Leslie A Stafanick, CLU, ChFC
Financial Representative
Region: Central

Making the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Decision
I was an Associate Agent for 11 years with the Network before becoming a Financial Representative. Prior to that, I worked for various brokerage firms.

I decided on this career by accident through an employment agency and then it chose and consumed me. I can't think of anything else more satisfying and rewarding then to be a Financial Representative.

The greatest reward is seeing the impact I can have on my clients' lives. What I appreciate most is having the backing of Northwestern Mutual that truly cares about its policy holders and Financial Representatives.

The most challenging part is keeping up with the never-ending need for continuing education and the advancing technology. Early on, the greatest challenge is balancing family and business, learning to be a business owner and the demanding need to be organized.

But along the way, I have gained a lot of confidence in myself and realized that my clients really need and appreciate our products and my services.

A Time I Made a Difference
I insured a very successful female client for both life and disability income. Several years after becoming a client, she became disabled. She will probably never work again.

The disability income is sufficient enough to support her and her son and enough to put extra money away monthly into an annuity for her retirement. The continued payments into her whole life policies by Northwestern Mutual will help replace savings into her discontinued 401k plan via the cash values available for retirement.

Key Milestones
In my first year as a Financial Representative, I qualified for Million Dollar Round Table and have qualified every year since. I qualified for the bronze, silver and gold awards. I was Rookie of the Year in my network office, which was such an honor. I also was the leading female representative nationwide twice and qualified for Forum twice.

Career Advice
Don't get into the business unless you are going to give it your best effort. It takes a lot of work, but the rewards are all well worth it. Have a good support system and don't try to reinvent the wheel. Systems are in place to ensure your success if you only follow the system.

Our company is distinguished by its mission statement and the commitment to its policy holders, and the interaction between the home office and the field force and the willingness of the home office to help the field force in any way they possibly can.

If a person chooses a career in sales and one's income is dependent solely on the success of sales activity, then I feel it is most important to make sure that the product being sold is the best in the marketplace and that the training to sell that product is the best available.

I feel confident that Northwestern Mutual's product line is superior to any in the industry. This, in my mind, eliminates the competition.

The rest is based on sales ability and I feel that I have received and continue to receive the best training from my Managing Partner, my fellow Financial Representatives, not only in my office, but from around the country, and most importantly, support from the corporate home office and support staff. Our home office and field force work together as a team.

Outside of Work
Time with family is very important to me. I also have done quite a bit of fund raising for the YWCA.

Leslie Stafanick has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network since 1985. Visit her website to learn more about her, or call Leslie at 312-641-8900.