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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
Note 6
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The hierarchy for inputs used in determining fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Assets and liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at fair value are categorized in the fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:
Level 1:    Assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that the Company can access.
Level 2:    Assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:
(a)
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
(b)
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or
(c)
Valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3:    Assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the assets and liabilities.
The availability of observable inputs varies by instrument. In situations where fair value is based on internally developed pricing models or inputs that are unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. The degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is typically greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. In many instances, valuation inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The category level in the fair value hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market disruption. In periods of market disruption, the ability to observe prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments.
The Company is responsible for the determination of fair value and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. The Company gains assurance that assets and liabilities are appropriately valued through the execution of various processes and controls designed to ensure the overall reasonableness and consistent application of valuation methodologies, including inputs and assumptions, and compliance with accounting standards. For fair values received from third parties or internally estimated, the Company’s processes and controls are designed to ensure that the valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistently applied, the inputs and assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value, and the fair values are accurately recorded. For example, on a continuing basis, the Company assesses the reasonableness of individual fair values that have stale security prices or that exceed certain thresholds as compared to previous fair values received from valuation service providers or brokers or derived from internal models. The Company performs procedures to understand and assess the methodologies, processes and controls of valuation service providers. In addition, the Company may validate the reasonableness of fair values by comparing information obtained from valuation service providers or brokers to other third party valuation sources for selected securities. The Company performs ongoing price validation procedures such as back-testing of actual sales, which corroborate the various inputs used in internal models to market observable data. When fair value determinations are expected to be more variable, the Company validates them through reviews by members of management who have relevant expertise and who are independent of those charged with executing investment transactions.
The Company has two types of situations where investments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The first is where specific inputs significant to the fair value estimation models are not market observable. This primarily occurs in the Company’s use of broker quotes to value certain securities where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, and the use of valuation models that use significant non-market observable inputs. The second situation where the Company classifies securities in Level 3 is where quotes continue to be received from independent third-party valuation service providers and all significant inputs are market observable; however, there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset when compared to normal market activity such that the degree of market observability has declined to a point where categorization as a Level 3 measurement is considered appropriate. The indicators considered in determining whether a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for a specific asset has occurred include the level of new issuances in the primary market, trading volume in the secondary market, the level of credit spreads over historical levels, applicable bid-ask spreads, and price consensus among market participants and other pricing sources.
Certain assets are not carried at fair value on a recurring basis, including investments such as mortgage loans, bank loans, agent loans and policy loans. Accordingly, such investments are only included in the fair value hierarchy disclosure when the investment is subject to remeasurement at fair value after initial recognition and the resulting remeasurement is reflected in the consolidated financial statements.
In determining fair value, the Company principally uses the market approach which generally utilizes market transaction data for the same or similar instruments. To a lesser extent, the Company uses the income approach which involves determining fair values from discounted cash flow methodologies. For the majority of Level 2 and Level 3 valuations, a combination of the market and income approaches is used.
Summary of significant valuation techniques for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Level 1 measurements
Fixed income securities:  Comprise certain U.S. Treasury fixed income securities. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.
Equity securities:  Comprise actively traded, exchange-listed equity securities. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.
Short-term:  Comprise U.S. Treasury bills valued based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access and actively traded money market funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access.
Separate account assets:  Comprise actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values that are readily determinable for identical assets that the Company can access. Net asset values for the actively traded mutual funds in which the separate account assets are invested are obtained daily from the fund managers.
Level 2 measurements
Fixed income securities:
U.S. government and agencies:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
Municipal:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
Corporate - public:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
Corporate - privately placed: Valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses market observable inputs and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. The primary inputs to the discounted cash flow model include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets in markets that are not active that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.
Foreign government:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
ABS - collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”) and ABS - consumer and other:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads. Certain ABS - CDO and ABS - consumer and other are valued based on non-binding broker quotes whose inputs have been corroborated to be market observable.
RMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads.
CMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, collateral performance and credit spreads.
Redeemable preferred stock:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, underlying stock prices and credit spreads.
Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active.
Short-term:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.
Other investments:  Free-standing exchange listed derivatives that are not actively traded are valued based on quoted prices for identical instruments in markets that are not active.
Over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, including interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps, total return swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts, certain options and certain credit default swaps, are valued using models that rely on inputs such as interest rate yield curves, implied volatilities, index price levels, currency rates, and credit spreads that are observable for substantially the full term of the contract. The valuation techniques underlying the models are widely accepted in the financial services industry and do not involve significant judgment.
Level 3 measurements
Fixed income securities:
Municipal:  Comprise municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies. The primary inputs to the valuation of these municipal bonds include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads. Also included are municipal bonds valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and municipal bonds in default valued based on the present value of expected cash flows.
Corporate - public and Corporate - privately placed:  Primarily valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable. Other inputs include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.
ABS - CDO, ABS - consumer and other, and CMBS:  Valued based on non-binding broker quotes received from brokers who are familiar with the investments and where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.
Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements.
Short-term:  For certain short-term investments, amortized cost is used as the best estimate of fair value.
Other investments:  Certain OTC derivatives, such as interest rate caps, certain credit default swaps and certain options (including swaptions), are valued using models that are widely accepted in the financial services industry. These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs such as volatility. Other primary inputs include interest rate yield curves and credit spreads.
Contractholder funds:  Derivatives embedded in certain life and annuity contracts are valued internally using models widely accepted in the financial services industry that determine a single best estimate of fair value for the embedded derivatives within a block of contractholder liabilities. The models primarily use stochastically determined cash flows based on the contractual elements of embedded derivatives, projected option cost and applicable market data, such as interest rate yield curves and equity index volatility assumptions. These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis
Mortgage loans written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing impairments are valued based on the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell.
Investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy
Limited partnerships carried at fair value, which do not have readily determinable fair values, use NAV provided by the investees and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy. These investments are generally not redeemable by the investees and generally cannot be sold without approval of the general partner. The Company receives distributions of income and proceeds from the liquidation of the underlying assets of the investees, which usually takes place in years 4-9 of the typical contractual life of 10-12 years. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has commitments to invest $689 million in these limited partnership interests.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value
 
 
As of December 31, 2018
($ in millions)
 
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other observable inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Counterparty and cash collateral netting
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
5,085

 
$
432

 
$

 
 
 
$
5,517

Municipal
 

 
9,099

 
70

 
 
 
9,169

Corporate - public
 

 
29,200

 
70

 
 
 
29,270

Corporate - privately placed
 

 
10,776

 
90

 
 
 
10,866

Foreign government
 

 
747

 

 
 
 
747

ABS - CDO
 

 
263

 
6

 
 
 
269

ABS - consumer and other
 

 
713

 
63

 
 
 
776

RMBS
 

 
464

 

 
 
 
464

CMBS
 

 
44

 
26

 
 
 
70

Redeemable preferred stock
 

 
22

 

 
 
 
22

Total fixed income securities
 
5,085

 
51,760

 
325

 
 
 
57,170

Equity securities
 
4,364

 
331

 
341

 
 
 
5,036

Short-term investments
 
1,338

 
1,659

 
30

 
 
 
3,027

Other investments: Free-standing derivatives
 

 
139

 
1

 
(23
)
 
117

Separate account assets
 
2,805

 

 

 
 
 
2,805

Other assets
 
2

 

 

 
 
 
2

Total recurring basis assets
 
$
13,594

 
$
53,889

 
$
697

 
$
(23
)
 
$
68,157

% of total assets at fair value
 
19.9
%
 
79.1
%
 
1.0
%
 
 %
 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments reported at NAV
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,779

Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
69,936

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$

 
$

 
$
(224
)
 
 
 
$
(224
)
Other liabilities: Free-standing derivatives
 
(1
)
 
(62
)
 

 
$
6

 
(57
)
Total recurring basis liabilities
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(62
)
 
$
(224
)
 
$
6

 
$
(281
)
% of total liabilities at fair value
 
0.3
%
 
22.1
%
 
79.7
%
 
(2.1
)%
 
100.0
%



Assets and liabilities measured at fair value
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
($ in millions)
 
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other observable inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Counterparty and cash collateral netting
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
3,079

 
$
537

 
$

 
 
 
$
3,616

Municipal
 

 
8,227

 
101

 
 
 
8,328

Corporate - public
 

 
31,963

 
108

 
 
 
32,071

Corporate - privately placed
 

 
11,731

 
224

 
 
 
11,955

Foreign government
 

 
1,021

 

 
 
 
1,021

ABS - CDO
 

 
480

 
99

 
 
 
579

ABS - consumer and other
 

 
645

 
48

 
 
 
693

RMBS
 

 
578

 

 
 
 
578

CMBS
 

 
102

 
26

 
 
 
128

Redeemable preferred stock
 

 
23

 

 
 
 
23

Total fixed income securities
 
3,079

 
55,307

 
606

 
 
 
58,992

Equity securities
 
6,032

 
379

 
210

 
 
 
6,621

Short-term investments
 
264

 
1,660

 
20

 
 
 
1,944

Other investments: Free-standing derivatives
 

 
132

 
1

 
(6
)
 
127

Separate account assets
 
3,444

 

 

 
 
 
3,444

Total recurring basis assets
 
12,819


57,478


837


(6
)

71,128

Non-recurring basis (1)
 

 

 
3

 
 
 
3

Total assets at fair value
 
$
12,819


$
57,478


$
840


$
(6
)

$
71,131

% of total assets at fair value
 
18.0
%
 
80.8
%
 
1.2
%
 
 %
 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$

 
$

 
$
(286
)
 
 
 
$
(286
)
Other liabilities: Free-standing derivatives
 
(1
)
 
(83
)
 

 
$
14

 
(70
)
Total recurring basis liabilities
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(83
)
 
$
(286
)
 
$
14

 
$
(356
)
% of total liabilities at fair value
 
0.3
%
 
23.3
%
 
80.3
%
 
(3.9
)%
 
100.0
%
(1) 
Includes $3 million of limited partnership interests written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing OTTI losses.
















Quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements
($ in millions)
 
Fair value
 
Valuation
technique
 
Unobservable
input
 
Range
 
Weighted
average
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts – Equity-indexed and forward starting options
 
$
(185
)
 
Stochastic cash flow model
 
Projected option cost
 
1.0 - 2.2%
 
1.74%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts – Equity-indexed and forward starting options
 
$
(252
)
 
Stochastic cash flow model
 
Projected option cost
 
1.0 - 2.2%
 
1.74%

The embedded derivatives are equity-indexed and forward starting options in certain life and annuity products that provide customers with interest crediting rates based on the performance of the S&P 500. If the projected option cost increased (decreased), it would result in a higher (lower) liability fair value.
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, Level 3 fair value measurements of fixed income securities total $325 million and $606 million, respectively, and include $105 million and $271 million, respectively, of securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and $44 million and $58 million, respectively, of municipal fixed income securities that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies. The Company does not develop the unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value; therefore, these are not included in the table above. However, an increase (decrease) in credit spreads for fixed income securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes would result in a lower (higher) fair value, and an increase (decrease) in the credit rating of municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies would result in a higher (lower) fair value.

Rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value during the year ended December 31, 2018
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
Total gains (losses) included in:
 
Transfers into Level 3
 
Transfers out of Level 3
 
($ in millions)
 
 
Net income (1)
 
OCI
 
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal
 
$
101

 
$
1

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$
(26
)
 
Corporate - public
 
108

 

 
(3
)
 
17

 
(21
)
 
Corporate - privately placed
 
224

 
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
20

 
(119
)
 
ABS - CDO
 
99

 

 
1

 
20

 
(109
)
 
ABS - consumer and other
 
48

 

 
1

 
22

 
(50
)
 
CMBS
 
26

 

 

 

 

 
Total fixed income securities
 
606

 

 
(6
)
 
79

 
(325
)
 
Equity securities
 
210

 
37

 

 

 

 
Short-term investments
 
20

 

 

 

 

 
Free-standing derivatives, net
 
1

 

 

 

 

 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
 
$
837


$
37


$
(6
)

$
79


$
(325
)
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$
(286
)
 
$
58

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
 
$
(286
)

$
58


$


$


$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Issues
 
Settlements
 
Balance as of December 31, 2018
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal
 
$
10

 
$
(8
)
 
$

 
$
(6
)
 
$
70

 
Corporate - public
 
10

 
(38
)
 

 
(3
)
 
70

 
Corporate - privately placed
 
22

 
(5
)
 

 
(48
)
 
90

 
ABS - CDO
 

 

 

 
(5
)
 
6

 
ABS - consumer and other
 
160

 
(97
)
 

 
(21
)
 
63

 
CMBS
 
1

 

 

 
(1
)
 
26

 
Total fixed income securities
 
203

 
(148
)
 

 
(84
)
 
325

 
Equity securities
 
109

 
(15
)
 

 

 
341

 
Short-term investments
 
55

 
(45
)
 

 

 
30

 
Free-standing derivatives, net
 

 

 

 

 
1

(2 
) 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
 
$
367

 
$
(208
)
 
$

 
$
(84
)
 
$
697

 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$

 
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$
6

 
$
(224
)
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
 
$

 
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$
6

 
$
(224
)
 
(1) 
The effect to net income totals $95 million and is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $37 million in realized capital gains and losses, $63 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(5) million in life contract benefits.
(2) 
Comprises $1 million of assets.

Rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value during the year ended December 31, 2017
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2016
 
Total gains (losses) included in:
 
Transfers into Level 3
 
Transfers out of Level 3
 
($ in millions)
 
 
Net income (1)
 
OCI
 
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal
 
125

 
(1
)
 
7

 

 
(6
)
 
Corporate - public
 
78

 

 

 
4

 
(30
)
 
Corporate - privately placed
 
263

 
8

 
(2
)
 
30

 
(49
)
 
ABS - CDO
 
27

 

 
6

 
60

 
(190
)
 
ABS - consumer and other
 
42

 

 

 

 
(90
)
 
RMBS
 
1

 

 

 

 

 
CMBS
 
22

 

 

 

 

 
Total fixed income securities
 
558


7


11


94


(365
)
 
Equity securities
 
163

 
13

 
4

 

 
(4
)
 
Short-term investments
 
15

 

 

 

 

 
Free-standing derivatives, net
 
(2
)
 
3

 

 

 

 
Other assets
 
1

 
(1
)
 

 

 

 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
 
$
735


$
22


$
15


$
94


$
(369
)
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$
(290
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
 
$
(290
)

$


$


$


$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Issues
 
Settlements
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal
 
8

 
(29
)
 

 
(3
)
 
101

 
Corporate - public
 
60

 

 

 
(4
)
 
108

 
Corporate - privately placed
 
44

 
(30
)
 

 
(40
)
 
224

 
ABS - CDO
 
219

 

 

 
(23
)
 
99

 
ABS - consumer and other
 
103

 

 

 
(7
)
 
48

 
RMBS
 

 

 

 
(1
)
 

 
CMBS
 
6

 

 

 
(2
)
 
26

 
Total fixed income securities
 
440

 
(59
)
 

 
(80
)
 
606

 
Equity securities
 
48

 
(14
)
 

 

 
210

 
Short-term investments
 
45

 
(40
)
 

 

 
20

 
Free-standing derivatives, net
 

 

 

 

 
1

(2) 
Other assets
 

 

 

 

 

 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
 
$
533

 
$
(113
)
 
$

 
$
(80
)
 
$
837

 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$

 
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$
6

 
$
(286
)
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
 
$

 
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$
6

 
$
(286
)
 
(1) 
The effect to net income totals $22 million and is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $4 million in realized capital gains and losses, $19 million in net investment income, $(10) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $9 million in life contract benefits.
(2) 
Comprises $1 million of assets.
Rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value during the year ended December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Total gains (losses) included in:
 
 
 
 
 
($ in millions)
 
Balance as of December 31, 2015
 
Net income (1)
 
OCI
 
Transfers into Level 3
 
Transfers out of Level 3
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agencies
 
$
5

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(4
)
 
Municipal
 
161

 
12

 
(10
)
 
6

 
(23
)
 
Corporate - public
 
46

 

 

 
41

 
(43
)
 
Corporate - privately placed
 
502

 
15

 
18

 
16

 
(398
)
 
ABS - CDO
 
61

 
1

 
6

 
10

 
(43
)
 
ABS - consumer and other
 
50

 

 
(3
)
 
3

 
(35
)
 
RMBS
 
1

 
1

 

 

 

 
CMBS
 
20

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
Total fixed income securities
 
846


29


11


76


(547
)
 
Equity securities
 
133

 
(32
)
 
12

 

 
(12
)
 
Short-term investments
 

 

 

 

 

 
Free-standing derivatives, net
 
(7
)
 
6

 

 

 

 
Other assets
 
1

 

 

 

 

 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
 
$
973


$
3


$
23


$
76


$
(559
)
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$
(299
)
 
$
5

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
 
$
(299
)

$
5


$


$


$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Issues
 
Settlements
 
Balance as of December 31, 2016
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agencies
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
Municipal
 
22

 
(40
)
 

 
(3
)
 
125

 
Corporate - public
 
47

 
(11
)
 

 
(2
)
 
78

 
Corporate - privately placed
 
181

 
(15
)
 

 
(56
)
 
263

 
ABS - CDO
 
40

 
(3
)
 

 
(45
)
 
27

 
ABS - consumer and other
 
35

 
(5
)
 

 
(3
)
 
42

 
RMBS
 

 
(1
)
 

 

 
1

 
CMBS
 
5

 

 

 
(2
)
 
22

 
Total fixed income securities
 
330

 
(75
)
 

 
(112
)
 
558

 
Equity securities
 
65

 
(4
)
 

 
1

 
163

 
Short-term investments
 
15

 

 

 

 
15

 
Free-standing derivatives, net
 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(2
)
(2) 
Other assets
 

 

 

 

 
1

 
Total recurring Level 3 assets
 
$
410

 
$
(79
)
 
$

 
$
(112
)
 
$
735

 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$

 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
$
7

 
$
(290
)
 
Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
 
$

 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
$
7

 
$
(290
)
 
(1) 
The effect to net income totals $8 million and is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $(9) million in realized capital gains and losses, $12 million in net investment income, $(4) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $9 million in life contract benefits.
(2) 
Comprises $1 million of assets and $3 million of liabilities.
Transfers between level categorizations may occur due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs, which generally are caused by changes in market conditions such as liquidity, trading volume or bid-ask spreads. Transfers between level categorizations may also occur due to changes in the valuation source, including situations where a fair value quote is not provided by the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider resulting in the price becoming stale or replaced with a broker quote whose inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable. This situation will result in the transfer of a security into Level 3. Transfers in and out of level categorizations are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurred. Therefore, for all transfers into Level 3, all realized and changes in unrealized gains and losses in the quarter of transfer are reflected in the Level 3 rollforward table.
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2018, 2017 or 2016.
Transfers into Level 3 during 2018, 2017 and 2016 included situations where a fair value quote was not provided by the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result the price was stale or had been replaced with a broker quote where the inputs had not been corroborated to be market observable resulting in the security being classified as Level 3. Transfers out of Level 3 during 2018, 2017 and 2016 included situations where a broker quote was used in the prior period and a fair value quote became available from the Company’s independent third-party valuation service provider in the current period. A quote utilizing the new pricing source was not available as of the prior period, and any gains or losses related to the change in valuation source for individual securities were not significant.
Valuation changes included in net income for Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of
 
 
December 31,
($ in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal
 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
$
2

Corporate
 

 
1

 
2

Total fixed income securities
 


(2
)

4

Equity securities
 
36

 
13

 
(32
)
Free-standing derivatives, net
 

 

 
5

Other assets
 

 
(1
)
 

Total recurring Level 3 assets
 
$
36


$
10


$
(23
)
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractholder funds: Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts
 
$
58

 
$

 
$
5

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities
 
$
58


$


$
5


The amounts in the table above represent the change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income for the period of time that the asset or liability was held and determined to be in Level 3. These gains and losses total $94 million in 2018 and are reported as follows: $36 million in realized capital gains and losses, $63 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(5) million in life contract benefits. These gains and losses total $10 million in 2017 and are reported as follows: $(8) million in realized capital gains and losses, $19 million in net investment income, $(10) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $9 million in life contract benefits. These gains and losses total $(18) million in 2016 and are reported as follows: $(36) million in realized capital gains and losses, $13 million in net investment income, $(4) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $9 million in life contract benefits.
Financial assets
Carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments not carried at fair value
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
($ in millions)
 
Fair value level
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
Mortgage loans
 
Level 3
 
$
4,670

 
$
4,703

 
$
4,534

 
$
4,732

Bank loans
 
Level 3
 
1,350

 
1,298

 
1,702

 
1,704

Agent loans
 
Level 3
 
620

 
617

 
538

 
536


Financial liabilities
Carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments not carried at fair value
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
($ in millions)
 
Fair value level
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
 
Carrying
value
 
Fair
value
Contractholder funds on investment contracts
 
Level 3
 
$
9,250

 
$
9,665

 
$
10,367

 
$
11,071

Long-term debt
 
Level 2
 
6,451

 
6,708

 
6,350

 
7,199

Liability for collateral
 
Level 2
 
1,458

 
1,458

 
1,124

 
1,124