Associates

Our financial representatives are the face of our organization. They not only represent the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, but they also represent the best interests of their clients. We are proud of their accomplishments, share in their enthusiasm and drive, and help motivate them to achieve the highest level of excellence.

Jody Johnston

Managing Director

Jody Johnston switched from a career in college athletics, where he worked 80 hours a week for a modest salary, to one as a Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative because he wanted to be in control of his time, his compensation and his life. He has never looked back.

"After working as a high school baseball coach and then in college athletics at the administrative level, I got tired of believing that other people were going to have my best interests at heart,” he said. “I did not want to wait for somebody else to do the right thing for me to move up.”

Getting started in the business was a bit scary, but Jody’s father, who had been a Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative for 20 years, assured him that, if he worked as hard at building his business as he had at his previous job, he would be successful. His father influenced Jody’s decision in other respects as well.

"The great thing growing up was that my father never missed one thing that my brother and I did,” he said. “I don’t want to ever miss anything that is important to my family.” He also wants to give his wife, who is a teacher, the freedom to continue working only if she chooses to do so.

Jody worked hard and applied Managing Partner Jeff Reeter’s formula for success, which is to make 40 phone calls, keep three appointments and get five referrals every day. His efforts were rewarded with a quick start to his business and awards that began during his first six months and have continued throughout his career. He earned the “Pace Setter 40” designation for writing 40 policies in his first six months. He followed that up with the “Pace Setter 60” designation in his second six months. During his first calendar year, he led the Southern Region in new clients by writing policies for 105 clients. He also received bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards for hitting certain targets each year in the business.

"There is a certain amount of risk in not having a guaranteed salary,” Jody said. “But, at the end of the day, if you work hard – which you’re going to do anyway working for somebody else – you’ll succeed, and you’ll make more money. What’s really valuable is feeling that I’m having a positive impact on other people’s lives,” he continued. “I don’t consider anybody a true competitor because our culture is so different. It lends itself to really caring about people and making sure that their needs will be met.” 

Hassan Khan, LUTCF

Financial Representative

Hassan Khan left an 18-year corporate career in engineering and computer applications to start a business with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network because he wanted more independence, better growth prospects and greater control over his destiny.

Laid off from a large construction company during the economic downturn in the mid-1980s, he had a number of job opportunities but decided that he never again wanted to put his future in the hands of others. Impressed with the service and regular follow-up he had received as a client of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network for more than 15 years, Hassan joined the Network in 1986.

"If you're looking for a good long-term relationship, this is the place for you," he said. "I have been here 21 years. I have built strong client relationships by growing with my clients as their needs change. Younger people might just need a little help getting started on the right path. As they acquire considerable assets and life insurance, clients start thinking about their estate needs. A lot of my business actually comes from people seeking health insurance who find they also need Northwestern Mutual's core insurance products such as life or disability income. Regardless of their situation, I find the needs analysis process to be a very valuable tool."

A native of India who emigrated to the United States in 1967, Hassan serves many clients from the Indian subcontinent. He has been recognized with numerous awards for both sales and service. He has been a Qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table (Provisional Member: 1988, Qualifying Member: 1989-1992, 1994-1997, Qualifying/Life Member: 1998-2006) has twice been a Northwestern Mutual Forum producer and has received the National Quality Award, which recognizes client retention, numerous times (1988, 1991-1996, 2000-2004, 2006).

"I get a lot of satisfaction from the positive impact I've had on people and being able to help when they have life or disability claims," he said. "I take pride in the confidence that people place in me and the fact that they can trust me to help them whether it be with insurance or preparing for their retirement."

Hassan graduated with honors from the Indian School of Technology, earning a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. After moving to the United States, he earned a master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Samuel M Schlanger

Financial Representative

Sam Schlanger was a successful business owner even before starting his career with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. But in 1987, a year after his marriage, it became clear that the delicatessen he owned and operated with a family member would not support both of their families in the lifestyle that he wanted for his family.  He began to explore his career options.

“I was drawn to the financial services industry because it provides the opportunity to help people achieve the goals and dreams they have for themselves and their families,” he said. “I looked at several companies but chose Northwestern Mutual because of the quality of people I met and the comfort level I felt during the selection process.”

A consistent Houston office leader in both policies written and new clients, Sam has earned numerous awards. He has been a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table every year since 1990 and is now a life member. As a Field Director, Sam now helps new Financial Representatives get off to a fast start in the business. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in education.

Rick Thurman, MBA

Financial Representative

After more than a decade of earning his living in corporate America and helping families with personal finance issues as a hobby, Rick Thurman turned his avocation, and his passion for helping others succeed, into a career as a Financial Representative with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. He joined the Network in January of 2003 in a move that he calls the last stop on a career path that was both varied and successful.

With an undergraduate degree in civil engineering, Rick spent the first three years of his career as an engineer with a large pipeline company while also completing an executive MBA program. He made a series of career transitions that led him to marketing and sales management where he made a lot of money for corporate America and was rewarded handsomely but did not find satisfaction. "Now I'm helping others to reach their goals and dreams," he said.

Rick got off to a quick start, earning Pacesetter 40 recognition for completing 40 transactions in his first six months with the Network. Today he has a successful practice that is well balanced between insurance and investments, he consistently ranks in the Northwestern Mutual top 50 Financial Representatives in the nation, and he qualified for Million Dollar Round Table based on his 2005 production. He attributes his success to going the extra mile for his clients, which has earned him a 98.5 percent retention rate.

"If we're doing our job right, we develop relationships with clients that will last for 20 or 30 years," Rick said. "That gives us the right, but also the responsibility, to be their accountability partner – to be sure they stay with what they said they wanted to do. My clients know that, at any time, they can give me a ring. I think that's the key, really reaching out and being very dedicated to serving."