Lincoln Financial Earns World’s Most Ethical Companies® Recognition for Fifth Consecutive Year

Key Terms

ethics quotient technical

A company's ethics quotient is an overall measure of how well it behaves responsibly and follows laws and social norms, combining factors like board conduct, transparency, labor and environmental practices, and honesty in reporting. For investors it matters because ethical lapses can damage reputation, trigger fines or boycotts, and raise long‑term risk—think of it like a company’s “ethics credit score” or report card that helps predict potential problems and resilience.

corporate governance technical

Corporate governance is the system of rules, roles and oversight that determines how a company is directed and controlled, including the responsibilities of its board, executives and shareholders. Like the steering wheel and map for a car trip, it shapes decisions, sets checks on power and defines who can hold leaders accountable; strong governance reduces risk, builds trust and helps investors judge whether a company is likely to protect capital and deliver reliable returns.

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risk assessment technical

An evaluation of the possible things that could go wrong with an investment or business and how likely and severe those problems might be, covering factors like market swings, cash shortages, regulatory changes, or operational hiccups. Think of it like checking road conditions and fuel before a trip: it helps investors judge whether the potential reward is worth the chance of trouble, set appropriate prices or reserves, and plan steps to reduce or respond to losses.

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third-party risk management technical

Third-party risk management is the process a company uses to identify, assess, monitor and reduce risks that come from outside vendors, suppliers, contractors or partners who provide goods, services or handle sensitive data. Investors care because weaknesses in these external relationships can cause outages, regulatory fines, extra costs or reputational damage that directly affect revenue and share value — like hiring a contractor for a home project and needing to ensure they won’t cause costly problems or delays.

environmental & social impact technical

Environmental & social impact describes the measurable effects a company’s operations have on the planet (like pollution, resource use, and emissions) and on people (such as worker safety, community relations, and human rights). Investors care because these effects can act like hidden costs or benefits — similar to a car’s fuel efficiency and safety record shaping its resale value — influencing future profits, legal or cleanup expenses, customer demand, and a company’s reputation and access to capital.

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Annual Ethisphere designation highlights companies with deeply embedded cultures of integrity and ethical leadership

RADNOR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lincoln Financial (NYSE: LNC) has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global authority on ethical business practices, as one of the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies^®.

This marks the fifth consecutive year Lincoln has earned this distinction. Ethisphere honored 138 organizations across 17 countries and 40 industries for their commitment to integrity, transparency and ethical leadership.

“Acting with integrity is fundamental to how we operate and how we show up for one another,” said Ellen Cooper, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Lincoln Financial. “Ethical leadership guides our decisions and strengthens the trust we build with customers, partners and communities. This recognition reflects the everyday actions of our employees, who consistently lead with our values.”

The World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere’s proprietary Ethics Quotient^®, which requires companies to provide 240+ documented proof points on practices that support robust ethics and compliance, including: corporate governance; program structure & resourcing; written standards; training, awareness, & communication; risk assessment & auditing; investigations, enforcement, discipline & incentives; measurement of ethical culture; third-party risk management, and environmental & social impact.

That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by our panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year’s group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

“Our reputation is built on integrity, and we are committed to doing the right thing,” said Steve Harris, senior vice president and chief ethics and compliance officer at Lincoln Financial. “This recognition underscores the strength of our ethics and compliance program and the culture our employees help sustain. We believe ethical conduct is not only essential to our values, but also to earning long-term confidence in our brand.”

“Congratulations to Lincoln Financial for achieving recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies^®. As we mark the 20th class of honorees, this group continues to raise the bar for business integrity by embedding ethics into everyday decision-making and long-term strategy. Companies with strong ethics, compliance, and governance programs are built for better long-term performance,” said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere’s Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair.

To view the full list of this year's honorees, please visit the World's Most Ethical Companies website, https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

About Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial helps people confidently plan for their vision of a successful financial future. As of December 31, 2025, approximately 17 million customers trust our guidance and solutions across four core businesses – annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services. As of December 31, 2025, the company had $349 billion in end-of-period account balances, net of reinsurance. Headquartered in Radnor, PA., Lincoln Financial is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC) and its affiliates. Learn more at LincolnFinancial.com.

About Ethisphere

Ethisphere is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that strengthen corporate brands, build trust in the marketplace, and deliver business success. Companies turn ethics, compliance, and culture into a business advantage by leveraging Ethisphere’s data-driven program & culture assessments featuring the latest guidance and the practices of hundreds of global organizations across the 8 pillars of an ethical culture, and 240+ ethics, compliance, social, and governance data points delivered through a proprietary software platform. Ethisphere also honors superior integrity programs through World’s Most Ethical Companies^® recognition, brings together a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and advances ethical business practices through the Global Ethics Summit, Ethisphere Magazine, and the Ethicast podcast. For more information, visit https://ethisphere.com.

“World’s Most Ethical Companies” and “Ethisphere” names and marks are registered trademarks of Ethisphere LLC.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260318316882/en/

Media Contact: media@lfg.com

Source: Lincoln Financial