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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | NOTE 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States ("U.S.") generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-K. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, (2) disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Horace Mann Educators Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries ("HMEC"; and together with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Horace Mann"). HMEC and its subsidiaries have common management, share office facilities and are parties to several intercompany service agreements for management, administrative, data processing, agent commissions, agency services, utilization of personnel and investment advisory services. Under these agreements, costs have been allocated among the companies in conformity with GAAP. In addition, certain of the subsidiaries have entered into intercompany reinsurance agreements. HMEC and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, and there are related tax sharing agreements. The tax sharing agreements provide that tax on income is charged to the subsidiaries as if they were filing separate federal income tax returns and the subsidiaries receive the benefits of any losses or tax credits to the extent utilized in the consolidated return. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The subsidiaries of HMEC market and underwrite personal lines of property and casualty (primarily private passenger automobile and homeowners) insurance, retirement annuities (primarily tax-qualified products) and life insurance, primarily to K-12 teachers, administrators and other employees of public schools and their families. HMEC's principal operating subsidiaries are Horace Mann Life Insurance Company, Horace Mann Insurance Company, Teachers Insurance Company, Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Horace Mann Lloyds. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date these consolidated financial statements were issued. Investments The Company invests primarily in fixed maturity securities ("fixed maturities"). This category includes primarily bonds and notes, but also includes redeemable preferred stocks. These securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. The net adjustment for unrealized gains and losses on all securities available for sale, carried at fair value, is recorded as a separate component of shareholders' equity, net of applicable deferred tax asset or liability and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs (and also value of acquired insurance in force for years prior to 2009) associated with interest-sensitive life and annuity contracts that would have occurred if the securities had been sold at their aggregate fair value and the proceeds reinvested at current yields. Equity securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. This category includes primarily nonredeemable preferred stocks and also common stocks. Short-term and other investments are comprised of short-term fixed income securities, generally carried at cost which approximates fair value; policy loans, carried at unpaid principal balances; and mortgage loans, carried at unpaid principal less a valuation allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts. Interest income is recognized as earned. Investment income reflects amortization of premiums and accrual of discounts on an effective-yield basis. Realized gains and losses arising from the disposal (recorded on a trade date basis) or impairment of securities are determined based upon specific identification of securities. The Company evaluates all investments in its portfolio for other-than-temporary declines in value as described in the following section. Other-than-temporary Impairment of Investments The Company's methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the date of the reporting period. Based on these facts, if (1) the Company has the intent to sell the fixed maturity security, (2) it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the fixed maturity security before the anticipated recovery of the amortized cost basis, or (3) management does not expect to recover the entire cost basis of the fixed maturity security, an other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred. For equity securities, if (1) the Company does not have the ability and intent to hold the security for the recovery of cost or (2) recovery of cost is not expected within a reasonable period of time, an other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred. Additionally, if events become known that call into question whether the security issuer has the ability to honor its contractual commitments, such security holding will be evaluated to determine whether or not such security has suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value. The Company reviews the fair value of all investments in its portfolio on a monthly basis to assess whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company's investment managers' monthly credit reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (2) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost for fixed maturity securities or cost for equity securities, (3) for fixed maturity securities, the Company's intent to sell a security or whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery in the amortized cost basis; and for equity securities, the Company's ability and intent to hold the security for the recovery of cost or if recovery of cost is not expected within a reasonable period of time, (4) the stock price trend of the issuer, (5) the market leadership position of the issuer, (6) the debt ratings of the issuer, and (7) the cash flows and liquidity of the issuer or the underlying cash flows for asset-backed securities, are all considered in the impairment assessment. A write-down of an investment is recorded when a decline in the fair value of that investment is deemed to be other-than-temporary, with a realized investment loss charged to income for the period for all equity securities and for the credit-related loss portion associated with impaired fixed maturity securities. The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to non-credit factors for fixed maturity securities is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes, unless the Company has the intent to sell the security or if it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery of the amortized cost basis. A decline in fair value below amortized cost is not assumed to be other-than-temporary for fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses due to spread widening, market illiquidity or changes in interest rates where there exists a reasonable expectation based on the Company's consideration of all objective information available that the Company will recover the entire cost basis of the security and the Company does not have the intent to sell the investment before maturity or a market recovery is realized and it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the investment. An other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized based upon all relevant facts and circumstances for each investment, as appropriate. Additional considerations for certain types of securities include the following: Corporate Fixed Maturity Securities Judgments regarding whether a corporate fixed maturity security is other-than-temporarily impaired include analyzing the issuer's financial condition and whether there has been a decline in the issuer's ability to service the specific security. The analysis of the security issuer is based on asset coverage, cash flow multiples or other industry standards. Several factors assessed include, but are not limited to, credit quality ratings, cash flow sustainability, liquidity, financial strength, industry and market position. Sources of information include, but are not limited to, management projections, independent consultants, external analysts' research, peer analysis and the Company's internal analysis. If the Company has concerns regarding the viability of the issuer or its ability to service the specific security after this analysis, a cash flow analysis is prepared to determine if the recovery value has declined below the amortized cost of the fixed maturity security. This analysis to determine an estimate of ultimate recovery value is combined with the estimated timing to recovery and any other applicable cash flows that are expected. If a cash flow analysis estimate is not feasible, then the market's view of cash flows implied by the period end fair value, market discount rates and effective yield are the primary factors used to estimate recovery. Mortgage-Backed Securities Not Issued By the U.S. Government and Federally Sponsored Agencies The Company uses an estimate of future cash flows expected to be collected to evaluate its mortgage-backed securities for other-than-temporary impairment. The determination of cash flow estimates is inherently subjective and methodologies may vary depending on facts and circumstances specific to the security. All reasonably available information relevant to the collectability of the security, including past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable assumptions and forecasts, are considered when developing the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected. Information includes, but is not limited to, debt-servicing, missed refinancing opportunities and geography. Loan level characteristics such as issuer, FICO score, payment terms, level of documentation, property or residency type, and economic outlook are also utilized in financial models, along with historical performance, to estimate or measure the loan's propensity to default. Additionally, financial models take into account loan age, lease rollovers, rent volatilities, vacancy rates and exposure to refinancing as additional drivers of default. For transactions where loan level data is not available, financial models use a proxy based on the collateral characteristics. Loss severity is a function of multiple factors including, but not limited to, the unpaid balance, interest rate, mortgage insurance ratios, assessed property value at origination, change in property valuation and loan-to-value ratio at origination. Prepayment speeds, both actual and estimated, cost of capital rates, and debt service ratios are also considered. The cash flows generated by the collateral securing these securities are then estimated with these default, loss severity and prepayment assumptions. These collateral cash flows are then utilized, along with consideration for the issue's position in the overall structure, to estimate the cash flows associated with the residential or commercial mortgage-backed security held by the Company. Municipal Bonds The Company's municipal bond portfolio consists primarily of special revenue bonds, which present unique considerations in evaluating other-than-temporary impairments, but also includes general obligation bonds. The Company evaluates special revenue bonds for other-than-temporary impairment based on guarantees associated with the repayment from revenues generated by the specified revenue-generating activity associated with the purpose of the bonds. Judgments regarding whether a municipal bond is other-than-temporarily impaired include analyzing the issuer's financial condition and whether there has been a decline in the overall financial condition of the issuer or its ability to service the specific security. Security credit ratings are reviewed with emphasis on the economy, finances, debt and management of the municipal issuer. Certain securities may be guaranteed by the mono-line credit insurers or other forms of guarantee. While not relied upon in the initial security purchase decision, insurance benefits are considered in the assessments for other-than-temporary impairment. Municipalities possess unique powers, along with a special legal standing and protections, that enable them to act quickly to restore budgetary balance and fiscal integrity. These powers include the sovereign power to tax, access to one-time revenue sources, capacity to issue or restructure debt, and ability to shift spending to other authorities. State governments often provide secondary support to local governments in times of financial stress and the federal government has provided assistance to state governments during recessions. If the Company has concerns regarding the viability of the municipal issuer or its ability to service the specific security after this analysis, a cash flow analysis is prepared to determine a present value and whether it has declined below the amortized cost of the security. If a cash flow analysis is not feasible, then the market's view of the period end fair value, market discount rates and effective yield are the primary factors used to estimate the present value. Credit Losses The Company estimates the amount of the credit loss component of a fixed maturity security impairment as the difference between amortized cost and the present value of the expected cash flows of the security. The present value is determined using the best estimate cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete an asset-backed or floating rate security. The methodology and assumptions for establishing the best estimate cash flows vary depending on the type of security. Corporate fixed maturity security and municipal bond cash flow estimates are derived from scenario-based outcomes of expected restructurings or the disposition of assets using specific facts and other circumstances, including timing, security interests and loss severity. The cash flow estimates for mortgage-backed and other structured securities are based on security specific facts and circumstances that may include collateral characteristics, expectations of delinquency and default rates, loss severity and prepayment speeds, and structural support, including subordination and guarantees. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Policy acquisition costs, consisting of commissions, policy issuance and other costs, which vary with and are primarily related to the production of business, are capitalized and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For all investment (annuity) contracts, acquisition costs are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. Capitalized acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life contracts also are amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. For other individual life contracts, acquisition costs are amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the terms of the insurance policies (10, 15, 20 and 30 years). For property and casualty policies, acquisition costs are amortized over the terms of the insurance policies (6 and 12 months). The Company periodically reviews the assumptions and estimates used in capitalizing policy acquisition costs and also periodically reviews its estimations of gross profits. The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. For the variable deposit portion of the annuity segment, the Company amortizes policy acquisition costs utilizing a future financial market performance assumption of a 10% reversion to the mean approach with a 200 basis point corridor around the mean during the reversion period, representing a cap and a floor on the Company's long-term assumption. The Company's practice with regard to returns on Separate Accounts assumes that long-term appreciation in the financial market is not changed by short-term market fluctuations, but is only changed when sustained interim deviations are experienced. The Company monitors these fluctuations and only changes the assumption when its long-term expectation changes. In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to record a material charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made. Deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC") for interest-sensitive life and investment contracts are adjusted for the impact on estimated future gross profits as if net unrealized investment gains and losses had been realized at the balance sheet date. The impact of this adjustment is included in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities within shareholders' equity. DAC is reviewed for recoverability from future income, including investment income, and costs which are deemed unrecoverable are expensed in the period in which the determination is made. No such costs were deemed unrecoverable during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Accounting guidance defines an internal replacement of an insurance or investment contract as a modification in product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. Modifications that result in a replacement contract that is substantially unchanged from the replaced contract are accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract. When modifications represent a substantial change compared to the replaced contract, the transaction is accounted for as an extinguishment of the replaced contract, and unamortized DAC and unearned revenue liabilities from the replaced contract are written off. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, internal replacements of traditional non-interest-sensitive life insurance contracts which represented substantial changes compared to the replaced contracts resulted in $154, $149 and $186 of additional DAC amortization for the respective years. In October 2010, accounting guidance was issued to address diversity in practice regarding the interpretation of which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral. The guidance will allow an insurance entity to capitalize only incremental and certain direct costs related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. See "Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted, Retrospective Application". Goodwill and Value of Acquired Insurance In Force When the Company was acquired in 1989, intangible assets were recorded in the application of purchase accounting to recognize the value of acquired insurance in force and goodwill. In addition, goodwill was recorded in 1994 related to the purchase of Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Goodwill represents the excess of the amounts paid to acquire a business over the fair value of its net assets at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. A reporting unit is the operating segment or a business unit one level below the operating segment, if separate financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management at that level. The Company's reporting units, for which goodwill has been allocated, are equivalent to the Company's operating segments. The goodwill impairment test, as defined in the accounting guidance, follows a two-step process. In the first step, the fair value of a reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed for purposes of confirming and measuring the impairment. In the second step, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit to determine an implied goodwill value. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied goodwill value, an impairment loss would be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The allocation of goodwill by reporting unit is as follows:
Annuity |  |  | $28,025 |
Life |  |  | 9,911 |
Property and casualty |  |  | 9,460 |
Total |  |  | $47,396 |
The Company completed its annual goodwill assessment for the individual reporting units as of December 31, 2011. The first step of the Company's analysis indicated that fair value exceeded carrying value for all reporting units other than the annuity unit. The process of evaluating goodwill for impairment requires judgments and assumptions to be made to determine the fair value of each reporting unit, including discounted cash flow calculations, the level of the Company's own share price and assumptions that market participants would make in valuing each reporting unit. Fair value estimates were based primarily on an in-depth analysis of historical experience, projected future cash flows and relevant discount rates, which considered market participant inputs and the relative risk associated with the projected cash flows. Other assumptions include levels of economic capital, future business growth, earnings projections, and assets under management for each reporting unit. Estimates of fair value are subject to assumptions that are sensitive to change and represent the Company's reasonable expectation regarding future developments. The Company also considered other valuation techniques such as peer company price-to-earnings and price-to-book multiples. For the annuity reporting unit, the Company determined that the reporting unit's fair value was less than its carrying value, primarily driven by unrealized investment gains. Accordingly, recoverability was evaluated assuming fair value was allocated to assets and liabilities as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. In the second step, the implied fair value of the annuity reporting unit's goodwill was determined in the same manner as goodwill is measured in a business combination (i.e., by measuring the fair value of the reporting unit's assets, liabilities and unrecognized intangible assets and determining the remaining amount attributed to goodwill) and comparing the amount of the implied goodwill to the carrying amount of the goodwill. The implied fair value for the annuity reporting unit's goodwill was greater than its carrying value; therefore, goodwill was not impaired and no write-down was required. However, the implied fair value exceeded carrying value for the annuity reporting unit by a limited margin, which indicates a greater risk of future impairment for this reporting unit's goodwill. Any amount of goodwill determined to be impaired will be recorded as an expense in the period in which the impairment determination is made. During each year from 2009 through 2011, the Company completed the required annual testing; no impairment charges were necessary as a result of such assessments. Subsequent reviews of goodwill could result in impairment, particularly for each reporting unit with at-risk goodwill, due to the impact of a volatile financial market on earnings, discount rate assumptions, liquidity and market capitalization (stock price). The Company's value of acquired insurance in force was an intangible asset with a definite life, was quantified for each of the Company's operating segments and was amortized over the useful lives identified for each segment. The value of acquired insurance in force related to all segments other than the life segment was fully amortized prior to December 31, 2008. The Company amortized the remaining $223 balance of value of acquired insurance in force related to the life segment in 2009. The accumulated amortization of intangible assets – value of acquired insurance in force and, prior to January 1, 2002, goodwill – as of both December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $185,276. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation, which is calculated on the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment by asset type are generally as follows: real estate, identified by specific property, 20-45 years; furniture, 10 years; leasehold improvements, the lesser of 10 years or the life of the lease; telephones, 5 years; vehicles, 2.5 to 3 years; and data processing hardware and software and personal computers, 2 to 5 years or 10 years. The following amounts are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:
|  | December 31,
|  | 2011 |  | 2010
Property and equipment |  | $112,438 |  | $109,578
Less: accumulated depreciation |  | 72,738 |  | 67,865
Total |  | $ 39,700 |  | $ 41,713
Separate Account (Variable Annuity) Assets and Liabilities Separate Account (variable annuity) assets and liabilities represent variable annuity contractholder funds invested in various mutual funds. Separate Account assets are recorded at fair value primarily based on market quotations of the underlying securities. The investment income, gains and losses of these accounts accrue directly to the contractholders and are not included in the operations of the Company. The activity of the Separate Accounts is not reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations except for (1) contract charges earned, (2) the activity related to contract guarantees, which are benefits on existing variable annuity contracts, and (3) the impact of financial market performance on the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs. The Company's contract charges earned include fees charged to the Separate Accounts, including mortality charges, risk charges, policy administration fees, investment management fees and surrender charges. Future Policy Benefits, Interest-sensitive Life Contract Liabilities and Annuity Contract Liabilities Liabilities for future benefits on life and annuity policies are established in amounts adequate to meet the estimated future obligations on policies in force. Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method and are based on assumptions as to future investment yield, mortality and withdrawals. As a result of the application of purchase accounting, future policy benefits for direct individual life insurance policies issued through August 29, 1989 were revalued using interest rates of 9% graded to 8% over 10 years. For policies issued from August 30, 1989 through December 31, 1992, future policy benefits are computed using an interest rate of 6.5%. An interest rate of 5.5% is used to compute future policy benefits for policies issued after December 31, 1992. The Life by Design product portfolio introduced in February 2006, and the Life Select product portfolio, introduced in July 2010, both use an interest rate of 5% for future policy benefits. Mortality and withdrawal assumptions for all policies have been based on actuarial tables which are consistent with the Company's own experience. In the event actual experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required. This would result in a charge to income for the period in which the increase in reserves occurred. Liabilities for future benefits on annuity contracts and certain long-duration life insurance contracts are carried at accumulated policyholder values without reduction for potential surrender or withdrawal charges. The liability also includes provisions for the unearned portion of certain policy charges. A guaranteed minimum death benefit ("GMDB") generally provides a benefit if the contractholder dies and the variable annuity contract value is less than a contractually defined amount. The Company has established a GMDB reserve on variable annuity contracts in accordance with prescribed accounting guidance. Contractually defined amounts vary from contract to contract based on the date the contract was entered into as well as the GMDB feature elected by the contractholder. The Company regularly monitors the GMDB reserve considering fluctuations in the financial market. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the GMDB reserve was $583 and $330, respectively. The Company has a relatively low exposure to GMDB because approximately 30% of contract values have no guarantee; approximately 64% have only a return of premium guarantee; and only approximately 6% have a guarantee of premium roll-up at an annual interest rate of 3% or 5%. The aggregate in-the-money death benefits under the GMDB provision totaled $53,670 and $45,760 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Unpaid Claims and Claim Expenses Liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims, claims incurred but not yet reported and associated settlement expenses. All of the Company's reserves for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses are carried at the full value of estimated liabilities and are not discounted for interest expected to be earned on reserves. Estimated amounts of salvage and subrogation on unpaid property and casualty claims are deducted from the liability for unpaid claims. Due to the nature of the Company's personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to losses related to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under homeowners insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold. Insurance Premiums and Contract Charges Earned Property and casualty insurance premiums are recognized as revenue ratably over the related contract periods in proportion to the risks insured. The unexpired portions of these property and casualty premiums are recorded as unearned premiums, using the monthly pro rata method. Premiums and contract charges for interest-sensitive life and investment (annuity) contracts consist of charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration and withdrawals. Premiums for long-term traditional life policies are recognized as revenues when due over the premium-paying period. Annuity and interest-sensitive life contract deposits represent funds deposited by policyholders and are not included in the Company's premiums or contract charges earned. Stock Based Compensation The Company grants stock options to executive officers, other employees and directors. The exercise price of the option is equal to the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Additional information regarding the Company's stock-based compensation plans is contained in "Note 6 – Shareholders' Equity and Stock Options". The Company recognizes compensation cost for share-based compensation plans based on the fair value at the grant dates. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized $1,451, $2,163 and $1,173, respectively, in expense as a result of the vesting of stock options during the respective periods. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company granted stock options as quantified in the table below, which also provides the weighted average grant date fair value for options granted in each year. The fair value of options granted was estimated on the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
|  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Number of options granted |  |  | 313,000 |  |  |  | 361,456 |  |  |  | 479,332 |
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted |  | $ | 6.20 |  |  | $ | 5.80 |  |  | $ | 2.50 |
Weighted average assumptions: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Risk-free interest rate |  |  | 2.2 | % |  |  | 2.7 | % |  |  | 1.5 | %
Expected dividend yield |  |  | 2.2 | % |  |  | 2.2 | % |  |  | 2.2 | %
Expected life, in years |  |  | 5.8 |  |  |  | 5.9 |  |  |  | 6.0 |
Expected volatility (based on historical volatility) |  |  | 45.0 | % |  |  | 51.5 | % |  |  | 45.5 | %
The weighted average fair value of nonvested options outstanding on December 31, 2011 was $5.08. Total unrecognized compensation expense relating to the nonvested options outstanding as of December 31, 2011 was approximately $2,756. This amount will be recognized as expense over the remainder of the vesting period, which is scheduled to be completed in February 2015. Expense is reflected on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. Income Taxes The Company uses the asset and liability method for calculating deferred federal income taxes. Income tax provisions are generally based on income reported for financial statement purposes. The provisions for federal income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 included amounts currently payable and deferred income taxes resulting from the cumulative differences in the Company's assets and liabilities, determined on a tax return versus financial statement basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities include provisions for unrealized investment gains and losses as well as the net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations with the changes for each period included in the respective components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders' equity. Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding, to the extent dilutive. The Company's common stock equivalents relate to outstanding common stock options, deferred compensation common stock units and incentive compensation restricted common stock units. The computations of net income per share on both basic and diluted bases, including reconciliations of the numerators and denominators, were as follows:
|  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Basic - assumes no dilution: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income for the period |  | $ | 70,480 |  |  | $ | 80,862 |  |  | $ | 73,486 |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (in thousands) |  |  | 39,866 |  |  |  | 39,350 |  |  |  | 39,175 |
Net income per share – basic |  | $ | 1.77 |  |  | $ | 2.05 |  |  | $ | 1.88 |
Diluted - assumes full dilution: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income for the period |  | $ | 70,480 |  |  | $ | 80,862 |  |  | $ | 73,486 |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (in thousands) |  |  | 39,866 |  |  |  | 39,350 |  |  |  | 39,175 |
Weighted average number of common equivalent shares to reflect the dilutive effect of common stock equivalent securities (in thousands): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock options |  |  | 206 |  |  |  | 255 |  |  |  | 113 |
Common stock units related to deferred compensation for Directors |  |  | 114 |  |  |  | 107 |  |  |  | 232 |
Common stock units related to deferred compensation for Employees |  |  | 115 |  |  |  | 195 |  |  |  | 191 |
Restricted common stock units related to incentive compensation |  |  | 1,136 |  |  |  | 1,106 |  |  |  | 821 |
Total common and common equivalent shares adjusted to calculate diluted earnings per share (in thousands) |  |  | 41,437 |  |  |  | 41,013 |  |  |  | 40,532 |
Net income per share – diluted |  | $ | 1.70 |  |  | $ | 1.97 |  |  | $ | 1.81 |
Options to purchase 1,524,172 shares of common stock at $14.95 to $21.64 per share were granted in 2002 through 2011 but were not included in the computation of 2011 diluted earnings per share because the options' exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares during 2011. The options, which expire in 2012 through 2018, were still outstanding at December 31, 2011. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) represents the change in shareholders' equity during a reporting period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-shareholder sources. For the Company, comprehensive income (loss) is equal to net income plus or minus the after tax change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities and the after tax change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations for the period as shown in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity. In the Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Company recognizes the funded status of defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. The components of comprehensive income were as follows:
|  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Net income |  | $ | 70,480 |  |  | $ | 80,862 |  |  | $ | 73,486 |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net unrealized holding gains and losses on fixed maturities and equity securities arising during the period |  |  | 279,169 |  |  |  | 155,178 |  |  |  | 342,836 |
Less: reclassification adjustment for net gains/(losses) included in income before income tax |  |  | 37,663 |  |  |  | 21,576 |  |  |  | 27,510 |
Total, before tax expense |  |  | 241,506 |  |  |  | 133,602 |  |  |  | 315,326 |
Income tax expense |  |  | 85,873 |  |  |  | 47,469 |  |  |  | 110,995 |
Total, net of tax |  |  | 155,633 |  |  |  | 86,133 |  |  |  | 204,331 |
Change in net funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Before tax |  |  | (4,801 | ) |  |  | (2,464 | ) |  |  | (70 | )
Income tax benefit |  |  | (1,714 | ) |  |  | (852 | ) |  |  | (49 | )
Total, net of tax |  |  | (3,087 | ) |  |  | (1,612 | ) |  |  | (21 | )
Total comprehensive income |  | $ | 223,026 |  |  | $ | 165,383 |  |  | $ | 277,796 |
Statements of Cash Flows For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash constitutes cash on deposit at banks. Reclassification The Company has reclassified the presentation of certain prior period information to conform with the 2011 presentation. Adopted Accounting Standards Investments Held Through Separate Accounts Effective January 1, 2011, the Company adopted accounting guidance to address how investments held through the separate accounts of an insurance entity affect the consolidation analysis. The guidance clarifies that an insurance entity should not consider any separate account interests in an investment held for the benefit of policyholders to be the insurer's interest and those interests should not be combined with an insurer's general account interests when making a consolidation assessment. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have an effect on the results of operations or financial position of the Company. Embedded Credit Derivatives Effective July 1, 2010, the Company adopted accounting guidance that clarifies the scope exception for embedded credit-derivative features. Embedded credit-derivative features, related only to the transfer of credit risk in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another, are not subject to potential bifurcation and separate accounting. Other embedded credit-derivative features in financial instruments do not qualify for the scope exception and are required to be analyzed to determine whether they must be accounted for separately. As of July 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010, the Company had one security containing an embedded credit-derivative feature that did not qualify for the scope exception. The Company elected the fair value option to account for this security. The cumulative effect of adoption, net of deferred tax, was a decrease in retained earnings of $1,338 with an offsetting increase in accumulated other comprehensive income of $1,338. And, as a result of electing the fair value option to account for this security, the Company recorded a realized investment gain of $1,088 pretax for the year ended December 31, 2010. Recognition and Presentation of Other-than-temporary Impairments Effective April 1, 2009, the Company prospectively adopted new accounting guidance for the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturity securities. The new guidance requires an other-than-temporary impairment of a fixed maturity security be separated into two components when there are credit related losses associated with the impaired fixed maturity security for which management asserts that it does not have the intent to sell the security, and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. The new guidance expands disclosure requirements for both fixed maturity and equity securities; requires a more detailed, risk-oriented breakdown of security types and related information; and requires that the annual disclosures be made for interim periods. In addition, new disclosures are required about significant inputs used in determining credit losses as well as a rollforward of credit losses each period. The disclosures are not required for earlier periods presented for comparative purposes. The new guidance applies to existing and new investments held as of the beginning of the interim period of adoption. The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to non-credit factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes, while the credit related portion is recognized in net income. Other-than-temporary impairments prior to April 1, 2009 were the result of the Company's intent to sell securities prior to the recovery of fair value or the result of credit losses. Accordingly, the Company's adoption of this guidance did not require a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings or accumulated other comprehensive income in the period of adoption. See "Note 2 – Investments" for additional disclosures required by this guidance. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted, Retrospective Application Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts In October 2010, the Financial Accounting Standard Board ("FASB") issued accounting guidance to address diversity in practice regarding the interpretation of which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts qualify for deferral. The guidance will allow an insurance entity to capitalize only incremental and certain direct costs related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and provides for either prospective or retrospective application. Management has elected retrospective application of the new guidance, resulting in a downward adjustment to the deferred policy acquisition costs asset with a corresponding adjustment to beginning retained earnings of approximately $35 million after tax as of January 1, 2012. On a forward-looking basis, as of the time of this Annual Report on Form 10-K management anticipates the net impact of lower expense deferrals and lower amortization on net income to be minimal.

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