Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Notes
Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies	1) Significant Accounting Policies General Overview of Business Security National Financial Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) operate in three main business segments: life insurance, cemetery and mortuary, and mortgages. The life insurance segment is engaged in the business of selling and servicing selected lines of life insurance, annuity products and accident and health insurance marketed primarily in the intermountain west, California and eleven southern states. The cemetery and mortuary segment of the Company consists of eight mortuaries and five cemeteries in Utah and one cemetery in California. The mortgage segment is an approved government and conventional lender that originates and underwrites residential and commercial loans for new construction, existing homes and real estate projects primarily in Florida, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The presentation of certain amounts in prior years has been reclassified to conform to the 2016 presentation. Principles of Consolidation These consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, reported amounts of revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near term are those used in determining the value of derivative assets and liabilities, those used in determining deferred acquisition costs and the value of business acquired, those used in determining the value of mortgage loans foreclosed to real estate held for investment, those used in determining the liability for future policy benefits and unearned revenue, those used in determining the estimated future costs for pre-need sales, those used in determining the value of mortgage servicing rights, those used in determining allowances for loan losses for mortgage loans on real estate, those used in determining loan loss reserve, and those used in determining deferred tax assets and liabilities. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes the amounts provided are fairly stated in all material respects. Investments The Company’s management determines the appropriate classifications of investments in fixed maturity securities and equity securities at the acquisition date and re-evaluates the classifications at each balance sheet date. Fixed maturity securities held to maturity are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount. Although the Company has the ability and intent to hold these investments to maturity, infrequent and unusual conditions could occur under which it would sell certain of these securities. Those conditions include unforeseen changes in asset quality, significant changes in tax laws, and changes in regulatory capital requirements or permissible investments. Equity securities available for sale are carried at estimated fair value. Changes in fair values net of income taxes are reported as unrealized appreciation or depreciation and recorded as an adjustment directly to stockholders’ equity and, accordingly, have no effect on net income. Mortgage loans on real estate and construction loans held for investment are carried at their unpaid principal balances adjusted for charge-offs and the related allowance for loan losses. The Company defers related material loan origination fees, net of related direct loan origination costs, and amortizes the net fees over the term of the loans. Mortgage loans are collateral dependent and require an appraisal at the time of underwriting and funding. Generally, the Company will fund a loan not to exceed 80% of the loan’s collateral fair market value. Amounts over 80% will require additional collateral or mortgage insurance by an approved third party insurer. Once a loan is deemed to be impaired the Company will review the market value of the collateral and provide an allowance for any impairment. Real estate held for investment is carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation provided on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of the properties, or is adjusted to a new basis for impairment in value, if any. Included are foreclosed properties which the Company intends to hold for investment purposes. These properties are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value upon foreclosure. Policy loans and other investments are carried at the aggregate unpaid balances, less allowances for possible losses. Short-term investments are carried at cost and consist of certificates of deposit and commercial paper with maturities of up to one year. Realized gains and losses on investments arise when investments are sold (as determined on a specific identification basis) or are other-than-temporarily impaired. If in management’s judgment a decline in the value of an investment below cost is other-than-temporary, the cost of the investment is written down to fair value with a corresponding charge to earnings. Factors considered in judging whether an impairment is other-than-temporary include: the financial condition, business prospects and credit worthiness of the issuer, the length of time that fair value has been less than cost, the relative amount of the decline, and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment until the fair value recovers, which is not assured. Cash and Cash Equivalents For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. 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. Mortgage Loans Sold to Investors Mortgage loans sold to investors are carried at the amount due from third party investors, which is the estimated fair value at the balance sheet date since these amounts are generally collected within a short period of time. Based on the nature of these assets, the Company has no related allowance for loan losses recorded for these assets. Restricted Assets Restricted assets are assets held in a trust account for future mortuary services and merchandise and consist of cash; participations in mortgage loans with Security National Life; mutual funds carried at cost; equity securities carried at fair market value; and a surplus note with Security National Life. Restricted cash also represents escrows held for borrowers and investors under servicing and appraisal agreements relating to mortgage loans, funds held by warehouse banks in accordance with loan purchase agreements and funds held in escrow for certain real estate construction development projects. Additionally, the Company elected to fund its medical benefit safe-harbor limit based on 35 percent of the qualified direct costs for the preceding year, and has included this amount as a component of restricted cash. Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments Cemetery endowment care trusts have been set up for four of the six cemeteries owned by the Company. Of the six cemeteries owned by the Company, four cemeteries are endowment care properties. Under endowment care arrangements a portion of the price for each lot sold is withheld and invested in a portfolio of investments similar to those described in the prior paragraph. The earnings stream from the investments is designed to fund future maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. Cemetery Land and Improvements The development of a cemetery involves not only the initial acquisition of raw land but the installation of roads, water lines, landscaping and other costs to establish a marketable cemetery lot. The costs of developing the cemetery are shown as an asset on the balance sheet. The amount on the balance sheet is reduced by the total cost assigned to the development of a particular lot when the criterion for recognizing a sale of that lot is met. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from three to forty years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the useful life or remaining lease terms. Recognition of Insurance Premiums and Other Considerations Premiums and other consideration for traditional life insurance products (which include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and benefits and consist principally of whole life insurance policies, limited payment life insurance policies, and certain annuities with life contingencies) are recognized as revenues when due from policyholders. Premiums and other consideration for interest-sensitive insurance policies (which include universal life policies, interest-sensitive life policies, deferred annuities, and annuities without life contingencies) are recognized when earned and consist of amounts assessed against policyholder account balances during the period for policy administration charges and surrender charges. 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. Mortgage Servicing Rights Mortgage Service Rights (MSR) arise from contractual agreements between the Company and third-party investors (or their agents) when mortgage loans are sold. Under these contracts, the Company is obligated to retain and provide loan servicing functions on loans sold, in exchange for fees and other remuneration. The servicing functions typically performed include, among other responsibilities, collecting and remitting loan payments; responding to borrower inquiries; accounting for principal and interest, holding custodial (impound) funds for payment of property taxes and insurance premiums; counseling delinquent mortgagors; and supervising the acquisition of real estate owned and property dispositions. The total residential mortgage loans serviced for others consist primarily of agency conforming fixed-rate mortgage loans. The value of MSRs is derived from the net cash flows associated with the servicing contracts. The Company receives a servicing fee of generally about 0.250% annually on the remaining outstanding principal balances of the loans. Based on the result of the cash flow analysis, an asset or liability is recorded for mortgage servicing rights. The servicing fees are collected from the monthly payments made by the mortgagors. The Company generally receives other remuneration including rights to various mortgagor-contracted fees such as late charges, and collateral reconveyance charges and the Company is generally entitled to retain the interest earned on funds held pending remittance of mortgagor principal, interest, tax and insurance payments. Contractual servicing fees and late fees are included in other revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The Company’s subsequent accounting for MSRs is based on the class of MSRs. The Company has identified two classes of MSRs: MSRs backed by mortgage loans with initial term of 30 years and MSRs backed by mortgage loans with initial term of 15 years. The Company distinguishes between these classes of MSRs due to their differing sensitivities to change in value as the result of changes in market. After being initially recorded at fair value, MSRs backed by mortgage loans are accounted for using the amortization method. MSR amortization is determined by amortizing the balance straight-line over an estimated seven and nine year life. The Company periodically assesses MSRs for impairment. Impairment occurs when the current fair value of the MSR falls below the asset’s carrying value (carrying value is the amortized cost reduced by any related valuation allowance). If MSRs are impaired, the impairment is recognized in current-period earnings and the carrying value of the MSRs is adjusted through a valuation allowance. Management periodically reviews the various loan strata to determine whether the value of the MSRs in a given stratum is impaired and likely to recover. When management deems recovery of the value to be unlikely in the foreseeable future, a write-down of the cost of the MSRs for that stratum to its estimated recoverable value is charged to the valuation allowance. Derivative Instruments Mortgage Banking Derivatives Loan Commitments The Company is exposed to price risk due to the potential impact of changes in interest rates on the values of loan commitments from the time a loan commitment is made to an applicant to the time the loan that would result from the exercise of that loan commitment is funded. Managing price risk is complicated by the fact that the ultimate percentage of loan commitments that will be exercised (i.e., the number of loans that will be funded) fluctuates. The probability that a loan will not be funded or the loan application is denied or withdrawn within the terms of the commitment is driven by a number of factors, particularly the change, if any, in mortgage rates following the issuance of the loan commitment. In general, the probability of funding increases if mortgage rates rise and decreases if mortgage rates fall. This is due primarily to the relative attractiveness of current mortgage rates compared to the applicant’s committed rate. The probability that a loan will not be funded within the terms of the mortgage loan commitment also is influenced by the source of the applications (retail, broker or correspondent channels), proximity to rate lock expiration, purpose for the loan (purchase or refinance) product type and the application approval status. The Company has developed fallout estimates using historical data that take into account all of the variables, as well as renegotiations of rate and point commitments that tend to occur when mortgage rates fall. These fallout estimates are used to estimate the number of loans that the Company expects to be funded within the terms of the loan commitments and are updated periodically to reflect the most current data. The Company estimates the fair value of a loan commitment based on the change in estimated fair value of the underlying mortgage loan, quoted MBS prices, estimates of the fair value of mortgage servicing rights, and an estimate of the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the commitment net of estimated commission expense. The change in fair value of the underlying mortgage loan is measured from the date the loan commitment is issued and is shown net of expenses. Following issuance, the value of a loan commitment can be either positive or negative depending upon the change in value of the underlying mortgage loans. Forward Sale Commitments The Company utilizes forward commitments to economically hedge the price risk associated with its outstanding mortgage loan commitments. A forward commitment protects the Company from losses on sales of the loans arising from exercise of the loan commitments. Management expects these types of commitments will experience changes in fair value opposite to changes in fair value of the loan commitments, thereby reducing earnings volatility related to the recognition in earnings of changes in the values of the commitments. The net changes in fair value of all loan commitments and forward sale commitments are shown in current earnings as a component of mortgage fee income. Call and Put Options The Company uses a strategy of selling “out of the money” call options on its available for sale equity securities as a source of revenue. The options give the purchaser the right to buy from the Company specified equity securities at a set price up to a pre-determined date in the future. The Company uses the strategy of selling put options as a means of generating cash or purchasing equity securities at lower than current market prices. The Company receives an immediate payment of cash for the value of the option and establishes a liability for the fair value of the option. The liability for options is adjusted to fair value at each reporting date. In the event an option is exercised, the Company recognizes a gain on the sale of the equity security and a gain on the sale of the option. If the option expires unexercised, the Company recognizes a gain from the sale of the option. 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 generally accepted accounting principles. 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. When a loan becomes delinquent, the Company proceeds to foreclose on the real estate and all expenses for foreclosure are expensed as incurred. Once foreclosed, an adjustment for the lower of cost or fair value is made, if necessary, and the amount is classified as real estate held for investment. 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, which were believed to have met investor underwriting guidelines at the time of sale, 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% of insurance in force for the years ended 2016, 2015 and 2014. 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. Pre-need Sales and Costs 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 GAAP. Under GAAP, 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 GAAP. 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 GAAP 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 its mortgage subsidiaries, sells 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, and · 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. 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, and · 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 fair 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 support 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. 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. The carrying value of all commercial loans is supported by appraisals and cash flow analysis of revenue received. Also, the Company does not accrue any interest income or capitalize any of the foreclosure costs on 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 20% of the projected cash flow analysis and 80% 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. Based upon the above procedures, the Company’s management believes that residential and residential construction loans are reflected in the Company’s financial statements at the lower of cost or market in accordance with GAAP requirements. 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 GAAP 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. 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 For a description of the geographic concentration risk regarding mortgage loans and real estate, refer to Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Advertising The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Recent Accounting Pronouncements ASU No. 2016-13: “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326)” – Issued in June 2016, ASU 2016-13 amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however Topic 326 will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard. ASU No. 2016-02: “Leases (Topic 842)” - Issued in February 2016, ASU 2016-02 supersedes the leases requirements in ASC Topic 840, “Leases”, and was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard. ASU No. 2016-01: “Financial Instruments – Overall (Topic 825-10)” – Issued in January 2016, ASU 2016-01 changes the accounting for non-consolidated equity investments that are not accounted for under the equity method of accounting by requiring changes in fair value to be recognized in income. Under current guidance, changes in fair value for investments of this nature are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of stockholders’ equity. Additionally, ASU 2016-01 simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values; requires entities to use the exit price when estimating the fair value of financial instruments; and modifies various presentation disclosure requirements for financial instruments. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard. ASU No. 2014-09: “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” - Issued in May 2014, ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Insurance contracts are excluded from the scope of this new guidance. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard, which is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position. The Company has reviewed other recent accounting pronouncements and has determined that they will not significantly impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

1) Significant Accounting Policies

General Overview of Business

Security National Financial Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) operate in three main business segments: life insurance, cemetery and mortuary, and mortgages. The life insurance segment is engaged in the business of selling and servicing selected lines of life insurance, annuity products and accident and health insurance marketed primarily in the intermountain west, California and eleven southern states. The cemetery and mortuary segment of the Company consists of eight mortuaries and five cemeteries in Utah and one cemetery in California. The mortgage segment is an approved government and conventional lender that originates and underwrites residential and commercial loans for new construction, existing homes and real estate projects primarily in Florida, Nevada, Texas, and Utah.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The presentation of certain amounts in prior years has been reclassified to conform to the 2016 presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

These consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, reported amounts of revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near term are those used in determining the value of derivative assets and liabilities, those used in determining deferred acquisition costs and the value of business acquired, those used in determining the value of mortgage loans foreclosed to real estate held for investment, those used in determining the liability for future policy benefits and unearned revenue, those used in determining the estimated future costs for pre-need sales, those used in determining the value of mortgage servicing rights, those used in determining allowances for loan losses for mortgage loans on real estate, those used in determining loan loss reserve, and those used in determining deferred tax assets and liabilities. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes the amounts provided are fairly stated in all material respects.

Investments

The Company’s management determines the appropriate classifications of investments in fixed maturity securities and equity securities at the acquisition date and re-evaluates the classifications at each balance sheet date.

Fixed maturity securities held to maturity are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount. Although the Company has the ability and intent to hold these investments to maturity, infrequent and unusual conditions could occur under which it would sell certain of these securities. Those conditions include unforeseen changes in asset quality, significant changes in tax laws, and changes in regulatory capital requirements or permissible investments.

Equity securities available for sale are carried at estimated fair value. Changes in fair values net of income taxes are reported as unrealized appreciation or depreciation and recorded as an adjustment directly to stockholders’ equity and, accordingly, have no effect on net income.

Mortgage loans on real estate and construction loans held for investment are carried at their unpaid principal balances adjusted for charge-offs and the related allowance for loan losses. The Company defers related material loan origination fees, net of related direct loan origination costs, and amortizes the net fees over the term of the loans.

Mortgage loans are collateral dependent and require an appraisal at the time of underwriting and funding. Generally, the Company will fund a loan not to exceed 80% of the loan’s collateral fair market value. Amounts over 80% will require additional collateral or mortgage insurance by an approved third party insurer. Once a loan is deemed to be impaired the Company will review the market value of the collateral and provide an allowance for any impairment.

Real estate held for investment is carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation provided on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of the properties, or is adjusted to a new basis for impairment in value, if any. Included are foreclosed properties which the Company intends to hold for investment purposes. These properties are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value upon foreclosure.

Policy loans and other investments are carried at the aggregate unpaid balances, less allowances for possible losses.

Short-term investments are carried at cost and consist of certificates of deposit and commercial paper with maturities of up to one year.

Realized gains and losses on investments arise when investments are sold (as determined on a specific identification basis) or are other-than-temporarily impaired. If in management’s judgment a decline in the value of an investment below cost is other-than-temporary, the cost of the investment is written down to fair value with a corresponding charge to earnings. Factors considered in judging whether an impairment is other-than-temporary include: the financial condition, business prospects and credit worthiness of the issuer, the length of time that fair value has been less than cost, the relative amount of the decline, and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment until the fair value recovers, which is not assured.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. 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.

Mortgage Loans Sold to Investors

Mortgage loans sold to investors are carried at the amount due from third party investors, which is the estimated fair value at the balance sheet date since these amounts are generally collected within a short period of time. Based on the nature of these assets, the Company has no related allowance for loan losses recorded for these assets.

Restricted Assets

Restricted assets are assets held in a trust account for future mortuary services and merchandise and consist of cash; participations in mortgage loans with Security National Life; mutual funds carried at cost; equity securities carried at fair market value; and a surplus note with Security National Life. Restricted cash also represents escrows held for borrowers and investors under servicing and appraisal agreements relating to mortgage loans, funds held by warehouse banks in accordance with loan purchase agreements and funds held in escrow for certain real estate construction development projects. Additionally, the Company elected to fund its medical benefit safe-harbor limit based on 35 percent of the qualified direct costs for the preceding year, and has included this amount as a component of restricted cash.

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments

Cemetery endowment care trusts have been set up for four of the six cemeteries owned by the Company. Of the six cemeteries owned by the Company, four cemeteries are endowment care properties. Under endowment care arrangements a portion of the price for each lot sold is withheld and invested in a portfolio of investments similar to those described in the prior paragraph. The earnings stream from the investments is designed to fund future maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery.

Cemetery Land and Improvements

The development of a cemetery involves not only the initial acquisition of raw land but the installation of roads, water lines, landscaping and other costs to establish a marketable cemetery lot. The costs of developing the cemetery are shown as an asset on the balance sheet. The amount on the balance sheet is reduced by the total cost assigned to the development of a particular lot when the criterion for recognizing a sale of that lot is met.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from three to forty years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the useful life or remaining lease terms.

Recognition of Insurance Premiums and Other Considerations

Premiums and other consideration for traditional life insurance products (which include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and benefits and consist principally of whole life insurance policies, limited payment life insurance policies, and certain annuities with life contingencies) are recognized as revenues when due from policyholders. Premiums and other consideration for interest-sensitive insurance policies (which include universal life policies, interest-sensitive life policies, deferred annuities, and annuities without life contingencies) are recognized when earned and consist of amounts assessed against policyholder account balances during the period for policy administration charges and surrender charges.

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.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

Mortgage Service Rights (MSR) arise from contractual agreements between the Company and third-party investors (or their agents) when mortgage loans are sold. Under these contracts, the Company is obligated to retain and provide loan servicing functions on loans sold, in exchange for fees and other remuneration. The servicing functions typically performed include, among other responsibilities, collecting and remitting loan payments; responding to borrower inquiries; accounting for principal and interest, holding custodial (impound) funds for payment of property taxes and insurance premiums; counseling delinquent mortgagors; and supervising the acquisition of real estate owned and property dispositions.

The total residential mortgage loans serviced for others consist primarily of agency conforming fixed-rate mortgage loans. The value of MSRs is derived from the net cash flows associated with the servicing contracts. The Company receives a servicing fee of generally about 0.250% annually on the remaining outstanding principal balances of the loans. Based on the result of the cash flow analysis, an asset or liability is recorded for mortgage servicing rights. The servicing fees are collected from the monthly payments made by the mortgagors. The Company generally receives other remuneration including rights to various mortgagor-contracted fees such as late charges, and collateral reconveyance charges and the Company is generally entitled to retain the interest earned on funds held pending remittance of mortgagor principal, interest, tax and insurance payments. Contractual servicing fees and late fees are included in other revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

The Company’s subsequent accounting for MSRs is based on the class of MSRs. The Company has identified two classes of MSRs: MSRs backed by mortgage loans with initial term of 30 years and MSRs backed by mortgage loans with initial term of 15 years. The Company distinguishes between these classes of MSRs due to their differing sensitivities to change in value as the result of changes in market. After being initially recorded at fair value, MSRs backed by mortgage loans are accounted for using the amortization method. MSR amortization is determined by amortizing the balance straight-line over an estimated seven and nine year life.

The Company periodically assesses MSRs for impairment. Impairment occurs when the current fair value of the MSR falls below the asset’s carrying value (carrying value is the amortized cost reduced by any related valuation allowance). If MSRs are impaired, the impairment is recognized in current-period earnings and the carrying value of the MSRs is adjusted through a valuation allowance.

Management periodically reviews the various loan strata to determine whether the value of the MSRs in a given stratum is impaired and likely to recover. When management deems recovery of the value to be unlikely in the foreseeable future, a write-down of the cost of the MSRs for that stratum to its estimated recoverable value is charged to the valuation allowance.

Derivative Instruments

Mortgage Banking Derivatives

Loan Commitments

The Company is exposed to price risk due to the potential impact of changes in interest rates on the values of loan commitments from the time a loan commitment is made to an applicant to the time the loan that would result from the exercise of that loan commitment is funded. Managing price risk is complicated by the fact that the ultimate percentage of loan commitments that will be exercised (i.e., the number of loans that will be funded) fluctuates. The probability that a loan will not be funded or the loan application is denied or withdrawn within the terms of the commitment is driven by a number of factors, particularly the change, if any, in mortgage rates following the issuance of the loan commitment.

In general, the probability of funding increases if mortgage rates rise and decreases if mortgage rates fall. This is due primarily to the relative attractiveness of current mortgage rates compared to the applicant’s committed rate. The probability that a loan will not be funded within the terms of the mortgage loan commitment also is influenced by the source of the applications (retail, broker or correspondent channels), proximity to rate lock expiration, purpose for the loan (purchase or refinance) product type and the application approval status. The Company has developed fallout estimates using historical data that take into account all of the variables, as well as renegotiations of rate and point commitments that tend to occur when mortgage rates fall. These fallout estimates are used to estimate the number of loans that the Company expects to be funded within the terms of the loan commitments and are updated periodically to reflect the most current data.

The Company estimates the fair value of a loan commitment based on the change in estimated fair value of the underlying mortgage loan, quoted MBS prices, estimates of the fair value of mortgage servicing rights, and an estimate of the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the commitment net of estimated commission expense. The change in fair value of the underlying mortgage loan is measured from the date the loan commitment is issued and is shown net of expenses. Following issuance, the value of a loan commitment can be either positive or negative depending upon the change in value of the underlying mortgage loans.

Forward Sale Commitments

The Company utilizes forward commitments to economically hedge the price risk associated with its outstanding mortgage loan commitments. A forward commitment protects the Company from losses on sales of the loans arising from exercise of the loan commitments. Management expects these types of commitments will experience changes in fair value opposite to changes in fair value of the loan commitments, thereby reducing earnings volatility related to the recognition in earnings of changes in the values of the commitments.

The net changes in fair value of all loan commitments and forward sale commitments are shown in current earnings as a component of mortgage fee income.

Call and Put Options

The Company uses a strategy of selling “out of the money” call options on its available for sale equity securities as a source of revenue. The options give the purchaser the right to buy from the Company specified equity securities at a set price up to a pre-determined date in the future. The Company uses the strategy of selling put options as a means of generating cash or purchasing equity securities at lower than current market prices. The Company receives an immediate payment of cash for the value of the option and establishes a liability for the fair value of the option. The liability for options is adjusted to fair value at each reporting date. In the event an option is exercised, the Company recognizes a gain on the sale of the equity security and a gain on the sale of the option. If the option expires unexercised, the Company recognizes a gain from the sale of the option.

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 generally accepted accounting principles.

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. When a loan becomes delinquent, the Company proceeds to foreclose on the real estate and all expenses for foreclosure are expensed as incurred. Once foreclosed, an adjustment for the lower of cost or fair value is made, if necessary, and the amount is classified as real estate held for investment. 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, which were believed to have met investor underwriting guidelines at the time of sale, 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% of insurance in force for the years ended 2016, 2015 and 2014. 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.

Pre-need Sales and Costs

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 GAAP. Under GAAP, 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 GAAP. 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 GAAP 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 its mortgage subsidiaries, sells 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, and

· 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.

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, and

· 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 fair 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 support 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.

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. The carrying value of all commercial loans is supported by appraisals and cash flow analysis of revenue received. Also, the Company does not accrue any interest income or capitalize any of the foreclosure costs on 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 20% of the projected cash flow analysis and 80% 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. Based upon the above procedures, the Company’s management believes that residential and residential construction loans are reflected in the Company’s financial statements at the lower of cost or market in accordance with GAAP requirements.

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 GAAP 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.

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

For a description of the geographic concentration risk regarding mortgage loans and real estate, refer to Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

ASU No. 2016-13: “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326)” – Issued in June 2016, ASU 2016-13 amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however Topic 326 will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard.

ASU No. 2016-02: “Leases (Topic 842)” - Issued in February 2016, ASU 2016-02 supersedes the leases requirements in ASC Topic 840, “Leases”, and was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard.

ASU No. 2016-01: “Financial Instruments – Overall (Topic 825-10)” – Issued in January 2016, ASU 2016-01 changes the accounting for non-consolidated equity investments that are not accounted for under the equity method of accounting by requiring changes in fair value to be recognized in income. Under current guidance, changes in fair value for investments of this nature are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of stockholders’ equity. Additionally, ASU 2016-01 simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values; requires entities to use the exit price when estimating the fair value of financial instruments; and modifies various presentation disclosure requirements for financial instruments. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard.

ASU No. 2014-09: “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” - Issued in May 2014, ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Insurance contracts are excluded from the scope of this new guidance. The new authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impact of this standard, which is not expected to be material to the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

The Company has reviewed other recent accounting pronouncements and has determined that they will not significantly impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position.