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Penn Mutual Life Insurance Review 2024

Fact Checked by Jason Herring & Barry Brooksby
Licensed Agents & Life Insurance Experts.
Insurance and Estates, a strategic life insurance provider composed of life insurance professionals, is committed to integrity in our editorial standards and transparency in how we receive compensation from our insurance partners.
Penn Mutual whole life insurance

Penn Mutual is an excellent company and makes up the elite class of the best whole life insurance companies for cash value growth.  But, is it going to be the right insurance company for you? And that’s the real question! And one that we hope you’ll be better able to answer for yourself after reading I&E’s complete review of Penn Mutual where we will discuss the company’s history, ratings, products and benefits.

Comprehensive Review of Penn Mutual

Let’s first start out by taking a look at Penn Mutual’s highlights from 2022.

Highlights from Penn Mutual’s 2022 Annual Report include:

Company Overview:

  • Celebrated its 175th year.
  • Serves 1.1 million clients.
  • Employs 3,300 people.
  • Has 9,100 financial professionals.

Financial Performance:

  • Total revenue: $4.6 billion.
  • Total assets under control: $175 billion.
  • Life and annuity benefits paid: $2.1 billion.
  • Dividend payout to eligible policyholders: $153 million.

Business Segments and Products:

  • Senior, Healthcare Services, Life, and Auto & Home segments.
  • Offers a comprehensive product portfolio.

Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance:

  • Revenue expected between $1.05 billion and $1.2 billion.
  • Net loss expected between $50 million and $22 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA expected between $80 million and $105 million.

Company Strengths:

  • Total surplus (capital): $3.1 billion as of December 31, 2022.
  • Statutory assets under management: $37.8 billion.
  • Life insurance in force: $257 billion.
  • 495K lives insured.

Investment Portfolio:

Diversified with a focus on asset/liability management, liquidity, and conservative risk approach.

Includes investment-grade bonds, stocks, venture capital, private equity, and real estate.

Sales Performance:

  • New life insurance sales: $370 million.
  • New annuity sales: $704 million.
  • Total GAAP assets: $41.6 billion.

Ratings and Recognition:

  • Received high ratings from major rating agencies like AM Best, Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, and KBRA.
  • Great Place to Work® certification.

Board of Trustees:

Includes experienced professionals from various industries.

Family of Companies:

Includes Penn Insurance and Annuity, Vantis Life, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, and Penn Mutual Asset Management.

Penn Mutual’s 2022 Annual Report showcases the company’s strong financial performance, commitment to policyholders, and focus on long-term stability and growth.

About Penn Mutual

Penn Mutual is a leading dividend paying whole life insurance company that was founded in 1847. Penn Mutual offers participating whole life insurance. In November of 2022, Penn Mutual Board of Trustees approved a $163 million life insurance dividend payment for 2023. And more recently, Penn Mutual announced a $200 million dividend payout for 2024, its 175th year in a row it has paid out a dividend. The $200 million dividend payment is $37 million higher than the previous year, an increase of almost 23%.

2023 Penn Mutual Dividend Interest Rate

As you can see, in 2023 the dividend interest credit rate was 5.75% on non-loaned values and 5.05% on loaned values. Also, policies with 11+ years are were credited 5.7% on the loaned value, making it a wash loan after year 11 thanks to Penn Mutual’s preferred loan provision.

David O’Malley

The great success of Penn Mutual in recent years has to be attributed, at least in part, to David O’Malley, the the president and chief executive officer of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. According to Penn Mutual’s website, O’Malley began his career with the company in 1994 as an intern. Over the course of time he was promoted to executive leadership, having held the roles of chief risk officer, chief financial officer and, most recently, president and chief operating officer. It is good to see companies that still value promoting from within.

New Automated, Accelerated Experience

Penn Mutual is an innovator in the life insurance industry. Nowhere is that more evident that in the Company’s latest move towards automated accelerated underwriting which provides no medical exam life insurance. Penn Mutual offers no medical testing required policies with approvals in as quick as 24 hours, in contrast the the industry average of around a month. The policy is available for individuals ages 20-65 with face amounts up to $7,500,000 (seven million-five hundred thousand).

According to Penn Mutual,

[The innovative new no exam required accelerated experience] has the automated intelligence to make key decisions and integrate with online tools and databases to quickly verify, authenticate and confirm, speeding decision making and approvals.

Complimentary Webinar on High Cash Value Whole Life


2023 Penn Mutual Ratings

Penn Mutual is on solid financial footing as is evidenced by the following ratings, updated as of 2023:

  • A.M. Best rating A+ (Superior)
  • Moody’s Investor Service Aa3 (Excellent)
  • Standard and Poor’s A+ (Strong)
  • Fitch Ratings AA- (Very Strong)
  • Kroll Bond Rating Agency AA-
  • Comdex Ranking 92

Additionally, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company has an A+ rating with the BBB, which speaks to the company’s commitment to its customers.

Penn Mutual Products

Penn Mutual focuses on both annuities and life insurance.

Annuity Products

  • Fixed Annuities
  • Immediate Annuities
  • Variable Annuities

Life Insurance

  • Term Life Insurance
  • Whole Life Insurance
  • Universal Life Insurance
  • Variable Life Insurance
  • Joint or Survivorship

Penn Mutual Life Insurance

Although Penn Mutual focuses more on the permanent life insurance and the benefits therein, the company offers both term life and permanent life insurance.

Benefits of Term Life Insurance

  • Lower Initial Cost
  • Income Protection
  • Mortgage Protection
  • Conversion Option

Benefits of Permanent Life Insurance

There are many benefits of permanent life insurance in a diversified portfolio. Below are just some areas where permanent life insurance can provide extreme value.

  • Business Succession Planning
  • Buy Sell Agreements
  • Key Man Insurance
  • Estate Planning
  • Infinite Banking
  • Executive Bonus Plans
  • Deferred Compensation Plans
  • Retirement Planning
  • Wealth Building

Penn Mutual Life Insurance Policies

[Plans and Features]

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance allows you to have a large guaranteed death benefit for a lower initial cost than permanent life insurance.

Penn Mutual offers 10, 15 and 20 year term lengths.

Penn Mutual’s convertible term life insurance allows the insured to convert all or a portion of the policy to permanent coverage prior to the end of the term or age 70.

The advantage is that you can get a lot of coverage for a low cost while your income is lower, and then convert that coverage to a superior policy down the road once you become more established.

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance, and whole life in particular, offers many lifelong benefits. One of the primary benefits is that under IRC Section 7702, cash value life insurance is offered many tax advantages.

Anytime the internal revenue code offers tax incentives it makes sense to utilize those tax incentives to the fullest.

Addition benefits of cash value life insurance:

  • Income tax free death benefit
  • Tax deferred cash value growth
  • Tax free life insurance loans
  • Tax free cash withdrawals up to basis

Guaranteed Whole Life

Whole life insurance lasts your entire life and offers specific guarantees, including a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed cash accumulation and guaranteed level premiums.

Additional cash value growth is available through dividends. Although not guaranteed, Penn Mutual has paid dividends each year since the company was founded in 1847.

Dividends are valuable and can be used to:

Penn Mutual’s Guaranteed Choice Whole Life offers many flexible options, such as ordinary whole life to age 100, as well as limited pay life insurance, such as 20 pay and paid-up at age 65.

So, are there any potential drawbacks to Penn Mutual?

Direct Recognition

Penn Mutual practices direct vs. non-direct recognition when calculating dividends if there is an outstanding policy loan. That means the policy loan reduces how much cash value the company recognizes. Your dividend amount is calculated using your total cash value.

As a result, the dividend received when there is an outstanding policy loan may be less for direct recognition companies than those that practice non-direct recognition.

However, Penn Mutual does a great job here. Check out Penn Mutual’s Dividend Interest and Loan Rates.

As mentioned above, in 2023 the dividend interest credit rate was 5.75% on non-loaned values and 5.05% on loaned values. Also, policies with 11+ years are were credited 5.7% on the loaned value, making it basically a wash loan after year 11 thanks to Penn Mutual’s preferred loan provision.

High Early Cash Value

Penn Mutual’s cash value whole life insurance policy excels above the competition in most areas but it may not always be the king when it comes to early high cash value availability. There are other mutual insurance companies that offer policies that may be superior for the person who is looking to have as much cash value available as soon as possible.

With that said, for those with a long term horizon beyond the first few years, Penn Mutual will most likely match or outperform the competition.

Now let’s take a look at yet another benefit of Penn Mutual, the Chronic Illness Accelerated Benefit Rider.

Chronic Illness Accelerated Benefit Rider

One of the biggest concerns people have as they age is how will they pay for long term care. And not just any long term care, but long term care in the home.

Most people prefer to remain in their home rather than a nursing home or assisted living facility. One of the more affordable options is life insurance with living benefits.

There are two types of accelerated benefit riders that can be added to permanent life insurance and used to help cover the costs associated with long term care: long term care rider and chronic illness rider.

Chronic Illness Rider

With a chronic illness rider, if you qualify for the benefit, you can access a portion of your death benefit in advance. It is considered a “living benefit” because you use it while you are living, unlike the death benefit that goes to your beneficiary when you die.

Penn Mutual’s Chronic Illness Rider is automatically included in newly issued policies where eligible. If you qualify, you can receive a tax free income benefit (based on Internal Revenue Section 101(g)), which is an acceleration of your death benefit for tax purposes and generally not a taxable event.

To qualify for Penn Mutual’s chronic illness accelerated benefit rider you must be unable to perform 2 of 6 activities of daily living, or have a severe cognitive impairment for a period of 90 consecutive days, and continuous care in an eligible facility or at home is expected to be required for the rest of your life.

Accessing the death benefit to pay for long term care costs decreases your death benefit, but it is a valuable resource to have, rather than tapping into your nest egg. You spouse and beneficiaries will thank you for your proactive planning.

Once you qualify for the income benefit, you can use the money for whatever you need. That includes in home care, home modifications, etc.

Typically, your daily income benefit is subject to the current IRS per diem maximum of $360 a day. You can receive income benefits monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Another benefit of Penn Mutual’s Chronic Illness Rider is that you can use it with either a level death benefit or increasing death benefit. So your policy death benefit can grow over time, increasing the amount of chronic illness income benefit you would have access to later in life.

Please note: Not all states have approved the rider.

Additional Whole Life Insurance Riders

✅Accelerated death benefit – offers the option of taking a portion of the death benefit early if the insured is diagnosed as terminally ill.

✅Child’s Term Insurance – term rider providing life insurance for children until age 23, at which point the policy can be converted to permanent coverage.

✅Chronic Illness Accelerated Benefit Rider – as mentioned above, the chronic illness rider offers tax free accelerated benefit if you are diagnosed as chronically ill.

✅Disability Waiver of Premium – Your premiums are waived if you are determined to be permanently disabled.

✅Guaranteed Purchase Option – option (7) to purchase additional coverage up to $100,000 with no evidence of insurability

✅Flexible Protection Agreement – Balances the death benefit with term life, offering a unique blend of whole life and term life.

✅Enhanced Permanent Paid Up Additions – Through the addition of extra premiums, this rider allows you to increase your cash value, potential dividends and death benefit based on the length of time you choose to implement this benefit.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance is permanent coverage that offers flexible premiums, guaranteed death benefit, and cash value growth. Penn Mutual offers four different universal life policies.

Accumulation Builder Select Indexed Universal Life and Accumulation Builder Advantage Indexed Universal Life and Accumulation Builder Flex IUL

Indexed account to either the S&P 500 Index or the S&P Global Broad Market Index.

Provides an annual fixed interest rate that will never drop below 1%, despite negative return in the stock market.

  • Death benefit protection
  • Premium flexibility
  • Potential for strong cash value growth
Protection Guard Universal Life and Guaranteed Protection Universal Life
  • Primarily focused on providing a lifetime death benefit for a lower cost

Protection Universal Life (PUL)

  • Current assumption UL with a no-lapse guarantee up to age 100
  • Excellent Pricing vs the Competition
  • Cash Value Accumulation
  • Beginning in year 11, 0.25% Policy Value Enhancement
  • Available in all states, including New York
Survivorship Plus Indexed Universal Life

Second to die life insurance. Covers the lives of two people and the death benefit is paid upon the death of the surviving spouse or partner.

  • Provides lifetime coverage at a lower cost than insuring only one person
  • Provides cash value growth
Diversified Growth Variable Universal Life (VUL) & Diversified Advantage VUL

Variable life insurance provides policy cash value growth through separate investment options.

  • Lifetime Protection
  • Potential for high cash value accumulation
  • Flexible coverage and premium options
  • Greater upside potential/greater risk

Penn Mutual vs Northwestern Mutual

Penn Mutual offers some of the best dividend paying whole life insurance in the U.S. Northwestern Mutual has consistently been the leader in whole life insurance sales for the better part of the last decade.

Both companies are highly rated. Penn Mutual has a total Comdex ranking of 92 out of 100, while Northwestern Mutual has an industry leading Comdex ranking of 100.

Northwestern Mutual is a captive company, which means only agents under the Northwestern Mutual banner may sell the company’s whole life policies. Penn Mutual is a non-captive company, which allows outside agents to offer Penn Mutual’s policies to their clients.

Below is a snapshot of the two companies head to head. But at the end of the day, the best whole life insurance company for you will be the one that best meets your specific needs and goals.

Comparing ⟶ Penn Mutual Northwestern Mutual

Year Founded

1847

1857

Company Structure

Mutual

Mutual

Pricing

$ $ $ $ $ $

Types of Policies:

Term Life

Whole Life

Universal Life

Final Expense

Ratings:

A.M. Best Rating

A+

A++

S&P Rating

A+

AA+

Moody’s Rating

Aa3

Aaa

Fitch Rating

AAA

Comdex Rating

93

100

BBB Rating

Not Accredited

Not Accredited

NAIC complaint Index

0.09

0.02

IBUSA’s Overall Score

Company Review

Penn Mutual’s review

Northwestern Mutual’s review

 

Penn Mutual Life Insurance Review Conclusion

At I&E, we are big fans of this mutual company. It offers many excellent high cash value growth life insurance policies. Further, the company has a long dividend history, even during the Great Depression and Great Recession. So, if you are looking for permanent coverage from a solid mutual company, Penn Mutual is one of the best options in the marketplace.

18 comments… add one
  • Tony spruill September 1, 2019, 8:14 pm

    Hi I m seeking more information about your company
    I d like to purchase a whole life insurance policy and I’d like to use your company
    Thank you

  • Bobby Glass February 28, 2020, 9:09 am

    We are considering setting up WL policies for our grandchildren to help build future wealth for them. I would like to have five cash value illustrations, one for each grandchild, to share with them at a meeting we are planning with them to share our vision.
    Would appreciate if you could generate these illustrations for us.
    Thanks,
    Bobby Glass

    • Insurance&Estates March 4, 2020, 1:28 pm

      Hello Bobby, awesome! We appreciate the opportunity to help you and one of our IBC experts should’ve reached out to you already. I you haven’t yet connected, e-mail barry@insuranceandestates.com. Best! Steve Gibbs for I&E

  • Damon Gardner November 23, 2020, 11:35 am

    I tried to obtain a whole life cash value policy through a financial planner Ive used in past. After 3 months of questionnaires, inquires, medical survey and blood test I was advised Guardian would not make me an offer and that I needed to find a specialty insurance policy. Before I try again was I too honest on my health survey or am I banned forever in getting a ibc whole life policy because Im over 50 amd not in perfect health? I was very interested in the companies who have IBC policies with no medical exam

  • Colette Alls February 28, 2021, 7:50 pm

    Interested in a whole life quote with a chronic illness rider.

    • Insurance&Estates March 3, 2021, 9:35 am

      Hello Colette, if you haven’t yet connected with one of our experts, go ahead and e-mail Barry Brooksby at barry@insuranceandestates.com.

      Best, Steve Gibbs for I&E

  • Chad Yeager March 23, 2021, 6:28 am

    I’m shopping around for whole life insurance that’s creating high cash value policies?

    • Insurance&Estates April 6, 2021, 12:44 pm

      Hi Chad, if you’re shopping, we have a lot of resources on our website to educate you and when you’re ready, you can connect with Barry Brooksby at barry@insuranceandestates.com.

      Best, Steve Gibbs, for I&E.

  • Albert Cosio July 15, 2021, 6:30 pm

    I would like to find a mutually owned company that pays dividends on a whole life insurance policy with high cash value and to walk me through infinite banking. Thank you

    • Insurance&Estates July 19, 2021, 7:25 am

      Hello Albert and thanks for your inquiry. Your request has been for forwarded to our whole life expert Barry Brooksby and you can also connect with him at barry@insuranceandestates.com to get started.

      Best, Steve Gibbs for I&E

  • Paul Dow June 13, 2022, 4:17 pm

    Looking to talk to an agent about IBC on a whole life policy. Do you have agents in AZ?

    • Insurance&Estates June 20, 2022, 9:45 am

      Hello Paul, we serve folks in all 50 states. A great way to get started to request a call with Barry Brooksby at barry@insuranceandestates.com.

      Best, Steve Gibbs for I&E

      • Garett Zorosky May 21, 2023, 10:55 pm

        I am an individual investor. I am extremy interesed in this product. How do I get started? Thanks

        Garett Zorosky 724-550-5382

        • Steven Gibbs May 24, 2023, 9:03 am

          Hello Garett, we have forwarded your request to our expert Denise Boisvert who has helped thousands of people set up great high cash value Penn policies. You can reach out to her at denise@insuranceandestates.com to request a call to review your goals. This first step would be followed by an application and approval period.

          Best, Steve Gibbs for I&E

          Steven Gibbs is a licensed insurance agent, and the following agent
          license numbers of Steven Gibbs are provided as required by state law:

          Resident License; AZ agent #17508301,
          Non-resident Licenses: TX agent #2273189, CA agent #0K10610,
          LA agent #769583, MA agent #2049963, MN agent #40563357,
          UT agent #655544.

  • Kofi Amoh-Tonto October 3, 2022, 8:13 pm

    I want to know more about index universal life insurance

    • SJG October 5, 2022, 8:47 am

      Hi and thanks for connecting. You can reach out directly to request a call from our IUL expert Jason Herring by emailing him at jason@insuranceandestates.com.

      Best, I&E

  • william C stewart June 8, 2023, 12:50 pm

    Dear Sir or Madam, I’m interested in establishing an infinite banking process using a whole life policy. If I funded the policy 100% up front how soon after initiating the policy could I withdraw money as a loan to purchase more real estate?
    Thanks so much for your kind consideration.
    Bill Stewart

    • Steven Gibbs June 9, 2023, 11:12 am

      Hi William, thanks for connecting, we referred your question to our IBC expert Barry Brooksby so look for an email, or you can email him to request a call also at barry@insuranceandestates.com.

      Best, I&E Pro Team

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