Associate Advisor in Walnut Creek, California at Destination Wealth Management

Destination Wealth Management is a rapidly growing Wealth Management firm with an opening for an Associate Advisor to work alongside Lead Advisors in managing client relationships and delivering comprehensive wealth management services.

This role is designed for someone building their technical, client-facing, and advisory capabilities. The Associate Advisor plays an important role in preparing for client meetings, supporting financial planning, coordinating across internal specialists, executing client decisions, and ensuring commitments are carried through to completion.

The Lead Advisor retains responsibility for overall client strategy, material advice, prioritization, and relationship management. As the Associate Advisor develops technical expertise, judgment, and client skills, responsibilities and independence will increase.

Key Responsibilities:

Client & Meeting Support

• Prepare client meeting materials, agendas, reports, and supporting information.
• Participate in client meetings and increasingly contribute as experience develops.
• Document client decisions, commitments, and action items.
• Handle routine client communications and service requests.
• Follow up with clients for information, documents, signatures, and outstanding items.
• Provide backup coverage for Lead Advisors on routine matters.

Financial Planning

• Gather, organize, and maintain client financial information.
• Prepare and update financial plans under the direction of the Lead Advisor.
• Support retirement, cash flow, tax, estate, insurance, and other planning analyses.
• Coordinate information needed by Financial Planning, Investment, Tax, Estate, and other specialists.
• Identify missing information, inconsistencies, deadlines, and issues requiring additional review.
• Support implementation of planning recommendations following client and Lead Advisor approval.

Coordination & Execution

• Translate client decisions and advisor direction into specific tasks and next steps.
• Track client requests, planning work, paperwork, and internal deliverables through completion.
• Maintain accurate client records, meeting notes, tasks, and deadlines.
• Follow up on outstanding work and escalate delays or unresolved issues.
• Help ensure recurring client service and planning activities are completed on schedule.

Investment Support

• Develop and maintain knowledge of the firm's investment approach and client portfolios.
• Prepare portfolio review materials and related client information.
• Identify portfolio or client changes requiring review by the Lead Advisor or Investment team.
• Support implementation and follow-through on approved investment decisions.

What We're Looking For

We recognize that candidates may enter this role at different stages of development. Candidates do not need to have mastered every aspect of wealth management before joining the firm.

• Approximately 1–5 years of relevant wealth management, financial planning, investment, or related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, financial planning, economics, business, accounting, or a related field preferred.
• CFP® certification, progress toward CFP® certification, or interest in pursuing the designation preferred.
• Foundational knowledge of financial planning and investment concepts appropriate to experience level.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple client matters and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation and follow-through.
• Ability to exercise judgment and recognize when an issue requires additional review or escalation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with advisors and specialists across multiple disciplines.
• Experience with financial planning, CRM, portfolio reporting, and Microsoft Office applications is helpful.