90 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue and is in the top 30 by assets held.

Shortly after, the company experienced its first two death claims, when an excursion train traveling from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Chicago, Illinois derailed, killing 14 people, two of whom were policy owners.

This practice has continued to the present day; members of the Policy owners’ Examining Committee have unrestricted access to evaluate Northwestern Mutual's operations, management and strategic plans independently.

[16] At 729 feet (222 m) and 13,632 gross tons, the vessel was the largest ship, on the Great Lakes for thirteen years, until 1971.

The sinking led to changes in Great Lakes and national shipping regulations and practices that included mandatory survival suits, depth finders, positioning systems, increased freeboard, and more frequent inspection of vessels.

In 2000, to reflect this broadening of its product offerings, the company changed its name again, shortening it to simply Northwestern Mutual.

[27] In 2018, Northwestern Mutual reduced underwriting time and introduced an online digital platform for clients.

Another employee was permitted by the company to resign while being investigated internally for sending unauthorized client emails.

[40] In June 2020, Northwestern Mutual also reported a $1.6 million pledge to All-In Milwaukee to finance the latest Talent of the Future initiative over the next four years, through its Foundation and in collaboration with the Diversity and Inclusion department.

[41] Northwestern Mutual regularly publishes research examining U.S. adults’ attitudes and behaviors toward money, financial decision-making and caregiving.