Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Dec. 31, 2019

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 VRIAC and its wholly owned subsidiaries VFP, VIPS and VRA. 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 September 30, 2020, its results of operations, comprehensive income and changes in shareholder's equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and its statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 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.

Investment

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.

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.

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.

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. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the Company no longer considers in this evaluation process the length of time a fixed maturity has been in an unrealized loss position.

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).

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.

Derivatives

The Company enters into the following types of derivatives:

Interest rate caps: The Company uses interest rate cap contracts to hedge the interest rate exposure arising from duration mismatches between assets and liabilities. Interest rate caps are also used to hedge interest rate exposure if rates rise above a specified level. Such increases in rates will require the Company to incur additional expenses. The future payout from the interest rate caps fund this increased exposure. The Company pays an upfront premium to purchase these caps. The Company utilizes these contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Interest rate swaps: Interest rate swaps are used by the Company primarily to reduce market risks from changes in interest rates and to alter interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and/or liabilities. Interest rate swaps are also used to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the value of assets it owns or in an anticipation of acquiring them. Using interest rate swaps, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest payments, calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional principal amount. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made to/from the counterparty at each due date. The Company utilizes these contracts in qualifying hedging relationships as well as non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Foreign exchange swaps: The Company uses foreign exchange or currency swaps to reduce the risk of change in the value, yield or cash flows associated with certain foreign denominated invested assets. Foreign exchange swaps represent contracts that require the exchange of foreign currency cash flows against U.S. dollar cash flows at regular periods, typically quarterly or semi-annually. The Company utilizes these contracts in qualifying hedging relationships as well as non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Credit default swaps: Credit default swaps are used to reduce credit loss exposure with respect to certain assets that the Company owns, or to assume credit exposure on certain assets that the Company does not own. Payments are made to, or received from, the counterparty at specified intervals. In the event of a default on the underlying credit exposure, the Company will either receive a payment (purchased credit protection) or will be required to make a payment (sold credit protection) equal to the par minus recovery value of the swap contract. The Company utilizes these contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Currency forwards: The Company utilizes currency forward contracts to hedge currency exposure related to invested assets. The Company utilizes these contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Forwards: The Company uses forward contracts to hedge certain invested assets against movement in interest rates, particularly mortgage rates. The Company uses To Be Announced mortgage-backed securities as an economic hedge against rate movements. The Company utilizes forward contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Futures: The Company uses interest rate futures contracts to hedge its exposure to market risks due to changes in interest rates. The Company enters into exchange traded futures with regulated futures commissions that are members of the exchange. The Company also posts initial and variation margins, with the exchange, on a daily basis. The Company utilizes exchange-traded futures in non-qualifying hedging relationships. The Company may also use futures contracts as a hedge against an increase in certain equity indices.

Swaptions: A swaption is an option to enter into a swap with a forward starting effective date. The Company uses swaptions to hedge the interest rate exposure associated with the minimum crediting rate and book value guarantees embedded in the retirement products that the Company offers. Increases in interest rates will generate losses on assets that are backing such liabilities. In certain instances, the Company locks in the economic impact of existing purchased swaptions by entering into offsetting written swaptions. The Company pays a premium when it purchases the swaption. The Company utilizes these contracts in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Options: The Company uses equity options to hedge against an increase in various equity indices. Such increases may result in increased payments to the holders of the FIA contracts. The Company pays an upfront premium to purchase these options. The Company utilizes these options in non-qualifying hedging relationships.

Managed custody guarantees ("MCGs"): The Company issues certain credited rate guarantees on variable fixed income portfolios that represent stand-alone derivatives. The market value is partially determined by, among other things, levels of or changes in interest rates, prepayment rates and credit ratings/spreads.

Embedded derivatives: The Company also invests in certain fixed maturity instruments and has issued certain products that contain embedded derivatives for which market value is at least partially determined by, among other things, levels of or changes in domestic and/or foreign interest rates (short-term or long-term), exchange rates, prepayment rates, equity rates, or credit ratings/spreads. In addition, the Company has entered into coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements, which contain embedded derivatives.

The Company's use of derivatives is limited mainly to economic hedging to reduce the Company's exposure to cash flow variability of assets and liabilities, interest rate risk, credit risk, exchange rate risk and equity market risk. It is the Company's policy not to offset amounts recognized for derivative instruments and amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral arising from derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement, which provides the Company with the legal right of offset. However, in accordance with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ("CME") rules related to the variation margin payments, the Company is required to adjust the derivative balances with the variation margin payments related to its cleared derivatives executed through CME.Based on the notional amounts, a substantial portion of the Company’s derivative positions was not designated or did not qualify for hedge accounting as part of a hedging relationship as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The Company utilizes derivative contracts mainly to hedge exposure to variability in cash flows, interest rate risk, credit risk, foreign exchange risk and equity market risk. The majority of derivatives used by the Company are designated as product hedges, which hedge the exposure arising from insurance liabilities or guarantees embedded in the contracts the Company offers through various product lines. These derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting as they do not meet the criteria of being "highly effective" as outlined in ASC Topic 815, but do provide an economic hedge, which is in line with the Company’s risk management objectives. The Company also uses derivatives contracts to hedge its exposure to various risks associated with the investment portfolio. The Company does not seek hedge accounting treatment for certain of these derivatives as they generally do not qualify for hedge accounting due to the criteria required under the portfolio hedging rules outlined in ASC Topic 815. The Company also uses credit default swaps coupled with other investments in order to produce the investment characteristics of otherwise permissible investments that do not qualify as effective accounting hedges under ASC Topic 815.

Mortgage loans on real estate, net of valuation allowance of $0 as of 2019

$ 4,670

$ 4,664

Reinsurance

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.
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 $8 decrease, net of tax, to Unappropriated retained earnings as of January 1, 2020 for the cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2016-13. The transition adjustment includes recognition of an allowance for credit losses of $12 related to mortgage loans, net of the effect of DAC/VOBA and other intangibles of $2 and deferred income taxes of $2. 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

The following table provides a description of future adoptions of 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.


Standard	Description of Requirements	Effective date and transition provisions	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2018-12, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts	This standard, issued in August 2018, changes the measurement and disclosures of insurance liabilities and deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") for long-duration contracts issued by insurers.	On November 5, 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-11, which deferred the effective date of the amendments in ASU 2018-12 for SEC filers to fiscal years ending after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Initial adoption for the liability for future policy benefits and DAC is required to be reported using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. For market risk benefits, full retrospective application is required.	The implications of these requirements, including transition options, and related potential financial statement impacts are currently being evaluated. 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.