Michelle Barber
Financial Representative
Region: Southern

Making the Northwestern Mutual Decision
I was an office manager for a property/casualty company representative for over eight years. I was the representative in everything but the name on the door. My representative had told me that I would be a good representative one day, but needed to complete college.

I started back to college when my children were one and two. From there, I decided that I wanted the flexibility of a representative in order to attend my children's school functions, plus I wanted to help people, especially women, understand life insurance and how important it is for the future.

Rewards and Challenges
The greatest reward is when a client immediately tells you they will follow your recommendations because they trust you, especially when you’ve only met them one other time. That's the power of referrals! I appreciate most knowing that I've given my clients the best possible service. I can rest easy knowing my company is widely recognized for its financial strength and stability.

The greatest challenge has been knowing when to let go -- let go of those who know they should do something to protect their families, but choose not to take action.

The biggest challenge in the first few years of the career is managing time and setting aside time for making phone calls.

But I have learned that it's okay to ask for help and that I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. Things don't have to be perfect to work.

A Time I Made a Difference
My first death claim came a year ago to one of my dearest friends, Bob. Bob was like a dad to me. I had written the policy one day shy of a year when he died of a blood clot to his lung.

A week before, he had a triple bypass and was doing great. At 2:00 in the morning, we got a phone call that the ambulance was called and by 3:00 am, he was gone.

The first words out of his wife's mouth when I arrived at her house the next morning were, "Michelle, am I going to be okay?" I was absolutely grateful to be able to tell her she was going to be fine because one year before, I had spoken to them about Northwestern Mutual.

Notable Milestones
I achieved Pacesetter First 40 in my first six months, which was a huge accomplishment! No one in our district office had reached it in four years. I am looking forward to $100,000 in premium and then to Million Dollar Round Table. I also want to achieve 100 lives every year.

Words of Wisdom
If you choose this as a career, make sure you have a good support system at home. Without someone in the background supporting you, rooting you on, challenging you, motivating you, helping you up when you are down, you don't stand a chance at making this career work.

This is a very rewarding career if you work hard and play by the rules already set forth and proven to work. Don't try to reinvent a new technique that you think will work better --it won't!

The Northwestern Mutual Difference
We ask tough questions. We ask what kind of planning the client has done, what the client wants his planning to do for him and how the client feels about the planning he has done.

We ask the tough questions that nobody wants to ask -- how would you feel if you couldn't provide for someone you loved? What would you want your life insurance to do for you? What is your most important objective? Etc.

Outside of Work
I coach my daughter's t-ball and UPWARD basketball team, and help my husband coach my son's baseball and UPWARD basketball team. My husband and I coach and play co-ed softball for our church team, where my husband is also a deacon and I play the piano for the worship service. We are also leaders for a small group Bible study.

Michelle Barber has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network since 2002. Visit her website to learn more about her, or call Michelle at 573-335-0187.