Investment Operations Specialist

A growing Northwestern Mutual Financial Advisory team in Defiance, Ohio, seeks a motivated, self-starting Associate Financial Representative who is highly organized, empathetic, creative, and detail-oriented. Our Northwestern Mutual practice works with business owners and families to identify financial planning needs and develop a strategic, personalized plan for each client to help them meet their financial goals. The Associate Financial Representative will play an integral role in this vision.

Essential duties:

· Insurance and Investment Services:

- Onboard and service new clients, including applications, underwriting, and post-approval.

- File new statements, account forms, and other insurance/investment-related materials.

- Provide ongoing service to existing clients and process policy/account adjustments as needed.

· Client Information and Communication:

- Maintain CRM with updated contact information.

- Maintain electronic client case files.

- Coordinate and confirm appointments and meetings.

· Meeting Preparation:

- Prepare illustrations, Personal Planning Analysis, and use financial planning software

- Schedule follow-up appointments.

· Administrative Tasks:

- Maintain the Financial Advisor’s calendar.

- Acknowledge and prioritize incoming calls and emails.

- Communicate with the home office.

· Marketing:

- Generate feed lists for referral prospecting.

- Generate lead letters and develop and implement marketing programs.

- Maintain websites and social media.

Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree preferred
• 2 years of experience in finance or a parallel service industry (e.g., legal, accounting, banking) preferred
• Advanced/Expert proficiency in Microsoft products, such as Excel, PowerPoint, and adaptability to new technologies
• Holds or willing and able to obtain a Life and Health Insurance License, Series 6 and Series 66

Benefits:

• $45,000- $65,000 base salary, total compensation package commensurate with experience, including:
• Profit-sharing retirement plan
• Health insurance, employer pays 90%
• Paid time off
• Culture that prioritizes employee well-being with a commitment to work-life balance
• Growth path: Potential to take on additional business development or operational leadership responsibilities as the firm continues to grow.

Competencies:

• Confidentiality: Keeps personal, managerial, and organizational information safe. Does not gossip. Is trustworthy. Keeps information about individuals, the group, and the organization private.
• Action Oriented: Enjoys working hard. Is full of energy for the things he/she sees as challenging. Takes ownership of assignments and operates effectively with minimal supervision. Proactive.
• Detail Oriented: Pays close attention to small details when working on tasks or projects. Completes assignments as flawlessly as possible before moving to the next task. Submits high-quality projects with few to no errors.
• Strong Interpersonal Communication: Relates well to all kinds of people. Successfully builds relationships with others. Gains trust. Navigates critical conversations with diplomacy and tact. Demonstrates professional written and verbal communication. Comfortable with phone calls.
• Good Judgment: Makes better decisions than most. Listens well to others with undivided attention, understanding what is and is not said. Seeks relevant information, not validation.
• Service Oriented: Anticipates client needs and proactively offers solutions. Provides excellent relational service and strategy to serve clients well for a lifetime.
• Technological Agility: Embraces new technologies, systems, and processes with a positive and solutions-oriented mindset. Learns and applies new tools quickly, remaining effective and productive as systems evolve. Maintains a continuous learning approach to stay current with organizational and industry advancements.