Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the “Forward-Looking Statements,” our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes that follow and the “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. References to “Ameriprise Financial,” “Ameriprise,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. exclusively, to our entire family of companies, or to one or more of our subsidiaries.
Overview
Ameriprise Financial is a diversified financial services company with a more than 130-year history of providing financial solutions. We are a long-standing leader in financial planning and advice with $1.7 trillion in assets under management, administration, and advisement as of December 31, 2025. We offer a broad range of products and services designed to achieve individual and institutional clients’ financial objectives. For additional discussion of our businesses, see Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The products and services we provide retail clients and, to a lesser extent, institutional clients, are the primary source of our revenues and net income. Revenues and net income are significantly affected by investment performance and the total value and composition of assets we manage and administer for our retail and institutional clients as well as the distribution fees we receive from other companies. These factors, in turn, are largely determined by overall investment market performance and the depth and breadth of our individual client relationships.
We operate our business in the broader context of the macroeconomic forces around us, 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 our operating and performance results. In addition, the business, political and regulatory environments in which we operate are subject to elevated uncertainty and substantial, frequent change. Accordingly, we expect to continue focusing on our key strategic objectives and obtaining operational and strategic leverage from our core capabilities. The success of these and other strategies may be affected by the factors discussed in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K - “Risk Factors” - and other factors as discussed herein.
Equity price, credit market and interest rate fluctuations can have a significant impact on our results of operations, primarily due to the effects they have on the asset management and other asset-based fees we earn, the values of market risk benefits and embedded derivatives associated with our variable annuities and the values of derivatives held to hedge these benefits and the “spread” income generated on our deposit products, fixed insurance, the fixed portion of variable annuities and variable insurance contracts and fixed deferred annuities. We have been operating in a historically low interest rate environment but have recently experienced a substantial increase in rates with uncertainty about where rates will go in the future. A higher (lower) interest rate environment may result in decreases (increases) to our long-duration contract reserves, which may impact our adjusted operating earnings after tax. For additional discussion on our interest rate risk, see Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
In the third quarter, we conducted our annual review of life insurance, annuity and long term care (“LTC”) valuation assumptions relative to current experience and management expectations including modeling changes. These annual assumption updates, including model changes, are collectively referred to as unlocking throughout this document. See our Consolidated and Segment Results of Operations sections for the pretax impacts on our revenues and expenses attributable to unlocking.
The following discussion includes a comparison of our 2025 and 2024 results. For a discussion and comparison of results for 2024 and 2023, see Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 20, 2025.
We consolidate certain variable interest entities for which we provide asset management services. These entities are defined as consolidated investment entities (“CIEs”). While the consolidation of the CIEs impacts our balance sheet and income statement, our exposure to these entities is unchanged and there is no impact to the underlying business results. For further information on CIEs, see Note 5 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. The results of operations of the CIEs are reflected in the Corporate & Other segment. On a consolidated basis, the management fees we earn for the services we provide to the CIEs and the related general and administrative expenses are eliminated and the changes in fair value of assets and liabilities related to the CIEs, primarily syndicated loans and debt, are reflected in Net investment income. We include the fees from these entities in the Management and financial advice fees line within our Asset Management segment.
While our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), management believes that adjusted operating measures, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, net of the reinsurance accrual; the market impact on non-traditional long-duration products (including variable and fixed deferred annuity contracts and universal life (“UL”) insurance contracts), net of hedges and the reinsurance accrual; mean reversion related impacts (the impact on variable annuity and variable universal life (“VUL”) products for the difference between assumed and updated separate account investment performance on the reinsurance accrual and additional insurance benefit reserves); the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate and currency changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments; block transfer reinsurance transaction impacts; gain or loss on disposal of a business that is not considered discontinued operations; integration and restructuring charges;
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income (loss) from discontinued operations; and the impact of consolidating CIEs, best reflect the underlying performance of our core operations and facilitate a more meaningful trend analysis.
The market impact on non-traditional long-duration products includes changes in market risk benefits and embedded derivative values caused by changes in financial market conditions, net of changes in economic hedge values and unhedged items including the difference between assumed and actual underlying separate account investment performance, fixed income credit exposures, transaction costs and certain policyholder contract elections. The market impact also includes certain valuation adjustments made in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, including the impact on embedded derivative values of discounting projected benefits to reflect a current estimate of our life insurance subsidiaries’ nonperformance spread.
Management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our financial performance on a basis comparable to that used by some securities analysts and investors. Also, certain of these non-GAAP measures are taken into consideration, to varying degrees, for purposes of business planning and analysis and for certain compensation-related matters. Throughout our Management’s Discussion and Analysis, these non-GAAP measures are referred to as adjusted operating measures. These non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP measures.
It is management’s priority to increase shareholder value over a multi-year horizon by achieving our on-average, over-time financial targets.
Our financial targets are:
•Adjusted operating earnings per diluted share growth of 12% to 15%, and
•Adjusted operating return on equity of over 30%.
The following table reconciles our GAAP measures to adjusted operating measures:
Per Diluted Share
Years Ended December 31, Years Ended December 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Less Adjustments:
Net realized investment gains (losses) (1) (8) (21) (0.08) (0.20)
Mean reversion related impacts (1) 1 1 0.01 0.01
Net income (loss) attributable to CIEs — 3 — 0.03
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
(1) Pretax adjusted operating adjustments.
(2) Calculated using the statutory tax rate of 21%.
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The following table reconciles net income to adjusted operating earnings and the five-point average of quarter-end equity to adjusted operating equity:
Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)
Adjusted operating earnings $ 3,858 $ 3,535
Total Ameriprise Financial, Inc. shareholders’ equity $ 5,948 $ 5,109
Less: Equity impacts attributable to CIEs — (3)
Adjusted operating equity $ 7,253 $ 6,851
Return on equity, excluding AOCI 49.1 % 49.7 %
Adjusted operating return on equity, excluding AOCI (2) 53.2 % 51.6 %
(1) Adjustments reflect the sum of after-tax net realized investment gains or losses, net of the reinsurance accrual; the market impact on non-traditional long-duration products (including variable and fixed deferred annuity contracts and UL insurance contracts), net of hedges and the reinsurance accrual; mean reversion related impacts; the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate and currency changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments; block transfer reinsurance transaction impacts; gain or loss on disposal of a business that is not considered discontinued operations; integration and restructuring charges; income (loss) from discontinued operations; and net income (loss) from consolidated investment entities. After-tax is calculated using the statutory tax rate of 21%.
(2) Adjusted operating return on equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) is calculated using adjusted operating earnings in the numerator and Ameriprise Financial shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI and the impact of consolidating investment entities using a five-point average of quarter-end equity in the denominator. After-tax is calculated using the statutory rate of 21%.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The accounting and reporting policies that we use affect our Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain of our accounting and reporting policies are critical to an understanding of our consolidated results of operations and financial condition and, in some cases, the application of these policies can be significantly affected by the estimates, judgments and assumptions made by management during the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements. The accounting and reporting policies and estimates we have identified as fundamental to a full understanding of our consolidated results of operations and financial condition are described below. See Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about our accounting policies.
Valuation of Investments
The most significant component of our investments is our Available-for-Sale securities, which we carry at fair value within our Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 16 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the fair value of our Available-for-Sale securities. Financial markets are subject to significant movements in valuation and liquidity, which can impact our ability to liquidate and the selling price that can be realized for our securities and increases the use of judgment in determining the estimated fair value of certain investments. We are unable to predict impacts and determine sensitivities in reported amounts reflecting such market movements on our aggregate Available-for-Sale portfolio. Changes to these assumptions do not occur in isolation and it is impracticable to predict such impacts at the individual security unit of measure which are predominately Level 2 fair value and based on observable inputs.
Market Risk Benefits
Market risk benefits are contracts or contract features that both provide protection to the contractholder from other-than-nominal capital market risk and expose us to other-than-nominal capital market risk. Market risk benefits include certain contract features on variable annuity products that provide minimum guarantees to policyholders. Guarantees accounted for as market risk benefits include guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”), guaranteed minimum income benefit (“GMIB”), guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (“GMWB”) and guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (“GMAB”).
Variable Annuities
We have approximately $91 billion of variable annuity account value that has been issued over a period of more than fifty years. The diversified variable annuity block consists of $49 billion of account value with no living benefit guarantees and $42 billion of account value with living benefit guarantees, primarily GMWB provisions. The business is predominately issued through the Ameriprise Financial® advisor network. The majority of the variable annuity contracts currently offered by us contain GMDB provisions. We also previously offered contracts containing GMWB, GMAB or GMIB provisions. See Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our variable annuity contracts.
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In determining the assets or liabilities for market risk benefits, we project these benefits and contract assessments using actuarial models to simulate various equity market scenarios. Significant assumptions made in projecting future benefits and assessments relate to customer asset value growth rates, mortality, surrenders (also referred to as persistency), benefit utilization and investment margins. Management reviews, and where appropriate, adjusts its assumptions each quarter. Unless management identifies a material deviation over the course of quarterly monitoring, management reviews and updates these assumptions annually in the third quarter of each year.
In addition, the valuation of market risk benefits is impacted by an estimate of our nonperformance risk adjustment. This estimate includes a spread over the U.S. Treasury curve as of the balance sheet date. As our estimate of this spread widens or tightens, the liability will decrease or increase, respectively. The change in fair value due to changes in our nonperformance risk is recorded in other comprehensive income.
Regarding the exposure to variable annuity living benefit guarantees, changes to reserves due to behavioral risk are driven by changes in policyholder surrenders and utilization of guaranteed withdrawal benefits. We have extensive experience studies and analysis to monitor changes and trends in policyholder behavior. A significant volume of company-specific policyholder experience data is available and provides management with the ability to regularly analyze policyholder behavior. On a monthly basis, actual surrender and benefit utilization experience is compared to expectations. Experience data includes detailed policy information providing the opportunity to review impacts of multiple variables. The ability to analyze differences in experience, such as presence of a living benefit rider, existence of surrender charges, and tax qualifications provide us an effective approach in detecting changes in policyholder behavior.
At least annually, we perform a thorough policyholder behavior analysis to validate the assumptions included in our market risk benefit reserves. The variable annuity assumptions and resulting reserve computations reflect multiple policyholder variables. Differentiation in assumptions by policyholder age, existence of surrender charges, guaranteed withdrawal utilization, and tax qualification are examples of factors recognized in establishing management’s assumptions used in market risk benefit calculations. The extensive data derived from our variable annuity block informs management in confirming previous assumptions and revising the variable annuity behavior assumptions. Changes in assumptions are governed by a review and approval process to ensure an appropriate measurement of all impacted financial statement balances. Changes in these assumptions can be offsetting and we are unable to predict their movement, sensitivities in reported amounts, offsetting impacts, or future impacts to the Consolidated Financial Statements over time or in any given future period.
Future Policy Benefits and Claims
We establish reserves to cover the benefits associated with non-traditional and traditional long-duration products. Non-traditional long-duration products include variable and structured variable annuity contracts, fixed annuity contracts and UL and VUL policies. Traditional long-duration products include term life insurance, whole life insurance, disability income (“DI”) and LTC insurance and life contingent payout annuity products. UL and VUL policies with product features that result in profits followed by losses are accounted for as insurance liabilities. The portion of structured variable annuities, indexed annuities and indexed universal life (“IUL”) policies allocated to the indexed account is accounted for as an embedded derivative.
The establishment of reserves is an estimation process using a variety of methods, assumptions and data elements. If actual experience is better than or equal to the results of the estimation process, then reserves should be adequate to provide for future benefits and expenses. If actual experience is worse than the results of the estimation process, additional reserves may be required.
Non-Traditional Long-Duration Products, including Embedded Derivatives
UL and VUL
A portion of our UL and VUL policies have product features that result in profits followed by losses from the insurance component of the contract. These profits followed by losses can be generated by the cost structure of the product or secondary guarantees in the contract. The secondary guarantee ensures that, subject to specified conditions, the policy will not terminate and will continue to provide a death benefit even if there is insufficient policy value to cover the monthly deductions and charges. The liability for these future losses is determined at the reporting date using actuarial models to estimate the death benefits in excess of account value and recognizing the excess over the estimated life based on expected assessments (e.g. cost of insurance charges, contractual administrative charges, similar fees and investment margin). Significant assumptions made in projecting future benefits and assessments relate to client asset value growth rates, mortality, persistency and investment margins. Changes in these assumptions can be offsetting and we are unable to predict their movement, sensitivities in reported amounts, offsetting impacts, or future impacts to the Consolidated Financial Statements over time or in any given future period. See Note 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the liability for contracts with secondary guarantees.
Embedded Derivatives
The fair value of embedded derivatives related to structured variable annuities, indexed annuities and IUL fluctuates based on equity markets and interest rates and is reported within our total liabilities. In addition, the valuation of embedded derivatives is impacted by an estimate of our nonperformance risk adjustment. This estimate includes a spread over the U.S. Treasury curve as of the balance sheet date. As our estimate of this spread widens or tightens, the liability will decrease or increase, respectively.
See Note 16 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the fair value measurement of embedded derivatives.
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Traditional Long-Duration Products
The liability for future policy benefits for traditional long-duration products include cash flows related to unpaid amounts on reported claims, estimates of benefits payable on claims incurred but not yet reported and estimates of benefits that will become payable on term life, whole life, DI and LTC insurance and life contingent payout annuity policies as claims are incurred in the future. A liability for future policy benefits, which is the present value of estimated future policy benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders and certain related expenses less the present value of estimated future net premiums to be collected from policyholders, is accrued as premium revenue is recognized. Expected insurance benefits are accrued over the life of the contract in proportion to premium revenue recognized (referred to as the net premium approach). The net premium ratio reflects cash flows from contract inception to contract termination (i.e., through the claim paying period) and cannot exceed 100%.
The liability for future policy benefits is updated for actual experience at least on an annual basis and concurrent with changes to cash flow assumptions. When net premiums are updated for cash flow changes, the estimated cash flows over the entire life of a group of contracts are updated using historical experience and updated future cash flow assumptions. Changes in these assumptions can be offsetting and we are unable to predict their movement, sensitivities in reported amounts, offsetting impacts, or future impacts to the Consolidated Financial Statements over time or in any given future period.
The cash flows used in the calculation are discounted using the forward rate curve on the original contract issue date. The discount rate represents an upper-medium-grade (i.e., low credit risk) fixed-income instrument yield (i.e., an A rating) that reflects the duration characteristics of the liability.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
We use derivative instruments to manage our exposure to various market risks. All derivatives are recorded at fair value. The fair value of our derivative instruments is determined using either market quotes or valuation models that are based upon the net present value of estimated future cash flows and incorporate current market observable inputs to the extent available. We are unable to predict impacts and determine sensitivities in reported amounts reflecting such market movements on our aggregate derivative portfolio. Changes to assumptions do not occur in isolation and it is impracticable to predict such impacts at the individual security unit of measure which are predominately Level 2 fair value and based on observable inputs.
For further details on the types of derivatives we use and how we account for them, see Note 2, Note 16 and Note 18 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. For discussion of our market risk exposures and hedging program and related sensitivity testing, see Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on our future consolidated results of operations and financial condition, see Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Sources of Revenues and Expenses
Management and Financial Advice Fees
Management and financial advice fees relate primarily to fees earned from managing mutual funds, private funds, separate account and wrap account assets and institutional investments, as well as fees earned from providing financial advice, administrative services (including transfer agent and administration fees earned from providing services to retail mutual funds) and other custodial services. Management and financial advice fees include performance-based incentive management fees, which we may receive on certain management contracts. Management and financial advice fees also include mortality and expense risk fees.
Distribution Fees
Distribution fees primarily include point-of-sale fees (such as mutual fund front-end sales loads) and asset-based fees (such as 12b-1 distribution and shareholder service fees). Distribution fees also include amounts received under marketing support arrangements for sales of mutual funds and other companies’ products, such as through our wrap accounts, as well as surrender charges on annuities and UL and VUL insurance. Distribution fees also include revenue for placing clients’ deposits in its brokerage sweep program with third-party banks as well as revenue from brokerage clients for the execution of requested trades.
Net Investment Income
Net investment income primarily includes interest income on fixed maturity securities classified as Available-for-Sale, mortgage loans, policy loans, margin loans, pledged asset lines of credit, other investments, cash and cash equivalents and investments of CIEs; the changes in fair value of trading securities, certain derivatives and certain assets and liabilities of CIEs; the pro rata share of net income or loss on equity method investments; realized gains and losses on the sale of investments; and changes for the allowance for credit losses.
Premiums, Policy and Contract Charges
Premiums include premiums on traditional life, DI and LTC insurance and payout annuities with a life contingent feature and are net of reinsurance premiums. Policy and contract charges include variable annuity rider charges and UL and VUL insurance charges,
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which consist of cost of insurance charges (net of reinsurance premiums and cost of reinsurance for UL and VUL insurance products) and administrative charges.
Other Revenues
Other revenues primarily include the accretion on the fixed annuities reinsurance deposit receivables and other miscellaneous revenues.
Banking and Deposit Interest Expense
Banking and deposit interest expense primarily includes interest expense related to investment certificates and banking deposits.
Distribution Expenses
Distribution expenses primarily include compensation paid to our financial advisors, registered representatives, third-party distributors and wholesalers. The portion of these costs which are incremental and direct to the acquisition of a new or renewal insurance policy or annuity contract issued by the RiverSource Life companies are deferred. The amounts capitalized and amortized are based on actual distribution costs. The majority of these costs, such as advisor and wholesaler compensation, vary directly with the level of sales. Distribution expenses also include marketing support and other distribution and administration related payments made to affiliated and unaffiliated distributors of products provided by our affiliates. The majority of these expenses vary with the level of sales, or assets held, by these distributors, and the remainder is fixed. Distribution expenses also include wholesaling costs.
Interest Credited to Fixed Accounts
Interest credited to fixed accounts represents amounts earned by contractholders and policyholders on fixed account values associated with UL and VUL insurance and annuity contracts. The changes in fair value of fixed deferred indexed annuity and IUL embedded derivatives and the derivatives hedging these products are also included within Interest credited to fixed accounts.
Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expenses
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses consist of amounts paid and changes in liabilities held for anticipated future benefit payments under insurance policies and annuity contracts, along with costs to process and pay such amounts. Amounts are net of benefit payments recovered or expected to be recovered under reinsurance contracts. Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses exclude the impact of remeasurement of future policy benefit reserves, which is separately presented. The changes in fair value of structured variable annuity embedded derivatives and the derivatives hedging this benefit, as well as the amortization of DSIC are also included in Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses.
Remeasurement (Gains) Losses of Future Policy Benefit Reserves
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves represents changes to the net premium ratio for actual versus expected experience and updates to cash flow assumptions used to measure traditional long-duration and limited-payment insurance contracts.
Change in Fair Value of Market Risk Benefits
Change in fair value of market risk benefits includes the change in fair value of GMDB, GMIB, GMWB and GMAB as well as the changes in fair value of derivatives hedging these market risk benefits. Changes in fair value of market risk benefits are recognized in net income each period with the exception of the portion of the change in fair value due to a change in the instrument-specific credit risk, which is recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”).
Amortization of DAC
Direct sales commissions and other costs capitalized as DAC are amortized over time. DAC are amortized on a constant-level basis for the grouped contracts over the expected contract term to approximate straight-line amortization.
Interest and Debt Expense
Interest and debt expense primarily includes interest on corporate debt and CIE debt, the impact of interest rate hedging activities and amortization of debt issuance costs.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense includes compensation, share-based awards and other benefits for employees (other than employees directly related to distribution, such as financial advisors), professional and consultant fees, information technology, facilities and equipment, advertising and promotion, legal and regulatory and corporate related expenses.
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Economic Environment
Global equity market conditions and fluctuations affect our results of operations and financial condition. The following table presents relevant market indices:
Years Ended December 31,
Weighted Equity Index (“WEI”) (1)
(1) Weighted Equity Index is an Ameriprise calculated proxy for equity market movements calculated using a weighted average of the S&P 500, Russell 2000, Russell Midcap and MSCI EAFE indices based on North America distributed equity assets.
See our segment results of operations discussion below for additional information on how changes in the economic environment have impacted and may continue to impact our results. For further information regarding the impact of the economic environment on our results of operations and financial condition, and potentially material effects, see Part 1 - Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Assets Under Management, Administration, and Advisement
Assets under management (“AUM”) include external client assets for which we provide investment management services, such as the assets of the Columbia Threadneedle Investmentsfunds, institutional clients and clients in our advisor platform held in wrap accounts as well as assets managed by sub-advisors selected by us. AUM also include certain assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for which we provide investment management services and recognize management fees in our Asset Management segment, such as the assets of the general account and the variable product funds held in the separate accounts of our life insurance subsidiaries and CIEs.
Assets under administration include assets for which we provide administrative services such as client assets invested in other companies’ products that we offer outside of our wrap accounts. These assets include those held in clients’ brokerage accounts. We generally record revenues received from administered assets as distribution fees. We do not exercise management discretion over these assets and do not earn a management fee. These assets are not reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Assets under administration also include certain assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for which we do not provide investment management services and do not recognize management fees, such as investments in non-affiliated funds held in the separate accounts of our life insurance subsidiaries.
Assets under advisement includes assets for which we provide advisory services such as model portfolios but do not have full discretionary investment authority.
The following table presents detail regarding our Assets Under Management, Administration, and Advisement:
December 31, Change
(in billions)
Assets Under Management, Administration, and Advisement
Total Assets Under Advisement (net of eliminations) 40.8 34.0 6.8 20
Total AUM increased $127.0 billion, or 11%, to $1.3 trillion as of December 31, 2025 compared to $1.2 trillion as of December 31, 2024 due to a $96.3 billion increase in Advice & Wealth Management AUM driven by market appreciation and wrap account net inflows and an $33.2 billion increase in Asset Management AUM primarily driven by market appreciation and a favorable foreign exchange impact, partially offset by net outflows. Total Asset Under Administration increased $38.4 billion, or 12%, to $355.6 billion as of December 31, 2025 compared to the prior year primarily driven by equity market appreciation and a continued increase in third-party money market funds. Total Assets Under Advisement increased $6.8 billion, or 20%, to $40.8 billion as December 31, 2025 due to market appreciation and net inflows. See our segment results of operations discussion for additional information on changes in our AUM.
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Consolidated Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2025 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2024
The following table presents our consolidated results of operations:
Years Ended December 31, Change
(in millions)
Revenues
Expenses
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses 1,303 1,299 4 —
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves 10 (44) 54 NM
Change in fair value of market risk benefits 1,004 628 376 60
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs 242 242 — —
Interest and debt expense 326 329 (3) (1)
NM Not Meaningful - variance equal to or greater than 100%.
Overall
Pretax income increased $237 million, or 6%, for 2025 compared to the prior year. The following impacts were significant drivers of the year-over-year change in pretax income:
•The favorable impact from the cumulative impact of wrap net inflows and improved transactional activity.
•A favorable impact from higher average equity markets compared to the prior year. Our average WEI, which is a proxy for equity movements on AUM, increased 13% in 2025 compared to the prior year.
•The favorable impact of unlocking was $22 million for 2025 compared to an unfavorable impact of $77 million for the prior year.
•The market impact on non-traditional long-duration products, net of hedges was an expense of $366 million for 2025 compared to an expense of $153 million for the prior year.
•The unfavorable impact from the cumulative impact of Asset Management net outflows.
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The following table presents the total pretax impacts on our revenues and expenses attributable to unlocking, for the years ended December 31:
(in millions)
Premiums, policy and contract charges $ 118 $ (4)
Other revenues 3 —
Total revenues 121 (4)
Interest credited to fixed accounts (21) (10)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses 16 (4)
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves:
LTC unlocking 26 4
Unlocking impact, excluding LTC (10) (24)
Total remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves 16 (20)
Change in fair value of market risk benefits 88 107
Total benefits and expenses 99 73
Pretax income (loss) (1) $ 22 $ (77)
(1) Includes a $28 million net benefit for 2025 and a $17 million net benefit for 2024 primarily related to the market impact on IUL benefits, which are excluded from adjusted operating earnings. Refer to Results of Operations by Segment for the impact to pretax adjusted operating earnings attributable to unlocking.
The primary drivers of the unlocking impact for 2025 included net unfavorable changes to variable annuity surrender and utilization assumptions, net unfavorable changes in LTC morbidity and mortality assumptions, favorable claims incidence rates on disability insurance, and net favorable model changes primarily related to cost of reinsurance and index credits associated with non-traditional insurance products. In the prior year, the primary driver of the unlocking impact was lowered surrender assumptions on variable annuities with living benefits resulting in an expense, partially offset by the updated claims incident rates on disability insurance.
Net Revenues
Management and financial advice fees increased $966 million, or 10%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting market appreciation and continued wrap account net inflows as well as higher performance fees, partially offset by the cumulative impact of Asset Management and variable annuity net outflows.
Distribution fees increased $57 million, or 3%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily due to market appreciation and higher transactional activity, partially offset by $52 million of lower fees on off-balance sheet brokerage cash.
Net investment income decreased $78 million, or 2%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting lower average invested assets supporting certificates and the unfavorable impact of declining investment portfolio yields, partially offset by the favorable impact of growth in structured variable annuities (“SVA”) products.
Banking and deposit interest expense decreased $231 million, or 35%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting lower certificate balances and lower average crediting rates on both certificates and Ameriprise Bank, FSB (“Ameriprise Bank”) cash deposits.
Expenses
Distribution expenses increased $717 million, or 12%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting higher advisor compensation from higher average wrap account assets and increased transactional activity, as well as investments in recruiting experienced advisors, partially offset by the cumulative impact of Asset Management net outflows.
Interest credited to fixed accounts decreased $141 million, or 23%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting the following items:
•A $121 million decrease in expense from other market impacts on IUL benefits, net of hedges, which was a benefit of $109 million for 2025 compared to an expense of $12 million for the prior year. The decrease in expense was primarily due to an increase in the IUL embedded derivative in the prior year, which reflected higher option costs due to a higher starting option budget and new money rate.
•A $13 million decrease in expense from the unhedged nonperformance credit spread risk adjustment on IUL benefits. The unfavorable impact of the nonperformance credit spread was $6 million for 2025 compared to an unfavorable impact of $19 million for the prior year.
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses increased $4 million for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting a $21 million increase in expense from market impacts on SVA embedded derivative, net of hedging activity. This increase was the result of
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a favorable $147 million change in the market impact on derivatives hedging the SVA embedded derivative and an unfavorable $168 million change in the market impact on the SVA embedded derivative. This increase also reflects the impact of increased volume in SVAs, partially offset by the impact of lower sales of life contingent payout annuities.
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves increased $54 million for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting the unfavorable impact of unlocking in the current period compared to a favorable impact of unlocking for the prior year period.
Change in fair value of market risk benefits increased $376 million, or 60%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting the following items:
•A $335 million increase in expense from market impacts on variable annuity guaranteed benefits, net of hedges. This increase was the result of an unfavorable $1.1 billion change in the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits reserves and a favorable $810 million change in the market impact on derivatives hedging the variable annuity guaranteed benefits. The main market drivers contributing to these changes are summarized below:
•Equity market impact on the variable annuity guaranteed benefits liability net of the impact on the corresponding hedge assets resulted in a lower benefit for 2025 compared to the prior year.
•Interest rate and bond impact on the variable annuity guaranteed benefits liability net of the impact on the corresponding hedge assets resulted in an expense for 2025 compared to a benefit in the prior year.
•Volatility impact on the variable annuity guaranteed benefits liability net of the impact on the corresponding hedge assets resulted in a lower expense for 2025 compared to the prior year.
•Other unhedged items, including the difference between the assumed and actual underlying separate account investment performance, transaction costs and various behavioral items, were a lower net expense for 2025 compared to the prior year.
General and administrative expense decreased $28 million, or 1%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting ongoing benefits from our initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, as well as lower severance expenses, partially offset by higher performance fee compensation, higher volume-related expenses and investments for business growth.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate was 20.9% for 2025 compared to 20.3% for the prior year. See Note 24 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion on income taxes.
Results of Operations by Segment
Year Ended December 31, 2025 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2024
Adjusted operating earnings is the measure of segment profit or loss management uses to evaluate segment performance. Adjusted operating earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for GAAP pretax income. We believe the presentation of segment adjusted operating earnings as we measure it for management purposes enhances the understanding of our business by reflecting the underlying performance of our core operations and facilitating a more meaningful trend analysis. See Note 28 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the presentation of segment results and our definition of adjusted operating earnings.
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The following table presents summary financial information by segment:
Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)
Advice & Wealth Management
Adjusted operating earnings $ 3,411 $ 3,233
Asset Management
Adjusted operating earnings $ 1,016 $ 920
Retirement & Protection Solutions
Adjusted operating earnings $ 846 $ 726
Corporate & Other
Adjusted operating loss $ (396) $ (443)
The following table presents the segment pretax adjusted operating impacts on our revenues and expenses attributable to our annual assumption updates, referred to as unlocking, for the years ended December 31:
Segment Pretax Adjusted Operating Increase (Decrease) 2025 2024
(in millions)
Premiums, policy and contract charges $ 117 $ — $ (5) $ —
Other revenues — 3 — —
Total revenues 117 3 (5) —
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses 16 — 4 —
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves:
LTC unlocking — 26 — 4
Unlocking, excluding LTC (10) — (24) —
Change in fair value of market risk benefits 94 — 105 —
Pretax income (loss) $ 17 $ (23) $ (90) $ (4)
Advice & Wealth Management
The following table presents Advice & Wealth Management total client assets as of December 31:
(in billions)
Total client assets increased $136.5 billion, or 13%, to $1.2 trillion compared to a year ago primarily due to market appreciation and client net inflows.
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The following table presents the changes in wrap account assets and average balances for the years ended December 31:
(in billions)
Market appreciation (depreciation) and other 65.6 52.6
Advisory wrap account assets ending balance (1) $ 664.4 $ 568.3
Average advisory wrap account assets (2) $ 606.2 $ 528.3
(1) Advisory wrap account assets represent those assets for which clients receive advisory services and are the primary driver of revenue earned on wrap accounts. Clients may hold non-advisory investments in their wrap accounts that do not incur an advisory fee.
(2) Average advisory wrap account assets are calculated using an average of the prior period’s ending balance and all months in the current period excluding the most recent month for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, which is reflective of our billing cycle.
Wrap account assets increased $96.5 billion, or 17%, to $670.4 billion during 2025 primarily due to market appreciation of $65.6 billion and net inflows of $30.9 billion. Average advisory wrap account assets increased $77.9 billion, or 15%, compared to the prior year primarily reflecting market appreciation and continued net inflows.
The following table presents client cash balances as of December 31:
(in billions)
On-balance sheet - Ameriprise Bank $ 23.7 $ 22.3
On-balance sheet - Ameriprise Certificate Company 8.2 11.2
On-balance sheet - broker dealer 1.9 2.3
Total on-balance sheet $ 33.8 $ 35.8
Off-balance sheet - broker dealer 5.1 5.8
Total cash and certificate balances $ 38.9 $ 41.6
Third party cash products (money market funds and brokered CDs) 48.1 43.8
Total client cash balances $ 87.0 $ 85.4
Ameriprise Bank is continuing its deposit growth trend, with bank deposit balances increasing 6% from the prior year to $23.7 billion as of December 31, 2025. Ameriprise Certificate Company (“ACC”) client deposits decreased $3.0 billion from the prior year to $8.2 billion. After a period of strong growth during a rising interest rate environment, ACC has experienced net outflows during the past eight quarters. Third party cash products increased $4.3 billion to $48.1 billion driven by an increase of money market funds of $6.3 billion, partially offset by a decline in brokered CDs.
The following table presents assets supporting Ameriprise Bank deposits and ACC certificates as of December 31:
Ameriprise Bank ACC
(in millions)
Investments
(1) Presented on an amortized cost basis.
•In Ameriprise Bank, assets included $20.5 billion of Available-for-Sale securities, $2.9 billion of cash and cash equivalents, and $1.9 billion of other assets, primarily loans. The Ameriprise Bank investment portfolio securities are mostly rated AA+ and primarily consist of structured assets, of which 9% were floating rate and sensitive to changes in short-term interest rates as of December 31, 2025. We took action to reduce the floating rate allocation from 17% as of December 31, 2024. The duration of Ameriprise Bank investments was 3.8 years as of December 31, 2025 compared to 3.6 years as of December 31, 2024. In 2025, we purchased $6.8 billion of investments, which was primarily sourced from maturities and prepayments.
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•In ACC, assets include $7.7 billion of Available-for-Sale securities, $0.8 billion of cash and cash equivalents, and $0.1 billion of loans and other assets. The ACC investment portfolio securities are mostly rated AA+ and primarily consist of structured assets and government bonds, of which 40% were floating rate and approximately 19% were 6-month Treasury Bills or short-term Federal Home Loan Bank securities as of December 31, 2025. The duration of ACC investments was 1.4 years as of December 31, 2025 compared to 1.1 years as of December 31, 2024.
The following table presents the results of operations of our Advice & Wealth Management segment on an adjusted operating basis:
Years Ended December 31, Change
(in millions)
Revenues
Expenses
Our Advice & Wealth Management segment pretax adjusted operating earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, increased $178 million, or 6%, for 2025 compared to the prior year. This growth reflected the benefit from market appreciation and increased advisor productivity through the cumulative impact of client net inflows and higher transactional revenue. Pretax adjusted operating margin was 29.1% for 2025 compared to 30.0% for the prior year. Adjusted operating net revenue per advisor increased to $1,122,000 for 2025, up 8%, from $1,037,000 for the prior year.
Net Revenues
Management and financial advice fees increased $879 million, or 14%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily due to growth in average wrap account assets. Average advisory wrap account assets increased $77.9 billion, or 15%, compared to the prior year reflecting net inflows and market appreciation.
Distribution fees increased $67 million, or 3%, for 2025 compared to the prior year due to a $119 million increase from strong transactional activity and market appreciation, while brokerage cash revenue decreased $52 million due to lower off-balance sheet brokerage cash balances and a lower average fee yield.
Net investment income decreased $239 million, or 11%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily due to lower average invested assets and lower investment yields on the investment portfolios supporting certificate products. Net investment income for Ameriprise Bank cash deposits was consistent with the prior year.
Banking and deposit interest expense decreased $231 million, or 35%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting lower balances and lower average crediting rates on certificates and lower average crediting rates on Ameriprise Bank cash deposits.
•The average certificate reserve balance for ACC was $9.8 billion for 2025 compared to $12.5 billion for the prior year with the average crediting rate of 3.64% for 2025 compared to 4.42% for 2024.
•The daily average interest-bearing deposit balance for the Ameriprise Bank increased to $22.3 billion for 2025 compared to $21.5 billion for the prior year with the average interest rate paid on deposits decreasing to 0.28% for 2025 from 0.44% for 2024, which included both cash sweep and savings products.
Expenses
Distribution expenses increased $690 million, or 12%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting higher advisor compensation from higher average wrap account assets and increased transactional activity, as well as continued investments in recruiting experienced advisors.
General and administrative expense increased $76 million, or 5%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting higher volume related expenses and investments for business growth.
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Asset Management
The following tables present the mutual fund performance of our retail Columbia Threadneedle Investments funds as of December 31, 2025:
4- or 5-star Morningstar Rated Funds (2) Overall 3 year 5 year 10 year
(1) Retail Fund performance rankings for each fund are measured on a consistent basis against the most appropriate peer group or index. Peer groupings of Columbia funds are defined by Lipper category and are based on the Primary Share Class (i.e., Institutional if available, otherwise Institutional 3 share class), net of fees. Peer groupings of Threadneedle funds are defined by either IA or Morningstar index and are based on the Primary Share Class. Comparisons to Index are measured gross of fees.
To calculate asset weighted performance, the sum of the total assets of the funds with above median ranking are divided by total assets of all funds. Funds with more assets will receive a greater share of the total percentage above or below median.
Aggregated Asset Allocation Funds may include funds that invest in other Columbia or Threadneedle branded mutual funds included in both equity and fixed income.
(2) Columbia funds are available for purchase by U.S. customers. Out of 89 Columbia funds rated (based on primary share class), 47 received a 4-star Overall Rating. Out of 128 Threadneedle funds rated (based on highest-rated share class), 12 received a 5-star Overall Rating and 44 received a 4-star Overall Rating. The Overall Morningstar Rating is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its 3-, 5- and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics.
The following table presents managed assets by type:
December 31, Change Average (1) Change
December 31,
(in billions) (in billions)
(1) Average ending balances are calculated using an average of the prior period’s ending balance and all months in the current period.
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The following table presents the changes in global assets under management and advisement:
Years Ended December 31,
(in billions)
Global Retail Funds
Net VP/VIT fund flows (6.8) (6.6)
Net flows (9.6) (5.9)
Market appreciation (depreciation) and other 46.9 41.2
Foreign currency translation (1) 5.1 (1.3)
Global Institutional
Market appreciation (depreciation) and other (3) 20.0 7.4
Foreign currency translation (1) 10.0 (2.7)
Total assets under advisement (4) 42.9 35.6
Total assets under management and advisement $ 721.0 $ 680.5
Total assets under management net flows $ (31.7) $ (20.4)
Model delivery assets under advisement flows (5) 3.2 2.8
Total assets under management and advisement flows (5) $ (28.5) $ (17.6)
Legacy insurance partners net flows (6) $ (4.1) $ (11.7)
(1) Amounts represent local currency to U.S. dollar translation for reporting purposes.
(2) Global Institutional inflows and outflows include flows from our structured variable annuity product and Ameriprise Bank.
(3) Included in Market appreciation (depreciation) and other for Global Institutional is the change in affiliated general account balance, excluding net flows related to our structured variable annuity product and Ameriprise Bank.
(4) Assets under advisement are presented on a one-quarter lag.
(5) Assets under advisement flows are estimated flows based on the period-to-period change in assets less calculated performance based on strategy returns on a one-quarter lag.
(6) Legacy insurance partners assets and net flows are included in the rollforwards above.
Total segment AUM increased $33.2 billion, or 5%, during 2025 primarily driven by equity market appreciation and a favorable foreign exchange impact, partially offset by net outflows. Total AUM net outflows were $31.7 billion for 2025 and included a large institutional client repositioning into passive strategies and $3.9 billion of outflows from our U.S. real estate products. Model delivery assets under advisement increased $7.3 billion, or 21%, with net inflows of $3.2 billion for 2025 compared to $2.8 billion for the prior year.
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The following table presents the results of operations of our Asset Management segment on an adjusted operating basis:
Years Ended December 31, Change
(in millions)
Revenues
Management and financial advice fees $ 3,153 $ 3,051 $ 102 3 %
Net investment income 60 55 5 9
Banking and deposit interest expense — — — —
Expenses
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs 7 7 — —
Interest and debt expense 12 7 5 71
Our Asset Management segment pretax adjusted operating earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains or losses, increased $96 million, or 10%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily due to equity market appreciation, higher performance fees and the positive impact from expense management actions, partially offset by the cumulative impact of net outflows.
Net Revenues
Management and financial advice fees increased $102 million, or 3%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily driven by market appreciation and an increase of $55 million in performance fees, partially offset by the cumulative impact of net outflows.
Expenses
Distribution expenses increased $16 million, or 2%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily due to market appreciation, partially offset by the cumulative impact of net outflows.
General and administrative expense decreased $11 million, or 1%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting the benefits from our initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, partially offset by $34 million of higher performance fee related compensation.
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Retirement & Protection Solutions
The following table presents the results of operations of our Retirement & Protection Solutions segment on an adjusted operating basis:
Years Ended December 31, Change
(in millions)
Revenues
Management and financial advice fees $ 754 $ 768 $ (14) (2) %
Other revenues 4 7 (3) (43)
Banking and deposit interest expense — — — —
Expenses
Interest credited to fixed accounts 373 367 6 2
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses 913 927 (14) (2)
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves (24) (36) 12 33
Change in fair value of market risk benefits 726 684 42 6
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs 229 227 2 1
Interest and debt expense 40 45 (5) (11)
General and administrative expense 332 318 14 4
Our Retirement & Protection Solutions segment pretax adjusted operating earnings, which excludes net realized investment gains or losses (net of the reinsurance accrual), the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges), the market impact on IUL benefits (net of hedges and the reinsurance accrual), mean reversion related impacts, and block transfer reinsurance transaction impacts increased $120 million, or 17%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting unlocking impacts, higher investment income, and market appreciation.
Variable annuity account balances increased 6% to $91.3 billion as of December 31, 2025 compared to the prior year due to market appreciation, partially offset by net outflows of $4.5 billion. Variable annuity sales decreased 2% to $4.9 billion for 2025 compared to the prior year, with sales of SVAs remaining strong. Account values with living benefit riders declined to 46% as of December 31, 2025 compared to 50% a year ago reflecting our actions to optimize our business mix. This trend is expected to continue and meaningfully shift the mix of business away from products with living benefit guarantees over time.
Net Revenues
Management and financial advice fees decreased $14 million, or 2%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting the impact from variable annuity net outflows, partially offset by market appreciation.
Net investment income, which excludes net realized investment gains or losses, increased $183 million, or 17%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily due to increased SVA balances and higher investment portfolio yields from investment portfolio repositioning.
Premiums, policy and contract charges increased $23 million, or 2%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily due to model changes related to the cost of reinsurance associated with non-traditional insurance products, partially offset by lower sales of life contingent payout annuities.
Expenses
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses, which exclude the market impact on SVA indexed account embedded derivative (net of hedges) and mean reversion related impacts, decreased $14 million, or 2%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting the impact of lower sales of life contingent payout annuities, partially offset by increased volume in SVAs.
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves increased $12 million, or 33%, for 2025 compared to the prior year reflecting the less favorable impact of unlocking in the current year compared to the prior year.
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Change in fair value of market risk benefits, which exclude the market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits (net of hedges), increased $42 million, or 6%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting market appreciation on contractual fees, partially offset by the impacts of unlocking.
Corporate & Other
The following table presents the results of operations of our Corporate & Other segment on an adjusted operating basis:
Years Ended December 31, Change
(in millions)
Revenues
Distribution fees $ — $ 1 $ (1) NM
Premiums, policy and contract charges 90 94 (4) (4)
Banking and deposit interest expense 33 30 3 10
Expenses
Distribution expenses (11) (10) (1) (10)
Interest credited to fixed accounts 202 216 (14) (6)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses 215 217 (2) (1)
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves 34 (8) 42 NM
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs 6 8 (2) (25)
Interest and debt expense 105 108 (3) (3)
General and administrative expense 272 366 (94) (26)
NM Not Meaningful - variance equal to or greater than 100%.
Our Corporate & Other segment includes our closed blocks of LTC insurance and fixed annuity and fixed indexed annuity (“FA”) business.
Our Corporate & Other segment pretax adjusted operating loss excludes net realized investment gains or losses, the market impact on fixed annuity benefits (net of hedges), the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate and currency changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments, block transfer reinsurance transaction impacts, gain or loss on disposal of a business that is not considered discontinued operations, integration and restructuring charges, and the impact of consolidating CIEs.
Our Corporate & Other segment pretax adjusted operating loss decreased $47 million, or 11%, for 2025 compared to the prior year, primarily reflecting lower severance and technology expenses.
LTC insurance had pretax adjusted operating earnings of $2 million for 2025 compared to pretax adjusted operating earnings of $58 million for the prior year primarily reflecting the impact of unlocking from updating morbidity and mortality assumptions and lower investment portfolio yields in 2025 as well as a higher level of closed claims in 2024.
FA business had a pretax adjusted operating loss of $28 million for 2025 compared to a pretax adjusted operating loss of $28 million for the prior year. Fixed deferred annuity account balances declined 8% to $5.2 billion as of December 31, 2025, compared to the prior year as policies continue to lapse.
Net Revenues
Net investment income, which excludes net realized investment gains or losses, the market impact of hedges to offset interest rate and currency changes on unrealized gains or losses for certain investments, integration and restructuring charges, and the impact of consolidating CIEs, decreased $8 million, or 4%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting lower investment portfolio yields, partially offset by the impact of our affordable housing partnerships.
Other revenues decreased $11 million, or 6%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting the yield on deposit receivables arising from reinsurance transactions.
Expenses
Remeasurement (gains) losses of future policy benefit reserves increased $42 million for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily
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reflecting the net unfavorable unlocking changes in LTC morbidity and mortality assumptions.
General and administrative expense, which excludes integration and restructuring charges and expenses attributable to CIEs, decreased $94 million, or 26%, for 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting lower severance expenses associated with our initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness and expenses to accelerate our transition to cloud-based technology, as well as unfavorable mark-to-market impacts on share-based compensation in the prior year.
Closed Block LTC Insurance
As of December 31, 2025, our nursing home indemnity LTC block had approximately $59 million in gross in force annual premium and future policyholder benefits and claim reserves of approximately $1.3 billion, net of reinsurance, which was 48% of GAAP reserves. This block continues to shrink given the average attained age is 85 and the average attained age of policyholders on claim is 89. Fifty-four percent of daily benefits in force in this block are lifetime benefits.
As of December 31, 2025, our comprehensive reimbursement LTC block had approximately $108 million in gross in force annual premium and future policyholder benefits and claim reserves of approximately $1.4 billion, net of reinsurance. This block has higher premiums per policy than the nursing home indemnity LTC policies. The average attained age is 81 and the average attained age of policyholders on claim is 86. Thirty-three percent of daily benefits in force in this block are lifetime benefits.
We utilize three primary levers to manage our LTC business. First, we have taken an active approach of steadily increasing rates since 2005, with cumulative rate increases of 283% on our nursing home indemnity LTC block (excluding home care riders) and 174% on our comprehensive reimbursement LTC block as of December 31, 2025. Second, we have a reserving process that reflects the policy features and risk characteristics of our blocks. As of December 31, 2025, we had 48,000 policies that were closed with claim activity, as well as 7,000 open claims. We apply this experience to our in force policies, which were 70,000 as of December 31, 2025, at a very granular level by issue year, attained age and benefit features. Our statutory reserves are $238 million higher than our GAAP reserves as they include margins on key assumptions for morbidity and mortality and include $330 million in asset adequacy reserves as of December 31, 2025. Lastly, we have prudently managed our investment portfolio primarily through a liquid, investment grade portfolio.
We undertake an extensive review of the cash flow and expense assumptions supporting the liability for future policy benefits annually during the third quarter of each year, or more frequently if appropriate, using current best estimate assumptions as of the date of the review. Our annual review process includes an analysis of our key reserve assumptions, including those for morbidity, terminations (mortality and lapses), and premium rate increases.
Fair Value Measurements
We report certain assets and liabilities at fair value; specifically, separate account assets, derivatives, market risk benefits, embedded derivatives, and most investments and cash equivalents. Fair value assumes the exchange of assets or liabilities occurs in orderly transactions and is not the result of a forced liquidation or distressed sale. We include actual market prices, or observable inputs, in our fair value measurements to the extent available. Broker quotes are obtained when quotes from pricing services are not available. We validate prices obtained from third parties through a variety of means such as: price variance analysis, subsequent sales testing, stale price review, price comparison across pricing vendors and due diligence reviews of vendors. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our fair value measurements.
Fair Value of Liabilities and Nonperformance Risk
Companies are required to measure the fair value of liabilities at the price that would be received to transfer the liability to a market participant (an exit price). Since there is not a market for our obligations of our market risk benefits, fixed deferred indexed annuities, structured variable annuities, and IUL insurance, we consider the assumptions participants in a hypothetical market would make to reflect an exit price. As a result, we adjust the valuation of market risk benefits, fixed deferred indexed annuities, structured variable annuities, and IUL insurance by updating certain contractholder assumptions, adding explicit margins to provide for risk, and adjusting the rates used to discount expected cash flows to reflect a current market estimate of our nonperformance risk. The nonperformance risk adjustment is based on observable market data adjusted to estimate the risk of our life insurance company subsidiaries not fulfilling these liabilities. Consistent with general market conditions, this estimate resulted in a spread over the U.S. Treasury curve as of December 31, 2025. As our estimate of this spread widens or tightens, the liability will decrease or increase, respectively. If this nonperformance credit spread moves to a zero spread over the U.S. Treasury curve, the reduction to future total equity would be approximately $481 million, net of the reinsurance accrual and income taxes (calculated at the statutory tax rate of 21%), based on December 31, 2025 credit spreads.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
We maintained substantial liquidity during the year ended December 31, 2025. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had $10.0 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively, in cash and cash equivalents excluding CIEs and other restricted cash on a consolidated basis.
At December 31, 2025 and 2024, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. had $987 million and $856 million, respectively, in cash, cash equivalents, and unencumbered liquid securities. Liquid securities predominantly include U.S. government agency mortgage back securities. Additional sources of liquidity for Ameriprise Financial, Inc. include a line of credit with an affiliate up to $750 million and an unsecured revolving committed credit facility for up to $1.0 billion that expires in November 2029. Management’s estimate of liquidity available to the Ameriprise Financial, Inc. in a volatile and uncertain economic environment as of December 31, 2025 was $2.2 billion which includes cash, cash equivalents, unencumbered liquid securities, the line of credit with an affiliate and a portion of the committed credit facility.
Under the terms of the committed credit facility, we can increase the availability to $1.25 billion upon satisfaction of certain approval requirements. Available borrowings under this facility are reduced by any outstanding letters of credit. At December 31, 2025, we had no outstanding borrowings under this credit facility and had $1 million of letters of credit issued against the facility. Our credit facility contains various administrative, reporting, legal and financial covenants. We remained in compliance with all such covenants as of December 31, 2025.
In addition, we have access to collateralized borrowings, which may include repurchase agreements, Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances, and advances at the Federal Reserve. Our subsidiaries, RiverSource Life Insurance Company (“RiverSource Life”), and Ameriprise Bank are members of the FHLB of Des Moines, which provides access to collateralized borrowings. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had $13.7 billion and $8.5 billion, respectively, of estimated borrowing capacity under the FHLB facilities, of which $200 million and $201 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is collateralized with commercial mortgage backed securities and residential mortgage backed securities. In addition, Ameriprise Bank maintains access to borrowings from the Federal Reserve which are collateralized with residential mortgage backed securities, commercial mortgage backed securities and corporate debt securities. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, we estimated $8.5 billion and $11.9 billion, respectively, of borrowing capacity from the Federal Reserve in addition to the FHLB capacity and there were no outstanding obligations.
Short-term contractual obligations for the year 2026 include investment certificate maturities of $7.8 billion and estimated insurance and annuity benefits of $2.9 billion in addition to operating liquidity needs and maturing long-term debt in September 2026 of $500 million. We also hold banking and brokerage deposits of $25.6 billion that are payable on demand. Long-term contractual obligations for years after 2026 include estimated insurance and annuity benefits of $73.3 billion.
See Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about our long-term debt maturities.
We believe cash flows from operating activities, available cash balances, our availability of internal and external borrowings, access to debt markets, and dividends from our subsidiaries will be sufficient to fund our short-term and long-term operating liquidity needs and stress requirements.
In October 2023, the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”) issued its final rule establishing a consolidated capital framework termed the “Building Block Approach” (“BBA”) for savings and loan holding companies like Ameriprise Financial that are significantly engaged in insurance activities. For information on the impact of the BBA, see “Business - Regulation - Federal Banking and Financial Holding Company Regulation” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We are an applicable corporation required to compute the corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”); however, as of December 31, 2025, based on current estimates, we do not expect to be liable for CAMT in 2025. This estimate is based on interpretations and assumptions of available guidance, including proposed regulations and notices, that we have made regarding the CAMT provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
In December 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development published the Pillar Two model rules which introduce new taxing mechanisms aimed at ensuring multinational enterprises pay a minimum level of tax on profits from each jurisdiction in which they operate. As of December 31, 2025, the tax impact was not material to the consolidated financial statements. We continue to monitor the adoption and implementation of these rules and evaluate the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.
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Dividends from Subsidiaries
Ameriprise Financial is primarily a parent holding company for the operations carried out by our wholly-owned subsidiaries. Because of our holding company structure, our ability to meet our cash requirements, including the payment of dividends on our common stock, substantially depends upon the receipt of dividends or return of capital from our subsidiaries, particularly our life insurance subsidiary, RiverSource Life, our face-amount certificate subsidiary, ACC, Ameriprise Bank, AMPF Holding, LLC, which is the parent company of our retail introducing broker-dealer subsidiary, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”) and our clearing broker-dealer subsidiary, American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. (“AEIS”), our transfer agent subsidiary, Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (“CMIS”), our investment advisory company, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (“CMIA”), TAM UK International Holdings Ltd., which includes Ameriprise International Holdings GmbH within its organizational structure, and Columbia Threadneedle Investments UK International Ltd. The payment of dividends by many of our subsidiaries is restricted and certain of our subsidiaries are subject to regulatory capital requirements. For example, RiverSource Life payments in excess of statutory unassigned funds require advanced notice to the Minnesota Department of Commerce (“MN DOC”), RiverSource Life’s primary regulator, and are subject to potential disapproval. In addition, dividends and other distributions whose fair market value, together with that of other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 months, exceeds the greater of the previous year’s statutory net gain from operations or 10% of the previous year-end statutory capital and surplus are referred to as “extraordinary dividends.” Extraordinary dividends also require advanced notice to MN DOC, and are subject to potential disapproval.
Our broker-dealer subsidiaries are subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Rule 15c3-1 provides an “alternative net capital requirement” which AEIS and AFS (significant broker dealers) have elected. Regulations require that minimum net capital, as defined, be equal to the greater of $250 thousand or 2% of aggregate debit items arising from client balances. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) may impose certain restrictions, such as restricting withdrawals of equity capital, if a member firm were to fall below a certain threshold or fail to meet minimum net capital requirements.
Ameriprise Bank is subject to regulation by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in its role as insurer of its deposits. Ameriprise Bank is required to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of Total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), Tier 1 Capital to average assets (as defined), and under rules defined under the Basel III capital framework, Common equity Tier 1 capital (“CEIT”) to risk-weighted assets. Ameriprise Bank calculates these ratios under the Basel III standardized approach in order to assess compliance with both regulatory requirements and Ameriprise Bank’s internal capital policies. As permitted under the rules of the Basel III capital framework, we have elected to exclude AOCI from the calculation of regulatory capital.
ACC is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). ACC markets and sells investment certificates to clients. ACC is subject to various capital requirements under the 1940 Act, laws of the State of Minnesota and understandings with the SEC and MN DOC. The terms of the investment certificates issued by ACC and the provisions of the 1940 Act also require the maintenance by ACC of qualified assets.
Actual capital and the regulatory capital requirement for TAM UK International Holdings Ltd. and Columbia Threadneedle Investments UK International Ltd. are calculated and reported as a single consolidated group under TAM UK International Holdings Ltd. Required capital for these entities is predominantly based on the requirements specified by its regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), under its Capital Adequacy Requirements for investment firms. Required capital reflects 110% of the Own Funds Threshold Requirement (“OFTR”) and is determined by the group through its ongoing Internal Capital Adequacy and Risk Assessment (“ICARA”) process.
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Actualcapitalandregulatorycapitalrequirementsforourwhollyownedsubsidiariessubjecttoregulatorycapitalrequirementswereasfollows:
Actual Capital Regulatory Capital Requirements
December 31, December 31,
(in millions)
Ameriprise Captive Insurance Company (2) 31 36 9 13
RiverSource Distributors, Inc. (2)(3) 14 13 # #
Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (2)(3) 30 19 # #
N/A Not applicable.
# Amounts are less than $1 million.
(1) Actual capital is determined on a statutory basis. Regulatory capital requirement is the company action level and is based on the statutory risk-based capital filing.
(2) Regulatory capital requirement is based on the applicable regulatory requirement, calculated as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
(3) Actual capital is determined on an adjusted GAAP basis.
(4) ACC is required to hold capital in compliance with MN DOC and SEC capital requirements.
(5) Actual capital and regulatory capital requirements are determined in accordance with U.K. regulatory legislation.
(6) Actual capital and regulatory capital requirements are determined in accordance with rules defined under Basel III capital framework. As permitted, AOCI is excluded from the calculation of regulatory capital.
In addition to the particular regulations restricting dividend payments and establishing subsidiary capitalization requirements, we take into account the overall health of the business, capital levels and risk management considerations in determining a strategy for payments to our parent holding company from our subsidiaries, and in deciding to use cash to make capital contributions to our subsidiaries.
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The following table presents dividends paid or return of capital to the parent holding company, net of capital contributions made by the parent holding company for the following subsidiaries for the years ended December 31:
(in millions)
CMIS — — 20
TAM UK International Holdings Ltd. 117 (20) 184
Ameriprise Advisor Capital, LLC (320) 225 (178)
Ameriprise Captive Insurance Company 27 10 5
Ameriprise India 11 — 13
Columbia Threadneedle Investments UK International Ltd. 195 46 —
Columbia Threadneedle Canada, Inc. — 1 —
Ameriprise Holdings, Inc. (10) — (15)
(1) Dividends paid or return of capital to the parent holding company, net of capital contributions by segment for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was as follows: Advice & Wealth Management ($2,491, $2,810, $1,521, respectively); Asset Management ($932, $517, $639); Retirement & Protection Solutions ($627, $610, $605); Corporate & Other ($11, nil, $13). Segment allocation is based on the subsidiary’s primary association with our segments.
In 2009, RiverSource Life established an agreement to protect its exposure to Genworth Life Insurance Company (“GLIC”) for its reinsured LTC. In 2016, substantial enhancements to this reinsurance protection agreement were finalized. The terms of these confidential provisions within the agreement have been shared, in the normal course of regular reviews, with our domiciliary regulator and rating agencies. GLIC is domiciled in Delaware, so in the event GLIC were subjected to rehabilitation or insolvency proceedings, such proceedings would be located in (and governed by) Delaware laws. Delaware courts have a long tradition of respecting commercial and reinsurance affairs, as well as contracts among sophisticated parties. Similar credit protections to what we have with GLIC have been tested and respected in Delaware and elsewhere in the United States, and as a result we believe our credit protections would be respected even in the unlikely event that GLIC becomes subject to rehabilitation or insolvency proceedings in Delaware. Accordingly, while no credit protections are perfect, we believe the correct way to think about the risks represented by our counterparty credit exposure to GLIC is not the full amount of the gross liability that GLIC reinsures, but a much smaller net exposure to GLIC (if any that might exist after taking into account our credit protections). Thus, management believes that our agreement and offsetting non-LTC legacy arrangements with GLIC will enable RiverSource Life to recover on all net exposure in all material respects in the event of a rehabilitation or insolvency of GLIC.
Dividends Paid to Shareholders and Share Repurchases
We paid regular quarterly dividends to our shareholders totaling $614 million and $593 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. On January 29, 2026, we announced a quarterly dividend of $1.60 per common share. The dividend will be paid on February 27, 2026 to our shareholders of record at the close of business on February 9, 2026.
On July 24, 2023, our Board of Directors authorized $3.5 billion for the repurchase of our common stock through September 30, 2025, which was exhausted during the second quarter of 2025. On April 22, 2025, our Board of Directors authorized $4.5 billion for the repurchase of our common stock through June 30, 2027. As of December 31, 2025, we had $2.6 billion remaining under this share repurchase authorization. We intend to fund share repurchases through existing excess capital, future free cash flow generation and other customary financing methods. The share repurchase program does not require the purchase of any minimum number of shares, and depending on market conditions and other factors, these purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time without prior notice. Acquisitions under the share repurchase program may be made in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions or block trades or other means. During the year ended December 31, 2025, we repurchased a total of 5.5 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $500.18 per share.
Cash Flows
Cash flows of CIEs and restricted and segregated cash and cash equivalents are reflected in our cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. Cash held by CIEs is not available for general use by Ameriprise Financial, nor is Ameriprise Financial cash available for general use by its CIEs. Cash and cash equivalents segregated under federal and other regulations is held for the exclusive benefit of our brokerage customers and is not available for general use by Ameriprise Financial.
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Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $1.7 billion to $8.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to $6.6 billion for the prior year primarily reflecting earnings from our fee based business operations and an increase in cash collateral provided by our derivative counterparties.
Investing Activities
Our investing activities primarily relate to our Available-for-Sale investment portfolio and in recent quarters is significantly affected by the net flows of our face amount certificates and bank deposit activity.
Net cash used in investing activities increased $977 million to $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to $551 million for the prior year driven by a $585 million increase in certain lending activities and a $435 million increase in cash net outflows related to purchases and sales of investments by CIEs. Net investing activities associated with Available-for-Sale securities decreased $81 million compared to the prior year.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities remained flat at $5.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the prior year primarily reflecting a $547 million increase in banking deposit net inflows and an increase in cash of $741 million from the issuance of long-term debt in the current year, offset by a $789 million increase in net cash outflows from investment certificates and $459 million of additional share repurchases compared to the prior year.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s plans, estimates and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking statements include:
•statements of the Company’s plans, intentions, positioning, expectations, objectives or goals, including those relating to asset flows, mass affluent and affluent client acquisition strategy, client retention and growth of our client base, financial advisor productivity, retention, recruiting and enrollments, the introduction, cessation, terms or pricing of new or existing products and services, acquisition integration, benefits and claims expenses, general and administrative costs, consolidated tax rate, return of capital to shareholders, debt repayment and excess capital position and financial flexibility to capture additional growth opportunities;
•statements about the expected trend in the shift to lower-risk products, including the exit from variable annuities with living benefit riders;
•statements about the anticipated deposit growth or statements about rising interest rates and the impacts on investment portfolio yield;
•other statements about future economic performance, the performance of equity markets and interest rate variations and the economic performance of the United States and of global markets; and
•statements of assumptions underlying such statements.
The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” “forecast,” “on 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. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
Such factors include, but are not limited to:
•market fluctuations and general economic and political factors, including volatility in the U.S. and global market conditions, client behavior and volatility in the markets for our products;
•changes in interest rates;
•adverse capital and credit market conditions or any downgrade in our credit ratings;
•effects of competition and our larger competitors’ economies of scale;
•declines in our investment management performance;
•our ability to compete in attracting and retaining talent, including financial advisors;
•impairment, negative performance or default by financial institutions or other counterparties;
•the ability to maintain our unaffiliated third-party distribution channels and the impacts of sales of unaffiliated products;
•changes in valuation of securities and investments included in our assets;
•the determination of the amount of allowances taken on loans and investments;
•the illiquidity of some of our investments;
•failures or defaults by counterparties to our reinsurance arrangements;
•failures by other insurers that lead to higher assessments we owe to state insurance guaranty funds;
•inadequate reserves for future policy benefits and claims or for future redemptions and maturities;
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•deviations from our assumptions regarding morbidity, mortality and persistency affecting our insurance profitability;
•damage to our reputation arising from employee or advisor misconduct or otherwise;
•direct or indirect effects of or responses to climate change;
•interruptions or other failures in our operating systems and networks, including errors or failures caused by third-party service providers, interference or third-party attacks;
•interruptions or other errors in our telecommunications or data processing systems;
• identification and mitigation of risk exposure in market environments, new products, vendors and other types of risk;
• ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us to pay dividends;
• changes in exchange rates and other risks in connection with our international operations and earnings and income generated overseas;
• occurrence of natural or man-made disasters and catastrophes;
• risks in acquisition transactions, or other potential strategic acquisitions or divestitures;
• legal and regulatory actions brought against us;
• changes to laws and regulations that govern operation of our business;
• supervision by bank regulators and related regulatory and prudential standards as a savings and loan holding company that may limit our activities and strategies;
• changes in corporate tax laws and regulations and interpretations and determinations of tax laws impacting our products;
• protection of our intellectual property and claims we infringe the intellectual property of others; and
•changes in and the adoption of new accounting standards.
Management cautions the reader that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There may also be other risks that management is unable to predict at this time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements. The foregoing list of factors should be read in conjunction with the “Risk Factors” discussion included in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K - “Risk Factors”.
Ameriprise Financial announces financial and other information to investors through the Company’s investor relations website at ir.ameriprise.com, as well as SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. Investors and others interested in the company are encouraged to visit the investor relations website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted. The website also allows users to sign up for automatic notifications in the event new materials are posted. The information found on the website is not incorporated by reference into this report or in any other report or document the Company furnishes or files with the SEC.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market Risk
Our primary market risk exposures are interest rate, equity price, foreign currency exchange rate and credit risk. Equity price and interest rate fluctuations can have a significant impact on our results of operations, primarily due to the effects they have on the asset management and other asset-based fees we earn, the spread income generated on our brokerage client cash balances, banking deposits, face-amount certificate products, fixed portion of our variable annuities and variable insurance contracts, fixed annuity and insurance contracts, the value of market risk benefits and other liabilities associated with our variable annuities and the value of derivatives held to hedge related benefits.
Market risk benefits continue to be managed by utilizing a hedging program which attempts to match the sensitivity of the assets with the sensitivity of the benefits. This approach works with the premise that matched sensitivities will produce a highly effective hedging result. Our comprehensive hedging program focuses mainly on first order sensitivities of assets and liabilities: Equity Market Level (Delta), Interest Rate Level (Rho) and Volatility (Vega). Additionally, various second order sensitivities are managed. We use various options, swaptions, swaps and futures to manage risk exposures. The exposures are measured and monitored daily, and adjustments to the hedge portfolio are made as necessary.
To evaluate interest rate and equity price risk, we perform sensitivity testing which measures the impact on pretax income from the sources listed below for a 12-month period following a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates or a hypothetical 10% decline in equity prices. The interest rate risk test assumes a sudden 100 basis point parallel shift in the yield curve, with rates then staying at those levels for the next 12 months. The equity price risk test assumes a sudden 10% drop in equity prices, with equity prices then staying at those levels for the next 12 months. In estimating the values of variable annuities, indexed annuities, indexed universal life (“IUL”) insurance and the associated hedging instruments, we assume no change in implied market volatility despite the 10% drop in equity prices.
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The following tables present our estimate of the impact on pretax income from the above defined hypothetical market movements as of December 31, 2025:
Equity Price Decline 10% Equity Price Exposure to Pretax Income
Before Hedge Impact Hedge Impact Net Impact
(in millions)
Asset-based management and distribution fees (1) $ (381) $ 2 $ (379)
Variable annuity and structured variable annuity benefits:
Indexing feature for structured variable annuities 1,360 (1,335) 25
Total variable annuity and structured variable annuity benefits 556 (680) (124)
Interest Rate Increase 100 Basis Points Interest Rate Exposure to Pretax Income
Before Hedge Impact Hedge Impact Net Impact
(in millions)
Asset-based management and distribution fees (1) $ (66) $ — $ (66)
Variable annuity and structured variable annuity benefits:
Indexing feature for structured variable annuities (24) 191 167
Total variable annuity and structured variable annuity benefits 950 (502) 448
Banking deposits 40 — 40
Brokerage client cash balances 52 — 52
Certificates (2) — (2)
(1) Excludes incentive income which is impacted by market and fund performance during the period and cannot be readily estimated.
(2) Represents the net impact to pretax income. The estimated net impact to pretax adjusted operating income is $(379) million as of December 31, 2025.
The above results compare to an estimated negative net impact to pretax income of $509 million related to a 10% equity price decline and an estimated positive net impact to pretax income of $529 million related to a 100 basis point increase in interest rates as of December 31, 2024.
Net impacts shown in the above tables from market risk benefits result largely from differences between the liability valuation basis and the hedging basis. Liabilities are valued using fair value accounting principles, with risk margins incorporated in contractholder behavior assumptions. Our hedging is based on our determination of economic risk, which excludes certain items in the liability valuation.
Actual results could and likely will differ materially from those illustrated above as fair values have 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, we have not tried to anticipate changes in client preferences for different types of assets or other changes in client behavior, nor have we tried to anticipate 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.
Asset-Based Management and Distribution Fees
We earn asset-based management fees and distribution fees on our assets under management. As of December 31, 2025, the value of our assets under management was $1.3 trillion. These sources of revenue are subject to both interest rate and equity price risk since the value of these assets and the fees they earn fluctuate inversely with interest rates and directly with equity prices. We currently only hedge certain equity price risk for this exposure, primarily using futures and swaps. We currently do not hedge any of the interest rate risk for this exposure.
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Market Risk Benefits
The total contract value of all variable annuities as of December 31, 2025 was $91.3 billion. See Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for details of the reserves associated with market risk benefits. The changes in fair value of variable annuity market risk benefits are recorded through earnings, with the exception of the portion of the change in fair value due to a change in our nonperformance risk, which is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Fair value is calculated based on projected, discounted cash flows over the life of the contract, including projected, discounted benefits and fees.
Equity Price Risk
The variable annuity guaranteed benefits guarantee payouts to the annuity holder under certain specific conditions regardless of the performance of the investment assets. For this reason, when equity prices decline, the returns from the separate account assets coupled with guaranteed benefit fees from annuity holders may not be sufficient to fund expected payouts. In that case, reserves must be increased with a negative impact to earnings.
The core derivative instruments with which we hedge the equity price risk of these benefits are longer dated put and call options; these core instruments are supplemented with equity futures and total return swaps. See Note 18 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our derivative instruments.
Interest Rate Risk
Increases in interest rates reduce the fair value of the liabilities and may result in market risk benefits in an asset position. The interest rate exposure is hedged with a portfolio of interest rate swaps, futures and swaptions. We have entered into interest rate swaps according to risk exposures along maturities, thus creating both fixed rate payor and variable rate payor terms. If interest rates were to increase, we would have to pay more to the swap counterparty, and the fair value of our equity puts would decrease, resulting in a negative impact to our pretax income.
Structured Variable Annuities
Structured variable annuities offer the contractholder the ability to allocate account value to either an account that earns fixed interest (fixed account) or an account that is impacted by the performance of various equity indices (indexed account) subject to a cap, floor or buffer. Our earnings are based upon the spread between investment income earned and the credits made to the fixed account and benefits reflected in an indexed account of the structured variable annuities. As of December 31, 2025, we had $21.5 billion in liabilities related to structured variable annuities.
Equity Price Risk
The equity-linked return to contractholders creates equity price risk as the amount paid to contractholders depends on changes in equity prices. The equity price risk for structured variable annuities is evaluated together with the variable annuity riders as part of a hedge program using the derivative instruments consistent with our hedging on variable annuity riders.
Interest Rate Risk
The fair value of the embedded derivative associated with structured variable annuities is based on a discounted cash flow approach. Changes in interest rates impact the discounting of the embedded derivative liability. The spread between the investment income earned and amounts transferred to contractholders is also affected by changes in interest rates. These interest rate risks associated with structured variable annuities are not currently hedged.
Fixed Annuities, Fixed Insurance and Fixed Portion of Variable Annuities and Variable Insurance Contracts
Our earnings from fixed deferred annuities, fixed insurance, and the fixed portion of variable annuities and variable insurance contracts are based upon the spread between rates earned on assets held and the rates at which interest is credited to accounts. We primarily invest in fixed rate securities to fund the rate credited to clients. We guarantee an interest rate to the holders of these products. Investment assets and client liabilities generally differ as it relates to basis, repricing or maturity characteristics. Rates credited to clients’ accounts generally reset at shorter intervals than the yield on the underlying investments. Therefore, in an increasing interest rate environment, higher interest rates may be reflected in crediting rates to clients sooner than in rates earned on invested assets, which could result in a reduced spread between the two rates, reduced earned income and a negative impact on pretax income. While interest rates under the current environment have relieved some pressure from the liability guaranteed minimum interest rates (“GMIRs”), there are still some GMIRs above current levels. Hence, liability credited rates will move more slowly under a modest rise in interest rates while projected asset purchases would capture the full increase in interest rates. This dynamic would result in widening spreads under a modestly rising rate scenario given the current relationship between the current level of interest rates and the underlying GMIRs on the business. Of the $46.5 billion in Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims as of December 31, 2025, $15.2 billion is related to liabilities created by these products. We do not hedge this exposure.
As a result of the current market environment, reinvestment yields are becoming more aligned with the current portfolio yield. The carrying value and weighted average yield of non-structured fixed maturity securities and commercial mortgage loans that may generate proceeds to reinvest through 2027 due to prepayment, maturity or call activity at the option of the issuer, excluding securities with a make-whole provision, were $2.5 billion and 4.1%, respectively, as of December 31, 2025. In addition, residential mortgage backed securities, which can be subject to prepayment risk under a low interest rate environment, totaled $28.2 billion and had a
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weighted average yield of 4.7% as of December 31, 2025. While these amounts represent investments that could be subject to reinvestment risk, it is also possible that these investments will be used to fund liabilities or may not be prepaid and will remain invested at their current yields. In addition to the interest rate environment, the mix of benefit payments versus product sales as well as the timing and volumes associated with such mix may impact our investment yield. Furthermore, reinvestment activities and the associated investment yield may also be impacted by corporate strategies implemented at management’s discretion. The average yield for investment purchases during the year ended December 31, 2025 was approximately 5.1%.
The reinvestment of proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments at rates above the current portfolio yields will create potential upside impact to future operating results. In this volatile rate environment, we assess reinvestment risk in our investment portfolio and monitor this risk in accordance with our asset/liability management framework. In addition, we may update the crediting rates on our fixed products when warranted, subject to guaranteed minimums.
See Note 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the account values of fixed deferred annuities, fixed insurance, and the fixed portion of variable annuities and variable insurance contracts by range of GMIRs and the range of the difference between rates credited to policyholders and contractholders as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the respective guaranteed minimums, as well as the percentage of account values subject to rate reset in the time period indicated.
Banking Deposits and Brokerage Client Cash Balances
We pay interest on banking deposits and certain brokerage client cash balances and have the ability to reset these rates from time to time based on prevailing economic and business conditions. We earn revenue to fund the interest paid from interest-earning assets or fees from off-balance sheet deposits at Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured institutions, which are indexed to short-term interest rates. In general, the change in interest paid lags the change in revenues earned. As of December 31, 2025 we had $23.7 billion of bank deposits and $1.9 billion of brokerage deposits.
Certificate Products
Fixed Rate Certificates
We have interest rate risk from our investment certificates generally ranging in amounts from $1 thousand to $2 million with interest crediting rate terms ranging from 3 months to 36 months. We guarantee 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 we monitor our investment strategy and make modifications based on our changing liabilities and the expected interest rate environment. As of December 31, 2025 we had $8.1 billion related to reserves for our fixed rate certificate products.
Indexed Universal Life
IUL insurance is similar to UL in many regards, although the rate of credited interest above the minimum guarantee for funds allocated to an indexed account is linked to the performance of the specified index for the indexed account (subject to stated account parameters, which include a cap and floor, or a spread and floor). The policyholder may allocate all or a portion of the policy value to a fixed or any available indexed account. As of December 31, 2025, we had $2.9 billion in liabilities related to the indexed accounts of IUL.
Equity Price Risk