Senior Paraplanner / Technical Specialist

LGT Wealth Management UK LLP is a UK-based partnership, wholly owned by the private banking group LGT, which is in turn owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein. When we set up LGT Wealth Management in 2008, our aim was to offer a fresh approach to wealth management. Alongside the LLP we also have two other entities which focus on US and Jersey based clients. Our head office is based in London however we have a presence in Edinburgh, Jersey, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester. The plan was simple: put our clients first by providing a transparent service, designed around what is right for each of them. By drawing together in-depth knowledge and experience from across the industry, we provide a flexible, bespoke service adapted to each of our clients’ needs.

Our mission is to create long-term value for all stakeholders. Our culture encourages individuals to generate, develop and implement ideas which will strengthen our business. Belonging, respect, integrity, conviction and entrepreneurship are our core values. As our brand recognition grows, we are fast becoming an employer of choice in our sector. We have over £30 billion in funds under management and circa 700 staff.

Job Description

The Wealth Planning team is responsible for the provision of comprehensive financial planning advice to individuals, companies, partnerships and trusts. We work with our clients to create bespoke financial plans, considering the whole of the market in order to find the best financial planning solutions. We are involved in a broad range of activities including:

▪ Cash flow analysis

▪ Psychometric risk profiling

▪ Retirement planning

▪ Pension aggregation

▪ Income tax planning

▪ Inheritance tax planning

▪ Business planning

▪ Protection for death and illness

▪ Long term savings and investments

▪ Offshore and international planning for non-domiciled and non-resident clients

▪ Venture Capital Trust, Enterprise Investment Scheme and Business Relief advice

The Wealth Planning team is looking for an experienced professional to join in either a Senior Paraplanner or Technical Specialist capacity, depending on their expertise. We are open to candidates who can independently manage paraplanning across standard and complex advice cases, as well as those whose strengths lie in resolving exceptional technical planning questions and guiding colleagues on specialist matters. In either capacity, the successful candidate will bring sound judgement, work effectively with Wealth Planners across our UK offices and be able to contribute from the outset.

Senior Paraplanner:

The primary role of the Senior Paraplanner is to provide a full professional and technical support function to Wealth Planners in meeting the client’s financial objectives. The Wealth Planners supported by this role are based across LGT’s UK regional offices in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds. The Senior Paraplanner will be based in London and must be comfortable providing effective support remotely, if required.

The role requires an experienced Senior Paraplanner who can contribute from day one with minimal core paraplanning training, aside from training on LGT’s specific processes. Candidates do not need to hold the title of Senior Paraplanner currently, but this is not intended as a development opportunity for someone who needs hands on training in core paraplanning.

The Senior Paraplanner independently owns the paraplanning work on standard, bespoke and complex advice cases. They anticipate and resolve issues, exercise sound technical judgement, maintain a complete and well-documented advice file, and provide guidance to less experienced colleagues. They recognise when a case calls for specialist technical input and involve the Technical Specialist where appropriate.

The Senior Paraplanner may also be required to carry out other duties allocated to them by Wealth Planners, Compliance team, Administration Manager or Paraplanner Manager to meet the wider needs of the Wealth Planning team.

Senior Paraplanner Key Responsibilities

Preparation and Maintenance of Client Files

▪ Take ownership of the advice file throughout the paraplanning process, proactively identifying missing information, technical issues and potential delays, and resolving or escalating them as appropriate.

▪ Collect and analyse client’s financial information and work with Wealth Planners to determine strategies for meeting the client’s financial objectives.

▪ Ensure that all compliance documentation is recorded in line with LGT Wealth Planning’s procedure manual and FCA guidelines.

▪ Accurately record client information and documentation within Intelligent Office (iO) back-office management system.

▪ Follow the Intelligent Office (iO) process consistently and maintain files to a standard that supports successful Operations file checks.

▪ Identify and obtain the information necessary to complete a cash flow model (if required).

Cashflow Planning (if required)

▪ Interpret data received from the client and build a cashflow model using our cash flow modelling tool.

▪ Ensure that all data input into the cash flow modelling tool is accurate and correct.

▪ Independently build, review and explain cashflow models for standard and more advanced scenarios, checking that the assumptions, inputs and outputs are appropriate to the client’s circumstances and the advice under consideration.

▪ Prepare an analysis document which details the outputs and key findings from the modelling, in line with the requirements of the Senior/ Wealth Planner and client.

▪ Provide guidance to other paraplanners on the cashflow modelling process, where appropriate.

Advice and Recommendation

▪ Independently lead bespoke and complex advice cases, taking ownership of the technical research, planning analysis, report drafting and completeness of the advice file. Recognise unusual or specialist issues and involve the Technical Specialist where advanced technical input is required.

▪ The Senior Paraplanner may attend client meetings with the Wealth Planner (as required).

▪ Research and record all technical and product data relevant to the client and to the specific advice we are providing.

▪ Research should be undertaken both independently and alongside the Wealth Planner.

▪ Act as a trusted technical point of reference for Wealth Planners, applying sound judgement across standard and complex cases.

▪ Analyse the client’s existing products/ financial arrangements to determine suitability in meeting the client’s objectives.

▪ Identify unusual, exceptionally complex or technically uncertain matters early, document the questions requiring resolution and seek input from the Technical Specialist or other appropriate specialists where necessary.

▪ Undertake financial calculations relevant to the financial advice.

▪ Manage the preparation and completion of comprehensive financial advice letters and suitability reports in line with LGT Wealth Planning’s procedure manual. Ensuring any recommendations are detailed in a clear, concise, jargon free manner. This would include (but not limited to) retirement planning, estate planning, cash flow reports, or financial strategy plans.

▪ Show initiative in preparing supporting analysis or documents where these would improve the quality or clarity of the advice, even if they were not specifically requested at the outset.

▪ Ensure that all client data detailed in our financial advice letters and suitability reports is accurate and correct.

▪ Ensure that the correct advice sign off is obtained prior to issuing the financial advice letters and suitability reports.

▪ Liaise with the client’s LGT investment manager, legal advisor, accountant and tax advisers, etc (where applicable).

Oversee Implementation of Recommendations

▪ Take ownership of the advice process, ensuring the advice file is in good order before it is passed to the Administration Manager for new business submis