what is a paraplanner?

A Paraplanner plays a vital role in the financial planning industry in Australia. They provide essential support to financial planners and advisors by assisting in the creation and implementation of comprehensive financial plans for clients. The primary responsibilities of a Paraplanner typically include:

Financial Analysis: Conducting in-depth analysis of clients' financial situations, including income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. This analysis helps identify areas for improvement and supports the development of tailored financial strategies.

Research and Documentation: Assisting in research related to investment products, insurance policies, and other financial instruments. This involves gathering information, analyzing product features, and preparing reports for financial planners to review.

Financial Planning Support: Collaborating with financial planners to develop customized financial plans for clients. This includes preparing and maintaining financial models, projections, and scenarios to illustrate potential outcomes and recommendations.

Product and Portfolio Management: Assisting in the management of investment portfolios, including researching investment options, preparing investment proposals, and monitoring portfolio performance. Paraplanners may also help with portfolio rebalancing and reporting.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Ensuring that all financial plans and recommendations comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards. This involves staying up to date with changes in legislation and maintaining accurate documentation.

Client Relationship Management: Interacting with clients to gather necessary information, clarify goals, and provide support when required. Paraplanners may also assist with scheduling client meetings, preparing meeting agendas, and documenting client interactions.

Technology Utilization: Utilizing financial planning software, tools, and systems to streamline processes and improve efficiency. Paraplanners often work with software for data analysis, financial modeling, and financial planning calculations.

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average paraplanner salary

As a paraplanner, your remuneration package fluctuates based on experience and qualifications. The average salary of a paraplanner is $100,000 per year. When you are new in the role, you start in a junior position with a base salary of $85,000 - 95,000 annually. With years of experience, your earnings may increase to over $130,000 yearly.

what factors influence the salary of a paraplanner?

Your salary is dependent on your qualifications and work experience. If you hold a bachelor's degree, you are more likely to earn a higher salary since you can take on additional client-facing tasks such as building relationships with clients and attending meetings. With only an advanced diploma or Certificate IV course, you may earn a lower salary initially, but your earning potential will increase as you gain more experience.

In addition to qualifications and experience, the size of the organisation you work for also plays a role in determining your salary. Typically, working for a larger company will result in a higher salary due to the increased complexity of responsibilities. Conversely, working for a smaller company means working with a smaller team of financial advisors, resulting in a slightly lower salary.

Want to know what you will earn as a paraplanner? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

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types of paraplanners

The common types of paraplanners include:

  • in-house paraplanners: as a paraplanner, you can work in-house for one company. In-house paraplanners usually work for financial services companies like investment banks and financial institutions. You work with one financial advisor or provide administrative support to financial planners in your department.
  • outsourced paraplanners: as an outsourced paraplanner, you work independently as a freelance contractor and collaborate with multiple firms for shorter periods. This allows you to work with financial advisors who specialise in various niches within the financial industry.
male in blue shirt sitting inside room
male in blue shirt sitting inside room
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working as a paraplanner

Although paraplanning is a supportive role, your expertise and contribution are highly valuable to the company. Below are the specific duties, schedules, work environments, and career opportunities that come with this role.

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education and skills

Some of the educational qualifications of a paraplanner include:

  • tertiary qualification: pursue a tertiary qualification to learn the industry-relevant skills of becoming a paraplanner. For instance, a Certificate IV in financial services introduces you to the role. However, if you aspire to become a paraplanner, consider completing an Advanced Diploma in paraplanning. If you are considering moving to a financial advisor role, complete an accredited bachelor’s degree in business or financial planning.
  • work experience: you require industry experience to excel as a paraplanner. Consider seeking an internship opportunity while studying to gain experience. An entry-level role, like a junior paraplanner or an assistant in the finance team, prepares you for the role.

paraplanner skills and competencies

Some of the qualities of a paraplanner include:

  • organisational skills: as a paraplanner, you manage large volumes of financial data, and organisation skills help you improve efficiency. With organisational skills, you can plan your schedule and organise things in the office. Strong organisational skills help you meet deadlines and work effectively to ensure the needs of every client are met.
  • analytical skills: as a paraplanner, your job involves reviewing financial data for clients. You require analytical skills to take an in-depth look at the finances and data provided during financial analysis. You also translate complex information to simple terms and determine how to fix problems that arise.
  • attention to detail: as a paraplanner, you complete many tasks simultaneously, especially when reviewing clients' financial data. It is important to complete your job accurately and minimise room for error. Your detail-oriented skills help you improve accuracy when analysing large sets of data.
  • teamwork skills: as a paraplanner, you require strong teamwork skills since you collaborate with various professionals in financial services. Being a good teammate involves practising empathy, humility and being a good communicator.
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FAQs about working as a paraplanner

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a paraplanner.

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