Business Specialist with Hospitality Experience

Northwestern Mutual

  • Bakersfield, CA
  • $74,000-117,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 7 days ago
Benefits:
  • Stipend
  • Retirement
  • Bonus based on performance
  • Company parties
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Opportunity for advancement
  • Training & development
  • Vision insurance
Transition Your Hospitality Expertise into Financial Services!
  • Exceptional Client Service Skills: Hospitality professionals are trained to anticipate needs, build rapport, and create positive experiences—skills that translate directly into building trust and long-term relationships with financial clients.
  • High Emotional Intelligence: Navigating guest experiences requires empathy, active listening, and adaptability, all of which are critical in understanding client goals and guiding them through financial decisions.
  • Problem-Solving Under Pressure: Working in fast-paced environments with diverse challenges equips hospitality workers to remain calm, think quickly, and deliver solutions—ideal traits for managing complex financial scenarios.
  • Sales and Upselling Experience: Many hospitality roles involve promoting services or upgrades, providing a strong foundation in consultative selling that’s crucial for recommending financial products and strategies.
Greater Bakersfield Mission/Vision/Values:
  • Mission: Financially empower communities to change the world.
  • Vision: Redefine financial planning as a sanctuary for diverse communities.
  • Core Values: Inclusivity, empowerment, safety, impact, and authenticity.
Our Unique Angle: Meticulous Training and SupportWe distinguish ourselves by prioritizing a meticulous focus on the process, ensuring sustainable business practices and a predictable high-activity approach, setting us apart from an industry often fixated on end results.Meet Our People:James Hefley - Managing Director:
  • How long with NM? 13 years with NM.
  • Prior experience? Worked in his family’s small business, a bowling pro shop, and spent college years traveling the U.S. as a competitive bowler.
  • Passionate about? Golf, supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, Bakersfield Angels (a foster care nonprofit), food, travel, and is a huge Dodgers fan.
Eric Shumate - Financial Advisor:
  • How long with NM? Starting his 5th year on 11/2/24.
  • Prior experience? 17 years as a commercial lender with various banks, managing large commercial and agricultural loans, as well as foreclosure and asset disposition during the financial crisis.
  • Passionate about? Live hard rock music, attending sporting events, daily exercise, and spending time with family.
Brooks Douglass - Financial Advisor:
  • How long with NM? 13 months with NM.
  • Prior experience? General manager at a local startup, worked at a historic restaurant, completed a master’s degree, and coached baseball at Bakersfield College. Played college baseball and graduated from Rogers State University.
  • Passionate about? Spending quality time with family, golfing, attending USC football games, and socializing with friends.
Carlos Lovera - Field Director:
  • How long with NM? With NM since November 2020.
  • Prior experience? Holds a BBA and master’s degree in Management, with 10 years of corporate experience in oil & gas, covering capital projects, operations, compliance, and more.
  • Passionate about? Playing golf, watching sports, flying, volunteering, continuous learning, helping others succeed, traveling, and spending time with family.
Maui Ramos - College Unit Director:
  • How long with NM? 3 years with NM.
  • Prior experience? Previously worked in property and casualty insurance and taught yoga part-time.
  • Passionate about? Educating clients on financial possibilities, spending time with family, playing with his son, exploring new places, and taking the road less traveled.
Jose Luis Gonzalez - Financial Advisor:
  • How long with NM? 11 months with NM.
  • Prior experience? 19 years in the banking industry, including management roles at Wells Fargo, Tri Counties Bank, and as Vice President of Sales and Membership at a credit union.
  • Passionate about? Spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors (Ventura beaches, San Simeon, Yosemite), hiking, cycling, camping, volunteering at local schools, and playing basketball with friends.
Position Perks:
  • Significant bonus opportunity commensurate with outcomes
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Retirement plan
  • Vision insurance
  • Ongoing professional development
  • Local culture of support and positive recognition
Key Responsibilities of a Financial Advisor:
  • Client Consultation: Engage with clients to understand their financial goals, aspirations, and concerns.
  • Financial Planning: Develop comprehensive financial plans that include investments, insurance, and retirement.
  • Insurance Solutions: Recommend and implement insurance strategies to protect clients' assets and income.
  • Ongoing Support: Monitor clients' financial plans and provide regular updates, adjusting strategies as needed to meet changing circumstances.
  • Networking: Build and maintain a network of clients through referrals, community involvement, and professional associations.
Qualifications:
  • Experience: Previous experience in financial services or insurance is not required.
  • Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to build trust and rapport with clients.
  • Licenses: Obtain necessary licenses, such as Series 6, 63, and state insurance licenses (training and sponsorship available).
About Us: At Northwestern Mutual – Greater Bakersfield, our mission is to empower individuals and families to design a financially secure future while making a meaningful impact in our community. We have created an inclusive, high-support environment where team members are challenged, supported, and stretched to achieve their goals on their terms. We are proud to partner with and support local nonprofits like the Bakersfield Angels, which advocates for foster care, and the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as our own Fore the Memories Golf Tournament benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association—raising over $250,000 in our first three years. If you are driven, passionate about community impact, and seeking a fulfilling career path, we’d love to meet with you!Follow this link to hear why Financial Advisor, Jamie Mannarelli is so passionate about her career at Northwestern Mutual:Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI. James Hefley is a General Agent of NM and not in legal partnership with NM, or its subsidiaries.Flexible work from home options available.

Northwestern Mutual