Surety offers two kinds of life insurance, as well as other important types of insurance like auto and renters insurance. Their parent company, Surety Insurance Groups, Inc. , earned a distinction for customer satisfaction in the 2018 U. S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study in 2018. If you’ve spent time looking for Surety life insurance reviews, you probably haven’t found much. There are several similarly named companies, so it may be difficult to sort out the differences between them. Luckily, we’re here to help!.
When searching for life insurance, you’ll likely come across Surety Life Insurance Company But who actually owns and operates this niche life insurance provider?
Understanding the background and leadership of any insurance company is an important part of your due diligence before purchasing a policy
In this comprehensive guide we will explore
- A Brief History of Surety Life Insurance Company
- Current Ownership and Parent Company
- Surety Life’s Executive Leadership Team
- Financial Strength and Ratings
- Products and Services Offered
- Company Mission and Values
- Legal Actions and Complaints
A Brief History of Surety Life Insurance Company
Surety Life Insurance Company was originally founded in 1935 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They started out offering disability income and accident insurance policies.
In 1947, Surety Life relocated their headquarters to Grand Island, Nebraska. During this time, they expanded their product lineup to include life insurance, annuities, and group coverage.
The company was eventually acquired by Liberty National in 1981. This acquisition allowed Surety Life to enter the supplemental health insurance market. They were able to grow their presence across the Midwest and parts of the South.
Surety Life continued to be owned by Liberty National until 2012 when the company was sold to BC Partners.
Current Ownership and Parent Company
Today, Surety Life Insurance Company is owned by Protective Life Corporation based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Protective Life acquired Surety Life in August 2012 for $10 million through their subsidiary West Coast Life Insurance Company.
Protective Life Corporation is a large insurance provider offering life insurance, annuities, asset protection, and supplemental health policies. Founded in 1907, Protective Life now holds over $700 billion in assets and generates $5 billion in annual revenue.
As a wholly owned subsidiary, Surety Life operates independently but has access to enhanced financial resources and administrative capabilities through Protective Life. The 2012 acquisition enabled Surety Life to expand nationally beyond their previous 17 state footprint.
Protective Life is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Their largest institutional shareholder is BlackRock Inc.
Surety Life’s Executive Leadership Team
Surety Life’s management team includes:
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Richard J. Bielen, President and CEO – 20+ years in financial services, previously President of West Coast Life
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Deborah L. Goodman, Chief Operating Officer – 30+ years operational leadership experience, background in process improvement
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Jeffrey J. Scanlon, SVP of Sales – Extensive experience in final expense and pre-need insurance sales
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Bradley E. Moser, Chief Financial Officer – 20+ years financial management experience and strategic planning
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Terry L. Dunn, VP of Application Processing – 15+ years in new business, underwriting, and operations. Joined in 2006.
The executive team combines capable company veterans along with leaders added through Protective Life. They maintain a focus on simplified life insurance products.
Financial Strength and Ratings
Surety Life holds the following ratings from insurance rating agencies:
- A.M. Best – A (Excellent) as of October 2021
- Standard and Poor’s – A (Strong) as of October 2021
These strong ratings reflect sufficient capital reserves, steady operating performance, conservative investments, and the additional financial support of Protective Life.
Surety Life’s niche market focus allows them to efficiently manage risks. Access to Protective Life’s resources also boosts their financial position.
Products and Services Offered
As a niche life insurance provider, Surety Life offers two main products:
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Simplified Issue Term Life – No medical exams required for up to $300,000 in coverage
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Guaranteed Acceptance Final Expense Life – Guaranteed cash value policy with minimal health questions
By specializing in these two coverage areas, Surety Life can provide accelerated underwriting and competitive pricing to their target demographics. Their lean operating model also helps maintain efficient cost structures.
Company Mission and Values
Surety Life’s stated vision is to provide financial security through life insurance and annuity products to middle market consumers.
Their mission focuses on providing quality products with streamlined underwriting to customers often underserved by bigger carriers.
Key company values include:
- Operational excellence and efficiency
- Compassion and care for policyholders
- Customer experience focus
- Collaborative company culture
Surety Life aims to fill a niche providing accessible basic life insurance while adhering to ethical standards.
Legal Actions and Complaints
Based on public records, there are no recent significant legal actions or consent orders against Surety Life.
As with any insurance provider, Surety Life will receive occasional customer complaints. However, there are no systemic issues apparent based on limited public data.
Consumers can contact their state insurance department to file complaints or obtain complaint records for any insurer.
Is Surety Life a Good Option?
The 2012 acquisition by Protective Life improved Surety’s financial position and national growth potential. Their executive team blends capable company veterans and leaders from Protective.
For streamlined term life or final expense life insurance, Surety Life is a reputable option worth considering for coverage. Their niche expertise assists eligible customers needing guaranteed issue life insurance within policy limits.
Of course, consumers should always compare multiple carriers, thoroughly read policies, and verify financial ratings before purchasing. But Surety Life’s history, resources, and mission indicate a stable life insurance provider that can potentially meet the needs of many mainstream Americans seeking basic protection.
Key Takeaways
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Surety Life was founded in 1935 and sold to Protective Life in 2012
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Protective Life Corporation now owns Surety Life and provides enhanced financial backing
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Surety Life offers simplified issue term and final expense life insurance
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They earn strong financial ratings from AM Best and Standard and Poor’s
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The company focuses on streamlined underwriting for underserved demographics
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Consumers should still compare multiple carriers before purchasing
Finding the right life insurance is important. While relatively unknown, understanding Surety Life’s ownership, history, and mission offers useful perspective when shopping for protection.
Advantages of Surety Life Insurance
Surety offers two types of life insurance policies: term and whole life. This means you can choose between two very different types of policies to find the one that fits your needs, lifestyle, and budget the best. Term life covers you for a limited period of time, called the “term. ” Because it’s limited, it’s more affordable than longer-lasting coverage. Whole life, on the other hand, covers you for the rest of your life. As a result, it costs more than term life. Surety has both, so you can pick the price range and policy type that works best for your family and your financial goals.
Surety offers coverage by phone, online, and through independent insurance agents. You can apply for and buy some policies on the same day if you use their website to make your search. Underwriting is done within hours of the application being submitted and coverage can begin immediately. This could be appealing to someone who needs to get insurance quickly because of a big event, like the birth of a child or the start of a new job.
In addition, Surety’s term life policies offer renewal and conversion options to ensure you’re never left without coverage. You can change your term policy to fit your needs if you decide that whole life is a better fit. You won’t have to go through the whole application process again.
Surety Life Insurance Ratings
Surety Life Insurance does not have a financial rating as of November 2022.
A company’s financial rating shows how likely it is that they will be able to meet all of their financial obligations on time. An “A” score means that an outside rating agency looked at a company’s finances and found that there is a very good chance that they will be able to meet their financial obligations, like paying a death benefit to a beneficiary when a policyholder dies. You can read more about the rating process and why it’s important to look at a life insurance company’s rating before you buy a policy here.
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