10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark one)

[ ☒ ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

or

[ ☐ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                              to                             

Commission file number: 001-08052

GLOBE LIFE INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	63-0780404
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
3700 South Stonebridge Drive, McKinney, TX	75070
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

972-569-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share	GL	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:     None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.     

Yes  x     No   ¨    

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ¨       No x   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     

Yes  x       No ¨   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes  x       No ¨   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company”, and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:

Large accelerated filer	x	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨	Smaller reporting company	¨
		Emerging growth company	¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.			¨

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.                       x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ☐    No  x

As of June 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $7.7 billion based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class	Outstanding at February 18, 2021
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share	103,283,402 shares

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Document	Parts Into Which Incorporated
Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 29, 2021 (Proxy Statement)	Part III

Globe Life Inc.

Table of Contents

			Page
PART I.
	Item 1.	Business	1
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	8
	Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	13
	Item 2.	Properties	13
	Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	13
	Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	13
PART II.
	Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	14
	Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	15
		Cautionary Statements	16
	Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	17
	Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	51
	Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	51
		Consolidated Balance Sheets	54
		Consolidated Statements of Operations	55
		Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	56
		Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity	57
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	58
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	59
		Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies	59
		Note 2—Statutory Accounting	71
		Note 3—Supplemental Information about Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	72
		Note 4—Investments	73
		Note 5—Deferred Acquisition Costs	86
		Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies	87
		Note 7—Liability for Unpaid Claims	91
		Note 8—Income Taxes	92
		Note 9—Postretirement Benefits	94
		Note 10—Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information	100
		Note 11—Debt	101
		Note 12—Shareholders' Equity	103
		Note 13—Stock-Based Compensation	104
		Note 14—Business Segments	109
		Note 15—Selected Quarterly Data	116
	Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	117
	Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	117
	Item 9B.	Other Information	120
PART III.
	Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance	120
	Item 11.	Executive Compensation	120
	Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	120
	Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence	121
	Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	121
PART IV.
	Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	121

Table of Contents

Part I

Item 1. Business

Globe Life and the Company refer to Globe Life Inc., an insurance holding company incorporated in Delaware in 1979, and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Its primary subsidiaries are Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company, American Income Life Insurance Company, Liberty National Life Insurance Company, Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America, and United American Insurance Company.

Effective August 8, 2019, Torchmark Corporation changed its corporate name to Globe Life Inc. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) ticker was changed to "GL" on August 9, 2019. The name change is part of a brand alignment strategy which will enhance the Company's ability to build name recognition with potential customers and agent recruits through the use of a single brand. The underwriting companies owned by Globe Life Inc. (the Parent Company) will continue to exist as legal entities, but over a period of time will go to market under the Globe Life name to leverage branding initiatives implemented at Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company in recent years.

Globe Life's website is: www.globelifeinsurance.com. Globe Life makes available free of charge through its website, its annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other information included in Globe Life's website is not incorporated into this filing.

1

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

The following table presents Globe Life's business by primary marketing distribution method. Additional information concerning industry segments may be found in Management’s Discussion and Analysis and in Note 14—Business Segments within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

2

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Insurance

Life Insurance

The distribution channels for life insurance products include direct to consumer, exclusive agents, and independent agents. These methods are described in greater detail within the primary marketing distribution channel chart as seen above. The following table presents annualized premium in force for the three years ended December 31, 2020 by distribution method:

	Annualized Premium in Force(1) (Dollar amounts in thousands)
	2020		2019		2018
Direct to Consumer	$	881,012	$	831,739	$	812,780
Exclusive agents:
American Income	1,325,293		1,220,483		1,129,384
Liberty National	318,545		309,792		300,846
Independent agents:
United American	9,314		10,211		11,094
Other	205,785		209,403		210,624
	$	2,739,949	$	2,581,628	$	2,464,728

(1)See definition of annualized premium in force under Results of Operations in Management's Discussion & Analysis.

Globe Life's insurance subsidiaries write a variety of nonparticipating ordinary life insurance products. These include traditional whole life, term life, and other life insurance. The Company does not currently sell interest-sensitive whole life products. The following tables present selected information about Globe Life's life insurance products.

	Annualized Premium in Force (Dollar amounts in thousands)
	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
Whole life:
Traditional	$	1,857,106	68	$	1,737,794	67	$	1,643,122	67
Interest-sensitive	36,297		1	38,691		2	41,414		2
Term	716,698		26	683,869		26	671,840		27
Other	129,848		5	121,274		5	108,352		4
	$	2,739,949	100	$	2,581,628	100	$	2,464,728	100

	Policy Count and Average Face Amount Per Policy (Dollar amounts in thousands)
	2020			2019			2018
	Policy Count	Average Face Amount per Policy		Policy Count	Average Face Amount per Policy		Policy Count	Average Face Amount per Policy
Whole life:
Traditional	8,717,785	$	14.7	8,477,406	$	14.2	8,112,745	$	13.9
Interest-sensitive	199,975	20.3		208,822	20.3		209,948	20.6
Term	4,526,172	15.1		4,313,709	14.8		4,459,850	14.9
Other	408,859	14.3		399,365	13.7		376,632	12.9
	13,852,791	$	14.9	13,399,302	$	14.5	13,159,175	$	14.3

3

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Health Insurance

The following table presents Globe Life's health insurance annualized premium in force for the three years ended December 31, 2020 by distribution channel.

	Annualized Premium in Force (Dollar amounts in thousands)
	2020		2019		2018
Direct to Consumer	$	77,522	$	78,229	$	79,325
Exclusive agents:
Liberty National	196,534		197,163		201,294
American Income	104,701		96,447		88,237
Family Heritage	338,309		312,479		290,186
Independent agents:
United American	476,296		454,720		414,656
	$	1,193,362	$	1,139,038	$	1,073,698

Globe Life offers Medicare Supplement and limited-benefit supplemental health insurance products that include primarily critical illness and accident plans. These products are designed to supplement health coverage that applicants already own. Medicare Supplements are offered to enrollees in the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program. Medicare Supplement plans are standardized by federal regulation and are designed to pay deductibles and co-payments not paid by Medicare.

The following table presents supplemental health annualized premium in force information for the three years ended December 31, 2020 by product category.

	Annualized Premium in Force (Dollar amounts in thousands)
	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
Limited-benefit plans	617,759		52	581,056		51	549,283		51
Medicare Supplement	$	575,603	48	$	557,982	49	$	524,415	49
	$	1,193,362	100	$	1,139,038	100	$	1,073,698	100

Annuities

Annuity products include single-premium and flexible-premium deferred annuities. Annuities in each of the three years ended December 31, 2020 comprised less than 1% of premium. The Company does not currently market annuity products.

Pricing

Premium rates for life and health insurance products are established using assumptions as to future mortality, morbidity, persistency, investment income, expenses, and target profit margins. These assumptions are based on Company experience and projected investment earnings. Revenues for individual life and health insurance products are primarily derived from premium income, and, to a lesser extent, through policy charges to the policyholder account values on annuity products and certain individual life products. Profitability is affected by actual experience deviations from the established assumptions and to the extent investment income varies from that required for policy reserves.

Collections for annuity products and certain life products are not recognized as revenues, but are added to policyholder account values. Revenues from these products are derived from charges to the account balances for insurance risk and administrative costs. Profits are earned to the extent these revenues exceed actual costs. Profits are also earned from investment income in excess of the amounts required for policy reserves.

4

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Underwriting

The underwriting standards of each Globe Life insurance subsidiary are established by management. Each subsidiary uses information obtained from the application and, in some cases, telephone interviews with applicants, including, but not limited to inspection reports, pharmacy data, doctors’ statements and/or medical examinations to determine whether a policy should be issued in accordance with the application, with a different rating, with a rider, with reduced coverage, or rejected.

Reserves

The life insurance policy reserves reflected in Globe Life's consolidated financial statements as future policy benefits are calculated based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These reserves, with premiums to be received in the future and the interest thereon compounded annually at assumed rates, must be sufficient to cover policy and contract obligations as they mature. Generally, the mortality and persistency assumptions used in the calculations of reserves are based on Company experience. Similar reserves are held on most of the health insurance policies written by Globe Life's insurance subsidiaries, since these policies generally are issued on a guaranteed-renewable basis. The assumptions used in the calculation of Globe Life's reserves are reported in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies. Reserves for annuity products and certain life products consist of the policyholders’ account values and are increased by policyholder deposits and interest credited and are decreased by policy charges and benefit payments.

Reinsurance

Globe Life has historically participated in very limited third-party reinsurance contracts as a result of the low face amounts of the policies sold by the Company. See Schedule IV and Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies for more information.

Investments

The nature, quality, and percentage mix of insurance company investments are regulated by state laws. The investments of Globe Life insurance subsidiaries consist predominantly of high-quality, investment-grade securities. Approximately 95% of our invested assets, at fair value, are fixed maturities at December 31, 2020 (see Note 4—Investments and Management’s Discussion and Analysis).

Competition

Globe Life competes with other insurance carriers through policyholder service, price, product design, and sales efforts. While there are insurance companies competing with Globe Life, no individual company dominates any of Globe Life's life or health insurance markets.

Globe Life's health insurance products compete with, in addition to the products of other health insurance carriers, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, and other health care-related institutions which provide medical benefits based on contractual agreements.

The Company effectively competes with other carriers, in part, due to its ability to operate at lower policy acquisition and administrative expense levels than peer companies. This allows Globe Life to have competitive rates while maintaining higher underwriting margins.

Regulation

Insurance—Insurance companies are subject to regulation and supervision in the states in which they do business. The laws of the various states establish agencies with broad administrative and supervisory powers which include, among other things, granting and revoking licenses to transact business, regulating trade practices, licensing agents, approving policy forms, approving certain premium rates, setting minimum reserve and loss ratio requirements, determining the form and content of required financial statements, and prescribing the type and amount of investments permitted. Insurance companies are also required to file detailed annual reports with supervisory agencies, and records of their business are subject to examination at any time. Under the rules of the

5

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), insurance companies are examined periodically by one or more of the supervisory agencies.

Risk-Based Capital (RBC)—The NAIC requires that a risk-based capital formula be applied to all life and health insurers. The risk-based capital formula is a threshold formula rather than a target capital formula. It is designed only to identify companies that require regulatory attention and is not to be used to rate or rank companies that are adequately capitalized. All Globe Life's insurance subsidiaries are more than adequately capitalized under the risk-based capital formula. See further discussion of RBC in Capital Resources.

Guaranty Assessments—State guaranty laws provide for assessments from insurance companies to be placed into a fund which is used, in the event of failure or insolvency of an insurance company, to fulfill the obligations of that company to its policyholders. The amount which a company is assessed is based on its proportional share of the premium in each state. A significant portion of assessments are recoverable as offsets against state premium taxes.

Holding Company—States have enacted legislation requiring registration and periodic reporting by insurance companies domiciled within their respective jurisdictions that control or are controlled by other corporations so as to constitute a holding company system. Globe Life and its subsidiaries have registered as a holding company system pursuant to such legislation in Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, and New York.

Insurance holding company system statutes and regulations impose various limitations on investments in subsidiaries, and may require prior regulatory approval for material transactions between insurers and affiliates and for the payment of certain dividends and other distributions.

Human Capital Management

Globe Life's talent base encompasses a broad range of experience that possesses the depth of critical skills to efficiently and effectively accomplish our business purpose and mission, serve our policyholders, and protect our shareholders' interests. Maintaining superior human capital is a key driver to the success and longevity that our Company has experienced since its origins dating back to the early 1900s. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had 3,261 full time, part-time, and temporary employees. The Company engages over 13 thousand exclusive producing insurance agents, most of whom are classified as independent contractors. In 2020, we increased our employee headcount by 2% and grew our exclusive agency force by 21%.

People, Culture, and Community

At Globe Life, we are united by our mission—To Make Tomorrow Better1 and this starts with our employees and agents. Beyond providing insurance protection for millions of individuals, serving our policyholders and generating financial results for our shareholders, we focus on cultivating a healthy, positive culture and a thriving community within and among our campuses that is inclusive of and attractive for all. Globe Life promotes a diverse work force, where differences are celebrated and inclusiveness is embraced, to better enable our employees to consistently achieve outstanding individual and collective results. Our commitment to diversity starts at the top; of the 9 independent Board members, 56% are women and 22% are ethnic minorities.

1Per the Globe Life Employee Handbook, the Globe Life mission statement is "We help families Make Tomorrow Better by working to protect their financial future."

6

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

As of December 31, 2020, the Globe Life employees, (excluding agents) are as follows:

Ethnicity			Gender			Generations
White	53	%	Female	67	%	Traditionalists (1925-1945)	—	%
Black or African American	21		Male	33		Baby Boomers (1946-1964)	23
Hispanic or Latino	11					Gen X (1965-1977)	31
Asian	9					Millennials (1978-1995)	41
American Indian or Alaskan Native	1					Gen Z (1996-2012)	5
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	—
Other or Not Specified	5
Total	100	%		100	%		100	%

We conduct a confidential survey biennially to give our employees the opportunity to provide candid feedback about their experiences at the Company, including but not limited to, confidence in the Company and leadership, competitiveness of our compensation and benefit package, and departmental relationships. The results are shared with our employees, reviewed by senior leadership, and used to identify areas for improvement and create action plans based on the employee feedback received.

We also strive To Make Tomorrow Better by supporting the communities in which we live and work through financial and service-based contributions to organizations that address health-related issues and those that serve youth, families and seniors.

Talent Development

At Globe Life, we believe investing in our employees through training and development is paramount to their success. We have developed a learning eco-system that includes a multitude of professional development opportunities, including online, self-directed, and instructor-led courses on a variety of topics. An education assistance program is also offered to facilitate growth in an area related to one's current position with the Company.

Health, Safety, and Wellness

We strive to provide a safe and healthy work environment for every employee. We furnish employees with numerous tools and trainings throughout the year to help ensure they have at their fingertips the best information to safely engage with co-workers, customers, and third parties. In furtherance of our commitment to our employees, we offer a comprehensive employee benefits package that includes competitive monetary benefits, retirement benefits through a Section 401(k) plan and a qualified pension to eligible employees, fitness center reimbursement, paid-time-off (based on years of service), health insurance, dental and vision insurance, employee resource program, health savings and flexible spending accounts, family leave, and tuition assistance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company remained committed to the well-being and safety of its employees, agents, customers, guests, vendors, and shareholders in our resolve to maintain a stable and secure business environment. In response to the pandemic, our crisis management and incident response teams guided the Company through an expedited, yet smooth, transition towards working remotely. We efficiently transitioned approximately 80-85% of the Company's total workforce, excluding agents, to working remotely. For the agency operations, most sales and recruiting agents transitioned to a virtual experience providing limited in-person exposure.

7

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Risks Related to Our Business

The insurance industry is a regulated industry, populated by many public and private companies. We operate in the industry's life and health insurance sectors, each of which has its own set of risks.

Business and Operational Risks

The development and maintenance of our various distribution channels are critical to growth in product sales and profits.

Recruiting, development, and retention of producing agents are critical to support sales growth in this market because our insurance sales are primarily made to individuals, and the face amounts of the life insurance policies sold are typically lower than those of policies sold in higher-income markets. If we do not provide compensation that is competitive with other career opportunities and that motivates producing agents to increase sales of our products, our growth could be impeded. In addition, a failure to effectively develop new methods of reaching consumers and realizing cost efficiencies in our Direct to Consumer Division business could result in reduced sales and profits.

Our life insurance products are sold in selected niche markets. We are at risk should any of these markets diminish.

We have several life distribution channels that focus on distinct market niches, two of which are labor unions and sales via Direct to Consumer solicitations. Deterioration of our relationships with organized labor or adverse changes in the public’s receptivity to direct to consumer marketing initiatives could negatively affect our life insurance business.

The failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems at the Company could compromise data security, thereby adversely affecting our financial condition and results of operations.

Our business is highly dependent upon the internet, third-party service providers, and information systems to operate in an efficient and resilient manner. We gather and maintain data for the purpose of conducting marketing, actuarial analysis, sales and policy administration functions.

Malicious third-parties, employee or agent errors or disasters affecting our information systems could impair our business operations, regulatory compliance and financial condition. Employee or agent errors in the handling of our information systems may inadvertently result in unauthorized access to customer or proprietary information, or an inability to use our information systems to efficiently support business operations.

More frequent and sophisticated cyber-attacks and more impactful regulatory oversight models could result in additional costs to protect against security breaches. Any breach of confidential information systems resulting from the above factors could damage our reputation in the marketplace, deter potential customers from purchasing our products, result in the loss of existing customers, subject us to significant civil and criminal liability, constrain cash flows, or require us to incur significant technical, legal or other expenses.

The impact of COVID-19 and related risks could materially affect our results of operations, financial position and/or liquidity.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and U.S. and international responses, are wide-ranging, costly, disruptive and rapidly changing. The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in and is expected to continue to result in significant disruptions in economic activity and financial markets. COVID-19 has directly and indirectly adversely affected the Company and will likely continue to do so for an uncertain period of time. Because of the size and breadth of this pandemic and the impact of related government and regulatory actions, all of the direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19 on the Company are not yet known and may not emerge for some time.

8

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

The COVID-19 pandemic subjects the Company to various potential risks that could adversely affect the Company in different ways, including but not limited to the following:

•Reduced sales resulting from potential limitations in the virtual sales and agent recruiting process or reductions in the willingness or ability of consumers to purchase our products;

•Reduced cash flows from higher surrenders and claim payments or greater than anticipated losses from higher policyholder claims;

•Disruptions, delays, and increased costs and risks related to employees working remotely, having limited or no access to our facilities, and experiencing reductions or interruptions of critical or essential services;

•Ratings downgrades, increased bankruptcies and credit spread widening in industries in which we invest in our investment portfolio.

Actual or alleged misclassification of independent contractors at our insurance subsidiaries could result in adverse legal, tax or financial consequences.

A significant portion of our sales agents are independent contractors. Although we believe we have properly classified such individuals, a risk nevertheless exists that a court, the Internal Revenue Service or other authority will take the position that those sales agents are employees. The laws and regulations that govern the status and classification of workers are subject to change and differing interpretations, which we cannot predict.

If there is an adverse determination regarding the classification of some or all of the independent contractors at our insurance subsidiaries by a court or governmental agency, we could incur significant costs with respect to payroll tax liabilities, employee benefits, wage payments, fines, judgments and/or legal settlements, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any resulting reclassification could necessitate significant changes in our affected insurance subsidiaries’ business models.

Financial and Strategic Risks

Our investments are subject to market and credit risks. Significant downgrades, delinquencies and defaults in our investment portfolio could potentially result in lower net investment income and increased realized and unrealized investment losses.

Our invested assets are subject to the customary risks of defaults, downgrades and changes in market values. Our investment portfolio consists predominately of fixed maturity and short-term investments, where we are exposed to the risk that individual issuers will not have the ability to make required interest or principal payments. A concentration of these investments in any particular issuer, industry, group of related industries or geographic areas could increase this risk. Factors that may affect both market and credit risks include interest rate levels (consisting of both treasury rate and credit spread), financial market performance, disruptions in credit markets, general economic conditions, legislative changes, particular circumstances affecting the businesses or industries of each issuer and other factors beyond our control.

Additionally, as the majority of our investments are long-term fixed maturities that we typically hold until maturity, a significant increase in interest rates or a market downturn could cause a material temporary decline in the fair value of our fixed investment portfolio, even with regard to performing assets. These declines could cause a material increase in unrealized losses in our investment portfolio. Significant unrealized losses could substantially reduce our capital position and shareholders’ equity. It is possible our investment in certain of these securities with unrealized losses could experience a credit event where an allowance for credit loss is recorded, reducing net income.

We cannot be assured that any particular issuer, regardless of industry, will be able to make required interest and principal payments on a timely basis or at all. Significant downgrades or defaults of issuers could negatively impact our risk-based capital ratios, leading to potential downgrades of the Company by rating agencies, potential reduction in future dividend capacity from our insurance subsidiaries, and/or higher financing costs at the Parent Company should additional statutory capital be required.

Changes in interest rates could negatively affect income.

Declines in interest rates expose insurance companies to the risk that they will fail to earn the level of interest on investments assumed in pricing products and in setting discount rates used to calculate net policy liabilities, which

9

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

could have a negative impact on income. Significant decreases in interest rates could result in calls by issuers of investments, where such features are available to issuers. Any such calls could result in a decline in our investment income, as reinvestment of the proceeds would likely be at lower interest rates.

An increase in interest rates could result in certain policyholders surrendering their life or annuity policies for cash, thereby potentially requiring our insurance subsidiaries to liquidate invested assets if other sources of liquidity are not available to meet their obligations. In such a case, realized losses could result from the sale of the invested assets and could adversely affect our statutory income, required capital levels, and results of operations.

Our ability to fund operations is substantially dependent on available funds from our insurance subsidiaries.

As a holding company with no direct operations, our principal asset is the capital stock of our insurance subsidiaries, which periodically declare and distribute dividends on their capital stock. Moreover, our liquidity, including our ability to pay our operating expenses and to make principal and interest payments on debt securities or other indebtedness owed by us, as well as our ability to pay dividends on our common stock or any preferred stock, depends significantly upon the surplus and earnings of our insurance subsidiaries and the ability of these subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Other sources of liquidity include a variety of short-term and long-term instruments, including our credit facility, commercial paper, long-term debt, intercompany financing and reinsurance.

The principal sources of our insurance subsidiaries’ liquidity are insurance premiums, as well as investment income, maturities, repayments and other cash flow from our investment portfolio. Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to various state statutory and regulatory restrictions applicable to insurance companies that limit the amount of cash dividends, loans and advances that those subsidiaries may pay to us, including laws establishing minimum solvency and liquidity thresholds. For example, in the states where our companies are domiciled, an insurance company generally may pay dividends only out of its unassigned surplus as reflected in its statutory financial statements filed in that state. Additionally, dividends paid by insurance subsidiaries are restricted based on regulations by their states of domicile. Accordingly, impairments in assets or disruptions in our insurance subsidiaries’ operations that reduce their capital or cash flow could limit or disallow the payment of dividends, a principal source of our cash flow, to us.

Changes in laws or regulations in the states in which our companies are domiciled could constrain the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us in sufficient amounts and at times necessary to pay our debt obligations, corporate expenses, or dividends on our capital stock.

Adverse capital and credit market conditions may significantly affect our ability to meet liquidity needs or access capital, as well as affect our cost of capital.

Should interest rates increase in the future, the higher interest expense on any new issued debt may reduce net income. In addition, if the credit and capital markets were to experience significant disruption, uncertainty and instability, these conditions could adversely affect our access to capital. Such market conditions could limit our ability to replace maturing debt obligations in a timely manner or at all and/or access the capital necessary to grow our business.

In the unlikely event that current sources of liquidity do not satisfy our needs, we may have to seek additional financing or raise capital. The availability and cost of additional financing or capital depend on a variety of factors such as market conditions, the general availability of credit or capital, the volume of trading activities, the overall availability of credit to the insurance industry and our credit ratings and credit capacity. Additionally, customers, lenders or investors could develop a negative perception of our financial prospects if we were to incur large investment losses or if the level of our business activity decreased due to a market downturn. Our access to funds may also be impaired if regulatory authorities or rating agencies take negative actions against us. If our internal sources of liquidity prove to be insufficient, we may not be able to successfully obtain additional financing on favorable terms or at all. As such, we may be forced to delay raising capital, issue shorter term securities than we would prefer or bear an unattractive cost of capital which could decrease our profitability and significantly reduce our financial flexibility. If so, our results of operations, financial condition, consolidated RBC, and cash flows could be materially negatively affected.

10

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Industry Risks

Variations in actual-to-expected rates of mortality, morbidity and persistency could materially negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We establish policy reserves to pay future policyholder benefits. These reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability, but rather are actuarial estimates based on models and accounting requirements that include many assumptions and projections which are inherently uncertain. The reserve computations involve the exercise of significant judgment with respect to levels of mortality, morbidity and persistency, as well as the timing of premium and benefit payments. Even though our actuaries continually test actual-to-expected results, actual results may differ significantly from the levels assumed, which could result in increased policy obligations and expenses and thus negatively affect our profit margins and income.

A ratings downgrade or other negative action by a rating agency could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Various rating agencies review the financial performance and condition of insurers, including our insurance subsidiaries, and publish their financial strength ratings as indicators of an insurer’s ability to fulfill its contractual obligations. These ratings are important to maintaining public confidence in our insurance products. A downgrade or other negative action by a rating agency with respect to the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries could negatively affect us by limiting or restricting the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to us and reducing our sales by adversely affecting our ability to sell insurance products through independent insurance agencies.

The supplemental health insurance market is subject to substantial regulatory scrutiny.

Regulatory changes could impact our Medicare Supplement and other supplemental health business. The nature and timing of any such changes cannot be predicted and could have a material adverse effect on our supplemental health insurance business.

Obtaining timely and appropriate premium rate increases for certain supplemental health insurance policies is critical.

A significant percentage of the supplemental health insurance premiums that our insurance subsidiaries earn is from Medicare Supplement insurance. Medicare Supplement insurance, including conditions under which the premiums for such policies may be increased, is highly regulated at both the state and federal level. As a result, our Medicare Supplement business is characterized by lower profit margins than life insurance and requires strict administrative discipline and economies of scale for success. Since Medicare Supplement policies are coordinated with the federal Medicare program, which experiences health care inflation every year, annual premium rate increases for the Medicare Supplement policies are typically necessary. Accordingly, the inability of our insurance subsidiaries to obtain approval of appropriate premium rate increases for supplemental health insurance plans in a timely manner from state insurance regulatory authorities could adversely impact their profitability and thus our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Damage to the reputation of Globe Life or its subsidiaries could affect our ability to conduct business.

Negative publicity through traditional media, internet, social media and other public forums could damage our reputation and adversely impact our agent recruiting efforts, the ability to market our products and the persistency of in-force policies. The Company could be subjected to adverse publicity as a result of a significant security breach.

Our business is subject to the risk of the occurrence of catastrophic events.

Our insurance policies are issued to and held by a large number of policyholders throughout the United States in relatively low-face amounts. Accordingly, it is unlikely that a large portion of our policyholder base would be affected by a single natural disaster. However, our insurance operations could be exposed to the risk of catastrophic mortality or morbidity caused by events such as a pandemic, hurricane, earthquake, or man-made catastrophes, including acts of terrorism or war, which may produce significant claims in larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Claims resulting from natural or man-made catastrophic events could cause substantial volatility

11

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

in our financial results for any fiscal quarter or year and could materially reduce our profitability or harm our financial condition.

Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Risks

Our businesses are heavily regulated and changes in regulation may reduce our profitability and growth.

Insurance companies, including our insurance subsidiaries, are subject to extensive supervision and regulation in the states in which they do business. The primary purpose of this supervision and regulation is the protection of policyholders, not investors. Regulatory agencies have broad administrative power over numerous aspects of our business, including premium rates and other terms and conditions included in the insurance policies offered by our insurance subsidiaries, marketing practices, advertising, agent licensing, policy forms, capital adequacy, solvency, reserves and permitted investments. Also, regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion to grant, renew or revoke licenses or approvals. The insurance laws, regulations and policies currently affecting our companies may change at any time, possibly having an adverse effect on our business. Should regulatory changes occur, we may be unable to maintain all required licenses and approvals, or fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority’s interpretation of such laws and regulations. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend some or all of our business activities and/or impose substantial

Changes in U.S. federal income tax law could increase our tax costs or negatively impact our insurance subsidiaries' capital.

Changes to the Internal Revenue Code, administrative rulings, or court decisions affecting the insurance industry, including the products insurers offer, could increase our effective tax rate and lower our net income, adversely impact our insurance subsidiaries' capital, or limit the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to sell certain of their products.

Changes in accounting standards issued by accounting standard-setting bodies may affect our financial statements, reduce our reported profitability and change the timing of profit recognition.

Our financial statements are subject to the application of GAAP and accounting practices as promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ statutory accounting practices (NAIC SAP), which principles are periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time we are required to adopt new or revised accounting standards or guidance issued by recognized authoritative bodies. Future accounting standards that we are required to adopt could change the current accounting treatment that we apply to our consolidated financial statements and such changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. (Refer to Note 1— Significant Accounting Policies under the caption Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted)

Non-compliance with laws or regulations related to customer and consumer privacy and information security, including a failure to ensure that our business associates with access to sensitive customer and consumer information maintain its confidentiality, could materially adversely affect our reputation and business operations.

The collection, maintenance, use, disclosure and disposal of personally identifiable information by our insurance subsidiaries are regulated at the international, federal and state levels. Applicable laws and rules are subject to change by legislation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Various state laws address the use and disclosure of personally identifiable information to the extent they are more restrictive than those contained in the privacy and security provisions in the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLBA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), and in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA also requires that we impose privacy and security requirements on our business associates (as that term is defined in the HIPAA regulations). Noncompliance with any privacy laws, whether by us or by one of our business associates, could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations and could result in material fines and penalties, various forms of damages, consent orders regarding our privacy and security practices, adverse actions against our licenses to do business, and injunctive relief.

12

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life had no unresolved SEC staff comments.

Item 2. Properties

Globe Life, through its subsidiaries, owns or leases buildings that are used in the normal course of business. Globe Life owns and occupies approximately 500,000 combined square feet in McKinney, Texas (headquarters) and at the Waco, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma campuses. Additionally, the Company leases other buildings across the U.S.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Discussion regarding litigation and unclaimed property audits is provided in Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

13

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Part II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

The principal market in which Globe Life's common stock is traded is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: GL). There were 2,252 shareholders of record on December 31, 2020, excluding shareholder accounts held in nominee form.

The line graph shown below compares Globe Life's cumulative total return on its common stock with the cumulative total returns of the Standard and Poor’s 500 Stock Index (S&P 500) and the Standard and Poor’s Life & Health Insurance Index (S&P Life & Health Insurance). Globe Life's stock is included within both the S&P 500 and the S&P Life & Health Insurance Index.

*$100 invested on 12/31/2015 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ended December 31.

Copyright© 2021 Standard & Poor's, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.

Purchases of Certain Equity Securities by the Issuer and Others for the Fourth Quarter 2020

Period	(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased	(b) Average Price Paid Per Share		(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	(d) Maximum Number of Shares (or Approximate Dollar Amount) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
October 1-31, 2020	553,989	$	81.51	553,989	—
November 1-30, 2020	449,389	91.07		449,389	—
December 1-31, 2020	650,021	94.05		650,021	—

On August 5, 2020, Globe Life's Board reaffirmed its continued authorization of the Company’s stock repurchase program in amounts and with timing that management, in consultation with the Board, determined to be in the best interest of the Company. The program has no defined expiration date or maximum number of shares to be purchased.

14

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following information should be read in conjunction with Globe Life's Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes reported elsewhere in this Form 10-K:

(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share and percentage data)

	Year ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018		2017		2016
Life	$	2,672,804	$	2,517,784	$	2,406,555	$	2,306,547	$	2,189,333
Health	1,141,097		1,077,346		1,015,339		976,373		947,663
Other	4		4		12		15		38
Total premium	3,813,905		3,595,134		3,421,906		3,282,935		3,137,034
Net investment income	927,062		910,459		882,512		847,885		806,903
Realized gains (losses)	(4,371)		20,621		(1,804)		23,611		(10,683)
Total revenue	4,737,921		4,527,532		4,303,751		4,155,573		3,934,629
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	731,773		760,882		701,510		1,458,263		539,590
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		(92)		(44)		(3,769)		10,189
Net income	731,773		760,790		701,466		1,454,494		549,779
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	6.90		6.97		6.22		12.53		4.50
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		(0.03)		0.08
Net income	6.90		6.97		6.22		12.50		4.58
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	6.82		6.83		6.09		12.26		4.41
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		(0.04)		0.08
Net income	6.82		6.83		6.09		12.22		4.49
Cash dividends paid	0.74		0.68		0.63		0.59		0.56
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	106,075		109,214		112,873		116,343		120,001
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	107,225		111,381		115,249		118,983		122,368
	As of December 31,
	2020		2019		2018		2017		2016
Cash and invested assets	$	22,547,498	$	19,923,204	$	17,239,570	$	17,853,047	$	15,955,891
Total assets	29,046,731		25,977,460		23,095,722		23,474,985		21,436,087
Short-term debt	254,918		298,738		307,848		328,067		264,475
Long-term debt	1,667,886		1,348,988		1,357,185		1,132,201		1,133,165
Shareholders' equity	8,771,092		7,294,307		5,415,177		6,231,421		4,566,861
Per diluted common share	83.19		66.02		48.11		52.95		37.76
Effect of fixed maturity revaluation on diluted equity per common share(1)	30.07		17.76		3.79		13.18		5.63
Annualized premium in force:
Life	2,739,949		2,581,628		2,464,728		2,373,099		2,262,736
Health	1,193,362		1,139,038		1,073,698		1,018,020		998,634
Total	3,933,311		3,720,666		3,538,426		3,391,119		3,261,370
Basic shares outstanding	103,797		107,720		110,693		114,593		118,031
Diluted shares outstanding	105,429		110,494		112,561		117,696		120,958

(1)See discussion under the caption Capital Resources in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in this report concerning the effect this rule has on Globe Life's equity.

15

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

We caution readers regarding certain forward-looking statements contained in the foregoing discussion and elsewhere in this document, and in any other statements made by, or on behalf of Globe Life whether or not in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any statement that is not a historical fact, or that might otherwise be considered an opinion or projection concerning the Company or its business, whether express or implied, is meant as and should be considered a forward-looking statement. Such statements represent management's opinions concerning future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. We specifically disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business operations, financial results and financial condition. If these estimates or assumptions prove to be incorrect, the actual results of Globe Life may differ materially from the forward-looking statements made on the basis of such estimates or assumptions. Whether or not actual results differ materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events or developments, which may be national in scope, related to the insurance industry generally, or applicable to the Company specifically. Such events or developments could include, but are not necessarily limited to:

1.Economic and other conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the U.S. economy, leading to unexpected changes in lapse rates and/or sales of our policies, as well as levels of mortality, morbidity, and utilization of health care services that differ from Globe Life's assumptions;

2.Regulatory developments, including changes in accounting standards or governmental regulations (particularly those impacting taxes and changes to the Federal Medicare program that would affect Medicare Supplement);

3.Market trends in the senior-aged health care industry that provide alternatives to traditional Medicare (such as Health Maintenance Organizations and other managed care or private plans) and that could affect the sales of traditional Medicare Supplement insurance;

4.Interest rate changes that affect product sales and/or investment portfolio yield;

5.General economic, industry sector or individual debt issuers’ financial conditions (including developments and volatility arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in certain industries that may comprise part of our investment portfolio) that may affect the current market value of securities we own, or that may impair an issuer’s ability to make principal and/or interest payments due on those securities;

6.Changes in the competitiveness of the Company's products and pricing;

7.Litigation results;

8.Levels of administrative and operational efficiencies that differ from our assumptions (including any reduction in efficiencies resulting from increased costs arising from operating during the COVID-19 pandemic);

9.The ability to obtain timely and appropriate premium rate increases for health insurance policies from our regulators;

10.The customer response to new products and marketing initiatives;

11.Reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements which are based on management estimates and judgments which may differ from the actual amounts ultimately realized;

12.Compromise by a malicious actor or other event that causes a loss of secure data from, or inaccessibility to, our computer and other information technology systems;

13.The severity, magnitude and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including effects of the pandemic and the effects of the U.S. and state governments' and other businesses’ response to the pandemic, on our operations and personnel, and on commercial activity and demand for our products; and

14.Our ability to access the commercial paper and debt markets, particularly if such markets become unpredictable or unstable for a certain period as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Readers are also directed to consider other risks and uncertainties described in other documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

16

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with Globe Life's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

"Globe Life" and the "Company" refer to Globe Life Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Results of Operations

	How Globe Life Views Its Operations. Globe Life Inc. is the holding company for a group of insurance companies that market primarily individual life and supplemental health insurance to lower middle to middle income households throughout the United States. We view our operations by segments, which are the insurance product lines of life, supplemental health, and annuities, and the investment segment that supports the product lines. Segments are aligned based on their common characteristics, comparability of the profit margins, and management techniques used to operate each segment.
	Insurance Product Line Segments. The insurance product line segments involve the marketing, underwriting, and administration of policies. Each product line is further segmented by the various distribution channels that market the insurance policies. Each distribution channel operates in a niche market offering insurance products designed for that particular market. Whether analyzing profitability of a segment as a whole, or the individual distribution channels within the segment, the measure of profitability used by management is the underwriting margin, as seen below:
	Premium revenue                                                            (Policy obligations)                                                            (Policy acquisition costs and commissions)                                                            Underwriting margin
	Investment Segment. The investment segment involves the management of our capital resources, including investments and the management of corporate debt and liquidity. Our measure of profitability for the investment segment is excess investment income, as seen below:
	Net investment income (Required interest on net policy liabilities)                                                            (Financing costs)                                                            Excess investment income

17

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Current Highlights, comparing year to date 2020 with 2019.

•Net income as a return on equity (ROE) for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 9.5% and net operating income as an ROE, excluding net unrealized gains on the fixed maturity portfolio(1) was 13.5%.

•Total premium increased 6% over the same period in the prior year. Life premium increased 6% for the period from $2.5 billion in 2019 to $2.7 billion in 2020. Life underwriting margin declined 4% from $703 million in 2019 to $675 million in 2020.

•Net investment income increased 2% over the same period in the prior year. Excess investment income declined 5% below the prior year.

•Total net sales increased 7% over the same period in the prior year from $621 million to $662 million.

•Book value per share increased 26% over the same period in the prior year from $66.02 to $83.19. Book value per share, excluding net unrealized gains on the fixed maturity portfolio(1), increased 10% over the prior year from $48.26 to $53.12.

•The Company estimates $67 million of incurred life claims as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for the year ended December 31, 2020.

•For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 4.5 million shares of Globe Life Inc. common stock at a total cost of $380 million and an average share price of $85.24.

The following graphs represent net income and net operating income from continuing operations for the three years ended December 31, 2020.

(1)Net operating income is the consolidated total of segment profits after tax and as such is considered a non-GAAP measure. It has been used consistently by Globe Life's management for many years to evaluate the operating performance of the Company. It differs from net income primarily because it excludes certain non-operating items such as realized gains and losses and certain significant and unusual items included in net income. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Net operating income as an ROE, excluding net unrealized gains on the fixed maturity portfolio, is considered a non-GAAP measure. Management utilizes this measure to view the business without the effect of the net unrealized gains, which are primarily attributable to fluctuation in interest rates on the available-for-sale portfolio. The impact of the adjustment to exclude net unrealized gains on fixed maturities is $3.2 billion and $2.0 billion for 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Book value per share, excluding net unrealized gains on the fixed maturity portfolio, is also considered a non-GAAP measure. Management utilizes this measure to view the book value of the business without the effect of net unrealized gains, which are primarily attributable to fluctuation in interest rates on the available for sale portfolio. The impact of the adjustment to exclude net unrealized gains on fixed maturities is $30.07 and $17.76 for 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Refer to Analysis of Profitability by Segment for non-GAAP reconciliation to GAAP.

18

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

COVID-19. With respect to the impact of COVID-19 on our underwriting results for the full year 2020, we estimate $67 million of COVID-19 life claims were incurred. At the midpoint of our 2021 guidance, we are now projecting approximately $52 million of additional life claims will be incurred in 2021, based on an estimate of approximately 270,000 U.S. deaths. This estimate of U.S. deaths is based on various third-party models. The projected additional life claims are dependent on this estimate and many other variables, including, but not limited to, the effect of efforts to reopen the economy, the timing and availability of effective treatments for the disease, and the actual ages and states in which infections and deaths occur.

Summary of Operations. Net income declined 4% to $732 million in 2020, compared with $761 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily related to COVID-19 life claims. On a diluted per common share basis, net income per common share for 2020 decreased slightly from $6.83 to $6.82. Included in net income were after-tax realized losses of $2 million in 2020, compared with realized after-tax gains of $16 million for 2019. Realized gains and losses are presented more fully under the caption Realized Gains and Losses in this report.

Net operating income from continuing operations declined 2% to $738 million in 2020, compared with $752 million in 2019. On a diluted per common share basis, net operating income per common share increased 2% from $6.75 to $6.88. Net operating income is the consolidated total of segment profits after tax and as such is considered a non-GAAP measure. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. We do not consider realized gains and losses to be a component of our core insurance operations or operating segments. Additionally, net income was affected by certain significant and unusual non-operating items in 2019 and 2020. We do not view these items as components of core operating results because they are not indicative of past performance or future prospects of the insurance operations. We remove items such as these that relate to prior periods or are non-operating items when evaluating the results of current operations, and therefore exclude such items from our segment analysis for current periods.

Globe Life's operations on a segment-by-segment basis are discussed in depth under the appropriate captions following in this report.

19

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Analysis of Profitability by Segment

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020		2019		2018		2020 Change		%	2019 Change		%
Life insurance underwriting margin	$	674,946	$	703,464	$	652,301	$	(28,518)	(4)	$	51,163	8
Health insurance underwriting margin	272,369		243,638		236,053		28,731		12	7,585		3
Annuity underwriting margin	9,029		9,458		10,376		(429)		(5)	(918)		(9)
Excess investment income	244,424		257,605		245,094		(13,181)		(5)	12,511		5
Other insurance:
Other income	1,325		1,318		1,236		7		1	82		7
Administrative expense	(250,947)		(240,321)		(223,941)		(10,626)		4	(16,380)		7
Corporate and other	(45,783)		(55,103)		(50,476)		9,320		(17)	(4,627)		9
Pre-tax total	905,363		920,059		870,643		(14,696)		(2)	49,416		6
Applicable taxes	(167,771)		(167,957)		(163,669)		186		—	(4,288)		3
Net operating income	737,592		752,102		706,974		(14,510)		(2)	45,128		6
Reconciling items, net of tax:
Realized gain (loss)—investments	(1,915)		16,291		7,327		(18,206)			8,964
Realized loss—redemption of debt	(501)		—		(8,752)		(501)			8,752
Part D adjustments—discontinued operations	—		(92)		(44)		92			(48)
Administrative settlements	—		(400)		(3,590)		400			3,190
Non-operating expenses	(816)		(508)		(1,247)		(308)			739
Legal proceedings	(2,587)		(6,603)		—		4,016			(6,603)
Tax reform adjustment	—		—		798		—			(798)
Net income	$	731,773	$	760,790	$	701,466	$	(29,017)	(4)	$	59,324	8

The life insurance segment is our primary segment and is the largest contributor to earnings in each year presented. The life insurance segment underwriting margin declined $29 million compared with the prior year, primarily due to higher claims related to COVID-19 offset by premium growth. The health segment contributed to growth in income in both years contributing $29 million of additional underwriting margin in 2020 and $8 million in 2019.

20

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

In 2020, the largest contributor of total underwriting margin was the life insurance segment and the primary distribution channel was American Income Life Division. The following tables represent the breakdown of total underwriting margin by operating segment and distribution channel for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Total premium income rose 6% for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $3.8 billion. Total net sales increased 7% to $662 million, when compared with the same period in 2019. Total first-year collected premium was $547 million for the 2020 period, compared with $492 million for the 2019 period.

Life insurance premium income increased 6% to $2.7 billion over the prior year total of $2.5 billion. Life net sales rose 13% to $484 million for the year of 2020. First-year collected life premium rose 13% to $371 million. Life underwriting margins, as a percent of premium, declined to 25% in 2020 from 28% in the prior year. Underwriting margin declined to $675 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, 4% below the same period in 2019. The decline in the life underwriting margin is primarily due to an estimated $67 million of claims related to COVID-19 incurred during 2020.

Health insurance premium income increased 6% to $1.14 billion over the prior year total of $1.08 billion. Health net sales fell 7% to $178 million for the year of 2020. First-year collected health premium rose 8% to $176 million. Health underwriting margins, as a percent of premium, increased to 24% in 2020 compared with 23% in 2019. Health underwriting margin increased to $272 million for the year of 2020, 12% over the same period in 2019.

Excess investment income, the measure of profitability of our investment segment, declined 5% during 2020 to $244 million from $258 million in the same period in 2019. Excess investment income per common share, reflecting the impact of our share repurchase program, declined 1% to $2.28 from $2.31 in the same period last year.

Insurance administrative expenses increased 4.4% in 2020 when compared with the prior year period. These expenses were 6.6% as a percent of premium during 2020, compared with 6.7% a year earlier.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 4.5 million Globe Life Inc. shares at a total cost of $380 million for an average share price of $85.24.

21

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

A discussion of each of Globe Life's segments follows. A significant factor in the performance of our various segments has been the impact of COVID-19. In response to this crisis, our crisis management and incident response teams successfully guided the Company into a smooth transition of working remotely. We quickly transitioned those employees whose jobs did not require them to be in the office, averaging approximately 80-85% of the Company's total workforce, to working remotely. The Company has continued to operate effectively while taking steps to help ensure the health and safety of our employees through adherence to the CDC and local government work guidelines.

With over 13 thousand exclusive agents in the field, the Company was presented with a challenge to move from face-to-face sales presentations in customers' homes and businesses to a virtual sales process. Despite its challenges, the Company's agencies also had to move from in-person recruiting and training of new agents to virtual processes. The Company's exclusive agency divisions were able to quickly pivot and continue to write new business and hire new agents due in part to new and updated information technology systems put in place over the last several years. Through the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company has seen a 28% increase in agent count at American Income and a 14% increase at Family Heritage compared with the prior year comparable period.

Our Direct to Consumer Division continues to experience record high demand for its products through its internet and inbound phone call channels with a 31% increase in overall net life sales for year ended December 31, 2020 compared with the prior year comparable period. The Company believes that times of crisis highlight the need for basic life protection and this has proven true with this pandemic.

The discussions of our segments are presented in the manner we view our operations, as described in Note 14—Business Segments.

We use three statistical measures as indicators of premium growth and sales over the near term: “annualized premium in force,” “net sales,” and “first-year collected premium.”

•Annualized premium in force is defined as the premium income that would be received over the following twelve months at any given date on all active policies if those policies remain in force throughout the twelve-month period. Annualized premium in force is an indicator of potential growth in premium revenue.

•Net sales is annualized premium issued (gross premium that would be received during the policies' first year in force and assuming that none of the policies lapsed or terminated), net of cancellations in the first thirty days after issue, except in the case of our Direct to Consumer Division. For DTC, net sales is annualized premium issued at the time the first full premium is paid after any introductory offer period has expired. Management considers net sales to be a better indicator of the rate of premium growth as compared with annualized premium issued.

•First-year collected premium is defined as the premium collected during the reporting period for all policies in their first policy year. First-year collected premium takes lapses into account in the first year when lapses are more likely to occur, and thus is a useful indicator of how much new premium is expected to be added to premium income in the future.

While it is difficult to predict sales activity in this uncertain environment, the Company is expecting net life and health sales to increase 7% for the full year 2021. Due to the strength of the Company's policies in force, we expect our total life and health premiums to grow around 6% for the full year 2021. See further discussion of the distribution channels below for Life and Health.

22

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance is the Company's predominant segment. During 2020, life premium represented 70% of total premium and life underwriting margin represented 71% of the total. Additionally, investments supporting the reserves for life products produce the majority of excess investment income attributable to the investment segment.

The following table presents the summary of results of life insurance. Further discussion of the results by distribution channel is included below.

Life Insurance

Summary of Results

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Premium	Amount		% of Premium	Amount		% of Premium
Premium and policy charges	$	2,672,804	100	$	2,517,784	100	$	2,406,555	100
Policy obligations	1,809,373		68	1,638,053		65	1,591,790		66
Required interest on reserves	(698,112)		(26)	(666,168)		(26)	(636,040)		(26)
Net policy obligations	1,111,261		42	971,885		39	955,750		40
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition expenses	212,859		8	203,052		8	190,007		8
Amortization of acquisition costs	673,738		25	639,383		25	608,497		25
Total expense	1,997,858		75	1,814,320		72	1,754,254		73
Insurance underwriting margin	$	674,946	25	$	703,464	28	$	652,301	27

The lower life insurance underwriting margins for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 are primarily attributed to approximately $67 million of COVID-19 claims.

23

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Life insurance products are marketed through several distribution channels. Premium income by distribution channel for each of the last three years is as follows:

Life Insurance

Premium by Distribution Channel

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,257,726	47	$	1,160,495	46	$	1,081,333	45
Direct to Consumer	906,959		34	855,543		34	828,935		34
Liberty National	293,897		11	285,551		11	278,878		12
Other	214,222		8	216,195		9	217,409		9
Total	$	2,672,804	100	$	2,517,784	100	$	2,406,555	100

Annualized life premium in force was $2.7 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of 6% over $2.6 billion a year earlier.

The following table shows net sales information for each of the last three years by distribution channel.

Life Insurance

Net Sales by Distribution Channel

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	253,276	52	$	237,587	55	$	223,924	54
Direct to Consumer	165,426		34	126,208		29	126,133		31
Liberty National	54,931		12	53,718		13	49,173		12
Other	10,371		2	12,301		3	13,293		3
Total	$	484,004	100	$	429,814	100	$	412,523	100

The table below discloses first-year collected life premium by distribution channel.

Life Insurance

First-Year Collected Premium by Distribution Channel

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	214,566	58	$	195,225	59	$	190,680	60
Direct to Consumer	104,262		28	82,615		25	82,432		26
Liberty National	42,435		11	39,840		12	36,463		11
Other	10,190		3	11,564		4	10,342		3
Total	$	371,453	100	$	329,244	100	$	319,917	100

24

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

A discussion of life operations by distribution channel follows.

The American Income Life Division markets to members of labor unions and continues to diversify its lead sources by building relationships with other affinity groups, utilizing third-party internet vendor leads and obtaining referrals to facilitate sustainable growth. This division is Globe Life's largest contributor to life premium of any distribution channel at 47% of the Company's 2020 total. Net sales increased 7% to $253 million in 2020 over the 2019 total of $238 million. The underwriting margin, as a percent of premium, was 32% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, down from 34% from the prior year primarily due to $18 million of estimated incurred claims related to COVID-19 as well as elevated claims for other causes. Sales growth in our exclusive agencies is generally dependent on growth in the size of the agency force.

Below is the average producing agent count at the end of the period for the American Income Life Division. The average producing agent count is based on the actual count at the end of each week during the year. The division continues to see a significant recruiting opportunity due to the current economic conditions and our ability to recruit virtually and in-person.

	2020	2019	2018	2020 Change	%	2019 Change	%
American Income	8,738	7,360	6,971	1,378	19	389	6

American Income continues to focus on growing and strengthening the agency force, specifically through additional agency office openings and focus on middle-management growth. In addition to offering financial incentives and training opportunities, the agency has made considerable investments in information technology, including launching a lead mapping and customer relationship management tool for the agency force. We anticipate this tool will help enhance agent productivity and agent retention. Additionally, this division has invested in and successfully implemented technology that allows the agency force to engage in virtual recruiting, training and sales activity.

The Direct to Consumer Division (DTC) offers adult and juvenile life insurance through a variety of marketing approaches, including direct mailings, insert media, and electronic media. In recent years, production from electronic media, which is comprised of sales through both the internet and inbound phone calls to our call center, has grown rapidly as management has aggressively increased marketing activities related to internet and mobile technology as well as focused on driving traffic to our inbound call center. The different approaches support and complement one another in the division's efforts to reach the consumer. The DTC's long-term growth has been fueled by constant innovation and name recognition. We continually introduce new initiatives in this division in an attempt to increase response rates.

While the juvenile market is an important source of sales, it also is a vehicle to reach the parents and grandparents of juvenile policyholders, who are more likely to respond favorably to a DTC solicitation for life coverage on themselves than is the general adult population. Also, both juvenile policyholders and their parents are low acquisition-cost targets for sales of additional coverage over time.

The DTC division saw record high demand of its life insurance products in the current year primarily through its internet and inbound phone channels as a result of the response from COVID-19. Our continued investments in technology have allowed us to successfully serve the higher demands for our products through the digital self-serve and phone channels.

DTC’s underwriting margin, as a percent of premium, was 14% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, which was lower than the 18% result during the same period in 2019 primarily due to $35 million of estimated incurred claims related to COVID-19 as well as elevated claims for other causes. In 2021, we are anticipating additional COVID-19 life claims at the DTC division.

25

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

The Liberty National Division markets individual life insurance to middle-income household and worksite customers. Recent investments in new sales technologies as well as recent growth in middle management within the agency will help continue this growth. The underwriting margin as a percent of premium was 23%, down from 26% for the year ended 2019. The decrease is primarily attributable to higher than normal policy obligations during 2020 as a result of COVID-19. Net sales increased 2% in 2020 over 2019.

Below is the average producing agent count at the end of the period for Liberty National Division. As the division gains momentum in the virtual sales environment, the agency will benefit from the abundant recruiting opportunities currently available for new agents.

	2020	2019	2018	2020 Change	%	2019 Change	%
Liberty National	2,575	2,350	2,156	225	10	194	9

The Liberty National Division average producing agent count increased 10% in 2020. We continue to execute our long term plan to grow this agency through expansion from small-town markets in the Southeast to more densely populated areas with larger pools of potential agent recruits and customers. Continued expansion of this agency’s presence into more heavily populated, less-penetrated areas will help create long-term agency growth. Additionally, the agency continues to help improve the ability of agents to develop new worksite marketing business. Systems that have been put in place, including the addition of a customer relationship management (CRM) platform and enhanced analytical capabilities, have helped the agents develop additional worksite marketing opportunities as well as improve the productivity of agents selling in the individual life market. Sales were hindered in the first half of the year due to difficulties in agents transitioning to a virtual work environment after the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as mandatory shut-downs of non-essential small businesses which hindered the ability of the division’s agents to prospect at the worksite. In the second half of the year, sales improved in the worksite market as businesses were able to reopen.

The Other Agencies distribution channels primarily include non-exclusive independent agencies selling predominantly life insurance. The Other Agencies contributed $214 million of life premium income, or 8% of Globe Life's total in 2020, but contributed only 2% of net sales for the year.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Health insurance sold by the Company includes primarily Medicare Supplement insurance, accident coverage, and other limited-benefit supplemental health products including cancer, critical illness, heart, and intensive care coverage.

Year-to-date health premium accounted for 30% of our total premium in 2020, while the health underwriting margin accounted for 28% of total underwriting margin, reflective of the lower underwriting margin as a percent of premium for health compared with life insurance. The Company continues to emphasize life insurance sales relative to health due to life’s superior profitability and its greater contribution to excess investment income.

26

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

The following table presents underwriting margin data for health insurance.

Health Insurance

Summary of Results

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Premium	Amount		% of Premium	Amount		% of Premium
Premium	$	1,141,097	100	$	1,077,346	100	$	1,015,339	100
Policy obligations	733,481		64	687,764		64	649,188		64
Required interest on reserves	(93,475)		(8)	(87,289)		(8)	(83,243)		(8)
Net policy obligations	640,006		56	600,475		56	565,945		56
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition expenses	91,959		8	94,973		8	88,553		9
Amortization of acquisition costs	136,763		12	138,260		13	124,788		12
Total expense	868,728		76	833,708		77	779,286		77
Insurance underwriting margin	$	272,369	24	$	243,638	23	$	236,053	23

Health premium increased 6% from $1.08 billion in 2019 to $1.14 billion in 2020. Health underwriting margin increased 12% from $244 million in 2019 to $272 million in 2020 primarily due to growth in premiums and lower acquisition expenses. Further discussion is included below by distribution channel.

Globe Life markets supplemental health insurance products through a number of distribution channels. The following table is an analysis of our health premium by distribution channel for each of the last three years.

Health Insurance

Premium by Distribution Channel

(Dollar amounts in thousands) 

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
United American	$	452,980	40	$	416,582	39	$	381,076	38
Family Heritage	317,021		28	294,182		27	273,275		27
Liberty National	188,835		16	189,578		18	191,378		19
American Income	105,734		9	99,447		9	93,313		9
Direct to Consumer	76,527		7	77,557		7	76,297		7
Total	$	1,141,097	100	$	1,077,346	100	$	1,015,339	100

Of total health premium ($1.1 billion), premium from limited-benefit plans comprise $588 million, or 52% of the total, for 2020 compared with $556 million in the prior year. Premium from Medicare Supplement products comprises the remaining 48% or $553 million for 2020 compared with $521 million in 2019. Annualized health premium in force was $1.19 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of 5% over the prior year balance of $1.14 billion.

27

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Presented below is a table of health net sales by distribution channel for the last three years.

Health Insurance

Net Sales by Distribution Channel

(Dollar amounts in thousands) 

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
United American	$	61,690	35	$	79,218	41	$	69,967	41
Family Heritage	70,665		40	65,626		34	60,268		35
Liberty National	22,905		13	24,504		13	22,098		13
American Income	18,817		10	18,059		10	14,432		8
Direct to Consumer	3,594		2	3,827		2	4,769		3
Total	$	177,671	100	$	191,234	100	$	171,534	100

Of total net sales ($178 million), sales of limited-benefit plans comprise $113 million, or 63% of the total, for 2020 compared with $108 million in 2019. Medicare Supplement sales make up the remaining 37%, or $65 million for 2020 compared with $83 million in 2019.

The following table discloses first-year collected health premium by distribution channel.

 Health Insurance

First-Year Collected Premium by Distribution Channel

(Dollar amounts in thousands) 

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
United American	$	79,628	45	$	72,021	44	$	62,720	42
Family Heritage	54,242		31	50,204		31	47,422		32
Liberty National	20,169		11	19,698		12	17,809		12
American Income	18,536		11	17,142		11	15,249		10
Direct to Consumer	3,051		2	3,749		2	5,111		4
Total	$	175,626	100	$	162,814	100	$	148,311	100

First-year collected premium related to limited-benefit plans comprise $93 million, or 53% of total first-year collected premium, for 2020 compared with $88 million in 2019. First-year collected premium from Medicare Supplement policies make up the remaining 47%, or $83 million for 2020 compared with $75 million in 2019.

A discussion of health operations by distribution channel follows.

The United American Independent Agency consists of non-exclusive independent agencies who may also sell for other companies. The United American Independent Agency was Globe Life's largest health agency in terms of health premium income.

This division is also Globe Life's largest producer of Medicare Supplement insurance. The United American Independent Agency represents 80% of all Medicare Supplement premium and 94% of Medicare Supplement net sales. Medicare Supplement premium in this agency rose 9% to $443 million in 2020 over the prior period net sales of $406 million. Medicare supplement net sales declined 22% to $61 million in 2020 from the prior year. The Medicare Supplement market is highly competitive and thus sales will fluctuate over the years. Underwriting margin as a percent of premium was 15%, up from 14% for the prior year primarily due to lower non-deferred commissions and amortization of deferred acquisition costs as a percentage of premium in 2020 compared with 2019.

28

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

The Family Heritage Division primarily markets limited-benefit supplemental health insurance in non-urban areas. Most of its policies include a cash-back feature, such as a return of premium, where any excess of premiums over claims paid is returned to the policyholder at the end of a specified period stated within the insurance policy. Underwriting margin as a percent of premium was 26%, up from 25% for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to improved persistency and lower acquisition expenses as a percent of premium compared with the prior year. A focused effort across the division for increased recruiting activity along with a targeted incentive program throughout 2020 helped drive the 19% average producing agent count growth as noted below.

	2020	2019	2018	2020 Change	%	2019 Change	%
Average producing agents	1,325	1,112	1,064	213	19	48	5

Net health sales increased 8% compared with the prior year. While it was initially a challenge at this division to add virtual sales to their in-person sales model during the lock-down, we are encouraged by the ability of this division to adapt and to adopt supplementary ways of doing business in this challenging environment, demonstrated by the strong recovery in sales during the second half of the year.

The Liberty National Division represented 16% of all Globe Life health premium income at $189 million in 2020. Liberty National markets limited-benefit supplemental health products consisting primarily of critical illness insurance. Much of Liberty National’s health business is generated through worksite marketing targeting small businesses of 10 to 100 employees. In 2020, health premium income declined slightly. Liberty National's first-year collected premium increased 2% to $20.2 million in 2020 compared with $19.7 million in 2019. Health net sales for 2020 decreased by $2 million or 7% from 2019 primarily due our inability to prospect to businesses deemed non-essential that were closed during the early stages of the pandemic.

Other distribution. While some of the Company's other distribution channels market health products, their main emphasis is on life insurance. On a combined basis, they accounted for 16% of health premium in 2020 and 2019. The American Income Life Division primarily markets accident plans. The Direct to Consumer Division markets primarily Medicare Supplements to employer or union-sponsored groups, adding $4 million of Medicare Supplement net sales in 2020 and 2019. 

ANNUITIES

Our fixed annuity balances at the end of 2020 and 2019 were $1.06 billion and $1.10 billion, respectively. Underwriting margin was $9.0 million for 2020 and $9.5 million for 2019.

We do not currently market stand-alone fixed or deferred annuity products, favoring instead protection-oriented life and supplemental health insurance products. Therefore, we do not expect that annuities will be a significant portion of our business or marketing strategy going forward.

29

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

INVESTMENTS

We manage our capital resources including investments, debt, and cash flow through the investment segment. Excess investment income represents the profit margin attributable to investment operations and is the measure that we use to evaluate the performance of the investment segment as described in Note 14—Business Segments. It is defined as net investment income less both the required interest on net insurance policy liabilities and the interest cost associated with capital funding or “financing costs.”

Management also views excess investment income per diluted common share as an important and useful measure to evaluate the performance of the investment segment. It is defined as excess investment income divided by the total diluted weighted average shares outstanding, representing the contribution by the investment segment to the consolidated earnings per share of the Company. Since implementing our share repurchase program in 1986, we have used $8.2 billion of excess cash flow at the Parent Company to repurchase Globe Life Inc. common shares after determining that the repurchases provided a greater risk adjusted after-tax return than other investment alternatives. If we had not used this excess cash to repurchase shares, but had instead invested it in interest-bearing assets, we would have earned more investment income and had more shares outstanding. As excess investment income per diluted common share incorporates all capital resources, we view excess investment income per diluted share as a useful measure to evaluate the investment segment.

Excess Investment Income. The following table summarizes Globe Life's investment income, excess investment income, and excess investment income per diluted common share.

Analysis of Excess Investment Income

(Dollar amounts in thousands except for per share data) 

	2020		2019		2018
Net investment income	$	927,062	$	910,459	$	882,512
Interest on net insurance policy liabilities:
Interest on reserves	(833,000)		(796,979)		(766,640)
Interest on deferred acquisition costs	237,066		228,431		219,298
Net required interest	(595,934)		(568,548)		(547,342)
Financing costs	(86,704)		(84,306)		(90,076)
Excess investment income	$	244,424	$	257,605	$	245,094
Excess investment income per diluted share	$	2.28	$	2.31	$	2.13
Mean invested assets (at amortized cost)	$	17,987,502	$	17,026,058	$	16,249,161
Average net insurance policy liabilities(1)	10,460,539		10,068,120		9,744,200
Average debt and preferred securities (at amortized cost)	1,859,298		1,650,081		1,650,138

(1)Net of deferred acquisition costs, excluding the associated unrealized gains and losses thereon.

Excess investment income declined $13 million or 5% during 2020. Excess investment income per diluted common share declined 1% during 2020. Excess investment income per diluted common share generally increases at a faster pace than excess investment income because the number of diluted shares outstanding generally decreases from year to year as a result of our share repurchase program. However, in 2020 excess investment income declined primarily due to the low interest rate environment.

30

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Net investment income increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3% over the 3 years ending 2020 while mean invested assets increased at a compound rate of 5% during the same period. The tax equivalent effective annual yield rate earned on the fixed maturity portfolio was 5.34% in 2020. Growth in net investment income has been negatively impacted in recent years by the low interest rate environment during which time we have invested new money at yields lower than our average portfolio yield. In addition, we have reinvested the proceeds from bonds that matured, were called, or were otherwise disposed of at yield rates less than what we earned on these bonds before their maturity or disposition. We currently expect that the average annual turnover rate of fixed maturity assets will be less than 2% over the next five years. The following chart presents the growth in net investment income and the growth in mean invested assets.

	2020		2019		2018
Growth in net investment income	1.8	%	3.2	%	4.1	%
Growth in mean invested assets (at amortized cost)	5.6	%	4.8	%	5.7	%

Should the current low interest rate environment continue, the growth of the Company's net investment income will be negatively impacted primarily due to the investment of new money and proceeds from dispositions at rates less than the average portfolio yield rate. While net investment income would grow, it would continue to grow at rates less than the growth in mean invested assets. For 2021, we currently anticipate the average new money yield on our fixed maturity acquisitions to be approximately 20 basis points lower than the rate applicable to our 2020 acquisitions.

Should interest rates, especially long-term rates, rise, Globe Life's net investment income would benefit due to higher interest rates on new purchases. While such a rise in interest rates could adversely affect the fair value of the fixed maturities portfolio, we could withstand an increase in interest rates of approximately 160 to 165 basis points before the net unrealized gains on our fixed maturity portfolio as of December 31, 2020 would be eliminated. Should interest rates increase further than that, we would not be concerned with potential interest rate driven unrealized losses in our fixed maturity portfolio because we have the intent and the ability to hold our investments to maturity.

Required interest on net insurance policy liabilities reduces net investment income, as it is the amount of net investment income considered by management necessary to “fund” required interest on net insurance policy liabilities, which is the net of the benefit reserve liability and the deferred acquisition cost asset. As such, it is removed from the investment segment and applied to the insurance segments to offset the effect of the required interest from the insurance segments. As discussed in Note 14—Business Segments, management regards this as a more meaningful analysis of the investment and insurance segments. Required interest is based on the actuarial interest assumptions used in discounting the benefit reserve liability and the amortization of deferred acquisition costs for our insurance policies in force.

The great majority of our life and health insurance policies are fixed interest rate protection policies, not investment products, and are accounted for under current GAAP accounting guidance for long-duration insurance products which mandate that interest rate assumptions for a particular block of business be “locked in” for the life of that block of business. Each calendar year, we set the discount rate to be used to calculate the benefit reserve liability and the amortization of the deferred acquisition cost asset for all insurance policies issued that year. That rate is based on the new money yields that we expect to earn on cash flow received in the future from policies of that issue year, and cannot be changed. The discount rate used for policies issued in the current year has no impact on the in force policies issued in prior years as the rates of all prior issue years are also locked in. As such, the overall discount rate for the entire in force block of 5.7% is a weighted average of the discount rates being used from all issue years. Changes in the overall weighted-average discount rate over time are caused by changes in the mix of the reserves and the deferred acquisition cost asset by issue year on the entire block of in force business. Business issued in the current year has very little impact on the overall weighted-average discount rate due to the size of our in force business.

Since actuarial discount rates are locked in for life on essentially all of our business, benefit reserves and deferred acquisition costs are not affected by interest rate fluctuations unless a loss recognition event occurs. Due to the strength of our underwriting margins, we do not expect an extended low interest rate environment will cause a loss recognition event.

31

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Information about interest on net policy liabilities is shown in the following table.

Required Interest on Net Insurance Policy Liabilities

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Required Interest			Average Net Insurance Policy  Liabilities			Average Discount Rate
2020
Life and Health	$	548,066		$	9,391,680		5.8	%
Annuity	47,868			1,068,859			4.5
Total	$	595,934		$	10,460,539		5.7
Increase in 2020	4.8		%	3.9		%
2019
Life and Health	$	518,623		$	8,947,308		5.8	%
Annuity	49,925			1,120,812			4.5
Total	$	568,548		$	10,068,120		5.6
Increase in 2019	3.9		%	3.3		%
2018
Life and Health	$	493,557		$	8,535,842		5.8	%
Annuity	53,785			1,208,358			4.5
Total	$	547,342		$	9,744,200		5.6
Increase in 2018	4.5		%	4.1		%

Financing costs for the investment segment consist primarily of interest on our various debt instruments. The table below presents the components of financing costs and reconciles interest expense per the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Analysis of Financing Costs

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020		2019		2018
Interest on funded debt	$	73,157	$	69,844	$	74,324
Interest on term loan	4,193		3,262		3,177
Interest on short-term debt	9,302		11,165		12,570
Other	52		35		5
Financing costs	$	86,704	$	84,306	$	90,076

In 2020, financing costs increased 3% primarily due to the new term loan issued in April and the 2.15% Senior Notes issued in August. More information on our debt transactions are disclosed in the Financial Condition section of this report and in Note 11—Debt.

Realized Gains and Losses. Our life and health insurance companies collect premium income from policyholders for the eventual payment of policyholder benefits, sometimes paid many years or even decades in the future. Since benefits are expected to be paid in future periods, premium receipts in excess of current expenses are invested to provide for these obligations. For this reason, we hold a significant investment portfolio as a part of our core insurance operations. This portfolio consists primarily of high-quality fixed maturities containing an adequate yield to provide for the cost of carrying these long-term insurance product obligations. As a result, fixed maturities are generally held for long periods to support the liabilities. Expected yields on these investments are taken into account when setting insurance premium rates and product profitability expectations.

Despite our intent to hold fixed maturity investments for a long period of time, investments are occasionally sold, called, or experience a credit loss event, resulting in a realized gain or loss. These sales are often in response to

32

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

deterioration in credit quality of the issuer in effort to maximize risk adjusted capital adjusted returns. We do not engage in trading investments for profit. Therefore, gains or losses which occur in protecting the portfolio or its yield, or which result from events that are beyond our control, are only secondary to our core insurance operations of providing insurance coverage to policyholders. In a bond exchange offer, bondholders may consent to exchange their existing bonds for another class of debt securities. The exchanges on our bonds have generally been the result of mergers and acquisitions, and are offered to move debt to the new or surviving entity. The Company also has alternative investments held under the fair value option with changes recognized in Realized gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Realized gains and losses can be significant in relation to the earnings from core insurance operations, and as a result, can have a material positive or negative impact on net income. The significant fluctuations caused by gains and losses can cause period-to-period trends of net income that are not indicative of historical core operating results or predictive of the future trends of core operations. Accordingly, they have no bearing on core insurance operations or segment results as we view operations. For these reasons, and in line with industry practice, we remove the effects of realized gains and losses when evaluating overall insurance operating results.

The following table summarizes our tax-effected realized gains (losses) by component for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020.

Analysis of Realized Gains (Losses), Net of Tax

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except for per share data)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020				2019				2018
	Amount		Per Share		Amount		Per Share		Amount		Per Share
Fixed maturities:
Sales	$	(28,844)	$	(0.27)	$	(1,933)	$	(0.02)	$	(11,005)	$	(0.10)
Other(1)	11,712		0.11		17,223		0.16		15,520		0.14
Provision for credit losses	(2,643)		(0.03)		—		—		—		—
Fair value option—change in fair value	826		0.01		992		0.01		2,093		0.01
Other investments	17,034		0.16		9		—		719		0.01
Realized investment gains (losses)	(1,915)		(0.02)		16,291		0.15		7,327		0.06
Loss on redemption of debt	(501)		—		—		—		(8,752)		(0.07)
Total realized gains (losses)	$	(2,416)	$	(0.02)	$	16,291	$	0.15	$	(1,425)	$	(0.01)

(1)During the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the Company recorded $219.8 million, $243.2 million and $193.4 million of exchanges of fixed maturity securities (noncash transactions) that resulted in $6.2 million, $16.2 million, and $8.0 million, respectively in realized gains (losses), net of tax.

33

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Investment Acquisitions. Globe Life's investment policy calls for investing primarily in investment grade fixed maturities that meet our quality and yield objectives. We generally prefer to invest in securities with longer maturities because they more closely match the long-term nature of our policy liabilities. We believe this strategy is appropriate since our expected future cash flows are generally stable and predictable and the likelihood that we will need to sell invested assets to raise cash is low. If longer-term securities that meet our quality and yield objectives are not available, we do not compromise on our quality objectives; instead, we consider investing in shorter-term or lower-yielding securities taking into consideration the slope of the yield curve and other factors such as risk adjusted capital adjusted returns.

During calendar years 2018 through 2020, Globe Life invested predominately in fixed maturity securities, primarily in corporate and municipal bonds with longer-term maturities. The following table summarizes selected information for fixed maturity investments. The effective annual yield shown is based on the acquisition price and call features, if any, of the securities. For non-callable bonds, the yield is calculated to maturity date. For callable bonds acquired at a premium, the yield is calculated to the earliest known call date and call price after acquisition ("first call date"). For all other callable bonds, the yield is calculated to maturity date.

Fixed Maturity Acquisitions Selected Information

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Cost of acquisitions(1):
Investment-grade corporate securities	$	686,844		$	922,927		$	877,512
Investment-grade municipal securities	543,088			627,967			269,360
Other investment-grade securities	34,171			10,483			8,708
Total fixed maturity acquisitions	$	1,264,103		$	1,561,377		$	1,155,580
Effective annual yield (one year compounded)(2)	3.73		%	4.47		%	4.97		%
Average life (in years to next call)	15.8			18.7			17.0
Average life (in years to maturity)	26.3			29.4			22.8
Average rating	A			A			A-

(1)Fixed maturity acquisitions included unsettled trades of $2 million in 2020, $8 million in 2019 and $41 thousand in 2018.

(2)Tax-equivalent basis, where the yield on tax-exempt securities is adjusted to produce a yield equivalent to the pretax yield on taxable securities.

For investments in callable bonds, the actual life of the investment will depend on whether the issuer calls the investment prior to the maturity date. Given our investments in callable bonds, the actual average life of our investments cannot be known at the time of the investment. Absent sales and "make-whole calls", however, the average life will not be less than the average life to next call and will not exceed the average life to maturity. Data for both of these average life measures is provided in the above chart.

During 2019 and 2020, acquisitions consisted of securities spanning a diversified range of issuers, industry sectors, and geographical regions. All of the acquired securities were investment grade. In addition to the fixed maturity acquisitions, Globe Life invested $266 million in other long-term investments in 2020 and $123 million in 2019. These investments include commercial mortgage loan participations and investment funds. See Note—4 for further discussion. For the entire fixed maturity portfolio, the taxable equivalent effective yield earned was 5.34%, down 14 basis points from the yield in 2019. As previously noted in the discussion of net investment income, the decrease was primarily due to the combination of lower interest rates applicable to new purchases and a significant amount of securities called during 2019 and 2020.

New cash flow available for investment has been primarily provided through our insurance operations, cash received on existing investments, and proceeds from dispositions. While dispositions increase funds available for investment, as noted earlier in this discussion, they can also have a negative impact on investment income if the proceeds from the dispositions are reinvested at lower yields than the bonds that were disposed. Dispositions were $469 million in 2020 and $919 million in 2019.

34

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

In 2017, it was announced by the head of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority that they plan to phase out the floating rate, London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), by the end of 2021. As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life had limited assets and liabilities that utilize LIBOR as a benchmark rate. As such, we do not expect the phase out of LIBOR to have a meaningful impact on our operations. We will continue to monitor the progress toward the establishment of a new floating rate.

Since fixed maturities represent such a significant portion of our investment portfolio, the remainder of the discussion of portfolio composition will focus on fixed maturities. See a breakdown of the Company's other investments in Other Investment Information within Note 4—Investments.

Selected information concerning the fixed-maturity portfolio is as follows:

Fixed Maturity Portfolio Selected Information

	At December 31,
	2020	2019
Average annual effective yield(1)	5.28%	5.41%
Average life, in years, to:
Next call(2)	16.2	16.8
Maturity(2)	19.0	19.2
Effective duration to:
Next call(2,3)	11.0	10.8
Maturity(2,3)	12.3	11.8

(1)Tax-equivalent basis. The yield on tax-exempt securities is adjusted to produce a yield equivalent to the pretax yield on taxable securities.

(2)Globe Life calculates the average life and duration of the fixed maturity portfolio two ways:

(a) based on the next call date which is the next call date for callable bonds and the maturity date for noncallable bonds, and

(b) based on the maturity date of all bonds, whether callable or not.

(3)Effective duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income security to a particular change in interest rates.

35

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Credit Risk Sensitivity. The following tables summarize certain information about the major corporate sectors and security types held in our fixed maturity portfolio at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-13, amortized cost will now be reflected as "amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses" or "amortized cost, net", while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.

Fixed Maturities by Sector

December 31, 2020

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Below Investment Grade								Total Fixed Maturities								% of Total Fixed Maturities
	Amortized Cost, net		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Amortized Cost, net		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		At Amortized Cost, net	At Fair Value
Corporates:
Financial
Insurance - life, health, P&C	$	57,658	$	3,894	$	(10,788)	$	50,764	$	2,275,843	$	563,349	$	(14,769)	$	2,824,423	13	13
Banks	27,014		15		(456)		26,573		993,946		259,489		(1,050)		1,252,385		6	6
Other financial	114,919		271		(8,245)		106,945		1,134,414		193,975		(8,402)		1,319,987		7	6
Total financial	199,591		4,180		(19,489)		184,282		4,404,203		1,016,813		(24,221)		5,396,795		26	25
Utilities
Electric	50,663		6,289		—		56,952		1,438,796		476,744		(108)		1,915,432		9	9
Gas and water	—		—		—		—		536,664		131,851		—		668,515		3	3
Total utilities	50,663		6,289		—		56,952		1,975,460		608,595		(108)		2,583,947		12	12
Industrial - Energy
Pipelines	85,327		1,624		(2,309)		84,642		923,756		187,851		(2,423)		1,109,184		5	5
Exploration and production	104,719		5,980		(678)		110,021		555,796		121,940		(678)		677,058		3	3
Oil field services	—		—		—		—		49,799		13,613		—		63,412		—	—
Refiner	—		—		—		—		89,371		22,793		—		112,164		1	1
Driller	1,902		—		18		1,920		1,902		—		18		1,920		—	—
Total energy	191,948		7,604		(2,969)		196,583		1,620,624		346,197		(3,083)		1,963,738		9	9
Industrial - Basic materials
Chemicals	—		—		—		—		642,258		152,016		—		794,274		4	4
Metals and mining	—		—		—		—		406,564		144,110		—		550,674		2	3
Forestry products and paper	—		—		—		—		88,804		21,588		—		110,392		1	1
Total basic materials	—		—		—		—		1,137,626		317,714		—		1,455,340		7	8
Industrial - Consumer, non-cyclical	96,265		8,680		(1,903)		103,042		2,233,324		576,007		(2,070)		2,807,261		13	13
Other industrials	25,661		3,925		—		29,586		1,260,646		328,986		(6)		1,589,626		7	7
Industrial - Transportation	25,777		4,315		—		30,092		566,935		175,405		—		742,340		3	3
Other corporate sectors	179,878		17,459		(3,595)		193,742		1,489,113		329,254		(4,142)		1,814,225		9	9
Total corporates	769,783		52,452		(27,956)		794,279		14,687,931		3,698,971		(33,630)		18,353,272		86	86
Other fixed maturities:
Government (U.S., municipal, and foreign)	—		—		—		—		2,313,855		341,176		(1,256)		2,653,775		13	13
Collateralized debt obligations	57,007		23,460		(8,869)		71,598		57,007		23,460		(8,869)		71,598		—	—
Other asset-backed securities	13,949		—		(2,727)		11,222		134,616		3,591		(3,778)		134,429		1	1
Mortgage-backed securities(1)	—		—		—		—		390		45		—		435		—	—
Total fixed maturities	$	840,739	$	75,912	$	(39,552)	$	877,099	$	17,193,799	$	4,067,243	$	(47,533)	$	21,213,509	100	100

(1)Includes Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA).

36

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Fixed Maturities by Sector

December 31, 2019

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Below Investment Grade								Total Fixed Maturities								% of Total Fixed Maturities
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		At Amortized Cost	At Fair Value
Corporates:
Financial
Insurance - life, health, P&C	$	57,833	$	3,114	$	(6,542)	$	54,405	$	2,111,735	$	394,326	$	(9,277)	$	2,496,784	13	13
Banks	27,045		—		(1,196)		25,849		904,449		175,771		(1,300)		1,078,920		6	6
Other financial	97,580		737		(11,519)		86,798		1,085,733		131,099		(11,730)		1,205,102		7	6
Total financial	182,458		3,851		(19,257)		167,052		4,101,917		701,196		(22,307)		4,780,806		26	25
Utilities
Electric	47,298		1,059		(1,399)		46,958		1,418,359		342,302		(1,484)		1,759,177		9	9
Gas and water	—		—		—		—		519,379		73,812		(81)		593,110		3	3
Total utilities	47,298		1,059		(1,399)		46,958		1,937,738		416,114		(1,565)		2,352,287		12	12
Industrial - Energy
Pipelines	85,428		396		(5,839)		79,985		934,884		141,705		(6,803)		1,069,786		6	6
Exploration and production	17,129		400		(127)		17,402		559,826		96,312		(335)		655,803		3	3
Oil field services	—		—		—		—		49,818		10,982		—		60,800		—	—
Refiner	—		—		—		—		89,692		20,641		—		110,333		1	1
Driller	44,748		—		(26,586)		18,162		44,749		—		(26,587)		18,162		—	—
Total energy	147,305		796		(32,552)		115,549		1,678,969		269,640		(33,725)		1,914,884		10	10
Industrial - Basic materials
Chemicals	—		—		—		—		608,081		61,263		(325)		669,019		4	3
Metals and mining	10,563		1,643		—		12,206		398,477		86,138		(58)		484,557		2	3
Forestry products and paper	—		—		—		—		111,011		15,700		—		126,711		1	1
Total basic materials	10,563		1,643		—		12,206		1,117,569		163,101		(383)		1,280,287		7	7
Industrial - Consumer, non-cyclical	33,474		411		(5,504)		28,381		2,126,768		303,088		(6,875)		2,422,981		13	13
Other industrials	25,752		2,648		—		28,400		1,309,149		199,765		(539)		1,508,375		8	8
Industrial - Transportation	25,996		1,245		(16)		27,225		570,694		107,704		(127)		678,271		3	4
Other corporate sectors	130,069		7,105		(6,401)		130,773		1,390,497		182,250		(8,841)		1,563,906		8	8
Total corporates	602,915		18,758		(65,129)		556,544		14,233,301		2,342,858		(74,362)		16,501,797		87	87
Other fixed maturities:
Government (U.S., municipal, and foreign)	—		—		—		—		1,981,243		202,325		(1,318)		2,182,250		12	12
Collateralized debt obligations	56,990		24,298		(7,184)		74,104		56,990		24,298		(7,184)		74,104		—	—
Other asset-backed securities	14,250		—		(371)		13,879		143,651		5,066		(371)		148,346		1	1
Mortgage-backed securities(1)	—		—		—		—		591		59		—		650		—	—
Total fixed maturities	$	674,155	$	43,056	$	(72,684)	$	644,527	$	16,415,776	$	2,574,606	$	(83,235)	$	18,907,147	100	100

(1)Includes GNMAs.

37

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Corporate securities, which consist of bonds and redeemable preferred stocks, were the largest component of the December 31, 2020 fixed maturity portfolio, representing 86% of both amortized cost, net and fair value. The remainder of the portfolio is invested primarily in securities issued by the U.S. government and U.S. municipalities. The Company holds insignificant amounts in foreign government bonds, collateralized debt obligations, asset-backed securities, and mortgage-backed securities. Corporate securities are diversified over a variety of industry sectors and issuers. At December 31, 2020, the total fixed maturity portfolio consisted of 777 issuers.

At December 31, 2020, fixed maturities had a fair value of $21.2 billion, compared with $18.9 billion at December 31, 2019. The net unrealized gain position in the fixed-maturity portfolio increased from $2.5 billion at December 31, 2019 to $4.0 billion at December 31, 2020 due to a decrease in market rates during the period.

For more information about our fixed maturity portfolio by component at December 31, 2020 and 2019, including a discussion of allowance for credit losses, an analysis of unrealized investment losses and a schedule of maturities, see Note 4—Investments.

An analysis of the fixed maturity portfolio by a composite quality rating at December 31, 2020 and 2019 is shown in the following tables. The composite rating for each security, other than private-placement securities managed by third parties, is the average of the security’s ratings as assigned by Moody’s Investor Service, Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings, and Dominion Bond Rating Service, LTD. The ratings assigned by these four nationally recognized statistical rating organizations are evenly weighted when calculating the average. The composite quality rating is created utilizing a methodology developed by Globe Life using ratings from the various rating agencies noted above. The composite quality rating is not a Standard & Poor's credit rating. Standard & Poor's does not sponsor, endorse or promote the composite quality rating and shall not be liable for any use of the composite quality rating. Included in the following chart are private placement fixed maturity holdings of $602 million at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses ($660 million at fair value) for which the ratings were assigned by the third-party managers.

Fixed Maturities by Rating

At December 31, 2020

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Amortized Cost, net		% of Total	Fair Value		% of Total	Average Composite Quality Rating on Amortized Cost, net
Investment grade:
AAA	$	713,053	4	$	848,621	4
AA	1,657,270		10	1,873,323		9
A	4,566,999		26	5,969,677		28
BBB+	3,634,583		21	4,612,898		22
BBB	4,137,099		24	5,088,114		24
BBB-	1,644,056		10	1,943,777		9
Total investment grade	16,353,060		95	20,336,410		96	A-
Below investment grade:
BB	686,184		4	692,609		3
B	115,646		1	122,104		1
Below B	38,909		—	62,386		—
Total below investment grade	840,739		5	877,099		4	BB-
	$	17,193,799	100	$	21,213,509	100
Weighted average composite quality rating							A-

38

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Fixed Maturities by Rating

At December 31, 2019

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Amortized Cost		% of Total	Fair Value		% of Total	Average Composite Quality Rating on Amortized Cost
Investment grade:
AAA	$	769,564	5	$	841,176	4
AA	1,311,902		8	1,455,815		8
A	4,608,959		28	5,603,235		30
BBB+	3,509,311		21	4,119,737		22
BBB	3,818,589		23	4,309,394		23
BBB-	1,723,296		11	1,933,263		10
Total investment grade	15,741,621		96	18,262,620		97	A-
Below investment grade:
BB	465,296		3	450,925		2
B	107,653		1	96,077		—
Below B	101,206		—	97,525		1
Total below investment grade	674,155		4	644,527		3	B+
	$	16,415,776	100	$	18,907,147	100
Weighted average composite quality rating							A-

The overall quality rating of the portfolio is A-, the same as year-end 2019. Fixed maturities rated BBB are 55% of the total portfolio at December 31, 2020, the same as year-end 2019. While this ratio is high relative to our peers, we have limited exposure to higher-risk assets such as derivatives, equities, and asset-backed securities. Additionally, the Company does not participate in securities lending, has no off-balance sheet investments, and has no exposure to European sovereign debt as of December 31, 2020. BBB securities provide the Company with the best risk adjusted capital adjusted returns, largely due to our unique ability to hold securities to maturity regardless of fluctuations in interest rates or equity markets.

An analysis of changes in our portfolio of below-investment grade fixed maturities at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses is as follows:

Below-Investment Grade Fixed Maturities

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Balance at beginning of period	$	674,155	$	666,061
Downgrades by rating agencies	230,334		154,424
Upgrades by rating agencies	(14,618)		(65,693)
Dispositions	(49,037)		(84,902)
Provision for credit losses	(3,346)		—
Amortization and other	3,251		4,265
Balance at end of period	$	840,739	$	674,155

Our investment policy calls for investing primarily in fixed maturities that are investment grade and meet our quality and yield objectives. Thus, any increases in below-investment grade issues are typically a result of ratings downgrades of existing holdings. Below-investment grade bonds at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit

39

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

losses, were 15% of our shareholders’ equity, excluding the effect of unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities as of December 31, 2020. Globe Life invests long term and as such, one of our key criterion in our investment process is to select issuers that have the ability to weather multiple financial cycles. The Company continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the fixed maturity portfolio.

Market Risk Sensitivity. Globe Life's investment securities are exposed to interest rate risk, meaning the effect of changes in financial market interest rates on the current fair value of the Company’s investment portfolio. Since 95% of the book value of our investments is attributable to fixed maturity investments and these investments are predominately fixed-rate investments, the portfolio is highly subject to market risk. Declines in market interest rates generally result in the fair value of the investment portfolio rising, and increases in interest rates cause the fair value to decline. Under normal market conditions, we are not concerned about unrealized losses that are interest rate driven since we would not expect to realize them. Globe Life does not intend to sell the securities prior to maturity and, likely, will not be required to sell the securities prior to recovery of amortized cost. The long-term nature of our insurance policy liabilities and strong operating cash-flow substantially mitigate any future need to liquidate portions of the portfolio. The increase or decrease in the fair value of insurance liabilities and debt due to increases or decreases in market interest rates largely offsets the impact of rates on the investment portfolio. However, as is permitted by GAAP, these liabilities are not recorded at fair value.

The following table illustrates the market risk sensitivity of our interest-rate sensitive fixed maturity portfolio at December 31, 2020 and 2019. This table measures the effect of a parallel shift in interest rates (as represented by the U.S. Treasury curve) on the fair value of the fixed maturity portfolio. The data measures the change in fair value arising from an immediate and sustained change in interest rates in increments of 100 basis points.

Market Value of Fixed Maturity Portfolio

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	At December 31,
Change in Interest Rates(1)	2020		2019
(200)	$	26,976,000	$	23,910,000
(100)	23,874,000		21,212,000
0	21,214,000		18,907,000
100	18,926,000		16,930,000
200	16,953,000		15,226,000

(1) In basis points.

40

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

OPERATING EXPENSES

Operating expenses are included in the "Corporate and Other" segment and are classified into two categories: insurance administrative expenses and expenses of the Parent Company. Insurance administrative expenses generally include expenses incurred after a policy has been issued. As these expenses relate to premium for a given period, management measures the expenses as a percentage of premium income. The Company also views stock-based compensation expense as a Parent Company expense. Expenses associated with the issuance of our insurance policies are reflected as acquisition expenses and included in the determination of underwriting margin.

The following table is an analysis of operating expenses for the three years ended December 31, 2020.

Operating Expenses Selected Information

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		% of Premium	Amount		% of Premium	Amount		% of Premium
Insurance administrative expenses:
Salaries	$	105,935	2.8	$	102,862	2.8	$	100,688	2.9
Other employee costs	39,885		1.0	34,947		1.0	35,565		1.0
Information technology costs	45,742		1.2	42,927		1.2	29,286		0.9
Legal costs	11,256		0.3	10,286		0.3	9,187		0.3
Other administrative costs	48,129		1.3	49,299		1.4	49,215		1.4
Total insurance administrative expenses	250,947		6.6	240,321		6.7	223,941		6.5
Parent company expense	9,891			10,260			10,684
Stock compensation expense	35,892			44,843			39,792
Administrative settlements	—			400			3,590
Legal proceedings	3,275			8,358			—
Non-operating expenses	1,033			643			1,578
Total operating expenses, per Consolidated Statements of Operations	$	301,038		$	304,825		$	279,585
	2020			2019			2018
	Amount		%	Amount		%	Amount		%
Total insurance administrative expenses increase (decrease) over prior year	$	10,626	4.4	$	16,380	7.3	$	13,351	6.3
Total operating expenses increase (decrease) over prior year	(3,787)		(1.2)	25,240		9.0	22,330		8.7

Total operating expenses decreased 1% since prior year primarily due to lower stock-based compensation costs offset by a 4% increase in insurance administrative expenses. Insurance administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher employee-related expenses, including salary and pension costs. Pension expense increased due to the lower discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit costs in 2020 as compared to 2019. Refer to Note 9—Postretirement Benefits. Legal expense increased due to an increase in regulatory and other compliance matters. The increase in information technology costs reflects investments related to data analytics capabilities, administrative systems modernization, and information security programs. The decrease in stock-based compensation expense was primarily due to fewer performance based equity awards. While insurance administrative expenses were up 4%, they were down as a percentage of premium at 6.6%, compared with 6.7% for the same period in 2019.

41

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

SHARE REPURCHASES

Globe Life has an ongoing share repurchase program that began in 1986, and is reviewed quarterly by management and annually reaffirmed by the Board of Directors. With no specified authorization amount, we determine the amount of repurchases based on the amount of the excess cash flow at the Parent Company, general market conditions, and other alternative uses. The majority of these purchases are made from excess cash flow. Excess cash flow at the Parent Company is primarily comprised of dividends received from the insurance subsidiaries less interest expense paid on its debt, dividends paid to Parent Company shareholders, and other limited operating activities. Additionally, when stock options are exercised, proceeds from these exercises and the resulting tax benefit are used to repurchase additional shares on the open market to minimize dilution as a result of the option exercises. The Board of Directors has authorized the Parent Company’s share repurchase program in amounts and with timing that management, in consultation with the Board, determines to be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. This past April, the Company announced a temporary postponement of its share repurchase program while it evaluated the expected impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operations and financial results. Accordingly, the Company did not repurchase shares of Globe Life during the second quarter. The program was reaffirmed by the Board of Directors on August 5, 2020 and the Company resumed its share repurchases at that time, repurchasing shares during the remainder of the year consistent with projected excess cash flow for 2020.

The following table summarizes share purchase activity for each of the last three years.

Analysis of Share Purchases

(Amounts in thousands)

	2020			2019			2018
Purchases with:	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount
Share repurchase program	4,459	$	380,112	3,932	$	350,080	4,406	$	371,794
Option proceeds	676	63,754		1,209	109,489		571	49,955
Total	5,135	$	443,866	5,141	$	459,569	4,977	$	421,749

Throughout the remainder of this discussion, share purchases refer only to those made from excess cash flow at the Parent Company.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Liquidity. Liquidity provides Globe Life with the ability to meet on demand the cash commitments required to support our business operations and meet our financial obligations. Our liquidity is primarily derived from three sources: positive cash flow from operations, a portfolio of marketable securities, and a line of credit facility.

Insurance Subsidiary Liquidity. The operations of our insurance subsidiaries have historically generated substantial cash inflows in excess of immediate cash needs. Cash inflows for the insurance subsidiaries primarily include premium and investment income. In addition to investment income, maturities and scheduled repayments in the investment portfolio are cash inflows. Cash outflows from operations include policy benefit payments, commissions, administrative expenses, and taxes. A portion of the excess cash inflows in the current year will provide for the payment of future policy benefits, and are invested primarily in long-term fixed maturities as they better match the long-term nature of these obligations. Excess cash available from the insurance subsidiaries’ operations is generally distributed as a dividend to the Parent Company, subject to regulatory restrictions. The dividends are generally paid in amounts equal to the subsidiaries’ prior year statutory net income excluding realized capital gains. While the leading source of the excess cash is investment income, a significant portion of the excess cash also comes from underwriting income due to our high underwriting margins and effective expense control. While the insurance subsidiaries routinely generate more operating cash inflows than cash outflows annually, the companies also have the entire available-for-sale fixed maturity investment portfolio available to create additional cash flows if required.

42

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Parent Company Liquidity. Cash flows from the insurance subsidiaries are used to pay interest and principal repayments on Parent Company debt, operating expenses of the Parent Company, and Parent Company dividends to Globe Life shareholders.

	Year Ended December 31,
	Projected 2021		2020		2019		2018
Liquidity Sources:
Dividends from Subsidiaries	$	440,000	$	485,871	$	479,988	$	448,142
Excess Cash Flows	345,000		387,606		374,232		349,243

For more information on the restrictions on the payment of dividends by subsidiaries, see the Restrictions section of Note 12—Shareholders' Equity. Although these restrictions exist, dividend availability from subsidiaries historically has been more than sufficient for the cash flow needs of the Parent Company.

Additional sources of liquidity for the Parent Company are cash, intercompany receivables, intercompany borrowings, public debt markets, term loans, and a credit facility. At December 31, 2020, the Parent Company had access to $290 million of invested cash, net intercompany receivables and other liquid assets. The credit facility is discussed below.

Short-Term Borrowings. An additional source of Parent Company liquidity is a line of credit facility with a group of lenders which allows unsecured borrowings and stand-by letters of credit up to $750 million, which could be extended up to $1 billion. While Globe Life can request the extension, it is not guaranteed. Up to $250 million in letters of credit can be issued against the facility. The facility is further designated as a back-up line of credit for a commercial paper program under which commercial paper may be issued at any time, with total commercial paper outstanding not to exceed the facility maximum, less any letters of credit issued. As of December 31, 2020, we had available $360 million of additional borrowing capacity under this facility, compared with $310 million a year earlier. Interest charged on the commercial paper program resembles variable rate debt due to its short term nature. Globe Life has consistently been able to issue commercial paper as needed during the three years ended December 31, 2020. As discussed in Note 11—Debt, on August 24, 2020, Globe Life entered into a new 3 year credit agreement, replacing the prior agreement that was due on May 17, 2021 with similar terms.

Under the prior credit agreement with a maturity date of May 17, 2021, the participating lenders agreed to make revolving loans to Globe. The amendment also allowed for an additional $100 million term loan to be issued under the facility rate structure. The term loan was issued during 2016. On July 31, 2020, the Company paid down the remaining principal balance of $82.5 million plus $101 thousand in interest on the 5-year $100 million term loan.

On April 9, 2020, Globe Life entered into a 364-Day Term Loan Agreement ("Term Loan II"). The Agreement provided the Company with access to up to $300 million in unsecured term loans, all maturing on April 8, 2021. Globe Life borrowed the full amount on April 15, 2020 to provide additional liquidity to the Parent Company. The net proceeds from the Term Loan II were $299.1 million. On August 17, 2020, the Company repaid $150 million of the Term Loan II with the remaining balance of $150 million repaid on August 26, 2020. The Company recorded a $634 thousand loss on redemption of debt from the write off of unamortized issue expenses.

As of December 31, 2020, the Parent Company was in full compliance with all covenants related to the aforementioned debt.

Should access to the regular commercial paper market become unavailable, the Company does qualify to participate in the Federal government's new Commercial Paper Funding Facility established under the CARES Act on March 17, 2020. Under this facility, the Company is able to issue up to $432.5 million at any time through March 31, 2021. For detailed information about this line of credit facility, see the Commercial Paper section of Note 11—Debt.

43

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

The Parent Company expects to have readily available funds for 2021 and the foreseeable future to conduct its operations and to maintain target capital ratios in the insurance subsidiaries through internally generated cash flow and the credit facility. In the unlikely event that more liquidity is needed, the Company could generate additional funds through multiple sources including, but not limited to, the issuance of debt, an additional short-term credit facility, and intercompany borrowing.

As noted above, the Parent Company had access to $290 million of liquid assets available at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020. This liquidity is available to the Company in the event additional funds are needed to support the targeted capital levels within our insurance subsidiaries due to adverse impacts of COVID-19.

Consolidated Liquidity. Consolidated net cash inflows provided from continuing operations were $1.48 billion in 2020, compared with $1.35 billion in 2019. In addition to cash inflows from operations, our companies received proceeds from maturities, calls, and repayments of fixed maturities in the amount of $416 million in 2020, compared with $840 million in 2019. As noted under the caption Credit Facility in Note 11, the Parent Company has in place a line of credit facility. The insurance companies have no additional outstanding credit facilities.

Cash and short-term investments were $203 million at the end of 2020 compared with $114 million at the end of 2019. In addition to these liquid assets, the entire $21.2 billion (fair value at December 31, 2020) portfolio of fixed income securities is available for sale in the event of an unexpected need. Approximately 97% of our fixed income securities are publicly traded, freely tradable under SEC Rule 144, or qualified for resale under SEC Rule 144A. We generally expect to hold fixed income securities to maturity, and even though these securities are classified as available for sale, we have the ability and intent to hold any securities until recovery or maturity. Our strong cash flows from operations, on-going investment maturities, and credit line availability make any need to sell securities for liquidity highly unlikely.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. As a part of the credit facility, Globe Life has stand-by letters of credits. These letters are issued among our subsidiaries, one of which is an offshore captive reinsurer, and have no impact on company obligations as a whole. Any future regulatory changes that restrict the use of off-shore captive reinsurers might require Globe Life to obtain third-party financing, which could cause an insignificant increase in financing costs. On November 25, 2020, the letters of credit were amended to reduce the amount outstanding from $150 million as of December 31, 2019 to $135 million at December 31, 2020.

As of December 31, 2020, we had no unconsolidated affiliates and no guarantees of the obligations of third party entities. All of the Parent Company's guarantees were guarantees of the performance of consolidated subsidiaries, as disclosed in Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies. As of December 31, 2020, we had $47 million in unfunded commitments to commercial mortgage loan borrowers. See Note—1 for further information.

44

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

The following table presents information about future payments under our contractual obligations for the selected periods as of December 31, 2020.

Contractual Obligations

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Actual Liability		Total Payments		Less than One Year		One to Three Years		Three to Five Years		More than Five Years
Fixed and determinable:
Debt—principal(1)	$	1,922,804	$	1,945,612	$	255,000	$	315,612	$	—	$	1,375,000
Debt—interest(2)	15,804		1,213,275		77,418		139,159		117,188		879,510
Capital leases	—		—		—		—		—		—
Operating leases	21,013		28,615		5,307		7,716		4,769		10,823
Purchase obligations(3)	161,503		413,399		66,439		98,274		20,144		228,542
Postretirement obligations(4)	262,936		346,662		26,037		58,478		66,301		195,846
Future insurance obligations(5)	15,243,536		60,426,807		1,801,789		3,389,469		3,257,900		51,977,649
Total	$	17,627,596	$	64,374,370	$	2,231,990	$	4,008,708	$	3,466,302	$	54,667,370

(1)Debt is itemized in Note 11—Debt.

(2)Interest on debt is based on our fixed contractual obligations.

(3)Purchase obligations include various long-term non-cancelable purchase commitments as well as commitments to provide capital for low-income housing tax credit interests.

(4)Pension obligations are primarily liabilities in trust funds that are calculated in accordance with the terms of the pension plans. They are offset by invested assets in the trusts, which are funded through periodic contributions by Globe Life in a manner which will provide for the settlement of the obligations as they become due. Therefore, our obligations are offset by those assets when reported on Globe Life's Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2020 these pension obligations were $763 million, offset by assets of $530 million in the pension assets. The schedule of pension benefit payments covers ten years and is based on the same assumptions used to measure the pension obligations, except there is no interest assumption because the payments are undiscounted. Please refer to Note 9—Postretirement Benefits for more information on pension obligations.

(5)Future insurance obligations consist primarily of estimated future contingent benefit payments on policies in force at December 31, 2020. These estimated payments were computed using assumptions for future mortality, morbidity and persistency. The actual amount and timing of such payments may differ significantly from the estimated amounts shown. The Company concludes that the assets supporting the liability of $15 billion at December 31, 2020, along with future premiums and investment income, will be sufficient to fund all future insurance obligations.

Capital Resources. The Parent Company's capital structure consists of short-term debt (the commercial paper facility), long-term debt, and shareholders’ equity.

Debt: The carrying value of the long-term debt was $1.7 billion at December 31, 2020, increase from $1.3 billion a year earlier. In September 2020, the Company completed the issuance of $400 million 2.15% Senior Notes due 2030. A complete analysis and description of long-term debt issues outstanding is presented in Note 11—Debt.

Subsidiary Capital: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has established a risk-based factor approach for determining threshold risk-based capital levels for all insurance companies. This approach was designed to assist the regulatory bodies in identifying companies that may require regulatory attention. A Risk-Based Capital (RBC) ratio is typically determined by dividing adjusted total statutory capital by the amount of risk-based capital determined using the NAIC’s factors. If a company’s RBC ratio approaches two times the RBC amount, the company must file a plan with the NAIC for improving their capital levels (this level is commonly referred to as “Company Action Level” RBC). Companies typically hold a multiple of the Company Action Level RBC depending on their particular business needs and risk profile.

Our goal is to maintain statutory capital within our insurance subsidiaries at levels necessary to support our current ratings. For 2020, Globe Life targeted a consolidated Company Action Level RBC ratio of 300% to 320%. The Company concludes that this capital level is more than adequate and sufficient to support its current ratings, given the nature of its business and its risk profile. As of December 31, 2020, our consolidated Company Action Level RBC ratio was 309%.

45

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

For 2021, Globe Life is targeting a consolidated Company Action Level RBC ratio in the range of 300% to 320%. The Parent Company is committed to maintaining the targeted consolidated RBC ratio at its insurance subsidiaries, and has sufficient liquidity available to provide additional capital if necessary. We continue to monitor for potentially-adverse COVID-19 effects, such as higher policyholder claims, downgrades of fixed income securities within our investment portfolio, and additional credit losses.

Shareholder's Equity: As noted under the caption Analysis of Share Purchases within this report, we have an ongoing share repurchase program.

Globe Life has continually increased the quarterly dividend on its common shares over the past three years.

	Year Ended December 31,
	Projected 2021		2020		2019		2018
Quarterly dividend by annual year	$	0.1975	$	0.1875	$	0.1725	$	0.1600

Shareholders’ equity was $8.8 billion at December 31, 2020, compared with $7.3 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $1.5 billion or 20%. Since December 31, 2019, shareholders’ equity increased by $1.2 billion in after-tax unrealized gains in the fixed-maturity portfolio as interest rates decreased over the period as well as $732 million of net income during this period. Shareholders' equity was reduced by $380 million in share purchases under the repurchase program and an additional $64 million in share purchases to offset the dilution from stock option exercises.

We plan to use excess cash available at the Parent Company as efficiently as possible in the future. Possible uses of excess cash flow include, but are not limited to, share repurchases, acquisitions, increases in shareholder dividends, investment in securities, or repayment of short-term debt. We will determine the best use of excess cash after ensuring that targeted capital levels are maintained in our insurance subsidiaries. If market conditions are favorable, we currently expect that share repurchases will continue to be a primary use of those funds.

We maintain a significant available-for-sale fixed maturity portfolio to support our insurance policy liabilities. Current accounting guidance requires that we revalue our portfolio to fair market value at the end of each accounting period. The period-to-period changes in fair value, net of their associated impact on deferred acquisition costs and income tax, are reflected directly in shareholders’ equity. Changes in the fair value of the portfolio can result from changes in market rates and liquidity in financial markets. While a majority of invested assets are revalued, accounting rules do not permit interest-bearing insurance policy liabilities to be valued at fair value in a consistent manner as that of assets, with changes in value applied directly to shareholders’ equity.

Due to the size of our policy liabilities in relation to our shareholders’ equity, an inconsistency exists in measurement, which may have a material impact on the reported value of shareholders’ equity. Fluctuations in interest rates cause undue volatility in the period-to-period presentation of our shareholders’ equity, capital structure, and financial ratios which would be essentially removed if interest-bearing liabilities were valued in the same manner as assets. Due to the long-term nature of our fixed maturities and liabilities and the strong cash flows consistently generated by our insurance subsidiaries, we have the intent and ability to hold our securities to maturity. As such, we do not expect to incur losses due to fluctuations in market value of fixed maturities caused by market rate changes and temporarily illiquid markets. Accordingly, our management, credit rating agencies, lenders, many industry analysts, and certain other financial statement users prefer to remove the effect of this accounting rule when analyzing our balance sheet, capital structure, and financial ratios.

46

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

The following table presents selected data related to our capital resources. Additionally, the table presents the effect of this accounting guidance on relevant line items, so that investors and other financial statement users may determine its impact on Globe Life's capital structure. Excluding the effect of unrealized gains and losses on the fixed maturity portfolio from shareholders' equity is considered non-GAAP. Below we include the reconciliation to GAAP.

Selected Financial Data

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	At
	December 31, 2020						December 31, 2019						December 31, 2018
	GAAP			Effect of Accounting Rule Requiring Revaluation(1)			GAAP			Effect of Accounting Rule Requiring Revaluation(1)			GAAP			Effect of Accounting Rule Requiring Revaluation(1)
Fixed maturities	$	21,213,509		$	4,019,710		$	18,907,147		$	2,491,371		$	16,297,932		$	544,461
Deferred acquisition costs(2)	4,595,444			(5,955)			4,341,941			(7,488)			4,137,925			(5,270)
Total assets	29,046,731			4,013,755			25,977,460			2,483,883			23,095,722			539,191
Short-term debt	254,918			—			298,738			—			307,848			—
Long-term debt	1,667,886			—			1,348,988			—			1,357,185			—
Shareholders' equity	8,771,092			3,170,866			7,294,307			1,962,268			5,415,177			425,961
Book value per diluted share	83.19			30.07			66.02			17.76			48.11			3.79
Debt to capitalization(3)	18.0		%	(7.6)		%	18.4		%	(5.2)		%	23.5		%	(1.5)		%
Diluted shares outstanding	105,429						110,494						112,561
Actual shares outstanding	103,797						107,720						110,693

(1)Amount added to (deducted from) comprehensive income to produce the stated GAAP item, per accounting rule ASC 320-10-35-1.

(2)Includes the value of business acquired (VOBA).

(3)Globe Life's debt covenants require that the effect of this accounting rule be removed to determine this ratio. This ratio is computed by dividing total debt by the sum of total debt and shareholders’ equity.

Financial Strength Ratings. The financial strength of our major insurance subsidiaries is rated by Standard & Poor’s and A. M. Best. The following table presents these ratings for our five largest insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2020.

	Standard & Poor’s	A.M. Best
Liberty National Life Insurance Company	AA-	A
Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company	AA-	A
United American Insurance Company	AA-	A
American Income Life Insurance Company	AA-	A
Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America	NR	A

A.M. Best states that it assigns an A (Excellent) rating to insurance companies that have, in its opinion, an excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.

The AA financial strength rating category is assigned by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) to those insurers which have very strong capacity to meet its financial commitments which differs from the highest-rated insurers only to a small degree. An insurer rated A has strong capacity to meet its financial commitments but it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than insurers in higher-rated categories. The plus sign (+) or minus sign (-) shows the relative standing within the major rating category.

47

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

OTHER ITEMS

Litigation. For more information concerning litigation, please refer to Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Future Policy Benefits. Due to the long-term nature of insurance contracts, our insurance companies are liable for policy benefit payments that will be made in the future. The liability for future policy benefits is determined by standard actuarial procedures common to the life insurance industry. The accounting policies for determining this liability are disclosed in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

Approximately 90% of our liabilities for future policy benefits at December 31, 2020 were traditional insurance liabilities where the liability is determined as the present value of future benefits less the present value of the portion of the gross premium required to pay for such benefits. The assumptions used in estimating the future benefits for this portion of business are set at the time of contract issue. These assumptions are “locked in” and are not revised for the lifetime of the contracts, except where there is a premium deficiency, as defined in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies under the caption Future Policy Benefits. Otherwise, variability in the accrual of policy reserve liabilities after policy issuance is caused only by variability of the inventory of in force policies.

The remaining portion of liabilities for future policy benefits pertains to business accounted for as deposit business, where the recorded liability is the fund balance attributable to the benefit of policyholders as determined by the policy contract at the consolidated financial statement date. Accordingly, there are no assumptions used to determine the future policy benefit liability for deposit business.

Deferred Acquisition Costs. Certain costs of acquiring new business are deferred and recorded as an asset. Deferred acquisition costs consist primarily of sales commissions and other underwriting costs such as advertising related to the successful issuance of a new insurance contract as indicated in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies under the caption Deferred Acquisition Costs in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Additionally, the cost of acquiring blocks of insurance business or insurance business through the purchase of other companies, known as the value of insurance acquired (VOBA), is included in deferred acquisition costs. Our policies for accounting for deferred acquisition costs and the associated amortization are reported under the same caption in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

Over 99% of our recorded amounts for deferred acquisition costs at December 31, 2020 were related to traditional products and are being amortized over the premium-paying period in proportion to the present value of actual historic and estimated future gross premiums. The projection assumptions for this business are set at the time of contract issue. These assumptions are “locked-in” at that time and, except where there is a loss recognition issue, are not revised for the lifetime of the contracts. Absent a premium deficiency, variability in amortization after policy issuance is caused only by variability in premium volume. We have not recorded a deferred acquisition cost loss recognition event for assets related to this business for any period in the three years ended December 31, 2020.

Less than 1% of deferred acquisition costs pertain to deposit business for which deferred acquisition costs are amortized over the estimated lives of the contracts.

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable. This liability consists of known benefits currently payable and an estimate of claims that have been incurred but not yet reported to us. The estimate of unreported claims is based on prior experience and is made after careful evaluation of all information available to us. However, the factors upon which these estimates are based can be subject to change from historical patterns. Factors involved include the litigation environment, regulatory mandates, and the introduction of policy types for which claim patterns are not well established, and medical trend rates and medical cost inflation as they affect our health claims. Changes in these estimates, if any, are reflected in the earnings of the period in which the adjustment is made. The Company concludes that the estimates used to produce the liability for claims and other benefits, including the estimate of unsubmitted claims, are the most appropriate under the circumstances. However, there is no certainty that the resulting stated liability will be our ultimate obligation. At this time, we do not expect any change in this estimate to have a material impact on earnings or financial position consistent with our historical experience.

48

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Valuation of Fixed Maturities. We hold a substantial investment in high-quality fixed maturities to provide for the funding of our future policy contractual obligations over long periods of time. While these securities are generally expected to be held to maturity, they are classified as available for sale and are sold from time to time, primarily to manage risk. We report this portfolio at fair value. Fair value is the price that we would expect to receive upon sale of the asset in an orderly transaction. The fair value of the fixed maturity portfolio is primarily affected by changes in interest rates in financial markets. Because of the size of our fixed maturity portfolio and the long average life, small changes in rates can have a significant effect on the portfolio and the reported financial position of the Company. This impact is disclosed in 100 basis point increments under the caption Market Risk Sensitivity in this report. However, as discussed under the caption Financial Condition in this report, the Company regards these unrealized fluctuations in value as having no meaningful impact on our actual financial condition and, as such, we remove them from consideration when viewing our financial position and financial ratios.

At times, the values of our fixed maturities can also be affected by illiquidity in the financial markets. Illiquidity would contribute to a spread widening, and accordingly to unrealized losses, on many securities that we would expect to be fully recoverable. Even though our fixed maturity portfolio is available for sale, we have the ability and intent to hold the securities until maturity as a result of our strong and stable cash flows generated from our insurance products. Considerable information concerning the policies, procedures, classification levels, and other relevant data concerning the valuation of our fixed maturity investments is presented in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies and in Note 4—Investments under the captions Fair Value Measurements in both notes.

Investments: Allowance for Credit Losses. We continually monitor our investment portfolio for investments where fair value has declined below carrying value to determine if a credit loss event has occurred. When a credit event does occur, an allowance for credit loss is recorded and the corresponding provision is recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement in Realized Gains or Losses. Non-credit related fluctuations in the fair value are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. The policies and procedures that we use to evaluate and account for allowance for credit losses are disclosed in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies and the discussions under the captions Investments and Realized Gains and Losses in this report. While every effort is made to make the best estimate of status and value with the information available regarding an allowance for credit loss, it is difficult to predict the future prospects of a distressed or impaired security.

49

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Defined benefit pension plans. We maintain funded defined benefit plans covering most full-time employees. We also have an unfunded nonqualified defined benefit plan covering a limited number of officers. Our obligations under these plans are determined actuarially based on specified actuarial assumptions. In accordance with GAAP, an expense is recorded each year as these pension obligations grow due to the increase in the service period of employees and the interest cost associated with the passage of time. These obligations are offset, at least in part, by the growth in value of the assets in the funded plans. At December 31, 2020, our gross liability under these plans was $763 million, but was offset by assets of $530 million.

The actuarial assumptions used in determining our obligations/expenses for pensions include: employee mortality and turnover, retirement age, the expected return on plan assets, projected salary increases, and the discount rate at which future obligations could be settled. Additionally, a corridor approach is used to amortize any unrecognized gains or losses outside the corridor (the standard 10% of the greater of plan PBO and fair value assets) and have an amortization service period of approximately 9 years. These assumptions have an important effect on the pension obligation. A decrease in the discount rate will cause an increase in the pension obligation. A decrease in projected salary increases will cause a decrease in this obligation. Small changes in assumptions may cause significant differences in reported results for these plans. For example, a sensitivity analysis is presented below for the impact of change in the discount rate and the long-term rate of return on assets assumed on our defined benefit pension plans expense for the year 2020 and projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2020.

Pension Assumptions

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Assumption	Change(1)	Impact on Expense		Impact on Projected Benefit Obligation
Discount Rate(2):
Increase	25	$	(4,063)	$	(30,402)
Decrease	(25)	4,306		32,357
Expected Return(3):
Increase	25	(1,211)		—
Decrease	(25)	1,211		—

(1)In basis points.

(2)The discount rate for determining the net periodic benefit cost was 3.49% for 2020. The discount rate used for determining the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2020 was 2.92%.

(3)The expected long-term return rate assumed was 6.67%.

The Company determines mortality assumptions through the use of published mortality tables that reflect broad-based studies of mortality and published longevity improvement scales.

The criteria used to determine the primary assumptions are discussed in Note 9—Postretirement Benefits. While we have used our best efforts to determine the most reliable assumptions, given the information available from Company experience, economic data, independent consultants and other sources, we cannot be certain that actual results will be the same as expected. The assumptions are reviewed annually and revised, if necessary, based on more current information available to us. Note 9—Postretirement Benefits also contains information about pension plan assets, investment policies, and other related data.

50

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Information required by this item is found under the heading Market Risk Sensitivity in Item 7 of this report.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Consolidated Financial Statements Index

	Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	52
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020, and 2019	54
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	55
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	56
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	57
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	58
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	59

51

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Globe Life Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Globe Life Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the schedules listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Investments in Fixed Maturities Classified as Available for Sale — Significant Unobservable Inputs - Refer to Notes 1 and 4 to the Financial Statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

Investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value in the financial statements. The investments without readily determinable market values are valued using significant unobservable inputs such as credit ratings and discount rates. The balance of investments without readily determinable market values was $799 million as of December 31, 2020. These inputs involve considerable judgment by management.

52

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

We identified investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale without readily determinable market values as a critical audit matter because of the unobservable inputs used by management to estimate fair value. Auditing these inputs required especially subjective judgment and required the involvement of our fair value specialists to fully evaluate them.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the unobservable inputs used by management to estimate the fair value of investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over investments in fixed maturities classified as available for sale, including management’s controls over the determination of unobservable inputs and fair value.

•We tested the accuracy and completeness of underlying data used in the determination of the fair value (e.g., investments owned at the balance sheet date and relevant security attributes).

•With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we developed independent estimates of fair value for a selection of securities and compared our estimates to management’s estimates.

Future Policy Benefits and Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs — Certain Underlying Assumptions - Refer to Note 1 to the Financial Statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company’s management sets assumptions in (1) recording a liability for policy benefit payments that will be made in the future (future policy benefits) and (2) determining amortization of deferred acquisition costs. The most significant assumptions include mortality, morbidity, and persistency. Assumptions are determined based upon published studies and analysis of Company specific experience, adjusted for changes in exposure and other relevant factors. Given the inherent uncertainty of these significant assumptions, auditing the development of such assumptions involved especially subjective judgment.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to management’s judgments regarding the assumptions used in the development of future policy benefits and the amortization of deferred acquisition costs included the following, among others:

•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the assumption development process and the valuation of future policy benefits.

•We tested the underlying data used in the development of the assumptions as well as in the determination of the liability for future policy benefits and the amortization of deferred acquisition costs.

•We evaluated management’s selected actuarial assumptions, including testing the accuracy and completeness of the supporting experience studies.

•With the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we evaluated management’s judgments regarding the assumptions used in the development of future policy benefits and the amortization of deferred acquisition costs.

•We evaluated whether the assumptions used were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Dallas, Texas

February 25, 2021

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1999.

53

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	December 31,
	2020		2019
Assets:
Investments:
Fixed maturities—available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2020—$17,197,145; 2019—$16,415,776, allowance for credit losses: 2020— $3,346; 2019— $0)	$	21,213,509	$	18,907,147
Policy loans	584,379		575,492
Other long-term investments (includes: 2020—$385,038; 2019—$185,851 under the fair value option)	546,981		326,347
Short-term investments	107,782		38,285
Total investments	22,452,651		19,847,271
Cash	94,847		75,933
Accrued investment income	248,991		245,129
Other receivables	474,180		441,662
Deferred acquisition costs	4,595,444		4,341,941
Goodwill	441,591		441,591
Other assets	739,027		583,933
Total assets	$	29,046,731	$	25,977,460
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	$	15,243,536	$	14,508,134
Unearned and advance premium	61,728		63,709
Policy claims and other benefits payable	399,507		365,402
Other policyholders' funds	97,968		96,282
Total policy liabilities	15,802,739		15,033,527
Current and deferred income taxes	1,833,723		1,476,832
Short-term debt	254,918		298,738
Long-term debt (estimated fair value: 2020—$1,871,754; 2019—$1,473,364)	1,667,886		1,348,988
Other liabilities	716,373		525,068
Total liabilities	20,275,639		18,683,153
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $1 per share—5,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding: 0 in 2020 and 2019	—		—
Common stock, par value $1 per share—320,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding: (2020—113,218,183 issued; 2019— 117,218,183 issued)	113,218		117,218
Additional paid-in-capital	527,435		531,554
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	3,029,244		1,844,830
Retained earnings	5,874,109		5,551,329
Treasury stock, at cost: (2020—9,420,699 shares; 2019—9,497,940 shares)	(772,914)		(750,624)
Total shareholders' equity	8,771,092		7,294,307
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	29,046,731	$	25,977,460

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

54

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Revenue:
Life premium	$	2,672,804	$	2,517,784	$	2,406,555
Health premium	1,141,097		1,077,346		1,015,339
Other premium	4		4		12
Total premium	3,813,905		3,595,134		3,421,906
Net investment income	927,062		910,459		882,512
Realized gains (losses)	(4,371)		20,621		(1,804)
Other income	1,325		1,318		1,137
Total revenue	4,737,921		4,527,532		4,303,751
Benefits and expenses:
Life policyholder benefits	1,809,373		1,638,053		1,591,790
Health policyholder benefits	733,481		687,764		649,188
Other policyholder benefits	30,030		31,532		34,264
Total policyholder benefits	2,572,884		2,357,349		2,275,242
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	575,770		551,726		516,690
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	304,841		298,047		278,487
Other operating expense	301,038		304,825		279,585
Interest expense	86,704		84,306		90,076
Total benefits and expenses	3,841,237		3,596,253		3,440,080
Income before income taxes	896,684		931,279		863,671
Income tax benefit (expense)	(164,911)		(170,397)		(162,161)
Income from continuing operations	731,773		760,882		701,510
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		(92)		(44)
Net income	$	731,773	$	760,790	$	701,466
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	6.90	$	6.97	$	6.22
Discontinued operations	—		—		—
Total basic net income per common share	$	6.90	$	6.97	$	6.22
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations	$	6.82	$	6.83	$	6.09
Discontinued operations	—		—		—
Total diluted net income per common share	$	6.82	$	6.83	$	6.09

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

55

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Net income	$	731,773	$	760,790	$	701,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Investments:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period	1,493,200		1,959,596		(1,426,581)
Other reclassification adjustments included in net income	32,809		(13,837)		(1,758)
Foreign exchange adjustment on securities recorded at fair value	2,330		1,151		(1,424)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities	1,528,339		1,946,910		(1,429,763)
Unrealized gains (losses) on other investments	(18,306)		11,255		(5,155)
Total unrealized investment gains (losses)	1,510,033		1,958,165		(1,434,918)
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	(317,111)		(411,213)		301,327
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax	1,192,922		1,546,952		(1,133,591)
Deferred acquisition costs:
Unrealized gains (losses) attributable to deferred acquisition costs	1,533		(2,218)		5,549
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	(321)		465		(1,165)
Unrealized gains (losses) attributable to deferred acquisition costs, net of tax	1,212		(1,753)		4,384
Foreign exchange translation:
Foreign exchange translation adjustments, other than securities	14,230		7,042		(12,417)
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	(2,986)		(1,479)		2,610
Foreign exchange translation adjustments, other than securities, net of tax	11,244		5,563		(9,807)
Pension:
Amortization of pension costs	16,632		8,474		15,095
Plan amendments	—		—		(2,377)
Experience gain (loss)	(43,169)		(40,636)		30,591
Pension adjustments	(26,537)		(32,162)		43,309
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	5,573		6,755		(9,094)
Pension adjustments, net of tax	(20,964)		(25,407)		34,215
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,184,414		1,525,355		(1,104,799)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	1,916,187	$	2,286,145	$	(403,333)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

56

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Preferred Stock		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock		Total Shareholders' Equity
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	—	$	124,218	$	508,476	$	1,424,274	$	4,806,208	$	(631,755)	$	6,231,421
Adoption of ASU 2016-01	—		—		—		—		4,896		—		4,896
Balance at January 1, 2018	—		124,218		508,476		1,424,274		4,811,104		(631,755)		6,236,317
Comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		(1,104,799)		701,466		—		(403,333)
Common dividends declared ($0.64 per share)	—		—		—		—		(71,941)		—		(71,941)
Acquisition of treasury stock	—		—		—		—		—		(421,749)		(421,749)
Stock-based compensation	—		—		28,836		—		(1,803)		12,759		39,792
Exercise of stock options	—		—		—		—		(24,811)		60,902		36,091
Retirement of treasury stock	—		(3,000)		(12,898)		—		(200,547)		216,445		—
Balance at December 31, 2018	—		121,218		524,414		319,475		5,213,468		(763,398)		5,415,177
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Adoption of ASU 2016-02	—		—		—		—		(392)		—		(392)
Balance at January 1, 2019	—		121,218		524,414		319,475		5,213,076		(763,398)		5,414,785
Comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		1,525,355		760,790		—		2,286,145
Common dividends declared ($0.69 per share)	—		—		—		—		(75,060)		—		(75,060)
Acquisition of treasury stock	—		—		—		—		—		(459,569)		(459,569)
Stock-based compensation	—		—		25,132		—		(6,817)		26,528		44,843
Exercise of stock options	—		—		—		—		(51,892)		135,055		83,163
Retirement of treasury stock	—		(4,000)		(17,992)		—		(288,768)		310,760		—
Balance at December 31, 2019	—		117,218		531,554		1,844,830		5,551,329		(750,624)		7,294,307
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Adoption of ASU 2016-13(1)	—		—		—		—		(454)		—		(454)
Balance at January 1, 2020	—		117,218		531,554		1,844,830		5,550,875		(750,624)		7,293,853
Comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		1,184,414		731,773		—		1,916,187
Common dividends declared ($0.75 per share)	—		—		—		—		(79,067)		—		(79,067)
Acquisition of treasury stock	—		—		—		—		—		(443,866)		(443,866)
Stock-based compensation	—		—		14,410		—		(482)		21,964		35,892
Exercise of stock options	—		—		—		—		(26,908)		75,001		48,093
Retirement of treasury stock	—		(4,000)		(18,529)		—		(302,082)		324,611		—
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	—	$	113,218	$	527,435	$	3,029,244	$	5,874,109	$	(772,914)	$	8,771,092

(1)Adoption of Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on January 1, 2020. See further discussion in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

57

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Net income	$	731,773	$	760,790	$	701,466
Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to cash provided from continuing operations:
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	—		92		44
Increase (decrease) in future policy benefits	798,936		661,567		664,997
Increase (decrease) in other policy benefits	33,810		15,900		17,134
Deferral of policy acquisition costs	(822,985)		(753,661)		(699,551)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	575,770		551,726		516,690
Change in current and deferred income taxes	88,157		68,588		69,369
Realized (gains) losses	4,371		(20,621)		1,804
Other, net	66,602		62,194		4,463
Net cash provided from (used for) continuing operations	1,476,434		1,346,575		1,276,416
Net cash provided from (used for) discontinued operations	—		17,299		1,231
Cash provided from (used for) operating activities	1,476,434		1,363,874		1,277,647
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities:
Investments sold or matured:
Fixed maturities available for sale—sold	52,681		79,108		32,021
Fixed maturities available for sale—matured or other redemptions	416,321		840,222		343,712
Other long-term investments	42,990		5,134		477
Total investments sold or matured	511,992		924,464		376,210
Acquisition of investments:
Fixed maturities—available for sale	(1,262,434)		(1,552,956)		(1,155,539)
Other long-term investments	(266,230)		(123,332)		(93,631)
Total investments acquired	(1,528,664)		(1,676,288)		(1,249,170)
Net (increase) decrease in policy loans	(8,887)		(25,426)		(20,537)
Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments	(69,497)		34,003		63,783
Additions to properties	(41,756)		(42,203)		(45,092)
Other investing activities	(7,051)		32		1,987
Investments in low-income housing interests	(37,867)		(23,893)		(23,404)
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities	(1,181,730)		(809,311)		(896,223)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities:
Issuance of common stock	48,093		83,163		36,091
Cash dividends paid to shareholders	(78,192)		(74,188)		(71,421)
Repayment of debt	(386,875)		(6,875)		(327,762)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	700,000		—		550,000
Payment for debt issuance costs	(5,844)		—		(6,969)
Net borrowing (repayment) of commercial paper	(34,445)		(11,610)		(22,719)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(443,866)		(459,569)		(421,749)
Net receipts (payments) from deposit-type products	(72,928)		(121,429)		(126,991)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(274,057)		(590,508)		(391,520)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	(1,733)		(9,148)		12,559
Net increase (decrease) in cash	18,914		(45,093)		2,463
Cash at beginning of year	75,933		121,026		118,563
Cash at end of year	$	94,847	$	75,933	$	121,026

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

58

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies

Business: (Globe Life), (the Company), refer to Globe Life Inc., an insurance holding company incorporated in Delaware in 1979, and Globe Life Inc. subsidiaries and affiliates. Globe Life Inc.'s direct or indirect primary subsidiaries are Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company, American Income Life Insurance Company, Liberty National Life Insurance Company, Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America, and United American Insurance Company. The underwriting companies are owned by their ultimate corporate parent, Globe Life Inc. (the Parent Company).

Globe Life provides a variety of life and supplemental health insurance products and annuities to a broad base of customers. The Company is organized into four reportable segments: life insurance, supplemental health insurance, annuities, and investments.

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Globe Life have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), under guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the results of Globe Life Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. When Globe Life acquires a subsidiary or a block of business, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are measured at fair value at the acquisition date. Any excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of net assets is recorded as goodwill. Expenses incurred to effect the acquisition are charged to earnings as of the acquisition date. Upon acquisition, the accounts and results of operations are consolidated as of and subsequent to the acquisition date.

Globe Life accounts for its variable interest entities (VIEs) under accounting guidance which clarifies the definition of a variable interest and the instructions for consolidating VIEs. Only primary beneficiaries are required or allowed to consolidate VIEs. The investments are not consolidated because the Company has no power to control the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of these entities and therefore the Company is not the primary beneficiary of any of these interests. Globe Life's involvement is limited to its limited partnership interest in the entities. The Company has not provided any other financial support to the entities beyond its commitments to fund its limited partnership interests, and there are no arrangements or agreements with any of the interests to provide other financial support. The maximum loss exposure relative to these interests is limited to their carrying value. The Company has approximately 1% of total assets in low-income housing tax credits and certain limited partnerships (investment funds) that qualify as unconsolidated VIEs.

Discontinued Operations: When a component of Globe Life's business is sold or expected to be sold during the ensuing year, the Company considers whether the criteria of ASC 205-20, Discontinued Operations, have been met, which includes evaluating if the disposal of a component represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company. If the disposal meets the criteria for discontinued operations, the assets and liabilities are segregated and recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Assets and Liabilities related to discontinued operations" for all periods presented. If the carrying amount of the business exceeds its estimated fair value, a loss is recognized. The results of operations for the discontinued component are reported in "Income from discontinued operations, net of tax" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for current and prior periods. Discontinued operations are reported commencing in the period in which the business is either disposed of or meets the accounting criteria for discontinued operations, including any gain or loss recognized on the sale or adjustment of the carrying amount to the estimated fair value less cost to sell.

59

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

In 2016, Globe Life sold one of its operating segments, Medicare Part D. The financial results of this business are excluded from the Company's continuing operations including the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company received final settlement related to the assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations in 2019.

Investments: Globe Life classifies all of its fixed maturity investments as available for sale. Investments classified as available for sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reflected directly in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). Income from investments is recorded in "Net investment income" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Gains and losses from sales, maturities, or other redemptions of investments are recorded in "Realized gains (losses)". Interest income and prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Premiums and discounts are amortized using the effective yield method. When amortized cost of a callable debt security exceeds the first call price, the premium is amortized to the earliest call date. Otherwise, the period of amortization or accretion generally extends from the purchase date to the maturity date.

"Policy loans", which represent loans provided to policyholders using cash values as collateral, are carried at unpaid principal balances. "Other long-term investments" include limited partnerships, commercial mortgage loan participations ("commercial mortgage loans"), equity securities, and real estate. Investments in equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value, net of taxes, reflected directly in "Realized gains (losses)" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments in real estate are reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life. Investments in limited partnerships consist of low-income housing tax credits and investment funds. Low-income housing tax credits are discussed further below.

The investment funds consist of limited partnerships whereby the Company has a pro-rata share of ownership ranging from less than 1% to 20%. For each investment, the Company has elected the fair value option, but would have been otherwise accounted for as an equity method investment. The fair value option is assessed for each individual investment and concluded at the inception of the investment. Additionally, each investment is evaluated under applicable GAAP to determine if it is a variable interest entity and would qualify for consolidation; none of these investments qualify for consolidation as the Company is not the primary beneficiary.

The investments are reported at the Company's pro-rata share of the investment fund's net asset value or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. Operating results provided by the partnerships can be on a lag up to 3 months. Changes in the net asset value are recorded in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Distributions received from the funds arise from income generated by the underlying investments as well as the liquidation of the underlying investments. Periodic distributions are recorded in net investment income until cumulative distributions exceed our pro-rata share of cumulative operating earnings at which point the distributions will reduce carrying value. Our maximum exposure to loss is equal to the outstanding carrying value and future funding commitments. The Company had $227 million of capital called during the year from existing investment funds, reducing our unfunded commitments. Our unfunded commitments were $435 million as of December 31, 2020.

Commercial mortgage loan participations, a type of investment where the mortgage loan is shared among investors, are accounted for as financing receivables. The commercial mortgage loans are managed by a third-party. The Company purchased the legal rights to interests in commercial mortgage loans which are secured by transitional properties such as hotels, retail, multiple family, or offices. The commercial mortgage loans typically have a term of three years with the option to extend up to two years. The commercial mortgage loans are recorded at unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized origination fees and net of allowance for loan losses. Interest income, net of the amortization of origination fees, is recorded in "Net Investment Income" under the effective yield method. Our unfunded commitment balance to the commercial loan borrowers was $47 million as of December 31, 2020.

"Short-term investments" include investments in interest-bearing assets with original maturities of twelve months or less. Gains and losses realized on the disposition of investments are determined on a specific identification basis.

60

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Fair Value Measurements, Investments in Securities: Globe Life measures the fair value of its "fixed maturities" based on a hierarchy consisting of three levels which indicate the quality of the fair value measurements as described below:

•Level 1—fair values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

•Level 2—fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 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, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or inputs that can otherwise be corroborated by observable market data.

•Level 3—fair values are based on inputs that are considered unobservable where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability as of the measurement date. In this circumstance, the Company has to rely on values derived by independent brokers or internally-developed assumptions. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available to the Company which may include the Company’s own data or bid and ask prices in the dealer market.

Net Asset Value—Certain investments, such as investment funds, that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share or its equivalent, as a practical expedient, have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The net asset value is usually provided by general partners or managers.

The great majority of Globe Life's "fixed maturities" are not actively traded and direct quotes are not generally available. Management therefore determines the fair values of these securities after consideration of data provided by third-party pricing services, independent broker/dealers, and other resources. At December 31, 2020, the Company's investments in fixed maturities were primarily composed of the following significant security types: corporate securities, state and municipal securities, U.S. government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises securities. The remaining security types represented approximately 1% of the total in the aggregate.

Approximately 97% of the fair value of "fixed maturities" reported at December 31, 2020 was determined using data provided by third-party pricing services. Prices provided by these services are not binding offers, but are estimated exit values. Third-party pricing services use proprietary pricing models to determine security values by discounting cash flows using a market-adjusted spread to a benchmark yield.

For all asset classes within Globe Life's significant security types, third-party pricing services use a common valuation technique to model the price of the investments using observable market data. The foundation for these models consists of developing yield spreads based on multiple observable market inputs, including but not limited to: benchmark yield curves, actual trading activity, new issue yields, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, sector-specific data, economic data, and other inputs that are corroborated in the market. Pricing vendors monitor and review their pricing data continuously with current market and economic data feeds, augmented by ongoing communication within the dealer community.

Using the observable market inputs described above, spreads to an appropriate benchmark yield are further developed by the vendors for each security based on security-specific and/or sector-specific risk factors, such as a security’s terms and conditions (coupon, maturity, and call features), credit rating, sector, liquidity, collateral or other cash flow options, and other factors that could impact the risk of the security. Embedded repayment options, such as call and redemption features, are also taken into account in the pricing models. When the spread is determined, it is added to the security’s benchmark yield. The security's expected cash flows are discounted using this spread-adjusted yield, and the resulting present value of the discounted cash flows is the evaluated price.

61

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

When third-party vendor prices are not available, the Company attempts to obtain valuations from other sources, including but not limited to broker/dealers, broker quotes, and prices on comparable securities.

When valuations have been obtained for all securities in the portfolio, management reviews and analyzes the prices to ensure their reasonableness, taking into account available and observable information. When two or more valuations are available for a security and the variance between the prices is 10% or less, the close correlation suggests similar observable inputs were used in deriving the price, and the mean of the prices is used. Securities valued in this manner are classified as Level 2. When the variance between two or more valuations for a security exceeds 10%, additional analysis is performed to determine the most appropriate value for that security, using resources such as broker quotes, prices on comparable securities, recent trades, and any other observable market data. Further review is performed on the available valuations to determine if they can be corroborated within reasonable tolerance to any other observable evidence. If one of the valuations or the mean of the available valuations for a security can be corroborated with other observable evidence, then the corroborated value is used and reported as Level 2. The Company uses information and analytical techniques deemed appropriate for determining the point within the range of reasonable fair value estimates that is most representative of fair value under current market conditions. Valuations that cannot be corroborated within a reasonable tolerance are classified as Level 3.

Globe Life invests in a portfolio of private placement fixed maturities that are not actively traded. This portfolio is managed by third-parties. The portfolio managers provide valuations for the bonds based on a pricing matrix utilizing observable inputs, such as the benchmark treasury rate and published sector indices, and unobservable inputs such as an internally-developed credit rating. If observable inputs cannot be corroborated, the fair values are classified as Level 3. Refer to Note 4—Investments under the caption Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements.

The fair values for each class of security and by valuation hierarchy level are indicated in Note 4—Investments under the caption Fair value measurements, and Note 9—Postretirement Benefits under the caption Pension Assets.

Fair Value Measurements, Other Financial Instruments: Fair values for cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, short-term debt, receivables, and payables approximate carrying value. Cash and cash equivalents are classified as Level 1. Fair values of commercial mortgage loans are determined based upon expected cash flows discounted at an appropriate risk-adjusted rate and are classified as Level 3. The fair value of investments in limited partnerships that provide low-income housing tax credits is based on discounted projected cash flows and are classified as Level 3. Policy loans are an integral part of Globe Life's subsidiaries’ life insurance policies in force and their fair values cannot be valued separately from the insurance contracts. Investment funds are based on net asset value and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

The fair values of Globe Life's long and short term debt issues are based on the same methodology as investments in fixed maturities. At December 31, 2020, observable inputs were available for these debt securities and as such were classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy. The fair value for each debt instrument as of December 31, 2020 is disclosed in Note 11—Debt.

As described in Note 9—Postretirement Benefits, Globe Life maintains a nonqualified supplemental retirement plan. Accordingly, the assets that support the liability for this plan are considered general assets of the Company. These assets consist of the cash value of corporate-owned life insurance policies (COLI) and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The fair value of the insurance cash values approximates carrying value. Fair values for the ETFs are derived from direct quotes and are considered Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (CECL adoption): On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, replacing the GAAP "incurred loss" model with a new methodology referred to as current expected credit losses (CECL). The previous methodology delayed recognition of credit losses until it was probable that a loss had incurred, ultimately resulting in fewer instances of losses being recorded in earnings. The new CECL methodology

62

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

is forward looking—encompassing relevant information about historical experience, current conditions, as well as reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of a reported amount.

The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables. Upon adoption, the standard affected the Company's commercial mortgage loans ("Other long-term investments") and agent debit balances ("Other receivables"). The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method.

The Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, of $454 thousand to retained earnings, consisting of $265 thousand and $189 thousand for commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances, respectively. Refer to the table below for pre-tax amounts and Note 4—Investments for additional details.

	As reported on December 31, 2019		Pre-tax impact of adoption		As reported on January 1, 2020
Assets:
Commercial mortgage loans	$	137,692	$	(335)	$	137,357
Agent debit balances	423,877		(240)		423,637

In addition, the standard made changes to the accounting for available-for-sale debt securities through the removal of "other-than-temporary-impairment" (OTTI) write downs and replaced them with an allowance for credit losses. The new methodology will allow the Company to record reversals of credit losses in situations where the estimate of credit losses declines through current period net income ("Realized gains (losses)").

The Company adopted the standard using the prospective transition approach for available-for-sale fixed maturities for which OTTI had been recognized prior to January 1, 2020. As a result, the amortized cost basis and the effective interest rate remain unchanged after the adoption of ASU 2016-13. Amortized cost will now be reflected as "amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses" or "amortized cost, net." The Company has not elected the fair value option for any financial assets recorded at amortized cost that would be in scope of this standard.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (fixed maturities): At the onset of the evaluation, the Company individually assesses each fixed maturity, on a quarterly basis, to determine whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria are met, the Company will write down the fixed maturity's amortized cost basis to fair value through "Realized gains (losses)".

If neither of the aforementioned criteria are met, the Company will evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from a credit event. The Company will evaluate many factors, as further described below, to determine the present value of the expected cash flows. A credit loss occurs when the present value of the expected cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis. This will result in the recording of an allowance for credit losses as a contra asset account to the amortized cost basis with an offsetting provision for credit losses in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, the CECL methodology includes a fair value floor where the allowance for credit loss for a security cannot exceed the difference between fair value and amortized cost. When it is determined that there is not a credit loss, the decline in fair value is recognized in Other comprehensive income.

All changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses recorded to the allowance for credit losses are management's best estimate of the uncollectibility of principal and interest of a fixed maturity.

63

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The evaluation of Globe Life's securities for credit losses is a process that is undertaken at least quarterly and is overseen by a team of investment and accounting professionals. The process for making this determination is highly subjective and involves the careful consideration of many factors. The factors considered include, but are not limited to:

•The Company’s lack of intent to sell the debt security before recovery;

•Whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell prior to maturity;

•The reason(s) for the credit related losses;

•The financial condition of the issuer and the prospects for recovery in fair value of the security;

•Expected future cash flows.

The relative weight given to each of these factors can change over time as facts and circumstances change. In many cases, management believes it is appropriate to give more consideration to prospective factors than to retrospective factors. Prospective factors that are given more weight include prospects for recovery, the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until anticipated recovery, and expected future cash flows.

Among the facts and information considered in the process are:

•Financial statements of the issuer

•Changes in credit ratings of the issuer

•The value of underlying collateral

•News and information included in press releases issued by the issuer

•News and information reported in the media concerning the issuer

•News and information published by or otherwise provided by securities, economic, or research analysts

•The nature and amount of recent and expected future sources and uses of cash

•Default on a required payment

•Issuer bankruptcy filings

The expected cash flows are determined using judgment and the best information available to the Company. Inputs used to derive expected cash flows generally include expected default rates, current levels of subordination, and estimated recovery rate. The discount rate utilized in the discounted cash flows is the effective interest rate, which is the rate of return implicit in the asset at acquisition.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (commercial mortgage loans): Effective January 1, 2020, the Company evaluates the performance and credit quality of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio at least on a quarterly basis, or as needed, by utilizing common metrics such as loan-to-value or debt-service ratios as well as covenants, local market conditions, borrower quality, and underlying collateral. The fair value of the underlying collateral is based on a third-party appraisal of the property at origination of the loan. The fair value is assessed on an annual basis or more frequently when a loan is materially underperforming, 30 days delinquent, or in technical default. The Company determines the probability of estimated losses for the commercial mortgage loan portfolio on a pool basis each quarter and records an allowance. The allowance for credit losses is based on estimates, historical experience, probability of loss, value of the underlying collateral, and macro factors that affect the collectability of the loan. Each loan within the pool is assigned a risk rating (credit quality indicator) of low, medium, and high based on risk and expected future performance. A loan that is assigned as high risk would have a higher probability of a potential principal loss. The assigned risk category and the estimated loss rate is adjusted each quarter for current and forecasted economic factors management believes are relevant.

64

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

If management determines that foreclosure of a particular property is probable, the Company may elect the practical expedient for an individual mortgage loan to estimate the expected credit losses, which are based on the fair value of the property less amortized cost, adjusted for selling and other associated costs. See Note 4 for current activity.

Cash: "Cash" consists of balances on hand and on deposit in banks and financial institutions.

Accrued investment income: "Accrued investment income" consists of interest income or dividends earned on the investment portfolio, but which are yet to be received as of the balance sheet date. The Company will write-off accrued investment income that is deemed to be uncollectible related to the fixed maturities.

"Accrued investment income" also consists of interest income earned on the commercial mortgage loan portfolio, but which is yet to be received as of the balance sheet date. Accrued investment income will be placed in nonaccrual status at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent or otherwise deemed to be uncollectible by management. Any currently accrued investment income will subsequently be written off. As of December 31, 2020, the accrued interest receivable for commercial mortgage loans was $433 thousand. Commercial mortgage loans generally pay interest monthly, therefore accrued interest is typically for a period of less than 30 days.

As a practical expedient, the Company excludes the accrued investment income from the amortized cost basis of the investment and separately reports it in another financial statement line item, "Accrued investment income." Additionally, the amount will be excluded from disclosures within Note 4—Investments.

Other Receivables: Agent debit balances primarily represent commissions advanced to insurance agents, a common industry practice. These balances are repaid to the Company over time, generally one year, as the premiums associated with the advanced commissions are collected by the Company and a portion of the agents' commissions on such premiums are retained in order to repay the balances. The balances were $456 million at December 31, 2020 and $424 million at December 31, 2019. When an agent sells a policy, commissions are advanced to the agent, and the collection of the advance is made as long as the policy stays in force. While there is a susceptibility to loss should an agent terminate or excessive policy lapses occur, the ability of the Company to continue to collect an agent's commission streams over time from prior sales of policies reduces the Company's exposure to loss.

The Company has a very low inherent risk with regards to the collection of agent debit balances and views these balances as recoverable since they are, in aggregate, less than the estimated present value of future commissions discounted at a conservative rate which includes assumptions for lapses and mortality. The Company’s security, or collateral, is in the form of future commission streams collected over the life of the policies sold by the respective agents, which ultimately revert to the Company in the event an agent is terminated. The Company evaluated the agent debit balances on a pool basis to determine the allowance for credit losses, as the loans have similar characteristics. A provision for credit losses will be recorded in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the asset balance will be reflected in agent debit balances, net of allowance for credit losses ("Other receivables"). Based on factors considered by management, aside from the cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption described above, there were no additional credit losses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was $1.2 million.

Deferred Acquisition Costs: Certain costs of acquiring new insurance business are deferred and recorded as an asset. These costs are essential for the acquisition of new insurance business and are directly related to the successful issuance of an insurance contract including sales commissions, policy issue costs, and underwriting costs. Additionally, deferred acquisition costs (DAC) include the value of business acquired (VOBA), which are the costs of acquiring blocks of insurance from other companies or through the acquisition of other companies. These costs represent the difference between the fair value of the contractual insurance assets acquired and liabilities assumed compared against the assets and liabilities for insurance contracts that the Company issues or holds measured in accordance with GAAP.

DAC and VOBA are amortized in a systematic manner which matches these costs with the associated revenues. Policies other than universal life-type policies are amortized with interest over the estimated premium-paying period of the policies in a manner which charges each year’s operations in proportion to the receipt of premium income.

65

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Universal life-type policies are amortized with interest in proportion to estimated gross profits. The assumptions used to amortize acquisition costs include interest, mortality, morbidity, and persistency, and are consistent with those used to estimate the liability for future policy benefits. For interest-sensitive and deposit-type products, these assumptions are reviewed on a regular basis and are revised if actual experience differs significantly from original expectations. For all other products, amortization assumptions are generally not revised once established.

DAC and VOBA are subject to periodic recoverability and loss recognition testing to determine if there is a premium deficiency. These tests evaluate whether the present value of future contract-related cash flows will support the capitalized DAC and VOBA assets. These cash flows consist primarily of premium income, less benefits and expenses. The present value of these cash flows, less the benefit reserve, is then compared with the unamortized deferred acquisition cost balance. In the event the estimated present value of net cash flows is less, the deficiency would be recognized by a charge to earnings and either a reduction of unamortized acquisition costs or an increase in the liability for future benefits, as described under the caption Future Policy Benefits. Refer to Note 5—Deferred Acquisition Costs.

Advertising Costs: Costs related to advertising are generally charged to expense as incurred. However, certain Direct to Consumer advertising costs are capitalized when there is a reliable and demonstrated relationship between total costs and future benefits that is a direct result of incurring these costs. Direct to Consumer advertising costs consist primarily of the production and distribution costs of direct mail advertising materials, and when capitalized are included as a component of DAC. Additionally, they are amortized in the same manner as other DAC. Direct to Consumer advertising costs charged to earnings and included in other operating expense were $9.8 million, $9.5 million, and $9.0 million in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Unamortized capitalized advertising costs included within DAC were $1.4 billion at December 31, 2020 and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2019.

Goodwill: The excess cost of a business acquired over the fair value of net assets acquired is reported as goodwill. In accordance with the guidance, goodwill is subject to impairment testing on an annual basis, or whenever potential impairment triggers occur. Impairment testing involves the performance of a qualitative analysis, which involves assessing current events and circumstances to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. In the event the fair value is less than the carrying value, further testing is required to determine the amount of impairment, if any. If there is an impairment in the goodwill of any reporting unit, it is written down and charged to earnings in the period of the test. Globe Life tested its goodwill annually as of June 30th for each of the years 2018 through 2020. The Company's goodwill was not impaired in any of those periods.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Interests: Globe Life invests in limited partnerships that provide low-income housing tax credits and other related federal income tax benefits to the Company. Globe Life holds passive interests in limited partnerships that provide investment returns through the provision of tax benefits (principally from the transfer of federal or state tax credits related to federal low-income housing). These investments are considered to be VIEs and do not qualify for consolidation. The carrying value of the Company's investment in these entities was $306 million and $206 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and was included in "Other assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life was obligated under future commitments of $162 million, which are recorded in "Other liabilities". For guaranteed investments acquired prior to January 1, 2015, the Company utilizes the effective-yield method of amortization, while the proportional method of amortization is utilized for all non-guaranteed and guaranteed investments acquired on or after January 1, 2015. All amortization expense is recorded in "Income tax benefit (expense)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment, included in “Other assets,” is reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded primarily on the straight line method over the estimated useful lives of these assets which range from three to ten years for equipment and fifteen to forty years for buildings and improvements. Ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred. Impairments, if any, are recorded when certain events and circumstances become evident that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying amount. Original cost of property and equipment was $350 million at December 31, 2020 and $298 million at December 31, 2019. Accumulated depreciation was $164 million at the end of 2020 and $137 million at the end of 2019. Depreciation expense was $17 million in 2020, $16 million in 2019, and $13 million in 2018. Internally generated software costs are expensed as incurred in the preliminary project phase and post-implementation phase, and are

66

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

capitalized during the application development stage. Additionally, implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract are capitalized.

Future Policy Benefits: The liability for future policy benefits for annuity and universal life-type products is represented by policy account value. The liability for future policy benefits for all other life and health products, approximately 90% of total liabilities for future policy benefits, is determined on the net level premium method. This method provides for the present value of expected future benefit payments less the present value of expected future net premiums, based on estimated investment yields, mortality, morbidity, persistency, and other assumptions which were considered appropriate at the time the policies were issued. For limited-payment contracts, a deferred profit liability is also recorded which causes profits to emerge over the life of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance in force.

Assumptions used for traditional life and health insurance products are based primarily on Company experience. Assumptions for interest rates range from 2.5% to 7.0% for Globe Life's insurance companies with an overall weighted average assumed rate of 5.7%. Mortality tables used for individual life insurance include various industry tables and reflect modifications of a variety of generally accepted actuarial tables based on Company experience. Morbidity assumptions for individual health are based on Company experience and industry data. Withdrawal and termination assumptions are based on Globe Life's experience. Once established, assumptions for these products are generally not changed. An additional provision is made on most products to allow for possible adverse deviation from the assumptions. These estimates are reviewed annually and compared with actual experience. If it is determined that existing contract liabilities, together with the present value of future gross premiums, will not be sufficient to cover the present value of future benefits and to recover unamortized deferred acquisition costs, then a premium deficiency exists. Such a deficiency would be recognized immediately by a charge to earnings and either a reduction of unamortized deferred acquisition costs or an increase in the liability for future policy benefits. From that point forward, the liability for future policy benefits would be based on revised assumptions.

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable: Globe Life establishes a liability for known policy benefits payable and an estimate of claims that have been incurred but not yet reported to the Company. Globe Life makes an estimate of unreported claims after careful evaluation of all information available to the Company. This estimate is based on prior experience and is reviewed quarterly. However, there is no certainty the stated liability for claims and other benefits, including the estimate of unsubmitted claims, will be Globe Life's ultimate obligation. For more information, see Note 7—Liability for Unpaid Claims.

Income Taxes: "Income taxes" are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement book values and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Postretirement Benefits: Globe Life accounts for its postretirement defined benefit plans by recognizing the funded status of those plans on its Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with accounting guidance. Periodic gains and losses attributable to changes in plan assets and liabilities that are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs are recognized as components of other comprehensive income, net of tax. The supplemental executive retirement plan is accounted for consistent with the qualified noncontributory pension plan. The net assets are included in a Rabbi Trust and recorded in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. More information concerning the accounting and disclosures for postretirement benefits is found in Note 9—Postretirement Benefits.

Treasury Stock: Globe Life accounts for purchases of treasury stock on the cost method. Issuance of treasury stock is accounted for using the weighted-average cost method. More information is found in Note 12—Shareholders' Equity.

67

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Recognition of Premium Revenue and Related Expenses: Premium income for traditional long-duration life and health insurance products is recognized evenly over the contract period and when due from the policyholder. Premiums for short-duration health contracts are recognized as revenue over the contract period in proportion to the insurance protection provided. Premiums for universal life-type and annuity contracts are added to the policy account value, and revenues for such products are recognized as charges to the policy account value for mortality, administration, and surrenders (retrospective deposit method). Life premium includes policy charges of $14.7 million, $15.6 million, and $16.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Other premium consists of annuity policy charges in each year. For most insurance products, the related benefits and expenses are matched with revenues by means of the provision of future policy benefits and the amortization of DAC in a manner which recognizes profits as they are earned over the revenue recognition period. For limited-payment life insurance products, the profits are recognized over the contract period.

Stock-Based Compensation: Globe Life accounts for stock-based compensation by recognizing an expense in the consolidated financial statements based on the “fair value method.” The fair value method requires that a fair value be assigned to a stock option or other stock grant on its grant date and that this value be amortized over the grantees’ service period.

The fair value method requires the use of an option valuation model to value employee stock options. Globe Life has elected to use the Black-Scholes valuation model for option expensing. A summary of assumptions for options granted in each of the three years 2018 through 2020 is as follows:

	2020		2019		2018
Volatility factor	15.7	%	15.7	%	13.7	%
Dividend yield	0.7	%	0.8	%	0.7	%
Expected term (in years)	5.12		5.10		5.76
Risk-free rate	1.2	%	2.5	%	2.7	%

The expected term is generally derived from Company experience. However, expected terms are determined based on the simplified method as permitted under the ASC 718, Stock Compensation, topic when Company experience is insufficient. On April 26, 2018, the shareholders approved the Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan, formerly the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan (the "2018 Incentive Plan"). The 2018 Incentive Plan replaced all previous plans. The 2018 Incentive Plan allows for option grants for employees with a seven-year contractual term which vest over three years in addition to ten-year grants which vest over five years as permitted by the previous plans. Director grants vest over six months. The Company has sufficient experience with seven-year grants that vest in three years, but insufficient historical experience with five-year vesting. Therefore, the Company has used the simplified method to determine the expected term for the ten-year grants with five-year vesting and will do so until adequate experience is developed. Volatility and risk-free interest rates are assumed over a period of time consistent with the expected term of the option. Volatility is measured on a historical basis. Monthly data points are utilized to derive volatility for periods greater than three years. Expected dividend yield is based on current dividend yield held constant over the expected term. Once the fair value of an option has been determined, it is amortized on a straight-line basis over the employee’s service period for that grant (from the grant date to the date the grant is fully vested). Expenses for restricted stock and restricted stock units are based on the grant date fair value allocated on a straight-line basis over the service period. Performance share expense is recognized based on management’s estimate of the probability of meeting the metrics identified in the performance share award agreement, assigned to each service period as these estimates develop.

Stock-based compensation expense is included in “Other operating expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Globe Life management views all stock-based compensation expense as a Corporate and Other expense and, therefore, presents it as such in its segment analysis. More information concerning the Company's segments is provided in Note 14—Business Segments.

68

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Earnings per Share: Globe Life presents basic and diluted earnings per common share (EPS) on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations for income from continuing operations and income from discontinued operations. Basic EPS is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by adding to shares outstanding the additional net effect of potentially dilutive securities or contracts, such as stock options, which could be exercised or converted into common shares. For more information on earnings per share, see Note 12—Shareholders' Equity. 

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2016-13/2019-04/2019-05, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, with clarification guidance issued in April 2019.	This standard ("CECL") provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments that are recorded at amortized cost. Additionally, it changes the loss impairment methodology for available-for-sale fixed maturities by the use of an allowance rather than a direct write down.	This standard became effective on January 1, 2020.	The Company's available-for-sale fixed maturities and other financing receivables (commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances) were concluded to be the relevant financial assets within the scope of the standard. See Note 1 for information on the adoption and revised accounting policies.
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20), Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	The standard removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant to defined benefit plans.	This standard became effective on December 31, 2020, and was applied retrospectively.	The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. See updated disclosures in Note 9.
ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting	This standard was issued primarily to provide optional expedients for simplifying the accounting for contract modifications to existing agreements, which is expected to arise from the market's transition from LIBOR to the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) as a result of reference rate reform.	This standard became effective upon issuance, or March 12, 2020, and will remain effective until December 31, 2022.	The Company has limited assets and liabilities that utilize LIBOR as a benchmark rate. We will continue to monitor the progress towards the establishment of a new floating rate; however, we do not expect a material impact at this time.

69

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2018-12/2019-09/2020-11,  Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, with clarification guidance issued in November 2019 and 2020.	ASU 2018-12 is a significant change to our current accounting and disclosure of long-duration contracts, which is our primary business. The guidance was primarily issued to: 1) improve the timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits and modify the rate used to discount future cash flows, 2) simplify and improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts, 3) simplify the amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and 4) improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures.	As a result of the issuance of ASU 2020-11 in November 2020, the effective date for this standard was changed to January 1, 2023. Early adoption is available.	The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures, specifically assessing key accounting policies, assumption and data inputs, controls, and enhanced system solutions. Due to the overall nature of the standard, the impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected to be significant. At this time, the Company does not have an estimate of the impact. The Company does not expect to early adopt this ASU.
ASU No. 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs	The standard was issued as an amendment to ASU 2017-08, and clarifies that callable debt securities with a premium should be amortized to the next call date.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021, and will be applied prospectively. Early adoption is not permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

70

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 2—Statutory Accounting

Life insurance subsidiaries of Globe Life are required to file statutory financial statements with state insurance regulatory authorities. Accounting principles used to prepare these statutory financial statements differ from GAAP. Consolidated net income and shareholders’ equity (capital and surplus) on a statutory basis for the insurance subsidiaries were as follows:

	Net Income						Shareholders’ Equity
	Year Ended December 31,						At December 31,
	2020		2019		2018		2020		2019
Life insurance subsidiaries	$	441,589	$	462,515	$	437,549	$	1,408,281	$	1,398,274

The excess, if any, of shareholders' equity of the insurance subsidiaries on a GAAP basis over that determined on a statutory basis is not available for distribution by the insurance subsidiaries to the Parent Company without regulatory approval. Insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements in the aggregate was $520 million at December 31, 2020. More information on the restrictions on the payment of dividends can be found in Note 12—Shareholders' Equity.

The Company's statutory financial statements are presented on the basis of accounting practices prescribed by the insurance department of the state of domicile of each insurance subsidiary. While all states have adopted the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) statutory accounting practices (NAIC SAP) as the basis for statutory accounting, certain states have retained prescribed practices of their respective insurance code or administrative code which can differ from NAIC SAP. For Globe Life's life insurance companies, there are no significant differences between NAIC SAP and the accounting practices prescribed by the states of domicile.

71

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 3—Supplemental Information about Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income: An analysis of the change in balance by component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income is as follows for each of the years 2018 through 2020:

	Available for Sale Assets		Deferred Acquisition Costs		Foreign Exchange		Pension Adjustments		Total
For the year ended December 31, 2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	1,569,289	$	(8,547)	$	16,302	$	(152,770)	$	1,424,274
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(1,132,202)		4,384		(9,807)		22,290		(1,115,335)
Reclassifications, net of tax	(1,389)		—		—		11,925		10,536
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,133,591)		4,384		(9,807)		34,215		(1,104,799)
Balance at December 31, 2018	435,698		(4,163)		6,495		(118,555)		319,475
For the year ended December 31, 2019:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,557,883		(1,753)		5,563		(32,102)		1,529,591
Reclassifications, net of tax	(10,931)		—		—		6,695		(4,236)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,546,952		(1,753)		5,563		(25,407)		1,525,355
Balance at December 31, 2019	1,982,650		(5,916)		12,058		(143,962)		1,844,830
For the year ended December 31, 2020:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,167,003		1,212		11,244		(34,103)		1,145,356
Reclassifications, net of tax	25,919		—		—		13,139		39,058
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,192,922		1,212		11,244		(20,964)		1,184,414
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	3,175,572	$	(4,704)	$	23,302	$	(164,926)	$	3,029,244

72

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Reclassification adjustments: Reclassification adjustments out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income are presented below for the three years ended December 31, 2020.

	Year Ended December 31,						Affected line items in the Statement of Operations
Component Line Item	2020		2019		2018
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Realized (gains) losses	$	26,345	$	(19,352)	$	(5,715)	Realized (gains) losses
Amortization of (discount) premium	6,464		5,515		3,957		Net investment income
Total before tax	32,809		(13,837)		(1,758)
Tax	(6,890)		2,906		369		Income tax benefit (expense)
Total after-tax	25,919		(10,931)		(1,389)
Pension adjustments:
Amortization of prior service cost	632		631		535		Other operating expense
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	16,000		7,843		14,560		Other operating expense
Total before tax	16,632		8,474		15,095
Tax	(3,493)		(1,779)		(3,170)		Income tax benefit (expense)
Total after-tax	13,139		6,695		11,925
Total reclassification (after-tax)	$	39,058	$	(4,236)	$	10,536

Note 4—Investments

Portfolio Composition: Summaries of fixed maturities available for sale by amortized cost, fair value, and allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows. Redeemable preferred stock is included within the corporates by sector.

As noted in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies, the Company prospectively adopted ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2020 for the available-for-sale fixed maturities. Results after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASU 2016-13, while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. See additional discussion of the allowance for credit losses later in this note.

73

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	At December 31, 2020
	Amortized Cost		Allowance for Credit Losses		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair  Value(1)		% of Total Fixed Maturities(2)
Fixed maturities available for sale:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	380,602	$	—	$	87,272	$	(43)	$	467,831	2
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	1,880,607		—		251,291		(315)		2,131,583		10
Foreign governments	52,913		—		2,635		(898)		54,650		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	4,404,203		—		1,016,813		(24,221)		5,396,795		26
Utilities	1,975,460		—		608,595		(108)		2,583,947		12
Energy	1,623,970		(3,346)		346,197		(3,083)		1,963,738		9
Other corporate sectors	6,687,644		—		1,727,366		(6,218)		8,408,792		40
Total corporates	14,691,277		(3,346)		3,698,971		(33,630)		18,353,272		87
Collateralized debt obligations	57,007		—		23,460		(8,869)		71,598		—
Other asset-backed securities	134,739		—		3,614		(3,778)		134,575		1
Total fixed maturities	$	17,197,145	$	(3,346)	$	4,067,243	$	(47,533)	$	21,213,509	100

(1)Amount reported in the balance sheet.

(2)At fair value.

	At December 31, 2019
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair  Value(1)		% of Total Fixed Maturities(2)
Fixed maturities available for sale:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	396,079	$	41,737	$	(296)	$	437,520	2
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	1,559,736		158,546		(626)		1,717,656		9
Foreign governments	25,874		2,073		(396)		27,551		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	4,101,917		701,196		(22,307)		4,780,806		25
Utilities	1,937,738		416,114		(1,565)		2,352,287		13
Energy	1,678,969		269,640		(33,725)		1,914,884		10
Other corporate sectors	6,514,677		955,908		(16,765)		7,453,820		40
Total corporates	14,233,301		2,342,858		(74,362)		16,501,797		88
Collateralized debt obligations	56,990		24,298		(7,184)		74,104		—
Other asset-backed securities	143,796		5,094		(371)		148,519		1
Total fixed maturities	$	16,415,776	$	2,574,606	$	(83,235)	$	18,907,147	100

(1)Amount reported in the balance sheet.

(2)At fair value.

74

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

A schedule of fixed maturities available for sale by contractual maturity date at December 31, 2020 is shown below on an amortized cost basis, net of allowance for credit losses and on a fair value basis. Actual disposition dates could differ from contractual maturities due to call or prepayment provisions.

	At December 31, 2020
	Amortized Cost, net		Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Due in one year or less	$	70,732	$	72,395
Due after one year through five years	781,183		866,408
Due after five years through ten years	1,870,527		2,260,011
Due after ten years through twenty years	6,109,815		7,884,526
Due after twenty years	8,169,528		9,923,706
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities	192,014		206,463
	$	17,193,799	$	21,213,509

Analysis of investment operations: "Net investment income" for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Fixed maturities available for sale	$	873,352	$	864,280	$	843,510
Policy loans	44,801		43,434		41,359
Other long-term investments(1)	26,196		16,198		10,638
Short-term investments	545		2,592		2,642
	944,894		926,504		898,149
Less investment expense	(17,832)		(16,045)		(15,637)
Net investment income	$	927,062	$	910,459	$	882,512

(1)For the years ended 2020, 2019 and 2018, the investment funds, accounted for under the fair value option method, recorded $15.3 million, $5.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively in net investment income.

An analysis of "realized gains (losses)" is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Realized investment gains (losses):
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Sales and other(1)	$	(22,999)	$	19,354	$	5,715
Provision for credit losses	(3,346)		—		—
Investment funds—fair value option	1,045		1,256		2,650
Other investments	21,563		11		909
Realized gains (losses) from investments	(3,737)		20,621		9,274
Realized loss on redemption of debt(2)	(634)		—		(11,078)
	(4,371)		20,621		(1,804)
Applicable tax	1,955		(4,330)		379
Realized gains (losses), net of tax	$	(2,416)	$	16,291	$	(1,425)

(1)For the years ended 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded $219.8 million, $243.2 million and $193.4 million of exchanges of fixed maturities (noncash transactions) that resulted in $7.9 million, $20.5 million, and $10.1 million, respectively in realized gains (losses).

(2)Refer to Note 11—Debt for further discussion.

75

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

An analysis of the net change in unrealized investment gains (losses) is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Change in investment gains (losses) on:
Fixed maturities available for sale	$	1,528,339	$	1,946,910	$	(1,429,763)

Selected information about sales of fixed maturities available for sale is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Proceeds from sales(1)	$	52,681	$	79,108	$	32,021
Gross realized gains	2,642		1,227		66
Gross realized losses	(39,153)		(3,674)		(13,996)

(1)There were no unsettled sales in the periods ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Fair value measurements: The following tables represent the fair value of fixed maturities measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2020:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	—		$	467,831		$	—		$	467,831
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—			2,131,583			—			2,131,583
Foreign governments	—			54,650			—			54,650
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—			5,222,066			174,729			5,396,795
Utilities	—			2,400,602			183,345			2,583,947
Energy	—			1,925,549			38,189			1,963,738
Other corporate sectors	—			8,090,550			318,242			8,408,792
Total corporates	—			17,638,767			714,505			18,353,272
Collateralized debt obligations	—			—			71,598			71,598
Other asset-backed securities	—			121,705			12,870			134,575
Total fixed maturities	$	—		$	20,414,536		$	798,973		$	21,213,509
Percentage of total	—		%	96		%	4		%	100		%

76

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2019:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	—		$	437,520		$	—		$	437,520
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—			1,717,656			—			1,717,656
Foreign governments	—			27,551			—			27,551
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—			4,628,875			151,931			4,780,806
Utilities	—			2,195,539			156,748			2,352,287
Energy	—			1,873,482			41,402			1,914,884
Other corporate sectors	—			7,131,773			322,047			7,453,820
Total corporates	—			15,829,669			672,128			16,501,797
Collateralized debt obligations	—			—			74,104			74,104
Other asset-backed securities	—			135,342			13,177			148,519
Total fixed maturities	$	—		$	18,147,738		$	759,409		$	18,907,147
Percentage of total	—		%	96		%	4		%	100		%

77

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The following tables represent changes in fixed maturities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

	Analysis of Changes in Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Asset- backed Securities		Collateralized Debt Obligations		Corporates		Total
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	14,049	$	71,581	$	582,810	$	668,440
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		698		698
Included in other comprehensive income	(591)		3,170		(23,687)		(21,108)
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		27,453		27,453
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,737		16		4,753
Other(2)	(476)		(6,119)		(38,352)		(44,947)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		4,533		4,533
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2018	12,982		73,369		553,471		639,822
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		396		396
Included in other comprehensive income	708		1,514		30,378		32,600
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		—		—
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,596		13		4,609
Other(2)	(513)		(5,375)		(19,154)		(25,042)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		107,024		107,024
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2019	13,177		74,104		672,128		759,409
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		1,579		1,579
Included in other comprehensive income	(173)		(2,523)		17,082		14,386
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		67,820		67,820
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,551		12		4,563
Other(2)	(134)		(4,534)		(44,116)		(48,784)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	12,870	$	71,598	$	714,505	$	798,973
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for assets held at the end of the reporting period:
	Asset- backed Securities		Collateralized Debt Obligations		Corporates		Total
2018	$	(591)	$	3,170	$	(23,687)	$	(21,108)
2019	708		1,514		30,378		32,600
2020	(173)		(2,523)		17,082		14,386

(1)Acquisitions of Level 3 investments in each of the years 2018 through 2020 are comprised of private-placement fixed maturities.

(2)Includes capitalized interest, foreign exchange adjustments, and principal repayments. 

(3)Considered to be transferred at the end of the period. Transfers into Level 3 occur when observable inputs are no longer available, while transfers out of Level 3 occur when observable inputs become available.

78

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Transfers between levels within the hierarchy occur when there are changes in the observability of the inputs and market data. Transfers into Level 3 occur when there is little unobservable market activity for the asset/liability as of the measurement date and the Company is required to rely upon internally-developed assumptions or third-parties. Transfers out of Level 3 occur when quoted prices in active markets becomes available for identical assets/ liabilities or the ability to corroborate by observable market data.

The following table represents quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements:

	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
	As of December 31, 2020
	Fair Value		Valuation Techniques	Significant Unobservable Input	Range	Weighted- Average(1)
Private placement fixed maturities	612,906		Determination of credit spread	Credit rating	A+ to BB-	BBB
			Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	1.04% - 8.29%	2.29%
Other corporate bonds	101,599		Present Value Techniques	Market Quotes	100.05%	100.05%
Collateralized debt obligations	71,598		Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	6.35% - 7.10%	6.98%
Asset-backed securities	$	12,870	Determination of credit spread	Credit rating	BBB-	BBB-
			Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	5.41%	5.41%
	$	798,973

(1)Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.

The private placement fixed maturities and asset-backed securities reported as Level 3 are managed by third-party investment managers. These securities are valued based on the contractual cash flows discounted by a yield determined as a treasury benchmark adjusted for a credit spread. The credit spread is developed from observable indices for similar public fixed maturities and unobservable indices for private fixed maturities for corresponding credit ratings. However, the credit ratings for the securities are considered unobservable inputs, as they are assigned by the third-party investment manager based on a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the credit underwritten. A higher (lower) credit rating would result in a higher (lower) valuation.

The collateral underlying collateralized debt obligations for which fair values are reported as Level 3 consists primarily of trust preferred securities issued by banks and insurance companies. Collateralized debt obligations are valued at the present value of expected future cash flows using an unobservable discount rate. Expected cash flows are determined by scheduling the projected repayment of the collateral assuming no future defaults, deferrals, or recoveries. The discount rate is risk-adjusted to take these items into account. A significant increase (decrease) in the discount rate will produce a significant decrease (increase) in fair value. Additionally, a significant increase (decrease) in the cash flow expectations would result in a significant increase (decrease) in fair value. For more information regarding valuation procedures, please refer to Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies under the caption Fair Value Measurements, Investments in Securities.

Other corporate bonds consist of obligations issued out of a special purpose vehicle (SPV). The market quotes consisted of Level 3 quotes. An increase (decrease) in the market quotes will produce an increase (decrease) in fair value.

79

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Unrealized Loss Analysis: The following table discloses information about fixed maturities available for sale in an unrealized loss position.

	Less than Twelve Months	Twelve Months or Longer	Total
Number of issues (CUSIPs) held:
As of December 31, 2020	54	24	78
As of December 31, 2019	82	51	133

Globe Life's entire fixed maturity portfolio consisted of 1,900 issues by 777 different issuers at December 31, 2020 and 1,633 issues by 656 different issuers at December 31, 2019. The weighted-average quality rating of all unrealized loss positions at amortized cost was BBB- as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

80

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The following table discloses unrealized investment losses by class and major sector of fixed maturities available for sale for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded at December 31, 2020.

Analysis of Gross Unrealized Investment Losses

	At December 31, 2020
	Less than Twelve Months				Twelve Months or Longer				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Investment grade securities:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	2,006	$	(43)	$	—	$	—	$	2,006	$	(43)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	32,910		(315)		—		—		32,910		(315)
Foreign governments	19,532		(898)		—		—		19,532		(898)
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	117,762		(2,564)		6,333		(2,168)		124,095		(4,732)
Utilities	2,726		(108)		—		—		2,726		(108)
Energy	1,692		(8)		14,871		(106)		16,563		(114)
Other corporate sectors	21,882		(720)		—		—		21,882		(720)
Total corporates	144,062		(3,400)		21,204		(2,274)		165,266		(5,674)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		—		—		—		—
Other asset-backed securities	28,864		(1,051)		5		—		28,869		(1,051)
Total investment grade securities	227,374		(5,707)		21,209		(2,274)		248,583		(7,981)
Below investment grade securities:
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		—		—		—		—		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	6,822		(36)		115,093		(19,453)		121,915		(19,489)
Utilities	—		—		—		—		—		—
Energy	18,432		(757)		38,720		(2,212)		57,152		(2,969)
Other corporate sectors	25,711		(3,588)		19,516		(1,910)		45,227		(5,498)
Total corporates	50,965		(4,381)		173,329		(23,575)		224,294		(27,956)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		11,131		(8,869)		11,131		(8,869)
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		11,223		(2,727)		11,223		(2,727)
Total below investment grade securities	50,965		(4,381)		195,683		(35,171)		246,648		(39,552)
Total fixed maturities	$	278,339	$	(10,088)	$	216,892	$	(37,445)	$	495,231	$	(47,533)

Gross unrealized losses may fluctuate quarter over quarter due to adverse factors in the market that affect our holdings, such as changes in interest rates or credit spreads. As noted in Note 1, the Company considers many factors when determining whether a credit loss exists. While the Company holds securities that may be in an unrealized loss position from time to time, Globe Life does not intend to sell and it is likely that management will not be required to sell the fixed maturities prior to their anticipated recovery due to the strong cash flows generated by its insurance operations.

81

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The following table discloses unrealized investment losses by class and major sector of fixed maturities available for sale at December 31, 2019. Globe Life considered these investments to be only temporarily impaired.

Analysis of Gross Unrealized Investment Losses

	At December 31, 2019
	Less than Twelve Months				Twelve Months or Longer				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Investment grade securities:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	1,255	$	(2)	$	21,044	$	(294)	$	22,299	$	(296)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	66,774		(626)		—		—		66,774		(626)
Foreign governments	6,496		(396)		—		—		6,496		(396)
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	117,389		(1,733)		7,183		(1,317)		124,572		(3,050)
Utilities	8,400		(166)		—		—		8,400		(166)
Energy	52,312		(1,058)		1,833		(115)		54,145		(1,173)
Other corporate sectors	136,386		(1,584)		61,473		(3,260)		197,859		(4,844)
Total corporates	314,487		(4,541)		70,489		(4,692)		384,976		(9,233)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		—		—		—		—
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		—		—		—		—
Total investment grade securities	389,012		(5,565)		91,533		(4,986)		480,545		(10,551)
Below investment grade securities:
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		—		—		—		—		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—		—		113,481		(19,257)		113,481		(19,257)
Utilities	7,529		(135)		14,985		(1,264)		22,514		(1,399)
Energy	14,968		(146)		69,956		(32,406)		84,924		(32,552)
Other corporate sectors	—		—		67,655		(11,921)		67,655		(11,921)
Total corporates	22,497		(281)		266,077		(64,848)		288,574		(65,129)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		12,816		(7,184)		12,816		(7,184)
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		13,879		(371)		13,879		(371)
Total below investment grade securities	22,497		(281)		292,772		(72,403)		315,269		(72,684)
Total fixed maturities	$	411,509	$	(5,846)	$	384,305	$	(77,389)	$	795,814	$	(83,235)

Gross unrealized losses decreased from $83.2 million at December 31, 2019 to $47.5 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $35.7 million. The decrease in the gross unrealized losses from the prior year was primarily attributable to the decrease in market interest rates.

82

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Fixed Maturities, Allowance for Credit Losses: A summary of the activity in the allowance for credit losses is as follows. Refer to Note 1 for factors considered in the recording of the allowance for credit losses.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$	—	$	—
Additions to allowance for which credit losses were not previously recorded	36,065		—
Additions (reductions) to allowance for fixed maturities that previously had an allowance	—		—
Reduction of allowance for which the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell or sold during the period	(32,719)		—
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	$	3,346	$	—

Under previous applicable GAAP, the Company concluded that there were no other-than-temporary impairments for years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any fixed maturities in non-accrual status.

Concentrations of Credit Risk: Globe Life maintains a diversified investment portfolio with limited concentration in any given issuer. At December 31, 2020, the investment portfolio, at fair value, consisted of the following:

Investment grade fixed maturities:
Corporates	78	%
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	9
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	2
Other	1
Below investment grade fixed maturities:
Corporates	4
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	—
Other	—
	94
Other
Policy loans, which are secured by the underlying insurance policy values	3
Other investments	3
	100	%

As of December 31, 2020, state and municipal governments represented 9% of invested assets at fair value. Such investments are made throughout the U.S. At December 31, 2020, the state and municipal bond portfolio at fair value was invested in securities issued within the following states: Texas (18%), New York (10%), Michigan (8%), California (7%), Ohio (6%), and Florida (5%). Otherwise, there was no concentration within any given state greater than 5%.

83

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Corporate fixed maturities represent 82% of Globe Life's invested assets. These investments are spread across a wide range of industries. Below are the ten largest industry concentrations held in the portfolio of corporate fixed maturities at December 31, 2020, based on fair value:

Insurance	15	%
Electric utilities	10
Banks	7
Oil and natural gas pipelines	6
Chemicals	4
Transportation	4
Food	4
Oil and natural gas exploration and production	4
Real estate investment trusts	4
Telecommunications	3

At December 31, 2020, 4% of invested assets at fair value were represented by fixed maturities rated below investment grade. Par value of these investments was $931 million, amortized cost was $841 million, and fair value was $877 million. While these investments could be subject to additional credit risk, such risk should generally be reflected in their fair value.

Securities, cash, and short-term investments held on deposit with various state and federal regulatory authorities had an amortized cost and fair value, respectively, of $892 million and $1.1 billion at December 31, 2020 and $816 million and $956 million at December 31, 2019.

Other Long-Term Investments: Other long-term investments consist of the following assets:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Investment funds	$	385,038	$	185,851
Commercial mortgage loan participations	160,602		137,692
Other	1,341		2,804
Total	$	546,981	$	326,347

The following table presents additional information about the Company's investment funds as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 at fair value:

	As of December 31,
	Fair Value				Unfunded Commitments
Investment Category	2020		2019		2020		Redemption Term/Notice
Commercial mortgage loans	$	227,050	$	26,145	$	285,287	Portion non-redeemable and fully redeemable after 6 month period, subject to fund liquidity/discretion of General Partner. Expected life is 7 years for non-redeemable fund.
Opportunistic credit	157,461		159,399		—		Initial 2 year lock on each new investment/semi-annual withdrawals thereafter/full redemption within 36 month period.
Other	527		307		149,715		Not redeemable. Expected life is approximately 12 years.
Total investment funds	$	385,038	$	185,851	$	435,002

84

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Commercial mortgage loan participations: Summaries of commercial mortgage loans at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

	2020			2019
	Carrying Value		% of Total	Carrying Value		% of Total
Property type:
Mixed use	$	49,002	31	$	27,501	20
Office	36,153		22	42,350		31
Hospitality	22,605		14	22,324		16
Retail	19,319		12	17,318		12
Multi-family	19,128		12	10,587		8
Industrial	17,900		11	17,612		13
Total recorded investment	164,107		102	137,692		100
Less allowance for credit losses	(3,505)		(2)	—		—
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$	160,602	100	$	137,692	100

	2020			2019
	Carrying Value		% of Total	Carrying Value		% of Total
Geographic location:
California	$	61,610	38	$	35,412	26
Virginia	27,019		17	25,448		18
New York	16,602		10	21,117		15
Florida	12,420		8	11,910		9
Pennsylvania	11,314		7	4,211		3
Other	35,142		22	39,594		29
Total recorded investment	164,107		102	137,692		100
Less allowance for credit losses	(3,505)		(2)	—		—
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$	160,602	100	$	137,692	100

As noted in Note 1, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective method for commercial mortgage loans. On January 1, 2020, a cumulative effect adjustment was recorded to retained earnings of $335 thousand ($265 thousand, net of tax). As of December 31, 2020, the Company evaluated the commercial mortgage loan portfolio on a pool basis to determine the allowance for credit losses, except for individual loans where the practical expedient was elected. At the end of the period, the Company had 24 loans in the portfolio.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$	—	$	—
Cumulative effect of adoption ASU 2016-13	335		—
Provision (reversal) for credit losses	3,170		—
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	$	3,505	$	—

85

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The following table is reflective of Management's internal risk ratings of the loan portfolio. Loans are rated low, moderate, and high. The risk categories consider many different factors such as quality of asset, borrower status, as well as macroeconomic factors including COVID-19. These loans, originated in 2017 to 2020, are transitional or under construction and may not yet be income producing. Certain ratios such as loan to value and debt service coverage ratios may not be evaluated as the value of the underlying transitional property significantly fluctuates based on completion of the project.

	Net Book Value of Commercial Mortgage Loans Receivable by Year of Origination
	As of December 31, 2020
Risk Rating:	Number of Loans	2020		2019		2018		2017		Total
Low	17	$	20,176	$	14,757	$	33,132	$	61,460	$	129,525
Medium	4	—		10,640		7,796		—		18,436
High	3	—		4,554		11,592		—		16,146
Total commercial mortgage loans	24	20,176		29,951		52,520		61,460		164,107
Less allowance for credit losses on the investment pool										(2,503)
Less allowance for credit losses on individual loans										(1,002)
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance										$	160,602

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had one commercial mortgage loan in non-accrual status. As of December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any commercial mortgage loans in non-accrual status.

Note 5—Deferred Acquisition Costs

An analysis of "DAC" is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of year	$	4,341,941	$	4,137,925	$	3,958,063
Additions:
Deferred during period:
Commissions	600,577		534,735		497,459
Other expenses	222,408		218,926		202,092
Total deferred	822,985		753,661		699,551
Foreign exchange adjustment	4,755		4,299		—
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment losses(1)	1,533		—		5,549
Total additions	829,273		757,960		705,100
Deductions:
Amortized during period	(575,770)		(551,726)		(516,690)
Foreign exchange adjustment	—		—		(8,548)
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment gains(1)	—		(2,218)		—
Total deductions	(575,770)		(553,944)		(525,238)
Balance at end of year	$	4,595,444	$	4,341,941	$	4,137,925

(1)Represents amounts pertaining to investments relating to universal life-type products.

86

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies

Reinsurance: Insurance affiliates of Globe Life reinsure a portion of insurance risk that is in excess of their retention limits. Current retention limits for new business written on ordinary life insurance range up to $500 thousand per life. Life insurance ceded represented 0.3% of total life insurance in force at December 31, 2020. Insurance ceded on life and accident and health products represented 0.2% of premium income for 2020. The insurance affiliates of Globe Life would be liable for the reinsured risks ceded to other companies to the extent that such reinsuring companies are unable to meet their obligations.

Insurance affiliates also assume insurance risks of other external companies. Life reinsurance assumed represented 1.2% of life insurance in force at December 31, 2020 and reinsurance assumed on life and accident and health products represented 0.5% of premium income for 2020.

Leases: Globe Life primarily leases office space, aviation equipment, and other equipment under a variety of operating lease arrangements.

Rental expense for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Rental expense	$	4,674	$	3,831	$	3,959

Future minimum rental commitments required under operating leases having remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Operating lease commitments	$	5,307	$	4,395	$	3,321	$	2,873	$	1,896	$	10,823

Purchase Commitments: Globe Life has various long-term noncancelable purchase commitments as well as commitments to provide capital for low-income housing tax credit interests. See further discussion related to tax credits in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Purchase commitments	$	66,439	$	73,451	$	24,823	$	10,347	$	9,797	$	228,542

Investments: Globe Life is committed to invest under certain contracts related to investments in limited partnerships. See Note—4 Investments for unfunded commitment table.

Guarantees: At December 31, 2020, Globe Life had in place three guarantee agreements, of which were either Parent Company guarantees of subsidiary obligations to a third party, or Parent Company guarantees of obligations between wholly-owned subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life had no liability with respect to these guarantees.

Letters of Credit: Globe Life has guaranteed letters of credit in connection with its credit facility with a group of banks as disclosed in Note 11—Debt. The letters of credit were issued by TMK Re, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to secure TMK Re, Ltd.’s obligation for claims on certain policies reinsured by TMK Re, Ltd. that were sold by other Globe Life insurance companies. These letters of credit facilitate TMK Re, Ltd.’s ability to reinsure the business of Globe Life's insurance carriers. The agreement expires in 2023. The maximum amount of letters of credit available is $250 million. The Parent Company would be liable to the extent that TMK Re, Ltd. does not pay the reinsured party. On November 25, 2020, the letters of credit were amended

87

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

to reduce the current amount outstanding to $135 million from $150 million outstanding. As of December 31, 2020, the letters of credit outstanding were $135 million.

Equipment leases: Globe Life has guaranteed performance of certain of its subsidiaries as lessees under two aviation leasing arrangements. At December 31, 2020, total remaining undiscounted payments under the leases were approximately $5 million. The Parent Company would be responsible for any subsidiary obligation in the event the subsidiary did not make payments or otherwise perform under the terms of the lease.

Unclaimed Property Audits: Globe Life subsidiaries are currently the subject of audits regarding the identification, reporting and escheatment of unclaimed property arising from life insurance policies and a limited number of annuity contracts. These audits are being conducted by private entities that have contracted with forty-seven states through their respective Departments of Revenue, and have not resulted in any financial assessment from any state nor indicated any liability. The audits are wide-ranging and seek large amounts of data regarding claims handling, procedures, and payments of contract benefits arising from unreported death claims. No estimate of range can be made at this time for loss contingencies related to possible administrative penalties or amounts that could be payable to the states for the escheatment of abandoned property.

Litigation: Globe Life Inc. (formerly Torchmark Corporation) and its subsidiaries, in common with the insurance industry in general, are subject to litigation, including putative class action litigation, alleged breaches of contract, torts, including bad faith and fraud claims based on alleged wrongful or fraudulent acts of agents of the Parent Company's insurance subsidiaries, employment discrimination, and miscellaneous other causes of action. Based upon information presently available, and in light of legal and other factual defenses available to the Parent Company and its subsidiaries, management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that such litigation will have a material adverse effect on Globe Life's financial condition, future operating results or liquidity; however, assessing the eventual outcome of litigation necessarily involves forward-looking speculation as to judgments to be made by judges, juries and appellate courts in the future. This bespeaks caution, particularly in states with reputations for high punitive damage verdicts. Globe Life's management recognizes that large punitive damage awards bearing little or no relation to actual damages continue to be awarded by juries in jurisdictions in which the Company has substantial business, creating the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments in any given punitive damage suit.

On September 12, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income in California’s Contra Costa County Superior Court (Joh v. American Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. C18-01863) (Joh Action). An amended complaint was filed on October 18, 2018. American Income removed the case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 3:18-cv-06364-TSH). A second amended complaint was filed on May 20, 2019. The plaintiffs, former insurance sales agents of American Income, sued on behalf of all current and former trainees and sales agents who sold insurance for American Income in the State of California for the four years prior to the filing of the complaint. The second amended complaint alleged that such individuals were employees and asserted claims under the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code, and California Private Attorney General Act. The complaint sought compensatory damages, penalties and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay wages/commissions, failure to appropriately pay agents at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to reimburse expenses, misclassification and unfair business practices.

On October 18, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against Torchmark Corporation and American Income in California’s Los Angeles County Superior Court (Golz v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 18STCV01354) (Golz Action). American Income removed the case to the United States District Court for the Central District of California (Case No. 2:18-cv-09879 R (SSx)). An amended complaint was filed on February 5, 2019. On February 6, 2019, Torchmark Corporation was dismissed without prejudice and the case proceeded with respect to American Income. On April 2, 2019, the District Court granted American Income’s motion to dismiss four of the five causes of action asserted. The amended complaint’s remaining claim alleges that plaintiff, as an American Income insurance agent trainee in California, was an employee who should have been compensated accordingly. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of individuals in California who trained to contract as American Income agents and who subsequently worked as contracted agents. The class period is alleged to begin four years

88

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

prior to the complaint’s filing. The complaint seeks restitution under the California Business and Professions Code for alleged unfair business practices such as failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, and failure to reimburse business expenses. The lawsuit is currently stayed.

On December 14, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income in United States District Court for the Northern District of California (Hamilton v. American Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. 4:18-cv-7535-KAW) (Hamilton Action). An amended complaint was filed on January 23, 2019. The plaintiffs, former insurance sales agents of American Income, sued on behalf of all current and former trainees and sales agents who sold insurance for American Income in the State of California for the last four years prior to the filing of the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that putative class members were employees and asserted claims under the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code, and California Private Attorney General Act. The complaint seeks compensatory damages, penalties and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, failure to appropriately pay agents at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to reimburse expenses, misclassification and unfair business practices.

With respect to the related cases above, on August 6, 2020, the plaintiffs in the Joh and Hamilton Actions jointly moved for preliminary approval of a settlement of all class and representative claims, which broadly covers “all individuals who trained to become and/or worked as sales agents in California for Defendant during the last four years prior to the filing of the original Complaint in Joh and whose training and/or work began before August 16, 2019.” Plaintiffs’ preliminary motion anticipated that the proposed settlement would resolve all claims in the Joh and Hamilton Actions, and in doing so, encompass pending claims asserted in the Golz Action for the settlement period. On August 21, 2020, the Northern District of California granted the Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement and scheduled a hearing for final approval of the settlement. On January 7, 2021, plaintiff’s motion for final settlement approval was granted and a final judgment was entered on the same day.

On December 19, 2019, putative collective action litigation was filed against American Income in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas (Patterson v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al, Case No. 4:19-cv-918 KGB). The plaintiff, a former insurance sales agent of American Income, is pursuing a national collective action on behalf of all “similarly situated” individuals for the three years prior to the filing of the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that insurance agent trainees should have been classified as employees and asserts claims for minimum wage, overtime, liquidated damages and attorney’s fees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiff also asserts an individual claim under the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act. American Income filed a motion to compel arbitration of plaintiff’s individual claims. On October 30, 2020, the district court granted the motion and stayed the case pending the outcome of arbitration on plaintiff’s individual claims.

On February 27, 2020, putative collective action litigation was filed against American Income in United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Berry, et al v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al, Case No. 2:20-cv-00110-LPL). The plaintiffs, former insurance sales agents of American Income, are pursuing relief on behalf of “all individuals who trained to become and/or worked as sales agents/insurance producers for American Income Life Insurance” in the three years prior to the filing of the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that agent trainees and insurance agents should have been classified as employees. It asserts a national collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act seeking compensation for minimum wage, overtime, expense reimbursement, missed meal and rest breaks, recoupment of certain commissions and improper recordkeeping. In addition, the lawsuit asserts a class action under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act and Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law seeking similar relief. Plaintiffs also seek liquidated damages and attorney’s fees, and assert an unjust enrichment claim. On September 20, 2020, American Income’s motion to compel arbitration of the plaintiffs’ individual claims was granted. The litigation is stayed pending outcome of the individual arbitrations.

On August 5, 2020, putative class and collective action litigation was filed against American Income and National Income Life Insurance Company (“National Income”) in United States District Court for the Central District of California (Natalie Bell, Gisele Mobley, Ashly Rai, and John Turner v. American Income Life Insurance Company and National Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. 2:20-cv-07046). On December 18, 2020, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed Mr. Turner’s claims and all claims against defendant National Income. Following the dismissal, the complaint alleges that insurance agent trainees should have been classified as employees, and after contracting should have been classified as employees instead of independent contractors. Plaintiffs Bell and Rai are former

89

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

California agents who also assert claims under California law on behalf of a putative California class, for the four years prior to February 13, 2020 through case conclusion. They make claims under (a) the California Labor Code for alleged meal and rest break violations, overtime, minimum wage, alleged failure to pay wages at the time of termination, expense reimbursement, and alleged failure to provide accurate wage statements; and (b) the California Business and Professions Code for alleged unfair business practices. They also seek liquidated damages, penalties and attorney’s fees under California law. Plaintiff Mobley is a former Florida agent who asserts a claim under Florida law on behalf of a putative Florida class for the five years prior to February 13, 2020 through case conclusion. She makes a claim under the Florida General Labor Regulations, including the Florida Minimum Wage Act, for alleged failure to pay all wages owed. The plaintiffs also assert a national collective action on behalf of all “similarly situated” individuals for minimum wage, overtime, liquidated damages, penalties, an accounting and attorney’s fees and costs under the Fair Labor Standards Act for the three years prior to February 13, 2020 through case conclusion. American Income has responded to the complaint with a motion to compel the named plaintiffs to arbitrate their individual claims and other procedural challenges. Those motions are currently scheduled to be heard in March, 2021.

With respect to the aforementioned litigation, at this time, management believes that the possibility of a material judgment adverse to the Company is remote.

90

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 7—Liability for Unpaid Claims

Activity in the liability for unpaid health claims is summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	163,808	$	154,528	$	146,865
Incurred related to:
Current year	584,936		612,305		555,647
Prior years	(14,829)		(1,188)		(3,017)
Total incurred	570,107		611,117		552,630
Paid related to:
Current year	442,127		470,426		424,633
Prior years	129,527		131,411		120,334
Total paid	571,654		601,837		544,967
Balance at end of period	$	162,261	$	163,808	$	154,528

At the end of each period, the liability for unpaid health claims includes an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported to the Company. Such estimates are updated regularly based upon the Company’s most recent claims data with recognition of emerging experience trends. Due to the nature of the Company’s health business, the payment lags are relatively short and most claims are fully paid within a year from the time incurred. Fluctuations in claims experience can lead to either over or under estimation of the liability for any given year. The difference between the estimate made at the end of the prior period and the actual experience during the period is reflected above under the caption “Incurred related to: Prior years.”

Below is the reconciliation of the liability of "Policy claims and other benefits payable" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Policy claims and other benefits payable:
Life insurance	$	237,246	$	201,594
Health insurance	162,261		163,808
Total	$	399,507	$	365,402

91

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 8—Income Taxes

The following table discloses significant components of income taxes for each year presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations:
Current income tax expense (benefit)	$	129,647	$	134,948	$	134,626
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	35,264		35,449		27,535
	164,911		170,397		162,161
Shareholders’ equity:
Other comprehensive income (loss)	314,845		405,472		(293,678)
	$	479,756	$	575,869	$	(131,517)

In each of the years 2018 through 2020, deferred income tax expense (benefit) was incurred because of certain differences between net income before income tax expense (benefit) as reported on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and taxable income as reported on Globe Life's income tax returns. As explained in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies, these differences caused the consolidated financial statement book values of some assets and liabilities to be different from their respective tax bases.

The effective income tax rate differed from the expected U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% as shown below:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		%	2019		%	2018		%
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit)	$	188,304	21.0	$	195,569	21.0	$	181,371	21.0
Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
Tax reform adjustment	—		—	—		—	(798)		(0.1)
Low income housing investments	(11,913)		(1.3)	(11,605)		(1.2)	(12,240)		(1.4)
Share-based awards	(5,013)		(0.6)	(11,780)		(1.3)	(6,450)		(0.7)
Tax-exempt investment income	(5,830)		(0.6)	(3,192)		(0.3)	(1,230)		(0.1)
Other	(637)		(0.1)	1,405		0.1	1,508		0.1
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	164,911	18.4	$	170,397	18.3	$	162,161	18.8

92

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below:

	December 31,
	2020		2019
Deferred tax assets:
Fixed maturity investments	$	4,279	$	6,161
Carryover of tax losses	5,534		7,827
Total gross deferred tax assets	9,813		13,988
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unrealized gains	808,071		493,174
Employee and agent compensation	88,012		81,174
Deferred acquisition costs	688,034		658,457
Future policy benefits, unearned and advance premiums, and policy claims	257,640		242,124
Other liabilities	7,209		26,271
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	1,848,966		1,501,200
Net deferred tax liability	$	1,839,153	$	1,487,212

Income Tax Return: Globe Life Inc. and its subsidiaries file a life-nonlife consolidated federal income tax return for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Prior to 2018, Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America (Family Heritage Life) filed its federal income tax return on a separate company basis. The statutes of limitations for the Internal Revenue Service's examination and assessment of additional tax are closed for all tax years prior to 2017 with respect to Globe Life's consolidated as well as Family Heritage Life's federal income tax returns. Management concludes that adequate provision has been made in the consolidated financial statements for any potential assessments that may result from current or future tax examinations and other tax-related matters for all open years.

Valuations: Globe Life has a $26.4 million net operating loss (NOL) carryforward at December 31, 2020, of which $22.4 million was created prior to 2018 and will begin to expire in 2036 if not otherwise used to offset future taxable income. The remaining NOL carryforward of $4.0 million may be carried forward indefinitely. A valuation allowance is to be recorded when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized by the Company. No valuation allowance has been recorded relating to Globe Life's deferred tax assets as management has determined that Globe Life will more likely than not have sufficient taxable income in future periods to fully realize its existing deferred tax assets.

Globe Life's tax liability is adjusted to include a provision for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. However, during the years 2018 through 2020, Globe Life did not have any uncertain tax positions which resulted in unrecognized tax benefits.

Tax penalties and interest: Globe Life's continuing practice is to recognize penalties and interest related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company recognized interest income of $0 thousand, $55 thousand, and $0 thousand, net of federal income tax expense, in its Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The Company had no accrued interest or penalties at December 31, 2020 or 2019.

93

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 9—Postretirement Benefits

Globe Life has qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plans (Pension Plans) and contributory savings plans that cover substantially all employees. There is also a nonqualified noncontributory supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) that covers a limited number of officers. The tables included herein will focus on the defined benefit plans and SERP.

The total cost of these retirement plans charged to operations was as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Plan Type:
Defined Contribution Plans(1)	$	4,855	$	4,817	$	4,068
Defined Benefit Pension Plans(2)	33,826		24,134		32,593

(1)401K plans.

(2)Qualified pension plans and SERP.

Globe Life accrues expense for the defined contribution plans based on a percentage of the employees’ contributions. The plans are funded by the employee contributions and a Globe Life contribution equal to the amount of accrued expense. Plan contributions are both mandatory and discretionary, depending on the terms of the plan.

Pension Plans: Cost for the defined benefit pension plans has been calculated on the projected unit credit actuarial cost method. All plan measurements for the defined benefit plans are as of December 31 of the respective year. The defined benefit pension plans covering the majority of employees are qualified and funded. Contributions are made to funded pension plans subject to minimums required by regulation and maximums allowed for tax purposes.

Globe Life's SERP provides an additional supplemental defined pension benefit to a limited number of officers. The supplemental benefit is based on the participant’s qualified plan benefit without consideration to the regulatory limits on compensation and benefit payments applicable to qualified plans, except that eligible compensation is capped at $1 million. The SERP is nonqualified and unfunded. However, a Rabbi Trust has been established to support the liability for this plan. The Rabbi Trust consists of life insurance policies on the lives of plan participants with an unaffiliated insurance carrier as well as an investment account. Since this plan is nonqualified, the investments and the policyholder value of the insurance policies in the Rabbi Trust are not included as defined benefit plan assets, but rather assets of the Company. They are included in “Other Assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Defined benefit and SERP plan contributions were $21.9 million in 2020, $21.6 million in 2019, and $52.8 million in 2018. In 2021, the Company expects to make a similar contribution to the plans as in 2020.

94

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Pension Assets: Plan assets in the funded plans consist primarily of investments in marketable fixed maturities and equity securities that are valued at fair value. Globe Life measures the fair value of its financial assets, including the assets in its benefit plans, in accordance with accounting guidance which establishes a hierarchy for asset values and provides a methodology for the measurement of value. Please refer to Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies under the caption Fair Value Measurements, Investments in Securities for a complete discussion of valuation procedures. The following table presents the assets of the Company's defined benefit pension plans at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Pension Assets by Component at December 31, 2020

	Fair Value Determined by:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Amount		% to Total
Corporate bonds:
Financial	$	—	$	52,252	$	—	$	52,252	10
Utilities	—		45,888		—		45,888		9
Energy	—		22,480		—		22,480		4
Other corporates	—		88,983		—		88,983		17
Total corporate bonds	—		209,603		—		209,603		40
Exchange traded fund(1)	245,170		—		—		245,170		46
Other bonds	—		258		—		258		—
Guaranteed annuity contract(2)	—		30,119		—		30,119		6
Short-term investments	20,960		—		—		20,960		4
Other	7,109		—		—		7,109		1
	$	273,239	$	239,980	$	—	513,219		97
Other long-term investments(3)							16,313		3
Total pension assets							$	529,532	100

(1)A fund including marketable securities that mirror the S&P 500 index.

(2)Representing a guaranteed annuity contract issued by Globe Life Inc.'s subsidiary, American Income Life Insurance Company, to fund the obligations of the American Income Life Insurance Company Non-Exempt Employees Defined Benefit Pension Plan ("American Income Pension Plan").

(3)Included in other long-term investments is an investment fund that reports the Pension Plan's pro-rata share of the limited partnership's net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. The Pension Plan owns less than 1% of the investment fund. As of December 31, 2020, the expected term of the investment fund is approximately 4 years and the commitment of the investment is fully funded. The investment is non-redeemable.

95

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Pension Assets by Component at December 31, 2019

	Fair Value Determined by:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Amount		% to Total
Corporate bonds:
Financial	$	—	$	51,111	$	—	$	51,111	11
Utilities	—		42,758		—		42,758		9
Energy	—		21,907		—		21,907		5
Other corporates	—		89,725		—		89,725		19
Total corporate bonds	—		205,501		—		205,501		44
Exchange traded fund(1)	207,176		—		—		207,176		44
Other bonds	—		251		—		251		—
Guaranteed annuity contract(2)	—		28,278		—		28,278		6
Short-term investments	8,414		—		—		8,414		2
Other	6,876		—		—		6,876		1
	$	222,466	$	234,030	$	—	456,496		97
Other long-term investments(3)							12,267		3
Total pension assets							$	468,763	100

(1)A fund including marketable securities that mirror the S&P 500 index.

(2)Representing a guaranteed annuity contract issued by Globe Life Inc.'s subsidiary, American Income Life Insurance Company, to fund the obligations of the American Income Pension Plan.

(3)Included in other long-term investments is an investment fund that reports the Pension Plan's pro-rata share of the limited partnership's net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. The Pension Plan owns approximately 1% of the investment fund. As of December 31, 2019, the expected term of the investment fund is approximately 5 years and the unfunded commitment of the investment fund is $4.1 million. The investment is non-redeemable.

Globe Life's investment objectives for its plan assets include preservation of capital and purchasing power as well as long-term growth. Globe Life seeks to preserve capital through investments made in high quality securities with adequate diversification by issuer and industry sector to minimize risk. The portfolio is monitored continuously for changes in quality and diversification mix. The preservation of purchasing power is intended to be accomplished through asset growth, exclusive of contributions and withdrawals in excess of the rate of inflation. Globe Life intends to maintain investments that when combined with future plan contributions will produce adequate long-term growth to provide for all plan obligations. It is also Globe Life's objective that the portfolio’s investment return will meet or exceed the return of a balanced market index.

The majority of the securities in the portfolio are highly marketable so that there will be adequate liquidity to meet projected payments. There are no specific policies calling for asset durations to match those of benefit obligations.

Allowed investments are limited to equities, fixed maturities, and short-term investments (invested cash). The assets are to be invested in a mix of equity and fixed income investments that best serve the objectives of the pension plan. Factors to be considered in determining the asset mix include funded status, annual pension expense, annual pension contributions, and balance sheet liability. Equities can include common and preferred stocks, securities convertible into equities, mutual funds and exchange traded funds that invest in equities, equity interests in limited partnerships, and other equity-related investments. Primarily, equities are listed on major exchanges and adequate market liquidity is required. Fixed maturities primarily consist of marketable debt securities rated investment grade at purchase by a major rating agency. Short-term investments include fixed maturities with maturities less than one year and invested cash. Investments outside of the aforementioned list are not permitted, except by prior approval of the Plan’s Trustees.

96

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The investment portfolio is well diversified to avoid undue exposure to a single sector, industry, business, or security. The equity and fixed maturity portfolios are not permitted to invest in any single issuer that would exceed 10% of total plan assets at the time of purchase. The Company does not employ any other special risk management techniques, such as derivatives, in managing the pension investment portfolio.

Globe Life's equity securities include an exchange traded fund that mirrors the S&P 500 index which better aligns with a passive approach rather than an actively managed portfolio. At December 31, 2020, there were no restricted investments contained in the portfolio. Plan contributions have been invested primarily in fixed maturity and equity securities during the three years ended December 31, 2020.

SERP: The following tables include premiums paid for the company owned life insurance (COLI) for the three years ended December 31, 2020 and investments of the Rabbi Trust for the two years ended December 31, 2020.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Premiums paid for insurance coverage	$	2,480	$	2,394	$	2,997
	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Total investments:
COLI	$	51,361	$	47,733
Exchange traded funds	75,390		65,585
	$	126,751	$	113,318

Pension Liability: The following table presents projected benefit obligation (PBO) and accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for the defined benefit pension plans and SERP at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Pension Liability

	December 31,
	2020				2019
	PBO		ABO		PBO		ABO
Funded benefit pension plans	$	667,753	$	594,510	$	578,860	$	520,264
SERP	95,560		89,069		86,347		81,046
Benefit Obligation	$	763,313	$	683,579	$	665,207	$	601,310

The funded benefit pension plans have projected benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets were as follows:

	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Funded benefit pension plans PBO	$	667,753	$	578,860
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532		468,763

97

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The funded benefit pension plans have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets were as follows:

	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Funded benefit pension plans ABO	$	594,510	$	520,264
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532		468,763

The following table discloses the assumptions used to determine Globe Life's pension liabilities and costs for the appropriate periods. The discount and compensation increase rates are used to determine current year projected benefit obligations and subsequent year pension expense. The long-term rate of return is used to determine current year expense. Differences between assumptions and actual experience are included in actuarial gain or loss.

Weighted Average Pension Plan Assumptions

For Benefit Obligations at December 31:	2020		2019
Discount rate	2.92	%	3.49	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.97		4.00
For Periodic Benefit Cost for the Year:	2020		2019		2018
Discount rate	3.49	%	4.37	%	3.75	%
Expected long-term returns	6.67		6.72		6.72
Rate of compensation increase	3.97		4.00		4.37

The discount rate is determined based on the expected duration of plan liabilities. A yield is then derived based on the current market yield of a hypothetical portfolio of high quality corporate bonds that match the liability duration. The rate of compensation increase is projected based on Company experience, modified as appropriate for future expectations. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is management’s best estimate of the average rate of earnings expected to be received on the assets invested in the plan over the benefit period. In determining this assumption, consideration is given to the historical rate of return earned on the assets, the projected returns over future periods, and the discount rate used to compute benefit obligations.

Net periodic benefit cost for the defined benefit plans by expense component was as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Service cost—benefits earned during the period	$	24,461	$	19,929	$	21,092
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	22,825		23,827		22,303
Expected return on assets	(29,561)		(27,862)		(25,547)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	632		8,211		15,003
Recognition of actuarial gain (loss)	15,469		29		(258)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	33,826	$	24,134	$	32,593

98

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

An analysis of the impact on other comprehensive income (loss) concerning pensions and other postretirement benefits is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at January 1	$	(182,233)	$	(150,071)	$	(193,380)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost (credit)	632		631		535
Net actuarial (gain) loss(1)	16,000		7,843		14,560
Total amortization	16,632		8,474		15,095
Plan amendments	—		—		(2,377)
Experience gain (loss)	(43,169)		(40,636)		30,591
Balance at December 31	$	(208,770)	$	(182,233)	$	(150,071)

(1)Includes amortization of postretirement benefits other than pensions of $302 thousand in 2020, $265 thousand in 2019, and $92 thousand in 2018. 

The following table presents a reconciliation from the beginning to the end of the year of the PBO and plan assets for the defined benefit plans and SERP. This table also presents the amounts previously recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Pension Benefits

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Changes in PBO:
PBO at beginning of year	$	665,207	$	556,199
Service cost	24,461		19,929
Interest cost	22,825		23,827
Actuarial loss (gain)	74,006		88,053
Benefits paid	(23,186)		(22,801)
PBO at end of year	763,313		665,207
Changes in plan assets:
Fair value at beginning of year	468,763		392,672
Return on assets	62,104		77,290
Contributions	21,851		21,602
Benefits paid	(23,186)		(22,801)
Fair value at end of year	529,532		468,763
Funded status at year end	$	(233,781)	$	(196,444)

Changes in the PBO related to actuarial losses (gains) are primarily attributed to changes in the discount rate.

	Year Ended December 31,
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:	2020		2019
Net loss (gain)	$	200,465	$	174,470
Prior service cost	4,713		5,345
Net amounts recognized at year end	$	205,178	$	179,815

99

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Globe Life has estimated its expected pension benefits to be paid over the next ten years as of December 31, 2020. These estimates use the same assumptions that measure the benefit obligation at December 31, 2020, taking estimated future employee service into account. Those estimated benefits are as follows:

For the year(s):
2021	$	24,477
2022	26,494
2023	28,783
2024	30,960
2025	32,067
2026-2030	187,386

Note 10—Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

The following table summarizes Globe Life's noncash transactions, which are not reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Commitments for low-income housing interests	161,503		51,978		50,883
Exchanges of fixed maturity investments	219,807		243,156		193,449
Net unsettled security trades	1,669		8,421		39,851

The following table summarizes certain amounts paid during the period:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Interest paid	$	83,518	$	81,723	$	83,518
Income taxes paid	76,701		101,982		91,510

100

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 11—Debt

The following table presents information about the terms and outstanding balances of Globe Life's debt.

Selected Information about Debt Issues

				As of December 31,
				2020								2019
Instrument	Issue Date	Maturity Date	Coupon Rate	Par Value		Unamortized Discount & Issuance Costs		Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value
Senior notes	5/27/1993	5/15/2023	7.875%	$	165,612	$	(658)	$	164,954	$	192,020	$	164,713
Senior notes(1)	9/24/2012	9/15/2022	3.800%	150,000		(586)		149,414		158,081		149,089
Senior notes	9/27/2018	9/15/2028	4.550%	550,000		(5,672)		544,328		659,599		543,735
Senior notes	8/21/2020	8/15/2030	2.150%	400,000		(4,843)		395,157		405,384		—
Junior subordinated debentures	5/17/2016	6/15/2056	6.125%	300,000		(9,348)		290,652		325,800		290,584
Junior subordinated debentures	11/17/2017	11/17/2057	5.275%	125,000		(1,619)		123,381		130,870		123,367
Term loan				—		—		—		—		86,875
				1,690,612		(22,726)		1,667,886		1,871,754		1,358,363
Less current maturity of term loan				—		—		—		—		9,375
Total long-term debt				1,690,612		(22,726)		1,667,886		1,871,754		1,348,988
Current maturity of term loan				—		—		—		—		9,375
Commercial paper				255,000		(82)		254,918		254,918		289,363
Total short-term debt				255,000		(82)		254,918		254,918		298,738
Total debt				$	1,945,612	$	(22,808)	$	1,922,804	$	2,126,672	$	1,647,726

(1)An additional $150 million par value and book value is held by insurance subsidiaries that eliminates in consolidation.

The commercial paper has the highest priority of all the debt, followed by senior notes then junior subordinated debentures. The Senior Notes due 2023 are noncallable, the remaining senior notes are callable under a make-whole provision, and the junior subordinated debentures are callable upon special events. Interest on the 6.125% Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable quarterly, all other long-term debt is payable semi-annually.

Contractual Debt Obligations: The following table presents expected scheduled principal payments under our contractual debt obligations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Debt obligations	$	255,000	$	150,000	$	165,612	$	—	$	—	$	1,375,000

Credit Facility: On August 24, 2020, Globe Life entered into a new credit agreement, replacing the prior agreement that was due on May 17, 2021, which provides for a $750 million revolving credit facility that may be increased to $1 billion. The new credit facility matures August 24, 2023 and may be extended up to two one-year periods upon the Company's request. Pursuant to this agreement, the participating lenders have agreed to make revolving loans to Globe Life and to issue secured or unsecured letters of credit. The Company has not drawn on any of the credit to date.

The facility is further designated as a back-up credit line for a commercial paper program under which the Company may either borrow from the credit line or issue commercial paper at any time, with total commercial paper outstanding not to exceed the facility maximum of $750 million, less any letters of credit issued. Interest is charged

101

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

at variable rates. In accordance with the agreement, Globe Life is subject to certain covenants regarding capitalization. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in full compliance with these covenants.

Commercial paper outstanding and any amortization payments of the term loan due within one year are reported as short-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. A table presenting selected information concerning Globe Life's commercial paper borrowings is presented below.

Credit Facility - Commercial Paper

	At December 31,
	2020			2019
Balance at end of period (at par value)	$	255,000		$	290,000
Annualized interest rate	0.27		%	2.04		%
Letters of credit outstanding	$	135,000		$	150,000
Remaining amount available under credit line	360,000			310,000

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Average balance outstanding during period	$	318,409		$	288,684		$	368,228
Daily-weighted average interest rate (annualized)	1.50		%	2.62		%	2.40		%
Maximum daily amount outstanding during period	$	482,000		$	385,000		$	525,990

Short-term debt: On July 31, 2020, the Company paid down the remaining principal of $82.5 million on the 5-year $100 million term loan (Term Loan I) with a maturity date of May 17, 2021. This term loan was associated with the prior credit facility that was replaced in August 2020.

On April 9, 2020, Globe Life entered into a 364-Day Term Loan Agreement (Term Loan II). The Agreement provided the Company with access up to $300 million in unsecured term loans, all maturing on April 8, 2021. Globe Life borrowed the full amount on April 15, 2020 to utilize for general corporate purposes, including additional liquidity at the Parent Company. The net proceeds from the Term Loan II were $299.1 million. On August 17, 2020, the Company repaid $150 million of the Term Loan II with the remaining balance of $150 million repaid on August 26, 2020. The Company recorded a $634 thousand loss on redemption of debt from the write-off of unamortized issuance costs.

Long-term debt: On August 21, 2020, Globe Life completed the issuance and sale of $350 million in aggregate principal amount of Globe Life's 2.15% unsecured Senior Notes due August 15, 2030. The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes were $345.8 million.

On September 3, 2020, Globe Life completed the issuance and sale of $50 million in aggregate principal of Globe Life's 2.15% unsecured Senior Notes also due August 15, 2030. These Senior Notes were issued as additional notes under a Second Supplemental Indenture governing the 2.15% Senior Notes issued on August 21, 2020. The Senior Notes are fully fungible and have the same terms as the first issuance. The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes were $49.3 million, after giving effect to the underwriting expenses.

Globe Life utilized the total net proceeds of $395 million to extinguish the Term Loan II and for general corporate purposes, which included additional capital investments in its insurance subsidiaries and additional holding company liquidity.

102

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 12—Shareholders' Equity

Share Data: A summary of common share activity is presented in the following chart.

	Common Stock
	Issued	Treasury Stock
2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	124,218,183	(9,625,104)
Grants of restricted stock	—	10,805
Forfeitures of restricted stock	—	(7,500)
Vesting of performance shares	—	149,898
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	897,622
Treasury stock acquired	—	(4,950,868)
Retirement of treasury stock	(3,000,000)	3,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2018	121,218,183	(10,525,147)
2019:
Grants of restricted stock	—	8,840
Vesting of performance shares	—	311,399
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	1,810,559
Treasury stock acquired	—	(5,103,591)
Retirement of treasury stock	(4,000,000)	4,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2019	117,218,183	(9,497,940)
2020:
Grants of restricted stock	—	4,548
Vesting of performance shares	—	271,843
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	936,289
Treasury stock acquired	—	(5,135,439)
Retirement of treasury stock	(4,000,000)	4,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2020	113,218,183	(9,420,699)

There was no activity related to the preferred stock in years 2018 through 2020.

Acquisition of Common Shares: Globe Life shares are acquired from time to time through open market purchases under the Globe Life stock repurchase program when it is determined to be the best use of Globe Life's excess cash flows. This yields a return that is better than available alternatives and exceeds our cost of equity. When stock options are exercised, proceeds from the exercises are generally used to repurchase approximately the number of shares available with those funds in order to reduce dilution. See the following summary below:

	Globe Life Share Repurchase Program					Share Repurchase for Dilution Purposes
	Shares Acquired (in thousands)	Total Cost		Average Price		Shares Acquired (in thousands)	Total Cost		Average Price
2020	4,459	$	380,112	$	85.24	676	$	63,754	$	94.28
2019	3,932	350,080		89.04		1,209	109,489		90.52
2018	4,406	371,794		84.38		571	49,955		87.54

103

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Restrictions: Restrictions exist on the flow of funds to Globe Life Inc. from its insurance subsidiaries. Statutory regulations require life insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain minimum amounts of capital and surplus. Dividends from insurance subsidiaries of Globe Life Inc. are restricted based on regulations by their states of domicile. Additionally, insurance company distributions are generally not permitted in excess of statutory surplus. Subsidiaries are also subject to certain minimum capital requirements. Subsidiaries of Globe Life paid cash dividends to the Parent Company in the amount of $486 million in 2020, $480 million in 2019, and $448 million in 2018. As of December 31, 2020, dividends from insurance subsidiaries to the Parent Company available to be paid in 2021 are limited to the amount of $435 million without regulatory approval, such that $1.0 billion was considered restricted net assets of the subsidiaries. Dividends exceeding these limitations may be available during the year pending regulatory approval. While there are no legal restrictions on the payment of dividends to shareholders from Globe Life's retained earnings, retained earnings as of December 31, 2020 were restricted by lenders’ covenants which require the Company to maintain and not distribute $4.2 billion from its total consolidated retained earnings of $5.9 billion.

Earnings per Share: A reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	106,075,267	109,213,524	112,872,581
Weighted average dilutive options outstanding	1,149,327	2,167,726	2,376,372
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	107,224,594	111,381,250	115,248,953
Antidilutive shares	2,476,019	21,556	1,161,521

Antidilutive shares are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share. 

Note 13—Stock-Based Compensation

Globe Life's stock-based compensation consists of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares. Certain employees and directors have been granted fixed equity options to buy shares of Globe Life stock at the market value of the stock on the date of grant, under the provisions of the Globe Life stock option plans. The options are exercisable during the period commencing from the date they vest until expiring according to the terms of the grant. Options generally expire the earlier of employee termination or option contract term, which are either seven-year or ten-year terms. Options generally vest in accordance with the following schedule:

		Shares vested by period
	Contract Period	6 Months	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Directors	7 years	100%	—%	—%	—%	—%	—%
Employees	7 years	—%	—%	50%	50%	—%	—%
Employees	10 years	—%	—%	25%	25%	25%	25%

All employee options vest immediately upon retirement on or after the attainment of age 65, upon death, or disability. Globe Life generally issues shares for the exercise of stock options from treasury stock. The Company generally uses the proceeds from option exercises to buy shares of Globe Life common stock in the open market to reduce the dilution from option exercises.

104

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

An analysis of shares available for grant is as follows:

	Available for Grant
	2020	2019	2018
Balance at January 1,	7,167,718	9,422,760	2,964,320
Approval of Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan.(1)	—	—	8,984,000
Cancellation of available shares from prior plans	—	—	(184,000)
Expired and forfeited during year(2,3)	38,820	20,800	41,317
Options granted during year(2)	(1,127,610)	(1,149,542)	(1,262,037)
Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares granted(3)	(94,510)	(1,126,300)	(1,120,840)
Balance at December 31,	5,984,418	7,167,718	9,422,760

(1)See plan document referenced in Exhibits. Formerly, the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan.

(2)Plan allows for grant of options such that each grant reduces shares available for grant in a range from 0.85 share to 1 share.

(3)Plan allows for grant of restricted stock such that each stock grant reduces shares available for grant in a range from 3.10 shares to 3.88 shares.

A summary of stock compensation activity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:

	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation expense recognized(1)	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Tax benefit recognized	12,550		21,197		14,806

(1)No stock-based compensation expense was capitalized in any period.

Additional stock compensation information is as follows at December 31:

	2020		2019
Unrecognized compensation(1)	$	28,125	$	34,723
Weighted average period of expected recognition (in years)(1)	0.65		0.78

(1)Includes restricted stock and performance shares.

No equity awards were cash settled during the three years ended December 31, 2020.

Options: The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2020.

	Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding	Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Number Exercisable	Weighted- Average Exercise Price
$29.59 - $76.37	1,736,807	2.77	$	51.29	1,598,580	$	51.34
77.26	1,372,680	4.11	77.26		1,142,879	77.26
82.56 - 83.17	1,327,447	5.15	82.56		33,217	82.69
87.60 - 90.21	1,347,698	5.24	87.64		573,454	87.70
100.74 - 105.56	1,326,599	6.16	100.85		41,269	104.39
$29.59 - $105.56	7,111,231	4.57	$	78.28	3,389,399	$	67.19

105

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

An analysis of option activity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

	2020			2019			2018
	Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding—beginning of year	6,724,358	$	70.07	7,203,765	$	61.72	6,753,801	$	53.59
Granted:
7-year term	1,326,599	100.85		1,352,402	82.43		845,773	87.63
10-year term	—	—		—	—		543,130	87.60
Exercised	(936,289)	51.37		(1,810,559)	45.93		(897,622)	40.21
Expired and forfeited	(3,437)	75.27		(21,250)	82.89		(41,317)	70.90
Outstanding—end of year	7,111,231	$	78.28	6,724,358	$	70.07	7,203,765	$	61.72
Exercisable at end of year	3,389,399	$	67.19	2,999,788	$	57.27	3,393,090	$	48.18

Additional information about Globe Life's stock option activity as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:

	2020		2019
Outstanding options:
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	4.57		4.80
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	126,467	$	236,546
Exercisable options:
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	3.42		3.27
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	94,527	$	143,935

Selected stock option activity for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:

	2020		2019		2018
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted (per share)	$	14.64	$	14.20	$	15.65
Intrinsic value of options exercised	40,517		82,022		42,517
Cash received from options exercised	48,093		83,163		36,091
Actual tax benefit received	8,508		17,225		8,929

Additional information concerning Globe Life's unvested options is as follows at December 31:

	2020		2019
Number of shares outstanding	3,721,832		3,724,570
Weighted-average exercise price (per share)	$	88.37	$	80.39
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	5.62		6.04
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	31,941	$	92,611

Globe Life expects that substantially all unvested options will vest.

106

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Restricted Stock: Restricted stock grants consist of time-vested grants, restricted stock units, and performance shares. Time-vested restricted stock is available to both senior executives and directors. The employee grants generally vest over five years and the director grants vest over six months. Restricted stock units are available only to directors. They vest over six months and are not converted to shares until the directors’ retirement, death, or disability. Director restricted stock and restricted stock units are generally granted on the first work day of the year. Performance shares are granted to a limited number of senior executives. Performance shares have a three-year contract life and are not settled in shares until the termination of the three-year contract period. While the grant specifies a stated target number of shares, the determination of the actual settlement in shares will be based on the achievement of certain performance objectives of Globe Life over the respective three-year contract periods. Certain executive restricted stock and performance share grants contain terms related to age that could accelerate vesting.

Following are the restricted stock units outstanding for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020. All restricted stock units were fully vested at the end of each year of grant.

Year of grants	Outstanding as of year end
2018	102,116
2019	71,006
2020	77,167

Below is the final determination of the performance share grants in 2016 to 2018:

Year of grants	Final settlement of shares	Final settlement date
2016	311,399	February 28, 2019
2017	271,843	February 26, 2020
2018	210,155	February 24, 2021

For the 2019 and 2020 performance share grants, actual shares that could be distributed range from 0 to 313 thousand for the 2019 grants and 0 to 227 thousand shares for the 2020 grants.

A summary of restricted stock grants for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020 is presented in the table below.

	2020			2019			2018
Directors restricted stock:
Shares	4,548			8,840			10,805
Price per share	$	105.56		$	76.37		$	88.19
Aggregate value	$	480		$	675		$	953
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	100		%	100		%	100		%
Directors restricted stock units (including dividend equivalents):
Shares	6,161			6,634			7,688
Price per share	$	103.32		$	77.50		$	89.15
Aggregate value	$	637		$	514		$	685
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	100		%	100		%	100		%
Performance shares:
Target shares	151,200			156,500			159,000
Target price per share	$	100.74		$	82.56		$	87.60
Aggregate value	$	15,232		$	12,921		$	13,928
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	—		%	—		%	—		%

107

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Time-vested restricted stockholders, both employees and directors, are entitled to dividend payments on the unvested stock. Restricted stock unit holders are entitled to dividend equivalents. These equivalents are granted in the form of additional restricted stock units and vest immediately upon grant. Dividend equivalents are applicable only to restricted stock units. Performance shareholders are not entitled to dividend equivalents and are not entitled to dividend payments until the shares are vested and settled.

An analysis of nonvested restricted stock is as follows:

	Executive Restricted Stock	Executive Performance Shares	Directors Restricted Stock	Directors Restricted Stock Units	Total
2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	35,250	564,112	—	—	599,362
Grants	—	159,000	10,805	7,688	177,493
Additional performance shares(1)	—	179,415	—	—	179,415
Restriction lapses	(23,250)	(149,898)	(10,805)	(7,688)	(191,641)
Forfeitures	—	—	—	—	—
Balance at December 31, 2018	12,000	752,629	—	—	764,629
2019:
Grants	—	156,500	8,840	6,634	171,974
Additional performance shares(1)	—	118,812	—	—	118,812
Restriction lapses	(12,000)	(311,399)	(8,840)	(6,634)	(338,873)
Forfeitures	—	—	—	—	—
Balance at December 31, 2019	—	716,542	—	—	716,542
2020:
Grants	—	151,200	4,548	6,161	161,909
Additional performance shares(1)	—	(65,473)	—	—	(65,473)
Restriction lapses	—	(271,843)	(4,548)	(6,161)	(282,552)
Forfeitures	—	(11,450)	—	—	(11,450)
Balance at December 31, 2020	—	518,976	—	—	518,976

(1)Estimated additional (reduced) share grants expected due to achievement of performance criteria.

An analysis of the weighted-average grant-date fair values per share of nonvested restricted stock is as follows for the year 2020:

	Executive Restricted Stock		Executive Performance Shares		Directors Restricted Stock		Directors Restricted Stock Units
Grant-date fair value per share at January 1, 2020	$	—	$	75.05	$	—	$	—
Grants	—		100.74		105.56		105.56
Estimated additional performance shares	—		(40.99)		—		—
Restriction lapses	—		(77.26)		(105.56)		(105.56)
Forfeitures	—		(77.26)		—		—
Grant-date fair value per share at December 31, 2020	—		90.13		—		—

108

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 14—Business Segments

Globe Life is organized into four segments: life insurance, supplemental health insurance, annuities, and investments. In addition, other expenses not included in these segments are reported in "Corporate & Other."

Globe Life's reportable insurance segments are based on the insurance product lines it markets and administers: life insurance, supplemental health insurance, and annuities. These major product lines are set out as reportable segments because of the common characteristics of products within these categories, comparability of margins, and the similarity in regulatory environment and management techniques. There is also an investment segment which manages the investment portfolio, debt, and cash flow for the insurance segments and the corporate function. The Company's chief operating decision makers evaluate the overall performance of the operations of the Company in accordance with these segments.

Life insurance products marketed by Globe Life include traditional whole life and term life insurance. Health insurance products are generally guaranteed-renewable and include Medicare Supplement, critical illness, accident, and limited-benefit supplemental hospital and surgical coverage. Annuities include fixed-benefit contracts.

Globe Life markets its insurance products through a number of distribution channels, each of which sells the products of one or more of Globe Life's insurance segments. Our distribution channels consist of the following exclusive agencies: American Income Life Division (American Income), Liberty National Division (Liberty National) and Family Heritage Division (Family Heritage); an independent agency, United American Division (United American); and our Direct to Consumer Division (Direct to Consumer). The tables below present segment premium revenue by each of Globe Life's distribution channels.

Premium Income by Distribution Channel

	For the Year 2020
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,257,726	47	$	105,734	9	$	—	—	$	1,363,460	36
Direct to Consumer	906,959		34	76,527		7	—		—	983,486		26
Liberty National	293,897		11	188,835		16	—		—	482,732		13
United American	9,688		—	452,980		40	4		100	462,672		12
Family Heritage	4,253		—	317,021		28	—		—	321,274		8
Other	200,281		8	—		—	—		—	200,281		5
	$	2,672,804	100	$	1,141,097	100	$	4	100	$	3,813,905	100

	For the Year 2019
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,160,495	46	$	99,447	9	$	—	—	$	1,259,942	35
Direct to Consumer	855,543		34	77,557		7	—		—	933,100		26
Liberty National	285,551		11	189,578		18	—		—	475,129		13
United American	10,571		1	416,582		39	4		100	427,157		12
Family Heritage	3,830		—	294,182		27	—		—	298,012		8
Other	201,794		8	—		—	—		—	201,794		6
	$	2,517,784	100	$	1,077,346	100	$	4	100	$	3,595,134	100

109

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	For the Year 2018
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,081,333	45	$	93,313	9	$	—	—	$	1,174,646	34
Direct to Consumer	828,935		34	76,297		7	—		—	905,232		26
Liberty National	278,878		12	191,378		19	—		—	470,256		14
United American	11,451		1	381,076		38	12		100	392,539		12
Family Heritage	3,501		—	273,275		27	—		—	276,776		8
Other	202,457		8	—		—	—		—	202,457		6
	$	2,406,555	100	$	1,015,339	100	$	12	100	$	3,421,906	100

Due to the nature of the life insurance industry, Globe Life has no individual or group which would be considered a major customer. Substantially all of Globe Life's business is conducted in the United States.

The measure of profitability established by the chief operating decision makers for insurance segments is underwriting margin before other income and administrative expenses, in accordance with the manner the segments are managed. This measure represents gross profit margin on insurance products before insurance administrative expenses and consists primarily of premium less net policy benefits, acquisition expenses, and commissions. Required interest on net policy liabilities (benefit reserves less deferred acquisition costs) is reflected as a component of the Investment segment (rather than as a component of underwriting margin in the insurance and annuity segments) in order to match this cost with the investment income earned on the assets supporting the net policy liabilities.

The measure of profitability for the Investment segment is excess investment income, which represents the income earned on the investment portfolio in excess of net policy requirements and financing costs associated with Globe Life's debt. Other than the above-mentioned interest allocations and an intersegment commission, there are no other intersegment revenues or expenses. Expenses directly attributable to corporate operations are included in the “Corporate & Other” category. Stock-based compensation expense is considered a corporate expense by Globe Life management and is included in this category. All other unallocated revenues and expenses on a pretax basis, including insurance administrative expense, are also included in the “Corporate & Other” segment category.

Globe Life holds a sizable investment portfolio to support its insurance liabilities, the yield from which is used to offset policy benefit, acquisition, administrative and tax expenses. This yield or investment income is taken into account when establishing premium rates and profitability expectations of its insurance products. From time to time, investments are sold, called, or experience a credit loss event, each of which are reflected by the Company as realized gain (loss)—investments. These gains or losses generally occur as a result of disposition due to issuer calls, compliance with Company investment policies, or other reasons often beyond management’s control. Unlike investment income, realized gains and losses are incidental to insurance operations, and only overall yields are considered when setting premium rates or insurance product profitability expectations. While these gains and losses are not relevant to segment profitability or core operating results, they can have a material positive or negative result on net income. For these reasons, management removes realized investment gains and losses when it views its segment operations.

Management removes items that are related to prior periods when evaluating the operating results of current periods. Management also removes non-operating items unrelated to its core insurance activities when evaluating those results. Therefore, these items are excluded in its presentation of segment results, because accounting guidance requires that operating segment results be presented as management views its business. With the exception of the administrative settlements noted in the paragraphs above, all of these items are included in “Other operating expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the appropriate year. See additional detail below in the tables.

110

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The following tables set forth a reconciliation of Globe Life's revenues and operations by segment to its major income statement line items. See Note—1 Significant Accounting Policies for additional information concerning reconciling items of segment profits to pretax income.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,672,804	$	1,141,097	$	4	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,813,905
Net investment income	—		—		—		927,062		—		—			927,062
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,325		—			1,325
Total revenue	2,672,804		1,141,097		4		927,062		1,325		—			4,742,292
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,809,373		733,481		30,030		—		—		—			2,572,884
Required interest on reserves	(698,112)		(93,475)		(41,413)		833,000		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	210,152		26,586		328		(237,066)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	463,586		110,177		2,007		—		—		—			575,770
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	212,859		91,959		23		—		—		—			304,841
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		250,947		3,985		(2,3)	254,932
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		9,891		323		(3)	10,214
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		35,892		—			35,892
Interest expense	—		—		—		86,704		—		—			86,704
Total expenses	1,997,858		868,728		(9,025)		682,638		296,730		4,308			3,841,237
Subtotal	674,946		272,369		9,029		244,424		(295,405)		(4,308)			901,055
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		4,308		(2,3)	4,308
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	674,946	$	272,369	$	9,029	$	244,424	$	(295,405)	$	—		905,363
Realized gain (loss)—investments														(3,737)
Realized loss—redemption of debt														(634)
Legal proceedings														(3,275)
Non-operating expenses														(1,033)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	896,684

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Legal proceedings.

(3)Non-operating expenses.

111

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,517,784	$	1,077,346	$	4	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,595,134
Net investment income	—		—		—		910,459		—		—			910,459
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,318		—			1,318
Total revenue	2,517,784		1,077,346		4		910,459		1,318		—			4,506,911
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,638,053		687,764		31,532		—		—		—			2,357,349
Required interest on reserves	(666,168)		(87,289)		(43,522)		796,979		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	202,502		25,435		494		(228,431)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	436,881		112,825		2,020		—		—		—			551,726
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	203,052		94,973		22		—		—		—			298,047
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		240,321		8,758		(2,3)	249,079
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		10,260		643		(4)	10,903
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		44,843		—			44,843
Interest expense	—		—		—		84,306		—		—			84,306
Total expenses	1,814,320		833,708		(9,454)		652,854		295,424		9,401			3,596,253
Subtotal	703,464		243,638		9,458		257,605		(294,106)		(9,401)			910,658
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		9,401		(2,3,4)	9,401
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	703,464	$	243,638	$	9,458	$	257,605	$	(294,106)	$	—		920,059
Realized gain (loss)—investments														20,621
Administrative settlements														(400)
Legal proceedings														(8,358)
Non-operating expenses														(643)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	931,279

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Administrative settlements.

(3)Legal proceedings.

(4)Non-operating expenses.

112

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,406,555	$	1,015,339	$	12	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,421,906
Net investment income	—		—		—		882,512		—		—			882,512
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,236		(99)		(2)	1,137
Total revenue	2,406,555		1,015,339		12		882,512		1,236		(99)			4,305,555
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,591,790		649,188		34,264		—		—		—			2,275,242
Required interest on reserves	(636,040)		(83,243)		(47,357)		766,640		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	194,297		24,412		589		(219,298)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	414,200		100,376		2,114		—		—		—			516,690
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	190,007		88,553		26		—		—		(99)		(2)	278,487
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		223,941		3,590		(3)	227,531
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		10,684		1,578		(4)	12,262
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		39,792		—			39,792
Interest expense	—		—		—		90,076		—		—			90,076
Total expenses	1,754,254		779,286		(10,364)		637,418		274,417		5,069			3,440,080
Subtotal	652,301		236,053		10,376		245,094		(273,181)		(5,168)			865,475
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		5,168		(3,4)	5,168
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	652,301	$	236,053	$	10,376	$	245,094	$	(273,181)	$	—		870,643
Realized gain (loss)—investments														9,274
Realized loss—redemption of debt														(11,078)
Administrative settlements														(3,590)
Non-operating expenses														(1,578)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	863,671

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Elimination of intersegment commission.

(3)Administrative settlements.

(4)Non-operating expenses.

113

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Assets for each segment are reported based on a specific identification basis. The insurance segments’ assets contain DAC. The investment segment includes the investment portfolio, cash, and accrued investment income. Goodwill is assigned to the insurance segments at the time of purchase. All other assets are included in the Corporate & Other category. The tables below reconcile segment assets to total assets as reported in the consolidated financial statements.

Assets by Segment

	At December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Cash and invested assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	22,547,498	$	—	$	22,547,498
Accrued investment income	—		—		—		248,991		—		248,991
Deferred acquisition costs	3,982,158		610,071		3,215		—		—		4,595,444
Goodwill	309,609		131,982		—		—		—		441,591
Other assets	—		—		—		—		1,213,207		1,213,207
Total assets	$	4,291,767	$	742,053	$	3,215	$	22,796,489	$	1,213,207	$	29,046,731

	At December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Cash and invested assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	19,923,204	$	—	$	19,923,204
Accrued investment income	—		—		—		245,129		—		245,129
Deferred acquisition costs	3,768,797		569,126		4,018		—		—		4,341,941
Goodwill	309,609		131,982		—		—		—		441,591
Other assets	—		—		—		—		1,025,595		1,025,595
Total assets	$	4,078,406	$	701,108	$	4,018	$	20,168,333	$	1,025,595	$	25,977,460

114

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Liabilities for each segment are reported also on a specific identification basis similar to the assets. The insurance segments' liabilities contain future policy benefits, unearned and advance premiums, and policy claims and other benefits payable. Other policyholders' funds are included in Other as well as current and deferred income taxes payable. Debt represents both short and long-term. The tables below reconcile segment liabilities to total liabilities as reported in the consolidated financial statements.

Liabilities by Segment

	At December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Future policy benefits	$	12,008,396	$	2,172,141	$	1,062,999	$	—	$	—	$	15,243,536
Unearned and advance premiums	18,968		42,760		—		—		—		61,728
Policy claims and other benefits payable	237,246		162,261		—		—		—		399,507
Debt	—		—		—		1,922,804		—		1,922,804
Other	—		—		—		—		2,648,064		2,648,064
Total liabilities	$	12,264,610	$	2,377,162	$	1,062,999	$	1,922,804	$	2,648,064	$	20,275,639

	At December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Future policy benefits	$	11,403,078	$	2,006,424	$	1,098,632	$	—	$	—	$	14,508,134
Unearned and advance premiums	17,701		46,008		—		—		—		63,709
Policy claims and other benefits payable	201,594		163,808		—		—		—		365,402
Debt	—		—		—		1,647,726		—		1,647,726
Other	—		—		—		—		2,098,182		2,098,182
Total liabilities	$	11,622,373	$	2,216,240	$	1,098,632	$	1,647,726	$	2,098,182	$	18,683,153

115

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Globe Life Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Note 15—Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

The following is an unaudited summary of quarterly results for the two years ended December 31, 2020. The information includes all adjustments (consisting of normal accruals) which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for these periods.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
2020:
Premium income	$	929,835	$	953,702	$	961,817	$	968,551
Net investment income	228,991		231,568		231,432		235,071
Realized gains (losses)	(26,097)		(4,790)		1,501		25,015
Total revenue	1,133,054		1,180,884		1,195,042		1,228,941
Policyholder benefits	607,969		650,816		650,976		663,123
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	143,837		146,160		140,843		144,930
Pretax income from continuing operations	202,921		212,241		231,538		249,984
Income from continuing operations	165,540		173,048		188,945		204,240
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Net income	165,540		173,048		188,945		204,240
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.54		1.63		1.78		1.96
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total basic net income per common share	1.54		1.63		1.78		1.96
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.52		1.62		1.76		1.93
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total diluted net income per common share	1.52		1.62		1.76		1.93

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
2019:
Premium income	$	890,973	$	897,484	$	899,993	$	906,684
Net investment income	226,673		227,425		228,905		227,456
Realized gains (losses)	1,329		5,154		11,943		2,195
Total revenue	1,119,216		1,130,461		1,141,279		1,136,576
Policyholder benefits	587,757		589,362		585,692		594,538
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	135,822		138,165		138,449		139,290
Pretax income from continuing operations	228,101		228,760		247,330		227,088
Income from continuing operations	185,394		186,609		201,818		187,061
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(49)		(43)		—		—
Net income	185,345		186,566		201,818		187,061
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.68		1.70		1.85		1.73
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total basic net income per common share	1.68		1.70		1.85		1.73
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.65		1.67		1.82		1.69
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total diluted net income per common share	1.65		1.67		1.82		1.69

116

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures: Globe Life, under the direction of the Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has established disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Globe Life in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. The disclosure controls and procedures are also intended to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to Globe Life's management, including the Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

As of the end of the fiscal year completed December 31, 2020, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of Globe Life management, including the Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the disclosure controls and procedures (as those terms are defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon their evaluation, the Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the date of this Form 10-K. In compliance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. § 1350), each of these officers executed a Certification included as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.

Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting: Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Management evaluated the design and operating effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission. Based upon their evaluation as of December 31, 2020, the Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers, and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that Globe Life's internal control over financial reporting is effective as of the date of this Form 10-K. In compliance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. § 1350), each of these officers executed a Certification included as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting: As of the period ended December 31, 2020, there have not been any changes in Globe Life Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect this control over financial reporting subsequent to the date of their evaluation which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

Refer to Deloitte & Touche LLP's, independent registered public accounting firm, attestation report on the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.

117

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management at Globe Life is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company and for assessing the effectiveness of internal control on an annual basis. As a framework for assessing internal control over financial reporting, the Company utilizes the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time.

Management evaluated the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and based on its assessment, determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as stated in their report which is included herein.

/s/ Gary L. Coleman

Gary L. Coleman

Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Larry M. Hutchison

Larry M. Hutchison

Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Frank M. Svoboda

Frank M. Svoboda

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

February 25, 2021

118

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Globe Life Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Globe Life Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 of the Company and our report dated February 25, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedules.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Dallas, Texas

February 25, 2021

119

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Item 9B. Other Information

There were no items required.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “PROPOSAL NUMBER 1 - Election of Directors,” “Director Nominee Profiles,” "Director Nominees Skills Matrix," “Executive Officers,” “AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT,” “Governance Guidelines and Codes of Ethics,” “Qualifications of Directors,” “Procedures for Director Nominations by Shareholders,” and “DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS” in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 29, 2021 (the Proxy Statement), which is to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS”, “COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT”, “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE”, "CEO PAY RATIO", “2020 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS”, “OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2020”, “OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020”, “PENSION BENEFITS AT DECEMBER 31, 2020”, “POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL”, “2020 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION”, and “PAYMENTS TO DIRECTORS” in the Proxy Statement, which is to be filed with the SEC.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

1.Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2020

Plan Category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and rights (a)	Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants, and rights (b)		Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities in column (a)) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	7,111,231	$	78.28	5,984,418
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
Total	7,111,231	$	78.28	5,984,418

2.Security ownership of certain beneficial owners:

Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the section entitled “PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS” in the Proxy Statement, which is to be filed with the SEC.

3.Security ownership of management:

Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the section entitled “Stock Ownership” in the Proxy Statement, which is to be filed with the SEC.

4.Changes in control:

Globe Life knows of no arrangements, including any pledges by any person of its securities, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control.

120

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the sections entitled “RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION POLICY AND TRANSACTIONS” and “Director Independence Determinations” in the Proxy Statement, which is to be filed with the SEC. 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the section entitled “PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES” and “PRE-APPROVAL POLICY FOR ACCOUNTING FEES” in the Proxy Statement, which is to be filed with the SEC.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Index of documents filed as a part of this report:

	Page of this report
Financial Statements:
Globe Life Inc. and Subsidiaries:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	52
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020 and 2019	54
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	55
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	56
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	57
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020	58
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	59
Schedules Supporting Financial Statements for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020:
II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company)	127
IV. Reinsurance (Consolidated)	131
Schedules not referred to have been omitted as inapplicable or not required by Regulation S-X.

121

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description	Form	Filing Date	Related Exhibit	Page of this Report
3.1	Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Globe Life Inc.	8-K	August 8, 2019	3.2
3.2	Amended and Restated By-Laws of Globe Life Inc., as amended February 24, 2021	8-K	February 25, 2021	3.2
4.1	Trust Indenture dated as of February 1, 1987 between Torchmark Corporation and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Trustee	10-K	February 27, 2018	4.1
4.2	Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 24, 2012 between Torchmark Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as Trustee, supplementing the Indenture dated February 1, 1987	8-K	September 24, 2012	4.2
4.3	Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated November 2, 2001, between Torchmark Corporation and The Bank of New York defining the rights of the 7 3/4% Junior Subordinated Debentures	8-K	November 2, 2001	4.3
4.4	Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 5, 2016 between Torchmark Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company of New York, N.A., as Trustee, supplementing the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of November 2, 2001	8-K	April 5, 2016	4.3
4.5	Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 17, 2017 between Torchmark Corporation and Regions Bank, as Trustee, supplementing the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of November 2, 2001	8-K	November 17, 2017	4.4
4.6	Senior Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2018, between Torchmark Corporation and Regions Bank, as Trustee	S-3	September 24, 2018	4.1
4.7	First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2018, between Torchmark Corporation and Regions Bank, as Trustee	8-K	September 27, 2018	4.2
4.8	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 21, 2020, between Globe Life Inc. and Regions Bank, as Trustee	8-K	August 21, 2020	4.2
10.1	Torchmark Corporation Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, Advisory Directors, Directors Emeritus and Officers, as amended*	10-K	February 27, 2018	10.1
10.2	Amendment One to the Torchmark Corporation Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, Advisory Directors, Directors Emeritus and Officers*	10-K	February 27, 2009	10.54
10.3	Amendment Two to the Torchmark Corporation Restated Deferred Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2009	10.55
10.4	Form of Retirement Life Insurance Benefit Agreement ($1,995,000 face amount limit)*	10-K	March 22, 2002	10.Z
10.5	Form of Retirement Life Insurance Benefit Agreement ($495,000 face amount limit)*	10-K	March 22, 2002	10.AA
10.6	Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	8-K	January 25, 2007	10.1
10.7	Amendment No. 1 to the Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	10-K	February 29, 2008	10.53
10.8	Amendment No. 2 to the Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	10-K	February 29, 2008	10.54
10.9	Amendment Three to the Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2009	10.53
10.10	Amendment Four to the Torchmark Amendment Four to the Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.10

122        

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Exhibit No.	Description	Form	Filing Date	Related Exhibit	Page of this Report
10.11	Amendment Five to the Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	8-K	May 5, 2015	10.1
10.12	Amendment Six to the Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	10-K	March 1, 2019	10.11
10.13	Amendment Seven to the Torchmark Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan*	10-Q	November 5, 2020	10.2
10.14	Torchmark Corporation Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan, as amended and restated*	8-K	April 29, 2008	10.1
10.15	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Notice under Torchmark Corporation Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 29, 2008	10.58
10.16	Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of December 31, 2008 among AILIC Receivables Corporation, American Income Life Insurance Company and TMK Re, Ltd.	8-K	January 6, 2009	10.1
10.17	Amendment No.1 to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of December 31, 2008 among AILIC Receivables Corporation, American Income Life Insurance Company, and TMK Re, Ltd.	10-K	February 28, 2014	10.58
10.18	Amendment No.2 to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of December 31, 2008 among AILIC Receivables Corporation, American Income Life Insurance Company, and TMK Re, Ltd.	10-K	March 1, 2019	10.17
10.19	Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan*	8-K	May 4, 2011	10.1
10.20	First Amendment to Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan*	8-K	April 29, 2014	10.1
10.21	Form of Ten year Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan*	8-K	May 4, 2011	10.4
10.22	Form of Seven year Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan*	8-K	May 4, 2011	10.5
10.23	Form of Performance Share Award under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan*	8-K	February 27, 2012	10.1
10.24	Form of Seven Year Stock Option Grant Agreement under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan, as amended with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions*	10-K	February 27, 2017	10.75
10.25	Form of Ten Year Stock Option Grant Agreement under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan, as amended with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions*	10-K	February 27, 2017	10.76
10.26	Form of Performance Share Award Certificate under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan, as amended with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions*	10-K	February 27, 2017	10.77
10.27	Form of Seven Year Stock Option Grant Agreement (Special) under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Incentive Plan, as amended with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions*	10-K	February 27, 2017	10.78
10.28	Torchmark Corporation Amended 2011 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan, effective January, 2017*	10-K	February 27, 2017	10.55
10.29	Form of Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 28, 2011	10.57
10.30	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Notice under Torchmark Corporation 2011 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 28, 2011	10.59
10.31	Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.1
10.32	First Amendment to Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.31

123

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Exhibit No.	Description	Form	Filing Date	Related Exhibit	Page of this Report
10.33	Amended Torchmark Corporation 2018 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.32
10.34	Form of Performance Share Award under Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.3
10.35	Form of Performance Share Award under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.34
10.36	Form of Seven Year Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.4
10.37	Form of Seven Year Stock Option under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.36
10.38	Form of Seven Year Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.5
10.39	Form of Seven Year Stock Option under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.38
10.40	Form of Seven Year Stock Option under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions (Special)*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.39
10.41	Form of Ten Year Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.6
10.42	Form of Ten Year Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan with Non-Compete, Non-Solicit and Confidentiality Provisions*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.7
10.43	Form of Stock Option under Torchmark Corporation 2018 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.8
10.44	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Notice under Torchmark Corporation 2018 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	8-K	May 2, 2018	10.10
10.45	Form of Stock Option under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.44
10.46	Form of Restricted Stock under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.45
10.47	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Notice under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.46
10.48	Torchmark Corporation 2019 Management Incentive Plan (effective as of January 1, 2019)*	8-K	March 4, 2019	10.1
10.49	The Globe Life Inc. Amended and Restated Pension Plan Generally Effective as of January 1, 2020*	10-Q	November 5, 2020	10.1
10.50	Globe Life Inc. Savings and Investment Plan*	10-K	February 27, 2020	10.52
10.51	Payments to Directors*	10-Q	May 7, 2019	10.51
10.52	Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 17, 2016 among Torchmark Corporation, as the Borrower, TMK Re, Ltd., as a Loan Party, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Administrator and the other lenders party thereto	8-K	May 18, 2016	10.1
10.53	First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement	8-K	April 14, 2020	10.2
10.54	Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement	10-Q	May 7, 2020	10.1
10.55	Credit Agreement dates as of August 24, 2020 among Globe Life Inc., as the Borrower, TMK Re Ltd., as a Loan Party, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Administrator and other lenders party thereto	8-K	August 25, 2020	10.1

124

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Exhibit No.	Description	Form	Filing Date	Related Exhibit	Page of this Report
10.56	Form of Performance Share Award under Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan (2021)*	10-K	February 25, 2021	10.56
20	Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 29, 2021**	DEF14-A	March 18, 2021
21	Subsidiaries of the registrant	10-K	February 25, 2021	21	123
23	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP	10-K	February 25, 2021	23
24	Powers of Attorney	10-K	February 25, 2021	24
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Gary L. Coleman	10-K	February 25, 2021	31.1
31.2	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Larry M. Hutchison	10-K	February 25, 2021	31.2
31.3	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Frank M. Svoboda	10-K	February 25, 2021	31.3
32.1	Section 1350 Certification by Gary L. Coleman, Larry M. Hutchison and Frank M. Svoboda	10-K	February 25, 2021	32.1
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document- the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data file because the XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.	10-K	February 25, 2021	101.INS
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.	10-K	February 25, 2021	101.SCH
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.	10-K	February 25, 2021	101.CAL
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.	10-K	February 25, 2021	101.LAB
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.	10-K	February 25, 2021	101.PRE
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.	10-K	February 25, 2021	101.DEF
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101).	10-K	February 25, 2021	104

* Compensatory plan or arrangement.

** To be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

125

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Exhibit 21. Subsidiaries of the Registrant: The following table lists subsidiaries of the registrant which meet the definition of “significant subsidiary” according to Regulation S-X:

Name Under Which Company Does Business	State of Incorporation	Distribution Channel (Division)
Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company	Nebraska	Direct to Consumer
American Income Life Insurance Company	Indiana	American Income Life Division
Liberty National Life Insurance Company	Nebraska	Liberty National Division

While United American Insurance Company (Nebraska) and Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America (Ohio) do not qualify as a significant subsidiaries in accordance with Regulation S-X, management views these subsidiaries as significant to our operations.

All other exhibits required by Regulation S-K are listed as to location in the “Index of documents filed as a part of this report” in this report. Exhibits not referred to have been omitted as inapplicable or not required.

126

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

(PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT

Condensed Balance Sheets

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

	December 31,
	2020		2019
Assets:
Investments:
Long-term investments	$	32,861	$	28,728
Short-term investments	19,300		3,401
Total investments	52,161		32,129
Cash	1,644		873
Investment in affiliates	10,526,982		9,020,073
Due from affiliates	322,278		96,129
Taxes receivable from affiliates	51,041		50,302
Other assets	184,588		160,723
Total assets	$	11,138,694	$	9,360,229
Liabilities:
Short-term debt	$	254,918	$	298,738
Long-term debt	1,817,798		1,498,851
Due to affiliates	—		3,532
Other liabilities	294,886		264,801
Total liabilities	2,367,602		2,065,922
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock	351		351
Common stock	113,218		117,218
Additional paid-in capital	877,946		882,065
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,029,244		1,844,830
Retained earnings	5,874,109		5,551,329
Treasury stock	(1,123,776)		(1,101,486)
Total shareholders’ equity	8,771,092		7,294,307
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	11,138,694	$	9,360,229

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm.

127

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

(PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (continued)

Condensed Statement of Operations

(Dollar amounts in thousands) 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Net investment income	$	30,199	$	28,869	$	28,077
Realized gains (losses)	12,792		—		(11,078)
Total revenue	42,991		28,869		16,999
General operating expenses	57,679		68,419		65,762
Reimbursements from affiliates	(68,556)		(65,928)		(61,620)
Interest expense	90,197		89,317		94,159
Total expenses	79,320		91,808		98,301
Operating income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(36,329)		(62,939)		(81,302)
Income taxes	7,773		13,133		15,262
Net operating loss before equity in earnings of affiliates	(28,556)		(49,806)		(66,040)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	760,329		810,596		767,506
Net income	731,773		760,790		701,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Attributable to Parent Company	(21,477)		(11,379)		23,805
Attributable to affiliates	1,205,891		1,536,734		(1,128,604)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	1,916,187	$	2,286,145	$	(403,333)

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm.

128

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

(PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT—(continued)

Condensed Statement of Cash Flows

(Dollar amounts in thousands) 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Net income	$	731,773	$	760,790	$	701,466
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(760,329)		(810,596)		(767,506)
Cash dividends from subsidiaries	485,871		479,988		448,142
Other, net	21,129		65,584		64,734
Cash provided from operations	478,444		495,766		446,836
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities:
Net decrease (increase) in short-term investments	(15,899)		(3,380)		5,603
Investment in subsidiaries	(7,875)		—		(140,000)
Additions to properties	—		(32)		(19,888)
Loaned money to affiliates	(1,008,860)		(501,764)		(584,000)
Repayments from affiliates	782,860		501,764		584,000
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities	(249,774)		(3,412)		(154,285)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities:
Repayment of debt	(386,875)		(6,875)		(327,762)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	700,000		—		550,000
Payment for debt issuance costs	(5,844)		—		(6,969)
Net issuance (repayment) of commercial paper	(34,445)		(11,610)		(22,719)
Issuance of stock	48,093		82,771		36,091
Acquisitions of treasury stock	(443,866)		(459,569)		(421,749)
Borrowed money from affiliate	76,000		277,000		197,690
Repayments to affiliates	(79,500)		(276,500)		(202,690)
Payment of dividends	(101,462)		(97,458)		(94,691)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(227,899)		(492,241)		(292,799)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	771		113		(248)
Cash balance at beginning of period	873		760		1,008
Cash balance at end of period	$	1,644	$	873	$	760

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm.

129

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

(PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (continued)

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Note A—Dividends from Subsidiaries

Cash dividends paid to Globe Life from the subsidiaries were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Dividends from subsidiaries	$	485,871	$	479,988	$	448,142

Note B—Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

The following table summarizes non-cash transactions, which are not reflected on the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Investment in subsidiaries	—		—		11,899
Dividend of property to Parent	—		—		11,889

 The following table summarizes certain amounts paid (received) during the period:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Interest paid	$	86,504	$	86,868	$	86,982
Income taxes paid (received)	(12,744)		(16,617)		(21,377)

Note C—Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life had 351 thousand shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, issued and outstanding, of which 280 thousand shares were 6.50% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, and 71 thousand shares were 7.15% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (collectively, the “Series A Preferred Stock”). All issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were held by wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding would be entitled to receive a liquidating distribution out of the assets legally available to stockholders in the amount of $1 thousand per share or $351 million in the aggregate, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, before any distribution is made to holders of Globe Life common stock. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights nor have rights to convert such shares into shares of any other class of Globe Life capital stock.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

130

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

Globe Life Inc.

SCHEDULE IV. REINSURANCE (CONSOLIDATED)

(Dollar Amounts in thousands)

	Gross Amount		Ceded to Other Companies(1)		Assumed from Other Companies		Net Amount		Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
Life insurance in force	$	203,894,460	$	669,063	$	2,551,770	$	205,777,167	1.2
Premiums(2):
Life insurance	$	2,642,555	$	4,241	$	19,775	$	2,658,089	0.7
Health insurance	1,144,470		3,373		—		1,141,097		—
Total premium	$	3,787,025	$	7,614	$	19,775	$	3,799,186	0.5
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Life insurance in force	$	191,249,516	$	676,988	$	2,774,388	$	193,346,916	1.4
Premiums(2):
Life insurance	$	2,486,127	$	4,357	$	20,384	$	2,502,154	0.8
Health insurance	1,080,869		3,523		—		1,077,346		—
Total premium	$	3,566,996	$	7,880	$	20,384	$	3,579,500	0.6
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Life insurance in force	$	185,212,195	$	688,384	$	3,019,737	$	187,543,548	1.6
Premiums(2):
Life insurance	$	2,373,423	$	4,581	$	21,305	$	2,390,147	0.9
Health insurance	1,019,007		3,668		—		1,015,339		—
Total premium	$	3,392,430	$	8,249	$	21,305	$	3,405,486	0.6

(1)No amounts have been netted against ceded premium.

(2)Excludes policy charges of $14.7 million, $15.6 million, and $16.4 million in each of the years 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

131

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Globe Life Inc.
By:	/s/    GARY L. COLEMAN
	Gary L. Coleman
	Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director
By:	/s/    LARRY M. HUTCHISON
	Larry M. Hutchison
	Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director
By:	/s/    FRANK M. SVOBODA
	Frank M. Svoboda
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
By:	/s/    M. SHANE HENRIE
	M. Shane Henrie
	Corporate Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

Date: February 25, 2021

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By:	/s/ CHARLES E. ADAIR  *	By:	/s/ ROBERT W. INGRAM  *
	Charles E. Adair		Robert W. Ingram
	Director		Director
By:	/s/ LINDA L. ADDISON  *	By:	/s/ STEVEN P. JOHNSON  *
	Linda L. Addison		Steven P. Johnson
	Director		Director
By:	/s/ MARILYN A. ALEXANDER  *	By:	/s/ DARREN M. REBELEZ  *
	Marilyn A. Alexander		Darren M. Rebelez
	Director		Director
By:	/s/ CHERYL D. ALSTON  *	By:	/s/ MARY E. THIGPEN  *
	Cheryl D. Alston		Mary E. Thigpen
	Director		Director
By:	/s/ JANE M. BUCHAN  *
	Jane M. Buchan
	Director

Date: February 25, 2021
*By:	/s/    FRANK M. SVOBODA
	Frank M. Svoboda
	Attorney-in-fact

132

GL 2020 FORM 10-K

EX-10.56

GLOBE LIFE INC.

PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD CERTIFICATE

Non-transferable

G R A N T T O

(“Grantee”)

by Globe Life Inc. (the “Company”) of Performance Shares (the “Performance Shares”) representing the right to earn, on a one-for-one basis, shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $1.00 par value (“Stock”), pursuant to and subject to the provisions of the Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan, formerly the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan, (the “Plan”) and to the terms and conditions set forth on the following pages of this award certificate (this “Certificate”).

The target number of Performance Shares subject to this award is (the “Target Award”). Depending on the Company’s level of attainment of specified targets for earnings per share, underwriting income, and return on equity for fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Grantee may earn 0% to 150% of the Target Award, in accordance with the matrices attached hereto as Exhibit A and the terms of this Certificate.

By accepting this Award, Grantee shall be deemed to have agreed to the terms and conditions of this Certificate and the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Globe Life Inc., acting by and through its duly authorized officers, has caused this Certificate to be executed.

GLOBE LIFE INC. By: ____________________________________________ Its: Authorized Officer Grant Date: February 24, 2021 Accepted by Grantee: __________________________

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan. In addition, for purposes of this Certificate:

    (i) “Confirmation Date” the date of the Committee’s certification of achievement of the Performance Objectives and determination of the Performance Multiplier following the end of the Performance Period.

    (ii) “Early Retirement” means resignation or termination of employment without Cause from the Company at or after age 60 and before age 65.

    (iii)”Normal Retirement” meansresignation or termination of employment without Cause from the Company at or after age 65.

    (ii) “Performance Multiplier” means the percentage, from 0% to 150%, that will be applied to the Target Award to determine the number of Performance Shares that will convert to shares of Stock on the Conversion Date, as more fully described in Exhibit A hereto.

    (iii) “Performance Objectives” are the performance objectives relating to Earnings per Share, Underwriting Income, and Return on Equity set forth on Exhibit A that must be achieved in order for any Performance Shares to be earned by Grantee pursuant to this Award.

    (iv) “Performance Period” means the three-year period commencing on January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2023.

    (v) “Prorated Target Award” means, in the case of Grantee’s Early Retirement prior to the Vesting Date, a specified percentage of the Target Award, as follows:

Age at Early Retirement	Prorated Target Award
60	10% of Target Award
61	20%of Target Award
62	40%of Target Award
63	60%of Target Award
64	80%of Target Award

    (vi) “Vesting Date” is defined in Section 2 of this Agreement.

2.Earning and Vesting of Performance Shares. The Performance Shares have been credited to a bookkeeping account on behalf of Grantee and do not represent actual shares of Stock. The Performance Shares are being awarded to the Grantee in return for Grantee’s promises contained herein including the terms and provisions of Section 6. The Performance Shares represent the right to earn up to 150% of the Target Award (or up to the Prorated Target Award, in the event of Grantee’s Early Retirement prior to the Vesting Date or up to the full Target Award, in the event of Grantee’s Normal Retirement prior to the Vesting Date), based on (i) the Company’s attainment of the Performance Objectives and (ii) the application of the Performance Multiplier to the Target Award in accordance with Exhibit A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of Grantee’s death or Disability during the Performance Period, Grantee shall be deemed to have earned 100% of the Target Award upon such event (without application of any Performance Multiplier). In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in the Plan to the contrary, upon a Change in Control of the Company in which the Performance Shares are not assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control in a manner approved by the Committee or the Board, Grantee shall be deemed to have earned 100% of the Target Award upon such event (without application of any Performance Multiplier), and there shall be a prorata payout to Grantee within thirty (30) days following the Change in Control, based upon the length of time within the Performance Period that has elapsed prior to the Change in Control. Further, upon a Change in Control of the Company in which the Performance Shares are assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control, if within two years after the effective date of the Change in Control, Grantee’s employment is terminated without Cause or Grantee resigns for Good Reason, Grantee shall be deemed to have earned 100% of the Target Award as of the date of termination (without application of any Performance Multiplier), and there shall be a prorata payout to Grantee within thirty (30) days following the date of termination, based upon the length of time within the Performance Period that has elapsed prior to the date of termination.

Any earned Performance Shares will vest and become non-forfeitable on the earliest to occur of the following (the “Vesting Date”):

    (a)    the Confirmation Date, provided either (i) Grantee has continued in the employment of the Company or its Affiliates through such date or (ii) Grantee’s employment with the Company has terminated due to Grantee’s Normal Retirement or Early Retirement, or

    (b)    the termination of Grantee’s employment due to death or Disability, or

    (c)    a Change in Control of the Company.

In the event Grantee’s employment terminates for any reason other than as described above at any time prior to the applicable Vesting Date, all of Grantee’s Performance

Shares will immediately be forfeited to the Company without further consideration or any act or action by Grantee.

3.Conversion to Stock. Any earned and vested Performance Shares will be converted to actual unrestricted shares of Stock (one share per vested Performance Share) within thirty (30) days following the Vesting Date (and in no event later than March 15, 2024). These shares will be registered on the books of the Company in Grantee’s name as of the Conversion Date and stock certificates for the Stock shall be delivered to Grantee or Grantee’s designee upon request of the Grantee. Any Performance Shares that fail to vest in accordance with the terms of this Certificate will be forfeited and reconveyed to the Company without further consideration or any act or action by Grantee.

4.Restrictions on Transfer and Pledge. No right or interest of Grantee in the Performance Shares may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated or be made subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of Grantee to any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate. The Performance Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of by Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

5.Restrictions on Issuance of Stock. If at any time the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that registration, listing or qualification of the Stock underlying the Performance Shares upon any securities exchange or similar self-regulatory organization or under any foreign, federal, or local law or practice, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition to the settlement of the Performance Shares, stock units will not be converted to Stock in whole or in part unless and until such registration, listing, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

6.Noncompetition/Confidentiality/Nonsolicitation. Upon Grantee’s separation from employment from the Company for any reason for a period of two (2) years from the date of such separation or in the event of termination due to Early Retirement or Normal Retirement, during the remaining vesting period prior to the Vesting Date, whichever is longer (the “Restriction Period”), Grantee agrees not to engage or participate, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, including but not limited to as an employee, consultant, advisor, contractor, partner, owner or otherwise, in a competing business, which is one that provides the same or substantially similar products or services as the Business. “Business” is defined as product development, marketing, sales and servicing of life insurance, health insurance and annuity products through captive agents, independent agents and direct response marketing channels. Life insurance includes individual life or group life, with or without return-of-premium benefit. Health insurance includes accidental death or supplemental health insurance products, with or without return-of premium benefits, including

cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement or Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Annuity includes deferred annuities or single premium immediate annuities. (All of the foregoing are referred to collectively as the “Business”). Grantee further agrees that he will not serve as a Board member for any company that provides the same or similar products or services as the Business. Grantee also agrees and understands that this noncompetition agreement extends to competition in any state in which Grantee worked or directed work for the Company or in which the Company has plans or intentions for future business operations for which the Grantee was involved (referred to as the “Restricted Area”).

Grantee acknowledges that the Restricted Area, scope of prohibited activities, and the Restriction Period are reasonable and are no broader than are necessary to protect Company’s legitimate business interests. Grantee also acknowledges that the Company would not be providing the benefits set forth in this Agreement but for Grantee’s covenants and promises contained in this Section. Grantee further agrees that during the non-competition term, Grantee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of any employment, work, or business he undertakes with or on behalf of any person (including himself) or entity other than the Company and acknowledges and agrees that the Company may place Grantee’s future employer on notice of the Grantee’s post-employment obligations.

Grantee further expressly agrees and understands that the Company has disclosed confidential, proprietary and/or trade secret information to Grantee. Grantee agrees that he will not utilize nor disclose to any third party any of the Company’s confidential, proprietary or trade secret information at any time in the future. In consideration of the Company disclosing such information to Grantee and/or for the consideration provided to Grantee by the Company in this Agreement, which Grantee acknowledges is sufficient and reasonable consideration, Grantee has agreed to the non-competition provisions set forth herein.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing herein shall prohibit Grantee from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity or making other disclosures that are protected pursuant to federal law or regulation. Prior authorization from the Company is not required in order to make any such reports or disclosures and Grantee is not required to notify the Company that such reports or disclosures have been made.

IMMUNITY NOTICE. Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Grantee may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law; or is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such

filing is made under seal. Should any provision in this Agreement conflict with this provision, this provision shall control.

Grantee also agrees that during the Restriction Period he will not solicit the clients or customers of the Company in order to request or advise such clients or customers to end, change or curtail their business relationship with the Company. In addition, Grantee agrees that during the Restriction Period he will not solicit any employee of the Company in order to request or advise any such employee to end, change or curtail their employment relationship with the Company.

If for any reason any court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Section to be unreasonable in duration or scope or otherwise, Company and Grantee agree that the restrictions and prohibitions contained in this Section shall be effective to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law. Each covenant set forth in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Grantee’s employment for any reason and shall be construed as an agreement independent of any other provision of this Agreement.

Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the covenants, obligations and agreements of Grantee contained in this Section concern special, unique and extraordinary matters and that a violation of any of the terms of these covenants, obligations or agreements will cause Company irreparable injury for which adequate remedies at law are not available. Therefore, Grantee agrees that Company will be entitled to an injunction, restraining order, or any other equitable relief (without the requirement to post bond) as a court of competent jurisdiction may deem necessary or appropriate to restrain Grantee from committing any violation of the covenants, obligations or agreements referred to in this Agreement. These injunctive remedies are cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies Company may have against Grantee.

In addition, Grantee agrees that if he violates the terms of this Section or if the terms of this Section are determined to be unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, Grantee shall forfeit and not be entitled to receive the Performance Shares granted herein. If Grantee has already received the Performance Shares, Grantee agrees that he shall repay the Company the value of the Performance Shares on the date it was received by Grantee upon five (5) days written notice.

7.Limitation of Rights. The Performance Shares do not confer to Grantee or Grantee’s beneficiary, executors or administrators any rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with the units. Nothing in this Certificate shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate Grantee’s employment at any time, nor confer upon Grantee any right to continue in employment of the Company or any Affiliate.

8.No Entitlement to Future Awards. The grant of the Performance Shares does not entitle Grantee to the grant of any additional units or other awards under the Plan in the future. Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company, including, but not limited to, the timing of any grant, the number of units, and vesting provisions.

9.Payment of Taxes. The Company or any Affiliate employing Grantee has the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require Grantee to remit to the employer, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including Grantee’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the vesting or settlement of the Performance Shares. With respect to withholding required upon any taxable event arising as a result of the Performance Awards, the employer may satisfy the tax withholding requirement by withholding shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined, as nearly equal as possible to (but no more than) the total minimum statutory tax required to be withheld. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement will be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company, and, where applicable, its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to Grantee.

10.Recoupment. Any shares of Stock issued upon conversion of the Performance Shares shall be subject to forfeiture and recoupment by the Company based on a later determination that the vesting of such Performance Shares was based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria, whether or not the Participant caused or contributed to such material inaccuracy.

11.Amendment. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may amend, modify or terminate this Certificate without approval of Grantee; provided, however, that such amendment, modification or termination shall not, without Grantee’s consent, reduce or diminish the value of this award determined as if it had been fully vested and subject to application of the Performance Multiplier (i.e., as if all restrictions on the Performance Shares hereunder had expired) on the date of such amendment or termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Grantee hereby expressly agrees to any amendment to the Plan and this Agreement to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or changes to applicable law (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A) and related regulations or other guidance and federal securities laws.

12.Plan Controls. The terms contained in the Plan shall be and are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Certificate and this Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the terms and conditions of the Performance Shares, including the number of shares and the class or series of capital stock which may be delivered upon

settlement of the Performance Shares, are subject to adjustment as provided in Article 15 of the Plan. In the event of any actual or alleged conflict between the provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Certificate, the provisions of the Plan shall be controlling and determinative. Any conflict between this Certificate and the terms of a written employment with Grantee that has been approved, ratified or confirmed by the Committee shall be decided in favor of the provisions of such employment agreement.

13.Governing Law/Venue. Except as noted below, this Certificate shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflict of laws. However, the terms and provisions set forth in Section 6 shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. In addition, Grantee and the Company agree that any disputes or claims concerning or relating to the terms and provisions of this Agreement (including Section 6) shall be filed in Collin County, State of Texas or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

14.Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Certificate is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions of this Certificate will be construed and enforced as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been included.

15.Relationship to Other Benefits. The Performance Shares shall not affect the calculation of benefits under any other compensation plan or program of the Company, except to the extent specially provided in such other plan or program.

16.Notice. Notices and communications hereunder must be in writing and either personally delivered or sent by registered or certified United States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Notices to the Company must be addressed to Globe Life Inc., 3700 South Stonebridge Drive, McKinney, Texas 75070, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or any other address designated by the Company in a written notice to Grantee. Notices to Grantee will be directed to the address of Grantee then currently on file with the Company, or at any other address given by Grantee in a written notice to the Company.

EXHIBIT A

The Performance Shares will be earned, in whole or in part, based on the Company’s achievement of Performance Objectives relating to Earnings per Share, Underwriting Income, and Net Operating Income as a Return on Equity (each as defined below). Determination of all Performance Measures will be based on existing tax laws and accounting for long-duration contracts as of the commencement of the Performance Period.

		Performance Goals / Percent Earned			Actual Performance	Performance Multiplier Earned1	Weighted Performance Multiplier Earned2
Performance Measure	Weighting	Threshold 50%	Target 100%	Maximum 150%
Cumulative EPS 3	40%	$	$	$
Underwriting Income      ($million)4	30%	$	$	$
Net Operating Income as a Return on Equity 5	30%	%	%	%
					Performance Multiplier6

1     Performance below the Threshold level results in 0% earned. All other percentages earned are determined by pro-ration between the appropriate Performance Goals.

2     Performance Multiplier for the Performance Measure multiplied by the Weighting assigned to that Performance Measure

3     “Earning per Share” means the cumulative sum of “total diluted net operating income per share,” as reported on the Company’s Operating Summary for each fiscal year in the Performance Period. Earnings per Share shall exclude for this purpose the impact of all life claims incurred as a result of COVID-19.

4     “Underwriting Income” means the cumulative sum of the insurance underwriting margins of the life, health and annuity segments, plus other income, less insurance administrative expenses (excluding the investment segment, parent company expense and income taxes) for each fiscal year during the Performance Period (rounded to the nearest one hundred thousand dollar amount). Insurance underwriting margins shall exclude for this purpose all life claims incurred as a result of COVID-19.

5     “Net Operating Income as a Return on Equity” (NOI ROE) means average return on equity earned for the three-year Performance Period (calculated to two decimal places) using “Net Operating Income” per the Company's Operating Summary as the numerator in this ratio and excluding the effect of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale fixed maturity investments on Shareholder’s Equity in the denominator. Thus if the NOI ROE earned for 2021, 2022 and 2023 were 14%, 15% and 16% respectively, average NOI ROE would be 15%. Net Operating Income shall exclude for this purpose the after-tax effect of all life claims incurred as a result of COVID-19.

6     Total of the Weighted Performance Multiplier Earned

EX-23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-182473, 333-207130, 333-227501 on Form S-3 and Registration Statement Nos. 2-76378, 333-175185, 333-195314, 333-208999, 333-225417, 333-225992 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 25, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of Globe Life Inc. and subsidiaries (Globe Life) and the effectiveness of Globe Life’s internal control over financial reporting appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Globe Life for the year ended December 31, 2020.

/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Dallas, Texas

February 25, 2021

EX-24

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ Charles E. Adair

Charles E. Adair, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, her lawful attorneys and agents, for her and in her name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms her signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below her name.

/s/ Linda L. Addison

Linda L. Addison, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, her lawful attorneys and agents, for her and in her name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms her signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below her name.

/s/ Marilyn A. Alexander

Marilyn A. Alexander, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, her lawful attorneys and agents, for her and in her name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms her signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below her name.

/s/ Cheryl D. Alston

Cheryl D. Alston, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, her lawful attorneys and agents, for her and in her name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms her signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below her name.

/s/ Jane M. Buchan

Jane M. Buchan, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ Gary L. Coleman

Gary L. Coleman

Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Officer of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ M. Shane Henrie

M. Shane Henrie,

Corporate Senior Vice President and

Chief Accounting Officer

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ Larry M. Hutchison

Larry M. Hutchison,

Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ Robert W. Ingram

Robert W. Ingram, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ Steven P. Johnson

Steven P. Johnson, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ Darren M. Rebelez

Darren M. Rebelez, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Officer of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below his name.

/s/ Frank M. Svoboda

Frank M. Svoboda,

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date:    February 24, 2021

Exhibit 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

    That the undersigned Director of Globe Life Inc. does hereby constitute and appoint Frank M. Svoboda, R. Brian Mitchell and Christopher T. Moore, and each of them severally, her lawful attorneys and agents, for her and in her name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary, advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the powers granted include the power and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms her signature as it may be signed by said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated below her name.

/s/ Mary E. Thigpen

Mary E. Thigpen, Director

Date:    February 24, 2021

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Gary L. Coleman, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Globe Life Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 25, 2021	/s/ Gary L. Coleman
	Gary L. Coleman Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Larry M. Hutchison, certify that:

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Globe Life Inc.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

i.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

ii.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

iii.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluations; and

iv.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 25, 2021	/s/ Larry M. Hutchison
	Larry M. Hutchison Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.3

Exhibit 31.3

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Frank M. Svoboda, certify that:

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Globe Life Inc.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

i.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

ii.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

iii.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluations; and

iv.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 25, 2021	/s/ Frank M. Svoboda
	Frank M. Svoboda Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT

We, Gary L. Coleman, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Larry M. Hutchison, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Frank M. Svoboda, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Globe Life Inc., certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that, to the best of our knowledge:

(1)    the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2020 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)    the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: February 25, 2021	/s/ Gary L. Coleman
	Gary L. Coleman Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	/s/ Larry M. Hutchison
	Larry M. Hutchison Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	/s/ Frank M. Svoboda
	Frank M. Svoboda Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

XML

Cover Page - USD ($)
$ in Billions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Feb. 18, 2021

Jun. 30, 2020

Cover [Abstract]

Document Type

10-K

Document Annual Report

true

Document Period End Date

Dec. 31, 2020

Current Fiscal Year End Date

--12-31

Document Transition Report

false

Entity File Number

001-08052

Entity Registrant Name

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code

DE

Entity Tax Identification Number

63-0780404

Entity Address, Address Line One

3700 South Stonebridge Drive

Entity Address, City or Town

McKinney

Entity Address, State or Province

TX

Entity Address, Postal Zip Code

75070

City Area Code

972

Local Phone Number

569-4000

Title of 12(b) Security

Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share

Trading Symbol

GL

Security Exchange Name

NYSE

Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer

Yes

Entity Voluntary Filers

No

Entity Current Reporting Status

Yes

Entity Interactive Data Current

Yes

Entity Filer Category

Large Accelerated Filer

Entity Small Business

false

Entity Emerging Growth Company

false

ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag

true

Entity Shell Company

false

Entity Public Float

$ 7.7

Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding

103,283,402

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Document	Parts Into Which Incorporated
Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 29, 2021 (Proxy Statement)	Part III

Amendment Flag

false

Entity Central Index Key

0000320335

Document Fiscal Year Focus

2020

Document Fiscal Period Focus

FY

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments:
Fixed maturities—available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2020—$17,197,145; 2019—$16,415,776, allowance for credit losses: 2020— $3,346; 2019— $0)	$ 21,213,509	$ 18,907,147
Policy loans	584,379	575,492
Other long-term investments (includes: 2020—$385,038; 2019—$185,851 under the fair value option)	546,981	326,347
Short-term investments	107,782	38,285
Total investments	22,452,651	19,847,271
Cash	94,847	75,933
Accrued investment income	248,991	245,129
Other receivables	474,180	441,662
Deferred acquisition costs	4,595,444	4,341,941
Goodwill	441,591	441,591
Other assets	739,027	583,933
Total assets	29,046,731	25,977,460
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	15,243,536	14,508,134
Unearned and advance premium	61,728	63,709
Policy claims and other benefits payable	399,507	365,402
Other policyholders' funds	97,968	96,282
Total policy liabilities	15,802,739	15,033,527
Current and deferred income taxes	1,833,723	1,476,832
Short-term debt	254,918	298,738
Long-term debt (estimated fair value: 2020—$1,871,754; 2019—$1,473,364)	1,667,886	1,348,988
Other liabilities	716,373	525,068
Total liabilities	20,275,639	18,683,153
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $1 per share—5,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding: 0 in 2020 and 2019	0	0
Common stock, par value $1 per share—320,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding: (2020—113,218,183 issued; 2019— 117,218,183 issued)	113,218	117,218
Additional paid-in-capital	527,435	531,554
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	3,029,244	1,844,830
Retained earnings	5,874,109	5,551,329
Treasury stock, at cost: (2020—9,420,699 shares; 2019—9,497,940 shares)	(772,914)	(750,624)
Total shareholders' equity	8,771,092	7,294,307
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 29,046,731	$ 25,977,460

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	$ 17,197,145	$ 16,415,776
Fixed maturities, available for sale, allowance for credit losses	3,346	0
Other long-term investments under fair value option	546,981	326,347
Total long-term debt, fair value	$ 1,871,754	$ 1,473,364
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	320,000,000	320,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	113,218,183	117,218,183
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	113,218,183	117,218,183
Common stock, shares held in treasury (in shares)	9,420,699	9,497,940
Partnership Interest - Fair Value Option | Investment in limited partnerships
Other long-term investments under fair value option	$ 385,038	$ 185,851

XML

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue:
Amount	$ 3,813,905	$ 3,595,134	$ 3,421,906
Net investment income	927,062	910,459	882,512
Realized gains (losses)	(4,371)	20,621	(1,804)
Other income	1,325	1,318	1,137
Total revenue	4,737,921	4,527,532	4,303,751
Benefits and expenses:
Life policyholder benefits	1,809,373	1,638,053	1,591,790
Health policyholder benefits	733,481	687,764	649,188
Other policyholder benefits	30,030	31,532	34,264
Total policyholder benefits	2,572,884	2,357,349	2,275,242
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	575,770	551,726	516,690
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	304,841	298,047	278,487
Other operating expense	301,038	304,825	279,585
Interest expense	86,704	84,306	90,076
Total benefits and expenses	3,841,237	3,596,253	3,440,080
Income before income taxes	896,684	931,279	863,671
Income tax benefit (expense)	(164,911)	(170,397)	(162,161)
Income from continuing operations	731,773	760,882	701,510
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	(92)	(44)
Net income	$ 731,773	$ 760,790	$ 701,466
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 6.90	$ 6.97	$ 6.22
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Total basic net income per common share (in dollars per share)	6.90	6.97	6.22
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	6.82	6.83	6.09
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Total diluted net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 6.82	$ 6.83	$ 6.09
Life premium
Revenue:
Amount	$ 2,672,804	$ 2,517,784	$ 2,406,555
Health premium
Revenue:
Amount	1,141,097	1,077,346	1,015,339
Other premium
Revenue:
Amount	$ 4	$ 4	$ 12

XML

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Net income	$ 731,773	$ 760,790	$ 701,466
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Unrealized gains (losses)	1,510,033	1,958,165	(1,434,918)
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	(317,111)	(411,213)	301,327
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax	1,192,922	1,546,952	(1,133,591)
Deferred acquisition costs:
Unrealized gains (losses) attributable to deferred acquisition costs	1,533	(2,218)	5,549
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	(321)	465	(1,165)
Unrealized gains (losses) attributable to deferred acquisition costs, net of tax	1,212	(1,753)	4,384
Foreign exchange translation:
Foreign exchange translation adjustments, other than securities	14,230	7,042	(12,417)
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	(2,986)	(1,479)	2,610
Foreign exchange translation adjustments, other than securities, net of tax	11,244	5,563	(9,807)
Pension:
Amortization of pension costs	16,632	8,474	15,095
Plan amendments	0	0	(2,377)
Experience gain (loss)	(43,169)	(40,636)	30,591
Pension adjustments	(26,537)	(32,162)	43,309
Less applicable tax (expense) benefit	5,573	6,755	(9,094)
Pension adjustments, net of tax	(20,964)	(25,407)	34,215
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,184,414	1,525,355	(1,104,799)
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,916,187	2,286,145	(403,333)
Securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period	1,493,200	1,959,596	(1,426,581)
Other reclassification adjustments included in net income	32,809	(13,837)	(1,758)
Foreign exchange adjustment on securities recorded at fair value	2,330	1,151	(1,424)
Unrealized gains (losses)	1,528,339	1,946,910	(1,429,763)
Other investments
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Unrealized gains (losses)	$ (18,306)	$ 11,255	$ (5,155)

XML

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment		Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Common Stock	Common Stock Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Additional Paid-In Capital	Additional Paid-In Capital Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment		Retained Earnings Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance	Treasury Stock	Treasury Stock Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 6,231,421	$ 4,896		$ 6,236,317	$ 0	$ 0	$ 124,218	$ 124,218	$ 508,476	$ 508,476	$ 1,424,274	$ 1,424,274	$ 4,806,208	$ 4,896		$ 4,811,104	$ (631,755)	$ (631,755)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (403,333)										(1,104,799)		701,466
Common dividends declared	(71,941)												(71,941)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(421,749)																(421,749)
Stock-based compensation	39,792								28,836				(1,803)				12,759
Exercise of stock options	36,091												(24,811)				60,902
Retirement of treasury stock	0						(3,000)		(12,898)				(200,547)				216,445
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 5,415,177	(392)		5,414,785	0	0	121,218	121,218	524,414	524,414	319,475	319,475	5,213,468	(392)		5,213,076	(763,398)	(763,398)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 2,286,145										1,525,355		760,790
Common dividends declared	(75,060)												(75,060)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(459,569)																(459,569)
Stock-based compensation	44,843								25,132				(6,817)				26,528
Exercise of stock options	83,163												(51,892)				135,055
Retirement of treasury stock	0						(4,000)		(17,992)				(288,768)				310,760
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	7,294,307	$ (454)	[1]	$ 7,293,853	0	$ 0	117,218	$ 117,218	531,554	$ 531,554	1,844,830	$ 1,844,830	5,551,329	$ (454)	[1]	$ 5,550,875	(750,624)	$ (750,624)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,916,187										1,184,414		731,773
Common dividends declared	(79,067)												(79,067)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(443,866)																(443,866)
Stock-based compensation	35,892								14,410				(482)				21,964
Exercise of stock options	48,093												(26,908)				75,001
Retirement of treasury stock	0						(4,000)		(18,529)				(302,082)				324,611
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 8,771,092				$ 0		$ 113,218		$ 527,435		$ 3,029,244		$ 5,874,109				$ (772,914)

[1] Adoption of Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on January 1, 2020. See further discussion in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

XML

Consolidated Statements Of Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Common dividends declared, per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.64	$ 0.75

XML

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 731,773	$ 760,790	$ 701,466
Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to cash provided from continuing operations:
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	92	44
Increase (decrease) in future policy benefits	798,936	661,567	664,997
Increase (decrease) in other policy benefits	33,810	15,900	17,134
Deferral of policy acquisition costs	(822,985)	(753,661)	(699,551)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	575,770	551,726	516,690
Change in current and deferred income taxes	88,157	68,588	69,369
Realized (gains) losses	4,371	(20,621)	1,804
Other, net	66,602	62,194	4,463
Net cash provided from (used for) continuing operations	1,476,434	1,346,575	1,276,416
Net cash provided from (used for) discontinued operations	0	17,299	1,231
Cash provided from (used for) operating activities	1,476,434	1,363,874	1,277,647
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities:
Fixed maturities available for sale—sold	52,681	79,108	32,021
Fixed maturities available for sale—matured or other redemptions	416,321	840,222	343,712
Other long-term investments	42,990	5,134	477
Total investments sold or matured	511,992	924,464	376,210
Acquisition of investments:
Fixed maturities—available for sale	(1,262,434)	(1,552,956)	(1,155,539)
Other long-term investments	(266,230)	(123,332)	(93,631)
Total investments acquired	(1,528,664)	(1,676,288)	(1,249,170)
Net (increase) decrease in policy loans	(8,887)	(25,426)	(20,537)
Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments	(69,497)	34,003	63,783
Additions to properties	(41,756)	(42,203)	(45,092)
Other investing activities	(7,051)	32	1,987
Investments in low-income housing interests	(37,867)	(23,893)	(23,404)
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities	(1,181,730)	(809,311)	(896,223)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities:
Issuance of common stock	48,093	83,163	36,091
Cash dividends paid to shareholders	(78,192)	(74,188)	(71,421)
Repayment of debt	(386,875)	(6,875)	(327,762)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	700,000	0	550,000
Payment for debt issuance costs	(5,844)	0	(6,969)
Net borrowing (repayment) of commercial paper	(34,445)	(11,610)	(22,719)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(443,866)	(459,569)	(421,749)
Net receipts (payments) from deposit-type products	(72,928)	(121,429)	(126,991)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(274,057)	(590,508)	(391,520)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	(1,733)	(9,148)	12,559
Net increase (decrease) in cash	18,914	(45,093)	2,463
Cash at beginning of year	75,933	121,026	118,563
Cash at end of year	$ 94,847	$ 75,933	$ 121,026

XML

Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1—Significant Accounting PoliciesBusiness: (Globe Life), (the Company), refer to Globe Life Inc., an insurance holding company incorporated in Delaware in 1979, and Globe Life Inc. subsidiaries and affiliates. Globe Life Inc.'s direct or indirect primary subsidiaries are Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company, American Income Life Insurance Company, Liberty National Life Insurance Company, Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America, and United American Insurance Company. The underwriting companies are owned by their ultimate corporate parent, Globe Life Inc. (the Parent Company).Globe Life provides a variety of life and supplemental health insurance products and annuities to a broad base of customers. The Company is organized into four reportable segments: life insurance, supplemental health insurance, annuities, and investments.Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Globe Life have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), under guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.rinciples of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the results of Globe Life Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. When Globe Life acquires a subsidiary or a block of business, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are measured at fair value at the acquisition date. Any excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of net assets is recorded as goodwill. Expenses incurred to effect the acquisition are charged to earnings as of the acquisition date. Upon acquisition, the accounts and results of operations are consolidated as of and subsequent to the acquisition date.

Globe Life accounts for its variable interest entities (VIEs) under accounting guidance which clarifies the definition of a variable interest and the instructions for consolidating VIEs. Only primary beneficiaries are required or allowed to consolidate VIEs. The investments are not consolidated because the Company has no power to control the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of these entities and therefore the Company is not the primary beneficiary of any of these interests. Globe Life's involvement is limited to its limited partnership interest in the entities. The Company has not provided any other financial support to the entities beyond its commitments to fund its limited partnership interests, and there are no arrangements or agreements with any of the interests to provide other financial support. The maximum loss exposure relative to these interests is limited to their carrying value. The Company has approximately 1% of total assets in low-income housing tax credits and certain limited partnerships (investment funds) that qualify as unconsolidated VIEs.

Discontinued Operations: When a component of Globe Life's business is sold or expected to be sold during the ensuing year, the Company considers whether the criteria of ASC 205-20, Discontinued Operations, have been met, which includes evaluating if the disposal of a component represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company. If the disposal meets the criteria for discontinued operations, the assets and liabilities are segregated and recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Assets and Liabilities related to discontinued operations" for all periods presented. If the carrying amount of the business exceeds its estimated fair value, a loss is recognized. The results of operations for the discontinued component are reported in "Income from discontinued operations, net of tax" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for current and prior periods. Discontinued operations are reported commencing in the period in which the business is either disposed of or meets the accounting criteria for discontinued operations, including any gain or loss recognized on the sale or adjustment of the carrying amount to the estimated fair value less cost to sell.

In 2016, Globe Life sold one of its operating segments, Medicare Part D. The financial results of this business are excluded from the Company's continuing operations including the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company received final settlement related to the assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations in 2019.

Investments: Globe Life classifies all of its fixed maturity investments as available for sale. Investments classified as available for sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reflected directly in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). Income from investments is recorded in "Net investment income" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Gains and losses from sales, maturities, or other redemptions of investments are recorded in "Realized gains (losses)". Interest income and prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Premiums and discounts are amortized using the effective yield method. When amortized cost of a callable debt security exceeds the first call price, the premium is amortized to the earliest call date. Otherwise, the period of amortization or accretion generally extends from the purchase date to the maturity date.

"Policy loans", which represent loans provided to policyholders using cash values as collateral, are carried at unpaid principal balances. "Other long-term investments" include limited partnerships, commercial mortgage loan participations ("commercial mortgage loans"), equity securities, and real estate. Investments in equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value, net of taxes, reflected directly in "Realized gains (losses)" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments in real estate are reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life. Investments in limited partnerships consist of low-income housing tax credits and investment funds. Low-income housing tax credits are discussed further below.

The investment funds consist of limited partnerships whereby the Company has a pro-rata share of ownership ranging from less than 1% to 20%. For each investment, the Company has elected the fair value option, but would have been otherwise accounted for as an equity method investment. The fair value option is assessed for each individual investment and concluded at the inception of the investment. Additionally, each investment is evaluated under applicable GAAP to determine if it is a variable interest entity and would qualify for consolidation; none of these investments qualify for consolidation as the Company is not the primary beneficiary.

The investments are reported at the Company's pro-rata share of the investment fund's net asset value or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. Operating results provided by the partnerships can be on a lag up to 3 months. Changes in the net asset value are recorded in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Distributions received from the funds arise from income generated by the underlying investments as well as the liquidation of the underlying investments. Periodic distributions are recorded in net investment income until cumulative distributions exceed our pro-rata share of cumulative operating earnings at which point the distributions will reduce carrying value. Our maximum exposure to loss is equal to the outstanding carrying value and future funding commitments. The Company had $227 million of capital called during the year from existing investment funds, reducing our unfunded commitments. Our unfunded commitments were $435 million as of December 31, 2020.

Commercial mortgage loan participations, a type of investment where the mortgage loan is shared among investors, are accounted for as financing receivables. The commercial mortgage loans are managed by a third-party. The Company purchased the legal rights to interests in commercial mortgage loans which are secured by transitional properties such as hotels, retail, multiple family, or offices. The commercial mortgage loans typically have a term of three years with the option to extend up to two years. The commercial mortgage loans are recorded at unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized origination fees and net of allowance for loan losses. Interest income, net of the amortization of origination fees, is recorded in "Net Investment Income" under the effective yield method. Our unfunded commitment balance to the commercial loan borrowers was $47 million as of December 31, 2020.

"Short-term investments" include investments in interest-bearing assets with original maturities of twelve months or less. Gains and losses realized on the disposition of investments are determined on a specific identification basis.

Fair Value Measurements, Investments in Securities: Globe Life measures the fair value of its "fixed maturities" based on a hierarchy consisting of three levels which indicate the quality of the fair value measurements as described below:

•Level 1—fair values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

•Level 2—fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 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, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or inputs that can otherwise be corroborated by observable market data.

•Level 3—fair values are based on inputs that are considered unobservable where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability as of the measurement date. In this circumstance, the Company has to rely on values derived by independent brokers or internally-developed assumptions. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available to the Company which may include the Company’s own data or bid and ask prices in the dealer market.

Net Asset Value—Certain investments, such as investment funds, that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share or its equivalent, as a practical expedient, have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The net asset value is usually provided by general partners or managers.

The great majority of Globe Life's "fixed maturities" are not actively traded and direct quotes are not generally available. Management therefore determines the fair values of these securities after consideration of data provided by third-party pricing services, independent broker/dealers, and other resources. At December 31, 2020, the Company's investments in fixed maturities were primarily composed of the following significant security types: corporate securities, state and municipal securities, U.S. government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises securities. The remaining security types represented approximately 1% of the total in the aggregate.

Approximately 97% of the fair value of "fixed maturities" reported at December 31, 2020 was determined using data provided by third-party pricing services. Prices provided by these services are not binding offers, but are estimated exit values. Third-party pricing services use proprietary pricing models to determine security values by discounting cash flows using a market-adjusted spread to a benchmark yield.

For all asset classes within Globe Life's significant security types, third-party pricing services use a common valuation technique to model the price of the investments using observable market data. The foundation for these models consists of developing yield spreads based on multiple observable market inputs, including but not limited to: benchmark yield curves, actual trading activity, new issue yields, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, sector-specific data, economic data, and other inputs that are corroborated in the market. Pricing vendors monitor and review their pricing data continuously with current market and economic data feeds, augmented by ongoing communication within the dealer community.

Using the observable market inputs described above, spreads to an appropriate benchmark yield are further developed by the vendors for each security based on security-specific and/or sector-specific risk factors, such as a security’s terms and conditions (coupon, maturity, and call features), credit rating, sector, liquidity, collateral or other cash flow options, and other factors that could impact the risk of the security. Embedded repayment options, such as call and redemption features, are also taken into account in the pricing models. When the spread is determined, it is added to the security’s benchmark yield. The security's expected cash flows are discounted using this spread-adjusted yield, and the resulting present value of the discounted cash flows is the evaluated price.

When third-party vendor prices are not available, the Company attempts to obtain valuations from other sources, including but not limited to broker/dealers, broker quotes, and prices on comparable securities.

When valuations have been obtained for all securities in the portfolio, management reviews and analyzes the prices to ensure their reasonableness, taking into account available and observable information. When two or more valuations are available for a security and the variance between the prices is 10% or less, the close correlation suggests similar observable inputs were used in deriving the price, and the mean of the prices is used. Securities valued in this manner are classified as Level 2. When the variance between two or more valuations for a security exceeds 10%, additional analysis is performed to determine the most appropriate value for that security, using resources such as broker quotes, prices on comparable securities, recent trades, and any other observable market data. Further review is performed on the available valuations to determine if they can be corroborated within reasonable tolerance to any other observable evidence. If one of the valuations or the mean of the available valuations for a security can be corroborated with other observable evidence, then the corroborated value is used and reported as Level 2. The Company uses information and analytical techniques deemed appropriate for determining the point within the range of reasonable fair value estimates that is most representative of fair value under current market conditions. Valuations that cannot be corroborated within a reasonable tolerance are classified as Level 3.

Globe Life invests in a portfolio of private placement fixed maturities that are not actively traded. This portfolio is managed by third-parties. The portfolio managers provide valuations for the bonds based on a pricing matrix utilizing observable inputs, such as the benchmark treasury rate and published sector indices, and unobservable inputs such as an internally-developed credit rating. If observable inputs cannot be corroborated, the fair values are classified as Level 3. Refer to Note 4—Investments under the caption Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements.

The fair values for each class of security and by valuation hierarchy level are indicated in Note 4—Investments under the caption Fair value measurements, and Note 9—Postretirement Benefits under the caption Pension Assets.

Fair Value Measurements, Other Financial Instruments: Fair values for cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, short-term debt, receivables, and payables approximate carrying value. Cash and cash equivalents are classified as Level 1. Fair values of commercial mortgage loans are determined based upon expected cash flows discounted at an appropriate risk-adjusted rate and are classified as Level 3. The fair value of investments in limited partnerships that provide low-income housing tax credits is based on discounted projected cash flows and are classified as Level 3. Policy loans are an integral part of Globe Life's subsidiaries’ life insurance policies in force and their fair values cannot be valued separately from the insurance contracts. Investment funds are based on net asset value and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

The fair values of Globe Life's long and short term debt issues are based on the same methodology as investments in fixed maturities. At December 31, 2020, observable inputs were available for these debt securities and as such were classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy. The fair value for each debt instrument as of December 31, 2020 is disclosed in Note 11—Debt.

As described in Note 9—Postretirement Benefits, Globe Life maintains a nonqualified supplemental retirement plan. Accordingly, the assets that support the liability for this plan are considered general assets of the Company. These assets consist of the cash value of corporate-owned life insurance policies (COLI) and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The fair value of the insurance cash values approximates carrying value. Fair values for the ETFs are derived from direct quotes and are considered Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (CECL adoption): On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, replacing the GAAP "incurred loss" model with a new methodology referred to as current expected credit losses (CECL). The previous methodology delayed recognition of credit losses until it was probable that a loss had incurred, ultimately resulting in fewer instances of losses being recorded in earnings. The new CECL methodology

is forward looking—encompassing relevant information about historical experience, current conditions, as well as reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of a reported amount.

The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables. Upon adoption, the standard affected the Company's commercial mortgage loans ("Other long-term investments") and agent debit balances ("Other receivables"). The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method.

The Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, of $454 thousand to retained earnings, consisting of $265 thousand and $189 thousand for commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances, respectively. Refer to the table below for pre-tax amounts and Note 4—Investments for additional details.

	As reported on December 31, 2019		Pre-tax impact of adoption		As reported on January 1, 2020
Assets:
Commercial mortgage loans	$	137,692	$	(335)	$	137,357
Agent debit balances	423,877		(240)		423,637

In addition, the standard made changes to the accounting for available-for-sale debt securities through the removal of "other-than-temporary-impairment" (OTTI) write downs and replaced them with an allowance for credit losses. The new methodology will allow the Company to record reversals of credit losses in situations where the estimate of credit losses declines through current period net income ("Realized gains (losses)").

The Company adopted the standard using the prospective transition approach for available-for-sale fixed maturities for which OTTI had been recognized prior to January 1, 2020. As a result, the amortized cost basis and the effective interest rate remain unchanged after the adoption of ASU 2016-13. Amortized cost will now be reflected as "amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses" or "amortized cost, net." The Company has not elected the fair value option for any financial assets recorded at amortized cost that would be in scope of this standard.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (fixed maturities): At the onset of the evaluation, the Company individually assesses each fixed maturity, on a quarterly basis, to determine whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria are met, the Company will write down the fixed maturity's amortized cost basis to fair value through "Realized gains (losses)".

If neither of the aforementioned criteria are met, the Company will evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from a credit event. The Company will evaluate many factors, as further described below, to determine the present value of the expected cash flows. A credit loss occurs when the present value of the expected cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis. This will result in the recording of an allowance for credit losses as a contra asset account to the amortized cost basis with an offsetting provision for credit losses in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, the CECL methodology includes a fair value floor where the allowance for credit loss for a security cannot exceed the difference between fair value and amortized cost. When it is determined that there is not a credit loss, the decline in fair value is recognized in Other comprehensive income.

All changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses recorded to the allowance for credit losses are management's best estimate of the uncollectibility of principal and interest of a fixed maturity.

The evaluation of Globe Life's securities for credit losses is a process that is undertaken at least quarterly and is overseen by a team of investment and accounting professionals. The process for making this determination is highly subjective and involves the careful consideration of many factors. The factors considered include, but are not limited to:

•The Company’s lack of intent to sell the debt security before recovery;

•Whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell prior to maturity;

•The reason(s) for the credit related losses;

•The financial condition of the issuer and the prospects for recovery in fair value of the security;

•Expected future cash flows.

The relative weight given to each of these factors can change over time as facts and circumstances change. In many cases, management believes it is appropriate to give more consideration to prospective factors than to retrospective factors. Prospective factors that are given more weight include prospects for recovery, the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until anticipated recovery, and expected future cash flows.

Among the facts and information considered in the process are:

•Financial statements of the issuer

•Changes in credit ratings of the issuer

•The value of underlying collateral

•News and information included in press releases issued by the issuer

•News and information reported in the media concerning the issuer

•News and information published by or otherwise provided by securities, economic, or research analysts

•The nature and amount of recent and expected future sources and uses of cash

•Default on a required payment

•Issuer bankruptcy filings

The expected cash flows are determined using judgment and the best information available to the Company. Inputs used to derive expected cash flows generally include expected default rates, current levels of subordination, and estimated recovery rate. The discount rate utilized in the discounted cash flows is the effective interest rate, which is the rate of return implicit in the asset at acquisition.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (commercial mortgage loans): Effective January 1, 2020, the Company evaluates the performance and credit quality of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio at least on a quarterly basis, or as needed, by utilizing common metrics such as loan-to-value or debt-service ratios as well as covenants, local market conditions, borrower quality, and underlying collateral. The fair value of the underlying collateral is based on a third-party appraisal of the property at origination of the loan. The fair value is assessed on an annual basis or more frequently when a loan is materially underperforming, 30 days delinquent, or in technical default. The Company determines the probability of estimated losses for the commercial mortgage loan portfolio on a pool basis each quarter and records an allowance. The allowance for credit losses is based on estimates, historical experience, probability of loss, value of the underlying collateral, and macro factors that affect the collectability of the loan. Each loan within the pool is assigned a risk rating (credit quality indicator) of low, medium, and high based on risk and expected future performance. A loan that is assigned as high risk would have a higher probability of a potential principal loss. The assigned risk category and the estimated loss rate is adjusted each quarter for current and forecasted economic factors management believes are relevant.

If management determines that foreclosure of a particular property is probable, the Company may elect the practical expedient for an individual mortgage loan to estimate the expected credit losses, which are based on the fair value of the property less amortized cost, adjusted for selling and other associated costs. See Note 4 for current activity.

Cash: "Cash" consists of balances on hand and on deposit in banks and financial institutions.

Accrued investment income: "Accrued investment income" consists of interest income or dividends earned on the investment portfolio, but which are yet to be received as of the balance sheet date. The Company will write-off accrued investment income that is deemed to be uncollectible related to the fixed maturities.

"Accrued investment income" also consists of interest income earned on the commercial mortgage loan portfolio, but which is yet to be received as of the balance sheet date. Accrued investment income will be placed in nonaccrual status at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent or otherwise deemed to be uncollectible by management. Any currently accrued investment income will subsequently be written off. As of December 31, 2020, the accrued interest receivable for commercial mortgage loans was $433 thousand. Commercial mortgage loans generally pay interest monthly, therefore accrued interest is typically for a period of less than 30 days.

As a practical expedient, the Company excludes the accrued investment income from the amortized cost basis of the investment and separately reports it in another financial statement line item, "Accrued investment income." Additionally, the amount will be excluded from disclosures within Note 4—Investments.

Other Receivables: Agent debit balances primarily represent commissions advanced to insurance agents, a common industry practice. These balances are repaid to the Company over time, generally one year, as the premiums associated with the advanced commissions are collected by the Company and a portion of the agents' commissions on such premiums are retained in order to repay the balances. The balances were $456 million at December 31, 2020 and $424 million at December 31, 2019. When an agent sells a policy, commissions are advanced to the agent, and the collection of the advance is made as long as the policy stays in force. While there is a susceptibility to loss should an agent terminate or excessive policy lapses occur, the ability of the Company to continue to collect an agent's commission streams over time from prior sales of policies reduces the Company's exposure to loss.

The Company has a very low inherent risk with regards to the collection of agent debit balances and views these balances as recoverable since they are, in aggregate, less than the estimated present value of future commissions discounted at a conservative rate which includes assumptions for lapses and mortality. The Company’s security, or collateral, is in the form of future commission streams collected over the life of the policies sold by the respective agents, which ultimately revert to the Company in the event an agent is terminated. The Company evaluated the agent debit balances on a pool basis to determine the allowance for credit losses, as the loans have similar characteristics. A provision for credit losses will be recorded in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the asset balance will be reflected in agent debit balances, net of allowance for credit losses ("Other receivables"). Based on factors considered by management, aside from the cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption described above, there were no additional credit losses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was $1.2 million.

Deferred Acquisition Costs: Certain costs of acquiring new insurance business are deferred and recorded as an asset. These costs are essential for the acquisition of new insurance business and are directly related to the successful issuance of an insurance contract including sales commissions, policy issue costs, and underwriting costs. Additionally, deferred acquisition costs (DAC) include the value of business acquired (VOBA), which are the costs of acquiring blocks of insurance from other companies or through the acquisition of other companies. These costs represent the difference between the fair value of the contractual insurance assets acquired and liabilities assumed compared against the assets and liabilities for insurance contracts that the Company issues or holds measured in accordance with GAAP.

DAC and VOBA are amortized in a systematic manner which matches these costs with the associated revenues. Policies other than universal life-type policies are amortized with interest over the estimated premium-paying period of the policies in a manner which charges each year’s operations in proportion to the receipt of premium income.

Universal life-type policies are amortized with interest in proportion to estimated gross profits. The assumptions used to amortize acquisition costs include interest, mortality, morbidity, and persistency, and are consistent with those used to estimate the liability for future policy benefits. For interest-sensitive and deposit-type products, these assumptions are reviewed on a regular basis and are revised if actual experience differs significantly from original expectations. For all other products, amortization assumptions are generally not revised once established.

DAC and VOBA are subject to periodic recoverability and loss recognition testing to determine if there is a premium deficiency. These tests evaluate whether the present value of future contract-related cash flows will support the capitalized DAC and VOBA assets. These cash flows consist primarily of premium income, less benefits and expenses. The present value of these cash flows, less the benefit reserve, is then compared with the unamortized deferred acquisition cost balance. In the event the estimated present value of net cash flows is less, the deficiency would be recognized by a charge to earnings and either a reduction of unamortized acquisition costs or an increase in the liability for future benefits, as described under the caption Future Policy Benefits. Refer to Note 5—Deferred Acquisition Costs.

Advertising Costs: Costs related to advertising are generally charged to expense as incurred. However, certain Direct to Consumer advertising costs are capitalized when there is a reliable and demonstrated relationship between total costs and future benefits that is a direct result of incurring these costs. Direct to Consumer advertising costs consist primarily of the production and distribution costs of direct mail advertising materials, and when capitalized are included as a component of DAC. Additionally, they are amortized in the same manner as other DAC. Direct to Consumer advertising costs charged to earnings and included in other operating expense were $9.8 million, $9.5 million, and $9.0 million in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Unamortized capitalized advertising costs included within DAC were $1.4 billion at December 31, 2020 and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2019.

Goodwill: The excess cost of a business acquired over the fair value of net assets acquired is reported as goodwill. In accordance with the guidance, goodwill is subject to impairment testing on an annual basis, or whenever potential impairment triggers occur. Impairment testing involves the performance of a qualitative analysis, which involves assessing current events and circumstances to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. In the event the fair value is less than the carrying value, further testing is required to determine the amount of impairment, if any. If there is an impairment in the goodwill of any reporting unit, it is written down and charged to earnings in the period of the test. Globe Life tested its goodwill annually as of June 30th for each of the years 2018 through 2020. The Company's goodwill was not impaired in any of those periods.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Interests: Globe Life invests in limited partnerships that provide low-income housing tax credits and other related federal income tax benefits to the Company. Globe Life holds passive interests in limited partnerships that provide investment returns through the provision of tax benefits (principally from the transfer of federal or state tax credits related to federal low-income housing). These investments are considered to be VIEs and do not qualify for consolidation. The carrying value of the Company's investment in these entities was $306 million and $206 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and was included in "Other assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life was obligated under future commitments of $162 million, which are recorded in "Other liabilities". For guaranteed investments acquired prior to January 1, 2015, the Company utilizes the effective-yield method of amortization, while the proportional method of amortization is utilized for all non-guaranteed and guaranteed investments acquired on or after January 1, 2015. All amortization expense is recorded in "Income tax benefit (expense)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment, included in “Other assets,” is reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded primarily on the straight line method over the estimated useful lives of these assets which range from three to ten years for equipment and fifteen to forty years for buildings and improvements. Ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred. Impairments, if any, are recorded when certain events and circumstances become evident that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying amount. Original cost of property and equipment was $350 million at December 31, 2020 and $298 million at December 31, 2019. Accumulated depreciation was $164 million at the end of 2020 and $137 million at the end of 2019. Depreciation expense was $17 million in 2020, $16 million in 2019, and $13 million in 2018. Internally generated software costs are expensed as incurred in the preliminary project phase and post-implementation phase, and are

capitalized during the application development stage. Additionally, implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract are capitalized.

Future Policy Benefits: The liability for future policy benefits for annuity and universal life-type products is represented by policy account value. The liability for future policy benefits for all other life and health products, approximately 90% of total liabilities for future policy benefits, is determined on the net level premium method. This method provides for the present value of expected future benefit payments less the present value of expected future net premiums, based on estimated investment yields, mortality, morbidity, persistency, and other assumptions which were considered appropriate at the time the policies were issued. For limited-payment contracts, a deferred profit liability is also recorded which causes profits to emerge over the life of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance in force.

Assumptions used for traditional life and health insurance products are based primarily on Company experience. Assumptions for interest rates range from 2.5% to 7.0% for Globe Life's insurance companies with an overall weighted average assumed rate of 5.7%. Mortality tables used for individual life insurance include various industry tables and reflect modifications of a variety of generally accepted actuarial tables based on Company experience. Morbidity assumptions for individual health are based on Company experience and industry data. Withdrawal and termination assumptions are based on Globe Life's experience. Once established, assumptions for these products are generally not changed. An additional provision is made on most products to allow for possible adverse deviation from the assumptions. These estimates are reviewed annually and compared with actual experience. If it is determined that existing contract liabilities, together with the present value of future gross premiums, will not be sufficient to cover the present value of future benefits and to recover unamortized deferred acquisition costs, then a premium deficiency exists. Such a deficiency would be recognized immediately by a charge to earnings and either a reduction of unamortized deferred acquisition costs or an increase in the liability for future policy benefits. From that point forward, the liability for future policy benefits would be based on revised assumptions.

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable: Globe Life establishes a liability for known policy benefits payable and an estimate of claims that have been incurred but not yet reported to the Company. Globe Life makes an estimate of unreported claims after careful evaluation of all information available to the Company. This estimate is based on prior experience and is reviewed quarterly. However, there is no certainty the stated liability for claims and other benefits, including the estimate of unsubmitted claims, will be Globe Life's ultimate obligation. For more information, see Note 7—Liability for Unpaid Claims.

Income Taxes: "Income taxes" are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement book values and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Postretirement Benefits: Globe Life accounts for its postretirement defined benefit plans by recognizing the funded status of those plans on its Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with accounting guidance. Periodic gains and losses attributable to changes in plan assets and liabilities that are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs are recognized as components of other comprehensive income, net of tax. The supplemental executive retirement plan is accounted for consistent with the qualified noncontributory pension plan. The net assets are included in a Rabbi Trust and recorded in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. More information concerning the accounting and disclosures for postretirement benefits is found in Note 9—Postretirement Benefits.

Treasury Stock: Globe Life accounts for purchases of treasury stock on the cost method. Issuance of treasury stock is accounted for using the weighted-average cost method. More information is found in Note 12—Shareholders' Equity.

Recognition of Premium Revenue and Related Expenses: Premium income for traditional long-duration life and health insurance products is recognized evenly over the contract period and when due from the policyholder. Premiums for short-duration health contracts are recognized as revenue over the contract period in proportion to the insurance protection provided. Premiums for universal life-type and annuity contracts are added to the policy account value, and revenues for such products are recognized as charges to the policy account value for mortality, administration, and surrenders (retrospective deposit method). Life premium includes policy charges of $14.7 million, $15.6 million, and $16.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Other premium consists of annuity policy charges in each year. For most insurance products, the related benefits and expenses are matched with revenues by means of the provision of future policy benefits and the amortization of DAC in a manner which recognizes profits as they are earned over the revenue recognition period. For limited-payment life insurance products, the profits are recognized over the contract period.

Stock-Based Compensation: Globe Life accounts for stock-based compensation by recognizing an expense in the consolidated financial statements based on the “fair value method.” The fair value method requires that a fair value be assigned to a stock option or other stock grant on its grant date and that this value be amortized over the grantees’ service period.

The fair value method requires the use of an option valuation model to value employee stock options. Globe Life has elected to use the Black-Scholes valuation model for option expensing. A summary of assumptions for options granted in each of the three years 2018 through 2020 is as follows:

	2020		2019		2018
Volatility factor	15.7	%	15.7	%	13.7	%
Dividend yield	0.7	%	0.8	%	0.7	%
Expected term (in years)	5.12		5.10		5.76
Risk-free rate	1.2	%	2.5	%	2.7	%

The expected term is generally derived from Company experience. However, expected terms are determined based on the simplified method as permitted under the ASC 718, Stock Compensation, topic when Company experience is insufficient. On April 26, 2018, the shareholders approved the Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan, formerly the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan (the "2018 Incentive Plan"). The 2018 Incentive Plan replaced all previous plans. The 2018 Incentive Plan allows for option grants for employees with a seven-year contractual term which vest over three years in addition to ten-year grants which vest over five years as permitted by the previous plans. Director grants vest over six months. The Company has sufficient experience with seven-year grants that vest in three years, but insufficient historical experience with five-year vesting. Therefore, the Company has used the simplified method to determine the expected term for the ten-year grants with five-year vesting and will do so until adequate experience is developed. Volatility and risk-free interest rates are assumed over a period of time consistent with the expected term of the option. Volatility is measured on a historical basis. Monthly data points are utilized to derive volatility for periods greater than three years. Expected dividend yield is based on current dividend yield held constant over the expected term. Once the fair value of an option has been determined, it is amortized on a straight-line basis over the employee’s service period for that grant (from the grant date to the date the grant is fully vested). Expenses for restricted stock and restricted stock units are based on the grant date fair value allocated on a straight-line basis over the service period. Performance share expense is recognized based on management’s estimate of the probability of meeting the metrics identified in the performance share award agreement, assigned to each service period as these estimates develop.

Stock-based compensation expense is included in “Other operating expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Globe Life management views all stock-based compensation expense as a Corporate and Other expense and, therefore, presents it as such in its segment analysis. More information concerning the Company's segments is provided in Note 14—Business Segments.

Earnings per Share: Globe Life presents basic and diluted earnings per common share (EPS) on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations for income from continuing operations and income from discontinued operations. Basic EPS is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by adding to shares outstanding the additional net effect of potentially dilutive securities or contracts, such as stock options, which could be exercised or converted into common shares. For more information on earnings per share, see Note 12—Shareholders' Equity

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2016-13/2019-04/2019-05, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, with clarification guidance issued in April 2019.	This standard ("CECL") provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments that are recorded at amortized cost. Additionally, it changes the loss impairment methodology for available-for-sale fixed maturities by the use of an allowance rather than a direct write down.	This standard became effective on January 1, 2020.	The Company's available-for-sale fixed maturities and other financing receivables (commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances) were concluded to be the relevant financial assets within the scope of the standard. See Note 1 for information on the adoption and revised accounting policies.
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20), Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	The standard removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant to defined benefit plans.	This standard became effective on December 31, 2020, and was applied retrospectively.	The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. See updated disclosures in Note 9.
ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting	This standard was issued primarily to provide optional expedients for simplifying the accounting for contract modifications to existing agreements, which is expected to arise from the market's transition from LIBOR to the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) as a result of reference rate reform.	This standard became effective upon issuance, or March 12, 2020, and will remain effective until December 31, 2022.	The Company has limited assets and liabilities that utilize LIBOR as a benchmark rate. We will continue to monitor the progress towards the establishment of a new floating rate; however, we do not expect a material impact at this time.

Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2018-12/2019-09/2020-11,  Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, with clarification guidance issued in November 2019 and 2020.	ASU 2018-12 is a significant change to our current accounting and disclosure of long-duration contracts, which is our primary business. The guidance was primarily issued to: 1) improve the timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits and modify the rate used to discount future cash flows, 2) simplify and improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts, 3) simplify the amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and 4) improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures.	As a result of the issuance of ASU 2020-11 in November 2020, the effective date for this standard was changed to January 1, 2023. Early adoption is available.	The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures, specifically assessing key accounting policies, assumption and data inputs, controls, and enhanced system solutions. Due to the overall nature of the standard, the impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected to be significant. At this time, the Company does not have an estimate of the impact. The Company does not expect to early adopt this ASU.
ASU No. 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs	The standard was issued as an amendment to ASU 2017-08, and clarifies that callable debt securities with a premium should be amortized to the next call date.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021, and will be applied prospectively. Early adoption is not permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

XML

Statutory Accounting

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Insurance [Abstract]

Statutory Accounting

Note 2—Statutory Accounting

Life insurance subsidiaries of Globe Life are required to file statutory financial statements with state insurance regulatory authorities. Accounting principles used to prepare these statutory financial statements differ from GAAP. Consolidated net income and shareholders’ equity (capital and surplus) on a statutory basis for the insurance subsidiaries were as follows:

	Net Income						Shareholders’ Equity
	Year Ended December 31,						At December 31,
	2020		2019		2018		2020		2019
Life insurance subsidiaries	$	441,589	$	462,515	$	437,549	$	1,408,281	$	1,398,274

The excess, if any, of shareholders' equity of the insurance subsidiaries on a GAAP basis over that determined on a statutory basis is not available for distribution by the insurance subsidiaries to the Parent Company without regulatory approval. Insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements in the aggregate was $520 million at December 31, 2020. More information on the restrictions on the payment of dividends can be found in Note 12—Shareholders' Equity.

The Company's statutory financial statements are presented on the basis of accounting practices prescribed by the insurance department of the state of domicile of each insurance subsidiary. While all states have adopted the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) statutory accounting practices (NAIC SAP) as the basis for statutory accounting, certain states have retained prescribed practices of their respective insurance code or administrative code which can differ from NAIC SAP. For Globe Life's life insurance companies, there are no significant differences between NAIC SAP and the accounting practices prescribed by the states of domicile.

XML

Supplemental Information about Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Supplemental Information about Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Note 3—Supplemental Information about Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income: An analysis of the change in balance by component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income is as follows for each of the years 2018 through 2020:

	Available for Sale Assets		Deferred Acquisition Costs		Foreign Exchange		Pension Adjustments		Total
For the year ended December 31, 2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	1,569,289	$	(8,547)	$	16,302	$	(152,770)	$	1,424,274
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(1,132,202)		4,384		(9,807)		22,290		(1,115,335)
Reclassifications, net of tax	(1,389)		—		—		11,925		10,536
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,133,591)		4,384		(9,807)		34,215		(1,104,799)
Balance at December 31, 2018	435,698		(4,163)		6,495		(118,555)		319,475
For the year ended December 31, 2019:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,557,883		(1,753)		5,563		(32,102)		1,529,591
Reclassifications, net of tax	(10,931)		—		—		6,695		(4,236)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,546,952		(1,753)		5,563		(25,407)		1,525,355
Balance at December 31, 2019	1,982,650		(5,916)		12,058		(143,962)		1,844,830
For the year ended December 31, 2020:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,167,003		1,212		11,244		(34,103)		1,145,356
Reclassifications, net of tax	25,919		—		—		13,139		39,058
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,192,922		1,212		11,244		(20,964)		1,184,414
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	3,175,572	$	(4,704)	$	23,302	$	(164,926)	$	3,029,244

Reclassification adjustments: Reclassification adjustments out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income are presented below for the three years ended December 31, 2020.

	Year Ended December 31,						Affected line items in the Statement of Operations
Component Line Item	2020		2019		2018
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Realized (gains) losses	$	26,345	$	(19,352)	$	(5,715)	Realized (gains) losses
Amortization of (discount) premium	6,464		5,515		3,957		Net investment income
Total before tax	32,809		(13,837)		(1,758)
Tax	(6,890)		2,906		369		Income tax benefit (expense)
Total after-tax	25,919		(10,931)		(1,389)
Pension adjustments:
Amortization of prior service cost	632		631		535		Other operating expense
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	16,000		7,843		14,560		Other operating expense
Total before tax	16,632		8,474		15,095
Tax	(3,493)		(1,779)		(3,170)		Income tax benefit (expense)
Total after-tax	13,139		6,695		11,925
Total reclassification (after-tax)	$	39,058	$	(4,236)	$	10,536

XML

Investments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments

Note 4—Investments

Portfolio Composition: Summaries of fixed maturities available for sale by amortized cost, fair value, and allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows. Redeemable preferred stock is included within the corporates by sector.

As noted in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies, the Company prospectively adopted ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2020 for the available-for-sale fixed maturities. Results after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASU 2016-13, while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. See additional discussion of the allowance for credit losses later in this note.

	At December 31, 2020
	Amortized Cost		Allowance for Credit Losses		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair  Value(1)		% of Total Fixed Maturities(2)
Fixed maturities available for sale:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	380,602	$	—	$	87,272	$	(43)	$	467,831	2
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	1,880,607		—		251,291		(315)		2,131,583		10
Foreign governments	52,913		—		2,635		(898)		54,650		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	4,404,203		—		1,016,813		(24,221)		5,396,795		26
Utilities	1,975,460		—		608,595		(108)		2,583,947		12
Energy	1,623,970		(3,346)		346,197		(3,083)		1,963,738		9
Other corporate sectors	6,687,644		—		1,727,366		(6,218)		8,408,792		40
Total corporates	14,691,277		(3,346)		3,698,971		(33,630)		18,353,272		87
Collateralized debt obligations	57,007		—		23,460		(8,869)		71,598		—
Other asset-backed securities	134,739		—		3,614		(3,778)		134,575		1
Total fixed maturities	$	17,197,145	$	(3,346)	$	4,067,243	$	(47,533)	$	21,213,509	100

(1)Amount reported in the balance sheet.

(2)At fair value.

	At December 31, 2019
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair  Value(1)		% of Total Fixed Maturities(2)
Fixed maturities available for sale:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	396,079	$	41,737	$	(296)	$	437,520	2
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	1,559,736		158,546		(626)		1,717,656		9
Foreign governments	25,874		2,073		(396)		27,551		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	4,101,917		701,196		(22,307)		4,780,806		25
Utilities	1,937,738		416,114		(1,565)		2,352,287		13
Energy	1,678,969		269,640		(33,725)		1,914,884		10
Other corporate sectors	6,514,677		955,908		(16,765)		7,453,820		40
Total corporates	14,233,301		2,342,858		(74,362)		16,501,797		88
Collateralized debt obligations	56,990		24,298		(7,184)		74,104		—
Other asset-backed securities	143,796		5,094		(371)		148,519		1
Total fixed maturities	$	16,415,776	$	2,574,606	$	(83,235)	$	18,907,147	100

(1)Amount reported in the balance sheet.

(2)At fair value.

A schedule of fixed maturities available for sale by contractual maturity date at December 31, 2020 is shown below on an amortized cost basis, net of allowance for credit losses and on a fair value basis. Actual disposition dates could differ from contractual maturities due to call or prepayment provisions.

	At December 31, 2020
	Amortized Cost, net		Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Due in one year or less	$	70,732	$	72,395
Due after one year through five years	781,183		866,408
Due after five years through ten years	1,870,527		2,260,011
Due after ten years through twenty years	6,109,815		7,884,526
Due after twenty years	8,169,528		9,923,706
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities	192,014		206,463
	$	17,193,799	$	21,213,509

Analysis of investment operations: "Net investment income" for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Fixed maturities available for sale	$	873,352	$	864,280	$	843,510
Policy loans	44,801		43,434		41,359
Other long-term investments(1)	26,196		16,198		10,638
Short-term investments	545		2,592		2,642
	944,894		926,504		898,149
Less investment expense	(17,832)		(16,045)		(15,637)
Net investment income	$	927,062	$	910,459	$	882,512

(1)For the years ended 2020, 2019 and 2018, the investment funds, accounted for under the fair value option method, recorded $15.3 million, $5.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively in net investment income.

An analysis of "realized gains (losses)" is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Realized investment gains (losses):
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Sales and other(1)	$	(22,999)	$	19,354	$	5,715
Provision for credit losses	(3,346)		—		—
Investment funds—fair value option	1,045		1,256		2,650
Other investments	21,563		11		909
Realized gains (losses) from investments	(3,737)		20,621		9,274
Realized loss on redemption of debt(2)	(634)		—		(11,078)
	(4,371)		20,621		(1,804)
Applicable tax	1,955		(4,330)		379
Realized gains (losses), net of tax	$	(2,416)	$	16,291	$	(1,425)

(1)For the years ended 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded $219.8 million, $243.2 million and $193.4 million of exchanges of fixed maturities (noncash transactions) that resulted in $7.9 million, $20.5 million, and $10.1 million, respectively in realized gains (losses).

(2)Refer to Note 11—Debt for further discussion.

An analysis of the net change in unrealized investment gains (losses) is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Change in investment gains (losses) on:
Fixed maturities available for sale	$	1,528,339	$	1,946,910	$	(1,429,763)

Selected information about sales of fixed maturities available for sale is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Proceeds from sales(1)	$	52,681	$	79,108	$	32,021
Gross realized gains	2,642		1,227		66
Gross realized losses	(39,153)		(3,674)		(13,996)

(1)There were no unsettled sales in the periods ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Fair value measurements: The following tables represent the fair value of fixed maturities measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2020:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	—		$	467,831		$	—		$	467,831
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—			2,131,583			—			2,131,583
Foreign governments	—			54,650			—			54,650
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—			5,222,066			174,729			5,396,795
Utilities	—			2,400,602			183,345			2,583,947
Energy	—			1,925,549			38,189			1,963,738
Other corporate sectors	—			8,090,550			318,242			8,408,792
Total corporates	—			17,638,767			714,505			18,353,272
Collateralized debt obligations	—			—			71,598			71,598
Other asset-backed securities	—			121,705			12,870			134,575
Total fixed maturities	$	—		$	20,414,536		$	798,973		$	21,213,509
Percentage of total	—		%	96		%	4		%	100		%

	Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2019:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	—		$	437,520		$	—		$	437,520
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—			1,717,656			—			1,717,656
Foreign governments	—			27,551			—			27,551
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—			4,628,875			151,931			4,780,806
Utilities	—			2,195,539			156,748			2,352,287
Energy	—			1,873,482			41,402			1,914,884
Other corporate sectors	—			7,131,773			322,047			7,453,820
Total corporates	—			15,829,669			672,128			16,501,797
Collateralized debt obligations	—			—			74,104			74,104
Other asset-backed securities	—			135,342			13,177			148,519
Total fixed maturities	$	—		$	18,147,738		$	759,409		$	18,907,147
Percentage of total	—		%	96		%	4		%	100		%

The following tables represent changes in fixed maturities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

	Analysis of Changes in Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Asset- backed Securities		Collateralized Debt Obligations		Corporates		Total
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	14,049	$	71,581	$	582,810	$	668,440
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		698		698
Included in other comprehensive income	(591)		3,170		(23,687)		(21,108)
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		27,453		27,453
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,737		16		4,753
Other(2)	(476)		(6,119)		(38,352)		(44,947)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		4,533		4,533
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2018	12,982		73,369		553,471		639,822
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		396		396
Included in other comprehensive income	708		1,514		30,378		32,600
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		—		—
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,596		13		4,609
Other(2)	(513)		(5,375)		(19,154)		(25,042)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		107,024		107,024
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2019	13,177		74,104		672,128		759,409
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		1,579		1,579
Included in other comprehensive income	(173)		(2,523)		17,082		14,386
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		67,820		67,820
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,551		12		4,563
Other(2)	(134)		(4,534)		(44,116)		(48,784)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	12,870	$	71,598	$	714,505	$	798,973
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for assets held at the end of the reporting period:
	Asset- backed Securities		Collateralized Debt Obligations		Corporates		Total
2018	$	(591)	$	3,170	$	(23,687)	$	(21,108)
2019	708		1,514		30,378		32,600
2020	(173)		(2,523)		17,082		14,386

(1)Acquisitions of Level 3 investments in each of the years 2018 through 2020 are comprised of private-placement fixed maturities.

(2)Includes capitalized interest, foreign exchange adjustments, and principal repayments. 

(3)Considered to be transferred at the end of the period. Transfers into Level 3 occur when observable inputs are no longer available, while transfers out of Level 3 occur when observable inputs become available.

Transfers between levels within the hierarchy occur when there are changes in the observability of the inputs and market data. Transfers into Level 3 occur when there is little unobservable market activity for the asset/liability as of the measurement date and the Company is required to rely upon internally-developed assumptions or third-parties. Transfers out of Level 3 occur when quoted prices in active markets becomes available for identical assets/ liabilities or the ability to corroborate by observable market data.

The following table represents quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements:

	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
	As of December 31, 2020
	Fair Value		Valuation Techniques	Significant Unobservable Input	Range	Weighted- Average(1)
Private placement fixed maturities	612,906		Determination of credit spread	Credit rating	A+ to BB-	BBB
			Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	1.04% - 8.29%	2.29%
Other corporate bonds	101,599		Present Value Techniques	Market Quotes	100.05%	100.05%
Collateralized debt obligations	71,598		Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	6.35% - 7.10%	6.98%
Asset-backed securities	$	12,870	Determination of credit spread	Credit rating	BBB-	BBB-
			Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	5.41%	5.41%
	$	798,973

(1)Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.

The private placement fixed maturities and asset-backed securities reported as Level 3 are managed by third-party investment managers. These securities are valued based on the contractual cash flows discounted by a yield determined as a treasury benchmark adjusted for a credit spread. The credit spread is developed from observable indices for similar public fixed maturities and unobservable indices for private fixed maturities for corresponding credit ratings. However, the credit ratings for the securities are considered unobservable inputs, as they are assigned by the third-party investment manager based on a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the credit underwritten. A higher (lower) credit rating would result in a higher (lower) valuation.

The collateral underlying collateralized debt obligations for which fair values are reported as Level 3 consists primarily of trust preferred securities issued by banks and insurance companies. Collateralized debt obligations are valued at the present value of expected future cash flows using an unobservable discount rate. Expected cash flows are determined by scheduling the projected repayment of the collateral assuming no future defaults, deferrals, or recoveries. The discount rate is risk-adjusted to take these items into account. A significant increase (decrease) in the discount rate will produce a significant decrease (increase) in fair value. Additionally, a significant increase (decrease) in the cash flow expectations would result in a significant increase (decrease) in fair value. For more information regarding valuation procedures, please refer to Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies under the caption Fair Value Measurements, Investments in Securities.

Other corporate bonds consist of obligations issued out of a special purpose vehicle (SPV). The market quotes consisted of Level 3 quotes. An increase (decrease) in the market quotes will produce an increase (decrease) in fair value.

Unrealized Loss Analysis: The following table discloses information about fixed maturities available for sale in an unrealized loss position.

	Less than Twelve Months	Twelve Months or Longer	Total
Number of issues (CUSIPs) held:
As of December 31, 2020	54	24	78
As of December 31, 2019	82	51	133

Globe Life's entire fixed maturity portfolio consisted of 1,900 issues by 777 different issuers at December 31, 2020 and 1,633 issues by 656 different issuers at December 31, 2019. The weighted-average quality rating of all unrealized loss positions at amortized cost was BBB- as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

The following table discloses unrealized investment losses by class and major sector of fixed maturities available for sale for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded at December 31, 2020.

Analysis of Gross Unrealized Investment Losses

	At December 31, 2020
	Less than Twelve Months				Twelve Months or Longer				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Investment grade securities:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	2,006	$	(43)	$	—	$	—	$	2,006	$	(43)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	32,910		(315)		—		—		32,910		(315)
Foreign governments	19,532		(898)		—		—		19,532		(898)
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	117,762		(2,564)		6,333		(2,168)		124,095		(4,732)
Utilities	2,726		(108)		—		—		2,726		(108)
Energy	1,692		(8)		14,871		(106)		16,563		(114)
Other corporate sectors	21,882		(720)		—		—		21,882		(720)
Total corporates	144,062		(3,400)		21,204		(2,274)		165,266		(5,674)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		—		—		—		—
Other asset-backed securities	28,864		(1,051)		5		—		28,869		(1,051)
Total investment grade securities	227,374		(5,707)		21,209		(2,274)		248,583		(7,981)
Below investment grade securities:
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		—		—		—		—		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	6,822		(36)		115,093		(19,453)		121,915		(19,489)
Utilities	—		—		—		—		—		—
Energy	18,432		(757)		38,720		(2,212)		57,152		(2,969)
Other corporate sectors	25,711		(3,588)		19,516		(1,910)		45,227		(5,498)
Total corporates	50,965		(4,381)		173,329		(23,575)		224,294		(27,956)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		11,131		(8,869)		11,131		(8,869)
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		11,223		(2,727)		11,223		(2,727)
Total below investment grade securities	50,965		(4,381)		195,683		(35,171)		246,648		(39,552)
Total fixed maturities	$	278,339	$	(10,088)	$	216,892	$	(37,445)	$	495,231	$	(47,533)

Gross unrealized losses may fluctuate quarter over quarter due to adverse factors in the market that affect our holdings, such as changes in interest rates or credit spreads. As noted in Note 1, the Company considers many factors when determining whether a credit loss exists. While the Company holds securities that may be in an unrealized loss position from time to time, Globe Life does not intend to sell and it is likely that management will not be required to sell the fixed maturities prior to their anticipated recovery due to the strong cash flows generated by its insurance operations.

The following table discloses unrealized investment losses by class and major sector of fixed maturities available for sale at December 31, 2019. Globe Life considered these investments to be only temporarily impaired.

Analysis of Gross Unrealized Investment Losses

	At December 31, 2019
	Less than Twelve Months				Twelve Months or Longer				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Investment grade securities:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	1,255	$	(2)	$	21,044	$	(294)	$	22,299	$	(296)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	66,774		(626)		—		—		66,774		(626)
Foreign governments	6,496		(396)		—		—		6,496		(396)
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	117,389		(1,733)		7,183		(1,317)		124,572		(3,050)
Utilities	8,400		(166)		—		—		8,400		(166)
Energy	52,312		(1,058)		1,833		(115)		54,145		(1,173)
Other corporate sectors	136,386		(1,584)		61,473		(3,260)		197,859		(4,844)
Total corporates	314,487		(4,541)		70,489		(4,692)		384,976		(9,233)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		—		—		—		—
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		—		—		—		—
Total investment grade securities	389,012		(5,565)		91,533		(4,986)		480,545		(10,551)
Below investment grade securities:
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		—		—		—		—		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—		—		113,481		(19,257)		113,481		(19,257)
Utilities	7,529		(135)		14,985		(1,264)		22,514		(1,399)
Energy	14,968		(146)		69,956		(32,406)		84,924		(32,552)
Other corporate sectors	—		—		67,655		(11,921)		67,655		(11,921)
Total corporates	22,497		(281)		266,077		(64,848)		288,574		(65,129)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		12,816		(7,184)		12,816		(7,184)
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		13,879		(371)		13,879		(371)
Total below investment grade securities	22,497		(281)		292,772		(72,403)		315,269		(72,684)
Total fixed maturities	$	411,509	$	(5,846)	$	384,305	$	(77,389)	$	795,814	$	(83,235)

Gross unrealized losses decreased from $83.2 million at December 31, 2019 to $47.5 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $35.7 million. The decrease in the gross unrealized losses from the prior year was primarily attributable to the decrease in market interest rates.

Fixed Maturities, Allowance for Credit Losses: A summary of the activity in the allowance for credit losses is as follows. Refer to Note 1 for factors considered in the recording of the allowance for credit losses.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$	—	$	—
Additions to allowance for which credit losses were not previously recorded	36,065		—
Additions (reductions) to allowance for fixed maturities that previously had an allowance	—		—
Reduction of allowance for which the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell or sold during the period	(32,719)		—
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	$	3,346	$	—

Under previous applicable GAAP, the Company concluded that there were no other-than-temporary impairments for years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any fixed maturities in non-accrual status.

Concentrations of Credit Risk: Globe Life maintains a diversified investment portfolio with limited concentration in any given issuer. At December 31, 2020, the investment portfolio, at fair value, consisted of the following:

Investment grade fixed maturities:
Corporates	78	%
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	9
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	2
Other	1
Below investment grade fixed maturities:
Corporates	4
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	—
Other	—
	94
Other
Policy loans, which are secured by the underlying insurance policy values	3
Other investments	3
	100	%

As of December 31, 2020, state and municipal governments represented 9% of invested assets at fair value. Such investments are made throughout the U.S. At December 31, 2020, the state and municipal bond portfolio at fair value was invested in securities issued within the following states: Texas (18%), New York (10%), Michigan (8%), California (7%), Ohio (6%), and Florida (5%). Otherwise, there was no concentration within any given state greater than 5%.

Corporate fixed maturities represent 82% of Globe Life's invested assets. These investments are spread across a wide range of industries. Below are the ten largest industry concentrations held in the portfolio of corporate fixed maturities at December 31, 2020, based on fair value:

Insurance	15	%
Electric utilities	10
Banks	7
Oil and natural gas pipelines	6
Chemicals	4
Transportation	4
Food	4
Oil and natural gas exploration and production	4
Real estate investment trusts	4
Telecommunications	3

At December 31, 2020, 4% of invested assets at fair value were represented by fixed maturities rated below investment grade. Par value of these investments was $931 million, amortized cost was $841 million, and fair value was $877 million. While these investments could be subject to additional credit risk, such risk should generally be reflected in their fair value.

Securities, cash, and short-term investments held on deposit with various state and federal regulatory authorities had an amortized cost and fair value, respectively, of $892 million and $1.1 billion at December 31, 2020 and $816 million and $956 million at December 31, 2019.

Other Long-Term Investments: Other long-term investments consist of the following assets:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Investment funds	$	385,038	$	185,851
Commercial mortgage loan participations	160,602		137,692
Other	1,341		2,804
Total	$	546,981	$	326,347

The following table presents additional information about the Company's investment funds as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 at fair value:

	As of December 31,
	Fair Value				Unfunded Commitments
Investment Category	2020		2019		2020		Redemption Term/Notice
Commercial mortgage loans	$	227,050	$	26,145	$	285,287	Portion non-redeemable and fully redeemable after 6 month period, subject to fund liquidity/discretion of General Partner. Expected life is 7 years for non-redeemable fund.
Opportunistic credit	157,461		159,399		—		Initial 2 year lock on each new investment/semi-annual withdrawals thereafter/full redemption within 36 month period.
Other	527		307		149,715		Not redeemable. Expected life is approximately 12 years.
Total investment funds	$	385,038	$	185,851	$	435,002

Commercial mortgage loan participations: Summaries of commercial mortgage loans at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

	2020			2019
	Carrying Value		% of Total	Carrying Value		% of Total
Property type:
Mixed use	$	49,002	31	$	27,501	20
Office	36,153		22	42,350		31
Hospitality	22,605		14	22,324		16
Retail	19,319		12	17,318		12
Multi-family	19,128		12	10,587		8
Industrial	17,900		11	17,612		13
Total recorded investment	164,107		102	137,692		100
Less allowance for credit losses	(3,505)		(2)	—		—
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$	160,602	100	$	137,692	100

	2020			2019
	Carrying Value		% of Total	Carrying Value		% of Total
Geographic location:
California	$	61,610	38	$	35,412	26
Virginia	27,019		17	25,448		18
New York	16,602		10	21,117		15
Florida	12,420		8	11,910		9
Pennsylvania	11,314		7	4,211		3
Other	35,142		22	39,594		29
Total recorded investment	164,107		102	137,692		100
Less allowance for credit losses	(3,505)		(2)	—		—
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$	160,602	100	$	137,692	100

As noted in Note 1, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective method for commercial mortgage loans. On January 1, 2020, a cumulative effect adjustment was recorded to retained earnings of $335 thousand ($265 thousand, net of tax). As of December 31, 2020, the Company evaluated the commercial mortgage loan portfolio on a pool basis to determine the allowance for credit losses, except for individual loans where the practical expedient was elected. At the end of the period, the Company had 24 loans in the portfolio.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$	—	$	—
Cumulative effect of adoption ASU 2016-13	335		—
Provision (reversal) for credit losses	3,170		—
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	$	3,505	$	—

The following table is reflective of Management's internal risk ratings of the loan portfolio. Loans are rated low, moderate, and high. The risk categories consider many different factors such as quality of asset, borrower status, as well as macroeconomic factors including COVID-19. These loans, originated in 2017 to 2020, are transitional or under construction and may not yet be income producing. Certain ratios such as loan to value and debt service coverage ratios may not be evaluated as the value of the underlying transitional property significantly fluctuates based on completion of the project.

	Net Book Value of Commercial Mortgage Loans Receivable by Year of Origination
	As of December 31, 2020
Risk Rating:	Number of Loans	2020		2019		2018		2017		Total
Low	17	$	20,176	$	14,757	$	33,132	$	61,460	$	129,525
Medium	4	—		10,640		7,796		—		18,436
High	3	—		4,554		11,592		—		16,146
Total commercial mortgage loans	24	20,176		29,951		52,520		61,460		164,107
Less allowance for credit losses on the investment pool										(2,503)
Less allowance for credit losses on individual loans										(1,002)
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance										$	160,602

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had one commercial mortgage loan in non-accrual status. As of December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any commercial mortgage loans in non-accrual status.

XML

Deferred Acquisition Costs

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Insurance [Abstract]

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Note 5—Deferred Acquisition Costs

An analysis of "DAC" is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of year	$	4,341,941	$	4,137,925	$	3,958,063
Additions:
Deferred during period:
Commissions	600,577		534,735		497,459
Other expenses	222,408		218,926		202,092
Total deferred	822,985		753,661		699,551
Foreign exchange adjustment	4,755		4,299		—
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment losses(1)	1,533		—		5,549
Total additions	829,273		757,960		705,100
Deductions:
Amortized during period	(575,770)		(551,726)		(516,690)
Foreign exchange adjustment	—		—		(8,548)
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment gains(1)	—		(2,218)		—
Total deductions	(575,770)		(553,944)		(525,238)
Balance at end of year	$	4,595,444	$	4,341,941	$	4,137,925

(1)Represents amounts pertaining to investments relating to universal life-type products.

XML

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies

Reinsurance: Insurance affiliates of Globe Life reinsure a portion of insurance risk that is in excess of their retention limits. Current retention limits for new business written on ordinary life insurance range up to $500 thousand per life. Life insurance ceded represented 0.3% of total life insurance in force at December 31, 2020. Insurance ceded on life and accident and health products represented 0.2% of premium income for 2020. The insurance affiliates of Globe Life would be liable for the reinsured risks ceded to other companies to the extent that such reinsuring companies are unable to meet their obligations.

Insurance affiliates also assume insurance risks of other external companies. Life reinsurance assumed represented 1.2% of life insurance in force at December 31, 2020 and reinsurance assumed on life and accident and health products represented 0.5% of premium income for 2020.

Leases: Globe Life primarily leases office space, aviation equipment, and other equipment under a variety of operating lease arrangements.

Rental expense for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Rental expense	$	4,674	$	3,831	$	3,959

Future minimum rental commitments required under operating leases having remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Operating lease commitments	$	5,307	$	4,395	$	3,321	$	2,873	$	1,896	$	10,823

Purchase Commitments: Globe Life has various long-term noncancelable purchase commitments as well as commitments to provide capital for low-income housing tax credit interests. See further discussion related to tax credits in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Purchase commitments	$	66,439	$	73,451	$	24,823	$	10,347	$	9,797	$	228,542

Investments: Globe Life is committed to invest under certain contracts related to investments in limited partnerships. See Note—4 Investments for unfunded commitment table.

Guarantees: At December 31, 2020, Globe Life had in place three guarantee agreements, of which were either Parent Company guarantees of subsidiary obligations to a third party, or Parent Company guarantees of obligations between wholly-owned subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life had no liability with respect to these guarantees.

Letters of Credit: Globe Life has guaranteed letters of credit in connection with its credit facility with a group of banks as disclosed in Note 11—Debt. The letters of credit were issued by TMK Re, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to secure TMK Re, Ltd.’s obligation for claims on certain policies reinsured by TMK Re, Ltd. that were sold by other Globe Life insurance companies. These letters of credit facilitate TMK Re, Ltd.’s ability to reinsure the business of Globe Life's insurance carriers. The agreement expires in 2023. The maximum amount of letters of credit available is $250 million. The Parent Company would be liable to the extent that TMK Re, Ltd. does not pay the reinsured party. On November 25, 2020, the letters of credit were amended

to reduce the current amount outstanding to $135 million from $150 million outstanding. As of December 31, 2020, the letters of credit outstanding were $135 million.

Equipment leases: Globe Life has guaranteed performance of certain of its subsidiaries as lessees under two aviation leasing arrangements. At December 31, 2020, total remaining undiscounted payments under the leases were approximately $5 million. The Parent Company would be responsible for any subsidiary obligation in the event the subsidiary did not make payments or otherwise perform under the terms of the lease.

Unclaimed Property Audits: Globe Life subsidiaries are currently the subject of audits regarding the identification, reporting and escheatment of unclaimed property arising from life insurance policies and a limited number of annuity contracts. These audits are being conducted by private entities that have contracted with forty-seven states through their respective Departments of Revenue, and have not resulted in any financial assessment from any state nor indicated any liability. The audits are wide-ranging and seek large amounts of data regarding claims handling, procedures, and payments of contract benefits arising from unreported death claims. No estimate of range can be made at this time for loss contingencies related to possible administrative penalties or amounts that could be payable to the states for the escheatment of abandoned property.

Litigation: Globe Life Inc. (formerly Torchmark Corporation) and its subsidiaries, in common with the insurance industry in general, are subject to litigation, including putative class action litigation, alleged breaches of contract, torts, including bad faith and fraud claims based on alleged wrongful or fraudulent acts of agents of the Parent Company's insurance subsidiaries, employment discrimination, and miscellaneous other causes of action. Based upon information presently available, and in light of legal and other factual defenses available to the Parent Company and its subsidiaries, management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that such litigation will have a material adverse effect on Globe Life's financial condition, future operating results or liquidity; however, assessing the eventual outcome of litigation necessarily involves forward-looking speculation as to judgments to be made by judges, juries and appellate courts in the future. This bespeaks caution, particularly in states with reputations for high punitive damage verdicts. Globe Life's management recognizes that large punitive damage awards bearing little or no relation to actual damages continue to be awarded by juries in jurisdictions in which the Company has substantial business, creating the potential for unpredictable material adverse judgments in any given punitive damage suit.

On September 12, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income in California’s Contra Costa County Superior Court (Joh v. American Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. C18-01863) (Joh Action). An amended complaint was filed on October 18, 2018. American Income removed the case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 3:18-cv-06364-TSH). A second amended complaint was filed on May 20, 2019. The plaintiffs, former insurance sales agents of American Income, sued on behalf of all current and former trainees and sales agents who sold insurance for American Income in the State of California for the four years prior to the filing of the complaint. The second amended complaint alleged that such individuals were employees and asserted claims under the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code, and California Private Attorney General Act. The complaint sought compensatory damages, penalties and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay wages/commissions, failure to appropriately pay agents at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to reimburse expenses, misclassification and unfair business practices.

On October 18, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against Torchmark Corporation and American Income in California’s Los Angeles County Superior Court (Golz v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 18STCV01354) (Golz Action). American Income removed the case to the United States District Court for the Central District of California (Case No. 2:18-cv-09879 R (SSx)). An amended complaint was filed on February 5, 2019. On February 6, 2019, Torchmark Corporation was dismissed without prejudice and the case proceeded with respect to American Income. On April 2, 2019, the District Court granted American Income’s motion to dismiss four of the five causes of action asserted. The amended complaint’s remaining claim alleges that plaintiff, as an American Income insurance agent trainee in California, was an employee who should have been compensated accordingly. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of individuals in California who trained to contract as American Income agents and who subsequently worked as contracted agents. The class period is alleged to begin four years

prior to the complaint’s filing. The complaint seeks restitution under the California Business and Professions Code for alleged unfair business practices such as failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, and failure to reimburse business expenses. The lawsuit is currently stayed.

On December 14, 2018, putative class action litigation was filed against American Income in United States District Court for the Northern District of California (Hamilton v. American Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. 4:18-cv-7535-KAW) (Hamilton Action). An amended complaint was filed on January 23, 2019. The plaintiffs, former insurance sales agents of American Income, sued on behalf of all current and former trainees and sales agents who sold insurance for American Income in the State of California for the last four years prior to the filing of the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that putative class members were employees and asserted claims under the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code, and California Private Attorney General Act. The complaint seeks compensatory damages, penalties and attorney fees on claims for failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, failure to provide meal and rest breaks, failure to appropriately pay agents at termination, failure to provide itemized wage statements, failure to reimburse expenses, misclassification and unfair business practices.

With respect to the related cases above, on August 6, 2020, the plaintiffs in the Joh and Hamilton Actions jointly moved for preliminary approval of a settlement of all class and representative claims, which broadly covers “all individuals who trained to become and/or worked as sales agents in California for Defendant during the last four years prior to the filing of the original Complaint in Joh and whose training and/or work began before August 16, 2019.” Plaintiffs’ preliminary motion anticipated that the proposed settlement would resolve all claims in the Joh and Hamilton Actions, and in doing so, encompass pending claims asserted in the Golz Action for the settlement period. On August 21, 2020, the Northern District of California granted the Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement and scheduled a hearing for final approval of the settlement. On January 7, 2021, plaintiff’s motion for final settlement approval was granted and a final judgment was entered on the same day.

On December 19, 2019, putative collective action litigation was filed against American Income in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas (Patterson v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al, Case No. 4:19-cv-918 KGB). The plaintiff, a former insurance sales agent of American Income, is pursuing a national collective action on behalf of all “similarly situated” individuals for the three years prior to the filing of the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that insurance agent trainees should have been classified as employees and asserts claims for minimum wage, overtime, liquidated damages and attorney’s fees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiff also asserts an individual claim under the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act. American Income filed a motion to compel arbitration of plaintiff’s individual claims. On October 30, 2020, the district court granted the motion and stayed the case pending the outcome of arbitration on plaintiff’s individual claims.

On February 27, 2020, putative collective action litigation was filed against American Income in United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Berry, et al v. American Income Life Insurance Company, et al, Case No. 2:20-cv-00110-LPL). The plaintiffs, former insurance sales agents of American Income, are pursuing relief on behalf of “all individuals who trained to become and/or worked as sales agents/insurance producers for American Income Life Insurance” in the three years prior to the filing of the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that agent trainees and insurance agents should have been classified as employees. It asserts a national collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act seeking compensation for minimum wage, overtime, expense reimbursement, missed meal and rest breaks, recoupment of certain commissions and improper recordkeeping. In addition, the lawsuit asserts a class action under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act and Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law seeking similar relief. Plaintiffs also seek liquidated damages and attorney’s fees, and assert an unjust enrichment claim. On September 20, 2020, American Income’s motion to compel arbitration of the plaintiffs’ individual claims was granted. The litigation is stayed pending outcome of the individual arbitrations.

On August 5, 2020, putative class and collective action litigation was filed against American Income and National Income Life Insurance Company (“National Income”) in United States District Court for the Central District of California (Natalie Bell, Gisele Mobley, Ashly Rai, and John Turner v. American Income Life Insurance Company and National Income Life Insurance Company, Case No. 2:20-cv-07046). On December 18, 2020, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed Mr. Turner’s claims and all claims against defendant National Income. Following the dismissal, the complaint alleges that insurance agent trainees should have been classified as employees, and after contracting should have been classified as employees instead of independent contractors. Plaintiffs Bell and Rai are former

California agents who also assert claims under California law on behalf of a putative California class, for the four years prior to February 13, 2020 through case conclusion. They make claims under (a) the California Labor Code for alleged meal and rest break violations, overtime, minimum wage, alleged failure to pay wages at the time of termination, expense reimbursement, and alleged failure to provide accurate wage statements; and (b) the California Business and Professions Code for alleged unfair business practices. They also seek liquidated damages, penalties and attorney’s fees under California law. Plaintiff Mobley is a former Florida agent who asserts a claim under Florida law on behalf of a putative Florida class for the five years prior to February 13, 2020 through case conclusion. She makes a claim under the Florida General Labor Regulations, including the Florida Minimum Wage Act, for alleged failure to pay all wages owed. The plaintiffs also assert a national collective action on behalf of all “similarly situated” individuals for minimum wage, overtime, liquidated damages, penalties, an accounting and attorney’s fees and costs under the Fair Labor Standards Act for the three years prior to February 13, 2020 through case conclusion. American Income has responded to the complaint with a motion to compel the named plaintiffs to arbitrate their individual claims and other procedural challenges. Those motions are currently scheduled to be heard in March, 2021.

With respect to the aforementioned litigation, at this time, management believes that the possibility of a material judgment adverse to the Company is remote.

XML

Liability for Unpaid Claims

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Insurance [Abstract]

Liability for Unpaid Claims

Note 7—Liability for Unpaid Claims

Activity in the liability for unpaid health claims is summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	163,808	$	154,528	$	146,865
Incurred related to:
Current year	584,936		612,305		555,647
Prior years	(14,829)		(1,188)		(3,017)
Total incurred	570,107		611,117		552,630
Paid related to:
Current year	442,127		470,426		424,633
Prior years	129,527		131,411		120,334
Total paid	571,654		601,837		544,967
Balance at end of period	$	162,261	$	163,808	$	154,528

At the end of each period, the liability for unpaid health claims includes an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported to the Company. Such estimates are updated regularly based upon the Company’s most recent claims data with recognition of emerging experience trends. Due to the nature of the Company’s health business, the payment lags are relatively short and most claims are fully paid within a year from the time incurred. Fluctuations in claims experience can lead to either over or under estimation of the liability for any given year. The difference between the estimate made at the end of the prior period and the actual experience during the period is reflected above under the caption “Incurred related to: Prior years.”

Below is the reconciliation of the liability of "Policy claims and other benefits payable" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Policy claims and other benefits payable:
Life insurance	$	237,246	$	201,594
Health insurance	162,261		163,808
Total	$	399,507	$	365,402

XML

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 8—Income Taxes

The following table discloses significant components of income taxes for each year presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations:
Current income tax expense (benefit)	$	129,647	$	134,948	$	134,626
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	35,264		35,449		27,535
	164,911		170,397		162,161
Shareholders’ equity:
Other comprehensive income (loss)	314,845		405,472		(293,678)
	$	479,756	$	575,869	$	(131,517)

In each of the years 2018 through 2020, deferred income tax expense (benefit) was incurred because of certain differences between net income before income tax expense (benefit) as reported on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and taxable income as reported on Globe Life's income tax returns. As explained in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies, these differences caused the consolidated financial statement book values of some assets and liabilities to be different from their respective tax bases.

The effective income tax rate differed from the expected U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% as shown below:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		%	2019		%	2018		%
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit)	$	188,304	21.0	$	195,569	21.0	$	181,371	21.0
Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
Tax reform adjustment	—		—	—		—	(798)		(0.1)
Low income housing investments	(11,913)		(1.3)	(11,605)		(1.2)	(12,240)		(1.4)
Share-based awards	(5,013)		(0.6)	(11,780)		(1.3)	(6,450)		(0.7)
Tax-exempt investment income	(5,830)		(0.6)	(3,192)		(0.3)	(1,230)		(0.1)
Other	(637)		(0.1)	1,405		0.1	1,508		0.1
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	164,911	18.4	$	170,397	18.3	$	162,161	18.8

The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below:

	December 31,
	2020		2019
Deferred tax assets:
Fixed maturity investments	$	4,279	$	6,161
Carryover of tax losses	5,534		7,827
Total gross deferred tax assets	9,813		13,988
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unrealized gains	808,071		493,174
Employee and agent compensation	88,012		81,174
Deferred acquisition costs	688,034		658,457
Future policy benefits, unearned and advance premiums, and policy claims	257,640		242,124
Other liabilities	7,209		26,271
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	1,848,966		1,501,200
Net deferred tax liability	$	1,839,153	$	1,487,212

Income Tax Return: Globe Life Inc. and its subsidiaries file a life-nonlife consolidated federal income tax return for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Prior to 2018, Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America (Family Heritage Life) filed its federal income tax return on a separate company basis. The statutes of limitations for the Internal Revenue Service's examination and assessment of additional tax are closed for all tax years prior to 2017 with respect to Globe Life's consolidated as well as Family Heritage Life's federal income tax returns. Management concludes that adequate provision has been made in the consolidated financial statements for any potential assessments that may result from current or future tax examinations and other tax-related matters for all open years.

Valuations: Globe Life has a $26.4 million net operating loss (NOL) carryforward at December 31, 2020, of which $22.4 million was created prior to 2018 and will begin to expire in 2036 if not otherwise used to offset future taxable income. The remaining NOL carryforward of $4.0 million may be carried forward indefinitely. A valuation allowance is to be recorded when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized by the Company. No valuation allowance has been recorded relating to Globe Life's deferred tax assets as management has determined that Globe Life will more likely than not have sufficient taxable income in future periods to fully realize its existing deferred tax assets.

Globe Life's tax liability is adjusted to include a provision for uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. However, during the years 2018 through 2020, Globe Life did not have any uncertain tax positions which resulted in unrecognized tax benefits.

Tax penalties and interest: Globe Life's continuing practice is to recognize penalties and interest related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company recognized interest income of $0 thousand, $55 thousand, and $0 thousand, net of federal income tax expense, in its Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The Company had no accrued interest or penalties at December 31, 2020 or 2019.

XML

Postretirement Benefits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Postretirement Benefits

Note 9—Postretirement Benefits

Globe Life has qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plans (Pension Plans) and contributory savings plans that cover substantially all employees. There is also a nonqualified noncontributory supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) that covers a limited number of officers. The tables included herein will focus on the defined benefit plans and SERP.

The total cost of these retirement plans charged to operations was as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Plan Type:
Defined Contribution Plans(1)	$	4,855	$	4,817	$	4,068
Defined Benefit Pension Plans(2)	33,826		24,134		32,593

(1)401K plans.

(2)Qualified pension plans and SERP.

Globe Life accrues expense for the defined contribution plans based on a percentage of the employees’ contributions. The plans are funded by the employee contributions and a Globe Life contribution equal to the amount of accrued expense. Plan contributions are both mandatory and discretionary, depending on the terms of the plan.

Pension Plans: Cost for the defined benefit pension plans has been calculated on the projected unit credit actuarial cost method. All plan measurements for the defined benefit plans are as of December 31 of the respective year. The defined benefit pension plans covering the majority of employees are qualified and funded. Contributions are made to funded pension plans subject to minimums required by regulation and maximums allowed for tax purposes.

Globe Life's SERP provides an additional supplemental defined pension benefit to a limited number of officers. The supplemental benefit is based on the participant’s qualified plan benefit without consideration to the regulatory limits on compensation and benefit payments applicable to qualified plans, except that eligible compensation is capped at $1 million. The SERP is nonqualified and unfunded. However, a Rabbi Trust has been established to support the liability for this plan. The Rabbi Trust consists of life insurance policies on the lives of plan participants with an unaffiliated insurance carrier as well as an investment account. Since this plan is nonqualified, the investments and the policyholder value of the insurance policies in the Rabbi Trust are not included as defined benefit plan assets, but rather assets of the Company. They are included in “Other Assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Defined benefit and SERP plan contributions were $21.9 million in 2020, $21.6 million in 2019, and $52.8 million in 2018. In 2021, the Company expects to make a similar contribution to the plans as in 2020.

Pension Assets: Plan assets in the funded plans consist primarily of investments in marketable fixed maturities and equity securities that are valued at fair value. Globe Life measures the fair value of its financial assets, including the assets in its benefit plans, in accordance with accounting guidance which establishes a hierarchy for asset values and provides a methodology for the measurement of value. Please refer to Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies under the caption Fair Value Measurements, Investments in Securities for a complete discussion of valuation procedures. The following table presents the assets of the Company's defined benefit pension plans at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Pension Assets by Component at December 31, 2020

	Fair Value Determined by:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Amount		% to Total
Corporate bonds:
Financial	$	—	$	52,252	$	—	$	52,252	10
Utilities	—		45,888		—		45,888		9
Energy	—		22,480		—		22,480		4
Other corporates	—		88,983		—		88,983		17
Total corporate bonds	—		209,603		—		209,603		40
Exchange traded fund(1)	245,170		—		—		245,170		46
Other bonds	—		258		—		258		—
Guaranteed annuity contract(2)	—		30,119		—		30,119		6
Short-term investments	20,960		—		—		20,960		4
Other	7,109		—		—		7,109		1
	$	273,239	$	239,980	$	—	513,219		97
Other long-term investments(3)							16,313		3
Total pension assets							$	529,532	100

(1)A fund including marketable securities that mirror the S&P 500 index.

(2)Representing a guaranteed annuity contract issued by Globe Life Inc.'s subsidiary, American Income Life Insurance Company, to fund the obligations of the American Income Life Insurance Company Non-Exempt Employees Defined Benefit Pension Plan ("American Income Pension Plan").

(3)Included in other long-term investments is an investment fund that reports the Pension Plan's pro-rata share of the limited partnership's net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. The Pension Plan owns less than 1% of the investment fund. As of December 31, 2020, the expected term of the investment fund is approximately 4 years and the commitment of the investment is fully funded. The investment is non-redeemable.

Pension Assets by Component at December 31, 2019

	Fair Value Determined by:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Amount		% to Total
Corporate bonds:
Financial	$	—	$	51,111	$	—	$	51,111	11
Utilities	—		42,758		—		42,758		9
Energy	—		21,907		—		21,907		5
Other corporates	—		89,725		—		89,725		19
Total corporate bonds	—		205,501		—		205,501		44
Exchange traded fund(1)	207,176		—		—		207,176		44
Other bonds	—		251		—		251		—
Guaranteed annuity contract(2)	—		28,278		—		28,278		6
Short-term investments	8,414		—		—		8,414		2
Other	6,876		—		—		6,876		1
	$	222,466	$	234,030	$	—	456,496		97
Other long-term investments(3)							12,267		3
Total pension assets							$	468,763	100

(1)A fund including marketable securities that mirror the S&P 500 index.

(2)Representing a guaranteed annuity contract issued by Globe Life Inc.'s subsidiary, American Income Life Insurance Company, to fund the obligations of the American Income Pension Plan.

(3)Included in other long-term investments is an investment fund that reports the Pension Plan's pro-rata share of the limited partnership's net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. The Pension Plan owns approximately 1% of the investment fund. As of December 31, 2019, the expected term of the investment fund is approximately 5 years and the unfunded commitment of the investment fund is $4.1 million. The investment is non-redeemable.

Globe Life's investment objectives for its plan assets include preservation of capital and purchasing power as well as long-term growth. Globe Life seeks to preserve capital through investments made in high quality securities with adequate diversification by issuer and industry sector to minimize risk. The portfolio is monitored continuously for changes in quality and diversification mix. The preservation of purchasing power is intended to be accomplished through asset growth, exclusive of contributions and withdrawals in excess of the rate of inflation. Globe Life intends to maintain investments that when combined with future plan contributions will produce adequate long-term growth to provide for all plan obligations. It is also Globe Life's objective that the portfolio’s investment return will meet or exceed the return of a balanced market index.

The majority of the securities in the portfolio are highly marketable so that there will be adequate liquidity to meet projected payments. There are no specific policies calling for asset durations to match those of benefit obligations.

Allowed investments are limited to equities, fixed maturities, and short-term investments (invested cash). The assets are to be invested in a mix of equity and fixed income investments that best serve the objectives of the pension plan. Factors to be considered in determining the asset mix include funded status, annual pension expense, annual pension contributions, and balance sheet liability. Equities can include common and preferred stocks, securities convertible into equities, mutual funds and exchange traded funds that invest in equities, equity interests in limited partnerships, and other equity-related investments. Primarily, equities are listed on major exchanges and adequate market liquidity is required. Fixed maturities primarily consist of marketable debt securities rated investment grade at purchase by a major rating agency. Short-term investments include fixed maturities with maturities less than one year and invested cash. Investments outside of the aforementioned list are not permitted, except by prior approval of the Plan’s Trustees.

The investment portfolio is well diversified to avoid undue exposure to a single sector, industry, business, or security. The equity and fixed maturity portfolios are not permitted to invest in any single issuer that would exceed 10% of total plan assets at the time of purchase. The Company does not employ any other special risk management techniques, such as derivatives, in managing the pension investment portfolio.

Globe Life's equity securities include an exchange traded fund that mirrors the S&P 500 index which better aligns with a passive approach rather than an actively managed portfolio. At December 31, 2020, there were no restricted investments contained in the portfolio. Plan contributions have been invested primarily in fixed maturity and equity securities during the three years ended December 31, 2020.

SERP: The following tables include premiums paid for the company owned life insurance (COLI) for the three years ended December 31, 2020 and investments of the Rabbi Trust for the two years ended December 31, 2020.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Premiums paid for insurance coverage	$	2,480	$	2,394	$	2,997
	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Total investments:
COLI	$	51,361	$	47,733
Exchange traded funds	75,390		65,585
	$	126,751	$	113,318

Pension Liability: The following table presents projected benefit obligation (PBO) and accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for the defined benefit pension plans and SERP at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Pension Liability

	December 31,
	2020				2019
	PBO		ABO		PBO		ABO
Funded benefit pension plans	$	667,753	$	594,510	$	578,860	$	520,264
SERP	95,560		89,069		86,347		81,046
Benefit Obligation	$	763,313	$	683,579	$	665,207	$	601,310

The funded benefit pension plans have projected benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets were as follows:

	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Funded benefit pension plans PBO	$	667,753	$	578,860
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532		468,763

The funded benefit pension plans have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets were as follows:

	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Funded benefit pension plans ABO	$	594,510	$	520,264
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532		468,763

The following table discloses the assumptions used to determine Globe Life's pension liabilities and costs for the appropriate periods. The discount and compensation increase rates are used to determine current year projected benefit obligations and subsequent year pension expense. The long-term rate of return is used to determine current year expense. Differences between assumptions and actual experience are included in actuarial gain or loss.

Weighted Average Pension Plan Assumptions

For Benefit Obligations at December 31:	2020		2019
Discount rate	2.92	%	3.49	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.97		4.00
For Periodic Benefit Cost for the Year:	2020		2019		2018
Discount rate	3.49	%	4.37	%	3.75	%
Expected long-term returns	6.67		6.72		6.72
Rate of compensation increase	3.97		4.00		4.37

The discount rate is determined based on the expected duration of plan liabilities. A yield is then derived based on the current market yield of a hypothetical portfolio of high quality corporate bonds that match the liability duration. The rate of compensation increase is projected based on Company experience, modified as appropriate for future expectations. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is management’s best estimate of the average rate of earnings expected to be received on the assets invested in the plan over the benefit period. In determining this assumption, consideration is given to the historical rate of return earned on the assets, the projected returns over future periods, and the discount rate used to compute benefit obligations.

Net periodic benefit cost for the defined benefit plans by expense component was as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Service cost—benefits earned during the period	$	24,461	$	19,929	$	21,092
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	22,825		23,827		22,303
Expected return on assets	(29,561)		(27,862)		(25,547)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	632		8,211		15,003
Recognition of actuarial gain (loss)	15,469		29		(258)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	33,826	$	24,134	$	32,593

An analysis of the impact on other comprehensive income (loss) concerning pensions and other postretirement benefits is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at January 1	$	(182,233)	$	(150,071)	$	(193,380)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost (credit)	632		631		535
Net actuarial (gain) loss(1)	16,000		7,843		14,560
Total amortization	16,632		8,474		15,095
Plan amendments	—		—		(2,377)
Experience gain (loss)	(43,169)		(40,636)		30,591
Balance at December 31	$	(208,770)	$	(182,233)	$	(150,071)

(1)Includes amortization of postretirement benefits other than pensions of $302 thousand in 2020, $265 thousand in 2019, and $92 thousand in 2018. 

The following table presents a reconciliation from the beginning to the end of the year of the PBO and plan assets for the defined benefit plans and SERP. This table also presents the amounts previously recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Pension Benefits

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Changes in PBO:
PBO at beginning of year	$	665,207	$	556,199
Service cost	24,461		19,929
Interest cost	22,825		23,827
Actuarial loss (gain)	74,006		88,053
Benefits paid	(23,186)		(22,801)
PBO at end of year	763,313		665,207
Changes in plan assets:
Fair value at beginning of year	468,763		392,672
Return on assets	62,104		77,290
Contributions	21,851		21,602
Benefits paid	(23,186)		(22,801)
Fair value at end of year	529,532		468,763
Funded status at year end	$	(233,781)	$	(196,444)

Changes in the PBO related to actuarial losses (gains) are primarily attributed to changes in the discount rate.

	Year Ended December 31,
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:	2020		2019
Net loss (gain)	$	200,465	$	174,470
Prior service cost	4,713		5,345
Net amounts recognized at year end	$	205,178	$	179,815

Globe Life has estimated its expected pension benefits to be paid over the next ten years as of December 31, 2020. These estimates use the same assumptions that measure the benefit obligation at December 31, 2020, taking estimated future employee service into account. Those estimated benefits are as follows:

For the year(s):
2021	$	24,477
2022	26,494
2023	28,783
2024	30,960
2025	32,067
2026-2030	187,386

XML

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

Note 10—Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

The following table summarizes Globe Life's noncash transactions, which are not reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Commitments for low-income housing interests	161,503		51,978		50,883
Exchanges of fixed maturity investments	219,807		243,156		193,449
Net unsettled security trades	1,669		8,421		39,851

The following table summarizes certain amounts paid during the period:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Interest paid	$	83,518	$	81,723	$	83,518
Income taxes paid	76,701		101,982		91,510

XML

Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Note 11—Debt

The following table presents information about the terms and outstanding balances of Globe Life's debt.

Selected Information about Debt Issues

				As of December 31,
				2020								2019
Instrument	Issue Date	Maturity Date	Coupon Rate	Par Value		Unamortized Discount & Issuance Costs		Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value
Senior notes	5/27/1993	5/15/2023	7.875%	$	165,612	$	(658)	$	164,954	$	192,020	$	164,713
Senior notes(1)	9/24/2012	9/15/2022	3.800%	150,000		(586)		149,414		158,081		149,089
Senior notes	9/27/2018	9/15/2028	4.550%	550,000		(5,672)		544,328		659,599		543,735
Senior notes	8/21/2020	8/15/2030	2.150%	400,000		(4,843)		395,157		405,384		—
Junior subordinated debentures	5/17/2016	6/15/2056	6.125%	300,000		(9,348)		290,652		325,800		290,584
Junior subordinated debentures	11/17/2017	11/17/2057	5.275%	125,000		(1,619)		123,381		130,870		123,367
Term loan				—		—		—		—		86,875
				1,690,612		(22,726)		1,667,886		1,871,754		1,358,363
Less current maturity of term loan				—		—		—		—		9,375
Total long-term debt				1,690,612		(22,726)		1,667,886		1,871,754		1,348,988
Current maturity of term loan				—		—		—		—		9,375
Commercial paper				255,000		(82)		254,918		254,918		289,363
Total short-term debt				255,000		(82)		254,918		254,918		298,738
Total debt				$	1,945,612	$	(22,808)	$	1,922,804	$	2,126,672	$	1,647,726

(1)An additional $150 million par value and book value is held by insurance subsidiaries that eliminates in consolidation.

The commercial paper has the highest priority of all the debt, followed by senior notes then junior subordinated debentures. The Senior Notes due 2023 are noncallable, the remaining senior notes are callable under a make-whole provision, and the junior subordinated debentures are callable upon special events. Interest on the 6.125% Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable quarterly, all other long-term debt is payable semi-annually.

Contractual Debt Obligations: The following table presents expected scheduled principal payments under our contractual debt obligations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Debt obligations	$	255,000	$	150,000	$	165,612	$	—	$	—	$	1,375,000

Credit Facility: On August 24, 2020, Globe Life entered into a new credit agreement, replacing the prior agreement that was due on May 17, 2021, which provides for a $750 million revolving credit facility that may be increased to $1 billion. The new credit facility matures August 24, 2023 and may be extended up to two one-year periods upon the Company's request. Pursuant to this agreement, the participating lenders have agreed to make revolving loans to Globe Life and to issue secured or unsecured letters of credit. The Company has not drawn on any of the credit to date.

The facility is further designated as a back-up credit line for a commercial paper program under which the Company may either borrow from the credit line or issue commercial paper at any time, with total commercial paper outstanding not to exceed the facility maximum of $750 million, less any letters of credit issued. Interest is charged

at variable rates. In accordance with the agreement, Globe Life is subject to certain covenants regarding capitalization. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in full compliance with these covenants.

Commercial paper outstanding and any amortization payments of the term loan due within one year are reported as short-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. A table presenting selected information concerning Globe Life's commercial paper borrowings is presented below.

Credit Facility - Commercial Paper

	At December 31,
	2020			2019
Balance at end of period (at par value)	$	255,000		$	290,000
Annualized interest rate	0.27		%	2.04		%
Letters of credit outstanding	$	135,000		$	150,000
Remaining amount available under credit line	360,000			310,000

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Average balance outstanding during period	$	318,409		$	288,684		$	368,228
Daily-weighted average interest rate (annualized)	1.50		%	2.62		%	2.40		%
Maximum daily amount outstanding during period	$	482,000		$	385,000		$	525,990

Short-term debt: On July 31, 2020, the Company paid down the remaining principal of $82.5 million on the 5-year $100 million term loan (Term Loan I) with a maturity date of May 17, 2021. This term loan was associated with the prior credit facility that was replaced in August 2020.

On April 9, 2020, Globe Life entered into a 364-Day Term Loan Agreement (Term Loan II). The Agreement provided the Company with access up to $300 million in unsecured term loans, all maturing on April 8, 2021. Globe Life borrowed the full amount on April 15, 2020 to utilize for general corporate purposes, including additional liquidity at the Parent Company. The net proceeds from the Term Loan II were $299.1 million. On August 17, 2020, the Company repaid $150 million of the Term Loan II with the remaining balance of $150 million repaid on August 26, 2020. The Company recorded a $634 thousand loss on redemption of debt from the write-off of unamortized issuance costs.

Long-term debt: On August 21, 2020, Globe Life completed the issuance and sale of $350 million in aggregate principal amount of Globe Life's 2.15% unsecured Senior Notes due August 15, 2030. The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes were $345.8 million.

On September 3, 2020, Globe Life completed the issuance and sale of $50 million in aggregate principal of Globe Life's 2.15% unsecured Senior Notes also due August 15, 2030. These Senior Notes were issued as additional notes under a Second Supplemental Indenture governing the 2.15% Senior Notes issued on August 21, 2020. The Senior Notes are fully fungible and have the same terms as the first issuance. The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes were $49.3 million, after giving effect to the underwriting expenses.

Globe Life utilized the total net proceeds of $395 million to extinguish the Term Loan II and for general corporate purposes, which included additional capital investments in its insurance subsidiaries and additional holding company liquidity.

XML

Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Note 12—Shareholders' Equity

Share Data: A summary of common share activity is presented in the following chart.

	Common Stock
	Issued	Treasury Stock
2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	124,218,183	(9,625,104)
Grants of restricted stock	—	10,805
Forfeitures of restricted stock	—	(7,500)
Vesting of performance shares	—	149,898
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	897,622
Treasury stock acquired	—	(4,950,868)
Retirement of treasury stock	(3,000,000)	3,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2018	121,218,183	(10,525,147)
2019:
Grants of restricted stock	—	8,840
Vesting of performance shares	—	311,399
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	1,810,559
Treasury stock acquired	—	(5,103,591)
Retirement of treasury stock	(4,000,000)	4,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2019	117,218,183	(9,497,940)
2020:
Grants of restricted stock	—	4,548
Vesting of performance shares	—	271,843
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	936,289
Treasury stock acquired	—	(5,135,439)
Retirement of treasury stock	(4,000,000)	4,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2020	113,218,183	(9,420,699)

There was no activity related to the preferred stock in years 2018 through 2020.

Acquisition of Common Shares: Globe Life shares are acquired from time to time through open market purchases under the Globe Life stock repurchase program when it is determined to be the best use of Globe Life's excess cash flows. This yields a return that is better than available alternatives and exceeds our cost of equity. When stock options are exercised, proceeds from the exercises are generally used to repurchase approximately the number of shares available with those funds in order to reduce dilution. See the following summary below:

	Globe Life Share Repurchase Program					Share Repurchase for Dilution Purposes
	Shares Acquired (in thousands)	Total Cost		Average Price		Shares Acquired (in thousands)	Total Cost		Average Price
2020	4,459	$	380,112	$	85.24	676	$	63,754	$	94.28
2019	3,932	350,080		89.04		1,209	109,489		90.52
2018	4,406	371,794		84.38		571	49,955		87.54

Restrictions: Restrictions exist on the flow of funds to Globe Life Inc. from its insurance subsidiaries. Statutory regulations require life insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain minimum amounts of capital and surplus. Dividends from insurance subsidiaries of Globe Life Inc. are restricted based on regulations by their states of domicile. Additionally, insurance company distributions are generally not permitted in excess of statutory surplus. Subsidiaries are also subject to certain minimum capital requirements. Subsidiaries of Globe Life paid cash dividends to the Parent Company in the amount of $486 million in 2020, $480 million in 2019, and $448 million in 2018. As of December 31, 2020, dividends from insurance subsidiaries to the Parent Company available to be paid in 2021 are limited to the amount of $435 million without regulatory approval, such that $1.0 billion was considered restricted net assets of the subsidiaries. Dividends exceeding these limitations may be available during the year pending regulatory approval. While there are no legal restrictions on the payment of dividends to shareholders from Globe Life's retained earnings, retained earnings as of December 31, 2020 were restricted by lenders’ covenants which require the Company to maintain and not distribute $4.2 billion from its total consolidated retained earnings of $5.9 billion.

Earnings per Share: A reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	106,075,267	109,213,524	112,872,581
Weighted average dilutive options outstanding	1,149,327	2,167,726	2,376,372
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	107,224,594	111,381,250	115,248,953
Antidilutive shares	2,476,019	21,556	1,161,521

Antidilutive shares are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

XML

Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

Note 13—Stock-Based Compensation

Globe Life's stock-based compensation consists of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares. Certain employees and directors have been granted fixed equity options to buy shares of Globe Life stock at the market value of the stock on the date of grant, under the provisions of the Globe Life stock option plans. The options are exercisable during the period commencing from the date they vest until expiring according to the terms of the grant. Options generally expire the earlier of employee termination or option contract term, which are either seven-year or ten-year terms. Options generally vest in accordance with the following schedule:

		Shares vested by period
	Contract Period	6 Months	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Directors	7 years	100%	—%	—%	—%	—%	—%
Employees	7 years	—%	—%	50%	50%	—%	—%
Employees	10 years	—%	—%	25%	25%	25%	25%

All employee options vest immediately upon retirement on or after the attainment of age 65, upon death, or disability. Globe Life generally issues shares for the exercise of stock options from treasury stock. The Company generally uses the proceeds from option exercises to buy shares of Globe Life common stock in the open market to reduce the dilution from option exercises.

An analysis of shares available for grant is as follows:

	Available for Grant
	2020	2019	2018
Balance at January 1,	7,167,718	9,422,760	2,964,320
Approval of Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan.(1)	—	—	8,984,000
Cancellation of available shares from prior plans	—	—	(184,000)
Expired and forfeited during year(2,3)	38,820	20,800	41,317
Options granted during year(2)	(1,127,610)	(1,149,542)	(1,262,037)
Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares granted(3)	(94,510)	(1,126,300)	(1,120,840)
Balance at December 31,	5,984,418	7,167,718	9,422,760

(1)See plan document referenced in Exhibits. Formerly, the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan.

(2)Plan allows for grant of options such that each grant reduces shares available for grant in a range from 0.85 share to 1 share.

(3)Plan allows for grant of restricted stock such that each stock grant reduces shares available for grant in a range from 3.10 shares to 3.88 shares.

A summary of stock compensation activity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:

	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation expense recognized(1)	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Tax benefit recognized	12,550		21,197		14,806

(1)No stock-based compensation expense was capitalized in any period.

Additional stock compensation information is as follows at December 31:

	2020		2019
Unrecognized compensation(1)	$	28,125	$	34,723
Weighted average period of expected recognition (in years)(1)	0.65		0.78

(1)Includes restricted stock and performance shares.

No equity awards were cash settled during the three years ended December 31, 2020.

Options: The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2020.

	Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding	Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Number Exercisable	Weighted- Average Exercise Price
$29.59 - $76.37	1,736,807	2.77	$	51.29	1,598,580	$	51.34
77.26	1,372,680	4.11	77.26		1,142,879	77.26
82.56 - 83.17	1,327,447	5.15	82.56		33,217	82.69
87.60 - 90.21	1,347,698	5.24	87.64		573,454	87.70
100.74 - 105.56	1,326,599	6.16	100.85		41,269	104.39
$29.59 - $105.56	7,111,231	4.57	$	78.28	3,389,399	$	67.19

An analysis of option activity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

	2020			2019			2018
	Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding—beginning of year	6,724,358	$	70.07	7,203,765	$	61.72	6,753,801	$	53.59
Granted:
7-year term	1,326,599	100.85		1,352,402	82.43		845,773	87.63
10-year term	—	—		—	—		543,130	87.60
Exercised	(936,289)	51.37		(1,810,559)	45.93		(897,622)	40.21
Expired and forfeited	(3,437)	75.27		(21,250)	82.89		(41,317)	70.90
Outstanding—end of year	7,111,231	$	78.28	6,724,358	$	70.07	7,203,765	$	61.72
Exercisable at end of year	3,389,399	$	67.19	2,999,788	$	57.27	3,393,090	$	48.18

Additional information about Globe Life's stock option activity as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:

	2020		2019
Outstanding options:
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	4.57		4.80
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	126,467	$	236,546
Exercisable options:
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	3.42		3.27
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	94,527	$	143,935

Selected stock option activity for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:

	2020		2019		2018
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted (per share)	$	14.64	$	14.20	$	15.65
Intrinsic value of options exercised	40,517		82,022		42,517
Cash received from options exercised	48,093		83,163		36,091
Actual tax benefit received	8,508		17,225		8,929

Additional information concerning Globe Life's unvested options is as follows at December 31:

	2020		2019
Number of shares outstanding	3,721,832		3,724,570
Weighted-average exercise price (per share)	$	88.37	$	80.39
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	5.62		6.04
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	31,941	$	92,611

Globe Life expects that substantially all unvested options will vest.

Restricted Stock: Restricted stock grants consist of time-vested grants, restricted stock units, and performance shares. Time-vested restricted stock is available to both senior executives and directors. The employee grants generally vest over five years and the director grants vest over six months. Restricted stock units are available only to directors. They vest over six months and are not converted to shares until the directors’ retirement, death, or disability. Director restricted stock and restricted stock units are generally granted on the first work day of the year. Performance shares are granted to a limited number of senior executives. Performance shares have a three-year contract life and are not settled in shares until the termination of the three-year contract period. While the grant specifies a stated target number of shares, the determination of the actual settlement in shares will be based on the achievement of certain performance objectives of Globe Life over the respective three-year contract periods. Certain executive restricted stock and performance share grants contain terms related to age that could accelerate vesting.

Following are the restricted stock units outstanding for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020. All restricted stock units were fully vested at the end of each year of grant.

Year of grants	Outstanding as of year end
2018	102,116
2019	71,006
2020	77,167

Below is the final determination of the performance share grants in 2016 to 2018:

Year of grants	Final settlement of shares	Final settlement date
2016	311,399	February 28, 2019
2017	271,843	February 26, 2020
2018	210,155	February 24, 2021

For the 2019 and 2020 performance share grants, actual shares that could be distributed range from 0 to 313 thousand for the 2019 grants and 0 to 227 thousand shares for the 2020 grants.

A summary of restricted stock grants for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020 is presented in the table below.

	2020			2019			2018
Directors restricted stock:
Shares	4,548			8,840			10,805
Price per share	$	105.56		$	76.37		$	88.19
Aggregate value	$	480		$	675		$	953
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	100		%	100		%	100		%
Directors restricted stock units (including dividend equivalents):
Shares	6,161			6,634			7,688
Price per share	$	103.32		$	77.50		$	89.15
Aggregate value	$	637		$	514		$	685
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	100		%	100		%	100		%
Performance shares:
Target shares	151,200			156,500			159,000
Target price per share	$	100.74		$	82.56		$	87.60
Aggregate value	$	15,232		$	12,921		$	13,928
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	—		%	—		%	—		%

Time-vested restricted stockholders, both employees and directors, are entitled to dividend payments on the unvested stock. Restricted stock unit holders are entitled to dividend equivalents. These equivalents are granted in the form of additional restricted stock units and vest immediately upon grant. Dividend equivalents are applicable only to restricted stock units. Performance shareholders are not entitled to dividend equivalents and are not entitled to dividend payments until the shares are vested and settled.

An analysis of nonvested restricted stock is as follows:

	Executive Restricted Stock	Executive Performance Shares	Directors Restricted Stock	Directors Restricted Stock Units	Total
2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	35,250	564,112	—	—	599,362
Grants	—	159,000	10,805	7,688	177,493
Additional performance shares(1)	—	179,415	—	—	179,415
Restriction lapses	(23,250)	(149,898)	(10,805)	(7,688)	(191,641)
Forfeitures	—	—	—	—	—
Balance at December 31, 2018	12,000	752,629	—	—	764,629
2019:
Grants	—	156,500	8,840	6,634	171,974
Additional performance shares(1)	—	118,812	—	—	118,812
Restriction lapses	(12,000)	(311,399)	(8,840)	(6,634)	(338,873)
Forfeitures	—	—	—	—	—
Balance at December 31, 2019	—	716,542	—	—	716,542
2020:
Grants	—	151,200	4,548	6,161	161,909
Additional performance shares(1)	—	(65,473)	—	—	(65,473)
Restriction lapses	—	(271,843)	(4,548)	(6,161)	(282,552)
Forfeitures	—	(11,450)	—	—	(11,450)
Balance at December 31, 2020	—	518,976	—	—	518,976

(1)Estimated additional (reduced) share grants expected due to achievement of performance criteria.

An analysis of the weighted-average grant-date fair values per share of nonvested restricted stock is as follows for the year 2020:

	Executive Restricted Stock		Executive Performance Shares		Directors Restricted Stock		Directors Restricted Stock Units
Grant-date fair value per share at January 1, 2020	$	—	$	75.05	$	—	$	—
Grants	—		100.74		105.56		105.56
Estimated additional performance shares	—		(40.99)		—		—
Restriction lapses	—		(77.26)		(105.56)		(105.56)
Forfeitures	—		(77.26)		—		—
Grant-date fair value per share at December 31, 2020	—		90.13		—		—

XML

Business Segments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Business Segments

Note 14—Business Segments

Globe Life is organized into four segments: life insurance, supplemental health insurance, annuities, and investments. In addition, other expenses not included in these segments are reported in "Corporate & Other."

Globe Life's reportable insurance segments are based on the insurance product lines it markets and administers: life insurance, supplemental health insurance, and annuities. These major product lines are set out as reportable segments because of the common characteristics of products within these categories, comparability of margins, and the similarity in regulatory environment and management techniques. There is also an investment segment which manages the investment portfolio, debt, and cash flow for the insurance segments and the corporate function. The Company's chief operating decision makers evaluate the overall performance of the operations of the Company in accordance with these segments.

Life insurance products marketed by Globe Life include traditional whole life and term life insurance. Health insurance products are generally guaranteed-renewable and include Medicare Supplement, critical illness, accident, and limited-benefit supplemental hospital and surgical coverage. Annuities include fixed-benefit contracts.

Globe Life markets its insurance products through a number of distribution channels, each of which sells the products of one or more of Globe Life's insurance segments. Our distribution channels consist of the following exclusive agencies: American Income Life Division (American Income), Liberty National Division (Liberty National) and Family Heritage Division (Family Heritage); an independent agency, United American Division (United American); and our Direct to Consumer Division (Direct to Consumer). The tables below present segment premium revenue by each of Globe Life's distribution channels.

Premium Income by Distribution Channel

	For the Year 2020
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,257,726	47	$	105,734	9	$	—	—	$	1,363,460	36
Direct to Consumer	906,959		34	76,527		7	—		—	983,486		26
Liberty National	293,897		11	188,835		16	—		—	482,732		13
United American	9,688		—	452,980		40	4		100	462,672		12
Family Heritage	4,253		—	317,021		28	—		—	321,274		8
Other	200,281		8	—		—	—		—	200,281		5
	$	2,672,804	100	$	1,141,097	100	$	4	100	$	3,813,905	100

	For the Year 2019
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,160,495	46	$	99,447	9	$	—	—	$	1,259,942	35
Direct to Consumer	855,543		34	77,557		7	—		—	933,100		26
Liberty National	285,551		11	189,578		18	—		—	475,129		13
United American	10,571		1	416,582		39	4		100	427,157		12
Family Heritage	3,830		—	294,182		27	—		—	298,012		8
Other	201,794		8	—		—	—		—	201,794		6
	$	2,517,784	100	$	1,077,346	100	$	4	100	$	3,595,134	100

	For the Year 2018
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,081,333	45	$	93,313	9	$	—	—	$	1,174,646	34
Direct to Consumer	828,935		34	76,297		7	—		—	905,232		26
Liberty National	278,878		12	191,378		19	—		—	470,256		14
United American	11,451		1	381,076		38	12		100	392,539		12
Family Heritage	3,501		—	273,275		27	—		—	276,776		8
Other	202,457		8	—		—	—		—	202,457		6
	$	2,406,555	100	$	1,015,339	100	$	12	100	$	3,421,906	100

Due to the nature of the life insurance industry, Globe Life has no individual or group which would be considered a major customer. Substantially all of Globe Life's business is conducted in the United States.

The measure of profitability established by the chief operating decision makers for insurance segments is underwriting margin before other income and administrative expenses, in accordance with the manner the segments are managed. This measure represents gross profit margin on insurance products before insurance administrative expenses and consists primarily of premium less net policy benefits, acquisition expenses, and commissions. Required interest on net policy liabilities (benefit reserves less deferred acquisition costs) is reflected as a component of the Investment segment (rather than as a component of underwriting margin in the insurance and annuity segments) in order to match this cost with the investment income earned on the assets supporting the net policy liabilities.

The measure of profitability for the Investment segment is excess investment income, which represents the income earned on the investment portfolio in excess of net policy requirements and financing costs associated with Globe Life's debt. Other than the above-mentioned interest allocations and an intersegment commission, there are no other intersegment revenues or expenses. Expenses directly attributable to corporate operations are included in the “Corporate & Other” category. Stock-based compensation expense is considered a corporate expense by Globe Life management and is included in this category. All other unallocated revenues and expenses on a pretax basis, including insurance administrative expense, are also included in the “Corporate & Other” segment category.

Globe Life holds a sizable investment portfolio to support its insurance liabilities, the yield from which is used to offset policy benefit, acquisition, administrative and tax expenses. This yield or investment income is taken into account when establishing premium rates and profitability expectations of its insurance products. From time to time, investments are sold, called, or experience a credit loss event, each of which are reflected by the Company as realized gain (loss)—investments. These gains or losses generally occur as a result of disposition due to issuer calls, compliance with Company investment policies, or other reasons often beyond management’s control. Unlike investment income, realized gains and losses are incidental to insurance operations, and only overall yields are considered when setting premium rates or insurance product profitability expectations. While these gains and losses are not relevant to segment profitability or core operating results, they can have a material positive or negative result on net income. For these reasons, management removes realized investment gains and losses when it views its segment operations.

Management removes items that are related to prior periods when evaluating the operating results of current periods. Management also removes non-operating items unrelated to its core insurance activities when evaluating those results. Therefore, these items are excluded in its presentation of segment results, because accounting guidance requires that operating segment results be presented as management views its business. With the exception of the administrative settlements noted in the paragraphs above, all of these items are included in “Other operating expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the appropriate year. See additional detail below in the tables.

The following tables set forth a reconciliation of Globe Life's revenues and operations by segment to its major income statement line items. See Note—1 Significant Accounting Policies for additional information concerning reconciling items of segment profits to pretax income.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,672,804	$	1,141,097	$	4	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,813,905
Net investment income	—		—		—		927,062		—		—			927,062
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,325		—			1,325
Total revenue	2,672,804		1,141,097		4		927,062		1,325		—			4,742,292
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,809,373		733,481		30,030		—		—		—			2,572,884
Required interest on reserves	(698,112)		(93,475)		(41,413)		833,000		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	210,152		26,586		328		(237,066)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	463,586		110,177		2,007		—		—		—			575,770
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	212,859		91,959		23		—		—		—			304,841
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		250,947		3,985		(2,3)	254,932
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		9,891		323		(3)	10,214
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		35,892		—			35,892
Interest expense	—		—		—		86,704		—		—			86,704
Total expenses	1,997,858		868,728		(9,025)		682,638		296,730		4,308			3,841,237
Subtotal	674,946		272,369		9,029		244,424		(295,405)		(4,308)			901,055
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		4,308		(2,3)	4,308
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	674,946	$	272,369	$	9,029	$	244,424	$	(295,405)	$	—		905,363
Realized gain (loss)—investments														(3,737)
Realized loss—redemption of debt														(634)
Legal proceedings														(3,275)
Non-operating expenses														(1,033)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	896,684

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Legal proceedings.

(3)Non-operating expenses.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,517,784	$	1,077,346	$	4	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,595,134
Net investment income	—		—		—		910,459		—		—			910,459
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,318		—			1,318
Total revenue	2,517,784		1,077,346		4		910,459		1,318		—			4,506,911
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,638,053		687,764		31,532		—		—		—			2,357,349
Required interest on reserves	(666,168)		(87,289)		(43,522)		796,979		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	202,502		25,435		494		(228,431)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	436,881		112,825		2,020		—		—		—			551,726
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	203,052		94,973		22		—		—		—			298,047
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		240,321		8,758		(2,3)	249,079
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		10,260		643		(4)	10,903
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		44,843		—			44,843
Interest expense	—		—		—		84,306		—		—			84,306
Total expenses	1,814,320		833,708		(9,454)		652,854		295,424		9,401			3,596,253
Subtotal	703,464		243,638		9,458		257,605		(294,106)		(9,401)			910,658
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		9,401		(2,3,4)	9,401
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	703,464	$	243,638	$	9,458	$	257,605	$	(294,106)	$	—		920,059
Realized gain (loss)—investments														20,621
Administrative settlements														(400)
Legal proceedings														(8,358)
Non-operating expenses														(643)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	931,279

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Administrative settlements.

(3)Legal proceedings.

(4)Non-operating expenses.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,406,555	$	1,015,339	$	12	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,421,906
Net investment income	—		—		—		882,512		—		—			882,512
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,236		(99)		(2)	1,137
Total revenue	2,406,555		1,015,339		12		882,512		1,236		(99)			4,305,555
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,591,790		649,188		34,264		—		—		—			2,275,242
Required interest on reserves	(636,040)		(83,243)		(47,357)		766,640		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	194,297		24,412		589		(219,298)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	414,200		100,376		2,114		—		—		—			516,690
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	190,007		88,553		26		—		—		(99)		(2)	278,487
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		223,941		3,590		(3)	227,531
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		10,684		1,578		(4)	12,262
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		39,792		—			39,792
Interest expense	—		—		—		90,076		—		—			90,076
Total expenses	1,754,254		779,286		(10,364)		637,418		274,417		5,069			3,440,080
Subtotal	652,301		236,053		10,376		245,094		(273,181)		(5,168)			865,475
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		5,168		(3,4)	5,168
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	652,301	$	236,053	$	10,376	$	245,094	$	(273,181)	$	—		870,643
Realized gain (loss)—investments														9,274
Realized loss—redemption of debt														(11,078)
Administrative settlements														(3,590)
Non-operating expenses														(1,578)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	863,671

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Elimination of intersegment commission.

(3)Administrative settlements.

(4)Non-operating expenses.

Assets for each segment are reported based on a specific identification basis. The insurance segments’ assets contain DAC. The investment segment includes the investment portfolio, cash, and accrued investment income. Goodwill is assigned to the insurance segments at the time of purchase. All other assets are included in the Corporate & Other category. The tables below reconcile segment assets to total assets as reported in the consolidated financial statements.

Assets by Segment

	At December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Cash and invested assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	22,547,498	$	—	$	22,547,498
Accrued investment income	—		—		—		248,991		—		248,991
Deferred acquisition costs	3,982,158		610,071		3,215		—		—		4,595,444
Goodwill	309,609		131,982		—		—		—		441,591
Other assets	—		—		—		—		1,213,207		1,213,207
Total assets	$	4,291,767	$	742,053	$	3,215	$	22,796,489	$	1,213,207	$	29,046,731

	At December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Cash and invested assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	19,923,204	$	—	$	19,923,204
Accrued investment income	—		—		—		245,129		—		245,129
Deferred acquisition costs	3,768,797		569,126		4,018		—		—		4,341,941
Goodwill	309,609		131,982		—		—		—		441,591
Other assets	—		—		—		—		1,025,595		1,025,595
Total assets	$	4,078,406	$	701,108	$	4,018	$	20,168,333	$	1,025,595	$	25,977,460

Liabilities for each segment are reported also on a specific identification basis similar to the assets. The insurance segments' liabilities contain future policy benefits, unearned and advance premiums, and policy claims and other benefits payable. Other policyholders' funds are included in Other as well as current and deferred income taxes payable. Debt represents both short and long-term. The tables below reconcile segment liabilities to total liabilities as reported in the consolidated financial statements.

Liabilities by Segment

	At December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Future policy benefits	$	12,008,396	$	2,172,141	$	1,062,999	$	—	$	—	$	15,243,536
Unearned and advance premiums	18,968		42,760		—		—		—		61,728
Policy claims and other benefits payable	237,246		162,261		—		—		—		399,507
Debt	—		—		—		1,922,804		—		1,922,804
Other	—		—		—		—		2,648,064		2,648,064
Total liabilities	$	12,264,610	$	2,377,162	$	1,062,999	$	1,922,804	$	2,648,064	$	20,275,639

	At December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Future policy benefits	$	11,403,078	$	2,006,424	$	1,098,632	$	—	$	—	$	14,508,134
Unearned and advance premiums	17,701		46,008		—		—		—		63,709
Policy claims and other benefits payable	201,594		163,808		—		—		—		365,402
Debt	—		—		—		1,647,726		—		1,647,726
Other	—		—		—		—		2,098,182		2,098,182
Total liabilities	$	11,622,373	$	2,216,240	$	1,098,632	$	1,647,726	$	2,098,182	$	18,683,153

XML

Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

Note 15—Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

The following is an unaudited summary of quarterly results for the two years ended December 31, 2020. The information includes all adjustments (consisting of normal accruals) which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for these periods.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
2020:
Premium income	$	929,835	$	953,702	$	961,817	$	968,551
Net investment income	228,991		231,568		231,432		235,071
Realized gains (losses)	(26,097)		(4,790)		1,501		25,015
Total revenue	1,133,054		1,180,884		1,195,042		1,228,941
Policyholder benefits	607,969		650,816		650,976		663,123
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	143,837		146,160		140,843		144,930
Pretax income from continuing operations	202,921		212,241		231,538		249,984
Income from continuing operations	165,540		173,048		188,945		204,240
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Net income	165,540		173,048		188,945		204,240
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.54		1.63		1.78		1.96
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total basic net income per common share	1.54		1.63		1.78		1.96
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.52		1.62		1.76		1.93
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total diluted net income per common share	1.52		1.62		1.76		1.93

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
2019:
Premium income	$	890,973	$	897,484	$	899,993	$	906,684
Net investment income	226,673		227,425		228,905		227,456
Realized gains (losses)	1,329		5,154		11,943		2,195
Total revenue	1,119,216		1,130,461		1,141,279		1,136,576
Policyholder benefits	587,757		589,362		585,692		594,538
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	135,822		138,165		138,449		139,290
Pretax income from continuing operations	228,101		228,760		247,330		227,088
Income from continuing operations	185,394		186,609		201,818		187,061
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(49)		(43)		—		—
Net income	185,345		186,566		201,818		187,061
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.68		1.70		1.85		1.73
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total basic net income per common share	1.68		1.70		1.85		1.73
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.65		1.67		1.82		1.69
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total diluted net income per common share	1.65		1.67		1.82		1.69

XML

Schedule II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Condensed Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

	December 31,
	2020		2019
Assets:
Investments:
Long-term investments	$	32,861	$	28,728
Short-term investments	19,300		3,401
Total investments	52,161		32,129
Cash	1,644		873
Investment in affiliates	10,526,982		9,020,073
Due from affiliates	322,278		96,129
Taxes receivable from affiliates	51,041		50,302
Other assets	184,588		160,723
Total assets	$	11,138,694	$	9,360,229
Liabilities:
Short-term debt	$	254,918	$	298,738
Long-term debt	1,817,798		1,498,851
Due to affiliates	—		3,532
Other liabilities	294,886		264,801
Total liabilities	2,367,602		2,065,922
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock	351		351
Common stock	113,218		117,218
Additional paid-in capital	877,946		882,065
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,029,244		1,844,830
Retained earnings	5,874,109		5,551,329
Treasury stock	(1,123,776)		(1,101,486)
Total shareholders’ equity	8,771,092		7,294,307
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	11,138,694	$	9,360,229

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm.

Globe Life Inc.

(PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (continued)

Condensed Statement of Operations

(Dollar amounts in thousands) 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Net investment income	$	30,199	$	28,869	$	28,077
Realized gains (losses)	12,792		—		(11,078)
Total revenue	42,991		28,869		16,999
General operating expenses	57,679		68,419		65,762
Reimbursements from affiliates	(68,556)		(65,928)		(61,620)
Interest expense	90,197		89,317		94,159
Total expenses	79,320		91,808		98,301
Operating income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(36,329)		(62,939)		(81,302)
Income taxes	7,773		13,133		15,262
Net operating loss before equity in earnings of affiliates	(28,556)		(49,806)		(66,040)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	760,329		810,596		767,506
Net income	731,773		760,790		701,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Attributable to Parent Company	(21,477)		(11,379)		23,805
Attributable to affiliates	1,205,891		1,536,734		(1,128,604)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	1,916,187	$	2,286,145	$	(403,333)

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm.

Globe Life Inc.

(PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT—(continued)

Condensed Statement of Cash Flows

(Dollar amounts in thousands) 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Net income	$	731,773	$	760,790	$	701,466
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(760,329)		(810,596)		(767,506)
Cash dividends from subsidiaries	485,871		479,988		448,142
Other, net	21,129		65,584		64,734
Cash provided from operations	478,444		495,766		446,836
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities:
Net decrease (increase) in short-term investments	(15,899)		(3,380)		5,603
Investment in subsidiaries	(7,875)		—		(140,000)
Additions to properties	—		(32)		(19,888)
Loaned money to affiliates	(1,008,860)		(501,764)		(584,000)
Repayments from affiliates	782,860		501,764		584,000
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities	(249,774)		(3,412)		(154,285)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities:
Repayment of debt	(386,875)		(6,875)		(327,762)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	700,000		—		550,000
Payment for debt issuance costs	(5,844)		—		(6,969)
Net issuance (repayment) of commercial paper	(34,445)		(11,610)		(22,719)
Issuance of stock	48,093		82,771		36,091
Acquisitions of treasury stock	(443,866)		(459,569)		(421,749)
Borrowed money from affiliate	76,000		277,000		197,690
Repayments to affiliates	(79,500)		(276,500)		(202,690)
Payment of dividends	(101,462)		(97,458)		(94,691)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(227,899)		(492,241)		(292,799)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	771		113		(248)
Cash balance at beginning of period	873		760		1,008
Cash balance at end of period	$	1,644	$	873	$	760

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying Report of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm.

Globe Life Inc.

(PARENT COMPANY)

SCHEDULE II. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (continued)

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Note A—Dividends from Subsidiaries

Cash dividends paid to Globe Life from the subsidiaries were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Dividends from subsidiaries	$	485,871	$	479,988	$	448,142

Note B—Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

The following table summarizes non-cash transactions, which are not reflected on the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Investment in subsidiaries	—		—		11,899
Dividend of property to Parent	—		—		11,889

 The following table summarizes certain amounts paid (received) during the period:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Interest paid	$	86,504	$	86,868	$	86,982
Income taxes paid (received)	(12,744)		(16,617)		(21,377)

Note C—Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life had 351 thousand shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, issued and outstanding, of which 280 thousand shares were 6.50% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, and 71 thousand shares were 7.15% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (collectively, the “Series A Preferred Stock”). All issued and outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were held by wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding would be entitled to receive a liquidating distribution out of the assets legally available to stockholders in the amount of $1 thousand per share or $351 million in the aggregate, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, before any distribution is made to holders of Globe Life common stock. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights nor have rights to convert such shares into shares of any other class of Globe Life capital stock.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

XML

SEC Schedule, Article 12-17, Reinsurance

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

SEC Schedule, 12-17, Insurance Companies, Reinsurance [Abstract]

Schedule IV. Reinsurance

Globe Life Inc.

SCHEDULE IV. REINSURANCE (CONSOLIDATED)

(Dollar Amounts in thousands)

	Gross Amount		Ceded to Other Companies(1)		Assumed from Other Companies		Net Amount		Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
Life insurance in force	$	203,894,460	$	669,063	$	2,551,770	$	205,777,167	1.2
Premiums(2):
Life insurance	$	2,642,555	$	4,241	$	19,775	$	2,658,089	0.7
Health insurance	1,144,470		3,373		—		1,141,097		—
Total premium	$	3,787,025	$	7,614	$	19,775	$	3,799,186	0.5
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Life insurance in force	$	191,249,516	$	676,988	$	2,774,388	$	193,346,916	1.4
Premiums(2):
Life insurance	$	2,486,127	$	4,357	$	20,384	$	2,502,154	0.8
Health insurance	1,080,869		3,523		—		1,077,346		—
Total premium	$	3,566,996	$	7,880	$	20,384	$	3,579,500	0.6
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Life insurance in force	$	185,212,195	$	688,384	$	3,019,737	$	187,543,548	1.6
Premiums(2):
Life insurance	$	2,373,423	$	4,581	$	21,305	$	2,390,147	0.9
Health insurance	1,019,007		3,668		—		1,015,339		—
Total premium	$	3,392,430	$	8,249	$	21,305	$	3,405,486	0.6

(1)No amounts have been netted against ceded premium.

(2)Excludes policy charges of $14.7 million, $15.6 million, and $16.4 million in each of the years 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

XML

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Globe Life have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), under guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation

rinciples of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the results of Globe Life Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. When Globe Life acquires a subsidiary or a block of business, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are measured at fair value at the acquisition date. Any excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of net assets is recorded as goodwill. Expenses incurred to effect the acquisition are charged to earnings as of the acquisition date. Upon acquisition, the accounts and results of operations are consolidated as of and subsequent to the acquisition date.

Globe Life accounts for its variable interest entities (VIEs) under accounting guidance which clarifies the definition of a variable interest and the instructions for consolidating VIEs. Only primary beneficiaries are required or allowed to consolidate VIEs. The investments are not consolidated because the Company has no power to control the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of these entities and therefore the Company is not the primary beneficiary of any of these interests. Globe Life's involvement is limited to its limited partnership interest in the entities. The Company has not provided any other financial support to the entities beyond its commitments to fund its limited partnership interests, and there are no arrangements or agreements with any of the interests to provide other financial support. The maximum loss exposure relative to these interests is limited to their carrying value. The Company has approximately 1% of total assets in low-income housing tax credits and certain limited partnerships (investment funds) that qualify as unconsolidated VIEs.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2016-13/2019-04/2019-05, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, with clarification guidance issued in April 2019.	This standard ("CECL") provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments that are recorded at amortized cost. Additionally, it changes the loss impairment methodology for available-for-sale fixed maturities by the use of an allowance rather than a direct write down.	This standard became effective on January 1, 2020.	The Company's available-for-sale fixed maturities and other financing receivables (commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances) were concluded to be the relevant financial assets within the scope of the standard. See Note 1 for information on the adoption and revised accounting policies.
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20), Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	The standard removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant to defined benefit plans.	This standard became effective on December 31, 2020, and was applied retrospectively.	The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. See updated disclosures in Note 9.
ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting	This standard was issued primarily to provide optional expedients for simplifying the accounting for contract modifications to existing agreements, which is expected to arise from the market's transition from LIBOR to the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) as a result of reference rate reform.	This standard became effective upon issuance, or March 12, 2020, and will remain effective until December 31, 2022.	The Company has limited assets and liabilities that utilize LIBOR as a benchmark rate. We will continue to monitor the progress towards the establishment of a new floating rate; however, we do not expect a material impact at this time.

Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2018-12/2019-09/2020-11,  Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, with clarification guidance issued in November 2019 and 2020.	ASU 2018-12 is a significant change to our current accounting and disclosure of long-duration contracts, which is our primary business. The guidance was primarily issued to: 1) improve the timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits and modify the rate used to discount future cash flows, 2) simplify and improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts, 3) simplify the amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and 4) improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures.	As a result of the issuance of ASU 2020-11 in November 2020, the effective date for this standard was changed to January 1, 2023. Early adoption is available.	The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures, specifically assessing key accounting policies, assumption and data inputs, controls, and enhanced system solutions. Due to the overall nature of the standard, the impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected to be significant. At this time, the Company does not have an estimate of the impact. The Company does not expect to early adopt this ASU.
ASU No. 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs	The standard was issued as an amendment to ASU 2017-08, and clarifies that callable debt securities with a premium should be amortized to the next call date.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021, and will be applied prospectively. Early adoption is not permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations: When a component of Globe Life's business is sold or expected to be sold during the ensuing year, the Company considers whether the criteria of ASC 205-20, Discontinued Operations, have been met, which includes evaluating if the disposal of a component represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the Company. If the disposal meets the criteria for discontinued operations, the assets and liabilities are segregated and recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as "Assets and Liabilities related to discontinued operations" for all periods presented. If the carrying amount of the business exceeds its estimated fair value, a loss is recognized. The results of operations for the discontinued component are reported in "Income from discontinued operations, net of tax" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for current and prior periods. Discontinued operations are reported commencing in the period in which the business is either disposed of or meets the accounting criteria for discontinued operations, including any gain or loss recognized on the sale or adjustment of the carrying amount to the estimated fair value less cost to sell.

Investments

Investments: Globe Life classifies all of its fixed maturity investments as available for sale. Investments classified as available for sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reflected directly in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). Income from investments is recorded in "Net investment income" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Gains and losses from sales, maturities, or other redemptions of investments are recorded in "Realized gains (losses)". Interest income and prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Premiums and discounts are amortized using the effective yield method. When amortized cost of a callable debt security exceeds the first call price, the premium is amortized to the earliest call date. Otherwise, the period of amortization or accretion generally extends from the purchase date to the maturity date.

"Policy loans", which represent loans provided to policyholders using cash values as collateral, are carried at unpaid principal balances. "Other long-term investments" include limited partnerships, commercial mortgage loan participations ("commercial mortgage loans"), equity securities, and real estate. Investments in equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value, net of taxes, reflected directly in "Realized gains (losses)" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments in real estate are reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life. Investments in limited partnerships consist of low-income housing tax credits and investment funds. Low-income housing tax credits are discussed further below.

The investment funds consist of limited partnerships whereby the Company has a pro-rata share of ownership ranging from less than 1% to 20%. For each investment, the Company has elected the fair value option, but would have been otherwise accounted for as an equity method investment. The fair value option is assessed for each individual investment and concluded at the inception of the investment. Additionally, each investment is evaluated under applicable GAAP to determine if it is a variable interest entity and would qualify for consolidation; none of these investments qualify for consolidation as the Company is not the primary beneficiary.

The investments are reported at the Company's pro-rata share of the investment fund's net asset value or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. Operating results provided by the partnerships can be on a lag up to 3 months. Changes in the net asset value are recorded in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Distributions received from the funds arise from income generated by the underlying investments as well as the liquidation of the underlying investments. Periodic distributions are recorded in net investment income until cumulative distributions exceed our pro-rata share of cumulative operating earnings at which point the distributions will reduce carrying value. Our maximum exposure to loss is equal to the outstanding carrying value and future funding commitments. The Company had $227 million of capital called during the year from existing investment funds, reducing our unfunded commitments. Our unfunded commitments were $435 million as of December 31, 2020.

Commercial mortgage loan participations, a type of investment where the mortgage loan is shared among investors, are accounted for as financing receivables. The commercial mortgage loans are managed by a third-party. The Company purchased the legal rights to interests in commercial mortgage loans which are secured by transitional properties such as hotels, retail, multiple family, or offices. The commercial mortgage loans typically have a term of three years with the option to extend up to two years. The commercial mortgage loans are recorded at unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized origination fees and net of allowance for loan losses. Interest income, net of the amortization of origination fees, is recorded in "Net Investment Income" under the effective yield method. Our unfunded commitment balance to the commercial loan borrowers was $47 million as of December 31, 2020.

"Short-term investments" include investments in interest-bearing assets with original maturities of twelve months or less. Gains and losses realized on the disposition of investments are determined on a specific identification basis.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements, Investments in Securities: Globe Life measures the fair value of its "fixed maturities" based on a hierarchy consisting of three levels which indicate the quality of the fair value measurements as described below:

•Level 1—fair values are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

•Level 2—fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 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, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or inputs that can otherwise be corroborated by observable market data.

•Level 3—fair values are based on inputs that are considered unobservable where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability as of the measurement date. In this circumstance, the Company has to rely on values derived by independent brokers or internally-developed assumptions. Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available to the Company which may include the Company’s own data or bid and ask prices in the dealer market.

Net Asset Value—Certain investments, such as investment funds, that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share or its equivalent, as a practical expedient, have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The net asset value is usually provided by general partners or managers.

The great majority of Globe Life's "fixed maturities" are not actively traded and direct quotes are not generally available. Management therefore determines the fair values of these securities after consideration of data provided by third-party pricing services, independent broker/dealers, and other resources. At December 31, 2020, the Company's investments in fixed maturities were primarily composed of the following significant security types: corporate securities, state and municipal securities, U.S. government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises securities. The remaining security types represented approximately 1% of the total in the aggregate.

Approximately 97% of the fair value of "fixed maturities" reported at December 31, 2020 was determined using data provided by third-party pricing services. Prices provided by these services are not binding offers, but are estimated exit values. Third-party pricing services use proprietary pricing models to determine security values by discounting cash flows using a market-adjusted spread to a benchmark yield.

For all asset classes within Globe Life's significant security types, third-party pricing services use a common valuation technique to model the price of the investments using observable market data. The foundation for these models consists of developing yield spreads based on multiple observable market inputs, including but not limited to: benchmark yield curves, actual trading activity, new issue yields, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, sector-specific data, economic data, and other inputs that are corroborated in the market. Pricing vendors monitor and review their pricing data continuously with current market and economic data feeds, augmented by ongoing communication within the dealer community.

Using the observable market inputs described above, spreads to an appropriate benchmark yield are further developed by the vendors for each security based on security-specific and/or sector-specific risk factors, such as a security’s terms and conditions (coupon, maturity, and call features), credit rating, sector, liquidity, collateral or other cash flow options, and other factors that could impact the risk of the security. Embedded repayment options, such as call and redemption features, are also taken into account in the pricing models. When the spread is determined, it is added to the security’s benchmark yield. The security's expected cash flows are discounted using this spread-adjusted yield, and the resulting present value of the discounted cash flows is the evaluated price.

When third-party vendor prices are not available, the Company attempts to obtain valuations from other sources, including but not limited to broker/dealers, broker quotes, and prices on comparable securities.

When valuations have been obtained for all securities in the portfolio, management reviews and analyzes the prices to ensure their reasonableness, taking into account available and observable information. When two or more valuations are available for a security and the variance between the prices is 10% or less, the close correlation suggests similar observable inputs were used in deriving the price, and the mean of the prices is used. Securities valued in this manner are classified as Level 2. When the variance between two or more valuations for a security exceeds 10%, additional analysis is performed to determine the most appropriate value for that security, using resources such as broker quotes, prices on comparable securities, recent trades, and any other observable market data. Further review is performed on the available valuations to determine if they can be corroborated within reasonable tolerance to any other observable evidence. If one of the valuations or the mean of the available valuations for a security can be corroborated with other observable evidence, then the corroborated value is used and reported as Level 2. The Company uses information and analytical techniques deemed appropriate for determining the point within the range of reasonable fair value estimates that is most representative of fair value under current market conditions. Valuations that cannot be corroborated within a reasonable tolerance are classified as Level 3.

Globe Life invests in a portfolio of private placement fixed maturities that are not actively traded. This portfolio is managed by third-parties. The portfolio managers provide valuations for the bonds based on a pricing matrix utilizing observable inputs, such as the benchmark treasury rate and published sector indices, and unobservable inputs such as an internally-developed credit rating. If observable inputs cannot be corroborated, the fair values are classified as Level 3. Refer to Note 4—Investments under the caption Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements.

The fair values for each class of security and by valuation hierarchy level are indicated in Note 4—Investments under the caption Fair value measurements, and Note 9—Postretirement Benefits under the caption Pension Assets.

Fair Value Measurements, Other Financial Instruments: Fair values for cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, short-term debt, receivables, and payables approximate carrying value. Cash and cash equivalents are classified as Level 1. Fair values of commercial mortgage loans are determined based upon expected cash flows discounted at an appropriate risk-adjusted rate and are classified as Level 3. The fair value of investments in limited partnerships that provide low-income housing tax credits is based on discounted projected cash flows and are classified as Level 3. Policy loans are an integral part of Globe Life's subsidiaries’ life insurance policies in force and their fair values cannot be valued separately from the insurance contracts. Investment funds are based on net asset value and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

The fair values of Globe Life's long and short term debt issues are based on the same methodology as investments in fixed maturities. At December 31, 2020, observable inputs were available for these debt securities and as such were classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy. The fair value for each debt instrument as of December 31, 2020 is disclosed in Note 11—Debt.

As described in Note 9—Postretirement Benefits, Globe Life maintains a nonqualified supplemental retirement plan. Accordingly, the assets that support the liability for this plan are considered general assets of the Company. These assets consist of the cash value of corporate-owned life insurance policies (COLI) and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The fair value of the insurance cash values approximates carrying value. Fair values for the ETFs are derived from direct quotes and are considered Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (CECL adoption and fixed maturities)

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (CECL adoption): On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, replacing the GAAP "incurred loss" model with a new methodology referred to as current expected credit losses (CECL). The previous methodology delayed recognition of credit losses until it was probable that a loss had incurred, ultimately resulting in fewer instances of losses being recorded in earnings. The new CECL methodology

is forward looking—encompassing relevant information about historical experience, current conditions, as well as reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of a reported amount.

The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables. Upon adoption, the standard affected the Company's commercial mortgage loans ("Other long-term investments") and agent debit balances ("Other receivables"). The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method.

The Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, of $454 thousand to retained earnings, consisting of $265 thousand and $189 thousand for commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances, respectively. Refer to the table below for pre-tax amounts and Note 4—Investments for additional details.

	As reported on December 31, 2019		Pre-tax impact of adoption		As reported on January 1, 2020
Assets:
Commercial mortgage loans	$	137,692	$	(335)	$	137,357
Agent debit balances	423,877		(240)		423,637

In addition, the standard made changes to the accounting for available-for-sale debt securities through the removal of "other-than-temporary-impairment" (OTTI) write downs and replaced them with an allowance for credit losses. The new methodology will allow the Company to record reversals of credit losses in situations where the estimate of credit losses declines through current period net income ("Realized gains (losses)").

The Company adopted the standard using the prospective transition approach for available-for-sale fixed maturities for which OTTI had been recognized prior to January 1, 2020. As a result, the amortized cost basis and the effective interest rate remain unchanged after the adoption of ASU 2016-13. Amortized cost will now be reflected as "amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses" or "amortized cost, net." The Company has not elected the fair value option for any financial assets recorded at amortized cost that would be in scope of this standard.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (fixed maturities): At the onset of the evaluation, the Company individually assesses each fixed maturity, on a quarterly basis, to determine whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria are met, the Company will write down the fixed maturity's amortized cost basis to fair value through "Realized gains (losses)".

If neither of the aforementioned criteria are met, the Company will evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from a credit event. The Company will evaluate many factors, as further described below, to determine the present value of the expected cash flows. A credit loss occurs when the present value of the expected cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis. This will result in the recording of an allowance for credit losses as a contra asset account to the amortized cost basis with an offsetting provision for credit losses in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, the CECL methodology includes a fair value floor where the allowance for credit loss for a security cannot exceed the difference between fair value and amortized cost. When it is determined that there is not a credit loss, the decline in fair value is recognized in Other comprehensive income.

All changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses recorded to the allowance for credit losses are management's best estimate of the uncollectibility of principal and interest of a fixed maturity.

The evaluation of Globe Life's securities for credit losses is a process that is undertaken at least quarterly and is overseen by a team of investment and accounting professionals. The process for making this determination is highly subjective and involves the careful consideration of many factors. The factors considered include, but are not limited to:

•The Company’s lack of intent to sell the debt security before recovery;

•Whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell prior to maturity;

•The reason(s) for the credit related losses;

•The financial condition of the issuer and the prospects for recovery in fair value of the security;

•Expected future cash flows.

The relative weight given to each of these factors can change over time as facts and circumstances change. In many cases, management believes it is appropriate to give more consideration to prospective factors than to retrospective factors. Prospective factors that are given more weight include prospects for recovery, the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until anticipated recovery, and expected future cash flows.

Among the facts and information considered in the process are:

•Financial statements of the issuer

•Changes in credit ratings of the issuer

•The value of underlying collateral

•News and information included in press releases issued by the issuer

•News and information reported in the media concerning the issuer

•News and information published by or otherwise provided by securities, economic, or research analysts

•The nature and amount of recent and expected future sources and uses of cash

•Default on a required payment

•Issuer bankruptcy filings

The expected cash flows are determined using judgment and the best information available to the Company. Inputs used to derive expected cash flows generally include expected default rates, current levels of subordination, and estimated recovery rate. The discount rate utilized in the discounted cash flows is the effective interest rate, which is the rate of return implicit in the asset at acquisition.

Current Expected Credit Loss Reserve (commercial mortgage loans): Effective January 1, 2020, the Company evaluates the performance and credit quality of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio at least on a quarterly basis, or as needed, by utilizing common metrics such as loan-to-value or debt-service ratios as well as covenants, local market conditions, borrower quality, and underlying collateral. The fair value of the underlying collateral is based on a third-party appraisal of the property at origination of the loan. The fair value is assessed on an annual basis or more frequently when a loan is materially underperforming, 30 days delinquent, or in technical default. The Company determines the probability of estimated losses for the commercial mortgage loan portfolio on a pool basis each quarter and records an allowance. The allowance for credit losses is based on estimates, historical experience, probability of loss, value of the underlying collateral, and macro factors that affect the collectability of the loan. Each loan within the pool is assigned a risk rating (credit quality indicator) of low, medium, and high based on risk and expected future performance. A loan that is assigned as high risk would have a higher probability of a potential principal loss. The assigned risk category and the estimated loss rate is adjusted each quarter for current and forecasted economic factors management believes are relevant.

If management determines that foreclosure of a particular property is probable, the Company may elect the practical expedient for an individual mortgage loan to estimate the expected credit losses, which are based on the fair value of the property less amortized cost, adjusted for selling and other associated costs.

Cash

Cash: "Cash" consists of balances on hand and on deposit in banks and financial institutions.

Accrued Investment Income and Other Receivables

Accrued investment income: "Accrued investment income" consists of interest income or dividends earned on the investment portfolio, but which are yet to be received as of the balance sheet date. The Company will write-off accrued investment income that is deemed to be uncollectible related to the fixed maturities.

"Accrued investment income" also consists of interest income earned on the commercial mortgage loan portfolio, but which is yet to be received as of the balance sheet date. Accrued investment income will be placed in nonaccrual status at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent or otherwise deemed to be uncollectible by management. Any currently accrued investment income will subsequently be written off. As of December 31, 2020, the accrued interest receivable for commercial mortgage loans was $433 thousand. Commercial mortgage loans generally pay interest monthly, therefore accrued interest is typically for a period of less than 30 days.

As a practical expedient, the Company excludes the accrued investment income from the amortized cost basis of the investment and separately reports it in another financial statement line item, "Accrued investment income." Additionally, the amount will be excluded from disclosures within Note 4—Investments.

Other Receivables: Agent debit balances primarily represent commissions advanced to insurance agents, a common industry practice. These balances are repaid to the Company over time, generally one year, as the premiums associated with the advanced commissions are collected by the Company and a portion of the agents' commissions on such premiums are retained in order to repay the balances. The balances were $456 million at December 31, 2020 and $424 million at December 31, 2019. When an agent sells a policy, commissions are advanced to the agent, and the collection of the advance is made as long as the policy stays in force. While there is a susceptibility to loss should an agent terminate or excessive policy lapses occur, the ability of the Company to continue to collect an agent's commission streams over time from prior sales of policies reduces the Company's exposure to loss.

The Company has a very low inherent risk with regards to the collection of agent debit balances and views these balances as recoverable since they are, in aggregate, less than the estimated present value of future commissions discounted at a conservative rate which includes assumptions for lapses and mortality. The Company’s security, or collateral, is in the form of future commission streams collected over the life of the policies sold by the respective agents, which ultimately revert to the Company in the event an agent is terminated. The Company evaluated the agent debit balances on a pool basis to determine the allowance for credit losses, as the loans have similar characteristics. A provision for credit losses will be recorded in "Realized gains (losses)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the asset balance will be reflected in agent debit balances, net of allowance for credit losses ("Other receivables"). Based on factors considered by management, aside from the cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption described above, there were no additional credit losses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was $1.2 million.

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Deferred Acquisition Costs: Certain costs of acquiring new insurance business are deferred and recorded as an asset. These costs are essential for the acquisition of new insurance business and are directly related to the successful issuance of an insurance contract including sales commissions, policy issue costs, and underwriting costs. Additionally, deferred acquisition costs (DAC) include the value of business acquired (VOBA), which are the costs of acquiring blocks of insurance from other companies or through the acquisition of other companies. These costs represent the difference between the fair value of the contractual insurance assets acquired and liabilities assumed compared against the assets and liabilities for insurance contracts that the Company issues or holds measured in accordance with GAAP.

DAC and VOBA are amortized in a systematic manner which matches these costs with the associated revenues. Policies other than universal life-type policies are amortized with interest over the estimated premium-paying period of the policies in a manner which charges each year’s operations in proportion to the receipt of premium income.

Universal life-type policies are amortized with interest in proportion to estimated gross profits. The assumptions used to amortize acquisition costs include interest, mortality, morbidity, and persistency, and are consistent with those used to estimate the liability for future policy benefits. For interest-sensitive and deposit-type products, these assumptions are reviewed on a regular basis and are revised if actual experience differs significantly from original expectations. For all other products, amortization assumptions are generally not revised once established. DAC and VOBA are subject to periodic recoverability and loss recognition testing to determine if there is a premium deficiency. These tests evaluate whether the present value of future contract-related cash flows will support the capitalized DAC and VOBA assets. These cash flows consist primarily of premium income, less benefits and expenses. The present value of these cash flows, less the benefit reserve, is then compared with the unamortized deferred acquisition cost balance. In the event the estimated present value of net cash flows is less, the deficiency would be recognized by a charge to earnings and either a reduction of unamortized acquisition costs or an increase in the liability for future benefits, as described under the caption Future Policy Benefits.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs: Costs related to advertising are generally charged to expense as incurred. However, certain Direct to Consumer advertising costs are capitalized when there is a reliable and demonstrated relationship between total costs and future benefits that is a direct result of incurring these costs. Direct to Consumer advertising costs consist primarily of the production and distribution costs of direct mail advertising materials, and when capitalized are included as a component of DAC. Additionally, they are amortized in the same manner as other DAC.

Goodwill

Goodwill: The excess cost of a business acquired over the fair value of net assets acquired is reported as goodwill. In accordance with the guidance, goodwill is subject to impairment testing on an annual basis, or whenever potential impairment triggers occur. Impairment testing involves the performance of a qualitative analysis, which involves assessing current events and circumstances to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. In the event the fair value is less than the carrying value, further testing is required to determine the amount of impairment, if any. If there is an impairment in the goodwill of any reporting unit, it is written down and charged to earnings in the period of the test. Globe Life tested its goodwill annually as of June 30th for each of the years 2018 through 2020. The Company's goodwill was not impaired in any of those periods.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Interests

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Interests: Globe Life invests in limited partnerships that provide low-income housing tax credits and other related federal income tax benefits to the Company. Globe Life holds passive interests in limited partnerships that provide investment returns through the provision of tax benefits (principally from the transfer of federal or state tax credits related to federal low-income housing). These investments are considered to be VIEs and do not qualify for consolidation. The carrying value of the Company's investment in these entities was $306 million and $206 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and was included in "Other assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2020, Globe Life was obligated under future commitments of $162 million, which are recorded in "Other liabilities". For guaranteed investments acquired prior to January 1, 2015, the Company utilizes the effective-yield method of amortization, while the proportional method of amortization is utilized for all non-guaranteed and guaranteed investments acquired on or after January 1, 2015. All amortization expense is recorded in "Income tax benefit (expense)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment, included in “Other assets,” is reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded primarily on the straight line method over the estimated useful lives of these assets which range from three to ten years for equipment and fifteen to forty years for buildings and improvements. Ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred. Impairments, if any, are recorded when certain events and circumstances become evident that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying amount. Original cost of property and equipment was $350 million at December 31, 2020 and $298 million at December 31, 2019. Accumulated depreciation was $164 million at the end of 2020 and $137 million at the end of 2019. Depreciation expense was $17 million in 2020, $16 million in 2019, and $13 million in 2018. Internally generated software costs are expensed as incurred in the preliminary project phase and post-implementation phase, and are capitalized during the application development stage. Additionally, implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract are capitalized.

Future Policy Benefits

Future Policy Benefits: The liability for future policy benefits for annuity and universal life-type products is represented by policy account value. The liability for future policy benefits for all other life and health products, approximately 90% of total liabilities for future policy benefits, is determined on the net level premium method. This method provides for the present value of expected future benefit payments less the present value of expected future net premiums, based on estimated investment yields, mortality, morbidity, persistency, and other assumptions which were considered appropriate at the time the policies were issued. For limited-payment contracts, a deferred profit liability is also recorded which causes profits to emerge over the life of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance in force.

Assumptions used for traditional life and health insurance products are based primarily on Company experience. Assumptions for interest rates range from 2.5% to 7.0% for Globe Life's insurance companies with an overall weighted average assumed rate of 5.7%. Mortality tables used for individual life insurance include various industry tables and reflect modifications of a variety of generally accepted actuarial tables based on Company experience. Morbidity assumptions for individual health are based on Company experience and industry data. Withdrawal and termination assumptions are based on Globe Life's experience. Once established, assumptions for these products are generally not changed. An additional provision is made on most products to allow for possible adverse deviation from the assumptions. These estimates are reviewed annually and compared with actual experience. If it is determined that existing contract liabilities, together with the present value of future gross premiums, will not be sufficient to cover the present value of future benefits and to recover unamortized deferred acquisition costs, then a premium deficiency exists. Such a deficiency would be recognized immediately by a charge to earnings and either a reduction of unamortized deferred acquisition costs or an increase in the liability for future policy benefits. From that point forward, the liability for future policy benefits would be based on revised assumptions.

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable: Globe Life establishes a liability for known policy benefits payable and an estimate of claims that have been incurred but not yet reported to the Company. Globe Life makes an estimate of unreported claims after careful evaluation of all information available to the Company. This estimate is based on prior experience and is reviewed quarterly. However, there is no certainty the stated liability for claims and other benefits, including the estimate of unsubmitted claims, will be Globe Life's ultimate obligation.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: "Income taxes" are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement book values and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Postretirement Benefits

Postretirement Benefits: Globe Life accounts for its postretirement defined benefit plans by recognizing the funded status of those plans on its Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with accounting guidance. Periodic gains and losses attributable to changes in plan assets and liabilities that are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs are recognized as components of other comprehensive income, net of tax. The supplemental executive retirement plan is accounted for consistent with the qualified noncontributory pension plan. The net assets are included in a Rabbi Trust and recorded in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock: Globe Life accounts for purchases of treasury stock on the cost method. Issuance of treasury stock is accounted for using the weighted-average cost method.

Recognition of Premium Revenue and Related Expenses

Recognition of Premium Revenue and Related Expenses: Premium income for traditional long-duration life and health insurance products is recognized evenly over the contract period and when due from the policyholder. Premiums for short-duration health contracts are recognized as revenue over the contract period in proportion to the insurance protection provided. Premiums for universal life-type and annuity contracts are added to the policy account value, and revenues for such products are recognized as charges to the policy account value for mortality, administration, and surrenders (retrospective deposit method). Life premium includes policy charges of $14.7 million, $15.6 million, and $16.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Other premium consists of annuity policy charges in each year. For most insurance products, the related benefits and expenses are matched with revenues by means of the provision of future policy benefits and the amortization of DAC in a manner which recognizes profits as they are earned over the revenue recognition period. For limited-payment life insurance products, the profits are recognized over the contract period.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation: Globe Life accounts for stock-based compensation by recognizing an expense in the consolidated financial statements based on the “fair value method.” The fair value method requires that a fair value be assigned to a stock option or other stock grant on its grant date and that this value be amortized over the grantees’ service period.

The fair value method requires the use of an option valuation model to value employee stock options. Globe Life has elected to use the Black-Scholes valuation model for option expensing. A summary of assumptions for options granted in each of the three years 2018 through 2020 is as follows:

	2020		2019		2018
Volatility factor	15.7	%	15.7	%	13.7	%
Dividend yield	0.7	%	0.8	%	0.7	%
Expected term (in years)	5.12		5.10		5.76
Risk-free rate	1.2	%	2.5	%	2.7	%

The expected term is generally derived from Company experience. However, expected terms are determined based on the simplified method as permitted under the ASC 718, Stock Compensation, topic when Company experience is insufficient. On April 26, 2018, the shareholders approved the Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan, formerly the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan (the "2018 Incentive Plan"). The 2018 Incentive Plan replaced all previous plans. The 2018 Incentive Plan allows for option grants for employees with a seven-year contractual term which vest over three years in addition to ten-year grants which vest over five years as permitted by the previous plans. Director grants vest over six months. The Company has sufficient experience with seven-year grants that vest in three years, but insufficient historical experience with five-year vesting. Therefore, the Company has used the simplified method to determine the expected term for the ten-year grants with five-year vesting and will do so until adequate experience is developed. Volatility and risk-free interest rates are assumed over a period of time consistent with the expected term of the option. Volatility is measured on a historical basis. Monthly data points are utilized to derive volatility for periods greater than three years. Expected dividend yield is based on current dividend yield held constant over the expected term. Once the fair value of an option has been determined, it is amortized on a straight-line basis over the employee’s service period for that grant (from the grant date to the date the grant is fully vested). Expenses for restricted stock and restricted stock units are based on the grant date fair value allocated on a straight-line basis over the service period. Performance share expense is recognized based on management’s estimate of the probability of meeting the metrics identified in the performance share award agreement, assigned to each service period as these estimates develop.

Stock-based compensation expense is included in “Other operating expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Globe Life management views all stock-based compensation expense as a Corporate and Other expense and, therefore, presents it as such in its segment analysis.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share: Globe Life presents basic and diluted earnings per common share (EPS) on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations for income from continuing operations and income from discontinued operations. Basic EPS is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by adding to shares outstanding the additional net effect of potentially dilutive securities or contracts, such as stock options, which could be exercised or converted into common shares.

XML

Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Impact of New Accounting Pronouncements

The Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, of $454 thousand to retained earnings, consisting of $265 thousand and $189 thousand for commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances, respectively. Refer to the table below for pre-tax amounts and Note 4—Investments for additional details.

	As reported on December 31, 2019		Pre-tax impact of adoption		As reported on January 1, 2020
Assets:
Commercial mortgage loans	$	137,692	$	(335)	$	137,357
Agent debit balances	423,877		(240)		423,637

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2016-13/2019-04/2019-05, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, with clarification guidance issued in April 2019.	This standard ("CECL") provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments that are recorded at amortized cost. Additionally, it changes the loss impairment methodology for available-for-sale fixed maturities by the use of an allowance rather than a direct write down.	This standard became effective on January 1, 2020.	The Company's available-for-sale fixed maturities and other financing receivables (commercial mortgage loans and agent debit balances) were concluded to be the relevant financial assets within the scope of the standard. See Note 1 for information on the adoption and revised accounting policies.
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20), Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	The standard removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant to defined benefit plans.	This standard became effective on December 31, 2020, and was applied retrospectively.	The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. See updated disclosures in Note 9.
ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting	This standard was issued primarily to provide optional expedients for simplifying the accounting for contract modifications to existing agreements, which is expected to arise from the market's transition from LIBOR to the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) as a result of reference rate reform.	This standard became effective upon issuance, or March 12, 2020, and will remain effective until December 31, 2022.	The Company has limited assets and liabilities that utilize LIBOR as a benchmark rate. We will continue to monitor the progress towards the establishment of a new floating rate; however, we do not expect a material impact at this time.

Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted
Standard	Description	Effective Date	Effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements
ASU No. 2018-12/2019-09/2020-11,  Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, with clarification guidance issued in November 2019 and 2020.	ASU 2018-12 is a significant change to our current accounting and disclosure of long-duration contracts, which is our primary business. The guidance was primarily issued to: 1) improve the timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits and modify the rate used to discount future cash flows, 2) simplify and improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts, 3) simplify the amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and 4) improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures.	As a result of the issuance of ASU 2020-11 in November 2020, the effective date for this standard was changed to January 1, 2023. Early adoption is available.	The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures, specifically assessing key accounting policies, assumption and data inputs, controls, and enhanced system solutions. Due to the overall nature of the standard, the impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected to be significant. At this time, the Company does not have an estimate of the impact. The Company does not expect to early adopt this ASU.
ASU No. 2020-08, Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs	The standard was issued as an amendment to ASU 2017-08, and clarifies that callable debt securities with a premium should be amortized to the next call date.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021, and will be applied prospectively. Early adoption is not permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Summary of Assumptions for Options Granted

A summary of assumptions for options granted in each of the three years 2018 through 2020 is as follows:

	2020		2019		2018
Volatility factor	15.7	%	15.7	%	13.7	%
Dividend yield	0.7	%	0.8	%	0.7	%
Expected term (in years)	5.12		5.10		5.76
Risk-free rate	1.2	%	2.5	%	2.7	%

XML

Statutory Accounting (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Insurance [Abstract]

Consolidated Net Income and Shareholders' Equity for Insurance Companies

Consolidated net income and shareholders’ equity (capital and surplus) on a statutory basis for the insurance subsidiaries were as follows:

	Net Income						Shareholders’ Equity
	Year Ended December 31,						At December 31,
	2020		2019		2018		2020		2019
Life insurance subsidiaries	$	441,589	$	462,515	$	437,549	$	1,408,281	$	1,398,274

XML

Supplemental Information About Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Change in Balance by Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income: An analysis of the change in balance by component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income is as follows for each of the years 2018 through 2020:

	Available for Sale Assets		Deferred Acquisition Costs		Foreign Exchange		Pension Adjustments		Total
For the year ended December 31, 2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	1,569,289	$	(8,547)	$	16,302	$	(152,770)	$	1,424,274
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(1,132,202)		4,384		(9,807)		22,290		(1,115,335)
Reclassifications, net of tax	(1,389)		—		—		11,925		10,536
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,133,591)		4,384		(9,807)		34,215		(1,104,799)
Balance at December 31, 2018	435,698		(4,163)		6,495		(118,555)		319,475
For the year ended December 31, 2019:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,557,883		(1,753)		5,563		(32,102)		1,529,591
Reclassifications, net of tax	(10,931)		—		—		6,695		(4,236)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,546,952		(1,753)		5,563		(25,407)		1,525,355
Balance at December 31, 2019	1,982,650		(5,916)		12,058		(143,962)		1,844,830
For the year ended December 31, 2020:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,167,003		1,212		11,244		(34,103)		1,145,356
Reclassifications, net of tax	25,919		—		—		13,139		39,058
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,192,922		1,212		11,244		(20,964)		1,184,414
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	3,175,572	$	(4,704)	$	23,302	$	(164,926)	$	3,029,244

Summary of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Reclassification adjustments: Reclassification adjustments out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income are presented below for the three years ended December 31, 2020.

	Year Ended December 31,						Affected line items in the Statement of Operations
Component Line Item	2020		2019		2018
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Realized (gains) losses	$	26,345	$	(19,352)	$	(5,715)	Realized (gains) losses
Amortization of (discount) premium	6,464		5,515		3,957		Net investment income
Total before tax	32,809		(13,837)		(1,758)
Tax	(6,890)		2,906		369		Income tax benefit (expense)
Total after-tax	25,919		(10,931)		(1,389)
Pension adjustments:
Amortization of prior service cost	632		631		535		Other operating expense
Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss	16,000		7,843		14,560		Other operating expense
Total before tax	16,632		8,474		15,095
Tax	(3,493)		(1,779)		(3,170)		Income tax benefit (expense)
Total after-tax	13,139		6,695		11,925
Total reclassification (after-tax)	$	39,058	$	(4,236)	$	10,536

XML

Investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Summary of Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities Available for Sale by Component

Summaries of fixed maturities available for sale by amortized cost, fair value, and allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows. Redeemable preferred stock is included within the corporates by sector. As noted in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies, the Company prospectively adopted ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2020 for the available-for-sale fixed maturities. Results after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASU 2016-13, while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. See additional discussion of the allowance for credit losses later in this note.

	At December 31, 2020
	Amortized Cost		Allowance for Credit Losses		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair  Value(1)		% of Total Fixed Maturities(2)
Fixed maturities available for sale:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	380,602	$	—	$	87,272	$	(43)	$	467,831	2
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	1,880,607		—		251,291		(315)		2,131,583		10
Foreign governments	52,913		—		2,635		(898)		54,650		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	4,404,203		—		1,016,813		(24,221)		5,396,795		26
Utilities	1,975,460		—		608,595		(108)		2,583,947		12
Energy	1,623,970		(3,346)		346,197		(3,083)		1,963,738		9
Other corporate sectors	6,687,644		—		1,727,366		(6,218)		8,408,792		40
Total corporates	14,691,277		(3,346)		3,698,971		(33,630)		18,353,272		87
Collateralized debt obligations	57,007		—		23,460		(8,869)		71,598		—
Other asset-backed securities	134,739		—		3,614		(3,778)		134,575		1
Total fixed maturities	$	17,197,145	$	(3,346)	$	4,067,243	$	(47,533)	$	21,213,509	100

(1)Amount reported in the balance sheet.

(2)At fair value.

	At December 31, 2019
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair  Value(1)		% of Total Fixed Maturities(2)
Fixed maturities available for sale:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	396,079	$	41,737	$	(296)	$	437,520	2
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	1,559,736		158,546		(626)		1,717,656		9
Foreign governments	25,874		2,073		(396)		27,551		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	4,101,917		701,196		(22,307)		4,780,806		25
Utilities	1,937,738		416,114		(1,565)		2,352,287		13
Energy	1,678,969		269,640		(33,725)		1,914,884		10
Other corporate sectors	6,514,677		955,908		(16,765)		7,453,820		40
Total corporates	14,233,301		2,342,858		(74,362)		16,501,797		88
Collateralized debt obligations	56,990		24,298		(7,184)		74,104		—
Other asset-backed securities	143,796		5,094		(371)		148,519		1
Total fixed maturities	$	16,415,776	$	2,574,606	$	(83,235)	$	18,907,147	100

(1)Amount reported in the balance sheet.

(2)At fair value.

Schedule of Fixed Maturities by Contractual Maturity

A schedule of fixed maturities available for sale by contractual maturity date at December 31, 2020 is shown below on an amortized cost basis, net of allowance for credit losses and on a fair value basis. Actual disposition dates could differ from contractual maturities due to call or prepayment provisions.

	At December 31, 2020
	Amortized Cost, net		Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Due in one year or less	$	70,732	$	72,395
Due after one year through five years	781,183		866,408
Due after five years through ten years	1,870,527		2,260,011
Due after ten years through twenty years	6,109,815		7,884,526
Due after twenty years	8,169,528		9,923,706
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities	192,014		206,463
	$	17,193,799	$	21,213,509

Schedule of Analysis of Investment Operations

"Net investment income" for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Fixed maturities available for sale	$	873,352	$	864,280	$	843,510
Policy loans	44,801		43,434		41,359
Other long-term investments(1)	26,196		16,198		10,638
Short-term investments	545		2,592		2,642
	944,894		926,504		898,149
Less investment expense	(17,832)		(16,045)		(15,637)
Net investment income	$	927,062	$	910,459	$	882,512

(1)For the years ended 2020, 2019 and 2018, the investment funds, accounted for under the fair value option method, recorded $15.3 million, $5.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively in net investment income.

Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments

An analysis of "realized gains (losses)" is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Realized investment gains (losses):
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Sales and other(1)	$	(22,999)	$	19,354	$	5,715
Provision for credit losses	(3,346)		—		—
Investment funds—fair value option	1,045		1,256		2,650
Other investments	21,563		11		909
Realized gains (losses) from investments	(3,737)		20,621		9,274
Realized loss on redemption of debt(2)	(634)		—		(11,078)
	(4,371)		20,621		(1,804)
Applicable tax	1,955		(4,330)		379
Realized gains (losses), net of tax	$	(2,416)	$	16,291	$	(1,425)

(1)For the years ended 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded $219.8 million, $243.2 million and $193.4 million of exchanges of fixed maturities (noncash transactions) that resulted in $7.9 million, $20.5 million, and $10.1 million, respectively in realized gains (losses).

(2)Refer to Note 11—Debt for further discussion.

Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

An analysis of the net change in unrealized investment gains (losses) is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Change in investment gains (losses) on:
Fixed maturities available for sale	$	1,528,339	$	1,946,910	$	(1,429,763)

Selected information about sales of fixed maturities available for sale is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Proceeds from sales(1)	$	52,681	$	79,108	$	32,021
Gross realized gains	2,642		1,227		66
Gross realized losses	(39,153)		(3,674)		(13,996)

(1)There were no unsettled sales in the periods ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis

The following tables represent the fair value of fixed maturities measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2020:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	—		$	467,831		$	—		$	467,831
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—			2,131,583			—			2,131,583
Foreign governments	—			54,650			—			54,650
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—			5,222,066			174,729			5,396,795
Utilities	—			2,400,602			183,345			2,583,947
Energy	—			1,925,549			38,189			1,963,738
Other corporate sectors	—			8,090,550			318,242			8,408,792
Total corporates	—			17,638,767			714,505			18,353,272
Collateralized debt obligations	—			—			71,598			71,598
Other asset-backed securities	—			121,705			12,870			134,575
Total fixed maturities	$	—		$	20,414,536		$	798,973		$	21,213,509
Percentage of total	—		%	96		%	4		%	100		%

	Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2019:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total Fair Value
Fixed maturities available for sale
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	—		$	437,520		$	—		$	437,520
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—			1,717,656			—			1,717,656
Foreign governments	—			27,551			—			27,551
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—			4,628,875			151,931			4,780,806
Utilities	—			2,195,539			156,748			2,352,287
Energy	—			1,873,482			41,402			1,914,884
Other corporate sectors	—			7,131,773			322,047			7,453,820
Total corporates	—			15,829,669			672,128			16,501,797
Collateralized debt obligations	—			—			74,104			74,104
Other asset-backed securities	—			135,342			13,177			148,519
Total fixed maturities	$	—		$	18,147,738		$	759,409		$	18,907,147
Percentage of total	—		%	96		%	4		%	100		%

Schedule of Changes in Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs, and Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income

The following tables represent changes in fixed maturities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

	Analysis of Changes in Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Asset- backed Securities		Collateralized Debt Obligations		Corporates		Total
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	14,049	$	71,581	$	582,810	$	668,440
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		698		698
Included in other comprehensive income	(591)		3,170		(23,687)		(21,108)
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		27,453		27,453
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,737		16		4,753
Other(2)	(476)		(6,119)		(38,352)		(44,947)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		4,533		4,533
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2018	12,982		73,369		553,471		639,822
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		396		396
Included in other comprehensive income	708		1,514		30,378		32,600
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		—		—
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,596		13		4,609
Other(2)	(513)		(5,375)		(19,154)		(25,042)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		107,024		107,024
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2019	13,177		74,104		672,128		759,409
Included in realized gains/losses	—		—		1,579		1,579
Included in other comprehensive income	(173)		(2,523)		17,082		14,386
Acquisitions(1)	—		—		67,820		67,820
Sales	—		—		—		—
Amortization	—		4,551		12		4,563
Other(2)	(134)		(4,534)		(44,116)		(48,784)
Transfers into Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Transfers out of Level 3(3)	—		—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	12,870	$	71,598	$	714,505	$	798,973
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for assets held at the end of the reporting period:
	Asset- backed Securities		Collateralized Debt Obligations		Corporates		Total
2018	$	(591)	$	3,170	$	(23,687)	$	(21,108)
2019	708		1,514		30,378		32,600
2020	(173)		(2,523)		17,082		14,386

(1)Acquisitions of Level 3 investments in each of the years 2018 through 2020 are comprised of private-placement fixed maturities.

(2)Includes capitalized interest, foreign exchange adjustments, and principal repayments. 

(3)Considered to be transferred at the end of the period. Transfers into Level 3 occur when observable inputs are no longer available, while transfers out of Level 3 occur when observable inputs become available.

Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques

The following table represents quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements:

	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
	As of December 31, 2020
	Fair Value		Valuation Techniques	Significant Unobservable Input	Range	Weighted- Average(1)
Private placement fixed maturities	612,906		Determination of credit spread	Credit rating	A+ to BB-	BBB
			Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	1.04% - 8.29%	2.29%
Other corporate bonds	101,599		Present Value Techniques	Market Quotes	100.05%	100.05%
Collateralized debt obligations	71,598		Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	6.35% - 7.10%	6.98%
Asset-backed securities	$	12,870	Determination of credit spread	Credit rating	BBB-	BBB-
			Discounted Cash Flows	Discount rate	5.41%	5.41%
	$	798,973

(1)Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.

Schedule of Additional Information about Investments in Unrealized Loss Position

The following table discloses information about fixed maturities available for sale in an unrealized loss position.

	Less than Twelve Months	Twelve Months or Longer	Total
Number of issues (CUSIPs) held:
As of December 31, 2020	54	24	78
As of December 31, 2019	82	51	133

Schedule of Unrealized Investment Losses by Class of Investment

The following table discloses unrealized investment losses by class and major sector of fixed maturities available for sale for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded at December 31, 2020.

Analysis of Gross Unrealized Investment Losses

	At December 31, 2020
	Less than Twelve Months				Twelve Months or Longer				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Investment grade securities:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	2,006	$	(43)	$	—	$	—	$	2,006	$	(43)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	32,910		(315)		—		—		32,910		(315)
Foreign governments	19,532		(898)		—		—		19,532		(898)
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	117,762		(2,564)		6,333		(2,168)		124,095		(4,732)
Utilities	2,726		(108)		—		—		2,726		(108)
Energy	1,692		(8)		14,871		(106)		16,563		(114)
Other corporate sectors	21,882		(720)		—		—		21,882		(720)
Total corporates	144,062		(3,400)		21,204		(2,274)		165,266		(5,674)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		—		—		—		—
Other asset-backed securities	28,864		(1,051)		5		—		28,869		(1,051)
Total investment grade securities	227,374		(5,707)		21,209		(2,274)		248,583		(7,981)
Below investment grade securities:
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		—		—		—		—		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	6,822		(36)		115,093		(19,453)		121,915		(19,489)
Utilities	—		—		—		—		—		—
Energy	18,432		(757)		38,720		(2,212)		57,152		(2,969)
Other corporate sectors	25,711		(3,588)		19,516		(1,910)		45,227		(5,498)
Total corporates	50,965		(4,381)		173,329		(23,575)		224,294		(27,956)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		11,131		(8,869)		11,131		(8,869)
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		11,223		(2,727)		11,223		(2,727)
Total below investment grade securities	50,965		(4,381)		195,683		(35,171)		246,648		(39,552)
Total fixed maturities	$	278,339	$	(10,088)	$	216,892	$	(37,445)	$	495,231	$	(47,533)

The following table discloses unrealized investment losses by class and major sector of fixed maturities available for sale at December 31, 2019. Globe Life considered these investments to be only temporarily impaired.

Analysis of Gross Unrealized Investment Losses

	At December 31, 2019
	Less than Twelve Months				Twelve Months or Longer				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Investment grade securities:
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	$	1,255	$	(2)	$	21,044	$	(294)	$	22,299	$	(296)
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	66,774		(626)		—		—		66,774		(626)
Foreign governments	6,496		(396)		—		—		6,496		(396)
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	117,389		(1,733)		7,183		(1,317)		124,572		(3,050)
Utilities	8,400		(166)		—		—		8,400		(166)
Energy	52,312		(1,058)		1,833		(115)		54,145		(1,173)
Other corporate sectors	136,386		(1,584)		61,473		(3,260)		197,859		(4,844)
Total corporates	314,487		(4,541)		70,489		(4,692)		384,976		(9,233)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		—		—		—		—
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		—		—		—		—
Total investment grade securities	389,012		(5,565)		91,533		(4,986)		480,545		(10,551)
Below investment grade securities:
States, municipalities and political subdivisions	—		—		—		—		—		—
Corporates, by sector:
Financial	—		—		113,481		(19,257)		113,481		(19,257)
Utilities	7,529		(135)		14,985		(1,264)		22,514		(1,399)
Energy	14,968		(146)		69,956		(32,406)		84,924		(32,552)
Other corporate sectors	—		—		67,655		(11,921)		67,655		(11,921)
Total corporates	22,497		(281)		266,077		(64,848)		288,574		(65,129)
Collateralized debt obligations	—		—		12,816		(7,184)		12,816		(7,184)
Other asset-backed securities	—		—		13,879		(371)		13,879		(371)
Total below investment grade securities	22,497		(281)		292,772		(72,403)		315,269		(72,684)
Total fixed maturities	$	411,509	$	(5,846)	$	384,305	$	(77,389)	$	795,814	$	(83,235)

Fixed Maturities, Allowance for Credit Loss

A summary of the activity in the allowance for credit losses is as follows. Refer to Note 1 for factors considered in the recording of the allowance for credit losses.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$	—	$	—
Additions to allowance for which credit losses were not previously recorded	36,065		—
Additions (reductions) to allowance for fixed maturities that previously had an allowance	—		—
Reduction of allowance for which the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell or sold during the period	(32,719)		—
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	$	3,346	$	—

Schedule of Percentages Of Investments By Major Components At Fair Value

At December 31, 2020, the investment portfolio, at fair value, consisted of the following:

Investment grade fixed maturities:
Corporates	78	%
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	9
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	2
Other	1
Below investment grade fixed maturities:
Corporates	4
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions	—
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises	—
Other	—
	94
Other
Policy loans, which are secured by the underlying insurance policy values	3
Other investments	3
	100	%

Schedule Of Industry Concentrations Held In Corporate Portfolio

Below are the ten largest industry concentrations held in the portfolio of corporate fixed maturities at December 31, 2020, based on fair value:

Insurance	15	%
Electric utilities	10
Banks	7
Oil and natural gas pipelines	6
Chemicals	4
Transportation	4
Food	4
Oil and natural gas exploration and production	4
Real estate investment trusts	4
Telecommunications	3

Other Long-Term Investments

Other long-term investments consist of the following assets:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Investment funds	$	385,038	$	185,851
Commercial mortgage loan participations	160,602		137,692
Other	1,341		2,804
Total	$	546,981	$	326,347

Schedule of Investment Funds

The following table presents additional information about the Company's investment funds as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 at fair value:

	As of December 31,
	Fair Value				Unfunded Commitments
Investment Category	2020		2019		2020		Redemption Term/Notice
Commercial mortgage loans	$	227,050	$	26,145	$	285,287	Portion non-redeemable and fully redeemable after 6 month period, subject to fund liquidity/discretion of General Partner. Expected life is 7 years for non-redeemable fund.
Opportunistic credit	157,461		159,399		—		Initial 2 year lock on each new investment/semi-annual withdrawals thereafter/full redemption within 36 month period.
Other	527		307		149,715		Not redeemable. Expected life is approximately 12 years.
Total investment funds	$	385,038	$	185,851	$	435,002

Summary of Commercial Mortgage Loan Participations

Summaries of commercial mortgage loans at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

	2020			2019
	Carrying Value		% of Total	Carrying Value		% of Total
Property type:
Mixed use	$	49,002	31	$	27,501	20
Office	36,153		22	42,350		31
Hospitality	22,605		14	22,324		16
Retail	19,319		12	17,318		12
Multi-family	19,128		12	10,587		8
Industrial	17,900		11	17,612		13
Total recorded investment	164,107		102	137,692		100
Less allowance for credit losses	(3,505)		(2)	—		—
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$	160,602	100	$	137,692	100

	2020			2019
	Carrying Value		% of Total	Carrying Value		% of Total
Geographic location:
California	$	61,610	38	$	35,412	26
Virginia	27,019		17	25,448		18
New York	16,602		10	21,117		15
Florida	12,420		8	11,910		9
Pennsylvania	11,314		7	4,211		3
Other	35,142		22	39,594		29
Total recorded investment	164,107		102	137,692		100
Less allowance for credit losses	(3,505)		(2)	—		—
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$	160,602	100	$	137,692	100

Commercial Loan Participations, Allowance for Credit Loss

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$	—	$	—
Cumulative effect of adoption ASU 2016-13	335		—
Provision (reversal) for credit losses	3,170		—
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	$	3,505	$	—

Commercial Loan Participations, Credit Quality Indicators

The following table is reflective of Management's internal risk ratings of the loan portfolio. Loans are rated low, moderate, and high. The risk categories consider many different factors such as quality of asset, borrower status, as well as macroeconomic factors including COVID-19. These loans, originated in 2017 to 2020, are transitional or under construction and may not yet be income producing. Certain ratios such as loan to value and debt service coverage ratios may not be evaluated as the value of the underlying transitional property significantly fluctuates based on completion of the project.

	Net Book Value of Commercial Mortgage Loans Receivable by Year of Origination
	As of December 31, 2020
Risk Rating:	Number of Loans	2020		2019		2018		2017		Total
Low	17	$	20,176	$	14,757	$	33,132	$	61,460	$	129,525
Medium	4	—		10,640		7,796		—		18,436
High	3	—		4,554		11,592		—		16,146
Total commercial mortgage loans	24	20,176		29,951		52,520		61,460		164,107
Less allowance for credit losses on the investment pool										(2,503)
Less allowance for credit losses on individual loans										(1,002)
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance										$	160,602

XML

Deferred Acquisition Costs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Insurance [Abstract]

Analysis of Deferred Acquisition Costs

An analysis of "DAC" is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of year	$	4,341,941	$	4,137,925	$	3,958,063
Additions:
Deferred during period:
Commissions	600,577		534,735		497,459
Other expenses	222,408		218,926		202,092
Total deferred	822,985		753,661		699,551
Foreign exchange adjustment	4,755		4,299		—
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment losses(1)	1,533		—		5,549
Total additions	829,273		757,960		705,100
Deductions:
Amortized during period	(575,770)		(551,726)		(516,690)
Foreign exchange adjustment	—		—		(8,548)
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment gains(1)	—		(2,218)		—
Total deductions	(575,770)		(553,944)		(525,238)
Balance at end of year	$	4,595,444	$	4,341,941	$	4,137,925

(1)Represents amounts pertaining to investments relating to universal life-type products

XML

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Rental Expense for Operating Leases

Rental expense for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Rental expense	$	4,674	$	3,831	$	3,959

Future Minimum Rental Commitments

Future minimum rental commitments required under operating leases having remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Operating lease commitments	$	5,307	$	4,395	$	3,321	$	2,873	$	1,896	$	10,823

Long-term Purchase Commitment

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Purchase commitments	$	66,439	$	73,451	$	24,823	$	10,347	$	9,797	$	228,542

XML

Liability for Unpaid Claims (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Insurance [Abstract]

Summary of Liability for Unpaid Health Claims

Activity in the liability for unpaid health claims is summarized as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	163,808	$	154,528	$	146,865
Incurred related to:
Current year	584,936		612,305		555,647
Prior years	(14,829)		(1,188)		(3,017)
Total incurred	570,107		611,117		552,630
Paid related to:
Current year	442,127		470,426		424,633
Prior years	129,527		131,411		120,334
Total paid	571,654		601,837		544,967
Balance at end of period	$	162,261	$	163,808	$	154,528

Reconciliation of Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable

Below is the reconciliation of the liability of "Policy claims and other benefits payable" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Policy claims and other benefits payable:
Life insurance	$	237,246	$	201,594
Health insurance	162,261		163,808
Total	$	399,507	$	365,402

XML

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of Income Taxes

The following table discloses significant components of income taxes for each year presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations:
Current income tax expense (benefit)	$	129,647	$	134,948	$	134,626
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	35,264		35,449		27,535
	164,911		170,397		162,161
Shareholders’ equity:
Other comprehensive income (loss)	314,845		405,472		(293,678)
	$	479,756	$	575,869	$	(131,517)

Summary of Effective Income Tax Rate

The effective income tax rate differed from the expected U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% as shown below:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		%	2019		%	2018		%
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit)	$	188,304	21.0	$	195,569	21.0	$	181,371	21.0
Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
Tax reform adjustment	—		—	—		—	(798)		(0.1)
Low income housing investments	(11,913)		(1.3)	(11,605)		(1.2)	(12,240)		(1.4)
Share-based awards	(5,013)		(0.6)	(11,780)		(1.3)	(6,450)		(0.7)
Tax-exempt investment income	(5,830)		(0.6)	(3,192)		(0.3)	(1,230)		(0.1)
Other	(637)		(0.1)	1,405		0.1	1,508		0.1
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	164,911	18.4	$	170,397	18.3	$	162,161	18.8

Significant Portions of Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities

The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below:

	December 31,
	2020		2019
Deferred tax assets:
Fixed maturity investments	$	4,279	$	6,161
Carryover of tax losses	5,534		7,827
Total gross deferred tax assets	9,813		13,988
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unrealized gains	808,071		493,174
Employee and agent compensation	88,012		81,174
Deferred acquisition costs	688,034		658,457
Future policy benefits, unearned and advance premiums, and policy claims	257,640		242,124
Other liabilities	7,209		26,271
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	1,848,966		1,501,200
Net deferred tax liability	$	1,839,153	$	1,487,212

XML

Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The total cost of these retirement plans charged to operations was as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Plan Type:
Defined Contribution Plans(1)	$	4,855	$	4,817	$	4,068
Defined Benefit Pension Plans(2)	33,826		24,134		32,593

(1)401K plans.

(2)Qualified pension plans and SERP.

Pension Assets by Component at Fair Value

The following table presents the assets of the Company's defined benefit pension plans at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Pension Assets by Component at December 31, 2020

	Fair Value Determined by:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Amount		% to Total
Corporate bonds:
Financial	$	—	$	52,252	$	—	$	52,252	10
Utilities	—		45,888		—		45,888		9
Energy	—		22,480		—		22,480		4
Other corporates	—		88,983		—		88,983		17
Total corporate bonds	—		209,603		—		209,603		40
Exchange traded fund(1)	245,170		—		—		245,170		46
Other bonds	—		258		—		258		—
Guaranteed annuity contract(2)	—		30,119		—		30,119		6
Short-term investments	20,960		—		—		20,960		4
Other	7,109		—		—		7,109		1
	$	273,239	$	239,980	$	—	513,219		97
Other long-term investments(3)							16,313		3
Total pension assets							$	529,532	100

(1)A fund including marketable securities that mirror the S&P 500 index.

(2)Representing a guaranteed annuity contract issued by Globe Life Inc.'s subsidiary, American Income Life Insurance Company, to fund the obligations of the American Income Life Insurance Company Non-Exempt Employees Defined Benefit Pension Plan ("American Income Pension Plan").

(3)Included in other long-term investments is an investment fund that reports the Pension Plan's pro-rata share of the limited partnership's net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. The Pension Plan owns less than 1% of the investment fund. As of December 31, 2020, the expected term of the investment fund is approximately 4 years and the commitment of the investment is fully funded. The investment is non-redeemable.

Pension Assets by Component at December 31, 2019

	Fair Value Determined by:
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Amount		% to Total
Corporate bonds:
Financial	$	—	$	51,111	$	—	$	51,111	11
Utilities	—		42,758		—		42,758		9
Energy	—		21,907		—		21,907		5
Other corporates	—		89,725		—		89,725		19
Total corporate bonds	—		205,501		—		205,501		44
Exchange traded fund(1)	207,176		—		—		207,176		44
Other bonds	—		251		—		251		—
Guaranteed annuity contract(2)	—		28,278		—		28,278		6
Short-term investments	8,414		—		—		8,414		2
Other	6,876		—		—		6,876		1
	$	222,466	$	234,030	$	—	456,496		97
Other long-term investments(3)							12,267		3
Total pension assets							$	468,763	100

(1)A fund including marketable securities that mirror the S&P 500 index.

(2)Representing a guaranteed annuity contract issued by Globe Life Inc.'s subsidiary, American Income Life Insurance Company, to fund the obligations of the American Income Pension Plan.

(3)Included in other long-term investments is an investment fund that reports the Pension Plan's pro-rata share of the limited partnership's net asset value per share or its equivalent (NAV), as a practical expedient for fair value. The Pension Plan owns approximately 1% of the investment fund. As of December 31, 2019, the expected term of the investment fund is approximately 5 years and the unfunded commitment of the investment fund is $4.1 million. The investment is non-redeemable.

Information Regarding the SERP

The following tables include premiums paid for the company owned life insurance (COLI) for the three years ended December 31, 2020 and investments of the Rabbi Trust for the two years ended December 31, 2020.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Premiums paid for insurance coverage	$	2,480	$	2,394	$	2,997
	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Total investments:
COLI	$	51,361	$	47,733
Exchange traded funds	75,390		65,585
	$	126,751	$	113,318

Pension Liability

The following table presents projected benefit obligation (PBO) and accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for the defined benefit pension plans and SERP at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Pension Liability

	December 31,
	2020				2019
	PBO		ABO		PBO		ABO
Funded benefit pension plans	$	667,753	$	594,510	$	578,860	$	520,264
SERP	95,560		89,069		86,347		81,046
Benefit Obligation	$	763,313	$	683,579	$	665,207	$	601,310

The funded benefit pension plans have projected benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets were as follows:

	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Funded benefit pension plans PBO	$	667,753	$	578,860
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532		468,763

The funded benefit pension plans have accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets. The accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets were as follows:

	At December 31,
	2020		2019
Funded benefit pension plans ABO	$	594,510	$	520,264
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532		468,763

Weighted Average Pension Plan Assumptions

The following table discloses the assumptions used to determine Globe Life's pension liabilities and costs for the appropriate periods. The discount and compensation increase rates are used to determine current year projected benefit obligations and subsequent year pension expense. The long-term rate of return is used to determine current year expense. Differences between assumptions and actual experience are included in actuarial gain or loss.

Weighted Average Pension Plan Assumptions

For Benefit Obligations at December 31:	2020		2019
Discount rate	2.92	%	3.49	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.97		4.00
For Periodic Benefit Cost for the Year:	2020		2019		2018
Discount rate	3.49	%	4.37	%	3.75	%
Expected long-term returns	6.67		6.72		6.72
Rate of compensation increase	3.97		4.00		4.37

Components of Net Periodic Pension Costs and Post-Retirement Benefit Costs

Net periodic benefit cost for the defined benefit plans by expense component was as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Service cost—benefits earned during the period	$	24,461	$	19,929	$	21,092
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	22,825		23,827		22,303
Expected return on assets	(29,561)		(27,862)		(25,547)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	632		8,211		15,003
Recognition of actuarial gain (loss)	15,469		29		(258)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	33,826	$	24,134	$	32,593

Analysis of Impact on Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

An analysis of the impact on other comprehensive income (loss) concerning pensions and other postretirement benefits is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at January 1	$	(182,233)	$	(150,071)	$	(193,380)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost (credit)	632		631		535
Net actuarial (gain) loss(1)	16,000		7,843		14,560
Total amortization	16,632		8,474		15,095
Plan amendments	—		—		(2,377)
Experience gain (loss)	(43,169)		(40,636)		30,591
Balance at December 31	$	(208,770)	$	(182,233)	$	(150,071)

(1)Includes amortization of postretirement benefits other than pensions of $302 thousand in 2020, $265 thousand in 2019, and $92 thousand in 2018.

Reconciliation of Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets

The following table presents a reconciliation from the beginning to the end of the year of the PBO and plan assets for the defined benefit plans and SERP. This table also presents the amounts previously recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Pension Benefits

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019
Changes in PBO:
PBO at beginning of year	$	665,207	$	556,199
Service cost	24,461		19,929
Interest cost	22,825		23,827
Actuarial loss (gain)	74,006		88,053
Benefits paid	(23,186)		(22,801)
PBO at end of year	763,313		665,207
Changes in plan assets:
Fair value at beginning of year	468,763		392,672
Return on assets	62,104		77,290
Contributions	21,851		21,602
Benefits paid	(23,186)		(22,801)
Fair value at end of year	529,532		468,763
Funded status at year end	$	(233,781)	$	(196,444)

Schedule of Amounts Recognized as Components Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Changes in the PBO related to actuarial losses (gains) are primarily attributed to changes in the discount rate.

	Year Ended December 31,
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:	2020		2019
Net loss (gain)	$	200,465	$	174,470
Prior service cost	4,713		5,345
Net amounts recognized at year end	$	205,178	$	179,815

Estimated Future Payments for Post-Retirement Benefit Plans

Globe Life has estimated its expected pension benefits to be paid over the next ten years as of December 31, 2020. These estimates use the same assumptions that measure the benefit obligation at December 31, 2020, taking estimated future employee service into account. Those estimated benefits are as follows:

For the year(s):
2021	$	24,477
2022	26,494
2023	28,783
2024	30,960
2025	32,067
2026-2030	187,386

XML

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]

Summary of Noncash Transactions

The following table summarizes Globe Life's noncash transactions, which are not reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Commitments for low-income housing interests	161,503		51,978		50,883
Exchanges of fixed maturity investments	219,807		243,156		193,449
Net unsettled security trades	1,669		8,421		39,851

Summary of Amounts Paid

The following table summarizes certain amounts paid during the period:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Interest paid	$	83,518	$	81,723	$	83,518
Income taxes paid	76,701		101,982		91,510

XML

Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Selected Information about Debt Issues

The following table presents information about the terms and outstanding balances of Globe Life's debt.

Selected Information about Debt Issues

				As of December 31,
				2020								2019
Instrument	Issue Date	Maturity Date	Coupon Rate	Par Value		Unamortized Discount & Issuance Costs		Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value
Senior notes	5/27/1993	5/15/2023	7.875%	$	165,612	$	(658)	$	164,954	$	192,020	$	164,713
Senior notes(1)	9/24/2012	9/15/2022	3.800%	150,000		(586)		149,414		158,081		149,089
Senior notes	9/27/2018	9/15/2028	4.550%	550,000		(5,672)		544,328		659,599		543,735
Senior notes	8/21/2020	8/15/2030	2.150%	400,000		(4,843)		395,157		405,384		—
Junior subordinated debentures	5/17/2016	6/15/2056	6.125%	300,000		(9,348)		290,652		325,800		290,584
Junior subordinated debentures	11/17/2017	11/17/2057	5.275%	125,000		(1,619)		123,381		130,870		123,367
Term loan				—		—		—		—		86,875
				1,690,612		(22,726)		1,667,886		1,871,754		1,358,363
Less current maturity of term loan				—		—		—		—		9,375
Total long-term debt				1,690,612		(22,726)		1,667,886		1,871,754		1,348,988
Current maturity of term loan				—		—		—		—		9,375
Commercial paper				255,000		(82)		254,918		254,918		289,363
Total short-term debt				255,000		(82)		254,918		254,918		298,738
Total debt				$	1,945,612	$	(22,808)	$	1,922,804	$	2,126,672	$	1,647,726

(1)An additional $150 million par value and book value is held by insurance subsidiaries that eliminates in consolidation.

A table presenting selected information concerning Globe Life's commercial paper borrowings is presented below.

Credit Facility - Commercial Paper

	At December 31,
	2020			2019
Balance at end of period (at par value)	$	255,000		$	290,000
Annualized interest rate	0.27		%	2.04		%
Letters of credit outstanding	$	135,000		$	150,000
Remaining amount available under credit line	360,000			310,000

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Average balance outstanding during period	$	318,409		$	288,684		$	368,228
Daily-weighted average interest rate (annualized)	1.50		%	2.62		%	2.40		%
Maximum daily amount outstanding during period	$	482,000		$	385,000		$	525,990

Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt

The following table presents expected scheduled principal payments under our contractual debt obligations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter
Debt obligations	$	255,000	$	150,000	$	165,612	$	—	$	—	$	1,375,000

XML

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Summary of Common Stock Activity

A summary of common share activity is presented in the following chart.

	Common Stock
	Issued	Treasury Stock
2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	124,218,183	(9,625,104)
Grants of restricted stock	—	10,805
Forfeitures of restricted stock	—	(7,500)
Vesting of performance shares	—	149,898
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	897,622
Treasury stock acquired	—	(4,950,868)
Retirement of treasury stock	(3,000,000)	3,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2018	121,218,183	(10,525,147)
2019:
Grants of restricted stock	—	8,840
Vesting of performance shares	—	311,399
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	1,810,559
Treasury stock acquired	—	(5,103,591)
Retirement of treasury stock	(4,000,000)	4,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2019	117,218,183	(9,497,940)
2020:
Grants of restricted stock	—	4,548
Vesting of performance shares	—	271,843
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options	—	936,289
Treasury stock acquired	—	(5,135,439)
Retirement of treasury stock	(4,000,000)	4,000,000
Balance at December 31, 2020	113,218,183	(9,420,699)

Acquisition of Common Shares

See the following summary below:

	Globe Life Share Repurchase Program					Share Repurchase for Dilution Purposes
	Shares Acquired (in thousands)	Total Cost		Average Price		Shares Acquired (in thousands)	Total Cost		Average Price
2020	4,459	$	380,112	$	85.24	676	$	63,754	$	94.28
2019	3,932	350,080		89.04		1,209	109,489		90.52
2018	4,406	371,794		84.38		571	49,955		87.54

Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

A reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	106,075,267	109,213,524	112,872,581
Weighted average dilutive options outstanding	1,149,327	2,167,726	2,376,372
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	107,224,594	111,381,250	115,248,953
Antidilutive shares	2,476,019	21,556	1,161,521

XML

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Grant Contract Periods and Vesting Periods

Options generally vest in accordance with the following schedule:

		Shares vested by period
	Contract Period	6 Months	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Directors	7 years	100%	—%	—%	—%	—%	—%
Employees	7 years	—%	—%	50%	50%	—%	—%
Employees	10 years	—%	—%	25%	25%	25%	25%

Analysis of Shares Available for Grant

An analysis of shares available for grant is as follows:

	Available for Grant
	2020	2019	2018
Balance at January 1,	7,167,718	9,422,760	2,964,320
Approval of Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan.(1)	—	—	8,984,000
Cancellation of available shares from prior plans	—	—	(184,000)
Expired and forfeited during year(2,3)	38,820	20,800	41,317
Options granted during year(2)	(1,127,610)	(1,149,542)	(1,262,037)
Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares granted(3)	(94,510)	(1,126,300)	(1,120,840)
Balance at December 31,	5,984,418	7,167,718	9,422,760

(1)See plan document referenced in Exhibits. Formerly, the Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan.

(2)Plan allows for grant of options such that each grant reduces shares available for grant in a range from 0.85 share to 1 share.

(3)Plan allows for grant of restricted stock such that each stock grant reduces shares available for grant in a range from 3.10 shares to 3.88 shares

Summary of Stock Compensation Activity

A summary of stock compensation activity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:

	2020		2019		2018
Stock-based compensation expense recognized(1)	$	35,892	$	44,843	$	39,792
Tax benefit recognized	12,550		21,197		14,806

(1)No stock-based compensation expense was capitalized in any period.

Schedule of Additional Information of Stock-Based Compensation

Additional stock compensation information is as follows at December 31:

	2020		2019
Unrecognized compensation(1)	$	28,125	$	34,723
Weighted average period of expected recognition (in years)(1)	0.65		0.78

(1)Includes restricted stock and performance shares

Summary of Options Outstanding

Options: The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2020.

	Options Outstanding				Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number Outstanding	Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Number Exercisable	Weighted- Average Exercise Price
$29.59 - $76.37	1,736,807	2.77	$	51.29	1,598,580	$	51.34
77.26	1,372,680	4.11	77.26		1,142,879	77.26
82.56 - 83.17	1,327,447	5.15	82.56		33,217	82.69
87.60 - 90.21	1,347,698	5.24	87.64		573,454	87.70
100.74 - 105.56	1,326,599	6.16	100.85		41,269	104.39
$29.59 - $105.56	7,111,231	4.57	$	78.28	3,389,399	$	67.19

Analysis of Option Activity

An analysis of option activity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

	2020			2019			2018
	Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding—beginning of year	6,724,358	$	70.07	7,203,765	$	61.72	6,753,801	$	53.59
Granted:
7-year term	1,326,599	100.85		1,352,402	82.43		845,773	87.63
10-year term	—	—		—	—		543,130	87.60
Exercised	(936,289)	51.37		(1,810,559)	45.93		(897,622)	40.21
Expired and forfeited	(3,437)	75.27		(21,250)	82.89		(41,317)	70.90
Outstanding—end of year	7,111,231	$	78.28	6,724,358	$	70.07	7,203,765	$	61.72
Exercisable at end of year	3,389,399	$	67.19	2,999,788	$	57.27	3,393,090	$	48.18

Schedule of Additional Information on Unvested Options

Additional information about Globe Life's stock option activity as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:

	2020		2019
Outstanding options:
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	4.57		4.80
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	126,467	$	236,546
Exercisable options:
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	3.42		3.27
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	94,527	$	143,935

Selected stock option activity for the three years ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:

	2020		2019		2018
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted (per share)	$	14.64	$	14.20	$	15.65
Intrinsic value of options exercised	40,517		82,022		42,517
Cash received from options exercised	48,093		83,163		36,091
Actual tax benefit received	8,508		17,225		8,929

Additional information concerning Globe Life's unvested options is as follows at December 31:

	2020		2019
Number of shares outstanding	3,721,832		3,724,570
Weighted-average exercise price (per share)	$	88.37	$	80.39
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	5.62		6.04
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	31,941	$	92,611

Schedule Of Restricted Stock Units Outstanding And Vested

Following are the restricted stock units outstanding for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020. All restricted stock units were fully vested at the end of each year of grant.

Year of grants	Outstanding as of year end
2018	102,116
2019	71,006
2020	77,167

Schedule of Performance Shares Settled

Below is the final determination of the performance share grants in 2016 to 2018:

Year of grants	Final settlement of shares	Final settlement date
2016	311,399	February 28, 2019
2017	271,843	February 26, 2020
2018	210,155	February 24, 2021

Summary of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Granted

A summary of restricted stock grants for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020 is presented in the table below.

	2020			2019			2018
Directors restricted stock:
Shares	4,548			8,840			10,805
Price per share	$	105.56		$	76.37		$	88.19
Aggregate value	$	480		$	675		$	953
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	100		%	100		%	100		%
Directors restricted stock units (including dividend equivalents):
Shares	6,161			6,634			7,688
Price per share	$	103.32		$	77.50		$	89.15
Aggregate value	$	637		$	514		$	685
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	100		%	100		%	100		%
Performance shares:
Target shares	151,200			156,500			159,000
Target price per share	$	100.74		$	82.56		$	87.60
Aggregate value	$	15,232		$	12,921		$	13,928
Percent vested as of 12/31/2020	—		%	—		%	—		%

Analysis of Unvested Restricted Stock

An analysis of nonvested restricted stock is as follows:

	Executive Restricted Stock	Executive Performance Shares	Directors Restricted Stock	Directors Restricted Stock Units	Total
2018:
Balance at January 1, 2018	35,250	564,112	—	—	599,362
Grants	—	159,000	10,805	7,688	177,493
Additional performance shares(1)	—	179,415	—	—	179,415
Restriction lapses	(23,250)	(149,898)	(10,805)	(7,688)	(191,641)
Forfeitures	—	—	—	—	—
Balance at December 31, 2018	12,000	752,629	—	—	764,629
2019:
Grants	—	156,500	8,840	6,634	171,974
Additional performance shares(1)	—	118,812	—	—	118,812
Restriction lapses	(12,000)	(311,399)	(8,840)	(6,634)	(338,873)
Forfeitures	—	—	—	—	—
Balance at December 31, 2019	—	716,542	—	—	716,542
2020:
Grants	—	151,200	4,548	6,161	161,909
Additional performance shares(1)	—	(65,473)	—	—	(65,473)
Restriction lapses	—	(271,843)	(4,548)	(6,161)	(282,552)
Forfeitures	—	(11,450)	—	—	(11,450)
Balance at December 31, 2020	—	518,976	—	—	518,976

(1)Estimated additional (reduced) share grants expected due to achievement of performance criteria.

Schedule of Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Values of Unvested Restricted Stock

An analysis of the weighted-average grant-date fair values per share of nonvested restricted stock is as follows for the year 2020:

	Executive Restricted Stock		Executive Performance Shares		Directors Restricted Stock		Directors Restricted Stock Units
Grant-date fair value per share at January 1, 2020	$	—	$	75.05	$	—	$	—
Grants	—		100.74		105.56		105.56
Estimated additional performance shares	—		(40.99)		—		—
Restriction lapses	—		(77.26)		(105.56)		(105.56)
Forfeitures	—		(77.26)		—		—
Grant-date fair value per share at December 31, 2020	—		90.13		—		—

XML

Business Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Premium Income by Distribution Channel

Premium Income by Distribution Channel

	For the Year 2020
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,257,726	47	$	105,734	9	$	—	—	$	1,363,460	36
Direct to Consumer	906,959		34	76,527		7	—		—	983,486		26
Liberty National	293,897		11	188,835		16	—		—	482,732		13
United American	9,688		—	452,980		40	4		100	462,672		12
Family Heritage	4,253		—	317,021		28	—		—	321,274		8
Other	200,281		8	—		—	—		—	200,281		5
	$	2,672,804	100	$	1,141,097	100	$	4	100	$	3,813,905	100

	For the Year 2019
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,160,495	46	$	99,447	9	$	—	—	$	1,259,942	35
Direct to Consumer	855,543		34	77,557		7	—		—	933,100		26
Liberty National	285,551		11	189,578		18	—		—	475,129		13
United American	10,571		1	416,582		39	4		100	427,157		12
Family Heritage	3,830		—	294,182		27	—		—	298,012		8
Other	201,794		8	—		—	—		—	201,794		6
	$	2,517,784	100	$	1,077,346	100	$	4	100	$	3,595,134	100

	For the Year 2018
	Life			Health			Annuity			Total
Distribution Channel	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total	Amount		% of Total
American Income	$	1,081,333	45	$	93,313	9	$	—	—	$	1,174,646	34
Direct to Consumer	828,935		34	76,297		7	—		—	905,232		26
Liberty National	278,878		12	191,378		19	—		—	470,256		14
United American	11,451		1	381,076		38	12		100	392,539		12
Family Heritage	3,501		—	273,275		27	—		—	276,776		8
Other	202,457		8	—		—	—		—	202,457		6
	$	2,406,555	100	$	1,015,339	100	$	12	100	$	3,421,906	100

Reconciliation of Segment Operating Information to Consolidated Statement of Operations

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,672,804	$	1,141,097	$	4	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,813,905
Net investment income	—		—		—		927,062		—		—			927,062
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,325		—			1,325
Total revenue	2,672,804		1,141,097		4		927,062		1,325		—			4,742,292
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,809,373		733,481		30,030		—		—		—			2,572,884
Required interest on reserves	(698,112)		(93,475)		(41,413)		833,000		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	210,152		26,586		328		(237,066)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	463,586		110,177		2,007		—		—		—			575,770
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	212,859		91,959		23		—		—		—			304,841
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		250,947		3,985		(2,3)	254,932
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		9,891		323		(3)	10,214
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		35,892		—			35,892
Interest expense	—		—		—		86,704		—		—			86,704
Total expenses	1,997,858		868,728		(9,025)		682,638		296,730		4,308			3,841,237
Subtotal	674,946		272,369		9,029		244,424		(295,405)		(4,308)			901,055
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		4,308		(2,3)	4,308
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	674,946	$	272,369	$	9,029	$	244,424	$	(295,405)	$	—		905,363
Realized gain (loss)—investments														(3,737)
Realized loss—redemption of debt														(634)
Legal proceedings														(3,275)
Non-operating expenses														(1,033)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	896,684

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Legal proceedings.

(3)Non-operating expenses.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,517,784	$	1,077,346	$	4	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,595,134
Net investment income	—		—		—		910,459		—		—			910,459
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,318		—			1,318
Total revenue	2,517,784		1,077,346		4		910,459		1,318		—			4,506,911
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,638,053		687,764		31,532		—		—		—			2,357,349
Required interest on reserves	(666,168)		(87,289)		(43,522)		796,979		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	202,502		25,435		494		(228,431)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	436,881		112,825		2,020		—		—		—			551,726
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	203,052		94,973		22		—		—		—			298,047
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		240,321		8,758		(2,3)	249,079
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		10,260		643		(4)	10,903
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		44,843		—			44,843
Interest expense	—		—		—		84,306		—		—			84,306
Total expenses	1,814,320		833,708		(9,454)		652,854		295,424		9,401			3,596,253
Subtotal	703,464		243,638		9,458		257,605		(294,106)		(9,401)			910,658
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		9,401		(2,3,4)	9,401
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	703,464	$	243,638	$	9,458	$	257,605	$	(294,106)	$	—		920,059
Realized gain (loss)—investments														20,621
Administrative settlements														(400)
Legal proceedings														(8,358)
Non-operating expenses														(643)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	931,279

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Administrative settlements.

(3)Legal proceedings.

(4)Non-operating expenses.

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2018
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Adjustments			Consolidated
Revenue:
Premium	$	2,406,555	$	1,015,339	$	12	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	3,421,906
Net investment income	—		—		—		882,512		—		—			882,512
Other income	—		—		—		—		1,236		(99)		(2)	1,137
Total revenue	2,406,555		1,015,339		12		882,512		1,236		(99)			4,305,555
Expenses:
Policy benefits	1,591,790		649,188		34,264		—		—		—			2,275,242
Required interest on reserves	(636,040)		(83,243)		(47,357)		766,640		—		—			—
Required interest on DAC	194,297		24,412		589		(219,298)		—		—			—
Amortization of acquisition costs	414,200		100,376		2,114		—		—		—			516,690
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs	190,007		88,553		26		—		—		(99)		(2)	278,487
Insurance administrative expense(1)	—		—		—		—		223,941		3,590		(3)	227,531
Parent expense	—		—		—		—		10,684		1,578		(4)	12,262
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		—		—		39,792		—			39,792
Interest expense	—		—		—		90,076		—		—			90,076
Total expenses	1,754,254		779,286		(10,364)		637,418		274,417		5,069			3,440,080
Subtotal	652,301		236,053		10,376		245,094		(273,181)		(5,168)			865,475
Non-operating items	—		—		—		—		—		5,168		(3,4)	5,168
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)	$	652,301	$	236,053	$	10,376	$	245,094	$	(273,181)	$	—		870,643
Realized gain (loss)—investments														9,274
Realized loss—redemption of debt														(11,078)
Administrative settlements														(3,590)
Non-operating expenses														(1,578)
Income before income taxes per Consolidated Statements of Operations														$	863,671

(1)Administrative expense is not allocated to insurance segments.

(2)Elimination of intersegment commission.

(3)Administrative settlements.

(4)Non-operating expenses.

Assets by Segment

The tables below reconcile segment assets to total assets as reported in the consolidated financial statements.

Assets by Segment

	At December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Cash and invested assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	22,547,498	$	—	$	22,547,498
Accrued investment income	—		—		—		248,991		—		248,991
Deferred acquisition costs	3,982,158		610,071		3,215		—		—		4,595,444
Goodwill	309,609		131,982		—		—		—		441,591
Other assets	—		—		—		—		1,213,207		1,213,207
Total assets	$	4,291,767	$	742,053	$	3,215	$	22,796,489	$	1,213,207	$	29,046,731

	At December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Cash and invested assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	19,923,204	$	—	$	19,923,204
Accrued investment income	—		—		—		245,129		—		245,129
Deferred acquisition costs	3,768,797		569,126		4,018		—		—		4,341,941
Goodwill	309,609		131,982		—		—		—		441,591
Other assets	—		—		—		—		1,025,595		1,025,595
Total assets	$	4,078,406	$	701,108	$	4,018	$	20,168,333	$	1,025,595	$	25,977,460

Liabilities by Segment

The tables below reconcile segment liabilities to total liabilities as reported in the consolidated financial statements.

Liabilities by Segment

	At December 31, 2020
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Future policy benefits	$	12,008,396	$	2,172,141	$	1,062,999	$	—	$	—	$	15,243,536
Unearned and advance premiums	18,968		42,760		—		—		—		61,728
Policy claims and other benefits payable	237,246		162,261		—		—		—		399,507
Debt	—		—		—		1,922,804		—		1,922,804
Other	—		—		—		—		2,648,064		2,648,064
Total liabilities	$	12,264,610	$	2,377,162	$	1,062,999	$	1,922,804	$	2,648,064	$	20,275,639

	At December 31, 2019
	Life		Health		Annuity		Investment		Corporate & Other		Consolidated
Future policy benefits	$	11,403,078	$	2,006,424	$	1,098,632	$	—	$	—	$	14,508,134
Unearned and advance premiums	17,701		46,008		—		—		—		63,709
Policy claims and other benefits payable	201,594		163,808		—		—		—		365,402
Debt	—		—		—		1,647,726		—		1,647,726
Other	—		—		—		—		2,098,182		2,098,182
Total liabilities	$	11,622,373	$	2,216,240	$	1,098,632	$	1,647,726	$	2,098,182	$	18,683,153

XML

Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Selected Quarterly Data

The following is an unaudited summary of quarterly results for the two years ended December 31, 2020. The information includes all adjustments (consisting of normal accruals) which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for these periods.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
2020:
Premium income	$	929,835	$	953,702	$	961,817	$	968,551
Net investment income	228,991		231,568		231,432		235,071
Realized gains (losses)	(26,097)		(4,790)		1,501		25,015
Total revenue	1,133,054		1,180,884		1,195,042		1,228,941
Policyholder benefits	607,969		650,816		650,976		663,123
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	143,837		146,160		140,843		144,930
Pretax income from continuing operations	202,921		212,241		231,538		249,984
Income from continuing operations	165,540		173,048		188,945		204,240
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Net income	165,540		173,048		188,945		204,240
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.54		1.63		1.78		1.96
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total basic net income per common share	1.54		1.63		1.78		1.96
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.52		1.62		1.76		1.93
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total diluted net income per common share	1.52		1.62		1.76		1.93

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
2019:
Premium income	$	890,973	$	897,484	$	899,993	$	906,684
Net investment income	226,673		227,425		228,905		227,456
Realized gains (losses)	1,329		5,154		11,943		2,195
Total revenue	1,119,216		1,130,461		1,141,279		1,136,576
Policyholder benefits	587,757		589,362		585,692		594,538
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	135,822		138,165		138,449		139,290
Pretax income from continuing operations	228,101		228,760		247,330		227,088
Income from continuing operations	185,394		186,609		201,818		187,061
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(49)		(43)		—		—
Net income	185,345		186,566		201,818		187,061
Basic net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.68		1.70		1.85		1.73
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total basic net income per common share	1.68		1.70		1.85		1.73
Diluted net income per common share:
Continuing operations	1.65		1.67		1.82		1.69
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		—
Total diluted net income per common share	1.65		1.67		1.82		1.69

XML

Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 segment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment	4
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	100.00%
Number of operating segments sold | segment					1
Capital called from investment funds	$ 227,000
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	$ 435,000
Percentage of investment securities not classified as corporate securities, state and municipal securities, redeemable preferred stocks and U.S. government securities (less than)	1.00%
Fair value determined by third party	97.00%
Shareholders' equity	$ 8,771,092	$ 7,294,307		$ 5,415,177		$ 6,231,421
Commercial mortgage loan participations	546,981	326,347
Agent debit balances	456,000	423,877
Agent debit balances, allowance for credit losses	1,200
Advertising costs charged to earnings and included in other operating	9,800	9,500		9,000
Capitalized advertising costs	1,400,000	1,300,000
Carrying value of investment in low-income housing interests	306,000	206,000
Obligations under future commitments for low-income housing interests	162,000
Original cost of property and equipment	350,000	298,000
Accumulated depreciation	164,000	137,000
Depreciation expense	$ 17,000	16,000		13,000
Traditional life and health, interest rate, low end	2.50%
Traditional life and health, interest rate, high end	7.00%
Traditional life and health, weighted average interest rate	5.70%
Insurance policy charges	$ 14,700	15,600		16,400
Commercial loan participations
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Financing receivable, term	3 years
Financing receivable, extension term	2 years
Commercial loan participations, unfunded loan commitment
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$ 47,000
Commercial mortgage participations
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	160,602	137,692
Commercial mortgage loan participations	160,602	137,692
Accrued interest receivable	433
Investment in limited partnerships
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	435,002
Retained Earnings
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity	$ 5,874,109	5,551,329		5,213,468		4,806,208
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		(454)	[1]	(392)		4,896
Agent debit balances		(240)
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Commercial mortgage participations
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations		(335)
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Retained Earnings
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		(454)	[1]	(392)		4,896
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Retained Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Adjustment for Commercial Loan Participations
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		(265)
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Retained Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Adjustment for Agent Debit Balances
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		(189)
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		7,293,853		5,414,785		6,236,317
Agent debit balances		423,637
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | Commercial mortgage participations
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations		137,357
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjusted Balance | Retained Earnings
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		$ 5,550,875		$ 5,213,076		$ 4,811,104
Equity Option | Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Term over which monthly data points are used to derive volatility	3 years
Equity Option | Employee | Three Year Vesting Period | Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	7 years
Vesting period	3 years
Equity Option | Employee | Five Year Vesting Period | Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Option grants contractual term	10 years
Vesting period	5 years
Equity Option | Director | Torchmark Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Vesting period	6 months
Low-income housing credits and certain limited partnerships
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	1.00%
Life insurance
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Proportion of future policy reserves which are not universal life type	90.00%
Minimum | Investment in limited partnerships
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Investment funds ownership percentage	1.00%
Maximum | Investment in limited partnerships
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Investment funds ownership percentage	20.00%
Equipment | Minimum
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	3 years
Equipment | Maximum
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	10 years
Building and Improvements | Minimum
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	15 years
Building and Improvements | Maximum
Significant of Account Policies [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful life	40 years

[1] Adoption of Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on January 1, 2020. See further discussion in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

XML

Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Assumptions for Options Granted (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Volatility factor	15.70%	15.70%	13.70%
Dividend yield	0.70%	0.80%	0.70%
Expected term (in years)	5 years 1 month 13 days	5 years 1 month 6 days	5 years 9 months 3 days
Risk-free rate	1.20%	2.50%	2.70%

XML

Statutory Accounting - Consolidated Net Income and Shareholders' Equity for Insurance Companies (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Insurance [Abstract]
Life insurance subsidiaries, net income	$ 441,589	$ 462,515	$ 437,549
Life insurance subsidiaries, shareholders' equity	$ 1,408,281	$ 1,398,274

XML

Statutory Accounting - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Insurance [Abstract]
Surplus adequate to satisfy regulatory compliance	$ 520

XML

Supplemental Information about Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Schedule of Change in Balance by Component (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in AOCI, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	$ 7,294,307	$ 5,415,177	$ 6,231,421
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,145,356	1,529,591	(1,115,335)
Reclassifications, net of tax	39,058	(4,236)	10,536
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,184,414	1,525,355	(1,104,799)
Ending balance	8,771,092	7,294,307	5,415,177
Total
Increase (Decrease) in AOCI, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	1,844,830	319,475	1,424,274
Ending balance	3,029,244	1,844,830	319,475
Available for Sale Assets
Increase (Decrease) in AOCI, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	1,982,650	435,698	1,569,289
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,167,003	1,557,883	(1,132,202)
Reclassifications, net of tax	25,919	(10,931)	(1,389)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,192,922	1,546,952	(1,133,591)
Ending balance	3,175,572	1,982,650	435,698
Deferred Acquisition Costs
Increase (Decrease) in AOCI, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	(5,916)	(4,163)	(8,547)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	1,212	(1,753)	4,384
Reclassifications, net of tax	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,212	(1,753)	4,384
Ending balance	(4,704)	(5,916)	(4,163)
Foreign Exchange
Increase (Decrease) in AOCI, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	12,058	6,495	16,302
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	11,244	5,563	(9,807)
Reclassifications, net of tax	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11,244	5,563	(9,807)
Ending balance	23,302	12,058	6,495
Pension Adjustments
Increase (Decrease) in AOCI, Net of Tax
Beginning balance	(143,962)	(118,555)	(152,770)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(34,103)	(32,102)	22,290
Reclassifications, net of tax	13,139	6,695	11,925
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(20,964)	(25,407)	34,215
Ending balance	$ (164,926)	$ (143,962)	$ (118,555)

XML

Supplemental Information about Changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Summary of Reclassifications (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Realized (gains) losses									$ 3,737	$ (20,621)	$ (9,274)
Net investment income	$ (235,071)	$ (231,432)	$ (231,568)	$ (228,991)	$ (227,456)	$ (228,905)	$ (227,425)	$ (226,673)	(927,062)	(910,459)	(882,512)
Other operating expense									301,038	304,825	279,585
Total before tax									(896,684)	(931,279)	(863,671)
Tax									(164,911)	(170,397)	(162,161)
Total after-tax	$ (204,240)	$ (188,945)	$ (173,048)	$ (165,540)	$ (187,061)	$ (201,818)	$ (186,566)	$ (185,345)	(731,773)	(760,790)	(701,466)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Total after-tax									39,058	(4,236)	10,536
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available for Sale Assets
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Realized (gains) losses									26,345	(19,352)	(5,715)
Net investment income									6,464	5,515	3,957
Total before tax									32,809	(13,837)	(1,758)
Tax									(6,890)	2,906	369
Total after-tax									25,919	(10,931)	(1,389)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Pension Adjustments
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Total before tax									16,632	8,474	15,095
Tax									(3,493)	(1,779)	(3,170)
Total after-tax									13,139	6,695	11,925
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Amortization of prior service cost
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Other operating expense									632	631	535
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Amortization of actuarial (gain) loss
Unrealized investment (gains) losses on available for sale assets:
Other operating expense									$ 16,000	$ 7,843	$ 14,560

XML

Investments - Summary of Fixed Maturities Available for Sale by Component (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 17,197,145	$ 16,415,776
Allowance for Credit Losses	(3,346)	0
Fair Value	21,213,509	18,907,147
Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Allowance for Credit Losses	(3,346)	0	$ 0
Collateralized debt obligations
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value		74,104
Other asset-backed securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value		148,519
Fixed maturities available for sale
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	17,197,145	16,415,776
Allowance for Credit Losses	(3,346)
Gross Unrealized Gains	4,067,243	2,574,606
Gross Unrealized Losses	(47,533)	(83,235)
Fair Value	$ 21,213,509	$ 18,907,147
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	100.00%	100.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 380,602	$ 396,079
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	87,272	41,737
Gross Unrealized Losses	(43)	(296)
Fair Value	$ 467,831	$ 437,520
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	2.00%	2.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 1,880,607	$ 1,559,736
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	251,291	158,546
Gross Unrealized Losses	(315)	(626)
Fair Value	$ 2,131,583	$ 1,717,656
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	10.00%	9.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Foreign governments
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 52,913	$ 25,874
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,635	2,073
Gross Unrealized Losses	(898)	(396)
Fair Value	$ 54,650	$ 27,551
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 14,691,277	$ 14,233,301
Allowance for Credit Losses	(3,346)
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,698,971	2,342,858
Gross Unrealized Losses	(33,630)	(74,362)
Fair Value	$ 18,353,272	$ 16,501,797
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	87.00%	88.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Financial
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 4,404,203	$ 4,101,917
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,016,813	701,196
Gross Unrealized Losses	(24,221)	(22,307)
Fair Value	$ 5,396,795	$ 4,780,806
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	26.00%	25.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Utilities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 1,975,460	$ 1,937,738
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	608,595	416,114
Gross Unrealized Losses	(108)	(1,565)
Fair Value	$ 2,583,947	$ 2,352,287
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	12.00%	13.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Energy
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 1,623,970	$ 1,678,969
Allowance for Credit Losses	(3,346)
Gross Unrealized Gains	346,197	269,640
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3,083)	(33,725)
Fair Value	$ 1,963,738	$ 1,914,884
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	9.00%	10.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Other corporate sectors
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 6,687,644	$ 6,514,677
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,727,366	955,908
Gross Unrealized Losses	(6,218)	(16,765)
Fair Value	$ 8,408,792	$ 7,453,820
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	40.00%	40.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Collateralized debt obligations
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 57,007	$ 56,990
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	23,460	24,298
Gross Unrealized Losses	(8,869)	(7,184)
Fair Value	$ 71,598	$ 74,104
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Other asset-backed securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 134,739	$ 143,796
Allowance for Credit Losses	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,614	5,094
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3,778)	(371)
Fair Value	$ 134,575	$ 148,519
Percentage of Fixed Maturities at Fair Value	1.00%	1.00%

XML

Investments - Schedule of Fixed Maturities by Contractual Maturity (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Amortized Cost, net
Due in one year or less	$ 70,732
Due after one year through five years	781,183
Due after five years through ten years	1,870,527
Due after ten years through twenty years	6,109,815
Due after twenty years	8,169,528
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities	192,014
Fixed maturities, net of allowance for credit losses	17,193,799
Fair Value
Due in one year or less	72,395
Due after one year through five years	866,408
Due after five years through ten years	2,260,011
Due after ten years through twenty years	7,884,526
Due after twenty years	9,923,706
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities	206,463
Fixed maturities, fair value	$ 21,213,509	$ 18,907,147

XML

Investments - Schedule of Analysis of Investment Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Investment income, gross									$ 944,894	$ 926,504	$ 898,149
Less investment expense									(17,832)	(16,045)	(15,637)
Net investment income	$ 235,071	$ 231,432	$ 231,568	$ 228,991	$ 227,456	$ 228,905	$ 227,425	$ 226,673	927,062	910,459	882,512
Fixed maturities available for sale
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Investment income, gross									873,352	864,280	843,510
Policy loans
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Investment income, gross									44,801	43,434	41,359
Other long-term investments
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Investment income, gross									26,196	16,198	10,638
Short-term investments
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Investment income, gross									545	2,592	2,642
Fair value option
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Net investment income									$ 15,300	$ 5,600	$ 3,900

XML

Investments - Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Realized investment gains (losses) - sales and other									$ (22,999)	$ 19,354	$ 5,715
Provision for credit losses									(3,346)	0	0
Fair value option—change in fair value									1,045	1,256	2,650
Other investments									21,563	11	909
Realized gains (losses) from investments									(3,737)	20,621	9,274
Realized loss on redemption of debt									(634)	0	(11,078)
Realized gains (losses)	$ 25,015	$ 1,501	$ (4,790)	$ (26,097)	$ 2,195	$ 11,943	$ 5,154	$ 1,329	(4,371)	20,621	(1,804)
Applicable tax									1,955	(4,330)	379
Realized gains (losses), net of tax									(2,416)	16,291	(1,425)
Exchanges of fixed maturities									219,800	243,200	193,400
Exchanges of fixed maturities, net realized gains									$ 7,900	$ 20,500	$ 10,100

XML

Investments - Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Gain (Loss) on Securities [Line Items]
Change in investment gains (losses) on	$ 1,510,033	$ 1,958,165	$ (1,434,918)
Fixed maturities available for sale
Gain (Loss) on Securities [Line Items]
Change in investment gains (losses) on	1,528,339	1,946,910	(1,429,763)
Other investments
Gain (Loss) on Securities [Line Items]
Change in investment gains (losses) on	$ (18,306)	$ 11,255	$ (5,155)

XML

Investments - Schedule of Selected Information about Sales of Fixed Maturities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales	$ 52,681	$ 79,108	$ 32,021
Fixed maturities available for sale
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales	52,681	79,108	32,021
Gross realized gains	2,642	1,227	66
Gross realized losses	$ (39,153)	$ (3,674)	$ (13,996)

XML

Investments - Assets Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 21,213,509	$ 18,907,147
Percentage of total		100.00%
Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value		$ 148,519
Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value		74,104
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value		18,147,738
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	798,973	759,409
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	101,599
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	71,598
Fixed maturities available for sale
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 21,213,509	18,907,147
Percentage of total	100.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 467,831	437,520
Fixed maturities available for sale | States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	2,131,583	1,717,656
Fixed maturities available for sale | Foreign governments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	54,650	27,551
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	18,353,272	16,501,797
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Financial
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	5,396,795	4,780,806
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Utilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	2,583,947	2,352,287
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Energy
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	1,963,738	1,914,884
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Other corporate sectors
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	8,408,792	7,453,820
Fixed maturities available for sale | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	134,575	148,519
Fixed maturities available for sale | Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	71,598	$ 74,104
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 0
Percentage of total	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 0	$ 0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Foreign governments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Corporates
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Corporates | Financial
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Corporates | Utilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Corporates | Energy
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Corporates | Other corporate sectors
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	$ 0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 20,414,536
Percentage of total	96.00%	96.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 467,831	$ 437,520
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	2,131,583	1,717,656
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Foreign governments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	54,650	27,551
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Corporates
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	17,638,767	15,829,669
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Corporates | Financial
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	5,222,066	4,628,875
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Corporates | Utilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	2,400,602	2,195,539
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Corporates | Energy
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	1,925,549	1,873,482
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Corporates | Other corporate sectors
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	8,090,550	7,131,773
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	121,705	135,342
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	$ 0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 798,973
Percentage of total	4.00%	4.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 0	$ 0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Foreign governments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	0	0
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	714,505	672,128
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates | Financial
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	174,729	151,931
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates | Utilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	183,345	156,748
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates | Energy
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	38,189	41,402
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates | Other corporate sectors
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	318,242	322,047
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	12,870	13,177
Fixed maturities available for sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 71,598	$ 74,104

XML

Investments - Schedule of Changes in Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation
Beginning Balance	$ 759,409	$ 639,822	$ 668,440
Included in realized gains / losses	1,579	396	698
Included in other comprehensive income	14,386	32,600	(21,108)
Acquisitions	67,820	0	27,453
Sales	0	0	0
Amortization	4,563	4,609	4,753
Other	(48,784)	(25,042)	(44,947)
Transfers into Level 3	0	107,024	4,533
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0	0
Ending Balance	798,973	759,409	639,822
Asset- backed Securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation
Beginning Balance	13,177	12,982	14,049
Included in realized gains / losses	0	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	(173)	708	(591)
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0
Amortization	0	0	0
Other	(134)	(513)	(476)
Transfers into Level 3	0	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0	0
Ending Balance	12,870	13,177	12,982
Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation
Beginning Balance	74,104	73,369	71,581
Included in realized gains / losses	0	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	(2,523)	1,514	3,170
Acquisitions	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0
Amortization	4,551	4,596	4,737
Other	(4,534)	(5,375)	(6,119)
Transfers into Level 3	0	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0	0
Ending Balance	71,598	74,104	73,369
Corporates
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation
Beginning Balance	672,128	553,471	582,810
Included in realized gains / losses	1,579	396	698
Included in other comprehensive income	17,082	30,378	(23,687)
Acquisitions	67,820	0	27,453
Sales	0	0	0
Amortization	12	13	16
Other	(44,116)	(19,154)	(38,352)
Transfers into Level 3	0	107,024	4,533
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0	0
Ending Balance	$ 714,505	$ 672,128	$ 553,471

XML

Investments - Unrealized Gains or (Losses) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Changes in Unrealized Gains/Losses included in Other Comprehensive Income for Assets Held at the End of the Period	$ 14,386	$ 32,600	$ (21,108)
Asset- backed Securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Changes in Unrealized Gains/Losses included in Other Comprehensive Income for Assets Held at the End of the Period	(173)	708	(591)
Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Changes in Unrealized Gains/Losses included in Other Comprehensive Income for Assets Held at the End of the Period	(2,523)	1,514	3,170
Corporates
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Changes in Unrealized Gains/Losses included in Other Comprehensive Income for Assets Held at the End of the Period	$ 17,082	$ 30,378	$ (23,687)

XML

Investments - Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (Detail) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 21,213,509	$ 18,907,147
Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Fair Value		74,104
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Fair Value	798,973	$ 759,409
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Asset- backed Securities
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 12,870
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Asset- backed Securities | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0541
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Asset- backed Securities | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate | Weighted Average
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0541
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Collateralized debt obligations
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 71,598
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Collateralized debt obligations | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate | Minimum
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0635
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Collateralized debt obligations | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate | Maximum
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0710
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Collateralized debt obligations | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate | Weighted Average
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0698
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Private placement fixed maturities
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 612,906
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Private placement fixed maturities | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate | Minimum
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0104
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Private placement fixed maturities | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate | Maximum
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0829
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Private placement fixed maturities | Discounted cash flows | Discount rate | Weighted Average
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	0.0229
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 101,599
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates | Present value | Market Quotes
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	1.0005
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Corporates | Present value | Market Quotes | Weighted Average
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Line Items]
Measurement input	1.0005

XML

Investments - Information about Investments in Unrealized Loss Position (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2020 issuer Issue	Dec. 31, 2019 issuer Issue
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Less than Twelve Months	54	82
Twelve Months or Longer	24	51
Total	78	133
Fixed maturity, portfolio issues	1,900	1,633
Fixed portfolio, number of issuers | issuer	777	656

XML

Investments - Schedule of Unrealized Investment Losses by Class of Investment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	$ 278,339	$ 411,509
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(10,088)	(5,846)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	216,892	384,305
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(37,445)	(77,389)
Fair Value	495,231	795,814
Total	(47,533)	(83,235)
Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	227,374	389,012
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(5,707)	(5,565)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	21,209	91,533
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(2,274)	(4,986)
Fair Value	248,583	480,545
Total	(7,981)	(10,551)
Investment Grade | U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	2,006	1,255
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(43)	(2)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	21,044
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	(294)
Fair Value	2,006	22,299
Total	(43)	(296)
Investment Grade | States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	32,910	66,774
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(315)	(626)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Fair Value	32,910	66,774
Total	(315)	(626)
Investment Grade | Foreign governments
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	19,532	6,496
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(898)	(396)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Fair Value	19,532	6,496
Total	(898)	(396)
Investment Grade | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	144,062	314,487
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(3,400)	(4,541)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	21,204	70,489
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(2,274)	(4,692)
Fair Value	165,266	384,976
Total	(5,674)	(9,233)
Investment Grade | Other asset-backed securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	28,864	0
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(1,051)	0
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	5	0
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Fair Value	28,869	0
Total	(1,051)	0
Investment Grade | Collateralized debt obligations
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Fair Value	0	0
Total	0	0
Investment Grade | Financial | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	117,762	117,389
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(2,564)	(1,733)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	6,333	7,183
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(2,168)	(1,317)
Fair Value	124,095	124,572
Total	(4,732)	(3,050)
Investment Grade | Utilities | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	2,726	8,400
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(108)	(166)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Fair Value	2,726	8,400
Total	(108)	(166)
Investment Grade | Energy | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	1,692	52,312
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(8)	(1,058)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	14,871	1,833
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(106)	(115)
Fair Value	16,563	54,145
Total	(114)	(1,173)
Investment Grade | Other corporate sectors | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	21,882	136,386
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(720)	(1,584)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	61,473
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	(3,260)
Fair Value	21,882	197,859
Total	(720)	(4,844)
Below Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	50,965	22,497
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(4,381)	(281)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	195,683	292,772
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(35,171)	(72,403)
Fair Value	246,648	315,269
Total	(39,552)	(72,684)
Below Investment Grade | States, municipalities, and political subdivisions
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	0
Fair Value	0	0
Total	0	0
Below Investment Grade | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	50,965	22,497
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(4,381)	(281)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	173,329	266,077
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(23,575)	(64,848)
Fair Value	224,294	288,574
Total	(27,956)	(65,129)
Below Investment Grade | Other asset-backed securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	11,223	13,879
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(2,727)	(371)
Fair Value	11,223	13,879
Total	(2,727)	(371)
Below Investment Grade | Collateralized debt obligations
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	0	0
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	11,131	12,816
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(8,869)	(7,184)
Fair Value	11,131	12,816
Total	(8,869)	(7,184)
Below Investment Grade | Financial | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	6,822	0
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(36)	0
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	115,093	113,481
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(19,453)	(19,257)
Fair Value	121,915	113,481
Total	(19,489)	(19,257)
Below Investment Grade | Utilities | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	0	7,529
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	0	(135)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	0	14,985
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	0	(1,264)
Fair Value	0	22,514
Total	0	(1,399)
Below Investment Grade | Energy | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	18,432	14,968
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(757)	(146)
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	38,720	69,956
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(2,212)	(32,406)
Fair Value	57,152	84,924
Total	(2,969)	(32,552)
Below Investment Grade | Other corporate sectors | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fair Value, Less than Twelve Months	25,711	0
Unrealized Loss, Less than Twelve Months	(3,588)	0
Fair Value, Twelve Months or Longer	19,516	67,655
Unrealized Loss, Twelve Months or Longer	(1,910)	(11,921)
Fair Value	45,227	67,655
Total	$ (5,498)	$ (11,921)

XML

Investments - Fixed Maturities, Allowance for Credit Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$ 0
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	3,346	$ 0
Fixed maturities available for sale
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	3,346
Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	0	0
Additions to allowance for which credit losses were not previously recorded	36,065	0
Additions (reductions) to allowance for fixed maturities that previously had an allowance	0	0
Reduction of allowance for which the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell or sold during the period	(32,719)	0
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	3,346	$ 0
Corporates | Fixed maturities available for sale
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	$ 3,346

XML

Investments - Concentrations of Credit Risk - Investment Portfolio (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	100.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	94.00%
Policy loans
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	3.00%
Other
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	3.00%
Corporates | Fixed maturities available for sale | Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	78.00%
Corporates | Fixed maturities available for sale | Below Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	4.00%
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions | Fixed maturities available for sale | Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	9.00%
States, municipalities, and political subdivisions | Fixed maturities available for sale | Below Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	0.00%
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises | Fixed maturities available for sale | Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	2.00%
U.S. Government direct, guaranteed, and government-sponsored enterprises | Fixed maturities available for sale | Below Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	0.00%
Other | Fixed maturities available for sale | Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	1.00%
Other | Fixed maturities available for sale | Below Investment Grade
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	0.00%

XML

Investments - Concentrations of Credit Risk - Industry Concentrations (Details)	Dec. 31, 2020
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Insurance	15.00%
Electric utilities	10.00%
Banks	7.00%
Oil and natural gas pipelines	6.00%
Chemicals	4.00%
Transportation	4.00%
Food	4.00%
Oil and natural gas exploration and production	4.00%
Real estate investment trusts	4.00%
Telecommunications	3.00%

XML

Investments - Schedule of Other Long-Term Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Long-Term Investment [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations	$ 546,981	$ 326,347
Commercial mortgage participations
Long-Term Investment [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations	160,602	137,692
Other
Long-Term Investment [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations	1,341	2,804
Partnership Interest - Fair Value Option | Investment funds
Long-Term Investment [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations	$ 385,038	$ 185,851

XML

Investments - Schedule of Investment Funds (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	$ 435,000
Investment funds
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, fair value	385,038	$ 185,851
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	435,002
Investment funds | Commercial mortgage loans
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, fair value	227,050	26,145
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	$ 285,287
Redemption period	6 months
Expected life of investment	7 years
Investment funds | Opportunistic credit
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, fair value	$ 157,461	159,399
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	$ 0
Redemption period	36 months
Initial lock period	2 years
Investment funds | Infrastructure equity
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, fair value	$ 527	$ 307
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	$ 149,715
Expected life of investment	12 years

XML

Investments - Commercial Mortgage Loan Participations (Details) - Commercial mortgage participations $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 164,107	$ 137,692
Carrying value, gross, percent	102.00%	100.00%
Allowance for credit losses	$ (3,505)	$ 0	$ 0
Allowance for credit losses, percent	(2.00%)	0.00%
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$ 160,602	$ 137,692
Carrying value, net, percent	100.00%	100.00%
Number of loans | loan	24
California
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 61,610	$ 35,412
Carrying value, gross, percent	38.00%	26.00%
Virginia
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 27,019	$ 25,448
Carrying value, gross, percent	17.00%	18.00%
New York
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 16,602	$ 21,117
Carrying value, gross, percent	10.00%	15.00%
Florida
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 12,420	$ 11,910
Carrying value, gross, percent	8.00%	9.00%
Pennsylvania
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 11,314	$ 4,211
Carrying value, gross, percent	7.00%	3.00%
Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 35,142	$ 39,594
Carrying value, gross, percent	22.00%	29.00%
Office
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 36,153	$ 42,350
Carrying value, gross, percent	22.00%	31.00%
Mixed use
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 49,002	$ 27,501
Carrying value, gross, percent	31.00%	20.00%
Hospitality
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 22,605	$ 22,324
Carrying value, gross, percent	14.00%	16.00%
Industrial
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 17,900	$ 17,612
Carrying value, gross, percent	11.00%	13.00%
Retail
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 19,319	$ 17,318
Carrying value, gross, percent	12.00%	12.00%
Multi-family
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Carrying value, gross	$ 19,128	$ 10,587
Carrying value, gross, percent	12.00%	8.00%

XML

Investments - Commercial Mortgage Loan Participations, Allowance for Credit Loss (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations	$ 546,981	$ 326,347
Shareholders' equity	8,771,092	7,294,307		$ 5,415,177	$ 6,231,421
Retained Earnings
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity	5,874,109	5,551,329		5,213,468	4,806,208
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		(454)	[1]	(392)	4,896
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Retained Earnings
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		(454)	[1]	$ (392)	$ 4,896
Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Adjustment for Commercial Loan Participations | Retained Earnings
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Line Items]
Shareholders' equity		(265)
Commercial mortgage participations
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations	$ 160,602	137,692
Number of loans | loan	24
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$ 0	0
Provision (reversal) for credit losses	3,170	0
Allowance for credit losses ending balance	3,505	0
Commercial mortgage participations | Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loan participations		(335)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses beginning balance	$ 335	0
Allowance for credit losses ending balance		$ 335

[1] Adoption of Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on January 1, 2020. See further discussion in Note 1—Significant Accounting Policies.

XML

Investments - Commercial Mortgage Loan Participations, Internal Credit Assessment (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) loan	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Less allowance for credit losses on individual loans	$ (1,002)
Commercial mortgage participations
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Number of Loans | loan	24
2020	$ 20,176
2019	29,951
2018	52,520
2017	61,460
Total commercial mortgage loans	164,107	$ 137,692
Less allowance for credit losses on the investment pool	(2,503)
Carrying value, net of valuation allowance	$ 160,602	$ 137,692
Commercial mortgage participations | Low
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Number of Loans | loan	17
2020	$ 20,176
2019	14,757
2018	33,132
2017	61,460
Total commercial mortgage loans	$ 129,525
Commercial mortgage participations | Medium
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Number of Loans | loan	4
2020	$ 0
2019	10,640
2018	7,796
2017	0
Total commercial mortgage loans	$ 18,436
Commercial mortgage participations | High
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Number of Loans | loan	3
2020	$ 0
2019	4,554
2018	11,592
2017	0
Total commercial mortgage loans	$ 16,146

XML

Investments - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) Issue	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Issue	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fixed maturity, portfolio issues | Issue	1,900	1,633
Gross unrealized losses	$ (47,533)	$ (83,235)
Increase (decrease) in gross unrealized losses	(35,700)
Fixed maturities, available for sale, allowance for credit losses	3,346	0
Fixed maturities available for sale—sold	$ 52,681	79,108	$ 32,021
State and municipal governments, percent of invested assets at fair value	9.00%
Concentration risk percentage	100.00%
Percentage of invested assets rated below investment grade	4.00%
Par value of investments rated below investment grade	$ 931,000
Amortized cost of investments rated below investment grade	841,000
Fair value of investments rated below investment grade	877,000
Securities, cash, and short-term investments, amortized cost	892,000	816,000
Securities, cash, and short-term investments, fair value	1,100,000	956,000
Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available for sale, allowance for credit losses	$ 3,346	0	0
Investment portfolio | Credit Concentration Risk | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	82.00%
TEXAS
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
State and municipal governments, percent of invested assets at fair value	18.00%
New York
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
State and municipal governments, percent of invested assets at fair value	10.00%
Michigan
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
State and municipal governments, percent of invested assets at fair value	8.00%
California
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
State and municipal governments, percent of invested assets at fair value	7.00%
Ohio
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
State and municipal governments, percent of invested assets at fair value	6.00%
Florida
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
State and municipal governments, percent of invested assets at fair value	5.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available for sale, allowance for credit losses	$ 3,346
Fixed maturities available for sale—sold	52,681	79,108	32,021
Gross realized losses	$ 39,153	$ 3,674	$ 13,996
Concentration risk percentage	94.00%
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available for sale, allowance for credit losses	$ 3,346
Fixed maturities available for sale | Corporates | Energy
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Fixed maturities, available for sale, allowance for credit losses	$ 3,346

XML

Deferred Acquisition Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Movement Analysis of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Balance at beginning of year				$ 4,341,941				$ 4,137,925	$ 4,341,941	$ 4,137,925	$ 3,958,063
Deferred during period:
Commissions									600,577	534,735	497,459
Other expenses									222,408	218,926	202,092
Total deferred									822,985	753,661	699,551
Foreign exchange adjustment									4,755	4,299	0
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment losses									1,533	0	5,549
Total additions									829,273	757,960	705,100
Amortized during period	$ (144,930)	$ (140,843)	$ (146,160)	$ (143,837)	$ (139,290)	$ (138,449)	$ (138,165)	$ (135,822)	(575,770)	(551,726)	(516,690)
Foreign exchange adjustment									0	0	(8,548)
Adjustment attributable to unrealized investment gains									0	(2,218)	0
Total deductions									(575,770)	(553,944)	(525,238)
Balance at end of year	$ 4,595,444				$ 4,341,941				$ 4,595,444	$ 4,341,941	$ 4,137,925

XML

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) lease state guarantee	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018	Nov. 25, 2020 USD ($)	Nov. 24, 2020 USD ($)
Obligation with Joint and Several Liability Arrangement [Line Items]
Retention limits per life	$ 500,000
Life insurance ceded as percent of total life insurance in force	0.30%
Life and accident and health insurance ceded as a percent of premium income	0.20%
Life insurance assumed as a percent of life insurance in force	1.20%
Life and accident and health insurance assumed as a percent of premium income	0.50%	0.60%	0.60%
Number of guarantee agreements | guarantee	3
Guaranty liabilities	$ 0
Letters of credit outstanding	$ 135,000,000	$ 150,000,000		$ 135,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Number of states private entities contracted with for audits | state	47
Letter of Credit
Obligation with Joint and Several Liability Arrangement [Line Items]
Letter of credit maximum available amount	$ 250,000,000
Equipment Lease Guarantees [Member]
Obligation with Joint and Several Liability Arrangement [Line Items]
Number of guaranteed leasing agreements | lease	2
Remaining undiscounted payments under guaranteed lease agreements	$ 5,000,000

XML

Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Rental Expenses (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Rental expense	$ 4,674	$ 3,831	$ 3,959

XML

Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Commitments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2021	$ 5,307
2022	4,395
2023	3,321
2024	2,873
2025	1,896
Thereafter	$ 10,823

XML

Commitments and Contingencies - Low-Income Housing Commitments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2021	$ 66,439
2022	73,451
2023	24,823
2024	10,347
2025	9,797
Thereafter	$ 228,542

XML

Liability for Unpaid Claims - Summary of Liability for Unpaid Health Claims (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Incurred related to:
Total incurred	$ 570,107	$ 611,117	$ 552,630
Health premium
Activity in the Liability for Unpaid Health Claims
Beginning balance	163,808	154,528	146,865
Incurred related to:
Current year	584,936	612,305	555,647
Prior years	(14,829)	(1,188)	(3,017)
Paid related to:
Current year	442,127	470,426	424,633
Prior year	129,527	131,411	120,334
Total paid	571,654	601,837	544,967
Ending balance	$ 162,261	$ 163,808	$ 154,528

XML

Liability for Unpaid Claims - Reconciliation of Net Incurred and Paid Claims Development to Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Policy claims and other benefits payable:
Policy claims and other benefits payable	$ 399,507	$ 365,402
Life insurance
Policy claims and other benefits payable:
Policy claims and other benefits payable	237,246	201,594
Health premium
Policy claims and other benefits payable:
Policy claims and other benefits payable	$ 162,261	$ 163,808

XML

Income Taxes - Components of Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Current income tax expense (benefit)	$ 129,647	$ 134,948	$ 134,626
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	35,264	35,449	27,535
Income tax expense (benefit)	164,911	170,397	162,161
Shareholders’ equity:
Other comprehensive income (loss)	314,845	405,472	(293,678)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 479,756	$ 575,869	$ (131,517)

XML

Income Taxes - Summary of Effective Income Tax Rate (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit)	$ 188,304	$ 195,569	$ 181,371
Tax reform adjustment	0	0	(798)
Low income housing investments	(11,913)	(11,605)	(12,240)
Share-based awards	(5,013)	(11,780)	(6,450)
Tax-exempt investment income	(5,830)	(3,192)	(1,230)
Other	(637)	1,405	1,508
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 164,911	$ 170,397	$ 162,161
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
Tax reform adjustment	0	0	(0.001)
Low income housing investments	(1.30%)	(1.20%)	(1.40%)
Share-based awards	(0.60%)	(1.30%)	(0.70%)
Tax-exempt investment income	(0.60%)	(0.30%)	(0.10%)
Other	(0.10%)	0.10%	0.10%
Income tax expense (benefit)	18.40%	18.30%	18.80%

XML

Income Taxes - Significant Portions of Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred tax assets:
Fixed maturity investments	$ 4,279	$ 6,161
Carryover of tax losses	5,534	7,827
Total gross deferred tax assets	9,813	13,988
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unrealized gains	808,071	493,174
Employee and agent compensation	88,012	81,174
Deferred acquisition costs	688,034	658,457
Future policy benefits, unearned and advance premiums, and policy claims	257,640	242,124
Other liabilities	7,209	26,271
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	1,848,966	1,501,200
Net deferred tax liability	$ 1,839,153	$ 1,487,212

XML

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	$ 26,400,000
Operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration	22,400,000
Operating loss carryforwards, not subject to expiration	4,000,000.0
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance	0
Uncertain tax positions	0	$ 0	$ 0
Penalties and interest expense (income)	0	55,000	$ 0
Amount of accrued interest or penalties	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Total Cost of Retirement Plans Charged to Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Defined Contribution Plans	$ 4,855	$ 4,817	$ 4,068
Defined Benefit Pension Plans	$ 33,826	$ 24,134	$ 32,593

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Capped eligible compensation	$ 1.0
Maximum allowed investment percentage in any single issuer in pension plan assets at time of purchase	10.00%
SERP
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Defined benefit plan contributions	$ 21.9	$ 21.6	$ 52.8
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Contributions	$ 21.9	$ 21.6	$ 52.8

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Pension Assets by Components at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Investment funds, unfunded commitments	$ 435,000
Pension plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 529,532	$ 468,763	$ 392,672
Percentage of plan assets	100.00%	100.00%
Investment funds, percentage ownership by pension plan	1.00%	1.00%
Expected life of investment	4 years	5 years
Investment funds, unfunded commitments		$ 4,100
Pension plan | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 513,219	$ 456,496
Percentage of plan assets	97.00%	97.00%
Pension plan | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 273,239	$ 222,466
Pension plan | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	239,980	234,030
Pension plan | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Pension plan | Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 16,313	$ 12,267
Percentage of plan assets	3.00%	3.00%
Pension plan | Total corporate bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 209,603	$ 205,501
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	40.00%	44.00%
Pension plan | Total corporate bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan | Total corporate bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	209,603	205,501
Pension plan | Total corporate bonds | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Financial
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 52,252	$ 51,111
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	10.00%	11.00%
Pension plan | Financial | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan | Financial | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	52,252	51,111
Pension plan | Financial | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Utilities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 45,888	$ 42,758
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	9.00%	9.00%
Pension plan | Utilities | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan | Utilities | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	45,888	42,758
Pension plan | Utilities | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Energy
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 22,480	$ 21,907
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	4.00%	5.00%
Pension plan | Energy | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan | Energy | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	22,480	21,907
Pension plan | Energy | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Other corporates
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 88,983	$ 89,725
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	17.00%	19.00%
Pension plan | Other corporates | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan | Other corporates | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	88,983	89,725
Pension plan | Other corporates | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Exchange traded funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 245,170	$ 207,176
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	46.00%	44.00%
Pension plan | Exchange traded funds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 245,170	$ 207,176
Pension plan | Exchange traded funds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Exchange traded funds | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Other bonds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 258	$ 251
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	0.00%	0.00%
Pension plan | Other bonds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan | Other bonds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	258	251
Pension plan | Other bonds | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Guaranteed annuity contract
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 30,119	$ 28,278
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	6.00%	6.00%
Pension plan | Guaranteed annuity contract | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan | Guaranteed annuity contract | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	30,119	28,278
Pension plan | Guaranteed annuity contract | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Short-term investments
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 20,960	$ 8,414
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	4.00%	2.00%
Pension plan | Short-term investments | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 20,960	$ 8,414
Pension plan | Short-term investments | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Short-term investments | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 7,109	$ 6,876
Percentage of total plan assets, within plan asset category	1.00%	1.00%
Pension plan | Other | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 7,109	$ 6,876
Pension plan | Other | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	0	0
Pension plan | Other | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets, within plan asset category	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Activity for the SERP (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Premiums paid for insurance coverage	$ 2,480	$ 2,394	$ 2,997
Total investments:
COLI	51,361	47,733
Exchange traded funds	75,390	65,585
Total investments of SERP	$ 126,751	$ 113,318

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Pension Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
PBO	$ 763,313	$ 665,207
ABO	683,579	601,310
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Project Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets [Abstract]
Funded benefit pension plans PBO	667,753	578,860
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532	468,763
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan with Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets [Abstract]
Funded benefit pension plans ABO	594,510	520,264
Funded benefit pension plans fair value of plan assets	529,532	468,763
Funded benefit pension plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
PBO	763,313	665,207	$ 556,199
Qualified Plan | Funded benefit pension plans | Funded defined benefit pension
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
PBO	667,753	578,860
ABO	594,510	520,264
Nonqualified Plan | SERP
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
PBO	95,560	86,347
ABO	$ 89,069	$ 81,046

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Weighted Average Pension Plan Assumptions and Weighted Average Assumptions for Post-Retirement Benefit Plans Other Than Pensions (Detail) - Pension plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Discount rate	2.92%	3.49%
Rate of compensation increase	3.97%	4.00%
Discount rate	3.49%	4.37%	3.75%
Expected long-term returns	6.67%	6.72%	6.72%
Rate of compensation increase	3.97%	4.00%	4.37%

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Components of Net Periodic Pension Costs and Post-Retirement Benefit Costs (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 33,826	$ 24,134	$ 32,593
Funded benefit pension plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	24,461	19,929	21,092
Interest cost	22,825	23,827	22,303
Expected return on assets	(29,561)	(27,862)	(25,547)
Prior service cost	632	8,211	15,003
Recognition of actuarial gain (loss)	15,469	29	(258)
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 33,826	$ 24,134	$ 32,593

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Analysis of Impact on Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan, Impact on Other Comprehensive Income
Balance at January 1	$ (182,233)	$ (150,071)	$ (193,380)
Prior service cost (credit)	632	631	535
Net actuarial (gain) loss	16,000	7,843	14,560
Total amortization	16,632	8,474	15,095
Plan amendments	0	0	(2,377)
Experience gain (loss)	(43,169)	(40,636)	30,591
Balance at December 31	(208,770)	(182,233)	(150,071)
Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Impact on Other Comprehensive Income
Total amortization	$ 302	$ 265	$ 92

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Reconciliation of Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets, Pension Benefits (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Changes in PBO:
PBO at beginning of year	$ 665,207
PBO at end of year	763,313	$ 665,207
Pension plan
Changes in PBO:
PBO at beginning of year	665,207	556,199
Service cost	24,461	19,929	$ 21,092
Interest cost	22,825	23,827	22,303
Actuarial loss (gain)	74,006	88,053
Benefits paid	(23,186)	(22,801)
PBO at end of year	763,313	665,207	556,199
Changes in plan assets:
Fair value at beginning of year	468,763	392,672
Return on assets	62,104	77,290
Contributions	21,851	21,602
Benefits paid	(23,186)	(22,801)
Fair value at end of year	529,532	468,763	$ 392,672
Funded status at year end	$ (233,781)	$ (196,444)

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Net amounts recognized at year end	$ (208,770)	$ (182,233)	$ (150,071)	$ (193,380)
Pension plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Net loss (gain)	200,465	174,470
Prior service cost	4,713	5,345
Net amounts recognized at year end	$ 205,178	$ 179,815

XML

Postretirement Benefits - Estimated Future Payments for Pension Benefits and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (Detail) - Pension plan $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2021	$ 24,477
2022	26,494
2023	28,783
2024	30,960
2025	32,067
2026-2030	$ 187,386

XML

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information - Summary of Noncash Transactions (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	$ 35,892	$ 44,843	$ 39,792
Commitments for low-income housing interests	161,503	51,978	50,883
Exchanges of fixed maturity investments	219,807	243,156	193,449
Net unsettled security trades	$ 1,669	$ 8,421	$ 39,851

XML

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information - Summary of Amount Paid (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Interest paid	$ 83,518	$ 81,723	$ 83,518
Income taxes paid	$ 76,701	$ 101,982	$ 91,510

XML

Debt - Selected Information about Debt Issues (Detail) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	$ 1,690,612,000
Less current maturity of term loan, par value	0
Total short-term debt, par value	255,000,000
Total debt, par value	1,945,612,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	(22,726,000)
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, current	(82,000)
Total debt, unamortized discount & issuance costs,	(22,808,000)
Book Value	1,667,886,000	$ 1,358,363,000
Less current maturity of term loan, book value	0	9,375,000
Total long-term debt, book value	1,667,886,000	1,348,988,000
Total short-term debt, book value	254,918,000	298,738,000
Total debt, book value	1,922,804,000	1,647,726,000
Fair Value	1,871,754,000
Less current maturity of term loan, fair value	0
Total long-term debt, fair value	1,871,754,000	1,473,364,000
Total short-term debt, fair value	254,918,000
Total debt, fair value	2,126,672,000
Commercial Paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term debt, par value	255,000,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, current	(82,000)
Total short-term debt, book value	254,918,000	289,363,000
Total short-term debt, fair value	$ 254,918,000
Notes, Due 5/15/23
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Coupon Rate	7.875%
Par Value	$ 165,612,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	(658,000)
Book Value	164,954,000	164,713,000
Fair Value	$ 192,020,000
Senior Notes Due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Coupon Rate	3.80%
Par Value	$ 150,000,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	(586,000)
Book Value	149,414,000	149,089,000
Fair Value	158,081,000
Senior Notes Due 2022 | Consolidation eliminations | Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	150,000,000
Book Value	$ 150,000,000
Senior Notes, Due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Coupon Rate	4.55%
Par Value	$ 550,000,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	(5,672,000)
Book Value	544,328,000	543,735,000
Fair Value	$ 659,599,000
Senior Notes, Due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Coupon Rate	2.15%
Par Value	$ 400,000,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	(4,843,000)
Book Value	395,157,000	0
Fair Value	$ 405,384,000
Junior Subordinated Debentures Due 2056
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Coupon Rate	6.125%
Par Value	$ 300,000,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	(9,348,000)
Book Value	290,652,000	290,584,000
Fair Value	$ 325,800,000
Junior Subordinated Debentures Due 2057
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Coupon Rate	5.275%
Par Value	$ 125,000,000
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	(1,619,000)
Book Value	123,381,000	123,367,000
Fair Value	130,870,000
Term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par Value	0
Less current maturity of term loan, par value	0
Unamortized discount & issuance costs, noncurrent	0
Book Value	0	86,875,000
Less current maturity of term loan, book value	0	$ 9,375,000
Fair Value	0
Less current maturity of term loan, fair value	$ 0

XML

Debt - Amount of Debt Due in Next Five Years (Detail) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
2021	$ 255,000
2022	150,000
2023	165,612
2024	0
2025	0
Thereafter	$ 1,375,000

XML

Debt - Additional Information (Detail)									12 Months Ended
	Sep. 03, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 26, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 24, 2020 USD ($) extensionOption	Aug. 21, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 17, 2020 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 15, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 09, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of debt									$ 700,000,000	$ 0	$ 550,000,000
Repayment of notes									$ 386,875,000	$ 6,875,000	$ 327,762,000
Write off of unamortized issue expenses		$ 634,000
Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of debt	$ 395,000,000
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 750,000,000
Potential maximum borrowing capacity			$ 1,000,000,000
Number of extension options | extensionOption			2
Extension term			1 year
Term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of debt							$ 299,100,000
Maximum borrowing capacity								$ 300,000,000
Repayment of notes		$ 150,000,000			$ 150,000,000
Debt instrument term								364 days
Senior Notes due August 15, 2030 | Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face amount	$ 50,000,000			$ 350,000,000
Interest rate	2.15%
Proceeds from issuance of debt	$ 49,300,000			$ 345,800,000
Term loan due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, face amount												$ 100,000,000
Repayment of notes						$ 82,500,000
Debt instrument term						5 years

XML

Debt - Short-Term Borrowings (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Nov. 25, 2020	Nov. 24, 2020
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Annualized interest rate	0.27%	2.04%
Letters of credit outstanding	$ 135,000	$ 150,000		$ 135,000	$ 150,000
Remaining amount available under credit line	360,000	310,000
Average balance outstanding during period	$ 318,409	$ 288,684	$ 368,228
Daily-weighted average interest rate (annualized)	1.50%	2.62%	2.40%
Maximum daily amount outstanding during period	$ 482,000	$ 385,000	$ 525,990
Short-term Debt
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Balance at end of period (at par value)	$ 255,000	$ 290,000

XML

Shareholders' Equity - Common Stock Activity (Detail) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Common stock, issued, beginning balance (in shares)	117,218,183
Treasury stock, beginning balance (in shares)	(9,497,940)
Grants of restricted stock (in shares)	161,909	171,974	177,493
Vesting of performance shares (in shares)	282,552	338,873	191,641
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options (in shares)	936,289	1,810,559	897,622
Common stock, issued, ending balance (in shares)	113,218,183	117,218,183
Treasury stock, ending balance (in shares)	(9,420,699)	(9,497,940)
Performance Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Grants of restricted stock (in shares)	151,200	156,500	159,000
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Common stock, issued, beginning balance (in shares)	117,218,183	121,218,183	124,218,183
Treasury stock, beginning balance (in shares)	(9,497,940)	(10,525,147)	(9,625,104)
Grants of restricted stock (in shares)	4,548	8,840	10,805
Forfeitures of restricted stock (in shares)			(7,500)
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options (in shares)	936,289	1,810,559	897,622
Treasury stock acquired (in shares)	(5,135,439)	(5,103,591)	(4,950,868)
Retirement of treasury stock (in shares)	4,000,000	4,000,000	3,000,000
Common stock, issued, ending balance (in shares)	113,218,183	117,218,183	121,218,183
Treasury stock, ending balance (in shares)	(9,420,699)	(9,497,940)	(10,525,147)
Common Stock | Performance Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Vesting of performance shares (in shares)	271,843	311,399	149,898

XML

Shareholders' Equity - Share Repurchase Program (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Globe Life Share Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Shares Acquired (in shares)	4,459	3,932	4,406
Total Cost	$ 380,112	$ 350,080	$ 371,794
Average Price (in dollars per share)	$ 85.24	$ 89.04	$ 84.38
Share Repurchase for Dilution Purposes
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Shares Acquired (in shares)	676	1,209	571
Total Cost	$ 63,754	$ 109,489	$ 49,955
Average Price (in dollars per share)	$ 94.28	$ 90.52	$ 87.54

XML

Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Dividends paid by subsidiaries to parent company	$ 486,000	$ 480,000	$ 448,000
Maximum amount of dividends expected to be available from subsidiaries without regulatory approval during next year	435,000
Restricted net assets	1,000,000
Retained earnings restricted by lenders' covenants	4,200,000
Retained earnings	$ 5,874,109	$ 5,551,329

XML

Shareholders' Equity - Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Detail) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	106,075,267	109,213,524	112,872,581
Weighted average dilutive options outstanding (in shares)	1,149,327	2,167,726	2,376,372
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	107,224,594	111,381,250	115,248,953
Antidilutive shares (in shares)	2,476,019	21,556	1,161,521

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) - shares				12 Months Ended
	Feb. 24, 2021	Feb. 26, 2020	Feb. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of equity awards settled for cash				0
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares)				77,167	71,006	102,116
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period				3 years
Final settlement of shares		271,843	311,399
Performance Shares | Subsequent Event
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Final settlement of shares	210,155
Minimum | Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares target distribution				0	0
Maximum | Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares target distribution				227,000	313,000
Director | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period				6 months
Director | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period				6 months
Employee | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period				5 years
Directors | Director | Equity Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options expiration term				7 years
Employee 10 Year Grants | Employee | Equity Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options expiration term				10 years

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Grant Contract and Vesting Periods (Details) - Equity Option	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Director | Director
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract Period	7 years
Director | Director | 6 months
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	100.00%
Employee 7 Year Grants | Employee
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract Period	7 years
Employee 7 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	0.00%
Employee 7 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	50.00%
Employee 7 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 3
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	50.00%
Employee 10 Year Grants | Employee
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract Period	10 years
Employee 10 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	0.00%
Employee 10 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	25.00%
Employee 10 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 3
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	25.00%
Employee 10 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 4
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	25.00%
Employee 10 Year Grants | Employee | Yr 5
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights, percentage	25.00%

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Analysis of Shares Available for Grant (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 shares	Dec. 31, 2019 shares	Dec. 31, 2018 shares
Activity by Share-based Payment Award
Balance at January 1 (in shares)	7,167,718	9,422,760	2,964,320
Approval of Globe Life Inc. 2018 Incentive Plan (in shares)	0	0	8,984,000
Cancellation of available shares from prior plans (in shares)	0	0	(184,000)
Expired and forfeited during year (in shares)	38,820	20,800	41,317
Balance at December 31 (in shares)	5,984,418	7,167,718	9,422,760
Stock Options
Activity by Share-based Payment Award
Options granted during year (in shares)	(1,127,610)	(1,149,542)	(1,262,037)
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units And Performance Shares
Activity by Share-based Payment Award
Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares granted (in shares)	(94,510)	(1,126,300)	(1,120,840)
Minimum
Activity by Share-based Payment Award
Ratio by which each grant of stock options reduces shares available for grant	0.85
Ratio by which each grant of restricted stock reduces shares available for options	3.10
Maximum
Activity by Share-based Payment Award
Ratio by which each grant of stock options reduces shares available for grant	1
Ratio by which each grant of restricted stock reduces shares available for options	3.88

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Schedule of Stock Compensation Activity (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense recognized	$ 35,892,000	$ 44,843,000	$ 39,792,000
Tax benefit recognized	12,550,000	21,197,000	14,806,000
Stock-based compensation expense capitalized	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Stock Compensation Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation	$ 28,125	$ 34,723
Weighted average period of expected recognition (in years)	7 months 24 days	9 months 10 days

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Options Outstanding (Detail) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares)	7,111,231	6,724,358	7,203,765	6,753,801
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	4 years 6 months 25 days	4 years 9 months 18 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 78.28	$ 70.07	$ 61.72	$ 53.59
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares)	3,389,399	2,999,788	3,393,090
Options Exercisable, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 67.19	$ 57.27	$ 48.18
$29.59 - $76.37
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share)	29.59
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 76.37
Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares)	1,736,807
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	2 years 9 months 7 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 51.29
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares)	1,598,580
Options Exercisable, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 51.34
77.26
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 77.26
Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares)	1,372,680
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	4 years 1 month 9 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 77.26
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares)	1,142,879
Options Exercisable, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 77.26
82.56 - 83.17
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share)	82.56
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 83.17
Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares)	1,327,447
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	5 years 1 month 24 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 82.56
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares)	33,217
Options Exercisable, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 82.69
87.60 - 90.21
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share)	87.60
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 90.21
Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares)	1,347,698
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	5 years 2 months 26 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 87.64
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares)	573,454
Options Exercisable, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 87.70
100.74 - 105.56
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share)	100.74
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 105.56
Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares)	1,326,599
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	6 years 1 month 28 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 100.85
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares)	41,269
Options Exercisable, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 104.39
$29.59 - $105.56
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Range of Exercise Prices, Minimum (in dollars per share)	29.59
Range of Exercise Prices, Maximum (in dollars per share)	$ 105.56
Options Outstanding, Number Outstanding (in shares)	7,111,231
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	4 years 6 months 25 days
Options Outstanding, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 78.28
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable (in shares)	3,389,399
Options Exercisable, Weighted- Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)	$ 67.19

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Analysis of Option Activity (Detail) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Options
Options Outstanding-beginning of year (in shares)	6,724,358	7,203,765	6,753,801
Options Exercised (in shares)	(936,289)	(1,810,559)	(897,622)
Options Expired and forfeited (in shares)	(3,437)	(21,250)	(41,317)
Options Outstanding-end of year (in shares)	7,111,231	6,724,358	7,203,765
Options Exercisable at end of year (in shares)	3,389,399	2,999,788	3,393,090
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding-beginning of year, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 70.07	$ 61.72	$ 53.59
Options exercised in the period - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	51.37	45.93	40.21
Options expired and forfeited in the period - weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	75.27	82.89	70.90
Outstanding-end of year, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	78.28	70.07	61.72
Exercisable at end of year, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 67.19	$ 57.27	$ 48.18
7-year term
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract Period	7 years
Options
Options Granted (in shares)	1,326,599	1,352,402	845,773
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Options granted in the period- weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 100.85	$ 82.43	$ 87.63
10-year term
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contract Period	10 years
Options
Options Granted (in shares)	0	0	543,130
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Options granted in the period- weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 87.60

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Additional Information of Stock Option Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	4 years 6 months 25 days	4 years 9 months 18 days
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 126,467	$ 236,546
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	3 years 5 months 1 day	3 years 3 months 7 days
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 94,527	$ 143,935

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Selected Stock Option Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)	$ 14.64	$ 14.20	$ 15.65
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 40,517	$ 82,022	$ 42,517
Cash received from options exercised	48,093	83,163	36,091
Actual tax benefit received	$ 8,508	$ 17,225	$ 8,929

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Schedule of Additional Information on Unvested Options (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	4 years 6 months 25 days	4 years 9 months 18 days
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 126,467	$ 236,546
Unvested Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares outstanding (in shares)	3,721,832	3,724,570
Weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 88.37	$ 80.39
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years)	5 years 7 months 13 days	6 years 14 days
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 31,941	$ 92,611

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Granted (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grants (in shares)	161,909	171,974	177,493
Directors Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grants (in shares)	4,548	8,840	10,805
Price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 105.56	$ 76.37	$ 88.19
Aggregate value	$ 480	$ 675	$ 953
Percent vested	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Directors Restricted Stock Units Including Dividend Equivalents
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grants (in shares)	6,161	6,634	7,688
Price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 103.32	$ 77.50	$ 89.15
Aggregate value	$ 637	$ 514	$ 685
Percent vested	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grants (in shares)	151,200	156,500	159,000
Price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 100.74	$ 82.56	$ 87.60
Aggregate value	$ 15,232	$ 12,921	$ 13,928
Percent vested	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Analysis of Unvested Restricted Stock (Detail) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Beginning Balance (in shares)	716,542	764,629	599,362
Grants (in shares)	161,909	171,974	177,493
Additional performance shares	(65,473)	118,812	179,415
Restriction lapses (in shares)	(282,552)	(338,873)	(191,641)
Forfeitures (in shares)	(11,450)	0	0
Ending Balance (in shares)	518,976	716,542	764,629
Executive Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Beginning Balance (in shares)	0	12,000	35,250
Grants (in shares)	0	0	0
Additional performance shares	0	0	0
Restriction lapses (in shares)	0	(12,000)	(23,250)
Forfeitures (in shares)	0	0	0
Ending Balance (in shares)	0	0	12,000
Executive Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Beginning Balance (in shares)	716,542	752,629	564,112
Grants (in shares)	151,200	156,500	159,000
Additional performance shares	(65,473)	118,812	179,415
Restriction lapses (in shares)	(271,843)	(311,399)	(149,898)
Forfeitures (in shares)	(11,450)	0	0
Ending Balance (in shares)	518,976	716,542	752,629
Directors Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Beginning Balance (in shares)	0	0	0
Grants (in shares)	4,548	8,840	10,805
Additional performance shares	0	0	0
Restriction lapses (in shares)	(4,548)	(8,840)	(10,805)
Forfeitures (in shares)	0	0	0
Ending Balance (in shares)	0	0	0
Directors Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Beginning Balance (in shares)	0	0	0
Grants (in shares)	6,161	6,634	7,688
Additional performance shares	0	0	0
Restriction lapses (in shares)	(6,161)	(6,634)	(7,688)
Forfeitures (in shares)	0	0	0
Ending Balance (in shares)	0	0	0

XML

Stock-Based Compensation - Schedule of Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value of Unvested Restricted Stock (Detail) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Executive Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Grant-date fair value per share, beginning of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0
Grants (in dollars per share)	0
Estimated additional performance shares (in dollars per share)	0
Restriction lapses (in dollars per share)	0
Forfeitures (in dollars per share)	0
Grant-date fair value per share, end of year (in dollars per share)	0	$ 0
Executive Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Grant-date fair value per share, beginning of year (in dollars per share)	75.05
Grants (in dollars per share)	100.74
Estimated additional performance shares (in dollars per share)	(40.99)
Restriction lapses (in dollars per share)	(77.26)
Forfeitures (in dollars per share)	(77.26)
Grant-date fair value per share, end of year (in dollars per share)	90.13	75.05
Directors Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Grant-date fair value per share, beginning of year (in dollars per share)	0
Grants (in dollars per share)	105.56	76.37	$ 88.19
Estimated additional performance shares (in dollars per share)	0
Restriction lapses (in dollars per share)	(105.56)
Forfeitures (in dollars per share)	0
Grant-date fair value per share, end of year (in dollars per share)	0	0
Directors Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Grant-date fair value per share, beginning of year (in dollars per share)	0
Grants (in dollars per share)	105.56
Estimated additional performance shares (in dollars per share)	0
Restriction lapses (in dollars per share)	(105.56)
Forfeitures (in dollars per share)	0
Grant-date fair value per share, end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Business Segments - Segment Premium Income by Distribution Channel and Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of segments | segment									4
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount	$ 968,551	$ 961,817	$ 953,702	$ 929,835	$ 906,684	$ 899,993	$ 897,484	$ 890,973	$ 3,813,905	$ 3,595,134	$ 3,421,906
% of Total									100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 2,672,804	$ 2,517,784	$ 2,406,555
% of Total									100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 1,141,097	$ 1,077,346	$ 1,015,339
% of Total									100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 4	$ 4	$ 12
% of Total									100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
American Income
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 1,363,460	$ 1,259,942	$ 1,174,646
% of Total									36.00%	35.00%	34.00%
American Income | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 1,257,726	$ 1,160,495	$ 1,081,333
% of Total									47.00%	46.00%	45.00%
American Income | Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 105,734	$ 99,447	$ 93,313
% of Total									9.00%	9.00%	9.00%
American Income | Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
% of Total									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Direct to Consumer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 983,486	$ 933,100	$ 905,232
% of Total									26.00%	26.00%	26.00%
Direct to Consumer | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 906,959	$ 855,543	$ 828,935
% of Total									34.00%	34.00%	34.00%
Direct to Consumer | Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 76,527	$ 77,557	$ 76,297
% of Total									7.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Direct to Consumer | Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
% of Total									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Liberty National
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 482,732	$ 475,129	$ 470,256
% of Total									13.00%	13.00%	14.00%
Liberty National | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 293,897	$ 285,551	$ 278,878
% of Total									11.00%	11.00%	12.00%
Liberty National | Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 188,835	$ 189,578	$ 191,378
% of Total									16.00%	18.00%	19.00%
Liberty National | Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
% of Total									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
United American
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 462,672	$ 427,157	$ 392,539
% of Total									12.00%	12.00%	12.00%
United American | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 9,688	$ 10,571	$ 11,451
% of Total									0.00%	1.00%	1.00%
United American | Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 452,980	$ 416,582	$ 381,076
% of Total									40.00%	39.00%	38.00%
United American | Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 4	$ 4	$ 12
% of Total									100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Family Heritage
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 321,274	$ 298,012	$ 276,776
% of Total									8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Family Heritage | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 4,253	$ 3,830	$ 3,501
% of Total									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Family Heritage | Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 317,021	$ 294,182	$ 273,275
% of Total									28.00%	27.00%	27.00%
Family Heritage | Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
% of Total									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 200,281	$ 201,794	$ 202,457
% of Total									5.00%	6.00%	6.00%
Other | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 200,281	$ 201,794	$ 202,457
% of Total									8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Other | Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
% of Total									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other | Annuity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amount									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
% of Total									0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

XML

Business Segments - Reconciliation of Segment Operating Information to Consolidated Statement of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue:
Premium	$ 968,551	$ 961,817	$ 953,702	$ 929,835	$ 906,684	$ 899,993	$ 897,484	$ 890,973	$ 3,813,905	$ 3,595,134	$ 3,421,906
Net investment income	235,071	231,432	231,568	228,991	227,456	228,905	227,425	226,673	927,062	910,459	882,512
Other income									1,325	1,318	1,137
Total revenue									4,742,292	4,506,911	4,305,555
Expenses:
Policy benefits	663,123	650,976	650,816	607,969	594,538	585,692	589,362	587,757	2,572,884	2,357,349	2,275,242
Required interest on reserves									0	0	0
Required interest on DAC									0	0	0
Amortization of acquisition costs	144,930	140,843	146,160	143,837	139,290	138,449	138,165	135,822	575,770	551,726	516,690
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs									304,841	298,047	278,487
Insurance administrative expense									254,932	249,079	227,531
Parent expense									10,214	10,903	12,262
Stock-based compensation expense									35,892	44,843	39,792
Interest expense									86,704	84,306	90,076
Total benefits and expenses									3,841,237	3,596,253	3,440,080
Subtotal									901,055	910,658	865,475
Non-operating items									4,308	9,401	5,168
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)									905,363	920,059	870,643
Realized gain (loss)—investments									(3,737)	20,621	9,274
Realized loss on redemption of debt									(634)	0	(11,078)
Administrative settlements										(400)	(3,590)
Legal proceedings									(3,275)	(8,358)
Non-operating expenses									(1,033)	(643)	(1,578)
Income before income taxes	$ 249,984	$ 231,538	$ 212,241	$ 202,921	$ 227,088	$ 247,330	$ 228,760	$ 228,101	896,684	931,279	863,671
American Income
Revenue:
Premium									1,363,460	1,259,942	1,174,646
Direct to Consumer
Revenue:
Premium									983,486	933,100	905,232
Liberty National
Revenue:
Premium									482,732	475,129	470,256
United American
Revenue:
Premium									462,672	427,157	392,539
Other
Revenue:
Premium									200,281	201,794	202,457
Family Heritage
Revenue:
Premium									321,274	298,012	276,776
Life
Revenue:
Premium									2,672,804	2,517,784	2,406,555
Life | American Income
Revenue:
Premium									1,257,726	1,160,495	1,081,333
Life | Direct to Consumer
Revenue:
Premium									906,959	855,543	828,935
Life | Liberty National
Revenue:
Premium									293,897	285,551	278,878
Life | United American
Revenue:
Premium									9,688	10,571	11,451
Life | Other
Revenue:
Premium									200,281	201,794	202,457
Life | Family Heritage
Revenue:
Premium									4,253	3,830	3,501
Health
Revenue:
Premium									1,141,097	1,077,346	1,015,339
Health | American Income
Revenue:
Premium									105,734	99,447	93,313
Health | Direct to Consumer
Revenue:
Premium									76,527	77,557	76,297
Health | Liberty National
Revenue:
Premium									188,835	189,578	191,378
Health | United American
Revenue:
Premium									452,980	416,582	381,076
Health | Other
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Health | Family Heritage
Revenue:
Premium									317,021	294,182	273,275
Annuity
Revenue:
Premium									4	4	12
Annuity | American Income
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Annuity | Direct to Consumer
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Annuity | Liberty National
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Annuity | United American
Revenue:
Premium									4	4	12
Annuity | Other
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Annuity | Family Heritage
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Operating Segments | Life
Revenue:
Premium									2,672,804	2,517,784	2,406,555
Net investment income									0	0	0
Other income									0	0	0
Total revenue									2,672,804	2,517,784	2,406,555
Expenses:
Policy benefits									1,809,373	1,638,053	1,591,790
Required interest on reserves									(698,112)	(666,168)	(636,040)
Required interest on DAC									210,152	202,502	194,297
Amortization of acquisition costs									463,586	436,881	414,200
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs									212,859	203,052	190,007
Insurance administrative expense									0	0	0
Parent expense									0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses									1,997,858	1,814,320	1,754,254
Subtotal									674,946	703,464	652,301
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)									674,946	703,464	652,301
Operating Segments | Health
Revenue:
Premium									1,141,097	1,077,346	1,015,339
Net investment income									0	0	0
Other income									0	0	0
Total revenue									1,141,097	1,077,346	1,015,339
Expenses:
Policy benefits									733,481	687,764	649,188
Required interest on reserves									(93,475)	(87,289)	(83,243)
Required interest on DAC									26,586	25,435	24,412
Amortization of acquisition costs									110,177	112,825	100,376
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs									91,959	94,973	88,553
Insurance administrative expense									0	0	0
Parent expense									0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses									868,728	833,708	779,286
Subtotal									272,369	243,638	236,053
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)									272,369	243,638	236,053
Operating Segments | Annuity
Revenue:
Premium									4	4	12
Net investment income									0	0	0
Other income									0	0	0
Total revenue									4	4	12
Expenses:
Policy benefits									30,030	31,532	34,264
Required interest on reserves									(41,413)	(43,522)	(47,357)
Required interest on DAC									328	494	589
Amortization of acquisition costs									2,007	2,020	2,114
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs									23	22	26
Insurance administrative expense									0	0	0
Parent expense									0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses									(9,025)	(9,454)	(10,364)
Subtotal									9,029	9,458	10,376
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)									9,029	9,458	10,376
Operating Segments | Investment
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Net investment income									927,062	910,459	882,512
Other income									0	0	0
Total revenue									927,062	910,459	882,512
Expenses:
Policy benefits									0	0	0
Required interest on reserves									833,000	796,979	766,640
Required interest on DAC									(237,066)	(228,431)	(219,298)
Amortization of acquisition costs									0	0	0
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs									0	0	0
Insurance administrative expense									0	0	0
Parent expense									0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense									0	0	0
Interest expense									86,704	84,306	90,076
Total benefits and expenses									682,638	652,854	637,418
Subtotal									244,424	257,605	245,094
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)									244,424	257,605	245,094
Corporate & Other
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Net investment income									0	0	0
Other income									1,325	1,318	1,236
Total revenue									1,325	1,318	1,236
Expenses:
Policy benefits									0	0	0
Required interest on reserves									0	0	0
Required interest on DAC									0	0	0
Amortization of acquisition costs									0	0	0
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs									0	0	0
Insurance administrative expense									250,947	240,321	223,941
Parent expense									9,891	10,260	10,684
Stock-based compensation expense									35,892	44,843	39,792
Interest expense									0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses									296,730	295,424	274,417
Subtotal									(295,405)	(294,106)	(273,181)
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)									(295,405)	(294,106)	(273,181)
Adjustments
Revenue:
Premium									0	0	0
Net investment income									0	0	0
Other income									0	0	(99)
Total revenue									0	0	(99)
Expenses:
Policy benefits									0	0	0
Required interest on reserves									0	0	0
Required interest on DAC									0	0	0
Amortization of acquisition costs									0	0	0
Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs									0	0	(99)
Insurance administrative expense									3,985	8,758	3,590
Parent expense									323	643	1,578
Stock-based compensation expense									0	0	0
Interest expense									0	0	0
Total benefits and expenses									4,308	9,401	5,069
Subtotal									(4,308)	(9,401)	(5,168)
Non-operating items									4,308	9,401	5,168
Measure of segment profitability (pretax)									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Business Segments - Assets by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Cash and invested assets	$ 22,547,498	$ 19,923,204
Accrued investment income	248,991	245,129
Deferred acquisition costs	4,595,444	4,341,941	$ 4,137,925	$ 3,958,063
Goodwill	441,591	441,591
Other assets	1,213,207	1,025,595
Total assets	29,046,731	25,977,460
Other
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Cash and invested assets	0	0
Accrued investment income	0	0
Deferred acquisition costs	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Other assets	1,213,207	1,025,595
Total assets	1,213,207	1,025,595
Life | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Cash and invested assets	0	0
Accrued investment income	0	0
Deferred acquisition costs	3,982,158	3,768,797
Goodwill	309,609	309,609
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	4,291,767	4,078,406
Health | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Cash and invested assets	0	0
Accrued investment income	0	0
Deferred acquisition costs	610,071	569,126
Goodwill	131,982	131,982
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	742,053	701,108
Annuity | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Cash and invested assets	0	0
Accrued investment income	0	0
Deferred acquisition costs	3,215	4,018
Goodwill	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	3,215	4,018
Investment | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Cash and invested assets	22,547,498	19,923,204
Accrued investment income	248,991	245,129
Deferred acquisition costs	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	$ 22,796,489	$ 20,168,333

XML

Business Segments - Liabilities by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Future policy benefits	$ 15,243,536	$ 14,508,134
Unearned and advance premiums	61,728	63,709
Policy claims and other benefits payable	399,507	365,402
Debt	1,922,804	1,647,726
Other	2,648,064	2,098,182
Total	20,275,639	18,683,153
Other
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Future policy benefits	0	0
Unearned and advance premiums	0	0
Policy claims and other benefits payable	0	0
Debt	0	0
Other	2,648,064	2,098,182
Total	2,648,064	2,098,182
Life | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Future policy benefits	12,008,396	11,403,078
Unearned and advance premiums	18,968	17,701
Policy claims and other benefits payable	237,246	201,594
Debt	0	0
Other	0	0
Total	12,264,610	11,622,373
Health | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Future policy benefits	2,172,141	2,006,424
Unearned and advance premiums	42,760	46,008
Policy claims and other benefits payable	162,261	163,808
Debt	0	0
Other	0	0
Total	2,377,162	2,216,240
Annuity | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Future policy benefits	1,062,999	1,098,632
Unearned and advance premiums	0	0
Policy claims and other benefits payable	0	0
Debt	0	0
Other	0	0
Total	1,062,999	1,098,632
Investment | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Future policy benefits	0	0
Unearned and advance premiums	0	0
Policy claims and other benefits payable	0	0
Debt	1,922,804	1,647,726
Other	0	0
Total	$ 1,922,804	$ 1,647,726

XML

Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Premium income	$ 968,551	$ 961,817	$ 953,702	$ 929,835	$ 906,684	$ 899,993	$ 897,484	$ 890,973	$ 3,813,905	$ 3,595,134	$ 3,421,906
Net investment income	235,071	231,432	231,568	228,991	227,456	228,905	227,425	226,673	927,062	910,459	882,512
Realized gains (losses)	25,015	1,501	(4,790)	(26,097)	2,195	11,943	5,154	1,329	(4,371)	20,621	(1,804)
Total revenue	1,228,941	1,195,042	1,180,884	1,133,054	1,136,576	1,141,279	1,130,461	1,119,216	4,737,921	4,527,532	4,303,751
Policyholder benefits	663,123	650,976	650,816	607,969	594,538	585,692	589,362	587,757	2,572,884	2,357,349	2,275,242
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	144,930	140,843	146,160	143,837	139,290	138,449	138,165	135,822	575,770	551,726	516,690
Pretax income from continuing operations	249,984	231,538	212,241	202,921	227,088	247,330	228,760	228,101	896,684	931,279	863,671
Income from continuing operations	204,240	188,945	173,048	165,540	187,061	201,818	186,609	185,394	731,773	760,882	701,510
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0	0	0	(43)	(49)	0	(92)	(44)
Net income	$ 204,240	$ 188,945	$ 173,048	$ 165,540	$ 187,061	$ 201,818	$ 186,566	$ 185,345	$ 731,773	$ 760,790	$ 701,466
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.96	$ 1.78	$ 1.63	$ 1.54	$ 1.73	$ 1.85	$ 1.70	$ 1.68	$ 6.90	$ 6.97	$ 6.22
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total basic net income per common share (in dollars per share)	1.96	1.78	1.63	1.54	1.73	1.85	1.70	1.68	6.90	6.97	6.22
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.93	1.76	1.62	1.52	1.69	1.82	1.67	1.65	6.82	6.83	6.09
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total diluted net income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.93	$ 1.76	$ 1.62	$ 1.52	$ 1.69	$ 1.82	$ 1.67	$ 1.65	$ 6.82	$ 6.83	$ 6.09

XML

Schedule II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Balance Sheets) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets:
Short-term investments	$ 107,782	$ 38,285
Total investments	22,452,651	19,847,271
Cash	94,847	75,933
Other assets	739,027	583,933
Total assets	29,046,731	25,977,460
Liabilities:
Short-term debt	254,918	298,738
Long-term debt	1,667,886	1,348,988
Other liabilities	716,373	525,068
Total liabilities	20,275,639	18,683,153
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock	113,218	117,218
Additional paid-in-capital	527,435	531,554
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,029,244	1,844,830
Retained earnings	5,874,109	5,551,329
Treasury stock	(772,914)	(750,624)
Total shareholders' equity	8,771,092	7,294,307	$ 5,415,177	$ 6,231,421
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	29,046,731	25,977,460
Parent Company
Assets:
Long-term investments	32,861	28,728
Short-term investments	19,300	3,401
Total investments	52,161	32,129
Cash	1,644	873
Investment in affiliates	10,526,982	9,020,073
Due from affiliates	322,278	96,129
Taxes receivable from affiliates	51,041	50,302
Other assets	184,588	160,723
Total assets	11,138,694	9,360,229
Liabilities:
Short-term debt	254,918	298,738
Long-term debt	1,817,798	1,498,851
Due to affiliates	0	3,532
Other liabilities	294,886	264,801
Total liabilities	2,367,602	2,065,922
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock	351	351
Common stock	113,218	117,218
Additional paid-in-capital	877,946	882,065
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,029,244	1,844,830
Retained earnings	5,874,109	5,551,329
Treasury stock	(1,123,776)	(1,101,486)
Total shareholders' equity	8,771,092	7,294,307
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 11,138,694	$ 9,360,229

XML

Schedule II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statements of Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income	$ 235,071	$ 231,432	$ 231,568	$ 228,991	$ 227,456	$ 228,905	$ 227,425	$ 226,673	$ 927,062	$ 910,459	$ 882,512
Realized gains (losses)	25,015	1,501	(4,790)	(26,097)	2,195	11,943	5,154	1,329	(4,371)	20,621	(1,804)
Total revenue	1,228,941	1,195,042	1,180,884	1,133,054	1,136,576	1,141,279	1,130,461	1,119,216	4,737,921	4,527,532	4,303,751
Other operating expense									301,038	304,825	279,585
Interest expense									86,704	84,306	90,076
Total benefits and expenses									3,841,237	3,596,253	3,440,080
Income before income taxes	249,984	231,538	212,241	202,921	227,088	247,330	228,760	228,101	896,684	931,279	863,671
Income tax benefit (expense)									(164,911)	(170,397)	(162,161)
Net income	$ 204,240	$ 188,945	$ 173,048	$ 165,540	$ 187,061	$ 201,818	$ 186,566	$ 185,345	731,773	760,790	701,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Attributable to Parent Company									1,184,414	1,525,355	(1,104,799)
Comprehensive income (loss)									1,916,187	2,286,145	(403,333)
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income									30,199	28,869	28,077
Realized gains (losses)									12,792	0	(11,078)
Total revenue									42,991	28,869	16,999
Other operating expense									57,679	68,419	65,762
Reimbursements from affiliates									(68,556)	(65,928)	(61,620)
Interest expense									90,197	89,317	94,159
Total benefits and expenses									79,320	91,808	98,301
Income before income taxes									(36,329)	(62,939)	(81,302)
Income tax benefit (expense)									7,773	13,133	15,262
Net operating loss before equity in earnings of affiliates									(28,556)	(49,806)	(66,040)
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax									760,329	810,596	767,506
Net income									731,773	760,790	701,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Attributable to Parent Company									(21,477)	(11,379)	23,805
Attributable to affiliates									1,205,891	1,536,734	(1,128,604)
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ 1,916,187	$ 2,286,145	$ (403,333)

XML

Schedule II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statement of Cash Flows) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 204,240	$ 188,945	$ 173,048	$ 165,540	$ 187,061	$ 201,818	$ 186,566	$ 185,345	$ 731,773	$ 760,790	$ 701,466
Other, net									66,602	62,194	4,463
Cash provided from (used for) operating activities									1,476,434	1,363,874	1,277,647
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities:
Net decrease (increase) in short-term investments									(69,497)	34,003	63,783
Additions to properties									(41,756)	(42,203)	(45,092)
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities									(1,181,730)	(809,311)	(896,223)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities:
Repayment of debt									(386,875)	(6,875)	(327,762)
Payment for debt issuance costs									(5,844)	0	(6,969)
Net issuance (repayment) of commercial paper									(34,445)	(11,610)	(22,719)
Issuance of stock									48,093	83,163	36,091
Acquisitions of treasury stock									(443,866)	(459,569)	(421,749)
Payment of dividends									(78,192)	(74,188)	(71,421)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities									(274,057)	(590,508)	(391,520)
Net increase (decrease) in cash									18,914	(45,093)	2,463
Cash at beginning of year				75,933				121,026	75,933	121,026	118,563
Cash at end of year	94,847				75,933				94,847	75,933	121,026
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income									731,773	760,790	701,466
Equity in earnings of affiliates									(760,329)	(810,596)	(767,506)
Cash dividends from subsidiaries									485,871	479,988	448,142
Other, net									21,129	65,584	64,734
Cash provided from (used for) operating activities									478,444	495,766	446,836
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities:
Net decrease (increase) in short-term investments									(15,899)	(3,380)	5,603
Investment in subsidiaries									(7,875)	0	(140,000)
Additions to properties									0	(32)	(19,888)
Loaned money to affiliates									(1,008,860)	(501,764)	(584,000)
Repayments from affiliates									782,860	501,764	584,000
Cash provided from (used for) investing activities									(249,774)	(3,412)	(154,285)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities:
Repayment of debt									(386,875)	(6,875)	(327,762)
Proceeds from issuance of debt									700,000	0	550,000
Payment for debt issuance costs									(5,844)	0	(6,969)
Net issuance (repayment) of commercial paper									(34,445)	(11,610)	(22,719)
Issuance of stock									48,093	82,771	36,091
Acquisitions of treasury stock									(443,866)	(459,569)	(421,749)
Borrowed money from affiliate									76,000	277,000	197,690
Repayments to affiliates									(79,500)	(276,500)	(202,690)
Payment of dividends									(101,462)	(97,458)	(94,691)
Cash provided from (used for) financing activities									(227,899)	(492,241)	(292,799)
Net increase (decrease) in cash									771	113	(248)
Cash at beginning of year				$ 873				$ 760	873	760	1,008
Cash at end of year	$ 1,644				$ 873				$ 1,644	$ 873	$ 760

XML

Schedule II. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Notes To Condensed Financial Statements) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	$ 35,892	$ 44,843	$ 39,792
Interest paid	83,518	81,723	83,518
Income taxes paid (received)	$ 76,701	$ 101,982	91,510
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash dividends from subsidiaries	$ 485,871	$ 479,988	448,142
Stock-based compensation not involving cash	35,892	44,843	39,792
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	11,899
Dividend of property to Parent	0	0	11,889
Interest paid	86,504	86,868	86,982
Income taxes paid (received)	$ (12,744)	$ (16,617)	$ (21,377)
Preferred stock, liquidation distribution available to stockholders, per share in thousands (in dollars per share)	$ 1,000
Preferred stock, liquidating distribution legally available, aggregate value	$ 351,000
Cumulative Series A Preferred Stock | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	351,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	351,000
6.50% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	280,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	280,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate, percentage	6.50%
7.15% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	71,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	71,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate, percentage	7.15%

XML

Schedule IV. Reinsurance (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
SEC Schedule, 12-17, Insurance Companies, Reinsurance [Line Items]
Life insurance in force, gross amount	$ 203,894,460	$ 191,249,516	$ 185,212,195
Life insurance in force, ceded to other companies	669,063	676,988	688,384
Life insurance in force, assumed from other companies	2,551,770	2,774,388	3,019,737
Life insurance in force, net amount	$ 205,777,167	$ 193,346,916	$ 187,543,548
Life insurance in force, percentage of amount assumed to net	1.20%	1.40%	1.60%
Premium, gross amount	$ 3,787,025	$ 3,566,996	$ 3,392,430
Premium, ceded to other companies	7,614	7,880	8,249
Premium, assumed from other companies	19,775	20,384	21,305
Premium, net amount	$ 3,799,186	$ 3,579,500	$ 3,405,486
Percentage of amount assumed to net	0.50%	0.60%	0.60%
Policy charges	$ 14,700	$ 15,600	$ 16,400
Life insurance
SEC Schedule, 12-17, Insurance Companies, Reinsurance [Line Items]
Premium, gross amount	2,642,555	2,486,127	2,373,423
Premium, ceded to other companies	4,241	4,357	4,581
Premium, assumed from other companies	19,775	20,384	21,305
Premium, net amount	$ 2,658,089	$ 2,502,154	$ 2,390,147
Percentage of amount assumed to net	0.70%	0.80%	0.90%
Health insurance
SEC Schedule, 12-17, Insurance Companies, Reinsurance [Line Items]
Premium, gross amount	$ 1,144,470	$ 1,080,869	$ 1,019,007
Premium, ceded to other companies	3,373	3,523	3,668
Premium, assumed from other companies	0	0	0
Premium, net amount	$ 1,141,097	$ 1,077,346	$ 1,015,339
Percentage of amount assumed to net	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

XML

Label	Element	Value
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Member