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Investments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] |
Investments | Investments Available for sale fixed maturities and equity securities at December 31 consisted of the following (in millions):
| 2017 |  | 2016
Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized |  | Net Unrealized |  | Fair Value |  | Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized |  | Net Unrealized |  | Fair Value
Gains |  | Losses |  |  |  | Gains |  | Losses |  |
Fixed maturities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | 244 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | (2 | ) |  | $ | 242 |  |  | $ | 315 |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 315 |
States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 6,887 |  |  | 254 |  |  | (18 | ) |  | 236 |  |  | 7,123 |  |  | 6,650 |  |  | 200 |  |  | (69 | ) |  | 131 |  |  | 6,781 |
Foreign government | 124 |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | 127 |  |  | 131 |  |  | 5 |  |  | — |  |  | 5 |  |  | 136 |
Residential MBS | 2,884 |  |  | 349 |  |  | (6 | ) |  | 343 |  |  | 3,227 |  |  | 3,367 |  |  | 281 |  |  | (13 | ) |  | 268 |  |  | 3,635 |
Commercial MBS | 927 |  |  | 36 |  |  | (1 | ) |  | 35 |  |  | 962 |  |  | 1,446 |  |  | 49 |  |  | (2 | ) |  | 47 |  |  | 1,493 |
Asset-backed securities | 7,836 |  |  | 142 |  |  | (16 | ) |  | 126 |  |  | 7,962 |  |  | 5,962 |  |  | 43 |  |  | (46 | ) |  | (3 | ) |  | 5,959 |
Corporate and other | 18,136 |  |  | 638 |  |  | (38 | ) |  | 600 |  |  | 18,736 |  |  | 15,864 |  |  | 473 |  |  | (112 | ) |  | 361 |  |  | 16,225 |
Total fixed maturities | $ | 37,038 |  |  | $ | 1,423 |  |  | $ | (82 | ) |  | $ | 1,341 |  |  | $ | 38,379 |  |  | $ | 33,735 |  |  | $ | 1,054 |  |  | $ | (245 | ) |  | $ | 809 |  |  | $ | 34,544 |
Equity Securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stocks | $ | 786 |  |  | $ | 263 |  |  | $ | (22 | ) |  | $ | 241 |  |  | $ | 1,027 |  |  | $ | 879 |  |  | $ | 160 |  |  | $ | (23 | ) |  | $ | 137 |  |  | $ | 1,016 |
Perpetual preferred stocks | 535 |  |  | 39 |  |  | (1 | ) |  | 38 |  |  | 573 |  |  | 472 |  |  | 21 |  |  | (7 | ) |  | 14 |  |  | 486 |
Total equity securities | $ | 1,321 |  |  | $ | 302 |  |  | $ | (23 | ) |  | $ | 279 |  |  | $ | 1,600 |  |  | $ | 1,351 |  |  | $ | 181 |  |  | $ | (30 | ) |  | $ | 151 |  |  | $ | 1,502 |
The non-credit related portion of other-than-temporary impairment charges is included in other comprehensive income. Cumulative non-credit charges taken for securities still owned at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, were $158 million and $189 million. Gross unrealized gains on such securities at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $137 million and $130 million, respectively. Gross unrealized losses on such securities at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $4 million and $3 million, respectively. These amounts represent the non-credit other-than-temporary impairment charges recorded in AOCI adjusted for subsequent changes in fair values and relate primarily to residential MBS. The following tables show gross unrealized losses (dollars in millions) on available for sale fixed maturities and equity securities by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
|  | Less Than Twelve Months |  | Twelve Months or More
| Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Fair Value as % of Cost |  | Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Fair Value as % of Cost
| 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Fixed maturities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | — |  |  | $ | 55 |  |  | 100 | % |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | 123 |  |  | 98 | %
| States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (8 | ) |  | 825 |  |  | 99 | % |  | (10 | ) |  | 431 |  |  | 98 | %
| Foreign government | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | 100 | % |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — | %
| Residential MBS | (1 | ) |  | 118 |  |  | 99 | % |  | (5 | ) |  | 118 |  |  | 96 | %
| Commercial MBS | (1 | ) |  | 67 |  |  | 99 | % |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — | %
| Asset-backed securities | (7 | ) |  | 1,195 |  |  | 99 | % |  | (9 | ) |  | 299 |  |  | 97 | %
| Corporate and other | (20 | ) |  | 2,031 |  |  | 99 | % |  | (18 | ) |  | 603 |  |  | 97 | %
| Total fixed maturities | $ | (37 | ) |  | $ | 4,295 |  |  | 99 | % |  | $ | (45 | ) |  | $ | 1,574 |  |  | 97 | %
| Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Common stocks | $ | (22 | ) |  | $ | 117 |  |  | 84 | % |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — | %
| Perpetual preferred stocks | — |  |  | 41 |  |  | 100 | % |  | (1 | ) |  | 13 |  |  | 93 | %
| Total equity securities | $ | (22 | ) |  | $ | 158 |  |  | 88 | % |  | $ | (1 | ) |  | $ | 13 |  |  | 93 | %
| 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Fixed maturities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| U.S. Government and government agencies | $ | (1 | ) |  | $ | 153 |  |  | 99 | % |  | $ | (2 | ) |  | $ | 8 |  |  | 80 | %
| States, municipalities and political subdivisions | (64 | ) |  | 2,289 |  |  | 97 | % |  | (5 | ) |  | 44 |  |  | 90 | %
| Residential MBS | (7 | ) |  | 502 |  |  | 99 | % |  | (6 | ) |  | 162 |  |  | 96 | %
| Commercial MBS | (2 | ) |  | 121 |  |  | 98 | % |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — | %
| Asset-backed securities | (29 | ) |  | 1,737 |  |  | 98 | % |  | (17 | ) |  | 634 |  |  | 97 | %
| Corporate and other | (93 | ) |  | 3,849 |  |  | 98 | % |  | (19 | ) |  | 312 |  |  | 94 | %
| Total fixed maturities | $ | (196 | ) |  | $ | 8,651 |  |  | 98 | % |  | $ | (49 | ) |  | $ | 1,160 |  |  | 96 | %
| Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Common stocks | $ | (23 | ) |  | $ | 215 |  |  | 90 | % |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — | %
| Perpetual preferred stocks | (6 | ) |  | 135 |  |  | 96 | % |  | (1 | ) |  | 6 |  |  | 86 | %
| Total equity securities | $ | (29 | ) |  | $ | 350 |  |  | 92 | % |  | $ | (1 | ) |  | $ | 6 |  |  | 86 | %
At December 31, 2017, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of $82 million relate to 841 securities. Investment grade securities (as determined by nationally recognized rating agencies) represented approximately 78% of the gross unrealized loss and 90% of the fair value. The determination of whether unrealized losses are “other-than-temporary” requires judgment based on subjective as well as objective factors. Factors considered and resources used by management include:
a) | whether the unrealized loss is credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates,
b) | the extent to which fair value is less than cost basis,
c) | cash flow projections received from independent sources,
d) | historical operating, balance sheet and cash flow data contained in issuer SEC filings and news releases,
e) | near-term prospects for improvement in the issuer and/or its industry,
f) | third party research and communications with industry specialists,
g) | financial models and forecasts,
h) | the continuity of dividend payments, maintenance of investment grade ratings and hybrid nature of certain investments,
i) | discussions with issuer management, and
j) | ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery in fair value.
AFG analyzes its MBS securities for other-than-temporary impairment each quarter based upon expected future cash flows. Management estimates expected future cash flows based upon its knowledge of the MBS market, cash flow projections (which reflect loan to collateral values, subordination, vintage and geographic concentration) received from independent sources, implied cash flows inherent in security ratings and analysis of historical payment data. During 2017, AFG recorded $1 million in other-than-temporary impairment charges related to its residential MBS. In 2017, AFG recorded approximately $19 million and $4 million in other-than-temporary impairment charges related to other fixed maturities (other than residential MBS securities) and other investments, respectively. AFG recorded $55 million in other-than-temporary impairment charges on common stocks in 2017. At December 31, 2017, the gross unrealized losses on common stocks of $22 million relate to 16 securities, none of which has been in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. AFG recorded $9 million in other-than-temporary impairment charges on preferred stock in 2017. At December 31, 2017, the gross unrealized losses on preferred stocks of $1 million relate to 7 securities. Three preferred stocks have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more and all are investment grade rated. Management believes AFG will recover its cost basis in the securities with unrealized losses and that AFG has the ability to hold the securities until they recover in value and had no intent to sell them at December 31, 2017. As discussed in Note A — “Accounting Policies — Investments,” effective January 1, 2018, all equity securities currently classified as “available for sale” will be required to be carried at fair value through net earnings instead of accumulated other comprehensive income and will therefore no longer be evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment. A progression of the credit portion of other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities for which the non-credit portion of an impairment has been recognized in other comprehensive income is shown below (in millions):
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Balance at January 1 | $ | 153 |  |  | $ | 160 |  |  | $ | 170 |
Additional credit impairments on: |  |  |  |  |
Previously impaired securities | 1 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 1 |
Securities without prior impairments | 3 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 2 |
Reductions due to: |  |  |  |  |
Sales or redemptions | (12 | ) |  | (10 | ) |  | (9 | )
Sale of subsidiaries | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4 | )
Balance at December 31 | $ | 145 |  |  | $ | 153 |  |  | $ | 160 |
The table below sets forth the scheduled maturities of available for sale fixed maturities as of December 31, 2017 (dollars in millions). Securities with sinking funds are reported at average maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain securities may be called or prepaid by the issuers.
| Amortized |  | Fair Value
Cost |  | Amount |  | %
Maturity |  |  |  |  |
One year or less | $ | 746 |  |  | $ | 759 |  |  | 2 | %
After one year through five years | 6,730 |  |  | 6,939 |  |  | 18 | %
After five years through ten years | 13,235 |  |  | 13,662 |  |  | 35 | %
After ten years | 4,680 |  |  | 4,868 |  |  | 13 | %
| 25,391 |  |  | 26,228 |  |  | 68 | %
ABS (average life of approximately 5 years) | 7,836 |  |  | 7,962 |  |  | 21 | %
MBS (average life of approximately 4.5 years) | 3,811 |  |  | 4,189 |  |  | 11 | %
Total | $ | 37,038 |  |  | $ | 38,379 |  |  | 100 | %
Certain risks are inherent in fixed maturity securities, including loss upon default, price volatility in reaction to changes in interest rates, and general market factors and risks associated with reinvestment of proceeds due to prepayments or redemptions in a period of declining interest rates. There were no investments in individual issuers that exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2017 or 2016. Net Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities In addition to adjusting fixed maturity securities and equity securities classified as “available for sale” to fair value, GAAP requires that deferred policy acquisition costs and certain other balance sheet amounts related to annuity, long-term care and life businesses be adjusted to the extent that unrealized gains and losses from securities would result in adjustments to those balances had the unrealized gains or losses actually been realized. The following table shows (in millions) the components of the net unrealized gain on securities that is included in AOCI in AFG’s Balance Sheet.
| Pretax |  | Deferred Tax |  | Net
December 31, 2017 |  |  |  |  |
Net unrealized gain on: |  |  |  |  |
Fixed maturities — annuity segment (a) | $ | 1,082 |  |  | $ | (227 | ) |  | $ | 855 |
Fixed maturities — all other | 259 |  |  | (55 | ) |  | 204 |
Total fixed maturities | 1,341 |  |  | (282 | ) |  | 1,059 |
Equity securities (b) | 279 |  |  | (58 | ) |  | 221 |
Total investments | 1,620 |  |  | (340 | ) |  | 1,280 |
Deferred policy acquisition costs — annuity segment | (433 | ) |  | 91 |  |  | (342 | )
Annuity benefits accumulated | (137 | ) |  | 29 |  |  | (108 | )
Unearned revenue | 13 |  |  | (3 | ) |  | 10 |
Total net unrealized gain on marketable securities | $ | 1,063 |  |  | $ | (223 | ) |  | $ | 840 |
December 31, 2016 |  |  |  |  |
Net unrealized gain on: |  |  |  |  |
Fixed maturities — annuity segment (a) | $ | 640 |  |  | $ | (224 | ) |  | $ | 416 |
Fixed maturities — all other | 169 |  |  | (59 | ) |  | 110 |
Total fixed maturities | 809 |  |  | (283 | ) |  | 526 |
Equity securities (b) | 151 |  |  | (53 | ) |  | 98 |
Total investments | 960 |  |  | (336 | ) |  | 624 |
Deferred policy acquisition costs — annuity segment | (273 | ) |  | 96 |  |  | (177 | )
Annuity benefits accumulated | (78 | ) |  | 27 |  |  | (51 | )
Unearned revenue | 13 |  |  | (5 | ) |  | 8 |
Total net unrealized gain on marketable securities | $ | 622 |  |  | $ | (218 | ) |  | $ | 404 |
(a) | Net unrealized gains on fixed maturity investments supporting AFG’s annuity benefits accumulated.
(b) | As discussed in Note A — “Accounting Policies — Investments,” effective January 1, 2018, all equity securities currently classified as “available for sale” will be required to be carried at fair value through net earnings instead of AOCI.
Real Estate and Other Investments Real estate and other investments on AFG’s Balance Sheet includes the following at December 31 (in millions):
| 2017 |  | 2016
Limited partnerships and similar investments accounted for using the equity method | $ | 999 |  |  | $ | 688 |
Directly owned real estate | 164 |  |  | 197 |
Other investments | 148 |  |  | 149 |
Total real estate and other investments | $ | 1,311 |  |  | $ | 1,034 |
Net Investment Income The following table shows (in millions) investment income earned and investment expenses incurred.
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Investment income: |  |  |  |  |
Fixed maturities | $ | 1,607 |  |  | $ | 1,510 |  |  | $ | 1,461 |
Equity securities | 79 |  |  | 81 |  |  | 76 |
Equity in earnings of partnerships and similar investments | 64 |  |  | 44 |  |  | 27 |
Other | 102 |  |  | 81 |  |  | 87 |
Gross investment income | 1,852 |  |  | 1,716 |  |  | 1,651 |
Investment expenses | (21 | ) |  | (20 | ) |  | (18 | )
Net investment income | $ | 1,831 |  |  | $ | 1,696 |  |  | $ | 1,633 |
Realized gains (losses) and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to fixed maturity and equity security investments are summarized as follows (in millions):
| 2017 |  | 2016
| Realized gains (losses) |  |  |  | Realized gains (losses) |  |
| Before Impairments |  | Impairments |  | Total |  | Change in Unrealized |  | Before Impairments |  | Impairments |  | Total |  | Change in Unrealized
Fixed maturities | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | (20 | ) |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | 532 |  |  | $ | 36 |  |  | $ | (38 | ) |  | $ | (2 | ) |  | $ | 90 |
Equity securities | 70 |  |  | (64 | ) |  | 6 |  |  | 128 |  |  | 106 |  |  | (93 | ) |  | 13 |  |  | 67 |
Mortgage loans and other investments | (6 | ) |  | (4 | ) |  | (10 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other (*) | (3 | ) |  | 15 |  |  | 12 |  |  | (219 | ) |  | (7 | ) |  | 15 |  |  | 8 |  |  | (52 | )
Total pretax | 78 |  |  | (73 | ) |  | 5 |  |  | 441 |  |  | 135 |  |  | (116 | ) |  | 19 |  |  | 105 |
Tax effects | (27 | ) |  | 25 |  |  | (2 | ) |  | (5 | ) |  | (48 | ) |  | 41 |  |  | (7 | ) |  | (37 | )
Noncontrolling interests | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (2 | ) |  | 3 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 4 |
Net of tax and noncontrolling interests | $ | 51 |  |  | $ | (48 | ) |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 436 |  |  | $ | 85 |  |  | $ | (72 | ) |  | $ | 13 |  |  | $ | 72 |
|  |  | 2015
|  |  |  |  | Realized gains (losses) |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Before Impairments |  | Impairments |  | Total |  | Change in Unrealized
Fixed maturities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 19 |  |  | $ | (43 | ) |  | $ | (24 | ) |  | $ | (941 | )
Equity securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 94 |  |  | (94 | ) |  | — |  |  | (134 | )
Mortgage loans and other investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2 | ) |  | (3 | ) |  | (5 | ) |  | — |
Other (*) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (5 | ) |  | 15 |  |  | 10 |  |  | 430 |
Total pretax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 106 |  |  | (125 | ) |  | (19 | ) |  | (645 | )
Tax effects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (38 | ) |  | 45 |  |  | 7 |  |  | 226 |
Noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2 | ) |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 8 |
Net of tax and noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 66 |  |  | $ | (78 | ) |  | $ | (12 | ) |  | $ | (411 | )
(*) | Primarily adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs and reserves related to the annuity business.
Gross realized gains and losses (excluding impairment write-downs and mark-to-market of derivatives) on available for sale fixed maturity and equity security investment transactions consisted of the following (in millions):
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Fixed maturities: |  |  |  |  |
Gross gains | $ | 43 |  |  | $ | 55 |  |  | $ | 38 |
Gross losses | (20 | ) |  | (10 | ) |  | (7 | )
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |
Gross gains | 87 |  |  | 110 |  |  | 99 |
Gross losses | (17 | ) |  | (4 | ) |  | (5 | )

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- Definition The entire disclosure for investments in certain debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2196928 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=4738149 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 940 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2176304 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2324412 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2209399 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 954 -SubTopic 320 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2289146 + Details
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