Actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to the following: (1) a decline or increased volatility in the securities markets could result in investors withdrawing from the markets or decreasing their rates of investment, either of which could reduce our net income, revenues and assets under management; (2) our investment portfolio is subject to several risks which may diminish the value of our invested assets and affect our sales, profitability and the investment returns credited to our customers; (3) competition from companies that may have greater financial resources, broader arrays of products, higher ratings and stronger financial performance may impair our ability to retain existing customers, attract new customers and maintain our profitability; (4) a downgrade in any of our ratings may increase policy surrenders and withdrawals, reduce new sales and terminate relationships with distributors, and impact existing liabilities, any of which could adversely affect our profitability and financial condition; (5) our efforts to reduce the impact of interest rate changes on our profitability and surplus may not be effective; (6) if we are unable to attract and retain sales representatives and develop new distribution sources, sales of our products and services may be reduced; (7) our international businesses face political, legal, operational and other risks that could reduce our profitability in those businesses; (8) our reserves established for future policy benefits and claims may prove inadequate, requiring us to increase liabilities; (9) our ability to pay stockholder dividends and meet our obligations may be constrained by the limitations on dividends Iowa insurance laws impose on Principal Life; (10) the pattern of amortizing our DPAC on our SFAS 97 products may change, impacting both the level of the asset and the timing of our operating earnings; (11) we may need to fund deficiencies in our Closed Block assets; (12) a pandemic, terrorist attack, or other catastrophic event could adversely affect our earnings; (13) our reinsurers could default on their obligations or increase their rates, which could adversely impact our earnings and profitability (14) we may encounter difficulty integrating WM Advisors, Inc. and may incur substantial costs in connection with the integration; (15) changes in laws, regulations or accounting standards may reduce our profitability; (16) litigation and regulatory investigations may affect our financial strength or reduce our profitability; (17) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could reduce our profitability; and (18) applicable laws and our stockholder rights plan, certificate of incorporation and by-laws may discourage takeovers and business combinations that our stockholders might consider in their best interests.
Fixed Maturities, Available-for-Sale. Fixed maturity securities include bonds, mortgage-backed securities and redeemable preferred stock. We classify our fixed maturity securities as either available-for-sale or trading and, accordingly, carry them at fair value in the statement of financial position. The fair values of our public fixed maturity securities are based on quoted market prices or estimates from independent pricing services. However, 23% of our invested asset portfolio is invested in fixed maturity securities that are private market assets, where there are no readily available market quotes to determine the fair market value. These assets are valued using a spread pricing matrix. Securities are grouped into pricing categories that vary by asset class, sector, rating, and average life. Each pricing category is assigned a risk spread based on studies of observable public market data or market clearing data from the investment professionals assigned to specific security classes. The expected cash flows of the security are then discounted back at the current Treasury curve plus the appropriate risk spread. Although the matrix valuation approach provides a fair valuation of each pricing category, the valuation of an individual security within each pricing category may actually be impacted by company specific factors. Certain market events that could impact the valuation of securities include issuer credit ratings, business climate, management changes, litigation, and government actions among others. An interest rate increase in the range of 20 to 100 basis points, while holding credit spreads constant, produces total values of $38.1 billion and $36.7 billion, as compared to the recorded amount of $38.5 billion related to our fixed maturity, available-for-sale
SOP 03-1 addresses the classification of contracts and calculation of an additional liability for contracts that contain significant insurance features. The adoption of the guidance required the recognition of an additional liability in cases where the insurance benefit feature resulted in gains in early years followed by losses in later years. The accrual and release of the additional liability also impacted the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs ("DPAC"). As of January 1, 2004, we increased future policyholder benefits due to our no lapse guarantee feature of our universal life and variable universal life products within our Life and Health Insurance segment and for variable annuities with guaranteed minimum death benefits in our U.S. Asset Management and Accumulation segment. This resulted in an after-tax cumulative effect of $(0.9) million in the Life and Health Insurance segment and $(1.5) million in the U.S. Asset Management and Accumulation segment.
Of the $751.9 million of acquired intangible assets, $608.0 million was assigned to investment management contracts that are not subject to amortization. The remainder of the acquired intangibles will be subject to amortization and consist of: $86.9 million of customer-based intangibles (eight-year useful life); $51.0 million of asset management contracts (three-year useful life); $5.0 million ascribed to the distribution channel (18-year useful life); and $1.0 million ascribed to non-compete agreements (one-year useful life).
We have defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all of our employees and certain agents. Some of these plans provide supplemental pension benefits to employees with salaries and/or pension benefits in excess of the qualified plan limits imposed by federal tax law. The employees and agents are generally first eligible for the pension plans when they reach age 21. For plan participants employed prior to January 1, 2002, the pension benefits are based on the greater of a final average pay benefit or a cash balance benefit. The final average pay benefit is based on the years of service and generally the employee's or agent's average annual compensation during the last five years of employment. Partial benefit accrual of final average pay benefits is recognized from first eligibility until retirement based on attained service divided by potential service to age 65 with a minimum of 35 years of potential service. The cash balance portion of the plan started on January 1, 2002. An employee's account will be credited with an amount based on the employee's salary, age and service. These credits will accrue with interest. For plan participants hired on and after January 1, 2002, only the cash balance plan applies. Our policy is to fund the cost of providing pension benefits in the years that the employees and agents are providing service to us. Our funding policy for the qualified defined benefit plan is to contribute an amount annually at least equal to the minimum annual contribution required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), and, generally, not greater than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. Our funding policy for the non-qualified benefit plan is to fund the plan in the years that the employees are providing service to us using a methodology similar to the calculation of the net periodic benefit cost under U.S. GAAP, but using long-term assumptions. However, if the U.S. GAAP funded status is positive, no deposit is made. While we designate assets to cover the computed liability of this plan, the assets are not included as part of the asset balances presented in this footnote as they do not qualify as plan assets in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
We also provide certain health care, life insurance and long-term care benefits for retired employees. Subsidized retiree health benefits are provided for employees hired prior to January 1, 2002. Employees hired after December 31, 2001, will have access to retiree health benefits but are intended to pay for the full cost of the coverage. The health care plans are contributory with participants' contributions adjusted annually; the contributions are based on the number of years of service and age at retirement for those hired prior to January 1, 2002. As part of the substantive plan, the retiree health contributions are assumed to be adjusted in the future as claim levels change. The life insurance plans are contributory for a small group of previously grandfathered participants that have elected supplemental coverage and dependent coverage.
Due to the Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc. divestiture, we provided for contractual termination benefits in connection with termination of employment for a select group of Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc. management employees. The pension plan recognized $1.8 million in special termination benefits liability in 2004.
On July 26, 2004, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services issued proposed regulations that provided guidance on the definition of actuarially equivalent retiree prescription drug coverage. These regulations aided in our third quarter of 2004 determination that the majority of our retiree prescription drug benefit coverage is actuarially equivalent to Medicare's Part D prescription drug plan and thus makes us eligible for the tax-free subsidy beginning in 2006. Accordingly, we conducted a mid-year re-measurement during third quarter of 2004 of our retiree medical plans to reflect the recognition of the Medicare Modernization Act in accordance with FSP No. 106-2, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. This caused an actuarial gain of approximately $22.5 million for the medical plans. In addition, it also caused the net periodic benefit cost for 2004 to change for the fourth quarter. The 2004 service cost decreased by approximately $0.2 million, interest cost decreased approximately $0.4 million and the actuarial loss amortization decreased by $0.1 million. During 2006, the total Medicare subsidies we received and accrued for were $0.9 million.
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, expected to be paid and the amount of tax-free subsidy receipts under Medicare Part D expected to be received are:
While the outcome of any pending or future litigation cannot be predicted, management does not believe that any pending litigation will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial position. The outcome of litigation is always uncertain, and unforeseen results can occur. It is possible that such outcomes could materially affect net income in a particular quarter or annual period.
Fair values of commercial and residential mortgage loans are determined by discounting the expected total cash flows using market rates that are applicable to the yield, credit quality and maturity of each loan.