Lead Financial Planner / Service Advisor

SGL Financial; Buffalo Grove (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health and dental insurance

401(k) with company match

Hybrid work schedule

Holidays

Job summary

SGL Financial is hiring a Lead Planner / Service Advisor to deliver holistic financial planning and advisory support in the Buffalo Grove/Chicago area. You will maintain client relationships, prepare retirement plans, and collaborate with senior advisors on complex cases.

The ideal candidate holds CFP designation (or will obtain within 2 years), Series 65/66, and a 3+ year client-facing background with strong Excel skills. Hybrid work and ongoing development are offered.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Serve as main point of contact for assigned clients in Holistic Wealth Management.
• Provide day-to-day financial planning support and client meeting follow-up.
• Prepare comprehensive financial plan recommendations and retirement plans.
• Develop investment portfolio summaries and asset allocation analyses.
• Conduct regular client reviews and collaborate with advisors on cases.
• Utilize planning software to input data and run analyses for clients.

Skills

Client relationships

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree

CFP designation target (2 years)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

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
• 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
• 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 and dental insurance available, with the company covering 70% of employee premium costs
• 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