LOCAL PROFILES
Alicia Green - Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

"I've always been inclined to become very involved in the community where I live," says Alicia Green, financial representative for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Las Vegas, NV. And that involvement currently includes teaching people how to handle their money. "When I sit down with a client, I don't feel like a sales person. I feel a moral responsibility to help them assess their current needs and life goals and manage their finances in the best way possible to achieve their dreams."

Alicia's parents were both in the Navy when she was born in Hawaii, but she spent most of her growing-up years in San Diego, CA, where she learned to speak fluent Spanish. After high school she spent some time in Mexico, but chose to return to San Diego when her son was born. There she accepted a position as marketing director for a luxury apartment complex in Mission Valley. "I loved that job," Alicia remembers, "but I just felt a need to be closer to family." Her mother and brother were in Las Vegas, a city that Alicia felt offered a lot of opportunity for her. "Las Vegas has a strong business community that keeps the economy active, even when other places aren't," she says. "So I came here, got my Real Estate license, and got my start in commercial Real Estate."

Though it was an interesting and fast-paced business, Alicia soon discovered that she liked the residential side of Real Estate better. And that's when she went to work for Century 21. "It fit my personality," she recalls. "I enjoyed getting to know my clients more and learning how I could help them find the home of their dreams."

About a year ago, a friend encouraged her to take a look at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network as a possible employer. "I wasn't dissatisfied selling Real Estate," says Alicia, "but the image of what constitutes a dream home is very subjective, and I liked the idea of still being able to work directly with clients while offering them some definite steps to take to get where they wanted to be."

Working in finance also added a piece of the professional puzzle that Alicia is putting together for herself. She attends the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is finishing up her degree in international business. "My goal is to attend at least a semester at one of the certified international business schools in Europe," she says. "I think the one in Spain would be ideal, since I'm comfortable speaking Spanish. And it would be a great opportunity for my children to engage the world as well." Her son is now 7, her daughter is 3. Her long-range plan includes a law degree. "But that may have to wait until the kids are older," she says.

Alicia is proud of the products and services she offers to her clients. "Northwestern Mutual is No. 1 in the nation," she says. "Our stockholders are our policy owners, so we're able to offer bigger dividends than any CD or money market account." And she has the backing and expertise of a host of other financial planners and customized financial software to help her build a strong portfolio for her clients.

"I love this company and can see myself here for a long time," says Alicia. "We have no standard package or formula that we assign to everyone," she adds. "And there's no charge for our initial review and analysis. Diversification is so important for financial security, and each client requires a different formula to help them feel secure while building their financial health."

When Alicia sits down with a client, she's looking for clues to help her direct them to financial security. During the course of their visit she asks questions about their preferences and gets to know the clients in order to decide what types of savings solutions and recommendations she will make. "A client's age, profession, and personality are big factors in determining what's best for them," Alicia comments. "A conservative person will have different needs than one who is more aggressive and has more risk tolerance." Other factors in the process may be long-range goals, retirement dreams, and the kind of legacy a client wants to leave behind.

An extensive knowledge of taxes and tax shelters also enables Alicia to advise her clients more thoroughly. And she encourages them to be prepared for unforeseen problems by providing risk management advice. "None of us are immune to sickness or accidents," she admits. "Some investments need to be easily accessible in case there's a need for unexpected liquidation. How much would it take to replace the income of a father suddenly disabled? What would it cost to replace the contribution that most moms make, both in and out of the home?”

Recently, Alicia has been working with the headmaster at her children's international school to develop a class for high school juniors and seniors about financial planning and financial responsibility. When she's not working or studying, Alicia enjoys cooking with her children and her friends' families. She also reads a lot of self-improvement books. "Some people don't consider that recreational reading," she laughs, "but healthy thinking improves the quality of my life." And learning about things that will help her in the workplace is always a plus. "It's important to be in a job that I'm well-versed in and passionate about," says Alicia. "Job satisfaction comes from the conviction that you're making a difference in people's lives."

Alicia can be reached at her Northwestern Mutual office at 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 600, Las Vegas, NV, 89169, or call (702) 426-3617. Her Web site is http://aliciagreen.nmfn.com.

Photography: Elisabeth Libby