Financial Planning and Sales Internship

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

Program Details: 

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 

Dayton or 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 American’s 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.