Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the application of accounting policies that often involve a significant degree of judgment. Accounting policies that we believe are most dependent on the application of estimates and assumptions are considered our critical accounting estimates and are related to the determination of:

•loss reserves;

•future policy benefit reserves for life and accident and health insurance contracts;

•liabilities for guaranteed benefit features of variable annuity, fixed annuity and fixed index annuity products;

•embedded derivative liabilities for fixed index annuity and life products;

•estimated gross profits to value deferred acquisition costs and unearned revenue for investment-oriented products;

•reinsurance assets, including the allowance for credit losses and disputes;

•goodwill impairment;

•allowance for credit losses on certain investments, primarily on loans and available for sale fixed maturity securities;

•legal contingencies;

•fair value measurements of certain financial assets and financial liabilities; and

•income taxes, in particular the recoverability of our deferred tax asset and establishment of provisions for uncertain tax positions.

These accounting estimates require the use of assumptions about matters, some of which are highly uncertain at the time of estimation. To the extent actual experience differs from the assumptions used, our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially affected.

Accounting Standards Adopted and Future Application of Accounting Standards

ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ADOPTED

Reference Rate Reform

On March 12, 2020, the FASB issued an accounting standard that provides temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The standard allows us to account for certain contract modifications that result from the discontinuation of the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or another reference rate as a continuation of the existing contract without additional analysis. This standard may be elected and applied prospectively over time from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022 as reference rate reform activities occur.

Where permitted by the guidance, we have accounted for contract modifications stemming from the discontinuation of LIBOR or another reference rate as a continuation of the existing contract. As part of our implementation efforts, we have and will continue to assess our operational readiness and current and alternative reference rates’ merits, limitations, risks and suitability for our investment and insurance processes. The adoption of the standard has not had, and is not expected to have, a material impact on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and required disclosures.

FUTURE APPLICATION OF ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts

In August 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update with the objective of making targeted improvements to the existing recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements for long-duration contracts issued by an insurance entity.

The Company will adopt the standard on January 1, 2023. We continue to evaluate and expect the adoption of this standard will impact our financial condition, results of operations, statement of cash flows and disclosures, as well as systems, processes and controls.

The Company will adopt the standard using the modified retrospective transition method relating to liabilities for traditional and limited payment contracts and deferred policy acquisition costs associated therewith. The Company will adopt the standard in relation to market risk benefits (MRBs) on a retrospective basis. Based upon this transition method, the Company currently estimates that the January 1, 2021 transition date (Transition Date) impact from adoption is likely to result in a decrease in AIG’s equity between approximately $1.0 billion and $3.0 billion in AIG’s Life and Retirement business. The most significant drivers of the transition adjustment are expected to be (1) changes related to market risk benefits in our Individual Retirement and Group Retirement segments, including the impact of non-performance adjustments (2) changes to the discount rate which will most significantly impact our Life Insurance and Institutional Markets segments and (3) the removal of balances recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) related to changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments.

Market risk benefits: The standard requires the measurement of all MRBs associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts at fair value at each reporting period. Changes in fair value compared to prior periods will be recorded and presented separately within the income statement, with the exception of instrument-specific credit risk changes (non-performance adjustments), which will be recognized in other comprehensive income. MRBs will impact both retained earnings and AOCI upon transition.

As MRBs are required to be accounted for at fair value, the quarterly valuation of these items will result in variability and volatility in the Company’s results following adoption.

Discount rate assumption: The standard requires the discount rate assumption for the liability for future policy benefits to be updated at the end of each reporting period using an upper-medium grade (low credit risk) fixed income instrument yield that maximizes the use of observable market inputs. Upon transition, the Company currently estimates an adjustment to AOCI due to the fact that the market upper-medium grade (low credit risk) interest rates as of the Transition Date differ from reserve interest accretion rates. Lower interest rates result in a higher liability for future policy benefits, and are anticipated to more significantly impact our Life Insurance and Institutional Markets segments.

Following adoption, the impact of changes to discount rates will be recognized through other comprehensive income. Changes resulting from unlocking the discount rate each reporting period will primarily impact term life insurance and other traditional life insurance products, as well as pension risk transfer and structured settlement products.

Removal of balances related to changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments: Under the standard, the majority of balances recorded in AOCI related to changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments will be eliminated.

In addition to the above, the standard also:

•Requires the review and if necessary, update of future policy benefit assumptions at least annually for traditional and limited pay long duration contracts, with the recognition and separate presentation of any resulting re-measurement gain or loss (except for discount rate changes as noted above) in the income statement.

•Simplifies the amortization of DAC to a constant level basis over the expected term of the related contracts with adjustments for unexpected terminations, but no longer requires an impairment test.

•Increased disclosures of disaggregated roll-forwards of several balances, including: liabilities for future policy benefits, deferred acquisition costs, account balances, market risk benefits, separate account liabilities and information about significant inputs, judgments and methods used in measurement and changes thereto and impact of those changes.

We expect that the accounting for Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd. (Fortitude Re) will continue to remain largely unchanged. With respect to Fortitude Re, the reinsurance assets, including the discount rates, will continue to be calculated using the same methodology and assumptions as the direct policies. Accounting for modified coinsurance (modco) remains unchanged.

The Company has created a governance framework and a plan to support implementation of the updated standard. As part of its implementation plan, the Company has also advanced the modernization of its actuarial technology platform to enhance its modeling, data management, experience study and analytical capabilities, increase the end-to-end automation of key reporting and analytical processes and optimize its control framework. The Company has designed and begun implementation and testing of internal controls related to the new processes created as part of implementing the updated standard and will continue to refine these internal controls until the formal implementation in the first quarter of 2023.

Troubled Debt Restructuring and Vintage Disclosures

In March 2022, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that eliminates the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings for creditors and amends the guidance on “vintage disclosures” to require disclosure of current-period gross write-offs by year of origination. The standard also updates the requirements for accounting for credit losses by adding enhanced disclosures for creditors related to loan refinancings and restructurings for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Because the Company has already adopted the current expected credit loss (CECL) model, the amendments in this standard are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years. We do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or required disclosures.

Fair Value Measurement

On June 30, 2022, the FASB issued an accounting standards update to address diversity in practice by clarifying that a contractual sale restriction should not be considered in the measurement of the fair value of an equity security. It also requires entities with investments in equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions to disclose certain qualitative and quantitative information about such securities. The guidance is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim period within those years, with early adoption permitted. For entities other than investment companies, the accounting standards update applies prospectively, with any adjustments resulting from adoption recognized in earnings on the date of adoption. We are assessing the impact of this standard.

Investments

We purchase certain RMBS securities that have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. These are referred to as PCD assets. At the time of purchase an allowance is recognized for these PCD assets by adding it to the purchase price to arrive at the initial amortized cost. There is no credit loss expense recognized upon acquisition of a PCD asset. When determining the initial allowance for credit losses, management considers the historical performance of underlying assets and available market information as well as bond-specific structural considerations, such as credit enhancement and the priority of payment structure of the security. In addition, the process of estimating future cash flows includes, but is not limited to, the following critical inputs:

•Current delinquency rates;

•Expected default rates and the timing of such defaults;

•Loss severity and the timing of any recovery; and

•Expected prepayment speeds.

Subsequent to the acquisition date, the PCD assets follow the same accounting as other structured securities that are not high credit quality.

Reinsurance

Fortitude Re is the reinsurer of the majority of AIG’s run-off operations. The reinsurance transactions are structured as modco and loss portfolio transfer arrangements with funds withheld (funds withheld). In modco and funds withheld arrangements, the investments supporting the reinsurance agreements, and which reflect the majority of the consideration that would be paid to the reinsurer for entering into the transaction, are withheld by, and therefore continue to reside on the balance sheet of, the ceding company (i.e., AIG) thereby creating an obligation for the ceding company to pay the reinsurer (i.e., Fortitude Re) at a later date. Additionally, as AIG maintains ownership of these investments, AIG will maintain its existing accounting for these assets (e.g., the changes in fair value of available for sale securities will be recognized within Other comprehensive income (loss)). As a result of the deconsolidation resulting from the Majority Interest Fortitude Sale, AIG has established a funds withheld payable to Fortitude Re while simultaneously establishing a reinsurance asset representing reserves for the insurance coverage that Fortitude Re has assumed. The funds withheld payable contains an embedded derivative and changes in fair value of the embedded derivative related to the funds withheld payable are recognized in earnings through Net realized gains (losses). This embedded derivative is considered a total return swap with contractual returns that are attributable to various assets and liabilities associated with these reinsurance agreements.

For additional information on Fortitude Re see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2021 Annual Report.

There is a diverse pool of assets supporting the funds withheld arrangements with Fortitude Re. The following summarizes the composition of the pool of assets:

	June 30, 2022				December 31, 2021
(in millions)	Carrying Value			Fair Value	Carrying Value			Fair Value	Corresponding Accounting Policy
Fixed maturity securities - available for sale(a)	$	21,982	$	21,982	$	31,815	$	31,815	Fair value through other comprehensive income (loss)
Fixed maturity securities - fair value option		3,309		3,309		1,983		1,983	Fair value through net investment income
Commercial mortgage loans		4,126		4,010		3,637		3,859	Amortized cost
Real estate investments		168		422		201		395	Amortized cost
Private equity funds / hedge funds		1,794		1,794		1,606		1,606	Fair value through net investment income
Policy loans		364		364		380		380	Amortized cost
Short-term investments		135		135		50		50	Fair value through net investment income
Funds withheld investment assets		31,878		32,016		39,672		40,088
Derivative assets, net(b)		94		94		81		81	Fair value through net realized gains (losses)
Other(c)		860		860		602		602	Amortized cost
Total	$	32,832	$	32,970	$	40,355	$	40,771

(a)The change in the net unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities related to the Fortitude Re funds withheld assets was $(6.1) billion ($(4.8) billion after-tax) and $(1.6) billion ($(1.3) billion after-tax), respectively for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.

(b)The derivative assets and liabilities have been presented net of cash collateral. The derivative assets and liabilities supporting the Fortitude Re funds withheld arrangements had a fair market value of $369 million and $20 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2022. The derivative assets and liabilities supporting the Fortitude Re funds withheld arrangements had a fair market value of $389 million and $10 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021. These derivative assets and liabilities are fully collateralized either by cash or securities.

(c)Primarily comprised of Cash and Accrued investment income.

The estimation of reinsurance recoverables involves a significant amount of judgment, particularly for latent exposures, such as asbestos, due to their long-tail nature. Reinsurance assets include reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses that are estimated as part of our loss reserving process and, consequently, are subject to similar judgments and uncertainties as the estimation of gross loss reserves. Similarly, Other assets include reinsurance recoverables for contracts which are accounted for as deposits.

We assess the collectability of reinsurance recoverable balances in each reporting period, through either historical trends of disputes and credit events or financial analysis of the credit quality of the reinsurer. We record adjustments to reflect the results of these assessments through an allowance for credit losses and disputes that reduces the carrying amount of reinsurance and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets (collectively, reinsurance recoverables). This estimate requires significant judgment for which key considerations include:

•paid and unpaid amounts recoverable;

•whether the balance is in dispute or subject to legal collection;

•the relative financial health of the reinsurer as determined by the Obligor Risk Ratings (ORRs) we assign to each reinsurer based upon our financial reviews; reinsurers that are financially troubled (i.e., in run-off, have voluntarily or involuntarily been placed in receivership, are insolvent, are in the process of liquidation or otherwise subject to formal or informal regulatory restriction) are assigned ORRs that will generate a significant allowance; and

•whether collateral and collateral arrangements exist.

An estimate of the reinsurance recoverables lifetime expected credit losses is established utilizing a probability of default and loss given default method, which reflects the reinsurer’s ORR. The allowance for credit losses excludes disputed amounts. An allowance for disputes is established for a reinsurance recoverable using the losses incurred model for contingencies.

Credit Losses

The estimation of reinsurance recoverables involves a significant amount of judgment, particularly for latent exposures, such as asbestos, due to their long-tail nature. Reinsurance assets include reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses that are estimated as part of our loss reserving process and, consequently, are subject to similar judgments and uncertainties as the estimation of gross loss reserves. Similarly, Other assets include reinsurance recoverables for contracts which are accounted for as deposits.

We assess the collectability of reinsurance recoverable balances in each reporting period, through either historical trends of disputes and credit events or financial analysis of the credit quality of the reinsurer. We record adjustments to reflect the results of these assessments through an allowance for credit losses and disputes that reduces the carrying amount of reinsurance and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets (collectively, reinsurance recoverables). This estimate requires significant judgment for which key considerations include:

•paid and unpaid amounts recoverable;

•whether the balance is in dispute or subject to legal collection;

•the relative financial health of the reinsurer as determined by the Obligor Risk Ratings (ORRs) we assign to each reinsurer based upon our financial reviews; reinsurers that are financially troubled (i.e., in run-off, have voluntarily or involuntarily been placed in receivership, are insolvent, are in the process of liquidation or otherwise subject to formal or informal regulatory restriction) are assigned ORRs that will generate a significant allowance; and

•whether collateral and collateral arrangements exist.

An estimate of the reinsurance recoverables lifetime expected credit losses is established utilizing a probability of default and loss given default method, which reflects the reinsurer’s ORR. The allowance for credit losses excludes disputed amounts. An allowance for disputes is established for a reinsurance recoverable using the losses incurred model for contingencies.

Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (Loss Reserves)

Loss reserves represent the accumulation of estimates of unpaid claims, including estimates for claims incurred but not reported and loss adjustment expenses, less applicable discount. We regularly review and update the methods used to determine loss reserve estimates. Because these estimates are subject to the outcome of future events, changes in estimates are common given that loss trends vary and time is often required for changes in trends to be recognized and confirmed. Any adjustments resulting from this review are reflected currently in pre-tax income, except to the extent such adjustment impacts a deferred gain under a retroactive reinsurance agreement, in which case the ceded portion would be amortized into pre-tax income in subsequent periods. Reserve changes that increase previous estimates of ultimate cost are referred to as unfavorable or adverse development or reserve strengthening. Reserve changes that decrease previous estimates of ultimate cost are referred to as favorable development or reserve releases.