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Employee Benefit Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans
 
The Company has funded and non-funded non-contributory defined benefit pension plans (“Pension Benefits”), which cover substantially all of its employees. For some employees, benefits are based on final average earnings and length of service (the “traditional formula”), while benefits for other employees are based on an account balance that takes into consideration age, length of service and earnings during their career (the “cash balance formula”). At December 31, 2023, approximately 80% of the Company’s Pension Benefits relate to its domestic qualified pension plan, which initially determined benefits based on the traditional formula. Effective January 1, 2001, active domestic employees covered under this plan were given the option to convert from the traditional formula to the cash balance formula, and all new domestic employees began accruing benefits under the cash balance formula. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 62% and 38% of the benefit obligation under this plan relates to participants under the traditional formula (including all retirees who are receiving an annuity payment) and cash balance formula, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the vast majority of active employees under this plan are accruing benefits under the cash balance formula.
 
The Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for its retired employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents (“Other Postretirement Benefits”). The health care plan is contributory; the life insurance plan is non-contributory. Substantially all of the Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to receive Other Postretirement Benefits if they retire after age 55 with at least 10 years of service or under certain circumstances after age 50 with at least 20 years of continuous service.

The Company modified the Retiree Medical Savings Account (“RMSA”) program, one of the components of Other Postretirement Benefits, in 2022. The RMSA program is no longer offered to employees hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2022, while active employees no longer receive service credits after September 1, 2022, and retirees no longer receive interest credits after December 31, 2022. In addition, effective January 1, 2023, the Company expanded the permitted uses of the RMSA by retirees and added a 25-year time limit for retirees to utilize the RMSA.
 
Prepaid benefits costs and accrued benefit liabilities are included in “Other assets” and “Other liabilities,” respectively, in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The status of these plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 is summarized below:
 
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
 2023202220232022
 (in millions)
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at the beginning of period$(11,099)$(14,787)$(1,348)$(1,793)
Service cost(204)(276)(9)(13)
Interest cost(551)(431)(71)(56)
Plan participants’ contributions0 0 (24)(27)
Medicare Part D subsidy receipts0 0 0 (6)
Amendments2 (1)298 0 
Curtailments0 47 0 1 
Actuarial gains (losses), net(1)(2)
(274)3,242 (66)364 
Settlements22 35 0 0 
Special termination benefits(25)(4)(5)(4)
Benefits paid827 855 193 185 
Foreign currency changes and other64 221 0 1 
Benefit obligation at end of period$(11,238)$(11,099)$(1,032)$(1,348)
Change in plan assets
Plan assets at beginning of period$12,519 $15,242 $1,191 $1,621 
Actual return on plan assets788 (1,945)155 (282)
Employer contributions185 176 9 10 
Plan participants’ contributions0 0 24 27 
Disbursement for settlements(22)(35)0 0 
Benefits paid(827)(855)(193)(185)
Foreign currency changes and other6 (64)0 0 
Plan assets at end of period$12,649 $12,519 $1,186 $1,191 
Funded status at end of period$1,411 $1,420 $154 $(157)
Amounts recognized in the Statements of Financial Position
Prepaid benefit cost$3,385 $3,622 $240 $0 
Accrued benefit liability(1,974)(2,202)(86)(157)
Net amount recognized$1,411 $1,420 $154 $(157)
Items recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” not yet recognized as a component of net periodic (benefit) cost:
Prior service cost$(2)$(2)$(345)$(54)
Net actuarial loss2,797 2,466 209 222 
Net amount not recognized$2,795 $2,464 $(136)$168 
Accumulated benefit obligation$(10,512)$(10,661)$(1,032)$(1,348)
__________
(1)For 2023, actuarial losses for pension and other postretirement benefits were primarily driven by a decrease in the discount rate.
(2)For 2022, actuarial gains for pension and other postretirement benefits were primarily driven by an increase in the discount rate.

In addition to the plan assets above, the Company in 2007 established an irrevocable trust, commonly referred to as a “rabbi trust,” for the purpose of holding assets of the Company to be used to satisfy its obligations with respect to certain non-qualified retirement plans ($893 million and $1,026 million benefit obligation at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively). Assets held in the rabbi trust are available to the general creditors of the Company in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy. The Company may from time to time in its discretion make contributions to the trust to fund accrued benefits payable to participants in one or more of the plans, and, in the case of a change in control of the Company, as defined in the trust agreement, the Company will be required to make contributions to the trust to fund the accrued benefits, vested and unvested, payable on a pre-tax basis to participants in the plans. In addition, the Company may from time to time at its discretion make a withdrawal from or request a policy loan through the trust to fund operational or capital needs. The Company requested policy
loans through the trust of $900 million and $0 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company did not make any discretionary payments to the trust or receive any withdrawals from the trust in either 2023 or 2022. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the assets in the trust had a carrying value of $118 million and $983 million, respectively. 

The Company also maintains a separate rabbi trust for the purpose of holding assets of the Company to be used to satisfy its obligations with respect to certain other non-qualified retirement plans ($57 million and $58 million benefit obligation at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively), as well as certain cash-based deferred compensation arrangements. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the assets in the trust had a carrying value of $77 million and $80 million, respectively.
 
Pension benefits for foreign plans comprised 11% and 12% of the ending benefit obligation for 2023 and 2022, respectively. Foreign pension plans comprised 3% of the ending fair value of plan assets for both 2023 and 2022, respectively. There are no material foreign postretirement plans.
 
Information for pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
20232022
 (in millions)
Projected benefit obligation$1,974 $2,202 
Fair value of plan assets$0 $0 
 
Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
20232022
 (in millions)
Accumulated benefit obligation$1,795 $2,072 
Fair value of plan assets$0 $0 
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
 
The Company uses market related value to determine components of net periodic (benefit) cost. Market related value recognizes certain changes in fair value of plan assets over a period of five years. Changes in the fair value of U.S. equities, international equities, real estate and other assets are recognized over a five year period. However, changes in the fair value for fixed maturity assets (including short-term investments) are recognized immediately for the purposes of market related value.
 
Net periodic (benefit) cost included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, includes the following components:
 
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement
Benefits
 202320222021202320222021
 (in millions)
Service cost$204 $276 $328 $9 $13 $27 
Interest cost551 431 364 71 56 49 
Expected return on plan assets(926)(866)(824)(86)(102)(102)
Amortization of prior service cost(1)(1)(3)(7)(8)6 
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss, net69 160 245 10 6 16 
Settlements3 2 5 0 0 0 
Curtailments(1)
0 0 1 0 (7)0 
Special termination benefits(2)(3)(4)
25 4 1 5 4 0 
Net periodic (benefit) cost$(75)$6 $117 $2 $(38)$(4)
__________
(1)For 2022, curtailments were recognized as a result of the sale of the Full Service Retirement business for other postretirement benefit plans.
(2)For 2023, certain employees were provided special termination benefits under non-qualified plans in the form of unreduced early retirement benefits as a result of their involuntary termination while others were provided enhanced benefits due to the Company’s organizational restructuring.
(3)For 2022, certain employees were provided special termination benefits under non-qualified plans in the form of unreduced early retirement benefits as a result of their involuntary termination while others were provided enhanced benefits due to the sale of the Full Service Retirement business.
(4)For 2021, certain employees were provided special termination benefits under non-qualified plans in the form of unreduced early retirement benefits as a result of their involuntary termination or participation in the Voluntary Separation Program that was offered to eligible U.S.-based employees in 2019.

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
The benefit obligation is based upon actuarial assumptions such as discount, termination, retirement, mortality and salary growth rates. Changes at year-end in these actuarial assumptions, along with experience changes based on updated participant census data are deferred in AOCI. Plan assets generate actuarial gains and losses when actual returns on plan assets differ from expected returns on plan assets, and these differences are also deferred in AOCI. The cumulative deferred gain (loss) within AOCI is amortized into earnings if it exceeds 10% of the greater of the benefit obligation or plan assets at the beginning of the year, and the amortization period is based upon the actuarially calculated expected future years of service for a given plan.
 
The amounts recorded in AOCI as of the end of the period, which have not yet been recognized as a component of net periodic (benefit) cost, and the related changes in these items during the period that are recognized in “Other comprehensive income (loss)” are as follows:
 
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement
Benefits
 Prior
Service
Cost		Net
Actuarial
(Gain) Loss		Prior
Service
Cost		Net
Actuarial
(Gain) Loss
 (in millions)
Balance, December 31, 2020$(10)$3,972 $59 $354 
Amortization for the period3 (245)(6)(16)
Deferrals for the period(1)0 (545)(121)(127)
Impact of foreign currency changes and other2 (51)(1)0 
Balance, December 31, 2021(5)3,131 (69)211 
Amortization for the period1 (160)8 (6)
Deferrals for the period(2)1 (431)0 20 
Impact of foreign currency changes and other1 (74)7 (3)
Balance, December 31, 2022(2)2,466 (54)222 
Amortization for the period1 (69)7 (10)
Deferrals for the period(3)(2)411 (298)(3)
Impact of foreign currency changes and other1 (11)0 0 
Balance, December 31, 2023$(2)$2,797 $(345)$209 
__________
(1)For 2021, deferred gains for pension and other postretirement benefits were driven by an increase in discount rate and favorable asset performance.
(2)For 2022, deferred gains for pension were driven by an increase in discount rate offset partially by unfavorable asset performance. Deferred losses for other postretirement benefits were driven by unfavorable asset performance partially offset by an increase in discount rate.
(3)For 2023, deferred losses for pension were driven by a decrease in discount rate and unfavorable asset performance. Deferred gains for other postretirement benefits were driven by a change to the Retiree Medical Plan, decrease in discount rate and favorable asset performance.
 
The Company’s assumptions related to the calculation of the domestic benefit obligation (end of period) and the determination of net periodic (benefit) cost (beginning of period) are presented in the table below:
 
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
 202320222021202320222021
Weighted average assumptions
Discount rate (beginning of period)5.45 %2.85 %2.55 %5.55 %2.75 %2.40 %
Discount rate (end of period)5.30 %5.45 %2.85 %5.20 %5.55 %2.75 %
Rate of increase in compensation levels (beginning of period)4.50 %4.50 %4.50 %N/AN/AN/A
Rate of increase in compensation levels (end of period)6.25 %4.50 %4.50 %N/AN/AN/A
Expected return on plan assets (beginning of period)7.50 %6.00 %5.75 %7.75 %7.00 %6.75 %
Interest crediting rate (beginning of period)4.25 %4.25 %4.25 %N/AN/AN/A
Interest crediting rate (end of period)4.95 %4.25 %4.25 %N/AN/AN/A
Health care cost trend rates (beginning of period)N/AN/AN/A6.50 %6.00 %6.25 %
Health care cost trend rates (end of period)N/AN/AN/A7.35 %6.50 %6.00 %
For 2023, 2022 and 2021, the ultimate health care cost trend rate after gradual decrease until: 2030, 2028, 2028, (beginning of period)N/AN/AN/A4.75 %4.50 %4.50 %
For 2023, 2022 and 2021, the ultimate health care cost trend rate after gradual decrease until: 2034, 2030, 2028 (end of period)N/AN/AN/A4.75 %4.75 %4.50 %
 
The domestic discount rate used to value the pension and postretirement obligations at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is based upon the value of a portfolio of Aa-rated investments whose cash flows would be available to pay the benefit obligation’s cash flows when due. The December 31, 2023 portfolio is selected from a compilation of approximately 805 Aa-rated bonds across the full range of maturities. Since bond ratings and yields can vary widely at each maturity point, the Company uses an average bond rating and excludes bonds with unusually high or low yields, so as to avoid relying on bonds that might be mispriced or misrated. The Aa-rated portfolio is then selected and, accordingly, its value is a measure of the benefit obligation. A single equivalent discount rate is calculated to equate the value of the Aa-rated portfolio to the cash flows for the benefit obligation. The result is rounded to the nearest 5 basis points and the benefit obligation is recalculated using the rounded discount rate.
 
The pension and postretirement expected long-term rates of return on plan assets for 2023 were determined based upon an approach that considered the allocation of plan assets as of December 31, 2022. Expected returns are estimated by asset class as noted in the discussion of investment policies and strategies below. Expected returns on asset classes are developed using a building-block approach that is forward looking and are not strictly based upon historical returns. The building blocks for equity returns include inflation, real return, a term premium, an equity risk premium, capital appreciation, expenses, the effect of active management and the effect of rebalancing. The building blocks for fixed maturity returns include inflation, real return, a term premium, credit spread, capital appreciation, effect of active management, expenses and the effect of rebalancing.
 
The Company applied a similar approach to the determination of the expected rate of return on plan assets in 2024. The expected rate of return for 2024 is 7.50% and 6.75% for pension and postretirement, respectively.
 
The assumptions for foreign pension plans are based on local markets. There are no material foreign postretirement plans.

 Plan Assets
 
The investment goal of the domestic pension plan is to generate an above benchmark return on a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and other investments. The cash requirements of the plan’s pension obligation, which include a traditional defined benefit formula principally representing payments to annuitants and a cash balance formula that allows lump sum payments and annuity payments, are designed to be met by the bonds and short-term investments in the portfolio.

The investment goal of the domestic postretirement plan assets is to generate an above benchmark return on a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other investments, while meeting the cash requirements for the postretirement obligation that includes a medical benefit including prescription drugs, a dental benefit and a life benefit.

The pension and postretirement plans risk management practices include guidelines for asset concentration, credit rating, liquidity and tax efficiency. The fiduciaries of the pension and postretirement plans select investment managers to invest the assets of the plans consistent with each manager’s investment mandate. These managers may use derivatives such as futures
contracts to reduce transaction costs and change asset concentration and may use interest rate swaps and futures to adjust duration.
 
The plan fiduciaries for the Company’s pension and postretirement plans have developed guidelines for asset allocations reflecting a percentage of total assets by asset class, which are reviewed on a regular basis. Asset allocation targets as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:
 
 PensionPostretirement
 MinimumMaximumMinimumMaximum
Asset Category
U.S. Equities0 %3 %17 %59 %
International Equities0 %10 %3 %21 %
Fixed Maturities53 %71 %29 %69 %
Short-term Investments0 %11 %0 %23 %
Real Estate3 %18 %0 %0 %
Other8 %38 %0 %0 %
 
To implement the investment strategy, plan assets are invested in funds that primarily invest in securities that correspond to one of the asset categories under the investment guidelines. However, at any point in time, some of the assets in a fund may be of a different nature than the specified asset category.

Assets held with PICA are in either pooled separate accounts or single client separate accounts. Assets held with a bank are either in common/collective trusts or single client trusts. Pooled separate accounts and common/collective trusts hold assets for multiple investors. Each investor owns a “unit of account.” The asset allocation targets above include the underlying asset mix in the Pooled Separate Accounts and Common/Collective Trusts. Single client separate accounts or trusts hold assets for only one investor, the domestic qualified pension plan, and each security in the fund is treated as individually owned.
 
There were no investments in Prudential Financial Common Stock as of both December 31, 2023 and 2022 for either the pension or postretirement plans.
 
The authoritative guidance around fair value established a framework for measuring fair value. Fair value is disclosed using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, as described in Note 6.
 
The following describes the valuation methodologies used for pension and postretirement plans assets measured at fair value.
 
Insurance Company Pooled Separate Accounts, Common/Collective Trusts, and United Kingdom Insurance Pooled Funds—Insurance company pooled separate accounts are invested via group annuity contracts issued by PICA. Assets are represented by a “unit of account.” The redemption value of those units is based on a per unit value whose value is the result of the accumulated values of underlying investments. The unit of account value is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value.
 
Equities—See Note 6 for a discussion of the valuation methodologies for equity securities.
 
U.S. Government Securities (both Federal and State & Other), Non–U.S. Government Securities, and Corporate Debt—See Note 6 for a discussion of the valuation methodologies for fixed maturity securities.
 
Interest Rate Swaps—See Note 6 for a discussion of the valuation methodologies for derivative instruments.
 
Registered Investment Companies (Mutual Funds)—Securities are priced at the NAV, which is the closing price published by the registered investment company on the reporting date.
 
Short-term Investments—Securities are valued initially at cost and thereafter adjusted for amortization of any discount or premium (i.e., amortized cost). Amortized cost approximates fair value.
 
Partnerships—The value of interests owned in partnerships is based on valuations of the underlying investments that include private placements, structured debt, real estate, equities, fixed maturities, commodities and other investments.

Hedge Funds—The value of interests in hedge funds is based on the underlying investments that include equities, debt and other investments.

Variable Life Insurance Policies—These assets are held in group and individual variable life insurance policies issued by PICA. Group policies are invested in Insurance Company Pooled Separate Accounts. Individual policies are invested in Registered Investment Companies (Mutual Funds). The value of interest in these policies is the cash surrender value (contract value) of the policies based on the underlying investments. The variable life insurance policies are valued at contract value which approximates fair value.
 
Pension plan asset allocations in accordance with the investment guidelines are as follows: 

 As of December 31, 2023
As of December 31, 2022
 Level 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
 (in millions)
Fixed maturities:
U.S. government securities (federal)$0 $536 $0 $536 $0 $406 $0 $406 
U.S. government securities (state & other)0 365 0 365 0 376 0 376 
Non-U.S. government securities0 51 0 51 0 57 0 57 
Corporate debt:
Corporate bonds0 2,480 9 2,489 0 2,619 0 2,619 
Asset-backed0 66 0 66 0 46 0 46 
Collateralized mortgage obligations0 447 0 447 0 472 0 472 
Collateralized loan obligations0 549 0 549 0 650 0 650 
Interest rate swaps(1)0 5 0 5 0 11 0 11 
Registered investment companies110 0 0 110 65 0 0 65 
Common stock20 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 
Other(2)63 (6)82 139 17 0 65 82 
Subtotal fixed maturities193 4,493 91 4,777 82 4,637 65 4,784 
Real estate:
Partnerships0 0 942 942 0 0 1,004 1,004 
Other:
Partnerships0 0 2,142 2,142 0 0 1,713 1,713 
Hedge funds0 0 1,495 1,495 0 0 1,455 1,455 
Subtotal other0 0 3,637 3,637 0 0 3,168 3,168 
Net assets in the fair value hierarchy$193 $4,493 $4,670 $9,356 $82 $4,637 $4,237 $8,956 
Investments Measured at Net Asset Value, as a Practical Expedient(3):
Pooled separate accounts$2,222 $2,347 
Common/collective trusts958 1,131 
United Kingdom insurance pooled funds113 85 
Net assets at fair value$12,649 $12,519 
__________
(1)Interest rate swaps notional amount is $1,227 million and $1,373 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2)This category primarily consists of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, payables and receivables, and open future contract positions (including fixed income collateral).
(3)The pension plan excludes from the fair value hierarchy investments that are measured at NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. U.S. equities totaled $63 million and $235 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. International equities totaled $237 million and $361 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Fixed maturities totaled $2,249 million and $2,020 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Short-term investments totaled $118 million and $125 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Real estate totaled $626 million and $822 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Pension Assets

Fixed MaturitiesReal
Estate		Other
 
Corporate Bonds
OtherPartnershipsPartnershipsHedge Fund
 (in millions)
Fair Value, January 1, 2022
$0 $42 $998 $1,800 $1,304 
Actual return on assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date0 0 56 (92)33 
Relating to assets sold during the period0 0 0 0 0 
Purchases(1)0 0 (50)5 118 
Sales(1)0 0 0 0 0 
Issuances(1)0 65 0 0 0 
Settlements(1)0 (42)0 0 0 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 30 0 0 0 0 
Fair Value, December 31, 2022
$0 $65 $1,004 $1,713 $1,455 
Actual return on assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date0 0 (57)197 121 
Relating to assets sold during the period0 0 0 0 0 
Purchases12 0 (5)232 (81)
Sales(3)0 0 0 0 
Issuances0 82 0 0 0 
Settlements0 (65)0 0 0 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 30 0 0 0 0 
Fair Value, December 31, 2023
$9 $82 $942 $2,142 $1,495 
__________
(1)Prior period amounts have been updated to conform to current period presentation.
Postretirement plan asset allocations in accordance with the investment guidelines are as follows:
 
 As of December 31, 2023
As of December 31, 2022
 Level 1Level 2
Level 3
TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
 (in millions)
Equities:
U.S. equities$0 $30 $0 $30 $0 $24 $0 $24 
International equities0 9 0 9 0 8 0 8 
Subtotal equities0 39 0 39 0 32 0 32 
Fixed maturities:
Equities0 8 0 8 0 11 0 11 
Subtotal fixed maturities0 8 0 8 0 11 0 11 
Short-term investments:
Registered investment companies40 0 0 40 50 0 0 50 
Net assets in the fair value hierarchy$40 $47 $0 $87 $50 $43 $0 $93 
Investments Measured at Net Asset Value, as a Practical Expedient(1):
Common/collective trusts$162 $189 
Net assets at fair value249 282 
Variable Life Insurance Policies at contract value937 909 
Total net assets$1,186 $1,191 
__________
(1)The postretirement plan excludes from the fair value hierarchy investments that are measured at NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient to estimate fair value and Variable Life Insurance Policies valued at contract value. U.S. equities totaled $351 million and $600 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. International equities totaled $88 million and $126 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Fixed maturities totaled $660 million and $372 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2)There were no changes in the fair value of Level 3 postretirement assets from December 31, 2022 through December 31, 2023.
The expected benefit payments for the Company’s pension and postretirement plans for the years indicated are as follows:
 
Pension Benefit
Payments		Other
Postretirement
Benefit Payments
 (in millions)
2024$1,049 $123 
2025863 124 
2026854 122 
2027885 115 
2028894 103 
2029-2033
4,588 376 
Total$9,133 $963 
 
The Company anticipates that it will make cash contributions in 2024 of approximately $180 million to the pension plans and approximately $10 million to the postretirement plans.
 
Postemployment Benefits
 
The Company accrues postemployment benefits for income continuance and health and life benefits provided to former or inactive employees who are not retirees. The net accumulated liability for these benefits at December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $27 million and $30 million, respectively, and is included in “Other liabilities.”
 
Other Employee Benefits
 
The Company sponsors voluntary savings plans for employees (401(k) plans). The plans provide for salary reduction contributions by employees and matching contributions by the Company of up to 4% of annual salary. The matching contributions by the Company included in “General and administrative expenses” were $79 million, $77 million and $80 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.