Northwestern Mutual: Ranks first in customer satisfaction

Survey reveals client perspective on service, quality, value and loyalty

To view this news release online, please visit http://www.northwesternmutualnews.com.

MILWAUKEE, WI (February 18, 2010) – Northwestern Mutual leads the industry with the highest customer satisfaction score among U.S. life insurers, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s (ACSI) fourth quarter 2009 report. Northwestern Mutual led all competitors with a score of 81 – the company’s best score on record in the history of the survey – up from 78 the previous year.

“Now more than ever, people want to work with companies they can trust, so we’re very proud to be recognized as the industry leader by our clients,” said Greg Oberland, executive vice president – insurance and investment products. “We’ve earned this trust by maintaining exceptional financial strength while consistently providing long-term value to our clients. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to always do what’s best for our more than three million clients.”

The ACSI study tracks the attitudes of more than 65,000 customers of products from more than 200 companies on service, quality, value, expectations and loyalty. Northwestern Mutual’s score was determined by surveying a sample of the company’s clients.

One of the key factors highlighted by Northwestern Mutual clients was the company’s financial strength. Although ratings are subject to change, Northwestern Mutual is the only company in its industry to maintain the best-possible insurance financial strength ratings with a stable outlook from the nation’s four major rating agencies: Fitch, Standard & Poor’s, A.M. Best and Moody’s.

Produced by the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, the American Society for Quality and CFI Group, the ACSI is a national economic indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of products and services available to household consumers in the United States.

Company scores and other information about the ACSI can be found on the ACSI Website: http://www.theacsi.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=31.

About Northwestern Mutual

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company – Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 150 years. As a mutual company with $1.2 trillion of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual seeks to share its gains with policyowners and deliver consistent and dependable value to clients over time.

Northwestern Mutual is an industry leader in total individual life insurance and disability insurance dividends paid to participating policyowners. Though dividends are not guaranteed, are reviewed annually and are subject to change, the company has paid life insurance dividend every year since 1872.

Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

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CONTACT

Jean Towell

800-323-7033

mediarelations@northwesternmutual.com

http://www.northwesternmutualnews.com

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