Top 10 Life Insurance Companies

So you think you might die.  Bummer.  Why not do the right thing and make sure your family is taken care of if it happens?  The best way to do this, of course, is to win the lottery and then die immediately.  But you probably don't want to do this, so try life insurance instead.  Life insurance is a pretty simple concept, you pay a premium for a period of time, and then if you die, a large chunk is given to your family to cover any costs that you may want covered.  You can get this coverage for exceedingly large amounts, as long as you are able to pay the premiums it offers.  It's a simple idea, really, and it can save your families lives in the future without you.

So what are the best companies to get insurance with?  It depends on what exactly you are looking for.  What you want at least in part are insurance companies with decent credit, which is easier to find than ones with the best reports in terms of consumer satisfaction.  Insurance companies are notorious for trying to hold onto as much money as possible, but life insurance companies are a little different from car and health insurance in that it is contractually pretty clear what has to happen:  you have to die.  Most life insurance policies have certain limits as to how you can die, but this is something you can look up ahead of time.  Don't kill yourself, don't go bungee jumping, etc.  Actually, I've gone bungee jumping and it's a hell of a rush.  One of the coolest things I've ever done.  I totally recommend it.  But not for life insurance. 

Right!  So here's the thing:  I'm not the best placed person to give you the top 10 life insurance companies, but there are two institutions who are, and I'll give you what they think about who you should go with in terms of creditworthiness for buying life insurance.  These companies did a joint thang that analyzed the top ten, and they are Fortune Magazine and the Insurance Information Institute.  The people they recommend getting life insurance from are AFLAC, Genworth Financial, Lincoln National, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance, MetLife, New York Life Insurance, Northwestern Mutual, Principal Financial, Prudential Financial, and TIAA-CREF.  All of these companies have, according to the Fortune and Insurance study, superior ratings in terms of creditworthiness, which is extremely important.  You don't want to be buying life insurance from some asshat who lives in the woods behind your house.  You know, that would be a poor investment choice.  Maybe Hank's a really great guy, but my prediction is that he won't be able to pay out.  So what's my point, you ask?  Basically, it's buy from one of these companies.  They are all brilliant life insurance companies.  And Allstate's not a bad one to go with either, or perhaps Nationwide.  Not Progressive though. Not because they offer faulty services (though they have been known to have a few sleazy business practices), but because I hate Flo and all of her commercials.  How do they think they can compete with Cavemen, "Nationwide is on your side," "Allstate:  You're in Good Hands," or "Like a Good Neighbor," with that obnoxious commercial-star wannabe.  Since when do people like a person who is obnoxiously cheery and optimistic?  It just shows a stellar misunderstanding of Generation Y.  Obama would punch Flo in the larynx if he ever had to deal with her.  

Any of these companies would be good though.  I trust Fortune to give the top 10 life insurance companies.  But as I said, put a little more research into the basics of what they offer for each of the policies.  My recommendation is to go with what your heart tells you.  Because that's the way everything should go.  What does my heart tell me the best life insurance policy is?  Jesus.  Eternal Life Insurance.