The document discusses Vision 2020, an initiative aimed at achieving gender equality as a national priority by 2020. It outlines 5 overarching goals: 1) Achieve pay equity, 2) Increase the number of women in senior leadership positions, 3) Expand access to affordable child and elder care, 4) Ensure workplace policies support both professional and personal responsibilities, and 5) Eliminate gender bias and promote women's health and wellness. The conference highlighted the importance of mentoring, sponsorship programs, and family-friendly workplace policies. Penn Mutual, the presenting sponsor, is helping advance these goals through various local agency initiatives.

1. R
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sPRIng 2011 VoL 3 Issue 2
“
Without leaps of imagination or dreaming,
we lose the excitement of possibilities.
Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”
-Gloria Steinem
Spring is at hand and with it comes the rejuvenation of For most of us, it is not that we are incapable of great things, it is
everything living or imagined. It is a time when burdens seem lighter. that we have failed to manage the everyday details on the way to
A time when many of us decide that we can do more in life. We are larger goals. And one of those details is either failing to adhere to a
filled with life’s possibilities and the sense that it is time to act. plan or failing to create one that’s based in reality. Whatever it is you
would like to do next with your life, perhaps the time to take stock is
Those possibilities can be large or small, far away or very close at now. Planning doesn’t have to be just a chore in the dismal science
hand. In whatever way that you want to do more in life, the first of economics. With the help of a qualified financial professional, you
step is likely a careful examination of where you are right now and can build both your plan and your sense of optimism.
that almost always means a review of your finances. If your goals
include more than simply spring cleaning, it’s time to establish a plan Best,
or examine the plan you have in place to make sure it’s still doing
the job you intended. Your Financial Professional
This information contained within is for educational purposes only and should not
be considered specific financial advice. Always consult with a qualified advisor
regarding your individual circumstances.

2. My Plan
WhAT’s The sTATe oF youR esTATe?
The word “estate” often conjures up images gains tax exposure to help ensure a cost- Beyond your family, there may be other
of vast wealth well beyond our own means. effective and tax-efficient transfer of assets to beneficiaries you want to consider. you may
But that line of thinking can be dangerously your intended recipients. want to leave a portion of your estate to a
naïve, particularly for women. Many wives out favorite charity. If you want to financially benefit
live their husbands, inheriting both assets and Understand the Consequences a charitable organization most efficiently, you’ll
financial obligations. other women, including Without an estate plan and a valid will, the state need to spell that out as part of a carefully
single working professionals or single mothers, where you live will appoint an administrator considered estate plan.
may put off estate planning until it’s too late. to divvy up your estate, pursuant to state
But estate planning is simply a way of preparing intestacy laws, and may appoint a guardian Leaving a Legacy
for the unexpected and ensuring that your heirs for your children. It’s not at all unusual for Through consulting with qualified legal and
and beneficiaries receive the assets you intend, surviving families to be forced to sell treasured financial professionals and crafting your
with the smallest tax impact possible. assets or the family business to cover estate estate plan carefully, you can help secure
or inheritance taxes or other debts—a situation your planning objectives. you can also help
Who Needs An Estate Plan? that is, in many cases, entirely unavoidable. ensure you will have enough liquidity for your
you should consider an estate plan if you may survivors to manage debts, tax obligations and
face wealth transfer taxes, including estate and Also, what the state deems fair and equitable expenses. A successful plan begins with careful
inheritance taxes. Also, if you’re an investor or may not agree with the choices you would have consideration of your goals and your family’s
entrepreneur, you’re likely to have appreciating made. For example, you may have a special- future needs. Remember to make regular
and illiquid estates. you may want to look for needs child who may need more of your assets updates to match your changing circumstances.
ways to defer or reduce income tax or capital than your other children.
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The new “Payroll Tax holiday” means the employee’s share of social security tax is reduced
Take 3 from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent and the self-employment tax is reduced from 15.3 percent to 13.3
percent for this year only. If you earn $50,000 a year you could see a potential savings of $1,000.
neW TAx LAWs here are three things to do with your tax savings, other than the online shopping spree that first
came to mind:
1. Take this opportunity to jump start an emergency fund. experts go back and
Taxes don’t usually make forth over whether it should cover your living expenses for three or six months, but no one argues
that you should have one.
a person’s list of ”favorite
things,” but due to tax law 2. Consider saving the money in a tax-deferred account such as an annuity, IRA,
401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan. Contributing just $1,000 into a tax-deferred plan could
updates in effect as of turn into $10,000 in thirty years, as opposed to just $5,000 in a taxable account.* For a more
January 2011, extra change accurate assessment of what your savings could be, try the Taxable vs. Tax Deferred Savings
calculator found in the Tools & Resources tab at WorthForWomen.com.
may already be found in
many wallets this year. 3. Pay down a high-interest credit card. Maybe in the past you were only able to make
minimum payments. now is the time to start paying more than the minimum on a high-interest card,
while continuing with minimum payments on other cards. When you’re able to pay off the highest-
interest card, continue with that strategy for the next card.
*example above is for hypothetical purposes only and uses an annual return rate of 8% with an individual tax rate
of 25%. Actual results may vary.

3. Vision 2020 is an initiative of Drexel university College of Medicine Penn Mutual, the presenting sponsor of Vision 2020, believes
Institute for Women’s health and Leadership. It aims to make equality wholeheartedly in this movement. Leading this charge is Penn Mutual’s
a national priority through shared leadership among women and men. President and Ceo, eileen McDonnell, who spoke at the conference’s
Last fall, 102 delegates from across the country met in Philadelphia to opening session. eileen stressed the importance of developing
create an action agenda for at last achieving this long fight for equality. mentoring and sponsorship programs for women in the workplace;
creating more family-friendly workday options for men and women;
Between now and the year 2020, Vision 2020’s Campaign for Equality and helping to eliminate the notion of implicit bias in the workplace.
will focus on five overarching national goals:
From the second-smallest state of Delaware to the second-largest state
* Achieve pay equity, so that equal pay for equal work will be the of Texas, and many places in between, Penn Mutual has continued to
norm in America.
carry the momentum from the conference six months ago. In keeping
* Increase the number of women in senior leadership positions in with the aforementioned goals, several Penn Mutual agencies have
American life to reflect the workforce talent pool and demographics. plans for hosting speaking engagements and workshops, involving
younger generations of women through Girl Scouts of America and The
* educate employers about the value of policies and practices that Junior League, and promoting financial literacy through community
enable men and women to share fairly their family responsibilities.
organizations and Penn Mutual’s Worth program.
* educate new generations of girls and boys isto respect when
differences and to act on the belief that America at its best
their
For more information on Vision2020 and ways you can get involved
leadership is shared and opportunities are open to all. visit www.Drexel.edu/vision2020/.
* Mobilize women in turnout in to vote,the centennial of emphasis
on a record-setting
America
2020,
with particular
the 19th
Amendment.
Shoe Box
Birds chirping and the scent of fresh-cut grass are clear signals to store away winter boots to make
space for peep-toes in every “must-have” color.
Maybe this shopping season, you’ll consider putting your best foot forward to refresh your spring
wardrobe and help others. ToMs shoes (www.toms.com) was founded in 2006 on the
commitment that for every pair of shoes purchased a pair would be sent to a child in need.
The company outfits children in footwear to allow them to attend school. Without shoes,
a child is often considered “out of uniform,” and unable to enter a classroom.
A purchase from ToMs could be the way for you and a very grateful stranger miles and
miles away to do more in life.

4. In Your
Corner
Whether you’re looking for easy listening to accompany a sunday afternoon stroll, or insightful ideas to get you through
the heart of rush-hour traffic, here are a few suggestions for downloadable audio books that share ideas, advice and
options to consider as you plan your financial future:
* Money Girl’s Guideincluding IRAs, 401(k)s, insurance and annuities and Invest for a Secure Future sortstothrough a number of the
investment choices,
to Retirement Planning: Strategies to Save
in an informative and practical voice, help women achieve
retirement lifestyle they deserve.
* their financial Living Expenses for Retirement: Planning How to Live their financial Post-Work Life enables overestimate their gauge
Determining
situation by highlighting how many people underestimate
Well in Your
needs in retirement and
listeners to better
prospective resources.
* The Number: Afinancial destiny. It brings commonsenseAbout thelife for everyoneLifefrom those accustomed toresponsibility andto those
control of their
Completely Different Way to Think
ideas to
Rest of Your
—
urges people to assume
financial jargon
take
who haven’t begun to consider their approach to retirement planning.
This information is being provided solely as a courtesy and is for educational purposes only. Penn Mutual makes no endorsement of or representation as to the completeness
or accuracy of the information provided.
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The Money Muse
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According to the IRs, the average American tax refund Doing more sometimes requires doing less, at least for
for tax year 2010 is about $3,000, a slight increase over a time, and nearly always requires planning. My tax
the previous year (Cha-ching!). no matter the size of my refund is a little boost that can help me achieve what I
tax refund, I can’t help but feel as though I’ve hit the really want over the long haul. sure, it’s oK to indulge a
lottery, if even for just a moment or two. My mind races bit. I’ve set aside some cash for a short spring trip and a
with ideas about how to spend this windfall. wardrobe refresh (but not an overhaul) to go along with
it. But most of my refund is earmarked for savings and
I am, after all, on sound financial footing. Life insurance? investments.
(Check.) Contribute the maximum to my 401(k)? (Check.)
savings? (yes, indeed.) Credit card debt? (Zero, thanks With the market instability over the last couple of years,
very much.) And, after an annual review of my finances my children’s 529 plans took a hit. We may consider
with my financial professional, I’ve made a couple of increasing our monthly contributions. After a call to my
adjustments to help assure my plan is on track with financial professional, she suggested we review some
some of the recent changes in my life. of our other assets, like our life insurance, to see how
these may be used to supplement our college savings. I
It would appear I am in a good position to throw caution am confident all of these steps will help me get what I
to the wind and have some fun. Then reality strikes. want now and most of all, what I desire for myself and
experts say home values have yet to hit rock bottom. my family in the future.
With oil prices climbing steadily, I loathe filling up at the
pump. And, unemployment news continues to rattle me. yours,
I am not a pessimist. I tend to maintain a sunny outlook
The Money Muse
when the forecast calls for gray skies. But I have to
honestly assess the present situation and use my money Investing involves certain risks, including loss of value. The above
wisely to make the most of my life. story is for illustrative purposes only and is not a guarantee of future
performance or success. Life insurance policy loans and withdrawals
will reduce a policy’s stated cash value and death benefits.
© 2011 The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Philadelphia, 19172 www.pennmutual.com
PM1474 04/11
A1CD-0406-07