The Company generally determines fair values using valuation techniques that use prices, rates, and other relevant information evident from market transactions involving identical or similar instruments. Valuation techniques also include, where appropriate, estimates of future cash flows that are converted into a single discounted amount using current market expectations. The Company uses a "waterfall" approach comprised of the following pricing sources and techniques, which are listed in priority order:


•	Quoted prices, unadjusted, for identical assets or liabilities in active markets, which are classified as Level 1.

•

Prices from third-party pricing services, which primarily utilize a combination of techniques. These services utilize recently reported trades of identical, similar, or benchmark securities making adjustments for market observable inputs available through the reporting date. If there are no recently reported trades, they may use a discounted cash flow technique to develop a price using expected cash flows based upon the anticipated future performance of the underlying collateral discounted at an estimated market rate. Both techniques develop prices that consider the time value of future cash flows and provide a margin for risk, including liquidity and credit risk. Most prices provided by third-party pricing services are classified as Level 2 because the inputs used in pricing the securities are observable. However, some securities that are less liquid or trade less actively are classified as Level 3. Additionally, certain long-dated securities, including certain municipal securities, foreign government/government agency securities, and bank loans, include benchmark interest rate or credit spread assumptions that are not observable in the marketplace and are thus classified as Level 3.

•

Internal matrix pricing, which is a valuation process internally developed for private placement securities for which the Company is unable to obtain a price from a third-party pricing service. Internal pricing matrices determine credit spreads that, when combined with risk-free rates, are applied to contractual cash flows to develop a price. The Company develops credit spreads using market based data for public securities adjusted for credit spread differentials between public and private securities, which are obtained from a survey of multiple private placement brokers. The market-based reference credit spread considers the issuer’s financial strength and term to maturity, using an independent public security index and trade information, while the credit spread differential considers the non-public nature of the security. Securities priced using internal matrix pricing are classified as Level 2 because the inputs are observable or can be corroborated with observable data.

•

Independent broker quotes, which are typically non-binding and use inputs that can be difficult to corroborate with observable market based data. Brokers may use present value techniques using assumptions specific to the security types, or they may use recent transactions of similar securities. Due to the lack of transparency in the process that brokers use to develop prices, valuations that are based on independent broker quotes are classified as Level 3.

The fair value of free-standing derivative instruments are determined primarily using a discounted cash flow model or option model technique and incorporate counterparty credit risk. In some cases, quoted market prices for exchange-traded and OTC-cleared derivatives may be used and in other cases independent broker quotes may be used. The pricing valuation models primarily use inputs that are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data. The valuation of certain derivatives may include significant inputs that are unobservable, such as volatility levels, and reflect the Company’s view of what other market participants would use when pricing such instruments. Unobservable market data is used in the valuation of customized derivatives that are used to hedge certain GMWB variable annuity riders. See the section “GMWB Embedded, Customized, and Reinsurance Derivatives” below for further discussion of the valuation model used to value these customized derivatives.

Valuation Controls

The fair value process for investments is monitored by the Valuation Committee, which is a cross-functional group of senior management within the Company that meets at least quarterly. The purpose of the committee is to oversee the pricing policy and procedures, as well as approving changes to valuation methodologies and pricing sources. Controls and procedures used to assess third-party pricing services are reviewed by the Valuation Committee, including the results of annual due-diligence reviews.

There are also two working groups under the Valuation Committee: a Securities Fair Value Working Group (“Securities Working Group”) and a Derivatives Fair Value Working Group ("Derivatives Working Group"). The working groups, which include various investment, operations, accounting and risk management professionals, meet monthly to review market data trends, pricing and trading statistics and results, and any proposed pricing methodology changes.

The Securities Working Group reviews prices received from third parties to ensure that the prices represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value. The group considers trading volume, new issuance activity, market trends, new regulatory rulings and other factors to determine whether the market activity is significantly different than normal activity in an active market. A dedicated pricing unit follows up with trading and investment sector professionals and challenges prices of third-party pricing services when the estimated assumptions used differ from what the unit believes a market participant would use. If the available evidence indicates that pricing from third-party pricing services or broker quotes is based upon transactions that are stale or not from trades made in an orderly market, the Company places little, if any, weight on the third party service’s transaction price and will estimate fair value using an internal process, such as a pricing matrix.

The Derivatives Working Group reviews the inputs, assumptions and methodologies used to ensure that the prices represent a reasonable estimate of the fair value. A dedicated pricing team works directly with investment sector professionals to investigate the impacts of changes in the market environment on prices or valuations of derivatives. New models and any changes to current models are required to have detailed documentation and are validated to a second source. The model validation documentation and results of validation are presented to the Valuation Committee for approval.

The Company conducts other monitoring controls around securities and derivatives pricing including, but not limited to, the following:


•	Review of daily price changes over specific thresholds and new trade comparison to third-party pricing services.


•	Daily comparison of OTC derivative market valuations to counterparty valuations.


•	Review of weekly price changes compared to published bond prices of a corporate bond index.


•	Monthly reviews of price changes over thresholds, stale prices, missing prices, and zero prices.


•	Monthly validation of prices to a second source for securities in most sectors and for certain derivatives.

In addition, the Company’s enterprise-wide Operational Risk Management function, led by the Chief Risk Officer, is responsible for model risk management and provides an independent review of the suitability and reliability of model inputs, as well as an analysis of significant changes to current models.

Valuation Inputs

Quoted prices for identical assets in active markets are considered Level 1 and consist of on-the-run U.S. Treasuries, money market funds, exchange-traded equity securities, open-ended mutual funds, short-term investments, and exchange traded futures and option contracts.



Valuation Inputs Used in Levels 2 and 3 Measurements for Securities and Freestanding Derivatives
Level 2 Primary Observable Inputs		Level 3 Primary Unobservable Inputs
Fixed Maturity Investments
Structured securities (includes ABS, CDOs CMBS and RMBS)
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Monthly payment information • Collateral performance, which varies by vintage year and includes delinquency rates, loss severity rates and refinancing assumptions • Credit default swap indices Other inputs for ABS and RMBS: • Estimate of future principal prepayments, derived based on the characteristics of the underlying structure • Prepayment speeds previously experienced at the interest rate levels projected for the collateral		• Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads beyond observable curve • Interest rates beyond observable curve Other inputs for less liquid securities or those that trade less actively, including subprime RMBS: • Estimated cash flows • Credit spreads, which include illiquidity premium • Constant prepayment rates • Constant default rates • Loss severity
Corporates
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Reported trades, bids, offers of the same or similar securities • Issuer spreads and credit default swap curves Other inputs for investment grade privately placed securities that utilize internal matrix pricing : • Credit spreads for public securities of similar quality, maturity, and sector, adjusted for non-public nature		• Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads beyond observable curve • Interest rates beyond observable curve Other inputs for below investment grade privately placed securities: • Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads for public securities of similar quality, maturity, and sector, adjusted for non-public nature
U.S Treasuries, Municipals, and Foreign government/government agencies
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Issuer credit default swap curves • Political events in emerging market economies • Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board reported trades and material event notices • Issuer financial statements		• Independent broker quotes • Credit spreads beyond observable curve • Interest rates beyond observable curve
Equity Securities
	• Quoted prices in markets that are not active		• For privately traded equity securities, internal discounted cash flow models utilizing earnings multiples or other cash flow assumptions that are not observable; or they may be held at cost
Short Term Investments
	• Benchmark yields and spreads • Reported trades, bids, offers • Issuer spreads and credit default swap curves • Material event notices and new issue money market rates		Not applicable
Derivatives
Credit derivatives
	• Swap yield curve • Credit default swap curves		• Independent broker quotes • Yield curves beyond observable limits
Equity derivatives
	• Equity index levels • Swap yield curve		• Independent broker quotes • Equity volatility
Foreign exchange derivatives
	• Swap yield curve • Currency spot and forward rates • Cross currency basis curves		• Independent broker quotes
Interest rate derivatives
	• Swap yield curve		• Independent broker quotes • Interest rate volatility


Level 1	Fair values based primarily on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities, in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.


Level 2	Fair values primarily based on observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, or based on prices for similar assets and liabilities.

Level 3

Fair values derived when one or more of the significant inputs are unobservable (including assumptions about risk). With little or no observable market, the determination of fair values uses considerable judgment and represents the Company’s best estimate of an amount that could be realized in a market exchange for the asset or liability. Also included are securities that are traded within illiquid markets and/or priced by independent brokers.

The Company will classify the financial asset or liability by level based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the determination of the fair value. In most cases, both observable inputs (e.g., changes in interest rates) and unobservable inputs (e.g., changes in risk assumptions) are used to determine fair values that the Company has classified within Level 3.



Assets and (Liabilities) Carried at Fair Value by Hierarchy Level as of March 31, 2017
	Total			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
Fixed maturities, AFS
Asset-backed-securities ("ABS")	$	2,265		$	—	$	2,140		$	125
Collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs")	2,311			—		1,992			319
Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")	5,099			—		4,982			117
Corporate	25,730			—		24,652			1,078
Foreign government/government agencies	1,187			—		1,121			66
Bonds of municipalities and political subdivisions ("municipal bonds")	11,780			—		11,663			117
Residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS")	3,921			—		1,873			2,048
U.S. Treasuries	4,033			688		3,345			—
Total fixed maturities	56,326			688		51,768			3,870
Fixed maturities, FVO	160			—		160			—
Equity securities, trading [1]	11			11		—			—
Equity securities, AFS	1,223			936		188			99
Derivative assets
Credit derivatives	2			—		2			—
Equity derivatives	4			—		—			4
Foreign exchange derivatives	3			—		3			—
Interest rate derivatives	48			—		43			5
GMWB hedging instruments	80			—		36			44
Macro hedge program	113			—		9			104
Total derivative assets [2]	250			—		93			157
Short-term investments	4,595			2,077		2,518			—
Reinsurance recoverable for GMWB	60			—		—			60
Modified coinsurance reinsurance contracts	66			—		66			—
Separate account assets [3]	113,585			73,539		38,882			277
Total assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis	$	176,276		$	77,251	$	93,675		$	4,463
Liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable
GMWB embedded derivative	$	(157	)	$	—	$	—		$	(157	)
Equity linked notes	(36		)	—		—			(36		)
Total other policyholder funds and benefits payable	(193		)	—		—			(193		)
Derivative liabilities
Credit derivatives	(2		)	—		(2		)	—
Equity derivatives	37			—		37			—
Foreign exchange derivatives	(262		)	—		(262		)	—
Interest rate derivatives	(517		)	—		(488		)	(29		)
GMWB hedging instruments	3			—		1			2
Macro hedge program	58			—		3			55
Total derivative liabilities [4]	(683		)	—		(711		)	28
Contingent consideration [5]	(26		)	—		—			(26		)
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis	$	(902	)	$	—	$	(711	)	$	(191	)