01 / FAQ
Questions, answered honestly.
Every question we get often, with a real answer, across both motions: buying new coverage and reviewing what you already own. If a question's not here, it usually means we can't answer it well. We'd rather leave it out than fudge.
02 / About the company
The company.
Who we are, where we sit, who's behind us.
Who is mnw?
mnw is a U.S. life-insurance brokerage. We're the honest broker for life insurance and annuities, with two motions: buying new coverage and reviewing what you already own. Made possible by AI. The legal entity is Meanwhile Agency LLC; NPN 22184706. Built by the team behind Meanwhile.
What does mnw do?
Two things. We help people buy new coverage. We review existing policies. Same broker, two pipelines. Both motions disclose commission on every option, including a $0 line on Hold or No transaction. Full detail at /our-promise.
Who is Meanwhile (the related company)?
Meanwhile is a Bermuda-domiciled life carrier issuing Bitcoin-denominated whole life. mnw and Meanwhile share engineering, compliance, and operating discipline. Separate legal entities, different products. More at meanwhile.com ↗ and on our /about page.
Where is mnw based?
Delaware-organized U.S. agency. Registered agent address at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. We operate remotely; the staff is distributed across the U.S.
Are you VC-backed?
mnw is operator-funded. We do not have growth-at-all-costs pressure pushing us toward the bad version of this business. We chose to design the agency this way from day one. See /our-promise Section 06.
How is mnw different from a traditional insurance agency?
An AI agent runs the analysis pipeline. The pipeline is architecturally separated from the commission database, so the analyst cannot see what mnw would earn on any recommendation. The audit log proves the separation on every case. A licensed human reviews every case before it goes to the carrier. Most traditional agencies cannot offer that separation because the same producer holds both sides.
Where do I see your licensing and state-by-state status?
The authoritative source is /licensing. We're approved in 27 states, with 22 more in active state review. Each state's license number, resident-producer designation, and any DBAs in effect render there.
03 / About the AI agent
The agent.
How the voice flow works, who's behind it, what happens on the call.
Is the AI agent a licensed agent?
No. The agent is an AI software tool. The licensed entity is Meanwhile Agency LLC and its named human producers. A licensed human reviews every case before it goes to the carrier. The agent announces it's AI at the start of every conversation.
Will I ever talk to a human?
Yes, if you want to. Ask the agent at any point and we'll connect you with one of our licensed producers or compliance reviewers. Most customers don't need to. We don't gate the option behind a form.
Why would I want an AI to handle this?
In most categories you'd rather talk to a human. In this one, our bet is you'll prefer the AI. Commission shapes advice, often unconsciously, even from someone trying to do right by you. We run two AI agents instead of one: the Analyzer writes the recommendation, the Placement agent places the business, and information moves one way. A single human producer can't do that. If you'd still rather talk to a person, ask, and we connect you.
How is the AI agent different from a chatbot?
This is a real voice conversation. 20 to 30 minutes long. The agent explains rider math, dividend mechanics, MEC limits, and tax structure in plain English. The agent holds context across the call and pushes back on bad ideas. A chatbot can't do any of that.
What model is the agent built on?
A frontier conversational model fine-tuned on consultative life-insurance dialogue and the regulatory baseline for our 27 states. We pin model versions per state per case for audit reproducibility. The agent identifies its model revision at the start of the call.
Will the agent pressure me to buy?
No. The agent earns the same regardless of what you buy. Zero. The walk-away promise applies on every case; if you don't need what we sell, we say so and we earn nothing. See /our-promise Section 03.
What does the agent do when it doesn't know something?
The agent says so and routes the question to a licensed human reviewer. The reviewer calls or messages you with an answer within hours. We'd rather pause the conversation than make something up.
Are calls recorded? Can I get a copy of mine?
Yes, calls are recorded for compliance review and required carrier audit trails. The agent announces this at the start. You can request a copy of any recording or transcript on your case at any time. See /privacy for the data-handling detail.
04 / About buying new coverage
Buying new.
If you don't have a policy yet, or you're shopping a separate need. Full detail at /new-coverage.
How do I start a new-coverage conversation?
Start with the AI advisor call after email confirmation. Form and document-upload continuations are planned for the authenticated portal and will route to the same analysis pipeline when they ship. Talk to an advisor →
Do I have to do the voice call?
For the current public flow, yes: start with the advisor call after email confirmation. Form and document-upload continuations are planned for the authenticated portal.
What products can you place today?
Life insurance from 18 carrier groups (191 products): term, whole life, IUL, UL, GUL, final expense, accidental death, children's policies. Annuities from 23 carrier groups (129 products): MYGA, FIA, SPIA, income annuities. Both day one. Full shelf at /new-coverage Section 07.
What if my situation doesn't fit any of your products?
We say so and we earn nothing. The recommendation may be "buy term elsewhere," "max your 401(k) first," "wait three years," or "do nothing." The full walk-away promise lives at /our-promise Section 03.
How long does buying actually take?
Conversation to recommendation: same day. Application to issued policy: 24 to 72 hours for accelerated underwriting cases, 2 to 4 weeks for full medical workup. Full timeline at /how-it-works Section 08.
Can I get a recommendation without committing to apply?
Yes. The conversation, the analysis, and the recommendation are free. Premiums are set by the carrier; nothing happens until you sign an application. You're under no obligation to act on a recommendation.
What if I want to think about it after the call?
Take as long as you need. The illustration and recommendation document arrive in your email; you can sit with them, share with an RIA or CPA, and come back when you're ready. You set the pace. No callback funnel on our end.
Can I see the commission disclosure before I commit to anything?
Yes. The commission disclosure renders on page 1 of every illustration we send you, before the application starts. You see what we'd earn before you decide whether to apply.
05 / About reviewing existing coverage
Reviewing what you already own.
If you already have a policy and want an honest read. Full detail at /review-coverage.
Will you review a policy I bought from someone else?
Yes. The review-coverage motion exists exactly for this. Start with the advisor call today; document-upload and form intake are planned for the authenticated portal. We analyze, then deliver a Hold / Modify / Replace / Surrender recommendation with the commission on every option, including $0 for Hold.
Do you charge for a review?
No. The review is free. The conversation, the analysis, and the recommendation document are all free. We are paid by carrier commission when we place new business. We are not paid on Hold or on Surrender-without-rollover recommendations.
How will illustration upload work?
Self-serve illustration upload is planned for the authenticated portal. The most common document is an in-force ledger from the carrier, often called an "in-force illustration" or "in-force ledger." Today, start with the advisor call and we will tell you exactly what document is needed.
What if my policy is from a carrier you don't have on your shelf?
We can still review it. We don't need to be appointed with the issuing carrier to read the policy and tell you whether it's doing its job. We do need to be appointed with the destination carrier if you decide to replace. The full appointment list is at /licensing.
Will you actually recommend I keep my policy, or do you just recommend replacement every time?
Hold is a real recommendation with a $0 commission line. The industry-standard answer is "replace this with one of mine"; we built the review motion specifically to refuse that default. Our annual case-distribution publish (first year after first full operating year) will report the share of review cases that closed as Hold. The Hold rate is the metric that proves the service is honest.
How long does a review take?
Hold or Modify cases close in 3 to 5 business days. Replace and Surrender take longer because the destination carrier (and sometimes the source carrier) own parts of the timeline. Full timeline at /how-it-works Section 08.
Can I get a second opinion on the recommendation?
Yes. We can connect you with a licensed human producer for a deeper conversation, or you can take the recommendation document to your RIA, CPA, or estate attorney. We design the document to read clearly to a professional third party.
What if you tell me to surrender my policy?
We model the surrender in full: tax treatment, where the cash should go, the math on alternatives. mnw earns nothing on a surrender that doesn't roll into a new contract. We walk through the math twice before you authorize anything irreversible.
06 / About cost and value
Cost and value.
What it costs you, how we make money, what we earn on every option.
What does the AI agent cost me?
Nothing. Talking to the agent is free. The analysis is free. The recommendation document is free. mnw is paid by the carrier as commission when a policy issues; commission is paid out of the same premium dollars in any agent's transaction.
How much will the policy cost?
It depends on the product, your age, health, and target face amount. The agent runs a real illustration during the call so you see the exact premium before you decide. No mystery numbers. The illustration also shows our commission on page 1, in dollars.
How is mnw paid?
The carrier pays mnw a commission when a policy issues. The AI agent does not receive personal compensation, bonuses, or per-policy commissions. The carrier commission is paid out of the same premium dollars in any agent's transaction; we just don't share it with a salesperson. mnw earns nothing on a Hold recommendation or on a "do nothing" recommendation. The full commitment lives at /our-promise.
Will I see what mnw earns on my policy?
Yes. Every illustration we send shows our commission on page 1, in dollars: first-year, ongoing, and total compensation across the life of the policy. When the advisor presents multiple options, every option carries the same disclosure side by side. Industry standard is to bury this; we lead with it. See /our-promise.
What if mnw recommends I do nothing?
If the right answer is to keep what you already have or to walk away from buying, we'll tell you, and we'll explain why. No transaction, no commission, no follow-up pressure. The "do nothing" or "hold" option appears in every comparison with a $0 commission line. We'd rather lose your business this year than waste your money for the next 30. /our-promise lays out the full commitment.
How do I know your advice isn't bent by commission?
We run two separate AI agents. The Analyzer reads your situation and writes the recommendation. The Placement agent reads the recommendation and places the business. Information flows one way: Analyzer to Placement. The Analyzer can't read from the commission database, can't query the Placement agent, and can't be influenced by anything that would tell it what mnw stands to make. Every cross-boundary read attempt from Placement toward Analyzer is blocked at the system level and audited. AI is what makes this possible. Full detail at /our-promise.
What's a cash-value loan and what does it cost?
A policy loan lets you borrow against the cash value in your whole life or UL policy at a contract-defined interest rate. Outstanding loans accrue interest and reduce both cash value and death benefit. Excessive loans can lapse the policy and trigger tax. We walk through the math before you draw.
07 / About states and licensing
States and licensing.
Where we're approved, where we aren't, and what to do if we're not in your state yet.
What states are you available in?
27 states today, with 22 more in active state review. Full state-by-state list at /licensing. If we're not licensed where you live yet, we'll tell you during the call and notify you when we are.
Why aren't you in New York?
New York's regulatory regime requires structures we've decided not to build for the first version of mnw. We may revisit this. For now, we don't serve New York residents.
How do I verify your license in my state?
Each state's license number, resident-producer designation, and any DBAs in effect render at /licensing. You can verify the producer NPN (22184706) against the NAIC's national producer registry.
What if I move to a state where you're not licensed?
Your existing policy stays in force; the carrier issued it, not mnw. We can still service the policy for you (beneficiary updates, loans, surrenders) under state portability rules. We just can't write new business in your new state until we're licensed there.
08 / About privacy and recording
Privacy and recording.
What we collect, what we don't, who has access, where to file a complaint.
Is my conversation private?
Calls are recorded for compliance review and required carrier audit trails. The agent announces this at the start of every call. Recordings, transcripts, and case data are stored encrypted at rest and accessed only by mnw staff and carriers on a need-to-know basis. Full detail at /privacy.
How is my data secured?
Encrypted in transit and at rest. Bank-grade identity verification through our provider AiPrise, Inc. Access logging on every data read. Annual independent security review. The full data-handling spec is at /privacy.
Do you create voiceprints?
No. We record and transcribe conversations to provide the service, support compliance review, and maintain records required by law. We do not create or use voiceprints, speaker-recognition templates, or other biometric identifiers to identify you. We contractually prohibit our vendors from doing so without policy update and any required consent. Full detail at /privacy Section 3.4.
Who has access to my information?
mnw staff on your case (the AI agent on your call, the analyst, the licensed reviewer). The carrier you ultimately buy from (if a policy issues). Our identity-verification provider (AiPrise) for KYC. No other parties; we do not sell or rent your data. Full vendor list at /privacy.
Where do I file a complaint?
Tell us first: /contact or write to compliance@mnw.agency. We respond within 5 business days. You can also file with your state insurance department; we'll provide the filing address on request. mnw is regulated by the state insurance department in each of our 27 licensed states.
09 / Edge cases
Edge cases.
Short answers. Deeper product detail lives on /new-coverage and in the writing hub at /writing-on-long-term-insurance.
Why whole life specifically?
Whole life is the only retirement-adjacent product that gives you tax-advantaged growth, lifetime coverage, and liquidity at the same time. For some readers, it's the right tool; for many, it isn't. We say so on review-coverage cases. Whole life is one product type on our shelf, alongside term, IUL, UL, GUL, final expense, and annuities. All day one.
Why a 20-pay structure?
You pay premium for 20 years; after that the policy is paid up and continues compounding for life. The shorter premium window front-loads cash value, which is the math most cash-value buyers care about. Other structures (10-pay, pay-to-100) are available; we run the comparison if relevant.
Can I get term life from mnw?
Yes, from day one. Term is the volume product on our life shelf: 10 to 40 year terms across 18 carrier groups. We can also review existing term policies (conversion-option analysis, renewal projections, whether term-and-invest-the-difference still works at your current age and health).
What about IUL?
Yes, from day one. Indexed UL is on the new-coverage shelf alongside whole life, UL, and GUL. We can also review existing IUL policies (crediting-rate analysis, cap and participation rates, in-force performance versus projection).
What about annuities?
Yes, from day one. The annuity shelf covers 129 products across 23 carriers: fixed-rate annuities (MYGA), fixed-indexed annuities (FIA), single-premium immediate annuities (SPIA), and income annuities. We do annuity reviews on the same Hold / Modify / Replace / Surrender pattern as life insurance, with the commission on every option. See /new-coverage and /review-coverage for the full motion.
Can I roll an IRA into an annuity through mnw?
Yes, and we do extra work on the case. Most rollover pitches skip the part where someone tells you what you're giving up by moving the money. We walk through it: what staying in your employer plan or rolling to a regular IRA would look like, what fees you'd pick up inside the annuity, what protections you'd lose. The licensed human reads the case before any recommendation comes back. The commission disclosure is on the same document.
Can you compare whole life to indexed universal life?
Yes. The agent walks through both on the call. Whole life's cash value is guaranteed; IUL's is index-linked with caps and floors. Different tax treatments, different volatility profiles, different commission profiles (which we disclose in dollars on every illustration). The right answer depends on your situation.
Still have a question?
Talk to the advisor. Most questions are easier to ask out loud than to look up. Or email us if it's not about a policy.