Environmental, Social & Governance Report
Our commitment to corporate governance
Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been in the business of trust. We earn that trust with an unwavering commitment to ethics, honesty, and compliance.
Download full reportMutual values serve as our guideposts
With a constant focus on doing what's right, we ensure strong governance, accountability, and oversight structures are in place across our organization-essential support for building a better tomorrow.
Promoting ethical operation
Guidelines for Business Conduct
Everyone from trustees to managers and employees is expected to follow our Guidelines for Business Conduct. Employees and trustees affirm the guidelines annually.
Code of Conduct training
All new employees take an online course, “Northwestern Mutual's Code of Conduct,” covering topics such as gifts and entertainment, privacy, diversity and inclusion, harassment and discrimination, conflicts of interest, insider trading, fair dealing, and issues related to ethics.
Ethics Resource Center
Available to employees, members of the field, vendors, and contract personnel, the center offers a confidential resource to discuss questions or concerns and report possible misconduct.
Responsibilities Guide
This interactive online guide identifies key policies and procedures for Northwestern Mutual financial representatives, financial advisors, and wealth management advisors.
Anti-Money Laundering Program
Our employees and our field force of financial advisors are expected to know what money laundering is and the company procedures they need to follow to prevent it.
Leaders who set the example
We expect our leaders at every level to live Northwestern Mutual's values.
As a mutual insurance company, Northwestern Mutual has a Board of Trustees elected by our policyowners, with basic responsibility and ultimate authority on all company matters except with respect to matters reserved to its members. We seek to have the board reflect diversity of gender, ethnic background, and geographic origin, with at least one member having a background in ESG/sustainability. The current board includes residents of 11 states, representing all regions of the U.S., four members who identify as African American, two as Hispanic/Latino, and one as Asian American.
Meet our leadersClients engaged in governance
2021 Policyowner' Examining Committee
Our corporate governance includes a feature unique among U.S. insurers: our Policyowners' Examining Committee (POEC), which includes three to six people appointed each year by the Board of Trustees. Members are current policy or deferred annuity holders or named insureds under one or more insurance policies issued by the company or a subsidiary.
The committee is tasked with evaluating company efforts in any area they wish and suggesting improvements. The results of the committee's review are published in the Northwestern Mutual Annual Report, and the committee shares its report with the Board of Trustees.
2021 Policyowner' Examining Committee
Safeguarding your assets, privacy, and data
We are vigilant in identifying and managing risks and combine cybersecurity, administrative, and physical controls to keep personal information protected. This year we introduced an IT security scorecard for our employees to further promote data security.
Learn more about how we protect the information entrusted to us.