Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee required to arrange a consultation with you?
No, our services are provided on a complimentary basis and are free of charge to qualified candidates.  To qualify you must fall into one or more of the following categories:

- homeowner
- parent of one or more minor children
- household income greater than $75,000
- liquid net worth greater than $100,000
- business owner (where the business is your primary income source)

What products and services does New York Life offer?
On the insurance side, New York Life and its subsidiaries offer traditional life insurance and annuities.  On the investment side, New York Life's subsidiaries provide institutional asset management and trust services and, through a subsidiary, NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC, a Licensed Insurance Agency), provide an array of securities products and services such as institutional and retail mutual funds, including 401(k) products.  You can click the following highlighted links for further information on the products and services we offer.

How can I purchase an insurance policy or other product from New York Life?
Insurance products must be purchased through an agent such as myself, who will work closely with you to determine your needs and the best product to fill them.  As a registered representative of NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC, a Licensed Insurance Agency) I can also assist you with the purchase of mutual funds.  Contact us in order to schedule an in-person consultation.

Why should I do business with you when I can order financial products over the internet?
The internet offers rapid access to information. However, are you receiving the CORRECT information that is appropriate for YOUR situation? Without knowing what to look for, you can spend hours online instead of devoting a few minutes to a PERSONAL consultation with a trained professional. If you're sick would you rely upon medical websites for treatment and advice? Making important financial decisions is no different. Further, the products offered online do not provide the level of customization as those we can offer you. For instance, did you know that some life insurance policies will only pay a death benefit if you die in an accident, or that guaranteed approval life insurance policies offered online or on television will NOT pay the full death benefit unless the policy has been in effect for two or three years? Don't make mistakes that you'll regret years later.  Call us so we can set you on the right path today!

How are New York Life agents selected and trained?  Is a career with New York Life right for me?
All New York Life agents must complete a rigorous training course, called NYLIC University, before they can sell our products.  After that, they are required to continue their professional educations throughout their careers.  In each general office, we consider hiring candidates that display initiative, intelligence, and character.  If you're interested in becoming an agent you can obtain more information here and then contact us in order to schedule an interview.  Please specify "Career Opportunity" in the subject line.

Why has New York Life remained solid despite turbulence in the financial industry?
We maintain a well-diversified, conservative investment portfolio that includes very little exposure to the problem areas in today’s market.  Our disciplined investment approach enables us to continue to have have remarkable resilience amid turbulent times and billions of dollars of surplus more than needed to be confident we can meet our obligations to policyholders. 

We are the nation’s oldest and largest mutual life insurance company. While publicly traded life insurance companies face a constant trade-off between policyholders and shareholders. As a mutual insurance company, we don't offer shares of stock on public exchanges, and operate solely for the benefit of our members, or policyholders, with every dollar of value we create going to their benefit.

Perhaps the most important benefit of mutuality for our policyholders is that it allows us to keep a long-term perspective in all our decision-making and have the independence from the demands of outside investors and Wall Street analysts. This means that we have the freedom to walk away from investments or sales practices that offer potentially strong near-term returns but may not be in our policyholders’ long-term best interests. This is crucial when we are making promises we will be keeping 20, 30, or 40 years into the future. Because of our mutuality, New York Life has a long history of taking contrarian stands that have proved to be very sound decisions.

When times are good, publicly traded and mutual life insurers generally both perform well. But when times are bad, the benefits of mutuality shine clearly. And today is no exception.

How large is New York Life? Who are some of your major clients?
New York Life, including its subsidiaries, is a Fortune 100 company. We have offices nationwide and internationally, we have offices in Argentina, China, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwain, and Thailand. Some of our more recognizable clients include the Air Line Pilots Association, American College of Surgeons, New York Bar Association and The American Institute of Architects. Over the course of our history, we have also insured many United States Presidents and a host of famous political, social, business, and military leaders, professional athletes, and entertainers.

What are ratings? Why are they so important?
Independent ratings for insurance companies are based on their financial strength and ability to pay claims - two critical factors in choosing an insurer. The higher a company is rated, the stronger and more reliable it is. Four major companies — Fitch, Moody's Investors Service, Standard & Poor's, and A.M. Best — have all given New York Life and NYLIAC (our annuity subsidiary) their highest ratings. Find out what the rating agencies say for more information.