Life insurance is all about security, rooted in the desire to ensure your loved ones are taken care of in the future.
One way many individuals go about securing their family’s well being is with final expense policies, which are tailor-made to cover the expenses that come at the end of one’s life.
Security National Life Insurance Company aims to deliver on these policies, but does it actually provide the peace of mind and protection suggested by its name?
In this review, we’ll unpack the company’s history, financial strength, and policies to help answer that question.
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Security National Life Insurance Company is part of the Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC), and its holdings.
The company laid down its roots in 1965 in Salt Lake City, Utah, with only $543,000 in assets.
Over the next five decades, however, it expanded into different financial services, exemplifying its mantra: “Our motto is excellence, our goal is growth.”
The Security National Life Insurance Company was the original iteration of the business.
After 14 years and the acquisition of six entities, the SNFC was organized. Several more acquisitions and eight years later, Security National posted its IPO.
Throughout its tenure in financial services, Security National has made a name for itself within the senior life insurance industry.
Currently, they offer insurance policies for individuals and families related to final expenses, preneed, and prepaid funerals.
SNFC also includes services related to mortgages, cemeteries, fund management, and lending.
Security National Life Group is the 160th largest health and life insurer in the United States based on total assets, a ranking which reflects an eight-position jump from the previous year.
Security National Life Insurance has a home service office in Flowood, MS.
Financial Strength and Ratings
The Security National Life Insurance Company has grown since 2014, upping its total assets from $510 million to $666 million.
They also have $2.5 million in total capital and nearly $45 million in net surplus.
When it comes to insurance in-force, Security National Life sits at $1.78 billion as of the end of 2018.
A.M. Best gives Security National a rating of an “A-” , demonstrating excellent financial strength and a strong likelihood of meeting its financial obligations.
This grade represents a stable outlook for Security National Life Insurance and indicates movement in the right direction financially.
It is an upgrade from their former score of “B++”. The fact that Security National has its highest grades for financial strength today is indicative of a promising outlook.
Though it is not BBB-accredited, Security National Life has an “A-” rating from the Better Business Bureau.
A look at the BBB ‘s website shows minimal complaints waged against Security National, suggesting a strong relationship between the company and its customers.
Products
Security National has an impressive lineup of policies to match your end-of-life expenses, ranging from small guaranteed whole life policies to preneed plans.
We’ll break down the specifics of each policy below.
Whole Life Insurance
Security National offers three whole life products: standard, modified, and preferred.
These whole life insurance policies come with guaranteed death benefits and level premium payments for the entirety of the policy.
Agents determine the value of the plan based on health history and the application.
Here’s a closer look at each policy:
- Simple Security Standard: This plan comes with death benefits from day one. Depending on your age, you could be eligible for $10,000 to $25,000. The policy also allows for some pre-existing health conditions and multiple riders.
- Simple Security Modified: The modified plan is for people with significant health issues who cannot get traditional insurance. While it comes with the same benefits as Simple Security Standard, it is not the best choice for people with a fatal illness who are at risk of dying in the first two years.
- Simple Security Preferred: This model is for people with no health issues. Benefits start on the first day of the policy and come with a death benefit of up to $35,000. There are also available riders for accidental death and dependent children.
Final Expense Insurance
While funerals are the most significant cost associated with death, the passing of a loved one comes with many other unexpected expenses, like transportation, medical bills, medication, and any existing debts.
Final expense insurance provides beneficiaries with the cash they need to meet these needs so they don’t have to drain their savings.
You should note that Security National’s final expense policies come with some extreme coverage limitations if the policyholder dies within the first two years of the plan, unless you live in Nevada or Arkansas.
If the policyholder passes away during that time frame, Security National will refund only 10 percent of the premiums.
Otherwise, if the policyholder survives beyond the first 24 months, they are eligible for the entirety of the death benefit payment.
Preneed Insurance
Preneed insurance makes sure your funeral expenses are covered long before your family has to worry about them.
Here’s how it works:
The preneed insurance plan is worked out between the policyholder and a funeral director.
After finding a funeral home to meet their needs, the policyholder works with a funeral director to make a list of expenses for arrangements related to the funeral.
The funeral director then calculates the total cost and Security National uses the amount as the basis for coverage.
This policy also allows policyholders the ability to thoughtfully plan the ceremony, with no need to skimp or cut corners, which sometimes happens with last-minute arrangements made for an unexpected death.
Security National makes a variety of products that work for any budget, and they partner with a growing network of funeral homes across the country.
Pros
Security National has some strengths which make it appealing to shoppers looking for end-of-life coverage.
Consider the following pros of working with Security National.
- Financial strength: Since its founding, the company has grown to more than $666 million in assets and $1.78 billion of insurance in force, with strong financial ratings.
- Specialized products: Security National has built its reputation around funeral and end-of-life services, which is still a cornerstone of its business today.
- Customer service: The company does an exceptional job when it comes to being available to customers, with a prevalent presence on social media and the Security National blog, where customers and prospective policyholders alike can find useful and relevant content.
- App: Security National is the first funeral insurance company to offer a mobile app. Apple and Android users can now use SNL Calc (available in Apple and Android) to handle end-of-life expenses from one place.
Cons
You should also consider a few potentially negative consequences of partnering with Security National Life Insurance Company.
- Policy types: If you’re looking for coverage outside of the final expense arena, you’ll have to go elsewhere.
- Policy limits: While final expense policies come with considerably low payouts, the maximum death benefit of Security National’s policies may not be the highest in the industry.
- Cost: Likewise, insurance shoppers may find lower rates on final expense policies by looking elsewhere as Security National’s premiums aren’t the most competitive.
Final Thoughts
Security National Life Insurance Company was created to meet a very specific need among life insurance shoppers.
While most traditional life insurance applicants would benefit most from a term life insurance policy, final expense policies can provide just the coverage some families need.
Whether you’re looking to plan all the details, including the cost, of your funeral in advance or simply leave your loved ones with a small financial cushion, final expense or preneed insurance can help.
Before you sign the dotted line on a Security National policy, though, be sure to do your homework.
Comparing quotes takes only a few minutes of your time and could lead to significant savings in the long run.
Security National Life Insurance Company Review
- Website
- securitynationallife.com
- Phone
- (800) 574-7117
- Address
- P.O. Box 57220
Salt Lake City, UT 84157
Company Name (and subsidiaries)
- Security National Life Insurance Company
- Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC)