Getting to Know....
Ben Cochran the Financial Advisor
Prior to his career at Northwestern Mutual, Ben spent almost 6 years in business to business sales with a material handling company. He was responsible for most of central IL's territory, covering multiple counties east to west. It was this experience that helped Ben realize how much he enjoyed building relationships with professionals, business owners specifically, and solving problems for them. You will often hear Ben use the phrase "work smarter not harder." He shares that, "pure sales was never that enjoyable for him, but he loved when he had the opportunity to evaluate a business' operation and present innovative ways to make them more efficient, cost effective, etc... to work smarter not harder!"
His personal practice with Northwestern Mutual, established in 2018, has given him the chance to spend all of his time exclusively in the "problem solving" space, the area he enjoys most and is gifted in. Ben's passion and love for helping people has lead him in developing meaningful relationships with clients from all across the U.S. whom, as he describes, "feel like family."
It's clear that Ben has found his calling. He's a man with a coach's heart, one that loves unconditionally and desires nothing more than to see his clients succeed in ways they'd never imagined possible.
He also has a great desire to see the Chicago Bulls win another NBA Championship one day... hopefully sooner than later! :)
Getting to Know....
Ben Cochran the Family Man
Ben Cochran was born and raised in Forsyth, IL; a small town just north of Decatur. Growing up, there were few activities that he enjoyed more than playing basketball. A talented point guard, Ben served a significant role in Maroa-Forsyth's first and only High School Basketball Class A State Championship in 2007, his senior year. The continued love of basketball led him to further his career, both athletically and academically, at Greenville University and Wheaton College. He would graduate from Wheaton in 2011 earning a liberal arts college degree in Business / Economics.
Three months following graduation, Ben married his high school sweetheart, Brittany. She is the absolute love of his life, always has been, and always will be. They are the best of friends who couldn't imagine navigating this adventure called "life" with anyone else.
Today, they reside in Mt Zion, IL with their two wonderful children, Isaiah and Caroline.
For Ben, his family is "his why."
Personalized Planning - You Define It, We Help You Plan For It
You can't give someone directions without learning their desired destination. As well, there are likely many different routes that can get someone to their destination......but what's the best one? Which route is smoother, safer, faster, etc?
Every single person deserves a financial plan that's personally tailored to who they are, what they care about most, and positions them on the best route towards their desired destination.
Look at where you are today
Your plan will help you make the most of what you already have, no matter where you're starting from, and give you a snapshot of your financial big picture.
Identify where you want to go
Whether it's shorter-term goals like managing your debt, or longer-term ones like saving for a new home, or retirement, your financial plan will show you how you're tracking, help you understand what's working, and point out any gaps you might have.
Put together range of options to get you there
Looking across all your goals, you'll get personalized recommendations and strategies to grow your wealth while making sure everything's protected. And I'll help you determine the right moves to make today and later on. Your financial plan is based on your priorities. As those priorities change throughout your life, we'll shift the financial strategies in your plan, too-so your plan stays flexible, and you stay on track to consistently meet goal after goal.
Reach your new level of financial confidence.
I approach financial planning differently. Not only can I help you grow your money, but also protect everything you've worked so hard for-so your finances can take you further.
I'll look at where you are now, and where you want to go, tailoring your plan from a range of financial options designed to reinforce each other to get you there. Giving you the confidence to live the way you want now, and down the road. Here's what I can help you with:
Protection strategies
Wealth accumulation
Managing tax advantages
Optimizing retirement
Leaving a legacy
Charitable planning
How Northwestern Mutual helps you live the life you want.
When people feel better about their money, good things happen—they become more confident and feel more secure. For more than 160 years, Northwestern Mutual has helped people achieve the financial flexibility they need to live more and worry less.
Being a mutual company means Northwestern Mutual reports to its clients, not Wall Street. They don't believe in chasing fads or taking undue risk for short-term gains. Instead, they take a long-term approach—both in the way we help people plan to reach their goals, and in the way they do business. This has served their clients (and mine) well through all kinds of economic ups and downs, including wars, recessions, even the recent pandemic.
It's why I'm happy to be part of a company that's in it for the long-haul and prioritizes clients over profit.
