Note 6. Fair Value Disclosures

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Notes

Note 6. Fair Value Disclosures

Note 6.                        Fair Value Disclosures

For all financial and non-financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company utilizes valuation techniques based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market expectations. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3 - Instruments where significant value drivers are unobservable.

The following section describes the valuation methodologies we use to measure different assets at fair value.

Investments in fixed maturities and equity securities:

Available-for-sale securities included in Level 1 are equities with quoted market prices. Level 2 is primarily comprised of our portfolio of government securities, agency mortgage-backed securities, corporate fixed income securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, municipals, GSEs and certain preferred stocks that were priced with observable market inputs. Level 3 securities consist primarily of CMO securities backed by Alt-A mortgages and municipal tax credit strips.  For these securities, we use industry-standard pricing methodologies, including discounted cash flow models, whose inputs are based on management’s assumptions and available market information. Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of CMO’s are prepayment rates, probability of default, and loss severity in the event of default. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the assumption used for the probability of default is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for loss severity and a directionally opposite change in the assumption used for prepayment rates. Further we retain independent pricing vendors to assist in valuing certain instruments.

Trading securities:

            Trading securities included in Level 1 are equity securities with quoted market prices.

Interest rate swap:

The financial liability included in Level 2 consists of an interest rate swap on IHC debt.  It is valued using market observable inputs including market price, interest rate, and volatility within a Black Scholes model.

The following tables present our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively (in thousands):

		March 31, 2013
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
FINANCIAL ASSETS:
Fixed maturities available-for-sale:
Corporate securities	$	-	$	352,485	$	-	$	352,485
CMOs - residential		-		5,277		9,755		15,032
CMOs - commercial		-		-		576		576
US Government obligations		-		25,317		-		25,317
Agency MBS - residential		-		359		-		359
GSEs		-		36,385		-		36,385
States and political subdivisions		-		279,211		2,529		281,740
Foreign governments		-		45,026		-		45,026
Redeemable preferred stocks		8,341		-		-		8,341
Total fixed maturities		8,341		744,060		12,860		765,261
Equity securities available-for-sale:
Nonredeemable preferred stocks		8,288		-		-		8,288
Total equity securities		8,288		-		-		8,288
Trading securities - equities		6,546		-		-		6,546
Total trading securities		6,546		-		-		6,546
Total Financial Assets	$	23,175	$	744,060	$	12,860	$	780,095
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:
Interest rate swap	$	-	$	340	$	-	$	340

		December 31, 2012
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
FINANCIAL ASSETS:
Fixed maturities available-for-sale:
Corporate securities	$	-	$	353,823	$	-	$	353,823
CMOs - residential		-		6,041		14,053		20,094
CMOs - commercial		-		-		570		570
US Government obligations		-		18,866		-		18,866
Agency MBS - residential		-		428		-		428
GSEs		-		49,606		-		49,606
States and political subdivisions		-		265,667		2,558		268,225
Redeemable preferred stocks		7,990		-		-		7,990
Total fixed maturities		7,990		694,431		17,181		719,602
Equity securities available-for-sale:
Nonredeemable preferred stocks		15,598		-		-		15,598
Total equity securities		15,598		-		-		15,598
Trading securities - equities		7,016		-		-		7,016
Total trading securities		7,016		-		-		7,016
Total Financial Assets	$	30,604	$	694,431	$	17,181	$	742,216
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:
Interest rate swap	$	-	$	363	$	-	$	363

It is the Company’s policy to recognize transfers of assets and liabilities between levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of a reporting period.

At March 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no transfers of assets and liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. No securities were transferred out of Level 2 and into the Level 3 category at March 31, 2013 or 2012. The Company does not transfer out of Level 3 and into Level 2 until such time as observable inputs become available and reliable or the range of available independent prices narrow. No securities were transferred out of the Level 3 category in the three months ended March 31, 2013 or 2012. The changes in the carrying value of Level 3 assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

		March 31, 2013
		CMOs				States and
						Political
		Residential		Commercial		Subdivisions		Total
Beginning balance	$	14,053	$	570	$	2,558	$	17,181
Gains (losses) included in earnings:
Net realized investment gains		1,490		-		-		1,490
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gains (losses)		(1,292)		6		(23)		(1,309)
Sales of securities		(4,034)		-		-		(4,034)
Repayments and amortization of fixed maturities		(462)		-		(6)		(468)
Balance at end of period	$	9,755	$	576	$	2,529	$	12,860

		March 31, 2012
		CMOs				States and
						Political
		Residential		Commercial		Subdivisions		Total
Beginning balance	$	22,127	$	538	$	-	$	22,665
Purchases of securities		-		-		2,135		2,135
Gains (losses) included in earnings:
Net realized investment losses		(1,212)		-		-		(1,212)
Other-than-temporary impairments		(83)		-		-		(83)
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gains (losses)		671		(5)		496		1,162
Sales of securities		(7,087)		-		-		(7,087)
Repayments and amortization of fixed maturities		(1,066)		-		12		(1,054)
Balance at end of period	$	13,350	$	533	$	2,643	$	16,526

The following table provides carrying values, fair values and classification in the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but are subject to fair value disclosure requirements at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):

		March  31, 2013				December 31, 2012
		Level 2				Level 2
		Fair		Carrying		Fair		Carrying
		Value		Value		Value		Value
FINANCIAL ASSETS:
Policy loans	$	28,355	$	21,857	$	28,748	$	22,165
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:
Funds on deposit	$	279,161	$	277,610	$	279,125	$	278,084
Debt and junior subordinated
debt securities	$	46,146	$	46,146	$	46,146	$	46,146

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:

(A)       Policy Loans

The fair value of policy loans included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy is estimated by projecting aggregate loan cash flows to the end of the expected lifetime period of the life insurance business at the average policy loan rates, and discounting them at a current market interest rate.

(B)              Funds on Deposit

            The Company has two types of funds on deposit. The first type is credited with a current market interest rate, resulting in a fair value that approximates the carrying amount. The second type carries fixed interest rates that are higher than current market interest rates. The fair value of these deposits was estimated by discounting the payments using current market interest rates. The Company's universal life policies are also credited with current market interest rates, resulting in a fair value that approximates the carrying amount. Both types of funds on deposit are included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

(C)       Debt

The fair value of debt with variable interest rates approximates its carrying amount and is included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.