Perspectives on Life – Penn Mutual

Planning Your Journey Up and Down the “Retirement Mountain”

By David LaBricciosa | July 25, 2017

I wrote recently in The Hill about how retirement is like climbing a mountain. The peak of the mountain is your retirement date, and the ascent is the struggle to earn and save along the way. Of course, getting to the top of the mountain is only half the journey. Once you reach the top, you still have to work yourself safely down.

Reflections on the Death of a Friend, Age 45

By Michael Dunne | July 18, 2017

There are moments in life when we in the life insurance business personally witness the impact that a policy can have on individuals and their families. Unfortunately, there are also times when we see the impact on those who we didn’t reach.

Rugby Leadership Summit Builds the Next Generation of Leaders

By Jessica Choi | July 11, 2017

After this year’s Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, we held an invitation-only Leadership Summit for a select group of rugby players. Not only does Penn Mutual love rugby, we also want to help build the next generation of leaders.

Why It’s Important to Understand What Your Business is Worth

By Roy Lenzo III | July 5, 2017

Without having a solid understanding of the value of your business, you may be setting yourself up for trouble. This can put you in a difficult position when it comes time to sell the business, borrow money, pass it on to your heirs, or even make everyday decisions about how to grow.

12 Tips to Help You Become Financially Fit

By Joseph Radovic | June 28, 2017

I was struck by how much of what I learned in my journey to complete an IRONMAN marathon could correlate to anyone striving to move ahead in their personal or business life. The parallels between physical health and financial health were striking. Here are 12 tips to help you become financially fit.

Securing the Financial Health of Your Grandchildren with Multi-Generational Life Insurance

By Frank Howell | June 20, 2017

Creative use of life insurance can play an important role in a multi-generational legacy planning strategy, one that allows grandparents to set aside assets specifically to benefit their grandkids, yet still retain control over those assets during their lifetimes. This is a strategy I’ve used with my own clients.

Don’t Forget to Include Your Pet in Your Estate Plan

By Margaret Muldoon | June 13, 2017

While it’s silly to leave $12 million to your dog, it’s not a bad idea to consider the care of your pets in your estate planning. Pets are considered property under the law, but for most pet owners they are treasured members of the family. But unless you specifically provide for the care of your pet, it will pass along with the rest of your property as outlined your Will or according to intestacy laws (if you don’t have a Will). That might not be the best person to care for your pet. There are three ways you can provide for a pet in the event of your incapacity or death.

The Value of Succession Planning in an Emergency

By Robert J. Tuzzo | June 7, 2017

A comprehensive and well-thought succession plan saved my business when I suffered a medical emergency. While there were no explicit provisions in the succession plan that covered such things, all the components of the process worked to provide my firm’s clients continuity of service while I was incapacitated in the hospital.

Life Insurance Remains a Strong Source of Stability in an Uncertain Tax Environment

By Eva Victor | May 30, 2017

Just as estate planning has changed in recent years, so has the use of life insurance in estate planning. Life insurance can effectively serve multiple purposes and objectives in an estate plan, and has more uses beyond simply providing a death benefit to pay estate taxes.

The Travis Manion Foundation: Instilling Character in the Next Generation of Leaders

By Ryan Manion | May 23, 2017

The idea of character education is something that’s desperately needed in our society, and the idea also resonates with the veterans. One of the biggest challenges facing many veterans is losing that sense of feeling connected to something bigger than themselves. Many of the veterans in Travis Manion Foundation programs have found that working with kids and teaching them about what it means to be a leader is an avenue to regain that connection.