Business Development Principal

Location: Foster City, CA (hybrid after onboarding)

Compensation: Base salary $100K to $200K (depending on experience) + uncapped commissions + 20% target bonus. Year 1 total compensation at target is $300K to $350K, with a clear path to $500K+ by year four as commissions become the bulk of pay.

Overview

Our client is a Bay Area RIA managing $4B for more than 1,500 high net worth clients, with 50+ employees and a collaborative, growth-minded culture. They are hiring a Business Development Principal to win new high net worth clients through COI partnerships, marketing-generated leads, and an established custodian referral channel.

This is a new, entrepreneurial seat built for a proven closer who wants to own a number and bet on themselves. You will not be starting from zero: roughly 15 qualified marketing leads come in each month, the firm already has a strong custodian referral presence, and a Business Development Associate supports your pipeline. No planning or portfolio management hats. Work the lead, close with the advisor, and move to the next one.

Key Responsibilities

• COI partnerships (about 50%): Build and grow referral relationships with corporate partners, CPAs, estate attorneys, real estate agents, and community groups. Host events and seminars that fill the room.
• Marketing leads (about 25%): Qualify and close roughly 15 inbound leads per month from paid ads, LinkedIn, and Google search. Qualified leads close near 50%.
• Custodian referrals (about 25%): Convert referrals from an established custodian network where the firm is already well known.
• Run prospect meetings and close within a defined sales process, owning an annual target of $60M in new funded AUM.
• Represent the firm’s financial planning and investment philosophy with credibility in every prospect conversation.
• Partner with Financial Advisors to bring clients across the line, then hand off cleanly to the service team so clients stay long after the close.
• Direct a Business Development Associate on pipeline outreach, proposal decks, and event outreach.
• Open new referral channels and help shape how the firm grows across the Bay Area and Sacramento.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 5+ years of sales experience with a proven closing record, ideally in financial services
• Has built a book or pipeline through their own outreach, not from provided call lists
• Comfortable building new partnerships without relying on an existing network
• Working knowledge of financial planning, business development, and the wealth management industry
• Concise, specific communicator with strong writing skills
• Collaborative and team-first, with competitive drive pointed at winning business
• Stable career history and personally reliable
• Experience running seminars or events is a plus
• CFP® or CFA® (or interest in pursuing one; the firm sponsors study)
• Bachelor’s degree
• Reliable transportation for local travel

If you are a capped producer ready to bet on yourself, with real lead flow, a team that invests in its people, and uncapped upside, we would love to talk.