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.

• 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: Combines processes with competitors and best-in-class organizations to identify improvements and develop competitive strategies.

• Consulting: Connects with stakeholders to understand requirements, resolve…