Work with Us

The Role of the Client Support Specialist
The Client Support Specialist cares for clients with excellence, grace, friendliness and support, while relieving the CEO from certain client needs and collaborating with the Lake Growth Team to offer an efficient, expedient and professional experience for families and small businesses. Please note: This is a full-time (40 hours per week) in-office position in St. Charles, IL.

Requirements for this position

• High school diploma or high school transcript, if homeschooled (Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred, but not required.)
• Teachable, able to learn quickly and able to apply learning in daily activities
• Warmth and ability to listen
• Must communicate clearly and proficiently in English (speaking and writing)
• Capacity to work with precision, effectiveness and speed
• Computer skills, including but not limited to: Email communication, Word processors, Spreadsheets, Zoom, Data entry, Docusign, Team communication and collaboration tools
• Knowledge of the Bank on Yourself® concept (preferred, but not required)
• Short commute to our Fox Valley office in St. Charles, Illinois
• Valid Illinois Driver’s License and working car

Responsibilities

• Report to the Operations Manager of Lake Growth to keep current on tasks and activities.
• Go above and beyond to help clients. Be the front “face” of Lake Growth to existing and prospective clients, presenting an excellent first impression (by email, phone, and in-person.)
• Dress professionally in business casual attire.
• Respond to inquiries promptly, and follow up to ensure timely implementation.
• Must be able to work independently and be available at a moment’s notice for calls from clients and Lake Growth Team members.
• Must protect client privacy, following confidentiality and HIPAA guidelines.
• Follow common sense, pay attention to and care for the details, and follow the instructions.

Job Activities

• Call prospective clients to meet and greet them.
• Manage inbound and outbound messaging with stakeholders (clients, Lake Growth team members, financial professionals, CPAs, insurance companies, etc.). Help stakeholders solve problems. Circle back with stakeholders with new information.
• Connect with new and existing clients through various modalities including email, phone, postcards, etc. to help them meet their goals.
• Maintain the cleanliness of our small, welcoming office, ensuring everything remains in good order for meetings.
• Process relevant physical mail, including receiving mail from and going to UPS, USPS, and FedEx as needed.
• Send and receive documents for signature.
• Add, update, manage and organize client data (updating family information, keeping up to date with client life changes, updating addresses, contact details, etc).
• Process and complete activities and tasks to meet goals for the team.
• Listen to, thank, respect, warmly welcome, and honor all clients.
• Must maintain client and company confidentiality.
• Collaborate in the daily operations with the Lake Growth Team.
• Digital file management and organization.

What we expect
Kindness, timeliness, professionalism, phone skills, communication prowess, perseverance, and diligence. Daily work must be processed with promptness and care. The work environment needs to be quiet and professional. Clients and coworkers must be treated with honor, care, respect, and appreciation. Must be reachable by mobile phone and video conference. Occasional in-person meetings (many of our meetings are virtual).

What you can expect
Daily touch points, in person or by phone, with the CEO for updates, questions, and clarifications. Weekly status/coaching meetings. 90 Day (Quarterly) evaluation meetings with Operations Manager. Materials (computer, phone, working space, office supplies, etc.) provided. Timely pay with benefits. W-4 slip prepared. An excellent, growing business context.

Compensation and Career Path
This is a full-time, non-exempt, 40-hour-a-week position (Monday-Friday from either 8AM-5PM or 7AM-4PM, with a one-hour lunch break). We provide competitive pay in the $20-$26/hour range, with additional bonuses. Paid Federal holidays. Paid time off. Additional benefits and health benefits are provided.

At Lake Growth, we believe in operating in alignment with each person’s unique strengths and skills. So, if your talent or expertise meets a unique need in our business, we may offer you a customized position to partner with your strengths.

Lake Growth, Inc. is positioned to change and improve the face of financial services in Chicagoland and the country. www.lakegrowth.com

The Role of the Financial Planning Associate
We are seeking an in-office Financial Planning Associate to join our team in our St. Charles, IL office. This unique opportunity allows you to learn from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and create lasting solutions for our clients. You will collaborate with Mark Willis, CFP®, Lake Growth’s CEO, and the Lake Growth team to provide solid financial strategies to our 1400+ clients nationwide. This is a great opportunity for those looking for mentoring in order to secure their CFP® designation or other similar financial designations.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, through deep listening

• Conduct client interviews and regular six-month reviews

• Dress professionally in business casual attire
• Demonstrate solid coaching skills to support client’s needs, especially in case design, sales process improvements, marketing, and client retention

• Stay current with industry trends and developments impacting our business

• Plan the work day and work week to prioritize core activities, so we can consistently meet benchmarks

• Execute with accuracy, clarity, organization and attention to detail in work product

• Prepare and present financial solutions for clients, in person and virtually
• Call providers to clarify, move business and troubleshoot as needed

• Provide service for new and existing clients, as needed

• Collaborate with team members in regular meetings


Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher preferred, but not required.)
• Computer literacy and proficiency in Zoom, DocuSign, Spreadsheets, Word processing, PDF editing software, VOIP software, digital file services and database entry skills

• Strong communication skills in English, both written (email) and verbal (phone and in person)

• High level of confidentiality and integrity. Must protect client privacy, following confidentiality and HIPAA guidelines.
• Excellent customer service skills

• Highly organized, able to maintain a system to manage workflow and deliverables

• Active Life & Health Insurance License (or ability to obtain this license), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation (or ability to obtain this designation)

• Ability to get contracted with various carriers (this requires an upright financial status and a clean credit report)
• Short commute to our Fox Valley office in St. Charles, Illinois
• Valid Illinois Driver’s License and working car
• At Lake Growth, we believe in operating in alignment with each person’s unique strengths and skills. So, if your talent or expertise meets a unique need in our business, we may offer you a customized position to partner with your strengths.


Ideal Candidate Qualities

• Takes Accountability: See It, Own It, Solve It, Do It

• Solution-Orientation: Become part of the solution, respect others and their feelings

• Proactive Posture: Act now, ask “What else can I do?”

• Growth Mindset: Ask “What coaching do you have for me?” and “What can I do better?”

• Personal Ownership: Take pride in your work, reject average solutions that don’t work and show others that you care


What you can expect

• We provide a one-year training program where you will learn the ropes and determine the next step in your career path, and we provide on-going training as needed.
• We provide office space for meetings, a work space, a computer, additional tech, office supplies and office support.
• We connect frequently with touch points for training, updates, questions, and clarifications.
• We offer direct access to a network of previously trained, successful Financial Planning Associates who are excelling in their businesses to learn their success secrets.
• We connect you with Mastermind access to several hundred financial planners, CPAs, and insurance agents across the country, including webinars, professional workshops, etc.

• We conduct 90-day (Quarterly) evaluation meetings with officers.
• We offer an excellent, growing business with opportunities for growth.

What we expect

• You consistently show up on time, always displaying hunger for success and growth as a financial professional
.
• You often demonstrate humility, teachability, conscientiousness, integrity, the ability and willingness to do hard things and a willingness to do your best
.
• You exude professionalism, excellent customer service skills, communication prowess, perseverance and diligence
.
• You treat clients and co-workers with honor, care, respect, and appreciation
.
• You are self-directed, able to manage day-to-day tasks with minimal supervision
.
• You place a high emphasis on compliance, working with agents to maintain integrity in all facets of business.
• You maintain a quiet and professional work environment.
• You must be reachable by mobile phone and video conference.
• You must attend in-person and virtual meetings.

Compensation

• This is a full-time, exempt position. We provide competitive pay with additional bonuses. Paid Federal holidays. Paid time off. Additional benefits and health benefits are provided.
• Salary in the first year starts at $5K/month. Same base salary with added commissions after licensing, training and writing new business. Salary and commission compensation plan based on production with commission earning opportunities. We provide tiered schedules and a clear map for continual growth in your income.

• Grow with us. Compensation is in the mid-five figures in Year 1, and those who complete licensing, training and write new business will advance to make six figures in Year 2. Year 3 and beyond present additional income earning opportunities.

Lake Growth, Inc. is positioned to change and improve the face of financial services in Chicagoland and the country. www.lakegrowth.com