Steven M Cellen, MBA
Managing Director
Region: Eastern

I invested 20 years in the telecommunications industry as Director of Finance for a large company and then later was a partner in a start-up technology company in the Southwest.

I find the biggest reward in this career is meeting and helping people. The greatest challenge is managing a district network office, and early in the career, it's challenging to develop a client base. 

But along the way, I learned that I know more than I thought about helping people meet their financial goals.

 

A Time I Made a Difference
I know I made a difference the day I delivered a death benefit to the mother of a 29-year-old victim of September 11th.  

I visited my client's mom on a Sunday to deliver a death benefit on her son's life.  Her son, Mike, was a bond trader who worked in the World Trade Center. 

We invested two hours talking about Mike as she showed me photos of him and their family.  She told me she was planning a golf tournament to raise money for a foundation in tribute to her son.  

What made this meeting even more sad was the fact that this lady, soon after her son's fateful death, lost her husband. She claims he died of a broken heart, and one would have to believe her.  

This visit had nothing to do with delivering a death benefit, since Mike's mom was financially cared for. The visit, and I suppose the insurance policy, was more about connecting a mother with her now passed son.
 
Looking Forward
I look forward to building a successful agency and maybe more importantly developing a reputation in the community as the first place to call for insurance and personal financial goals.

Some Career Advice
This career is certainly not for everyone and if it is something someone is considering, my advice would be (before you embark on this journey) to invest some time alone thinking about whether you have the ability and personal strength to stay motivated on the good and not-so-good days.

If you become a financial representative, wake up each morning knowing that you have the most refined and advanced aircraft at your disposal, and it will simply collect moths unless you learn how to fly it.

The Northwestern Mutual Difference
I always liken Northwestern Mutual Financial Network to a fine wine. There are many vineyards offering their products through a variety of distributors. You can taste all the varieties, and Northwestern Mutual is the reserve you always come back to when you don't want to be disappointed.

Outside of Work
I am a board member of two non-profit agencies in my community and am active in helping them achieve their goals.  

When I have time, I enjoy seeing the different parts of this land mass we call Long Island, and traveling to visit my daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons, who usually have much more energy than I.  

Generally I like to know that each and every week I've accomplished something and helped someone somewhere smile.

Steven Cellen has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network since 2000. Visit his website to learn more about him, or call Steven at 631-913-4100.