F&G Annuities & Life (FG) 2025 Conference Transcript

Summary of F&G Conference Call Company Overview - Company: F&G (Fidelity & Guaranty Life) - Industry: Life Insurance and Annuities Key Points and Arguments Company Positioning and Strategy - F&G has undergone significant changes, including capital raising and a new reinsurance partnership, positioning itself for a more capital-light strategy with a focus on distribution rather than being a balance sheet-heavy company [3][4] - The company has committed $1 billion in capital to pursue this strategy, indicating a shift towards being a distributor for other companies' balance sheets [3] Retail Annuity Sales Growth - The industry has seen a substantial increase in annual annuity sales, from $250 billion to an expected $450 billion this year, attributed to demographic trends and increased acceptance of annuities by financial advisors [5][6] - The penetration rate of fixed annuities remains low, suggesting significant growth potential in this area [5] Competitive Environment - The annuity market has become increasingly competitive, particularly in the Multi-Year Guarantee Annuities (MYGA) space, where sales volume fluctuated significantly [8][9] - F&G maintains a stable business in Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIA), which is considered foundational for the company [9] Expense Management - F&G has taken actions to manage expenses due to spread pressure, aiming to improve the expense ratio by about 10 basis points [4][28] - The company has grown rapidly, leading to a reassessment of its project load and expense base [4] Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) Market - F&G focuses on the $100 million to $1 billion range in the PRT market, with a consistent pipeline of deals and a target of $1.5 to $2.5 billion in annual transactions [21][22] Return on Assets Target - F&G has set a five-year target for return on assets (ROA) of 133 to 155 basis points, with current performance at 129 basis points, indicating progress towards this goal [24][25][27] Reinsurance Strategy - The reinsurance strategy allows F&G to reduce capital requirements significantly, enhancing return on capital and positioning the company as a distributor rather than a balance sheet player [36][37] - The partnership with Blackstone is highlighted as a key component of this strategy, providing access to various asset classes [36][50] Life Insurance Business Performance - F&G's life insurance segment is performing well, with a focus on middle-market and cultural markets, contributing significantly to sales and profitability [57][58] - The company has a strong market share in Indexed Universal Life Insurance, ranking number six in sales [58] Investment Strategy and Market Conditions - The company is cautious about credit spreads and is not willing to stretch for returns, focusing on maintaining a stable investment portfolio [49][50] - F&G has a diversified asset allocation strategy, reducing exposure to floating rate assets as interest rates fluctuate [51] Regulatory Environment - The new NAIC rule on asset adequacy testing for reinsurance is not expected to have a significant impact on F&G, as the company is already compliant with rigorous testing standards [52][53] Future Outlook - F&G is optimistic about its growth trajectory, particularly in the annuity and life insurance markets, and is focused on leveraging its distribution strategy for future success [38][44] Additional Important Insights - The company is investing in technology and operational improvements to enhance productivity and scalability [34][32] - F&G's unique position in the market allows it to capitalize on opportunities in both the annuity and life insurance sectors, with a strong emphasis on independent distribution [44][58]