Begin the journey
Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been helping people protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. The Northwestern Mutual has a long, consistent history in the Miami Valley. Eleven people have led this organization, forming an unbroken chain of success since 1890 when Northwestern formed their first local network office in Dayton. Managing Partner, James Marker is proud to lead the office.
James V. Marker, CLU, Managing Partner
The ambition of Managing Partner, James Marker is to make a positive impact on all associates and their clientele by creating an environment of desire, confidence, consistency, and positive results. Jim believes that education, motivation, and empowerment are the tools by which his office enables associates to envision and fulfill a successful future to better serve clients.
With 48 representatives, The Marker Group is a strong, growing business as evidenced by its most recent financial highlights.
The mission of Jim Marker and The Marker Group is to provide its clients with expert guidance and innovative solutions that are right for each client. Whether focused on personal finances, business needs or both, they help clients understand their financial goals and ensure they are providing them with the right guidance and products to meet their needs.
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network brings together the skills of representatives, the expertise of advisors and the technical know-how of a number of financial specialists to provide solutions for clients' financial goals and help you gain access to the products and services of a wide variety of organizations—each of which has a comprehensive understanding of a specific aspect of financial services.
And through The Network and The Marker Group, here are just a few of the products and services available to your clients:
Our Expertise
Just as your clients trust and rely on you to provide needs analysis and innovative solutions, you can trust and rely on Jim Marker, The Marker Group and the Network to provide sound products and services for your clients.
You might conclude that no one person can be an expert in all financial matters. We agree. That's why we provide you and your clients with access to a nationwide network of representatives, advisors and specialists who will work with you to provide a full range of services.
Diversity
At The Marker Group, we are committed to reflecting our community and seek talented individuals who share our core values. As part of our overall growth strategy, we are committed to building and fostering a diverse organization of network representatives and specialists. We do so without regard to gender, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age.
We take pride in our unique strengths and the expertise we share with our clients. Our entire community can benefit from our expertise and can be rewarded with the advantages of the careers we offer. We will continue to be committed to reaching all segments of our community in which we live and conduct business.
Meet Managing Partner, James V. Marker, CLU
Jim Marker, CLU came to Dayton in 1989 and has served as Managing Partner longer than anyone in the modern era.
Jim is a native of Central Illinois and a graduate of Illinois College with a degree in History. Jim Marker passed up law school to enter the Financial Services business in 1976. He became one of the youngest members of the Million Dollar Round Table in 1980 and has remained a member for the past 23 years.
In 1988, Jim left the field to enter Northwestern Mutual´s Corporate Office in Milwaukee where he served as the Assistant Regional Director of Agencies. Less than a year later, he came to Dayton as its eleventh Managing Partner.
A proponent of and spokesman for the Client Building System, Jim has led a team that has built one of the best Groups in The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. Financial Representatives and professional staff of The Marker Group make up the benchmark for Financial Service firms in the Miami Valley.
Read what Jim Marker has to say about his career with Northwestern Mutual:
I was a representative for another company (Met Life) after graduating from college in 1976. I chose Northwestern Mutual for the Million Dollar Round Table culture and the outstanding products.
My good friend was Jack Chism, then the District Agent for Northwestern Mutual in Jacksonville, IL. Jack pursued me, thank God, for six months. On July 5th of 1978, just two years from my start with Met, I was offered a contract by General Agent Pat McCormick in Springfield, IL.
Rewards Outweigh Challenges
The greatest reward in this career is the opportunity to pursue my career the way I want to do it. Freedom!
Northwestern Mutual is a great, great company. If it did not exist, I probably would not be in the business. I need a company that shares my values; Northwestern Mutual always has.
The career has its challenges, too. This business is difficult in the beginning. Learning how to build a business while supporting your family on a commission income was the hardest and most satisfying thing I have ever done. I had no idea how difficult living on commissions would be. I worked through it with Met Life and when I came to Northwestern Mutual, I was pretty strong. I never missed a meal or paying a bill, but I worried about it.
This business made me a better person, husband and father. By overcoming the challenges of building my own business, I developed virtues which have and will continue to serve me well. Along my path in this career, I have learned there is a process for most everything you want to accomplish in life. If you do the work, you will get the results.
Sound Career Advice
Ask a lot of questions and trust your gut. If this is the right business for you, then simply do it! If this is not the right thing, you’ll know it by your lack of enthusiasm and certainty.
Northwestern Mutual is differentiated by our values of mutuality and of doing the right thing. No other company I know of has such a proud history of wise decisions and solid treatment of their policy holders.
This is still the best place to build a financial security business, as it has been for over 100 years.
An Opportunity to Succeed
Successful financial representatives with The Marker Group experience tremendous pride and satisfaction in building a practice from the ground up. Their success is not a factor of luck or chance; it's the result of a productive work ethic, strong relationship skills and a level of professionalism second to none. A mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization.
The goal is not to simply sell products, but to discover clients' needs and help to meet them. That means taking the time to understand each person's financial situation, values and goals.
This career offers:
The ability to meet new people and positively impact families, businesses and communities as you help to achieve their goals and dreams
An entrepreneurial opportunity to own your own business
A high degree of support and training, plus ongoing curriculum for educational growth and personal development
The flexibility of a career that allows you to focus on things of importance to you
Earnings where you are directly rewarded for your efforts
A strong team culture and the opportunity to work with a variety of specialists and advisors
Exclusive access to a variety of world-class solutions and services, including life insurance from Northwestern Mutual
Leadership and development opportunities
Your Development
You'll have assistance in developing your business and marketing plans, extensive training and coaching from certified trainers.
New representatives receive initial industry and sales training as well as mentoring and joint work programs for hands-on experience. They have access to on-line education resources for polishing skills and keeping up to date on industry information as well as exposure to opportunities for ongoing career education and advanced professional designations to increase their knowledge and reputation.
Your Business
We know that building your own business is difficult without help. As a financial representative with The Marker Group, you will be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. The Marker Group will provide you with support in your training and development, so you don't have to do it alone.
We take pride in our unique strengths and the expertise we share with our clients. Our communities can benefit from our expertise and can be rewarded with the advantages of the careers offered through the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
If you're ready to be your own boss, set your own hours and make a positive impact on people's lives everyday, then turn your dreams into reality and find out what a career as a Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Representative with The Marker Group can do for you.
The Benefits of Your Success
Your career as a financial representative is what you make of it. You have the freedom to balance your hard work and determination with your personal goals. In the beginning of your career, it takes a tremendous amount of time, energy and commitment to earn the flexibility and financial rewards you will enjoy later on. You can achieve financial independence and have a positive impact on your clients, your family and your own community.
Income
A financial representative's income potential is virtually unlimited. Earnings are directly related to sales results and client relationships. Financial representatives are compensated through commissions, renewals and bonuses.
Our top producer group, The Forum, had a median gross income of over $410,800 in 2004.
First-year, average gross income during 2002-2004 for financial representatives ranged from $38,900 to $83,900.
Benefit Package
Whether you are single or married with a family, Northwestern Mutual's benefit package will address the various stages of a full-time financial representative's life. These benefits include: Comprehensive Medical Coverage, Retirement, Flex Programs, Childcare/Eldercare, Maternity Leave, Group Life and Accidental Death Benefit, Disability Income Insurance. Your local network office can provide additional information.
Lifestyle
When you invest the time and hard work necessary to build a successful practice as a financial representative, you can enjoy the rare and envied reward of balancing work with your personal goals. You can arrange your schedule so you may have three or four appointments a day, and still have time to participate in your children's school programs, community involvement or leisure-time activities.
Build a business that allows you to schedule meetings to accommodate your clients' schedules and your own.
Impact
The goal of the Network is not to simply sell products, but to discover clients' needs and provide solutions to meet them. That means taking the time to understand each person's financial situation, values and goals. Every solution you implement may help secure the financial future of your clients, their families, their businesses and your community.
You can experience the rewards of a career in which you can have a daily, positive impact on people's lives, including your own.
Meet some of the members of our Team
Successful financial representatives with The Marker Group experience tremendous pride and satisfaction in building a practice from the ground up. Their success is not a factor of luck or chance; it's the result of a productive work ethic, strong relationship skills and a level of professionalism second to none.
A mission of doing what's right for our clients is the thread that weaves together our organization. Meet some of The Marker Group financial representatives that exemplify this mission.
Career Opportunities
Through The Marker Group, our financial representatives have advancement opportunities into management and specialist opportunities. Learn more about some of our team members:
Jeffrey J. Gayonski, Managing Director Jeffrey Gayonski is the Managing Director for The Upper Valley Financial Group district network office. In addition to maintaining a strong personal practice, he plays a key role in the career development of other Financial Representatives.
Ben Roelle and and John Held, Field Directors
As Field Directors, Ben Roelle and John Held assist in the recruitment and selection process of candidates in order to build a cohesive unit of productive full-time Financial Representatives.
Brett Bumgarner and Mike Stafford, College Unit Directors
As College Unit Directors, Brett Bumgarner and Mike Stafford lead a group of energized college interns.
Eric M. Anderson, Long Term Care Specialist Eric Anderson serves as the office's long term care specialist helping individual and corporate clients understand their long-term care needs and designs solutions tailored to their unique situation.
Marty McGillivary, Sr. Investment Specialist
As the Investment Specialist, Marty McGillivary provides expertise in helping individual and business clients with their wealth accumulation and wealth preservation needs.
Randal Peters, Employee Benefits Specialist Randal Peters prepares a comprehensive analysis of a client's employee benefits program, and then designs a program to meet the unique needs of that company. Strategic Employee Benefit Services is a nationwide marketing program offered through Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Representatives.
Bruce J. Batty, Disability Annuity Specialist
As the Annuity Specialist, Bruce Batty provides expertise in helping individual and business clients with their wealth accumulation and wealth preservation needs.
Career Insight Read what Robert Anderson of The Marker Group has to say about his career as a financial representative:
I ran a small tool and die company, selling a patented product for bending metal in the metal working industry. We sold our company in 1994 and in 2000 I left the company. I contacted the Marker Group after a year-and-a-half of trying to start a business and looking for comparable manufacturing positions.
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network presented a great upside potential for me considering changing careers at age 46 and seemed a good fit for my experience.
Notable Rewards
Since I have not yet had a death claim, I think my greatest reward has been being able to open people’s eyes to the products and services we offer versus the packages they currently have and know very little about. I try to leave them smarter than when we first met, sale or no sale.
The Challenges
The task of picking the phone up each day and calling on new people is challenging. Early on, it was hard to maintain a daily activity level to ensure my success in the business. Since I began with the Network, I have learned what the definition of hard work is. Long days, regular disappointment, lack of discipline and giving way to the dark side too often – not doing my daily tasks in favor of more fun tasks.
But, I have also learned that I can overcome my own shortcomings and share the success of placing a difficult case and the satisfaction for both me and the clients.
Time I Made a Difference
I was introduced to a young lady looking for help with her 401k contributions. As she was single and just starting a new job, I was only able to roll a small IRA for her into an account. But she had a real concern for her mother who was moving into a HUD-sponsored assisted living home. After meeting her mother, we determined that she wanted to increase her monthly income, have access to an emergency fund, and not give up all of her total net worth from the sale of her only home.
After speaking to several reps in the office and our annuity specialist, we developed a scenario that I really felt was able to help this lady improve the quality of her life and to protect the small amount of assets that were her future.
Career Advice
Be prepared to work hard and do many things that may not feel comfortable to you for a significant period of time. The upside is that if you can conquer your own demons, in many cases, the career path is limitless. Our company is differentiated by integrity and the reputation of doing what is right for our owners, the policy holders.
Internships
Whether you know where your college education is taking you or you _ re still keeping your options open, you owe it to yourself to see if Northwestern Mutual Financial Network's Internship program with The Marker Group is right for you.
As you learn by doing, you'll find that the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Internship Program is an intense and according to our alumni -- unparalleled learning experience. Expect the process to be rewarding, educational and an opportunity for you to narrow your career search.
Our internships provide a great chance for students to combine what they've learned in the classroom with a real-life look into what they could truly make of themselves. You'll have the chance to work in a real-world business environment and earn performance-based compensation.
The ambition of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Internship program has been less to sell our financial products than to develop people. As a Financial Representative College Intern, you will enjoy the benefit of working with The Marker Group where you'll receive outstanding guidance, superior support and quality expertise.
As full-time college students, interns generally work 15 to 20 hours per week developing business- and client-building skills. In most ways, our interns follow the same process for establishing their careers as our Financial Representatives.
Our internship offers you invaluable business experience that you will take with you far into your career. But that's just the start of the impact this can have on your future and your present.
Consider these benefits:
Practical guidance in your career selection process
The chance to develop your networking and business relationship skills
Flexible work schedule
Securities license, state licenses for life, health and accident insurance opportunities and a head start program for a career as a full-time Financial Representative
Compensation in the same manner as a full-time Financial Representative.
Actual business experience for your resume.
Test drive the Financial Representative career.
Regardless of what you do after graduation, you'll have a foundation of skills and knowledge to build your career upon. One out of three former interns becomes a full-time Financial Representative upon graduation. These graduates have built a solid foundation for immediate and future career success.
The two-thirds who choose other career paths benefit as well. They launch their career with stronger business-building skills and a clearer sense of where they want their career to take them.
After completing the internship, the knowledge you have gained, coupled with the opportunity to work for The Marker Group as a full-time Financial Representative, can lead you to a profitable and fulfilling future.
The Northwestern Mutual Advantage
Northwestern Mutual exists to help policyowners and clients protect against financial risk and achieve financial security. The company, with its subsidiaries and affiliates, offers insurance products, investment products and advisory services that address client needs for financial security and protection, capital accumulation, asset distribution and estate preservation.
With more than 350 offices across the United States, 3 million policyowners and clients, $18 billion in annual revenues and $133 billion in assets, you can count on Northwestern Mutual to help you build strong financial futures for your clients.
The company's tradition of "doing the right thing" has been honored and nurtured by successive generations within Northwestern Mutual and recognized in the industry and media.
World's Most Admired--Northwestern Mutual is the "World's Most Admired" company in its industry, according to FORTUNE magazine's annual survey of industry executives and analysts. For Northwestern Mutual, it is the seventh year as the top life/health insurance company in the magazine's global survey.
First in Customer Satisfaction-- For the third year in a row, Northwestern Mutual has earned the highest customer satisfaction score among U.S. life insurers, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index's (ACSI) survey. Northwestern Mutual's industry leading score can be found in the ACSI's fourth quarter of 2005 consumer study, focusing on retail trade, e-commerce, banks and insurance.
America's Most Admired--According to the March 7, 2006, FORTUNE magazine survey, Northwestern Mutual has been named "America's Most Admired" life insurance company for 23 years.
One of America's Top Ten Internships for 2006--"Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has made our Top 10 list for ten consecutive years, proving its internship program to be consistently among the best." Internship Informants™, Vault, inc., 20006.
Selling Power's 50 Best Companies to Sell For--Northwestern Mutual was ranked as the 2nd best and 4th largest service company (November/December 2005).
Financial Ratings--The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Northwestern Mutual), the nation's largest direct provider of individual life insurance, according to statistics compiled from A. M. Best data, has always received the best possible insurance financial strength ratings from the four major rating services: Standard & Poor's (AAA), Fitch Ratings (AAA), A. M. Best (A++) and Moody's (Aaa).
Top 100 Employers--Ranked 22nd in The Black Collegian's "Top 100 Employer and The Majors in Demand" for the Class of 2005.
Largest Direct Provider of Life Insurance--According to statistics compiled from A. M. Best data, Northwestern Mutual is the largest direct provider of life insurance.
Community Support--The Northwestern Mutual Foundation supports nearly 1,500 schools and nonprofit organizations each year. Last year, the Foundation contributed nearly $13 million ($12,534,005) in national and Milwaukee-area grants.
2006 Dividend--Northwestern Mutual's overall dividend payout to policyowners for 2006 is expected to be $4.27 billion, an increase of $360 million, the largest single increase in company history. This ongoing success, fostered by the company's tradition of "doing the right thing," has been honored and nurtured by successive generations within Northwestern Mutual.
James V. Marker, CLU, Managing Partner
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