Chief Operating Officer - Northwestern Mutual : Job Details

About the Firm

Vertex Capital Planning, a Forbes-recognized financial planning firm, and Northwestern Mutual - Minnetonka operate together under one powerful mission: to deliver exceptional financial planning while cultivating a high-performing advisor development system. These two interconnected business verticals are fueled by a culture of excellence, vision, and execution.

As both firms scale rapidly, we are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to serve as the second-in-command to founder Brady Lindemann. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned operations leader to step into an entrepreneurial, people-first environment and bring vision to life through systems, accountability, and strong team leadership.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Operations Oversight Across Two Business Verticals

• Vertex Capital Planning (Financial Planning Practice)
  • Manage workflow operations related to the client sales cycle, onboarding, and ongoing service
  • Oversee business development systems and joint work advisor coordination
  • Provide strategic leadership working in direct collaboration with the Director of Operations
• Northwestern Mutual Minnetonka (Advisor Recruitment & Development)
  • Oversee personnel and operations of the advisor recruiting and development functions
  • Day to day management of the talent acquisition team, with accountability to recruiting activity goals and contracts.
  • Maintain performance visibility into under-five-year advisors, while not leading their development directly

Strategic People Leadership

• Lead, coach, develop, and support a growing team of 9–12 employees across both verticals
• Help structure roles, manage accountability systems, and ensure alignment with firm-wide objectives, key results, and performance goals
• Act as the internal face of the business—highly visible, highly trusted, and highly reliable

Executive Collaboration with Brady Lindemann

• Attend a weekly strategic meeting to align on priorities, discuss escalated issues, and report on key initiatives
• Act independently in alignment with Brady's vision, taking initiative to drive results and solve problems utilizing resources
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for people, systems, and operational problem-solving

Organizational Infrastructure & Systems

• Partner with a fractional HR leader on onboarding, compensation, team experience, and performance management
• Oversee operational aspects of finance and profitability tracking
• Own and refine the systems and processes that keep both business units running at scale

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience overseeing people and systems
• Proven track record of navigating both big-picture strategy and day-to-day execution
• Thrives in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
• A strong communicator who can translate vision into action—and ambiguity into clarity
• High EQ and high ownership: ability to lead with maturity, composure, and an all-in attitude
• Work in financial services, advisor development, or a multi-vertical business is preferred

Vertex Captial Planning is a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Vertex Capital Planning is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI.