Pros
Great culture - it's like family! Financial representatives (there are about 8,000 of them) have the best opportunity b/c they are able to be their own boss, make an incredible income, and still have a good work/life balance. As staff, the benefits vary depending on who you work for. The financial representatives are independent contractors who hire their own staff, so unless you work for corporate, you're working for an individual, which means benefits can be great or they can be terrible. At corporate, they have great benefits of course and free lunches, gym, etc.
Northwestern Mutual is a highly ethical company and they highly value people of integrity. If you want to help people, this is a great company for you. Also, this company provides amazing training and support for its representatives. My husband and I both work here and it's been one of the best things to ever happen to us. We absolutely love this company, and I can honestly say that nearly every person I work with really loves coming to work every day. We have a very positive working environment! As a financial representative, your job is extremely demanding and difficult, but the rewards are amazing.
Also, in tough economic times, it is great to know that this company is more than 150 years old and it has stood the test of time. It's financial strength is unwavering, and the leadership is always focused on maintaining the company's long-term financial strength and security. No matter how hard times get, no one here is ever worried about losing their jobs.
Cons
The biggest downside is that unless you work for corporate up in Milwaukee, you are working as a staff person for another financial representative. That means you are basically working for 1 person, not Northwestern Mutual as a whole. Because of that, the benefits packages can be pretty minimal. I don't have a retirement package, little vacation time, and really no room for advancement. I can always grow in my position and my job duties are constantly evolving, but I can't ever really get a promotion, unless I were to work at the corporate offices.