Quick answer: Well-known US life insurers include Northwestern Mutual, MassMutual, New York Life, Prudential, Guardian Life, State Farm, Nationwide, Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG’s life business), Lincoln Financial and Transamerica. The mutual insurers on this list, such as Northwestern Mutual, New York Life, MassMutual and Guardian, hold some of the highest financial strength ratings in the industry. The best company for you is the one that offers the type of policy you need at a fair price, with strong ratings and a good complaint record.
An earlier version of this article said five of these companies had “the highest rating from all four of the major credit rating agencies”. That was not accurate: even the strongest-rated insurers usually hold the top grade from some agencies and the second-highest from others. It also listed AIG, which has since separated from its life insurance business. Both points are corrected below, and we have removed generic claims about pricing and service that we could not verify.
What life insurance is
Life insurance is a contract between you (the policyholder) and an insurance company. You pay premiums, and the insurer pays an agreed sum to your chosen beneficiaries when the insured person dies. Beneficiaries can use the money for funeral costs, debts, a mortgage or everyday living expenses.
The main types are:
- Term life insurance: covers you for a set period, such as 10, 20 or 30 years. It is usually the cheapest way to buy a large amount of cover, and it pays nothing if you outlive the term.
- Whole life insurance: lasts for your whole life, with fixed premiums and a cash value that grows over time. Some mutual insurers pay dividends on these policies, though dividends are not guaranteed.
- Universal life insurance: permanent cover with more flexible premiums and death benefits. Indexed and variable versions link part of the cash value to market performance and carry more risk.
Not every company sells every type. For example, some insurers on this list focus on term and universal life and do not sell whole life, so check the product range before you ask for a quote.
How we chose and how ratings work
We kept the companies from the original article and checked that each still sells life insurance in the US. The list is not a ranking.
Financial strength ratings show an independent agency’s view of an insurer’s ability to pay claims. The four main agencies use different scales:
- AM Best: A++ is the highest grade.
- Fitch: AAA is the highest.
- S&P Global: AAA is the highest; AA+ is the next grade down.
- Moody’s: Aaa is the highest; Aa1 is the next grade down.
Ratings can change at any time. Check the current rating on the agency’s website or the insurer’s financial information page before you buy.
The ten companies
Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual is a mutual company, owned by its policyholders, and one of the largest US life insurers. Its financial information page, checked in October 2026, lists A++ from AM Best and AAA from Fitch (both the highest grades), and Aa1 from Moody’s and AA+ from S&P Global (both second-highest). The company describes these as the highest financial strength ratings currently awarded to any US life insurer. It sells term, whole and universal life insurance through its financial advisers.
MassMutual
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is also a mutual insurer. Its financial summary lists A++ from AM Best, AA+ from Fitch, Aa3 from Moody’s and AA+ from S&P Global, all with stable outlooks. That is strong, but not the top grade from all four agencies, as our original article claimed. MassMutual sells term, whole and universal life insurance.
New York Life
New York Life, founded in 1845, is one of the oldest and largest mutual life insurers in the US. In January 2026, it said all four agencies had affirmed its ratings: A++ from AM Best, AAA from Fitch, Aa1 from Moody’s and AA+ from S&P Global. AM Best affirmed its A++ rating again in July 2026. It sells term, whole and universal life insurance mainly through its agents.
Prudential Financial
Prudential is a large publicly listed US insurer. In 2026, it reorganised its individual life business to focus on term life, indexed universal life and variable universal life products. Its ratings are strong but below the top grades held by the mutual insurers above, so check the current figures on Prudential’s investor relations pages.
Guardian Life
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is a mutual insurer. Its investor relations materials, current as of 2026, list A++ from AM Best, AA+ from S&P Global and Aa1 from Moody’s. Guardian sells term, whole and universal life insurance, along with disability and dental cover.
State Farm
State Farm, the largest US car and home insurer, also sells life insurance through its agents, including term, whole and universal life policies. It can be convenient if you already hold other State Farm policies and want to deal with one agent.
Nationwide
Nationwide sells term, whole, universal, indexed universal and variable universal life insurance. Some term policies can be bought online without a medical exam, up to a limit, while other policies are sold through agents and financial professionals.
Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG’s life business)
The original article listed AIG. AIG separated its life and retirement business as Corebridge Financial, which listed on the stock exchange in 2022, and AIG sold its remaining stake in May 2026. Life policies once sold under the AIG name are now part of Corebridge, mainly through American General Life Insurance Company. In March 2026, Corebridge and Equitable Holdings agreed to merge, with the combined company to operate under the Equitable name. Equitable said in August 2026 that it expected the deal to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial sells term life, indexed universal life and variable universal life insurance, along with annuities and workplace benefits. It does not focus on whole life insurance. Its ratings are lower than those of the mutual insurers above, so check the current ratings before you buy.
Transamerica
Transamerica is owned by the Aegon group. It sells term life insurance, including its Trendsetter term policies, as well as whole life, indexed universal life and final expense policies. Aegon reported strong growth in Transamerica’s individual life sales in the first half of 2026.
Factors to consider when choosing a life insurance company
- Coverage options: decide whether you need term or permanent cover, how much and for how long, and check that the company sells it in your state.
- Financial strength: check ratings from AM Best, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P Global. A policy is only as good as the insurer’s ability to pay decades from now.
- Customer service and complaints: use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Consumer Insurance Search tool or your state insurance department to see complaint information.
- Premiums: prices for the same cover can vary widely between companies, so get several quotes. The cheapest quote is not always the best value if the coverage or the company is weaker.
- Riders and conversion: check whether a term policy can be converted to permanent cover later and which riders, such as accelerated death benefits, are included.
- Advice: if you are considering a permanent or investment-linked policy, ask a licensed, independent professional to explain the costs and how the cash value works.
For related cover, see our guides to the largest US health insurance companies and the top car insurance companies in the USA, and our overview of top US finance companies.
This article is general information, not insurance or financial advice. Policy terms, prices and ratings change; check the insurer’s official documents and current ratings before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Which life insurance company has the highest ratings?
Northwestern Mutual and New York Life both hold A++ from AM Best and AAA from Fitch, the top grades from those agencies, plus Aa1 from Moody’s and AA+ from S&P Global. Check the agencies’ websites for the latest ratings, as they can change.
Is term or whole life insurance better?
It depends on your goal. Term life gives a large amount of cover cheaply for a set period, such as while you have children at home or a mortgage. Whole life costs much more but lasts for life and builds cash value. Many people only need term cover.
What happened to AIG life insurance?
AIG’s life and retirement business became Corebridge Financial, and AIG sold its last shares in 2026. Corebridge has agreed to merge with Equitable, and the combined company is to use the Equitable name once the deal closes.
What is a mutual life insurance company?
A mutual insurer is owned by its policyholders rather than by shareholders. Northwestern Mutual, MassMutual, New York Life and Guardian are mutual companies. Eligible participating policyholders may receive dividends, though these are not guaranteed.
How can I check an insurer’s complaint record?
Use the NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search tool, which shows complaint data for insurers, or contact your state insurance department.
Checked in October 2026 against the insurers’ own published ratings (Northwestern Mutual, MassMutual, New York Life, Guardian), AM Best’s July 2026 affirmation for New York Life, AIG’s May 2026 sale of its Corebridge stake, the March 2026 Corebridge and Equitable merger announcement and Equitable’s second-quarter 2026 results.
