Aviva Life and Annuity Company
The Aviva Life and Annuity Company was incorporated on February 14 1896 as the Central Life Assurance Society of the United States. On July 21 1994, the company merged with the American Mutual Life Insurance Company. It was renamed the American Mutual Life Insurance Company on December 31 1994. On July 13 2006, the company announced that it had been acquired by Aviva plc.
Company History
Central Life Assurance Society magazine, Christmas 1916
Hulbert Mulock, Central Life Assurance Society President (and former Mayor of Des Moines), demonstrating sales techniques, c.1937
Central Life Assurance Society banner
Central Life Assurance Society agents
Central Life Assurance Company advertisement
The company was founded by George Breckinridge Peak, who had trained as a minister but had been unable to continue as a result of damaging his vocal cords after contracting typhoid fever. Established in Iowa, it was based on conservative business principles and providing true protection for policyholders.
The company primarily dealt in providing whole life policies and its first claim, for $150, was registered after five years of trading. By 1900 the company had 1093 policies in force.
In 1902, the company demutualised and became a corporation. It remutualised in 1919.
The company insured a woman for the first time in 1904. Initially, however, any woman accepted for coverage had to have been married at least two years and have given birth to at least one child. The company was the first in the country to insure children before their first birthday, taking advantage of the baby boom. By 1948, its assets had increased by more than $1 million on the strength of this niche business.
On August 16 1950, the company was renamed the Central Life Assurance Company.
During the 1980s, the company diversified moving into real estate, mortgages, leasing and retail banking. On June 30 1996, the company was renamed the AmerUs Life Insurance Company. Finally, on November 1 2007, following its acquisition by Aviva, the company became known as the Aviva Life and Annuity Company.
Key dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1896 | The company is established |
| 1902 | The company demutualises and becomes a corporation |
| 1919 | The company remutualises |
| 1923 | The company drops "of the United States" from its name |
| 1950 | Name changes to the Central Life Assurance Company |
| 1994 | The company merges with the American Mutual Life Insurance Company |
| 1994 | Name changes to the American Mutual Life Insurance Company |
| 1996 | Name changes to the AmerUs Life Insurance Company |
| 2006 | The company is acquired by Aviva |
| 2007 | Name changes to the Aviva Life and Annuity Company |
Subsidiaries and constituents*
| Year | Company name |
|---|---|
| - 1933 | Illinois Life Insurance Company of Chicago |
| - 1939 | General Mutual Life Insurance Company of Van Wert, Ohio |
| - 1982 | Park Leasing |
| 1895 - 1982 | The Wisconsin Life Insurance Company (sold to Lincoln National in 1990) |
| 1878 - 1984 | BC Christopher Securities Company (sold 1987 to Fahnestock Corporation) |
| 1908 - 1985 | Interstate Assurance Company |
| c1951 - 1985 | Iowa Realty |
| - 1988 | Midland Financial Savings and Loan |
| - 1994 | Carol Jones Realty |
| 1897 - 1994 | American Mutual Life Insurance Company |
| 1983 - 1996 | Ameritas Variable Life Insurance Company |
| - 1997 | AmVestors Financial Corporation |
| - 1997 | Delta Life Corporation |
| 1905 - 2001 | Indianapolis Life Insurance Company |
| 1981 - 2005 | American Vanguard Life Insurance Company |
* Please note the first date given is the date of the establishment of the company and the second date is the date the company was acquired or became a subsidiary. Where only one date is given the company was established as a subsidiary of the parent company. Where one date is preceded by a hyphen the date of the establishment of the company is not known.
Head office premises
| Year | Address |
|---|---|
| 1896 - 1897 | Room in Van Ginkel Building, Fourth Street, Des Moines |
| 1897 - 1905 | Observatory Building, Fourth Street and Locust Street, Des Moines |
| 1914 - 1954 | Royal Union Building (renamed Insurance Exchange Building), Seventh Street and Grand Street, Des Moines |
| 1954 - 1994 | Central Life Building, Des Moines |
| 1994 - | Hub Tower, Des Moines |
Staff and officials
President
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1895 - 1895 | Byron A Beeson |
| 1895 - 1896 | David T Stanley |
| 1896 - 1897 | William McFarland |
| 1897 - 1922 | George B Peek |
| 1923 - 1927 | Oliver Miller |
| 1927 - 1932 | Dr Thomas C Denny |
| 1932 - 1937 | George Ayres |
| 1937 - 1949 | E Hulbert Mulock |
| 1949 - 1964 | William F Poorman |
| 1964 - 1972 | Norman T Fuhlrodt |
| 1972 - 1992 | Roger K Brooks |
| 1992 - 1994 | D T Doan |
| 1995 - 1995 | James J Streck |
| 1995 - 1996 | D T Doan |
| 1996 - 2003 | Roger K Brooks |
| 2003 - | Thomas C Godlasky |
Secretary
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1895 - 1897 | George B Peek |
| 1897 - 1917 | H G Everett |
| 1917 - 1926 | Dr Thomas C Denny |
| 1926 - 1927 | E Hulbert Mulock |
| 1927 - 1947 | F G Wolfinger |
| 1947 - 1966 | Carl H Page |
| 1966 - 1971 | Robert T Repass |
| 1971 - 2006 | James A Smallenberger |
| 2007 - 2008 | Christopher J Littlefield |
| 2008 - | Michael H Miller |
Directors (1896)
- Byron A Beeson
- Charles F Ames
- George W Rhine
- Dr C E Stoner
Home branches and agencies
- Wisconsin (1902)
- By 1908, the company had operations in ten states, including Michigan, Washington and Colorado.
Published history
A Century of Success: The AmerUs Life Story by Jay Pridmore. Greenwich Publishing Group Inc. Lyme, Connecticut, 1996.
Further resources
Material relating to the history of the company is currently held within the business in the United States. Contact the Aviva Group Archive for more details.
