2. New Accounting Standards

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

The following table provides a description of our adoption of new ASUs issued by the FASB and the impact of the adoption on our financial statements:



Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity	This standard changed the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. The disposal of a component of an entity must be reported as a discontinued operation if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The amendments also require entities to provide new disclosures about a disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations presentation.	October 1, 2014	We applied the guidance in this standard to our sale of Lincoln Financial Media Company (“LFM”) in the fourth quarter of 2014. For more information regarding our sale of LFM, see Note 3.
ASU 2014-16, Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share is More Akin to Debt or to Equity	This standard clarifies that when considering the nature of the host contract in a hybrid financial instrument issued in the form of a share; an entity must consider all of the stated and implied substantive terms of the hybrid instrument, including the embedded derivative feature that is being considered for separate accounting from the host contract.	January 1, 2016	The adoption of this ASU did not have an effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis	This standard addresses consolidation accounting guidance related to limited partnerships, limited liability companies and securitization structures. The new standard includes changes to existing consolidation models that eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, clarifies when fees paid to a decision maker should be a factor in the VIE consolidation evaluation and reduces the VIE consolidation models from two to one by eliminating the indefinite deferral for certain investment funds.	January 1, 2016	The adoption of this ASU did not have an effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations. We have provided additional financial statement disclosures related to our limited partnerships in Note 4.
ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs	Debt issuance costs were previously recognized as a deferred charge in the balance sheet. This amendment requires the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt. This standard does not change the recognition and measurement requirements related to debt issuance costs. Retrospective application of the amendments in this ASU is required.	January 1, 2016	We have retrospectively reclassified approximately $29 million of our debt issuance costs from other assets to long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015. See ASU 2015-15 for debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements.
ASU 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement	This standard clarifies the accounting requirements for recognizing cloud computing arrangements. Software licenses purchased through cloud computing arrangements should be accounted for in a manner consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the arrangement should be accounted for as a service contract.	January 1, 2016	The adoption of this ASU did not have an effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2015-07, Disclosures for Certain Investments That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or its Equivalent)	This standard removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. In addition, the standard removes the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient, and limits those disclosures only to those investments for which the practical expedient has been elected.	January 1, 2016	The adoption of this ASU did not result in a change to our financial statement disclosures.
ASU 2015-09, Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts	This standard enhances the disclosure requirements related to short-duration insurance contracts. The new disclosure requirements focus on providing users of financial statements with more transparent information related to short-duration contracts about an insurance entity’s (1) initial claims estimates and subsequent adjustments to those estimates, (2) methodologies and judgments in estimating claims and (3) timing, frequency and severity of claims. Retrospective application is required for each comparative period presented, except for those requirements that apply only to the current period.	Annual periods beginning January 1, 2016	The adoption of this ASU did not result in a change to our financial statements as we determined these additional disclosures are not material to our financial statements.
ASU 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements	Given the absence of authoritative accounting guidance in ASU 2015-03 related to debt issuance costs for line-of-credit arrangements, this standard clarifies that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting these debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement.	January 1, 2016	The adoption of this ASU did not have an effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting	These amendments require all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled rather than through additional paid-in capital in the equity section of the balance sheet. The amendments also permit an employer to repurchase an employee’s shares at the maximum statutory tax rate in the employee’s applicable jurisdiction for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting. Finally, the amendments permit entities to make a one-time accounting policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. Specific adoption methods depend on the issue being adopted and range from prospective to retrospective adoption. Early adoption is permitted; however, all amendments must be adopted in the same period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period.	Early adopted as of October 1, 2016	We recognized an income tax benefit of $8 million in federal income tax expense (benefit) in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2016. The income tax benefit includes a reclassification of $3 million from additional paid-in capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as the transition guidance requires us to reflect any adjustment as of January 1, 2016. For more information, see “Note 1 – Earnings Per Share.”

Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards

The following table provides a description of future adoptions of new accounting standards that may have an impact on our financial statements when adopted:


Standard	Description	Projected Date of Adoption	Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers & ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers; Deferral of the Effective Date	This standard establishes the core principle of recognizing revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods and services. The amendments define a five-step process that systematically identifies the various components of the revenue recognition process, culminating with the recognition of revenue upon satisfaction of an entity’s performance obligation. Retrospective application is required. After performing extensive outreach, the FASB decided to delay the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year. Early application is permitted but only for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.	January 1, 2018	Our primary sources of revenues are recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 944, Financial Services – Insurance (“Topic 944”). All contracts within the scope of Topic 944 are excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09. The initial phase of our adoption project indicates the revenue we report in other revenues in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) is our primary revenue source that is within scope of this ASU. We continue to evaluate the impact of adopting this ASU on our revenue recognition for contracts within scope.
ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	These amendments require, among other things, the fair value measurement of investments in equity securities and certain other ownership interests that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The change in fair value of the impacted investments in equity securities must be recognized in net income. In addition, the amendments include certain enhancements to the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial assets and financial liabilities. Early adoption of the ASU is generally not permitted, except as defined in the ASU. The amendments should be adopted in the financial statements through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings.	January 1, 2018	We hold equity securities classified as AFS securities that are currently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through OCI. Upon adoption of this ASU, we will be required to recognize changes in fair value of our equity securities through net income. See Note 5 for details regarding our equity securities currently classified as AFS securities.
ASU 2016-02, Leases	This standard establishes a new accounting model for leases. Lessees will recognize most leases on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a related lease liability. The lease liability is measured as the present value of the lease payments over the lease term with the right-of-use asset measured at the lease liability amount and including adjustments for certain lease incentives and initial direct costs. Lease expense recognition will continue to differentiate between finance leases and operating leases resulting in a similar pattern of lease expense recognition as under current GAAP. This ASU permits a modified retrospective adoption approach that includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect upon adoption. Early adoption is permitted.	January 1, 2019	We are currently identifying all of our leases that will be within the scope of this standard; as such, we continue to evaluate the quantitative impact of adopting this ASU on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Based on our initial assessment, we do not expect there to be a significant difference in our pattern of lease expense recognition under this ASU.
Standard	Description	Projected Date of Adoption	Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2016-05, Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships	The amendments clarify that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument identified in a hedging relationship in and of itself does not require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. The ASU may be adopted prospectively or through a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted.	January 1, 2017	This amendment is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
ASU 2016-06, Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments	The amendments clarify the requirements for assessing whether contingent call and put options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. Upon adoption of this ASU, entities will be required to assess embedded call and put options solely in accordance with the four-step decision sequence that was developed by the FASB Derivatives Implementation Group. The ASU should be adopted based on a modified retrospective basis for existing debt instruments. Early adoption is permitted.	January 1, 2017	This amendment is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
ASU 2016-08, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)	These amendments clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09, including how an entity should identify the unit of accounting for the principal versus agent evaluation. In addition, the amendments clarify how to apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements, such as service transactions, by explaining what a principal controls before the good or service is transferred to the customer. Transition requirements are consistent with ASU 2014-09.	January 1, 2018	We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. See comments under ASU 2014-09 for more information.
ASU 2016-10, Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing	These amendments clarify, among other things, the accounting guidance in ASU 2014-09 regarding how an entity will determine whether promised goods or services are separately identifiable, which is an important consideration in determining whether to account for goods or services as a separate performance obligation. Transition requirements are consistent with ASU 2014-09.	January 1, 2018	We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. See comments under ASU 2014-09 for more information.
ASU 2016-12, Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients	The standard update amends the revenue recognition guidance in ASU 2014-09 related to transition, collectability, noncash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes. The amendments clarify that, for a contract to be considered completed at transition, substantially all of the revenue must have been recognized under current GAAP. The amendments also clarify how an entity should evaluate the collectability threshold and when an entity can recognize nonrefundable consideration received as revenue if an arrangement does not meet the standard’s contract criteria. Transition requirements are consistent with ASU 2014-09.	January 1, 2018	We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. See comments under ASU 2014-09 for more information.
Standard	Description	Projected Date of Adoption	Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	These amendments adopt a new model to measure and recognize credit losses for most financial assets. The method used to measure estimated credit losses for AFS debt securities will be unchanged from current GAAP; however, the amendments require credit losses to be recognized through an allowance rather than as a reduction to the amortized cost of those debt securities. The amendments will permit entities to recognize improvements in credit loss estimates on AFS debt securities by reducing the allowance account immediately through earnings. The amendments will be adopted through a cumulative effect adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of the first reporting period in which the amendments are effective. Early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein.	January 1, 2020	We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations, with a primary focus on our fixed maturity securities (see Note 5). We currently reduce the amortized cost of the individual security when recognizing OTTI on these securities. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-13, we will no longer reduce the amortized cost of each individual security; rather we will establish a valuation allowance, and any declines or improvements in credit quality will be recognized through the valuation allowance.
ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments	These amendments clarify the classification of eight specific cash flow issues in an entity’s statement of cash flows where it was determined by the FASB that there is diversity in practice. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted, and retrospective transition is required for each period presented in the statement of cash flows.	January 1, 2018	We are currently evaluating these disclosure requirements and will amend classifications in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows upon adoption as applicable.
ASU 2016-16, Intra-Entity Asset Transfers Other Than Inventory	This amendment requires an entity to recognize current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs, thereby eliminating the current GAAP exception that prohibits the recognition of income taxes until the asset has been sold to an outside party. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of the annual reporting period for which financial statements have not been issued.	January 1, 2018	We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash	This amendment requires that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included within cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. Early adoption is permitted using a retrospective transition method applied to each period presented.	January 1, 2018	We will provide these additional disclosures in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows upon the adoption date as applicable.
ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers	These amendments clarify 13 issues related to the adoption of ASU 2014-09. The most significant issue of these amendments for us is the clarification that all contracts within the scope of Topic 944 are excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09, rather than just insurance contracts as described in ASU 2014-09. Transition requirements are consistent with ASU 2014-09.	January 1, 2018	We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. See comments under ASU 2014-09 for more information.
Standard	Description	Projected Date of Adoption	Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment	These amendments eliminate the requirement in current GAAP to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test in favor of only applying Step 1. Under Step 1, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value, and an impairment charge is recognized when the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. An entity still has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment of an individual reporting unit to determine if the quantitative assessment in Step 1 is necessary. ASU 2017-04 should be adopted prospectively, and early adoption is permitted on impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017.	Impairment tests performed after January 1, 2020	We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.