The LIFE Podcast for Financial Professionals

For this episode of the life podcast, Andrea Brandon, Director of Value-Add Marketing for the Consumers Markets Division at Pacific Life covers the events that punctuated 2023 from a macroeconomic, insurance industry, and Pacific Life perspective. Financial professionals can learn how where they've been affects where they're going in 2024 and beyond.

For this episode of the life podcast, Andrea Brandon, Director of Value-Add Marketing for the Consumers Markets Division at Pacific Life dives into practical advice with Amy Florian, CEO of Corgenius and an expert in life transition. Financial professionals can learn tips for dealing with difficult conversations that arise around grief, death, and life transitions. Amy Florian and Corgenius are not affiliated with Pacific Life Insurance Company. Looking to learn more from Amy? Be sure to register for our live Whalecast webinar scheduled for October 10th at 9am PST. Click here to register.

Stephan and Bill spent time at last year's Total Solution Forum talking with some of the best financial professionals in the industry. They chose four of their most insightful interviews to share with listeners regarding some of the best tips and techniques from these industry superstars.

Sales trainer extraordinaire, Chuck Hollander, joined the guys to share his wisdom about the sales process and some very common mistakes that salespeople make when working with their best clients.  In addition to some tips and techniques for more effective selling, Chuck gives and overview of The Compass which is a tool that he has developed and perfected over his many years of sales training.  This is one episode that everyone involved sales should listen to.

Legendary producer and all around great guy Joel Solomon joined the guys at last year's Total Solution Forum for this lively chat. Among the topics discussed during their discussion were; planning for taxes on retirement income distributions, why Joel has worked with Pacific Life for more than 40 years and what being a Vanguard means.

The guys rip opened the mailbag to find out what the listeners wanted to know about. They were somewhat surprised that there were a lot of requests to discuss some simple strategies focused on a life insurance policy's death benefit protection. Bill outlines several options for businesses and families to provide protection using some basic planning and of course, life insurance.

Joanne Gagnon from our KEAP team joined the guys while at the Total Solution Forum to discuss one of Bill's favorite topics, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) Plans. Joanne and Bill discuss why it is critical for businesses to put these plans in place to recruit, retain and reward key executives. Of course, they also give an overview of Pacific Life KEAP program and how it can benefit companies looking for creative ways to address The Great Resignation.

Dr. Christina He (her Ph. D. is in math) made a house call to the podcast booth at the Total Solutions Forum in Huntington Beach to chat with the guys. During their fascinating conversation, they talked about the effect of increasing interest rates on the general account portfolio, how Christina and her team select the assets to be part of that portfolio and Bill's suggestion for a outside the nine dots investment.

Adrian Griggs, Pacific Life COO, stopped by to chat with the guys during the Total Solution Forum in Huntington Beach.  Stephan and Bill talked with Adrian about the upcoming merger between the life insurance and retirement solutions divisions, financial matters (Adrian was at one time Pacific Life's CFO) and why it is silly to go to college anywhere other than the University of California at Santa Barbara (Go Gauchos!!!).

Dawn Behnke, EVP and Head of Pacific Life's New Consumer Markets Division, joins the guys to discuss why Pacific Life decided to merge its Life Insurance and Retirement Solutions Divisions. Some of the topics discussed include what this will mean for our financial professionals, how the merger will shape product development in the future and most importantly, what this means for the future of The Life Podcast.

As Stephan sets the record for longest time ever driving between San Diego and Orange Counties, Bill is joined by Sherri Wiseman who leads Pacific Life's AMAZING Meeting and Events Marketing Team. Bill and Sherri discuss a wide variety of topics including the 2023 Leaders Conference, future plans for the Educational Symposium and what makes Pacific Life Events so special. Additionally, at the end of the podcast, Bill checks in from BBQ Heaven.

In this episode of The Life Podcast, Bill has the honor of interviewing Pacific Life Insurance Company's new Chief Underwriter, Susan Ghalili. Bill and Susan have a fascinating conversation regarding how COVID-19 has changed life insurance underwriting, the rapid development of accelerated underwriting programs, and most importantly, why the best Chief Underwriter in the business decided to join the Pacific Life team.

For this episode of the Life Podcast, the guys welcome long-time life insurance producer Frank Seneco to the show for a conversation about the wealth transfer planning marketplace. Tax reform and COVID-19 have made life insurance planning even more interesting, and Frank shares insights from his practice. And he finally clears up the ongoing debate about where the best pizza in the northeast comes from--New York or Connecticut? Frank Seneco is not affiliated with Pacific Life Insurance Company.

As Stephan wanders the desert in search of the world's tallest thermometer (it's in Baker, CA), Bill welcomes Michael Rothman from Succession Capital Alliance (SCA) to discuss what makes for a successful premium financing arrangement. Among the premium financing related topics covered: who are good candidates, what are the potential benefits and pitfalls, and the potential impact of rising interest rates. Most importantly, Michael and Bill share why a premium financing case that requires premium financing isn't a premium financing case. Succession Capital Alliance (SCA) is not an affiliated company of Pacific Life Insurance Company.

The guys are joined by Jim Morris and Darryl Button, respectively the retiring and incoming CEOs of Pacific Life. Among the many topics discussed, they talk about what makes Pacific Life a great company, running a life insurance company through a global pandemic, the proper pronunciation of the word Eagles and what makes a Canadian actuary learn to surf.

Bill is joined by Scott McHenry from McHenry Advisors to discuss the benefits and challenges associated with cash balance defined benefit plans. During the conversation, Bill and Scott discuss the types of businesses that are good candidates for such plans, how life insurance fits in and out of these plans, and why we are in the middle of tax mulligan season.

In Stephan's absence (he was off celebrating yet another Rams victory), Bill invited two of his team members from the ADU, Monica Rhee and Lindsay Cigler, as guests for this episode of The Life Podcast. They discussed topics such as; potential tax reform, battling the great resignation, what is on tap for 2022, and the Biz website which can be visited at lifeinsurance.pacificlife.com/biz.

In celebration of The Life Podcast's 5th anniversary, the guys look back over some of their fondest memories as podcast hosts. Then, PL, Chief Distribution Officer, Greg Reber joins to discuss the changing face of life insurance distribution and what Pacific Life is doing to improve our customer experience.

The guys welcome back Tod Nasser, SVP of Investment Management for Pacific Life, to talk about the state of the economy and where we may be going with interest rates. The discussion includes a deep dive into a newest trend in the indexed universal life insurance marketplace – Volatility Controlled Indexes (VCIs).

As promised, the guys talk about the potential for tax reform in 2021 and how it will affect life insurance planning. The discussion touches on business taxes, personal income taxes and most importantly, why Bill's family won't have to worry about he estate tax for the foreseeable future.

Goodbye 2020, hello 2021! Stephan and Bill unpack the mailbag to answer a few questions from listeners and give insight into the year ahead.

Bill had a chance to catch up with Daria Lee Sharman, AVP, Enterprise Insights Advisory, about the how producers can get a better understanding of their clients' needs through customer insights. Daria discusses the different needs associated with different types of customers and some tools available to help producers grow their business. Bill determines that he is not a candidate for the finically independent – retire early consumer segment.

Virtual selling is here and it isn't going away. How can you make connections with your clients in a virtual environment? Melanie Dumas, Pacific Life's AVP of Life Insurance Division Training, joins the guys to share some tips and tricks that can help you make those connections and sales from anywhere.

The guys share their personal highlights from the 2020 Pacific Life Educational Symposium. Even though this year's event was virtual, it was still an amazing meeting that highlighted; industry trends, Pacific Life Products and Services, and some best practices for financial professionals looking to grow their businesses.

Host Bill Bell interviews Dawn Trautman Behnke, Executive Vice President of Pacific Life's Life Division, regarding 2020 challenges, planning for the future and a new recognition. Source: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/best-life-insurance-companies

Gabby joins Stephan and Bill to share some tips and tricks to help build your social media profile.

Monica Rhee, senior consultant on the advanced designs team, joins Stephan and Bill to discuss business planning and comprehensive executive benefits strategies.

Special guest, Matt Veatch, from the KEAP team joins Stephan and Bill for an informative discussion on the new Key Executive Advantage Program (KEAP).

Today's entertaining episode features Matthew Pressler, the Director of High Net Worth Solutions for Pacific Life. He and Bill Bell take this opportunity to discuss a new lead development system for financial professionals.