Putting
people first.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the Chicago office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
Corey McQuade
CLU®
Managing Partner
With a passion for growing the next generation of leaders and guiding his team to achieve their vision of success, Corey leads more than 375 financial professionals within Northwestern Mutual Chicago. He is committed to cultivating a culture of trust that values everyone's opinion, provides opportunities for growth...
With a passion for growing the next generation of leaders and guiding his team to achieve their vision of success, Corey leads more than 375 financial professionals within Northwestern Mutual Chicago. He is committed to cultivating a culture of trust that values everyone's opinion, provides opportunities for growth and development, and positively impacts and influences others. A career changer, he joined Northwestern Mutual in 2001 as a financial representative. In 2005 he was named Field Director, launching a leadership journey that has seen him rise to Managing Director in 2006 and Managing Partner in 2016. A dedicated industry leader focused on creating meaningful change; he is a co-producer of The Loyola Project-a documentary which tells the story of the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers' historic 1963 basketball team that broke racial barriers and changed college basketball forever. He holds a bachelor's degree from Miami University and the Chartered Life Underwriter designation.
Jessica Vitale
Executive Business Partner
On a mission to effect change and transform lives, Jabari was drawn to Northwestern Mutual Chicago. Joining the firm in 2016 after an impactful career in the non-profit industry, he’s opening doors of opportunity by creating generational wealth through empowered financial planning. As a Growth and Development...
On a mission to effect change and transform lives, Jabari was drawn to Northwestern Mutual Chicago. Joining the firm in 2016 after an impactful career in the non-profit industry, he’s opening doors of opportunity by creating generational wealth through empowered financial planning. As a Growth and Development Director he is building a team at our Chicago Hyde Park office. As a community builder, he has forged partnerships with the Chicago Chapter of the Black MBA and Greenwood Project. Jabari started his leadership journey as a College Unit Captain in 2018 – mentoring college students in our industry-leading internship. With a growth mindset, he embodies the pillars of our leadership development, having been selected for the 1872, Emerging Leaders and Multicultural Leadership Development programs. He earned a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri. In addition to insurance licenses, he holds Series 6 and 63 investment licenses.
The reputation as a perennial industry-leading internship drew Mike to Northwestern Mutual Chicago as a college financial representative. The culture and ability to control his future kept him here. Joining the firm in 2008 during the Great Recession, he saw firsthand how vital job security was when his parents...
The reputation as a perennial industry-leading internship drew Mike to Northwestern Mutual Chicago as a college financial representative. The culture and ability to control his future kept him here. Joining the firm in 2008 during the Great Recession, he saw firsthand how vital job security was when his parents experienced career displacement and interruption. In his life mantra, “Every day, try to get uncomfortable. If you're not uncomfortable, then you’re not growing,” he has accelerated his career. As an advisor building a financial planning practice, he wanted to pay it forward like his mentors. He was named a College Unit Director in 2011, taking a leadership role in the internship program. In 2015 he was promoted to Field Director, and in 2017 named Managing Director when he started building Team Stahl in the Chicago network office. With a bachelor’s degree Loyola University Chicago, he continued his studies and achieved the Chartered Life Underwriter designation.
Carrie Merritt
MBA
Director of Internship Development
With the belief that everyone can design – and live – a life they love, Andrew is on a mission to help others do just that. As a Managing Director, he shares the gift of the career and leads the #WeAreHigney team based in the Chicago network office. He is focused on attracting and building a team of frontline...
With the belief that everyone can design – and live – a life they love, Andrew is on a mission to help others do just that. As a Managing Director, he shares the gift of the career and leads the #WeAreHigney team based in the Chicago network office. He is focused on attracting and building a team of frontline leaders committed to purposeful impact and a growth mindset. Andrew joined Northwestern Mutual in 1989 upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame . His leadership path includes being elevated to Field Director in 1992, Managing Director in 1995 and Chief Development Officer in 2001. Committed to professional growth, he earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter designations.
A multiplier of impact, Toby leads the “Engpire” district in the Chicago network office. As a Managing Director, he influences his team, clients, and community with mission drive leadership grounded in mentoring, active listening and empathy. Toby joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago after graduating from...
A multiplier of impact, Toby leads the “Engpire” district in the Chicago network office. As a Managing Director, he influences his team, clients, and community with mission drive leadership grounded in mentoring, active listening and empathy. Toby joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago after graduating from Wheaton College in 2001. While building a wealth management practice, he honed his team-building skills when appointed a Field Director in 2007 and a Managing Director in 2012. A lifelong learner, he has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification, Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter designations. Actively involved in community outreach on several levels, his leadership of the firm’s internship annual community service day with Young Men’s Educational Network led to recognition by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation with the Community Impact Award.
By remaining true to the values of integrity, growth, accountability and impact, Tom's leadership is recognized. Tom joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago after graduating from Marquette University in 1995. His leadership path started as a Field Director in 2000. Just three years later, he was named a Managing Director....
By remaining true to the values of integrity, growth, accountability and impact, Tom's leadership is recognized. Tom joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago after graduating from Marquette University in 1995. His leadership path started as a Field Director in 2000. Just three years later, he was named a Managing Director. In 2004 he was asked to expand the firm’s presence in Chicago's O'Hare region. In 2018, he relocated his expanding team to Rosemont. As a private wealth advisor, he has found a genuine desire to guide persons with a loved one who has special needs. Leading the Canale Financial Group, a founding member of the Private Client Group, his team embraces comprehensive financial planning, specializing in the complex and unique needs that come with more wealth. Tom's growth mindset has led him to the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification, Chartered Special Needs Consultant, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Chartered Life Underwriter designations.
Confident that individually we can go far, and together, the sky is the limit, Chad leads. Since joining the firm in 2007, he has worked hard to foster personal and professional relationships and build a network of intelligent, big-thinking, caring individuals. Appointed Managing Director of Team Oak Brook in...
Confident that individually we can go far, and together, the sky is the limit, Chad leads. Since joining the firm in 2007, he has worked hard to foster personal and professional relationships and build a network of intelligent, big-thinking, caring individuals. Appointed Managing Director of Team Oak Brook in 2016, he is passionate about growing a high-performance organization. Leading by example, he is a 12x Forum Award recipient representing the top level of excellence among Northwestern Mutual financial advisors nationwide. As Founder of 1893 Wealth Management, a Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group, Chad builds on the Northwestern Mutual Chicago vision to be a firm of enduring firms. Chad earned the Juris Doctorate from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Miami University. In addition to the Series 6, 63, 7 and 26 investment licenses, he achieved the Chartered Life Underwriter designation.
Energizing purpose-driven, performance-oriented, principle-led leaders, Carrie is the Growth and Development Director with Team Oak Brook. As a motivator and mentor, she drives recruiting and manages growth and development for advisors who are early in their careers. She joined the firm in 2020 as Associate Executive...
Energizing purpose-driven, performance-oriented, principle-led leaders, Carrie is the Growth and Development Director with Team Oak Brook. As a motivator and mentor, she drives recruiting and manages growth and development for advisors who are early in their careers. She joined the firm in 2020 as Associate Executive Strategy Manager and was named Director of Development and Recruitment for the Oak Brook office in 2021 and Growth and Development Director in 2023. As a culture builder, she influences positive change and builds strong relationships with colleagues and the community. She was part of a collaborative effort to launch our Women’s Initiative, a coaching and mentoring program focused on developing women personally and professionally. Carrie is a Northwestern Mutual Women’s Field Association member and serves on our Sustained Action for Equality Task Force. Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University.
With a firm belief that he could control his career trajectory, Jim joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago in 2006. Soon after, he was tapped for a leadership position. Starting as a College Unit Director in 2008, Jim rose to Field Director in 2012 and Growth and Development Director in 2016. In 2017, he was asked...
With a firm belief that he could control his career trajectory, Jim joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago in 2006. Soon after, he was tapped for a leadership position. Starting as a College Unit Director in 2008, Jim rose to Field Director in 2012 and Growth and Development Director in 2016. In 2017, he was asked to lead the district office in the northern suburbs as a Managing Director. With his team growing, he relocated the Northbrook office to Deerfield in 2018. His commitment to creating a culture of excellence, innovation and inclusion drives his success. While Jim sought a path that would allow him to lead a district, at the same time, he is building a successful financial planning practice. In addition to a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign, he continued his studies by earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, the Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter designations.
Joshua Denk
Chief Financial Officer
Robert Hughes
J.D.
Chief Operating Officer
In a dynamic culture for people with a growth mindset, Rob shares a genuine desire to help develop our advisors to achieve their business goals. As the Chief Operating Officer, he leads a team responsible for productivity and profitability strategies that will achieve our collective vision to be a firm of enduring...
In a dynamic culture for people with a growth mindset, Rob shares a genuine desire to help develop our advisors to achieve their business goals. As the Chief Operating Officer, he leads a team responsible for productivity and profitability strategies that will achieve our collective vision to be a firm of enduring firms, reflecting the communities we serve and increasing our impact and influence. Since joining Northwestern Mutual Chicago in 2004 after several years in compliance and operational roles in the financial service industry, Rob has helped shape a high-performance culture through shared values, mutual respect and service to others. He has been a leader in taking purposeful steps toward influencing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Rob earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (The John Marshall Law School) and a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University.
Nikki Perryman
Director of Operations
In a firm culture that embraces an intentional spirit of innovation, Nikki comes alongside us to build on our vision to be a firm of enduring firms. As a leader, she provides advisors with expertise and guidance in growing their businesses through teamwork and workflow efficiencies. Building on 20+ years of operational...
In a firm culture that embraces an intentional spirit of innovation, Nikki comes alongside us to build on our vision to be a firm of enduring firms. As a leader, she provides advisors with expertise and guidance in growing their businesses through teamwork and workflow efficiencies. Building on 20+ years of operational excellence, she leads centralized services and technology implementation teams. Nikki joined Northwestern Mutual in 1998, held administrative positions in the Indianapolis office, and served as an office manager in a Milwaukee office. In 2001 she joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago as Office Manager. She ascended to Director of Administration in 2005, Director of Operations in 2011 and Director of Strategic Operations in 2018. A personal connection motivates her to support families whose lives have been touched by pediatric cancer as she co-leads the firm’s award-winning philanthropic childhood cancer program. Nikki holds a bachelor’s degree from Marian University.
Jeannette Miyazono
Director of Strategic Development
Setting the standard for building, growing and transitioning generational financial planning firms, Jeannette leads the Office of Strategic Growth and Enduring Firm Development. Aligning our advisor’s business vision with our resources, she directs the firm's professional development, practice management and...
Setting the standard for building, growing and transitioning generational financial planning firms, Jeannette leads the Office of Strategic Growth and Enduring Firm Development. Aligning our advisor’s business vision with our resources, she directs the firm's professional development, practice management and marketing. Since joining the firm in 2010 as a Client Relations Coordinator, her highly collaborative and strategic approach has empowered a career journey rising to Director of Client Relations in 2017, Director of Business Development in 2018, and Director of Strategic Development in 2022. She is a key builder of our giving culture and co-chair of our award-winning philanthropic childhood cancer program. She holds a master’s from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University. She is an International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach and is certified as a financial service coach through Client Wise and Northwestern Mutual.
Jacqui Coleman
Director of Supervision
In a culture of integrity, doing the right thing all the time, every time, is what guides us. As Director of Supervision, Jacqui and her team partner with Northwestern Mutual Chicago’s financial advisors, representatives, and staff to demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards to ensure compliance...
In a culture of integrity, doing the right thing all the time, every time, is what guides us. As Director of Supervision, Jacqui and her team partner with Northwestern Mutual Chicago’s financial advisors, representatives, and staff to demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards to ensure compliance with company and industry laws and regulations. Jacqui joined the firm in 2009 as a Client Relations Coordinator. She transferred to the Investment Operations team in 2010 and became Manager in 2012. In 2015 she was promoted to Assistant Director of Supervision, and Director of Supervision in 2017. An advocate and ally, she is a member of our Sustained Action for Equality Task Force. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University. She embraces a growth mindset and earned the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) series 6, 7, 9, 10, 63 and 65 designations.