Counsel, Wealth Management & Advisor Growth(HYBRID)

Equitable Advisors; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 274,000; Full time

Job summary

Equitable is seeking a Counsel for Wealth Management & Advisor Growth in a hybrid role based in Charlotte, NC. You will advise on recruitment transactions, acquisitions of books of business, and strategic initiatives that expand our advisor network and wealth management platform.

The role requires a JD with 5+ years in wealth management law, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and the ability to partner with senior leaders to balance legal risk with business goals.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• 5+ years of legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house environment, with wealth management experience.
• Demonstrated success advising business leaders on complex transactional, commercial, and strategic matters.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and deal-structuring expertise; experience with sophisticated agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead as the primary legal partner for Wealth Management growth, advising on recruitment transactions and acquisitions of books of business.
• Structure, draft, and negotiate complex agreements (purchase, retention, loan, promissory notes, transition agreements).
• Provide guidance on recruitment/onboarding of financial professionals and on acquisitions of books of business by Equitable or by affiliated professionals.
• Manage outside counsel and coordination with Compliance, Risk, and business leaders on regulatory and transactional issues.

Skills

Attention to detail

Complex drafting

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Legal analysis

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

Job description

Job Description - Counsel, Wealth Management & Advisor Growth (HYBRID) (260000I7)

Counsel, Wealth Management & Advisor Growth (HYBRID) ( 260000I7 )

Primary Location

UNITED STATES-NC-Charlotte

Organization

Equitable

Schedule

Full-time

About the Role

At Equitable, we help clients secure their financial well-being so they can pursue long and fulfilling lives, a mission we've proudly advanced since 1859.

Join a collaborative legal team where your expertise will directly influence the growth of one of the nation's leading wealth management organizations. At Equitable, you'll have the opportunity to advise on sophisticated transactions, partner with senior business leaders, and play a key role in expanding our advisor network and wealth management platform. If you're looking for a role that combines meaningful legal work, strategic partnership, and tangible business impact, we encourage you to apply.

Equitable is seeking a highly motivated and business-oriented attorney, experienced in advising wealth management firms to serve as Counsel, Wealth Management & Advisor Growth. In this high-visibility role, you will be the primary legal partner supporting transactions related to the recruitment and onboarding of experienced financial professionals, acquisitions of books of business, and other initiatives that drive the continued success and expansion of our Wealth Management business.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of law, business strategy, and financial services while partnering with senior leaders to shape key initiatives, solve complex challenges, and contribute to the long-term success of Equitable's Wealth Management business.

This position offers a flexible hybrid work schedule, with an on-site presence of 2-3 days per week, providing the opportunity for meaningful collaboration while maintaining flexibility.

What You’ll Be Doing

Serve as the lead legal advisor to Equitable's Wealth Management business, partnering with leadership on strategic growth initiatives, advisor recruitment transactions, and acquisitions of books of business.

Structure, draft, and negotiate complex transactional arrangements that support the continued growth and expansion of our advisor platform, including:

• Asset Purchase Agreements
• Asset Retention Agreements
• Loan Agreements
• Promissory Notes
• Recruiting and transition agreements
• Other transaction-related and ancillary documentation

Provide legal guidance and support for:

• Recruitment and onboarding of experienced financial professionals and advisor groups
• Acquisitions of books of business by Equitable
• Acquisitions of books of business by existing Equitable financial professionals
• Advise on restrictive covenant matters, including non-solicitation, non-compete, and transition-related provisions.

Review and provide guidance on financial professional candidate applications, hiring agreements, and onboarding documentation.

Lead engagements with outside counsel and manage complex legal matters, including debt recovery and enforcement actions involving financial professionals.

Partner closely with Compliance, Litigation, Risk, and business leaders to address regulatory, operational, and transactional considerations.

Identify legal and regulatory risks while delivering practical, business-focused solutions that support growth objectives.

Drive continuous improvement by helping develop and refine scalable legal processes that enhance efficiency and support an evolving Wealth Management business.

The total targeted compensation range for this position is $220,000 - $274,000. Total compensation varies based on skills, experience, geographical location and other factors. Equitable provides compensation to reward performance with base salary increases, spot bonuses, and short-term incentive compensation opportunities. Eligibility for these programs depends on level and functional area of responsibility.

For eligible employees, Equitable provides a full range of benefits. This includes medical, dental, vision, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. For detailed descriptions of these benefits, please reference the link below.

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.

5+ years of legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal environment, with significant experience supporting wealth management firms, broker-dealers, RIAs, or financial advisor platforms.

Demonstrated success advising business leaders on complex transactional, commercial, and strategic matters.

Strong drafting, negotiation, and deal-structuring expertise, with experience managing sophisticated agreements and high-value transactions.

Experience advising on restrictive covenant matters, including non-solicitation, non-compete, and advisor transition arrangements.

Exceptional business judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives while delivering practical, solution-oriented advice.

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and transactions in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Strong executive presence, communication skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships across legal, compliance, and business teams.

Preferred Qualifications

In-house legal experience within a financial services, wealth management, broker-dealer, or RIA organization.

Experience supporting financial advisor recruiting, onboarding, succession planning, or acquisitions of books of business.

Familiarity with the legal and regulatory landscape impacting financial professionals and advisory businesses.

Experience partnering with senior executives on strategic initiatives, growth opportunities, and business transformation efforts.

Collaborative mindset with a passion for solving complex business challenges and driving meaningful outcomes.

Why Join Us

Shape the future of a leading wealth management organization through strategic growth initiatives, advisor recruiting, and acquisitions.

Partner with senior business and legal leaders on high-impact transactions and business-critical decisions.

Work at the intersection of law, business strategy, and growth while driving meaningful business outcomes.

Join a collaborative, high-performing team that values innovation, partnership, flexibility, and practical problem-solving.

The Equitable Law Department's mission is to serve as Equitable's trusted counsel, empowering the organization to pursue its noble purpose by upholding the highest standards, fostering collaborative relationships, and delivering innovative, business-focused solutions.

Skills

• Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
• Communicating Complex Concepts: Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
• Influencing: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to impact decisions within and outside own organization.
• Legal Analysis: Knowledge of methods and tools used in legal analysis; ability to read, interpret and draw accurate conclusions from both legal and factual information.
• Negotiation and Settlement: Knowledge of the principles, techniques and practices of negotiation and settlement of claims; ability to formulate and reach prompt and fair negotiating settlements for various claims.

About Equitable

At Equitable, we’re a team committed to helping our clients secure their financial well-being so that they can pursue long and fulfilling lives.

We turn challenges into opportunities by thinking, working, and leading differently - where everyone is a leader. We encourage every employee to leverage their unique talents to become a force for good at Equitable and in their local communities.

We are continuously investing in our people by offering growth, internal mobility, comprehensive compensation and benefits to support overall well-being, flexibility, and a culture of collaboration and teamwork.

Equitable is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to our employees, applicants and candidates based on individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disabilities, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic information or any other class protected by federal, state and local laws.

NOTE: Equitable participates in the E-Verify program.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process or to perform the essential job functions of this position, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or email us at [e-mail] .