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Basis of Financial Statements (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Financial Statements The financial information in this report presented for interim periods is unaudited and includes the accounts of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we,” “us,” “our,” the "Company" or “FNF”) prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All adjustments made were of a normal, recurring nature. This report should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K (our "Annual Report") for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings Per Share     
Basic earnings per share, as presented on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings, is computed by dividing net earnings available to common shareholders in a given period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during such period. In periods when earnings are positive, diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus assumed conversions of potentially dilutive securities. For periods when we recognize a net loss, diluted loss per share is equal to basic loss per share as the impact of assumed conversions of potentially dilutive securities is considered to be antidilutive. We have
granted certain stock options and shares of restricted stock, which have been treated as common share equivalents for purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share for periods in which positive earnings have been reported.
Options or other instruments, which provide the ability to purchase shares of our common stock that are antidilutive, are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share. There were fewer than 1 million antidilutive instruments outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
Owned Distribution Investments
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we paid approximately $114 million in commissions on sales through our funded owned distribution investments and their affiliates, with the acquisition expense deferred and amortized in Depreciation and amortization on the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Impacts of adoption of ASU 2018-12 on Financial Statements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Adopted Pronouncements
In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2018-12, as clarified and amended by ASU 2019-09, Financial Services-Insurance: Effective Date and ASU 2020-11, Financial Services-Insurance: Effective Date and Early Application, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update introduced the following requirements: assumptions used to measure cash flows for traditional and limited-payment contracts must be reviewed at least annually with the effect of changes in those assumptions being recognized in the statement of earnings; the discount rate applied to measure the liability for future policy benefits and limited-payment contracts must be updated at each reporting date with the effect of changes in the rate being recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”); Market risk benefits (“MRB”) associated with deposit contracts must be measured at fair value, with the effect of the change in the fair value recognized in earnings, except for the change attributable to instrument-specific credit risk, which is recognized in AOCI; deferred acquisition costs are no longer required to be amortized in proportion to premiums, gross profits, or gross margins; instead, those balances must be amortized on a constant level basis over the expected term of the related contracts; deferred acquisition costs must be written off for unexpected contract terminations; and disaggregated roll forwards of beginning to ending balances of the liability for future policyholder benefits ("FPBs"), contractholder funds, MRBs, separate account liabilities and deferred acquisition costs, as well as information about significant inputs, judgments, assumptions, and methods used in measurement are required to be disclosed. We adopted this standard, which required the new guidance be applied as of the beginning of the earliest period presented or January 1, 2021, referred to as the transition date, and elected the full retrospective transition method. As a result of adoption, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment, which increased opening 2021 retained earnings by $75 million, net of tax.
Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions. The amendments in this update affect all entities that have investments in equity securities measured at fair value that are subject to a contractual sale restriction and clarify that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. The amendments also clarify that an entity cannot, as a separate unit of account, recognize and measure a contractual sale restriction. Additionally, the amendments require the following disclosures for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions: the fair value of equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions reflected in the balance sheet, the nature and remaining duration of the restriction(s), and the circumstances that could cause a lapse in the restriction(s). The amendments in this update do not change the principles of fair value measurement, rather, they clarify those principles when measuring the fair value of an equity security subject to a contractual sale restriction and improve current GAAP by reducing diversity in practice, reducing the cost and complexity in measuring fair value, and increasing comparability of financial information across reporting entities that hold those investments. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years, though early adoption is permitted. We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures upon adoption. We do not currently plan to early adopt this standard.
Investment Securities
Investments
Fixed Maturity Securities Available-for-Sale
Fixed maturity securities are purchased to support our investment strategies, which are developed based on factors including rate of return, maturity, credit risk, duration, tax considerations and regulatory requirements. Our investments in fixed maturity securities have been designated as available-for-sale ("AFS") and are carried at fair value, net of allowance for expected credit losses, with unrealized gains and losses included within AOCI, net of deferred income taxes. Fair values for fixed maturity securities are principally a function of current market conditions and are primarily valued based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or model inputs that are observable or unobservable. We recognize investment income on fixed maturities based on the effective interest method, which results in the recognition of a constant rate of return on the investment equal to the prevailing rate at the time of purchase or at the time of subsequent adjustments of book value. In our title segment, realized gains and losses on sales of our fixed maturity securities are determined on the basis of the cost of the specific investments sold and are credited or charged to income on a trade date basis. Our F&G segment uses first in first out cost basis and generally records security transactions on a trade date basis except for private placements, which are recorded on a settlement date basis. Realized gains and losses on sales of fixed maturity securities are reported within Recognized gains and losses, net in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Fixed maturity securities AFS are subject to an allowance for credit loss and changes in the allowance are reported in net earnings as a component of Recognized gains and losses, net. For details on our policy around allowance for expected credit losses on AFS securities, refer to Note D Investments.
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates
We account for our investments in unconsolidated affiliates using the equity method or by electing the fair value option. Initial investments are recorded at cost. For investments subsequently measured using the equity method (primarily limited partnerships), adjustments to the carrying amount reflect our pro rata ownership percentage of the operating results as indicated by net asset value (“NAV”) in the unconsolidated affiliates’ financial statements, which we may adjust if we determine NAV is not calculated consistent with investment company fair value principles. Distributions received are recorded as a decrease in the investment balance. For investments subsequently measured using the fair value option, adjustments to the carrying amount reflecting the change in fair value of the investment are reported along with realized gains and losses on sales of investments in unconsolidated affiliates in Recognized gains and losses, net in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Other income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates, including distributions received from investments measured using the fair value option, is reported within Interest and investment income in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Recognition of income and adjustments to the carrying amount can be delayed due to the availability of the related financial statements, which are obtained from the general partner or managing member generally on a one to three-month delay. For investments using the equity method, management meets quarterly with the general partner or managing member to determine whether any credit or other market events have occurred since prior quarter financial statements to ensure any material events are properly included in current quarter valuation and investment income.
VOBA, DAC, DSI and URL
VOBA, DAC, DSI and URL
Our intangible assets include the value of insurance and reinsurance contracts acquired (hereafter referred to as "VOBA"), deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") and deferred sales inducements ("DSI").
VOBA is an intangible asset that reflects the amount recorded as insurance contract liabilities less the estimated fair value of in-force contracts (“VIF”) in a life insurance company acquisition. It represents the portion of the purchase price that is allocated to the value of the rights to receive future cash flows from the business in force at the acquisition date. VOBA is a function of the VIF, current GAAP reserves, GAAP assets, and deferred tax liability. The VIF is determined by the present value of statutory distributable earnings less opening required capital. DAC consists principally of commissions and other acquisition costs that are related directly to the successful sale of new or renewal insurance contracts. Indirect or unsuccessful acquisition costs, maintenance, product development and overhead expenses are charged to expense as incurred. DSI represents up front bonus credits and persistency or vesting bonuses credited to contractholder fund balances.
VOBA, DAC, and DSI are amortized on a constant level basis for the grouped contracts over the expected term of the related contracts to approximate straight-line amortization. Contracts are grouped by product type and feature and issue year into cohorts consistent with the grouping used in estimating the associated liability, where applicable. The constant level amortization bases of VOBA, DAC and DSI varies by product type. For universal life and indexed universal life ("IUL")
insurance products, the constant level basis used is face amount in force. For deferred annuities (fixed indexed annuities ("FIA") and fixed rate annuities), the constant level basis used is initial premium deposit for DAC and DSI and vested account value as of the acquisition date for VOBA. For immediate annuity contracts, the VOBA balance is amortized in alignment with the Company’s accounting policy of amortizing the deferred profit liability (“DPL”). All amortization bases are adjusted by full lapses, which includes deaths, full surrenders, annuitizations and maturities, where applicable.
The constant level bases used for amortization are projected using mortality and lapse assumptions that are based on Company’s experience, industry data, and other factors and are consistent with those used for the FPBs, where applicable. If those projected assumptions change in future periods, they will be reflected in the cohort level amortization basis at that time. Unexpected contract terminations, due to higher mortality and/or lapse experience than expected, are recognized in the current period as a reduction of the capitalized balances. All balances are reduced for actual experience in excess of expected experience with changes in future estimates recognized prospectively over the remaining expected grouped contract term. The impact of changes in projected assumptions and the impact of actual experience that is different from expectations both impact the amortization of these intangible assets, which is reported within Depreciation and amortization in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Some of our IUL policies require payment of fees or other policyholder assessments in advance for services that will be rendered over the estimated lives of the policies or contracts. These payments are established as unearned revenue liabilities (“URL”) upon receipt and included in Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. URL is amortized like DAC over the estimated lives of these policies.
Contractholder Funds
Contractholder Funds
Contractholder funds include deferred annuities (FIAs and fixed rate annuities), IULs, funding agreements and non-life contingent (“NLC”) immediate annuities (which includes NLC pension risk transfer ("PRT") annuities). The liabilities for contractholder funds for fixed rate annuities, funding agreements and NLC immediate annuities (which includes NLC PRT annuities) consist of contract account balances that accrue to the benefit of the contractholders. The liabilities for FIA and IUL policies consist of the value of the host contract plus the fair value of the indexed crediting feature of the policy, which is accounted for as an embedded derivative. The embedded derivative liability is carried at fair value in contractholder funds in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets with changes in fair value reported in Benefits and other changes in policy reserves in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. See a description of the fair value methodology used in Note C Fair Value of Financial Instruments.
Future Policy Benefits
Future Policy Benefits
The FPB is determined as the present value of future policy benefits and related claims expenses to be paid to or on behalf of the policyholder less the present value of future net premiums to be collected from policyholders. The FPB for traditional life policies and life-contingent immediate annuity policies (which includes life-contingent PRT annuities) are estimated using current assumptions that include discount rate, mortality and surrender/lapse terminations for traditional life insurance policies only, and expenses. The expense assumption is locked-in at contract issuance and not subsequently reviewed or updated. The initial assumptions are based on generally accepted actuarial methods and a combination of internal and industry experience. Policies are terminated through surrenders, lapses and maturities, where surrenders represent the voluntary terminations of policies by policyholders, lapses represent cancellations by us due to nonpayment of premiums, and maturities are determined by policy contract terms. Surrender assumptions are based upon policyholder behavior experience adjusted for expected future conditions.
For traditional life policies and life-contingent immediate annuity policies, contracts are grouped into cohorts by product type, legal entity, and issue year, or acquisition year for cohorts established as of the F&G acquisition date, June 1, 2020. Life-contingent PRT annuities are grouped into cohorts by deal and legal entity. At contract inception, a net premium ratio (“NPR”) is determined, which is calculated based on discounted future cash flows projected using best estimate assumptions and is capped at 100%, as net premiums cannot exceed gross premiums. Cohorts with NPRs less than 100% are not used to offset cohorts with NPRs greater than 100%.
The NPR is adjusted for changes in cash flow assumptions and for differences between actual and expected experience. We assess the appropriateness of all future cash flow assumptions, excluding the expense assumption, on a quarterly basis and perform an in-depth review of future cash flow assumptions in the third quarter of each year. Updates are made when evidence suggests a revision is necessary. Updates for actual experience, which includes actual cash flows and insurance in-force, are performed on a quarterly basis. These updated cash flows are used to calculate a revised NPR, which is used to derive an updated liability as of the beginning of the current reporting period, discounted at the original contract issuance date. The updated liability is compared with the carrying amount of the liability as of that same date before the revised NPR. The
difference between these amounts is the remeasurement gain or loss, presented parenthetically within Benefits and other changes in policy reserves in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. In subsequent periods, the revised NPR, which is capped at 100%, is used to measure the FPB, subject to future revisions. If the NPR is greater than 100%, and therefore capped at 100%, the liability is increased and expensed immediately to reflect the amount necessary for net premiums to equal gross premiums. As the liability assumptions are reviewed and updated, if deemed necessary, at least annually, if conditions improve whereby the contracts are no longer expected to have net premiums in excess of gross premiums, the improvements would be captured in the remeasurement process and reflected in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the period of improvement. For traditional life policies and life-contingent immediate annuity policies (which includes life-contingent PRT annuities), the discount rate assumption is an equivalent single rate that is derived based on A-credit-rated fixed-income instruments with similar duration to the liability. We selected fixed-income instruments that have been A-rated by Bloomberg. In order to reflect the duration characteristics of the liability, we will use an implied forward yield curve and linear interpolation will be used for durations that have limited or no market observable points on the curve. The discount rate assumption is updated quarterly and used to remeasure the liability at the reporting date, with the resulting change reflected in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings.
Deferred Profit Liability
Deferred Profit Liability
For life-contingent immediate annuity policies (which includes life-contingent PRT annuities), gross premiums received in excess of net premiums are deferred at initial recognition as a DPL. Gross premiums are measured using assumptions consistent with those used in the measurement of the related liability for FPB, including discount rate, mortality, and expenses.
The DPL is amortized and recognized as premium revenue with the amount of expected future benefit payments, discounted using the same discount rate determined and locked-in at contract issuance that is used in the measurement of the related FPB. Interest is accreted on the balance of the DPL using this same discount rate. We periodically review and update our estimates of using the actual historical experience and updated cash flows for the DPL at the same time as the estimates of cash flows for the FPB. When cash flows are updated, the updated estimates are used to recalculate the initial DPL at contract issuance. The recalculated DPL as of the beginning of the current reporting period is compared to the carrying amount of the DPL as of the beginning of the current reporting period, with any differences recognized as a remeasurement gain or loss, presented parenthetically within Benefits and other changes in policy reserves in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The DPL is recorded as a component of the Future policy benefits in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Market Risk Benefit
Market Risk Benefits
MRBs are contracts or contract features that both provide protection to the contract holder from other-than-nominal capital market risk (equity, interest rate and foreign exchange risk) and expose the Company to other-than-nominal capital market risk. MRBs include certain contract features primarily on FIA products that provide minimum guarantees to policyholders, such as guaranteed minimum death benefit (“GMDB”) and guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (“GMWB”) riders.
MRBs are measured at fair value using an attributed fee measurement approach where attributed fees are explicit rider charges collectible from the policyholder used to cover the excess benefits, which represent expected benefits in excess of the policyholder’s account value. At contract inception, an attributed fee ratio is calculated equal to rider charges over benefits paid in excess of the account value attributable to the MRBs. The attributed fee ratio remains static over the life of the MRB and is capped at 100%. For each period subsequent to contract inception, the attributed fee ratio is used to calculate the fair value of the MRBs using a risk neutral valuation method and is based on current net amounts at risk, market data, internal and industry experience, and other factors. The balances are computed using assumptions including mortality, full and partial surrender, GMWB utilization, risk-free rates including non-performance spread and risk margin, market value of options and economic scenarios. Policyholder behavior assumptions are reviewed at least annually, typically in the third quarter, for any revisions. MRBs can either be in an asset or liability position and are presented separately on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the right of setoff criteria are not met. Changes in fair value are recognized in Market risk benefits gain (losses) in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings, except for the change in fair value due to a change in the instrument-specific credit risk, which is recognized in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings. See a description of the fair value methodology used in Note C Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Note P Market Risk Benefits.
Benefits and Other Changes in Policy Reserves
Benefits and Other Changes in Policy Reserves
Benefit expenses for deferred annuities (FIAs and fixed rate annuities), IUL policies and funding agreements include interest credited, fixed interest and/or indexed (specific to FIA and IUL policies), to contractholder account balances. Benefit claims in excess of contract account balances, net of reinsurance recoveries, are charged to expense in the period that they are
earned by the policyholder based on their selected strategy or strategies. Other changes in policy reserves include the change in the fair value of the FIA embedded derivative.
Other changes in policy reserves also include the change in reserves for life insurance products. For traditional life and life-contingent immediate annuities (which includes PRT annuities with life contingencies), policy benefit claims are charged to expense in the period that the claims are incurred, net of reinsurance recoveries. Remeasurement gains or losses on the related FPB and DPL balances are presented parenthetically within Benefits and other changes in policy reserves in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Revenue Recognition Our Direct title insurance premiums are recognized as revenue at the time of closing of the underlying transaction as the earnings process is then considered complete. Regulation of title insurance rates varies by state. Premiums are charged to customers based on rates predetermined in coordination with each states' respective Department of Insurance. Cash associated with such revenue is typically collected at closing of the underlying real estate transaction. Premium revenues from agency title operations are recognized when the underlying title order and transaction closing, if applicable, are complete.Revenues from our home warranty business are generated from contracts with customers to provide warranty for major home appliances. Substantially all of our home warranty contracts are one year in length and revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the contract.
Revenue Recognition, Other We do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less, primarily related to revenue from our home warranty business, and (ii) contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed.
Revenue Recognition, Services, Real Estate Transactions
Escrow fees and other title-related fees and income in our Title segment are closely related to Direct title insurance premiums and are primarily associated with managing the closing of real estate transactions, including the processing of funds on behalf of the transaction participants, gathering and recording the required closing documents, providing notary and home inspection services, and other real estate or title-related activities. Revenue is primarily recognized upon closing of the underlying real estate transaction or completion of services. Cash associated with such revenue is typically collected at closing.
Revenues from ServiceLink, excluding its title premiums, escrow fees and loan subservicing fees primarily include revenues from real estate appraisal services and foreclosure processing and facilitation services. Revenues from real estate appraisal services are recognized when all appraisal work is complete, a final report is issued to the client and the client is billed. Revenues from foreclosure processing and facilitation services are primarily recognized upon completion of the services and when billing to the client is complete.
Life insurance premiums in our F&G segment reflect premiums for life-contingent PRT, traditional life insurance products and life-contingent immediate annuity products, which are recognized as revenue when due from the policyholder. We have ceded the majority of our traditional life business to unaffiliated third party reinsurers. While the base contract has been reinsured, we continue to retain the return of premium rider. Insurance and investment product fees and other consist primarily of the cost of insurance on IUL policies, URL on IUL policies, policy rider fees primarily on FIA policies and surrender charges assessed against policy withdrawals in excess of the policyholder's allowable penalty-free amounts.
Premium and annuity deposit collections for FIA, fixed rate annuities, immediate annuities and PRT without life contingency, and amounts received for funding agreements are reported in the financial statements as deposit liabilities (i.e., contractholder funds) instead of as sales or revenues. Similarly, cash payments to customers are reported as decreases in the liability for contractholder funds and not as expenses. Sources of revenues for products accounted for as deposit liabilities include net investment income, surrender, cost of insurance and other charges deducted from contractholder funds, and net realized gains (losses) on investments. Components of expenses for products accounted for as deposit liabilities are interest-sensitive and index product benefits (primarily interest credited to account balances or the hedging cost of providing index credits to the policyholder), amortization of VOBA, DAC, and DSI, other operating costs and expenses, and income taxes.
Real estate technology revenues are primarily comprised of subscription fees for use of software provided to real estate professionals. Subscriptions are only offered on a month-by-month basis and fees are billed monthly. Revenue is recognized in the month services are provided.
Loan subservicing revenues are generated by certain subsidiaries of ServiceLink and are associated with the servicing of mortgage loans on behalf of its customers. Revenue is recognized when the underlying work is performed and billed. Loan subservicing revenues are subject to the recognition requirements of ASC Topic 860.