Life Insurance Last reviewed: 2026-10-03 Part of Life insurance reviews

Life Insurance Reviews and Guides (2026)

Written and reviewed by Hans Goldstein, licensed insurance producer, NPN 20602398 · CA Insurance License #4273294
Last reviewed October 3, 2026 · Published October 3, 2026

Editorial review by a licensed agent who may earn a commission. No insurer pays for placement or grades. Hans is paid a commission by the insurer if you buy a policy through him. For life insurance, ask and he will tell you what he earns on your specific policy.

Start here: this section grades life insurance policies on one published method, the Goldstein Index, and explains the decisions that matter: term or permanent, how much to fund an IUL, when an ILIT makes sense, and what living benefits really pay. Every number carries a date and a source. If you already own a policy, the fastest win is a free policy review.

How this section works

I'm Hans Goldstein, an independent licensed insurance agent in Southern California. Most life insurance content online is either a carrier brochure or a list of "best companies" with no method behind it. This section is different in three ways:

One method, published. Every product is graded on the same fixed dimensions for its type, so an IUL grade means the same thing on every page. The weights and sources are on the Goldstein Index page.
Dated facts only. Caps, loan rates and ratings change, often quarterly. Every fact shows the date it was checked and where it came from. If a fact is not public, the grade says "Pending" instead of guessing.
Guaranteed next to illustrated. Wherever a page shows projected values, the guaranteed column sits beside the midpoint and current columns. The guaranteed column is the only promise in a policy.

In my opinion, for most people who can afford it and fund it properly, permanent life insurance ends up being the most satisfying answer, because it lasts as long as you do and builds cash value you can use. That is my view, not a rule. For a young family that needs a large death benefit on a tight budget, convertible term is often the right first step.

Why the midpoint column matters

No policy performs exactly as illustrated. Real results usually land somewhere between the guaranteed column and the illustrated (current) column: some years credit less than assumed, charges can move within their limits, and premiums are rarely paid exactly on schedule. That is why the midpoint column, halfway between the two, is the most useful planning number, and why Hans shows guaranteed, midpoint and current side by side.

Term life: price, conversion and what happens at the end

Term is the cheapest way to buy a large death benefit for a set number of years. Two things decide whether it served you well: whether you can convert it before the deadline, and what happens when the level period ends.

Term conversionLock in today's health class before the deadline When term life endsThe year-21 premium jump and your options Conversion deadline checkerFind your last day to convert Term cost by ageBallpark monthly ranges, dated and sourced Paramed exam vs no examWhich route prices better for you Life insurance for truck driversNo-exam options and how driving history counts Buy term and invest the differenceWhen it works, and when it doesn't

Term makes sense when...

You are a disciplined saver who really does invest the difference, every month, for decades.
The premium is small enough that you will not miss it (around $100 a month), so it will not lapse.
The need is temporary: a mortgage payoff, kids until they are independent, income replacement through your working years, a business loan or a key person for a set term.
You need a big death benefit on a tight budget right now, as with a young family.
You want to lock in your health now with convertible term and convert part of it to permanent later (how term conversion works).

Permanent makes sense when...

Forced savings helps you: a premium you pay like a bill builds cash value you would not have saved on your own.
You want coverage that lasts your whole life, not just 20 or 30 years.
There is an estate or ILIT purpose: liquidity for estate tax, equalizing heirs, or a trust (ILIT guide).
Cash value is a goal and you can fund it properly for 15+ years (max-funded IUL).
You are healthy and under about 55, so the cost of insurance has decades to stay low while cash value builds.

Free policy review

Own a life insurance policy? Get it graded.

Send your email and I'll send the in-force illustration request letter. Return the illustration and I'll grade your policy within one business day.

We’ll email it to you. Hans Goldstein · NPN 20602398.

Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar.

Indexed universal life (IUL)

An IUL can be the most efficient way to pay for permanent coverage with healthy cash value, measured on illustrated (not guaranteed) values, and only when it is funded properly. Underfunded, the same policy can lapse in your late 70s or 80s as the cost of insurance climbs. These pages explain the difference.

Best IUL by buyer typeGraded on public data, updated 10/3/2026 Max-funded IULThe car, SUV and semi-truck, and the hockey stick IUL funding checkerIs your policy a car, an SUV or a semi?What an IUL costsIt depends on funding; here is how IUL problems when you are olderRising COI and the age-65 rule Should I surrender my IUL?Check these before you cash out National Life FlexLife reviewFlagship product review Mutual of Omaha IUL Express reviewNo-exam IUL for smaller faces

How every graded IUL compares today (provisional, public data only):

Product	Carrier	AM Best	Living benefits	Loans	Provisional overall
FlexLife IUL	National Life Group	A+	B	B	Pending 40% graded
Indexed Universal Life Express	Mutual of Omaha	A+	B-	Pending	Pending 40% graded
Income Advantage IUL	Mutual of Omaha	A+	Pending	Pending	Pending 15% graded
Financial Foundation IUL II	Transamerica	A	B	B+	Pending 40% graded
Max Accumulator+ III	Corebridge Financial (American General Life)	A	A	B+	Pending 35% graded
Pacific Horizon IUL 2	Pacific Life	A+	Pending	Pending	Pending 15% graded
IUL Accumulator II 2020	Nationwide	A+	A-	A-	A- 60% graded
WealthAccumulate 2 IUL	Lincoln Financial	A	Pending	Pending	Pending 10% graded
Allianz Life Accumulator	Allianz Life	A+	B-	B+	B+ 55% graded
Accumulation IUL	John Hancock	A+	Pending	Pending	Pending 25% graded
Pathsetter IUL	F&G	A	Pending	B	Pending 45% graded
Eclipse Accumulator II	Securian Financial (Minnesota Life)	A+	B+	A-	Pending 35% graded
IUL Flex II	Principal	A+	Pending	B+	Pending 45% graded

Goldstein Index v1, graded Oct 3, 2026. Draft grades on public data; "Pending" means the fact is not public yet or waits for Hans's standardized illustration. How we grade.

My own book of 179 in-force IUL policies is published as data: median premium $79.41 a month for a median $75,000 death benefit (September 15, 2026). See life insurance cost by age.

Comparisons: which kind of policy fits

IUL vs whole lifeGuarantees vs flexibility, priced fairly GUL vs IULGuaranteed vs potential, and why it matters in a trust IUL vs RothDo the 401(k) match and Roth first IUL vs 401(k)Where an IUL fits after the 401(k)Is whole life worth it?Who the guarantee is worth paying for Whole life cost by ageBallpark ranges, dated and sourced Permanent life insuranceWhole, UL, GUL, IUL and VUL: what each guarantees IUL vs annuityDifferent jobs, different tax rules IUL vs 529 planSaving for college: which comes first All cost guidesTerm, IUL and whole life ballpark pricing

Estate planning and ILITs

In 2026 the federal estate tax exemption is $15,000,000 per person ($30,000,000 for a married couple with portability), with a 40% top rate (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can keep a policy's death benefit out of your taxable estate. For a trust, the goal is usually a guaranteed death benefit at the lowest guaranteed cost, which is where guaranteed universal life (GUL) fits.

ILIT guideHow an irrevocable life insurance trust works Do you need an ILIT?Project your estate against the exemption Estate tax exemption 2026$15M per person, 40%, GST and the $19,000 exclusion Survivorship life insuranceSecond-to-die coverage for couples

Guaranteed universal life policies on file (provisional, public data only):

Product	Carrier	AM Best	Guarantee length	Late payments	Provisional overall
PL Promise GUL	Pacific Life	A+	A	B+	A- 50% graded
Lifetime Assurance UL	Protective	A+	A	B	A- 65% graded

Goldstein Index v1, graded Oct 3, 2026. Draft grades on public data; "Pending" means the fact is not public yet or waits for Hans's standardized illustration. How we grade.

Living benefits and accidental death

The keyword on a living-benefits brochure is "up to." Most no-charge riders pay a discounted amount based on how ill you are and how close to death. These pages show the carriers' own examples.

How much do living benefits pay?Terminal 92%, heart attack 54%, chronic about 30%Accelerated death benefitHow the riders work and what they cost Living benefits vs long-term careWhy a rider is not an LTC plan Is accidental death insurance worth it?Who it fits, by age

Already own a policy?

If you own a universal life, IUL or whole life policy, the most useful document you can get is an in-force illustration from your insurer. It shows whether the policy is on track at current and guaranteed assumptions.

Free policy reviewThe request letter, and how Hans grades it Cash surrender valueWhat you get if you cash out, and the tax Surrender, keep or exchange?The checklist before you decide CPA, attorney, agent, advisorWhy each leaves gaps, and how to coordinate them

Tax truths nobody talks about

How life insurance, annuities and pensions are actually taxed, and what that means for you and your heirs. Educational, not tax advice.

Policy loans, IRMAA and Social SecurityHow loans stay out of AGI, and the conditions Why life insurance is tax-smartThe death benefit, and loans against cash value The annuity tax trapGain first, ordinary income, no step-up SPIA: taxed like a pensionThe exclusion ratio, explained Are pensions taxed unfairly?How retirement income is taxed Sequence-of-returns riskWhy the first bad decade matters most

The IUL wild west

What is being pitched on social media, what regulators have actually changed, and what to do if a policy is falling behind.

IUL on social mediaThe pitches, the rules, how to spot hype "Be your own bank"Most of the loan is your own money The coming complaint waveHans's prediction, and the history behind it IUL underperforming?The fixes, in order Life insurance commissionsHow the pay structure steers advice

Tools

Product finderLife, annuity, LTC or safe money: what fits IUL funding checkerCar, SUV or semi-truck Term conversion deadline checkerYour last day to convert ILIT estate tax calculatorProjected estate vs the 2026 exemption

Carrier and product reviews

Transamerica reviewAM Best A, living benefits built in Corebridge (American General) reviewDollar-for-dollar chronic benefit; merger watch National Life FlexLifeIUL product review Mutual of Omaha IUL ExpressNo-exam IUL review How we gradeThe Goldstein Index method Annuity commissionsWhy MYGAs and SPIAs don't get pushed

Own a policy, or holding a quote?

Send it over. Within one business day you get a written read on the Goldstein Index: funding level, lapse risk, living-benefit value and two alternatives.

A free 15-minute call if you want one.

Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar, or call 213-414-2808.

Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer

Frequently asked questions

How does Hans grade life insurance policies?

Each product type has fixed dimensions with fixed weights, for example caps, loans, charges, living benefits and carrier strength for an IUL. Each grade carries a date and a source. Dimensions without public data stay Pending until Hans runs a standardized illustration.

Is permanent life insurance better than term?

In Hans's opinion, permanent coverage is usually the most satisfying answer for people who can fund it properly, because it lasts for life and builds cash value. For a budget-limited family that needs maximum coverage for 20 to 30 years, convertible term is often the suitable first step.

Do insurers pay for these reviews or grades?

No. No insurer pays for placement or grades. Hans is paid a commission by the insurer if you buy a policy through him, and he will tell you what he earns on your specific policy if you ask.

I already own a policy. Where should I start?

Request an in-force illustration from your insurer showing current and guaranteed values, then send it to Hans for a free review. The request letter is on the policy review page.

Are the grades final?

No. Pilot grades are provisional and based on public data. Final grades post after Hans runs the standardized illustration for each product type.

Sources

Hans Goldstein, CA Insurance License #4273294 · NPN 20602398 · Goldstein & Co. LLC dba Goldstein Insurance Services, CA License #6016830

Contact: hans@hansgoldstein.com · 213-414-2808

General education, not tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on your facts and on current law, which can change. Talk to your CPA or estate attorney. Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Guarantees apply only to the contractual terms of the policy. Caps, participation rates, loan rates, charges and dividends are not guaranteed and can change. Hans is paid a commission by the insurer if you buy a policy through him. For life insurance, ask and he will tell you what he earns on your specific policy. Product and company names are trademarks of their owners. Goldstein Insurance Services is an independent agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurer named here. Life insurance requires underwriting; not everyone qualifies. This page describes products in general terms; read the policy and the insurer's disclosures before you buy.