Carl E Polhemus, CLU, ChFC
Financial Representative / Life Insurance Specialist
Region: Western

Making the Northwestern Mutual Decision 
Before I became a Financial Representative, I was a scientist specializing in optical physics. But I wanted to run my own show, pay the price and reap the rewards.

The greatest reward has been the clients and the freedom, while the greatest challenge is prospecting and using time wisely.

A Time I Made a Difference
Over time, though, I've learned that helping my clients brings me great satisfaction, like when I worked with Phil and Debbie in 1982 when I was a brand new representative.

At the time, both had good jobs and no children. Then their lives changed dramatically with income struggles and twins on the way. At one point, they decided to surrender their whole life policies and replace them with inexpensive term insurance.

This upset both Phil and Debbie because it was the one move that could turn their earlier life insurance decision into a mistake. I looked carefully at the status of the policies and suggested to Phil that the policies could carry themselves for many months with no premium payments at all, not even the term cost. Furthermore, when their income situation improved, they could potentially get this plan back on its original track.

Over the next couple of years, they were able to repay all the policy loans, and they did so. Phil and Debbie were surprised that their life insurance provided such flexibility and still allowed them to get it back on track as though they had never interrupted payments.

As their lives progressed, Phil bought disability insurance, another significant financial commitment. Phil and Debbie took comfort in the fact that their Northwestern Mutual insurance helped assure the opportunity of a college education to their children no matter what happened, whether they lived, died, or became disabled.

Twenty years after I first met Phil and Debbie, I learned Phil had ALS. Northwestern began paying all of Phil's life insurance premiums under the waiver-of-premium benefit. Phil's disease progressed rapidly and he passed away shortly after I visited him in the hospice.

When I met with Debbie the first time after Phil's death, she told me when she sees the Northwestern Mutual sign on our building, she gets goose bumps. She said it feels like her company and it makes her proud.

Northwestern Mutual helped Phil die with dignity, and now helps Debbie live with dignity.

Words of Wisdom
If you're considering a career as a Financial Representative, be careful what you wish for, because you almost certainly will get it. For the right person, it's the closest thing to heaven you can find on earth.

Our culture, the company's performance, the consistency and the core insurance products differentiate us from the others in the financial services business.

Outside of Work
I enjoy spending time with my family, working with my hands, church, and local organizations like the Denver Children's Home, Cherry Creek Schools, and the Denver Estate Planning Council.

Carl Polhemus has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network since 1981. Visit his website to learn more about him, or call Carl at 303-512-2143.