Other assets and investments

Our investments and other assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:



In thousands of dollars
	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Cash value life insurance	$	64,134	$	68,332
Deferred compensation investments	52,273		77,199
Equity method investments	19,970		27,824
Available for sale investment	16,744		28,090
Deferred debt issuance cost	9,856		13,620
Other long-term assets	58,083		41,925
Total	$	221,060	$	256,990

Deferred compensation: Employee compensation related investments consist of debt and equity securities which are classified as trading securities and fund our deferred compensation plan liabilities (See Note 9 for further discussion on how fair value is determined). Net gains on trading securities in 2016, 2015, and 2014 were $3.2 million, $0.5 million and $2.9 million. Gains and losses on these investments are included in Other non-operating items within our Consolidated Statement of Income.

Equity method investments: Investments where we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but do not control, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Significant influence typically exists if we have a 20% to 50% ownership interest in the investee. Under this method of accounting, our share of the net earnings or losses of the investee is included in non-operating income, on our Consolidated Statements of Income. We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may be impaired. If a decline in the value of an equity method investment is determined to be other than temporary, a loss is recorded in earnings in the current period. Certain differences exist between our investment carrying value and the underlying equity of the investee companies principally due to fair value measurement at the date of investment acquisition and due to impairment charges we recorded for certain of the investments. Pre-tax impairments on equity method investments were $3.9 million in 2016 and $3.0 million in 2014 and were recorded in equity loss in unconsolidated investments, net, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. No material impairments were recorded in 2015.

For the year ended December 28, 2014, the net gain in Equity income in unconsolidated investees of $151.5 million was primarily related to a pre-tax gain of $148.4 million related to the sale of our investment in Apartments.com by Classified Ventures.

Cost method investments: The carrying value of cost method investments at December 31, 2016, was $21.8 million and $8.6 million at December 31, 2015, and is included within other long-term assets in the table above. The increase is primarily due to our new investments in WhistleSports and Kin Community during 2016.