Perspectives on Life – Penn Mutual

Succession Planning is a Must-Do for Every Business

By Jordon Katz | June 19, 2018

Every business owner should have a succession plan in place, so that the business keeps running smoothly no matter what.

Life Insurance Can Balance Retirement and College Savings Goals

By Andrew Martin | June 12, 2018

Parents face a tough choice: Save for their children’s college education or save for retirement. Fortunately, this is not an either/or situation, because there are strategies that allow parents to save for both needs simultaneously. One important and often overlooked tool for achieving this is permanent life insurance.

Mentoring is a Win for both Mentor and Mentee

By Jessica Choi | June 5, 2018

Mentoring can be a powerful experience, especially for those of us in the financial industry. I thought I was joining the Women in Financial Services (WIFS) mentorship program to give back, but I’ve learned so much through the experience than I thought possible.

What to Do with an Inheritance

By Margaret Muldoon | May 29, 2018

When my father died two years after my mom, he left me half of the family home and the majority of his life insurance. I was working in the financial services industry by that point, so I understood the value of meeting with a financial adviser, who gave me guidance on what to do with my inheritance.

The Importance of Cash Flow in Your Personal Financial Planning

By Mark Mappa | May 23, 2018

We think of cash flow as something only businesses or governments contend with, but it is integral to our personal financial lives as well. Cash flow enables us to do what we want, and to help achieve our goals or objectives — whether to get a mortgage, save for college, take a vacation, or save and invest for retirement.

Raising the Bar on the Advice Standard

By Tim Donahue | May 15, 2018

Whether or not the SEC decides to implement changes to the advice standard, financial advisers must realize that their traditional value proposition has been turned on its head. Advisers once built their business around commissions and product sales, giving advice away for free, but financial transactions have become a commodity. The value of the client-adviser relationship is now in the advice.

Financial Planning for Families with Love Ones with Special Needs

By Pat Bergmaier | May 8, 2018

Financial planning for families with special needs children can be challenging because “special needs” means special on every level. There is no cookie-cutter solution that can guide people in the journey.

Be Prepared Before Starting Your Own Business

By John Caserta | May 1, 2018

There comes a point when many people wonder whether they should strike out on their own and start their own business. Approximately 14 percent of working-age people in the U.S. are entrepreneurs. But while the siren song of entrepreneurship may sound sweet to those laboring at the oars as wage-earning employees, careful planning is needed to ensure you don’t end up dashed upon the rocks.

Teaching Young Adults to be Wise Spenders

By Carolyn Humphrey | April 24, 2018

When it comes to financial literacy, it’s critical to start early by teaching young children to become early savers. It is equally important to follow through during their teenage years, into college and young adulthood. Here are five ways to raise financially responsible young adults.

Catching Up on Retirement in Your 40s and 50s

By Jim Knox | April 17, 2018

Sometime in your 40s or 50s, you realize that the years are passing by in a flash and retirement isn’t as far into the future as you once thought. So, if you haven’t been saving all these years, what can you do to catch up on retirement savings when you are in your 40s and 50s?