Most people searching this question are holding one of two very different things. The first is a small Grow-Up® Plan bought on a child or grandchild decades ago, often for $5,000 or $10,000 of coverage. The second is an adult whole life policy on the person asking. Those two situations lead to opposite answers, and it is worth sorting out which one you have before you do anything else.
This page explains who owns and services Gerber Life today, why juvenile whole life almost never qualifies for a life settlement, and what the realistic alternatives are. Pine Lake Life Solutions is an independent education and policy-review resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for Gerber Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, or Nestlé.
In This Article
- Who Owns and Services Gerber Life Today
- The Blunt Answer for Grow-Up Plan Policies
- What Your Grow-Up Plan Does at Age 18 and Age 21
- Cash Value, Surrender, and Paid-Up: The Comparison That Actually Applies
- When a Gerber Whole Life Policy Is Worth a Second Look
- The Change-of-Ownership Step Any Sale Would Require
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Owns and Services Gerber Life Today
Gerber Life is no longer part of the baby-food company. Western & Southern Financial Group, the Cincinnati-based insurance group, completed its purchase of Gerber Life Insurance Company from Nestlé S.A. on December 31, 2018 in a $1.55 billion transaction. Western & Southern’s own announcement states the purchase included “a long-term license to use certain Gerber Life intellectual property, including the Gerber Life name and logo, in connection with certain financial services.” The Gerber name on your policy is now used under license; the insurer behind it is a Western & Southern company.
That matters for a very practical reason. Policyholders who call the Gerber Products consumer line, or who mail paperwork to an address printed on a 1990s policy jacket, frequently reach the wrong organization. As of 2026 Gerber Life lists a policy service line of 1-800-704-2180, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, and a policy service mailing address of Gerber Life Insurance Company, 445 State St., Fremont, MI 49412. Confirm both directly with the carrier before you send anything, because service addresses change.
On financial strength: AM Best upgraded Gerber Life to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) on February 9, 2024. Western & Southern’s release notes that the ratings “reflect implicit support from the greater organization, W&SF Group.” Ratings move, so verify the current rating at ambest.com before relying on it.
The Blunt Answer for Grow-Up Plan Policies
A life settlement is the sale of an in-force policy to a licensed institutional buyer. The buyer takes over the premiums and eventually collects the death benefit, so the math only works when two things are true: the insured is older or in materially impaired health, and the death benefit is large enough to cover acquisition costs, medical underwriting, and years of premium.
A Grow-Up Plan fails both tests, usually by a wide margin. The insured is a child, a young adult, or a healthy person in their thirties or forties. There is no measurable shortening of life expectancy for a buyer to price. And the face amount is small: Grow-Up Plan coverage starts at $5,000, and even after the automatic doubling described below, many of these policies top out well under $100,000. Buyers in the secondary market generally do not review policies that small.
So the honest answer for a typical Gerber juvenile whole life policy is no, it is not a realistic life settlement candidate, and any website that implies otherwise is not being straight with you. That does not mean the policy has no value. It means the value sits in the contract itself rather than in a sale.
What Your Grow-Up Plan Does at Age 18 and Age 21
Two contract mechanics surprise families more than any others, and both are stated on Gerber Life’s own Grow-Up Plan question page.
The first is the automatic doubling of coverage. Gerber Life states: “Policies issued in 2008 or earlier double on the anniversary date after the insured reaches age 21. Policies issued in 2009 or after double on the anniversary date after the insured reaches age 18.” The issue year printed on your policy, not the child’s birthday alone, decides which rule applies. A $25,000 policy becomes $50,000 at no additional premium.
The second is the ownership handoff. Gerber Life states that the adult who bought the policy is “the policy owner until your child reaches age 21. At that time, your child becomes the policy owner.” If you are a grandparent trying to decide what to do with a policy on a grandchild who is already in their twenties, you may no longer be the person with authority to act. Check the current owner of record with the carrier first.
Gerber Life also states that once coverage begins, and as long as premiums are paid, it “cannot cancel the insurance.” That guarantee is part of what you would be giving up in any surrender.
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Policy jacket and schedule pages | Shows issue year, which decides the age-18 vs age-21 doubling rule |
| Most recent annual statement | Current cash value, any loan balance, dividend status |
| Owner of record confirmation | Grow-Up Plan ownership transfers to the insured child at age 21 |
| Premium notice | Confirms mode, amount, and whether the policy is paid-up |
| Verification of coverage from the carrier | Required by any licensed provider before an offer is made |
Cash Value, Surrender, and Paid-Up: The Comparison That Actually Applies
Because a sale is off the table for most of these contracts, the real decision is among the nonforfeiture options built into the policy. Gerber Life describes the cash value plainly: a portion of each premium is set aside, and over time that becomes the policy’s cash value, which the owner can borrow against or take by surrendering the policy for “the accumulated cash value that has built up over time, minus any outstanding debt.”
Three paths are worth pricing side by side before you choose one. Surrender ends the coverage and pays the net cash value in a lump sum. A policy loan leaves the coverage in force but accrues interest and reduces the death benefit if it is never repaid. Reduced paid-up, where available, converts the cash value into a smaller permanent death benefit with no further premiums due, which is often the option families overlook.
One caution on dividends. Many small juvenile whole life plans are non-participating, meaning they pay no dividend that could offset premiums or buy paid-up additions. Do not assume yours is participating. Ask Gerber Life directly whether your specific form pays dividends, and get the answer in writing before you build a plan around it.
When a Gerber Whole Life Policy Is Worth a Second Look
There are Gerber Life whole life contracts that are genuinely worth reviewing, and they tend to share a profile: the insured is a senior, the policy is on the person asking rather than on a descendant, and the death benefit is meaningful rather than nominal.
Broadly, the secondary market looks hardest at insureds aged roughly 65 and older, or younger insureds with a significant change in health since the policy was issued, and at face amounts large enough to justify the transaction. Nothing about those general patterns guarantees an offer, and eligibility is decided case by case by licensed providers, not by Pine Lake and not by the carrier.
There is also a middle case worth naming. If premiums on an adult whole life policy have become a strain, the choice is not simply pay or lapse. Reduced paid-up, extended term, an automatic premium loan provision, or a carrier hardship arrangement may keep some benefit alive at lower or zero cost. A review costs nothing and often ends with the recommendation to keep the policy exactly as it is.
The Change-of-Ownership Step Any Sale Would Require
If a policy ever does move to a buyer, the transaction is completed through the carrier, not around it. The owner signs an absolute assignment or change-of-ownership form, the carrier records the new owner and, where applicable, the new beneficiary, and the carrier issues a verification of coverage confirming face amount, premium mode, loans, and in-force status. Money is released from escrow only after the carrier confirms the change on its books.
Gerber Life does not publish ownership-change instructions on its public customer service pages as of July 2026. The practical step is to call 1-800-704-2180 and request the correct change-of-ownership form for your policy form number, then ask whether the original signed document must be mailed or whether an upload is accepted. Do not sign a blank form, and do not sign anything that transfers ownership before you have a written offer you have read in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my child’s or grandchild’s Gerber Grow-Up Plan?
Realistically, no. Life settlement buyers price policies on the insured’s life expectancy and on a death benefit large enough to justify years of premium payments. A healthy young insured with a $5,000 to $50,000 face amount fits neither requirement. The practical options are keeping the coverage, borrowing against the cash value, surrendering for cash value, or letting the policy pass to the child at age 21.
Does Nestle still own Gerber Life?
No. Western & Southern Financial Group completed the purchase of Gerber Life Insurance Company from Nestle S.A. on December 31, 2018 for $1.55 billion. The deal included a long-term license to keep using the Gerber Life name and logo. Policies issued before the sale remain obligations of Gerber Life Insurance Company, now a Western & Southern company.
How much cash value does a Gerber whole life policy have?
It depends entirely on the face amount, the issue age, and how many years of premiums have been paid. The only reliable figure comes from your most recent annual statement or from Gerber Life directly at 1-800-704-2180. Be aware that the cash value on a small juvenile policy is typically a fraction of the death benefit, which is one reason surrendering is not always the better choice.
Is Gerber Life financially strong?
AM Best upgraded Gerber Life Insurance Company to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) on February 9, 2024, and Western & Southern’s announcement noted implicit support from the wider group. Ratings are reviewed periodically and can change, so confirm the current rating at ambest.com rather than relying on a figure you read online.
What does Pine Lake do if my policy cannot be sold?
It tells you so. A policy review is educational and carries no obligation. If the conclusion is that your Gerber policy should be kept, converted to reduced paid-up, or simply left alone, that is the answer you get. Pine Lake does not purchase policies and does not give legal, tax, or investment advice.
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Related Reading
- Sell My Gerber Life Term Policy
- Sell My Security Mutual Whole Life Policy
- Cash Value Loan Vs Surrender
- Extended Term Nonforfeiture Option
- Is A Life Settlement Right For You
- Change Of Ownership Life Insurance
- Life Insurance After 65
Pine Lake Life Solutions does not purchase life insurance policies and does not provide legal, tax, or investment advice. Information provided is for educational purposes only. Eligibility for any option, including life settlements, is not guaranteed and depends on individual circumstances, policy terms, underwriting, and market conditions. Consult independent legal, tax, or financial professionals before making decisions regarding a life insurance policy.