Paraplanner (Pensions Management)

Paraplanner Location: Burnham-on-Sea Working Hours: 37.5-hour working week, Monday to Friday (08:45 am 5:15 pm) with 1-hour lunch break Salary: £26,000 £35,000 (depending on experience and qualifications) The Role Our client is dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals through personalised planning and advice. They pride themselves on the quality of their advice, superior client outcomes, and building a strong, successful business founded on trust and professionalism. They are seeking a Paraplanner to support the delivery of high-quality, client-focused financial planning. You will work closely with advisers to develop, maintain and evolve lifetime financial strategies for clients. This role goes beyond traditional report writing, contributing directly to the design, analysis, and ongoing refinement of financial plans. The ideal candidate will be genuinely focused on paraplanning and technical financial planning, with no desire to move into an adviser role. You will be expected to bring your own technical expertise and judgement to the planning process, becoming a trusted point of reference for complex technical queries and challenging client scenarios. This role may also involve supporting or conducting client meetings in the advisers absence, where appropriate, and providing technical input across more complex areas of financial planning. Key Responsibilities Financial Planning & Strategy Analyse client circumstances, objectives and financial position to support the development of holistic financial plans Contribute to the design of planning strategies across accumulation, decumulation and protection Support advisers in creating sustainable, long-term financial plans aligned to client goals Take an active role in designing recommendations alongside advisers, using your own technical knowledge and judgement Assist in stress testing plans against risks, life events and changing circumstances with cashflow modelling Provide technical input on complex planning scenarios and act as a trusted technical resource within the team Research and Analysis Conduct detailed research across investments, pensions, protection and tax planning solutions Compare providers, products, charges and outcomes to support suitable recommendations Maintain a strong understanding of market developments, legislation and best practice planning approaches Research and provide technical guidance on more complex areas, including Trusts, Business Relief (BR) qualifying investments, VCTs and evolving pension legislation Suitability & Report Writing Prepare high-quality, compliant and client-friendly suitability reports Clearly articulate the rationale behind recommendations in a way that supports client understanding and confidence Ensure consistency, accuracy and clarity across all written outputs Use your technical understanding to challenge, develop and strengthen recommendations where appropriate, rather than simply documenting adviser instructions Ongoing Planning Support Support ongoing client reviews by analysing progress against financial plans and identifying required adjustments Assist advisers in updating strategies in response to client needs, legislative changes or market conditions Contribute to maintaining long-term client relationships through consistent, high-quality planning support Support or conduct client meetings in the advisers absence where appropriate Compliance and Quality Assurance Ensure all work adheres to FCA regulations and internal compliance standards Maintain accurate, complete and well-documented client files Support internal quality checks and respond to compliance feedback where required Keep up to date with changes in financial services legislation and ensure technical recommendations remain compliant and appropriate Collaboration & Client Experience Work closely with advisers, paraplanners and adviser support teams to ensure a smooth and efficient advice process Support the preparation for client meetings and follow-up actions where required Help ensure clients receive a clear, professional and consistent experience throughout their journey Act as a go-to person for complex technical queries and support colleagues with your specialist knowledge Requirements Essential Minimum 1 year experience in a genuine paraplanning or technical financial planning role Demonstrable experience of actively contributing to the design and development of financial advice alongside an adviser, rather than primarily carrying out administrative duties Strong understanding of financial planning principles, including pensions, investments and protection Strong technical knowledge and the confidence to research, analyse and provide solutions to complex financial planning queries Excellent analytical and research skills High attention to detail and commitment to quality Strong written communication skills with the ability to simplify technical concepts for clients Ability to produce clear, accurate and compliant suitability reports Strong understanding of FCA compliance requirements and internal standards Proficient in Microsoft Office and Outlook Strong team and cultural fit A genuine long-term interest in developing as a technical paraplanner, rather than progressing into an adviser role Desirable Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (or working towards) Experience with cashflow modelling and financial planning tools Knowledge of tax planning and long-term financial strategy design Knowledge or experience of Trusts, Business Relief (BR) qualifying investments, VCTs and complex pension planning Experience using Intelligent Office / Intelliflo Personal Attributes Personable, professional and team-oriented Willingness to learn and contribute Highly presentable with strong interpersonal skills Confident in discussing complex technical matters and able to communicate effectively with advisers and clients Proactive and able to use your own initiative when developing financial planning solutions Ideally looking for a long-term career specialising in paraplanning and technical financial planning Ideally living within a 10-mile radius / 1520 minute commute Whats in It For You 23 days holiday plus bank holidays, increasing after 2 years service (1 day in year 3 and 1 day in year 4) Fully office-based role with a strong in-office learning culture and collaboration Regular staff social events Monthly external coach/counsellor visits for wellbeing support Staff wellbeing and challenge app with rewards system (vouchers; 150£200 tax-free rewards before Christmas) Pension scheme: 5% employer contribution, minimum 3% employee contribution Life cover/death in service at approximately 1x salary No private medical insurance for general staff Strong emphasis on development, progression and merit-based growth culture Discretionary / ad hoc bonuses Whats next?