Putting
people first.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the Saint Louis office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
Gerard Hempstead
Managing Partner
Gerard M. Hempstead, CPA, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL® is a St. Louis native. He graduated from St. Louis University High School and Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a B.S. in Accounting. Gerard spent 2½ years with KPMG in its insurance and financial services practice before joining Northwestern...
Gerard M. Hempstead, CPA, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL® is a St. Louis native. He graduated from St. Louis University High School and Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a B.S. in Accounting. Gerard spent 2½ years with KPMG in its insurance and financial services practice before joining Northwestern Mutual in 1995. Gerard qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table every year from 1997 - 2015 and changed over 2,200 lives while he was a producer, ranking him 124th in overall career production in the history of the company, before becoming the Managing Partner of Northwestern Mutual – St. Louis in 2011. Personally, Gerard lives LIFE on purpose and enjoys running, golf, praying, public speaking, ice hockey, and spending as much time as possible with his beautiful wife Jen and their wonderful children, Peter, Lauren, and Matt. Gerard is actively involved with Legatus, the Covenant House of Missouri, United Way, and St. Louis University High School.
Katie Bircher
Chief Growth Officer
Katie Bircher began her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2004 as an Investment Operations Assistant. In 2014, she became the Director of Strategy and Practice Management. Now, Katie is the Chief Operating Officer, supervising the activities of the Financial Representatives and staff to achieve the highest levels...
Katie Bircher began her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2004 as an Investment Operations Assistant. In 2014, she became the Director of Strategy and Practice Management. Now, Katie is the Chief Operating Officer, supervising the activities of the Financial Representatives and staff to achieve the highest levels of productivity. In this role, she anticipates the needs of the office, strategically plans for its development, recommends necessary changes and takes independent action within areas of authority. Katie graduated from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She currently lives in Highland, Illinois with her husband, Daron, and their four children, Chase, Lake, Gage, and Zane. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time at the lake with her friends and family.
Shelly Mueller
Chief Financial Officer
Shelly joined the Northwestern Mutual St. Louis family in 2007. She originally served as the Officer Manager before transitioning into a Staff Accountant, a position she held for six years before taking over her current role as Chief Financial Officer. In this position, Shelly is accountable for the overall financial...
Shelly joined the Northwestern Mutual St. Louis family in 2007. She originally served as the Officer Manager before transitioning into a Staff Accountant, a position she held for six years before taking over her current role as Chief Financial Officer. In this position, Shelly is accountable for the overall financial health and day-to-day accounting functions of the network and district offices. She is the United Way chair for the office, a volunteer on the United Way Allocation Committee, and part of the Community Involvement Committee in the office. Shelly graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her husband, Brett, and two children, Mylee and Alex.
Timothy Harris
CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, RICP®, ChSNC®
Chief Supervision Officer
Tim Harris began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 2004 as an Associate Financial Representative. In 2011, he transitioned to the network office staff and became the Investment Operations Manager. In 2014, he became the Associate Director of Supervision, and then became the Director of Supervision in 2020....
Tim Harris began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 2004 as an Associate Financial Representative. In 2011, he transitioned to the network office staff and became the Investment Operations Manager. In 2014, he became the Associate Director of Supervision, and then became the Director of Supervision in 2020. In this position, Tim ensures compliance by financial representatives and their assistants, network office management, and support staff with all applicable laws, regulations, and company rules related to the sale and servicing of insurance and investment products. Tim oversees Compliance, Investment Operations, the Planning Department, and Contract & Licensing. Tim graduated from Murray State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He currently lives in Troy, IL with his wife, Kelly, and their two children, Bryce and Nathan. Tim is a sports enthusiast, and in his free time enjoys golfing or cheering on the Blues, Cardinals, Bears, and Fighting Illini.
Mike was born in Seoul, South Korea. He moved to the states when he was young and spent most of his adolescence on baseball fields in Jackson, Missouri and traveling around the country. Mike is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing. He began...
Mike was born in Seoul, South Korea. He moved to the states when he was young and spent most of his adolescence on baseball fields in Jackson, Missouri and traveling around the country. Mike is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing. He began his career with Northwestern Mutual as a college intern. The success he experienced during this time led him to convert to a full-time Financial Representative after graduating. In 2017, Mike was named Managing Director of our Columbia office. As the Managing Director, Mike oversees the overall development of the office while also running the office’s college program. In addition, he continues to financially advise households and families across the country. In his free time, Mike enjoys staying active and spending time with his fiance, Heidi, his parents, Miriam and Brad, his sister, Morene, and his friends.
Matt is a native of St. Claire, Missouri. He joined Northwestern Mutual as a college intern over twenty years ago while attending Fontbonne University. He then served as a Financial Advisor for fifteen years prior to becoming a District Director in 2015. Four years later, he transitioned to Managing Director after...
Matt is a native of St. Claire, Missouri. He joined Northwestern Mutual as a college intern over twenty years ago while attending Fontbonne University. He then served as a Financial Advisor for fifteen years prior to becoming a District Director in 2015. Four years later, he transitioned to Managing Director after it was announced that he would lead a new office in Sunset Hills, which officially opened in July 2021. Matt was named one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2018. Over the course of his career, he has qualified 6 times for the Million Dollar Round Table; an elite group whose membership consists of less than 1% of the world’s financial advisors. He is also a husband to his amazing wife, Jenny, and three children.
Helen is passionate about finding talented, successful individuals who desire a higher quality of life and offering them an amazing career opportunity in financial services. She loves coaching and developing people to help them achieve their potential. As a District Director for Northwestern Mutual St. Louis,...
Helen is passionate about finding talented, successful individuals who desire a higher quality of life and offering them an amazing career opportunity in financial services. She loves coaching and developing people to help them achieve their potential. As a District Director for Northwestern Mutual St. Louis, Helen helps people learn how a career as a Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative or intern can provide the rewards and opportunities of self-employment - flexibility, having a positive impact on people’s lives, and virtually unlimited earning potential. As a Financial Representative, you have all the advantages of being in business for yourself, but you're not alone. Helen will help you develop your business and marketing plans, provide extensive training and coaching from certified trainers, and offer access to our office’s knowledgeable group of financial professionals to help you launch your career.