Becoming a financial professional
Start a career you love
Apply for our Advisor Development Program and Internship
Why become a financial professional?
As a financial professional, you can build a business that makes a difference in this generation and the next.
Help people and businesses become financially secure.
Over time, you can earn autonomy and set your own schedule.
Financial services are always changing, and you can be a part of a dynamic, evolving industry.
Even though you will be your own boss, you will never lose the support of colleagues and senior financial professionals.
As a financial professional, you will have unlimited earning potential throughout your career.

“I love my career because of the independence of being your own boss and making your own schedule. Additionally, I love the opportunity to earn a great income, while making a positive impact in so many lives, very rewarding!”
—Jack Ryan, financial advisor
Who is a good fit to become a financial professional?
You don’t need to be a math whiz or have a degree in finance to succeed as a financial professional.
This business is about helping others, and if you are motivated to build relationships and coach others on their path to financial security, you may be a perfect fit as a financial professional.
We are looking for people who are:
- Entrepreneurial / self-starter
- Passionate about helping others
- Competitive and driven
- Well-connected in their communities
- Hard workers
- Coachable
- A team player
- Financially stable
Why choose North Star
rolling retention rate for financial professionals, years one through four in the business.
Our training program
Our comprehensive training program prepares you for running a financial services practice. In four years, you will learn the skills and confidence needed to excel in the financial profession. Throughout the training, you will have access to a senior financial professional and trainer, who are your coaches as you begin your career at North Star.
Internship
As an intern, you will get to see and experience how a financial practice is run so you can identify if this profession is right for you. This is a temporary position, with the opportunity to move into full-time engagement at North Star.
The internship is not required for employment at North Star.
101 Training
YEAR 1
Your first phase of training as a full-time advisor will last about six months. You will be trained in essential skills for growing and running your practice, while learning about products and services offered, including comprehensive financial planning.
201 Training
YEAR 2
Your next phase of training continues with you gaining the knowledge and skills to connect with clients in a more meaningful way by learning the psychology behind building trust.
301 Training
YEAR 3 AND 4
During this phase, you will deep dive into the complex facts of financial solutions. As you run your practice, you will participate in scheduled learning sessions to build your long-term success in financial services.
Ready to get started?
Our thoughtful selection process details the steps we take to educate you on what can be expected and what it takes to succeed as a North Star financial advisor.
Step 1
- Introductory interview / career overview
- Selection / career assessments
Step 2
- Interview with firm leaders and advisors
- Review of North Star values
- Get to know your senior advisor
- Understand financing / compensation
Step 3
- Background information booklet
- Criminal background report and credit check
- Contract and practice expectations
- Daily, weekly and monthly expectations
- Training calendar
- Insurance licensing and securities registration plan
Step 4
- Marketing and business plan strategies
- Market Surveys
- Your commitment to the career
- The business owner mindset
Connect with our team

Jake Deutschlander
National Recruiter

Jake Deutschlander
National RecruiterJake started working in the Recruiting Department at North Star in 2019 where he has been finding and hiring high-quality talent in the industry.
Working out of North Star’s offices in Minneapolis and Austin, Jake recruits career changers and recent college graduates for a career in financial planning.
Jake was a college athlete as a D1 wrestler at Arizona State University and graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Finance.
Currently, Jake is working to recruit talent for roles in North Carolina, Virginia, California, Missouri, and Minnesota.

Mitch Zimmer
National Director of Recruiting and Professional Development

Mitch Zimmer
National Director of Recruiting and Professional DevelopmentMitch leads our recruiting department in finding and developing the high quality talent in the industry. He believes that by equipping capable and confident financial advisors, North Star is serving our communities with reliable financial advice which is led by ethics and responsibility to the client.
For over a century, North Star has focused on its training program to ensure new advisors have the knowledge and ethical framework needed to succeed.
Mitch and his team make this possible through their thorough recruiting and selection process, mentorship programs, informational training, and emphasis on interdepartmental support of aspiring financial advisors.
Working out of North Star’s headquarters in Minneapolis, Mitch recruits experienced financial advisors, career changers, and recent college graduates nationwide for a career in financial services. In 2020, Mitch was identified as Securian Financials’ Diamond Recruiter of the year, an award given to those making a growth impact within their firm.
Mitch is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Morris, where he was a student-athlete and graduated with a degree in Business Management. He is proud to call himself a husband and aspiring father.
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