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General
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
General [Abstract]  
General
Note 1
General
Basis of presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Allstate Corporation (the “Corporation”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”), a property and casualty insurance company with various property and casualty and life and investment subsidiaries, including Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) (collectively referred to as the “Company” or “Allstate”). These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2020 and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods.
These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Recent development
The Novel Coronavirus Pandemic or COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. These measures, which have included the implementation of travel restrictions, government-imposed shelter-in-place orders, quarantine periods, social distancing, and restrictions on large gatherings, have caused material disruption to businesses globally, resulting in increased unemployment, a recession and increased economic uncertainty. Some of the restrictions implemented to contain the pandemic have been relaxed, but reduced economic activity, limits on large gatherings and events and higher unemployment continue. Additionally, there is no way of predicting with certainty how long the pandemic might last, including the potential for restrictions being restored or new restrictions being implemented that could result in further economic volatility.
Depending on its length and severity, the Coronavirus and the related containment actions may significantly affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, including
sales of new and retention of existing policies, driving behavior and auto frequency, shared economy demand, severity costs, life insurance mortality and hospital and outpatient claim costs, annuity reserves, investment valuations and returns and increases in bad debt and credit allowance exposure.
The magnitude and duration of the global pandemic and the impact of actions taken by governmental authorities, businesses and consumers to mitigate health risks create significant uncertainty. The Company will continue to closely monitor and proactively adapt to developments and changing conditions. Currently, it is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of the pandemic or its impact to the Company’s operations, but the effects could be material and may continue, emerge, evolve or accelerate into 2021.
Adopted accounting standard
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Effective January 1, 2020 the Company adopted new Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments that primarily affected mortgage loans, bank loans and reinsurance recoverables.
Upon adoption of the guidance, the Company recorded a total allowance for expected credit losses of $289 million, pre-tax. After consideration of existing valuation allowances maintained prior to adopting the new guidance, the Company increased its valuation allowances for credit losses to conform to the new requirements which resulted in recognizing a cumulative effect decrease in retained income of $88 million, after-tax, at the date of adoption. The measurement of credit losses for available-for-sale fixed income securities measured at fair value is not affected except that credit losses recognized are limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost and the credit loss adjustment is recognized through a valuation allowance which may change over time but once recorded cannot subsequently be reduced to an amount below zero. Previously these credit loss adjustments were recorded as other-than-temporary impairments and were not reversed once recorded.
Changes to significant accounting policies
newa12.jpg Measurement of credit losses The Company carries an allowance for expected credit losses for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and considers past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts and reports the financial assets on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at amortized cost, net of credit loss allowances (“amortized cost, net”). The
Company also carries a credit loss allowance for fixed income securities where applicable and, when amortized cost is reported, it is net of credit loss allowances. For additional information, refer to the Investments, Reinsurance recoverables, Indemnification recoverables and Premium installment receivable topics of this section.
The Company also estimates a credit loss allowance for commitments to fund mortgage loans, bank loans and agent loans unless they are unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The related allowance is reported in other liabilities and accrued expenses.
Allowance for credit losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in millions)
 
September 30, 2020
 
June 30, 2020
 
March 31, 2020
 
January 1, 2020
Fixed income securities
 
$
8

 
$
7

 
$
4

 
$

Mortgage loans
 
85

 
86

 
85

 
45

Other investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Bank loans
 
61

 
76

 
79

 
53

Agent loans
 
5

 
5

 
5

 
5

Investments
 
159

 
174

 
173

 
103

Premium installment receivables
 
153

 
139

 
96

 
91

Reinsurance recoverables
 
75

 
74

 
74

 
74

Other assets
 
22

 
23

 
18

 
18

Assets
 
409

 
410

 
361

 
286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commitments to fund mortgage loans, bank loans and agent loans
 
2

 
3

 
4

 
3

Liabilities
 
2


3

 
4

 
3

Total
 
$
411

 
$
413

 
$
365

 
$
289


Investments Fixed income securities include bonds, asset-backed securities (“ABS”) and mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”). MBS includes residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities. Fixed income securities, which may be sold prior to their contractual maturity, are designated as available-for-sale (“AFS”) and are carried at fair value. The difference between amortized cost, net and fair value, net of deferred income taxes and related life and annuity deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), deferred sales inducement costs (“DSI”) and reserves for life-contingent contract benefits, is reflected as a component of AOCI. The Company excludes accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of its AFS fixed income securities. Net investment income for AFS fixed income securities includes the impact of accreting the credit loss allowance for the time value of money.
Mortgage loans, bank loans and agent loans are carried at amortized cost, net, which represent the amount expected to be collected. The Company excludes accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of its mortgage, bank and agent loans. Credit loss allowances are estimates of expected credit losses, established for loans upon origination or purchase, and are established considering all relevant information available, including past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts over the life of the loans. Loans are evaluated on a pooled basis when they share similar risk characteristics; otherwise, they are evaluated individually.
The changes in the credit loss allowances related to fixed income securities, mortgage loans, bank loans and agent loans are reported in realized capital gains and losses. Realized capital gains and losses on investment sales are determined on a specific
identification basis and exclude credit losses already recognized through an allowance.
Reinsurance recoverables The Company evaluates reinsurer counterparty credit risk and records reinsurance recoverables net of credit loss allowances. The Company assesses counterparty credit risk for individual reinsurers separately when more relevant or on a pooled basis when shared risk characteristics exist. The evaluation considers the credit quality of the reinsurer and the period over which the recoverable balances are expected to be collected. The Company considers factors including past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts in the development of the estimate of credit loss allowances.
Allowances for property and casualty and life reinsurance recoverables are established primarily through risk-based evaluations.
The property and casualty recoverable evaluation considers the credit rating of the reinsurer, the period over which the reinsurance recoverable balances are expected to be recovered and other relevant factors including historical experience of reinsurer failures. Reinsurers in liquidation or in default status are evaluated individually using the Company’s historical liquidation recovery assumptions and any other relevant information available including the most recent public information related to the financial condition or liquidation status of the reinsurer.
For life reinsurance recoverables, the Company uses a probability of default and loss given default model developed independently of the Company to estimate current expected credit losses. The life reinsurance recoverable evaluation utilizes factors including historical industry factors based on the
probability of liquidation, and incorporates current loss given default factors reflective of the industry.
The Company monitors the credit ratings of reinsurer counterparties and evaluates the circumstances surrounding credit rating changes as inputs into its credit loss assessments. Uncollectible reinsurance recoverable balances are written off against the allowances when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.
The changes in the allowances are reported in property and casualty insurance claims and claims expense and life contract benefits.
Indemnification recoverables The Company participates in various indemnification programs, including industry pools and facilities, which are reimbursement mechanisms that assess participating insurers for expected insured claims, reimburse participating insurers for qualifying paid claims and permit participating insurers to recoup amounts assessed directly from insureds. The amounts reported as indemnification recoverables include amounts paid and due from indemnitors as well as estimates of amounts expected to be recovered from indemnitors on insurance liabilities that have been incurred but not yet paid. The design and function of these indemnification programs does not result in the retention of insurance or reinsurance risk by the
indemnitor. Based on the Company’s evaluation of these programs on an individual basis, the establishment of credit loss allowances is not warranted at this time. The Company has not experienced any historical credit losses related to its indemnification programs. The Company continues to monitor these programs to determine whether any changes from historical experience have emerged or are expected to emerge or whether there have been any changes in the design or administration of the programs that would require establishment of credit loss allowances.
Premium installment receivables Premium installment receivables represent premiums written and not yet collected, net of the credit loss allowance for uncollectible premiums. These receivables are primarily outstanding for one year or less. The Company utilizes historical internal data including aging analyses to estimate allowances under current conditions and for the forecast period. The Company regularly evaluates and updates the data and adjusts its allowance as appropriate.
The increase in the provision for credit losses primarily related to customer enrollment in the Allstate Special Payment plan implemented in response to the Coronavirus, starting in March 2020.
Rollforward of credit loss allowance for premium installment receivables
 
 
($ in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30, 2020
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2020
Beginning balance
 
$
139

 
$
91

Increase in the provision for credit losses
 
65

 
201

Write-off of uncollectible premium installment receivable amounts
 
(51
)
 
(139
)
Ending balance
 
$
153

 
$
153


Pending accounting standards
Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans In August 2018, the FASB issued amendments to modify certain disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans. New disclosures include the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and other plans with interest crediting rates and explanations for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation during the reporting period. Disclosures to be eliminated include amounts expected to be reclassified out of AOCI and into the income statement in the coming year and the anticipated impact of a one-percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate on service and interest cost and on the accumulated benefit obligation. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The impacts of adoption are to the Company’s disclosures only.
Accounting for Long-Duration Insurance Contracts In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance revising the accounting for certain long-duration insurance contracts. The new guidance introduces material changes to the measurement of the Company’s reserves for traditional life, life-contingent immediate
annuities and certain voluntary accident and health insurance products.
Under the new guidance, measurement assumptions, including those for mortality, morbidity and policy terminations, will be required to be reviewed and updated at least annually. The effect of updating measurement assumptions other than the discount rate are required to be measured on a retrospective basis and reported in net income. In addition, reserves under the new guidance are required to be discounted using an upper-medium grade fixed income instrument yield that is updated through OCI at each reporting date. Current GAAP requires the measurement of reserves to utilize assumptions set at policy issuance unless updated current assumptions indicate that recorded reserves are deficient.
The new guidance also requires DAC and other capitalized balances currently amortized in proportion to premiums or gross profits to be amortized on a constant level basis over the expected term for all long-duration insurance contracts. DAC will not be subject to loss recognition testing but will be reduced when actual lapse experience exceeds expected experience. The new guidance will no longer require adjustments to DAC and DSI related to unrealized
gains and losses on investment securities supporting the related business.
All market risk benefit product features will be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in net income with the exception of changes in the fair value attributable to changes in the reporting entity’s own credit risk, which are required to be recognized in OCI. Substantially all of the Company’s market risk benefits relate to variable annuities that are reinsured, and therefore these impacts are not expected to be material to the Company.
The new guidance is effective for financial statements issued for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, thereby requiring restatement of prior periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The FASB decided to defer the effective date to periods beginning after December 15, 2022 and require restatement of only one prior period if early adoption is elected. The FASB decision is final but pending publication. The new guidance will be applied to affected contracts and DAC on the basis of existing carrying amounts at the earliest period presented or retrospectively using actual historical experience as of contract inception. The new guidance for market risk benefits is required to be adopted retrospectively.

The Company is evaluating the anticipated impacts of applying the new guidance to both retained income and AOCI. The requirements of the new guidance represent a material change from existing GAAP, however, the underlying economics of the business and related cash flows are unchanged. The Company anticipates the financial statement impact of adopting the new guidance to be material, largely attributed to the impact of transitioning to a discount rate based on an upper-medium grade fixed income investment yield. The Company expects the most significant impacts will occur in the run-off annuity segment. The revised accounting for DAC will be applied prospectively using the new model and any DAC effects existing in AOCI as a result of applying existing GAAP at the date of adoption will be eliminated.
Simplifications to the Accounting for Income Taxes In December 2019, the FASB issued amendments to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The amendments eliminate certain exceptions in the existing guidance including those related to intraperiod tax allocation and deferred tax liability recognition when a subsidiary meets the criteria to apply the equity method of accounting. The amendments require recognition of the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the interim period that includes the enactment date, provide an option to not allocate taxes to a legal entity that is not subject to tax as well as other minor changes. The amendments are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The new guidance specifies which amendments should be applied prospectively, retrospectively, or on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained income as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The impact of adoption is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.