Note N – Fair Value

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, accounts receivables, reinsurance recoverable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, income taxes payable, short-term borrowings and unearned premiums approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these items. The following tables summarize fair value measurements by level for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

As of December 31, 2018:

Description	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Fixed income securities:
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations	$	10,687	$	–	$	10,687	$	–
Agency mortgage-backed securities		37,385		–		37,385		–
Asset-backed securities		64,422		–		64,422		–
Bank loans		9,750		–		9,750		–
Certificates of deposit		2,835		2,835		–		–
Collateralized mortgage obligations		5,423		–		5,423		–
Corporate securities		186,651		–		186,651		–
Options embedded in convertible securities		3,799		–		3,799		–
Mortgage-backed securities		38,540		–		38,540		–
Municipal obligations		29,155		–		29,155		–
Non-U.S. government obligations		25,180		–		25,180		–
U.S. government obligations		178,818		–		178,818		–
Total fixed income securities		592,645		2,835		589,810		–
Equity securities:
Consumer		17,945		17,945		–		–
Energy		3,179		3,179		–		–
Financial		25,253		25,253		–		–
Industrial		6,920		6,920		–		–
Technology		2,303		2,303		–		–
Funds (e.g. mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs)		5,489		5,489		–		–
Other		5,333		5,333		–		–
Total equity securities		66,422		66,422		–		–
Short-term		1,000		1,000		–		–
Cash equivalents		156,855		–		156,855		–
Total	$	816,922	$	70,257	$	746,665	$	–

As of December 31, 2017:

Description	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Fixed income securities:
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations	$	16,586	$	–	$	16,586	$	–
Agency mortgage-backed securities		27,075		–		27,075		–
Asset-backed securities		43,469		–		43,469		–
Bank loans		19,488		–		19,488		–
Certificates of deposit		3,135		3,135		–		–
Collateralized mortgage obligations		6,492		–		6,492		–
Corporate securities		193,058		–		193,058		–
Options embedded in convertible securities		5,291		–		5,291		–
Mortgage-backed securities		24,204		–		24,204		–
Municipal obligations		96,650		–		96,650		–
Non-U.S. government obligations		37,394		–		37,394		–
U.S. government obligations		49,011		–		49,011		–
Total fixed income securities		521,853		3,135		518,718		–
Equity securities:
Consumer		46,578		46,578		–		–
Energy		10,278		10,278		–		–
Financial		45,470		45,470		–		–
Industrial		25,402		25,402		–		–
Technology		13,061		13,061		–		–
Funds (e.g. mutual funds, closed end funds, ETFs)		50,291		45,276		5,015		–
Other		10,683		10,683		–		–
Total equity securities		201,763		196,748		5,015		–
Short-term		1,000		1,000		–		–
Cash equivalents		59,173		–		59,173		–
Total	$	783,789	$	200,883	$	582,906	$	–

Level inputs, as defined by the FASB guidance, are as follows:

Level Input:		Input Definition:
Level 1		Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
Level 2		Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.
Level 3		Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The Company did not have any Level 3 assets at December 31, 2018 or 2017. Level 3 assets, when present, are valued using various unobservable inputs including extrapolated data, proprietary models and indicative quotes. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs is as follows for the years ended December 31:

	2018		2017
Beginning of period balance	$	–	$	25,218
Total gains or losses (realized) included in income		–		406
Purchases		–		81
Settlements		–		(9,123	)
Transfers into Level 3		–		144
Transfers out of Level 3		–		(16,726	)
End of period balance	$	–	$	–

Quoted market prices are obtained whenever possible. Where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are estimated using broker/dealer quotes for specific securities. These techniques are significantly affected by the Company's assumptions, including discount rates and estimates of future cash flows. Potential taxes and other transaction costs have not been considered in estimating fair values.

Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period. There were no significant transfers of assets between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2018.

In addition to the preceding disclosures on assets recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, FASB guidance also requires the disclosure of fair values for certain other financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate fair value, whether or not such values are recognized in the consolidated balance sheets.

Non-financial instruments such as real estate, property and equipment, other assets, deferred income taxes and intangible assets, and certain financial instruments such as policy reserve liabilities are excluded from the fair value disclosures. Therefore, the fair value amounts cannot be aggregated to determine the underlying economic value of the Company. The following methods, assumptions and inputs were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:

Limited partnerships: The Company accounts for investments in limited partnerships using the equity method of accounting, which requires an investor in a limited partnership to carry the investment at its proportionate share of the limited partnership's equity. The underlying assets of the Company's investments in limited partnerships are carried primarily at fair value, and, therefore, the Company's carrying value of limited partnerships approximates fair value. As these investments are not actively traded and the corresponding inputs are based on data provided by the investees, they are classified as Level 3.

Commercial mortgage loans: Commercial mortgage loans are carried primarily at amortized cost along with a valuation allowance for losses when necessary. These investments represent interests in commercial mortgage loans originated and serviced by a third party of which the Company shares, on a pro-rata basis, in all related cash flows of the underlying mortgage loans. The fair value of the Company’s investment in these commercial mortgage loans is based on expected future cash flows discounted at the current interest rate for origination of similar quality loans, adjusted for specific loan risk. These investments are classified as Level 3.

Short-term borrowings: The fair value of the Company's short-term borrowings is based on quoted market prices for the same or similar debt, or, if no quoted market prices are available, on the current market interest rates available to the Company for debt of similar terms and remaining maturities.

A summary of the carrying value and fair value by level of financial instruments not recorded at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

2018:	Carrying		Fair Value
	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Limited partnerships	$	55,044	$	–	$	–	$	55,044	$	55,044
Commercial mortgage loans		6,672		–		–		6,672		6,672
Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings		20,000		–		20,000		–		20,000

2017:
Assets:
Limited partnerships	$	70,806	$	–	$	–	$	70,806	$	70,806
Commercial mortgage loans		–		–		–		–		–
Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings		20,000		–		20,000		–		20,000