lincoln11k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
FORM 11-K
 
 
FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
(Mark One)
 
|X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
 
OR
 
|_| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ________ to ________
 
Commission File Number 1-6028
 
A.     Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN
 
B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
 
 
Lincoln National Corporation
150 N. Radnor Road
Radnor, PA 19087-5238
 


 
 

 

REQUIRED INFORMATION
 
Financial statements and schedule for the Lincoln National Corporation Employees’ Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan, prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, are contained in this Annual Report on Form 11-k.

 
 

 

Lincoln National Corporation
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
           
Financial Statements and Suplemental Schedule
           
December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the years then ended
with Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 
 

 

Lincoln National Corporation
 
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
 
   
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
 
   
   
December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the years then ended
 
   
   
   
   
Contents
 
   
   
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
   
   
Audited Financial Statements:
 
   
Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
Notes to Financial Statements
   
   
Supplemental Schedule:
 
   
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

 
 

 


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
Lincoln National Corporation Benefits Committee
Lincoln National Corporation
 
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for plan benefits of the Lincoln National Corporation Employees’ Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the changes in its net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2007, is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.
 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
June 25, 2008

 
1

 


Lincoln National Corporation
 
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
 
   
Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
 
             
             
   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
Assets
           
Investments:
           
Common stock account
  $ 160,745,872     $ 201,411,463  
Pooled separate accounts
    510,625,273       438,630,460  
Investment contract
    69,015,158       72,185,713  
Participant loans
    13,153,228       11,768,379  
Total investments
    753,539,531       723,996,015  
Accrued interest receivable
    249,812       253,435  
Cash
    16,189       9,845  
Contributions receivable from participant deferrals
    85,214       357,457  
Contributions receivable from participating employer
    2,775,314       22,677,237  
Due from broker
    -       1,404,540  
Total assets
    756,666,060       748,698,529  
                 
Liabilities
               
Due to broker
    77,502       -  
                 
Net assets available for plan benefits
  $ 756,588,558     $ 748,698,529  
                 
See accompanying notes.
               

 
2

 

Lincoln National Corporation
 
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
 
             
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
 
             
             
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
Additions
           
Investment income:
           
  Cash dividends--Lincoln National Corporation
  $ 4,412,777     $ 4,293,587  
  Interest--The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
    2,986,031       2,832,473  
  Interest on participant loans
    953,532       725,260  
Total investment income
    8,352,340       7,851,320  
                 
Contributions:
               
  Participants
    46,638,520       35,981,293  
  Rollovers
    4,770,955       1,943,831  
  Participating employer
    19,040,626       33,660,390  
Total contributions
    70,450,101       71,585,514  
                 
Net realized and unrealized appreciation
               
   in fair value of investments
    16,090,750       80,886,402  
                 
Transfers from affiliated plans, net
    36,541       204,186  
Deposit from Jefferson-Pilot 401(k) Plan
    -       156,539,734  
                 
Total additions
    94,929,732       317,067,156  
                 
Deductions
               
Distributions to participants
    (86,717,537 )     (71,479,909 )
Administrative expenses
    (322,166 )     (284,463 )
Total deductions
    (87,039,703 )     (71,764,372 )
                 
                 
Net increase in assets available for plan benefits
    7,890,029       245,302,784  
Net assets available for plan benefits at beginning of the year
    748,698,529       503,395,745  
Net assets available for plan benefits at end of the year
  $ 756,588,558     $ 748,698,529  
                 
                 
See accompanying notes.
               

 
3

 

Lincoln National Corporation
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
       
Notes to Financial Statements
       
December 31, 2007
       
1. Description of the Plan
   
       
The following description of the Plan is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and provisions of the Plan document itself.
       
The Lincoln National Corporation Employees’ Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan (“Plan”) is a contributory, defined contribution plan which covers substantially all employees of Lincoln National Corporation ("LNC") and certain of its subsidiaries (“Employer”) who meet the conditions of eligibility to participate as defined by the Plan.   Effective April 3, 2006, LNC acquired Jefferson-Pilot Financial Corporation ("JPC").  JPC sponsored a 401(k) plan for their eligible employees ("Legacy JP Employees").  On May 31, 2006, LNC's chief executive officer approved the transfer of assets from the accounts of Legacy JP Employees to new accounts established for them in the Plan, as part of the merger of the JPC 401(k) plan with this Plan, consistent with the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Effective June 1, 2006, the Plan was amended to allow Legacy JP Employees to participate in the Plan.  The merger of the JPC 401(k) plan into the Plan increased the net assets of the Plan by $156.5 million.  Also effective June 1, 2006, the Plan was amended to increase the rate at which participants may make pre-tax contributions to the Plan to not more than  50% of eligible earnings (and a minimum of 1%) - subject to applicable Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and other Plan limits (9% for highly compensated employees, as defined in the Plan).  Previously, the Plan limit was 25% of eligible earnings, subject to applicable IRS and other Plan limits.  The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA").
       
In addition to each participant's pre-tax contributions, Employer-matching contributions to the Plan are provided in the form of a basic match of $0.50 for each dollar a participant contributes, not to exceed 6% of eligible earnings per pay period.  In addition, the Employer may contribute an annual discretionary match of up to $1.00 for each dollar contributed by an eligible participant, not to exceed 6% of eligible earnings. The discretionary match is determined at the sole discretion of the LNC Board of Directors.  Investment of these matching contributions are directed by the participant. Participants employed on the last day of the Plan year are eligible to receive the discretionary match, as are participants who retired, died, became disabled,  or whose job was eliminated during the Plan year. The amount of the discretionary matching contribution varies according to whether LNC has met certain performance-based criteria, as determined by the Compensation Committee of LNC's Board of Directors.
       
Participants’ pre-tax, other contributions, and earnings thereon are fully vested at all times.  Employer contributions vest based upon years of service as defined in the Plan document as follows:
       
 
Years of Service
Percent Vested
 
       
 
1
0%
 
 
2
50%
 
 
3 or more
100%
 
       
As a result of changes in participants’ employment status, $36,541 was transferred from an affiliated Lincoln Life plan during 2007 (net) and $204,186 was transferred from an affiliated Lincoln Life plan during 2006 (net).
       
Participants direct the Plan to invest their contributions and the basic Employer-matching contributions in any combination of the investment options offered under the Plan.  Discretionary matching contributions for the 2006 Plan year, deposited in 2007, were invested in accordance with Participant's investment elections.
 
4

Lincoln National Corporation
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
       
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
       
       
       
1. Description of the Plan (continued)
   
       
The Employer has the right to discontinue contributions and to terminate the Plan at any time subject to the provisions of ERISA.  In the event of Plan termination, all non-vested amounts allocated to participant accounts would become fully vested.
       
Participants have the option of either receiving payment of dividends earned with respect to shares in the LNC Common Stock Account or having the dividends reinvested in the LNC Common Stock Account.
       
The Plan may make loans to participants in amounts up to 50% of the vested account value to a maximum of $50,000, but not more than the total value of the participants' accounts, less the highest outstanding loan balance in the previous 12-month period. Interest charged on new loans to participants is established monthly based upon the prime rate plus 1%. Loans may be repaid over any period selected by the participant up to a maximum repayment period of 5 years except that the maximum repayment period may be 20 years for the purchase of a principal residence.
       
Upon termination of service due to disability, retirement, or job elimination, a participant may elect to receive either a lump-sum amount equal to the entire value of the participant’s account or an installment option if certain criteria are met; in case of death, the participant's beneficiary makes that election.  For termination of service due to other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the vested interest in his or her account as a lump-sum distribution. Vested account balances less than $1,000 are immediately distributable under the terms of the Plan, without the participant’s consent, unless the participant has made a timely election of rollover to an Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") or other qualified arrangement.
       
Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contributions, Employer contributions, and applicable investment earnings thereon, and is charged with an allocation of administrative expenses and applicable investment losses. Forfeited non-vested amounts are used to reduce future Employer contributions.  Forfeitures of $458,779 and $388,596 were used to offset contributions in 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Unallocated forfeitures were $533,873 and $366,585 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
       
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
       
Investments Valuation and Income Recognition
 
       
The investment in LNC common stock is valued at the closing sales price reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Listing on the last business day of the year.
       
The Wells Fargo Bank Short-Term Investment Account, which is included in the LNC Common Stock Account, is valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
       
The fair value of participation units in pooled separate accounts estimated by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company ("Lincoln Life") is based on quoted redemption value on the last business day of the year.
       

 
5

 

Lincoln National Corporation
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
       
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
       
       
       
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
       
The investment contract is valued at contract value as estimated by Lincoln Life.  As described in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Staff Position, ("FSP"), FSP AAG INV-1 and Statement of Position ("SOP"), SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans, investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value.  The Plan adopted FSP AAG INV-1 in 2006.  The adoption did not have a material effect on the Plan's financial statements as interest rates are adjusted to market quarterly. The Plan's contract values, which represent net contributions plus interest at the contract rate, approximate fair value.  The contracts are fully benefit-responsive.
       
Participant loans are valued at their outstanding balances, which approximate fair value.
       
The cost of investments sold, distributed, or forfeited is determined using the specific-identification method. Investment purchases and sales are accounted for on a trade-date basis.
       
Interest and dividend income is recorded when earned.
 
       
Reclassifications
     
       
Certain amounts reported in prior periods' financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.  These reclassifications have no effect on net assets available for plan benefits of the prior period.
       
Accounting Estimates and Assumptions
 
       
The accompanying financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles that requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  Those estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ from those estimates.
       
New Accounting Pronouncement
   
       
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements ("SFAS 157"). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS 157 is effective for accounting periods beginning after November 15, 2007. The Plan's management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on the Plan’s 2008 financial statements.

 
6

 

Lincoln National Corporation
 
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
 
           
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
           
           
           
3. Investments
         
           
The fair value of individual investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets are as follows:
           
 
   
December 31, 2007
   
December 31, 2006
 
   
Number of
         
Number of
       
   
Shares, Units,
   
Fair
   
Shares, Units,
   
Fair
 
   
or Par Value
   
Value
   
or Par Value
   
Value
 
Common stock---Lincoln
                       
National Corporation
    2,676,381.000     $ 155,818,902       2,974,530.000     $ 197,508,792  
Pooled separate accounts--Lincoln Life:
                         
Core Equity Account
    2,366,380.018       41,494,473       2,512,599.852       41,702,373  
Short Term Account
    10,224,016.199       42,343,786       9,653,756.276       38,133,303  
Fidelity VIP Contrafund Account
    20,348,158.862       38,793,765       17,105,794.458       27,793,495 *
                                 
Investment contracts--Lincoln Life
  $ 69,015,158       69,015,158     $ 72,185,713       72,185,713  
                                 
 
* Individual investment does not represent 5% or more of the Plan's assets but is presented for comparative purposes.
           
The investment contracts (Guaranteed Fund) earned an average interest rate of approximately 4.0% in both years.  The credited interest rates for new contributions, which approximate the current market rate, were 4.0% at both December 31, 2007 and 2006. The rate on new contributions is guaranteed through the three succeeding calendar year quarters.  The credited interest rates for the remaining contract value balance, which approximate the current market rate, were 4.0% at both December 31, 2007 and 2006, and were determined based upon the performance of Lincoln Life's general account. The credited interest rates can be changed quarterly. The minimum guaranteed rate is 3.5%. The guarantee is based on Lincoln Life's ability to meet its financial obligations from the general assets of Lincoln Life.  Restrictions apply to the aggregate movement of funds to other investment options.  The fair value of the investment contracts approximates contract value. Participants are allocated interest on the investment contracts.
           
During 2007 and 2006, the Plan's investments (including investments bought, sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in fair value as follows:
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
             
Common stock
  $ (21,545,778 )   $ 39,277,969  
Pooled separate accounts
    37,636,528       41,608,433  
Total
  $ 16,090,750     $ 80,886,402  
                 
The fair value was determined based on quoted market prices.
               

 
7

 

Lincoln National Corporation
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
       
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
       
       
       
4. Reconciliation to Form 5500
     
       
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for distributions per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
             
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
  $ 756,588,558     $ 748,698,529  
Amounts allocated to withdrawn participants
    (21,118 )     (93,685 )
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
  $ 756,567,440     $ 748,604,844  
 
       
       
The following is a reconciliation of distributions to participants per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
       
 
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31
 
   
2007
 
       
Distributions to participants per the financial statements
  $ 86,717,537  
Plus:  Amounts allocated to
       
withdrawn participants at year-end
    21,118  
Less:  Amounts allocated to
       
withdrawn participants at prior year-end
    (93,685 )
Benefits paid to participants per the Form 5500
  $ 86,644,970  
 
       
Amounts allocated to withdrawn participants are recorded on the Form 5500 for benefit payments that have been processed and approved for payment prior to year-end but not yet paid.
       
5. Income Tax Status
     
       
The Plan has received a determination letter from the IRS dated April 30, 2004, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the IRS, the Plan was amended and restated.  Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification.  The plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan, as amended and restated, is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.
       
6. Tax Implications to Participants
     
       
Federal (and most state) income tax is deferred on participants' pre-tax contributions, the Employer's contributions, and income earned in the Plan until actual distribution or withdrawal from the Plan.

 
8

 

Lincoln National Corporation
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
7. Transactions with Parties-in-Interest
 
The Plan has investments in common stock of LNC and in pooled separate accounts and investment contracts with Lincoln Life.  Lincoln Life charges the Plan for certain administrative expenses including trustee and audit fees.  Total administrative expenses charged were $322,166 and $284,463 in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
8. Concentrations of Credit Risks
 
The Plan has investments in common stock of LNC, pooled separate accounts, and unallocated investment contracts with Lincoln Life of $155,818,902, $510,625,273, and $69,015,158, respectively, at December 31, 2007 (20.59%, 67.49%, and 9.12% of net assets, respectively).  The same investments at December 31, 2006 were $197,508,792, $438,630,460, and $72,185,713, respectively (26.38%, 58.58%, and 9.64% of net assets, respectively). LNC and Lincoln Life operate predominately in the insurance and investment management industries.
 
The Plan invests in various investment securities.  Investment securities are exposed to various risks including, but not limited to, interest rate, market, and credit risks.  Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investments will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for plan benefits.
 
9. Subsequent Events
 
The new retirement program, which was announced on May 1, 2007, began on January 1, 2008.  For all participants except employees of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and all of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, the new Plan features will include an increase in the basic Employer match from $0.50 per each $1.00 that a participant contributes each pay period, up to 6% of eligible compensation, to $1.00 per each $1.00 that a participant contributes each pay period, up to 6% of eligible compensation (the 50% match will become a 100% match).  For affected participants, the discretionary Employer match feature will be eliminated and replaced by a guaranteed "core" Employer contribution of 4% of eligible compensation per pay period.  The core Employer contribution will be paid to every eligible employee of LNC, regardless of whether the eligible employee elects to defer salary into the Plan.  In addition, certain eligible employees will also qualify for a "transition" employer  contribution between 0.2% and 8.0% with a minimum 10-year service requirement for legacy LNC employees, and a minimum 5-year service requirement for Legacy JP Employees.  Eligibility for transition Employer contributions will be determined on December 31, 2007 only--participants will not "grow" into transition credits thereafter.  Transition Employer contributions will cease on January 1, 2018.
 
The Plan spun off the account balances of all Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. participants, totaling $65.7 million, as of January 1, 2008, to the Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. Employees' Savings and 401(k) Plan.

 
9

 

Lincoln National Corporation
Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
           
Plan Number: 009
EIN: 35-0472300
           
Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year)
           
December 31, 2007
           
(b)
 (c)
 (d)
 
 (e)
 
 Description of Investment
     
 
 Including Maturity
     
Identity of Issuer, Borrower,
 Date, Rate of Interest,
   
 Current
Lessor, or Similar Party
 Par, or Maturity Value
 Cost
 
 Value
           
*Common stock:
         
   Lincoln National Corporation
         
    Common Stock
      2,676,381.000
 units
 **
 
 $   155,818,902
   Wells Fargo Bank Short-Term
         
     Investment Account
      4,926,970.470
 units
 **
 
         4,926,970
         
      160,745,872
*Pooled separate accounts--The Lincoln
         
 National Life Insurance Company:
         
Core Equity Account
      2,366,380.018
 participation units
 **
 
        41,494,473
Medium Capitalization Equity Account
      1,516,964.787
 participation units
 **
 
        25,822,836
Short Term Account
     10,224,016.199
 participation units
 **
 
        42,343,786
Government/ Corporate Bond Account
      2,986,205.120
 participation units
 **
 
        29,392,022
Large Capitalization Equity Account
      2,477,502.267
 participation units
 **
 
        27,229,980
Balanced Account
      1,652,339.306
 participation units
 **
 
        15,574,786
High Yield Bond Account
      3,363,072.857
 participation units
 **
 
        15,093,471
Small Capitalization Equity Account
      2,296,996.403
 participation units
 **
 
        22,731,766
Value Equity Account
      4,644,250.986
 participation units
 **
 
        14,498,887
International Equity Account
      2,737,485.991
 participation units
 **
 
        34,389,120
Conservative Balanced Account
      2,151,189.321
 participation units
 **
 
         5,400,345
Aggressive Balanced Account
      2,741,152.718
 participation units
 **
 
         8,189,741
Delaware Value Account
     15,138,017.365
 participation units
 **
 
        32,359,026
Scudder VIT Equity 500 Index Account
     26,899,896.944
 participation units
 **
 
        34,106,380
Fidelity VIP Contrafund Account
     20,348,158.862
 participation units
 **
 
        38,793,765
Neuberger-Berman AMT Regency Account
      4,855,661.482
 participation units
 **
 
         8,869,837
Social Awareness Account
      3,291,404.872
 participation units
 **
 
         4,491,780
American Funds New Perspective Account
     11,943,315.447
 participation units
 **
 
        17,399,022
Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Account
     20,065,985.375
 participation units
 **
 
        34,158,327
Scudder VIT Small Cap Index Account
      8,880,679.197
 participation units
 **
 
        16,513,623
Blackrock Legacy Account
      2,144,349.772
 participation units
 **
 
         4,072,978
American Funds International Account
      1,668,997.792
 participation units
 **
 
        37,699,322
         
      510,625,273
*Investment contracts--The Lincoln
         
 National Life Insurance Company
         
 (Guaranteed Account)
 
 4.0% interest rate
 **
 
        69,015,158
           
Participant loans
 Various loans at interest rates
     
 
   varying from 5.0% to 12.5%
 -
 
        13,153,228
         
 $   753,539,531
           
*  Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan.
** Indicates a participant-directed account. The cost disclosure is not applicable.

 
10

 

SIGNATURE
   
THE PLAN:  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Administrator of the Lincoln National Corporation Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
   
   
   
 
Lincoln National Corporation Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan
 
By: /s/ William David
Date:  June 25, 2008
William David on Behalf of the Lincoln National Corporation Benefits Committee
 
 


EXHIBIT I


Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-126020) pertaining to Lincoln National Corporation Employees’ Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan of our report dated June 25, 2008, with respect to the financial statements and schedule of Lincoln National Corporation Employees’ Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan included in this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
June 25, 2008