Life Insurance Case Management Specialist

At Northwestern Mutual, we are strong, innovative and growing. We invest in our people. We care and make a positive difference.

Summary

At Northwestern Mutual, our vision is to deliver financial security to help our clients live their best lives by choice. A key pillar of our vision and success is an efficient and effective case management process. This role sits within the Product, Sales and Servicing Department, which represents insurance protection across 5 million clients and more than $7.3 billion of dividends paid to policyowners in 2024.

You will play a key role in positively transforming the underwriting experience for our clients, the field, and our underwriters.  The case manager serves as the Home Office point of contact to the field.  They are responsible for efficiently driving insurance applications through the underwriting process by providing proactive, personalized communication and follow-up, and expert guidance to the field, our vendors, and our underwriters. The case manager procures underwriting requirements, sets expectations, problem solves, and expedites the receipt of requirements needed for the Underwriters to effectively assess risk.  They serve the Financial Advisors and Underwriters by preparing and guiding the case for policy review and approval, helping to ensure the financial security of our clients.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Effectively manage workflow and pending caseload in a manner that meets all production and quality metrics and service level expectations.  
• Builds relationships and rapport with the Financial Advisors and their staff by serving as their consistent point of contact and anticipates their needs during the underwriting process.
• Effectively supports Underwriters by providing all information essential for risk assignment and completes non-risk assessment work according to an established process to drive cases through the Underwriting process.
• Proactively communicates with Financial Advisors to obtain missing information; expedite requests for additional information as needed, responds to inquiries, and resolves issues.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills which includes exchanging clear and distinct information, thoughtfully listening to and presenting information that is clear and digestible, asking questions and checking for understanding with internal and external customers.
• Solves problems in straightforward manner; uses critical thinking skills to identify and analyze possible solutions using technical experience, guidelines and judgment and precedents in complex or unusual situations.
• Prioritizes and organizes work independently to ensure a smooth and timely process,
• Directly communicates with a wide variety of third-party vendors for status and ability to expedite and/or negotiate outcomes 
• Partners with underwriter for explanations of difficult situations on outcomes of policies with the ability to build consensus with internal and external customers that the correct decision was met; keeps a positive mind set and tone when delivering adverse information.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Progress toward LOMA’s FLMI and/or ALU 101 is a plus.
• Analytical skills with the ability to make independent decisions and apply sound judgement in the application of rules.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, handle confidential information, exercise tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills with attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced environment and use own initiative to effectively multi-task and prioritize.
• Proficient in technology and computer skills and using various software packages.
• Adaptable, agile, and able to deal with ongoing change management – takes initiative to ask questions and learn quickly.
• Understanding and knowledge of insurance case management processes, terminology, and technology to support and enhance day to day operations.

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - Start:

$48,580.00

Pay Range - End:

$90,220.00

Northwestern Mutual pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement in the salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. At No