Northwestern Mutual Reviews

Pros

Highest rating and best reputation in the industry make it easy to sell for people who are seeking your services

Cons

Selling an intangible, non-demand product is very difficult in these economic times...company fines you if you don't meet minimums. Does not value education, "talent is overrated" in management's opinion, just dial 40 people a day and ask everyone for referrals.

Pros

Great hands on experience, Learn a lot about personal finance and the industry

Cons

very difficult to be successful. Not to much over sight

Advice to Senior Management

More leads

Pros

They have many good incentives, as well as really good senior member in the company who will help you in the business.

Cons

Unless you have leads it is very hard to get started in the business. A lot of people will drop out within the first few months.

Advice to Senior Management

I would recommend tuning up the internship program and giving them a little bit more hand on experience within the compnay.

Pros

Great experience while still in college. Unlimited income potential. Addressing real world issues and forging business relationships while still an undergraduate. Team leaders were extremely welcoming and helpful and all interns were highly encouraged to help one another and bounce ideas around the room. Time each day was taken to measure each interns productivity and progress as well as help them address any issues they brought up.

Cons

Long hours. While not explicitly stated, the internship was expected to take precedent over everything else. The best example would be the managers expecting all interns to make 7:00 or 7:30am meetings everyday (unless they had class during the meeting time) even during finals week and normal school holidays. Luckily I was closer to the office but some interns had 30 or 50 mile commutes one way and others didn't live in the area and therefore had to give up spending breaks or holidays with family for fear of being labeled as "not committed" to the program.

Advice to Senior Management

Loved what I saw from the national leadership. Locally A little less public criticism and a little more private praise and support.

Pros

upward mobility, unlimited earning potential, professional setting, good experience, learn about insurance products, get to provide value to people

Cons

commission pay based only, little salary. hard to set up a lot of appointments with no existing book of business. can be tough to keep going

Advice to Senior Management

Provide more insight to interns to difficulties if they dont have a lot of contacts to base their calls off of. Have more meeting with interns to coach and train. have more opportunities for interns to sit in on other appointments

Pros

They train you extremely well and give a lot of support and advice. We were each assigned a mentor (college unit director) who aided us through all the processes.

Cons

They micro-manage you a little bit and the people who you report to are not actually reps (nor have they ever been- they're the same people who recruit you at career fairs and such). It's also just an overall tough gig, selling insurance to friends and family primarily.

Pros

You make it what you want it. Very challenging, especially since it is sales. Very rewarding if you are able to succeed.

Cons

Very challenging to sell insurance. If you are not able to close out on a client, this career is not for you.

Advice to Senior Management

Overall, I believe that the management at Northwestern was very competent. The only advice I have is more training as far as the programs you use.

Pros

Develop on schedule
create own client list

Cons

No flat pay and have to make cold calls

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good work

Pros

It's a great place to work with a high retention rate if you stick with it for a couple of years.

Cons

requires a lot of calling random people

Pros

The income and benefits at NM are a great draw. The company pays very well and the benefits are second to none.

Cons

I worked in the same area for seven years and was promoted several times. However, the person that ran the division seemed to change every 16-20 months. There was no continuity between their plan for the area and goals for the employees. My last manager was manipulative and dishonest. When the issue was discussed with her director, the problem seemed to get worse. So much for open door.

Advice to Senior Management

Be honest with employees about what you expect from them and then stick with it.
Don't pin one employee against another to create problems and then claim that teams need to be separated because of problems they are having.