Foresters Financial

2025-08-16T16:04:07Z

2601:195:C900:EC0:71B2:D7D1:F59A:777D: /* History */

{{Short description|North American fraternal order}}
{{Infobox company
| name = The Independent Order of Foresters
| logo = Foresters Financial Logo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| image = Fountains at Ontario Science Centre 1992.jpg
| image_caption = Foresters Financials' [[Foresters House|Don Mills headquarters]] seen in 1992
| trade_name = Foresters Financial
| type = [[Benefit society|Fraternal benefit society]]
| industry = [[Financial services]]
| products = {{ubl|
* [[Life insurance]]
* [[Life annuity]]}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1874}}
| hq_location =
| hq_location_city = [[Toronto]], Ontario
| hq_location_country = Canada
| areas_served = {{ubl|
* Canada
* United Kingdom
* United States}}
| members =
| members_year = 
| subsid = [[Canada Protection Plan]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.foresters.com|foresters.com}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''The Independent Order of Foresters''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Legal, privacy and accessibility |url=https://www.foresters.com/en-ca/legal |website=Foresters Financial |access-date=2 April 2022 |quote='We', 'us' or 'our' mean The Independent Order of Foresters (Foresters Financial) and its affiliated companies.}}</ref> [[trade name|operating as]] '''Foresters Financial''', is a [[Benefit society|fraternal benefit society]] headquartered in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada, that provides [[life insurance]] and other financial solutions in Canada, the [[United Kingdom]], and the [[United States]]. As of 2024, Matt Berman has served as the company's president and CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foresters Financial names new CEO |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/life-insurance/foresters-financial-names-new-ceo-473200.aspx#:~:text=Foresters%20Financial%20has%20appointed%20Matt,on%20behalf%20of%20the%20board |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.insurancebusinessmag.com |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
Foresters traces its origins to a British [[Friendly society|Friendly Society]], a mutual organization caring for the sick. Membership was originally gained by combat, first with [[quarterstaff]]s, then with swords and finally with cudgels, until initiation by combat was abandoned in 1843.<ref name=marin>[http://mill-valley.freemasonry.biz/marin-fraternities-02.htm#Foresters Foresters in Marin County, California] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717001508/http://mill-valley.freemasonry.biz/marin-fraternities-02.htm |date=2012-07-17 }} (freemasonry.biz)</ref>

In 1834, the Royal Foresters formed a Friendly Society, the [[Ancient Order of Foresters]] (AOF).<ref>[http://www.forestersfriendlysociety.co.uk/about-us/history/ Foresters Friendly Society: Our History]</ref> The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF) in the United States became independent of the AOF in 1874.<ref name=foresters135>[http://www.foresters135.com/Pages/Home.aspx 135th Anniversary (1874-2009)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208030836/http://foresters135.com/Pages/Home.aspx |date=2011-02-08 }}</ref>

The expansion of the IOF into Canada in 1875 is attributed to a doctor and community leader, [[Oronhyatekha]]. Of [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]] descent, he was born in 1841 at [[Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation|Six Nations]] near present-day [[Brantford, Ontario]], Oronhyatekha ("Burning Sky") was baptized Peter Martin and later attended Oxford, where he became a medical doctor.<ref>{{cite DCB |title=Oronhyatekha |first=Gayle M. |last=Comeau-Vasilopoulos |volume=13 |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/oronhyatekha_13E.html}}</ref>

Dr. Oronhyatekha held the office of Supreme Chief Ranger (now called "International Fraternal President") from 1879 until 1906; he died in 1907.<ref name=ourstory>[http://www.foresters135.com/Pages/OurStory.aspx Our Story] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711020239/http://www.foresters135.com/Pages/OurStory.aspx |date=2011-07-11 }} at Foresters135.com</ref> Foresters membership reached 257,000 in 1906. Through the 20th century it amalgamated with various other fraternal organizations, including the Ontario part of one of the oldest, the [[Ancient Order of United Workmen]], acquired in 1926, the [[MBA (Modern Brotherhood of America) Building|Modern Brotherhood of America]], acquired in 1931, and the [[Order of Scottish Clans]], acquired in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title= Financial Condition Report |url=https://www.dfs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2019/06/58068fc17_1.pdf |website=NY State DFS|date=December 1, 1997}}</ref>

Like other friendly societies and fraternal organizations of the time, Foresters helped transform the [[insurance industry]] by extending insurance benefits to the average working family. In addition to admitting women as full members, Foresters provided orphan benefits to the children of deceased Foresters members.

Foresters acquired Unity Life of Canada in 2008, which subsequently rebranded as Foresters Life Insurance Company in January 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 24, 2012 |title=Unity Life renamed Foresters Life |url=https://www.advisor.ca/news/unity-life-renamed-foresters-life/ |website=Advisor's Edge}}</ref>

As of 2014, Foresters Financial operated a separate UK division based in Bromley, South London.

In April 2019, [[Macquarie Group]]'s investing division agreed to buy $12.3 billion in assets from Foresters Financial, including Foresters' First Investors mutual funds business.<ref name=pensions>{{cite web|title= Macquarie to acquire $12.3 billion in mutual fund assets from Foresters|url=https://www.pionline.com/article/20190409/ONLINE/190409816/macquarie-to-acquire-12-3-billion-in-mutual-fund-assets-from-foresters|website=Pensions&Investments |date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> In the same year, the company sold its U.S. broker-dealer to [[Cetera Financial Group]], in efforts to focus on life insurance.<ref name=pensions/>

In May 2019, Foresters sold its Canadian money management unit, Foresters Asset Management, to [[Fiera Capital]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fiera Capital to buy Foresters Asset Management for undisclosed sum|url=https://www.pionline.com/article/20190515/ONLINE/190519906/fiera-capital-to-buy-foresters-asset-management-for-undisclosed-sum|website=PI Online|date=May 15, 2019}}</ref> In October 2019, the company sold Foresters Financial Holding and Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company to Nassau Financial Group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nassau Completes Acquisition of Foresters' U.S. Variable Annuity and Variable Life Operations |url=https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2020/07/02/nassau-completes-acquisition-of-foresters-u-s-variable-annuity-and-variable-life-operations/|website =ThinkAdvisor |date=July 20, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2020, Foresters Financial acquired [[life insurance]] distributor [[Canada Protection Plan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-05 |title=Foresters Financial, Canada Protection Plan to merge operations |url=https://www.nsinsurance.com/news/foresters-financial-canada-protection-plan/ |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=NS Insurance |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Verdict Staff |date=2020-10-05 |title=Foresters Financial agrees to combine with Canada Protection Plan |url=https://www.lifeinsuranceinternational.com/news/foresters-financial-combine-canada-protection-plan/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Life Insurance International |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=officebureau |date=2020-10-02 |title=Foresters and Canada Protection Plan announce merger |url=https://www.advisor.ca/industry-news/industry/foresters-and-canada-protection-plan-announce-merger/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Advisor.ca |language=en}}</ref> Canada Protection Plan was [[Rebranding|rebranded]] as "Canada Protection Plan, a Foresters Financial company".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moorcraft |first=Bethan |date=2020-10-02 |title=Foresters Financial and Canada Protection Plan announce merger |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/breaking-news/foresters-financial-and-canada-protection-plan-announce-merger-235186.aspx |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=Insurance Business Canada |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2021, Foresters invested in a capital project to transform the UK London office. As part of Foresters sustainability roadmap, Renewable Energy Generation Assets and Energy Saving Products were utilized. The investment will reduce the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by up to 10,000 kg per year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Foresters Financial transform London Office |url=https://www.green-light.co.uk/news/foresters-financial-transform-london-office/|website =GreenLight |date=July 14, 2021}}</ref>

In 2024, Foresters reached 150 years in business, serving 2.6 million clients and families in Canada, the US and the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foresters Financial marks 150 years of life insurance and community service |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/breaking-news/foresters-financial-marks-150-years-of-life-insurance-and-community-service-493683.aspx |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.insurancebusinessmag.com |language=en}}</ref> The company continues to invest and support the community, including partnership with nonprofit [[KABOOM! (non-profit organization)|KaBOOM!]], which has helped Foresters build more than 170 playgrounds across the U.S. and Canada since 2006.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 6, 2018 |title=Community shows up and KaBOOM! there's a playground |url=https://www.blackmountainnews.com/story/news/2018/10/06/community-turns-out-kaboom-playground-build-black-mountain-school/1547790002/ |website=Black Mountain News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Saskia |date=2025-01-02 |title=Video Observer: Fullerton Playground: Built In A Day |url=https://fullertonobserver.com/2025/01/02/video-observer-fullerton-playground-built-in-a-day/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Fullerton Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Foresters Financial and KABOOM! partner with the Town of Ajax to build an inclusive, community-designed playspace for neighbourhood children |url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/foresters-financial-kaboom-partner-town-143600700.html?guccounter=2 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=Yahoo! Finance}}</ref>

== Products ==
Foresters Financial offers term and permanent policies, including:

* Term life insurance policies lasting 10, 20, or 30 years.
* Three types of Whole Life insurance covering children, all ages and 50-85.
* Various policy riders to cover spouses, children, disability and death benefits.

The company's structure as a fraternal organization also includes benefits such as discounted legal services, scholarships, and community grants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=hayesweb |date=2022-02-10 |title=Foresters Financial Life Insurance Review Canada [2022] |url=https://protectyourwealth.ca/foresters-financial-life-insurance-review-canada/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Protect Your Wealth |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ancient Order of Foresters]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.foresters.com/}}

[[Category:Financial services companies established in 1874]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1874]]
[[Category:Fraternal orders]]
[[Category:Mutual organizations]]
[[Category:Philanthropic organizations based in Canada]]
[[Category:Life insurance companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Financial services companies based in Toronto]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Ontario]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Foresters Financial