Final answer:
Life insurance companies make real estate mortgage loans indirectly through financial institutions like finance companies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Life insurance companies usually pay a loan servicing and preparation fee and make real estate mortgage loans indirectly through financial institutions. These financial institutions can be finance companies that specialize in making loans directly to consumers and buying installment contracts from merchants. Examples of such financial institutions include Bank of America Merrill Lynch Dealer Financial Services, Chase Auto Finance, and Ford Motor Credit Company.