How Can I Determine the Financial Strength of My Insurance Company?

How do you compare life insurance companies? What features do you examine? What criteria do you use? How do you know what to look for? Making sure that your insurance company is financially sound is an important part of helping to ensure family security.

Fortunately, there are a number of independent companies that make these evaluations. These rating companies carefully examine each insurance company in the areas of profitability, debt, liquidity, and other factors. From the results of these examinations, they then issue overall ratings.

Looking up a company’s rating will provide you with a snapshot of that company’s financial health. Tracking the company’s rating on a regular basis may give you some advanced warning of trouble.

The four most prominent rating companies are A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings. Each of these services uses slightly different criteria when rating companies. As a result, each may have a slightly different view of a given company. A.M. Best ratings are based on financial conditions and performance; Moody’s, Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor’s ratings are based on claims-paying ability.

You should be able to find copies of at least one of these ratings in the reference section of your local library. If you are unable to find them, or if the ratings in your library are outdated, you can contact the services directly. All four services will provide ratings over the phone.

A.M. Best Company: 908-439-2200, www.ambest.com

Standard & Poor’s: 877-772-5436, www.standardandpoors.com

Moody’s Investors Service: 212-553-0377, www.moodys.com

Fitch Ratings: 800-893-4824, www.fitchratings.com

The information in this article is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2012 Emerald Connect, Inc.

Charles Richard Derrick, Registered Representatives of Park Avenue Securities, LLC (PAS). Securities products and services are offered through PAS, 954 Ridgebrook Road, Suite 300, Sparks, Md. 21152, 410-828-5400. Field Representatives, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, New York. PAS is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian. Derrick Financial Group is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.

Stephen Lee Derrick and Charles Lee Derrick, Registered Representatives and Financial Advisors of Park Avenue Securities, LLC (PAS). Securities products/services and advisory services are offered through PAS, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, 954 Ridgebrook Road, Suite 300, Sparks, Md. 21152, 410-828-5400. Field Representatives, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, New York. PAS is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian. Derrick Financial Group is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.

The information on this site is intended for the residents of DC, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, PA, and VA. The financial representatives of Derrick Financial Group are not licensed to sell insurance in all 50 states. To find out if an agent is licensed in your state, please contact Lee Derrick at 410-263-9708.

Registered Representatives securities licensed in DC, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, PA, and VA. This website is strictly intended for individuals residing in those states. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside these specified states.

Neither Guardian, nor its subsidiaries, agents or employees provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your tax or legal advisor regarding your individual situation.

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The information or opinions contained in this Internet site should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any particular investment product. The information contained herein is directed solely to those individuals who reside in jurisdictions in which the representative is registered in the state where the consumer and/or prospective client reside. Any subsequent direct communication with a consumer and/or prospective client shall only be conducted by a representative that is registered in the state where the consumer and/or prospective client reside.