by John Darer CLU ChFC MSSC CeFT RSP CLTC
Aon plc, a global professional services firm specializing in risk, retirement and health solutions, has been conducting the Ward’s 50 analysis for over three decades
The list is a product of Aon’s Ward benchmarking service, which evaluates nearly 3,600 insurance companies nationally and selects those that meet stringent safety, consistency, and financial performance criteria. This service helps insurers improve profitability by comparing operational practices and metrics.
The 2025 Ward’s 50 Life & Health list was published in July 2025. Unsurprisingly, several life insurers that offer structured settlement annuities featureon this year’s list. This marks the 35th year of the Ward’s 50. AON’s analysis includes nearly 700 companies, according to the report,
Life insurers with structured settlement annuity units that made the 2025 Wards Life & Health Top Performers
- Corebridge Financial (which includes structured settlement annuity issuers American General Life Insurance Company and United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York)
- Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
- Mutual of Omaha (which includes structured settlement annuity issuer United of Omaha Life Insurance Company)
- The Prudential Insurance Company of America
All of the life insurance companies named in the 2025 Wards 50 that issue structured settlemant annuities have been in the insurance business since the 19th Century!
With respect to Corebridge and Mutual of Omaha, this statement expressly refers to noted subsidiaries in brackets.
Describe the Testing Performed for AON Ward’s Benchmarking
Safety and Consistency Tests Each company must pass primary safety and consistency tests, including:
• Surplus and premiums of at least $50 million for each of the five years analyzed
• Adjusted net income in at least four of the last five years
• Compound annual growth in premiums between -10 percent and +40 percent
Performance Measurements Companies that pass the safety and consistency tests are measured and scored on the following: elements:
• Five-Year Average Return on Average Equity
• Five-Year Average Return on Average Assets
• Five-Year Average Return on Total Revenue
• Five-Year Growth in Revenue • Five-Year Growth in Surplus
It’s important to consider information from a variety of credible and trustworthy sources
Ward’s 50 benchmarking is among several key benchmarks in the insurance industry. Others include A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, Moody’s, and additional Tier One rating services, along with Weiss Research. Peer reviews such as Fortune’s Most Admired Companies and the Ethisphere offer further valuable insights. Supplementary studies, including those by Newsweek/Statista, can also provide helpful perspectives.
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