Sr. Manager, Business Development

Edelman Financial Engines; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Health plans

401(k) contributions

Job summary

Edelman Financial Engines is seeking a Sr Manager of Business Development to build and advance a pipeline of acquisition and recruiting opportunities in the retirement plan advisory market. You will engage firm owners, consultants, and advisors, representing the firm’s value proposition and growth strategy.

You will collaborate with Retirement Plan Consulting, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and Talent Acquisition to align sourcing, recruiting, and acquisition efforts, while maintaining CRM data and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration or a related field required.
• 3-7 years of experience in business development, M&A origination, recruiting or relationship management within financial services.
• Proven track record of originating opportunities and building a pipeline (acquisitions or recruited advisors).
• Strong understanding of the retirement plan ecosystem (RPA aggregators, RIAs, broker-dealers, recordkeepers, TPAs).
• Working knowledge of ERISA fiduciary roles (3(21) & 3(38)), DOL guidance, and SEC/state RIA registration requirements.
• Proven ability to engage and influence passive prospects through consultative outreach.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills for firm owners and consultants.
• Highly proactive with hunter mindset and strong pipeline discipline.
• CRM proficiency; financial analysis skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing and business development strategies to identify acquisition and recruiting opportunities within the retirement plan advisory market.
• Build, manage, and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified retirement plan firms, advisors, and consultants.
• Lead proactive outreach efforts through networking, referrals, industry events, conferences, cold outreach, and relationship-building activities.
• Establish and cultivate relationships with firm owners, consultants, M&A advisors, bankers, recordkeepers, TPAs, and other influencers to generate opportunities.
• Serve as an ambassador for EFE, communicating the firm’s value proposition and growth opportunities.
• Tailor messaging to diverse audiences including founders, consultants, and emerging retirement plan professionals.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to align sourcing, recruiting, and acquisition efforts.
• Evaluate prospective firms/advisors for strategic and cultural fit; support diligence and assessment.
• Drive opportunities through lifecycle from initial engagement to close, hire, or acquisition with targets.
• Maintain CRM data and report on pipeline health, activity, and metrics.
• Monitor industry trends to identify opportunities and inform strategy.
• Develop origination tools and marketing materials; train internal teams on usage.

Skills

Business development

M&A origination

Relationship management

Retirement plan ecosystem

Consultative outreach

Hunter mindset

CRM proficiency

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration or a related field

Job description

At Edelman Financial Engines (EFE), our purpose is to guide people with the financial advice they need to thrive.

We believe that every dollar saved represents a lifetime of hard work and aspirations, and every dollar invested has a job to do for our clients. That's why we are committed to managing our clients' investments by truly understanding them as people first and then delivering advice, strategies and solutions to help them feel confident about the plans they are making, whether for today, tomorrow, or in the great unknown future. Our goal is to build long-term relationships based on respect, integrity, and a belief that our responsibility is to help people make smart investments decisions in every stage of their lives.

Our culture is grounded in our CORE values: Client First, One Team, Respectful Candor, and Endless Curiosity. These values guide everything we do, for our clients and each other. We are committed to moving forward together. If you are inspired by purpose-driven work and a collaborative, values-led culture, we invite you to explore a career with us.

As a Sr Manager of Business Development on the Retirement Plan Consulting team, you'll play a pivotal role by building and advancing a pipeline of acquisition and recruiting opportunities, serving as a trusted industry ambassador, and driving growth through strategic business development, relationship management, and market engagement.

In addition to an earnest desire to help people, we are looking for the ideal candidate to complement the team’s existing talents. For this Sr Manager of Business Development role, we are seeking a candidate with proven business development and relationship-building expertise to help advance the continued growth and expansion of EFE's Retirement Plan Consulting business through advisor recruiting and firm acquisitions. If you are a strategic networker, persuasive communicator, relationship-focused professional, and proactive self-starter with a strong hunter mindset, this may be an opportunity for you!

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing and business development strategies to identify acquisition and recruiting opportunities within the retirement plan advisory market.
• Build, manage, and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified retirement plan firms, advisors, and consultants.
• Lead proactive outreach efforts through networking, referrals, industry events, conferences, cold outreach, and relationship-building activities.
• Establish and cultivate relationships with firm owners, consultants, M&A advisors, bankers, recordkeepers, TPAs, and other industry influencers to generate new opportunities.
• Serve as a compelling ambassador for EFE, effectively communicating the firm’s value proposition, growth opportunities, and competitive advantages.
• Tailor messaging and engagement strategies to diverse audiences, including firm founders, experienced consultants, and emerging retirement plan professionals.
• Partner with internal stakeholders across Retirement Plan Consulting, Corporate Development, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and Talent Acquisition to align sourcing, recruiting, and acquisition efforts.
• Evaluate prospective firms, advisors, and opportunities for strategic, cultural, and business fit, supporting initial diligence and opportunity assessment.
• Drive opportunities through the acquisition and recruiting lifecycle, ensuring a seamless experience from initial engagement through close, hire, or acquisition. Achieving annual targets.
• Maintain accurate CRM data and provide regular reporting on pipeline health, activity levels, conversion metrics, and sourcing effectiveness.
• Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, market consolidation, regulatory developments, and talent movement to identify emerging opportunities and inform strategy.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance origination tools, templates, and marketing materials while providing guidance and training support to internal teams on their use.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration or a related field required;
• 3-7 years of experience in business development, M&A origination, recruiting or relationship management within financial services, with a strong preference for retirement plan advisory or consulting experience.
• Proven track record of originating opportunities and building a pipeline, whether acquisitions, recruited advisors or both.
• Strong understanding of the retirement plan ecosystem, including RPA aggregators, RIAs, broker-dealers, recordkeepers and TPAs, and of what a plan-focused firm owner or consultant is seeking.
• Working knowledge of the regulatory framework for retirement plan advice, including ERISA fiduciary roles (3(21) and 3(38)), DOL guidance, and SEC and state RIA registration requirements.
• Proven ability to engage and influence passive prospects through consultative outreach.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to present a compelling narrative to firm owners and individual consultants alike.
• Highly proactive, with a hunter mindset and strong pipeline discipline; able to operate in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment.
• Proficiency with CRM systems; financial analysis skills a plus.

Edelman Financial Engines takes a market-based approach to pay. The expected base salary range for this role nationally is below. However, final base pay will be carefully determined based on several factors, including responsibilities, job-related skills, relevant experience, geographic location, and market conditions. Additionally, this role may be eligible for other forms of compensation and benefits, such as a discretionary bonus, health, dental and other wellness plans, and 401(k) contributions.

Pay Range: $125,100 USD - $166,800 USD

About Edelman Financial Engines

Since 1986, Edelman Financial Engines has been committed to always acting in the best interests of our clients. We were founded on the belief that all investors - not just the wealthy - deserve access to personal, comprehensive financial planning and investment advice. Recognized by Barron's as a top RIA firm for eight years in a row (awarded each September (2018-2025) based on prior 12-month data through June 30)1, we support more than 1.27 million clients across 140+ offices nationwide and manage over $324 billion in assets 2. Our unique approach to serving clients combines our advanced methodology and proprietary technology with the attention of a dedicated personal financial planner. Every client’s situation and goals are unique, and the powerful fusion of high-tech and high touch allows Edelman Financial Engines to deliver the personal plan and financial confidence that everyone deserves.

For more information, please visit EdelmanFinancialEngines.com.

© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed.

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Accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the hiring process that would enable you to fully participate in that process.If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, you may request one at any time by either contacting your recruiter or [e-mail].

1 The Barron's Top 100 RIA Firms list, an annual ranking of independent advisory firms, is based on qualitative and quantitative criteria. Firms elect to participate but do not pay to be included in the ranking. The 2018 ranking refers to Edelman Financial Services, LLC, which combined its advisory business in its entirety with Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. (FEA) in November 2018. For the same survey, FEA received a precombination ranking of 12th.

2 Edelman Financial Engines data, as of September 30, 2025