"Buy low, sell high" has long been the adage of the stock market. But today's financial experts are re-directing individuals away from activities known for quick returns, e.g. stocks, to a more financially rewarding approach: "diversification over the long-term."

Just ask Armen Khadiwala, a field director at the Denver branch of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (NMFN), who at the young and commendable age of 28, is leading by example.

Khadiwala was fresh out of college when he began socking away the savings he would soon invest in multiple markets. A mere six years later, his "dollars and sense" approach to investing has positioned him for a sound financial future through diversification and a personal planning analysis that he updates yearly - just like he does for his clients.

The importance of financial security is an issue Khadiwala knows well; during his first year of college, he lost his middle-aged father to an incurable disease. That loss reinforced for Khadiwala the undeniable fact that one can never start working toward financial security soon enough.

"Bad things happen," says Khadiwala, "and we want to minimize the impact they have on families when they do (happen)."

"We" of course, is Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, at which Khadiwala has worked since graduating from the University of Colorado-Boulder with bachelor degrees in science and business administration. In fact, it was Khadiwala's emphasis on finance and international business studies at CU that led him to two internships -- one in 1998, the other in 1999 -- at NMFN. Those internships confirmed for Khadiwala three things: (1) that he wanted to work with people; (2) through a career in finance; (3) at NMFN.

"I take great pride in what we do … we are doing something that is extremely important for people," says Khadiwala. "We keep them in the groove and really coach them by whatever their definition of financial success is."

Khadiwala is far from alone in his high opinion of NMFN, its subsidiaries and affiliates. According to a 2005 Fortune magazine survey, NMFN has been named "America's most admired" company in its category for 22 years and as the "most admired" company in its category in the world. The 148-year-old NMFN is also the recipient of the highest available ratings for financial strength from the four major rating agencies of Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service, FitchRatings and A. M. Best. That's not surprising for a company that boasts $124 billion in assets, $17.3 billion in revenues and ranks 124th on the 2005 Fortune 500 list.

These are facts that Khadiwala, who specializes in personal and business planning, asset and income protection and retirement solutions, is eager to share. But they offer only a partial explanation as to why he is both eager and proud to work for NMFN. "Northwestern employees are 'independent contractors,' so we are all entrepreneurs who are basically buying a free franchise," he enthuses.

And it is Khadiwala's dual experience as a successful financial representative and entrepreneur that enables him to prevent fellow entrepreneurs from making a common, financially debilitating mistake: That of not diversifying beyond their own businesses.

"Entrepreneurs whole-heartedly believe in their business, which is a great thing," explains Khadiwala, "but the problem we see a lot when we try to help them get out of their business is that it is their sole asset for retirement, so they are really caught trying to sell to the right person at the right time, and that is a difficult thing to do. We really try to encourage entrepreneurs to diversify by saying, 'this is a great business, but let's take some of your winnings off the table and start spreading your wealth.'"

College graduates comprise another of Khadiwala's favorite target audiences because they are of the age at which they should start saving. His message to this group is both simple and succinct: Get into the habit of saving money before you start spending money.

Khadiwala is quick to acknowledge this is easier said than done, given an American culture that encourages consumption. "But we are creatures of habit,' he says, "so if you start saving early, you will get used to it and continue doing so throughout your life."

And youth, adds Khadiwala, yields another great monetary advantage: that of time value. "It doesn't matter so much as to what the market is doing," says Khadiwala. "If we have longevity, we can make it happen."

Regardless of age, the most common financial-planning mistake people make is that of not taking a comprehensive approach. Khadiwala says people tend to take a segmented approach to investing by focusing on just one thing at one time, when in fact they need to be thinking about the multiple facets that comprise a successful financial plan.

"Right now a lot of people want to get into real estate but they also need to have savings, insurance and cash in the bank," says Khadiwala, "I again stress the importance of being diversified. Look at what happened to the dot-coms."

Khadiwala is quick to add that Denver-area residents in general are young and extremely well educated, which often translates into an understanding of the financial fundamentals they need to pursue. "Denver is a fun place to work … it's a young city with a lot of income potential," he says. "And that forces us to constantly pursue education … to make certain we at Northwestern are in tune with what is going on and that our credentials are up-to-date."

Unsurprisingly, Khadiwala's clients are his Number One priority. "I really believe in customer service … it is fundamentally the thing to do," he says.

However, Khadiwala's work at NMFN is not limited to financial planning; he wears another hat -- that of a mentor/sales coach. It is a role he relishes because it enables him to share both personal and client success stories with new and potential NMFN financial representatives.

"Northwestern Mutual is a terrific company … I am constantly looking for individuals who want to be a part of this great organization," Khadiwala says. "We have a terrific network of specialists, not only locally but nationally, who are experts in every area, from the corporate side down to the smallest individual side."

Both of Khadiwala's duties demand about 50 percent of his time and he enjoys them equally well. But the fact that he can spend only half his time as a financial representative dictates that he deal solely with serious investors who embrace NMFN's approach to financial success through the creation of comprehensive, risk-tolerant, quality-investment portfolios.

Khadiwala hopes to one day operate his own NMFN office, which is a goal he will accomplish, given his track-record. "I really believe in professionalism … in customer service," Khadiwala says. "I pride myself on my personal relationships, and I have a strong belief in what Northwestern Mutual does for its clients."