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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities  
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

6.    Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

       Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The hierarchy for inputs used in determining fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Assets and liabilities recorded on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at fair value are categorized in the fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1:   Assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that the Company can access.

Level 2:

 

Assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:

 

 

(a)

 

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

 

 

(b)

 

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or

 

 

(c)

 

Valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.


Level 3:


 


Assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the assets and liabilities.

       The availability of observable inputs varies by instrument. In situations where fair value is based on internally developed pricing models or inputs that are unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. The degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is typically greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. In many instances, valuation inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The category level in the fair value hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market disruption. In periods of market disruption, the ability to observe prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments.

       The Company is responsible for the determination of fair value and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. The Company gains assurance that assets and liabilities are appropriately valued through the execution of various processes and controls designed to ensure the overall reasonableness and consistent application of valuation methodologies, including inputs and assumptions, and compliance with accounting standards. For fair values received from third parties or internally estimated, the Company's processes and controls are designed to ensure that the valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistently applied, the inputs and assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value, and the fair values are accurately recorded. For example, on a continuing basis, the Company assesses the reasonableness of individual fair values that have stale security prices or that exceed certain thresholds as compared to previous fair values received from valuation service providers or brokers or derived from internal models. The Company performs procedures to understand and assess the methodologies, processes and controls of valuation service providers. In addition, the Company may validate the reasonableness of fair values by comparing information obtained from valuation service providers or brokers to other third party valuation sources for selected securities. The Company performs ongoing price validation procedures such as back-testing of actual sales, which corroborate the various inputs used in internal models to market observable data. When fair value determinations are expected to be more variable, the Company validates them through reviews by members of management who have relevant expertise and who are independent of those charged with executing investment transactions.

       The Company has two types of situations where investments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The first is where quotes continue to be received from independent third-party valuation service providers and all significant inputs are market observable; however, there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset when compared to normal market activity such that the degree of market observability has declined to a point where categorization as a Level 3 measurement is considered appropriate. The indicators considered in determining whether a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for a specific asset has occurred include the level of new issuances in the primary market, trading volume in the secondary market, the level of credit spreads over historical levels, applicable bid-ask spreads, and price consensus among market participants and other pricing sources.

       The second situation where the Company classifies securities in Level 3 is where specific inputs significant to the fair value estimation models are not market observable. This primarily occurs in the Company's use of broker quotes to value certain securities where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, and the use of valuation models that use significant non-market observable inputs.

       Certain assets are not carried at fair value on a recurring basis, including investments such as mortgage loans, limited partnership interests, bank loans and policy loans. Accordingly, such investments are only included in the fair value hierarchy disclosure when the investment is subject to remeasurement at fair value after initial recognition and the resulting remeasurement is reflected in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, derivatives embedded in fixed income securities are not disclosed in the hierarchy as free-standing derivatives since they are presented with the host contracts in fixed income securities.

       In determining fair value, the Company principally uses the market approach which generally utilizes market transaction data for the same or similar instruments. To a lesser extent, the Company uses the income approach which involves determining fair values from discounted cash flow methodologies. For the majority of Level 2 and Level 3 valuations, a combination of the market and income approaches is used.

Summary of significant valuation techniques for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Level 1 measurements

  • Fixed income securities:  Comprise certain U.S. Treasuries. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

    Equity securities:  Comprise actively traded, exchange-listed equity securities. Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets that the Company can access.

    Short-term:  Comprise actively traded money market funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access.

    Separate account assets:  Comprise actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values for identical assets that the Company can access. Net asset values for the actively traded mutual funds in which the separate account assets are invested are obtained daily from the fund managers.

Level 2 measurements

  • Fixed income securities:
    • U.S. government and agencies:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

      Municipal:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

      Corporate, including privately placed:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads. Also included are privately placed securities valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses market observable inputs and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. The primary inputs to the discounted cash flow model include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets in markets that are not active that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.

      Foreign government:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

      ABS and RMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, prepayment speeds, collateral performance and credit spreads. Certain ABS are valued based on non-binding broker quotes whose inputs have been corroborated to be market observable.

      CMBS:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, collateral performance and credit spreads.

      Redeemable preferred stock:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields, underlying stock prices and credit spreads.

    Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active.

    Short-term:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads. For certain short-term investments, amortized cost is used as the best estimate of fair value.

    Other investments:  Free-standing exchange listed derivatives that are not actively traded are valued based on quoted prices for identical instruments in markets that are not active.
    • OTC derivatives, including interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts, certain options and certain credit default swaps, are valued using models that rely on inputs such as interest rate yield curves, currency rates, and counterparty credit spreads that are observable for substantially the full term of the contract. The valuation techniques underlying the models are widely accepted in the financial services industry and do not involve significant judgment.

Level 3 measurements

Fixed income securities:
    • Municipal:  ARS primarily backed by student loans that have become illiquid due to failures in the auction market are valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses significant non-market observable inputs, including the anticipated date liquidity will return to the market. Also included are municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies but are rated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"). The primary inputs to the valuation of these municipal bonds include quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements, contractual cash flows, benchmark yields and credit spreads.

      Corporate, including privately placed:  Primarily valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable. Also included are equity-indexed notes which are valued using a discounted cash flow model that is widely accepted in the financial services industry and uses significant non-market observable inputs, such as volatility. Other inputs include an interest rate yield curve, as well as published credit spreads for similar assets that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer.

      ABS, RMBS and CMBS:  Valued based on non-binding broker quotes received from brokers who are familiar with the investments and where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable.

    Equity securities:  The primary inputs to the valuation include quoted prices or quoted net asset values for identical or similar assets in markets that exhibit less liquidity relative to those markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements.

    Other investments:  Certain OTC derivatives, such as interest rate caps and floors, certain credit default swaps and certain options (including swaptions), are valued using models that are widely accepted in the financial services industry. These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs such as volatility. Other primary inputs include interest rate yield curves and credit spreads.

    Contractholder funds:  Derivatives embedded in certain life and annuity contracts are valued internally using models widely accepted in the financial services industry that determine a single best estimate of fair value for the embedded derivatives within a block of contractholder liabilities. The models primarily use stochastically determined cash flows based on the contractual elements of embedded derivatives, projected option cost and applicable market data, such as interest rate yield curves and equity index volatility assumptions. These are categorized as Level 3 as a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis

       Mortgage loans written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing impairments are valued based on the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell. Limited partnership interests written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments are valued using net asset values.

       The following table summarizes the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2012:

($ in millions)





  Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical
assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
  Counterparty
and cash
collateral
netting
  Balance
as of
December 31,
2012
 

Assets

                               

Fixed income securities:

                               

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 2,790   $ 1,915   $ 8         $ 4,713  

Municipal

        12,104     965           13,069  

Corporate

        46,920     1,617           48,537  

Foreign government

        2,517               2,517  

ABS

        3,373     251           3,624  

RMBS

        3,029     3           3,032  

CMBS

        1,446     52           1,498  

Redeemable preferred stock

        26     1           27  
                         

Total fixed income securities

    2,790     71,330     2,897           77,017  

Equity securities

    3,008     858     171           4,037  

Short-term investments

    703     1,633               2,336  

Other investments:

                               

Free-standing derivatives

        187     3   $ (57 )   133  

Separate account assets

    6,610                   6,610  

Other assets

    5         1           6  
                       

Total recurring basis assets

    13,116     74,008     3,072     (57 )   90,139  

Non-recurring basis (1)

            9           9  
                       

Total assets at fair value

  $ 13,116   $ 74,008   $ 3,081   $ (57 ) $ 90,148  
                       

% of total assets at fair value

    14.6 %   82.1 %   3.4 %   (0.1 )%   100.0 %

Liabilities

                               

Contractholder funds:

                               

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $   $   $ (553 )       $ (553 )

Other liabilities:

                               

Free-standing derivatives

        (98 )   (30 ) $ 33     (95 )
                       

Total liabilities at fair value

  $   $ (98 ) $ (583 ) $ 33   $ (648 )
                       

% of total liabilities at fair value

     — %   15.1 %   90.0 %   (5.1 )%   100.0 %

(1)
Includes $4 million of mortgage loans, $4 million of limited partnership interests and $1 million of other investments written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments.

       The following table summarizes quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements as of December 31, 2012.

($ in millions)


  Fair value   Valuation
technique
  Unobservable
input
  Range   Weighted
average

ARS backed by student loans

  $ 394   Discounted cash flow model   Anticipated date liquidity will return to the market   18 - 60 months   31 - 43 months

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts — Equity-indexed and forward starting options

 
$

(419

)

Stochastic cash flow model

 

Projected option cost

 

1.0 - 2.0%

 

1.92%

       If the anticipated date liquidity will return to the market is sooner (later), it would result in a higher (lower) fair value. If the projected option cost increased (decreased), it would result in a higher (lower) liability fair value.

       As of December 31, 2012, Level 3 fair value measurements include $1.87 billion of fixed income securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable and $395 million of municipal fixed income securities that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies. The Company does not develop the unobservable inputs used in measuring fair value; therefore, these are not included in the table above. However, an increase (decrease) in credit spreads for fixed income securities valued based on non-binding broker quotes would result in a lower (higher) fair value, and an increase (decrease) in the credit rating of municipal bonds that are not rated by third party credit rating agencies would result in a higher (lower) fair value.

       The following table summarizes the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2011:

($ in millions)





  Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical
assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
  Counterparty
and cash
collateral
netting
  Balance
as of
December 31,
2011
 

Assets

                               

Fixed income securities:

                               

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 4,707   $ 1,608   $         $ 6,315  

Municipal

        12,909     1,332           14,241  

Corporate

        42,176     1,405           43,581  

Foreign government

        2,081               2,081  

ABS

        3,669     297           3,966  

RMBS

        4,070     51           4,121  

CMBS

        1,724     60           1,784  

Redeemable preferred stock

        23     1           24  
                         

Total fixed income securities

    4,707     68,260     3,146           76,113  

Equity securities

    3,433     887     43           4,363  

Short-term investments

    188     1,103               1,291  

Other investments:

                               

Free-standing derivatives

        281     1   $ (114 )   168  

Separate account assets

    6,984                   6,984  

Other assets

    1         1           2  
                       

Total recurring basis assets

    15,313     70,531     3,191     (114 )   88,921  

Non-recurring basis (1)

            35           35  
                       

Total assets at fair value

  $ 15,313   $ 70,531   $ 3,226   $ (114 ) $ 88,956  
                       

% of total assets at fair value

    17.2 %   79.3 %   3.6 %   (0.1 )%   100.0 %

Liabilities

                               

Contractholder funds:

                               

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $   $   $ (723 )       $ (723 )

Other liabilities:

                               

Free-standing derivatives

    (1 )   (112 )   (96 ) $ 77     (132 )
                       

Total liabilities at fair value

  $ (1 ) $ (112 ) $ (819 ) $ 77   $ (855 )
                       

% of total liabilities at fair value

    0.1 %   13.1 %   95.8 %   (9.0 )%   100.0 %

(1)
Includes $19 million of mortgage loans and $16 million of other investments written-down to fair value in connection with recognizing other-than-temporary impairments.

       The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2012.

($ in millions)

   
  Total gains (losses)
included in:
   
   
 
 
  Balance as of
December 31,
2011
  Net
income 
(1)
  OCI   Transfers
into
Level 3
  Transfers
out of
Level 3
 

Assets

                               

Fixed income securities:

                               

U.S. government and agencies

  $   $   $   $ 8   $  

Municipal

    1,332     (35 )   76     53     (28 )

Corporate

    1,405     20     68     387     (92 )

ABS

    297     26     61     43     (81 )

RMBS

    51                 (47 )

CMBS

    60     (4 )   9         (5 )

Redeemable preferred stock

    1                  
                       

Total fixed income securities

    3,146     7     214     491     (253 )

Equity securities

    43     (7 )   9          

Other investments:

                               

Free-standing derivatives, net

    (95 )   27              

Other assets

    1                  
                       

Total recurring Level 3 assets

  $ 3,095   $ 27   $ 223   $ 491   $ (253 )
                       

Liabilities

                               

Contractholder funds:

                               

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $ (723 ) $ 168   $   $   $  
                       

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

  $ (723 ) $ 168   $   $   $  
                       

 

 
  Purchases   Sales   Issues   Settlements   Balance as of
December 31,
2012
 

Assets

                               

Fixed income securities:

                               

U.S. government and agencies

  $   $   $   $   $ 8  

Municipal

    46     (463 )       (16 )   965  

Corporate

    276     (310 )       (137 )   1,617  

ABS

    155     (217 )       (33 )   251  

RMBS

                (1 )   3  

CMBS

    34     (27 )       (15 )   52  

Redeemable preferred stock

    1     (1 )           1  
                       

Total fixed income securities

    512     (1,018 )       (202 )   2,897  

Equity securities

    164     (38 )           171  

Other investments:

                               

Free-standing derivatives, net

    27             14     (27 (2)

Other assets

                    1  
                       

Total recurring Level 3 assets

  $ 703   $ (1,056 ) $   $ (188 ) $ 3,042  
                       

Liabilities

                               

Contractholder funds:

                               

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $   $   $ (79 ) $ 81   $ (553 )
                       

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

  $   $   $ (79 ) $ 81   $ (553 )
                       

(1)
The effect to net income totals $195 million and is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $27 million in net investment income, $132 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $36 million in life and annuity contract benefits.
(2)
Comprises $3 million of assets and $30 million of liabilities.

       The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2011.

($ in millions)

   
  Total gains (losses)
included in:
   
   
 
 
  Balance as of
December 31,
2010
  Net income (1)   OCI   Transfers
into
Level 3
  Transfers
out of
Level 3
 

Assets

                               

Fixed income securities:

                               

Municipal

  $ 2,016   $ (44 ) $ 54   $ 70   $ (82 )

Corporate

    1,908     62     (44 )   239     (523 )

ABS

    2,417     23     (65 )       (2,137 )

RMBS

    1,794     (86 )   107         (1,256 )

CMBS

    923     (43 )   113     86     (966 )

Redeemable preferred stock

    1                  
                       

Total fixed income securities

    9,059     (88 )   165     395     (4,964 )

Equity securities

    63     (10 )           (10 )

Other investments:

                               

Free-standing derivatives, net

    (21 )   (91 )            

Other assets

    1                  
                       

Total recurring Level 3 assets

  $ 9,102   $ (189 ) $ 165   $ 395   $ (4,974 )
                       

Liabilities

                               

Contractholder funds:

                               

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $ (653 ) $ (134 ) $   $   $  
                       

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

  $ (653 ) $ (134 ) $   $   $  
                       

 

 
  Purchases   Sales   Issues   Settlements   Balance as of
December 31,
2011
 

Assets

                               

Fixed income securities:

                               

Municipal

  $ 14   $ (689 ) $   $ (7 ) $ 1,332  

Corporate

    387     (537 )       (87 )   1,405  

ABS

    504     (169 )       (276 )   297  

RMBS

    4     (378 )       (134 )   51  

CMBS

    17     (66 )       (4 )   60  

Redeemable preferred stock

                    1  
                       

Total fixed income securities

    926     (1,839 )       (508 )   3,146  

Equity securities

    1     (1 )           43  

Other investments:

                               

Free-standing derivatives, net

    70             (53 )   (95 (2)

Other assets

                    1  
                       

Total recurring Level 3 assets

  $ 997   $ (1,840 ) $   $ (561 ) $ 3,095  
                       

Liabilities

                               

Contractholder funds:

                               

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $   $   $ (100 ) $ 164   $ (723 )
                       

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

  $   $   $ (100 ) $ 164   $ (723 )
                       

(1)
The effect to net income totals $(323) million and is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $(221) million in realized capital gains and losses, $36 million in net investment income, $(106) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(32) million in life and annuity contract benefits.
(2)
Comprises $1 million of assets and $96 million of liabilities.

       The following table presents the rollforward of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value on a recurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2010.

($ in millions)

   
  Total gains (losses)
included in:
   
   
   
   
 
 
  Balance as of
December 31,
2009
  Net
income 
(1)
  OCI   Purchases, sales,
issues and
settlements, net
  Transfers
into
Level 3
  Transfers
out of
Level 3
  Balance as of
December 31,
2010
 

Assets

                                           

Fixed income securities:

                                           

Municipal

  $ 2,706   $ (40 ) $ 46   $ (588 ) $ 38   $ (146 ) $ 2,016  

Corporate

    2,241     5     115     (167 )   444     (730 )   1,908  

Foreign government

    20             (20 )            

ABS

    2,001     55     275     553         (467 )   2,417  

RMBS

    1,671     (421 )   736     (135 )       (57 )   1,794  

CMBS

    1,404     (233 )   592     (526 )   107     (421 )   923  

Redeemable preferred stock

    2             (1 )           1  
                               

Total fixed income securities

    10,045     (634 )   1,764     (884 )   589     (1,821 )   9,059  

Equity securities

    69     8     5     (12 )       (7 )   63  

Other investments:

                                           

Free-standing derivatives, net

    55     (202 )       126             (21 (2)

Other assets

    2     (1 )                   1  
                               

Total recurring Level 3 assets

  $ 10,171   $ (829 ) $ 1,769   $ (770 ) $ 589   $ (1,828 ) $ 9,102  
                               

Liabilities

                                           

Contractholder funds:

                                           

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $ (110 ) $ (31 ) $   $ 3   $ (515 ) $   $ (653 )
                               

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

  $ (110 ) $ (31 ) $   $ 3   $ (515 ) $   $ (653 )
                               

(1)
The effect to net income totals $(860) million and is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows: $(901) million in realized capital gains and losses, $73 million in net investment income, $(1) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(31) million in life and annuity contract benefits.
(2)
Comprises $74 million of assets and $95 million of liabilities.

       Transfers between level categorizations may occur due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs, which generally are caused by changes in market conditions such as liquidity, trading volume or bid-ask spreads. Transfers between level categorizations may also occur due to changes in the valuation source. For example, in situations where a fair value quote is not provided by the Company's independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result the price is stale or has been replaced with a broker quote whose inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable, the security is transferred into Level 3. Transfers in and out of level categorizations are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurred. Therefore, for all transfers into Level 3, all realized and changes in unrealized gains and losses in the quarter of transfer are reflected in the Level 3 rollforward table.

       During 2012, certain U.S. government securities were transferred into Level 1 from Level 2 as a result of increased liquidity in the market and a sustained increase in the market activity for these assets. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2011 or 2010.

       During 2011, certain ABS, RMBS and CMBS were transferred into Level 2 from Level 3 as a result of increased liquidity in the market and a sustained increase in the market activity for these assets. Additionally, in 2011 certain ABS that were valued based on non-binding broker quotes were transferred into Level 2 from Level 3 since the inputs were corroborated to be market observable. During 2010, certain ABS and CMBS were transferred into Level 2 from Level 3 as a result of increased liquidity in the market and a sustained increase in market activity for these assets. When transferring these securities into Level 2, the Company did not change the source of fair value estimates or modify the estimates received from independent third-party valuation service providers or the internal valuation approach. Accordingly, for securities included within this group, there was no change in fair value in conjunction with the transfer resulting in a realized or unrealized gain or loss.

       Transfers into Level 3 during 2012 and 2011 included situations where a fair value quote was not provided by the Company's independent third-party valuation service provider and as a result the price was stale or had been replaced with a broker quote where the inputs have not been corroborated to be market observable resulting in the security being classified as Level 3. Transfers out of Level 3 during 2012 and 2011 included situations where a broker quote was used in the prior period and a fair value quote became available from the Company's independent third-party valuation service provider in the current period. A quote utilizing the new pricing source was not available as of the prior period, and any gains or losses related to the change in valuation source for individual securities were not significant.

       Transfers into Level 3 during 2010 also included derivatives embedded in equity-indexed life and annuity contracts due to refinements in the valuation modeling resulting in an increase in significance of non-market observable inputs.

       The following table provides the change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income for Level 3 assets and liabilities held as of December 31.

 
   
   
   
 
($ in millions)
    

  2012   2011   2010  

Assets

                   

Fixed income securities:

                   

Municipal

  $ (28 ) $ (28 ) $ (33 )

Corporate

    15     20     40  

ABS

        (33 )   60  

RMBS

    (1 )       (292 )

CMBS

    (3 )   (11 )   (28 )
               

Total fixed income securities

    (17 )   (52 )   (253 )

Equity securities

    (6 )   (10 )   (3 )

Other investments:

                   

Free-standing derivatives, net

    6     (41 )   (61 )

Other assets

            (1 )
               

Total recurring Level 3 assets

  $ (17 ) $ (103 ) $ (318 )
               

Liabilities

                   

Contractholder funds:

                   

Derivatives embedded in life and annuity contracts

  $ 168   $ (134 ) $ (31 )
               

Total recurring Level 3 liabilities

  $ 168   $ (134 ) $ (31 )
               

       The amounts in the table above represent the change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income for the period of time that the asset or liability was determined to be in Level 3. These gains and losses total $151 million in 2012 and are reported as follows: $(37) million in realized capital gains and losses, $21 million in net investment income, $131 million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $36 million in life and annuity contract benefits. These gains and losses total $(237) million in 2011 and are reported as follows: $(147) million in realized capital gains and losses, $44 million in net investment income, $(102) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(32) million in life and annuity contract benefits. These gains and losses total $(349) million in 2010 and are reported as follows: $(402) million in realized capital gains and losses, $86 million in net investment income, $(2) million in interest credited to contractholder funds and $(31) million in life and annuity contract benefits.

       Presented below are the carrying values and fair value estimates of financial instruments not carried at fair value.

Financial assets

($ in millions)
  December 31, 2012   December 31, 2011  
 
  Carrying
value
  Fair
value
  Carrying
value
  Fair
value
 

Mortgage loans

  $ 6,570   $ 6,886   $ 7,139   $ 7,350  

Cost method limited partnerships

    1,406     1,714     1,569     1,838  

Bank loans

    682     684     339     328  

       The fair value of mortgage loans is based on discounted contractual cash flows or, if the loans are impaired due to credit reasons, the fair value of collateral less costs to sell. Risk adjusted discount rates are selected using current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar characteristics, using similar types of properties as collateral. The fair value of cost method limited partnerships is determined using reported net asset values of the underlying funds. The fair value of bank loans, which are reported in other investments, is based on broker quotes from brokers familiar with the loans and current market conditions. The fair value measurements for mortgage loans, cost method limited partnerships and bank loans are categorized as Level 3.

Financial liabilities

($ in millions)
  December 31, 2012   December 31, 2011  
 
  Carrying
value
  Fair
value
  Carrying
value
  Fair
value
 

Contractholder funds on investment contracts

  $ 27,014   $ 28,019   $ 30,192   $ 30,499  

Long-term debt

    6,057     7,141     5,908     6,312  

Liability for collateral

    808     808     462     462  

       The fair value of contractholder funds on investment contracts is based on the terms of the underlying contracts utilizing prevailing market rates for similar contracts adjusted for the Company's own credit risk. Deferred annuities included in contractholder funds are valued using discounted cash flow models which incorporate market value margins, which are based on the cost of holding economic capital, and the Company's own credit risk. Immediate annuities without life contingencies and fixed rate funding agreements are valued at the present value of future benefits using market implied interest rates which include the Company's own credit risk. The fair value measurements for contractholder funds on investment contracts are categorized as Level 3.

       The fair value of long-term debt is based on market observable data (such as the fair value of the debt when traded as an asset) or, in certain cases, is determined using discounted cash flow calculations based on current interest rates for instruments with comparable terms and considers the Company's own credit risk. The liability for collateral is valued at carrying value due to its short-term nature. The fair value measurements for long-term debt and liability for collateral are categorized as Level 2.