Deferred Policy Acquisition and Sales Inducement Costs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Deferred Policy Acquisition and Sales Inducement Costs

Schedule of deferred policy acquisition costs

Deferred policy acquisition costs activity
	For the years ended December 31,
($ in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Balance, beginning of year	$	4,699	$	4,784	$	4,191
Acquisition costs deferred	5,758		5,622		5,663
Amortization charged to income	(5,630)		(5,533)		(5,222)
Effect of unrealized gains and losses	(127)		(174)		152
Balance, end of year	$	4,700	$	4,699	$	4,784

Schedule of DSI activity for Allstate Financial

Deferred sales inducement costs activity (1)
	For the years ended December 31,
($ in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Balance, beginning of year	$	27	$	34	$	36
Amortization charged to income	(5)		(5)		(4)
Effect of unrealized gains and losses	3		(2)		2
Balance, end of year	$	25	$	27	$	34

(1)Deferred sales inducement costs primarily relate to fixed annuities and interest-sensitive life contracts and are recorded as part of other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.