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Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements
The Trust carries its life insurance policies at fair value. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount 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. Fair value measurements are classified based on the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 - Valuation is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that are accessible at the reporting date. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
Level 2 - Valuation is determined from pricing inputs that are other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Observable inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
Level 3 - Valuation is based on inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. Level 3 inputs include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the financial instrument. The inputs into the determination of fair value generally require significant management judgment or estimation.
The balances of the Trust's assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, are as follows:
As of
March 31, 2020
As of
December 31, 2019
Assets:
Investments in Life Insurance Policies
Level 1 $—  $—  
Level 2$—  $—  
Level 3$178,822,344  $172,242,734  
Total Fair Value$178,822,344  $172,242,734  
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
Life insurance policiesMarch 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Fair Value$178,822,344  $172,242,734  
Face Value$1,124,578,878  $1,129,545,328  
Valuation TechniquesDiscounted cash flowDiscounted cash flow
Unobservable InputsDiscounted rate, Mortality assumptionsDiscounted rate, Mortality assumptions
Weighted average discount rates
Life Settlements23.6%24.7%
Viaticals25.6%25.7%
Mortality assumptions - 2015 VBT mortality multipliers:
Life Settlements
90% - 100%
90% - 110%
Viaticals350%350%

In assessing and determining the PHT Portfolio’s valuation, the Position Holder Trust retained Lewis & Ellis, Inc. as its principal actuaries.
The following is a summary of the methodology used to estimate the assets’ fair value measured on a recurring basis and within the above fair value hierarchy. The overall methodology did not change during the current or prior year.
The PHT Portfolio’s value was estimated using an actuarially based approach incorporating net cash flows and life expectancies as determined by a default mortality multiplier based on the 2015 Valuation Basic Table produced by the U.S. Society of Actuaries ("VBT") as opposed to specific life expectancies of insureds as the mortality multipliers from the VBT provide more accurate longevity projections across the portfolio. A default mortality multiplier for each insured was used to project the PHT Portfolio’s present value of net cash flows (death benefits less premium payments and servicing company compensation).
As of March 31, 2020 the default mortality multipliers used are 100% for the life settlement males, 90% for the life settlement females, and 350% for the viaticals regardless of gender. As of December 31, 2019 the default mortality multipliers used are 110% for the life settlement males, 90% for the life settlement females, and 350% for the viaticals regardless of gender. On a quarterly basis, the Trust compares actual mortalities to expected mortalities to refine its analysis. In first quarter of 2020, we have shifted from the Select tables to the Ultimate tables from the VBT, and we have appropriately changed the mortality multipliers to best fit experience. Changing the PHT Portfolio’s use to the 2015 VBT Ultimate table rather than
applying the 2015 VBT Select table provides a flatter pattern amongst mortality claims and better aligns to the characteristics of lives in the Trust's portfolio. The overall impact to the PHT's Portfolio from the change from the 2015 VBT Select table to the 2015 VBT Ultimate table was a decrease in fair value of approximately $5.0 million.
The Trust continually evaluates and updates its forecasts of future premium obligations for individual policies. The Trust considers these potential changes to estimated future cash flows in its consideration of the discount rate.
The Trust also continues to monitor historical deaths on a quarterly basis. We will compare actual to expected mortalities to refine our mortality multipliers; such that they reasonably “validate” based on our analysis of trends.
The servicing company is paid 2.65% of each maturity as compensation. All estimated cash flows of the Policies are net of such compensation.
The monthly net cash flows with interest and survivorship were discounted to arrive at the PHT Portfolio’s estimated value as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Future changes in the longevity estimates and estimated cash flows could have a material effect on the PHT Portfolio’s fair value, and the Trust’s financial condition and results of operations.
Life expectancy sensitivity analysis
The table below reflects the effect on the PHT Portfolio’s fair value if the actual life expectancy experienced is 5% less or 5% more than is currently estimated. If the life expectancy estimate increases by 5% or decreases by 5%, the change in estimated fair value of the life insurance policies as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 would be as follows:

As of March 31, 2020Weighted Average Life ExpectancyFair ValueChange in Fair Value
As of Life Expectancy Months Adjustment
-5%$194,653,176  $15,830,832  
No change4.8 years$178,822,344  —  
+5%$162,381,250  $(16,441,094) 


As of December 31, 2019Weighted Average Life ExpectancyFair ValueChange in Fair Value
As of Life Expectancy Months Adjustment
-5%$188,372,343  $16,129,609  
No change4.8 years$172,242,734  —  
+5%$155,482,251  $(16,760,483) 
Cost of Insurance
Over the past several years, various insurers have increased the cost of insurance tables used in certain of their policies. The PHT Portfolio has not been exempt from these increases. Because the cost of insurance affects the premiums paid, an increase in the cost of insurance negatively impacts the affected policies’ valuation. The fair value estimates take into account all known increases in the cost of insurance.
Discount rate
The discount rate is another significant input in the fair value determination. The Trust’s estimate incorporates market factors, the size of the PHT's Portfolio, and various policy specific quantitative and qualitative factors including known information about the underlying insurance policy, its economics, the insured and the insurer.
The effect of changes in the weighted average discount rate on the death benefit and premiums used to estimate the PHT Portfolio’s fair value has been analyzed. If the weighted average discount rate increased or decreased by 2 percentage points and the other assumptions used to estimate fair value remained the same, the change in estimated fair value as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 would be as follows:

As of March 31, 2020Fair ValueChange in Fair Value
Rate Adjustment
+2%$168,726,909  $(10,095,435) 
No change$178,822,344  —  
-(2)%$190,147,372  $11,325,028  
As of December 31, 2019Fair ValueChange in Fair Value
Rate Adjustment
+2%$163,300,406  $(8,942,328) 
No change$172,242,734  —  
-(2)%$182,200,298  $9,957,564  
Future changes in the discount rates used by the Trust to value life insurance policies could have a material effect on the Trust's fair value analysis, which could have a material adverse effect on the Trust’s financial condition and results of operations.
The Trust re-evaluates its discount rates at the end of every reporting period in order to estimate the discount rates that could reasonably be used by market participants in a transaction involving the Trust's life insurance policies. In doing so, the Trust engages third party consultants to corroborate its assessment, engages in discussions with other market participants and extrapolates the discount rate underlying actual sales of insurance policies.
Credit Exposure to Insurance Companies
The following table provides information about the life insurance issuer concentrations that exceed 10% of total death benefit or 10% of total fair value of the Trust's life insurance policies as of March 31, 2020:
CarrierPercentage of Face ValuePercentage of Fair ValueCarrier Rating
Transamerica Financial Life Insurance9.7 %12.5 %A+
The Lincoln National Life Insurance10.0 %11.5 %A+
The following table provides information about the life insurance issuer concentrations that exceed 10% of total death benefit or 10% of total fair value of the Trust's life insurance policies as of December 31, 2019:
CarrierPercentage of Face ValuePercentage of Fair ValueCarrier Rating
Transamerica Financial Life Insurance9.6 %12.7 %A+
The Lincoln National Life Insurance10.4 %12.4 %A+

Changes in Fair Value
The following table provides a roll-forward of the fair value of life insurance policies for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
20202019
Balance at January 1,$172,242,734  $186,251,760  
Realized gain on matured policies18,245,701  20,473,991  
Unrealized losses on assets held(5,619,381) (4,712,688) 
Change in estimated fair value12,626,320  15,761,303  
Matured policies, net of fees(21,573,696) (25,238,083) 
Premiums paid15,526,986  14,675,084  
Balance at March 31,$178,822,344  $191,450,064  
Other Fair Value Considerations - All assets and liabilities except for the life insurance policies, which includes cash, maturities and premium receivable, notes payable and premium and maturity liability, are accounted for at their carrying value which approximates fair value.