[7] Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as institutional and retail mutual funds.

[8] The company also sold policies to soldiers and civilians involved in combat during the American Civil War and paid claims under a flag of truce during that time.

[15] New York Life's growth was in part fueled by its introduction of a system by which the company used agents to find new business.

[16] The New York Life Building at 51 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, designed by American architect Cass Gilbert, opened in December 1928.

[15] Following World War II, New York Life further diversified; it invested in real estate development in the late 1940s and launched a mortgage-loan program for veterans in 1946.

[19] New York Life, along with other insurance companies, relaxed the claims process for missing persons in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

[15] Fearful of the stability of the market during the two years prior to the financial crisis of 2007–2008, New York Life moved its cash into other investments such as treasury bonds.

[13] In the ensuing financial crisis, New York Life Insurance Company rejected assistance from the U.S. Treasury Department.

[22] As a mutual, New York Life distributes a portion of its earnings to eligible policyholders as annual dividends.

[26] New York Life Investments is a subsidiary global asset management business which serves both institutional and retail clients.

[43][44] New York Life Foundation first became involved in childhood bereavement programs when it supported the Comfort Zone Camp in 2007.