DES MOINES, Iowa June 4, 2025 – Financial uncertainty is having a significant impact on the wellbeing of Des Moines residents. 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 Des Moines area residents across a broad set of issues impacting their long-term financial security. 

Feelings and emotions about money are showing up in their day-to-day lives in many ways: 

• Depression and anxiety: Nearly 8 in 10 in Des Moines (79%) say that financial uncertainty has made them feel depressed and anxious, exceeding the national average of 69%.

• Sleepless nights: Meanwhile, nearly 7 in 10 (68%) of Des Moines residents say money worries have kept them up at night, slightly more than the national average of 63%.

• Anxiety creating issues: A majority of those in Des Moines who are married or living with their partner (64%) say that financial uncertainty has impacted their relationship with their spouse or partner, higher than the national average (57%).

• Sidetracking social events and job performance: More than six in 10 (61%) in Des Moines say their financial concerns have caused them to miss out on a social event, higher than the national average of 55%. Meanwhile, more than four in 10 (45%) say their worries about money have affected their job performance, lower than the national average (49%).

• Feeling sick: More than 4 in 10 (45%) in Des Moines say that financial worries have made them feel physically ill, higher than the national average of 40%.

"Our clients all across the country are echoing what we see in our own backyard here in Des Moines. Residents of Des Moines have made it clear that financial concerns can affect everyday health and well-being," said Matt Nichols, partner and private wealth advisor of Freedom Wealth Advisors, a Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group. "Lack of confidence in financial matters can hinder healthy relationships, disrupt sleep patterns, and diminish social fulfillment. I believe the foremost responsibility of a financial advisor is to cultivate that confidence gradually through a well-considered and comprehensive financial plan." 

For more information about the study, visit https://news.northwesternmutua...;

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. 

1 Includes investments and separate account assets of Northwestern Mutual as well as retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual. 

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