EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 52428
Filing Year: 2025
Filename: 52428_10-K_2025_0000820027-25-000016.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
Overview
Ameriprise Certificate Company (“ACC”) was incorporated on October 28, 1977 under the laws of Delaware. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (“Ameriprise Financial”, collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, “we”, “us” and “our”), a Delaware corporation, owns 100% of the outstanding voting securities of ACC. Ameriprise Financial and its predecessor companies have a 130-year history of providing solutions to help clients confidently achieve their financial objectives.
ACC is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and is in the business of issuing face-amount investment certificates. Face-amount certificates issued by ACC entitle the certificate owner to receive at maturity a stated amount of money and interest or credits declared from time to time by ACC, at its discretion. ACC’s certificates are distributed and sold solely by Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”), an affiliate of ACC and its network of more than 10,000 financial advisors. AFS is registered as a broker-dealer in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
To ACC’s knowledge, ACC is the largest issuer of face-amount certificates in the United States. However, ACC’s certificate products compete with many other banking and investment products offered by banks, savings and loan associations, asset managers, broker-dealers and others, which may be viewed by potential clients as offering a comparable or superior combination of safety and return on investment. In particular, some of ACC’s products are designed to be competitive with the types of investments offered by banks and thrifts. Since ACC’s face-amount certificates are securities, their offer and sale are subject to regulation under federal and state securities laws. ACC’s certificates are backed by ACC’s qualified assets on deposit and are not insured by any governmental agency or other entity.
ACC’s future profitability is dependent upon changes in the economic, credit and equity environments, as well as the competitive environment.
Products
As of the date of this report, ACC offered the following three types of certificate products to the public:
1. Ameriprise Cash Reserve Certificate
•Single payment certificate that permits additional payments and on which ACC guarantees interest rates in advance for a three-month term.
•Currently sold without a sales charge.
•Available as qualified investments for IRAs, 401(k) plans, and other qualified retirement plans.
•Current policy is to re-evaluate the certificate product interest crediting rates weekly to respond to marketplace changes.
•ACC refers to an independent index or source to set the rates for new sales and must set the rates for an initial purchase of the certificate within a specified range of the rate from such index or source. For renewals, ACC uses such rates as an indication of the competitors’ rates, but is not required to set rates within a specified range.
•Non-Jumbo Deposit National Rates for three-month CDs as published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) are used as the guide in setting rates.
•Competes with popular short-term investment and savings vehicles such as certificates of deposit, savings accounts, and money market mutual funds that offer comparable yields, liquidity and safety of principal.
•Twenty year maturity.
2. Ameriprise Flexible Savings Certificate
•Single payment certificate that permits a limited amount of additional payments and on which ACC guarantees interest rates in advance for a term of three, six, seven, nine, twelve, thirteen, eighteen, twenty-four, thirty or thirty-six months, and potentially other terms, at ACC’s option.
•Currently sold without a sales charge.
•Currently premature surrenders incur surrender charges.
•Available as qualified investments for IRAs, 401(k) plans, and other qualified retirement plans.
•Current policy is to re-evaluate the certificate product interest crediting rates weekly to respond to marketplace changes.
•ACC refers to an independent index or source to set the rates for new sales and must set the rates for an initial purchase of the certificate within a specified range of the rate from such index or source. For renewals, ACC uses such rates as an indication of the competitors’ rates, but is not required to set rates within a specified range.
•Non-Jumbo Deposit National Rates as published by the FDIC are used as the guide in setting rates.
•Competes with popular short-term investment vehicles such as certificates of deposit, money market certificates, and money market mutual funds that offer comparable yields, liquidity and safety of principal.
•Twenty year maturity.
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3. Ameriprise Installment Certificate
•Installment payment certificate that declares interest rates in advance for a three-month period.
•Currently sold without a sales charge.
•Currently premature surrenders incur surrender charges.
•Available as qualified investments for IRAs, 401(k) plans, and other qualified retirement plans.
•Current policy is to re-evaluate the certificate product interest crediting rates weekly to respond to marketplace changes.
•As of the date of this report, ACC has set a fixed rate of 4.41% for new sales.
•Intended to help clients save systematically and may compete with passbook savings and NOW accounts.
•Ten year maturity.
ACC periodically makes changes to the products offered. Effective April 1, 2020, the Ameriprise Step-Up Rate Certificate was closed to new sales and effective August 18, 2023, the Ameriprise Stock Market Certificate was closed to new sales and add-on payments.
Within the specified maturity periods, most certificates have interest crediting rate terms ranging from three to 48 months. Interest crediting rates are subject to change and certificate product owners can surrender their certificates without penalty at maturity; however, the Cash Reserve Certificate is a fully liquid product and can be surrendered at any time without penalty at maturity. Currently offered ACC certificates (listed above), as well as certain certificates previously issued by ACC (not listed above), contain renewal features which enable certificate owners to renew their certificate term until certificate maturity. Accordingly, certificate products that are currently outstanding in their renewal periods or are exercised for renewal in the future are, and continue to be, liabilities of ACC until their redemption or maturity, whether or not such certificates are available for new sales. ACC guarantees the return of principal, as well as interest once it has been credited, less any penalties that apply, for each of the certificates offered.
Distribution and Marketing Channels
ACC’s certificates are offered solely by AFS and sold pursuant to a distribution agreement which is subject to annual review and approval by ACC’s Board of Directors, including a majority of the directors who are not “interested persons” of AFS or ACC as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. The distribution agreement provides for the payment of distribution fees to AFS for services provided. The distribution agreement with AFS can be terminated by either party on sixty days’ written notice.
Asset Management
ACC has retained Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“CMIA”), an affiliate of ACC, to manage ACC’s investment portfolio under an investment management agreement, which is subject to annual review and approval by ACC’s Board of Directors, including a majority of the directors who are not “interested persons” of AFS, CMIA or ACC. This investment management agreement with CMIA can be terminated by either party on sixty days’ written notice.
Regulation
ACC is required to maintain cash and “qualified assets” meeting the standards of Section 28(b) of the 1940 Act, as modified by an exemptive order of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The amortized cost of such investments must be at least equal to ACC’s net liabilities on all outstanding face-amount certificates plus $250,000. ACC’s qualified assets consist of cash and cash equivalents, residential and commercial mortgage backed securities, asset backed securities, syndicated loans, commercial mortgage loans, U.S. government and government agency obligations, state and municipal obligations, corporate debt securities, equity index options and other securities meeting specified standards. So long as ACC wishes to rely on the SEC order, as a condition to the order, ACC has agreed to maintain an amount of unappropriated retained earnings and capital equal to at least 5% of certificate reserves (less outstanding certificate loans). To the extent that payment of a dividend would decrease the capital ratio below the required 5%, payment of a dividend would be restricted. In determining compliance with this condition, qualified assets are valued in accordance with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes where such provisions are applicable.
ACC has also entered into a written understanding with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Banking Division) that ACC will maintain capital equal to at least 5% of the assets of ACC (less outstanding certificate loans). To the extent that payment of a dividend would decrease this ratio below the required 5%, payment of a dividend would be restricted. When computing its capital for these purposes, ACC values its assets on the basis of statutory accounting for insurance companies rather than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). ACC is subject to examination and supervision by the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Banking Division) and the SEC.
Following conversion in 2019 of ACC’s affiliate Ameriprise National Trust Bank into a federal savings bank (“Ameriprise Bank”), Ameriprise Financial continued to be subject to ongoing supervision by the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”). FRB regulation and supervisory oversight of Ameriprise Financial includes examinations, regular financial reporting, and prudential standards, such as capital, liquidity, risk management and parameters for business conduct and internal governance. In order to maintain Ameriprise Financial’s permission under applicable bank holding company laws and regulations to engage in business activities other than banking or activities closely related to banking, each of Ameriprise Financial and Ameriprise Bank, as Ameriprise Financial’s sole insured depository institution subsidiary, must remain “well-capitalized” and “well-managed” under applicable federal banking regulations, and Ameriprise Bank must receive at least a “satisfactory” rating in its most recent examination under the Community Reinvestment Act. Failure to meet one or more of certain requirements and regulations would mean, depending on the
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requirements not met and any agreement then reached with the FRB, that until cured Ameriprise Financial (and therefore ACC) could not undertake new activities, continue certain activities, or make certain acquisitions. As a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, ACC is (absent exclusion or exemption) required to comply with investment limitations on its portfolio and other limitations under applicable banking laws, including what is commonly referred to as the Volcker Rule.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
ACC’s operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described below, that could have a material adverse effect on ACC’s business, financial condition or results of operations. We believe that the following information identifies the material factors affecting ACC based on the information we currently know. However, the risks and uncertainties ACC faces are not limited to those described below. Additional risks and uncertainties which are not presently known or which are currently believed to be immaterial may also adversely affect ACC’s business.
Market Risks
ACC’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by market fluctuations and by economic, political and other factors.
ACC’s financial condition and results of operations may be materially affected by market fluctuations and by economic and other factors (whether actual or perceived). Such factors, which can be global, regional, national or local in nature, include: (i) the level and volatility of the markets, including equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, currency values and other market indices and drivers; (ii) geopolitical strain, terrorism and armed conflicts; (iii) political dynamics or elections and social, economic and market conditions; (iv) the availability and cost of capital; (v) global health emergencies; (vi) technological changes and events; (vii) U.S. and foreign government fiscal and tax policies; (viii) U.S. and foreign government ability, real or perceived, to avoid defaulting on government securities; (ix) the availability and cost of credit and hedge markets; (x) periods of elevated inflation; (xi) natural disasters such as weather catastrophes; and (xii) other factors affecting investor sentiment and confidence in the financial markets. These factors also may have an impact on ACC’s ability to achieve its strategic objectives.
ACC’s financial condition and results of operations are affected by the “spread,” or the difference between the returns ACC earns on the investments that support its product obligations and the amounts that ACC must pay certificate holders.
Downturns and volatility in markets have had, and may in the future have, an adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of ACC. Market downturns and volatility may cause, and have caused, potential new purchasers of ACC’s products to refrain from purchasing or to purchase fewer ACC certificate products. Additionally, downturns and volatility in financial markets can have, and have had, an adverse effect on the performance of ACC’s investment portfolio.
Changes in interest rates may affect ACC’s financial condition and results of operations.
ACC’s investment products are sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and ACC’s future costs associated with such variations may differ from its historical results of operations. As market interest rates increase, ACC may offer higher crediting rates on existing face-amount certificates to remain competitive with other products in the market. Because yields on invested assets may not increase as quickly as current interest rates, ACC may have to accept a lower spread and thus lower profitability or face a decline in sales and greater loss of existing certificates. In addition, increases in market interest rates may cause increased certificate surrenders or changes in demands of certificate products as certificate holders seek to shift assets to products with perceived higher returns. This process may lead to an earlier than expected outflow of cash from ACC’s business. Also, increases in market interest rates may result in extension of certain cash flows from structured mortgage assets. Certificate withdrawals and surrenders may also require investment assets to be sold at a time when the prices of those assets are lower because of the increase in market interest rates, which may result in realized investment losses to be realized in ACC’s results of operations. If higher market interest rates lead to inflows into interest sensitive face-amount certificates or other changes in product behavior, ACC’s capital requirements may increase as well. Increases in crediting rates, as well as surrenders and withdrawals, could have an adverse effect on ACC’s financial condition and results of operations.
If there is a return to a period of prolonged low interest rates, ACC’s spread may be reduced or could become negative primarily because ACC may adjust the interest rates it credits on most of the products downward only at limited, pre-established intervals. Interest rate fluctuations also could have an adverse effect on the results of ACC’s investment portfolio. During periods of declining market interest rates or stagnancy of low interest rates, the interest ACC receives on variable interest rate investments decreases. In addition, during those periods, ACC is forced to reinvest the cash it receives as interest or return of principal on its investments in lower-yielding high-grade instruments or in lower-credit instruments to maintain comparable returns. Issuers of certain callable fixed income securities also may decide to prepay their obligations in order to borrow at lower market rates which increase the risk that ACC may have to reinvest the cash proceeds of these securities in lower-yielding or lower-credit instruments. Offsetting some of these risks is the fact that a significant portion of certificate balances do not have a minimum guaranteed interest crediting rate.
For additional information regarding the sensitivity of the fixed income securities in ACC’s investment portfolio to interest rate fluctuations, see Part II, Item 7A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K -“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
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Business Risks
Intense competition could negatively affect ACC’s ability to maintain or increase its market share and profitability.
ACC’s business operates in an intensely competitive industry segment. ACC competes based on a number of factors including name recognition, service, interest rates, product features and perceived financial strength. ACC’s competitors include broker-dealers, banks, asset managers and other financial institutions. ACC’s business faces competitors that have greater market share, offer a broader range of products, greater investments in technology and analytics or have greater financial resources. Furthermore, ACC’s competitors may be better able to address trends, structural changes, or movement of assets resulting from industry changes or in response to the uncertain regulatory environment in the U.S. and around the world.
ACC’s affiliated distributor may be unable to attract and retain key talent.
ACC is dependent on the financial advisors of AFS for all of the sales of its certificate products. A significant number of such financial advisors operate as independent contractors under a franchise agreement with AFS. The market for financial advisors is highly competitive, and there can be no assurance that AFS will be successful in its efforts to maintain its current network of financial advisors or to recruit and retain new advisors to its network. If AFS is unable to attract and retain quality financial advisors, fewer advisors would be available to sell ACC’s certificate products and ACC’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
The determination of the amount of allowances taken on certain loans and investments is subject to management’s evaluation and judgment and could materially impact ACC’s results of operations or financial position.
The determination of the amount of allowances varies by investment type and is based upon ACC’s periodic evaluation and assessment of inherent and known risks associated with the respective asset class.
Management uses its best judgment in evaluating the cause of the decline in the estimated fair value of the security and in assessing the prospects for recovery. Inherent in management’s evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential. The determination of the amount of allowances on loans is based upon the asset’s expected life, considering past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. Historical trends may not be indicative of future impairments or allowances.
Some of ACC’s investments are relatively illiquid, and ACC may have difficulty selling these investments.
ACC invests a portion of its assets in privately placed fixed income securities and commercial mortgage loans, which are relatively illiquid. ACC’s investment manager periodically reviews ACC’s private placement investment using adopted standards to categorize the investment as liquid or illiquid. As of December 31, 2024, commercial mortgage loans and private placement fixed income securities that have been categorized as illiquid represented approximately 1% of the carrying value of ACC’s investment portfolio. If ACC requires significant amounts of cash on short notice in excess of its normal cash requirements, ACC may have difficulty selling its investment in a timely manner or be forced to sell them for an amount less than it would otherwise have been able to realize, or both, which could have an adverse effect on ACC’s financial condition and results of operations.
Failure of ACC’s service providers to perform their responsibilities could adversely affect ACC’s business.
ACC’s business operations, including investment management, transfer agent, custody and distribution services, are performed by affiliated service providers, or in some cases their subcontractors, pursuant to formal contracts. The failure of a service provider to fulfill its responsibilities could have an adverse effect on ACC’s financial condition and results of operations that could be material.
If the counterparties to the derivative instruments ACC uses to hedge certain certificate liabilities default, ACC may be exposed to risks it had sought to mitigate, which could adversely affect ACC’s financial condition and results of operations.
ACC uses derivative instruments to hedge certain certificate liabilities. ACC enters into a variety of derivative instruments with a number of counterparties. If ACC’s counterparties become insolvent or fail to honor their obligations under the contracts governing such instruments, ACC’s hedges of the related risk may be ineffective. That failure could have a material adverse effect on ACC’s financial condition and results of operations. The risk of counterparty default may increase during periods of capital market volatility.
If ACC’s reserves for future certificate redemptions and maturities are inadequate, ACC may be required to increase its reserve liabilities, which could adversely affect ACC’s results of operations and financial condition.
Investment certificates may be purchased either with a lump-sum payment or by installment payments. Certificate product owners are entitled to receive, at maturity, a definite sum of money. Payments from certificate owners are credited to investment certificate reserves. Investment certificate reserves accumulate interest at specified percentage rates as declared by ACC. Reserves are also maintained for advance payments made by certificate owners, accrued interest thereon, and for additional credits in excess of minimum guaranteed rates and accrued interest thereon. On certificates allowing for the deduction of a surrender charge, the cash surrender values may be less than accumulated investment certificate reserves prior to maturity dates. Cash surrender values on certificates allowing for no surrender charge are equal to certificate reserves. The payment distribution, reserve accumulation rates, cash surrender values, reserve values and other matters are governed by the 1940 Act.
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Certain certificates offer a return based on the relative change in a stock market index. The certificates with an equity-based return contain embedded derivatives, which are carried at fair value within Certificate reserves. The fair values of these embedded derivatives incorporate current market data inputs. Changes in fair value are reflected in Provision for certificate reserves.
ACC monitors its reserve levels continually. If ACC concluded its reserves were insufficient to cover actual or expected redemptions or maturities, ACC would be required to increase its reserves and incur charges for the period in which it makes the determination. Such a determination could adversely affect ACC’s financial condition and results of operations.
Operations Risks
A failure to protect the reputation of ACC or its affiliates could adversely affect the business of ACC.
The ability of ACC to market and sell its products is highly dependent upon external perceptions of ACC’s and its affiliates’ level of service, business practices and financial condition. Damage to the reputation of ACC or its affiliates could cause significant harm to the business and prospects of ACC. Reputational damage may arise from numerous sources, including litigation or regulatory actions, failing to deliver minimum standards of service and quality, compliance failures, any perceived or actual weaknesses in ACC’s financial strength or liquidity, clients’ or potential clients’ perceived failure of how ACC addresses certain political, environmental, social or governance topics, technological breakdowns, cybersecurity attacks, or other security breaches (including attempted breaches, breaches impacting ACC’s vendors or their subcontractors or inadvertent disclosures) resulting in system unavailability, improper disclosure or loss of data integrity relating to client information, unethical or improper behavior and the misconduct or error of employees of its affiliates, AFS’s advisors and counterparties. Additionally, a failure to develop new products and services, or successfully manage associated operational risks, could harm ACC’s reputation and potentially expose ACC to additional costs, or negative public relations or social media campaigns. Any negative incidents can quickly erode trust and confidence, particularly if they result in adverse mainstream and social media publicity, governmental audits or investigations or litigation. Adverse developments with respect to the financial industry may also, by association, negatively impact ACC’s reputation or result in greater regulatory or legislative scrutiny or litigation against ACC.
Misconduct by employees of ACC’s affiliates may be difficult to detect and deter and may damage ACC’s reputation. This can include improper use of their authorized access to sensitive information. Misconduct or errors by employees of ACC’s affiliates, AFS’s advisors or counterparties could result in violations of law, regulatory sanctions and/or serious reputational or financial harm. Misconduct or mistakes can occur in ACC’s business. ACC and its affiliates cannot always prevent misconduct of employees of ACC’s affiliates, and the precautions its affiliates take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Preventing and detecting misconduct among ACC’s affiliates franchisee advisors presents additional challenges in that they control their own technology environment on a day-to-day basis and could have an adverse effect on ACC’s business. ACC’s reputation depends on its continued identification of and mitigation against conflicts of interest. ACC has procedures and controls that are designed to identify, address and appropriately disclose perceived conflicts of interest, though ACC’s reputation could be damaged if ACC fails, or appears to fail, to address conflicts of interest appropriately.
The direct and indirect effects of climate change could adversely affect ACC’s business and operations, both directly and as a result of impacts on ACC’s clients, counterparties and entities whose securities it holds.
ACC operates in many regions and communities where ACC’s business, and the activities of ACC’s clients and counterparties, could be adversely affected by climate change. Climate change may increase the severity and frequency of weather-related catastrophes, or adversely affect ACC’s investment portfolio or investor sentiment. This includes the potential for an increase in the frequency and severity of weather-related disasters and pandemics. In addition, climate change regulation may affect the prospects of companies and other entities whose securities ACC’s holds, or ACC’s willingness to continue to hold their securities. Climate change may also influence investor sentiment with respect to ACC and investments in ACC’s portfolio. Climate risks can also arise from the inconsistencies and conflicts in the manner in which climate policy, disclosure requirements and financial regulation is implemented in the many regions where ACC operates, including initiatives to apply and enforce policy and regulation with extraterritorial effect. Transition risks may arise from societal adjustment to a lower-carbon economy, such as changes in public policy, adoption of new technologies or changes in consumer preferences towards low-carbon goods and services. These risks could also be influenced by changes in the physical climate. Overall, ACC cannot predict or estimate the long-term impacts from climate change or related regulation.
ACC’s operational systems and networks (as well as those of third parties) are subject to evolving cybersecurity or other technological risks, which could result in the disclosure of confidential information, loss of ACC’s proprietary information, damage to ACC’s reputation, additional costs to ACC, regulatory penalties and other adverse impacts.
The business of ACC and its affiliates is reliant upon internal and third-party-controlled, -developed and -operated software (which includes open source software), technology systems and networks to process, transmit and store information, including current, potential and former clients’, advisors’ personal information, as well as proprietary information, and to conduct many business activities and transactions. Maintaining the security and integrity of the software, information and these systems and networks, and appropriately responding to any cybersecurity and privacy incidents (including attempts to attack or access ACC’s network), is critical to the success of ACC’s business operations, including ACC’s reputation, to the retention of AFS’s advisors and clients, and to the protection of ACC’s proprietary information and clients’ personal information.
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ACC and its affiliates rely on the third parties with whom it does business to identify and remediate software and other vulnerabilities in the assets and systems they use to run their business before they can be exploited by bad actors, but the third parties cannot always do so. For example, zero-day vulnerabilities in software and other technology solutions are immediately exploitable by bad actors as occasionally happens with certain of ACC’s affiliates’ vendors in the industry. ACC and its affiliates routinely face attacks and seek to address evolving threats of which we become aware. ACC and its affiliates have been able to identify, protect, detect, respond to and recover from these attacks to date without a material loss of client financial assets or information through the use of ongoing internal and external threat monitoring and by making continual adjustments to ACC’s security and incident response capabilities.
Employees of ACC’s affiliates, as well as service providers and clients, have also been threatened by, among others, phishing, vishing, and spear phishing scams, social engineering attacks (such as direct voice contact and any technology or communication mechanism to contact a person), account takeovers, introductions of malware, attempts at electronic break-ins, and the submission of fraudulent payment requests. The number of threats and events has increased substantially every year, which is expected to continue, particularly as the use of artificial intelligence makes these attempts look more legitimate. Attempted or successful breaches or interference by third parties or by insiders that may occur in the future could have a material adverse impact on ACC’s business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations.
On a corporate basis, various laws and regulations, and in some cases contractual obligations, require ACC’s affiliates to establish and maintain corporate policies and technical and operational measures designed to protect sensitive client, contractor and vendor information, and to respond to cybersecurity incidents in certain ways and timeframes. ACC’s affiliates have established policies and implemented such technical and operational measures and have in place policies that require AFS’s service providers and franchisee advisors, each of which control locally their own technology operations, to do the same. The hybrid work environment among ACC’s affiliates’ employees adds complexity to monitoring and processing procedures. Changes in ACC’s business or technological advancements may also require corresponding changes in ACC’s systems, networks and data security and response measures. While accessing ACC and its affiliates products and services, ACC’s clients may use computers and other devices that sit outside of ACC and its affiliates security control environment. In addition, the ever-increasing reliance on technology systems and networks and the occurrence and potential adverse impact of attacks on such systems and networks (including in recent well-publicized security breaches at other companies), both generally and in the financial services industry, have enhanced government and regulatory scrutiny of the measures taken by companies to protect against cybersecurity threats and report incidents they suffer. As these threats, and government and regulatory oversight of associated risks, continue to evolve, ACC may be required to expend significant additional resources (both direct financial resources and indirect costs like people) to enhance or expand upon the technical and operational security and response measures ACC and its affiliates currently maintain. These regulator-driven changes may adversely impact the client experience by, for example, requiring multiple or new means of verifying the identity of a client before they can interact with ACC.
Despite the measures ACC has taken and may in the future take to address and mitigate cybersecurity, privacy and technology risks, ACC cannot be certain that ACC and its affiliates systems and networks, or those used by its vendors, will not be subject to successful attacks, breaches or interference. Nor can ACC guarantee that AFS franchise advisors will comply with ACC and its affiliates policies and procedures in this regard, that clients will engage in safe and secure online practices or that vendors will effectively deploy and maintain the security measures and protocols that ACC and its affiliates impose. Furthermore, human error occurs from time to time and such mistakes can lead to the inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information. ACC and its affiliates have a vendor management process, but at times, ACC and its affiliates’ software or service providers could push through updates that are not fully disclosed to us (or tested by them) and that could alter the control posture of their products. Any such event may result in operational disruptions, as well as unauthorized access to or the disclosure or loss of, ACC’s proprietary information or ACC’s affiliates’ client, employee, vendor or advisor personal information, which in turn may result in legal claims, regulatory scrutiny and liability, reputational damage, the incurrence of costs to respond to, eliminate, or mitigate further exposure, the loss of clients or AFS advisors, or other damage to ACC’s business. While ACC and its affiliates maintain cyber liability insurance that provides both third-party liability and first-party liability coverages, it may not protect ACC against all cybersecurity- and privacy-related losses. Furthermore, ACC may be subject to indemnification costs and liability to third parties if ACC breaches any confidentiality or security obligations regarding vendor data or for losses related to the data. In addition, the trend toward broad consumer and general-public notification of such incidents, including those where ACC and its affiliates’ vendors are the party being breached, could exacerbate the harm to ACC’s business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations in the event of a breach. Even if ACC and its affiliates successfully protect ACC’s technology infrastructure and the confidentiality of sensitive data and conduct appropriate incident response, ACC may incur significant expenses in connection with ACC’s responses to any such attacks, as well as the adoption, implementation and maintenance of appropriate security measures. In addition, ACC and its affiliates regulators may seek to hold ACC’s affiliate responsible for the acts, mistakes or omissions of vendors or AFS franchise advisors even where they procure and control much of the physical office space and technology infrastructure they use to operate their businesses locally.
Protection from system interruptions and operating errors is important to ACC’s business. If ACC experiences a sustained interruption to ACC’s telecommunications or data processing systems, or other failure in operational execution, it could harm ACC’s business.
Operating errors and system or network interruptions could delay and disrupt ACC’s operations. Interruptions could be caused by mistake, malfeasance or other operational failures by service provider staff or ACC’s affiliates’ employee error or malfeasance,
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interference by third parties, including hackers, ACC’s implementation of new technology, maintenance of existing technology or natural disasters, each of which may impact ACC’s ability to run its systems or encounter varying downtime. Though ACC plans for resiliency in its systems and test these capabilities, it could face additional downtime or data loss if its plans do not work as expected during a real event. ACC’s financial, accounting, human resources, data processing or other operating systems and facilities may fail to operate or report data properly, experience connectivity disruptions or otherwise become disabled as a result of events that are wholly or partially beyond ACC’s control, adversely affecting ACC’s ability to process transactions or provide products and services to clients (some of which have regulatory required response times).
ACC and its affiliates rely on third-party service providers and vendors for certain communications, technology and business functions and other services, and ACC and its affiliates face the risk of their operational failure (including, without limitation, loss of staff due to widespread illness, failure caused by an inaccuracy, untimeliness or other deficiency in data reporting), technical or security failures, termination or capacity constraints of any of the third-party service providers that ACC or its affiliates use to facilitate or are component providers to ACC’s activities. Any such failure, termination or constraint or flawed execution or response could adversely impact ACC’s ability to effect transactions, service clients, manage exposure to risk, or otherwise achieve desired outcomes.
Risk management policies and procedures may not be fully effective in identifying or mitigating risk exposure in all market environments, products, vendors or against all types of risk, including ACC’s affiliates’ financial advisor misconduct.
ACC’s policies and procedures to identify, monitor and manage risks may not be fully effective in mitigating ACC’s risk exposure in all market environments or against all types of risk. Many of ACC’s methods of managing risk and the associated exposures are based upon observed historical market behavior or statistics based on historical models. Experience may not emerge as expected and during periods of market volatility or due to unforeseen events, the historically derived experience and correlations may not be valid. As a result, these methods may not predict future exposures accurately, which could be significantly greater than what ACC’s models indicate. Further, some controls are manual and are subject to inherent limitations. This could cause ACC to incur investment losses or cause ACC’s hedging and other risk management strategies to be ineffective. Other risk management methods depend upon the evaluation of information regarding markets, clients, catastrophe occurrence or other matters that are publicly available or otherwise accessible to ACC, which may not always be accurate, complete, up-to-date or properly evaluated.
ACC’s financial performance also requires ACC to develop, effectively manage, and market new or existing products and services that appropriately anticipate or respond to changes in the industry and evolving client demands. The development and introduction of new products and services require continued innovative effort and may require significant time, resources, and ongoing support. Further, avoiding introducing or encouraging certain new products (such as cryptocurrency) creates the risk of losing assets or new flows to competitors who encourage or support these products. Substantial risk and uncertainties are associated with the introduction and ongoing maintenance of new products and services, including the implementation of new and appropriate operational controls and procedures, shifting and sometimes contradictory client and market preferences, the introduction of competing products or services and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Artificial intelligence (including generative artificial intelligence) presents many benefits in terms of operating efficiency, but also certain risks that ACC needs to seek to mitigate through its strategic and risk management policies, such as reliance on information that may be inaccurate or unfairly discriminatory results. In addition, the regulatory framework and expectations relating to the use of artificial intelligence are in their early stages as is the use (and how ACC and its affiliates manage the use) of artificial intelligence in its business.
Management of operational, legal and regulatory risks requires, among other things, policies and procedures to record properly and verify a large number of transactions and events, and these policies and procedures may not be fully effective in mitigating ACC’s risk exposure in all market environments or against all types of risk, including those associated with ACC’s or its affiliates’ key vendors. Insurance and other traditional risk-shifting tools may be held by or available to ACC in order to manage certain exposures, but they are subject to terms such as deductibles, coinsurance, limits and policy exclusions, as well as risk of counterparty denial of coverage, default or insolvency.
The occurrence of natural or man-made disasters and catastrophes could adversely affect the results of operations and financial condition of ACC.
The occurrence of natural disasters and catastrophes, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires, blackouts, severe winter weather, explosions, pandemic disease and global health emergencies (such as COVID-19) and man-made disasters, including acts of terrorism, riots, civil unrest including large-scale protests, insurrections and military actions, could adversely affect the results of operations or financial condition of ACC. Such disasters and catastrophes may impact ACC directly by damaging its facilities, preventing service providers or employees of its affiliates from performing their roles or otherwise disturbing its ordinary business operations. These impacts could be particularly severe to the extent they affect access to physical facilities or the physical well-being of large numbers of employees of ACC’s affiliates, ACC’s computer-based data processing, transmission, storage and retrieval systems and destroy or release valuable data. Such disasters and catastrophes may also impact ACC indirectly by changing the condition and behaviors of its clients, business counterparties and regulators, as well as by causing declines or volatility in the economic and financial markets, which could in turn have an adverse effect on ACC’s investment portfolio.
ACC cannot predict the impact that changing climate conditions may have on the frequency and severity of natural disasters or on
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Ameriprise Certificate Company
overall economic stability and sustainability. As such, ACC cannot be sure that its actions to identify and mitigate the risks associated with such disasters and catastrophes will be effective.
Legal, Regulatory and Tax Risks
ACC’s business is regulated and changes in legislation or regulation may reduce ACC’s profitability and limit its growth.
ACC operates in a regulated industry. As a registered investment company, ACC must observe certain governance, disclosure, record-keeping, marketing, privacy, data protection and other operating requirements. Various regulatory and governmental bodies have the authority to review ACC’s products and business practices and to bring regulatory or other legal actions against ACC if, in their view, ACC’s practices are improper. Any enforcement actions, investigations or other proceedings brought against ACC or its directors or employees of its affiliates by its regulators may result in fines, injunctions or other disciplinary actions that could harm ACC’s reputation or impact ACC’s results of operations. Further, any future legislation or changes to the laws and regulations applicable to ACC’s business such as possible changes brought about by any U.S. Department of Labor applicable regulation as well as state and other fiduciary rules, the SEC best interest standards, or similar standards such as the Certified Financial Planner Board standards pertaining to the fiduciary status of investment advice providers to retirement investors (primarily account holders in 401(k) plans and IRAs and other types of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) clients) and related issues. Each of these has a potential impact regarding how ERISA investment advice fiduciaries and others can provide products manufactured by affiliates to, or engage in certain principal transactions with, retirement investors, including incremental requirements, costs and risks that may be imposed on ACC as a result of such changes, may affect the operations and financial condition of ACC. In addition, after the conversion of Ameriprise Bank into a federal savings bank, Ameriprise Financial became subject to ongoing supervision by the FRB. As a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, ACC is (absent exclusion or exemption) required to comply with certain limits on its activity, including investment limitations on its portfolio and other limitations under applicable banking laws. Failure to meet one or more of certain requirements and regulations would mean, depending on the violation and any agreement then reached with the FRB, Ameriprise Financial (and therefore ACC) could not undertake new activities, continue certain activities, or make certain acquisitions until such violation is cured.
ACC’s business is subject to comprehensive legal requirements concerning the use and protection of personal information, including client information, from a multitude of different functional regulators and law enforcement bodies. This regulatory framework is rapidly changing through an ever-increasing patchwork of state laws and regulation (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the California Privacy Rights Act). Further developments could negatively impact ACC’s business and operations.
Changes in corporate tax laws and regulations and changes in the interpretation of such laws and regulations, as well as adverse determinations regarding the application of such laws and regulations, could adversely affect ACC’s earnings.
ACC is subject to the income tax laws of the U.S., its states and municipalities. ACC makes judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws when determining the provision for income taxes and also makes estimates about when in the future certain items affect taxable income in the various tax jurisdictions. In addition, changes to the Internal Revenue Code, administrative rulings or court decisions could increase ACC’s provision for income taxes and reduce ACC’s earnings. Furthermore, guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury and others has been critical to the application and impact of new laws and in avoiding unintended impacts from legislation. The jurisdictions ACC operates in may not always provide clear guidance that is responsive to industry questions and concerns. If guidance is unclear, it could increase ACC’s taxes or create a potential for disagreement about interpretation of the tax code.
Many of the products that ACC or Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates offer or on which these businesses are based receive favorable treatment under current U.S. federal income or estate tax law. Changes in U.S. federal income or estate tax law could reduce or eliminate the tax advantages of certain of Ameriprise Financial’s products and thus make such products or ACC’s products less attractive to clients or cause a change in client demand and activity.
Changes in and the adoption of accounting standards could have a material impact on ACC’s financial statements.
ACC’s accounting policies provide a standard for how it records and reports its financial condition and results of operations. ACC prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. It is possible that accounting changes could have a material effect on ACC’s financial condition and results of operations. The Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC and other regulators often change the financial accounting and reporting standards governing the preparation of ACC’s financial statements. These changes are difficult to predict and could impose additional governance, internal control and disclosure demands. In some cases, ACC could be required to apply a new or revised standard retrospectively, resulting in restating prior period financial statements.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
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Ameriprise Certificate Company

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties
ACC occupies office space in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is leased or owned by Ameriprise Financial or a subsidiary thereof.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
For a discussion of any material legal proceedings, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Ameriprise Certificate Company
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
All of the Ameriprise Certificate Company (“ACC”) outstanding common stock is owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (“Ameriprise Financial”). There is no established public trading market for ACC’s common stock.
Frequency and amount of capital transactions with Ameriprise Financial during the past two years were:
Dividends to Ameriprise Financial Return of Capital to Ameriprise Financial Receipt of Capital from Ameriprise Financial
(in millions)
Year Ended December 31, 2024
March 27, 2024
$ 37.0 $ - $ -
June 27, 2024
55.0 - -
September 26, 2024
63.0 - -
December 27, 2024
70.0 - -
Total
$ 225.0 $ - $ -
Year Ended December 31, 2023
January 30, 2023
$ - $ - $ 35.0
February 28, 2023
- - 8.0
March 31, 2023
- - 34.0
April 27, 2023
- - 7.0
May 30, 2023
- - 14.0
June 29, 2023
- - 5.0
October 26, 2023
- - 10.0
November 29, 2023
- - 15.0
December 27, 2023
- - 2.5
Total $ - $ - $ 130.5
Restriction on ACC’s present or future ability to pay dividends to Ameriprise Financial:
Appropriated retained earnings resulting from the pre-declaration of additional credits to ACC’s certificate product owners are not available for the payment of dividends by ACC. In addition, ACC will discontinue issuance of certificates subject to the pre-declaration of additional credits and will make no further pre-declaration as to outstanding certificates if at any time the calculation of ACC’s capital and unappropriated retained earnings should be less than 5% of certificate reserves (less outstanding certificate loans).

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. [Reserved]
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Ameriprise Certificate Company

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Narrative Analysis
The following information should be read in conjunction with Ameriprise Certificate Company’s (“ACC’s”) Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included elsewhere in this report. The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements that reflect ACC’s plans, estimates and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below under “Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in Part 1 - Item 1A - “Risk Factors.”
ACC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (“Ameriprise Financial”). ACC is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is in the business of issuing face-amount investment certificates. Face-amount investment certificates issued by ACC entitle the certificate owner to receive at maturity a stated amount of money and interest or credits declared from time to time by ACC, at its discretion. The certificates issued by ACC are not insured by any government agency. ACC’s certificates are sold primarily by Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”), an affiliate of ACC. AFS is registered as a broker-dealer in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. ACC’s investment portfolio is managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“CMIA”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial.
Management’s narrative analysis of the results of operations is presented in lieu of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of financial condition and results of operations, pursuant to General Instructions I(2)(a) of Form 10-K.
Current Macroeconomic Environment
ACC operates its business in the broader context of the macroeconomic forces around it, including the global and U.S. economies, changes in interest and inflation rates, financial market volatility, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, geopolitical strain, pandemics, the competitive environment, client and customer activities and preferences, and the various regulatory and legislative developments. Financial markets and macroeconomic conditions have had and will continue to have a significant impact on ACC’s operating and performance results. ACC’s success may be affected by the factors discussed in Part 1 - Item 1A “Risk Factors” in this report and other factors as discussed herein.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Significant Accounting Policies
For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on ACC’s future results of operations or financial condition and significant accounting policies, see Note 1 to ACC’s Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Results of Operations
ACC’s net income is derived primarily from the after-tax yield on investments and realized investment gains (losses), less investment expenses and interest credited on certificate reserve liabilities. Net income trends occur largely due to changes in returns on ACC’s investment portfolio, from realization of investment gains (losses) and from changes in interest credited to certificate products. ACC follows U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
Net income increased $4.2 million, or 4%, for 2024 compared to the prior year primarily due to higher investment income along with lower investment expenses and income taxes. This increase was partially offset by higher net provision for certificate reserves. Client deposits decreased $2.3 billion from the prior year to $11.2 billion. After a period of strong growth during a rising interest rate environment, ACC has experienced net outflows during 2024.
Investment income increased $83.8 million, or 13%, for 2024 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting an increase in the average invested asset yield, driven by higher average short-term interest rates, and higher average investment balances. Interest-bearing assets include $11.0 billion of Available-for-Sale securities, $0.8 billion of cash and cash equivalents, and $0.2 billion of loans and other assets. The ACC investment portfolio securities are mostly rated AAA and primarily consist of structured assets and government bonds, of which 39% were floating rate and approximately 23% were 6-month Treasury Bills as of December 31, 2024. The duration of ACC investments was 1.1 years as of December 31, 2024 compared to 0.9 years as of December 31, 2023.
Investment expenses decreased $2.8 million, or 5%, for 2024 compared to the prior year due to decreases in investment advisory, distribution, and transfer agent fees.
Net provision for certificate reserves increased $84.2 million, or 18%, for 2024 compared to the prior year primarily due to higher average client crediting rates as well as higher average certificate balances. The average certificate reserve balance for ACC was $12.5 billion for 2024 compared to $11.8 billion for the prior year with the average crediting rate of 4.40% for 2024 compared to 3.96% for 2023.
The effective tax rate was 21.3% for 2024 compared to 24.6% for the prior year. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily the result of a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion on income taxes.
Fair Value Measurements
ACC reports certain assets and liabilities at fair value; specifically derivatives, embedded derivatives, and most investments and cash equivalents. Fair value assumes the exchange of assets or liabilities occurs in orderly transactions and is not the result of a forced
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liquidation or distressed sale. ACC includes actual market prices, or observable inputs, in its fair value measurements to the extent available. Broker quotes are obtained when quotes from pricing services are not available. ACC validates prices obtained from third parties through a variety of means such as: price variance analysis, subsequent sales testing, stale price review, price comparison across pricing vendors and due diligence reviews of vendors. See Note 8 to ACC’s Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding ACC’s fair value measurements.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s plans, estimates and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” “forecast,” “on track,” “project,” “continue,” “able to remain,” “resume,” “deliver,” “develop,” “evolve,” “drive,” “enable,” “flexibility,” “scenario,” “case”, “appear”, “expand” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from expected results, performance or achievements. These statements are not guarantees or indicative of future performance. Important assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those factors, risks and uncertainties described in Part 1 - Item 1A - “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. ACC’s future results of operations and financial condition, as well as any forward-looking statements contained in this report, are made only as of the date hereof. ACC undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ACC has three principal components of market risk: interest rate risk, equity price risk, and credit risk. Interest rate risk results from investing in assets that are somewhat longer and reset less frequently than the liabilities they support. ACC manages interest rate risk through the use of a variety of tools that from time to time include derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, which change the interest rate characteristics of client liabilities or investment assets. Due to certain provisions for certificates being impacted by the value of equity indices, from time to time ACC enters into risk management strategies that may include the use of equity derivative instruments, such as equity options, to mitigate ACC’s exposure to volatility in the equity markets.
Ameriprise Financial’s Financial Risk Management Committee (“FRMC”), which is comprised of senior managers, holds regularly scheduled meetings to review models projecting various interest rate scenarios and risk/return measures and their effect on various portfolios managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“CMIA”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, including that of ACC. ACC’s Board of Directors has delegated the responsibilities of the Investment Committee of ACC to the FRMC. FRMC’s objectives are to structure ACC’s portfolio of investment securities based upon the type and behavior of the certificates in the certificate reserve liabilities, to achieve targeted levels of profitability within defined risk parameters and to meet certificate contractual obligations.
ACC primarily invests in structured investments (e.g., residential mortgage backed securities, commercial mortgage backed securities and asset backed securities), U.S. government and agency obligations, corporate debt securities, and commercial mortgages to provide its certificate owners with a competitive rate of return on their certificates while managing risk. These investments provide ACC with a historically dependable and targeted margin between the interest rate earned on investments and the interest rate credited to certificate owners’ accounts. ACC does not invest in securities to generate short-term trading profits for its own account.
To evaluate interest rate and equity price risk, ACC performs sensitivity testing which measures the impact on pretax income from the sources listed below for a 12 month period following a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates and a hypothetical 10% decline in equity prices. The interest rate risk test assumes a sudden 100 basis point parallel shift in the yield curve, with rates then staying at those levels for the next 12 months. The equity price risk test assumes a sudden 10% drop in equity prices, with equity prices then staying at those levels for the next 12 months. In estimating the values of stock market certificates, ACC assumes no change in implied market volatility despite the 10% drop in equity prices.
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Ameriprise Certificate Company
The following tables present ACC’s estimate of the impact on pretax income from the above defined hypothetical market movements as of December 31, 2024:
Equity Price Decline 10% Equity Price Exposure to Pretax Income
Before Hedge Impact Hedge Impact Net Impact
(in thousands)
Certificates $ 1,313 $ (1,151) $ 162
Interest Rate Increase 100 Basis Points Interest Rate Exposure to Pretax Income
Before Hedge Impact Hedge Impact Net Impact
(in thousands)
Certificates $ 558 $ - $ 558
The above results compare to an estimated positive impact to pretax income of $1.7 million related to a 100 basis point increase in interest rates and an estimated positive impact of $112 thousand related to a 10% equity price decline as of December 31, 2023.
Actual results could and likely will differ materially from those illustrated above as they are based on a number of estimates and assumptions. For example, the illustration above includes assuming that implied market volatility does not change when equity prices fall by 10% and that the 100 basis point increase in interest rates is a parallel shift of the yield curve. Furthermore, ACC has not tried to anticipate changes in client preferences for different types of assets or other changes in client behavior, nor has ACC tried to anticipate all strategic actions management might take to increase revenues or reduce expenses in these scenarios.
The selection of a 100 basis point interest rate increase as well as a 10% equity price decline should not be construed as a prediction of future market events. Impacts of larger or smaller changes in interest rates or equity prices will not be proportional to those shown for a 100 basis point increase in interest rates or a 10% decline in equity prices.
ACC has interest rate risk from its Flexible Savings Certificates and other fixed rate certificates. These products are investment certificates generally ranging in amounts from $1 thousand to $2 million with interest crediting rate terms ranging from three to 36 months. ACC guarantees an interest rate to the holders of these products. Payments collected from clients are primarily invested in fixed income securities to fund the client credited rate with the spread between the rate earned from investments and the rate credited to clients recorded as earned income. Client liabilities and investment assets generally differ as it relates to basis, repricing or maturity characteristics. Rates credited to clients generally reset at shorter intervals than the yield on underlying investments. This exposure is not currently hedged although ACC monitors its investment strategy and makes modifications based on changing liabilities and the expected interest rate environment. ACC also has interest rate risk from its Step-Up Rate Certificates, which was not material as of December 31, 2024. ACC had $11.1 billion in reserves included in Certificate reserves as of December 31, 2024 to cover the liabilities associated with these products.
ACC has equity price risk from its Stock Market Certificates. Stock Market Certificates are purchased for amounts generally from $1 thousand to $2 million for terms of 52, 104 or 156 weeks, which can be extended to a maximum of 15 years depending on the term. For each term the certificate holder can choose to participate 100% in any percentage increase in the S&P 500® Index up to a maximum return or choose partial participation in any increase in the S&P 500® Index plus a fixed rate of interest guaranteed in advance. If partial participation is selected, the total of equity-linked return and guaranteed rate of interest cannot exceed the maximum return. ACC had $124.1 million in reserves included in Certificate reserves as of December 31, 2024 to cover the liabilities associated with these products. Effective August 18, 2023, the Stock Market Certificate product was closed to new sales and add-on payments. The equity-linked return to investors creates equity price risk exposure. ACC seeks to minimize this exposure with purchased futures and call spreads that replicate what ACC must credit to client accounts. This risk continues to be fully hedged. Stock Market Certificates have interest rate risk as changes in interest rates affect the fair value of the payout to be made to the certificate holder. This risk is not currently hedged and was immaterial as of December 31, 2024.
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Ameriprise Certificate Company
Credit Risk
ACC is exposed to credit risk within its investment portfolio, including its loan portfolio, and through derivative counterparties. Credit risk relates to the uncertainty of an obligor’s continued ability to make timely payments in accordance with the contractual terms of the financial instrument or contract. ACC considers its total potential credit exposure to each counterparty and its affiliates to ensure compliance with pre-established credit guidelines at the time it enters into a transaction which would potentially increase ACC’s credit risk. These guidelines and oversight of credit risk are managed through ACC’s comprehensive enterprise risk management program that includes members of senior management.
ACC manages the risk of credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties by applying disciplined fundamental credit analysis and underwriting standards, prudently limiting exposures to lower-quality, higher-yielding investments, and diversifying exposures by issuer, industry, region and underlying investment type. ACC remains exposed to occasional adverse cyclical economic downturns during which default rates may be significantly higher than the long-term historical average used in pricing.
ACC manages its credit risk related to over-the-counter derivatives by entering into transactions with creditworthy counterparties, maintaining collateral arrangements and through the use of master netting arrangements that provide for a single net payment to be made by one counterparty to another at each due date and upon termination. Generally, ACC’s current credit exposure on over-the-counter derivative contracts is limited to a derivative counterparty’s net positive fair value of derivative contracts after taking into consideration the existence of netting arrangements and any collateral received. This exposure is monitored and managed to an acceptable threshold level.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page hereof.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
ACC maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be reported in the Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in and pursuant to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that this information is accumulated and communicated to ACC’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure. It should be noted that, because of inherent limitations, ACC’s disclosure controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met.
ACC’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of ACC’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, ACC’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that ACC’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of December 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in ACC’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fourth fiscal quarter of the year to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, ACC’s internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions (I)(2)(c) of Form 10-K.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions (I)(2)(c) of Form 10-K.
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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions (I)(2)(c) of Form 10-K.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item omitted pursuant to General Instructions (I)(2)(c) of Form 10-K.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The Board of Directors of ACC, at the recommendation of its Audit Committee, appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as an independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Consolidated Financial Statements of ACC for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed or to be billed by PwC for each of the last two years for professional services rendered for the audit of ACC’s annual Consolidated Financial Statements and services that were provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings were $128,000 and $125,000 for 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees, All Other Fees
ACC was not billed by PwC for any fees for audit-related fees, tax fees or any other fees for 2024 or 2023.
Policy on Pre-Approval of Services Provided by Independent Registered Public Accountants
Pursuant to the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the terms of the engagement of PwC are subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit and Risk Committee of Ameriprise Financial. All audit and permitted non-audit services to be performed by PwC for ACC require pre-approval by the Audit and Risk Committee of Ameriprise Financial in accordance with pre-approval procedures established by the Audit and Risk Committee of Ameriprise Financial. The procedures require all proposed engagements of PwC for services to ACC of any kind to be directed to the General Auditor of Ameriprise Financial and then submitted for approval to the Audit and Risk Committee of Ameriprise Financial prior to the beginning of any services.
In addition, the charter of ACC’s Audit Committee requires pre-approval of any engagement, including the fees and other compensation, of PwC (1) to provide any services to ACC and prohibits the performance of certain specified non-audit services, and (2) to provide any non-audit services to Ameriprise Financial or any affiliate of Ameriprise Financial that controls, is controlled by, or under common control with Ameriprise Financial if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of ACC. Certain exceptions apply to the pre-approval requirement.
In both 2024 and 2023, 100% of the services provided by PwC for ACC were pre-approved by the Audit and Risk Committee of Ameriprise Financial and the Audit Committee of ACC.
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Ameriprise Certificate Company
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) 1. Financial Statements:
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page hereof.
2. Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules:
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page hereof.
3. Exhibits:
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report or, where indicated, were already filed and are hereby incorporated by reference:
Exhibit Description
3(a)
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of American Express Certificate Company, dated August 1, 2005, filed electronically on or about March 10, 2006 as Exhibit 3(a) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
3(b)
By-Laws of Ameriprise Certificate Company, filed electronically on or about November 5, 2010 as Exhibit 3(b) to Registrant’s Form 10-Q, are incorporated herein by reference.
10(a)
Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Services Agreement, dated December 1, 2018, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC filed electronically on or about February 27, 2019 as Exhibit 10(a) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
10(b)
Distribution Agreement, dated December 31, 2006, between Registrant and Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (formerly Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.) filed electronically on or about February 26, 2007 as Exhibit 1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to Registration Statement No. 2-95577 for Ameriprise Flexible Savings Certificate is incorporated herein by reference.
10(c)
Amendment to the Distribution Agreement, dated January 21, 2021, between Registrant and Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, effective February 1, 2021, filed electronically on or about February 24, 2021 as Exhibit 10(c) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
10(d)
Depository and Custodial Agreement, dated December 31, 2006, between Registrant and Ameriprise Trust Company, filed electronically on or about February 26, 2007 as Exhibit 10(c) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to Registration Statement No. 2-95577 for Ameriprise Flexible Savings Certificate is incorporated herein by reference.
10(e)
Amendment to the Depositary and Custodial Agreement, dated December 15, 2008, between Registrant and Ameriprise Trust Company, filed on or about May 5, 2014 as Exhibit 10(c)i to Registrant’s Form 10-Q, is incorporated herein by reference.
10(f)
Transfer Agent Agreement, dated December 31, 2006 between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (formerly RiverSource Client Service Corporation), filed electronically on or about February 26, 2007 as Exhibit 10(e) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to Registration Statement No. 2-95577 for Ameriprise Flexible Savings Certificate is incorporated herein by reference.
10(g)
First Amendment to Transfer Agent Agreement, dated January 1, 2013 between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (formerly RiverSource Client Service Corporation), filed electronically on or about February 27, 2013 as Exhibit 10(d) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.
10(h)
Second Amendment to Transfer Agent Agreement, dated January 1, 2017, between Registrant and Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (formerly RiverSource Client Service Corporation), filed electronically on or about February 23, 2017 as Exhibit 10(d) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
10(i)
Administration and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2005, between Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly RiverSource Investments, LLC) and Ameriprise Financial, Inc. filed electronically on or about March 10, 2006 as Exhibit 10(s) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
10(j)
Capital Support Agreement by and between Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and Ameriprise Certificate Company, dated as of March 2, 2009, filed electronically on or about March 3, 2009 as Exhibit 10(f) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
10(k)
First Amendment to Capital Support Agreement by and between Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and Ameriprise Certificate Company, effective April 30, 2014, filed electronically on or about May 5, 2014 as Exhibit 10(f)i to Registrant’s Form 10-Q, is incorporated herein by reference.
10(l)
Amended and Restated Federal Income Tax Sharing Agreement between or among Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and certain subsidiaries, including Ameriprise Certificate Company, effective January 1, 2023 filed as Exhibit 10(a) to Form 10-Q on August 6, 2024, is incorporated by reference.
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Ameriprise Certificate Company
Exhibit Description
10(m)
State Income Tax Sharing Agreement between or among Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and certain subsidiaries, including the Registrant, effective December 10, 2013 filed electronically on or about February 23, 2018 as Exhibit 10(m) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
10(n)
Agreement between Ameriprise Bank, FSB and Ameriprise Certificate Company (certain Ameriprise Rewards Fulfillment Services), dated December 1, 2022 filed electronically on or about February 23, 2023 as Exhibit 10(n) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
10(o)
Agreement between Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and Ameriprise Certificate Company (certain legacy Ameriprise Rewards Fulfillment Services), dated December 1, 2019 filed electronically on or about February 26, 2020 as Exhibit 10(o) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
14(a)
Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 for Ameriprise Certificate Company effective May 21, 2014, filed electronically on or about February 27, 2019 as Exhibit 14(a) to Registrant’s Form 10-K is incorporated by reference.
14(b)*
Code of Ethics adopted under Rule 17j-1 for Registrant’s investment adviser, dated December 2024.
14(c)*
Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 for Registrant’s underwriter, as revised January 2, 2025.
24*
Directors’ Power of Attorney, dated November 6, 2024.
31.1*
Certification of Abu M. Arif, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2*
Certification of Thomas Nickerson, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32*
Certification of Abu M. Arif, Chief Executive Officer and Thomas Nickerson, Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
* Filed electronically herewith.