5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Notes to Financial Statements

5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

GAAP requires all entities to disclose the fair value of financial instruments, both assets and liabilities recognized and not recognized in the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate fair value. The Company uses the following methods and assumptions in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:

Equity securities and fixed income securities available-for-sale:  Fair value disclosures for these investments are included in “Note 3 - Investments.”

Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments.

Premiums receivable, reinsurance receivables:  The carrying values reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of the assets.

Real estate: The fair value of the land and building included in property and equipment, which is used in the Company’s operations, approximates the carrying value. The fair value was based on an appraisal prepared using the sales comparison approach, and accordingly the real estate is a Level 3 asset under the fair value hierarchy.

Reinsurance balances payable:  The carrying value reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximates fair value.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows:

	March 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Fixed-maturity investments held to maturity	$	3,969,335	$	4,102,096	$	2,399,482	$	2,425,261
Cash and cash equivalents		8,563,066		8,563,066		19,922,506		19,922,506
Premiums receivable		8,102,612		8,102,612		7,590,074		7,590,074
Receivables - reinsurance contracts		858,567		858,567		974,989		974,989
Reinsurance receivables		43,531,328		43,531,328		37,560,825		37,560,825
Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		1,766,149		1,816,122		1,777,942		1,816,122
Reinsurance balances payable		2,982,222		2,982,222		2,566,729		2,566,729