Ultra-High-Net-Worth Planning Specialist, VP

The Vice President, Ultra High Net Worth Planning Specialist is an experienced financial planning professional and a member of the Ultra High Net Worth Financial Planning Team (“UHNW FP”). The Specialist partners directly with Financial Advisors and their ultra-high-net-worth clients throughout the financial planning process, including client discovery, holistic plan development, interpretation of planning results, and presentation of recommendations to clients.

The Specialist develops comprehensive financial plans addressing complex areas such as cash flow, retirement, investments, income tax, insurance, wealth transfer, charitable giving, asset protection, and estate planning. The role has a particularly strong focus on sophisticated estate planning strategies and the ability to explain complex planning concepts clearly and professionally.

The Specialist also serves as an escalation resource for Financial Planning Directors and Financial Advisors regarding Wealth Studios software, planning methodologies, and complex client scenarios. In addition, the Specialist supports Financial Advisor training on financial planning software and related planning capabilities.

This position covers the Southeast region, requires limited travel, and is expected to be in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner directly with Financial Advisors and their ultra-high-net-worth clients to conduct comprehensive discovery and identify client goals, priorities, family dynamics, financial circumstances, and planning needs.
• Create holistic financial plans using Wealth Studios and other financial planning applications.
• Analyze and interpret plan results, identify planning opportunities, and develop clear, actionable observations for Financial Advisors and clients.
• Present financial plans and complex planning concepts professionally and effectively during client meetings.
• Tailor the presentation of technical information to each client’s level of financial sophistication and support productive discussions with clients and their professional advisors.
• Collaborate closely with Financial Planning Directors and Wealth and Estate Planning Strategists (“WEPS”), including former practicing estate planning attorneys, on complex financial and estate planning matters.
• Serve as an escalation resource for Financial Planning Directors and Financial Advisors regarding Wealth Studios functionality, financial planning analysis, and complex client scenarios.
• Provide training and ongoing support to Financial Advisors on Wealth Studios and the Firm’s financial planning process.
• Assist Financial Advisors in incorporating holistic financial planning into their broader wealth management relationships.
• Maintain current knowledge of financial planning concepts, relevant tax and estate planning considerations, planning software, and industry practices.
• Track and report planning activity, client engagement, training, and other relevant metrics as requested by team leadership.
• Travel within the Southeast region on a limited basis for client meetings, Financial Advisor engagement, training, and other business needs.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree.
• CFP certification
• Five to ten years of progressively responsible experience in financial planning, wealth management, or a related professional field.
• Experience developing and presenting comprehensive financial plans for high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners.
• Strong knowledge of the six principal disciplines of financial planning:
  • General financial planning principles
  • Insurance planning
  • Investment planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Income tax planning
  • Estate planning
• Advanced knowledge of estate planning concepts, with the ability to analyze and clearly explain strategies including:
  • Lifetime gifting
  • Generation-skipping transfer tax planning
  • Intentionally defective grantor trusts
  • Charitable remainder trusts
  • Testamentary charitable lead trusts
  • Grantor retained annuity trusts
  • Qualified personal residence trusts
  • Marital trusts
  • Bypass or credit shelter trusts
  • Qualified terminable interest property trusts
  • Irrevocable life insurance trusts
• Ability to explain the structure, purpose, funding, and flow of assets among various trust arrangements and within an overall estate plan.
• Excellent executive presence and the ability to communicate professionally and credibly in meetings with Financial Advisors, clients, family members, attorneys, accountants, and other professional advisors.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, listening, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical planning concepts into clear, client-friendly language.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to interpret complex financial planning results accurately.
• Demonstrated judgment, discretion, and sensitivity when working with confidential client information and complex family circumstances.
• Strong coaching, consultative, and persuasive skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, partnership, and teamwork.
• Ability to take initiative and proactively address Financial Advisor and client needs.
• Ability to manage multiple complex planning engagements and competing priorities in a timely manner.
• Series 7 and any other required licenses must be obtained within the first six months of employment.
• Ability to travel on a limited basis.
• Ability to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Preferred

• Advanced professional degree or designation, such as a CPA, MBA, or JD.
• Experience working in a wirehouse, private bank, family office, registered investment adviser, trust company, or similar wealth management environment.
• Experience supporting Financial Advisors and presenting directly to ultra-high-net-worth clients.
• Experience training or coaching Financial Advisors on financial planning processes and technology.
• Experience reading estate documents, such as Wills and Trusts
• Knowledge of or experience with Wealth Studios.
• Familiarity with NumberCruncher, Planned Giving Manager, and QuickView.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices​ into your browser.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between$115,000 and $190,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.