Get to know my dedicated team
Each of us are committed to providing exceptional service. If you need to schedule an appointment, request service, or have a question about a policy or account, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Sarah Walter
Managing Director
Sarah Walter began her career with Northwestern Mutual as a post grad in 2003 as a Financial Representative in Edina, MN. Sarah initially joined the Minneapolis Network office and Mark Heurung’s team in 2007 as the Director of Training and found her true passion in leadership, coaching, and development in this role. In the years that followed, Sarah became the Director of New Financial Representative Development and then the Development Officer. A trailblazer by nature, Sarah grew to become the Minneapolis Agency’s first ever Chief Growth Officer, supporting the work and needs of career advisors and their teams. In 2020, Sarah took another leap, she helps the leadership team drive results in recruiting, internship, advisor productivity, and leadership development. Sarah is excited and energized about her latest appointment as the Managing Director of the Lake Elmo district.
Debbie A Blattner
Director of Operations
Debbie Blattner joined the Woodbury office of Northwestern Mutual in April 2004. As Director of Operations her primary focus is to oversee the office so that it is running smoothly and efficiently. Debbie is licensed in life, accident and health insurance. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Debbie worked for Cargill for 10 years.
Debbie lives in Hastings with her husband Justin and their two children, Whitney and Luke. She enjoys being active outdoors and reading.
Julie Whittaker
Sales Execution Team Associate
Julie came to Northwestern Mutual from the real estate industry in 2022. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in 2020 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Outdoor Adventure Education, she spent some time working in title insurance before joining the Lake Elmo District Office as the SET Associate. When she’s not at work, Julie likes to spend her time outside hiking with her dog Rae, snowboarding, climbing, and camping, at her lake cabin in Alexandria, MN doing some fishing, or curled up with a good book.
Get to know Sarah
Growing up on a farm in rural southwest Minnesota I knew I could do just about anything I wanted to if I worked hard enough. Through sports, I found my passion for challenging my potential and the joy of being on a winning team. By volunteering, I connected with the gratification of service towards a bigger purpose. In giving my best effort today, I’ve found myself leading others along the way. I’ve done this while being the first if not the only female in the room, which simply means I’ve had a different path than most.
I started my career with Northwestern Mutual as a Financial Representative in 2003 after graduating from St. Cloud State University. I later found my true passion in helping Financial Advisors build a successful business in financial services. As the Associate Managing Partner for Northwestern Mutual – Minneapolis, one of the nation’s largest and most respected financial planning firms, I am a leader of leaders who works across all of the office to bring in talented people and help them find a lucrative career opportunity with purpose and impact on others. I directly build financial advisors and future leaders in the Downtown Minneapolis location. I pride myself on helping others discover their most amazing future, and believing in them before they believe in themselves.
In 2020, and again in 2022, I was proud to be named a Finance & Commerce Top Women in Finance, an award that recognizes the outstanding efforts of women in Minnesota who are making noteworthy contributions to their professions and communities.
My husband, Brandon, and I live in Plymouth with our twin daughters Aubrey, and Brynn, and son, Colby. I have been involved in the Minneapolis Women’s Rotary and have mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Outside of work I enjoy spending time at our family cabin in Alexandria, MN on Lake Ida and traveling. I enjoy wine and music, as well as scrapbooking my adventures.
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.
