![Father son playing on a trampoline](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/sites/images/hero/father-playing-with-child-outside.jpg?width=1500)
Putting
people first.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the Austin office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
![Brian Vrana - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/23022107/06298b70-5ade-4669-ba1b-cb47a42c8f78.jpg)
Brian Vrana
Managing Partner
Brian began his career as a college intern in Nebraska and was a Bronze leader in the Central region, Top 10 Gish, achieved MDRT in his first full year in the business and was a 100 lives writer. He moved through the management ranks starting as a College Unit Director, earning Top 10 honors in 2004 and 2005,...
Brian began his career as a college intern in Nebraska and was a Bronze leader in the Central region, Top 10 Gish, achieved MDRT in his first full year in the business and was a 100 lives writer. He moved through the management ranks starting as a College Unit Director, earning Top 10 honors in 2004 and 2005, and was the Company’s #1 CUD in 2006. He built a top 10 College program, which included the #1 College Intern in 2016. In 2009, Brian became a Managing Director and was a six-time DNO Growth Award winner and four-time Achievement Award winner. In 2017, he was appointed Chief Development Officer and District Director in Omaha within the Network Office. Brian has a strong record of attracting, developing and retaining advisors and is passionate about developing diverse talent. Brian is married to Sandy and they have four children: Faith, Brigham, Memphis and Stetson. He is passionate about the outdoors, golfing, reading and spending quality time with his family.
![Fernando Suarez - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/20271817/5c74b0e6-23a7-4c76-ad6b-2c55b9cf3ec3.jpg)
Our team’s mission is to help people dream big and feel secure through value based financial planning. We have been working with clients for over 35 years, helping people take care of their families, realize their dreams, and feel confident about the future.
![Allison Woods - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/46713125/160ded71-0238-4704-7ffd-cafebe36bea0.jpg)
Allison Woods
Chief Recruitment Officer
![Nimshi Perera - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/48149426/a9e7b044-0437-4cb0-9a9d-d051ddb74299.jpg)
Nimshi Perera
ChFC®
Director of Supervision
![Marsha Blake - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87728435/bce55387-ae07-43ee-84dd-ac401cd4b13b.jpg)
Marsha Blake
Director of Planning and Investment Operations
![Katie Borst - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87796412/33348923-abec-4b86-75b6-4a52effe0b9d.jpg)
Katie Borst
Recruiter
![Troy Coker - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87693004/bc9ce62e-c229-43c4-abec-b6a65546e91a.jpg)
I believe that it is important to treat every potential client as if my own financial security depended on it. I'm determined to help my clients prepare for the unexpected and achieve financial freedom.
![Rayna Coyle - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87770760/befd2ef0-c83a-4f84-66be-0f1c083bbd48.jpg)
Rayna Coyle
Internship Development Officer
![Jean Rodgers - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87713639/2785a2ee-f833-4842-4520-437d5bdebcdc.jpg)
Jean Rodgers
Director of Training
![Cathy Suarez - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/84242393/fcec5f41-c176-4306-b016-8d3d38d0a8d9.jpg)
Cathy empowers and inspires people to achieve more than they thought was possible, so they can dream BIG and worry less about the future. Cathy is originally from NY. She enjoys volunteering, dancing, and traveling. She's been to more than 35 countries and speaks 5 languages-so far. She's currently brushing...
Cathy empowers and inspires people to achieve more than they thought was possible, so they can dream BIG and worry less about the future. Cathy is originally from NY. She enjoys volunteering, dancing, and traveling. She's been to more than 35 countries and speaks 5 languages-so far. She's currently brushing up on French and studying Arabic.
![Julia Stein - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87736215/e1e204a6-8b0a-406c-6efd-c4090ce19998.jpg)
![Blake Watkins - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87711168/534ce297-1222-48e6-5617-d6648ac4186b.jpg)
![Jake Johnson - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/79112146/5a4c2e48-a70f-41f6-7f0a-be3b82d6932a.jpg)
My passion for financial planning gives me the ability to create customized solutions that align with your personal goals. I work with individuals and families in all life-stages, but particularly enjoy helping young professionals build wealth strategies. My work with Northwestern Mutual began my senior year of...
My passion for financial planning gives me the ability to create customized solutions that align with your personal goals. I work with individuals and families in all life-stages, but particularly enjoy helping young professionals build wealth strategies. My work with Northwestern Mutual began my senior year of college, and in my first year I ranked among the top .5 percent of new advisors.
![Jon Blake - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/71051746/1b20ad01-cfc7-4403-8038-03968b1ff010.jpg)
Development Officer
![Mathew Eikmeier - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/44668843/5e50d5ed-bf1a-4ea4-5e44-dc5fe77748c7.jpg)
Mathew Eikmeier works with clients all over the country with the use of virtual meetings. His mission is to develop enduring relationships with clients by providing expert guidance towards financial security. Mathew helps clients to find the right solutions for personal, family or business needs.
![Luke Borst - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/43802731/83e68306-6c72-4421-6952-900e018b3443.jpg)
Luke thrives off relationships and helping understand what truly makes people achieve ultimate happiness by being at the center of his clients' financial lives. His passion for people found him starting a career at Northwestern Mutual and drives a successful financial planning practice.
![Andrew Stephens - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/42120224/ae722ec0-f33d-45d4-ab9d-d15db19c565e.jpg)
![Devin Coyle - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87692852/d3939e05-85d4-4ac3-5f80-446367bc8ebf.jpg)
![Stephen Hill - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/49753359/bb2cb609-042e-49c8-7ec1-7d0847d949de.jpg)
Since my humble upbringing in rural Georgia, I've witnessed first hand how impactful hard work, fiscal prudence, and surrounding yourself with high character individuals can be. I'm blessed to live in UP with my wife and two children, and to have a career that allows me to help other awesome families more efficiently...
Since my humble upbringing in rural Georgia, I've witnessed first hand how impactful hard work, fiscal prudence, and surrounding yourself with high character individuals can be. I'm blessed to live in UP with my wife and two children, and to have a career that allows me to help other awesome families more efficiently plan for their bright financial futures. Our team looks forward to helping!
![Karina Velez - Northwestern Mutual headshot](https://media.northwesternmutual.com/images/field/person/87698178/3bde1aa6-b802-49c9-7046-8a235d56df7a.jpg)
Karina Velez
Recruiter