Athene Driven to do more.

Most people think our business is complicated. But when you strip away the jargon, it comes down to a simple promise: guaranteed income for people in retirement. From the firm that brought you “Affiliated” & “Related Party” Assets, Alternatives Portfolio Spotlight & Asset Portfolio Compendium, Athene: In Context is a video series that explains how that promise works, how it's backed, and why it matters for millions of Americans counting on it.

Each episode, Mike Downing sits down with the experts across Apollo and Athene for a straightforward conversation. Think of it as the definitive guide to insurance, with a bit more context. From debunking myths about “PE ownership” to the difference between affiliated and related party assets, to an inside look at the industry-leading transparency and the fortress balance sheet behind it all — this is the Apollo and Athene machine, told from the inside. Welcome to Athene: In Context.

Episode One: It’s Not That Complicated

Athene: In Context featuring Marc Rowan

In this episode of Athene: In Context, Marc Rowan and Mike Downing go back to basics. Set against a growing retirement gap and rising demand for capital around the world, the conversation shows where Apollo and Athene sit: right in the middle, connecting the capital that companies need with the returns that retirees depend on. 

The model itself is simple: invest assets, earn a return, pay out benefits. The real difference is how those assets are sourced, structured, and matched over time.

The conversation gets into what it actually takes to deliver that promise at scale, why trust is paramount in this well-positioned industry, and why we want to be innovators, not risk takers. 

As Marc puts it, who knew insurance could be so exciting?

Episode Two: Trust, Transparency, and a Fortress Balance Sheet

Athene: In Context featuring Grant Kvalheim

Athene has long been a market leader in transparency. In this episode of Athene: In Context, Mike Downing and Grant Kvalheim break down what sits behind the promise of guaranteed retirement income.

They walk through how Athene structures its balance sheet to prioritize capital strength, liquidity, and resilience across market cycles, and how that discipline supports durability in times of stress.

The conversation offers a clear view into how Athene is built to deliver on its commitments, and why we believe the more people know about Athene, the better.

Episode Three: Private Equity Owned? Definition of “Fake News”

Athene: In Context featuring Vishal Sheth

Apollo Global Management, Inc.: a holding company with an asset manager and an insurance business underneath it.

That structure: used across the industry for decades.

In this episode of Athene: In Context, Vishal Sheth and Mike Downing go back to the beginning, when Athene was built to address a growing retirement gap and a lack of capital behind guarantees. They walk through how Apollo and Athene fit together, how Athene's investment committee operates and why nothing has ever gotten onto the balance sheet unless it works for policyholders. Spoiler alert: Athene is not — and has never been — owned or backed by an Apollo private equity fund.
 

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