Investments

Investing is a great first step toward building wealth for yourself and your family that can be used to reach your short—and long-term your goals. And there are a lot of options to choose from like mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, bonds, and CDs. However, successful investing should start with your investing goals, not what you're investing in. Our financial advisors can help. They'll ask deeper questions, and listen closely, to better understand your goals and priorities, and how you think about money. Their expertise will help uncover your blind spots and opportunities that might otherwise get overlooked. Want to get a better handle on the basics first? Check out our investing guide for beginners.

All it takes is a conversation with one of our financial advisors. We understand that talking finances might not come naturally for you, so you'll be happy to know that our advisors are expert listeners who keep the conversation free of any jargon or judgments. We'll look at all aspects of your financial life, then create tailored investment strategies within your financial plan designed to help you reach your goals now, and down the road. Sound good? Start investing with us by getting matched with an advisor.

Probably not as much as you think. Whether you're a beginner or a bit more experienced, talking to a financial advisor can help. They'll be able to recommend the right options based on the amount of money you're looking to invest, risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals. See the simple ways you can jump into investing.

Contributing to a 401(k) is a smart way to save for retirement. But there are other investment accounts that can help add to your retirement savings and your other goals, too. For example, an IRA in addition to your 401(k) can help maximize opportunities to save for retirement and give you more flexibility along the way. A 529 plan can help you save (in a tax-advantaged way) for a child's education expenses. And a brokerage account can help you grow your money for a major purchase like a new home, boat, or once-in-a-lifetime trip. Ready to start investing? Talk to one of our financial advisors.

The best investment strategies for you will depend on your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. However, there are some universally acclaimed approaches like diversification, which spreads investments across various asset classes to mitigate risk. Dollar-cost averaging is another option where regular, smaller investments are made regardless of market conditions to reduce the impact of volatility. Then there's long-term investing, which capitalizes on the growth potential of assets over time. Additionally, a focus on low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs can give you broad market exposure while helping to minimize fees.

Looking for more guidance? Talk to one of our financial advisors. They'll ask deeper questions to better understand your goals and priorities, and how you think about money. Their expertise will help uncover your blind spots and opportunities that might otherwise get overlooked.

The best options for you will depend on your financial goals, risk tolerance, tax status, and amount of money you're looking to invest. From advisory and brokerage services to private wealth management, our financial advisors can help you put together a financial plan that incorporates the right investment strategies and options to help you reach your goals now, and down the road.

There are several tax-free and tax-advantaged accounts like an IRA (tax-advantaged), 529 education savings plan (tax free), and tax-free/tax-advantaged investment products, such as municipal bonds. Tax-free investment products like municipal bonds can be held in both taxable and tax-free investment accounts. Talk to an advisor about which types of investments are right for your goals.

Investments such as CDs and money-market funds¹ are designed to not lose value, but you risk losing the potential gains of growth investments like stocks², mutual funds, or ETFs. A financial advisor can help you create a diversified portfolio that minimizes your overall risk while allowing for potential gains. Learn more about common investment risks and how you can manage them.

Choosing between investing with an advisor or on your own depends on your financial knowledge, time commitment, and confidence. An advisor can give you personalized advice, help diversify your portfolio, and assist with complex strategies, making them valuable for those unfamiliar with investing or with substantial assets. A Northwestern Mutual financial advisor goes even further. They ask deeper questions to better understand your goals and priorities, and how you think about money. And their expertise will help uncover your blind spots and opportunities that others often overlook. Want to know more about the advantages of working with an advisor? Find out here.

Yes. No matter how much (or little) you're looking to invest, our financial advisors will help you navigate your choices and recommend the right investments for your goals. For those who have more significant amounts to invest and are looking for hands-on investment advice and ongoing oversight, our Advisory Services is a smart way to go. Ready to start investing? Talk to one of our financial advisors.

While investments can lose value due to investment risk, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) protects accounts at member firms (like Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC), up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash), in the event that a member firm fails. Find out more.