
Putting
people first.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the Chesterfield office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.

Jim Zara joined Northwestern Mutual in January of 1991 and was named Rookie of the Year for the office. Within two years he was a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He was also among the youngest advisors ever to qualify for Northwestern Mutual's Recognition Dinner, which is held for the top...
Jim Zara joined Northwestern Mutual in January of 1991 and was named Rookie of the Year for the office. Within two years he was a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He was also among the youngest advisors ever to qualify for Northwestern Mutual's Recognition Dinner, which is held for the top 150 advisors in the country. Jim is a founding member of the Northwestern Mutual Forum, which began in 1998 to recognize the NM Advisors who have reached the highest level of productivity and excellence. He has continued to qualify every year since its inception. Jim was named the Managing Director of Northwestern Mutual -Chesterfield on April 1, 2014. The team works to select and develop the next generation of Northwestern Mutual advisors and representatives.

Like you, I have asked, “Am I financially secure?”. As a financial strategist with 20+ years of experience in business development & modeling, I am well suited to help clients make intentional financial decisions. Unlike most advisors, I do not merely advise clients regarding their finances. By guiding our...
Like you, I have asked, “Am I financially secure?”. As a financial strategist with 20+ years of experience in business development & modeling, I am well suited to help clients make intentional financial decisions. Unlike most advisors, I do not merely advise clients regarding their finances. By guiding our brightest clients, my team helps bring financial clarity to both families and businesses.

Laura Fleming
Office Manager
Laura joined Northwestern Mutual in January of 2023 as Experience Coordinator and was quickly promoted to Office Manager. As an astute leader, Laura is responsible for managing the business operations of the firm. She aims to provide high level, cooperative and compliant service to all advisors and their tea...
Laura joined Northwestern Mutual in January of 2023 as Experience Coordinator and was quickly promoted to Office Manager. As an astute leader, Laura is responsible for managing the business operations of the firm. She aims to provide high level, cooperative and compliant service to all advisors and their teams!

Cassandra Clemens
Director of Recruitment and Selection
At Northwestern Mutual, my focus is on identifying and attracting talented professionals who are not only skilled in their respective areas, but also share our core values of integrity, collaboration, and client-centricity. Also, I am passionate about developing and nurturing the careers of our team members through...
At Northwestern Mutual, my focus is on identifying and attracting talented professionals who are not only skilled in their respective areas, but also share our core values of integrity, collaboration, and client-centricity. Also, I am passionate about developing and nurturing the careers of our team members through ongoing training, mentorship, and opportunities for professional growth efforts. I am excited to connect with talented professionals who are interested in joining our team at Northwestern Mutual. If you are passionate about making a difference, driven to succeed, and eager to be part of a dynamic and forward-thinking organization, I encourage you to reach out. Together, we can achieve remarkable things and create a brighter financial future for our clients!

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, my team and I have found that we connect well with individuals, families, and business owners. We like to say we specialize in working with people that are in transition. Whether that transition looks like retirement, estate planning, business planning, purchasing/selling...
Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, my team and I have found that we connect well with individuals, families, and business owners. We like to say we specialize in working with people that are in transition. Whether that transition looks like retirement, estate planning, business planning, purchasing/selling a home, or starting a family. We simply want to help you make good decisions.

I specialize in providing strategic and comprehensive advice to help clients meet their financial goals. Partnering to achieve the future you want through education on wealth management strategies and solutions. We find that we work best with driven and open-minded individuals, families, and businesses!

I love working with families, successful professionals, people nearing retirement and union Lineman who are open minded, looking for financial education, care about setting up their future selves and want a long term working relationship. My team and I specialize in understanding existing benefits and build a...
I love working with families, successful professionals, people nearing retirement and union Lineman who are open minded, looking for financial education, care about setting up their future selves and want a long term working relationship. My team and I specialize in understanding existing benefits and build a goals- based plan to help maximize growth and efficiently manage taxes.

At our firm, we pride ourselves in being goal oriented and solution focused. My leadership role allows me to serve as a relatable source to young advisors on our team and help guide them as we continue to grow and serve our communities. In addition, I specialize in providing tailored financial guidance to physicians,...
At our firm, we pride ourselves in being goal oriented and solution focused. My leadership role allows me to serve as a relatable source to young advisors on our team and help guide them as we continue to grow and serve our communities. In addition, I specialize in providing tailored financial guidance to physicians, business owners, corporate executives, and engineers. It is my job to meet you where you are, discuss your vision, and establish a plan to bridge any gaps, so that you can achieve a life by design verses a life lived by default!