5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Weighted average amortization period of identified intangible assets of finite useful life

5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

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 and reinsurance receivables:  The carrying values reported in the accompanying 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 dated September 8, 2015 prepared using the sales comparison approach and income 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 consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximates fair value.

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

	December 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Fixed-maturity securitied-held-to maturity	$	5,138,872	$	5,241,095	$	5,128,735	$	5,395,054
Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,551,372	$	13,551,372	$	9,906,878	$	9,906,878
Premiums receivable	$	10,621,655	$	10,621,655	$	8,946,899	$	8,946,899
Receivables - reinsurance contracts	$	-	$	-	$	1,301,549	$	1,301,549
Reinsurance receivables	$	31,270,235	$	31,270,235	$	35,575,276	$	35,575,276
Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation	$	1,710,897	$	1,925,000	$	1,762,345	$	1,816,122
Reinsurance balances payable	$	1,688,922	$	1,688,922	$	2,096,363	$	2,096,363