Life Insurance

Brighthouse Financial offers individual and family life insurance products and annuities. The company was established in 2016 after spinning off from parent company and longtime financial services and insurance provider MetLife, which stopped selling life insurance directly to consumers in March 2017. In 2023, Brighthouse and its subsidiaries issued more than $1.8 billion in life insurance premiums, finishing just outside the top 30 providers nationwide in market share.

The MarketWatch Guides team has researched 34 life insurance providers nationwide using our rigorous methodology. We offer this comprehensive review of Brighthouse Financial’s policy options, available add-ons, cost, financial strength and customer satisfaction to help you make an informed decision when you purchase coverage.

The MarketWatch Guides team reviews the life insurance company Foresters Financial.

Lincoln Financial is a Pennsylvania-based company that offers life insurance, annuities, retirement products and group benefits. Founded in 1905 and operating under the Lincoln National Corporation holding company, Lincoln Financial is the nation’s sixth-largest life insurer by market share. We at the MarketWatch Guides team analyzed the company based on factors such as overall coverage, brand trust and customer convenience.

Life insurance can offer invaluable financial protection for loved ones if you pass away. Learn more about whether you should consider Lincoln Financial when it’s time to purchase life insurance.

A life insurance policy can offer financial protection for your dependents or other named beneficiaries by paying for lost income, debts and final expenses after your passing. The MarketWatch Guides team considers Northwestern Mutual a solid choice for life insurance if you want to tailor a plan based on your needs, as it makes it easy to work with a financial advisor to determine coverage.

Our team has evaluated Northwestern Mutual based on its policy features, cost and other relevant details so you can determine whether it is the best life insurance company for your situation.

The MarketWatch Guides team reviews five of the top providers offering instant-issue life insurance

The MarketWatch Guides team selected Mutual of Omaha as the top life insurer in Minnesota.

The MarketWatch Guides team picked Mutual of Omaha as the best life insurance company in Florida.

The MarketWatch Guides team reviews the top three life insurance companies for people with diabetes.

Compare life insurance plans from top life insurers in Georgia

Our comprehensive guide helps you compare the benefits, drawbacks, and reputations of the top life insurance providers in California.

The MarketWatch Guides team details what you need to know about life insurance after a DUI arrest or conviction.

We selected Ethos as our top life insurance provider for people over 50 years old. Bestow, Fidelity Life and Nationwide are some of our other top picks.

Smokers generally pay higher premiums for life insurance, but tobacco users still have options for coverage.

Assurance is an online insurance marketplace that offers a straightforward process for obtaining quotes and comparing coverage from many providers. You may benefit from Assurance if you want life insurance coverage quickly since most available policies do not require a medical exam.

To help you decide the best life insurance for your needs, we at the MarketWatch Guides team have assessed Assurance’s offerings based on cost, policy types and other important details.

Key person, also known as key man life insurance, is a specialized policy a business can purchase for an owner or partner, key executive or another employee considered critical to business operations.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team have researched the best life insurance companies nationwide, including an in-depth coverage analysis to offer the information you need to make an informed decision on key person life insurance coverage.

Your employer may offer voluntary life insurance as an optional benefit. Read on to learn what voluntary life insurance is and how it could benefit you.

To find the healthiest and unhealthiest counties in America, the Marketwatch Guides team looked at factors that affect health, such as air pollution, grocery stores, income and preventable hospitalization rates. These factors can lead to increased doctor visits and ultimately have an impact on quality of life factors that may affect health and life insurance rates.

Despite maintaining life insurance policies with an average face value of $206,000, many Americans still believe they need more coverage — and the stats show they’re right.

Life insurance rates typically increase with age as health issues become more common

Many estate plans include life insurance in one way or another. Beyond providing immediate funds to help loved ones cover funeral costs and debts, life insurance can help you pass on your assets more efficiently.

Life insurance is used in estate planning to fund trusts, contribute to charitable gifts and establish succession plans for business owners. Choosing the best life insurance company and policy type for your situation is key to optimizing your life insurance estate planning strategy.

A life insurance retirement plan (LIRP) offers a cash value component that can help supplement traditional retirement savings accounts

A life insurance policy can be more than just a safety net for your loved ones — you can use your policy as a way to donate to a charity of your choosing.

Mutual of Omaha is our pick for the best no-exam life insurance provider in 2025.

The average cost of a Ethos term life insurance policy is $22.32 for a 35-year-old, $44.25 for a 45-year-old and $69.54 for a 55-year-old.

Overfunding a permanent life insurance policy can lead to adverse tax effects. Learn more about what a MEC is and how to avoid it.

The life insurance application process can be lengthy, but it doesn’t have to be difficult

Click here for a free quote from TruStage.

Gerber Life focuses on children’s life insurance products but also offers other insurance policies from other affiliated companies, including riders and adult coverage. In this Gerber Life Insurance review, learn more about coverage options, costs and company reputation.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team have reviewed the best life insurance companies nationwide. Compare our picks for top life insurance providers to Gerber Life with our in-depth review.

Founded in 1847, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company is one of the nation’s oldest and most stable insurance companies. Policyholders, not stockholders, own the company and have received annual dividends for nearly 175 years. Based in Philadelphia, the company has a broad range of term life, whole life and universal life insurance offerings available in 50 states and Washington, D.C.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team have researched and reviewed the best life insurance providers nationwide. Our in-depth review of Penn Mutual life insurance includes available coverage options, costs and customer satisfaction scores.

Learn about coverage options and our recommended providers for life insurance if you or a loved one is overweight.

Pacific Life Insurance Company is one of America’s oldest insurers. It was founded in 1868, and after the Great Depression, policyholders voted to mutualize the company. It is known for offering strong financial stability, industry experience and having a range of insurance products, including life insurance.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team have analyzed the best life insurance companies nationwide. Learn more about the company in our Pacific Life Insurance review, including life insurance coverage options, policy costs and customer reviews.

A life insurance trust for your children provides structure and a path to financial peace of mind. Learn how these trusts can protect your heirs.

How much you pay for whole life insurance will depend on several factors. See how an insured person’s circumstances and needs affect the coverage costs.

Learn more about preferred and standard life insurance ratings to help you make an informed decision for a policy that’s best for you.

USAA stands out in the insurance industry for its financial products and services which are made to meet the needs of U.S. military service members. However, you might be surprised to learn that you don’t need to be a USAA member to qualify for USAA life insurance. In other words, you don’t need to be affiliated with the U.S. military to get coverage.

The company was founded in 1922 when a group of U.S. Army officers wanted to insure each other’s vehicles. Since then, it has become one of the industry’s most financially stable providers nationwide, earning the highest financial strength rating from independent credit rating agency AM Best.

USAA life insurance policies offer a range of coverage options for valuable military-specific benefits at no added cost for members, including life insurance coverage during wartime, severe injury benefits and the option to add coverage later without submitting the results of a new medical exam.

The face amount of a life insurance policy influences how much you’ll pay in premiums. See what else is affected by the face amount.

On average, a healthy 30-year-old can expect to pay $22 a month for an insurance policy with $250,000 in coverage

Separate your company from competitors by utilizing split dollar life insurance as a component of compensation for your key employees.

Non-smokers generally pay less than smokers for life insurance. Learn what factors contribute to the cost of life insurance.

You have several options when looking for a combined life insurance and long-term care policy. Our comprehensive guide will provide details.

Proceeds of a life insurance policy can build or contribute to a financial nest egg used to fund your child’s living expenses after you’re gone.

Disagreements over life insurance inheritance can be avoided with planning. This guide explains how to plan for the use of life insurance proceeds.

Life insurance can be used as an investment vehicle. But is it a good idea? Read more to find out.

Sometimes, it makes sense to have multiple life insurance policies. See how having a few life insurance policies can help you better support your family.

Guardian Life Insurance Company started issuing policies in 1860 and is one of America’s oldest and most financially stable insurers with a wide range of insurance plans. It is headquartered in New York City, has the highest possible A.M. Best financial strength rating of A++ and is licensed to sell policies in all 50 states.

Is that enough to place Guardian’s policies among the top coverage options for your needs? We at the Marketwatch Guides team reviewed Guardian’s policies, cost, financial strength and customer satisfaction to help you compare it to other top life insurers you may be considering. Keep reading to find out how Guardian fared according to our objective rating methodology.

Aflac Insurance was founded in Georgia in 1955 as American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, eventually changing to the catchier Aflac moniker in 1989. The company currently serves more than 50 million customers worldwide with accident insurance, disability insurance and other similar products.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team have analyzed dozens of life insurance companies to help you choose a provider and policy that fits your needs. We discuss coverage options, policy riders and add-ons, customer satisfaction and brand trust. Learn more about Aflac life insurance below.

Knowing key life insurance terms can help you decide what type of policy is right for you and the amount of coverage you should choose.

Life insurance can provide a married couple with peace of mind and financial stability. Learn best practices for getting life insurance as a married couple.

Finding the right life insurance company to cover cancer should be based on the company’s financial stability and product flexibility.

With Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), you may be able to keep your term life insurance coverage after leaving the military as long as you continue to pay the premiums. This can provide veterans and their families with uninterrupted coverage.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team reviewed VGLI to help you decide whether it might be the right life insurance for you. We looked at its policy types, coverage, riders, financial security and more, according to our objective review standards. Here’s what you need to know to see if you qualify and what you can expect if you want to continue coverage.

In this MetLife insurance review, you can see details about the company’s policy options, customer satisfaction and more to decide whether to take out a policy. We at the Marketwatch Home Team have researched dozens of the top life insurance companies to help you make an informed decision about the right policy for you. Read on to learn our take on MetLife.

MassMutual Life Insurance offers multiple policy types and riders, dividends on whole life insurance, generous term conversion options and some of the highest third-party consumer ratings in the industry. It also scores highly among providers for its no-medical-exam policies and financial strength.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team thoroughly researched MassMutual to find out whether it’s one of the top life insurance providers you should consider. We rated and reviewed the provider on its policy and rider options, cost, customer service and financial stability among other factors.

John Hancock is a highly rated life insurance company with term and universal life policies, including a no-medical-exam term life option for people up to age 60. John Hancock also offers other financial products and services, including college savings plans, retirement advice and investment management, including socially responsible investment plans.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team reviewed top life insurance companies to help you get the coverage you need. John Hancock didn’t make our list of the best providers, but it may still be the right choice for your unique financial needs. We rated it on cost, coverage, brand trust and more.

Banner life insurance is a great option for those who prioritize customer service and term coverage for up to 40 years.

Wondering if you can buy life insurance on behalf of a loved one? Click here to get a quote.

AARP Life Insurance partners with New York Life Insurance Company, which underwrites life insurance for AARP members. New York Life was founded in 1845 and is headquartered in New York City. It is currently the nation’s second-largest life insurance company, with over $700 billion in assets based on total market share.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team researched, rated and ranked top life insurers according to our objective methodology. In this article, we provide insight into AARP’s life insurance offering. Keep reading to find out if its policies, costs, financial strength match your expectations and needs.

American International Group (AIG) is headquartered in New York and comprises several companies, including AIG Direct, American General Life Companies, VALIC and Corebridge Financial — the subsidiary that handles its health, accident and life insurance policies among other financial products.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team thoroughly researched AIG life insurance and compared it to other top life insurers according to our objective ranking methodology. This review covers its policy options, costs, customer service and financial stability to help you be confident in your decision on the provider and policy that best fits your needs.

Providing misleading information on a life insurance application can come back to haunt you. Learn the details about contestability.

Most millennials may want to consider life insurance as a part of their long-term financial plan.

Guaranteed universal life insurance provides lifelong coverage at a relatively low cost while still offering a guaranteed payout to your loved ones.

Converting or extending your term life policy can provide continued financial protection without applying for a new policy.

Denied claims on life insurance are not always final. Learn your options to ensure you receive the life insurance benefits you are due.

Learn how to access the cash in your permanent life insurance policy — and what you should know before you do.

Skydiving or racing cars don’t exclude you from all life insurance options. Explore ways to cover yourself and financially protect your loved ones.

The Voya life insurance company operations began in 1975 as ING Group and was rebranded in 2014. The company stopped offering policies to individuals in 2019 and now only focuses on term and whole life options as an employee benefit, primarily to mid and large-sized companies. It has 50,000 institutional clients and nearly 5.7 million individual retirement plan investors.

Voya partners with Reliastar Life Insurance Company to issue policies. Both have received solid AM Best financial strength ratings in recent years, and Reliastar has one of the lowest NAIC complaint indexes in the industry.

The company is headquartered in New York City and also offers workplace retirement planning, investment services, stop-loss and supplemental health insurance and other employee benefits plans.

Primerica Life Insurance Company is based in Duluth, Ga., and offers term life insurance policies throughout the U.S. and Canada and does not offer whole life insurance plans. Our team reviewed Primerica plans and coverage, riders, cost, reputation and more and gave the companies 3.8 out of 5 stars.

Understand the potential benefits of life insurance in our detailed guide. Your unique circumstances will determine the right type and amount for your family.

Annual renewable term life insurance fills an important gap for individuals and businesses with critical short-term needs and issues.

If you have HIV, living a healthy life and taking care of yourself make getting life insurance a real possibility.

Learn how to recover a policy that’s gone unclaimed so you don’t miss out on a potential payment

Comprehensive coverage for accidents offers peace of mind and financial support during unforeseen circumstances at a lower rate than life insurance.

Combining disability insurance with life insurance provides additional coverage for individuals and their families.

AAA Life Insurance Company was founded in 1969 by the American Automobile Association (AAA), the group of motor clubs best known for travel and emergency roadside assistance services. The company offers a full range of life insurance, and you don’t need to be a member to buy a life policy. However, members enjoy discounts not offered to non-members.

We at the MarketWatch Guides Team have reviewed dozens of providers to compile a list of the best life insurance companies. While AAA didn’t make our list, it still scores highly for a number of reasons. Read our complete review to determine if AAA life insurance policies would be a good fit for you.

Allstate Life Insurance Company was founded in 1931 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Ill. It is the country’s largest insurer of personal lines, with more than 113 million policies across all 50 states.

It currently sells business, auto insurance and homeowners insurance but no longer sells individual life insurance policies. Allstate completed the sale of its life insurance and annuity businesses in 2021, so it does not make our list of the best life insurance companies.

Farmers Insurance has been in business since 1928 and is based in Southern California. Along with life insurance, it sells policies in all 50 states for auto, home, boat, earthquake and other insurance products. Note that Farmers Insurance is different from the Knoxville-based Farmer’s Life Insurance Company.

Farmers Insurance offers a variety of policies, including whole, term, universal, indexed universal and final expense insurance, as well as numerous riders to further customize a policy. AM Best has given the company’s financial strength an “A” (excellent) rating, which indicates it’s a reliable insurer. This review will help you decide whether Farmers Insurance is the right life insurance provider for your needs.

Prudential Financial specializes in life insurance for individuals with a wide range of sophisticated and flexible options. Find out if it’s right for you.

Typically, you don’t need to pay taxes on life insurance payouts, but there are some exceptions.

Determining how much and how long life insurance should last is part analysis and part prediction. Learn about what you should consider in our guide.

Life insurance fraud is a growing and sophisticated criminal enterprise that affects individuals in many ways they would never suspect.

With the right coverage, life insurance becomes a powerful tool to transfer financial assets to your loved ones in the event of your death. But with an industry as complex as life insurance, it can be hard to choose a plan or provider with confidence.

To help you find coverage that fits your needs, we at the MarketWatch Guides Team researched top life insurance providers and ranked them according to our comprehensive rating methodology. We focus on each insurer’s coverage options, available policy add-ons, customer satisfaction and brand trust. Learn more about why Nationwide makes our list of the top life insurance companies below.

Short term life insurance can build a bridge to cover life’s important, but short-lived situations, whether at home or in your business.

Manage your life insurance costs with a cost-effective level term insurance policy that protects your loved ones from financial worries.

We explore Mutual of Omaha’s policy coverage, costs, financial stability and more to help you decide whether this is the right provider for you.

Canceling a life insurance policy is a significant decision that affects your financial plan. Our guide can help you better understand the steps to walking away from your life insurance plan.

Know your rights as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy with our detailed guide on filing a claim to ensure quick payment.

Explore the differences between mortgage life insurance and term life insurance so you can make an informed choice.

A million-dollar life insurance policy may be your best bet to protect your family and loved ones. Learning more is the best way forward.

If you’re looking for affordability and flexibility when purchasing life insurance, consider term life insurance.

Finding the right broker or agent for life insurance can be a challenge. Here’s what to know about these life insurance professionals.

Browse our top picks for guaranteed issue life insurance if you need a policy you can’t be turned down for.

As a single parent, your life insurance considerations for your children differ from two-parent households. Read more in our guide.

Deciding if you need life insurance depends on if you have dependents or other financial obligations

Trying to convert your term life insurance policy to a whole life insurance policy? Read more to find out how.

Learning the importance of financial strength ratings of insurance companies is critical to choosing the right insurer for your unique needs.

Learn about how whole life insurance can be a part of a long-term investment strategy to help protect your health and wealth.

Customizing a life insurance policy to make it more valuable for you and your family is easy with the wide range of riders available

A grace period for a life insurance policy serves as a safety net in the event that you make a late payment, but it’s usually restricted to a set period of time after the due date.

Click below to get your free life insurance estimate.

Infinite banking offers unique benefits. We explain how infinite banking works and whether it’s worth it.

Life insurance for children typically comes with much lower premiums, and it can provide financial security in the event of an untimely death.

Surrendering a life insurance policy involves canceling your coverage in exchange for a lump sum value. Learn when it makes sense to do this.

Every life insurance policy has an underwriting process, which helps the provider determine the coverage an applicant will qualify for.

AARP co-founder Leonard Davis created Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company more than 50 years ago. The company started in Philadelphia but is now headquartered in Carmel, Ind., and is well known for its $9.95 life insurance policy offerings through television advertising.

Colonial Penn sells whole life policies — it stopped selling term life insurance in 2021. Policy options combine simplified underwriting with no medical exams and a limited death benefit of up to $50,000. These policies work best for people who don’t need a large payout and would typically have difficulty purchasing coverage elsewhere due to age or medical history. These factors typically mean higher premiums than other types of insurance. Read our review to determine if Colonial Penn is the best life insurance option for you or a loved one.

Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company provides a range of life insurance policies and products, including specialized protections for financial obligations like mortgage payments. Headquartered in McKinney, Texas, Globe Life has more than 65 years of experience issuing policies and is backed by exceptional financial ratings and underwriting. It offers a few policies without a medical exam, though buying is more inconvenient when compared to competitors.

Read on to learn more about Globe Life insurance policies and its policy options, as well as the best life insurance choice for your family.

Get a free life insurance quote by clicking below.

Nationwide, Mutual of Omaha and State Farm are some of the top life insurance providers for those looking to insure their parents.

An IUL offers both flexibility and stability. Learn how it works and decide if it’s the right type of life insurance for you.

Is cash value life insurance taxable? Cash value is often tax-advantaged, but you might pay tax on withdrawals.

Select types of life insurance pay dividends, which you may be able to use for further reinvestment or take out in cash or a loan.

When you pass away, will your loved one need to pay your debts? Learn about what types of debts are forgiven at death with our guide.

A return of premium life insurance policy can refund up to 100% of your premiums at the end of the term

Life insurance is more affordable than it seems. Learn how much you can expect to pay with our primer on average term life insurance cost.

Learn about in-force life insurance illustrations: what they are, why you need them and how to get one.

Twenty-year term life insurance is a popular type of policy. Find out if it’s right for you in our detailed primer.

Funeral costs depend on burial or cremation, location and service choices, but understanding your options can help you plan ahead

Living benefit life insurance may allow you to access your death benefit while you’re still alive under select circumstances, usually related to failing health.

Interested in purchasing variable universal life insurance? In this guide, we’ll break down what you need to know.

State Farm has sold life insurance for nearly 95 years and is one of the most prominent agencies in the U.S. today. From term life to permanent coverage, such as whole life, universal, and variable, State Farm offers policy options to fit a variety of coverage needs.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team have reviewed State Farm’s life insurance offering, including types of coverage and pricing, along with what policyholders have to say.

Our top picks for the best burial insurance companies can help you find the right burial insurance policy to help cover your final expenses.

Having trouble understanding different types of life insurance? We break down each option so you can find the right fit.

With life insurance providers offering many combinations of policy types and price points, shopping for the best plan for your needs can be overwhelming. In this New York Life insurance review, we’ll help you decide whether to get a quote from this company.

Life insurance companies may require you to undergo a medical exam before extending coverage with a large or guaranteed death benefit.

If you’re looking for life insurance to cover your family, we round up the best options.

Mortgage life insurance policies pay off your mortgage in the event of your death so your family can continue living in your home without making payments.

Before buying credit life insurance, compare it to traditional life insurance to see which option would benefit you more.

Some companies allow seniors to enroll in life insurance past age 60. Check out our guide to the best senior life insurance to learn more.

The cost of dying can be high. Final expense life insurance can help loved ones cover your final affairs.

Lantern markets itself as a fast and cheap way to get term life insurance. Read our detailed guide for policy details and more.

A variable life insurance policy provides you with exposure to traditional investment assets while also providing peace of mind to your family.

Life insurance can be a great way to help ensure your loved ones are taken care of financially after you die, but it can be difficult to figure out which provider fits your needs and budget. In this Lemonade life insurance review, we’ll take a closer look at the company’s unique approach to offering affordable and easy-to-understand life insurance options.

We at the Guides Home Team have analyzed dozens of life insurance companies to help you choose a provider and policy that fits your needs. We focus on each insurer’s coverage options, available policy add-ons, customer satisfaction and brand trust. Learn more about Lemonade’s life insurance offerings below.

While basic life insurance may not provide enough coverage to protect your family, supplemental life insurance can help fill in the gaps. Is it right for you?

You may be able to sell your life insurance policy to get cash. In this article, we explain why and how.

We break down Fidelity Life’s stability, policies, cost and customer experience to help you decide whether this is the right provider for you.

Choosing between whole and term life insurance? We explain how these two popular options stack up.

Whole life insurance offers several benefits, including a cash value component. Our guide will help you decide if a whole life policy makes sense for your needs.

Should permanent life insurance be a part of your financial plan? Our guide explains what it is and the four main types of permanent policies available.

Cash value life insurance offers unique benefits. In this guide, we explain how cash value life insurance works and whether it’s worth it.

Term life insurance provides an affordable alternative to permanent life insurance. Our guide will help you decide whether a term policy is right for you.

Does your employer offer group life insurance? If so, it’s worth taking time to explore how it works and what your options are.