Having a plan for your estate—your home, your wealth, your possessions—means you can leave the legacy you want, whether that’s to help your family, a charitable cause, or an institution.

Many people associate estate planning with having a will. While the transfer of your assets is an important part of estate planning, a will is just one aspect of a broader plan designed to make sure your wishes are known, honored, and carried out as efficiently as possible when you're no longer able to articulate them. We work with a team of estate planning experts to help you develop an estate strategy that can help:

• Reduce or eliminate gift, estate, and inheritance taxes for your heirs
• Protect your estate from mismanagement or from claims of creditors or ex-spouses
• Leave the legacy you want, such as paying for your grandchildren’s education or giving to your favorite charitable causes

In addition to the expertise our team can offer, you'll want to work with an estate planning attorney to establish:

• Healthcare directives (also known as living wills) that specify the extent to which you want health care professionals to treat you if you become ill or incapacitated
• Powers of attorney that grant people you trust the legal authority to act on your behalf in case of sudden accident or illness
  • A healthcare power of attorney enables your agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf
  • A financial power of attorney allows your agent to do things like pay bills, access accounts, and possibly make gifts
• A will or possibly a living trust to make sure your assets are transferred according to your wishes or even name a legal guardian for children under the age of 18
  • The Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) can serve as trustee of Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts. In addition, through the Trust Alliance Program, NMWMC can partner with nationally-recognized trust administration firms that offer a broad range of services such as revocable trusts, charitable trusts, endowments, and foundations.

Our wealth management services go above and beyond what you might expect from a financial services provider. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company offers:

Investment advisory services, designed to:

• Provide high-quality investment services and products.
• Build and monitor diversified portfolios.
• Develop objective, personalized plans.
• Focus on long-term results.

Trust services and partnerships, designed to:

• Provide continuity of stewardship that can last multiple generations.
• Preserve family harmony when carrying out your intentions.
• Carry out detailed record-keeping and accounting.
• Calculate taxes and file returns.

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company serves as trustee on Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts. In addition, through our Trust Alliance Program, we partner with nationally-recognized trust administration firms that offer a broad range of services to revocable trusts, charitable trusts, endowments and foundations.

Online access to your account, so you can review:

• Comprehensive monthly statements.
• Performance reporting.
• Account access on a secure website.
• Current account balances on your investment holdings.
• Detailed transaction records on all accounts.

When you plan with us, you’ll have an experienced advisor leading a dedicated team with a diverse range of financial expertise. Our plans are tailored to you from a wide range of financial options and strategies designed to help you achieve the goals you have now, and later on.

We will also work closely with any other financial relationships you have—streamlining things for you and giving you a trusted point person to oversee all aspects of your wealth management.

We believe that the strongest financial plan begins with the priorities you have for your life. That’s why we start by understanding your values, goals, and where you stand financially today before making any recommendations.

Our comprehensive approach will help you and your family enjoy your wealth for generations. When you work with our financial advisors, you can be confident that you’ll have:

• Someone who’ll listen to you, identify with your situation, and understand what you want to accomplish
• A partner who can help see blind spots others can’t or haven’t considered
• An expert in advanced investment and risk management strategies
• A trusted specialist who can create a flexible financial strategy that will help leverage opportunities for your life now, and down the road

When your financial plan has wealth protection and risk management built in, you and your loved ones can worry less and live more.

When you work with us, we start with you, your family, and your priorities. You’ll have access to a range of financial options designed to reinforce each other so your financial plan can work its hardest to help you reach the goals you have for right now, and later on.

Together, we'll develop strategies that:

Give you more financial flexibility throughout your life

Our life insurance can be designed to fit whatever you need. It could provide protection, a cash accumulation, or help you leave a legacy. We have access to high-quality life insurance products, including permanent, term, combination, and variable policies.

Keep your goals on track if you’re unable to work

Your ability to earn a living is likely the most important financial asset you have. With disability income planning you can help protect your earning power and keep your goals on track if an unexpected injury or illness prevents you from working. Depending on the type of job or career you have (or business you own), we have options.

Get the right long-term care for you and your loved ones

Having a long-term care plan in place can give you (or a loved one) choice and control over where and how to receive care should it be needed. Plus, a plan will let your loved ones know your wishes and lessen the burden of the physical and emotional strains that can come with the need for long-term care.

Someday, you or a loved one could need ongoing help with day-to-day tasks like bathing, eating, or getting dressed. The cost of care is often underestimated and may not be covered by health insurance or Medicare. Long-term care planning can help you manage the assets that you’ve worked so hard for, so your family can focus on offering love and support.

Your business reflects you, so it takes personalized business planning to help you grow and protect the value you’ve built in your business.

Whether you’re thinking about setting out on your own or looking to expand your existing business, we can help you plan for success. From protecting against risk and managing growth to attracting and retaining top talent, we’re ready to help you at every stage.

We’ll work with you to develop a tailored plan with financial solutions designed to fit the unique needs of your business, and your life, with advanced strategies to:

• Integrate the important aspects of financial planning for your business and your personal life to help ensure success on both fronts
• Minimize risk by being prepared for the unexpected
• Safeguard your business with coverage to help offset the loss of cash flow if you become sick or hurt
• Recruit and retain high-performing employees with competitive benefits programs
• Enhance your benefits programs to reward employees who are key to the success of your business
• Transition your business smoothly with a properly designed and funded business succession plan