Our Impact
A Message from Our President and CEO
Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Company stands beside individuals, families, and businesses who rely on us. As an organization, we are committed to the principle that “[n]o one should be on their own in hard times.” We provide stability and support when people face uncertainty, loss, and unexpected challenges. We are in the business of creating peace of mind and accomplish this by providing financial protection for individuals and families through all stages of life and by helping employers of all sizes to protect their employees. By “creating peace of mind, together,” we are committed to enriching the lives of our customers and employees, giving generously to the communities we serve, and promoting a healthier, more sustainable environment.
In this report, I am pleased to share how PGL brightens the lives of its customers, its employees, and its community. We continue to be proud of the impact that we make.
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Who We Are
Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Company provides life insurance, temporary disability insurance, annuities, and real estate investment loans for individuals, families, and employers in Hawaii. We partner with agents, brokers, and consultants, including multilingual agents and brokers, to offer a range of financial products in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and three United States (“U.S.”) territories. Our customers can rest easy knowing that we are financially strong, with “A” ratings from A.M. Best Company and S&P Global Ratings.
PGL was founded on May 1, 1961. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company, one of Japan’s oldest and largest life insurers. Meiji Yasuda Life was established when Meiji Life Insurance Company and The Yasuda Mutual Life Insurance Company merged on January 1, 2004. In 1976, when Meiji Yasuda Life purchased a substantial interest in PGL, Meiji Yasuda Life became the first Japanese life insurer to invest in a U.S. life insurance company. Meiji Yasuda Life acquired sole ownership of PGL in 1985. In 1991, Meiji Yasuda Life acquired Hawaiian Life Insurance Company from American General Corporation and merged it with and into PGL.
PGL markets and distributes traditional ordinary life insurance products, including a multi-year guaranteed annuity, as well as group life and group disability products. PGL maintains insurance licenses across 47 states, Washington D.C., and three U.S. territories (Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands).
What We Do
Management Approach
As we deliver “peace of mind” to our customers, new and old, we strive to create a significant and lasting impact that extends to our customers, our employees, our community, and our physical environment and want to share this impact with you in this report.
Creating Peace of Mind for Our Customers
PGL delivers confidence and security to customers by providing high-quality insurance solutions tailored to today’s business landscape and the needs of the people we serve. Offering personal, genuine customer care remains our top priority.
We foster a customer-focused culture that places their needs at the center of every product decision and service interaction. Throughout 2025, we strengthened this commitment by continuing to invest in enhancements that elevate the overall customer experience.
In 2025, PGL enhanced its social media presence, with the goal of sharing timely and relevant information about our products, services, and connections with our community. Social media is a tool that creates an open channel where customers can ask questions, give feedback, and feel heard in real time, which strengthens trust and loyalty. PGL’s intent is to turn communication into a two‑way conversation that keeps customers informed, engaged, and connected to the PGL’s story. Be sure to follow us!
Authentication enhancements were also a focus of 2025. As fraud continues to grow at an unprecedented speed, PGL is committed to protecting its customers from bad actors. Throughout the year, we strengthened our verification processes, expanded the use of multi‑factor authentication, and implemented additional safeguards designed to detect and prevent unauthorized access. These efforts reflect our ongoing dedication to maintaining a secure environment for our customers and their information.
PGL also continues to strengthen its call center and customer contact solutions to ensure customers receive timely, accurate, and compassionate support. In 2025 and into 2026, we are working to advance our service capabilities by improving call routing efficiency and expanding self‑service options that allow customers to access information quickly and securely. Our teams are equipped with tools and training to resolve inquiries more effectively, while integrated systems help us maintain consistent service quality across all channels. These continuing enhancements reflect PGL’s commitment to delivering a seamless and reliable customer experience at every point of contact.
Creating Peace of Mind for Our Employees
PGL understands that its people are its most valuable strength, and it works continuously to foster an inclusive environment where every employee feels secure and supported. The company is committed to maintaining a safe workplace and providing equal opportunities for all.
Compensation and Benefits
At PGL, we believe that taking care of our people is essential to our shared success. Our compensation and benefits package is designed to support our employees’ financial well‑being, health, and overall peace of mind—both at work and at home.
PGL’s Benefit Package Includes:
- Competitive Compensation: Base pay that reflects an employee’s role, experience, and contributions, along with opportunities for performance‑based increases.
- Health & Wellness Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to help our employees and their families stay healthy. Additional wellness resources may include mental health support, telehealth options, and preventive care programs.
- Retirement Savings: Access to retirement plans that help our employees’ plan for the future, often with employer contributions to support long‑term financial security.
- Vacation, Sick Time, Holidays: Vacation, sick time, holidays, floating holidays and other forms of leave to ensure our employees have the flexibility to rest, recharge, and take care of personal needs.
- Life & Disability Coverage: Protection for our employees and their loved ones through life insurance, short‑term disability, and long‑term disability benefits.
- Additional Employee Support: Programs such as employee assistance services, professional development opportunities, and other resources designed to help our employees grow and thrive.
Supporting Inclusion and Fostering an Environment Where We All Belong
“Creating peace of mind, together” reflects PGL’s commitment to ensuring every employee feels they belong—regardless of their background, identity, or appearance. In 2025, PGL completed its second annual inclusion activity where employees crafted keychains symbolizing the unique elements of their personal worlds. Afterward, participants were encouraged to consider the true breadth of diversity in their lives, inspiring many to set personal goals around being more inclusive. Employees were then invited to display their keychains as conversation starters, helping foster open dialogue about inclusiveness throughout PGL.
Strengthening Leadership and Expanding Knowledge to Support Employee Development
PGL has several leadership programs designed to prepare employees for greater responsibility by allowing them to build skills and behaviors that strong and effective leaders demonstrate daily.
Leadership Growth Program
PGL’s Leadership Growth Program is a structured development experience designed to help employees strengthen the skills, behaviors, and mindset needed to lead effectively. It focuses on building both the practical and interpersonal capabilities that allow someone to guide teams, make sound decisions, and contribute to PGL’s long‑term success.
Kizuna Leadership Program
deep, emotional bonds or ties that connect people, encompassing friendship, empathy, and mutual support
In creating the KIZUNA program, PGL’s parent company Meiji Yasuda Life annually requests that we name two individuals to participate in this management development program that takes place in Tokyo, Japan. Along with participants from Meiji Yasuda Life’s other subsidiaries around the globe, this allows for strengthening the bonds among these group companies, and to firmly embed the group message, “Creating peace of mind, together.”
For more than 20 years, we have participated in this program offered by Meiji Yasuda Life. This experience provides officers and managers with the opportunity to obtain unique knowledge and experience that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. The impact of the KIZUNA program has been significant on its past participants. The cultural experience of traveling to Japan, experiencing a business program customized to one’s professional interests, making a business presentation, learning and sharing the group message and common values, meeting and dining with key executives, and enjoying a sightseeing expedition is a very powerful one.
Overall, the KIZUNA program has been used to strengthen PGL management’s understanding of and relationship with its group companies, educate and motivate management personnel, and to increase the level of information, knowledge and experience of the Japanese life insurance industry.
Life Office Management Association (LOMA) Insurance Education Program
LOMA is an insurance industry professional organization which offers an extensive insurance education program. Its courses provide a broad understanding of life insurance and life company operations and are designed to meet a wide array of educational needs. This educational journey through LOMA not only enriches one’s understanding but also opens up avenues for career advancement and personal development within the insurance sector.
Offered to anyone in the company who wishes to expand their learning, PGL covers the cost of course materials and exam fees. Generous financial incentives are provided for obtaining an Associate Customer Service certificate and a Fellow, Life Management Institute certificate. PGL also excitedly acknowledges employees at all steps in the process.
Employee Engagement
Special Activities Committee (SAC)
SAC is an ad hoc committee of employees who plan and conduct various company-sponsored activities. Through various activities, typically outside-of-work, fun activities for employees, SAC fulfills the following purposes:
- Promotes corporate identity through public exposure during various charity and sports activities
- Boosts employee morale in the workplace
- Fosters good fellowship and ties employees closer together
Customer Service Week
PGL celebrated Customer Service Week, recognizing and appreciating the dedication of our customer service professionals. The week was filled with engaging activities designed to connect employees, promote wellness, and foster teamwork.
The week kicked off with Welcome to the Breakfast Club on Monday, where employees gathered on the 16th floor to enjoy breakfast together and start the week energized.
Team Building Tuesday challenged employees to work together in a fun “If You Can, You Can” game while donating food cans to the Hawaii Food Bank, culminating in a pizza party for the winning team.
Wellness Wednesday focused on self-care, offering employees an opportunity to relax and strike a pose during activities in the 18th floor boardroom.
On Thankful Thursday, employees shared thoughtful messages of appreciation with their peers to celebrate collaboration and camaraderie.
The week concluded with a Friday Feast, featuring a special lunch on the 18th floor.
Supporting Women and Young Professionals
PGL proudly supports the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Young Professionals program, encouraging employees to join and providing full coverage for their annual membership. As part of this commitment, PGL champions initiatives that empower women in the workplace. Christine Daleiden, Chief Risk Officer at PGL, recently spoke at the Young Professionals’ Leadership Leap event, sharing insights and guidance to help women take the next step in their careers.
Women are a driving force at PGL: 40% of the executive team, 45% of all directors and managers, and 66% of all employees are women, reflecting the firm’s dedication to fostering leadership, growth, and opportunity for women at every level.
Culture Day
In 2025, PGL hosted a Culture Day to celebrate the diversity of its workforce. Employees participated in a company-wide potluck, each bringing a dish that reflected their cultural background. The event created an opportunity for team members to share stories about their heritage, connect over food, and learn more about one another in a relaxed, inclusive setting.
Employee and Workplace Recognition
For the second consecutive year, PGL was honored by Hawaii Business Magazine as one of Hawaii’s Best Places to Work, an honor based on employee surveys measuring workplace culture, engagement, and overall satisfaction.
PGL’s Summer Internship Program
The PGL Summer Internship Program offers students an opportunity to gain meaningful, hands‑on experience while exploring what it’s like to build a career in the insurance industry. Throughout the program, interns work alongside experienced professionals, contribute to real projects, and develop skills that support both personal and professional growth.
Beyond day‑to‑day responsibilities, interns participated in networking events, and team‑building activities designed to strengthen their confidence and expand their understanding of the industry. Our goal is to create an environment where every intern feels supported, challenged, and inspired.
Creating Peace of Mind for Our Community
Volunteering
Giving back is a core value at PGL, with employees contributing more than 470 volunteer hours in support of local communities in 2025.
Some of these organizations include the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Honolulu Habitat for Humanity, Institute for Human Services, Wahiawa Botanical Garden, and Waikiki Aquarium.
Corporate and Employee Giving
Federal Home Loan Bank Impact Fund
In 2025, as a member of the FHLB, PGL supported community development in Hawaii through the FHLB Impact Fund. This fund provides $3 to $1 matching grant monies to encourage financial institutions like PGL to donate to a Hawaii non-profit that has a mission of promoting affordable housing or community development.
Using FHLB matching funds, PGL invested in Aloha United Way’s “AUW ALICE® Fund.” This dedicated funding source provides hundreds of individuals who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed with job training, financial literacy training, and financial stability. Community development programs include loans for small businesses, pathways to affordable housing ownership, education, and legal support and employment.
Investing in Affordable Housing
Housing stability is essential for true peace of mind. Since 2020, PGL has invested roughly $10 million in affordable housing across Hawaii, strengthening its commitment to creating secure, accessible homes for local families.
PGL recently invested in Parkway Village at Kapolei, which is a mixed-use affordable rental community featuring 401 homes for families who earn between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income. Created on land owned by the City of Honolulu, the development brings together housing, educational resources, and sustainable design.
This low-income housing tax credit supported community places a strong emphasis on early childhood learning. The community includes 25 ground-floor units reserved for licensed childcare providers, giving families reliable support before their children enter preschool. It also features two new preschool options: a public charter preschool created with Kamehameha Schools and non-profit Parents And Children Together which will offer 80 seats to the wider community, and a second preschool operated by Keiki O Ka ‘Āina that will provide 40 resident-only seats. Together, these additions support the state’s Ready Keiki initiative by expanding access to affordable, high-quality early education.
The community’s housing options are designed to meet diverse household needs, ranging from studios to four-bedroom homes. The four-bedroom layouts, tailored for multigenerational and extended families, can house up to nine people and feature walk-in closets along with additional in-unit storage.
A second affordable housing investment for PGL is Kokua Hale, which is an age-restricted (55+) 20-story tower providing 222 affordable studio units in the heart of downtown Honolulu. Of the 222 affordable units, 12 are restricted to senior households earning at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 210 are restricted to senior households earning at or below 60% AMI. Additionally, the Project meets the most current Americans with Disabilities Act and HUD standards.
Focus on Human Rights, Nondiscrimination, and Equality
PGL is committed to maintaining a workplace grounded in nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, freedom of expression, and the health and safety of its employees. This commitment includes fair and equitable compensation, accessible and inclusive environments for individuals with disabilities, maternity protections, and supportive working conditions and hours.
Corporate Giving to Support Friends of Hawaii Charities with Sony Open Sponsorship
Each year, PGL is an event sponsor of Friends of Hawaii Charities’ principal fundraising event, the Sony Open in Hawaii PGA TOUR Golf Tournament. Friends of Hawaii Charities works to activate financial resources from the private sector to support Hawaii’s women, children, elderly, and those in need. Through proceeds from the Sony Open, Friends of Hawaii Charities has generated more than $26 million in charitable grants to over 350 nonprofit organizations across the Hawaiian Islands. Annual grantmaking, administered in partnership with the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, supports programs that strengthen families, promote economic stability, support aging in place for kupuna, and advance early childhood development statewide.
Supporting Local Non-Profits
Members of the PGL team attended the Hawai‘i Women’s Legal Foundation Gala, an annual fundraising event that supports the Foundation’s mission to advance women in the legal profession and promote access to justice in Hawai‘i. Proceeds from the gala help fund scholarships, educational programs, and initiatives that support women attorneys, students, and the broader legal community statewide.
PGL also supported CrimeStoppers, Honolulu, which is a volunteer organization relying on community tips to solve crimes. Support for this non-profit has helped solve 9,720 cases, led to 3,065 arrests, and recovered more than $4.6 million in stolen property.
Aloha United Way is another example of a non-profit supported by PGL. Each year, employees raise funds to support AUW’s mission to advance, health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community by bringing together resources, organizations, and people. AUW has been serving Hawaii’s communities for more than 100 years and PGL continues to be an active partner.
Sustainability Initiatives
Measuring and tracking environmental impact is essential to operating responsibly and sustainably. PGL‘s sustainability initiatives ensure that business growth never comes at the expense of the planet.
Intercompany Sustainability Initiatives
In January 2025, PGL’s parent company, Meiji Yasuda Life, held its 5th Best Practices Conference at its main office in Tokyo, Japan. For this conference, Meiji Yasuda invited its overseas insurance group companies to discuss Sustainability Management, including how group companies were vitalizing regional communities and conducting environmental conservation and climate change adaptation. This in-person meeting was an opportunity to share knowledge among the companies, with the goal of further business development at each overseas group company. Meiji Yasuda also provided opportunities for employees from all companies to get to know each other at social events.
Creating Peace of Mind Through Exceptional Governance
Investing Responsibly to Ensure Long Term Solvency and Maintain “A” Ratings
PGL’s investment responsibility is to ensure that we can consistently meet our insurance commitments, giving our clients confidence and peace of mind. We manage our assets in line with statutory requirements, focusing on strategies that support our asset‑liability needs while also delivering sustainable long‑term returns.
The Company currently maintains an “A” rating with A.M. Best and S&P Global ratings. An “A” rating assigned by A.M. Best means that PGL has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations. S&P Global Ratings assigns “A” ratings to companies that have a stable outlook and are expected to maintain a satisfactory business risk profile and moderately strong financial risk profile.
Our High Ethical Standards Continuously Guide Us
PGL is grounded in strong ethical principles that shape our daily work. Every employee receives training on the company’s Code of Conduct and is expected to uphold it consistently. Integrity is central to our culture, and we conduct annual reviews of potential conflicts of interest to ensure that personal interests never compromise the laws, regulations, or standards that govern our business.
Our Board of Directors is Our Foundation for Responsible Governance
PGL’s Board of Directors oversees the company’s operations to ensure they serve the interests of shareholders, customers, employees, and the broader community. The Board consists of nine members, including five independent directors from outside the organization. Its composition reflects a mix of long‑standing members and newer appointees, many of whom are respected leaders within Hawaii. Key areas of risk and governance are further supported by an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, each chaired by an independent director and reporting directly to the full Board.
Protecting Our Customer’s Information and Privacy PGL’s Chief Information Officer oversees an information security team focused on identifying and evaluating security risks, educating employees about those risks, and coordinating incident response across the organization. We use firewalls and other protective technologies to safeguard our network, end‑user devices, and internal systems. Intrusion attempts and access activity is continuously monitored, and we regularly test applications and scan for vulnerabilities to ensure our systems remain secure.
PGL also adheres to comprehensive privacy policies that mandate clear customer disclosures and strong data‑protection practices. To further safeguard customer information, we monitor transactions for signs of fraud or potential identity theft.
Meiji Yasuda Life Group Sustainability Policy
Our parent company, Meiji Yasuda Life, shares our same values relating to stewardship and corporate citizenship. Meiji Yasuda’s group sustainability policy for its subsidiaries emphasizes offering high-quality products and services and exceptional customer service to customers; contributing to local communities, human rights and workplace environment; protecting our global environment; complying with applicable laws; and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. Meiji Yasuda and PGL’s shared philosophy is that by following the group sustainability policy, PGL will continue to fulfill the responsibilities of good corporate citizens by “contributing to the realization of a sustainable and hopeful society in ways that create shared value and extend it to future generations with stakeholders — including customers, local communities and fellow workers — to deliver stable and sustainable company growth.”