Life Matters – A Penn Mutual Podcast

In this episode of the Life Matters Podcast, host Bill Bell, Vice President of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, welcomes Daria Lee Sharman, Executive Director of Launch by NTT DATA, and Nick Bowman, Co-Founder of Xcela AI, for a conversation on artificial intelligence and its growing role in financial services.  As AI continues to gain attention across industries, many financial professionals are as...

In this episode of the Life Matters Podcast , host Bill Bell, Vice President of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, is joined by co-host Jenna Washatka, Director of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, and special guest Bryan Hodgens, Senior Vice President and Head of LIMRA Research, for a conversation on retirement preparedness, annuity planning, and the growing impact of the “Peak 65” retirement wave. Acco...

In this episode of the Life Matters Podcast, host Bill Bell, Vice President of Advanced Sales is joined by Ray Caucci, Chief Product Officer at Penn Mutual, for a thoughtful conversation on product philosophy, long-term thinking, and what it takes to build solutions that endure. As Ray prepares for retirement, he reflects on the principles that have helped shape Penn Mutual’s approach to product d...

In this Women’s History Month special of Life Matters, Bill Bell and Jenna Washatka spotlight three powerhouse practice owners redefining what modern financial planning looks like as wealth shifts into women’s hands. First, Deborah Stavis, CFP® and CEO of Stavis Wealth Transfer Solutions, shares how she built integrated, relationship-driven planning and why women’s readiness for the wealth transfe...

In this special episode of the Life Matters Podcast, host Bill Bell, Vice President of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, is joined by Dave O’Malley, Chairman, President, and CEO of Penn Mutual, to break down what’s driving Penn Mutual’s momentum and what it means for financial professionals throughout 2026.  You’ll hear practical insights on:  • What’s behind Penn Mutual’s record setting growth in 20...

In this episode of the Life Matters Podcast, host Bill Bell, Vice President of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, is joined by Jason O’Dell, Managing Partner, and Carole Foos, Chief Financial Officer of OJM Group (now part of Earned), to explore why physicians are one of the most underserved client segments and how financial professionals can work with them more effectively. You’ll hear practical insi...

In this special year-end episode of the Life Matters Podcast , Bill Bell and co-host Jenna Washatka look back at their favorite moments of 2025, the topmost listened to episodes of 2025, and celebrate the show’s 25th episode milestone. You’ll hear highlights from the year’s most valuable conversations, including: What the Accelerated MultiLife Platform (AMP) means for executive benefits and multil...

In this special episode of Life Matters Podcast, hosts Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales, and Jenna Washatka, Director of Advanced Sales, bring together the entire Penn Mutual Advanced Sales team for a unique financial professional driven conversation built mostly from questions submitted by financial professionals across the country. Joining the discussion are Lindsay Cigler, Amy Bryant, George Bra...

Tax planning is one of the most pressing challenges for business owners, and Penn Mutual is helping financial professionals uncover strategies that can preserve cash flow, protect assets, and strengthen succession planning. In this episode of The Life Matters Podcast , Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, is joined by Alex Jones, Founder of Guardian Tax Consultants, to break down the ro...

Special needs planning is one of the most important and often overlooked areas in financial services, and Penn Mutual is equipping financial professionals with the tools and expertise to make a meaningful impact. In this episode of The Life Matters Podcast, Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, is joined by Jenna Washatka, Director of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, and special guest Pat...

Multilife sales are opening new doors for financial professionals and Penn Mutual is making it easier than ever to step in. In this episode of The Life Matters Podcast, Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, sits down with Justin Gladieux and Michael Ori, co-founders of Institutional Architects, to explore how guaranteed and simplified issue life insurance can transform executive benefit...

The biggest tax reform in years has officially been signed into law and it brings sweeping changes that financial professionals can’t afford to ignore. In this episode of The Life Matters Podcast by Penn Mutual, Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales, sits down with Jen Fox, VP of Government Affairs at Finseca, to break down what’s in the Triple B Tax Bill (H.R. 1) and how it impacts your clients. Whethe...

In this episode of Life Matters , a Penn Mutual podcast, Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales, sits down with Ruvin Levavi, former trust and estate attorney and now Founder of Power Forward Group to explore how financial professionals can effectively serve specialized niches, such as corporate attorneys, and address their unique planning needs.  Ruvin shares firsthand insights into why many high-earnin...

The way clients discover and choose financial professionals has evolved—and outdated marketing tactics just don’t cut it anymore. In this episode of the Life Matters Podcast by Penn Mutual, Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales, sits down with Samantha Russell, Chief Evangelist at FMG, to discuss how modern marketing is reshaping the financial services industry. From the rise of short-form video to the...

Premium financing is often pitched as a silver bullet for high-net-worth clients—but is it really that simple? In this episode of the Life Matters Podcast , we’re cutting through the industry noise and getting real about what works… and what doesn’t.  Join Bill Bell, Penn Mutual’s VP of Advanced Sales, as he sits down with Marc Schechter, President of Schechter Wealth, for a candid conversation ab...

Women are transforming the financial industry with expertise, leadership, and a client-first mindset. As more women take on financial professional roles, they’re building trust, specializing in niche markets, and addressing the unique financial needs of business owners and families. In this episode of the Life Matters Podcast, Bill Bell Penn Mutual’s VP of Advanced Sales and Jenna Washatka Penn Mu...

Estate planning isn’t just about passing on wealth—it’s about protecting it, maximizing flexibility, and ensuring a seamless financial transition for future generations. With tax laws evolving, high-net-worth individuals must stay ahead to safeguard their legacies. In this episode, Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, sits down with renowned estate planning attorney Jonathan Forster of...

Get ready for a deep dive into tax reform and its potential impact on financial professionals, estate planning, and wealth transfer strategies in this episode of the Life Matters Podcast. Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, sits down with Jen Fox, Vice President of Federal Affairs at Finseca, to explore the latest developments in financial services legislation. Key Topics Covered: • Th...

In this must-listen episode of the Life Matters Podcast, host Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual, sits down with Tom Harris, President of Penn Mutual's Life and Annuity Division, for one of his final interviews before his upcoming retirement at the end of the year. Packed with invaluable insights, this conversation captures decades of leadership wisdom and strategic foresight from one...

In this riveting episode of the Life Matters Podcast , host Bill Bell, VP of Advanced Sales for Penn Mutual, sits down with Caleb Guilliams, the visionary founder of BetterWealth, to explore how the life insurance industry is evolving and how financial professionals can thrive in this changing landscape. Caleb shares his innovative approaches to client engagement, marketing, and company culture—of...

In this insightful episode, Bill Bell and Jenna Washatka are joined by the entire Advanced Sales Team at Penn Mutual. Directors of Advanced Sales—Lindsay Cigler, Jay Perlman, George Bradley, and Amy Bryant—dive into a range of critical topics in financial and estate planning. From the evolving implications of the SECURE Act and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) to strategic uses of Charitab...

Glen Wright, the CEO and Founder of Worth Advisors, and Matt Fones, the Area Senior Vice President at Gallagher, join this episode of Life Matters, with host and Advanced Sales VP, Bill Bell.  Together, they discuss the incredible power, speed, and effectiveness of Penn Mutual's ACE platform, the upcoming expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and so much more! Key Takeaways for Financia...

Chief Product Officer at Penn Mutual, Ray Caucci, and Director of Product Strategy and Competitive Analysis, Riley Thornburgh join this episode of Life Matters, with host and Advanced Sales VP, Bill Bell.  Together, they discuss the latest in life insurance product innovations at Penn Mutual, the hottest market trends, and so much more! Key Takeaways for Financial Professionals: 1. New Product Lau...

Amy Bryant, Director of Advanced Sales at Penn Mutual and Tim McFarland, the Vice President of Advanced Sales at NFP join this episode of Life Matters, with host and Advanced Sales VP, Bill Bell and co-host and Director of Advanced Sales, Jenna Washatka.  Together, they explore estate planning strategies amid the upcoming tax law changes with the sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and so much mo...

Bobby Samuelson , the Executive Editor of The Life Product Review joins this episode of Life Matters, with host and Advanced Sales VP, Bill Bell.  Together, they discuss the latest industry trends and market innovations. Bobby also shares his thoughts on product updates that he finds exciting.  Plus they talk about private equity entering the life insurance industry, and so much more! Key Takeaway...