CNO US Equity☆

ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

In this section, we review the consolidated financial condition of CNO and its consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 and, where appropriate, factors that may affect future financial performance. Please read this discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Form 10-K.

OVERVIEW

We are a holding company for a group of insurance companies that develop, market and administer health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance and financial services products. We focus on serving middle-income pre-retiree and retired Americans, which we believe are attractive, underserved, high growth markets. We sell our products through exclusive agents, independent producers (some of whom sell one or more of our product lines exclusively) and direct marketing.

We view our operations as three insurance product lines (annuity, health and life) and the investment and fee income segments. Our segments are aligned based on their common characteristics, comparability of profit margins and the way management makes operating decisions and assesses the performance of the business.

Our insurance product line segments (annuity, health and life) include marketing, underwriting and administration of the policies our insurance subsidiaries sell. The business written in each of the three product categories through all of our insurance subsidiaries is aggregated allowing management and investors to assess the performance of each product category. When analyzing profitability of these segments, we use insurance product margin as the measure of profitability, which is: (i) insurance policy income; and (ii) net investment income allocated to the insurance product lines; less (i) insurance policy benefits and interest credited to policyholders; and (ii) amortization of deferred acquisition costs and present value of future profits, non-deferred commissions and advertising expense. Net investment income is allocated to the product lines using the book yield of investments backing the block of business, which is applied to the average insurance liabilities, net of insurance intangibles, for the block in each period. Net insurance liabilities for the purpose of allocating investment income to product lines are equal to: (i) policyholder account balances for annuity products; (ii) total reserves before the fair value adjustments reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), if applicable, for all other products; less (iii) amounts related to reinsurance business; (iv) deferred acquisition costs; (v) the present value of future profits; and (vi) the value of unexpired options credited to insurance liabilities.

Income from insurance products is the sum of the insurance margins of the annuity, health and life product lines, less expenses allocated to the insurance lines. It excludes the income from our fee income business, investment income not allocated to product lines, net expenses not allocated to product lines (primarily holding company expenses) and income taxes. Management believes insurance product margin and income from insurance products help provide a better understanding of the business and a more meaningful analysis of the results of our insurance product lines.

We market our products through the Consumer and Worksite Divisions that reflect the customers served by the Company. The Consumer and Worksite Divisions are primarily focused on marketing insurance products, several types of which are sold in both divisions and underwritten in the same manner.

The Consumer Division serves individual consumers, engaging with them on the phone, virtually, online, face-to-face with agents, or through a combination of sales channels. This structure unifies consumer capabilities into a single division and integrates the strength of our agent sales forces with one of the largest direct-to-consumer insurance businesses with proven experience in advertising, web/digital and call center support.

The Worksite Division focuses on the sale of voluntary benefit life and health insurance products in the workplace for businesses, associations, and other membership groups, interacting with customers at their place of employment and virtually. With a separate Worksite Division, we are bringing a sharper focus to this high-growth business while further capitalizing on the strength of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Optavise, a national provider of year-round technology-driven employee benefits management services.

The investment segment involves the management of our capital resources, including investments and the management of corporate debt and liquidity. Our measure of profitability of this segment is the total net investment income not allocated to the insurance products. Investment income not allocated to product lines represents net investment income less: (i) equity returns credited to policyholder account balances; (ii) the investment income allocated to our product lines; (iii) interest expense

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on notes payable and investment borrowings; (iv) expenses related to the funding agreement-backed note ("FABN") program; and (v) certain expenses related to benefit plans that are offset by special-purpose investment income; plus (vi) the impact of annual option forfeitures related to fixed indexed annuity surrenders. Investment income not allocated to product lines includes investment income on investments in excess of amounts allocated to product lines, investments held by our holding companies, the spread we earn from our FHLB investment borrowing and FABN programs and variable components of investment income (including call and prepayment income, adjustments to returns on structured securities due to cash flow changes, income (loss) from Company-owned life insurance ("COLI") and alternative investment income not allocated to product lines), net of interest expense on corporate debt and financing arrangements. The spread earned from our FHLB investment borrowing and FABN programs includes the investment income on the matched assets less: (i) interest on investment borrowings related to the FHLB investment borrowing program; (ii) interest credited on funding agreements; and (iii) amortization of deferred acquisition costs related to the FABN program.

Our fee income segment includes the earnings generated from sales of third-party insurance products, services provided by Optavise and the operations of our broker/dealer and registered investment advisor.

Expenses not allocated to product lines include the expenses of our corporate operations, excluding interest expense on debt.

The following summarizes our earnings for the three years ended December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions, except per share data):

Insurance product margin

Investment income not allocated to product lines 120.2 143.9 188.9

Expenses not allocated to product lines (51.7) (40.8) (80.5)

Income tax expense on operating income (103.4) (106.3) (114.3)

Fair value changes related to agent deferred compensation plan (3.5) 48.9 8.9

Net non-operating income (loss) before taxes (102.7) 349.8 218.4

Income tax expense (benefit) on non-operating income (loss) (23.1) 79.6 48.5

Per diluted share:

Net non-operating income (loss) (.69) 2.30 1.30

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____________

(a)Management believes that an analysis of net income applicable to common stock before: (i) net realized investment gains or losses from sales, impairments and change in allowance for credit losses, net of taxes; (ii) net change in market value of investments recognized in earnings, net of taxes; (iii) changes in fair value of embedded derivative liabilities and market risk benefits ("MRBs") related to our fixed indexed annuities, net of taxes; (iv) fair value changes related to the agent deferred compensation plan, net of taxes; (v) loss related to reinsurance transactions, net of taxes; (vi) loss on extinguishment of debt, net of taxes; (vii) changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and other tax items; and (viii) other non-operating items consisting primarily of earnings attributable to VIEs, net of taxes ("net operating income", a non-GAAP financial measure) is important to evaluate the financial performance of the company, and is a key measure commonly used in the life insurance industry. The income tax expense or benefit allocated to the items included in net non-operating income (loss) represents the current and deferred income tax expense or benefit allocated to the items included in non-operating earnings. Management uses this measure to evaluate performance because the items excluded from net operating income can be affected by events that are unrelated to the Company's underlying fundamentals. The table above reconciles the non-GAAP measure to the corresponding GAAP measure.

In addition, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its budgeting process, financial analysis of segment performance and in assessing the allocation of resources. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures enhance an investor's understanding of our financial performance and allows them to make more informed judgments about the Company as a whole. These measures also highlight operating trends that might not otherwise be apparent. However, net operating income is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities, as measures of liquidity, or as an alternative to net income as measures of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. In addition, net operating income should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Net operating income has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider such measure either in isolation or as a substitute for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Our definition and calculation of net operating income are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies due to different methods of calculation. Also, as we adopted the new accounting standard related to targeted improvements to the accounting for long-duration insurance contracts effective January 1, 2023, we updated our method of determining non-operating earnings for our fixed indexed annuities to better identify the volatile non-economic impacts of that line of business. This resulted in fixed indexed annuity margins that more closely reflect the economics of the business.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of various assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management has made estimates in the past that we believed to be appropriate but were subsequently revised as actual experience developed differently than expected. If our future experience differs materially from these estimates and assumptions, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially affected.

We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. We continually evaluate the information used to make these estimates as our business and the economic environment change. The use of estimates is pervasive throughout our financial statements. The accounting policies and estimates we consider most critical are summarized below. Additional information on our accounting policies is included in the note to our consolidated financial statements entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies".

Effective January 1, 2023, we adopted Accounting Standards Update 2018-12 ("ASU 2018-12"). The adoption of ASU 2018-12 impacted the accounting and presentation related to long-duration insurance contracts and certain related balances for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. Disclosures of the impacts of ASU 2018-12 as of January 1, 2021 (the transition date), are included within the tables in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recently Adopted Accounting Standards." For a discussion of our significant accounting policies impacted by the adoption of ASU 2018-12, see the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies".

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Investment Valuation

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and, therefore, represents an exit price, not an entry price. We carry certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including fixed maturities, equity securities, trading securities, investments held by VIEs, derivatives, separate account assets and embedded derivatives related to fixed indexed annuity products. We carry our COLI, which is invested in a series of mutual funds, at its cash surrender value which approximates fair value. In addition, we disclose fair value for certain financial instruments, including mortgage loans, policy loans, cash and cash equivalents, insurance liabilities for interest-sensitive products and funding agreements, investment borrowings, notes payable and borrowings related to VIEs.

The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of financial instruments is largely dependent on the level to which pricing is based on observable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information. Financial instruments with readily available active quoted prices would be considered to have fair values based on the highest level of observable inputs, and little judgment would be utilized in measuring fair value. Financial instruments that rarely trade would often have fair value based on a lower level of observable inputs, and more judgment would be utilized in measuring fair value. We categorize our financial instruments carried at fair value into a three-level hierarchy based on the observability of inputs. The three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements is described in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Fair Value Measurements."

The following summarizes investments on our consolidated balance sheet carried at fair value by pricing source and fair value hierarchy level as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Priced by matrices — .4 — .4

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(a) Represents primarily securities benchmarked to comparable securities to determine fair value.

When an available for sale fixed maturity security's fair value is below the amortized cost, the security is considered impaired. If a portion of the decline is due to credit-related factors, we separate the credit loss component of the impairment from the amount related to all other factors. The credit loss component is recorded as an allowance and reported in net investment gains (losses) (limited to the difference between estimated fair value and amortized cost). The impairment related to all other factors (non-credit factors) is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) along with unrealized gains (losses) related to fixed maturity investments, available for sale, net of tax and related adjustments. The allowance is adjusted for any additional credit losses and subsequent recoveries. When recognizing an allowance associated with a credit loss, the cost basis is not adjusted. When we determine a security is uncollectable, the remaining amortized cost will be written off.

In determining the credit loss component, we discount the estimated cash flows on a security by security basis. We consider the impact of macroeconomic conditions on inputs used to measure the amount of credit loss. For most structured securities, cash flow estimates are based on bond-specific facts and circumstances that may include collateral characteristics, expectations of delinquency and default rates, loss severity, prepayment speeds and structural support, including overcollateralization, excess spread, subordination and guarantees. For corporate bonds, cash flow estimates are derived by considering asset type, rating, time to maturity, and applying an expected loss rate.

If we intend to sell an impaired fixed maturity security, available for sale, or identify an impaired fixed maturity security, available for sale, for which is it more likely than not we will be required to sell before anticipated recovery, the

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difference between the fair value and the amortized cost is included in net investment gains (losses) and the fair value becomes the new amortized cost. The new cost basis is not adjusted for any subsequent recoveries in fair value.

Future events may occur, or additional information may become available, which may necessitate future realized losses in our portfolio. Significant losses could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements in future periods.

For more information on our investment portfolio and our critical accounting estimates related to investments, see the note to our consolidated financial statements entitled "Investments".

Present Value of Future Profits and Deferred Acquisition Costs

Amortization of the present value of future profits and deferred acquisition costs is calculated using the same contract groupings (or cohorts), mortality, surrender and lapse assumptions that are used in calculating the liability for future policy benefits, and these assumptions are reviewed and updated at least annually.

As a result of the adoption of ASU 2018-12, the amortization methodology related to these account balances is no longer subject to the same degree of variability and does not require a high degree of judgment. However, these accounts remain sensitive to unexpected lapses, due to higher mortality and lapse experience than expected. Such changes are recognized in the current period as a reduction of the capitalized balances. The effect of changes in assumptions related to future mortality and lapses are recognized prospectively over the remaining contract term. The carrying values of deferred acquisition costs and the present value of future profits are no longer subject to recovery testing after the adoption of ASU 2018-12.

Income Taxes

Our income tax expense includes deferred income taxes arising from temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and NOLs. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in earnings in the period when the changes are enacted.

A reduction of the net carrying amount of deferred tax assets by establishing a valuation allowance is required if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, all available evidence, both positive and negative, shall be considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is needed. This assessment requires significant judgment and considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards expiring unused, and tax planning strategies.

We evaluate the need to establish a valuation allowance for our deferred income tax assets on an ongoing basis using a deferred tax valuation model. Our model is adjusted to reflect changes in our projections of future taxable income including changes resulting from the Tax Cuts and Job Act, investment strategies, the impact of the sale or reinsurance of business, the recapture of business previously ceded and tax planning strategies. Our estimates of future taxable income are based on evidence we consider to be objectively verifiable. At December 31, 2023, our projection of future taxable income for purposes of determining the valuation allowance is based on our estimates of such future taxable income through the date our NOLs expire. Such estimates are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and the extent to which actual impacts differ from the assumptions used in our deferred tax valuation model. Based on our assessment, we have concluded that it is more likely than not that all our deferred tax assets of $937.1 million will be realized through future taxable earnings.

Recovery of our deferred tax asset is dependent on achieving the level of future taxable income projected in our deferred tax valuation model and failure to do so could result in the recognition of a valuation allowance in a future period. Any future increase in the valuation allowance may result in additional income tax expense and reduce shareholders' equity, and such an increase could have a significant impact upon our earnings in the future.

The Code limits the extent to which losses realized by a non-life entity (or entities) may offset income from a life insurance company (or companies) to the lesser of: (i) 35 percent of the income of the life insurance company; or (ii) 35 percent of the total loss of the non-life entities (including NOLs of the non-life entities). There is no similar limitation on the extent to which losses realized by a life insurance entity (or entities) may offset income from a non-life entity (or entities).

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We had $367.2 million of federal NOLs as of December 31, 2023, as summarized below (dollars in millions):

Net operating loss

Year of expiration carryforwards

Total federal non-life NOLs $ 367.2

Our non-life NOLs can be used to offset 35 percent of life insurance company taxable income and 100 percent of non-life company taxable income until all non-life NOLs are utilized or expire. In addition, we expect to recognize significant non-life NOLs in 2024 as a result of changes related to the tax accounting method for allocating indirect costs (pursuant to the Code) to self-constructed real estate assets. Such NOLs will not be subject to expiration.

Liabilities for Insurance Products

At December 31, 2023, the total balance of our liabilities for insurance products was $27.9 billion. These liabilities are generally payable over an extended period of time and the profitability of the related products is dependent on the pricing of the products and other factors. Liabilities for insurance products are calculated using management's best judgments, based on our past experience and standard actuarial tables, of mortality, morbidity, lapse rates, investment experience and expense levels. Differences between our expectations when we sold these products and our actual experience could positively or negatively impact future earnings.

The adoption of ASU 2018-12 significantly changes how we account for the liabilities for insurance products for long-duration contracts and amends existing recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements. As part of this adoption, we measure all payments under an insurance contract including future expected claims and unpaid policy claims (with the exception of life insurance policy and contract claims, which are classified in the "liability for life insurance policy claims") and related expenses as an integrated reserve. This resulted in unpaid claims on long-duration health insurance contracts that were previously in the "liability for policy and contract claims" pre-adoption to be now presented as part of the liability for future policy benefits.

Our liabilities for future policy benefits are measured using the net premium ratio approach as described in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies".

The liability for future policy benefits is determined based on numerous assumptions. The most significant assumptions for our life and annuity business are mortality and lapse/withdrawal rates which are based on our experience and, in cases of limited experience, industry experience. Mortality and lapse/withdrawal rates also take into consideration future expectations in policyholder behavior that may vary from past experience. For our health business, mortality rates, lapse rates, morbidity assumptions and future rate increases are based on our experience and, in cases of limited experience, industry experience. Such assumptions also consider future expectations in policyholder behavior that may vary from past experience. In addition, the liability for future policy benefits is measured using estimated discount rates. The assumptions and estimates that we use often depend on judgment regarding the likelihood of future events and are inherently uncertain.

Cash flow assumptions related to our insurance contracts are established when a policy is issued and are evaluated each quarter to determine if assumption updates are required. A more detailed review of assumptions is performed annually. Changes to our cash flow assumptions are recognized in the liability for future policy benefits remeasurement (gain) loss in the consolidated statement of operations. Actual experience is reflected in the calculation of future policy benefits each quarter, and changes in the liability due to actual experience are also recognized in the liability for future policy benefits remeasurement (gain) loss in the consolidated statement of operations.

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Discount rates used to calculate net premiums are locked in at policy inception and provide the basis to recognize interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations. Discount rates used to measure the carrying value of the liability for future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheet are updated each reporting period, and differences between the liability balances calculated using the locked-in rate and the updated discount rates are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For additional discussion on the determination of discount rates, see the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies".

The table presented below summarizes our estimates of the immediate impacts to pre-tax income resulting from hypothetical revisions to certain assumptions and is for illustrative purposes only as such hypothetical revisions are not currently required or anticipated. We have assumed that revisions to assumptions resulting in the adjustments summarized below would occur equally among policy types, ages and durations within each product classification. Any actual adjustment would be dependent on the specific policies affected and, therefore, may differ from the estimates summarized below. In addition, the impact of actual adjustments would reflect the net effect of all changes in assumptions during the period.

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(dollars in millions)

Annuities

Fixed indexed and fixed interest annuity products:

5% increase to assumed mortality $ 3

5% decrease to assumed mortality (4)

10% increase to assumed surrender rate (3)

10% decrease to assumed surrender rate 2

50 basis point increase in interest rates (a) 68

50 basis point decrease in interest rates (a) (75)

Other annuities:

5% increase to assumed mortality 5

5% decrease to assumed mortality (5)

Health

Medicare supplement:

5% increase to assumed mortality 2

5% decrease to assumed mortality (2)

10% increase to assumed lapse rate 3

10% decrease to assumed lapse rate (3)

10% increase to assumed morbidity (49)

10% decrease to assumed morbidity 48

Supplemental health:

5% increase to assumed mortality 8

5% decrease to assumed mortality (9)

10% increase to assumed lapse rate 20

10% decrease to assumed lapse rate (20)

10% increase to assumed morbidity (21)

10% decrease to assumed morbidity 21

Long-term care:

5% increase to assumed mortality 32

5% decrease to assumed mortality (34)

10% increase to assumed lapse rate 20

10% decrease to assumed lapse rate (20)

10% increase to assumed morbidity (75)

10% decrease to assumed morbidity 68

Life

Traditional life:

5% increase to assumed mortality (34)

5% decrease to assumed mortality 35

10% increase to assumed lapse rate 6

10% decrease to assumed lapse rate (6)

Interest-sensitive life products:

5% increase to assumed mortality (6)

5% decrease to assumed mortality 6

10% increase to assumed lapse rate 1

10% decrease to assumed lapse rate (1)

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(a) The estimated impact of the hypothetical 50 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates related to our fixed indexed and fixed interest annuity products would be reflected in our pre-tax non-operating earnings.

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The following summarizes the persistency of our major blocks of insurance business summarized by line of business:

Years ended December 31,

Annuity:

Health:

Life:

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(1) Based on the total amount of death benefits, surrenders values and partial withdrawals divided by the average account value.

(2) Based on total reserves released at death divided by average account value.

(3) Based on number of inforce policies.

Market Risk Benefits

MRBs are contracts or contract features that both provide protection to the contract holder from other-than-nominal capital market risk and expose the Company to other-than-nominal capital market risk. Many of our fixed indexed annuity products include a GLWB that is considered a MRB. MRBs are measured at fair value using an option-based valuation model based on amount of exposure, market data, Company experience and other factors. Changes in fair value are recognized in earnings 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 (loss). MRBs in an asset position are presented separately from those in a liability position as there is no legal right of offset between contracts.

The cost of MRBs may rise in volatile or declining equity markets or in a low interest rate environment. Market conditions including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, equity indices, market volatility, variations in actuarial assumptions regarding policyholder behavior, mortality and risk margins related to non-capital market inputs, may result in significant fluctuations in the estimated fair value of the guarantees that could affect net income and changes in our nonperformance risk could materially affect other comprehensive income.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following tables and narratives summarize the operating results of our segments (dollars in millions):

Insurance product margin

Annuity:

Insurance policy benefits (29.0) (38.3) (28.4)

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (a) (71.3) (62.4) (54.0)

Health:

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (a) (162.1) (168.7) (168.3)

Life:

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (a) (85.8) (77.5) (69.8)

Allocated expenses:

Investment income not allocated to product lines 120.2 143.9 188.9

Expenses not allocated to product lines (51.7) (40.8) (80.5)

Income tax expense on operating income (103.4) (106.3) (114.3)

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(a)Amortization and non-deferred commissions are comprised of: (i) the amortization of deferred acquisition costs and present value of future profits; and (ii) commission expenses that are not directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts and, therefore, are not eligible to be deferred. Such non-deferred commissions are included in other operating costs and expenses on the consolidated statement of operations.

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General: CNO is the top tier holding company for a group of insurance companies that develop, market and administer health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance and financial services products. We view our operations by segments, which consist of insurance product lines. These products are distributed by our two divisions. The Consumer Division serves individual consumers, engaging with them on the phone, virtually, online, face-to-face with agents, or through a combination of sales channels. The Worksite Division focuses on the sale of voluntary benefit life and health insurance products in the workplace for businesses, associations, and other membership groups, interacting with customers at their place of employment and virtually.

Insurance product margin is management's measure of the profitability of its annuity, health and life product lines' performance and consists of insurance policy income plus allocated investment income less insurance policy benefits, interest credited, commissions, advertising expense and amortization of acquisition costs. Income from insurance products is the sum of the insurance margins of the annuity, health and life product lines, less expenses allocated to the insurance lines. It excludes the income from our fee income business, investment income not allocated to product lines, net expenses not allocated to product lines (primarily holding company expenses) and income taxes. Management believes this information helps provide a better understanding of the business and a more meaningful analysis of the results of our insurance product lines.

Net investment income is allocated to the product lines using the book yield of investments backing the block of business, which is applied to the average insurance liabilities for the block in each period. Net insurance liabilities for the purpose of allocating investment income to product lines are equal to: (i) policyholder account balances for annuity products; (ii) total reserves before the fair value adjustments reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), if applicable, for all other products; less (iii) amounts related to reinsurance business; (iv) deferred acquisition costs; (v) the present value of future profits; and (vi) the value of unexpired options credited to insurance liabilities. Investment income not allocated to product lines represents net investment income less: (i) equity returns credited to policyholder account balances; (ii) the investment income allocated to our product lines; (iii) interest expense on notes payable, investment borrowings and financing arrangements; (iv) expenses related to the FABN program; and (v) certain expenses related to benefit plans that are offset by special-purpose investment income; plus (vi) the impact of annual option forfeitures related to fixed indexed annuity surrenders. Investment income not allocated to product lines includes investment income on investments in excess of amounts allocated to product lines, investments held by our holding companies, the spread we earn from our FHLB investment borrowing and FABN programs and variable components of investment income (including call and prepayment income, adjustments to returns on structured securities due to cash flow changes, income (loss) from COLI and alternative investment income not allocated to product lines), net of interest expense on corporate debt and financing arrangements. The spread earned from our FHLB investment borrowing and FABN programs includes the investment income on the matched assets less: (i) interest on investment borrowings related to the FHLB investment borrowing program; (ii) interest credited on funding agreements; and (iii) amortization of deferred acquisition costs related to the FABN program.

Comprehensive Annual Actuarial Review: We update the assumptions and experience underlying the expected gross margins for policies accounted for as investment contracts annually in the fourth quarter of each year. In addition, we also review and update our assumptions on a more frequent basis to the extent current conditions or circumstances warrant changes that could be significant to our operating results. The impacts of these unlocking exercises have had a significant impact on our earnings.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, we performed our comprehensive annual actuarial review, including, but not limited to, assumptions related to mortality rates, surrender rates, earned rates, credited rates and expenses. This review resulted in a net favorable impact to insurance product margins of $33.9 million. The impact to insurance product margins by product are summarized in the table below. The most significant impacts related to supplemental health and Medicare supplement products which were favorably (unfavorably) impacted by $41.9 million and $(10.6) million, respectively. The primary supplemental health changes related to lower morbidity and higher surrender assumptions. The primary Medicare supplement changes related to higher near-term morbidity and higher persistency assumptions.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, we performed our comprehensive annual actuarial review including, but not limited to, assumptions related to mortality rates, surrender rates, earned rates, credited rates and expenses. This review resulted in a net favorable impact to insurance product margins of $.7 million and is summarized by product in the table below. The most significant impacts related to long-term care and traditional life products which were favorably (unfavorably) impacted by $16.4 million and $(13.0) million, respectively. The primary long-term care assumption changes related to lower near-term morbidity. The primary traditional life assumption change was an increase in expected mortality.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, we performed our comprehensive annual actuarial review including, but not limited to, assumptions related to mortality rates, policyholder behavior, earned rates, credited rates and expenses. This review resulted in

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a net favorable impact to insurance product margins of $3.0 million and is summarized by product in the table below. The most significant impacts related to Medicare supplement and traditional life products which were favorably (unfavorably) impacted by $6.0 million and $(2.5) million, respectively. The primary Medicare supplement assumption changes related to lower persistency and lower morbidity. The primary traditional life assumption change was an increase in expected mortality.

The following tables summarize the impacts of our comprehensive annual actuarial reviews in 2023, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in millions):

Insurance

policy

Line of business benefits

Fixed indexed annuities $ 9.4

Other annuities 3.5

Supplemental health 41.9

Medicare supplement (10.6)

Long-term care (9.0)

Traditional life (5.2)

Interest-sensitive life 3.9

Favorable impact on pre-tax operating income $ 33.9

Fixed indexed annuities $ (3.2)

Supplemental health 1.9

Long-term care 16.4

Traditional life (13.0)

Interest-sensitive life (1.4)

Favorable impact on pre-tax operating income $ .7

Fixed indexed annuities $ (.7)

Supplemental health 1.5

Medicare supplement 6.0

Long-term care (.4)

Traditional life (2.5)

Interest-sensitive life (.9)

Favorable impact on pre-tax operating income $ 3.0

Summary of Operating Results: Net operating income was $356.1 million in 2023, compared to $360.4 million in 2022 and $400.4 million in 2021.

Insurance product margin was $959.0 million, $936.5 million and $953.4 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Insurance product margin, excluding the impacts summarized in the table above, were $925.1 million, $935.8 million and $950.4 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Fluctuations by product line are discussed in greater detail in the narratives that follow.

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Total allocated and unallocated expenses are summarized in the table below. Expenses not allocated to product lines include certain significant items listed in the table below. Total allocated and unallocated expenses as adjusted for the significant items are summarized below (dollars in millions):

Expenses not allocated to product lines 51.7 40.8 80.5

Experience refund related to a reinsurance agreement (a) — 22.5 —

Transaction expenses related to acquisition of Optavise — — (2.5)

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(a) Under the terms of the reinsurance agreement to cede a substantial portion of our legacy long-term care block, we were entitled to receive an experience refund of up to $22.5 million if certain rate increases were approved and implemented. As of June 30, 2022, all requirements to earn the maximum experience refund had been met and the refund was recognized. The refund was received in the second quarter of 2023.

Our expense ratio in 2023 was 19.4 percent. Our projected expense ratio for 2024 is expected to be in the range of 18.8 percent to 19.2 percent. The expense ratio is defined as total allocated and unallocated expenses (excluding any significant items) divided by the sum of insurance policy income and net investment income allocated to products.

The fee income segment is summarized below (dollars in millions):

Net fee income increased in 2023 and 2022 is primarily due to growth in the sales of third party products by our Consumer Division in recent periods and changes to our revenue recognition assumptions reflecting favorable policy persistency; partially offset by lower earnings related to services provided by Optavise.

Investment income not allocated to product lines generally fluctuates from period to period based on the level of prepayment income (including call premiums) and trading account income; the performance of our alternative investments (which are typically reported a quarter in arrears); the earnings related to the investments underlying our COLI; and the spread we earn from our FHLB investment borrowing and FABN programs.

The effective tax rate for 2023, 2022 and 2021 was 22.5 percent, 22.8 percent and 22.2 percent, respectively.

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Margin from Annuity Products (dollars in millions):

Annuity margin:

Fixed indexed annuities

Insurance policy benefits (10.1) (20.0) (9.9)

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (65.8) (57.4) (48.6)

Margin/average net insurance liabilities 2.06 % 2.09 % 2.46 %

Fixed interest annuities

Insurance policy income $ 1.0 $ .8 $ .8

Insurance policy benefits (.5) (1.1) (1.1)

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (5.0) (4.6) (5.0)

Margin from fixed interest annuities $ 33.9 $ 32.4 $ 37.4

Margin/average net insurance liabilities 2.10 % 1.91 % 1.99 %

Other annuities

Insurance policy income $ 7.7 $ 7.8 $ 6.0

Insurance policy benefits (18.4) (17.2) (17.4)

Interest credited (2.3) (2.3) (2.5)

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (.5) (.4) (.4)

Margin from other annuities $ 8.9 $ 11.1 $ 10.8

Margin/average net insurance liabilities 1.94 % 2.30 % 2.13 %

Margin/average net insurance liabilities 2.06 % 2.07 % 2.36 %

The favorable (unfavorable) impacts of our comprehensive annual actuarial review (reflected in insurance policy benefits) on annuity product margins are summarized below (dollars in millions):

Fixed indexed annuities $ 9.4 $ (3.2) $ (.7)

Fixed interest annuities — — —

Other annuities 3.5 — —

Margin, excluding impact of comprehensive annual actuarial review:

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Margin from fixed indexed annuities was $192.2 million in 2023 compared to $183.4 million in 2022 and $195.0 million in 2021. The margin excluding the favorable (unfavorable) impacts of the actuarial review changes previously discussed was $182.8 million, $186.6 million and $195.7 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The margins in 2023 are lower than 2022 and 2021 as growth in the block is primarily being offset by spread compression driven by increased surrenders of higher spread products. Average net insurance liabilities (policyholder account balances less: (i) amounts related to reinsured business; (ii) deferred acquisition costs; (iii) present value of future profits; and (iv) the value of unexpired options credited to insurance liabilities) were $9,337.3 million, $8,788.6 million and $7,915.7 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, driven by deposits and reinvested returns in excess of withdrawals. The increase in net insurance liabilities results in higher net investment income allocated. The earned yield was 4.39 percent in 2023, up from 4.25 percent in 2022, reflecting higher portfolio yields, and down slightly from 4.42 percent in 2021.

Net investment income and interest credited exclude the change in market values of the underlying options supporting the fixed indexed annuity products and corresponding offsetting amount credited to policyholder account balances. Such amounts were $118.3 million, $(181.3) million and $195.5 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Margin from fixed interest annuities was $33.9 million in 2023 compared to $32.4 million in 2022 and $37.4 million in 2021, driven primarily by higher spreads, partially offset by a reduction in the size of the block. Average net insurance liabilities were $1,612.0 million, $1,700.5 million and $1,879.3 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, driven by withdrawals in excess of deposits and reinvested returns. The decrease in net insurance liabilities results in lower net investment income allocated, however, the earned yield increased to 5.19 percent in 2023, reflecting higher portfolio yields compared to 4.88 percent in 2022 and 4.98 percent in 2021.

Margin from other annuities was $8.9 million in 2023 compared to $11.1 million in 2022 and $10.8 million in 2021. The margin excluding the favorable impacts of the actuarial review changes previously discussed was $5.4 million in 2023. The margin on this relatively small block of business is sensitive to annuitant mortality related to contracts with life contingencies. An increase in mortality in this block will result in a decrease in insurance liabilities and insurance policy benefits. Such mortality was lower in 2023 compared to 2022 and 2021.

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Margin from Health Products (dollars in millions):

Health margin:

Supplemental health

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (106.0) (105.5) (104.4)

Margin/insurance policy income 41 % 33 % 32 %

Medicare supplement

Net investment income 4.9 5.4 5.3

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (43.2) (50.3) (50.7)

Margin/insurance policy income 19 % 23 % 23 %

Long-term care

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (12.9) (12.9) (13.2)

Margin/insurance policy income 31 % 46 % 45 %

Margin/insurance policy income 31 % 31 % 30 %

The favorable (unfavorable) impacts of our comprehensive annual actuarial review (reflected in insurance policy benefits) on health product margins are summarized below (dollars in millions):

Supplemental health $ 41.9 $ 1.9 $ 1.5

Medicare supplement (10.6) — 6.0

Margin, excluding impact of comprehensive annual actuarial review:

Margin from supplemental health business was $294.4 million in 2023 compared to $230.9 million in 2022 and $216.9 million in 2021. The margin excluding the favorable impacts of the actuarial review changes previously discussed was $252.5 million, $229.0 million and $215.4 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in the supplemental health margin in 2023, compared to 2022 and 2021, reflects growth in the block and favorable claim experience. Claim experience will fluctuate from period to period.

Our supplemental health products (including specified disease, accident and hospital indemnity products) generally provide fixed or limited benefits. For example, payments under cancer insurance policies are generally made directly to, or at the direction of, the policyholder following diagnosis of, or treatment for, a covered type of cancer. Approximately two-thirds of our supplemental health policies inforce (based on policy count) are sold with return of premium or cash value riders. The return of premium rider generally provides that after a policy has been inforce for a specified number of years or upon the policyholder reaching a specified age, we will pay to the policyholder, or a beneficiary under the policy, the aggregate amount of all premiums paid under the policy, without interest, less the aggregate amount of all claims incurred under the policy. The

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cash value rider is similar to the return of premium rider, but also provides for payment of a graded portion of the return of premium benefit if the policy terminates before the return of premium benefit is earned. Accordingly, the net cash flows from these products generally result in the accumulation of amounts in the early years of a policy (reflected in our earnings as reserve increases which is a component of insurance policy benefits) which will be paid out as benefits in later policy years (reflected in our earnings as reserve decreases which offset the recording of benefit payments). As the policies age, insurance policy benefits will typically increase, but the increase in benefits will be partially offset by investment income earned on the accumulated assets.

Margin from Medicare supplement business was $116.9 million in 2023 compared to $151.0 million in 2022 and $162.5 million in 2021. The Medicare supplement margin excluding the impacts of the actuarial review changes previously discussed were $127.5 million, $151.0 million and $156.5 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in margin on the Medicare supplement business in 2023, as compared to 2022 and 2021, is primarily due to a reduction in the size of the block and unfavorable claims experience (although claim experience returned to expected levels in the second half of 2023 as compared to the first six months of 2023). Claim experience will fluctuate from period to period. Insurance policy income was $619.9 million in 2023 compared to $657.8 million in 2022 and $714.1 million in 2021, reflecting lower sales in recent periods partially offset by premium rate increases. Over the last several years, we have experienced a shift in the sale of Medicare supplement policies to the sale of Medicare Advantage policies. We receive fee income when Medicare Advantage policies of other providers are sold, which is recorded in our Fee income segment. We continue to invest in both our Medicare supplement products and Medicare Advantage distribution to meet our customers' needs and preferences. For example, we launched a new competitive Medicare supplement product in 2022.

Medicare supplement business consists of both individual and group policies. Government regulations generally require we attain and maintain a ratio of total benefits incurred to total premiums earned (excluding changes in policy benefits reserves which is a component of Insurance policy benefits) of not less than 65 percent on individual products and not less than 75 percent on group products. The ratio is determined after three years from the original issuance of the policy and over the lifetime of the policy and measured in accordance with U.S. statutory accounting principles. Since the insurance product liabilities we establish for Medicare supplement business are subject to significant estimates, the ultimate claim liability we incur for a particular period is likely to be different than our initial estimate. Changes to our estimates are reflected in insurance policy benefits in the period the change is determined.

Margin from Long-term care products was $83.0 million in 2023 compared to $122.5 million in 2022 and $118.2 million in 2021. The margin excluding the impacts of the actuarial review changes previously discussed was $92.0 million, $106.1 million and $118.6 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Claim experience was less favorable in 2023 (although claim experience returned to expected levels in the second half of 2023 as compared to the first six months of 2023) and 2022, as compared to 2021. Claim experience will fluctuate from period to period.

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Margin from Life Products (dollars in millions):

Life margin:

Interest-sensitive life

Insurance policy benefits (65.7) (75.2) (82.6)

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (19.5) (23.2) (23.3)

Margin from interest-sensitive life $ 98.7 $ 79.5 $ 66.3

Interest margin $ 2.8 $ 3.3 $ 5.1

Interest margin/average net insurance liabilities .27 % .32 % .52 %

Underwriting margin/insurance policy income 53 % 44 % 37 %

Traditional life

Interest credited (.6) (.7) (.7)

Amortization and non-deferred commissions (66.3) (54.3) (46.5)

Margin/insurance policy income 19 % 18 % 22 %

Margin excluding advertising expense/insurance policy income 32 % 32 % 35 %

The favorable (unfavorable) impacts of our comprehensive annual actuarial review (reflected in insurance policy benefits) on life product margins are summarized below (dollars in millions):

Interest-sensitive life $ 3.9 $ (1.4) $ (.9)

Margin, excluding impact of comprehensive annual actuarial review:

Margin from interest-sensitive life business was $98.7 million in 2023 compared to $79.5 million in 2022 and $66.3 million in 2021. The interest-sensitive life margins excluding the impacts of the actuarial review changes previously discussed were $94.8 million, $80.9 million and $67.2 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in margin in 2023 and 2022 reflects more favorable mortality and growth in the block due to sales in recent periods.

The interest margin was $2.8 million in 2023 compared to $3.3 million in 2022 and $5.1 million in 2021. Net investment income in 2023 was comparable to 2022 and 2021. The increase in average net insurance liabilities results in higher net investment income allocated, which is offset by lower earned yields. The earned yield was 4.96 percent in 2023, down from 5.07 percent in 2022 and 5.14 percent in 2021. The decrease in earned yields is due to the sale or maturity of higher yielding investments. Interest credited to policyholders may be changed annually but is subject to minimum guaranteed rates and, as a result, any reduction in our earned rate may not be fully reflected in the rate credited to policyholders.

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Net investment income and interest credited excludes the change in market values of the underlying options supporting the fixed indexed life products and corresponding offsetting amount credited to policyholder account balances. Such amounts were $13.2 million, $(24.0) million and $24.3 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Margin from traditional life business was $131.0 million in 2023 compared to $125.7 million in 2022 and $146.3 million in 2021. The traditional life margins excluding the impacts of the actuarial assumption changes previously discussed were $136.2 million, $138.7 million and $148.8 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Insurance policy income was $701.4 million in 2023 compared to $684.8 million in 2022 and $675.2 million in 2021, reflecting new sales and persistency in the block. Insurance policy benefits were $504.3 million in 2023 compared to $500.1 million in 2022 and $484.9 million in 2021 reflecting growth in the block. In addition, amortization was higher in 2023 and 2022, as compared to 2021, primarily related to higher deferred acquisition costs in recent periods due to strong sales, including sales of our direct-to-consumer products through third party distributors.

Allocated net investment income reflects earned yields of 4.71 percent, 4.63 percent and 4.67 percent in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Advertising expense was $92.5 million in 2023 compared to $94.3 million in 2022 and $89.8 million in 2021. The demand and cost of television advertising can fluctuate from period to period. We are disciplined with our marketing expenditures and will increase or decrease our marketing spend depending on prices or other factors.

Investment Income Not Allocated to Product Lines (dollars in millions):

Allocated to product lines:

Equity returns credited to policyholder account balances (131.5) 205.3 (219.8)

Interest expense on financing arrangements (2.4) — —

Interest expense on investment borrowings from FHLB (104.7) (33.5) (9.8)

Expenses related to FABN program (30.4) (30.0) (2.3)

Investment income not allocated to product lines $ 120.2 $ 143.9 $ 188.9

The above table reconciles net investment income to investment income not allocated to product lines. Such amount will generally fluctuate from period to period based on the level of prepayment income (including call premiums) and trading account income; the performance of our alternative investments (which are typically reported a quarter in arrears); the earnings related to the investments underlying our COLI; and the spread we earn from our FHLB investment borrowing and FABN programs.

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Net Non-Operating Income (Loss):

The following summarizes our net non-operating income (loss) for the three years ended December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Fair value changes related to agent deferred compensation plan (3.5) 48.9 8.9

Net non-operating income (loss) before taxes $ (102.7) $ 349.8 $ 218.4

Net realized investment losses were $62.7 million in 2023, including the favorable change in the allowance for credit losses of $8.1 million which were recorded in earnings. Net realized investment losses were $62.2 million in 2022, including the unfavorable change in the allowance for credit losses of $52.6 million which were recorded in earnings. Net realized investment gains were $36.5 million in 2021, including the favorable change in the allowance for credit losses of $12.2 million which were recorded in earnings.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized a decrease in earnings of $6.3 million, $73.2 million and $17.4 million, respectively, due to the net change in market value of investments recognized in earnings. The change in value will fluctuate from period to period based on market conditions.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized an increase (decrease) in earnings of $(3.5) million, $48.9 million and $8.9 million, respectively, for the mark-to-market change in the agent deferred compensation plan liability which was impacted by changes in the underlying actuarial assumptions used to value the liability. We recognize the mark-to-market change in the estimated value of this liability through earnings as assumptions change.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized an increase (decrease) in earnings of $(29.9) million, $440.2 million and $186.8 million, respectively, resulting from changes in the fair value of embedded derivative liabilities and MRBs related to our fixed indexed annuities. Such amounts include the impacts of changes in market interest rates and equity impacts used to determine the estimated fair values of the embedded derivatives and MRBs.

In 2022, other non-operating items include a one-time restructuring charge of $7.1 million primarily related to an early retirement program. The program reduced our headcount by 2 percent and was expected to reduce run-rate expenses by approximately $10 million. Other non-operating items also include earnings attributable to VIEs that we are required to consolidate, net of affiliated amounts. Such earnings are not indicative of, and are unrelated to, the Company's underlying fundamentals.

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PREMIUM COLLECTIONS

In accordance with GAAP, insurance policy income in our consolidated statement of operations consists of premiums earned for traditional insurance policies that have life contingencies or morbidity features. For annuity and interest-sensitive life contracts, premiums collected are not reported as revenues, but as deposits to insurance liabilities. We recognize revenues for these products over time in the form of investment income and surrender or other charges.

Agents, insurance brokers and marketing organizations who market our products and prospective purchasers of our products use the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries as an important factor in determining whether to market or purchase. Ratings have the most impact on our Worksite sales of supplemental health and life products since such ratings are often an important factor considered by employers. The current financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries from Fitch, S&P, Moody's and AM Best are "A", "A-", "A3" and "A", respectively. For a description of these ratings and additional information on our ratings, see "Consolidated Financial Condition - Financial Strength Ratings of our Insurance Subsidiaries."

We set premium rates on our health insurance policies based on facts and circumstances known at the time we issue the policies using assumptions about numerous variables, including but not limited to, the actuarial probability of a policyholder incurring a claim, the probable size of the claim, and the interest rate earned on our investment of premiums. We also consider historical claims information, industry statistics, the rates of our competitors and other factors. If our actual claims experience is less favorable than we anticipated and we are unable to raise our premium rates, our financial results may be adversely affected. We generally cannot raise our health insurance premiums in any state until we obtain the approval of the state insurance regulator. We review the adequacy of our premium rates regularly and file for rate increases on our products when we believe such rates are too low. It is likely that we will not be able to obtain approval for all requested premium rate increases. If such requests are denied in one or more states, our net income may decrease. If such requests are approved, increased premium rates may reduce the volume of our new sales and may cause existing policyholders to lapse their policies. If the healthier policyholders allow their policies to lapse, this would reduce our premium income and profitability in the future.

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Total premium collections were as follows (dollars in millions):

Premiums collected by product:

Annuities:

Fixed indexed (renewal) .1 .3 .3

Fixed interest (renewal) 2.7 3.7 5.0

Subtotal - fixed interest annuities 199.7 87.4 45.4

Other annuities (first-year) 9.6 7.7 6.9

Health:

Supplemental health (first-year) 81.6 73.2 67.9

Medicare supplement (first-year) 39.0 34.2 40.3

Life insurance:

Interest-sensitive (first-year) 40.8 42.1 41.5

Collections on annuity, health and life products:

Annuities include fixed indexed, fixed interest and other annuities sold to the senior market. Annuity collections were $1,583.2 million in 2023, compared to $1,604.6 million in 2022 and $1,400.4 million in 2021. Premium collections from fixed indexed annuities decreased 9.0 percent to $1,373.9 million in 2023 compared to 2022. Premium collections from fixed interest annuities increased 128 percent to $199.7 million in 2023 compared to 2022, resulting from increased consumer preference for these products in the current interest rate environment. The increase in premium collections from our fixed indexed products in 2022, as compared to 2021, was primarily due to the general stock market performance which made these products attractive to certain customers.

Health products include supplemental health, Medicare supplement and long-term care products.

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Premiums collected on supplemental health products (including specified disease, accident and hospital indemnity insurance products) were $706.6 million in 2023, compared to $692.9 million in 2022 and $688.0 million in 2021. Such increases are primarily due to new sales and steady persistency.

Collected premiums on Medicare supplement policies were $609.4 million, $651.6 million and $707.5 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decreases reflect lower sales in recent periods partially offset by premium rate increases. In recent years, we have experienced a shift in the sale of Medicare supplement policies to the sale of Medicare Advantage policies. We receive fee income when Medicare Advantage policies of other providers are sold, which is recorded in our Fee income segment. We continue to invest in both our Medicare supplement products and Medicare Advantage distribution to ensure we are well-positioned to meet our customers' needs and preferences. For example, we launched a new competitive Medicare supplement product in 2022.

Life products include interest-sensitive and traditional life products. Life premiums were $937.0 million, $911.8 million and $895.8 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Premiums collected reflect both recent sales activity and steady persistency.

INVESTMENTS

Our investment strategy is to: (i) provide largely stable investment income from a diversified high quality fixed income portfolio; (ii) mitigate the effect of changing interest rates through active asset/liability management; (iii) provide liquidity to meet our cash obligations to policyholders and others; (iv) maximize total return through active strategic asset allocation and investment management, while managing the capital efficiency of the portfolio; and (v) use outside managers in specialized investment classes to add value to our overall strategy. Consistent with this strategy, investments in fixed maturity securities and mortgage loans made up 90 percent of our $26.1 billion investment portfolio at December 31, 2023. The remainder of the invested assets was trading securities, investments held by VIEs, equity securities, policy loans and other invested assets.

The following table summarizes the composition of our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Carrying value Percent of total investments

Fixed maturities, available for sale $ 21,506.2 82 %

Equity securities 96.9 —

Trading securities 222.7 1

Investments held by variable interest entities 768.6 3

Other invested assets 1,353.4 5

The following table summarizes investment yields earned over the past three years on the investments allocated to our product lines. General account investments exclude the value of options.

(dollars in millions)

Average yield on allocated investments 4.66 % 4.58 % 4.74 %

Insurance statutes regulate the types of investments that our insurance subsidiaries are permitted to make and limit the amount of funds that may be used for any one type of investment. In addition, we have internal management compliance limits on various exposures and activities which are typically more restrictive than insurance statutes. In light of these statutes and regulations and our capital management strategy, we generally seek to invest in highly rated securities such as United States government and government-agency securities and corporate securities rated investment grade by established nationally

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recognized rating organizations or in securities of comparable investment quality, if not rated, along with a limited quantity of other investments which offer differentiated return characteristics.

Fixed Maturities, Available for Sale

The following table summarizes the carrying values and gross unrealized losses of our fixed maturity securities, available for sale, by category as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities 1,553.2 7.2 152.7 6.6

Agency residential mortgage-backed securities 648.0 3.0 .5 —

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The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses of our fixed maturity securities, available for sale, by category and ratings category as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Investment grade Below-investment grade

AAA/AA/A BBB BB B+ andbelow Total grossunrealizedlosses

States and political subdivisions $ 352.7 $ 7.5 $ — $ .5 $ 360.7

Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities 92.8 43.5 .9 15.5 152.7

Collateralized loan obligations 11.7 1.3 — — 13.0

Foreign governments 5.0 5.4 — — 10.4

Entertainment/hotels 5.0 3.5 — — 8.5

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Investment ratings are assigned the second lowest rating by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (Moody's, S&P or Fitch), or if not rated by such firms, the rating assigned by the NAIC. NAIC designations of "1" or "2" include fixed maturities generally rated investment grade (rated "Baa3" or higher by Moody's or rated "BBB-" or higher by S&P and Fitch). NAIC designations of "3" through "6" are referred to as below-investment grade (which generally are rated "Ba1" or lower by Moody's or rated "BB+" or lower by S&P and Fitch). References to investment grade or below-investment grade throughout our consolidated financial statements are determined as described above. The following table sets forth fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2023, classified by ratings (dollars in millions):

Estimated fair value

Investment rating Amortized cost Amount Percent of fixed maturities

We continually evaluate the creditworthiness of each issuer whose securities we hold. We pay special attention to large investments, investments which have significant risk characteristics and to those securities whose fair values have declined materially for reasons other than changes in general market conditions. We evaluate the realizable value of the investment, the specific condition of the issuer and the issuer's ability to comply with the material terms of the security. We review the historical and recent operational results and financial position of the issuer, information about its industry, information about factors affecting the issuer's performance and other information. 40|86 Advisors employs experienced securities analysts in a broad variety of specialty areas who compile and review such data. During 2023, we recognized net investment losses of $69.0 million, which were comprised of: (i) $68.7 million of net losses from the sales of investments; (ii) $0.2 million of losses related to equity securities, including the change in fair value; (iii) the net decrease in fair value of certain other invested assets and fixed maturity investments with embedded derivatives of $8.5 million; (iv) the increase in fair value of embedded derivatives related to a modified coinsurance agreement of $0.3 million; and (v) a decrease in the allowance for credit losses of $8.1 million.

During 2023, we sold $712.2 million of fixed maturity investments which resulted in gross realized investment losses (before income taxes) of $58.9 million. Securities are generally sold at a loss following unforeseen issue-specific events or conditions or shifts in perceived relative values. These reasons include but are not limited to: (i) changes in the investment environment; (ii) expectation that the market value could deteriorate; (iii) our desire to reduce our exposure to an asset class, an issuer or an industry; (iv) prospective or actual changes in credit quality; or (v) changes in expected portfolio cash flows.

Our investment portfolio is subject to the risk of declines in realizable value. However, we attempt to mitigate this risk through the diversification and active management of our portfolio.

The Company reports accrued investment income separately from fixed maturities, available for sale, and has elected not to measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued investment income. Accrued investment income is written off through net investment income at the time the issuer of the bond defaults or is expected to default on payments.

At December 31, 2023, the amortized cost and carrying value of fixed maturities that were non-income producing during 2023 totaled $10.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

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Other Investments

At December 31, 2023, we held commercial mortgage loan investments with an amortized cost of $1,457.5 million (or 5.6 percent of total invested assets) and a fair value of $1,305.1 million. Our commercial mortgage loan portfolio is primarily comprised of large commercial mortgage loans. Approximately 16 percent, 8 percent, 6 percent and 6 percent of the commercial mortgage loan balance were on properties located in California, Maryland, Wisconsin and Indiana, respectively. No other state comprised greater than five percent of the mortgage loan balance. At December 31, 2023, there were no commercial mortgage loans in process of foreclosure. Subsequent to December 31, 2023, a commercial mortgage loan with an amortized cost of $17.3 million is no longer current and was factored into our allowance for credit losses related to mortgage loans as of December 31, 2023.

The following table shows the distribution of our commercial mortgage loan portfolio by property type as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Number of loans Amortized cost

Total commercial mortgage loans 162 $ 1,457.5

The following table shows our commercial mortgage loan portfolio by loan size as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Number of loans Amortized cost

Total commercial mortgage loans 162 $ 1,457.5

The following table summarizes the distribution of maturities of our commercial mortgage loans as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Number of loans Amortized cost

Total commercial mortgage loans 162 $ 1,457.5

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The following table provides the amortized cost by year of origination and estimated fair value of our outstanding commercial mortgage loans and the underlying collateral as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in millions):

Estimated fairvalue

________________

(a)Loan-to-value ratios are calculated as the ratio of: (i) the amortized cost of the commercial mortgage loans; to (ii) the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral.

At December 31, 2023, we held residential mortgage loan investments with an amortized cost of $622.0 million and a fair value of $621.8 million. At December 31, 2023, there were ten residential mortgage loans that were noncurrent with an amortized cost of $4.9 million (of which, six loans with an amortized cost of $2.4 million were in foreclosure). At December 31, 2022, we held residential mortgage loan investments with an amortized cost of $187.7 million and a fair value of $190.7 million.

The allowance for credit losses related to mortgage loans was $15.4 million at December 31, 2023, and increased $7.4 million in 2023.

At December 31, 2023, we held $222.7 million of trading securities. We carry trading securities at estimated fair value; changes in fair value are reflected in the statement of operations. Our trading securities include: (i) investments purchased with the intent of selling in the near term to generate income; and (ii) certain fixed maturity securities containing embedded derivatives for which we have elected the fair value option. Investment income from trading securities backing certain insurance liabilities is substantially offset by the change in insurance policy benefits related to certain products and agreements.

Other invested assets include options backing our fixed indexed annuity and life insurance products, COLI, FHLB common stock and certain nontraditional investments, including investments in limited partnerships, hedge funds and real estate investments held for sale.

At December 31, 2023, we held investments with an amortized cost of $787.6 million and an estimated fair value of $768.6 million related to VIEs that we are required to consolidate. The investment portfolio held by the VIEs is primarily comprised of commercial bank loans, the borrowers for which are almost entirely rated below-investment grade. Refer to the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Investments in Variable Interest Entities" for additional information on these investments.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

2024 Outlook

We expect operating earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $3.10 to $3.30, excluding any significant items in the year. We expect our expense ratio to be in the range of 18.8 percent to 19.2 percent, with a quarterly trend similar to 2023, starting on the high end in the first quarter of the year and then grading down throughout the year. We expect a significant improvement in net investment income not allocated to product lines, which assumes higher returns on our alternative investments. We expect fee income to be slightly lower in 2024, as compared to 2023, with approximately 25 percent of such earnings to be recognized in the first quarter of 2024 and the remainder of such earnings generally recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the seasonality of the business. We expect the effective tax rate to remain approximately 23 percent.

We expect excess cash flow to the holding company to be in the range of $140 million to $200 million. The high end of the range assumes that we maintain our current pace of organic growth; maintain the current asset mix in our investment

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portfolio; and there is no significant change to economic conditions and the related pattern of credit migration in our investment portfolio. However, if we accelerate organic growth; decide to accept a higher level of risk in our investment portfolio; and/or economic conditions deteriorate, prompting adverse credit migration, then additional capital would be required and excess cash flow would be toward the lower end of the range.

We expect to continue to manage to: (i) a consolidated RBC ratio of 375 percent for our U.S. based insurance subsidiaries; (ii) minimum holding company liquidity of $150 million; and (iii) a target debt to total capital, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), in the range of 25 percent to 28 percent.

Changes in the Consolidated Balance Sheet

Changes in our consolidated balance sheet between December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, primarily reflect: (i) our net income for 2023; (ii) changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss); and (iii) payments to repurchase common stock of $165.1 million.

Our capital structure as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was as follows (dollars in millions):

Total capital:

Shareholders’ equity:

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (1,576.8) (1,957.3)

The following table summarizes certain financial ratios as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

Book value per common share $ 20.26 $ 15.47

Debt to total capital ratios:

Corporate debt to total capital 34.0 % 39.2 %

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(a)This non-GAAP measure differs from the corresponding GAAP measure presented immediately above, because accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) has been excluded from the value of capital used to determine this measure. Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful because it removes the volatility that arises from changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Such volatility is often caused by changes in the estimated fair value of our investment portfolio resulting from changes in general market interest rates rather than the business decisions made by management. However, this measure does not replace the corresponding GAAP measure.

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Contractual Obligations

The Company's significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023, were as follows (dollars in millions):

Payment due in

Commitments to purchase/fund investments 754.2 754.2 — — —

________________

(a) These cash flows represent our estimates of the payments we expect to make to our policyholders, without consideration of future premiums or reinsurance recoveries. These estimates are based on numerous assumptions (depending on the product type) related to mortality, morbidity, lapses, withdrawals, future premiums, future deposits, interest rates on investments, credited rates, expenses and other factors which affect our future payments. The cash flows presented are undiscounted for interest. As a result, total outflows for all years exceed the corresponding liabilities of $27.9 billion included in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023. As such payments are based on numerous assumptions, the actual payments may vary significantly from the amounts shown.

In estimating the payments we expect to make to our policyholders, we considered the following:

•For products such as immediate annuities and structured settlement annuities without life contingencies, the payment obligation is fixed and determinable based on the terms of the policy.

•For products such as universal life, ordinary life, long-term care, supplemental health and deferred annuities, the future payments are not due until the occurrence of an insurable event (such as death or disability) or a triggering event (such as a surrender or partial withdrawal). We estimated these payments using actuarial models based on historical experience and our expectation of the future payment patterns which is consistent with the assumptions used in our reserve calculations for these blocks of business.

•For insurance products such as Medicare supplement insurance, the future payments relate only to amounts necessary to settle all outstanding claims, including those that have been incurred but not reported as of the balance sheet date. We estimated these payments based on our historical experience and our expectation of future payment patterns which is consistent with the assumptions used in our reserve calculations for these blocks of business.

•The average interest rate we assumed would be credited to our total insurance liabilities (excluding interest rate bonuses for the first policy year only and excluding the effect of credited rates attributable to variable or fixed indexed products) over the term of the contracts was 4.4 percent.

(b) Includes projected interest payments based on interest rates, as applicable, as of December 31, 2023. Refer to the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Notes Payable - Direct Corporate Obligations" for additional information on notes payable.

(c) These borrowings represent collateralized borrowings from the FHLB and projected interest payments on such borrowings.

(d) These borrowings represent the securities issued by VIEs and include projected interest payments based on interest rates, as applicable, as of December 31, 2023.

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(e) Includes benefits expected to be paid pursuant to our deferred compensation plan and postretirement plans based on numerous actuarial assumptions and interest credited at 5.00 percent.

(f) Includes obligations to third parties for information technology services, software maintenance and license agreements and consulting services.

It is possible that the ultimate outcomes of various uncertainties could affect our liquidity in future periods. For example, the following events could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows:

•An adverse decision in pending or future litigation.

•An inability to obtain rate increases on certain of our insurance products.

•Worse than anticipated claims experience.

•Lower than expected dividends and/or surplus debenture interest payments from our insurance subsidiaries (resulting from inadequate earnings or capital or regulatory requirements).

•An inability to meet and/or maintain the covenants in our Revolving Credit Agreement.

•A significant increase in policy surrender levels.

•A significant increase in investment defaults.

•An inability of our reinsurers to meet their financial obligations.

While we actively manage the relationship between the duration and cash flows of our invested assets and the estimated duration and cash flows of benefit payments arising from contract liabilities, there could be significant variations in the timing of such cash flows. Although we believe our current estimates properly project future claim experience, if these estimates prove to be wrong, and our experience worsens (as it did in some prior periods), our future liquidity could be adversely affected.

Liquidity for Insurance Operations

Our insurance companies generally receive adequate cash flows from premium collections and investment income to meet their obligations. Life insurance, long-term care and supplemental health insurance and annuity liabilities are generally long-term in nature. Life and annuity policyholders may, however, withdraw funds or surrender their policies, subject to any applicable penalty provisions; there are generally no withdrawal or surrender benefits for long-term care insurance. We actively manage the relationship between the duration of our invested assets and the estimated duration of benefit payments arising from contract liabilities.

Three of the Company's insurance subsidiaries (Bankers Life, Washington National and Colonial Penn) are members of the FHLB. As members of the FHLB, our insurance subsidiaries have the ability to borrow on a collateralized basis from the FHLB. We are required to hold certain minimum amounts of FHLB common stock as a condition of membership in the FHLB, and additional amounts based on the amount of the borrowings. At December 31, 2023, the carrying value of the FHLB common stock was $94.6 million. As of December 31, 2023, collateralized borrowings from the FHLB totaled $2.2 billion and the proceeds were used to purchase matched variable rate fixed maturity securities. The borrowings are classified as investment borrowings in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The borrowings are collateralized by investments with an estimated fair value of $2.7 billion at December 31, 2023, which are maintained in custodial accounts for the benefit of the FHLB.

In the third quarter of 2021, Bankers Life established a FABN program pursuant to which Bankers Life may issue funding agreements to a Delaware statutory trust organized in series (the "Trust") to generate spread-based earnings. The maximum aggregate principal amount of funding agreements permitted to be outstanding at any one time under the FABN program is $3 billion. In October 2021, Bankers Life issued a funding agreement to a series of the Trust in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million. In January 2022, Bankers Life issued two additional funding agreements, each to a series of

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the Trust, totaling $900 million. The activity related to the funding agreements is reported in investment income not allocated to product lines.

State laws generally give state insurance regulatory agencies broad authority to protect policyholders in their jurisdictions. Regulators have used this authority in the past to restrict the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay any dividends or other amounts without prior approval. We cannot be assured that the regulators will not seek to assert greater supervision and control over our insurance subsidiaries' businesses and financial affairs.

Our estimated consolidated statutory RBC ratio of our U.S. based insurance subsidiaries was 402 percent at December 31, 2023, compared to 384 percent at December 31, 2022. In 2023, the RBC ratio reflected: (i) our estimated consolidated statutory operating earnings of $131 million; (ii) insurance company dividends (net of capital contributions) of $492.1 million that were paid to the holding company; (iii) the impact of a sale-leaseback program as further discussed below; and (iv) the impact of the reinsurance agreement with CNO Bermuda Re as further discussed below. Our RBC ratio at December 31, 2023, exceeded our targeted statutory RBC ratio of 375 percent and the minimum 350 percent that is reflected in our risk appetite statement that we share and discuss with rating agencies and insurance regulators. We believe that the 375 percent RBC ratio target continues to adequately support our financial strength and credit ratings.

In June 2023, we began a sale-leaseback program resulting in an $80 million reduction in non-admitted assets and a corresponding increase in total adjusted capital which favorably impacted our consolidated RBC ratio. Such sale-leaseback transactions are accounted for as operating leases pursuant to statutory accounting principles. Pursuant to GAAP, the sale-leaseback transactions do not meet the criteria for a sale. Accordingly, we account for these transactions as financing arrangements which are classified as other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, we received all necessary approvals for: (i) the formation of a wholly-owned Bermuda Class C insurer; and (ii) a reinsurance agreement to cede approximately $6.2 billion of our inforce fixed indexed annuity statutory reserves, in addition to new fixed indexed annuity business. A modified coinsurance agreement (the "Reinsurance Agreement") between CNO Bermuda Re and Bankers Life was executed on November 30, 2023 with an effective date of October 1, 2023. Upon execution of the reinsurance agreement, CLTX paid an extraordinary dividend of $404.3 million (after receiving an extraordinary dividend of the same amount from Bankers Life) to CDOC. During 2023, CDOC made capital contributions totaling $265.0 million to CNO Bermuda Re primarily related to the execution of the modified coinsurance agreement and the initial capitalization of the entity. In addition, CNO Bermuda Re has entered into a Capital and Liquidity Maintenance Agreement (the "CLMA") with CDOC. Pursuant to the CLMA, CDOC will contribute funds to CNO Bermuda Re in the event: (i) CNO Bermuda Re's statutory economic capital and surplus is less than 150 percent of its ECR at the end of any calendar quarter; or (ii) CNO Bermuda Re's liquid assets are insufficient to meet its contractual obligations to ceding insurers, in each case, unless Bankers Life has provided notice of recapture pursuant to the terms of the Reinsurance Agreement. Further, CNO Bermuda Re may not pay any dividends or make any capital distributions to its parent and/or affiliates within the five years following the initial reinsurance transaction unless approved by the BMA. CNO Bermuda Re is subject to regulation in Bermuda where the BMA has broad supervisory and administrative powers relating to granting and revoking licenses to transact reinsurance business, the approval of specific reinsurance transactions, capital requirements and solvency standards, limitations on dividends or distributions to shareholders, the nature of and limitations on investments, and the filing of financial statements in accordance with prescribed or permitted accounting practices. Future regulatory changes made by the BMA may impact the capital efficiency of the reinsurance structure and could require the holding company to contribute additional capital to CNO Bermuda Re or Bankers Life to recapture the ceded business.

During 2023, the financial statements of three of our U.S. based insurance subsidiaries prepared in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities reflected asset adequacy or premium deficiency reserves. Total asset adequacy and premium deficiency reserves for Bankers Life, Washington National and Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company were $70.0 million, $134.5 million and $34.5 million, respectively, at December 31, 2023. Due to differences between statutory and GAAP insurance liabilities, we were not required to recognize a similar asset adequacy or premium deficiency reserve in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The determination of the need for and amount of asset adequacy or premium deficiency reserves is subject to numerous actuarial assumptions and state requirements.

Our insurance subsidiaries transfer exposure to certain risk to others through reinsurance arrangements. When we obtain reinsurance, we are still liable for those transferred risks in the event the reinsurer defaults on its obligations. The failure, insolvency, inability or unwillingness of one or more of the Company's reinsurers to perform in accordance with the terms of its reinsurance agreement could negatively impact our earnings or financial position and our consolidated statutory RBC ratio.

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Financial Strength Ratings of our Insurance Subsidiaries

Financial strength ratings provided by Fitch, S&P, Moody's and AM Best are the rating agency's opinions of the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay policyholder claims and obligations when due.

On February 15, 2024, AM Best affirmed its "A" financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries and the outlook for these ratings is stable. The "A" rating is assigned to companies that have an excellent ability, in AM Best's opinion, to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. AM Best ratings for the industry currently range from "A++ (Superior)" to "F (In Liquidation)" and some companies are not rated. AM Best has sixteen possible ratings. There are two ratings above the "A" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and thirteen ratings that are below that rating.

On November 15, 2023, Fitch upgraded the financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries to "A" from "A-" and the outlook for these ratings is stable. An insurer rated "A", in Fitch's opinion, indicates a low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments and indicates strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. This capacity may, nonetheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings. Fitch ratings for the industry range from "AAA Exceptionally Strong" to "C Distressed" and some companies are not rated. Pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category. Fitch has nineteen possible ratings. There are five ratings above the "A" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and thirteen ratings that are below that rating.

S&P most recently reviewed its "A-" financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries on June 23, 2023. The outlook for these ratings is stable. S&P financial strength ratings range from "AAA" to "R" and some companies are not rated. An insurer rated "A", in S&P's opinion, has strong financial security characteristics, but is somewhat more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are insurers with higher ratings. Pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category. S&P has twenty-one possible ratings. There are six ratings above the "A-" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and fourteen ratings that are below that rating.

Moody's most recently reviewed its "A3" financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries on May 12, 2023. The outlook for these ratings remains stable. Moody’s financial strength ratings range from "Aaa" to "C". These ratings may be supplemented with numbers "1", "2", or "3" to show relative standing within a category. In Moody's view, an insurer rated "A" offers good financial security, however, certain elements may be present which suggests a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. Moody's has twenty-one possible ratings. There are six ratings above the "A3" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and fourteen ratings that are below that rating.

Rating agencies have increased the frequency and scope of their credit reviews and requested additional information from the companies that they rate, including us. They may also adjust upward the capital and other requirements employed in their rating models for maintenance of certain ratings levels. We cannot predict what actions rating agencies may take, or what actions we may take in response. Accordingly, downgrades and outlook revisions related to us or the life insurance industry may occur in the future at any time and without notice by any rating agency. These could increase policy surrenders and withdrawals, adversely affect relationships with our distribution channels, reduce new sales, reduce our ability to borrow and increase our future borrowing costs.

Liquidity of the Holding Companies

Availability and Sources and Uses of Holding Company Liquidity; Limitations on Ability of Insurance Subsidiaries to Make Dividend and Surplus Debenture Interest Payments to the Holding Companies; Limitations on Holding Company Activities

CNO and CDOC are holding companies with no business operations of their own; they depend on their operating subsidiaries for cash to make principal and interest payments on debt, and to pay administrative expenses and income taxes. CNO and CDOC receive cash from insurance subsidiaries, consisting of dividends and distributions, interest payments on surplus debentures and tax-sharing payments, as well as cash from non-insurance subsidiaries consisting of dividends, distributions, loans and advances. The principal non-insurance subsidiaries that provide cash to CNO and CDOC are 40|86 Advisors, which receives fees from the insurance subsidiaries for investment services, and CNO Services, LLC ("CNO Services") which receives fees from the insurance subsidiaries for providing administrative services. The agreements between our insurance subsidiaries and CNO Services and 40|86 Advisors, respectively, were previously approved by the domestic insurance regulator for each insurance company, and any payments thereunder do not require further regulatory approval. Refer to "- Liquidity for Insurance Operations" above regarding the CLMA and limitations on CNO Bermuda Re's ability to pay dividends or other capital distributions to CDOC.

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At December 31, 2023, CNO, CDOC and our other non-insurance subsidiaries held $255.6 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents which was above our minimum target level of $150 million.

The following table sets forth the aggregate amount of dividends (net of capital contributions) and other distributions that our insurance subsidiaries paid to our non-insurance subsidiaries in each of the last three fiscal years (dollars in millions):

Years ended December 31,

Fees for services provided pursuant to service agreements 116.1 124.0 117.8

The ability of our U.S. based insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends is subject to state insurance department regulations and is based on the financial statements of our insurance subsidiaries prepared in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities, which differ from GAAP. These regulations generally permit dividends to be paid from statutory earned surplus of the insurance company without regulatory approval for any 12-month period in amounts equal to the greater of (or in some states, the lesser of): (i) statutory net gain from operations or net income for the prior year; or (ii) 10 percent of statutory capital and surplus as of the end of the preceding year. However, as each of the immediate U.S. based insurance subsidiaries of CDOC has significant negative earned surplus, any dividend payments from the insurance subsidiaries require the prior approval of the director or commissioner of the applicable state insurance department. In 2023, our U.S. based insurance subsidiaries paid dividends to CDOC totaling $526.5 million. We expect to receive regulatory approval for future dividends from our subsidiaries, but there can be no assurance that such payments will be approved or that the financial condition of our insurance subsidiaries will not change, making future approvals less likely. During 2023, CDOC made capital contributions of $299.4 million to its insurance subsidiaries, including $265.0 million to CNO Bermuda Re.

CDOC holds surplus debentures from CLTX with an aggregate principal amount of $749.6 million. Interest payments on those surplus debentures do not require additional approval provided the RBC ratio of CLTX exceeds 100 percent (but do require prior written notice to the Texas Department of Insurance). The estimated RBC ratio of CLTX was 345 percent at December 31, 2023. CDOC also holds a surplus debenture from Colonial Penn with a principal balance of $160.0 million. Interest payments on that surplus debenture require prior approval by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Dividends and other payments from our non-insurance subsidiaries, including 40|86 Advisors and CNO Services, to CNO or CDOC do not require approval by any regulatory authority or other third party. However, insurance regulators may prohibit payments by our insurance subsidiaries to parent companies if they determine that such payments could be adverse to our policyholders or contractholders.

The insurance subsidiaries of CDOC receive funds to pay dividends primarily from: (i) the earnings of their direct businesses; (ii) tax sharing payments received from subsidiaries (if applicable); and (iii) with respect to CLTX, dividends received from subsidiaries. At December 31, 2023, the subsidiaries of CLTX had earned surplus (deficit) as summarized below (dollars in millions):

Subsidiaries of CLTX Earned surplus (deficit) Additional information

Bankers Life $ 34.6 (a)

Colonial Penn (499.5) (b)

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(a)Bankers Life paid dividends of $459.3 million to CLTX in 2023. Bankers Life may pay dividends without regulatory approval or prior notice for any 12-month period if such dividends are less than the greater of: (i) statutory net income for the prior year; or (ii) 10 percent of statutory capital and surplus as of the end of the preceding year. Dividends in excess of these levels require 30 days prior notice. In the event Bankers Life's earned surplus balance is zero or in a deficit position, Bankers Life may request approval from the Illinois Department of Insurance for return-of-capital distributions, the payment of which would be subject to prior approval.

(b)The deficit is primarily due to transactions which occurred several years ago, including a tax planning transaction and the fee paid to recapture a block of business previously ceded to an unaffiliated insurer.

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A significant deterioration in the financial condition, earnings or cash flow of the material subsidiaries of CNO or CDOC for any reason could hinder such subsidiaries' ability to pay cash dividends or other disbursements to CNO and/or CDOC, which, in turn, could limit CNO's ability to meet debt service requirements and satisfy other financial obligations. In addition, we may choose to retain capital in our insurance subsidiaries or to contribute additional capital to our insurance subsidiaries to maintain or strengthen their surplus or fund reinsurance transactions, and these decisions could limit the amount available at our top tier insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to the holding companies.

At December 31, 2023, there were no amounts outstanding under our $250 million Revolving Credit Agreement and there are not scheduled repayments of our direct corporate obligations until May 2025.

The scheduled principal and interest payments on our direct corporate obligations are as follows (dollars in millions):

Principal Interest (a)

_________________________

(a)Based on interest rates as of December 31, 2023.

(b)Such amount represents our 5.250% Notes due 2025.

(c)The maturity date of the Revolving Credit Agreement is July 16, 2026.

(d)Such amount includes $500.0 million of 5.250% Notes due 2029 and the Debentures.

Free cash flow is a measure of holding company liquidity and is calculated as: (i) dividends, management fees and surplus debenture interest payments received from our subsidiaries; plus (ii) earnings on corporate investments; less (iii) interest expense, corporate expenses and net tax payments. In 2023, we generated $311 million of such free cash flow. The Company expects to deploy its free cash flow into investments to accelerate profitable growth, common stock dividends and share repurchases. The amount and timing of future share repurchases (if any) will be based on business and market conditions and other factors including, but not limited to, available free cash flow, the current price of our common stock and investment opportunities. In 2023, we repurchased 6.6 million shares of common stock for $165.1 million under our securities repurchase program. The Company had remaining repurchase authority of $521.8 million as of December 31, 2023.

In 2023, 2022 and 2021, dividends declared on common stock totaled $67.9 million ($0.59 per common share), $65.0 million ($0.55 per common share) and $66.1 million ($0.51 per common share), respectively. In May 2023, the Company increased its quarterly common stock dividend to $0.15 per share from $0.14 per share.

On February 15, 2024, AM Best affirmed its "bbb" rating on our issuer credit and senior unsecured debt and the outlook for these ratings is stable. In AM Best's view, a company rated "bbb" has an adequate ability to meet the terms of its obligations; however, the issuer is more susceptible to changes in economic or other conditions. Pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category. AM Best has a total of twenty-two possible ratings ranging from "aaa (Exceptional)" to "d (In default)". There are eight ratings above CNO's "bbb" rating and thirteen ratings that are below its rating.

On November 15, 2023, Fitch upgraded our senior unsecured debt ratings to "BBB+" from "BBB". The outlook for these rating is stable. In Fitch's view, an obligation rated "BBB" indicates that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. Pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category. Fitch has a total of 21 possible ratings ranging from "AAA" to "D". There are eight ratings above CNO's "BBB+" rating and twelve ratings that are below its rating.

S&P most recently reviewed its "BBB-" rating on our senior unsecured debt on June 23, 2023. The outlook for these ratings is stable. In S&P's view, an obligation rated "BBB" exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category. S&P has a total of

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twenty-two possible ratings ranging from "AAA (Extremely Strong)" to "D (Payment Default)". There are nine ratings above CNO's "BBB-" rating and twelve ratings that are below its rating.

Moody's most recently reviewed its "Baa3" rating on our senior unsecured debt on May 12, 2023. The outlook for these ratings remains stable. In Moody's view, obligations rated "Baa" are subject to moderate credit risk and may possess certain speculative characteristics. A rating is supplemented with numerical modifiers "1", "2" or "3" to show the relative standing within a category. Moody's has a total of twenty-one possible ratings ranging from "Aaa" to "C". There are nine ratings above CNO's "Baa3" rating and eleven ratings that are below its rating.

Outlook

We believe that the existing cash available to the holding company, the cash flows to be generated from operations and other transactions will be sufficient to allow us to meet our debt service obligations, pay corporate expenses and satisfy other financial obligations. However, our cash flow is affected by a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control, including insurance regulatory issues, competition, financial markets and other general business conditions. We cannot provide assurance that we will possess sufficient income and liquidity to meet all of our debt service requirements and other holding company obligations. For additional discussion regarding the liquidity and other risks that we face, see "Risk Factors".

MARKET-SENSITIVE INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Our spread-based insurance business is subject to several inherent risks arising from movements in interest rates, especially if we fail to anticipate or respond to such movements. First, interest rate changes can cause compression of our net spread between interest earned on investments and interest credited on customer deposits, thereby adversely affecting our results. Second, if interest rate changes produce an unanticipated increase in surrenders of our spread-based products, we may be forced to sell invested assets at a loss in order to fund such surrenders. Many of our products include surrender charges, market interest rate adjustments or other features to encourage persistency; however, at December 31, 2023, approximately $4.4 billion of our total insurance liabilities could be surrendered by the policyholder without penalty. Finally, changes in interest rates can have significant effects on our investment portfolio. We use asset/liability management strategies that are designed to mitigate the effect of interest rate changes on our profitability. However, there can be no assurance that management will be successful in implementing such strategies and sustaining adequate investment spreads.

We seek to invest our assets allocated to our insurance products in a manner that will fund future obligations to policyholders and meet profitability objectives, subject to appropriate risk considerations. We seek to meet this objective through investments that: (i) have similar cash flow characteristics with the liabilities they support; (ii) are diversified (including by types of obligors); and (iii) are predominantly investment-grade in quality.

Our investment strategy is to maximize, over a sustained period and within acceptable parameters of quality and risk, investment income and total investment return through active strategic asset allocation and investment management. Accordingly, we may sell securities at a gain or a loss to enhance the projected total return of the portfolio as market opportunities change, to reflect changing perceptions of risk, or to better match certain characteristics of our investment portfolio with the corresponding characteristics of our insurance liabilities.

The profitability of many of our products depends on the spread between the interest earned on investments and the rates credited on our insurance liabilities. In addition, changes in competition and other factors, including the level of surrenders and withdrawals, may limit our ability to adjust or to maintain crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 13 percent of our insurance liabilities had interest rates that may be reset annually; 48 percent had a fixed explicit interest rate for the duration of the contract; 36 percent are fixed indexed products where the income earned is subject to a participation rate that typically may be changed annually; and the remainder had no explicit interest rates.

At December 31, 2023, $2.0 billion and $0.5 billion of our annuity and universal life account values, respectively, net of amounts ceded, were at minimum guaranteed crediting rates.The weighted average crediting rates at December 31, 2023, related to such annuity and universal life account values, that were at the minimum guaranteed crediting rate were 2.21 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively.

At December 31, 2023, the weighted average yield, computed on the cost basis of investments allocated to our product lines, was approximately 4.7 percent, and the average interest rate credited or accruing to our total insurance liabilities (excluding interest rate bonuses for the first policy year only and excluding the effect of credited rates attributable to variable or

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fixed indexed products) was 4.4 percent. Such 4.4 percent rate includes interest credited to annuity and universal life products as well as the rates assumed in our calculations of reserves for health and traditional life products which are set based on investment yields at policy issuance and are locked-in in accordance with current accounting requirements. Refer to "Part 1 - Item 1A. Risk Factors - A return to a prolonged low interest rate environment may negatively impact our results of operations, financial position and cash flows" for additional information on interest rate risks.

We simulate the cash flows expected from our existing insurance business under various interest rate scenarios. These simulations help us to measure the potential gain or loss in fair value of our interest rate-sensitive investments and to manage the relationship between the interest sensitivity of our assets and liabilities. When the estimated durations of assets and liabilities are similar, absent other factors, a change in the value of assets related to changes in interest rates should be largely offset by a change in the value of liabilities. At December 31, 2023, the estimated duration of our fixed income securities (as modified to reflect estimated prepayments and call premiums) and the estimated duration of our insurance liabilities were approximately 8.1 years and 8.2 years, respectively. We estimate that our fixed maturity securities and short-term investments would decline in fair value by approximately $650 million if interest rates were to increase by 10 percent from their levels at December 31, 2023. Our simulations incorporate numerous assumptions, require significant estimates and assume an immediate change in interest rates without any management of the investment portfolio in reaction to such change. Consequently, potential changes in value of our financial instruments indicated by the simulations will likely be different from the actual changes experienced under given interest rate scenarios, and the differences may be material. Because we actively manage our investments and liabilities, our net exposure to interest rates can vary over time.

We are subject to the risk that our investments will decline in value if interest rates rise.

The Company is subject to risk resulting from fluctuations in market prices of our equity securities. In general, these investments have more year-to-year price variability than our fixed maturity investments. However, returns over longer time frames have been consistently higher. We manage this risk by limiting our equity securities to a relatively small portion of our total investments.

Our investment in options backing our equity-linked products is closely matched with our obligation to fixed indexed annuity holders. Fair value changes associated with that investment are substantially offset by an increase or decrease in the amounts added to policyholder account liabilities for fixed indexed products.

Inflation

Inflation rates may impact the financial statements and operating results in several areas. Inflation influences interest rates, which in turn impact the fair value of the investment portfolio and yields on new investments. Inflation also impacts a portion of our insurance policy benefits affected by increased medical coverage costs. Operating expenses, including payrolls, are impacted to a certain degree by the inflation rate. Refer to "Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors - High inflation levels could have adverse consequences for us, the insurance industry and the U.S. economy generally" for additional information on inflation.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

The information included under the caption "Market-Sensitive Instruments and Risk Management" in Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID#:238) 87

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 96

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of CNO Financial Group, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of CNO Financial Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of shareholders' equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Change in accounting principle

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for long-duration insurance contracts in 2023.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit

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preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Adoption of the New Accounting Standard for Long-Duration Insurance Contracts

As described above and in Notes 2 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted the new accounting standard relating to targeted improvements to the accounting for long-duration insurance contracts, with a transition date of January 1, 2021. The new measurement guidance for traditional and limited-payment contract liabilities and the new guidance for the amortization of deferred acquisition costs was adopted on a modified retrospective transition approach. For market risk benefits, the required retrospective application was used. As of the January 1, 2021 transition date, the adoption impact was a reduction in total equity of $2,210.7 million. The adjustments to retrospectively adjust prior period amounts resulted in an increase of $368.0 million and a decrease of $1,575.0 million to total equity as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and an increase to net income of $233.8 million and $129.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The transition date and transition period adjustments are principally related to the liability for future policy benefits. The liability for future policy benefits 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. Management developed a discount rate methodology used to estimate the present value of the liability for future policy benefits for the Company’s traditional insurance liabilities. The discount rate curves for discounting cash flows to calculate the liability for future policy benefits are based on the duration characteristics of the underlying liabilities. The methodology uses observable market data, where available. For liability cash flows that are projected beyond the duration of market-observable A-credit-rated fixed-income instruments, management used the last market-observable yield level and used linear interpolation to determine yield assumptions for durations that do not have market-observable yields.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the adoption of the new standard for long duration insurance contracts (“the LDTI standard”) is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when adopting the standard and determining the transition date and transition period adjustments, (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to management’s discount rate methodology and development of the discount rate curve used in determining the liability for future policy benefits, and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls related to management’s adoption of the LDTI standard, including controls over determining the transition date adjustments and transition period adjustments. These procedures also included, among others, (i) evaluating management’s process for adopting the new standard and for determining the transition date and transition period adjustments, (ii) testing the relevance and reliability of the external data used by management to develop the discount rate curve, and (iii) the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in evaluating the appropriateness of the discount rate methodology and the reasonableness of the discount rate curve.

Valuation of embedded derivatives and market risk benefits (MRBs) associated with fixed indexed annuity products

As described in Notes 2 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company issues fixed indexed annuity products, which provide a guaranteed minimum rate of return and a higher potential return that is based on a percentage (the

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“participation rate”) of the amount of increase in the value of a particular index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, over a specified period. The Company accounts for the options attributed to the policyholder for the estimated life of the contract as embedded derivatives. In addition, the guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit on the fixed indexed annuity products are considered an MRB. As of December 31, 2023, the value of embedded derivatives associated with fixed indexed annuity products was $1.4 billion, which is included in policyholder account liabilities. The accounting requirement is to record these embedded derivatives at estimated fair value. The value of the embedded derivatives is determined based on the present value of the estimated discounted future option costs. As of December 31, 2023 the value of the market risk benefit asset was $75.4 million and liability was $7.4 million. MRBs are measured at fair value using an option-based valuation model based on amount of exposure, market data, company experience and other factors. As disclosed by management, in estimating the fair value of the embedded derivatives and MRBs associated with fixed indexed annuity products, management used significant unobservable inputs with respect to projected portfolio yields, discount rates and surrender rates. The discount rate is based on risk-free rates adjusted for the company’s non-performance risk and risk margins for non-capital market inputs. Increases (decreases) in the discount rates would lead to a lower (higher) fair value measurement.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of embedded derivatives and MRBs associated with fixed indexed annuity products is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management in developing the fair value estimate of embedded derivatives and MRBs, specifically the significant unobservable inputs to the discount rate, which included the Company's non-performance risk and risk margins for non-capital market inputs; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence relating to management’s discount rate assumption; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge. Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s valuation of embedded derivatives and MRBs associated with fixed indexed annuity products, including controls over management’s development of the discount rate assumption. These procedures also included, among others, the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the embedded derivatives associated with fixed indexed annuities. This included testing the completeness and accuracy of the data provided by management, evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation method and the reasonableness of the discount rate assumption. Evaluating the discount rate assumption involved evaluating whether company’s non-performance risk and risk margins for noncapital market significant unobservable inputs were reasonable considering relevant macroeconomic conditions, consistency with external market and industry data, and current and past policyholder experience.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

February 23, 2024

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1983.

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Table of Contents

CNO FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

December 31, 2023 and 2022

(Dollars in millions)

ASSETS

Investments:

Equity securities at fair value 96.9 135.3

Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted 774.5 575.7

Cash and cash equivalents held by variable interest entities 114.5 69.2

Present value of future profits 180.7 203.7

Market risk benefit asset 75.4 65.3

Assets held in separate accounts 3.1 2.7

(continued on next page)

The accompanying notes are an integral part

of the consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

CNO FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, continued

December 31, 2023 and 2022