Bank Investment Consultant

Chris,

I have not worked for either company, so I cannot comment on the pros and cons of these individual corporations.  But, the most important thing for your future at this time is to find the position that will provide you with a mentor from whom you can learn all of the intangible skills to be successful.  Anyone can run a tax projection or analyze cash flow and retirement needs, but learning how to work with clients in good times and bad, allay fears or overexurbance, how to ask questions and listen, how to get clients to the heart of their goals and concerns, marketing yourself, and so forth are all critical skills that are not taught in any masters or designation program.  You don't want to have to reinvent all those things yourself, though you'll develop your own still in time.  It's likely you'll change companies, go independent, whatever, several times in your financial planning career, so its not so much the company for whom you work, but the support and mentoring that you get as you develop your career.

Just my two cents.

Anna

Chris,

I would echo the fantastic comments made by Anna.  A company (or mentor) with a solid training program is key.  I would really pick apart the two companies abilities to help train someone brand new like yourself into becoming successful in this business.  In my experience, NWM does not focus as much on Planning as Lincoln might.  Always ask yourself where you'd like to see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, etc....and then determine if the company you will join can help you get there in the most efficient way.  Hope that helps.

Chris,

If you are really interested in being a financial planner, you would be better served to look elsewhere than Northwestern Mutual. If you are interested in a career in life insurance, Northwestern Mutual is a good place to go. They have the ability to dress it up quite a bit and probably have shown you all kinds of things about the network and various experts that you will have at your disposal, but your primary role there will be to sell life insurance. I know less about Lincoln than NML.

If you are really looking to break into financial planning with no prior experience, you should seriously consider teaming up with an experienced advisor or group of advisors. As the prior poster indicates, you can not substitute any amount of classroom work for the wisdom imparted by a mentor that has been meeting face-to-face with clients for 10-20 years. You will always have the option of going out on your own at some point down the road.

I am in the same boat ...trying to decide b/w NMFN and another company.  I actually just decided last week to go with the other company over Northwestern, based ( I am happy to say) on many things that were advised to focus on in the other posts.  The other company offered trainging and licensing at the very beginning to include all investments and not just Life Insurance, the other company appeared to have a much better training in place, and the other company had a culture that fit what I was looking for. Let me know which one you decide on....I'm curious to know.  I don't have any info about Lincoln....but I would recommend really comparing the two to see which one not only offers the best training but offers the best opportunity to provide clients with the most services and options...NMFN, offers many but thru referral, rather the FA being able to help with all aspects.  my two cents!