MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP):

Fourth quarter 2021 GAAP results were modestly impacted by the market changes that negatively affected credit spreads and the valuation of derivatives, as well as integration costs from the acquisition of BMO EMEA. The prior year quarter also included significant negative impacts from market changes that affected credit spreads and valuation of derivatives.

Advice & Wealth Management pretax adjusted operating earnings increased 34 percent to a record $472 million driven by robust client net flows, higher transactional activity, market appreciation, increased bank profitability and disciplined expense management. Pretax adjusted operating margin was 22.3 percent, up 250 basis points, which demonstrated our strategic focus on profitable growth.

Adjusted operating net revenues grew 19 percent to $2.1 billion, reflecting strong client net flows and transactional activity levels, as well as market appreciation.

Distribution expenses were up 20 percent associated with robust organic growth. General and administrative expense increased 2 percent, as higher activity-based expense and performance-based compensation were partially offset by expense discipline.

Total client assets grew 17 percent to $858 billion. Substantial organic growth across our advisor network was driven primarily by increased new client acquisition, deeper client relationships from existing clients, as well as experienced advisor recruiting. Total client flows reached a new high of $12.5 billion in the quarter, with a 17 percent increase in wrap flows and an 8 percent increase in transactional activity. Wrap net flows were $10.5 billion, representing the fifth consecutive quarter at or above $9.0 billion. Cash balances increased to $43.8 billion with an opportunity for clients to put cash back to work in the future.

Adjusted operating net revenue per advisor on a trailing 12-month basis was $796,000. Excluding the decline in short-term interest rates, adjusted operating net revenue per advisor increased 20 percent. Total advisors increased 2 percent to 10,116, with excellent advisor retention, as well as the addition of 86 experienced advisors in the quarter.

Asset Management pretax adjusted operating earnings increased 64 percent to $330 million reflecting the cumulative benefit of net inflows, higher performance fees and market appreciation. Net pretax adjusted operating margin was 45.7 percent. The net pretax adjusted operating margin excluding the BMO EMEA acquisition was 48.6 percent.

Adjusted operating revenues grew to $1.1 billion, up 33 percent from strong performance fees, the addition of the recently acquired EMEA Asset Management business from BMO, the cumulative benefit of inflows, as well as higher equity markets. Excluding BMO EMEA, revenue increased 25 percent.

Distribution expense increased 16 percent from strong equity market appreciation. General and administrative expense grew 27 percent driven by the BMO EMEA acquisition and higher performance fee compensation. Excluding BMO EMEA, G&A was well managed and up 12 percent.

Total assets under management increased 38 percent to $754 billion reflecting the acquisition of BMO EMEA, equity market appreciation and net inflows. Long term investment performance remained very strong across equity, fixed income and asset-allocation strategies.

In the quarter, net inflows were $27.5 billion, which included a net $15.0 billion related to BMO. In the U.S., $16.9 billion of inflows were related to clients that elected to transfer retail and institutional assets to us resulting from the transition of investment advisory services as part of an arrangement with BMO. BMO EMEA had $1.9 billion of outflows, of which approximately 40 percent was associated with the acquisition.

• Retail net inflows were $13.6 billion, which included reinvested dividends, $2.6 billion of BMO-related net inflows in the U.S. and EMEA, and $2.4 billion of underlying outflows.

• Global institutional net inflows were $14.8 billion, which included $14.0 billion of inflows from U.S. BMO asset management clients, BMO EMEA outflows of $1.6 billion, and underlying $2.4 billion of net inflows across multiple strategies and geographies.

   

Retirement & Protection Solutions pretax adjusted operating earnings were $183 million as market appreciation was largely offset by higher sales expense, net outflows in retirement products and lower portfolio yields. Overall claims remain within expected ranges.

The company continues its ongoing shift to lower-risk products. In December, the company announced that it discontinued sales of substantially all variable annuities with living benefit riders at year end, with a full exit of new sales by mid-2022. In addition, the company discontinued sales of universal life with secondary guarantees and universal life/LTC combo products in the quarter.

Retirement & Protection Solutions sales increased to $1.6 billion. Variable annuity sales increased 15 percent to $1.5 billion, with 67 percent of sales in products without living benefit guarantees. Protection sales increased 41 percent to $97 million, reflecting a significant shift of sales to higher-margin accumulation VUL products.

Total Corporate & Other pretax adjusted operating loss was $91 million.

Corporate & Other, excluding Closed Blocks, pretax adjusted operating loss was $88 million. Results in the quarter included a $12 million impact from share price appreciation on compensation related expense.

Long Term Care pretax adjusted operating earnings were $4 million, down from last year as terminations and claim activity returned to pre-COVID levels in the quarter.

Fixed Annuities pretax adjusted operating loss was $7 million.

Taxes

The operating effective tax rate was 19.1 percent for the fourth quarter. The full year operating effective tax rate was 17.6 percent.

About Ameriprise Financial

At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With extensive advisory, asset management and insurance capabilities and a nationwide network of over 10,000 financial advisors, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors’ financial needs. For more information, or to find an Ameriprise financial advisor, visit ameriprise.com.

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC offers financial planning services, investments, insurance and annuity products. Columbia Funds are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc., member FINRA and managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. Threadneedle International Limited, BMO Asset Management Limited, LGM Investments Limited, and Pyrford International Ltd, are SEC- and FCA-registered investment adviser affiliates of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC based in the U.K. RiverSource insurance and annuity products are issued by RiverSource Life Insurance Company, and in New York only by RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York, Albany, New York. Only RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York is authorized to sell insurance and annuity products in the state of New York. These companies are all part of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. CA License #0684538. RiverSource Distributors, Inc. (Distributor), Member FINRA.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company believes the presentation of adjusted operating earnings and other non-GAAP financial measures, and the corresponding ratios, best represents the underlying performance of our core operations and facilitates a more meaningful trend analysis without the distortion of various adjustment items. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our financial performance on a basis comparable to that used by some securities analysts and investors and to provide a valuable perspective for investors. These non-GAAP financial measures are taken into consideration, to varying degrees, for purposes of business planning and analysis and for certain compensation-related matters. Non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement investors’ understanding of our performance and should not be considered alternatives for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures are discussed in more detail below and may not be comparable to other companies’ similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations can be found on the subsequent pages.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s plans, estimates and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking statements include:

• statements of the company’s plans, intentions, positioning, expectations, objectives or goals, including those relating to asset flows, mass affluent and affluent client acquisition strategy, client retention and growth of our client base, financial advisor productivity, retention, recruiting and enrollments, the introduction, cessation, terms or pricing of new or existing products and services, acquisition integration, general and administrative costs, consolidated tax rate, return of capital to shareholders, and excess capital position and financial flexibility to capture additional growth opportunities;

• statements about the expected trend in the shift to lower-risk products, including the exit from variable annuities with living benefit riders;

• other statements about future economic performance, the performance of equity markets and interest rate variations and the economic performance of the United States and of global markets; and

• statements of assumptions underlying such statements.

The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” “forecast,” “on track,” “project,” ”continue,” “able to remain”, “resume,” “deliver,” “develop,” “evolve,” “drive,” ”enable,” “flexibility,” “scenario,” “case,” “appear,” “expands” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Management cautions readers to carefully consider the risks described in the “Risk Factors” discussion under Part 1, Item 1A of and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 available at ir.ameriprise.com. Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

The financial results discussed in this news release represent past performance only, which may not be used to predict or project future results. The financial results and values presented in this news release are based upon asset valuations that represent estimates as of the date of this news release and may be revised in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Ameriprise Financial announces financial and other information to investors through the company’s investor relations website at ir.ameriprise.com, as well as SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. Investors and others interested in the company are encouraged to visit the investor relations website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted. The website also allows users to sign up for automatic notifications in the event new materials are posted. The information found on the website is not incorporated by reference into this release or in any other report or document the company furnishes or files with the SEC.