Life Insurance Company Ratings
Following is a list of the best life insurance companies in the United States according to their credit ratings. The ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of financial records and represent an opinion of agency regarding the ability of the company to meet financial obligations to policyholders.
Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual, the leading life insurance company in the US, offers a comprehensive range of life, health, disability and long-term care insurance products, annuities, financial and retirement planning, asset management, business services, and more. The company maintains the highest financial strength ratings from AM Best, Moody’s and Fitch. Today Northwestern Mutual has $2.1 trillion of life insurance in force and employs about 8,000 people.
| A.M. Best | Outlook | |
| Financial Strength Rating (FSR) | A++ (Superior) | Stable |
| Long Term Issuer | aaa (Exceptional) | Stable |
| Moody's | Fitch | Standard & Poor's |
| Aaa | AAA | AA+ |
Headquarters address:
720 East Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202-4797
Phone number: 414-271-1444
Website: www.northwesternmutual.com
New York Life
New York Life Insurance Company is one of the leading mutual life insurers the United States with over $1.1 billion of individual life insurance in force. The company offers term, whole and universal life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, and other services. New York Life holds the highest financial strength ratings from three major agencies.
| A.M. Best's | Outlook | |
| Financial Strength Rating (FSR) | A++ (Superior) | Stable |
| Long Term Issuer | aaa (Exceptional) | Stable |
| Moody's Investors Service | Fitch | Standard & Poor's |
| Aaa | AAA | AA+ |
Headquarters address:
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Phone number: 212-576-7000
Website: www.newyorklife.com
TIAA
TIAA-CREF Life are among the highest rated insurers in America. In October 2014, Moody's downgraded the financial strength ratings of TIAA and TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company to Aa1 from Aaa. TIAA stopped selling new life insurance policies as of January 2020.
| A.M. Best | Outlook | |
| Financial Strength Rating (FSR) | A++ (Superior) | Stable |
| Long Term Issuer Credit Rating | aaa (Exceptional) | Stable |
| Moody's | Fitch | Standard & Poor's |
| Aa1 | AAA | AA+ |
Headquarters address:
730 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017-3206
Phone number: 800-223-1200
Website: www.tiaa-cref.org
USAA Life Insurance Company
USAA Life Insurance is among the best companies in the insurance industry. It is one of the top 25 life insurers in the United States based on life insurance in force. USAA life and health insurance policies, and retirement products are available to everyone, not only active military members, veterans and their families. The policies are different from most offerings since they do not contain a war-exclusion clause. USAA Life operates as a subsidiary of United Services Automobile Association.
| A.M. Best | Outlook | |
| Financial Strength Rating (FSR) | A++ (Superior) | Stable |
| Long Term Issuer | aaa (Exceptional) | Stable |
| Moody's Investors Service | Fitch | Standard & Poor's |
| Aa1 | Not Rated | AA+ |
Headquarters address:
9800 Fredericksburg Road
San Antonio, TX 78288, USA
Phone number: 210-498-8000
Website: www.usaa.com
The Guardian Life
Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is one of the five largest mutual life insurance companies in the U.S., with total life insurance in-force of over $560 billion. The company offers life and disability insurance, dental, vision, accident and critical illness insurance, annuities, IRAs, brokerage accounts & investment solutions, and more. The Guardian has excellent insurance ratings from the four leading agencies.
| A.M. Best | Outlook | |
| Financial Strength Rating | A++ (Superior) | Stable |
| Long Term Issuer | aaa (Exceptional) | Stable |
| Moody's | Fitch | Standard & Poor's |
| Aa2 (Excellent) | AA+ (Very Strong) | AA+ (Very Strong) |
Address: 7 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 598 8000
www.glic.com
Best Life Insurance Companies by Ratings
Following are the top rated life insurance companies in America. The two U.S. life insurers, New York Life and Northwestern Mutual, hold the highest ratings from three major agencies.
| Company | A.M. Best | Moody’s | Fitch | Standard & Poor's |
| Northwerstern Mutual | A++ | Aaa | AAA | AA+ |
| New York Life | A++ | Aaa | AAA | AA+ |
| TIAA | A++ | Aa1 | AAA | AA+ |
| Massachusetts Mutual | A++ | Aa3 | AA+ | AA+ |
| Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America | A++ | Aa2 | AA+ | AA+ |
| State Farm Life & Accident Assurance Co | A++ | Aa1 | AA | |
| State Farm Life Ins Company | A++ | Aa1 | AA | |
| USAA Life Insurance Company | A++ | Aa1 | AA+ | |
| C.M. Life Insurance Company | A++ | Aa3 | AA+ | AA+ |
| MML Bay State Life Insurance | A++ | Aa3 | AA+ | AA+ |
| Thrivent Financial for Lutherans | A++ | Aa2 | AA+ | |
| Knights of Columbus | A+ | AA+ | ||
| Sun Life & Health Insurance Company | A+ | NR | AA | |
| Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | AA | AA |
| Minnesota Life Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | AA | AA- |
| Western & Southern Life | A+ | Aa3 | AA | AA- |
| Integrity Life Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | AA | AA- |
| Columbus Life Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | AA | AA- |
| Securian Life Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | AA | AA- |
| Metropolitan Life Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | AA- | AA- |
| Prudential Life Insurance Company of America | A+ | Aa3 | AA- | AA- |
| Pruco Life Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | AA- | AA- |
| RiverSource Life Insurance Company | A+ | Aa3 | A+ | |
| Penn Mutual | A+ | Aa3 | A+ | |
| John Hancock Life Insurance Company (USA) | A+ | A1 | AA- | AA- |
| Pacific Life Insurance Company | A+ | A1 | AA- | AA- |
| Principal Life Insurance Company | A+ | A1 | AA- | A+ |
| Principal National Life Insurance | A+ | A1 | AA- | A+ |
| MONY Life Insurance Company | A+ | A1 | A+ | A+ |
| Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America | A+ | A1 | AA | |
| PRUCO Life Insurance Company of New Jersey | A+ | NR | AA- | AA- |
| Banner Life Insurance Company | A+ | AA- | AA- | |
| William Penn Life Insurance Co. of NY | A+ | AA- | AA- | |
| Lafayette Life Insurance Company | A+ | AA | AA- | |
| Lincoln National Life Insurance Company | A+ | A1 | A+ | AA- |
| Protective Life Insurance Company | A+ | A1 | A+ | AA- |
| West Coast Life Insurance Company | A+ | A1 | A+ | AA- |
| American United Life Insurance Company | A+ | AA- | ||
| State Life Insurance Company | A+ | AA- | ||
| Primerica Life Insurance Company | A+ | AA- | ||
| United American Insurance Company | A+ | A+ | AA- | |
| Nationwide Life Insurance Company | A+ | A1 | A+ | |
| United of Omaha Life Insurance | A+ | A1 | A+ | |
| Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance | A+ | A1 | A+ | |
| Midland National Life Insurance Company | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
| North American Company Life & Health | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
| Cincinnati Life Insurance Company | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
| Companion Life Insurance Company | A+ | A+ | ||
| United World Life Insurance Company | A+ | A+ | ||
| Wilco Life Insurance Company | A+ | A+ | ||
| Texas Life Insurance Company | A+ | A+ | ||
| Allstate Life Insurance Company | A+ | A2 | A+ | |
| Hartford Life & Accident Insurance | A+ | A2 | A+ | |
| Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company | A+ | A2 | ||
| Zurich American Life Insurance Company | A+ | A3 | A | |
| American Heritage Life Insurance Company | A+ | A |
A.M. Best Ratings
A.M. Best Company, established in 1899, is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating agency. The company is headquartered in Oldwick, NJ with additional offices in the UK, Hong Kong, Dubai, Mexico and Singapore. A.M. Best uses letter grades ranging from A++ (the highest) to F (companies in liquidation).
A++ and A+ (Superior) - Assigned to companies that have a superior ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.
A and A- (Excellent) - Assigned to companies that have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.
B++ and B+ (Very Good) - Assigned to companies that have a good ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.
Standard & Poor’s Ratings
Standard & Poor’s is one of the leading providers of independent credit risk research and benchmarks. The company has over 1,400 analysts in 25 countries worldwide. In 2021, S&P published more than 1.2 million credit ratings.
AAA = extremely strong
AA = very strong
A = strong
BBB = good
Moody's Ratings
Moody's is a leading provider of credit ratings, research, and risk analysis. The company employs over 9,900 people and has a presence in 33 countries. Moody's Corporation was founded in 1900 and is based in New York.
Aaa = exceptional
Aa = excellent
A = good
Baa = adequate
Fitch Ratings
Fitch is one of the Big Three international credit rating agencies with approximately 2,000 employees and 50 offices worldwide. The company was established on December 24, 1913 and is headquartered in New York City and London.
AAA = exceptionally strong
AA = very strong
A = strong
BBB = good
Weiss Ratings
Weiss Ratings are based on a complex analysis of many factors including capitalization, investment safety, profitability, liquidity, and stability.
A = excellent
B = good
Last updated November 10, 2024