NEWS RELEASE
July 16th, 2007

SETTLERS LIFE ACHIEVES HIGH FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATING

Settlers Life Insurance Company recently received a financial strength rating upgrade from the A.M. Best Company, improving from a "B++" to an "A-".

Settlers Life President Michael Lowe says that: "We are extremely pleased that A.M. Best recognized our continuing growth and the steady improvements in our operational and financial capabilities. We also believe that this reflects the positive results of our recent merger with our sister company, the strength of our parent company, National Guardian Life, and the hard work of the employees located at the Bristol, Virginia office."

The A.M. Best Company, Inc. is the oldest and most widely recognized rating agency dedicated to the insurance industry. A.M. Best states that an A- rating "is assigned to companies which have, in our opinion, an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders." A.M. Best went on to categorize the rating outlook for the company as "stable", indicating that Settlers Life is "experiencing stable financial/market trends" with "a low likelihood that its rating will change in the near term."

"We are on track this year to reach $8 million in new sales, having started at less than a million in 1999. Over the past nine months we've gone from a regional company with products filed in eight states to a company with products filed in 22 states. We've appointed over 850 new agents in 2007 alone and now have more than 2500 agents nationwide. We are establishing a strong national presence in the final expense marketplace, and are being recognized by the market and by A.M. Best for our progress and success," Lowe says.

Settlers Life's administrative offices are located in Bristol, Virginia. The company has over $375 million in assets, surplus funds of $48.6 million, annual premium income of $35 million, and $1.9 billion of life insurance in force. Settlers Life employs 73 people at its Bristol, Virginia offices.

National Guardian Life is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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