Discover your potential . . . to be more, earn more
Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been helping people protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. Northwestern Mutual opened its first office in Nashville in 1889 and has served the Middle Tennessee community for well over a century.
Today, the financial representatives of The Pruett Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network continue to build on this strong foundation of service, providing businesses and individuals throughout Middle and East Tennessee with a broad range of financial products and services.
Led by Managing Partner Chuck Pruett, The Pruett Financial Group recently moved its Nashville offices to the Roundabout Plaza, which begins an exciting new chapter in the group’s long history.
The ambition of Managing Partner, Chuck Pruett is to make a positive impact on all associates and their clientele by creating an environment of desire, confidence, consistency, and positive results.
Education, motivation, and empowerment are the tools by which this office enables its associates to envision and fulfill a successful future to better serve its clients.
With offices in downtown Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and the Tri-Cities, The Pruett Financial Group serves more than 48,000* clients.
The mission of Chuck Pruett and The Pruett Financial Group 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 Pruett Financial Group, here are just a few of the products and services available to your clients:
Our Expertise
Just as your clients trust and rely on you to provide needs analysis and innovative solutions, you can trust and rely on Chuck Pruett, The Pruett Financial Group 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 Pruett Financial Group, our expertise includes:
Business Needs Analysis
Personal Needs Analysis
Estate Analysis
Advanced Planning
Investment Services
Employee and Executive Benefits
Disability Income Insurance
Long-Term Care
Diversity
At The Pruett Financial Group, 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.
*Number of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network-Nashville clients as of 9/30/04 48,141.
Meet Managing Partner, Charles R. Pruett
Chuck Pruett was named Managing Partner of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network-Nashville in the Spring of 2002. He is only the sixth Managing Partner of Northwestern Mutual’s Nashville operation since its establishment in downtown Nashville in 1889.
Chuck is focused on preparing the network office for industry changes. "As financial services companies continue to merge, we have a unique platform - multiple products
and services, as well as a reputation for relationship building. That positions us to lead the industry. Our office's strong reputation in this geographical area will allow us to use
the Network to build on that platform."
Long-term career growth
A communications graduate from Middle Tennessee State University, Chuck spent two and a half years with another company before signing his first Northwestern Mutual contract in 1992. "I went into this business right after college and was promoted to sales manager after six months." Even though Chuck had early success, he knew he was not with the right company for his long-term career growth. "I chose a career with Northwestern Mutual because I wanted to be with the company that gave
me the best chance of succeeding in this career. I still remember sitting in Bill Cochran's office saying, 'I just want to sell life insurance.' I asked Bill to promise that he wouldn't ask me to go into management. I'm glad that's the only promise Bill didn't keep."
In his second year, Chuck made the Million Dollar Round Table and Bill Cochran asked him to get involved in a management development program. " Before I realized it, he could see that I was drawn to management. I thrive on positively influencing other people and truly believe that becoming a financial representative is the greatest career choice in the world. Being in the position to introduce people to this career is a gift."
Chuck Pruett has given great consideration to the culture he builds as managing partner. "I want to create an environment that prospers long after my tenure is over."
To do this, he emphasizes:
Commitment to excellence and leadership;
Readiness;
Belief in teamwork;
Devotion to long-term growth;
Relationship building; and
Integrity.
Chuck measures success by the number of Forum producers his office produces, the
Office's ranking on new financial representative productivity, use of Network products and services, designations and average lives per financial representative.
Sacrifice and reward
Aside from these tangible measurements, Chuck emphasizes that success also requires "knowing what you want and knowing what you're willing to give up to get it. What we do requires sacrifice, especially in the early years, and you must understand what you're willing to give up to reap the tremendous rewards."
In Pruett's office, successful financial representatives will share three traits: discipline in the fundamentals; the courage to undergo change as the industry changes; and the heart to foster long-term relationships.
Financial representatives won't need to look far for a role model who exemplifies these traits. Pruett achieved a number of career milestones during his Northwestern Mutual years, including Million Dollar Round Table (1994-1995). In addition, Pruett has qualified for the Star Club Diamond (1995), Emerald (1993-1994), and Sapphire (1996), as well as the 100 Lives Club (1993 and 1994) and 75 Lives Club (1995). He
was named a Pacemaker in 1992-1993 and 1995-1996. He achieved his Best Year Ever in 1993 and 1995, and received invitations to the Sales Leaders Lunch in 1993-1995. He received the DA Growth Award in 1997 and 2001 and the NQA and NSAA in 1994-1995.
Chuck is a Mass Communications graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and serves on the MTSU Foundation Board of Trustees. He also serves on the advisory board of AmSouth Bank and the board of directors of the Nashville Downtown YMCA. In support of the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, Chuck served as chairman of the 2003 Cockrill Chapter Campaign for leadership giving. He also has served as president of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors from 1998 to 1999.
Chuck and his wife, Marcy, have two children. In his off-hours, Chuck is an avid runner and enjoys participating in triathlons, vacationing with his family and golfing.
An Opportunity to Succeed
Successful financial representatives with The Pruett Financial Group 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 Pruett Financial Group, you will be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. The Pruett Financial Group 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 Pruett Financial Group can do for you.
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 A mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization.
Career Opportunities
Through The Pruett Financial Group, our financial representatives have advancement opportunities into management and specialist opportunities. Learn more about some of our team members:
John P. Sterner, Field Director John P. Sterner assists in the recruitment and selection process of candidates in order to build a cohesive unit of productive full-time Financial Representatives.
Matthew Trivett, College Unit Director Matthew Trivett leads a group of energized college interns.
Scott Speedy, Investment Specialist Scott Speedy provides expertise in helping individual and business clients with their wealth accumulation and wealth preservation needs.
Michael Wood, Employee Benefit Specialist Michael Wood prepares a comprehensive analysis of a client´s employee benefits program, and then offers solutions to meet the unique needs of that company.
Donald S. Hurwitz III, Disability Income Specialist Donald Hurwitz assists individuals and businesses design a disability income insurance program for both individual and group needs.
Arthur M. Mayernick II, Annuity Specialist Arthur Mayernick provides expertise in helping clients create an approach for financial security in retirement utilizing both wealth accumulation and retirement income strategies.
Career Insights
Read what two members of The Pruett Financial Group have to say about their careers:
Joanne Denise, Employee Benefit Specialist
I taught school first and then was a full-time mom for 13 years. I got lucky. A Network rep was working with someone I worked for, we met at a few lunches, and she told me she knew of a place that had an opportunity for someone who liked working with people.
I sleep well at night knowing that those I have met and worked with have the best information to make decisions with and that I am committed to helping them prevent problems that will eventually happen. The career has its challenges, too, such as being credible among fellow Financial Representatives who want to do things their way and not understand the value of experience and time. And in the beginning, it was challenging to find the staff, finding them, paying good people the right salaries, and having a spouse who understood why I was so committed to my job.
This job is not about making as much money as you can. It is about doing the right things for someone else’s best interest every day. There are so many times I feel I made a difference in someone’s life. I really enjoy it when I meet a young person starting their own business and watching it grow to success.
Career Advice
This is like medical school. It is four to five years of long hours but it is worth it. It is not easy – if it was, lots would do it. Our company is differentiated by the Financial Representatives, many who are never going to be recognized for doing the right things for people day in and day out. Keep in mind this career needs to be a family commitment. Too many times the spouse is left out of the program.
Dave Lively, Financial Representative
Before I became a Financial Representative, I was the Sales Manager for a Porsche/Audi/BMW dealership. I was encouraged to consider the Network career by another Network representative.
The biggest reward is the freedom of my time, the benefits I can bring to my clients, and a more secure lifestyle. The greatest challenge is prospecting for new clients and learning the Financial Representative language. But I have learned that I am more determined than I thought.
Career Advice
Learn to be the world’s best prospector. It is difficult getting started in this career. It requires discipline (stubbornness), a coachable spirit, and persistence. But it is rewarding in every way you can think of. Our company is distinguished by its financial strength, strong reputation, and culture of growth and support.
Internships
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 Pruett Financial Group 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 Pruett Financial Group 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 Pruett Financial Group 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.
Discover your potential . . . to be more, earn more
Meet Managing Partner, Charles R. Pruett
An Opportunity to Succeed
A mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization. 
Joanne Denise, Employee Benefit Specialist
Dave Lively, Financial Representative