Life, 1918-01-31 · page 33 of 40
Life — January 31, 1918 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon page** but rather a **corporate financial report and patriotic advertisement** published in *Life* magazine during World War I. The New York Life Insurance Company's 73rd annual report (dated January 14, 1918) presents financial data alongside wartime messaging. The company showcases strong assets ($934 million) and improved mortality rates to reassure policyholders. The patriotic messaging is the notable element: the company urges policyholders to buy War Savings Stamps and Liberty Loan Bonds, and has instructed agents to refuse insurance applications from soldiers/sailors unless they already hold the government's maximum coverage. This reflects corporate cooperation with WWI financing efforts. The reference to "lowest mortality rate in its history" and maintained dividend rates suggests the company used the war period to demonstrate financial stability and reliability to its 1+ million policyholders—positioning itself as both profitable and patriotic.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
73rd ANNUAL REPORT NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY 346 & 348 BROADWAY - - NEW YORK CITY (Organized under the laws of the State of New York) TO THE POLICY-HOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC: Admitted Assets, Dec. 31,1917. . . . . $934,929,381.52 These assets are the property of over 1,000,000 people with their dependents (in accordance with their contractual rights). The Company is purely mutual; it has no capital stock. Legal Liabilities . . Lo. ee $760,742,335.52 Reserved for dividends payable in 1918 : $26,561,063.64 Reserved for dividends on deferred dividend policies maturing subsequent to 1918..............::::00 - 107,041,778.00 Reserved for Contingencies...........:.::000eeeseeeeeee es : 40,584.204.36 $1 74, 1 87,046. 00 Total . . 2... . 1 ww. . «$934,929,381.52 For the year 1917 the Company’s mortality rate was the lowest in its history Average earning power of total Ledger Assets— December 31, 1917, 4.59% December 31, 1916, 4.54% New paid business for the year. $316,000,000 Outstanding insurance, end of 1917. -- $2,673,000,000 Paid policy-holders during year $87,000,000 The annual dividend rate of 1917 will be maintained in 1918. Liberty Loan Bonds owned Dec. 31, 1917. $12,075,000 SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT We urge all policy-holders to buy War Savings and Thrift Stamps. We have directed all Agents to take no application for insurance from a soldier or sailor unless the applicant already has the limit with the Government. BACK UP THE GOVERNMENT A detailed statement will be sent to any person asking for it. January 14, 1918. DARWIN P. KINGSLEY, President. comicbooks.com