Financial Planner

Financial Planner | Poole, Dorset | £60,000 to £85,000 + Path to Director of Financial Planning

Looking for a role where you can lead client relationships that genuinely change lives, sit on the Investment Committee and help shape how a highly thought of independent financial planning firm grows? This could be for you.

This position suits experienced Financial Planners, or Associate Planners with client facing experience ready to lead, who want to do the work properly. With time. With backing. With clients who stay for decades.

What's In It For You?

We've designed this role to reward great work and give you a long career here, not just a job. Base salary £60,000 to £85,000, with compensation paid as salary rather than bonus: we believe in paying well for the role, backed by a seat on the Investment Committee and a path to Director of Financial Planning.

• Salary: £60,000 to £85,000 (depending on experience).

• Holiday: 22 days plus bank holidays, plus Birthday & extended closure at Christmas.

• Pension: 5% employer contribution.

• Professional Development: Funded CPD and financial support with professional exams.

• Office: Poole, Dorset (BH14). Free parking. Hybrid model with sensible flexibility, predominantly office based.

• Senior Leadership Path: A route to Director of Financial Planning for the right person, mentoring future planners as the firm grows.

• Modern Tech Stack: Migrating to a contemporary back office system and embracing AI tools (Saturn AI). We welcome your ideas to push that forward.

About Life Matters

Life Matters is an independent lifestyle financial planning firm in Poole, Dorset. We believe life is for living. Live it well.

Our role isn't to sell products. It's to give clients the peace of mind and confidence to make bold decisions about their money and the lives they want to live. We turn traditional financial advice on its head: rather than recommending a short term fix through an individual product, we create a plan that helps clients achieve their long term goals.

• VouchedFor Top Rated Adviser, for 6 years.

• 100% of clients say working with us has helped them achieve their life goals.

• 4.9 star average client rating; some of our clients have been with us for over two decades.

• Seen as the leading financial planning firm in the area for wealthy families.

• High touch, low volume: we cap client relationships at around 80 per planner to protect the depth and quality of service.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll take ownership of our existing high net worth client relationships and deepen them over time. Bringing a book of clients isn't the expectation and new business development isn't your remit; that sits with our Managing Director. Your focus is on the depth, quality and outcomes of the relationships we already have.

• Client Leadership: Manage a portfolio of varied, often complex HNW clients. Develop strong long term relationships and help them make positive decisions about their financial future.

• Planning Meetings: Run Planning Meetings and ad hoc client meetings end to end, ensuring advice achieves the best outcomes for each client's individual needs.

• New Client Onboarding: Deliver new client onboarding alongside the Managing Director.

• Plan Creation: Work with the team to produce clear, technically accurate, compliant and concise Financial Plans (Your Big Picture), Recommendation Reports and Planning Meeting Summaries within agreed timescales.

• Investment Committee: Participate as a valued member of the Life Matters Investment Committee.

• Professional Network: Liaise with clients' legal and tax advisers and attend joint meetings as needed.

• Compliance: Provide all advice within a strict ethical and compliance framework: Consumer Duty, AML, SPS and CPD.

• Team Development: Support colleagues with technical training, updates and judgment calls.

• Continuous Improvement: Share ideas and innovations that could improve business processes or enhance client relationships.

Essential Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 5 years in Financial Services, with at least 2 years as an IFA / Financial Adviser and 2 years building financial forecasts.

• Qualification: Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (Level 4).

• Technical Knowledge: In depth understanding of financial planning, with proven experience using cashflow modelling tools (e.g. Voyant / Truth) and core MS Office.

• Compliance: Excellent compliance record with detailed understanding of Consumer Duty, AML, SPS and CPD requirements.

• Interpersonal: Exceptional questioning and listening skills, with the ability to adapt your communication style to a diverse HNW clientele: gentle and reassuring when needed, direct and challenging when warranted.

• Decision Making: Strong ability to apply your own judgment and experience when speaking with clients.

• Mindset: A collaborative team player. Open to feedback as an investment in your growth. Comfortable in a small firm environment where everyone mucks in.

• Outlook: Progressive on tech and open to AI tools. We're not standing still and you shouldn't want to either.

Desirable Preferences

• Qualifications: Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, or Certified / Chartered Financial Planner.

• Background: Experience supporting business owners, senior executives or HNW retirees with £1m+ to invest.

Working Pattern

Hybrid with sensible flexibility. The office is in Poole (BH14). Mondays in office are standard. The majority of client meetings happen in the office, so the working pattern flexes with the diary. Clients always come first.

Our Six Core Values

1. Put clients at the centre of all we do.

2. Do the right thing; not the easy thing.

3. Be curious; pursue growth and learning.

4. Collaborate to create brilliant and simple solutions.

5. Embrace and drive change.

6. Act with passion and care.

If these resonate with you, you'll feel right at home here.

How To Apply

Contact Mark Penswick at Antony George at mark.penswick@antonygeorge.com for a confidential conversation.