Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Business 

Voya Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively the "Company") is a financial services organization in the United States that offers a broad range of retirement services, investment management services, mutual funds, group insurance and supplemental health products.

On December 18, 2019, the Company entered into a Master Transaction Agreement (the “Resolution MTA”) with Resolution Life U.S. Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Resolution Life US”), pursuant to which Resolution Life US will acquire all of the shares of the capital stock of Security Life of Denver Insurance Company ("SLD") and Security Life of Denver International Limited ("SLDI"), including the capital stock of several subsidiaries of SLD and SLDI. The transaction is expected to close by September 30, 2020 and is subject to conditions specified in the Resolution MTA, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals. The assets and liabilities related to the businesses to be sold have been classified as held for sale in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and as discontinued operations in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and are reported separately for all periods presented. See the Business Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations Note to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Concurrently with the sale, SLD will enter into reinsurance agreements with insurance subsidiaries of the Company. Pursuant to these agreements, the Company's subsidiaries will reinsure to SLD certain individual life insurance and annuities businesses. The sale of SLD, SLDI and several of their subsidiaries along with the aforementioned reinsurance transactions are referred to herein as the "Individual Life Transaction". The Individual Life Transaction will result in the disposition of substantially all of our life insurance and legacy non-retirement annuity businesses and related assets. As such, the Company will no longer report its Individual Life business as an operating segment.

On June 1, 2018, the Company consummated a series of transactions (collectively, the "2018 Transaction") pursuant to a Master Transaction Agreement with VA Capital Company LLC ("VA Capital") and Athene Holding Ltd. ("Athene"). As part of the Transaction, Venerable Holdings, Inc. ("Venerable"), a wholly owned subsidiary of VA Capital, acquired two of the Company's subsidiaries, Voya Insurance and Annuity Company ("VIAC") and Directed Services, LLC ("DSL"), and VIAC and other Voya subsidiaries reinsured to Athene substantially all of their fixed and fixed indexed annuities business. In connection with the 2018 Transaction, VIAC and another Voya subsidiary engaged in a series of reinsurance arrangements pursuant to which Voya and its subsidiaries other than VIAC retained VIAC’s businesses other than variable annuities and fixed and fixed indexed annuities. The Transaction resulted in the disposition of substantially all of the Company's Closed Block Variable Annuity ("CBVA") and Annuities businesses.

The Company provides its principal products and services through three segments: Retirement, Investment Management and Employee Benefits. In addition, the Company includes in Corporate activities that are not directly related to its segments and certain run-off activities that are not meaningful to the Company's business strategy. See the Segments Note to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Prior to May 2013, the Company was an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of ING Groep N.V. ("ING Group" or "ING"), a global financial services holding company based in The Netherlands. In May 2013, Voya Financial Inc. completed its initial public offering of common stock, including the issuance and sale of common stock by Voya Financial, Inc. and the sale of shares of common stock owned indirectly by ING Group. Between October 2013 and March 2015, ING Group completed the sale of its remaining shares of common stock of Voya Financial, Inc. in a series of registered public offerings.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") and are unaudited. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the Condensed Consolidated

Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The inputs into the Company's estimates and assumptions consider the economic implications of COVID-19 on the Company's critical and significant accounting estimates. Those estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ from those estimates, and the differences may be material to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Voya Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries, as well as other voting interest entities ("VOEs") and variable interest entities ("VIEs") in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. See the Consolidated Investment Entities Note to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect adjustments (including normal, recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2020, its results of operations, comprehensive income and changes in shareholders' equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, and its statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year performance.

The December 31, 2019 Consolidated Balance Sheet is from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC. Therefore, these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date of the Condensed Consolidated financial statements including the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company is not aware of any material matters that could impact the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows or for which a disclosure is required.

Significant Accounting Policies

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13 "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, as amended ("ASU 2016-13"). The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective method for financial assets measured at amortized cost and the prospective method for available-for-sale debt securities as required by ASU 2016-13. As a result, the Company had changes to the following significant accounting policies:

•Investments: Mortgage Loans on Real Estate;

•Impairments; and

•Reinsurance.

Comparative information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under previously applicable U.S. GAAP. The Company’s accounting policies amended by the adoption of ASU 2016-13 are as follows:

Investments

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate: The Company's mortgage loans on real estate are all commercial mortgage loans, which are reported at amortized cost, net of the allowance for credit losses. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding, net of deferred loan fees and costs. Accrued interest receivable is reported in Accrued investment income on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Mortgage loans are evaluated by the Company's investment professionals, including an appraisal of loan-specific performance, property characteristics and market trends. Loan performance is continuously monitored on a loan-specific basis throughout the year. The Company's review includes submitted appraisals, operating statements, rent revenues and annual inspection reports, among other items. This review evaluates whether the properties are performing at a consistent and acceptable level to secure the debt.

Management estimates the credit loss allowance balance using a factor-based method of probability of default and loss given default which incorporates relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Included in the factor-based method are the consideration of debt type, capital market factors, and market vacancy rates, and loan-specific risk characteristics such as debt service coverage ratios (“DSCR”), loan-to-value (“LTV”), collateral size, seniority of the loan, segmentation, and property types.

The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. The change in the allowance for credit losses is recorded in Other net realized capital gains (losses) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Loans are written off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously written-off and expected to be written-off.

Mortgages are rated for the purpose of quantifying the level of risk. Those loans with higher risk are placed on a watch list and are closely monitored for collateral deficiency or other credit events that may lead to a potential loss of principal or interest. The Company defines delinquent mortgage loans consistent with industry practice as 60 days past due.

Commercial mortgage loans are placed on non-accrual status when 90 days in arrears if the Company has concerns regarding the collectability of future payments, or if a loan has matured without being paid off or extended. Factors considered may include conversations with the borrower, loss of major tenant, bankruptcy of borrower or major tenant, decreased property cash flow, number of days past due, or various other circumstances. Based on an assessment as to the collectability of the principal, a determination is made either to apply against the book value or apply according to the contractual terms of the loan. Funds recovered in excess of book value would then be applied to recover expenses, credit loss allowance, and then interest. Accrual of interest resumes after factors resulting in doubts about collectability have improved.

For those mortgages that are determined to require foreclosure, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the underlying collateral, net of estimated costs to obtain and sell at the point of foreclosure. Property obtained from foreclosed mortgage loans is recorded in Other investments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Impairments

The Company evaluates its available-for-sale investments quarterly to determine whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis has resulted from credit loss or other factors. This evaluation process entails considerable judgment and estimation. Factors considered in this analysis include, but are not limited to, the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, the issuer's financial condition and near-term prospects, future economic conditions and market forecasts, interest rate changes and changes in ratings of the security. A severe unrealized loss position on a fixed maturity may not have any impact on: (a) the ability of the issuer to service all scheduled interest and principal payments and (b) the evaluation of recoverability of all contractual cash flows or the ability to recover an amount at least equal to its amortized cost based on the present value of the expected future cash flows to be collected.

When assessing the Company's intent to sell a security, or if it is more likely than not it will be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, management evaluates facts and circumstances such as, but not limited to, decisions to rebalance the investment portfolio and sales of investments to meet cash flow or capital needs. When the Company has determined it has the intent to sell, or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, and the fair value has declined below amortized cost ("intent impairment"), the individual security is written down from amortized cost to fair value, and a corresponding charge is recorded in Net realized capital gains (losses) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as Impairments.

For available-for-sale securities that do not meet the intent impairment criteria but the Company has determined that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss allowance is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss).

The Company uses the following methodology and significant inputs in determining whether a credit loss exists:

•When determining collectability and the period over which the value is expected to recover for U.S. and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and state and political subdivision securities, the Company applies the same considerations utilized in its overall impairment evaluation process, which incorporates information regarding the specific security, the industry and geographic area in which the issuer operates and overall macroeconomic conditions. Projected future cash flows are estimated using assumptions derived from the Company's best estimates of likely scenario-based outcomes, after giving consideration to a variety of variables that includes, but is not limited to: general payment terms of the security; the likelihood that the issuer can service the scheduled interest and principal payments; the quality and amount of any credit enhancements; the security's position within the capital structure of the issuer; possible corporate restructurings or asset sales by the issuer; and changes to the rating of the security or the issuer by rating agencies.

•Additional considerations are made when assessing the unique features that apply to certain structured securities, such as subprime, Alt-A, non-agency RMBS, CMBS and ABS. These additional factors for structured securities include, but are not limited to: the quality of underlying collateral; expected prepayment speeds; loan-to-value ratios; debt service coverage ratios; current and forecasted loss severity; consideration of the payment terms of the underlying assets backing a particular security; and the payment priority within the tranche structure of the security.

•When determining the amount of the credit loss for U.S. and foreign corporate securities, foreign government securities and state and political subdivision securities, the Company considers the estimated fair value as the recovery value when available information does not indicate that another value is more appropriate. When information is identified that indicates a recovery value other than estimated fair value, the Company considers in the determination of recovery value the same considerations utilized in its overall impairment evaluation process, which incorporates available information and the Company's best estimate of scenario-based outcomes regarding the specific security and issuer; possible corporate restructurings or asset sales by the issuer; the quality and amount of any credit enhancements; the security's position within the capital structure of the issuer; fundamentals of the industry and geographic area in which the security issuer operates; and the overall macroeconomic conditions.

•The Company performs a discounted cash flow analysis comparing the current amortized cost of a security to the present value of future cash flows expected to be received, including estimated defaults and prepayments. The discount rate is generally the effective interest rate of the fixed maturity prior to impairment.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded in Net realized capital gains (losses) as Impairments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Losses are charged against the allowance when the Company believes the uncollectability of an available-for-sale security is confirmed or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.

Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

Reinsurance

The Company utilizes reinsurance agreements in most aspects of its insurance business to reduce its exposure to large losses. Such reinsurance permits recovery of a portion of losses from reinsurers, although it does not discharge the primary liability of the Company as direct insurer of the risks reinsured.

Accounting for reinsurance requires use of assumptions and estimates, particularly related to the future performance of the underlying business and the potential impact of counterparty credit risks. The Company periodically reviews actual and anticipated experience compared to the assumptions used to establish assets and liabilities relating to ceded and assumed reinsurance. The Company also evaluates the financial strength of potential reinsurers and continually monitors the financial condition of reinsurers.

Reinsurance recoverable balances are reported net of the allowance for credit losses in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Management estimates the credit loss allowance balance using a factor-based method of probability of default

and loss given default which incorporates relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Included in the factor-based method are the consideration of capital market factors, counterparty financial information and ratings, and reinsurance agreement-specific risk characteristics such as collateral type, collateral size, and covenant strength.

The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the reinsurance recoverable balance to present the net amount expected to be collected on the reinsurance recoverable. The change in the allowance for credit losses is recorded in Policyholder benefits in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Adoption of New Pronouncements

The following table provides a description of the Company's adoption of new Accounting Standard Updates ("ASUs") issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") and the impact of the adoption on the Company's financial statements.

Standard	Description of Requirements	Effective Date and Method of Adoption	Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2018-15, Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract	This standard, issued in August 2018, requires a customer in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance for internal-use software projects to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset. Capitalized implementation costs are required to be expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. In addition, a customer is required to apply the impairment and abandonment guidance for long-lived assets to the capitalized implementation costs. Balances related to capitalized implementation costs must be presented in the same financial statement line items as other hosting arrangement balances, and additional disclosures are required.	January 1, 2020 using the prospective method.	Adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
ASU 2018-13, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement	This standard, issued in August 2018, simplifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurement.	January 1, 2020 using the transition method prescribed for each applicable provision.	Adoption of this ASU had no effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. The adoption resulted in various disclosure changes that have been included in Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.

Standard	Description of Requirements	Effective Date and Method of Adoption	Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	This standard, issued in June 2016: • Introduces a new current expected credit loss ("CECL") model to measure impairment on certain types of financial instruments, • Requires an entity to estimate lifetime expected credit losses, under the new CECL model, based on relevant information about historical events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, • Modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities, and • Provides a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. In addition, the FASB issued various amendments during 2018, 2019, and 2020 to clarify the provisions of ASU 2016-13.	January 1, 2020, using the modified retrospective method for financial assets measured at amortized cost and the prospective method for available-for-sale debt securities.	The Company recorded a $33 decrease, net of tax, to Unappropriated retained earnings as of a January 1, 2020 for the cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2016-13. The combined transition adjustment for continuing and discontinued operations includes recognition of an allowance for credit losses of $19 related to mortgage loans and $28 related to reinsurance recoverables, net of the effect of Deferred policy acquisition costs and Value of business acquired of $5 and deferred income taxes of $9.. The provisions that required prospective adoption had no effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. In addition, disclosures have been updated to reflect accounting policy changes made as a result of the implementation of ASU 2016-13. (See the Significant Accounting Policies section.) Comparative information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under previously applicable U.S. GAAP.

Future Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements

Long-Duration Contracts

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, "Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944) Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts" ("ASU 2018-12"), which changes the measurement and disclosures of insurance liabilities and deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") for long-duration contracts issued by insurers. In October 2019, the FASB voted to amend the effective date of ASU 2018-12 for public business entities that are required to file with the SEC to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods, with early adoption permitted. On July 9, 2020, the FASB issued an exposure draft proposing to defer the effective date of ASU 2018-12 by one year for all insurance entities and to provide transition relief to facilitate early application of ASU 2018-12. This exposure draft has a 45 day comment period ending on August 24, 2020. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the provisions of ASU 2018-12. While it is not possible to estimate the expected impact of adoption at this time, the Company believes there is a reasonable possibility that implementation of ASU 2018-12 may result in a significant impact on Shareholders’ equity and future earnings patterns.

In addition to requiring significantly expanded interim and annual disclosures regarding long-duration insurance contract assets and liabilities, ASU 2018-12's provisions include modifications to the accounting for such contracts in the following areas:

ASU 2018-12 Subject Area	Description of Requirements	Transition Provisions	Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
Assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits for nonparticipating traditional and limited payment insurance contracts	Requires insurers to review and, if necessary, update cash flow assumptions at least annually. The effect of updating cash flow assumptions will be measured on a retrospective catch-up basis and presented in the Statement of Operations in the period in which the update is made. The rate used to discount the liability for future policy benefits will be required to be updated quarterly, with related changes in the liability recorded in AOCI. The discount rate will be based on an upper-medium grade fixed-income corporate instrument yield reflecting the duration characteristics of the relevant liabilities.	Initial adoption is required to be reported using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. Under either method, upon adoption the liability for future policy benefits will be remeasured using current discount rates as of the beginning of the earliest period presented with the impact recorded as a cumulative effect adjustment to AOCI.	The application of periodic assumption updates for nonparticipating traditional and limited payment insurance contracts is significantly different from the current accounting approach for such liabilities, which is based on assumptions that are locked in at contract inception unless a premium deficiency occurs. Under the current accounting guidance, the liability discount rate is based on expected yields on the underlying investment portfolio held by the insurer. The implications of these requirements, including transition options, and related potential financial statement impacts are currently being evaluated.
Measurement of market risk benefits	Creates a new category of benefit features called market risk benefits, defined as features that protect contract holders from capital market risk and expose the insurers to that risk. Market risk benefits will be required to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in the Statement of Operations, except for changes in fair value attributable to changes in the instrument-specific credit risk, which will be recorded in AOCI.	Full retrospective application is required. Upon adoption, any difference between the fair value and pre-adoption carrying value of market risk benefits not currently measured at fair value will be recorded to retained earnings. In addition, the cumulative effect of changes in instrument-specific credit risk will be reclassified from retained earnings to AOCI.	Under the current accounting guidance, certain features that are expected to meet the definition of market risk benefits are accounted for as either insurance liabilities or embedded derivatives. The implications of these requirements and related potential financial statement impacts are currently being evaluated.

ASU 2018-12 Subject Area	Description of Requirements	Transition Provisions	Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
Amortization of DAC and other balances	Requires DAC (and other balances that refer to the DAC model, such as deferred sales inducement costs and unearned revenue liabilities) for all long-duration contracts to be measured on a constant level basis over the expected life of the contract.	Initial adoption is required to be reported using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. The method of transition applied for DAC and other balances must be consistent with the transition method selected for future policy benefit liabilities, as described above.	This approach is intended to approximate straight-line amortization and cannot be based on revenue or profits as it is under the current accounting model. Related amounts in AOCI will be eliminated upon adoption. ASU 2018-12 did not change the existing accounting guidance related to value of business acquired ("VOBA") and net cost of reinsurance, which allows, but does not require, insurers to amortize such balances on a basis consistent with DAC. The implications of these requirements, including transition options, and related potential financial statement impacts are currently being evaluated.

The following table provides a description of future adoptions of other new accounting standards that may have an impact on the Company's financial statements when adopted:

Standard	Description of Requirements	Effective date and transition provisions	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform	This standard, issued in March 2020, provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met.	The amendments are effective as of March 12, 2020, the issuance date of the ASU. An entity may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022.	The Company expects that it will elect to apply some of the expedients and exceptions provided in ASU 2020-04; however, the Company is still evaluating the guidance, and therefore, the impact of the adoption of ASU 2020-04 on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations has not yet been determined.
ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes	This standard, issued in December 2019, simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the general principles and simplifying several aspects of ASC 740, Income taxes, including requirements related to the following: • The intraperiod tax allocation exception to the incremental approach, • The tax basis step-up in goodwill obtained in a transaction that is not a business combination, • Hybrid tax regimes, • Ownership changes in investments - changes from a subsidiary to an equity method investment, • Separate financial statements of entities not subject to tax, • Interim-period accounting for enacted changes in tax law, and • The year-to-date loss limitation in interim-period tax accounting.	January 1, 2021 with early adoption permitted. Early adoption in an interim period must reflect any adjustments as of the beginning of the annual period. Initial adoption of ASU 2019-12 is required to be reported on a prospective basis, except for certain provisions that are required to be applied retrospectively or modified retrospectively.	The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the provisions of ASU 2019-12.
ASU 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	This standard, issued in August 2018, eliminates certain disclosure requirements that are no longer considered cost beneficial and requires new disclosures that are considered relevant.	December 31, 2020 with early adoption permitted. Initial adoption of ASU 2018-14 is required to be reported on a retrospective basis for all periods presented.	The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the provisions of ASU 2018-14.