Director of Financial Planning

Kestra Financial; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

401(k) Plan

Health benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Kestra Financial seeks a Director of Financial Planning to lead comprehensive, cross-disciplinary financial plans for thousands of clients. You will mentor planners, guide strategic initiatives, and own planning technology adoption across the Advanced Planning department.

You will collaborate with advisors to translate client data into actionable strategies across investments, tax, estate planning, and retirement projections, all while staying current with regulatory changes and industry

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or related field.
• CFP Certification required.
• Experience with sophisticated planning strategies and cross-functional initiatives.
• Proficiency in planning software (MoneyGuidePro, eMoney, RightCapital, Holistiplan) and advanced Excel modeling.

Responsibilities

• Mentor financial planners and junior team members.
• Lead and execute special projects for Advanced Planning.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, tools, and service delivery.
• Own tech stack – analyze and recommend planning tools adoption.
• Develop new planning frameworks, client deliverables, and intellectual capital.
• Create educational content for internal teams and clients (presentations, whitepapers, webinars).
• Collaborate with advisors to gather client data and develop tailored financial plans.
• Analyze client situations across investments, tax, estate, retirement, and insurance.

Skills

Presentation skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Detail orientation

Education

CFP Certification

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Business/Accounting/Economics

Tools

MoneyGuidePro

eMoney

RightCapital

Holistiplan

Advanced Excel modelling

Job description

Explore Life at Kestra

Kestra Holdings Website: https://www.kestrafinancial.com/

Kestra Financial is a wealth management platform dedicated to empowering independent financial professionals—including traditional and hybrid RIAs—to grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client service. We combine advanced business management technology with personalized consulting to provide unmatched scale, efficiency, and support. Our advisor‑focused culture is built on innovation and advocacy, enabling advisors to offer comprehensive securities and investment advisory solutions to their clients.

Lead with Purpose. Partner with Impact.

The Director of Financial Planning serves as a critical support resource for approximately 1,450 financial advisors, assisting them in addressing complex financial planning needs within their advisory practices. This role focuses on leveraging technical expertise to construct comprehensive financial plans, identifying strategic planning opportunities across various disciplines such as investment, tax, estate, retirement, and insurance. The position requires direct engagement with investors and financial advisors, demanding exceptional presentation skills to effectively communicate recommendations and foster collaborative relationships. In addition to financial planning, this role will include ownership over projects supporting the initiatives of the Advanced Planning department.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide mentorship and guidance to financial planners and junior team members.
• Lead and execute special projects designed to advance the strategic priorities of the Advanced Planning department.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, tools, and service delivery models.
• Take ownership of tech stack – analyze and make recommendations regarding adoption of new planning tools.
• Drive the development of new planning frameworks, client deliverables, and intellectual capital.
• Create and deliver educational content for internal teams and clients (e.g., presentations, whitepapers, webinars).
• Collaborate with financial advisors to gather client data, assess financial goals, and develop tailored financial plans using advanced modeling techniques and software tools.
• Analyze client financial situations to identify planning opportunities and risks across multiple disciplines, including investment strategies, tax optimization, estate planning, retirement income projections, and insurance coverage.
• Prepare and deliver high-impact presentations of financial plans and recommendations to investors, financial advisors, and other stakeholders, translating complex concepts into clear, actionable insights.
• Provide ongoing support and consultation to financial advisors on planning best practices, planning technology, emerging trends, and customized solutions for their client base.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of financial planning regulations, market conditions, and industry developments to enhance advisory support.
• Document all planning activities, recommendations, and client interactions in accordance with firm policies and compliance requirements.
• Attend company sponsored conferences and events and actively engage with attendees.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in financial planning, with demonstrated success in executing sophisticated planning strategies and driving cross-functional initiatives.
• CFP Required.
• Motivated to improve processes and excited for the opportunity to build up the planning offering.
• In-depth knowledge of financial planning principles, including investment analysis, tax strategies, estate planning, retirement modeling, and risk management.
• Proficiency in financial planning software (e.g., MoneyGuidePro, eMoney, RightCapital, Holistiplan, or similar tools) and advanced Excel modeling for scenario analysis and projections.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate complex financial data and identify optimization opportunities.
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including investors and advisors.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with financial advisors and clients, demonstrating empathy, professionalism, and a client‑centric approach.
• High attention to detail, organizational skills, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment supporting a large advisor network.
• Experience working with High-Net-Worth clients (above $10M in net worth) preferred.
• Interest in staying abreast of planning technology as it evolves through AI.

Internal Application Policy:

Internal applicants must be in good standing and have a minimum of 1 year of service with Kestra. Internal applicants must also have a minimum of 1 year service in current role unless approved by EVP.

Benefits to support you:

• Competitive pay and benefits with a large employer (over 1600 employees nationwide)
• 401(k), health insurance, and a competitive benefits package
• Work in a supportive, collaborative environment committed to professional excellence
• Help clients navigate meaningful financial decisions with confidence
• Opportunities for training, development, and long‑term growth within the firm
• Tuition reimbursement for qualified expenses

Kestra Values:

Our Mission is Powering Financial Independence, enabling the growth and success of investing clients and the advisors who serve them. We do that by living our values: Serve, Make it Happen, and One team.

Explore Life at Kestra

Kestra Holdings Website: https://www.kestrafinancial.com/

Careers Portal: https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/kestra/KESTRACAREERSITE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kestra-financial

Disclosure

By applying to a job at Kestra Financial, Inc., you are agreeing to the following statements:

• You acknowledge that if hired, Kestra Financial, Inc. may, obtain and use background information concerning your credit, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, work habits, performance and experience for evaluation for your potential employment.
• It is the policy of Kestra Financial to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Kestra Financial prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.