The general account is where an insurer deposits premiums from policies it underwrites and from which it funds day-to-day operations of the business. The general account does not dedicate collateral to a specific policy and instead treats all funds in aggregate.
Key Takeaways
- The general account is where insurance companies place their collected premiums.
- The account is treated as an investable asset and is allocated accordingly.
- General accounts invest in less risky ventures in case they need to make a large payout to their policyholders, such as during major disasters or large-scale events.
Understanding General Accounts
When an insurance company underwrites a new policy, it is paid a premium by the policyholder. These premiums are deposited into the insurer’s general account. The insurer will use these funds in a variety of ways. It will set aside a portion as a loss reserve, which is used to cover the estimated losses it expects may occur over the course of the year. It will also use these funds to pay for operations, personnel, and other business expenses. In order to increase profitability, however, it will also invest some of these premiums in assets of various risk profiles and liquidities. Insurers are less likely to invest in equities and options than they are to invest in fixed income or real estate.
Assets held in the general account are ‘owned’ by the general account and are not attributed to a specific policy but rather to all policies in aggregate. The insurer may choose, however, to create separate accounts to set aside assets for specific policies or liabilities. Assets in the separate accounts are designed to cover the policy risks associated with the separate account, though if the separate account’s assets are ultimately determined to be insufficient, the insurer may use general account funds to fill any gaps.
General Account Investing Strategy
Assets found in the general account may be managed internally, or the management may be provided by a third-party. Increased global competition and changing products with aggressive pricing and guarantees have forced many insurance company executives to reevaluate their traditional investing strategy for general account funds. The risk appetite for insurance companies tends to be relatively low because they have to guarantee that funds are available to cover liabilities.
The general account investment portfolio typically contains investment-grade bonds and mortgages. Due to volatility, common stock is less widely included in general account portfolios, and by year-end 2020 comprised 13.2% of overall investment portfolios for insurance carriers.
Related Terms: loss reserve, business expenses, collateral, equity
References
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “U.S. Insurance Industry’s Cash and Invested Assets Continue to Grow Amid the Pandemic”, Page 2.
