Our Team

Eric Shutt began his career at Northwestern Mutual as a college intern in 1999 while attending the University of Washington. Upon graduating with a degree in Business and Finance concentration he started full-time in 2001.

Eric is passionate about understanding where his clients are, what they aim to accomplish, and help build comprehensive plans to get the most out of life. He and his team work hard to keep planning up to date with their lives and managing all the complexities that come with success.

Eric and his wife Daniela live in the Magnolia neighborhood in Seattle with their two sons, Oliver and Grayson. Personally, you’ll find the Shutts golfing, skiing, playing and rooting for local sports teams, dining at local restaurants, traveling, and doing what we can to support the local community that we love.

Darren was born in Everett Washington and spent most of his life growing up in the Mill Creek area. Darren left and attended Azusa Pacific University in Southern California to study business (and originally to play football). While there he earned his degree and also met his now wife Laurel. After graduation it was clear that Southern California wasn’t going to be home long-term so Darren and Laurel headed back to their roots.

In 2007 they moved back to the Seattle area where Darren immediately started his career at Northwestern Mutual. A career in the financial planning industry promised Darren every opportunity he had wanted; delivering on impactful plans that would change the trajectory of client’s lives while working in a competitive environment. It quickly became clear that this would be a fulfilling career that challenged him to grow and adapt, while at the same time giving him the personal flexibility to spend time with family.

When not at the office Darren prioritizes family time. He and his wife Laurel were blessed with a son Asher in 2016, and a daughter Gabriella in 2020. They love to travel as much as possible and always enjoy seeing other parts of the world. A belief the family always has upheld is that seeing the world through the eyes of another culture, helps change the lens you see your current environment. When not traveling they are involved in their church in Kirkland and love spending time with community. Additionally sports has always been a cornerstone of the Trautmann family. Whether it be basketball, golf or (watching) football there is always some sort of competition going on!

Evan was born in Monroe, Washington where he grew up alongside his twin sister. Although he didn’t live on a farm, he spent most of his time there as he raised and showed dairy cows at the local fairs. He has won numerous awards both at the county at state level and can still be found helping out at the fair year after year.

After high school, Evan attended and graduated from Western Washington University in 2014 where he received his bachelor’s degree in Finance and began working at Northwestern Mutual shortly thereafter. Throughout the years Evan has made it his goal to expand his knowledge eventually earning his CFP® designation. He is passionate about providing the best possible experience for clients as he guides them through the complicated world of finance. When not working, Evan’s usually messing around with one of his numerous hobbies including working on and detailing his car, maintaining the lawn or just simply watching tv.

Blake was born in Mount Vernon, Washington and has lived his entire life in the Pacific Northwest. He studied finance and graduated with honors from the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business in 2015. While at UW, Blake joined Northwestern Mutual’s nationally-renowned internship program as a College Financial Representative, and he immediately fell in love with the opportunity to change the lives of his clients.

He happily accepted a full-time position as a Financial Advisor upon graduation. Shortly thereafter, Blake decided to join the team as an Associate Financial Representative to help clients design their ideal lifestyle through comprehensive financial planning and wealth management. He is passionate about creating a perpetual impact by teaching clients the financial fundamentals that they in turn can relay to their children and peers. Outside of the office, you’re likely to find Blake either playing pickup basketball or entrenched in a conversation about ethics, psychology, and/or neuroscience.

Sienna joined our team in early 2016 after graduating from the University of Washington with a BA in both Law, Societies, and Justice and Sociology. She is from Northern California and after moving up to Seattle in 2012, became an enthusiast of the food and wine industries that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Outside of the office, you can find her reading a good book, driving all over for wineries or oyster farms, or walking her dog around all the great parks in Seattle with her boyfriend, Jake.

She is passionate about helping our clients in accomplishing their financial goals and protecting their futures. She provides expert guidance throughout the financial planning process and brings exceptional enthusiasm and energy to our team dynamic. She also co-chairs the office’s Diversity & Inclusion council and enjoys working on making our office a more inclusive space that reflects the community around us.

Carson was born in Mill Creek, Washington and still resides in the area with his family. He attended Western Washington University as a student athlete on the basketball team. He joined Northwestern Mutual in 2013 as a financial representative, and joined Eric Shutt’s team in 2018. Carson is passionate about providing comprehensive financial planning, while creating an impactful, lasting course in his client’s financial lives.

Outside of the office Carson spends most of his time with his wife, Meegan and their two kids Lucas and Elliott. In his spare time, he can be found perfecting his swing on the golf course.