West Des Moines, Iowa — Homesteaders Life Company, the national leader in preneed funeral funding, is celebrating its 120th anniversary amid record-breaking growth and investment in the funeral profession. The company issued its first policy in February 1906 and has since grown into the most often-used preneed company in America.
“In a profession built on relationships, trust and service, longevity matters,” said Steve Shaffer, Homesteaders President, CEO and Board Chair. “For 120 years, Homesteaders has focused on keeping promises – to funeral providers, to our distribution partners and to the policy owners who have always owned our business. The growth
we’re seeing today reflects our commitment to the long-term success of the funeral profession while building a company that will be here for the next 100 years.”
Homesteaders enters its 120th year with strong momentum. The company issued more policies in 2025 than any year before and paid a record number of claims. Homesteaders ended the year with a 99% customer satisfaction rating
and more than $5 billion of in-force policies.
“Growth only matters if it’s supported by strong execution,” said Nick Gerhart, Chief Operating Officer. “Our teams are focused on modernizing every aspect of the preneed experience, from online enrollment to integrations and digital solutions that create seamless connections with families. We consistently balance financial strength with forward momentum so our funeral home and marketing partners can offer Homesteaders products with confidence.”
“For our funeral home partners, this anniversary is about stability and shared progress,” said Will Bischoff, Homesteaders SVP-Strategic Markets, noting that the company is off to a strong start in 2026 with record sales in January. “Homesteaders is investing in tools, deploying capital and building solutions designed specifically for the funeral profession. And we’re doing all that while investing more than $250 million in independent providers through our funeral home lending program and maintaining the highest policy growth rates we’ve seen in 15 years.”
As they celebrate this historic milestone, Homesteaders has a bold vision for continued strategic investments that support funeral professionals, honor the promises made to families and ensure long-term financial strength. “We’re committed to elevating the entire profession by leaning into innovation and quality service for the long term,” Shaffer affirmed. “There has never been a better time to partner with Homesteaders.”
Homesteaders Life Company, a mutual company owned by its policy holders, is a national leader providing products and services to help people design a better farewell. Visit homesteaderslife.com to learn more.