John Hancock vs Lincoln Financial

Verdict

John Hancock and Lincoln Financial are close competitors: both are shareholder-owned or parent-owned, sell through financial professionals rather than online, offer indexed and variable universal life, and sell a hybrid life and long-term care policy (John Hancock's LifeCare, Lincoln's MoneyGuard). Lincoln ranked #5 by 2024 individual life premiums ($6.37 billion) and John Hancock #9 ($4.95 billion), according to NAIC data.

Ratings favor John Hancock. Its profile lists AM Best A+ (Superior, January 2026), S&P AA-, Moody's Aa3 and Fitch AA. Lincoln's lists AM Best A (Excellent, February 2026), S&P A+, Moody's A2 and Fitch A+. John Hancock is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife, while Lincoln is a stand-alone public company (NYSE: LNC) that has been rebuilding capital since 2023, reinsuring large blocks to Fortitude Re and selling a 9.9% stake to Bain Capital in 2025. In the J.D. Power 2026 individual life study Lincoln ranked 9th of 23 (661 points), above the 649 average, and John Hancock 16th (632), below it.

Product differences: John Hancock includes its Vitality wellness program with every policy and offers Aspire for people with diabetes; LifeCare needs no paramedical exam. Lincoln lists 10, 15, 20 and 30-year term, convertible to a qualifying Lincoln permanent policy before the level period ends or age 70, and a survivorship IUL. Lincoln stopped new sales of lifetime no-lapse universal life and faces cost-of-insurance suits on older policies; John Hancock reinsured legacy long-term care and other blocks in 2024 and 2025. Neither sells whole life to new buyers according to the profiles.

Choose John Hancock if

• You want the higher financial strength ratings of the two.
• You want premium savings tied to a wellness program and accept sharing activity data.
• You want a LifeCare hybrid with no exam or lab tests and a fast decision.
• You have diabetes and want a program built for it.

Choose Lincoln Financial if

• You want a long-established hybrid in MoneyGuard, with universal or variable universal life and long-term care riders.
• You want 30-year level term that converts until age 70.
• You want a survivorship indexed universal life for estate planning.
• You work with an independent advisor and want Lincoln's wholesaler support behind the policy.

Key differences

Before you decide

Ask for the same coverage from each and request guaranteed and conservative-assumption illustrations. For hybrid policies, ask how benefits are paid, what happens if you never need care and what premium guarantees apply. See how to compare life insurance quotes fairly, hybrid life and long-term care policies and AM Best, S&P, Moody's and Fitch ratings explained.