Deferred Acquisition Costs

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Certain costs that are directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance business are capitalized as deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") in the period in which they are incurred. These costs primarily pertain to commissions and certain costs associated with policy issuance and underwriting. All other acquisition costs are expensed as incurred.

Contracts are grouped into cohorts by contract type and issue year. For traditional and limited-payment insurance contracts, contracts are grouped consistent with the groupings used in estimating the associated liability. DAC are amortized into expense on a constant level basis over the expected term of the grouped contracts. For traditional and limited-payment insurance contracts, amortization is determined based on projected in force amounts. For non-traditional contracts, amortization is determined based on projected policy counts.

The expected term used to amortize DAC is determined using best estimate assumptions, including mortality and persistency, consistent with the best estimate assumptions used to determine the reserve for future policy benefits, MRBs, and additional liabilities for applicable contracts. For amortization of DAC related to contracts without these balances, assumptions used to determine expected term are developed in a similar manner. The amortization rate is determined using all information available as of the end of the reporting period, including actual experience and any assumption updates. Annually, or as circumstances warrant, a comprehensive review of assumptions is conducted, and assumptions are revised as appropriate. If assumptions are revised, the amortization rate is calculated using revised assumptions such that the effect of revised assumptions is recognized prospectively as of the beginning of that reporting period.

Unamortized DAC are written off when a contract is internally replaced and substantially changed. Substantially unchanged contracts are treated as a continuation of the replaced contract, with no change to the unamortized DAC at the time of the replacement.

The following table presents the roll-forward of the DAC (in millions). The current period amortization is based on the end of the period estimates of mortality and persistency. The amortization pattern is revised on a prospective basis at the beginning of the period based on the period’s actual experience.


	Three Months Ended March 31,		Year Ended December 31,
	2024		2023
Variable Annuities
Balance, beginning of period	$	11,967	$	12,699

Deferrals of acquisition costs	98		394
Amortization	(269)		(1,126)
Variable Annuities balance, end of period	$	11,796	$	11,967

Reconciliation of total DAC
Variable Annuities balance, end of period	$	11,796	$	11,967
Other product lines, end of period	377		335
Total balance, end of period	$	12,173	$	12,302