Professional data provides crucial insights into your clients' career status, income sources, and professional networks. This information helps you identify planning opportunities, understand compensation structures, and build relevant conversations around career transitions and milestones.
Current Employment Fields
Current Employer
What it is: Name of the company or organization where client currently works
Format: Company name (e.g., "Microsoft", "Mayo Clinic", "Self-Employed")
Source: LinkedIn profiles, professional databases, public records, social media
Use cases:
Identifying company benefit programs
Understanding compensation structures (tech vs. non-tech, public vs. private)
Networking within the same company
Industry-specific planning (equity comp, stock options, ESPPs)
Retirement plan providers (401(k) options)
Planning applications:
Large corporations: Likely have 401(k), stock options, employee stock purchase plans
Small businesses: May need additional retirement planning (SEP IRA, Solo 401(k))
Self-employed: Comprehensive retirement planning needs, business succession
Public sector: Pension plans, deferred compensation, earlier retirement eligibility
Tech companies: Equity compensation, RSUs, ISOs, AMT planning
Example conversation: "I see you work at [Company]. Many employees there have RSUs as part of their compensation. Have you optimized your equity compensation strategy?"
Job Title / Occupation
What it is: Current role or position
Format: Free text (e.g., "Senior Software Engineer", "Chief Financial Officer", "Physician")
Source: LinkedIn, professional databases
Use cases:
Estimating income level
Understanding decision-making authority
Identifying expertise areas
Assessing career progression
Tailoring communication approach
Job level indicators:
C-Suite: High income, complex comp, business succession
VP/Director: Peak earning, retention packages, equity
Manager/Senior: Career growth phase, promotion opportunities
Individual Contributor: Specialized expertise, skill-based compensation
Planning considerations by occupation:
Physicians: Student loans, practice buy-ins, malpractice insurance, disability insurance
Attorneys: Partnership tracks, deferred compensation, professional liability
Executives: Stock options, deferred comp, golden parachutes, concentrated stock positions
Engineers: RSUs, ESPPs, company stock concentration
Sales: Variable income, commission planning, tax withholding strategies
Teachers: Pension plans, 403(b), summers off (cash flow planning)
Job Level
What it is: Hierarchical classification of position
Possible values:
Executive / C-Suite
VP / Senior Vice President
Director
Manager / Senior Manager
Professional / Individual Contributor
Entry Level / Associate
Self-Employed / Business Owner
Source: Derived from job title and employer data
Use cases:
Income estimation
Authority and influence assessment
Career trajectory projection
Compensation complexity
Retirement timeline estimation
Income and planning implications:
Executive: $200K+, complex comp, estate planning, tax optimization
VP/Director: $150K-$300K, equity participation, retention planning
Manager: $80K-$150K, career growth, family formation stage
Professional: $50K-$100K, accumulation phase, student loans
Entry: Under $60K, foundational planning, emergency funds
Company Size
What it is: Number of employees at client's employer
Possible values:
Enterprise (10,000+ employees)
Large (1,000-9,999)
Medium (100-999)
Small (10-99)
Micro (1-9)
Self-Employed
Source: Corporate databases, LinkedIn company pages
Use cases:
Benefit sophistication assessment
Equity compensation likelihood
Stability and risk evaluation
Retirement plan quality
Planning implications:
Enterprise: Comprehensive benefits, 401(k) match, stock programs, financial wellness programs
Large: Good benefits, likely 401(k), possible profit sharing
Medium: Variable benefit quality, may need gap coverage
Small: Limited benefits, individual retirement planning crucial
Self-employed: Complete DIY retirement, business succession, liability protection
Industry / Sector
What it is: Industry classification of employer
Common values:
Technology
Healthcare
Financial Services
Manufacturing
Education
Government
Professional Services
Retail
Energy
Real Estate
Source: Employer company data
Use cases:
Industry-specific planning knowledge
Compensation trend understanding
Regulatory considerations
Economic cycle sensitivity
Network building within industries
Industry planning nuances:
Tech: Equity heavy, concentrated stock risk, high volatility
Healthcare: Stable income, malpractice concerns, practice ownership
Finance: Deferred comp, retention bonuses, regulatory restrictions
Government: Pensions, stability, earlier retirement, FEGLI
Energy: Cyclical income, relocation, variable bonuses
Career History and Stability
Job Last Changed / Tenure
What it is: How recently client changed jobs or how long at current employer
Format: Date of change or years of tenure
Source: LinkedIn employment history, public records
Use cases:
Stability assessment
Identifying recent job changers (rollover opportunities)
Career trajectory understanding
Compensation growth projection
Life event triggers:
Recent change (0-6 months):
401(k) rollover opportunity
New equity compensation
Benefits enrollment review
Relocation planning
Income change assessment
Medium tenure (3-7 years):
Career growth phase
Retention package eligibility
Vesting schedules progressing
Long tenure (10+ years):
Deep company benefits
Substantial equity accumulation
Concentrated stock risk
Pension vesting
Planning opportunities for job changers:
Review old 401(k) (rollover to IRA or new plan)
Equity compensation from old employer (exercise timing, tax planning)
Benefits comparison (insurance, HSA, FSA)
Updated beneficiary designations
New retirement plan enrollment and optimization
Recent Employment History
What it is: List of previous employers (typically last 2-3 positions)
Format: Company names with approximate dates
Source: LinkedIn, professional databases
Use cases:
Career pattern identification
Industry transitions
Geographic mobility
Multiple rollover accounts likely
Professional network mapping
Insights:
Frequent changes: May have multiple old 401(k)s to consolidate
Industry switcher: Adapting to new comp structures
Upward progression: Income growth, increasing planning complexity
Lateral moves: Geographic relocations, new markets
Education Fields
Alma Mater
What it is: College or university attended (typically highest degree or undergraduate)
Format: Institution name (e.g., "University of Michigan", "Stanford University")
Source: LinkedIn, alumni databases, public bios
Use cases:
Affinity connection building
Alumni network events
Conversation starters
Donor/fundraising opportunities
Shared experience bonding
Relationship building:
Mention your own alma mater if shared
Reference school's sports teams, traditions
Invite to alumni-focused events or networks
Discuss endowment or planned giving
Example: "I noticed you went to Penn State. I work with several Nittany Lion alumni. Many are passionate about supporting the university through their estate plans."
Highest Degree / Education Level
What it is: Highest educational credential earned
Possible values:
High School Diploma
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree (MBA, MS, MA)
Professional Degree (JD, MD, DDS)
Doctorate (PhD, EdD)
Source: LinkedIn, professional licenses, alumni databases
Use cases:
Income estimation
Student loan likelihood (especially professional degrees)
Professional credibility
Communication sophistication
Career ceiling projection
Planning implications:
Professional degrees (MD, JD, DDS): Often high student debt, high income potential, specialized planning
MBA: Corporate leadership track, equity comp likely
PhD: Academia or specialized roles, potentially lower income but pension benefits
Bachelor's: Standard professional career
Advanced technical degrees: Engineering, tech industry, equity heavy
Recent Education
What it is: Degrees or certifications earned recently (last 5 years)
Format: Degree type and institution
Source: LinkedIn updates, alumni announcements
Use cases:
Career change indicator
Student loan additions
Income increase anticipation
Life event recognition
Life event trigger: Recent MBA or advanced degree suggests career acceleration, income growth, possible job change, and student loans to manage.
Professional Licenses / Certifications
What it is: Industry credentials (CPA, CFP, PE, RN, Bar admission, etc.)
Format: License type and issuing authority
Source: Professional licensing boards, LinkedIn
Use cases:
Income verification
Professional standing confirmation
Regulatory understanding
Peer-level communication
Continuing education discussions
Using Professional Data Effectively
Identifying Planning Opportunities
Job Changers
401(k) rollover outreach within 3-6 months of job change
Benefits review (insurance portability, COBRA, new plan enrollment)
Equity compensation planning (what happens to unvested shares?)
Beneficiary updates across all accounts
Pre-Retirees at Major Employers
Company-specific retirement plan expertise
Deferred compensation distribution timing
Pension vs. lump sum decisions
Retiree health insurance options
Self-Employed / Business Owners
Retirement plan setup (Solo 401(k), SEP IRA, defined benefit)
Business succession planning
Buy-sell agreements
Key person insurance
Entity structure optimization
High-Income Professionals
Student loan strategies (especially for physicians, attorneys)
Disability insurance (own-occupation coverage)
Malpractice coverage coordination
Practice buy-ins and partnership tracks
Deferred compensation plans
Personalizing Communication
Industry-Specific Language Use terminology relevant to their field:
Tech: RSUs, ISOs, NQSOs, exercise strategies, AMT
Healthcare: Practice models, hospital systems, call schedules affecting planning
Legal: Partnership tracks, billable hours, eat-what-you-kill vs. lockstep comp
Education: 403(b), 457, pension systems, summers off
Career Stage Messaging
Early career: Foundation building, emergency funds, student loans
Mid-career: Growth, family planning, home purchase
Peak earning: Accumulation, tax optimization, estate planning
Pre-retirement: Distribution planning, transition strategies
Post-career: Legacy, RMDs, healthcare, simplification
Building Professional Connections
Employer-Based Networking Identify multiple clients at same employer:
Company-specific lunch-and-learns
Benefits optimization workshops
Insider understanding of equity comp plans
Employee referral programs
Industry Clustering Group clients by industry:
Healthcare professional events
Tech worker equity compensation seminars
Teacher retirement workshops
Small business owner forums
Data-Driven Campaigns
Examples:
Tech Equity Optimization
Filter: Current Employer in [major tech companies], Job Level = Professional or higher
Campaign: "Maximize Your RSU Tax Efficiency" workshop
Physician Student Loan Strategy
Filter: Occupation contains "Physician" OR "Doctor", Age Range = 30-45
Campaign: PSLF and student loan refinancing review
Recent Job Changer Outreach
Filter: Job Last Changed within last 6 months
Campaign: "401(k) Rollover Guide" with personal outreach
Pre-Retirement Corporate Employees
Filter: Company Size = Enterprise, Age Range = 60-65
Campaign: Company-specific retirement decision workshop
Limitations and Considerations
Data Accuracy:
Job changes may lag in data (especially recent moves)
Self-employed may show outdated past employer
LinkedIn might not be updated regularly
Career changes during COVID may be incomplete
Privacy:
Some professionals prefer privacy (no LinkedIn, unlisted)
Don't assume job title = exact responsibilities
Company size doesn't always predict benefit quality
Industry doesn't guarantee compensation level
Verification: For high-stakes planning (e.g., complex equity comp), verify:
Current employment status
Actual compensation structure
Benefit plan details
Vesting schedules
Exercise windows
Best practice: Use professional data as conversation starters and hypothesis generators, not as absolute facts. Verify details during client conversations.
Related Articles
5.5: Financial Indicators
5.7: Life Events & Eligibility Milestones
6.2: Personalizing Outreach
6.4: Building Conversation Starters
4.3: Life Events & Milestones Charts