FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Current accounting guidance on fair value measurements includes the application of a fair value hierarchy that requires us to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Our financial instruments that are recorded at fair value are categorized into a three-level hierarchy, which is based upon the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (i.e., Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (i.e., Level 3). If the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the category level is based on the lowest priority level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the financial instrument.

Financial instruments recorded at fair value are categorized in the fair value hierarchy as follows:


•	Level 1: Valuations are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical financial instruments that we have the ability to access.


•	Level 2: Valuations are based on quoted prices for similar financial instruments, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, in markets that are not active or on inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly for the full term of the financial instrument.


•	Level 3: Valuations are based on pricing or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement of the financial instrument. Such inputs may reflect management's own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the financial instrument.

We review our fair value hierarchy categorizations on a quarterly basis at which time the classification of certain financial instruments may change if the input observations have changed. Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period.

To determine the fair value of the majority of our investments, we utilize prices obtained from independent, nationally recognized pricing services. We obtain one price for each security. When the pricing services cannot provide a determination of fair value for a specific security, we obtain non-binding price quotes from broker-dealers with whom we have had several years experience and who have demonstrated knowledge of the subject security. We request and utilize one broker quote per security.

In order to determine the proper classification in the fair value hierarchy for each security where the price is obtained from an independent pricing service, we obtain and evaluate the vendors' pricing procedures and inputs used to price the security, which include unadjusted quoted market prices for identical securities, such as a New York Stock Exchange closing price, and quoted prices for identical securities in markets that are not active. For fixed maturity securities, an evaluation of interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatility, prepayment speeds, credit risks and default rates may also be performed. We have determined that these processes and inputs result in fair values and classifications consistent with the applicable accounting guidance on fair value measurements.

We estimate the fair value of our financial instruments based on relevant market information or by discounting estimated future cash flows at estimated current market discount rates appropriate to the specific asset or liability.

When possible, we use quoted market prices to determine the fair value of fixed maturities, equity securities, trading securities and short-term investments. When quoted market prices do not exist, we base estimates of fair value on market information obtained from independent pricing services and brokers or on valuation techniques that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement of the financial instrument. Such inputs may reflect management's own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the financial instrument. Our valuation techniques are discussed in more detail throughout this section.

The fair value of our mortgage loans is determined by modeling performed by us based on the stated principal and coupon payments provided for in the loan agreements. These cash flows are then discounted using an appropriate risk-adjusted discount rate to determine the security's fair value, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement.

The fair value of our policy loans is equivalent to carrying value, which is a reasonable estimate of fair value and is classified as Level 2. We do not make policy loans for amounts in excess of the cash surrender value of the related policy. In all instances, the policy loans are fully collateralized by the related liability for future policy benefits for traditional insurance policies or by the policyholders' account balance for non-traditional policies.

Our other long-term investments consist primarily of our interests in limited liability partnerships that are recorded on the equity method of accounting. The fair value of the partnerships is obtained from the fund managers, which is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held in the partnerships. In management's opinion, these values represent a reasonable estimate of fair value. We have not adjusted the net asset value provided by the fund managers.

For cash and cash equivalents and accrued investment income, carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

Policy reserves are developed and recorded for deferred annuities, which is an interest-sensitive product, and income annuities. The fair value of the reserve liability for these annuity products is based upon an estimate of the discounted pretax cash flows that are forecast for the underlying business, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement. We base the discount rate on the current U.S. Treasury spot yield curve, which is then risk-adjusted for nonperformance risk and, for interest-sensitive business, market risk factors. The risk-adjusted discount rate is developed using interest rates that are available in the market and representative of the risks applicable to the underlying business.

A summary of the carrying value and estimated fair value of our financial instruments at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is as follows:



	March 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
	Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value
Assets
Investments
Fixed maturities:
Held-to-maturity securities	$	667	$	664	$	675	$	672
Available-for-sale securities	2,855,166		2,855,166		2,824,961		2,824,961
Trading securities	13,000		13,000		12,622		12,622
Equity securities:
Available-for-sale securities	237,816		237,816		236,247		236,247
Trading securities	4,446		4,446		4,353		4,353
Mortgage loans	4,197		3,899		4,237		3,961
Policy loans	5,348		5,348		5,618		5,618
Other long-term investments	51,815		51,815		54,151		54,151
Short-term investments	175		175		175		175
Cash and cash equivalents	143,981		143,981		106,449		106,449
Corporate-owned life insurance	2,160		2,160		1,716		1,716
Liabilities
Policy reserves
Annuity (accumulations) ⁽¹⁾	$	727,595	$	728,089	$	707,190	$	744,931
Annuity (benefit payments)	137,810		94,659		131,899		95,467

(1) Annuity accumulations represent deferred annuity contracts that are currently earning interest.

The following tables present the categorization for our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:



March 31, 2016			Fair Value Measurements
Description	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE
Fixed maturities:
Bonds
U.S. Treasury	$	24,083	$	—	$	24,083	$	—
U.S. government agency	179,816		—		179,816		—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
General obligations
Midwest	166,136		—		166,136		—
Northeast	63,927		—		63,927		—
South	123,419		—		123,419		—
West	110,444		—		110,444		—
Special revenue
Midwest	163,088		—		162,744		344
Northeast	30,342		—		30,342		—
South	166,270		—		166,270		—
West	84,656		—		84,656		—
Foreign bonds	80,745		—		80,745		—
Public utilities	221,920		—		221,920		—
Corporate bonds
Energy	114,682		—		114,682		—
Industrials	244,122		—		244,122		—
Consumer goods and services	183,784		—		182,570		1,214
Health care	91,526		—		91,526		—
Technology, media and telecommunications	144,537		—		144,537		—
Financial services	261,022		—		251,520		9,502
Mortgage-backed securities	15,799		—		15,799		—
Collateralized mortgage obligations
Government national mortgage association	127,089		—		127,089		—
Federal home loan mortgage corporation	139,511		—		139,511		—
Federal national mortgage association	113,433		—		113,433		—
Asset-backed securities	4,815		—		3,890		925
Total Available-for-Sale Fixed Maturities	$	2,855,166	$	—	$	2,843,181	$	11,985
Equity securities:
Common stocks
Public utilities	$	21,943	$	21,943	$	—	$	—
Energy	12,765		12,765		—		—
Industrials	45,742		45,742		—		—
Consumer goods and services	24,274		24,274		—		—
Health care	26,871		26,871		—		—



Technology, media and telecommunications	14,424		14,424		—		—
Financial services	91,328		87,336		—		3,992
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	469		469		—		—
Total Available-for-Sale Equity Securities	$	237,816	$	233,824	$	—	$	3,992
Total Available-for-Sale Securities	$	3,092,982	$	233,824	$	2,843,181	$	15,977
TRADING
Fixed maturities:
Corporate bonds
Industrials	$	3,644	$	—	$	3,644	$	—
Consumer goods and services	272		—		272		—
Health care	1,930		—		1,930		—
Technology, media and telecommunications	338		—		338		—
Financial services	4,069		—		4,069		—
Asset-backed securities	—		—		—		—
Redeemable preferred stocks	2,747		2,747		—		—
Equity securities:
Energy	293		293		—		—
Industrials	1,027		1,027		—		—
Consumer goods and services	899		899		—		—
Health care	304		304		—		—
Financial services	235		235		—		—
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	1,688		1,688		—		—
Total Trading Securities	$	17,446	$	7,193	$	10,253	$	—
Short-Term Investments	$	175	$	175	$	—	$	—
Money Market Accounts	$	63,567	$	63,567	$	—	$	—
Corporate-Owned Life Insurance	$	2,160	$	—	$	2,160	$	—
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value	$	3,176,330	$	304,759	$	2,855,594	$	15,977



December 31, 2015			Fair Value Measurements
Description	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE
Fixed maturities:
Bonds
U.S. Treasury	$	21,649	$	—	$	21,649	$	—
U.S. government agency	233,030		—		233,030		—
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
General obligations
Midwest	165,456		—		165,456		—
Northeast	58,445		—		58,445		—
South	128,789		—		128,789		—
West	106,814		—		106,814		—
Special revenue
Midwest	157,706		—		157,363		343
Northeast	24,599		—		24,599		—
South	148,437		—		148,437		—
West	82,041		—		82,041		—
Foreign bonds	82,528		—		82,528		—
Public utilities	215,683		—		215,683		—
Corporate bonds
Energy	113,119		—		113,119		—
Industrials	224,255		—		224,255		—
Consumer goods and services	174,597		—		173,364		1,233
Health care	93,509		—		93,509		—
Technology, media and telecommunications	142,400		—		142,400		—
Financial services	263,485		—		253,823		9,662
Mortgage-backed securities	16,738		—		16,738		—
Collateralized mortgage obligations
Government national mortgage association	119,626		—		119,626		—
Federal home loan mortgage corporation	138,909		—		138,909		—
Federal national mortgage association	107,480		—		107,480		—
Asset-backed securities	5,666		—		4,630		1,036
Total Available-for-Sale Fixed Maturities	$	2,824,961	$	—	$	2,812,687	$	12,274
Equity securities:
Common stocks
Public utilities	$	19,060	$	19,060	$	—	$	—
Energy	11,211		11,211		—		—
Industrials	44,810		44,810		—		—
Consumer goods and services	23,315		23,315		—		—
Health care	28,217		28,217		—		—
Technology, media and telecommunications	13,364		13,364		—		—
Financial services	95,694		91,588		128		3,978



Nonredeemable preferred stocks	576		576		—		—
Total Available-for-Sale Equity Securities	$	236,247	$	232,141	$	128	$	3,978
Total Available-for-Sale Securities	$	3,061,208	$	232,141	$	2,812,815	$	16,252
TRADING
Fixed maturities:
Bonds
Corporate bonds
Industrials	$	3,558	$	—	$	3,558	$	—
Consumer goods and services	118		—		118		—
Health care	2,032		—		2,032		—
Technology, media and telecommunications	335		—		335		—
Financial services	4,094		—		4,094		—
Redeemable preferred stocks	2,485		2,485		—		—
Equity securities:
Energy	267		267		—		—
Industrials	986		986		—		—
Consumer goods and services	942		942		—		—
Health care	304		304		—		—
Financial services	229		229		—		—
Nonredeemable preferred stocks	1,625		1,625		—		—
Total Trading Securities	$	16,975	$	6,838	$	10,137	$	—
Short-Term Investments	$	175	$	175	$	—	$	—
Money Market Accounts	$	20,805	$	20,805	$	—	$	—
Corporate-Owned Life Insurance	$	1,716	$	—	$	1,716	$	—
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value	$	3,100,879	$	259,959	$	2,824,668	$	16,252

The fair value of securities that are categorized as Level 1 is based on quoted market prices that are readily and regularly available.

We use a market-based approach for valuing all of our Level 2 securities except for our mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities, and submit them primarily to a third-party valuation service provider. Any of these securities not valued by this service provider are submitted to another third-party valuation service provider. Both service providers use a market approach to find pricing of similar financial instruments. The market inputs our service providers normally seek to value our securities include the following, listed in approximate order of priority: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data including market research publications. The method and inputs for these securities classified as Level 2 are the same regardless of industry category, credit quality, duration, geographical concentration or economic characteristics. For our mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities, our service providers use additional market inputs to value these securities, including the following: new issue data, periodic payment information, monthly payment information, collateral performance and real estate analysis from third parties. Our service providers prioritize inputs based on market conditions, and not all inputs listed are available for use in the valuation process for each security on any given day.

At least annually, we review the methodologies and assumptions used by our valuation service providers and verify that they are reasonable and representative of the fair value of the underlying securities held in the investment portfolio. We validate the prices obtained from independent pricing services and brokers prior to their use for reporting purposes by evaluating their reasonableness on a monthly basis. Our validation process includes a review for unusual fluctuations. In our opinion, the pricing obtained at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was reasonable. Unusual fluctuations outside of our expectations are independently corroborated with additional third-party sources that use similar valuation techniques as discussed above. In addition, we also randomly select securities and independently corroborate the valuations obtained from our third-party valuation service providers.

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, the change in our available-for-sale securities categorized as Level 1 and Level 2 is the result of investment purchases that were made using funds held in our money market accounts, disposals and the change in unrealized gains on both fixed maturities and equity securities. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, there were no securities transferred between Level 1 and Level 2.

Securities categorized as Level 3 include holdings in certain private placement fixed maturity and equity securities for which an active market does not currently exist. The fair value of our Level 3 private placement securities is determined by management relying on pricing received from our independent pricing services and brokers consistent with the process to estimate fair value for Level 2 securities. However, securities are categorized as Level 3 if these quotes cannot be corroborated by other market observable data due to the unobservable nature of the brokers’ valuation processes. If pricing cannot be obtained from these sources, which occurs on a limited basis, management will perform a discounted cash flow analysis, using an appropriate risk-adjusted discount rate, on the underlying security to estimate fair value. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, there were no securities transferred in or out of Level 3.

The following table provides a summary of the changes in fair value of our Level 3 securities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016:



	States, municipalities and political subdivisions		Corporate bonds			Asset-backed securities			Equities			Total
Balance at January 1, 2016	$	343	$	10,895		$	1,036		$	3,978		$	16,252
Net unrealized gains (losses)⁽¹⁾	1		137			35			—			173
Purchases	—		—			—			132			132
Disposals	—		(316		)	(146		)	(118		)	(580		)
Balance at March 31, 2016	$	344	$	10,716		$	925		$	3,992		$	15,977

(1) Unrealized gains (losses) are recorded as a component of comprehensive income.

The fixed maturities reported as disposals relate to the receipt of principal on calls or sinking fund bonds, in accordance with the indentures.

Corporate-Owned Life Insurance

The Company formed a rabbi trust in 2014 to fund obligations under the United Fire & Casualty Company Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan and United Fire Group Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferral Plan (collectively the "Executive Retirement Plans"). Within the rabbi trust, corporate-owned life insurance ("COLI") policies are utilized as an investment vehicle and source of funding for the Company's Executive Retirement Plans. The COLI policies invest in mutual funds, which are priced daily by independent sources. As of March 31, 2016, the cash surrender value of the COLI policies was $2,160, which is equal to the fair value measured using Level 2 inputs, based on the underlying assets of the COLI policies, and is included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.