Vice President, Financial Planning Director - Western Region

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides holistic financial solutions to individuals, families and institutions. With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to excellence, our Financial Planning Directors empower Financial Advisors and clients to make confident decisions around life’s most complex financial questions.

Position Summary The Financial Planning Director (FPD) partners with Financial Advisors to deliver a comprehensive and personalized planning experience for high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients. This strategic role provides expertise across advanced planning topics – including tax mitigation strategies, charitable giving, trust and estate planning, and equity compensation – elevating client engagement and enhancing outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Partner with Financial Advisors to create personalized financial plans using both cash-flow and goals-based planning tools offered by third-party vendor, Money Guide Pro , and Morgan Stanley’s proprietary planning platform and modeling tools.

Deliver advanced technical guidance in areas such as:

Tax-efficient portfolio strategies

Retirement income distribution planning

Executive compensation and equity planning

Charitable and philanthropic strategies

Risk management and insurance planning

Wealth transfer, trust, and estate planning

Lead client-facing planning conversations alongside Financial Advisors and Support Professionals, providing clarity on trade-offs, risks, and long-term implications

Serve as a planning subject matter expert and coach for Financial Advisors, elevating planning integration into the wealth management process and connecting Financial Advisors to relevant Firm resources

Contribute to meaningful planning outcomes including net acquired assets to the Firm, track planning engagement metrics, and monitor client follow-through

Contribute to Financial Advisor development through workshops, CE-eligible sessions, and peer mentoring across the financial planning professional network

Stay current on tax lax, estate regulations, product and strategy solutions, and market trends to ensure up-to-date advice delivery

What Makes This Role Unique Impactful Client Work:
Work on complex, multigenerational wealth strategies that go beyond basic planning models

High Advisor Engagement:
Collaborate with some of the top Financial Advisors in the industry, supporting their most sophisticated client relationships

Tech-Enabled Planning:
Leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver positive outcomes for clients and employees while accessing an ecosystem that integrates seamlessly with client data Professional Development:
Participate in a robust peer network, continuing education support, and career pathway opportunities within the planning and advisor management tracks

Firmwide Visibility:
Contribute to a firm-level strategic initiative to embed planning in the core of wealth management – driving long-term firm growth

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required

Certified Financial Planner CFP designation required5+ years of experience delivering financial plans or wealth strategies to high-net worth clients

Strong knowledge in tax and estate strategies, and insurance planning

Demonstrated ability to collaborate with client-facing professionals and communicate planning concepts clearly and credibly

Proficiency with financial planning platforms (Morgan Stanley proprietary tools, Money Guide Pro , or equivalent.)Current active Series 7 and 66 required for role
** Candidates will be considered for the following locations:

Tempe/Phoenix, AZSeattle, WA Kirkland, WABellevue, WASan Francisco, CAWalnut Creek, CAHouston, TXHiring Process Our hiring procedure is a multistep process that can take four to six weeks to complete. Successful candidates can expect multiple interviews and assessments. All offers of employment are contingent on a background check.

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…