Director, Financial Planning

The Director of Financial Planning leads WaFd Wealth’s financial planning function and oversees a team of Financial Planning support staff. This role is responsible for building, implementing, and enforcing a structured, repeatable planning process as directed by the CEO, ensuring consistency, quality, and a premium client experience across all planning engagements.

The Director provides advanced planning expertise, coaches and develops team members, manages workflow and quality control, and partners closely with Relationship Managers and Advisors to ensure planning drives meaningful client outcomes. Within the first 9–12 months, the Director is expected to independently produce comprehensive financial plans while elevating the capabilities of the planning team.

This leader contributes to delivering a consistent, high-quality client experience through thoughtful analysis, attention to detail, and collaboration with the client and Wealth team. Candidate reflects WaFd’s core values and ethics, including integrity, teamwork, ownership, simplicity, discipline, and service. In addition, they must be kind.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning team—manage, mentor, and develop a team of analysts and planners, providing technical guidance, workflow oversight, and performance feedback.
• Establish a standardized planning process—build and maintain a structured, repeatable process for plan creation, updates, and delivery, ensuring alignment with CEO directives.
• Quality control—review plans for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to Team standards before delivery to clients.
• Training & development—create training opportunities for new analysts, including technical skills, planning philosophy, and client communication.
• Create comprehensive financial plans—independently build full financial plans within 9–12 months, including cash flow, retirement modeling, tax projections, insurance analysis, estate considerations and other considerations.
• Oversee complex casework—serve as the escalation point for sophisticated planning scenarios requiring advanced technical expertise.
• Develop planning tools proficiency—maintain expert‑level proficiency in RightCapital and other planning systems; guide team members in best practices.
• Partner with Relationship Managers to ensure timely follow‑up on client requests and seamless integration of planning into the client experience.
• Prepare planning deliverables—oversee creation of reports, summaries, and visual materials that clearly communicate recommendations and progress toward client goals.
• Support strategic initiatives—collaborate with Leadership on planning‑related projects, technology enhancements, and process improvements.

Ensuring Regulatory and Operational Compliance:

• Maintain the integrity of WaFd Wealth business needs in all account processes and servicing activities.
• Use resources provided as needed.
• Adhere to WaFd Wealth policies and procedures.
• Complete and pass all assigned compliance courses and assigned certifications as required.
• Avoid all real or perceived conflicts of interest and always maintain client privacy and confidentiality.

Qualifications & Skills:

• CFP certification (active and in good standing).
• 5+ years of financial planning experience, including direct plan creation and client-facing planning discussions.
• Leadership experience—managing, coaching, or mentoring planning staff.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present complex financial information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and organization.
• Proficiency with RightCapital (preferred) and Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, and commitment to client confidentiality.
• Experience building or scaling a planning department (preferred)
• Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM systems.

At WaFd Bank you get all of these great benefits!

• Paid time off for vacation, sick days and holidays
• Health insurance
• Stock options
• Bonus programs
• 401(k) plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee assistance programs
• Pre-tax health and dependent-care spending plans

WaFd Bank Benefits Summary - Click here for more information

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