About the Job
The Planning Psychology Research Consultant serves as a financial planning expert responsible for advancing Northwestern Mutual's Financial Planning Philosophy (FPP), planning standards, and advisor effectiveness. This role applies deep financial planningexpertise,the psychology of financial planning,strong business acumen, and an understanding of Northwestern Mutual's advisor model and corporate strategy to shape advisor behaviors and planning delivery.
The position requires knowledge of financial planning psychology and behavioral sciences to improve advisor-client interactions and planning quality. The Lead Consultant conducts quantitative and qualitative researchutilizingdata such asconversation transcripts and AItoidentifydrivers of high-quality planning, communication, and sales acumen. Insights are translated into planning best practices, advisor training, and content used across the Home Office.
The role partners cross-functionally to ensure financial planning software, training programs, and field-facing materials align with NM strategy, support advisor adoption, and improve client outcomes.
What You'll Do
Business Strategy & Alignment
Appliesstrongunderstanding ofthe financial planning processincludingNM'sbusiness model, distribution system, and strategicobjectivesto influence planning standards, advisor guidance, and training.
Behavioral Science & Advisor Psychology
Advisor-Client Interaction Analysis
Field Training & Content Development
Develops training materials, case studies, and best-practice content that incorporate financial planning psychology, interpersonal skills, and NM's planning standards.
Planning Software & Home Office Partnership
Partners with Engineering, UX, Product, Marketing, and other stakeholders to ensure planning tools and content support advisor needs and NM strategy.
What You'll Bring to the Role
Required
Preferred
Behavioral Science Expertise:Graduate training or equivalent experience in psychology, behavioral science, behavioral economics, or a related field, withdemonstratedability to interpret human motivations, decision-making, and communication patterns in conversational data.
AI-Enabled Conversation Analysis:Hands-on experience using AI, natural language processing, or large language models to analyze large datasets of transcripts, interviews, or recorded conversations toidentifythemes, sentiment, and behavioral patterns.
Skills You Have
Adaptive Communication: Formulates strategies to be used to convey complex information about services, products, systems, or processes to targeted audiences; communicates and liaises between technical and non-technical audiences.
Analytical Thinking: Organizes and compares various aspects of a situation to comprehend and identify key or underlying complex issues through the use of quantitative data and analysis; leverages strong business acumen, problem solving, and interpersonal skills to think critically about situations from multiple perspectives and consistently seeks ways to improve processes.
Business Acumen: Applies knowledge of both general and organization-specific business issues/financial implications for the organization to problem solve.
Cross Functional Partnering & Planning: Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions within the organization, and who have different areas of expertise, to achieve common goals.
Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people inside and outside of the organization. Builds appropriate rapport, constructive and effective relationships. Uses diplomacy and tact and diffuses high-tension situations comfortably.
Learning Agility & Critical Thinking: Pursues learning and obtains knowledge continuously in relevant fields, methods, or technologies in current and future practices; continuously utilizes critical thinking to identify opportunities, execute solutions, and measure impact to constantly improve existing practices and processes based on feedback, lessons learned, and market trends.
Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$118,960.00
Pay Range - End:
$178,440.00
Geographic Specific Pay Structure:
Structure 110:
$130,880.00 USD - $196,320.00 USD
Structure 115:
$136,800.00 USD - $205,200.00 USD
We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.
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Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer who welcomes and encourages diversity in the workforce. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.