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Note 3 - New Accounting Pronouncements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]
NOTE 3 – New Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance to address diversity in practice regarding the interpretation of which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral.  Under the new guidance, acquisition costs are to include only those costs that are directly related to the acquisition or renewal of insurance contracts by applying a model similar to the accounting for loan origination costs. An entity may defer incremental direct costs of contract acquisition that are incurred in transactions with independent third parties or employees as well as the portion of employee compensation and other costs directly related to underwriting, policy issuance and processing, medical inspection, and contract selling for successfully negotiated contracts. Additionally, an entity may capitalize as a deferred acquisition cost only those advertising costs meeting the capitalization criteria for direct-response advertising. This change is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption as of the beginning of a fiscal year is permitted. The guidance is to be applied prospectively upon the date of adoption, with retrospective application permitted, but not required. We plan to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2012. We are in the process of assessing the impact of the guidance on our financial statements; however, we currently do not expect to experience a significant impact as a result of this new guidance.

In May 2011, the FASB issued new guidance concerning fair value measurements and disclosure. The new guidance is the result of joint efforts by the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to develop a single, converged fair value framework on how to measure fair value and the necessary disclosures concerning fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and no early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance; however, we currently do not expect to experience a significant impact as a result of this new guidance.

In June 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option of presenting components of comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  The updated guidance requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either as a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The updated guidance is to be applied retrospectively and is effective for the quarter ending March 31, 2012.  Early adoption is permitted.  The updated guidance will result in a change in the presentation of the Company’s financial statements but will not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. Management has not yet determined whether it will early adopt this guidance or what method of presentation will be used in complying with this guidance.