Paraplanner

Gilder Search Group; Wallingford (CT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking a Paraplanner to directly support our wealth advisory team in Wallingford, CT. You will help build and present financial plans, support client service activities, and collaborate with Advisors to deliver a high-touch, white-glove experience to clients.

The role emphasizes organization, relationship building, and proactive planning, with opportunities to pursue CFP credentials and advance within the firm as part of the client service team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 3 years in the industry.
• Minimum 3 years in a Paraplanner or similar role.
• Series 7 and Series 66 (or 63 and 65) required.
• Proficiency with wealth management tools and willingness to learn new systems.
• Experience with tax analysis, retirement planning, and trust and estate planning preferred.

Responsibilities

• Foster excellent client relationships through exemplary service.
• Prepare agendas after client meetings and ensure timely follow-up.
• Onboard new clients, review statements, open accounts, and process transfers.
• Work autonomously through planning, collaborating with Advisors for client presentations.
• Handle behind-the-scenes work: data entry, plan updates, and meeting prep.
• Assist in client meetings and provide backup on service items.
• Manage seasonal workloads with high-volume meeting periods.

Skills

Client service

Communication

Organization

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Holistiplan

RightCapital

Income Lab

Nitrogen

Vanilla

Job description

Paraplanner

Location: Wallingford, CT

Salary: $85,000 to $95,000

Status: Full-time; on site

Who We Are

We are a tight-knit wealth management firm serving successful professionals, business owners, individuals, and families. For more than 29 years, we have been helping our clients work toward financial independence with our personalized approach to wealth planning, accumulation, and preservation. Our goal is to help clients maintain the standard of living they are accustomed to, while also preserving wealth for their children and grandchildren. We pride ourselves on a white glove service experience grounded in integrity, passion, and a commitment to excellence.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for people who share our vision and want to add real, lasting value to our clients. We are excited to hire a Paraplanner with a strong record of supporting advisors and delivering exceptional service to clients. As a Paraplanner, you will work directly with our Advisors to build and present financial plans for clients based on their individual needs. You will also contribute as a supporting member of our client service team.

The attributes we look for in a teammate include:

• No ego, genuinely coachable and resilient in the face of a difficult interaction
• Strong soft skills, with a comfortable and personable phone presence
• A driven mindset with a long view of the firm and industry
• Proactive rather than reactive, anticipating next steps rather than waiting to be directed
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to deliver good or bad news directly
• Strong sense of ownership, seeing tasks through to completion
• Positive attitude and a genuine team orientation
• Trustworthiness and transparency with colleagues
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills
• Sincere desire to serve clients and be an expert resource on their behalf
• Ability to deliver an inviting white glove experience to our clients
• Meticulous listening and record-keeping skills
• Flexibility and openness to work on varied priorities
• An ability to quickly connect with others and to build strong relationships within the firm and across the client base

Who You Are

• You’re early-to-mid career in financial services, with hands on experience supporting an Advisor as a Paraplanner or Associate Financial Advisor.
• You’re ambitious and interested in growing into greater responsibility
• You take genuine ownership of client relationships and want to be a trusted point of contact, not just support staff.
• You’re organized enough to juggle multiple client workflows without anything slipping through the cracks.
• You want to be in the room, part of the day-to-day energy of the team.
• You look forward to working toward your CFP and other industry credentials that will further your financial planning knowledge.

What You Will Do

• Foster excellent relationships with clients through exemplary service
• Build actionable agendas after client meetings and collaborate with our Advisors, operations, and client service staff to ensure timely follow-up on all items
• Onboard new clients, review client statements, open accounts, and execute trade requests and transfers
• Work autonomously through the planning process, then collaborate closely with Advisors when presenting to the client
• Spend the main share of time on behind the scenes work, including meeting preparation, data entry, and plan updates, with client presentations making up a smaller part of the role
• Reach out autonomously to clients to gather what is needed, including tax returns
• Prepare for and support client meetings, working closely with Advisors and reporting to the Director of Business Operations
• Sit in on client meetings alongside an Advisor, taking on portions of the presentation
• Serve as a backup on service related items as coverage needs arise
• Manage a seasonal workload, including a demanding multi week stretch of high meeting volume

What You Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 3 years in the industry
• Minimum of 3 years in a Paraplanner or similar role
• Series 7 and Series 66 (or 63 and 65) required
• Excel proficiency, with the ability to run basic functions (pivot tables not required)
• CFP not required immediately, but a genuine willingness to pursue it
• Experience in tax analysis, retirement planning, and trust and estate planning preferred
• Proficiency with wealth management technology tools such as Holistiplan, RightCapital, Income Lab, Nitrogen, and Vanilla, along with the ability to learn new systems

We welcome a diverse pool of applicants from various backgrounds