Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Note 14. Disclosures About Fair Value 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.

		2014				2013
	Level in Fair Value Hierarchy⁽¹⁾	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	Level 1	$	16,375	$	16,375	$	33,102	$	33,102
Fixed maturities	⁽¹⁾		214,888		214,888		201,303		201,303
Equity securities	⁽¹⁾		18,924		18,924		21,890		21,890
Other invested assets	Level 3		2,995		2,995		2,123		2,123
Policy loans	Level 2		2,202		2,202		2,369		2,369
Real estate	Level 2		38		38		38		38
Investments in unconsolidated trusts	Level 2		1,238		1,238		1,238		1,238

Liabilities:
Junior Subordinated Debentures, net	Level 2		33,738		33,738		41,238		41,238

⁽¹⁾

See Note 2 for a description of the fair value hierarchy as well as a disclosure of levels for classes of these financial assets.

The following describes the methods and assumptions used by the Company in estimating fair values:

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the instruments.

Fixed Maturities and Common and Non-Redeemable Preferred Stocks

The carrying amount is determined in accordance with methods prescribed by the NAIC, which do not differ materially from publicly quoted market prices. Certain fixed maturities do not have publicly quoted values and consist solely of issuances of pooled debt obligations of multiple, smaller financial services companies. They are not actively traded and valuation techniques used to measure fair value are based on future estimated cash flows discounted at a reasonably estimated rate of interest. Other qualitative and quantitative information received from the original underwriter of the pooled offerings is also considered, as applicable.

Non-publicly Traded Invested Assets

The fair value of investments in certain limited partnerships which are included in other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheet were determined by officers of those limited partnerships.

Junior Subordinated Debentures

The fair value is estimated based on the quoted market prices for similar issues and the current rates offered for debt having similar returns and remaining maturities.

- 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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