When Ed Barnes left his job as a commercial lending officer at a regional bank, he went to work for one of his former clients. In fact, Ed was actually responsible for the bank’s financing the start-up of this particular business. Working with entrepreneurs over the years and finally launching a new company gave Ed the bug to start his own business. Based on his banking experience, Ed knew he didn’t want to invest a lot of capital. And, because he’s a "people person," he wanted something that provided plenty of opportunity for personal contacts. Being a Financial Representative certainly met his criteria. Ed also had a friend who was a Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Representative, so he was somewhat familiar with the job. He had always been impressed with his friend’s balance of business and family. So Ed finally decided to take the plunge and become a Financial Representative himself. It’s a change he’s never regretted. "This is the closest you can get to starting a business with a minimal amount of capital. Plus, the income potential far exceeds any type of investment you’d have to make. I wanted my own business for some time, and this was the perfect opportunity. Besides the financial security, I now have the flexibility to spend time with my family. It's a great feeling to know you can be there for your kids. "I think people sometimes stereotype Financial Representatives. But the job today is so much different than it used to be. You have to be well educated and have a lot of professional savvy. Often, you’re dealing with fairly sophisticated clients, so you really have to know what you’re doing. "Northwestern Mutual definitely grooms you for success. The training is phenomenal. If you’re receptive to learning and are willing to listen to people with a proven track record, you’ll do very well in this business. If you work hard and believe in yourself, there’s no limit on what you do." Is it time for a change?
When you work in the banking or brokerage industry, you deal with people all day long. You may even see the personal and financial impact your work has on specific clients. But you’re still working for someone else, which means your job probably doesn’t afford you the freedom or flexibility to do all the things you want to. You’re probably tied to your desk or phone for most of the workday. You’re also probably not completely compensated for all the hours you put in. | 
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