Life and Health Insurance Industry Fact Sheet
Bonds (Government and Corporate) - this type of investment vehicle accounts for 50 per cent of the industry's total assets. At the end of 2008, life insurers held $71 billion in corporate bonds and over $65 billion in government bonds. Almost 97 per cent of total bond holdings were considered "investment grade" in that they are among the highest rated bonds on the market.
Mortgages - in recent years, life and health insurers have reduced the relative size of their mortgage holdings. At the end of 2008, they held nearly $41 billion in mortgage loans accounting for 15 per cent of their total assets. Of that amount commercial mortgages were valued at $24 billion and residential mortgages amounted to almost $17 billion.
Real estate - these holdings exceeded $14 billion at the end of 2008 and represent about 3 per cent of assets.
Stocks and Mutual Funds - Life and health insurers' general funds have little exposure to individual publicly traded stocks and totaled less than $46 billion or 17 per cent of general fund assets. The industry's mutual fund holdings are in segregated funds, which are held and managed separately from the general fund assets and support investment-oriented products such as variable life and variable annuities
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Any remaining amounts are accounted for in cash or other deposits.
Date Last Modified - November 24, 2009
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