OUR STORIES


Pioneering a Legacy
1868-1900

Vision and Promise
1901-1960

Innovating for the Future
1961-1996

Strength to Grow
1997-2018


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History Timeline

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FEATURED

Rising from the Ashes

A series of fortuitous decisions and one act of bravery helped preserve Pacific Mutual when tragedy struck.

FEATURED

Welcome to L.A.

With a new location, a reinvigorated Pacific Mutual continues to innovate and grow.

FEATURED

Non-Cancellable and Non-Prepared

The company hadn't priced premiums in a way that fully covered its liabilities, and it had at least 49,000 non-cancellable policies in force by 1930. Payments were being made of $4 million a year.

FEATURED

Failure Not an Option

As the company began its rehabilitation, it focused on building up its reserves and ensuring that its investments were sound. Though insurance in force initially declined slightly, in the 1940s the company picked up steam and expanded into new territory.

A Bond of Blood

Pacific Life continues to host American Red Cross blood drive events at the home office to accept donations for the Newport Beach community.

No Birth Date? No Problem!

Longtime employee Kathryn Heimstra sometimes tackled issues that weren't necessarily Pacific Life's responsibility.

He Got Out Ahead of the Fire

Without Richard J. Mier's quick thinking and bravery, it's quite possible that Pacific Life may not exist today.

Two Surprising Growth Strategies

Told "it can't be done" by industry experts, William Rothaermel pushed forward, refining the field recruitment and training process.

Big-Name Beneficiaries

Famous beneficiaries included stars of stage and screen. Among them was French theater actress Sarah Bernhardt, who took out a $5,000 accident insurance policy.

Home Office Hero

Following the merger with Conservative Life in 1906, Pacific Mutual gained many experienced and valuable agents.

Pacific Mutual: Ladies' Choice

For women in the early 1900s, opportunities to save for old age weren't exactly around every corner, and companies couldn't be counted on to treat women fairly.

Lessons in Life Insurance

The first class of 130 students (including at least one woman) graduated in 1915. The school quickly grew, and by 1927 it had enrolled more than 10,000 students at an average of 800 per year.

1950s Billing Innovation Goes Viral

Within a few months, insurance industry peers including the Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Company of Tokyo and the Veterans Administration for National Service Life Insurance started asking Pacific Mutual to share its "Budget-Pack" plan.

They Never Met, But Miss Jones Was Part of the Family

Over the years it seemed perfectly natural to keep her friend posted on the family's progress. Miss Jones 'watched' the boys grow, and rejoiced in their successes in high school and at college.

A Lot Worth Celebrating

President George Cochran declared the motto of that year to be "Economy, Efficiency and More Business."

The Right Person for the Wrong Time

An attorney and member of the company's board of directors, Asa Call had a reputation as an expert for helping companies in distress.

Standing Tall Among the Trees

Qualifying for the Big Tree Club was no small feat, but the real challenge lay in consistently qualifying for the club.

Bureau of Missing Policyholders

Lavonne Anderson, Ann West and Julie Piraro have been the Policy Payments Dept.'s principal searchers for missing policyholders.

Accident, Disability, Illness, Old Age, Death? No Problem!

None covered all five policies in one contract – until Pacific Mutual.

The Apple Doesn't Fall from the (Big) Tree

Like his father, John Henry Russell had a major impact on Pacific Mutual – so much so that the company named an award after him.

Selling Insurance Like a Girl—and Beating the Competition

The wise general agent of the future is going to spend more time bringing women into his organization.

Financing Dreams: Pacific Mutual's credit union

Membership had many benefits, including financial planning, quarterly dividends, savings through payroll deduction, and low-interest car and home loans.

Now Broadcasting "Builders of the West"

Pacific Life was the first insurance company to advertise life insurance on television on the West Coast.

Pacific Mutual: A Careful Investor

The company based real estate investment decisions on several considerations: "quality, distribution by character and by location, operation costs, lease arrangements, types of tenant, future development opportunities and amortization basis."

Family as the Recipe for Success

When Joe Gantz took over the reins in Cincinnati in 1918 the agency had two agents and ranked 53rd in the company. By 1928 the writing was on the wall.

This site was designed as a reference tool to commemorate Pacific Life's 150-year history between 1868-2018. For the latest company info and news, please visit pacificlife.com.