Significant Accounting Policies (Policy) | 9 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | |
| Significant Accounting Policies | |
| Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2010-26, Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts ("ASU 2010-26"), which amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic Financial Services – Insurance. ASU 2010-26 modifies the definition of the types of costs that can be capitalized in relation to the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts. The amended guidance requires costs to be incremental or directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal contracts in order to be capitalized as a deferred acquisition cost. Capitalized costs would include incremental direct costs, such as commissions paid to brokers. Additionally, the portion of employee salaries and benefits directly related to time spent for acquired contracts would be capitalized. Costs that fall outside the revised definition must be expensed when incurred. ASU 2010-26 will be effective for fiscal periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 with prospective or retroactive application permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impacts of the adoption of ASU 2010-26, but does not currently expect this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated statements of operations and financial condition. Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs ("ASU 2011-04"), which amends FASB ASC Topic Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2011-04 was issued to provide largely identical guidance about fair value measurement and disclosure requirements with the International Accounting Standards Board's new International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") 13, Fair Value Measurement. ASU 2011-04 does not extend the use of fair value but, rather, provides guidance about how fair value should be applied where it is already required or permitted under GAAP and requires enhanced disclosures covering all transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Additional disclosures covering Level 3 assets are also required. ASU 2011-04 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impacts of the adoption of ASU 2011-04, but does not currently expect this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated statements of operations and financial condition.
Presentation of Comprehensive Income In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2011-05"), which amends FASB ASC Topic Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. ASU 2011-05 requires that all non-owner changes in shareholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with retroactive application required. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impacts of the adoption of ASU 2011-05, but does not currently expect this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, or its financial condition. |