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Fair Value Measurements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] 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 available-for-sale fixed maturity securities, which are carried at fair value. We also report our equity securities at fair value with changes in fair value reported through the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

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 and actively traded mutual fund and stock investments.

Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services or broker quotes.  These pricing 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 securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise securities, securities issued by states and political subdivisions 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.  Real estate held-for-sale is in this category. There were no securities in this category at March 31, 2020.
The following tables set forth our assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated.

March 31, 2020Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Fair Value
(In thousands)
Financial Assets
Fixed maturities available-for-sale    
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises$11,842  4,836  —  16,678  
States and political subdivisions—  503,295  —  503,295  
Corporate50  651,844  —  651,894  
Commercial mortgage-backed—  388  —  388  
Residential mortgage-backed—  140,090  —  140,090  
Asset-backed—  43,777  —  43,777  
Foreign governments—  122  —  122  
Total fixed maturities available-for-sale11,892  1,344,352  —  1,356,244  
Equity securities    
Stock mutual funds2,498  —  —  2,498  
Bond mutual funds11,134  —  —  11,134  
Common stock1,040  —  —  1,040  
Non-redeemable preferred stock4,697  —  —  4,697  
Total equity securities19,369  —  —  19,369  
Other long-term investments (1)
—  —  —  2,809  
Total financial assets$31,261  1,344,352  —  1,378,422  
(1) In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the balance sheet.
December 31, 2019Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Fair Value
(In thousands)
Financial Assets
Fixed maturities available-for-sale    
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises$11,348  4,530  —  15,878  
States and political subdivisions—  536,284  —  536,284  
Corporate52  650,036  —  650,088  
Commercial mortgage-backed—  1,100  —  1,100  
Residential mortgage-backed—  130,287  —  130,287  
Asset-backed—  44,203  —  44,203  
Foreign governments—  119  —  119  
Total fixed maturities available-for-sale11,400  1,366,559  —  1,377,959  
Equity securities    
Stock mutual funds3,274  —  —  3,274  
Bond mutual funds12,311  —  —  12,311  
Common stock134  —  —  134  
Non-redeemable preferred stock314  —  —  314  
Total equity securities16,033  —  —  16,033  
Total financial assets$27,433  1,366,559  —  1,393,992  
 
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS VALUATION

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS CARRIED AT FAIR VALUE

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale.  At March 31, 2020, our fixed maturity securities, valued using a third-party pricing source, totaled $1.3 billion for Level 2 assets and comprised 97.5% of total reported fair value of our financial assets.  The Level 1 and Level 2 valuations are reviewed and updated quarterly through testing by comparisons to separate pricing models, other third-party pricing services, and back tested to recent trades.  In addition, we obtain information annually relative to the third-party pricing models and review model parameters for reasonableness.  There were no Level 3 assets at March 31, 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, 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.

Equity securities.  Our equity securities are classified as Level 1 assets as their fair values are based upon quoted market prices.

Other long-term investments. We have invested in a private equity fund that invests in privately-originated, performing senior secured debt primarily in middle market North America-based companies. Our unfunded commitment as of March 31, 2020 is $37.0 million. This investment is not redeemable because distributions from the funds will be received when underlying investments of the funds are liquidated. The fund is expected to be liquidated in 10 years but this life could be extended at the fund manager’s discretion in one year increments.

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 are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur. There were no transfers in or out of Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
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 instruments.  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 not otherwise disclosed for the periods indicated are as follows:

 March 31, 2020December 31, 2019
(In thousands)Carrying
Value
Fair
Value
Carrying
Value
Fair
Value
Financial Assets:    
Mortgage loans$162  208  177  210  
Policy loans81,329  81,329  82,005  82,005  
Short-term investments690  690  1,301  1,301  
Cash and cash equivalents34,944  34,944  46,205  46,205  
Financial Liabilities:    
Annuity - investment contracts56,561  63,711  56,878  60,667  

Mortgage loans. Mortgage loans are secured principally by residential properties.  Weighted average interest rates for these loans were approximately 6.4% at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. At March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from 19 to 22 years.  Management estimated the fair value using an annual interest rate of 6.25% at March 31, 2020.  Our mortgage loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Policy loans. Policy loans had a weighted average annual interest rate of 7.7% at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and no specified maturity dates.  The aggregate fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value reflected on the consolidated balance sheets.  These loans typically carry an interest rate that corresponds to the crediting rate applied to the related policy and contract reserves.  Policy loans are an integral part of the life insurance policies we have in force, cannot be valued separately and are not marketable.  Therefore, the fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value and policy loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Other. The fair value of short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents approximate carrying value and are characterized as Level 1 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Annuity liabilities. The fair value of the Company's liabilities under annuity contract policies, which are considered Level 3 liabilities, was estimated at March 31, 2020 using discounted cash flows based upon spot rates ranging from 1.28% to 2.34% adjusted for various risk adjustments and 1.67% to 3.02% at December 31, 2019. 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.
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of other long-term investments not carried at fair market value.

Carrying Value
(In thousands)
March 31, 2020December 31, 2019
Other long-term investments:
Private equity$2,809  —  
FHLB common stocks187  187  
Mortgage loans162  177  
All other investments22  21  
Total other long-term investments$3,180  385  

We are a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") of Dallas and such membership requires members to own stock in the FHLB. Our FHLB stock is carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.