Stephen Barrett Stone, CLU, ChFC
Managing Partner
Region: Eastern

A Rewarding Shift in Career
Before becoming a Financial Representative, I was a chemical engineer working for a division of a large oil company.

I've now spent 20-plus years in a career where I feel I really help people and make a difference in their lives. I would look at this from both the sales perspective of helping families and businesses, and the management piece of my career in introducing people to this career and helping their development. 

Overcoming the Challenges
The career has its challenges, too, such as trying to meet people on a favorable basis to talk about things they know to be important yet don't want to address.  

It is not fun to think about your own mortality but it is critical to the future to think as if we were going to die today.
 
And early on in the career, it was challenging to gain the confidence to know I can really help people by asking tough questions, considering their long-term goals, and helping them achieve their goals.
 
Along the way, I've learned I am well suited for a career that allows my hard work to achieve my personal and financial goals. I enjoy helping people as they execute their plans.
 
A Time I Made a Difference
Early in my career, I helped fund an agreement between a father and son to buy the other's share of the business in the event of a death.  

The father died a few years later and the son received the cash necessary to buy out the remaining stock. If the father gave the stock through his will, the son would not have had the money to pay estate taxes and the business would have been sold.  

This simple insurance program helped keep the family business running and provided excellent jobs for over 300 people.  

Some Career Advice
If you're considering this as a career, make an informed decision. Talk to the management team in a Network Office. Develop a marketing plan to investigate if you have a potential client base to approach. Meet some of the new and older representatives in the office. Then commit to dedicating the time and effort required to launch a wonderful career.

The Northwestern Mutual Difference
The quality of all aspects of Northwestern Mutual exceed anything I've experienced in the industry. The product performance has been the best. 

The Financial Representatives work very hard for their clients and help them based on the clients' needs.  

The initial training for the Financial Representative is the best in the industry.  Then the Financial Representatives continue their "life time learning" by achieving many advanced degrees. 

I believe the focus of all parties to provide the best product and services truly distinguishes Northwestern Mutual from the competition.

Outside of Work
I enjoy spending time on the board of trustees for a local hospital foundation, the board of trustees for a country club and coaching Little League.

Stephen Stone has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network since 1982. Visit his website to learn more about him, or call Stephen at 908-918-0510.