Pension Plans, Retirement Benefits and Savings Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans, Retirement Benefits and Savings Plans

PENSION PLANS, RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND SAVINGS PLANSThe Company sponsors a qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (the qualified domestic pension plan), which covers substantially all U.S. domestic employees and provides benefits under a cash balance formula, except that certain limited groups of legacy participants are covered by a prior traditional final average pay formula.  In addition, the Company sponsors a nonqualified defined benefit pension plan which covers certain highly-compensated employees, pension plans for employees of its foreign subsidiaries, and a postretirement health and life insurance benefit plan for employees satisfying certain age and service requirements and for certain retirees.

Obligations and Funded Status

The following tables summarize the funded status, obligations and amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet for the Company’s benefit plans. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and postretirement benefit plans.

(at and for the year ended December 31,  in millions)	Qualified Domestic Pension Plan				Nonqualified and Foreign Pension Plans				Total
	2020		2019		2020		2019		2020		2019
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	3,954	$	3,444	$	241	$	215	$	4,195	$	3,659
Benefits earned	128		112		5		6		133		118
Interest cost on benefit obligation	109		134		5		7		114		141
Actuarial loss	336		451		20		19		356		470
Benefits paid	(201)		(187)		(11)		(11)		(212)		(198)
Amendment	—		—		1		—		1		—
Foreign currency exchange rate change	—		—		4		5		4		5
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	4,326	$	3,954	$	265	$	241	$	4,591	$	4,195
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	4,270	$	3,771	$	115	$	103	$	4,385	$	3,874
Actual return on plan assets	562		686		8		10		570		696
Company contributions	—		—		9		8		9		8
Benefits paid	(201)		(187)		(11)		(11)		(212)		(198)
Foreign currency exchange rate change	—		—		4		5		4		5
Fair value of plan assets at end  of year	4,631		4,270		125		115		4,756		4,385
Funded status of plan at end  of year	$	305	$	316	$	(140)	$	(126)	$	165	$	190
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of:
Accrued over-funded benefit plan assets	$	305	$	316	$	1	$	1	$	306	$	317
Accrued under-funded benefit plan liabilities	—		—		(141)		(127)		(141)		(127)
Total	$	305	$	316	$	(140)	$	(126)	$	165	$	190
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Net actuarial loss	$	1,050	$	1,094	$	63	$	49	$	1,113	$	1,143
Prior service cost (benefit)	(2)		(3)		1		—		(1)		(3)
Total	$	1,048	$	1,091	$	64	$	49	$	1,112	$	1,140

	Postretirement Benefit Plans
(at and for the year ended December 31, in millions)	2020		2019
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	171	$	203
Benefits earned	—		—
Interest cost on benefit obligation	4		7
Actuarial (gain) loss	5		(31)
Benefits paid	(10)		(9)
Foreign currency exchange rate change	1		1
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	171	$	171
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	12	$	12
Actual return on plan assets	1		1
Company contributions	8		8
Benefits paid	(10)		(9)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	11		12
Funded status of plan at end of year	$	(160)	$	(159)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of:
Accrued under-funded benefit plan liability	$	(160)	$	(159)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Net actuarial gain	$	(41)	$	(49)
Prior service benefit	(18)		(21)
Total	$	(59)	$	(70)

The total accumulated benefit obligation for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans was $4.40 billion and $4.05 billion at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The qualified domestic pension plan accounted for $4.15 billion and $3.82 billion of the total accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, whereas the nonqualified and foreign plans accounted for $0.25 billion and $0.23 billion of the total accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

For pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, the aggregate projected benefit obligation was $250 million and $228 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and the aggregate plan assets were $109 million and $100 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, the aggregate accumulated benefit obligation was $239 million and $218 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and the aggregate plan assets were $109 million and $100 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  For postretirement benefit plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, the aggregate accumulated benefit obligation was $170 million and $171 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and the aggregate plan assets were $11 million and $12 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The $336 million and $451 million actuarial losses experienced in 2020 and 2019, respectively, for the qualified domestic pension plan were largely driven by the decrease in the assumed discount rate from the prior year that was used to determine the projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company has discretion regarding whether to provide additional funding and when to provide such funding to its qualified domestic pension plan.  In 2020, 2019 and 2018, there were no required contributions to the qualified domestic pension plan.  In 2020 and 2019, the Company made no voluntary contributions to the qualified domestic pension plan. In 2018, the Company voluntarily made contributions totaling $200 million to the qualified domestic pension plan.  There is no required contribution to the qualified domestic pension plan during 2021, and the Company has not determined whether or not additional

funding will be made during 2021. With respect to the Company’s foreign pension plans, there are no significant required contributions in 2021.

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost (benefit) and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income related to the benefit plans.

	Pension Plans						Postretirement Benefit Plans
(for the year ended December 31, in millions)	2020		2019		2018		2020		2019		2018
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Benefit):
Service cost	$	133	$	118	$	133	$	—	$	—	$	—
Non-service cost (benefit):
Interest cost on benefit obligation	114		141		126		4		7		7
Expected return on plan assets	(275)		(275)		(264)		—		(1)		—
Amortization of unrecognized:
Prior service benefit	(1)		(1)		(1)		(3)		(3)		(4)
Net actuarial (gain) loss	93		56		91		(4)		—		—
Total non-service cost (benefit)	(69)		(79)		(48)		(3)		3		3
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)	64		39		85		(3)		3		3
Other Changes in Benefit Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income:
Prior service benefit	1		—		—		—		—		—
Net actuarial (gain) loss	61		49		160		4		(31)		(18)
Foreign currency exchange rate change	1		1		(1)		—		—		—
Amortization of prior service benefit	1		1		1		3		3		4
Amortization of net actuarial gain (loss)	(93)		(56)		(91)		4		—		—
Total other changes recognized in other comprehensive income	(29)		(5)		69		11		(28)		(14)
Total other changes recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	35	$	34	$	154	$	8	$	(25)	$	(11)

The following table indicates the line items in which the respective service costs and non-service cost (benefit) are presented in the consolidated statement of income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

	Pension Plans						Postretirement Benefit Plans
(for the year ended December 31, in millions)	2020		2019		2018		2020		2019		2018
Service Cost:
Net investment income	$	1	$	1	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	—
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	55		48		54		—		—		—
General and administrative expenses	77		69		78		—		—		—
Total service cost	133		118		133		—		—		—
Non-Service Cost (Benefit):
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	(29)		(33)		(19)		(1)		1		1
General and administrative expenses	(40)		(46)		(29)		(2)		2		2
Total non-service cost (benefit)	(69)		(79)		(48)		(3)		3		3
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	64	$	39	$	85	$	(3)	$	3	$	3

Assumptions

The following table summarizes assumptions used with regard to the Company’s qualified and nonqualified domestic pension plans and the domestic postretirement benefit plans.

(at and for the year ended December 31,)	2020		2019
Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations
Discount rate:
Qualified domestic pension plan	2.60	%	3.28	%
Nonqualified domestic pension plan	2.44	%	3.17	%
Domestic postretirement benefit plan	2.27	%	3.09	%
Cash balance interest crediting rate	4.01	%	4.01	%
Future compensation increase rate	4.00	%	4.00	%
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate:
Qualified domestic pension plan:
Service cost	3.50	%	4.57	%
Interest cost	2.84	%	4.02	%
Nonqualified domestic pension plan:
Service cost	3.30	%	4.40	%
Interest cost	2.73	%	3.95	%
Domestic postretirement benefit plan:
Interest cost	2.67	%	3.90	%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets:
Pension plan	6.75	%	7.00	%
Postretirement benefit plan	4.00	%	4.00	%
Assumed health care cost trend rates
Following year:
Medical (before age 65)	6.75	%	7.00	%
Medical (age 65 and older)	7.75	%	8.25	%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)	4.50	%	4.50	%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate:
Medical (before age 65)	2026		2026
Medical (age 65 and older)	2027		2026

The discount rate assumption used to determine the benefit obligation is based on a yield-curve approach. Under this approach, individual spot rates from the yield curve of a hypothetical portfolio of high quality fixed maturity corporate bonds (rated Aa) available at the year-end valuation date, for which the timing and amount of cash outflows correspond with the timing and amount of the estimated benefit payouts of the Company’s benefit plan, are applied to expected future benefits payments in measuring the projected benefit obligation. The discount rate assumption used to determine benefit obligations disclosed above represents the weighted average of the individual spot rates.

The discount rate assumption used to determine the net periodic benefit cost is the single weighted average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the year.

In choosing the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the Company selected the rate that was set as the return objective by the Company’s Benefit Plans Investment Committee, which had considered the historical returns of equity and fixed maturity markets in conjunction with prevailing economic and financial market conditions.

The assumptions made for the Company’s foreign pension and foreign postretirement benefit plans are not materially different from those of the Company’s qualified domestic pension plan and the domestic postretirement benefit plan.

Plan Assets

The qualified domestic pension plan assets are invested for the exclusive benefit of the plan participants and beneficiaries and are intended, over time, to satisfy the benefit obligations under the plan. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status and corporate financial position. The asset mix guidelines have been established and are reviewed quarterly. These guidelines are intended to serve as tools to facilitate the investment of plan assets to maximize long-term total return and the ongoing oversight of the plan’s investment performance.  Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through daily and monthly investment portfolio reviews, annual liability measurements and periodic asset/liability studies.

The Company’s overall investment strategy for the qualified domestic pension plan is to achieve a mix of approximately 85% to 90% of investments for long-term growth and 10% to 15% for near-term benefit payments with a diversification of asset types, fund strategies and fund managers.  The current target allocations for plan assets are 55% to 65% equity securities and 20% to 40% fixed income securities, with the remainder allocated to short-term securities.  Equity securities primarily include investments in large, medium and small-cap companies primarily located in the United States.  Fixed income securities include corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries, mortgage-backed securities, U.S. Treasury securities and debt securities issued by foreign governments. 

Assets of the Company’s foreign pension plans are not significant.

Fair Value Measurement — Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Assets

For a discussion of the methods employed by the Company to measure the fair value of invested assets, see note 4.  The following discussion of fair value measurements applies exclusively to the Company’s pension plans and other postretirement benefit assets.

Fair value estimates for equity and bond mutual funds held by the pension plans reflect prices received from an external pricing service that are based on observable market transactions.  These estimates are primarily included in Level 1.

Short-term securities are carried at fair value which approximates cost plus accrued interest or amortized discount.  The fair value or market value of these is periodically compared to this amortized cost and is based on significant observable inputs as determined by an external pricing service.  Accordingly, the estimates of fair value for such short-term securities, other than U.S. Treasury securities and money market mutual funds, provided by an external pricing service are included in the amount disclosed in Level 2 of the hierarchy.  The estimated fair value of U.S. Treasury securities and money market mutual funds is included in the amount disclosed in Level 1 as the estimates are based on unadjusted market prices.

Fair Value Hierarchy — Pension Plans

The following tables present the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the financial assets of the Company’s pension plans are measured on a recurring basis.

(at December 31, 2020, in millions)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Invested assets:
Fixed maturities
Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions	$	27	$	—	$	27	$	—
Debt securities issued by foreign governments	30		—		30		—
Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities	14		—		14		—
All other corporate bonds	712		—		712		—
Total fixed maturities	783		—		783		—
Mutual funds
Equity mutual funds	1,706		1,699		7		—
Bond mutual funds	949		946		3		—
Total mutual funds	2,655		2,645		10		—
Equity securities	1,171		1,171		—		—
Other investments	1		—		—		1
Cash and short-term securities
U.S. Treasury securities	—		—		—		—
Money market mutual funds	26		26		—		—
Other	120		28		92		—
Total cash and short-term securities	146		54		92		—
Total	$	4,756	$	3,870	$	885	$	1

(at December 31, 2019, in millions)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Invested assets:
Fixed maturities
Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions	$	3	$	—	$	3	$	—
Debt securities issued by foreign governments	30		—		30		—
Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities	30		—		30		—
All other corporate bonds	715		—		715		—
Total fixed maturities	778		—		778		—
Mutual funds
Equity mutual funds	1,585		1,578		7		—
Bond mutual funds	869		866		3		—
Total mutual funds	2,454		2,444		10		—
Equity securities	1,018		1,017		1		—
Other investments	2		—		—		2
Cash and short-term securities
U.S. Treasury securities	20		20		—		—
Money market mutual funds	27		27		—		—
Other	86		17		69		—
Total cash and short-term securities	133		64		69		—
Total	$	4,385	$	3,525	$	858	$	2

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company’s overall investment strategy is to achieve a mix of approximately 35% to 65% of investments for long-term growth and 35% to 65% for near-term insurance payments with a wide diversification of asset types, fund strategies and fund managers.  The current target allocations for plan assets are 25% to 75% fixed income securities, with the remainder allocated to short-term securities.  Fixed income securities include corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries, mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasuries.

Fair Value — Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company’s other postretirement benefit plans had financial assets of $11 million and $12 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  The assets are primarily corporate bonds, which are categorized as level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following table presents the estimated benefits expected to be paid by the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans for the next ten years (reflecting estimated future employee service).

	Benefits Expected to be Paid
(in millions)	Pension Plans		Postretirement Benefit Plans
2021	$	264	$	11
2022	268		11
2023	276		12
2024	278		11
2025	278		11
2026 through 2030	1,411		52

Savings Plan

Substantially all U.S. domestic Company employees are eligible to participate in The Travelers 401(k) Savings Plan (the Savings Plan). Eligible employees can contribute to the Savings Plan, and the Company makes a matching contribution into the employee's Savings Plan account, subject to limitations described below. In addition, starting on January 1, 2020, when an eligible U.S. employee makes a payment toward his or her student loans, the Company makes a contribution of that amount into the employee’s Savings Plan account, subject to limitations described below. The total annual amount of the Company's matching contributions, student loan repayment contributions or a combination of both is the lesser of 5% of eligible pay or $7,000, which becomes 100% vested after three years of service. All Company contributions to the Savings Plan are made in cash and invested according to the employee’s current investment elections and can be reinvested into other investment options in accordance with the terms of the Savings Plan. The Company’s non-U.S. employees participate in separate savings plans.  The total expense related to all of the savings plans was $132 million, $123 million and $118 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

All common shares held by the Savings Plan are considered outstanding for basic and diluted EPS computations and dividends paid on all shares are charged to retained earnings.