Investment Consultant - Hybrid

Northwestern Mutual•Milwaukee, WI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Summary: The Sales Support Investment Consultant serves as a pivotal product and sales coach for our field advisors and serves as a deep subject matter expert on case consultations. The role involves integrating all aspects of a sale, from proper financial planning to appropriate product selection, while considering the prospect’s unique circumstances, current products owned, IRS Code and Treasury Regulations, product features and limitations, and product competition. The consultant will make recommendations with a focus on effective practice building and management for advisors. Consulting Scope: The consultant's expertise spans across all Northwestern Mutual's investment products, including Annuity Products, Brokerage Products, Advisory Products, Alternative Investments, Cash Management, Trust, and PCS. Additionally, the consultant will provide guidance on financial planning areas across qualified and non-qualified markets, such as IRAs (Traditional, ROTH, Inherited, Non-Deductible), Educational Savings Plans, UTMAs/UGMAs, and potentially qualified retirement plans. The consultant must effectively communicate recommendations by examining the pros, cons, and considerations of each aspect of the sale. Primary Duties & Responsibilities: Advisor Engagement: Drive advisor engagement by delivering investment product education and training within complex financial planning concepts via inbound phone consultations, scheduled consultations, webinars, schools, and in Network Offices. Financial Guidance: Provide strategic advice to financial representatives on taxes, retirement planning, investments, and educational planning, aligning with clients' financial goals. Product Analysis: Conduct thorough analysis of prospect statements and competitors’ products, providing guidance and expertise. Expert Consultation: Confidently consult with the field on complex topics and scenarios, proposing effective, needs-based solutions. Identify and address the problems, opportunities, wants, and needs of the field and their clients effectively. Technical Integration: Utilize skills to weave technical issues together involving IRS Code, Proper Financial Planning, Product features and limitations, competitors’ products, practice management, and operations to guide advisors to the sale via good financial planning. Training Delivery: Deliver impactful training on a full breadth of products, markets, sales concepts, and related planning topics to advanced audiences (e.g., field leadership and senior management). Serve as a featured speaker at events in the home office or network office on planning, product, and markets. Collaboration: Work across departments to align with our mission and goals by participating in high-impact projects and serving as a liaison for various regions, product areas, and market segment teams. Innovation: Combine product knowledge, sales strategies, and emerging technology solutions to innovate and drive excellence in field sales support. Feedback Contribution: Contributor to feedback loops throughout the sales process and product line to drive advisor engagement, deliver investment product and financial planning education, and support advisors and their growth while guiding the future of our support activities. Continuous Learning: Stay current on product enhancements, competitive landscape, regulatory policy changes, and financial planning best practices. Qualifications: Summary: The Sales Support Investment Consultant serves as a pivotal sales coach for our field advisors and serves as a deep subject matter expert on case consultations. The role involves integrating all aspects of a sale, from proper financial planning to appropriate product selection, while considering the prospect’s unique circumstances, current products owned, IRS Code and Treasury Regulations, product features and limitations, and product competition. The consultant will make recommendations with a focus on effective practice building and management for advisors. Consulting Scope: The consultant's expertise spans across all Northwestern Mutual's investment products, including Annuity Products, Brokerage Products, Advisory Products, Alternative Investments, Cash Management, Trust, and PCS. Additionally, the consultant will provide guidance on financial planning areas across qualified and non-qualified markets, such as IRAs (Traditional, ROTH, Inherited, Non-Deductible), Educational Savings Plans, UTMAs/UGMAs, and potentially qualified retirement plans. The consultant must effectively communicate recommendations by examining the pros, cons, and considerations of each aspect of the sale. Primary Duties & Responsibilities: Advisor Engagement: Drive advisor engagement by delivering investment product education and training within complex financial planning concepts via inbound phone consultations, scheduled consultations, webinars, schools, and in Network Offices. Financial Guidance: Provide strategic advice to financial representatives on taxes, retirement planning, investments, and educational planning, aligning with clients' financial goals. Product Analysis: Conduct thorough analysis of prospect statements and competitors’ products, providing guidance and expertise. Expert Consultation: Confidently consult with the field on complex topics and scenarios, proposing effective, needs-based solutions. Identify and address the problems, opportunities, wants, and needs of the field and their clients effectively. Technical Integration: Utilize skills to weave technical issues together involving IRS Code, Proper Financial Planning, Product features and limitations, competitors’ products, practice management, and operations to guide advisors to the sale via good financial planning. Training Delivery: Deliver impactful training on a full breadth of products, markets, sales concepts, and related planning topics to advanced audiences (e.g., field leadership and senior management). Serve as a featured speaker at events in the home office or network office on planning, product, and markets. Collaboration: Work across departments to align with our mission and goals by participating in high-impact projects and serving as a liaison for various regions, product areas, and market segment teams. Innovation: Combine product knowledge, sales strategies, and emerging technology solutions to innovate and drive excellence in field sales support. Feedback Contribution: Contributor to feedback loops throughout the sales process and product line to drive advisor engagement, deliver investment product and financial planning education, and support advisors and their growth while guiding the future of our support activities. Continuous Learning: Stay current on product enhancements, competitive landscape, regulatory policy changes, and financial planning best practices. Qualifications:

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in business, finance, marketing, or related field desired.
Experience: Minimum of 6 years' experience in a financial services environment with an in-depth understanding of financial services, products, and financial planning.
Certifications: FINRA Series 7 required
Skills: Excellent abilities in consulting, presenting and educating on complex insurance products and planning concepts.
Strong understanding of relevant regulatory policies that govern the financial sector with broad knowledge of markets, investments, economics, and financial planning.
Strong working knowledge of current trends within the retail investment industry.
Skilled in delivering clear and confident presentations in complex financial concepts and sales opportunities clearly and understandably.
Demonstrated ability to be a team player and effectively persuade others.
Strong professional presence, with the ability to influence, educate, and engage across audiences.
Demonstrated ability to lead projects or manage liaison responsibilities across divisions or departments for Region, Product, or Markets.
Knowledge of qualified retirement plan regulations, ability to offer guidance on a variety of issues, from plan selection to implementation, ongoing servicing, investment strategies, and employee education.
Investment Products (NM) - Applies the knowledge of various investment products, investment concepts, financial markets, and regulations related to investment products to make informed investment decisions and provide advice to clients. Understands customer needs and market trends and works with various internal teams such as research, legal, compliance, and marketing. Analyzes product performance, identifies areas for improvement, and implements strategies to enhance the product offering.
Training, Educating & Awareness (NM) - Conducts training of personnel within pertinent subject domain. Develops, plans, coordinates, delivers and/or evaluates training courses, methods, and techniques as appropriate.
Learning Agility & Critical Thinking (NM) - Pursues learning and obtains knowledge continuously in relevant fields, methods, or technologies in current and future practices; continuously utilizes critical thinking to identify opportunities, execute solutions, and measure impact to constantly improve existing practices and processes based on feedback, lessons learned, and market trends.
Financial Acumen (NM) - Applies the knowledge of financial statements, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling to ensure decisions are fiscally sound and responsible.
Customer Centricity (NM) - Applies a customer first mindset to design and continuously improve solutions, systems, processes, and services that support enterprise strategy, impact critical business outcomes, and drive organizational success.
This position has been classified as a Registered Representative under NMIS guidelines and requires fingerprinting.
Series 6 - FINRA
SIE - FINRA

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree is a plus.
Previous experience as a Northwestern Mutual financial representative is a plus.
CFP is a plus, as well as other relevant designations such as CLU, ChFC, CFA, and/or RICP.

Responsibilities

Advisor Engagement: Drive advisor engagement by delivering investment product education and training within complex financial planning concepts via inbound phone consultations, scheduled consultations, webinars, schools, and in Network Offices.
Financial Guidance: Provide strategic advice to financial representatives on taxes, retirement planning, investments, and educational planning, aligning with clients' financial goals.
Product Analysis: Conduct thorough analysis of prospect statements and competitors’ products, providing guidance and expertise.
Expert Consultation: Confidently consult with the field on complex topics and scenarios, proposing effective, needs-based solutions. Identify and address the problems, opportunities, wants, and needs of the field and their clients effectively.
Technical Integration: Utilize skills to weave technical issues together involving IRS Code, Proper Financial Planning, Product features and limitations, competitors’ products, practice management, and operations to guide advisors to the sale via good financial planning.
Training Delivery: Deliver impactful training on a full breadth of products, markets, sales concepts, and related planning topics to advanced audiences (e.g., field leadership and senior management). Serve as a featured speaker at events in the home office or network office on planning, product, and markets.
Collaboration: Work across departments to align with our mission and goals by participating in high-impact projects and serving as a liaison for various regions, product areas, and market segment teams.
Innovation: Combine product knowledge, sales strategies, and emerging technology solutions to innovate and drive excellence in field sales support.
Feedback Contribution: Contributor to feedback loops throughout the sales process and product line to drive advisor engagement, deliver investment product and financial planning education, and support advisors and their growth while guiding the future of our support activities.
Continuous Learning: Stay current on product enhancements, competitive landscape, regulatory policy changes, and financial planning best practices.