The Standard
The Standard (Standard Insurance Company) is a 1906-founded, A-rated U.S. provider of employer-sponsored group benefits (life, disability, dental, vision) and retirement plan services, serving individuals, employers of all sizes, and brokers through direct sales, the Allstate agent channel, and partnership platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1906
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Standard does
The Standard (Standard Insurance Company) is a privately held U.S. provider of workplace benefits, retirement services, and individual financial products, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and operating under parent StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. Founded in 1906, the company holds an A.M. Best 'A' financial strength rating and is licensed nationally via three insurance subsidiaries: Standard Insurance Company (all states except New York), The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, and American Heritage Life Insurance Company. Its core offerings span employer-sponsored group benefits (life and AD&D, short- and long-term disability, paid family and medical leave, dental, vision, accident, critical illness, cancer, hospital indemnity, voluntary life) and retirement solutions (401(k) and Pooled Employer Plans, stable value funds, fixed indexed annuities), supplemented by individual disability and annuity products and a Workplace Possibilities disability management program with interactive centers in Portland and Dallas.
The Standard's business model is built on recurring insurance premiums and retirement plan administration fees, distributed through direct employer sales, broker and advisor channels, an Allstate agent distribution partnership (tied to the ~$2 billion acquisition of Allstate's Employer Voluntary Benefits business announced August 2024), the OneDigital Secure Future PEP platform (with over $600 million in retirement plan assets), and Ignite Partners for the Thrive Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity. Customer segments are horizontal — individuals and families, businesses and organizations of all sizes, and brokers/advisors — each served through dedicated website portals. The company is actively reshaping its portfolio: divesting individual annuities to Pacific Guardian Life (closing 2027) and Canadian voluntary benefits to Blue Cross Life (closing 2026), while expanding into India via a Global Capability Centre in Bengaluru and Pune focused on AI engineering, cloud platforms, data and analytics, and digital transformation. AI deployment includes the internal AskStan chatbot, Microsoft Copilot rolled out to approximately 3,000 employees with 85%+ daily usage, and AI-driven automation in claims, underwriting, and customer service.
The Standard firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Standard
- Legal name
- Standard Insurance Company
- Website
- https://standard.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1906
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The Standard (Standard Insurance Company) is a 1906-founded, A-rated U.S. provider of employer-sponsored group benefits (life, disability, dental, vision) and retirement plan services, serving individuals, employers of all sizes, and brokers through direct sales, the Allstate agent channel, and partnership platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Standard industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workplace Benefits Insurance & Retirement Services
- NAICS
- Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411), Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)
- SIC
- Life Insurance (6311), Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Disability Income Insurance (Employer-Sponsored) (FSAIAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Benefits Administration (BPACAPAC), Disability & Leave Administration (STD/LTD/FMLA/Paid Leave) (HLAEALAM), Benefits Administration & Enrollment Support (BPAAAIAB), Basic Group Term Life (Employer-Paid) (FSAIADAA), Own-Occupation Specialty Disability Insurance (Professional Occupations) (FSAIAIAI)
Keywords
Where The Standard is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Standard business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Insurance Premiums: Collection of premiums for workplace benefits including life, disability, dental, vision, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and voluntary life insurance products.
- Retirement Plan Administration: Fees from managing retirement plans including pooled employer plans (PEP), recordkeeping services acquired from Securian Financial, and stable value funds.
- Annuity Products: Revenue from fixed indexed annuities like Thrive Plus, which offers indexed crediting strategies, optional bonuses, legacy planning features, and enhanced liquidity options with seven-year or 10-year surrender periods.
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Standard product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Standard is a leading provider of workplace benefits insurance and retirement services, offering employer-sponsored group products (life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, paid family and medical leave, dental, vision, accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, voluntary life) along with retirement plans, fixed indexed annuities (Thrive Plus), stable value funds, and individual disability insurance. It also operates the Workplace Possibilities℠ program, a proactive, whole-person disability management offering with interactive centers in Portland and Dallas, and provides benefits administration support through partnerships with broker and advisor channels.
Product overview
The Standard is a workplace benefits insurance and retirement services provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and financial solutions. The core offering consists of employer-sponsored workplace benefits including life and AD&D, short and long term disability, paid family and medical leave, dental, vision, and supplemental benefits such as accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and voluntary life insurance. These are complemented by retirement solutions including retirement plans, annuities, and stable value funds. The company also operates the Workplace Possibilities Program, a proactive disability management approach with interactive centers in Portland and Dallas. The product portfolio spans individual and group offerings, with subsidiaries including Standard Insurance Company (Portland, Oregon), The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, and American Heritage Life Insurance Company (Jacksonville, Florida). Recent growth has been driven by acquisitions including Securian Financial's recordkeeping business (2022) and Allstate's Employer Voluntary Benefits business (2024), as well as international expansion through India Global Capability Centres.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Workplace Possibilities℠: Proactive, whole-person approach to disability providing personalized support to help employees stay at work or get back to work safely.
- Thrive Plus
Products and services
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Short Term Disability Insurance
- Long Term Disability Insurance
- Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Cancer / Specified Disease Insurance
- Critical Illness / Specified Disease Insurance
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Voluntary Life Insurance
- Retirement Plans
- Workplace Possibilities℠ Program
- Small Business Solutions
- Individual Annuities
- Thrive Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity
- Stable Value Funds
- Individual Disability Insurance
- OneDigital Secure Future Pooled Employer Plan (PEP)
- Benefits Administration and Support
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% increase in advisor satisfaction among employers after joining a Pooled Employer Plan
Companies that use The Standard
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Standard technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
The Standard partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pacific Guardian Life (Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company)coreTransfer of The Standard's individual annuities business to Pacific Guardian Life, part of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company group, expected to close in early 2027. The move allows The Standard to focus on workplace benefits and retirement services while Pacific Guardian Life expands its fixed annuity operations.
- Ignite PartnerscoreLaunched Thrive Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity, leveraging The Standard's A.M. Best 'A' rating and century-long financial stability alongside Ignite Partners' distribution expertise and Independent Marketing Organization consortium model. The product offers multiple indexed crediting strategies, optional bonuses, legacy planning features, and enhanced liquidity options.
- University of Texas at DallasminorScholarship program supporting students pursuing actuarial science, including a renewable award and paid internship to address barriers like cost and awareness. Aligns with The Standard's focus on risk assessment and financial safety, supporting a program recognized by the Society of Actuaries.
- Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of CanadaminorBlue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada announced agreement to acquire The Standard's Canadian voluntary benefits business from StanCorp Financial Group, expected to close later in 2026. The acquisition enhances Blue Cross Life's market presence in Canada's voluntary benefits sector.
- OneDigitalcoreNationwide expansion of OneDigital's Secure Future Pooled Employer Plan (PEP), originally launched regionally in 2021. The program has surpassed $600 million in total assets and simplifies retirement plan administration, strengthens fiduciary oversight, and reduces operational burden for employers.
- AllstatecoreDistribution partnership where The Standard will acquire Allstate's Employer Voluntary Benefits business for approximately $2 billion, with Allstate's agents and employees distributing broader benefits coverage. The deal expands The Standard's market position in U.S. employee benefits and was expected to close in first half of 2025.
- Securian FinancialcoreThe Standard acquired Securian Financial's retirement plan recordkeeping business to expand retirement offerings and market presence in the U.S. The transaction involved employees, management, and distribution networks from Securian Financial, with pension risk transfer and institutional retirement units not included in the sale.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Standard competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Unum Group: Largest pure-play U.S. group disability and group life carrier with overlapping product portfolio (STD, LTD, group life, voluntary benefits, leave management). Direct competitor in employer-sponsored benefits and group disability underwriting, with similar broker distribution model.
- Lincoln Financial Group: Major U.S. provider of group disability, group life, dental, vision, retirement plans, and annuities. Direct competitor in employer-sponsored workplace benefits and in retirement plan administration where The Standard competes via Pooled Employer Plans.
- The Hartford: Strong group benefits carrier with deep presence in group disability, group life, and leave management, alongside small commercial and worksite products. Closely comparable product set and distribution through brokers and employer direct sales.
- Guardian Life Insurance Company of America: Mutual insurer with significant group disability, group life, dental, and vision products distributed through employers and brokers. Closely aligned mid-sized mutual carrier competing in the same workplace benefits segments.
- Principal Financial Group: Strong retirement and group benefits carrier, particularly in small/mid-market 401(k) and group disability/life. Direct competitor in retirement plan administration and Pooled Employer Plans, with similar broker and employer distribution.
Broad incumbents
- MetLife: Global insurance and employee benefits incumbent offering group disability, group life, dental, vision, retirement, and annuities. Larger and more diversified than The Standard but competes head-to-head in U.S. group benefits and retirement plan administration.
- Prudential Financial: Large diversified insurer with material group life, group disability, and retirement plan businesses. Competes with The Standard in retirement plan administration and group insurance, particularly for large/mid-market employers.
- Sun Life Financial: Major group benefits carrier (especially in U.S. and Canadian group disability and group life following its DentaQuest and other expansions). Competes directly with The Standard in U.S. group benefits and is the acquirer of The Standard's Canadian voluntary benefits business.
- Cigna Group: Large health services and global benefits company offering group disability, life, dental, and vision products through Evernorth. Competes in employer-sponsored benefits with broader health capabilities and global footprint.
- New York Life Insurance Company: Large mutual insurer offering group life, disability, retirement, and individual annuities. Competes with The Standard across multiple group and individual product lines, particularly in retirement and group benefits for mid-sized employers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Standard social profiles
Digital presenceThe Standard compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
The Standard financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Standard leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Standard subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
The Standard funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Standard M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Standard
What does The Standard do?
The Standard is a leading provider of workplace benefits insurance and retirement services, offering employer-sponsored group products (life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, paid family and medical leave, dental, vision, accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, voluntary life) along with retirement plans, fixed indexed annuities (Thrive Plus), stable value funds, and individual disability insurance. It also operates the Workplace Possibilities℠ program, a proactive, whole-person disability management offering with interactive centers in Portland and Dallas, and provides benefits administration support through partnerships with broker and advisor channels.
Is The Standard a public or private company?
The Standard is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Standard founded?
The Standard was founded in 1906. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is The Standard based?
The Standard is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Standard make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Insurance Premiums are the primary driver. The others are retirement Plan Administration and annuity Products.
Who are The Standard's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Unum Group, Lincoln Financial Group, The Hartford, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and Principal Financial Group. Broad incumbents are MetLife, Prudential Financial, Sun Life Financial, Cigna Group and New York Life Insurance Company.
Does The Standard have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Standard.
What industry is The Standard in?
The Standard's product category is Workplace Benefits Insurance & Retirement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAIAIAB, Group Disability Income Insurance (Employer-Sponsored), with a secondary code of BPACAPAC, Benefits Administration. Its NAICS code is 52411 and its SIC code is 6311.