Northwestern Mutual
San Jose
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Leadership
Putting people first.
All of our leadership are dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees, and community.
Get to know our leadership team
Leadership at the San Jose office is dedicated to doing good for our clients, employees and community.
Kate Michaels
CLF®, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®
Managing Partner
Kate’s focus is to lead and inspire change while empowering people to achieve their true potential. She does this by attracting skilled and diverse individuals to the firm and providing the training and support that they need to best serve their clients and communities. As a managing partner at Northwestern Mutual, Kate has coached dozens of advisors to achieve significant career milestones such as membership in the Million Dollar Round Table and regional leadership roles. Over the years, Kate and financial advisors in her unit have helped thousands of families and business execute financial plans. In addition to her role at Northwestern Mutual, Kate has served on the board of directors for You Can’t Fail, Inc.. She also has led a chapter of the St. John Fisher Alumni Association and was the past chair for the Women’s Fund of Central New York. Northwestern Mutual also recognized Kate with the coveted Community Service Award for her work with Dress for Success.
Alexis Martinez-Whitman
Executive Assistant
Alexis joined our team in May 2024 as the Executive Assistant to Managing Partner, Kate Michaels. Alexis astounds us with her exceptional ability to streamline workflow processes, elevate productivity, and ensure the flawless execution of tasks. She is not just a proactive communicator, but also a problem solver, serving as an invaluable bridge between the executive, advisors, and team members. Her reliability and resourcefulness make her an integral member of our Executive Leadership Team. Alexis was born and raised in San Jose, CA and she holds a bachelor's degree from San Jose State University. When she's not busy at work, Alexis treasures moments with her family, enjoys playing tennis, and wine tasting!
Douglas Miller
CFP®, CLU®, CLTC®, RICP®
District Director
A local Californian, Doug grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains and later moved to New York while attending Columbia University, where he played football for four years. After completing his degree, Doug spent the next four years working with Northwestern Mutual in New York. After moving home to California, he then joined the San Jose agency, of which he is a proud leader today. Doug is married to his wife Tamara. Together, they have three young children. In his free time, Doug enjoys spending time with his extended family, golfing, travel, and wine making.
Young An
ChFC®
District Director
Nicknamed “Peter,” Young Woo is one of our emerging leaders. As a Financial Advisor and District Director in the San Jose Network office, Peter provides expert advice to his personal clientele in addition to mentoring new advisors helping them reach their financial potential. Peter joined the financial services industry in 2020. Prior to that, he attended Menlo College in the Bay Area and graduated with a BA in Marketing. He also wrestled at the collegiate level where he learned how to work hard and overcome adversity. Peter enjoys spending time with his Fiancé Marisol and puppy Leo, traveling, eating good food, and playing basketball with friends.
Tina Hoag
District Director
Tina started her career in Upstate New York in 2018 and since then has built a thriving, client-centered practice advising individuals and families across 41 states. Known for her strategic guidance and personalized approach, Tina is passionate about helping clients achieve financial security and long-term success. In her leadership role, she mentors and develops new advisors, oversees the internship program, and contributes to the growth of her district and broader Northwestern Mutual community.
Mike Bacciarelli
Growth and Development Director
Michal holds an associate degree from Mission Valley College. Michal specializes in helping young families and tech professionals achieve financial peace of mind. In addition, he has helped in training, development, and mentorship of the newest advisors at the firm. Michal is married to his wife Gina, who works in administration. Together they share three wonderful children.
Natalie Le
Growth and Development Director
In her dual role as Financial Advisor and GDD, Natalie is leading the change in financial services through her mentorship as more diverse individuals begin to serve as leaders. She played a pivotal role in establishing the local LGBTQ+ and Ally Council at the firm. This pioneering council advances cultural awareness, education, and support for diverse employees. Natalie was born and raised in San Jose, CA and earned her bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual San Jose, she worked in for various accounting firms in New York and the Bay Area. She is a member of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley, and Northwestern Mutual's Pride Field Advisory Group. She currently resides in San Jose still with her partner, Justyne, their cat (Arlo) and dog (Milo). Outside of running her practice, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, camping, and travel.
Matt Peterson
Field Director
Matt focuses on holistic financial planning and enjoys getting to know each client and their specific goals. This allows him to build a strong financial plan based off who they are and what they want to accomplish. Whether it is investments, insurance, or all around retirement planning, Matt would love to build a financial plan for you and be there every step of the way as we move into the future.
Michael Lee
MBA
Director of Supervision
Mike was born in S. Korea but grew up in Palau and Guam before moving to the U.S. He attended the University of San Francisco for both his Bachelors and Master’s degrees. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Mike worked as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. He was attracted to our firm because of our strong reputation in the financial services industry. As our Compliance Officer, Mike works closely with advisors to ensure they are running a compliant practice by conducting file reviews, monitoring communications with clients and prospects, and discussing rules and regulations. Mike has four sisters and is the middle child. In his spare time, he enjoys camping with his family, watching football games with his son, and spending time at the gym.
Alex Manning
Financial Planning Analyst
Alex is a data-focused individual who is dedicated to using analytics as a tool to drive growth and strategic decisions. He joined Network Office 135 in September 2024 as a Financial Analyst. With a background in finance, Alex has previously worked for a private equity real estate firm as an asset management associate. Alex utilizes his skills to help build financial models for strategic investments and advise our leadership team with data. He is an integral part of the leadership team and strives to help our team members accomplish their goals. Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from LMU. Outside of work, he can frequently be found with his family, watching the Ravens, or playing golf.
Lauryn Ige
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Lauryn is a dedicated talent acquisition professional with a passion for building relationships, driving recruitment strategies, and fostering organizational growth. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University, where she studied communication, psychology, and creative writing. Lauryn first joined Northwestern Mutual as the firm’s first recruiting intern and later transitioned into a full-time talent acquisition specialist, committed to cultivating top talent and enhancing the candidate experience. Outside of work, she enjoys writing, exercising, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with loved ones. One of her proudest achievements is writing a 50,000-word novel in just one summer.
Sarah Tallon
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Sarah is passionate about empowering individuals to reach their full potential. With six years of experience in sales and customer service, along with two years in HR, Sarah excels in optimizing recruitment strategies and fostering a supportive team environment. Originally from the East Bay and now based in San Jose, she holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and a Master’s in HR. Outside of work Sarah enjoys spending time with loved ones, staying active, and exploring the outdoors.
Diana-Leticia Truman
B.S., MSM
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Diana is a dedicated Talent Acquisition Specialist at Northwestern Mutual San Jose. With a master’s in management and a bachelor’s in arts from the University of Florida, Diana has been professionally recruiting since 2020, focusing primarily on the dynamic startup space. In her current role, Diana is passionate about identifying and recruiting career changers and fostering a robust culture and leadership team. Diana's commitment to community engagement is evident through her active involvement with local chambers of commerce, various philanthropic committees, and DEI councils. Diana is particularly passionate about expanding the presence of financial advisors in the San Jose and Bay Area by connecting with entrepreneurial professionals. Outside of work, Diana enjoys music, singing, and spending time with her beloved wiener dog, Winnie. She loves cheering others on and is always looking to inspire and support those around her.