Investment Associate

Cowell Financial is an established comprehensive financial advisory firm located in the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area.  We are seeking an outstanding individual for the Investment Associate position.  This is an exceptional opportunity for the right individual, passionate about investments and financial planning and eager to grow in the industry.  See below for what this full-time opportunity entails and the characteristics of the right candidate.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement Cowell Financial’s planning and wealth philosophies


• Actively participate in investment committee meetings


• Expense management 
  
  
  
  • A, B, C, institutional share classes, annuities and advisory pricing
  
  
  • Have awareness of expenses in client’s portfolios
  
  
  • Monitor LOI, breakpoints, CDSC
  
  
  • Whole family aggregated advisory pricing
  
  
  
  


• Qualified plans
  
  
  
  • Provide clients with general 401(k) allocation observations, as needed and per Service Models
  
  
  • In-service distributions
  
  
  • Remind clients to establish automatic rebalancing on their employer sponsored retirement plans
  
  
  • Work with TPA as needed
  
  
  • Maintain up to date Plan Highlights document
  
  
  
  


• SIMPLE IRAs
  
  
  
  • Maintain entity tax type and eligibility requirements
  
  
  • Manage breakpoints
  
  
  
  


• Investment operations and analyses
  
  
  
  • Advisory, brokerage, variable annuities, SMAs and Private Client Services
  
  
  • Strategic selling
  
  
  • Proactive rebalancing
  
  
  • Time-weighted asset allocation
  
  
  • Tax loss and gain harvesting
  
  
  • Roth conversions
  
  
  • Charitable giving strategies (Charitable IRAs and gifts of appreciated securities)
  
  
  • Asset allocation
  
  
  • Asset location
  
  
  • Cash reserve strategy/strategic distribution strategy
  
  
  • RMDs
  
  
  • Retirement distribution plans
  
  
  • Place all trades/log checks/log orders
  
  
  • ACHs and wires
  
  
  • Monitor annual advisory account review requirements
  
  
  • Monitor Items for Attention/Alerts
  
  
  • Retirement account deposits prior to tax filing deadline
  
  
  
  


• Investment industry knowledge
  
  
  
  • Northwestern Mutual content
  
  
  • Listen to relevant industry podcasts/content
  
  
  
  


• Participate in learning opportunities
  
  
  
  • Meetings, schools and conferences
  
  
  • Earn designations
  
  
  • Webinars
  
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree


• SIE, Series 6, Series 63 or Series 7 licensed


• CFA designation or desire to acquire


• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Word


• Analytics and research are a strong suit


• Holds a passion for investing and investment management


• Has a thirst for investment knowledge


• Active listening is a strength


• Outstanding at performing and comprehending mathematical calculations, including Time Value of Money and operating a financial calculator


• Strong critical thinking, financial analysis and problem-solving skills required


• Ability to assess a client’s financial situations and analyze portfolios to develop and implement comprehensive financial plans aligned with client’s goals


• Extremely strong attention to detail with the ability to work with a high degree of accuracy


• Ability to simultaneously manage numerous complex projects and assignments in a timely and quality manner


• Finishes what they start, adheres to deadlines, excellent at prioritizing


• Possesses a true commitment to lifelong learning, professional development and self-improvement


• Has a deep commitment for doing what is right and placing the needs of the client first


• Embraces the importance of confidentiality and compliance


• Welcomes and expects change and desires to work in a fast-paced, efficient and high-performing environment


• Works extremely well independently as well as collaborating with a team


• Willingness to delegate to team members

Benefits

• Health insurance


• Dental insurance


• Long-term disability income plan


• Life insurance


• 401(k) with match


• Professional designation program


• Paid holidays & paid time off

David T Cowell uses Cowell Financial as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Cowell Financial is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. David T Cowell is an Insurance Agent of NM and Northwestern Long-Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (long-term care insurance), a subsidiary of NM. Registered Representative of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (securities), a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC. Representative of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company®, Milwaukee, WI, (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), a subsidiary of NM and federal savings bank. There may be instances when this agent represents companies in addition to NM or its subsidiaries.  Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks (CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S. which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP® Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.