Financial Planning Consultant

Summary

Focus on delivering results for the adoption of the new planning experience with existing advisors and new recruits who join Northwestern Mutual. Travel and spend significant time in person working with advisors, their staff, and office leadership where applicable, to help them become deeply skilled in delivering high quality plans to their prospects and clients. Further, lead large kick off events, present training content in group settings, represent PX at nationwide conferences and field events, and present regularly within the home office.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Drive the achievement of KPIs for the Financial Planning and Consultation team with your assigned target audience.

• Partner with Region leads and Assistant Director of Financial Planning and Consultation to ensure alignment of objectives and establish expectations for assigned offices and advisors.

• Engage with advisors and staff in person to provide personalized coaching to master the software and the related processes (fact finding, plan build, plan presentation). Offer plan presentation simulations and work with advisors to advance their confidence around the PX plan presentation prior to meeting with clients.

• Educate and collaborate with field leaders to promote NM's planning philosophy, increase planning adoption and help influence risk and investment product sales.

• Innovate to help develop better effectiveness in training/supporting our field on best practices for planning throughout the sales cycle.

• Provide quality planning and sales consultations and presentations to the field on the integration of financial products to create solutions for clients primarily via inbound calls, long-distance training methods, schools and potential visits to network offices. Offer just-in-time solutioning for case design and plan design needs.

• Maintain an extensive in-person presence with your assigned target audience to build relationships and promote local culture around digital tools and financial planning.

• Partner with the Technology Success Consultant (TPC) (where available) to ensure local adoption of related Digitally Savvy Advisory tools including CRM, client website, client account aggregation, prospect invite, eFF, etc.

• Be available to build financial plans for the advisor on an as-needed basis.

• Escalate feedback to leadership and/or appropriate partner to follow through on needs/gaps of advisors and/or network office around sales skills, leadership alignment, etc.

Qualifications

• Series 7 required.

• Minimum of 3 years professional work experience.

• Able to travel in assigned region approximately 20%.

• In-depth understanding of financial services products and financial planning.

• Excellent knowledge and application of consultation skills.

• Robust mastery of Northwestern Mutual planning software; confident ability to consult on complex topics and scenarios and propose effective, needs-based solutions.

• Ability to identify and address problems, opportunities, wants and needs of the field and their clients in a suitable manner.

• Exceptional problem-solving capabilities.

• Deeply patient, wiling to teach and work through the adoption of financial planning.

• Focused on outcomes v. process (delivers on what matters most).

• Able to act as the owner of workstream. Identify and recommend changes/improvements to the existing process to improve adoption of planning and delivery of sales.

• Able to gain buy-in from teams you work with and inspire confidence in the new planning process and sales.

• Empathetic - can put yourself in the shoes of our field roles (Staff, Advisor, MD, Ds, etc.) and see their perspective.

• Willing to develop a deep subject matter expertise in the digital product portfolio Passionate about Northwestern Mutual Financial Planning process, products and services.

• CFP preferred or other relevant designations such as CLU, ChFC, CFA, CASL, MSFS, or other advanced degree.

• Client facing financial planning experience preferred.

#LI-Hybrid or #LI-Onsite

This position has been classified as a Registered Representative under NMIS guidelines and requires fingerprinting.

Required Certifications:

Northwestern Mutual pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement in the salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. At Northwestern Mutual, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Please note that the salary range listed in the posting is the standard pay structure. Positions in certain locations (such as California) may provide an increase on the standard pay structure based on the location. Please click here for additional information relating to location-based pay structures.

We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you work or would be working in California, Colorado, New York City, Washington or outside of a Corporate location, please click here for information pertaining to compensation and benefits.

We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

• Flexible work schedules
• Concierge service
• Comprehensive benefits
• Employee resource groups