financial reporting
used to communicate financial results to the stakeholders (e.g. policyholders, claimants, investors, directors, management, etc)
3 goals of financial reports
1) Track the company’s financial performance
2) Compare the company’s performance to peers, history, etc.
3) Make informed financial decisions
Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP)
Source: State Regulators
Purpose: ensure that the policyholders will be protected, rules are usually conservative
Benefit: Combined with associated monitoring tools, it can provide an early
warning of impending financial problems.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Source: FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) assigned this responsibility by SEC
Purpose: Primarily used by investors
Main objective: present results that closely measure the financial performance during a period by matching revenues and expenses.
Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
Provides rules for the public sector
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
Source: International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
Purpose: Used in many countries internationally.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
organization of regulators that coordinates governance of insurers.
This responsibility includes oversight of financial reporting.
Codification*
NAIC adopted Codification of SAP, which requires that insurers across the country follow the same rules (SSAP) when generating SAP based accounting statements. This consistency would ease the regulatory burden on the insurers.
3 Considerations for Accounting Framework
1) Liquidation vs going concern
2) Fair value vs historical cost
3) Principle based vs rule based
Liquidation vs going concern
How firms are viewed from a statement POV.
Different users will have different perspectives:
investors will generally view the firm as a going concern (ongoing business), whereas regulators will be more focused on a liquidation (run-off) scenario
Liquidation vs going concern: SAP
SAP accounting takes a liquidation (RUN-OFF) view
Liquidation vs going concern: GAAP
GAAP accounting takes a going concern (ONGOING BUSINESS) view
Fair value vs historical cost
How assets are valued.
Historical cost is more reliable, but fair value is often more accurate (would
produce a valuation in line with the actual market value)
Fair value vs historical cost: historical cost
purchase price less depreciation.
Fair value vs historical cost: fair value
value it can be traded at in the open market (this term is used interchangeably with “market value”)
Principle based vs rule based
How items in the financials can be valued.
The RULES are easier to interpret because they are typically specific, but the
principles are more adaptable to changes (compared to the rigid rules).
Principle based vs rule based: Principle
a general accounting approach that the users need to interpret.
Principle based vs rule based: Rule
specific guidance that users need to follow.
Annual Statement
A.K.A - “Blank”
developed & maintained by the NAIC, and has been adopted by all states
Balance Sheet: Assets
resources controlled by the insurer that have a probable future economic benefit
Balance Sheet: Assets Categories
Balance sheets categorize assets in 2 ways:
1) Cash and invested assts vs Non invested assets
2) Admitted vs Nonadmitted assets
Balance Sheet: Assets - Cash & invested assets vs Non invested assets
Cash & invested assets are more liquid.
This distinction is important given that statutory accounting is focused on solvency
Balance Sheet: Assets - Admitted vs nonadmitted assets
Non admitted assets are assets that are not easily convertible to cash to
satisfy the insurer’s liabilities (now or in the future), and are therefore not
included in the surplus.
(this concept is unique to SAP accounting)
Regulators are looking to ensure that the insurer has sufficient admitted
assets
Balance Sheet: Assets - CURB ARSON
C - Cash, Cash Equivalents & Short-Term Investments
U - Uncollected & Deferred Premiums & Agents’ Balances
R - Receivables from Parent, Subsidiary & Affiliates
B - Bonds
A - Amounts Recoverable from Reinsurers
R - Real Estate
S - Stocks
O - Other Nonadmitted Assets
N - Net Deferred Tax Assets