ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table shows the changes in the components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017:



				Liability for
	Net unrealized			underfunded
	appreciation			employee
	on investments			benefit costs⁽¹⁾			Total
Balance as of June 30, 2017	$	160,048		$	(23,080	)	$	136,968
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income before reclassifications	12,347			—			12,347
Reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(273		)	879			606
Balance as of September 30, 2017	$	172,122		$	(22,201	)	$	149,921

(1) The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make various estimates and assumptions that affect the reporting of net periodic benefit cost, plan assets and plan obligations for each plan at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. One significant estimate relates to the calculation of the benefit obligation for each plan. We annually establish the discount rate, which is an estimate of the interest rate at which these benefits could be effectively settled, that is used to determine the present value of the respective plan's benefit obligations as of December 31.

The following table shows the changes in the components of our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017:



				Liability for
	Net unrealized			underfunded
	appreciation			employee
	on investments			benefit costs⁽¹⁾			Total
Balance as of January 1, 2017	$	133,892		$	(24,837	)	$	109,055
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income before reclassifications	41,999			—			41,999
Reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,769		)	2,636			(1,133		)
Balance as of September 30, 2017	$	172,122		$	(22,201	)	$	149,921