Financial Planning Resident
Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC is a fee-only financial planning firm in Savoy, Illinois providing comprehensive financial and tax advice to clients who value a trusted partner in reaching their financial goals. Our name is derived from a native Illinois prairie grass known for its extensive root system – the Big Bluestem. Like our namesake, we believe the key to financial growth lies in helping clients to discover their financial roots, what drives their growth, and through comprehensive financial planning, nurturing all aspects of their finances to ultimately reach their goals. While we work with clients from all walks of life, both locally and across the United States, our emerging niche is in fulfilling the unique needs of university faculty and administrators. As a member of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners, we consider tax-efficient decision making integral to financial well-being – so important, in fact, that we include tax planning and annual tax return preparation as part of our standard service model.
Our Financial Planning Residency program was established to prepare select graduates of CFP Board Registered financial planning programs for careers as professional fee-only financial planners, to grow the fee-only financial planning talent pool, and to support the advisory needs of our firm. We are currently seeking candidates for a two-year, full-time Financial Planning Resident position, beginning in June 2026. In this salaried position, our Resident will gain real-life experience by practicing, developing, and ultimately delivering advice to clients, across all areas of comprehensive financial planning by working alongside our team of experienced professionals.
Upon graduation from the program, Bluestem will help Residents coordinate the next steps of their career, whether that be with another firm, or with Bluestem if a permanent position is available. Among other benefits, you will have established meaningful relationships with dozens of Bluestem clients, participated in 150+ client and prospective client meetings, gained excellent technical planning skills, developed proficiency in planning software and tools, developed client communication skills, be as good as (or better) at income tax planning than anyone in your peer group and learned personal work and productivity habits for professional success. You will be ready to start leading financial planning client relationships and will be an amazing team player in any professional environment.
CORE FOCUS – What drives our firm and our team
Our purpose is to guide clients along their financial journey to a more fulfilled life.
CORE VALUES – Core tenets undergirding every action we take
Life Harmony:
Strive for a healthy balance between all of life’s needs and obligations, leveraging our strengths and unique abilities to do more of what we love and less of what we don’t.
Purposeful Improvement:
Commit to a mindset of learning, adapting, and growing.
Abundance Mentality:
Align our actions with the collective welfare of our colleagues, the families we serve, and our local and professional communities, so that we can all achieve success together.
Authentic Communication:
Seek first to understand by actively listening, and when we speak, it should be done with empathy and transparency.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
● Growth is a journey: responsibilities will progress in complexity throughout the residency.
● Participate with Senior and Lead Advisors and the Financial Planning Department in the development and preparation of clients’ financial plans, developing recommendations and solutions that are in the best interest of the client, and ensuring those plans are executed.
● Focused support and second chair duties in client meetings with an ability to add value to the conversation while gathering data and action items for follow-up.
● Provide follow-up and engagement with client both before and after a meeting, as well as addressing other client needs and communications as they arise.
● Collaborate and coordinate with clients, advisors, and front/back office personnel, providing oversight of the planning process across the team.
● Develop leadership skills in second year of residency by training and guiding 1st year residents.
QUALIFICATIONS
● Bachelor’s degree and completion of CFP Board-approved coursework at a college or university through a CFP Board Registered Program.
● Commitment to pass the CFP® Certification Exam within the first year of employment.
● Technologically proficient; experience with Microsoft Excel and/or eMoney is a plus.
● Alignment with Bluestem’s Core Values
● Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, listening, and empathetic)
● Strong conceptual “big picture” skills paired with an ability to show attention to detail.
● This role will require a physical presence in our office in Savoy, Illinois.
WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
● A work environment that values and fosters professional development.
● Experience in all 7 primary elements of the personal financial planning process, qualifying for the 4000-hour apprenticeship pathway for CFP® certification.
● Annual salary of:
● Year 1: $60,000
● Year 2: $65,000
● Reimbursement for CFP® Certification Exam and review course upon passing of exam.
● Employer funding to attend a financial planning conference in Year 2 of Residency .
● Employer reimbursement for student dues for a select financial planning organization.
● Flexible work environment that allows for open vacation/leave policy.
● Upon reaching eligibility, benefits including health insurance, 401k with 4% match plus a discretionary profit sharing contribution of 3%, long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, and flexible vacation and leave policies.
HOW TO APPLY
For full consideration, all resumes must be accompanied by a cover letter that describes why you want to pursue a career in financial planning. Failure to follow these instructions constitutes an incomplete application for employment.
Please upload your cover letter and resume in pdf format by clicking here.