Industrial Alliance Life Insurance Review

Written by: Bonnie Stinson
Insurance Writer
Edited by: Helene Fleischer
Content Marketing Manager
Updated
September 17, 2025

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Key Takeaways
  • Industrial Alliance (iA) is one of the largest wealth management and insurance companies in Canada.
  • iA has some pretty competitive life insurance rates for smokers, second to Empire Life.
  • If you aren’t a smoker, iA is likely not the right choice for you – based on premiums and product options.
  • Their rates can fluctuate quite a bit, so it’s a good idea to compare with other life insurance providers before applying.

Industrial Alliance life insurance review (2025 update)

Industrial Alliance Insurance is an insurance company that offers a range of life, health, and retirement insurance products, based in Quebec City, QC. It may also be referred to as iA Financial Group. Established in 1892, the company is one of the largest insurance providers in Canada, serving over five million customers. They reported a net income of $364 million in Q3 2025.

Industrial Alliance life insurance: Our verdict ★★★★☆ (4.0/5)

Product
Rating
Average premiums*
Cost comparison
Pick-a-Term
★★★★☆ (4.0)
$33.57/month
1% above industry average

* This figure reflects the typical costs for a non-smoking woman between the ages of 30-44 across a term length of 10-30 years for $500,000 of coverage.

Industrial Alliance prices are in line with the rest of the market. However, they do have above-average pricing for select customer characteristics (smokers, under 40, and female).

  • Do they have an app? Yes, iA offers the iA Mobile app, which lets policyholders view their insurance and investment products.
  • How many customers? Industrial Alliance serves more than five million clients from British Columbia to Ontario.
  • Is it well reviewed? Customers often appreciate the company’s products and stability, but report frustrations with claims processing.

Industrial Alliance stands out for its combo of strong financial backing, broad product selection, and digital tools. It’s not as fast or convenient as digital-first providers, but it’s a reliable choice for Canadians overall.

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Industrial Alliance may be suited for…

Canadians who want flexible term lengths and a full range of advisor-supported life insurance options.

Methodology

PolicyMe’s rankings are based on an independent, data-driven review of Canada’s best life insurance products and providers. 

Our analysis combines 450,000+ quotes for 50+ life insurance products with in-depth research on 20+ providers. We assigned each product a star rating out of five based on a mix of average pricing, Google Review scores, and shopping convenience, then ranked the results in 12 categories.

Rankings are determined first by star rating and then by price, with preference given to expert recommendations by PolicyMe’s team of life insurance advisors. Our findings are entirely data-driven and do not include paid placements, but should not be considered a substitute for personalized financial advice.

Apply in minutes with PolicyMe, top-rated term life insurance in Canada.

Industrial Alliance life insurance: pros & cons

  • Flexible term coverage: iA’s Pick-A-Term products allows you to choose any term between 10 and 40 years.
  • Extensive coverage and renewal options: All term policies are guaranteed renewable after the initial term; conversion to permanent is available up to age 71.
  • Has an App: Yes, iA Mobile (group benefits & retirement) and My Client Space portal for account access; most retail life sales are advisor-led.
  • Strong financial backing: Industrial Alliance has been around since 1892 as one of Canada’s largest insurers, with $274 billion in assets as of June 2025.
  • Above-average premiums for some: While Industrial Alliance is normally competitive, certain groups face higher-than-average rates compared to others.
  • Some customer complaints on service: Online reviews mention long wait times, slower processing for claims or support, and even misrepresentation of coverage.

Industrial Alliance life insurance cost and value

The cost of Industrial Alliance Pick-a-Term life insurance ranges from 8% to 1% above the industry average, depending on your age and sex at birth. 

Here we compare costs across different ages, genders, and smoking statuses, for Industrial Alliance’s 20-year Pick-A-Term term life insurance policy. These sample monthly life insurance costs are based on $500,000 in coverage:

Age group
Sex at birth
Average monthly premiums*
Cost comparison**
Youths (18-29)
Female
$20.89
4% above average
Youths (18-29)
Male
$29.27
3% above average
Adults (30-44)
Female
$33.57
1% above average
Adults (30-44)
Male
$44.91
1% above average
Adults (45-59)
Female
$122.22
2% above average
Adults (45-59)
Male
$171.39
2% above average
Seniors (60+)
Female
$247.29
8% above average
Seniors (60+)
Male
$338.65
7% above average

* These figures reflect the average monthly cost for $500,000 of coverage for healthy, non-smoking individuals across a term length of 10-30 years.

** Compared to the average monthly costs for $500,000 of coverage for healthy, non-smoking individuals across a term length of 10-30 years and 26 term life insurance products.

About pricing comparisons

To ensure fairness and accuracy, all pricing comparisons were made within identical product types and demographic segments. For instance, a 10-year term policy for non-smoking women aged 18-29 with $500,000 in coverage was compared to the average pricing for all other 10-year term policies meeting the same criteria.

Industrial Alliance life insurance reviews and customer service

Industrial Alliance receives a mix of reviews across various platforms, ranging from moderate to high levels of approval — but high enough on Google that it earns a “Great Customer Service” badge. Here’s how it scores:

  • Google: 4.3/5
  • Insureye: 1/5

Industrial Alliance receives mixed feedback across review platforms. They are very well rated on Google, with many customers praising its product lineup, helpful advisors, and stability. In contrast, its Insureye ratings are quite low, with feedback often citing delays in claim processing, lengthy service wait times, and numerous communication challenges.

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Positive customer review

“National-caliber firm, independent advisors, and fast-growing. We have been clients for over 10 years and are very satisfied. It's an alternative to the big banks.”

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Negative customer review

“I have never encountered an insurance company that is so unserious and borders on rudeness towards its customers, this systematically through their customer service.”

Industrial Alliance life insurance products at a glance

Industrial Alliance offers life insurance products, including term life insurance and whole life insurance. They also offer critical illness insurance products. Let’s take a look:

Product
Coverage Options
Term Length
Key Features
Pick-A-Term
Up to $10M
10 to 40 years term
Flexible term length, level or decreasing payout, renewable and convertible.
Term 10 and Term 20
Up to $10M
10, 20 years
Renewable until age 85, convertible until age 71.
Access Life T20
Up to $300,000
20 years
No medical, simplified underwriting, renewable and convertible.
Permanent Life Insurance
Up to $10M
Lifetime
Whole life, universal life insurance, guaranteed and participating life insurance options, which generate cash value.

iA insurance also offers group insurance plans for business owners who want to offer health insurance to employees.

Industrial Alliance life insurance riders

  • Waiver of premium: Company covers your premium and retain life insurance coverage if you become totally disabled (protecting your loved ones)
  • Accidental death & dismemberment: Your beneficiaries receive an additional payout on top of the death benefit if you pass away from accidental causes
  • Critical illness: Receive a lump-sum tax-free payment upon diagnosis of a covered condition
  • Hospitalization: Receive a lump-sum amount for each day of hospitalization following accident or illness due to health conditions
  • Child module: Each existing and future child dependent gets term insurance until age 25
  • Supplementary Income: Like disability insurance, receive a monthly benefit if you become totally disabled

How Industrial Alliance compares to other insurers

PolicyMe
Industrial Alliance
Sun Life
Top-rated product
Term life insurance
Pick-a-Term
Evolve Term Life Insurance
Rating
★★★★★ (5.0)
★★★★☆ (4.0)
★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Average premiums*
$31.68/month
$33.57/month
$37.01/month
Cost comparison
7% below industry average
1% above industry average
8% above industry average
Term options
10–30 years
10–30 years
10–40 years
Coverage options
$100,000 – $5M
Up to $1M
$50,000 – $25M
Renewable
Convertible
Great customer service
Quote online
Buy online

* These figures reflect the average monthly cost for $500,000 of coverage for healthy, non-smoking individuals across a term length of 10-30 years.

Industrial Alliance life insurance vs PolicyMe life insurance

Industrial Alliance and PolicyMe both have a strong presence in the Canadian insurance industry. Let’s take a closer look:

Cost

Industrial Alliance offers term life, whole life, and simplified issue products, with coverage available up to millions of dollars. Its Access Life product tends to be more expensive than fully underwritten term policies.

PolicyMe runs on a streamlined digital model that cuts administrative costs. Those savings are passed along to policyholders, which is why PolicyMe consistently ranks among the most budget-friendly choices for term life coverage in Canada.

Customer Experience

Industrial Alliance distributes its products through advisors, with some online tools available for simplified issue applications. Its reviews are mixed overall, with some clients citing truly concerning issues, like misrepresentation of coverage amounts.

PolicyMe was designed with ease of use in mind. The application takes approximately 20 minutes to complete online, with quick approvals and a support team recognized for its responsiveness and approachability.

See how affordable term life insurance can be with PolicyMe.

The bottom line: Who should consider Industrial Alliance?

People who value Industrial Alliance as one of Canada’s oldest and most established insurers, and like a wide range of traditional products, including term life, permanent life, and simplified issues coverage.

But for healthy Canadians looking for the better rates on term life insurance, digital providers like PolicyMe typically offer more competitive pricing and a faster application process. If you’re still not sure, an insurance brokerage can help you review your options — or you can just get a quote and see for yourself.

FAQ: Industrial Alliance life insurance review

*** The life insurance premium rates in this article are based on publicly available figures as of December 2025.

Bonnie Stinson is an insurance writer and researcher in Toronto with a decade of experience producing helpful, accurate content for Canadians. They have published resources for some of Canada's most innovative and consumer-trusted companies in the health, legal, and fintech sectors. 

Bonnie Stinson is an insurance writer and researcher in Toronto with a decade of experience producing helpful, accurate content for Canadians. They have published resources for some of Canada's most innovative and consumer-trusted companies in the health, legal, and fintech sectors. 

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