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Summary of Accounting Policies and Accounting Changes (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.

The fair values of the Company’s Investments in Fixed Maturities, Investments in Convertible Securities at Fair Value, Investments in Equity Securities at Fair Value and Debt are estimated using a hierarchical framework which prioritizes and ranks market price observability. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value for Cash, Short-term Investments and certain other assets and other liabilities because of their short-term nature. The actual value at which financial instruments could be sold or settled with a willing buyer or seller may differ from estimated fair values depending on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, current and future economic conditions, the quantity sold or settled, the presence of an active market and the availability of a willing buyer or seller.

The process of estimating and establishing reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") for property and casualty insurance is inherently uncertain, and the actual ultimate net cost of known and unknown claims may vary materially from the estimated amounts reserved. The reserving process is particularly imprecise for claims involving long-tailed exposures, which may not be discovered or reported until years after the insurance policy period has ended. Management considers a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, past claims experience, current claim trends and relevant legal, economic and social conditions, in estimating reserves. A change in any one or more factors is likely to result in the ultimate net claim costs differing from the estimated reserve. Changes in such estimates may be material and would be recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements when such estimates change.

The process of determining whether an asset is impaired or recoverable relies on projections of future cash flows, operating results and market conditions. Projections are inherently uncertain, and, accordingly, actual future cash flows may differ materially from projected cash flows. As a result, the Company’s assessment of the impairment of long-lived assets is susceptible to the risk inherent in making such projections.

Investments

Investments in Fixed Maturities include bonds, notes and redeemable preferred stocks. Investments in Fixed Maturities are classified as available for sale and reported at fair value. Net Investment Income, including amortization of purchased premiums and accretion of market discounts, on Investments in Fixed Maturities is recognized as interest over the period that it is earned using the effective yield method. Unrealized appreciation or depreciation, net of applicable deferred income taxes, on fixed maturities classified as available for sale is reported in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”) included in Shareholders’ Equity.

Investments in Convertible Securities include fixed maturities with equity conversion features. The Company has elected the fair value option method of accounting for investments in Convertible Securities and records Convertible Securities at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in fair value of Convertible Securities are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the period such changes occur.

Equity investments include common stocks, non-redeemable preferred stocks, exchange traded funds, money market mutual funds and limited liability companies and investment partnerships in which the Company’s interests are deemed minor. Equity investments with readily determinable fair values are recorded as Equity Securities at Fair Value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Effective January 1, 2018, changes in the fair value of such equity securities are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Prior to January 1, 2018, changes in the fair values of such equity securities were reported in AOCI. Dividend income on investments in common and non-redeemable preferred stocks is recognized on the ex-dividend date. The Company

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Continued)

holds certain equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Equity Securities at Modified Cost. Changes in the carrying value of Modified Cost investments due to observable price changes are recorded as Income (Loss) from Change in Fair Value of Equity and Convertible Securities.

Equity Method Limited Liability Investments include investments in limited liability investment companies and limited partnerships in which the Company’s interests are not deemed minor and are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Short-term Investments include certificates of deposit and other fixed maturities that mature within one year from the date of purchase, U.S. Treasury bills, money market mutual funds and overnight interest bearing accounts. Short-term Investments are reported at cost, which approximates fair value.

Other Investments primarily include loans to policyholders, real estate and mortgage loans. Loans to policyholders are carried at unpaid principal balance. Real estate is carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Real estate is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset using the straight-line method of depreciation. Real estate is evaluated for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss on real estate is recognized when the carrying value exceeds the sum of undiscounted projected future cash flows as well as the fair value, or, in the case of a property classified as held for sale, when the carrying value exceeds the fair value, net of costs to sell. Mortgage loans are carried at amortized cost, net of a reserve for expected credit losses.

Gains and losses on sales of investments are computed on the specific identification method and are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period in which the sales occur. The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolio for factors that may indicate that a decline in fair value of an investment is other than temporary. Losses are computed on the specific identification method and reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period that the decline is determined to be other than temporary. The portion of an impairment of an investment in a fixed maturity attributed to a credit loss is reported in Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Income, with the portion of the impairment that is not attributed to a credit loss reported in AOCI.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company uses a hierarchical framework which prioritizes and ranks the market observability of inputs used in fair value measurements. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of asset or liability and the characteristics specific to the asset or liability being measured. Assets and liabilities with readily available, active, quoted market prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally are deemed to have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value. The Company classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into one of three levels as follows:


•	Level 1 — Quoted prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities;


•	Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, and model-derived prices whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable; and


•	Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs for the asset or liability being measured.

Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs are based on the Company’s market assumptions. Unobservable inputs require significant management judgment or estimation. In some cases, the inputs used to measure an asset or liability may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those cases, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the same level of the fair value hierarchy as the lowest level of input that is significant to the entire measurement. Such determination requires significant management judgment.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Costs directly associated with the successful acquisition of business, principally commissions and certain premium taxes and policy issuance costs, are deferred. Costs deferred on property and casualty insurance contracts and short duration health

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Continued)

insurance contracts are amortized over the period in which premiums are earned. Costs deferred on traditional life insurance products and other long-duration insurance contracts are primarily amortized over the anticipated premium-paying period of the related policies in proportion to the ratio of the annual premiums to the total premiums anticipated, which is estimated using the same assumptions used in calculating policy reserves.

Goodwill

The cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of net assets acquired is reported as Goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for recoverability annually or when certain triggering events require testing.

Insurance Reserves

Reserves for losses and LAE on property and casualty insurance coverage and health insurance coverage represent the estimated claim cost and loss adjustment expense necessary to cover the ultimate net cost of investigating and settling all losses incurred and unpaid at the end of any given accounting period. Such estimates are based on individual case estimates for reported claims and estimates for incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) losses, including expected development on reported claims. These estimates are adjusted in the aggregate for ultimate loss expectations based on historical experience patterns and current economic trends, with any change in the estimated ultimate liabilities being reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period of change. Changes in such estimates may be material.

For traditional life insurance products, the reserves for future policy benefits are estimated on the net level premium method using assumptions as of the issue date for mortality, interest, policy lapses and expenses, including provisions for adverse deviations. These assumptions vary by such characteristics as plan, age at issue and policy duration. Mortality assumptions are based on the Company’s historical experience and industry standards. Interest rate assumptions principally range from 3% to 7%. Lapse rate assumptions are based on actual and industry experience. Insurance Reserves for life insurance products are comprised of reserves for future policy benefits plus an estimate of the Company’s liability for unpaid life insurance claims and claims adjustment expenses, which includes an estimate for IBNR life insurance claims. Prior to 2016, except when required by applicable law, the Company did not utilize the database of reported deaths maintained by the Social Security Administration or any other comparable database (a “Death Master File” or “DMF”) in its operations, including to determine its IBNR liability for life insurance products. Instead of using such a database, the Company calculated its IBNR liability for life insurance products using Company-specific historical information, which included analyzing average paid claims and the average lag between date of death and the date reported to the Company for claims for which proof of death had been provided. In 2016, the Company initiated a voluntary enhancement of its claims handling procedures for its life insurance policies. The Company is now utilizing a DMF to identify potential situations where the Company has yet to be notified of an insured’s death and, as appropriate, initiating an outreach process to identify and contact beneficiaries and settle claims. Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 included a charge of $77.8 million to recognize the initial impact of using a DMF in the Company’s operations, including to determine its IBNR liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses for life insurance products. The Company reduced its estimate of the initial impact of using death verification databases by $21.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Policyholder Contract Liabilities

Policyholder contract liabilities include Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) funding agreements used for spread lending purposes and universal life-type policyholder contracts and are stated at account balances.

Other Receivables

Other Receivables primarily include reinsurance recoverables and accrued investment income. Reinsurance Recoverables were $122.6 million and $158.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Accrued Investment Income was $78.7 million and $77.9 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Other Assets

Other Assets primarily include property and equipment, internal use software, right-of-use assets, insurance licenses acquired in business combinations, the value of other intangible assets acquired, corporate-owned life insurance (“COLI”) and prepaid expenses. Property and equipment is depreciated over the useful lives of the assets, generally using the straight-line or double declining balance methods of depreciation depending on the asset involved. Internal use software is amortized over the useful life of the asset using the straight-line method of amortization and is evaluated for recoverability upon identification of

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Continued)

impairment indicators. Insurance licenses acquired in business combinations and other indefinite life intangibles are not amortized, but rather tested periodically for recoverability.

COLI is reported at cash surrender value with changes due to cost of insurance and investment experience reported in Other Income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. COLI was $217.0 million and $59.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Company accounts for the value of business acquired (“VOBA”) based on actuarial estimates of the present value of future cash flows embedded in insurance in force as of an acquisition date. VOBA was $24.1 million and $30.2 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. VOBA is amortized over the expected profit emergence period of the policies in force as of the acquisition date. The Company evaluates VOBA assets for recoverability annually.

The Company accounts for the future profits embedded in customer relationships (“Customer Relationships”) acquired based on the present value of estimated future cash flows from such relationships. Customer Relationships was $4.3 million and $6.7 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the relationship. Customer Relationships are tested for recoverability using undiscounted projections of future cash flows and written down to estimated fair value if the carrying value exceeds the sum of such projections of undiscounted cash flows.

The Company accounts for the present value of the future profits embedded in broker or agent relationships acquired (“Agent Relationships”) based on the present value of estimated future cash flows from such acquired relationships or, using the cost recovery method, which estimates the ultimate cost to build a comparable distribution network. Agent Relationships was $62.5 million and $68.0 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the relationship. Agent Relationships are tested for recoverability using undiscounted projections of future cash flows and written down to estimated fair value if the carrying value exceeds the sum of such projections of undiscounted cash flows.

Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities

Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities primarily include drafts payable, accrued salaries and commissions, pension benefits, postretirement medical benefits, lease liability and accrued taxes, licenses and fees.

Recognition of Earned Premiums and Related Expenses

Property and casualty insurance and short duration health insurance premiums are deferred when written and recognized and earned ratably over the periods to which the premiums relate. Unearned Premiums represent the portion of the premiums written related to the unexpired portion of policies in force which has been deferred and is reported as a liability. The Company performs a premium deficiency analysis typically at a product line level, namely automobile insurance, homeowners insurance and other insurance, which is consistent with the manner in which the Company acquires and services policies and measures profitability. Anticipated investment income is excluded from such analysis. A premium deficiency is recognized when the sum of expected claim costs, claim adjustment expenses, unamortized deferred policy acquisition costs and maintenance costs exceeds the related unearned premiums by first reducing related deferred policy acquisition costs to an amount, but not below zero, at which the premium deficiency would not exist. If a premium deficiency remains after first reducing deferred policy acquisition costs, a premium deficiency reserve is established and reported as a liability in the Company’s financial statements.

Traditional life insurance premiums are recognized as revenue when due. Policyholders’ benefits are associated with related premiums to result in recognition of profits over the periods for which the benefits are provided using the net level premium method.

Policyholders’ Benefits and Incurred Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses include provisions for future policy benefits under life and certain accident and health insurance contracts and provisions for reported claims, estimates for IBNR claims and loss adjustment expenses. Benefit payments in excess of policy account balances are expensed.

Recognition of Earned Premiums and Related Expenses

Reinsurance

In the normal course of business, Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries reinsure certain risks above certain retention levels with other insurance enterprises. These reinsurance agreements do not relieve Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries of their legal obligations to the policyholder. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are included in Other Receivables.

Gains related to long-duration reinsurance contracts are deferred and amortized over the life of the underlying reinsured policies. Losses related to long-duration reinsurance contracts are recognized immediately. Any gain or loss associated with reinsurance agreements for which Kemper’s insurance subsidiaries have been legally relieved of their obligations to the policyholder is recognized in the period of relief.

Income Taxes

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance, if any, is maintained for the portion of deferred income tax assets that the Company does not expect to recover. Increases, if any, in the valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets are recognized as income tax expense. Decreases, if any, in the valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets are generally recognized as income tax benefit. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax law including a change in tax rates is recognized in income from continuing operations in the period in which the change is enacted.

The Company reports a liability for unrecognized tax benefits, if any, resulting from uncertain tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in an income tax return, if any. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Discontinued Operations

In 2008, the Company sold its Unitrin Business Insurance operations and retained certain liabilities for unpaid insured losses that occurred prior to the date of the sale. Changes in the Company’s estimate of such retained liabilities after the sale are reported in Income from Discontinued Operations.

Change in Accounting and Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2019

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases—(Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 introduced a lessee model that requires the recognition of a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability for all leases with terms greater than twelve months. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 using the modified retrospective method at the beginning of the period of the adoption and elected the permitted practical expedients to not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases, the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and initial direct costs for any existing leases. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 had no impact on the Company’s Shareholders’ Equity as of January 1, 2019, but resulted in the establishment of a ROU asset of $66.5 million, a lease liability of $82.5 million and an adjustment to deferred rent liability of $16.0 million. The ROU asset and related liabilities were included in Other Assets and Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2019.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Derivatives and Hedging Activities. ASU 2017-12 aligns an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. Furthermore, the amendments make certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of hedge accounting guidance and ease the administration of hedge documentation requirements and assessing hedge effectiveness. ASU 2017-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods. The impact of adoption of ASU 2017-12 on the Company’s consolidated financial position was not material.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Continued)

In August 2018, the SEC issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10532, “Disclosure Update and Simplification,” which made a number of changes meant to simplify interim disclosures. The new rule required a presentation of changes in stockholders’ equity in the form of a reconciliation, either as a separate financial statement or in the notes to the financial statements, for the current and comparative year-to-date interim periods. In July 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-07, “Codification Updates to SEC Sections - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, and Nos. 33-10231 and 33-10442, Investment Company Reporting Modernization and Miscellaneous Updates (SEC Update).” ASU 2019-07 codifies Final Rule Release No. 33-10532 and was effective immediately. The additional elements of this release did not have a material impact on the Company’s overall Consolidated Financial Statements.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected credit loss impairment model. The expected credit loss impairment model requires the entity to recognize its estimate of expected credit losses for affected financial assets using an allowance for credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments in this ASU require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected. The income statement includes the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have occurred during the period. Credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities are measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, although ASU 2016-13 requires that they be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down of the amortized cost. In situations where the estimate of credit loss on an available-for-sale debt security declines, entities will be able to record a reversal of the allowance to income in the current period, which was prohibited prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those annual periods. The impact of the initial adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not expected to be material.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts. ASU 2018-12 amends the accounting model for certain long-duration insurance contracts and requires the insurer to provide additional disclosures in annual and interim reporting periods. ASU 2018-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2022. The amendments in ASU 2018-12 are intended to improve measurement of the liability for future policy benefits related to nonparticipating traditional and limited-payment contracts, measurement and presentation of market risk benefits, amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and enhance presentation and disclosures. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. ASU 2019-04 clarifies certain aspects of accounting for credit losses, hedging activities, and financial instruments, previously addressed by ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Derivatives and Hedging Activities, and ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The Company adopted ASU 2017-12 in the first quarter of 2019. Accordingly, the amendments in ASU 2019-04 related to clarifications on accounting for hedging activities are effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020. The amendments of ASU 2019-04 related to ASU 2016-01 and ASU 2016-13 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. The impact of the initial adoption of ASU 2019-04 is not expected to be material.

In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief. ASU 2019-05 provides transition relief for entities adopting the credit loss standard, ASU 2016-13. Specifically ASU 2019-05 amends ASU 2016-13 to allow companies to irrevocably elect, upon adoption of ASU 2016-13, the fair value option for financial instruments that are: (i) within the scope of the credit loss guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses; (ii) were previously recorded at amortized cost; (iii) are eligible for the fair value option under ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments; and (iv) are not held to maturity debt. ASU 2019-05 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company does not intend to elect the fair value option upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 for financial instruments outlined above.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Continued)

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. ASU 2019-12 is intended to simplify accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the guidance in ASC Topic 740 related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. Further, ASU 2019-12 clarifies that single-member limited liability companies and similar disregarded entities that are not subject to income tax are not required to recognize an allocation of consolidated income tax expense in their separate financial statements, but they could elect to do so. ASU 2019-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.

The Company has adopted all other recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates prior to January 1, 2020. Other than the adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases—(Topic 842), there were no adoptions of such accounting pronouncements during the year ended December 31, 2019 that had a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. With the exception of ASU 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944):Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, the Company does not expect the adoption of recently issued accounting pronouncements with effective dates after December 31, 2019 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and/or disclosures.