Chase Alan Buckman

My life experience drives my professional passion. While studying retirement strategies in a personal finance class in college, I reached out to my mom to understand how these concepts were practically applied. What I discovered changed everything. My parents, then in their mid-50s, had minimal retirement savings despite their incredible work ethic. The realization that my dad might never be able to stop working hit me hard and highlighted a clear need for greater support.

I know there are countless families out there just like mine, hardworking people who deserve the ability to eventually stop working but haven't been shown how to make it happen. I often reflect on how different things might have been for my parents if they'd had a trusted advisor to guide them through their financial journey. I've made it my mission to bridge this gap, combining empathy with expertise to create practical, achievable financial plans.

Many of my clients are in their 40s to 50s and are approaching what might be the most significant financial decision of their lives. The choice to stop working requires careful planning and informed support. My commitment to them extends far beyond the moment of retirement itself. I walk alongside my clients for years, building our relationship and refining their financial plan. I’m also there for them as they adjust to this new phase of life and look to transfer their wealth to the next generation.

Fostering long-term relationships requires both technical expertise and genuine investment in their success. I measure my impact through my clients' achievements and their progress toward personal goals. Building trust through transparent communication and reliable service forms the foundation of our partnership.

When people feel better about their money, good things happen—they become more confident and feel more secure. For more than 160 years, Northwestern Mutual has helped people achieve the financial flexibility they need to live more and worry less.

Being a mutual company means Northwestern Mutual reports to its clients, not Wall Street. They don't believe in chasing fads or taking undue risk for short-term gains. Instead, they take a long-term approach—both in the way we help people plan to reach their goals, and in the way they do business. This has served their clients (and mine) well through all kinds of economic ups and downs, including wars, recessions, even the recent pandemic.

It's why I'm happy to be part of a company that's in it for the long-haul and prioritizes clients over profit.