Strategic Financial Group's new space is in the 515 S. Flower St. portion of City National Plaza, one of two 51-story office towers at the 2.7-million-sf complex. Kerrigan says that Strategic Financial sought the new space to help accommodate long-term growth for the 40-year-old Northwestern Mutual unit, which provides financial services and products such as life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, investments, estate analysis and employee benefits.

Some 200 Strategic Financial staffers will occupy two and a half floors at the 515 S. Flower St. offices. In addition to its Downtown expansion, Strategic Financial plans to open a new office in West Los Angeles this summer and has expanded in other western markets as well in recent years, including growth in Irvine and Las Vegas.

The first Northwestern Mutual office opened in Los Angeles in 1900, and SFG/Los Angeles today is one of the largest of the 350 Northwestern Mutual offices across the country. Northwestern Mutual Financial Network is the marketing name for the sales and distribution arm of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.