Empower is a financial services and fintech company focused on helping people and organizations build greater financial confidence. Its offerings span retirement planning, investment management, personalized financial guidance, and digital tools such as the Empower Personal Dashboard™, which brings financial information into one view. Serving more than 19 million Americans, Empower works with individual investors, workplace plan participants, plan sponsors, and financial professionals. The company also emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion alongside community-focused initiatives.
Associate General Counsel, Personal Wealth Products
Lead legal strategy for Empower’s personal wealth products, advising on product development and launches. The role covers wealth regulation, fiduciary duties, artificial intelligence, fintech partnerships, and distribution.
Description
- Lead legal counsel for Empower’s Personal Wealth product team, advising on the design, development, implementation, and distribution of wealth offerings.
- Work with product, compliance, risk, and business teams from initial concept through launch.
- Coordinate with Empower’s legal team to provide consistent, practical guidance aligned with business needs.
- Apply the Investment Advisers Act, the Exchange Act, SEC and FINRA rules, ERISA and Department of Labor fiduciary standards, and state laws and regulations.
- Advise on product structures and distribution through direct-to-consumer and advisor-led channels.
- Guide teams on SEC and ERISA fiduciary duties, Regulation Best Interest, conflict management, and client disclosures.
- Help develop Empower’s standards for responsible use of artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies in wealth products.
- Support product governance, regulatory filings, and materials for clients.
- Advise on third-party relationships and developing fintech capabilities.
- Track regulatory and industry changes and turn them into practical guidance.
- Help shape products for millions of retirement plan participants and personal wealth clients.
- Work directly with senior product and business leaders to guide product direction.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor degree and active membership in a state bar.
- At least 15 years advising retail wealth management businesses, such as registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, or hybrid firms.
- Strong command of wealth management laws and regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and state rules on duties of care, disclosures, and conflicts of interest.
- Exposure to emerging wealth offerings such as direct indexing, alternative investments, and retirement income strategies.
- Experience supporting product strategy, development, and launch, ideally in a fast-moving or technology-enabled setting.
- Sound judgment in balancing legal and regulatory risks with business goals.
- Ability to work effectively amid changing or unclear regulatory conditions.
- Experience as a senior individual contributor with strong cross-functional influence.
- Executive presence and ability to explain practical legal guidance clearly to senior business, product, and legal stakeholders.
- Preferred: experience with integrated retirement and wealth providers, asset managers, RIAs, broker-dealers, fintech platforms, or other large financial services firms.
- Preferred: knowledge of retirement and ERISA frameworks.
- Preferred: familiarity or experience with digital platforms, data-based personalization, or fintech partnerships.
- Preferred: experience advising on distribution through retirement, direct-to-consumer, and advisor-led channels.
- Preferred: experience with product governance committees, disclosure and conflict oversight, and regulatory examinations.
- Preferred: familiarity with emerging retail offerings such as cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and prediction markets.
- Must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer; the employer cannot sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa, including CPT or OPT.
- For remote work, a reliable high-speed internet connection, wired connection, and suitable home workspace are required.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- 401(k) plan with company matching contributions up to 6%, financial advisory services, a possible discretionary company contribution, and a wide range of investment options.
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year.
- Business-casual dress code, with jeans permitted.
- Paid time off available upon hire, plus ten company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year.
- 16 hours of paid volunteer time per calendar year.
- Leave programs include paid parental leave, paid short- and long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
- Business Resource Groups support inclusion and collaboration within the company and in local communities; all employees may join.
- Bonus program opportunity for employees in non-sales positions.
- Reliable high-speed internet and a wired connection are required for remote work.
- Necessary computer equipment is provided.