Financial Planning Associate

Northwestern Mutual; Campbell (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual – San Jose is seeking a Financial Planning Associate to support advisors with comprehensive planning, risk protection, and investment operations.

This role integrates planning, risk, and investment operations to back advisors in achieving production, planning, and client service goals. The Associate serves as a central partner to advisors, delivering high-quality deliverables while collaborating with underwriting, home office, and internal teams.

Qualifications

• California Life and Health licensing requirements must be met or obtained.
• Ability to obtain investment licenses (SIE, Series 7, 63/65/66) within 6 months.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Create financial plans and risk illustrations for life, disability, and long-term care.
• Prepare client deliverables and professional planning proposals.
• Coordinate with advisors, underwriting and home office for smooth processing.
• Process applications, eSign, and track progress to 100% reliability.
• Open and maintain investment accounts, manage money movement, and execute trades.
• Provide case consultations and strategic planning insights.

Skills

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Detail orientation

Team collaboration

Job description

Northwestern Mutual – San Jose is seeking a Financial Planning Associate. This role integrates comprehensive sales execution, risk product support, financial planning, and investment operations to fully support advisors in achieving production, planning, and client service goals. The Associate serves as a central partner to advisors, delivering high-quality risk, investment, and planning deliverables while ensuring operational excellence and strong collaboration with underwriting, home office, and internal teams.

About the Role

This role integrates comprehensive sales execution, risk product support, financial planning, and investment operations to fully support advisors in achieving production, planning, and client service goals.

Responsibilities

• Create plans and risk production illustrations (Life, DI, LTC)
• Prepare feed lists, birthday and age-change call lists
• Schedule medical exams
• Pre-check, submit, and track applications with a goal of 100% reliability
• Facilitate underwriting as liaison between advisors and other departments
• Monitor DSRs and obtain outstanding requirements
• Initiate eSign processes and track PDAs
• Process POS requests including ISA maintenance, EFT changes, and ownership/beneficiary updates
• Prepare and process policy change estimates
• Create high-quality financial plans and investment proposals
• Provide case consultations and strategic planning insights
• Open and maintain investment accounts, manage money movement, and execute trades
• Track assets and transactions with systematic reporting
• Process account updates including registrations, rep code, address, and beneficiary changes
• Ensure accuracy and compliance of all investment paperwork
• Build close, supportive relationships with advisors
• Collaborate with mentors, Directors, and other departments on best practices
• Support onboarding of new advisors and planning services
• Participate meetings to remain aligned with productivity goals
• Cross-train across risk, investment, and planning functions

Required Qualifications

• California Life and Health and ability to obtain investment licenses: SIE, Series 7, 63 or 65 or 66 within first 6 months of employment
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

Preferred Skills

• Experience in financial planning or investment operations
• Familiarity with underwriting processes
• Financial industry experience

What’s in it for you?

Join an award-winning culture named the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s #1 Best Place to Work. We believe in building a team that loves what they do and creating a work environment that supports long-term career growth. Accordingly, we provide a rewarding compensation package which includes:

• A competitive base salary commensurate to experience ($70,000 - $90,000 annually + bonus)
• 100% premium coverage HMO medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Employer-sponsored licensing, professional development, and education opportunities