Northwestern Mutual - The Texas Financial Group - Dallas Career Opportunities

Join Our Team
Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been helping people protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. Tait Cruse, Managing Partner proudly states The Texas Financial Group – Dallas network office has been part of that tradition since 1958.

Tait Cruse, CLU
Managing Partner
The ambition of Managing Partner, Tait Cruse is to make a positive impact on all associates and their clientele by creating an environment of desire, confidence, consistency, and positive results.

The Texas Financial Group – Dallas has a long history in Dallas. Austin Rinne established the North Texas General Agency in 1958 and by the time he retired in 1984 the agency had become the number one general agency in the country. Angell and Associates led by, Al Angell, continued the high level of service until his retirement in August, 2004, earning the top spot in field directing (1976) and as a district agency (1984).

In 2004, when Tait Cruse was appointed Managing Partner, he formed The Texas Financial Group – Dallas, which assumed operations from the Angell Financial Group and merged with The Mahoney Group.

The Texas Financial Group – Dallas is one of the largest Network Offices in the country serving the Greater Dallas area.In addition to the Network Office in North Dallas, The Texas Financial Group – Dallas is served by district offices in Uptown, Las Colinas, Addison and Frisco.

The mission of Tait Cruse and The Texas Financial Group – Dallas is to provide its clients with expert guidance and innovative solutions that are right for each client. Whether focused on personal finances, business needs or both, they help clients understand their financial goals and ensure they are providing them with the right guidance and products to meet their needs.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network brings together the skills of representatives, the expertise of advisors and the technical know-how of a number of financial specialists to provide solutions for clients' financial goals and help you gain access to the products and services of a wide variety of organizations—each of which has a comprehensive understanding of a specific aspect of financial services.

And through The Network and The Texas Financial Group – Dallas, here are just a few of the products and services available to your clients:

• Life, disability, and long-term care insurance
• Mutual funds, annuities, bonds, money markets, stocks
• Investment and advisory services
• Trust services, educating funding, retirement solutions
• Comprehensive financial analysis

Our Expertise
Just as your clients trust and rely on you to provide needs analysis and innovative solutions, you can trust and rely on Tait Cruse, The Texas Financial Group – Dallas and the Network to provide sound products and services for your clients.

You might conclude that no one person can be an expert in all financial matters. We agree. That's why we provide you and your clients with access to a nationwide network of representatives, advisors and specialists who will work with you to provide a full range of services.

At The Texas Financial Group – Dallas, our expertise includes:

• Personal Needs Analysis
• Business Needs Analysis
• Investment Services
• Disability Income Insurance
• Advanced Planning
• Estate Analysis
• Employee and Executive Benefits
• Long-Term Care

Diversity
At The Texas Financial Group – Dallas, we are committed to reflecting our community and seek talented individuals who share our core values. As part of our overall growth strategy, we are committed to building and fostering a diverse organization of network representatives and specialists. We do so without regard to gender, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age.

We take pride in our unique strengths and the expertise we share with our clients. Our entire community can benefit from our expertise and can be rewarded with the advantages of the careers we offer. We will continue to be committed to reaching all segments of our community in which we live and conduct business.

Meet Managing Partner, Tait Cruise
Tait Cruse, CLU, learned firsthand the importance of the "Never judge a book by its cover" rule at his 1989 interview with Al Angell's Dallas network office. Cruse had already turned down three previous interview requests from the network office in hopes of landing a position in the corporate office instead. He relented at the next offer, speculating that the interview would prove to be an invaluable experience.

"I was hooked after the first interview. The culture at this network office really stood out. It was family- oriented and had a high level of trust. I knew from then on that I wanted to pursue a career in the field."

Fifteen years later, on Aug. 1, 2004 that pursuit reached new heights, when Tait Cruse succeeded Al Angell as managing partner. Tait Cruse's rise in the Network has not been without its trials. His earliest challenge was transitioning from the reactive mindset of college to the proactive attitude of the field. "After my first day, I went to bed in shock about everything I had to do to make it in this business. I'd bought more into the big picture of what being a financial representative meant and dismissed some of the other important details like prospecting and fact-finding."

To adjust, Tait drew on the advice of several veteran representatives. The consensus was that he should focus on prospecting and incorporate disability income (DI) insurance into his practice. Cruse proceeded to target specific markets for the sale of DI. His most successful niche has been in the physicians market, where he's had as many as 600 physicians in his client base.

On average, Tait was writing about 80 new clients each year. His high production has earned him a number of honors, including the 200 Lives Club award, the Life Impact award, Best Year Ever numerous times, Top 10 Disability honors, Top 20 in 2001, Top 10 in the Southern region in 2000, 2001 and 2003, membership in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and The Northwestern Mutual Forum seven years in a row.

Cruse has also established himself as a leading field director, tying for second place for the Market Development Leaders in the 2003-'04 Awards Year and receiving first place in market category IV of the Southern region for top field directors in 2003.

Staffing and coaching
Tait Cruse cites proper staffing and collaboration with a business and consulting coach for his ability to balance his personal production with the field director responsibilities he assumed in 1999. "Hiring staff members early on replaces the defensive mindset some representatives have starting out because they allow you to focus on what makes you effective."

His duties as a field director included establishing expectations for new financial representatives and creating time to meet with them. "You have to corral the new representatives into your time management system. You don't want to respond to them; they have to respond to you."

His goals include expanding his network office throughout northern Dallas by opening four more district network offices in the next five years. He began work on two new district network offices two years ago.

Expanding the network office's college internship program is also one of Tait's priorities. Currently, 65 percent of the office's top representatives are college recruits. "The young representatives infuse new blood and excitement into the Network."

An Opportunity to Succeed
Successful financial representatives with The Texas Financial Group – Dallas experience tremendous pride and satisfaction in building a practice from the ground up. Their success is not a factor of luck or chance; it's the result of a productive work ethic, strong relationship skills and a level of professionalism second to none. A mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization.

The goal is not to simply sell products, but to discover clients' needs and help to meet them. That means taking the time to understand each person's financial situation, values and goals.

This career offers:

• The ability to meet new people and positively impact families, businesses and communities as you help to achieve their goals and dreams
   
• An entrepreneurial opportunity to own your own business
   
• A high degree of support and training, plus ongoing curriculum for educational growth and personal development
   
• The flexibility of a career that allows you to focus on things of importance to you
   
• Earnings where you are directly rewarded for your efforts
   
• A strong team culture and the opportunity to work with a variety of specialists and advisors
   
• Exclusive access to a variety of world-class solutions and services, including life insurance from Northwestern Mutual
   
• Leadership and development opportunities
   

Your Development
You'll have assistance in developing your business and marketing plans, extensive training and coaching from certified trainers.

New representatives receive initial industry and sales training as well as mentoring and joint work programs for hands-on experience. They have access to on-line education resources for polishing skills and keeping up to date on industry information as well as exposure to opportunities for ongoing career education and advanced professional designations to increase their knowledge and reputation.

Your Business
We know that building your own business is difficult without help. As a financial representative with The Texas Financial Group – Dallas, you will be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. The Texas Financial Group – Dallas will provide you with support in your training and development, so you don't have to do it alone.

We take pride in our unique strengths and the expertise we share with our clients. Our communities can benefit from our expertise and can be rewarded with the advantages of the careers offered through the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

If you're ready to be your own boss, set your own hours and make a positive impact on people's lives everyday, then turn your dreams into reality and find out what a career as a Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Representative with The Texas Financial Group – Dallas can do for you.

Discover your potential when you join our team.

The Benefits of Your Success
Your career as a financial representative is what you make of it. You have the freedom to balance your hard work and determination with your personal goals. In the beginning of your career, it takes a tremendous amount of time, energy and commitment to earn the flexibility and financial rewards you will enjoy later on. You can achieve financial independence and have a positive impact on your clients, your family and your own community.

Income
A financial representative's income potential is virtually unlimited. Earnings are directly related to sales results and client relationships. Financial representatives are compensated through commissions, renewals and bonuses.

• Our top producer group, The Forum, had a median gross income of over $410,800 in 2004.
• First-year, average gross income during 2002-2004 for financial representatives ranged from $38,900 to $83,900.

Benefit Package
Whether you are single or married with a family, Northwestern Mutual's benefit package will address the various stages of a full-time financial representative's life. These benefits include: Comprehensive Medical Coverage, Retirement, Flex Programs, Childcare/Eldercare, Maternity Leave, Group Life and Accidental Death Benefit, Disability Income Insurance. Your local network office can provide additional information.

Lifestyle
When you invest the time and hard work necessary to build a successful practice as a financial representative, you can enjoy the rare and envied reward of balancing work with your personal goals. You can arrange your schedule so you may have three or four appointments a day, and still have time to participate in your children's school programs, community involvement or leisure-time activities.

Build a business that allows you to schedule meetings to accommodate your clients' schedules and your own.

Impact
The goal of the Network is not to simply sell products, but to discover clients' needs and provide solutions to meet them. That means taking the time to understand each person's financial situation, values and goals. Every solution you implement may help secure the financial future of your clients, their families, their businesses and your community.

You can experience the rewards of a career in which you can have a daily, positive impact on people's lives, including your own.

Meet some of the members of our Team
Successful financial representatives with The Texas Financial Group – Dallas experience tremendous pride and satisfaction in building a practice from the ground up. Their success is not a factor of luck or chance; it's the result of a productive work ethic, strong relationship skills and a level of professionalism second to noneA mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization.

Career Opportunities
Through The Texas Financial Group – Dallas, our financial representatives have advancement opportunities into management and specialist opportunities. Learn more about some of our team members:

Hugh J. McFadden, Managing Director
Hugh McFadden is the Managing Director of a local network office. In addition to maintaining a strong personal practice, he plays a key role in the career development of other Financial Representatives.

David T. Peacock, Field Director
David Peacock works as Field Director for the office. In addition to maintaining a strong personal practice, he plays a key role in the career development of other Financial Representatives.

John F. Moore, Jr., AEP, Long Term Care Specialist
A representative since 1968, John Moore serves as the office's long term care specialist helping individual and corporate clients understand their long-term care needs and designs solutions tailored to their unique situation.

Jacqueline Crain, Employee Benefits Specialist
Jacqueline Crain prepares a comprehensive analysis of a client's employee benefits program, and then designs a program to meet the unique needs of that company. Strategic Employee Benefit Services is a nationwide marketing program offered through Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Representatives.

Steve Gwinn, Disability Income Specialist
As the Disability Income Specialist, Steve Gwinn assists individuals and businesses design a disability income insurance program for both individual and group needs.

Chris A. Messick, Sr. Investment Specialist, Annuity Specialist
Chris Messick provides expertise in helping individual and business clients with their wealth accumulation and wealth preservation needs.

Career Insights
Read what some of the members of The Texas Financial Group – Dallas have to say about their careers:

Anthony Fitzgerald Alexander, Financial Representative
Before I became a Financial Representative, I worked as a Corporation Reorganization Analyst at JPMorgan Chase. My desire for financial growth and professional independence forced my career switch.

I enjoy sharing financial ideas with people and educating them about our products and services. The challenging part is having prospects keep their appointments!

I’m in the first five months of the business, and I’ve learned so far that I am much more patient than I thought I was. I look forward to having a professional designation in the next two-and-a-half years.

Career Advice
Come into this business with a mature mind and expect to work very hard. This career requires constant learning. I really enjoy learning new things and my income is directly tied to my knowledge of the business. As a result I have identified learning as the key to being successful in this business.

If I have to do this business with any other company, I would not be in this business. I believe this says a lot about Northwestern Mutual.

Visit Anthony's web site.

---

Jay D. Courtney, Financial Representative
Before I became a Financial Representative, I owned a food brokerage company. My dad and brother are Network reps.

The greatest reward in this career is helping people take care of their families, in addition to getting paid well for what I do. The challenge is to stay focused on quality referrals, and in the beginning of the career, getting high quality referrals. Along the way, I’ve learned that I can do this as a career and can make a difference with many people.

Amazingly, I don’t have any death claim experience yet, but feel that everyone I have met with has been better off after we went through the process.

Key Milestones and Career Advice
I made Forum this past year for the first time and want to continue that on a regular basis. I want to receive the Master Achievement award. The career can be very rewarding both financially and personally, but don’t come in unless you are willing to work hard and do the numbers.

I love the career and what it has allowed me to do with my wife being able to stay home with our three-year-old and newborn.

Visit Jay's web site.

---

Loren Hsiao, Financial Representative
I was a business major at Texas A&M University and joined Northwestern Mutual right out of college.

I knew I wanted to pursue a career in an industry that gave me the opportunity to impact others’ lives, build relationships, and offer the advantages of being in business for yourself. The greatest reward of being a Financial Representative has been the encouraging words and "thank yous" from my clients when we begin working together and they feel good about what they are doing for their family and financial future. It feels good to know I played a role in helping them accomplish their goals.

On a daily basis, I appreciate the joys of being a business owner. I enjoy putting in the hard work. I also like the fruits of that labor being found in time and financial freedom. This career is not that hard because I know I need to keep a balanced inventory and maintain a certain level of activity. The challenge is swimming through the outside distractions that keep me from seeing people or fighting to see people.

Early on in my career, the biggest challenge was overcoming a learning curve and my youth. But along the way, I have learned that I can overcome challenges in the business world.

Career Advice Oftentimes, I hear new reps ask, “What is the one thing you have done differently that made this year better than last year?”

My advice is my answer to that question. It is never one thing that changes things. I am where I am today based off of what I did in year one, two, three, four. Every year builds on one another, and those habits and your production affect the year you are on. Nothing replaces hard work. Work the system and do the numbers.

Visit Loren's web site.

Career Insight
Read what Andy Ellwood has to say about his career and internship with The Texas Financial Group – Dallas. Andy has been a financial representative since 2002.

I became a Financial Representative after an amazing experience in the company’s internship program. I was contracted as an intern for two-and-a-half years before graduation from Texas A&M University. After graduation I went full time and the career that I saw from the perspective of an intern has been everything that my mentors told me it would be: rewarding, challenging, and the right decision. I love being a Financial Representative because of the way I get to set my own schedule, work with people that I like to work with, and get paid based on how hard I work and how good I am at what I do.

The Challenges
The career has its challenges, too. Being in business for yourself is the most challenging thing you can do. If you don’t get out there and do it, no one else will. You have to be self-motivated and up for a great challenge.

What I’ve Learned
I need to be my own boss. I love running my own show and being responsible for anything and everything that happens. If you’re considering this as a career, I would say it can be the most rewarding career, both personally and professionally. Personally, this career has allowed me unlimited income potential and a flexible schedule to enjoy my time away from the job. Professionally, this career has challenged me to be the best that I can be, to go the distance and to impact other people’s lives with the skills that I learned here. What distinguishes Northwestern Mutual from the others in the financial services business? It is all about the relationships and friendships that I have built with my clients. It is not that way with other companies.

Whether you know where your college education is taking you or you're still keeping your options open, you owe it to yourself to see if Northwestern Mutual Financial Network's Internship program with The Texas Financial Group – Dallas is right for you.

As you learn by doing, you'll find that the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Internship Program is an intense and according to our alumni -- unparalleled learning experience. Expect the process to be rewarding, educational and an opportunity for you to narrow your career search.

Our internships provide a great chance for students to combine what they've learned in the classroom with a real-life look into what they could truly make of themselves. You'll have the chance to work in a real-world business environment and earn performance-based compensation.

The ambition of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Internship program has been less to sell our financial products than to develop people. As a Financial Representative College Intern, you will enjoy the benefit of working with The Texas Financial Group – Dallas where you'll receive outstanding guidance, superior support and quality expertise.

As full-time college students, interns generally work 15 to 20 hours per week developing business- and client-building skills. In most ways, our interns follow the same process for establishing their careers as our Financial Representatives.

Our internship offers you invaluable business experience that you will take with you far into your career. But that's just the start of the impact this can have on your future and your present.

Consider these benefits:

• Practical guidance in your career selection process
• The chance to develop your networking and business relationship skills
• Flexible work schedule
• Securities license, state licenses for life, health and accident insurance opportunities and a head start program for a career as a full-time Financial Representative
• Compensation in the same manner as a full-time Financial Representative.
• Actual business experience for your resume.
• Test drive the Financial Representative career.

Regardless of what you do after graduation, you'll have a foundation of skills and knowledge to build your career upon. One out of three former interns becomes a full-time Financial Representative upon graduation. These graduates have built a solid foundation for immediate and future career success.

The two-thirds who choose other career paths benefit as well. They launch their career with stronger business-building skills and a clearer sense of where they want their career to take them.

After completing the internship, the knowledge you have gained, coupled with the opportunity to work for The Texas Financial Group – Dallas as a full-time Financial Representative, can lead you to a profitable and fulfilling future.

The Northwestern Mutual Advantage
Northwestern Mutual exists to help policyowners and clients protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. The company, with its subsidiaries and affiliates, offers insurance products, investment products and advisory services that address client needs for financial security and protection, capital accumulation, asset distribution and estate preservation.

With more than 350 offices across the United States, 3 million policyowners and clients, $18 billion in annual revenues and $133 billion in assets, you can count on Northwestern Mutual to help you build strong financial futures for your clients.

The company's tradition of "doing the right thing" has been honored and nurtured by successive generations within Northwestern Mutual and recognized in the industry and media.

• World's Most Admired--Northwestern Mutual is the "World's Most Admired" company in its industry, according to FORTUNE magazine's annual survey of industry executives and analysts. For Northwestern Mutual, it is the seventh year as the top life/health insurance company in the magazine's global survey.
   
• First in Customer Satisfaction-- For the third year in a row, Northwestern Mutual has earned the highest customer satisfaction score among U.S. life insurers, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index's (ACSI) survey. Northwestern Mutual's industry leading score can be found in the ACSI's fourth quarter of 2005 consumer study, focusing on retail trade, e-commerce, banks and insurance.
   
• America's Most Admired--According to the March 7, 2006, FORTUNE magazine survey, Northwestern Mutual has been named "America's Most Admired" life insurance company for 23 years.
   
• One of America's Top Ten Internships for 2006--"Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has made our Top 10 list for ten consecutive years, proving its internship program to be consistently among the best." Internship Informants™, Vault, inc., 20006.
   
• Selling Power's 50 Best Companies to Sell For--Northwestern Mutual was ranked as the 2nd best and 4th largest service company (November/December 2005).
   
• Financial Ratings--The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Northwestern Mutual), the nation's largest direct provider of individual life insurance, according to statistics compiled from A. M. Best data, has always received the best possible insurance financial strength ratings from the four major rating services: Standard & Poor's (AAA), Fitch Ratings (AAA), A. M. Best (A++) and Moody's (Aaa).
   
• Top 100 Employers--Ranked 22nd in The Black Collegian's "Top 100 Employer and The Majors in Demand" for the Class of 2005.
   
• Largest Direct Provider of Life Insurance--According to statistics compiled from A. M. Best data, Northwestern Mutual is the largest direct provider of life insurance.
   
• Community Support--The Northwestern Mutual Foundation supports nearly 1,500 schools and nonprofit organizations each year. Last year, the Foundation contributed nearly $13 million ($12,534,005) in national and Milwaukee-area grants.
   
• 2006 Dividend--Northwestern Mutual's overall dividend payout to policyowners for 2006 is expected to be $4.27 billion, an increase of $360 million, the largest single increase in company history. This ongoing success, fostered by the company's tradition of "doing the right thing," has been honored and nurtured by successive generations within Northwestern Mutual.