Our 32-page September 2007 special ratings issue is our annual compilation of financial strength ratings of insurance companies. It is widely purchased by insurance agents, brokers, and consumers.

The lead article in the issue explains the importance of ratings, explains how the ratings should be used by consumers and those providing advice to consumers, and includes discussions of several other topics. Here are the other components of the issue:

• Two ratings lists.  One shows 2,540 ratings assigned to 1,300 U.S. and Canadian life-health insurance companies by A. M. Best, Fitch, Moody's, and Standard & Poor's.  The other shows 849 ratings assigned to 291 large U.S. property-liability companies by the same rating firms.  Both lists show ratings as of August 1, 2007.

• A suggested companies list.  It shows 194 life-health companies suggested for consumers who are conservative regarding financial strength.

• A watch list.  It identifies 384 life-health companies that show signs of possible financial difficulty.

• The rating firms' descriptions of their rating categories.

• The distributions of the life-health ratings shown in the issue.

The price of the September 2007 special ratings issue is $25. Quantities of the issue sent in one shipment are priced as follows: $18 each for at least 2; $12 each for at least 10; $10 each for at least 25; $8 each for at least 100; $7 each for at least 250; and $6 each for at least 1,000. To obtain an order form, click here.