Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“PFG”) is a leader in global investment management offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance through our diverse family of financial services companies.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PFG and all other entities in which we directly or indirectly have a controlling financial interest as well as those variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which we are the primary beneficiary. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Uncertainties may impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. See “Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements” for additional details. Our estimates and assumptions could change in the future. Our results of operations and financial condition may also be impacted by other uncertainties including evolving regulatory, legislative and standard-setter accounting interpretations and guidance.

On January 1, 2023, we adopted the guidance commonly referred to as long-duration targeted improvements (“LDTI”), which updates certain requirements in the accounting for long-duration insurance and annuity contracts. The guidance was applied as of the January 1, 2021, transition date. As such, results for 2022 and 2021 have been recast and are also presented under the new LDTI guidance.

In the first quarter of 2023 we implemented changes to our organizational structure to better align businesses, distribution teams and product offerings for future growth. We integrated our global asset management and international pension businesses under one segment, Principal Asset Management. Results of our historically reported Principal Global Investors and Principal International segments are reported within this segment. Additionally, we are now reporting results for our Retirement and Income Solutions segment in total and not separated into Fee and Spread components. Finally, we updated the name of our U.S. Insurance Solutions segment to Benefits and Protection and will continue to report the results of Specialty Benefits and Life Insurance within this segment. Our segment results have been modified to reflect these changes, which did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 20, Segment Information, for financial results of our segments.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods relating to the presentation of our loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) liability and the change in that liability to conform to the current presentation. See Note 10, Future Policy Benefits and Claims. The LAE liability was previously reported in other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position and the change in the liability was previously reported in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The LAE liability is now reported in future policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of financial position and the change in the liability is now reported in benefits, claims and settlement expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

During the second quarter of 2022, we closed a coinsurance with funds withheld reinsurance transaction with Talcott Life &Annuity Re, Ltd. (“Talcott Life & Annuity Re”), a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and an affiliate of Talcott Resolution Life, Inc., a subsidiary of Sixth Street, pursuant to which we ceded our in-force U.S. retail fixed annuity and universal life insurance with secondary guarantee (“ULSG”) blocks of business (the “Talcott Reinsurance Transaction”). The economics of the transaction were effective as of January 1, 2022. See Note 12, Reinsurance, for further details.

Consolidation

We have relationships with various special purpose entities and other legal entities that must be evaluated to determine if the entities meet the criteria of a VIE or a voting interest entity (“VOE”). This assessment is performed by reviewing contractual, ownership and other rights, including involvement of related parties, and requires use of judgment. First, we determine if we hold a variable interest in an entity by assessing if we have the right to receive expected losses and expected residual returns of the entity. If we hold a variable interest, then the entity is assessed to determine if it is a VIE. An entity is a VIE if the equity at risk is not sufficient to support its activities, if the equity holders lack a controlling financial interest or if the entity is structured with non-substantive voting rights. In addition to the previous criteria, if the entity is a limited partnership or similar entity, it is a VIE if the limited partners do not have the power to direct the entity’s most significant activities through substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. A VIE is evaluated to determine the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the enterprise with (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. When we are the primary beneficiary, we are required to consolidate the entity in our financial statements. We reassess our involvement with VIEs on a quarterly basis. For further information about VIEs, refer to Note 3, Variable Interest Entities.

If an entity is not a VIE, it is considered a VOE. VOEs are generally consolidated if we own a greater than 50% voting interest. If we determine our involvement in an entity no longer meets the requirements for consolidation under either the VIE or VOE models, the entity is deconsolidated. Entities in which we have management influence over the operating and financing decisions but are not required to consolidate, other than investments accounted for at fair value under the fair value option, are reported using the equity method.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Description	Date of adoption	Effect on our consolidated financial statements or other significant matters
Standards not yet adopted:
Improvements to reportable segments disclosures This authoritative guidance enhances the disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and addresses requests from investors for additional, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses.	January 1, 2025	We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.
Improvements to income tax disclosures This authoritative guidance provides improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information.	January 1, 2025	We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.
Standards adopted:
Targeted improvements to the accounting for long-duration insurance contracts This authoritative guidance updated certain requirements in the accounting for long-duration insurance and annuity contracts. 1. The assumptions used to calculate the liability for future policy benefits on traditional and limited-payment contracts are reviewed and updated periodically. Cash flow assumptions are reviewed at least annually and updated when necessary with the impact recognized in net income. Discount rate assumptions are prescribed as the current upper-medium grade (low credit risk) fixed income instrument yield and are updated quarterly with the impact recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). 2. MRBs, which are contracts or contract features that provide protection to the policyholder from capital market risk and expose us to other-than-nominal capital market risk, are measured at fair value. The periodic change in fair value is recognized in net income with the exception of the periodic change in fair value related to our own nonperformance risk, which is recognized in OCI.	January 1, 2023	We created a governance framework and a plan to support implementation of the standard. Our implementation and evaluation process included, but was not limited to the following: ● identifying and documenting contracts and contract features in scope of the guidance; ● identifying the actuarial models, systems and processes to be updated; ● evaluating and selecting our systems solutions for implementing the new guidance; ● building models and evaluating preliminary output as models were developed; ● evaluating and finalizing our key accounting policies; ● assessing the impact to our chart of accounts; ● developing format and content of new disclosures; ● conducting financial dry runs using model output and updated chart of accounts; ● evaluating transition requirements and impacts and ● establishing and documenting appropriate internal controls. This guidance changed how we account for many of our insurance and annuity products.

Description	Date of adoption	Effect on our consolidated financial statements or other significant matters
3. Deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and other actuarial balances for all insurance and annuity contracts are amortized on a constant basis over the expected term of the related contracts. 4. Additional disclosures are required, including disaggregated rollforwards of significant insurance liabilities and other account balances as well as disclosures about significant inputs, judgments, assumptions and methods used in measurement. The guidance for the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and limited-payment contracts and DAC was applied on a modified retrospective basis; that is, to contracts in force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented (January 1, 2021, also referred to as the transition date) based on their existing carrying amounts. An entity could elect to apply the changes retrospectively. The guidance for market risk benefits was applied retrospectively.		The guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of operations. Further details about transition impacts of the guidance are included under the caption “Adoption of Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Insurance Contracts Guidance.” The additional disclosure requirements can be found in the following notes: ● Note 7, Deferred Acquisition Costs and Other Actuarial Balances ● Note 8, Separate Account Balances ● Note 9, Contractholder Funds ● Note 10, Future Policy Benefits and Claims ● Note 11, Market Risk Benefits
Troubled debt restructurings and vintage disclosures  This authoritative guidance eliminated the accounting requirements for Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”) by creditors and enhanced the disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancing and restructuring by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. The update required entities to disclose current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investments in leases. The amendments in this update were applied prospectively, except for the transition method related to the recognition and measurement of troubled debt restructurings, for which an entity had the option to apply a modified retrospective transition method. Early adoption was permitted.	January 1, 2023	This guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Description	Date of adoption	Effect on our consolidated financial statements or other significant matters
Targeted improvements to accounting for hedging activities – portfolio layer method This authoritative guidance is intended to further align the economics of a company’s risk management activities in its financial statements with hedge accounting requirements. The guidance expanded the current single-layer method to allow multiple hedge layers of a single closed portfolio. Non-prepayable assets can also be included in the same portfolio. This guidance also clarified the current guidance on accounting for fair value basis adjustments applicable to both a single hedged layer and multiple hedged layers. Upon adoption, the application of these hedge strategies was applied prospectively. Early adoption was permitted.	January 1, 2023	This guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Simplifying the accounting for income taxes This authoritative guidance simplified the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions, including exceptions related to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation, calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. Also, the guidance clarified the accounting for franchise taxes, transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill and enacted changes in tax laws or rates. It specifies that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements, although an entity may elect to do so. The guidance was applied based on varying transition methods defined by amendment. Early adoption was permitted.	January 1, 2021	This guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Description	Date of adoption	Effect on our consolidated financial statements or other significant matters
Facilitation of the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting This authoritative guidance provided optional expedients and exceptions for contracts and hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform. An entity could elect not to apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by reference rate reform and instead account for the modified contract as a continuation of the existing contract. Also, an entity could apply optional expedients to continue hedge accounting for hedging relationships in which the critical terms changed due to reference rate reform. This guidance eased the financial reporting impacts of reference rate reform on contracts and hedging relationships and was effective until December 31, 2022. A subsequent amendment issued in December 2022 extended the relief date from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, and was effective upon issuance.	March 12, 2020	We adopted the guidance upon issuance prospectively and elected the applicable optional expedients and exceptions for contracts and hedging relationships impacted by reference rate reform through December 31, 2024. The guidance did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

When we adopt new accounting standards, we have a process in place to perform a thorough review of the pronouncement, identify the financial statement and system impacts and create an implementation plan among our impacted business units to ensure we are compliant with the pronouncement on the date of adoption. This includes having effective processes and controls in place to support the reported amounts. Each of the standards listed above is in varying stages in our implementation process based on its issuance and adoption dates. We are on track to implement guidance by the respective effective dates.

Adoption of Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Insurance Contracts Guidance

As mentioned above, we adopted LDTI on January 1, 2023.

For traditional and limited-payment long-duration contracts, we review and update, if necessary, assumptions used to measure cash flows for the liability for future policy benefits during the third quarter of each year, or more frequently if evidence suggests assumptions should be revised. The change in our liability estimate as a result of updating cash flow assumptions is recognized in net income. Actual cash flows are grouped into issue-year cohorts for the liability calculation and updated quarterly. Cohorts are used as the unit of account for liability measurement. Discount rate assumptions are prescribed as the current upper-medium grade (low-credit-risk) fixed-income instrument yield. The discount rate is updated quarterly at each reporting date with the impact recognized in OCI. The provision for risk of adverse deviation is eliminated, as is premium deficiency, or loss recognition, testing. We also removed unrealized gain (loss) adjustments, previously recorded in AOCI, attributable to the impact of unrealized gains and losses on premium deficiency testing.

Under LDTI, market risk benefits (“MRBs”), which are contracts or contract features that provide protection to the policyholder from capital market risk and expose us to other-than-nominal capital market risk, are measured at fair value. The periodic change in fair value is recognized in net income with the exception of the periodic change in fair value related to our own nonperformance risk, which is recognized in OCI. Certain contract features previously accounted for as an embedded derivative or as an additional liability for annuitization benefits or death or other insurance benefits are recorded as MRBs under LDTI.

LDTI simplified the amortization of DAC and other actuarial balances such as the unearned revenue liability and sales inducement asset for long-duration contracts. These balances were previously amortized in proportion to premiums, estimated gross profits, estimated gross margins or estimated gross revenues; however, these balances are now amortized on a constant level basis over the expected life of the related contracts. Impairment testing is no longer applicable for DAC. We also removed unrealized gain (loss) adjustments, previously recorded in AOCI, as the LDTI amortization is not impacted by investment gains and losses.

LDTI also requires disaggregated rollforwards for the liability for future policy benefits, additional liability for certain benefit features, MRBs, DAC and other actuarial balances required to be amortized on a basis consistent with DAC. Although the accounting for the additional liability for certain benefit features, separate account liabilities and contractholder funds does not change under LDTI, the guidance requires disaggregated rollforwards for those balances. Further, for certain actuarial balances, disclosures are required for the significant inputs, judgments, assumptions and methods used in measurement, including changes in those inputs, judgments and assumptions, and the effect of those changes on measurement.

The LDTI guidance is not prescriptive as to the appropriate level of aggregation for disclosures; however, amounts from different reportable segments cannot be aggregated. Factors to consider in determining the level of aggregation for disclosures include the type of coverage, geography and market or type of customer. We have identified the following levels of aggregation for LDTI disclosures. The disclosures do not include levels of aggregation for insignificant balances.

● Retirement and Income Solutions:

o Workplace savings and retirement solutions – Group annuity contracts offered to the plan sponsors of defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans

o Individual variable annuities – Variable deferred annuities and registered index-linked annuities (“RILAs”) offered to individuals for both qualified and nonqualified retirement savings

o Pension risk transfer – Single premium group annuities offered to pension plan sponsors and other institutions

o Individual fixed deferred annuities – An exited business that offered single premium deferred annuity contracts and flexible premium deferred annuities (“FPDAs”) to individuals for both qualified and nonqualified retirement savings

o Individual fixed income annuities – An exited business that offered single premium immediate annuities (“SPIAs”) and deferred income annuities (“DIAs”) to individuals for both qualified and nonqualified retirement savings; also includes supplementary contracts generated by annuitizations from other individual product lines

o Investment only – Primarily guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) and funding agreements offered to retirement plan sponsors and other institutions

● Principal Asset Management – Principal International

o Latin America:

◾ Individual fixed income annuities – SPIAs offered to individuals

◾ Pension – Certain retirement accumulation products where the segregated funds and associated obligation to the client are consolidated within our financial statements as separate account assets and liabilities and are only in the scope of LDTI disclosures for separate accounts

o Asia:

◾ Guaranteed pension – Pension savings schemes offered to both employers and employees

● Benefits and Protection – Specialty Benefits:

o Individual disability – Disability insurance providing protection to individuals and/or business owners

● Benefits and Protection – Life Insurance:

o Universal life – Universal life, variable universal life and indexed universal life insurance products offered to individuals and/or business owners, which will be collectively referred to hereafter as “universal life” contracts; includes our exited ULSG business

o Term life – Term life insurance products offered to individuals and/or business owners

o Participating life – Participating life insurance contracts offered to individuals, some of which are part of a closed block of business and are only in the scope of LDTI disclosures for DAC

● Corporate:

o Long-term care insurance – A closed block of long-term care insurance that is fully reinsured, which was offered on both a group and individual basis.

For the separate account liability disclosures, our Retirement and Income Solutions segment will use a Group retirement contracts level of aggregation. This consists primarily of separate account liabilities for the workplace savings and retirement solutions business as well as amounts for the investment only and pension risk transfer businesses.

Impact of Adoption

We adopted the guidance for the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and limited-payment contracts and DAC and other actuarial balances on a modified retrospective basis; that is, to contracts in force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented based on their existing carrying amounts. We adopted the guidance for MRBs and cost of reinsurance retrospectively. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2021, within our consolidated financial statements are presented under the new guidance.

A cumulative effect adjustment of $159.9 million was recorded as a decrease to retained earnings and a cumulative effect adjustment of $5,128.0 million was recorded as a decrease to AOCI as of January 1, 2021, as shown below.

							Accumulated other
	Retained earnings						comprehensive income
	Pre-Tax		Tax		After-Tax		Pre-Tax		Tax		After-Tax
	(in millions)
DAC and other actuarial balances:
Adjustment for reversal of unrealized loss from AOCI (1) (2)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	421.5	$	(88.5)	$	333.0
Cost of reinsurance asset (liability):
Cumulative effect of amortization basis change		(9.0)		1.9		(7.1)		—		—		—
Adjustment of unrealized loss in AOCI		—		—		—		16.1		(3.4)		12.7
Reinsurance recoverable:
Adjustment for reversal of unrealized gain from AOCI (2)		—		—		—		(45.5)		9.5		(36.0)
Adjustment under the modified retrospective approach (3)		31.4		(6.6)		24.8		—		—		—
Effect of remeasurement of the recoverable at the current discount rate		—		—		—		201.8		(42.4)		159.4
Liability for future policy benefits:
Adjustment for reversal of unrealized loss from AOCI (2)		—		—		—		1,965.3		(452.2)		1,513.1
Adjustment under the modified retrospective approach (3)		(119.1)		29.8		(89.3)		17.9		(4.8)		13.1
Effect of remeasurement of the liability at the current discount rate		—		—		—		(9,043.1)		2,024.8		(7,018.3)
Market risk benefits:
Cumulative effect of changes in the nonperformance risk between the original contract issue date and the transition date		—		—		—		(4.8)		1.0		(3.8)
Adjustments to the host contract for differences between previous carrying amount and measurement of the MRB		20.9		(4.4)		16.5		—		—		—
Retained earnings adjustment for the valuation of contracts as MRBs (exclusive of nonperformance risk changes)		(258.8)		54.4		(204.4)		—		—		—
Reclassification of nonperformance risk changes between retained earnings and AOCI (4)		108.4		(22.5)		85.9		(108.4)		22.5		(85.9)
Investment in equity method subsidiary impacted by LDTI (5)		22.8		(9.1)		13.7		(25.5)		10.2		(15.3)
Total impact on opening balance as of January 1, 2021	$	(203.4)	$	43.5	$	(159.9)	$	(6,604.7)	$	1,476.7	$	(5,128.0)

(1) Includes the impact for DAC, sales inducement asset and the unearned revenue liability. We have not included the disaggregated rollforwards for the sales inducement asset within the footnote disclosures due to immateriality.

(2) Prior period unrealized gain (loss) adjustments in AOCI were reversed as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI upon the adoption of LDTI.

(3) The impact of loss cohorts, those with net premiums in excess of gross premiums, and cohorts with negative reserves, was reflected as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings upon adoption of LDTI. The foreign currency translation related to the liability for future policy benefits was reflected as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI.

(4) The cumulative effect of changes in the nonperformance risk between the original contract issue date and the transition date for contract features previously accounted for as an embedded derivative was recorded as a reclassification from retained earnings to AOCI.

(5) Reflects the impact from our equity method investment in Brasilprev Seguros e Previdencia, which had transition impacts for the liability for future policy benefits and the additional liability for certain benefit features.

The table below reflects the increase (decrease) to the impacted line items in the consolidated statements of financial position related to the cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2021.

	Increase (decrease)
	(in millions)
Assets
Other investments (1)	$	(1.6)
Reinsurance recoverable and deposit receivable		187.7
Premiums due and other receivables (2)		(24.4)
Deferred acquisition costs		450.9
Market risk benefit asset (3)		18.9
Other assets (4)		19.3
Total assets	$	650.8
Liabilities
Contractholder funds (5)	$	(397.9)
Future policy benefits and claims (6)		7,143.4
Market risk benefit liability (3)		663.5
Other policyholder funds (7)		48.8
Deferred income taxes		(1,519.1)
Total liabilities		5,938.7
Stockholders’ equity
Retained earnings		(159.9)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		(5,128.0)
Total stockholders’ equity		(5,287.9)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	650.8

(1) Reflects the impact on our investment in Brasilprev Seguros e Previdencia, which is accounted for using the equity method.

(2) Includes the impact on the cost of reinsurance asset.

(3) This is a new line item on the consolidated statements of financial position as a result of implementing LDTI. These contract features were previously recorded as embedded derivatives within contractholder funds or additional liabilities for certain benefit features within future policy benefits and claims on the consolidated statements of financial position.

(4) Reflects the impact on the sales inducement asset.

(5) Reflects the impact of contract features previously recorded as embedded derivatives that are recorded as MRBs under LDTI.

(6) Includes the impact on the liability for future policy benefits and cost of reinsurance liability. Also includes the impact on contract features classified as additional liabilities for certain benefit features that are recorded as MRBs under LDTI.

(7) Reflects the impact on the unearned revenue liability.

The disaggregated rollforwards below reconcile the ending asset or liability balances as of December 31, 2020, to the opening balance as of January 1, 2021, which is the earliest period presented within the consolidated financial statements, for those balances impacted by LDTI with associated disaggregated disclosure requirements. The level of aggregation presented within the rollforwards is consistent with the disaggregated rollforwards required by the guidance. The balances as of December 31, 2020, shown in the rollforwards below, do not equal amounts reported on the consolidated statements of financial position as they do not include balances for short-duration contracts, insignificant balances not included in our levels of aggregation for disclosures and other amounts not within the scope of the disaggregated rollforwards.

Deferred Acquisition Costs

			Adjustment
			for reversal of
	Balance as of		unrealized loss		Balance as of
	December 31, 2020		from AOCI (1)		January 1, 2021 (2)
	(in millions)
Retirement and Income Solutions:
Workplace savings and retirement solutions	$	424.6	$	52.6	$	477.2
Individual variable annuities		281.7		0.2		281.9
Pension risk transfer (3)		—		—		—
Individual fixed deferred annuities		11.5		181.2		192.7
Investment only		12.6		—		12.6
Total Retirement and Income Solutions		730.4		234.0		964.4
Benefits and Protection:
Specialty Benefits:
Individual disability		529.8		—		529.8
Life Insurance:
Universal life		1,443.0		165.3		1,608.3
Term life		607.9		—		607.9
Participating life		60.3		51.6		111.9
Total Benefits and Protection		2,641.0		216.9		2,857.9
Total	$	3,371.4	$	450.9	$	3,822.3

(1) Prior period adjustments in AOCI were reversed as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI upon the adoption of LDTI.

(2) Does not include DAC for short-duration contracts or insignificant balances for long-duration contracts not included in our levels of aggregation for disclosures. Refer to Note 7, Deferred Acquisition Costs and Other Actuarial Balances, for further information on DAC.

(3) This product began recording DAC upon implementing LDTI.

The balances and changes in DAC for 2021 for each level of aggregation were as follows:

Retirement and Income Solutions

	For the year ended December 31, 2021
	Workplace
	savings and		Individual		Pension		Individual
	retirement		variable		risk		fixed deferred		Investment
	solutions		annuities		transfer (1)		annuities		only
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	477.2	$	281.9	$	—	$	192.7	$	12.6
Costs deferred		50.1		26.4		2.7		7.6		9.1
Amortized to expense		(38.3)		(27.1)		—		(38.1)		(3.6)
Balance at end of period	$	489.0	$	281.2	$	2.7	$	162.2	$	18.1

(1) Amortization during 2021 was nominal.

Benefits and Protection

	For the year ended December 31, 2021
	Specialty
	Benefits		Life Insurance
	Individual
	disability		Universal life		Term life		Participating life
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	529.8	$	1,608.3	$	607.9	$	111.9
Costs deferred		89.8		84.3		126.5		1.9
Amortized to expense		(38.9)		(96.4)		(55.5)		(11.5)
Balance at end of period	$	580.7	$	1,596.2	$	678.9	$	102.3

Unearned Revenue Liability

			Adjustment
			for reversal of
	Balance as of		unrealized gain		Balance as of
	December 31, 2020		from AOCI (1)		January 1, 2021 (2)
	(in millions)
Benefits and Protection - Life Insurance:
Universal life	$	335.6	$	48.8	$	384.4
Total	$	335.6	$	48.8	$	384.4

(1) Prior period adjustments in AOCI were reversed as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI upon the adoption of LDTI.

(2) Reported within other policyholder funds in the consolidated statements of financial position. Refer to Note 7, Deferred Acquisition Costs and Other Actuarial Balances, for further information on the unearned revenue liability.

Benefits and Protection

The balances and changes in the unearned revenue liability for 2021 for Life Insurance – Universal life were as follows:

	For the year ended
	December 31, 2021
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	384.4
Deferrals		66.1
Revenue recognized		(25.2)
Balance at end of period	$	425.3

Liability for Future Policy Benefits

							Effect of
					Adjustment		remeasurement
			Adjustment		under the		of the liability
	Balance as of		for reversal of		modified		at the current		Balance as of
	December 31,		unrealized loss		retrospective		discount		January 1,
	2020		from AOCI (1)		approach (2)		rate (3)		2021 (4)
	(in millions)
Retirement and Income Solutions:
Pension risk transfer	$	21,982.8	$	(947.0)	$	—	$	4,827.9	$	25,863.7
Individual fixed income annuities		6,147.2		(215.0)		0.1		1,213.5		7,145.8
Total Retirement and Income Solutions		28,130.0		(1,162.0)		0.1		6,041.4		33,009.5
Principal Asset Management – Principal International:
Latin America:
Individual fixed income annuities		5,038.4		(634.6)		61.7		2,096.0		6,561.5
Benefits and Protection:
Specialty Benefits:
Individual disability		2,173.8		(168.7)		2.4		493.4		2,500.9
Life Insurance:
Term life		834.5		—		7.0		318.8		1,160.3
Total Benefits and Protection		3,008.3		(168.7)		9.4		812.2		3,661.2
Corporate:
Long-term care insurance		134.1		—		30.0		93.5		257.6
Total	$	36,310.8	$	(1,965.3)	$	101.2	$	9,043.1	$	43,489.8

(1) Prior period adjustments in AOCI related to premium deficiency testing were reversed as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI upon the adoption of LDTI.

(2) As a result of updating cash flow assumptions and measuring the liability for future policy benefits at the issue-year cohort level, the impact of loss cohorts, those with net premiums in excess of gross premiums, and cohorts with negative reserves, was reflected as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings upon adoption of LDTI.

(3) The remeasurement of the liability at the current upper-medium grade fixed-income instrument yield, which was generally lower than the locked-in interest accretion rate, was reflected as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI upon the adoption of LDTI.

(4) Reported within future policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of financial position. Refer to Note 10, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, for further information on the liability for future policy benefits.

The balances and changes in the liability for future policy benefits for 2021 for each level of aggregation were as follows:

Retirement and Income Solutions and Principal Asset Management – Principal International

	For the year ended December 31, 2021
					Principal
					Asset
					Management –
	Retirement and Income				Principal
	Solutions				International
					Latin America
	Pension		Individual		Individual
	risk		fixed income		fixed income
	transfer		annuities		annuities
	(in millions)
Present value of expected future policy benefit payments
Balance at beginning of period	$	25,863.7	$	7,145.8	$	6,561.5
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions at beginning of period		(4,827.9)		(1,213.5)		(2,096.0)
Balance at beginning of period at original discount rate		21,035.8		5,932.3		4,465.5
Effect of actual variances from expected experience		(2.4)		(1.3)		(4.9)
Adjusted beginning of period balance at original discount rate		21,033.4		5,931.0		4,460.6
Interest accrual		916.7		240.5		444.3
Benefit payments		(1,772.5)		(532.0)		(436.0)
Issuances		1,801.7		82.9		141.3
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		—		(751.9)
Balance at end of period at original discount rate		21,979.3		5,722.4		3,858.3
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions at end of period		3,386.5		812.6		478.5
Future policy benefits	$	25,365.8	$	6,535.0	$	4,336.8

Benefits and Protection and Corporate

	For the year ended December 31, 2021
	Benefits and Protection				Corporate
	Specialty		Life
	Benefits		Insurance
	Individual				Long-term
	disability		Term life		care insurance
	(in millions)
Present value of expected net premiums
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,148.3	$	3,799.0	$	66.7
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions at beginning of period		(340.7)		(861.1)		(17.6)
Balance at beginning of period at original discount rate		2,807.6		2,937.9		49.1
Effect of changes in cash flow assumptions		—		—		2.8
Effect of actual variances from expected experience		122.0		211.4		(0.8)
Adjusted beginning of period balance at original discount rate		2,929.6		3,149.3		51.1
Interest accrual		95.4		151.1		2.9
Net premiums collected		(280.4)		(315.0)		(5.2)
Issuances		206.4		518.2		—
Balance at end of period at original discount rate		2,951.0		3,503.6		48.8
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions at end of period		198.9		690.1		14.0
Balance at end of period	$	3,149.9	$	4,193.7	$	62.8
Present value of expected future policy benefit payments
Balance at beginning of period	$	5,649.2	$	4,959.3	$	324.3
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions at beginning of period		(834.1)		(1,179.9)		(111.1)
Balance at beginning of period at original discount rate		4,815.1		3,779.4		213.2
Effect of changes in cash flow assumptions		—		—		0.5
Effect of actual variances from expected experience		118.8		216.0		(4.6)
Adjusted beginning of period balance at original discount rate		4,933.9		3,995.4		209.1
Interest accrual		181.0		194.3		12.4
Benefit payments		(179.7)		(335.7)		(13.5)
Issuances		212.1		543.4		—
Balance at end of period at original discount rate		5,147.3		4,397.4		208.0
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions at end of period		501.0		913.9		89.5
Balance at end of period	$	5,648.3	$	5,311.3	$	297.5
Future policy benefits (1)	$	2,498.4	$	1,117.6	$	234.7
Reinsurance impact		(549.9)		(0.1)		(234.7)
Future policy benefits after reinsurance	$	1,948.5	$	1,117.5	$	—

(1) Represents the present value of expected future policy benefit payments less the present value of expected net premiums.

Additional Liability for Certain Benefit Features

Benefits and Protection

The balances and changes in the additional liability for certain benefits features for 2021 for Life Insurance – Universal life were as follows:

	For the year ended,
	December 31, 2021
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,463.9
Effect of changes in cash flow assumptions		(11.1)
Effect of actual variances from expected experience		18.1
Interest accrual		158.3
Net assessments collected		324.7
Benefit payments		(83.1)
Other (1)		(56.6)
Balance at end of period	$	3,814.2

(1) Reflects model refinements accounted for as a change in accounting estimate.

Market Risk Benefits

			Cumulative
			effect of
			changes in the		Retained earnings
			nonperformance		adjustment
			risk between the		for the valuation of
			original contract		contracts as MRBs
	Asset (liability)		issue date and		(exclusive of		Asset (liability)
	balance as of		the transition		nonperformance		balance as of
	December 31, 2020 (1)		date (2)		risk changes) (3)		January 1, 2021 (4)
	(in millions)
Retirement and Income Solutions:
Individual variable annuities	$	(348.6)	$	(4.8)	$	(237.9)	$	(591.3)
Principal Asset Management – Principal International:
Asia:
Guaranteed pension (5)		(53.3)		—		—		(53.3)
Total	$	(401.9)	$	(4.8)	$	(237.9)	$	(644.6)

(1) The balance as of December 31, 2020, for MRBs represents the contract features that meet the definition of an MRB under LDTI and the related carrying amount of those features prior to adoption. These contract features were previously accounted for as an embedded derivative, or as an additional liability for annuitization benefits or death or other insurance benefits.

(2) The cumulative effect of the change in our own nonperformance risk between the original contract issuance date and the transition date of LDTI for contract features previously accounted for as an additional liability for certain benefit features was recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of AOCI.

(3) The cumulative difference, exclusive of the nonperformance risk change, between the pre-adoption carrying amount and the fair value measurement for MRBs was recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.  

(4) Refer to Note 11, Market Risk Benefits, for further information on MRBs. The cumulative effect of changes in the nonperformance risk between the original contract issue date and the transition date for contract features previously accounted for as an embedded derivative was recorded as a reclassification from retained earnings to AOCI.

(5) This product had nominal transition adjustments.

The balances and changes in MRBs for 2021 for each level of aggregation were as follows:

	For the year ended December 31, 2021
	Retirement and Income		Principal Asset Management –
	Solutions		Principal International
			Asia
	Individual variable annuities		Guaranteed pension
	(in millions)
Balance at beginning of period	$	(591.3)	$	(53.3)
Effect of changes in nonperformance risk at beginning of period		106.7		6.5
Adjusted balance at beginning of period		(484.6)		(46.8)
Effect of:
Interest accrual and expected policyholder behavior		(120.7)		(5.3)
Benefit payments		0.4		5.7
Changes in interest rates		154.3		7.6
Changes in equity markets		106.4		1.4
Changes in equity index volatility		15.1		—
Actual policyholder behavior different from expected behavior		2.3		3.6
Changes in future expected policyholder behavior		(96.6)		0.5
Changes in other future expected assumptions		38.2		2.3
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		0.2
Adjusted balance at end of period		(385.2)		(30.8)
Effect of changes in nonperformance risk at end of period		(109.5)		(4.3)
Balance at end of period	$	(494.7)	$	(35.1)

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed. These estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes known, which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The most critical estimates include those used in determining:

● the fair value of investments in the absence of quoted market values;

● investment impairments and valuation allowances;

● the fair value of derivatives;

● the fair value of MRBs;

● the measurement of goodwill, indefinite lived intangible assets, finite lived intangible assets and related impairments or amortization, if any;

● the liability for future policy benefits and claims, including the deferred profit liability;

● the value of our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and

● accounting for income taxes and the valuation of deferred tax assets.

A description of such critical estimates is incorporated within the discussion of the related accounting policies that follow. In applying these policies, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Closed Block

Principal Life Insurance Company (“Principal Life”) operates a closed block (“Closed Block”) for the benefit of individual participating dividend-paying policies in force at the time of the 1998 mutual insurance holding company (“MIHC”) formation. See Note 6, Closed Block, for further details.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, money market instruments and other debt issues with a maturity date of three months or less when purchased.

Investments

Fixed maturities include bonds, asset-backed securities (“ABS”), redeemable preferred stock and certain non-redeemable preferred securities. Equity securities include mutual funds, common stock, non-redeemable preferred stock and required regulatory investments. We classify fixed maturities as either available-for-sale or trading at the time of the purchase and, accordingly, carry them at fair value. Equity securities are also carried at fair value. See Note 18, Fair Value Measurements, for methodologies related to the determination of fair value. Unrealized gains and losses related to fixed maturities, available-for-sale, excluding those in fair value hedging relationships, are reflected in stockholders’ equity, net of adjustments associated with related actuarial balances, derivatives in cash flow hedge relationships and applicable income taxes. Mark-to-market adjustments on certain equity securities and mark-to-market adjustments on certain fixed maturities, trading are reflected in net realized capital gains (losses). Mark-to-market adjustments on certain fixed maturities, trading are reflected in market risk benefit remeasurement (gain) loss. Unrealized gains and losses related to hedged portions of fixed maturities, available-for-sale in fair value hedging relationships are reflected in net investment income. Mark-to-market adjustments related to certain securities carried at fair value with an investment objective to realize economic value through mark-to-market changes are reflected in net investment income.

The amortized cost of fixed maturities includes cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and discounts, computed using the interest method. The amortized cost of fixed maturities, available-for-sale is adjusted for changes in fair value of the hedged portions of securities in fair value hedging relationships and excludes accrued interest receivable. Accrued interest receivable is reported in accrued investment income on the consolidated statements of financial position. Fixed maturities, available-for-sale are subject to an allowance for credit loss and changes in the allowance are reported in net income as a component of net realized capital gains (losses). Interest income, as well as prepayment fees and the amortization of the related premium or discount, is reported in net investment income. For loan-backed and structured securities, we recognize income using a constant effective yield based on currently anticipated cash flows.

Commercial and residential mortgage loans are generally reported at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accrual of discounts, computed using the interest method and net of valuation allowances. Amortized cost excludes accrued interest receivable. Interest income is accrued on the principal amount of the loan based on the loan’s contractual interest rate. Interest income, as well as prepayment of fees and the amortization of the related premium or discount, is reported in net investment income on the consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest receivable is reported in accrued investment income on the consolidated statements of financial position. Any changes in the loan valuation allowances are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 4, Investments, for further details of our valuation allowance.

Our commercial and residential mortgage loan portfolios can include loans that have been modified. We assess loan modifications on a case-by-case basis to evaluate whether a TDR has occurred. In response to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which was subsequently amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, (collectively the “CARES Act”) provides a temporary suspension of TDR accounting for certain COVID-19 related loan modifications where the loan was not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019. We elected the TDR relief in the CARES Act beginning in the second quarter of 2020. The CARES Act TDR relief does not apply to modifications completed subsequent to the earlier of 60 days after the national emergency related to COVID-19 ends, or January 1, 2022. In addition, the Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (As Revised on April 7, 2020) (“Interagency Statement”) provides additional guidance to determine if a short-term COVID-19 related loan modification is a TDR. We consider the CARES Act and the Interagency Statement when assessing loan modifications to determine whether a TDR has occurred. As of January 1, 2022, the TDR relief ended. See Note 4, Investments, under the caption “Mortgage Loan Modifications” for further details.

Real estate investments are reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. The initial cost bases of properties acquired through loan foreclosures are the lower of the fair market values of the properties at the time of foreclosure or the outstanding loan balance. Buildings and land improvements are generally depreciated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of improvements and tenant improvement costs are depreciated on the straight-line method over the term of the related lease. We recognize impairment losses for properties when indicators of impairment are present and a property’s expected undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the property’s carrying value. In such cases, the cost basis of the property is reduced to fair value. Real estate expected to be disposed is carried at the lower of cost or fair value, less cost to sell, with valuation allowances established accordingly and depreciation no longer recognized. The carrying amount of real estate held for sale was $230.6 million and $240.6 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Any impairment losses and any changes in valuation allowances are reported in net income.

Net realized capital gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the basis of specific identification. In general, in addition to realized capital gains and losses on investment sales and periodic settlements on derivatives not designated as hedges, we report gains and losses related to the following in net realized capital gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations: mark-to-market adjustments on certain equity securities, mark-to-market adjustments on certain fixed maturities, trading, mark-to-market adjustments on sponsored investment funds, mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives not designated as hedges, cash flow hedge gains (losses) when the hedged item impacts realized capital gains (losses), changes in the valuation allowance for fixed maturities, available-for-sale and certain financing receivables, impairments of real estate held for investment and impairments of equity method investments. Investment gains and losses on sales of certain real estate held for sale due to investment strategy and mark-to-market adjustments on certain securities carried at fair value with an investment objective to realize economic value through mark-to-market changes are reported as net investment income and are excluded from net realized capital gains (losses).

Policy loans and certain other investments are reported at cost. Interests in unconsolidated entities, joint ventures and partnerships are generally accounted for using the equity method. We had certain real estate ventures for which the fair value option had been elected in prior periods. See Note 18, Fair Value Measurements, for detail on these investments.

Derivatives

Overview

Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices or the values of securities. Derivatives generally used by us include swaps, options, futures and forwards. Derivative positions are either assets or liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position and are measured at fair value, generally by obtaining quoted market prices or through the use of pricing models. See Note 18, Fair Value Measurements, for policies related to the determination of fair value. Fair values can be affected by changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, values of securities, credit spreads, and market volatility and liquidity.

Accounting and Financial Statement Presentation

We designate derivatives as either:

(a) a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment, including those denominated in a foreign currency (“fair value hedge”);

(b) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the exposure to variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability, including those denominated in a foreign currency (“cash flow hedge”);

(c) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation or

(d) a derivative not designated as a hedging instrument.

Our accounting for the ongoing changes in fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and the designation, as described above, and is determined when the derivative contract is entered into or at the time of redesignation. Hedge accounting is used for derivatives that are specifically designated in advance as hedges and that reduce our exposure to an indicated risk by having a high correlation between changes in the value of the derivatives and the items being hedged at both the inception of the hedge and throughout the hedge period. Cash flows associated with derivatives are included within operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, with the exception of cash paid for certain options with deferred premiums. Those derivatives are included in payments for financing element derivatives within financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Fair Value Hedges. When a derivative is designated as a fair value hedge and is determined to be highly effective, changes in its fair value, along with changes in the fair value of the hedged asset, liability or firm commitment attributable to the hedged risk, are reported in the same consolidated statements of operations line item that is used to report the earnings effect of the hedged item. For fair value hedges of fixed maturities, available-for-sale, these changes in fair value are reported in net investment income or net realized capital gains (losses). For fair value hedges of liabilities, changes in fair value are reported in cost of interest credited. The change in the fair value of excluded components is recorded in OCI and is recognized in net income through periodic settlements. A fair value hedge determined to be highly effective may still result in a mismatch between the change in the fair value of the hedging instrument and the change in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. Certain fair value hedges use the portfolio layer method to hedge a designated layer amount within a closed portfolio of prepayable assets that is expected to remain outstanding for the length of the hedging relationship and is not expected to be impacted by prepayments, defaults or other factors that affect the timing and amount of cash flows. Prepayment risk is excluded when measuring the change in fair value attributable to the hedged risk under the portfolio layer method.

Cash Flow Hedges. When a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge and is determined to be highly effective, changes in its fair value are recorded as a component of OCI. At the time the variability of cash flows being hedged impacts net income, the related portion of deferred gains or losses on the derivative instrument is reclassified and reported in net income.

Net Investment in a Foreign Operation Hedge. When a derivative is used as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation, its change in fair value, to the extent effective as a hedge, is recorded as a component of OCI. If the foreign operation is sold or upon complete or substantially complete liquidation, the deferred gains or losses on the derivative instrument are reclassified into net income.

Non-Hedge Derivatives. If a derivative does not qualify or is not designated for hedge accounting, all changes in fair value are reported in net income without considering the changes in the fair value of the economically associated assets or liabilities.

Hedge Documentation and Effectiveness Testing. At inception, we formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes associating all derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedges with specific assets or liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial position or with specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. Documentation of fair value hedges that use the portfolio layer method supports the expectation that the hedged layer amount is anticipated to be outstanding at the end of the hedging relationship and includes expectations of prepayments, defaults or other factors that affect the timing and amount of cash flows. Effectiveness of the hedge is formally assessed at inception and throughout the life of the hedging relationship. Even if a hedge is determined to be highly effective, the hedge may still result in a mismatch between the change in the fair value of the hedging instrument and the change in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk.

We use qualitative and quantitative methods to assess hedge effectiveness. Qualitative methods may include monitoring changes to terms and conditions and counterparty credit ratings. Quantitative methods may include statistical tests including regression analysis and minimum variance and dollar offset techniques. For portfolio layer method hedges, the assessment of hedge effectiveness includes confirming we expect the hedged layer amount to be outstanding at the end of the hedging relationship.

Termination of Hedge Accounting. We prospectively discontinue hedge accounting when (1) the criteria to qualify for hedge accounting is no longer met, e.g., a derivative is determined to no longer be highly effective in offsetting the change in fair value or cash flows of a hedged item; (2) the derivative expires, is sold, terminated or exercised or (3) we remove the designation of the derivative being the hedging instrument for a fair value or cash flow hedge.

If it is determined that a derivative no longer qualifies as an effective hedge, the derivative will continue to be carried on the consolidated statements of financial position at its fair value, with changes in fair value recognized prospectively in net realized capital gains (losses). The asset or liability under a fair value hedge will no longer be adjusted for changes in fair value pursuant to hedging rules and the existing basis adjustment is amortized to the consolidated statements of operations line associated with the asset or liability. If a portfolio layer method hedging relationship is discontinued, the outstanding basis adjustment is allocated to the individual assets in the closed portfolio and those amounts are amortized consistent with the amortization of other discounts or premiums associated with those assets.

The component of AOCI related to discontinued cash flow hedges that are no longer highly effective is amortized to the consolidated statements of operations consistent with the net income impacts of the original hedged cash flows. If a cash flow hedge is discontinued because it is probable the hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, the deferred gain or loss is immediately reclassified from AOCI into net income.

Embedded Derivatives. We purchase and issue certain financial instruments and products that contain a derivative that is embedded in the financial instrument or product. We assess whether this embedded derivative is clearly and closely related to the asset or liability that serves as its host contract. If we deem that the embedded derivative’s terms are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, and a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the derivative is bifurcated from that contract and held at fair value on the consolidated statements of financial position, with changes in fair value reported in net income.

Contractholder and Policyholder Liabilities

Contractholder and policyholder liabilities (contractholder funds, future policy benefits and claims, MRBs and other policyholder funds) include reserves for investment contracts, individual and group annuities that provide periodic income payments, universal life insurance, variable universal life insurance, indexed universal life insurance, term life insurance, participating traditional individual life insurance, group dental and vision insurance, group critical illness, group accident, group hospital indemnity, paid family and medical leave (“PFML”), group short-term and long-term disability insurance, group life insurance, individual disability insurance and long-term care insurance. It also includes a provision for dividends on participating policies.

Investment contracts are contractholders’ funds on deposit with us and generally include reserves for pension and annuity contracts. Reserves on investment contracts are equal to the cumulative deposits less any applicable charges and withdrawals plus credited interest. Reserves for universal life, variable universal life and indexed universal life insurance contracts are equal to cumulative deposits less charges plus credited interest, which represents the account balances that accrue to the benefit of the policyholders. See Note 9, Contractholder Funds, for additional details.

We hold additional reserves on certain long-duration contracts where benefit features result in gains in early years followed by losses in later years and universal life, variable universal life and indexed universal life insurance contracts that contain no lapse guarantee features.

Refer to Note 10, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, under the caption “Long-Duration Contracts” for information about the calculation of reserves for long-duration insurance and annuity contracts.

Contracts or contract features that provide protection to the policyholder from capital market risk and expose us to other than nominal capital market risk are classified as MRBs and reported at fair value. See Note 11, Market Risk Benefits, for additional details.

Reserves for participating life insurance contracts are based on the net level premium reserve for death and endowment policy benefits. This net level premium reserve is calculated based on dividend fund interest rates and mortality rates guaranteed in calculating the cash surrender values described in the contract.

Participating business represented approximately 3%, 3% and 4% of our life insurance in force and 16%, 17% and 18% of the number of life insurance policies in force as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Participating business represented approximately 16%, 17% and 22% of life insurance premiums for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The amount of dividends to policyholders is declared annually by Principal Life’s Board of Directors. The amount of dividends to be paid to policyholders is determined after consideration of several factors including interest, mortality, morbidity and other expense experience for the year and judgment as to the appropriate level of statutory surplus to be retained by Principal Life. At the end of the reporting period, Principal Life establishes a dividend liability for the pro rata portion of the dividends expected to be paid on or before the next policy anniversary date.

Some of our policies and contracts require payment of fees or other policyholder assessments in advance for services that will be rendered over the estimated lives of the policies and contracts. See Note 7, Deferred Acquisition Costs and Other Actuarial Balances, under the caption “Unearned Revenue Liability” for additional details.

Short-Duration Contracts

We include the following group products in our short-duration insurance contracts disclosures: long-term disability (“LTD”), group life waiver, dental, vision, short-term disability (“STD”), critical illness, accident, PFML, hospital indemnity and group life. Refer to Note 10, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, under the caption “Short-Duration Contracts” for additional details.

Liability for Unpaid Claims

The liability for unpaid claims for both long-duration and short-duration contracts is an estimate of the ultimate net cost of reported and unreported losses not yet settled. This liability is estimated using actuarial analyses and case basis evaluations. Although considerable variability is inherent in such estimates, we believe the liability for unpaid claims is adequate. These estimates are continually reviewed and, as adjustments to this liability become necessary, such adjustments are reflected in net income.

We incur claim adjustment expenses for both long-duration and short-duration contracts that cannot be allocated to a specific claim. Our claim adjustment expense liability is estimated using actuarial analyses based on historical trends of expenses and expected claim runout patterns.  

See Note 10, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, under the caption “Liability for Unpaid Claims” for further details.

Recognition of Premiums and Other Considerations, Fees and Other Revenues and Benefits

Products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and benefits consist principally of whole life and term life insurance policies and individual disability income. Premiums from these products are recognized as premium revenue when due. Related policy benefits and expenses for individual life products are associated with earned premiums and result in the recognition of profits over the expected term of the policies and contracts.

Immediate annuities with life contingencies include products with fixed and guaranteed annuity considerations and benefits and consist principally of group and individual single premium annuities with life contingencies. Annuity considerations from these products are recognized as premium revenue. However, the collection of these annuity considerations does not represent the completion of the earnings process, as we establish annuity reserves using estimates for mortality and interest assumptions. We anticipate profits to emerge over the life of the annuity products as we earn investment income, pay benefits and release reserves. Any gross premium received in excess of the net premium is recognized as a deferred profit liability and amortized in relation to the expected future benefit payments. See Note 10, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, for additional details.

Group life, dental, vision, critical illness, accident, PFML, hospital indemnity and disability premiums are generally recorded as premium revenue over the term of the coverage. Certain group contracts contain experience premium refund provisions based on a pre-defined formula that reflects their claim experience. Experience premium refunds reduce revenue over the term of the coverage and are adjusted to reflect current experience. Related policy benefits and expenses are associated with earned premiums and result in the recognition of profits over the term of the policies and contracts. Fees for contracts providing claim processing or other administrative services are recorded as revenue over the period the service is provided.

Universal life-type policies are insurance contracts with terms that are not fixed. Amounts received as payments for such contracts are not reported as premium revenues. Revenues for universal life-type insurance contracts consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, policy initiation and administration, surrender charges and other fees that have been assessed against policy account values and investment income. Policy benefits and claims that are charged to expense include interest credited to contracts and benefit claims incurred in the period in excess of related policy account balances.

Investment contracts do not subject us to significant risks arising from policyholder mortality or morbidity and consist primarily of guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”), funding agreements and certain deferred annuities. Amounts received as payments for investment contracts are established as investment contract liability balances and are not reported as premium revenues. Revenues for investment contracts consist of investment income and policy administration charges. Investment contract benefits that are charged to expense include benefit claims incurred in the period in excess of related investment contract liability balances and interest credited to investment contract liability balances.

Fees and other revenues are earned for asset management, investment advisory and distribution services provided to retail and institutional clients based largely upon contractual rates applied to the specified amounts in the clients’ portfolios, which include various platforms such as mutual funds, collective investment trusts and business trusts. Additionally, fees and other revenues are earned for administrative services performed including recordkeeping, trust and custody and reporting services for retirement savings plans, insurance companies, endowments and other financial institutions and other products. Fees and other revenues received for performance of asset management and administrative services are recognized as revenue when earned, typically when the service is performed.

Fees for managing customers’ mandatory retirement savings accounts in Chile are collected with each monthly deposit made by our customers. If a customer stops contributing before retirement age, we collect no fees but services are still provided. We recognize revenue from these long-term service contracts as services are performed over the life of the contract. 

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Refer to Note 7, Deferred Acquisition Costs and Other Actuarial Balances, for information related to DAC on insurance policies and investment contracts. Commissions and other incremental direct costs for the acquisition of long-term service contracts are also capitalized to the extent recoverable.

Internal Replacement Transactions

All insurance and investment contract modifications and replacements are reviewed to determine if the internal replacement results in a substantially changed contract. If so, the acquisition costs, sales inducements and unearned revenue associated with the new contract are deferred and amortized over the lifetime of the new contract. In addition, the existing DAC, sales inducement costs and unearned revenue balances associated with the replaced contract are written off. If an internal replacement results in a substantially unchanged contract, the acquisition costs, sales inducements and unearned revenue associated with the new contract are immediately recognized in the period incurred. In addition, the existing DAC, sales inducement costs or unearned revenue balance associated with the replaced contract is not written off, but instead is carried over to the new contract.

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt includes notes payable, nonrecourse mortgages and other debt with a maturity date greater than one year at the date of issuance. Current maturities of long-term debt are classified as long-term debt in our consolidated statements of financial position. Long-term debt is primarily recorded at the unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized discount, premium and issuance costs.

Reinsurance

We enter into reinsurance agreements with other companies in the normal course of business in order to limit losses and minimize exposure to significant risks.

We evaluate each insurance agreement to determine whether the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability related to insurance risk. For agreements that expose the reinsurer to reasonable possibility of significant loss from insurance risk, the reinsurance method of accounting is used for the agreement. Assets and liabilities related to reinsurance ceded are reported on a gross basis on the consolidated statements of financial position. Insurance liabilities are reported before the effects of reinsurance and we record an offsetting reinsurance recoverable, net of valuation allowance. Premiums and expenses are reported net of reinsurance ceded on the consolidated statements of operations.  

If an agreement does not expose the reinsurer to reasonable possibility of significant loss from insurance risk, the deposit method of accounting is used for the agreement. We record a deposit receivable, net of valuation allowance, if necessary. The deposit receivable is adjusted as amounts are paid or received on the underlying contracts. Accretion on the deposit receivable is calculated using an effective interest method and is reported in fees and other revenues and operating expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

The cost of reinsurance related to long-duration contracts is amortized over the life of the underlying reinsured policies using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies.

We have entered into coinsurance with funds withheld reinsurance agreements in which we record a funds withheld payable that contains an embedded derivative for which the fair value is estimated based on the change in fair value of the assets supporting the funds withheld payable. The change in fair value of the funds withheld embedded derivative is separately reported on the consolidated statements of operations. Gains and losses that do not flow to the reinsurer are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) on funds withheld assets on the consolidated statements of operations.

For further information about reinsurance, refer to Note 12, Reinsurance. For further information about the financing receivables valuation allowance on the reinsurance recoverable and deposit receivable, refer to Note 4, Investments.

Separate Accounts

Refer to Note 8, Separate Account Balances, for information on our separate account assets and liabilities.

Income Taxes

We file a U.S. consolidated income tax return that includes all of our qualifying subsidiaries. In addition, we file income tax returns in all states and foreign jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Our policy of allocating income tax expenses and benefits to companies in the group is generally based upon pro rata contribution of taxable income or operating losses. We are taxed at corporate rates on taxable income based on existing tax laws. Current income taxes are charged or credited to net income based upon amounts estimated to be payable or recoverable as a result of taxable operations for the current year. Deferred income taxes are provided for the tax effect of temporary differences in the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards using enacted income tax rates and laws. The effect on deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in net income in the period in which the change is enacted. Subsequent to a change in tax rates and laws, any stranded tax effects remaining in AOCI will be released only if an entire portfolio is liquidated, sold or extinguished.

Foreign Exchange

Assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries and affiliates denominated in non-U.S. dollars, where the U.S. dollar is not the functional currency, are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the year-end spot foreign exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of stockholders’ equity, along with any related hedge and tax effects. Revenues and expenses for these entities are translated at the average exchange rates. Revenue, expense and other foreign currency transaction and translation adjustments that affect cash flows are reported in net income, along with related hedge and tax effects.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill and other intangible assets include the cost of acquired subsidiaries in excess of the fair value of the net tangible assets recorded in connection with acquisitions. Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are not amortized. Rather, they are tested for impairment during the third quarter each year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, which is the same level as or one level below the operating segment, if financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management at that level. Once goodwill has been assigned to a reporting unit, it is no longer associated with a particular acquisition; therefore, all of the activities within a reporting unit, whether acquired or organically grown, are available to support the goodwill value. Impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consists of a qualitative assessment to determine if a quantitative assessment is needed for a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value.

Intangible assets with a finite useful life are amortized as related benefits emerge and are reviewed periodically for indicators of impairment in value. If facts and circumstances suggest possible impairment, the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset is compared to the current carrying value of the asset. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized for the excess of the carrying amount of assets over their fair value.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period and excludes the dilutive effect of equity awards. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities, such as options and non-vested stock grants, were exercised or resulted in the issuance of common stock. For any time period in which we have a net loss available to common stockholders, we use the weighted-average number of common shares used in our basic earnings per share calculation to calculate the diluted earnings per share, as dilutive shares would have an antidilutive effect and result in a lower loss per share.

Actuarial Balance Re-Cohorting

In 2021, we completed a comprehensive review of our business mix and capital management options (the “Strategic Review”). We made the decision to exit our U.S. retail ULSG business. The ULSG business was previously managed together with our other universal life (“UL”) business within our Benefits and Protection segment. As such, calculations of actuarial balances included UL and ULSG in the same cohorts, which are the unit of account used for measurement. As a result of the Strategic Review, we made the decision in the second quarter of 2022 to manage the ULSG business separately from our other UL business effective as of January 1, 2022. This led to us re-cohorting the UL business, resulting in separate cohorts for the ULSG business vs. the remaining UL business.

The re-cohorting impacted the measurement of our cost of reinsurance and additional liability for certain benefit features. The pre-tax impacts to comprehensive income were as follows:

	For the year ended
	December 31, 2022
	(in millions)
Increase to income before taxes
Cost of reinsurance amortization (1)	$	33.7
Change in additional liability for certain benefit features (1)		167.4
Total increase to income before income taxes		201.1
Increase to pre-tax other comprehensive income
Cost of reinsurance unrealized losses		(2.1)
Change in additional liability for certain benefit features unrealized gains		7.8
Total increase to pre-tax other comprehensive income		5.7
Total increase to pre-tax comprehensive income	$	206.8

(1) Reported in liability for future policy benefits remeasurement (gain) loss.