Life Insurance Product Selection Guide
A working tool for matching the right carrier and product to the client in front of you — organized by need, underwriting path, and face amount, across American Amicable, Americo, Corebridge Financial, Transamerica, and the Ethos instant-decision platform (Banner Life, Protective, Ameritas, and TruStage/MEMBERS Life products).
Three questions before you quote
Work through these in order. Each one narrows the field before you open a single illustration tool.
What's the need?
Final expense, mortgage/income protection, income replacement, or cash-value accumulation. This decides the product category.
What can they qualify for?
Health history and age determine whether they land in Guaranteed Issue, Simplified/Instant Decision, or Fully Underwritten — and Level vs. Graded within that.
Which carrier fits the specifics?
Face amount needed, state of residence, budget, and any must-have rider (living benefits, cash back, mortgage-style payout) point to the specific product.
Identify the need
Most conversations sort into one of these four buckets. Pick the one that matches, then jump to that section.
Final Expense
Burial, funeral, and small unpaid-debt coverage for clients typically 40–85. Small face amounts, simplified or guaranteed acceptance, fast issue.
See products →Mortgage / Income Protection
Client wants a benefit that specifically covers a mortgage payment or replaces income for a defined period — not necessarily a lump sum.
See products →Income Replacement / Larger Need
Younger, insurable clients who need a larger death benefit for a defined term — debt, dependents, business needs.
See products →Permanent / Cash Value
Clients who want lifetime coverage with the potential for cash accumulation and living benefits, and can pass fuller underwriting.
See products →The underwriting path
Every product below sits on one of three tiers. Move down this list only if the client can't qualify for the tier above — higher tiers mean larger faces and better pricing.
Guaranteed Issue No Health Questions
Acceptance is guaranteed within the age and face limits — no health questions, no exam, no decline. Trade-off: lowest face caps and a graded death benefit in the early years (accidental death is usually paid at full face immediately).
Simplified Issue / Instant Decision Knock-Out Questions Only
A short set of knock-out health questions plus an MIB and prescription database check — no exam. Decision at the point of sale. Depending on the answers, the client lands on Level death benefit (full face from day one) or Graded death benefit (limited payout in years 1–2, full face after).
Fully Underwritten Full Application + Risk Classes
Complete health questionnaire, possible exam/APS, and full risk-class spread (Preferred Elite down to Standard Smoker). Largest face amounts and the best pricing for healthy clients, but a longer process and the possibility of a decline.
Final Expense & Senior Whole Life
Ordered roughly from most-lenient underwriting to most-restrictive. If a client is declined or graded on one, the row above is worth checking first — but confirm current guidelines in the carrier brochure before quoting.
| Carrier | Product | Issue Ages | Face Amount | Underwriting | Death Benefit | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corebridge | Guaranteed Issue Whole Life (GIWL) | 50–80 | $5,000–$25,000 (aggregate cap across all AGL GIWL policies) | Guaranteed Issue | Graded Yrs 1–2: 110% of premiums paid; Yr 3+: full face. Accidental death: full face any time. | Chronic Illness ABR (up to 25% of face, no waiting period) & Terminal Illness ABR (50% of face) included free. No health questions or exam. |
| Corebridge | SimpliNow Legacy Max (Level design) | 50–80 | $5,000–$35,000 (varies by issue age; see build chart) | Simplified Issue — instant decision eApp | Level — full face day one | Terminal Illness & Nursing Home Confinement ABRs included free; optional Accidental Death Benefit Rider (issue ages 50–75). |
| Corebridge | SimpliNow Legacy (Graded design) | 50–80 | $5,000–$25,000 | Simplified Issue — for clients who don't qualify Level | Graded — 110% of premiums paid in first 2 years | Fallback when GIWL and Level SimpliNow aren't available/needed — still fully electronic, instant decision. |
| Americo | Eagle Select 1 | 40–85 | $5,000–$50,000 (40–75); $5,000–$40,000 (76–85) | Simplified Issue — best available tier | Level for life of policy | Accelerated Benefit Payment Rider (terminal illness, up to $20,000) included free; Quit Smoking Advantage lets smokers earn non-nicotine rates. |
| Americo | Eagle Select 2 | 40–85 (non-nicotine) / 40–75 (nicotine) | $5,000–$50,000 (40–75); $5,000–$40,000 (76–85) | Simplified Issue — mid tier / more health conditions accepted | Level under Options B/C; decreasing at yr 4 under default Option A if smoker doesn't requalify | Same Accelerated Benefit Payment Rider and Quit Smoking Advantage as Eagle Select 1. |
| Americo | Eagle Select 3 | 40–75 | $5,000–$25,000 | Simplified Issue — broadest health acceptance | Graded Yrs 1–2: sum of premiums + interest; Yr 3+: full face. Accidental death paid at full face. | No Accelerated Benefit Rider on this tier. Optional Child & Grandchild Term Rider available. |
| American Amicable | Final Expense — Older Age | 50–85 | $2,500–$5,000 min; up to $50,000 (IMD 50–75) / $25,000 (IMD 76–85) / $25,000 (GDB/ROP) | Simplified Issue no exam | Varies by plan (IMD / GDB / ROP) | Point-of-sale decision; Accidental Death Benefit and Terminal Illness riders; IMD plan adds Confined Care & Nursing Home Waiver of Premium. |
| American Amicable | Final Expense — Younger Age | 0–49 | $10,000 min; up to $35,000 (IMD) / $20,000 (ROP) | Simplified Issue no exam | Whole life, level for IMD plan | Level Term Rider and Terminal Illness rider available; designed for younger applicants needing final-expense-style coverage. |
| Transamerica | FE Express Solution | 18–85 | $5,000–$100,000 (18–75); $5,000–$25,000 (76–85) | Simplified Issue — issue in as few as 10 minutes | Level — guaranteed, full face day one | Concierge Planning Rider/Benefit (funeral concierge & legacy planning) at no cost; Accelerated DB with Nursing Home Benefit rider available. |
| Transamerica | Graded FE Express Solution | 18–80 | $5,000–$25,000 | Simplified Issue — higher-risk applicants | Graded Yrs 1–2: 110% of premiums (unless accidental death) then full face | Same Concierge Planning Rider/Benefit; fallback when Level FE Express isn't available. |
| Transamerica | Immediate Solution | 0–85 | Up to $50,000 (0–55) / $40,000 (56–65) / $30,000 (66–75) / $25,000 (76–85) | Simplified Issue — Preferred or Standard | Level — guaranteed, full face day one | Widest rider set in the FE lineup: ADBR, Nursing Home Benefit, Terminal Illness (CA), Accidental Death, Children's/Grandchildren's rider. |
| Transamerica | 10-Pay Solution | 0–85 | Same face tiers as Immediate Solution | Simplified Issue | Level — premiums paid off in 10 years, coverage for life | Good fit for clients who want premiums to stop well before retirement while keeping lifetime coverage. |
| Transamerica | Easy Solution | 18–80 (NY: 50–75) | $1,000–$25,000 | Simplified Issue — broadest acceptance in the Transamerica FE suite | Graded Yrs 1–2: accidental = full face; other causes limited to 110% of premiums | No optional riders available — the simplest, most-accepting product in the lineup. Available in New York. |
Term Life
For income replacement, debt coverage, and larger temporary needs. Most rows are simplified issue with living-benefit riders built in; the Transamerica Trendsetter series is fully underwritten and reaches much larger face amounts.
| Carrier | Product | Issue Ages | Max Face | Term Lengths | Underwriting | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Amicable | Easy Term | 18–70 | $500,000 (18–45); $300,000 (46+) | 10 / 20 / 30 yr, with 20 & 30 yr Return of Premium options | Simplified Issue no exam | Point-of-sale decision; Critical/Chronic Illness, Disability Income, and Waiver of Premium riders available. |
| American Amicable | Home Protector | 20–65 | $500,000 (20–45); $300,000 (46+) | 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr, with ROP options | Simplified Issue no exam | Positioned specifically for mortgage-length needs; same rider suite as Easy Term plus Level Term rider. |
| American Amicable | Term Made Simple | 18–75 | $500,000 | 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 yr | Simplified Issue no exam | Higher maximum issue age (75) than Easy Term for shorter durations. |
| American Amicable | SafeCare Term | 18–75 | $500,000 | 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 yr, ROP on 20 & 30; level to age 95 | Simplified Issue no exam; PHI required 65+ | Level term insurance to age 95 — longest guaranteed level period in the Amicable term lineup. |
| American Amicable | Survivor Protector | 20–75 | Monthly income up to $2,145 (varies by term length/age) | 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr, or to age 70; decreasing term with monthly income benefit | Simplified Issue no exam | Beneficiary can choose monthly income or a lump sum; convertible while in force (24-month guarantee). |
| American Amicable | Security Protector | 20–50 (30 yr); 51–60 (20 yr) | $1,000 term + choice of $100k/$200k/$300k Accidental Death Benefit | 20 / 30 yr | Simplified Issue, standard through Table 6 | Niche fit for clients who specifically want a low-cost accidental death layer alongside a small base benefit. |
| Americo | Term 125 | 18–75 (varies by duration) | $450,000 | 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 yr | Simplified Issue no exam | Living Benefits (Critical/Chronic/Terminal Illness) included free; Accidental Death Benefit with Common Carrier provision auto-included. |
| Americo | Term 100 | 18–75 (varies by duration) | $450,000 | 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 yr | Simplified Issue no exam | Living Benefits included free; lower cost than Term 125 since it doesn't include the ADB rider automatically. |
| Americo | CBO 100 / CBO 50 | 20–60 (varies by duration & class) | $450,000 | 20 / 25 / 30 yr universal life with Cash Back Option | Simplified Issue no exam | Returns 100% or 50% of base premiums paid if the policy is surrendered at the end of the CBO period; Living Benefits included free. |
| Americo | Payment Protector | 20–75 (varies by duration) | $450,000 equivalent (monthly income $113–$3,217) | 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr, or to age 70; decreasing, income-style benefit | Simplified Issue no exam | Beneficiary chooses monthly income (min. 24 months) or a lump sum calculated at date of death — built for mortgage payment protection. |
| Transamerica | Trendsetter LB (Living Benefits) | 18–80 (band-dependent) | $25,000–$2,000,000 | 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr | Fully Underwritten | Chronic, Critical, and Terminal Illness Accelerated Death Benefit Riders built in; Conversion Option Endorsement included. |
| Transamerica | Trendsetter Super Series | 18–80 (band-dependent) | $25,000–$10,000,000+ | 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr | Fully Underwritten | Reaches the highest face amounts in this guide; Terminal Illness ABR only (no Chronic/Critical); best pricing for healthy, larger-need clients. |
Index Universal Life (Permanent / Cash Value)
For clients who want lifetime coverage plus the potential for cash accumulation, and who can pass either simplified or full underwriting. Face amount and desired complexity of index options usually decide which product fits.
| Carrier | Product | Issue Ages | Min Face | Underwriting | Living Benefits | Index Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Americo | Instant Decision IUL | 18–70 | $50,000 (non-medical to $450,000) | Simplified Issue — instant decision eApp | Critical / Chronic / Terminal Illness ABRs included at no cost | S&P 500® Point-to-Point with Participation Rate or Cap | 5-year No-Lapse Guarantee; guaranteed minimum Cap 3% / Participation Rate 15%. |
| Transamerica | Financial Foundation IUL® II | 0–85 (0–75 CA/FL) | $25,000 (Juvenile/Tobacco/Nontobacco); $100,000 (Preferred classes) | Fully Underwritten — 7 risk classes | Chronic/Critical/Terminal Illness ABRs & Long Term Care Rider available (optional) | Global, S&P 500®, Basic S&P 500® (no IAMC), Balanced Uncapped | No-Lapse Guarantee up to 20 years depending on issue age; broadest rider shelf in the IUL lineup. |
| Transamerica | Financial Foundation IUL® II Express | 0–70 | $50,000 | Fully Underwritten, streamlined — 2 risk classes (Select NT/T) | Chronic/Critical/Terminal Illness ABRs available (optional) | Same four index accounts as FFIUL II | Simpler risk-class structure for faster placement when the full FFIUL II underwriting isn't needed. |
| Transamerica | TFLIC Financial Foundation IUL® (NY only) | 0–85 | $25,000 | Fully Underwritten | Chronic/Critical/Terminal Illness ABRs + Long Term Care Rider (optional) | S&P 500® and Global Index Accounts | The only IUL in this guide issued by Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company — use for New York residents. |
| Transamerica | Financial Choice IUL® II | 18–85 (0–17 Juvenile) | $250,000 | Fully Underwritten — includes Preferred Elite | Chronic/Critical/Terminal Illness ABRs available (optional) | 6 accounts incl. Fidelity Small-Mid Multifactor Index℠, S&P 500® Plus, Global Plus | Built for larger cases; nonguaranteed Persistency Credit beginning policy year 11 if premium test is met. |
Mortgage & Income Protection (Decreasing / Monthly-Benefit Term)
Use when the client's stated need is a specific obligation — a mortgage or a period of income — rather than a lump sum for general purposes. These pay in monthly installments by default, with a lump-sum option at claim.
| Carrier | Product | Issue Ages | Benefit Style | Term Lengths | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Americo | Payment Protector | 20–75 (varies by duration) | Decreasing term; monthly income to beneficiary (min. 24 months) or lump sum at claim | 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr, or to age 70 | Death benefit tracks a mortgage balance more closely than a level policy; Payment Protector Continuation 10 keeps $10,000 of coverage for life after the income period ends. |
| American Amicable | Survivor Protector | 20–75 | Decreasing term; monthly income benefit or lump sum | 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr, or to age 70 | Convertible while in force with a 24-month guarantee — useful if the client's needs may shift toward permanent coverage. |
| Americo | Continuation 10 / 25 | 20–65 (varies by duration) | Whole life, decreasing after an initial level period to 10% or 25% of the original face | 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 yr level period | For clients who want the affordability of term now but don't want coverage to end entirely — Living Benefits included for the life of the policy. |
Ethos: Instant-Decision Marketplace
Ethos isn't a carrier — it's a licensed agency/TPA that runs its own smart-routing application on top of a handful of carrier partners (Banner Life, Protective, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., MEMBERS Life Insurance Company, and CMFG Life Insurance Company). Instead of choosing a product up front, you send the client one application link; Ethos's underwriting engine routes them to the best product they qualify for — term, IUL, or whole life — based on CBI score, Rx history, MIB, MVR, and their in-app disclosures. If they're ineligible for one product, it automatically reconsiders them for the next-best option rather than declining outright.
How routing actually works
Applicants 20–65 are routed to an initial product based on CBI score, then re-evaluated in real time against their medical/lifestyle answers — landing on the best (lowest-risk) product they qualify for. Applicants 66+ route straight to TruStage® Advantage Whole Life. About 10% of applications (mostly Ethos Prime Term ages 61–65, or anyone 61+ whose medical history can't be established electronically) require human underwriter review and possibly an APS/medical records pull. Everyone else gets a 100% online decision. Ethos reports mandatory data to MIB but does not share how an individual was rated or whether they were accepted/declined.
| Product | Type | Insurance Issued By | Underwriting | Coverage Max | Issue Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethos Term Life – Prime Best Risk | Term (level) | Banner Life or Protective | Instant Decision (90%); APS required 61–65 | Up to $2M (varies by age) | 20–65 (nearest) | Select agents only. Preferred Plus down to Standard Tobacco/table ratings. Conversions available; ADB for terminal illness included. |
| Ethos Term Life – Choice | Term (level) | Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. | Instant Decision (90%) | Up to $1M (varies by age) | 20–65 (nearest) | Broader risk-class spread than Prime (down to Standard Plus + table ratings 1–10). Supports ITIN/EAD/most visas — see Foreign National Agent Guide. |
| TruStage® Term Life | Term (increasing every 5 yrs) | MEMBERS Life Insurance Company | Instant Decision (100%) | $15,000–$300,000 | 20–69 (last) | Renewable to age 80. No moderate/major violation knockouts — the most lenient MVR/vehicle profile in the Ethos suite. Replacements unavailable. |
| Ethos Index Universal Life (Ethos IUL) | IUL | Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. | Instant Decision (90%+); non-eligible apps route to manual UW or TruStage Advantage WL | $25,000–$1,000,000 | 20–65 (nearest) | Care4Life Accelerated DB (no cost) approved only at Table D/4 or better — declines to Terminal Illness rider instead for several conditions (see knockouts below). Replacements unavailable. |
| TruStage® Advantage Whole Life | Whole life | MEMBERS Life Insurance Company | Instant Decision (100%) | $5K–$100K (age-banded; $50K max in OH) | 20–85 (last) | Default landing spot for applicants 66+. Non-Tobacco and Tobacco rate classes. Excluded in CT, NY. |
| TruStage® Guaranteed Acceptance Whole Life | Whole life Graded | CMFG Life Insurance Company | Guaranteed Issue — no health questions | $2,000–$25,000 | 45–80 (last) | Death benefit in first 2 years limited to 100% of premiums paid + 10%. Excluded in WA, NY. This is Ethos's true fallback for otherwise-uninsurable clients. |
Key medical knockouts — Term (Prime & Choice) vs. Ethos IUL
Prime and Choice share an identical knockout list. The IUL list is nearly the same, with two notable differences flagged below.
| Condition | Term (Prime & Choice) | Ethos IUL |
|---|---|---|
| BMI | <18 or >48.9 | <18 or >48.9 (same) |
| Blood pressure | Age 60–65 band: >175/100 | Differs: single Age 60–65 band at >175/100 is written as one combined band on the IUL grid vs. Term's separate "Age 60" cutoff — confirm current grid before quoting borderline BP cases in that age range. |
| Diabetes | Not a listed knockout category on the Term grid | Differs — IUL-specific: diagnosed <age 30 with physical complications (eyes/kidneys/neuropathy/amputation), A1C >9.5 in past 12 months, no testing/checkup within 12 months, or BMI >41.49 |
| Cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, liver, autoimmune, HIV/AIDS, organ transplant, mental illness, COVID-19, criminal history, drug/alcohol, disability, driving | Identical knockout language across Term Prime, Term Choice, and Ethos IUL — see the source Ethos Underwriting and Product Guidelines for full condition-by-condition detail before ruling a client out. | |
Financial qualification (Prime, Choice & Ethos IUL only)
Face amount is capped at a multiple of annual household income: <30: 40x · 30–39: 35x · 40–49: 25x · 50–59: 20x · 60–65: 10x. Non-working spouses are qualified off household income and can't exceed the working spouse's in-force + applied-for total. Retired/single graduate students cap at $500K; single undergrads cap at $250K. TruStage Term, TruStage Advantage WL, and TruStage GAWL are not subject to this income-multiple test.
Hard knockouts across nearly every Ethos product (except GAWL)
Terminal illness, HIV/AIDS, uncontrolled diabetes, current hospital confinement, pending felony charges or a felony/multiple-misdemeanor conviction within 2 years, ADL-assistance disability, 2+ hospitalizations in the past 6 months, unexplained weight change >15 lbs in 6 months, hypertension with complications in the past 2 years, and cancer/stroke/paralysis/major neuro-organ conditions diagnosed within the past 2 years. TruStage® Guaranteed Acceptance Whole Life (ages 45–80, all states except WA/NY) is the one Ethos product with no health questions at all — route genuinely uninsurable clients there rather than assuming Ethos has nothing to offer.
New York is excluded across the entire Ethos platform
Every Ethos and TruStage product in this section is unavailable in New York — Ethos operates in 49 states plus DC. TruStage Advantage WL is also excluded in CT; TruStage GAWL is also excluded in WA. Confirm current state approval in the agent portal before sending a client the application link.
Quick scenario lookups
Starting points for common calls — always confirm current guidelines and state approval before quoting.
State availability & compliance checkpoints
New York is the recurring exception across this entire guide
American Amicable Group, Americo Financial Life and Annuity, and American General Life (Corebridge) are not authorized to conduct business in New York. For New York residents, the only products in this guide currently available are issued by Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (TFLIC Financial Foundation IUL®) and Transamerica FE Easy Solution (approved for NY, ages 50–75). Confirm current NY availability directly with the carrier before presenting anything else.
Riders, face amounts, and rates vary by state
Every table above reflects the national/base version of each product as documented in the current carrier brochures. Riders (especially Accidental Death Benefit, Long Term Care, and Living Benefit riders), maximum issue ages, and face amount limits can vary by state — several brochures specifically flag California, Florida, Maryland, and Massachusetts as exceptions. Always run the actual quote in the carrier's platform before presenting numbers to a client.