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Owner proud to continue agency's legacy
McCOOK, Neb. – Shelby Anderson is proud of the 84-year history Northwestern Mutual has in McCook. It started with Ken McGooden in 1938, who was joined by Mitch Lyster in 1982. Anderson joined the business in 2017 and has taken the reins. Anderson is very excited about the future of Northwestern Mutual. “I have had the opportunity to partner with Mitch Lyster over the last six years and couldn’t be more thankful. I look forward to continuing our service to the community and our clients at the highest level.”
While the key-member transitions have been limited through the years, technology and regulatory changes have been numerous. Life insurance used to be the primary product offered by Northwestern Mutual, but now much of the business is centered around overall financial planning, strategic distribution strategies, retirement planning and investments. Life insurance is still part of that mix where appropriate, but helping clients achieve financial goals through a mix of strategies is the fundamental objective.
Planning is important, according to Anderson. “Because of the planning we have done, our clients have been empowered to take advantage of market situations like the one we are in right now. A client that hasn’t had the overall planning may not be in the same situation to take advantage of a market downturn,” Anderson said. “Anytime there’s volatility in the market, it actually gives our clients opportunity because they have a plan.”
Another key element of most financial plans is developing a strategy for the transitioning of a business or assets from one generation to the next. “We work with a lot of clients on developing a succession plan and setting that transition up so it can happen smoothly without breaking the family apart,” Anderson said.
Short- and long-term goals can differ depending on the client’s age, career, family status, or even location. “We have clients from all over the United States,” Anderson said, “And we are able to utilize our technology to meet with our clients from anywhere.”
Anderson said the planning technology used by Northwestern Mutual is considered “best in the breed,” in part because it allows for various scenarios based on each client’s life and priorities. Each plan includes options, so clients have a full understanding of possibilities.
Serving clients is a top priority for Northwestern Mutual, and as the firm grows, providing that professional service requires adding staff. Kayla (Newcomb) Smalley has joined the Northwestern Mutual team in McCook. She started the process of getting licensed at the end of 2021 and began working full-time as an associate financial adviser with the firm on April 1. A Stratton, Neb., native, Smalley started out as a client of Northwestern Mutual.
She referred her mother to the firm because she needed assistance in planning for retirement. After developing a plan, Smalley’s mother was able to retire, but unfortunately, her retirement was short-lived. Smalley’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away shortly after her retirement.
That experience inspired Smalley to look at her own career and she decided to make a change from her long career as a dental hygienist. She wanted to continue to help people but just wanted to do so in a different capacity than she did in the medical world.
Smalley told the Gazette that her husband, Scott, teases her that she has picked two careers that people don’t like. “They don’t want to come to the dentist, and they don’t want to talk about their money,” Smalley said. Smalley enjoys listening to the dreams and concerns of her clients of all ages and helping them develop plans that will allow them to achieve their goals.
In looking to the future, Anderson has also partnered with Steve Johnson of Cambridge, Neb., who has been a Northwestern Mutual representative since 1985. The partnership will allow Anderson and Johnson to better provide planning services to both representatives’ clientele. McKenna Ballou is the Office Administrator at the Cambridge office.
Anderson anticipates that as the client base continues to grow, he will be adding additional team members to meet the needs of his clients in years to come. “Each financial plan is unique, and each plan requires that we give it the specific attention needed to be sure it is accurate and up to date,” Anderson said. “We always want to be sure we are adhering to our client-first approach to financial planning.”
Kayla Smalley and her husband, Scott, have 2 children, daughter Hailey, 13 and son Hayden, 10. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and reading. She is also a member of McCook Christian Church and is a TeamMates mentor.
Shelby Anderson and his wife, Katie, have three daughters, Leighton, 13; Tenlee, 11; and Collins, 7. He enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time with his family. He is a member of the Methodist Church.
Shannon Sughroue handles the day-to-day operations of the business. She has been with Northwestern Mutual since 2018. Shannon enjoys time with family, supporting local sports teams and gardening. She is also a TeamMates mentor.
Sughroue’s family includes husband, Harry Sughroue, stepson Seth, 36, son Craig, 31, son Derek, 31, stepdaughter Naomi, 31, stepdaughter Jessa, 29, son Spencer, 28, stepdaughter Molly, 27, daughter Lindsay, 26. And six grandchildren.