Financial uncertainty is having a significant impact on the wellbeing of Milwaukeeans. From sleep quality and mental health to personal relationships and job performance, money is weighing heavily on their minds and their bodies.

These are some of the latest findings from Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study, the company’s proprietary research series that explores the attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives of Milwaukee-area residents across a broad set of issues impacting their long-term financial security.

“Individuals in our community have made it clear that financial uncertainty is affecting their everyday responsibilities and lives,” said Matthew Grube, Managing Director of Northwestern Mutual – Mequon District Office. “Financial insecurity can weigh you down, leaving you disconnected from the parts of your life that matter the most.”

Finances outrank physical health and mental health as greatest weakness

As part of the study, Milwaukeeans were asked to describe how “strong” or “weak” they feel about various aspects of their personal lives. More than half (53%) in Milwaukee label their finances as “weak” – a sum that significantly outpaced shaky feelings about their mental health (32%), physical health (28%), friendships (28%), their relationships with family (26%) or job stability (22%).

“The survey revealed that over half of all Milwaukeeans lack confidence in their financial situation – an issue that our community and financial industry need to address,” said Grube. “Working with a trusted financial professional can significantly boost financial confidence levels, offering a clear plan and actionable steps that can help individuals feel more secure and prepared for the future.”

For more information about the study, visit https://news.northwesternmutual.com/planning-and-progress-study-2025. 

About the 2025 Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study 

The 2025 Planning & Progress Study was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Northwestern Mutual among 4,626 U.S. adults aged 18 or older. The survey was conducted online between January 2 and January 19, 2025. Data are weighted where necessary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, household income, and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. A complete survey methodology is available.

About Northwestern Mutual 

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With nearly $700 billion of total assetsⁱ being managed across the company’s institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, more than $38 billion in revenues, and $2.4 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 110 on the 2024 FORTUNE 500 and was recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2025.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

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