What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Operating Officer position at Northwestern Mutual?
About the Firm
Vertex Capital Planning, a Forbes-recognized financial planning firm, and Northwestern Mutual - Minnetonka operate together under one powerful mission: to deliver exceptional financial planning while cultivating a high-performing advisor development system. These two interconnected business verticals are fueled by a culture of excellence, vision, and execution.
As both firms scale rapidly, we are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as the second-in-command to founder Brady Lindemann. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned operations leader to step into an entrepreneurial, people-first environment and bring vision to life through systems, accountability, and strong team leadership.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Operations Oversight Across Two Business Verticals
- Vertex Capital Planning (Financial Planning Practice)
- Manage workflow operations related to the client sales cycle, onboarding, and ongoing service
- Oversee business development systems and joint work advisor coordination
- Provide strategic leadership working in direct collaboration with the Director of Operations
- Northwestern Mutual Minnetonka (Advisor Recruitment & Development)
- Oversee personnel and operations of the advisor recruiting and development functions
- Day to day management of the talent acquisition team, with accountability to recruiting activity goals and contracts.
- Maintain performance visibility into under-five-year advisors, while not leading their development directly
Strategic People Leadership
- Lead, coach, develop, and support a growing team of 9–12 employees across both verticals
- Help structure roles, manage accountability systems, and ensure alignment with firm-wide objectives, key results, and performance goals
- Act as the internal face of the business—highly visible, highly trusted, and highly reliable
Executive Collaboration with Brady Lindemann
- Attend a weekly strategic meeting to align on priorities, discuss escalated issues, and report on key initiatives
- Act independently in alignment with Brady’s vision, taking initiative to drive results and solve problems utilizing resources
- Serve as a trusted point of contact for people, systems, and operational problem-solving
Organizational Infrastructure & Systems
- Partner with a fractional HR leader on onboarding, compensation, team experience, and performance management
- Oversee operational aspects of finance and profitability tracking
- Own and refine the systems and processes that keep both business units running at scale
Required Qualifications
- 5 years of leadership experience overseeing people and systems
- Proven track record of navigating both big-picture strategy and day-to-day execution
- Thrives in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
- A strong communicator who can translate vision into action—and ambiguity into clarity
- High EQ and high ownership: ability to lead with maturity, composure, and an all-in attitude
- Work in financial services, advisor development, or a multi-vertical business is preferred
Brady Lindemann uses Vertex Capital Planning as a marketing name for doing business as a representative of Northwestern Mutual. Vertex Capital Planning is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Brady Paul Lindemann is an Insurance Agent of NM. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI.
