in that process.If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, you may request one at any time by either contacting your recruiter or [e-mail] .

1 TheBarron’s Top 100 RIA Firms list, an annual ranking of independent advisory firms, is based on qualitative and quantitative criteria. Firmselecttoparticipatebut do not pay to be included in the ranking. The 2018 ranking refers to Edelman Financial Services, LLC, which combined its advisory business in its entirety with Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. (FEA) in November 2018. For the same survey, FEA received aprecombinationranking of 12th.

2 EdelmanFinancial Engines data, as ofSeptember 30, 2025

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