Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is 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. We hold fixed maturity and equity securities that are carried at fair value.

Fair value measurements are generally based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information. We utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. All assets and liabilities carried at fair value are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:


•	Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.


•	Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations whose inputs or whose significant value drivers are observable.


•	Level 3 - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices such as U.S. Treasury securities, publicly traded mutual fund investments and individual stocks.

Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services or broker quotes. These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various inputs, such as interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange rates for the underlying financial instruments. All significant inputs are observable, or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Financial instruments in this category primarily include corporate fixed maturity securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise securities, municipal securities and certain mortgage and asset-backed securities.

Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker prices utilizing significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, readily available market information. We have no securities in this category as of or during the year ended December 31, 2018.

The following table sets forth our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the date indicated.



	December 31, 2018
Financial assets	Level 1		Level 2	Level 3	Total Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale investments:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	$	11,274	4,280	—	15,554
States and political subdivisions	—		720,115	—	720,115
Corporate	47		381,749	—	381,796
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		40,014	—	40,014
Residential mortgage-backed	—		68,684	—	68,684
Asset-backed	—		4,757	—	4,757
Foreign governments	—		119	—	119
Total fixed maturities available-for-sale	11,321		1,219,718	—	1,231,039

Equity securities:
Stock mutual funds	2,906		—	—	2,906
Bond mutual funds	11,774		—	—	11,774
Common stock	94		—	—	94
Non-redeemable preferred stock	294		—	—	294
Total equity securities	15,068		—	—	15,068
Total financial assets	$	26,389	1,219,718	—	1,246,107



	December 31, 2017
Available-for-sale investments	Level 1		Level 2	Level 3	Total Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	$	11,808	4,496	—	16,304
States and political subdivisions	—		567,503	—	567,503
Corporate	—		388,703	—	388,703
Residential mortgage-backed	—		1,978	—	1,978
Foreign governments	—		121	—	121
Total fixed maturities	11,808		962,801	—	974,609
Equity securities:
Stock mutual funds	3,217		—	—	3,217
Bond mutual funds	12,367		—	—	12,367
Common stock	24		—	—	24
Redeemable preferred stock	556		—	—	556
Total equity securities	16,164		—	—	16,164
Total financial assets	$	27,972	962,801	—	990,773

Financial Instruments Valuation

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale. At December 31, 2018, the fixed maturities, valued using a third-party pricing source, totaled $1.2 billion for Level 2 assets and comprised 97.9% of total reported fair value. Fair values for Level 3 assets are based upon unadjusted broker quotes that are non-binding. The Level 1 and Level 2 valuations are reviewed and validated quarterly by comparisons to separate pricing models, other third-party pricing services, and back tested to recent trades. In addition, we obtain information relative to the third-party pricing models and review model parameters for reasonableness. For the period ended December 31, 2018, there were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values, and no broker or third-party prices were changed from the values received.

There were no transfers made between Levels 1 and 2 securities at December 31, 2018 or 2017.

Equity securities. Fair values of these securities are provided by a third-party pricing service and based upon quoted market price and are classified as Level 1 assets.

The following table presents additional information about fixed maturity securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value:



	December 31,
	2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Beginning Balance at January 1,	$	—	51
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)
Included in net income	—		—
Included in other comprehensive income	—		—
Principal paydowns	—		(51	)
Transfer in and (out) of Level 3	—		—
Ending Balance at December 31,	$	—	—

We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period. Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets. Such reclassifications, if any, are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.

Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value

Estimates of fair values are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market prices and information about the financial instrument. The estimated fair values of financial instruments presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might realize in actual market transactions. The carrying amount and fair value for the financial assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets at each year-end were as follows:



	December 31, 2018			December 31, 2017
	Carrying Value		Fair Value	Carrying Value	Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	$	—	—	233,961	241,377
Mortgage loans	186		222	195	228
Policy loans	80,825		80,825	73,735	73,735
Short-term investments	7,865		7,865	—	—
Cash and cash equivalents	45,492		45,492	46,064	46,064
Financial liabilities:
Annuities - investment contracts	$	56,658	55,977	55,035	57,575

Fair values for fixed income securities, which are characterized as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy, are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other assumptions, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.

Mortgage loans are secured principally by residential properties and commercial properties. Weighted average interest rates for these loans were approximately 6.6% per year as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, with maturities ranging from 20 to 24 years. Management estimated the fair value using an annual interest rate of 6.25% at December 31, 2018 and 2017. Our mortgage loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Policy loans have a weighted average annual interest rate of 7.7% as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and have no specified maturity dates. The aggregate fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value reflected on the consolidated balance sheet. These loans typically carry an interest rate that is tied to the crediting rate applied to the related policy and contract reserves. Policy loans are an integral part of the life insurance policies that we have in force and cannot be valued separately and are not marketable. Therefore, the fair value approximates the carrying value and policy loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of short-term investments approximates carrying value due to their short-term nature. Our short-term investments are considered Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximate carrying value and are characterized as Level 1 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Company's liabilities under annuity contract policies, which are considered Level 3 instruments, was estimated at December 31, 2018 using discounted cash flows based upon a swap rate curve with interest rates ranging from 2.70% to 3.84% based upon swap rates adjusted for various risk adjustments. The fair value of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the overall management of interest rate risk, which seeks to minimize exposure to changing interest rates through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts.