OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A.M. Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and the issuer credit ratings of “bbb” of Sentinel Security Life Insurance Company (Sentinel) (Salt Lake City, UT). In June 2016, Advantage Capital Holdings, LLC (Advantage Capital) completed the purchase of Sentinel. Sentinel’s ratings recognize its new organizational structure and improved capital support from Advantage Capital.
The revised outlooks are driven by A.M. Best’s expectation that capital levels over the next few years will be maintained at higher levels than in the past, while the company continues to execute growth initiatives. Sentinel markets final expense whole life, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Select Plans, and fixed annuities primarily to the senior market through personal producing agents and general agents. The company has recently returned to profitability after upfront expenses related to infrastructure and process improvement incurred during the past year have been mostly completed. While the company will continue to have additional expenses related to geographic expansion and product diversification efforts, as well as new business strain, A.M. Best anticipates the company to demonstrate an improved financial profile as a result of recent strategic initiatives.
These strengths are partially offset by heavy reliance on reinsurance to relieve statutory capital strain. Additionally, A.M. Best notes a shift in the investment strategy toward greater reliance on structured products held in Sentinel’s investment portfolio in the form of collateralized loan obligations, which may not have strong liquidity during stressed economic scenarios.
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