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Life insurance company reviews

Find 100+ comprehensive life insurance reviews in one place

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By

Katia Iervasi
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Finder’s life insurance experts spent over 500 hours researching 100 life insurance companies, helping you narrow down the 780+ insurers available. Read unbiased, expert reviews on the top life insurers with key factors to consider, including types of policies, coverage comparisons, customer satisfaction ratings and more.

Compare 100+ life insurance company reviews

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Who are the best life insurance companies?

Compare life insurance companies

Explore top-rated life insurance companies’ perks and benefits, and select view rates to get a quote.

Ask an expert: What is the #1 factor to consider when choosing a life insurance company?

David Meltzer

David Meltzer
CEO East Insurance Group

You want to go with companies that are financially capable. You’re likely expecting to be with them for the long-term, so you’d want to make sure they’re capable of providing for you financially in times of need. They should be able to withstand the volatility and unpredictability of financial markets.

You’ll know this by looking at a company’s financial strength ratings posted on AM Best.

Also, keep in mind your initial price quote may change once your policy has been written up. Your safest bet would be to compare multiple quotes and then assess what would be best for you.

Largest life insurance companies in the US

These are the biggest players in the life insurance market, according to the 2018 National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) market share report. Together, these insurers wrote $166 billion in direct premiums.

These companies also have high financial ratings from AM Best, keeping plenty of cash reserves to pay claims. Their ratings can reassure your loved ones who may not need to file a claim for years to come.

RankCompanyMarket shareDirect premiums writtenAM Best ratingLife insurance types
1MetLife6.53%$10,877,336,635A+Group life insurance:
  • Term life
  • Universal life
  • Variable universal life
2Northwestern Mutual6.33%$10,550,806,418A++
  • Term life
  • Universal life
  • Whole life
3New York Life5.63%$9,385,843,168A++
  • Term life
  • Whole life
4Prudential5.50%$9,170,882,825A+
  • Term life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
5Lincoln Financial Group5.30%$8,825,313,514A+
  • Term life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
6MassMutual4.13%$6,874,972,173A++
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Variable universal life
7Transamerica2.92%$4,867,310,545A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
8John Hancock2.80%$4,657,312,330A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
9State Farm2.78%$4,636146885A++
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
10Securian Financial
(formerly Minnesota Mutual)		2.66%$4,426,864,482A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
11Guardian Life2.43%$4,055,519,169A++
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Variable universal life
12Pacific Life Group2.26%$3,770,583,797A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
13Nationwide2.02%$3,365,468,867A++
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
14AIG2.01%$3,346,569,919A
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Variable universal life
15AXA1.86%$3,097,395,418A
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Variable universal life
16Voya Financial1.60%$2,668,108,182N/A
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
17Brighthouse1.52%$2,525,047,001A
  • Term life
  • Universal life
18Protective Life1.86%$3,097,395,418A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
19Primerica1.43%$2,376,600,888A+
  • Term life
20Globe Life
(formerly Torchmark Corporation)		1.42%$2,367,071,744A+
  • Term life
  • Children’s whole life
21Sammons
(Midland National & North American Company)		1.40%$2,326,222,148A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
22UNUM Group1.38%$2,295,140,931A
  • Term life
  • Whole life
23Mutual of Omaha1.37%$2,287,294,687A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life
  • Universal life
24Principal Financial1.27%$2,108,396,107A+
  • Term life
  • Universal life
  • Indexed universal life
  • Variable universal life
25Penn Mutual1.14%$1,897,658,081A+
  • Term life
  • Whole life

How to compare life insurance companies

When you’re researching insurers, it’s important to get the whole picture on what each offers.

Policies offered

Take the time to find the right policy now, ensuring that your family stays fully protected. You can’t always switch life insurance while keeping the same coverage and premium.

Two areas to consider:

  1. Look for companies with the type of life insurance you need, like a whole or term policy.
  2. Consider whether the policy features and coverage amounts give plenty to pay any debts and support your family.

Riders offered

Riders are add-ons to your life insurance policy that create wider coverage, and different life insurers offer different riders.

For example, a conversion rider on a term life policy lets you convert to a permanent policy without taking another medical exam.

Customer ratings and financial strength

Check out J.D. Power rankings and customer reviews to see how easy it is to work with a company. Too many complaints may mean a headache when managing your policy — or worse when your beneficiaries file a claim.

Look into each life insurer’s financial strength from independent agencies like AM Best to understand how it manages its cash reserves. A company with an A rating or higher can offer loved ones financial peace of mind.

Payments and cost

Check your billing options and how long the application process will take. If you want immediate coverage, you probably should look for a policy that doesn’t require a medical exam.

When comparing costs, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Each policy should have the same coverage, term lengths and riders to ensure you’re getting an accurate comparison.

Bottom line

The right life insurance policy can protect you and your family’s assets, offer peace of mind and provide financial security after you die.

To find a policy that fits your needs at the right price, compare life insurers and get quotes from your top choices

  1. Life/Fraternal Market Share report, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 2018

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