Investments and other assets

Our investments and other assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):



	Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Cash value life insurance	$	50,452	$	51,188
Equity method investments	22,960		27,098
Cost method investments	24,497		17,374
Deferred debt issuance costs	9,350		6,048
Other long-term assets	36,206		35,458
Total	$	143,465	$	137,166

Cash value life insurance: We are the beneficiary of life insurance policies on the lives of certain employees/retirees, which are recorded at their cash surrender value as determined by the insurance carrier. These policies are utilized as a partial funding source for deferred compensation and other non-qualified employee retirement plans. Gains and losses on these investments are included in Other non-operating expenses within our Consolidated Statement of Income and were not material for all periods presented.

Equity method investments: We hold several strategic equity method investments. Our largest equity method investment is our ownership in CareerBuilder, of which we own approximately 17% (or approximately 10% on a fully-diluted basis) and has an investment balance of $12.4 million as of December 31, 2018. Our ownership stake provides us with two seats on CareerBuilder’s board of directors and thus we concluded that we have significant influence over the entity.

On May 14, 2018, CareerBuilder sold Economic Modeling LLC (also known as EMSI). As a result, we received a dividend of $9.9 million in connection with the sale commensurate with our equity ownership in CareerBuilder. Our share of CareerBuilder’s gain on the sale of EMSI was approximately $17.9 million which is included in Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated investments, net, on our Consolidated Statements of Income. In 2018, we recorded $14.2 million of equity earnings from our CareerBuilder investment (inclusive of the $17.9 million gain from EMSI sale).

Dividends received in 2018 from equity method investments totaled $13.5 million (inclusive of the $9.9 million CareerBuilder dividend discussed above). In 2017, prior to the sale of our majority ownership interest, CareerBuilder issued a dividend to its selling shareholders, of which $25.8 million was paid to TEGNA.

Cost method investments: The carrying value of cost method investments at December 31, 2018, was $24.5 million and $17.4 million at December 31, 2017. The increase is primarily due to new investments in Hudson MX, MadHive and Vizbee businesses during 2018.

Deferred debt issuance costs: These costs consist of amounts paid to lenders related to our revolving credit agreement. Debt issuance costs paid for our term debt and unsecured notes are accounted for as a reduction in the debt obligation (see Note 6).