Best Life Insurance Options: Who Ranks Number One?

When it comes to life insurance, there are many factors to consider when choosing a provider. While some may prioritize cost, others may be more concerned with financial stability and strength. According to Forbes, Pacific Life and Protective are the best life insurance companies, earning top marks for their term life and cash value policies. Meanwhile, NerdWallet ranks Northwestern Mutual as the largest life insurance company in the US, and Bankrate recognizes Lincoln Financial and Symetra as the best no-exam life insurers. With so many options and varying rankings, it's essential to research and compare different providers to find the one that best suits your needs and preferences.

Pacific Life ranks first for its flexible universal life insurance options

Pacific Life's universal life insurance options stand out for their flexibility, allowing policyholders to adjust their policies to meet their growth objectives, risk tolerances and financial goals. For instance, the company's variable universal life insurance (VUL) offers death benefit protection and the ability to allocate among market-driven and guaranteed investment options. Similarly, its indexed universal life insurance (IUL) provides the growth potential of index-based interest crediting rates, along with guaranteed minimum interest crediting floors.

Pacific Life's guaranteed universal life (GUL) policy is also worth considering for those seeking affordable, long-term coverage. This policy offers lifelong protection with predictable premiums and a no-lapse guarantee, ensuring continuous coverage as long as payments are maintained. Additionally, Pacific Life's PL Promise Term policy stands out for its low rates compared to competitors.

The company's universal life insurance policies also include fixed indexed annuities, which protect the principal amount while providing growth opportunities based on the positive movement of an index. This creates a reliable source of income for life and ensures a guaranteed death benefit for loved ones. Overall, Pacific Life's flexible universal life insurance options cater to various needs, making it a top choice for those seeking customisable and adaptable coverage.

COUNTRY Financial ranks first in the US for life insurance

COUNTRY Financial has been ranked as the number one life insurance provider in the US by Forbes in its "World's Best Insurance Companies" edition. The rankings are based on clients' overall recommendations, satisfaction, loyalty, and five subcategories, including advice and client services.

COUNTRY Financial is a family of affiliated companies that serve about a million households and businesses across the United States. They offer a wide range of insurance and financial products, including auto, home, life, farm, and fixed annuities. The company is based in Bloomington, Illinois, and includes subsidiaries such as COUNTRY Life Insurance Company and COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company.

COUNTRY Financial's life insurance products include term insurance and indexed universal life policies, providing clients with coverage options that fit their diverse needs. The company is committed to modernizing its life systems to improve the buying experience and make it easier for clients to secure the coverage they require.

In addition to life insurance, COUNTRY Financial also ranked highly in other insurance categories. They placed seventh out of thirty US companies for auto insurance and eighth for homeowners' insurance, demonstrating their comprehensive approach to protecting their clients' assets.

Lincoln Financial ranks first for no-exam life insurance

Lincoln Financial has been recognised for offering one of the most streamlined no-exam life insurance options. Its TermAccel policy allows eligible applicants to secure up to $2.5 million in coverage without a medical exam, with approvals possible in as little as two business days. Lincoln Financial tied with Symetra for the 2025 Bankrate Award for Best No-Exam Life Insurer.

Lincoln Financial is a great option for people with pre-existing health conditions. Its rates are competitive for people with conditions like arthritis, some forms of cancer, heart conditions, diabetes, mental health conditions, or stroke. It is also a good choice for people with depression, those in remission from breast cancer, and daily marijuana users.

Lincoln Financial offers affordable rates and has favourable underwriting for many health conditions. The average cost of life insurance for a 20-year term policy with $1 million in coverage for a 35-year-old female non-smoker is in the least expensive category for the Policygenius rating system. Lincoln Financial also has a low number of complaints compared to the industry average.

Lincoln Financial's TermAccel policy is a good option for those seeking a hassle-free, no-exam life insurance plan. With competitive rates and high coverage amounts, it is a top choice for no-exam life insurance.

MassMutual ranks first for whole life insurance

MassMutual, also known as Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., has been ranked first for whole life insurance by Bankrate in 2025. This is the fourth year in a row that MassMutual has secured this honour.

MassMutual's whole life insurance is one of the best options in the marketplace. One of the benefits of MassMutual is the company's wide range of options and life insurance riders. MassMutual's dividend rate of 6.1% is unsurpassed, and people up to the age of 90 can apply for a whole life policy—the highest issue age among the companies reviewed. MassMutual has paid dividends every year since 1869. The insurer has the highest financial strength grade a company can get from AM Best, and it has an above-average customer satisfaction record.

MassMutual's mobile apps for iOS and Android have earned high rankings, and customers can manage their policies digitally. The company also has a physical presence in Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and every state except Alaska.

MassMutual has superb financial ratings, and it has a commitment to net-zero emissions in its operations by 2030 and in its investment portfolio by 2050. The company has also invested in new technologies and digital platforms, including Advisor360°.

Mutual of Omaha ranks first for customer satisfaction

Mutual of Omaha is a highly competitive life insurance company that ranks first for customer satisfaction. The company has a strong A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, reflecting its long-term stability. Mutual of Omaha's life insurance offering comes with a standard two-year graded death benefit period, and if the policyholder passes from non-accidental causes during that time, the company doesn't just return the premiums paid — it adds 10% interest, which is more generous than the usual 5-7% offered by other insurers.

The company has also earned high marks for customer satisfaction, ranking above average in J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey. Managing your policy is simple, thanks to an easy-to-use online portal, a mobile app, and 24/7 phone support. The company's NAIC Complaint Index has been below the industry average for the last three years, indicating a limited number of complaints.

Business Insider's personal finance team compared Mutual of Omaha to the best mortgage lenders and found its offerings to be fairly standard, but it stood out in customer satisfaction and products available for borrowers with less-than-ideal credit. The company also has a minimum credit score of 550 for some of its government-backed mortgages, and you can get a mortgage even if you have a recent bankruptcy.

Mutual of Omaha's life insurance offerings are not the only thing that has earned it high customer satisfaction ratings. The company also provides other insurance coverages, such as long-term care and critical illness insurance. The company's mortgage arm lends in 48 states and Washington, D.C., and it is not available in New York or West Virginia.

While Mutual of Omaha ranks first for customer satisfaction, other companies have also been recognised for their excellent life insurance offerings. For instance, Forbes recognised Country Financial as the top life insurance provider in the US in its "World's Best Insurance Companies" edition. Pacific Life and Protective were also recognised by Forbes Advisor as the best life insurance companies, earning five stars in their analysis of term life and cash value policies from 15 companies.

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