--- ticker: GL company: Globe Life Inc. filing_type: 10-K year_current: 2025 year_prior: 2024 risks_added: 2 risks_removed: 0 risks_modified: 4 risks_unchanged: 19 source: SEC EDGAR url: https://riskdiff.com/gl/2025-vs-2024/ markdown_url: https://riskdiff.com/gl/2025-vs-2024/index.md generated: 2026-05-10 --- # Globe Life Inc.: 10-K Risk Factor Changes 2025 vs 2024 > Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR) > Generated: 2026-05-10 > All data extracted directly from official filings. No hallucinated content. > **[AI-Generated Summary]** The paragraph below was produced by a language > model and may contain errors. All other content on this page is deterministically > extracted from the original SEC filing. > Globe Life Inc. added two new risk factor disclosures in 2025 addressing short selling strategies and securities litigation resulting from stock price volatility, reflecting heightened concerns about market manipulation and shareholder disputes. Four existing risk factors underwent substantive modifications, including enhanced disclosures on independent contractor misclassification, brand reputation damage, and third-party vendor operational risks, while 19 risk factors remained materially unchanged from the prior year. --- ## Summary | Status | Count | |--------|-------| | New risks added | 2 | | Risks removed | 0 | | Risks modified | 4 | | Unchanged | 19 | --- ## New in Current Filing: We have become subject to, and may in the future be subject to, short selling strategies driving down the market price of our common stock. Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but may have borrowed with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date. A short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. Because it is in the short seller's best interests for the price of the securities to decline, some short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, opinions or characterizations regarding the relevant issuer, its business prospects and similar matters calculated to or which may create negative market momentum, which may permit them to obtain profits for themselves as a result of selling the stock short. Companies, like us, that are subject to unfavorable allegations, even if untrue, may have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend themselves, including in connection with securityholder litigation against Globe Life Inc. or investigations by regulators related to or prompted by such allegations. Since April 2024, we have been and continue to be the target of several short sellers who have published reports making allegations about the Company, which resulted in a significant decline in the price of our common stock. In addition, these reports resulted in significant negative publicity against us, damaged our reputation, and exposed us to securities class action litigation. We have already expended significant resources to defend and repair our reputation. We will continue to defend against any unfounded and unsubstantiated claims about our business, our disclosures, and the integrity of our financial statements, which may require us to expend significant resources. We may be subject to additional short seller reports and activity in the future. The publication of any such commentary regarding us may bring about a temporary, or long term, decline in the market price of our common stock. No assurances can be made that similar declines in the market price of our common stock or negative publicity will not occur in the future, in connection with such commentary by short sellers or otherwise. --- ## New in Current Filing: Recent volatility in the trading price of our common stock has and can be expected to result in securities class action litigation. In April 2024, the trading price of our common stock dropped following the publication of certain short seller reports. As of the date of this Report, one putative securities class action has been filed against Globe Life Inc. and we expect that other putative class action claims may be filed as well. While we intend to defend such actions vigorously, any judgment against us or any future stockholder litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. --- ## Modified: Actual or alleged misclassification of independent contractors at our insurance subsidiaries could result in adverse legal, tax or financial consequences. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "In September 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) notified us that it had determined that all sales agents affiliated with State General Agent Simon Arias were employees, not independent contractors, of Globe Life Inc." **Prior (2024):** A significant portion of our sales agents are independent contractors. Although we believe we have properly classified such individuals, a risk nevertheless exists that a court, the Internal Revenue Service or other authority will take the position that our sales agents are employees. From time-to-time, we are subject to civil litigation, including class and collective action litigation, alleging that we have improperly classified certain of our sales agents as independent contractors. A future adverse judgment in connection with such litigation could result in substantial damages. Future changes in rules, regulations or interpretations of existing rules and regulations could require us to reclassify all or a portion of our agents as employees and the impact could significantly increase our operating costs and negatively impact our insurance business. **Current (2025):** A significant portion of our sales agents are independent contractors. Although we believe we have properly classified such individuals, a risk nevertheless exists that a court, the Internal Revenue Service or other authority will take the position that our sales agents are employees. From time-to-time, we are subject to civil litigation, including class and collective action litigation, alleging that we have improperly classified certain of our sales agents as independent contractors. In September 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) notified us that it had determined that all sales agents affiliated with State General Agent Simon Arias were employees, not independent contractors, of Globe Life Inc. and/or AIL. Such determination is not binding but we expect any potential civil action brought by the EEOC would include such an allegation. A future adverse judgment in connection with any such civil litigation described above could result in substantial damages. Future changes in rules, regulations or interpretations of existing rules and regulations, or significant adverse judgments in litigation, could require us to reclassify all or a portion of our agents as employees and the impact could significantly increase our operating costs and negatively impact our insurance business. --- ## Modified: Damage to the brand and reputation of Globe Life or its subsidiaries could affect our ability to conduct business. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Negative publicity through traditional media, internet, social media, and other public forums, including short seller reports and allegations of independent agent misconduct could damage our brand or reputation, which could adversely impact our ability to recruit and retain agents, our ability to market our products, and the persistency of in-force policies." **Prior (2024):** Negative publicity through traditional media, internet, social media and other public forums could damage our brand or reputation and adversely impact our agent recruiting efforts, the ability to market our products and the persistency of in-force policies. **Current (2025):** Negative publicity through traditional media, internet, social media, and other public forums, including short seller reports and allegations of independent agent misconduct could damage our brand or reputation, which could adversely impact our ability to recruit and retain agents, our ability to market our products, and the persistency of in-force policies. A reduction in the number of agents selling our products, or the rate of growth of the number of agents selling our products may have an adverse impact on product sales and profit, and such impact may be material. --- ## Modified: The use of third-party vendors, including independent sales agents, to support the Company's operations makes the Company susceptible to the operational risk of those third parties, which could lower revenues, increase costs, reduce profits, disrupt business, or damage the Company's reputation. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "The Company utilizes third-party vendors, including independent sales agents, to provide certain business services and functions, which exposes the Company to risks outside the control of the Company." **Prior (2024):** The Company utilizes third-party vendors to provide certain business support services and functions, which exposes the Company to risks outside the control of the Company that may lead to business disruptions. The reliance on these third-party vendors creates a number of business risks, such as the risk that the Company may not maintain service quality, control or effective management of the outsourced business operations and that the Company cannot control the information systems, facilities or networks of such third-party vendors. Additionally, the Company is at risk of being unable to meet legal, regulatory, financial or customer obligations if the information systems, facilities or networks of a third-party vendor are disrupted, damaged or fail, whether due to physical disruptions, such as fire, natural disaster, pandemic or power outage, or due to cybersecurity incidents, ransomware or other impacts to vendors, including labor strikes, political unrest and terrorist attacks. The Company may be adversely affected by a third-party vendor who operates in a poorly controlled manner or fails to deliver contracted services, which could lower revenues, increase costs, reduce profits, disrupt business, or damage the Company's reputation. 9 GL 2023 FORM 10-K 9 GL 2023 FORM 10-K 9 GL 2023 FORM 10-K Table of Contents Table of Contents **Current (2025):** The Company utilizes third-party vendors, including independent sales agents, to provide certain business services and functions, which exposes the Company to risks outside the control of the Company. The reliance on these third-party vendors creates a number of business risks, such as the risk that the Company may not maintain service quality, control or effective management of the outsourced business operations and that the Company cannot control the data, information systems, facilities or networks of such third-party vendors. We employ controls and procedures designed to facilitate service quality of our third party vendors; however, such controls and procedures cannot be 100% effective in all cases. The Company may be adversely affected by a third-party vendor who 8 GL 2024 FORM 10-K 8 GL 2024 FORM 10-K 8 GL 2024 FORM 10-K Table of Contents Table of Contents operates in a poorly controlled manner or fails to deliver contracted services, which could lower revenues, increase costs, reduce profits, disrupt business, or damage the Company's reputation. Extensive federal and state laws regulate our business, imposing certain requirements that independent sales agents must follow in dealing with clients. Misconduct of our independent sales agents could result in violations of law by, or claims against, us or our subsidiaries. From time to time, we are subject to private litigation as a result of alleged misconduct by independent agents. We employ controls and procedures designed to prevent and detect agent misconduct; however, such controls and procedures cannot be 100% effective in all cases. Instances of misconduct or non-compliance or violations of laws or regulations by our independent sales agents could result in adverse findings in either examinations or litigation and subject us to sanctions, monetary liabilities, restrictions on or loss of the operation of our business or reputational harm, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, the Company is at risk of being unable to meet legal, regulatory, financial or customer obligations if the data, information systems, facilities or networks of a third-party vendor are disrupted, damaged or fail, whether due to physical disruptions, such as fire, natural disaster, pandemic or power outage, or due to cybersecurity incidents, ransomware or other impacts to vendors, including labor strikes, political unrest and terrorist attacks. --- ## Modified: Our businesses are heavily regulated and changes in regulation or regulatory scrutiny may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operation. **Key changes:** - Reworded sentence: "Regulatory agencies have broad administrative power over numerous aspects of our business, including premium rates for our life, Medicare Supplement and other supplement health products, as well as other terms and conditions included in the insurance policies offered by our insurance subsidiaries, marketing practices, advertising, use of emerging technologies, agent licensing, independent agent practices, policy forms, capital adequacy, solvency, reserves and permitted investments." - Added sentence: "Additionally, any violation or alleged violation of law or regulations could result in significant legal costs or in legal proceedings that may result in monetary and legal remedies being imposed against the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations." **Prior (2024):** Insurance companies, including our insurance subsidiaries, are subject to extensive supervision and regulation in the states in which they conduct business. The primary purpose of this supervision and regulation is the protection of policyholders, not investors. Regulatory agencies have broad administrative power over numerous aspects of our business, including premium rates for our life, Medicare Supplement and other supplement health products, as well as other terms and conditions included in the insurance policies offered by our insurance subsidiaries, marketing practices, advertising, agent licensing, policy forms, capital adequacy, solvency, reserves and permitted investments. Also, regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion to grant, renew or revoke licenses or approvals. The insurance laws, regulations and policies currently affecting our companies may change at any time, possibly having an adverse effect on our business. Should regulatory changes occur, we may be unable to maintain all required licenses and approvals, or fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority's interpretation of such laws and regulations. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend some or all of our business activities and/or impose substantial fines. **Current (2025):** Insurance companies, including our insurance subsidiaries, are subject to extensive supervision and regulation in the states in which they conduct business. The primary purpose of this supervision and regulation is the protection of policyholders, not investors. Regulatory agencies have broad administrative power over numerous aspects of our business, including premium rates for our life, Medicare Supplement and other supplement health products, as well as other terms and conditions included in the insurance policies offered by our insurance subsidiaries, marketing practices, advertising, use of emerging technologies, agent licensing, independent agent practices, policy forms, capital adequacy, solvency, reserves and permitted investments. Regulatory authorities also have the power to conduct investigations, and to bring administrative or judicial proceedings against us, which could result in suspension or revocation of our licenses, cease and desist orders, fines, civil penalties, disgorgement, criminal penalties or other disciplinary action that could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operation. Press coverage and other public statements that allege wrongdoing, even if untrue, can lead to increased regulatory inquiries or investigations including any that may arise in connection with the subpoenas from U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania seeking documents related to sales practices by certain of our independent sales agents contracted to sell American Income Life Insurance Company policies. The insurance laws, regulations and policies currently affecting our companies may change at any time, possibly having an adverse effect on our business. Should regulatory changes occur, we may be unable to maintain all required licenses and approvals, or fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority's interpretation of such laws and regulations. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend some or all of our business activities and/or impose substantial fines. Additionally, any violation or alleged violation of law or regulations could result in significant legal costs or in legal proceedings that may result in monetary and legal remedies being imposed against the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. --- *Data sourced from SEC EDGAR. Last updated 2026-05-10.*