As a small independent life insurance brokerage at IBUSA, one of the significant advantages is our flexibility in choosing which life insurance carriers to carry.

Unlike larger companies, we do not need to spend weeks training hundreds of agents when adding a new carrier to our lineup. Instead, we can meet with our team to discuss how adding a carrier can benefit a particular client population.

That is why companies like Lafayette Life Insurance are among our top picks. Although they may not have the biggest name recognition, they provide quality products that may be the perfect match for someone looking to protect their family.

Therefore, we would like to take a moment to discuss Lafayette Life Insurance and provide some background on who they are, what they offer, and why you may want to consider them when purchasing your following life insurance policy.

About Lafayette Life Insurance

Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lafayette Life Insurance Company is a Western & Southern Financial Group member. Although it may not have the same brand recognition as some of the more prominent players in the life insurance industry, it is a solid and stable company that offers highly competitive products, particularly in the realm of whole life.

Being a mutual insurer means Lafayette Life is owned by its policyholders, not stockholders. This model significantly benefits consumers, such as annual dividends paid to eligible whole-life policyholders.

Lafayette has an excellent track record in that regard, having issued policyholder dividends every year since its founding in 1905. As such, Lafayette excels in providing dividend-eligible whole-life policies.

Lafayette Life issues life insurance policies in every state except New York and the District of Columbia. The company has a nationwide distribution network with over 7,500 independent agents (whom Lafayette calls “producers”) and in-house agents.

Lafayette primarily focuses its marketing efforts on higher-earning clients and small to medium-sized businesses. This approach, combined with its strong financial position and reliable dividend payouts, makes Lafayette Life a compelling choice for consumers seeking quality life insurance coverage.

Lafayette Financial Ratings

• A.M. Best: A+
• S&P: AA-
• Moody’s: NR
• Fitch: AA
• Comdex Ranking: 95

Lafayette Life Insurance Company boasts excellent financial scores from major ratings organizations, placing it just outside the top tier of life insurers. Therefore, in terms of policyholder security, Lafayette is a safe bet. Its strong financial position suggests a low risk that the company will be unable to fulfill policy obligations anytime soon, and there is a reasonable likelihood that the company will maintain its strong track record for policyholder dividends.

As of 2019, Lafayette held over $6 billion in assets and reported revenue of just under $700 million. While these figures may not compare to some of the insurance industry’s giants, Lafayette’s Fortune 500 parent company, Western & Southern Financial, reports nearly $60 billion in total assets on its confidence-inspiring balance sheet.

Lafayette Consumer Ratings

Despite the company’s long history, Lafayette has only been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2012. Though the BBB currently reports an A+ grade for Lafayette, consumer reviews provided to BBB are not encouraging, with communication being the most common area of frustration.

However, BBB has a small sample size, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ report indicates that Lafayette receives fewer than-average complaints from consumers.

What Products Does Lafayette Offer?

Lafayette focuses on life insurance (especially whole life insurance) and annuities. Though Lafayette does not have a huge line of annuities, the available products have some attractive features and serve as a fine complement to Lafayette’s featured whole-life policies.

Along with life insurance and annuities, Lafayette also offers financial services for small businesses.

Available services include administering employer-sponsored retirement plans and business planning strategies, such as key person insurance and executive compensation plans.

Lafayette Life Insurance Products

Whole life insurance is Lafayette’s bread and butter, offering seven different entire life options. All Lafayette whole-life policies feature guaranteed-for-life coverage, cash-value accrual, policy growth at guaranteed minimum rates, and fixed premiums.

As with most whole life, the value stored in a policy can be tapped through tax-free policy loans or partial withdrawals.

Or, policies can be surrendered for cash value (via a lump sum or annuitized payments) to help fund retirement.

Lafayette’s whole-life offerings differ principally in their premium structures—specifically, the duration for which policyholders’ premium obligations last.

Generally, the longer a policy’s premiums last, the lower they will be. A policy with a shorter premium term will require higher premiums and build cash value faster, resulting in greater growth and improved dividend potential.

Lafayette’s seven whole life offerings are as follows:

• 10 Pay Life 2020 is a limited pay policy that requires premiums for ten years, after which the policy is “paid-up,” and no additional premiums are required (though the coverage remains in place);
• Heritage 2020 requires premiums through age 100 or for 20 years (whichever is longer);
• Contender 2020 requires premiums through age 95 or for 20 years (whichever is longer);
• Patriot 2020 requires premiums through age 75 or for 30 years (whichever is longer);
• Sentinel 2020 requires premiums through age 65 or for 20 years (whichever is longer);
• Liberty 2020 Single Premium requires one lump-sum premium payment when a policy is issued and then provides guaranteed for-life coverage;
• Protector 2020 is a simplified-issue whole-life policy that does not require a medical exam. It is available with level premiums for life or a single lump-sum premium. For policyholders who choose level premiums, coverage is limited to $50,000

Lafayette’s whole-life policies have proven to be one of the better choices on the market for policyholders focused on long-term policy growth.

Most of Lafayette’s whole-life policies are dividend-eligible, and the company has consistently issued annual dividends to policyholders during every year of its existence. Lafayette Life’s solid financial position suggests that the trend will likely continue.

Optional riders can also substantially increase a whole life policy’s value over time. A paid-up addition rider gives the policyholder the right to purchase additional paid-up insurance at future intervals.

When the option is exercised, the premium is paid upfront, the supplemental coverage is immediately paid in full, and the policy’s death benefit, cash value, and growth potential are all increased.

For eligible participating life insurance policies, dividend payments can be applied toward paid-up additional premiums so that no out-of-pocket expense is incurred for the additional coverage.

Lafayette also offers whole-life policies an accelerated death benefit rider (standard with some policies) that allows policyholders to access a policy’s death benefit early if the insured is diagnosed with a terminal, chronic, or critical illness.

A long-term care rider is available with some policies, allowing the policyholder to apply policy value toward the insured’s long-term care costs.

For policyholders needing higher coverage, Lafayette offers an optional term rider that temporarily increases a policy’s death benefit for years.

Term Life Insurance from Lafayette Life

Though whole life is Lafayette Life’s forte, the company offers a versatile term series—ingeniously titled the “Marquis Term Series” (as in Marquis de Lafayette)—available for applicants who don’t want permanent coverage (or who don’t want it right away).

The Marquis Term Series policies are available with term lengths of 10, 20, and 30 years and coverage amounts starting at $100,000.

Upon the conclusion of a policy’s term, the policyholder can renew coverage annually (for an increased premium) through the insured’s 95^th birthday.

New insureds can be anywhere from 18 to 75, though longer terms are only available for younger applicants.

The product is not no exam life insurance, as Lafayette’s Maquis Term policies are fully underwritten and require a medical exam at the time of application.

Most Lafayette term policies include a conversion rider allowing the policyholder to convert the term coverage into whole life. When included, the conversion option can be exercised until the policy’s initial term ends or through the insured’s 65^th birthday (whichever happens first).

This can be an excellent option for younger applicants who need higher coverage early on but ultimately want to take advantage of Lafayette’s featured whole-life policies.

Other Offerings from Lafayette Life

Lafayette’s available policies conspicuously lack universal life insurance. So, if you have your heart set on UL, Lafayette Life isn’t your huckleberry.

However, Lafayette does offer a strong menu of annuities, including a single-premium immediate annuity and a series of fixed indexed annuity options (also called “Marquis”) with some attractive features.

Marquis Centennial, for instance, is a flexible-premium deferred annuity that links growth to several indexes (including the S&P 500), while still guarantying a minimum return.

Closing thoughts…

While Lafayette Life Insurance Company offers competitive products, strong financial ratings, and a solid track record of paying out policyholder dividends, it’s important to remember that no single life insurance company is the best fit for everyone. Lafayette may be an excellent choice for certain individuals or families. Still, it’s always a good idea to shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurers before making a final decision. That way, you can be sure you’re getting the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget. Ultimately, while Lafayette may be a strong contender, the only way to know if they are the right life insurance company is to explore your options and compare their offerings with those of other insurers.