Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated adjusted operating earnings per share of $2.46 in the second quarter, a 13% increase over the prior year [11] - Net income was impacted by investment losses and severance expenses, with $18 million incurred in severance expenses during the quarter [12] - The company added approximately $200 million of excess capital in the quarter, generating approximately $400 million year to date [12][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Retirement segment, adjusted operating earnings were $235 million for the quarter, representing a 1019% increase over the prior year [13][14] - Investment Management generated approximately $51 million in adjusted operating earnings for the quarter, a 2% increase year over year [15] - Employee Benefits adjusted operating earnings were $69 million in the quarter, up 15% over the prior year [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Retirement and Investment Management businesses surpassed $1 trillion in total assets, with nearly 10 million participant accounts in retirement [6] - The company achieved approximately $12 billion in total defined contribution net flows in the second quarter, bringing year-to-date net flows to over $40 billion [14] - Investment Management generated approximately $2 billion in net flows in the second quarter, contributing to year-to-date net flows of nearly $10 billion [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving strong organic growth in retirement and investment management, successfully integrating OneAmerica, and improving margins in employee benefits [23] - A partnership with Blue Owl Capital aims to expand private market access and enhance retirement offerings [8][42] - The company plans to resume share repurchases targeting $200 million in 2025, while also investing in wealth management and automation [21][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about growth opportunities ahead, despite challenges in the healthcare industry impacting the Stop Loss business [11][30] - The company is prioritizing margin improvement over growth in the Stop Loss segment, with a cautious approach to pricing and risk selection [30][60] - Management highlighted a healthy pipeline and strong retention rates in the retirement business, indicating a solid outlook for the remainder of the year [90] Other Important Information - The company returned over $40 million of capital to shareholders via common stock dividends [21] - The integration of OneAmerica is on track, with a target of $75 million in operating earnings for the year [9] - The company is embedding industry data and medical trends into pricing for employee benefits to enhance competitive positioning [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Stop Loss business and future expectations - Management noted a reduction in the reserve levels for the January 2024 business based on claims experience, with a cautious approach for the January 2025 cohort due to early development [27][28] Question: Capital return and impact of OneAmerica - Management reaffirmed plans for $200 million in share repurchases in the second half of the year, while addressing the capital needs related to OneAmerica [33][34] Question: Blue Owl partnership and product development - The partnership is expected to expand access to private investments and enhance product offerings, particularly within target date funds [42][44] Question: Voluntary benefits business and loss ratio expectations - The loss ratio improved to 47% in the quarter, with expectations around 50% for the back half of the year [63] Question: Medical stop loss and pricing strategy - Management emphasized a disciplined approach to pricing and risk selection, with expectations of higher medical inflation in 2026 [56][60]