Physicians Nationwide
Richard Romano
Wealth Management Advisor|DDS, CFP®
Professional
Rick Romano, D.D.S, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, RICP®, CFP®, was expanding his dental practice when he was diagnosed with a tumor in his spinal cord. Several surgeries and exhausting treatments took a toll on his body and led him down an unplanned path to disability.
Always one to look at the bright side, Rick, now a wealth management advisor at Northwestern Mutual in Metairie, LA, since 1988, didn't ponder long about what used to be. Instead, he focused on what was next. At 32, he could no longer practice dentistry – a career he loved. But, with steady income from a disability policy he bought years earlier from Northwestern Mutual, he had options.
He envisioned himself selling dental equipment. After all, he was a dentist. But he couldn't get hired because he had no sales experience. Now the man with no sales experience has been with Northwestern Mutual for 35 years, delivering the opportunity of financial security that was provided to him.
Associations and Memberships
Rick Romano is a member of the following organizations:
- Society of Financial Service Professionals
- National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)
- Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU)
- New Orleans Estate Planning Council
- New Orleans Dental Association (NODA)
- Louisiana Dental Association (LDA)
- American Dental Association (ADA
Physicians Nationwide
Rick Romano is a member of Physicians Nationwide. Physicians Nationwide is a group of qualified and experienced Northwestern Mutual Financial Representatives who specialize in serving the unique financial needs of physicians.
Northwestern Mutual Forum
Forum is a prestigious membership that recognizes advisors for an outstanding year of helping clients achieve financial security. Forum advisors represent the top segment of our industry. Rick has achieved Forum every year since its inception 26 years ago. In 2023, he is one of 15 advisors who has achieved the honor all 26 years.
Personal
Rick was born in Covington, LA, but has lived in the New Orleans area for many years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Louisiana State University then received a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from LSU School of Dentistry.
During his short-lived dental career, he bought a Northwestern Mutual Disability Income Insurance policy that had a huge impact on his life. The policy provided him with much-needed income and opened the door to a new career. He works with clients from all walks of life, including many physicians and dentists. He shares his experience with them and reminds them of the importance of being prepared if they were to face an unexpected, life-changing event.
When he's not meeting with clients, Rick loves spending time with his three children and two grandchildren. He enjoys traveling, playing guitar, duck hunting, and watching the New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers.
Here are my areas of expertise
Retirement Planning & Income Strategies
Financial Planning
Insurance Protection Strategies
Life Insurance Strategies
Education Planning & Funding
Disability Planning
Multigenerational Planning
Estate Planning
Steve Forbes and John Schlifske on "Econo-ME: Redefining the Rules of Financial Security”
Northwestern Mutual hosted a speaker series with Steve Forbes, chairman and editor in chief of Forbes Media and John Schlifske, Northwestern Mutual chairman and CEO. The three day tour saw over 3,500 attendees and included panel discussions in Baltimore, MD; Birmingham, AL; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, DC. In New Orleans, where there were 1,000 in attendance, Steve and John shared their perspectives on the economy, the markets, and how individuals and business owners must redefine the rules of financial security during times of market volatility. Key insights presented at the events were:
- Now more than ever, consumers must make financial decisions based on their short- and long-term needs, not their emotions, and stick with it. Schlifske affirms the need for individuals and business owners not to forget proven principles, such as cutting spending, saving in addition to investing, and dollar-cost averaging for the long-term.
- We cannot spend our way out of this recession. Schlifske and Forbes agree that pouring more money into the system, and increasing the debt, will only make the long-term solution that is needed more painful. Unless we are willing to endure years of austerity measures, more pro-growth policies need to be considered.
- It will take time for the economy to get back to a more stable state, regardless of the outcomes of upcoming elections. Schlifske and Forbes believe that periods of bull markets take years to unwind, and Americans should prepare for a long period of retrenchment.
For more thoughts on these and other business topics, visit the Northwestern Mutual Special Feature on Forbes.com.
Lending a hand in my community.
As part of Northwestern Mutual, I'm proud to help accelerate the search for better childhood cancer treatments while supporting families undergoing treatment, and survivors from late effects. Here are some of the organizations we partner with:
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF)
ALSF funds cancer research, raises awareness, and supports the families of children with cancer. Since 2012, Northwestern Mutual, its employees, and financial professionals like me have donated more than $20 million to support ALSF and fund over 400,000 research hours.
Beads of Courage
Beads of Courage is an art-in-medicine program that helps kids with cancer tell their unique treatment story through colorful beads that are symbols of their courage.
New Orleans Bridge House/Grace House
Bridge House/Grace House has a primary goal of treating and supporting men and women who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction in South Louisiana. The organization provides group and individual substance abuse rehabilitation, counseling and vocational training. It relies on support and financial donations from the community to continue its efforts. Treatment and housing are offered to those in need regardless of their ability to pay for the services provided.
How Northwestern Mutual helps you live the life you want.
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.
