Aid Association for Lutherans was chartered for business in 1902, but only after years of effort by dedicated founders Albert Voecks, Gottlieb Ziegler, William Zuehlke and John Grupe. Lutherans throughout much of eastern Wisconsin were canvassed to sign up the 500 members required for the new organization to obtain its state charter.

The founding of Lutheran Brotherhood came as a result of the 1917 merger convention of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. Lifelong Lutherans Jacob Preus, a Minnesota insurance commissioner, and Herman Ekern, a former Wisconsin insurance commissioner, proposed launching a not-for-profit mutual aid society. After much debate, the proposal passed and the society began life as "Luther Union." Three years later, the organization was renamed "Lutheran Brotherhood."

From the beginning, Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) and Lutheran Brotherhood (LB) offered similar products and services. In June 2001, after close consideration of how combining the two organizations would benefit members, AAL and LB agreed to merge. Following the merger came a new operating name approved by members: Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Today, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans continues to embrace the traditions and practices that made both AAL and LB positive, vital resources in the lives of Lutherans, their congregations and their communities across the country.

AAL history

LB history

1899 Albert Voecks, a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Appleton, Wisconsin, launches the idea of starting a Lutheran insurance organization for men belonging to the Synodical Conference. He called on fellow church members Gottlieb Ziegler and William Zuehlke to help. 1902 John Grupe, assisted by Voecks and Ziegler, canvass communities in eastern Wisconsin to gather the needed 500 applicants to charter Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL). AAL is chartered as a fraternal benefit society. 1904 First issue of Der Correspondent, the member magazine of Aid Association for Lutherans, is published. 1904 Women are first offered the opportunity to purchase insurance from Aid Association for Lutherans. 1929 First certificate loan is granted by Aid Association for Lutherans. 1939 Scholarship program for members is started by Aid Association for Lutherans. 1956 Aid Association for Lutherans individual life insurance in force tops $1 billion. 1958 Annuity plans are introduced by Aid Association for Lutherans. 1959 Fraternal Affairs department is formed to support branch activities. 1966 Aid Association for Lutherans expands service to members of all Lutheran congregations. 1971 On Your Doorstep anti-drug education program is launched to communities as the first nationwide branch program of Aid Association for Lutherans. 1982 Aid Association for Lutherans introduces Horizon, its universal life insurance product. 1987 Mutual funds are first offered to members through AAL Capital Management Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aid Association for Lutherans. 2001 AAL Bank and Trust, FSB, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aid Association for Lutherans, opens its doors to the general public. 2001 Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood agree to merge, forming the largest fraternal benefit society in the world.

1917 At the merger convention of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, Jacob Preus, a lifelong Lutheran and insurance commissioner, proposed launching a not-for-profit mutual aid society. Despite some dissension, delegates agree to launch a mutual aid society called "Luther Union." 1920 Luther Union and the Lutheran Brotherhood of America merge to become Lutheran Brotherhood. 1924 The BOND, Lutheran Brotherhood’s magazine for members, is introduced. 1929 The Society signs a multi-year lease for the entire 12th floor of the Metropolitan Bank building in downtown Minneapolis. 1956 Lutheran Brotherhood dedicated a new home office building on the corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. Thousands of people attended the open house for the six-story structure, which was completed for a price tag of $2.5 million. 1958 Lutheran Brotherhood reaches the $1 billion mark of life insurance in force. 1962 Seeking to branch out, Lutheran Brotherhood added health insurance to its portfolio of life products. 1967 In its 50th year, Lutheran Brotherhood’s allocation for fraternal activities passed the $1 million mark for the first time. That dwarfed the $7.5 million that had been set aside in the preceding 49 years. 1970 Lutheran Brotherhood became the first fraternal benefit society to offer mutual funds through its field sales force. 1976 Lutheran Brotherhood researched and selected the heart-shaped logo that would become synonymous with its identity with members nationwide. 1981 To accommodate its growth, Lutheran Brotherhood moved into its new home office at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street in downtown Minneapolis. 1987 Lutheran Brotherhood launched its first variable universal life products. 1989 Lutheran Brotherhood kicked off the first RespecTeen National Youth Forum, in which students from across the country were encouraged to research and write about issues important to them. 1996 For the first time, Lutheran Brotherhood moved onto the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in America. 2001 Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood agree to merge, forming the largest fraternal benefit society in the world.

Conclusion
In the past, Lutherans looked to either Aid Association for Lutherans or Lutheran Brotherhood to help meet their financial needs. Today, nearly 3 million Lutherans in the United States no longer have to choose.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans brings together a combined 185-year history of two fraternal benefit societies and draws upon the experience and rich heritage of each. In short, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now has the resources and tools to make even more of a difference in the lives of members and their families, faith communities and beyond.