The Zuzolo Financial Group |
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Contact Us29 S Main St Ste 201 Office: 860-570-7400 Take the first stepAre you ready for financial independence? Are you ready to be your own boss? Are you ready to make a positive impact on people's lives? Take The First Step
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Management TeamThe success of our group can be directly attributed to the high quality of leadership and the strength of our management team. Our goal is to ensure the continued success of our financial representatives by providing the proper guidance and support to help them experience both personal and professional growth. Eric AmenabarTechnology Coordinator Technology Coordinator As the Technology Coordinator, Eric is responsible for various technology related support provided to the Network Office.
Daily support includes troubleshooting phones, personal computers, and other equipment, establishing and resetting passwords, machine recovery, and the re-imaging of computer hardware. He is in charge of the setup and maintenance of all Network Office owned personal computers. Eric can answer all levels of technology questions through access to the Network Office and District Network Office customer information system.
Eric is the change manager for any new deployment of technology initiatives rolled out by the Home Office. Additionally, he trains Network Office personnel on how to use technology equipment such as the phones, personal computers, projectors, scanners, and copiers as well has how to back up their computers for recovery of information. He is an educator for SAFE, Security Awareness for Everyone.
Back-up responsibilities are to the New Business Expeditor and to the escrow account.
John BakerDirector of Network Office Supervision DNOS-Director of Network Office Supervision As the Director of Network Office Supervision, John’s role ensures compliance by Financial Representatives and their assistants, network office management, and support staff ("supervised persons") with all applicable laws, regulations, and Company rules related to the sale and servicing of insurance and securities products. The primary responsibility of the Director of Network Office Supervision is to review sales practices through daily supervision as well as annual compliance reviews. John oversees all business practices associated with the life and securities side of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network for the Network Office. In addition, he educates office staff and financial representatives on ethical and compliant business practices. John conducts client file reviews and assembles the Network Office Annual Compliance Meeting. Any questions in regards to the regulations of insurance and securities products may be directed to John. Gabriella BenedictExecutive Assistant Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner and Contract & Licensing Coordinator – Gabriella's responsibilities include providing administrative support and assistance to the Managing Partner as needed, publication of the weekly newsletter, and she serves as the network office Contract & Licensing Coordinator. Gabriella joined the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in July of 1995.
Cathy CentracchioDirector of Operations Director of Operations As the Director of Operations, Cathy is primarily responsible for overseeing the West Hartford Network Office to ensure that it is reaching the highest levels of productivity and profitability.
Cathy oversees the office staff with respect to hiring of new staff, delegating staff responsibilities, inner office productivity, the promotion of individual staff growth, and serving as the team leader.
In addition to overseeing the Network Office and staff, Cathy is also the primary coach for new financial representatives who have 2 years and under in the business. It is her responsibility to assist in their development, training, and support in order to promote a successful career in the business from the very start. She is the head of key programs such as RACE-record activity compare expectations, LEAD-leadership education achievement, and weekly and monthly Client Builders.
Lastly, over the past 2 years, the West Hartford office has undergone a tremendous renovation and expansion. Working alongside Managing Partner, Jeff Zuzolo, Cathy was instrumental in the construction process of the new office. Julia HalleranOperations Assistant Operations Assistant As an Operations Assistant, Julia works with Northwestern Mutual Investment Services and in conjunction with Kathleen Stanley, the Associate Director of Network Office Supervision.
On a daily basis, she is responsible for assisting with opening new accounts, money movement, check deposits, executing distributions, account transfers, and rollovers. She is also responsible for sorting incoming mail and distributing it to the Network Office, as well as assisting with the maintenance of office books and records.
A primary component of the role of Operations Assistant is to ensure that all paperwork is in good order with respect to dates, signatures, and client information. If a form is improperly filled out, Julia may contact the financial representative for further information.
 Bruce KraczkowskyDirector of Recruitment and Selection Director of Recruitment and Selection Bruce started his career with Northwestern Mutual in 1988 as a financial representative. In that role, he learned the “basics” of the business: prospecting, phoning, approach and fact finding. As a result of his personal success and passion to help others, Bruce joined the Management Team as the Recruiter. Bruce’s approach to recruiting parallels his passion to help clients. His philosophy is to find out and understand the needs, then suggest a means to solve the problem. Bruce’s approach in bringing people into the industry is to educate them of what it takes to be successful, cautioning them to pitfalls and imbalance of a more customary "job", and gauging their response. Bruce is past president of NAIFA of Hartford and immediate past president of NAIFA CT. Mystica PattenAdministrative Assistant Administrative Assistant for New Representative Support Mystica's primary responsibility is to support new financial representatives who have 2 years and under with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. New Financial Representative support assists financial representatives by providing administrative support as they begin their careers in addition to valuable ongoing support. The goal of this position is to ensure that newly appointed representatives begin and maintain an efficient, organized practice that allows them to focus their energy on building client relationships. Mystica assists new financial representatives with discovery letters, policy wallets, proper organization of client files, case notes, and marketing materials such as business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and direct mail campaigns. Her monthly reporting of tracking numbers to the Director of Operations ensures that financial representatives are being held to a standard that promotes their success. As the Assistant for New Representative Support, Mystica is a liaison between home office, financial representatives, and clients. Lisa PetronioNew Business Coordinator New Business Expeditor As the New Business Expeditor, Lisa’s primary responsibility is to input all new business submitted to the Network Office.
After a financial representative receives a signed application, it is then submitted to Lisa who transfers the information from the physical application to the computer application input system. She is the primary point of contact for financial representatives should any corrections or additional information be required before the application is sent to the Home Office for processing.
New business applications include annuities, term conversions, term express, term upgrades, policy changes, policy reporting, permanent and term life insurance, and disability insurance.
Lisa also oversees all escrow transactions. She is responsible for the recording, monitoring, and balancing of any and all transactions that go through the escrow account.
Tina PonderAdministrative Assistant Receptionist/Administrative Assistant As the Receptionist for the Network Office, Tina is the voice and face of the West Hartford, Network Office. She answers all inbound calls and directs them to the proper party. She is also responsible for greeting clients and visitors and notifying financial representatives of their arrival. All reservations for the conference rooms are done through electronic booking. Financial representatives should contact Tina if they would like to schedule a meeting in any one of the West Hartford conference rooms.
In addition, Tina is responsible for the distribution of the daily office reports, all incoming policies which are recorded for accuracy, and Home Office mail. District mail arrives in the Network Office, is weighed, and then distributed to the proper destination by Tina.
Her role as the Network Office Receptionist is also split between her role as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Operations, Cathy Centracchio. This role is comprised of assistance with Network Office event planning, which requires ordering food, decorating, and any other fine details required for such events. She also orders any needed office supplies and maintains and stocks the Network Office office café. Kathleen QuitnoFinancial Assistant Financial Assistant Kate's primary responsibility is to run all Personal Needs Analyses for newly appointed financial representatives who have 2 years and under in the West Hartford Network Office. The Personal Needs Analysis program is designed to assess a client’s current financial and insurance picture. Various modules within the program such as survivor, disability, retirement, long term care, and education help financial representatives and clients understand the potential costs and risks associated with each life event. Kate is also knowledgeable and can prepare Personal Planning Analyses. This program combines additional modules such as Asset Allocation and Estate Planning to the Personal Needs Analysis. While Kate’s primary responsibility is to assist the newly appointed financial representatives within the West Hartford office, she is also the point of contact for any questions for the registered branch offices in regards to these programs. Kate can assist with any questions, concerns, or if any additional training is needed.
Additional responsibilities include marketing projects such as financial representative and office websites. Kate is the back up to the Technology Coach as well as the Associate Director of New Representative Support. Marji Rose
Assistant to CFO/Benefit Administration- Marji's responsibilities include bookkeeping duties such as payroll, commissions, accounts payable, balancing the agency's operating accounts, and 401k contribution processing. Marji is also responsible for various Human Resource tasks such as providing new employee benefits kits, processing enrollments and waivers, assisting with any benefit questions, as well as other various human resource and staffing duties. Marji has been with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network for 23 years.
Kelly RussoCampus Recruiter Campus Recruiter As the Campus Recruiter, Kelly is responsible for sourcing, identifying, and evaluating undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in test driving the career of a Financial Representative.
Kelly does much of her work on various campus sites where she conducts information sessions as well as college career fairs. All interviews in the college selection process, which include both over the phone and in person meetings, are done through Kelly.
After identifying interested individuals, Kelly guides them through the process of becoming a Financial Representative. She plans the intern calendar for the year, corresponds with parents, runs both “Parent Night” and “Basics Day” and preps the interns for sales school. She creates an intern expectations book, tracks their productivity, and creates teams for joint success. In addition, she helps students study for the Connecticut state insurance exam by hiring a tutor and setting up license 2 go.
Any college representatives interested in the college intern program may contact Kelly for questions. Timothy SheridanTechnology Coach Technology Coach The Technology Coach is a full-time on-site resource responsible for the implementation, training, and rollout coordination of technology to financial representatives and staff in the Network, district, and detached offices.
Tim’s primary responsibility is to assist financial representatives and their assistants in effectively integrating technology into their daily business processes. The primary piece of software that Tim trains financial representatives how to use is The Network Connection; a technology platform for the management of tasks and activities related to the sales cycle and recruiting.
The Network Connection organizes and maintains client information, sets goals, and tracks performance. It also has a detailed reporting function, which allows management and financial representatives to have access to client and measurement information. The Network Connection is advantageous in helping to develop more sales opportunities, enhancing client relationships, as well as managing and tracking goals and activity.
As a previously trained financial representative, Tim strives to mirror his training process to that of a financial representative's sales cycle. He uses a technique of pre-approach, approach, fact finding, needs analysis, delivery, and follow-up.
In addition to being the Technology Coach, Tim is the back up for the Technology Coordinator and on occasion is called upon to help with New Business processing. He also works in tandem with the Director of Operations in designing the curriculum of training for incoming financial representatives.
Lane SimmonsNew Business Coordinator New Business Expeditor Lane’s primary responsibility is to input all new business submitted to the Network Office.
New Business includes but is not limited to annuities, term conversions, term express, term upgrades, policy changes, policy reporting, permanent and term life insurance, and disability insurance. Lane can assist with any corrections or additional information that may be required before the application is sent to the Home Office for processing.
In addition to the responsibilities of New Business Expeditor, Lane also supports the Technology Coordinator when he is out of the office. Should any problems arise, Lane can assist with password resets, troubleshooting, and the set up of identifications for new hires.
Lastly, Lane supports Northwestern Mutual Investment Services Operations when necessary. His support extends to trades, money movement, distributions, and the opening of accounts.
 Bonnie St Pierre
Chief Financial Officer-Responsible for the Network Office financial plan and oversight of commission receipts and payments. Responsibilities also include other general agency accounting functions. Bonnie has been with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network for over 20 years. During that time, she has experienced firsthand the strength of the company through its steady growth not only in the network office but the company as a whole. Kathleen Stanley
ADNOS-Associate Director of Network Office Supervision Kathleen works alongside the Director of Network Office Supervision, John Baker, in supervising activities of the Network Office and Registered Branch Offices. These activities encompass laws, regulations, and company rules related to insurance and securities sales practices. The Associate Director of Network Office Supervision is a dual role comprised of supervisory activities as well as education. Kathleen oversees and can assist in answering questions related to trades, the opening of new accounts, asset transfers, the servicing of accounts, and money movement.
In addition, she is responsible for training newly hired staff on all areas of Northwestern Mutual Investment Operations as well as educating financial representatives as to the rules and regulations associated with compliance standards.
Kathleen conducts annual audits, is the point of contact for all books and records, and is responsible for the quarterly newsletter entitled “NMIS News and You.”
Sharon Stepina
Client Relations Center Director As the Client Relations Center Director, Sharon runs the Network Office Client Relations Center (CRC). The Client Relations Center manages, reconnects, and transitions the Network Office's unassigned clients to financial representatives in order to re-establish relationships.
Sharon is the primary contact for financial representatives and clients where no existing relationship currently stands. Clients who do not currently have a financial representative may contact Sharon for inquiries regarding policy loans, billing, change of beneficiary and address, policy dividends, policy reinstatements, and policy re-considerations.
Financial representatives may contact Sharon for In-Force Ledgers, updating client information, and for assistance with running illustrations.
Sharon benefits the Network Office, financial representatives, and unassigned clients. Her goals are to increase sales through cross selling, improve persistency, achieve development targets, and retain financial representatives.
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