Deferred Policy Acquisition and Sales Inducement Costs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Deferred Policy Acquisition and Sales Inducement Costs

Schedule of deferred policy acquisition costs

	2013
($ in millions)	Allstate Financial			Property- Liability			Total
Balance, beginning of year	$	2,225		$	1,396		$	3,621
Acquisition costs deferred		364			3,903			4,267
Amortization charged to income		(328	)		(3,674	)		(4,002	)
Effect of unrealized gains and losses		229			—			229
Classified as held for sale		(743	)		—			(743	)
Balance, end of year	$	1,747		$	1,625		$	3,372

	2012
	Allstate Financial			Property- Liability			Total
Balance, beginning of year	$	2,523		$	1,348		$	3,871
Acquisition costs deferred		371			3,531			3,902
Amortization charged to income		(401	)		(3,483	)		(3,884	)
Effect of unrealized gains and losses		(268	)		—			(268	)
Balance, end of year	$	2,225		$	1,396		$	3,621

	2011
	Allstate Financial			Property- Liability			Total
Balance, beginning of year	$	2,859		$	1,321		$	4,180
Esurance acquisition present value of future profits		—			42			42
Acquisition costs deferred		333			3,462			3,795
Amortization charged to income		(494	)		(3,477	)		(3,971	)
Effect of unrealized gains and losses		(175	)		—			(175	)
Balance, end of year	$	2,523		$	1,348		$	3,871

Schedule of DSI activity for Allstate Financial

($ in millions)	2013			2012			2011
Balance, beginning of year	$	41		$	41		$	86
Sales inducements deferred		24			22			7
Amortization charged to income		(7	)		(14	)		(23	)
Effect of unrealized gains and losses		12			(8	)		(29	)
Classified as held for sale		(28	)		—			—
Balance, end of year	$	42		$	41		$	41