Northwestern Mutual
Des Moines
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Leadership
Putting people first.
All of our leadership are dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees, and community.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the Des Moines office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
Jeff Byrn
CLU®
Managing Partner
Jeff is the Managing Partner at Northwestern Mutual - Central Iowa. He began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 2005 as a College Financial Representative while obtaining his Finance Degree from Iowa State University. Over his career with Northwestern Mutual, Jeff has held a variety of leadership roles and was co-founder of Clarity Wealth Advisors, a specialized firm within Northwestern Mutual where was was recognized as a Forbes Top Security Professional. Jeff is passionate about creating a strong and welcoming culture for clients, team members and advisors at Northwestern Mutual - Central Iowa. He is also focused on building a firm that looks like the communities they serve, in an effort to relieve clients of financial anxiety. Jeff is married to Emily Byrn, CGO at the Northwestern Mutual - Central Iowa Network Office. They have three children, Kamryn, Brasen and Elysen and live in West Des Moines, IA.
Brian Carlson
Managing Director
Brian Carlson is a Financial Advisor and Managing Director of Northwestern Mutual's West Des Moines District in Central Iowa. With a vision to foster the most financially secure community in America, Brian is a seasoned professional dedicated to guiding individuals towards their financial aspirations. Known for his commitment to building strong relationships, Brian prioritizes providing clear and practical advice, along with crafting comprehensive financial plans tailored to your unique objectives
Brandon Coleman
CFP®, WMCP®
District Director
Brandon Coleman is a Wealth Management Advisor & Managing Director in West Des Moines, IA. He joined Northwestern Mutual in 2016 after leaving a career as a high-school teacher. As a Managing Director, Brandon is responsible for recruiting and mentoring his team of financial advisors. His personal practice is focused on helping families grow and get closer to their dreams. His team believes in creating a judgment-free environment with educational conversations that are jargon-free. Brandon lives in Clive, IA with his wife, Caitlin, and their four children. Brandon enjoys exploring Central Iowa with his family and attending any event with live music.
Emily Byrn
Chief Growth Officer
Emily Byrn started her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2007 fresh off the campus of the University of Iowa. Prior to her current role, she was the Chief Operations Officer for 15 years and the Campus Recruiter for 2. In her current role as Chief Growth Officer, she is responsible for New Rep Growth and Development alongside Career Advisor Productivity and Sales Growth. Emily is extremely passionate about helping young advisors hit career milestones. Outside of the office Emily likes to spend her time watching her 3 children (Kamryn, Brasen & Elysen) play all the sports. She and her husband Jeff spend their philanthropic time giving to Blank Children’s Hospital.
Kara Christensen
Chief Recruitment Officer
Kara started with Northwestern Mutual as Director of Selection in October of 2010. In her tenure, she has lead the office from 7 recruits in 2010 to an average of 18 FT recruits per year. In addition to recruiting, Kara is also a RACE coach and has contributed to coaching numerous P40’s and second 60’s. Kara and her husband, Rees reside in Ankeny, Iowa with their son Logan, daughter Karsyn, dog Mac, and they are expecting their third child this May.
Cris Alvarez
Chief Operations Officer
Cris joined NM Central Iowa as the Chief Operations Officer in 2024. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, he held various strategy and leadership roles at independent broker/dealers and registered investment advisers in California and Iowa. Cris began his career in the wealth management industry in 2003, has his series 3, 4, 7, 24, 53 , 66 as well as his Life & Health licenses and is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He and his wife, Meaghan, moved to Iowa from San Diego in 2014 and currently live in Urbandale with their twins, Crescencio and Penelope.
Brandi Warmenhoven
CLU®
Director of Operations
Brandi, the Director of Operations for the West Des Moines District, joined the Northwestern Mutual in 2015 before joining the Carlson Team in 2020. She received her bachelor's degree from Iowa State University. Brandi holds her Life, Health and Long-Term Care Licenses as well as FINRA Series 6 & 63 registrations. In her spare time, Brandi enjoys spending time outdoors going camping, boating, and traveling with her husband, Michael. As Director of Operations, Brandi is focused on overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions for the district. She also focuses on getting Team Carlson clients into and through underwriting for risk-based products and client service needs.
Thomas Bomstad
Director of Recruitment and Selection
Tommy, our Director of Recruitment and Selection, joined Northwestern Mutual in May 2023. He brings over 10+ years of valuable experience as a business executive in operations management and business development, making him a key asset to our team. In his free time, Tommy enjoys coaching his kids’ sports teams, hunting, traveling and spending relaxing moments on the lake. His well-rounded interest and profession expertise make him a great fit for Northwestern Mutual Central Iowa.
Cam Heathman
Director of Planning and Investment Operations
Cam joined Northwestern Mutual in 2022 and leads the Centralized Financial Security Department. Cam and his team partner with advisors in creating a financial plan to give their client’s peace of mind and achieve their goals. Outside of work, Cam enjoys spending time with his wife Alyssa and son Asher.
Kristen Farr
Director of Risk Operations
Kristen has been with Northwestern Mutual since 2018. She manages the Sales Execution Team, which supports Financial Representative and Advisors with the risk side of their practices. Her team provides assistance with insurance applications, underwriting, and policy owner services to ensure timely approval and client service. Kristen lives in Ankeny with her husband Albert and their dog Bentley!
Raechel Moyna
Internship Director
Raechel Moyna is the Internship Director in West Des Moines, IA. She joined Northwestern Mutual in 2024 after leaving her career as a middle- school teacher. As Internship Director, Raechel works with the talented recruitment and leadership team to expand and enhance the growing internship program, fostering a dynamic environment for the next generation of professionals. Raechel lives in Des Moines, IA with her husband, Connor, & their two dogs - Thor and Penny. In Raechel’s free time, she enjoys working on DIY home improvement projects and spending time with friends and family.
Kaci Uhde
Recruiter
Kaci joined Northwestern Mutual in 2025 as a recruiter coming from the staffing world. Her connection to Northwestern Mutual began in 2023 during an internship she held here that sparked her interest in the company's values and culture. Now, she is excited to help others find their place here and build meaningful careers! In Kaci's free time she enjoys going to concerts, trying new restaurants around the metro, and spending time with her friends and family.
Ann Brady
Associate Director of Development
Ann joined Northwestern Mutual in 2021 as part of an Advisors Team before transitioning to the Network Office Team in 2022. In her current role as Associate Director of Development, Ann facilitators new advisor training, internal events and coordinates philanthropic efforts.
Jessica Carlson
Growth and Development Director
Jessica Carlson is a Financial Advisor and Growth and Development Director with over 12 years of experience in the industry. Her passion lies in helping individuals unleash their full potential through strategic planning. Jessica prioritizes building strong relationships to empower her clients to make informed decisions and take control of their financial future. Having earned her bachelor's degree in Business with emphasis in Finance from Grand View University, Jessica combines her expertise with a client-centered approach to provide personalized guidance for individuals and families to navigate the complexities of financial management.
Lauren Kerr
CLU®
Wealth Management Advisor
Lauren Kerr started with Northwestern Mutual in 2011 as a part of Sparks Financial in Denver, CO. In 2016, she started as a Financial Advisor in West Des Moines. As a Growth and Development Director, she mentors and coaches her team. Lauren loves helping families bring clarity to their financial lives, and empowering other advisors and representatives to impact their clients as well. Lauren lives in Des Moines with her husband, Stephen and their two kids Reese and Ray.
Nathan Sands
Field Director
Nate began his career as a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual in January of 2022. What Nate loves about his work is the ability to help people on a personal level to achieve their goals, while striving to maintain strong client relationships.
Dylan Zender
Field Director
Dylan is a Financial Advisor & Growth and Development Director in West Des Moines, IA. He joined Northwestern Mutual in 2018 following his service in the Army. Dylan enjoys helping families and businesses take control of their finances as well as empowering advisors in our firm do the same. Dylan lives in Ankeny, IA with his wife, Taylor and their two children Leighton and Elliott, as well as their dog, Maverick. Dylan is an avid rugby fan and enjoys playing golf with his free time today.
AJ Allen
College Unit Director
AJ began his career as a Financial Representative in April of 2023. Since joining Northwestern Mutual Central Iowa, AJ has joined the Leadership Team as a College Unit Director. AJ enjoys helping clients navigate complex financial situations, from managing multiple income streams to maximizing NIL deals and transitions to the professional level.
Keaton Adams
College Unit Director
Keaton is a financial advisor and College Unit Director. He joined Northwestern Mutual in 2020 as an intern while attending Iowa State University and went full time as an advisor in 2022. His favorite part of the career is being able to help families create clarity and empower them to take action on their financial goals and what is most important to them.