As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 6, 2022
Registration No. 333-______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Great American Life Insurance Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio | 6311 | 13-1935920 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
301 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513)
357-3300
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
John P. Gruber
Great American Life Insurance Company
301 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513)
357-3300
(Name and Address of Agent of Service)
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated
filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
Calculation of Registration Fee
Title of each class of securities to be registered | Amount to be registered | Proposed maximum offering price per unit (1) | Proposed maximum aggregate offering price | Amount of registration fee (2) | ||||
Individual Index-linked Modified Single Premium Deferred Annuity Contract and interests therein | $1, 435,286,952 | N/A | $999,000,000 | $92,607.30 | ||||
Note 1 | Interests are sold on a dollar for dollar basis and not on the basis of a price per share or unit. |
Note 2 | Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement carries forward approximately $ 435,286,952 of unsold securities that were previously registered on the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (FileNo. 333-252949), which was initially filed by the Registrant on February 10, 2021. Because a filing fee of $47,490 was previously paid for the securities being carried forward to this Registration Statement, no filing fee is currently due in connection with those securities. The Registrant is also registering an additional $999,000,000 in securities with this filing. The filing fee of $92,607.30 due in connection with the newly-registered securities is paid herewith. |
The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Administrative Office: P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati OH 45201-5423
Street Address: 301 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202
Policy Administration:
1-800-789-6771
INDEX SUMMIT 6 PRO ANNUITY
With Return of Premium Guarantee
PROSPECTUS DATED [January ], 2022
The Index Summit 6
®
Pro annuity is an Individual Index-linked Modified Single Premium Deferred Annuity contract issued by Great American Life Insurance Company®
. It provides that we will pay the Annuity Payout Benefit to you in exchange for your Purchase Payments. It also provides a Death Benefit that will never be less than the return of premium guarantee.The Contract is a modified single premium deferred annuity. This means we will accept Purchase Payments only during the purchase payment period, which ends two months after the Contract Effective Date.
A glossary of defined terms used herein can be found in the Special Terms section starting on page 6 of this prospectus.
The Contract offers you the opportunity to allocate funds to Indexed Strategies for
one-year
ortwo-year
Terms. Indexed Strategies provide returns based, in part, on the rise or fall of an Index, which may be a market index, such as the S&P 500 Index, or the share price of an exchange-traded fund, such as an iShares ETF. The returns of an Index do not include reinvestment of any dividends.For this Contract, we currently offer eight Indexed Strategies. Each of these Indexed Strategies uses one of three Indexes: S&P 500
®
Index, iShares®
MSCI EAFE ETF, and iShares®
U.S. Real Estate ETF. Four of these Indexed Strategies haveone-year
Terms, and four havetwo-year
Terms.S&P 500
1-year
Term with CapS&P 500
2-year
Term with CapS&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation RateS&P 500
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateAll of these Indexed Strategies have a 50% Downside Participation Rate, which means that each Indexed Strategy will share 50% of any fall in the Index over a Term.
At the end of a Term, we may stop offering any Indexed Strategy, other than the S&P 500
1-Year
Term with Participation Rate. Consequently, any other Indexed Strategy listed above may not be available after the end of the initial Term. The S&P 5001-Year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy or any other Indexed Strategy that may be available in the future may earn a return that is lower than the return your investments would have earned if they had been invested in the other Indexed Strategies listed above. In addition, if we reduce the available number of Index Strategies to just the S&P 5001-Year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy, your ability to increase your Account Value could be significantly reduced.Indexed Strategies
The Investment Base is the amount applied to the Indexed Strategy at the beginning of the current Term, reduced each day by the Daily Charge, and adjusted proportionally for any withdrawals taken during the current Term and any related Early Withdrawal Charge. During the Term, the Investment Base remains unchanged except for the Daily Charge and any proportional adjustments for withdrawals.
The Daily Charge is calculated as a percentage of the Investment Base. The Daily Charge is a rate that compounds to 0.75% per year.
1
The method used to calculate the Strategy value depends on whether the value is being calculated at the end of a Term or during a Term.
At the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased for any rise in the applicable Index over the Term or decreased for any fall in the applicable Index over the Term. For some Strategies, any increase for the Term is subject to a limit called the Cap. For others, any increase for the Term is subject to a limit called the Upside Participation Rate. For all Strategies, any decrease for the Term resulting from Index performance is subject to a limit called the Downside Participation Rate.
• | The Cap for a Term is the largest rise in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. We can change the Cap for each new Term of an Indexed Strategy. It will never be less than 1%. At least 10 days before the start of any Term, we will post the Caps for that Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates). |
• | If the rise in the Index is greater than or equal to the Cap, the increase applied to the remaining Investment Base for the Term will be limited to the Cap and will be less than the rise in the Index. |
• | If the rise in the Index is less than the Cap, the increase for the Term will be less than the Cap and will equal the rise in the Index applied to the remaining Investment Base. |
• | In both cases, the increase for a Term will always be less than the Cap or the rise in the Index because the Daily Charge is subtracted from the Investment Base before applying the increase for the Index performance. |
• | The Upside Participation Rate for a Term is the portion of any rise in the Index over the Term that is taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. We can change the Upside Participation Rate for each new Term of an Indexed Strategy. It never will be less than 5%. At least 10 days before the start of any Term, we will post the Upside Participation Rates for that Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates). The increase for the Term will be less than the rise in the Index unless the Participation Rate for the Term exceeds 100%. The increase for a Term will be less than the Upside Participation Rate multiplied by the rise in the Index because the Daily Charge is subtracted from the Investment Base before applying the increase for Index performance. |
• | The Downside Participation Rate is the portion of any fall in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer with this Contract, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. In addition to the Daily Charge, the decrease for the Term will be only half of the fall in the Index. |
Any increase in the value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term is based on the value of the underlying Index on the final Market Day of the Term. This means that you may experience negative or flat performance for the Term even though the underlying Index rose throughout some or most of the Term.
Before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage. The Daily Value Percentage is based on hypothetical options that represent the projected change in the Index over the full Term, and is equal to the Net Option Price, reduced by the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost.
The Daily Value Percentage is applied to determine Strategy Values when you withdraw funds allocated to an Indexed Strategy or Surrender your Contract before the end of a Term. The Daily Value Percentage is also applied if the Death Benefit or Annuity Payout value are determined before the end of a Term.
An Indexed Strategy includes a risk of potential loss, which may include both your original principal and prior earnings.
Availability of Indexed Strategies
2
Early Withdrawal Charge
The Contract is intended for long-term investment purposes and may not be appropriate for investors who plan to take withdrawals (including systematic withdrawals and required minimum distributions) during the first six Contract Years.
six-year
period. Withdrawals and Surrenders may also be subject to income tax, and withdrawals and Surrenders before age 591
/2
may also be subject to an additional 10% penalty tax.Risk Factors for this Contract appear on pages
15-21
and pages86-90.
Please read this prospectus before investing and keep it for future reference. It contains important information about your Contract and Great American Life that you ought to know before investing. It describes all material rights and obligations under the Contract. The provisions of the Contract may vary from state to state. All material state variations are identified in the State Variations section of this prospectus.
****************************************
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
• | The Contract is not insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) or the NCUSIF (National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund). |
• | Although the Contract may be sold through relationships with banks or other financial institutions, the Contract is not a deposit or obligation of, or guaranteed by, such institutions or any federal regulatory agency. |
• | The Contract is a security. It involves investment risk and may lose value. There is a risk of loss of principal under the Contract and that loss can become greater due to Early Withdrawal Charges. |
• | All guarantees under the Contract are the obligations of Great American Life and are subject to the credit worthiness and claims-paying ability of Great American Life. |
The Contract doesn’t invest in any equity, debt, or other investments. If you buy this Contract, you aren’t investing directly in an Index, in the stocks included in S&P 500 Index, in the securities or other assets held by an iShares ETF, in any underlying index tracked by an iShares ETF, or in the securities or other assets held by such underlying index.
The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by Great American Life. Standard & Poor’s
®
, S&P®
, and S&P 500®
are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a division of S&P Global (“S&P”); Dow Jones®
is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by Great American Life. Great American Life products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P or their respective affiliates, and none of such parties makes any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruption of the S&P 500 Index.The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC. iShares
®
, BLACKROCK®
, and the corresponding logos are registered and unregistered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates (“BlackRock”), and these trademarks have been licensed for certain purposes by Great American Life Insurance Company. Great American Life annuity products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by BlackRock, and purchasers of an annuity from Great American Life do not acquire any interest in the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF nor enter into any relationship of any kind with BlackRock. BlackRock makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of any Great American Life annuity product or any member of the public regarding the advisability of purchasing an annuity, nor does it have any liability for any errors, omissions, interruptions or use of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF or any data related thereto.****************************************
3
The principal underwriter of the Contract is Great American Advisors, Inc. The offering of the Contract is intended to be continuous. The underwriter will use its best efforts to sell the Contract.
This prospectus is not an offering in any state, country, or jurisdiction in which we are not authorized to sell the Contract.
If you purchase a Contract, you may cancel it within 20 days after you receive it. If you purchase a Contract to replace an existing annuity contract or insurance policy, you have 30 days to cancel the Contract. The right to cancel period may be longer in some states. In most states, you will bear the risk of any decreases in Indexed Strategy values before cancellation. The right to cancel is described more fully in the Right to Cancel section of this prospectus.
Our form number for the Contract is P1833621NW. Our form numbers for the Indexed Strategy endorsements to the Contract are E1825418NW, E1825518NW, E1825618NW, E1825718NW, E1825818, E1825918NW, E1826018NW and E1826118NW. Our form number for the Death Benefit endorsement to this Contract is E1826318NW. The form numbers may vary by state. The Securities and Exchange Commission file number for the Contract is
333-252949.
4
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5
SECTION I
INDEX SUMMIT 6 PRO ANNUITY INFORMATION
SPECIAL TERMS
In this prospectus, the following capitalized terms have the meanings set out below.
ACCOUNT VALUE. For each day, the Account Value is the sum of the current values of each Indexed Strategy, plus the current value of the Purchase Payment Account, if any.
ANNUITANT. The natural person or persons on whose life the Annuity Payout Benefit is based.
ANNUITY PAYOUT BENEFIT. A series of periodic payments made under a Payout Option. The terms and conditions are described in the Annuity Payout Benefit section of this prospectus.
ANNUITY PAYOUT INITIATION DATE. The first day of the first payment interval for which payment of an Annuity Payout Benefit is to be made. This is the date we apply your Account Value to the Annuity Payout Benefit and calculate the payment amount.
BENEFICIARY. A person entitled to receive all or part of a Death Benefit that is to be paid under the Contract on account of a death before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.
CAP. For an Indexed Strategy with a Cap (a “Cap Strategy”), the Cap is the largest rise in the Index over the Term that is taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. The Cap is also used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage for that Strategy before the end of the Term. We post on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates) the Cap for each Term of a Cap Strategy at least 10 days before the next Term starts. For a given Term, we may set a different Cap for amounts attributable to Purchase Payments received on different dates.
CONTRACT. The annuity contract that is a legally binding agreement between you and Great American Life, including applicable endorsements and riders.
CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY. The date in each year that is the annual anniversary of the Contract Effective Date. That date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
CONTRACT EFFECTIVE DATE. The date as of which the initial Purchase Payment is applied to the Contract. That date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS PAGE. The page in your Contract that contains details unique to your Contract.
CONTRACT YEAR. A
12-month
period that starts on the Contract Effective Date or on a Contract Anniversary.DAILY CHARGE. The charge for maintaining your Contract. It is a daily rate that compounds at 0.75% per year. It is calculated daily as a percentage of, and is subtracted from, the then remaining investment base of each Indexed Strategy.
DAILY VALUE PERCENTAGE. The Daily Value Percentage is used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term. For each day of a Term of an Indexed Strategy before the final Market Day of the Term, the Daily Value Percentage is equal to: (1) the Net Option Price for that day; minus (2) the Amortized Option Cost for that day; and minus (3) the Trading Cost for that day.
See the next section (Special Terms Related to Daily Value Percentage) for the definitions of Amortized Option Cost, Net Option Price, and Trading Cost.
6
DEATH BENEFIT. An amount that becomes payable if you die before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and before the date that the Contract is Surrendered. The terms and conditions are described in the Death Benefit section of this prospectus.
DOWNSIDE PARTICIPATION RATE. For an Indexed Strategy, the Downside Participation Rate is your share of any fall in the Index over a Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. The Downside Participation Rate is also used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage before the end of the Term. The Downside Participation Rate we set for an Indexed Strategy will apply to every Term of that Indexed Strategy. For every Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer with this Contract, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. The Downside Participation Rate is guaranteed not to change for any Indexed Strategy offered in this prospectus. If we offer a new Indexed Strategy in the future, the Downside Participation Rate for the Strategy may be more or less than 50%.
EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE. A charge deducted from the Account Value of your Contract if, during the first six Contract Years, you Surrender your Contract or you take a withdrawal in excess of the Free Withdrawal Allowance (including systematic withdrawals and required minimum distributions). The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to a withdrawal that qualifies for the Free Withdrawal Allowance or the amount, if any, that qualifies for another waiver. The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to an Annuity Payout Benefit or Death Benefit.
FREE WITHDRAWAL ALLOWANCE. The total amount that may be taken as a withdrawal or Surrendered during a Contract Year without an Early Withdrawal Charge that might otherwise apply. This amount is described in the Free Withdrawal Allowance section of this prospectus.
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE (“WE,” “US,” “OUR,” “GALIC”). Great American Life Insurance Company.
INDEX. A stock market index or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) used to calculate the value of an Indexed Strategy. The Index at the start of a Term is its level or price at the last Market Close on or before the first day of that Term. The Index at the end of a Term is its level or price at the final Market Close of that Term.
INDEXED STRATEGY. A specified method by which values are calculated for a Term. Each Indexed Strategy provides a return based, in part, on changes in the level or price of an Index over a Term. The Indexed Strategies that are currently available are set out on the first page of this prospectus.
INVESTMENT BASE. The base amount used to calculate the value of an Indexed Strategy. The Investment Base is the amount applied to an Indexed Strategy at the start of a current Term, adjusted proportionally for any withdrawal during the Term and any related Early Withdrawal Charge.
The Investment Base is reduced daily by an amount equal to the Daily Charge.
MARKET CLOSE. The close of the regular or core trading session on the market used to measure a given Index.
MARKET DAY. Each day that all markets that are used to measure the available Indexes are open for regular trading.
OWNER (“YOU,” “YOURS”). The person(s) who possesses the ownership rights under the Contract. If there is more than one Owner, each Owner will be a joint owner of the Contract and each reference to Owner means joint owners.
PAYOUT OPTION. The form in which an Annuity Payout Benefit or a Death Benefit may be paid. Standard options are described in the Payout Options section of this prospectus.
PURCHASE PAYMENT. An amount received by us for the Contract. This amount is determined after deducting any taxes withheld from the payment and after deducting any fee charged by the person remitting payment.
PURCHASE PAYMENT ACCOUNT. An account where a Purchase Payment is held until it is applied to an Indexed Strategy on a Strategy Application Date.
7
REQUEST IN GOOD ORDER. An election or a request that is:
• | complete and satisfactory to us; |
• | sent to us on our form or in a manner satisfactory to us, which may, at our discretion, be by telephone or electronic means; and |
• | received at our administrative office. |
An election or a request is complete and satisfactory when we have received: (1) all the information and legal documentation that we require to process the election or the request; and (2) instructions that are sufficiently clear that we do not need to exercise any discretion to process the election or the request. If you have any questions, you should contact us or your registered representative before submitting your election or your request.
STRATEGY APPLICATION DATE. The 6th and 20th days of each month.
SURRENDER. The termination of your Contract in exchange for its Surrender Value.
SURRENDER VALUE. For each day, the Surrender Value is the Account Value on that day minus the Early Withdrawal Charge that would apply on a Surrender of the Contract. The Account Value will reflect the applicable Strategy values as calculated on that day, which will reflect the Daily Value Percentage whenever Surrender Value is measured before the end of a Term.
TAX-QUALIFIED
CONTRACT. An annuity contract that is intended to qualify for special tax treatment for retirement savings. If your Contract is aTax-Qualified
Contract, the cover page of your Contract includes information about its tax qualification. If your Contract is not aTax-Qualified
Contract, the cover page of your Contract will identify it as a “Nonqualified Annuity.”TERM. The period for which Contract values are allocated to a given Indexed Strategy, and over which values are calculated. Terms are either one year long or two years long. Each Term will start and end on a Strategy Application Date. A new Term will start on the date that the preceding Term ends.
UPSIDE PARTICIPATION RATE. For an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate (an “Upside Participation Rate Strategy”), the Upside Participation Rate is your share of any rise in the Index over a Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. The Upside Participation Rate is also used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage before the end of the Term. We post on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates) the Upside Participation Rate for each Term of an Upside Participation Rate Strategy at least 10 days before the next Term starts. For a given Term, we may set a different Upside Participation Rate for amounts attributable to Purchase Payments received on different dates.
8
SPECIAL TERMS RELATED TO DAILY VALUE PERCENTAGE
AMORTIZED OPTION COST. The Amortized Option Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy each day before the final Market Day of a Term. The Amortized Cost for a day is calculated at the last Market Close on or before that day. The Amortized Option Cost is a percentage equal to: (1) the initial Net Option Price for an Indexed Strategy for the Term; multiplied by (2) the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of that Term divided by 365 days if that Term is one year long or by 730 days if that Term is two years long. The initial Net Option Price is the Net Option Price calculated at the start of the Term.
NET OPTION PRICE. The Net Option Price is one part of the Daily Value Percentage used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy on each day before the final Market Day of a Term. The Net Option Price for a day is calculated at the last Market Close on or before that day.
• | For strategies with a Cap, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at that Market Close; minus (2) the OTM Call Option Price at that Market Close; and minus (3) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | For strategies with an Upside Participation Rate, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at a Market Close multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; minus (2) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
The option prices in these formulas reflect the possible future change in the Index over the remainder of the Term. The formulas take into account the Cap or the Upside Participation Rate for the Term and the Downside Participation Rate.
ATM CALL OPTION PRICE. The calculated price of a hypotheticalcall option. The hypotheticalcall option is one that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of a Term to the final Market Close of that Term. The price is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The price is an average of the
at-the-money
at-the-money
bid-ask
prices for the hypothetical option.ATM PUT OPTION PRICE. The calculated price of a hypotheticalput option. The hypotheticalput option is one that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage fall, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of a Term to the final Market Close of that Term. The price is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The price is an average of the
at-the-money
at-the-money
bid-ask
prices for the hypothetical option.OTM CALL OPTION PRICE. The calculated price of a hypotheticalcall option. The hypotheticalcall option is one that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of a Term to the final Market Close of that Term, but only if and to the extent that rise exceeds the Cap for that Term. The price is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The price is an average of the
out-of-the-money
out-of-the-money
bid-ask
prices for the hypothetical option.TRADING COST. The Trading Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy each day before the final Market Day of a Term. The Trading Cost is the estimated cost of selling the hypothetical options before the end of a Term. The Trading Cost for a day is a percentage set by us by the last Market Close on or before that day. The Trading Cost reflects the average market difference between option
bid-ask
average prices and option bid prices.9
SUMMARY
The Great American Life Index Summit 6 Pro annuity is an individual deferred indexed annuity contract that may help you accumulate retirement savings. The Contract is intended for long-term investment purposes. The Contract is a legal agreement between you as the Owner and Great American Life as the issuing insurance company. In the Contract, you agree to make one or more Purchase Payments to us and we agree to pay the Annuity Payout Benefit to you. We also agree to provide a Death Benefit that will never be less than the return of premium guarantee.
Like all deferred annuities, the Contract has two periods. During the period prior to the Annuity Payout Initiation Date, your Contract may accumulate earnings on a
tax-deferred
basis. During the period that begins on the Annuity Payout Initiation Date, we will make payments under the selected Payout Option.The key features of the Contract are described in this Summary. Read this entire prospectus for more detailed information about the Contract.
Benefits
(See “Cash Benefit”, “Annuity Payout Benefit”, and “Death Benefit” sections below for more details)
• | The Annuity Payout Benefit |
• | The Cash Benefit |
• | The Death Benefit |
Purchase Payments and Issue Age
(See “Purchase” section below for more details)
The Contract is a modified single premium annuity. This means we will accept Purchase Payments only during the purchase payment period, which ends two months after the Contract Effective Date.
The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $25,000. Each additional Purchase Payment must be at least $10,000. You will need our prior approval if you want to make a Purchase Payment(s) of more than $1,000,000.
Each Owner must be age 80 or younger on the Contract Effective Date.
Indexed Strategies
(See “Indexed Strategies” section below for more details)
For this Contract, we currently offer eight Indexed Strategies. Each of these Indexed Strategies uses one of three Indexes: S&P 500
®
Index, iShares®
MSCI EAFE ETF, and iShares®
U.S. Real Estate ETF. Four of these Indexed Strategies haveone-year
Terms, and four havetwo-year
Terms.S&P 500
1-year
Term with CapS&P 500
2-year
Term with CapS&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation RateS&P 500
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
2-year
Term with Participation Rate10
Indexed Strategy Value
(See “Indexed Strategy Value at End of Term” and “Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term” sections below for more details)
The value of an Indexed Strategy changes from day to day throughout each Term. The method used to calculate the Strategy value depends on whether the value is being calculated at the end of a Term or during a Term.
• | Once the last Market Day of the Term has been reached, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the remaining Investment Base increased for any rise in the applicable Index over that Term or decreased for any fall in the applicable Index over that Term. Any increase for the Term is limited by the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for the Term. Any decrease for the Term is limited by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | On each day before the last Market Day of the Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the remaining Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage as of the most recent Market Close. |
A withdrawal reduces the Strategy value by the amount of the withdrawal and any related Early Withdrawal Charge.
Investment Base
(See “Indexed Strategies” section below for more details)
The value of an Indexed Strategy is calculated using the Investment Base. The Investment Base is not your Strategy Value, Account Value, Surrender Value, Annuity Payout value, or Death Benefit value, but it is used to calculate those values.
At the start of a Term, the Investment Base of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the amount applied to that Strategy for that Term. The Investment Base decreases each day during a Term by the amount of the Daily Charge.
In addition, a withdrawal reduces the Investment Base by the amount that is proportional to the reduction in the Strategy value on account of the withdrawal and any related Early Withdrawal Charge. For example, if a withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge are equal to 35% of the Strategy value, then the Investment Base for that Strategy will be reduced by 35%.
This means the dollar amount of the proportional reduction in the Investment Base will not be the same as the dollar amount of the withdrawal and the Early Withdrawal Charge.
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is greater than the Investment Base, then the proportional reduction in the Investment Base will be less than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is less than the Investment Base, then the proportional reduction in the Investment Base will be greater than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
Daily Charge
(See “Daily Charge” section below for more details)
The Investment Base is reduced daily by an amount equal to the Daily Charge. The Daily Charge is calculated using a daily rate that compounds at 0.75% per year.
For an Indexed Strategy, it is calculated as a percentage of the remaining Investment Base and deducted daily.
At the end of a Term during which no withdrawals were made, the Daily Charges through the Term End Date are equal to the Investment Base on the Term Start Date times the annual rate at which the Daily Charge compounds.
Example.
Before the end of a Term, the Daily Charge is the Investment Base from the prior day, multiplied by the Daily Charge rate. If no withdrawals are made during the Term, the sum of the Daily Charges from the first day of the Term to any day during the Term is equal to: Investment Base on the Term Start Date – (Investment Base on the Term Start Date x (1 – Daily Charge Rate) ^ number of days elapsed prior to withdrawal).
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Examples.
On Day 73 of the Term | On Day 219 of the Term | |||
Investment Base Calculation | ||||
Initial Investment Base | $100,000 | $100,000 | ||
Accumulated Daily Charges | $150 = ($100,000 - ($100,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 73) | $451 = ($100,000 - ($100,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 219) | ||
Investment Base After Daily Charges | $99,850 = ($100,000 - $150) | $99,549 = ($100,000 - $451) |
Indexed Strategy Value at End of Term
(See “Indexed Strategy Value at End of Term” section below for more details)
At the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the remaining Investment Base increased for any rise in the Index or decreased for any fall in the Index over the Term.
Any increase for the Term is potentially limited by a Cap or limited by an Upside Participation Rate. The Cap for a Term is the largest rise in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For example, if the Cap is 10% and the Index increases by 16%, the Cap limits the increase in the Investment Base to 10%. The Upside Participation Rate for a Term is the portion of any rise in the Index over the Term that is taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For example, if the Upside Participation Rate is 50% and the Index increases by 16%, the Upside Participation Rate limits the increase in the Investment Base to 8%.
Any decrease for a Term is limited by the Downside Participation Rate. The Downside Participation Rate is the portion of any fall in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For example, if the Downside Participation Rate is 50% and the Index decreases by 20%, the Downside Participation Rate limits the decrease in the Investment Base to
-10%.
Daily Charges are deducted from the Investment Base before the increase for any rise in the Index or decrease for any fall in the Index is applied.
Examples.
(a) | When the Index rises over a Term, the resulting Strategy Value increase will be smaller than the rise in the Index applied to the initial Investment Base. This is because the Daily Charge reduces the Investment Base before the Index rise is taken into account. (Note: this would not apply if the Upside Participation Rate were to exceed 100% to the extent needed to offset the Daily Charge). |
(b) | When the Index falls over a Term, the resulting Strategy Value decrease will be larger than 50% of the Index fall applied to the initial Investment Base. This is because the Daily Charge reduces the Investment Base before the Index fall is taken into account. |
We set the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for each Indexed Strategy prior to the start of each Term. This means Caps and Upside Participation Rates may change for each Term. A Cap will never be lower than 1%. An Upside Participation Rate will never be less than 5%. At least 10 days before the next Term starts, we will post the Caps and Upside Participation Rates that will apply to the Indexed Strategies for that next Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates).
Any increase in the value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term is based on the value of the underlying Index on the final Market Day of the Term. This means that you may experience negative or flat performance for the Term even though the underlying Index rose throughout some or most of the Term.
For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer with this Contact, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. The Downside Participation for these Indexed Strategies will not change. In a hypothetical worst case scenario where the Index falls by 100% over the Term and the Downside Participation Rate is 50%, then the Strategy value at the end of the Term will be equal to the Investment Base decreased by 50% in addition to the impact of the Daily Charges on the Investment Base.
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Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term
(See “Indexed Strategy Value Before End of Term” section below for more details)
Before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage. For example, if the Investment Base for a Strategy is $100,000 and the Daily Value Percentage is 8%, then the value of your Strategy on that day is equal to $108,000 ($100,000 Investment Base, increased by $100,000 x 8%). If the Investment Base for a Strategy is $100,000 and the Daily Value
Percentage is -4%,
then the value of your Strategy on that day is equal to $96,000 ($100,000 Investment Base, decreased by$100,000 x -4%).
The Daily Value Percentage is equal to the Net Option Price, reduced by the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost.
• | The Net Option Price is the calculated price of hypothetical options that represent the projected change in the applicable Index over the full Term. The calculated price takes into account the applicable Cap or Upside Participation Rate and the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | For strategies with a Cap, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at that Market Close; minus (2) the OTM Call Option Price at that Market Close; and minus (3) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | For strategies with an Upside Participation Rate, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at a Market Close multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; minus (2) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | The Amortized Option Cost is the calculated price of those options at the start of the Term amortized over the Term. |
• | The Amortized Option Cost is a percentage equal to: (1) the initial Net Option Price for an Indexed Strategy for the Term; multiplied by (2) the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of that Term divided by 365 days if that Term is one year long or by 730 days if that Term is two years long. |
• | The Trading Cost is the estimated cost of selling those options. It is a percentage set by us by the last Market Close on or before that day. |
Here is the formula we use to calculate the Daily Value Percentage.
Daily Value Percentage = Net Option Price – Amortized Option Cost – Trading Cost
Examples.
On Day 73 of the Term | On Day 219 of the Term | |||
Investment Base Calculation | ||||
Initial Investment Base | $100,000 | $100,000 | ||
Accumulated Daily Charges | $150 | $451 | ||
Investment Base on Day 73 | $99,850 ($100,000 - $150) | $99,549 ($100,000 - $451) | ||
Assumptions | ||||
Net Option Price | 1.61% | 10.00% | ||
Amortized Option Cost | 2.11% | 0.70% | ||
Trading Cost | 0.20% | 0.20% | ||
Calculations | ||||
Daily Value Percentage | -0.70% (1.61% - 2.11% - 0.20%) | 9.10% (10.00% - 0.70% - 0.20%) | ||
Dollar amount of increase/decrease | $699 decrease ($99,850 x -0.70%) | $9,059 increase ($99,549 x 9.10%) | ||
Strategy value | $99,151 ($99,850 - $699) | $108,608 ($99,549 + $9,059) |
Strategy Renewals and Reallocations
(See “Strategy Selections at Term End” section below for more details)
At the end of each Term, you may reallocate the ending values of the Indexed Strategies for that Term among the Strategies.
• | If you reallocate, then we will apply the ending values of the Indexed Strategies to a new Term of the Indexed Strategies that you select. |
• | If you do not reallocate, then we will apply the ending value of each Indexed Strategy to a new Term of that same Strategy. |
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You cannot reallocate your value among Indexed Strategies during a Term. We will send you written notice at least 30 days before the end of a Term to provide you with the opportunity to make a reallocation. However, you will not know the Cap and Upside Participation Rates applicable to a new Term until 10 days before the end of the current Term. You should consider this information before finalizing your renewal or reallocation decision.
Access to Your Money through Withdrawals
(See “Cash Benefit” section below for more details)
You may take a withdrawal from your Contract at any time prior to the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. During the first six Contract Years, an Early Withdrawal Charge will apply unless (a) your withdrawal qualifies for the Free Withdrawal Allowance or (b) the withdrawal qualifies for a waiver (as explained in the “Early Withdrawal Charge—Early Withdrawal Charge Waiver” section). A withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy will reduce the Account Value by the amount of the withdrawal, including any taxes and any applicable Early Withdrawal Charge. A withdrawal during a Term will reduce the Investment Base, which is used to calculate subsequent Strategy values for that Term, by an amount that is proportional to the reduction in the Indexed Strategy value due to the withdrawal.
Early Withdrawal Charge
(See “Early Withdrawal Charge” section below for more details)
An Early Withdrawal Charge applies during the first six Contract Years if you Surrender your Contract or withdraw an amount in excess of the Free Withdrawal Allowance. The charge is equal to the amount subject to the charge multiplied by the applicable rate set out below.
Contract Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7+ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Early Withdrawal Charge Rate | 9 | % | 8 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | 5 | % | 4 | % | 0 | % |
If you take a withdrawal from your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is the amount you withdraw plus any amount needed to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge. If you Surrender your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is your Account Value.
When you request a withdrawal, we will reduce the amount we pay you by the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge. If you instruct us to pay you the specific withdrawal amount, we will instead reduce your Account Value by both the requested specific withdrawal amount, as well as the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge. In this case, since you opted not to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge out of your withdrawal proceeds, we treat the Early Withdrawal Charge as an additional requested withdrawal. We will apply the Early Withdrawal Charge to both the specified withdrawal amount, as well as any amounts we withdraw to cover your Early Withdrawal Charges. The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to a withdrawal that qualifies for the Free Withdrawal Allowance or the amount, if any, that qualifies for another waiver.
For example, if after using their Free Withdrawal Allowance a contractholder requested that an additional $10,000 be withdrawn from their Account Value when a 9% Early Withdrawal Charge was in effect, a $900 Early Withdrawal Charge would apply (9% of $10,000 withdrawn). The contractholder would receive $9,100 ($10,000 - $900), minus any income tax withholding.
Similarly, if a contractholder instead requested that they receive a net amount of $10,000 from their account in the same circumstances, we would treat the Early Withdrawal Charge amount as an additional requested withdrawal subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge. This means that we will “gross up” your requested withdrawal to cover applicable Early Withdrawal Charges (and any income tax withholding). If we assume that no income tax withholding applies, the withdrawal would be grossed up to $10,989, calculated by dividing the net amount requested by 1 minus the Early Withdrawal Charge rate ($10,000 / (1 – 0.09)). The Early Withdrawal Charge would be $989 (9% of the $10,989 withdrawal), and the contractholder would receive $10,000 ($10,989 - $989).
Free Withdrawal Allowance
(See “Early Withdrawal Charge” section below for more details)
The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to the Free Withdrawal Allowance.
• | For the first Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is an amount equal to 10% of the total Purchase Payments received by us. |
• | For each subsequent Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is equal to 10% of the Account Value as of the most recent Contract Anniversary. |
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Payout Options
(See “Payout Options” section below for more details)
Like all annuity contracts, the Contract offers a range of Payout Options, which provide payments for your lifetime or for a fixed period. After payments begin, you cannot change the Payout Option or any fixed period you selected. The standard Payout Options are listed below.
• | Fixed Period Payout |
• | Life Payout |
• | Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period |
• | Joint and One-Half Survivor Payout |
Death Benefit
(See “Death Benefit” section below for more details)
A Death Benefit is payable under the Contract if you die before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. If the Owner is a
non-natural
person, such as a trust or a corporation, then a Death Benefit is payable under the Contract if an Annuitant dies before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.The Death Benefit value is the greater of: (1) the Account Value as of the applicable date; or (2) the Return of Premium Guarantee, which will be equal to your Purchase Payment(s) reduced proportionally for all withdrawals, but not including amounts deducted to pay Early Withdrawal Charges. The Return of Premium Guarantee is not reduced by Daily Charges.
Tax Deferral
(See “Federal Tax Considerations” section below for more details)
The Contract is generally tax deferred, which means that you are not taxed on the earnings in your Contract until the money is paid to you. Contracts owned by
non-natural
owners, such as trusts and corporations, are subject to special rules.A
tax-qualified
retirement plan such as an IRA also provides tax deferral. Buying the Contract within atax-qualified
retirement plan does not give you any extra tax benefits. There should be reasons other than tax deferral for buying the Contract within atax-qualified
retirement plan.Right to Cancel
(See “Right to Cancel (Free Look)” section below for more details)
If you purchase a Contract, you may cancel it within 20 days after you receive it. If you purchase a Contract to replace an existing annuity contract or insurance policy, you have 30 days to cancel the Contract. The right to cancel period may be longer in some states. If you cancel your Contract, you will receive a refund. The amount of the refund will depend on where you live. In some states, the refund amount is equal to the Purchase Payments. In other states, the refund amount is equal to the Account Value on the day that we receive a cancellation request. In this case, an owner bears the risk of changes in Indexed Strategy values before cancellation. No adjustment will be made for the Daily Value Percentage and no Early Withdrawal Charges will apply to the amount refunded. Unless required by state law, we do not refund any Daily Charge assessed during the free look period or any Early Withdrawal Charges assessed during the free look period that relate to a withdrawal taken before you cancel the Contract. See the Right to Cancel (Free Look) section for more information about your cancellation rights and the State Variations section of this prospectus for more information about state variations that apply to cancellation rights.
There may be tax consequences if you cancel the Contract. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
RISK FACTORS
The Contract involves certain risks that you should understand before purchasing it. You should carefully consider your income needs and risk tolerance to determine whether the Contract or a particular Indexed Strategy is appropriate for you. The level of risk you bear and your potential investment performance will differ depending on the Indexed Strategies you choose.
Loss of Principal Related to Indexed Strategies
There is a significant risk of loss of principal and prior earnings due to the fall of an Index if you allocate your Purchase Payment(s) to an Indexed Strategy. Such a loss may be substantial. This risk exists because, at the end of that Term, you can lose up to 50% of the money allocated to an Indexed Strategy. In addition, before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy may be even less than 50% of the money allocated to that Indexed Strategy because the loss will include a reduction for the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost. If you allocate money to one or more Indexed Strategies over multiple Terms, you may lose money each Term, which may result in a cumulative loss that is greater than 50% of your Purchase Payment(s).
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If we offer a new Indexed Strategy in the future, the Downside Participation Rate for the Strategy may be more or less than 50%. The risk of loss of principal will be greater if you allocate money to a Strategy with a higher Downside Participation Rate. In a worst case scenario, if we eliminate all of the current Indexed Strategies and offer only new Indexed Strategies with higher Downside Participation Rates, then your risk of loss of principal will increase.
Loss of Principal Related to Daily Charge
There is a risk of loss of principal and related earnings as a result of the Daily Charge. The Daily Charge reduces your Investment Base, which will result in reduced Strategy values. In addition, any Index increases will not apply to amounts deducted as Daily Charges because Daily Charges are subtracted from the Investment Base prior to calculating Strategy values.
You could realize losses even when the Index rises. This will occur when the amount of increase attributable to an Index rise is smaller than the amount needed to offset the Daily Charge.
For example, if the Investment Base of an Indexed Strategy at the start of a Term is $100,000 and $650 in Daily Charges have been deducted since the start of the Term, the remaining Investment Base will be $99,350 ($100,000 – $650). If on that date the Daily Value Percentage is a positive 0.5%, then the Strategy Value on that date will be $99,847 ($99,350 x 100.5%). The Daily Charges exceed the value attributable to the 0.5% increase, resulting in a net reduction in the Strategy Value since the start of the Term. In addition, the 0.5% increase will not apply to the $650 applied to pay the Daily Charges because the Daily Charges are subtracted from the Investment Base before calculating the Strategy value.
When the Index falls, the Daily Charge will cause you to realize losses in excess of the Downside Participation Rate.
Loss of Principal Related to Early Withdrawal Charge
There is also a risk of loss of principal and prior earnings if you take a withdrawal from your Contract or Surrender it during the first six Contract Years and an Early Withdrawal Charge applies. This risk exists for each Strategy. An Early Withdrawal Charge will reduce the value of the Strategy. This reduction may exceed any prior earnings.
Long-Term Nature of Contract
The Contract is a deferred annuity, which means the Annuity Payout Benefit will begin on a future date. We designed the Contract to be a long-term investment that you can use to help build a retirement nest egg and provide income for retirement. The limitations, adjustments and charges included in the Contract reflect its long-term nature.
Limits on Strategy Value at End of Term
If the Index rises over the Term and a Cap applies, then the Strategy value at the end of the Term can never be more than the Investment Base increased by the Cap for that Term even if the Index has risen by more than the Cap. If the Index rises over the Term and an Upside Participation Rate applies, then the Strategy value at the end of the Term will be the Investment Base increased by your share of the rise in the Index. Your share of any rise in the Index is equal to the Upside Participation Rate for that Term multiplied by the rise in the Index. Due to these limitations, in many cases the return on money allocated to an Indexed Strategy with a Cap will not fully reflect the corresponding rise in the Index over the Term and the return on money allocated to an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate that is less than 100% will never reflect the entire corresponding rise in the Index over the Term.
Index Changes Over the Course of Term
At the end of a Term, we measure the Index change by comparing the Index value on the first day of the Term to the Index value on the last day of the Term. This means that if the Index value is lower on the last day of the Term, you may experience negative or flat performance even if the Index rose through some, or most, of the Term.
The Contract offers you the opportunity to allocate funds to Indexed Strategies for one year or two year Terms. For Indexed Strategies with
two-year
terms, changes in Strategy value as a result of Index performance will only be measured over a two year period and not annually.16
Limits on Strategy Value before End of Term
Before the end of a Term, we calculate the value of an Indexed Strategy using a Daily Value Percentage that is not tied directly to the underlying Index. The Daily Value Percentage includes the prices of hypothetical options. Such option prices will vary from day to day. You will bear the risk that the Daily Value Percentage may decrease the Strategy value before the end of a Term.
The Daily Value Percentage includes deductions for the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost, which means that any Strategy value before the end of a Term will almost always be less than the value suggested by the rise or fall of the Index. Because the Amortized Option Cost is a decreasing value, its negative impact on Strategy values will be more pronounced at the start of a Term than at the end of that Term. In addition, even if the Index rises, the Strategy value may be less than the Investment Base due to these deductions.
Strategy values are used to calculate the amount payable upon Surrender, applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit, or payable as the Death Benefit. Accordingly, the Amortized Option Cost and Trading Cost will have a negative effect on such benefits taken before the end of a Term.
For more information on how we determine the prices of hypothetical options, see the Option Prices section of this Prospectus.
Limits on Reallocations
You cannot reallocate money among the Indexed Strategies prior to the end of a Term. If you want to take money out of an Indexed Strategy during a Term, you must take a withdrawal or Surrender your Contract.
Effect of Surrenders
If you Surrender your Contract at any time during the first six Contract Years and an Early Withdrawal Charge applies, the amount payable will reflect a deduction for the charge. If you Surrender your Contract at the end of a Term, the amount payable will reflect any rise or fall of the applicable Indexes over the Term, applicable Caps and Upside Participation Rates and the Downside Participation Rate. If you Surrender your Contract before the end of a Term, the amount payable will reflect the applicable Daily Value Percentage.
Effect of All Withdrawals
If you take a withdrawal at any time, we will reduce your Account Value by an amount equal to your withdrawal. If you take a withdrawal during the first six Contract Years and an Early Withdrawal Charge applies, we will also reduce your Account Value by the amount of the charge.
Each withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy, including withdrawals available under the Free Withdrawal Allowance, withdrawals that qualify for a waiver of the Early Withdrawal Charge, withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal program and withdrawals to satisfy a required distribution, will reduce the Account Value.
Timing and Effect of Withdrawals Before End of Term
You should take into consideration the dates on which the Term(s) of your Indexed Strategies end relative to the timing of a withdrawal.
• | If you take a withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term, we will immediately reduce the Investment Base for that Indexed Strategy. |
• | The reduction will be proportional to the reduction in the Strategy Value, which means that the proportional reduction in the Investment Base could be larger than the dollar amount of the withdrawal. |
• | Reductions to the Investment Base will have a negative effect on any increases in the Indexed Strategy value for the remainder of that Term, but will reduce any decreases in the Indexed Strategy value for the remainder of that Term. |
• | Once the Investment Base for an Indexed Strategy is reduced due to a withdrawal before the end of a Term, it will not increase at any time during the remainder of that Term. |
Each withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term, including withdrawals available under the Free Withdrawal Allowance, withdrawals that qualify for a waiver of the Early Withdrawal Charge, withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal program and withdrawals to satisfy a required distribution, will proportionally reduce the Investment Base.
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No Ability to Determine Contract Values in Advance
We will process any withdrawal request at the first Market Close after receipt of your Request in Good Order. This means you will not be able to determine in advance the amount of the proportional reduction in the Investment Base due to the withdrawal. Likewise, you will not be able to determine in advance the amount payable upon Surrender, to be applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit or payable as the Death Benefit.
Changes in Caps, Upside Participation Rates, and Trading Cost
We set a Cap or an Upside Participation Rate for each new Term of an Indexed Strategy. The Cap or Upside Participation Rate for a new Term of an Indexed Strategy may be lower than its Cap or Upside Participation Rate for the current Term. A Cap may be as low as 1%. An Upside Participation Rate may be as low as 5%. You risk the possibility that the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for a new Term may be lower than you would find acceptable.
We may change the Trading Cost at any time due to changes in option prices. You bear the risk of any negative effect of an increase in the Trading Cost.
Unavailable Indexed Strategies
At the end of a Term, we may stop offering any Indexed Strategy other than the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy. Consequently, any other Indexed Strategy you selected may not be available after the end of a Term. In such an event, the Company will amend the prospectus. At least 30 days before the end of each Term, we will send you a written notice with information about the Indexed Strategies that will be available for the next Term. If funds are allocated to an Indexed Strategy that will not be available for the next Term and you do not request a reallocation of those funds, we will apply the ending value of that Indexed Strategy to a default Strategy for the new Term. The default Strategy will be the S&P 5001-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy.We may establish minimum and maximum amounts or percentages that may be applied to a given Indexed Strategy. This means that an Indexed Strategy you selected may not be available after the end of a Term because the amount to be applied to that Strategy is less than the minimum we set for the new Term. Likewise, the amount to be applied to an Indexed Strategy may be limited by the maximum we set for the new Term. At least 30 days before the end of each Term, we will send you a written notice with information about any maximum or minimum that will apply for the next Term. If funds cannot be applied to a Strategy due to the minimum or maximum we set for the next Term and you do not request a reallocation of those funds, we will apply the funds to a default Strategy for the new Term. The default Strategy will be the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy.In these cases, the funds that we allocate to the default Strategy may earn a return that is lower than the return those funds would have earned if they had been applied to the Indexed Strategy you selected.
If you choose to Surrender your Contract because a certain Indexed Strategy is no longer available, you may be subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge. There may be tax consequences if you Surrender your Contract. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
Replacement of an Index
We have the right to replace an Index if it is discontinued or we are no longer able to use it, its calculation changes substantially, or we determine that hedging instruments are difficult to acquire or the cost of hedging becomes excessive. We may do so at the end of a Term or during a Term. If we replace an Index, notice will be provided to contract owners and the Company will amend the prospectus. If we replace an Index during a Term, we will calculate any rise or fall in the Index using the old Index up until the replacement date. After the replacement date, we will calculate any rise or fall in the Index using the new Index. The performance of the new Index may not be as good as the performance of the old Index. As a result, funds allocated to an Indexed Strategy may earn a return that is lower than the return they would have earned if there had been no replacement.
Involuntary Termination of Contract
If your Account Value on any anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date is below the minimum value of $5,000 for any reason, we may terminate your Contract on that anniversary. If your Contract has Terms that end on the same date because you made only one Purchase Payment, any involuntary termination will occur on that date. If your Contract has Terms that end on different dates because you made more than one Purchase Payment, any involuntary termination will occur on one of those dates, which will be the end of one Term but not the end of the other Terms. In this case, the Surrender Value payable upon termination of your Contract will reflect the Daily Value Percentages used to calculate the values of Indexed Strategies with Terms that are not ending on the termination date.
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No Direct Investment in S&P 500 Index
When you allocate money to an Indexed Strategy that uses the S&P 500 Index, you will not be investing in that Index, or in any stock included in that Index. The S&P 500 Index is calculated without taking into account dividends paid on stocks that make up the S&P 500 Index. In addition, because the performance of an S&P 500 Indexed Strategy is linked to the performance of the S&P 500 Index and not the performance of the stocks included in the Index, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in such stocks. In addition, due to the same limitations, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in a fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index.
No Direct Investment in an iShares ETF
When you allocate money to an Indexed Strategy that uses the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, you will not be investing in that exchange-traded fund, the securities or other assets held by the fund, in any underlying index tracked by the fund, or in the securities or other assets held by such underlying index. In addition, because the performance of an iShares ETF is linked to the performance of the share price of the ETF, which is determined by trading on the exchange, and not the performance of its investment portfolio, its underlying index or the components of that index, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in the securities or other assets held by the fund or a direct investment in the components of the fund’s underlying index. In addition, due to the same limitations, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in the fund.
Divergence of Performance
The performance of an Indexed Strategy will diverge from the performance of the underlying Index because changes in the value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term are subject to Caps or Upside Participation Rates and the Downside Participation Rate, and because changes in the value of an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term are based on the Daily Value Percentage.
Market Risk Related to Indexes
Money allocated to an Indexed Strategy that uses the S&P 500 Index is subject to the risk that the market value of the underlying securities that comprise the S&P 500 Index may decline over a Term. Likewise, money allocated to an Indexed Strategy that uses the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is subject to the risk that the fund’s share price may decline over a Term. The level of the S&P 500 Index and the share prices of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF may be volatile. Any such market loss in an amount up to the Downside Participation Rate will be reflected in the Indexed Strategy value. For example, with a Downside Participation Rate of 50%, the Indexed Strategy value will be reduced by 50% of a fall in the Index at the end of a Term. This risk applies even if you do not take a withdrawal before the end of a Term.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as
COVID-19
was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. As of the date of this prospectus, theCOVID-19
pandemic has led to significant volatility in the financial markets. These market conditions have impacted the performance of the Indexes to which the Indexed Strategies are linked. If these market conditions continue, and depending on your individual circumstances (e.g., your selected Indexed Strategies and the timing of any Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals), you may experience (perhaps significant) negative returns under the Contract. The duration of theCOVID-19
pandemic, and the future impact that the pandemic may have on the financial markets and global economy, cannot be foreseen, however. You should consult with a Financial Professional about how theCOVID-19
pandemic and the recent market conditions may impact your future investment decisions related to the Contract, such as purchasing the Contract or making Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals, based on your individual circumstances.The historical performance of an Index does not guarantee future results.
S&P 500 Index
®
Index is designed to reflect thelarge-cap
sector of the U.S. equity market and, due to its composition, it also represents the U.S. equity market in general. Any positive change in the S&P 500 Index over a Term will be lower than the total return on an investment in the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 Index because such total return will reflect dividend payments on those stocks and the S&P 500 Index will not reflect those dividend payments. More information about the S&P 500 Index is set out in the Indexes section of this prospectus.19
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
mid-capitalization
developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada (MSCI EAFE Index). This underlying index includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. It may include large- ormid-capitalization
companies. The share price of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is tied to the performance of large- andmid-capitalization
developed market equites, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The share price may not replicate the performance of the fund, its underlying index, or the components of that index. More information about the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is set out in the Indexes section of this prospectus. To learn more about the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, visit iShares.com and search ticker symbol EFA.iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
.
mid-
or small-capitalization companies. A significant portion of the underlying index is represented by real estate investment trusts (REITs), but the components are likely to change over time. The share price of the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is tied to the performance of the real estate sector. The share price may not replicate the performance of the fund, its underlying index, or the components of that index. More information about the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is set out in the Indexes section of this prospectus. To learn more about the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, visit iShares.com and search ticker symbol IYR.Market Risk Related to Option Prices
Before the end of a Term, money allocated to an Indexed Strategy is subject to the risk that changes in the related option prices may have a negative effect on the value of the Indexed Strategy. This risk applies only if you take a withdrawal before the end of a Term.
Regulatory Risk
Great American Life is not an investment company. Neither Great American Life nor the separate account that we established in connection with the Contracts is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The protections provided to investors by that Act are not applicable to the Contract.
Reliance on Our Claims-Paying Ability
No company other than Great American Life has any legal responsibility to pay amounts owed under the Contract. You should look to the financial strength of Great American Life for its claims-paying ability.
Our general account assets fund the guarantees provided in the Contracts. The assets are subject to our general business operation liabilities and claims of our creditors and may lose value. We established a
non-unitized
separate account for the purpose of supporting our obligation to adjust the Indexed Strategy values based on the Daily Value Percentage or rise or fall of the Index. The assets in thenon-unitized
separate account are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business that we conduct but may lose value. Thenon-unitized
separate account differs from the unitized separate accounts that support our variable annuity contracts. As a result, unlike the owner of a traditional variable annuity who has a beneficial interest in, and participates in the performance of, the assets of the related unitized separate account, you do not have any interest in or claim on the assets in thenon-unitized
separate account and you will not participate in any way in the performance of assets held in that account.20
Various factors, such as those listed below, could materially affect our business, financial condition, cash flows or future results and, in turn, our financial strength and claims-paying ability. A more complete discussion of these factors appears on
pages 86-90.
• | Financial losses including those resulting from the following events: |
• | Adverse developments in financial markets and deterioration in global economic conditions |
• | Unfavorable interest rate environments |
• | Losses on our investment portfolio |
• | Loss of market share due to intense competition |
• | Ineffectiveness of risk management policies |
• | Changes in applicable law and regulations |
• | Inability to obtain or collect on reinsurance |
• | A downgrade or potential downgrade in our financial strength ratings |
• | Variations from actual experience and management’s estimates and assumptions that could result in inadequate reserves |
• | Significant variations in the amount of capital we must hold to meet statutory capital requirements |
• | Legal actions and regulatory proceedings |
• | Difficulties with technology or data security |
• | Failure to protect confidentiality of customer information |
• | Failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems |
• | Occurrence of catastrophic events, terrorism or military actions |
The economic impacts of the
COVID-19
pandemic may negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. The extent to which theCOVID-19
pandemic impacts financial markets, the global economy, and our financial strength and claims-paying ability will depend on future developments that cannot be predicted with certainty. We continue to be subject to significant state solvency regulations that require us to reserve amounts to pay our contractual guarantees. Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Risk Factors Related to GALIC’s Business,” and “Financial Statements”, and “Regulation” for additional financial information about the company and the state solvency regulations to which we are subject.INDEXED STRATEGIES
The Indexed Strategies provide returns that are based, in part, upon changes in an Index. The Indexed Strategies do not earn interest at a fixed rate. Unlike a traditional variable annuity, the values of the Indexed Strategies are not based on the investment performance of underlying portfolios.
At the end of a Term, any increase in the value of an Indexed Strategy is determined after Daily Charges have been deducted from the Investment Base, and is based on the rise in the applicable Index since the start of that Term and the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for that Term. At the end of a Term, any decrease in the value of an Indexed Strategy is determined after Daily Charges have been deducted from the Investment Base, and is based on the fall in the applicable Index since the start of that Term and the Downside Participation Rate.
Before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is first decreased by Daily Charges. Then any increase or further decrease in the value of an Indexed Strategy is based on the calculated price of hypothetical options related to the possible future change in the applicable Index over the Term, the initial cost of those options, and the trading cost related to those options. The calculated price of those options takes into account the Cap or the Upside Participation Rate for the Term and the Downside Participation Rate.
Each Indexed Strategy has a Cap or an Upside Participation Rate for each Term. We will set a new Cap or Upside Participation Rate for each Indexed Strategy prior to the start of each Term.
Each Indexed Strategy has a Downside Participation Rate that will not change from Term to Term. For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%.
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Each Term it is possible for you to lose a portion of the money you allocated to any Indexed Strategy.
Available Indexed Strategies
For this Contract, we currently offer eight Indexed Strategies. Each of these Indexed Strategies uses one of three Indexes: S&P 500
®
Index, iShares®
MSCI EAFE ETF, and iShares®
U.S. Real Estate ETF. Four of these Indexed Strategies haveone-year
Terms, and four havetwo-year
Terms.S&P 500
1-year
Term with CapS&P 500
2-year
Term with CapS&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation RateS&P 500
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateConsiderations in Choosing an Indexed Strategy
When choosing among Indexed Strategies, you should consider the characteristics and risk profiles of the Indexes, which are discussed in the Indexes section of this prospectus. You should also consider Term lengths. It is generally more difficult to predict Index performance over a longer Term. In addition, you cannot reallocate funds among Strategies before the end of a Term, and the only way to exit a Strategy before the end of a Term is to take a withdrawal or Surrender your Contract.
When choosing among Indexed Strategies that use the same Index, you should also consider how the Caps and Participation Rates may affect the potential return.
• | An Indexed Strategy with Cap provides you with the opportunity to participate in any rise in the Index up to the Cap (after Daily Charges have been deducted from the Investment Base), but you will not participate in any rise in the Index in excess of the Cap. |
• | An Indexed Strategy with Participation Rate provides you with the opportunity to share in any rise in the Index without a Cap, but your share of any rise is always expected to be less than 100%. |
If we assume the Participation Rate is less than 100%, here is how an Indexed Strategy with Cap will perform in comparison to an Indexed Strategy with Participation Rate.
• | In any Term where the rise in the Index is less than the Cap, the Cap Strategy will always perform better than the corresponding Participation Rate Strategy. |
• | In any Term where the rise in the Index is more than the Cap, but less than the Cap divided by the Upside Participation Rate, the Cap Strategy will always perform better than the corresponding Participation Rate Strategy. |
• | In any Term where the rise in the Index is more than the Cap divided by the Upside Participation Rate, the Participation Rate Strategy will always perform better than the Cap Strategy. |
• | In any Term where the Index falls, the Cap Strategy and Participation Rate Strategy will produce the same results at the end of the Term because both have a 50% Downside Participation Rate. However, before the end of the Term, due to different option pricing, they may have different Daily Value Percentages and returns. |
Examples
Index rise over Term | Return at end of Term | |||||
12% Cap | 75% Upside Participation Rate | Explanation | ||||
4% | 4% | 3% | The Cap Strategy has a better return than the Participation Rate Strategy because the 4% rise in the Index is less than the 12% Cap. | |||
14% | 12% | 10.5% | The Cap Strategy has a better return than the Participation Rate Strategy because the 14% rise in the Index is more than the 12% Cap, but less than 16% (the 12% Cap divided by the 75% Upside Participation Rate). | |||
16% | 12% | 12% | Both Strategies have the same positive return because the rise in the Index is equal to 16% (the 12% Cap divided by the 75% Upside Participation Rate). | |||
20% | 12% | 15% | The Participation Rate Strategy has a better return than the Cap Strategy because the 20% rise in the Index is more than 16% (the 12% Cap divided by the 75%Upside Participation Rate) | |||
-30% | -15% | -15% | Both Strategies have the same negative return. |
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Term
Each Term of an Indexed Strategy will start and end on a Strategy Application Date. Each Term is either one year long or two years long. A new Term will start at the end of the preceding Term.
If you make only one Purchase Payment or you make all of your Purchase Payments before the initial Strategy Application Date, then each Term of each Indexed Strategy will end on the same date in any given year. If you make a Purchase Payment after the initial Strategy Application Date, then your Purchase Payments will be applied to the Indexed Strategies on different Strategy Application Dates. In this case, an Indexed Strategy may have Terms that end on different dates in any given year.
Examples.
• | You make your initial Purchase Payment on March 10 and another Purchase Payment on March 17. You allocate both payments to the same Indexed Strategy and both payments are applied on March 20. Each Term of that Indexed Strategy will start and end on March 20. |
• | You make your initial Purchase Payment on May 2 and another Purchase Payment on June 14. You allocate both payments to the same Indexed Strategy. Your initial Purchase Payment is applied on May 6 and the other Purchase Payment is applied on June 20. That Indexed Strategy will have Terms that start and end on May 6 and other Terms that start and end on June 20. |
Investment Base
The value of an Indexed Strategy is calculated using the Investment Base. The Investment Base is not your Account Value, Surrender Value, Annuity Payout value, or Death Benefit value, but it is used to calculate those values.
The Investment Base is the amount applied to the Strategy at the start of the current Term, reduced proportionally for each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge during the current Term.
The Investment Base is reduced daily by an amount equal to the Daily Charge.
A withdrawal and the Related Early Withdrawal Charge reduce the Investment Base by an amount that is proportional to the reduction in the value of the Indexed Strategy due to the withdrawal and the charge.
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is greater than the Investment Base, then the reduction in the Investment Base will be less than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is less than the Investment Base, then the reduction in the Investment Base will be more than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate a reduction in the Investment Base for a withdrawal, after Daily Charges have been taken into account.
Withdrawal as a percentage of Strategy value = withdrawal and related charge / Strategy value before withdrawal
Reduction in Investment Base = Investment Base before withdrawal x withdrawal as a percentage of Strategy value
Investment Base after withdrawal = Investment Base before withdrawal—reduction in Investment Base
Indexed Strategy Value
At the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to:
• | the Investment Base at the end of the Term; plus |
• | any increase for a rise in the Index over the Term; or minus |
• | any decrease for a fall in the Index over the Term. |
In this formula, the Investment Base at the end of the Term is equal to the amount applied to the Strategy at the start of that Term, reduced by Daily Charges, and reduced proportionally for each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge that you took during that Term. After we calculate the Investment Base at the end of the Term, we calculate any increase for a rise in the Index over that Term or any decrease for a fall in the Index over that Term. Any increase for the Term is subject to the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for that Term. Any decrease for the Term is subject to the Downside Participation Rate.
23
Examples
Assume that the Index had increased by 20% at the end of the Term, and either a Cap of 10% or an Upside Participation Rate of 50% was in place:
At Final Market Close of Term | ||
Rise in Index | +20% | |
Increase as a Percentage | +10% (10% Cap, or 50% Par Rate x 20%) | |
Dollar Amount of Increase | +$500 ($5,000 x 10%) | |
Strategy value before Withdrawal | $5,500 ($5,000 + $500) | |
Withdrawal Amount | $1,000 | |
Strategy Value at Term End | $4,500 ($5,500 - $1,000) |
If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000, your withdrawal amount would have been $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)), resulting in a Strategy Value at Term End of $4,447 ($5,500 - $1,053).
Assume that the Index had decreased by 20% at the end of the Term, and a 50% Downside Participation Rate was in place:
At Final Market Close of Term | ||
Fall in Index | -20% | |
Decrease as a Percentage | -10% (50% x -20%) | |
Dollar Amount of Decrease | -$500 ($5,000 x -10%) | |
Strategy value before Withdrawal | $4,500 ($5,000 - $500) | |
Withdrawal Amount | $1,000 | |
Strategy Value at Term End | $3,500 ($4,500 - $1,000) |
If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000, your withdrawal amount would have been $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)), resulting in a Strategy Value at Term End of $3,447 ($4,500 - $1,053).
On each day before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to:
• | the Investment Base on that day; plus |
• | any increase for a positive Daily Value Percentage; or minus |
• | any decrease for a negative Daily Value Percentage. |
In this formula, the Investment Base on each day before the end of the Term is equal to the amount applied to the Strategy at the start of that Term, reduced by Daily Charges, and reduced proportionally for each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge that you took on or before that day. After we calculate the Investment Base on that day, we calculate any increase for a positive Daily Value Percentage or any decrease for a negative Daily Value Percentage.
A withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge reduce the value of an Indexed Strategy by an amount equal to the withdrawal and the charge.
24
Examples
Assume that the Daily Value Percentage is 5% on the withdrawal date.
• | The increase for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $250 ($5,000 x 5%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $5,250 ($5,000 + $250). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $4,250 ($5,250 - $1,000). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 19.05% ($1,000 / $5,250). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $952 ($5,000 x 19.05%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $4,048 ($5,000 - $952). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was more than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base is only $952, which is less than the $1000 withdrawal. |
If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000:
• | The increase for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $250 ($5,000 x 5%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $5,250 ($5,000 + $250). |
• | The total amount withdrawn is $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $4,197 ($5,250 - $1,053). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 20.05% ($1,053 / $5,250). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $1,003 ($5,000 x 20.05%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $3,997 ($5,000 - $1,003). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was more than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base was $1,003, which is less than the $1,053 withdrawal. |
Assume that the Daily Value Percentage is
-10%
on the withdrawal date.• | The reduction for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $500 ($5,000 x -10%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $4,500 ($5,000 - $500). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $3,500 ($4,500 - $1,000). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 22.22% ($1,000 / $4,500). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $1,111 ($5,000 x 22.22%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $3,889 ($5,000 - $1,111). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was less than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base was $1,111, which is greater than the $1,000 withdrawal. |
If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000:
• | The reduction for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $500 ($5,000 x 10%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $4,500 ($5,000 - $500). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $3,447 ($4,500 - $1,053). |
• | The total amount withdrawn is $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 23.39% ($1,053 / $4,500). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $1,170 ($5,000 x 23.39%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $3,830 ($5,000 - $1,170). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was less than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base was $1,170, which is greater than the $1,053 withdrawal. |
INDEXES
S&P 500 Index
The S&P 500
®
Index is designed to reflect thelarge-cap
sector of the U.S. equity market and, due to its composition, it also represents the U.S. equity market in general. It includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization. The S&P 500 Index does not include dividends declared by any of the companies in this index. Consequently, any positive change in the Index over a Term will be lower than the total return on a direct investment in the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 Index.25
The S&P 500 Index is subject to multiple principal investment risks, such as those related to its investments in large-capitalization companies. The S&P 500 Index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the S&P 500 Index to perform differently from the overall stock market. In general, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies. In addition, the S&P 500 Index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the S&P 500 Index to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.
The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information, visit www.US.SPIndices.com.
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is an exchange traded fund that seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and
mid-capitalization
developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada (MSCI EAFE Index). This underlying index includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. It may include large- ormid-capitalization
companies. The components of the underlying index, and the degree to which these components represent certain industries and/or countries, are likely to change over time. The fund’s adviser uses an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to that of the underlying index. The fund’s performance will be reduced by its expenses and fees.The fund is subject to several principal investment risks, such as those related to its investments in large- and, increased price volatility; changing currency exchange rates; and greater political, regulatory and economic uncertainty). Because the fund is an ETF, it is also exposed to the risks associated with the operation of any ETF. The value of its shares, which are valued based on their trading prices in the secondary market, may change rapidly and unpredictably and may trade at premiums or discounts to the fund’s net asset value.
mid-capitalization
foreign companies. In general, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies. Generally, the securities ofmid-capitalization
companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies.Mid-capitalization
companies are also more likely to fail than larger companies. Securities issued bynon-U.S.
companies are subject to the risks related to investments in foreign markets (e.g.
The principal investment risks of the fund are described in the fund’s prospectus, including the following risks: asset class risk, authorized participant concentration risk, concentration risk, currency risk, cyber security risk, equity securities risk, financials sector risk, geographic risk, index-related risk, issuer risk, large-capitalization companies risk, management risk, market risk, market trading risk,
mid-capitalization
companies risk, national closed market trading risk,non-U.S.
securities risk, operational risk, passive investment risk, reliance on trading partners risk, risk of investing in developed countries, risk of investing in Japan, securities lending risk, structural risk, tracking error risk and valuation risk.The fund’s shares trade on the NYSE Arca under the symbol EFA.
iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
The iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is an exchange traded fund that seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. equities in the real estate sector (Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index). This underlying index may include large-,
mid-
or small-capitalization companies. A significant portion of the underlying index is represented by real estate investment trusts (REITs), but the components are likely to change over time. The fund’s adviser uses an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to that of the underlying index. The fund’s performance will be reduced by its expenses and fees.The fund is subject to several principal investment risks, such as those related to its investments in large-,
mid-
and small-capitalization U.S. companies in the real estate sector. In general, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies. Generally, the securities of smaller companies (includingmid-
and small-capitalization companies) may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. Smaller companies are also more likely to fail than larger companies. Companies that invest in real estate are highly sensitive to the risks of owning real estate, to general and local economic conditions and developments in the real estate market, and to changes in interest rates. Many companies that invest in real estate utilize leverage (and some may be highly leveraged), which increases investment risk, and could potentially magnify the fund’s losses. Because the fund is an ETF, it is also exposed to the risks associated with the operation of any ETF. The value of its shares, which are valued based on their trading prices in the secondary market, may change rapidly and unpredictably and may trade at premiums or discounts to the fund’s net asset value.26
The principal investment risks of the fund are described in the fund’s prospectus, including the following risks: asset class risk, authorized participant concentration risk, concentration risk, cyber security risk, dividend risk, equity securities risk, index-related risk, issuer risk, large-capitalization companies risk, management risk, market risk, market trading risk,
mid-capitalization
companies risk, operational risk, passive investment risk, real estate investment risk, risk of investing in the United States, securities lending risk and tracking error risk.The fund’s shares trade on the NYSE Arca under the symbol IYR.
Index Values
For Indexed Strategies that use the S&P 500 Index, the Index is the level of the S&P 500 Index at the applicable Market Close. For Indexed Strategies that use the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, the Index is the applicable exchange-traded fund’s share price on the NYSE Arca at the applicable Market Close.
We will use consistent sources to obtain the values of an Index. We currently obtain the values for the S&P 500 Index from S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and the values for the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF from BlackRock, Inc. If those sources are no longer available, we will select an alternative published source(s) to obtain such values.
Index Replacement
We may replace an Index if it is discontinued or we are no longer able to use it, its calculation changes substantially, or we determine that hedging instruments are difficult to acquire or the cost of hedging becomes excessive. We may do so at the end of a Term or during a Term. We will notify you in writing at least 30 days before we replace an Index.
We would attempt to choose a replacement Index that is similar to the old Index. To determine if a new Index is similar, we will consider factors such as asset class, index composition, strategy or methodology inherent to the index and index liquidity.
If we replace an Index during a Term, we will calculate the rise and fall in the Index using the old Index up until the replacement date. After the replacement date, we will calculate the rise and fall in the Index using the new Index, but with a modified start of Term value for the new Index. The modified start of Term value for the new index will reflect the rise or fall in the Index for the old Index from the start of the Term to the replacement date.
If we replace an Index, the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for the Term and the Downside Participation Rate will not change.
Example.
Rise or Fall of Index on Replacement Date for Old Index | ||
Old Index at Term start | 1000 | |
Old Index on replacement date | 1050 | |
Rise or fall of old Index on replacement date | (1050 - 1000) / 1,000 = 5% |
The 5% rise in the old Index on the replacement date is then used to calculate the modified start of Term value for the new Index.
Modified Start of Term Value for New Index | ||
Rise in old Index on replacement date | 5% | |
New Index on replacement date | 1785 | |
Modified start of Term value for new Index | 1785 / (100% + 5%) = 1700 |
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The modified start of Term value for the new Index is then used to calculate the Indexed Strategy value on any date after the replacement date, including the value at the Term end.
Indexed Strategy Value at Term End | ||
Investment Base at Term start | $50,000 | |
Accumulated Daily Charges | $375 | |
Investment Base After Daily Charges | $49,625 | |
Modified start of Term value for new Index | 1700 | |
Value of new Index at Term end | 1853 | |
Rise in new Index | (1853 - 1,700) / 1700) = 9% | |
Cap | 8% | |
Rise in new Index limited by Cap | 8% | |
Increase as a percentage | 8% x 100% = 8% | |
Dollar amount of increase | $49,625 x 8% = $3,970 | |
Strategy value at Term end | $49,625 + $4,000 = $53,625 |
CAPS AND PARTICIPATION RATES
We set limits for the increase and reduction in the value of an Indexed Strategy over a Term that apply after Daily Charges are deducted from the Investment Base. We limit increases with a Cap or an Upside Participation Rate. We limit reductions with the Downside Participation Rate. For information about the current Caps and Participation Rates offered for new Contracts, please contact your registered representative or refer to our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates).
Cap
.
• | The Cap will vary among Indexed Strategies. |
• | The Cap for a given Indexed Strategy will vary from Term to Term. |
• | We guarantee that the Cap for a Term of an Indexed Strategy will never be less than 1%. |
• | For each Term, your return on an Indexed Strategy with a Cap will be less than any rise in the Index over that Term. |
• | For each Term, your return on an Indexed Strategy with a Cap will be less than the Cap for that Term. |
• | Your return on an Indexed Strategy with a Cap could be negative even when the Index rises. This will occur when the amount of increase attributable to an Index rise is smaller than the Daily Charge. |
Upside Participation Rate
.
• | The Upside Participation Rate will vary among Indexed Strategies. |
• | The Upside Participation Rare for a given Indexed Strategy will vary from Term to Term. |
• | We guarantee that the Upside Participation Rate for a Term of an Indexed Strategy will never be less than 5%. |
• | For each Term, your return on an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate of less than 100% will be less than any rise in the Index over that Term. In addition, any increase for the Term will be reduced by the Daily Charge. |
• | Your return on an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate could be negative even when the Index rises. This will occur when the amount of increase attributable to an Index rise is smaller than the Daily Charge. |
Caps and Upside Participation Rates
non-discriminatory
basis, we may also take into account the amount of the Purchase Payments received for a Contract. The Caps and Upside Participation Rates for Contracts with larger Purchase Payments may be higher than the Caps and Upside Participations Rates for Contracts with smaller Purchase Payments.Caps and Upside Participation Rates for Initial Term
www.gaig.com/RILArates
) at least 10 days before your initial Term starts.28
It is possible for you to sign a purchase application before we post the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your initial Term on our website. Beginning 10 days before your initial Term starts, you will be able determine the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your Initial Term by checking our website. In addition, we will include the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your initial Term in a confirmation letter that we will send to you within five business days of the start of your initial Term.
If you are not satisfied with the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your initial Term, you may rescind your Contract by returning it and giving written notice of your decision to rescind. You will have 20 days in which to rescind your Contract. The rescission period will end at midnight of the 20th day after the date you receive your Contract. The amount to be refunded upon rescission depends on the state where your Contract was issued. Please refer to the “Right to Cancel (Free Look)” section below.
Caps and Upside Participation Rate for Subsequent Terms.
Downside Participation Rate
.
For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer for this Contract, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. The Downside Participation Rate for an Indexed Strategy that is available on the Contract Effective Date will not change.
When the Index falls over a Term, the resulting Strategy Value decrease will be larger than 50% of the Index fall. This is because the Daily Charge reduces the Investment Base before the Index fall is taken into account.
If we offer a new Indexed Strategy in the future, the Downside Participation Rate for the Strategy may be more or less than 50%.
INDEXED STRATEGY VALUE AT END OF TERM
On or after the final Market Day of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased for any rise in the applicable Index or decreased for any fall in the applicable Index over that Term.
After taking Daily Charges into account, any increase or decrease is based on the rise or fall in the applicable Index since the start of that Term. This rise or fall is expressed as a percentage of the Index at the start of the Term. It is measured from the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of that Term to the Index at the final Market Close of the Term.
Example.
• | If the Index at the final Market Close of the Term is 1065, then the Index has risen by 6.5% ((1065 - 1000) / 1000). |
• | If the Index at the final Market Close of the Term is 925, then the Index has fallen by 7.5% ((925 - 1000) / 1000). |
Strategies with Cap
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate the Strategy value at the end of a Term of an Indexed Strategy with a Cap.
Strategy value at end of Term = Investment Base + dollar amount of increase or decrease
Dollar amount of increase or decrease = Investment Base (after taking Daily Charges into account) x increase or decrease percentage
Increase percentage = any rise in the Index over the Term, but never more than the Cap
Decrease percentage = any fall in the Index over the Term x Downside Participation Rate
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Example.
At Final Market Close of Term | At Final Market Close of Term | |||
Rise or fall in Index | +16% | –16% | ||
Increase or decrease percentage | +14% (16% > 14% Cap) | –8% (50% of –16%) | ||
Dollar amount of increase or decrease | +14,000 ($100,000 x 14%) | –8,000 ($100,000 x –8%) | ||
Strategy value at end of Term | $114,000 ($100,000 + $14,000) | $92,000 ($100,000 - $8,000) |
Strategies with Upside Participation Rate
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate the Strategy value at the end of a Term of an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate.
Strategy value at end of Term = Investment Base + dollar amount of increase or decrease
Dollar amount of increase or decrease = Investment Base (after taking Daily Charges into account) x increase or decrease percentage
Increase percentage = any rise in the Index over the Term x Upside Participation Rate
Decrease percentage = any fall in the Index over the Term x Downside Participation Rate
Example.
At Final Market Close of Term | At Final Market Close of Term | |||
Rise or fall in Index | +16% | –16% | ||
Increase or decrease percentage | +12% (75% of 16%) | –8% (50% of –16%) | ||
Dollar amount of increase or decrease | +12,000 ($100,000 x 12%) | –8,000 ($100,000 x –8%) | ||
Strategy value at end of Term | $112,000 ($100,000 + $12,000) | $92,000 ($100,000 - $8,000) |
INDEXED STRATEGY VALUE BEFORE END OF TERM
Before the final Market Day of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage.
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate the Strategy value before the end of a Term.
Strategy value before end of Term = Investment Base + dollar amount of increase or decrease
Dollar amount of increase or decrease = Investment Base (after Daily Charges are taken into account) x Daily Value Percentage
Daily Value Percentage = Net Option Price – Amortized Option Cost – Trading Cost
Net Option Price
The Net Option Price is one part of the Daily Value Percentage. The Net Option Price is based on the calculated prices of hypothetical options that represent the projected changes in the Index over the full Term. The mathematical model we use to price those options is described in the Option Prices section of this prospectus.
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Net Option Price for Strategies with Cap
For an Indexed Strategy with a Cap, three option prices are included in the calculation of the Net Option Price.
• | ATM Call Option Price, which represents the possible rise in the Index |
• | OTM Call Option Price, which is subtracted in order to limit any rise in the Index by the Cap |
• | ATM Put Option Price, which represents the possible fall in the Index and is multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate in order to reflect your share in any such fall. |
The Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at the Market Close; minus (2) the OTM Call Option Price at the Market Close; and (3) minus the ATM Put Option Price at the Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate.
It is important to note that the Net Option Price will almost always be less than any rise in the Index because, when we calculate the Net Option Price, we subtract the ATM Put Option Price, and the ATM Put Option Price is always above zero due to the constant present potential for a fall in the Index before the end of the Term.
Net Option Price for Strategies with Upside Participation Rate
For an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate, two option prices are included in the calculation of the Net Option Price.
• | ATM Call Option Price, which represents the possible rise in the Index and is multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate in order to reflect your share in any such rise |
• | ATM Put Option Price, which represents the possible fall in the Index and is multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate in order to reflect your share in any such fall. |
The Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at the Market Close multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; minus (2) the ATM Put Option Price at the Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate
It is important to note that the Net Option Price will almost always be less than any rise in the Index because, when we calculate the Net Option Price, we subtract the ATM Put Option Price, and the ATM Put Option Price is always above zero due to the constant present potential for a fall in the Index before the end of the Term.
Amortized Option Cost
The Amortized Option Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage. The Amortized Option Cost starts with the Net Option Price at the beginning of a Term, which is calculated using the formulas set out above. That Net Option Price is then multiplied by the time remaining in the Term as a percentage of the length of the Term.
The Amortized Option Cost as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the Net Option Price for the Strategy at the beginning of the Term; multiplied by (2) the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of the Term divided by 365 for a
one-year
Term or by 730 for atwo-year
Term.Trading Cost
The Trading Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage. The Trading Cost as of a Market Close is the estimated cost of selling the hypothetical options before the end of a Term. It is a percentage that reflects the average market difference between option average
bid-ask
prices and option bid prices.Examples
one-year
Term.31
Assumptions
Option Price Assumptions | Price at Start of Term | Price at Current Market Close | ||||||||||
ATM Call Option Price | 6.00 | % | 7.47 | % | ||||||||
OTM Call Option Price | 1.15 | % | 1.81 | % | ||||||||
ATM Put Option Price | 5.40 | % | 3.36 | % | ||||||||
Strategy Assumptions | ||||||||||||
Investment Base for each Strategy (after taking Daily Charges into account) | $ | 100,000 | ||||||||||
Cap Strategy: Cap for one-year Term | 11 | % | ||||||||||
Participation Rate Strategy: Upside Participation Rate for one-year Term | 75 | % | ||||||||||
Downside Participation Rate | 50 | % | ||||||||||
Days remaining to last Market Day of one-year Term | 275 | |||||||||||
Trading Cost Assumption | 0.15 | % |
Example 1: Cap Strategy
Current ATM Call Option Price – Current OTM Call Option Price | 5.66 | % | (7.47% – 1.81 | %) | ||||
Current ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 1.68 | % | (50% of 3.36 | %) | ||||
Net Option Price | = 3.98 | % | ||||||
Initial ATM Call Option Price – Initial OTM Call Option Price | 4.85 | % | (6.00% – 1.15 | %) | ||||
Initial ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 2.70 | % | (50% of 5.40 | %) | ||||
Net Option Cost | = 2.15 | % | ||||||
Amortization Factor for days remaining to final Market Day of Term | x 75.34 | % | (275 / 365 | ) | ||||
Amortized Option Cost | = 1.62 | % | ||||||
Net Option Price | 3.98 | % | ||||||
Amortized Option Cost | – 1.62 | % | ||||||
Assumed Trading Cost | – 0.15 | % | ||||||
Daily Value Percentage | = 2.21 | % | ||||||
Dollar amount of increase | $ | 2,210 | ($100,000 x 2.21 | %) | ||||
Value of Cap Strategy | $ | 102,210 | ($ | 100,000 + $2,210 | ) |
Example 2: Participation Rate
Current ATM Call Option Price x Upside Participation Rate | 5.60 | % | (75% of 7.47 | %) | ||||
Current ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 1.68 | % | (50% of 3.36 | %) | ||||
Net Option Price | = 3.92 | % | ||||||
Initial ATM Call Option Price x Upside Participation Rate | 4.50 | % | (75% of 6.00 | %) | ||||
Initial ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 2.70 | % | (50% of 5.40 | %) | ||||
Net Option Cost | = 1.80 | % | ||||||
Amortization Factor for days remaining to final Market Day of Term | x 75.34 | % | (275 / 365 | ) | ||||
Amortized Option Cost | 1.36 | % | ||||||
Net Option Price | 3.92 | % | ||||||
Amortized Option Cost | –1.36 | % | ||||||
Assumed Trading Cost | – 0.15 | % | ||||||
Daily Value Percentage | = 2.41 | % | ||||||
Increase as a dollar amount | $ | 2,410 | ($100,000 x 2.41 | %) | ||||
Value of Participation Rate Strategy | $ | 102,410 | ($ | 100,000 + $2,410 | ) |
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PURCHASE
You may purchase a Contract only through a registered representative of a broker-dealer that has a selling agreement with our affiliated underwriter, Great American Advisors, Inc.
Any Owner or Annuitant must be age 80 or younger on the Contract Effective Date. To determine eligibility, we will use the person’s age on his/her last birthday. We may make exceptions with respect to the maximum issue age in our discretion.
The Contract is not available in all states. To find out if it is available in the state where you live, ask your registered representative. The Contract may not be available for purchase during certain periods. There are a number of reasons why the Contract periodically may not be available, including that we want to limit the volume of sales of the Contract. You may wish to speak to your registered representative about how this may affect your purchase. For example, in order to purchase the Contract, you may be required to submit your application prior to a specific date. In that case, if there is a delay because your application is incomplete or otherwise not in good order, you might not be able to purchase the Contract. Your broker-dealer may impose conditions on the purchase of the Contract, such as a lower maximum issue age, than we or other selling firms impose. We reserve the right to reject any application in our discretion. We also reserve the right to discontinue the sale of the Contracts at any time.
Purchase Payments
The Contract is a modified single premium annuity contract. This means you may make one or more Purchase Payments during the purchase payment period. The purchase payment period begins on the Contract Effective Date. It will end two months after the Contract Effective Date.
We must receive your initial Purchase Payment on or before the Contract Effective Date. We must receive each additional Purchase Payment on or before the last day of the purchase payment period. We will not accept any Purchase Payment that we receive after the date that the Contract is cancelled or Surrendered or after a death for which a Death Benefit is payable.
The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $25,000. Each additional Purchase Payment must be at least $10,000. You will need our prior approval if you want to make a Purchase Payment(s) of more than $1,000,000.
We reserve the right to refuse a Purchase Payment made in the form of a personal check in excess of $100,000. We may accept a Purchase Payment over $100,000 made in other forms, such as EFT/wire transfers, or certified checks or other checks written by financial institutions. We will not accept a Purchase Payment(s) made with cash, money orders, or traveler’s checks.
Exchanges, Transfers, or Rollovers
If you own an annuity or
tax-qualified
account, you may be able to exchange it for an Index Summit 6 Pro annuity, directly transfer it to an Index Summit 6 Pro annuity, or roll it over to an Index Summit 6 Pro annuity without paying taxes. Before you do, compare the benefits, features, and costs of each annuity or account. You may pay an early withdrawal charge under the old annuity or account. You may pay an early withdrawal charge if you later take withdrawals from your Index Summit 6 Pro annuity. Please note that some financial professionals may have a financial incentive to offer this Contract in place of the one the investor already owns. Ask your registered representative whether an exchange, transfer, or rollover would be advantageous, based on the features, benefits, and charges of the Index Summit 6 Pro annuity.If you purchase your Contract with an exchange, transfer, or rollover, a delay in processing the exchange, transfer, or rollover may delay the issuance of your new Contract or prevent the application of additional Purchase Payments to your existing Contract.
You should only exchange your existing contract for this Contract if you determine after comparing the features, fees, and risks of both contracts that it is preferable for you to purchase this Contract rather than continuing to own your existing contract.
Application of Purchase Payments
Each Purchase Payment will be held in the Purchase Payment Account until it is applied to an Indexed Strategy on a Strategy Application Date. On each Strategy Application Date, we will apply the then current balance of the Purchase Payment Account to the Indexed Strategies you selected.
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We will credit interest daily on amounts held in the Purchase Payment Account at the annual effective rate set out in your Contract. This rate will be at least 1%.
In certain states, we are required to give back your Purchase Payment(s) if you decide to cancel your Contract during the free look period. If we are required by law to refund your Purchase Payment(s), we reserve the right to hold your Purchase Payment(s) in the Purchase Payment Account until the first Strategy Application Date on or after the end of the free look period. If we do so and you cancel your Contract before that Strategy Application Date, we will refund your Purchase Payment(s) but you will forfeit any interest credited to the Purchase Payment Account.
Purchase Payment Account Value
On any day, the value of the Purchase Payment Account is equal to:
• | Purchase Payments received by us plus interest earned daily; minus |
• | the premium tax or other tax that may apply to the Purchase Payments; and minus |
• | each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge taken from the Purchase Payment Account since the last Strategy Application Date. |
Unforeseen Processing Delays
We are exposed to risks related to natural and
man-made
disasters and catastrophes, such as (but not limited to) storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, public health crises, malicious acts, and terrorist acts, any of which could adversely affect our ability to conduct business. A natural orman-made
disaster or catastrophe, including a pandemic (such asCOVID-19),
could affect the ability or willingness of our employees or the employees of our service providers to perform their job responsibilities. While many of our employees and the employees of our service providers are able to work remotely, those remote work arrangements may result in our business operations being less efficient than under normal circumstances and could lead to delays in our processing of contract-related transactions, including orders from contract owners. Catastrophic events may negatively affect the computer and other systems on which we rely, impact our ability to calculate values under your Contract, or have other possible negative impacts. There can be no assurance that our service providers will be able to successfully avoid negative impacts associated with natural andman-made
disasters and catastrophes.A processing delay will not affect the effective date as of which we process transactions, including orders from contract owners, the date that a Term begins or ends, or the values used to process the transaction.
INITIAL STRATEGY SELECTIONS
You make your initial selection of Indexed Strategies in your purchase application. Your initial selection is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
Your initial selection will also apply to each subsequent Purchase Payment. If you wish to change your selection for a specific Purchase Payment, we must receive a Request in Good Order that identifies the Indexed Strategies you are selecting for that Purchase Payment before the Strategy Application Date that applies to that Purchase Payment.
When you select an Indexed Strategy, you must also indicate the percentage of the Purchase Payment that you wish to allocate to that Indexed Strategy. All allocations must be in whole percentages that total 100%. We reserve the right to round amounts up or down to make whole percentages, and to reduce or increase amounts proportionally in order to total 100%.
Currently there are no limitations on the amounts that may be applied to an Indexed Strategy.
We may establish minimum and maximum amounts or percentages that may be applied to a given Indexed Strategy for any future Term in our discretion. We will notify you of any such minimum or maximum. We may limit the availability of a Strategy for a Term that would extend beyond the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. All Strategies may not be available in all states.
STRATEGY SELECTIONS AT TERM END
At the end of a Term, you may choose to reallocate your money among the Indexed Strategies or you may choose to take no action. If you do not send us a reallocation request, your current allocations will automatically continue in the new Term.
34
Reallocations
At the end of a Term, you may reallocate the ending values of the Indexed Strategies for that Term among the available Strategies. You can only reallocate amounts from one Indexed Strategy to another at the end of the Term for which such amount is being held. You cannot make a reallocation at any other time.
We will send you written notice at least 30 days before the end of a Term to provide you with the opportunity to make a reallocation. We must receive your Request in Good Order for a reallocation on or before the last day of the Term. For example, if the end of a Term falls on a weekend, we must receive your request on the last Market Day before that weekend.
Continuing Allocations
You do not need to take any action if you want to continue your current allocations. If you do not send us a reallocation request, then we will automatically apply the ending value of each Indexed Strategy to a new Term of that same Strategy.
Unavailable Strategies
Other than the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy, an Indexed Strategy may be unavailable for the next Term because we are no longer offering that Strategy or we have set a minimum or maximum for that Strategy. In this case, you may choose to reallocate the funds held in that Strategy. If you take no action and do not send us a reallocation request, then any amount that cannot be applied to that Indexed Strategy for the next Term will be applied to the S&P 5001-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy.Surrender or Withdrawal at Term End
At the end of a Term, you may choose to Surrender your Contract or to take a withdrawal from your Contract. You may do so for any reason, including dissatisfaction with the available Indexed Strategies. An Early Withdrawal Charge may apply. In addition, there may be tax consequences if you Surrender your Contract or take a withdrawal. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
Contract values calculated at the end of a Term will reflect the applicable Strategy values and any Early Withdrawal Charge that applies upon Surrender or to your withdrawal. The value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of the Term will not reflect any Daily Value Percentage because it is calculated based on the rise or fall of the applicable Index over the Term.
Limitations
Reallocations must be in whole percentages that total 100%. We reserve the right to round amounts up or down to make whole percentages, and to reduce or increase amounts proportionally in order to total 100%.
Any reallocation or continuing allocation will be subject to Strategy availability, minimums and maximums. Currently there are no limitations on the amounts that may be applied to any single Indexed Strategy. We may establish minimum and maximum amounts or percentages that may be applied to a given Indexed Strategy for any future Term in our discretion. We will notify you of any such minimum or maximum.
The new Term of each Strategy is subject to the Cap or Upside Participation Rate in effect for that Strategy for that new Term. For example, the Upside Participation Rate for an Indexed Strategy for a new Term may be different than the Upside Participation Rate for that Indexed Strategy for the Term that is ending. The Downside Participation Rate will not change from Term to Term.
Availability of Strategies
We will send you a written notice at least 30 days before the end of each Term with information about the Strategies that will be available for the next Term. At least 10 days before the next Term starts, we will post the Caps and Upside Participation Rates that will apply for the next Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates).
The S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy will always be available. We are not obligated to offer any other particular Indexed Strategy. At the end of a Term, we can add or stop offering any other Indexed Strategy at our discretion. We reserve the right to limit the availability of any other Indexed Strategy for a Term that would extend beyond the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. All Indexed Strategies may not be available in all states.35
If we intend to add or stop offering an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term, we will send you a notification at least 30 days before the end of the Term to provide you with the opportunity to make a reallocation. If funds are held in an Indexed Strategy that will no longer be available after the end of a Term, the funds will remain in that Strategy until the end of that Term.
Default Strategy
At the end of a Term, to the extent any amount cannot be applied to a given Indexed Strategy for the next Term because that Strategy is no longer available or the amount is under the minimum or over the maximum for that Strategy for the new Term, we will apply the amount to the default Strategy unless you send us a request to reallocate that amount. The default Strategy will be the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy. For example, if a given Indexed Strategy with an ending value of $73,000 is no longer available, we will apply the $73,000 to the default Strategy for the next Term unless you send us a request to reallocate that $73,000.If the amount to be applied exceeds the maximum, then only the excess amount will be applied to the default Strategy. For example, if the maximum amount for an Indexed Strategy is $50,000 and the amount to be applied is $54,000, then we will apply the excess $4,000 to the default Strategy for the next Term unless you send us a request to reallocate that $4,000.
We must receive your Request in Good Order for a reallocation on or before the last day of the Term. For example, if the end of a Term falls on a weekend, we must receive your request on the last Market Day before that weekend.
CASH BENEFIT
Surrender
You may Surrender your Contract at any time before the earlier of: (1) the Annuity Payout Initiation Date; or (2) a death for which a Death Benefit is payable. The right to Surrender may be restricted if your Contract is purchased under an employer plan subject to IRC Section 401 (pension, profit sharing, and 401(k) plans), IRC Section 403(b)
(tax-sheltered
annuity plans), or IRC Section 457(b) (governmental deferred compensation plans).A Surrender must be made by a Request in Good Order. The amount paid upon Surrender is the Surrender Value. If you Surrender your Contract, the Contract terminates.
Withdrawals
You may take a withdrawal from your Contract at any time before the earliest of: (1) the Annuity Payout Initiation Date; (2) a death for which a Death Benefit is payable; or (3) the date that this Contract is Surrendered. The right to withdraw may be restricted if your Contract is purchased under an employer plan subject to IRC Section 401 (pension, profit sharing, and 401(k) plans), IRC Section 403(b)
(tax-sheltered
annuity plans), or IRC Section 457(b) (governmental deferred compensation plans).A withdrawal must be made by a Request in Good Order. The amount of any withdrawal must be at least $500. If the withdrawal would reduce the Account Value to less than the minimum value of $5,000, we will treat the withdrawal request as a request to withdraw the maximum amount that may be taken without reducing your Account Value to less than $5,000.
We will withdraw funds from your Account Value as of the date on which we receive your Request in Good Order or any later specified effective date. You may designate the Indexed Strategy or Strategies from which a withdrawal will be taken by a Request in Good Order prior to the date of the withdrawal. If you do not make a designation, we will take the withdrawal from the Indexed Strategies in the following order:
• | first from the Purchase Payment Account; and |
• | then proportionally from Indexed Strategies having the shortest Term. |
Effect of Withdrawals
A withdrawal reduces the Account Value, which in turn reduces the amount payable upon Surrender, applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit, or payable as the Death Benefit.
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If an Early Withdrawal Charge applies to your withdrawal, you will receive the amount that you requested, and your Account Value will be reduced by the amount you receive plus the amount needed to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge. A withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy other than at the end of a Term also reduces the Investment Base used to calculate the Strategy value later in the Term. The reduction in the Investment Base for a withdrawal and any related Early Withdrawal Charge is proportional to the reduction in the Strategy Value.
Automatic Withdrawals
You may elect to automatically withdraw money from your Contract under any automatic withdrawal program that we offer. Your Account Value must be at least $10,000 in order to make an automatic withdrawal election. The minimum amount of each automatic withdrawal payment is $100. Automatic withdrawals will be taken from the Purchase Payment Account and Indexed Strategies of your Contract in the same order as any other withdrawal.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the automatic withdrawal program, you may begin or discontinue automatic withdrawals at any time. You must give us at least 30 days’ notice to change any automatic withdrawal instructions that are currently in place. Any request to begin, discontinue or change automatic withdrawals must be a Request in Good Order. We reserve the right to discontinue offering automatic withdrawals at any time.
Currently, we do not charge a fee to participate in an automatic withdrawal program. However, we reserve the right to impose an annual fee in such amount as we may then determine to be reasonable for participation in the automatic withdrawal program. If imposed, the fee will not exceed $30 annually.
Before electing an automatic withdrawal, you should consult with a financial advisor.
• | Automatic withdrawals are similar to starting Annuity Payout Benefit payments, but will result in different taxation of payments and potentially a different amount of total payments over the life of your Contract. |
• | Automatic withdrawals during a Term of an Indexed Strategy will systematically reduce the Investment Base, which will reduce any subsequent increase in the Strategy value due to a positive Daily Value Percentage during that Term or a rise in the applicable Index at the end of that Term. Such reductions could be significant. |
• | Automatic withdrawals will reduce the amount available under the Free Withdrawal Allowance described below. |
• | Unless a waiver applies, an Early Withdrawal Charge may apply to an automatic withdrawal during the Early Withdrawal Charge period. |
• | The value of an Indexed Strategy on an automatic withdrawal date will reflect the Daily Value Percentage on that date. |
Exchanges, Transfers, and Rollovers
An amount paid on a withdrawal or Surrender may be paid to or for another annuity or
tax-qualified
account in atax-free
exchange, transfer, or rollover to the extent allowed by federal tax law.FEES AND CHARGES
Daily Charge
We impose a Daily Charge on each Indexed Strategy to reimburse us for contract sales expenses, including commissions and other distribution, promotion, and acquisition expenses, and to help us maximize Indexed Strategy Caps and Participation Rates. The Daily Charge is calculated using a daily rate that compounds at 0.75% per year.
The Daily Charge is calculated as a percentage of the remaining Investment Base of the Indexed Strategy and deducted daily.
Early Withdrawal Charge
We impose an Early Withdrawal Charge to reimburse us for contract sales expenses, including commissions and other distribution, promotion, and acquisition expenses, and to allow us to invest assets for a longer duration, which supports higher Caps and Upside Participation Rates.
The Early Withdrawal Charge applies if, during the first six Contract Years, you take a withdrawal from your Contract or Surrender it. After that, the Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply.
During the first six Contract Years, the Early Withdrawal Charge applies to each withdrawal, including withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal program and withdrawals taken to satisfy a required distribution. The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to Death Benefit payments or Annuity Payout Benefit payments.
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An Early Withdrawal Charge reduces your Account Value.
The Early Withdrawal Charge is equal to the amount that is subject to the charge multiplied by the Early Withdrawal Charge rate.
• | If you take a withdrawal from your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is the amount you withdraw, which includes any amount needed to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge. |
• | If you Surrender your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is your Account Value. |
• | The amount subject to the charge will not include the Free Withdrawal Allowance or the amount, if any, that qualifies for a waiver as described below. |
The Early Withdrawal Charge rate depends on how long you own your Contract. The rate schedule is set out below.
Contract Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7+ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Early Withdrawal Charge Rate | 9 | % | 8 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | 5 | % | 4 | % | 0 | % |
Example for Surrender.
Example for Withdrawal.
(Requested withdrawal x EWC rate) / (1.00 - EWC rate) = Early Withdrawal Charge
($12,000 x 4%) / (1.00 - 0.04) = $480 / 0.96 = $500
We take the Early Withdrawal Charge of $500, you receive $12,000, and your Account Value is reduced by $12,500.
Note.
Free Withdrawal Allowance
The Free Withdrawal Allowance lets you withdraw some money from your Contract without the imposition of the Early Withdrawal Charge. For the first Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is an amount equal to 10% of the total Purchase Payments received by us. For each subsequent Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is equal to 10% of the Account Value as of the most recent Contract Anniversary. The Free Withdrawal Allowance is
non-cumulative
and you may not carry over any unused portion to other Contract Years.For qualified annuities, the Free Withdrawal Allowance will be large enough to cover your required minimum distribution to age 93. However, if you have used your Free Withdrawal Allowance to facilitate a transfer or rollover, then an Early Withdrawal Charge may apply to a required minimum distribution.
Example.
If you Surrender your Contract during the first six Contract Years, the amount subject to the Early Withdrawal Charge upon Surrender will not include the current or any prior Free Withdrawal Allowance.
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Early Withdrawal Charge Waivers
Extended Care Waiver
.
• | your Contract is modified by the Extended Care Waiver Rider; |
• | you are confined in a long-term care facility or hospital and the confinement is prescribed by a physician and is medically necessary; |
• | the first day of the confinement is at least one year after the Contract Effective Date; and |
• | the confinement has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days. |
You must provide us with satisfactory proof that you meet these conditions before the date of the withdrawal or Surrender. There is no charge for this rider, but it may not be available in all states. (See the State Variations section below for information about availability in your state.) You do not need to take any action to add this waiver rider. Before you request a waiver, carefully review the rider to ensure that you understand how it works.
Terminal Illness Waiver
.
• | your Contract is modified by the Waiver of Early Withdrawal Charges upon Terminal Illness Rider; |
• | you are diagnosed with a terminal illness by a physician and, as a result of the terminal illness, you have a life expectancy of less than 12 months from the date of diagnosis; and |
• | the diagnosis is rendered by a physician more than one year after the Contract Effective Date. |
You must provide us with satisfactory proof that you meet these conditions before the date of the withdrawal or Surrender. There is no charge for this rider, but it may not be available in all states. (See the State Variations section below for information about availability in your state.) You do not need to take any action to add this waiver rider. Before you request a waiver, carefully review the rider to ensure that you understand how it works.
Automatic Withdrawal Program Charges
Currently, we do not charge a fee to participate in an automatic withdrawal program. However, we reserve the right to impose an annual fee in such amount as we may then determine to be reasonable for participation in the automatic withdrawal program. If imposed, the fee will not exceed $30 annually.
State Limitations.
ANNUITY PAYOUT BENEFIT
Under the Contract you may receive regular Annuity Payout Benefit payments for the duration of the period that you select. Once Annuity Payout Benefit payments start, you can no longer Surrender the Contract or take a withdrawal, no Death Benefit will be payable under your Contract, and your Beneficiary designations will no longer apply. The amount payable after death, if any, is governed by the Payout Option you select.
The Annuity Payout Benefit is payable if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date is reached before the earlier of: (1) a death for which a Death Benefit is payable; or (2) the date that this Contract is Surrendered.
Annuity Payout Initiation Date
The Annuity Payout Initiation Date is the first day of the first payment interval for which payment of the Annuity Payout Benefit is to be made. Annuity Payout Benefit payments are made at the end of each payment interval. This means that for annual payments, the first payment will be made one year after the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.
You may select the Annuity Payout Initiation Date by a Request in Good Order. We must receive your request before the last Market Close on or before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date you selected and at least 30 days before the first Annuity Payout Benefit payment is to be made.
• | The earliest Annuity Payout Initiation you may select is the first Contract Anniversary. |
• | Unless we agree to a later date, the latest Annuity Payout Initiation Date you may select is the Contract Anniversary following your 95th birthday or the 95th birthday, of a joint owner, if earlier. If the Owner is not a human being such as a trust or a corporation, then the Annuity Payout Initiation Date may not be later than the Contract Anniversary following the 95th birthday of the eldest Annuitant, unless we agree to a later date. |
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The earliest permitted date and the latest permitted date for the Annuity Payout Initiation Date are set out on your Contract Specifications Page. The latest permitted date may change if an Owner changes.
If you do not select an Annuity Payout Initiation Date by the latest permitted date, we may select it for you. We will notify you in writing at least 45 days before the date we select. We will give you an opportunity to select an earlier date.
Annuity Payout Amount
The amount of each payment under the Annuity Payout Benefit is determined on the Annuity Payout Initiation Date based on the Annuity Payout value on that date, the Payout Option that applies, and the payment interval.
The Annuity Payout value is the amount that can be applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit is equal to: (1) the Account Value on the Annuity Payout Initiation Date; minus (2) premium tax or other taxes not previously deducted. If the Annuity Payout value is determined on a date other than the end of the Term, the Annuity Payout value will be based on the Daily Value Percentage. Please see the Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term section above for more information about the Daily Value Percentage.
Form of Annuity Payout Benefit
The Annuity Payout Benefit is paid in the form of annual payments as a Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period. That fixed period will be 10 years or, if fewer, the maximum number of whole years permitted by any tax qualification endorsement.
In place of that, you may elect to have the Annuity Payout Benefit paid in any form of Payout Option that is available under your Contract. The available Payout Options are described in the Payout Options section below. You may elect a Payout Option by a Request in Good Order. We must receive your request before the last Market Close on or before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and at least 30 days before the first Annuity Payout Benefit payment is to be made.
Payee for Annuity Payout Benefit
Payment of the Annuity Payout Benefit generally is made to the surviving Owner(s) as the payee(s). In place of that, the surviving Owner(s) may elect for payment to be made as a
tax-free
exchange, transfer, or rollover, or for payment to be made to the Annuitant. That election must be made by a Request in Good Order that we receive at least 30 days before the payment date.Payments that become due after the death of the payee are made to:
• | the surviving Owner(s); or if none |
• | then to the surviving contingent payee(s) designated by the surviving Owner(s); or if none; |
• | the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
The portion of any Annuity Payout Benefit remaining after the death of an Owner or Annuitant must be paid at least as rapidly as payments were being made at the time of such death.
You may designate a contingent payee by a Request in Good Order. If you designate your spouse as a contingent payee and your marriage ends before your death, then we will treat your former spouse as having predeceased you except in the following situations: (1) if a court order provides that the former spouse’s rights as a contingent payee are to continue; or (2) if the former spouse remains or becomes an Owner.
DEATH BENEFIT
A Death Benefit is payable under your Contract if you die before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and before the Contract is Surrendered. If your spouse becomes a successor owner of the Contract, no Death Benefit will be payable on account of your death.
When the Owner is a
non-natural
person, a Death Benefit is payable under the Contract if the Annuitant dies before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and before the Contract is Surrendered. For this purpose, anon-natural
person is a trust, custodial account, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity.40
Only one Death Benefit will be paid under the Contract. If a Death Benefit becomes payable, it will be in place of all other benefits under the Contract, and all other rights under this Contract will terminate except for rights related to the Death Benefit.
Death Benefit Payout Date
• | If the Death Benefit is to be paid as a lump sum, then it will be paid as soon as practicable after receipt of proof of death and a Request in Good Order for a lump sum payment. |
• | If the Death Benefit is to be paid under a Payout Option, then we will apply the Death Benefit value to a Payout Option as soon as practicable after receipt of proof of death and a Request in Good Order. That application date will be the first day of the first payment interval for which a payment is to be made. Death Benefit payments under a Payout Option are made at the end of each payment interval. This means that, for annual payments, the first payment will be made one year after that application date. |
Death Benefit Amount
• | If the Death Benefit is paid in a lump sum, then it is equal to the Death Benefit value, increased by any additional post-death interest as required by law. |
• | If the Death Benefit will be paid as a series of periodic payments under a Payout Option, then the amount of each payment under the Death Benefit is determined on the date that the Death Benefit value is applied to the Payout Option. The amount or each payment will be based on the Death Benefit value (increased by any additional post-death interest as required by law to the date it is applied to the Payout Option), the Payout Option that applies, and the payment interval. |
Death Benefit Value
The Death Benefit value is the greater of:
• | the Account Value determined as of the date that the Death Benefit value is determined; or |
• | the Return of Premium Guarantee. |
In either case, the Death Benefit value is reduced by premium tax or other taxes not previously deducted.
The Account Value will reflect the applicable Strategy values as calculated on the date the Death Benefit is determined. If the Death Benefit value is determined on a date other than the end of the Term, the Death Benefit value will be based on the Daily Value Percentage. Please see the Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term section above for more information about the Daily Value Percentage.
Return of Premium Guarantee
The Return of Premium Guarantee is equal to your Purchase Payments (the “Purchase Payment base”), reduced proportionally for all withdrawals, but not including amounts applied to pay Early Withdrawal Charges. The Return of Premium Guarantee is not reduced by Daily Charges.
The reduction in your Purchase Payment base for withdrawals will be in the same proportion that your Account Value was reduced on the date of the withdrawal. A proportional reduction in your Purchase Payment base could be larger than the dollar amount of your withdrawal.
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Example.
Before | After | Explanation | ||||||||
Account Value | $ | 100,000 | $ | 92,000 | Your withdrawal reduces your Account Value by $8,000 (which is an 8% reduction in your Account Value). $8,000 / $100,000 = 8% | |||||
Purchase Payment base for Death Benefit | $ | 120,000 | $ | 110,400 | After the withdrawal, the Purchase Payment base for the Death Benefit is also reduced by 8% or $9,600. $120,000 x 8% = $9,600 |
Determination Date
The date that the Death Benefit value is determined is the earlier of: (1) the first anniversary of the date of death; or (2) the date that we have received both proof of death and Requests in Good Order with instructions as to the form of Death Benefit from all Beneficiaries. Thus, in many cases where there are multiple Beneficiaries, the date that the Death Benefit value is determined will be the date when the last Beneficiary submits the necessary Request in Good Order or the first anniversary of death. Until then, the Contract values remain in the Indexed Strategies will renew into new Terms of the same Strategies if the end of a Term is reached, and the Indexed Strategy values may fluctuate. This risk is borne by the Beneficiaries. If all Beneficiaries have not submitted the necessary Request in Good Order by the first anniversary of death, then the Death Benefit value as determined on that first anniversary will thereafter earn interest at a fixed rate at least equal to the rate required by state law.
Proof of Death
.
• | a certified copy of a death certificate showing the cause and manner of death; |
• | a certified copy of a decree that is made by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding of death; or |
• | other proof that is satisfactory to us. |
Form of Death Benefit
The Death Benefit is paid in the form of annual payments for a fixed period of two years.
In place of that, you may elect to have the Death Benefit paid in one lump sum or in any form of Payout Option that is available under your Contract. The available Payout Options are described in the Payout Options section below. There is no additional charge associated with this election. Any election is subject to the Death Benefit Distribution Rules described below.
You may make an election by a Request in Good Order. We must receive your request on or before the date of death for which a Death Benefit is payable. If you do not make such an election, the Beneficiary may make that election after the date of death. The Beneficiary’s election must be made by a Request in Good Order that is received by us no later than the date that the Death Benefit value is applied to a Payout Option and at least 30 days before the date of the first payment to be made.
Additional Rules for Payout Options
.
Option that is contingent on life is based on the life of the Beneficiary or, in some cases, the life of a person to whom the Beneficiary is obligated. We will pay the Death Benefit as a lump sum rather than as payments under a Payout Option if: (1) the Death Benefit is less than $2,000; or (2) as of the date that the Death Benefit value is to be applied to a Payout Option, the Death Benefit Distribution Rules do not allow a
two-year
payout.Payee of Death Benefit Payments
Death Benefit payments generally are made to the Beneficiary as the payee.
In place of that, the Beneficiary may elect to have payments made:
• | as a tax-free exchange, transfer, or rollover to or for an annuity ortax-qualified account as permitted by federal tax law; or |
• | in cases where the Beneficiary is an estate, trust, custodial account, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity, to a person to whom the Beneficiary is obligated to make corresponding payments. |
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Payments that become due after the death of the Beneficiary are made to:
• | the contingent payee designated as part of a Death Benefit Payout Option elected by you; or if none |
• | then to a contingent payee designated by the Beneficiary; or if none |
• | the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
Such payments are subject to the Death Benefit Distribution Rules described below.
You may designate a contingent payee by a Request in Good Order. A Beneficiary may make or change a payee or contingent payee, except a Beneficiary may not change a designation made as part of a Payout Option election made by you for the Death Benefit. If the Beneficiary designates his or her spouse as a contingent payee and their marriage ends before the Beneficiary’s death, then we will treat the former spouse as having predeceased the Beneficiary except to the extent a court order provides that the former spouse’s rights as a contingent payee are to continue.
Death Benefit Distribution Rules
The Death Benefit Distribution Rules are summarized below.
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract. The Death Benefit must be paid in accordance with the tax qualification endorsement. |
• | For a Nonqualified Contract. The Death Benefit must be paid either: (1) in full within five years of the date of death; or (2) over the life of the Beneficiary or over a period certain not exceeding the Beneficiary’s life expectancy, with payments at least annually, and with the first payment made within one year of the date of death. |
PAYOUT OPTIONS
The standard Payout Options are described below. We will make payments in any other form of Payout Option that is acceptable to us at the time of any election. More than one Payout Option may be elected if the requirements for each Payout Option elected are satisfied. All elected Payout Options must comply with pertinent laws and regulations.
Payments under each standard Payout Option are made at the end of a payment interval. For example, if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date is October 31, 2028 and you select annual payments, then the first payment will be paid as of October 31, 2029.
Fixed Period Payout
• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the Annuitant, if you direct, for the fixed period of time that you select. For a nonqualified contract, fixed periods shorter than 10 years are not available. For a
tax-qualified
contract, the only fixed period available is 10 years.• | If the payee dies before the end of the fixed period, then we will make periodic payments to the surviving owner(s), or if none, then to the surviving contingent payee(s), or if none, then to the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
• | In all cases, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period. |
• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for the fixed period of time that you or the Beneficiary selects. The fixed period cannot exceed the life expectancy of the Beneficiary. For a
tax-qualified
contract, the fixed period also cannot exceed 10 years.• | If the Beneficiary dies before the end of the fixed period, then we will make periodic payments to the contingent payee designated as part of any Death Benefit Payout Option that you have elected. If no such contingent payee is surviving, then such payments will be made to a contingent payee designated by the Beneficiary. If there is no contingent payee surviving, then such payments will be made to the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
• | In all cases, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period. |
Life Payout
• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the Annuitant, if you direct, for as long as the Annuitant lives. Payments will stop on the death of the Annuitant. This means that, even if we have made only one payment when the Annuitant dies, payments will stop.
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If the Annuitant dies after the Annuity Payout Initiation Date but before the first payment, a Life Payout will not provide any benefit at all. In that case, we will reverse the Annuity Benefit Payout election and treat the Contract as if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date had not yet been reached.
• | If the Owner is living, this treatment will generally allow the Owner to choose between continuing the Contract as a deferred annuity or electing a new Annuity Payout Initiation Date and another Payout Option. |
• | If the Annuitant’s death before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date would give rise to a Death Benefit, then the Death Benefit will be available. |
For a
tax-qualified
contract, a Life Payout is not available to all Beneficiaries.• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for as long as the Beneficiary lives. Payments will stop on the death of the Beneficiary. This means that, even if we have made only one payment when the Beneficiary dies, payments will stop.
If the Beneficiary dies after the Death Benefit is applied to the Payout Option but before the first payment, a Life Payout will not provide any benefit at all. In that case, we will reverse the Payout Option election and allow the Beneficiary’s estate to choose a new Payout Option or to take the Death Benefit as a lump sum.
Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period
• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the Annuitant, if you direct, for as long as the Annuitant lives. For a
tax-qualified
contract, fixed periods longer than 10 years are not available.• | If the Annuitant dies after the end of the fixed period you selected, then payments will stop on the death of the Annuitant. |
• | If the Annuitant dies before the end of the fixed period you selected, then we will make periodic payments to the surviving owner(s), or if none, then to the surviving contingent payee(s), or if none, then to the estate of the last payee who received payments. In this case, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period you selected. |
• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for as long as the Beneficiary lives. The fixed period cannot exceed the life expectancy of the Beneficiary. For a
tax-qualified
contract, a Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period is not available to all Beneficiaries, and the fixed period also cannot exceed 10 years.• | If the Beneficiary dies after the end of the fixed period selected, then payments will stop on the death of the Beneficiary. |
• | If the Beneficiary dies before the end of the fixed period you or the Beneficiary selected, then we will make periodic payments to the contingent payee designated as part of any Death Benefit Payout Option that you have elected. If no such contingent payee is surviving, then such payments will be made to a contingent payee designated by the Beneficiary. If there is no contingent payee surviving, then such payments will be made to the estate of the last payee who received payments. In this case, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period you or the Beneficiary selected. |
Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the primary Annuitant, if you direct, for as long as the primary Annuitant lives.
• | If the primary Annuitant dies and the secondary Annuitant does not |
• | If the primary Annuitant dies and the secondary Annuitant is surviving, then we will make one-half of the periodic payment to you, or the secondary Annuitant, if you direct, for the rest of the secondary Annuitant’s life. In this case, payments will stop on the death of the secondary Annuitant. |
If the Annuitant dies after the Annuity Payout Initiation Date but before the first payment, a Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout will never provide the full payment amount. In that case, if the secondary Annuitant agrees, we will reverse the Annuity Benefit Payout election and treat the Contract as if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date had not been reached.• | If the Owner is living, this treatment will generally allow the Owner to choose between continuing the Contract as a deferred annuity or electing a new Annuity Payout Initiation Date and another Payout Option. |
• | If the Annuitant’s death before the Annuity Benefit Payout Initiation Date would give rise to a Death Benefit, then the Death Benefit will be available. |
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• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for as long as the Beneficiary lives.
• | If the Beneficiary dies and the contingent payee does not survive the Beneficiary, then payments will stop on the death of the Beneficiary. This means that, even if we have made only one payment when the Beneficiary dies, payments will stop unless the contingent payee survives. |
• | If the Beneficiary dies and the contingent payee designated as part of the Death Benefit Payout Option election is surviving, then we will make one-half of the periodic payment to the contingent payee for the rest of the contingent payee’s life. In this case, payments will stop on the death of the contingent payee. |
If the Beneficiary dies after the Death Benefit is applied to the Payout Option but before the first payment, a Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout will never provide the full payment amount. In that case, if the contingent payee agrees, we will reverse the Payout Option election and allow the Beneficiary’s estate to choose a new Payout Option or to take the Death Benefit as a lump sum.A Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout is only available to a Beneficiary who is the surviving spouse of the owner.Payments under a Payout Option
Payments under a Payout Option are calculated and paid as fixed dollar payments. The stream of payments is an obligation of the general account of Great American Life. Fixed dollar payments will remain level for the duration of the payment period. Once payments begin under a Payout Option, the Payout Option may not be changed. Once the Contract value is applied to a Payout Option, the periodic payments cannot be accelerated or converted into a lump sum payment unless we agree.
We will use the 2012 Individual Annuity Reserving Table with projection scale G2 for blended lives (60% female/40% male) with interest at 1% per year, compounded annually, to compute all guaranteed Payout Option factors, values, and benefits under the Contract. For purposes of calculating payments based on the age of a person, we will use his or her age as of his or her last birthday.
Considerations in Selecting a Payout Option
Payments under a Payout Option are affected by various factors, including the length of the payment period, the life expectancy of the person on whose life payments are based, and the frequency of the payment interval (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually).
• | Generally, the longer the period over which payments are made or the more frequently the payments are made, the lower the amount of each payment because more payments will be made. |
• | For Life Payout Options, the longer the life expectancy of the Annuitant or Beneficiary, the lower the amount of each payment because more payments are expected to be paid. |
Non-Human
Payees under a Payout OptionExcept as stated below, the primary payee under a Payout Option must be a human being. All payments during his or her life must be made by check payable to the primary payee or by electronic transfer to a bank account owned by the primary payee.
Exceptions
.
• | A nonhuman that is the Owner of the Contract may be the primary payee. For example, if the Owner is a trust, that trust may be the primary payee. |
• | Payments may be made payable to another insurance company or financial institution as a tax-free exchange, transfer, or rollover to or for another annuity ortax-qualified account as allowed by federal tax law. |
PROCESSING PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND REQUESTS
Processing Purchase Payments
• | If we receive a Purchase Payment on a Market Day before the Market Close, we will apply it to your Contract on that Market Day. |
• | If we receive a Purchase Payment on a Market Day after the Market Close or on a day that is not a Market Day, then we will apply it to your Contract on the next Market Day. |
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An amount applied to a Contract will be held in the Purchase Payment Account until it is applied to an Indexed Strategy or Strategies on a Strategy Application Date pursuant to your instructions. We cannot apply an amount held in the Purchase Payment Account to an Indexed Strategy or Strategies if we do not have complete instructions from you.
If you have any questions, you should contact us or your registered representative before sending a Purchase Payment.
Processing Requests
• | Requests may be made by mail at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati OH 45201-5423. |
• | Requests by fax may be made at 513-768-5115. |
• | Requests for reallocations among Indexed Strategies may be made by telephone at 1-800-789-6771 |
To obtain one of our forms (for example, a Strategy Selection form or a Withdrawal Request form) or to obtain more information about how to make a request, call us ator send us a fax atYou can also request forms or information by mail at Great American Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati OH 45201-5423. You may also obtain forms on our website (www.GAIGannuities.com).
1-800-789-6771
513-768-5115.
We cannot process a request unless it is a Request in Good Order. A request may be rejected or delayed if it is not a Request in Good Order.
• | If we receive a Request in Good Order on a Market Day before the Market Close, we will process it using values determined at the Market Close on that Market Day. |
• | If we receive a Request in Good Order after the Market Close or on a day that is not a Market Day, then we will treat that request as received at the start of the next Market Day. |
If you have any questions, you should contact us or your registered representative before submitting the request.
Exception
Market Days and Market Close
A Market Day is each day that all markets that are used to measure available Indexed Strategies are open for regular trading.
• | Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and any other day that the New York Stock Exchange and the NYSE Arca are closed are not Market Days. |
• | The NYSE and the NYSE Arca observe the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. |
A Market Close is the close of the regular or core trading session on the market used to measure a given Indexed Strategy.
• | Regular trading hours on the NYSE and core trading sessions on the NYSE Arca usually end at 4:00 PM Eastern Time |
• | Trading hours on the NYSE and core trading sessions on the NYSE Arca end at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on the day before the Fourth of July and the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. |
Regular trading or a core trading session may end at a different time on a Market Day under certain circumstances when and as permitted under applicable rules. Such circumstances generally cannot be predicted in advance.
Specific information about NYSE and NYSE Arca holidays and trading hours in any given calendar year is available at
https://www.nyse.com/markets/hours-calendars.
Receipt of Purchase Payments, Applications and Requests
For purposes of processing, we deem Purchase Payments and applications, Requests in Good Order and other instructions (paperwork) mailed to our post office box as received by us at our administrative office when the Purchase Payment or the paperwork reaches the applicable processing department located at 310 E. 4th Street, Cincinnati OH 45202.
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Risks and Limitations Related to Requests by Telephone or Internet
We will use reasonable procedures such as requiring certain identifying information, tape recording the telephone instructions, and providing written confirmation of the transaction, in order to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone, fax, Internet or other means are genuine. Any telephone, fax or Internet instructions reasonably believed by us to be genuine will be your responsibility, including losses arising from any errors in the communication of instructions. As a result of this policy, you will bear the risk of loss. We are not responsible for the validity of any request or action.
Telephone and computer systems may not always be available. Any telephone or computer system, whether it is yours, your service provider’s, your agent’s, or ours, can experience outages or slowdowns for a variety of reasons. These outages or slowdowns may delay or prevent our processing of your request. Although we have taken precautions to help our systems handle heavy use, we cannot promise complete reliability under all circumstances. If you experience technical difficulties or problems, you should consider making your request by mail.
Suspension of Payments or Transfers
We may be required to suspend or delay payments, withdrawals and reallocations when we cannot obtain an Index value because:
• | the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Arca is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); |
• | trading on the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Arca is restricted; or |
• | an emergency exists such that it is not reasonably practicable to determine fairly the value of the Index. |
In this case, we will make payments and process withdrawals and reallocations as soon as practicable after we are able to obtain the Index value.
We may suspend or delay payments, withdrawals and reallocations when we are permitted to do so under a regulatory order. In this case, we will make payments and process withdrawals and reallocations when the order is no longer in effect.
Restrictions on Financial Transactions
Federal laws designed to counter terrorism and prevent money laundering might, in certain circumstances, require us to block an Owner’s ability to make certain transactions. This means that we may be required to refuse to accept any request for withdrawals, Surrenders, Annuity Payout Benefit payments or Death Benefit payments, until instructions are received from the appropriate regulator. We may also be required to provide additional information about you and your Contract to government regulators.
RIGHT TO CANCEL (FREE LOOK)
If you change your mind about owning the Contract, you may cancel it within 20 days after you receive it. If you purchase this Contract to replace an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy, you have 30 days after you receive it. This is known as a “free look.” The right to cancel period may be longer in some states.
To cancel your Contract, you must submit your request to cancel to the producer who sold it or send it to us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423. If sent to us by mail, it is effective on the date postmarked with proper address and postage paid. Your request to cancel must be in writing and signed by you.
If you cancel your Contract, you will receive a refund. The amount of the refund will depend on where you live. When you cancel the Contract within this free look period, we will not assess an Early Withdrawal Charge.
• | If you live in a state where we are required to refund your Purchase Payment(s), we reserve the right to hold your Purchase Payment(s) in the Purchase Payment Account until the first Strategy Application Date on or after the end of the free look period. |
• | If you live in a state where we are required to refund the Account Value of your Contract, you will receive the Account Value on the day that we receive your cancellation Request in Good Order. If the Account Value includes the value of an Indexed Strategy, that Strategy value will reflect the applicable Daily Value Percentage. The amount you receive may be more or less than your Purchase Payment(s) depending upon any interest earned by your Contract and the value of your Indexed Strategies. This means that you bear the risk of any decline in the Account Value of your Contract before we receive your cancellation request. No adjustment will be made for the Daily Value Percentage and no Early Withdrawal Charges will apply to the amount refunded. Unless required by state law, we do not refund any Daily Charge assessed during the free look period or any Early Withdrawal Charges assessed during the free look period that relate to a withdrawal taken before you cancel the Contract. |
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The State Variations section of this prospectus contains a summary of the state law provisions related to the free look period and the required refund amount.
There may be tax consequences if you cancel the Contract. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
ANNUAL STATEMENT AND CONFIRMATIONS
At least once each calendar year, we will send you a statement that will show: (1) your Account Value; (2) all transactions regarding your Contract during the year; and (3) any interest credited to your Contract and/or any other changes in Strategy value credited to your Contract.
We will also send you written confirmations of Purchase Payments, Indexed Strategy allocations and renewals, withdrawals, and other financial transactions under your Contract. Statements and confirmations will be sent to your last known address on our records.
You should promptly report any inaccuracy or discrepancy in a statement or confirmation. To report an inaccuracy or discrepancy, contact us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423, or call us atTo protect your rights, you should consider reconfirming any oral communications by sending a written statement to P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423.
1-800-789-6771.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
You may elect to receive electronic delivery of the Contract prospectus and other Contract related documents. Contact us at our website at www.GAIGannuities.com for more information and to enroll.
ABANDONED PROPERTY REQUIREMENTS
Every state has unclaimed property laws. These laws generally declare annuity contracts to be abandoned after a period of inactivity of three to five years from: (1) the latest permitted Annuity Payout Initiation Date; or (2) the date of death for which a Death Benefit is due and payable. For example, if the payment of a death benefit has been triggered, but the beneficiary does not come forward to claim the death benefit in a timely manner, the unclaimed property laws will apply.
If a Death Benefit, Annuity Payout Benefit payments or other contract proceeds are unclaimed, we will pay them to the abandoned property division or unclaimed property office of the applicable state. (Escheatment is the formal, legal name for this process.) For example, on an unclaimed Death Benefit, depending on the circumstances, the proceeds are paid: (1) to the state where the beneficiary last resided, as shown on our books and records; (2) to the state where the contract owner last resided, as shown on our books and records; or (3) to Ohio, which is our state of domicile. The state will hold the proceeds without interest until a valid claim is made by the person entitled to the proceeds.
To prevent escheatment of the Death Benefit, Annuity Payout Benefit payments, or other proceeds from your Contract, it is important:
• | to update your contact information, such as your address, phone number, and email address, if and as it changes; and |
• | to update your Beneficiary and other designations, including complete names, complete addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers, if and as they change. |
Please contact us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423, or call us atto make such updates.
1-800-789-6771,
State unclaimed property laws do not apply to annuity contracts that are held under an employer retirement plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
48
OWNER
The Owner on the Contract Effective Date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page. The Owner possesses all of the ownership rights under a Contract, such as making allocations among the Indexed Strategies, electing a Payout Option, and designating a Beneficiary.
If an Owner is a trust, custodial account, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity, then the age of the eldest Annuitant is treated as the age of the Owner for all purposes of this Contract.
Joint Owners
• | For a Nonqualified Contract |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
Change of Owner
• | For a Nonqualified Contract. |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
A change of Owner must be made by a Request in Good Order. A change of Owner may have adverse tax consequences.
Assignment
• | For a Nonqualified Contract |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
An assignment must be requested by a Request in Good Order. We are not responsible for the validity of any assignment. An assignment may have adverse tax consequences.
If we have consented to an assignment, the rights of a person holding the assignment, including the right to any payment under this Contract, come before the rights of an Owner, Annuitant, Beneficiary, or other payee. An assignment may be ended only the person holding it or as provided by law.
Successor Owner
Your spouse becomes the successor owner of the Contract and succeeds to all rights of ownership if all of the following requirements are met:
• | a Death Benefit is payable on account of your death; |
• | the sole Beneficiary under the Contract is your spouse or a revocable trust or custodial account created by your spouse; |
• | either you make that election by a Request in Good Order before your death or your spouse makes that election by a Request in Good Order before the Death Benefit Payment Date; and |
• | you were not a successor owner of the Contract. |
A successor owner election cancels all prior Beneficiary designations. It does not cancel a designation of an Annuitant or a Payout Option election.
In some states, state law extends this successor owner right to a civil union partner or other person who is not your spouse as defined by federal tax law. In that case, distributions after your death must be made as required by the Death Benefit Distributions Rules described in the Death Benefit section above.
Community Property
If you live in a community property state and have a spouse at any time while you own this Contract, the laws of that state may vary your ownership rights.
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ANNUITANT
The Annuitant is the natural person on whose life Annuity Payout Benefit payments are based. The Annuitant on the Contract Effective Date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
• | For a Nonqualified Contract |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
A change of Annuitant must be made by a Request in Good Order. A change of Annuitant does not cancel a designation of a Beneficiary or a Payout Option election.
If an Annuitant dies before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and no Death Benefit is payable, then in the absence of a new designation, the Annuitant will be:
• | the surviving joint Annuitant(s); or if none |
• | the Owner(s). |
BENEFICIARY
A Beneficiary is a person entitled to receive all or part of a Death Benefit that is to be paid under this Contract on account of a death before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.
• | If a Death Benefit becomes payable on account of your death or the death of a joint Owner, then the surviving Owner is the Beneficiary no matter what other designation you may have made. |
• | In all other cases, you may designate a person or person who will be the Beneficiaries as provided in the Designation of Beneficiary provision of the Contract. |
• | If no designated Beneficiary is surviving, then the Beneficiary is your estate. |
• | If the sole Beneficiary under the Contract is your spouse or a revocable trust or custodial account created by your spouse and all other requirements for successor ownership are met, then your spouse may become the successor owner of the Contract in lieu of receiving the Death Benefit. |
A designation of Beneficiary must be made by a Request in Good Order. We must receive the request on or before the date of death for which a Death Benefit is payable.
• | You may designate two or more persons jointly as the Beneficiaries. Unless you state otherwise, joint Beneficiaries that are surviving are entitled to equal shares. |
• | You may designate one or more persons as contingent Beneficiary. Unless you state otherwise, a contingent Beneficiary is entitled to a benefit only if there is no primary Beneficiary who that is surviving. |
Survivorship Required
In order to be entitled to receive a Death Benefit, a Beneficiary must survive for at least 30 days after the death for which the Death Benefit is payable.
If you designate your spouse as a Beneficiary and your marriage ends before your death, we will treat your former spouse as having predeceased you unless:
• | a court order provides that the former spouse’s rights as a beneficiary are to continue; or |
• | the former spouse remains or becomes an Owner. |
OTHER CONTRACT PROVISIONS
Amendment of the Contract
We reserve the right to amend the Contract to comply with applicable Federal or state laws or regulations. We will notify you in writing of any such amendments.
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Misstatement
We may require proof of the age of the Annuitant, Owner and/or the Beneficiary before making any payments under the Contract that are measured by such person’s life. If the age of the measuring life has been misstated, the amount payable will be the amount that would have been provided at the correct age. If payments based on the correct age would have been higher, we will pay the underpaid amount with interest. If payments would be lower, we may deduct the overpaid amount, with interest, from succeeding payments.
Involuntary Termination
If the Account Value on any anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date is less than the minimum required value of $5,000 due to poor market performance or withdrawals from the Contract, we may terminate your Contract on that anniversary.
• | If you make only one Purchase Payment, each Term will end on an anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date. In this case, any involuntary termination will occur on a date that is the end of a Term. |
• | If you make multiple Purchase Payments, Terms may end on different dates. In this case, any involuntary termination will occur on a date that is the end of a Term, but it will occur before the end of other Terms. In this case, the Surrender Value payable upon termination of your Contract will reflect the Daily Value Percentages used to calculate the value of Indexed Strategies with Terms that are not ending on the termination date. |
The examples below show the relationship between the date of an involuntary termination and the end of a Term.
Example A
Example B
• | If your Account Value is less than $5,000 on June 20, 2024, we may not terminate your Contract because June 20 is not an anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date. |
• | If your Account Value is less than $5,000 on May 6, 2025, we may terminate your Contract on that anniversary date even though the other Term will not end until June 20, 2025. |
If we terminate your Contract, we will pay you the Surrender Value determined as of the date that we terminate your Contract. The Surrender Value will reflect the applicable Indexed Strategy Values as calculated on the day that we terminate your Contract.
Loans
Loans are not available under the Contract.
FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section provides a general description of federal income tax considerations relating to the Contracts. The purchase, holding and transfer of a Contract may have federal estate and gift tax consequences in addition to income tax consequences. Estate and gift taxation is not discussed in this prospectus. State taxation will vary, depending on the state in which you reside, and is not discussed in this prospectus.
The tax information provided in this prospectus is not intended or written to be used as legal or tax advice. It is written solely to provide general information related to the sale and holding of the Contracts. You should seek advice on legal or tax questions based on your particular circumstances from an attorney or tax advisor.
Tax Deferral on Annuities
Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 72 governs taxation of annuities in general. The income earned on a Contract is generally not included in income until it is withdrawn from the Contract. In other words, a Contract is a
tax-deferred
investment. Tax deferral is not available for a Contract when an Owner is not a natural person unless the Contract is part of atax-qualified
retirement plan or the Owner is a mere agent for a natural person. For a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, this rule means that the employer as Owner of the Contract will generally be taxed currently on any increase in the Surrender Value, although the plan itself may provide a tax deferral to the participating employee.51
Under certain circumstances, based on a rule known as the “Investor Control Doctrine,” the IRS has stated that the holder of an annuity contract could be treated as the owner (for tax purposes) of the assets of a separate account that supports the annuity contract. If you were treated as the owner of an interest in the separate account, then you would be taxed on the income, gain, and loss arising out of your interest in the separate account. Although the IRS has not provided definitive guidance on the application of this rule to indexed annuity contracts, we do not believe that this rule applies to the Contract because you have no specific, fractional, or unitized interest in the separate account assets, we are not obligated to invest the separate account in any particular assets, the investment return and market value of the separate account assets is not allocated in an identical manner to any Contract, the Contract values are determined based on gains and losses regardless of the performance of the separate account assets, and the derivatives that we may hold in the separate account are not publicly traded.
Tax-Qualified
Retirement PlansAnnuities may also qualify for
tax-deferred
treatment, or serve as a funding vehicle, undertax-qualified
retirement plans that are governed by other IRC provisions. These provisions include IRC Section 401 (pension, profit sharing, and 401(k) plans), IRC Section 403(b)(tax-sheltered
annuities), IRC Sections 408 and 408A (individual retirement annuities), and IRC Section 457(b) (governmental deferred compensation plans).Tax-deferral
is generally also available under thesetax-qualified
retirement plans through the use of a trust or custodial account without the use of an annuity.The tax law rules governing
tax-qualified
retirement plans and the treatment of amounts held and distributed under such plans are complex. If the Contract is to be used in connection with atax-qualified
retirement plan, including an individual retirement annuity (“IRA”) under a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plan, you should seek competent legal and tax advice regarding the suitability of the Contract for your particular situation.Contributions to a
tax-qualified
Contract are typically made withpre-tax
dollars, while contributions to other Contracts are typically made fromafter-tax
dollars, though there are exceptions in either case.Tax-qualified
Contracts may also be subject to restrictions on withdrawals that do not apply to other Contracts. These restrictions may be imposed to meet the requirements of the IRC or of an employer plan.Following is a brief description of the types of
tax-qualified
retirement plans for which the Contracts are available.Individual Retirement Annuities.
Roth IRAs.
Tax-free
distributions of contributions may be made at any time. Distributions of earnings aretax-free
following the five-year period beginning with the first year for which a Roth IRA contribution was made if the Owner has attained age 59 1/2, become disabled, or died, or for qualified first-time homebuyer expenses.Tax-Sheltered
Annuities.“tax-sheltered
annuity” or “TSA” plans for their employees. TSA contributions and Contract earnings are generally not included in the gross income of the employee until distributed from the TSA. Amounts attributable to contributions made under a salary reduction agreement cannot be distributed until the employee attains age 59 1/2, severs employment, becomes disabled, incurs a hardship, is eligible for a qualified reservist distribution, or dies. The IRC and the plan may impose additional restrictions on distributions.Pension, Profit-Sharing, and 401(k) Plans.
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Governmental Eligible Deferred Compensation Plans.
Roth TSAs, Roth 401(k)s, and Roth 457(b)s.
pre-tax
TSA, 401(k), or 457(b) contributions. Distributions from a Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) account are considered to come proportionally from contributions and earnings. Distributions attributable to Roth account contributions aretax-free.
Distributions attributable to Roth account earnings aretax-free
following the five-year period beginning with the first year for which Roth contributions are made to the plan if the employee has attained age 59 1/2, become disabled, or died. A Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) account is subject to the same distribution restrictions that apply to amounts attributable to traditionalpre-tax
TSA, 401(k), or 457(b) contributions made under a salary reduction agreement. The plan may impose additional restrictions on distributions.Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
Employers may invest in annuity contracts in connection with unfunded deferred compensation plans for their employees. Such plans may include eligible deferred compensation plans of
non-governmental
tax-exempt
employers, as described in IRC Section 457(b); deferred compensation plans of both governmental and nongovernmentaltax-exempt
employers that are taxed under IRC Section 457(f) and subject to Section 409A; and nonqualified deferred compensation plans offor-profit
employers subject to Section 409A. In most cases, these plans are designed so that amounts credited under the plan will not be includable in the employees’ gross income until paid under the plan. In these situations, the annuity contracts are not plan assets and are subject to the claims of the employer’s general creditors. Whether or not made from the Contract, plan benefit payments are subject to restrictions imposed by the IRC and the plan.Summary of Income Tax Rules
The following chart summarizes the basic income tax rules governingContracts.
tax-qualified
retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and othernon-tax-qualified
Tax-Qualified Contracts andPlans | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans | Other Non-Tax-Qualified Contracts | ||||
Plan Types | • IRC §408 (IRA, SEP, SIMPLE IRA) • IRC §408A (Roth IRA) • IRC §403(b) (Tax-Sheltered Annuity)• IRC §401 (Pension, Profit–Sharing, 401(k)) • Governmental IRC §457(b) • IRC §402A (Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b)) | • IRC §409A • Nongovernmental IRC §457(b) • IRC §457(f) | • IRC §72 only | |||
Who May Purchase a Contract | Eligible employee, employer, or employer plan. | Employer on behalf of eligible employee. Employer generally loses tax-deferred status of Contract itself. | Anyone. Non-natural person will generally losetax-deferred status. |
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Tax-Qualified Contracts andPlans | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans | Other Non-Tax-Qualified Contracts | ||||
Contribution Limits | Contributions are limited by IRC and/or plan requirements. | None. | ||||
Distribution Restrictions | Distributions from Contract and/or plan may be restricted to meet IRC and/or plan requirements. | None. | ||||
Taxation of Withdrawals, Surrenders, and Lump Sum Death Benefit | Generally, 100% of distributions must be included in taxable income. However, the portion that represents an after-tax investment is not taxable. Distributions from Roth IRA are deemed to come first from after- tax contributions. Distributions from other plans are generally deemed to come from income andafter-tax investment (if any) on apro-rata basis. Distributions from §408A Roth IRA or §402A Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) are completely tax free if certain requirements are met.For tax purposes, all IRAs and SEP IRAs of an owner are treated as a single IRA, and all Roth IRAs of an owner are treated as a single Roth IRA. | Generally, distributions must be included in taxable income until all accumulated earnings are paid out. Thereafter, distributions are tax-free return of the original investment. However, distributions aretax-free until any investment made before August 14, 1982 is returned.For tax purposes, all non-tax-qualified | ||||
Taxation of Payout Option Payments (Annuity Benefit or Death Benefit) | A percentage of each payment is tax free equal to the ratio of after-tax investment (if any) to the total expected payments, and the balance is included in taxable income. Once theafter-tax investment has been recovered, the full amount of each benefit payment is included in taxable income. Distributions from a Roth IRA, Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) are completely tax free if certain requirements are met. | |||||
Possible Penalty Taxes for Distributions Before Age 59 1/2 | Taxable portion of payments made before age 59 1/2 may be subject to 10% penalty tax (or 25% for a SIMPLE IRA during the first two years of participation). Penalty taxes do not apply to payments after the participant’s death, or to §457 plans. Other exceptions may apply. | None. | Taxable portion of payments made before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% penalty tax. Penalty taxes do not apply to payments after the Owner’s death. Other exceptions may apply. | |||
Assignment/ Transfer of Contract | Assignment and transfer of Ownership generally not permitted. | Generally, deferred earnings taxable to transferor upon transfer or assignment. Gift tax consequences are not discussed herein. | ||||
Federal Income Tax Withholding | Eligible rollover distributions from §401, §403(b), and governmental §457(b) plans are subject to 20% mandatory withholding on taxable portion unless direct rollover. For other payments, Payee may generally elect to have taxes withheld or not. | Generally subject to wage withholding. | Generally, Payee may elect to have taxes withheld or not. |
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Rollovers, Transfers, and Exchanges
Amounts from a
tax-qualified
Contract may be rolled over, transferred, or exchanged into anothertax-qualified
account or retirement plan as permitted by the IRC and plan(s). Amounts may be rolled over, transferred, or exchanged into atax-qualified
Contract from anothertax-qualified
account or retirement plan as permitted by the IRC and plan(s). In most cases, such a rollover, transfer, or exchange is not taxable, unless the rollover ofpre-tax
amounts is made into a Roth IRA, a Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b). Rollovers, transfers, and exchanges are not subject to normal contribution limits. The IRC or plan may require that rollovers be held in a separate Contract from other plan funds.Amounts from aContract may be transferred to anotherannuity or to a qualified long-term care policy as aannuity or from a life insurance or endowment policy may be transferred to a Contract as a
non-tax-qualified
non-tax-qualified
tax-free
exchange as permitted by the IRC Section 1035. Amounts from anothernon-tax-qualified
tax-free
exchange under IRC Section 1035.Required Distributions
The Contracts are subject to the required distribution rules of federal tax law. These rules vary based on the tax qualification of the Contract or the plan under which it is issued.
For a
tax-qualified
Contract other than a Roth IRA, required minimum distributions must generally begin by April 1 following attainment of age 72 (age 70 1/2 if born before July 1, 1950). However, for a 403(b)Tax-Sheltered
Annuity Plan, a 401 Pension, Profit-Sharing, or 401(k) Plan, or a 457(b) Governmental Deferred Compensation Plan, a participant who is not a 5% owner of the employer may delay required minimum distributions until April 1 following the year in which the participant retires from that employer. The required minimum distributions during life are calculated based on standard life expectancy tables adopted under federal tax law.For a Roth IRA or for a Contract that is not
tax-qualified,
there are no required distributions during life.AContract that has begun making payments under a payout option during the Owner’s life must make any remaining payments at least as rapidly after death. If payments from aContract have not begun, then the death benefit must be paid out in full within five years after death, or must be paid out in substantially equal payments beginning within one year of death over a period not exceeding the life expectancy of the designated beneficiary.
tax-qualified
Contract must make required distributions after death. The required distributions vary depending on the type of beneficiary. Some beneficiaries may take payments over life or life expectancy, and others must receive all benefits within five or ten years after death. Anon-tax-qualified
non-tax-qualified
For a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or a Contract that is not
tax-qualified,
a beneficiary who is a surviving spouse may elect out of these requirements, and apply the required distribution rules as if the Contract were his or her own. For this purpose, federal tax law recognizes as married any two people whose marriage is valid in the state in which it was celebrated. A civil union or domestic partnership is not considered a marriage.PREMIUM AND OTHER TAXES
We reserve the right to deduct from the Purchase Payment or Account Value any taxes relating to the Contract paid by us to any government entity (including, but not limited to, premium taxes, additional taxes, and maintenance taxes on insurers, Federal, state and local withholding of income, estate, inheritance, or other taxes required by law from annuity purchase payments, and any new or increased taxes on insurers or annuity purchase payments that may be enacted into law).
Currently some state governments impose premium taxes, additional taxes, and maintenance taxes on insurers based on annuity purchase payments received or applied to an annuity payout benefit. These taxes currently range from zero to 3.5% depending upon the jurisdiction and the tax qualification of the Contract. A federal premium tax has been proposed but not enacted. We may deduct any such premium or other taxes from the Purchase Payments or the Account Value at the time that the tax is imposed. We may also deduct any such tax not previously deducted from the Annuity Payout value or Death Benefit value.
We reserve the right to deduct from the Contract for any income taxes that we incur because of the Contract. At the present time, however, we are not incurring any such income tax or making any such deductions.
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DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
Great American Advisors, Inc. (“GAA”) is the principal underwriter and distributor of the securities offered through this prospectus. GALIC and GAA are affiliated because GAA is a subsidiary of GALIC.. GAA also acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of the variable annuity contracts that are issued by one of our subsidiaries.
GAA’s principal executive offices are located at 301 E Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. GAA is registered as a broker- dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as the securities regulators in the states in which it operates and registration is required. GAA is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
Contracts are sold by licensed insurance agents (the “Selling Agents”) in those states where the Contract may be lawfully sold. Such Selling Agents will be appointed agents of GALIC and will be registered representatives of broker-dealer firms (the “Selling Broker-Dealers”) that have entered into selling agreements with us and GAA. Selling Broker-Dealers will be registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and will be members of FINRA.
FINRA provides background information about broker-dealers and their registered representatives through FINRA BrokerCheck. You may contact the FINRA BrokerCheck Hotline ator log on to www.finra.org to learn more about GAA, your Selling Agent, and his or her Selling Broker Dealer.
1-800-289-9999,
GAA receives no compensation for acting as underwriter of the Contracts; however, GALIC pays for some of GAA’s operating and other expenses, including overhead and legal and accounting fees. GALIC may reimburse GAA for certain sales expenses, such as marketing materials and advertising expenses, and other expenses of distributing the Contracts.
GALIC or GAA pay the Selling Broker-Dealers compensation for the promotion and sale of the Contract. The Selling Agents who solicit sales of the Contract typically receive a portion of the compensation paid to the Selling Broker-Dealers in the form of commissions or other compensation, depending on the agreement between the Selling Broker-Dealer and the Selling Agent.
The amount and timing of commissions paid to Selling Broker-Dealers may vary depending on the selling agreement but it will not be more than 9.2% of each Purchase Payment. In most cases, such amounts paid to a Selling Broker-Dealer will be divided between the Selling Agent and the Selling Broker-Dealer. Some Selling Broker-Dealers may elect to receive a lower commission when a Purchase Payment is made, along with annual trail commissions up to 1.5% of Account Value for so long as a contract remains in effect or as agreed in the selling agreement. GALIC may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments in the form of cash or other compensation to the extent permitted by FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations.
GALIC also may pay compensation to wholesaling broker-dealers or other firms or intermediaries in return for wholesaling services such as providing marketing and sales support, product training, and administrative services to the Selling Agents of the Selling Broker-Dealers. These allowances may be based on a percentage of a Purchase Payment.
In addition to the compensation described above, GALIC may make additional cash payments, in certain circumstances referred to as “override” compensations, or reimbursements to Selling Broker-Dealers in recognition of their marketing and distribution, transaction processing and/or administrative services support. These payments are not offered to all Selling Broker-Dealers, and the terms of any particular agreement governing the payments may vary among Selling Broker-Dealers depending on, among other things, the level and type of marketing and distribution support provided. Marketing and distribution support services may include, among other services, placement of GALIC’s products on the Selling Broker-Dealers’ preferred or recommended list, increased access to the Selling Broker-Dealers’ registered representatives for purposes of promoting sales of GALIC products, assistance in training and education of the Selling Agents, and opportunities for GALIC and GAA to participate in sales conferences and educational seminars. The payments or reimbursements may be calculated as a percentage of the particular Selling Broker-Dealer’s actual or expected aggregate sales of our indexed annuity contracts (including the Contract) and/or may be a fixed dollar amount. Broker-dealers receiving these additional payments may pass on some or all of the payments to the Selling Agents.
You should ask your Selling Agent for further information about the commissions or other compensation that he or she, or the Selling Broker-Dealer for which he or she works, may receive in connection with your purchase of a Contract.
There is no
front-end
sales load deducted from the Purchase Payment(s) to pay sales commissions. Commissions and other incentives or payments described above are not charged directly to you. We intend to recoup at least a portion of the sales commissions and other sales expenses through fees and charges deducted under the Contract.56
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE’S GENERAL ACCOUNT
Our general account (the “General Account”) holds all our assets other than assets in our insulated separate accounts. We own our General Account assets, and, subject to applicable law, have sole investment discretion over them. The assets are subject to our general business operation liabilities and claims of our creditors and may lose value. Our General Account assets fund the guarantees provided in the Contracts.
We must invest our assets according to applicable state laws regarding the nature, quality and diversification of investments that may be made by life insurance companies. In general, these laws permit investments, within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications, in Federal, state and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, preferred and common stocks, real estate mortgages, real estate and certain other investments.
We place a majority of the Purchase Payments made under the Contract in our General Account where we primarily invest the assets in a variety of fixed income securities.
We place a portion of the Purchase Payments made under the Contract in a
non-unitized
separate account (the “Separate Account”) that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We established and maintain the Separate Account pursuant to the laws of our domiciliary state for the purpose of supporting our obligation to adjust the Indexed Strategy values based on the Daily Value Percentage or rise or fall of the Index. The assets of the Separate Account are held in our name on behalf of the Separate Account and legally belong to us. The assets in the Separate Account are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business that we conduct. We may invest these assets in hedging instruments, including derivative contracts as well as other assets permitted under state law. To support our obligations to adjust the Indexed Strategy values, we may move money between the Separate Account and our General Account. We are not obligated to invest the assets of the Separate Account according to any particular plan except as we may be required to by state insurance laws. Regardless of your Strategy allocations, we do not intend to invest the assets of the Separate Account in the iShares MSCI EAFE exchange traded fund or iShares U.S. Real Estate exchange traded fund. We may or may not hold the hypothetical options described in this prospectus in the Separate Account.Contract owners do not have any interest in or claim on the assets in the Separate Account nor do Contract owners participate in any way in the performance of assets held in the Separate Account.
LEGAL MATTERS
Reliance on Rule
12h-7
Great American Life relies on the exemption provided by Rule
12h-7
under the Securities Exchange Act of the 1934 Act from the requirement to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of that Act.Legal Proceedings
Great American Life and its subsidiaries are involved in litigation from time to time, generally arising in the ordinary course of business. This litigation may include, but is not limited to, general commercial disputes, lawsuits brought by contract owners and policyholders, employment matters, reinsurance collection matters and actions challenging certain business practices of insurance subsidiaries. Also, from time to time, state and federal regulators or other officials conduct formal and informal examinations or undertake other actions dealing with various aspects of the financial services and insurance industries. It is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of any pending legal proceeding or regulatory action. However, Great American Life does not believe any such action or proceeding will have a material adverse effect upon its ability to meet its obligations under the Contracts.
Legal Opinion on Contracts
Legal matters in connection with federal laws and regulations affecting the issue and sale of the Contracts described in this prospectus and the organization of Great American Life, its authority to issue such Contracts under Ohio law, and the validity of the forms of the Contracts under Ohio law have been passed on by John P. Gruber, General Counsel of Great American Life.
57
Securities and Exchange Commission Position on Indemnification
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling Great American Life pursuant to its articles of incorporation or its code of regulations or pursuant to any insurance coverage or otherwise, Great American Life has been informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the accompanying financial statement schedule of Great American Life Insurance Company at December 31, 2020, and 2019, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
We filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 relating to the Contracts offered by this prospectus. This prospectus was filed as a part of the Registration Statement, but it does not constitute the complete Registration Statement. The Registration Statement contains further information relating to the Company and the Contracts. The Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto may be inspected and copied at the office of the Securities and Exchange Commission, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., and may also be accessed at www.sec.gov. The Securities and Exchange Commission file number for the Contract is
333-252949.
Statements in this prospectus discussing the content of the Contracts and other legal instruments are summaries. The actual documents are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. For a complete statement of the terms of the Contracts or any other legal document, refer to the appropriate exhibit to the Registration Statement.
OPTION PRICES
In order to calculate the Daily Value Percentage of an Indexed Strategy, we determine the prices of the hypothetical options using a valuation model. The price of each option is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term.
• | ATM Call Option Price (at-the-money |
The ATM Call Option Price is the calculated price of a hypothetical call option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term.
• | ATM Put Option Price (at-the-money |
The ATM Put Option Price is the calculated price of a hypothetical put option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage fall, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term.
• | OTM Call Option Price (out-of-the-money |
The OTM Call Option Price is the calculated price of a hypothetical call option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term, but only to the extent it exceeds the Cap for the Term.
Valuation Model
We use a mathematical model to calculate the price of the hypothetical options in our formulas because direct prices of comparable options are generally not available. Options in the marketplace do not directly align with (1) the time remaining in a Term and (2) the strike prices for any of the hypothetical options used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage.
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The valuation model is widely used for option pricing. It calculates the theoretical price of options using the following components: initial and current Index levels or prices, expected dividend yield, option strike prices, expected interest rates, time, and implied volatility of option prices. Below is a brief explanation of the components of the model.
• | Index Levels or Prices |
The initial Index level or price for a Term is the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The current Index level or price is the Index as of the most recent Market Close.
• | Dividend Yield (Div) |
Dividend Yield is the dividend yield to the end of the Term as of a calculation date where the dividend yield is (1) interpolated from yields or (2) implied from market data as reported by Bloomberg or another market source.
For the S&P 500 Index, the dividend yield will reduce the Index level and the applicable call option prices.
• | Strike Price (K) |
Strike Price is a value that varies for each type of option.
ATM call option strike price = Index at the start of the Term
ATM put option strike price = Index at the start of the Term
OTM call option strike price = Index at the start of the Term multiplied by (1 + Cap)
• | Interest Rate (Rate) |
Interest Rate is a rate based on key derivative interest rates obtained from information provided by Bloomberg or another market source. These interest rates are obtained for maturities adjacent to the actual time remaining in the Term on the calculation date. We use interpolation to derive the rate used as our input for the model.
• | Time (T) |
Time is the portion of the Term that remains as measured by the following formula.
Time = number of calendar days from calculation date to end of Term / number of calendar days in Term
• | Implied Volatility (Vol) |
Volatility is the implied volatility of option prices. It is approximated daily using observed option prices as reported by Bloomberg or another market source. For each hypothetical option included in the calculation, we approximate the volatility of option prices by interpolating between (1) implied volatilities for similar options with the closest available time remaining and (2) strike prices.
Implied volatility varies with (1) how much time remains until the end of a Term, which is determined by using an expiration date for the designated option that corresponds to that time remaining and (2) the relationship between the strike price of that option and the value of the Index at the time of the calculation. This relationship is referred to as the “moneyness” of the option described above, and is calculated as the ratio of current price to strike price.
Direct market data for these inputs is generally not available because options on an Index that actually trade in the market have (1) specific maturity dates that are unlikely to precisely match the end date of a Term and (2) moneyness values that are unlikely to precisely match the moneyness of the designated option that we use in our calculations. Accordingly, we interpolate between the implied volatility quotes that are based on the actual maturities and moneyness values.
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EXAMPLES: IMPACT OF WITHDRAWALS ON CONTRACT VALUES AND AMOUNTS REALIZED
These examples are intended to show you how a withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy before the end of the Term affects the Indexed Strategy values and amounts realized at the end of the Term. These examples assume that you allocate $50,000 to an S&P 500 Cap Strategy and $50,000 to an S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy.
Example A: Withdrawal When Index Rising Steadily
This example assumes:
• | you allocate $50,000 to an S&P 500 Cap Strategy and $50,000 to an S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | the Cap for the initial Term of the S&P 500 Cap Strategy is 10%; |
• | the Participation Rate for the initial Term of the S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy is 75%; |
• | the S&P 500 is 1000 on the Term start date; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on Day 146 when the Daily Value Percentage is 2.15% for the S&P 500 Cap Strategy and 2.33% for the S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; |
• | the withdrawal is covered by the Free Withdrawal Allowance and therefore no Early Withdrawal Charges apply (If Early Withdrawal Charges did apply, the amounts realized at the end of the Term would be reduced by both the withdrawal and the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge); and |
• | the S&P 500 is 1130 on the Term end date. |
Please note that even with a rising Index, the Daily Value Percentage may be negative or lower than the Index rise because the Net Option Price is not equal to the current Index price, and because the Daily Value Percentage calculation subtracts the Amortized Option Cost and Trading Cost from the Net Option Price.
Impact of $10,000 Withdrawal from Each Strategy on Day 146 of Term | S&P 500 with Cap | S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate | ||
Investment Base at Term Start | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $150 | $150 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $49,850 | $49,850 | ||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | 2.15% | 2.33% | ||
Dollar Amount of Increase on Withdrawal Date | $49,850 x .0215 = $1,072 | $49,850 x .0233 = $1,162 | ||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $49,850 + $1,072 = $50,922 | $49,850 + $1,162 = $51,012 | ||
Amount Withdrawn* | $4,996 | $5,004 | ||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | $4,996 / $50,922 = 9.81% | $5,004 / $51,012 = 9.81% | ||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $49,850 x .0981 = $4,890 | $49,850 x .0981 = $4,890 | ||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $49,850 - $4,890 = $44,959 | $49,850 - $4,890 = $44,959 | ||
Value at End of Term | ||||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $44,959 | $44,959 | ||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $203 | $203 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $44,757 | $44,757 | ||
Index at Term Start | 1000 | 1000 | ||
Index at Term End | 1130 | 1130 | ||
Rise in Index | 13% | 13% | ||
Cap | 10% | n/a | ||
Upside Participation Rate | n/a | 75% | ||
Increase as a Percentage | 10% | 13% x 75% = 9.75% | ||
Dollar Amount of Increase | $44,757 x .10 = $4,476 | $44,757 x .0975 = $4,364 | ||
Strategy Value at Term End | $44,757 + $4,476 = $49,232 | $44,757 + $4,364 = $49,120 |
* | Note: The withdrawal is taken proportionally from each Indexed Strategy, based on the ratio of that Strategy’s value to the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal. In this example, the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal was $101,934 ($50,922 + $51,012). The S&P 500 with Cap Strategy value was 49.96% of that total value ($50,922 / $101,934 = 49.96%), so 49.96% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($4,996) was taken from it. The S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate Strategy value was 50.04% of that total value ($51,012 / $101,934 = 50.04%), so 50.04% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($5,004) was taken from it. |
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In this example, you invested $50,000 in the Cap Strategy and $50,000 in the Participation Rate Strategy, and at the end of the Term you realized $108,353 ($10,000 withdrawal plus the Strategy values of $49,232 and $49,120 at the end of the Term). Had no withdrawal occurred, your Strategy values at the end of the Term would have totaled $109,051 ($50,000 minus $375 in Daily Charges plus 10% increase for the Cap Strategy, and $50,000 minus $375 in Daily Charges plus 9.75% increase for the Participation Rate Strategy).
This hypothetical combined Strategy values of $109,051 exceeds the amount realized of $108,353, even though the hypothetical combined Strategy value includes a larger amount of fees, because the portion of the Investment Base withdrawn from each Strategy did not earn the 10% increase it would have earned if it had been left in the respective Strategy for the entire Term.
In this example, the Cap Strategy performed better than the Participation Rate Strategy because the Upside Participation Rate limited the increase more than the Cap did.
Example B: Withdrawal When Index Falling Steadily
This example assumes:
• | you allocate $50,000 to an S&P 500 Cap Strategy and $50,000 to an S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | the Downside Participation Rate for each Strategy is 50%; |
• | the S&P 500 is 1000 on the Term start date; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on Day 146 when the Daily Value Percentage is -2% for the S&P 500 Cap Strategy and -2.1% for the S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; |
• | the withdrawal is covered by the Free Withdrawal Allowance and therefore no Early Withdrawal Charges apply (If Early Withdrawal Charges did apply, the amounts realized at the end of the Term would be reduced by both the withdrawal and the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge); and |
• | the S&P 500 is 800 on the Term end date. |
Please note that the Daily Value Percentage may be more negative than the fall in the Index because the Net Option Price is not equal to the current Index price, and because the Daily Value Percentage calculation subtracts the Amortized Option Cost and Trading Cost from the Net Option Price.
Impact of $10,000 Withdrawal from Each Strategy on Day 146 of Term | S&P 500 with Cap | S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate | ||
Investment Base at Term Start | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $150 | $150 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $49,850 | $49,850 | ||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | -2% | -2.1% | ||
Dollar Amount of Decrease on Withdrawal Date | $49,850 x -.02 = $997 | $49,850 x -.021 = $1,047 | ||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $49,850 - $997 = $48,853 | $49,850 - $1,047 = $48,803 | ||
Amount Withdrawn* | $5,003 | $4,997 | ||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | $5,003 / $48,853 = 10.24% | $4,997 / $48,803 = 10.24% | ||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $49,850 x .1024 = $5,105 | $49,850 x .1024 = $5,105 | ||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $49,850 - $5,105 = $44,745 | $49,850 - $5,105 = $44,745 | ||
Value at End of Term | ||||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $44,745 | $44,745 | ||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $202 | $202 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $44,543 | $44,543 | ||
Index at Term Start | 1000 | 1000 | ||
Index at Term End | 800 | 800 | ||
Fall in Index | -20% | -20% |
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Impact of $10,000 Withdrawal from Each Strategy on Day 146 of Term | S&P 500 with Cap | S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate | ||
Downside Participation Rate | 50% | 50% | ||
Decrease as a Percentage | -20% x 50% = -10% | -20% x 50% = -10% | ||
Dollar Amount of Decrease | $44,543 x -.10 = $4,454 | $44,543 x -.10 = $4,454 | ||
Strategy Value at Term End | $44,543 - $4,454 = $40,089 | $44,543 - $4,454 = $40,089 |
* | Note: The withdrawal is taken proportionally from each Indexed Strategy, based on the ratio of that Strategy’s value to the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal. In this example, the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal was $97,656 ($48,853 + $48,803). The S&P 500 with Cap Strategy value was 50.03% of that total value ($48,853 / $97,656 = 50.03%), so 50.03% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($5,003) was taken from it. The S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate Strategy value was 49.97% of that total value ($48,803 / $97,656 = 49.97%), so 49.97% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($4,997) was taken from it. |
In this example, you invested $50,000 in the Cap Strategy and $50,000 in the Participation Rate Strategy, and at the end of the Term you realized $90,178 ($10,000 withdrawal plus the Strategy values of $40,089 and $40,089 at the end of the Term). Had no withdrawal occurred, your Strategy values at the end of the Term would have totaled $89,325 ($50,000 minus $375 in Daily Charges minus 10% decrease for the Cap Strategy and $50,000 minus $375 in Daily Charges minus 10% decrease for the Participation Rate Strategy).
The amount realized of $90,178 exceeds this hypothetical combined Strategy value of $89,325 because the portion of the Investment Base withdrawn from each Strategy was not subject to the 10% decrease it would have suffered if it had been left in the respective Strategy for the entire Term and because the hypothetical combined Strategy value includes a larger amount of fees.
The Strategy value at Term end is the same for both the Cap Strategy and the Participation Rate Strategy ($49,089) because both Strategies apply the same rules to a fall in the Index, and because the proportionality rules relating to withdrawals keep each Strategy’s Investment Base equal to the other.
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Example C: Withdrawal When Index Rises
This example assumes:
• | you allocate your entire $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Cap Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1900; |
• | the Contract Effective Date and the Term start date are both April 6, 2021; |
• | an Early Withdrawal Charge of 9% applies in the initial Term; |
• | the Cap for the initial Term of that Strategy is 12%; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on August 1, 2021 when the Daily Value Percentage is 1%; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; and |
• | the S&P 500 is 2033 on the Term end date of April 6, 2022. |
Term Start Date | April 6, 2021 | |||||
Strategy Value | $ | 50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||
Investment Base | $ | 50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||
Cap for Term | 12 | % | See Footnote 2 below. | |||
Index | 1900 | |||||
Withdrawal Date | August 30, 2021 | |||||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $ | 150 | See Footnote 3 below | |||
Remaining Investment Base | $ | 49,850 | See Footnote 4 below | |||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | 1 | % | ||||
Dollar Amount of Increase on Withdrawal Date | $ | 499 | See Footnote 5 below. | |||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $ | 50,349 | See Footnote 6 below. | |||
Amount of Withdrawal Requested | $ | 10,000 | ||||
Free Withdrawal Allowance | $ | 5,000 | See Footnote 7 below. | |||
Early Withdrawal Charge | $ | 495 | See Footnote 8 below. | |||
Total Amount Withdrawn | $ | 10,495 | See Footnote 9 below. | |||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | 20.84 | % | See Footnote 10 below. | |||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $ | 10,391 | See Footnote 10 below. | |||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $ | 39,459 | See Footnote 11 below. | |||
Strategy Value after Withdrawal | $ | 39,854 | See Footnote 12 below. | |||
Term End Date | April 6, 2022 | |||||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $ | 178 | See Footnote 13 below | |||
Remaining Investment Base | $ | 39,281 | See Footnote 14 below | |||
Index | 2033 | |||||
Rise in Index | 7 | % | See Footnote 15 below. | |||
Increase as a Percentage | 7 | % | See Footnote 16 below. | |||
Dollar Amount of Increase | $ | 2,750 | See Footnote 16 below. | |||
Strategy Value at Term End | $ | 42,031 | See Footnote 17 below. |
Footnote 1.
Footnote 2.
Footnote 3.
Formula | Investment Base on the Term Start Date – (Investment Base on the Term Start Date x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ number of days elapsed prior to withdrawal) | |
Calculation | $50,000 - ($50,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 146) = $150 |
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Footnote 4.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 - $150 - $0 = $49,850 |
Footnote 5.
Formula | Investment Base x Daily Value Percentage = dollar amount of increase | |
Calculation | $49,850 x 1% = $499 |
Footnote 6.
Formula | Investment Base + dollar amount of increase = Strategy value | |
Calculation | $49,850 + $499 = $50,349 |
Footnote 7.
Formula | Purchase Payment x 10% = FWA for first Contract Year | |
Calculation | $50,000 x 10% = $5,000 |
Footnote 8.
Formula | [(Requested withdrawal - FWA) x EWC rate] / (1.00 - EWC rate) = Early Withdrawal Charge | |
Calculation | [($10,000 - $5,000) x 9%] / (1.00 - 0.09) = $5,000 x 9% / 0.91 = $450 / 0.91 = $495 |
Footnote 9.
Formula | Requested withdrawal + Early Withdrawal Charge = total amount withdrawn | |
Calculation | $10,000 + $495 = $10,495 |
Footnote 10.
Formula Calculation | Total amount withdrawn / Strategy value before withdrawal = withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value $10,495 / $50,349 = 20.84% | |
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal x withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value = proportional reduction in Investment Base | |
Calculation | $49,850 x 20.84% = $10,391 |
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Footnote 11.
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal - proportional reduction in Investment Base for withdrawal = Investment Base after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $49,850 - $10,391 = $39,459 |
Footnote 12
.
Formula | Strategy value before withdrawal - total amount withdrawn = Strategy value after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $50,349 - $10,495 = $39,854 |
Footnote 13.
Formula | Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal – (Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ Number of Days Elapsed Since Previous Withdrawal) = Daily Charges | |
Calculation | $39,459 - ($39,459 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 219) = $178 |
Footnote 14.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 – ($150 + $178) - $10,391 = $39,281 |
Footnote 15.
Formula | (Index on Term end date - Index on Term start date) / Index on Term start date = rise in Index | |
Calculation | (2033 - 1900) / 1900 = 7% |
Footnote 16
Formula | If the rise in Index is less than Cap, then rise in Index = increase percentage based on rise in Index | |
Calculation | 7% rise in Index < 12% cap, so increase percentage = 7% |
Formula | Investment Base x increase percentage based on rise in Index = dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index | |
Calculation | $39,281 x 7% = $2,750 |
Footnote 17.
Formula | Investment Base on Term end date + dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index = Strategy value on Term end date | |
Calculation | $39,281 + $2,750 = $42,031 |
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Example D: Withdrawal When Index Falls
This example assumes:
• | you allocate your entire $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Cap Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1900; |
• | the Contract Effective Date and the Term Start Date are both April 6, 2021; |
• | an Early Withdrawal Charge of 9% applies in the initial Term; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on August 1, 2021 when the Daily Value Percentage is -6%; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; and |
• | the S&P 500 is 1748 on the Term end date of April 6, 2022. |
Term Start Date | April 6, 2021 | |||
Strategy Value | $50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | ||
Investment Base | $50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | ||
Downside Participation Rate | 50% | See Footnote 2 below. | ||
Index | 1900 | |||
Withdrawal Date | August 30, 2021 | |||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $150 | See Footnote 3 below. | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $49,850 | See Footnote 4 below. | ||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | -6% | |||
Dollar Amount of Decrease on Withdrawal Date | -$2,991 | See Footnote 5 below. | ||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $46,859 | See Footnote 6 below. | ||
Amount of Withdrawal Requested | $10,000 | |||
Free Withdrawal Allowance | $5,000 | See Footnote 7 below. | ||
Early Withdrawal Charge | $495 | See Footnote 8 below. | ||
Total Amount Withdrawn | $10,495 | See Footnote 9 below. | ||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | 22.4% | See Footnote 10 below. | ||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $11,165 | See Footnote 10 below. | ||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $38,685 | See Footnote 11 below. | ||
Strategy Value after Withdrawal | $36,364 | See Footnote 12 below. | ||
Term End Date | April 6, 2022 | |||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $174 | See Footnote 13 below. | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $38,511 | See Footnote 14 below. | ||
Index | 1748 | |||
Fall in Index | -8% | See Footnote 15 below. | ||
Decrease as a Percentage | -4% | See Footnote 16 below. | ||
Dollar Amount of Decrease | -$1,540 | See Footnote 16 below. | ||
Strategy Value at Term End | $36,971 | See Footnote 17 below. |
Footnote 1.
Footnote 2.
Footnote 3.
Formula | Investment Base on the Term Start Date – (Investment Base on the Term Start Date x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ number of days elapsed prior to withdrawal) | |
Calculation | $50,000 - ($50,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 146) = $150 |
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Footnote 4.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 - $150 - $0 = $49,850 |
Footnote 5.
Formula | Investment Base x Daily Value Percentage = dollar amount of decrease | |
Calculation | $49,850 x -6% = -$2,991 |
Footnote 6.
Formula | Investment Base – dollar amount of decrease = Strategy value | |
Calculation | $49,850 - $2,991 = $46,859 |
Footnote 7.
Formula | Purchase Payment x 10% = FWA for first Contract Year | |
Calculation | $50,000 x 10% = $5,000 |
Footnote 8.
Formula | [(Requested withdrawal - FWA) x EWC rate] / (1.00 - EWC rate) = Early Withdrawal Charge | |
Calculation | [($10,000 - $5,000) x 9%] / (1.00 - 0.09) = $5,000 x 9% / 0.91 = $450 / 0.91 = $495 |
Footnote 9.
Formula | Requested withdrawal + Early Withdrawal Charge = total amount withdrawn | |
Calculation | $10,000 + $495 = $10,495 |
Footnote 10.
Formula | total amount withdrawn / Strategy value before withdrawal = withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value | |
Calculation | $10,495 / $46,859 = 22.4% | |
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal x withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value = proportional reduction in Investment Base | |
Calculation | $49,850 x 22.4% = $11,165 |
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Footnote 11.
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal - proportional reduction in Investment Base for withdrawal = Investment Base after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $49,850 - $11,165 = $38,685 |
Footnote 12
.
Formula | Strategy value before withdrawal - total amount withdrawn = Strategy value after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $46,859 - $10,495 = $36,364 |
Footnote 13.
Formula | Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal – (Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ Number of Days Elapsed Since Previous Withdrawal) = Daily Charges | |
Calculation | $38,685 - ($38,685 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 219) = $174 |
Footnote 14.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 – ($150 + $174) - $10,495 = $38,511 |
Footnote 15.
Formula | (Index on Term end date - Index on Term start date) / Index on Term start date | |
Calculation | (1748 - 1900) / 1900 = -8% |
Footnote 16
.
Formula | Fall in Index x Downside Participation Rate = decrease as a percentage based on fall in Index | |
Calculation | -8% x 50% = -4% |
Formula | Investment Base x decrease percentage based on fall in Index = dollar amount of decrease based on fall in Index | |
Calculation | $38,511 x -4% = -$1,540 |
Footnote 17.
Formula | Investment Base on Term end date – dollar amount of decrease based on fall in Index = Strategy value on Term end date | |
Calculation | $38,511 - $1,540 = $36,971 |
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Example E: Amount Available for a Withdrawal When Index Rises Less Than Daily Charge Rate
The following example is intended to help you understand the amount that may be available for withdrawal when the Index rises at a rate lower than the amount of the Daily Charge over a Term. In such a scenario, Strategy Values will be lower at the end of a Term than they were at the beginning of the Term, despite the fact that the Index rose over that period.
This example assumes:
• | you allocate a $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Cap Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1000; |
• | you allocate a $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Participation Rate Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1000; |
• | the Contract Effective Date and the Term Start Date are both April 6, 2021; |
• | you do not take any withdrawals during the initial Term; and |
• | the S&P 500 is 1005 on the Term end date of April 6, 2022. |
Term Start Date - April 6, 2021 | S&P 500 with Cap | S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate | ||||
Strategy Value | $50,000 | $50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||
Investment Base | $50,000 | $50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||
Cap for Term | 10% | n/a | See Footnote 2 below. | |||
Upside Participation Rate for Term | n/a | 75% | See Footnote 3 below. | |||
Index | 1000 | 1000 | ||||
Term End Date - April 6, 2022 | ||||||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $375 | $375 | See Footnote 4 below. | |||
Remaining Investment Base | $49,625 | $49,625 | See Footnote 5 below. | |||
Index at Term Start | 1000 | 1000 | ||||
Index at Term End | 1005 | 1005 | ||||
Rise in Index | 0.50% | 0.50% | See Footnote 6 below. | |||
Increase as a Percentage | 0.50% | 0.50% x 75% = 0.375% | See Footnote 7 below. | |||
Dollar Amount of Increase | $49,625 x .005 = $248 | $49,625 x .00375 = $186 | See Footnote 8 below. | |||
Strategy Value at Term End | $49,625 + $248 = $49,873 | $49,625 + $186 = $49,811 | See Footnote 9 below. |
Footnote 1.
Footnote 2.
Footnote 3.
Footnote 4.
Formula | Investment Base on Term Start Date x annual rate | |
Calculation | $50,000 x 0.75% = $375 |
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Footnote 5.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 - $375 - $0 = $49,625 |
Footnote 6.
Formula | (Index Value on Term End Date - Index Value on Term Start Date) / Index Value on Term Start Date | |
Calculation | (1005 - 1000) / 1000 = 0.50% |
Footnote 7.
When the Index has risen over the Term, we use the following formulas to calculate the increase for a Strategy with a Cap.
Formula | If the rise in Index is less than Cap, then rise in Index = increase percentage based on rise in Index | |
Calculation | 0.50% rise in Index < 10% cap, so increase percentage = 0.50% |
When the Index has risen over the Term, we use the following formulas to calculate the increase for a Strategy with a Participation Rate.
Formula | Rise in Index for Term x Upside Participation Rate for Term = Increase as a Percentage | |
Calculation | 0.50% x 75% = 0.375% |
Footnote 8
When the Index has risen over the Term, we use the following formula to calculate the increase.
Formula | Investment Base x increase percentage based on rise in Index = dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index | |
Calculation |
Strategy with a Cap: | $49,625 x 0.50% = $248 | |
Strategy with a Participation Rate: | $49,625 x 0.375% = $186 |
Footnote 9.
Formula | Investment Base on Term end date + dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index = Strategy value on Term end date | |
Calculation |
Strategy with a Cap: | $49,625 + $248 = $49,873 | |
Strategy with a Participation Rate: | $49,625 + $186 = $49,811 |
STATE VARIATIONS
This prospectus describes the material features of the Contract. Contracts issued in your state may provide different features and benefits from, and impose different costs than, those described in this prospectus because of state law variations. However, please note that the maximum charge is set forth in this prospectus. If you would like to review a copy of the Contract and any endorsements, contact us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423, visit our website at www.GAIGannuities.com or call us at
1-800-789-6771.
The following information is a summary of material state variations as of the date of this prospectus.
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General
For Contracts Issued in Illinois
References to “spouse” have been changed to “spouse or civil union partner.”
For Contracts Issued in New Jersey
References to “spouse” have been changed to “spouse or civil union partner.”
Availability of Strategies
For Contracts Issued in Michigan
We will not eliminate the Indexed Strategies set out on your Contract Specifications page at the end of any Term and such Indexed Strategies will be available for renewals and reallocations at the end of each Term.
Extended Care Waiver Rider
For Contracts Issued in California
The Waiver of Early Withdrawal Charges for Facility Care or Home Care or Community-Based Services Rider (CA Rider) provides a waiver under an expanded set of circumstances. The waiver will apply if, at the time of the withdrawal or surrender, or within the immediately preceding 90 days, the following conditions are met: (1) the insured is confined in a facility or is receiving, as prescribed by a physician, registered nurse or licensed social worker, home care or community-based services; (2) the insured’s confinement in a facility, the insured’s receipt of home care or community-based services, or any combination thereof has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days; and (3) the first day of such
90-day
period was at least one year after the contract effective date. Facility includes a skilled nursing facility, a convalescent nursing home, or an extended care facility or a residential care facility or a residential care facility for the elderly. Home care or community-based services includes home health care, adult day care, personal care, homemaker services, hospice services and respite care as defined in the rider. Additional conforming changes have been made including revised and new definitions, and inclusion of a description of circumstances under which the waiver does not apply. The termination provision has been modified to reflect that the rider will not terminate if you transfer or assign an interest in the contract to a person or entity other than the insured.For Contracts Issued in Connecticut
The conditions under which the waiver applies have been modified. The waiver will apply if at the time of a withdrawal or surrender or within the immediately preceding 90 days all of the following conditions are met: (1) an insured is confined in a long-term care facility or hospital; and (2) the confinement has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days.
For Contracts Issued in Kansas
The conditions under which the waiver applies have been modified. The first day of confinement must be at least 90 days after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date.
For Contracts Issued in Massachusetts
This waiver rider is not available in Massachusetts.
For Contracts Issued in Missouri
This waiver rider is not available in Missouri.
For Contracts Issued In Montana
The definition of medically necessary has been modified and refers to the Insured’s physician.
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For Contracts Issued in Nebraska
The definition of skilled nursing facility has been modified by adding a licensed practical nurse to the list of persons who may provide nursing services or supervise the provision of nursing services.
For Contracts Issued in New Hampshire
The definition of skilled nursing facility has been modified by changing the phrase “licensed and operated as a skilled nursing facility” to “operated as a skilled nursing facility.”
For Contracts Issued in Pennsylvania
The conditions under which the waiver is available have been modified. The waiver will apply if at the time of a withdrawal or surrender or within the immediately preceding 90 days all of the following conditions are met: (1) an insured is confined in one or more long-term care facilities, hospital, or a combination of such; (2) the confinement is prescribed by a physician and is medically necessary; (3) the first day of the confinement is at least one year after the contract effective date; and (4) the confinement has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days, or has continued for a total of at least 90 days if each successive confinement occurs within six months of the previous confinement and is for the same related medical cause.
The definition of long-term care facility has been modified. The following facilities have been deleted from the list of facilities excluded from that definition: a facility that primarily treats drug addicts and a facility that is a home for the mentally ill. An exclusion provision has been added to clarify that the waiver will not apply if the insured is confined in a long-term care facility or hospital for the treatment of certain types of drug addiction or mental illnesses.
The definition of hospital has been modified by changing the phrase “it maintains, or has access to, medical, diagnostic, and major surgical facilities” to “it maintains, or has access to, medical and diagnostic facilities.”
For Contracts Issued in Vermont
The definition of long-term care facility has been modified. The following facilities have been deleted from the list of excluded facilities: a facility that primarily treats drug addicts, a facility that primarily treats alcoholics, and a facility that is a home for the mentally ill. In addition, the definition of physician has been modified by changing the phrase “a person who is licensed in the United States as a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy and who is practicing within the scope of his or her license” to “a person who is licensed in the United States who is providing medical care and treatment when such services are provided within the scope of his or her license and provided pursuant to applicable law.”
For Contracts Issued in Washington
The waiver is based on confinement to an extended care facility or hospital rather than a long-term care facility or hospital. Definitions are modified to reflect the new terminology, references to “skilled nursing facility” are changed to “nursing facility” and the related definition is modified. In the definition of nursing facility and hospital, a licensed practical nurse is added to the list of persons who may provide nursing services or supervise the provision of nursing services.
Terminal Illness Waiver Rider
For Contracts Issued in Illinois
As a result of the terminal illness, your life expectancy must be 24 months from the date of death, rather than 12 months.
For Contracts Issued in Kansas
As a result of the terminal illness, your life expectancy must be 24 months from the date of death, rather than 12 months. The diagnosis must be rendered 90 days after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date.
For Contracts Issued in New Jersey
The requirement related to the timing of the diagnosis does not apply. But the waiver will not be available until at least one year after the contract effective date.
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For Contracts Issued in Massachusetts
This waiver rider is not available in Massachusetts.
For Contracts Issued in Pennsylvania
The diagnosis must be rendered after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date. But the waiver will not be available until at least one year after the contract effective date. In addition, the waiver is based on a terminal condition as defined in the rider, rather than a terminal illness.
For Contracts Issued in Texas
The diagnosis must be rendered on or after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date.
For Contracts Issued in Washington
As a result of the terminal illness, your life expectancy must be 24 months from the date of death, rather than 12 months.
Form of Annuity Payout Benefit
For Contracts Issued in Texas:
Payments under a Payout Option are subject to a $50 minimum.
Right to Cancel (Free Look)
State law governs the length of the free look period and the amount of the refund that you will receive. The period and amount may differ if you are replacing a life insurance policy or annuity contract. The table below summarizes the state law provisions.
For Contracts Issued in: | Free Look Period | Refund | Replacement Free Look Period | Replacement Refund | ||||
Alabama | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Alaska | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Arizona | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Arkansas | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value | ||||
California | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges Note refund amount is Purchase Payments. | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges Note refund amount is Purchase Payments. | ||||
Colorado | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Connecticut | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Delaware | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
District of Columbia | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value | ||||
Florida | 21 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Georgia | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Hawaii | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Idaho | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Illinois | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Indiana | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Iowa | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Kansas | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Kentucky | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Louisiana | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Maine | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Maryland | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Massachusetts | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Michigan | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges |
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For Contracts Issued in: | Free Look Period | Refund | Replacement Free Look Period | Replacement Refund | ||||
Minnesota | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Mississippi | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Missouri | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Montana | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Nebraska | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Nevada | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
New Hampshire | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
New Jersey | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
New Mexico | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
North Carolina | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
North Dakota | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Ohio | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Oklahoma | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Oregon | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Pennsylvania | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value | ||||
Rhode Island | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
South Carolina | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
South Dakota | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Tennessee | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Texas | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Utah | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Vermont | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Virginia | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Washington | 20 days | Greater of: (1) Purchase Payments or (2) Account Value minus taxes | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
West Virginia | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Wisconsin | 30 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Wyoming | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Greater of: (1) Purchase Payments or (2) Account Value + Fees/Charges |
Assignment
For Contracts Issued in Ohio:
Subject to the tax qualifications endorsement, if any, you may assign your rights to designate or change a Beneficiary or an Annuitant, to change Owners, or to elect a Payout Option if you make a specific Request in Good Order.
Amendment of the Contract
For Contracts Issued in Florida:
You have the right to reject an endorsement that changes the provisions of this Contract to obtain or retain the intended tax treatment under federal tax law, or to take into account other pertinent laws and governmental regulations and rulings. We will not be responsible for the tax or other consequences of your rejection.
For Contracts Issued in Texas:
You have the right to reject an endorsement that changes the provisions of this Contract to obtain or retain the intended tax treatment under federal tax law, or to take into account other pertinent laws and governmental regulations and rulings. We will not be responsible for the tax or other consequences of your rejection.
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Involuntary Termination
For Contracts Issued in Texas:
Our right to terminate this Contract is not tied to the minimum required value. We have the right to terminate this Contract if the Account Value would provide a benefit of less than $20 each month at age 70 under a life payout with payments for at least a fixed period of 10 years.
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SECTION II
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INFORMATION
Overview
Great American Life is a stock insurance company incorporated in 1961. We are domiciled in the state of Ohio and have been continuously engaged in the insurance business since that time. We are licensed to conduct life insurance business in all states of the United States except New York, as well as the District of Columbia. Our principal executive offices are located at 301 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”), a mutual life insurance company. MassMutual and its domestic life insurance subsidiaries provide individual and group life insurance, disability insurance, individual and group annuities and guaranteed interest contracts to individual and institutional customers in all 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Below is a chart that shows the relationships among MassMutual, Great American Life, and other MassMutual subsidiaries that are mentioned in this Section II of this prospectus. Each subsidiary in the chart is wholly-owned by its immediate parent.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”)
• | Glidepath Holdings Inc. (“Glidepath”) is a subsidiary of MassMutual. It is a financial services holding company. |
• | Great American Life Insurance Company |
• | Great American Advisors, Inc. (“GAA”) is a subsidiary of GALIC. It is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Index Summit Pro annuities. |
• | MM Asset Management Holding LLC is a subsidiary of MassMutual. It is a financial services holding company. |
• | Barings LLC (“Barings”) is a subsidiary of MM Asset Management Holding LLC. It provides investment services for MassMutual and certain of its affiliated companies, including GALIC. |
On May 28, 2021, American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”) sold its annuity business consisting of GALIC and its two insurance subsidiaries, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company and Manhattan National Life Insurance Company, as well as a broker-dealer affiliate, GAA, and insurance distributor, AAG Insurance Agency, Inc. to MassMutual.
No company other than GALIC has any legal responsibility to pay amounts owed under the Contract. You should look to the financial strength of GALIC for its claims-paying ability.
Directors and Executive Officers of Great American Life
Below is a list of the names and ages of the individuals who will serve as directors and executive officers of GALIC, and a description of the business experience of each of the respective individuals.
Name | Year of Birth | Position(s) with Great American Life | Served in Position(s) Since | |||||
Adrienne Baglier | 1963 | Executive Vice President – Operations | February 2019 | |||||
Dominic L. Blue | 1976 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Susan M. Cicco | 1971 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Geoffrey J. Craddock | 1959 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Roger W. Crandall | 1964 | Director, Chairman of the Board | 2021 | |||||
Michael R. Fanning | 1963 | Director, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | 2021 | |||||
Paul A. LaPiana | 1969 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Christopher P. Miliano | 1958 | Head of GALIC Finance Treasurer | December 2021 May 2002 | |||||
Mark F. Muething | 1959 | Director President & Assistant Secretary | October 1993 April 2018 April 2012 |
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Name | Year of Birth | Position(s) with Great American Life | Served in Position(s) Since | |||||
Michael J. O’Connor | 1969 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Eric W. Partlan | 1973 | Director, Chief Investment Officer | 2021 | |||||
Gareth F. Ross | 1975 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Arthur W. Wallace | 1974 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Elizabeth A. Ward | 1964 | Director | 2021 |
Adrienne Baglier
Ms. Baglier has served as GALIC’s Executive Vice President – Operations since February 2019. Ms. Baglier has served in various positions with GALIC since December 1997.
Dominic L. Blue
Mr. Blue has served as the Head of MassMutual Strategic Distributors since October 2020. Mr. Blue has served in various positions with MassMutual since August 2011.
Susan M. Cicco
Ms. Cicco has served as the Head of Human Resources & Employee Experience since January 2017 and also has served since July 2020 as the Chief of Staff to the CEO. Ms. Cicco has served in various positions with MassMutual since 1993.
Geoffrey J. Craddock
Mr. Craddock has served as the Chief Risk Officer of MassMutual since October 2017. Previously, Mr. Craddock served as the leader of risk management and asset allocation at MassMutual’s former subsidiary, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., from 2008 through September 2017.
Roger W. Crandall
Mr. Crandall has served as Chairman of the Board of GALIC since May 28, 2021. Mr. Crandall has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of MassMutual since December 2010. Mr. Crandall has served in various positions with MassMutual since 1988.
Michael R. Fanning
Mr. Fanning has served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of GALIC since May 28, 2021. Mr. Fanning has served as Head of MassMutual U.S. (formerly USIG) since January 2009. He is responsible for MassMutual’s insurance products and services. Mr. Fanning joined MassMutual in November 2006 and previously served as Chief Operating Officer of USIG.
Paul A. LaPiana
Mr. LaPiana has served as Head of MMUS Product since February of 2019. Mr. LaPiana joined MassMutual in July of 2016 and served as the Head of Field Management until he assumed his current role.
Christopher P. Miliano
Mr. Miliano has served as Head of GALIC Finance since December 2021. Mr. Miliano has served as Treasurer since May 2010.
Mark F. Muething
Mr. Muething has served as President of GALIC since April 2018. Mr. Muething served in various positions with GALIC since October 1993.
Michael J. O’Connor
Mr. O’Connor has served as the General Counsel of MassMutual since February 2017. Mr. O’Connor has served in various positions with MassMutual since he joined the company in 2005, including as the Chief of Staff to the CEO.
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Eric W. Partlan
Mr. Partlan has served as GALIC’s Chief Investment Officer since May 28, 2021. Mr. Partlan has served as the Head of Portfolio Management at MassMutual since January 2013. He joined MassMutual in January of 2010 as the Head of Investment Risk and served in that office until he assumed his current role.
Gareth F. Ross
Mr. Ross has served as the Head of Enterprise Technology & Experience since April 2016. Mr. Ross has served in various positions with MassMutual since 2008.
Arthur W. Wallace
Mr. Wallace has served as MassMutual’s Chief Actuary since he joined MassMutual in October of 2019. Previously, Mr. Wallace was Chief Actuary at Prudential Financial from November 2014 until joining MassMutual.
Elizabeth A. Ward
Ms. Ward has served as the Chief Financial Officer of MassMutual since June 2016. Ms. Ward has served in various positions since joining MassMutual in 2007, including as Chief Actuary and as Chief Enterprise Risk Officer.
Executive Compensation
GALIC does not have any employees. Its parent, Glidepath, provides personnel to GALIC pursuant to a Services Agreement between GALIC and Glidepath.
As a result, GALIC does not determine or pay any compensation to its executive officers or additional personnel provided by Glidepath. Glidepath determines and pays salaries, bonuses and other compensation to its executive officers and additional personnel provided by Glidepath commensurate with their positions, tenure and levels of responsibility. Glidepath also determines whether and to what extent it will provide employee benefits plans to such persons.
See “Transactions with Related Persons” for more information about the Services Agreement.
Director Compensation
Mark Muething is the only director who is an employee of Glidepath. No director receives any additional compensation for serving as a director.
Director Independence
No director is considered independent under independence standards applicable to GALIC. GALIC does not have a separately designated audit, nominating or compensation committee, but MassMutual’s audit committee performs a similar function for GALIC.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
GALIC does not have a compensation committee.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
MassMutual indirectly owns 100% of the voting securities of GALIC. MassMutual’s principal executive offices are located at 1295 State Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01111-0001.
Transactions with Related Persons
Transactions between GALIC and Glidepath
Pursuant to a Leased Employee Agreement between GALIC and Glidepath, Glidepath furnishes GALIC with personnel as requested by GALIC. GALIC pays for these services on the basis of cost, which must be fair and reasonable. Payments for these services by GALIC to Glidepath were approximately $80 million in 2021.
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Transactions between GALIC and MassMutual or Other MassMutual Subsidiaries
GALIC and Barings are parties to an Investment Services Agreement under which Barings provides investment services to GALIC in accordance with guidelines. GALIC pays Barings a fee based on Barings’s cost of providing these services.
Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement between GALIC and MassMutual, MassMutual furnishes GALIC with office, data processing, telecommunications, and administrative and support services, including enterprise risk management services, corporate finance services, actuarial services, legal services, internal audit services, corporate compliance services and procurement services, as agreed upon by the parties. Payments for these services by GALIC to MassMutual were approximately $3.3 million in 2021.
GALIC is a member of MassMutual’s consolidated tax group. GALIC has a tax allocation agreement with MassMutual which designates how tax payments are shared by members of the tax group. In general, both companies compute taxes on a separate return basis. GALIC is obligated to make payments to (or receive benefits from) MassMutual based on taxable income without regard to temporary differences.
Transactions Involving Immediate Family Members of GALIC’s Directors and Executive Officers
A brother of GALIC’s President is a partner and Chairman of the Board of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL. MassMutual and its subsidiaries paid Keating Muething & Klekamp approximately $1.2 million in 2020, $1.2 million in 2019, and $1.1 million in 2018 for legal services.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
GALIC’s senior management approves all related party transactions involving directors and executive officers of GALIC, including relevant transactions described in “Transactions Involving Immediate Family Members of GALIC’s Directors and Executive Officers” above. In considering the transaction, GALIC’s senior management may consider all relevant factors, including as applicable: the business rationale for entering into the transaction; the alternatives to entering into a related person transaction; whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those available to third parties, or in the case of employment relationships, to employees generally; the potential for the transaction to lead to an actual or apparent conflict of interest and any safeguards imposed to prevent such actual or apparent conflicts; and the overall fairness of the transaction to GALIC. Potential related party transactions are covered by GALIC’s Code of Conduct policy. Approval of such related person transactions would be evidenced by resolutions of the MassMutual Audit committee in accordance with its practice of reviewing and approving transactions in this manner.
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Information on GALIC’s Business and Property
NOTE: In this section of this prospectus, GALIC means Great American Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.
ANNUITY SEGMENT
General
On May 28, 2021 American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”) sold its annuity subsidiaries to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”).
GALIC’s annuity business is focused on the sale of fixed and indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions, broker-dealer and registered investment advisor markets through independent producers and through direct relationships with certain financial institutions. The Company has a long history in the annuities industry, long-term agent relationships and a reputation for simple, consumer-friendly products. Disciplined product management and operations have enabled GALIC to maintain a consistent crediting rate strategy and
low-cost
structure. GALIC’s annuity products are designed to be simple and easy to understand. Lower upfront commissions and bonuses as compared to many competitors allow the Company to pay higher annual crediting rates. In the current low interest rate environment, management is focused on earning the appropriate returns on GALIC’s products rather than growing premiums. The annuity operations had approximately 600 employees at December 31, 2020.GALIC’s annuity operations are conducted primarily through the companies listed in the following table, which includes 2020 statutory annuity premiums (in millions), annuity policies in force and independent ratings.
Annuity | ||||||||||||
Annuity | Policies | Ratings | ||||||||||
Company | Premiums | In Force | AM Best | S&P | ||||||||
Great American Life Insurance Company | $ | 3,474 | 371,000 | A+ | A+ | |||||||
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company | 121 | 102,000 | A+ | A+ |
GALIC believes that the ratings assigned by independent insurance rating agencies are an important competitive factor because agents, potential policyholders and financial institutions often use a company’s rating as an initial screening device in considering annuity products. GALIC believes that a rating in the “A” category by at least one rating agency is necessary to successfully compete in its primary annuity markets. In the fourth quarter of 2020, AM Best upgraded the ratings of GALIC and AILIC from A (Excellent) to A+ (Superior), its second highest rating.
In February 2020, GALIC entered into a flow reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company (“Commonwealth”), a subsidiary of Global Atlantic Financial Group, Limited. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC cedes certain newly issued traditional fixed and indexed annuities on a quota share coinsurance basis with such quota share percentages being up to 50%. That agreement was effective for policies issued after May 6, 2020. Under accounting guidance, the reinsurance transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method.
In October 2020, GALIC entered into a block reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded approximately $5.96 billion of in force traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred related investments to Commonwealth. GALIC realized pretax gains of $369 million (net of deferred policy acquisition costs) from the transfer of securities in this transaction. The reinsurance transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method and the $180 million loss on the transaction will be deferred and recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts
(7-10
years). Under both the flow and block reinsurance agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of amounts owed to GALIC.81
Due to the deposit-type nature of annuities, annuity premiums received and benefit payments are recorded as increases or decreases in the annuity benefits accumulated liability rather than as revenue and expense under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Statutory premiums of GALIC’s annuity operations for the last three years were as follows (in millions):
Statutory Premiums | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — indexed | $ | 1,372 | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,776 | ||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — fixed | 896 | 1,229 | 492 | |||||||||
Retail single premium annuities — indexed | 591 | 943 | 1,418 | |||||||||
Retail single premium annuities — fixed | 99 | 120 | 87 | |||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — indexed | 457 | 657 | 1,271 | |||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — fixed | 27 | 32 | 14 | |||||||||
Pension risk transfer | 499 | 257 | 132 | |||||||||
Education market — fixed and indexed annuities | 129 | 164 | 192 | |||||||||
Total fixed annuity premiums | 4,070 | 4,939 | 5,382 | |||||||||
Variable annuities | 17 | 21 | 25 | |||||||||
Total gross annuity premiums | 4,087 | 4,960 | 5,407 | |||||||||
Ceded premiums | (492 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Total net annuity premiums | $ | 3,595 | $ | 4,960 | $ | 5,407 | ||||||
Annuities are long-term retirement saving instruments that benefit from income accruing on a
tax-deferred
basis. The issuer of the annuity collects premiums, credits interest or earnings on the policy and pays out a benefit upon death, surrender or annuitization. Single premium annuities are generally issued in exchange for aone-time,
lump-sum
premium payment. Certain annuities, primarily in the education market, have premium payments that are flexible in both amount and timing as determined by the policyholder and are generally made through payroll deductions.Annuity contracts are generally classified as either fixed rate (including indexed) or variable. With a traditional fixed rate annuity, GALIC seeks to maintain a desired spread between the yield on its investment portfolio and the rate it credits to policyholders. GALIC accomplishes this by: (i) offering crediting rates that it has the option to change after any initial guarantee period (subject to minimum interest rate and other contractual guarantees); (ii) designing annuity products that encourage persistency; and (iii) maintaining an appropriate matching of the duration of assets and liabilities.
An indexed annuity provides policyholders with the opportunity to receive a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market or other financial index (generally the S&P 500) or other external rate, price, or unit value (an “index”). A fixed-indexed annuity (“FIA”) protects against the related downside risk through a guarantee of principal (excluding surrender charges, market value adjustments, and certain benefit charges). In 2018, GALIC began offering registered index-linked annuities, which are similar to fixed-indexed annuities except that the product offers greater upside participation in the selected index as compared to a fixed-indexed annuity and replaces the guarantee of principal in a fixed-indexed annuity with a guaranteed maximum loss. GALIC purchases and sells call and put options designed to substantially offset the effect of the index participation in the liabilities associated with indexed annuities.
As an accommodation in its education market, GALIC offers a limited amount of variable annuities. With a variable annuity, the earnings credited to the policy vary based on the investment results of the underlying investment options chosen by the policyholder, generally without any guarantee of principal except in the case of death of the insured. Premiums directed to the underlying investment options maintained in separate accounts are invested in funds managed by various independent investment managers. GALIC earns a fee on amounts deposited into separate accounts. Subject to contractual provisions, policyholders may also choose to direct all or a portion of their premiums to various fixed-rate options, in which case GALIC earns a spread on amounts deposited.
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The following table shows the earnings before income taxes for the annuity segment both before and after the impact of unlocking, changes in the fair value of derivatives and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on annuity segment results (in millions):
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Annuity earnings before income taxes — before the impact of unlocking, derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of stock market performance and interest rates on FIAs | $ | 358 | $ | 410 | $ | 411 | ||||||
Reinsurance | (47 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Unlocking | (46 | ) | (1 | ) | (31 | ) | ||||||
Impact of derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on FIAs over or under option costs (a): | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to FIAs | (279 | ) | (294 | ) | (51 | ) | ||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | (404 | ) | (408 | ) | (347 | ) | ||||||
Other annuity benefits | (60 | ) | (14 | ) | (83 | ) | ||||||
Less cost of equity options | 562 | 586 | 506 | |||||||||
Related impact on the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (b) | 86 | 84 | (42 | ) | ||||||||
Annuity segment earnings before income taxes | $ | 170 | $ | 363 | $ | 363 | ||||||
(a) | FIAs provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market or other financial index. GALIC attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase and sale of call and put options on the appropriate index. GALIC’s strategy is designed so that the net change in the fair value of the call option assets and put option liabilities will generally offset the economic change in the net liability from the index participation. Both the index-based component of the annuities (an embedded derivative with a fair value of $3.93 billion at December 31, 2020) and the related call and put options (net fair value of $820 million at December 31, 2020) are considered derivatives that must be adjusted for changes in fair value through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. Fluctuations in certain of these factors, such as changes in interest rates and the performance of the stock market, are not economic in nature for the current reporting period, but rather impact the timing of reported results. |
(b) | An estimate of the related acceleration/deceleration of the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements. |
Marketing
GALIC sells its single premium annuities, excluding financial institution production (discussed below), primarily through a retail network of approximately 50 national marketing organizations (“NMOs”) and managing general agents (“MGAs”) who, in turn, direct approximately 500 actively producing agents.
GALIC also sells single premium annuities in financial institutions through direct relationships with certain financial institutions and through independent agents and brokers. The table below highlights the percentage of GALIC’s total annuity premiums generated through its top five financial institution relationships (ranked based on 2020 statutory premiums):
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Wells Fargo & Company | 11.9 | % | 12.0 | % | 7.4 | % | ||||||
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 9.0 | % | 8.8 | % | 6.6 | % | ||||||
Regions Financial Corporation | 7.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 4.8 | % | ||||||
LPL Financial | 4.4 | % | 4.4 | % | 4.8 | % | ||||||
BB&T Corporation | 3.5 | % | 5.1 | % | 3.7 | % |
Competition
GALIC’s annuity businesses operate in highly competitive markets. They compete with other insurers and financial institutions based on many factors, including: (i) ratings; (ii) financial strength; (iii) reputation; (iv) service to policyholders and agents; (v) product design (including interest rates credited, bonus features and index participation); and (vi) commissions. Since most policies are marketed and distributed through independent agents, the insurance companies must also compete for agents.
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No single insurer dominates the markets in which GALIC’s annuity businesses compete. SeeGALIC’s competitors include (i) individual insurers and insurance groups, (ii) mutual funds and (iii) other financial institutions. In a broader sense, GALIC’s annuity businesses compete for retirement savings with a variety of financial institutions offering a full range of financial services. In the financial institution annuity market, GALIC’s annuities compete directly against competitors’ annuities, certificates of deposit and other investment alternatives at the point of sale. In addition, over the last few years, several offshore and/or hedge fund companies have made significant acquisitions of annuity businesses, resulting in annuity groups that are larger in size than GALIC’s annuity business.
Risks Primarily Related to GALIC’s Financial Strength and Claims-Paying Ability.
Sales of annuities, including renewal premiums, are affected by many factors, including: (i) competitive annuity products and rates; (ii) the general level and volatility of interest rates, including the slope of the yield curve; (iii) the favorable tax treatment of annuities; (iv) commissions paid to agents; (v) services offered; (vi) ratings from independent insurance rating agencies; (vii) other alternative investments; (viii) performance and volatility of the equity markets; (ix) media coverage of annuities; (x) regulatory developments regarding suitability and the sales process; and (xi) general economic conditions.
Run-off
Life SegmentAlthough GALIC no longer actively markets new life insurance products, it continues to service and receive renewal premiums on its
in-force
block of approximately 80,000 policies and $8.33 billion gross ($2.91 billion net of reinsurance) of life insurance in force at December 31, 2020. Renewal premiums, net of reinsurance, were $20 million in 2020, $22 million in 2019 and $21 million in 2018. At December 31, 2020, GALIC’s life insurance reserves were $282 million, net of reinsurance recoverables.Investment Portfolio
General
GALIC’s team of investment professionals have followed a consistent strategy over many years and changing economic conditions. Management believes that investment expertise has been the driver of consistently strong investment results and effective portfolio risk management over many years.
For additional information of GALIC’s investments, see“to the financial statements and“”
Note
E
—
Investments”
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
—
Investments.
GALIC’s bond portfolio is invested primarily in taxable bonds. The following table shows GALIC’s available for sale fixed maturity investments by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or comparable rating as of December 31, 2020 (dollars in millions).
Amortized | Fair Value | |||||||||||
Cost | Amount | % | ||||||||||
S&P or comparable rating | ||||||||||||
AAA, AA, A | $ | 17,102 | $ | 18,298 | 54 | % | ||||||
BBB | 10,850 | 12,018 | 35 | % | ||||||||
Total investment grade | 27,952 | 30,316 | 89 | % | ||||||||
BB | 756 | 772 | 2 | % | ||||||||
B | 202 | 200 | 1 | % | ||||||||
CCC, CC, C | 314 | 358 | 1 | % | ||||||||
D | 109 | 128 | — | % | ||||||||
Total non-investment grade | 1,381 | 1,458 | 4 | % | ||||||||
Not rated | 2,237 | 2,349 | 7 | % | ||||||||
Total | $ | 31,570 | $ | 34,123 | 100 | % | ||||||
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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has retained third-party investment management firms to assist in the determination of appropriate NAIC designations for mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) based not only on the probability of loss (which is the primary basis of ratings by the major ratings firms), but also on the severity of loss and statutory carrying value. Approximately 8% of GALIC’s fixed maturity investments are MBS. At December 31, 2020, 97% (based on statutory carrying value of $31.56 billion) of GALIC’s fixed maturity investments had an NAIC designation of 1 or 2 (the highest of the six designations).
Regulation
GALIC is subject to regulation in the jurisdictions where GALIC does business. In general, the insurance laws of the various states establish regulatory agencies with broad administrative powers governing, among other things, premium rates, solvency standards, licensing of insurers, agents and brokers, trade practices, forms of policies, maintenance of specified reserves and capital for the protection of policyholders, deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders, investment activities and relationships between insurance subsidiaries and their parents and affiliates. Material transactions between insurance subsidiaries and their parents and affiliates generally must receive prior approval of the applicable insurance regulatory authorities and be disclosed. In addition, while differing from state to state, these regulations typically restrict the maximum amount of dividends that may be paid by an insurer to its shareholders in any twelve-month period without advance regulatory approval. Such limitations are generally based on net earnings or statutory surplus. Under applicable restrictions, the maximum amount of dividends payable in 2021 by GALIC to its parent without seeking regulatory approval is $290 million. The maximum amount of dividends receivable from GALIC’s insurance subsidiaries in 2021 without seeking regulatory approval is $34 million.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), among other things, established a Federal Insurance Office (“FIO”) within the U.S. Treasury. Under this law, regulations will need to be created for the FIO to carry out its mandate to focus on systemic risk oversight. Since its formation, the FIO has worked with the NAIC and other stakeholders to explore a hybrid approach to regulation of the insurance industry; however, the state-based system of regulation has largely been retained. GALIC cannot predict the future role of the FIO and its role in regulation of the insurance industry and how that might ultimately affect GALIC’s operations.
Most states have created insurance guaranty associations that assess solvent insurers to pay claims of insurance companies that become insolvent. Annual guaranty assessments for GALIC has not been material.
Properties
GALIC leases the majority of its office and storage facilities from American Financial Group (“AFG”).
Risks Primarily Related to GALIC’s Financial Strength and Claims-Paying Ability
We make annuity payout benefits payments and pay death benefits for this Contract from our general account. We also pay benefits for other insurance contracts from our general account, and our general account is subject to claims by our creditors. Our ability to make payments from our general account is subject to our financial strength. Set out below are the most significant factors that may negatively impact our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
Financial losses could adversely affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
Owners of GALIC’s insurance products do not share in the profits and losses generated by our business. However, if we were to experience significant losses, we might not have sufficient assets in our general account to satisfy all of the guarantees provided in our insurance contracts. Events that may result in financial losses are listed below. We cannot predict the impact that any of these events may ultimately have on our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
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Adverse developments in financial markets and deterioration in global economic conditions
.Worldwide financial markets have, from time to time, experienced significant and unpredictable disruption. For example, a prolonged economic downturn may result in heightened credit risk, reduction in the valuation of certain investments and decreased economic activity. Our financial position is materially impacted by the global economy and capital markets. During an economic downturn, we could experience a drop in the demand for our insurance products. In addition, surrenders and withdrawals from GALIC’s insurance products might also increase during an economic downturn, and owners of GALIC’s insurance products might opt to discontinue or delay paying insurance premiums or additional purchase payments.
Unfavorable interest rate environments
.During periods of declining interest rates, we may experience losses as the spread tightens between crediting rates that we pay to owners of our insurance contracts and returns on our investments. During periods of increasing rates, we may experience financial losses due to increases in surrenders and withdrawals under our insurance contracts as owners of those contracts choose to seek higher returns.
Losses on our investment portfolio
.A significant majority of GALIC’s investment portfolio consists of fixed maturity investments, which are subject to both interest rate risk and credit risk. Interest rate risk refers to how the values of our fixed maturity investments fluctuate in response to changes in market interest rates. Increases in market interest rates generally result in decreases in the value of our fixed maturity investment portfolio. On the other hand, decreases in rates generally result in increases in the portfolio value. Credit risk refers to the risk that certain investments may default or become impaired due to deterioration in the financial condition of the issuers of those investments.
A portion of GALIC’s investment portfolio consists of equity investments that are generally valued based on quoted market prices and subject to market risk. Market risk refers to how market prices for equity investments are subject to fluctuation due to general market conditions or changes in the actual or perceived attractiveness of an investment. A decrease in the market price for an equity investment could result in losses upon the sale of that investment.
GALIC’s investment portfolio also includes investments that lack liquidity, such as privately placed fixed maturity investments, mortgage loans, collateralized debt obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, real estate and limited partnership interests. If we were required to sell illiquid investments on short notice, we might have difficulty doing so and may be forced to sell them for less than fair value.
Loss of market share due to intense competition
.There is strong competition among individual insurers and insurance groups, mutual funds and other financial institutions seeking clients for the products we provide. Competition is based on numerous factors including the ability to recruit and retain distribution, reputation, product design, crediting rates, insurance product performance, scope of distribution, perceived financial strength and credit ratings. If competition limits GALIC’s ability to write new or renewal business at adequate rates, its results of operations will be adversely affected.
Ineffectiveness of risk management policies
.Our risk management policies and procedures, which are intended to identify, monitor and manage economic risks, may not be fully effective at mitigating risk exposures in all market conditions or against all types of risk. For instance, we use derivatives to alleviate risks related to floating-rate investments as well as annuity products that credit interest or provide a return based, in part, on the change in a referenced index. Our use of derivatives may not accurately counterbalance the actual risk exposure, and any derivatives held may not be sufficient to completely hedge the associated risks. In addition, counterparties may fail to perform under the derivative financial instruments. We may also decide not to hedge, or fail to identify, certain risks to which we are exposed. Ultimately, our use of derivatives and other risk management strategies may be inadequate to protect against the full extent of the exposure or losses we seek to mitigate.
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Changes in applicable law and regulations may affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision by government agencies in all the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our operations, products and services are subject to a variety of state and federal laws. We are regulated by various regulatory authorities and self-regulatory authorities including state insurance departments, state securities administrators, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor.
Changes to state and federal laws and regulations may materially impact the way we conduct business. Moreover, the pace of changes to the regulatory environment continues to increase. Federal and state governments, including federal and state regulatory authorities, are active in the regulation of the manufacture, sale and administration of annuity products. We cannot predict the potential effects that any new laws or regulations, changes in existing laws and regulations, or the interpretation or enforcement of laws and regulations may have on our business, but such changes may negatively impact our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
The inability to obtain or collect on reinsurance could adversely affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
We use reinsurance for various business segments as part of our risk management strategy. While reinsurance agreements typically bind the reinsurer for the life of the business reinsured at specific pricing, market conditions may determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance for new business. Our risk of loss increases if we are unable to purchase reinsurance at acceptable terms. We are also subject to credit risk related to the ability of a reinsurer to meet its obligations. If we are unable to purchase reinsurance at acceptable terms or if the financial condition of our reinsurers is impaired, it may impact our ability to meet our financial obligations.
A downgrade or potential downgrade in GALIC’s financial strength ratings by one or more rating agencies could adversely affect its financial strength and claims-paying ability.
GALIC’s claims-paying and financial strength is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, A+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa3 by Moody’s. We believe a rating in the “A” category by at least one rating agency is important for us to successfully compete in our primary annuity markets. We also believe the ratings assigned by these independent insurance rating agencies are an important competitive factor because agents, potential contract owners and financial institutions often use a company’s rating as an initial screening device in considering annuity products. A downgrade in GALIC’s claims-paying and financial strength ratings could adversely impact GALIC’s financial strength and claims-paying ability by causing financial losses to our business. Such losses may be due to:
• | Reduction in new sales of annuity products; |
• | Harm to our relationships with distributors of our annuity products; |
• | Increases to the cost of capital or limitation on our access to sources of capital; |
• | Harm to our ability to obtain reinsurance or reasonable terms for reinsurance; |
• | Significant increases in the number and amount of surrenders of, or withdrawals from, our annuity products; and |
• | Pressure to increase the crediting rates for our annuity products. |
Variations from actual experience and management’s estimates and assumptions could result in inadequate reserves.
We establish and maintain reserves to pay future benefits and claims of our policyholders and contract holders. The reserves we established are estimates, primarily based on actuarial assumptions with regard to our future experience, which involve the exercise of significant judgment. Our future financial results depend on the extent to which our actual future experience is consistent with the assumptions we have used in pricing our products and determining our reserves. Many factors can affect future experience, including investment yields (and spreads over fixed annuity crediting rates), benefit utilization rates, equity market performance, the cost of call and put options used in the indexed annuity business, persistency, mortality, surrenders, annuity benefit payments, withdrawals, expenses incurred and changes in regulations. Developing such assumptions is complex and involves information obtained from company-specific and industry-wide data, as well as general economic information. We cannot precisely predict the ultimate amounts we will pay for actual benefits or the timing of those payments. We use actuarial models to assist us in establishing reserves. If actual results differ significantly from our estimates and assumptions, our claim costs could increase significantly and our reserves could be inadequate. If so, we will be required to increase reserves or accelerate amortization of deferred acquisition costs. We cannot be certain that our reserves will ultimately be sufficient to pay future benefit and claims of policyholders and contract holders.
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The amount of capital that we must hold to meet our statutory capital requirements can vary significantly from time to time.
Statutory capital requirements are set by applicable state insurance regulators and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. State insurance regulators have established regulations that govern reserving requirements and provide minimum capitalization requirements based on risk-based capital (“RBC”) ratios for life insurance companies. Statutory surplus and RBC ratios may change in a given year based on a number of factors, including statutory income or losses, reserve changes, excess capital held to support growth, changes in equity market levels, interest rate changes, the value of certain fixed-income and equity securities, and changes to the RBC formulas. Additionally, state insurance regulators have significant leeway in interpreting existing regulations, which could further impact the amount of statutory capital or reserves that we must maintain. There is no guarantee that we will be able to maintain our current RBC ratio in the future or that our RBC ratio will not fall to a level that could have a material adverse effect on our business. If we are unable to maintain minimum capitalization requirements, our business may be subject to significant increases in supervision or control by state insurance regulators.
Legal actions and regulatory proceedings may adversely affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
We have been named as defendant in lawsuits. We have also been involved in regulatory investigations and examinations. We may be involved in lawsuits and regulatory actions in the future. Lawsuits and regulatory actions arise in various contexts, including GALIC’s roles as an insurer, investor, securities issuer and taxpaying entity. These actions may result in material amounts of damages or fines that we must pay and may involve certain regulatory authorities that have substantial power over our business operations. A negative outcome in any legal action or regulatory proceeding that results in significant financial losses or operational burdens may adversely impact GALIC’s financial position and claims-paying ability.
We may experience difficulties with technology or data security, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
We use computer systems and services to store, retrieve, evaluate and utilize company and customer data and information. Systems failures or outages could compromise our ability to perform business functions in a timely manner, which could harm our ability to conduct business and hurt our relationships with business partners and customers. In the event of a disaster such as a natural catastrophe, an industrial accident, a blackout, a malicious software attack, a terrorist attack or war, our systems may be inaccessible to employees, customers or business partners for an extended period of time. Even if our employees are able to report to work, they may be unable to perform their duties for an extended period of time if our data or systems are disabled or destroyed.
Our computer systems are subject to cyber-attacks, viruses, malware, hackers and other external hazards, as well as inadvertent errors, equipment and system failures and to unauthorized or illegitimate actions by employees, consultants, agents and other persons with legitimate access to our systems. In addition, over time, the sophistication of these threats continues to increase. Our administrative and technical controls as well as other preventative actions used to reduce the risk of cyber incidents and protect our information may be insufficient to detect or prevent future unauthorized access, other physical and electronic
break-ins,
cyber-attacks or other security breaches to our computer systems or those of third parties with whom we transact business.We have increasingly outsourced certain technology and business process functions to third parties and may continue to do so in the future. Outsourcing of certain technology and business process functions to third parties may expose us to increased risk related to data security or service disruptions. If we do not effectively develop, implement and monitor these relationships, third-party providers do not perform as anticipated, technological or other problems are incurred with a transition, or outsourcing relationships relevant to our business process functions are terminated, we may not realize expected productivity improvements or cost efficiencies and may experience operational difficulties, increased costs and a loss of business.
The increased risks identified above could expose us to data loss, disruption of service, monetary and reputational damages, competitive disadvantage and significant increases in compliance costs, and costs to improve the security and resiliency of our computer systems. The compromise of personal, confidential or proprietary information could also subject us to legal liability or regulatory action under evolving cyber-security, data protection and privacy laws and regulations enacted by the U.S. federal and state governments, or by various regulatory organizations. As a result, our ability to conduct business and our results of operations might be materially and adversely affected.
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Any failure to protect the confidentiality of customer information could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We are subject to privacy regulations and confidentiality obligations, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and state privacy laws and regulations, that restrict the use and dissemination of, and access to, the information we produce, store or maintain in the course of our business. We also have contractual obligations to protect certain confidential information received through various business relationships. The obligations generally include protecting such information in the same manner and to the same extent as we protect our own confidential information, and, in some instances, may impose indemnity obligations on us relating to unlawful or unauthorized disclosure of any such information.
If we do not properly comply with privacy regulations or fail to protect confidential information, we could experience adverse consequences, including reputational damage, possible litigation, and regulatory sanctions, such as penalties, fines and loss of license. This could have adverse impact on our image or customer relationships and, consequently, result in loss of business partners, lower sales, lapses of existing business or increased expenses. While we may maintain insurance to mitigate or offset these risks, we cannot be certain that any such insurance coverage would be sufficient in amount or scope to fully address any resulting losses or liability.
Failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems could adversely affect our business.
Our various lines of business depend greatly on the use of effective information systems. Maintaining and updating current information systems and the development of new systems to match emerging technology, regulatory standards and customer expectations requires a substantial commitment of resources. We must maintain adequate information systems in order to perform necessary business functions, including processing premium and purchase payments, administering our products, providing customer support and paying claims. We also use systems for investment management, financial reporting and data analysis to support our reserves and other actuarial estimates. Any interruptions may reduce our revenues or increase our expenses, and may adversely impact our reputation, business partnerships and customer relationships. In addition, system interruptions may impair our ability to timely and accurately complete our financial reporting and other regulatory obligations, and may impact the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.
The occurrence of catastrophic events, pandemics, terrorism or military actions could adversely affect our business operations.
The occurrence of natural or
man-made
disasters and catastrophes, including pandemics such as the recent outbreak of the coronavirus commonly referred to as“COVID-19”,
acts of terrorism, floods, earthquakes, industrial accident, blackout, cyber-attack, malicious software, insider threat, insurrections and military actions, unanticipated problems with our business continuity plans and disaster recovery systems, or a support failure from a third party vendor, could adversely affect our business operations and business results. In addition to impacting our normal business operations, such disasters and catastrophes may impact us indirectly by changing the condition and behavior of our customers, business counterparties and regulators, as well as by causing declines or volatility in the economic and financial markets. We maintain business continuity plans for our operations, but we cannot predict with certainty when normal operations would resume if such an event occurred.89
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Forward-Looking Statements
The disclosures in this
Form S-1
contain certain forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks or uncertainties. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “projects”, “estimates”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “could”, “may”, “should”, “will” or the negative version of those words or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: expectations concerning market and other conditions and their effect on future premiums, revenues, earnings and investment activities; recoverability of asset values; and rate changes.Actual results and/or financial condition could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons including but not limited to the following and those discussed in Risk Factors.
• | changes in financial, political and economic conditions, including changes in interest and inflation rates, currency fluctuations and extended economic recessions or expansions in the U.S. and/or abroad; |
• | performance of securities markets, including the cost of equity index options; |
• | new legislation or declines in credit quality or credit ratings that could have a material impact on the valuation of securities in GALIC’s investment portfolio; |
• | the availability of capital; |
• | regulatory actions (including changes in statutory accounting rules); |
• | changes in the legal environment affecting GALIC or its customers; |
• | tax law and accounting changes, including the impact of recent changes in U.S. corporate tax law; |
• | terrorist activities (including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events), incidents of war or losses resulting from civil unrest and other major losses; |
• | disruption caused by cyber-attacks or other technology breaches or failures by GALIC or its business partners and service providers, which could negatively impact GALIC’s business and/or expose GALIC to litigation; |
• | availability of reinsurance and ability of reinsurers to pay their obligations; |
• | trends in persistency and mortality; |
• | competitive pressures; |
• | the ability to obtain adequate rates and policy terms; and |
• | changes in GALIC’s financial strength ratings assigned by major ratings agencies. |
The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date of this report. GALIC assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
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Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth certain data for the periods indicated (in millions).
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings Statement Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,271 | $ | 2,208 | $ | 2,081 | $ | 1,691 | $ | 1,598 | $ | 1,499 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 417 | (22 | ) | 529 | 497 | 256 | 381 | 367 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 310 | (14 | ) | $ | 422 | $ | 395 | $ | 209 | $ | 276 | $ | 240 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholder | $ | 310 | $ | (12 | ) | $ | 423 | $ | 393 | $ | 207 | $ | 236 | $ | 205 | |||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 | December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and investments | $ | 40,519 | $ | 38,907 | $ | 42,028 | $ | 37,356 | $ | 34,500 | $ | 30,976 | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 50,134 | 48,571 | 45,893 | 40,801 | 38,120 | 34,362 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | 44,376 | 42,573 | 40,406 | 36,616 | 33,316 | 29,907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | 592 | 610 | 612 | 635 | 658 | 691 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholder’s equity | 3,738 | 3,948 | 3,433 | 2,492 | 2,761 | 2,509 |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
INDEX TO MD&A
Page | ||||
General | 97 | |||
Overview | 97 | |||
Critical Accounting Policies | 98 | |||
Liquidity and Capital Resources | 98 | |||
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows | 99 | |||
Liquidity | 100 |
Page | ||||
Contractual Obligations | 101 | |||
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements | 102 | |||
Investments | 102 | |||
Uncertainties | 106 | |||
Results of Operations | 106 | |||
Accounting Standards to be Adopted | 115 |
GENERAL
Following is a discussion and analysis of the financial statements and other statistical data that management believes will enhance the understanding of Great American Life Insurance Company’s (“GALIC”) financial condition and results of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements.
OVERVIEW
Financial Condition
GALIC, a stock life insurance company domiciled in the state of Ohio, is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”).
GALIC predominately markets individual and group traditional fixed and indexed annuities nationwide to the savings and retirement markets, and maintains term and universal life
in-force
business. GALIC is licensed to write life, annuity and accident & health insurance in forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.Outlook
The
COVID-19
pandemic began to have a significant impact on global, social and economic activity during the first quarter of 2020. GALIC has taken actions under its business continuity plan to minimize risk to the Company’s employees and to prevent any significant disruption to GALIC’s business, agents or policyholders.Management believes that GALIC’s strong financial position and current liquidity and capital will give GALIC the flexibility to continue to effectively address and respond to the ongoing uncertainties presented by the pandemic. Even with management’s expectation that the impacts of the pandemic will continue into 2022, GALIC has capital at or in excess of the levels required by ratings agencies in order to maintain their current ratings, and the parent company does not have any near-term debt maturities.
Sale of Businesses
On May 28, 2021, American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”) sold its annuity business consisting of Great American Life Insurance Company (“GALIC”) and its two insurance subsidiaries, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company and Manhattan National Life Insurance Company, as well as a broker-dealer affiliate, Great American Advisors, Inc., and insurance distributor, AAG Insurance Agency, Inc. to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”). Total proceeds from the sale were $3.57 billion.
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Reinsurance Agreement
GALIC entered into a reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company (“Commonwealth”), a subsidiary of Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited in October 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded approximately $5.96 billion of in force traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred related investments to Commonwealth. The agreement requires Commonwealth to maintain collateral in a trust in excess of amounts owed to GALIC.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Significant accounting policies are summarized into the financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts reported in the financial statements. As more information becomes known, these estimates and assumptions change and, thus, impact amounts reported in the future. The areas where management believes the degree of judgment required to determine amounts recorded in the financial statements is most significant are as follows:
Note A — “Accounting Policies”
• | the recoverability of reinsurance, |
• | the amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs, |
• | the measurement of the derivatives embedded in indexed annuity liabilities, and |
• | the valuation of investments, including the determination of impairment allowances. |
Seefor a discussion of recoverables from reinsurers and indexed annuity embedded derivatives andfor a discussion of impairments on investments. Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”) and certain liabilities related to annuities are amortized in relation to the present value of expected gross profits on the policies. Assumptions considered in determining expected gross profits involve significant judgment and include management’s estimates of interest rates and investment spreads, surrenders, annuitizations, renewal premiums and mortality. Should actual experience require management to change its assumptions (commonly referred to as “unlocking”), a charge or credit would be recorded to adjust DPAC or annuity liabilities to the levels they would have been if the new assumptions had been used from the inception date of each policy.
“Liquidity and Capital Resources — Uncertainties”
“Liquidity and Capital Resources — Investments”
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Management believes GALIC has sufficient resources to meet its liquidity requirements. The liquidity requirements of GALIC relate primarily to the liabilities associated with its products as well as operating costs and expenses, and contributions of capital to its subsidiaries. Historically, cash flows from premiums and investment income have generally provided more than sufficient funds to meet these requirements. Funds received in excess of cash requirements are generally invested in additional marketable securities. In addition, GALIC generally holds a significant amount of highly liquid, short-term investments. If funds generated from operations are insufficient to meet liquidity requirements for any period, MassMutual may contribute funds to GALIC.
The NAIC’s model law for risk based capital (“RBC”) applies to life, accident and health companies. RBC formulas determine the amount of capital that an insurance company needs so that it has an acceptable expectation of not becoming financially impaired. At December 31, 2020, the capital ratios of GALIC and its insurance subsidiaries substantially exceeded the RBC requirements.
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Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows
GALIC’s principal sources of cash include insurance premiums, income from its investment portfolio and proceeds from the maturities, redemptions and sales of investments. Insurance premiums in excess of acquisition expenses and operating costs are invested until they are needed to meet policyholder obligations or made available to the parent company through dividends. Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as detailed in GALIC’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows are shown below (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 647 | $ | 1,087 | $ | 1,321 | $ | 1,334 | $ | 1,068 | ||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (970 | ) | (563 | ) | (416 | ) | (2,449 | ) | (4,052 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | 480 | 200 | (488 | ) | 1,520 | 2,702 | ||||||||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 157 | $ | 724 | $ | 417 | $ | 405 | $ | (282 | ) | |||||||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
GALIC’s annuity operations typically produce positive net operating cash flows as investment income exceeds acquisition costs and operating expenses. Interest credited on annuity policyholder funds is a
non-cash
increase in GALIC’s annuity benefits accumulated liability and annuity premiums, benefits and withdrawals are considered financing activities due to the deposit-type nature of annuities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $647 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $1,087 million in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of $440 million. For the full year, net cash provided by operating activities was $1.32 billion, $1.33 billion and $1.07 billion in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
GALIC’s investing activities consist primarily of the investment of funds provided by its annuity products. Net cash used in investing activities was $970 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $563 million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $407 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was $416 million in 2020 compared to $2.45 billion in 2019, a decrease of $2.03 billion. GALIC had net cash flows from annuity policyholders of $351 million in 2020 and $1.66 billion in 2019, which is the primary source of GALIC’s cash used in investing activities. Settlements of equity index call options exceeded purchases by $322 million in 2020 compared to $64 million in 2019, accounting for a $258 million decrease in cash used in investing activities.
Net cash used in investing activities was $2.45 billion in 2019 compared to $4.05 billion in 2018, a decrease of $1.60 billion. GALIC had net cash flows from annuity policyholders of $1.66 billion in 2019 and $2.54 billion in 2018.
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities
GALIC’s financing activities consist primarily of transactions with annuity policyholders and dividend payments to the parent company. Net cash provided financing activities was $480 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $200 million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $280 million.
Net cash used by financing activities was $488 million in 2020 compared to net cash provided of $1.52 billion in 2019, a decrease of $2.01 billion. Net annuity receipts and advances from the FHLB exceeded annuity surrenders, benefits, withdrawals and transfers by $351 million in 2020 compared to $1.66 billion in 2019, resulting in a $1.31 billion decrease in net cash provided by financing activities. In addition, there were $285 million of cash dividends paid in 2020 compared to $140 million paid in 2019, resulting in a $145 million decrease in net cash provided by financing activities.
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Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.52 billion in 2019 compared to $2.70 billion in 2018, a decrease of $1.18 billion. Annuity receipts and advances from the FHLB exceeded annuity surrenders, benefits, withdrawals, transfers and repayments to the FHLB by $1.66 billion in 2019 compared to $2.76 billion in 2018, resulting in a $1.10 billion decrease in net cash provided by financing activities. In addition, there were $140 million of cash dividends paid in 2019 compared to $60 million paid in 2018, resulting in a $80 million decrease in net cash provided by financing activities.
Liquidity
Management believes GALIC has sufficient resources to meet its liquidity requirements. If funds generated from operations are insufficient to meet fixed charges in any period, GALIC would be required to utilize company cash and marketable securities or to generate cash through parent capital contributions, sales of other assets, or similar transactions.
GALIC is a member of the FHLB. The FHLB makes advances and provides other banking services to member institutions, which provides GALIC with an additional source of liquidity. At September 30, 2021, GALIC had $0.40 billion in outstanding advances from the FHLB (included in annuity benefits accumulated), bearing interest at rates ranging from 0.30% to 1.35% (average rate of 0.83% at September 30, 2021). While these advances must be repaid between 2021 and 2025 ($200 million in 2021 and $200 million in 2025), GALIC has the option to prepay all or a portion on the majority of the advances. GALIC has invested the proceeds from the advances in fixed maturity securities with similar expected lives as the advances for the purpose of earning a spread over the interest payments due to the FHLB.
In February 2020, GALIC entered into a flow reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth under which GALIC cedes certain newly issued traditional fixed and indexed annuities on a quota share coinsurance basis with such quota share percentages being up to 50%. That agreement was effective for policies issued after May 6, 2020. Under accounting guidance, the reinsurance transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method.
As discussed above, in the fourth quarter of 2020, GALIC entered into a reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded approximately $5.96 billion of traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred a similar amount of investments to Commonwealth. The assets transferred were primarily available for sale fixed maturity securities, the disposal of which resulted in the recognition of approximately $292 million (net of DPAC and tax) in net realized gains on securities. Under reinsurance accounting guidance, the transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method and the loss on the transaction will be deferred and recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts
(7-10
years). Under both the flow and the block reinsurance agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of amounts owed to GALIC.In the fourth quarter of 2018, GALIC entered into a reinsurance treaty with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America that transfers the risk of certain surrender activity in GALIC’s fixed-indexed annuity business. This treaty meets the statutory risk transfer rules and resulted in increases in statutory surplus (through an
after-tax
reserve credit) of $139 million at December 31, 2020 and $124 million at December 31, 2019. The treaty reduces statutory capital and surplus volatility related to GALIC’s fixed-indexed annuity policies from stock market fluctuations, which could impact GALIC’s risk-based capital and the amount of dividends available in future periods. Under GAAP, this transaction does not meet the GAAP insurance risk transfer criteria and did not have a material impact on GALIC’s financial statements.The liquidity requirements of GALIC relate primarily to the liabilities associated with its products as well as operating costs and expenses, and contributions of capital to its subsidiaries. Historically, cash flows from premiums and investment income have generally provided more than sufficient funds to meet these requirements. Funds received in excess of cash requirements are generally invested in additional marketable securities. In addition, GALIC generally holds a significant amount of highly liquid, short-term investments.
In the annuity business, where profitability is largely dependent on earning a spread between invested assets and annuity liabilities, the duration of investments is generally maintained close to that of liabilities. In a rising interest rate environment,
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significant protection from withdrawals exists in the form of temporary and permanent surrender charges on GALIC’s annuity products. With declining rates, GALIC receives some protection (from spread compression) due to the ability to lower crediting rates, subject to contractually guaranteed minimum interest rates (“GMIRs”). At September 30, 2021, GALIC could reduce the average crediting rate on approximately $29 billion of traditional fixed, fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities without guaranteed withdrawal benefits by approximately 96 basis points (on a weighted average basis). Annuity policies are subject to GMIRs at policy issuance. The table below shows the breakdown of annuity reserves by GMIR. The current interest crediting rates on substantially all of GALIC’s annuities with a GMIR of 3% or higher are at their minimum.
% of Reserves | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, | at December 31, | |||||||||||||||
GMIR | 2021 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
1 — 1.99% | 86 | % | 85 | % | 84 | % | 80 | % | ||||||||
2 — 2.99% | 3 | % | 3 | % | 3 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||
3 — 3.99% | 6 | % | 7 | % | 7 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||
4.00% and above | 5 | % | 5 | % | 6 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (in millions) | $ | 44,376 | $ | 42,573 | $ | 40,406 | $ | 36,616 | ||||||||
For statutory accounting purposes, equity securities of
non-affiliates
and equity call and put options used in the fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity business are generally carried at fair value. At September 30, 2021, GALIC owned publicly traded equity securities with a fair value of $648 million and equity index call and put options with a net fair value of $632 million. Decreases in market prices could adversely affect GALIC’s capital, potentially impacting the amount of dividends available or necessitating a capital contribution. Conversely, increases in market prices could have a favorable impact on GALIC’s dividend-paying capability.GALIC believes it maintains sufficient liquidity to pay claims and benefits and operating expenses. In addition, GALIC has sufficient capital to meet commitments in the event of unforeseen events such as reinsurer insolvencies. Even in the current uncertain
COVID-19
environment, management believes that the capital levels at GALIC are adequate to maintain its business and rating agency ratings. Nonetheless, changes in statutory accounting rules, significant declines in the fair value of its investment portfolios or significant ratings downgrades on these investments, could create a need for additional capital.Contractual Obligations
Total | Within One Year | 2-3 Years | 4-5 Years | More than 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||
Annuities (*) | $ | 46,885 | $ | 4,584 | $ | 10,716 | $ | 11,559 | $ | 20,026 | ||||||||||
Life, accident and health liabilities (*) | 1,217 | 99 | 212 | 139 | 767 | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 48,102 | $ | 4,683 | $ | 10,928 | $ | 11,698 | $ | 20,793 | ||||||||||
(*) | Amounts presented in the table represent estimated cash payments under such contracts, based on significant assumptions related to mortality, morbidity, lapse, renewal, retirement and annuitization. These assumptions also include interest and index crediting consistent with assumptions used to amortize DPAC and assess loss recognition. All estimated cash payments are undiscounted for the time value of money. As a result, total outflows for all years exceed the corresponding liabilities of $42.57 billion for annuity benefits accumulated and $610 million for life, accident and health reserves included in GALIC’s Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020. Based on the same assumptions, GALIC projects reinsurance recoveries related to annuity benefits accumulated totaling $7.25 billion as follows: Within 1 year — $876 million; 2-3 years — $1.73 billion;4-5 years — $2.05 billion; and thereafter — $2.59 billion and reinsurance recoveries related to life, accident and health reserves totaling $577 million as follows: Within 1 year — $58 million;2-3 years — $91 million;4-5 years — $74 million; and thereafter — $354 million. Actual payments and their timing could differ significantly from these estimates. |
GALIC has no material contractual purchase obligations or other long-term liabilities at December 31, 2020.
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Off-Balance
Sheet ArrangementsNote L —
“
Additional Information
— Financial Instruments — Unfunded Commitments
”
.
Investments
GALIC’s investment portfolio at September 30, 2021, contained $36.08 billion in fixed maturity securities classified as available for sale and carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in a separate component of shareholders’ equity on an
after-tax
basis and $40 million in fixed maturities were classified as trading with holding gains and losses included in net investment income. In addition, GALIC’s investment portfolio includes $423 million in equity securities carried at fair value with holding gains and losses included in realized gains (losses) on securities and $333 million in equity securities carried at fair value with holding gains and losses included in net investment income.As detailed in— “to the financial statements, unrealized gains and losses on GALIC’s fixed maturity securities are included in shareholder’s equity after adjustments for related changes in DPAC and certain liabilities related to annuity and life businesses and deferred income taxes. DPAC and certain other balance sheet amounts applicable to annuity and life businesses are adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains or losses on investments as if these gains or losses had been realized, with corresponding increases or decreases (net of tax) included in accumulated other comprehensive income in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Note D
Balance Sheet Impact of Net Unrealized Gains on Securities”
Fair values for GALIC’s portfolio are determined by GALIC’s internal investment professionals using data from nationally recognized pricing services as well as
non-binding
broker quotes. Fair values of equity securities are generally based on published closing prices. For GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio, approximately 91% was priced using pricing services at September 30, 2021 and the balance was priced primarily by usingnon-binding
broker quotes. When prices obtained for the same security vary, GALIC’s internal investment professionals select the price they believe is most indicative of an exit price.The pricing services use a variety of observable inputs to estimate fair value of fixed maturities that do not trade on a daily basis. Based upon information provided by the pricing services, these inputs include, but are not limited to, recent reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids or offers, reference data, and measures of volatility. Included in the pricing of mortgage backed securities (“MBS”) are estimates of the rate of future prepayments and defaults of principal over the remaining life of the underlying collateral. Due to the lack of transparency in the process that brokers use to develop prices, valuations that are based on brokers’ prices are classified as Level 3 in the GAAP hierarchy unless the price can be corroborated, for example, by comparison to similar securities priced using observable inputs.
Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by GALIC’s and MassMutual’s internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price. To validate the appropriateness of the prices obtained, these investment managers consider widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. In addition, GALIC communicates directly with pricing services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing, including verifying, on a test basis, the inputs used by the services to value specific securities.
In general, the fair value of GALIC’s fixed maturity investments is inversely correlated to changes in interest rates. The following table demonstrates the sensitivity of such fair values to reasonably likely changes in interest rates by illustrating the estimated effect on GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio that an immediate increase of 100 basis points in the interest rate yield curve would have at September 30, 2021 (dollars in millions). Effects of increases or decreases from the 100 basis points illustrated would be approximately proportional.
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September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | 36,123 | $ | 34,165 | ||||
Pretax impact on fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | — | $ | (1,367 | ) | |||
Percentage impact on fair value of 100 bps increase in interest rates | — | % | (4.0 | %) |
Approximately 89% of the fixed maturities held by GALIC at September 30, 2021, were rated “investment grade” (credit rating of AAA to BBB) by nationally recognized rating agencies. Investment grade securities generally bear lower yields and lower degrees of risk than those that are unrated and
non-investment
grade. Management believes that the high quality investment portfolio should generate a stable and predictable investment return.MBS are subject to significant prepayment risk because, in periods of declining interest rates, mortgages may be repaid more rapidly than scheduled as borrowers refinance higher rate mortgages to take advantage of lower rates.
Summarized information for GALIC’s MBS (including those classified as trading) at September 30, 2021, is shown in the table below (dollars in millions). Agency-backed securities are those issued by a U.S. government-backed agency;
Alt-A
mortgages are those with risk profiles between prime and subprime. The average life of the residential and commercial MBS is approximately 5 years and 3 years, respectively.Amortized Cost, net (*) | Fair Value | Fair Value as % of Cost | Unrealized Gain (Loss) | % Rated Investment Grade | ||||||||||||||||
Collateral type | ||||||||||||||||||||
Residential: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Agency-backed | $ | 834 | $ | 834 | 100 | % | $ | — | 100 | % | ||||||||||
Non-agency prime | 884 | 954 | 108 | % | 70 | 62 | % | |||||||||||||
Alt-A | 506 | 577 | 114 | % | 71 | 45 | % | |||||||||||||
Subprime | 137 | 154 | 112 | % | 17 | 30 | % | |||||||||||||
Commercial | 573 | 602 | 105 | % | 29 | 96 | % | |||||||||||||
$ | 2,934 | $ | 3,121 | 106 | % | $ | 187 | — | % | |||||||||||
(*) | Amortized cost, net of allowance for expected credit losses. |
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) assigns creditworthiness designations on a scale of 1 to 6 with 1 being the highest quality and 6 being the lowest quality. The NAIC retains third-party investment management firms to assist in the determination of appropriate NAIC designations for MBS based not only on the probability of loss (which is the primary basis of ratings by the major ratings firms), but also on the severity of loss and statutory carrying value. At September 30, 2021, 96% (based on statutory carrying value of $2.59 billion) of GALIC’s MBS had an NAIC designation of 1.
Municipal bonds represented approximately 8% of GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio at September 30, 2021. GALIC’s municipal bond portfolio is high quality, with 97% of the securities rated investment grade at that date. The portfolio is well diversified across the states of issuance and individual issuers. At September 30, 2021, approximately 71% of the municipal bond portfolio was held in revenue bonds, with the remaining 29% held in general obligation bonds.
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Summarized information for the unrealized gains and losses recorded in GALIC’s Balance Sheet at September 30, 2021, is shown in the following table (dollars in millions). Approximately $1.28 billion of available for sale fixed maturity securities had no unrealized gains or losses at September 30, 2021.
Securities With Unrealized Gains | Securities With Unrealized Losses | |||||||
Available for Sale Fixed Maturities | ||||||||
Fair value of securities | $ | 29,583 | $ | 5,220 | ||||
Amortized cost of securities | $ | 27,396 | $ | 5,312 | ||||
Gross unrealized gain (loss) | $ | 2,187 | $ | (92 | ) | |||
Fair value as % of amortized cost | 108 | % | 98 | % | ||||
Number of security positions | 3,265 | 534 | ||||||
Number individually exceeding $2 million gain or loss | 232 | 3 | ||||||
Concentration of gains (losses) by type or industry (exceeding 5% of unrealized): | ||||||||
Banks, savings, and credit institutions | $ | 356 | $ | (3 | ) | |||
States and municipalities | 264 | — | ||||||
Mortgage-backed securities | 195 | (8 | ) | |||||
Insurance | 179 | (1 | ) | |||||
Other asset-backed securities | 142 | (48 | ) | |||||
Other financial institutions | 112 | — | ||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | 2 | (16 | ) | |||||
Percentage rated investment grade | 92 | % | 84 | % |
The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of GALIC’s available for sale fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2021, based on their fair values. Securities with sinking funds are reported at average maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid by the issuers.
Securities With Unrealized Gains | Securities With Unrealized Losses | |||||||
Maturity | ||||||||
One year or less | 5 | % | 1 | % | ||||
After one year through five years | 28 | % | 3 | % | ||||
After five years through ten years | 26 | % | 1 | % | ||||
After ten years | 10 | % | 11 | % | ||||
69 | % | 16 | % | |||||
Collateralized loan obligations and other asset-backed securities (average life of approximately 3 years) | 24 | % | 66 | % | ||||
Mortgage-backed securities (average life of approximately 4-1/2 years) | 7 | % | 18 | % | ||||
100 | % | 100 | % | |||||
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The table below (dollars in millions) summarizes the unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturity securities by dollar amount:
Aggregate Fair Value | Aggregate Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Fair Value as % of Cost | ||||||||||
Fixed Maturities at September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Securities with unrealized gains: | ||||||||||||
Exceeding $500,000 (1,218 securities) | $ | 18,399 | $ | 1,884 | 111 | % | ||||||
$500,000 or less (2,047 securities) | 11,184 | 303 | 103 | % | ||||||||
$ | 29,583 | $ | 2,187 | 108 | % | |||||||
Securities with unrealized losses: | ||||||||||||
Exceeding $500,000 (41 securities) | $ | 1,287 | $ | (54 | ) | 96 | % | |||||
$500,000 or less (493 securities) | 3,933 | (38 | ) | 99 | % | |||||||
$ | 5,220 | $ | (92 | ) | 98 | % | ||||||
The following table (dollars in millions) summarizes the unrealized losses for all securities with unrealized losses by issuer quality and the length of time those securities have been in an unrealized loss position:
Aggregate Fair Value | Aggregate Unrealized Loss | Fair Value as % of Cost | ||||||||||
Securities with Unrealized Losses at September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Investment grade fixed maturities with losses for: | ||||||||||||
Less than one year (260 securities) | $ | 3,859 | $ | (51 | ) | 99 | % | |||||
One year or longer (60 securities) | 532 | (10 | ) | 98 | % | |||||||
$ | 4,391 | $ | (61 | ) | 99 | % | ||||||
Non-investment grade fixed maturities with losses for: | ||||||||||||
Less than one year (103 securities) | $ | 629 | $ | (24 | ) | 96 | % | |||||
One year or longer (111 securities) | 200 | (7 | ) | 97 | % | |||||||
$ | 829 | $ | (31 | ) | 96 | % | ||||||
When a decline in the value of a specific investment is considered to be other-than-temporary, an allowance for credit losses (impairment) is charged to earnings (accounted for as a realized loss). The determination of whether unrealized losses are other-than-temporary requires judgment based on subjective as well as objective factors.
Factors considered and resources used by management include:
a) | whether the unrealized loss is credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates, |
b) | the extent to which fair value is less than cost basis, |
c) | cash flow projections received from independent sources, |
d) | historical operating, balance sheet and cash flow data contained in issuer SEC filings and news releases, |
e) | near-term prospects for improvement in the issuer and/or its industry, |
f) | third-party research and communications with industry specialists, |
g) | financial models and forecasts, |
h) | the continuity of interest payments, maintenance of investment grade ratings and hybrid nature of certain investments, |
i) | discussions with issuer management, and |
j) | ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery in fair value. |
Based on its analysis of the factors listed above, management believes GALIC will recover its cost basis (net of any allowance) in the fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses and that GALIC has the ability to hold the securities until they recover in value and had no intent to sell them at September 30, 2021. Although GALIC has the ability to continue holding its fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses, its intent to hold them may change due to deterioration in the issuers’ creditworthiness, decisions to lessen exposure to a particular issuer or industry, asset/liability management decisions, market
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movements, changes in views about appropriate asset allocation or the desire to offset taxable realized gains. Should GALIC’s ability or intent change regarding a particular security, a charge for impairment would likely be required. While it is not possible to accurately predict if or when a specific security will become impaired, increases in the allowances for credit losses could be material to results of operations in future periods. Significant declines in the fair value of GALIC’s investment portfolio could have a significant adverse effect on GALIC’s liquidity. For information on GALIC’s realized gains (losses) on securities, see
“Results of Operations
— Realized Gains (Losses) on Securities.”
Uncertainties
Reinsurance
$6.52 billion related to the annuity business and $257 million related to the
run-off
life business. The annuity related recoverable is due from Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company. Under the terms of the agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of the amounts owed to GALIC. Of the $257 million related to therun-off
life business, $133 million, net of credit allowances, is due (directly or indirectly) from Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America (ratedAA-
by S&P).RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GALIC’s operations produced $417 million in pretax earnings in the first nine months of 2021 compared to ($22) million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $439 million (1,995%). The increase is due to higher alternative investment income, higher realized gains, and the decline in interest rates in 2020 on fair value accounting partially offset by the impact of the Commonwealth reinsurance transaction in the fourth quarter of 2020.GALIC monitors the major actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations throughout the year and conducts detailed reviews (“unlocking”) of its assumptions annually. Beginning with the third quarter of 2019, GALIC moved its annual unlocking from the fourth quarter to the third quarter and expects to continue to conduct the annual review in the third quarter of each year (consistent with many of its peers). If changes in the economic environment or actual experience would cause material revisions to future estimates, these assumptions are updated (unlocked) in an interim quarter. Unlocking was evaluated in the first nine of months of 2021 and it was determined that no adjustment was needed. In the first nine months of 2020, GALIC’s unlocking of the actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations resulted in a net charge of $46 million.
GALIC’s operations produced $529 million in pretax earnings in 2020 compared to $497 million in 2019, an increase of $32 million (6%). GALIC’s results for 2021 compared to 2020 reflects higher net realized gains on securities in the 2020 period partially offset by the impact of a stronger stock market performance in 2019 as compared to 2020, the amortization of the deferred loss related to the annuity block reinsurance transaction entered into in the fourth quarter of 2020 and other reinsurance impacts and higher unlocking charges in 2020 compared to 2019. GALIC’s unlocking of the actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations resulted in a net charge of $46 million in 2020 compared to $1 million in 2019.
GALIC’s operations produced $497 million in pretax earnings in 2019 compared to $256 million in 2018, an increase of $241 million (94%). This increase reflects net realized gains on securities in the 2019 period compared to net realized losses on securities in the 2018 period, the positive impact of strong market performance in the 2019 period, the unfavorable impact of the decline in the stock market in 2018 and higher unlocking charges in the 2018 period, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates on the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs in 2019 compared to the favorable impact of higher than anticipated interest rates in 2018. In addition to the fourth quarter detailed review, GALIC unlocked its assumptions for option costs and interest rates in the second quarter of 2018 due to continued higher FIA option costs (resulting primarily from higher than expected risk-free rates). GALIC’s unlocking of the major actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations resulted in a net annuity charge of $1 million in 2019 compared to $31 million in 2018.
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Because fluctuations in interest rates and the stock market, among other factors, can cause volatility in earnings related to FIAs before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes that can be inconsistent with the long-term economics of the FIA business, management analyzes these impacts separately as shown in the following table. This table highlights the impact of reinsurance, unlocking, changes in the fair value of derivatives and other impacts of the changes in the stock market and interest rates on earnings before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes — excluding the impact of reinsurance, unlocking, derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of stock market performance and interest rates on FIAs | $ | 406 | $ | 223 | 82 | % | $ | 352 | $ | 412 | $ | 409 | (15 | %) | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance | (118 | ) | — | (47 | ) | — | — | — | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Unlocking | — | (46 | ) | — | % | (46 | ) | (1 | ) | (31 | ) | 4,500 | % | (97 | %) | |||||||||||||||||
Impact of derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on FIAs over or under option costs: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to FIAs | 14 | (240 | ) | 106 | % | (279 | ) | (294 | ) | (51 | ) | (5 | %) | 476 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | (270 | ) | (318 | ) | (15 | %) | (404 | ) | (408 | ) | (347 | ) | (1 | %) | 18 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits | (52 | ) | (50 | ) | 4 | % | (60 | ) | (14 | ) | (83 | ) | 329 | % | (83 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Less cost of equity options | 335 | 446 | (25 | %) | 562 | 586 | 506 | (4 | %) | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Related impact on the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | (10 | ) | 68 | (115 | %) | 86 | 84 | (42 | ) | 2 | % | (300 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes | $ | 305 | $ | 83 | 267 | % | 164 | 365 | 361 | (55 | %) | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 207 | % | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | 177 | % | (226 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | $ | 417 | $ | (22 | ) | 1,995 | % | $ | 529 | $ | 497 | $ | 256 | 6 | % | 94 | % | |||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income
Net investment income in the first nine months of 2021 was $1.33 billion compared to $1.28 billion in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $47 million (4%). This increase reflects the positive impact of higher earnings from partnerships and similar investments partially offset by the impact of the
run-off
of higher yielding investments and lower short-term interest rates.Net investment income in 2020 was $1.72 billion compared to $1.81 billion in 2019, a decrease of $96 million (5%). This decrease reflects the negative impact of lower earnings from partnerships and similar investments and
AFG-managed
CLOs and the impact of therun-off
of higher yielding investments and lower short-term interest rates.Net investment income in 2019 was $1.81 billion compared to $1.66 billion in 2018, an increase of $156 million (9%). This increase primarily reflects growth in GALIC’s annuity business, partially offset by the impact of lower investment yields.
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Realized Gains (Losses) on Securities
GALIC’s realized gains (losses) on securities were net gains of $112 million in the first nine months 2021 compared to ($105) million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $217 million (206%).
GALIC’s realized gains (losses) on securities were net gains of $365 million in 2020 compared to $132 million in 2019, an increase of $233 million (177%). GALIC’s net realized gains (losses) on securities were net gains of $132 million in 2019 compared to net realized losses of $105 million in 2018, a change of $237 million (226%). Realized gains (losses) on securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) before impairments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Disposals | $ | 42 | $ | 39 | $ | 524 | $ | 16 | $ | 12 | ||||||||||
Change in the fair value of derivatives | (18 | ) | 2 | (2 | ) | 5 | (7 | ) | ||||||||||||
Change in the fair value of equity securities | 84 | (111 | ) | (85 | ) | 122 | (107 | ) | ||||||||||||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | (1 | ) | (6 | ) | (51 | ) | (1 | ) | 11 | |||||||||||
107 | (76 | ) | 386 | 142 | (91 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Change in allowance and impairments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Securities | 7 | (43 | ) | (32 | ) | (21 | ) | (21 | ) | |||||||||||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | (2 | ) | 14 | 11 | 11 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
5 | (29 | ) | (21 | ) | (10 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | $ | 112 | $ | (105 | ) | $ | 365 | $ | 132 | $ | (105 | ) | ||||||||
The $524 million net realized gains from disposals in 2020 includes gains of $415 million on investments disposed of in the 2020 block reinsurance transaction.
Policy Charges and Other Income
Policy charges and other income, which consist primarily of surrender charges, the amortization of deferred upfront policy charges (unearned revenue) and income from the sale of real estate, were $81 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $76 million in 2020, an increase of $5 million (7%). Excluding the impact of unlocking charges of $5 million in the first nine months of 2020 related to unearned revenue, policy charges and other income were $81 million in the first nine months of 2021 and $81 million in the first nine months of 2020.
Excluding the impact of unlocking charges of $5 million in 2020 and the $1 million favorable impact of unlocking in 2019 related to unearned revenue, policy charges and other income were $109 million in 2020 and $113 million in 2019, a decrease of $4 million (4%).
Excluding the favorable impact of unlocking of $1 million in 2019 and the unlocking charge of $1 million in 2018 related to unearned revenue, policy charges and other income were $113 million in 2019 and $116 million in 2018, a decrease of $3 million (3%). This increase reflects growth in the business primarily related to increased fees from products with guaranteed withdrawal benefit features.
Seebelow for a discussion of the impact that the periodic review of actuarial assumptions had on policy charges and other income.
“Annuity Unlocking”
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Annuity Benefits
Annuity benefits were $744 million for the first nine months of 2021 compared to $905 million in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of $161 million (18%).
Annuity benefits were $1.19 billion in 2020, $1.15 billion in 2019 and $998 million in 2018, representing an increase of $41 million (4%) in 2020 compared to 2019 and an increase of $153 million (15%) in 2019 compared to 2018.
Because fluctuations in interest rates and the stock market, among other factors, can cause volatility in annuity benefits expense related to FIAs that can be inconsistent with the long-term economics of the FIA business, management believes that annuity benefits expense should be analyzed by including the actual cost of the equity options purchased in the FIA business and isolating the impact of reinsurance, unlocking, the impact of changes in the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs, and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on the accounting for FIAs. This analysis provides investors with a better view of the true cost of funds in the business and a more comparable measure to the cost of funds reported by its peers. The cost of the equity options included in this analysis is the net purchase price of the option contracts amortized on a
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straight-line basis over the life of the contracts, which is generally one year. The following table reconciles this
non-GAAP
analysis using the cost of funds measure to total annuity benefits expense (in millions):Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest credited — fixed | $ | 286 | $ | 307 | (7 | %) | $ | 399 | $ | 396 | $ | 357 | 1 | % | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Include cost of equity options | 335 | 446 | (25 | %) | 562 | 586 | 506 | (4 | %) | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of funds | 621 | 753 | (18 | %) | 961 | 982 | 863 | (2 | %) | 14 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest credited — fixed component of variable annuities | 3 | 3 | — | % | 4 | 4 | 5 | — | % | (20 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits, excluding the impact of reinsurance and interest rates and the stock market on FIAs | 62 | 64 | (3 | %) | 87 | 109 | 96 | (20 | %) | 14 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
686 | 820 | (16 | %) | 1,052 | 1,095 | 964 | (4 | %) | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Impact of reinsurance, unlocking, changes in fair value of derivatives related to FIAs, and other impacts of the stock market and interest rates over or under option costs: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance | 85 | — | — | % | 36 | — | — | — | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Unlocking | — | (77 | ) | — | % | (77 | ) | (74 | ) | 59 | 4 | % | (225 | %) | ||||||||||||||||||
Impact of derivatives related to FIAs | (14 | ) | 240 | (106 | %) | 279 | 294 | 51 | (5 | %) | 476 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | 270 | 318 | (15 | %) | 404 | 408 | 347 | (1 | %) | 18 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits — impact of the stock market and interest rates on FIAs | 52 | 50 | 4 | % | 60 | 14 | 83 | 329 | % | (83 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less cost of equity options (included in cost of funds) | (335 | ) | (446 | ) | (25 | %) | (562 | ) | (586 | ) | (506 | ) | (4 | %) | 16 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total annuity benefits | $ | 744 | $ | 905 | (18 | %) | $ | 1,192 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 998 | 4 | % | 15 | % | ||||||||||||||||
As shown in the table above, cost of funds for the first nine months of 2021 was $621 million compared to $753 million in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of $132 million (18%). This decrease reflects a reduction in the cost of funds as a percentage of average annuity benefits accumulated due to offering lower renewal crediting rates (index participation) on option costs and the impact of reinsurance.
Cost of funds for 2020 was $961 million compared to $982 million in 2019, a decrease of $21 million (2%). This decrease reflects a reduction in the cost of funds as a percentage of average annuity benefits accumulated due to offering lower renewal crediting rates (index participation) on option costs. Cost of funds for 2019 was $982 million compared to $863 million in 2018, an increase of $119 million (14%). This increase reflects growth in the annuity business and higher renewal option costs.
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As discussed underinto the financial statements, guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserves are accrued for and modified using assumptions similar to those used in establishing and amortizing deferred policy acquisition costs. In addition, the guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve related to FIAs can be inversely impacted by the calculated FIA embedded derivative reserve as the value to policyholders of the guaranteed withdrawal benefits decreases when the benefit of stock market participation increases. As shown in the table above, changes in the stock market and interest rates increased GALIC’s guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve by $52 million and $50 million in the first nine months of 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $60 million, $14 million and $83 million in the full years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
“Annuity Benefits Accumulated”
Note A — “Accounting Policies”
See “Annuity Unlocking” below for a discussion of the impact that the unlocking of actuarial assumptions had on annuity benefits expense.
Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Related to Fixed-Indexed (Including Registered Index-Linked) Annuities and Other Impacts of Changes in the Stock Market and Interest Rates on FIAs
GALIC’s fixed-indexed (including registered index-linked) annuities provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market, other financial index or other external rate, price or unit value (an “index”). GALIC attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase and sale of call and put options on the appropriate index. GALIC’s strategy is designed so that the net change in the fair value of the call option assets and put option liabilities will generally offset the economic change in the net liability from the index participation. Both the index-based component of the annuities (an embedded derivative) and the related call and put options are considered derivatives that must be adjusted for changes in fair value through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. For a list of other factors impacting the fair value of the embedded derivative component of GALIC’s annuity benefits accumulated, seeto the financial statements. Fluctuations in certain of these factors, such as changes in interest rates and the performance of the stock market, are not economic in nature for the current reporting period, but rather impact the timing of reported results.
Note C — “Fair Value Measurements”
As discussed above, the periodic accounting for DPAC and guaranteed withdrawal benefits related to FIAs is also impacted by changes in the stock market and interest rates. These impacts may be temporary in nature and not necessarily indicative of the long-term performance of the FIA business. The table below highlights the impact of reinsurance and changes in the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs and the other impacts of the stock market and interest rates (excluding the impact of unlocking) over or under the cost of the equity index options (discussed above) on earnings before income taxes (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excluding reinsurance: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs | $ | 14 | $ | (240 | ) | 106 | % | $ | (279 | ) | $ | (294 | ) | $ | (51 | ) | (5 | %) | 476 | % | ||||||||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | (270 | ) | (318 | ) | (15 | %) | (404 | ) | (408 | ) | (347 | ) | (1 | %) | 18 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits | (52 | ) | (50 | ) | 4 | % | (60 | ) | (14 | ) | (83 | ) | 329 | % | (83 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Less cost of equity options | 335 | 446 | (25 | %) | 562 | 586 | 506 | (4 | %) | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Related impact on the amortization of DPAC | (10 | ) | 68 | (115 | %) | 86 | 84 | (42 | ) | 2 | % | (300 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance | (118 | ) | — | — | % | (47 | ) | — | — | — | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Impact on earnings before income taxes | $ | (101 | ) | $ | (94 | ) | 7 | % | $ | (142 | ) | $ | (46 | ) | $ | (17 | ) | 209 | % | 171 | % | |||||||||||
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During the first nine months of 2021, the annuity segment’s earnings before income taxes were reduced by $101 million primarily related to the impact of the reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth entered into in the fourth quarter of 2020.
During 2020, the negative impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates and the amortization of the deferred loss related to the annuity block reinsurance agreement entered into in the fourth quarter of 2020 and other reinsurance impacts reduced the annuity segment’s earnings before income taxes (excluding unlocking) by $142 million compared to the $46 million negative impact of the stock market and interest rates (excluding unlocking) on earnings before income taxes for 2019, an unfavorable impact of $96 million (209%). In 2019, the negative impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates was partially offset by the positive impact of strong stock market performance. In 2018, the positive impact of higher than expected interest rates was more than offset by higher interest on the embedded derivative, the negative impact of higher than expected option costs and significantly lower stock market performance.
Seebelow for a discussion of the impact that the periodic review of actuarial assumptions had on the change in the fair value of the embedded derivative and other annuity liabilities.
“Annuity Unlocking”
Insurance Acquisition Expenses, Net
Insurance acquisition expenses, net, include amortization of DPAC, amortization of the present value of future profits of business acquired, and
non-deferrable
expenses and commission charges on sales of insurance products.Insurance acquisition expenses, net, were $230 million in the first nine months of 2021. Unlocking was evaluated in the first nine months of 2021 and it was determined that no unlocking adjustments were needed. In the first nine months of 2020, excluding the impact of unlocking expense of $118 million, insurance acquisition expenses, net, were $133 million, $97 million (73%), lower than the nine month 2021 expense.
Excluding the impact of unlocking expense of $118 million in 2020 and $76 million in 2019 and expense reductions of $29 million in 2018 (discussed below), insurance acquisition expenses, net, were $188 million in 2020, $177 million in 2019 and $289 million in 2018, representing an increase of $11 million (6%) in 2020 compared to 2019 and an decrease of $112 million (39%) in 2019 compared to 2018. The negative impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates during both 2020 and 2019 on the fair value of derivatives and other liabilities related to FIAs and the negative impact of reinsurance in 2020 resulted in a deceleration of the amortization of DPAC. In contrast, the positive impact of higher than anticipated interest rates during 2018 on the fair value of derivatives and other liabilities related to FIAs resulted in a partially offsetting acceleration of the amortization of DPAC.
Seebelow for a discussion of the impact that the unlocking of actuarial assumptions had on insurance acquisition expenses, net. Unanticipated spread compression, decreases in the stock market, adverse mortality experience and higher than expected lapse rates could lead to write-offs of DPAC or present value of future profits on business in force of companies acquired (“PVFP”) in the future.
“Annuity Unlocking”
Other Expenses
Other expenses were $127 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $107 million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $20 million (19%) reflecting additional expenses as a result of the sale of the business. Other expenses represent primarily general and administrative expenses, as well as selling and issuance expenses that are not deferred.
Other expenses were $141 million in 2020 compared to $144 million in 2019, a decrease of $3 million (2%) reflecting lower expenses due to the
COVID-19
pandemic.Other expenses were $144 million in 2019 compared to $140 million in 2018, an increase of $4 million (3%), reflecting growth in the business.
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Statutory Annuity Premiums
GALIC’s annuity operations generated gross statutory premiums of $4.6 billion in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $2.8 billion in the first nine months of 2020, a increase of $1.8 billion (65%).
GALIC’s annuity operations generated gross statutory premiums of $4.09 billion in 2020, $4.96 billion in 2019 and $5.41 billion in 2018, a decrease of $873 million (18%) in 2020 compared to 2019 and a decrease of $447 million (8%) in 2019 compared to 2018. The following table summarizes GALIC’s annuity sales (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — indexed | $ | 1,406 | $ | 1,014 | 39 | % | $ | 1,372 | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,776 | (11 | %) | (13 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — fixed | 1,562 | 526 | 197 | % | 896 | 1,229 | 492 | (27 | %) | 150 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Retail single premium annuities — indexed | 542 | 444 | 22 | % | 591 | 943 | 1,418 | (37 | %) | (33 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Retail single premium annuities — fixed | 126 | 73 | 73 | % | 99 | 120 | 87 | (18 | %) | 38 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — indexed | 608 | 347 | 75 | % | 457 | 657 | 1,271 | (30 | %) | (48 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — fixed | 138 | 22 | 527 | % | 27 | 32 | 14 | (16 | %) | 129 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pension risk transfer | 94 | 225 | (58 | )% | 499 | 257 | 132 | 94 | % | 95 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Education market — fixed and indexed annuities | 82 | 104 | (21 | )% | 129 | 164 | 192 | (21 | %) | (15 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed annuity premiums | 4,558 | 2,755 | 65 | % | 4,070 | 4,939 | 5,382 | (18 | %) | (8 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Variable annuities | 11 | 13 | (15 | )% | 17 | 21 | 25 | (19 | %) | (16 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total gross annuity premiums | 4,569 | 2,768 | 65 | % | 4,087 | 4,960 | 5,407 | (18 | %) | (8 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums | (481 | ) | (246 | ) | 96 | % | (492 | ) | — | — | — | % | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total net annuity premiums | $ | 4,088 | $ | 2,522 | 62 | % | $ | 3,595 | $ | 4,960 | $ | 5,407 | (28 | %) | (8 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Management believes the 62% increase in gross annuity premiums in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020 is driven by continued growth in the Financial Institutions and Broker Dealer channels. In addition, sales in 2020 were still feeling the impacts of
COVID-19.
Management believes the 18% decrease in gross annuity premiums in 2020 compared to 2019 is due to the lower market interest rate environment. In response to the continued drop in market interest rates during 2019 and 2020, GALIC lowered crediting rates on several products, which has slowed annuity sales compared to 2019 and 2018 levels. In addition, many of the restrictions from the
COVID-19
pandemic impact the ability of agents to conduct business in the same manner as usual.Management attributes the 8% decrease in annuity premiums in 2019 compared to 2018 to the lower market interest rate environment.
108
Annuity Unlocking
GALIC monitors the major actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations throughout the year and conducts detailed reviews (“unlocking”) of its assumptions annually. Beginning with the third quarter of 2019, GALIC moved its unlocking from the fourth quarter to the third quarter and expects to continue to conduct the annual review in the third quarter of each year (consistent with many of its peers). If changes in the economic environment or actual experience would cause material revisions to future estimates, these assumptions are updated (unlocked) in an interim period.
Unlocking was evaluated in the first nine months of 2021 and it was determined that no adjustments were necessary. The unlocking of the major actuarial assumptions underlying GALIC’s annuity operations resulted in net charges related to its annuity business of $46 million in the first nine 2020 and, $46 million, $1 million and $31 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which impacted GALIC’s financial statements as follows (in millions):
Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
September 30 | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Policy charges and other income: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unearned revenue | — | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 1 | $ | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Total revenues | — | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | 1 | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
Annuity benefits: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed annuities embedded derivative | — | (240 | ) | (240 | ) | (181 | ) | 44 | ||||||||||||
Guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve | — | 107 | 107 | 102 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Other reserves | — | 60 | 60 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Sales inducements asset | — | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | 1 | — | |||||||||||||
Total annuity benefits | — | (77 | ) | (77 | ) | (74 | ) | 59 | ||||||||||||
Insurance acquisition expenses, net: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | — | 118 | 118 | 76 | (29 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | — | 41 | 41 | 2 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Net charge | — | $ | (46 | ) | $ | (46 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (31 | ) | |||||||
The net charge from unlocking annuity assumptions in 2020 is due primarily to the unfavorable impact related to lower expected future investment income resulting from a decrease to the long-term interest rate assumptions and the unfavorable impact related to changes in assumed persistency outside the surrender period on policies without guaranteed withdrawal benefits, partially offset by the favorable impact of lowering projected FIA option costs, including anticipated renewal rate actions. For the 2020 unlocking, reinvestment rate assumptions are based primarily on the expectation that the
7-year
U.S. Treasury rate will increase to 2.45% and the10-year
U.S. Treasury rate will increase to 2.75% over time. For the unlocking in the third quarter of 2020, GALIC assumed a net reinvestment rate (net of default and expense assumptions) of 3.08% in 2021, grading up ratably to an ultimate net reinvestment rate of 4.58% in 2031 and beyond.The net charge from unlocking annuity assumptions in 2019 is due primarily to the unfavorable impacts of a decrease in projected net interest spreads on
in-force
business (due primarily to lower than previously anticipated reinvestment rates and the impact of lower than previously anticipated interest rates on floating rate investments) and higher assumed persistency in certain blocks of business, offset by lowering projected FIA option costs, including anticipated renewal rate actions.The net charge of $4 million from unlocking annuity assumptions in the fourth quarter of 2018 reflects the favorable impact of an increase in projected net interest spreads on in force business (due primarily to higher actual yields than previously anticipated), more than offset by a slight increase in projected expenses and the unfavorable impact of changes in projected policyholder annuitization and lapse behavior.
109
In addition to the $4 million net charge from the periodic review of annuity assumptions in the fourth quarter of 2018, GALIC recorded a $27 million net unlocking charge in the second quarter of 2018 due primarily to the unfavorable impact of higher projected option costs, partially offset by the favorable impact of an increase in projected net interest spreads on
in-force
business (due primarily to higher than previously anticipated reinvestment rates).Income Taxes
GALIC’s provision for income taxes was $107 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to ($8) million income tax benefit in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $115 million.
For the full year, GALIC’s provision for income taxes was $107 million in 2020 compared to $102 million in 2019, an increase of $5 million (5%). GALIC’s provision for income taxes was $102 million in 2019 compared to $47 million in 2018, an increase of $55 million (117%). Seeto the financial statements for an analysis of items affecting GALIC’s effective tax rate.
Note
I
— “Income Taxes”
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS TO BE ADOPTED
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU, which changes the assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and limited pay contracts (e.g. life, accident and health benefits) from being locked in at inception to being updated at least annually and standardizes the liability discount rate to be used and updated each reporting period, requires the measurement of market risk benefits associated with deposit contracts (e.g. annuities) to be recorded at fair value, simplifies the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs to a constant level basis over the expected life of the related contracts and requires enhanced disclosures. GALIC will be required to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2023. GALIC can not estimate the impact that the updated guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity until the updated guidance is closer to adoption.
2018-12,
Financial Services – Insurance: Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk represents the potential economic loss arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. GALIC’s exposures to market risk relate primarily to its investment portfolio and annuity contracts, which are exposed to interest rate risk and, to a lesser extent, equity price risk.
Fixed Maturity Portfolio
Consistent with the discussion inthe following table demonstrates the sensitivity of the fair value of GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio to reasonably likely changes in interest rates by illustrating the estimated effect on GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio that an immediate increase of 100 basis points in the interest rate yield curve would have at December 31 (based on the duration of the portfolio, dollars in millions). Effects of increases or decreases from the 100 basis points illustrated would be approximately proportional.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
— “Investments,”
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | 36,123 | $ | 34,165 | ||||
Pretax impact on fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | — | $ | (1,367 | ) | |||
Percentage impact on fair value of 100 bps increase in interest rates | — | % | (4.0 | )% |
110
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Shareholder
Great American Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Great American Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the Company), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of American Financial Group, Inc., as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the accompanying financial statement schedule (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
A-1
Valuation of investments in securities | ||
Description of the Matter | As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the Company’s fixed-income and equity securities totaled $34.94 billion, a portion of which are valued based on non-binding broker quotes or internally developed using significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, observable market information. The fair value of these securities are determined by management applying the methodologies outlined in Note D to the consolidated financial statements. The lack of visibility into assumptions used innon-binding broker quotes and the credit spread applied by management for internally developed fixed-income investments are significant unobservable inputs, which create greater subjectivity when determining the fair values. Credit spread inputs are developed based on management’s review of trade activity for comparable securities and credit spreads over the treasury yield of securities with a similar duration.Auditing the fair value of the fixed-income and equity securities that use unobservable inputs was complex and highly judgmental due to the judgment used by the Company in determining unobservable inputs and assumptions to estimate the securities’ fair value. Significant unobservable inputs and assumptions include non-binding broker quotes and credit spreads over the treasury yield. | |
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over management’s valuation process for the fixed-income and equity securities priced using unobservable inputs. This included, among others, testing controls over investment pricing and the development and review of significant inputs and assumptions used in determining the fair values. To test the Company’s investment fair values, our audit procedures included, among others, comparing the fair values for a sample of securities to pricing service values or internally developed cash flow models. With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we evaluated the valuation methodologies used by the Company and compared the Company’s fair value estimate to an independently calculated range of fair value estimates for a sample of securities. We evaluated information that corroborated or contradicted the Company’s fair value estimates, including observable spreads, transaction data for similar securities, and historical collateral performance data. | |
Amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs | ||
Description of the Matter | At December 31, 2020, deferred policy acquisition costs totaled $302 million, of which $286 million related to annuity contracts. As described in Notes A and G to the consolidated financial statements, the carrying amount of the annuity deferred policy acquisition costs is the total of costs deferred less amortization that is calculated in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits of the underlying annuity policies. There is a significant amount of uncertainty inherent in calculating estimated gross profits as the calculation is sensitive to management’s best estimate of assumptions, such as future investment yields and lapse rates. Management’s assumptions are adjusted, also known as unlocking, over time for emerging experience and expected trends. The unlocking results in amortization being recalculated, using the new assumptions for estimated gross profits, that results either in additional or less cumulative amortization expense. Auditing management’s estimate of the amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs was complex because it required the involvement of our actuarial specialists due to the highly judgmental nature of the assumptions used in management’s projection of estimated gross profits, which are used in the amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs. The significant judgment was primarily due to the sensitivity of the estimated gross profits to the expected investment yield and lapse rate assumptions. |
A-2
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the process for estimating amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs. This included, among others, controls over the review and approval processes that management has in place for the assumptions used in measuring estimated gross profits. To test the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs related to annuity contracts, our audit procedures included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of the data used to calculate the estimated gross profits through testing the reconciliation of the underlying data recorded in the source systems to the actuarial valuation models. With the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we evaluated the assumptions used by management in determining estimated gross profits. Also, with the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we compared significant assumptions, including expected investment yields and lapse rates, to prior actual experience and observable market data, and we evaluated management’s estimates of prospective changes in these assumptions. In addition, we performed an independent calculation of estimated and actual gross profits for a sample of product cohorts for comparison with the actuarial model used by management. | |
Valuation of annuity contract embedded derivatives | ||
Description of the Matter | At December 31, 2020, the liability for annuity benefits accumulated included $3.93 billion for the embedded derivatives related to the equity participation feature of the Company’s fixed-indexed annuity products. As described in Note F to the consolidated financial statements, there is a significant amount of estimation uncertainty inherent in measuring the fair value of the embedded derivatives as it includes management’s assumptions of various factors, such as future interest rates, expected stock market performance, budgeted option costs, lapses, and annuitizations. Management’s assumptions are adjusted for emerging experience and expected trends, resulting in changes to the estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives. Auditing management’s estimate of the fair value of the embedded derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuity products was complex because it required the involvement of our actuarial specialists due to the highly judgmental nature of the assumptions used in the valuation process. The significant judgment was primarily due to the sensitivity of the budgeted option costs and lapse assumptions. | |
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the process for estimating the embedded derivatives. This included, among others, the review and approval processes that management has in place for the methods and assumptions used in the valuation process of the embedded derivatives. To test the embedded derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuity products, our procedures included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of data used in the valuation process through testing the reconciliation of the underlying data recorded in the source systems to the actuarial valuation models. With the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we evaluated the methods and assumptions used by management in determining the estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives. We compared the significant assumptions, including expected budget option costs and lapses, to prior actual experience and management’s estimates of prospective changes in these assumptions. In addition, we performed an independent calculation of the embedded derivatives for a sample of policies for comparison with the fair value calculated by the actuarial model used by management. |
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP | ||
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015 | ||
Cincinnati, Ohio | ||
April 26, 2021 |
A-3
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Data)
September 30 | December 31, | |||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 734 | ||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities, available for sale at fair value (amortized cost — $34,003 (unaudited), $31,598 and $36,144; allowance for expected credit losses of $15 at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and $28 at December 31, 2020) | 36,083 | 34,123 | 37,899 | |||||||||
Fixed maturities, trading at fair value | 40 | 42 | 54 | |||||||||
Equity securities, at fair value | 648 | 773 | 809 | |||||||||
Investments accounted for using the equity method | 786 | 1,075 | 985 | |||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,512 | 1,251 | 1,072 | |||||||||
Policy loans | 142 | 151 | 164 | |||||||||
Real estate and other investments | 0 | 341 | 311 | |||||||||
Total cash and investments | 40,519 | 38,907 | 42,028 | |||||||||
Recoverables from reinsurers: | ||||||||||||
Fixed and indexed annuities | 6,522 | 6,539 | 0 | |||||||||
Other | 257 | 267 | 282 | |||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs (including the impact of unrealized gains on securities of $768 (unaudited), $934 and $681) | 474 | 302 | 713 | |||||||||
Accrued investment income | 292 | 278 | 335 | |||||||||
Equity index call options | 646 | 825 | 924 | |||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) | 668 | 664 | 628 | |||||||||
Funds held as collateral | 318 | 351 | 577 | |||||||||
Net deferred tax assets | — | — | 44 | |||||||||
Other assets | 438 | 438 | 362 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 50,134 | $ | 48,571 | $ | 45,893 | ||||||
Liabilities and Equity: | ||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (including the impact of unrealized gains on securities of $287 (unaudited), $324 and $220) | $ | 44,376 | $ | 42,573 | $ | 40,406 | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | 592 | 610 | 612 | |||||||||
Variable annuity liabilities (separate accounts) | 668 | 664 | 628 | |||||||||
Liability for funds held as collateral | 318 | 351 | 577 | |||||||||
Net deferred tax liabilities | 11 | 99 | — | |||||||||
Other liabilities | 431 | 279 | 189 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 46,396 | 44,576 | 42,412 | |||||||||
Shareholder’s equity: | ||||||||||||
Common stock and capital surplus — Par value — $7.50 per share: — 1,200,000 shares authorized — 201,000 shares issued and outstanding | 1,006 | 1,004 | 992 | |||||||||
Retained earnings | 1,884 | 1,874 | 1,741 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax | 848 | 1,070 | 700 | |||||||||
Total shareholder’s equity | 3,738 | 3,948 | 3,433 | |||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 0 | 47 | 48 | |||||||||
Total equity | 3,738 | 3,995 | 3,481 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 50,134 | $ | 48,571 | $ | 45,893 | ||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-
4
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
(In Millions)
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,330 | $ | 1,283 | $ | 1,717 | $ | 1,813 | $ | 1,657 | ||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||
Life, accident and health net earned premiums | 14 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Policy charges and other income | 81 | 76 | 104 | 114 | 115 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,537 | 1,271 | 2,208 | 2,081 | 1,691 | |||||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits | 744 | 905 | 1,192 | 1,151 | 998 | |||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits | 19 | 30 | 40 | 36 | 37 | |||||||||||||||
Insurance acquisition expenses, net | 230 | 251 | 306 | 253 | 260 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 127 | 107 | 141 | 144 | 140 | |||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 1,120 | 1,293 | 1,679 | 1,584 | 1,435 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings (Loss) before income taxes | 417 | (22 | ) | 529 | 497 | 256 | ||||||||||||||
Provision (Benefit) for income taxes | 107 | (8 | ) | 107 | 102 | 47 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss), including noncontrolling interests | 310 | (14 | ) | 422 | 395 | 209 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Shareholder | $ | 310 | $ | (12 | ) | $ | 423 | $ | 393 | $ | 207 | |||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-
5
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In Millions)
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss), including noncontrolling interest s | $ | 310 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 422 | $ | 395 | $ | 209 | |||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period | (184 | ) | 326 | 659 | 654 | (443 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings | (19) | (4 | ) | (313 | ) | (13 | ) | 5 | ||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on securities | (203 | ) | 322 | 346 | 641 | (438 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges | (19 | ) | 24 | 24 | 28 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | (222 | ) | 346 | 370 | 669 | (436 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 88 | 332 | 792 | 1,064 | (227 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to shareholder | $ | 88 | $ | 334 | $ | 793 | $ | 1,062 | $ | (229 | ) | |||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-
6
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(Dollars in Millions)
Shareholder’s Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Shares | Common Stock and Capital Surplus | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Total | Noncontrolling Interests | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | 201,000 | $ | 956 | $ | 1,248 | $ | 557 | $ | 2,761 | $ | 47 | $ | 2,808 | |||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | — | — | 93 | (90 | ) | 3 | — | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | 207 | — | 207 | 2 | 209 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (436 | ) | (436 | ) | — | (436 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent | — | 17 | — | — | 17 | — | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (60 | ) | — | (60 | ) | — | (60 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | 201,000 | $ | 973 | $ | 1,488 | $ | 31 | $ | 2,492 | $ | 47 | $ | 2,539 | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | 393 | — | 393 | 2 | 395 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | 669 | 669 | — | 669 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent | — | 19 | — | — | 19 | — | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (140 | ) | — | (140 | ) | — | (140 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | 201,000 | $ | 992 | $ | 1,741 | $ | 700 | $ | 3,433 | $ | 48 | $ | 3,481 | |||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | — | — | (5 | ) | — | (5 | ) | — | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | — | — | 423 | — | 423 | (1 | ) | 422 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | 370 | 370 | — | 370 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent | — | 12 | — | — | 12 | — | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (285 | ) | — | (285 | ) | — | (285 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | 201,000 | $ | 1,004 | $ | 1,874 | $ | 1,070 | $ | 3,948 | $ | 47 | $ | 3,995 | |||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (unaudited) | — | — | 310 | — | 310 | — | 310 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss (unaudited) | — | — | — | (222 | ) | (222 | ) | — | (222 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent (unaudited) | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends (unaudited) | — | — | (300 | ) | — | (300 | ) | — | (300 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense (unaudited) | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of real estate (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | — | (47 | ) | (47 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | 201,000 | $ | 1,006 | $ | 1,884 | $ | 848 | $ | 3,738 | $ | 0 | $ | 3,738 | |||||||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-
7
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(In Millions)
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss), including noncontrolling interests | $ | 309 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 422 | $ | 395 | $ | 209 | |||||||||
Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (75 | ) | (48 | ) | (68 | ) | (59 | ) | (67 | ) | ||||||||||
Annuity benefits | 744 | 905 | 1,192 | 1,151 | 998 | |||||||||||||||
Realized (gains) losses on investing activities | (112 | ) | 107 | (363 | ) | (132 | ) | 105 | ||||||||||||
Net sales of trading securities | 1 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 59 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred annuity and life policy acquisition costs | (185 | ) | (112 | ) | (155 | ) | (206 | ) | (263 | ) | ||||||||||
Amortization of insurance acquisition costs | 186 | 208 | 250 | 202 | 215 | |||||||||||||||
Change in: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Recoverables from reinsurers | 135 | 25 | (67 | ) | 16 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
Accrued investment income | (14 | ) | 14 | 57 | (9 | ) | (35 | ) | ||||||||||||
Funds held as collateral | 33 | 235 | 226 | (474 | ) | 286 | ||||||||||||||
Other assets | 26 | 24 | (64 | ) | 112 | (71 | ) | |||||||||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (18 | ) | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | (23 | ) | (23 | ) | ||||||||||
Liability for funds held as collateral | (33 | ) | (235 | ) | (226 | ) | 474 | (286 | ) | |||||||||||
Other liabilities | (48 | ) | (45 | ) | 51 | (42 | ) | 11 | ||||||||||||
Other operating activities, net | (305 | ) | 18 | 58 | (74 | ) | (84 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 644 | 1,087 | 1,321 | 1,334 | 1,068 | |||||||||||||||
Investing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | (7,885 | ) | (6,136 | ) | (7,615 | ) | (6,177 | ) | (7,898 | ) | ||||||||||
Equity securities | (78 | ) | (206 | ) | (229 | ) | (126 | ) | (326 | ) | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | (306 | ) | (120 | ) | (243 | ) | (407 | ) | (142 | ) | ||||||||||
Equity index options | (359 | ) | (429 | ) | (544 | ) | (600 | ) | (567 | ) | ||||||||||
Other investments | (77 | ) | (190 | ) | (249 | ) | (220 | ) | (296 | ) | ||||||||||
Real estate, property and equipment | (3 | ) | (6 | ) | (8 | ) | (8 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||||||||
Proceeds from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities | 4,818 | 3,004 | 4,100 | 3,215 | 3,551 | |||||||||||||||
Repayments of mortgage loans | 46 | 33 | 68 | 118 | 155 | |||||||||||||||
Sales of fixed maturities | 960 | 2,658 | 3,065 | 801 | 447 | |||||||||||||||
Sales of equity securities | 339 | 170 | 284 | 214 | 121 | |||||||||||||||
Settlements of equity index options | 835 | 617 | 873 | 666 | 786 | |||||||||||||||
Sales of other investments | 592 | 32 | 79 | 65 | 122 | |||||||||||||||
Other investing activities, net | 9 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (967 | ) | (563 | ) | (416 | ) | (2,449 | ) | (4,052 | ) | ||||||||||
Financing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity receipts | 4,569 | 2,767 | 4,087 | 4,960 | 5,407 | |||||||||||||||
Ceded annuity receipts | (482 | ) | (246 | ) | (492 | ) | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals | (3,105 | ) | (2,466 | ) | (3,546 | ) | (3,358 | ) | (2,916 | ) | ||||||||||
Ceded annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals | 514 | 0 | 206 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Net transfers from variable annuity assets | 62 | 44 | 61 | 60 | 47 | |||||||||||||||
Cash transferred in reinsurance | 0 | 0 | (554 | ) | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank | 0 | 200 | 200 | 0 | 225 | |||||||||||||||
Repayments to Federal Home Loan Bank | (731 | ) | (40 | ) | (165 | ) | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Cash dividends paid | (300 | ) | (60 | ) | (285 | ) | (140 | ) | (60 | ) | ||||||||||
Other financing activities, net | (47 | ) | 1 | 0 | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 480 | 200 | (488 | ) | 1,520 | 2,702 | ||||||||||||||
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents | 157 | 724 | 417 | 405 | (282 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,151 | 734 | 734 | 329 | 611 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,458 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 734 | $ | 329 | ||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-
8
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
INDEX TO NOTES
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A. | A-9 | |||||
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A.
Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Great American Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (“GALIC” or the “Company”). As of May 28, 2021 (unaudited) GALIC is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Glidepath Holdings Inc., a financial services holding company wholly-owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Prior to that date GALIC was a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Great American Financial Resources, Inc. (“GAFRI”), a financial services holding company wholly-owned by American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”).
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years to conform to the current year’s presentation. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The results of operations of companies since their for
m
ation or acquisition are included in the consolidated financial statements. The financial statements also include costs paid on behalf of GALIC by GAFRI. These costs are recorded as expense in the period incurred and shown as an increase in capital surplus. Events or transactions occurring subsequent to the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and prior to April 26, 2021, have been evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure herein.The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Changes in circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimates.
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Information
September 30, 2021, and the consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the nine months
ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the nine months ended
September 30, 2021 and the related footnote disclosures are unaudited. Unaudited disclosures also include all disclosures related to post-acquisition activities between GALIC and Mass Mutual. The impact of purchase accounting related to the post-acquisition between GALIC and Mass Mutual is currently being reviewed. These unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim consolidated
financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and include all adjustments,
which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of GALIC’s statement of financial position
as of September 30, 2021 and GALIC’s consolidated results of operations and GALIC’s cash flows for the nine months ended
September 30, 2021 and 2020. Events or transactions occurring subsequent to September 30, 2021, and prior to the filing of
these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, have been evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure herein.
The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full
fiscal year.
Fair Value Measurements
Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The standards establish a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the assumptions that market participants would
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GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)use in pricing the asset or liability (“inputs”) are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect GALIC’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. GALIC did not have any material nonrecurring fair value measurements the first nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) or in 2020 or 2019.
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
On January 1, 2020, GALIC adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2016-13,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
The updated guidance also amended the current other-than-temporary impairment model for available for sale debt securities by requiring the recognition of impairments relating to credit losses through an allowance and limits the amount of credit loss to the difference between a security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. Subsequent increases or decreases in expected credit losses will be recorded immediately in net earnings through realized gains (losses).
Investments
On January 1, 2018, GALIC adopted ASU
2016-01,
which requires all equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method to be reported at fair value with holding gains and losses recognized in net earnings. At December 31, 2017, GALIC had $593 million in equity securities classified as “available for sale” under the prior guidance with holding gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) instead of net earnings. At the date of adoption, the $90 million net unrealized gain on equity securities included in AOCI was reclassified to retained earnings as the cumulative effect of an accounting change. The cumulative effect of the accounting change also includes the net unrealized gain on GALIC’s small number of limited partnerships and similar investments carried at cost under the prior guidance that are carried at fair value through net earnings under the new guidance ($3 million net of tax at the date of adoption).Holding gains and losses on equity securities carried at fair value are generally recorded in realized gains (losses) on securities. However, GALIC records holding gains and losses on securities classified as “trading” under previous guidance, its small portfolio of limited partnerships and similar investments carried at fair value and certain other securities classified at purchase as “fair value through net investment income” in net investment income.
Fixed maturity securities classified as “available for sale” are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet. Fixed maturity securities classified as “trading” are reported at fair value with changes in unrealized holding gains or losses during the period included in net investment income. Mortgage loans (net of any allowance) and policy loans are carried primarily at the aggregate unpaid balance.
Premiums and discounts on fixed maturity securities are amortized using the effective interest method. Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) are amortized over a period based on estimated future principal payments, including prepayments. Prepayment assumptions are reviewed periodically and adjusted to reflect actual prepayments and changes in expectations.
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GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Limited partnerships and similar investments are generally accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, GALIC records its share of the earnings or losses of the investee based on when they are reported by the investee in its financial statements rather than in the period in which the investee declares a dividend. GALIC’s share of the earnings or losses from equity method investments is generally recorded on a quarter lag due to the timing of the receipt of the investee’s financial statements. GALIC’s equity in the earnings (losses) of limited partnerships and similar investments is included in net investment income.
Realized gains or losses on the disposal of fixed maturity securities are determined on the specific identification basis. When a decline in the value of an available for sale fixed maturity is considered to be other-than-temporary at the balance sheet date, an allowance for credit losses (impairment), including anyabove for a discussion of new guidance adopted on January 1, 2020.
write-off
of accrued interest, is charged to earnings (included in realized gains (losses) on securities). If management can assert that it does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that it will have to sell it before recovery of its amortized cost basis (net of allowance), then the impairment allowance is separated into two components: (i) the amount related to credit losses (recorded in earnings) and (ii) the amount related to all other factors (recorded in other comprehensive income). The credit-related portion is measured by comparing a security’s amortized cost to the present value of its current expected cash flows discounted at its effective yield prior to the charge. If management intends to sell an impaired security, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, an impairment is recorded in earnings to reduce the amortized cost (net of allowance) of that security to fair value. See“Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”
Derivatives
Derivatives included in GALIC’s Balance Sheet are recorded at fair value. Changes in fair value of derivatives are included in earnings, unless the derivatives are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges. Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP consist primarily of (i) components of certain fixed maturity securities (primarily interest-only and principal-only MBS) and (ii) the equity-based component of certain annuity products (included in annuity benefits accumulated) and related equity index options designed to be consistent with the characteristics of the liabilities and used to mitigate the risk embedded in those annuity products.
To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of a derivative contract, GALIC formally documents the relationship between the terms of the hedge and the hedged items and its risk management objective. This documentation includes defining how hedge effectiveness and ineffectiveness will be measured on a retrospective and prospective basis.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges are recorded in AOCI and are reclassified into earnings when the variability of the cash flows from the hedged items impacts earnings. When the change in the fair value of a qualifying cash flow hedge is included in earnings, it is included in the same line item in the statement of earnings as the cash flows from the hedged item. GALIC uses interest rate swaps that are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges to mitigate interest rate risk related to certain floating-rate securities included in GALIC’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities.
Funds Held as Collateral
GALIC receives collateral from certain counterparties to support its purchased equity index call option assets (net of collateral required under put option contracts with the same counterparties). The fair value of this collateral is recorded as an asset and the offsetting obligation to return the collateral is recorded as a liability.
Reinsurance
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the reinsured policies. A GALIC subsidiary cedes life insurance policies to a third party on a funds withheld basis whereby the subsidiary retains the assets (securities) associated with the reinsurance contract. Interest is credited to the reinsurer based on the actual investment performance of the retained assets. This reinsurance contract is considered to contain an embedded derivative (that must be adjusted to fair value) because the yield on the payable is based on a specific block of the ceding company’s assets, rather than the overall creditworthiness of the ceding company. GALIC determined that changes in the fair value of the underlying portfolio of fixed maturity securities is an appropriate measure of the value of the embedded derivative. The securities related to this contract are classified as “trading.” The adjustment to fair value on the embedded derivative offsets the investment income recorded on the adjustment to fair value of the related trading portfolio.
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1
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Certain reinsurance arrangements in GALIC’s fixed and indexed annuity operations do not transfer significant insurance risk and are therefore accounted for using the deposit method. This accounting treatment results in amounts paid by GALIC to the reinsurer to be recorded as a deposit asset. The reinsurance deposit asset (reinsurance recoverable) is adjusted as amounts are paid or received under the underlying contracts. GALIC’s reinsurance partner posts collateral in excess of amounts due to GALIC under these contracts. Under reinsurance accounting guidance on transactions involving annuities, the gain or loss is deferred and recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts (using methods similar to those used to amortize DPAC).
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (“DPAC”)
Policy acquisition costs (principally commissions, premium taxes and certain underwriting and policy issuance costs) directly related to the successful acquisition or renewal of an insurance contract are deferred. DPAC also includes capitalized costs associated with sales inducements offered to fixed annuity policyholders such as enhanced interest rates and premium and persistency bonuses.
DPAC related to annuities is deferred to the extent deemed recoverable and amortized, with interest, in relation to the present value of actual and expected gross profits on the policies. Expected gross profits consist principally of estimated future investment margin (estimated future net investment income less interest credited on policyholder funds) and surrender, mortality, and other life and annuity policy charges, less death, annuitization and guaranteed withdrawal benefits in excess of account balances and estimated future policy administration expenses. To the extent that realized gains and losses result in adjustments to the amortization of DPAC related to annuities, such adjustments are reflected as components of realized gains (losses) on securities.
DPAC related to traditional life and health insurance is amortized over the expected premium paying period of the related policies, in proportion to the ratio of annual premium revenues to total anticipated premium revenues. Seebelow for details on the impact of loss recognition on the accounting for traditional life and health insurance contracts.
“Life, Accident and Health Reserves”
DPAC includes the present value of future profits on business in force of annuity and life, accident and health insurance companies acquired (“PVFP”). PVFP represents the portion of the costs to acquire companies that is allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from insurance contracts existing at the date of acquisition. PVFP is amortized with interest in relation to expected gross profits of the acquired policies for annuities and universal life products and in relation to the premium paying period for traditional life and health insurance products.
DPAC and certain other balance sheet amounts related to annuity and life businesses are also adjusted, net of tax, for the change in expense that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains (losses) from securities had actually been realized. These adjustments are included in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, a component of AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Annuity Benefits Accumulated
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2
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
For certain products, annuity benefits accumulated also includes reserves for accrued persistency and premium bonuses, guaranteed withdrawals and excess benefits expected to be paid on future deaths and annuitizations (“EDAR”). The liabilities for EDAR and guaranteed withdrawals are accrued for and modified using assumptions consistent with those used in determining DPAC and DPAC amortization, except that amounts are determined in relation to the present value of total expected assessments. Total expected assessments consist principally of estimated future investment margin, surrender, mortality, and other life and annuity policy charges, and unearned revenues once they are recognized as income.
Annuity benefits accumulated also includes amounts advanced from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.
Unearned Revenue
Life, Accident and Health Reserves
Liabilities for future policy benefits under traditional life, accident and health policies are computed using the net level premium method. Computations are based on the original projections of investment yields, mortality, morbidity and surrenders and include provisions for unfavorable deviations unless a loss recognition event (premium deficiency) occurs. Claim reserves and liabilities established for accident and health claims are modified as necessary to reflect actual experience and developing trends.
For long-duration contracts (such as traditional life and long-term care policies), loss recognition occurs when, based on current expectations as of the measurement date, existing contract liabilities plus the present value of future premiums (including reasonably expected rate increases) are not expected to cover the present value of future claims payments and related settlement and maintenance costs (excluding overhead) as well as unamortized acquisition costs. If a block of business is determined to be in loss recognition, a charge is recorded in earnings in an amount equal to the excess of the present value of expected future claims costs and unamortized acquisition costs over existing reserves plus the present value of expected future premiums (with no provision for adverse deviation). The charge is recorded first to reduce unamortized acquisition costs and then as an additional reserve (if unamortized acquisition costs have been reduced to zero).
In addition, reserves for traditional life policies are subject to adjustment for loss recognition charges that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains (losses) from securities had actually been realized. This adjustment is included in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, a component of AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Variable Annuity Assets and Liabilities
Separate accounts related to variable annuities represent the fair value of deposits invested in underlying investment funds on which GALIC earns a fee. Investment funds are selected and may be changed only by the policyholder, who retains all investment risk.
GALIC’s variable annuity contracts contain a guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) to be paid if the policyholder dies before the annuity payout period commences. In periods of declining equity markets, the GMDB may exceed the value of the policyholder’s account. A GMDB liability is established for future excess death benefits using assumptions together with a range of reasonably possible scenarios for investment fund performance that are consistent with DPAC capitalization and amortization assumptions.
Leases
2016-02,
which requires entities that lease assets for terms longer than one year to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases on the balance sheet based on the present value of contractual cash flows. As permitted under the ASU, GALIC adopted the guidance on a modified retrospective basis (comparative periods were not adjusted) and elected the following accounting policies and practical expedients:• | exclude leases with a term of 12 months or less from the calculation of lease assets and liabilities, |
• | not separate lease and non-lease components except for buildings (office space and storage facilities), |
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3
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
• | for contracts existing at the date of adoption — not reassess whether a contract is a lease or contains a lease, how initial direct costs were accounted for or whether the lease is an operating or finance lease, and |
• | use hindsight to determine the lease term for leases existing at the date of adoption. |
GALIC did not have any material leases at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) or in 2020 or 2019.
Noncontrolling Interests
Premium Recognition
Income Taxes
year-end,
additional settlements are made on the original due date of the return and, when extended, at the time the return is filed. The method of allocation among the companies under the agreement is based upon separate return calculations with current credit for losses to the extent the losses provide a benefit in the consolidated return.Beginning in June of 2021 (unaudited) GALIC and its subsidiaries entered into a separate intercompany tax allocation agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, each company’s tax expense is determined based upon its inclusion in the consolidated tax return of GALIC and its includable subsidiaries. Estimated payments are made quarterly during the year. Following
year-end,
additional settlements are made on the original due date of the return and, when extended, at the time the return is filed. The method of allocation amo
ng the companies under the agreement is based upon separate return calculations with current credit for losses to the extent the losses provide a benefit in the consolidated return.Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases and are measured using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is established to reduce total deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recorded in net earnings in the period that includes the enactment date.
GALIC recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained under examination by the appropriate taxing authority. Interest and penalties on GALIC’s reserve for uncertain tax positions are recognized as a component of tax expense.
Benefit Plans
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GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Statement of Cash Flows
B.
Segments of Operations
GALIC manages its business as 2 segments: (i) Annuity and
(ii) Run-off
life. GALIC’s annuity business sells traditional fixed and indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions, broker-dealer and registered investment advisor markets. GALIC’s reportable segments and their components were determined based primarily upon similar economic characteristics, products and services.The following tables (in millions) show GALIC’s assets, revenues and earnings before income taxes by segment.
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 47,886 | $ | 45,217 | $ | 40,115 | ||||||
Run-off life | 685 | 676 | 686 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 48,571 | $ | 45,893 | $ | 40,801 | ||||||
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,316 | $ | 1,268 | $ | 1,699 | $ | 1,792 | $ | 1,638 | ||||||||||
Other income | 76 | 73 | 97 | 108 | 108 | |||||||||||||||
Total annuity | 1,392 | 1,341 | 1,796 | 1,900 | 1,746 | |||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 33 | 35 | 47 | 49 | 50 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues before realized gains (losses) | 1,425 | 1,376 | 1,843 | 1,949 | 1,796 | |||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,271 | $ | 2,208 | $ | 2,081 | $ | 1,691 | ||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings Before (Loss) Income Taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 303 | $ | 89 | $ | 170 | $ | 363 | $ | 363 | ||||||||||
Run-off life | 2 | (6 | ) | (6 | ) | 2 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total earnings before realized gains (losses) and income taxes | 305 | 83 | 164 | 365 | 361 | |||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total earnings (loss) before income taxes | $ | 417 | $ | (22 | ) | $ | 529 | $ | 497 | $ | 256 | |||||||||
C.
Fair Value Measurements
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GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Accounting standards for measuring fair value are based on inputs used in estimating fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets (markets in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis). GALIC’s Level 1 financial instruments consist primarily of publicly traded equity and debt securities for which quoted market prices in active markets are available.
Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets (markets in which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, price quotations vary substantially over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly); and valuations based on other significant inputs that are observable in active markets. GALIC’s Level 2 financial instruments include separate account assets, highly liquid government bonds, corporate and municipal fixed maturity securities, asset-backed securities (“ABS”), mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), certain
non-affiliated
common stocks and equity index options priced using observable inputs. Level 2 inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, issuer spreads and benchmark securities.Level 3 — Valuations derived from market valuation techniques generally consistent with those used to estimate the fair values of Level 2 financial instruments in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable or when the market for a security exhibits significantly less liquidity relative to markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements. The unobservable inputs may include management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use based on the best information available at the valuation date. Financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based mostly on internally developed using significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, observable market information are classified as Level 3.
For the first five months of 2021 and in prior years, AFG’s management was responsible for the valuation process and uses data from outside sources (including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers) in establishing fair value. The Company’s internal investment professionals are a group of approximately 20 investment professionals whose primary responsibility is to manage AFG’s investment portfolio. These professionals monitor individual investments as well as overall industries and are active in the financial markets on a daily basis. The group is led by AFG’s chief investment officer, who reports directly to one of AFG’s Co-CEOs. Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by AFG’s internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price. To validate the appropriateness of the prices obtained, these investment managers consider widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. In addition, the Company communicates directly with the pricing services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing, including verifying, on a test basis, the inputs used by the service to value specific securities.
Beginning in June of 2021 MassMutual assumed responsibility for the valuation process and uses data from outside sources (including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers) in establishing fair value. General Investment Account valuation is provided by MassMutual’s Pricing Operations team, a group is led by MassMutual’s Head of Investment Operations who reports directly to MassMutual’s Chief Investment Officer. Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by members of MassMutual’s Pricing Operations team. Asset valuation specialists, MassMutual internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade, review prices that breach defined tolerance thresholds to determine if the price is appropriate. In addition, the Investment Pricing Operations team considers widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. The Investment Pricing Operations team communicates directly with the pricing services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing as needed on an ad hoc basis and during annual pricing vendor due diligence procedures.
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GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Available for sale (“AFS”) fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 0 | $ | 25 | $ | 0 | $ | 25 | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 0 | 2,885 | 59 | 2,944 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | 0 | 34 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 0 | 2,516 | 2 | 2,518 | ||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 0 | 593 | 9 | 602 | ||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 0 | 3,290 | 0 | 3,290 | ||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 298 | 6,742 | 1,026 | 8,066 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 28 | 16,847 | 1,729 | 18,604 | ||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 326 | 32,932 | 2,825 | 36,083 | ||||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | 0 | 40 | 0 | 40 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities | 68 | 199 | 381 | 648 | ||||||||||||
Equity index call options | 0 | 646 | 0 | 646 | ||||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | 0 | 668 | 0 | 668 | ||||||||||||
Other assets — derivatives | 0 | 59 | 0 | 59 | ||||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 394 | $ | 34,544 | $ | 3,206 | $ | 38,144 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 4,208 | $ | 4,208 | ||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | 0 | $ | 19 | $ | 4,208 | $ | 4,227 | ||||||||
(*) | Variable annuity liabilities equal the fair value of variable annuity assets. |
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GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Available for sale (“AFS”) fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 6 | $ | 23 | $ | 15 | $ | 44 | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 0 | 3,358 | 64 | 3,422 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | 0 | 34 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 0 | 2,013 | 127 | 2,140 | ||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 0 | 688 | 10 | 698 | ||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 0 | 3,443 | 48 | 3,491 | ||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 0 | 4,107 | 1,069 | 5,176 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 41 | 17,733 | 1,344 | 19,118 | ||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 47 | 31,399 | 2,677 | 34,123 | ||||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | 0 | 42 | 0 | 42 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities | 431 | 49 | 293 | 773 | ||||||||||||
Equity index call options | 0 | 825 | 0 | 825 | ||||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | 0 | 664 | 0 | 664 | ||||||||||||
Other assets — derivatives | 0 | 102 | 0 | 102 | ||||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 478 | $ | 33,081 | $ | 2,970 | $ | 36,529 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 3,933 | $ | 3,933 | ||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | 0 | $ | 10 | $ | 3,933 | $ | 3,943 | ||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Available for sale fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 6 | $ | 24 | $ | 15 | $ | 45 | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 0 | 4,284 | 65 | 4,349 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | 0 | 34 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 0 | 1,971 | 128 | 2,099 | ||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 0 | 806 | 29 | 835 | ||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 0 | 3,365 | 14 | 3,379 | ||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 0 | 4,357 | 1,030 | 5,387 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 16 | 20,220 | 1,535 | 21,771 | ||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 22 | 35,061 | 2,816 | 37,899 | ||||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | 0 | 54 | 0 | 54 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities | 492 | 41 | 276 | 809 | ||||||||||||
Equity index call options | 0 | 924 | 0 | 924 | ||||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | 0 | 628 | 0 | 628 | ||||||||||||
Other assets — derivatives | 0 | 50 | 0 | 50 | ||||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 514 | $ | 36,758 | $ | 3,092 | $ | 40,364 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 3,730 | $ | 3,730 | ||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | 0 | $ | 10 | $ | 3,730 | $ | 3,740 | ||||||||
(*) | Variable annuity liabilities equal the fair value of variable annuity assets. |
A-1
8
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Approximately 8% of the total assets carried at fair value on September 30, 2021 (unaudited) were Level 3 assets. Approximately $
49
million (2
%) of the Level 3 assets were priced by pricing services where either a single price was not corroborated, prices varied enough among the providers or other market factors led management to determine these securities should be classified as Level 3 assets.Internally developed Level 3 asset fair values represent approximately $
3.14
billion (98
%) of the total fair value of Level 3 assets at September 30, 2021 (unaudited). The fixed maturities are priced using a variety of inputs, including appropriate credit spreads over the treasury yield (of a similar duration), trade information and prices of comparable securities and other security specific features (such as optional early redemption). Internally developed prices for equity securities are based primarily on financial information of the entities invested in and sales of comparable companies. Management believes that any justifiable changes in unobservable inputs used to determine internally developed fair values would not have resulted in a material change in GALIC’s financial position.The derivatives embedded in GALIC’s fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity liabilities are measured using a discounted cash flow approach and had a fair value of $
4.21
billion at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and $3.93
billion at December 31, 2020.The following table presents information about the unobservable inputs used by management in determining fair value of these Level 3 liabilities at September 30, 2021 (unaudited). See
Note F — “Derivatives.”
Unobservable Input | Range | |
Adjustment for insurance subsidiary’s credit risk | 0% – 2.2% over the risk-free rate | |
Risk margin for uncertainty in cash flows | 0.99% reduction in the discount rate | |
Surrenders | 7% – 22% of indexed account value | |
Partial surrenders | 2% – 10% of indexed account value | |
Annuitizations | 0.1% – 1% of indexed account value | |
Deaths | 2.0% – 13.7% of indexed account value | |
Budgeted option costs | 2.2% – 2.8% of indexed account value |
The range of adjustments for credit risk is based on the Moody’s corporate A2 bond index and reflects credit spread variations across the yield curve. The range of projected surrender rates reflects the specific surrender charges and other features of GALIC’s individual fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity products with an expected range of 8% to 11% in the majority of future calendar years (
7
% to 22% over all periods). Increasing the budgeted option cost or risk margin for uncertainty in cash flow assumptions in the table above would increase the fair value of the fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity embedded derivatives, while increasing any of the other unobservable inputs in the table above would decrease the fair value of the embedded derivatives.A-1
9
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Changes in balances of Level 3 financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are presented below (in millions). The transfers into and out of Level 3 were due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs and $20 million of equity securities transferred into Level 3 in the first quarter of 2018 related to a small number of limited partnerships and similar investments carried at cost under the prior guidance that are carried at fair value through net earnings under new guidance adopted on January 1, 2018, as discussed in —All transfers are reflected in the table at fair value as of the end of the reporting period.
Note A
“Accounting Policies
— Investments.”
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 15 | $ | 3 | $ | (18 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 64 | 0 | (2 | ) | 0 | (3 | ) | 0 | 0 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 127 | (3 | ) | 1 | 0 | (13 | ) | 2 | (112 | ) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 10 | (1 | ) | 0 | 0 | (1 | ) | 8 | (7 | ) | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 48 | 3 | (3 | ) | 0 | (1 | ) | 0 | (47 | ) | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 1,069 | 5 | 3 | 330 | (318 | ) | 152 | (215 | ) | 1,026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 1,344 | 0 | 58 | 235 | (134 | ) | 295 | (69 | ) | 1,729 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 2,677 | 7 | 39 | 565 | (470 | ) | 457 | (450 | ) | 2,825 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 293 | 91 | 0 | 69 | (65 | ) | 0 | (7 | ) | 381 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 2,970 | $ | 98 | $ | 39 | $ | 634 | $ | (535 | ) | $ | 457 | $ | (457 | ) | $ | 3,206 | ||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives | $ | (3,933 | ) | $ | (296 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | (283 | ) | $ | 304 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (4,208 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (3,933 | ) | $ | (296 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | (283 | ) | $ | 304 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (4,208 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 15 | $ | 3 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 15 | |||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 65 | 0 | 4 | 0 | (3 | ) | 0 | (2 | ) | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 128 | (6 | ) | (7 | ) | 0 | (13 | ) | 49 | (24 | ) | 127 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (3 | ) | 1 | (17 | ) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 14 | (5 | ) | 17 | 0 | 0 | 135 | (113 | ) | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 1,030 | (10 | ) | 14 | 296 | (282 | ) | 173 | (152 | ) | 1,069 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 1,535 | 2 | 34 | 227 | (130 | ) | 128 | (452 | ) | 1,344 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 2,816 | (16 | ) | 59 | 523 | (431 | ) | 486 | (760 | ) | 2,677 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 276 | (1 | ) | 0 | 35 | (12 | ) | 9 | (14 | ) | 293 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 3,092 | $ | (17 | ) | $ | 59 | $ | 558 | $ | (443 | ) | $ | 495 | $ | (774 | ) | $ | 2,970 | |||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives (*) | $ | (3,730 | ) | $ | (283 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | (242 | ) | $ | 322 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (3,933 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (3,730 | ) | $ | (283 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | (242 | ) | $ | 322 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (3,933 | ) | ||||||||||||
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net earnings for the embedded derivatives reflects a favorable adjustment related to the unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $ 240 million in 2020. |
A-
20
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 8 | $ | 0 | $ | 7 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 59 | 0 | 6 | 0 | (3 | ) | 10 | (7 | ) | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 161 | 3 | (3 | ) | 0 | (18 | ) | 36 | (51 | ) | 128 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 48 | 2 | 0 | 0 | (13 | ) | 3 | (11 | ) | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 85 | (4 | ) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | (85 | ) | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 543 | 0 | 5 | 727 | (162 | ) | 23 | (106 | ) | 1,030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 1,719 | (1 | ) | 53 | 378 | (250 | ) | 28 | (392 | ) | 1,535 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 2,623 | 0 | 72 | 1,105 | (446 | ) | 114 | (652 | ) | 2,816 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 212 | 8 | 0 | 36 | (2 | ) | 22 | 0 | 276 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 2,835 | $ | 8 | $ | 72 | $ | 1,141 | $ | (448 | ) | $ | 136 | $ | (652 | ) | $ | 3,092 | ||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives (*) | $ | (2,720 | ) | $ | (919 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | (333 | ) | $ | 242 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (3,730 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (2,720 | ) | $ | (919 | ) | $ | 0 | $ | (333 | ) | $ | 242 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (3,730 | ) | ||||||||||||
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net earnings for the embedded derivatives includes a favorable adjustment related to the unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $ 181 million in 2019. |
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 8 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 72 | 0 | (3 | ) | 0 | (2 | ) | 0 | (8 | ) | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 99 | (5 | ) | (4 | ) | 0 | (18 | ) | 106 | (17 | ) | 161 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 34 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 142 | (2 | ) | (9 | ) | 24 | (11 | ) | 2 | (61 | ) | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 398 | 0 | (1 | ) | 292 | (171 | ) | 69 | (44 | ) | 543 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 941 | (9 | ) | (18 | ) | 986 | (148 | ) | 26 | (59 | ) | 1,719 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 1,694 | (16 | ) | (35 | ) | 1,316 | (350 | ) | 203 | (189 | ) | 2,623 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 105 | (4 | ) | 0 | 106 | (4 | ) | 20 | (11 | ) | 212 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 1,799 | $ | (20 | ) | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 1,422 | $ | (354 | ) | $ | 223 | $ | (200 | ) | $ | 2,835 | ||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives (*) | $ | (2,542 | ) | $ | 204 | $ | 0 | $ | (545 | ) | $ | 163 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (2,720 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (2,542 | ) | $ | 204 | $ | 0 | $ | (545 | ) | $ | 163 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | (2,720 | ) | |||||||||||||
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net earnings for the embedded derivatives includes losses related to the unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $ 44 million in 2018. |
A-
2
1GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value and fair value of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Carrying | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||
Value | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,308 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,512 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 142 | 142 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 2,962 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,151 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,251 | 1,271 | 0 | 0 | 1,271 | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 151 | 151 | 0 | 0 | 151 | |||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 2,553 | $ | 2,573 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,422 | ||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | 41,460 | $ | 43,081 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 43,081 | ||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | 41,460 | $ | 43,081 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 43,081 | ||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 734 | $ | 734 | $ | 734 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,072 | 1,081 | 0 | 0 | 1,081 | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 164 | 164 | 0 | 0 | 164 | |||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 1,970 | $ | 1,979 | $ | 734 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,245 | ||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | 40,160 | $ | 40,182 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 40,182 | ||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | 40,160 | $ | 40,182 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 40,182 | ||||||||||
(*) | Excludes $ 1.16 1.11 billion and $247 million of life contingent annuities in the payout phase at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. |
A-
22
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
D.
Balance Sheet Impact of Net Unrealized Gains on Securities
In addition to adjusting fixed maturity securities classified as “available for sale” to fair value, GAAP requires that deferred policy acquisition costs and certain other balance sheet amounts related to annuity and life businesses be adjusted to the extent that unrealized gains and losses from securities would result in adjustments to those balances had the unrealized gains or losses actually been realized. The following table shows (in millions) the components of the net unrealized gains on securities that is included in AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Asset (Liability) before Net Unrealized | Impact of Net Unrealized Gains on Securities | Carrying Value of Asset (Liability) | ||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 33,988 | $ | 2,095 | $ | 36,083 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 1,242 | (768 | ) | 474 | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (44,089 | ) | (287 | ) | (44,376 | ) | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (589 | ) | (3 | ) | (592 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue (included in other liabilities) | (25 | ) | 8 | (17 | ) | |||||||
Net unrealized gain, pretax | 1,045 | |||||||||||
Deferred tax on unrealized gain | (219 | ) | ||||||||||
Net unrealized gain, after tax (included in AOCI) | $ | 826 | ||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 31,570 | $ | 2,553 | $ | 34,123 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 1,236 | (934 | ) | 302 | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (42,249 | ) | (324 | ) | (42,573 | ) | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (607 | ) | (3 | ) | (610 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue (included in other liabilities) | (26 | ) | 11 | (15 | ) | |||||||
Net unrealized gain, pretax | 1,303 | |||||||||||
Deferred tax on unrealized gain | (274 | ) | ||||||||||
Net unrealized gain, after tax (included in AOCI) | $ | 1,029 | ||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 36,144 | $ | 1,755 | $ | 37,899 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 1,394 | (681 | ) | 713 | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (40,186 | ) | (220 | ) | (40,406 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue (included in other liabilities) | (23 | ) | 11 | (12 | ) | |||||||
Net unrealized gain, pretax | 865 | |||||||||||
Deferred tax on unrealized gain | (182 | ) | ||||||||||
Net unrealized gain, after tax (included in AOCI) | $ | 683 | ||||||||||
A-2
3
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
E.
Investments
Available for sale fixed maturities at September 30 (unaudited) and December 31 consisted of the following (in millions):
Amortized Cost | Allowance for Expected Credit Losses | Gross Unrealized | Net Unrealized | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gains | Losses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 39 | $ | 0 | $ | 2 | $ | (16 | ) | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 25 | ||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 2,680 | 0 | 264 | 0 | 264 | 2,944 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 2,362 | 2 | 166 | (8 | ) | 158 | 2,518 | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 573 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 29 | 602 | ||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 3,279 | 3 | 18 | (4 | ) | 14 | 3,290 | |||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 7,982 | 10 | 142 | (48 | ) | 94 | 8,066 | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 17,057 | 0 | 1,563 | (16 | ) | 1,547 | 18,604 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | 34,003 | $ | 15 | $ | 2,187 | $ | (92 | ) | $ | 2,095 | $ | 36,083 | |||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 40 | $ | 0 | $ | 4 | $ | 0 | $ | 4 | $ | 44 | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 3,053 | 0 | 371 | (2 | ) | 369 | 3,422 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 1,954 | 3 | 192 | (3 | ) | 189 | 2,140 | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 659 | 0 | 40 | (1 | ) | 39 | 698 | |||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 3,490 | 10 | 24 | (13 | ) | 11 | 3,491 | |||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 5,099 | 11 | 142 | (54 | ) | 88 | 5,176 | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 17,272 | 4 | 1,874 | (24 | ) | 1,850 | 19,118 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | 31,598 | $ | 28 | $ | 2,650 | $ | (97 | ) | $ | 2,553 | $ | 34,123 | |||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 38 | $ | 0 | $ | 7 | $ | 0 | $ | 7 | $ | 45 | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 4,080 | 0 | 270 | (1 | ) | 269 | 4,349 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 1,909 | 0 | 193 | (3 | ) | 190 | 2,099 | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 807 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 835 | ||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 3,401 | 0 | 8 | (30 | ) | (22 | ) | 3,379 | ||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 5,265 | 0 | 138 | (16 | ) | 122 | 5,387 | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 20,613 | 0 | 1,176 | (18 | ) | 1,158 | 21,771 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | 36,144 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,823 | $ | (68 | ) | $ | 1,755 | $ | 37,899 | |||||||||||
Equity securities, which are reported at fair value with holding gains and losses recognized in net earnings, consisted of the following at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
A-2
4
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value | Fair Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
over (under) | over (under) | over (under) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual Cost | Fair Value | Cost | Actual Cost | Fair Value | Cost | Actual Cost | Fair Value | Cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stocks | $ | 0 | $ | 241 | $ | 0 | $ | 423 | $ | 412 | $ | (11 | ) | $ | 497 | $ | 552 | $ | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
Perpetual preferred stocks | 0 | 407 | 0 | 333 | 361 | 28 | 249 | 257 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity securities carried at fair value | $ | 0 | $ | 648 | $ | 0 | $ | 756 | $ | 773 | $ | 17 | $ | 746 | $ | 809 | $ | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||
The following tables show gross unrealized losses (dollars in millions) on available for sale fixed maturities by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss po
s
ition at the following balance sheet dates.Less Than Twelve Months | Twelve Months or More | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized Loss | | Fair Value | | Fair Value as % of Cost | | Unrealized Loss | | Fair Value | | Fair Value as % of Cost | | |||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | (16 | ) | $ | 1 | 6 | % | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 0 | 5 | 100 | % | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | (6 | ) | 907 | 99 | % | (2 | ) | 20 | 91 | % | ||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 0 | 9 | 100 | % | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | (3 | ) | 433 | 99 | % | (1 | ) | 259 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | (37 | ) | 2,410 | 98 | % | (11 | ) | 314 | 97 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (13 | ) | 723 | 98 | % | (3 | ) | 139 | 98 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (75 | ) | $ | 4,488 | 98 | % | $ | (17 | ) | $ | 732 | 98 | % | ||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | % | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (2 | ) | 80 | 98 | % | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | (2 | ) | 124 | 98 | % | (1 | ) | 23 | 96 | % | ||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | (1 | ) | 32 | 97 | % | 0 | 5 | 100 | % | |||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | (2 | ) | 496 | 100 | % | (11 | ) | 1,256 | 99 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | (35 | ) | 974 | 97 | % | (19 | ) | 295 | 94 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (20 | ) | 724 | 97 | % | (4 | ) | 107 | 96 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (62 | ) | $ | 2,430 | 98 | % | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 1,686 | 98 | % | ||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | % | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (1 | ) | 105 | 99 | % | 0 | 5 | 100 | % | |||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | (2 | ) | 315 | 99 | % | (1 | ) | 15 | 94 | % | ||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 0 | 11 | 100 | % | 0 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | (9 | ) | 995 | 99 | % | (21 | ) | 1,363 | 98 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | (11 | ) | 838 | 99 | % | (5 | ) | 91 | 95 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (11 | ) | 937 | 99 | % | (7 | ) | 202 | 97 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (34 | ) | $ | 3,201 | 99 | % | $ | (34 | ) | $ | 1,676 | 98 | % | ||||||||||
A-2
5
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
At September 30, 2021, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of $92 million relate to 320 securities
(unaudited).
Investment grade securities (as determined by nationally recognized rating agencies) represented approximately 65% of the gross unrealized loss and 84% of the fair value.
At December 31, 2020, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of $97 million relate to 568 securities. Investment grade securities (as determined by nationally recognized rating agencies) represented approximately 76% of the gross unrealized loss and 87% of the fair value.
To evaluate fixed maturities for expected credit losses (impairment), management considers whether the unrealized loss is credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates, the extent to which fair value is less than cost basis, historical operating, balance sheet and cash flow data from the issuer, third party research and communications with industry specialists and discussions with issuer management.
GALIC analyzes its MBS securities for expected credit losses (impairment) each quarter based upon expected future cash flows. Management estimates expected future cash flows based upon its knowledge of the MBS market, cash flow projections (which reflect loan to collateral values, subordination, vintage and geographic concentration) received from independent sources, implied cash flows inherent in security ratings and analysis of historical payment data.
Management believes GALIC will recover its cost basis (net of any allowance) in the securities with unrealized losses and that GALIC has the ability to hold the securities until they recover in value and had no intent to sell them at September 30, 2021.
Seefor a discussion of new guidance effective January 1, 2020, which impacts the accounting for expected credit losses (impairments) of fixed maturity securities. Under the new guidance, credit losses on available for sale fixed maturities continue to be measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows compared to amortized cost; however, impairment losses are now recognized through an allowance instead of directly writing down the amortized cost. Under the new guidance, recoveries of previously impaired amounts are recorded as an immediate reversal of all or a portion of the allowance instead of accreted as investment income through a yield adjustment. In addition, the allowance on available for sale fixed maturities cannot cause the amortized cost net of the allowance to be below fair value. Accordingly, future changes in the fair value of an impaired security (when the allowance was limited by the fair value) due to reasons other than issuer credit (e.g. changes in market interest rates) result in increases or decreases in the allowance, which are recorded through realized gains (losses) on securities. A progression of the allowance for expected credit losses on fixed maturity securities is shown below (in millions):
Note A — “Accounting Policies — Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,”
A-2
6
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Structured Securities (*) | Corporate and other | Total | ||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2020 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
Initial allowance for purchased securities with credit deterioration | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
Provision for expected credit losses on securities with no previous allowance | 28 | 23 | 51 | |||||||||
Additions (reductions) to previously recognized expected credit losses | (5 | ) | (14 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||||
Reductions due to sales or redemptions | 0 | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 24 | $ | 4 | $ | 28 | ||||||
Balance at January 1, 2021 | $ | 24 | $ | 4 | $ | 28 | ||||||
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
Initial allowance for purchased securities with credit deterioration | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
Provision for expected credit losses on securities with no previous allowance | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Additions (reductions) to previously recognized expected credit losses | (7 | ) | (1 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||
Reductions due to sales or redemptions | (2 | ) | (4 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | $ | 15 | $ | 0 | $ | 15 | ||||||
(*) | Includes mortgage-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations and other asset-backed securities. |
In 2020, GALIC purchased
2
residential mortgage-backed securities with expected credit losses. In aggregate at the time of purchase, the par value was $8
million, the purchase price was $6
million and the allowance for credit losses and the discount were each $1 million.The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of available for sale fixed maturities as of December 31, 2020 (dollars in millions). Securities with sinking funds are reported at average maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid by the issuers.
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortized | Fair Value | Amortized | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost, net (*) | Amount | % | Cost, net (*) | Amount | % | |||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maturity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
One year or less | $ | 1,577 | $ | 1,617 | 4 | % | $ | 1,975 | $ | 1,995 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||
After one year through five years | 8,006 | 8,652 | 24 | % | 7,761 | 8,442 | 25 | % | ||||||||||||||||
After five years through ten years | 7,032 | 7,860 | 22 | % | 8,198 | 9,402 | 28 | % | ||||||||||||||||
After ten years | 3,192 | 3,478 | 10 | % | 2,458 | 2,779 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
19,807 | 21,607 | 60 | % | 20,392 | 22,618 | 67 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations and other ABS (average life of approximately 4 years) | 11,248 | 11,356 | 31 | % | 8,568 | 8,667 | 25 | % | ||||||||||||||||
MBS (average life of approximately 3 -1/2 | 2,933 | 3,120 | 9 | % | 2,610 | 2,838 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 33,988 | $ | 36,083 | 100 | % | $ | 31,570 | $ | 34,123 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||
(*) | Amortized cost, net of allowance for expected credit losses |
Certain risks are inherent in fixed maturity securities, including loss upon default, price volatility in reaction to changes in interest rates, and general market factors and risks associated with reinvestment of proceeds due to prepayments or redemptions in a period of declining interest rates.
A-2
7
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
There were no investments in individual issuers that exceeded
10
% of shareholder’s equity at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), December 31, 2020 or 2019.Net Investment Income
The following table shows (in millions) investment income earned and investment expenses incurred.
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Investment income: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 1,059 | $ | 1,216 | $ | 1,577 | $ | 1,600 | $ | 1,450 | ||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | 14 | 22 | 28 | 34 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Change in fair value (*) | 36 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of partnerships and similar investments | 169 | 14 | 48 | 90 | 96 | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 43 | 40 | 54 | 43 | 45 | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate and other | 27 | (7 | ) | 7 | 36 | 26 | ||||||||||||||
Gross investment income | 1,354 | 1,295 | 1,740 | 1,829 | 1,670 | |||||||||||||||
Investment expenses | (24 | ) | (12 | ) | (23 | ) | (16 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,330 | $ | 1,283 | $ | 1,717 | $ | 1,813 | $ | 1,657 | ||||||||||
(*) | Although the change in the fair value of the majority of GALIC’s equity securities is recorded in realized gains (losses) on securities, GALIC records holding gains and losses in net investment income on equity securities classified as “trading” under previous guidance and on a small portfolio of limited partnership and similar investments that do not qualify for the equity method of accounting. |
For the first five months of 2021 and in prior years GALIC’s investment portfolio was managed by a subsidiary of AFG. For the last four months of 2021 GALIC’s investment portfolio is managed by a subsidiary of MassMutual. Investment expenses, which included investment management fees charged by both subsidiaries, were $19 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 (unaudited) , $8 million for 2020, $11 million for 2019 and $7 million for 2018.
Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in AOCI related to fixed maturity securities are summarized as follows (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | Nine months ended September 30, 2020 (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) | Realized gains (losses) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturitie s | $ | 21 | $ | 7 | $ | 28 | $ | (458 | ) | $ | 38 | $ | (43 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 933 | |||||||||||||
Equity securities | 84 | 0 | 84 | 0 | (111 | ) | 0 | (111 | ) | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans and other investments | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (*) | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | (3 | ) | 200 | (6 | ) | 14 | 8 | (526 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total pretax | 107 | 5 | 112 | (258 | ) | (76 | ) | (29 | ) | (105 | ) | 407 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tax effects | (22 | ) | (1 | ) | (23 | ) | 55 | 16 | 6 | �� | 22 | (85 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net of tax | $ | 85 | $ | 4 | $ | 89 | $ | (203 | ) | $ | (60 | ) | $ | (23 | ) | $ | (83 | ) | $ | 322 | ||||||||||||
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8
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) | Realized gains (losses) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 461 | $ | (32 | ) | $ | 429 | $ | 798 | $ | 19 | $ | (21 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 1,647 | |||||||||||||
Equity securities | (27 | ) | 0 | (27 | ) | 0 | 122 | 0 | 122 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans and other investments | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (*) | (51 | ) | 11 | (40 | ) | (360 | ) | (1 | ) | 11 | 10 | (835 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total pretax | 386 | (21 | ) | 365 | 438 | 142 | (10 | ) | 132 | 812 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax effects | (81 | ) | 4 | (77 | ) | (92 | ) | (30 | ) | 2 | (28 | ) | (171 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net of tax | $ | 305 | $ | (17 | ) | $ | 288 | $ | 346 | $ | 112 | $ | (8 | ) | $ | 104 | $ | 641 | ||||||||||||||
2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) | ||||||||||||||||
Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | |||||||||||||
Fixed maturitie s | $ | 5 | $ | (21 | ) | $ | (16 | ) | $ | (1,057 | ) | |||||
Equity securities | (107 | ) | 0 | (107 | ) | 0 | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans and other investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other (*) | 11 | 7 | 18 | 502 | ||||||||||||
Total pretax | (91 | ) | (14 | ) | (105 | ) | (555 | ) | ||||||||
Tax effects | 19 | 3 | 22 | 117 | ||||||||||||
Net of tax | $ | (72 | ) | $ | (11 | ) | $ | (83 | ) | $ | (438 | ) | ||||
(*) | Primarily adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs and reserves related to the annuity business. |
All equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method are carried at fair value through net earnings. GALIC recorded net holding gains (losses) on equity securities during 2020 and 2019 on securities that were still owned at December 31 as follows (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains (losses) | $ | 50 | $ | (126 | ) | $ | (25 | ) | $ | 123 | ||||||
Included in net investment income | 35 | 3 | 11 | 17 | ||||||||||||
$ | 85 | $ | (123 | ) | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 140 | |||||||
Gross realized gains and losses (excluding impairment write-downs andof derivatives) on available for sale fixed maturity investment transactions consisted of the following (in millions):
mark-to-market
(Unaudited) Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross gains | $ | 82 | $ | 69 | $ | 514 | $ | 30 | $ | 17 | ||||||||||
Gross losses | (1 | ) | (30 | ) | (51 | ) | (16 | ) | (12 | ) |
A-2
9
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
F.
Derivatives
As discussed underinGALIC uses derivatives in certain areas of its operations.
“Derivatives”
Note A — “Accounting Policies,”
Derivatives That Do Not Qualify for Hedge Accounting
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative | Balance Sheet Line | Asset | Liability | Asset | Liability | Asset | Liability | |||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
MBS with embedded derivatives | Fixed maturities | $ | 117 | $ | — | $ | 137 | $ | — | $ | 74 | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Public company warrants | Equity securities | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities (embedded derivative) | Annuity benefits accumulated | — | 4,208 | — | 3,933 | — | 3,730 | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity index call options | Equity index call options | 646 | — | 825 | — | 924 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity index put options | Other liabilities | — | (14 | ) | — | 5 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance contract (embedded derivative) | Other liabilities | — | 5 | — | 5 | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
$ | 763 | $ | 4,199 | $ | 962 | $ | 3,943 | $ | 998 | $ | 3,735 | |||||||||||||||
The MBS with embedded derivatives consist of primarily interest-only and principal-only MBS. GALIC records the entire change in the fair value of these securities in earnings. These investments are part of GALIC’s overall investment strategy and represent a small component of GALIC’s overall investment portfolio.
Warrants to purchase shares of publicly traded companies, which represent a small component of GALIC’s overall investment portfolio, are considered to be derivatives that are required to be carried at fair value through earnings.
GALIC’s fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market or other financial index. GALIC attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase and sale of call and put options on the appropriate index. GALIC receives collateral from certain counterparties to support its purchased call option assets (net of collateral required under put option contracts with the same counterparties). This collateral ($318 million at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), $351 million at December 31, 2020 and $577 million at December 31, 2019) is shown as funds held as collateral in GALIC’s Balance Sheet with an offsetting liability to return the collateral, which is included in liability for funds held as collateral. GALIC’s strategy is designed so that the net change in the fair value of the call and put options will generally offset the economic change in the net liability from the index participation. Both the index-based component of the annuities (an embedded derivative) and the related call and put options are considered derivatives that must be adjusted for changes in fair value through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. Fluctuations in certain of these factors, such as changes in interest rates and the performance of the stock market, are not economic in nature for current reporting period but rather impact the timing of reported results.
As discussed underin, GALIC has a reinsurance contract that is considered to contain an embedded derivative.
“Reinsurance”
Note A
A-
30
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)The following table summarizes the gains (losses) included in GALIC’s Statement of Earnings for changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative | Statement of Earnings Line | 2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||
MBS with embedded derivative s | Realized gains (losses) on securities | $ | (18 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 5 | $ | (4 | ) | ||||||||
Public company warrants | Realized gains (losses) on securities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities (embedded derivative) (*) | Annuity benefits | 296 | 41 | (283 | ) | (919 | ) | 204 | ||||||||||||||
Equity index call options | Annuity benefits | 282 | (42 | ) | 223 | 804 | (298 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Equity index put options | Annuity benefits | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Reinsurance contract (embedded derivative) | Net investment income | 0 | 0 | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | 2 | ||||||||||||||
$ | 565 | $ | 2 | $ | (60 | ) | $ | (110 | ) | $ | (100 | ) | ||||||||||
(*) | The change in fair value of the embedded derivative includes a favorable adjustment related to unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $240 million in 2020 and $181 million in 2019 and losses of $44 million in 2018. |
Derivatives Designated and Qualifying as Cash Flow Hedges
Under the terms of the swaps, GALIC receives fixed-rate interest payments in exchange for variable interest payments based on short-term LIBOR. The notional amounts of the interest rate swaps generally decline over each swap’s respective life (the swaps expire between December 2023 and June 2030) in anticipation of the expected decline in GALIC’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities with floating interest rates based on short-term LIBOR. The total outstanding notional amount of GALIC’s interest rate swaps was $1.54 billion at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) compared to $1.63 billion at December 31, 2020 and $1.98 billion at December 31, 2019, reflecting the scheduled amortization discussed above, the termination of a swap with a total notional amount of $83 million in the first quarter of 2020, the termination of 2 swaps with a total notional amount of $166 million in the second quarter of 2020 and the expiration of a swap with a notional amount of $44 million in the second quarter of 2020. The fair value of the interest rate swaps in an asset position and included in other assets was $60 million at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), $102 million at December 31, 2020 and $50 million at December 31, 2019. The fair value of the interest rate swaps in a liability position and included in other liabilities was 0 at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, and $5 million at December 31, 2019. The net unrealized gain or loss on cash flow hedges is included in AOCI, net of DPAC and deferred taxes. Amounts reclassified from AOCI (before DPAC and taxes) to net investment income were income of $26 million through the first nine months of 2021 (unaudited), $40 million in 2020 and $3 million in 2019 and losses of $3 million in 2018. A collateral payable supporting these swaps of $44 million at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and a collateral receivable supporting these swaps of $2 million at December 31, 2020 and $20 million at December 31, 2019 is included in other assets in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
A-
31
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)G.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
A progression of deferred policy acquisition costs is presented below (in millions):
Deferred Costs | Sales Inducements | PVFP | Subtotal | Unrealized (*) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 1,214 | $ | 102 | $ | 49 | $ | 1,365 | $ | (422 | ) | $ | 943 | |||||||||||
Additions | 263 | 2 | — | 265 | — | 265 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (237 | ) | (19 | ) | (7 | ) | (263 | ) | — | (263 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking | 29 | 0 | 0 | 29 | — | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | 14 | 1 | — | 15 | — | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | 0 | 392 | 392 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | 1,283 | 86 | 42 | 1,411 | (30 | ) | 1,381 | |||||||||||||||||
Additions | 206 | 2 | — | 208 | — | 208 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (120 | ) | (13 | ) | (6 | ) | (139 | ) | — | (139 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking | (76 | ) | (1 | ) | 0 | (77 | ) | — | (77 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | 8 | 1 | — | 9 | — | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | 0 | (669 | ) | (669 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | 1,301 | 75 | 36 | 1,412 | (699 | ) | 713 | |||||||||||||||||
Additions | 155 | 2 | — | 157 | — | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (126 | ) | (9 | ) | (6 | ) | (141 | ) | — | (141 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking | (118 | ) | 4 | 0 | (114 | ) | — | (114 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | (42 | ) | 1 | — | (41 | ) | — | (41 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | 0 | (272 | ) | (272 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 1,170 | $ | 73 | $ | 30 | $ | 1,273 | $ | (971 | ) | $ | 302 | |||||||||||
Additions (unaudited) | 185 | 0 | — | 185 | — | 185 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization (unaudited) | (182 | ) | (6 | ) | (4 | ) | (192 | ) | — | (192 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking (unaudited) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains (unaudited) | (3 | ) | 0 | — | (3 | ) | — | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized (unaudited) | — | — | — | 0 | 182 | 182 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | $ | 1,170 | $ | 67 | $ | 26 | $ | 1,263 | $ | (789 | ) | $ | 474 | |||||||||||
(*) | Adjustments to DPAC related to net unrealized gains/losses on securities and cash flow hedges. |
Annuity unlocking was evaluated in the first nine months of 2021 and it was determined that no adjustment was needed. The present value of future profits (“PVFP”) amounts in the table above are net of
$
163 million and $
160 million of accumulated amortization at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, respectively. During each of
the
next five years, the PVFP is expected to decrease at a rate of approximately
one-seventh
of the balance at the beginning of each respective year.
H.
Shareholder
’
s Equity
Capital Contributions from Parent
non-cash
capital contributions from its former parent GAFRI totaling $1 million in the first nine months of 2021 (unaudited), $12 million in 2020, $19 million in 2019 and $17 million in 2018. Thenon-cash
capital contributions were investments and other similar assets, as well as GAFRI’s payment of certain overhead expenses on behalf of GALIC.A-
32
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax (“AOCI”)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AOCI Beginning Balance | Pretax | Tax | Net of tax | Other (b) | AOCI Ending Balance | |||||||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding losses on securities arising during the period | $ | (233 | ) | $ | 49 | $ | (184 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (25 | ) | 6 | (19 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on securities (b) | $ | 1,029 | (258 | ) | 55 | (203 | ) | $ | — | $ | 826 | |||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges | 41 | (24 | ) | 5 | (19 | ) | — | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,070 | $ | (282 | ) | $ | 60 | $ | (222 | ) | $ | — | $ | 848 | ||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period | $ | 834 | $ | (175 | ) | $ | 659 | |||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (396 | ) | 83 | (313 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities | $ | 683 | 438 | (92 | ) | 346 | $ | — | $ | 1,029 | ||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | 17 | 30 | (6 | ) | 24 | — | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 700 | $ | 468 | $ | (98 | ) | $ | 370 | $ | — | $ | 1,070 | |||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding losses on securities arising during the period | $ | 828 | $ | (174 | ) | $ | 654 | |||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (16 | ) | 3 | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on securities | $ | 42 | 812 | (171 | ) | 641 | $ | — | $ | 683 | ||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | (11 | ) | 36 | (8 | ) | 28 | — | 17 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 31 | $ | 848 | $ | (179 | ) | $ | 669 | $ | — | $ | 700 | |||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period | $ | (561 | ) | $ | 118 | $ | (443 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | 6 | (1 | ) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities | $ | 570 | (555 | ) | 117 | (438 | ) | $ | (90 | ) | $ | 42 | ||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges | (13 | ) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | (11 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 557 | $ | (553 | ) | $ | 117 | $ | (436 | ) | $ | (90 | ) | $ | 31 | |||||||||
(a) | The reclassification adjustment out of net unrealized gains on securities affected the following lines in GALIC’s Statement of Earnings: |
OCI component | Affected line in the statement of earnings | |
Pretax | Realized gains (losses) on securities | |
Tax | Provision for income taxes |
(b) | On January 1, 2018, GALIC adopted new guidance that requires all equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method to be reported at fair value with holding gains and losses recognized in net earnings. At the date of |
A-3
3
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September��30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)adoption, the $90 million net unrealized gain on equity securities classified as available for sale (with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in AOCI) under the prior guidance was reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings as the cumulative effect of an accounting change. |
I.
Income Taxes
The following is a reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory rate 21% to the provision for income taxes as shown in GALIC’s Statement of Earnings (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes (“EBT”) | $ | 417 | $ | (22 | ) | $ | 529 | $ | 497 | $ | 256 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income taxes at statutory rate | $ | 88 | 21 | % | $ | (5 | ) | (23 | %) | $ | 111 | 21 | % | $ | 104 | 21 | % | $ | 54 | 21 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Effect of permanent items | 19 | 5 | % | (3 | ) | (13 | %) | (4 | ) | (1 | %) | (2 | ) | 0 | % | (7 | ) | (3 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes as shown in the statement of earnings | $ | 107 | 26 | % | $ | (8 | ) | (36 | )% | $ | 107 | 20 | % | $ | 102 | 21 | % | $ | 47 | 18 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
GALIC’s 2013 — 2020 tax years remain subject to examination by the IRS.
GALIC did not have any earnings or losses subject to tax in foreign jurisdictions for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The total income tax provision consists of (in millions):
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Current taxes: | ||||||||||||
Federal | $ | 60 | $ | 152 | $ | 130 | ||||||
State | 2 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||
Deferred taxes: | ||||||||||||
Federal | 45 | (54 | ) | (86 | ) | |||||||
Provision for income taxes | $ | 107 | $ | 102 | $ | 47 | ||||||
A-3
4
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recognized for tax purposes. The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities included in GALIC’s Balance Sheet at December 31 were as follows (in millions):
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Excluding Unrealized Gains | Impact of Unrealized Gains | Total | Excluding Unrealized Gains | Impact of Unrealized Gains | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance claims and reserve s | $ | 531 | $ | 68 | $ | 599 | $ | 601 | $ | 46 | $ | 647 | ||||||||||||
Other, net | 10 | (2 | ) | 8 | 7 | (2 | ) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
Total deferred tax assets | 541 | 66 | 607 | 608 | 44 | 652 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment securities | (97 | ) | (537 | ) | (634 | ) | (78 | ) | (369 | ) | (447 | ) | ||||||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | (212 | ) | 197 | (15 | ) | (236 | ) | 143 | (93 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Insurance claims and reserves transition liability | (57 | ) | 0 | (57 | ) | (68 | ) | 0 | (68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total deferred tax liabilities | (366 | ) | (340 | ) | (706 | ) | (382 | ) | (226 | ) | (608 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net deferred tax asset (liability) | $ | 175 | $ | (274 | ) | $ | (99 | ) | $ | 226 | $ | (182 | ) | $ | 44 | |||||||||
The likelihood of realizing deferred tax assets is reviewed periodically. There was 0 valuation allowance against deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
GALIC did not have a liability for uncertain tax positions during 2020, 2019 or 2018.
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds, were $90 million, $163 million and $106 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
J.
Contingencies
GALIC and its subsidiaries are involved in litigation from time to time, generally arising in the ordinary course of business. This litigation may include, but is not limited to, general commercial disputes, lawsuits brought by policyholders, employment matters, reinsurance collection matters and actions challenging certain business practices. None of these matters are expected to have a material adverse impact on GALIC’s results of operations or financial condition.
K.
Insurance
Securities owned by GALIC, having a carrying value of approximately $30 million at December 31, 2020, were on deposit as required by regulatory authorities.
FHLB Funding Agreements
In 2020, the FHLB advanced GALIC $200 million and GALIC repaid $165 million to the FHLB. In 2019, GALIC refinanced the terms on advances totaling $610 million. At September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, GALIC had $0.40 billion and $1.13 billion, respectively, in outstanding advances from the FHLB (included in annuity benefits
A-3
5
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)accumulated), bearing interest at rates ranging from 0.30% to 1.35% (average rate of 0.83% at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and 0.53% at December 31, 2020). While these advances must be repaid between 2021 and 2025 ($200 million in 2021 and $200 million in 2025), GALIC has the option to prepay all or a portion of the advances. GALIC has invested the proceeds from the advances in fixed maturity securities with similar expected lives as the advances for the purpose of earning a spread over the interest payments due to the FHLB. The advances on these agreements are collateralized by fixed maturity investments, which have a total fair value of $1.57 billion and $1.37 billion (included in available for sale fixed maturity securities) at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, respectively. Interest credited on the funding agreements, which is included in annuity benefits, was $4 million and $9 million in the first nine months of 2021 and 2020 (both unaudited) , $11 million in 2020 and $27 million in 2019.
Statutory Information
Net Earnings | Capital and Surplus | |||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
GALIC consolidated life insurance companies | $ | 209 | $ | 34 | $ | 802 | $ | 2,897 | $ | 2,868 |
In the fourth quarter of 2018, GALIC entered into a reinsurance treaty with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America that transfers the risk of certain surrender activity in GALIC’s fixed-indexed annuity business. This treaty meets the statutory risk transfer rules and resulted in increases in statutory surplus (through an
after-tax
reserve credit), of $139 million at December 31, 2020 and $124 million at December 31, 2019 which is reflected in the life insurance companies capital and surplus in the table above. Under GAAP, this transaction does not meet the GAAP insurance risk transfer criteria and did not have a material impact on GALIC’s financial statements.The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (“NAIC”) model law for risk based capital (“RBC”) applies to life insurance companies. RBC formulas determine the amount of capital that an insurance company needs so that it has an acceptable expectation of not becoming financially impaired. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are subject to regulatory action. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the capital ratios of GALIC and its life insurance companies substantially exceeded the RBC requirements. GALIC did not use any prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices that differed from the NAIC statutory accounting practices at December 31, 2020 or 2019.
GALIC paid dividends to GAFRI totaling $285 million, $140 million and $60 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to shareholders in 2021 by life insurance companies domiciled in the State of Ohio without prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner is the greater of 10% of statutory surplus as regards to policyholders or statutory net earnings as of the preceding December 31, but only to the extent of statutory earned surplus as of the preceding December 31. The maximum amount of dividends payable in 2021 by GALIC without prior approval is $290 million, based on 10% of statutory surplus. The maximum amount of dividends receivable from GALIC’s subsidiaries in 2021 without prior approval is $34 million.
Reinsurance
In the fourth quarter of 2020, GALIC entered into a block reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded $5.96 billion of in force traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred related investments to Commonwealth. The transaction will be accounted for using the
A-3
6
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)deposit method and the $180 million loss on the transaction was deferred and will be recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts
(7-10
years). In the fourth quarter of 2020, $11 million of GALIC’s deferred loss was amortized (and included in annuity benefits expense).Under both the flow and block reinsurance agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of amounts owed to GALIC. Under these agreements, $492 million of gross annuity receipts were ceded and there were $206 million of ceded annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals. GALIC received $39 million of commission and expense allowances in 2020 and annuity benefits expense was reduced by $46 million.
GALIC has reinsured approximately $5.42 billion of its $8.33 billion in face amount of life insurance at December 31, 2020 compared to $6.23 billion of its $9.53 billion in face amount of life insurance at December 31, 2019. Life written premiums ceded were $19 million, $20 million and $22 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Reinsurance recoveries on ceded life policies were $28 million, $32 million and $41 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. GALIC would remain liable to its insureds regardless of whether a reinsurer is able to meet its obligations.
Recoverables from Reinsurers and Premiums Receivable
Note A — “Accounting Policies — Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,”
Recoverables from Reinsurers | ||||
Balance at January 1 | $ | 0 | ||
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy | 5 | |||
Provision for expected credit losses | 2 | |||
Balance at December 31 | $ | 7 | ||
At December 31, 2020, GALIC had no allowance for expected credit losses on premiums receivable.
Fixed Annuities
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Expected death and annuitization | $ | 260 | $ | 232 | ||||
Guaranteed withdrawal benefits | 817 | 625 | ||||||
Accrued persistency and premium bonuses | 0 | 1 |
Variable Annuities
L.
Additional Information
Related Parties
A-3
7
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 i
s
unaudited)Financial Instruments — Unfunded Commitments
off-balance-sheet
risks of both a credit and market risk nature. These transactions include commitments to fund loans, loan guarantees and commitments to purchase and sell securities or loans. At December 31, 2020, GALIC had commitments to fund credit facilities and contribute capital to limited partnerships and limited liability corporations of approximately $493 million.Benefit Plans
A-3
8
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020
(IN MILLIONS)
Segment | Deferred policy acquisition costs | Reserves for future policy benefits and claims | Net earned premiums | Net investment income | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses | Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | Other operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 286 | $ | 42,573 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,700 | $ | 1,192 | $ | 246 | $ | 188 | ||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 16 | 610 | 22 | 17 | 40 | 3 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 302 | $ | 43,183 | $ | 22 | $ | 1,717 | $ | 1,232 | $ | 249 | $ | 198 | ||||||||||||||
2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 694 | $ | 40,406 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,792 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 198 | $ | 188 | ||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 19 | 612 | 22 | 21 | 36 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 713 | $ | 41,018 | $ | 22 | $ | 1,813 | $ | 1,187 | $ | 202 | $ | 195 | ||||||||||||||
2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 1,358 | $ | 36,616 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,638 | $ | 998 | $ | 211 | $ | 174 | ||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 23 | 635 | 24 | 19 | 37 | 4 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,381 | $ | 37,251 | $ | 24 | $ | 1,657 | $ | 1,035 | $ | 215 | $ | 185 | ||||||||||||||
A-3
9
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Administrative Office: P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati OH 45201-5423
Street Address: 301 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202
Policy Administration:
1-800-789-6771
INDEX SUMMIT 6 PRO ANNUITY
PROSPECTUS DATED [January ], 2022
The Index Summit 6
®
Pro annuity is an Individual Index-linked Modified Single Premium Deferred Annuity contract issued by Great American Life Insurance Company®
. It provides that we will pay the Annuity Payout Benefit to you in exchange for your Purchase Payments.The Contract is a modified single premium deferred annuity. This means we will accept Purchase Payments only during the purchase payment period, which ends two months after the Contract Effective Date.
A glossary of defined terms used herein can be found in the Special Terms section starting on page 6 of this prospectus.
The Contract offers you the opportunity to allocate funds to Indexed Strategies for
one-year
ortwo-year
Terms. Indexed Strategies provide returns based, in part, on the rise or fall of an Index, which may be a market index, such as the S&P 500 Index, or the share price of an exchange-traded fund, such as an iShares ETF. The returns of an Index do not include reinvestment of any dividends.For this Contract, we currently offer eight Indexed Strategies. Each of these Indexed Strategies uses one of three Indexes: S&P 500
®
Index, iShares®
MSCI EAFE ETF, and iShares®
U.S. Real Estate ETF. Four of these Indexed Strategies haveone-year
Terms, and four havetwo-year
Terms.S&P 500
1-year
Term with CapS&P 500
2-year
Term with CapS&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation RateS&P 500
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateAll of these Indexed Strategies have a 50% Downside Participation Rate, which means that each Indexed Strategy will share 50% of any fall in the Index over a Term.
At the end of a Term, we may stop offering any Indexed Strategy, other than the S&P 500
1-Year
Term with Participation Rate. Consequently, any other Indexed Strategy listed above may not be available after the end of the initial Term. The S&P 5001-Year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy or any other Indexed Strategy that may be available in the future may earn a return that is lower than the return your investments would have earned if they had been invested in the other Indexed Strategies listed above. In addition, if we reduce the available number of Index Strategies to just the S&P 5001-Year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy, your ability to increase your Account Value could be significantly reduced.Indexed Strategies
The Investment Base is the amount applied to the Indexed Strategy at the beginning of the current Term, reduced each day by the Daily Charge, and adjusted proportionally for any withdrawals taken during the current Term and any related Early Withdrawal Charge. During the Term, the Investment Base remains unchanged except for the Daily Charge and any proportional adjustments for withdrawals.
The Daily Charge is calculated as a percentage of the Investment Base. The Daily Charge is a rate that compounds to 0.75% per year.
1
The method used to calculate the Strategy value depends on whether the value is being calculated at the end of a Term or during a Term.
At the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased for any rise in the applicable Index over the Term or decreased for any fall in the applicable Index over the Term. For some Strategies, any increase for the Term is subject to a limit called the Cap. For others, any increase for the Term is subject to a limit called the Upside Participation Rate. For all Strategies, any decrease for the Term resulting from Index performance is subject to a limit called the Downside Participation Rate.
• | The Cap for a Term is the largest rise in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. We can change the Cap for each new Term of an Indexed Strategy. It will never be less than 1%. At least 10 days before the start of any Term, we will post the Caps for that Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates). |
• | If the rise in the Index is greater than or equal to the Cap, the increase applied to the remaining Investment Base for the Term will be limited to the Cap and will be less than the rise in the Index. |
• | If the rise in the Index is less than the Cap, the increase for the Term will be less than the Cap and will equal the rise in the Index applied to the remaining Investment Base. |
• | In both cases, the increase for a Term will always be less than the Cap or the rise in the Index because the Daily Charge is subtracted from the Investment Base before applying the increase for the Index performance. |
• | The Upside Participation Rate for a Term is the portion of any rise in the Index over the Term that is taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. We can change the Upside Participation Rate for each new Term of an Indexed Strategy. It never will be less than 5%. At least 10 days before the start of any Term, we will post the Upside Participation Rates for that Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates). The increase for the Term will be less than the rise in the Index unless the Participation Rate for the Term exceeds 100%. The increase for a Term will be less than the Upside Participation Rate multiplied by the rise in the Index because the Daily Charge is subtracted from the Investment Base before applying the increase for Index performance. |
• | The Downside Participation Rate is the portion of any fall in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer with this Contract, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. In addition to the Daily Charge, the decrease for the Term will be only half of the fall in the Index. |
Any increase in the value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term is based on the value of the underlying Index on the final Market Day of the Term. This means that you may experience negative or flat performance for the Term even though the underlying Index rose throughout some or most of the Term.
Before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage. The Daily Value Percentage is based on hypothetical options that represent the projected change in the Index over the full Term, and is equal to the Net Option Price, reduced by the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost.
The Daily Value Percentage is applied to determine Strategy Values when you withdraw funds allocated to an Indexed Strategy or Surrender your Contract before the end of a Term. The Daily Value Percentage is also applied if the Death Benefit or Annuity Payout value are determined before the end of a Term.
An Indexed Strategy includes a risk of potential loss, which may include both your original principal and prior earnings.
Availability of Indexed Strategies
2
Early Withdrawal Charge
The Contract is intended for long-term investment purposes and may not be appropriate for investors who plan to take withdrawals (including systematic withdrawals and required minimum distributions) during the first six Contract Years.
six-year
period. Withdrawals and Surrenders may also be subject to income tax, and withdrawals and Surrenders before age 591
/2
may also be subject to an additional 10% penalty tax.Risk Factors for this Contract appear on pages
15-21
and pages86-90.
Please read this prospectus before investing and keep it for future reference. It contains important information about your Contract and Great American Life that you ought to know before investing. It describes all material rights and obligations under the Contract. The provisions of the Contract may vary from state to state. All material state variations are identified in the State Variations section of this prospectus.
****************************************
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
• | The Contract is not insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) or the NCUSIF (National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund). |
• | Although the Contract may be sold through relationships with banks or other financial institutions, the Contract is not a deposit or obligation of, or guaranteed by, such institutions or any federal regulatory agency. |
• | The Contract is a security. It involves investment risk and may lose value. There is a risk of loss of principal under the Contract and that loss can become greater due to Early Withdrawal Charges. |
• | All guarantees under the Contract are the obligations of Great American Life and are subject to the credit worthiness and claims-paying ability of Great American Life. |
The Contract doesn’t invest in any equity, debt, or other investments. If you buy this Contract, you aren’t investing directly in an Index, in the stocks included in S&P 500 Index, in the securities or other assets held by an iShares ETF, in any underlying index tracked by an iShares ETF, or in the securities or other assets held by such underlying index.
The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, or its affiliates (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by Great American Life. Standard & Poor’s
®
, S&P®
, and S&P 500®
are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a division of S&P Global (“S&P”); Dow Jones®
is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by Great American Life. Great American Life products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P or their respective affiliates, and none of such parties makes any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruption of the S&P 500 Index.The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC. iShares
®
, BLACKROCK®
, and the corresponding logos are registered and unregistered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates (“BlackRock”), and these trademarks have been licensed for certain purposes by Great American Life Insurance Company. Great American Life annuity products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by BlackRock, and purchasers of an annuity from Great American Life do not acquire any interest in the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF nor enter into any relationship of any kind with BlackRock. BlackRock makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of any Great American Life annuity product or any member of the public regarding the advisability of purchasing an annuity, nor does it have any liability for any errors, omissions, interruptions or use of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF or any data related thereto.****************************************
3
The principal underwriter of the Contract is Great American Advisors, Inc. The offering of the Contract is intended to be continuous. The underwriter will use its best efforts to sell the Contract.
This prospectus is not an offering in any state, country, or jurisdiction in which we are not authorized to sell the Contract.
If you purchase a Contract, you may cancel it within 20 days after you receive it. If you purchase a Contract to replace an existing annuity contract or insurance policy, you have 30 days to cancel the Contract. The right to cancel period may be longer in some states. In most states, you will bear the risk of any decreases in Indexed Strategy values before cancellation. The right to cancel is described more fully in the Right to Cancel section of this prospectus.
Our form number for the Contract is P1833621NW. Our form numbers for the Indexed Strategy endorsements to the Contract are E1825418NW, E1825518NW, E1825618NW, E1825718NW, E1825818, E1825918NW, E1826018NW and E1826118NW. Our form number for the Death Benefit endorsement to this Contract is E1826318NW. The form numbers may vary by state. The Securities and Exchange Commission file number for the Contract is
333-252949.
4
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5
SECTION I
INDEX SUMMIT 6 PRO ANNUITY INFORMATION
SPECIAL TERMS
In this prospectus, the following capitalized terms have the meanings set out below.
ACCOUNT VALUE. For each day, the Account Value is the sum of the current values of each Indexed Strategy, plus the current value of the Purchase Payment Account, if any.
ANNUITANT. The natural person or persons on whose life the Annuity Payout Benefit is based.
ANNUITY PAYOUT BENEFIT. A series of periodic payments made under a Payout Option. The terms and conditions are described in the Annuity Payout Benefit section of this prospectus.
ANNUITY PAYOUT INITIATION DATE. The first day of the first payment interval for which payment of an Annuity Payout Benefit is to be made. This is the date we apply your Account Value to the Annuity Payout Benefit and calculate the payment amount.
BENEFICIARY. A person entitled to receive all or part of a Death Benefit that is to be paid under the Contract on account of a death before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.
CAP. For an Indexed Strategy with a Cap (a “Cap Strategy”), the Cap is the largest rise in the Index over the Term that is taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. The Cap is also used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage for that Strategy before the end of the Term. We post on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates) the Cap for each Term of a Cap Strategy at least 10 days before the next Term starts. For a given Term, we may set a different Cap for amounts attributable to Purchase Payments received on different dates.
CONTRACT. The annuity contract that is a legally binding agreement between you and Great American Life, including applicable endorsements and riders.
CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY. The date in each year that is the annual anniversary of the Contract Effective Date. That date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
CONTRACT EFFECTIVE DATE. The date as of which the initial Purchase Payment is applied to the Contract. That date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS PAGE. The page in your Contract that contains details unique to your Contract.
CONTRACT YEAR. A
12-month
period that starts on the Contract Effective Date or on a Contract Anniversary.DAILY CHARGE. The charge for maintaining your Contract. It is a daily rate that compounds at 0.75% per year. It is calculated daily as a percentage of, and is subtracted from, the then remaining investment base of each Indexed Strategy.
DAILY VALUE PERCENTAGE. The Daily Value Percentage is used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term. For each day of a Term of an Indexed Strategy before the final Market Day of the Term, the Daily Value Percentage is equal to: (1) the Net Option Price for that day; minus (2) the Amortized Option Cost for that day; and minus (3) the Trading Cost for that day.
See the next section (Special Terms Related to Daily Value Percentage) for the definitions of Amortized Option Cost, Net Option Price, and Trading Cost.
6
DEATH BENEFIT. An amount that becomes payable if you die before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and before the date that the Contract is Surrendered. The terms and conditions are described in the Death Benefit section of this prospectus.
DOWNSIDE PARTICIPATION RATE. For an Indexed Strategy, the Downside Participation Rate is your share of any fall in the Index over a Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. The Downside Participation Rate is also used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage before the end of the Term. The Downside Participation Rate we set for an Indexed Strategy will apply to every Term of that Indexed Strategy. For every Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer with this Contract, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. The Downside Participation Rate is guaranteed not to change for any Indexed Strategy offered in this prospectus. If we offer a new Indexed Strategy in the future, the Downside Participation Rate for the Strategy may be more or less than 50%.
EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE. A charge deducted from the Account Value of your Contract if, during the first six Contract Years, you Surrender your Contract or you take a withdrawal in excess of the Free Withdrawal Allowance (including systematic withdrawals and required minimum distributions). The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to a withdrawal that qualifies for the Free Withdrawal Allowance or the amount, if any, that qualifies for another waiver. The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to an Annuity Payout Benefit or Death Benefit.
FREE WITHDRAWAL ALLOWANCE. The total amount that may be taken as a withdrawal or Surrendered during a Contract Year without an Early Withdrawal Charge that might otherwise apply. This amount is described in the Free Withdrawal Allowance section of this prospectus.
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE (“WE,” “US,” “OUR,” “GALIC”). Great American Life Insurance Company.
INDEX. A stock market index or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) used to calculate the value of an Indexed Strategy. The Index at the start of a Term is its level or price at the last Market Close on or before the first day of that Term. The Index at the end of a Term is its level or price at the final Market Close of that Term.
INDEXED STRATEGY. A specified method by which values are calculated for a Term. Each Indexed Strategy provides a return based, in part, on changes in the level or price of an Index over a Term. The Indexed Strategies that are currently available are set out on the first page of this prospectus.
INVESTMENT BASE. The base amount used to calculate the value of an Indexed Strategy. The Investment Base is the amount applied to an Indexed Strategy at the start of a current Term, adjusted proportionally for any withdrawal during the Term and any related Early Withdrawal Charge.
The Investment Base is reduced daily by an amount equal to the Daily Charge.
MARKET CLOSE. The close of the regular or core trading session on the market used to measure a given Index.
MARKET DAY. Each day that all markets that are used to measure the available Indexes are open for regular trading.
OWNER (“YOU,” “YOURS”). The person(s) who possesses the ownership rights under the Contract. If there is more than one Owner, each Owner will be a joint owner of the Contract and each reference to Owner means joint owners.
PAYOUT OPTION. The form in which an Annuity Payout Benefit or a Death Benefit may be paid. Standard options are described in the Payout Options section of this prospectus.
PURCHASE PAYMENT. An amount received by us for the Contract. This amount is determined after deducting any taxes withheld from the payment and after deducting any fee charged by the person remitting payment.
PURCHASE PAYMENT ACCOUNT. An account where a Purchase Payment is held until it is applied to an Indexed Strategy on a Strategy Application Date.
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REQUEST IN GOOD ORDER. An election or a request that is:
• | complete and satisfactory to us; |
• | sent to us on our form or in a manner satisfactory to us, which may, at our discretion, be by telephone or electronic means; and |
• | received at our administrative office. |
An election or a request is complete and satisfactory when we have received: (1) all the information and legal documentation that we require to process the election or the request; and (2) instructions that are sufficiently clear that we do not need to exercise any discretion to process the election or the request. If you have any questions, you should contact us or your registered representative before submitting your election or your request.
STRATEGY APPLICATION DATE. The 6th and 20th days of each month.
SURRENDER. The termination of your Contract in exchange for its Surrender Value.
SURRENDER VALUE. For each day, the Surrender Value is the Account Value on that day minus the Early Withdrawal Charge that would apply on a Surrender of the Contract. The Account Value will reflect the applicable Strategy values as calculated on that day, which will reflect the Daily Value Percentage whenever Surrender Value is measured before the end of a Term.
TAX-QUALIFIED
CONTRACT. An annuity contract that is intended to qualify for special tax treatment for retirement savings. If your Contract is aTax-Qualified
Contract, the cover page of your Contract includes information about its tax qualification. If your Contract is not aTax-Qualified
Contract, the cover page of your Contract will identify it as a “Nonqualified Annuity.”TERM. The period for which Contract values are allocated to a given Indexed Strategy, and over which values are calculated. Terms are either one year long or two years long. Each Term will start and end on a Strategy Application Date. A new Term will start on the date that the preceding Term ends.
UPSIDE PARTICIPATION RATE. For an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate (an “Upside Participation Rate Strategy”), the Upside Participation Rate is your share of any rise in the Index over a Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. The Upside Participation Rate is also used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage before the end of the Term. We post on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates) the Upside Participation Rate for each Term of an Upside Participation Rate Strategy at least 10 days before the next Term starts. For a given Term, we may set a different Upside Participation Rate for amounts attributable to Purchase Payments received on different dates.
8
SPECIAL TERMS RELATED TO DAILY VALUE PERCENTAGE
AMORTIZED OPTION COST. The Amortized Option Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy each day before the final Market Day of a Term. The Amortized Cost for a day is calculated at the last Market Close on or before that day. The Amortized Option Cost is a percentage equal to: (1) the initial Net Option Price for an Indexed Strategy for the Term; multiplied by (2) the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of that Term divided by 365 days if that Term is one year long or by 730 days if that Term is two years long. The initial Net Option Price is the Net Option Price calculated at the start of the Term.
NET OPTION PRICE. The Net Option Price is one part of the Daily Value Percentage used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy on each day before the final Market Day of a Term. The Net Option Price for a day is calculated at the last Market Close on or before that day.
• | For strategies with a Cap, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at that Market Close; minus (2) the OTM Call Option Price at that Market Close; and minus (3) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | For strategies with an Upside Participation Rate, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at a Market Close multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; minus (2) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
The option prices in these formulas reflect the possible future change in the Index over the remainder of the Term. The formulas take into account the Cap or the Upside Participation Rate for the Term and the Downside Participation Rate.
ATM CALL OPTION PRICE. The calculated price of a hypotheticalcall option. The hypotheticalcall option is one that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of a Term to the final Market Close of that Term. The price is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The price is an average of the
at-the-money
at-the-money
bid-ask
prices for the hypothetical option.ATM PUT OPTION PRICE. The calculated price of a hypotheticalput option. The hypotheticalput option is one that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage fall, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of a Term to the final Market Close of that Term. The price is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The price is an average of the
at-the-money
at-the-money
bid-ask
prices for the hypothetical option.OTM CALL OPTION PRICE. The calculated price of a hypotheticalcall option. The hypotheticalcall option is one that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of a Term to the final Market Close of that Term, but only if and to the extent that rise exceeds the Cap for that Term. The price is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The price is an average of the
out-of-the-money
out-of-the-money
bid-ask
prices for the hypothetical option.TRADING COST. The Trading Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage used to determine the value of an Indexed Strategy each day before the final Market Day of a Term. The Trading Cost is the estimated cost of selling the hypothetical options before the end of a Term. The Trading Cost for a day is a percentage set by us by the last Market Close on or before that day. The Trading Cost reflects the average market difference between option
bid-ask
average prices and option bid prices.9
SUMMARY
The Great American Life Index Summit 6 Pro annuity is an individual deferred indexed annuity contract that may help you accumulate retirement savings. The Contract is intended for long-term investment purposes. The Contract is a legal agreement between you as the Owner and Great American Life as the issuing insurance company. In the Contract, you agree to make one or more Purchase Payments to us and we agree to pay the Annuity Payout Benefit to you.
Like all deferred annuities, the Contract has two periods. During the period prior to the Annuity Payout Initiation Date, your Contract may accumulate earnings on a
tax-deferred
basis. During the period that begins on the Annuity Payout Initiation Date, we will make payments under the selected Payout Option.The key features of the Contract are described in this Summary. Read this entire prospectus for more detailed information about the Contract.
Benefits
(See “Cash Benefit”, “Annuity Payout Benefit”, and “Death Benefit” sections below for more details)
• | The Annuity Payout Benefit |
• | The Cash Benefit |
• | The Death Benefit |
Purchase Payments and Issue Age
(See “Purchase” section below for more details)
The Contract is a modified single premium annuity. This means we will accept Purchase Payments only during the purchase payment period, which ends two months after the Contract Effective Date.
The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $25,000. Each additional Purchase Payment must be at least $10,000. You will need our prior approval if you want to make a Purchase Payment(s) of more than $1,000,000.
Each Owner must be age 80 or younger on the Contract Effective Date.
Indexed Strategies
(See “Indexed Strategies” section below for more details)
For this Contract, we currently offer eight Indexed Strategies. Each of these Indexed Strategies uses one of three Indexes: S&P 500
®
Index, iShares®
MSCI EAFE ETF, and iShares®
U.S. Real Estate ETF. Four of these Indexed Strategies haveone-year
Terms, and four havetwo-year
Terms.S&P 500
1-year
Term with CapS&P 500
2-year
Term with CapS&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation RateS&P 500
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
2-year
Term with Participation Rate10
Indexed Strategy Value
(See “Indexed Strategy Value at End of Term” and “Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term” sections below for more details)
The value of an Indexed Strategy changes from day to day throughout each Term. The method used to calculate the Strategy value depends on whether the value is being calculated at the end of a Term or during a Term.
• | Once the last Market Day of the Term has been reached, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the remaining Investment Base increased for any rise in the applicable Index over that Term or decreased for any fall in the applicable Index over that Term. Any increase for the Term is limited by the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for the Term. Any decrease for the Term is limited by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | On each day before the last Market Day of the Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the remaining Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage as of the most recent Market Close. |
A withdrawal reduces the Strategy value by the amount of the withdrawal and any related Early Withdrawal Charge.
Investment Base
(See “Indexed Strategies” section below for more details)
The value of an Indexed Strategy is calculated using the Investment Base. The Investment Base is not your Strategy Value, Account Value, Surrender Value, Annuity Payout value, or Death Benefit value, but it is used to calculate those values.
At the start of a Term, the Investment Base of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the amount applied to that Strategy for that Term. The Investment Base decreases each day during a Term by the amount of the Daily Charge.
In addition, a withdrawal reduces the Investment Base by the amount that is proportional to the reduction in the Strategy value on account of the withdrawal and any related Early Withdrawal Charge. For example, if a withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge are equal to 35% of the Strategy value, then the Investment Base for that Strategy will be reduced by 35%.
This means the dollar amount of the proportional reduction in the Investment Base will not be the same as the dollar amount of the withdrawal and the Early Withdrawal Charge.
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is greater than the Investment Base, then the proportional reduction in the Investment Base will be less than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is less than the Investment Base, then the proportional reduction in the Investment Base will be greater than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
Daily Charge
(See “Daily Charge” section below for more details)
The Investment Base is reduced daily by an amount equal to the Daily Charge. The Daily Charge is calculated using a daily rate that compounds at 0.75% per year.
For an Indexed Strategy, it is calculated as a percentage of the remaining Investment Base and deducted daily.
At the end of a Term during which no withdrawals were made, the Daily Charges through the Term End Date are equal to the Investment Base on the Term Start Date times the annual rate at which the Daily Charge compounds.
Example.
Before the end of a Term, the Daily Charge is the Investment Base from the prior day, multiplied by the Daily Charge rate. If no withdrawals are made during the Term, the sum of the Daily Charges from the first day of the Term to any day during the Term is equal to: Investment Base on the Term Start Date – (Investment Base on the Term Start Date x (1 – Daily Charge Rate) ^ number of days elapsed prior to withdrawal).
11
Examples.
On Day 73 of the Term | On Day 219 of the Term | |||||||
Investment Base Calculation | ||||||||
Initial Investment Base | $100,000 | $100,000 | ||||||
Accumulated Daily Charges | | $150 = ($100,000 - ($100,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 73) | | $451 = ($100,000 - ($100,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 219) | ||||
Investment Base After Daily Charges | | $99,850 = ($100,000 - $150) | | | $99,549 = ($100,000 - $451) | |
Indexed Strategy Value at End of Term
(See “Indexed Strategy Value at End of Term” section below for more details)
At the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the remaining Investment Base increased for any rise in the Index or decreased for any fall in the Index over the Term.
Any increase for the Term is potentially limited by a Cap or limited by an Upside Participation Rate. The Cap for a Term is the largest rise in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For example, if the Cap is 10% and the Index increases by 16%, the Cap limits the increase in the Investment Base to 10%. The Upside Participation Rate for a Term is the portion of any rise in the Index over the Term that is taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For example, if the Upside Participation Rate is 50% and the Index increases by 16%, the Upside Participation Rate limits the increase in the Investment Base to 8%.
Any decrease for a Term is limited by the Downside Participation Rate. The Downside Participation Rate is the portion of any fall in the Index over the Term taken into account to determine the Strategy value at the end of the Term. For example, if the Downside Participation Rate is 50% and the Index decreases by 20%, the Downside Participation Rate limits the decrease in the Investment Base to
-10%.
Daily Charges are deducted from the Investment Base before the increase for any rise in the Index or decrease for any fall in the Index is applied.
Examples.
(a) | When the Index rises over a Term, the resulting Strategy Value increase will be smaller than the rise in the Index applied to the initial Investment Base. This is because the Daily Charge reduces the Investment Base before the Index rise is taken into account. (Note: this would not apply if the Upside Participation Rate were to exceed 100% to the extent needed to offset the Daily Charge). |
(b) | When the Index falls over a Term, the resulting Strategy Value decrease will be larger than 50% of the Index fall applied to the initial Investment Base. This is because the Daily Charge reduces the Investment Base before the Index fall is taken into account. |
We set the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for each Indexed Strategy prior to the start of each Term. This means Caps and Upside Participation Rates may change for each Term. A Cap will never be lower than 1%. An Upside Participation Rate will never be less than 5%. At least 10 days before the next Term starts, we will post the Caps and Upside Participation Rates that will apply to the Indexed Strategies for that next Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates).
Any increase in the value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term is based on the value of the underlying Index on the final Market Day of the Term. This means that you may experience negative or flat performance for the Term even though the underlying Index rose throughout some or most of the Term.
For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer with this Contact, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. The Downside Participation for these Indexed Strategies will not change. In a hypothetical worst case scenario where the Index falls by 100% over the Term and the Downside Participation Rate is 50%, then the Strategy value at the end of the Term will be equal to the Investment Base decreased by 50% in addition to the impact of the Daily Charges on the Investment Base.
12
Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term
(See “Indexed Strategy Value Before End of Term” section below for more details)
Before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to the Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage. For example, if the Investment Base for a Strategy is $100,000 and the Daily Value Percentage is 8%, then the value of your Strategy on that day is equal to $108,000 ($100,000 Investment Base, increased by $100,000 x 8%). If the Investment Base for a Strategy is $100,000 and the Daily Value
Percentage is -4%,
then the value of your Strategy on that day is equal to $96,000 ($100,000 Investment Base, decreased by$100,000 x -4%).
The Daily Value Percentage is equal to the Net Option Price, reduced by the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost.
• | The Net Option Price is the calculated price of hypothetical options that represent the projected change in the applicable Index over the full Term. The calculated price takes into account the applicable Cap or Upside Participation Rate and the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | For strategies with a Cap, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at that Market Close; minus (2) the OTM Call Option Price at that Market Close; and minus (3) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | For strategies with an Upside Participation Rate, the Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at a Market Close multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; minus (2) the ATM Put Option Price at that Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate. |
• | The Amortized Option Cost is the calculated price of those options at the start of the Term amortized over the Term. |
• | The Amortized Option Cost is a percentage equal to: (1) the initial Net Option Price for an Indexed Strategy for the Term; multiplied by (2) the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of that Term divided by 365 days if that Term is one year long or by 730 days if that Term is two years long. |
• | The Trading Cost is the estimated cost of selling those options. It is a percentage set by us by the last Market Close on or before that day. |
Here is the formula we use to calculate the Daily Value Percentage.
Daily Value Percentage = Net Option Price – Amortized Option Cost – Trading Cost
Examples.
On Day 73 of the Term | On Day 219 of the Term | |||||||
Investment Base Calculation | ||||||||
Initial Investment Base | $100,000 | $100,000 | ||||||
Accumulated Daily Charges | $150 | $451 | ||||||
Investment Base on Day 73 | $99,850 ($100,000 - $150) | $99,549 ($100,000 - $451) | ||||||
Assumptions | ||||||||
Net Option Price | 1.61% | 10.00% | ||||||
Amortized Option Cost | 2.11% | 0.70% | ||||||
Trading Cost | 0.20% | 0.20% | ||||||
Calculations | ||||||||
Daily Value Percentage | -0.70% (1.61% - 2.11% - 0.20%) | 9.10% (10.00% - 0.70% - 0.20%) | ||||||
Dollar amount of increase/decrease | $699 decrease ($99,850 x - 0.70%) | $9,059 increase ($99,549 x 9.10%) | ||||||
Strategy value | $99,151 ($99,850 - $699) | $108,608 ($99,549 + $9,059) |
Strategy Renewals and Reallocations
(See “Strategy Selections at Term End” section below for more details)
At the end of each Term, you may reallocate the ending values of the Indexed Strategies for that Term among the Strategies.
• | If you reallocate, then we will apply the ending values of the Indexed Strategies to a new Term of the Indexed Strategies that you select. |
• | If you do not reallocate, then we will apply the ending value of each Indexed Strategy to a new Term of that same Strategy. |
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You cannot reallocate your value among Indexed Strategies during a Term. We will send you written notice at least 30 days before the end of a Term to provide you with the opportunity to make a reallocation. However, you will not know the Cap and Upside Participation Rates applicable to a new Term until 10 days before the end of the current Term. You should consider this information before finalizing your renewal or reallocation decision.
Access to Your Money through Withdrawals
(See “Cash Benefit” section below for more details)
You may take a withdrawal from your Contract at any time prior to the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. During the first six Contract Years, an Early Withdrawal Charge will apply unless (a) your withdrawal qualifies for the Free Withdrawal Allowance or (b) the withdrawal qualifies for a waiver (as explained in the “Early Withdrawal Charge—Early Withdrawal Charge Waiver” section). A withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy will reduce the Account Value by the amount of the withdrawal, including any taxes and any applicable Early Withdrawal Charge. A withdrawal during a Term will reduce the Investment Base, which is used to calculate subsequent Strategy values for that Term, by an amount that is proportional to the reduction in the Indexed Strategy value due to the withdrawal.
Early Withdrawal Charge
(See “Early Withdrawal Charge” section below for more details)
An Early Withdrawal Charge applies during the first six Contract Years if you Surrender your Contract or withdraw an amount in excess of the Free Withdrawal Allowance. The charge is equal to the amount subject to the charge multiplied by the applicable rate set out below.
Contract Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7+ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Early Withdrawal Charge Rate | 9 | % | 8 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | 5 | % | 4 | % | 0 | % |
If you take a withdrawal from your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is the amount you withdraw plus any amount needed to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge. If you Surrender your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is your Account Value.
When you request a withdrawal, we will reduce the amount we pay you by the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge. If you instruct us to pay you the specific withdrawal amount, we will instead reduce your Account Value by both the requested specific withdrawal amount, as well as the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge. In this case, since you opted not to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge out of your withdrawal proceeds, we treat the Early Withdrawal Charge as an additional requested withdrawal. We will apply the Early Withdrawal Charge to both the specified withdrawal amount, as well as any amounts we withdraw to cover your Early Withdrawal Charges. The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to a withdrawal that qualifies for the Free Withdrawal Allowance or the amount, if any, that qualifies for another waiver.
For example, if after using their Free Withdrawal Allowance a contractholder requested that an additional $10,000 be withdrawn from their Account Value when a 9% Early Withdrawal Charge was in effect, a $900 Early Withdrawal Charge would apply (9% of $10,000 withdrawn). The contractholder would receive $9,100 ($10,000 - $900), minus any income tax withholding.
Similarly, if a contractholder instead requested that they receive a net amount of $10,000 from their account in the same circumstances, we would treat the Early Withdrawal Charge amount as an additional requested withdrawal subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge. This means that we will “gross up” your requested withdrawal to cover applicable Early Withdrawal Charges (and any income tax withholding). If we assume that no income tax withholding applies, the withdrawal would be grossed up to $10,989, calculated by dividing the net amount requested by 1 minus the Early Withdrawal Charge rate ($10,000 / (1 – 0.09)). The Early Withdrawal Charge would be $989 (9% of the $10,989 withdrawal), and the contractholder would receive $10,000
($10,989 - $989).
Free Withdrawal Allowance
(See “Early Withdrawal Charge” section below for more details)
The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to the Free Withdrawal Allowance.
• | For the first Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is an amount equal to 10% of the total Purchase Payments received by us. |
• | For each subsequent Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is equal to 10% of the Account Value as of the most recent Contract Anniversary. |
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Payout Options
(See “Payout Options” section below for more details)
Like all annuity contracts, the Contract offers a range of Payout Options, which provide payments for your lifetime or for a fixed period. After payments begin, you cannot change the Payout Option or any fixed period you selected. The standard Payout Options are listed below.
• | Fixed Period Payout |
• | Life Payout |
• | Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period |
• | Joint and One-Half Survivor Payout |
Death Benefit
(See “Death Benefit” section below for more details)
A Death Benefit is payable under the Contract if you die before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. If the Owner is a
non-natural
person, such as a trust or a corporation, then a Death Benefit is payable under the Contract if an Annuitant dies before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.The Death Benefit value is the Account Value as of the applicable date.
Tax Deferral
(See “Federal Tax Considerations” section below for more details)
The Contract is generally tax deferred, which means that you are not taxed on the earnings in your Contract until the money is paid to you. Contracts owned by
non-natural
owners, such as trusts and corporations, are subject to special rules.A
tax-qualified
retirement plan such as an IRA also provides tax deferral. Buying the Contract within atax-qualified
retirement plan does not give you any extra tax benefits. There should be reasons other than tax deferral for buying the Contract within atax-qualified
retirement plan.Right to Cancel
(See “Right to Cancel (Free Look)” section below for more details)
If you purchase a Contract, you may cancel it within 20 days after you receive it. If you purchase a Contract to replace an existing annuity contract or insurance policy, you have 30 days to cancel the Contract. The right to cancel period may be longer in some states. If you cancel your Contract, you will receive a refund. The amount of the refund will depend on where you live. In some states, the refund amount is equal to the Purchase Payments. In other states, the refund amount is equal to the Account Value on the day that we receive a cancellation request. In this case, an owner bears the risk of changes in Indexed Strategy values before cancellation. No adjustment will be made for the Daily Value Percentage and no Early Withdrawal Charges will apply to the amount refunded. Unless required by state law, we do not refund any Daily Charge assessed during the free look period or any Early Withdrawal Charges assessed during the free look period that relate to a withdrawal taken before you cancel the Contract. See the Right to Cancel (Free Look) section for more information about your cancellation rights and the State Variations section of this prospectus for more information about state variations that apply to cancellation rights.
There may be tax consequences if you cancel the Contract. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
RISK FACTORS
The Contract involves certain risks that you should understand before purchasing it. You should carefully consider your income needs and risk tolerance to determine whether the Contract or a particular Indexed Strategy is appropriate for you. The level of risk you bear and your potential investment performance will differ depending on the Indexed Strategies you choose.
Loss of Principal Related to Indexed Strategies
There is a significant risk of loss of principal and prior earnings due to the fall of an Index if you allocate your Purchase Payment(s) to an Indexed Strategy. Such a loss may be substantial. This risk exists because, at the end of that Term, you can lose up to 50% of the money allocated to an Indexed Strategy. In addition, before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy may be even less than 50% of the money allocated to that Indexed Strategy because the loss will include a reduction for the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost. If you allocate money to one or more Indexed Strategies over multiple Terms, you may lose money each Term, which may result in a cumulative loss that is greater than 50% of your Purchase Payment(s).
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If we offer a new Indexed Strategy in the future, the Downside Participation Rate for the Strategy may be more or less than 50%. The risk of loss of principal will be greater if you allocate money to a Strategy with a higher Downside Participation Rate. In a worst case scenario, if we eliminate all of the current Indexed Strategies and offer only new Indexed Strategies with higher Downside Participation Rates, then your risk of loss of principal will increase.
Loss of Principal Related to Daily Charge
There is a risk of loss of principal and related earnings as a result of the Daily Charge. The Daily Charge reduces your Investment Base, which will result in reduced Strategy values. In addition, any Index increases will not apply to amounts deducted as Daily Charges because Daily Charges are subtracted from the Investment Base prior to calculating Strategy values. You could realize losses even when the Index rises. This will occur when the amount of increase attributable to an Index rise is smaller than the amount needed to offset the Daily Charge.
For example, if the Investment Base of an Indexed Strategy at the start of a Term is $100,000 and $650 in Daily Charges have been deducted since the start of the Term, the remaining Investment Base will be $99,350 ($100,000 – $650). If on that date the Daily Value Percentage is a positive 0.5%, then the Strategy Value on that date will be $99,847 ($99,350 x 100.5%). The Daily Charges exceed the value attributable to the 0.5% increase, resulting in a net reduction in the Strategy Value since the start of the Term. In addition, the 0.5% increase will not apply to the $650 applied to pay the Daily Charges because the Daily Charges are subtracted from the Investment Base before calculating the Strategy value.
When the Index falls, the Daily Charge will cause you to realize losses in excess of the Downside Participation Rate.
Loss of Principal Related to Early Withdrawal Charge
There is also a risk of loss of principal and prior earnings if you take a withdrawal from your Contract or Surrender it during the first six Contract Years and an Early Withdrawal Charge applies. This risk exists for each Strategy. An Early Withdrawal Charge will reduce the value of the Strategy. This reduction may exceed any prior earnings.
Long-Term Nature of Contract
The Contract is a deferred annuity, which means the Annuity Payout Benefit will begin on a future date. We designed the Contract to be a long-term investment that you can use to help build a retirement nest egg and provide income for retirement. The limitations, adjustments and charges included in the Contract reflect its long-term nature.
Limits on Strategy Value at End of Term
If the Index rises over the Term and a Cap applies, then the Strategy value at the end of the Term can never be more than the Investment Base increased by the Cap for that Term even if the Index has risen by more than the Cap. If the Index rises over the Term and an Upside Participation Rate applies, then the Strategy value at the end of the Term will be the Investment Base increased by your share of the rise in the Index. Your share of any rise in the Index is equal to the Upside Participation Rate for that Term multiplied by the rise in the Index. Due to these limitations, in many cases the return on money allocated to an Indexed Strategy with a Cap will not fully reflect the corresponding rise in the Index over the Term and the return on money allocated to an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate that is less than 100% will never reflect the entire corresponding rise in the Index over the Term.
Index Changes Over the Course of Term
At the end of a Term, we measure the Index change by comparing the Index value on the first day of the Term to the Index value on the last day of the Term. This means that if the Index value is lower on the last day of the Term, you may experience negative or flat performance even if the Index rose through some, or most, of the Term.
The Contract offers you the opportunity to allocate funds to Indexed Strategies for one year or two year Terms. For Indexed Strategies with
two-year
terms, changes in Strategy value as a result of Index performance will only be measured over a two year period and not annually.16
Limits on Strategy Value before End of Term
Before the end of a Term, we calculate the value of an Indexed Strategy using a Daily Value Percentage that is not tied directly to the underlying Index. The Daily Value Percentage includes the prices of hypothetical options. Such option prices will vary from day to day. You will bear the risk that the Daily Value Percentage may decrease the Strategy value before the end of a Term.
The Daily Value Percentage includes deductions for the Amortized Option Cost and the Trading Cost, which means that any Strategy value before the end of a Term will almost always be less than the value suggested by the rise or fall of the Index. Because the Amortized Option Cost is a decreasing value, its negative impact on Strategy values will be more pronounced at the start of a Term than at the end of that Term. In addition, even if the Index rises, the Strategy value may be less than the Investment Base due to these deductions.
Strategy values are used to calculate the amount payable upon Surrender, applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit, or payable as the Death Benefit. Accordingly, the Amortized Option Cost and Trading Cost will have a negative effect on such benefits taken before the end of a Term.
For more information on how we determine the prices of hypothetical options, see the Option Prices section of this Prospectus.
Limits on Reallocations
You cannot reallocate money among the Indexed Strategies prior to the end of a Term. If you want to take money out of an Indexed Strategy during a Term, you must take a withdrawal or Surrender your Contract.
Effect of Surrenders
If you Surrender your Contract at any time during the first six Contract Years and an Early Withdrawal Charge applies, the amount payable will reflect a deduction for the charge. If you Surrender your Contract at the end of a Term, the amount payable will reflect any rise or fall of the applicable Indexes over the Term, applicable Caps and Upside Participation Rates and the Downside Participation Rate. If you Surrender your Contract before the end of a Term, the amount payable will reflect the applicable Daily Value Percentage.
Effect of All Withdrawals
If you take a withdrawal at any time, we will reduce your Account Value by an amount equal to your withdrawal. If you take a withdrawal during the first six Contract Years and an Early Withdrawal Charge applies, we will also reduce your Account Value by the amount of the charge.
Each withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy, including withdrawals available under the Free Withdrawal Allowance, withdrawals that qualify for a waiver of the Early Withdrawal Charge, withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal program and withdrawals to satisfy a required distribution, will reduce the Account Value.
Timing and Effect of Withdrawals Before End of Term
You should take into consideration the dates on which the Term(s) of your Indexed Strategies end relative to the timing of a withdrawal.
• | If you take a withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term, we will immediately reduce the Investment Base for that Indexed Strategy. |
• | The reduction will be proportional to the reduction in the Strategy Value, which means that the proportional reduction in the Investment Base could be larger than the dollar amount of the withdrawal. |
• | Reductions to the Investment Base will have a negative effect on any increases in the Indexed Strategy value for the remainder of that Term, but will reduce any decreases in the Indexed Strategy value for the remainder of that Term. |
• | Once the Investment Base for an Indexed Strategy is reduced due to a withdrawal before the end of a Term, it will not increase at any time during the remainder of that Term. |
Each withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term, including withdrawals available under the Free Withdrawal Allowance, withdrawals that qualify for a waiver of the Early Withdrawal Charge, withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal program and withdrawals to satisfy a required distribution, will proportionally reduce the Investment Base.
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No Ability to Determine Contract Values in Advance
We will process any withdrawal request at the first Market Close after receipt of your Request in Good Order. This means you will not be able to determine in advance the amount of the proportional reduction in the Investment Base due to the withdrawal. Likewise, you will not be able to determine in advance the amount payable upon Surrender, to be applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit or payable as the Death Benefit.
Changes in Caps, Upside Participation Rates, and Trading Cost
We set a Cap or an Upside Participation Rate for each new Term of an Indexed Strategy. The Cap or Upside Participation Rate for a new Term of an Indexed Strategy may be lower than its Cap or Upside Participation Rate for the current Term. A Cap may be as low as 1%. An Upside Participation Rate may be as low as 5%. You risk the possibility that the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for a new Term may be lower than you would find acceptable.
We may change the Trading Cost at any time due to changes in option prices. You bear the risk of any negative effect of an increase in the Trading Cost.
Unavailable Indexed Strategies
At the end of a Term, we may stop offering any Indexed Strategy other than the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy. Consequently, any other Indexed Strategy you selected may not be available after the end of a Term. In such an event, the Company will amend the prospectus. At least 30 days before the end of each Term, we will send you a written notice with information about the Indexed Strategies that will be available for the next Term. If funds are allocated to an Indexed Strategy that will not be available for the next Term and you do not request a reallocation of those funds, we will apply the ending value of that Indexed Strategy to a default Strategy for the new Term. The default Strategy will be the S&P 5001-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy.We may establish minimum and maximum amounts or percentages that may be applied to a given Indexed Strategy. This means that an Indexed Strategy you selected may not be available after the end of a Term because the amount to be applied to that Strategy is less than the minimum we set for the new Term. Likewise, the amount to be applied to an Indexed Strategy may be limited by the maximum we set for the new Term. At least 30 days before the end of each Term, we will send you a written notice with information about any maximum or minimum that will apply for the next Term. If funds cannot be applied to a Strategy due to the minimum or maximum we set for the next Term and you do not request a reallocation of those funds, we will apply the funds to a default Strategy for the new Term. The default Strategy will be the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy.In these cases, the funds that we allocate to the default Strategy may earn a return that is lower than the return those funds would have earned if they had been applied to the Indexed Strategy you selected.
If you choose to Surrender your Contract because a certain Indexed Strategy is no longer available, you may be subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge. There may be tax consequences if you Surrender your Contract. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
Replacement of an Index
We have the right to replace an Index if it is discontinued or we are no longer able to use it, its calculation changes substantially, or we determine that hedging instruments are difficult to acquire or the cost of hedging becomes excessive. We may do so at the end of a Term or during a Term. If we replace an Index, notice will be provided to contract owners and the Company will amend the prospectus. If we replace an Index during a Term, we will calculate any rise or fall in the Index using the old Index up until the replacement date. After the replacement date, we will calculate any rise or fall in the Index using the new Index. The performance of the new Index may not be as good as the performance of the old Index. As a result, funds allocated to an Indexed Strategy may earn a return that is lower than the return they would have earned if there had been no replacement.
Involuntary Termination of Contract
If your Account Value on any anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date is below the minimum value of $5,000 for any reason, we may terminate your Contract on that anniversary. If your Contract has Terms that end on the same date because you made only one Purchase Payment, any involuntary termination will occur on that date. If your Contract has Terms that end on
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different dates because you made more than one Purchase Payment, any involuntary termination will occur on one of those dates, which will be the end of one Term but not the end of the other Terms. In this case, the Surrender Value payable upon termination of your Contract will reflect the Daily Value Percentages used to calculate the values of Indexed Strategies with Terms that are not ending on the termination date.
No Direct Investment in S&P 500 Index
When you allocate money to an Indexed Strategy that uses the S&P 500 Index, you will not be investing in that Index, or in any stock included in that Index. The S&P 500 Index is calculated without taking into account dividends paid on stocks that make up the S&P 500 Index. In addition, because the performance of an S&P 500 Indexed Strategy is linked to the performance of the S&P 500 Index and not the performance of the stocks included in the Index, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in such stocks. In addition, due to the same limitations, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in a fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index.
No Direct Investment in an iShares ETF
When you allocate money to an Indexed Strategy that uses the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, you will not be investing in that exchange-traded fund, the securities or other assets held by the fund, in any underlying index tracked by the fund, or in the securities or other assets held by such underlying index. In addition, because the performance of an iShares ETF is linked to the performance of the share price of the ETF, which is determined by trading on the exchange, and not the performance of its investment portfolio, its underlying index or the components of that index, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in the securities or other assets held by the fund or a direct investment in the components of the fund’s underlying index. In addition, due to the same limitations, your return may be less than that of a direct investment in the fund.
Divergence of Performance
The performance of an Indexed Strategy will diverge from the performance of the underlying Index because changes in the value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term are subject to Caps or Upside Participation Rates and the Downside Participation Rate, and because changes in the value of an Indexed Strategy before the end of a Term are based on the Daily Value Percentage.
Market Risk Related to Indexes
Money allocated to an Indexed Strategy that uses the S&P 500 Index is subject to the risk that the market value of the underlying securities that comprise the S&P 500 Index may decline over a Term. Likewise, money allocated to an Indexed Strategy that uses the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is subject to the risk that the fund’s share price may decline over a Term. The level of the S&P 500 Index and the share prices of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF may be volatile. Any such market loss in an amount up to the Downside Participation Rate will be reflected in the Indexed Strategy value. For example, with a Downside Participation Rate of 50%, the Indexed Strategy value will be reduced by 50% of a fall in the Index at the end of a Term. This risk applies even if you do not take a withdrawal before the end of a Term.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as
COVID-19
was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. As of the date of this prospectus, theCOVID-19
pandemic has led to significant volatility in the financial markets. These market conditions have impacted the performance of the Indexes to which the Indexed Strategies are linked. If these market conditions continue, and depending on your individual circumstances (e.g., your selected Indexed Strategies and the timing of any Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals), you may experience (perhaps significant) negative returns under the Contract. The duration of theCOVID-19
pandemic, and the future impact that the pandemic may have on the financial markets and global economy, cannot be foreseen, however. You should consult with a Financial Professional about how theCOVID-19
pandemic and the recent market conditions may impact your future investment decisions related to the Contract, such as purchasing the Contract or making Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals, based on your individual circumstances.The historical performance of an Index does not guarantee future results.
S&P 500 Index
®
Index is designed to reflect thelarge-cap
sector of the U.S. equity market and, due to its composition, it also represents the U.S. equity market in general. Any positive change in the S&P 500 Index over a Term will be lower than the total return on an investment in the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 Index because such total return will reflect dividend payments on those stocks and the S&P 500 Index will not reflect those dividend payments. More information about the S&P 500 Index is set out in the Indexes section of this prospectus.19
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
mid-capitalization
developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada (MSCI EAFE Index). This underlying index includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. It may include large- ormid-capitalization
companies. The share price of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is tied to the performance of large- andmid-capitalization
developed market equites, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The share price may not replicate the performance of the fund, its underlying index, or the components of that index. More information about the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is set out in the Indexes section of this prospectus. To learn more about the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, visit iShares.com and search ticker symbol EFA.iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
.
mid-
or small-capitalization companies. A significant portion of the underlying index is represented by real estate investment trusts (REITs), but the components are likely to change over time. The share price of the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is tied to the performance of the real estate sector. The share price may not replicate the performance of the fund, its underlying index, or the components of that index. More information about the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is set out in the Indexes section of this prospectus. To learn more about the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, visit iShares.com and search ticker symbol IYR.Market Risk Related to Option Prices
Before the end of a Term, money allocated to an Indexed Strategy is subject to the risk that changes in the related option prices may have a negative effect on the value of the Indexed Strategy. This risk applies only if you take a withdrawal before the end of a Term.
Regulatory Risk
Great American Life is not an investment company. Neither Great American Life nor the separate account that we established in connection with the Contracts is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The protections provided to investors by that Act are not applicable to the Contract.
Reliance on Our Claims-Paying Ability
No company other than Great American Life has any legal responsibility to pay amounts owed under the Contract. You should look to the financial strength of Great American Life for its claims-paying ability.
Our general account assets fund the guarantees provided in the Contracts. The assets are subject to our general business operation liabilities and claims of our creditors and may lose value. We established a
non-unitized
separate account for the purpose of supporting our obligation to adjust the Indexed Strategy values based on the Daily Value Percentage or rise or fall of the Index. The assets in thenon-unitized
separate account are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business that we conduct but may lose value. Thenon-unitized
separate account differs from the unitized separate accounts that support our variable annuity contracts. As a result, unlike the owner of a traditional variable annuity who has a beneficial interest in, and participates in the performance of, the assets of the related unitized separate account, you do not have any interest in or claim on the assets in thenon-unitized
separate account and you will not participate in any way in the performance of assets held in that account.Various factors, such as those listed below, could materially affect our business, financial condition, cash flows or future results and, in turn, our financial strength and claims-paying ability. A more complete discussion of these factors appears on
pages 86-90.
• | Financial losses including those resulting from the following events: |
• | Adverse developments in financial markets and deterioration in global economic conditions |
• | Unfavorable interest rate environments |
• | Losses on our investment portfolio |
• | Loss of market share due to intense competition |
• | Ineffectiveness of risk management policies |
• | Changes in applicable law and regulations |
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• | Inability to obtain or collect on reinsurance |
• | A downgrade or potential downgrade in our financial strength ratings |
• | Variations from actual experience and management’s estimates and assumptions that could result in inadequate reserves |
• | Significant variations in the amount of capital we must hold to meet statutory capital requirements |
• | Legal actions and regulatory proceedings |
• | Difficulties with technology or data security |
• | Failure to protect confidentiality of customer information |
• | Failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems |
• | Occurrence of catastrophic events, terrorism or military actions |
The economic impacts of the
COVID-19
pandemic may negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. The extent to which theCOVID-19
pandemic impacts financial markets, the global economy, and our financial strength and claims-paying ability will depend on future developments that cannot be predicted with certainty. We continue to be subject to significant state solvency regulations that require us to reserve amounts to pay our contractual guarantees. Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Risk Factors Related to GALIC’s Business,” and “Financial Statements”, and “Regulation” for additional financial information about the company and the state solvency regulations to which we are subject.INDEXED STRATEGIES
The Indexed Strategies provide returns that are based, in part, upon changes in an Index. The Indexed Strategies do not earn interest at a fixed rate. Unlike a traditional variable annuity, the values of the Indexed Strategies are not based on the investment performance of underlying portfolios.
At the end of a Term, any increase in the value of an Indexed Strategy is determined after Daily Charges have been deducted from the Investment Base, and is based on the rise in the applicable Index since the start of that Term and the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for that Term. At the end of a Term, any decrease in the value of an Indexed Strategy is determined after Daily Charges have been deducted from the Investment Base, and is based on the fall in the applicable Index since the start of that Term and the Downside Participation Rate.
Before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is first decreased by Daily Charges. Then any increase or further decrease in the value of an Indexed Strategy is based on the calculated price of hypothetical options related to the possible future change in the applicable Index over the Term, the initial cost of those options, and the trading cost related to those options. The calculated price of those options takes into account the Cap or the Upside Participation Rate for the Term and the Downside Participation Rate.
Each Indexed Strategy has a Cap or an Upside Participation Rate for each Term. We will set a new Cap or Upside Participation Rate for each Indexed Strategy prior to the start of each Term.
Each Indexed Strategy has a Downside Participation Rate that will not change from Term to Term. For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%.
Each Term it is possible for you to lose a portion of the money you allocated to any Indexed Strategy.
Available Indexed Strategies
For this Contract, we currently offer eight Indexed Strategies. Each of these Indexed Strategies uses one of three Indexes: S&P 500
®
Index, iShares®
MSCI EAFE ETF, and iShares®
U.S. Real Estate ETF. Four of these Indexed Strategies haveone-year
Terms, and four havetwo-year
Terms.S&P 500
1-year
Term with CapS&P 500
2-year
Term with CapS&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation RateS&P 500
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares MSCI EAFE ETF
2-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
1-year
Term with Participation RateiShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
2-year
Term with Participation Rate21
Considerations in Choosing an Indexed Strategy
When choosing among Indexed Strategies, you should consider the characteristics and risk profiles of the Indexes, which are discussed in the Indexes section of this prospectus. You should also consider Term lengths. It is generally more difficult to predict Index performance over a longer Term. In addition, you cannot reallocate funds among Strategies before the end of a Term, and the only way to exit a Strategy before the end of a Term is to take a withdrawal or Surrender your Contract.
When choosing among Indexed Strategies that use the same Index, you should also consider how the Caps and Participation Rates may affect the potential return.
• | An Indexed Strategy with Cap provides you with the opportunity to participate in any rise in the Index up to the Cap (after Daily Charges have been deducted from the Investment Base), but you will not participate in any rise in the Index in excess of the Cap. |
• | An Indexed Strategy with Participation Rate provides you with the opportunity to share in any rise in the Index without a Cap, but your share of any rise is always expected to be less than 100%. |
If we assume the Participation Rate is less than 100%, here is how an Indexed Strategy with Cap will perform in comparison to an Indexed Strategy with Participation Rate.
• | In any Term where the rise in the Index is less than the Cap, the Cap Strategy will always perform better than the corresponding Participation Rate Strategy. |
• | In any Term where the rise in the Index is more than the Cap, but less than the Cap divided by the Upside Participation Rate, the Cap Strategy will always perform better than the corresponding Participation Rate Strategy. |
• | In any Term where the rise in the Index is more than the Cap divided by the Upside Participation Rate, the Participation Rate Strategy will always perform better than the Cap Strategy. |
• | In any Term where the Index falls, the Cap Strategy and Participation Rate Strategy will produce the same results at the end of the Term because both have a 50% Downside Participation Rate. However, before the end of the Term, due to different option pricing, they may have different Daily Value Percentages and returns. |
Examples
Return at end of Term | ||||||||||||
Index rise over Term | 12% Cap | 75% Upside Participation Rate | Explanation | |||||||||
4 | % | 4 | % | 3 | % | The Cap Strategy has a better return than the Participation Rate Strategy because the 4% rise in the Index is less than the 12% Cap. | ||||||
14 | % | 12 | % | 10.5 | % | The Cap Strategy has a better return than the Participation Rate Strategy because the 14% rise in the Index is more than the 12% Cap, but less than 16% (the 12% Cap divided by the 75% Upside Participation Rate). | ||||||
16 | % | 12 | % | 12 | % | Both Strategies have the same positive return because the rise in the Index is equal to 16% (the 12% Cap divided by the 75% Upside Participation Rate). | ||||||
20 | % | 12 | % | 15 | % | The Participation Rate Strategy has a better return than the Cap Strategy because the 20% rise in the Index is more than 16% (the 12% Cap divided by the 75%Upside Participation Rate) | ||||||
-30 | % | -15 | % | -15 | % | Both Strategies have the same negative return. |
Term
Each Term of an Indexed Strategy will start and end on a Strategy Application Date. Each Term is either one year long or two years long. A new Term will start at the end of the preceding Term.
If you make only one Purchase Payment or you make all of your Purchase Payments before the initial Strategy Application Date, then each Term of each Indexed Strategy will end on the same date in any given year. If you make a Purchase Payment after the initial Strategy Application Date, then your Purchase Payments will be applied to the Indexed Strategies on different Strategy Application Dates. In this case, an Indexed Strategy may have Terms that end on different dates in any given year.
22
Examples.
• | You make your initial Purchase Payment on March 10 and another Purchase Payment on March 17. You allocate both payments to the same Indexed Strategy and both payments are applied on March 20. Each Term of that Indexed Strategy will start and end on March 20. |
• | You make your initial Purchase Payment on May 2 and another Purchase Payment on June 14. You allocate both payments to the same Indexed Strategy. Your initial Purchase Payment is applied on May 6 and the other Purchase Payment is applied on June 20. That Indexed Strategy will have Terms that start and end on May 6 and other Terms that start and end on June 20. |
Investment Base
The value of an Indexed Strategy is calculated using the Investment Base. The Investment Base is not your Account Value, Surrender Value, Annuity Payout value, or Death Benefit value, but it is used to calculate those values.
The Investment Base is the amount applied to the Strategy at the start of the current Term, reduced proportionally for each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge during the current Term.
The Investment Base is reduced daily by an amount equal to the Daily Charge.
A withdrawal and the Related Early Withdrawal Charge reduce the Investment Base by an amount that is proportional to the reduction in the value of the Indexed Strategy due to the withdrawal and the charge.
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is greater than the Investment Base, then the reduction in the Investment Base will be less than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
• | If the Strategy value immediately before the withdrawal is less than the Investment Base, then the reduction in the Investment Base will be more than the withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge. |
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate a reduction in the Investment Base for a withdrawal, after Daily Charges have been taken into account.
Withdrawal as a percentage of Strategy value = withdrawal and related charge / Strategy value before withdrawal
Reduction in Investment Base = Investment Base before withdrawal x withdrawal as a percentage of Strategy value
Investment Base after withdrawal = Investment Base before withdrawal—reduction in Investment Base
Indexed Strategy Value
At the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to:
• | the Investment Base at the end of the Term; plus |
• | any increase for a rise in the Index over the Term; or minus |
• | any decrease for a fall in the Index over the Term. |
In this formula, the Investment Base at the end of the Term is equal to the amount applied to the Strategy at the start of that Term, reduced by Daily Charges, and reduced proportionally for each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge that you took during that Term. After we calculate the Investment Base at the end of the Term, we calculate any increase for a rise in the Index over that Term or any decrease for a fall in the Index over that Term. Any increase for the Term is subject to the Cap or Upside Participation Rate for that Term. Any decrease for the Term is subject to the Downside Participation Rate.
23
Examples
Assume that the Index had increased by 20% at the end of the Term, and either a Cap of 10% or an Upside Participation Rate of 50% was in place:
At Final Market Close of Term | ||
Rise in Index | +20% | |
Increase as a Percentage | +10% (10% Cap, or 50% Par Rate x 20%) | |
Dollar Amount of Increase | +$500 ($5,000 x 10%) | |
Strategy value before Withdrawal | $5,500 ($5,000 + $500) | |
Withdrawal Amount | $1,000 | |
Strategy Value at Term End | $4,500 ($5,500 - $1,000) |
If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000, your withdrawal amount would have been $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)), resulting in a Strategy Value at Term End of $4,447 ($5,500—$1,053).
Assume that the Index had decreased by 20% at the end of the Term, and a 50% Downside Participation Rate was in place:
At Final Market Close of Term | ||
Fall in Index | -20% | |
Decrease as a Percentage | -10% (50% x -20%) | |
Dollar Amount of Decrease | -$500 ($5,000 x -10%) | |
Strategy value before Withdrawal | $4,500 ($5,000 - $500) | |
Withdrawal Amount | $1,000 | |
Strategy Value at Term End | $3,500 ($4,500 - $1,000) |
If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000, your withdrawal amount would have been $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)), resulting in a Strategy Value at Term End of $3,447 ($4,500 - $1,053).
On each day before the end of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is equal to:
• | the Investment Base on that day; plus |
• | any increase for a positive Daily Value Percentage; or minus |
• | any decrease for a negative Daily Value Percentage. |
In this formula, the Investment Base on each day before the end of the Term is equal to the amount applied to the Strategy at the start of that Term, reduced by Daily Charges, and reduced proportionally for each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge that you took on or before that day. After we calculate the Investment Base on that day, we calculate any increase for a positive Daily Value Percentage or any decrease for a negative Daily Value Percentage.
A withdrawal and the related Early Withdrawal Charge reduce the value of an Indexed Strategy by an amount equal to the withdrawal and the charge.
Examples
Assume that the Daily Value Percentage is 5% on the withdrawal date.
• | The increase for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $250 ($5,000 x 5%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $5,250 ($5,000 + $250). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $4,250 ($5,250 - $1,000). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 19.05% ($1,000 / $5,250). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $952 ($5,000 x 19.05%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $4,048 ($5,000 - $952). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was more than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base is only $952, which is less than the $1000 withdrawal. |
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If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000:
• | The increase for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $250 ($5,000 x 5%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $5,250 ($5,000 + $250). |
• | The total amount withdrawn is $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $4,197 ($5,250 - $1,053). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 20.05% ($1,053 / $5,250). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $1,003 ($5,000 x 20.05%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $3,997 ($5,000 - $1,003). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was more than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base was $1,003, which is less than the $1,053 withdrawal. |
Assume that the Daily Value Percentage is
-10%
on the withdrawal date.• | The reduction for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $500 ($5,000 x -10%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $4,500 ($5,000 - $500). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $3,500 ($4,500 - $1,000). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 22.22% ($1,000 / $4,500). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $1,111 ($5,000 x 22.22%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $3,889 ($5,000 - $1,111). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was less than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base was $1,111, which is greater than the $1,000 withdrawal. |
If in this example an Early Withdrawal Charge of 5% applied to the entire withdrawal amount and you requested a net amount of $1,000:
• | The reduction for the Daily Value Percentage is equal to $500 ($5,000 x 10%). |
• | The Strategy value on the withdrawal date is $4,500 ($5,000 - $500). |
• | The Strategy value after the withdrawal is $3,447 ($4,500 - $1,053). |
• | The total amount withdrawn is $1,053 ($1,000 / (1 – 0.05)). |
• | The withdrawal as a percentage of the Strategy value is 23.39% ($1,053 / $4,500). |
• | The reduction in the Investment Base is $1,170 ($5,000 x 23.39%). |
• | The Investment Base after the withdrawal is $3,830 ($5,000 - $1,170). |
• | Because the Strategy Value on the withdrawal date was less than the Investment Base, the reduction in the Investment Base was $1,170, which is greater than the $1,053 withdrawal. |
INDEXES
S&P 500 Index
The S&P 500
®
Index is designed to reflect thelarge-cap
sector of the U.S. equity market and, due to its composition, it also represents the U.S. equity market in general. It includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization. The S&P 500 Index does not include dividends declared by any of the companies in this index. Consequently, any positive change in the Index over a Term will be lower than the total return on a direct investment in the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 Index.The S&P 500 Index is subject to multiple principal investment risks, such as those related to its investments in large-capitalization companies. The S&P 500 Index tracks a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the S&P 500 Index to perform differently from the overall stock market. In general, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies. In addition, the S&P 500 Index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the S&P 500 Index to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.
The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information, visit www.US.SPIndices.com.
25
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is an exchange traded fund that seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and
mid-capitalization
developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada (MSCI EAFE Index). This underlying index includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. It may include large- ormid-capitalization
companies. The components of the underlying index, and the degree to which these components represent certain industries and/or countries, are likely to change over time. The fund’s adviser uses an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to that of the underlying index. The fund’s performance will be reduced by its expenses and fees.The fund is subject to several principal investment risks, such as those related to its investments in large- and, increased price volatility; changing currency exchange rates; and greater political, regulatory and economic uncertainty). Because the fund is an ETF, it is also exposed to the risks associated with the operation of any ETF. The value of its shares, which are valued based on their trading prices in the secondary market, may change rapidly and unpredictably and may trade at premiums or discounts to the fund’s net asset value.
mid-capitalization
foreign companies. In general, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies. Generally, the securities ofmid-capitalization
companies may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies.Mid-capitalization
companies are also more likely to fail than larger companies. Securities issued bynon-U.S.
companies are subject to the risks related to investments in foreign markets (e.g.
The principal investment risks of the fund are described in the fund’s prospectus, including the following risks: asset class risk, authorized participant concentration risk, concentration risk, currency risk, cyber security risk, equity securities risk, financials sector risk, geographic risk, index-related risk, issuer risk, large-capitalization companies risk, management risk, market risk, market trading risk,
mid-capitalization
companies risk, national closed market trading risk,non-U.S.
securities risk, operational risk, passive investment risk, reliance on trading partners risk, risk of investing in developed countries, risk of investing in Japan, securities lending risk, structural risk, tracking error risk and valuation risk.The fund’s shares trade on the NYSE Arca under the symbol EFA.
iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF
The iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF is an exchange traded fund that seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. equities in the real estate sector (Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index). This underlying index may include large-,
mid-
or small-capitalization companies. A significant portion of the underlying index is represented by real estate investment trusts (REITs), but the components are likely to change over time. The fund’s adviser uses an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to that of the underlying index. The fund’s performance will be reduced by its expenses and fees.The fund is subject to several principal investment risks, such as those related to its investments in large-,
mid-
and small-capitalization U.S. companies in the real estate sector. In general, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, and may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies. Generally, the securities of smaller companies (includingmid-
and small-capitalization companies) may be more volatile and may involve more risk than the securities of larger companies. Smaller companies are also more likely to fail than larger companies. Companies that invest in real estate are highly sensitive to the risks of owning real estate, to general and local economic conditions and developments in the real estate market, and to changes in interest rates. Many companies that invest in real estate utilize leverage (and some may be highly leveraged), which increases investment risk, and could potentially magnify the fund’s losses. Because the fund is an ETF, it is also exposed to the risks associated with the operation of any ETF. The value of its shares, which are valued based on their trading prices in the secondary market, may change rapidly and unpredictably and may trade at premiums or discounts to the fund’s net asset value.The principal investment risks of the fund are described in the fund’s prospectus, including the following risks: asset class risk, authorized participant concentration risk, concentration risk, cyber security risk, dividend risk, equity securities risk, index-related risk, issuer risk, large-capitalization companies risk, management risk, market risk, market trading risk,
mid-capitalization
companies risk, operational risk, passive investment risk, real estate investment risk, risk of investing in the United States, securities lending risk and tracking error risk.The fund’s shares trade on the NYSE Arca under the symbol IYR.
26
Index Values
For Indexed Strategies that use the S&P 500 Index, the Index is the level of the S&P 500 Index at the applicable Market Close. For Indexed Strategies that use the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF or the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, the Index is the applicable exchange-traded fund’s share price on the NYSE Arca at the applicable Market Close.
We will use consistent sources to obtain the values of an Index. We currently obtain the values for the S&P 500 Index from S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and the values for the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF from BlackRock, Inc. If those sources are no longer available, we will select an alternative published source(s) to obtain such values.
Index Replacement
We may replace an Index if it is discontinued or we are no longer able to use it, its calculation changes substantially, or we determine that hedging instruments are difficult to acquire or the cost of hedging becomes excessive. We may do so at the end of a Term or during a Term. We will notify you in writing at least 30 days before we replace an Index.
We would attempt to choose a replacement Index that is similar to the old Index. To determine if a new Index is similar, we will consider factors such as asset class, index composition, strategy or methodology inherent to the index and index liquidity.
If we replace an Index during a Term, we will calculate the rise and fall in the Index using the old Index up until the replacement date. After the replacement date, we will calculate the rise and fall in the Index using the new Index, but with a modified start of Term value for the new Index. The modified start of Term value for the new index will reflect the rise or fall in the Index for the old Index from the start of the Term to the replacement date.
If we replace an Index, the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for the Term and the Downside Participation Rate will not change.
Example.
Rise or Fall of Index on Replacement Date for Old Index | ||
Old Index at Term start | 1000 | |
Old Index on replacement date | 1050 | |
Rise or fall of old Index on replacement date | (1050 - 1000) / 1,000 = 5% |
The 5% rise in the old Index on the replacement date is then used to calculate the modified start of Term value for the new Index.
Modified Start of Term Value for New Index | ||
Rise in old Index on replacement date | 5% | |
New Index on replacement date | 1785 | |
Modified start of Term value for new Index | 1785 / (100% + 5%) = 1700 |
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The modified start of Term value for the new Index is then used to calculate the Indexed Strategy value on any date after the replacement date, including the value at the Term end.
Indexed Strategy Value at Term End | ||
Investment Base at Term start | $50,000 | |
Accumulated Daily Charges | $375 | |
Investment Base After Daily Charges | $49,625 | |
Modified start of Term value for new Index | 1700 | |
Value of new Index at Term end | 1853 | |
Rise in new Index | (1853 - 1,700) / 1700) = 9% | |
Cap | 8% | |
Rise in new Index limited by Cap | 8% | |
Increase as a percentage | 8% x 100% = 8% | |
Dollar amount of increase | $49,625 x 8% = $3,970 | |
Strategy value at Term end | $49,625 + $4,000 = $53,625 |
CAPS AND PARTICIPATION RATES
We set limits for the increase and reduction in the value of an Indexed Strategy over a Term that apply after Daily Charges are deducted from the Investment Base. We limit increases with a Cap or an Upside Participation Rate. We limit reductions with the Downside Participation Rate. For information about the current Caps and Participation Rates offered for new Contracts, please contact your registered representative or refer to our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates).
Cap
.
• | The Cap will vary among Indexed Strategies. |
• | The Cap for a given Indexed Strategy will vary from Term to Term. |
• | We guarantee that the Cap for a Term of an Indexed Strategy will never be less than 1%. |
• | For each Term, your return on an Indexed Strategy with a Cap will be less than any rise in the Index over that Term. |
• | For each Term, your return on an Indexed Strategy with a Cap will be less than the Cap for that Term. |
• | Your return on an Indexed Strategy with a Cap could be negative even when the Index rises. This will occur when the amount of increase attributable to an Index rise is smaller than the Daily Charge. |
Upside Participation Rate
.
• | The Upside Participation Rate will vary among Indexed Strategies. |
• | The Upside Participation Rare for a given Indexed Strategy will vary from Term to Term. |
• | We guarantee that the Upside Participation Rate for a Term of an Indexed Strategy will never be less than 5%. |
• | For each Term, your return on an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate of less than 100% will be less than any rise in the Index over that Term. In addition, any increase for the Term will be reduced by the Daily Charge. |
• | Your return on an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate could be negative even when the Index rises. This will occur when the amount of increase attributable to an Index rise is smaller than the Daily Charge |
Caps and Upside Participation Rates
non-discriminatory
basis, we may also take into account the amount of the Purchase Payments received for a Contract. The Caps and Upside Participation Rates for Contracts with larger Purchase Payments may be higher than the Caps and Upside Participations Rates for Contracts with smaller Purchase Payments.Caps and Upside Participation Rates for Initial Term
www.gaig.com/RILArates
) at least 10 days before your initial Term starts.28
It is possible for you to sign a purchase application before we post the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your initial Term on our website. Beginning 10 days before your initial Term starts, you will be able determine the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your Initial Term by checking our website. In addition, we will include the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your initial Term in a confirmation letter that we will send to you within five business days of the start of your initial Term.
If you are not satisfied with the Caps and Upside Participation Rates for your initial Term, you may rescind your Contract by returning it and giving written notice of your decision to rescind. You will have 20 days in which to rescind your Contract. The rescission period will end at midnight of the 20th day after the date you receive your Contract. The amount to be refunded upon rescission depends on the state where your Contract was issued. Please refer to the “Right to Cancel (Free Look)” section below.
Caps and Upside Participation Rate for Subsequent Terms.
Downside Participation Rate
.
For each Term of each Indexed Strategy that we currently offer for this Contract, the Downside Participation Rate is 50%. The Downside Participation Rate for an Indexed Strategy that is available on the Contract Effective Date will not change.
When the Index falls over a Term, the resulting Strategy Value decrease will be larger than 50% of the Index fall. This is because the Daily Charge reduces the Investment Base before the Index fall is taken into account.
If we offer a new Indexed Strategy in the future, the Downside Participation Rate for the Strategy may be more or less than 50%.
INDEXED STRATEGY VALUE AT END OF TERM
On or after the final Market Day of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased for any rise in the applicable Index or decreased for any fall in the applicable Index over that Term.
After taking Daily Charges into account, any increase or decrease is based on the rise or fall in the applicable Index since the start of that Term. This rise or fall is expressed as a percentage of the Index at the start of the Term. It is measured from the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of that Term to the Index at the final Market Close of the Term.
Example.
• | If the Index at the final Market Close of the Term is 1065, then the Index has risen by 6.5% ((1065 - 1000) / 1000). |
• | If the Index at the final Market Close of the Term is 925, then the Index has fallen by 7.5% ((925 - 1000) / 1000). |
Strategies with Cap
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate the Strategy value at the end of a Term of an Indexed Strategy with a Cap.
Strategy value at end of Term = Investment Base + dollar amount of increase or decrease
Dollar amount of increase or decrease = Investment Base (after taking Daily Charges into account) x increase or decrease percentage
Increase percentage = any rise in the Index over the Term, but never more than the Cap
Decrease percentage = any fall in the Index over the Term x Downside Participation Rate
29
Example.
At Final Market Close of Term | At Final Market Close of Term | |||
Rise or fall in Index | +16% | –16% | ||
Increase or decrease percentage | +14% (16% > 14% Cap) | –8% (50% of – 16%) | ||
Dollar amount of increase or decrease | +14,000 ($100,000 x 14%) | –8,000 ($100,000 x – 8%) | ||
Strategy value at end of Term | $114,000 ($100,000 + $14,000) | $92,000 ($100, 000 - $8,000) |
Strategies with Upside Participation Rate
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate the Strategy value at the end of a Term of an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate.
Strategy value at end of Term = Investment Base + dollar amount of increase or decrease
Dollar amount of increase or decrease = Investment Base (after taking Daily Charges into account) x increase or decrease percentage
Increase percentage = any rise in the Index over the Term x Upside Participation Rate
Decrease percentage = any fall in the Index over the Term x Downside Participation Rate
Example.
At Final Market Close of Term | At Final Market Close of Term | |||
Rise or fall in Index | +16% | –16% | ||
Increase or decrease percentage | +12% (75% of 16%) | –8% (50% of –16%) | ||
Dollar amount of increase or decrease | +12,000 ($100,000 x 12%) | –8,000 ($100,000 x – 8%) | ||
Strategy value at end of Term | $112,000 ($100,000 + $12,000) | $92,000 ($100, 000 - $8,000) |
INDEXED STRATEGY VALUE BEFORE END OF TERM
Before the final Market Day of a Term, the value of an Indexed Strategy is the Investment Base increased or decreased by the Daily Value Percentage.
Here are the formulas that we use to calculate the Strategy value before the end of a Term.
Strategy value before end of Term = Investment Base + dollar amount of increase or decrease
Dollar amount of increase or decrease = Investment Base (after Daily Charges are taken into account) x Daily Value Percentage
Daily Value Percentage = Net Option Price – Amortized Option Cost – Trading Cost
Net Option Price
The Net Option Price is one part of the Daily Value Percentage. The Net Option Price is based on the calculated prices of hypothetical options that represent the projected changes in the Index over the full Term. The mathematical model we use to price those options is described in the Option Prices section of this prospectus.
30
Net Option Price for Strategies with Cap
For an Indexed Strategy with a Cap, three option prices are included in the calculation of the Net Option Price.
• | ATM Call Option Price, which represents the possible rise in the Index |
• | OTM Call Option Price, which is subtracted in order to limit any rise in the Index by the Cap |
• | ATM Put Option Price, which represents the possible fall in the Index and is multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate in order to reflect your share in any such fall. |
The Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at the Market Close; minus (2) the OTM Call Option Price at the Market Close; and (3) minus the ATM Put Option Price at the Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate.
It is important to note that the Net Option Price will almost always be less than any rise in the Index because, when we calculate the Net Option Price, we subtract the ATM Put Option Price, and the ATM Put Option Price is always above zero due to the constant present potential for a fall in the Index before the end of the Term.
Net Option Price for Strategies with Upside Participation Rate
For an Indexed Strategy with an Upside Participation Rate, two option prices are included in the calculation of the Net Option Price.
• | ATM Call Option Price, which represents the possible rise in the Index and is multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate in order to reflect your share in any such rise |
• | ATM Put Option Price, which represents the possible fall in the Index and is multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate in order to reflect your share in any such fall. |
The Net Option Price as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the ATM Call Option Price at the Market Close multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; minus (2) the ATM Put Option Price at the Market Close multiplied by the Downside Participation Rate
It is important to note that the Net Option Price will almost always be less than any rise in the Index because, when we calculate the Net Option Price, we subtract the ATM Put Option Price, and the ATM Put Option Price is always above zero due to the constant present potential for a fall in the Index before the end of the Term.
Amortized Option Cost
The Amortized Option Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage. The Amortized Option Cost starts with the Net Option Price at the beginning of a Term, which is calculated using the formulas set out above. That Net Option Price is then multiplied by the time remaining in the Term as a percentage of the length of the Term.
The Amortized Option Cost as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to: (1) the Net Option Price for the Strategy at the beginning of the Term; multiplied by (2) the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of the Term divided by 365 for a
one-year
Term or by 730 for atwo-year
Term.Trading Cost
The Trading Cost is one part of the Daily Value Percentage. The Trading Cost as of a Market Close is the estimated cost of selling the hypothetical options before the end of a Term. It is a percentage that reflects the average market difference between option average
bid-ask
prices and option bid prices.Examples
one-year
Term.31
Assumptions
Option Price Assumptions | Price at Start of Term | Price at Current Market Close | ||||||||||
ATM Call Option Price | 6.00 | % | 7.47 | % | ||||||||
OTM Call Option Price | 1.15 | % | 1.81 | % | ||||||||
ATM Put Option Price | 5.40 | % | 3.36 | % | ||||||||
Strategy Assumptions | ||||||||||||
Investment Base for each Strategy (after taking Daily Charges into account) | $ | 100,000 | ||||||||||
Cap Strategy: Cap for one-year Term | 11 | % | ||||||||||
Participation Rate Strategy: Upside Participation Rate for one-year Term | 75 | % | ||||||||||
Downside Participation Rate | 50 | % | ||||||||||
Days remaining to last Market Day of one-year Term | 275 | |||||||||||
Trading Cost Assumption | 0.15 | % |
Example 1: Cap Strategy
Current ATM Call Option Price – Current OTM Call Option Price | 5.66 | % | (7.47% – 1.81%) | |||
Current ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 1.68 | % | (50% of 3.36%) | |||
Net Option Price | = 3.98 | % | ||||
Initial ATM Call Option Price – Initial OTM Call Option Price | 4.85 | % | (6.00% – 1.15%) | |||
Initial ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 2.70 | % | (50% of 5.40%) | |||
Net Option Cost | = 2.15 | % | ||||
Amortization Factor for days remaining to final Market Day of Term | x 75.34 | % | (275 / 365) | |||
Amortized Option Cost | = 1.62 | % | ||||
Net Option Price | 3.98 | % | ||||
Amortized Option Cost | – 1.62 | % | ||||
Assumed Trading Cost | – 0.15 | % | ||||
Daily Value Percentage | = 2.21 | % | ||||
Dollar amount of increase | $ | 2,210 | ($100,000 x 2.21%) | |||
Value of Cap Strategy | $ | 102,210 | ($100,000 + $2,210) |
Example 2: Participation Rate
Current ATM Call Option Price x Upside Participation Rate | 5.60 | % | (75% of 7.47%) | |||
Current ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 1.68 | % | (50% of 3.36%) | |||
Net Option Price | = 3.92 | % | ||||
Initial ATM Call Option Price x Upside Participation Rate | 4.50 | % | (75% of 6.00%) | |||
Initial ATM Put Option Price x Downside Participation Rate | – 2.70 | % | (50% of 5.40%) | |||
Net Option Cost | = 1.80 | % | ||||
Amortization Factor for days remaining to final Market Day of Term | x 75.34 | % | (275 / 365) | |||
Amortized Option Cost | 1.36 | % | ||||
Net Option Price | 3.92 | % | ||||
Amortized Option Cost | – 1.36 | % | ||||
Assumed Trading Cost | – 0.15 | % | ||||
Daily Value Percentage | = 2.41 | % | ||||
Increase as a dollar amount | $ | 2,410 | ($100,000 x 2.41%) | |||
Value of Participation Rate Strategy | $ | 102,410 | ($100,000 + $2,410) |
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PURCHASE
You may purchase a Contract only through a registered representative of a broker-dealer that has a selling agreement with our affiliated underwriter, Great American Advisors, Inc.
Any Owner or Annuitant must be age 80 or younger on the Contract Effective Date. To determine eligibility, we will use the person’s age on his/her last birthday. We may make exceptions with respect to the maximum issue age in our discretion.
The Contract is not available in all states. To find out if it is available in the state where you live, ask your registered representative. The Contract may not be available for purchase during certain periods. There are a number of reasons why the Contract periodically may not be available, including that we want to limit the volume of sales of the Contract. You may wish to speak to your registered representative about how this may affect your purchase. For example, in order to purchase the Contract, you may be required to submit your application prior to a specific date. In that case, if there is a delay because your application is incomplete or otherwise not in good order, you might not be able to purchase the Contract. Your broker-dealer may impose conditions on the purchase of the Contract, such as a lower maximum issue age, than we or other selling firms impose. We reserve the right to reject any application in our discretion. We also reserve the right to discontinue the sale of the Contracts at any time.
Purchase Payments
The Contract is a modified single premium annuity contract. This means you may make one or more Purchase Payments during the purchase payment period. The purchase payment period begins on the Contract Effective Date. It will end two months after the Contract Effective Date.
We must receive your initial Purchase Payment on or before the Contract Effective Date. We must receive each additional Purchase Payment on or before the last day of the purchase payment period. We will not accept any Purchase Payment that we receive after the date that the Contract is cancelled or Surrendered or after a death for which a Death Benefit is payable.
The initial Purchase Payment must be at least $25,000. Each additional Purchase Payment must be at least $10,000. You will need our prior approval if you want to make a Purchase Payment(s) of more than $1,000,000.
We reserve the right to refuse a Purchase Payment made in the form of a personal check in excess of $100,000. We may accept a Purchase Payment over $100,000 made in other forms, such as EFT/wire transfers, or certified checks or other checks written by financial institutions. We will not accept a Purchase Payment(s) made with cash, money orders, or traveler’s checks.
Exchanges, Transfers, or Rollovers
If you own an annuity or
tax-qualified
account, you may be able to exchange it for an Index Summit 6 Pro annuity, directly transfer it to an Index Summit 6 Pro annuity, or roll it over to an Index Summit 6 Pro annuity without paying taxes. Before you do, compare the benefits, features, and costs of each annuity or account. You may pay an early withdrawal charge under the old annuity or account. You may pay an early withdrawal charge if you later take withdrawals from your Index Summit 6 Pro annuity. Please note that some financial professionals may have a financial incentive to offer this Contract in place of the one the investor already owns. Ask your registered representative whether an exchange, transfer, or rollover would be advantageous, based on the features, benefits, and charges of the Index Summit 6 Pro annuity.If you purchase your Contract with an exchange, transfer, or rollover, a delay in processing the exchange, transfer, or rollover may delay the issuance of your new Contract or prevent the application of additional Purchase Payments to your existing Contract.
You should only exchange your existing contract for this Contract if you determine after comparing the features, fees, and risks of both contracts that it is preferable for you to purchase this Contract rather than continuing to own your existing contract.
Application of Purchase Payments
Each Purchase Payment will be held in the Purchase Payment Account until it is applied to an Indexed Strategy on a Strategy Application Date. On each Strategy Application Date, we will apply the then current balance of the Purchase Payment Account to the Indexed Strategies you selected.
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We will credit interest daily on amounts held in the Purchase Payment Account at the annual effective rate set out in your Contract. This rate will be at least 1%.
In certain states, we are required to give back your Purchase Payment(s) if you decide to cancel your Contract during the free look period. If we are required by law to refund your Purchase Payment(s), we reserve the right to hold your Purchase Payment(s) in the Purchase Payment Account until the first Strategy Application Date on or after the end of the free look period. If we do so and you cancel your Contract before that Strategy Application Date, we will refund your Purchase Payment(s) but you will forfeit any interest credited to the Purchase Payment Account.
Purchase Payment Account Value
On any day, the value of the Purchase Payment Account is equal to:
• | Purchase Payments received by us plus interest earned daily; minus |
• | the premium tax or other tax that may apply to the Purchase Payments; and minus |
• | each withdrawal and related Early Withdrawal Charge taken from the Purchase Payment Account since the last Strategy Application Date. |
Unforeseen Processing Delays
We are exposed to risks related to natural and
man-made
disasters and catastrophes, such as (but not limited to) storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, public health crises, malicious acts, and terrorist acts, any of which could adversely affect our ability to conduct business. A natural orman-made
disaster or catastrophe, including a pandemic (such asCOVID-19),
could affect the ability or willingness of our employees or the employees of our service providers to perform their job responsibilities. While many of our employees and the employees of our service providers are able to work remotely, those remote work arrangements may result in our business operations being less efficient than under normal circumstances and could lead to delays in our processing of contract-related transactions, including orders from contract owners. Catastrophic events may negatively affect the computer and other systems on which we rely, impact our ability to calculate values under your Contract, or have other possible negative impacts. There can be no assurance that our service providers will be able to successfully avoid negative impacts associated with natural andman-made
disasters and catastrophes.A processing delay will not affect the effective date as of which we process transactions, including orders from contract owners, the date that a Term begins or ends, or the values used to process the transaction.
INITIAL STRATEGY SELECTIONS
You make your initial selection of Indexed Strategies in your purchase application. Your initial selection is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
Your initial selection will also apply to each subsequent Purchase Payment. If you wish to change your selection for a specific Purchase Payment, we must receive a Request in Good Order that identifies the Indexed Strategies you are selecting for that Purchase Payment before the Strategy Application Date that applies to that Purchase Payment.
When you select an Indexed Strategy, you must also indicate the percentage of the Purchase Payment that you wish to allocate to that Indexed Strategy. All allocations must be in whole percentages that total 100%. We reserve the right to round amounts up or down to make whole percentages, and to reduce or increase amounts proportionally in order to total 100%.
Currently there are no limitations on the amounts that may be applied to an Indexed Strategy.
We may establish minimum and maximum amounts or percentages that may be applied to a given Indexed Strategy for any future Term in our discretion. We will notify you of any such minimum or maximum. We may limit the availability of a Strategy for a Term that would extend beyond the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. All Strategies may not be available in all states.
STRATEGY SELECTIONS AT TERM END
At the end of a Term, you may choose to reallocate your money among the Indexed Strategies or you may choose to take no action. If you do not send us a reallocation request, your current allocations will automatically continue in the new Term.
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Reallocations
At the end of a Term, you may reallocate the ending values of the Indexed Strategies for that Term among the available Strategies. You can only reallocate amounts from one Indexed Strategy to another at the end of the Term for which such amount is being held. You cannot make a reallocation at any other time.
We will send you written notice at least 30 days before the end of a Term to provide you with the opportunity to make a reallocation. We must receive your Request in Good Order for a reallocation on or before the last day of the Term. For example, if the end of a Term falls on a weekend, we must receive your request on the last Market Day before that weekend.
Continuing Allocations
You do not need to take any action if you want to continue your current allocations. If you do not send us a reallocation request, then we will automatically apply the ending value of each Indexed Strategy to a new Term of that same Strategy.
Unavailable Strategies
Other than the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy, an Indexed Strategy may be unavailable for the next Term because we are no longer offering that Strategy or we have set a minimum or maximum for that Strategy. In this case, you may choose to reallocate the funds held in that Strategy. If you take no action and do not send us a reallocation request, then any amount that cannot be applied to that Indexed Strategy for the next Term will be applied to the S&P 5001-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy.Surrender or Withdrawal at Term End
At the end of a Term, you may choose to Surrender your Contract or to take a withdrawal from your Contract. You may do so for any reason, including dissatisfaction with the available Indexed Strategies. An Early Withdrawal Charge may apply. In addition, there may be tax consequences if you Surrender your Contract or take a withdrawal. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
Contract values calculated at the end of a Term will reflect the applicable Strategy values and any Early Withdrawal Charge that applies upon Surrender or to your withdrawal. The value of an Indexed Strategy at the end of the Term will not reflect any Daily Value Percentage because it is calculated based on the rise or fall of the applicable Index over the Term.
Limitations
Reallocations must be in whole percentages that total 100%. We reserve the right to round amounts up or down to make whole percentages, and to reduce or increase amounts proportionally in order to total 100%.
Any reallocation or continuing allocation will be subject to Strategy availability, minimums and maximums. Currently there are no limitations on the amounts that may be applied to any single Indexed Strategy. We may establish minimum and maximum amounts or percentages that may be applied to a given Indexed Strategy for any future Term in our discretion. We will notify you of any such minimum or maximum.
The new Term of each Strategy is subject to the Cap or Upside Participation Rate in effect for that Strategy for that new Term. For example, the Upside Participation Rate for an Indexed Strategy for a new Term may be different than the Upside Participation Rate for that Indexed Strategy for the Term that is ending. The Downside Participation Rate will not change from Term to Term.
Availability of Strategies
We will send you a written notice at least 30 days before the end of each Term with information about the Strategies that will be available for the next Term. At least 10 days before the next Term starts, we will post the Caps and Upside Participation Rates that will apply for the next Term on our website (www.gaig.com/RILArates).
The S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy will always be available. We are not obligated to offer any other particular Indexed Strategy. At the end of a Term, we can add or stop offering any other Indexed Strategy at our discretion. We reserve the right to limit the availability of any other Indexed Strategy for a Term that would extend beyond the Annuity Payout Initiation Date. All Indexed Strategies may not be available in all states.35
If we intend to add or stop offering an Indexed Strategy at the end of a Term, we will send you a notification at least 30 days before the end of the Term to provide you with the opportunity to make a reallocation. If funds are held in an Indexed Strategy that will no longer be available after the end of a Term, the funds will remain in that Strategy until the end of that Term.
Default Strategy
At the end of a Term, to the extent any amount cannot be applied to a given Indexed Strategy for the next Term because that Strategy is no longer available or the amount is under the minimum or over the maximum for that Strategy for the new Term, we will apply the amount to the default Strategy unless you send us a request to reallocate that amount. The default Strategy will be the S&P 500
1-year
Term with Participation Rate Indexed Strategy. For example, if a given Indexed Strategy with an ending value of $73,000 is no longer available, we will apply the $73,000 to the default Strategy for the next Term unless you send us a request to reallocate that $73,000.If the amount to be applied exceeds the maximum, then only the excess amount will be applied to the default Strategy. For example, if the maximum amount for an Indexed Strategy is $50,000 and the amount to be applied is $54,000, then we will apply the excess $4,000 to the default Strategy for the next Term unless you send us a request to reallocate that $4,000.
We must receive your Request in Good Order for a reallocation on or before the last day of the Term. For example, if the end of a Term falls on a weekend, we must receive your request on the last Market Day before that weekend.
CASH BENEFIT
Surrender
You may Surrender your Contract at any time before the earlier of: (1) the Annuity Payout Initiation Date; or (2) a death for which a Death Benefit is payable. The right to Surrender may be restricted if your Contract is purchased under an employer plan subject to IRC Section 401 (pension, profit sharing, and 401(k) plans), IRC Section 403(b)
(tax-sheltered
annuity plans), or IRC Section 457(b) (governmental deferred compensation plans).A Surrender must be made by a Request in Good Order. The amount paid upon Surrender is the Surrender Value. If you Surrender your Contract, the Contract terminates.
Withdrawals
You may take a withdrawal from your Contract at any time before the earliest of: (1) the Annuity Payout Initiation Date; (2) a death for which a Death Benefit is payable; or (3) the date that this Contract is Surrendered. The right to withdraw may be restricted if your Contract is purchased under an employer plan subject to IRC Section 401 (pension, profit sharing, and 401(k) plans), IRC Section 403(b)
(tax-sheltered
annuity plans), or IRC Section 457(b) (governmental deferred compensation plans).A withdrawal must be made by a Request in Good Order. The amount of any withdrawal must be at least $500. If the withdrawal would reduce the Account Value to less than the minimum value of $5,000, we will treat the withdrawal request as a request to withdraw the maximum amount that may be taken without reducing your Account Value to less than $5,000.
We will withdraw funds from your Account Value as of the date on which we receive your Request in Good Order or any later specified effective date. You may designate the Indexed Strategy or Strategies from which a withdrawal will be taken by a Request in Good Order prior to the date of the withdrawal. If you do not make a designation, we will take the withdrawal from the Indexed Strategies in the following order:
• | first from the Purchase Payment Account; and |
• | then proportionally from Indexed Strategies having the shortest Term. |
Effect of Withdrawals
A withdrawal reduces the Account Value, which in turn reduces the amount payable upon Surrender, applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit, or payable as the Death Benefit.
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If an Early Withdrawal Charge applies to your withdrawal, you will receive the amount that you requested, and your Account Value will be reduced by the amount you receive plus the amount needed to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge. A withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy other than at the end of a Term also reduces the Investment Base used to calculate the Strategy value later in the Term. The reduction in the Investment Base for a withdrawal and any related Early Withdrawal Charge is proportional to the reduction in the Strategy Value.
Automatic Withdrawals
You may elect to automatically withdraw money from your Contract under any automatic withdrawal program that we offer. Your Account Value must be at least $10,000 in order to make an automatic withdrawal election. The minimum amount of each automatic withdrawal payment is $100. Automatic withdrawals will be taken from the Purchase Payment Account and Indexed Strategies of your Contract in the same order as any other withdrawal.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the automatic withdrawal program, you may begin or discontinue automatic withdrawals at any time. You must give us at least 30 days’ notice to change any automatic withdrawal instructions that are currently in place. Any request to begin, discontinue or change automatic withdrawals must be a Request in Good Order. We reserve the right to discontinue offering automatic withdrawals at any time.
Currently, we do not charge a fee to participate in an automatic withdrawal program. However, we reserve the right to impose an annual fee in such amount as we may then determine to be reasonable for participation in the automatic withdrawal program. If imposed, the fee will not exceed $30 annually.
Before electing an automatic withdrawal, you should consult with a financial advisor.
• | Automatic withdrawals are similar to starting Annuity Payout Benefit payments, but will result in different taxation of payments and potentially a different amount of total payments over the life of your Contract. |
• | Automatic withdrawals during a Term of an Indexed Strategy will systematically reduce the Investment Base, which will reduce any subsequent increase in the Strategy value due to a positive Daily Value Percentage during that Term or a rise in the applicable Index at the end of that Term. Such reductions could be significant. |
• | Automatic withdrawals will reduce the amount available under the Free Withdrawal Allowance described below. |
• | Unless a waiver applies, an Early Withdrawal Charge may apply to an automatic withdrawal during the Early Withdrawal Charge period. |
• | The value of an Indexed Strategy on an automatic withdrawal date will reflect the Daily Value Percentage on that date. |
Exchanges, Transfers, and Rollovers
An amount paid on a withdrawal or Surrender may be paid to or for another annuity or
tax-qualified
account in atax-free
exchange, transfer, or rollover to the extent allowed by federal tax law.FEES AND CHARGES
Daily Charge
We impose a Daily Charge on each Indexed Strategy to reimburse us for contract sales expenses, including commissions and other distribution, promotion, and acquisition expenses, and to help us maximize Indexed Strategy Caps and Participation Rates. The Daily Charge is calculated using a daily rate that compounds at 0.75% per year.
The Daily Charge is calculated as a percentage of the remaining Investment Base of the Indexed Strategy and deducted daily.
Early Withdrawal Charge
We impose an Early Withdrawal Charge to reimburse us for contract sales expenses, including commissions and other distribution, promotion, and acquisition expenses, and to allow us to invest assets for a longer duration, which supports higher Caps and Upside Participation Rates.
The Early Withdrawal Charge applies if, during the first six Contract Years, you take a withdrawal from your Contract or Surrender it. After that, the Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply.
During the first six Contract Years, the Early Withdrawal Charge applies to each withdrawal, including withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal program and withdrawals taken to satisfy a required distribution. The Early Withdrawal Charge does not apply to Death Benefit payments or Annuity Payout Benefit payments.
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An Early Withdrawal Charge reduces your Account Value.
The Early Withdrawal Charge is equal to the amount that is subject to the charge multiplied by the Early Withdrawal Charge rate.
• | If you take a withdrawal from your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is the amount you withdraw, which includes any amount needed to pay the Early Withdrawal Charge. |
• | If you Surrender your Contract, the amount subject to the charge is your Account Value. |
• | The amount subject to the charge will not include the Free Withdrawal Allowance or the amount, if any, that qualifies for a waiver as described below. |
The Early Withdrawal Charge rate depends on how long you own your Contract. The rate schedule is set out below.
Contract Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7+ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Early Withdrawal Charge Rate | 9 | % | 8 | % | 7 | % | 6 | % | 5 | % | 4 | % | 0 | % |
Example for Surrender.
Example for Withdrawal.
(Requested withdrawal x EWC rate) / (1.00 - EWC rate) = Early Withdrawal Charge
($12,000 x 4%) / (1.00 - 0.04) = $480 / 0.96 = $500
We take the Early Withdrawal Charge of $500, you receive $12,000, and your Account Value is reduced by $12,500.
Note.
Free Withdrawal Allowance
The Free Withdrawal Allowance lets you withdraw some money from your Contract without the imposition of the Early Withdrawal Charge. For the first Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is an amount equal to 10% of the total Purchase Payments received by us. For each subsequent Contract Year, the Free Withdrawal Allowance is equal to 10% of the Account Value as of the most recent Contract Anniversary. The Free Withdrawal Allowance is
non-cumulative
and you may not carry over any unused portion to other Contract Years.For qualified annuities, the Free Withdrawal Allowance will be large enough to cover your required minimum distribution to age 93. However, if you have used your Free Withdrawal Allowance to facilitate a transfer or rollover, then an Early Withdrawal Charge may apply to a required minimum distribution.
Example.
If you Surrender your Contract during the first six Contract Years, the amount subject to the Early Withdrawal Charge upon Surrender will not include the current or any prior Free Withdrawal Allowance.
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Early Withdrawal Charge Waivers
Extended Care Waiver
.
• | your Contract is modified by the Extended Care Waiver Rider; |
• | you are confined in a long-term care facility or hospital and the confinement is prescribed by a physician and is medically necessary; |
• | the first day of the confinement is at least one year after the Contract Effective Date; and |
• | the confinement has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days. |
You must provide us with satisfactory proof that you meet these conditions before the date of the withdrawal or Surrender. There is no charge for this rider, but it may not be available in all states. (See the State Variations section below for information about availability in your state.) You do not need to take any action to add this waiver rider. Before you request a waiver, carefully review the rider to ensure that you understand how it works.
Terminal Illness Waiver
.
• | your Contract is modified by the Waiver of Early Withdrawal Charges upon Terminal Illness Rider; |
• | you are diagnosed with a terminal illness by a physician and, as a result of the terminal illness, you have a life expectancy of less than 12 months from the date of diagnosis; and |
• | the diagnosis is rendered by a physician more than one year after the Contract Effective Date. |
You must provide us with satisfactory proof that you meet these conditions before the date of the withdrawal or Surrender. There is no charge for this rider, but it may not be available in all states. (See the State Variations section below for information about availability in your state.) You do not need to take any action to add this waiver rider. Before you request a waiver, carefully review the rider to ensure that you understand how it works.
Automatic Withdrawal Program Charges
Currently, we do not charge a fee to participate in an automatic withdrawal program. However, we reserve the right to impose an annual fee in such amount as we may then determine to be reasonable for participation in the automatic withdrawal program. If imposed, the fee will not exceed $30 annually.
State Limitations.
ANNUITY PAYOUT BENEFIT
Under the Contract you may receive regular Annuity Payout Benefit payments for the duration of the period that you select. Once Annuity Payout Benefit payments start, you can no longer Surrender the Contract or take a withdrawal, no Death Benefit will be payable under your Contract, and your Beneficiary designations will no longer apply. The amount payable after death, if any, is governed by the Payout Option you select.
The Annuity Payout Benefit is payable if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date is reached before the earlier of: (1) a death for which a Death Benefit is payable; or (2) the date that this Contract is Surrendered.
Annuity Payout Initiation Date
The Annuity Payout Initiation Date is the first day of the first payment interval for which payment of the Annuity Payout Benefit is to be made. Annuity Payout Benefit payments are made at the end of each payment interval. This means that for annual payments, the first payment will be made one year after the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.
You may select the Annuity Payout Initiation Date by a Request in Good Order. We must receive your request before the last Market Close on or before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date you selected and at least 30 days before the first Annuity Payout Benefit payment is to be made.
• | The earliest Annuity Payout Initiation you may select is the first Contract Anniversary. |
• | Unless we agree to a later date, the latest Annuity Payout Initiation Date you may select is the Contract Anniversary following your 95th birthday or the 95th birthday, of a joint owner, if earlier. If the Owner is not a human being such as a trust or a corporation, then the Annuity Payout Initiation Date may not be later than the Contract Anniversary following the 95th birthday of the eldest Annuitant, unless we agree to a later date. |
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The earliest permitted date and the latest permitted date for the Annuity Payout Initiation Date are set out on your Contract Specifications Page. The latest permitted date may change if an Owner changes.
If you do not select an Annuity Payout Initiation Date by the latest permitted date, we may select it for you. We will notify you in writing at least 45 days before the date we select. We will give you an opportunity to select an earlier date.
Annuity Payout Amount
The amount of each payment under the Annuity Payout Benefit is determined on the Annuity Payout Initiation Date based on the Annuity Payout value on that date, the Payout Option that applies, and the payment interval.
The Annuity Payout value is the amount that can be applied to the Annuity Payout Benefit is equal to: (1) the Account Value on the Annuity Payout Initiation Date; minus (2) premium tax or other taxes not previously deducted. If the Annuity Payout value is determined on a date other than the end of the Term, the Annuity Payout value will be based on the Daily Value Percentage. Please see the Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term section above for more information about the Daily Value Percentage.
Form of Annuity Payout Benefit
The Annuity Payout Benefit is paid in the form of annual payments as a Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period. That fixed period will be 10 years or, if fewer, the maximum number of whole years permitted by any tax qualification endorsement.
In place of that, you may elect to have the Annuity Payout Benefit paid in any form of Payout Option that is available under your Contract. The available Payout Options are described in the Payout Options section below. You may elect a Payout Option by a Request in Good Order. We must receive your request before the last Market Close on or before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and at least 30 days before the first Annuity Payout Benefit payment is to be made.
Payee for Annuity Payout Benefit
Payment of the Annuity Payout Benefit generally is made to the surviving Owner(s) as the payee(s). In place of that, the surviving Owner(s) may elect for payment to be made as a
tax-free
exchange, transfer, or rollover, or for payment to be made to the Annuitant. That election must be made by a Request in Good Order that we receive at least 30 days before the payment date.Payments that become due after the death of the payee are made to:
• | the surviving Owner(s); or if none |
• | then to the surviving contingent payee(s) designated by the surviving Owner(s); or if none; |
• | the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
The portion of any Annuity Payout Benefit remaining after the death of an Owner or Annuitant must be paid at least as rapidly as payments were being made at the time of such death.
You may designate a contingent payee by a Request in Good Order. If you designate your spouse as a contingent payee and your marriage ends before your death, then we will treat your former spouse as having predeceased you except in the following situations: (1) if a court order provides that the former spouse’s rights as a contingent payee are to continue; or (2) if the former spouse remains or becomes an Owner.
DEATH BENEFIT
A Death Benefit is payable under your Contract if you die before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and before the Contract is Surrendered. If your spouse becomes a successor owner of the Contract, no Death Benefit will be payable on account of your death.
When the Owner is a
non-natural
person, a Death Benefit is payable under the Contract if the Annuitant dies before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and before the Contract is Surrendered. For this purpose, anon-natural
person is a trust, custodial account, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity.40
Only one Death Benefit will be paid under the Contract. If a Death Benefit becomes payable, it will be in place of all other benefits under the Contract, and all other rights under this Contract will terminate except for rights related to the Death Benefit.
Death Benefit Payout Date
• | If the Death Benefit is to be paid as a lump sum, then it will be paid as soon as practicable after receipt of proof of death and a Request in Good Order for a lump sum payment. |
• | If the Death Benefit is to be paid under a Payout Option, then we will apply the Death Benefit value to a Payout Option as soon as practicable after receipt of proof of death and a Request in Good Order. That application date will be the first day of the first payment interval for which a payment is to be made. Death Benefit payments under a Payout Option are made at the end of each payment interval. This means that, for annual payments, the first payment will be made one year after that application date. |
Death Benefit Amount
• | If the Death Benefit is paid in a lump sum, then it is equal to the Death Benefit value, increased by any additional post-death interest as required by law. |
• | If the Death Benefit will be paid as a series of periodic payments under a Payout Option, then the amount of each payment under the Death Benefit is determined on the date that the Death Benefit value is applied to the Payout Option. The amount or each payment will be based on the Death Benefit value (increased by any additional post-death interest as required by law to the date it is applied to the Payout Option), the Payout Option that applies, and the payment interval. |
Death Benefit Value
The Death Benefit value is the Account Value determined as of the date that the Death Benefit value is determined.
The Death Benefit value is reduced by premium tax or other taxes not previously deducted.
The Account Value will reflect the applicable Strategy values as calculated on the date the Death Benefit is determined. If the Death Benefit value is determined on a date other than the end of the Term, the Death Benefit value will be based on the Daily Value Percentage. Please see the Indexed Strategy Value before End of Term section above for more information about the Daily Value Percentage.
Determination Date
The date that the Death Benefit value is determined is the earlier of: (1) the first anniversary of the date of death; or (2) the date that we have received both proof of death and Requests in Good Order with instructions as to the form of Death Benefit from all Beneficiaries. Thus, in many cases where there are multiple Beneficiaries, the date that the Death Benefit value is determined will be the date when the last Beneficiary submits the necessary Request in Good Order or the first anniversary of death. Until then, the Contract values remain in the Indexed Strategies will renew into new Terms of the same Strategies if the end of a Term is reached, and the Indexed Strategy values may fluctuate. This risk is borne by the Beneficiaries. If all Beneficiaries have not submitted the necessary Request in Good Order by the first anniversary of death, then the Death Benefit value as determined on that first anniversary will thereafter earn interest at a fixed rate at least equal to the rate required by state law.
Proof of Death
.
• | a certified copy of a death certificate showing the cause and manner of death; |
• | a certified copy of a decree that is made by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding of death; or |
• | other proof that is satisfactory to us. |
Form of Death Benefit
The Death Benefit is paid in the form of annual payments for a fixed period of two years.
In place of that, you may elect to have the Death Benefit paid in one lump sum or in any form of Payout Option that is available under your Contract. The available Payout Options are described in the Payout Options section below. There is no additional charge associated with this election. Any election is subject to the Death Benefit Distribution Rules described below.
You may make an election by a Request in Good Order. We must receive your request on or before the date of death for which a Death Benefit is payable. If you do not make such an election, the Beneficiary may make that election after the date of death.
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The Beneficiary’s election must be made by a Request in Good Order that is received by us no later than the date that the Death Benefit value is applied to a Payout Option and at least 30 days before the date of the first payment to be made.
Additional Rules for Payout Options
.
Option that is contingent on life is based on the life of the Beneficiary or, in some cases, the life of a person to whom the Beneficiary is obligated. We will pay the Death Benefit as a lump sum rather than as payments under a Payout Option if: (1) the Death Benefit is less than $2,000; or (2) as of the date that the Death Benefit value is to be applied to a Payout Option, the Death Benefit Distribution Rules do not allow a
two-year
payout.Payee of Death Benefit Payments
Death Benefit payments generally are made to the Beneficiary as the payee.
In place of that, the Beneficiary may elect to have payments made:
• | as a tax-free exchange, transfer, or rollover to or for an annuity ortax-qualified account as permitted by federal tax law; or |
• | in cases where the Beneficiary is an estate, trust, custodial account, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity, to a person to whom the Beneficiary is obligated to make corresponding payments. |
Payments that become due after the death of the Beneficiary are made to:
• | the contingent payee designated as part of a Death Benefit Payout Option elected by you; or if none |
• | then to a contingent payee designated by the Beneficiary; or if none |
• | the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
Such payments are subject to the Death Benefit Distribution Rules described below.
You may designate a contingent payee by a Request in Good Order. A Beneficiary may make or change a payee or contingent payee, except a Beneficiary may not change a designation made as part of a Payout Option election made by you for the Death Benefit. If the Beneficiary designates his or her spouse as a contingent payee and their marriage ends before the Beneficiary’s death, then we will treat the former spouse as having predeceased the Beneficiary except to the extent a court order provides that the former spouse’s rights as a contingent payee are to continue.
Death Benefit Distribution Rules
The Death Benefit Distribution Rules are summarized below.
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract. The Death Benefit must be paid in accordance with the tax qualification endorsement. |
• | For a Nonqualified Contract. The Death Benefit must be paid either: (1) in full within five years of the date of death; or (2) over the life of the Beneficiary or over a period certain not exceeding the Beneficiary’s life expectancy, with payments at least annually, and with the first payment made within one year of the date of death. |
PAYOUT OPTIONS
The standard Payout Options are described below. We will make payments in any other form of Payout Option that is acceptable to us at the time of any election. More than one Payout Option may be elected if the requirements for each Payout Option elected are satisfied. All elected Payout Options must comply with pertinent laws and regulations.
Payments under each standard Payout Option are made at the end of a payment interval. For example, if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date is October 31, 2028 and you select annual payments, then the first payment will be paid as of October 31, 2029.
Fixed Period Payout
• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the Annuitant, if you direct, for the fixed period of time that you select. For a nonqualified contract, fixed periods shorter than 10 years are not available. For a
tax-qualified
contract, the only fixed period available is 10 years.• | If the payee dies before the end of the fixed period, then we will make periodic payments to the surviving owner(s), or if none, then to the surviving contingent payee(s), or if none, then to the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
• | In all cases, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period. |
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• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for the fixed period of time that you or the Beneficiary selects. The fixed period cannot exceed the life expectancy of the Beneficiary. For a
tax-qualified
contract, the fixed period also cannot exceed 10 years.• | If the Beneficiary dies before the end of the fixed period, then we will make periodic payments to the contingent payee designated as part of any Death Benefit Payout Option that you have elected. If no such contingent payee is surviving, then such payments will be made to a contingent payee designated by the Beneficiary. If there is no contingent payee surviving, then such payments will be made to the estate of the last payee who received payments. |
• | In all cases, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period. |
Life Payout
• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the Annuitant, if you direct, for as long as the Annuitant lives. Payments will stop on the death of the Annuitant. This means that, even if we have made only one payment when the Annuitant dies, payments will stop.
If the Annuitant dies after the Annuity Payout Initiation Date but before the first payment, a Life Payout will not provide any benefit at all. In that case, we will reverse the Annuity Benefit Payout election and treat the Contract as if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date had not yet been reached.
• | If the Owner is living, this treatment will generally allow the Owner to choose between continuing the Contract as a deferred annuity or electing a new Annuity Payout Initiation Date and another Payout Option. |
• | If the Annuitant’s death before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date would give rise to a Death Benefit, then the Death Benefit will be available. |
For a
tax-qualified
contract, a Life Payout is not available to all Beneficiaries.• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for as long as the Beneficiary lives. Payments will stop on the death of the Beneficiary. This means that, even if we have made only one payment when the Beneficiary dies, payments will stop.
If the Beneficiary dies after the Death Benefit is applied to the Payout Option but before the first payment, a Life Payout will not provide any benefit at all. In that case, we will reverse the Payout Option election and allow the Beneficiary’s estate to choose a new Payout Option or to take the Death Benefit as a lump sum.
Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period
• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the Annuitant, if you direct, for as long as the Annuitant lives. For a
tax-qualified
contract, fixed periods longer than 10 years are not available.• | If the Annuitant dies after the end of the fixed period you selected, then payments will stop on the death of the Annuitant. |
• | If the Annuitant dies before the end of the fixed period you selected, then we will make periodic payments to the surviving owner(s), or if none, then to the surviving contingent payee(s), or if none, then to the estate of the last payee who received payments. In this case, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period you selected. |
• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for as long as the Beneficiary lives. The fixed period cannot exceed the life expectancy of the Beneficiary. For a
tax-qualified
contract, a Life Payout with Payments for at Least a Fixed Period is not available to all Beneficiaries, and the fixed period also cannot exceed 10 years.• | If the Beneficiary dies after the end of the fixed period selected, then payments will stop on the death of the Beneficiary. |
• | If the Beneficiary dies before the end of the fixed period you or the Beneficiary selected, then we will make periodic payments to the contingent payee designated as part of any Death Benefit Payout Option that you have elected. If no such contingent payee is surviving, then such payments will be made to a contingent payee designated by the Beneficiary. If there is no contingent payee surviving, then such payments will be made to the estate of the last payee who received payments. In this case, payments will stop at the end of the fixed period you or the Beneficiary selected. |
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Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout• | For the Annuity Payout Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to you, or to the primary Annuitant, if you direct, for as long as the primary Annuitant lives.
• | If the primary Annuitant dies and the secondary Annuitant does not |
• | If the primary Annuitant dies and the secondary Annuitant is surviving, then we will make one-half of the periodic payment to you, or the secondary Annuitant, if you direct, for the rest of the secondary Annuitant’s life. In this case, payments will stop on the death of the secondary Annuitant. |
If the Annuitant dies after the Annuity Payout Initiation Date but before the first payment, a Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout will never provide the full payment amount. In that case, if the secondary Annuitant agrees, we will reverse the Annuity Benefit Payout election and treat the Contract as if the Annuity Payout Initiation Date had not been reached.• | If the Owner is living, this treatment will generally allow the Owner to choose between continuing the Contract as a deferred annuity or electing a new Annuity Payout Initiation Date and another Payout Option. |
• | If the Annuitant’s death before the Annuity Benefit Payout Initiation Date would give rise to a Death Benefit, then the Death Benefit will be available. |
• | For the Death Benefit |
We will make periodic payments to the Beneficiary for as long as the Beneficiary lives.
• | If the Beneficiary dies and the contingent payee does not survive the Beneficiary, then payments will stop on the death of the Beneficiary. This means that, even if we have made only one payment when the Beneficiary dies, payments will stop unless the contingent payee survives. |
• | If the Beneficiary dies and the contingent payee designated as part of the Death Benefit Payout Option election is surviving, then we will make one-half of the periodic payment to the contingent payee for the rest of the contingent payee’s life. In this case, payments will stop on the death of the contingent payee. |
If the Beneficiary dies after the Death Benefit is applied to the Payout Option but before the first payment, a Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout will never provide the full payment amount. In that case, if the contingent payee agrees, we will reverse the Payout Option election and allow the Beneficiary’s estate to choose a new Payout Option or to take the Death Benefit as a lump sum.A Joint and
One-Half
Survivor Payout is only available to a Beneficiary who is the surviving spouse of the owner.Payments under a Payout Option
Payments under a Payout Option are calculated and paid as fixed dollar payments. The stream of payments is an obligation of the general account of Great American Life. Fixed dollar payments will remain level for the duration of the payment period. Once payments begin under a Payout Option, the Payout Option may not be changed. Once the Contract value is applied to a Payout Option, the periodic payments cannot be accelerated or converted into a lump sum payment unless we agree.
We will use the 2012 Individual Annuity Reserving Table with projection scale G2 for blended lives (60% female/40% male) with interest at 1% per year, compounded annually, to compute all guaranteed Payout Option factors, values, and benefits under the Contract. For purposes of calculating payments based on the age of a person, we will use his or her age as of his or her last birthday.
Considerations in Selecting a Payout Option
Payments under a Payout Option are affected by various factors, including the length of the payment period, the life expectancy of the person on whose life payments are based, and the frequency of the payment interval (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually).
• | Generally, the longer the period over which payments are made or the more frequently the payments are made, the lower the amount of each payment because more payments will be made. |
• | For Life Payout Options, the longer the life expectancy of the Annuitant or Beneficiary, the lower the amount of each payment because more payments are expected to be paid. |
Non-Human
Payees under a Payout OptionExcept as stated below, the primary payee under a Payout Option must be a human being. All payments during his or her life must be made by check payable to the primary payee or by electronic transfer to a bank account owned by the primary payee.
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Exceptions
Below are some exceptions to the general rule that the primary payee must be a human being. We may make other exceptions in our discretion.
• | A nonhuman that is the Owner of the Contract may be the primary payee. For example, if the Owner is a trust, that trust may be the primary payee. |
• | Payments may be made payable to another insurance company or financial institution as a tax-free exchange, transfer, or rollover to or for another annuity ortax-qualified account as allowed by federal tax law. |
PROCESSING PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND REQUESTS
Processing Purchase Payments
• | If we receive a Purchase Payment on a Market Day before the Market Close, we will apply it to your Contract on that Market Day. |
• | If we receive a Purchase Payment on a Market Day after the Market Close or on a day that is not a Market Day, then we will apply it to your Contract on the next Market Day. |
An amount applied to a Contract will be held in the Purchase Payment Account until it is applied to an Indexed Strategy or Strategies on a Strategy Application Date pursuant to your instructions. We cannot apply an amount held in the Purchase Payment Account to an Indexed Strategy or Strategies if we do not have complete instructions from you.
If you have any questions, you should contact us or your registered representative before sending a Purchase Payment.
Processing Requests
• | Requests may be made by mail at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati OH 45201-5423. |
• | Requests by fax may be made at 513-768-5115. |
• | Requests for reallocations among Indexed Strategies may be made by telephone at 1-800-789-6771 |
To obtain one of our forms (for example, a Strategy Selection form or a Withdrawal Request form) or to obtain more information about how to make a request, call us ator send us a fax atYou can also request forms or information by mail at Great American Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati OH 45201-5423. You may also obtain forms on our website (www.GAIGannuities.com).
1-800-789-6771
513-768-5115.
We cannot process a request unless it is a Request in Good Order. A request may be rejected or delayed if it is not a Request in Good Order.
• | If we receive a Request in Good Order on a Market Day before the Market Close, we will process it using values determined at the Market Close on that Market Day. |
• | If we receive a Request in Good Order after the Market Close or on a day that is not a Market Day, then we will treat that request as received at the start of the next Market Day. |
If you have any questions, you should contact us or your registered representative before submitting the request.
Exception
Market Days and Market Close
A Market Day is each day that all markets that are used to measure available Indexed Strategies are open for regular trading.
• | Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and any other day that the New York Stock Exchange and the NYSE Arca are closed are not Market Days. |
• | The NYSE and the NYSE Arca observe the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. |
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A Market Close is the close of the regular or core trading session on the market used to measure a given Indexed Strategy.
• | Regular trading hours on the NYSE and core trading sessions on the NYSE Arca usually end at 4:00 PM Eastern Time |
• | Trading hours on the NYSE and core trading sessions on the NYSE Arca end at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on the day before the Fourth of July and the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. |
Regular trading or a core trading session may end at a different time on a Market Day under certain circumstances when and as permitted under applicable rules. Such circumstances generally cannot be predicted in advance.
Specific information about NYSE and NYSE Arca holidays and trading hours in any given calendar year is available at
https://www.nyse.com/markets/hours-calendars.
Receipt of Purchase Payments, Applications and Requests
For purposes of processing, we deem Purchase Payments and applications, Requests in Good Order and other instructions (paperwork) mailed to our post office box as received by us at our administrative office when the Purchase Payment or the paperwork reaches the applicable processing department located at 310 E. 4th Street, Cincinnati OH 45202.
Risks and Limitations Related to Requests by Telephone or Internet
We will use reasonable procedures such as requiring certain identifying information, tape recording the telephone instructions, and providing written confirmation of the transaction, in order to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone, fax, Internet or other means are genuine. Any telephone, fax or Internet instructions reasonably believed by us to be genuine will be your responsibility, including losses arising from any errors in the communication of instructions. As a result of this policy, you will bear the risk of loss. We are not responsible for the validity of any request or action.
Telephone and computer systems may not always be available. Any telephone or computer system, whether it is yours, your service provider’s, your agent’s, or ours, can experience outages or slowdowns for a variety of reasons. These outages or slowdowns may delay or prevent our processing of your request. Although we have taken precautions to help our systems handle heavy use, we cannot promise complete reliability under all circumstances. If you experience technical difficulties or problems, you should consider making your request by mail.
Suspension of Payments or Transfers
We may be required to suspend or delay payments, withdrawals and reallocations when we cannot obtain an Index value because:
• | the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Arca is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); |
• | trading on the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Arca is restricted; or |
• | an emergency exists such that it is not reasonably practicable to determine fairly the value of the Index. |
In this case, we will make payments and process withdrawals and reallocations as soon as practicable after we are able to obtain the Index value.
We may suspend or delay payments, withdrawals and reallocations when we are permitted to do so under a regulatory order. In this case, we will make payments and process withdrawals and reallocations when the order is no longer in effect.
Restrictions on Financial Transactions
Federal laws designed to counter terrorism and prevent money laundering might, in certain circumstances, require us to block an Owner’s ability to make certain transactions. This means that we may be required to refuse to accept any request for withdrawals, Surrenders, Annuity Payout Benefit payments or Death Benefit payments, until instructions are received from the appropriate regulator. We may also be required to provide additional information about you and your Contract to government regulators.
RIGHT TO CANCEL (FREE LOOK)
If you change your mind about owning the Contract, you may cancel it within 20 days after you receive it. If you purchase this Contract to replace an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy, you have 30 days after you receive it. This is known as a “free look.” The right to cancel period may be longer in some states.
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To cancel your Contract, you must submit your request to cancel to the producer who sold it or send it to us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423. If sent to us by mail, it is effective on the date postmarked with proper address and postage paid. Your request to cancel must be in writing and signed by you.
If you cancel your Contract, you will receive a refund. The amount of the refund will depend on where you live. When you cancel the Contract within this free look period, we will not assess an Early Withdrawal Charge.
• | If you live in a state where we are required to refund your Purchase Payment(s), we reserve the right to hold your Purchase Payment(s) in the Purchase Payment Account until the first Strategy Application Date on or after the end of the free look period. |
• | If you live in a state where we are required to refund the Account Value of your Contract, you will receive the Account Value on the day that we receive your cancellation Request in Good Order. If the Account Value includes the value of an Indexed Strategy, that Strategy value will reflect the applicable Daily Value Percentage. The amount you receive may be more or less than your Purchase Payment(s) depending upon any interest earned by your Contract and the value of your Indexed Strategies. This means that you bear the risk of any decline in the Account Value of your Contract before we receive your cancellation request. No adjustment will be made for the Daily Value Percentage and no Early Withdrawal Charges will apply to the amount refunded. Unless required by state law, we do not refund any Daily Charge assessed during the free look period or any Early Withdrawal Charges assessed during the free look period that relate to a withdrawal taken before you cancel the Contract. |
The State Variations section of this prospectus contains a summary of the state law provisions related to the free look period and the required refund amount.
There may be tax consequences if you cancel the Contract. You should seek advice on tax questions based on your particular circumstances from a tax advisor.
ANNUAL STATEMENT AND CONFIRMATIONS
At least once each calendar year, we will send you a statement that will show: (1) your Account Value; (2) all transactions regarding your Contract during the year; and (3) any interest credited to your Contract and/or any other changes in Strategy value credited to your Contract.
We will also send you written confirmations of Purchase Payments, Indexed Strategy allocations and renewals, withdrawals, and other financial transactions under your Contract. Statements and confirmations will be sent to your last known address on our records.
You should promptly report any inaccuracy or discrepancy in a statement or confirmation. To report an inaccuracy or discrepancy, contact us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423, or call us atTo protect your rights, you should consider reconfirming any oral communications by sending a written statement to P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423.
1-800-789-6771.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
You may elect to receive electronic delivery of the Contract prospectus and other Contract related documents. Contact us at our website at www.GAIGannuities.com for more information and to enroll.
ABANDONED PROPERTY REQUIREMENTS
Every state has unclaimed property laws. These laws generally declare annuity contracts to be abandoned after a period of inactivity of three to five years from: (1) the latest permitted Annuity Payout Initiation Date; or (2) the date of death for which a Death Benefit is due and payable. For example, if the payment of a death benefit has been triggered, but the beneficiary does not come forward to claim the death benefit in a timely manner, the unclaimed property laws will apply.
If a Death Benefit, Annuity Payout Benefit payments or other contract proceeds are unclaimed, we will pay them to the abandoned property division or unclaimed property office of the applicable state. (Escheatment is the formal, legal name for this process.) For example, on an unclaimed Death Benefit, depending on the circumstances, the proceeds are paid: (1) to the state where the beneficiary last resided, as shown on our books and records; (2) to the state where the contract owner last resided, as shown on our books and records; or (3) to Ohio, which is our state of domicile. The state will hold the proceeds without interest until a valid claim is made by the person entitled to the proceeds.
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To prevent escheatment of the Death Benefit, Annuity Payout Benefit payments, or other proceeds from your Contract, it is important:
• | to update your contact information, such as your address, phone number, and email address, if and as it changes; and |
• | to update your Beneficiary and other designations, including complete names, complete addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers, if and as they change. |
Please contact us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423, or call us atto make such updates.
1-800-789-6771,
State unclaimed property laws do not apply to annuity contracts that are held under an employer retirement plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
OWNER
The Owner on the Contract Effective Date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page. The Owner possesses all of the ownership rights under a Contract, such as making allocations among the Indexed Strategies, electing a Payout Option, and designating a Beneficiary.
If an Owner is a trust, custodial account, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity, then the age of the eldest Annuitant is treated as the age of the Owner for all purposes of this Contract.
Joint Owners
• | For a Nonqualified Contract |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
Change of Owner
• | For a Nonqualified Contract. |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
A change of Owner must be made by a Request in Good Order. A change of Owner may have adverse tax consequences.
Assignment
• | For a Nonqualified Contract |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
An assignment must be requested by a Request in Good Order. We are not responsible for the validity of any assignment. An assignment may have adverse tax consequences.
If we have consented to an assignment, the rights of a person holding the assignment, including the right to any payment under this Contract, come before the rights of an Owner, Annuitant, Beneficiary, or other payee. An assignment may be ended only the person holding it or as provided by law.
Successor Owner
Your spouse becomes the successor owner of the Contract and succeeds to all rights of ownership if all of the following requirements are met:
• | a Death Benefit is payable on account of your death; |
• | the sole Beneficiary under the Contract is your spouse or a revocable trust or custodial account created by your spouse; |
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• | either you make that election by a Request in Good Order before your death or your spouse makes that election by a Request in Good Order before the Death Benefit Payment Date; and |
• | you were not a successor owner of the Contract. |
A successor owner election cancels all prior Beneficiary designations. It does not cancel a designation of an Annuitant or a Payout Option election.
In some states, state law extends this successor owner right to a civil union partner or other person who is not your spouse as defined by federal tax law. In that case, distributions after your death must be made as required by the Death Benefit Distributions Rules described in the Death Benefit section above.
Community Property
If you live in a community property state and have a spouse at any time while you own this Contract, the laws of that state may vary your ownership rights.
ANNUITANT
The Annuitant is the natural person on whose life Annuity Payout Benefit payments are based. The Annuitant on the Contract Effective Date is set out on your Contract Specifications Page.
• | For a Nonqualified Contract |
• | For a Tax Qualified Contract |
A change of Annuitant must be made by a Request in Good Order. A change of Annuitant does not cancel a designation of a Beneficiary or a Payout Option election.
If an Annuitant dies before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date and no Death Benefit is payable, then in the absence of a new designation, the Annuitant will be:
• | the surviving joint Annuitant(s); or if none |
• | the Owner(s). |
BENEFICIARY
A Beneficiary is a person entitled to receive all or part of a Death Benefit that is to be paid under this Contract on account of a death before the Annuity Payout Initiation Date.
• | If a Death Benefit becomes payable on account of your death or the death of a joint Owner, then the surviving Owner is the Beneficiary no matter what other designation you may have made. |
• | In all other cases, you may designate a person or person who will be the Beneficiaries as provided in the Designation of Beneficiary provision of the Contract. |
• | If no designated Beneficiary is surviving, then the Beneficiary is your estate. |
• | If the sole Beneficiary under the Contract is your spouse or a revocable trust or custodial account created by your spouse and all other requirements for successor ownership are met, then your spouse may become the successor owner of the Contract in lieu of receiving the Death Benefit. |
A designation of Beneficiary must be made by a Request in Good Order. We must receive the request on or before the date of death for which a Death Benefit is payable.
• | You may designate two or more persons jointly as the Beneficiaries. Unless you state otherwise, joint Beneficiaries that are surviving are entitled to equal shares. |
• | You may designate one or more persons as contingent Beneficiary. Unless you state otherwise, a contingent Beneficiary is entitled to a benefit only if there is no primary Beneficiary who that is surviving. |
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Survivorship Required
In order to be entitled to receive a Death Benefit, a Beneficiary must survive for at least 30 days after the death for which the Death Benefit is payable.
If you designate your spouse as a Beneficiary and your marriage ends before your death, we will treat your former spouse as having predeceased you unless:
• | a court order provides that the former spouse’s rights as a beneficiary are to continue; or |
• | the former spouse remains or becomes an Owner. |
OTHER CONTRACT PROVISIONS
Amendment of the Contract
We reserve the right to amend the Contract to comply with applicable Federal or state laws or regulations. We will notify you in writing of any such amendments.
Misstatement
We may require proof of the age of the Annuitant, Owner and/or the Beneficiary before making any payments under the Contract that are measured by such person’s life. If the age of the measuring life has been misstated, the amount payable will be the amount that would have been provided at the correct age. If payments based on the correct age would have been higher, we will pay the underpaid amount with interest. If payments would be lower, we may deduct the overpaid amount, with interest, from succeeding payments.
Involuntary Termination
If the Account Value on any anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date is less than the minimum required value of $5,000 due to poor market performance or withdrawals from the Contract, we may terminate your Contract on that anniversary.
• | If you make only one Purchase Payment, each Term will end on an anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date. In this case, any involuntary termination will occur on a date that is the end of a Term. |
• | If you make multiple Purchase Payments, Terms may end on different dates. In this case, any involuntary termination will occur on a date that is the end of a Term, but it will occur before the end of other Terms. In this case, the Surrender Value payable upon termination of your Contract will reflect the Daily Value Percentages used to calculate the value of Indexed Strategies with Terms that are not ending on the termination date. |
The examples below show the relationship between the date of an involuntary termination and the end of a Term.
Example A
Example B
• | If your Account Value is less than $5,000 on June 20, 2024, we may not terminate your Contract because June 20 is not an anniversary of the initial Strategy Application Date. |
• | If your Account Value is less than $5,000 on May 6, 2025, we may terminate your Contract on that anniversary date even though the other Term will not end until June 20, 2025. |
If we terminate your Contract, we will pay you the Surrender Value determined as of the date that we terminate your Contract. The Surrender Value will reflect the applicable Indexed Strategy Values as calculated on the day that we terminate your Contract.
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Loans
Loans are not available under the Contract.
FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section provides a general description of federal income tax considerations relating to the Contracts. The purchase, holding and transfer of a Contract may have federal estate and gift tax consequences in addition to income tax consequences. Estate and gift taxation is not discussed in this prospectus. State taxation will vary, depending on the state in which you reside, and is not discussed in this prospectus.
The tax information provided in this prospectus is not intended or written to be used as legal or tax advice. It is written solely to provide general information related to the sale and holding of the Contracts. You should seek advice on legal or tax questions based on your particular circumstances from an attorney or tax advisor.
Tax Deferral on Annuities
Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 72 governs taxation of annuities in general. The income earned on a Contract is generally not included in income until it is withdrawn from the Contract. In other words, a Contract is a
tax-deferred
investment. Tax deferral is not available for a Contract when an Owner is not a natural person unless the Contract is part of atax-qualified
retirement plan or the Owner is a mere agent for a natural person. For a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, this rule means that the employer as Owner of the Contract will generally be taxed currently on any increase in the Surrender Value, although the plan itself may provide a tax deferral to the participating employee.Under certain circumstances, based on a rule known as the “Investor Control Doctrine,” the IRS has stated that the holder of an annuity contract could be treated as the owner (for tax purposes) of the assets of a separate account that supports the annuity contract. If you were treated as the owner of an interest in the separate account, then you would be taxed on the income, gain, and loss arising out of your interest in the separate account. Although the IRS has not provided definitive guidance on the application of this rule to indexed annuity contracts, we do not believe that this rule applies to the Contract because you have no specific, fractional, or unitized interest in the separate account assets, we are not obligated to invest the separate account in any particular assets, the investment return and market value of the separate account assets is not allocated in an identical manner to any Contract, the Contract values are determined based on gains and losses regardless of the performance of the separate account assets, and the derivatives that we may hold in the separate account are not publicly traded.
Tax-Qualified
Retirement PlansAnnuities may also qualify for
tax-deferred
treatment, or serve as a funding vehicle, undertax-qualified
retirement plans that are governed by other IRC provisions. These provisions include IRC Section 401 (pension, profit sharing, and 401(k) plans), IRC Section 403(b)(tax-sheltered
annuities), IRC Sections 408 and 408A (individual retirement annuities), and IRC Section 457(b) (governmental deferred compensation plans).Tax-deferral
is generally also available under thesetax-qualified
retirement plans through the use of a trust or custodial account without the use of an annuity.The tax law rules governing
tax-qualified
retirement plans and the treatment of amounts held and distributed under such plans are complex. If the Contract is to be used in connection with atax-qualified
retirement plan, including an individual retirement annuity (“IRA”) under a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plan, you should seek competent legal and tax advice regarding the suitability of the Contract for your particular situation.Contributions to a
tax-qualified
Contract are typically made withpre-tax
dollars, while contributions to other Contracts are typically made fromafter-tax
dollars, though there are exceptions in either case.Tax-qualified
Contracts may also be subject to restrictions on withdrawals that do not apply to other Contracts. These restrictions may be imposed to meet the requirements of the IRC or of an employer plan.Following is a brief description of the types of
tax-qualified
retirement plans for which the Contracts are available.Individual Retirement Annuities.
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Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plan or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) established by an employer are not includable in the gross income of the employee until distributed from the IRA. Distributions from an IRA are taxable to the extent that they represent contributions for which a tax deduction was claimed, contributions made under a SEP plan or SIMPLE, or income earned within the IRA.
Roth IRAs.
Tax-free
distributions of contributions may be made at any time. Distributions of earnings aretax-free
following the five-year period beginning with the first year for which a Roth IRA contribution was made if the Owner has attained age 59 1/2, become disabled, or died, or for qualified first-time homebuyer expenses.Tax-Sheltered
Annuities.“tax-sheltered
annuity” or “TSA” plans for their employees. TSA contributions and Contract earnings are generally not included in the gross income of the employee until distributed from the TSA. Amounts attributable to contributions made under a salary reduction agreement cannot be distributed until the employee attains age 59 1/2, severs employment, becomes disabled, incurs a hardship, is eligible for a qualified reservist distribution, or dies. The IRC and the plan may impose additional restrictions on distributions.Pension, Profit-Sharing, and 401(k) Plans.
Governmental Eligible Deferred Compensation Plans.
Roth TSAs, Roth 401(k)s, and Roth 457(b)s.
pre-tax
TSA, 401(k), or 457(b) contributions. Distributions from a Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) account are considered to come proportionally from contributions and earnings. Distributions attributable to Roth account contributions aretax-free.
Distributions attributable to Roth account earnings aretax-free
following the five-year period beginning with the first year for which Roth contributions are made to the plan if the employee has attained age 59 1/2, become disabled, or died. A Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) account is subject to the same distribution restrictions that apply to amounts attributable to traditionalpre-tax
TSA, 401(k), or 457(b) contributions made under a salary reduction agreement. The plan may impose additional restrictions on distributions.Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
Employers may invest in annuity contracts in connection with unfunded deferred compensation plans for their employees. Such plans may include eligible deferred compensation plans of
non-governmental
tax-exempt
employers, as described in IRC Section 457(b); deferred compensation plans of both governmental and nongovernmentaltax-exempt
employers that are taxed under IRC Section 457(f) and subject to Section 409A; and nonqualified deferred compensation plans offor-profit
employers subject to Section 409A. In most cases, these plans are designed so that amounts credited under the plan will not be includable in the employees’ gross income until paid under the plan. In these situations, the annuity contracts are not plan assets and are subject to the claims of the employer’s general creditors. Whether or not made from the Contract, plan benefit payments are subject to restrictions imposed by the IRC and the plan.52
Summary of Income Tax Rules
The following chart summarizes the basic income tax rules governingContracts.
tax-qualified
retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and othernon-tax-qualified
Tax-Qualified Contracts and Plans | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans | Other Non-Tax-Qualified Contracts | ||||
Plan Types | • IRC §408 (IRA, SEP, SIMPLE IRA) • IRC §408A (Roth IRA) • IRC §403(b) (Tax-Sheltered Annuity)• IRC §401 (Pension, Profit– Sharing, 401(k)) • Governmental IRC §457(b) • IRC §402A (Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b)) | • IRC §409A • Nongovernmental IRC §457(b) • IRC §457(f) | • IRC §72 only | |||
Who May Purchase a Contract | Eligible employee, employer, or employer plan. | Employer on behalf of eligible employee. Employer generally loses tax-deferred status of Contract itself. | Anyone. Non-natural person will generally losetax-deferred status. | |||
Contribution Limits | Contributions are limited by IRC and/or plan requirements. | None. | ||||
Distribution Restrictions | Distributions from Contract and/or plan may be restricted to meet IRC and/or plan requirements. | None. | ||||
Taxation of Withdrawals, Surrenders, and Lump Sum Death Benefit | Generally, 100% of distributions must be included in taxable income. However, the portion that represents an after-tax investment is not taxable. Distributions from Roth IRA are deemed to come first from after- tax contributions. Distributions from other plans are generally deemed to come from income andafter-tax investment (if any) on apro-rata basis. Distributions from §408A Roth IRA or §402A Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) are completely tax free if certain requirements are met.For tax purposes, all IRAs and SEP IRAs of an owner are treated as a single IRA, and all Roth IRAs of an owner are treated as a single Roth IRA. | Generally, distributions must be included in taxable income until all accumulated earnings are paid out. Thereafter, distributions are tax-free return of the original investment. However, distributions aretax-free until any investment made before August 14, 1982 is returned.For tax purposes, all non-tax-qualified | ||||
Taxation of Payout Option Payments (Annuity Benefit or Death Benefit) | A percentage of each payment is tax free equal to the ratio of after-tax investment (if any) to the total expected payments, and the balance is included in taxable income. Once theafter-tax investment has been recovered, the full amount of each benefit payment is included in taxable income. Distributions from a Roth IRA, Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b) are completely tax free if certain requirements are met. |
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Tax-Qualified Contracts and Plans | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans | Other Non-Tax-Qualified Contracts | ||||
Possible Penalty Taxes for Distributions Before Age 59 1/2 | Taxable portion of payments made before age 59 1/2 may be subject to 10% penalty tax (or 25% for a SIMPLE IRA during the first two years of participation). Penalty taxes do not apply to payments after the participant’s death, or to §457 plans. Other exceptions may apply. | None. | Taxable portion of payments made before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% penalty tax. Penalty taxes do not apply to payments after the Owner’s death. Other exceptions may apply. | |||
Assignment/ Transfer of Contract | Assignment and transfer of Ownership generally not permitted. | Generally, deferred earnings taxable to transferor upon transfer or assignment. Gift tax consequences are not discussed herein. | ||||
Federal Income Tax Withholding | Eligible rollover distributions from §401, §403(b), and governmental §457(b) plans are subject to 20% mandatory withholding on taxable portion unless direct rollover. For other payments, Payee may generally elect to have taxes withheld or not. | Generally subject to wage withholding. | Generally, Payee may elect to have taxes withheld or not. |
Rollovers, Transfers, and Exchanges
Amounts from a
tax-qualified
Contract may be rolled over, transferred, or exchanged into anothertax-qualified
account or retirement plan as permitted by the IRC and plan(s). Amounts may be rolled over, transferred, or exchanged into atax-qualified
Contract from anothertax-qualified
account or retirement plan as permitted by the IRC and plan(s). In most cases, such a rollover, transfer, or exchange is not taxable, unless the rollover ofpre-tax
amounts is made into a Roth IRA, a Roth TSA, Roth 401(k), or Roth 457(b). Rollovers, transfers, and exchanges are not subject to normal contribution limits. The IRC or plan may require that rollovers be held in a separate Contract from other plan funds.Amounts from aContract may be transferred to anotherannuity or to a qualified long-term care policy as aannuity or from a life insurance or endowment policy may be transferred to a Contract as a
non-tax-qualified
non-tax-qualified
tax-free
exchange as permitted by the IRC Section 1035. Amounts from anothernon-tax-qualified
tax-free
exchange under IRC Section 1035.Required Distributions
The Contracts are subject to the required distribution rules of federal tax law. These rules vary based on the tax qualification of the Contract or the plan under which it is issued.
For a
tax-qualified
Contract other than a Roth IRA, required minimum distributions must generally begin by April 1 following attainment of age 72 (age 70 1/2 if born before July 1, 1950). However, for a 403(b)Tax-Sheltered
Annuity Plan, a 401 Pension, Profit-Sharing, or 401(k) Plan, or a 457(b) Governmental Deferred Compensation Plan, a participant who is not a 5% owner of the employer may delay required minimum distributions until April 1 following the year in which the participant retires from that employer. The required minimum distributions during life are calculated based on standard life expectancy tables adopted under federal tax law.For a Roth IRA or for a Contract that is not
tax-qualified,
there are no required distributions during life.54
AContract that has begun making payments under a payout option during the Owner’s life must make any remaining payments at least as rapidly after death. If payments from aContract have not begun, then the death benefit must be paid out in full within five years after death, or must be paid out in substantially equal payments beginning within one year of death over a period not exceeding the life expectancy of the designated beneficiary.
tax-qualified
Contract must make required distributions after death. The required distributions vary depending on the type of beneficiary. Some beneficiaries may take payments over life or life expectancy, and others must receive all benefits within five or ten years after death. Anon-tax-qualified
non-tax-qualified
For a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or a Contract that is not
tax-qualified,
a beneficiary who is a surviving spouse may elect out of these requirements, and apply the required distribution rules as if the Contract were his or her own. For this purpose, federal tax law recognizes as married any two people whose marriage is valid in the state in which it was celebrated. A civil union or domestic partnership is not considered a marriage.PREMIUM AND OTHER TAXES
We reserve the right to deduct from the Purchase Payment or Account Value any taxes relating to the Contract paid by us to any government entity (including, but not limited to, premium taxes, additional taxes, and maintenance taxes on insurers, Federal, state and local withholding of income, estate, inheritance, or other taxes required by law from annuity purchase payments, and any new or increased taxes on insurers or annuity purchase payments that may be enacted into law).
Currently some state governments impose premium taxes, additional taxes, and maintenance taxes on insurers based on annuity purchase payments received or applied to an annuity payout benefit. These taxes currently range from zero to 3.5% depending upon the jurisdiction and the tax qualification of the Contract. A federal premium tax has been proposed but not enacted. We may deduct any such premium or other taxes from the Purchase Payments or the Account Value at the time that the tax is imposed. We may also deduct any such tax not previously deducted from the Annuity Payout value or Death Benefit value.
We reserve the right to deduct from the Contract for any income taxes that we incur because of the Contract. At the present time, however, we are not incurring any such income tax or making any such deductions.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
Great American Advisors, Inc. (“GAA”) is the principal underwriter and distributor of the securities offered through this prospectus. GALIC and GAA are affiliated because GAA is a subsidiary of GALIC.. GAA also acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of the variable annuity contracts that are issued by one of our subsidiaries.
GAA’s principal executive offices are located at 301 E Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. GAA is registered as a broker- dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as the securities regulators in the states in which it operates and registration is required. GAA is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
Contracts are sold by licensed insurance agents (the “Selling Agents”) in those states where the Contract may be lawfully sold. Such Selling Agents will be appointed agents of GALIC and will be registered representatives of broker-dealer firms (the “Selling Broker-Dealers”) that have entered into selling agreements with us and GAA. Selling Broker-Dealers will be registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and will be members of FINRA.
FINRA provides background information about broker-dealers and their registered representatives through FINRA BrokerCheck. You may contact the FINRA BrokerCheck Hotline ator log on to www.finra.org to learn more about GAA, your Selling Agent, and his or her Selling Broker Dealer.
1-800-289-9999,
GAA receives no compensation for acting as underwriter of the Contracts; however, GALIC pays for some of GAA’s operating and other expenses, including overhead and legal and accounting fees. GALIC may reimburse GAA for certain sales expenses, such as marketing materials and advertising expenses, and other expenses of distributing the Contracts.
GALIC or GAA pay the Selling Broker-Dealers compensation for the promotion and sale of the Contract. The Selling Agents who solicit sales of the Contract typically receive a portion of the compensation paid to the Selling Broker-Dealers in the form of commissions or other compensation, depending on the agreement between the Selling Broker-Dealer and the Selling Agent.
55
The amount and timing of commissions paid to Selling Broker-Dealers may vary depending on the selling agreement but it will not be more than 9.2% of each Purchase Payment. In most cases, such amounts paid to a Selling Broker-Dealer will be divided between the Selling Agent and the Selling Broker-Dealer. Some Selling Broker-Dealers may elect to receive a lower commission when a Purchase Payment is made, along with annual trail commissions up to 1.5% of Account Value for so long as a contract remains in effect or as agreed in the selling agreement. GALIC may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments in the form of cash or other compensation to the extent permitted by FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations.
GALIC also may pay compensation to wholesaling broker-dealers or other firms or intermediaries in return for wholesaling services such as providing marketing and sales support, product training, and administrative services to the Selling Agents of the Selling Broker-Dealers. These allowances may be based on a percentage of a Purchase Payment.
In addition to the compensation described above, GALIC may make additional cash payments, in certain circumstances referred to as “override” compensations, or reimbursements to Selling Broker-Dealers in recognition of their marketing and distribution, transaction processing and/or administrative services support. These payments are not offered to all Selling Broker-Dealers, and the terms of any particular agreement governing the payments may vary among Selling Broker-Dealers depending on, among other things, the level and type of marketing and distribution support provided. Marketing and distribution support services may include, among other services, placement of GALIC’s products on the Selling Broker-Dealers’ preferred or recommended list, increased access to the Selling Broker-Dealers’ registered representatives for purposes of promoting sales of GALIC products, assistance in training and education of the Selling Agents, and opportunities for GALIC and GAA to participate in sales conferences and educational seminars. The payments or reimbursements may be calculated as a percentage of the particular Selling Broker-Dealer’s actual or expected aggregate sales of our indexed annuity contracts (including the Contract) and/or may be a fixed dollar amount. Broker-dealers receiving these additional payments may pass on some or all of the payments to the Selling Agents.
You should ask your Selling Agent for further information about the commissions or other compensation that he or she, or the Selling Broker-Dealer for which he or she works, may receive in connection with your purchase of a Contract.
There is no
front-end
sales load deducted from the Purchase Payment(s) to pay sales commissions. Commissions and other incentives or payments described above are not charged directly to you. We intend to recoup at least a portion of the sales commissions and other sales expenses through fees and charges deducted under the Contract.GREAT AMERICAN LIFE’S GENERAL ACCOUNT
Our general account (the “General Account”) holds all our assets other than assets in our insulated separate accounts. We own our General Account assets, and, subject to applicable law, have sole investment discretion over them. The assets are subject to our general business operation liabilities and claims of our creditors and may lose value. Our General Account assets fund the guarantees provided in the Contracts.
We must invest our assets according to applicable state laws regarding the nature, quality and diversification of investments that may be made by life insurance companies. In general, these laws permit investments, within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications, in Federal, state and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, preferred and common stocks, real estate mortgages, real estate and certain other investments.
We place a majority of the Purchase Payments made under the Contract in our General Account where we primarily invest the assets in a variety of fixed income securities.
We place a portion of the Purchase Payments made under the Contract in a
non-unitized
separate account (the “Separate Account”) that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We established and maintain the Separate Account pursuant to the laws of our domiciliary state for the purpose of supporting our obligation to adjust the Indexed Strategy values based on the Daily Value Percentage or rise or fall of the Index. The assets of the Separate Account are held in our name on behalf of the Separate Account and legally belong to us. The assets in the Separate Account are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business that we conduct. We may invest these assets in hedging instruments, including derivative contracts as well as other assets permitted under state law. To support our obligations to adjust the Indexed Strategy values, we may move money between the Separate Account and our General Account. We are not obligated to invest the assets of the Separate Account according to any particular plan except as we may be required to by state insurance laws. Regardless of your Strategy allocations, we do not intend to invest the assets of the Separate Account in the iShares MSCI EAFE exchange traded fund or iShares U.S. Real Estate exchange traded fund. We may or may not hold the hypothetical options described in this prospectus in the Separate Account.56
Contract owners do not have any interest in or claim on the assets in the Separate Account nor do Contract owners participate in any way in the performance of assets held in the Separate Account.
LEGAL MATTERS
Reliance on Rule
12h-7
Great American Life relies on the exemption provided by Rule
12h-7
under the Securities Exchange Act of the 1934 Act from the requirement to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of that Act.57
Legal Proceedings
Great American Life and its subsidiaries are involved in litigation from time to time, generally arising in the ordinary course of business. This litigation may include, but is not limited to, general commercial disputes, lawsuits brought by contract owners and policyholders, employment matters, reinsurance collection matters and actions challenging certain business practices of insurance subsidiaries. Also, from time to time, state and federal regulators or other officials conduct formal and informal examinations or undertake other actions dealing with various aspects of the financial services and insurance industries. It is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of any pending legal proceeding or regulatory action. However, Great American Life does not believe any such action or proceeding will have a material adverse effect upon its ability to meet its obligations under the Contracts.
Legal Opinion on Contracts
Legal matters in connection with federal laws and regulations affecting the issue and sale of the Contracts described in this prospectus and the organization of Great American Life, its authority to issue such Contracts under Ohio law, and the validity of the forms of the Contracts under Ohio law have been passed on by John P. Gruber, General Counsel of Great American Life.
Securities and Exchange Commission Position on Indemnification
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling Great American Life pursuant to its articles of incorporation or its code of regulations or pursuant to any insurance coverage or otherwise, Great American Life has been informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the accompanying financial statement schedule of Great American Life Insurance Company at December 31, 2020, and 2019, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
We filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 relating to the Contracts offered by this prospectus. This prospectus was filed as a part of the Registration Statement, but it does not constitute the complete Registration Statement. The Registration Statement contains further information relating to the Company and the Contracts. The Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto may be inspected and copied at the office of the Securities and Exchange Commission, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., and may also be accessed at www.sec.gov. The Securities and Exchange Commission file number for the Contract is
333-252949.
Statements in this prospectus discussing the content of the Contracts and other legal instruments are summaries. The actual documents are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. For a complete statement of the terms of the Contracts or any other legal document, refer to the appropriate exhibit to the Registration Statement.
OPTION PRICES
In order to calculate the Daily Value Percentage of an Indexed Strategy, we determine the prices of the hypothetical options using a valuation model. The price of each option is stated as a percentage of the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term.
• | ATM Call Option Price (at-the-money |
The ATM Call Option Price is the calculated price of a hypothetical call option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term.
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• | ATM Put Option Price (at-the-money |
The ATM Put Option Price is the calculated price of a hypothetical put option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage fall, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term.
• | OTM Call Option Price (out-of-the-money |
The OTM Call Option Price is the calculated price of a hypothetical call option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage rise, if any, in the Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term, but only to the extent it exceeds the Cap for the Term.
Valuation Model
We use a mathematical model to calculate the price of the hypothetical options in our formulas because direct prices of comparable options are generally not available. Options in the marketplace do not directly align with (1) the time remaining in a Term and (2) the strike prices for any of the hypothetical options used in the calculation of the Daily Value Percentage.
The valuation model is widely used for option pricing. It calculates the theoretical price of options using the following components: initial and current Index levels or prices, expected dividend yield, option strike prices, expected interest rates, time, and implied volatility of option prices. Below is a brief explanation of the components of the model.
• | Index Levels or Prices |
The initial Index level or price for a Term is the Index at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term. The current Index level or price is the Index as of the most recent Market Close.
• | Dividend Yield (Div) |
Dividend Yield is the dividend yield to the end of the Term as of a calculation date where the dividend yield is (1) interpolated from yields or (2) implied from market data as reported by Bloomberg or another market source.
For the S&P 500 Index, the dividend yield will reduce the Index level and the applicable call option prices.
• | Strike Price (K) |
Strike Price is a value that varies for each type of option.
ATM call option strike price = Index at the start of the Term
ATM put option strike price = Index at the start of the Term
OTM call option strike price = Index at the start of the Term multiplied by (1 + Cap)
• | Interest Rate (Rate) |
Interest Rate is a rate based on key derivative interest rates obtained from information provided by Bloomberg or another market source. These interest rates are obtained for maturities adjacent to the actual time remaining in the Term on the calculation date. We use interpolation to derive the rate used as our input for the model.
• | Time (T) |
Time is the portion of the Term that remains as measured by the following formula.
Time = number of calendar days from calculation date to end of Term / number of calendar days in Term
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• | Implied Volatility (Vol) |
Volatility is the implied volatility of option prices. It is approximated daily using observed option prices as reported by Bloomberg or another market source. For each hypothetical option included in the calculation, we approximate the volatility of option prices by interpolating between (1) implied volatilities for similar options with the closest available time remaining and (2) strike prices.
Implied volatility varies with (1) how much time remains until the end of a Term, which is determined by using an expiration date for the designated option that corresponds to that time remaining and (2) the relationship between the strike price of that option and the value of the Index at the time of the calculation. This relationship is referred to as the “moneyness” of the option described above, and is calculated as the ratio of current price to strike price.
Direct market data for these inputs is generally not available because options on an Index that actually trade in the market have (1) specific maturity dates that are unlikely to precisely match the end date of a Term and (2) moneyness values that are unlikely to precisely match the moneyness of the designated option that we use in our calculations. Accordingly, we interpolate between the implied volatility quotes that are based on the actual maturities and moneyness values.
EXAMPLES: IMPACT OF WITHDRAWALS ON CONTRACT VALUES AND AMOUNTS REALIZED
These examples are intended to show you how a withdrawal from an Indexed Strategy before the end of the Term affects the Indexed Strategy values and amounts realized at the end of the Term. These examples assume that you allocate $50,000 to an S&P 500 Cap Strategy and $50,000 to an S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy.
Example A: Withdrawal When Index Rising Steadily
This example assumes:
• | you allocate $50,000 to an S&P 500 Cap Strategy and $50,000 to an S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | the Cap for the initial Term of the S&P 500 Cap Strategy is 10%; |
• | the Participation Rate for the initial Term of the S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy is 75%; |
• | the S&P 500 is 1000 on the Term start date; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on Day 146 when the Daily Value Percentage is 2.15% for the S&P 500 Cap Strategy and 2.33% for the S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; |
• | the withdrawal is covered by the Free Withdrawal Allowance and therefore no Early Withdrawal Charges apply (If Early Withdrawal Charges did apply, the amounts realized at the end of the Term would be reduced by both the withdrawal and the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge); and |
• | the S&P 500 is 1130 on the Term end date. |
Please note that even with a rising Index, the Daily Value Percentage may be negative or lower than the Index rise because the Net Option Price is not equal to the current Index price, and because the Daily Value Percentage calculation subtracts the Amortized Option Cost and Trading Cost from the Net Option Price.
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Impact of $10,000 Withdrawal from Each Strategy on Day 146 of Term | S&P 500 with Cap | S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate | ||
Investment Base at Term Start | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $150 | $150 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $49,850 | $49,850 | ||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | 2.15% | 2.33% | ||
Dollar Amount of Increase on Withdrawal Date | $49,850 x .0215 = $1,072 | $49,850 x .0233 = $1,162 | ||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $49,850 + $1,072 = $50,922 | $49,850 + $1,162 = $51,012 | ||
Amount Withdrawn* | $4,996 | $5,004 | ||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | $4,996 / $50,922 = 9.81% | $5,004 / $51,012 = 9.81% | ||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $49,850 x .0981 = $4,890 | $49,850 x .0981 = $4,890 | ||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $49,850 - $4,890 = $44,959 | $49,850 - $4,890 = $44,959 | ||
Value at End of Term | ||||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $44,959 | $44,959 | ||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $203 | $203 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $44,757 | $44,757 | ||
Index at Term Start | 1000 | 1000 | ||
Index at Term End | 1130 | 1130 | ||
Rise in Index | 13% | 13% | ||
Cap | 10% | n/a | ||
Upside Participation Rate | n/a | 75% | ||
Increase as a Percentage | 10% | 13% x 75% = 9.75% | ||
Dollar Amount of Increase | $44,757 x .10 = $4,476 | $44,757 x .0975 = $4,364 | ||
Strategy Value at Term End | $44,757 + $4,476 = $49,232 | $44,757 + $4,364 = $49,120 |
* | Note: The withdrawal is taken proportionally from each Indexed Strategy, based on the ratio of that Strategy’s value to the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal. In this example, the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal was $101,934 ($50,922 + $51,012). The S&P 500 with Cap Strategy value was 49.96% of that total value ($50,922 / $101,934 = 49.96%), so 49.96% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($4,996) was taken from it. The S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate Strategy value was 50.04% of that total value ($51,012 / $101,934 = 50.04%), so 50.04% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($5,004) was taken from it. |
In this example, you invested $50,000 in the Cap Strategy and $50,000 in the Participation Rate Strategy, and at the end of the Term you realized $108,353 ($10,000 withdrawal plus the Strategy values of $49,232 and $49,120 at the end of the Term). Had no withdrawal occurred, your Strategy values at the end of the Term would have totaled $109,051 ($50,000 minus $375 in Daily Charges plus 10% increase for the Cap Strategy, and $50,000 minus $375 in Daily Charges plus 9.75% increase for the Participation Rate Strategy).
This hypothetical combined Strategy values of $109,051 exceeds the amount realized of $108,353, even though the hypothetical combined Strategy value includes a larger amount of fees, because the portion of the Investment Base withdrawn from each Strategy did not earn the 10% increase it would have earned if it had been left in the respective Strategy for the entire Term.
In this example, the Cap Strategy performed better than the Participation Rate Strategy because the Upside Participation Rate limited the increase more than the Cap did.
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Example B: Withdrawal When Index Falling Steadily
This example assumes:
• | you allocate $50,000 to an S&P 500 Cap Strategy and $50,000 to an S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | the Downside Participation Rate for each Strategy is 50%; |
• | the S&P 500 is 1000 on the Term start date; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on Day 146 when the Daily Value Percentage is -2% for the S&P 500 Cap Strategy and-2.1% for the S&P 500 Upside Participation Rate Strategy; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; |
• | the withdrawal is covered by the Free Withdrawal Allowance and therefore no Early Withdrawal Charges apply (If Early Withdrawal Charges did apply, the amounts realized at the end of the Term would be reduced by both the withdrawal and the amount of the Early Withdrawal Charge); and |
• | the S&P 500 is 800 on the Term end date. |
Please note that the Daily Value Percentage may be more negative than the fall in the Index because the Net Option Price is not equal to the current Index price, and because the Daily Value Percentage calculation subtracts the Amortized Option Cost and Trading Cost from the Net Option Price.
Impact of $10,000 Withdrawal from Each Strategy on Day 146 of Term | S&P 500 with Cap | S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate | ||
Investment Base at Term Start | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $150 | $150 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $49,850 | $49,850 | ||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | -2% | -2.1% | ||
Dollar Amount of Decrease on Withdrawal Date | $49,850 x -.02 = $997 | $49,850 x -.021 = $1,047 | ||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $49,850 - $997 = $48,853 | $49,850 - $1,047 = $48,803 | ||
Amount Withdrawn* | $5,003 | $4,997 | ||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | $5,003 / $48,853 = 10.24% | $4,997 / $48,803 = 10.24% | ||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $49,850 x .1024 = $5,105 | $49,850 x .1024 = $5,105 | ||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $49,850 - $5,105 = $44,745 | $49,850 - $5,105 = $44,745 | ||
Value at End of Term | ||||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $44,745 | $44,745 | ||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $202 | $202 | ||
Remaining Investment Base | $44,543 | $44,543 | ||
Index at Term Start | 1000 | 1000 | ||
Index at Term End | 800 | 800 | ||
Fall in Index | -20% | -20% | ||
Downside Participation Rate | 50% | 50% | ||
Decrease as a Percentage | -20% x 50% = -10% | -20% x 50% = -10% | ||
Dollar Amount of Decrease | $44,543 x -.10 = $4,454 | $44,543 x -.10 = $4,454 | ||
Strategy Value at Term End | $44,543 - $4,454 = $40,089 | $44,543 - $4,454 = $40,089 |
* | Note: The withdrawal is taken proportionally from each Indexed Strategy, based on the ratio of that Strategy’s value to the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal. In this example, the total value of all Indexed Strategies immediately before the withdrawal was $97,656 ($48,853 + $48,803). The S&P 500 with Cap Strategy value was 50.03% of that total value ($48,853 / $97,656 = 50.03%), so 50.03% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($5,003) was taken from it. The S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate Strategy value was 49.97% of that total value ($48,803 / $97,656 = 49.97%), so 49.97% of the $10,000 withdrawal ($4,997) was taken from it. |
In this example, you invested $50,000 in the Cap Strategy and $50,000 in the Participation Rate Strategy, and at the end of the Term you realized $90,178 ($10,000 withdrawal plus the Strategy values of $40,089 and $40,089 at the end of the Term). Had no withdrawal occurred, your Strategy values at the end of the Term would have totaled $89,325 ($50,000 minus $375 in Daily
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Charges minus 10% decrease for the Cap Strategy and $50,000 minus $375 in Daily Charges minus 10% decrease for the Participation Rate Strategy).
The amount realized of $90,178 exceeds this hypothetical combined Strategy value of $89,325 because the portion of the Investment Base withdrawn from each Strategy was not subject to the 10% decrease it would have suffered if it had been left in the respective Strategy for the entire Term and because the hypothetical combined Strategy value includes a larger amount of fees.
The Strategy value at Term end is the same for both the Cap Strategy and the Participation Rate Strategy ($49,089) because both Strategies apply the same rules to a fall in the Index, and because the proportionality rules relating to withdrawals keep each Strategy’s Investment Base equal to the other.
Example C: Withdrawal When Index Rises
This example assumes:
• | you allocate your entire $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Cap Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1900; |
• | the Contract Effective Date and the Term start date are both April 6, 2021; |
• | an Early Withdrawal Charge of 9% applies in the initial Term; |
• | the Cap for the initial Term of that Strategy is 12%; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on August 1, 2021 when the Daily Value Percentage is 1%; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; and |
• | the S&P 500 is 2033 on the Term end date of April 6, 2022. |
Term Start Date | April 6, 2021 | |||||||
Strategy Value | $ | 50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||||
Investment Base | $ | 50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||||
Cap for Term | 12 | % | See Footnote 2 below. | |||||
Index | 1900 | |||||||
Withdrawal Date | August 30, 2021 | |||||||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $ | 150 | See Footnote 3 below | |||||
Remaining Investment Base | $ | 49,850 | See Footnote 4 below | |||||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | 1 | % | ||||||
Dollar Amount of Increase on Withdrawal Date | $ | 499 | See Footnote 5 below. | |||||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $ | 50,349 | See Footnote 6 below. | |||||
Amount of Withdrawal Requested | $ | 10,000 | ||||||
Free Withdrawal Allowance | $ | 5,000 | See Footnote 7 below. | |||||
Early Withdrawal Charge | $ | 495 | See Footnote 8 below. | |||||
Total Amount Withdrawn | $ | 10,495 | See Footnote 9 below. | |||||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | 20.84 | % | See Footnote 10 below. | |||||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $ | 10,391 | See Footnote 10 below. | |||||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $ | 39,459 | See Footnote 11 below. | |||||
Strategy Value after Withdrawal | $ | 39,854 | See Footnote 12 below. | |||||
Term End Date | April 6, 2022 | |||||||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $ | 178 | See Footnote 13 below | |||||
Remaining Investment Base | $ | 39,281 | See Footnote 14 below | |||||
Index | 2033 | |||||||
Rise in Index | 7 | % | See Footnote 15 below. | |||||
Increase as a Percentage | 7 | % | See Footnote 16 below. | |||||
Dollar Amount of Increase | $ | 2,750 | See Footnote 16 below. | |||||
Strategy Value at Term End | $ | 42,031 | See Footnote 17 below. |
Footnote 1.
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Footnote 2.
Footnote 3.
Formula | Investment Base on the Term Start Date – (Investment Base on the Term Start Date x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ number of days elapsed prior to withdrawal) | |
Calculation | $50,000 - ($50,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 146) = $150 |
Footnote 4.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 - $150 - $0 = $49,850 |
Footnote 5.
Formula | Investment Base x Daily Value Percentage = dollar amount of increase | |
Calculation | $49,850 x 1% = $499 |
Footnote 6.
Formula | Investment Base + dollar amount of increase = Strategy value | |
Calculation | $49,850 + $499 = $50,349 |
Footnote 7.
Formula | Purchase Payment x 10% = FWA for first Contract Year | |
Calculation | $50,000 x 10% = $5,000 |
Footnote 8.
Formula | [(Requested withdrawal - FWA) x EWC rate] / (1.00 - EWC rate) = Early Withdrawal Charge | |
Calculation | [($10,000 - $5,000) x 9%] / (1.00 - 0.09) = $5,000 x 9% / 0.91 = $450 / 0.91 = $495 |
Footnote 9.
Formula | Requested withdrawal + Early Withdrawal Charge = total amount withdrawn | |
Calculation | $10,000 + $495 = $10,495 |
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Footnote 10.
Formula | Total amount withdrawn / Strategy value before withdrawal = withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value | |
Calculation | $10,495 / $50,349 = 20.84% | |
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal x withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value = proportional reduction in Investment Base | |
Calculation | $49,850 x 20.84% = $10,391 |
Footnote 11.
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal - proportional reduction in Investment Base for withdrawal = Investment Base after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $49,850 - $10,391 = $39,459 |
Footnote 12
.
Formula | Strategy value before withdrawal - total amount withdrawn = Strategy value after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $50,349 - $10,495 = $39,854 |
Footnote 13.
Formula | Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal – (Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ Number of Days Elapsed Since Previous Withdrawal) = Daily Charges | |
Calculation | $39,459 - ($39,459 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 219) = $178 |
Footnote 14.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 – ($150 + $178) - $10,391 = $39,281 |
Footnote 15.
Formula | (Index on Term end date - Index on Term start date) / Index on Term start date = rise in Index | |
Calculation | (2033 - 1900) / 1900 = 7% |
Footnote 16
Formula | If the rise in Index is less than Cap, then rise in Index = increase percentage based on rise in Index | |
Calculation | 7% rise in Index < 12% cap, so increase percentage = 7% | |
Formula | Investment Base x increase percentage based on rise in Index = dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index | |
Calculation | $39,281 x 7% = $2,750 |
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Footnote 17.
Formula | Investment Base on Term end date + dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index = Strategy value on Term end date | |
Calculation | $39,281 + $2,750 = $42,031 |
Example D: Withdrawal When Index Falls
This example assumes:
• | you allocate your entire $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Cap Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1900; |
• | the Contract Effective Date and the Term Start Date are both April 6, 2021; |
• | an Early Withdrawal Charge of 9% applies in the initial Term; |
• | you request a $10,000 withdrawal on August 1, 2021 when the Daily Value Percentage is -6%; |
• | you do not take any other withdrawals during the initial Term; and |
• | the S&P 500 is 1748 on the Term end date of April 6, 2022. |
Term Start Date | April 6, 2021 | |||||||
Strategy Value | $ | 50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||||
Investment Base | $ | 50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||||
Downside Participation Rate | 50 | % | See Footnote 2 below. | |||||
Index | 1900 | |||||||
Withdrawal Date | August 30, 2021 | |||||||
Daily Charges through withdrawal date | $ | 150 | See Footnote 3 below. | |||||
Remaining Investment Base | $ | 49,850 | See Footnote 4 below. | |||||
Daily Value Percentage on Withdrawal Date | -6 | % | ||||||
Dollar Amount of Decrease on Withdrawal Date | -$ | 2,991 | See Footnote 5 below. | |||||
Strategy Value before Withdrawal | $ | 46,859 | See Footnote 6 below. | |||||
Amount of Withdrawal Requested | $ | 10,000 | ||||||
Free Withdrawal Allowance | $ | 5,000 | See Footnote 7 below. | |||||
Early Withdrawal Charge | $ | 495 | See Footnote 8 below. | |||||
Total Amount Withdrawn | $ | 10,495 | See Footnote 9 below. | |||||
Withdrawal as Percentage of Strategy Value | 22.4 | % | See Footnote 10 below. | |||||
Proportional Reduction in Investment Base | $ | 11,165 | See Footnote 10 below. | |||||
Investment Base after Withdrawal | $ | 38,685 | See Footnote 11 below. | |||||
Strategy Value after Withdrawal | $ | 36,364 | See Footnote 12 below. | |||||
Term End Date | April 6, 2022 | |||||||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $ | 174 | See Footnote 13 below. | |||||
Remaining Investment Base | $ | 38,511 | See Footnote 14 below. | |||||
Index | 1748 | |||||||
Fall in Index | -8 | % | See Footnote 15 below. | |||||
Decrease as a Percentage | -4 | % | See Footnote 16 below. | |||||
Dollar Amount of Decrease | -$ | 1,540 | See Footnote 16 below. | |||||
Strategy Value at Term End | $ | 36,971 | See Footnote 17 below. |
Footnote 1.
Footnote 2.
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Footnote 3.
Formula | Investment Base on the Term Start Date – (Investment Base on the Term Start Date x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ number of days elapsed prior to withdrawal) | |
Calculation | $50,000 - ($50,000 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 146) = $150 |
Footnote 4.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 - $150 - $0 = $49,850 |
Footnote 5.
Formula | Investment Base x Daily Value Percentage = dollar amount of decrease | |
Calculation | $49,850 x -6% = -$2,991 |
Footnote 6.
Formula | Investment Base – dollar amount of decrease = Strategy value | |
Calculation | $49,850 - $2,991 = $46,859 |
Footnote 7.
Formula | Purchase Payment x 10% = FWA for first Contract Year | |
Calculation | $50,000 x 10% = $5,000 |
Footnote 8.
Formula | [(Requested withdrawal - FWA) x EWC rate] / (1.00 - EWC rate) = Early Withdrawal Charge | |
Calculation | [($10,000 - $5,000) x 9%] / (1.00 - 0.09) = $5,000 x 9% / 0.91 = $450 / 0.91 = $495 |
Footnote 9.
Formula | Requested withdrawal + Early Withdrawal Charge = total amount withdrawn | |
Calculation | $10,000 + $495 = $10,495 |
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Footnote 10.
Formula | total amount withdrawn / Strategy value before withdrawal = withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value | |
Calculation | $10,495 / $46,859 = 22.4% | |
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal x withdrawal as percentage of Strategy value = proportional reduction in Investment Base | |
Calculation | $49,850 x 22.4% = $11,165 |
Footnote 11.
Formula | Investment Base before withdrawal - proportional reduction in Investment Base for withdrawal = Investment Base after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $49,850 - $11,165 = $38,685 |
Footnote 12
.
Formula | Strategy value before withdrawal - total amount withdrawn = Strategy value after withdrawal | |
Calculation | $46,859 - $10,495 = $36,364 |
Footnote 13.
Formula | Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal – (Investment Base after Previous Withdrawal x (1 – Daily Fee Rate) ^ Number of Days Elapsed Since Previous Withdrawal) = Daily Charges | |
Calculation | $38,685 - ($38,685 x (1 - 0.0000206251) ^ 219) = $174 |
Footnote 14.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 – ($150 + $174) - $10,495 = $38,511 |
Footnote 15.
Formula | (Index on Term end date - Index on Term start date) / Index on Term start date | |
Calculation | (1748 - 1900) / 1900 = -8% |
Footnote 16
.
Formula | Fall in Index x Downside Participation Rate = decrease as a percentage based on fall in Index | |
Calculation | -8% x 50% = -4% | |
Formula | Investment Base x decrease percentage based on fall in Index = dollar amount of decrease based on fall in Index | |
Calculation | $38,511 x -4% = -$1,540 |
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Footnote 17.
Formula | Investment Base on Term end date – dollar amount of decrease based on fall in Index = Strategy value on Term end date | |
Calculation | $38,511 - $1,540 = $36,971 |
Example E: Amount Available for a Withdrawal When Index Rises Less Than Daily Charge Rate
The following example is intended to help you understand the amount that may be available for withdrawal when the Index rises at a rate lower than the amount of the Daily Charge over a Term. In such a scenario, Strategy Values will be lower at the end of a Term than they were at the beginning of the Term, despite the fact that the Index rose over that period.
This example assumes:
• | you allocate a $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Cap Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1000; |
• | you allocate a $50,000 Purchase Payment to the S&P 500 with Participation Rate Strategy when the S&P 500 is 1000; |
• | the Contract Effective Date and the Term Start Date are both April 6, 2021; |
• | you do not take any withdrawals during the initial Term; and |
• | the S&P 500 is 1005 on the Term end date of April 6, 2022. |
S&P 500 with Cap | S&P 500 with Upside Participation Rate | |||||||||||
Term Start Date - April 6, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Strategy Value | $50,000 | $50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||||||||
Investment Base | $50,000 | $50,000 | See Footnote 1 below. | |||||||||
Cap for Term | 10% | n/a | See Footnote 2 below. | |||||||||
Upside Participation Rate for Term | n/a | 75% | See Footnote 3 below. | |||||||||
Index | 1000 | 1000 | ||||||||||
Term End Date - April 6, 2022 | ||||||||||||
Daily Charges From Withdrawal Date to Term End | $375 | $375 | See Footnote 4 below. | |||||||||
Remaining Investment Base | $49,625 | $49,625 | See Footnote 5 below. | |||||||||
Index at Term Start | 1000 | 1000 | ||||||||||
Index at Term End | 1005 | 1005 | ||||||||||
Rise in Index | 0.50% | 0.50% | See Footnote 6 below. | |||||||||
Increase as a Percentage | 0.50% | 0.50% x 75% = 0.375% | See Footnote 7 below. | |||||||||
Dollar Amount of Increase | $49,625 x .005 = $248 | $49,625 x .00375 = $186 | See Footnote 8 below. | |||||||||
Strategy Value at Term End | $49,625 + $248 = $49,873 | $49,625 + $186 = $49,811 | See Footnote 9 below. |
Footnote 1.
Footnote 2.
Footnote 3.
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Footnote 4.
Formula | Investment Base on Term Start Date x annual rate | |
Calculation | $50,000 x 0.75% = $375 |
Footnote 5.
Formula | Beginning Investment Base – sum of Daily Charges since Term Start Date) – proportional reduction for any prior Withdrawals and related Early Withdrawal Charges = remaining Investment Base | |
Calculation | $50,000 - $375 - $0 = $49,625 |
Footnote 6.
Formula | (Index Value on Term End Date - Index Value on Term Start Date) / Index Value on Term Start Date | |
Calculation | (1005 - 1000) / 1000 = 0.50% |
Footnote 7.
When the Index has risen over the Term, we use the following formulas to calculate the increase for a Strategy with a Cap.
Formula | If the rise in Index is less than Cap, then rise in Index = increase percentage based on rise in Index | |
Calculation | 0.50% rise in Index < 10% cap, so increase percentage = 0.50% |
When the Index has risen over the Term, we use the following formulas to calculate the increase for a Strategy with a Participation Rate.
Formula | Rise in Index for Term x Upside Participation Rate for Term = Increase as a Percentage | |
Calculation | 0.50% x 75% = 0.375% |
Footnote 8
When the Index has risen over the Term, we use the following formula to calculate the increase.
Formula | Investment Base x increase percentage based on rise in Index = dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index | |
Calculation |
Strategy with a Cap: | $49,625 x 0.50% = $248 | |
Strategy with a Participation Rate: | $49,625 x 0.375% = $186 |
Footnote 9.
Formula | Investment Base on Term end date + dollar amount of increase based on rise in Index = Strategy value on Term end date | |
Calculation |
Strategy with a Cap: | $49,625 + $248 = $49,873 | |
Strategy with a Participation Rate: | $49,625 + $186 = $49,811 |
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STATE VARIATIONS
This prospectus describes the material features of the Contract. Contracts issued in your state may provide different features and benefits from, and impose different costs than, those described in this prospectus because of state law variations. However, please note that the maximum charge is set forth in this prospectus. If you would like to review a copy of the Contract and any endorsements, contact us at P.O. Box 5423, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5423, visit our website at www.GAIGannuities.com or call us at
1-800-789-6771.
The following information is a summary of material state variations as of the date of this prospectus.
General
For Contracts Issued in Illinois
References to “spouse” have been changed to “spouse or civil union partner.”
For Contracts Issued in New Jersey
References to “spouse” have been changed to “spouse or civil union partner.”
Availability of Strategies
For Contracts Issued in Michigan
We will not eliminate the Indexed Strategies set out on your Contract Specifications page at the end of any Term and such Indexed Strategies will be available for renewals and reallocations at the end of each Term.
Extended Care Waiver Rider
For Contracts Issued in California
The Waiver of Early Withdrawal Charges for Facility Care or Home Care or Community-Based Services Rider (CA Rider) provides a waiver under an expanded set of circumstances. The waiver will apply if, at the time of the withdrawal or surrender, or within the immediately preceding 90 days, the following conditions are met: (1) the insured is confined in a facility or is receiving, as prescribed by a physician, registered nurse or licensed social worker, home care or community-based services; (2) the insured’s confinement in a facility, the insured’s receipt of home care or community-based services, or any combination thereof has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days; and (3) the first day of such
90-day
period was at least one year after the contract effective date. Facility includes a skilled nursing facility, a convalescent nursing home, or an extended care facility or a residential care facility or a residential care facility for the elderly. Home care or community-based services includes home health care, adult day care, personal care, homemaker services, hospice services and respite care as defined in the rider. Additional conforming changes have been made including revised and new definitions, and inclusion of a description of circumstances under which the waiver does not apply. The termination provision has been modified to reflect that the rider will not terminate if you transfer or assign an interest in the contract to a person or entity other than the insured.For Contracts Issued in Connecticut
The conditions under which the waiver applies have been modified. The waiver will apply if at the time of a withdrawal or surrender or within the immediately preceding 90 days all of the following conditions are met: (1) an insured is confined in a long-term care facility or hospital; and (2) the confinement has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days.
For Contracts Issued in Kansas
The conditions under which the waiver applies have been modified. The first day of confinement must be at least 90 days after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date.
For Contracts Issued in Massachusetts
This waiver rider is not available in Massachusetts.
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For Contracts Issued in Missouri
This waiver rider is not available in Missouri.
For Contracts Issued In Montana
The definition of medically necessary has been modified and refers to the Insured’s physician.
For Contracts Issued in Nebraska
The definition of skilled nursing facility has been modified by adding a licensed practical nurse to the list of persons who may provide nursing services or supervise the provision of nursing services.
For Contracts Issued in New Hampshire
The definition of skilled nursing facility has been modified by changing the phrase “licensed and operated as a skilled nursing facility” to “operated as a skilled nursing facility.”
For Contracts Issued in Pennsylvania
The conditions under which the waiver is available have been modified. The waiver will apply if at the time of a withdrawal or surrender or within the immediately preceding 90 days all of the following conditions are met: (1) an insured is confined in one or more long-term care facilities, hospital, or a combination of such; (2) the confinement is prescribed by a physician and is medically necessary; (3) the first day of the confinement is at least one year after the contract effective date; and (4) the confinement has continued for a period of at least 90 consecutive days, or has continued for a total of at least 90 days if each successive confinement occurs within six months of the previous confinement and is for the same related medical cause.
The definition of long-term care facility has been modified. The following facilities have been deleted from the list of facilities excluded from that definition: a facility that primarily treats drug addicts and a facility that is a home for the mentally ill. An exclusion provision has been added to clarify that the waiver will not apply if the insured is confined in a long-term care facility or hospital for the treatment of certain types of drug addiction or mental illnesses.
The definition of hospital has been modified by changing the phrase “it maintains, or has access to, medical, diagnostic, and major surgical facilities” to “it maintains, or has access to, medical and diagnostic facilities.”
For Contracts Issued in Vermont
The definition of long-term care facility has been modified. The following facilities have been deleted from the list of excluded facilities: a facility that primarily treats drug addicts, a facility that primarily treats alcoholics, and a facility that is a home for the mentally ill. In addition, the definition of physician has been modified by changing the phrase “a person who is licensed in the United States as a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy and who is practicing within the scope of his or her license” to “a person who is licensed in the United States who is providing medical care and treatment when such services are provided within the scope of his or her license and provided pursuant to applicable law.”
For Contracts Issued in Washington
The waiver is based on confinement to an extended care facility or hospital rather than a long-term care facility or hospital. Definitions are modified to reflect the new terminology, references to “skilled nursing facility” are changed to “nursing facility” and the related definition is modified. In the definition of nursing facility and hospital, a licensed practical nurse is added to the list of persons who may provide nursing services or supervise the provision of nursing services.
Terminal Illness Waiver Rider
For Contracts Issued in Illinois
As a result of the terminal illness, your life expectancy must be 24 months from the date of death, rather than 12 months.
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For Contracts Issued in Kansas
As a result of the terminal illness, your life expectancy must be 24 months from the date of death, rather than 12 months. The diagnosis must be rendered 90 days after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date.
For Contracts Issued in New Jersey
The requirement related to the timing of the diagnosis does not apply. But the waiver will not be available until at least one year after the contract effective date.
For Contracts Issued in Massachusetts
This waiver rider is not available in Massachusetts.
For Contracts Issued in Pennsylvania
The diagnosis must be rendered after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date. But the waiver will not be available until at least one year after the contract effective date. In addition, the waiver is based on a terminal condition as defined in the rider, rather than a terminal illness.
For Contracts Issued in Texas
The diagnosis must be rendered on or after the contract effective date, rather than one year after the contract effective date.
For Contracts Issued in Washington
As a result of the terminal illness, your life expectancy must be 24 months from the date of death, rather than 12 months.
Form of Annuity Payout Benefit
For Contracts Issued in Texas:
Payments under a Payout Option are subject to a $50 minimum.
Right to Cancel (Free Look)
State law governs the length of the free look period and the amount of the refund that you will receive. The period and amount may differ if you are replacing a life insurance policy or annuity contract. The table below summarizes the state law provisions.
For Contracts Issued in: | Free Look Period | Refund | Replacement Free Look Period | Replacement Refund | ||||
Alabama | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Alaska | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Arizona | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Arkansas | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value | ||||
California | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges Note refund amount is Purchase Payments. | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges Note refund amount is Purchase Payments. | ||||
Colorado | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Connecticut | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Delaware | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
District of Columbia | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value | ||||
Florida | 21 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Georgia | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Hawaii | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Idaho | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Illinois | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges |
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For Contracts Issued in: | Free Look Period | Refund | Replacement Free Look Period | Replacement Refund | ||||
Indiana | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Iowa | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Kansas | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Kentucky | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Louisiana | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Maine | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Maryland | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Massachusetts | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Michigan | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Minnesota | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Mississippi | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Missouri | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Montana | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Nebraska | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Nevada | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
New Hampshire | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
New Jersey | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
New Mexico | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
North Carolina | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
North Dakota | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Ohio | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Oklahoma | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Oregon | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Pennsylvania | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value | ||||
Rhode Island | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
South Carolina | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
South Dakota | 20 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Tennessee | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Texas | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Utah | 20 days | Purchase Payments | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
Vermont | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Virginia | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Washington | 20 days | Greater of: (1) Purchase Payments or (2) Account Value minus taxes | 30 days | Purchase Payments | ||||
West Virginia | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Wisconsin | 30 days | Account Value | 30 days | Account Value + Fees/Charges | ||||
Wyoming | 20 days | Account Value | 30 days | Greater of: (1) Purchase Payments or (2) Account Value + Fees/Charges |
Assignment
For Contracts Issued in Ohio:
Subject to the tax qualifications endorsement, if any, you may assign your rights to designate or change a Beneficiary or an Annuitant, to change Owners, or to elect a Payout Option if you make a specific Request in Good Order.
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Amendment of the Contract
For Contracts Issued in Florida:
You have the right to reject an endorsement that changes the provisions of this Contract to obtain or retain the intended tax treatment under federal tax law, or to take into account other pertinent laws and governmental regulations and rulings. We will not be responsible for the tax or other consequences of your rejection.
For Contracts Issued in Texas:
You have the right to reject an endorsement that changes the provisions of this Contract to obtain or retain the intended tax treatment under federal tax law, or to take into account other pertinent laws and governmental regulations and rulings. We will not be responsible for the tax or other consequences of your rejection.
Involuntary Termination
For Contracts Issued in Texas:
Our right to terminate this Contract is not tied to the minimum required value. We have the right to terminate this Contract if the Account Value would provide a benefit of less than $20 each month at age 70 under a life payout with payments for at least a fixed period of 10 years.
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SECTION II
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INFORMATION
Overview
Great American Life is a stock insurance company incorporated in 1961. We are domiciled in the state of Ohio and have been continuously engaged in the insurance business since that time. We are licensed to conduct life insurance business in all states of the United States except New York, as well as the District of Columbia. Our principal executive offices are located at 301 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”), a mutual life insurance company. MassMutual and its domestic life insurance subsidiaries provide individual and group life insurance, disability insurance, individual and group annuities and guaranteed interest contracts to individual and institutional customers in all 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Below is a chart that shows the relationships among MassMutual, Great American Life, and other MassMutual subsidiaries that are mentioned in this Section II of this prospectus. Each subsidiary in the chart is wholly-owned by its immediate parent.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”)
• | Glidepath Holdings Inc. (“Glidepath”) is a subsidiary of MassMutual. It is a financial services holding company. |
• | Great American Life Insurance Company |
• | Great American Advisors, Inc. (“GAA”) is a subsidiary of GALIC. It is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Index Summit Pro annuities. |
• | MM Asset Management Holding LLC is a subsidiary of MassMutual. It is a financial services holding company. |
• | Barings LLC (“Barings”) is a subsidiary of MM Asset Management Holding LLC. It provides investment services for MassMutual and certain of its affiliated companies, including GALIC. |
On May 28, 2021, American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”) sold its annuity business consisting of GALIC and its two insurance subsidiaries, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company and Manhattan National Life Insurance Company, as well as a broker-dealer affiliate, GAA, and insurance distributor, AAG Insurance Agency, Inc. to MassMutual.
No company other than GALIC has any legal responsibility to pay amounts owed under the Contract. You should look to the financial strength of GALIC for its claims-paying ability.
Directors and Executive Officers of Great American Life
Below is a list of the names and ages of the individuals who will serve as directors and executive officers of GALIC, and a description of the business experience of each of the respective individuals.
Name | Year of Birth | Position(s) with Great American Life | Served in Position(s) Since | |||||
Adrienne Baglier | 1963 | Executive Vice President – Operations | February 2019 | |||||
Dominic L. Blue | 1976 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Susan M. Cicco | 1971 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Geoffrey J. Craddock | 1959 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Roger W. Crandall | 1964 | Director, Chairman of the Board | 2021 | |||||
Michael R. Fanning | 1963 | Director, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | 2021 | |||||
Paul A. LaPiana | 1969 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Christopher P. Miliano | 1958 | Head of GALIC Finance Treasurer | December 2021 May 2002 | |||||
Mark F. Muething | 1959 | Director President & Assistant Secretary | October 1993 April 2018 April 2012 |
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Name | Year of Birth | Position(s) with Great American Life | Served in Position(s) Since | |||||
Michael J. O’Connor | 1969 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Eric W. Partlan | 1973 | Director, Chief Investment Officer | 2021 | |||||
Gareth F. Ross | 1975 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Arthur W. Wallace | 1974 | Director | 2021 | |||||
Elizabeth A. Ward | 1964 | Director | 2021 |
Adrienne Baglier
Ms. Baglier has served as GALIC’s Executive Vice President – Operations since February 2019. Ms. Baglier has served in various positions with GALIC since December 1997.
Dominic L. Blue
Mr. Blue has served as the Head of MassMutual Strategic Distributors since October 2020. Mr. Blue has served in various positions with MassMutual since August 2011.
Susan M. Cicco
Ms. Cicco has served as the Head of Human Resources & Employee Experience since January 2017 and also has served since July 2020 as the Chief of Staff to the CEO. Ms. Cicco has served in various positions with MassMutual since 1993.
Geoffrey J. Craddock
Mr. Craddock has served as the Chief Risk Officer of MassMutual since October 2017. Previously, Mr. Craddock served as the leader of risk management and asset allocation at MassMutual’s former subsidiary, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., from 2008 through September 2017.
Roger W. Crandall
Mr. Crandall has served as Chairman of the Board of GALIC since May 28, 2021. Mr. Crandall has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of MassMutual since December 2010. Mr. Crandall has served in various positions with MassMutual since 1988.
Michael R. Fanning
Mr. Fanning has served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of GALIC since May 28, 2021. Mr. Fanning has served as Head of MassMutual U.S. (formerly USIG) since January 2009. He is responsible for MassMutual’s insurance products and services. Mr. Fanning joined MassMutual in November 2006 and previously served as Chief Operating Officer of USIG.
Paul A. LaPiana
Mr. LaPiana has served as Head of MMUS Product since February of 2019. Mr. LaPiana joined MassMutual in July of 2016 and served as the Head of Field Management until he assumed his current role.
Christopher P. Miliano
Mr. Miliano has served as Head of GALIC Finance since December 2021. Mr. Miliano has served as Treasurer since May 2010.
Mark F. Muething
Mr. Muething has served as President of GALIC since April 2018. Mr. Muething served in various positions with GALIC since October 1993.
Michael J. O’Connor
Mr. O’Connor has served as the General Counsel of MassMutual since February 2017. Mr. O’Connor has served in various positions with MassMutual since he joined the company in 2005, including as the Chief of Staff to the CEO.
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Eric W. Partlan
Mr. Partlan has served as GALIC’s Chief Investment Officer since May 28, 2021. Mr. Partlan has served as the Head of Portfolio Management at MassMutual since January 2013. He joined MassMutual in January of 2010 as the Head of Investment Risk and served in that office until he assumed his current role.
Gareth F. Ross
Mr. Ross has served as the Head of Enterprise Technology & Experience since April 2016. Mr. Ross has served in various positions with MassMutual since 2008.
Arthur W. Wallace
Mr. Wallace has served as MassMutual’s Chief Actuary since he joined MassMutual in October of 2019. Previously, Mr. Wallace was Chief Actuary at Prudential Financial from November 2014 until joining MassMutual.
Elizabeth A. Ward
Ms. Ward has served as the Chief Financial Officer of MassMutual since June 2016. Ms. Ward has served in various positions since joining MassMutual in 2007, including as Chief Actuary and as Chief Enterprise Risk Officer.
Executive Compensation
GALIC does not have any employees. Its parent, Glidepath, provides personnel to GALIC pursuant to a Services Agreement between GALIC and Glidepath.
As a result, GALIC does not determine or pay any compensation to its executive officers or additional personnel provided by Glidepath. Glidepath determines and pays salaries, bonuses and other compensation to its executive officers and additional personnel provided by Glidepath commensurate with their positions, tenure and levels of responsibility. Glidepath also determines whether and to what extent it will provide employee benefits plans to such persons.
See “Transactions with Related Persons” for more information about the Services Agreement.
Director Compensation
Mark Muething is the only director who is an employee of Glidepath. No director receives any additional compensation for serving as a director.
Director Independence
No director is considered independent under independence standards applicable to GALIC. GALIC does not have a separately designated audit, nominating or compensation committee, but MassMutual’s audit committee performs a similar function for GALIC.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
GALIC does not have a compensation committee.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
MassMutual indirectly owns 100% of the voting securities of GALIC. MassMutual’s principal executive offices are located at 1295 State Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01111-0001.
Transactions with Related Persons
Transactions between GALIC and Glidepath
Pursuant to a Leased Employee Agreement between GALIC and Glidepath, Glidepath furnishes GALIC with personnel as requested by GALIC. GALIC pays for these services on the basis of cost, which must be fair and reasonable. Payments for these services by GALIC to Glidepath were approximately $80 million in 2021.
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Transactions between GALIC and MassMutual or Other MassMutual Subsidiaries
GALIC and Barings are parties to an Investment Services Agreement under which Barings provides investment services to GALIC in accordance with guidelines. GALIC pays Barings a fee based on Barings’s cost of providing these services.
Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement between GALIC and MassMutual, MassMutual furnishes GALIC with office, data processing, telecommunications, and administrative and support services, including enterprise risk management services, corporate finance services, actuarial services, legal services, internal audit services, corporate compliance services and procurement services, as agreed upon by the parties. Payments for these services by GALIC to MassMutual were approximately $3.3 million in 2021.
GALIC is a member of MassMutual’s consolidated tax group. GALIC has a tax allocation agreement with MassMutual which designates how tax payments are shared by members of the tax group. In general, both companies compute taxes on a separate return basis. GALIC is obligated to make payments to (or receive benefits from) MassMutual based on taxable income without regard to temporary differences.
Transactions Involving Immediate Family Members of GALIC’s Directors and Executive Officers
A brother of GALIC’s President is a partner and Chairman of the Board of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL. MassMutual and its subsidiaries paid Keating Muething & Klekamp approximately $1.2 million in 2020, $1.2 million in 2019, and $1.1 million in 2018 for legal services.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
GALIC’s senior management approves all related party transactions involving directors and executive officers of GALIC, including relevant transactions described in “Transactions Involving Immediate Family Members of GALIC’s Directors and Executive Officers” above. In considering the transaction, GALIC’s senior management may consider all relevant factors, including as applicable: the business rationale for entering into the transaction; the alternatives to entering into a related person transaction; whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those available to third parties, or in the case of employment relationships, to employees generally; the potential for the transaction to lead to an actual or apparent conflict of interest and any safeguards imposed to prevent such actual or apparent conflicts; and the overall fairness of the transaction to GALIC. Potential related party transactions are covered by GALIC’s Code of Conduct policy. Approval of such related person transactions would be evidenced by resolutions of the MassMutual Audit committee in accordance with its practice of reviewing and approving transactions in this manner.
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Information on GALIC’s Business and Property
NOTE: In this section of this prospectus, GALIC means Great American Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.
ANNUITY SEGMENT
General
On May 28, 2021 American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”) sold its annuity subsidiaries to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”).
GALIC’s annuity business is focused on the sale of fixed and indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions, broker-dealer and registered investment advisor markets through independent producers and through direct relationships with certain financial institutions. The Company has a long history in the annuities industry, long-term agent relationships and a reputation for simple, consumer-friendly products. Disciplined product management and operations have enabled GALIC to maintain a consistent crediting rate strategy and
low-cost
structure. GALIC’s annuity products are designed to be simple and easy to understand. Lower upfront commissions and bonuses as compared to many competitors allow the Company to pay higher annual crediting rates. In the current low interest rate environment, management is focused on earning the appropriate returns on GALIC’s products rather than growing premiums. The annuity operations had approximately 600 employees at December 31, 2020.GALIC’s annuity operations are conducted primarily through the companies listed in the following table, which includes 2020 statutory annuity premiums (in millions), annuity policies in force and independent ratings.
Annuity | ||||||||||||
Annuity | Policies | Ratings | ||||||||||
Company | Premiums | In Force | AM Best | S&P | ||||||||
Great American Life Insurance Company | $ | 3,474 | 371,000 | A+ | A+ | |||||||
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company | 121 | 102,000 | A+ | A+ |
GALIC believes that the ratings assigned by independent insurance rating agencies are an important competitive factor because agents, potential policyholders and financial institutions often use a company’s rating as an initial screening device in considering annuity products. GALIC believes that a rating in the “A” category by at least one rating agency is necessary to successfully compete in its primary annuity markets. In the fourth quarter of 2020, AM Best upgraded the ratings of GALIC and AILIC from A (Excellent) to A+ (Superior), its second highest rating.
In February 2020, GALIC entered into a flow reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company (“Commonwealth”), a subsidiary of Global Atlantic Financial Group, Limited. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC cedes certain newly issued traditional fixed and indexed annuities on a quota share coinsurance basis with such quota share percentages being up to 50%. That agreement was effective for policies issued after May 6, 2020. Under accounting guidance, the reinsurance transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method.
In October 2020, GALIC entered into a block reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded approximately $5.96 billion of in force traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred related investments to Commonwealth. GALIC realized pretax gains of $369 million (net of deferred policy acquisition costs) from the transfer of securities in this transaction. The reinsurance transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method and the $180 million loss on the transaction will be deferred and recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts
(7-10
years). Under both the flow and block reinsurance agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of amounts owed to GALIC.81
Due to the deposit-type nature of annuities, annuity premiums received and benefit payments are recorded as increases or decreases in the annuity benefits accumulated liability rather than as revenue and expense under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Statutory premiums of GALIC’s annuity operations for the last three years were as follows (in millions):
Statutory Premiums | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — indexed | $ | 1,372 | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,776 | ||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — fixed | 896 | 1,229 | 492 | |||||||||
Retail single premium annuities — indexed | 591 | 943 | 1,418 | |||||||||
Retail single premium annuities ��� fixed | 99 | 120 | 87 | |||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — indexed | 457 | 657 | 1,271 | |||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — fixed | 27 | 32 | 14 | |||||||||
Pension risk transfer | 499 | 257 | 132 | |||||||||
Education market — fixed and indexed annuities | 129 | 164 | 192 | |||||||||
Total fixed annuity premiums | 4,070 | 4,939 | 5,382 | |||||||||
Variable annuities | 17 | 21 | 25 | |||||||||
Total gross annuity premiums | 4,087 | 4,960 | 5,407 | |||||||||
Ceded premiums | (492 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Total net annuity premiums | $ | 3,595 | $ | 4,960 | $ | 5,407 | ||||||
Annuities are long-term retirement saving instruments that benefit from income accruing on a
tax-deferred
basis. The issuer of the annuity collects premiums, credits interest or earnings on the policy and pays out a benefit upon death, surrender or annuitization. Single premium annuities are generally issued in exchange for aone-time,
lump-sum
premium payment. Certain annuities, primarily in the education market, have premium payments that are flexible in both amount and timing as determined by the policyholder and are generally made through payroll deductions.Annuity contracts are generally classified as either fixed rate (including indexed) or variable. With a traditional fixed rate annuity, GALIC seeks to maintain a desired spread between the yield on its investment portfolio and the rate it credits to policyholders. GALIC accomplishes this by: (i) offering crediting rates that it has the option to change after any initial guarantee period (subject to minimum interest rate and other contractual guarantees); (ii) designing annuity products that encourage persistency; and (iii) maintaining an appropriate matching of the duration of assets and liabilities.
An indexed annuity provides policyholders with the opportunity to receive a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market or other financial index (generally the S&P 500) or other external rate, price, or unit value (an “index”). A fixed-indexed annuity (“FIA”) protects against the related downside risk through a guarantee of principal (excluding surrender charges, market value adjustments, and certain benefit charges). In 2018, GALIC began offering registered index-linked annuities, which are similar to fixed-indexed annuities except that the product offers greater upside participation in the selected index as compared to a fixed-indexed annuity and replaces the guarantee of principal in a fixed-indexed annuity with a guaranteed maximum loss. GALIC purchases and sells call and put options designed to substantially offset the effect of the index participation in the liabilities associated with indexed annuities.
As an accommodation in its education market, GALIC offers a limited amount of variable annuities. With a variable annuity, the earnings credited to the policy vary based on the investment results of the underlying investment options chosen by the policyholder, generally without any guarantee of principal except in the case of death of the insured. Premiums directed to the underlying investment options maintained in separate accounts are invested in funds managed by various independent investment managers. GALIC earns a fee on amounts deposited into separate accounts. Subject to contractual provisions, policyholders may also choose to direct all or a portion of their premiums to various fixed-rate options, in which case GALIC earns a spread on amounts deposited.
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The following table shows the earnings before income taxes for the annuity segment both before and after the impact of unlocking, changes in the fair value of derivatives and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on annuity segment results (in millions):
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Annuity earnings before income taxes — before the impact of unlocking, derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of stock market performance and interest rates on FIAs | $ | 358 | $ | 410 | $ | 411 | ||||||
Reinsurance | (47 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Unlocking | (46 | ) | (1 | ) | (31 | ) | ||||||
Impact of derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on FIAs over or under option costs (a): | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to FIAs | (279 | ) | (294 | ) | (51 | ) | ||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | (404 | ) | (408 | ) | (347 | ) | ||||||
Other annuity benefits | (60 | ) | (14 | ) | (83 | ) | ||||||
Less cost of equity options | 562 | 586 | 506 | |||||||||
Related impact on the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (b) | 86 | 84 | (42 | ) | ||||||||
Annuity segment earnings before income taxes | $ | 170 | $ | 363 | $ | 363 | ||||||
(a) | FIAs provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market or other financial index. GALIC attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase and sale of call and put options on the appropriate index. GALIC’s strategy is designed so that the net change in the fair value of the call option assets and put option liabilities will generally offset the economic change in the net liability from the index participation. Both the index-based component of the annuities (an embedded derivative with a fair value of $3.93 billion at December 31, 2020) and the related call and put options (net fair value of $820 million at December 31, 2020) are considered derivatives that must be adjusted for changes in fair value through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. Fluctuations in certain of these factors, such as changes in interest rates and the performance of the stock market, are not economic in nature for the current reporting period, but rather impact the timing of reported results. |
(b) | An estimate of the related acceleration/deceleration of the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements. |
Marketing
GALIC sells its single premium annuities, excluding financial institution production (discussed below), primarily through a retail network of approximately 50 national marketing organizations (“NMOs”) and managing general agents (“MGAs”) who, in turn, direct approximately 500 actively producing agents.
GALIC also sells single premium annuities in financial institutions through direct relationships with certain financial institutions and through independent agents and brokers. The table below highlights the percentage of GALIC’s total annuity premiums generated through its top five financial institution relationships (ranked based on 2020 statutory premiums):
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Wells Fargo & Company | 11.9 | % | 12.0 | % | 7.4 | % | ||||||
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 9.0 | % | 8.8 | % | 6.6 | % | ||||||
Regions Financial Corporation | 7.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 4.8 | % | ||||||
LPL Financial | 4.4 | % | 4.4 | % | 4.8 | % | ||||||
BB&T Corporation | 3.5 | % | 5.1 | % | 3.7 | % |
Competition
GALIC’s annuity businesses operate in highly competitive markets. They compete with other insurers and financial institutions based on many factors, including: (i) ratings; (ii) financial strength; (iii) reputation; (iv) service to policyholders and agents; (v) product design (including interest rates credited, bonus features and index participation); and (vi) commissions. Since most policies are marketed and distributed through independent agents, the insurance companies must also compete for agents.
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No single insurer dominates the markets in which GALIC’s annuity businesses compete. SeeGALIC’s competitors include (i) individual insurers and insurance groups, (ii) mutual funds and (iii) other financial institutions. In a broader sense, GALIC’s annuity businesses compete for retirement savings with a variety of financial institutions offering a full range of financial services. In the financial institution annuity market, GALIC’s annuities compete directly against competitors’ annuities, certificates of deposit and other investment alternatives at the point of sale. In addition, over the last few years, several offshore and/or hedge fund companies have made significant acquisitions of annuity businesses, resulting in annuity groups that are larger in size than GALIC’s annuity business.
Risks Primarily Related to GALIC’s Financial Strength and Claims-Paying Ability.
Sales of annuities, including renewal premiums, are affected by many factors, including: (i) competitive annuity products and rates; (ii) the general level and volatility of interest rates, including the slope of the yield curve; (iii) the favorable tax treatment of annuities; (iv) commissions paid to agents; (v) services offered; (vi) ratings from independent insurance rating agencies; (vii) other alternative investments; (viii) performance and volatility of the equity markets; (ix) media coverage of annuities; (x) regulatory developments regarding suitability and the sales process; and (xi) general economic conditions.
Run-off
Life SegmentAlthough GALIC no longer actively markets new life insurance products, it continues to service and receive renewal premiums on its
in-force
block of approximately 80,000 policies and $8.33 billion gross ($2.91 billion net of reinsurance) of life insurance in force at December 31, 2020. Renewal premiums, net of reinsurance, were $20 million in 2020, $22 million in 2019 and $21 million in 2018. At December 31, 2020, GALIC’s life insurance reserves were $282 million, net of reinsurance recoverables.Investment Portfolio
General
GALIC’s team of investment professionals have followed a consistent strategy over many years and changing economic conditions. Management believes that investment expertise has been the driver of consistently strong investment results and effective portfolio risk management over many years.
For additional information of GALIC’s investments, see“to the financial statements and“”
Note
E
—
Investments”
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
—
Investments.
GALIC’s bond portfolio is invested primarily in taxable bonds. The following table shows GALIC’s available for sale fixed maturity investments by Standard & Poor’s Corporation or comparable rating as of December 31, 2020 (dollars in millions).
Amortized | Fair Value | |||||||||||
Cost | Amount | % | ||||||||||
S&P or comparable rating | ||||||||||||
AAA, AA, A | $ | 17,102 | $ | 18,298 | 54 | % | ||||||
BBB | 10,850 | 12,018 | 35 | % | ||||||||
Total investment grade | 27,952 | 30,316 | 89 | % | ||||||||
BB | 756 | 772 | 2 | % | ||||||||
B | 202 | 200 | 1 | % | ||||||||
CCC, CC, C | 314 | 358 | 1 | % | ||||||||
D | 109 | 128 | — | % | ||||||||
Total non-investment grade | 1,381 | 1,458 | 4 | % | ||||||||
Not rated | 2,237 | 2,349 | 7 | % | ||||||||
Total | $ | 31,570 | $ | 34,123 | 100 | % | ||||||
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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has retained third-party investment management firms to assist in the determination of appropriate NAIC designations for mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) based not only on the probability of loss (which is the primary basis of ratings by the major ratings firms), but also on the severity of loss and statutory carrying value. Approximately 8% of GALIC’s fixed maturity investments are MBS. At December 31, 2020, 97% (based on statutory carrying value of $31.56 billion) of GALIC’s fixed maturity investments had an NAIC designation of 1 or 2 (the highest of the six designations).
Regulation
GALIC is subject to regulation in the jurisdictions where GALIC does business. In general, the insurance laws of the various states establish regulatory agencies with broad administrative powers governing, among other things, premium rates, solvency standards, licensing of insurers, agents and brokers, trade practices, forms of policies, maintenance of specified reserves and capital for the protection of policyholders, deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders, investment activities and relationships between insurance subsidiaries and their parents and affiliates. Material transactions between insurance subsidiaries and their parents and affiliates generally must receive prior approval of the applicable insurance regulatory authorities and be disclosed. In addition, while differing from state to state, these regulations typically restrict the maximum amount of dividends that may be paid by an insurer to its shareholders in any twelve-month period without advance regulatory approval. Such limitations are generally based on net earnings or statutory surplus. Under applicable restrictions, the maximum amount of dividends payable in 2021 by GALIC to its parent without seeking regulatory approval is $290 million. The maximum amount of dividends receivable from GALIC’s insurance subsidiaries in 2021 without seeking regulatory approval is $34 million.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), among other things, established a Federal Insurance Office (“FIO”) within the U.S. Treasury. Under this law, regulations will need to be created for the FIO to carry out its mandate to focus on systemic risk oversight. Since its formation, the FIO has worked with the NAIC and other stakeholders to explore a hybrid approach to regulation of the insurance industry; however, the state-based system of regulation has largely been retained. GALIC cannot predict the future role of the FIO and its role in regulation of the insurance industry and how that might ultimately affect GALIC’s operations.
Most states have created insurance guaranty associations that assess solvent insurers to pay claims of insurance companies that become insolvent. Annual guaranty assessments for GALIC has not been material.
Properties
GALIC leases the majority of its office and storage facilities from American Financial Group (“AFG”).
Risks Primarily Related to GALIC’s Financial Strength and Claims-Paying Ability
We make annuity payout benefits payments and pay death benefits for this Contract from our general account. We also pay benefits for other insurance contracts from our general account, and our general account is subject to claims by our creditors. Our ability to make payments from our general account is subject to our financial strength. Set out below are the most significant factors that may negatively impact our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
Financial losses could adversely affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
Owners of GALIC’s insurance products do not share in the profits and losses generated by our business. However, if we were to experience significant losses, we might not have sufficient assets in our general account to satisfy all of the guarantees provided in our insurance contracts. Events that may result in financial losses are listed below. We cannot predict the impact that any of these events may ultimately have on our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
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Adverse developments in financial markets and deterioration in global economic conditions
.Worldwide financial markets have, from time to time, experienced significant and unpredictable disruption. For example, a prolonged economic downturn may result in heightened credit risk, reduction in the valuation of certain investments and decreased economic activity. Our financial position is materially impacted by the global economy and capital markets. During an economic downturn, we could experience a drop in the demand for our insurance products. In addition, surrenders and withdrawals from GALIC’s insurance products might also increase during an economic downturn, and owners of GALIC’s insurance products might opt to discontinue or delay paying insurance premiums or additional purchase payments.
Unfavorable interest rate environments
.During periods of declining interest rates, we may experience losses as the spread tightens between crediting rates that we pay to owners of our insurance contracts and returns on our investments. During periods of increasing rates, we may experience financial losses due to increases in surrenders and withdrawals under our insurance contracts as owners of those contracts choose to seek higher returns.
Losses on our investment portfolio
.A significant majority of GALIC’s investment portfolio consists of fixed maturity investments, which are subject to both interest rate risk and credit risk. Interest rate risk refers to how the values of our fixed maturity investments fluctuate in response to changes in market interest rates. Increases in market interest rates generally result in decreases in the value of our fixed maturity investment portfolio. On the other hand, decreases in rates generally result in increases in the portfolio value. Credit risk refers to the risk that certain investments may default or become impaired due to deterioration in the financial condition of the issuers of those investments.
A portion of GALIC’s investment portfolio consists of equity investments that are generally valued based on quoted market prices and subject to market risk. Market risk refers to how market prices for equity investments are subject to fluctuation due to general market conditions or changes in the actual or perceived attractiveness of an investment. A decrease in the market price for an equity investment could result in losses upon the sale of that investment.
GALIC’s investment portfolio also includes investments that lack liquidity, such as privately placed fixed maturity investments, mortgage loans, collateralized debt obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, real estate and limited partnership interests. If we were required to sell illiquid investments on short notice, we might have difficulty doing so and may be forced to sell them for less than fair value.
Loss of market share due to intense competition
.There is strong competition among individual insurers and insurance groups, mutual funds and other financial institutions seeking clients for the products we provide. Competition is based on numerous factors including the ability to recruit and retain distribution, reputation, product design, crediting rates, insurance product performance, scope of distribution, perceived financial strength and credit ratings. If competition limits GALIC’s ability to write new or renewal business at adequate rates, its results of operations will be adversely affected.
Ineffectiveness of risk management policies
.Our risk management policies and procedures, which are intended to identify, monitor and manage economic risks, may not be fully effective at mitigating risk exposures in all market conditions or against all types of risk. For instance, we use derivatives to alleviate risks related to floating-rate investments as well as annuity products that credit interest or provide a return based, in part, on the change in a referenced index. Our use of derivatives may not accurately counterbalance the actual risk exposure, and any derivatives held may not be sufficient to completely hedge the associated risks. In addition, counterparties may fail to perform under the derivative financial instruments. We may also decide not to hedge, or fail to identify, certain risks to which we are exposed. Ultimately, our use of derivatives and other risk management strategies may be inadequate to protect against the full extent of the exposure or losses we seek to mitigate.
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Changes in applicable law and regulations may affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision by government agencies in all the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our operations, products and services are subject to a variety of state and federal laws. We are regulated by various regulatory authorities and self-regulatory authorities including state insurance departments, state securities administrators, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor.
Changes to state and federal laws and regulations may materially impact the way we conduct business. Moreover, the pace of changes to the regulatory environment continues to increase. Federal and state governments, including federal and state regulatory authorities, are active in the regulation of the manufacture, sale and administration of annuity products. We cannot predict the potential effects that any new laws or regulations, changes in existing laws and regulations, or the interpretation or enforcement of laws and regulations may have on our business, but such changes may negatively impact our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
The inability to obtain or collect on reinsurance could adversely affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
We use reinsurance for various business segments as part of our risk management strategy. While reinsurance agreements typically bind the reinsurer for the life of the business reinsured at specific pricing, market conditions may determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance for new business. Our risk of loss increases if we are unable to purchase reinsurance at acceptable terms. We are also subject to credit risk related to the ability of a reinsurer to meet its obligations. If we are unable to purchase reinsurance at acceptable terms or if the financial condition of our reinsurers is impaired, it may impact our ability to meet our financial obligations.
A downgrade or potential downgrade in GALIC’s financial strength ratings by one or more rating agencies could adversely affect its financial strength and claims-paying ability.
GALIC’s claims-paying and financial strength is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, A+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa3 by Moody’s. We believe a rating in the “A” category by at least one rating agency is important for us to successfully compete in our primary annuity markets. We also believe the ratings assigned by these independent insurance rating agencies are an important competitive factor because agents, potential contract owners and financial institutions often use a company’s rating as an initial screening device in considering annuity products. A downgrade in GALIC’s claims-paying and financial strength ratings could adversely impact GALIC’s financial strength and claims-paying ability by causing financial losses to our business. Such losses may be due to:
• | Reduction in new sales of annuity products; |
• | Harm to our relationships with distributors of our annuity products; |
• | Increases to the cost of capital or limitation on our access to sources of capital; |
• | Harm to our ability to obtain reinsurance or reasonable terms for reinsurance; |
• | Significant increases in the number and amount of surrenders of, or withdrawals from, our annuity products; and |
• | Pressure to increase the crediting rates for our annuity products. |
Variations from actual experience and management’s estimates and assumptions could result in inadequate reserves.
We establish and maintain reserves to pay future benefits and claims of our policyholders and contract holders. The reserves we established are estimates, primarily based on actuarial assumptions with regard to our future experience, which involve the exercise of significant judgment. Our future financial results depend on the extent to which our actual future experience is consistent with the assumptions we have used in pricing our products and determining our reserves. Many factors can affect future experience, including investment yields (and spreads over fixed annuity crediting rates), benefit utilization rates, equity market performance, the cost of call and put options used in the indexed annuity business, persistency, mortality, surrenders, annuity benefit payments, withdrawals, expenses incurred and changes in regulations. Developing such assumptions is complex and involves information obtained from company-specific and industry-wide data, as well as general economic information. We cannot precisely predict the ultimate amounts we will pay for actual benefits or the timing of those payments. We use actuarial models to assist us in establishing reserves. If actual results differ significantly from our estimates and assumptions, our claim costs could increase significantly and our reserves could be inadequate. If so, we will be required to increase reserves or accelerate amortization of deferred acquisition costs. We cannot be certain that our reserves will ultimately be sufficient to pay future benefit and claims of policyholders and contract holders.
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The amount of capital that we must hold to meet our statutory capital requirements can vary significantly from time to time.
Statutory capital requirements are set by applicable state insurance regulators and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. State insurance regulators have established regulations that govern reserving requirements and provide minimum capitalization requirements based on risk-based capital (“RBC”) ratios for life insurance companies. Statutory surplus and RBC ratios may change in a given year based on a number of factors, including statutory income or losses, reserve changes, excess capital held to support growth, changes in equity market levels, interest rate changes, the value of certain fixed-income and equity securities, and changes to the RBC formulas. Additionally, state insurance regulators have significant leeway in interpreting existing regulations, which could further impact the amount of statutory capital or reserves that we must maintain. There is no guarantee that we will be able to maintain our current RBC ratio in the future or that our RBC ratio will not fall to a level that could have a material adverse effect on our business. If we are unable to maintain minimum capitalization requirements, our business may be subject to significant increases in supervision or control by state insurance regulators.
Legal actions and regulatory proceedings may adversely affect our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
We have been named as defendant in lawsuits. We have also been involved in regulatory investigations and examinations. We may be involved in lawsuits and regulatory actions in the future. Lawsuits and regulatory actions arise in various contexts, including GALIC’s roles as an insurer, investor, securities issuer and taxpaying entity. These actions may result in material amounts of damages or fines that we must pay and may involve certain regulatory authorities that have substantial power over our business operations. A negative outcome in any legal action or regulatory proceeding that results in significant financial losses or operational burdens may adversely impact GALIC’s financial position and claims-paying ability.
We may experience difficulties with technology or data security, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
We use computer systems and services to store, retrieve, evaluate and utilize company and customer data and information. Systems failures or outages could compromise our ability to perform business functions in a timely manner, which could harm our ability to conduct business and hurt our relationships with business partners and customers. In the event of a disaster such as a natural catastrophe, an industrial accident, a blackout, a malicious software attack, a terrorist attack or war, our systems may be inaccessible to employees, customers or business partners for an extended period of time. Even if our employees are able to report to work, they may be unable to perform their duties for an extended period of time if our data or systems are disabled or destroyed.
Our computer systems are subject to cyber-attacks, viruses, malware, hackers and other external hazards, as well as inadvertent errors, equipment and system failures and to unauthorized or illegitimate actions by employees, consultants, agents and other persons with legitimate access to our systems. In addition, over time, the sophistication of these threats continues to increase. Our administrative and technical controls as well as other preventative actions used to reduce the risk of cyber incidents and protect our information may be insufficient to detect or prevent future unauthorized access, other physical and electronic
break-ins,
cyber-attacks or other security breaches to our computer systems or those of third parties with whom we transact business.We have increasingly outsourced certain technology and business process functions to third parties and may continue to do so in the future. Outsourcing of certain technology and business process functions to third parties may expose us to increased risk related to data security or service disruptions. If we do not effectively develop, implement and monitor these relationships, third-party providers do not perform as anticipated, technological or other problems are incurred with a transition, or outsourcing relationships relevant to our business process functions are terminated, we may not realize expected productivity improvements or cost efficiencies and may experience operational difficulties, increased costs and a loss of business.
The increased risks identified above could expose us to data loss, disruption of service, monetary and reputational damages, competitive disadvantage and significant increases in compliance costs, and costs to improve the security and resiliency of our computer systems. The compromise of personal, confidential or proprietary information could also subject us to legal liability or regulatory action under evolving cyber-security, data protection and privacy laws and regulations enacted by the U.S. federal and state governments, or by various regulatory organizations. As a result, our ability to conduct business and our results of operations might be materially and adversely affected.
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Any failure to protect the confidentiality of customer information could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We are subject to privacy regulations and confidentiality obligations, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and state privacy laws and regulations, that restrict the use and dissemination of, and access to, the information we produce, store or maintain in the course of our business. We also have contractual obligations to protect certain confidential information received through various business relationships. The obligations generally include protecting such information in the same manner and to the same extent as we protect our own confidential information, and, in some instances, may impose indemnity obligations on us relating to unlawful or unauthorized disclosure of any such information.
If we do not properly comply with privacy regulations or fail to protect confidential information, we could experience adverse consequences, including reputational damage, possible litigation, and regulatory sanctions, such as penalties, fines and loss of license. This could have adverse impact on our image or customer relationships and, consequently, result in loss of business partners, lower sales, lapses of existing business or increased expenses. While we may maintain insurance to mitigate or offset these risks, we cannot be certain that any such insurance coverage would be sufficient in amount or scope to fully address any resulting losses or liability.
Failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems could adversely affect our business.
Our various lines of business depend greatly on the use of effective information systems. Maintaining and updating current information systems and the development of new systems to match emerging technology, regulatory standards and customer expectations requires a substantial commitment of resources. We must maintain adequate information systems in order to perform necessary business functions, including processing premium and purchase payments, administering our products, providing customer support and paying claims. We also use systems for investment management, financial reporting and data analysis to support our reserves and other actuarial estimates. Any interruptions may reduce our revenues or increase our expenses, and may adversely impact our reputation, business partnerships and customer relationships. In addition, system interruptions may impair our ability to timely and accurately complete our financial reporting and other regulatory obligations, and may impact the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.
The occurrence of catastrophic events, pandemics, terrorism or military actions could adversely affect our business operations.
The occurrence of natural or
man-made
disasters and catastrophes, including pandemics such as the recent outbreak of the coronavirus commonly referred to as“COVID-19”,
acts of terrorism, floods, earthquakes, industrial accident, blackout, cyber-attack, malicious software, insider threat, insurrections and military actions, unanticipated problems with our business continuity plans and disaster recovery systems, or a support failure from a third party vendor, could adversely affect our business operations and business results. In addition to impacting our normal business operations, such disasters and catastrophes may impact us indirectly by changing the condition and behavior of our customers, business counterparties and regulators, as well as by causing declines or volatility in the economic and financial markets. We maintain business continuity plans for our operations, but we cannot predict with certainty when normal operations would resume if such an event occurred.89
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Forward-Looking Statements
The disclosures in this
Form S-1
contain certain forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks or uncertainties. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “projects”, “estimates”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “could”, “may”, “should”, “will” or the negative version of those words or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: expectations concerning market and other conditions and their effect on future premiums, revenues, earnings and investment activities; recoverability of asset values; and rate changes.Actual results and/or financial condition could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons including but not limited to the following and those discussed in Risk Factors.
• | changes in financial, political and economic conditions, including changes in interest and inflation rates, currency fluctuations and extended economic recessions or expansions in the U.S. and/or abroad; |
• | performance of securities markets, including the cost of equity index options; |
• | new legislation or declines in credit quality or credit ratings that could have a material impact on the valuation of securities in GALIC’s investment portfolio; |
• | the availability of capital; |
• | regulatory actions (including changes in statutory accounting rules); |
• | changes in the legal environment affecting GALIC or its customers; |
• | tax law and accounting changes, including the impact of recent changes in U.S. corporate tax law; |
• | terrorist activities (including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events), incidents of war or losses resulting from civil unrest and other major losses; |
• | disruption caused by cyber-attacks or other technology breaches or failures by GALIC or its business partners and service providers, which could negatively impact GALIC’s business and/or expose GALIC to litigation; |
• | availability of reinsurance and ability of reinsurers to pay their obligations; |
• | trends in persistency and mortality; |
• | competitive pressures; |
• | the ability to obtain adequate rates and policy terms; and |
• | changes in GALIC’s financial strength ratings assigned by major ratings agencies. |
The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date of this report. GALIC assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
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Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth certain data for the periods indicated (in millions).
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings Statement Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,271 | $ | 2,208 | $ | 2,081 | $ | 1,691 | $ | 1,598 | $ | 1,499 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | 417 | (22 | ) | 529 | 497 | 256 | 381 | 367 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests | 310 | (14 | ) | $ | 422 | $ | 395 | $ | 209 | $ | 276 | $ | 240 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to shareholder | $ | 310 | $ | (12 | ) | $ | 423 | $ | 393 | $ | 207 | $ | 236 | $ | 205 | |||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 | December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and investments | $ | 40,519 | $ | 38,907 | $ | 42,028 | $ | 37,356 | $ | 34,500 | $ | 30,976 | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 50,134 | 48,571 | 45,893 | 40,801 | 38,120 | 34,362 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | 44,376 | 42,573 | 40,406 | 36,616 | 33,316 | 29,907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | 592 | 610 | 612 | 635 | 658 | 691 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholder’s equity | 3,738 | 3,948 | 3,433 | 2,492 | 2,761 | 2,509 |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
INDEX TO MD&A
Page | ||||
General | 97 | |||
Overview | 97 | |||
Critical Accounting Policies | 98 | |||
Liquidity and Capital Resources | 98 | |||
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows | 99 | |||
Liquidity | 100 |
Page | ||||
Contractual Obligations | 101 | |||
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements | 102 | |||
Investments | 102 | |||
Uncertainties | 106 | |||
Results of Operations | 106 | |||
Accounting Standards to be Adopted | 115 |
GENERAL
Following is a discussion and analysis of the financial statements and other statistical data that management believes will enhance the understanding of Great American Life Insurance Company’s (“GALIC”) financial condition and results of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements.
OVERVIEW
Financial Condition
GALIC, a stock life insurance company domiciled in the state of Ohio, is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”).
GALIC predominately markets individual and group traditional fixed and indexed annuities nationwide to the savings and retirement markets, and maintains term and universal life
in-force
business. GALIC is licensed to write life, annuity and accident & health insurance in forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.Outlook
The
COVID-19
pandemic began to have a significant impact on global, social and economic activity during the first quarter of 2020. GALIC has taken actions under its business continuity plan to minimize risk to the Company’s employees and to prevent any significant disruption to GALIC’s business, agents or policyholders.Management believes that GALIC’s strong financial position and current liquidity and capital will give GALIC the flexibility to continue to effectively address and respond to the ongoing uncertainties presented by the pandemic. Even with management’s expectation that the impacts of the pandemic will continue into 2022, GALIC has capital at or in excess of the levels required by ratings agencies in order to maintain their current ratings, and the parent company does not have any near-term debt maturities.
Sale of Businesses
On May 28, 2021, American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”) sold its annuity business consisting of Great American Life Insurance Company (“GALIC”) and its two insurance subsidiaries, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company and Manhattan National Life Insurance Company, as well as a broker-dealer affiliate, Great American Advisors, Inc., and insurance distributor, AAG Insurance Agency, Inc. to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”). Total proceeds from the sale were $3.57 billion.
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Reinsurance Agreement
GALIC entered into a reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company (“Commonwealth”), a subsidiary of Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited in October 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded approximately $5.96 billion of in force traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred related investments to Commonwealth. The agreement requires Commonwealth to maintain collateral in a trust in excess of amounts owed to GALIC.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Significant accounting policies are summarized into the financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts reported in the financial statements. As more information becomes known, these estimates and assumptions change and, thus, impact amounts reported in the future. The areas where management believes the degree of judgment required to determine amounts recorded in the financial statements is most significant are as follows:
Note A — “Accounting Policies”
• | the recoverability of reinsurance, |
• | the amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs, |
• | the measurement of the derivatives embedded in indexed annuity liabilities, and |
• | the valuation of investments, including the determination of impairment allowances. |
Seefor a discussion of recoverables from reinsurers and indexed annuity embedded derivatives andfor a discussion of impairments on investments. Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”) and certain liabilities related to annuities are amortized in relation to the present value of expected gross profits on the policies. Assumptions considered in determining expected gross profits involve significant judgment and include management’s estimates of interest rates and investment spreads, surrenders, annuitizations, renewal premiums and mortality. Should actual experience require management to change its assumptions (commonly referred to as “unlocking”), a charge or credit would be recorded to adjust DPAC or annuity liabilities to the levels they would have been if the new assumptions had been used from the inception date of each policy.
“Liquidity and Capital Resources — Uncertainties”
“Liquidity and Capital Resources — Investments”
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Management believes GALIC has sufficient resources to meet its liquidity requirements. The liquidity requirements of GALIC relate primarily to the liabilities associated with its products as well as operating costs and expenses, and contributions of capital to its subsidiaries. Historically, cash flows from premiums and investment income have generally provided more than sufficient funds to meet these requirements. Funds received in excess of cash requirements are generally invested in additional marketable securities. In addition, GALIC generally holds a significant amount of highly liquid, short-term investments. If funds generated from operations are insufficient to meet liquidity requirements for any period, MassMutual may contribute funds to GALIC.
The NAIC’s model law for risk based capital (“RBC”) applies to life, accident and health companies. RBC formulas determine the amount of capital that an insurance company needs so that it has an acceptable expectation of not becoming financially impaired. At December 31, 2020, the capital ratios of GALIC and its insurance subsidiaries substantially exceeded the RBC requirements.
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Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows
GALIC’s principal sources of cash include insurance premiums, income from its investment portfolio and proceeds from the maturities, redemptions and sales of investments. Insurance premiums in excess of acquisition expenses and operating costs are invested until they are needed to meet policyholder obligations or made available to the parent company through dividends. Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as detailed in GALIC’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows are shown below (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 647 | $ | 1,087 | $ | 1,321 | $ | 1,334 | $ | 1,068 | ||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (970 | ) | (563 | ) | (416 | ) | (2,449 | ) | (4,052 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | 480 | 200 | (488 | ) | 1,520 | 2,702 | ||||||||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 157 | $ | 724 | $ | 417 | $ | 405 | $ | (282 | ) | |||||||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
GALIC’s annuity operations typically produce positive net operating cash flows as investment income exceeds acquisition costs and operating expenses. Interest credited on annuity policyholder funds is a
non-cash
increase in GALIC’s annuity benefits accumulated liability and annuity premiums, benefits and withdrawals are considered financing activities due to the deposit-type nature of annuities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $647 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $1,087 million in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of $440 million. For the full year, net cash provided by operating activities was $1.32 billion, $1.33 billion and $1.07 billion in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
GALIC’s investing activities consist primarily of the investment of funds provided by its annuity products. Net cash used in investing activities was $970 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $563 million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $407 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was $416 million in 2020 compared to $2.45 billion in 2019, a decrease of $2.03 billion. GALIC had net cash flows from annuity policyholders of $351 million in 2020 and $1.66 billion in 2019, which is the primary source of GALIC’s cash used in investing activities. Settlements of equity index call options exceeded purchases by $322 million in 2020 compared to $64 million in 2019, accounting for a $258 million decrease in cash used in investing activities.
Net cash used in investing activities was $2.45 billion in 2019 compared to $4.05 billion in 2018, a decrease of $1.60 billion. GALIC had net cash flows from annuity policyholders of $1.66 billion in 2019 and $2.54 billion in 2018.
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities
GALIC’s financing activities consist primarily of transactions with annuity policyholders and dividend payments to the parent company. Net cash provided financing activities was $480 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $200 million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $280 million.
Net cash used by financing activities was $488 million in 2020 compared to net cash provided of $1.52 billion in 2019, a decrease of $2.01 billion. Net annuity receipts and advances from the FHLB exceeded annuity surrenders, benefits, withdrawals and transfers by $351 million in 2020 compared to $1.66 billion in 2019, resulting in a $1.31 billion decrease in net cash provided by financing activities. In addition, there were $285 million of cash dividends paid in 2020 compared to $140 million paid in 2019, resulting in a $145 million decrease in net cash provided by financing activities.
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Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.52 billion in 2019 compared to $2.70 billion in 2018, a decrease of $1.18 billion. Annuity receipts and advances from the FHLB exceeded annuity surrenders, benefits, withdrawals, transfers and repayments to the FHLB by $1.66 billion in 2019 compared to $2.76 billion in 2018, resulting in a $1.10 billion decrease in net cash provided by financing activities. In addition, there were $140 million of cash dividends paid in 2019 compared to $60 million paid in 2018, resulting in a $80 million decrease in net cash provided by financing activities.
Liquidity
Management believes GALIC has sufficient resources to meet its liquidity requirements. If funds generated from operations are insufficient to meet fixed charges in any period, GALIC would be required to utilize company cash and marketable securities or to generate cash through parent capital contributions, sales of other assets, or similar transactions.
GALIC is a member of the FHLB. The FHLB makes advances and provides other banking services to member institutions, which provides GALIC with an additional source of liquidity. At September 30, 2021, GALIC had $0.40 billion in outstanding advances from the FHLB (included in annuity benefits accumulated), bearing interest at rates ranging from 0.30% to 1.35% (average rate of 0.83% at September 30, 2021). While these advances must be repaid between 2021 and 2025 ($200 million in 2021 and $200 million in 2025), GALIC has the option to prepay all or a portion on the majority of the advances. GALIC has invested the proceeds from the advances in fixed maturity securities with similar expected lives as the advances for the purpose of earning a spread over the interest payments due to the FHLB.
In February 2020, GALIC entered into a flow reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth under which GALIC cedes certain newly issued traditional fixed and indexed annuities on a quota share coinsurance basis with such quota share percentages being up to 50%. That agreement was effective for policies issued after May 6, 2020. Under accounting guidance, the reinsurance transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method.
As discussed above, in the fourth quarter of 2020, GALIC entered into a reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded approximately $5.96 billion of traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred a similar amount of investments to Commonwealth. The assets transferred were primarily available for sale fixed maturity securities, the disposal of which resulted in the recognition of approximately $292 million (net of DPAC and tax) in net realized gains on securities. Under reinsurance accounting guidance, the transaction will be accounted for using the deposit method and the loss on the transaction will be deferred and recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts
(7-10
years). Under both the flow and the block reinsurance agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of amounts owed to GALIC.In the fourth quarter of 2018, GALIC entered into a reinsurance treaty with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America that transfers the risk of certain surrender activity in GALIC’s fixed-indexed annuity business. This treaty meets the statutory risk transfer rules and resulted in increases in statutory surplus (through an
after-tax
reserve credit) of $139 million at December 31, 2020 and $124 million at December 31, 2019. The treaty reduces statutory capital and surplus volatility related to GALIC’s fixed-indexed annuity policies from stock market fluctuations, which could impact GALIC’s risk-based capital and the amount of dividends available in future periods. Under GAAP, this transaction does not meet the GAAP insurance risk transfer criteria and did not have a material impact on GALIC’s financial statements.The liquidity requirements of GALIC relate primarily to the liabilities associated with its products as well as operating costs and expenses, and contributions of capital to its subsidiaries. Historically, cash flows from premiums and investment income have generally provided more than sufficient funds to meet these requirements. Funds received in excess of cash requirements are generally invested in additional marketable securities. In addition, GALIC generally holds a significant amount of highly liquid, short-term investments.
In the annuity business, where profitability is largely dependent on earning a spread between invested assets and annuity liabilities, the duration of investments is generally maintained close to that of liabilities. In a rising interest rate environment,
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significant protection from withdrawals exists in the form of temporary and permanent surrender charges on GALIC’s annuity products. With declining rates, GALIC receives some protection (from spread compression) due to the ability to lower crediting rates, subject to contractually guaranteed minimum interest rates (“GMIRs”). At September 30, 2021, GALIC could reduce the average crediting rate on approximately $29 billion of traditional fixed, fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities without guaranteed withdrawal benefits by approximately 96 basis points (on a weighted average basis). Annuity policies are subject to GMIRs at policy issuance. The table below shows the breakdown of annuity reserves by GMIR. The current interest crediting rates on substantially all of GALIC’s annuities with a GMIR of 3% or higher are at their minimum.
% of Reserves | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, | at December 31, | |||||||||||||||
GMIR | 2021 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
1 — 1.99% | 86 | % | 85 | % | 84 | % | 80 | % | ||||||||
2 — 2.99% | 3 | % | 3 | % | 3 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||
3 — 3.99% | 6 | % | 7 | % | 7 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||
4.00% and above | 5 | % | 5 | % | 6 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (in millions) | $ | 44,376 | $ | 42,573 | $ | 40,406 | $ | 36,616 | ||||||||
For statutory accounting purposes, equity securities of
non-affiliates
and equity call and put options used in the fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity business are generally carried at fair value. At September 30, 2021, GALIC owned publicly traded equity securities with a fair value of $648 million and equity index call and put options with a net fair value of $632 million. Decreases in market prices could adversely affect GALIC’s capital, potentially impacting the amount of dividends available or necessitating a capital contribution. Conversely, increases in market prices could have a favorable impact on GALIC’s dividend-paying capability.GALIC believes it maintains sufficient liquidity to pay claims and benefits and operating expenses. In addition, GALIC has sufficient capital to meet commitments in the event of unforeseen events such as reinsurer insolvencies. Even in the current uncertain
COVID-19
environment, management believes that the capital levels at GALIC are adequate to maintain its business and rating agency ratings. Nonetheless, changes in statutory accounting rules, significant declines in the fair value of its investment portfolios or significant ratings downgrades on these investments, could create a need for additional capital.Contractual Obligations
Total | Within One Year | 2-3 Years | 4-5 Years | More than 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||
Annuities (*) | $ | 46,885 | $ | 4,584 | $ | 10,716 | $ | 11,559 | $ | 20,026 | ||||||||||
Life, accident and health liabilities (*) | 1,217 | 99 | 212 | 139 | 767 | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 48,102 | $ | 4,683 | $ | 10,928 | $ | 11,698 | $ | 20,793 | ||||||||||
(*) | Amounts presented in the table represent estimated cash payments under such contracts, based on significant assumptions related to mortality, morbidity, lapse, renewal, retirement and annuitization. These assumptions also include interest and index crediting consistent with assumptions used to amortize DPAC and assess loss recognition. All estimated cash payments are undiscounted for the time value of money. As a result, total outflows for all years exceed the corresponding liabilities of $42.57 billion for annuity benefits accumulated and $610 million for life, accident and health reserves included in GALIC’s Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020. Based on the same assumptions, GALIC projects reinsurance recoveries related to annuity benefits accumulated totaling $7.25 billion as follows: Within 1 year — $876 million; 2-3 years — $1.73 billion;4-5 years — $2.05 billion; and thereafter — $2.59 billion and reinsurance recoveries related to life, accident and health reserves totaling $577 million as follows: Within 1 year — $58 million;2-3 years — $91 million;4-5 years — $74 million; and thereafter — $354 million. Actual payments and their timing could differ significantly from these estimates. |
GALIC has no material contractual purchase obligations or other long-term liabilities at December 31, 2020.
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Off-Balance
Sheet ArrangementsNote L —
“
Additional Information
— Financial Instruments — Unfunded Commitments
”
.
Investments
GALIC’s investment portfolio at September 30, 2021, contained $36.08 billion in fixed maturity securities classified as available for sale and carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in a separate component of shareholders’ equity on an
after-tax
basis and $40 million in fixed maturities were classified as trading with holding gains and losses included in net investment income. In addition, GALIC’s investment portfolio includes $423 million in equity securities carried at fair value with holding gains and losses included in realized gains (losses) on securities and $333 million in equity securities carried at fair value with holding gains and losses included in net investment income.As detailed in— “to the financial statements, unrealized gains and losses on GALIC’s fixed maturity securities are included in shareholder’s equity after adjustments for related changes in DPAC and certain liabilities related to annuity and life businesses and deferred income taxes. DPAC and certain other balance sheet amounts applicable to annuity and life businesses are adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains or losses on investments as if these gains or losses had been realized, with corresponding increases or decreases (net of tax) included in accumulated other comprehensive income in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Note D
Balance Sheet Impact of Net Unrealized Gains on Securities”
Fair values for GALIC’s portfolio are determined by GALIC’s internal investment professionals using data from nationally recognized pricing services as well as
non-binding
broker quotes. Fair values of equity securities are generally based on published closing prices. For GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio, approximately 91% was priced using pricing services at September 30, 2021 and the balance was priced primarily by usingnon-binding
broker quotes. When prices obtained for the same security vary, GALIC’s internal investment professionals select the price they believe is most indicative of an exit price.The pricing services use a variety of observable inputs to estimate fair value of fixed maturities that do not trade on a daily basis. Based upon information provided by the pricing services, these inputs include, but are not limited to, recent reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads, bids or offers, reference data, and measures of volatility. Included in the pricing of mortgage backed securities (“MBS”) are estimates of the rate of future prepayments and defaults of principal over the remaining life of the underlying collateral. Due to the lack of transparency in the process that brokers use to develop prices, valuations that are based on brokers’ prices are classified as Level 3 in the GAAP hierarchy unless the price can be corroborated, for example, by comparison to similar securities priced using observable inputs.
Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by GALIC’s and MassMutual’s internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price. To validate the appropriateness of the prices obtained, these investment managers consider widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. In addition, GALIC communicates directly with pricing services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing, including verifying, on a test basis, the inputs used by the services to value specific securities.
In general, the fair value of GALIC’s fixed maturity investments is inversely correlated to changes in interest rates. The following table demonstrates the sensitivity of such fair values to reasonably likely changes in interest rates by illustrating the estimated effect on GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio that an immediate increase of 100 basis points in the interest rate yield curve would have at September 30, 2021 (dollars in millions). Effects of increases or decreases from the 100 basis points illustrated would be approximately proportional.
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September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | 36,123 | $ | 34,165 | ||||
Pretax impact on fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | — | $ | (1,367 | ) | |||
Percentage impact on fair value of 100 bps increase in interest rates | — | % | (4.0 | %) |
Approximately 89% of the fixed maturities held by GALIC at September 30, 2021, were rated “investment grade” (credit rating of AAA to BBB) by nationally recognized rating agencies. Investment grade securities generally bear lower yields and lower degrees of risk than those that are unrated and
non-investment
grade. Management believes that the high quality investment portfolio should generate a stable and predictable investment return.MBS are subject to significant prepayment risk because, in periods of declining interest rates, mortgages may be repaid more rapidly than scheduled as borrowers refinance higher rate mortgages to take advantage of lower rates.
Summarized information for GALIC’s MBS (including those classified as trading) at September 30, 2021, is shown in the table below (dollars in millions). Agency-backed securities are those issued by a U.S. government-backed agency;
Alt-A
mortgages are those with risk profiles between prime and subprime. The average life of the residential and commercial MBS is approximately 5 years and 3 years, respectively.Amortized Cost, net (*) | Fair Value | Fair Value as % of Cost | Unrealized Gain (Loss) | % Rated Investment Grade | ||||||||||||||||
Collateral type | ||||||||||||||||||||
Residential: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Agency-backed | $ | 834 | $ | 834 | 100 | % | $ | — | 100 | % | ||||||||||
Non-agency prime | 884 | 954 | 108 | % | 70 | 62 | % | |||||||||||||
Alt-A | 506 | 577 | 114 | % | 71 | 45 | % | |||||||||||||
Subprime | 137 | 154 | 112 | % | 17 | 30 | % | |||||||||||||
Commercial | 573 | 602 | 105 | % | 29 | 96 | % | |||||||||||||
$ | 2,934 | $ | 3,121 | 106 | % | $ | 187 | — | % | |||||||||||
(*) | Amortized cost, net of allowance for expected credit losses. |
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) assigns creditworthiness designations on a scale of 1 to 6 with 1 being the highest quality and 6 being the lowest quality. The NAIC retains third-party investment management firms to assist in the determination of appropriate NAIC designations for MBS based not only on the probability of loss (which is the primary basis of ratings by the major ratings firms), but also on the severity of loss and statutory carrying value. At September 30, 2021, 96% (based on statutory carrying value of $2.59 billion) of GALIC’s MBS had an NAIC designation of 1.
Municipal bonds represented approximately 8% of GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio at September 30, 2021. GALIC’s municipal bond portfolio is high quality, with 97% of the securities rated investment grade at that date. The portfolio is well diversified across the states of issuance and individual issuers. At September 30, 2021, approximately 71% of the municipal bond portfolio was held in revenue bonds, with the remaining 29% held in general obligation bonds.
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Summarized information for the unrealized gains and losses recorded in GALIC’s Balance Sheet at September 30, 2021, is shown in the following table (dollars in millions). Approximately $1.28 billion of available for sale fixed maturity securities had no unrealized gains or losses at September 30, 2021.
Securities With Unrealized Gains | Securities With Unrealized Losses | |||||||
Available for Sale Fixed Maturities | ||||||||
Fair value of securities | $ | 29,583 | $ | 5,220 | ||||
Amortized cost of securities | $ | 27,396 | $ | 5,312 | ||||
Gross unrealized gain (loss) | $ | 2,187 | $ | (92 | ) | |||
Fair value as % of amortized cost | 108 | % | 98 | % | ||||
Number of security positions | 3,265 | 534 | ||||||
Number individually exceeding $2 million gain or loss | 232 | 3 | ||||||
Concentration of gains (losses) by type or industry (exceeding 5% of unrealized): | ||||||||
Banks, savings, and credit institutions | $ | 356 | $ | (3 | ) | |||
States and municipalities | 264 | — | ||||||
Mortgage-backed securities | 195 | (8 | ) | |||||
Insurance | 179 | (1 | ) | |||||
Other asset-backed securities | 142 | (48 | ) | |||||
Other financial institutions | 112 | — | ||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | 2 | (16 | ) | |||||
Percentage rated investment grade | 92 | % | 84 | % |
The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of GALIC’s available for sale fixed maturity securities at September 30, 2021, based on their fair values. Securities with sinking funds are reported at average maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid by the issuers.
Securities With Unrealized Gains | Securities With Unrealized Losses | |||||||
Maturity | ||||||||
One year or less | 5 | % | 1 | % | ||||
After one year through five years | 28 | % | 3 | % | ||||
After five years through ten years | 26 | % | 1 | % | ||||
After ten years | 10 | % | 11 | % | ||||
69 | % | 16 | % | |||||
Collateralized loan obligations and other asset-backed securities (average life of approximately 3 years) | 24 | % | 66 | % | ||||
Mortgage-backed securities (average life of approximately 4-1/2 years) | 7 | % | 18 | % | ||||
100 | % | 100 | % | |||||
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The table below (dollars in millions) summarizes the unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturity securities by dollar amount:
Aggregate Fair Value | Aggregate Unrealized Gain (Loss) | Fair Value as % of Cost | ||||||||||
Fixed Maturities at September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Securities with unrealized gains: | ||||||||||||
Exceeding $500,000 (1,218 securities) | $ | 18,399 | $ | 1,884 | 111 | % | ||||||
$500,000 or less (2,047 securities) | 11,184 | 303 | 103 | % | ||||||||
$ | 29,583 | $ | 2,187 | 108 | % | |||||||
Securities with unrealized losses: | ||||||||||||
Exceeding $500,000 (41 securities) | $ | 1,287 | $ | (54 | ) | 96 | % | |||||
$500,000 or less (493 securities) | 3,933 | (38 | ) | 99 | % | |||||||
$ | 5,220 | $ | (92 | ) | 98 | % | ||||||
The following table (dollars in millions) summarizes the unrealized losses for all securities with unrealized losses by issuer quality and the length of time those securities have been in an unrealized loss position:
Aggregate Fair Value | Aggregate Unrealized Loss | Fair Value as % of Cost | ||||||||||
Securities with Unrealized Losses at September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Investment grade fixed maturities with losses for: | ||||||||||||
Less than one year (260 securities) | $ | 3,859 | $ | (51 | ) | 99 | % | |||||
One year or longer (60 securities) | 532 | (10 | ) | 98 | % | |||||||
$ | 4,391 | $ | (61 | ) | 99 | % | ||||||
Non-investment grade fixed maturities with losses for: | ||||||||||||
Less than one year (103 securities) | $ | 629 | $ | (24 | ) | 96 | % | |||||
One year or longer (111 securities) | 200 | (7 | ) | 97 | % | |||||||
$ | 829 | $ | (31 | ) | 96 | % | ||||||
When a decline in the value of a specific investment is considered to be other-than-temporary, an allowance for credit losses (impairment) is charged to earnings (accounted for as a realized loss). The determination of whether unrealized losses are other-than-temporary requires judgment based on subjective as well as objective factors.
Factors considered and resources used by management include:
a) | whether the unrealized loss is credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates, |
b) | the extent to which fair value is less than cost basis, |
c) | cash flow projections received from independent sources, |
d) | historical operating, balance sheet and cash flow data contained in issuer SEC filings and news releases, |
e) | near-term prospects for improvement in the issuer and/or its industry, |
f) | third-party research and communications with industry specialists, |
g) | financial models and forecasts, |
h) | the continuity of interest payments, maintenance of investment grade ratings and hybrid nature of certain investments, |
i) | discussions with issuer management, and |
j) | ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery in fair value. |
Based on its analysis of the factors listed above, management believes GALIC will recover its cost basis (net of any allowance) in the fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses and that GALIC has the ability to hold the securities until they recover in value and had no intent to sell them at September 30, 2021. Although GALIC has the ability to continue holding its fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses, its intent to hold them may change due to deterioration in the issuers’ creditworthiness, decisions to lessen exposure to a particular issuer or industry, asset/liability management decisions, market
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movements, changes in views about appropriate asset allocation or the desire to offset taxable realized gains. Should GALIC’s ability or intent change regarding a particular security, a charge for impairment would likely be required. While it is not possible to accurately predict if or when a specific security will become impaired, increases in the allowances for credit losses could be material to results of operations in future periods. Significant declines in the fair value of GALIC’s investment portfolio could have a significant adverse effect on GALIC’s liquidity. For information on GALIC’s realized gains (losses) on securities, see
“Results of Operations
— Realized Gains (Losses) on Securities.”
Uncertainties
Reinsurance
$6.52 billion related to the annuity business and $257 million related to the
run-off
life business. The annuity related recoverable is due from Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company. Under the terms of the agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of the amounts owed to GALIC. Of the $257 million related to therun-off
life business, $133 million, net of credit allowances, is due (directly or indirectly) from Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America (ratedAA-
by S&P).RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GALIC’s operations produced $417 million in pretax earnings in the first nine months of 2021 compared to ($22) million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $439 million (1,995%). The increase is due to higher alternative investment income, higher realized gains, and the decline in interest rates in 2020 on fair value accounting partially offset by the impact of the Commonwealth reinsurance transaction in the fourth quarter of 2020.GALIC monitors the major actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations throughout the year and conducts detailed reviews (“unlocking”) of its assumptions annually. Beginning with the third quarter of 2019, GALIC moved its annual unlocking from the fourth quarter to the third quarter and expects to continue to conduct the annual review in the third quarter of each year (consistent with many of its peers). If changes in the economic environment or actual experience would cause material revisions to future estimates, these assumptions are updated (unlocked) in an interim quarter. Unlocking was evaluated in the first nine of months of 2021 and it was determined that no adjustment was needed. In the first nine months of 2020, GALIC’s unlocking of the actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations resulted in a net charge of $46 million.
GALIC’s operations produced $529 million in pretax earnings in 2020 compared to $497 million in 2019, an increase of $32 million (6%). GALIC’s results for 2021 compared to 2020 reflects higher net realized gains on securities in the 2020 period partially offset by the impact of a stronger stock market performance in 2019 as compared to 2020, the amortization of the deferred loss related to the annuity block reinsurance transaction entered into in the fourth quarter of 2020 and other reinsurance impacts and higher unlocking charges in 2020 compared to 2019. GALIC’s unlocking of the actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations resulted in a net charge of $46 million in 2020 compared to $1 million in 2019.
GALIC’s operations produced $497 million in pretax earnings in 2019 compared to $256 million in 2018, an increase of $241 million (94%). This increase reflects net realized gains on securities in the 2019 period compared to net realized losses on securities in the 2018 period, the positive impact of strong market performance in the 2019 period, the unfavorable impact of the decline in the stock market in 2018 and higher unlocking charges in the 2018 period, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates on the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs in 2019 compared to the favorable impact of higher than anticipated interest rates in 2018. In addition to the fourth quarter detailed review, GALIC unlocked its assumptions for option costs and interest rates in the second quarter of 2018 due to continued higher FIA option costs (resulting primarily from higher than expected risk-free rates). GALIC’s unlocking of the major actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations resulted in a net annuity charge of $1 million in 2019 compared to $31 million in 2018.
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Because fluctuations in interest rates and the stock market, among other factors, can cause volatility in earnings related to FIAs before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes that can be inconsistent with the long-term economics of the FIA business, management analyzes these impacts separately as shown in the following table. This table highlights the impact of reinsurance, unlocking, changes in the fair value of derivatives and other impacts of the changes in the stock market and interest rates on earnings before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes — excluding the impact of reinsurance, unlocking, derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of stock market performance and interest rates on FIAs | $ | 406 | $ | 223 | 82 | % | $ | 352 | $ | 412 | $ | 409 | (15 | %) | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance | (118 | ) | — | (47 | ) | — | — | — | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Unlocking | — | (46 | ) | — | % | (46 | ) | (1 | ) | (31 | ) | 4,500 | % | (97 | %) | |||||||||||||||||
Impact of derivatives related to FIAs and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on FIAs over or under option costs: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivatives related to FIAs | 14 | (240 | ) | 106 | % | (279 | ) | (294 | ) | (51 | ) | (5 | %) | 476 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | (270 | ) | (318 | ) | (15 | %) | (404 | ) | (408 | ) | (347 | ) | (1 | %) | 18 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits | (52 | ) | (50 | ) | 4 | % | (60 | ) | (14 | ) | (83 | ) | 329 | % | (83 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Less cost of equity options | 335 | 446 | (25 | %) | 562 | 586 | 506 | (4 | %) | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Related impact on the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | (10 | ) | 68 | (115 | %) | 86 | 84 | (42 | ) | 2 | % | (300 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before realized gains (losses) on securities and income taxes | $ | 305 | $ | 83 | 267 | % | 164 | 365 | 361 | (55 | %) | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 207 | % | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | 177 | % | (226 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | $ | 417 | $ | (22 | ) | 1,995 | % | $ | 529 | $ | 497 | $ | 256 | 6 | % | 94 | % | |||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income
Net investment income in the first nine months of 2021 was $1.33 billion compared to $1.28 billion in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $47 million (4%). This increase reflects the positive impact of higher earnings from partnerships and similar investments partially offset by the impact of the
run-off
of higher yielding investments and lower short-term interest rates.Net investment income in 2020 was $1.72 billion compared to $1.81 billion in 2019, a decrease of $96 million (5%). This decrease reflects the negative impact of lower earnings from partnerships and similar investments and
AFG-managed
CLOs and the impact of therun-off
of higher yielding investments and lower short-term interest rates.Net investment income in 2019 was $1.81 billion compared to $1.66 billion in 2018, an increase of $156 million (9%). This increase primarily reflects growth in GALIC’s annuity business, partially offset by the impact of lower investment yields.
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Realized Gains (Losses) on Securities
GALIC’s realized gains (losses) on securities were net gains of $112 million in the first nine months 2021 compared to ($105) million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $217 million (206%).
GALIC’s realized gains (losses) on securities were net gains of $365 million in 2020 compared to $132 million in 2019, an increase of $233 million (177%). GALIC’s net realized gains (losses) on securities were net gains of $132 million in 2019 compared to net realized losses of $105 million in 2018, a change of $237 million (226%). Realized gains (losses) on securities consisted of the following (in millions):
Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) before impairments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Disposals | $ | 42 | $ | 39 | $ | 524 | $ | 16 | $ | 12 | ||||||||||
Change in the fair value of derivatives | (18 | ) | 2 | (2 | ) | 5 | (7 | ) | ||||||||||||
Change in the fair value of equity securities | 84 | (111 | ) | (85 | ) | 122 | (107 | ) | ||||||||||||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | (1 | ) | (6 | ) | (51 | ) | (1 | ) | 11 | |||||||||||
107 | (76 | ) | 386 | 142 | (91 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Change in allowance and impairments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Securities | 7 | (43 | ) | (32 | ) | (21 | ) | (21 | ) | |||||||||||
Adjustments to annuity deferred policy acquisition costs and related items | (2 | ) | 14 | 11 | 11 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
5 | (29 | ) | (21 | ) | (10 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | $ | 112 | $ | (105 | ) | $ | 365 | $ | 132 | $ | (105 | ) | ||||||||
The $524 million net realized gains from disposals in 2020 includes gains of $415 million on investments disposed of in the 2020 block reinsurance transaction.
Policy Charges and Other Income
Policy charges and other income, which consist primarily of surrender charges, the amortization of deferred upfront policy charges (unearned revenue) and income from the sale of real estate, were $81 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $76 million in 2020, an increase of $5 million (7%). Excluding the impact of unlocking charges of $5 million in the first nine months of 2020 related to unearned revenue, policy charges and other income were $81 million in the first nine months of 2021 and $81 million in the first nine months of 2020.
Excluding the impact of unlocking charges of $5 million in 2020 and the $1 million favorable impact of unlocking in 2019 related to unearned revenue, policy charges and other income were $109 million in 2020 and $113 million in 2019, a decrease of $4 million (4%).
Excluding the favorable impact of unlocking of $1 million in 2019 and the unlocking charge of $1 million in 2018 related to unearned revenue, policy charges and other income were $113 million in 2019 and $116 million in 2018, a decrease of $3 million (3%). This increase reflects growth in the business primarily related to increased fees from products with guaranteed withdrawal benefit features.
Seebelow for a discussion of the impact that the periodic review of actuarial assumptions had on policy charges and other income.
“Annuity Unlocking”
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Annuity Benefits
Annuity benefits were $744 million for the first nine months of 2021 compared to $905 million in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of $161 million (18%).
Annuity benefits were $1.19 billion in 2020, $1.15 billion in 2019 and $998 million in 2018, representing an increase of $41 million (4%) in 2020 compared to 2019 and an increase of $153 million (15%) in 2019 compared to 2018.
Because fluctuations in interest rates and the stock market, among other factors, can cause volatility in annuity benefits expense related to FIAs that can be inconsistent with the long-term economics of the FIA business, management believes that annuity benefits expense should be analyzed by including the actual cost of the equity options purchased in the FIA business and isolating the impact of reinsurance, unlocking, the impact of changes in the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs, and other impacts of changes in the stock market and interest rates on the accounting for FIAs. This analysis provides investors with a better view of the true cost of funds in the business and a more comparable measure to the cost of funds reported by its peers. The cost of the equity options included in this analysis is the net purchase price of the option contracts amortized on a
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straight-line basis over the life of the contracts, which is generally one year. The following table reconciles this
non-GAAP
analysis using the cost of funds measure to total annuity benefits expense (in millions):Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest credited — fixed | $ | 286 | $ | 307 | (7 | %) | $ | 399 | $ | 396 | $ | 357 | 1 | % | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Include cost of equity options | 335 | 446 | (25 | %) | 562 | 586 | 506 | (4 | %) | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of funds | 621 | 753 | (18 | %) | 961 | 982 | 863 | (2 | %) | 14 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest credited — fixed component of variable annuities | 3 | 3 | — | % | 4 | 4 | 5 | — | % | (20 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits, excluding the impact of reinsurance and interest rates and the stock market on FIAs | 62 | 64 | (3 | %) | 87 | 109 | 96 | (20 | %) | 14 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
686 | 820 | (16 | %) | 1,052 | 1,095 | 964 | (4 | %) | 14 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Impact of reinsurance, unlocking, changes in fair value of derivatives related to FIAs, and other impacts of the stock market and interest rates over or under option costs: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance | 85 | — | — | % | 36 | — | — | — | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Unlocking | — | (77 | ) | — | % | (77 | ) | (74 | ) | 59 | 4 | % | (225 | %) | ||||||||||||||||||
Impact of derivatives related to FIAs | (14 | ) | 240 | (106 | %) | 279 | 294 | 51 | (5 | %) | 476 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | 270 | 318 | (15 | %) | 404 | 408 | 347 | (1 | %) | 18 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits — impact of the stock market and interest rates on FIAs | 52 | 50 | 4 | % | 60 | 14 | 83 | 329 | % | (83 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less cost of equity options (included in cost of funds) | (335 | ) | (446 | ) | (25 | %) | (562 | ) | (586 | ) | (506 | ) | (4 | %) | 16 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total annuity benefits | $ | 744 | $ | 905 | (18 | %) | $ | 1,192 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 998 | 4 | % | 15 | % | ||||||||||||||||
As shown in the table above, cost of funds for the first nine months of 2021 was $621 million compared to $753 million in the first nine months of 2020, a decrease of $132 million (18%). This decrease reflects a reduction in the cost of funds as a percentage of average annuity benefits accumulated due to offering lower renewal crediting rates (index participation) on option costs and the impact of reinsurance.
Cost of funds for 2020 was $961 million compared to $982 million in 2019, a decrease of $21 million (2%). This decrease reflects a reduction in the cost of funds as a percentage of average annuity benefits accumulated due to offering lower renewal crediting rates (index participation) on option costs. Cost of funds for 2019 was $982 million compared to $863 million in 2018, an increase of $119 million (14%). This increase reflects growth in the annuity business and higher renewal option costs.
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As discussed underinto the financial statements, guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserves are accrued for and modified using assumptions similar to those used in establishing and amortizing deferred policy acquisition costs. In addition, the guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve related to FIAs can be inversely impacted by the calculated FIA embedded derivative reserve as the value to policyholders of the guaranteed withdrawal benefits decreases when the benefit of stock market participation increases. As shown in the table above, changes in the stock market and interest rates increased GALIC’s guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve by $52 million and $50 million in the first nine months of 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $60 million, $14 million and $83 million in the full years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
“Annuity Benefits Accumulated”
Note A — “Accounting Policies”
See “Annuity Unlocking” below for a discussion of the impact that the unlocking of actuarial assumptions had on annuity benefits expense.
Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Related to Fixed-Indexed (Including Registered Index-Linked) Annuities and Other Impacts of Changes in the Stock Market and Interest Rates on FIAs
GALIC’s fixed-indexed (including registered index-linked) annuities provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market, other financial index or other external rate, price or unit value (an “index”). GALIC attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase and sale of call and put options on the appropriate index. GALIC’s strategy is designed so that the net change in the fair value of the call option assets and put option liabilities will generally offset the economic change in the net liability from the index participation. Both the index-based component of the annuities (an embedded derivative) and the related call and put options are considered derivatives that must be adjusted for changes in fair value through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. For a list of other factors impacting the fair value of the embedded derivative component of GALIC’s annuity benefits accumulated, seeto the financial statements. Fluctuations in certain of these factors, such as changes in interest rates and the performance of the stock market, are not economic in nature for the current reporting period, but rather impact the timing of reported results.
Note C — “Fair Value Measurements”
As discussed above, the periodic accounting for DPAC and guaranteed withdrawal benefits related to FIAs is also impacted by changes in the stock market and interest rates. These impacts may be temporary in nature and not necessarily indicative of the long-term performance of the FIA business. The table below highlights the impact of reinsurance and changes in the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs and the other impacts of the stock market and interest rates (excluding the impact of unlocking) over or under the cost of the equity index options (discussed above) on earnings before income taxes (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excluding reinsurance: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in the fair value of derivatives related to FIAs | $ | 14 | $ | (240 | ) | 106 | % | $ | (279 | ) | $ | (294 | ) | $ | (51 | ) | (5 | %) | 476 | % | ||||||||||||
Accretion of guaranteed minimum FIA benefits | (270 | ) | (318 | ) | (15 | %) | (404 | ) | (408 | ) | (347 | ) | (1 | %) | 18 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other annuity benefits | (52 | ) | (50 | ) | 4 | % | (60 | ) | (14 | ) | (83 | ) | 329 | % | (83 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Less cost of equity options | 335 | 446 | (25 | %) | 562 | 586 | 506 | (4 | %) | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Related impact on the amortization of DPAC | (10 | ) | 68 | (115 | %) | 86 | 84 | (42 | ) | 2 | % | (300 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance | (118 | ) | — | — | % | (47 | ) | — | — | — | % | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Impact on earnings before income taxes | $ | (101 | ) | $ | (94 | ) | 7 | % | $ | (142 | ) | $ | (46 | ) | $ | (17 | ) | 209 | % | 171 | % | |||||||||||
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During the first nine months of 2021, the annuity segment’s earnings before income taxes were reduced by $101 million primarily related to the impact of the reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth entered into in the fourth quarter of 2020.
During 2020, the negative impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates and the amortization of the deferred loss related to the annuity block reinsurance agreement entered into in the fourth quarter of 2020 and other reinsurance impacts reduced the annuity segment’s earnings before income taxes (excluding unlocking) by $142 million compared to the $46 million negative impact of the stock market and interest rates (excluding unlocking) on earnings before income taxes for 2019, an unfavorable impact of $96 million (209%). In 2019, the negative impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates was partially offset by the positive impact of strong stock market performance. In 2018, the positive impact of higher than expected interest rates was more than offset by higher interest on the embedded derivative, the negative impact of higher than expected option costs and significantly lower stock market performance.
Seebelow for a discussion of the impact that the periodic review of actuarial assumptions had on the change in the fair value of the embedded derivative and other annuity liabilities.
“Annuity Unlocking”
Insurance Acquisition Expenses, Net
Insurance acquisition expenses, net, include amortization of DPAC, amortization of the present value of future profits of business acquired, and
non-deferrable
expenses and commission charges on sales of insurance products.Insurance acquisition expenses, net, were $230 million in the first nine months of 2021. Unlocking was evaluated in the first nine months of 2021 and it was determined that no unlocking adjustments were needed. In the first nine months of 2020, excluding the impact of unlocking expense of $118 million, insurance acquisition expenses, net, were $133 million, $97 million (73%), lower than the nine month 2021 expense.
Excluding the impact of unlocking expense of $118 million in 2020 and $76 million in 2019 and expense reductions of $29 million in 2018 (discussed below), insurance acquisition expenses, net, were $188 million in 2020, $177 million in 2019 and $289 million in 2018, representing an increase of $11 million (6%) in 2020 compared to 2019 and an decrease of $112 million (39%) in 2019 compared to 2018. The negative impact of significantly lower than anticipated interest rates during both 2020 and 2019 on the fair value of derivatives and other liabilities related to FIAs and the negative impact of reinsurance in 2020 resulted in a deceleration of the amortization of DPAC. In contrast, the positive impact of higher than anticipated interest rates during 2018 on the fair value of derivatives and other liabilities related to FIAs resulted in a partially offsetting acceleration of the amortization of DPAC.
Seebelow for a discussion of the impact that the unlocking of actuarial assumptions had on insurance acquisition expenses, net. Unanticipated spread compression, decreases in the stock market, adverse mortality experience and higher than expected lapse rates could lead to write-offs of DPAC or present value of future profits on business in force of companies acquired (“PVFP”) in the future.
“Annuity Unlocking”
Other Expenses
Other expenses were $127 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $107 million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $20 million (19%) reflecting additional expenses as a result of the sale of the business. Other expenses represent primarily general and administrative expenses, as well as selling and issuance expenses that are not deferred.
Other expenses were $141 million in 2020 compared to $144 million in 2019, a decrease of $3 million (2%) reflecting lower expenses due to the
COVID-19
pandemic.Other expenses were $144 million in 2019 compared to $140 million in 2018, an increase of $4 million (3%), reflecting growth in the business.
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Statutory Annuity Premiums
GALIC’s annuity operations generated gross statutory premiums of $4.6 billion in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $2.8 billion in the first nine months of 2020, a increase of $1.8 billion (65%).
GALIC’s annuity operations generated gross statutory premiums of $4.09 billion in 2020, $4.96 billion in 2019 and $5.41 billion in 2018, a decrease of $873 million (18%) in 2020 compared to 2019 and a decrease of $447 million (8%) in 2019 compared to 2018. The following table summarizes GALIC’s annuity sales (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | % Change | Year ended December 31, | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 - 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 - 2019 | 2019 - 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — indexed | $ | 1,406 | $ | 1,014 | 39 | % | $ | 1,372 | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,776 | (11 | %) | (13 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Financial institutions single premium annuities — fixed | 1,562 | 526 | 197 | % | 896 | 1,229 | 492 | (27 | %) | 150 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Retail single premium annuities — indexed | 542 | 444 | 22 | % | 591 | 943 | 1,418 | (37 | %) | (33 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Retail single premium annuities — fixed | 126 | 73 | 73 | % | 99 | 120 | 87 | (18 | %) | 38 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — indexed | 608 | 347 | 75 | % | 457 | 657 | 1,271 | (30 | %) | (48 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Broker dealer single premium annuities — fixed | 138 | 22 | 527 | % | 27 | 32 | 14 | (16 | %) | 129 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pension risk transfer | 94 | 225 | (58 | )% | 499 | 257 | 132 | 94 | % | 95 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Education market — fixed and indexed annuities | 82 | 104 | (21 | )% | 129 | 164 | 192 | (21 | %) | (15 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed annuity premiums | 4,558 | 2,755 | 65 | % | 4,070 | 4,939 | 5,382 | (18 | %) | (8 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Variable annuities | 11 | 13 | (15 | )% | 17 | 21 | 25 | (19 | %) | (16 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total gross annuity premiums | 4,569 | 2,768 | 65 | % | 4,087 | 4,960 | 5,407 | (18 | %) | (8 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ceded premiums | (481 | ) | (246 | ) | 96 | % | (492 | ) | — | — | — | % | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total net annuity premiums | $ | 4,088 | $ | 2,522 | 62 | % | $ | 3,595 | $ | 4,960 | $ | 5,407 | (28 | %) | (8 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Management believes the 62% increase in gross annuity premiums in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020 is driven by continued growth in the Financial Institutions and Broker Dealer channels. In addition, sales in 2020 were still feeling the impacts of
COVID-19.
Management believes the 18% decrease in gross annuity premiums in 2020 compared to 2019 is due to the lower market interest rate environment. In response to the continued drop in market interest rates during 2019 and 2020, GALIC lowered crediting rates on several products, which has slowed annuity sales compared to 2019 and 2018 levels. In addition, many of the restrictions from the
COVID-19
pandemic impact the ability of agents to conduct business in the same manner as usual.Management attributes the 8% decrease in annuity premiums in 2019 compared to 2018 to the lower market interest rate environment.
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Annuity Unlocking
GALIC monitors the major actuarial assumptions underlying its annuity operations throughout the year and conducts detailed reviews (“unlocking”) of its assumptions annually. Beginning with the third quarter of 2019, GALIC moved its unlocking from the fourth quarter to the third quarter and expects to continue to conduct the annual review in the third quarter of each year (consistent with many of its peers). If changes in the economic environment or actual experience would cause material revisions to future estimates, these assumptions are updated (unlocked) in an interim period.
Unlocking was evaluated in the first nine months of 2021 and it was determined that no adjustments were necessary. The unlocking of the major actuarial assumptions underlying GALIC’s annuity operations resulted in net charges related to its annuity business of $46 million in the first nine 2020 and, $46 million, $1 million and $31 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which impacted GALIC’s financial statements as follows (in millions):
Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
September 30 | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Policy charges and other income: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unearned revenue | — | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 1 | $ | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Total revenues | — | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | 1 | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
Annuity benefits: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed annuities embedded derivative | — | (240 | ) | (240 | ) | (181 | ) | 44 | ||||||||||||
Guaranteed withdrawal benefit reserve | — | 107 | 107 | 102 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Other reserves | — | 60 | 60 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Sales inducements asset | — | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | 1 | — | |||||||||||||
Total annuity benefits | — | (77 | ) | (77 | ) | (74 | ) | 59 | ||||||||||||
Insurance acquisition expenses, net: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | — | 118 | 118 | 76 | (29 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | — | 41 | 41 | 2 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Net charge | — | $ | (46 | ) | $ | (46 | ) | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (31 | ) | |||||||
The net charge from unlocking annuity assumptions in 2020 is due primarily to the unfavorable impact related to lower expected future investment income resulting from a decrease to the long-term interest rate assumptions and the unfavorable impact related to changes in assumed persistency outside the surrender period on policies without guaranteed withdrawal benefits, partially offset by the favorable impact of lowering projected FIA option costs, including anticipated renewal rate actions. For the 2020 unlocking, reinvestment rate assumptions are based primarily on the expectation that the
7-year
U.S. Treasury rate will increase to 2.45% and the10-year
U.S. Treasury rate will increase to 2.75% over time. For the unlocking in the third quarter of 2020, GALIC assumed a net reinvestment rate (net of default and expense assumptions) of 3.08% in 2021, grading up ratably to an ultimate net reinvestment rate of 4.58% in 2031 and beyond.The net charge from unlocking annuity assumptions in 2019 is due primarily to the unfavorable impacts of a decrease in projected net interest spreads on
in-force
business (due primarily to lower than previously anticipated reinvestment rates and the impact of lower than previously anticipated interest rates on floating rate investments) and higher assumed persistency in certain blocks of business, offset by lowering projected FIA option costs, including anticipated renewal rate actions.The net charge of $4 million from unlocking annuity assumptions in the fourth quarter of 2018 reflects the favorable impact of an increase in projected net interest spreads on in force business (due primarily to higher actual yields than previously anticipated), more than offset by a slight increase in projected expenses and the unfavorable impact of changes in projected policyholder annuitization and lapse behavior.
109
In addition to the $4 million net charge from the periodic review of annuity assumptions in the fourth quarter of 2018, GALIC recorded a $27 million net unlocking charge in the second quarter of 2018 due primarily to the unfavorable impact of higher projected option costs, partially offset by the favorable impact of an increase in projected net interest spreads on
in-force
business (due primarily to higher than previously anticipated reinvestment rates).Income Taxes
GALIC’s provision for income taxes was $107 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to ($8) million income tax benefit in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of $115 million.
For the full year, GALIC’s provision for income taxes was $107 million in 2020 compared to $102 million in 2019, an increase of $5 million (5%). GALIC’s provision for income taxes was $102 million in 2019 compared to $47 million in 2018, an increase of $55 million (117%). Seeto the financial statements for an analysis of items affecting GALIC’s effective tax rate.
Note
I
— “Income Taxes”
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS TO BE ADOPTED
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU, which changes the assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and limited pay contracts (e.g. life, accident and health benefits) from being locked in at inception to being updated at least annually and standardizes the liability discount rate to be used and updated each reporting period, requires the measurement of market risk benefits associated with deposit contracts (e.g. annuities) to be recorded at fair value, simplifies the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs to a constant level basis over the expected life of the related contracts and requires enhanced disclosures. GALIC will be required to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2023. GALIC can not estimate the impact that the updated guidance will have on its results of operations, financial position or liquidity until the updated guidance is closer to adoption.
2018-12,
Financial Services – Insurance: Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk represents the potential economic loss arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. GALIC’s exposures to market risk relate primarily to its investment portfolio and annuity contracts, which are exposed to interest rate risk and, to a lesser extent, equity price risk.
Fixed Maturity Portfolio
Consistent with the discussion inthe following table demonstrates the sensitivity of the fair value of GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio to reasonably likely changes in interest rates by illustrating the estimated effect on GALIC’s fixed maturity portfolio that an immediate increase of 100 basis points in the interest rate yield curve would have at December 31 (based on the duration of the portfolio, dollars in millions). Effects of increases or decreases from the 100 basis points illustrated would be approximately proportional.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
— “Investments,”
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
Fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | 36,123 | $ | 34,165 | ||||
Pretax impact on fair value of fixed maturity portfolio | $ | — | $ | (1,367 | ) | |||
Percentage impact on fair value of 100 bps increase in interest rates | — | % | (4.0 | )% |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Shareholder
Great American Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Great American Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the Company), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of American Financial Group, Inc., as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the accompanying financial statement schedule (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
A-1
Valuation of investments in securities | ||
Description of the Matter | As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the Company’s fixed-income and equity securities totaled $34.94 billion, a portion of which are valued based on non-binding broker quotes or internally developed using significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, observable market information. The fair value of these securities are determined by management applying the methodologies outlined in Note D to the consolidated financial statements. The lack of visibility into assumptions used innon-binding broker quotes and the credit spread applied by management for internally developed fixed-income investments are significant unobservable inputs, which create greater subjectivity when determining the fair values. Credit spread inputs are developed based on management’s review of trade activity for comparable securities and credit spreads over the treasury yield of securities with a similar duration.Auditing the fair value of the fixed-income and equity securities that use unobservable inputs was complex and highly judgmental due to the judgment used by the Company in determining unobservable inputs and assumptions to estimate the securities’ fair value. Significant unobservable inputs and assumptions include non-binding broker quotes and credit spreads over the treasury yield. | |
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over management’s valuation process for the fixed-income and equity securities priced using unobservable inputs. This included, among others, testing controls over investment pricing and the development and review of significant inputs and assumptions used in determining the fair values. To test the Company’s investment fair values, our audit procedures included, among others, comparing the fair values for a sample of securities to pricing service values or internally developed cash flow models. With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we evaluated the valuation methodologies used by the Company and compared the Company’s fair value estimate to an independently calculated range of fair value estimates for a sample of securities. We evaluated information that corroborated or contradicted the Company’s fair value estimates, including observable spreads, transaction data for similar securities, and historical collateral performance data. | |
Amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs | ||
Description of the Matter | At December 31, 2020, deferred policy acquisition costs totaled $302 million, of which $286 million related to annuity contracts. As described in Notes A and G to the consolidated financial statements, the carrying amount of the annuity deferred policy acquisition costs is the total of costs deferred less amortization that is calculated in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits of the underlying annuity policies. There is a significant amount of uncertainty inherent in calculating estimated gross profits as the calculation is sensitive to management’s best estimate of assumptions, such as future investment yields and lapse rates. Management’s assumptions are adjusted, also known as unlocking, over time for emerging experience and expected trends. The unlocking results in amortization being recalculated, using the new assumptions for estimated gross profits, that results either in additional or less cumulative amortization expense. Auditing management’s estimate of the amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs was complex because it required the involvement of our actuarial specialists due to the highly judgmental nature of the assumptions used in management’s projection of estimated gross profits, which are used in the amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs. The significant judgment was primarily due to the sensitivity of the estimated gross profits to the expected investment yield and lapse rate assumptions. |
A-2
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the process for estimating amortization of annuity deferred policy acquisition costs. This included, among others, controls over the review and approval processes that management has in place for the assumptions used in measuring estimated gross profits. To test the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs related to annuity contracts, our audit procedures included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of the data used to calculate the estimated gross profits through testing the reconciliation of the underlying data recorded in the source systems to the actuarial valuation models. With the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we evaluated the assumptions used by management in determining estimated gross profits. Also, with the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we compared significant assumptions, including expected investment yields and lapse rates, to prior actual experience and observable market data, and we evaluated management’s estimates of prospective changes in these assumptions. In addition, we performed an independent calculation of estimated and actual gross profits for a sample of product cohorts for comparison with the actuarial model used by management. | |
Valuation of annuity contract embedded derivatives | ||
Description of the Matter | At December 31, 2020, the liability for annuity benefits accumulated included $3.93 billion for the embedded derivatives related to the equity participation feature of the Company’s fixed-indexed annuity products. As described in Note F to the consolidated financial statements, there is a significant amount of estimation uncertainty inherent in measuring the fair value of the embedded derivatives as it includes management’s assumptions of various factors, such as future interest rates, expected stock market performance, budgeted option costs, lapses, and annuitizations. Management’s assumptions are adjusted for emerging experience and expected trends, resulting in changes to the estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives. Auditing management’s estimate of the fair value of the embedded derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuity products was complex because it required the involvement of our actuarial specialists due to the highly judgmental nature of the assumptions used in the valuation process. The significant judgment was primarily due to the sensitivity of the budgeted option costs and lapse assumptions. | |
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the process for estimating the embedded derivatives. This included, among others, the review and approval processes that management has in place for the methods and assumptions used in the valuation process of the embedded derivatives. To test the embedded derivatives related to fixed-indexed annuity products, our procedures included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of data used in the valuation process through testing the reconciliation of the underlying data recorded in the source systems to the actuarial valuation models. With the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we evaluated the methods and assumptions used by management in determining the estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives. We compared the significant assumptions, including expected budget option costs and lapses, to prior actual experience and management’s estimates of prospective changes in these assumptions. In addition, we performed an independent calculation of the embedded derivatives for a sample of policies for comparison with the fair value calculated by the actuarial model used by management. |
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP | ||
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015 | ||
Cincinnati, Ohio | ||
April 26, 2021 |
A-3
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Data)
September 30 | December 31, | |||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 734 | ||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities, available for sale at fair value (amortized cost — $34,003 (unaudited), $31,598 and $36,144; allowance for expected credit losses of $15 at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and $28 at December 31, 2020) | 36,083 | 34,123 | 37,899 | |||||||||
Fixed maturities, trading at fair value | 40 | 42 | 54 | |||||||||
Equity securities, at fair value | 648 | 773 | 809 | |||||||||
Investments accounted for using the equity method | 786 | 1,075 | 985 | |||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,512 | 1,251 | 1,072 | |||||||||
Policy loans | 142 | 151 | 164 | |||||||||
Real estate and other investments | — | 341 | 311 | |||||||||
Total cash and investments | 40,519 | 38,907 | 42,028 | |||||||||
Recoverables from reinsurers: | ||||||||||||
Fixed and indexed annuities | 6,522 | 6,539 | — | |||||||||
Other | 257 | 267 | 282 | |||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs (including the impact of unrealized gains on securities of $768 (unaudited), $934 and $681) | 474 | 302 | 713 | |||||||||
Accrued investment income | 292 | 278 | 335 | |||||||||
Equity index call options | 646 | 825 | 924 | |||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) | 668 | 664 | 628 | |||||||||
Funds held as collateral | 318 | 351 | 577 | |||||||||
Net deferred tax assets | — | — | 44 | |||||||||
Other assets | 438 | 438 | 362 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 50,134 | $ | 48,571 | $ | 45,893 | ||||||
Liabilities and Equity: | ||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (including the impact of unrealized gains on securities of $287 (unaudited), $324 and $220) | $ | 44,376 | $ | 42,573 | $ | 40,406 | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | 592 | 610 | 612 | |||||||||
Variable annuity liabilities (separate accounts) | 668 | 664 | 628 | |||||||||
Liability for funds held as collateral | 318 | 351 | 577 | |||||||||
Net deferred tax liabilities | 11 | 99 | — | |||||||||
Other liabilities | 431 | 279 | 189 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 46,396 | 44,576 | 42,412 | |||||||||
Shareholder’s equity: | ||||||||||||
Common stock and capital surplus — Par value — $7.50 per share: — 1,200,000 shares authorized — 201,000 shares issued and outstanding | 1,006 | 1,004 | 992 | |||||||||
Retained earnings | 1,884 | 1,874 | 1,741 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax | 848 | 1,070 | 700 | |||||||||
Total shareholder’s equity | 3,738 | 3,948 | 3,433 | |||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | — | 47 | 48 | |||||||||
Total equity | 3,738 | 3,995 | 3,481 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 50,134 | $ | 48,571 | $ | 45,893 | ||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-4
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
(In Millions)
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,330 | $ | 1,283 | $ | 1,717 | $ | 1,813 | $ | 1,657 | ||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||
Life, accident and health net earned premiums | 14 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Policy charges and other income | 81 | 76 | 104 | 114 | 115 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 1,537 | 1,271 | 2,208 | 2,081 | 1,691 | |||||||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits | 744 | 905 | 1,192 | 1,151 | 998 | |||||||||||||||
Life, accident and health benefits | 19 | 30 | 40 | 36 | 37 | |||||||||||||||
Insurance acquisition expenses, net | 230 | 251 | 306 | 253 | 260 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 127 | 107 | 141 | 144 | 140 | |||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 1,120 | 1,293 | 1,679 | 1,584 | 1,435 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings (Loss) before income taxes | 417 | (22 | ) | 529 | 497 | 256 | ||||||||||||||
Provision (Benefit) for income taxes | 107 | (8 | ) | 107 | 102 | 47 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss), including noncontrolling interests | 310 | (14 | ) | 422 | 395 | 209 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Shareholder | $ | 310 | $ | (12 | ) | $ | 423 | $ | 393 | $ | 207 | |||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-5
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In Millions)
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss), including noncontrolling interests | $ | 310 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 422 | $ | 395 | $ | 209 | |||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period | (184 | ) | 326 | 659 | 654 | (443 | ) | |||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings | (19) | (4 | ) | (313 | ) | (13 | ) | 5 | ||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on securities | (203 | ) | 322 | 346 | 641 | (438 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges | (19 | ) | 24 | 24 | 28 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | (222 | ) | 346 | 370 | 669 | (436 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 88 | 332 | 792 | 1,064 | (227 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to shareholder | $ | 88 | $ | 334 | $ | 793 | $ | 1,062 | $ | (229 | ) | |||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-6
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(Dollars in Millions)
Shareholder’s Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Shares | Common Stock and Capital Surplus | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Total | Noncontrolling Interests | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | 201,000 | $ | 956 | $ | 1,248 | $ | 557 | $ | 2,761 | $ | 47 | $ | 2,808 | |||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | — | — | 93 | (90 | ) | 3 | — | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | 207 | — | 207 | 2 | 209 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (436 | ) | (436 | ) | — | (436 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent | — | 17 | — | — | 17 | — | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (60 | ) | — | (60 | ) | — | (60 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | 201,000 | $ | 973 | $ | 1,488 | $ | 31 | $ | 2,492 | $ | 47 | $ | 2,539 | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | 393 | — | 393 | 2 | 395 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | 669 | 669 | — | 669 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent | — | 19 | — | — | 19 | — | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (140 | ) | — | (140 | ) | — | (140 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | 201,000 | $ | 992 | $ | 1,741 | $ | 700 | $ | 3,433 | $ | 48 | $ | 3,481 | |||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | — | — | (5 | ) | — | (5 | ) | — | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | — | — | 423 | — | 423 | (1 | ) | 422 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | 370 | 370 | — | 370 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent | — | 12 | — | — | 12 | — | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (285 | ) | — | (285 | ) | — | (285 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | 201,000 | $ | 1,004 | $ | 1,874 | $ | 1,070 | $ | 3,948 | $ | 47 | $ | 3,995 | |||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (unaudited) | — | — | 310 | — | 310 | — | 310 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss (unaudited) | — | — | — | (222 | ) | (222 | ) | — | (222 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital contributions from parent (unaudited) | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends (unaudited) | — | — | (300 | ) | — | (300 | ) | — | (300 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense (unaudited) | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of real estate (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | — | (47 | ) | (47 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | 201,000 | $ | 1,006 | $ | 1,884 | $ | 848 | $ | 3,738 | $ | — | $ | 3,738 | |||||||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-7
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(In Millions)
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss), including noncontrolling interests | $ | 309 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 422 | $ | 395 | $ | 209 | |||||||||
Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (75 | ) | (48 | ) | (68 | ) | (59 | ) | (67 | ) | ||||||||||
Annuity benefits | 744 | 905 | 1,192 | 1,151 | 998 | |||||||||||||||
Realized (gains) losses on investing activities | (112 | ) | 107 | (363 | ) | (132 | ) | 105 | ||||||||||||
Net sales of trading securities | 1 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 59 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred annuity and life policy acquisition costs | (185 | ) | (112 | ) | (155 | ) | (206 | ) | (263 | ) | ||||||||||
Amortization of insurance acquisition costs | 186 | 208 | 250 | 202 | 215 | |||||||||||||||
Change in: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Recoverables from reinsurers | 135 | 25 | (67 | ) | 16 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
Accrued investment income | (14 | ) | 14 | 57 | (9 | ) | (35 | ) | ||||||||||||
Funds held as collateral | 33 | 235 | 226 | (474 | ) | 286 | ||||||||||||||
Other assets | 26 | 24 | (64 | ) | 112 | (71 | ) | |||||||||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (18 | ) | (4 | ) | (4 | ) | (23 | ) | (23 | ) | ||||||||||
Liability for funds held as collateral | (33 | ) | (235 | ) | (226 | ) | 474 | (286 | ) | |||||||||||
Other liabilities | (48 | ) | (45 | ) | 51 | (42 | ) | 11 | ||||||||||||
Other operating activities, net | (305 | ) | 18 | 58 | (74 | ) | (84 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 644 | 1,087 | 1,321 | 1,334 | 1,068 | |||||||||||||||
Investing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | (7,885 | ) | (6,136 | ) | (7,615 | ) | (6,177 | ) | (7,898 | ) | ||||||||||
Equity securities | (78 | ) | (206 | ) | (229 | ) | (126 | ) | (326 | ) | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | (306 | ) | (120 | ) | (243 | ) | (407 | ) | (142 | ) | ||||||||||
Equity index options | (359 | ) | (429 | ) | (544 | ) | (600 | ) | (567 | ) | ||||||||||
Other investments | (77 | ) | (190 | ) | (249 | ) | (220 | ) | (296 | ) | ||||||||||
Real estate, property and equipment | (3 | ) | (6 | ) | (8 | ) | (8 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||||||||
Proceeds from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities | 4,818 | 3,004 | 4,100 | 3,215 | 3,551 | |||||||||||||||
Repayments of mortgage loans | 46 | 33 | 68 | 118 | 155 | |||||||||||||||
Sales of fixed maturities | 960 | 2,658 | 3,065 | 801 | 447 | |||||||||||||||
Sales of equity securities | 339 | 170 | 284 | 214 | 121 | |||||||||||||||
Settlements of equity index options | 835 | 617 | 873 | 666 | 786 | |||||||||||||||
Sales of other investments | 592 | 32 | 79 | 65 | 122 | |||||||||||||||
Other investing activities, net | 9 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (967 | ) | (563 | ) | (416 | ) | (2,449 | ) | (4,052 | ) | ||||||||||
Financing Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity receipts | 4,569 | 2,767 | 4,087 | 4,960 | 5,407 | |||||||||||||||
Ceded annuity receipts | (482 | ) | (246 | ) | (492 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals | (3,105 | ) | (2,466 | ) | (3,546 | ) | (3,358 | ) | (2,916 | ) | ||||||||||
Ceded annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals | 514 | — | 206 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Net transfers from variable annuity assets | 62 | 44 | 61 | 60 | 47 | |||||||||||||||
Cash transferred in reinsurance | — | — | (554 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank | — | 200 | 200 | — | 225 | |||||||||||||||
Repayments to Federal Home Loan Bank | (731 | ) | (40 | ) | (165 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Cash dividends paid | (300 | ) | (60 | ) | (285 | ) | (140 | ) | (60 | ) | ||||||||||
Other financing activities, net | (47 | ) | 1 | — | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 480 | 200 | (488 | ) | 1,520 | 2,702 | ||||||||||||||
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents | 157 | 724 | 417 | 405 | (282 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,151 | 734 | 734 | 329 | 611 | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,458 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 734 | $ | 329 | ||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
A-8
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
INDEX TO NOTES
Page | ||||||
A. | A-9 | |||||
B. | A-15 | |||||
C. | A-15 | |||||
D. | A-23 | |||||
E. | A-24 | |||||
F. | A-30 |
Page | ||||||
G. | A-32 | |||||
H. | A-32 | |||||
I. | A-34 | |||||
J. | A-35 | |||||
K. | A-35 | |||||
L. | A-37 |
A.
Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Great American Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (“GALIC” or the “Company”). As of May 28, 2021 (unaudited) GALIC is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Glidepath Holdings Inc., a financial services holding company wholly-owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Prior to that date GALIC was a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Great American Financial Resources, Inc. (“GAFRI”), a financial services holding company wholly-owned by American Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”).
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years to conform to the current year’s presentation. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The results of operations of companies since their formation or acquisition are included in the consolidated financial statements. The financial statements also include costs paid on behalf of GALIC by GAFRI. These costs are recorded as expense in the period incurred and shown as an increase in capital surplus. Events or transactions occurring subsequent to the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and prior to April 26, 2021, have been evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure herein.
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Changes in circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimates.
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Information
The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of
September 30, 2021, and the consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the nine months
ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the nine months ended
September 30, 2021 and the related footnote disclosures are unaudited. Unaudited disclosures also include all disclosures related to post-acquisition activities between GALIC and Mass Mutual. The impact of purchase accounting related to the post-acquisition between GALIC and Mass Mutual is currently being reviewed. These unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim consolidated
financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and include all adjustments,
which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of GALIC’s statement of financial position
as of September 30, 2021 and GALIC’s consolidated results of operations and GALIC’s cash flows for the nine months ended
September 30, 2021 and 2020. Events or transactions occurring subsequent to September 30, 2021, and prior to the filing of
these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, have been evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure herein.
The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full
fiscal year.
Fair Value Measurements
Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The standards establish a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the assumptions that market participants would
A-9
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
use in pricing the asset or liability (“inputs”) are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect GALIC’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. GALIC did not have any material nonrecurring fair value measurements the first nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) or in 2020 or 2019.
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
On January 1, 2020, GALIC adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2016-13,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
The updated guidance also amended the current other-than-temporary impairment model for available for sale debt securities by requiring the recognition of impairments relating to credit losses through an allowance and limits the amount of credit loss to the difference between a security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. Subsequent increases or decreases in expected credit losses will be recorded immediately in net earnings through realized gains (losses).
Investments
On January 1, 2018, GALIC adopted ASU
2016-01,
which requires all equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method to be reported at fair value with holding gains and losses recognized in net earnings. At December 31, 2017, GALIC had $593 million in equity securities classified as “available for sale” under the prior guidance with holding gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) instead of net earnings. At the date of adoption, the $90 million net unrealized gain on equity securities included in AOCI was reclassified to retained earnings as the cumulative effect of an accounting change. The cumulative effect of the accounting change also includes the net unrealized gain on GALIC’s small number of limited partnerships and similar investments carried at cost under the prior guidance that are carried at fair value through net earnings under the new guidance ($3 million net of tax at the date of adoption).Holding gains and losses on equity securities carried at fair value are generally recorded in realized gains (losses) on securities. However, GALIC records holding gains and losses on securities classified as “trading” under previous guidance, its small portfolio of limited partnerships and similar investments carried at fair value and certain other securities classified at purchase as “fair value through net investment income” in net investment income.
Fixed maturity securities classified as “available for sale” are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet. Fixed maturity securities classified as “trading” are reported at fair value with changes in unrealized holding gains or losses during the period included in net investment income. Mortgage loans (net of any allowance) and policy loans are carried primarily at the aggregate unpaid balance.
Premiums and discounts on fixed maturity securities are amortized using the effective interest method. Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) are amortized over a period based on estimated future principal payments, including prepayments. Prepayment assumptions are reviewed periodically and adjusted to reflect actual prepayments and changes in expectations.
A-10
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Limited partnerships and similar investments are generally accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, GALIC records its share of the earnings or losses of the investee based on when they are reported by the investee in its financial statements rather than in the period in which the investee declares a dividend. GALIC’s share of the earnings or losses from equity method investments is generally recorded on a quarter lag due to the timing of the receipt of the investee’s financial statements. GALIC’s equity in the earnings (losses) of limited partnerships and similar investments is included in net investment income.
Realized gains or losses on the disposal of fixed maturity securities are determined on the specific identification basis. When a decline in the value of an available for sale fixed maturity is considered to be other-than-temporary at the balance sheet date, an allowance for credit losses (impairment), including anyabove for a discussion of new guidance adopted on January 1, 2020.
write-off
of accrued interest, is charged to earnings (included in realized gains (losses) on securities). If management can assert that it does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that it will have to sell it before recovery of its amortized cost basis (net of allowance), then the impairment allowance is separated into two components: (i) the amount related to credit losses (recorded in earnings) and (ii) the amount related to all other factors (recorded in other comprehensive income). The credit-related portion is measured by comparing a security’s amortized cost to the present value of its current expected cash flows discounted at its effective yield prior to the charge. If management intends to sell an impaired security, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, an impairment is recorded in earnings to reduce the amortized cost (net of allowance) of that security to fair value. See“Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”
Derivatives
Derivatives included in GALIC’s Balance Sheet are recorded at fair value. Changes in fair value of derivatives are included in earnings, unless the derivatives are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges. Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP consist primarily of (i) components of certain fixed maturity securities (primarily interest-only and principal-only MBS) and (ii) the equity-based component of certain annuity products (included in annuity benefits accumulated) and related equity index options designed to be consistent with the characteristics of the liabilities and used to mitigate the risk embedded in those annuity products.
To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of a derivative contract, GALIC formally documents the relationship between the terms of the hedge and the hedged items and its risk management objective. This documentation includes defining how hedge effectiveness and ineffectiveness will be measured on a retrospective and prospective basis.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges are recorded in AOCI and are reclassified into earnings when the variability of the cash flows from the hedged items impacts earnings. When the change in the fair value of a qualifying cash flow hedge is included in earnings, it is included in the same line item in the statement of earnings as the cash flows from the hedged item. GALIC uses interest rate swaps that are designated and qualify as highly effective cash flow hedges to mitigate interest rate risk related to certain floating-rate securities included in GALIC’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities.
Funds Held as Collateral
GALIC receives collateral from certain counterparties to support its purchased equity index call option assets (net of collateral required under put option contracts with the same counterparties). The fair value of this collateral is recorded as an asset and the offsetting obligation to return the collateral is recorded as a liability.
Reinsurance
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the reinsured policies. A GALIC subsidiary cedes life insurance policies to a third party on a funds withheld basis whereby the subsidiary retains the assets (securities) associated with the reinsurance contract. Interest is credited to the reinsurer based on the actual investment performance of the retained assets. This reinsurance contract is considered to contain an embedded derivative (that must be adjusted to fair value) because the yield on the payable is based on a specific block of the ceding company’s assets, rather than the overall creditworthiness of the ceding company. GALIC determined that changes in the fair value of the underlying portfolio of fixed maturity securities is an appropriate measure of the value of the embedded derivative. The securities related to this contract are classified as “trading.” The adjustment to fair value on the embedded derivative offsets the investment income recorded on the adjustment to fair value of the related trading portfolio.
A-11
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Certain reinsurance arrangements in GALIC’s fixed and indexed annuity operations do not transfer significant insurance risk and are therefore accounted for using the deposit method. This accounting treatment results in amounts paid by GALIC to the reinsurer to be recorded as a deposit asset. The reinsurance deposit asset (reinsurance recoverable) is adjusted as amounts are paid or received under the underlying contracts. GALIC’s reinsurance partner posts collateral in excess of amounts due to GALIC under these contracts. Under reinsurance accounting guidance on transactions involving annuities, the gain or loss is deferred and recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts (using methods similar to those used to amortize DPAC).
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (“DPAC”)
Policy acquisition costs (principally commissions, premium taxes and certain underwriting and policy issuance costs) directly related to the successful acquisition or renewal of an insurance contract are deferred. DPAC also includes capitalized costs associated with sales inducements offered to fixed annuity policyholders such as enhanced interest rates and premium and persistency bonuses.
DPAC related to annuities is deferred to the extent deemed recoverable and amortized, with interest, in relation to the present value of actual and expected gross profits on the policies. Expected gross profits consist principally of estimated future investment margin (estimated future net investment income less interest credited on policyholder funds) and surrender, mortality, and other life and annuity policy charges, less death, annuitization and guaranteed withdrawal benefits in excess of account balances and estimated future policy administration expenses. To the extent that realized gains and losses result in adjustments to the amortization of DPAC related to annuities, such adjustments are reflected as components of realized gains (losses) on securities.
DPAC related to traditional life and health insurance is amortized over the expected premium paying period of the related policies, in proportion to the ratio of annual premium revenues to total anticipated premium revenues. Seebelow for details on the impact of loss recognition on the accounting for traditional life and health insurance contracts.
“Life, Accident and Health Reserves”
DPAC includes the present value of future profits on business in force of annuity and life, accident and health insurance companies acquired (“PVFP”). PVFP represents the portion of the costs to acquire companies that is allocated to the value of the right to receive future cash flows from insurance contracts existing at the date of acquisition. PVFP is amortized with interest in relation to expected gross profits of the acquired policies for annuities and universal life products and in relation to the premium paying period for traditional life and health insurance products.
DPAC and certain other balance sheet amounts related to annuity and life businesses are also adjusted, net of tax, for the change in expense that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains (losses) from securities had actually been realized. These adjustments are included in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, a component of AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Annuity Benefits Accumulated
A-12
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
For certain products, annuity benefits accumulated also includes reserves for accrued persistency and premium bonuses, guaranteed withdrawals and excess benefits expected to be paid on future deaths and annuitizations (“EDAR”). The liabilities for EDAR and guaranteed withdrawals are accrued for and modified using assumptions consistent with those used in determining DPAC and DPAC amortization, except that amounts are determined in relation to the present value of total expected assessments. Total expected assessments consist principally of estimated future investment margin, surrender, mortality, and other life and annuity policy charges, and unearned revenues once they are recognized as income.
Annuity benefits accumulated also includes amounts advanced from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.
Unearned Revenue
Life, Accident and Health Reserves
Liabilities for future policy benefits under traditional life, accident and health policies are computed using the net level premium method. Computations are based on the original projections of investment yields, mortality, morbidity and surrenders and include provisions for unfavorable deviations unless a loss recognition event (premium deficiency) occurs. Claim reserves and liabilities established for accident and health claims are modified as necessary to reflect actual experience and developing trends.
For long-duration contracts (such as traditional life and long-term care policies), loss recognition occurs when, based on current expectations as of the measurement date, existing contract liabilities plus the present value of future premiums (including reasonably expected rate increases) are not expected to cover the present value of future claims payments and related settlement and maintenance costs (excluding overhead) as well as unamortized acquisition costs. If a block of business is determined to be in loss recognition, a charge is recorded in earnings in an amount equal to the excess of the present value of expected future claims costs and unamortized acquisition costs over existing reserves plus the present value of expected future premiums (with no provision for adverse deviation). The charge is recorded first to reduce unamortized acquisition costs and then as an additional reserve (if unamortized acquisition costs have been reduced to zero).
In addition, reserves for traditional life policies are subject to adjustment for loss recognition charges that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains (losses) from securities had actually been realized. This adjustment is included in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, a component of AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Variable Annuity Assets and Liabilities
Separate accounts related to variable annuities represent the fair value of deposits invested in underlying investment funds on which GALIC earns a fee. Investment funds are selected and may be changed only by the policyholder, who retains all investment risk.
GALIC’s variable annuity contracts contain a guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) to be paid if the policyholder dies before the annuity payout period commences. In periods of declining equity markets, the GMDB may exceed the value of the policyholder’s account. A GMDB liability is established for future excess death benefits using assumptions together with a range of reasonably possible scenarios for investment fund performance that are consistent with DPAC capitalization and amortization assumptions.
Leases
2016-02,
which requires entities that lease assets for terms longer than one year to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases on the balance sheet based on the present value of contractual cash flows. As permitted under the ASU, GALIC adopted the guidance on a modified retrospective basis (comparative periods were not adjusted) and elected the following accounting policies and practical expedients:• | exclude leases with a term of 12 months or less from the calculation of lease assets and liabilities, |
• | not separate lease and non-lease components except for buildings (office space and storage facilities), |
A-13
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
• | for contracts existing at the date of adoption — not reassess whether a contract is a lease or contains a lease, how initial direct costs were accounted for or whether the lease is an operating or finance lease, and |
• | use hindsight to determine the lease term for leases existing at the date of adoption. |
GALIC did not have any material leases at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) or in 2020 or 2019.
Noncontrolling Interests
Premium Recognition
Income Taxes
year-end,
additional settlements are made on the original due date of the return and, when extended, at the time the return is filed. The method of allocation among the companies under the agreement is based upon separate return calculations with current credit for losses to the extent the losses provide a benefit in the consolidated return.Beginning in June of 2021 (unaudited) GALIC and its subsidiaries entered into a separate intercompany tax allocation agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, each company’s tax expense is determined based upon its inclusion in the consolidated tax return of GALIC and its includable subsidiaries. Estimated payments are made quarterly during the year. Following
year-end,
additional settlements are made on the original due date of the return and, when extended, at the time the return is filed. The method of allocation among the companies under the agreement is based upon separate return calculations with current credit for losses to the extent the losses provide a benefit in the consolidated return.Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases and are measured using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is established to reduce total deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recorded in net earnings in the period that includes the enactment date.
GALIC recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained under examination by the appropriate taxing authority. Interest and penalties on GALIC’s reserve for uncertain tax positions are recognized as a component of tax expense.
Benefit Plans
A-14
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Statement of Cash Flows
B.
Segments of Operations
GALIC manages its business as two segments: (i) Annuity and
(ii) Run-off
life. GALIC’s annuity business sells traditional fixed and indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions, broker-dealer and registered investment advisor markets. GALIC’s reportable segments and their components were determined based primarily upon similar economic characteristics, products and services.The following tables (in millions) show GALIC’s assets, revenues and earnings before income taxes by segment.
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 47,886 | $ | 45,217 | $ | 40,115 | ||||||
Run-off life | 685 | 676 | 686 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 48,571 | $ | 45,893 | $ | 40,801 | ||||||
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,316 | $ | 1,268 | $ | 1,699 | $ | 1,792 | $ | 1,638 | ||||||||||
Other income | 76 | 73 | 97 | 108 | 108 | |||||||||||||||
Total annuity | 1,392 | 1,341 | 1,796 | 1,900 | 1,746 | |||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 33 | 35 | 47 | 49 | 50 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues before realized gains (losses) | 1,425 | 1,376 | 1,843 | 1,949 | 1,796 | |||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 1,537 | $ | 1,271 | $ | 2,208 | $ | 2,081 | $ | 1,691 | ||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings Before (Loss) Income Taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 303 | $ | 89 | $ | 170 | $ | 363 | $ | 363 | ||||||||||
Run-off life | 2 | (6 | ) | (6 | ) | 2 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total earnings before realized gains (losses) and income taxes | 305 | 83 | 164 | 365 | 361 | |||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) on securities | 112 | (105 | ) | 365 | 132 | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total earnings (loss) before income taxes | $ | 417 | $ | (22 | ) | $ | 529 | $ | 497 | $ | 256 | |||||||||
C.
Fair Value Measurements
A-15
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Accounting standards for measuring fair value are based on inputs used in estimating fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets (markets in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis). GALIC’s Level 1 financial instruments consist primarily of publicly traded equity and debt securities for which quoted market prices in active markets are available.
Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets (markets in which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, price quotations vary substantially over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly); and valuations based on other significant inputs that are observable in active markets. GALIC’s Level 2 financial instruments include separate account assets, highly liquid government bonds, corporate and municipal fixed maturity securities, asset-backed securities (“ABS”), mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), certain
non-affiliated
common stocks and equity index options priced using observable inputs. Level 2 inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, issuer spreads and benchmark securities.Level 3 — Valuations derived from market valuation techniques generally consistent with those used to estimate the fair values of Level 2 financial instruments in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable or when the market for a security exhibits significantly less liquidity relative to markets supporting Level 2 fair value measurements. The unobservable inputs may include management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use based on the best information available at the valuation date. Financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based mostly on internally developed using significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, observable market information are classified as Level 3.
For the first five months of 2021 and in prior years, AFG’s management was responsible for the valuation process and uses data from outside sources (including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers) in establishing fair value. The Company’s internal investment professionals are a group of approximately 20 investment professionals whose primary responsibility is to manage AFG’s investment portfolio. These professionals monitor individual investments as well as overall industries and are active in the financial markets on a daily basis. The group is led by AFG’s chief investment officer, who reports directly to one of AFG’s Co-CEOs. Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by AFG’s internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade to ensure the fair value determination is representative of an exit price. To validate the appropriateness of the prices obtained, these investment managers consider widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. In addition, the Company communicates directly with the pricing services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing, including verifying, on a test basis, the inputs used by the service to value specific securities.
Beginning in June of 2021 MassMutual assumed responsibility for the valuation process and uses data from outside sources (including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers) in establishing fair value. General Investment Account valuation is provided by MassMutual’s Pricing Operations team, a group is led by MassMutual’s Head of Investment Operations who reports directly to MassMutual’s Chief Investment Officer. Valuation techniques utilized by pricing services and prices obtained from external sources are reviewed by members of MassMutual’s Pricing Operations team. Asset valuation specialists, MassMutual internal investment professionals who are familiar with the securities being priced and the markets in which they trade, review prices that breach defined tolerance thresholds to determine if the price is appropriate. In addition, the Investment Pricing Operations team considers widely published indices (as benchmarks), recent trades, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the credit quality of the specific issuers. The Investment Pricing Operations team communicates directly with the pricing services regarding the methods and assumptions used in pricing as needed on an ad hoc basis and during annual pricing vendor due diligence procedures.
A-16
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Available for sale (“AFS”) fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | — | $ | 25 | $ | — | $ | 25 | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 2,885 | 59 | 2,944 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 34 | — | 34 | ||||||||||||
Residential MBS | — | 2,516 | 2 | 2,518 | ||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 593 | 9 | 602 | ||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | — | 3,290 | — | 3,290 | ||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 298 | 6,742 | 1,026 | 8,066 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 28 | 16,847 | 1,729 | 18,604 | ||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 326 | 32,932 | 2,825 | 36,083 | ||||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | — | 40 | — | 40 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities | 68 | 199 | 381 | 648 | ||||||||||||
Equity index call options | — | 646 | — | 646 | ||||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | — | 668 | — | 668 | ||||||||||||
Other assets — derivatives | — | 59 | — | 59 | ||||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 394 | $ | 34,544 | $ | 3,206 | $ | 38,144 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,208 | $ | 4,208 | ||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | — | 19 | — | 19 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | — | $ | 19 | $ | 4,208 | $ | 4,227 | ||||||||
(*) | Variable annuity liabilities equal the fair value of variable annuity assets. |
A-17
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Available for sale (“AFS”) fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 6 | $ | 23 | $ | 15 | $ | 44 | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 3,358 | 64 | 3,422 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 34 | — | 34 | ||||||||||||
Residential MBS | — | 2,013 | 127 | 2,140 | ||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 688 | 10 | 698 | ||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | — | 3,443 | 48 | 3,491 | ||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | — | 4,107 | 1,069 | 5,176 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 41 | 17,733 | 1,344 | 19,118 | ||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 47 | 31,399 | 2,677 | 34,123 | ||||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | — | 42 | — | 42 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities | 431 | 49 | 293 | 773 | ||||||||||||
Equity index call options | — | 825 | — | 825 | ||||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | — | 664 | — | 664 | ||||||||||||
Other assets — derivatives | — | 102 | — | 102 | ||||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 478 | $ | 33,081 | $ | 2,970 | $ | 36,529 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3,933 | $ | 3,933 | ||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | — | 10 | — | 10 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | — | $ | 10 | $ | 3,933 | $ | 3,943 | ||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Available for sale fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 6 | $ | 24 | $ | 15 | $ | 45 | ||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 4,284 | 65 | 4,349 | ||||||||||||
Foreign government | — | 34 | — | 34 | ||||||||||||
Residential MBS | — | 1,971 | 128 | 2,099 | ||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 806 | 29 | 835 | ||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | — | 3,365 | 14 | 3,379 | ||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | — | 4,357 | 1,030 | 5,387 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 16 | 20,220 | 1,535 | 21,771 | ||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 22 | 35,061 | 2,816 | 37,899 | ||||||||||||
Trading fixed maturities | — | 54 | — | 54 | ||||||||||||
Equity securities | 492 | 41 | 276 | 809 | ||||||||||||
Equity index call options | — | 924 | — | 924 | ||||||||||||
Variable annuity assets (separate accounts) (*) | — | 628 | — | 628 | ||||||||||||
Other assets — derivatives | — | 50 | — | 50 | ||||||||||||
Total assets accounted for at fair value | $ | 514 | $ | 36,758 | $ | 3,092 | $ | 40,364 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivatives in annuity benefits accumulated | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3,730 | $ | 3,730 | ||||||||
Other liabilities — derivatives | — | 10 | — | 10 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities accounted for at fair value | $ | — | $ | 10 | $ | 3,730 | $ | 3,740 | ||||||||
(*) | Variable annuity liabilities equal the fair value of variable annuity assets. |
A-18
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Approximately 8% of the total assets carried at fair value on September 30, 2021 (unaudited) were Level 3 assets. Approximately $49 million (2%) of the Level 3 assets were priced by pricing services where either a single price was not corroborated, prices varied enough among the providers or other market factors led management to determine these securities should be classified as Level 3 assets.
Internally developed Level 3 asset fair values represent approximately $3.14 billion (98%) of the total fair value of Level 3 assets at September 30, 2021 (unaudited). The fixed maturities are priced using a variety of inputs, including appropriate credit spreads over the treasury yield (of a similar duration), trade information and prices of comparable securities and other security specific features (such as optional early redemption). Internally developed prices for equity securities are based primarily on financial information of the entities invested in and sales of comparable companies. Management believes that any justifiable changes in unobservable inputs used to determine internally developed fair values would not have resulted in a material change in GALIC’s financial position.
The derivatives embedded in GALIC’s fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity liabilities are measured using a discounted cash flow approach and had a fair value of $4.21 billion at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and $3.93 billion at December 31, 2020. The following table presents information about the unobservable inputs used by management in determining fair value of these Level 3 liabilities at September 30, 2021 (unaudited). See
Note F — “Derivatives.”
Unobservable Input | Range | |
Adjustment for insurance subsidiary’s credit risk | 0% – 2.2% over the risk-free rate | |
Risk margin for uncertainty in cash flows | 0.99% reduction in the discount rate | |
Surrenders | 7% – 22% of indexed account value | |
Partial surrenders | 2% – 10% of indexed account value | |
Annuitizations | 0.1% – 1% of indexed account value | |
Deaths | 2.0% – 13.7% of indexed account value | |
Budgeted option costs | 2.2% – 2.8% of indexed account value |
The range of adjustments for credit risk is based on the Moody’s corporate A2 bond index and reflects credit spread variations across the yield curve. The range of projected surrender rates reflects the specific surrender charges and other features of GALIC’s individual fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity products with an expected range of 8% to 11% in the majority of future calendar years (7% to 22% over all periods). Increasing the budgeted option cost or risk margin for uncertainty in cash flow assumptions in the table above would increase the fair value of the fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuity embedded derivatives, while increasing any of the other unobservable inputs in the table above would decrease the fair value of the embedded derivatives.
A-19
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Changes in balances of Level 3 financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are presented below (in millions). The transfers into and out of Level 3 were due to changes in the availability of market observable inputs and $20 million of equity securities transferred into Level 3 in the first quarter of 2018 related to a small number of limited partnerships and similar investments carried at cost under the prior guidance that are carried at fair value through net earnings under new guidance adopted on January 1, 2018, as discussed in —All transfers are reflected in the table at fair value as of the end of the reporting period.
Note A
“Accounting Policies
— Investments.”
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 15 | $ | 3 | $ | (18 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 64 | — | (2 | ) | — | (3 | ) | — | — | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 127 | (3 | ) | 1 | — | (13 | ) | 2 | (112 | ) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 10 | (1 | ) | — | — | (1 | ) | 8 | (7 | ) | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 48 | 3 | (3 | ) | — | (1 | ) | — | (47 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 1,069 | 5 | 3 | 330 | (318 | ) | 152 | (215 | ) | 1,026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 1,344 | — | 58 | 235 | (134 | ) | 295 | (69 | ) | 1,729 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 2,677 | 7 | 39 | 565 | (470 | ) | 457 | (450 | ) | 2,825 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 293 | 91 | — | 69 | (65 | ) | — | (7 | ) | 381 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 2,970 | $ | 98 | $ | 39 | $ | 634 | $ | (535 | ) | $ | 457 | $ | (457 | ) | $ | 3,206 | ||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives | $ | (3,933 | ) | $ | (296 | ) | $ | — | $ | (283 | ) | $ | 304 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (4,208 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (3,933 | ) | $ | (296 | ) | $ | — | $ | (283 | ) | $ | 304 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (4,208 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 15 | $ | 3 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 15 | |||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 65 | — | 4 | — | (3 | ) | — | (2 | ) | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 128 | (6 | ) | (7 | ) | — | (13 | ) | 49 | (24 | ) | 127 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 29 | — | — | — | (3 | ) | 1 | (17 | ) | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 14 | (5 | ) | 17 | — | — | 135 | (113 | ) | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 1,030 | (10 | ) | 14 | 296 | (282 | ) | 173 | (152 | ) | 1,069 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 1,535 | 2 | 34 | 227 | (130 | ) | 128 | (452 | ) | 1,344 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 2,816 | (16 | ) | 59 | 523 | (431 | ) | 486 | (760 | ) | 2,677 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 276 | (1 | ) | — | 35 | (12 | ) | 9 | (14 | ) | 293 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 3,092 | $ | (17 | ) | $ | 59 | $ | 558 | $ | (443 | ) | $ | 495 | $ | (774 | ) | $ | 2,970 | |||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives (*) | $ | (3,730 | ) | $ | (283 | ) | $ | — | $ | (242 | ) | $ | 322 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (3,933 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (3,730 | ) | $ | (283 | ) | $ | — | $ | (242 | ) | $ | 322 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (3,933 | ) | ||||||||||||
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net earnings for the embedded derivatives reflects a favorable adjustment related to the unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $240 million in 2020. |
A-20
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 8 | $ | — | $ | 7 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 59 | — | 6 | — | (3 | ) | 10 | (7 | ) | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 161 | 3 | (3 | ) | — | (18 | ) | 36 | (51 | ) | 128 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 48 | 2 | — | — | (13 | ) | 3 | (11 | ) | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 85 | (4 | ) | 4 | — | — | 14 | (85 | ) | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 543 | — | 5 | 727 | (162 | ) | 23 | (106 | ) | 1,030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 1,719 | (1 | ) | 53 | 378 | (250 | ) | 28 | (392 | ) | 1,535 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 2,623 | — | 72 | 1,105 | (446 | ) | 114 | (652 | ) | 2,816 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 212 | 8 | — | 36 | (2 | ) | 22 | — | 276 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 2,835 | $ | 8 | $ | 72 | $ | 1,141 | $ | (448 | ) | $ | 136 | $ | (652 | ) | $ | 3,092 | ||||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives (*) | $ | (2,720 | ) | $ | (919 | ) | $ | — | $ | (333 | ) | $ | 242 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (3,730 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (2,720 | ) | $ | (919 | ) | $ | — | $ | (333 | ) | $ | 242 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (3,730 | ) | ||||||||||||
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net earnings for the embedded derivatives includes a favorable adjustment related to the unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $181 million in 2019. |
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | Net earnings | Other comprehensive income (loss) | Purchases and issuances | Sales and settlements | Transfer into Level 3 | Transfer out of Level 3 | Balance at December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AFS fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency | $ | 8 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
State and municipal | 72 | — | (3 | ) | — | (2 | ) | — | (8 | ) | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 99 | (5 | ) | (4 | ) | — | (18 | ) | 106 | (17 | ) | 161 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 34 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 142 | (2 | ) | (9 | ) | 24 | (11 | ) | 2 | (61 | ) | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 398 | — | (1 | ) | 292 | (171 | ) | 69 | (44 | ) | 543 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 941 | (9 | ) | (18 | ) | 986 | (148 | ) | 26 | (59 | ) | 1,719 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total AFS fixed maturities | 1,694 | (16 | ) | (35 | ) | 1,316 | (350 | ) | 203 | (189 | ) | 2,623 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity securities | 105 | (4 | ) | — | 106 | (4 | ) | 20 | (11 | ) | 212 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 assets | $ | 1,799 | $ | (20 | ) | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 1,422 | $ | (354 | ) | $ | 223 | $ | (200 | ) | $ | 2,835 | ||||||||||||
Embedded derivatives (*) | $ | (2,542 | ) | $ | 204 | $ | — | $ | (545 | ) | $ | 163 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (2,720 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total Level 3 liabilities | $ | (2,542 | ) | $ | 204 | $ | — | $ | (545 | ) | $ | 163 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (2,720 | ) | |||||||||||||
(*) | Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net earnings for the embedded derivatives includes losses related to the unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $44 million in 2018. |
A-21
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value and fair value of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the financial statements are summarized below (in millions):
Carrying | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||
Value | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,308 | $ | 1,308 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,512 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 142 | 142 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 2,962 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
�� | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,151 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 1,151 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,251 | 1,271 | — | — | 1,271 | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 151 | 151 | — | — | 151 | |||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 2,553 | $ | 2,573 | $ | 1,151 | $ | — | $ | 1,422 | ||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | 41,460 | $ | 43,081 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 43,081 | ||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | 41,460 | $ | 43,081 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 43,081 | ||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 734 | $ | 734 | $ | 734 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 1,072 | 1,081 | — | — | 1,081 | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 164 | 164 | — | — | 164 | |||||||||||||||
Total financial assets not accounted for at fair value | $ | 1,970 | $ | 1,979 | $ | 734 | $ | — | $ | 1,245 | ||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated (*) | $ | 40,160 | $ | 40,182 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 40,182 | ||||||||||
Total financial liabilities not accounted for at fair value | $ | 40,160 | $ | 40,182 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 40,182 | ||||||||||
(*) | Excludes $1.16 billion, $1.11 billion and $247 million of life contingent annuities in the payout phase at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. |
A-22
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
D.
Balance Sheet Impact of Net Unrealized Gains on Securities
In addition to adjusting fixed maturity securities classified as “available for sale” to fair value, GAAP requires that deferred policy acquisition costs and certain other balance sheet amounts related to annuity and life businesses be adjusted to the extent that unrealized gains and losses from securities would result in adjustments to those balances had the unrealized gains or losses actually been realized. The following table shows (in millions) the components of the net unrealized gains on securities that is included in AOCI in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
Asset (Liability) before Net Unrealized | Impact of Net Unrealized Gains on Securities | Carrying Value of Asset (Liability) | ||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 33,988 | $ | 2,095 | $ | 36,083 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 1,242 | (768 | ) | 474 | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (44,089 | ) | (287 | ) | (44,376 | ) | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (589 | ) | (3 | ) | (592 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue (included in other liabilities) | (25 | ) | 8 | (17 | ) | |||||||
Net unrealized gain, pretax | 1,045 | |||||||||||
Deferred tax on unrealized gain | (219 | ) | ||||||||||
Net unrealized gain, after tax (included in AOCI) | $ | 826 | ||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 31,570 | $ | 2,553 | $ | 34,123 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 1,236 | (934 | ) | 302 | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (42,249 | ) | (324 | ) | (42,573 | ) | ||||||
Life, accident and health reserves | (607 | ) | (3 | ) | (610 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue (included in other liabilities) | (26 | ) | 11 | (15 | ) | |||||||
Net unrealized gain, pretax | 1,303 | |||||||||||
Deferred tax on unrealized gain | (274 | ) | ||||||||||
Net unrealized gain, after tax (included in AOCI) | $ | 1,029 | ||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 36,144 | $ | 1,755 | $ | 37,899 | ||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | 1,394 | (681 | ) | 713 | ||||||||
Annuity benefits accumulated | (40,186 | ) | (220 | ) | (40,406 | ) | ||||||
Unearned revenue (included in other liabilities) | (23 | ) | 11 | (12 | ) | |||||||
Net unrealized gain, pretax | 865 | |||||||||||
Deferred tax on unrealized gain | (182 | ) | ||||||||||
Net unrealized gain, after tax (included in AOCI) | $ | 683 | ||||||||||
A-23
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
E.
Investments
Available for sale fixed maturities at September 30 (unaudited) and December 31 consisted of the following (in millions):
Amortized Cost | Allowance for Expected Credit Losses | Gross Unrealized | Net Unrealized | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gains | Losses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 39 | $ | — | $ | 2 | $ | (16 | ) | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 25 | ||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 2,680 | — | 264 | — | 264 | 2,944 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 31 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 2,362 | 2 | 166 | (8 | ) | 158 | 2,518 | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 573 | — | 29 | — | 29 | 602 | ||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 3,279 | 3 | 18 | (4 | ) | 14 | 3,290 | |||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 7,982 | 10 | 142 | (48 | ) | 94 | 8,066 | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 17,057 | — | 1,563 | (16 | ) | 1,547 | 18,604 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | 34,003 | $ | 15 | $ | 2,187 | $ | (92 | ) | $ | 2,095 | $ | 36,083 | |||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 40 | $ | — | $ | 4 | $ | — | $ | 4 | $ | 44 | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 3,053 | — | 371 | (2 | ) | 369 | 3,422 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 31 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 1,954 | 3 | 192 | (3 | ) | 189 | 2,140 | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 659 | — | 40 | (1 | ) | 39 | 698 | |||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 3,490 | 10 | 24 | (13 | ) | 11 | 3,491 | |||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 5,099 | 11 | 142 | (54 | ) | 88 | 5,176 | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 17,272 | 4 | 1,874 | (24 | ) | 1,850 | 19,118 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | 31,598 | $ | 28 | $ | 2,650 | $ | (97 | ) | $ | 2,553 | $ | 34,123 | |||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 38 | $ | — | $ | 7 | $ | — | $ | 7 | $ | 45 | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 4,080 | — | 270 | (1 | ) | 269 | 4,349 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign government | 31 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | 1,909 | — | 193 | (3 | ) | 190 | 2,099 | |||||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | 807 | — | 28 | — | 28 | 835 | ||||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | 3,401 | — | 8 | (30 | ) | (22 | ) | 3,379 | ||||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | 5,265 | — | 138 | (16 | ) | 122 | 5,387 | |||||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 20,613 | — | 1,176 | (18 | ) | 1,158 | 21,771 | |||||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | 36,144 | $ | — | $ | 1,823 | $ | (68 | ) | $ | 1,755 | $ | 37,899 | |||||||||||
Equity securities, which are reported at fair value with holding gains and losses recognized in net earnings, consisted of the following at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in millions):
A-24
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value | Fair Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
over (under) | over (under) | over (under) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual Cost | Fair Value | Cost | Actual Cost | Fair Value | Cost | Actual Cost | Fair Value | Cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stocks | $ | — | $ | 241 | $ | — | $ | 423 | $ | 412 | $ | (11 | ) | $ | 497 | $ | 552 | $ | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
Perpetual preferred stocks | — | 407 | — | 333 | 361 | 28 | 249 | 257 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total equity securities carried at fair value | $ | — | $ | 648 | $ | — | $ | 756 | $ | 773 | $ | 17 | $ | 746 | $ | 809 | $ | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||
The following tables show gross unrealized losses (dollars in millions) on available for sale fixed maturities by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at the following balance sheet dates.
Less Than Twelve Months | Twelve Months or More | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized Loss | | | Fair Value | | | Fair Value as % of Cost | | | Unrealized Loss | | | Fair Value | | | Fair Value as % of Cost | | |||||||
September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | (16 | ) | $ | 1 | 6 | % | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | |||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | — | 5 | 100 | % | — | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | (6 | ) | 907 | 99 | % | (2 | ) | 20 | 91 | % | ||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 9 | 100 | % | — | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | (3 | ) | 433 | 99 | % | (1 | ) | 259 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | (37 | ) | 2,410 | 98 | % | (11 | ) | 314 | 97 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (13 | ) | 723 | 98 | % | (3 | ) | 139 | 98 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (75 | ) | $ | 4,488 | 98 | % | $ | (17 | ) | $ | 732 | 98 | % | ||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (2 | ) | 80 | 98 | % | — | — | — | % | |||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | (2 | ) | 124 | 98 | % | (1 | ) | 23 | 96 | % | ||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | (1 | ) | 32 | 97 | % | — | 5 | 100 | % | |||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | (2 | ) | 496 | 100 | % | (11 | ) | 1,256 | 99 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | (35 | ) | 974 | 97 | % | (19 | ) | 295 | 94 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (20 | ) | 724 | 97 | % | (4 | ) | 107 | 96 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (62 | ) | $ | 2,430 | 98 | % | $ | (35 | ) | $ | 1,686 | 98 | % | ||||||||||
December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | $ | — | — | % | ||||||||||||
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (1 | ) | 105 | 99 | % | — | 5 | 100 | % | |||||||||||||||
Residential MBS | (2 | ) | 315 | 99 | % | (1 | ) | 15 | 94 | % | ||||||||||||||
Commercial MBS | — | 11 | 100 | % | — | — | — | % | ||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations | (9 | ) | 995 | 99 | % | (21 | ) | 1,363 | 98 | % | ||||||||||||||
Other asset-backed securities | (11 | ) | 838 | 99 | % | (5 | ) | 91 | 95 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (11 | ) | 937 | 99 | % | (7 | ) | 202 | 97 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total fixed maturities | $ | (34 | ) | $ | 3,201 | 99 | % | $ | (34 | ) | $ | 1,676 | 98 | % | ||||||||||
A-25
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
At September 30, 2021, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of $92 million relate to 320 securities (unaudited). Investment grade securities (as determined by nationally recognized rating agencies) represented approximately 65% of the gross unrealized loss and 84% of the fair value.
At December 31, 2020, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of $97 million relate to 568 securities. Investment grade securities (as determined by nationally recognized rating agencies) represented approximately 76% of the gross unrealized loss and 87% of the fair value.
To evaluate fixed maturities for expected credit losses (impairment), management considers whether the unrealized loss is credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates, the extent to which fair value is less than cost basis, historical operating, balance sheet and cash flow data from the issuer, third party research and communications with industry specialists and discussions with issuer management.
GALIC analyzes its MBS securities for expected credit losses (impairment) each quarter based upon expected future cash flows. Management estimates expected future cash flows based upon its knowledge of the MBS market, cash flow projections (which reflect loan to collateral values, subordination, vintage and geographic concentration) received from independent sources, implied cash flows inherent in security ratings and analysis of historical payment data.
Management believes GALIC will recover its cost basis (net of any allowance) in the securities with unrealized losses and that GALIC has the ability to hold the securities until they recover in value and had no intent to sell them at September 30, 2021.
Seefor a discussion of new guidance effective January 1, 2020, which impacts the accounting for expected credit losses (impairments) of fixed maturity securities. Under the new guidance, credit losses on available for sale fixed maturities continue to be measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows compared to amortized cost; however, impairment losses are now recognized through an allowance instead of directly writing down the amortized cost. Under the new guidance, recoveries of previously impaired amounts are recorded as an immediate reversal of all or a portion of the allowance instead of accreted as investment income through a yield adjustment. In addition, the allowance on available for sale fixed maturities cannot cause the amortized cost net of the allowance to be below fair value. Accordingly, future changes in the fair value of an impaired security (when the allowance was limited by the fair value) due to reasons other than issuer credit (e.g. changes in market interest rates) result in increases or decreases in the allowance, which are recorded through realized gains (losses) on securities. A progression of the allowance for expected credit losses on fixed maturity securities is shown below (in millions):
Note A — “Accounting Policies — Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,”
A-26
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Structured Securities (*) | Corporate and other | Total | ||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2020 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy | — | — | — | |||||||||
Initial allowance for purchased securities with credit deterioration | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||
Provision for expected credit losses on securities with no previous allowance | 28 | 23 | 51 | |||||||||
Additions (reductions) to previously recognized expected credit losses | (5 | ) | (14 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||||
Reductions due to sales or redemptions | — | (5 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 24 | $ | 4 | $ | 28 | ||||||
Balance at January 1, 2021 | $ | 24 | $ | 4 | $ | 28 | ||||||
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy | — | — | — | |||||||||
Initial allowance for purchased securities with credit deterioration | — | — | — | |||||||||
Provision for expected credit losses on securities with no previous allowance | — | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Additions (reductions) to previously recognized expected credit losses | (7 | ) | (1 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||
Reductions due to sales or redemptions | (2 | ) | (4 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | $ | 15 | $ | — | $ | 15 | ||||||
(*) | Includes mortgage-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations and other asset-backed securities. |
In 2020, GALIC purchased two residential mortgage-backed securities with expected credit losses. In aggregate at the time of purchase, the par value was $8 million, the purchase price was $6 million and the allowance for credit losses and the discount were each $1 million.
The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of available for sale fixed maturities as of December 31, 2020 (dollars in millions). Securities with sinking funds are reported at average maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid by the issuers.
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortized | Fair Value | Amortized | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost, net (*) | Amount | % | Cost, net (*) | Amount | % | |||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maturity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
One year or less | $ | 1,577 | $ | 1,617 | 4 | % | $ | 1,975 | $ | 1,995 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||
After one year through five years | 8,006 | 8,652 | 24 | % | 7,761 | 8,442 | 25 | % | ||||||||||||||||
After five years through ten years | 7,032 | 7,860 | 22 | % | 8,198 | 9,402 | 28 | % | ||||||||||||||||
After ten years | 3,192 | 3,478 | 10 | % | 2,458 | 2,779 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
19,807 | 21,607 | 60 | % | 20,392 | 22,618 | 67 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Collateralized loan obligations and other ABS (average life of approximately 4 years) | 11,248 | 11,356 | 31 | % | 8,568 | 8,667 | 25 | % | ||||||||||||||||
MBS (average life of approximately 3-1/2 years) | 2,933 | 3,120 | 9 | % | 2,610 | 2,838 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 33,988 | $ | 36,083 | 100 | % | $ | 31,570 | $ | 34,123 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||
(*) | Amortized cost, net of allowance for expected credit losses |
Certain risks are inherent in fixed maturity securities, including loss upon default, price volatility in reaction to changes in interest rates, and general market factors and risks associated with reinvestment of proceeds due to prepayments or redemptions in a period of declining interest rates.
A-27
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
There were no investments in individual issuers that exceeded 10% of shareholder’s equity at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), December 31, 2020 or 2019.
Net Investment Income
The following table shows (in millions) investment income earned and investment expenses incurred.
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Investment income: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 1,059 | $ | 1,216 | $ | 1,577 | $ | 1,600 | $ | 1,450 | ||||||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends | 14 | 22 | 28 | 34 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Change in fair value (*) | 36 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of partnerships and similar investments | 169 | 14 | 48 | 90 | 96 | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans | 43 | 40 | 54 | 43 | 45 | |||||||||||||||
Policy loans | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate and other | 27 | (7 | ) | 7 | 36 | 26 | ||||||||||||||
Gross investment income | 1,354 | 1,295 | 1,740 | 1,829 | 1,670 | |||||||||||||||
Investment expenses | (24 | ) | (12 | ) | (23 | ) | (16 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,330 | $ | 1,283 | $ | 1,717 | $ | 1,813 | $ | 1,657 | ||||||||||
(*) | Although the change in the fair value of the majority of GALIC’s equity securities is recorded in realized gains (losses) on securities, GALIC records holding gains and losses in net investment income on equity securities classified as “trading” under previous guidance and on a small portfolio of limited partnership and similar investments that do not qualify for the equity method of accounting. |
For the first five months of 2021 and in prior years GALIC’s investment portfolio was managed by a subsidiary of AFG. For the last four months of 2021 GALIC’s investment portfolio is managed by a subsidiary of MassMutual. Investment expenses, which included investment management fees charged by both subsidiaries, were $19 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 (unaudited) , $8 million for 2020, $11 million for 2019 and $7 million for 2018.
Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in AOCI related to fixed maturity securities are summarized as follows (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | Nine months ended September 30, 2020 (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) | Realized gains (losses) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 21 | $ | 7 | $ | 28 | $ | (458 | ) | $ | 38 | $ | (43 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 933 | |||||||||||||
Equity securities | 84 | — | 84 | — | (111 | ) | — | (111 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans and other investments | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (*) | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | (3 | ) | 200 | (6 | ) | 14 | 8 | (526 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total pretax | 107 | 5 | 112 | (258 | ) | (76 | ) | (29 | ) | (105 | ) | 407 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tax effects | (22 | ) | (1 | ) | (23 | ) | 55 | 16 | 6 | 22 | (85 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net of tax | $ | 85 | $ | 4 | $ | 89 | $ | (203 | ) | $ | (60 | ) | $ | (23 | ) | $ | (83 | ) | $ | 322 | ||||||||||||
A-28
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) | Realized gains (losses) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 461 | $ | (32 | ) | $ | 429 | $ | 798 | $ | 19 | $ | (21 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 1,647 | |||||||||||||
Equity securities | (27 | ) | — | (27 | ) | — | 122 | — | 122 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage loans and other investments | 3 | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (*) | (51 | ) | 11 | (40 | ) | (360 | ) | (1 | ) | 11 | 10 | (835 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total pretax | 386 | (21 | ) | 365 | 438 | 142 | (10 | ) | 132 | 812 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax effects | (81 | ) | 4 | (77 | ) | (92 | ) | (30 | ) | 2 | (28 | ) | (171 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net of tax | $ | 305 | $ | (17 | ) | $ | 288 | $ | 346 | $ | 112 | $ | (8 | ) | $ | 104 | $ | 641 | ||||||||||||||
2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Realized gains (losses) | ||||||||||||||||
Before Impairments | Impairments | Total | Change in Unrealized | |||||||||||||
Fixed maturities | $ | 5 | $ | (21 | ) | $ | (16 | ) | $ | (1,057 | ) | |||||
Equity securities | (107 | ) | — | (107 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Mortgage loans and other investments | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Other (*) | 11 | 7 | 18 | 502 | ||||||||||||
Total pretax | (91 | ) | (14 | ) | (105 | ) | (555 | ) | ||||||||
Tax effects | 19 | 3 | 22 | 117 | ||||||||||||
Net of tax | $ | (72 | ) | $ | (11 | ) | $ | (83 | ) | $ | (438 | ) | ||||
(*) | Primarily adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs and reserves related to the annuity business. |
All equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method are carried at fair value through net earnings. GALIC recorded net holding gains (losses) on equity securities during 2020 and 2019 on securities that were still owned at December 31 as follows (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains (losses) | $ | 50 | $ | (126 | ) | $ | (25 | ) | $ | 123 | ||||||
Included in net investment income | 35 | 3 | 11 | 17 | ||||||||||||
$ | 85 | $ | (123 | ) | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 140 | |||||||
Gross realized gains and losses (excluding impairment write-downs andof derivatives) on available for sale fixed maturity investment transactions consisted of the following (in millions):
mark-to-market
(Unaudited) Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross gains | $ | 82 | $ | 69 | $ | 514 | $ | 30 | $ | 17 | ||||||||||
Gross losses | (1 | ) | (30 | ) | (51 | ) | (16 | ) | (12 | ) |
A-29
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
F.
Derivatives
As discussed underinGALIC uses derivatives in certain areas of its operations.
“Derivatives”
Note A — “Accounting Policies,”
Derivatives That Do Not Qualify for Hedge Accounting
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative | Balance Sheet Line | Asset | Liability | Asset | Liability | Asset | Liability | |||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
MBS with embedded derivatives | Fixed maturities | $ | 117 | $ | — | $ | 137 | $ | — | $ | 74 | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Public company warrants | Equity securities | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities (embedded derivative) | Annuity benefits accumulated | — | 4,208 | — | 3,933 | — | 3,730 | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity index call options | Equity index call options | 646 | — | 825 | — | 924 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity index put options | Other liabilities | — | (14 | ) | — | 5 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Reinsurance contract (embedded derivative) | Other liabilities | — | 5 | — | 5 | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
$ | 763 | $ | 4,199 | $ | 962 | $ | 3,943 | $ | 998 | $ | 3,735 | |||||||||||||||
The MBS with embedded derivatives consist of primarily interest-only and principal-only MBS. GALIC records the entire change in the fair value of these securities in earnings. These investments are part of GALIC’s overall investment strategy and represent a small component of GALIC’s overall investment portfolio.
Warrants to purchase shares of publicly traded companies, which represent a small component of GALIC’s overall investment portfolio, are considered to be derivatives that are required to be carried at fair value through earnings.
GALIC’s fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities provide policyholders with a crediting rate tied, in part, to the performance of an existing stock market or other financial index. GALIC attempts to mitigate the risk in the index-based component of these products through the purchase and sale of call and put options on the appropriate index. GALIC receives collateral from certain counterparties to support its purchased call option assets (net of collateral required under put option contracts with the same counterparties). This collateral ($318 million at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), $351 million at December 31, 2020 and $577 million at December 31, 2019) is shown as funds held as collateral in GALIC’s Balance Sheet with an offsetting liability to return the collateral, which is included in liability for funds held as collateral. GALIC’s strategy is designed so that the net change in the fair value of the call and put options will generally offset the economic change in the net liability from the index participation. Both the index-based component of the annuities (an embedded derivative) and the related call and put options are considered derivatives that must be adjusted for changes in fair value through earnings each period. The fair values of these derivatives are impacted by actual and expected stock market performance and interest rates as well as other factors. Fluctuations in certain of these factors, such as changes in interest rates and the performance of the stock market, are not economic in nature for current reporting period but rather impact the timing of reported results.
As discussed underin, GALIC has a reinsurance contract that is considered to contain an embedded derivative.
“Reinsurance”
Note A
A-30
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
The following table summarizes the gains (losses) included in GALIC’s Statement of Earnings for changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting (in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative | Statement of Earnings Line | 2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||
MBS with embedded derivatives | Realized gains (losses) on securities | $ | (18 | ) | $ | 2 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 5 | $ | (4 | ) | ||||||||
Public company warrants | Realized gains (losses) on securities | — | — | — | — | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities (embedded derivative) (*) | Annuity benefits | 296 | 41 | (283 | ) | (919 | ) | 204 | ||||||||||||||
Equity index call options | Annuity benefits | 282 | (42 | ) | 223 | 804 | (298 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Equity index put options | Annuity benefits | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Reinsurance contract (embedded derivative) | Net investment income | — | — | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | 2 | ||||||||||||||
$ | 565 | $ | 2 | $ | (60 | ) | $ | (110 | ) | $ | (100 | ) | ||||||||||
(*) | The change in fair value of the embedded derivative includes a favorable adjustment related to unlocking of actuarial assumptions of $240 million in 2020 and $181 million in 2019 and losses of $44 million in 2018. |
Derivatives Designated and Qualifying as Cash Flow Hedges
Under the terms of the swaps, GALIC receives fixed-rate interest payments in exchange for variable interest payments based on short-term LIBOR. The notional amounts of the interest rate swaps generally decline over each swap’s respective life (the swaps expire between December 2023 and June 2030) in anticipation of the expected decline in GALIC’s portfolio of fixed maturity securities with floating interest rates based on short-term LIBOR. The total outstanding notional amount of GALIC’s interest rate swaps was $1.54 billion at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) compared to $1.63 billion at December 31, 2020 and $1.98 billion at December 31, 2019, reflecting the scheduled amortization discussed above, the termination of a swap with a total notional amount of $83 million in the first quarter of 2020, the termination of two swaps with a total notional amount of $166 million in the second quarter of 2020 and the expiration of a swap with a notional amount of $44 million in the second quarter of 2020. The fair value of the interest rate swaps in an asset position and included in other assets was $60 million at September 30, 2021 (unaudited), $102 million at December 31, 2020 and $50 million at December 31, 2019. The fair value of the interest rate swaps in a liability position and included in other liabilities was zero at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, and $5 million at December 31, 2019. The net unrealized gain or loss on cash flow hedges is included in AOCI, net of DPAC and deferred taxes. Amounts reclassified from AOCI (before DPAC and taxes) to net investment income were income of $26 million through the first nine months of 2021 (unaudited), $40 million in 2020 and $3 million in 2019 and losses of $3 million in 2018. A collateral payable supporting these swaps of $44 million at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and a collateral receivable supporting these swaps of $2 million at December 31, 2020 and $20 million at December 31, 2019 is included in other assets in GALIC’s Balance Sheet.
A-31
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
G.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
A progression of deferred policy acquisition costs is presented below (in millions):
Deferred Costs | Sales Inducements | PVFP | Subtotal | Unrealized (*) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 1,214 | $ | 102 | $ | 49 | $ | 1,365 | $ | (422 | ) | $ | 943 | |||||||||||
Additions | 263 | 2 | — | 265 | — | 265 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (237 | ) | (19 | ) | (7 | ) | (263 | ) | — | (263 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking | 29 | — | — | 29 | — | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | 14 | 1 | — | 15 | — | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | — | 392 | 392 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | 1,283 | 86 | 42 | 1,411 | (30 | ) | 1,381 | |||||||||||||||||
Additions | 206 | 2 | — | 208 | — | 208 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (120 | ) | (13 | ) | (6 | ) | (139 | ) | — | (139 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking | (76 | ) | (1 | ) | — | (77 | ) | — | (77 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | 8 | 1 | — | 9 | — | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | — | (669 | ) | (669 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | 1,301 | 75 | 36 | 1,412 | (699 | ) | 713 | |||||||||||||||||
Additions | 155 | 2 | — | 157 | — | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization | (126 | ) | (9 | ) | (6 | ) | (141 | ) | — | (141 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking | (118 | ) | 4 | — | (114 | ) | — | (114 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains | (42 | ) | 1 | — | (41 | ) | — | (41 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized | — | — | — | — | (272 | ) | (272 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 1,170 | $ | 73 | $ | 30 | $ | 1,273 | $ | (971 | ) | $ | 302 | |||||||||||
Additions (unaudited) | 185 | — | — | 185 | — | 185 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Periodic amortization (unaudited) | (182 | ) | (6 | ) | (4 | ) | (192 | ) | — | (192 | ) | |||||||||||||
Annuity unlocking (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Included in realized gains (unaudited) | (3 | ) | — | — | (3 | ) | — | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized (unaudited) | — | — | — | — | 182 | 182 | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | $ | 1,170 | $ | 67 | $ | 26 | $ | 1,263 | $ | (789 | ) | $ | 474 | |||||||||||
(*) | Adjustments to DPAC related to net unrealized gains/losses on securities and cash flow hedges. |
Annuity unlocking was evaluated in the first nine months of 2021 and it was determined that no adjustment was needed. The present value of future profits (“PVFP”) amounts in the table above are net of $163 million and $160 million of accumulated amortization at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, respectively. During each of the next five years, the PVFP is expected to decrease at a rate of approximately
one-seventh
of the balance at the beginning of each respective year.H.
Shareholder
’
s Equity
Capital Contributions from Parent
non-cash
capital contributions from its former parent GAFRI totaling $1 million in the first nine months of 2021 (unaudited), $12 million in 2020, $19 million in 2019 and $17 million in 2018. Thenon-cash
capital contributions were investments and other similar assets, as well as GAFRI’s payment of certain overhead expenses on behalf of GALIC.A-32
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax (“AOCI”)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AOCI Beginning Balance | Pretax | Tax | Net of tax | Other (b) | AOCI Ending Balance | |||||||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding losses on securities arising during the period | $ | (233 | ) | $ | 49 | $ | (184 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (25 | ) | 6 | (19 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on securities (b) | $ | 1,029 | (258 | ) | 55 | (203 | ) | $ | — | $ | 826 | |||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges | 41 | (24 | ) | 5 | (19 | ) | — | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,070 | $ | (282 | ) | $ | 60 | $ | (222 | ) | $ | — | $ | 848 | ||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period | $ | 834 | $ | (175 | ) | $ | 659 | |||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (396 | ) | 83 | (313 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities | $ | 683 | 438 | (92 | ) | 346 | $ | — | $ | 1,029 | ||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | 17 | 30 | (6 | ) | 24 | — | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 700 | $ | 468 | $ | (98 | ) | $ | 370 | $ | — | $ | 1,070 | |||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding losses on securities arising during the period | $ | 828 | $ | (174 | ) | $ | 654 | |||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | (16 | ) | 3 | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains (losses) on securities | $ | 42 | 812 | (171 | ) | 641 | $ | — | $ | 683 | ||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | (11 | ) | 36 | (8 | ) | 28 | — | 17 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 31 | $ | 848 | $ | (179 | ) | $ | 669 | $ | — | $ | 700 | |||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains on securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding gains on securities arising during the period | $ | (561 | ) | $ | 118 | $ | (443 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses included in net earnings (a) | 6 | (1 | ) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total net unrealized gains on securities | $ | 570 | (555 | ) | 117 | (438 | ) | $ | (90 | ) | $ | 42 | ||||||||||||
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges | (13 | ) | 2 | — | 2 | — | (11 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 557 | $ | (553 | ) | $ | 117 | $ | (436 | ) | $ | (90 | ) | $ | 31 | |||||||||
(a) | The reclassification adjustment out of net unrealized gains on securities affected the following lines in GALIC’s Statement of Earnings: |
OCI component | Affected line in the statement of earnings | |
Pretax | Realized gains (losses) on securities | |
Tax | Provision for income taxes |
(b) | On January 1, 2018, GALIC adopted new guidance that requires all equity securities other than those accounted for under the equity method to be reported at fair value with holding gains and losses recognized in net earnings. At the date of |
A-33
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
adoption, the $90 million net unrealized gain on equity securities classified as available for sale (with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in AOCI) under the prior guidance was reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings as the cumulative effect of an accounting change. |
I.
Income Taxes
The following is a reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory rate 21% to the provision for income taxes as shown in GALIC’s Statement of Earnings (dollars in millions):
Nine months ended September 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | Amount | % of EBT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes (“EBT”) | $ | 417 | $ | (22 | ) | $ | 529 | $ | 497 | $ | 256 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income taxes at statutory rate | $ | 88 | 21 | % | $ | (5 | ) | (23 | %) | $ | 111 | 21 | % | $ | 104 | 21 | % | $ | 54 | 21 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Effect of permanent items | 19 | 5 | % | (3 | ) | (13 | %) | (4 | ) | (1 | %) | (2 | ) | — | % | (7 | ) | (3 | %) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes as shown in the statement of earnings | $ | 107 | 26 | % | $ | (8 | ) | (36 | )% | $ | 107 | 20 | % | $ | 102 | 21 | % | $ | 47 | 18 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
GALIC’s 2013 — 2020 tax years remain subject to examination by the IRS.
GALIC did not have any earnings or losses subject to tax in foreign jurisdictions for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The total income tax provision consists of (in millions):
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
Current taxes: | ||||||||||||
Federal | $ | 60 | $ | 152 | $ | 130 | ||||||
State | 2 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||
Deferred taxes: | ||||||||||||
Federal | 45 | (54 | ) | (86 | ) | |||||||
Provision for income taxes | $ | 107 | $ | 102 | $ | 47 | ||||||
A-34
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recognized for tax purposes. The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities included in GALIC’s Balance Sheet at December 31 were as follows (in millions):
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Excluding Unrealized Gains | Impact of Unrealized Gains | Total | Excluding Unrealized Gains | Impact of Unrealized Gains | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance claims and reserves | $ | 531 | $ | 68 | $ | 599 | $ | 601 | $ | 46 | $ | 647 | ||||||||||||
Other, net | 10 | (2 | ) | 8 | 7 | (2 | ) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
Total deferred tax assets | 541 | 66 | 607 | 608 | 44 | 652 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment securities | (97 | ) | (537 | ) | (634 | ) | (78 | ) | (369 | ) | (447 | ) | ||||||||||||
Deferred policy acquisition costs | (212 | ) | 197 | (15 | ) | (236 | ) | 143 | (93 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Insurance claims and reserves transition liability | (57 | ) | — | (57 | ) | (68 | ) | — | (68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total deferred tax liabilities | (366 | ) | (340 | ) | (706 | ) | (382 | ) | (226 | ) | (608 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net deferred tax asset (liability) | $ | 175 | $ | (274 | ) | $ | (99 | ) | $ | 226 | $ | (182 | ) | $ | 44 | |||||||||
The likelihood of realizing deferred tax assets is reviewed periodically. There was no valuation allowance against deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
GALIC did not have a liability for uncertain tax positions during 2020, 2019 or 2018.
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds, were $90 million, $163 million and $106 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
J.
Contingencies
GALIC and its subsidiaries are involved in litigation from time to time, generally arising in the ordinary course of business. This litigation may include, but is not limited to, general commercial disputes, lawsuits brought by policyholders, employment matters, reinsurance collection matters and actions challenging certain business practices. None of these matters are expected to have a material adverse impact on GALIC’s results of operations or financial condition.
K.
Insurance
Securities owned by GALIC, having a carrying value of approximately $30 million at December 31, 2020, were on deposit as required by regulatory authorities.
FHLB Funding Agreements
In 2020, the FHLB advanced GALIC $200 million and GALIC repaid $165 million to the FHLB. In 2019, GALIC refinanced the terms on advances totaling $610 million. At September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, GALIC had $0.40 billion and $1.13 billion, respectively, in outstanding advances from the FHLB (included in annuity benefits
A-35
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
accumulated), bearing interest at rates ranging from 0.30% to 1.35% (average rate of 0.83% at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and 0.53% at December 31, 2020). While these advances must be repaid between 2021 and 2025 ($200 million in 2021 and $200 million in 2025), GALIC has the option to prepay all or a portion of the advances. GALIC has invested the proceeds from the advances in fixed maturity securities with similar expected lives as the advances for the purpose of earning a spread over the interest payments due to the FHLB. The advances on these agreements are collateralized by fixed maturity investments, which have a total fair value of $1.57 billion and $1.37 billion (included in available for sale fixed maturity securities) at September 30, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020, respectively. Interest credited on the funding agreements, which is included in annuity benefits, was $4 million and $9 million in the first nine months of 2021 and 2020 (both unaudited) , $11 million in 2020 and $27 million in 2019.
Statutory Information
Net Earnings | Capital and Surplus | |||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
GALIC consolidated life insurance companies | $ | 209 | $ | 34 | $ | 802 | $ | 2,897 | $ | 2,868 |
In the fourth quarter of 2018, GALIC entered into a reinsurance treaty with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America that transfers the risk of certain surrender activity in GALIC’s fixed-indexed annuity business. This treaty meets the statutory risk transfer rules and resulted in increases in statutory surplus (through an
after-tax
reserve credit), of $139 million at December 31, 2020 and $124 million at December 31, 2019 which is reflected in the life insurance companies capital and surplus in the table above. Under GAAP, this transaction does not meet the GAAP insurance risk transfer criteria and did not have a material impact on GALIC’s financial statements.The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (“NAIC”) model law for risk based capital (“RBC”) applies to life insurance companies. RBC formulas determine the amount of capital that an insurance company needs so that it has an acceptable expectation of not becoming financially impaired. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are subject to regulatory action. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the capital ratios of GALIC and its life insurance companies substantially exceeded the RBC requirements. GALIC did not use any prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices that differed from the NAIC statutory accounting practices at December 31, 2020 or 2019.
GALIC paid dividends to GAFRI totaling $285 million, $140 million and $60 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The maximum amount of dividends that can be paid to shareholders in 2021 by life insurance companies domiciled in the State of Ohio without prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner is the greater of 10% of statutory surplus as regards to policyholders or statutory net earnings as of the preceding December 31, but only to the extent of statutory earned surplus as of the preceding December 31. The maximum amount of dividends payable in 2021 by GALIC without prior approval is $290 million, based on 10% of statutory surplus. The maximum amount of dividends receivable from GALIC’s subsidiaries in 2021 without prior approval is $34 million.
Reinsurance
In the fourth quarter of 2020, GALIC entered into a block reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth. Under the terms of the agreement, GALIC ceded $5.96 billion of in force traditional fixed and indexed annuities, representing approximately 15% of its in force business, and transferred related investments to Commonwealth. The transaction will be accounted for using the
A-36
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
deposit method and the $180 million loss on the transaction was deferred and will be recognized over the expected life of the underlying annuity contracts
(7-10
years). In the fourth quarter of 2020, $11 million of GALIC’s deferred loss was amortized (and included in annuity benefits expense).Under both the flow and block reinsurance agreements, Commonwealth is required to maintain collateral in trusts in excess of amounts owed to GALIC. Under these agreements, $492 million of gross annuity receipts were ceded and there were $206 million of ceded annuity surrenders, benefits and withdrawals. GALIC received $39 million of commission and expense allowances in 2020 and annuity benefits expense was reduced by $46 million.
GALIC has reinsured approximately $5.42 billion of its $8.33 billion in face amount of life insurance at December 31, 2020 compared to $6.23 billion of its $9.53 billion in face amount of life insurance at December 31, 2019. Life written premiums ceded were $19 million, $20 million and $22 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Reinsurance recoveries on ceded life policies were $28 million, $32 million and $41 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. GALIC would remain liable to its insureds regardless of whether a reinsurer is able to meet its obligations.
Recoverables from Reinsurers and Premiums Receivable
Note A — “Accounting Policies — Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,”
Recoverables from Reinsurers | ||||
Balance at January 1 | $ | — | ||
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy | 5 | |||
Provision for expected credit losses | 2 | |||
Balance at December 31 | $ | 7 | ||
At December 31, 2020, GALIC had no allowance for expected credit losses on premiums receivable.
Fixed Annuities
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Expected death and annuitization | $ | 260 | $ | 232 | ||||
Guaranteed withdrawal benefits | 817 | 625 | ||||||
Accrued persistency and premium bonuses | — | 1 |
Variable Annuities
L.
Additional Information
Related Parties
A-37
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — CONTINUED
(Information as of September 30, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is unaudited)
Financial Instruments — Unfunded Commitments
off-balance-sheet
risks of both a credit and market risk nature. These transactions include commitments to fund loans, loan guarantees and commitments to purchase and sell securities or loans. At December 31, 2020, GALIC had commitments to fund credit facilities and contribute capital to limited partnerships and limited liability corporations of approximately $493 million.Benefit Plans
A-38
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020
(IN MILLIONS)
Segment | Deferred policy acquisition costs | Reserves for future policy benefits and claims | Net earned premiums | Net investment income | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses | Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs | Other operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 286 | $ | 42,573 | $ | — | $ | 1,700 | $ | 1,192 | $ | 246 | $ | 188 | ||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 16 | 610 | 22 | 17 | 40 | 3 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 302 | $ | 43,183 | $ | 22 | $ | 1,717 | $ | 1,232 | $ | 249 | $ | 198 | ||||||||||||||
2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 694 | $ | 40,406 | $ | — | $ | 1,792 | $ | 1,151 | $ | 198 | $ | 188 | ||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 19 | 612 | 22 | 21 | 36 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 713 | $ | 41,018 | $ | 22 | $ | 1,813 | $ | 1,187 | $ | 202 | $ | 195 | ||||||||||||||
2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annuity | $ | 1,358 | $ | 36,616 | $ | — | $ | 1,638 | $ | 998 | $ | 211 | $ | 174 | ||||||||||||||
Run-off life | 23 | 635 | 24 | 19 | 37 | 4 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,381 | $ | 37,251 | $ | 24 | $ | 1,657 | $ | 1,035 | $ | 215 | $ | 185 | ||||||||||||||
A-39
PART II — INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is a list of the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the securities being offered.
Estimated Accounting Fees | $ | 200,000 | ||
Estimated Filing Fees | $ | 0 | ||
Estimated Legal Fees | $ | 200,000 | ||
Registration Fees | $ | 92,607.30 |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Ohio Revised Code, Section 1701.13(E), allows indemnification by the Registrant to any person made or threatened to be made a party to any proceedings, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the Registrant, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, against expenses, including judgment and fines, if he acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests and, with respect to criminal actions, in which he had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Similar provisions apply to actions brought by or in the right of the Registrant, except that no indemnification shall be made in such cases when the person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct to the Registrant unless deemed otherwise by the court. Indemnifications are to be made by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors or the written opinion of independent counsel or by the shareholders or by the court.
Article VI of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Code of Regulations includes the following provisions related to indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and agents.
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or member of a committee of the Corporation or that, being or having been such a director or officer of the Corporation, he or she is or was serving at the request of an executive officer of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whenever the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as such a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Ohio General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), or by other applicable law as then in effect, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, the cost of reasonable settlements with or without suit, attorneys’ fees, costs of investigation, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) or other federal or state acts) actually incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors, and administrators. Except as provided in ARTICLE VI Section 2 with respect to proceedings seeking to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. To the extent any of the indemnification provisions set forth above prove to be ineffective for any reason in furnishing the indemnification provided, each of the persons named above shall be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law.
1.1 Advancements. The right to indemnification conferred in this ARTICLE VI Section 1 shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”). An advancement of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his omission or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the Corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Corporation. An advancement of expenses shall not be made if the Corporation’s Board of Directors makes a good faith determination that such payment would violate applicable law.
Part II - Page 1
Section 2. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under ARTICLE VI Section 1 is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. The indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this ARTICLE VI upon submission of a written claim (and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for an advancement of expenses, where the required undertaking has been tendered to the Corporation), and thereafter the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption that the indemnitee is so entitled.
2.1 No Defense or Presumption. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification shall be a defense to the suit or create a presumption that the indemnitee is not so entitled.
Section 3. Nonexclusivity and Survival of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Code of Regulations, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Such rights shall also not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any rights to which such person may be entitled by contract with the Corporation, which is expressly permitted hereby.
3.1 Amendments. Notwithstanding any amendment to or repeal of this ARTICLE VI, or of any of the procedures established by the Board of Directors pursuant to ARTICLE VI Section 6, any indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof with respect to any acts or omissions of such indemnitee occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
3.2 Survival of Rights. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VI shall, notwithstanding any amendment to or repeal of this ARTICLE VI, inure to the benefit of any person who otherwise may be entitled to be indemnified pursuant to this ARTICLE VI (or the estate or personal representative of such person) for a period of six (6) years after the date such person’s service to or in behalf of the Corporation shall have terminated or for such longer period as may be required in the event of a lengthening in the applicable statute of limitations.
Section 4. Insurance, Contracts, and Funding. The Corporation may, to the full extent then permitted by law, purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including but not limited to trust funds, letters of credit or self- insurance, on behalf of or for any persons described in this ARTICLE VI, against any liability asserted against and incurred by any such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability, loss and/or expense under the Ohio General Corporation Law. The Corporation may enter into contracts with any indemnitee in furtherance of the provisions of this ARTICLE VI and may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect indemnification as provided in this ARTICLE VI. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained with a person in which the Corporation has a financial interest.
Section 5. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, authorize one or more executive officers to grant rights to advancement of expenses to employees or agents of the Corporation on such terms and conditions no less stringent than provided in ARTICLE VI Section 1 hereof as such officer or officers deem appropriate under the circumstances. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to employees or agents or groups of employees or agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the provisions of this ARTICLE VI with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors, officers and members of a committee of the Corporation; provided, however, that an undertaking shall be made by an employee or agent only if required by the Board of Directors.
Part II - Page 2
Section 6. Procedures for the Submission of Claims. The Board of Directors may establish reasonable procedures for the submission of claims for indemnification pursuant to this ARTICLE VI, determination of the entitlement of any person thereto, and review of any such determination.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”), the Registrant’s parent company, maintains, at its expense, Directors and Officers Liability and Company Reimbursement Liability Insurance. The Directors and Officers Liability portion of such policy covers all directors and officers of MassMutual and of the companies which are, directly or indirectly, more than 50% owned by MassMutual, which includes the Registrant. The policy provides for payment on behalf of the directors and officers, up to the policy limits and after expenditure of a specified deductible, of all Loss (as defined) from claims made against them during the policy period for defined wrongful acts, and neglect or breach of duty by directors and officers in the discharge of their individual or collective duties as such. The insurance includes the cost of investigations and defenses, appeals, and settlements and judgments, but not fines or penalties imposed by law. The insurance does not cover any claims arising out of acts alleged to have been committed prior to December 31, 1996, or in the case of companies directly or indirectly 50% owned by MassMutual, which includes the Registrant, such later date as MassMutual or its predecessors may be deemed to control the company. The prior acts effective date for the Registrant is May 28, 2021. The policy contains various exclusions and reporting requirements.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Not applicable
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Exhibits
(1) |
(2) | Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or succession—Not applicable. |
(3) | Governing Documents |
(a) |
(b) |
(4)(a) | Contracts |
(1) |
Part II - Page 3
(4)(b) | Tax Endorsements |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
Part II – Page 4
(4)(c) | Strategy Endorsements |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
Part II – Page 5
(4)(d) Waiver Riders
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(5) |
(8) | Opinion re Tax Matters—Not applicable. |
(9) | Voting Trust Agreement—Not applicable. |
(10) | Materials Contracts |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(11) | Statement re Computation of Per Share Earnings—Not applicable. |
(12) | Statements re Computation of Ratios—Not applicable. |
(15) | Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Information—Not applicable. |
(16) | Letter re Change in Certifying Accountant—Not applicable. |
(21) |
(23) | Consents |
(a) |
(b) |
(24) Powers of Attorney
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
Part II – Page 6
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
(h) |
(i) |
(j) |
(k) |
(l) |
(25) | Statement of Eligibility of Trustee—Not applicable. |
(26) | Invitation for Competitive Bids—Not applicable. |
(99) | Additional Exhibits – None. |
(101) | Interactive Data File is filed herewith. |
(b) Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | A-1 | |||
Financial Statements: | ||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and 2019 | A-4 | |||
Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 | A-5 | |||
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 | A-6 | |||
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 | A-7 | |||
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 | A-8 | |||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | A-9 | |||
Supplementary Data: | ||||
Supplementary Insurance Information | A-39 |
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
Part II – Page 7
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§ 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement. |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A (§ 230.430A of this chapter), shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, |
(5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
(i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§ 230.424 of this chapter); |
(ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(6) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
Part II – Page 8
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
GREAT AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(i) | Consolidated Balance Sheet |
(ii) | Consolidated Statement of Earnings |
(iii) | Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income |
(iv) | Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity |
Part II – Page 9
(v) | Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |
(vi) | Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
(vii) | Financial Statement Schedules |
Part II – Page 10
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form
S-1
for the Individual Index-linked Modified Single Premium Deferred Annuity Contracts to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, on January 6, 2022.Great American Life Insurance Company | ||||||
January 6, 2022 | By: | /s/ Christopher P. Miliano | ||||
Christopher P. Miliano | ||||||
Head of GALIC Finance and Treasurer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement on Form
S-1
for the Individual Index-linked Modified Single Premium Deferred Annuity Contracts has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.Signature | Capacity | Date | ||
/s/ Dominic L. Blue* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Dominic L. Blue* | ||||
/s/ Susan M. Cicco* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Susan M. Cicco* | ||||
/s/ Geoffrey J. Craddock* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Geoffrey J. Craddock* | ||||
/s/ Roger W. Crandall* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Roger W. Crandall* | ||||
/s/ Michael R. Fanning* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Michael R. Fanning* | ||||
/s/ Paul A. LaPiana* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Paul A. LaPiana* | ||||
/s/ Mark F. Muething* | President Chief Operating Officer Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Mark F. Muething* | ||||
/s/ Michael J. O’Connor* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Michael J. O’Connor* | ||||
/s/ Eric W. Partlan* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Eric W. Partlan* | ||||
/s/ Gareth F. Ross* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Gareth F. Ross* | ||||
/s/ Arthur W. Wallace* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Arthur W. Wallace* | ||||
/s/ Elizabeth A. Ward* | Director | January 6, 2022 | ||
Elizabeth A. Ward* |
*By: /s/ John P. Gruber | As Attorney-in-Fact attorney filed herewith | |||
John P. Gruber |
Date: January 6, 2022