About the Firm
Vertex Capital Planning, a Forbes-recognized financial planning firm, and Northwestern Mutual - Minnetonka operate together under one powerful mission: to deliver exceptional financial planning while cultivating a high-performing advisor development system. These two interconnected business verticals are fueled by a culture of excellence, vision, and execution.
As both firms scale rapidly, we are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as the second-in-command to founder Brady Lindemann. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned operations leader to step into an entrepreneurial, people-first environment and bring vision to life through systems, accountability, and strong team leadership.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Operations Oversight Across Two Business Verticals
- Vertex Capital Planning (Financial Planning Practice)
- Manage workflow operations related to the client sales cycle, onboarding, and ongoing service
- Oversee business development systems and joint work advisor coordination
- Provide strategic leadership working in direct collaboration with the Director of Operations
- Northwestern Mutual Minnetonka (Advisor Recruitment & Development)
- Oversee personnel and operations of the advisor recruiting and development functions
- Day to day management of the talent acquisition team, with accountability to recruiting activity goals and contracts.
- Maintain performance visibility into under-five-year advisors, while not leading their development directly
Strategic People Leadership
- Lead, coach, develop, and support a growing team of 9–12 employees across both verticals
- Help structure roles, manage accountability systems, and ensure alignment with firm-wide objectives, key results, and performance goals
- Act as the internal face of the business—highly visible, highly trusted, and highly reliable
Executive Collaboration with Brady Lindemann
- Attend a weekly strategic meeting to align on priorities, discuss escalated issues, and report on key initiatives
- Act independently in alignment with Brady's vision, taking initiative to drive results and solve problems utilizing resources
- Serve as a trusted point of contact for people, systems, and operational problem-solving
Organizational Infrastructure & Systems
- Partner with a fractional HR leader on onboarding, compensation, team experience, and performance management
- Oversee operational aspects of finance and profitability tracking
- Own and refine the systems and processes that keep both business units running at scale
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of leadership experience overseeing people and systems
- Proven track record of navigating both big-picture strategy and day-to-day execution
- Thrives in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
- A strong communicator who can translate vision into action—and ambiguity into clarity
- High EQ and high ownership: ability to lead with maturity, composure, and an all-in attitude
- Work in financial services, advisor development, or a multi-vertical business is preferred
Vertex Captial Planning is a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Vertex Capital Planning is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI.
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