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Brighthouse Life Insurance Co – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/19 – ‘XML’

On:  Wednesday, 3/4/20, at 5:48pm ET   ·   As of:  3/5/20   ·   For:  12/31/19   ·   Accession #:  733076-20-4   ·   File #:  33-03094

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size

 3/05/20  Brighthouse Life Insurance Co     10-K       12/31/19  148:30M

Annual Report   —   Form 10-K   —   Sect. 13 / 15(d) – SEA’34
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Annual Report                                       HTML   3.89M 
 2: EX-23.1     Consent of Experts or Counsel                       HTML     41K 
 3: EX-31.1     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     46K 
 4: EX-31.2     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     46K 
 5: EX-32.1     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     42K 
 6: EX-32.2     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     42K 
117: R1          Document and Entity Information                     HTML     95K  
62: R2          Consolidated Balance Sheets                         HTML    151K 
13: R3          Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)         HTML     56K 
98: R4          Consolidated Statements of Operations               HTML     98K 
118: R5          Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income     HTML     74K  
63: R6          Consolidated Statements of Equity                   HTML     92K 
14: R7          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows               HTML    179K 
101: R8          Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of      HTML    137K  
                Significant Accounting Policies                                  
115: R9          Segment Information                                 HTML    284K  
59: R10         Organizational Changes                              HTML     45K 
42: R11         Insurance                                           HTML    231K 
89: R12         Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of         HTML    129K 
                Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related                       
                Intangibles                                                      
143: R13         Reinsurance                                         HTML    249K  
60: R14         Investments                                         HTML    582K 
43: R15         Derivatives                                         HTML    424K 
91: R16         Fair Value                                          HTML    547K 
144: R17         Long-term Debt                                      HTML     85K  
58: R18         Equity                                              HTML    227K 
44: R19         Other Revenues and Other Expenses                   HTML     73K 
96: R20         Income Tax                                          HTML    173K 
116: R21         Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees           HTML     67K  
61: R22         Related Party Transactions                          HTML     60K 
12: R23         Subsequent Events                                   HTML     44K 
99: R24         Consolidated Summary of Investments - Other Than    HTML     95K 
                Investments in Related Parties                                   
119: R25         Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)    HTML    266K  
64: R26         Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information    HTML    165K 
15: R27         Consolidated Reinsurance                            HTML    117K 
100: R28         Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of      HTML    231K  
                Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)                       
114: R29         Segment Information (Tables)                        HTML    275K  
147: R30         Insurance (Tables)                                  HTML    216K  
94: R31         Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of         HTML    207K 
                Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related                       
                Intangibles (Tables)                                             
41: R32         Reinsurance (Tables)                                HTML    210K 
57: R33         Investments (Tables)                                HTML    539K 
146: R34         Derivatives (Tables)                                HTML    588K  
93: R35         Fair Value (Tables)                                 HTML    523K 
40: R36         Long-term Debt (Tables)                             HTML     62K 
56: R37         Equity (Tables)                                     HTML    213K 
148: R38         Other Expenses (Tables)                             HTML     65K  
92: R39         Income Tax (Tables)                                 HTML    176K 
122: R40         Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of      HTML     55K  
                Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative)                      
                (Details)                                                        
105: R41         Segment Information (Operating Results) (Details)   HTML    102K  
26: R42         Segment Information (Assets and Liabilities)        HTML     61K 
                (Details)                                                        
77: R43         Segment Information (Reconciliation of Operating    HTML     55K 
                Revenues to Total Revenues) (Details)                            
121: R44         Segment Information (Premiums, Universal Life and   HTML     50K  
                Investment-Type Product Policy Fees and Other                    
                Revenues by Major Product Group) (Details)                       
104: R45         Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)           HTML     41K  
25: R46         Organizational Changes (Details)                    HTML     53K 
76: R47         Insurance (Insurance Liabilities) (Details)         HTML     51K 
124: R48         Insurance Insurance (Future Policy Benefits -       HTML     65K  
                Narrative) (Details)                                             
102: R49         Insurance (Guarantees) (Details)                    HTML     90K  
79: R50         Insurance (Guarantees Related to Annuity            HTML     57K 
                Contracts) (Details)                                             
133: R51         Insurance (Guarantees Related to Universal and      HTML     54K  
                Variable Life Contracts) (Details)                               
53: R52         Insurance (Fund Groupings) (Details)                HTML     53K 
37: R53         Insurance (Obligations Under Funding Agreements -   HTML     60K 
                Narrative) (Details)                                             
80: R54         Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of         HTML     76K 
                Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related                       
                Intangibles (DAC and VOBA) (Details)                             
134: R55         Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of         HTML     53K  
                Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related                       
                Intangibles (DAC and VOBA by Segment) (Details)                  
54: R56         Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of         HTML     61K 
                Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related                       
                Intangibles (Deferred Sales Inducements) (Details)               
38: R57         Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of         HTML     71K 
                Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related                       
                Intangibles (Estimated Future Amortization)                      
                (Details)                                                        
81: R58         Reinsurance (Effects of Reinsurance on Earnings)    HTML    101K 
                (Details)                                                        
132: R59         Reinsurance (Effects of Reinsurance on Balance      HTML     69K  
                Sheet) (Details)                                                 
69: R60         Reinsurance (Effects of Affiliated Reinsurance on   HTML    101K 
                Statements of Operations) (Details)                              
18: R61         Reinsurance (Effects of Affiliated Reinsurance on   HTML     66K 
                Balance Sheets) (Details)                                        
110: R62         Reinsurance (Narrative) (Details)                   HTML     94K  
127: R63         Reinsurance (Related Party Narrative) (Details)     HTML    139K  
70: R64         Investments (Fixed Maturity Securities AFS by       HTML     81K 
                Sector) (Details)                                                
19: R65         Investments (Maturities of Fixed Maturity           HTML     76K 
                Securities) (Details)                                            
111: R66         Investments (Continuous Gross Unrealized Losses     HTML     84K  
                for Fixed Maturity Securities AFS by Sector)                     
                (Details)                                                        
128: R67         Investments (Mortgage Loans by Portfolio Segment)   HTML     62K  
                (Details)                                                        
66: R68         Investments (Credit Quality of Mortgage Loans)      HTML     98K 
                (Details)                                                        
23: R69         Investments (Net Unrealized Investment Gains        HTML     62K 
                (Losses)) (Details)                                              
34: R70         Investments (Changes in Net Unrealized Investment   HTML     56K 
                Gains (Losses)) (Details)                                        
48: R71         Investments (Securities Lending) (Details)          HTML     55K 
140: R72         Investments (Securities Lending Remaining Tenor)    HTML     51K  
                (Details)                                                        
85: R73         Investments (Invested Assets on Deposit, Held In    HTML     48K 
                Trust and Pledged as Collateral) (Details)                       
33: R74         Investments (Variable Interest Entities) (Details)  HTML     50K 
47: R75         Investments (Net Investment Income) (Details)       HTML     64K 
139: R76         Investments (Components of Net Investment Gains     HTML     59K  
                (Losses)) (Details)                                              
84: R77         Investments (Sales or Disposals of Fixed Maturity   HTML     50K 
                Securities) (Details)                                            
29: R78         Investments (Fixed Maturity Securities AFS -        HTML     47K 
                Narrative) (Details)                                             
51: R79         Investments (Continuous Gross Unrealized Losses     HTML     57K 
                for Fixed Maturity Securities AFS by Sector -                    
                Narrative) (Details)                                             
35: R80         Investments (Mortgage Loans - Narrative) (Details)  HTML     67K 
50: R81         Investments (Other Invested Assets - Narrative)     HTML     43K 
                (Details)                                                        
141: R82         Investments (Securities Lending - Narrative)        HTML     51K  
                (Details)                                                        
87: R83         Investments (Invested Assets on Deposit, Held in    HTML     47K 
                Trust and Pledged as Collateral-Narrative)                       
                (Details)                                                        
32: R84         Investments (Purchased Credit Impaired Investments  HTML     51K 
                - Narrative) (Details)                                           
45: R85         Investments (Collectively Significant Equity        HTML     61K 
                Method Investments - Narrative) (Details)                        
138: R86         Investments (Variable Interest Entities -           HTML     41K  
                Narrative) (Details)                                             
82: R87         Investments (Net Investment Income - Narrative)     HTML     45K 
                (Details)                                                        
30: R88         Investments (Related Party Investment Transactions  HTML     64K 
                - Narrative) (Details)                                           
52: R89         Derivatives (Primary Risks Managed by Derivatives)  HTML    116K 
                (Details)                                                        
68: R90         Derivatives Derivatives (Derivatives Pertaining to  HTML    123K 
                Hedged Items) (Details)                                          
16: R91         Derivatives (Credit Derivatives) (Details)          HTML     53K 
109: R92         Derivatives (Estimated Fair Value of Derivatives    HTML     82K  
                Assets and Liabilities after Master Netting                      
                Agreements and Cash Collateral) (Details)                        
125: R93         Derivatives (Credit Risk on Freestanding            HTML     48K  
                Derivatives) (Details)                                           
71: R94         Derivatives (Narrative) (Details)                   HTML     43K 
21: R95         Fair Value (Recurring Fair Value Measurements)      HTML    172K 
                (Details)                                                        
112: R96         Fair Value (Quantitative Information) (Details)     HTML     65K  
130: R97         Fair Value (Unobservable Input Reconciliation)      HTML    150K  
                (Details)                                                        
65: R98         Fair Value (Financial Instruments Carried at Other  HTML     84K 
                Than Fair Value) (Details)                                       
22: R99         Long-term Debt (Details)                            HTML     57K 
129: R100        Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Details)                HTML    132K  
113: R101        Equity (Statutory Net Income) (Details)             HTML     46K  
20: R102        Equity Equity (Statutory Capital and Surplus)       HTML     47K 
                (Details)                                                        
72: R103        Equity Equity (Dividend Restrictions) (Details)     HTML     52K 
126: R104        Equity (Components of Accumulated Other             HTML     99K  
                Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details)                           
108: R105        Equity (Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other  HTML     78K  
                Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details)                           
17: R106        Equity (Capital Transactions - Narrative)           HTML     48K 
                (Details)                                                        
67: R107        Equity (Statutory Equity & Income - Narrative)      HTML     47K 
                (Details)                                                        
131: R108        Equity Equity (Captive Equity and Income -          HTML     50K  
                Narrative) (Details)                                             
107: R109        Equity (Dividend Restrictions - Narrative)          HTML     49K  
                (Details)                                                        
83: R110        Other Revenues and Other Expenses (Other            HTML     43K 
                Revenues-Narrative) (Details)                                    
137: R111        Other Revenues and Other Expenses (Other Expenses)  HTML     62K  
                (Details)                                                        
46: R112        Income Tax (Provision for Income Tax from           HTML     66K 
                Continuing Operations) (Details)                                 
31: R113        Income Tax (Reconciliation of Income Tax Provision  HTML     77K 
                between US Statutory Rate and As Reported for                    
                Continuing Operations) (Details)                                 
86: R114        Income Tax (Net Deferred Income Tax Assets and      HTML     80K 
                Liabilities) (Details)                                           
142: R115        Income Tax (Net Operating Loss Carryforwards)       HTML     46K  
                (Details)                                                        
49: R116        Income Tax (Tax Credit Carryforwards) (Details)     HTML     63K 
36: R117        Income Tax (Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax      HTML     58K 
                Benefits) (Details)                                              
88: R118        Income Tax (Narrative) (Details)                    HTML     66K 
136: R119        Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees           HTML     45K  
                (Contingencies - Narrative) (Details)                            
75: R120        Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees           HTML     46K 
                (Commitments - Narrative) (Details)                              
24: R121        Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees           HTML     50K 
                (Guarantees - Narrative) (Details)                               
103: R122        Related Party Transaction (Related Party            HTML     66K  
                Transaction - Narrative) (Details)                               
120: R123        Subsequent Events (Details)                         HTML     49K  
78: R124        Consolidated Summary of Investments - Other Than    HTML     95K 
                Investments in Related Parties (Details)                         
27: R125        Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)    HTML    164K 
                (Condensed Balance Sheets) (Details)                             
106: R126        Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)    HTML     59K  
                Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)                 
                (Condensed Balance Sheets - Phantom) (Details)                   
123: R127        Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)    HTML    102K  
                (Condensed Statements of Operations) (Details)                   
74: R128        Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)    HTML    153K 
                (Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (Details)                   
28: R129        Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)    HTML     54K 
                (Investment in Subsidiaries Footnote) (Details)                  
39: R130        Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information    HTML     69K 
                (Balance Sheet Items) (Details)                                  
55: R131        Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information    HTML     70K 
                (Income Statement Items) (Details)                               
135: R132        Consolidated Reinsurance (Details)                  HTML     82K  
145: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    301K  
97: XML         XBRL Instance -- bhinsurance-1231201910k_htm         XML  10.39M 
90: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports                  XLSX    217K 
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10: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- bhl-20191231_lab                      XML   3.32M 
11: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- bhl-20191231_pre               XML   2.38M 
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73: JSON        XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks              683±  1.11M 
95: ZIP         XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0000733076-20-000004-xbrl      Zip    793K 


‘XML’   —   IDEA XML File — Filing Summary


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