American General

American General's story begins in Houston in the 1920s. The Texas State Historical Association describes the company's origins in 1926, when American General Insurance Company was organized and began building a broader insurance enterprise over subsequent decades.[1] By the late 20th century, American General had become a major financial-services and insurance organization, including a significant life insurance presence alongside other lines.[1]

In 2001, American General entered a new era when it was acquired by American International Group (AIG), a transaction documented in SEC filings.[2] That combination folded American General's U.S. life operations into a global insurance group, bringing access to a larger balance sheet while also exposing the life business to the broader strategic shifts that followed the 2008 crisis and later industry consolidation.

For policyholders and advisors, the enduring theme has been the practical one: life insurance is a long-duration promise, and ownership changes matter mainly insofar as they influence capital strength, product strategy, and service. As interest rates and regulation shifted, large groups increasingly emphasized disciplined pricing, conservative capital planning, and scalable distribution to sustain profitability across decades.

Sources: [1] Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) - American General Corporation: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/american-general-corporation. [2] SEC filing related to AIG acquisition of American General (transaction documentation): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/5272/000095012900000908/y75647e10-12g.htm.