Great company, hard life - Financial Representative Northwestern Mutual Employee Review

3.0
18 Feb 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

"Unlimited earnings" through a commission-only system (plus bonuses) can lead to huge amounts. Easy work in a technical sense - The majority of the job is calling and setting meetings to do in tandem with more senior advisors. Supportive staff who encourage you to succeed. Training staff are very clear about the extremely high job expectations.

Cons

If you don't set meetings at a high pace (40 calls a day, 25 meetings a week, minimum!) you won't see any money at all. Bonuses are tied directly to onboarding new clients at a pace. Don't expect to see any real earnings for the first six months. Potentially zero income due to the lag-time on clients signing new policies. Zero work/life balance: 10-12 hour days and nights full of studying are expected for the first several years. The commission system incentivizes selling high-cost policies to high-earning clients. Choose your own morality on that subject. The turnover rate is 90% in the first year. If you sit down with a recruiter, ask them about it and see if their answer satisfies you. You will be expected to arrive with 200-250 names of people you know, to use as a client/reference base. You will need to be comfortable with monetizing and commoditizing your friendships (I was not).

Explore other reviews about Northwestern Mutual

5.0
26 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This job is incredibly rewarding, what we do matters and has an impact on peoples lives.

Cons

The work is not easy, it takes motivation to power through the slow periods.

5.0
1 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I have been an advisor there for about 10 years, 8 years in the full-time role and 2 years as an intern. I now have full control over my day and I’m about halfway to seven figures of income per year, most of which is residual. I have over 700 clients that are in love with the work that we do and find incredible impact with the solutions we can bring them with comprehensive financial planning solutions. I have been offered lots of money to leave, but I will never believe this or organization, you could offer me a $10 million check to go somewhere else, but I would gladly turn it down. I find so much purpose in what I do.

Cons

This job is not for everyone! You must have thick skin and an incredible work ethic. It requires 10 to 12 hours of work per day for the first few years. After that you will develop a very good balance.

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