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Since 1906

About us.

Homesteaders is a leader in the funeral profession and end-of-life space, partnering with funeral providers across the country to support families through the most difficult days of their lives.
More Than a Century of Service

Our story.

In 1906, Homesteaders issued our first policy. Over the last century (and counting), we have grown to a company of more than 300 employees, issuing 100,525 policies in 2024 with funeral providers of all sizes across the country. Every day, we help people design a better farewell, benefiting those they love.

Historical black and white photograph of a group of men and women, officers and directors, posing for a group photo on a porch at Spirit Lake in 1914.

Looking for a career at Homesteaders?

Our vibrant company culture and competitive benefits attract and retain top talent, and we hope you’ll apply today to join us!

Four people, two men and two women, gathered around a wooden table in a bright, modern room with large windows. They appear to be engaged in a discussion, with one man leaning in towards the laptop screen on the table. There is a glass of water and a notebook also on the table.

Our core values.

Our core values define the heart of our company. At Homesteaders, we strive to follow these values so our teams can work together effectively while setting the industry standard for service and support. 
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Our Core Values

Be your best.

Arrive with your best attitude and ability. Be responsive, accountable, flexible, and honest. 

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Our Core Values

Serve boldly.

Dare to be committed, confident, and creative in the pursuit of success.

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Our Core Values

Be humble.

Listen, value and respect the opinions of others. 

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Our Core Values

Care.

Care for your customers, your work, you colleagues and yourself. 

A company you can trust.

Homesteaders is proud to be recognized for our strong dedication to each of our customers and employees. From our financial strength to our top workplace awards, you can be confident when you work with Homesteaders.

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Homesteaders throughout the years.

Explore Homesteaders’ deep history in the funeral profession from 1906 to today.
1906

Homesteaders traces our roots back to the early 1900s when the average family had to stretch $10 in weekly earnings to cover food, housing and other essentials. Times were tight, and very few families had breathing room for funeral expenses. “The Homesteaders” issued Policy Certificate Number One in February 1906, so families would never again have to sacrifice their financial security to pay for a loved one’s funeral.

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1910

Homesteaders grew quickly in the following years. Policy applications increased to nearly 20,500 by 1910, and we sold our policies all across the Midwest, south to Arkansas and west to Washington state.

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1923

Despite the devastating years of the Spanish flu and uncertainty of World War I, Homesteaders continued to grow. We paid every claim, even during this turbulent time, and have continued to pay 100% of claims through today. As an official life insurance company, we changed our name to Homesteaders Life Association.

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1948
Homesteaders changed our company structure to a mutual company, owned by our policy owners, and updated our name to what you see today: Homesteaders Life Company.
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1984
As we continued to grow, we built on our roots in the funeral profession. We funded our first preneed funeral contract in 1984, and in 1991, we established our account executive program. This launched Homesteaders into the profession and established us as a preneed leader.
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1995
Homesteaders’ commitment to long-term business relationships became a cornerstone of our company. Regular and transparent conversations with our company stakeholders ignited a business built on professionalism, trust and dedication to the profession. 
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2005
Homesteaders implemented a dedicated market research department. By providing data and insights to inform key decisions, Homesteaders can better navigate customer satisfaction, product development, market trends and more, backed by trustworthy research. We share this research bi-yearly with our customers in our Preneed Motivators report to help drive their success.
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2010
Adding our online enrollment* option substantially grew Homesteaders’ offerings. Online enrollment offers a professional, user-friendly way to write and submit new business, ensuring faster processing, policy issue and commission payment. Homesteaders continues to lead the profession in technological advancements, providing our customers with the newest, reliable tools available.

* Not available in in all states.

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2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Homesteaders was first to market with remote sales and marketing tools that enabled agents and funeral providers to meet the increased demand for preneed funding in safe, contact-free ways. We paid record claims, maintaining the highest degree of operational excellence and serving every family with urgency, compassion and care.
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2024
Homesteaders’ policy owners unanimously voted to restructure into a mutual holding company. This simple reorganizing reinforces Homesteaders’ commitment to safeguarding the long-term security of its policy owners and prepares the company to remain relevant and strong well into the future.
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2024
Homesteaders’ significant strategic capital deployment, record asset growth, strong sales performance and continued operational excellence marked 2024 as a year of significant growth. 
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Today
Now in our 119th year of providing secure, reliable funeral funding, Homesteaders safeguards funds for more than 800,000 families across the country. Despite challenging market conditions, we remain financially strong and unwavering in our commitment to the funeral profession and to ongoing innovation. Our business has evolved significantly since 1906, but our core purpose is the same today as it was in those early days: Helping families design a better farewell, benefiting those they love.
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What makes Homesteaders different?

119

years in business

A-

(Excellent) financial strength rating*

100,525

policies issued in 2024

100%

of claims paid to our customers

*AM Best Company, a global rating agency focused on the insurance industry, has affirmed Homesteaders Life Company’s financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook. Effective May 2025. For up-to-date ratings, visit ambest.com. 

#PeopleOfHomesteaders

We’re the people on the other side of phone calls and emails, at conventions and behind the scenes, helping funeral providers serve families every day.

Ready to take the next step?

Wherever you are in your journey with Homesteaders, we’re here to help.