Freedom . . . Success . . . Financial Independence Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been helping people protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. The Pittsburgh Group of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has been serving the Greater Western Pennsylvania area since 1875. Since then, we have changed and grown along with the region to ensure that we are best equipped to handle our clients’ needs nationwide.
The ambition of Managing Partner, Charles Ferrara 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.
With 71 representatives, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh is a strong, growing business as evidenced by its most recent financial highlights.
The mission of Charlie Ferrara and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh, 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 on Charlie Ferrara, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh, our expertise includes:
Personal Needs Analysis
Investment Services
Business Needs Analysis
Estate Analysis
Employee and Executive Benefits
Advanced Planning
Disability Income Insurance
Long-Term Care
Diversity
At Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh, 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.
Meet Managing Partner, Charles I. Ferrara, CLU
Charles Ferrara joined Northwestern in St. Louis, Missouri in 1964, after graduating from St. Louis University with a Liberal Arts Degree.
He was appointed Managing Partner in Pittsburgh in 1975.
He has been elected to numerous company associations including President of Northwestern Mutual CLU Association, and President of the General Agents & Managers Association. He is currently serving his third Term as President of the General Agents Association. Charles is also a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
Charlie participates in many civic and charitable activities. He is a Member of the Board of Directors and a Member of the Executive Committee for the United Way of Western Pennsylvania, and Chairman of the Board and Development Chair of Girls Hope of Pittsburgh.
Charlie and his wife Jackie, have four children.
2005 Tamcsin Award honors Ferrara for career
Achievements
When Charles Ferrara, CLU, was graduating from college, the only reason he interviewed with Northwestern Mutual was to practice his interviewing skills. Now, 41 years later, not only is he still with the company, he can add receiving the prestigious Dennis Tamcsin Career Achievement Award to his long list of awards.
This award, which recognizes managing partners who have a total impact on the company and a record of outstanding achievements, puts Charlie Ferrara in exclusive company with past winners Al Granum, CLU; Bill Cochran, CLU; Phil Pierz, CLU; and Bill Goodwin, CLU, ChFC.
“Charlie Ferrara is a managing partner who believes deeply in the fundamentals of our business, from how representatives should run their businesses in helping people reach their goals to providing top-quality service,” said Bill Beckley, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, executive vice president – agencies of Northwestern Mutual's corporate office in Milwaukee. “His greatest gifts are teacher and coach. He also has been extraordinary in his devotion to the company and assisting the company through his field leadership. This is evidenced by him being the only person in the history of the Managing Partner Association to have gone through the chairs twice.
Building his network office
Ferrara went from sharing a 10-foot by 12-foot office in 1964 with two other representatives, Ed Hempstead, CLU, and Ray Pflueger, to building a network office that surpassed the $500 million production mark in 2003.
Hempstead, managing partner of the Hempstead Group in St. Louis and close friend with Ferrara since high school, always knew that Ferrara would do well in his career. “Charlie was born in a three- piece suit., He also has a great way of endearing people to him. People know that they can count on him because he is a man of integrity and consistency.”
Hempstead, who was in Ferrara 's wedding and Ferrara was in his wedding, also said that one of the keys to Ferrara 's success is his strong relationship with his wife, Jackie. “Charlie was fortunate to marry a wonderful woman who has always supported his career. Without her strong support, it would have been hard for him to manage all of the demands of a managing partner. Together they also raised four great kids.”
When Ferrara took over the network office in Pittsburgh 30 years ago in 1975, his first goal was survival. “We had a big territory and only six people who were getting up in the morning and trying to sell life insurance.” It took him three years in the survival mode before he really began to think that his network office was going to endure.
“Even though I nearly quit every day for the first three years, I had a clear picture in my mind of the kind of network office that I was trying to build and the benefits it would bring to the office and our clients. To build it, we recruited motivated people, put them in a group with other motivated people and set high standards and expectations.”
John Mc Tigue, CLU, managing partner of the Mc Tigue Financial Group in Chicago who went through the Managing Partner Association chairs with Ferrara , said that for Ferrara to have stayed energized, engaged and willing to learn after 30 years as a managing partner is a testament to his commitment to the business and the career. John Mc Tigue also points to the three-legged stool of network office development: manpower
(bringing in good people), morale (taking care of everyone in the organization) and money (running a successful business). “Many managing partners will do one or two of these right. Charlie consistently does all three of them right.”
Developing offspring
Charlie Ferrara not only built a strong network office, he also developed solid frontline leaders, including two managing partners – David Mc Avoy, CLU and Kevin Hassan, CLU – and Kevin Miller, an assistant director for agency development in the home office. “He's a tremendous coach,” said Mc Avoy, managing partner of the Boston Group who spent seven years in Ferrara 's network office. “Charlie's style has always been to focus on the relationship first, even in time of conflict. Once he builds a relationship, then he begins to coach, prod, push, challenge or whatever it takes. He outlines the concept and the big picture, and our job is to fill in the blanks,” he explained. “But he doesn't leave you to your own devices. He balances letting people find their own way,
with still holding them accountable.”
Hassan, managing partner of the Philadelphia Group who was in Ferrara 's network office for 13 years, said Ferrara was a good role model. “By observing him over the years, I learned the way managing partners should run their offices, treat their financial representatives and run their business,” Hassan said. “He gave me vision. I didn't realize that I could be in a position to build such a great life, run an office with dignity and be instrumental in positively impacting so many lives.”
Dennis Tamcsin, retired senior vice president of agencies at Northwestern Mutual's corporate office and award namesake, said, “There are few managing partners who have a better attitude toward contributing and helping the company than Charlie does. Many times when you needed to call on someone to help out or solve problems, Charlie was always there ready to lend a hand or make personal sacrifices for the good of the company. This is why I'm glad that Charlie has been added as a recipient of the
award.”
Greatest accomplishment
Ferrara said that the real benefit of being a long-time managing partner is seeing young
representatives develop. “Over the years, I have had the privilege to watch college kids who didn't even know the basics mature into wonderful people who have built thriving businesses, are raising great families and are giving back to their communities through their charity work. That is a great satisfaction.”
Donating to the Community
A $100,000 donation from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation accompanies the career
achievement award. Charlie Ferrara, who has been a long-time member and chair of several boards for many charitable organizations, chose to split the money between the United Way , Catholic Charities, The Neighborhood Academy and Girl's Hope.
An Opportunity to Succeed
Successful financial representatives with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh, you will be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh can do for you.
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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh financial representatives that exemplify this mission.
Career Opportunities
Through Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh, our financial representatives have advancement opportunities into management and specialist opportunities. Learn more about some of our team members:
Craig B. Fiedler, Managing Director Craig Fiedler is the Managing Director of a local network office. In addition to maintaining a strong personal practice, he plays a key role in the career development of other Financial Representatives.
Anthony L. Mastro, Field Director Anthony Mastro assists in the recruitment and selection process of candidates in order to build a cohesive unit of productive full-time Financial Representatives.
Christopher Melvin LaPiana, College Unit Director Christopher LaPiana leads a group of energized college interns.
Kevin S. Bode, Employee Benefit Specialist Kevin Bode prepares a comprehensive analysis of a client´s employee benefits program, and then offers solutions to meet the unique needs of that company.
Edward M. Gallagher III, Investment Specialist Edward Gallagher provides expertise in helping individual and business clients with their wealth accumulation and wealth preservation needs.
John C. Carlos, Estate & Business Planning Specialist John Carlos assists clients with estate, business and executive benefit needs.
Mark J. Pellis, Long-Term Care Specialist Mark Pellis helps individual and corporate clients understand their long-term care insurance needs.
Career Insights
Read what Managing Director, Craig Fiedler has to say about his career with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
Before becoming a Financial Representative, I was an officer in the United States Marine Corps for five years. Prior to that, I graduated from Penn State University with a degree in marketing. I decided on this career for four reasons. First, I have a tremendous entrepreneurial desire to own my own business. Second, I am directly rewarded for my efforts. Third, it offers flexibility to ultimately be in charge of my own schedule. And fourth, I can help people with very important issues.
The greatest reward is the satisfaction of providing for my family with a business that I established, while at the same time helping my clients in a tremendous way.
A Challenging Course
Initially the greatest challenge is survival; I knew I would be under-paid in the early years but overpaid relative to my efforts beyond year five if I did what they told me. Survival is accomplished by the minority.
In the Marine Corps, we said this crucible forged the Espirit de Corps. Ultimately the greatest challenge is to find the highest quality representatives for a career with the Network and the highest quality clients to grow my business.
Over time, I have learned I have the ability to build a business from scratch that is made up of some of the highest profile people in Pittsburgh. Every day I help people with sophisticated and serious issues who are prone to procrastinate. More times than not, they walk away extremely satisfied and relieved.
Looking Forward
The Network has certainly allowed me to control my own destiny, living in the best part of town in a beautiful home, raising my kids as I see fit, sending them to the schools of my choice, playing golf at the nicest clubs, and even working in an occasional hunting trip to Alaska.
Career Advice
This business is not for everyone. To be a Financial Representative, you are in elite company. If you’ve got the talent to sell, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an overwhelming desire to help people, go for it. Prospect, prospect, prospect! This company is one of the best financial services company in the industry! For the right person, it is the best deal out there.
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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network – Pittsburgh 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.
Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been helping people protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. The Pittsburgh Group of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has been serving the Greater Western Pennsylvania area since 1875. Since then, we have changed and grown along with the region to ensure that we are best equipped to handle our clients’ needs nationwide. 
Meet Managing Partner, Charles I. Ferrara, CLU
Career Insights