STAY AWAY IF YOU CAN-Literally do anything else - Financial Advisor Northwestern Mutual Employee Review

1.0
13 Dec 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Honestly. I have nothing good to say about this company. RUN IF THEY TRY TO RECRUIT YOU.

Cons

I spent almost 2 years as a financial advisor at this company. I've learned a few things: 1. They do not care about you- They care about money 2. If they sell this to you as a "limitless income" opportunity, know that this comes after year FIVE. 3. If you can live without getting paid for the first 3 years, you will be fine. 4. Leadership SUCKS. SUCKS. They will tell you to get referrals and you are failing because you didn't get enough referrals. 5. You are not a real financial advisor. You are a glorified life insurance agent. And the ultimate goal is to sell as much permanent life insurance as possible because it makes THEM as much money as possible. Everyone makes money off of you- your field director, your managing partner, joint work- seriously do anything else but this. Start somewhere independent. A real financial advisor doesn't have to sell insurance to make a paycheck. The investment grid rate SUCKS. Lowest in the industry. They want you to sell INSURANCE ONLY. STAY AWAY PLEASE. Seriously. Don't fall for it. 20% of your business WILL reverse. Meaning you owe THEM MONEY. You are fined 1K if you don't pass your series 6 and 63 within the first year. You are fined your second year if you don't hit your numbers (there is a monetary amount of premium you have to write or you are fined) They will not tell you any of this. You will sacrifice a lot for very little. They sell this career as a way to make limitless income potential and it can be- but only 10% of people who start will make it 5 years. Less than that will make it over 5. IF you are smart you become a fiduciary, that is where the real money is.

Explore other reviews about Northwestern Mutual

5.0
25 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Flexible with your schedule and life - You get to create your own schedule - Great for independent and hardworking individuals - Gives you the opportunity to push yourself to your own limits

Cons

Not cons but items worth considering if you are interested joining the team. . . - long workdays in the first couple months - I would work 12 -14 hour days in the beginning to keep high volume of meetings and get my practice started from scratch. - It is completely self-driven where you need to constantly improve your skills, test yourself, and consistently improve. Not great for people who need more hands-on help

5.0
17 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This internship has allowed me to get real world experience from the very beginning. I've learned how to use LinkedIn Recruiter, make scheduling and screening phone calls, and gotten to shadow the Director of Recruitment during interviews. Compared to other internships that I applied for, Northwestern Mutual has allowed me to have far more exposure to what a real career in recruiting could look like. The office has a great energy and culture, and I am able to participate in fun team events, like going to the Cardinals baseball game. As for career growth, I really admire the emphasis that Northwestern Mutual places on growth and development. Through my time spent around this company, I've been personally and professionally challenged to grow. I've been given books to read, attended leadership meetings, and been given the opportunity to dive deep into my strengths. The management here has encouraged me to explore and shadow different roles to help me make an informed decision about what kind of careers I want to pursue after graduation. Overall, I can't recommend this company enough! They are truly focused on serving their clients well, and developing employees to reach their full potential.

Cons

None, I've had a great experience! This is an environment of growth, so it can require moments of being challenged and stretched to do things outside your comfort zone. I could see some people being uncomfortable with growth, so it's not the environment for everyone! But if you are willing to lean in, it will make such an impact on your life.

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