INVESTMENTS

The following table details the difference between cost or adjusted/amortized cost and estimated fair value, by major investment category, at December 31, 2014 and 2013:



	Cost or Adjusted/Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
December 31, 2014
U.S. government and agency securities	$	134,601	$	423	$	590	$	134,434
Foreign governments	3,275		79		—		3,354
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	90,262		1,866		217		91,911
Public utilities	9,044		217		39		9,222
Corporate securities	111,787		1,409		580		112,616
Redeemable preferred stocks	1,094		9		10		1,093
Total fixed maturities	350,063		4,003		1,436		352,630
Public utilities	1,222		211		—		1,433
Other common stocks	19,560		3,738		250		23,048
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	1,496		17		7		1,506
Total equity securities	22,278		3,966		257		25,987
Other investments	2,749		261		—		3,010
Total investments	$	375,090	$	8,230	$	1,693	$	381,627

December 31, 2013
U.S. government and agency securities	$	98,621	$	28	$	1,169	$	97,480
Foreign government	3,287		—		60		3,227
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	45,556		654		433		45,777
Public utilities	9,103		122		92		9,133
Corporate securities	118,084		792		1,469		117,407
Total fixed maturities	274,651		1,596		3,223		273,024
Public utilities	804		23		20		807
Other common stocks	12,749		1,894		97		14,546
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	272		—		23		249
Total equity securities	13,825		1,917		140		15,602
Other investments	3,034		—		—		3,034
Total investments	$	291,510	$	3,513	$	3,363	$	291,660

When we sell investments, we calculate the gain or loss realized on the sale by comparing the sales price (fair value) to the cost or adjusted/amortized cost of the security sold. We determine the cost or adjusted/amortized cost of the security sold using the specific-identification method. The following tables detail our realized gains (losses) by major investment category for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:



	2014					2013					2012
	Gains (Losses)			Fair Value at Sale		Gains (Losses)			Fair Value at Sale		Gains (Losses)			Fair Value at Sale
Fixed maturities	$	92		$	5,598	$	103		$	23,187	$	2,043		$	28,999
Equity securities	298			111,325		31			155		279			1,907
Total realized gains	390			116,923		134			23,342		2,322			30,906
Fixed maturities	(228		)	11,389		(261		)	43,751		(141		)	9,243
Equity securities	(182		)	1,529		(2		)	28		(21		)	391
Total realized losses	(410		)	12,918		(263		)	43,779		(162		)	9,634
Net realized investment gains (losses)	$	(20	)	$	129,841	$	(129	)	$	67,121	$	2,160		$	40,540

The table below summarizes our fixed maturities at year end by contractual maturity periods. Actual results may differ as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without penalties, prior to the contractual maturity of those obligations.



	December 31, 2014
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Percent of Total		Fair Value		Percent of Total
Due in one year or less	$	33,363	9.5	%	$	33,377	9.5	%
Due after one year through five years	166,606		47.6	%	166,768		47.3	%
Due after five years through ten years	111,842		31.9	%	112,970		32.0	%
Due after ten years	38,252		10.9	%	39,515		11.2	%
Total	$	350,063	100.0	%	$	352,630	100.0	%

The following table summarizes our net investment income by major investment category:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Fixed maturities	$	5,866		$	3,512		$	2,902
Equity securities	734			280			138
Cash and cash equivalents	9			31			35
Other investments	166			48			8
Other assets	20			—			—
Investment income	$	6,795		$	3,871		$	3,083
Investment expenses	(312		)	(206		)	(142		)
Net investment income	$	6,483		$	3,665		$	2,941

Portfolio monitoring

We have a comprehensive portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income and equity security whose carrying value may be other-than-temporarily impaired.

For each fixed income security in an unrealized loss position, we determine if the loss is temporary or other-than-temporarily impaired. If our management decides to sell the security or determines that it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of the cost or amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity, contractual or regulatory purposes, then the security's decline in fair value is considered other-than-temporary and is recorded in earnings.

If we have not made the decision to sell the fixed income security and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the fixed income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, we evaluate whether we expect the security to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire cost or amortized cost basis of the security. We calculate the estimated recovery value by discounting the best estimate of future cash flows at the security's original or current effective rate, as appropriate, and compare this to the cost or amortized cost of the security. If we do not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire cost or amortized cost basis of the fixed income security, the credit loss component of the impairment is recorded in earnings, with the remaining amount of the unrealized loss related to other factors recognized in other comprehensive income.

For equity securities, we consider various factors, including whether we have the intent and ability to hold the equity security for a period of time sufficient to recover its cost basis. If we lack the intent and ability to hold to recovery, or if we believe the recovery period is extended, the equity security's decline in fair value is considered other-than-temporary and is recorded in earnings.

Our portfolio monitoring process includes a quarterly review of all securities to identify instances where the fair value of a security compared to its cost or amortized cost (for fixed income securities) or cost (for equity securities) is below established thresholds. The process also includes the monitoring of other impairment indicators such as ratings, ratings downgrades and payment defaults. The securities identified, in addition to other securities for which we may have a concern, are evaluated for potential other-than-temporary impairment using all reasonably available information relevant to the collectability or recovery of the security. Inherent in our evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment for these fixed income and equity securities are assumptions and estimates about the financial condition and future earnings potential of the issue or issuer. Some of the factors that may be considered in evaluating whether a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary are: (1) the financial condition, near-term and long-term prospects of the issue or issuer, including relevant industry specific market conditions and trends, geographic location and implications of rating agency actions and offering prices; (2) the specific reasons that a security is in an unrealized loss position, including overall market conditions which could affect liquidity; and (3) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost or cost.

The following table presents an aging of our unrealized investment losses by investment class:



	Less Than Twelve Months					Twelve Months or More
	Number of Securities*	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Number of Securities*	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
December 31, 2014
U.S. government and agency securities	32	$	285	$	36,081	20	$	305	$	16,947
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	24	100		22,272		11	117		14,310
Public utilities	1	1		1,274		1	38		1,014
Corporate securities	23	271		23,738		16	309		20,215
Redeemable preferred stocks	4	10		408		—	—		—
Total fixed maturities	84	667		83,773		48	769		52,486
Other common stocks	54	247		3,992		1	3		31
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	4	7		378		—	—		—
Total equity securities	58	254		4,370		1	3		31
Total	142	$	921	$	88,143	49	$	772	$	52,517

December 31, 2013
U.S. government and agency securities	47	$	850	$	64,369	7	$	319	$	5,913
Foreign governments	4	60		3,227		—	—		—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	23	433		27,106		—	—		—
Public utilities	4	92		3,830		—	—		—
Corporate securities	49	1,469		60,348		—	—		—
Redeemable preferred stocks	—	—		—		—	—		—
Total fixed maturities	127	2,904		158,880		7	319		5,913
Public utilities	5	20		357		—	—		—
Other common stocks	15	97		1,626		—	—		—
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	1	6		125		1	17		125
Total equity securities	21	123		2,108		1	17		125
Total	148	$	3,027	$	160,988	8	$	336	$	6,038

* This amount represents the actual number of discrete securities, not the number of shares of those securities. The number is not presented in thousands.

During our quarterly evaluations of our securities for impairment, we determined that none of our investments in debt and equity securities that reflected an unrealized loss position were other-than-temporarily impaired. The issuers of our debt securities continue to make interest payments on a timely basis and have not suffered any credit rating reductions. We do not intend to sell nor is it likely that we would be required to sell the debt securities before we recover our amortized cost basis. All the issuers of the equity securities we own had near-term prospects that indicated we could recover our cost basis, and we also have the ability and the intent to hold these securities until their value equals or exceeds their cost.

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, we recorded no other-than-temporary impairment charges related to our equity positions. We have never recorded an OTTI charge on our debt-security investments.

Fair value measurement

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The hierarchy for inputs used in determining fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Assets and liabilities recorded on the Audited Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value are categorized in the fair value hierarchy based on the observability of inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1: Assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that we can access.

Level 2: Assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:

(a) Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

(b) Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or

(c) Valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3: Assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. Unobservable inputs reflect our estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the assets and liabilities.

We estimate the fair value of our investments using the closing prices on the last business day of the reporting period, obtained from active markets such as the NYSE, NASDAQ, and NYSE MKT. For securities for which quoted prices in active markets are unavailable, we use a third-party pricing service that utilizes quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, benchmark interest rates, broker quotes and other relevant inputs to estimate the fair value of those securities for which quoted prices are unavailable. Our estimates of fair value reflect the interest rate environment that existed as of the close of business on December 31, 2014 and 2013. Changes in interest rates subsequent to December 31, 2014 may affect the fair value of our investments.

The fair value for our fixed-maturities is initially calculated by a third-party pricing service. Valuation service providers typically obtain data about market transactions and other key valuation model inputs from multiple sources, and through the use of proprietary models, produce valuation information in the form of a single fair value for individual fixed income and other securities for which a fair value has been requested. The inputs used by the valuation service providers include, but are not limited to, market prices from recently completed transactions and transactions of comparable securities, interest rate yield curves, credit spreads, liquidity spreads, currency rates, and other information, as applicable. Credit and liquidity spreads are typically implied from completed transactions and transactions of comparable securities. Valuation service providers also use proprietary discounted cash flow models that are widely accepted in the financial services industry and similar to those used by other market participants to value the same financial information. The valuation models take into account, among other things, market observable information as of the measurement date, as described above, as well as the specific attributes of the security being valued including its term, interest rate, credit rating, industry sector, and where applicable, collateral quality and other issue or issuer specific information. Executing valuation models effectively requires seasoned professional judgment and experience.

For our Level 3 assets, our internal pricing methods are primarily based on models using discounted cash flow methodologies that determine a single best estimate of fair value for individual financial instruments. In addition, our models use a discount rate and internally assigned credit ratings as inputs (which are generally consistent with any external ratings) and those we use to report our holdings by credit rating. Market related inputs used in these fair values, which we believe are representative of inputs other market participants would use to determine fair value of the same instruments include: interest rate yield curves, quoted market prices of comparable securities, credit spreads, and other applicable market data. As a result of the significance of non-market observable inputs, including internally assigned credit ratings as described above, judgment is required in developing these fair values. The fair value of these financial assets may differ from the amount actually received if we were to sell the asset. Moreover, the use of different valuation assumptions may have a material effect on the fair values on the financial assets.

Any change in the estimated fair value of our securities would impact the amount of unrealized gain or loss we have recorded, which could change the amount we have recorded for our investments and other comprehensive income on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The carrying amounts for the following financial instrument categories approximate their fair values at December 31, 2014 and 2013 because of their short-term nature: cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income, premiums receivable, reinsurance recoverable, reinsurance payable, and accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying amount of notes payable also approximates its fair value as the interest rate on the note payable is variable.

The following table presents the fair value measurements of our financial instruments by level at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:



December 31, 2014	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
U.S. government and agency securities	$	134,434	$	—	$	134,434	$	—
Foreign governments	3,354		—		3,354		—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	91,911		—		91,911		—
Public utilities	9,222		—		9,222		—
Corporate securities	112,616		—		112,616		—
Redeemable preferred stocks	1,093		1,093		—		—
Total fixed maturities	352,630		1,093		351,537		—
Public utilities	1,433		1,433		—		—
Other common stocks	23,048		23,048		—		—
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	1,506		1,506		—		—
Total equity securities	25,987		25,987		—		—
Other investments	3,010		300		739		1,971
Total investments	$	381,627	$	27,380	$	352,276	$	1,971

December 31, 2013
U.S. government and agency securities	$	97,480	$	—	$	97,480	$	—
Foreign governments	3,227		—		3,227		—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	45,777		—		45,777		—
Public utilities	9,133		—		9,133		—
Corporate securities	117,407		—		117,407		—
Total fixed maturities	273,024		—		273,024		—
Public utilities	807		807		—		—
Other common stocks	14,546		14,546		—		—
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	249		249		—		—
Total equity securities	15,602		15,602		—		—
Other investments	3,034		3,034		—		—
Total investments	$	291,660	$	18,636	$	273,024	$	—

The table below presents the rollforward of Level 3 investments held at fair value during the year ended December 31, 2014:



	Other Investments
December 31, 2013	$	—
Transfers in	1,750
Partnership income	22
Return of capital	(62		)
Unrealized gains in accumulated other comprehensive income	261
December 31, 2014	$	1,971

We are responsible for the determination of fair value and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. We gain assurance on the overall reasonableness and consistent application of valuation methodologies and inputs and compliance with accounting standards through the execution of various processes and controls designed to provide assurance that our assets and liabilities are appropriately valued. For fair values received from third parties, our processes are designed to provide assurance that the valuation methodologies and inputs are appropriate and consistently applied, the assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value, and the fair values are accurately recorded.

At the end of each quarter, we determine whether we need to transfer the fair values of any securities between levels of the fair value hierarchy and, if so, we report the transfer as of the end of the quarter. During 2014, we transferred $1,971,000 from Level 1 to Level 3 because the investments in limited partnerships were fully funded, we used unobservable inputs to derive our estimated fair value for these investments and the unobservable inputs are significant to the overall fair value measurement.

For our investments in U.S. government securities that do not have prices in active markets, agency securities, state and municipal governments, and corporate bonds, we obtain the fair values from Synovus Trust Company, NA, which uses a third-party valuation service. The valuation service calculates prices for our investments in the aforementioned security types on a month-end basis by using several matrix-pricing methodologies that incorporate inputs from various sources. The model the valuation service uses to price U.S. government securities and securities of states and municipalities incorporates inputs from active market makers and inter-dealer brokers. To price corporate bonds and agency securities, the valuation service calculates non-call yield spreads on all issuers, uses option-adjusted yield spreads to account for any early redemption features, then adds final spreads to the U.S. Treasury curve at 3 p.m. (ET) as of quarter end. Since the inputs the valuation service uses in their calculations are not quoted prices in active markets, but are observable inputs, they represent Level 2 inputs.

Other investments

Throughout 2014, 2013 and 2012, we acquired investments in limited partnerships, recorded in the other investments line of our Consolidated Balance Sheets, that are currently being accounted for at fair value utilizing a discounted cash flow methodology. The estimated fair value of our investments in the limited partnership interests was $2,710,000. We have fully funded our investments in DCR and RCH, but we are still obligated to fund an additional $1,261,000 for our investment in Kayne.



	Initial Investment		Book Value		Unrealized Gain		Fair Value
DCR Mortgage Partners VI, L.P.	$	750	$	750	$	185	$	935
RCH Mortgage Fund VI Investors, LP	1,000		960		76		1,036
Kayne Senior Credit Fund II, L.P.	739		739		—		739
Total limited partnerships	$	2,489	$	2,449	$	261	$	2,710
Certificate of deposit	300		300		—		300
Total other investments	$	2,789	$	2,749	$	261	$	3,010

On October 31, 2013, we entered into a participation agreement with United Capital Funding (UC Funding), that was recorded in other assets, at cost. We invested $1,000,000 in cash with UC Funding which they utilized to factor receivables from another company. During 2014, UC Funding returned our investment in full as they were unable to fully utilize our investment.