Options Specialist and Equity Trader

Allworth Financial

• $95K — $115K *
Finance & Insurance
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3-7 years of experience with options strategies, including equity and index derivatives.
  • Ability to clearly explain options strategies and their risks to non-technical audiences.
  • Familiarity with multi-leg strategies like collars and protective puts.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities under market deadlines.
  • Demonstrated judgment in trade decision-making beyond basic execution.
  • Understanding of tax-aware trading considerations, including gain/loss realization.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a focus on teamwork.
  • Advanced Excel skills and attention to detail.
  • Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, mathematics, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Series 65 or equivalent licensing preferred, or ability to obtain it.

Responsibilities

  • Understand, structure, and execute various options strategies aligned with firm objectives.
  • Monitor open positions and adjust strategies based on market conditions and risks.
  • Explain strategy rationale and risk/reward to advisors and clients in simple terms.
  • Maintain accurate trade and position records in Excel.
  • Confirm account eligibility and restrictions prior to trading.
  • Identify opportunities to enhance options execution and expand strategy toolkit.
  • Execute account-level rebalancing and manage tax-aware gain/loss realization.
  • Determine optimal investment or cash-raising strategies based on model allocations.
  • Review and approve tactical rebalances, supplementing with manual analysis as needed.
  • Support onboarding of new accounts into flexible models, documenting necessary restrictions.

Benefits

  • Medical plans including Blue Shield and Kaiser for California associates.
  • Dental insurance with MetLife.
  • Vision insurance with VSP.
  • Optional supplemental benefits available.
  • Healthcare savings accounts with company contributions.
  • Flexible spending accounts offered.
  • Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
  • Generous 401K contributions provided.
  • Flexible paid time off policy for exempt associates.
  • 15 days of paid time off annually for non-exempt associates during the first three years.
  • 11 paid holidays each year.
  • Option to participate in the Equity Purchase Program for eligible employees.
  • Opportunities for future growth within the company.
Full Job Description
SUMMARY:

This role has two functions: options management and equity trading. This person will be responsible for structuring, executing, and monitoring the firm's options strategies. Additionally, they will explain strategy rationale and risk and reward in plain language to advisors and clients, maintain accurate position records and supporting models, and cross-train with the team to provide depth and continuity across the organization.

This person's equity trading role includes being part of Allworth's in-house equity team and will have discretion and decision-making authority related to trading and rebalancing modeled client portfolios. This involves exercising judgment on tax-aware gain and loss realization, cash deployment, and position trimming, within the equity team's framework.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Options Management (approximately 75%)
  • Understand, structure, and execute a range of options strategies, including covered calls, protective puts, collars, and spreads, in line with firm objectives and risk parameters.
  • Monitor open positions and adjust or roll strategies as market conditions, expirations, and assignment risk warrant, applying working knowledge of options mechanics.
  • Explain strategy rationale, mechanics, and risk and reward in plain language to advisors and clients.
  • Maintain detailed and accurate trade records, position records, and supporting models in Excel.
  • Confirm account-level eligibility prior to trading, including account type, option approval level, and any restrictions applicable to the underlying position.
  • Identify opportunities to bring additional options execution in-house and expand the team's strategy toolkit.


Equity Trading and Portfolio Implementation (approximately 25%)
  • Execute account-level rebalancing to target models, exercising judgment on tax-aware gain and loss realization and position trimming.
  • Determine the best place to invest or raise cash according to the model, considering factors such as sector allocation and security selection.
  • Review and approve tactical rebalances in the firm's portfolio management and rebalancing platform, supplementing with manual analysis where system logic falls short.
  • Maintain account-level trading notes, restrictions, and goals with a high level of accuracy.
  • Support onboarding of new accounts into flexible models, including documentation of tax budgets, restrictions, exclusions, and cash targets.


QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Three to seven years of experience with options strategies, including equity, index, or related derivatives.
  • Ability to explain options strategies and their risk and reward clearly to a non-technical audience.
  • Familiarity with multi-leg strategies such as collars, protective puts, and put spreads, and with the mechanics of exercise, assignment, and settlement.
  • Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities against expiration-driven and market-hours deadlines.
  • Able to demonstrate judgment in trade decision-making, beyond order entry or rules-based execution.
  • Understanding of tax-aware trading considerations, including gain and loss realization, cost basis, and wash sales.
  • Ability to work independently while operating within team governance.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, and comfortable working as part of a small, cross-trained team.
  • Advanced Excel skills and strong attention to detail.
  • Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, mathematics, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
  • Series 65 or equivalent licensing preferred, or the ability to obtain it.


BENEFITS

We value our associates' time and effort. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive base pay and an extensive benefits package, including:
  • Medical: Blue Shield (PPOs and HDHP with HSA) plans and Kaiser (HMO) plans for California associates
  • Dental insurance with MetLife
  • Vision insurance with VSP
  • Optional supplemental benefits
  • Healthcare savings accounts with company contribution
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Generous 401K contributions
  • Exempt associates qualify for our flexible paid time off policy
  • Non-Exempt associates will receive 15 days of paid time off annually during the first three years of employment
  • 11 Paid Holidays
  • Option to participate in our Equity Purchase Program (Contract, intern, and part-time employees are not eligible)
  • Future growth opportunities within the company

In addition, we work to maintain the best possible environment for our associates, where people can learn and grow with the firm. We strive to provide a collaborative, creative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning and culture.

Benefits are available to full-time associates who work more than 30 hours a week.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. Typical reporting relationships are described, but actual relationships may vary in some instances. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or knowledge required of personnel classified in this job.

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