The following table sets forth certain selected historical consolidated financial information. We derived the consolidated financial information (except for amounts referred to as “Other Supplemental Data”) for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 from our audited consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements included in this Form 10-K. We derived the consolidated financial information (except for amounts referred to as “Other Supplemental Data”) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Form 10-K. The following summary of consolidated financial information (except for amounts referred to as “Other Supplemental Data”) has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The following analysis discusses our financial condition as of December 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and, where appropriate, factors that may affect our future financial performance. The discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the financial statements and the other financial information included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Our narrative analysis below contains forward-looking statements intended to enhance the reader’s ability to assess our future financial performance. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that represent our beliefs concerning future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments, and contain words and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.
Actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors listed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
● ability to manage our investment portfolio to maximize investment returns and minimize risks such as interest rate changes or defaults or impairments of invested assets;
The increasing complexity of the business environment and applicable authoritative accounting guidance requires us to closely monitor our accounting policies. Our significant accounting policies are described in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 1, Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies.” We have identified critical accounting policies that are complex and require significant judgment and estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. A summary of our critical accounting policies is intended to enhance the reader’s ability to assess our financial condition and results of operations and the potential volatility due to changes in estimates and changes in guidance. The identification, selection and disclosure of critical accounting estimates and policies have been discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
The fair values of our public fixed maturities are primarily based on market prices from third party pricing vendors. We have regular interactions with these vendors to ensure we understand their pricing methodologies and to confirm they are utilizing observable market information. In addition, 8% of our invested asset portfolio as of December 31, 2020, was invested in privately placed fixed maturities with no readily available market quotes to determine the fair market value. The majority of these assets are valued using a matrix pricing valuation approach that utilizes observable market inputs. In the matrix approach, securities are grouped into pricing categories that vary by sector, rating and average life. Each pricing category is assigned a risk spread based on observable public market data. 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 be impacted by company specific factors. This excludes privately placed securities subject to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 that are primarily based on market prices from third party pricing vendors, similar to public fixed maturities.
If we are unable to price a fixed maturity security using prices from third party pricing vendors or other sources specific to the asset class, we may obtain a broker quote or utilize an internal pricing model specific to the asset utilizing relevant market information, to the extent available and where at least one significant unobservable input is utilized. These are reflected in Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy and can include fixed maturities across all asset classes. As of December 31, 2020, less than 1% of our total fixed maturities were Level 3 securities valued using internal pricing models. See Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 14, Fair Value Measurements” for further discussion.
The $3,213.7 million increase in net unrealized gains from U.S. investment operations for the year ended December 31, 2020, can be attributed to an approximate 97 basis point decrease in interest rates, partially offset by widening of credit spreads. For additional information about interest rate risk see
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a) and our report dated February 12, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Uncertainties, including those associated with the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"), may impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Our use of estimates and assumptions affect amounts reported and disclosed and includes, but is not limited to, the fair value of investments in the absence of quoted market values, investment impairments and valuation allowances, the fair value of derivatives, deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") and other actuarial balances, measurement of goodwill and intangible assets, the liability for future policy benefits and claims, the value of pension and other postretirement benefits and accounting for income taxes and the valuation of deferred tax assets. Our estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes known about the impact of COVID-19. Our results of operations and financial condition may also be impacted by other uncertainties including evolving regulatory, legislative and standard-setter accounting interpretations and guidance.
The assumptions used to calculate the liability for future policy benefits on traditional and limited-payment contracts will be reviewed and updated periodically. Cash flow assumptions will be reviewed at least annually and updated when necessary with the impact recognized in net income. Discount rate assumptions are prescribed as the current upper-medium grade (low credit risk) fixed income instrument yield and will be updated quarterly with the impact recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”).
Market risk benefits, which are contracts or contract features that provide protection to the policyholder from capital market risk and expose us to other-than-nominal capital market risk, are measured at fair value. The periodic change in fair value is recognized in net income with the exception of the periodic change in fair value related to our own nonperformance risk, which is recognized in OCI.
Additional disclosures are required, including disaggregated rollforwards of significant insurance liabilities and other account balances as well as disclosures about significant inputs, judgments, assumptions and methods used in measurement.
Our implementation and evaluation process to date includes, but is not limited to the following:
● identifying and documenting contracts and contract features in scope of the guidance;
● identifying the actuarial models, systems and processes to be updated;
● building models and evaluating preliminary output as models are developed;
● beginning operational dry runs using model output and updated chart of accounts
This authoritative guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions, including exceptions related to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation, calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. Also, the guidance clarifies the accounting for franchise taxes, transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill and enacted changes in tax laws or rates. It specifies that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements, although an entity may elect to do so. The guidance will be applied based on varying transition methods defined by amendment. Early adoption is permitted.
This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Facilitation of the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting
This authoritative guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for contracts and hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform. An entity may elect not to apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by reference rate reform and instead account for the modified contract as a continuation of the existing contract. Also, an entity may apply optional expedients to continue hedge accounting for hedging relationships in which the critical terms change due to reference rate reform. This guidance eases the financial reporting impacts of reference rate reform on contracts and hedging relationships and is effective until December 31, 2022.
This authoritative guidance requires entities to use a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model to measure impairment for most financial assets that are not recorded at fair value through net income. Under the CECL model, an entity will estimate lifetime expected credit losses considering available relevant information about historical events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The CECL model does not apply to available-for-sale debt securities; however, the credit loss calculation and subsequent recoveries for available-for-sale securities are required to be recorded through an allowance. This guidance also expands the required credit loss disclosures.
Implementation costs in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract
This authoritative guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This guidance can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively.
The effective date of the guidance was January 1, 2020; however, we elected to early-adopt this guidance on a prospective basis, effective January 1, 2019. This guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
This authoritative guidance requires lessee recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial position. The concept of an operating lease, where the lease assets and liabilities are not reported on the consolidated statements of financial position, is eliminated under the new guidance. For lessors, the guidance modifies lease classification criteria and accounting for certain types of leases. Other key aspects of the guidance relate to the removal of the current real estate-specific guidance and new presentation and disclosure requirements. Lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases using a modified retrospective approach, which includes certain optional practical expedients that may be elected. We elected the alternative transition method, which allows entities to initially apply the new standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption.
This guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 5, Derivative Financial Instruments, for further details.
This authoritative guidance permits a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings for the stranded tax effects resulting from U.S. tax legislation enacted on December 22, 2017, which is referred to as the ‘‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’’ (‘‘U.S. tax reform’’). The amount of that reclassification includes the change in corporate income tax rate, as well as an election to include other income tax effects related to the application of U.S. tax reform. The guidance also requires disclosures about stranded tax effects.
This authoritative guidance requires entities to recognize current and deferred income tax resulting from an intra-entity asset transfer when the transfer occurs. Prior to issuance of this guidance, U.S. GAAP did not allow recognition of income tax consequences until the asset had been sold to a third party. This guidance requires adoption through a cumulative effect adjustment to the consolidated statements of financial position as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.
We adopted this guidance using the modified retrospective approach. A cumulative effect adjustment of $1.0 million was recorded as a decrease to AOCI and a corresponding increase to retained earnings. The guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 4, Investments, for further details.
This authoritative guidance requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. The guidance also provides explicit guidance on the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the consolidated statements of operations and allows only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization.
When we adopt new accounting standards, we have a process in place to perform a thorough review of the pronouncement, identify the financial statement and system impacts and create an implementation plan among our impacted business units to ensure we are compliant with the pronouncement on the date of adoption. This includes having effective processes and controls in place to support the reported amounts. Each of the standards listed above is in varying stages in our implementation process based on its issuance and adoption dates. We are on track to implement guidance by the respective effective dates.
● the value of our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and
Commercial and residential mortgage loans are generally reported at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accrual of discounts, computed using the interest method and net of valuation allowances. Amortized cost excludes accrued interest receivable. Interest income is accrued on the principal amount of the loan based on the loan’s contractual interest rate. Interest income, as well as prepayment of fees and the amortization of the related premium or discount, is reported in net investment income on the consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest receivable is reported in accrued investment income on the consolidated statements of financial position. Any changes in the loan valuation allowances are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 4, Investments, for further details of our valuation allowance.
Net realized capital gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the basis of specific identification. In general, in addition to realized capital gains and losses on investment sales and periodic settlements on derivatives not designated as hedges, we report gains and losses related to the following in net realized capital gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations: mark-to-market adjustments on equity securities, mark-to-market adjustments on certain fixed maturities, trading, mark-to-market adjustments on sponsored investment funds, mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives not designated as hedges, cash flow hedge gains (losses) when the hedged item impacts realized capital gains (losses), changes in the valuation allowance for fixed maturities, available-for-sale and certain financing receivables, impairments of real estate held for investment, impairments of equity method investments and, prior to 2020, other-than-temporary impairments of securities and subsequent realized recoveries. Investment gains and losses on sales of certain real estate held for sale due to investment strategy and mark-to-market adjustments on certain securities carried at fair value with an investment objective to realize economic value through mark-to-market changes are reported as net investment income and are excluded from net realized capital gains (losses).
Contractholder and policyholder liabilities (contractholder funds, future policy benefits and claims and other policyholder funds) include reserves for investment contracts, individual and group annuities that provide periodic income payments, universal life insurance, variable universal life insurance, indexed universal life insurance, term life insurance, participating traditional individual life insurance, group dental and vision insurance, group critical illness, group accident, group short-term and long-term disability insurance, group life insurance, individual disability insurance and long-term care insurance. It also includes a provision for dividends on participating policies.
Investment contracts are contractholders' funds on deposit with us and generally include reserves for pension and annuity contracts. Reserves on investment contracts are equal to the cumulative deposits less any applicable charges and withdrawals plus credited interest. Reserves for universal life, variable universal life and indexed universal life insurance contracts are equal to cumulative deposits less charges plus credited interest, which represents the account balances that accrue to the benefit of the policyholders.
We hold additional reserves on certain long-duration contracts where benefit features result in gains in early years followed by losses in later years; universal life, variable universal life and indexed universal life insurance contracts that contain no lapse guarantee features; and annuities with guaranteed minimum death benefits.
● LTD: Claim frequency is based on submitted reserve claim counts.
● Group Life Waiver: Claim frequency is based on submitted reserve claim counts, consistent with LTD.
We did not make any significant changes to our methodologies or assumptions used to calculate the liability for unpaid claims for short-duration contracts during 2020.
DAC on short-duration group benefits policies are amortized over the estimated term of the underlying contracts.
As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the separate accounts included a separate account valued at $80.4 million and $100.4 million, respectively, which primarily included shares of our stock that were allocated and issued to eligible participants of qualified employee benefit plans administered by us as part of the policy credits issued under our 2001 demutualization. These shares are included in both basic and diluted earnings per share calculations. In the consolidated statements of financial position, the separate account shares are recorded at fair value and are reported as separate account assets with a corresponding separate account liability. Changes in fair value of the separate account shares are reflected in both the separate account assets and separate account liabilities and do not impact our results of operations.
Assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries and affiliates denominated in non-U.S. dollars, where the U.S. dollar is not the functional currency, are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the year-end spot foreign exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of stockholders' equity, along with any related hedge and tax effects. Revenues and expenses for these entities are translated at the average exchange rates. Revenue, expense and other foreign currency transaction and translation adjustments that affect cash flows are reported in net income, along with related hedge and tax effects.
(1) Relates to the acquisitions of: a) Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement & Trust business consolidated within our Retirement and Income Solutions segment; b) a consolidating interest in Finisterre Capital LLP within our Principal Global Investors segment for which we previously held an equity method interest; c) measurement period adjustments related to RobustWealth within our Principal Global Investors segment and Corporate segment.
(2) Relates to the movement of our investment management company in Brazil from the Principal International segment to the Principal Global Investors segment.
The fair value of the net assets acquired primarily relates to intangible assets. Of the acquired intangible assets, $618.5 million was assigned to goodwill and is not subject to amortization. The goodwill is largely related to the opportunities to realize substantial revenue and cost synergies while achieving scale in operations.
The amortization expense for intangible assets with finite useful lives was $73.5 million, $62.8 million and $53.9 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, the estimated amortization expense for the next five years is as follows (in millions):
We have relationships with various types of entities which may be VIEs. Certain VIEs are consolidated in our financial results. See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, under the caption “Consolidation” for further details of our consolidation accounting policies. We did not provide financial or other support to investees designated as VIEs for the periods ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
We sponsor and invest in certain investment funds for which we provide asset management services. Although our asset management fee is commensurate with the services provided and consistent with fees for similar services negotiated at arms-length, we have a variable interest for funds where our other interests are more than insignificant. The funds are VIEs as the equity holders lack power through voting rights to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact its economic performance. We determined we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs where our interest in the entity is more than insignificant and we are the asset manager.
We invested in an ABS trust. The trust issued various collateralized mortgage obligation certificates and purchased residential mortgage loans. The trust is considered a VIE due to insufficient equity to sustain itself. We concluded that we are the primary beneficiary as we have purchased substantially all of the certificates and have the obligation to absorb losses that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
(2) The assets of the mandatory retirement savings funds primarily include separate account assets and equity securities. The liabilities primarily include separate account liabilities and contractholder funds.
(3) The assets of the real estate VIEs primarily include real estate and cash. Liabilities primarily include other liabilities and included long-term debt as of December 31, 2019.
(4) The assets of sponsored investment funds are primarily fixed maturities and equity securities, certain of which are reported with other investments, and cash. The consolidated statements of financial position included a $226.8 million and $215.4 million redeemable noncontrolling interest for sponsored investment funds as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
We hold a variable interest in a number of VIEs where we are not the primary beneficiary. Our investments in these VIEs are reported in fixed maturities, available-for-sale; fixed maturities, trading; equity securities and other investments in the consolidated statements of financial position and are described below.
Unconsolidated VIEs include certain commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), residential mortgage-backed pass-through securities ("RMBS") and other ABS. All of these entities were deemed VIEs because the equity within these entities is insufficient to sustain them. We determined we are not the primary beneficiary in the entities within these categories of investments. This determination was based primarily on the fact we do not own the class of security that controls the unilateral right to replace the special servicer or equivalent function.
(2) Primarily consists of collateralized loan obligations backed by secured corporate loans.
(3) As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the maximum exposure to loss for other limited partnership and fund interests includes $141.2 million and $129.1 million, respectively, of debt within certain of our managed international real estate funds that is fully secured by assets whose value exceeds the amount of the debt, but also includes recourse to the investment manager.
(3) Excludes $62.3 million as of December 31, 2019, of net unrealized gains on impaired fixed maturities, available-for-sale related to changes in fair value subsequent to the impairment date, which are included in gross unrealized gains and gross unrealized losses.
(3) Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturities, trading still held at the reporting date were $5.3 million, $32.8 million and $(12.2) million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(4) Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities still held at the reporting date were $64.6 million, $61.6 million and $(39.9) million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. This excludes $35.2 million, $66.9 million and $4.9 million of unrealized gains on equity securities still held at the reporting date for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, that were reported in net investment income.
We have a process in place to identify fixed maturity securities that could potentially require an allowance for credit loss. This process involves monitoring market events that could impact issuers’ credit ratings, business climate, management changes, litigation and government actions and other similar factors. This process also involves monitoring late payments, pricing levels, downgrades by rating agencies, key financial ratios, financial statements, revenue forecasts and cash flow projections as indicators of credit issues.
The allowance for credit loss associated with fixed maturities, available-for-sale was applied prospectively upon adoption of authoritative guidance effective January 1, 2020.
Prior to the implementation of authoritative guidance in 2020, we had a process in place to identify fixed maturity securities that could potentially have an impairment that is other than temporary. This process involved monitoring market events that could impact issuers’ credit ratings, business climate, management changes, litigation and government actions and other similar factors. This process also involved monitoring late payments, pricing levels, downgrades by rating agencies, key financial ratios, financial statements, revenue forecasts and cash flow projections as indicators of credit issues.
Each reporting period, all securities were reviewed to determine whether an other-than-temporary decline in value existed and whether losses should be recognized. We considered relevant facts and circumstances in evaluating whether a credit or interest rate related impairment of a security was other than temporary. Relevant facts and circumstances considered include: (1) the extent and length of time the fair value was below cost; (2) the reasons for the decline in value; (3) the financial position and access to capital of the issuer, including the current and future impact of any specific events; (4) for structured securities, the adequacy of the expected cash flows and (5) our intent to sell a security or whether it is more likely than not we will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost which, in some cases, may extend to maturity. To the extent we determined a security was deemed to be other than temporarily impaired, an impairment loss was recognized.
We estimated the amount of the credit loss component of a fixed maturity security impairment as the difference between amortized cost and the present value of the expected cash flows of the security. The present value was determined using the best estimate cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete an asset-backed or floating rate security. The methodology and assumptions for establishing the best estimate cash flows varied depending on the type of security. The ABS cash flow estimates were based on security specific facts and circumstances that may include collateral characteristics, expectations of delinquency and default rates, loss severity and prepayment speeds and structural support, including subordination and guarantees. The corporate security cash flow estimates were derived from scenario-based outcomes of expected corporate restructurings or liquidations using bond specific facts and circumstances including timing, security interests and loss severity.
The following table provides a rollforward of accumulated credit losses for fixed maturities with bifurcated credit losses prior to the implementation of new accounting guidance in 2020. The purpose of the table is to provide detail of (1) additions to the bifurcated credit loss amounts recognized in net realized capital gains (losses) during the period and (2) decrements for previously recognized bifurcated credit losses where the loss is no longer bifurcated and/or there has been a positive change in expected cash flows or accretion of the bifurcated credit loss amount.
For available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses for which an allowance for credit loss has not been recorded, the gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position were as follows:
For those securities that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months, Principal Life's consolidated portfolio held 619 securities with a carrying value of $5,638.3 million and unrealized losses of $122.4 million reflecting an average price of 98 as of December 31, 2020. Of this portfolio, 89% was investment grade (rated AAA through BBB-) as of December 31, 2020, with associated unrealized losses of $98.4 million. The unrealized losses on these securities can primarily be attributed to changes in market interest rates and changes in credit spreads since the securities were acquired.
For those securities that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position greater than or equal to twelve months, Principal Life's consolidated portfolio held 198 securities with a carrying value of $1,391.3 million and unrealized losses of $51.5 million as of December 31, 2020. The average credit rating of this portfolio was AA- with an average price of 96 as of December 31, 2020. Of the $51.5 million in unrealized losses, the corporate sector accounts for $24.9 million in unrealized losses with an average price of 92 and an average credit rating of BB+. The remaining unrealized losses also include $12.9 million within the collateralized debt obligation sector accounts with an average price of 99 and an average credit rating of AA+. The unrealized losses on these securities can primarily be attributed to changes in market interest rates and changes in credit spreads since the securities were acquired.
For those securities that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position greater than or equal to twelve months, Principal Life’s consolidated portfolio held 502 securities with a carrying value of $3,078.0 million and unrealized losses of $59.9 million. The average credit rating of this portfolio was AA+ with an average price of 98 as of December 31, 2019. Of the $59.9 million in unrealized losses, the corporate sector accounts for $23.6 million in unrealized losses with an average price of 94 and an average credit rating of BBB-. The remaining unrealized losses also include $14.6 million within the commercial mortgage-backed securities sector with an average price of 95 and an average credit rating of AA+. The unrealized losses on these securities can primarily be attributed to changes in market interest rates and changes in credit spreads since the securities were acquired.
Because we expected to recover our amortized cost, it was not our intent to sell the fixed maturity available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses and it was not more likely than not that we would be required to sell these securities before recovery of the amortized cost, which may be at maturity, we did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2019.
Our direct financing leases are concentrated in Chile. Our Chilean operations enter into private placement contracts for commercial, industrial and office space properties whereby our Chilean operations purchase the real estate and/or building from the seller-lessee but then lease the property back to the seller-lessee. Ownership of the property is transferred to the lessee by the end of the lease term. Direct financing leases are reported as a component of other investments in the consolidated statements of financial position.
The amortized cost of commercial mortgage loans, direct financing leases and residential mortgage loans excluded accrued interest receivable of $60.0 million, $0.5 million and $2.0 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.
Prior to the implementation of authoritative guidance in 2020, residential mortgage loan credit quality disclosures included information about classes of those mortgages and information by vintage was excluded. Beginning in 2020, we determined that total residential mortgage loans by credit risk and vintage is the most meaningful presentation.
Commercial mortgage loans and direct financing leases that require more frequent and detailed attention are identified and placed on an internal “watch list”. Among the criteria that may indicate a potential problem are significant negative changes in ratios of loan to value or contract rents to debt service, major tenant vacancies or bankruptcies, borrower sponsorship problems, late payments, delinquent taxes and loan relief/restructuring requests.
Our residential mortgage loan portfolio is monitored based on performance of the loans. Monitoring on a residential mortgage loan increases when the loan is delinquent or earlier if there is an indication of potential impairment. We define non-performing domestic residential mortgage loans as loans 90 days or greater delinquent or on non-accrual status. We define non-performing residential first lien mortgages in the Chilean market as loans that have missed a specified number of coupon payments based on the nature of the loans and collection practices in that market.
(1) No reinsurance recoverables were considered past due as of December 31, 2020.
We establish a valuation allowance to provide for the risk of credit losses inherent in our financing receivables. The valuation allowance is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to absorb estimated expected credit losses. The valuation allowance is based on amortized cost excluding accrued interest receivable and includes reserves for pools of financing receivables with similar risk characteristics. We do not measure a credit loss allowance on accrued interest receivable because we write off the uncollectible accrued interest receivable balance to net investment income in a timely manner, generally within 90 days domestically or, in the Chilean market, based on the nature of the loans and collection practices in that market. We wrote off $0.0 million of commercial mortgage loan accrued interest receivable and $0.0 million of residential mortgage loan accrued interest receivable during the year ended December 31, 2020.
We estimate expected credit losses for certain commercial mortgage loan or direct financing lease commitments where we have a contractual obligation to extend credit. The expected credit losses are estimated based on the commercial mortgage loan or direct financing lease valuation allowance process described previously, adjusted for probability of funding. The estimated expected credit losses for commercial mortgage loan and direct financing lease commitments are reported in other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial position. The change in the credit loss liability for commitments is included in net realized capital gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations. Once funded, expected credit losses for commercial mortgage loans or direct financing leases are included within the commercial mortgage loan or direct financing lease valuation allowance described previously.
Upon adoption of authoritative guidance effective January 1, 2020, we updated accounting policies and methodology, adjusted the commercial and residential mortgage loan valuation allowance and established a valuation allowance for reinsurance recoverables. See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies under the caption, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” for further details.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 adversely impacted global economic activity and contributed to significant volatility in financial markets. As a result, certain current and forecasted environmental factors management believes to be relevant were adjusted, resulting in an increase in the valuation allowance for commercial and residential mortgage loans and direct financing leases.
We assess COVID-19 related loan modifications to determine if they are in scope of the CARES Act TDR relief and the Interagency Statement guidance. See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies, under the caption "Investments" for further details. COVID-19 related loan modifications typically include delayed principal and interest payments. Based on the terms of the delayed principal and interest payments, past due status generally will not advance, and loans generally will not be placed on non-accrual status during the delay. We did not have a significant amount of COVID-19 related loan modifications that were in scope of the CARES Act TDR relief or the Interagency Statement guidance for the year ended December 31, 2020.
We did not have any significant loans that were modified and met the criteria of a TDR for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
In addition, other investments include $710.8 million and $782.9 million of direct financing leases as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The direct financing lease receivables are carried at amortized cost. We actively monitor and manage our direct financing leases. All leases within the portfolio are analyzed regularly and internally rated, based on financial condition, payment history and loan-to-value. See the caption "Financing Receivables Valuation Allowance" for further details of our valuation allowance for direct financing leases.
Furthermore, other investments include $973.6 million and $734.1 million of cash surrender value of company owned life insurance as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Derivative assets are carried at fair value and reported as a component of other investments. See Note 5, Derivative Financial Instruments, for further details. Certain sponsored investment funds are also carried at fair value and reported as a component of other investments, with changes in fair value included in net realized capital gains (losses) on our consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of these funds was $638.8 million and $678.7 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we posted $4,604.9 million and $4,062.0 million, respectively, in commercial mortgage loans and residential first lien mortgages to satisfy collateral requirements associated with our obligation under funding agreements with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (“FHLB Des Moines”). In addition, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we posted $2,563.9 million and $2,749.4 million, respectively, in fixed maturities, available-for-sale and trading securities to satisfy collateral requirements primarily associated with a reinsurance arrangement, our derivative credit support annex (collateral) agreements, Futures Commission Merchant (“FCM”) agreements, a lending arrangement and our obligation under funding agreements with FHLB Des Moines. Since we did not relinquish ownership rights on these instruments, they are reported as mortgage loans, fixed maturities, available-for-sale and fixed maturities, trading, respectively, on our consolidated statements of financial position. Of the securities posted as collateral, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, $133.4 million and $163.9 million, respectively, could be sold or repledged by the secured party.
(2) Represents amount of offsetting derivative liabilities that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement that are not netted against the gross derivative assets for presentation on the consolidated statements of financial position.
(1) The gross amount of recognized derivative liabilities is reported with other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial position. The above excludes $467.8 million and $314.5 million of derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, which are primarily embedded derivatives that are not subject to master netting agreements or similar agreements. The gross amounts of derivative liabilities are not netted against offsetting assets for presentation on the consolidated statements of financial position.
(2) Represents amount of offsetting derivative assets that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement that are not netted against the gross derivative liabilities for presentation on the consolidated statements of financial position.
Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements include provisions to setoff other repurchase and reverse repurchase balances with the same counterparty. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements also include collateral provisions with the counterparties. For reverse repurchase agreements we require the counterparties to pledge collateral with a value greater than the amount of cash transferred. We have the right but do not sell or repledge collateral received in reverse repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements are structured as secured borrowings for all counterparties. We pledge fixed maturities available-for-sale, which the counterparties have the right to sell or repledge. Interest incurred on repurchase agreements is reported as part of operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. Net proceeds related to repurchase agreements are reported as a component of financing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. We did not have any outstanding repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
Interest rate swaps are contracts in which we agree with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and/or floating rate interest amounts based upon designated market rates or rate indices and an agreed upon notional principal amount. Generally, no cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract and no principal payments are made by any party. Cash is paid or received based on the terms of the swap. We use interest rate swaps primarily to more closely match the interest rate characteristics of assets and liabilities and to mitigate the risks arising from timing mismatches between assets and liabilities (including duration mismatches). We also use interest rate swaps to hedge against changes in the value of assets we anticipate acquiring and other anticipated transactions and commitments. Interest rate swaps are used to hedge against changes in the value of the guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (“GMWB”) liability. The GMWB rider on our variable annuity products provides for guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits regardless of the actual performance of various equity and/or fixed income funds available with the product.
Currency forwards are contracts in which we agree with other parties to deliver or receive a specified amount of an identified currency at a specified future date. Typically, the price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for such a contract is made at the specified future date. We use currency forwards to reduce market risks from changes in currency exchange rates with respect to investments or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that we either hold or intend to acquire or sell. We use currency forwards to hedge certain net equity investments in foreign operations, including certain sponsored investment funds.
We also use exchange-traded futures in various fund strategies to manage an absolute return and volatility reduction objective for equity risk against respective benchmarks.
We had a structured investment relationship with a trust we determined to be a VIE, which was consolidated in our financial statements. The certificates issued by the trust included obligations to deliver an underlying security to residual interest holders and the obligations contained an embedded derivative of the forecasted transaction to deliver the underlying security. The certificates matured in the second quarter of 2020.
Certain of our derivative instruments contain provisions that require us to maintain an investment grade rating from each of the major credit rating agencies on our debt. If the ratings on our debt were to fall below investment grade, it would be in violation of these provisions and the counterparties to the derivative instruments could request immediate payment or demand immediate and ongoing full overnight collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions. The aggregate fair value, inclusive of accrued interest, of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a liability position without regard to netting under derivative credit support annex agreements as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, was $180.2 million and $164.7 million, respectively. Cleared derivatives have contingent features that require us to post excess margin as required by the FCM. The terms surrounding excess margin vary by FCM agreement. With respect to derivatives containing collateral triggers, we posted collateral and initial margin of $148.3 million and $271.6 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, in the normal course of business, which reflects netting under derivative agreements. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on December 31, 2020, we would be required to post an additional $44.4 million of collateral to our counterparties.
The net interest effect of interest rate swap transactions for derivatives in fair value hedges is recorded as an adjustment to income or expense of the underlying hedged item in our consolidated statements of operations.
We expect to reclassify net gains of $23.5 million from AOCI into net income in the next 12 months, which includes both net deferred gains on discontinued hedges and net gains on periodic settlements of active hedges. Actual amounts may vary from this amount as a result of market conditions.
Effect of Fair Value and Cash Flow Hedges on Consolidated Statements of Operations
The following tables show the effect of derivatives in fair value and cash flow hedging relationships and the related hedged items on the consolidated statements of operations.
The following table shows the effect of foreign exchange contracts used to hedge a portion of our net investment in certain sponsored investment funds on the consolidated financial statements.
Our use of futures, certain swaptions and swaps, option collars, options and forwards are effective from an economic standpoint, but they have not been designated as hedges for financial reporting purposes. As such, periodic changes in the market value of these instruments, which includes mark-to-market gains and losses as well as periodic and final settlements, primarily flow directly into net realized capital gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations.
(1) Includes the effects of implementation of accounting changes related to credit losses in 2020 and equity investments and the reclassification of certain tax effects in 2018.
Principal Life was authorized to issue up to $4.0 billion of funding agreements under a program established in 1998 to support the prospective issuance of medium term notes by an unaffiliated entity in non-U.S. markets. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, $75.0 million and $75.2 million, respectively, of liabilities were outstanding with respect to the issuance outstanding under this program. Principal Life was also authorized to issue up to Euro 4.0 billion (approximately USD$5.3 billion) of funding agreements under a program established in 2006 to support the prospective issuance of medium term notes by an unaffiliated entity in non-U.S. markets. The unaffiliated entity is an unconsolidated special purpose entity. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, $122.4 million and $112.2 million, respectively, of liabilities were outstanding with respect to issuances outstanding under this program. Principal Life does not anticipate any new issuance activity under either of these programs due to the existence of the program established in 2011 described below.
In addition, Principal Life was authorized to issue up to $7.0 billion of funding agreements under a program established in 2001 to support the prospective issuance of medium term notes by an unaffiliated entity in both domestic and international markets. The unaffiliated entity is an unconsolidated special purpose entity. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, $201.8 million and $201.7 million, respectively, of liabilities were being held with respect to issuances outstanding under this program. Principal Life does not anticipate any new issuance activity under this program, given our December 2005 termination of the dealership agreement for this program and the availability of the program established in 2011 described below.
Incurred liability adjustments relating to prior years, which affected current operations during 2020, 2019 and 2018, resulted in part from developed claims for prior years being different than were anticipated when the liabilities for unpaid claims were originally estimated. These trends have been considered in establishing the current year liability for unpaid claims.
The following table provides the carrying amount of liabilities reported at present value for short-duration contract unpaid claims. We use a range of discount rates to derive the present value of the unpaid claims. The ranges of discount rates as well as the aggregate amount of discount deducted to derive the liabilities for unpaid claims and interest accretion recognized are also disclosed. Interest accretion is included in benefits, claims and settlement expenses within our consolidated statements of operations.
(1) The unsecured lines of credit can be used for repurchase agreements or other borrowings. Each line has a maturity of less than one year.
Our revolving credit facilities are committed and available for general corporate purposes. These credit facilities also provide 100% back-stop support for our commercial paper program, of which we had no outstanding balances as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. The weighted-average interest rate on short-term borrowings as of both December 31, 2020 and 2019, was 3.4%.
On June 12, 2020, we issued $500.0 million of senior notes at a discount. On August 3, 2020, we issued an additional $100.0 million of senior notes at a premium. These notes bear interest at 2.125% and will mature in 2030. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 each year, beginning on December 15, 2020. The proceeds from these notes were used for general corporate purposes.
On May 7, 2019, we issued $500.0 million of senior notes. The notes bear interest at 3.7% and will mature in 2029. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 each year, beginning on November 15, 2019. The proceeds from these notes, along with available cash, were used to fund the acquisition of the Acquired Business.
On May 7, 2015, we issued $400.0 million of senior notes. The notes bear interest at 3.4% and will mature in 2025. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 each year, beginning on November 15, 2015. In addition, on May 7, 2015, we issued $400.0 million of junior subordinated notes, which are subordinated to all our senior debt. The notes became callable in 2020 and have a maturity date in 2055. The notes initially bore a fixed rate of interest at 4.7% and converted to a floating rate at the date the notes became callable. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 each year. After the call date the notes bear interest at 3-month LIBOR plus 3.044%, reset quarterly and payable in arrears in February, May, August and November each year. We have the right to defer interest payments on the junior subordinated notes for up to 5 years without resulting in a default, during which time interest will be compounded. The proceeds from these notes were used to redeem preferred stock, with the remainder available for general corporate purposes.
The non-recourse mortgages and notes payable are primarily financings for real estate developments. Outstanding principal balances as of December 31, 2020, ranged from $3.1 million to $15.1 million per development with interest rates ranging from 3.5% to 4.8%. Outstanding principal balances as of December 31, 2019, ranged from $3.7 million to $64.2 million per development with interest rates ranging from 3.9% to 4.8%. Outstanding debt is secured by the underlying real estate properties, which were reported as real estate on our consolidated statements of financial position with a carrying value of $194.1 million and $238.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020, future annual maturities of long-term debt were as follows (in millions):
As of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, we had recognized $1.1 million, $0.9 million and $1.6 million of accumulated pre-tax interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, respectively. We do not believe there is a reasonable possibility the total amount of the unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months considering recent settlements and the status of current and pending Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) examinations. Settlement agreements applicable to tax years 1995 to 2003 were executed in 2018 with the Department of Justice, as previously approved by the Joint Committee of Taxation in August 2017. In 2019, an IRS 30-day letter on examination of tax years 2009 through 2012 was received, the proposed adjustments found acceptable, and associated tax settlements subsequently occurred in 2020, within the period of the extended statute of limitation. The IRS continued examination of tax years 2015 through 2017 and initiated examination of tax year 2018.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, domestic state net operating loss carryforwards were $269.5 million and $190.4 million, respectively, and will expire between 2032 and 2039. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, foreign net operating loss carryforwards were $170.3 million and $186.1 million, respectively, with some expiring in 2020 while others never expire. We maintain valuation allowances by jurisdiction against the deferred income tax assets related to some of these carryforwards and other items, as utilization of these income tax benefits fail the more likely than not criteria in certain jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, valuation allowances of $18.4 million and $16.7 million, respectively, had been recorded against the income tax benefits associated primarily with foreign net operating loss carryforwards. Adjustments to the valuation allowance will be made if there is a change in management’s assessment of the amount of the deferred income tax assets that are more likely than not to be realized. Provisions of the U.S. tax reform did not affect the valuation allowance assessment.
The effects of tax legislation on deferred taxes are recognized in the period of enactment. The State of Iowa coupled with the Internal Revenue Code effective January 1, 2019, and subsequently issued interpretative guidance in the fourth quarter of 2019 on application of the U.S. Global Intangible Low Taxed Income rules. The State of Iowa's interpretation resulted in an $11.1 million increase in total income tax expense for adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities in our 2019 financial statements. Iowa legislation was enacted on June 29, 2020 to de-couple from the federal application of the U.S. Global Intangible Low Taxed Income rules effective retroactively to January 1, 2019; therefore, the above-mentioned increase in total income tax expense reported in 2019 was reversed in 2020. Proposed regulations issued August 1, 2018, clarifying the calculation of the one-time deemed repatriation tax, allowed for final determination of the 2017 provisional amount. The impact of final §965 regulations issued on January 15, 2019, and subsequent clarification was immaterial. The provisional amount of $43.0 million reported in 2017 was adjusted by $5.9 million in 2018 to $48.9 million to reflect the SEC's Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 final determination within the required one-year measurement period.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxes payable on the unremitted earnings from foreign operations of our subsidiaries, except where it is our intention to indefinitely reinvest a portion or all of these undistributed earnings. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, any applicable taxes that would be due upon repatriation were not provided on approximately $997.4 million and $1,001.5 million, respectively, of such accumulated but undistributed earnings from operations of foreign subsidiaries. We currently do not intend to repatriate these unremitted earnings because we have several liquidity options to fund our domestic operations and obligations. These options include investing and financing activities, such as issuing debt, as well as cash flow and dividends from domestic operations. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, it was not practicable to determine the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability that would arise if foreign earnings were remitted, due to the complexity of our international holding company structure, and other significant tax attributes and varying state tax laws. Under the participation exemption available on distributions post-U.S. tax reform, taxes on remittances would be limited to foreign currency gains or losses, foreign withholding taxes, and state income taxes, which we would anticipate to be immaterial. As of December 31, 2020, deferred taxes were also not provided on the approximately $106.2 million of excess book carrying value over tax basis with respect to the original investment in our foreign subsidiaries. A tax liability will be recognized when we no longer plan to indefinitely reinvest a portion or all of these earnings or when we plan to sell a portion or all of our ownership interest.
Income tax returns are filed in U.S. federal jurisdiction as well as various states and foreign jurisdictions where we and one or more of our subsidiaries conduct business. Although determined by jurisdiction, with few exceptions our tax uncertainties relate primarily to the U.S. federal jurisdiction. The IRS has completed examination of our consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns for years prior to 2015. A settlement was reached in 2018 with the Department of Justice involving a suit in the Court of Federal Claims, requesting refunds for the years 1995-2003. IRS claims for refund for tax years 2004 through 2008, following settlement of a partnership matter with the Department of Justice in March 2019, were finalized in 2020 following review by the Joint Committee of Taxation. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had $54.6 million and $195.3 million, respectively, of current income tax receivables associated with outstanding audit issues reported as other assets in our consolidated statements of financial position.
We believe we have adequate defenses against, or sufficient provisions for, contested issues, but final resolution could take several years depending on whether legal remedies are pursued. Consequently, we do not believe issues that might arise in tax years subsequent to 2014 will have a material impact on our net income.
We provide certain health care, life insurance and long-term care benefits for retired employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents ("other postretirement benefits"). While virtually all U.S. employees continue to have access to the post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits, only those U.S. employees that were hired prior to January 1, 2002, and retired prior to January 1, 2011, (post-65 medical) or January 1, 2020, (life insurance and pre-65 medical) were eligible to receive subsidized benefits. All others pay the full cost of coverage. The long-term care plan was subsidized only for those who retired prior to January 1, 2000, and is no longer accessible. The subsidy level for all benefits varies by plan, age, service and retirement date.
Employer contributions to the pension plans include contributions made directly to the qualified pension plan assets and contributions from corporate assets to pay nonqualified pension benefits. Benefits paid from the pension plans include both qualified and nonqualified plan benefits. Nonqualified pension plan assets are not included as part of the asset balances presented in this footnote. The nonqualified pension plan assets are held in Rabbi trusts for the benefit of all nonqualified plan participants. The assets held in a Rabbi trust are available to satisfy the claims of general creditors only in the event of bankruptcy. Therefore, these assets are fully consolidated in our consolidated statements of financial position and are not reflected in our funded status as they do not qualify as plan assets under U.S. GAAP. The market value of assets held in these trusts was $394.8 million and $377.8 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
During the second quarter of 2019, we amended The Principal Pension Plan and The Principal Financial Group Nonqualified Defined Benefit Plan for Employees to end traditional benefit accruals as of December 31, 2022, and begin cash balance accruals January 1, 2023. We remeasured the associated plan assets and pension benefit obligations as of May 31, 2019, resulting in a net actuarial loss of $59.0 million and a total plan amendment gain of $122.4 million. The net actuarial loss is composed of an increase in benefit obligation of $237.6 million resulting from the reduction in discount rate compared to December 31, 2018, partially offset by a $178.6 million asset gain. The net plan amendment gain was recorded in AOCI and will be amortized over the average future working lifetimes of the plans.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the pension plans had an actuarial loss primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate and change in actuarial assumptions. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the pension plans had an actuarial loss primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the other postretirement benefit plans had an actuarial loss primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate and a higher than expected number of retirees electing medical coverage with the elimination of subsidized benefits. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the other postretirement benefit plans had an actuarial loss primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate and a gain from actual and projected medical claims cost being lower than expected.
For 2020 and 2019, both the qualified and nonqualified plans had accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. As noted previously, the nonqualified plans have assets that are deposited in trusts that fail to meet the U.S. GAAP requirements to be included in plan assets; however, these assets are included in our consolidated statements of financial position.
The pension plans' actuarial gains and losses are amortized using a straight-line amortization method over the average remaining service period of plan participants. The other postretirement plans use a straight-line amortization over the average future lifetime of its remaining covered group of retirees. For the qualified pension plan, gains and losses are amortized without use of the 10% allowable corridor. For the nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans, the corridors allowed are used.
(2) During the second quarter 2020, subsidy increases provided under the long-term care plan were capped at 5% per calendar year. This change was remeasured as of March 31, 2020. A discount rate of 2.95% was used until the remeasurement date at which time a discount rate of 2.90% was used.
For the pension benefits, the discount rate is determined by projecting future benefit payments inherent in the projected benefit obligation and discounting those cash flows using a spot yield curve for high quality corporate bonds. The plans’ expected benefit payments are discounted to determine a present value using the yield curve and the discount rate is the level rate that produces the same present value. The expected return on plan assets is the long-term rate we expect to be earned based on the long-term investment policy of the plans and the various classes of invested funds. A weighted average rate was developed based on those overall rates and the target asset allocation of the plans.
For other postretirement benefits, the discount rate is determined by projecting future benefit payments inherent in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and discounting those cash flows using a spot yield curve for high quality corporate bonds. The plans’ expected benefit payments are discounted to determine a present value using the yield curve and the discount rate is the level rate that produces the same present value. The 4.94% expected long-term return on plan assets for 2020 was based on the weighted average expected long-term asset returns for the plans. The expected long-term rates for the home office medical/life, agent medical/life and post-65 medical plans were 5.0%, 4.7% and 4.7%, respectively.
● Level 2 - Fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly.
Our pension plan assets consist of investments in pooled separate accounts and single client separate accounts. Net asset value (“NAV”) of the pooled separate accounts is calculated in a manner consistent with U.S. GAAP for investment companies and is determinative of their fair value. Several of the pooled separate accounts invest in publicly quoted mutual funds or actively managed stocks. The fair value of the underlying mutual funds or stocks is used to determine the NAV of the separate account, which is not publicly quoted. Some of the pooled separate accounts also invest in fixed income securities. The fair value of the underlying securities is based on quoted prices of similar assets and used to determine the NAV of the separate account. Some of the pooled separate accounts invest in real estate properties. The fair value is based on discounted cash flow valuation models that utilize public real estate market data inputs such as transaction prices, market rent growth, vacancy levels, leasing absorption, market capitalization rates and discount rates.
The single client separate accounts invest in fixed income securities, hedge funds, a pooled separate account investment and other assets. The fixed income securities include U.S. Treasury bonds for which the fair value is based on quoted prices of identical assets in active markets. The fair value of the other fixed income securities is determined either from prices obtained from third party pricing vendors who use observable market information to determine prices or from internal models using substantially all observable inputs or a matrix pricing valuation approach. The hedge funds are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The NAV of the pooled separate account investment is calculated in a manner consistent with U.S. GAAP for investment companies and is determinative of its fair value. The carrying amounts of other assets, which are highly liquid in nature, are used to approximate fair value.
Our other postretirement benefit plan assets consist of cash, investments in fixed income security portfolios and investments in equity security portfolios. Because of the nature of cash, its carrying amount approximates fair value. The fair value of fixed income investment funds, U.S. equity portfolios and international equity portfolios is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
The fair value of the qualified pension plan’s assets by asset category as of the most recent measurement date was as follows:
(2) The portfolios invest primarily in publicly traded equity securities of mid-sized and small U.S. companies.
(4) The portfolios invest primarily in publicly traded equity securities of non-U.S. companies.
(8) Includes cash and net (payables)/receivables for the single client separate accounts.
● Obtain a reasonable long-term return consistent with the level of risk assumed and at a cost of operation within prudent levels. Performance benchmarks are monitored.
● Ensure sufficient liquidity to meet the emerging benefit liabilities for the plan.
The investment strategies for the other postretirement benefit plans are similar to those employed by the qualified pension plan. According to our investment policy, the target asset allocation for the other postretirement benefit plans is:
Our funding policy for the qualified pension plan is to fund the plan annually in an amount at least equal to the minimum annual contribution required under ERISA and, generally, not greater than the maximum amount that can be deducted for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We do not anticipate contributions will be needed to satisfy the minimum funding requirements of ERISA for our qualified plan. We are unable to estimate the amount that may be contributed, but it is possible that we may fund the plans in 2021 up to $100.0 million. This includes funding for both our qualified and nonqualified pension plans. While we designate assets to cover the computed liability of the nonqualified 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 may contribute to our other postretirement benefit plans in 2021 pending future analysis.
The estimated future benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are:
The assumptions used in calculating the estimated future benefit payments are the same as those used to measure the benefit obligation for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Certain key summary data is shown below separately for qualified and nonqualified plans.
In addition, we have defined contribution plans that are generally available to all U.S. employees and agents. Eligible participants could not contribute more than $19,500 of their compensation to the plans in 2020. Effective January 1, 2006, we made several changes to the retirement programs. In general, the pension and supplemental executive retirement plan benefit formulas were reduced and the 401(k) matching contribution was increased. Employees who were ages 47 or older with at least ten years of service on December 31, 2005, could elect to retain the prior benefit provisions and forgo receipt of the additional matching contributions. The employees who elected to retain the prior benefit provisions are referred to as “Grandfathered Choice Participants.” We match the Grandfathered Choice Participant's contribution at a 50% contribution rate up to a maximum matching contribution of 3% of the participant's compensation. For all other participants, we match the participant's contributions at a 75% contribution rate up to a maximum matching contribution of 6% of the participant's compensation. The defined contribution plans allow employees to choose among various investment options, including our common stock, which is available through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). We contributed $56.7 million, $55.3 million and $53.4 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, to our qualified defined contribution plans.
The number of shares of our common stock allocated to participants in the ESOP was 2.3 million and 2.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fair value of the ESOP, which includes earned and unearned common stock, was $115.1 million and $119.8 million, respectively. The ESOP’s total assets include our common stock and cash. The ESOP purchases our common stock on the open market. The number of shares of our common stock held within the ESOP is treated as outstanding in both our basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.
We are regularly involved in litigation, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff, but primarily as a defendant. Litigation naming us as a defendant ordinarily arises out of our business operations as a provider of asset management and accumulation products and services, individual life insurance, specialty benefits insurance and our investment activities. Some of the lawsuits may be class actions, or purport to be, and some may include claims for unspecified or substantial punitive and treble damages.
On November 12, 2014, Frederick Rozo filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa against Principal Life and us. We were later dismissed as a defendant. The Plaintiff alleged that defendants breached fiduciary duties and engaged in prohibited transactions under ERISA in connection with a general account guaranteed product known as the Principal Fixed Income Option (“PFIO”). On May 12, 2017, the district court certified a nationwide class of participants and beneficiaries who had funds invested in one of the PFIO contracts. On September 25, 2018, the district court granted Principal Life’s motion for summary judgment. On February 3, 2020, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling and remanded the case back to the district court. A bench trial was held before the district court November 3-10, 2020. The court has not yet issued a decision. Principal Life will continue to aggressively defend the case.
Under state insurance guaranty fund laws, insurers doing business in a state can be assessed, up to prescribed limits, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. A state’s fund assesses its members based on their pro rata market share of written premiums in the state for the classes of insurance for which the insolvent insurer was engaged. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. We accrue liabilities for guaranty fund assessments when an assessment is probable, can be reasonably estimated and when the event obligating us to pay has occurred. While we cannot predict the amount and timing of any future assessments, we have established reserves we believe are adequate for assessments relating to insurance companies that are currently subject to insolvency proceedings. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the liability balance for guaranty fund assessments, which is not discounted, was $21.1 million and $21.7 million, respectively, and was reported within other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, $9.6 million and $10.0 million, respectively, related to premium tax offsets were included in premiums due and other receivables in the consolidated statements of financial position.
We sublease certain office space to third parties, which are primarily operating leases. We record sublease income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Finance, operating and other lease costs are primarily included in operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.
Rental expense for operating leases for the year ended December 31, 2018, was $36.7 million. Depreciation expense for capital leases for the year ended December 31, 2018, was $12.9 million.
Payments for operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, were $71.6 million and $56.1 million, respectively. Payments for finance leases for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, were $21.2 million and $15.1 million, respectively. The following represents future payments due by period for lease obligations:
The weighted-average remaining lease term and weighted-average discount rates were as follows:
(3) See Note 5, Derivative Financial Instruments, under the caption “Effect of Fair Value and Cash Flow Hedges on Consolidated Statements of Operations” for further details.
(4) The 2020 pre-tax reclassification adjustment primarily related to the release of the cumulative translation adjustment from the dissolution of a foreign subsidiary and the net impact of deconsolidated sponsored investment funds and associated net investment hedges. The 2019 pre-tax reclassification adjustment primarily related to deconsolidated sponsored investment funds. The adjustments were reported in net realized capital gains (losses) on the consolidated statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, $8.7 million and $5.7 million, respectively, of this reclassification relates to noncontrolling interest and is reported in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest on the consolidated statements of operations.
(5) Amount is comprised of amortization of prior service cost (benefit) and recognized net actuarial (gain) loss, which is reported in operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 11, Employee and Agent Benefits, under the caption “Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost” for further details.
The noncontrolling interest holders in certain of our consolidated entities maintain an equity interest that is redeemable at the option of the holder, which may be exercised on varying dates. Since redemption of the noncontrolling interest is outside of our control, this interest is excluded from stockholders’ equity and reported separately as redeemable noncontrolling interest on the consolidated statements of financial position. Our redeemable noncontrolling interest primarily relates to consolidated sponsored investment funds for which interests are redeemed at fair value from the net assets of the funds.
(1) We deconsolidated certain sponsored investment funds as they no longer met the requirements for consolidation.
Fair value estimates are made based on available market information and judgments about the financial instrument at a specific point in time. Such estimates do not consider the tax impact of the realization of unrealized gains or losses. In addition, the disclosed fair value may not be realized in the immediate settlement of the financial instrument. We validate prices through an investment analyst review process, which includes validation through direct interaction with external sources, review of recent trade activity or use of internal models. In circumstances where broker quotes are used to value an instrument, we generally receive one non-binding quote. Broker quotes are validated through an investment analyst review process, which includes validation through direct interaction with external sources and use of internal models or other relevant information. We did not make any significant changes to our valuation processes during 2020.
Equity securities include mutual funds, common stock, non-redeemable preferred stock and required regulatory investments. Fair values of equity securities are determined using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets when available, which are reflected in Level 1. When quoted prices are not available, we may utilize internal valuation methodologies appropriate for the specific asset that use observable inputs such as underlying share prices or the net asset value (“NAV”), which are reflected in Level 2. Fair values might also be determined using broker quotes or through the use of internal models or analysis that incorporate significant assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances and consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing such securities, which are reflected in Level 3.
The fair values of exchange-traded derivatives are determined through quoted market prices, which are reflected in Level 1. Exchange-traded derivatives include futures that are settled daily, which reduces their fair value in the consolidated statements of financial position. The fair values of OTC cleared derivatives are determined through market prices published by the clearinghouses, which are reflected in Level 2. The clearinghouses may utilize the overnight indexed swap (“OIS”) curve in their valuation. Variation margin associated with OTC cleared derivatives is settled daily, which reduces their fair value in the consolidated statements of financial position. The fair values of bilateral OTC derivative instruments are determined using either pricing valuation models that utilize market observable inputs or broker quotes. The majority of our bilateral OTC derivatives are valued with models that use market observable inputs, which are reflected in Level 2. Significant inputs include contractual terms, interest rates, currency exchange rates, credit spread curves, equity prices and volatilities. These valuation models consider projected discounted cash flows, relevant swap curves and appropriate implied volatilities. Certain bilateral OTC derivatives utilize unobservable market data, primarily independent broker quotes that are nonbinding quotes based on models that do not reflect the result of market transactions, which are reflected in Level 3.
Foreign Exchange Contracts. We use discounted cash flow valuation techniques that utilize observable swap curves and exchange rates as the inputs to determine the fair value of foreign currency swaps. These are reflected in Level 2. Currency forwards are and currency options were valued using observable market inputs, including forward currency exchange rates. These are reflected in Level 2. In addition, we have a limited number of non-standard currency swaps that are and currency options that were valued using broker quotes. These are reflected within Level 3.
Credit Contracts. We use either the ISDA Credit Default Swap Standard discounted cash flow model that utilizes observable default probabilities and recovery rates as inputs to determine the fair value of credit default swaps. These are reflected in Level 2. In addition, we have a limited number of credit default swaps that are valued using broker quotes. These are reflected within Level 3.
Other investments reported at fair value include invested assets of consolidated sponsored investment funds, unconsolidated sponsored investment funds, other investment funds reported at fair value, equity method real estate investments for which the fair value option was elected and certain nonredeemable preferred stock. In addition, in 2019 we had commercial mortgage loans of consolidated VIEs for which the fair value option was elected and certain redeemable preferred stock.
Invested assets of consolidated sponsored investment funds include equity securities, fixed maturities and derivative assets, for which fair values are determined as previously described, and are reflected in Level 1 and Level 2.
The fair value of certain redeemable and nonredeemable preferred stock is based on an internal model using unobservable inputs, which is reflected in Level 3. The redeemable preferred stock was sold in the third quarter of 2020.
The assumption for our own nonperformance risk for investment contracts and any embedded derivatives bifurcated from certain universal life, annuity and investment contracts is based on the current market credit spreads for debt-like instruments we have issued and are available in the market.
(1) Primarily consists of collateralized loan obligations backed by secured corporate loans.
(2) Within the consolidated statements of financial position, derivative assets are reported with other investments and derivative liabilities are reported with other liabilities. The amounts are presented gross in the tables above to reflect the presentation on the consolidated statements of financial position; however, are presented net for purposes of the rollforward in the Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Measurements tables. Refer to Note 5, Derivative Financial Instruments, for further information on fair value by class of derivative instruments.
(3) Includes bifurcated embedded derivatives that are reported at net asset (liability) fair value within the same line item in the consolidated statements of financial position in which the host contract is reported.
(4) Certain investments are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. Other investments using the NAV practical expedient consist of certain fund interests that are restricted until maturity with unfunded commitments totaling $15.1 million and $19.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Separate account assets using the NAV practical expedient consist of hedge funds with varying investment strategies that also have a variety of redemption terms and conditions. We do not have unfunded commitments associated with these hedge funds.
Assets transferred into Level 3 during 2020, 2019 and 2018, primarily included those assets for which we are now unable to obtain pricing from a recognized third party pricing vendor as well as assets that were previously priced using a matrix valuation approach that may no longer be relevant when applied to asset-specific situations. In addition, other investments transferred from Level 2 into Level 3 during 2019, included certain redeemable preferred stock for which at least one significant unobservable input is now used to determine fair value.
Market comparable discount rates are used as the base rate in the discounted cash flows used to determine the fair value of certain assets. The use of a higher or lower discount rate would have caused the fair value of the assets to significantly decrease or increase, respectively. Additionally, we may adjust the base discount rate or the modeled price by applying an illiquidity premium given the highly structured nature of certain assets. The use of a higher or lower illiquidity premium would have caused significant decreases or increases, respectively, in the fair value of the asset.
The use of a lower or higher mortality rate assumption would have caused the fair value of the embedded derivative to decrease or increase, respectively. The use of a lower or higher overall lapse rate assumption would have caused the fair value of the embedded derivative to decrease or increase, respectively. The lapse rate assumption may vary dynamically based on the relationship of the guarantee and associated account value. A stronger or weaker dynamic lapse rate assumption would have caused the fair value of the embedded derivative to decrease or increase, respectively. The utilization rate assumption includes how many contractholders will take withdrawals, when they will take them and how much of their benefit they will take. The use of a higher or lower assumption of the number of contractholders taking withdrawals would have caused the fair value of the embedded derivative to decrease or increase, respectively. Assuming contractholders take withdrawals earlier or later would have caused the fair value of the embedded derivative to decrease or increase, respectively. Assuming contractholders take more or less of their benefit would have caused the fair value of the embedded derivative to decrease or increase, respectively.
● Certain real estate ventures that are subject to the equity method of accounting because the nature of the investments is to add value to the properties and generate income from the operations of the properties. Other equity method real estate investments are not fair valued because the investments mainly generate income from the operations of the underlying properties.
The following tables present information regarding the assets and liabilities for which the fair value option was elected.
(1) Reported with other investments in the consolidated statements of financial position.
Principal Life, the largest indirect subsidiary of PFG, prepares statutory financial statements in accordance with the accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce of the State of Iowa (the “Iowa Insurance Division”). The Iowa Insurance Division recognizes only statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the State of Iowa for determining and reporting the financial condition and results of operations of an insurance company to determine its solvency under the Iowa Insurance Law. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (“NAIC”) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual has been adopted as a component of prescribed practices by the State of Iowa. The Commissioner has the right to permit other specific practices that deviate from prescribed practices. Statutory accounting practices differ from U.S. GAAP primarily due to charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing reserves using different actuarial assumptions, valuing investments on a different basis and not admitting certain assets, including certain net deferred income tax assets.
For the year ended, December 31, 2019, Principal Life’s use of prescribed statutory accounting practices resulted in higher statutory surplus of $862.1 million relative to the accounting practices and procedures of the NAIC due to its accounting for reserve credits associated with a reinsurance transaction with an affiliated reinsurer. Effective June 2020, the affiliated reinsurer became accredited in the State of Iowa and the reserve credits were no longer considered a prescribed practice. In addition, as of December 31, 2019, Principal Life’s permitted statutory accounting practice relating to variable annuities with a guaranteed living benefit rider resulted in lower statutory surplus of $151.3 million relative to carrying certain interest rate swaps at book value rather than fair value, as if they received hedge accounting treatment for statutory. Effective January 1, 2020, the Iowa Insurance Division approved our request to discontinue the use of this permitted practice due to changes in the practices and procedures of the NAIC.
Principal Life cedes certain term and universal life insurance statutory reserves to our affiliated reinsurance subsidiaries on a funds withheld coinsurance basis. The reserves are secured by cash, invested assets and financing provided by highly rated third parties. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, our affiliated reinsurance subsidiaries assumed statutory reserves of $8,978.2 million and $7,902.3 million from Principal Life, respectively. In the states of Vermont and Delaware, the affiliated reinsurers had permitted and prescribed practices allowing for the admissibility of certain assets backing these reserves. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, assets admitted under these practices totaled $3,731.0 million and $3,358.0 million, respectively.
The U.S. Insurance Solutions segment focuses on solutions for individuals and small-to-medium sized businesses and their employees. The segment is organized into Specialty Benefits insurance, which provides group dental and vision insurance, individual and group disability insurance, critical illness, accident, group life insurance and non-medical fee-for-service claims administration; and Individual Life insurance, which provides universal life, variable universal life, indexed universal life and traditional life insurance.
● Periodic settlements and accruals on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments,
● Certain market value adjustments of derivatives and embedded derivatives and
● Amortization of hedge accounting book value adjustments for certain discontinued hedges,
● Pre-tax net realized capital gains (losses) adjustments related to equity method investments,
(1) Fees and other revenues not within the scope of the revenue recognition guidance primarily represent revenue on contracts accounted for under the financial instruments or insurance contracts standards.
Fees and other revenues are earned for administrative activities performed for the defined contribution retirement plans including recordkeeping and reporting as well as trust and custody, asset management and investment services. Fees and other revenues are earned for administrative activities performed for non-retirement plan customers including trust and custody services, defined benefit administration and investment management activities. The majority of these activities are performed daily over time. Fee-for-service transactions are also provided upon client request. These services are considered distinct or grouped into a bundle until a distinct performance obligation is identified. Some performance obligations are considered a series of distinct services, which are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer.
Fees and other revenues can be based on a fixed contractual rate for these services or can be variable based upon contractual rates applied to the market value of the client's investment portfolio each day. If the consideration for this series of performance obligations is based on daily market value, it is considered variable each day as the services are performed over time. The consideration becomes unconstrained and thus recognized as revenue for each day’s series of distinct services once the market value of the clients’ investment portfolios is determined at market close or carried over at the end of the day for days when the market is closed. Additionally, fixed fees and other revenues are recognized point-in-time as fee-for-service transactions upon completion.
Incentive-based fees are recognized in income when the probability of significant reversal will not occur upon the resolution of the uncertainty, which is based on market performance.
Fees for managing customers’ mandatory retirement savings accounts in Chile are collected with each monthly deposit made by our customers. If a customer stops contributing before retirement age, we collect no fees but services are still provided. We recognize revenue from these contracts as services are performed over the life of the contract and review annually.
PSI enters into selling and distribution agreements with the obligation to sell or distribute the securities products, such as mutual funds, annuities and products sold through RIAs, to individual clients in return for a front-end sales charges, 12b-1 service fees, annuity fees and asset-based fees. Front-end sales charges, 12b-1 fees and annuity fees are related to a single sale and are earned at the time of sale. PSI also enters into agreements with individual customers to provide securities trade execution and custody through a brokerage services platform in return for ticket charge and other service fee revenue. These services are bundled as one single distinct service referred to as brokerage services. This revenue is related to distinct transactions and is earned at a point in time.
Deferred contract costs consist primarily of commissions and variable compensation. We amortize capitalized contract costs on a straight-line basis over the expected contract life, reflecting lapses as they are incurred. Deferred contract costs are subject to impairment testing on an annual basis, or when a triggering event occurs that could warrant an impairment. To the extent future revenues less future maintenance expenses are not adequate to cover the asset balance, an impairment is recognized. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, $24.8 million, $24.4 million and $23.8 million, respectively, of amortization expense was recorded in operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations and no impairment loss was recognized in relation to the costs capitalized.
As of December 31, 2020, we had the 2020 Directors Stock Plan, the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the 2014 Directors Stock Plan, the Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2005 Directors Stock Plan, the Stock Incentive Plan and the Directors Stock Plan ("Stock-Based Compensation Plans"). As of May 20, 2014, no new grants will be made under the Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan or the 2005 Directors Stock Plan. No grants have been made under the Stock Incentive Plan or the Directors Stock Plan since at least 2005. As of May 19, 2020, no new grants will be made under the 2014 Directors Stock Plan. Under the terms of the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, grants may be nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options qualifying under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, performance units or other stock-based awards. The 2020 Directors Stock Plan provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock-based awards to our nonemployee directors. To date, we have not granted any incentive stock options, restricted stock or performance units under any plans.
For awards with graded vesting, we use an accelerated expense attribution method. The compensation cost that was charged against net income for stock-based awards granted under the Stock-Based Compensation Plans was as follows:
Nonqualified stock options were granted to certain employees under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, the Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan and the Stock Incentive Plan. Options outstanding were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and expire ten years after the grant date. These options have graded vesting over a three-year period, except in the case of specific types of terminations. Total options granted were 1.4 million, 1.2 million and 0.8 million during 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $3.4 million, $2.4 million and $18.7 million during 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
The weighted-average remaining contractual lives for stock options exercisable is approximately 6.1 years as of December 31, 2020.
The fair value of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following is a summary of the assumptions used in this model for the stock options granted during the period:
As of December 31, 2020, we had $2.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average service period of approximately 1.9 years.
Cash received from stock options exercised under these share-based payment arrangements during 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $4.4 million, $3.4 million and $29.0 million, respectively. The actual tax benefits realized for the tax deductions for options exercised under these share-based payment arrangements during 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $1.4 million, $0.5 million and $3.9 million, respectively.
We granted performance share awards to certain employees under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan. The performance share awards are treated as an equity award and are paid in shares. Whether the performance shares are earned depends upon the participant's continued employment through the performance period (except in the case of specific types of terminations) and our performance against three-year goals set at the beginning of the performance period. Performance goals based on various factors must be achieved for any of the performance shares to be earned. If the performance requirements are not met, the performance shares will be forfeited, no compensation cost will be recognized and any previously recognized compensation cost will be reversed. These awards have no maximum contractual term. Dividend equivalents are credited on performance shares outstanding as of the record date. These dividend equivalents are only paid on the shares released. Total performance share awards granted were 0.3 million, 0.2 million and 0.2 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Actual tax benefits realized for the tax deductions for performance share awards paid out under these share-based payment arrangements for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $3.0 million, $3.3 million and $3.3 million, respectively.
We issue restricted stock units under the 2020 Directors Stock Plan, 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2014 Directors Stock Plan, the Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2005 Directors Stock Plan, the Stock Incentive Plan, and the Directors Stock Plan. Restricted stock units are treated as an equity award and are paid in shares. These awards have no maximum contractual term. Dividend equivalents are credited on restricted stock units outstanding as of the record date. These dividend equivalents are only paid on the shares released. Restricted stock units granted were 1.1 million, 1.1 million and 0.8 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The total intrinsic value of restricted stock units vested was $41.2 million, $64.0 million and $51.1 during 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the closing stock price of our common shares on the grant date. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted stock units granted during 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $50.49, $53.17 and $63.68, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020, we had $43.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock unit awards granted under these plans. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.7 years.
Cash received from shares issued under these share-based payment arrangements for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $37.8 million, $36.2 million and $30.1 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for the tax deductions for the settlement of the share-based payment arrangements for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $0.9 million, $0.9 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020, a total of 5.0 million of new shares were available to be made issuable by us for this plan.
The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, excludes the incremental effect related to certain outstanding stock-based compensation grants due to their anti-dilutive effect.
Under our current shelf registration that was filed with the SEC and became effective April 29, 2020, we have the ability to issue, in unlimited amounts, unsecured senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, junior subordinated debt, preferred stock, common stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts and purchase units of PFG. Our wholly owned subsidiary, PFS, may guarantee, fully and unconditionally or otherwise, our obligations with respect to any non-convertible securities, other than common stock, described in the shelf registration.