Lead Financial Planner

SGL Financial, LLC

Buffalo Grove (IL)

On-site

USD 85,000 - 125,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

SGL Financial, LLC in Buffalo Grove, IL is seeking a Lead Planner / Service Advisor to provide holistic wealth management and financial planning services to a growing client base.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of client-facing financial planning experience, Series 65/66, and a CFP designation (or plan to obtain within 2 years). A Life Insurance license is preferred and may be pursued within 6 months of hire. Hybrid work and strong growth opportunities offered.

Qualifications

3+ years of experience working with clients as a Financial Planner required.
Series 65 or Series 66 license required.
CFP designation preferred; CFP must be obtained within 2 years from hire date.
Life Insurance license preferred; must be obtained within 6 months from hire date.
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.

Responsibilities

Serve as the main point of contact for all assigned clients in Holistic Wealth Management.
Prepare comprehensive financial plan recommendations and retirement plans.
Develop investment portfolio summaries and asset allocation analyses.
Meet regularly with clients to establish trusting, supportive relationships.
Assist with data input and development of retirement plans using planning software.
Assist the Lead Advisor and team with a broad range of financial planning needs and analyses.
Collaborate with team members on client cases.
Conduct regular client reviews as per the Service Model.

Skills

Client relationships

Financial planning

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Who We Are

SGL Financial is an established wealth management and financial planning firm serving the Buffalo Grove and Chicago area for more than 22 years.

We oversee approximately $650 million in assets and proudly serve more than 850 families through our comprehensive wealth management, retirement planning, investment management, and insurance planning services.

Our mission and core beliefs guide everything we do:

Our clients' financial security and peace of mind are always our #1 focus
Exceptional service, responsiveness, and attentiveness are non‑negotiable
A passion for financial planning and helping others is at the heart of everything we do
Relationships matter most. Our clients become part of our extended family

We provide a stable, growing organization with proven systems, strong leadership, advanced technology, marketing support, and a collaborative team environment that allows advisors to focus on what they do best: helping clients make confident financial decisions.

Position Overview:

Are you a professional, attentive, and motivated Service Advisor that brings a passion for helping clients with all aspects of their financial and investment planning?

Our firm is seeking an experienced Service Advisor to join our team as a Lead Planner. Ideal candidates will have a CFP designation and 3+ years of relevant experience.

We are an established wealth management and financial planning firm serving the Buffalo Grove & Chicago, IL area for over 20+ years. We oversee appx. $350 Million in total assets and serve approximately 700 families in multiple financial services and divisions.

We offer a stable and growing company with leadership, support, training, and everything you need to succeed and grow your career.

Key Responsibilities:

Your role as a Lead Planner / Service Advisor will require you to handle a wide range of financial planning responsibilities as well as maintaining trusting, supportive, and strong relationships with the client base.

Each Service Advisor works closely as a member of our team-based “pod” structure managed by our Lead Advisors. The Lead Advisor’s role is to find and source new advisory clients to work with SGL Financial. Upon onboarding, they are transitioned to the Lead Planner / Service Advisor.

The Service Advisor is primarily a non-sales role which provides day-to-day financial planning support for clients and manages the follow-up of client meetings and relationships. However, there will also be new sales opportunities for the Service Advisor with existing clients, such as additional assets and cross‑sale opportunities.

Utilizing our exclusive and proprietary planning software, you will assist with data input and development of comprehensive retirement plans and assist the Lead Advisor and the team’s clients with a broad range of other financial planning needs and calculations.

Day-to-Day Job Function:

Serve as the main point of contact for all assigned clients in our Holistic Wealth Management division.
Service all client needs, requests, questions, and updates
Prepare comprehensive financial plan recommendations
Prepare and develop robust retirement income plans and retirement plan tracking
Prepare investment portfolio summaries and asset allocation analyses
Meet regularly with clients to establish trusting, supportive relationships
Prepare and analyze various financial planning reports
Utilize tax planning software to assess client tax situations and tax strategies
Run, review, and compare various illustrations for annuities, life insurance and long‑term care (LTC) to find the best options for clients
Oversee preparation of various one-off analysis requests
Handle a variety of other financial planning related analyses and services as needed
Collaborate with team members and advisors on client cases
Conduct regular client reviews according to their assigned Service Model
Proactively check‑in with clients throughout the year to ensure all client needs are met

What we seek in a candidate:

3+ years of experience working with clients as a Financial Planner required
Series 65 or Series 66 license required
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ preferred
CFP is a designation requirement to be obtained within 2 years from hire date
Life Insurance license preferred
Life insurance license must be obtained within 6 months from hire date
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
Strong passion for financial and retirement planning
Enjoys working with numbers, spreadsheets and planning analysis
Very strong Microsoft Excel experience and familiarity
Highly detail‑oriented and accurate
Must be capable of multi‑tasking and tracking multiple items/projects at the same time
Friendly, outgoing, and able to build and maintain strong relationships

The Perks:

We believe that taking care of our team is the foundation of a strong, thriving organization. We are committed to supporting your well‑being, professional growth, and long‑term success. Our compensation and benefits package are designed to reward your contributions and help you build a fulfilling career.

Compensation & Growth:

Competitive base salary with team‑based bonus structure
Clear career growth and advancement opportunities
Mentoring and hands‑on guidance from management and leadership
A strong commitment to continuous learning - after six months of employment, the company regularly sponsors industry‑related designations, certifications, and educational programs that are relevant to your professional development
Supportive, family‑oriented company culture that values collaboration and personal development

Work–Life Balance

Paid Time Off (PTO) – Begins at 15 paid days per year, with an accrual system based on tenure and years of service
Paid Holidays – Office closures on federal holidays and stock market closure dates, including: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

Business hours that support work–life balance:

Mon–Thurs: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM once high‑priority tasks are completed
Paid lunch hour

Flexible Work Options

Hybrid Work Schedule – Employees become eligible after six (6) months of employment to participate in the firm's hybrid work program, allowing for a combination of in‑office and remote work, subject to role requirements and manager approval.
Family Flex Work‑From‑Home Program – Employees accrue two (2) flexible work‑from‑home days per month, which may be used as needed to support family, personal, or life events while maintaining business responsibilities.
PTO Enhancement Option – Employees who choose to opt out of the Hybrid Work Schedule are eligible to receive an additional five (5) days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year.

Health & Wellness Benefits

Health and dental insurance available, with the company covering 70% of employee premium costs
Vision insurance available
Spouse and dependent coverage available at employee expense
401(k) retirement plan with company matching eligibility begins after six months of employment

Office Perks That Make Every Day Better

Unlimited snacks and beverages available in the office
Complimentary Starbucks coffee machine to keep you energized
Warm, welcoming work environment where contributions are recognized and appreciated
Team bonding events, including monthly company‑paid lunches, company outings, and happy hours

Benefits: