Document
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2018
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from_______________________to_______________________
Commission File No. 1-32525 
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
Delaware
 
13-3180631
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1099 Ameriprise Financial Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55474
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (612) 671-3131 
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report:  Not Applicable 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.       Yes x    No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).       Yes x    No o
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. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer x
Accelerated Filer o
Non-Accelerated Filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).       Yes o    No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
 
Outstanding at April 20, 2018
Common Stock (par value $.01 per share)
 
144,612,802 shares
 



AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

FORM 10-Q
INDEX 
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations — Three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income — Three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Balance Sheets — March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Equity — Three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Basis of Presentation
2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
3. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
4. Variable Interest Entities
5. Investments
6. Financing Receivables
7. Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducement Costs
8. Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities
9. Variable Annuity and Insurance Guarantees
10. Debt
11. Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities
12. Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
13. Derivatives and Hedging Activities
14. Shareholders’ Equity
15. Regulatory Requirements
16. Income Taxes
17. Contingencies
18. Earnings per Share
19. Segment Information
Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
 
 
Part II.  Other Information
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.  Risk Factors
Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 6.  Exhibits
Signatures

2


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017 (1)
(in millions, except per share amounts) 
Revenues
 
 
 
Management and financial advice fees
$
1,669

 
$
1,487

Distribution fees
468

 
441

Net investment income
396

 
391

Premiums
343

 
339

Other revenues
308

 
278

Total revenues
3,184

 
2,936

Banking and deposit interest expense
16

 
10

Total net revenues
3,168

 
2,926

Expenses
 
 
 
Distribution expenses
905

 
823

Interest credited to fixed accounts
141

 
162

Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
494

 
567

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
92

 
72

Interest and debt expense
51

 
50

General and administrative expense
789

 
777

Total expenses
2,472

 
2,451

Pretax income
696

 
475

Income tax provision
102

 
72

Net income
$
594

 
$
403

 
 
 
 
Earnings per share
 
 
 
Basic
$
3.97

 
$
2.56

Diluted
$
3.91

 
$
2.52

 
 
 
 
Cash dividends declared per common share
$
0.83

 
$
0.75

 
 
 
 
Supplemental Disclosures:
 
 
 
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities
$

 
$
(1
)
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes)

 

Net impairment losses recognized in net investment income
$

 
$
(1
)
(1) Certain prior period amounts have been restated. See Note 1 for more information.
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions) 
Net income
$
594

 
$
403

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
29

 
7

Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities
(262
)
 
7

Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives

 
1

Defined benefit plans

 
5

Other

 
(1
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(233
)
 
19

Total comprehensive income
$
361

 
$
422

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
 


4


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31, 2017 (1)
(in millions, except share amounts)
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,102

 
$
2,484

Cash of consolidated investment entities
99

 
136

Investments
35,320

 
35,925

Investments of consolidated investment entities, at fair value
2,111

 
2,131

Separate account assets
85,847

 
87,368

Receivables
5,860

 
5,762

Receivables of consolidated investment entities, at fair value
20

 
25

Deferred acquisition costs
2,718

 
2,676

Restricted and segregated cash and investments
2,818

 
3,147

Other assets
7,867

 
7,826

Total assets
$
144,762

 
$
147,480

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims
$
29,364

 
$
29,904

Separate account liabilities
85,847

 
87,368

Customer deposits
10,240

 
10,303

Short-term borrowings
201

 
200

Long-term debt
2,881

 
2,891

Debt of consolidated investment entities, at fair value
2,174

 
2,206

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
1,609

 
1,975

Other liabilities
6,570

 
6,575

Other liabilities of consolidated investment entities, at fair value
36

 
63

Total liabilities
138,922

 
141,485

Equity:
 
 
 
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.:
 
 
 
Common shares ($.01 par value; shares authorized, 1,250,000,000; shares issued, 328,114,954 and 327,506,935 respectively)
3

 
3

Additional paid-in capital
8,116

 
8,085

Retained earnings
11,796

 
11,326

Treasury shares, at cost (183,096,597 and 180,872,271 shares, respectively)
(14,070
)
 
(13,648
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(5
)
 
229

Total equity
5,840

 
5,995

Total liabilities and equity
$
144,762

 
$
147,480

(1) Certain prior period amounts have been restated. See Note 1 for more information.
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

5


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
 
Number of Outstanding Shares
Common Shares
Additional Paid-In Capital
Retained Earnings
Treasury
Shares
Accumulated Other 
Comprehensive Income
Total
(in millions, except per share data)
Balances at January 1, 2017, previously reported
154,759,904
 
$
3
 
$
7,765
 
$
10,351
 
$
(12,027
)
$
200
 
$
6,292

Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies
 
 
 
(3
)
 
 
(3
)
Balances at January 1, 2017, restated
154,759,904
 
3
 
7,765
 
10,348
 
(12,027
)
200
 
6,289

Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
 
 
403
 
 
 
403

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
19
 
19

Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
422

Dividends to shareholders
 
 
 
(121
)
 
 
(121
)
Repurchase of common shares
(4,118,826
)
 
 
 
(509
)
 
(509
)
Share-based compensation plans
2,347,526
 
 
92
 
 
51
 
 
143

Balances at March 31, 2017
152,988,604
 
$
3
 
$
7,857
 
$
10,630
 
$
(12,485
)
$
219
 
$
6,224

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at January 1, 2018 (1)
146,634,664
 
$
3
 
$
8,085
 
$
11,326
 
$
(13,648
)
$
229
 
$
5,995

Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies
 
 
 
1
 
 
(1
)

Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
 
 
594
 
 
 
594

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
(233
)
(233
)
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
361

Dividends to shareholders
 
 
 
(125
)
 
 
(125
)
Repurchase of common shares
(3,003,729
)
 
 
 
(482
)
 
(482
)
Share-based compensation plans
1,387,422
 
 
31
 
 
60
 
 
91

Balances at March 31, 2018
145,018,357
 
$
3
 
$
8,116
 
$
11,796
 
$
(14,070
)
$
(5
)
$
5,840

(1) Prior period retained earnings have been restated. See Note 1 for more information.
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

6


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
594

 
$
403

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net
56

 
63

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
104

 
38

Share-based compensation
32

 
31

Net realized investment (gains) losses
(6
)
 
(19
)
Net trading (gains) losses
(3
)
 
(1
)
Loss from equity method investments
12

 
12

Other-than-temporary impairments and provision for loan losses

 
1

Net (gains) losses of consolidated investment entities
1

 
3

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Restricted and segregated investments
75

 
25

Deferred acquisition costs
13

 
5

Other investments, net
(21
)
 
(98
)
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net
(325
)
 
(434
)
Derivatives, net of collateral
29

 
304

Receivables
(78
)
 
(59
)
Brokerage deposits
(207
)
 
77

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(373
)
 
(259
)
Other operating assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities, net
3

 

Other, net
(114
)
 
(86
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
(208
)
 
6

 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 
 
Available-for-Sale securities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales
361

 
46

Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls
1,195

 
1,274

Purchases
(1,456
)
 
(1,135
)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans
75

 
117

Funding of mortgage loans
(40
)
 
(112
)
Proceeds from sales and collections of other investments
29

 
90

Purchase of other investments
(57
)
 
(54
)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities
(116
)
 
(285
)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities
130

 
296

Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software
(33
)
 
(33
)
Other, net
(1
)
 
7

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
$
87

 
$
211

 
 
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

7


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (Continued)

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
Investment certificates:
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from additions
$
1,336

 
$
1,284

 
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders
(1,192
)
 
(1,083
)
 
Policyholder account balances:
 
 
 
 
Deposits and other additions
444

 
502

 
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts
(28
)
 
(23
)
 
Surrenders and other benefits
(501
)
 
(507
)
 
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums
(45
)
 
(58
)
 
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums
24

 

 
Repayments of long-term debt
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
Dividends paid to shareholders
(122
)
 
(117
)
 
Repurchase of common shares
(425
)
 
(436
)
 
Exercise of stock options
2

 
6

 
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities
(52
)
 

 
Other, net
(2
)
 

 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(564
)
 
(434
)
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
12

 
5

 
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(673
)
 
(212
)
 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
5,144

 
5,392

 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
4,471

 
$
5,180

 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Disclosures:
 
 
 
 
Interest paid excluding consolidated investment entities
$
44

 
$
40

 
Interest paid by consolidated investment entities
21

 
20

 
Income taxes paid, net
118

 
137

 
Non-cash investing activity:
 
 
 
 
Partnership commitments not yet remitted

 
9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(in millions)
 
 
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,102

 
$
2,484

 
Cash of consolidated investment entities
99

 
136

 
Restricted and segregated cash and investments
2,818

 
3,147

 
Less: Restricted and segregated investments
(548
)
 
(623
)
 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash per consolidated statements of cash flows
$
4,471

 
$
5,144

 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

8


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) 
1. Basis of Presentation
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a holding company, which primarily conducts business through its subsidiaries to provide financial planning, products and services that are designed to be utilized as solutions for clients’ cash and liquidity, asset accumulation, income, protection and estate and wealth transfer needs. The foreign operations of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. are conducted primarily through Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Sàrl and Ameriprise Asset Management Holdings GmbH (collectively, “Threadneedle”).
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., companies in which it directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which it is the primary beneficiary (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The interim financial information in this report has not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for fair statement of the consolidated results of operations and financial position for the interim periods have been made. Except for the out-of-period correction described below and the prior period adjustments for the retrospective adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard, all adjustments made were of a normal recurring nature.
In the first quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a $20 million decrease to income tax provision related to an out-of-period correction for a reversal of a tax reserve.
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. These Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 23, 2018 (“2017 10-K”).
The Company evaluated events or transactions that may have occurred after the balance sheet date for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued. No subsequent events or transactions were identified.
On January 1, 2018, the Company retrospectively adopted the new accounting standard for revenue recognition. See Note 2 and Note 3 for further information on the new accounting standard and the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers. The following table presents the impact to the consolidated statements of operations for the prior period presented:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Previously Reported
 
Effect of Change
 
As Adjusted
(in millions)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Management and financial advice fees
$
1,482

 
$
5

 
$
1,487

Distribution fees
443

 
(2
)
 
441

Net investment income
391

 

 
391

Premiums
339

 

 
339

Other revenues
256

 
22

 
278

Total revenues
2,911

 
25

 
2,936

Banking and deposit interest expense
10

 

 
10

Total net revenues
2,901

 
25

 
2,926

 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution expenses
823

 

 
823

Interest credited to fixed accounts
162

 

 
162

Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
567

 

 
567

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
72

 

 
72

Interest and debt expense
50

 

 
50

General and administrative expense
752

 
25

 
777

Total expenses
2,426

 
25

 
2,451

Pretax income
475

 

 
475

Income tax provision
72

 

 
72

Net income
$
403

 
$

 
$
403

The impact to the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 was a $10 million increase to total assets, a $13 million increase to total liabilities and a $3 million decrease to retained earnings.

9


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


2.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated the accounting standards for revenue from contracts with customers. The update provides a five-step revenue recognition model for all revenue arising from contracts with customers and affects all entities that enter into contracts to provide goods or services to their customers (unless the contracts are in the scope of other standards). The standard also updates the accounting for certain costs associated with obtaining and fulfilling a customer contract and requires disclosure of quantitative and qualitative information that enables users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The standard may be applied retrospectively for all periods presented or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment at the date of adoption. The Company adopted the revenue recognition guidance on a retrospective basis on January 1, 2018. The update does not apply to revenue associated with the manufacturing of insurance and annuity products or financial instruments as these revenues are in the scope of other standards. Therefore, the update did not have an impact on these revenues. The Company’s implementation efforts included the identification of revenue within the guidance and the review of the customer contracts to determine the Company’s performance obligation and the associated timing of each performance obligation. The Company determined that certain payments received primarily related to franchise advisor fees should be presented as revenue rather than a reduction of expense. The adoption of the standard did not have other material impacts on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. The impact of the change was an increase to both revenues and expenses of $25 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. See Note 3 for new disclosures on revenue from contracts with customers.
Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In January 2016, the FASB updated the accounting standards on the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. The update requires entities to carry marketable equity securities, excluding investments in securities that qualify for the equity method of accounting, at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in net income each reporting period. The update affects other aspects of accounting for equity instruments, as well as the accounting for financial liabilities utilizing the fair value option. The update eliminates the requirement to disclose the methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial assets or liabilities held at cost on the balance sheet and requires entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of these financial instruments. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2018 using a modified retrospective approach. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income
In February 2018, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to the presentation of tax effects stranded in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). The update allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings for tax effects stranded in AOCI resulting from the legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”). The update is optional and entities may elect not to reclassify the stranded tax effects. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Entities may elect to record the impacts either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Act is recognized. Early adoption is permitted in any period. The Company is currently evaluating whether it will elect to reclassify the stranded tax effects and the potential impact to the consolidated financial condition.
Derivatives and Hedging – Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities
In August 2017, the FASB updated the accounting standards to amend the hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements. The objectives of the update are to better align the financial reporting of hedging relationships to the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities and simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance. The update also adds new disclosures and amends existing disclosure requirements. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and should be applied on a modified retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

10


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Receivables – Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities
In March 2017, the FASB updated the accounting standards to shorten the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Under current guidance, premiums are generally amortized over the contractual life of the security. The amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The update applies to securities with explicit, non-contingent call features that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment
In January 2017, the FASB updated the accounting standards to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment. The update removes the hypothetical purchase price allocation (Step 2) of the goodwill impairment test. Goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and should be applied prospectively with early adoption permitted for any impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
Financial Instruments – Measurement of Credit Losses
In June 2016, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to accounting for credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. The update replaces the current incurred loss model for estimating credit losses with a new model that requires an entity to estimate the credit losses expected over the life of the asset. Generally, the initial estimate of the expected credit losses and subsequent changes in the estimate will be reported in current period earnings and recorded through an allowance for credit losses on the balance sheet. The current credit loss model for Available-for-Sale debt securities does not change; however, the credit loss calculation and subsequent recoveries are required to be recorded through an allowance. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption will be permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. A modified retrospective cumulative adjustment to retained earnings should be recorded as of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective for loans, receivables, and other financial instruments subject to the new expected credit loss model. Prospective adoption is required for establishing an allowance related to Available-for-Sale debt securities, certain beneficial interests, and financial assets purchased with a more-than-insignificant amount of credit deterioration since origination. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
Leases – Recognition of Lease Assets and Liabilities on Balance Sheet
In February 2016, the FASB updated the accounting standards for leases. The update was issued to increase transparency and comparability for the accounting of lease transactions. The standard will require most lease transactions for lessees to be recorded on the balance sheet as lease assets and lease liabilities and both quantitative and qualitative disclosures about leasing arrangements. The Company discloses information related to operating lease arrangements within Note 23 of the 2017 10-K. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The update should be applied at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

11


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


3. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new accounting standard for revenue from contracts with customers on a retrospective basis. See Note 2 for additional information on the adoption of the new accounting standard.
The following tables present revenue disaggregated by segment on an adjusted operating basis with a reconciliation of segment revenues to those reported on the Consolidated Statements of Operations:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Advice & Wealth Management
 
Asset Management
 
Annuities
 
Protection
 
Corporate & Other
 
Total Segments
 
Non-operating Revenue
 
Total
(in millions)
Management and financial advice fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset management fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail
$

 
$
480

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
480

 
$

 
$
480

Institutional

 
111

 

 

 

 
111

 

 
111

Advisory fees
691

 

 

 

 

 
691

 

 
691

Financial planning fees
68

 

 

 

 

 
68

 

 
68

Transaction and other fees
89

 
48

 
14

 
2

 

 
153

 

 
153

Total management and financial advice fees
848

 
639

 
14

 
2

 

 
1,503

 

 
1,503

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
190

 
69

 

 

 

 
259

 

 
259

Insurance and annuity
222

 
45

 
84

 
8

 

 
359

 

 
359

Other products
145

 

 

 

 

 
145

 

 
145

Total distribution fees
557

 
114

 
84

 
8

 

 
763

 

 
763

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other revenues
41

 
1

 

 

 

 
42

 

 
42

Total revenue from contracts with customers
1,446

 
754

 
98

 
10

 

 
2,308

 

 
2,308

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Revenue from other sources (1)
71

 
24

 
515

 
509

 
58

 
1,177

 
61

 
1,238

Total segment gross revenues
1,517

 
778

 
613

 
519

 
58

 
3,485

 
61

 
3,546

Less: Banking and deposit interest expense
16

 

 

 

 
1

 
17

 

 
17

Total segment net revenues
1,501

 
778

 
613

 
519

 
57

 
3,468

 
61

 
3,529

Less: intersegment revenues
240

 
12

 
90

 
16

 
(1
)
 
357

 
4

 
361

Total net revenues
$
1,261

 
$
766

 
$
523

 
$
503

 
$
58

 
$
3,111

 
$
57

 
$
3,168


12


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Advice & Wealth Management
 
Asset Management
 
Annuities
 
Protection
 
Corporate & Other
 
Total Segments
 
Non-operating Revenue
 
Total
(in millions)
Management and financial advice fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset management fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail
$

 
$
440

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
440

 
$

 
$
440

Institutional

 
101

 

 

 

 
101

 

 
101

Advisory fees
570

 

 

 

 

 
570

 

 
570

Financial planning fees
64

 

 

 

 

 
64

 

 
64

Transaction and other fees
89

 
51

 
13

 
2

 

 
155

 

 
155

Total management and financial advice fees
723

 
592

 
13

 
2

 

 
1,330

 

 
1,330

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
208

 
80

 

 

 

 
288

 

 
288

Insurance and annuity
199

 
41

 
78

 
8

 

 
326

 

 
326

Other products
109

 

 

 

 

 
109

 

 
109

Total distribution fees
516

 
121

 
78

 
8

 

 
723

 

 
723

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other revenues
37

 
1

 

 

 

 
38

 

 
38

Total revenue from contracts with customers
1,276

 
714

 
91

 
10

 

 
2,091

 

 
2,091

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue from other sources (1)
55

 
11

 
517

 
511

 
57

 
1,151

 
45

 
1,196

Total segment gross revenues
1,331

 
725

 
608

 
521

 
57

 
3,242

 
45

 
3,287

Less: Banking and deposit interest expense
10

 

 

 

 

 
10

 

 
10

Total segment net revenues
1,321

 
725

 
608

 
521

 
57

 
3,232

 
45

 
3,277

Less: intersegment revenues
237

 
11

 
84

 
15

 

 
347

 
4

 
351

Total net revenues
$
1,084

 
$
714

 
$
524

 
$
506

 
$
57

 
$
2,885

 
$
41

 
$
2,926

(1) Revenues not included in the scope of the revenue from contracts with customers standard. The amounts primarily consist of revenue associated with the manufacturing of insurance and annuity products or financial instruments.
The following discussion describes the nature, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from the Company’s contracts with customers on a consolidated basis.
Management and Financial Advice Fees
Asset Management Fees
The Company earns revenue for performing asset management services for retail and institutional clients. The revenue is earned based on a fixed or tiered rate applied, as a percentage, to assets under management. Assets under management vary with market fluctuations and client behavior. The asset management performance obligation is considered a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are satisfied each day over the contract term. Asset management fees are accrued, invoiced and collected on a monthly or quarterly basis.
The Company’s asset management contracts for Open Ended Investment Companies (“OEICs”) in the UK and Société d'Investissement à Capital Variable (“SICAVs”) in Europe include performance obligations for asset management and fund distribution services. The amounts received for these services are reported as management and financial advice fees. The revenue recognition pattern is the same for both performance obligations as the fund distribution services revenue is variably constrained due to factors outside the Company’s control including market volatility and client behavior (such as how long clients hold their investment) and not recognized until assets under management are known.

13


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The Company may also earn performance-based management fees on institutional accounts, hedge funds, collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), OEICs, SICAVs and property funds based on a percentage of account returns in excess of either a benchmark index or a contractually specified level. This revenue is variable and impacted primarily by the performance of the assets being managed compared to the benchmark index or contractually specified level. The revenue is not recognized until it is probable that a significant reversal will not occur. Performance-based management fees are invoiced on a quarterly or annual basis.
Advisory Fees
The Company earns revenue for performing investment advisory services for certain brokerage customer’s discretionary and non-discretionary managed accounts. The revenue is earned based on a contractual fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to the market value of assets held in the account. The investment advisory performance obligation is considered a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are satisfied each day over the contract term. Advisory fees are accrued daily and invoiced or charged on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Financial Planning Fees
The Company earns revenue for providing financial plans to its clients. The revenue earned for each financial plan is either a fixed fee (received monthly, quarterly or annually) or a variable fee (received monthly or quarterly) based on a contractual fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to assets held in a client’s investment advisory account. The financial planning fee is based on the complexity of a client’s financial and life situation and his or her advisor’s experience. The performance obligation is satisfied at the time the financial plan is delivered to the customer. The Company records a contract liability for the unearned revenue when cash is received before the plan is delivered. The financial plan contracts with clients are annual contracts. Amounts recorded as a contract liability are recognized as revenue when the financial plan is delivered, which occurs within the annual period.
For fixed fee arrangements, revenue is recognized when the financial plan is delivered. The Company accrues revenue for any amounts that have not been received at the time the financial plan is delivered.
For variable fee arrangements, revenue is recognized for cash that has been received when the financial plan is delivered. The amount received after the plan is delivered is variably constrained due to factors outside the Company’s control including market volatility and client behavior. The revenue is recognized when it is probable that a significant reversal will not occur that is generally each month or quarter end as the advisory account balance uncertainty is resolved.
Contract liabilities for financial planning fees, which are included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $133 million and $134 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
The Company pays sales commissions to advisors when a new financial planning contract is obtained or when an existing contract is renewed. The sales commissions paid to the advisors prior to financial plan delivery are considered costs to obtain a contract with a customer and are initially capitalized. When the performance obligation to deliver the financial plan is satisfied, the commission is recognized as distribution expense. Capitalized costs to obtain these contracts are reported in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and were $107 million and $109 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Transaction and Other Fees
The Company earns revenue for providing customer support, shareholder and administrative services (including transfer agent services) for affiliated mutual funds and networking, sub-accounting and administrative services for unaffiliated mutual funds. The Company also receives revenue for providing custodial services and account maintenance services on brokerage and retirement accounts that are not included in an advisory relationship. Transfer agent and administrative revenue is earned based on either a fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to assets under management or an annual fixed fee for each fund position. Networking and sub-accounting revenue is earned based on either an annual fixed fee for each account or an annual fixed fee for each fund position. Custodial and account maintenance revenue is generally earned based on a quarterly or annual fixed fee for each account. Each of the customer support and administrative services performance obligations are considered a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are satisfied each day over the contract term. Transaction and other fees (other than custodial service fees) are invoiced or charged to brokerage accounts on a monthly or quarterly basis. Custodial service fees are invoiced or charged to brokerage accounts on an annual basis. Contract liabilities for custodial service fees, which are included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $48 million and nil as of March 31, 2018 and December 2017, respectively.
The Company earns revenue for providing trade execution services to franchise advisors. The trade execution performance obligation is satisfied at the time of each trade and the revenue is primarily earned based on a fixed fee per trade. These fees are invoiced and collected on a semi-monthly basis.
Distribution Fees
Mutual Funds and Insurance and Annuity Products
The Company earns revenue for selling affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds, fixed and variable annuities and insurance products. The performance obligation is satisfied at the time of each individual sale. A portion of the revenue is based on a fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to amounts invested at the time of sale. The remaining revenue is recognized over the time the client owns the

14


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


investment or holds the contract and is generally earned based on a fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to the net asset value of the fund, or the value of the insurance policy or annuity contract. The ongoing revenue is not recognized at the time of sale because it is variably constrained due to factors outside the Company’s control including market volatility and client behavior (such as how long clients hold their investment, insurance policy or annuity contract). The revenue will not be recognized until it is probable that a significant reversal will not occur.
The Company earns revenue for providing unaffiliated partners an opportunity to educate the Company’s advisors or to support availability and distribution of their products on the Company’s platforms. These payments allow the outside parties to train and support the advisors, explain the features of their products and distribute marketing and educational materials, and support trading and operational systems necessary to enable the Company’s client servicing and production distribution efforts. The Company earns revenue for placing and maintaining unaffiliated fund partners and insurance companies’ products on the Company’s sales platform (subject to the Company’s due diligence standards). The revenue is primarily earned based on a fixed fee or a fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to the market value of assets invested. These performance obligations are considered a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are satisfied each day over the contract term. These fees are invoiced and collected on monthly basis.
Other Products
The Company earns revenue for selling unaffiliated alternative products. The performance obligation is satisfied at the time of each individual sale. A portion of the revenue is based on a fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to amounts invested at the time of sale. The remaining revenue is recognized over the time the client owns the investment and is earned generally based on a fixed rate applied, as a percentage, to the market value of the investment. The ongoing revenue is not recognized at the time of sale because it is variably constrained due to factors outside the Company’s control including market volatility and client behavior (such as how long clients hold their investment). The revenue will not be recognized until it is probable that a significant reversal will not occur.
The Company earns revenue from brokerage clients for the execution of requested trades. The performance obligation is satisfied at the time of trade execution and amounts are received on the settlement date. The revenue varies for each trade based on various factors that include the type of investment, dollar amount of the trade and how the trade is executed (online or broker assisted).
The Company earns revenue for placing clients’ deposits in its brokerage sweep program with third-party banks. The amount received from the third-party banks is impacted by short-term interest rates. The performance obligation with the financial institutions that participate in the sweep program is considered a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are satisfied each day over the contract term. The revenue is earned daily and settled monthly based on a rate applied, as a percentage, to the deposits placed.
Other Revenues
The Company earns revenue from fees charged to franchise advisors for providing various services the advisors need to manage and grow their practices. The primary services include: licensing of intellectual property and software, compliance supervision, insurance coverage, technology services and support, consulting and other services. The services are either provided by the Company or third- party providers. The Company controls the services provided by third parties as it has the right to direct the third parties to perform the services, is primarily responsible for performing the services and sets the prices the advisors are charged. The Company recognizes revenue for the gross amount of the fees received from the advisors. The fees are primarily collected monthly as a reduction of commission payments.
Intellectual property and software licenses, along with compliance supervision, insurance coverage, and technology services and support are primarily earned based on a monthly fixed fee. These services are considered a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and are satisfied each day over the contract term. The consulting and other services performance obligations are satisfied as the services are delivered and revenue is earned based upon the level of service requested. Prior to the implementation of the revenue recognition standard, fees received from the advisors for software licenses, compliance supervision, technology services and support, consulting, and other services were recorded as a reduction to the Company’s expenses to provide the services and totaled $26 million and $24 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Receivables
Receivables for revenue from contracts with customers are recognized when the performance obligation is satisfied and the Company has an unconditional right to the revenue. Receivables related to revenues from contracts with customers were $638 million and $657 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
4.  Variable Interest Entities
The Company provides asset management services to investment entities which are considered to be VIEs, such as CLOs, hedge funds, property funds, certain non-U.S. series funds (OEICs and SICAVs) and private equity funds (collectively, “investment entities”), which are sponsored by the Company. In addition, the Company invests in structured investments other than CLOs and certain affordable housing partnerships which are considered VIEs. The Company consolidates certain investment entities (collectively, “consolidated investment entities”) if the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. The Company has no obligation to provide financial or other support to the non-consolidated VIEs beyond its investment nor has the Company provided any support to these entities.

15


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


CLOs
CLOs are asset backed financing entities collateralized by a pool of assets, primarily syndicated loans and, to a lesser extent, high-yield bonds. Multiple tranches of debt securities are issued by a CLO, offering investors various maturity and credit risk characteristics. The debt securities issued by the CLOs are non-recourse to the Company. The CLO’s debt holders have recourse only to the assets of the CLO. The assets of the CLOs cannot be used by the Company. Scheduled debt payments are based on the performance of the CLO’s collateral pool. The Company earns management fees from the CLOs based on the CLO’s collateral pool and, in certain instances, may also receive incentive fees. The fee arrangement is at market and commensurate with the level of effort required to provide those services. The Company has invested in a portion of the unrated, junior subordinated notes of certain CLOs.
The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to non-consolidated CLOs is limited to its amortized cost, which was $6 million as of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Company classifies these investments as Available-for-Sale securities. See Note 5 for additional information on these investments.
Property Funds
The Company provides investment advice and related services to property funds some of which are considered VIEs. For investment management services, the Company generally earns management fees based on the market value of assets under management, and in certain instances may also receive performance-based fees. The fee arrangement is at market and commensurate with the level of effort required to provide those services. The Company does not have a significant economic interest and is not required to consolidate any of the property funds. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in property funds is reflected in other investments and was $25 million and $24 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds
The Company has determined that consolidation is not required for hedge funds and private equity funds which are sponsored by the Company and considered VIEs. For investment management services, the Company earns management fees based on the market value of assets under management, and in certain instances may also receive performance-based fees. The fee arrangement is at market and commensurate with the level of effort required to provide those services and the Company does not have a significant economic interest in any fund. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to its investment in these entities is limited to its carrying value. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in these entities is reflected in other investments and was $7 million as of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
Non-U.S. Series Funds
The Company manages non-U.S. series funds, which are considered VIEs. For investment management services, the Company earns management fees based on the market value of assets under management, and in certain instances may also receive performance-based fees. The fee arrangement is at market and commensurate with the level of effort required to provide those services. The Company does not consolidate these funds and its maximum exposure to loss is limited to its carrying value. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in these funds is reflected in other investments and was $29 million and $25 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Affordable Housing Partnerships and Other Real Estate Partnerships
The Company is a limited partner in affordable housing partnerships that qualify for government-sponsored low income housing tax credit programs and partnerships that invest in multi-family residential properties that were originally developed with an affordable housing component. The Company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate these partnerships.
A majority of the limited partnerships are VIEs. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its investment in the VIEs is limited to the carrying value. The carrying value is reflected in other investments and was $397 million and $408 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Company had an $80 million and a $97 million liability recorded as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, related to original purchase commitments not yet remitted to the VIEs. The Company has not provided any additional support and is not contractually obligated to provide additional support to the VIEs beyond the above mentioned funding commitments.
Structured Investments
The Company invests in structured investments which are considered VIEs for which it is not the sponsor. These structured investments typically invest in fixed income instruments and are managed by third parties and include asset backed securities, commercial mortgage backed securities and residential mortgage backed securities. The Company classifies these investments as Available-for-Sale securities. The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of these structures due to the size of the Company’s investment in the entities and position in the capital structure of these entities. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its investment in these structured investments is limited to its carrying value. See Note 5 for additional information on these structured investments.

16


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
The Company categorizes its fair value measurements according to a three-level hierarchy. See Note 11 for the definition of the three levels of the fair value hierarchy.
The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities held by consolidated investment entities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
March 31, 2018
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(in millions)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
$

 
$
24

 
$

 
$
24

Common stocks
25

 
5

 
11

 
41

Other investments
4

 

 

 
4

Syndicated loans

 
1,842

 
200

 
2,042

Total investments
29

 
1,871

 
211

 
2,111

Receivables

 
20

 

 
20

Total assets at fair value
$
29

 
$
1,891

 
$
211

 
$
2,131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt (1)
$

 
$
2,174

 
$

 
$
2,174

Other liabilities

 
36

 

 
36

Total liabilities at fair value
$

 
$
2,210

 
$

 
$
2,210

 
December 31, 2017
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(in millions)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
$

 
$
27

 
$

 
$
27

Common stocks
18

 
8

 
4

 
30

Other investments
5

 

 

 
5

Syndicated loans

 
1,889

 
180

 
2,069

Total investments
23

 
1,924

 
184

 
2,131

Receivables

 
25

 

 
25

Total assets at fair value
$
23

 
$
1,949

 
$
184

 
$
2,156

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt (1)
$

 
$
2,206

 
$

 
$
2,206

Other liabilities

 
63

 

 
63

Total liabilities at fair value
$

 
$
2,269

 
$

 
$
2,269

(1) 
The carrying value of the CLOs’ debt is set equal to the fair value of the CLOs’ assets. The estimated fair value of the CLOs’ debt was $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

17


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The following tables provide a summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities held by consolidated investment entities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
Common Stocks
 
Syndicated Loans
 
(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2018
$
4

 
$
180

 
Total gains (losses) included in:
 
 
 
 
Net income
4

(1) 
2

(1) 
Purchases

 
18

 
Sales

 
(1
)
 
Settlements

 
(11
)
 
Transfers into Level 3
4

 
61

 
Transfers out of Level 3
(1
)
 
(49
)
 
Balance, March 31, 2018
$
11

 
$
200

 
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in income relating to assets held at
March 31, 2018
$
4

(1) 
$
2

(1) 
 
Corporate Debt Securities
 
Common Stocks
 
Syndicated Loans
 
(in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2017
$

 
$
5

 
$
254

 
Total gains (losses) included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

 

 
3

(1) 
Purchases

 

 
55

 
Sales

 

 
(8
)
 
Settlements

 

 
(23
)
 
Transfers into Level 3
2

 
1

 
72

 
Transfers out of Level 3

 
(2
)
 
(130
)
 
Balance, March 31, 2017
$
2

 
$
4

 
$
223

 
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in income relating to assets held at March 31, 2017
$

 
$

 
$
2

(1) 
(1) Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Securities and loans transferred from Level 3 primarily represent assets with fair values that are now obtained from a third-party pricing service with observable inputs or priced in active markets. Securities and loans transferred to Level 3 represent assets with fair values that are now based on a single non-binding broker quote. The Company recognizes transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the beginning of the quarter in which each transfer occurred. For assets and liabilities held at the end of the reporting periods that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
All Level 3 measurements as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were obtained from non-binding broker quotes where unobservable inputs utilized in the fair value calculation are not reasonably available to the Company.
Determination of Fair Value
Assets
Investments
The fair value of syndicated loans obtained from third-party pricing services using a market approach with observable inputs is classified as Level 2. The fair value of syndicated loans obtained from third-party pricing services with a single non-binding broker quote as the underlying valuation source is classified as Level 3. The underlying inputs used in non-binding broker quotes are not readily available to the Company.
In consideration of the above, management is responsible for the fair values recorded on the financial statements. Prices received from third-party pricing services are subjected to exception reporting that identifies loans with significant daily price movements as well as no movements. The Company reviews the exception reporting and resolves the exceptions through reaffirmation of the price or recording an appropriate fair value estimate. The Company also performs subsequent transaction testing. The Company performs

18


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


annual due diligence of the third-party pricing services. The Company’s due diligence procedures include assessing the vendor’s valuation qualifications, control environment, analysis of asset-class specific valuation methodologies and understanding of sources of market observable assumptions and unobservable assumptions, if any, employed in the valuation methodology. The Company also considers the results of its exception reporting controls and any resulting price challenges that arise.
See Note 11 for a description of the Company’s determination of the fair value of corporate debt securities, common stocks and other investments.
Receivables
For receivables of the consolidated CLOs, the carrying value approximates fair value as the nature of these assets has historically been short term and the receivables have been collectible. The fair value of these receivables is classified as Level 2.
Liabilities
Debt
The fair value of the CLOs’ assets, typically syndicated bank loans, is more observable than the fair value of the CLOs’ debt tranches for which market activity is limited and less transparent. As a result, the fair value of the CLOs’ debt is set equal to the fair value of the CLOs’ assets. The fair value of the CLOs’ debt is classified as Level 2.
Other Liabilities
Other liabilities consist primarily of securities purchased but not yet settled held by consolidated CLOs. The carrying value approximates fair value as the nature of these liabilities has historically been short term. The fair value of these liabilities is classified as Level 2.
Fair Value Option
The Company has elected the fair value option for the financial assets and liabilities of the consolidated CLOs. Management believes that the use of the fair value option better matches the changes in fair value of assets and liabilities related to the CLOs.
The following table presents the fair value and unpaid principal balance of loans and debt for which the fair value option has been elected:
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
Syndicated loans
 
 
 
Unpaid principal balance
$
2,097

 
$
2,140

Excess unpaid principal over fair value
(55
)
 
(71
)
Fair value
$
2,042

 
$
2,069

Fair value of loans more than 90 days past due
$
21

 
$
24

Fair value of loans in nonaccrual status
21

 
24

Difference between fair value and unpaid principal of loans more than 90 days past due, loans in nonaccrual status or both
36

 
35

 
 
 
 
Debt
 
 
 
Unpaid principal balance
$
2,290

 
$
2,340

Excess unpaid principal over fair value
(116
)
 
(134
)
Carrying value (1)
$
2,174

 
$
2,206

(1) The carrying value of the CLOs’ debt is set equal to the fair value of the CLOs’ assets. The estimated fair value of the CLOs’ debt was $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Interest income from syndicated loans, bonds and structured investments is recorded based on contractual rates in net investment income. Gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of investments and gains and losses on sales of investments are also recorded in net investment income. Interest expense on debt is recorded in interest and debt expense with gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of debt recorded in net investment income.
Total net gains (losses) recognized in net investment income related to changes in the fair value of financial assets and liabilities for which the fair value option was elected were $(1) million and $(3) million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

19


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Debt of the consolidated investment entities and the stated interest rates were as follows:
 
Carrying Value
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
 
Debt of consolidated CLOs due 2025-2026
$
2,174

 
$
2,206

 
3.1
%
 
2.8
%
The debt of the consolidated CLOs has both fixed and floating interest rates, which range from 0% to 7.8%. The interest rates on the debt of CLOs are weighted average rates based on the outstanding principal and contractual interest rates.
5.  Investments
The following is a summary of Ameriprise Financial investments:
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
Available-for-Sale securities, at fair value
$
30,319

 
$
30,927

Mortgage loans, net
2,721

 
2,756

Policy and certificate loans
844

 
845

Other investments
1,436

 
1,397

Total
$
35,320

 
$
35,925

Other investments primarily reflect the Company’s interests in affordable housing partnerships, trading securities, seed money investments, syndicated loans and held-to-maturity certificates of deposit with original or remaining maturities at the time of purchase of more than 90 days but less than 12 months. As of January 1, 2018, marketable equity securities were reclassified from Available-for-Sale securities to other investments due to the adoption of a new accounting standard on the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. The carrying value of held-to-maturity certificates of deposit was $230 million and $205 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, which approximates fair value due to the short time between the purchase of the instrument and its expected realization.
The following is a summary of net investment income:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Investment income on fixed maturities
$
329

 
$
337

Net realized gains (losses)
6

 
17

Affordable housing partnerships
(11
)
 
(12
)
Other
46

 
24

Consolidated investment entities
26

 
25

Total
$
396

 
$
391


20


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Available-for-Sale securities distributed by type were as follows:
Description of Securities
March 31, 2018
Amortized Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Noncredit OTTI (1)
 
(in millions)
Corporate debt securities
$
13,676

 
$
858

 
$
(100
)
 
$
14,434

 
$

Residential mortgage backed securities
6,031

 
41

 
(80
)
 
5,992

 

Commercial mortgage backed securities
4,395

 
25

 
(100
)
 
4,320

 

Asset backed securities
1,502

 
30

 
(9
)
 
1,523

 

State and municipal obligations
2,192

 
217

 
(14
)
 
2,395

 

U.S. government and agencies obligations
1,372

 
1

 

 
1,373

 

Foreign government bonds and obligations
273

 
14

 
(5
)
 
282

 

Total
$
29,441

 
$
1,186

 
$
(308
)
 
$
30,319

 
$

Description of Securities
December 31, 2017
Amortized Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Noncredit OTTI (1)
 
(in millions)
Corporate debt securities
$
13,976

 
$
1,131

 
$
(32
)
 
$
15,075

 
$

Residential mortgage backed securities
6,585

 
63

 
(37
)
 
6,611

 

Commercial mortgage backed securities
4,362

 
48

 
(36
)
 
4,374

 

Asset backed securities
1,549

 
36

 
(5
)
 
1,580

 
1

State and municipal obligations
2,215

 
259

 
(11
)
 
2,463

 

U.S. government and agencies obligations
502

 
1

 

 
503

 

Foreign government bonds and obligations
298

 
20

 
(4
)
 
314

 

Common stocks
5

 
3

 
(1
)
 
7

 

Total
$
29,492

 
$
1,561

 
$
(126
)
 
$
30,927

 
$
1

(1) 
Represents the amount of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses in AOCI. Amount includes unrealized gains and losses on impaired securities subsequent to the initial impairment measurement date. These amounts are included in gross unrealized gains and losses as of the end of the period.
As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, investment securities with a fair value of $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, were pledged to meet contractual obligations under derivative contracts and short-term borrowings, of which $724 million and $803 million, respectively, may be sold, pledged or rehypothecated by the counterparty.
As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, fixed maturity securities comprised approximately 86% of Ameriprise Financial investments. Rating agency designations are based on the availability of ratings from Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”), including Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) and Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”). The Company uses the median of available ratings from Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, or, if fewer than three ratings are available, the lower rating is used. When ratings from Moody’s, S&P and Fitch are unavailable, the Company may utilize ratings from other NRSROs or rate the securities internally. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s internal analysts rated $936 million and $979 million, respectively, of securities using criteria similar to those used by NRSROs.
A summary of fixed maturity securities by rating was as follows:
Ratings
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Percent of Total Fair Value
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Percent of Total Fair Value
 
(in millions, except percentages)
AAA
$
11,823

 
$
11,706

 
39
%
 
$
11,293

 
$
11,331

 
37
%
AA
1,688

 
1,862

 
6

 
1,898

 
2,114

 
7

A
4,398

 
4,705

 
15

 
4,760

 
5,243

 
17


21


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


BBB
10,355

 
10,868

 
36

 
10,317

 
10,989

 
35

Below investment grade (1)
1,177

 
1,178

 
4

 
1,219

 
1,243

 
4

Total fixed maturities
$
29,441

 
$
30,319

 
100
%
 
$
29,487

 
$
30,920

 
100
%
(1) 
The amortized cost and fair value of below investment grade securities includes interest in CLOs managed by the Company of $6 million and $7 million, respectively, at March 31, 2018, and $6 million and $7 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017. These securities are not rated but are included in below investment grade due to their risk characteristics.
As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, approximately 33% and 37%, respectively, of the securities rated AAA were GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC mortgage backed securities. No holdings of any other issuer were greater than 10% of total equity.
The following tables provide information about Available-for-Sale securities with gross unrealized losses and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:
Description of Securities
March 31, 2018
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or more
 
Total
Number of Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
Number of Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
Number of Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
(in millions, except number of securities)
Corporate debt securities
282

 
$
4,289

 
$
(63
)
 
64

 
$
656

 
$
(37
)
 
346

 
$
4,945

 
$
(100
)
Residential mortgage backed securities
163

 
2,716

 
(38
)
 
127

 
1,373

 
(42
)
 
290

 
4,089

 
(80
)
Commercial mortgage backed securities
127

 
2,272

 
(60
)
 
57

 
749

 
(40
)
 
184

 
3,021

 
(100
)
Asset backed securities
43

 
531

 
(6
)
 
22

 
158

 
(3
)
 
65

 
689

 
(9
)
State and municipal obligations
174

 
375

 
(6
)
 
34

 
182

 
(8
)
 
208

 
557

 
(14
)
Foreign government bonds and obligations
13

 
46

 
(1
)
 
12

 
19

 
(4
)
 
25

 
65

 
(5
)
Total
802

 
$
10,229

 
$
(174
)
 
316

 
$
3,137

 
$
(134
)
 
1,118

 
$
13,366

 
$
(308
)
Description of Securities
December 31, 2017
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or more
 
Total
Number of Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
Number of Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
Number of Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Losses
 
(in millions, except number of securities)
Corporate debt securities
150

 
$
1,791

 
$
(8
)
 
70

 
$
740

 
$
(24
)
 
220

 
$
2,531

 
$
(32
)
Residential mortgage backed securities
102

 
1,772

 
(11
)
 
130

 
1,467

 
(26
)
 
232

 
3,239

 
(37
)
Commercial mortgage backed securities
67

 
1,178

 
(12
)
 
58

 
783

 
(24
)
 
125

 
1,961

 
(36
)
Asset backed securities
36

 
424

 
(2
)
 
26

 
187

 
(3
)
 
62

 
611

 
(5
)
State and municipal obligations
76

 
141

 
(1
)
 
34

 
180

 
(10
)
 
110

 
321

 
(11
)
Foreign government bonds and obligations
3

 
6

 

 
15

 
23

 
(4
)
 
18

 
29

 
(4
)
Common stocks

 

 

 
4

 
1

 
(1
)
 
4

 
1

 
(1
)
Total
434

 
$
5,312

 
$
(34
)
 
337

 
$
3,381

 
$
(92
)
 
771

 
$
8,693

 
$
(126
)
As part of Ameriprise Financial’s ongoing monitoring process, management determined that the change in gross unrealized losses on its Available-for-Sale securities is primarily attributable to a rise in interest rates as well as widening credit spreads.

22


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The following table presents a rollforward of the cumulative amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for other-than-temporary impairments related to credit losses on Available-for-Sale securities for which a portion of the securities’ total other-than-temporary impairments was recognized in OCI:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Beginning balance
$
2

 
$
69

Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized

 
1

Ending balance
$
2

 
$
70

Net realized gains and losses on Available-for-Sale securities, determined using the specific identification method, recognized in earnings were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
 
Gross realized investment gains
$
6

 
$
19

Gross realized investment losses
(1
)
 

Other-than-temporary impairments

 
(1
)
Total
$
5

 
$
18

Other-than-temporary impairments for the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily related to credit losses on asset backed securities.
See Note 14 for a rollforward of net unrealized investment gains (losses) included in AOCI.
Available-for-Sale securities by contractual maturity as of March 31, 2018 were as follows:
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
(in millions)
Due within one year
$
3,224

 
$
3,247

Due after one year through five years
6,425

 
6,507

Due after five years through 10 years
3,591

 
3,612

Due after 10 years
4,273

 
5,118

 
17,513

 
18,484

Residential mortgage backed securities
6,031

 
5,992

Commercial mortgage backed securities
4,395

 
4,320

Asset backed securities
1,502

 
1,523

Total
$
29,441

 
$
30,319

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations. Residential mortgage backed securities, commercial mortgage backed securities and asset backed securities are not due at a single maturity date. As such, these securities were not included in the maturities distribution.
6.  Financing Receivables
The Company’s financing receivables primarily include commercial mortgage loans, syndicated loans, policy loans, certificate loans, advisor loans and margin loans. Commercial mortgage loans, syndicated loans, policy loans and certificate loans are reflected in investments. Advisor loans and margin loans are recorded in receivables.
Allowance for Loan Losses
Policy and certificate loans do not exceed the cash surrender value at origination. As there is minimal risk of loss related to policy and certificate loans, the Company does not record an allowance for loan losses. The Company monitors collateral supporting margin loans and requests additional collateral when necessary in order to mitigate the risk of loss. As there is minimal risk of loss related to margin loans, the allowance for loan losses is immaterial.

23


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Commercial Mortgage Loans and Syndicated Loans
The following table presents a rollforward of the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended and the ending balance of the allowance for loan losses by impairment method:
 
March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Beginning balance
$
26

 
$
29

Provisions

 

Ending balance
$
26

 
$
29

 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$

 
$
2

Collectively evaluated for impairment
26

 
27

The recorded investment in financing receivables by impairment method was as follows:
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
17

 
$
17

Collectively evaluated for impairment
3,229

 
3,258

Total
$
3,246

 
$
3,275

As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s recorded investment in financing receivables individually evaluated for impairment for which there was no related allowance for loan losses was $17 million. Unearned income, unamortized premiums and discounts, and net unamortized deferred fees and costs are not material to the Company’s total loan balance.
During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company purchased $33 million and $70 million, respectively, of syndicated loans, and sold $3 million and nil, respectively, of syndicated loans.
The Company has not acquired any loans with deteriorated credit quality as of the acquisition date.
Loans to Financial Advisors
As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, principal amounts outstanding for advisor loans were $509 million, and allowance for loan losses were $23 million. The allowance for loan losses related to loans to financial advisors is not included in the table disclosures above. Of the gross balance outstanding, the portion associated with financial advisors who are no longer affiliated with the Company was $18 million and $19 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The allowance for loan losses on these loans was $12 million at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
Credit Quality Information
Nonperforming loans, which are generally loans 90 days or more past due, were $21 million and $19 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. All other loans were considered to be performing.
Commercial Mortgage Loans
The Company reviews the credit worthiness of the borrower and the performance of the underlying properties in order to determine the risk of loss on commercial mortgage loans. Based on this review, the commercial mortgage loans are assigned an internal risk rating, which management updates as necessary. Commercial mortgage loans which management has assigned its highest risk rating were nil of total commercial mortgage loans as of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Loans with the highest risk rating represent distressed loans which the Company has identified as impaired or expects to become delinquent or enter into foreclosure within the next six months. In addition, the Company reviews the concentrations of credit risk by region and property type.

24


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Concentrations of credit risk of commercial mortgage loans by U.S. region were as follows:
 
Loans
 
Percentage
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
East North Central
$
213

 
$
215

 
8
%
 
8
%
East South Central
89

 
90

 
3

 
3

Middle Atlantic
190

 
192

 
7

 
7

Mountain
251

 
256

 
9

 
9

New England
73

 
74

 
3

 
3

Pacific
801

 
812

 
29

 
29

South Atlantic
749

 
768

 
27

 
28

West North Central
231

 
235

 
9

 
8

West South Central
143

 
133

 
5

 
5

 
2,740

 
2,775

 
100
%
 
100
%
Less: allowance for loan losses
19

 
19

 
 

 
 

Total
$
2,721

 
$
2,756

 
 

 
 

 
Concentrations of credit risk of commercial mortgage loans by property type were as follows:
 
Loans
 
Percentage
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
Apartments
$
567

 
$
566

 
21
%
 
20
%
Hotel
40

 
40

 
1

 
1

Industrial
472

 
476

 
17

 
17

Mixed use
44

 
44

 
2

 
2

Office
470

 
492

 
17

 
18

Retail
930

 
937

 
34

 
34

Other
217

 
220

 
8

 
8

 
2,740

 
2,775

 
100
%
 
100
%
Less: allowance for loan losses
19

 
19

 
 

 
 

Total
$
2,721

 
$
2,756

 
 

 
 

Syndicated Loans
The recorded investment in syndicated loans as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $506 million and $498 million, respectively. The Company’s syndicated loan portfolio is diversified across industries and issuers. The primary credit indicator for syndicated loans is whether the loans are performing in accordance with the contractual terms of the syndication. Total nonperforming syndicated loans as of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $5 million.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
The recorded investment in restructured loans was not material as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The troubled debt restructurings did not have a material impact to the Company’s allowance for loan losses or income recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. There are no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans have been restructured.

25


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


7.  Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducement Costs
The balances of and changes in deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) were as follows:
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Balance at January 1
$
2,676

 
$
2,648

Capitalization of acquisition costs
79

 
67

Amortization
(92
)
 
(72
)
Impact of change in net unrealized securities (gains) losses
55

 

Balance at March 31
$
2,718

 
$
2,643

The balances of and changes in deferred sales inducement costs (“DSIC”), which is included in other assets, were as follows:
 
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Balance at January 1
$
276

 
$
302

Capitalization of sales inducement costs
1

 
2

Amortization
(11
)
 
(9
)
Impact of change in net unrealized securities (gains) losses
9

 

Balance at March 31
$
275

 
$
295

8.  Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims consisted of the following:
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(in millions)
Policyholder account balances
 
 
 
 
Fixed annuities (1)
$
9,765

 
$
9,934

 
Variable annuity fixed sub-accounts
5,139

 
5,166

 
Variable universal life (“VUL”)/universal life (“UL”) insurance
3,041

 
3,047

 
Indexed universal life (“IUL”) insurance
1,469

 
1,384

 
Other life insurance
709

 
720

 
Total policyholder account balances
20,123

 
20,251

 
 
 
 
 
 
Future policy benefits
 
 
 
 
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”)
202

 
463

 
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”)
(76
)
(2) 
(80
)
(2) 
Other annuity liabilities
31

 
78

 
Fixed annuity life contingent liabilities
1,473

 
1,484

 
Life and disability income insurance
1,217

 
1,221

 
Long term care insurance
4,860

 
4,896

 
VUL/UL and other life insurance additional liabilities
646

 
688

 
Total future policy benefits
8,353

 
8,750

 
Policy claims and other policyholders’ funds
888

 
903

 
Total policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims
$
29,364

 
$
29,904

 
(1) Includes fixed deferred annuities, non-life contingent fixed payout annuities and indexed annuity host contracts.
(2) Includes the fair value of GMAB embedded derivatives that was a net asset as of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 reported as a contra liability.

26


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Separate account liabilities consisted of the following:
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
Variable annuity
$
73,592

 
$
75,174

VUL insurance
7,215

 
7,352

Other insurance
33

 
34

Threadneedle investment liabilities
5,007

 
4,808

Total
$
85,847

 
$
87,368

9.  Variable Annuity and Insurance Guarantees
The majority of the variable annuity contracts offered by the Company contain guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) provisions. The Company also offers variable annuities with death benefit provisions that gross up the amount payable by a certain percentage of contract earnings, which are referred to as gain gross-up (“GGU”) benefits. In addition, the Company offers contracts with GMWB and GMAB provisions. The Company previously offered contracts containing guaranteed minimum income benefit (“GMIB”) provisions.
Certain UL policies offered by the Company provide secondary guarantee benefits. The secondary guarantee ensures that, subject to specified conditions, the policy will not terminate and will continue to provide a death benefit even if there is insufficient policy value to cover the monthly deductions and charges.
The following table provides information related to variable annuity guarantees for which the Company has established additional liabilities:
Variable Annuity 
Guarantees
by Benefit Type (1)
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Total Contract Value
 
Contract Value in Separate Accounts
 
Net Amount
at Risk
 
Weighted Average
Attained Age
Total Contract Value
 
Contract Value in Separate Accounts
 
Net Amount
at Risk
 
Weighted Average
Attained Age
 
(in millions, except age)
GMDB:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return of premium
$
60,402

 
$
58,458

 
$
30

 
66
 
$
61,418

 
$
59,461

 
$
9

 
66
Five/six-year reset
8,603

 
5,890

 
18

 
66
 
8,870

 
6,149

 
12

 
66
One-year ratchet
6,330

 
5,970

 
43

 
69
 
6,548

 
6,187

 
11

 
69
Five-year ratchet
1,507

 
1,451

 
2

 
65
 
1,563

 
1,506

 
1

 
65
Other
1,088

 
1,066

 
64

 
72
 
1,099

 
1,075

 
50

 
72
Total — GMDB
$
77,930

 
$
72,835

 
$
157

 
66
 
$
79,498

 
$
74,378

 
$
83

 
66
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GGU death benefit
$
1,093

 
$
1,041

 
$
126

 
70
 
$
1,118

 
$
1,067

 
$
133

 
70
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GMIB
$
219

 
$
202

 
$
8

 
69
 
$
233

 
$
216

 
$
7

 
69
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GMWB:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GMWB
$
2,386

 
$
2,378

 
$
1

 
71
 
$
2,508

 
$
2,500

 
$
1

 
71
GMWB for life
43,837

 
43,729

 
194

 
67
 
44,375

 
44,259

 
129

 
67
Total — GMWB
$
46,223

 
$
46,107

 
$
195

 
67
 
$
46,883

 
$
46,759

 
$
130

 
67
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GMAB
$
2,914

 
$
2,911

 
$
2

 
59
 
$
3,086

 
$
3,083

 
$

 
59
(1) 
Individual variable annuity contracts may have more than one guarantee and therefore may be included in more than one benefit type. Variable annuity contracts for which the death benefit equals the account value are not shown in this table.

27


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The net amount at risk for GMDB, GGU and GMAB is defined as the current guaranteed benefit amount in excess of the current contract value. The net amount at risk for GMIB is defined as the greater of the present value of the minimum guaranteed annuity payments less the current contract value or zero. The net amount at risk for GMWB is defined as the greater of the present value of the minimum guaranteed withdrawal payments less the current contract value or zero.
The following table provides information related to insurance guarantees for which the Company has established additional liabilities:
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Net Amount
at Risk
 
Weighted Average Attained Age
Net Amount
at Risk
 
Weighted Average Attained Age
(in millions, except age)
UL secondary guarantees
$
6,464

 
65
 
$
6,460

 
65
The net amount at risk for UL secondary guarantees is defined as the current guaranteed death benefit amount in excess of the current policyholder account balance.
Changes in additional liabilities (contra liabilities) for variable annuity and insurance guarantees were as follows:
 
GMDB & GGU
 
GMIB
 
GMWB (1)
 
GMAB (1)
 
UL
(in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2017
$
16

 
$
8

 
$
1,017

 
$
(24
)
 
$
434

Incurred claims
1

 

 
(380
)
 
(29
)
 
23

Paid claims
(1
)
 
(1
)
 

 

 
(8
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
$
16

 
$
7

 
$
637

 
$
(53
)
 
$
449

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1, 2018
$
17

 
$
6

 
$
463

 
$
(80
)
 
$
489

Incurred claims
1

 

 
(261
)
 
4

 
26

Paid claims
(1
)
 

 

 

 
(7
)
Balance at March 31, 2018
$
17

 
$
6

 
$
202

 
$
(76
)
 
$
508

(1) The incurred claims for GMWB and GMAB represent the change in the fair value of the liabilities (contra liabilities) less paid claims.
The liabilities for guaranteed benefits are supported by general account assets.
The following table summarizes the distribution of separate account balances by asset type for variable annuity contracts providing guaranteed benefits:
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
Mutual funds:
 
 
 
Equity
$
44,619

 
$
46,038

Bond
22,867

 
23,529

Other
5,631

 
5,109

Total mutual funds
$
73,117

 
$
74,676

10.  Debt
The balances and the stated interest rates of outstanding debt of Ameriprise Financial were as follows: 
 
Outstanding Balance
 
Stated Interest Rate
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Long-term debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior notes due 2019
$
300

 
$
300

 
7.3
%
 
7.3
%
Senior notes due 2020
750

 
750

 
5.3

 
5.3


28


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


 
Outstanding Balance
 
Stated Interest Rate
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Senior notes due 2023
750

 
750

 
4.0

 
4.0

Senior notes due 2024
550

 
550

 
3.7

 
3.7

Senior notes due 2026
500

 
500

 
2.9

 
2.9

Capitalized lease obligations
34

 
38

 
 

 
 
Other (1)
(3
)
 
3

 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt
2,881

 
2,891

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances
151

 
150

 
1.7

 
1.5

Repurchase agreements
50

 
50

 
1.7

 
1.4

Total short-term borrowings
201

 
200

 
 

 
 

Total
$
3,082

 
$
3,091

 
 

 
 

(1) Amounts include adjustments for fair value hedges on the Company’s long-term debt and unamortized discount and debt issuance costs. See Note 13 for information on the Company’s fair value hedges.
Short-term Borrowings
The Company enters into repurchase agreements in exchange for cash, which it accounts for as secured borrowings and has pledged Available-for-Sale securities to collateralize its obligations under the repurchase agreements. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company has pledged $45 million and $43 million, respectively, of agency residential mortgage backed securities and $7 million and $8 million, respectively, of commercial mortgage backed securities. The remaining maturity of outstanding repurchase agreements was less than two months as of March 31, 2018 and less than one month as of December 31, 2017. The stated interest rate of the repurchase agreements is a weighted average annualized interest rate on repurchase agreements held as of the balance sheet date.
The Company’s life insurance subsidiary is a member of the FHLB of Des Moines which provides access to collateralized borrowings. The Company has pledged Available-for-Sale securities consisting of commercial mortgage backed securities to collateralize its obligation under these borrowings. The fair value of the securities pledged is recorded in investments and was $732 million and $750 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The remaining maturity of outstanding FHLB advances was less than three months as of March 31, 2018 and less than four months as of December 31, 2017. The stated interest rate of the FHLB advances is a weighted average annualized interest rate on outstanding borrowings as of the balance sheet date.
On October 12, 2017, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement that provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility of up to $750 million that expires in October 2022. Under the terms of the credit agreement for the facility, the Company may increase the amount of this facility up to $1.0 billion upon satisfaction of certain approval requirements. As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had no borrowings outstanding and $1 million of letters of credit issued against the facility. The Company’s credit facility contains various administrative, reporting, legal and financial covenants. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants as of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
11.  Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities
GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date; that is, an exit price. The exit price assumes the asset or liability is not exchanged subject to a forced liquidation or distressed sale.
Valuation Hierarchy
The Company categorizes its fair value measurements according to a three-level hierarchy. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used by the Company’s valuation techniques. A level is assigned to each fair value measurement based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:
Level 1
Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date.
Level 2
Prices or valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 3
Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

29


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities of Ameriprise Financial measured at fair value on a recurring basis: 
 
March 31, 2018
  
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(in millions)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
139

 
$
1,480

 
$

 
$
1,619

  
Available-for-Sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities

 
13,339

 
1,095

 
14,434

  
Residential mortgage backed securities

 
5,846

 
146

 
5,992

  
Commercial mortgage backed securities

 
4,320

 

 
4,320

  
Asset backed securities

 
1,506

 
17

 
1,523

  
State and municipal obligations

 
2,395

 

 
2,395

  
U.S. government and agency obligations
1,373

 

 

 
1,373

  
Foreign government bonds and obligations

 
282

 

 
282

  
Total Available-for-Sale securities
1,373

 
27,688

 
1,258

 
30,319

  
Equity securities
1

 

 

 
1

  
Equity securities at net asset value (“NAV”)
 
 
 
 
 
 
6

(1) 
Trading securities
13

 
42

 

 
55

 
Separate account assets at NAV
 
 
 
 
 
 
85,847

(1) 
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes
548

 

 

 
548

 
Other assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivative contracts
1

 
818

 

 
819

  
Equity derivative contracts
114

 
2,202

 

 
2,316

  
Foreign exchange derivative contracts
1

 
33

 

 
34

  
Total other assets
116

 
3,053

 

 
3,169

  
Total assets at fair value
$
2,190

 
$
32,263

 
$
1,258

 
$
121,564

  
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indexed annuity embedded derivatives
$

 
$
4

 
$
3

 
$
7

  
IUL embedded derivatives

 

 
585

 
585

  
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives

 

 
(329
)
 
(329
)
(2) 
Total policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims

 
4

 
259

 
263

(3) 
Customer deposits

 
9

 

 
9

  
Other liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivative contracts

 
512

 

 
512

  
Equity derivative contracts
74

 
2,692

 

 
2,766

  
Credit derivative contracts

 
2

 

 
2

 
Foreign exchange derivative contracts
3

 
22

 

 
25

 
Other
14

 
9

 
28

 
51

  
Total other liabilities
91

 
3,237

 
28

 
3,356

  
Total liabilities at fair value
$
91

 
$
3,250

 
$
287

 
$
3,628

  

30


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


 
December 31, 2017
  
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(in millions)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
147

 
$
2,025

 
$

 
$
2,172

  
Available-for-Sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities

 
13,936

 
1,139

 
15,075

  
Residential mortgage backed securities

 
6,456

 
155

 
6,611

  
Commercial mortgage backed securities

 
4,374

 

 
4,374

  
Asset backed securities

 
1,573

 
7

 
1,580

  
State and municipal obligations

 
2,463

 

 
2,463

  
U.S. government and agencies obligations
503

 

 

 
503

  
Foreign government bonds and obligations

 
314

 

 
314

  
Common stocks
1

 

 

 
1

  
Common stocks at NAV
 
 
 
 
 
 
6

(1) 
Total Available-for-Sale securities
504

 
29,116

 
1,301

 
30,927

  
Trading securities
10

 
34

 

 
44

  
Separate account assets at NAV
 
 
 
 
 
 
87,368

(1) 
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes
623

 

 

 
623

 
Other assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivative contracts

 
1,104

 

 
1,104

  
Equity derivative contracts
63

 
2,360

 

 
2,423

  
Foreign exchange derivative contracts
2

 
34

 

 
36

  
Total other assets
65

 
3,498

 

 
3,563

  
Total assets at fair value
$
1,349

 
$
34,673

 
$
1,301

 
$
124,697

  
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indexed annuity embedded derivatives
$

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
5

  
IUL embedded derivatives

 

 
601

 
601

  
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives

 

 
(49
)
 
(49
)
(4) 
Total policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims

 
5

 
552

 
557

(5) 
Customer deposits

 
10

 

 
10

  
Other liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivative contracts
1

 
415

 

 
416

  
Equity derivative contracts
7

 
2,876

 

 
2,883

  
Credit derivative contracts

 
2

 

 
2

 
Foreign exchange derivative contracts
4

 
23

 

 
27

 
Other
9

 
6

 
28

 
43

  
Total other liabilities
21

 
3,322

 
28

 
3,371

  
Total liabilities at fair value
$
21

 
$
3,337

 
$
580

 
$
3,938

  
 
(1) Amounts are comprised of certain financial instruments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
(2) The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $309 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $638 million of individual contracts in an asset position as of March 31, 2018.
(3) 
The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $(432) million cumulative increase (decrease) to the embedded derivatives as of March 31, 2018.
(4) 
The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $443 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $492 million of individual contracts in an asset position as of December 31, 2017.
(5) 
The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $(399) million cumulative increase (decrease) to the embedded derivatives as of December 31, 2017.

31


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The following tables provide a summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities of Ameriprise Financial measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Corporate Debt Securities
 
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities
 
Asset Backed Securities
 
Total
(in millions)
 
Balance, January 1, 2018
$
1,139

 
$
155

 
$
7

 
$
1,301

 
Total gains (losses) included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
(1) 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(14
)
 
(2
)
 

 
(16
)
 
Purchases

 

 
10

 
10

 
Settlements
(29
)
 
(7
)
 

 
(36
)
 
Balance, March 31, 2018
$
1,095

 
$
146

 
$
17

 
$
1,258

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in unrealized (gains) losses relating to assets held at March 31, 2018
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(1
)
(1) 
 
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims
 
Other Liabilities
Indexed Annuity Embedded Derivatives
 
IUL Embedded Derivatives
 
GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives
 
Total
(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2018
$

 
$
601

 
$
(49
)
 
$
552

 
$
28

Total (gains) losses included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

 
(25
)
(2) 
(356
)
(3) 
(381
)
 

Issues
3

 
20

 
83

 
106

 

Settlements

 
(11
)
 
(7
)
 
(18
)
 

Balance, March 31, 2018
$
3

 
$
585

 
$
(329
)
 
$
259

 
$
28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in unrealized (gains) losses relating to liabilities held at March 31, 2018
$

 
$
(25
)
(2) 
$
(348
)
(3) 
$
(373
)
 
$

 
Available-for-Sale Securities
Corporate Debt Securities
 
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities
 
Asset Backed Securities
 
Common Stocks
 
Total
(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2017
$
1,311

 
$
268

 
$
68

 
$
1

 
$
1,648

Total gains (losses) included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income

 

 
1

 

 
1

Purchases
62

 
132

 
49

 

 
243

Settlements
(29
)
 
(12
)
 
(13
)
 

 
(54
)
Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 
8

 
8

Transfers out of Level 3

 
(72
)
 
(41
)
 
(1
)
 
(114
)
Balance, March 31, 2017
$
1,344

 
$
316

 
$
64

 
$
8

 
$
1,732

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at March 31, 2017
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$


32


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


 
Policyholder Account Balances,
Future Policy Benefits and Claims
 
Other Liabilities
IUL Embedded Derivatives
 
GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives
 
Total
(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2017
$
464

 
$
614

 
$
1,078

 
$
13

Total (gains) losses included in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
19

(2) 
(499
)
(3) 
(480
)
 

Issues
22

 
77

 
99

 

Settlements
(12
)
 
(4
)
 
(16
)
 

Balance, March 31, 2017
$
493

 
$
188

 
$
681

 
$
13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in unrealized (gains) losses relating to liabilities held at March 31, 2017
$
19

(2) 
$
(484
)
(3) 
$
(465
)
 
$

(1) Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(2) Included in interest credited to fixed accounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(3) Included in benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The increase (decrease) to pretax income of the Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk on the fair value of its embedded derivatives was $33 million and $(45) million, net of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Securities transferred from Level 3 primarily represent securities with fair values that are now obtained from a third-party pricing service with observable inputs. Securities transferred to Level 3 represent securities with fair values that are now based on a single non-binding broker quote. The Company recognizes transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the beginning of the quarter in which each transfer occurred. For assets and liabilities held at the end of the reporting periods that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
The following tables provide a summary of the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements developed by the Company or reasonably available to the Company of Level 3 assets and liabilities:
 
March 31, 2018
Fair
Value
Valuation Technique
Unobservable Input
Range 
Weighted Average
(in millions)
Corporate debt securities (private placements)
$
1,093
 
Discounted cash flow
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries
0.8
%
2.2%
1.1
%
Asset backed securities
$
7
 
Discounted cash flow
Annual short-term default rate
2.3%
 
 
 
 
Annual long-term default rate
2.5%
3.5%
3.2
%
 
 
 
Discount rate
11.5%
 
 
 
 
Constant prepayment rate
5.0
%
10.0%
10.0
%
 
 
 
Loss recovery
36.4
%
63.6%
63.5
%
IUL embedded derivatives
$
585
 
Discounted cash flow
Nonperformance risk (1)
88 bps
 
Indexed annuity embedded derivatives
$
3
 
Discounted cash flow
Surrender rate
0.0
%
50.0%
 
 
 
 
 
Nonperformance risk (1)
88 bps
 
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives
$
(329
)
Discounted cash flow
Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals (2)
0.0
%
42.0%
 
 
 
 
 
Surrender rate
0.1
%
74.7%
 
 
 
 
 
Market volatility (3)
4.0
%
16.2%
 
 
 
 
 
Nonperformance risk (1)
88 bps
 
Contingent consideration liabilities
$
28
 
Discounted cash flow
Discount rate
9.0%
 

33


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


 
December 31, 2017
Fair
Value
Valuation Technique
Unobservable Input
Range 
Weighted Average
(in millions)
Corporate debt securities (private placements)
$
1,138
 
Discounted cash flow
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries
0.7
%
2.3%
1.1
%
Asset backed securities
$
7
 
Discounted cash flow
Annual short-term default rate
3.8%
 
 
 
 
Annual long-term default rate
2.5%
3.0%
2.7
%
 
 
 
Discount rate
10.5%
 
 
 
 
Constant prepayment rate
5.0
%
10.0%
9.9
%
 
 
 
Loss recovery
36.4
%
63.6%
63.2
%
IUL embedded derivatives
$
601
 
Discounted cash flow
Nonperformance risk (1)
71 bps
 
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives
$
(49
)
Discounted cash flow
Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals (2)
0.0
%
42.0%
 
 
 
 
 
Surrender rate
0.1
%
74.7%
 
 
 
 
 
Market volatility (3)
3.7
%
16.1%
 
 
 
 
 
Nonperformance risk (1)
71 bps
 
Contingent consideration liabilities
$
28
 
Discounted cash flow
Discount rate
9.0%
 
(1) 
The nonperformance risk is the spread added to the observable interest rates used in the valuation of the embedded derivatives.
(2) 
The utilization of guaranteed withdrawals represents the percentage of contractholders that will begin withdrawing in any given year.
(3) 
Market volatility is implied volatility of fund of funds and managed volatility funds.
Level 3 measurements not included in the table above are obtained from non-binding broker quotes where unobservable inputs utilized in the fair value calculation are not reasonably available to the Company.
Sensitivity of Fair Value Measurements to Changes in Unobservable Inputs
Significant increases (decreases) in the yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries used in the fair value measurement of Level 3 corporate debt securities in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
Significant increases (decreases) in the annual default rate and discount rate used in the fair value measurement of Level 3 asset backed securities in isolation, generally, would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement and a significant increase (decrease) in loss recovery in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. A significant increase (decrease) in the constant prepayment rate in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
Significant increases (decreases) in nonperformance risk used in the fair value measurement of the IUL embedded derivatives in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
Significant increases (decreases) in nonperformance risk and surrender rate used in the fair value measurement of the indexed annuity embedded derivatives in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) liability value.
Significant increases (decreases) in utilization and volatility used in the fair value measurement of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) liability value. Significant increases (decreases) in nonperformance risk and surrender rate used in the fair value measurement of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) liability value. Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals and surrender rates vary with the type of rider, the duration of the policy, the age of the contractholder, the distribution channel and whether the value of the guaranteed benefit exceeds the contract accumulation value.
Significant increases (decreases) in the discount rate used in the fair value measurement of the contingent consideration liability in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
Determination of Fair Value
The Company uses valuation techniques consistent with the market and income approaches to measure the fair value of its assets and liabilities. The Company’s market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The Company’s income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future projected cash flows to a single discounted present value amount. When applying either approach, the Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs.

34


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The following is a description of the valuation techniques used to measure fair value and the general classification of these instruments pursuant to the fair value hierarchy.
Assets
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents include time deposits and other highly liquid investments with original or remaining maturities at the time of purchase of 90 days or less. Actively traded money market funds are measured at their NAV and classified as Level 1. The Company’s remaining cash equivalents are classified as Level 2 and measured at amortized cost, which is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the short time between the purchase of the instrument and its expected realization.
Investments (Available-for-Sale Securities, Equity Securities and Trading Securities)
When available, the fair value of securities is based on quoted prices in active markets. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are obtained from third party pricing services, non-binding broker quotes, or other model-based valuation techniques. Level 1 securities primarily include U.S. Treasuries. Level 2 securities primarily include corporate bonds, residential mortgage backed securities, commercial mortgage backed securities, asset backed securities, state and municipal obligations and foreign government securities. The fair value of these Level 2 securities is based on a market approach with prices obtained from third party pricing services. Observable inputs used to value these securities can include, but are not limited to, reported trades, benchmark yields, issuer spreads and non-binding broker quotes. Level 3 securities primarily include certain corporate bonds, non-agency residential mortgage backed securities and asset backed securities. The fair value of corporate bonds, non-agency residential mortgage backed securities and certain asset backed securities classified as Level 3 is typically based on a single non-binding broker quote. The underlying inputs used for some of the non-binding broker quotes are not readily available to the Company. The Company’s privately placed corporate bonds are typically based on a single non-binding broker quote. The fair value of certain asset backed securities is determined using a discounted cash flow model. Inputs used to determine the expected cash flows include assumptions about discount rates and default, prepayment and recovery rates of the underlying assets. Given the significance of the unobservable inputs to this fair value measurement, the fair value of the investment in certain asset backed securities is classified as Level 3. In addition to the general pricing controls, the Company reviews the broker prices to ensure that the broker quotes are reasonable and, when available, compares prices of privately issued securities to public issues from the same issuer to ensure that the implicit illiquidity premium applied to the privately placed investment is reasonable considering investment characteristics, maturity, and average life of the investment.
In consideration of the above, management is responsible for the fair values recorded on the financial statements. Prices received from third party pricing services are subjected to exception reporting that identifies investments with significant daily price movements as well as no movements. The Company reviews the exception reporting and resolves the exceptions through reaffirmation of the price or recording an appropriate fair value estimate. The Company also performs subsequent transaction testing. The Company performs annual due diligence of third party pricing services. The Company’s due diligence procedures include assessing the vendor’s valuation qualifications, control environment, analysis of asset-class specific valuation methodologies, and understanding of sources of market observable assumptions and unobservable assumptions, if any, employed in the valuation methodology. The Company also considers the results of its exception reporting controls and any resulting price challenges that arise.
Separate Account Assets
The fair value of assets held by separate accounts is determined by the NAV of the funds in which those separate accounts are invested. The NAV is used as a practical expedient for fair value and represents the exit price for the separate account. Separate account assets are excluded from classification in the fair value hierarchy.
Investments Segregated for Regulatory Purposes
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes includes U.S. Treasuries that are classified as Level 1.
Other Assets
Derivatives that are measured using quoted prices in active markets, such as foreign currency forwards, or derivatives that are exchange-traded are classified as Level 1 measurements. The variation margin on futures contracts is also classified as Level 1. The fair value of derivatives that are traded in less active over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets is generally measured using pricing models with market observable inputs such as interest rates and equity index levels. These measurements are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and include swaps and the majority of options. The counterparties’ nonperformance risk associated with uncollateralized derivative assets was immaterial as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. See Note 12 and Note 13 for further information on the credit risk of derivative instruments and related collateral.

35


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Liabilities
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims
The Company values the embedded derivatives attributable to the provisions of certain variable annuity riders using internal valuation models. These models calculate fair value by discounting expected cash flows from benefits plus margins for profit, risk and expenses less embedded derivative fees. The projected cash flows used by these models include observable capital market assumptions and incorporate significant unobservable inputs related to contractholder behavior assumptions, implied volatility, and margins for risk, profit and expenses that the Company believes an exit market participant would expect. The fair value also reflects a current estimate of the Company’s nonperformance risk specific to these embedded derivatives. Given the significant unobservable inputs to this valuation, these measurements are classified as Level 3. The embedded derivatives attributable to these provisions are recorded in policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims.
The Company uses various Black-Scholes calculations to determine the fair value of the embedded derivatives associated with the provisions of its indexed annuity and IUL products. Significant inputs to the equity indexed annuity calculation include observable interest rates, volatilities and equity index levels and, therefore, are classified as Level 2. The fair value of fixed index annuity and IUL embedded derivatives includes significant observable interest rates, volatilities and equity index levels and the significant unobservable estimate of the Company’s nonperformance risk. Given the significance of the nonperformance risk assumption to the fair value, the fixed index annuity and IUL embedded derivatives are classified as Level 3. The embedded derivatives attributable to these provisions are recorded in policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims.
The Company’s Corporate Actuarial Department calculates the fair value of the embedded derivatives on a monthly basis. During this process, control checks are performed to validate the completeness of the data. Actuarial management approves various components of the valuation along with the final results. The change in the fair value of the embedded derivatives is reviewed monthly with senior management. The Level 3 inputs into the valuation are consistent with the pricing assumptions and updated as experience develops. Significant unobservable inputs that reflect policyholder behavior are reviewed quarterly along with other valuation assumptions.
Customer Deposits
The Company uses various Black-Scholes calculations to determine the fair value of the embedded derivative liability associated with the provisions of its stock market certificates. The inputs to these calculations are primarily market observable and include interest rates, volatilities and equity index levels. As a result, these measurements are classified as Level 2.
Other Liabilities
Derivatives that are measured using quoted prices in active markets, such as foreign currency forwards, or derivatives that are exchange-traded, are classified as Level 1 measurements. The variation margin on futures contracts is also classified as Level 1. The fair value of derivatives that are traded in less active OTC markets is generally measured using pricing models with market observable inputs such as interest rates and equity index levels. These measurements are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and include swaps and the majority of options. The Company’s nonperformance risk associated with uncollateralized derivative liabilities was immaterial as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. See Note 12 and Note 13 for further information on the credit risk of derivative instruments and related collateral.
Securities sold but not yet purchased include highly liquid investments which are short-term in nature. Securities sold but not yet purchased are measured using amortized cost, which is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the short time between the purchase of the instrument and its expected realization and are classified as Level 2.
Contingent consideration liabilities consist of earn-outs and/or deferred payments related to the Company’s acquisitions. Contingent consideration liabilities are recorded at fair value using a discounted cash flow model under multiple scenarios and an unobservable input (discount rate). Given the use of a significant unobservable input, the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities is classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
The Company assesses its investment in affordable housing partnerships for other-than-temporary impairment. The investments that are determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired are written down to their fair value. The Company uses a discounted cash flow model to measure the fair value of these investments. Inputs to the discounted cash flow model are estimates of future net operating losses and tax credits available to the Company and discount rates based on market condition and the financial strength of the syndicator (general partner). The balance of affordable housing partnerships measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis was $157 million and $166 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

36


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Asset and Liabilities Not Reported at Fair Value
The following tables provide the carrying value and the estimated fair value of financial instruments that are not reported at fair value:
 
March 31, 2018
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(in millions)
Financial Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans, net
$
2,721

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,697

 
$
2,697

 
Policy and certificate loans
844

 

 

 
799

 
799

 
Receivables
1,579

 
115

 
977

 
480

 
1,572

 
Restricted and segregated cash
2,270

 
2,270

 

 

 
2,270

 
Other investments and assets
752

 

 
702

 
54

 
756

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims
$
10,074

 
$

 
$

 
$
10,295

 
$
10,295

 
Investment certificate reserves
6,535

 

 

 
6,506

 
6,506

 
Brokerage customer deposits
3,708

 
3,708

 

 

 
3,708

 
Separate account liabilities at NAV
5,363

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5,363

(1) 
Debt and other liabilities
3,266

 
114

 
3,102

 
100

 
3,316

 
 
December 31, 2017
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(in millions)
Financial Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans, net
$
2,756

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,752

 
$
2,752

 
Policy and certificate loans
845

 

 

 
801

 
801

 
Receivables
1,537

 
103

 
946

 
487

 
1,536

 
Restricted and segregated cash
2,524

 
2,524

 

 

 
2,524

 
Other investments and assets (2)
725

 

 
677

 
49

 
726

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims
$
10,246

 
$

 
$

 
$
10,755

 
$
10,755

 
Investment certificate reserves
6,390

 

 

 
6,374

 
6,374

 
Brokerage customer deposits
3,915

 
3,915

 

 

 
3,915

 
Separate account liabilities at NAV
5,177

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5,177

(1) 
Debt and other liabilities
3,290

 
118

 
3,180

 
119

 
3,417

 
(1) Amounts are comprised of certain financial instruments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
(2) Amounts have been corrected to include certificates of deposit with original or remaining maturities at the time of purchase of more than 90 days but less than 12 months of $205 million as of December 31, 2017. The certificates of deposit are classified as Level 2 and recorded at cost, which is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the short time between the purchase of the instrument and its expected realization.
See Note 6 for additional information on mortgage loans, policy loans and certificate loans. Receivables include brokerage margin loans, securities borrowed and loans to financial advisors. Restricted and segregated cash includes cash segregated under federal and other regulations held in special reserve bank accounts for the exclusive benefit of the Company’s brokerage customers. Other investments and assets primarily include syndicated loans, certificate of deposits with original or remaining maturities at the time of purchase of more than 90 days but less than 12 months, the Company’s membership in the FHLB and investments related to the Community Reinvestment Act. See Note 6 for additional information on syndicated loans.

37


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Policyholder account balances, future policy benefit and claims includes fixed annuities in deferral status, non-life contingent fixed annuities in payout status, indexed annuity host contracts and the fixed portion of a small number of variable annuity contracts classified as investment contracts. See Note 8 for additional information on these liabilities. Investment certificate reserves represent customer deposits for fixed rate certificates and stock market certificates. Brokerage customer deposits are amounts payable to brokerage customers related to free credit balances, funds deposited by customers and funds accruing to customers as a result of trades or contracts. Separate account liabilities relate to investment contracts in pooled pension funds offered by Threadneedle. Debt and other liabilities include the Company’s long-term debt, short-term borrowings, securities loaned and future funding commitments to affordable housing partnerships and other real estate partnerships. See Note 10 for further information on the Company’s long-term debt and short-term borrowings.
12.  Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
Certain financial instruments and derivative instruments are eligible for offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s derivative instruments, repurchase agreements and securities borrowing and lending agreements are subject to master netting and collateral arrangements and qualify for offset. A master netting arrangement with a counterparty creates a right of offset for amounts due to and from that same counterparty that is enforceable in the event of a default or bankruptcy. Securities borrowed and loaned result from transactions between the Company’s broker dealer subsidiary and other financial institutions and are recorded at the amount of cash collateral advanced or received. Securities borrowed and securities loaned are primarily equity securities. The Company’s securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions generally do not have a fixed maturity date and may be terminated by either party under customary terms.
The Company’s policy is to recognize amounts subject to master netting arrangements on a gross basis in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following tables present the gross and net information about the Company’s assets subject to master netting arrangements:
 
March 31, 2018
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amount
Financial Instruments (1)
 
Cash Collateral
 
Securities Collateral
(in millions)
Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC
$
3,093

 
$

 
$
3,093

 
$
(2,606
)
 
$
(428
)
 
$
(15
)
 
$
44

OTC cleared
25

 

 
25

 
(18
)
 

 

 
7

Exchange-traded
51

 

 
51

 
(2
)
 
(1
)
 

 
48

Total derivatives
3,169

 

 
3,169

 
(2,626
)
 
(429
)
 
(15
)
 
99

Securities borrowed
115

 

 
115

 
(17
)
 

 
(95
)
 
3

Total
$
3,284

 
$

 
$
3,284

 
$
(2,643
)
 
$
(429
)
 
$
(110
)
 
$
102

 
December 31, 2017
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amount
Financial Instruments (1)
 
Cash Collateral
 
Securities Collateral
(in millions)
Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC
$
3,520

 
$

 
$
3,520

 
$
(2,653
)
 
$
(760
)
 
$
(88
)
 
$
19

OTC cleared
21

 

 
21

 
(15
)
 

 

 
6

Exchange-traded
22

 

 
22

 
(1
)
 

 

 
21

Total derivatives
3,563

 

 
3,563

 
(2,669
)
 
(760
)
 
(88
)
 
46

Securities borrowed
103

 

 
103

 
(19
)
 

 
(82
)
 
2

Total
$
3,666

 
$

 
$
3,666

 
$
(2,688
)
 
$
(760
)
 
$
(170
)
 
$
48

(1) Represents the amount of assets that could be offset by liabilities with the same counterparty under master netting or similar arrangements that management elects not to offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.


38


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The following tables present the gross and net information about the Company’s liabilities subject to master netting arrangements:
 
March 31, 2018
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amount
Financial Instruments (1)
 
Cash Collateral
 
Securities Collateral
(in millions)
Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC
$
3,278

 
$

 
$
3,278

 
$
(2,606
)
 
$
(68
)
 
$
(599
)
 
$
5

OTC cleared
18

 

 
18

 
(18
)
 

 

 

Exchange-traded
9

 

 
9

 
(2
)
 

 

 
7

Total derivatives
3,305

 

 
3,305

 
(2,626
)
 
(68
)
 
(599
)
 
12

Securities loaned
114

 

 
114

 
(17
)
 

 
(94
)
 
3

Repurchase agreements
50

 

 
50

 

 

 
(50
)
 

Total
$
3,469

 
$

 
$
3,469

 
$
(2,643
)
 
$
(68
)
 
$
(743
)
 
$
15

 
December 31, 2017
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated
Balance Sheets
 
Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amount
Financial Instruments (1)
 
Cash Collateral
 
Securities Collateral
(in millions)
Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTC
$
3,309

 
$

 
$
3,309

 
$
(2,653
)
 
$
(70
)
 
$
(579
)
 
$
7

OTC cleared
16

 

 
16

 
(15
)
 

 

 
1

Exchange-traded
3

 

 
3

 
(1
)
 

 

 
2

Total derivatives
3,328

 

 
3,328

 
(2,669
)
 
(70
)
 
(579
)
 
10

Securities loaned
118

 

 
118

 
(19
)
 

 
(94
)
 
5

Repurchase agreements
50

 

 
50

 

 

 
(50
)
 

Total
$
3,496

 
$

 
$
3,496

 
$
(2,688
)
 
$
(70
)
 
$
(723
)
 
$
15

(1) Represents the amount of liabilities that could be offset by assets with the same counterparty under master netting or similar arrangements that management elects not to offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In the tables above, the amount of assets or liabilities presented are offset first by financial instruments that have the right of offset under master netting or similar arrangements, then any remaining amount is reduced by the amount of cash and securities collateral. The actual collateral may be greater than amounts presented in the tables.
When the fair value of collateral accepted by the Company is less than the amount due to the Company, there is a risk of loss if the counterparty fails to perform or provide additional collateral. To mitigate this risk, the Company monitors collateral values regularly and requires additional collateral when necessary. When the value of collateral pledged by the Company declines, it may be required to post additional collateral.
Freestanding derivative instruments are reflected in other assets and other liabilities. Cash collateral pledged by the Company is reflected in other assets and cash collateral accepted by the Company is reflected in other liabilities. Repurchase agreements are reflected in short-term borrowings. Securities borrowing and lending agreements are reflected in receivables and other liabilities, respectively. See Note 13 for additional disclosures related to the Company’s derivative instruments, Note 10 for additional disclosures related to the Company’s repurchase agreements and Note 4 for information related to derivatives held by consolidated investment entities.

39


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


13.  Derivatives and Hedging Activities
Derivative instruments enable the Company to manage its exposure to various market risks. The value of such instruments is derived from an underlying variable or multiple variables, including equity, foreign exchange and interest rate indices or prices. The Company primarily enters into derivative agreements for risk management purposes related to the Company’s products and operations.
The Company’s freestanding derivative instruments are all subject to master netting arrangements. The Company’s policy on the recognition of derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is to not offset fair value amounts recognized for derivatives and collateral arrangements executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting arrangement. See Note 12 for additional information regarding the estimated fair value of the Company’s freestanding derivatives after considering the effect of master netting arrangements and collateral.
The Company uses derivatives as economic hedges and accounting hedges. The following table presents the notional value and gross fair value of derivative instruments, including embedded derivatives:
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Notional
 
Gross Fair Value
Notional
 
Gross Fair Value
Assets (1)
 
Liabilities (2)(3)
Assets (1)
 
Liabilities (2)(3)
(in millions)
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
675

 
$
15

 
$

 
$
675

 
$
23

 
$

Foreign exchange contracts
209

 

 
3

 
87

 

 
4

Total qualifying hedges
884

 
15

 
3

 
762

 
23

 
4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
63,848

 
804

 
512

 
66,043

 
1,081

 
416

Equity contracts
58,260

 
2,316

 
2,766

 
59,292

 
2,423

 
2,883

Credit contracts
856

 

 
2

 
721

 

 
2

Foreign exchange contracts
4,363

 
34

 
22

 
4,163

 
36

 
23

Other contracts
2

 

 

 
452

 

 

Total non-designated hedges
127,329

 
3,154

 
3,302

 
130,671

 
3,540

 
3,324

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Embedded derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GMWB and GMAB (4)
N/A

 

 
(329
)
 
N/A

 

 
(49
)
IUL
N/A

 

 
585

 
N/A

 

 
601

Indexed annuities
N/A

 

 
7

 
N/A

 

 
5

SMC
N/A

 

 
9

 
N/A

 

 
10

Total embedded derivatives
N/A

 

 
272

 
N/A

 

 
567

Total derivatives
$
128,213

 
$
3,169

 
$
3,577

 
$
131,433

 
$
3,563

 
$
3,895

N/A  Not applicable.
(1) The fair value of freestanding derivative assets is included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2) The fair value of freestanding derivative liabilities is included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of GMWB and GMAB, IUL, and indexed annuity embedded derivatives is included in Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the SMC embedded derivative liability is included in Customer deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3) The fair value of the Company’s derivative liabilities after considering the effects of master netting arrangements, cash collateral held by the same counterparty and the fair value of net embedded derivatives was $883 million and $1.3 billion as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. See Note 12 for additional information related to master netting arrangements and cash collateral. See Note 4 for information about derivatives held by consolidated VIEs.
(4) The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives as of March 31, 2018 included $309 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $638 million of individual contracts in an asset position. The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives as of December 31, 2017 included $443 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $492 million of individual contracts in an asset position.

40


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


See Note 11 for additional information regarding the Company’s fair value measurement of derivative instruments.
As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, investment securities with a fair value of $15 million and $89 million, respectively, were received as collateral to meet contractual obligations under derivative contracts, of which $15 million and $89 million, respectively, may be sold, pledged or rehypothecated by the Company. As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had sold, pledged or rehypothecated nil of these securities. In addition, as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, non-cash collateral accepted was held in separate custodial accounts and was not included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
The following tables present a summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, including embedded derivatives, on the Consolidated Statements of Operations:
 
Net Investment Income
 
Banking and Deposit Interest Expense
 
Distribution Expenses
 
Interest Credited to Fixed Accounts
 
Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expenses
 
General and Administrative Expense
(in millions)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
17

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(398
)
 
$

Equity contracts

 

 
(3
)
 
(8
)
 
25

 

Credit contracts

 

 

 

 
12

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

 

 

 
2

 
(2
)
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives

 

 

 

 
280

 

IUL embedded derivatives

 

 

 
36

 

 

SMC embedded derivatives

 
1

 

 

 

 

Total gain (loss)
$
17

 
$
1

 
$
(3
)
 
$
28

 
$
(79
)
 
$
(2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
1

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(81
)
 
$

Equity contracts
2

 
1

 
15

 
19

 
(462
)
 
3

Credit contracts

 

 

 

 
(8
)
 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

 
1

 

 
(24
)
 
1

GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives

 

 

 

 
426

 

IUL embedded derivatives

 

 

 
(7
)
 

 

SMC embedded derivatives

 
(1
)
 

 

 

 

Total gain (loss)
$
3

 
$

 
$
16

 
$
12

 
$
(149
)
 
$
4

The Company holds derivative instruments that either do not qualify or are not designated for hedge accounting treatment. These derivative instruments are used as economic hedges of equity, interest rate, credit and foreign currency exchange rate risk related to various products and transactions of the Company.
Certain annuity contracts contain GMWB or GMAB provisions, which guarantee the right to make limited partial withdrawals each contract year regardless of the volatility inherent in the underlying investments or guarantee a minimum accumulation value of consideration received at the beginning of the contract period, after a specified holding period, respectively. The GMAB and non-life contingent GMWB provisions are considered embedded derivatives, which are bifurcated from their host contracts for valuation purposes and reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings. The Company economically hedges the exposure related to GMAB and non-life contingent GMWB provisions primarily using futures, options, interest rate swaptions, interest rate swaps, total return swaps and variance swaps.

41


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The deferred premium associated with certain of the above options and swaptions is paid or received semi-annually over the life of the contract or at maturity. The following is a summary of the payments the Company is scheduled to make and receive for these options and swaptions as of March 31, 2018:
 
Premiums Payable
 
Premiums Receivable
(in millions)
2018 (1)
$
192

 
$
78

2019
299

 
173

2020
219

 
132

2021
188

 
121

2022
253

 
200

2023 - 2027
541

 
60

Total
$
1,692

 
$
764

(1) 2018 amounts represent the amounts payable and receivable for the period from April 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
Actual timing and payment amounts may differ due to future settlements, modifications or exercises of the contracts prior to the full premium being paid or received.
The Company has a macro hedge program to provide protection against the statutory tail scenario risk arising from variable annuity reserves on its statutory surplus and to cover some of the residual risks not covered by other hedging activities. As a means of economically hedging these risks, the Company may use a combination of futures, options, swaps and swaptions. Certain of the macro hedge derivatives contain settlement provisions linked to both equity returns and interest rates. The Company’s macro hedge derivatives that contain settlement provisions linked to both equity returns and interest rates are shown in Other contracts in the tables above.
Indexed annuity, IUL and stock market certificate products have returns tied to the performance of equity markets. As a result of fluctuations in equity markets, the obligation incurred by the Company related to indexed annuity, IUL and stock market certificate products will positively or negatively impact earnings over the life of these products. The equity component of indexed annuity, IUL and stock market certificate product obligations are considered embedded derivatives, which are bifurcated from their host contracts for valuation purposes and reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings. As a means of economically hedging its obligations under the provisions of these products, the Company enters into index options and futures contracts.
The Company enters into futures, credit default swaps and commodity swaps to manage its exposure to price risk arising from seed money investments in proprietary investment products. The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to economically hedge its exposure to certain foreign transactions. The Company enters into futures contracts to economically hedge its exposure related to compensation plans. In 2015, the Company entered into interest rate swaps to offset interest rate changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments.
Cash Flow Hedges
The Company has designated and accounts for the following as cash flow hedges: (i) interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate exposure on debt, (ii) interest rate lock agreements to hedge interest rate exposure on debt issuances and (iii) swaptions used to hedge the risk of increasing interest rates on forecasted fixed premium product sales.
For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, amounts recognized in earnings related to cash flow hedges due to ineffectiveness were not material. The estimated net amount of existing pretax gains as of March 31, 2018 that the Company expects to reclassify to earnings within the next twelve months is $1 million, which consists of $2 million of pretax gains to be recorded as a reduction to interest and debt expense and $1 million of pretax losses to be recorded in net investment income. Currently, the longest period of time over which the Company is hedging exposure to the variability in future cash flows is 18 years and relates to forecasted debt interest payments. See Note 14 for a rollforward of net unrealized derivative gains (losses) included in AOCI related to cash flow hedges.

42


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


Fair Value Hedges
The Company entered into and designated as fair value hedges two interest rate swaps to convert senior notes due 2019 and 2020 from fixed rate debt to floating rate debt. The swaps have identical terms as the underlying debt being hedged so no ineffectiveness is expected to be realized. The Company recognizes gains and losses on the derivatives and the related hedged items within interest and debt expense. The following table presents the amounts recognized in income related to fair value hedges:
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Location of Gain Recorded into Income
Amount of Gain Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
2017
 
(in millions)
Interest rate contracts
Interest and debt expense
$
4
 
$
4

Net Investment Hedges
The Company entered into, and designated as net investment hedges in foreign operations, forward contracts to hedge a portion of the Company’s foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with its investment in Threadneedle. As the Company determined that the forward contracts are effective, the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized in AOCI as part of the foreign currency translation adjustment. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized a loss of $7 million and a gain of $2 million, respectively, in OCI.
Credit Risk
Credit risk associated with the Company’s derivatives is the risk that a derivative counterparty will not perform in accordance with the terms of the applicable derivative contract. To mitigate such risk, the Company has established guidelines and oversight of credit risk through a comprehensive enterprise risk management program that includes members of senior management. Key components of this program are to require preapproval of counterparties and the use of master netting and collateral arrangements whenever practical. See Note 12 for additional information on the Company’s credit exposure related to derivative assets.
Certain of the Company’s derivative contracts contain provisions that adjust the level of collateral the Company is required to post based on the Company’s debt rating (or based on the financial strength of the Company’s life insurance subsidiaries for contracts in which those subsidiaries are the counterparty). Additionally, certain of the Company’s derivative contracts contain provisions that allow the counterparty to terminate the contract if the Company’s debt does not maintain a specific credit rating (generally an investment grade rating) or the Company’s life insurance subsidiary does not maintain a specific financial strength rating. If these termination provisions were to be triggered, the Company’s counterparty could require immediate settlement of any net liability position. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of derivative contracts in a net liability position containing such credit contingent provisions was $345 million and $372 million, respectively. The aggregate fair value of assets posted as collateral for such instruments as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $341 million and $369 million, respectively. If the credit contingent provisions of derivative contracts in a net liability position as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were triggered, the aggregate fair value of additional assets that would be required to be posted as collateral or needed to settle the instruments immediately would have been $4 million and $3 million, respectively. 

43


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


14.  Shareholders’ Equity
The following tables provide the amounts related to each component of OCI:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
Pretax
 
Income Tax Benefit (Expense)
 
Net of Tax
Pretax
 
Income Tax Benefit (Expense)
 
Net of Tax
(in millions)
Net unrealized securities gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized securities gains (losses) arising during the period (1)
$
(552
)
 
$
123

 
$
(429
)
 
$
53

 
$
(17
)
 
$
36

Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income (2)
(5
)
 
1

 
(4
)
 
(18
)
 
6

 
(12
)
Impact of deferred acquisition costs, deferred sales inducement costs, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables
216

 
(45
)
 
171

 
(26
)
 
9

 
(17
)
Net unrealized securities gains (losses)
(341
)
 
79

 
(262
)
 
9

 
(2
)
 
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reclassification of net derivative (gains) losses included in net income (2)

 

 

 
2

 
(1
)
 
1

Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses)

 

 

 
2

 
(1
)
 
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net gain (loss) arising during the period

 

 

 
7

 
(2
)
 
5

Defined benefit plans

 

 

 
7

 
(2
)
 
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
37

 
(8
)
 
29

 
11

 
(4
)
 
7

Other

 

 

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
$
(304
)
 
$
71

 
$
(233
)
 
$
28

 
$
(9
)
 
$
19

(1) Includes other-than-temporary impairment losses on Available-for-Sale securities related to factors other than credit that were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) during the period.
(2) Reclassification amounts are recorded in net investment income.
Other comprehensive income (loss) related to net unrealized securities gains (losses) includes three components: (i) unrealized gains (losses) that arose from changes in the market value of securities that were held during the period; (ii) (gains) losses that were previously unrealized, but have been recognized in current period net income due to sales of Available-for-Sale securities and due to the reclassification of noncredit other-than-temporary impairment losses to credit losses; and (iii) other adjustments primarily consisting of changes in insurance and annuity asset and liability balances, such as DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, to reflect the expected impact on their carrying values had the unrealized gains (losses) been realized as of the respective balance sheet dates.

44


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


The following tables present the changes in the balances of each component of AOCI, net of tax:
 
Net Unrealized Securities Gains (Losses)
 
Net Unrealized Derivatives Gains (Losses)
 
Defined
Benefit Plans
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Other
 
Total
(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2018
$
486

 
$
8

 
$
(97
)
 
$
(167
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
229

Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies
(1
)
 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
OCI before reclassifications
(258
)
 

 

 
29

 

 
(229
)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
(4
)
 

 

 

 

 
(4
)
Total OCI
(262
)
 

 

 
29

 

 
(233
)
Balance, March 31, 2018
$
223

(1) 
$
8

 
$
(97
)
 
$
(138
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2017
$
479

 
$
5

 
$
(125
)
 
$
(159
)
 
$

 
$
200

OCI before reclassifications
19

 

 

 
7

 
(1
)
 
25

Amounts reclassified from AOCI
(12
)
 
1

 
5

 

 

 
(6
)
Total OCI
7

 
1

 
5

 
7

 
(1
)
 
19

Balance, March 31, 2017
$
486

(1) 
$
6

 
$
(120
)
 
$
(152
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
219

(1) Includes nil and $8 million of noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains (losses) on previously impaired securities as of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively.
For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased a total of 2.4 million shares and 2.9 million shares, respectively, of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $387 million and $357 million, respectively. In April 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized an expenditure of up to $2.5 billion for the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock through June 30, 2019. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $1.7 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization.
The Company may also reacquire shares of its common stock under its share-based compensation plans related to restricted stock awards and certain option exercises. The holders of restricted shares may elect to surrender a portion of their shares on the vesting date to cover their income tax obligation. These vested restricted shares are reacquired by the Company and the Company’s payment of the holders’ income tax obligations are recorded as a treasury share purchase.
For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company reacquired 0.2 million shares and 0.2 million shares, respectively, of its common stock through the surrender of shares upon vesting and paid in the aggregate $39 million and $30 million, respectively, related to the holders’ income tax obligations on the vesting date. Option holders may elect to net settle their vested awards resulting in the surrender of the number of shares required to cover the strike price and tax obligation of the options exercised. These shares are reacquired by the Company and recorded as treasury shares. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company reacquired 0.4 million shares and 1.0 million shares, respectively, of its common stock through the net settlement of options for an aggregate value of $56 million and $122 million, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company reissued 0.8 million and 0.7 million treasury shares, respectively, for restricted stock award grants, performance share units and issuance of shares vested under advisor deferred compensation plans.
15. Regulatory Requirements
The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with the accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance departments of their respective states of domicile. RiverSource Life received approval from the Minnesota Department of Commerce to apply a permitted statutory accounting practice, effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, for certain derivative instruments used to economically hedge the interest rate exposure of certain variable annuity products that do not qualify for statutory hedge accounting. The permitted practice is intended to mitigate the impact to statutory surplus from the misalignment between variable annuity statutory reserves, which are not carried at fair value, and the fair value of derivatives used to economically hedge the interest rate exposure of non-life contingent living benefit guarantees. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, application of this permitted practice resulted in an increase (decrease) to RiverSource Life’s statutory surplus of approximately $214 million and $(3) million, respectively.

45


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


16.  Income Taxes
In December of 2017, the Tax Act reduced federal income tax rates from 35% to 21% for tax years after 2017. The Company’s effective tax rate was 14.7% and 15.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2018 is lower than the statutory rate as a result of tax preferred items including low income housing tax credits and stock compensation. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2017 was lower than the statutory rate as a result of tax preferred items including the dividends received deduction, low income housing tax credits, stock compensation, net income from foreign subsidiaries, as well as a $20 million benefit related to an out-of-period correction for a reversal of a tax reserve.
Included in the Company’s deferred income tax assets are tax benefits related to state net operating losses of $17 million, net of federal benefit, which will expire beginning December 31, 2018.
The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for any portion of the deferred tax assets that management believes will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in determining if a valuation allowance should be established, and the amount of such allowance if required. Factors used in making this determination include estimates relating to the performance of the business. Consideration is given to, among other things in making this determination, (i) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, (ii) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, (iii) taxable income in prior carryback years, and (iv) tax planning strategies. Based on analysis of the Company’s tax position, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize certain state deferred tax assets and state net operating losses and therefore a valuation allowance has been established. The valuation allowance was $16 million and $17 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had $83 million and $76 million, respectively, of gross unrecognized tax benefits. If recognized, approximately $59 million and $58 million, net of federal tax benefits, of unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, would affect the effective tax rate.
It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next 12 months. The Company estimates that the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by $40 million to $50 million in the next 12 months primarily due to resolution of audits and statute expirations.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the income tax provision. The Company recognized a net increase of $1 million in interest and penalties for both the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had a payable of $9 million and $8 million, respectively, related to accrued interest and penalties.
The Company or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the first quarter of 2018, the Company received cash settlements for final resolution of the 2008 through 2010 Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audits. The Company’s IRS audits are resolved through 2011. The Company’s 2012 and 2013 tax returns are at IRS appeals due to an unagreed issue. The IRS is currently auditing the Company’s U.S. income tax returns for 2014 and 2015. The Company’s state income tax returns are currently under examination by various jurisdictions for years ranging from 2005 through 2015.
17.  Contingencies
The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in the normal course of business in legal, regulatory and arbitration proceedings, including class actions, concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of its activities as a diversified financial services firm. These include proceedings specific to the Company as well as proceedings generally applicable to business practices in the industries in which it operates. The Company can also be subject to litigation arising out of its general business activities, such as its investments, contracts, leases and employment relationships. Uncertain economic conditions, heightened and sustained volatility in the financial markets and significant financial reform legislation may increase the likelihood that clients and other persons or regulators may present or threaten legal claims or that regulators increase the scope or frequency of examinations of the Company or the financial services industry generally.
As with other financial services firms, the level of regulatory activity and inquiry concerning the Company’s businesses remains elevated. From time to time, the Company receives requests for information from, and/or has been subject to examination or claims by, the SEC, FINRA, the OCC, the UK Financial Conduct Authority, state insurance and securities regulators, state attorneys general and various other domestic or foreign governmental and quasi-governmental authorities on behalf of themselves or clients concerning the Company’s business activities and practices, and the practices of the Company’s financial advisors. The Company has numerous pending matters which include information requests, exams or inquiries that the Company has received during recent periods regarding certain matters, including: sales and distribution of mutual funds, exchange traded funds, annuities, equity and fixed income securities, real estate investment trusts, insurance products, and financial advice offerings, including managed accounts; supervision of the Company’s financial advisors; administration of insurance and annuity claims; security of client information; trading activity and the Company’s monitoring and supervision of such activity; performance advertising and product disclosures, including third party

46


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


performance claims; and transaction monitoring systems and controls. The Company has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the applicable regulators.
These legal and regulatory proceedings and disputes are subject to uncertainties and, as such, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or even reasonably possible, or to reasonably estimate the amount of any loss. The Company cannot predict with certainty if, how or when any such proceedings will be initiated or resolved or what the eventual settlement, fine, penalty or other relief, if any, may be, particularly for proceedings that are in their early stages of development or where plaintiffs seek indeterminate damages. Numerous issues may need to be resolved, including through potentially lengthy discovery and determination of important factual matters, and by addressing unsettled legal questions relevant to the proceedings in question, before a loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated for any proceeding. An adverse outcome in one or more proceeding could eventually result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other sanctions, in addition to further claims, examinations or adverse publicity that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
In accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Company establishes an accrued liability for contingent litigation and regulatory matters when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and can be reasonably estimated. In such cases, there still may be an exposure to loss in excess of any amounts reasonably estimated and accrued. When a loss contingency is not both probable and estimable, the Company does not establish an accrued liability, but continues to monitor, in conjunction with any outside counsel handling a matter, further developments that would make such loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable. Once the Company establishes an accrued liability with respect to a loss contingency, the Company continues to monitor the matter for further developments that could affect the amount of the accrued liability that has been previously established, and any appropriate adjustments are made each quarter.
RiverSource Life and RiverSource Life of NY are required by law to be a member of the guaranty fund association in every state where they are licensed to do business. In the event of insolvency of one or more unaffiliated insurance companies, the Company could be adversely affected by the requirement to pay assessments to the guaranty fund associations.
The Company projects its cost of future guaranty fund assessments based on estimates of insurance company insolvencies provided by the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations (“NOLHGA”) and the amount of its premiums written relative to the industry-wide premium in each state. The Company accrues the estimated cost of future guaranty fund assessments when it is considered probable that an assessment will be imposed, the event obligating the Company to pay the assessment has occurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.
The Company has a liability for estimated guaranty fund assessments and a related premium tax asset. As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the estimated liability was $14 million and the related premium tax asset was $12 million. The expected period over which guaranty fund assessments will be made and the related tax credits recovered is not known.
18.  Earnings per Share
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Numerator:
 
 
 
Net income
$
594

 
$
403

 
 
 
 
Denominator:
 
 
 
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding
149.5

 
157.5

Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards
2.6

 
2.6

Diluted: Weighted-average common shares outstanding
152.1

 
160.1

 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
3.97

 
$
2.56

Diluted
$
3.91

 
$
2.52

The calculation of diluted earnings per share excludes the incremental effect of 1.1 million and 2.5 million options as of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively, due to their anti-dilutive effect.

47


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


19.  Segment Information
The Company’s reporting segments are Advice & Wealth Management, Asset Management, Annuities, Protection and Corporate & Other. Prior period results have been restated for the retrospective adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard as discussed in Note 1 and Note 2.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those of the Company, except for operating adjustments defined below, the method of capital allocation, the accounting for gains (losses) from intercompany revenues and expenses and not providing for income taxes on a segment basis.
Management uses segment adjusted operating measures in goal setting, as a basis for determining employee compensation and in evaluating performance on a basis comparable to that used by some securities analysts and investors. Consistent with GAAP accounting guidance for segment reporting, adjusted operating earnings is the Company’s measure of segment performance. Adjusted operating earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP pretax income. The Company believes the presentation of segment adjusted operating earnings, as the Company measures it for management purposes, enhances the understanding of its business by reflecting the underlying performance of its core operations and facilitating a more meaningful trend analysis.
Adjusted operating earnings is defined as adjusted operating net revenues less adjusted operating expenses. Adjusted operating net revenues and adjusted operating expenses exclude the market impact on IUL benefits (net of hedges and the related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization, and the reinsurance accrual), integration and restructuring charges and the impact of consolidating investment entities. Adjusted operating net revenues also exclude net realized investment gains or losses (net of unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual) and the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments. Adjusted operating expenses also exclude the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges and the related DSIC and DAC amortization), the market impact on fixed index annuity benefits (net of hedges and the related DAC amortization), and the DSIC and DAC amortization offset to net realized investment gains or losses. The market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits, fixed index annuity benefits and IUL benefits includes changes in embedded derivative values caused by changes in financial market conditions, net of changes in economic hedge values and unhedged items including the difference between assumed and actual underlying separate account investment performance, fixed income credit exposures, transaction costs and certain policyholder contract elections, net of related impacts on DAC and DSIC amortization. The market impact also includes certain valuation adjustments made in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, including the impact on embedded derivative values of discounting projected benefits to reflect a current estimate of the Company’s life insurance subsidiary’s nonperformance spread.
The following tables summarize selected financial information by segment and reconcile segment totals to those reported on the consolidated financial statements:
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
Advice & Wealth Management
$
13,319

 
$
13,270

Asset Management
8,849

 
8,401

Annuities
95,802

 
98,276

Protection
17,728

 
18,039

Corporate & Other
9,064

 
9,494

Total assets
$
144,762

 
$
147,480


48


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (continued)


 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Adjusted operating net revenues:
Advice & Wealth Management
$
1,501

 
$
1,321

Asset Management
778

 
725

Annuities
613

 
608

Protection
519

 
521

Corporate & Other
57

 
57

Less: Eliminations (1)
357

 
347

Total segment adjusted operating net revenues
3,111

 
2,885

Net realized gains (losses)
6

 
17

Revenue attributable to CIEs
22

 
22

Market impact on IUL benefits, net
13

 
1

Market impact of hedges on investments
16

 
1

Total net revenues per consolidated statements of operations
$
3,168

 
$
2,926

(1) 
Represents the elimination of intersegment revenues recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 in each segment as follows: Advice & Wealth Management ($240 million and $237 million, respectively); Asset Management ($12 million and $11 million, respectively); Annuities ($90 million and $84 million, respectively); Protection ($16 million and $15 million, respectively); and Corporate & Other ($(1) million and nil, respectively).
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Adjusted operating earnings:
Advice & Wealth Management
$
316

 
$
248

Asset Management
195

 
150

Annuities
132

 
139

Protection
70

 
63

Corporate & Other
(56
)
 
(80
)
Total segment adjusted operating earnings
657

 
520

Net realized gains (losses)
6

 
16

Net income (loss) attributable to CIEs

 
1

Market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits, net
(5
)
 
(63
)
Market impact on IUL benefits, net
25

 

Market impact of hedges on investments
16

 
1

Integration and restructuring charges
(3
)
 

Pretax income per consolidated statements of operations
$
696

 
$
475


49


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the “Forward-Looking Statements” that follow and our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes presented in Item 1. Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 23, 2018 (“2017 10-K”), as well as our current reports on Form 8-K and other publicly available information. Prior period amounts have been restated for the retrospective adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard. References below to “Ameriprise Financial,” “Ameriprise,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. exclusively, to our entire family of companies, or to one or more of our subsidiaries.
Overview
Ameriprise Financial is a diversified financial services company with a more than 120 year history of providing financial solutions. We are America’s leader in financial planning and a leading global financial institution with $887.2 billion in assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2018. We offer a broad range of products and services designed to achieve the financial objectives of individual and institutional clients.
The products and services we provide retail clients and, to a lesser extent, institutional clients, are the primary source of our revenues and net income. Revenues and net income are significantly affected by investment performance and the total value and composition of assets we manage and administer for our retail and institutional clients as well as the distribution fees we receive from other companies. These factors, in turn, are largely determined by overall investment market performance and the depth and breadth of our individual client relationships.
Financial markets and macroeconomic conditions have had and will continue to have a significant impact on our operating and performance results. In addition, the business and regulatory environment in which we operate remains subject to elevated uncertainty and change. To succeed, we expect to continue focusing on our key strategic objectives. The success of these and other strategies may be affected by the factors discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2017 10-K and other factors as discussed herein.
Equity price, credit market and interest rate fluctuations can have a significant impact on our results of operations, primarily due to the effects they have on the asset management and other asset-based fees we earn, the “spread” income generated on our fixed deferred annuities, fixed insurance, deposit products and the fixed portion of variable annuities and variable insurance contracts, the value of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and deferred sales inducement costs (“DSIC”) assets, the values of liabilities for guaranteed benefits associated with our variable annuities and the values of derivatives held to hedge these benefits.
Earnings, as well as adjusted operating earnings, will be negatively impacted by the ongoing low interest rate environment should it continue. In addition to continuing spread compression in our interest sensitive product lines, a sustained low interest rate environment may result in increases to our reserves and changes in various rate assumptions we use to amortize DAC and DSIC, which may negatively impact our adjusted operating earnings. For additional discussion on our interest rate risk, see Item 3. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
We consolidate certain variable interest entities for which we provide asset management services. These entities are defined as consolidated investment entities (“CIEs”). While the consolidation of the CIEs impacts our balance sheet and income statement, our exposure to these entities is unchanged and there is no impact to the underlying business results. For further information on CIEs, see Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. The results of operations of the CIEs are reflected in the Corporate & Other segment. On a consolidated basis, the management fees we earn for the services we provide to the CIEs and the related general and administrative expenses are eliminated and the changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities related to the CIEs, primarily syndicated loans and debt, are reflected in net investment income. We include the fees from these entities in the management and financial advice fees line within our Asset Management segment.
While our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), management believes that adjusted operating measures, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, net of the related DSIC and DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual; the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits, net of hedges and the related DSIC and DAC amortization; the market impact on indexed universal life (“IUL”) benefits, net of hedges and the related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual; the market impact on fixed index annuity benefits, net of hedges and the related DAC amortization; the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments; integration and restructuring charges; and the impact of consolidating CIEs, best reflect the underlying performance of our core operations and facilitate a more meaningful trend analysis. Management uses certain of these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our financial performance on a basis comparable to that used by some securities analysts and investors. Also, certain of these non-GAAP measures are taken into consideration, to varying degrees, for purposes of business planning and analysis and for certain compensation-related matters. Throughout our Management’s Discussion and Analysis, these non-GAAP measures are referred to as adjusted operating measures. These non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP measures. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company changed the naming convention for its non-GAAP

50


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

financial measures from “operating” to “adjusted operating” to more clearly differentiate between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures. The definition of these measures remains unchanged.
It is management’s priority to increase shareholder value over a multi-year horizon by achieving our on-average, over-time financial targets.
Our financial targets are:
Adjusted operating total net revenue growth of 6% to 8%,
Adjusted operating earnings per diluted share growth of 12% to 15%, and
Adjusted operating return on equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) of 19% to 23%.
The following tables reconcile our GAAP measures to adjusted operating measures:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Total net revenues
$
3,168

 
$
2,926

Less: Revenue attributable to CIEs
22

 
22

Less: Net realized investment gains (losses)
6

 
17

Less: Market impact on indexed universal life benefits
13

 
1

Less: Market impact of hedges on investments
16

 
1

Adjusted operating total net revenues
$
3,111

 
$
2,885

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Per Diluted Share
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
2018
 
2017
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income
$
594

 
$
403

 
$
3.91

 
$
2.52

Less: Net income (loss) attributable to CIEs

 
1

 

 
0.01

Add: Integration/restructuring charges (1)
3

 

 
0.02

 

Add: Market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (1)
5

 
63

 
0.03

 
0.40

Add: Market impact on indexed universal life benefits (1)
(25
)
 

 
(0.16
)
 

Add: Market impact of hedges on investments (1)
(16
)
 
(1
)
 
(0.11
)
 
(0.01
)
Less: Net realized investment gains (losses) (1)
6

 
16

 
0.04

 
0.10

Tax effect of adjustments (2)
8

 
(16
)
 
0.05

 
(0.10
)
Adjusted operating earnings
$
563

 
$
432

 
$
3.70

 
$
2.70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
149.5

 
157.5

 
 

 
 

Diluted
152.1

 
160.1

 
 

 
 

(1) Pretax adjusted operating adjustments.
(2) Calculated using the statutory tax rate of 21% in 2018 and 35% in 2017.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

The following table reconciles the trailing twelve months’ sum of net income to adjusted operating earnings and the five-point average of quarter-end equity to adjusted operating equity:
 
Twelve Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Net income
$
1,671

 
$
1,352

Less: Adjustments (1)
(63
)
 
(128
)
Adjusted operating earnings
$
1,734

 
$
1,480

 
Total Ameriprise Financial, Inc. shareholders’ equity
$
6,122

 
$
6,681

Less: AOCI, net of tax
210

 
418

Total Ameriprise Financial, Inc. shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI
5,912

 
6,263

Less: Equity impacts attributable to CIEs
1

 
1

Adjusted operating equity
$
5,911

 
$
6,262

 
Return on equity, excluding AOCI
28.3
%
 
21.6
%
Adjusted operating return on equity, excluding AOCI (2)
29.3
%
 
23.6
%
(1) 
Adjustments reflect the trailing twelve months’ sum of after-tax net realized investment gains/losses, net of DSIC and DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual; the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits, net of hedges and related DSIC and DAC amortization; the market impact on IUL benefits, net of hedges and the related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization, and the reinsurance accrual; the market impact on fixed index annuity benefits, net of hedges and the related DAC amortization; the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments; integration and restructuring charges; and net income (loss) from consolidated investment entities. After-tax is calculated using the statutory tax rate of 21% in 2018 and 35% in 2017.
(2) 
Adjusted operating return on equity, excluding AOCI, is calculated using the trailing twelve months of earnings excluding the after-tax net realized investment gains/losses, net of DSIC and DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual; market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits, net of hedges and related DSIC and DAC amortization; the market impact on IUL benefits, net of hedges and the related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization, and the reinsurance accrual; the market impact on fixed index annuity benefits, net of hedges and the related DAC amortization; the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments; integration and restructuring charges; and net income (loss) from consolidated investment entities in the numerator, and Ameriprise Financial shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI and the impact of consolidating investment entities using a five-point average of quarter-end equity in the denominator. After-tax is calculated using the statutory tax rate of 21% in 2018 and 35% in 2017. Adjusted operating return on equity, excluding AOCI is higher reflecting core business improvement, market appreciation and cumulative share repurchases.
The Department of Labor published regulations in April 2016 that expanded the scope of who is considered an ERISA fiduciary and these regulations focus in large part on investment recommendations made by financial advisors, registered investment advisors, and other investment professionals to retirement investors, how financial advisors are able to discuss IRA rollovers, as well as how financial advisors and affiliates can transact with retirement investors. Tax qualified accounts, particularly IRAs, make up a significant portion of our assets under management and administration. The first phase of the regulations went into effect on June 9, 2017 and requires financial advisors to make recommendations related to assets held in IRAs and employer sponsored retirement plans in accordance with the following impartial conduct standards: recommendations must be in the best interest of the client, compensation paid for the recommendations must be reasonable and the financial advisor must not make any misleading statements. We adopted policies and procedures designed to comply with the impartial conduct standards and communicated those policies and procedures to our advisors and staff. The second phase of the regulation pertaining to a new “best interest contract exemption” would put into place a number of additional requirements including entering into a best interest contract with clients, enhanced disclosure of fees and conflicts of interest, limits on differential commissions within a product category, the adoption of policies and procedures to ensure the best interest standard is met, and findings related to platforms that are limited to products that pay third-party payments and/or include proprietary products. The second phase of the regulation is currently scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2019. However, on March 15, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a decision vacating the Department’s regulations in its entirety. The Fifth Circuit’s decision would be effective as of the date the court files its mandate (currently scheduled for May 7, 2018). Recently, several interested parties have filed a request to intervene and to have the case reheard by the Fifth Circuit en banc. It is not clear whether the Fifth Circuit will grant either of these motions.
In addition, the SEC recently proposed its own fiduciary standard that would apply to recommendations made by financial advisors who work on a commission basis and would apply regardless of the type of account (IRA or non-qualified) an investor holds. Furthermore, several states have either issued their own fiduciary rules or are considering doing so and those rules may extend to certain types of products (e.g. insurance and annuities, financial planning, etc.) or may broadly cover all recommendations made by financial advisors. The Certified Financial Planner Board has issued its own fiduciary standard that applies to financial advisors who hold a Certified Financial Planner designation. Currently, Ameriprise has approximately 4,100 financial advisors that hold a Certified

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Financial Planner designation. In light of the various fiduciary rules and regulations that have been proposed or finalized, we continue to exert significant efforts to evaluate and prepare to comply with each rule.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The accounting and reporting policies that we use affect our Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain of our accounting and reporting policies are critical to an understanding of our consolidated results of operations and financial condition and, in some cases, the application of these policies can be significantly affected by the estimates, judgments and assumptions made by management during the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements. These accounting policies are discussed in detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Critical Accounting Estimates” in our 2017 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on our future consolidated results of operations and financial condition, see Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Assets Under Management and Administration
Assets under management (“AUM”) include external client assets for which we provide investment management services, such as the assets of the Columbia Threadneedle Investments funds, assets of institutional clients and assets of clients in our advisor platform held in wrap accounts as well as assets managed by sub-advisors selected by us. AUM also includes certain assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for which we provide investment management services and recognize management fees in our Asset Management segment, such as the assets of the general account and the variable product funds held in the separate accounts of our life insurance subsidiaries and CIEs. These assets do not include assets under advisement, for which we provide model portfolios but do not have full discretionary investment authority. Corporate & Other AUM primarily includes former bank assets that are managed within our Corporate & Other segment.
Assets under administration (“AUA”) include assets for which we provide administrative services such as client assets invested in other companies’ products that we offer outside of our wrap accounts. These assets include those held in clients’ brokerage accounts. We generally record revenues received from administered assets as distribution fees. We do not exercise management discretion over these assets and do not earn a management fee. These assets are not reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. AUA also includes certain assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for which we do not provide investment management services and do not recognize management fees, such as investments in non-affiliated funds held in the separate accounts of our life insurance subsidiaries. These assets do not include assets under advisement, for which we provide model portfolios but do not have full discretionary investment authority.
The following table presents detail regarding our AUM and AUA:
 
March 31,
 
Change
2018
 
2017
(in billions)
 
 
Assets Under Management and Administration
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advice & Wealth Management AUM
$
249.6

 
$
211.7

 
$
37.9

 
18
 %
Asset Management AUM
485.3

 
467.0

 
18.3

 
4

Corporate & Other AUM

 
0.3

 
(0.3
)
 
NM

Eliminations
(26.3
)
 
(24.6
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(7
)
Total Assets Under Management
708.6

 
654.4

 
54.2

 
8

Total Assets Under Administration
178.6

 
163.2

 
15.4

 
9

Total AUM and AUA
$
887.2

 
$
817.6

 
$
69.6

 
9
 %
NM  Not Meaningful.
Total AUM increased $54.2 billion, or 8%, to $708.6 billion as of March 31, 2018 compared to $654.4 billion as of March 31, 2017 primarily due to a $37.9 billion increase in Advice & Wealth Management AUM driven by wrap account net inflows and market appreciation and an $18.3 billion increase in Asset Management AUM driven by market appreciation and a positive impact of foreign currency translation, partially offset by net outflows and retail fund distributions. See our segment results of operations discussion below for additional information on changes in our AUM.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
The following table presents our consolidated results of operations:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management and financial advice fees
$
1,669

 
$
1,487

 
$
182

 
12
 %
Distribution fees
468

 
441

 
27

 
6

Net investment income
396

 
391

 
5

 
1

Premiums
343

 
339

 
4

 
1

Other revenues
308

 
278

 
30

 
11

Total revenues
3,184

 
2,936

 
248

 
8

Banking and deposit interest expense
16

 
10

 
6

 
60

Total net revenues
3,168

 
2,926

 
242

 
8

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution expenses
905

 
823

 
82

 
10

Interest credited to fixed accounts
141

 
162

 
(21
)
 
(13
)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
494

 
567

 
(73
)
 
(13
)
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
92

 
72

 
20

 
28

Interest and debt expense
51

 
50

 
1

 
2

General and administrative expense
789

 
777

 
12

 
2

Total expenses
2,472

 
2,451

 
21

 
1

Pretax income
696

 
475

 
221

 
47

Income tax provision
102

 
72

 
30

 
42

Net income
$
594

 
$
403

 
$
191

 
47
 %
Overall
Pretax income increased $221 million, or 47%, to $696 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $475 million for the prior year period primarily reflecting market appreciation, wrap account net inflows and a positive impact from higher short-term interest rates, partially offset by the cumulative impact of asset management net outflows.
The following impacts were also significant drivers of the period-over-period change in pretax income:
The market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges and the related DSIC and DAC amortization) was an expense of $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to an expense of $63 million for the prior year period.
The market impact on indexed universal life benefits (net of hedges and the related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual) was a benefit of $25 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to nil for the prior year period.
Net Revenues
Net revenues increased $242 million, or 8%, to $3.2 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $2.9 billion for the prior year period.
Management and financial advice fees increased $182 million, or 12%, to $1.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $1.5 billion for the prior year period primarily due to an increase in AUM. Average AUM increased $75.7 billion, or 12%, compared to the prior year period due to market appreciation, wrap account net inflows and a positive impact of foreign currency translation, partially offset by asset management net outflows. See our discussion on the changes in AUM in our segment results of operations section.
Distribution fees increased $27 million, or 6%, to $468 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $441 million for the prior year period primarily due to market appreciation, higher brokerage cash spread due to an increase in short-term interest rates and increased transactional activity, partially offset by a $30 million decrease related to our transition to share classes without 12b-1 fees in advisory accounts, which we completed during the first quarter of 2017.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Other revenues increased $30 million, or 11%, to $308 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $278 million for the prior year period primarily due to the unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual offset to the market impact on indexed universal life benefits, a vendor credit of $14 million and higher fees from variable annuity guarantee sales in the prior year where the fees start on the first anniversary date and higher average fee rates. The unearned revenue amortization and reinsurance accrual offset to the market impact on indexed universal life benefits was a benefit of $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to a benefit of $1 million for the prior year period.
Expenses
Distribution expenses increased $82 million, or 10%, to $905 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $823 million for the prior year period reflecting higher advisor compensation due to market appreciation and wrap account net inflows and increased transactional activity, partially offset by a $16 million decrease from changes related to our transition to share classes without 12b-1 fees in advisory accounts.
Interest credited to fixed accounts decreased $21 million, or 13%, to $141 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $162 million for the prior year period primarily due to the market impact on indexed universal life benefits, net of hedges, which was a benefit of $21 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to nil for the prior year period.
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses decreased $73 million, or 13%, to $494 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $567 million for the prior year period primarily reflecting a $78 million decrease in expense from the unhedged nonperformance credit spread risk adjustment on variable annuity guaranteed benefits. As the embedded derivative liability on which the nonperformance credit spread is applied increases (decreases), the impact of the nonperformance credit spread is favorable (unfavorable) to expense. The favorable impact of the nonperformance credit spread was $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to an unfavorable impact of $65 million for the prior year period.
Amortization of DAC increased $20 million, or 28%, to $92 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $72 million for the prior year period primarily reflecting the following items:
The DAC offset to the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges and the related DSIC amortization) was an expense of $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to a benefit of $9 million for the prior year period.
The DAC offset to the market impact on indexed universal life benefits (net of hedges, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual) was an expense of $9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to an expense of $1 million for the prior year period.
The impact on DAC from actual versus expected market performance based on our view of bond and equity performance was nil for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to a benefit of $9 million for the prior year period reflecting favorable equity market returns.
The positive impact on DAC from lower than expected lapses on variable annuities was $7 million.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate was 14.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to 15.2% for the prior year period. See Note 16 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion on income taxes.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Results of Operations by Segment for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 
Adjusted operating earnings is the measure of segment profit or loss management uses to evaluate segment performance. Adjusted operating earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP pretax income. We believe the presentation of segment adjusted operating earnings as we measure it for management purposes enhances the understanding of our business by reflecting the underlying performance of our core operations and facilitating a more meaningful trend analysis. See Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the presentation of segment results and our definition of adjusted operating earnings.
The following table presents summary financial information by segment:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
Advice & Wealth Management
 

 
 

Net revenues
$
1,501

 
$
1,321

Expenses
1,185

 
1,073

Adjusted operating earnings
$
316

 
$
248

Asset Management
 

 
 

Net revenues
$
778

 
$
725

Expenses
583

 
575

Adjusted operating earnings
$
195

 
$
150

Annuities
 

 
 

Net revenues
$
613

 
$
608

Expenses
481

 
469

Adjusted operating earnings
$
132

 
$
139

Protection
 

 
 

Net revenues
$
519

 
$
521

Expenses
449

 
458

Adjusted operating earnings
$
70

 
$
63

Corporate & Other
 

 
 

Net revenues
$
57

 
$
57

Expenses
113

 
137

Adjusted operating loss
$
(56
)
 
$
(80
)
Advice & Wealth Management
The following table presents the changes in wrap account assets and average balances for the three months ended March 31:
 
2018
 
2017
(in billions)
Beginning balance
$
248.2

 
$
201.1

Net flows
5.7

 
3.9

Market appreciation (depreciation) and other
(2.9
)
 
7.9

Ending balance
$
251.0

 
$
212.9

 
 
 
 
Advisory wrap account assets ending balance (1)
$
248.7

 
$
210.9

Average advisory wrap account assets (2)
$
249.6

 
$
205.4

(1) 
Advisory wrap account assets represent those assets for which clients receive advisory services and are the primary driver of revenue earned on wrap accounts. Clients may hold non-advisory investments in their wrap accounts that do not incur an advisory fee.
(2) 
Average ending balances are calculated using an average of the prior period’s ending balance and all months in the current period.
Wrap account assets increased $2.8 billion, or 1%, during the three months ended March 31, 2018 due to net inflows of $5.7 billion, partially offset by market depreciation and other of $2.9 billion. Average advisory wrap account assets increased $44.2 billion, or 22%, compared to the prior year period reflecting net inflows and market appreciation.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

The following table presents the changes in wrap account assets for the twelve months ended March 31:
 
2018
 
2017
(in billions)
Beginning balance
$
212.9

 
$
183.4

Inflows from acquisition (1)
0.7

 

Other net flows
20.6

 
12.3

Net flows
21.3

 
12.3

Market appreciation (depreciation) and other
16.8

 
17.2

Ending balance
$
251.0

 
$
212.9

(1) Inflows associated with acquisition that closed during the period.
Wrap account assets increased $38.1 billion, or 18%, from the prior year period primarily due to net inflows and market appreciation.
In July 2017, we completed our acquisition of Investment Professionals, Inc. (“IPI”), an independent broker-dealer based in San Antonio, Texas specializing in the on-site delivery of investment programs for financial institutions, including banks and credit unions. The acquisition added 215 financial advisors and $8 billion in client assets (including $0.7 billion in assets under management and $7.3 billion in assets under administration).
The following table presents the results of operations of our Advice & Wealth Management segment on an adjusted operating basis:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Revenues
Management and financial advice fees
$
848

 
$
723

 
$
125

 
17
%
Distribution fees
557

 
516

 
41

 
8

Net investment income
69

 
52

 
17

 
33

Other revenues
43

 
40

 
3

 
8

Total revenues
1,517

 
1,331

 
186

 
14

Banking and deposit interest expense
16

 
10

 
6

 
60

Total net revenues
1,501

 
1,321

 
180

 
14

Expenses
Distribution expenses
869

 
777

 
92

 
12

Interest and debt expense
3

 
2

 
1

 
50

General and administrative expense
313

 
294

 
19

 
6

Total expenses
1,185

 
1,073

 
112

 
10

Adjusted operating earnings
$
316

 
$
248

 
$
68

 
27
%
Our Advice & Wealth Management segment pretax adjusted operating earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, increased $68 million, or 27%, to $316 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $248 million for the prior year period reflecting wrap account net inflows, market appreciation and higher earnings on brokerage cash, partially offset by higher general and administrative expense. Pretax adjusted operating margin was 21.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to 18.8% for the prior year period.
Net Revenues
Net revenues exclude net realized investment gains or losses. Net revenues increased $180 million, or 14%, to $1.5 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $1.3 billion for the prior year period. Adjusted operating net revenue per advisor increased to $152,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, up 11%, from $137,000 for the prior year period.
Management and financial fees increased $125 million, or 17%, to $848 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $723 million for the prior year period primarily due to growth in wrap account assets. Average advisory wrap account assets increased $44.2 billion, or 22%, compared to the prior year period reflecting net inflows and market appreciation.
Distribution fees increased $41 million, or 8%, to $557 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $516 million for the prior year period reflecting higher brokerage cash spread due to an increase in short-term interest rates, increased transactional activity and the IPI acquisition, partially offset by a $30 million decrease related to our transition to share classes without 12b-1 fees in advisory accounts.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Net investment income increased $17 million, or 33%, to $69 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $52 million for the prior year period primarily due to higher investment yields and an increase in invested balances.
Expenses
Total expenses increased $112 million, or 10%, to $1.2 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $1.1 billion for the prior year period.
Distribution expenses increased $92 million, or 12%, to $869 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to$777 million for the prior year period reflecting higher advisor compensation due to market appreciation and wrap account net inflows, increased transactional activity and the IPI acquisition, partially offset by a $16 million decrease from changes related to our transition to share classes without 12b-1 fees in advisory accounts.
General and administrative expense increased $19 million, or 6%, to $313 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $294 million for the prior year period primarily due to the IPI acquisition and investments for business growth, including additional advertising as well as higher volume-related expenses.
Asset Management
The following tables present the mutual fund performance of our retail Columbia and Threadneedle funds as of March 31:
Columbia
Mutual Fund Rankings in top 2 Lipper Quartiles
2018
 
2017
Domestic Equity
Equal weighted
1 year
57
%
 
69
%
 
 
3 year
72
%
 
75
%
 
 
5 year
69
%
 
71
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
58
%
 
67
%
 
 
3 year
81
%
 
79
%
 
 
5 year
80
%
 
79
%
International Equity
Equal weighted
1 year
85
%
 
45
%
 
 
3 year
65
%
 
55
%
 
 
5 year
75
%
 
70
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
57
%
 
33
%
 
 
3 year
46
%
 
44
%
 
 
5 year
57
%
 
48
%
Taxable Fixed Income
Equal weighted
1 year
74
%
 
78
%
 
 
3 year
72
%
 
76
%
 
 
5 year
76
%
 
82
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
80
%
 
70
%
 
 
3 year
77
%
 
83
%
 
 
5 year
82
%
 
88
%
Tax Exempt Fixed Income
Equal weighted
1 year
84
%
 
84
%
 
 
3 year
89
%
 
89
%
 
 
5 year
100
%
 
100
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
91
%
 
97
%
 
 
3 year
92
%
 
92
%
 
 
5 year
100
%
 
100
%
Asset Allocation Funds
Equal weighted
1 year
60
%
 
62
%
 
 
3 year
69
%
 
90
%
 
 
5 year
78
%
 
88
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
51
%
 
48
%
 
 
3 year
90
%
 
100
%
 
 
5 year
94
%
 
98
%

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Number of funds with 4 or 5 Morningstar star ratings
 
Overall
56

 
49

 
 
3 year
52

 
46

 
 
5 year
53

 
46

Percent of funds with 4 or 5 Morningstar star ratings
 
Overall
53
%
 
52
%
 
 
3 year
50
%
 
48
%
 
 
5 year
54
%
 
49
%
Percent of assets with 4 or 5 Morningstar star ratings
 
Overall
61
%
 
63
%
 
 
3 year
52
%
 
68
%
 
 
5 year
61
%
 
63
%
Mutual fund performance rankings are based on the performance of the Institutional Class for Columbia branded mutual funds. Only funds with Institutional Class shares are included.
Equal Weighted Rankings in Top 2 Quartiles: Counts the number of funds with above median ranking divided by the total number of funds. Asset size is not a factor.
Asset Weighted Rankings in Top 2 Quartiles: Sums the total assets of the funds with above median ranking divided by total assets of all funds. Funds with more assets will receive a greater share of the total percentage above or below median.
Threadneedle
Retail Fund Rankings in Top 2 Morningstar Quartiles or Above Index Benchmark
2018
 
2017
Equity
Equal weighted
1 year
57
%
 
30
%
 
 
3 year
64
%
 
68
%
 
 
5 year
61
%
 
70
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
53
%
 
42
%
 
 
3 year
59
%
 
79
%
 
 
5 year
51
%
 
66
%
Fixed Income
Equal weighted
1 year
79
%
 
72
%
 
 
3 year
69
%
 
69
%
 
 
5 year
80
%
 
64
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
91
%
 
79
%
 
 
3 year
89
%
 
90
%
 
 
5 year
91
%
 
75
%
Allocation (Managed) Funds
Equal weighted
1 year
50
%
 
44
%
 
 
3 year
88
%
 
100
%
 
 
5 year
100
%
 
100
%
 
Asset weighted
1 year
45
%
 
32
%
 
 
3 year
99
%
 
100
%
 
 
5 year
100
%
 
100
%
The performance of each fund is measured on a consistent basis against the most appropriate benchmark — a peer group of similar funds or an index. 
Equal weighted: Counts the number of funds with above median ranking (if measured against peer group) or above index performance (if measured against an index) divided by the total number of funds. Asset size is not a factor. 
Asset weighted: Sums the assets of the funds with above median ranking (if measured against peer group) or above index performance (if measured against an index) divided by the total sum of assets in the funds. Funds with more assets will receive a greater share of the total percentage above or below median or index. 
Aggregated Allocation (Managed) Funds include funds that invest in other funds of the Threadneedle range including those funds that invest in both equity and fixed income. 
Aggregated Threadneedle data includes funds on the Threadneedle platform sub-advised by Columbia Management as well as advisors not affiliated with Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

The following table presents global managed assets by type:
 
March 31,
 
Change
 
Average (1)
 
Change
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
2018
 
2017
(in billions)
Equity
$
267.7

 
$
249.8

 
$
17.9

 
7
 %
 
$
276.0

 
$
245.5

 
$
30.5

 
12
 %
Fixed income
172.1

 
178.4

 
(6.3
)
 
(4
)
 
173.1

 
177.4

 
(4.3
)
 
(2
)
Money market
5.3

 
6.1

 
(0.8
)
 
(13
)
 
5.5

 
6.0

 
(0.5
)
 
(8
)
Alternative
5.5

 
7.3

 
(1.8
)
 
(25
)
 
5.5

 
7.4

 
(1.9
)
 
(26
)
Hybrid and other
34.7

 
25.4

 
9.3

 
37

 
35.0

 
25.1

 
9.9

 
39

Total managed assets
$
485.3

 
$
467.0

 
$
18.3

 
4
 %
 
$
495.1

 
$
461.4

 
$
33.7

 
7
 %
(1) Average ending balances are calculated using an average of the prior period’s ending balance and all months in the current period.
The following table presents the changes in global managed assets:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2018
 
2017
(in billions)
Global Retail Funds
 
 
 
Beginning assets
$
287.8

 
$
259.9

Inflows
13.2

 
14.8

Outflows
(17.0
)
 
(18.2
)
Net VP/VIT fund flows
(0.7
)
 
(0.9
)
Net new flows
(4.5
)
 
(4.3
)
Reinvested dividends
0.4

 
0.4

Net flows
(4.1
)
 
(3.9
)
Distributions
(0.7
)
 
(0.6
)
Market appreciation (depreciation) and other
(2.4
)
 
11.4

Foreign currency translation (1)
1.5

 
0.5

Total ending assets
282.1

 
267.3

 
 
 
 
Global Institutional
 
 
 
Beginning assets
206.8

 
194.5

Inflows
6.3

 
7.1

Outflows
(9.9
)
 
(8.8
)
Net flows
(3.6
)
 
(1.7
)
Market appreciation (depreciation) and other (2)
(2.9
)
 
5.9

Foreign currency translation (1)
2.9

 
1.0

Total ending assets
203.2

 
199.7

Total managed assets
$
485.3

 
$
467.0

Total net flows
$
(7.7
)
 
$
(5.6
)
 
 
 
 
Former Parent Company Related (3)(4)
 
 
 
Retail net new flows
$
(0.6
)
 
$
(0.9
)
Institutional net new flows
(1.0
)
 
(1.7
)
Total net new flows
$
(1.6
)
 
$
(2.6
)
(1) Amounts represent local currency to US dollar translation for reporting purposes.
(2) Includes $(1.0) billion and $(0.4) billion for the total change in Affiliated General Account Assets during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

(3) Former parent company related assets and net new flows are included in the rollforwards above.
(4) Prior period former parent company related net new flows were restated to include additional Former Parent Company net new flows that were previously not considered. The change was a decrease of $0.2 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
In a referendum in June 2016, the United Kingdom (UK) voted to leave the European Union (EU), which caused volatility in capital and currency markets. Further, in March 2017 the UK invoked article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon in serving its relevant notice to leave the European Union on March 30, 2019 and in March 2018 the terms of a transitional agreement, which is intended to be incorporated into the final version of the withdrawal agreement, were published, generally providing for very little change in the UK’s relationship with the EU until the end of 2020. The full impact of the British exit from the EU (commonly known as “Brexit”) remains uncertain. This uncertainty may have a negative impact on our UK and European net flows and foreign currency translation if the British Pound weakens.
Total segment AUM decreased $9.3 billion, or 2%, during the three months ended March 31, 2018 driven by net outflows of $7.7 billion and market depreciation, partially offset by a positive impact of foreign currency translation. In the quarter, outflows were elevated primarily from redemptions from institutional clients that were driven by shifts in asset allocation decisions away from equity and high yield products, as well as from an institutional client seeking liquidity. Underlying U.S. retail outflows improved, with increased gross sales at top intermediary partner firms. In Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”), market volatility drove an increase in retail redemptions during the quarter.
In November 2017, we completed our acquisition of Lionstone Partners, LLC (“Lionstone Investments”), a leading national real estate investment firm, specializing in investment strategies based upon proprietary analytics. The acquisition added $5.4 billion in assets under management.
The following table presents the results of operations of our Asset Management segment on an adjusted operating basis:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Revenues
Management and financial advice fees
$
645

 
$
597

 
$
48

 
8
 %
Distribution fees
114

 
121

 
(7
)
 
(6
)
Net investment income
2

 
4

 
(2
)
 
(50
)
Other revenues
17

 
3

 
14

 
NM

Total revenues
778

 
725

 
53

 
7

Banking and deposit interest expense

 

 

 

Total net revenues
778

 
725

 
53

 
7

Expenses
Distribution expenses
249

 
257

 
(8
)
 
(3
)
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
3

 
4

 
(1
)
 
(25
)
Interest and debt expense
6

 
5

 
1

 
20

General and administrative expense
325

 
309

 
16

 
5

Total expenses
583

 
575

 
8

 
1

Adjusted operating earnings
$
195

 
$
150

 
$
45

 
30
 %
NM  Not Meaningful.
Our Asset Management segment pretax adjusted operating earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, increased $45 million, or 30%, to $195 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $150 million for the prior year period primarily due to market appreciation and a $14 million vendor credit, partially offset by the cumulative impact of net outflows.
Net Revenues
Net revenues, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, increased $53 million, or 7%, to $778 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $725 million for the prior year period.
Management and financial advice fees increased $48 million, or 8%, to $645 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $597 million for the prior year period driven by market appreciation, a $17 million positive foreign currency translation impact and the Lionstone acquisition, partially offset by cumulative net outflows from former parent-related assets and higher fee yielding retail funds. Our average weighted equity index, which is a proxy for equity movements on AUM, increased 17% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the prior year period.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Other revenues increased $14 million to $17 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $3 million for the prior year period due to a vendor credit related to the completion of our front, middle and back-office integration.
Expenses
Total expenses increased $8 million, or 1%, to $583 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $575 million for the prior year period.
General and administrative expense increased $16 million, or 5%, to $325 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $309 million for the prior year period reflecting a $10 million negative foreign currency translation impact, an $8 million increase related to the Lionstone acquisition, higher research costs related to MiFID II and investments in growth initiatives, partially offset by disciplined expense management.
Annuities
The following table presents the results of operations of our Annuities segment on an adjusted operating basis:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Revenues
Management and financial advice fees
$
200

 
$
191

 
$
9

 
5
 %
Distribution fees
88

 
83

 
5

 
6

Net investment income
164

 
179

 
(15
)
 
(8
)
Premiums
24

 
27

 
(3
)
 
(11
)
Other revenues
137

 
128

 
9

 
7

Total revenues
613

 
608

 
5

 
1

Banking and deposit interest expense

 

 

 

Total net revenues
613

 
608

 
5

 
1

Expenses
Distribution expenses
110

 
102

 
8

 
8

Interest credited to fixed accounts
113

 
118

 
(5
)
 
(4
)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
150

 
143

 
7

 
5

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
50

 
47

 
3

 
6

Interest and debt expense
9

 
8

 
1

 
13

General and administrative expense
49

 
51

 
(2
)
 
(4
)
Total expenses
481

 
469

 
12

 
3

Adjusted operating earnings
$
132

 
$
139

 
$
(7
)
 
(5
)%
Our Annuities segment pretax adjusted operating income, which excludes net realized investment gains or losses (net of the related DSIC and DAC amortization), the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges and the related DSIC and DAC amortization) and the market impact on fixed index annuity benefits (net of hedges and the related DAC amortization), decreased $7 million, or 5%, to $132 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $139 million for the prior year period primarily due to lower investment income and the impact on DAC, DSIC and reserves for insurance features in non-traditional long-duration contracts from actual versus expected market performance based on our view of bond and equity performance, partially offset by equity market appreciation.
The impact on DAC, DSIC and reserves for insurance features in non-traditional long-duration contracts from actual versus expected market performance based on our view of bond and equity performance was a benefit of $6 million (nil for DAC, nil for DSIC and $6 million for insurance features in non-traditional long duration contracts) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to a benefit of $18 million ($8 million for DAC, $2 million for DSIC and $8 million for insurance features in non-traditional long duration contracts) for the prior year period.
RiverSource variable annuity account balances increased 3% to $78.7 billion at March 31, 2018 compared to the prior year period due to equity market appreciation, partially offset by net outflows of $3.7 billion. Variable annuity net outflows for the first quarter of 2018 were lower than the prior year period driven by a 20% increase in sales, as well as lower lapses.
RiverSource fixed deferred annuity account balances declined 7% to $9.1 billion at March 31, 2018 compared to the prior year period as older policies continue to lapse and new sales are limited due to low interest rates. Given the current interest rate environment,

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

our current fixed deferred annuity book is expected to gradually run off and earnings on our fixed deferred annuity business will trend down.
Net Revenues
Net revenues, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, increased $5 million, or 1%, to $613 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $608 million for the prior year period.
Management and financial advice fees increased $9 million, or 5%, to $200 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $191 million for the prior year period due to higher fees on variable annuities driven by higher average separate account balances. Average variable annuity account balances increased $4.6 billion, or 6%, from the prior year period due to market appreciation, partially offset by net outflows.
Net investment income, which excludes net realized investment gains or losses, decreased $15 million, or 8%, to $164 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $179 million for the prior year period reflecting a decrease of approximately $8 million from lower earned interest rates and approximately $7 million from lower invested assets due to fixed annuity net outflows.
Other revenues increased $9 million, or 7%, to $137 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $128 million for the prior year period due to higher fees from variable annuity guarantee sales in the prior year where the fees start on the first anniversary date and higher average fee rates.
Expenses
Total expenses, which exclude the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges and the related DSIC and DAC amortization), the market impact on fixed index annuity benefits (net of hedges and the related DAC amortization) and the DAC and DSIC offset to net realized investment gains or losses, increased $12 million, or 3%, to $481 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $469 million for the prior year period.
Distribution expenses increased $8 million, or 8%, to $110 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $102 million for the prior year period primarily reflecting equity market appreciation.
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses, which exclude the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges and the related DSIC amortization) and the DSIC offset to net realized investment gains or losses, increased $7 million, or 5%, to $150 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $143 million for the prior year period primarily reflecting higher reserve funding driven by the impact of higher fees from variable annuity guarantee sales in the prior year period where the fees start on the first anniversary date.
Protection
The following table presents the results of operations of our Protection segment on an adjusted operating basis:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Revenues
Management and financial advice fees
$
14

 
$
14

 
$

 
 %
Distribution fees
24

 
24

 

 

Net investment income
84

 
85

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Premiums
301

 
294

 
7

 
2

Other revenues
96

 
104

 
(8
)
 
(8
)
Total revenues
519

 
521

 
(2
)
 

Banking and deposit interest expense

 

 

 

Total net revenues
519

 
521

 
(2
)
 

Expenses
Distribution expenses
16

 
17

 
(1
)
 
(6
)
Interest credited to fixed accounts
49

 
44

 
5

 
11

Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
292

 
297

 
(5
)
 
(2
)
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
25

 
28

 
(3
)
 
(11
)
Interest and debt expense
6

 
6

 

 

General and administrative expense
61

 
66

 
(5
)
 
(8
)
Total expenses
449

 
458

 
(9
)
 
(2
)
Adjusted operating earnings
$
70

 
$
63

 
$
7

 
11
 %

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Our Protection segment pretax adjusted operating earnings, which excludes net realized investment gains or losses (net of the related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual) and the market impact on indexed universal life benefits (net of hedges and the related DAC amortization, unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual), increased $7 million, or 11%, to $70 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $63 million for the prior year period primarily due to decreases in net catastrophe losses and disability income (“DI”) insurance claims, partially offset by the impact of the low interest rate environment and a higher non-catastrophe loss ratio.
Net Revenues
Net revenues, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses (net of unearned revenue amortization and the reinsurance accrual) and the unearned revenue amortization and reinsurance accrual offset to the market impact on indexed universal life benefits, decreased $2 million to $519 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $521 million for the prior year period due to an $8 million decrease in other revenues related to life and health insurance, partially offset by a $7 million increase in premiums driven by higher auto policies in force.
Expenses
Total expenses, which exclude the market impact on indexed universal life benefits (net of hedges and the related DAC amortization) and the DAC offset to net realized investment gains or losses, decreased $9 million, or 2%, to $449 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $458 million for the prior year period.
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses decreased $5 million, or 2%, to $292 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $297 million for the prior year period primarily due to a decrease in net catastrophe losses and a $6 million decrease in DI insurance claims, partially offset by a higher non-catastrophe loss ratio and a volume-driven increase for auto insurance. Catastrophe losses (net of the impact of reinsurance), which were higher than anticipated in both periods due to storms, were $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $25 million for the prior year period.
Corporate & Other
The following table presents the results of operations of our Corporate & Other segment on an adjusted operating basis:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
2018
 
2017
(in millions)
 
 
Revenues
Net investment income
$
30

 
$
28

 
$
2

 
7
 %
Premiums
26

 
27

 
(1
)
 
(4
)
Other revenues
2

 
2

 

 

Total revenues
58

 
57

 
1

 
2

Banking and deposit interest expense
1

 

 
1

 

Total net revenues
57

 
57

 

 

Expenses
Distribution expenses
(2
)
 
(3
)
 
1

 
33

Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
56

 
58

 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

 

 

 

Interest and debt expense
6

 
8

 
(2
)
 
(25
)
General and administrative expense
53

 
74

 
(21
)
 
(28
)
Total expenses
113

 
137

 
(24
)
 
(18
)
Adjusted operating loss
$
(56
)
 
$
(80
)
 
$
24

 
30
 %
Our Corporate & Other segment pretax adjusted operating loss excludes net realized investment gains or losses, the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments, integration and restructuring charges, and the impact of consolidating CIEs. Our Corporate & Other segment pretax adjusted operating loss decreased $24 million, or 30%, to $56 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $80 million for the prior year period primarily due to a $21 million decrease in general and administrative expense reflecting a $7 million decline in DOL planning and implementation expenses, lower project-related costs and a $9 million expense in the prior year period related to the renegotiation of a vendor arrangement.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Market Risk
Our primary market risk exposures are interest rate, equity price, foreign currency exchange rate and credit risk. Equity price and interest rate fluctuations can have a significant impact on our results of operations, primarily due to the effects they have on the asset management and other asset-based fees we earn, the spread income generated on our fixed deferred annuities, fixed insurance, brokerage client cash balances, face-amount certificate products and the fixed portion of our variable annuities and variable insurance contracts, the value of DAC and DSIC assets, the value of liabilities for guaranteed benefits associated with our variable annuities and the value of derivatives held to hedge these benefits.
Our earnings from fixed deferred annuities, fixed insurance, and the fixed portion of variable annuities and variable insurance contracts are based upon the spread between rates earned on assets held and the rates at which interest is credited to accounts. We primarily invest in fixed rate securities to fund the rate credited to clients. We guarantee an interest rate to the holders of these products. Investment assets and client liabilities generally differ as it relates to basis, repricing or maturity characteristics. Rates credited to clients’ accounts generally reset at shorter intervals than the yield on the underlying investments. Therefore, in an increasing interest rate environment, higher interest rates may be reflected in crediting rates to clients sooner than in rates earned on invested assets, which could result in a reduced spread between the two rates, reduced earned income and a negative impact on pretax income. However, the current low interest rate environment is resulting in interest rates below the level of some of our liability guaranteed minimum interest rates (“GMIRs”). Hence, a modest rise in interest rates would not necessarily result in changes to all the liability credited rates while projected asset purchases would capture the full increase in interest rates. This dynamic would result in widening spreads under a modestly rising rate scenario given the current relationship between the current level of interest rates and the underlying GMIRs on the business.
As a result of the low interest rate environment, our current reinvestment yields are generally lower than the current portfolio yield. We expect our portfolio income yields to continue to decline in future periods if interest rates remain low. The carrying value and weighted average yield of total non-structured fixed maturity securities, certificate of deposits and commercial mortgage loans in our investment portfolio that may generate proceeds to reinvest through March 31, 2020 due to prepayment, maturity or call activity at the option of the issuer, excluding securities with a make-whole provision, were $6.1 billion and 3.7%, respectively, as of March 31, 2018. In addition, residential mortgage-backed securities, which are subject to prepayment risk as a result of the low interest rate environment, totaled $6.0 billion and had a weighted average yield of 2.91% as of March 31, 2018. While these amounts represent investments that could be subject to reinvestment risk, it is also possible that these investments will be used to fund liabilities or may not be prepaid and will remain invested at their current yields. In addition to the interest rate environment, the mix of benefit payments versus product sales as well as the timing and volumes associated with such mix may impact our investment yield. Furthermore, reinvestment activities and the associated investment yield may also be impacted by corporate strategies implemented at management’s discretion. The average yield for investment purchases during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was approximately 2.7%.
The reinvestment of proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments at rates below the current portfolio yield, which may be below the level of some liability GMIRs, will have a negative impact to future operating results. To mitigate the unfavorable impact that the low interest rate environment has on our spread income, we assess reinvestment risk in our investment portfolio and monitor this risk in accordance with our asset/liability management framework. In addition, we may reduce the crediting rates on our fixed products when warranted, subject to guaranteed minimums.
In addition to the fixed rate exposures noted above, RiverSource Life also has the following variable annuity guarantee benefits: guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”), guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”), guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”) and guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”). Each of these benefits guarantees payouts to the annuity holder under certain specific conditions regardless of the performance of the underlying invested assets.
The variable annuity guarantees continue to be managed by utilizing a hedging program which attempts to match the sensitivity of the assets with the sensitivity of the liabilities. This approach works with the premise that matched sensitivities will produce a highly effective hedging result. Our comprehensive hedging program focuses mainly on first order sensitivities of assets and liabilities: Equity Market Level (Delta), Interest Rate Level (Rho) and Volatility (Vega). Additionally, various second order sensitivities are managed. We use various index options across the term structure, interest rate swaps and swaptions, total return swaps and futures to manage the risk exposures. The exposures are measured and monitored daily, and adjustments to the hedge portfolio are made as necessary.
We have a macro hedge program to provide protection against the statutory tail scenario risk arising from variable annuity reserves on our statutory surplus and to cover some of the residual risks not covered by other hedging activities. We assess the residual risk under a range of scenarios in creating and executing the macro hedge program. As a means of economically hedging these risks, we may use a combination of futures, options, swaps and swaptions. Certain of the macro hedge derivatives used contain settlement provisions linked to both equity returns and interest rates; the remaining are interest rate contracts or equity contracts. The macro hedge program could result in additional earnings volatility as changes in the value of the macro hedge derivatives, which are designed to reduce statutory capital volatility, may not be closely aligned to changes in the variable annuity guarantee embedded derivatives.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

To evaluate interest rate and equity price risk we perform sensitivity testing which measures the impact on pretax income from the sources listed below for a 12-month period following a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates or a hypothetical 10% decline in equity prices. The interest rate risk test assumes a sudden 100 basis point parallel shift in the yield curve, with rates then staying at those levels for the next 12 months. The equity price risk test assumes a sudden 10% drop in equity prices, with equity prices then staying at those levels for the next 12 months. In estimating the values of variable annuity riders, indexed annuities, stock market certificates, indexed universal life insurance and the associated hedge assets, we assume no change in implied market volatility despite the 10% drop in equity prices.
The following tables present our estimate of the impact on pretax income from the above defined hypothetical market movements as of March 31, 2018:
Equity Price Decline 10%
 
Equity Price Exposure to Pretax Income
Before Hedge Impact
 
Hedge Impact
 
Net Impact
 
 
(in millions)
Asset-based management and distribution fees (1)
 
$
(260
)
 
$
5

 
$
(255
)
DAC and DSIC amortization (2)(3)
 
(128
)
 

 
(128
)
Variable annuity riders:
 
 

 
 

 
 

GMDB and GMIB (3)
 
(30
)
 

 
(30
)
GMWB (3)(4)
 
(385
)
 
227

 
(158
)
GMAB
 
(20
)
 
20

 

DAC and DSIC amortization (4)
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
(2
)
Total variable annuity riders
 
(435
)
 
247

 
(190
)
Macro hedge program (5)
 

 
36

 
36

Indexed annuities
 
1

 
(1
)
 

Certificates
 
3

 
(3
)
 

Indexed universal life insurance
 
59

 
(48
)
 
11

Total
 
$
(760
)
 
$
236

 
$
(526
)
Interest Rate Increase 100 Basis Points
 
Interest Rate Exposure to Pretax Income
Before  Hedge Impact
 
Hedge Impact
 
Net Impact
 
 
(in millions)
Asset-based management and distribution fees (1)
 
$
(56
)
 
$

 
$
(56
)
Variable annuity riders:
 
 

 
 

 
 

GMDB and GMIB
 

 

 

GMWB
 
833

 
(679
)
 
154

GMAB
 
16

 
(12
)
 
4

DAC and DSIC amortization (4)
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
(23
)
Total variable annuity riders
 
849

 
(691
)
 
135

Macro hedge program (5)
 

 

 

Indexed annuities
 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Fixed annuities, fixed insurance and fixed portion of variable annuities and variable insurance products
 
90

 

 
90

Brokerage client cash balances
 
113

 

 
113

Certificates
 
3

 

 
3

Indexed universal life insurance
 
95

 
2

 
97

Total
 
$
1,093

 
$
(689
)
 
$
381

N/A  Not Applicable.
(1) Excludes incentive income which is impacted by market and fund performance during the period and cannot be readily estimated.
(2) Market impact on DAC and DSIC amortization resulting from lower projected profits.
(3) In estimating the impact on DAC and DSIC amortization resulting from lower projected profits, we have not changed our assumed equity asset growth rates. This is a significantly more conservative estimate than if we assumed management follows its mean reversion guideline and

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

increased near-term rates to recover the drop in equity values over a five-year period. We make this same conservative assumption in estimating the impact from GMDB and GMIB riders and the life contingent benefits associated with GMWB.
(4) Market impact on DAC and DSIC amortization related to variable annuity riders is modeled net of hedge impact.
(5) The market impact of the macro hedge program is modeled net of any related impact to DAC and DSIC amortization.
The above results compare to an estimated negative net impact to pretax income of $551 million related to a 10% equity price decline and an estimated positive net impact to pretax income of $192 million related to a 100 basis point increase in interest rates as of December 31, 2017. The change in interest rate exposure was driven by variable annuity riders primarily due to changes in market rates.
Net impacts shown in the above table from GMWB riders result largely from differences between the liability valuation basis and the hedging basis. Liabilities are valued using fair value accounting principles, with risk margins incorporated in contractholder behavior assumptions and with discount rates increased to reflect a current market estimate of our risk of nonperformance specific to these liabilities. Our hedging is based on our determination of economic risk, which excludes certain items in the liability valuation including the nonperformance spread risk.
Actual results could differ materially from those illustrated above as they are based on a number of estimates and assumptions. These include assuming that implied market volatility does not change when equity prices fall by 10%; that management does not increase assumed equity asset growth rates to anticipate recovery of the drop in equity values when valuing DAC, DSIC and the liability values associated with GMDB, GMIB and the life contingent benefits associated with GMWB; and that the 100 basis point increase in interest rates is a parallel shift of the yield curve. Furthermore, we have not tried to anticipate changes in client preferences for different types of assets or other changes in client behavior, nor have we tried to anticipate actions management might take to increase revenues or reduce expenses in these scenarios.
The selection of a 100 basis point interest rate increase as well as a 10% equity price decline should not be construed as a prediction of future market events. Impacts of larger or smaller changes in interest rates or equity prices may not be proportional to those shown for a 100 basis point increase in interest rates or a 10% decline in equity prices.
Fair Value Measurements
We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value; specifically, separate account assets, derivatives, embedded derivatives and most investments and cash equivalents. Fair value assumes the exchange of assets or liabilities occurs in orderly transactions and is not the result of a forced liquidation or distressed sale. We include actual market prices, or observable inputs, in our fair value measurements to the extent available. Broker quotes are obtained when quotes from pricing services are not available. We validate prices obtained from third parties through a variety of means such as: price variance analysis, subsequent sales testing, stale price review, price comparison across pricing vendors and due diligence reviews of vendors. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our fair value measurements.
Fair Value of Liabilities and Nonperformance Risk
Companies are required to measure the fair value of liabilities at the price that would be received to transfer the liability to a market participant (an exit price). Since there is not a market for our obligations of our variable annuity riders, indexed annuities and indexed universal life insurance, we consider the assumptions participants in a hypothetical market would make to reflect an exit price. As a result, we adjust the valuation of variable annuity riders, indexed annuities and indexed universal life insurance by updating certain contractholder assumptions, adding explicit margins to provide for profit, risk and expenses, and adjusting the rates used to discount expected cash flows to reflect a current market estimate of our nonperformance risk. The nonperformance risk adjustment is based on observable market data adjusted to estimate the risk of our life insurance company subsidiaries not fulfilling these liabilities. Consistent with general market conditions, this estimate resulted in a spread over the LIBOR swap curve as of March 31, 2018. As our estimate of this spread widens or tightens, the liability will decrease or increase. If this nonperformance credit spread moves to a zero spread over the LIBOR swap curve, the reduction to future net income would be approximately $295 million, net of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue amortization, the reinsurance accrual and income taxes (calculated at the statutory tax rate of 21%), based on March 31, 2018 credit spreads.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
We maintained substantial liquidity during the three months ended March 31, 2018. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $2.1 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively, in cash and cash equivalents excluding CIEs. We have additional liquidity available through an unsecured revolving credit facility for up to $750 million that expires in October 2022. Under the terms of the credit agreement, we can increase this facility to $1 billion upon satisfaction of certain approval requirements. Available borrowings under this facility are reduced by any outstanding letters of credit. At March 31, 2018, we had no outstanding borrowings under this credit facility and had $1 million of outstanding letters of credit. Our credit facility contains various administrative, reporting, legal and financial covenants. We were in compliance with all such covenants at March 31, 2018.
We enter into short-term borrowings, which may include repurchase agreements and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances, to reduce reinvestment risk. Short-term borrowings allow us to receive cash to reinvest in longer-duration assets, while paying back the short-term debt with cash flows generated by the fixed income portfolio. The balance of repurchase agreements as of both

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $50 million, which is collateralized with agency residential mortgage backed securities and commercial mortgage backed securities from our investment portfolio. Our subsidiary, RiverSource Life Insurance Company (“RiverSource Life”), is a member of the FHLB of Des Moines, which provides access to collateralized borrowings. We had $151 million and $150 million of borrowings from the FHLB, which is collateralized with commercial mortgage backed securities, as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. We believe cash flows from operating activities, available cash balances and our availability of revolver borrowings will be sufficient to fund our operating liquidity needs.
Dividends from Subsidiaries
Ameriprise Financial is primarily a parent holding company for the operations carried out by our wholly owned subsidiaries. Because of our holding company structure, our ability to meet our cash requirements, including the payment of dividends on our common stock, substantially depends upon the receipt of dividends or return of capital from our subsidiaries, particularly our life insurance subsidiary, RiverSource Life, our face-amount certificate subsidiary, Ameriprise Certificate Company (“ACC”), AMPF Holding Corporation, which is the parent company of our retail introducing broker-dealer subsidiary, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (“AFSI”) and our clearing broker-dealer subsidiary, American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. (“AEIS”), our Auto and Home insurance subsidiary, IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company (“IDS Property Casualty”), doing business as Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance, our transfer agent subsidiary, Columbia Management Investment Services Corp., our investment advisory company, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC, and Ameriprise International Holdings GmbH, which is the parent company of Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Sàrl. The payment of dividends by many of our subsidiaries is restricted and certain of our subsidiaries are subject to regulatory capital requirements.
Actual capital and regulatory capital requirements for our wholly owned subsidiaries subject to regulatory capital requirements were as follows:
 
Actual Capital
 
Regulatory Capital Requirements
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
(in millions)
RiverSource Life (1)(2)
$
2,934

 
$
2,451

 
N/A

 
$
562

RiverSource Life of NY (1)(2)
290

 
269

 
N/A

 
36

IDS Property Casualty (1)(3)
787

 
781

 
$
224

 
214

Ameriprise Insurance Company (1)(3)
49

 
48

 
3

 
3

ACC(4)(5)
379

 
365

 
351

 
343

Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Sàrl (6)
557

 
426

 
177

 
170

Ameriprise National Trust Bank (7)
23

 
22

 
10

 
10

AFSI (3)(4)
145

 
63

 
#

 
#

Ameriprise Captive Insurance Company (3)
52

 
51

 
13

 
8

Ameriprise Trust Company (3)
31

 
31

 
27

 
27

AEIS (3)(4)
128

 
125

 
23

 
22

RiverSource Distributors, Inc. (3)(4)
12

 
12

 
#

 
#

Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (3)(4)
16

 
16

 
#

 
#

Investment Professionals, Inc.
3

 
2

 
#

 
#

N/A  Not applicable.
#  Amounts are less than $1 million.
(1) 
Actual capital is determined on a statutory basis.
(2) 
Regulatory capital requirement is based on the statutory risk-based capital filing.
(3) 
Regulatory capital requirement is based on the applicable regulatory requirement, calculated as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
(4) 
Actual capital is determined on an adjusted GAAP basis.
(5) 
ACC is required to hold capital in compliance with the Minnesota Department of Commerce and SEC capital requirements.
(6) 
Actual capital and regulatory capital requirements are determined in accordance with U.K. regulatory legislation. The regulatory capital requirements at March 31, 2018 represent calculations at December 31, 2017 of the rule based requirements, as specified by FCA regulations.
(7) 
Ameriprise National Trust Bank is required to maintain capital in compliance with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regulations and policies.
In addition to the particular regulations restricting dividend payments and establishing subsidiary capitalization requirements, we take into account the overall health of the business, capital levels and risk management considerations in determining a dividend strategy for payments to our parent holding company from our subsidiaries, and in deciding to use cash to make capital contributions to our subsidiaries.
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the parent holding company received cash dividends or a return of capital from its

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

subsidiaries of $484 million (including $200 million from RiverSource Life) and contributed no cash to its subsidiaries. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the parent holding company received cash dividends or a return of capital from its subsidiaries of $458 million (including $300 million from RiverSource Life) and contributed cash to its subsidiaries of $25 million.
In 2009, RiverSource established an agreement to protect its exposure to Genworth Life Insurance Company (“GLIC”) for its reinsured LTC. In 2016, substantial enhancements to this reinsurance protection agreement were finalized. The terms of these confidential provisions within the agreement have been shared, in the normal course of regular reviews, with our domiciliary regulator and rating agencies. Management believes that this agreement and offsetting non LTC legacy arrangements with Genworth will enable RiverSource to recover on all net exposure in the event of an insolvency of GLIC.
Dividends Paid to Shareholders and Share Repurchases
We paid regular quarterly dividends to our shareholders totaling $125 million and $121 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. On April 23, 2018, we announced a quarterly dividend of $0.90 per common share. The dividend will be paid on May 18, 2018 to our shareholders of record at the close of business on May 7, 2018.
In April 2017, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to $2.5 billion of our common stock through June 30, 2019. As of March 31, 2018, we had $1.7 billion remaining under this share repurchase authorization. We intend to fund share repurchases through existing working capital, future earnings and other customary financing methods. The share repurchase program does not require the purchase of any minimum number of shares, and depending on market conditions and other factors, these purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time without prior notice. Acquisitions under the share repurchase program may be made in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions or block trades or other means. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we repurchased a total of 2.4 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $159.57 per share.
Cash Flows
Cash flows of CIEs and restricted and segregated cash are reflected in our cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. Cash held by CIEs is not available for general use by Ameriprise Financial, nor is Ameriprise Financial cash available for general use by its CIEs. Cash segregated under federal and other regulations is held for the exclusive benefit of our brokerage customers and is not available for general use by Ameriprise Financial.
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $208 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $6 million for the prior year period primarily due to a $284 million decrease in cash from changes in brokerage deposits.
Investing Activities
Our investing activities primarily relate to our Available-for-Sale investment portfolio. Further, this activity is significantly affected by the net flows of our investment certificate, fixed annuity and universal life products reflected in financing activities.
Net cash provided by investing activities decreased $124 million to $87 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $211 million for the prior year period primarily due to a $321 million increase in cash used for purchases of Available-for-Sale securities, a $79 million decrease in proceeds from maturities, sinking fund payments and calls of Available-for-Sale securities and a $61 million decrease in proceeds from sales and collections of other investments, partially offset by a $315 million increase in proceeds from sales of Available-for-Sale securities.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities increased $130 million to $564 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $434 million for the prior year period due to a $57 million decrease in net cash inflows related to investment certificates, a $58 million decrease in deposits and other additions related to policyholder account balances and a $52 million increase in repayments of debt by CIEs.
Contractual Commitments
There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations disclosed in our 2017 10-K. 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We provide asset management services to investment entities which are considered to be VIEs, such as CLOs, hedge funds, property funds and private equity funds, which are sponsored by us. We consolidate certain CLOs. We have determined that consolidation is not required for hedge funds, property funds and private equity funds, which are sponsored by us. Our maximum exposure to loss with respect to our investment in these non-consolidated entities is limited to our carrying value. We have no obligation to provide further financial or other support to these investment entities nor have we provided any support to these investment entities. See Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our arrangements with these investment entities.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s plans, estimates and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking statements include: 
statements of the Company’s plans, intentions, positioning, expectations, objectives or goals, including those relating to asset flows, mass affluent and affluent client acquisition strategy, client retention and growth of our client base, financial advisor productivity, retention, recruiting and enrollments, the introduction, cessation, terms or pricing of new or existing products and services, acquisition integration, benefits and claims expenses, general and administrative costs, consolidated tax rate, return of capital to shareholders, debt repayment and excess capital position and financial flexibility to capture additional growth opportunities;
other statements about future economic performance, the performance of equity markets and interest rate variations and the economic performance of the United States and of global markets; and
statements of assumptions underlying such statements.
The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” “forecast,” “on pace,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
Such factors include, but are not limited to:
conditions in the interest rate, credit default, equity market and foreign exchange environments, including changes in valuations, liquidity and volatility;
changes in and the adoption of relevant accounting standards and securities rating agency standards and processes, as well as changes in the litigation and regulatory environment, including ongoing legal proceedings and regulatory actions, the frequency and extent of legal claims threatened or initiated by clients, other persons and regulators, and developments in regulation and legislation, including the rules and regulations implemented or that may be implemented or modified in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or in light of the U.S. Department of Labor and other rules and exemptions pertaining to the fiduciary status of investment advice providers to 401(k) plans, plan sponsors, plan participants and the holders of individual retirement or health savings accounts (as well as similar SEC, Certified Financial Planner Board and state fiduciary rules and standards);
investment management performance and distribution partner and consumer acceptance of the Company’s products;
effects of competition in the financial services industry, including pricing pressure, the introduction of new products and services and changes in product distribution mix and distribution channels;
changes to the Company’s reputation that may arise from employee or advisor misconduct, legal or regulatory actions, cybersecurity incidents, perceptions of the financial services industry generally, improper management of conflicts of interest or otherwise;
the Company’s capital structure, including indebtedness, limitations on subsidiaries to pay dividends, and the extent, manner, terms and timing of any share or debt repurchases management may effect as well as the opinions of rating agencies and other analysts and the reactions of market participants or the Company’s regulators, advisors, distribution partners or customers in response to any change or prospect of change in any such opinion;
changes to the availability and cost of liquidity and the Company’s credit capacity that may arise due to shifts in market conditions, the Company’s credit ratings and the overall availability of credit;
risks of default, capacity constraint or repricing by issuers or guarantors of investments the Company owns or by counterparties to hedge, derivative, insurance or reinsurance arrangements or by manufacturers of products the Company distributes, experience deviations from the Company’s assumptions regarding such risks, the evaluations or the prospect of changes in evaluations of any such third parties published by rating agencies or other analysts, and the reactions of other market participants or the Company’s regulators, advisors, distribution partners or customers in response to any such evaluation or prospect of changes in evaluation;
experience deviations from the Company’s assumptions regarding morbidity, mortality and persistency in certain annuity and insurance products (including, but not limited to, variable annuities and long term care policies), or from assumptions regarding market returns assumed in valuing or unlocking DAC and DSIC or market volatility underlying the Company’s valuation and hedging of guaranteed benefit annuity riders, or from assumptions regarding interest rates assumed in the Company's loss recognition testing of its long term care business, or from assumptions regarding anticipated claims and losses relating to the Company’s automobile and home insurance products;
changes in capital requirements that may be indicated, required or advised by regulators or rating agencies;
the impacts of the Company’s efforts to improve distribution economics and to grow third-party distribution of its products;
the ability to pursue and complete strategic transactions and initiatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, joint ventures and the development of new products and services;
the ability to realize the financial, operating and business fundamental benefits of strategic transactions and initiatives the Company has completed, is pursuing or may pursue in the future, which may be impacted by the ability to obtain regulatory

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

approvals, the ability to effectively manage related expenses and by market, business partner and consumer reactions to such strategic transactions and initiatives;
the ability and timing to realize savings and other benefits from re-engineering and tax planning;
interruptions or other failures in the Company’s communications, technology and other operating systems, including errors or failures caused by third-party service providers, interference or failures caused by third party attacks on the Company’s systems (or other cybersecurity incidents), or the failure to safeguard the privacy or confidentiality of sensitive information and data on such systems; and
general economic and political factors, including consumer confidence in the economy and the financial industry, the ability and inclination of consumers generally to invest as well as their ability and inclination to invest in financial instruments and products other than cash and cash equivalents, the costs of products and services the Company consumes in the conduct of its business, and applicable legislation and regulation and changes therein (such as the ongoing negotiations following the June 2016 UK referendum on membership in the European Union and the uncertain regulatory environment in the U.S. after the recent U.S. election), including tax laws, tax treaties, fiscal and central government treasury policy, and policies regarding the financial services industry and publicly-held firms, and regulatory rulings and pronouncements.
Management cautions the reader that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There may also be other risks that management is unable to predict at this time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements. The foregoing list of factors should be read in conjunction with the “Risk Factors” discussion included in Part I, Item 1A of our 2017 10-K.
Ameriprise Financial announces financial and other information to investors through the Company’s investor relations website at ir.ameriprise.com, as well as SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. Investors and others interested in the company are encouraged to visit the investor relations website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted. The website also allows users to sign up for automatic notifications in the event new materials are posted. The information found on the website is not incorporated by reference into this report or in any other report or document the Company furnishes or files with the SEC.
ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information set forth in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Market Risk” in this report is incorporated herein by reference. These disclosures should be read in conjunction with the “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” discussion included as Part II, Item 7A of our 2017 10-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2018.
ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be reported in the Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in and pursuant to SEC regulations, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that this information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure. It should be noted that, because of inherent limitations, our company’s disclosure controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met.
Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of March 31, 2018.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The information set forth in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes in the risk factors provided in Part I, Item 1A of our 2017 10-K.
ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table presents the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), of our common stock during the first quarter of 2018:
Period
 
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
 
(d)
Total Number
of Shares Purchased
Average Price
Paid Per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1)
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
January 1 to January 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share repurchase program (1)
 
456,438

 
$
175.27

 
456,438

 
$
2,004,552,853

Employee transactions (2)
 
152,777

 
$
171.71

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
February 1 to February 28, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share repurchase program (1)
 
726,019

 
$
159.64

 
726,019

 
$
1,888,652,604

Employee transactions (2)
 
376,642

 
$
163.61

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 1 to March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share repurchase program (1)
 
1,241,859

 
$
153.76

 
1,241,859

 
$
1,697,707,419

Employee transactions (2)
 
45,183

 
$
153.59

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Totals
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share repurchase program (1)
 
2,424,316

 
$
159.57

 
2,424,316

 
 

Employee transactions (2)
 
574,602

 
$
164.98

 
N/A

 
 

 
 
2,998,918

 
 

 
2,424,316

 
 

N/A  Not applicable.
(1) On April 24, 2017, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized an additional expenditure of up to $2.5 billion for the repurchase of our common stock through June 30, 2019. The share repurchase program does not require the purchase of any minimum number of shares, and depending on market conditions and other factors, these purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time without prior notice. Acquisitions under the share repurchase program may be made in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions or block trades or other means.
(2) Includes restricted shares withheld pursuant to the terms of awards under the Company’s share-based compensation plans to offset tax withholding obligations that occur upon vesting and release of restricted shares. The value of the restricted shares withheld is the closing price of common stock of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. on the date the relevant transaction occurs. Also includes shares withheld pursuant to the net settlement of Non-Qualified Stock Option (“NQSO”) exercises to offset tax withholding obligations that occur upon exercise and to cover the strike price of the NQSO. The value of the shares withheld pursuant to the net settlement of NQSO exercises is the closing price of common stock of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. on the day prior to the date the relevant transaction occurs.

72


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have filed certain agreements as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by the parties. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreements and (i) may have been qualified by disclosures made to such other party or parties, (ii) were made only as of the date of such agreements or such other date(s) as may be specified in such agreements and are subject to more recent developments, which may not be fully reflected in our public disclosure, (iii) may reflect the allocation of risk among the parties to such agreements and (iv) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe our actual state of affairs at the date hereof and should not be relied upon.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The exhibit numbers followed by an asterisk (*) indicate exhibits electronically filed herewith. All other exhibit numbers indicate exhibits previously filed and are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit
Description
 
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-32525, filed on May 1, 2014).
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-32525, filed on May 1, 2014).
Form of Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 3 to Form 10 Registration Statement, File No. 1-32525, filed on August 19, 2005).

Other instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt securities of the registrant are omitted pursuant to Section (b)(4)(iii)(A) of Item 601 of Regulation S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish copies of these instruments to the SEC upon request.
Ameriprise Financial Annual Incentive Award Plan, as amended and restated as of January 1, 2009.
Certification of James M. Cracchiolo pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Certification of Walter S. Berman pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Certification of James M. Cracchiolo and Walter S. Berman pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101*
The following materials from Ameriprise Financial, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017; (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017; and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
* Filed electronically herewithin.


73


AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC. 

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 


 
 
 
 
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 2, 2018
 
By:
/s/ Walter S. Berman
 
 
 
 
 
Walter S. Berman
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 2, 2018
 
By:
/s/ David K. Stewart
 
 
 
 
 
David K. Stewart
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and Controller
 
 
 
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 


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