Financial Planning and Sales Internship

Northwestern Mutual; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 10,000 - 12,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship program

Licensing sponsorship opportunities (S

Paid internship with stipend

Flexible scheduling

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual Spring and Summer 2027 Internship Programs offer hands-on experience in financial planning, business development, and client relationship management. You’ll gain mentorship, training, and direct exposure to client interactions and planning strategies while building professional relationships and growing your network.

As a Financial Planning Intern, you’ll work with experienced advisors, attend client meetings, help prepare comprehensive plans, and strengthen communication,

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as a full-time university student with a May 2027–May 2028 graduation window.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted client relationships and maintain confidentiality.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for client interactions.

Responsibilities

• Build professional networks and client relationships through proactive outreach.
• Understand Northwestern Mutual products to help clients reach financial goals.
• Connect with prospective clients to assess their goals and needs.
• Attend client meetings and assist in preparing holistic financial plans.
• Collaborate with senior advisors on client strategies and meeting prep.
• Support ongoing client service and relationship management.
• Participate in weekly coaching and training sessions.
• Develop communications, business development, and leadership skills.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication skills

Multitasking

Confidentiality

Client outreach

Education

University student

Tools

Microsoft Office

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Ready to Gain Real Business Experience?

Our Spring and Summer 2027 Internship Programs are designed for students who want more than a traditional internship. At Northwestern Mutual, you'll gain hands-on experience in financial planning, business development, and client relationship management while learning how to build professional relationships, grow your network, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

Working alongside experienced Financial Advisors and leadership teams, you'll receive industry-leading training, personalized mentorship, and direct exposure to client interactions and financial planning strategies. You'll develop the communication, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed in financial services and any future career path.

Whether your interests lie in business, finance, sales, entrepreneurship, or leadership, this internship offers meaningful professional experience, ongoing development opportunities, and a potential pathway to a full-time career after graduation. At Northwestern Mutual, you'll have the freedom to grow professionally while benefiting from the support of a collaborative team that is invested in your success.

What You'll Do:

As a Financial Planning Intern, you will work alongside experienced advisors and leadership teams to:

• Build and develop professional networks and client relationships through proactive outreach
• Gain sufficient understanding of products and services offered by Northwestern Mutual and how they help clients achieve financial goals
• Connect with prospective clients to understand their financial goals and needs
• Attend client meetings
• Assist in preparing comprehensive, holistic financial plans
• Collaborate with senior advisors on client strategies and meeting preparation
• Support ongoing client service and relationship management
• Attend weekly coaching, development, and training sessions
• Strengthen your communication, business development, and leadership skills
• Spring program with January 2027 start date or Summer program with May 2027 start date
• Applicants will be considered for the term that best aligns with their graduation date, availability, and career goals
• Paid internship: up to $1,000 monthly plus uncapped commission and bonus opportunities
• Flexible schedule with Full-Time or Part-Time dependent on student availability
• 12-week program
• West Chester, Ohio

Minimum Position Qualifications:

• Current full-time student at an accredited university with a graduation date between May 2027-May 2028
• Connected to the Cincinnati/Dayton area
• Ability to work on own initiative and handle multiple priorities
• Knowledge of how to build and maintain trusted relationships
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to engage clients through phone conversations, virtual meetings, and in person interactions
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and protecting sensitive client information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)

Stand Out Qualifications:

• Prior experience in a professional work environment
• Experience in sales, customer service, client relations, business development, or community engagement
• Involvement in student organizations, athletics, campus leadership, or community activities
• Experience representing organizations, teams, or personal brands at networking events, conferences, campus programs, etc.

Areas of Financial Planning Exposure

Interns gain experience across a broad range of financial planning disciplines, including:

• Comprehensive Financial Planning
• Investment and Advisory Services
• Retirement Planning
• Asset and Income Protection
• Education Funding Strategies
• Estate and Trust Planning
• Business Planning and Risk Management
• Employee and Executive Benefits Solutions

What You'll Receive:

• Real-world financial planning and client-facing experience
• One-on-one mentorship from experienced financial advisors
• Industry-leading training and professional development programs
• Opportunities for joint-work and hands-on coaching
• Business development, sales, and relationship-building experience
• Access to professional licensing and credential sponsorship opportunities, including:
• SIE
• Series 6
• Series 63
• Life, Accident & Health Insurance Licenses
• Long term designation coverage: CFP, WMCP, CLU, etc.
• Flexible scheduling that supports academic commitments
• A potential path to full-time employment upon graduation
• A supportive, entrepreneurial, and collaborative culture focused on growth and development

Who We Are:

At Northwestern Mutual we believe that everyone deserves to 'Spend Their Lives Living' and that a strong financial plan is the cornerstone for ensuring that reality. Financial security is not just something that happens in retirement but is an enabler for our clients to spend their life living.

Our teams of financial advisors across the nation embody these beliefs and are committed to helping clients reach their financial goals. With over 70% of Americans citing that their financial planning needs improvement, a career with Northwestern Mutual provides abundant opportunities to serve this growing need.

Recognized by FORTUNE as one of the "World's Most Admired" companies, Northwestern Mutual has been among the leaders in the financial services industry for over 165 years and has a proven track record of financial success.