Job Description

How Will Your Role Impact First Command?

Located within the Product Management Group, a Sales Support Specialist serves as a primary resource for selecting and deploying First Command products. The SS Specialist interacts with Advisors in addressing client questions and concerns related to the appropriate sale and servicing of products (e.g. product features, capital market movements, alternative and competitor products, etc.). The SS Specialist serves as an escalation point for advanced issues from other First Command teams such as Brokerage Operations, the Customer Service Center, and the Financial Planning Groups (Advanced Planning and Supervision).

What Will You Be Doing?

• Serve as primary Advisor resource for current information and suitable use of First Command investment and risk products:
  • Retail mutual funds
  • Managed investment accounts (AMS)
  • Annuities
  • Life Insurance
  • College Savings Plans
  • Retirement Plans (IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, qualified retirement plans)
• Serve as primary Advisor resource to address client questions and concerns about First Command products and factors influencing the role or performance of those products:
  • Capital market events
  • Alternative investment
  • Performance evaluations and questions
  • Review features and pricing
• Serve as escalation point for other First Command teams regarding product questions or concerns:
  • Brokerage Operations - SS Specialist evaluates eligibility for asset transfer to brokerage platform and advanced questions regarding AMS program
  • Customer Service Center - SS Specialist resolves advanced AMS or Netx360 questions
  • Financial Planning (Supervision) - SS Specialist may be asked to confirm the suitability of a product recommendation in an Implementation Module; with expectation that Financial Planning Principal is relying on that confirmation in the planning process
• If asked, provide, or affirm suitability basis for supporting product recommendation in Financial Planning Implementation Module (e.g., FINRA Fund Analyzer, Annuity Illustration, Morningstar Report, etc.)
• Evaluate trends in Advisor product knowledge and develop appropriate training or support materials
• Conduct periodic webinars and training events for investment product or client trends (e.g., highlight a fund partner, AMS tools, Netx360, Morningstar, etc.)
• Create or assist in the creation of investment proposals for Advisors that are in compliance with Regulation Best Interest

What Qualifications/Skills Do You Need?

• Education (varies based on Level 1, 2, or 3)
  • Bachelor's Degree - preferred (Level 1, Level 2), required (Level 3)
  • Preference for business degree or math oriented academic emphasis
• Work Experience (varies based on Level 1, 2 or 3)
  • Level 1: 2+ years in a sales-oriented role (e.g., investment advisor) or investment/insurance sales support role required
  • Level 2: 5 years in sales-oriented role, financial planning role or investment/insurance sales support role preferred
  • Level 3: 10 years in sales-oriented role, financial planning role or investment/insurance sales support role preferred
• Certifications
  • FINRA Registrations Series 7, Series 24 and Series 65/66 Required (strongly preferred, limited ability to acquire within 120 days of hire)
  • CFP®, ChFC, CIMA, CFA or other designation determined to meet the needs of the Sales Support Team
    • Level 1 - start pursuit of certification as desired with agreement from Product Management leadership
    • Level 2 - certifications strongly preferred
    • Level 3 - 2 certifications required (RICP, CRPS, CIMA, ChFC as examples)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Level 1 - The performance standard is "proficiency"

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Morningstar Advisor Workstation or similar Morningstar product (e.g., Direct)
• General understanding of the regulatory, legal, supervisory risk and liability associated with the financial services industry and First Command products
• Independently construct basic product recommendations
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Strong administrative skills
• Self-starting skills with demonstrated sense of urgency
• Organized, ability to prioritize work in a fast paced, high volume environment and handle frequent interruptions while maintaining accuracy and meeting delivery times for assigned tasks
• A strong desire to serve Advisors and truly help promote their successful practice

Level 2 - The performance standard is "generalist"

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Morningstar Advisor Workstation or similar Morningstar product with demonstrated ability to maximize the illustrative capabilities of the system; ability to lead training on proper utilization of the system
• General understanding of the regulatory, legal, supervisory risk and liability associated with the financial services industry and First Command products and best methods to successfully manage these issues
• General knowledge of financial planning concepts and the ability to understand the role of product selection in the Implementation Module process
• General knowledge of the special requirements for employer sponsored retirement plan products
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written; the ability to present training material in a group training environment
• Strong administrative skills
• Self-starting skills with demonstrated sense of urgency
• Organized, ability to prioritize work in a fast paced, high volume environment and handle frequent interruptions while maintaining accuracy and meeting delivery times for assigned tasks
• A strong desire to serve Advisors and truly help promote their successful practice

Level 3 - The performance standard is "subject matter expert"

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Interface with Financial Planning-Advanced Planning to review outside assets, conversion strategies, advanced planning techniques for products such as IUL, hybrid LTC and annuity products
• Work with Financial Planning-Supervision to address plan approval exceptions or suitability questions
• Work with Brokerage Operations to resolve escalated research issues or work on successful investment transfer to the brokerage platform
• Review and update policy statement (SOP 19-1) governing the sale of qualified retirement plans
• Lead projects as assigned by the Director-Product Management related to product trends, industry events, communication, etc.
• Broad knowledge of financial planning concepts including tax and estate planning and knowledge of First Command financial planning philosophy and systems
• Supervising principal level knowledge of financial services industry regulation and suitability principles, brokerage account rules and investment products
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written; the ability to present training material in a group training environment
• Strong administrative skills
• Self-starting skills with demonstrated sense of urgency
• Organized, ability to prioritize work in a fast paced, high volume environment and handle frequent interruptions while maintaining accuracy and meeting delivery times for assigned tasks
• A strong desire to serve Advisors and truly help DAs promote best practices with product placement and support

Progression Plan

• Level 1: 2+ years of relevant work experience
• Level 2: 4-year college degree in Business, Marketing, Finance (preferred) or 5 years of relevant work experience with a ChFC or CFP designation

Level 3: Bachelor's degree required. Preferred degrees include business, accounting, or finance, or one with a strong mathematical component + 2 certifications

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