Senior Financial Planner/Wealth Strategist - KAR

Although we value experience and skills, we also care about who you are. We strive to surround ourselves with good people that share our values, that work hard, and that support each other as a team and as individuals.

Kayne Anderson Rudnick (KAR) was founded in 1984 to oversee the family capital of John Anderson. Today, we are a distinguished asset and wealth management firm with approximately $50 billion in AUM and a national team of 135 professionals, serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. KAR is an affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners.

Based in Century City, Los Angeles, we are seeking a Senior Financial Planner with deep expertise in tax planning and strategy to join our growing wealth planning team.

The Opportunity

This is a highly visible, client-facing role focused on delivering advanced, tax-efficient planning strategies for ultra-high-net-worth clients (typically $15M–$100M+), including business owners, executives, and multigenerational families.

You will partner closely with the Director of Financial Planning and Wealth Advisors to design and implement sophisticated planning strategies—with a particular emphasis on tax optimization, trust and estate structures, and complex wealth transfer planning.

At KAR, planners are not back-office analysts—they are strategic thought partners who help clients make high-impact decisions across their entire financial lives.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development of advanced financial plans with a strong emphasis on tax strategy, including income tax, capital gains planning, concentrated stock, liquidity events, and multistate considerations
• Partner directly with Wealth Advisors in client meetings to present recommendations and guide decision-making for sophisticated UHNW clients
• Design and evaluate complex strategies, including:
  • Trust and estate planning structures
  • Charitable planning (DAFs, foundations, CRTs/CLTs)
  • Tax-efficient portfolio withdrawal and distribution strategies
  • Business owner and pre-/post-liquidity planning
• Collaborate with external CPAs and estate attorneys to ensure cohesive, well-executed client strategies
• Identify and quantify “tax alpha” opportunities within client portfolios and planning recommendations
• Review and elevate planning work completed by other team members, ensuring exceptional quality and depth
• Contribute to the firm’s intellectual capital by staying ahead of evolving tax law and planning strategies
• Support business development efforts by demonstrating KAR’s differentiated planning capabilities in prospective client situations

What Makes This Role Compelling

• Depth over volume: Work on complex, intellectually engaging client situations—not commoditized plans
• True tax focus: A meaningful portion of your work will involve advanced tax strategy—not just modeling outputs
• Client access and influence: Direct exposure to UHNW clients and a voice at the table
• Collaborative culture: Tight partnership across advisors, planners, and leadership
• Platform and resources: Strong infrastructure (eMoney, Holistiplan, and external advisor networks) to support sophisticated planning

Qualifications

• CFP® required; CPA, EA, or advanced tax background strongly preferred
• 5–10+ years of experience working with HNW/UHNW clients in an RIA, multi-family office, or similar environment
• Demonstrated expertise in tax planning and strategy for individuals, trusts, and closely held businesses
• Experience analyzing and explaining complex topics such as:
  • Equity compensation
  • Business sales/exit planning
  • Trust structures and wealth transfer strategies
• Prior experience preparing or reviewing HNW tax returns is highly valued
• Strong client presence with the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, actionable recommendations
• Collaborative, intellectually curious, and motivated by delivering high-impact advice

Location & Travel

• Century City, Los Angeles
• Up to 20% travel

Join Us

If you are energized by solving complex planning challenges, partnering with sophisticated clients, and bringing tax-aware strategies to life in a meaningful way, we would welcome the opportunity to connect.

Apply today to learn more about how you can play a key role in shaping the financial lives of our clients at KAR.

This position requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency (Green Card holder) as a condition of employment. We are unable to sponsor work visas or provide support for OPT/CPT programs for this role.

Total compensation, including applicable bonuses and incentives average between $125,000 to $175,000 with a base salary of $115,000 to $140,000. The starting salary offer will vary based on the applicant’s education, experience, skills, abilities, geographic location, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At KAR, we take great pride in offering our valued team members an extensive and highly competitive benefits package. Below, you will find a brief benefits overview:

• Competitive Pay
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (starting day 1)
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Health Savings Account with a Company Match
• Flexible Spending Accounts including Dependent Care
• Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 24-Hour Employee Assistance Program
• Adoption Assistance
• Paid Family Care Time
• Paid Volunteer days

Company Background:

Philosophy

KAR Wealth Advisors offers a personalized wealth management experience by leveraging our firm’s extensive resources and talented team. We develop strong partnerships with our clients, offering expert guidance across key areas such as Investment Management, Retirement Planning, Tax and Estate strategies, as well as other important services.

Team Approach

The most important asset KAR has is the people. The culture is collaborative and respectful. The team is passionate about setting high standards for themselves and are proud to be part of this organization. They create the client experience as a team, and as a team, strive to make the best decisions for their clients.

Culture and Awards

• Awarded Best Firm Culture at the 2022 PAM Awards, KAR maintains a team-oriented culture of accessibility, open communication, and respect.
• Ranked #3 on Barron’s top 100 investment advisors.
• Ranked #7 of RIA firms by Forbes in 2024
• Wealth for Good Awards – Best Corporate Social Responsibility program