Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Investments:
Fixed maturities—available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2023—$18,924,914; 2022—$18,301,692, allowance for credit losses: 2023— $7,115; 2022— $0)	$ 17,870,206	$ 16,503,365
Mortgage loans	279,199	181,305
Policy loans	657,020	614,866
Other long-term investments (includes: 2023—$795,583; 2022—$768,689 under the fair value option)	835,878	794,711
Short-term investments	81,740	114,121
Total investments	19,724,043	18,208,368
Cash	103,156	92,559
Accrued investment income	270,396	259,581
Other receivables	630,223	589,171
Deferred acquisition costs	6,009,477	5,535,697
Goodwill	481,791	481,791
Other assets	832,413	819,630
Total assets	28,051,499	25,986,797
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	19,460,353	18,097,341
Unearned and advance premium	254,567	253,360
Policy claims and other benefits payable	514,875	509,356
Other policyholders' funds	236,958	123,236
Total policy liabilities	20,466,753	18,983,293
Current and deferred income taxes	494,639	434,649
Short-term debt	486,113	449,103
Long-term debt (estimated fair value: 2023—$1,491,229; 2022—$1,440,277)	1,629,559	1,627,952
Other liabilities	487,632	542,223
Total liabilities	23,564,696	22,037,220
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $1 per share—5,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding: 0 in 2023 and 2022	0	0
Common stock, par value $1 per share—320,000,000 shares authorized; outstanding: (2023—102,218,183 issued; 2022—105,218,183 issued)	102,218	105,218
Additional paid-in-capital	532,474	529,661
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,772,419)	(2,790,313)
Retained earnings	7,478,813	6,894,535
Treasury stock, at cost: (2023—8,426,854 shares; 2022—8,478,288 shares)	(854,283)	(789,524)
Total shareholders' equity	4,486,803	3,949,577
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 28,051,499	$ 25,986,797