Client Service Associate Chicago, IL

Focus Partners Wealth is seeking a Client Service Associate to provide a broad range of technical and client‑management support to firm senior advisors, advisors, and clients. This role serves as a liaison between our clients, advisors, custodians, and the Operations Team. The CSA team plays a vital role in managing client relationships, is passionate about client service, and upholds the highest ethical and professional standards of excellence.

A successful CSA is a proactive problem‑solver with excellent communication, organizational, and time‑management skills. The role is ideal for a meticulous, client‑focused professional who takes pride in accuracy, efficiency, and delivering a white‑glove client experience. The right candidate thrives in a fast‑paced, high‑performance environment and is driven to uphold the exceptional standards of our top wealth advisors and clients.

Hybrid work flexibility: 3 days in‑office per week with the option to work remotely 2 days per week, or as assigned by the team leader.

• Manage all aspects of account administration, including onboarding, transfers, money movements, closures, and client‑specific updates. Proactively monitor account activity, escalate issues, and ensure timely execution while maintaining clear communication with stakeholders.
• Prepare and process alternative investment paperwork, including funding requests and capital calls.
• Coordinate with multiple custodian teams to resolve account inquiries, facilitate tax document distributions, and ensure accurate processing of client requests.
• Serve as a trusted member of the advisor’s team, building strong relationships with clients, advisors, custodians, intermediaries, and the broader Wealth Management team.
• Collaborate regularly with advisors to align priorities, provide timely updates on client‑service tasks, and elevate issues as needed.
• Own the client‑service experience by ensuring timely, accurate processing of client requests and proactively resolving potential issues.
• Provide clear, proactive communication to internal/external clients, offering regular updates on request status to ensure a seamless experience.
• Manage sophisticated client‑related inquiries with professionalism and efficiency, maintaining a solutions‑oriented approach under pressure.
• Think creatively to solve problems, helping advisors and clients navigate complex situations with clarity and efficiency.
• Conduct virtual walkthroughs when needed, guiding clients through forms, portals, and complex processes to enhance understanding.
• Maintain accurate client records, ensuring data integrity across CRM, electronic files, and all other internal/external systems.
• Enhance team efficiency by contributing to training initiatives and maintaining up‑to‑date resources, including the CSA One Note and training guide on an ongoing basis.
• Proactively support peers in navigating complex situations and share best practices to enhance team effectiveness.
• Participate in team meetings and firm initiatives/projects to streamline firm policies and procedures and evolve the client experience.

• Bachelor’s Degree with 5+ years of client‑service experience in wealth management or 8+ years in financial services.
• A growth mindset with the ability to adapt, take initiative, and anticipate needs to help the Wealth Management team solve problems and provide creative solutions.
• RIA brokerage operations experience, preferably with prior RIA end‑client exposure.
• Highly detail‑oriented, possess strong organizational skills, and work well under pressured time constraints while meeting strict deadlines.
• Expertise in custodial platforms (NetX
  360, Schwab Advisor Center & Fidelity Wealthscape) preferred.
• Curiosity for learning and improving all aspects of the position, including technological and organizational strategies.
• Ability to prioritize multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly and professionally.
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with clients, advisors, and internal teams.
• Analytical and problem‑solving mindset, including…