Fair Values of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Fair Values of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Note 4.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values have been determined by the Company using available market information from various market sources and appropriate valuation methodologies as of the respective dates. However, considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and to develop the estimates of fair value. Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts which the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

The following describes the fair value hierarchy and provides information as to the extent to which the Company uses fair value to measure the value of its financial instruments and information about the inputs used to value those financial instruments. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs in the valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels.

Level 1

Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 1 criteria include cash equivalents and exchange traded common stocks.

Level 2

Observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, for an asset or liability or prices for similar assets or liabilities. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 2 criteria include significantly most of its fixed maturities, which consist of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. Government securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and certain corporate fixed maturities, as well as its non-redeemable preferred stocks. In determining fair value measurements of its fixed maturities and non-redeemable preferred stocks using Level 2 criteria, the Company utilizes data from outside sources, including nationally recognized pricing services and broker/dealers. Prices for the majority of the Company’s Level 2 fixed maturities and non-redeemable preferred stocks were determined using unadjusted prices received from pricing services that utilize models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g. interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3

Valuations that are derived from techniques in which one or more of the significant inputs are unobservable (including assumptions about risk). Fair value is based on criteria that use assumptions or other data that are not readily observable from objective sources. With little or no observable market, the determination of fair values uses considerable judgment and represents the Company’s best estimate of an amount that could be realized in a market exchange for the asset or liability. The Company’s financial instruments valued using Level 3 criteria consist of two fixed maturity securities and one equity security. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the value of the fixed maturities valued using Level 3 criteria was $0 in each period. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the value of the equity security valued using Level 3 criteria was $157 and $143, respectively. The equity security is not traded and is valued at cost. The use of different criteria or assumptions regarding data may have yielded materially different valuations.

As of September 30, 2021, financial instruments carried at fair value were measured on a recurring basis as summarized below:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Assets:
Fixed maturities	$	250	$	256,761	$	—	$	257,011
Equity securities		22,531		—		157		22,688
Cash equivalents		7,384		—		—		7,384
Total	$	30,165	$	256,761	$	157	$	287,083

As of December 31, 2020, financial instruments carried at fair value were measured on a recurring basis as summarized below:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Assets:
Fixed maturities	$	—	$	254,106	$	—	$	254,106
Equity securities		18,573		—		143		18,716
Cash equivalents		12,010		—		—		12,010
Total	$	30,583	$	254,106	$	143	$	284,832

The following table sets forth the carrying amount, estimated fair value and level within the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

			September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Level in Fair Value Hierarchy ⁽¹⁾		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	Level 1		$	14,327	$	14,327	$	19,319	$	19,319
Fixed maturities		⁽¹⁾		257,011		257,011		254,106		254,106
Equity securities		⁽¹⁾		22,688		22,688		18,716		18,716
Other invested assets	Level 3			3,095		3,095		3,238		3,238
Policy loans	Level 2			1,900		1,900		1,975		1,975
Investment in unconsolidated trusts	Level 2			1,238		1,238		1,238		1,238

Liabilities:
Junior subordinated debentures, net	Level 2			33,738		34,061		33,738		32,297

(1)	See the aforementioned information for a description of the fair value hierarchy as well as a disclosure of levels for classes of these financial assets.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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