
American General Life Insurance Company is no longer part of AIG. It now operates under Corebridge Financial, which AIG spun off in September 2022 and fully exited by May 2026. Existing AIG/American General policies are unchanged — American General Life remains the issuing company — and Corebridge has agreed to merge with Equitable Holdings in a deal expected to close by the end of 2026.

The corporate story has moved fast. In September 2022, AIG spun off its Life & Retirement division — including American General — as Corebridge Financial (NYSE: CRBG) (AIG, 2022)¹. The direct-to-consumer brand AIG Direct was renamed Corebridge Direct in July 2024 (BestLifeQuote, 2025)⁸. AIG then sold a 21.6% stake to Japan’s Nippon Life for $3.8 billion in December 2024 (AIG, 2024)² and divested its final shares in May 2026, completing what its CEO called a five-year separation from the life and retirement business (LII, 2026)³. One more change is coming: in March 2026, Corebridge and Equitable Holdings announced an all-stock merger valued at roughly $22 billion, expected to close by the end of 2026 pending regulatory approval (My Annuity Store, 2026)⁶. Through all of it, the policies themselves haven’t moved — American General Life Insurance Company still issues coverage in most states (with The United States Life Insurance Company handling New York), and existing policy terms, premiums, and beneficiaries are unchanged (BestLifeQuote, 2025)⁸.
American General was founded in Houston in 1926 and grew over the following decades into one of the largest U.S. life insurers. It was acquired by American International Group (AIG) — not "American Investment Group," and AIG was its parent, never its subsidiary — in 2001, and was spun off with the rest of AIG’s Life & Retirement business as Corebridge Financial in September 2022 (RatesChaser, 2026)⁹ (AIG, 2022)¹.
Last updated on: August 18, 2026
It is one of the most highly rated life insurance providers in the nation. Garnering above-average ratings from all four financial strength agencies, Corebridge offers affordable rates as well as flexible premium and benefit packages. American General makes it simple to shop for their variety of life insurance products and provides many resources to keep their clients informed as they make important decisions for the future of their loved ones.
American General’s main strengths come from its dependability and the variety of products that are offered. Because it is such a large company and its current financial position is so strong, customers can feel more confident that the company will last long enough to pay the promised benefits. On top of that, its size and backing allow it to branch out with a wider range of insurance products in comparison with its competitors.
Also, many of the personal reviews praise the customer service available and how much can be done quickly online. Additionally, Corebridge offers extremely flexible term policy lengths. While many companies have periods in increments of five years (e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20, etc.), Corebridge allows customers to purchase more specific term policies such as 11 or 23-year plans.
Lastly, the entire team is easily accessible online. As a policyholder, you can easily manage your policy online and access all the necessary claims forms and contact forms to get your problem solved efficiently. Clients can access their FAQ page to get basic questions answered, such as how to pay premiums, set up electronic billing, or changing beneficiaries. New customers can access free life insurance quotes online as well, and they provide in-depth, downloadable PDF brochures for all their life insurance products.
This added variety, flexibility, and dependability come with an added cost, however. Corebridge’s plans are more expensive than similar plans with competing companies. The company also offers relatively poor coverage for individuals with a genetic predisposition toward certain conditions and those with high cholesterol. Additionally, the company draws a significant number of complaints from its customers, mainly about the amount of red tape that is sometimes required to cancel policies or make changes.
One more consideration in 2026: the pending Equitable merger puts the corporate structure in motion through at least year-end, which is why two rating agencies currently have the company under review (see the ratings section below). Policy guarantees are unaffected, but shoppers who prize a settled corporate parent may want to factor it in (Corebridge IR, 2026)⁴ (My Annuity Store, 2026)⁶.
Select-a-Term: This product allows customers to choose the benefit amount they need for whatever length of time they need it. They offer 18 different term options with this policy, be it 10 years, between 15 and 30 years, or 35 years (Ethos, 2026)⁷. There’s also a built-in conversion option available up to the end of the level-premium period (or age 70), without requiring any additional underwriting.
QoL Flex Term: One of several “Quality of Life” insurance options (detailed later), this term insurance policy provides coverage along with built-in accelerated benefit riders, which provide an advance on the policy’s death benefit to cover costs for long-term care and other expenses due to a chronic, critical, or terminal illness. Like Select-a-Term, this policy offers a range of term options and convertibility options. Other available riders for this policy include an accidental death benefit, child rider, and waiver of premium.
American General Life Insurance Company offers 4 life insurance products that offer built-in living benefits that provide protection for those dealing with the unexpected, such as terminal illness. These policies are ideal for people who want financial protection for whatever matters most to them: QoL Flex Term (see above), QoL Guarantee Plus GUL II (guaranteed lifelong insurance that builds cash value, with the option of supplemental retirement income), QoL Value Protector (index universal life with built-in living benefits, cash value accumulation, and a guaranteed death benefit up to age 100), and QoL Max Accumulator (a cash value index universal life product with supplemental retirement income and long-term wealth accumulation).
Guaranteed Universal Life — Secure Lifetime GUL 3: With this product, clients get a guaranteed death benefit plus cash value potential. Benefits and premiums are flexible, and there are a variety of riders and features available to customize the policy to fit your needs.
AG Secure Survivor GUL II: Ideal for asset and business protection from estate taxes, featuring guaranteed death benefit and premium flexibility. You can even make partial withdrawals while maintaining pro-rated benefits.
Indexed Universal Life — Value Protector and Max Accumulator: Protection-focused and accumulation-focused IUL products, respectively, combining universal life benefits with interest crediting features.
Variable Universal Life: These life insurance products build cash value through investments, providing flexibility for premiums and death benefits should your needs change. Verify VUL availability before recommending: Corebridge has been winding down parts of its variable business, so confirm current variable life offerings directly with the carrier (My Annuity Store, 2026)⁶.
Guaranteed Issue Whole Life: For qualified applicants between the ages of 50 and 85, a guaranteed-issue whole life insurance policy is offered. With coverage ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 and affordable fixed premiums, acceptance is guaranteed without an exam or extensive underwriting. These policies are ideal for covering final expenses like funeral costs, medical bills, and credit card debt.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment: Another guaranteed-acceptance option, this insurance product helps limit out of pocket expenses in the event of an unexpected, serious injury or death due to an accident. AD&D provides up to $500,000 of benefits and could be a good plan B for those who have been turned down for other life insurance products in the past since there’s no application or medical exam.
It is always important to check the ratings of any company that you are planning to purchase life insurance from. Understanding their financial strength, rates, product range, and customer service will help you form a better picture of how the company will treat you and your case. For many, life insurance is a lifetime commitment, one that you would not want jeopardized by a poorly-rated provider.
| Agency | Rating | Description / Outlook |
| A.M. Best | A | Excellent — under review, developing implications (pending Equitable merger) |
| Standard & Poor’s | A+ | Strong — CreditWatch Negative |
| Moody’s | A2 | Good — stable |
The under-review status reflects the announced Corebridge–Equitable merger rather than any deterioration in the operating companies — AM Best’s A (Excellent) applies to American General Life Insurance Company and its sister issuers, and had a stable outlook until the merger announcement put it under review (AM Best, 2024)⁵ (Corebridge IR, 2026)⁴.
Conclusion
There are both advantages and disadvantages to purchasing a policy with a company as large and expansive as Corebridge. While you get access to the wide variety of flexible products they offer as well as exposure to the financial dependability of the company, you may also find yourself paying slightly more for your policy and encounter difficulties when trying to cancel or change your policy.
In the end, choosing the right insurance company is only one part of purchasing life insurance. There are many factors that go into the cost of your policy that are best assessed by an expert. That’s why we want to help. Here at LifeQuote, our agents will take stock of your situation and help you determine which course is best to take.
With us, you can be sure you are getting the best coverage for the best rates. Life insurance can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Contact us today to let us simplify the process for you.
They were related, not the same: American General Life Insurance Company was AIG’s U.S. life insurance issuer from 2001 until AIG spun the business off as Corebridge Financial in 2022. AIG sold its last Corebridge shares in May 2026, so today the two are fully separate companies (LII, 2026)³.
Nothing. American General Life Insurance Company still issues and backs the policy; only the parent brand changed to Corebridge. Premiums, coverage amounts, beneficiaries, and policy terms are exactly as written, and no policyholder action is required (BestLifeQuote, 2025)⁸.
Corebridge is a standalone public company (NYSE: CRBG) with Nippon Life of Japan as a major shareholder after its 2024 stake purchase. In March 2026 Corebridge agreed to an all-stock merger with Equitable Holdings, expected to close by the end of 2026 pending regulatory approval (AIG, 2024)² (My Annuity Store, 2026)⁶.
Yes — American General Life carries an A (Excellent) from AM Best, A+ (Strong) from S&P, and A2 from Moody’s. Two of those ratings are formally under review because of the pending Equitable merger, which is a corporate-structure question, not a claims-paying one (Corebridge IR, 2026)⁴ (AM Best, 2024)⁵.
Select-a-Term is the carrier’s signature term product, offering 18 different term lengths from 10 to 35 years — including odd durations like 11 or 23 years that most insurers don’t sell — so coverage can be matched precisely to a mortgage payoff date or a child’s graduation year (Ethos, 2026)⁷.
1. American International Group. “AIG Announces Plan to Rebrand its Life & Retirement Business as Corebridge Financial.” March 2022. https://aig.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aig-announces-plan-rebrand-its-life-retirement-business/
2. American International Group. “AIG Closes Sale of 21.6% Ownership Stake of Corebridge to Nippon Life.” December 9, 2024. https://aig.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aig-closes-sale-216-ownership-stake-corebridge-nippon-life
3. Life Insurance International. “AIG to Sell Remaining Stake in Corebridge.” May 2026. https://www.lifeinsuranceinternational.com/news/aig-sell-corebridge-remaining-stake/
4. Corebridge Financial Investor Relations. “Ratings” — agency ratings and outlooks, updated April 2026. https://investors.corebridgefinancial.com/financials/Ratings/default.aspx
5. AM Best. “AM Best Comments on Credit Ratings of Members of Corebridge Financial” — FSR A (Excellent) for American General Life Insurance Company. May 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240516821408/en/AM-Best-Comments-on-Credit-Ratings-of-Members-of-Corebridge-Financial-Following-Announced-Agreement
6. My Annuity Store. “American General Life Insurance Company Review (2026)” — Corebridge–Equitable merger detail. April 2026. https://myannuitystore.com/annuity-insurance-companies/american-general/
7. Ethos. “Corebridge Financial Life Insurance Review 2026 (formerly AIG).” July 2026. https://www.ethos.com/life-insurance/aig-life-insurance-review/
8. BestLifeQuote. “Corebridge Life Insurance Review: What Happened to AIG and American General?” October 2025. https://www.bestlifequote.com/blog/corebridge-financial-review/
9. RatesChaser. “AIG Life Insurance Review (2026): Is It Good, and Who Owns It Now?” July 2026. https://rateschaser.com/life-insurance/reviews/aig-life-insurance-review/