1. GUARDIAN BERKSHIRE LIFE GUARDIAN BERKSHIRE LIFE
Peer Ratings and Comdex
As of March 2017
Peer Ratings & Comdex
As of May 2017
A.M. Best: A++ Superior ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders
Standard & Poor’s: AA+ Very strong financial security characteristics
Comdex Rankings
Northwestern Mutual
100
Berkshire Life 99
Guardian 98
Mass Mutual
MetLife* 94
Principal 90
Ohio National 89
Ameritas 82
Standard 79
Unum 77
AA+
A++ A+
AA- A A
Ameritas
Ohio National MetLife
Principal Standard
Unum
GUARDIAN BERKSHIRE LIFE
Ameritas
Standard
Unum
GUARDIAN BERKSHIRE LIFE
Ohio National
MetLife
Principal
Northwestern Mutual
Mass Mutual
Northwestern Mutual
Mass Mutual
Moody’s: Aa2 Excellent financial security
Fitch: AA+ Very strong capacity to meet contractual obligations
You may use this slide in a PowerPoint presentation. If you would like to use this as a stand-alone flyer, you may do so. Make it a 2-sided piece, with the bar charts on one side and the explanation of the rankings as the back side.
Aaa
AAA
Aa2
AA+
Aa3 A1 A1 A2
AA- A- A
MetLife
Principal
Northwestern
Mutual
GUARDIAN Mass Mutual
MetLife
Ohio National
Principal
Standard Unum
Northwestern
Mutual
GUARDIAN
BERKSHIRE LIFE Mass Mutual
Standard Unum
Ratings are subject to change. All financial ratings as of May 2017 in VitalSigns. Berkshire Life and Ameritas are not rated by Moody’s. Ameritas is also not rated by Fitch. *Information for MetLife based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company not Brighthouse Life Insurance Company. Individual disability income products underwritten and issued by Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America (BLICOA), Pittsfield, MA. BLICOA is a wholly owned stock subsidiary of and administrator for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY or provided by Guardian. BLICOA is solely responsible for the financial obligations thereunder for its issued products. Pub4743BL-VAR (05/17) (Exp. 05/18)

2. 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 promise to pay a benefit 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.
This can be used as the back side of a peer rankings flyer.
Individual disability income products underwritten and issued by Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America (BLICOA), Pittsfield, MA. BLICOA is a wholly owned stock subsidiary of and administrator for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY or provided by Guardian. BLICOA is solely responsible for the financial obligations thereunder for its issued products. Pub4743BL-VAR (05/17) (Exp. 05/18)