Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Commissions and other costs, net of commission and expense allowances for reinsurance ceded, that vary with and are primarily related to the production of new insurance business have been deferred. Deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) for traditional life insurance are amortized over the premium paying period of the related policies using assumptions consistent with those used in computing policy benefit reserves. For interest-sensitive insurance products, deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized generally in proportion to the present value of expected gross profits from surrender charges, investment, mortality and expense margins. This amortization is adjusted when estimates of current or future gross profits to be realized from a group of products are reevaluated. Deferred acquisition costs are written off when policies lapse or are surrendered.

The Company follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America when accounting for DAC on internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts. An internal replacement is a modification in product benefits, features, rights or coverage that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. Modifications that result in a replacement contract that is substantially changed from the replaced contract are accounted for as an extinguishment of the replaced contract. Unamortized DAC, unearned revenue liabilities and deferred sales inducements from the replaced contract are written-off. Modifications that result in a contract that is substantially unchanged from the replaced contract are accounted for as a continuation of the replaced contract.

Value of business acquired is the present value of estimated future profits of the acquired business and is amortized similar to deferred policy acquisition costs.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Loan Losses and Impaired Loans

The Company records an allowance and recognizes an expense for potential losses from mortgage loans, other loans and receivables in accordance with FASB codification topic 450.

Receivables are the result of cemetery and mortuary operations, mortgage loan operations and life insurance operations. The allowance is based upon the Company’s historical experience for collectively evaluated impairment. Other allowances are based upon receivables individually evaluated for impairment. Collectability of the cemetery and mortuary receivables is significantly influenced by current economic conditions. The critical issues that impact recovery of mortgage loan operations are interest rate risk, loan underwriting, new regulations and the overall economy.

The Company provides allowances for losses on its mortgage loans held for investment through an allowance for loan losses. The allowance is comprised of two components. The first component is an allowance for collectively evaluated impairment that is based upon the Company’s historical experience in collecting similar receivables. The second component is based upon individual evaluation of loans that are determined to be impaired. Upon determining impairment the Company establishes an individual impairment allowance based upon an assessment of the fair value of the underlying collateral. See the schedules in note 2 for additional information. In addition, when a mortgage loan is past due more than 90 days, the Company, does not accrue any interest income and proceeds to foreclose on the real estate. All expenses for foreclosure are expensed as incurred. Once foreclosed, the carrying value will approximate its fair value and the amount is classified as other real estate owned held for investment or sale. The Company will rent the properties until it is deemed desirable to sell them.

The allowance for losses on mortgage loans held for investment could change based on changes in the value of the underlying collateral, the performance status of the loans, or the Company’s actual collection experience. The actual losses could change, in the near term, from the established allowance, based upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of these events.

Loan Loss Reserve

The mortgage loan loss reserve is an estimate of probable losses at the balance sheet date that the Company will realize in the future on mortgage loans sold to third party investors.

The loan loss reserve analysis involves mortgage loans that have been sold to third party investors where the Company has received a demand from the investor. There are generally three types of demands: make whole, repurchase, or indemnification. These types of demands are more particularly described as follows:

Make whole demand – A make whole demand occurs when an investor forecloses on a property and then sells the property. The make whole amount is calculated as the difference between the original unpaid principal balance, accrued interest and fees, less the sale proceeds.

Repurchase demand – A repurchase demand usually occurs when there is a significant payment default, error in underwriting or detected loan fraud.

Indemnification demand – On certain loans the Company has negotiated a set fee that is to be paid in lieu of repurchase. The fee varies by investor and by loan product type.

Additional information related to the Loan Loss Reserve is included in note 2.

Future Life, Annuity and Other Policy Benefits

Future policy benefit reserves for traditional life insurance are computed using a net level method, including assumptions as to investment yields, mortality, morbidity, withdrawals, and other assumptions based on the life insurance subsidiaries’ experience, modified as necessary to give effect to anticipated trends and to include provisions for possible unfavorable deviations. Such liabilities are, for some plans, graded to equal statutory values or cash values at or prior to maturity. The range of assumed interest rates for all traditional life insurance policy reserves was 4.5% to 10%. Benefit reserves for traditional limited-payment life insurance policies include the deferred portion of the premiums received during the premium-paying period. Deferred premiums are recognized as income over the life of the policies. Policy benefit claims are charged to expense in the period the claims are incurred. Increases in future policy benefits are charged to expense.

Future policy benefit reserves for interest-sensitive insurance products are computed under a retrospective deposit method and represent policy account balances before applicable surrender charges. Policy benefits and claims that are charged to expense include benefit claims incurred in the period in excess of related policy account balances. Interest crediting rates for interest-sensitive insurance products ranged from 3% to 6.5%.

Participating Insurance

Participating business constituted 2%, 2%, and 2% of insurance in force for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The provision for policyholders’ dividends included in policyholder obligations is based on dividend scales anticipated by management. Amounts to be paid are determined by the Board of Directors.

Reinsurance

The Company follows the procedure of reinsuring risks in excess of $100,000 to provide for greater diversification of business to allow management to control exposure to potential losses arising from large risks, and provide additional capacity for growth. The Company remains liable for amounts ceded in the event the reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations.

The Company entered into coinsurance agreements with unaffiliated insurance companies under which the Company assumed 100% of the risk for certain life insurance policies and certain other policy-related liabilities of the insurance company.

Reinsurance premiums, commissions, expense reimbursements, and reserves related to reinsured business are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Expense allowances received in connection with reinsurance ceded are accounted for as a reduction of the related policy acquisition costs and are deferred and amortized accordingly.

Cemetery and Mortuary Operations

Pre-need contract sales of funeral services and caskets - revenue and costs associated with the sales of pre-need funeral services and caskets are deferred until the services are performed or the caskets are delivered.

Sales of cemetery interment rights (cemetery burial property) - revenue and costs associated with the sale of cemetery interment rights are recognized in accordance with the retail land sales provisions based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, recognition of revenue and associated costs from constructed cemetery property must be deferred until a minimum percentage of the sales price has been collected.

Pre-need contract sales of cemetery merchandise (primarily markers and vaults) - revenue and costs associated with the sale of pre-need cemetery merchandise is deferred until the merchandise is delivered. Pre-need contract sales of cemetery services (primarily merchandise delivery, installation fees and burial opening and closing fees) - revenue and costs associated with the sales of pre-need cemetery services are deferred until the services are performed.

Prearranged funeral and pre-need cemetery customer acquisition costs - costs incurred related to obtaining new pre-need contract cemetery and prearranged funeral services are accounted for under the guidance of the provisions based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Obtaining costs, which include only costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of new pre-need cemetery and prearranged funeral services, are deferred until the merchandise is delivered or services are performed.

Revenues and costs for at-need sales are recorded when a valid contract exists, the services are performed, collection is reasonably assured and there are no significant obligations remaining.

The Company, through its cemetery and mortuary operations, provides guaranteed funeral arrangements wherein a prospective customer can receive future goods and services at guaranteed prices. To accomplish this, the Company, through its life insurance operations, sells to the customer an increasing benefit life insurance policy that is assigned to the mortuaries. If, at the time of need, the policyholder/potential mortuary customer utilizes one of the Company’s facilities, the guaranteed funeral arrangement contract that has been assigned will provide the funeral goods and services at the contracted price. The increasing life insurance policy will cover the difference between the original contract prices and current prices. Risks may arise if the difference cannot be fully met by the life insurance policy. However, management believes that given current inflation rates and related price increases of goods and services, the risk of exposure is minimal.

Mortgage Fee Income

Mortgage fee income consists of origination fees, processing fees and certain other income related to the origination and sale of mortgage loans. For mortgage loans sold to third party investors, mortgage fee income and related expenses are recognized pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles at the time the sales of mortgage loans comply with the sales criteria for the transfer of financial assets, which are: (i) the transferred assets have been isolated from the Company and its creditors, (ii) the transferee has the right to pledge or exchange the mortgage, and (iii) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred mortgage. The Company must determine that all three criteria are met at the time a loan is funded. All rights and title to the mortgage loans are assigned to unrelated financial institution investors, including investor commitments for the loans, prior to warehouse banks purchasing the loans under the purchase commitments.

The Company, through SecurityNational Mortgage, sells all mortgage loans to third party investors without recourse. However, it may be required to repurchase a loan or pay a fee instead of repurchase under certain events, which include the following:

	●	Failure to deliver original documents specified by the investor.
	●	The existence of misrepresentation or fraud in the origination of the loan.
	●	The loan becomes delinquent due to nonpayment during the first several months after it is sold.
	●	Early pay-off of a loan, as defined by the agreements.
	●	Excessive time to settle a loan.
	●	Investor declines purchase.
	●	Discontinued product and expired commitment.

Loan purchase commitments generally specify a date 30 to 45 days after delivery upon which the underlying loans should be settled. Depending on market conditions, these commitment settlement dates can be extended at a cost to the Company. Generally, a ten day extension will cost .125% (12.5 basis points) of the loan amount. The Company’s historical data shows that 99% of all loans originated by SecurityNational Mortgage are generally settled by the investors as agreed within 16 days after delivery. There are situations, however, when the Company determines that it is unable to enforce the settlement of loans rejected by the third-party investors and that it is in its best interest to repurchase those loans from the warehouse banks. It is the Company's policy to cure any documentation problems regarding such loans at a minimal cost for up to a six-month time period and to pursue efforts to enforce loan purchase commitments from third-party investors concerning the loans. The Company believes that six months allows adequate time to remedy any documentation issues, to enforce purchase commitments, and to exhaust other alternatives. Remedial methods include the following:

	●	Research reasons for rejection.
	●	Provide additional documents.
	●	Request investor exceptions.
	●	Appeal rejection decision to purchase committee.
	●	Commit to secondary investors.

Once purchase commitments have expired and other alternatives to remedy are exhausted, which could be earlier than the six month time period, the loans are repurchased and transferred to the long term investment portfolio at the lower of cost or market value and previously recorded sales revenue is reversed. Any loan that later becomes delinquent is evaluated by the Company at that time and any impairment is adjusted accordingly.

Determining lower of cost or market: Cost is equal to the amount paid to the warehouse bank and the amount originally funded by the Company. Market value is often difficult to determine, but is based on the following:

	●	For loans that have an active market the Company uses the market price on the repurchased date.
	●	For loans where there is no market but there is a similar product, the Company uses the market value for the similar product on the repurchased date.
	●	For loans where no active market exists on the repurchased date, the Company determines that the unpaid principal balance best approximates the market value on the repurchased date, after considering the fair value of the underlying real estate collateral and estimated future cash flows.

The appraised value of the real estate underlying the original mortgage loan adds significance to the Company’s determination of fair value because if the loan becomes delinquent, the Company has sufficient value to collect the unpaid principal balance or the carrying value of the loan. In determining the market value on the date of repurchase, the Company considers the total value of all of the loans because any sale of loans would be made as a pool.

For mortgages originated and held for investment, mortgage fee income and related expenses are recognized when the loan is originated.

The Company’s current policy is to not lend more than 80% of the appraised market value at the time of funding unless third party mortgage insurance is obtained to insure the amount in excess of the 80% limitation. New appraisals are not obtained on mortgages in a current payment status.

Fair Value

The company provides an allowance for loan losses on its mortgage loans held for investment. The allowance is comprised of two components. The first component is an allowance for collectively evaluated impairment that is based upon the Company’s historical experience in collecting similar receivables. The second component is based upon individual evaluation of loans that are determined to be impaired.

Commercial Loans

Each quarter, management reviews the current commercial loans and determines if an allowance is required based on the Company’s actual experience of losses on impaired commercial loans. To date, the Company has not incurred any significant losses. As a result, management has determined that no allowance is required on current commercial loans in its portfolio. The carrying value of all commercial loans is supported by appraisals and cash flow analysis of revenue received. Also, the Company has not accrued any interest income or capitalized any of the foreclosure costs on the impaired commercial loans.

Residential and Construction Loans

The Company believes that in an orderly market fair value will approximate the replacement cost of a home and the rental income provides a cash flow stream for investment analysis. The Company believes the highest and best use of the properties are as income producing assets since it is the Company’s intent to hold the properties as rental properties, matching the income from the investment in rental properties with the funds required for future estimated policy claims. Accordingly, the fair value determination will be weighted more heavily toward the rental analysis.

It should be noted that for replacement cost, when determining the fair value of mortgage properties, the Company uses Marshall and Swift, a provider of building cost information to the real estate construction industry. For the investment analysis, the Company used market data based upon its real estate operation experience and projected the present value of the net rental income over seven years. The Company used 60% of the projected cash flow analysis and 40% of the replacement cost to approximate fair value of the collateral.

Each quarter the Company also analyzes its current loan portfolio and determines the level of allowance needed for loans that are listed as current in the portfolio. The basis of the analysis places a higher weight on loans with high loan to value ratios, those that lack mortgage insurance, and certain loan types that have a higher percentage of default based on the Company’s experience.

Each quarter the Company makes further analysis of the foreclosed properties to determine if any additional allowances are necessary by comparing national indexes of loan to value ratios by region to the Company’s loan to value ratios. Base upon the above procedures, the Company’s management believes that residential and construction loans are reflected in the Company’s financial statements at the lower of cost or market in accordance with GAAP requirements.

Self Insurance

The Company is self insured for certain casualty insurance, workers compensation and liability programs. Self-Insurance reserves are maintained relative to these programs. The level of exposure from catastrophic events is limited by the purchase of stop-loss and aggregate liability reinsurance coverage. When estimating the self-insurance liabilities and related reserves, management considers a number of factors, which include historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and valuations provided by independent third-party actuaries. Management reviews its assumptions with its independent third-party administrators and actuaries to evaluate whether the self-insurance reserves are adequate. If actual claims or adverse development of loss reserves occurs and exceed these estimates, additional reserves may be required. The estimation process contains uncertainty since management must use judgment to estimate the ultimate cost that will be incurred to settle reported claims and unreported claims for incidents incurred but not reported as of the balance sheet date.

Goodwill

Previous acquisitions have been accounted for as purchases under which assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their fair values with the excess purchase price recognized as goodwill. The Company evaluates annually or when changes in circumstances warrant the recoverability of goodwill and if there is a decrease in value, the related impairment is recognized as a charge against income. No impairment of goodwill has been recognized in the accompanying financial statements.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. When required, impairment losses on assets to be held and used are recognized based on the fair value of the asset, and long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. No impairment of long-lived assets has been recognized in the accompanying financial statements.

Income Taxes

Income taxes include taxes currently payable plus deferred taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the temporary differences in the financial reporting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities and operating loss carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which these temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Liabilities are established for uncertain tax positions expected to be taken in income tax returns when such positions are judged to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold based on the technical merits of the positions. Estimated interest and penalties related to uncertain tax penalties are included as a component of other expenses.

Earnings Per Common Share

The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which requires presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per equivalent Class A common share are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of Class A common shares outstanding during each year presented, after the effect of the assumed conversion of Class C common stock to Class A common stock. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year used to compute basic earnings per share plus dilutive potential incremental shares. Basic and diluted earnings per share amounts have been adjusted retroactively for the effect of annual stock dividends.

Options to purchase 1,611,470 shares of Common Stock were outstanding during 2011, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Stock Based Compensation

The cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments is recognized in the financial statements and is measured based on the fair value on the grant date of the award. The fair value of stock options is calculated using the Black Scholes method. Stock option compensation expense is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts, which at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

Advertising Expense

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. The total amount charged to advertising expense for 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $2,237,000, $2,122,000 and $1,532,000, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities – In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued authoritative guidance related to balance sheet offsetting. The new guidance requires disclosures about assets and liabilities that are offset or have the potential to be offset. These disclosures are intended to address differences in the asset and liability offsetting requirements under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). This new guidance will be effective for us for interim and annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2013, with retrospective application required. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Goodwill Impairment Test – In September 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that amends how goodwill is tested for impairment. The amendments provide an option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform the annual two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. This guidance will be effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Comprehensive Income – In June 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance provides companies with the option to present the total of comprehensive income, components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The objective of the standard is to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and to facilitate convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The standard eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has not yet determined the effect, if any, the adoption this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements – In May 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding fair value measurements. This guidance establishes common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS. It also clarifies the FASB’s intent on the application of existing fair value measurement requirements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively. The Company has not yet determined the effect, if any, the adoption this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements – In April 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which amends the Transfers and Servicing topic of the FASB Codification to remove from the assessment of effective control (1) the criterion requiring the transferor to have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets on substantially the agreed terms, even in the event of default by the transferee, and (2) the collateral maintenance implementation guidance related to that criterion. Other criteria applicable to the assessment of effective control are not changed by the amendments in this update. Those criteria indicate that the transferor is deemed to have maintained effective control over the financial assets transferred (and thus must account for the transaction as a secured borrowing) for agreements that both entitle and obligate the transferor to repurchase or redeem the financial assets before their maturity if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the financial assets to be repurchased or redeemed are the same or substantially the same as those transferred; (2) the agreement is to repurchase or redeem them before maturity, at a fixed or determinable price; and (3) the agreement is entered into contemporaneously with, or in contemplation of, the transfer. This guidance is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring – In April 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to assist creditors in determining whether a creditor has granted a concession and whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties for purposes of determining whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring. Under this guidance, in evaluating whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, a creditor must separately conclude that both of the following exist: 1) the restructuring constitutes a concession; and 2) the debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. A creditor may determine that a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties, even though the debtor is not currently in default, if the creditor determines it is probable that the debtor would default on its payments for any of its debts in the foreseeable future without the loan modification. This guidance is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after June 15, 2011, and must be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts - In October 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to address the diversity in practice for the accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. This guidance modifies the definition of acquisition costs to specify that a cost must be directly related to the successful acquisition of a new or renewal insurance contract in order to be deferred. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company has not yet determined the effect, if any; the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.