Business Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Fiscal Period

Certain international subsidiaries have a fiscal year-end of November 30. Accordingly, the Company’s interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries as of February 29, 2012 and the operating results of such subsidiaries for the three months ended February 29, 2012 and February 28, 2011.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

In applying the Company’s accounting policies, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance and financial services industries; others are specific to the Company’s business and operations. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Consolidation of Subsidiaries

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries, as well as partnerships and joint ventures in which the Company has control, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Closed block assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses are combined on a line-by-line basis with the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses outside the closed block based on the nature of the particular item. See Note 9. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in equity securities in which it has a significant influence or more than a 20% interest and for real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests in which it has more than a minor ownership interest or more than a minor influence over the joint venture’s or partnership’s operations, but does not have a controlling interest and is not the primary beneficiary. The Company uses the cost method of accounting for investments in real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests in which it has a minor equity investment and virtually no influence over the joint venture’s or the partnership’s operations.

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company at March 31, 2012, its consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, its consolidated statements of equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, and its consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, in conformity with GAAP. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year performance. The December 31, 2011 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in MetLife, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 Annual Report”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which include all disclosures required by GAAP. Therefore, these interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the 2011 Annual Report.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

The Company incurs significant costs in connection with acquiring new and renewal insurance business. Costs that are related directly to the successful acquisition or renewal of insurance contracts are deferred as deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”). Such costs include: (1) incremental direct costs of contract acquisition, such as commissions, (2) the portion of an employee’s total compensation and benefits related to time spent selling, underwriting or processing the issuance of new and renewal insurance business only with respect to actual policies acquired or renewed, (3) other direct costs essential to contract acquisition that would not have been incurred had a policy not been acquired or renewed, and (4) in limited circumstances, the costs of direct-response advertising whose primary purpose is to elicit sales to customers who could be shown to have responded specifically to the advertising and that results in probable future benefits. All other acquisition-related costs, including those related to general advertising and solicitation, market research, agent training, product development, unsuccessful sales and underwriting efforts, as well as all indirect costs, are expensed as incurred.

The Company’s policies relating to the establishment of value of business acquired (“VOBA”), amortization of DAC and VOBA, review of estimated gross margin and profit projections, and internal replacements are described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2011 Annual Report.