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The largest life insurance companies
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Life insurance is designed to financially provide for your loved ones if you pass away. As such an important part of many Americans’ financial plans, policyholders typically want to make sure their life insurance provider is financially stable and well-respected. Researching the largest life insurance companies may help you find some of the best life insurance companies on the market. Many life insurance policyholders enjoy the peace of mind from doing business with the largest providers on the market. In fact, the top 10 largest life insurance providers account for nearly 54% of market share.
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Whole life insurance combines life insurance with an investment component.
- Coverage for life
- Tax-deferred savings benefit if premiums are paid
- 3 variations of permanent insurance: whole life, universal life and variable life include investment component
Term life insurance is precisely what the name implies: an insurance policy that is good for a specific term of time.
- Fixed premium over term
- No savings benefits
- Outliving policy or policy cancellation results in no money back
This advertising widget is powered by HomeInsurance.com, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. HomeInsurance.com LLC services are only available in states where it is licensed and insurance coverage through HomeInsurance.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
List of life insurance companies
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) keeps an updated list of the largest life insurance companies. The list is ordered by market share, calculated based on the value of premiums written per year.
Northwestern Mutual is the largest life insurance company, according to 2021 NAIC data, holding nearly 9% of market share. Northwestern Mutual is followed closely by New York Life Group and Metropolitan Group, holding 8.3% and 7.18% of market share, respectively. Also on the list are many other life insurance companies you will likely find familiar.
| Rank | Company | Market share | Premiums written (billions) | J.D. Power rating (776 industry average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern Mutual Group | 8.93% | 14.271 | 807/1,000 |
| 2 | New York Life Group | 8.30% | 13.264 | 777/1,000 |
| 3 | Metropolitan Group | 7.18% | 11.476 | 756/1,000 |
| 4 | Prudential of America Group | 6.66% | 10.644 | 753/1,000 |
| 5 | Mass Mutual Life Insurance Group | 6.29% | 10.042 | 782/1,000 |
| 6 | Lincoln National Group | 5.20% | 8.301 | 773/1,000 |
| 7 | State Farm | 3.29% | 5.254 | 822/1,000 |
| 8 | John Hancock Group | 3.15% | 5.039 | 781/1,000 |
| 9 | Guardian Life Group | 2.84% | 4.533 | 775/1,000 |
| 10 | Pacific Life Group | 2.84% | 4.533 | 801/1,000 |
Choosing small vs. large life insurance companies
When choosing the best life insurance company, is it best to stick with an insurer on the list of life insurance companies who write the most premiums? Not necessarily. There are certainly advantages to going with a major insurer, but taking a look at smaller companies is, at the very least, worthy of consideration.
What to look for beyond size
The most obvious reason to go with a large life insurance company is that they typically have more financial assets and, therefore, probably have an easier time achieving financial stability. A company’s financial stability rating is a good indicator of the company’s historic ability to pay out claims. Choosing a company with a high financial strength score may provide peace of mind when buying life insurance, as it is considered a financial product.
AM Best rates the ability of insurance companies to meet their insurance obligations on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor). The financial strength scores of A++ (Superior) and A+ (Excellent) are highly coveted.
There are other factors to consider, as well. Things like a company’s business ethics, customer service, community endeavors and technology development are all things that can help one company to stand out over another.
Choosing a large life insurance company
Large life insurance companies also tend to have more years in the business. Northwestern Mutual, for example, the biggest life insurance company in 2021, was founded in 1857. With more than a century and a half writing policies, this company is a leader in the industry with a strong track record of policyholder satisfaction.
The digital tools offered by large life insurers are often superior to those offered by smaller competitors. For example, you might be able to manage your life insurance policy through a smartphone app or get instant quotes online from a company that has the resources to put into these features. Smaller companies may not have the budget to develop advanced technological tools.
On a similar note, larger life insurance companies can sometimes offer easier access to customer service channels. You may be able to get in touch with a company representative without having to pick up the phone, thanks to mobile apps and live web chat. But if you would rather dial in, larger companies typically extend phone hours or even provide 24/7 support.
Choosing a small life insurance company
On the other hand, small life insurance companies can sometimes have the upper hand by providing more tailored and personalized customer service. If you do business with a small life insurer, you might work with the same representative for years or even decades. This type of relationship may offer better recommendations for your individual needs – not to mention possibly providing friendlier and more personal service overall.
Smaller life insurance companies sometimes provide more specialized coverage. For example, some small life insurers are created specifically for certain groups such as military members or educators. A small specialty life insurer might also be a good choice if you are looking for a very precise type of coverage, such as final expense insurance.
Last but not least, if you have been denied coverage from a major life insurance company, it is worth asking around with smaller competitors. While large life insurers can afford to turn down customers, small companies may be more flexible in order to win business. It is possible that a smaller insurer may be willing to accept greater risk than a larger insurance company.