Putting
people first.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the Upstate office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
John Tripoli is the managing director of the Greenville & Spartanburg district office group. He leads an incredible group of advisors and representatives who are others minded and forward focused, helping their clients make great decisions with their resources. John is passionate about his involvement in the community...
John Tripoli is the managing director of the Greenville & Spartanburg district office group. He leads an incredible group of advisors and representatives who are others minded and forward focused, helping their clients make great decisions with their resources. John is passionate about his involvement in the community having served as a member on the Board of Directors and former chair of the Tocqueville Society for United Way of Greenville County, the past president of Greenville Estate Planning Council, a former executive member of the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball and the past president of Northwestern Mutual’s Managing Directors Association. In 2014, John was awarded the Community Service Award by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation for his work with the Center for Developmental Services.
Claire Bray
Executive Director of Recruitment
Claire graduated May 2007 from Furman University in Greenville, SC, with a B.A. in Political Science. She has deep family roots in the Greenville community and is involved in the United Way as well as supporting the Furman Paladins. Claire joined Northwestern Mutual February 2017. She leads the recruiting efforts...
Claire graduated May 2007 from Furman University in Greenville, SC, with a B.A. in Political Science. She has deep family roots in the Greenville community and is involved in the United Way as well as supporting the Furman Paladins. Claire joined Northwestern Mutual February 2017. She leads the recruiting efforts as Executive Director of Recruitment by developing our expertise and presence with closely held businesses, professionals and business leaders in our community. Additionally, she recruits and develops top quality interns and financial representatives. Claire is married to her husband, Wes, and they have two daughters, Marley and Riley.
Mandee Armfield
Executive Director of Development
Originally from Western NY, Mandee relocated to Greenville after graduating from Canisius College in 2009. She started her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2011. In her current role as the Executive Director of Development for Northwestern Mutual in Upstate SC, she manages the onboarding of new financial representatives,...
Originally from Western NY, Mandee relocated to Greenville after graduating from Canisius College in 2009. She started her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2011. In her current role as the Executive Director of Development for Northwestern Mutual in Upstate SC, she manages the onboarding of new financial representatives, oversees their contracting and licensing, creates ongoing training and coaching schedules, and coordinates the internship program. She is passionate about the entrepreneurial opportunity at Northwestern Mutual and enjoys assisting our newest representatives in growing their careers. Mandee is married to her husband Bo, and they have two sons, Rowen and Remington.
Starla Brown
Director of Finance and Operations
Starla is originally from North Carolina, currently lives in South Carolina, and has two daughters. She considers herself a true Carolina girl, born in one and raised in the other. She began her career at Northwestern Mutual in 2013. As Director of Finance for the agency, Starla oversees the areas of finance and...
Starla is originally from North Carolina, currently lives in South Carolina, and has two daughters. She considers herself a true Carolina girl, born in one and raised in the other. She began her career at Northwestern Mutual in 2013. As Director of Finance for the agency, Starla oversees the areas of finance and administration including accounting, commissions, payroll, human resources, facilities, and office management.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Tony relocated to the Upstate of South Carolina 8 years ago. He and his wife, Courtney, have 4 children and enjoy going on trips together to the mountains and beaches nearby and watching Chicago Bears football. When he's not hanging with family, he enjoys running half marathons...
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Tony relocated to the Upstate of South Carolina 8 years ago. He and his wife, Courtney, have 4 children and enjoy going on trips together to the mountains and beaches nearby and watching Chicago Bears football. When he's not hanging with family, he enjoys running half marathons and playing golf. In addition to building his financial planning practice, he gets to seek out and recruit top professionals to join our all-star team in the upstate of South Carolina. He also serves in a leadership role where he has the opportunity to select, mentor and train new financial representatives who are interested in the business by teaching them how to run a business, be professional, and reach for their dreams! Since joining Northwestern Mutual, he has developed a specialty working with physicians, dentists, business owners, and families.
Joe Funderburk was born and raised in Greenville, SC, where he attended Greenville High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the College of Charleston. After 12 years in Charleston, Joe returned to Greenville in 2008 and joined the Northwestern Mutual team in 2015. Joe...
Joe Funderburk was born and raised in Greenville, SC, where he attended Greenville High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the College of Charleston. After 12 years in Charleston, Joe returned to Greenville in 2008 and joined the Northwestern Mutual team in 2015. Joe is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and serves as a Financial Advisor and Growth and Development Director. Joe spends his free time in many outdoor activities and has completed numerous marathons, ultra-marathons and is a two-time Ironman finisher. Joe also serves as Vice President of the Greenville County Foster Parent Association.
Nate is a Growth and Development Director in the Spartanburg office. Raised in the Colorado Rockies, he and his family relocated to the Upstate in 2021. Nate has been a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual since 2014. Having found value in financial planning as a young adult, he loves the opportunity to...
Nate is a Growth and Development Director in the Spartanburg office. Raised in the Colorado Rockies, he and his family relocated to the Upstate in 2021. Nate has been a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual since 2014. Having found value in financial planning as a young adult, he loves the opportunity to add value to his clients through creative planning for every season of life. Nate specializes in strategic planning in the military marketplace and closely held businesses. He and his wife, Sasha, have 3 kids and have fallen in love with the southern lifestyle. When not in the office, he can be found cruising around in his 1968 corvette, helping his wife finish DIY projects, and developing their new multigenerational ranch in Woodruff, SC.
Brett Smith is one of Northwestern Mutual’s experienced advisors and is co-founder of the Upstate Legacy Planning Group. As a Business & Estate Planning Specialist and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Brett predominantly works with high-income/net worth individuals and business owners desiring comprehensive...
Brett Smith is one of Northwestern Mutual’s experienced advisors and is co-founder of the Upstate Legacy Planning Group. As a Business & Estate Planning Specialist and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Brett predominantly works with high-income/net worth individuals and business owners desiring comprehensive financial planning and advisory services to grow/steward assets for themselves and/or future generations. Brett is a West Point graduate, served in the XVIII ABN Corps at Fort Bragg, NC and has an MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual and founding the Upstate Legacy Planning Group, Brett ran several businesses and was nationally recognized to include an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in retail manufacturing.
Originally from Alpharetta, GA, Ben and his family have called Greenville, SC, home since 2006. Ben is married to Courtney and together they have three children, Lucy, Robinson, and Jennings. Ben is a 2004 graduate of Wake Forest University (Business and Spanish) and has his MBA from Clemson University. Ben is...
Originally from Alpharetta, GA, Ben and his family have called Greenville, SC, home since 2006. Ben is married to Courtney and together they have three children, Lucy, Robinson, and Jennings. Ben is a 2004 graduate of Wake Forest University (Business and Spanish) and has his MBA from Clemson University. Ben is a Financial Planners currently able to provide Fee-Based Planning Services and is one of the most credentialed advisors in the Carolina’s for Northwestern Mutual.
