Introduction
If you’re researching life insurance in the United States — particularly IUL (Indexed Universal Life) products — the name National Life Group (NLG) has likely already appeared on your shortlist.
But the question most people ask before signing any insurance contract is: “Is this company actually trustworthy? Is my money safe?”
That’s a completely valid question. Life insurance is a financial commitment that spans 20 to 40 years — not something you can walk away from after a month. A company’s trustworthiness cannot be evaluated by gut feeling or marketing language.
In this article, we will objectively analyze National Life Group based on real financial data, ratings from independent organizations, and recognition from international financial media — before delivering a clear verdict at the end.
Who Is National Life Group? What Does 177+ Years Tell Us?
Before evaluating trustworthiness, it helps to understand who NLG actually is.
National Life Group (NLG) is a life insurance holding company headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont, USA. Founded in the mid-19th century, NLG is currently the second-largest provider of Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance in the United States.
Operating History
NLG has operated continuously for more than 177 years. During that time, the company has weathered:
- The Great Depression of 1929
- Two World Wars
- The global financial crisis of 2008
- The COVID-19 pandemic
Through each of these periods of upheaval, NLG maintained its operations and fulfilled its payment obligations to policyholders in full.
As of June 2025, NLG’s total Life Insurance in Force — the total value of active policies currently in effect — has surpassed $421.5 billion, reflecting the enormous scale of the company’s financial commitments to millions of American families.
However, a long history alone does not guarantee present-day trustworthiness. We need to look at current financial data.
What Criteria Define a Trustworthy Insurance Company?
To determine whether a life insurance company is genuinely trustworthy, three categories of criteria must be examined:
Financial Strength — Does the Company Have the Resources to Pay Claims?
This is the most critical criterion. Life insurance is a long-term contract — the company must remain financially capable of paying claims 20, 30, or even 40 years from now.
The three most authoritative organizations for assessing financial strength are AM Best, S&P Global, and Moody’s. Let’s see where NLG stands in the eyes of these three independent “judges.”
Market Scale — Is the Company Large Enough to Be Stable?
Smaller insurance companies are more vulnerable to financial imbalances when multiple claims arise simultaneously. Scale creates natural stability.
Third-Party Recognition — Who Is Standing Behind the Company?
No company ever describes itself as untrustworthy. What matters is what independent parties — financial rating agencies and international financial media — say about it.
How Do Independent Financial Organizations Rate NLG?
AM Best — The World’s Oldest Insurance Rating Agency
AM Best was founded in 1899 and is the oldest and most respected credit rating organization specializing in the insurance industry. For more than 125 years, AM Best has set the standard for evaluating the financial health and claims-paying ability of insurance companies worldwide.
Result: NLG holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best.
The A+ rating is near the top of AM Best’s scale. Only companies with exceptional financial strength and outstanding claims-paying capacity achieve this level. This is a clear signal that NLG has the financial resources to fulfill its long-term commitments to policyholders — even during periods of economic difficulty.
S&P Global — One of the World’s Largest Credit Rating Agencies
S&P Global Ratings (Standard & Poor’s) is one of the three largest credit rating organizations in the world. They assess a company’s ability to meet its financial obligations — independent of industry or company size.
Result: NLG holds an A+ (Strong) rating from S&P.
The A+ rating from S&P confirms that regardless of financial market volatility — shifting interest rates, stock market downturns, or macroeconomic instability — NLG remains fully capable of honoring all commitments to its policyholders. The risk of default is rated as extremely low.
Moody’s — Over 100 Years of Global Financial Risk Assessment
Moody’s Investors Service was founded in 1909 and is one of the three most influential credit rating agencies in the world, alongside S&P and Fitch.
Result: NLG holds an A1 rating from Moody’s.
Within Moody’s system, A1 is a high-tier rating — confirming that NLG is an extremely safe financial institution, with near-zero risk of capital loss and a very high likelihood of fulfilling long-term financial obligations.
Key observation: All three agencies — AM Best, S&P, and Moody’s — have rated NLG at the A level or above. This is not a coincidence. When three independent “judges” reach consistent conclusions, it represents the most reliable signal available.
What Does NLG’s Financial Scale Tell Us?
$421.5 Billion in Life Insurance In Force
As of June 2025, NLG’s total Life Insurance in Force has surpassed $421.5 billion.
This is not a revenue figure. This is the total value of active insurance policies for which NLG is financially responsible. In other words, NLG is standing behind $421.5 billion in policyholder benefits across the United States.
To maintain a financial commitment of this scale, NLG is required to:
- Maintain substantial capital reserves
- Comply with stringent federal and state insurance regulations
- Manage investment risk according to independently audited standards
This is the foundation that creates long-term stability for every individual policy.
The Second-Largest IUL Provider in the U.S.
Market share is not everything — but NLG being the second-largest IUL provider in the United States means:
- NLG’s IUL products have been chosen and validated by millions of Americans over many years
- Policy design, administration, and claims processes have been refined at scale
- Competitive pressure continuously drives NLG to improve product quality and customer service
What Does the International Financial Press Say About NLG?
Wall Street Journal — Top 2 Best Life Insurance Companies in the U.S. (February 2026)
In February 2026, The Wall Street Journal — the world’s leading financial newspaper — published its ranking of the best life insurance companies in the United States. NLG was ranked second, based on three criteria: cost of coverage, transparency, and access to cash value.
The WSJ does not accept payment for rankings — this is the result of independent data analysis from one of the most rigorous financial newsrooms in the world.
Forbes — Best Insurance Companies of 2024 & 2025
Forbes — the globally recognized business magazine — has consistently included National Life Group in its list of the best insurance companies for both 2024 and 2025, based on real customer surveys from active policyholders.
This reflects not only financial strength, but also the quality of the actual experience customers receive from NLG.
Summary: Why NLG Deserves Serious Consideration
| Criterion | Result |
|---|---|
| AM Best Rating | A+ (Superior) |
| S&P Rating | A+ (Strong) |
| Moody’s Rating | A1 |
| WSJ 2026 | Top 2 Best Life Insurance Companies in the U.S. |
| Forbes | Best of 2024 & 2025 |
| IUL Market Share | 2nd Largest IUL Provider in the U.S. |
| Life Insurance in Force | $421.5 Billion (June 2025) |
| Years in Operation | 177+ Years |
No company achieves all of these benchmarks by accident. These results reflect decades of disciplined, transparent, and consistent financial management.
Are There Any Considerations Worth Noting?
An objective review must examine both sides. So are there any factors worth keeping in mind when evaluating NLG?
IUL Products Require a Clear Understanding Before Purchasing
IUL is not a standard savings account. It is a complex financial product — combining insurance protection with long-term cash accumulation — with fee structures and contract terms that require careful explanation. Before signing any policy, you should fully understand:
- The annual cost of insurance charges
- Which market index the policy is linked to
- The interest rate floor and cap
- The terms for withdrawals and policy loans
A reputable company like NLG provides all of this information clearly — but the responsibility to understand it still rests with the policyholder.
Company Trustworthiness ≠ Suitability for Everyone
NLG is a trustworthy company — but that does not mean every product they offer is the right fit for every financial situation. Choosing the right insurance product depends on your income, financial goals, age, and health status.
Verdict: Is National Life Group Trustworthy?
After a thorough, objective analysis — covering independent financial ratings, operational scale, and recognition from international financial media — the answer is:
Yes. National Life Group is a trustworthy life insurance company.
This conclusion is not based on marketing claims or subjective opinion, but on:
- AM Best A+, S&P A+, Moody’s A1 — all three of the world’s most respected independent financial rating agencies confirm NLG’s exceptional financial strength
- 177+ years of continuous operation, surviving multiple historic financial crises
- $421.5 billion in Life Insurance in Force — an enormous financial commitment governed by strict regulatory standards
- Wall Street Journal ranking NLG in the top 2 best life insurance companies in America in 2026
- Forbes recognition for two consecutive years, in 2024 and 2025
The numbers don’t lie.
To learn more about National Life Group’s IUL products and how to build a long-term financial protection plan that fits your family’s needs, contact us today for a free consultation.
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