After a U.S. soldier dies in combat, the Department of Veterans Affairs sends Prudential the full amount of each family’s life insurance coverage, usually $400,000. The government has paid Prudential $1.7 billion for these benefits since 2003. Prudential holds that taxpayer money, invests it and reaps the gains. "They have what appears to be a nice sweetheart deal with the federal government," says Michael Powers, professor of risk management and insurance at Temple's Fox School of Business.