Risk Sales Support Senior Specialist

Summary:
The Sales Support Insurance Senior Specialist plays a pivotal role as a sales coach for field advisors, offering education, guidance on case consultations, and product training while continuing to develop expertise. This role supports all aspects of a sale, from comprehensive financial planning to strategic product selection, by considering the prospect's circumstances, current product portfolio, regulatory requirements, product features and limitations, and market competition. Focus Area: The Senior Specialist’s consulting expertise covers Northwestern Mutual insurance products, including Life Products, with expansion into Individual Disability Products, Long Term Care Products, Group DI/Life Products, and related insurance planning markets.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Enhance advisor engagement by delivering insurance product education and training through inbound phone consultations, scheduled sessions, and developing webinar or live presentation opportunities.
• Provide strategic advice to financial representatives, ensuring that insurance planning aligns with clients' financial goals.
• Conduct analysis of prospect information, current coverage, product options, and competitor products, offering guidance and insight.
• Consult with the field on insurance topics and scenarios, proposing effective, needs-based solutions.
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert in one product line while maintaining proficiency in another and broad cross-training across multiple product and business topics.
• Independently resolves approximately 80% of complex cases while developing the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to serve as a Trainer, including supporting team learning, coaching, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Continue developing the ability to integrate regulatory requirements, financial planning, product features and limitations, competitor analysis, practice management, and operations.
• Deliver training on insurance products, markets, sales concepts, and related planning topics to beginner and intermediate audiences.
• Contribute to feedback loops throughout the sales process and product line to enhance advisor engagement and support advisor growth.
• Stay current on products, enhancements, competition, regulatory policy changes, and financial planning best practices.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, marketing, or related field desired.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a financial services environment, with an understanding of financial services, insurance products, and financial planning. Previous experience as a Northwestern Mutual financial representative is a plus.
• FINRA Series 6 is required or the ability to obtain within three months of hire.
• Excellent consulting abilities focused on presenting and educating on financial products and planning concepts.
• Familiarity with relevant regulatory policies governing the insurance sector.
• Solid understanding and knowledge of markets, insurance, economics, and financial planning.
• Ability to clearly convey insurance, financial concepts, and sales opportunities.
• Knowledge of two or more insurance products preferred.
• Relevant designations such as CLU, ChFC, and CFP are a plus.
  

Skills You Have

• Sales Cycle Acumen: Applies expertise across the insurance and investment product sales cycle to improve the client and advisor experience and support effective technology use.
• Customer Support: Uses customer and field information to solve problems, support informed decisions, communicate clearly, and resolve concerns.
• Competitive Benchmarking: Compares processes with competitors and best-in-class organizations to identify improvements and develop competitive strategies.
• Consulting: Connects with stakeholders to understand requirements, resolve customer problems, apply domain knowledge, and collaborate with the right partners.
• Insurance Products: Applies knowledge of Northwestern Mutual insurance products, including their components, characteristics, principles, and advantages.
• Training, Educating & Awareness: Develops, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates training within the relevant subject area.

Compensation Range:

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We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.

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Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.