Peer Ratings and Comdex
As of April 2015
Comdex
Rankings
Northwestern
Mutual
100
Berkshire
Life
99
Guardian
98
Mass Mutual
98
MetLife
94
Principal
90
Ameritas
83
A.M. Best: A++
Standard & Poor’s: AA+
Superior ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders
Very strong financial security characteristics
AA+
A++
A+
GUARDIAN
BERKSHIRE LIFE
Northwestern Mutual
Mass Mutual
MetLife
Principal
A
MetLife
GUARDIAN
BERKSHIRE LIFE
Northwestern Mutual
Mass Mutual
Ameritas
Standard
Unum
Ameritas
Principal
Standard
Unum
Fitch: AA+
Excellent financial security
Very strong capacity to meet contractual obligations
Aaa
Aa2
79
A1
AAA
A1
A2
AA+
A3
AA-
77
Northwestern
Mutual
Pub4743BL-VAR (04/15)
2015-04598 (Exp. 04/16)
A
Moody’s: Aa2
A-
Unum
A+
AA-
Aa3
Standard
AA-
A
GUARDIAN
Mass Mutual
MetLife
Principal
Standard
Unum
Northwestern GUARDIAN
MetLife
Mutual BERKSHIRE LIFE Principal
Mass Mutual
A
Standard
Unum
All financial ratings as of April 3, 2015 in VitalSigns.. Neither Berkshire Life nor Ameritas is rated by Moody’s. Ameritas is also not rated by Fitch..
Ratings are subject to change.
Rating Agency Information
When choosing a carrier, financial strength can go a long way.
You’re choosing protection not only for today’s income and circumstances, but for your growing income and business as well. Select
a company with a demonstrated track record of surviving both the most prosperous as well as most turbulent of financial times.
After all, a disability income policy is a promise to pay a benefit when you most need it. And a promise is only as good as the
company that can honor it.
Here’s an overview of the role the independent rating agencies play:
A.M. Best
A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating agency
dedicated to serving the financial and healthcare service
industries. Best's credit ratings are based on a comprehensive
quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company's balance
sheet strength, operating performance and business profile, or,
where appropriate, the specific nature and details of a debt
security.
One type of rating A.M. Best issues is an independent opinion of
an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing
insurance policy and contract obligations. This rating is
assigned to insurance companies.
Standard & Poor’s
Standard & Poor’s provides ratings for entities that offer
different types of insurance products and services including life
insurance, property and casualty insurance, annuities, health
insurance, reinsurance, title insurance, mortgage and bond
insurance.
One type of ratings services for insurance-related entities
includes an Insurance Financial Strength Rating, useful for
buyers of insurance, risk managers and employee benefit
administrators. This type of rating provides details on an
insurance organization’s ability to pay its policies and contracts.
Insurance brokers and agents may also use these ratings to meet
due diligence and disclosure requirements.
Moody’s
Moody’s Investors Service is among the world’s most respected and
widely utilized sources for credit ratings, research and risk analysis.
Moody’s commitment and expertise contribute to stable,
transparent and integrated financial markets, protecting the
integrity of credit.
Fitch
Fitch ratings denote a low expectation of ceased or interrupted
payments. They indicate strong capacity to meet policyholder and
contract obligations. This capacity may, nonetheless, be more
vulnerable to changes to circumstances or in economic conditions
than is the case for higher ratings.
Comdex
The Comdex gives the average percentiles ranking of this company
in relation to all other companies that have been rated by the
rating services. The Comdex Ranking is the percentage of
companies that are rated lower than this company.
Individual disability income products underwritten and issued by Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, Pittsfield, MA, a wholly owned stock subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New
York, NY. or provided by Guardian. Product provisions and availability may vary by state..