The Milwaukee-based, privately-held life insurer isn’t owned by stockholders and likes to emphasize that it has a longer view than its publicly traded peers. That’s a good thing–historically low interest rates are certainly weighing on the category. Northwestern Mutual’s total risk premium sales topped $1 billion in 2016 and the company managed total premium revenue of $17.9 billion for its insurance and annuity products, a record. It also surpassed $100 billion of client assets under management, up 13%. A new 32-story tower in downtown Milwaukee and a number of new executives should inject new life into the 160-year-old company.
