How We Review Life Insurance Companies
Every carrier and policy recommendation on this site passes the same 5-point review - here is exactly what we check, who checks it, and how we stay unbiased.
Written by Brian Greenberg, CEO / Founder & Licensed Insurance Agent|MDRT member since 2013 · Licensed in all 50 states|Last reviewed: June 2026Quick answer: Every carrier we recommend passes a 5-point review: A.M. Best financial strength of A- or better, real pricing across health classes, rider and living-benefit quality, underwriting speed, and NAIC complaint record. Reviews are led by a founder licensed in all 50 states and refreshed quarterly.
The 5-Point Review
Price alone is a terrible way to pick a life insurance company. Here is the full checklist every carrier faces before we compare it.
1. Financial Strength
A carrier is only as good as its ability to pay claims decades from now. We require an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) or better before a carrier enters our comparison set, and we re-verify ratings each review cycle rather than quoting stale numbers.
2. Real Pricing Across Health Classes
Advertised teaser rates only apply to perfect health classes. We compare what carriers actually charge across preferred, standard, and substandard classes - including tobacco use and common conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure - because that's the rate you'll really pay.
3. Rider Quality and Living Benefits
Two policies with the same premium can differ enormously in what they include. We weight carriers that build in accelerated death benefit riders for chronic, critical, and terminal illness at no extra cost, plus conversion privileges and guaranteed insurability options.
4. Underwriting Speed and No-Exam Options
Weeks of waiting kills more applications than price does. We track each carrier's accelerated underwriting programs, instant-decision limits, and real-world approval timelines so we can route healthy applicants to same-day coverage when it costs nothing extra.
5. Claims and Complaint Record
We check every carrier's complaint history against the NAIC Consumer Information Source, where a complaint index above 1.0 means more complaints than expected for the carrier's size. Carriers with persistent claims-handling complaints don't get recommended, regardless of price.
Written and Reviewed by a Licensed Practitioner
Every content page on this site is written and reviewed by Brian Greenberg, founder of True Blue Life Insurance, a licensed insurance agent in all 50 states and a Million Dollar Round Table member since 2013 - the top 1% of financial advisors worldwide.
Each page carries a visible byline and a "Last reviewed" date, so you always know who stands behind a claim and how fresh it is.
Update Cadence
- Quarterly: carrier ratings, complaint indexes, and outbound citations are re-verified against current sources.
- Immediately: when a carrier is acquired, renamed, or discontinues a product, every mention on the site is swept and corrected.
- On request: spot an error? Email info@truebluelife.com and we'll review and correct it - typically within 2 business days.
Transparency and Conflicts of Interest
How we make money
True Blue is paid a commission by the insurance carrier when a policy is placed - the same way every licensed agency is. Commissions never change your premium: you pay the identical rate buying through us or directly from the carrier. No carrier can pay to improve its position in our comparisons.
Independence
We are an independent brokerage representing 50+ carriers, not a captive agency selling one company's products. If the honest answer is a carrier that pays us less - or advice to keep the policy you already own - that's the answer you get.
What we never do
We never publish carrier ratings we haven't verified against the current cycle, never accept payment for placement in comparisons, and never recommend replacing an existing policy unless the numbers clearly favor it after surrender costs and new contestability periods.
See the methodology in action.
Compare rates from the carriers that passed our 5-point review - free, anonymous, and with honest guidance from a licensed agent.
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