Shape Your Career . . . Balance Your Life
Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been helping people protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. Northwestern Mutual´s tradition of service excellence in Montana and Northern Wyoming continues under the leadership of Managing Partner Gregory Castronovo, CLU.
Gregory Castronovo, CLU, Managing Partner
The ambition of Managing Partner, Greg Castronovo is to make a positive impact on all associates and their clientele by creating an environment of desire, confidence, consistency, and positive results. Education, motivation, and empowerment are the tools by which this office enables its associates to envision and fulfill a successful future to better serve its clients.
The mission of Greg Castronovo and The Castronovo Financial Group is to provide its clients with expert guidance and innovative solutions that are right for each client. Whether focused on personal finances, business needs or both, they help clients understand their financial goals and ensure they are providing them with the right guidance and products to meet their needs.
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network brings together the skills of representatives, the expertise of advisors and the technical know-how of a number of financial specialists to provide solutions for clients' financial goals and help you gain access to the products and services of a wide variety of organizations—each of which has a comprehensive understanding of a specific aspect of financial services.
And through The Network and The Castronovo Financial Group, here are just a few of the products and services available to your clients:
Our Expertise
Just as your clients trust and rely on you to provide needs analysis and innovative solutions, you can trust and rely The Castronovo Financial Group and the Network to provide sound products and services for your clients.
You might conclude that no one person can be an expert in all financial matters. We agree. That's why we provide you and your clients with access to a nationwide network of representatives, advisors and specialists who will work with you to provide a full range of services.
At The Castronovo Financial Group, our expertise includes:
Personal Needs Analysis
Business Needs Analysis
Investment Services
Estate Analysis
Employee and Executive Benefits
Advanced Planning
Disability Income Insurance
Long-Term Care
Diversity
At The Castronovo Financial Group, we are committed to reflecting our community and seek talented individuals who share our core values. As part of our overall growth strategy, we are committed to building and fostering a diverse organization of network representatives and specialists. We do so without regard to gender, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age.
We take pride in our unique strengths and the expertise we share with our clients. Our entire community can benefit from our expertise and can be rewarded with the advantages of the careers we offer. We will continue to be committed to reaching all segments of our community in which we live and conduct business.
Gregory Castronovo, CLU, Managing Partner
When Greg Castronovo, CLU, was playing hockey on scholarship for the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., he never envisioned himself getting a job in the financial services industry. And now, he is the managing partner in Bozeman, Montana. Greg admits it's beyond what he envisioned he'd do after some humble beginnings.
Greg's introduction to Northwestern Mutual came after his father's untimely death in 1987. His dad was a planner and had life insurance policies, but they weren't with Northwestern Mutual. A family friend referred them to a Northwestern Mutual Financial Network representative in case they needed additional help.
Greg was 19 at the time and his mother made sure he didn't worry about the family's finances so he could concentrate on his business degree. After turning a three-month internship into a several-month stay as the director of recreation for a vacation resort in Oregon, Greg realized he wanted to get back to his native Colorado.
Without a job, but with a strong work ethic, he spent several weeks working referrals from his mom – all of which included manual labor and most involved installing sod and sprinkler systems. One referral led him straight to Brian J. Hubbell, CLU, ChFC, who at the time was managing director in Colorado Springs, Colo. “We started talking and he asked me what I was going to do with my life. I grinned and told him anything was better than installing sprinklers in July, so I went to talk to the people in his office.
Leap of faith
Greg Castronovo, with no sales experience but a love of people, was attracted to the income potential and the chance to talk to different people every day. At 23, he assumed that if he didn't do well at this career he'd have a shot at something else along the way.
“I didn't think I could do sales because even my mom wouldn't buy the magazines I had to sell for the hockey team. The difference is I never looked at this career as sales. It's really a process centered around helping clients and having an impact. That was 15 years ago and he's never looked back.
Ready for next step
As a managing director, Castronovo worked hard to achieve a healthy balance between personal production, recruiting and mentoring. Now he knows he's ready for the next step and responsibilities centered around something he truly enjoys – working one-on-one with representatives.
“Now I can focus even more attention on helping representatives grow their practices. “They will get 100 percent of my attention when they need it. I'm sincerely interested in their success more than my own and I will always be available.”
To support the office's growth, Greg has hired a full-time recruiter and plans to establish a strong college intern program, as well as continue to build solid field leadership in the satellite offices.
“Truly, this is about the journey. I measure success by whom we have helped and how we have made an impact, not by awards. While I didn't envision myself at this level when I started, I was certainly
open to possibilities. And that has made all the difference.”
An Opportunity to Succeed
Successful financial representatives with The Castronovo Financial Group experience tremendous pride and satisfaction in building a practice from the ground up. Their success is not a factor of luck or chance; it's the result of a productive work ethic, strong relationship skills and a level of professionalism second to none. A mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization.
The goal is not to simply sell products, but to discover clients' needs and help to meet them. That means taking the time to understand each person's financial situation, values and goals.
This career offers:
The ability to meet new people and positively impact families, businesses and communities as you help to achieve their goals and dreams
An entrepreneurial opportunity to own your own business
A high degree of support and training, plus ongoing curriculum for educational growth and personal development
The flexibility of a career that allows you to focus on things of importance to you
Earnings where you are directly rewarded for your efforts
A strong team culture and the opportunity to work with a variety of specialists and advisors
Exclusive access to a variety of world-class solutions and services, including life insurance from Northwestern Mutual
Leadership and development opportunities
Your Development
You'll have assistance in developing your business and marketing plans, extensive training and coaching from certified trainers.
New representatives receive initial industry and sales training as well as mentoring and joint work programs for hands-on experience. They have access to on-line education resources for polishing skills and keeping up to date on industry information as well as exposure to opportunities for ongoing career education and advanced professional designations to increase their knowledge and reputation.
Your Business
We know that building your own business is difficult without help. As a financial representative with The Reynolds Financial Group, you will be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. The Reynolds Financial Group will provide you with support in your training and development, so you don't have to do it alone.
We take pride in our unique strengths and the expertise we share with our clients. Our communities can benefit from our expertise and can be rewarded with the advantages of the careers offered through the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
If you're ready to be your own boss, set your own hours and make a positive impact on people's lives everyday, then turn your dreams into reality and find out what a career as a Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Representative with The Castronovo Financial Group can do for you.
Discover your potential when you join our team. Recruiter, Eric Clyne looks forward to receiving your application.
The Benefits of Your Success
Your career as a financial representative is what you make of it. You have the freedom to balance your hard work and determination with your personal goals. In the beginning of your career, it takes a tremendous amount of time, energy and commitment to earn the flexibility and financial rewards you will enjoy later on. You can achieve financial independence and have a positive impact on your clients, your family and your own community.
Income
A financial representative's income potential is virtually unlimited. Earnings are directly related to sales results and client relationships. Financial representatives are compensated through commissions, renewals and bonuses.
Our top producer group, The Forum, had a median gross income of over $410,800 in 2004.
First-year, average gross income during 2002-2004 for financial representatives ranged from $38,900 to $83,900.
Benefit Package
Whether you are single or married with a family, Northwestern Mutual's benefit package will address the various stages of a full-time financial representative's life. These benefits include: Comprehensive Medical Coverage, Retirement, Flex Programs, Childcare/Eldercare, Maternity Leave, Group Life and Accidental Death Benefit, Disability Income Insurance. Your local network office can provide additional information.
Lifestyle
When you invest the time and hard work necessary to build a successful practice as a financial representative, you can enjoy the rare and envied reward of balancing work with your personal goals. You can arrange your schedule so you may have three or four appointments a day, and still have time to participate in your children's school programs, community involvement or leisure-time activities.
Build a business that allows you to schedule meetings to accommodate your clients' schedules and your own.
Impact
The goal of the Network is not to simply sell products, but to discover clients' needs and provide solutions to meet them. That means taking the time to understand each person's financial situation, values and goals. Every solution you implement may help secure the financial future of your clients, their families, their businesses and your community.
You can experience the rewards of a career in which you can have a daily, positive impact on people's lives, including your own.
Meet some of the members of our Team
Successful financial representatives with The Castronovo Financial Group experience tremendous pride and satisfaction in building a practice from the ground up. Their success is not a factor of luck or chance; it's the result of a productive work ethic, strong relationship skills and a level of professionalism second to none.
A mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization. Meet some of The Castronovo Financial Group financial representatives that exemplify this mission.
Mike Dauernheim, Long-Term Care Specialist
As the Long Term Care Specialist, Mike Dauernheim helps individual and corporate clients understand their long-term care insurance needs.
Randall E Daly, Disability Income Specialist
As the Disability Income Specialist, Randall Daly assists individuals and businesses design a disability income insurance program for both individual and group needs.
Career Insights
Read what some of the members of The Castronovo Financial Group have to say about their careers:
Kathy Dietz, Financial Representative Kathy Dietz has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network since 2001.
I was a full-time parent before returning to school to get my finance degree. I wanted to work in the financial field and work with people to help them obtain their goals.
The greatest reward is knowing I and my team of specialists have helped individuals, families, and businesses get on the right track to achieve their goals.
The Challenges
Early on in my career, the biggest challenge is continuing to practice the daily habits we’re taught and maintaining daily activity – seeing people and fighting to see people every day. Develop the right habits from day one.
What I’ve Learned
I’ve learned that I have a huge support network, and not to give up too quickly. I’m beginning my fourth year with NMFN, and I’m starting to really see my business grow. I’ve learned that through the many challenges I’ve faced, I am a survivor. This is such a rewarding career.
Career Advice
This is a career for people who want to be successful and are willing to work for it. You have to be willing to learn and ask for help or support when you need it. You are given all the tools to have a great start.
But it is your career, and it can be whatever you want it to be. Where else can you create your own market, your own schedule, and your own business? It’s been so rewarding for me, and I look forward to watching my business grow.
Kathy Dietz has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network since 2001.
Kathy Sanchez
Financial Representative
Kathy Sanchez took a winding route to become a financial representative. She started college at age 37. Weather and road construction complicated her 100- mile commute, but she never missed a class. After five years she graduated, steadfast that she wanted a career that helped people, yet faced with the reality that she needed payback for her educational investment.
She interviewed with Linda Reynolds, but hesitated about starting a commission-based career. Reynolds hired her as the director of development. The role allowed Sanchez to do something she truly enjoyed, teaching, while applying her business degree. However, the longer she worked with financial representatives, the more she realized she wanted to become one. She made the leap, firm in her conviction that she could make an impact.
Kathy completed her first calendar year with 113.8 lives and was named top lives leader among female representatives in the western region her first year in the career.
Every day Sanchez faced her fear of failure. “I was excited about a business with freedom and flexibility, opportunity and potential. “But I had a family to consider, and we had just made a huge investment in my education. I did not want to fail.”
Linda Reynolds attributes Sanchez's success to an undefeatable attitude. “I've never met a financial representative with a stronger sense of purpose, persistence and optimism,” Reynolds said. “Despite setbacks, Kathy kept opening cases to keep balanced activity.”
Reynolds uses Sanchez as an example to other new financial representatives because her work habits and attitude helped her see each day as a fresh start.
“It wasn't easy, but I made the choice to bounce back each time I faced disappointment,” Sanchez said. “Failing was not an option so I never gave myself an excuse.”
Internships
Whether you know where your college education is taking you or you're still keeping your options open, you owe it to yourself to see if Northwestern Mutual Financial Network's Internship program with The Reynolds Financial Group is right for you.
As you learn by doing, you'll find that the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Internship Program is an intense and according to our alumni -- unparalleled learning experience. Expect the process to be rewarding, educational and an opportunity for you to narrow your career search.
Our internships provide a great chance for students to combine what they've learned in the classroom with a real-life look into what they could truly make of themselves. You'll have the chance to work in a real-world business environment and earn performance-based compensation.
The ambition of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Internship program has been less to sell our financial products than to develop people. As a Financial Representative College Intern, you will enjoy the benefit of working with The Reynolds Financial Group where you'll receive outstanding guidance, superior support and quality expertise.
As full-time college students, interns generally work 15 to 20 hours per week developing business- and client-building skills. In most ways, our interns follow the same process for establishing their careers as our Financial Representatives.
Our internship offers you invaluable business experience that you will take with you far into your career. But that's just the start of the impact this can have on your future and your present.
Consider these benefits:
Practical guidance in your career selection process
The chance to develop your networking and business relationship skills
Flexible work schedule
Securities license, state licenses for life, health and accident insurance opportunities and a head start program for a career as a full-time Financial Representative
Compensation in the same manner as a full-time Financial Representative.
Actual business experience for your resume.
Test drive the Financial Representative career.
Regardless of what you do after graduation, you'll have a foundation of skills and knowledge to build your career upon. One out of three former interns becomes a full-time Financial Representative upon graduation. These graduates have built a solid foundation for immediate and future career success.
The two-thirds who choose other career paths benefit as well. They launch their career with stronger business-building skills and a clearer sense of where they want their career to take them.
After completing the internship, the knowledge you have gained, coupled with the opportunity to work for The Castronovo Financial Group as a full-time Financial Representative, can lead you to a profitable and fulfilling future.
The Northwestern Mutual Advantage
Northwestern Mutual exists to help policyowners and clients protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. The company, with its subsidiaries and affiliates, offers insurance products, investment products and advisory services that address client needs for financial security and protection, capital accumulation, asset distribution and estate preservation.
With more than 350 offices across the United States, 3 million policyowners and clients, $18 billion in annual revenues and $133 billion in assets, you can count on Northwestern Mutual to help you build strong financial futures for your clients.
The company's tradition of "doing the right thing" has been honored and nurtured by successive generations within Northwestern Mutual and recognized in the industry and media.
World's Most Admired--Northwestern Mutual is the "World's Most Admired" company in its industry, according to FORTUNE magazine's annual survey of industry executives and analysts. For Northwestern Mutual, it is the seventh year as the top life/health insurance company in the magazine's global survey.
First in Customer Satisfaction-- For the third year in a row, Northwestern Mutual has earned the highest customer satisfaction score among U.S. life insurers, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index's (ACSI) survey. Northwestern Mutual's industry leading score can be found in the ACSI's fourth quarter of 2005 consumer study, focusing on retail trade, e-commerce, banks and insurance.
America's Most Admired--According to the March 7, 2006, FORTUNE magazine survey, Northwestern Mutual has been named "America's Most Admired" life insurance company for 23 years.
One of America's Top Ten Internships for 2006--"Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has made our Top 10 list for ten consecutive years, proving its internship program to be consistently among the best." Internship Informants™, Vault, inc., 20006.
Selling Power's 50 Best Companies to Sell For--Northwestern Mutual was ranked as the 2nd best and 4th largest service company (November/December 2005).
Financial Ratings--The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Northwestern Mutual), the nation's largest direct provider of individual life insurance, according to statistics compiled from A. M. Best data, has always received the best possible insurance financial strength ratings from the four major rating services: Standard & Poor's (AAA), Fitch Ratings (AAA), A. M. Best (A++) and Moody's (Aaa).
Top 100 Employers--Ranked 22nd in The Black Collegian's "Top 100 Employer and The Majors in Demand" for the Class of 2005.
Largest Direct Provider of Life Insurance--According to statistics compiled from A. M. Best data, Northwestern Mutual is the largest direct provider of life insurance.
Community Support--The Northwestern Mutual Foundation supports nearly 1,500 schools and nonprofit organizations each year. Last year, the Foundation contributed nearly $13 million ($12,534,005) in national and Milwaukee-area grants.
2006 Dividend--Northwestern Mutual's overall dividend payout to policyowners for 2006 is expected to be $4.27 billion, an increase of $360 million, the largest single increase in company history. This ongoing success, fostered by the company's tradition of "doing the right thing," has been honored and nurtured by successive generations within Northwestern Mutual.
Kathy Sanchez
Gregory Castronovo, CLU, Managing Partner
Kathy Dietz, Financial Representative