Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We hold fixed maturity and equity securities that are carried at fair value.

Fair value measurements are generally based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information. We utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. All assets and liabilities carried at fair value are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:


•	Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.


•	Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations whose inputs or whose significant value drivers are observable.


•	Level 3 - Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices such as U.S. Treasury securities, publicly traded mutual fund investments and individual stocks.

Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services or broker quotes. These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various inputs, such as interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange rates for the underlying financial instruments. All significant inputs are observable, or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Financial instruments in this category primarily include corporate fixed maturity securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise securities, municipal securities and certain mortgage and asset-backed securities.

Level 3 is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on non-binding broker prices utilizing significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, readily available market information. This category consists of two private placement mortgage-backed securities where we cannot corroborate the significant valuation inputs with market observable data.

The following table sets forth our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the date indicated.



	December 31, 2016
Available-for-sale investments	Level 1		Level 2	Level 3	Total Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	$	12,190	8,502	—	20,692
States and political subdivisions	—		573,274	—	573,274
Corporate	—		285,099	—	285,099
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		—	51	51
Residential mortgage-backed	—		2,426	—	2,426
Foreign governments	—		126	—	126
Total fixed maturities	12,190		869,427	51	881,668
Equity securities:
Stock mutual funds	2,946		—	—	2,946
Bond mutual funds	14,197		—	—	14,197
Common stock	25		—	—	25
Redeemable preferred stock	991		—	—	991
Total equity securities	18,159		—	—	18,159
Total financial assets	$	30,349	869,427	51	899,827



	December 31, 2015
Available-for-sale investments	Level 1		Level 2	Level 3	Total Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities:
U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises	$	12,592	20,780	—	33,372
States and political subdivisions	—		483,049	—	483,049
Corporate	—		216,081	—	216,081
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		—	145	145
Residential mortgage-backed	—		2,870	—	2,870
Foreign governments	—		131	—	131
Total fixed maturities	12,592		722,911	145	735,648
Equity securities:
Stock mutual funds	3,033		—	—	3,033
Bond mutual funds	18,504		—	—	18,504
Common stock	43		—	—	43
Redeemable preferred stock	1,858		—	—	1,858
Total equity securities	23,438		—	—	23,438
Total financial assets	$	36,030	722,911	145	759,086

Financial Instruments Valuation

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale. At December 31, 2016, the fixed maturities, valued using a third-party pricing source, totaled $869.4 million for Level 2 assets and comprised 96.6% of total reported fair value. Fair values for Level 3 assets are based upon unadjusted broker quotes that are non-binding. The Level 1 and Level 2 valuations are reviewed and validated quarterly through random testing by comparisons to separate pricing models, other third party pricing services, and back tested to recent trades. In addition, we obtain information relative to the third party pricing models and review model parameters for reasonableness. For the period ended December 31, 2016, there were no material changes to the valuation methods or assumptions used to determine fair values, and no broker or third party prices were changed from the values received.

There were no transfers made between Level 1 and 2 securities at December 31, 2016 or 2015.

Equity securities, available-for-sale. Fair values of these securities are based upon quoted market price and are classified as Level 1 assets.

The following table presents additional information about fixed maturity securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs to determine fair value:



	December 31,
	2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Beginning Balance at January 1,	$	145		231
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)
Included in net income	—			—
Included in other comprehensive income	(4		)	(2	)
Principal paydowns	(90		)	(84	)
Transfer in and (out) of Level 3	—			—
Ending Balance at December 31,	$	51		145

We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period. Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets. Such reclassifications, if any, are reported as transfers in and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.

Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value

Estimates of fair values are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market prices and information about the financial instrument. The estimated fair values of financial instruments presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might realize in actual market transactions. The carrying amount and fair value for the financial assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets at each year-end were as follows:



	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
	Carrying Value		Fair Value	Carrying Value	Fair Value
	(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Financial assets:
Fixed maturities, held-to-maturity	$	247,004	252,545	259,953	264,966
Mortgage loans	232		269	594	617
Policy loans	66,672		66,672	60,166	60,166
Short-term investments	508		508	251	251
Cash and cash equivalents	35,510		35,510	82,827	82,827
Financial liabilities:
Annuities - investment contracts	$	50,952	52,173	47,222	46,905

Fair values for fixed income securities, which are characterized as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy, are based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other assumptions, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.

Mortgage loans are secured principally by residential properties and commercial properties. Weighted average interest rates for these loans were approximately 6.8% and 6.2% per year, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, with maturities ranging from 3 to 26 years. Management estimated the fair value using an annual interest rate of 6.25% at December 31, 2016 and 2015. Our mortgage loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

Policy loans have a weighted average annual interest rate of 7.7% as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and have no specified maturity dates. The aggregate fair value of policy loans approximates the carrying value reflected on the consolidated balance sheet. These loans typically carry an interest rate that is tied to the crediting rate applied to the related policy and contract reserves. Policy loans are an integral part of the life insurance policies that we have in force and cannot be valued separately and are not marketable. Therefore, the fair value approximates the carrying value and policy loans are considered Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of short-term investments approximate carrying value due to their short-term nature. Our short-term investments are considered Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximate carrying value and are characterized as Level 1 assets in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Company's liabilities under annuity contract policies, which are considered Level 3 assets, was estimated at December 31, 2016 using discounted cash flows based upon a swap rate curve with interest rates ranging from 1.28% to 3.77% based upon swap rates adjusted for various risk adjustments. The fair value of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the overall management of interest rate risk, which seeks to minimize exposure to changing interest rates through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts.