New Wauneta office looks to continue Northwestern Mutual’s success in area

No matter if you change where you work, when you’re committed to your community, you continue to be committed to your community.
Such is the case for Brenda Anderson and Shelby Anderson, the mother and son pair responsible for the new Northwestern Mutual office in Wauneta.
While Northwestern Mutual has been active in southwest Nebraska since 1938, the company has expanded its offices from McCook and Cambridge into Wauneta this summer.
An office in Wauneta has been part of the conversation between the two Andersons for around three years.
After 35 years working for the bank in Wauneta, currently Sandhills State Bank, B. Anderson resigned this spring. That happened only after she was comfortable that her customers were taken care of.
Her transition from the bank to Northwestern Mutual couldn’t have gone better, she said, and the job is perfect to continue her priority of a client first approach.
S. Anderson has been with Northwestern Mutual for eight years out of the office in McCook after taking over for Mitch Lyster.
With a growing family, he and wife Katie have three kids, Leighton, 14, Tenlee, 12, and Collins, 8, S. Anderson said it took him nine months to decide which financial company he wanted to join.
S. Anderson said Northwestern Mutual is often associated with life insurance. However, over the last 5 to 10 years the business has shifted to investment and retirement planning which makes up roughly 70% of the business.  The company excels in holis­tic financial planning, strategic distribution planning in retirement and estate and long-term care planning on top of its insurance options. A 70% increase in the investment side of the company over the last five to 10 years shows the growth in that aspect of the company, he added.
The Andersons will continue to build on the southwest Nebraska business built by Wauneta natives Kenneth McGooden, Wayne Anderson and Rick Einspahr.
S. Anderson estimated that southwest Nebraska probably has more Northwestern Mutual clients per capita than anywhere in the nation.
With a policy dating back to when she was 16 years old, B. Anderson can attest to longevity of Northwestern Mutual in the area. Ted Anderson purchased a Northwestern Mutual policy for S. Anderson, his grandson, while he was still an infant.
The strategic partnership of the McCook, Cambridge and Wauneta offices are licensed in 16 states and have clients across the country. Adding B. Anderson to the staff, along with two people in Cambridge and two more working with S. Anderson in McCook, helps support the overall client base. S. Anderson said Northwestern Mutual utilizes technology making advisors from any of the offices available for Zoom meetings.
Walk-ins are welcome to the Wauneta office at 118 Tecumseh, but B. Anderson said it helps to make an appointment.
Initial meetings can take 30-45 minutes. A second meeting is needed to go over the client’s assessment and recommendations. Even if a client’s current plan is strong, B. Anderson said, advisors may still find opportunity for clients.
S. Anderson said advisors don’t come into a meeting and push one aspect of the company’s portfolio. He touts Northwestern Mutual’s planning software as the piece that makes a client’s strategic plan unique for them and one of the major things that stood out when he was deciding which financial company to join.
Looking at a client’s past investments, educating the client and talking about their goals are key pieces of the process.
The financial side of the Northwestern Mutual office fit nicely with B. Anderson’s experience in banking. Looking for the freedom to come and go as she needed, B. Anderson said, although she was a little nervous about switching jobs, her first six months with Northwestern Mutual have been a great experience.
B. Anderson said she’s had a lot of new clients sign up in Wauneta and she’s looking forward to checking in with established clients soon to see if their needs have changed.
More financial professionals may be needed if the current growth rate continues.
While financial advisors may come and go, S. Anderson emphasized that the office in Wauneta is permanent.
“With our growth over the last 10 years, it’s not possible for Northwestern Mutual to get smaller,” S. Anderson said.
The Andersons are also happy to add a “Main Street” business to Wauneta and are committed to the community and southwest Nebraska. Brenda as well as her husband Cleve and oldest son Shane live in Wauneta and her mother Donna Winscot lives in Imperial.
After 35 years serving residents in southwest Nebraska at the bank, B. Anderson said she wants to continue to help and teach people about their finances.
For those looking for that kind of assistance, the Wauneta Northwestern Mutual office hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MT Monday through Thursday, During market hours, calls can also be made to 308-345-5740.