Shelter Life Insurance Company again ranked among 'Top' 50 in nation

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Shelter Life Insurance Company, which has a branch in Greencastle, has been recognized by Ward Group as a top-performing life insurer for the fourth consecutive year.

The "Ward's 50" list was announced on Tuesday, July 13, by Ward Group, an operational consulting firm and leading provider of benchmarking and best practices services to the insurance industry.

Shelter Life was recognized for achieving outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency and performance over a five-year period from 2005-2009.

Annually, Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of nearly 800 life and health insurance companies domiciled in the United States and identifies the top 50 performers.

Life-Health Ward's 50 companies must meet the following criteria:

* Surplus of at least $50 million for each of the five years analyzed.

* Adjusted net income in at least four of the last five years. If applicable, the one loss year must be less than 10 percent of surplus.

* Risk-based capital ratio of at least 150 percent for each of the five years analyzed.

* Compound annual growth in premiums between -10 percent and +40 percent.

Shelter Insurance is a group of companies with direct personal lines property and casualty companies, a reinsurance company, a life and annuity insurer and a thrift bank. Shelter offers auto, home, life, farm and business insurance services to customers in 16 states via a network of local insurance agents and claims representatives. The firm's home office is at 1817 West Broadway, Columbia, MO 65218.

Shelter Insurance's Greencastle office is located at 1208 S. Bloomington St.