Job Description Summary
Job Description
Lead and manage the Annuity Product Specialist team, providing guidance, coaching, and oversight to ensure exceptional service and product support for Raymond James financial advisors. Drive team performance, operational efficiency, and collaboration across Insurance Solutions to support the firm's annuity distribution objectives.
Job Description
This role is responsible for leading the Annuity Product Specialist team and coordinating with other functional areas to provide financial advisors with comprehensive annuity product education, case consultation, and sales support.
The position requires extensive knowledge of the products and strategies available on the Raymond James Insurance Solutions platform, including fixed, fixed indexed, registered index-linked (RILA), and variable annuities.
The manager will participate in various initiatives across Global Wealth Solutions, including marketing, product development, advisor education, and service enhancements. The role also represents Raymond James Insurance Solutions in meetings with financial advisors, clients, and product partners to provide education and share industry best practices.
Extensive interaction with internal stakeholders, including financial advisors, associates, and senior leadership, as well as external product sponsors and industry partners, is required to identify, research, and resolve complex product, sales, and service-related matters.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Leads and manages the Annuity Product Specialist team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional development, and exceptional advisor service.
- Establishes and monitors team objectives, productivity expectations, and service standards to ensure timely and accurate support for financial advisors.
- Provides ongoing coaching, mentoring, training, and performance feedback to support associate development and team effectiveness.
- Performs human resource management responsibilities, including performance evaluations, identifying development opportunities, addressing performance concerns, and participating in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring decisions.
- Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining an investment solutions platform consistent with the firm's core values, with a focus on putting clients' interests first.
- Oversee the team's delivery of annuity product education, case consultation, and sales support to financial advisors.
- Establishes and oversees objectives related to proactive financial advisor engagement, including follow-up on portfolio reviews, client case designs, educational events, and new advisor relationships.
- Assists the Director, Internal Annuity Distribution, in supporting the Internal Annuity Consultant team and broader annuity distribution initiatives.
- Partners with Internal and External Annuity Consultants, product management, operations, and other Insurance Solutions teams to promote consistent communication and effective resolution of advisor inquiries.
- Identifies opportunities to improve workflows, streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen the overall advisor experience.
- Transfers product knowledge and expertise through education and collaboration with financial advisors, operations, product support, and other internal teams.
- Represents Insurance Solutions during advisor recruiting home-office visits, client events, and other educational opportunities.
- Assists financial advisors in understanding the benefits, risks, and appropriate applications of complex annuity products, including product-specific education and support on individual client cases.
- Collaborates with Insurance Solutions product managers and research associates on analysis, recommendations, and enhancements related to existing and prospective annuity products.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of
- Advanced annuity product knowledge is necessary to effectively lead associates responsible for educating and supporting financial advisors.
- Fixed, fixed indexed, registered index-linked, and variable annuity products, including associated investment strategies, features, benefits, and risks.
- Financial services and securities markets, including packaged insurance, annuity, and investment products.
- Product development and management practices within a financial services or broker-dealer environment.
- Securities industry operations, including applicable regulations, compliance standards, policies, and procedures.
- Operational infrastructure within a financial services organization and the interaction between investment products, distribution, and service functions.
- Principles of banking and finance, including budgeting and cost control procedures.
- Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
- Morningstar Direct and other applicable financial services technology platforms.
Skill in
- Leading, coaching, developing, and motivating associates to achieve individual and team objectives.
- Organizing, managing, and tracking multiple assignments with frequently changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Communicating effectively and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with financial advisors, associates, senior leadership, and external business partners.
- Applying industry knowledge, critical thinking, and sound judgment to resolve complex product and service-related matters.
- Building and maintaining collaborative working relationships across all levels of an organization.
- Developing and implementing strategies and tactical plans across functional areas.
- Gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information to support business decisions.
- Identifying process improvement opportunities and implementing solutions that enhance efficiency and service quality.
- Analyzing, researching, and resolving inquiries and issues in a timely and effective manner.
- Using standard business technology and software applications to prepare reports, correspondence, presentations, and other communications.
Ability to
- Demonstrate uncompromising adherence to ethical principles and the firm's core values.
- Represent Raymond James in a highly professional manner.
- Establish clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards.
- Inspire enthusiasm, motivate associates, and influence others to achieve desired outcomes.
- Promote team cohesiveness, cooperation, accountability, and effectiveness.
- Lead others in delivering a consistently high level of advisor service.
- Train, coach, mentor, and evaluate the performance of associates.
- Plan, assign, monitor, review, and evaluate work while developing a high-performing team.
- Identify opportunities for improvement and implement appropriate corrective actions.
- Facilitate productive meetings and encourage open communication and collaboration.
- Partner effectively with other functional areas to accomplish organizational objectives.
- Gather information, identify trends, and apply findings to business decisions.
- Balance competing priorities and resource demands.
- Demonstrate credibility and professionalism when interacting with financial advisors and industry partners.
- Organize and prioritize multiple projects and assignments to meet established deadlines.
- Adapt to changing business needs, lead through change, and promote continuous improvement.
- Work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take initiative to accomplish objectives.
- Translate business strategies into actionable operational plans.
Education/Previous Experience
- Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, economics, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of six (6) years of experience in the financial services industry preferred.
- Previous management or supervisory experience, preferably within financial services, investment products, or annuity distribution.
- Knowledge of the products, strategies, and services available through an insurance or annuity distribution platform.
- An equivalent combination of education, experience, and/or training may be considered.
Licenses/Certifications
- Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) examination required, unless an applicable exemption or grandfathering provision applies.
- FINRA Series 7 – General Securities Representative registration required.
- Florida 2-15 or equivalent state license.
Education
Bachelor’s - Completed: Business Administration, Bachelor’s - Completed: Economics, Bachelor’s - Completed: Finance
Work Experience
General Experience - 6 to 10 years, Manager Experience - 3 to 6 years
Certifications
s7 - General Securities Representative Examination - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities Industry Essentials Exam (SIE) - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Travel
Less than 25%
Workstyle
Hybrid
The total compensation for this position includes base salary or wages, and may include components such as additional compensation (cash or equity), discretionary bonuses, or commissions. This position is eligible for a benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision; life insurance; critical illness insurance and accident insurance; disability benefits; retirement savings; paid time off (including vacation, holidays, and sick leave); and parental leave. Eligibility for benefits and specific offerings may vary based on position and employment status. To view more details of the benefits offered, visit Myrjbenefits.com.
At Raymond James our associates use five guiding behaviors (Develop, Collaborate, Decide, Deliver, Improve) to deliver on the firm's core values of client-first, integrity, independence and a conservative, long-term view.
We expect our associates at all levels to:
• Grow professionally and inspire others to do the same
• Work with and through others to achieve desired outcomes
• Make prompt, pragmatic choices and act with the client in mind
• Take ownership and hold themselves and others accountable for delivering results that matter
• Contribute to the continuous evolution of the firm
At Raymond James – as part of our people-first culture, we honor, value, and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all of our Associates. When associates bring their best authentic selves, our organization, clients, and communities thrive. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs.
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