10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

R      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2012

o        TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission File Number: 2-17039
NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
COLORADO	84-0467208
(State of Incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
850 EAST ANDERSON LANE
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752-1602	(512) 836-1010
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Telephone Number)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:   Yes RNo £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). : Yes RNo £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated file" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  £Accelerated filer  R   Non-accelerated filer  £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes oNo R

As of November 7, 2012, the number of shares of Registrant's common stock outstanding was: Class A – 3,434,763 and  Class B - 200,000.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
	Page
Part I.  Financial Information:	3
Item 1.  Financial Statements	3
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2012 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2011	3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)	5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)	6
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)	7
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)	8
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)	9
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited)	11
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	13
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	48
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	47
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures	47
Part II.  Other Information:	82
Item1.  Legal Proceedings	82
Item1A.  Risk Factors	82
Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	82
Item 4.  Removed and Reserved	83
Item 6.  Exhibits	83
Signatures	84

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

	(Unaudited)
ASSETS	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Investments:
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $6,414,860 and $6,082,330)	$	5,849,916	5,641,909
Securities available for sale, at fair value (cost: $2,560,225 and $2,422,650)	2,821,367		2,624,953
Mortgage loans, net of allowance for possible losses ($0 and $4,571)	135,776		157,460
Policy loans	74,138		74,967
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Other long-term investments	41,346		34,472
Total investments	9,010,376		8,564,605
Cash and short-term investments	127,945		119,290
Deferred policy acquisition costs	698,283		722,542
Deferred sales inducements	150,939		155,753
Accrued investment income	93,727		87,875
Federal income tax receivable	1,368		—
Other assets	83,456		77,934
Total assets	$	10,166,094	9,727,999

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

3

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

	(Unaudited)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
LIABILITIES:
Future policy benefits:
Universal life and annuity contracts	$	8,329,743	8,023,798
Traditional life reserves	137,857		139,657
Other policyholder liabilities	152,725		151,308
Deferred Federal income tax liability	52,795		46,481
Federal income tax payable	—		5,962
Other liabilities	124,578		84,008
Total liabilities	8,797,698		8,451,214
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock:
Class A - $1 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized; 3,434,763 and 3,434,766 issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011	3,435		3,435
Class B - $1 par value; 200,000 shares authorized, issued, and outstanding in 2012 and 2011	200		200
Additional paid-in capital	37,767		37,767
Accumulated other comprehensive income	78,751		53,176
Retained earnings	1,248,243		1,182,207
Total stockholders’ equity	1,368,396		1,276,785
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	10,166,094	9,727,999

Note:  The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2011, has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements as of that date.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

4

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	2012			2011
Premiums and other revenues:
Universal life and annuity contract charges	$	36,924		34,550
Traditional life premiums	4,124			4,685
Net investment income	139,074			44,538
Other revenues	5,923			5,643
Net realized investment gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) gains (losses)	1,250			(1,741	)
Portion of OTTI (gains) losses recognized in other comprehensive income	(1,761		)	1,719
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(511		)	(22	)
Other net investment gains (losses)	5,451			2,960
Total net realized investment gains (losses)	4,940			2,938
Total revenues	190,985			92,354
Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits	12,323			12,363
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	28,403			29,909
Universal life and annuity contract interest	89,386			1,873
Other operating expenses	22,143			18,948
Total benefits and expenses	152,255			63,093
Earnings before Federal income taxes	38,730			29,261
Federal income taxes	14,408			9,996
Net earnings	$	24,322		19,265
Basic earnings per share:
Class A	$	6.88		5.45
Class B	$	3.44		2.73
Diluted earnings per share:
Class A	$	6.88		5.45
Class B	$	3.44		2.73

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

5

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	2012			2011
Premiums and other revenues:
Universal life and annuity contract charges	$	109,776		97,014
Traditional life premiums	13,111			13,314
Net investment income	366,813			275,777
Other revenues	17,444			20,247
Net realized investment gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) gains (losses)	788			(1,741	)
Portion of OTTI (gains) losses recognized in other comprehensive income	(1,918		)	1,719
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(1,130		)	(22	)
Other net investment gains (losses)	9,242			6,542
Total net realized investment gains (losses)	8,112			6,520
Total revenues	515,256			412,872
Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits	39,858			34,177
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	91,463			96,246
Universal life and annuity contract interest	216,933			147,254
Other operating expenses	64,613			58,727
Total benefits and expenses	412,867			336,404
Earnings before Federal income taxes	102,389			76,468
Federal income taxes	35,080			25,203
Net earnings	$	67,309		51,265
Basic earnings per share:
Class A	$	19.04		14.51
Class B	$	9.52		7.25
Diluted earnings per share:
Class A	$	19.04		14.49
Class B	$	9.52		7.25

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

6

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	2012			2011
Net earnings	$	24,322		19,265
Other comprehensive income, net of effects of deferred costs and taxes:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Net unrealized holding gains arising during period	15,202			5,543
Net unrealized liquidity gains (losses)	(3		)	(498	)
Reclassification adjustment for net amounts included in net earnings	(1,175		)	(2,069	)
Amortization of net unrealized (gains) losses related to transferred securities	(1		)	11
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities	14,023			2,987
Foreign currency translation adjustments	22			(21	)
Benefit plans:
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain (loss)	(19		)	236
Other comprehensive income	14,026			3,202
Comprehensive income	$	38,348		22,467

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

7

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	2012			2011
Net earnings	$	67,309		51,265
Other comprehensive income, net of effects of deferred costs and taxes:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Net unrealized holding gains arising during period	28,578			11,318
Net unrealized liquidity gains (losses)	134			(148	)
Reclassification adjustment for net amounts included in net earnings	(3,873		)	(4,148	)
Amortization of net unrealized (gains) losses related to transferred securities	—			18
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities	24,839			7,040
Foreign currency translation adjustments	307			(155	)
Benefit plans:
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain	429			819
Other comprehensive income	25,575			7,704
Comprehensive income	$	92,884		58,969

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

8

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited) (In thousands)
	2012			2011
Common stock:
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,635		3,629
Shares exercised under stock option plan	—			6
Balance at end of period	3,635			3,635
Additional paid-in capital:
Balance at beginning of period	37,767			37,140
Shares exercised under stock option plan	—			901
Balance at end of period	37,767			38,041
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gains on non-impaired securities:
Balance at beginning of period	69,116			62,499
Change in unrealized gains during period, net of tax	24,705			7,188
Balance at end of period	93,821			69,687
Unrealized losses on impaired held to maturity securities:
Balance at beginning of period	(2,320		)	(2,713	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	—			—
Amortization	21			163
Other-than-temporary impairments, non-credit, net of tax	316			—
Additional credit loss on previously impaired securities	360			—
Change in shadow deferred policy acquisition costs	(178		)	184
Balance at end of period	(1,801		)	(2,366	)
Unrealized losses on impaired available for sale securities:
Balance at beginning of period	(608		)	—
Other-than-temporary impairments, non-credit, net of tax	—			(1,117	)
Change in shadow deferred policy acquisition costs	(955		)	622
Recoveries, net of tax	570			—
Balance at end of period	(993		)	(495	)

9

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (continued) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited) (In thousands)
	2012			2011
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Balance at beginning of period	2,368			2,585
Change in translation adjustments during period	307			(155		)
Balance at end of period	2,675			2,430
Benefit plan liability adjustment:
Balance at beginning of period	(15,380		)	(11,963		)
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain, net of tax	429			819
Balance at end of period	(14,951		)	(11,144		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income at end of period	78,751			58,112
Retained earnings:
Balance at beginning of period	1,182,207			1,127,614
Net earnings	67,309			51,265
Stockholder dividends	(1,273		)	(1,271		)
Balance at end of period	1,248,243			1,177,608
Total stockholders' equity	$	1,368,396		$	1,277,396

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

10

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited) (In thousands)
	2012			2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	67,309		51,265
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
Universal life and annuity contract interest	216,933			147,254
Surrender charges and other policy revenues	(10,854		)	(1,340	)
Realized (gains) losses on investments	(8,112		)	(6,520	)
Accrual and amortization of investment income	(1,740		)	(2,140	)
Depreciation and amortization	4,246			4,019
(Increase) decrease in value of index options	(42,328		)	38,774
(Increase) decrease in deferred policy acquisition and sales inducement costs	(3,604		)	(52,324	)
(Increase) decrease in accrued investment income	(5,852		)	(10,052	)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(6,088		)	(6,015	)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities for future policy benefits	8,335			17,250
Increase (decrease) in other policyholder liabilities	1,417			(3,142	)
Increase (decrease) in Federal income taxes	(14,391		)	(4,353	)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	18,416			(322	)
Other, net	—			—
Net cash provided by operating activities	223,687			172,354
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of:
Securities available for sale	7,539			19,248
Other investments	8,646			4,732
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of:
Securities held to maturity	1,021,666			375,016
Securities available for sale	252,464			89,379
Index options	25,225			73,980
Purchases of:
Securities held to maturity	(1,208,044		)	(884,205	)
Securities available for sale	(388,228		)	(263,937	)
Index options	(42,184		)	(50,239	)
Other investments	(5,036		)	(10,361	)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	38,783			13,577
Cost of mortgage loans acquired	(16,728		)	(33,918	)
Decrease (increase) in policy loans	829			4,225
Other, net	(2		)	—
Net cash used in investing activities	(305,070		)	(662,503	)
	Continued on Next Page

11

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, CONTINUED For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 (Unaudited) (In thousands)
	2012			2011
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deposits to account balances for universal life and annuity contracts	715,037			1,116,161
Return of account balances on universal life and annuity contracts	(625,306		)	(615,196		)
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan	—			908
Net cash provided by financing activities	89,731			501,873
Effect of foreign exchange	307			(154		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and short-term investments	8,655			11,570
Cash and short-term investments at beginning of period	119,290			80,332
Cash and short-term investments at end of period	$	127,945		$	91,902
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	$	30		$	10
Income taxes	$	49,540		$	30,209
Noncash operating activities:
Deferral of sales inducements	$	2,965		$	12,386

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

12

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(1)  CONSOLIDATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of National Western Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (“Company” or "National Western") as of September 30, 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. It is recommended that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 accessible free of charge through the Company's internet site at www.nationalwesternlife.com or the Securities and Exchange Commission internet site at www.sec.gov. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Western Life Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: The Westcap Corporation, NWL Investments, Inc., NWL Services, Inc., NWL Financial, Inc., NWLSM, Inc. and Regent Care San Marcos Holdings, LLC. All significant intercorporate transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include (1) liabilities for future policy benefits, (2) valuation of derivative instruments, (3) recoverability and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, (4) valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, (5) other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities, (6) commitments and contingencies, and (7) valuation allowances for mortgage loans and real estate.

The Company implemented new actuarial reserving systems that enhance its ability to provide better estimates used in establishing future policy liabilities, monitor the deferred acquisition cost asset and the deferred sales inducements asset as well as support other actuarial processes within the Company. The implementation of these new reserving systems for specific blocks of business began in the second quarter of 2009 and was completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.  As the Company applied these new systems to a line of business, current reserving assumptions were reviewed and updated as appropriate. In different reporting periods during this time period, certain corrections were made to reserve and Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs balances as a result of the implementation of the new reserving system.  As the amounts of these corrections were determined to have occurred over the course of multiple previously reported periods, it was concluded that the amounts of the corrections were immaterial to the financial results reported in any of these periods. None of these corrections occurred in 2012.

Certain amounts in the prior year condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

13

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(2)  NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

During July 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new guidance that requires additional disclosures related to an entity’s financing receivables and the nature of its credit risks related to financing receivables.  The effective date was for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2010.  The adoption of this guidance was effective December 31, 2010.  See Note 9, Investments, of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for additional disclosures. The adoption of this guidance will not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

During October 2010, the FASB issued new guidance affecting insurance companies that incur costs in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts.  The guidance addresses the diversity in practice regarding the interpretation for which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal business qualify for deferral.  The new guidance specifies the acquisition costs which are capitalizable and those which must be expensed.  The effective date is for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2011.  The Company has evaluated the impact of this guidance on the condensed consolidated financial statements. Based on evaluation of actual expenses from 2011 the Company determined that $2.5 million of capitalized expenses during 2011 would not have been deferrable under the new guidance. The change would have reduced 2011 pretax operating income by 3.0%. Thus, management prospectively adopted the guidance and has concluded the new guidance does not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

During January 2011, the FASB issued new guidance which defers the effective date of disclosures about troubled debt restructurings in Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-20.  The new anticipated effective date is for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance will not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS”. ASU No. 2011-04 does not extend the use of the existing concepts or guidance regarding fair value. The guidance emphasizes using the same meaning and disclosures of fair value within the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The guidance requires disclosure of additional information about transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, additional disclosures for Level 3 fair value measurement, including quantitative and qualitative information about significant unobservable inputs and discussions about the sensitivity of these unobservable inputs and a description of the Company's valuation process. ASU No. 2011-04 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company has included the additional disclosures in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05 “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income”.  ASU No. 2011-05 provides that entities must present the components of net income, the components of comprehensive income and the total of comprehensive income for all periods presented.   ASU No. 2011-05 is effective for interim or annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011.  The provisions of ASU No. 2011-05 relate only to the presentation of other comprehensive income and, accordingly, its adoption did not have an impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.  This guidance was amended by ASU No. 2011-12 below.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, which defers certain provisions of ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  One of ASU No. 2011-05's provisions requires entities to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component in both the statement in which net income is presented and the statement in which other comprehensive income is presented. This requirement is indefinitely deferred by ASU No. 2011-12. ASUs No. 2011-05 and 2011-12 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The guidance did not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements and current disclosures.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the American Institute of Certified Pubic Accounts ("AICPA"), and the SEC did not, or are not believed by management to, have a material impact on the Company’s present or future condensed consolidated financial statements.

14

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(3)  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

The Company is restricted by state insurance laws from the Colorado Division of Insurance as to dividend amounts which may be paid to stockholders without prior approval. The restrictions are based on statutory earnings and surplus levels of the Company. The maximum dividend payment which may be made without prior approval in 2012 is $91.9 million. The Company did not pay cash dividends on common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. However, the Company did declare a cash dividend on August 17, 2012 payable December 3, 2012 to stockholders on record as of October 29, 2012. The dividends declared were $0.36 per common share to Class A stockholders and $0.18 per common share to Class B stockholders. A dividend in the same amounts per share on Class A and Class B common stock was declared in August and paid in December of 2011.

(4)  EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share of common stock are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share assumes the issuance of common shares applicable to stock options in the denominator.

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012				2011
	Class A			Class B	Class A		Class B
	(In thousands except per share amounts)
Numerator for Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net income	$	24,322			19,265
Dividends - Class A shares	(1,237		)		(1,235	)
Dividends - Class B shares	(36		)		(36	)
Undistributed income	$	23,049			17,994
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	$	1,237		36	1,235		36
Allocation of undistributed income	22,397			652	17,485		509
Net income	$	23,634		688	18,720		545
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares	3,435			200	3,435		200
Effect of dilutive stock options	—			—	1		—
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions	3,435			200	3,436		200
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	6.88		3.44	5.45		2.73
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	6.88		3.44	5.45		2.73

15

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012				2011
	Class A			Class B	Class A		Class B
	(In thousands except per share amounts)
Numerator for Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net income	$	67,309			51,265
Dividends - Class A shares	(1,237		)		(1,235	)
Dividends - Class B shares	(36		)		(36	)
Undistributed income	$	66,036			49,994
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	$	1,237		36	1,235		36
Allocation of undistributed income	64,168			1,868	48,580		1,414
Net income	$	65,405		1,904	49,815		1,450
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares	3,435			200	3,433		200
Effect of dilutive stock options	—			—	4		—
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions	3,435			200	3,437		200
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	19.04		9.52	14.51		7.25
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	19.04		9.52	14.49		7.25

For the three and nine month per share calculations as of September 30, 2012, the exercise price of all outstanding stock options was above the market price of the Company's Class A common shares as of that date. Accordingly, there is no dilutive impact for stock options upon earnings per share during these periods.

16

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(5)  PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

(A) Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees. The plan provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The Company makes annual contributions to the plan that complies with the minimum funding provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). On October 19, 2007, the Company's Board of Directors approved an amendment to freeze the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2007. The freeze ceased future benefit accruals to all participants and closed the plan to any new participants. In addition, all participants became immediately 100% vested in their accrued benefits as of that date. Going forward future pension expense is projected to be minimal. Fair values of plan assets and liabilities are measured as of the prior December 31 for each respective year. The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost.

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	44		—		131		—
Interest cost	232			258		696		776
Expected return on plan assets	(268		)	(259	)	(803	)	(777	)
Amortization of prior service cost	1			1		3		3
Amortization of net loss	196			126		589		374
Net periodic benefit cost	$	205		126		616		376

The Company's minimum required contribution for the 2012 plan year is slightly over $1.1 million of which it expects to contribute just under $0.5 million during 2012 with the remainder to be contributed in 2013. The Company's minimum required contribution was reduced during the third quarter of 2012 as a result of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) which was enacted. In addition, the Company has contributions for the 2011 plan year payable during 2012 of $0.4 million. As of September 30, 2012, the Company has contributed $0.7 million to the plan for the 2011 and 2012 plan years.

The Company also sponsors a non-qualified defined benefit plan primarily for senior officers. The plan provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The pension obligations and administrative responsibilities of the plan are maintained by a pension administration firm, which is a subsidiary of American National Insurance Company ("ANICO"). ANICO has guaranteed the payment of pension obligations under the plan. However, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the plan should these entities be unable to meet their obligations under the existing agreements. Also, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the plan in the event that a plan participant continues employment with the Company beyond age seventy, the aggregate average annual participant salary increases exceed 10% per year, or any additional employees become eligible to participate in the plan. If any of these conditions are met, the Company would be responsible for any additional pension obligations resulting from these items. Amendments were made to the plan to allow an additional employee to participate and to change the benefit formula for the Chairman of the Company. As previously mentioned, these additional obligations are a liability to the Company. Effective December 31, 2004, this plan was frozen with respect to the continued accrual of benefits of the Chairman and the President of the Company in order to comply with law changes under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 ("Act").

Effective July 1, 2005, the Company established a second non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the Chairman of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that mirror and supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the previously discussed non-qualified defined benefit plan, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

Effective November 1, 2005, the Company established a third non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the President of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the first non-qualified defined benefit plan as previously discussed, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

17

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs for the Chairman and President non-qualified defined benefit plans.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	42	9	126	36
Interest cost	228		190	684	722
Amortization of prior service cost	14		92	44	350
Amortization of net loss	286		118	857	447
Net periodic benefit cost	$	570	409	1,711	1,555

The Company expects to contribute $2.0 million to these plans in 2012.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company has contributed $1.3 million to the plans.

(B) Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plans

The Company sponsors two healthcare plans to provide postretirement benefits to certain fully-vested individuals.  The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	32	38	97	113
Amortization of prior service cost	25		28	77	85
Amortization of net loss	11		—	31	—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	68	66	205	198

The Company expects to contribute minimal amounts to the plan in 2012.

18

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(6) SEGMENT AND OTHER OPERATING INFORMATION

The Company defines its reportable operating segments as domestic life insurance, international life insurance, and annuities. These segments are organized based on product types and geographic marketing areas.  A summary of segment information for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is provided below.

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic Life Insurance			International  Life Insurance	Annuities	All  Others	Totals
					(In thousands)
September 30, 2012
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	$	38,052		224,814	586,356	—	849,222
Total segment assets	450,649			1,111,039	8,302,668	239,259	10,103,615
Future policy benefits	380,752			821,178	7,265,670	—	8,467,600
Other policyholder liabilities	13,401			11,536	127,788	—	152,725
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	7,680		28,453	4,915	—	41,048
Net investment income	6,037			12,255	115,781	5,001	139,074
Other revenues	(46		)	32	213	5,724	5,923
Total revenues	13,671			40,740	120,909	10,725	186,045
Life and other policy benefits	4,482			4,827	3,014	—	12,323
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	437			2,083	25,883	—	28,403
Universal life and annuity contract interest	2,976			9,602	76,808	—	89,386
Other operating expenses	3,313			7,069	7,332	4,429	22,143
Federal income taxes (benefit)	865			6,271	3,215	2,328	12,679
Total expenses	12,073			29,852	116,252	6,757	164,934
Segment earnings (loss)	$	1,598		10,888	4,657	3,968	21,111

19

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	Domestic Life Insurance		International Life Insurance	Annuities	All Others	Totals
				(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	22,499	83,999	16,389	—	122,887
Net investment income	15,846		34,967	302,045	13,955	366,813
Other revenues	6		378	14	17,046	17,444
Total revenues	38,351		119,344	318,448	31,001	507,144
Life and other policy benefits	7,750		14,622	17,486	—	39,858
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	4,896		15,448	71,119	—	91,463
Universal life and annuity contract interest	11,419		30,845	174,669	—	216,933
Other operating expenses	10,659		19,605	19,104	15,245	64,613
Federal income taxes (benefit)	1,241		13,277	12,335	5,388	32,241
Total expenses	35,965		93,797	294,713	20,633	445,108
Segment earnings (loss)	$	2,386	25,547	23,735	10,368	62,036

20

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic Life Insurance			International  Life Insurance		Annuities		All  Others	Totals
						(In thousands)
September 30, 2011
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	$	40,676		229,656		596,216		—	866,548
Total segment assets	401,243			1,034,324		7,784,519		219,376	9,439,462
Future policy benefits	335,100			744,862		6,831,949		—	7,911,911
Other policyholder liabilities	13,883			17,567		116,934		—	148,384
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	8,345		25,375		5,515		—	39,235
Net investment income	1,655			3,253		33,940		5,690	44,538
Other revenues	3			(20	)	152		5,508	5,643
Total revenues	10,003			28,608		39,607		11,198	89,416
Life and other policy benefits	2,151			4,737		5,475		—	12,363
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	2,791			8,249		18,869		—	29,909
Universal life and annuity contract interest	2,848			766		(1,741	)	—	1,873
Other operating expenses	2,426			4,353		7,059		5,110	18,948
Federal income taxes (benefit)	(66		)	3,561		3,414		2,059	8,968
Total expenses	10,150			21,666		33,076		7,169	72,061
Segment earnings (loss)	$	(147	)	6,942		6,531		4,029	17,355

21

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	Domestic Life Insurance		International Life Insurance	Annuities	All Others	Totals
				(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	20,994	75,551	13,783	—	110,328
Net investment income	11,136		25,806	225,882	12,953	275,777
Other revenues	8		346	3,143	16,750	20,247
Total revenues	32,138		101,703	242,808	29,703	406,352
Life and other policy benefits	6,575		13,898	13,704	—	34,177
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	8,445		24,374	63,427	—	96,246
Universal life and annuity contract interest	7,335		22,192	117,727	—	147,254
Other operating expenses	9,453		15,552	18,282	15,440	58,727
Federal income taxes (benefit)	108		8,417	9,722	4,674	22,921
Total expenses	31,916		84,433	222,862	20,114	359,325
Segment earnings (loss)	$	222	17,270	19,946	9,589	47,027

22

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Reconciliations of segment information to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Premiums and Other Revenues:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	41,048	39,235	122,887	110,328
Net investment income	139,074		44,538	366,813	275,777
Other revenues	5,923		5,643	17,444	20,247
Realized gains (losses) on investments	4,940		2,938	8,112	6,520
Total condensed consolidated premiums and other revenues	$	190,985	92,354	515,256	412,872

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Federal Income Taxes:
Total segment Federal income taxes	$	12,679	8,968	32,241	22,921
Taxes on realized gains (losses) on investments	1,729		1,028	2,839	2,282
Total condensed consolidated Federal income taxes	$	14,408	9,996	35,080	25,203

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Net Earnings:
Total segment earnings	$	21,111	17,355	62,036	47,027
Realized gains (losses) on investments, net of taxes	3,211		1,910	5,273	4,238
Total condensed consolidated net earnings	$	24,322	19,265	67,309	51,265

23

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	September 30,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Total segment assets	$	10,103,615	9,439,462
Other unallocated assets	62,479		62,680
Total condensed consolidated assets	$	10,166,094	9,502,142

(7)   SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The Company had a stock and incentive plan ("1995 Plan") which provided for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards to eligible employees: (1) stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options; (2) stock appreciation rights, in tandem with stock options or freestanding; (3) restricted stock; and (4) performance awards. The 1995 Plan began on April 21, 1995, and was amended on June 25, 2004 to extend the termination date to April 20, 2010. The number of shares of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock which were allowed to be issued under the 1995 Plan, or as to which stock appreciation rights or other awards were allowed to be granted, could not exceed 300,000. Effective June 20, 2008, the Company's shareholders approved a 2008 Incentive Plan (“2008 Plan”). The 2008 Plan is substantially similar to the 1995 Plan and authorized an additional number of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock shares eligible for issue not to exceed 300,000. These shares may be authorized and unissued shares. The Company has issued only nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights under these plans.

All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the current 2008 Plan (as well as previously in the expired 1995 Plan). In addition, directors of the Company are eligible to receive the same types of awards as employees except that they are not eligible to receive incentive stock options. Company directors, including members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, are eligible for nondiscretionary stock options. The directors' grants vest 20% annually following one full year of service to the Company from the date of grant. The employees' grants vest 20% annually following three full years of service to the Company from the date of grant. All grants issued expire after ten years. No awards were issued during the first three quarters of 2012 or 2011.

Effective during March 2006, the Company adopted and implemented a limited stock buy-back program with respect to the 1995 Plan which provides option holders the additional alternative of selling shares acquired through the exercise of options directly back to the Company. Option holders may elect to sell such acquired shares back to the Company at any time within ninety (90) days after the exercise of options at the prevailing market price as of the date of notice of election. The buy-back program did not alter the terms and conditions of the 1995 Plan; however, the program necessitated a change in accounting from the equity classification to the liability classification.

In August 2008, the Company implemented another limited stock buy-back program, substantially similar to the 2006 program, for shares issued under the 2008 Plan.

24

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The Company uses the current fair value method to measure compensation cost. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, the liability balance was $2.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively. A summary of shares available for grant and stock option activity is detailed below.

		Options Outstanding
	Shares Available For Grant	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Stock Options:
Balance at January 1, 2012	291,000	86,118		$	187.83
Exercised	—	—		—
Forfeited	—	(3,050	)	218.94
Expired	—	—		—
Stock options granted	—	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	291,000	83,068		$	186.69

	Stock Appreciation Rights Outstanding
	Awards		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Stock Appreciation Rights:
Balance at January 1, 2012	75,411		$	126.64
Exercised	(2,700	)	121.28
Forfeited	(2,250	)	149.57
Granted	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	70,461		$	126.11

Stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) shown as forfeited in the above tables represent vested and unvested awards not exercised by plan participants prior to their termination from the Company. Forfeited stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were each awarded under the 1995 Plan. As the 1995 Plan terminated during calendar year 2010, the forfeited shares are not shown as being added back to the "Shares Available For Grant" balance.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $66,000 and $557,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The total share-based liabilities paid were $66,000 and $179,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively. For the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the total cash received from the exercise of options under the Plans was $0 and $0, respectively.

25

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes information about stock options and SARs outstanding at September 30, 2012.

	Options/SARs Outstanding
	Number Outstanding		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	Options Exercisable
Exercise prices:
$150.00	50,050		1.6 years	50,050
255.13	24,018		5.6 years	9,608
208.05	9,000		5.7 years	7,200
251.49	1,000		5.9 years	400
236.00	250		5.9 years	100
114.64	33,443		6.4 years	10,129
132.56	35,768		9.2 years	—
Totals	153,529			77,487
Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)	$	1,339		$	290

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above is based on the closing stock price of $143.25 per share on September 30, 2012.

In estimating the fair value of the options outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company employed the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumptions as detailed below.

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Expected term of options	2 to 9 years		2 to 10 years
Expected volatility:
Range	21.99% to 35.57%		25.39% to 37.73%
Weighted-average	27.54	%	30.87	%
Expected dividend yield	0.25	%	0.26	%
Risk-free rate:
Range	0.37% to 1.55%		0.73% to 2.03%
Weighted-average	0.88	%	1.16	%

The Company reviewed the contractual term relative to the options as well as perceived future behavior patterns of exercise.  Volatility is based on the Company’s historical volatility over the expected term of the option’s expected exercise date.

The pre-tax compensation cost (benefit) recognized in the financial statements related to the two plans defined above was $0.4 and $(2.2) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The related tax expense (benefit) recognized was $0.1 million and $(0.8) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

As of September 30, 2012, the total compensation cost related to nonvested options not yet recognized was $1.6 million.  This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.5 years.  The Company recognizes compensation cost over the graded vesting periods.

26

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(8) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(A) Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company is involved or may become involved in various legal actions in which claims for alleged economic and punitive damages have been or may be asserted, some for substantial amounts. In recent years, carriers offering life insurance and annuity products have faced litigation, including class action lawsuits, alleging improper product design, improper sales practices, and similar claims. As discussed below, the Company has been a defendant over the past several years in such a class action lawsuit. Given the uncertainty involved in these types of actions, the ability to make a reliable evaluation of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or an estimate of the amount of or range of potential loss is endemic to the particular circumstances and evolving developments of each individual matter on its own merits.

The Company is currently a defendant in a class action lawsuit pending as of June 12, 2006, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The case is titled In Re National Western Life Insurance Deferred Annuities Litigation. The complaint asserts claims for RICO violations, Financial Elder Abuse, Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17200, et seq, Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17500, et seq, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Aiding and Abetting Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Fraudulent Concealment, Cal. Civ. Code 1710, et seq, Breach of the Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, and Unjust Enrichment and Imposition of Constructive Trust. On July 12, 2010, the Court certified a nationwide class of policyholders under the RICO allegation and a California class under all of the remaining causes of action except breach of fiduciary duty. A trial date is not presently set. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses in this cause and intends to vigorously defend itself against the asserted claims. In addition, given the speculative and vague damage theories presented by the plaintiffs in the matter, the inability to ascertain any financial harm to the class of policyholders, and the current status of the case before the Court, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate a possible range of loss for disclosure in the accompanying financial statements. Therefore, no amounts have been provided in the financial statements of the Company as of September 30, 2012 for this matter.

In addition to the class action lawsuit described above, the Company is the named defendant in the case of Sheila Newman vs. National Western Life Insurance Company, which alleged mishandling of policyholder funds by an agent.  On February 3, 2010, the 415th Judicial District Court of Parker County in Weatherford, Texas, entered a Final Judgment against the Company of approximately $208,000 including actual damages of $113,000 and amounts for attorney's fees, and prejudgment interest on the actual damages.  In addition, the Final Judgment included $150 million for exemplary damages. The Court of Appeals on August 11, 2011, reversed the trial court judgment in its entirety and rendered a take nothing verdict in favor of National Western Life Insurance Company. Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed a motion for a rehearing which the Court ruled on October 13, 2011 that the trial court's judgment was still reversed and judgment was still entered that Newman take nothing, all in favor of National Western Life Insurance Company. The Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed a Motion for Reconsideration En Banc which the Court of Appeals denied on October 27, 2011. The Plaintiffs (Appellees) then filed a Motion for Rehearing of the Court's amended decision, which the Court of Appeals denied on December 22, 2011. On March 21, 2012, Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed a Petition for Review with the Texas Supreme Court and the Company filed its response on April 20, 2012. The Supreme Court has requested the Parties to file Briefs on the merits. Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed their Brief on October 31, 2012. The Company is currently working on its response.

Although there can be no assurances, at the present time, the Company does not anticipate that the ultimate liability arising from such other potential, pending, or threatened legal actions will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operating results of the Company.

The Company was involved in litigation as the plaintiff in a matter pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (“District Court”) against defendant, Western National Life Insurance Company and its parent company, AGC Life Insurance Company. The matter dealt with the alleged infringement of registered trademarks held by the Company. On March 25, 2011, the parties executed a Memorandum of Understanding on Settlement (“Memorandum”) under which the Company was to receive a settlement payment of $4 million. This amount was subsequently received and included in Other revenues, net of attorney fees, in the financial statements in the second quarter, 2011. The parties entered into a final written confidential settlement agreement originally dated May 2, 2011 and amended August 15, 2011.

Brazilian insurance regulators have sought to impose substantial penal fines against National Western Life Insurance Company. The Company firmly believes that Brazilian insurance regulators have no jurisdiction over the Company and that any such fines would be unenforceable against it.

27

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(B) Financial Instruments

In order to meet the financing needs of its customers in the normal course of business, the Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. These financial instruments are commitments to extend credit which involve elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amounts, assuming that the amounts are fully advanced and that collateral or other security is of no value. Commitments to extend credit are legally binding agreements to lend to a customer that generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Commitments do not necessarily represent future liquidity requirements, as some could expire without being drawn upon. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The Company controls the credit risk of these transactions through credit approvals, limits, and monitoring procedures.

The Company had $5.7 million of commitments to extend credit relating to mortgage loans at September 30, 2012. The Company evaluates each customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.

(9) INVESTMENTS

(A) Investment Gains and Losses

The table below presents realized investment gains and losses, excluding impairment losses, for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Available for sale debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	$	1,847		3,211		6,054		6,348
Realized losses on disposal	—			—		—		—
Held to maturity debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	1,102			269		1,262		747
Realized losses on disposal	(267		)	(520	)	(680	)	(520	)
Equity securities realized gains (losses)	113			—		109		56
Real estate gains (losses)	2,644			—		2,485		(50	)
Mortgage loans write-downs	—			—		—		(39	)
Other	12			—		12		—
Totals	$	5,451		2,960		9,242		6,542

28

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The Company uses the specific identification method in computing realized gains and losses. Approximately 77% of the gains on bonds are due to calls of securities rather than sales. This includes calls out of the Company's available for sale portfolio of debt securities. Real estate gains of $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2012 pertain to the sale of a New Orleans property previously impaired as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

The table below presents net impairment losses recognized in earnings for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Total other-than-temporary impairment gains (losses) on debt securities	$	1,267		(1,727	)	858		(1,727	)
Portion of loss (gain) recognized in comprehensive income	(1,761		)	1,719		(1,918	)	1,719
Net impairment losses (gains) on debt securities recognized in earnings	(494		)	(8	)	(1,060	)	(8	)
Equity securities impairments	(17		)	(14	)	(70	)	(14	)
Totals	$	(511	)	(22	)	(1,130	)	(22	)

The table below presents a roll forward of credit losses on securities for which the Company also recorded non-credit other-than-temporary impairments in other comprehensive loss.

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011
			(In thousands)
Beginning balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	$	1,688	1,122	997
Additions for credit losses not previously recognized in other-than-temporary impairments	494		1,060	125
Ending balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairment	$	2,182	2,182	1,122

29

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(B) Debt and Equity Securities

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	48,120	3,029	—		51,149
U.S. Treasury	1,906		680	—		2,586
States and political subdivisions	390,745		42,014	(112	)	432,647
Foreign governments	9,985		729	—		10,714
Public utilities	743,038		88,341	(212	)	831,167
Corporate	2,710,117		280,836	(4,081	)	2,986,872
Mortgage-backed	1,911,975		149,410	—		2,061,385
Home equity	21,953		4,119	(590	)	25,482
Manufactured housing	12,077		783	(3	)	12,857
Totals	$	5,849,916	569,941	(4,998	)	6,414,859

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
States and political subdivisions	$	599	11	—		610
Foreign governments	15,136		965	—		16,101
Public utilities	258,889		27,574	—		286,463
Corporate	2,135,990		224,001	(2,644	)	2,357,347
Mortgage-backed	122,348		10,320	(251	)	132,417
Home equity	12,293		—	(1,821	)	10,472
Manufactured housing	5,410		242	—		5,652
	2,550,665		263,113	(4,716	)	2,809,062
Equity public	9,560		2,818	(73	)	12,305
Totals	$	2,560,225	265,931	(4,789	)	2,821,367

30

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	205,464	3,519	(330	)	208,653
U.S. Treasury	1,937		648	—		2,585
States and political subdivisions	358,364		27,338	(280	)	385,422
Foreign governments	9,979		927	—		10,906
Public utilities	685,989		77,060	(4,498	)	758,551
Corporate	2,258,640		195,551	(14,483	)	2,439,708
Mortgage-backed	2,082,650		155,413	(29	)	2,238,034
Home equity	23,815		439	(1,649	)	22,605
Manufactured housing	15,071		876	(81	)	15,866
Totals	$	5,641,909	461,771	(21,350	)	6,082,330

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
States and political subdivisions	$	4,042	16	(170	)	3,888
Foreign governments	20,145		588	—		20,733
Public utilities	327,794		32,511	(907	)	359,398
Corporate	1,881,735		155,144	(5,839	)	2,031,040
Mortgage-backed	163,856		12,389	(189	)	176,056
Home equity	10,887		30	(2,054	)	8,863
Manufactured housing	7,689		740	—		8,429
	2,416,148		201,418	(9,159	)	2,608,407
Equity private	195		7,923	—		8,118
Equity public	6,307		2,266	(145	)	8,428
Totals	$	2,422,650	211,607	(9,304	)	2,624,953

31

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's held to maturity investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	7,791		(113	)	—	—		7,791	(113	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	15,973		(11	)	13,702	(201	)	29,675	(212	)
Corporate	136,726		(521	)	41,603	(3,559	)	178,329	(4,080	)
Mortgage-backed	—		—		—	—		—	—
Home equity	1,047		(128	)	12,410	(462	)	13,457	(590	)
Manufactured housing	825		(3	)	—	—		825	(3	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	162,362	(776	)	67,715	(4,222	)	230,077	(4,998	)

32

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's available for sale investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	—		—		—	—		—	—
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	—		—		—	—		—	—
Corporate	34,346		(1,625	)	30,940	(1,019	)	65,286	(2,644	)
Mortgage-backed	7,872		(251	)	—	—		7,872	(251	)
Home equity	4,563		(358	)	5,909	(1,463	)	10,472	(1,821	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		—	—		—	—
	46,781		(2,234	)	36,849	(2,482	)	83,630	(4,716	)
Equity public	2,635		(22	)	340	(51	)	2,975	(73	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	49,416	(2,256	)	37,189	(2,533	)	86,605	(4,789	)

Liquidity in the bond market improved in 2012 and 2011 as economic and market conditions stabilized. Although the unrealized losses declined substantially in 2011 and continued to decline through the first three quarters of 2012, there continues to be uncertainty in the bond markets regarding the economic recovery and some unrealized losses remain in the Company's portfolio. The Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as the Company does not intend to sell these securities nor does it think it will be forced to sell until recovery in fair value or maturity, and expects to receive all amounts due relative to principal and interest.

The Company does not consider securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired when the market decline is attributable to factors such as market volatility, liquidity, spread widening and credit quality and when recovery of all amounts due under the contractual terms of the security is anticipated. Based on the review and the Company's ability and intent not to sell these securities until maturity, the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2012. The Company will monitor the investment portfolio for future changes in issuer facts and circumstances that could result in future impairments beyond those currently identified.

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment on five asset-backed securities. The securities had $0.5 million of credit impairment which is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and $1.2 million of liquidity gains which did not affect current earnings. The Company intends to hold the securities until recovery of fair market value or maturity.

33

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Debt securities. The gross unrealized losses for debt securities are made up of 49 individual issues, or 4.0% of the total debt securities held by the Company. The market value of these bonds as a percent of amortized cost averages 97.0%. Of the 49 securities, 15, or approximately 30.6%, fall in the 12 months or greater aging category; and 38 were rated investment grade at September 30, 2012. Additional information on debt securities by investment category is summarized below.

U.S. Government agencies.No securities had an unrealized loss.

U.S. Treasury. No securities had an unrealized loss.

State and political subdivisions. The unrealized losses on these investments are the result of holdings in 5 securities. Of these securities, all are rated A- or above except 1 security which is rated BB. Based on these facts and the Company's intent to hold to maturity, no other-than-temporary loss was recognized as of September 30, 2012.

Foreign governments.No securities had an unrealized loss.

Public utilities. Of the 5 securities, all are rated BB+ or above. At this time, the Company does not consider any of these unrealized losses as other-than-temporary.

Corporate bonds. Corporate securities with unrealized losses are reviewed based on monitoring procedures described previously. The review includes the amount of the unrealized loss, the length of time that the issue has been in an unrealized loss position, credit ratings, analyst reports, and recent issuer financial information. A total of 27 securities had unrealized losses; 5 issues were rated below investment grade. More extensive analysis was performed on these 5 issues. Based on the analysis performed, none of these securities are considered other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2012.

Mortgage-backed securities. 2 securities had unrealized losses. Both are rated CCC and were impaired based on cash flow analysis. The Company generally purchases these investments at a discount relative to their face amount and it is expected that the securities will not be settled at a price less than the stated par.

Home equity. Of the 8 securities, 5 are rated AAA, 2 are rated AA, and 1 is rated CC. The Company performs quarterly cash flow analysis on asset-backed securities. Based on cash flow analysis, other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized on 2 of the securities as of September 30, 2012 .

Manufactured housing.Two securities had negligible unrealized losses. The securities are rated A and above and are not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

Equity securities. The gross unrealized losses for equity securities are made up of 13 individual issues. These holdings are reviewed for impairment quarterly. As of September 30, 2012, 3 equity securities were other-than-temporarily impaired.

34

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's held to maturity investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	24,985	(16	)	27,010	(314	)	51,995	(330	)
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	805		(82	)	17,117	(198	)	17,922	(280	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	26,509		(1,388	)	17,242	(3,110	)	43,751	(4,498	)
Corporate	199,934		(7,215	)	95,975	(7,268	)	295,909	(14,483	)
Mortgage-backed	23,256		(29	)	—	—		23,256	(29	)
Home equity	—		—		11,660	(1,649	)	11,660	(1,649	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		2,436	(81	)	2,436	(81	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	275,489	(8,730	)	171,440	(12,620	)	446,929	(21,350	)

35

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's available for sale investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	—		—		2,257	(170	)	2,257	(170	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	19,314		(907	)	—	—		19,314	(907	)
Corporate	100,584		(4,009	)	20,944	(1,830	)	121,528	(5,839	)
Mortgage-backed	3,950		(189	)	—	—		3,950	(189	)
Home equity	—		—		5,351	(2,054	)	5,351	(2,054	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		—	—		—	—
	123,848		(5,105	)	28,552	(4,054	)	152,400	(9,159	)
Equity public	722		(84	)	299	(61	)	1,021	(145	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	124,570	(5,189	)	28,851	(4,115	)	153,421	(9,304	)

(C)  Transfer of Securities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company made no transfers to the held to maturity category from securities available for sale. Lower holdings of securities available for sale reduces the Company's exposure to market price volatility while still providing securities available for liquidity and asset/liability management purposes.

(D) Mortgage Loans and Real Estate

A financing receivable is a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in a company's statement of financial position. Mortgage, equity, participation and mezzanine loans on real estate are considered financing receivables reported by the Company.

Credit and default risk is minimized through strict underwriting guidelines and diversification of underlying property types and geographic locations. In addition to being secured by the property, mortgage loans with leases on the underlying property are often guaranteed by the lease payments and also by the borrower. This approach has proven to result in quality mortgage loans with few defaults. Mortgage loan interest income is recognized on an accrual basis with any premium or discount amortized over the life of the loan. Prepayment and late fees are recorded on the date of collection.

36

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Loans in foreclosure, loans considered impaired or loans past due 90 days or more are placed on a non-accrual status. If a mortgage loan is determined to be on non-accrual status, the mortgage loan does not accrue any revenue into the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The loan is independently monitored and evaluated as to potential impairment or foreclosure. If delinquent payments are made and the loan is brought current, then the Company returns the loan to active status and accrues income accordingly. The Company has no loans past due 90 days which are accruing interest.

The following table represents the loan-to-value ratio using the most recent appraised value.

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Amount	%		Amount	%
	(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Mortgage Loans by Loan-to-Value Ratio (1):
Less than 50%	58,307	42.9	%	68,048	43.2	%
50% to 60%	17,719	13.1	%	32,091	20.4	%
60% to 70%	27,685	20.4	%	25,692	16.3	%
70% to 80%	8,659	6.4	%	5,505	3.5	%
80% to 90%	—	—	%	—	—	%
Greater than 90%	23,406	17.2	%	26,124	16.6	%
Totals	135,776	100.0	%	157,460	100.0	%

(1) Loan-to-Value Ratio using the most recent appraised value.

The mortgage loans in the greater than 90% category relate to new loans made with a long standing borrower. The loans are backed by the investment property, contracted leases, as well as a separate and additional guarantee of the long standing borrower.

The Company does not consider its mortgage loans to be a separate portfolio segment. The Company considers its primary class to be property type and primarily uses loan-to-value as its credit risk quality indicator. All loans within the portfolio are analyzed quarterly in order to monitor the financial quality of these assets. Based on ongoing monitoring, mortgage loans with a likelihood of becoming delinquent are identified and placed on an internal “watch list”. Among the criteria that would indicate a potential problem are: major tenant vacancies or bankruptcies, late payments, and loan relief/restructuring requests. The mortgage loan portfolio is analyzed for the need for a valuation allowance on any loan that is on the internal watch list, in the process of foreclosure or that currently has a valuation allowance.

Mortgage loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. When it is determined that a loan is impaired, a loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying amount of the mortgage loan and the estimated value reduced by the cost to sell. Estimated value is typically based on the loan's observable market price or the fair value of the collateral less cost to sell. Impairments and changes in the valuation allowance are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

37

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table represents the mortgage loan allowance for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011:

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	4,571		3,962
Provision	—			609
Releases	(4,571		)	—
Balance, end of period	$	—		4,571

The mortgage loan allowance released in the second quarter of 2012 pertained to a property forced into bankruptcy which the Company subsequently acquired in a bankruptcy auction. The mortgage loan was closed and the property reclassified as a real estate investment included in other long-term investments on the Company's balance sheet. The property was subsequently sold in the third quarter of 2012 for a net gain of $2.7 million.

(10) FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. In compliance with this GAAP guidance, the Company has categorized its financial instruments, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three level hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). If the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the category level is based on the lowest priority level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are categorized as follows:

Level 1: Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Company for identical assets or liabilities. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. These generally provide the most reliable evidence and are used to measure fair value whenever available. The Company's Level 1 assets include equity securities that are traded in an active exchange market. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets.

Level 2: Fair value is based upon significant inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability through corroboration with observable market data as of the reporting date. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted market prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable and other observable inputs. The Company's Level 2 assets include fixed maturity debt securities (corporate and private bonds, government and agency securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities), preferred stock, certain equity securities, and over-the-counter derivative contracts. The Company's Level 2 liabilities consist of certain product-related embedded derivatives. Valuations are generally obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or determined through use of valuation methodologies using observable market inputs.

Level 3: Fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs which reflect the entity's or third party pricing service's assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The Company's Level 3 assets include certain equity securities and certain less liquid or private fixed maturity debt securities where significant valuation inputs cannot be corroborated with market observable data. The Company's Level 3 liabilities consist of share-based compensation obligations. Valuations are estimated based on non-binding broker prices or internally developed valuation models or methodologies, discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques.

38

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following tables set forth the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the date indicated:

	September 30, 2012
	Total		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,809,062	—	2,809,062	—
Equity securities, available for sale	12,305		12,184	121	—
Derivatives, index options	87,833		—	87,833	—
Total assets	$	2,909,200	12,184	2,897,016	—
Policyholder account balances (a)	$	98,396	—	98,396	—
Other liabilities (b)	2,003		—	—	2,003
Total liabilities	$	100,399	—	98,396	2,003

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company transferred out of Level 3, equity securities available for sale, its investment in an affiliated company, Moody Bancshares. The security is held at its equity value and was transferred to other long-term investments. The Company did not make any other transfers of assets into or out of levels 1, 2 or 3 during the period reported.

	December 31, 2011
	Total		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,608,407	—	2,608,407	—
Equity securities, available for sale	16,546		8,233	195	8,118
Derivatives, index options	30,844		—	30,844	—
Total assets	$	2,655,797	8,233	2,639,446	8,118
Policyholder account balances (a)	$	47,129	—	47,129	—
Other liabilities (b)	1,647		—	—	1,647
Total liabilities	$	48,776	—	47,129	1,647

(a)  Represents the fair value of certain product-related embedded derivatives that were recorded at fair value.

(b)  Represents the liability for share-based compensation.

39

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following tables present, by pricing source and fair value hierarchy level, the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	September 30, 2012
	Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	$	2,809,062		—		2,809,062		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	2,809,062			—		2,809,062		—
Equity securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	12,305			12,184		121		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	12,305			12,184		121		—
Derivatives, index options:
Priced by third-party vendors	87,833			—		87,833		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	87,833			—		87,833		—
Total	$	2,909,200		12,184		2,897,016		—
Percent of total	100.0		%	0.4	%	99.6	%	—	%

40

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	December 31, 2011
	Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	$	2,608,407		—		2,608,407		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	2,608,407			—		2,608,407		—
Equity securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	8,428			8,233		195		—
Priced internally	8,118			—		—		8,118
Subtotal	16,546			8,233		195		8,118
Derivatives, index options:
Priced by third-party vendors	30,844			—		30,844		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	30,844			—		30,844		—
Total	$	2,655,797		8,233		2,639,446		8,118
Percent of total	100.0		%	0.3	%	99.4	%	0.3	%

The following tables provide additional information about fair value measurements for which significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs were utilized to determine fair value.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale		Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets	Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, July 1, 2012	$	—	—	—	2,217
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—		—	—	(166	)
Included in other comprehensive income	—		—	—	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	—		—	—	(48	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—		—	—	—
Balance at end of period	$	—	—	—	2,003
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—	—	—	(68	)

41

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale			Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, July 1, 2011	$	17,157		8,119	25,276		3,090
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—			—	—		(1,375	)
Included in other comprehensive income	(1,802		)	—	(1,802	)	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	30			—	30		—
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—			—	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	15,385		8,119	23,504		1,715
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—		—	—		(1,375	)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale		Equity Securities, Available for Sale		Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2012	$	—	8,118		8,118		1,647
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—		—		—		422
Included in other comprehensive income	—		897		897		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	—		—		—		(66	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—		(9,015	)	(9,015	)	—
Balance at end of period	$	—	—		—		2,003
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—	—		—		583

42

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale			Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2011	$	18,602		7,564	26,166		4,512
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—			—	—		(2,240	)
Included in other comprehensive income	(2,615		)	555	(2,060	)	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	(602		)	—	(602	)	(557	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—			—	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	15,385		8,119	23,504		1,715
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—		—	—		(1,642	)

Realized gains (losses) on debt and equity securities are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings as net investment gains (losses). Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale debt and equity securities are reported as other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders' equity of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The fair value hierarchy classifications are reviewed each reporting period. Reclassification of certain financial assets and liabilities may result based on changes in the observability of valuation attributes. Reclassifications are reported as transfers into and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.

43

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments are as follows:

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Carrying Values		Fair Values	Carrying Values	Fair Values
	(In thousands)
ASSETS
Investments in debt and equity securities:
Securities held to maturity	$	5,849,916	6,414,860	5,641,909	6,082,330
Securities available for sale	2,821,367		2,821,367	2,624,953	2,624,953
Cash and short-term investments	127,945		127,945	119,290	119,290
Mortgage loans	135,776		141,013	157,460	158,958
Policy loans	74,138		74,138	74,967	74,967
Other loans	14,691		14,903	16,287	16,780
Derivatives, index options	87,833		87,833	30,844	30,844
Life interest in Libbie Shearn Moody Trust	83		12,775	330	12,775
LIABILITIES
Deferred annuity contracts	$	6,840,702	6,466,991	6,606,886	6,273,379
Immediate annuity and supplemental contracts	503,147		548,490	506,982	521,122

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company's entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a portion of the Company's financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

(11)   DERIVATIVE INVESTMENTS

Fixed-indexed products provide traditional fixed annuities and universal life contracts with the option to have credited interest rates linked in part to an underlying equity index or a combination of equity indices. The equity return component of such policy contracts is identified separately and accounted for in future policy benefits as embedded derivatives on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The remaining portions of these policy contracts are considered the host contracts and are recorded separately as fixed annuity or universal life contracts. The host contracts are accounted for under debt instrument type accounting in which future policy benefits are recorded as discounted debt instruments that are accreted, using the effective yield method, to their minimum account values at their projected maturities or termination dates.

The Company purchases over-the-counter index options, which are derivative financial instruments, to hedge the equity return component of its fixed-indexed annuity and life products. The index options act as hedges to match closely the returns on the underlying index or indices. The amounts which may be credited to policyholders are linked, in part, to the returns of the underlying index or indices. As a result, changes to policyholders' liabilities are substantially offset by changes in the value of the options. Cash is exchanged upon purchase of the index options and no principal or interest payments are made by either party during the option periods. Upon maturity or expiration of the options, cash may be paid to the Company depending on the performance of the underlying index or indices and terms of the contract.

44

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The Company does not elect hedge accounting relative to these derivative instruments.The index options are reported at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The changes in the values of the index options and the changes in the policyholder liabilities are both reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Any changes relative to the embedded derivatives associated with policy contracts are reflected in contract interest in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Any gains or losses from the sale or expiration of the options, as well as period-to-period changes in values, are reflected as net investment income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Although there is credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the index options, the Company does not expect any counterparties to fail to meet their obligations, given their high credit ratings. In addition, credit support agreements are in place with all counterparties for option holdings in excess of specific limits, which may further reduce the Company's credit exposure.

The tables below present the fair value of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

	September 30, 2012
	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
		(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Equity index options	Derivatives, Index Options	$	87,833
Fixed-indexed products				Universal Life and Annuity Contracts	$	98,396
Total		$	87,833		$	98,396

	December 31, 2011
	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
		(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Equity index options	Derivatives, Index Options	$	30,844
Fixed-indexed products				Universal Life and Annuity Contracts	$	47,129
Total		$	30,844		$	47,129

45

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The table below presents the effect of derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

		September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
Derivatives Not Designated  As Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain  or (Loss) Recognized In Income on Derivative	Amount of Gain or  (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Derivative
		(In thousands)
Equity index options	Net investment income	$	32,369		(61,524	)
Fixed-index products	Universal life and annuity contract interest	(32,988		)	65,751
		$	(619	)	4,227

The table below presents the effect of derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

		September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
Derivatives Not Designated  As Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain  or (Loss) Recognized In Income on Derivative	Amount of Gain or  (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Derivative
		(In thousands)
Equity index options	Net investment income	$	42,328		(38,774	)
Fixed-index products	Universal life and annuity contract interest	(48,050		)	41,971
		$	(5,722	)	3,197

(12) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Subsequent events have been evaluated through November 8, 2012, which is the date that the financial statements have been issued, and no reportable items were identified.

46

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES

ABOUT MARKET RISK

This information is included in Item 2, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in the Investments in Debt and Equity Securities section.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing, and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act.

There have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting. Internal controls over financial reporting change as the Company modifies or enhances its systems and processes to meet business needs. Any significant changes in controls are evaluated prior to implementation to help ensure continued effectiveness of internal controls and the control environment.

47

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain information contained herein or in other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of National Western Life Insurance Company or its subsidiaries are or may be viewed as forward-looking. Although the Company has taken appropriate care in developing any such information, forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact actual results. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, matters described in the Company's SEC filings such as exposure to market risks, anticipated cash flows or operating performance, future capital needs, and statutory or regulatory related issues. However, National Western, as a matter of policy, does not make any specific projections as to future earnings, nor does it endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by others. Whether or not actual results differ materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events or developments. Also, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

Management's discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) of National Western Life Insurance Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 follows. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes beginning on page 3 of this report and with the 2011 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the SEC.

Overview

The Company provides life insurance products on a global basis for the savings and protection needs of policyholders and annuity contracts for the asset accumulation and retirement needs of contract holders, both domestically and internationally. The Company accepts funds from policyholders or contract-holders and establishes a liability representing future obligations to pay the policy or contract-holders and their beneficiaries.  To ensure the Company will be able to pay these future commitments, the funds received as premium payments and deposits are invested in high quality investments, primarily fixed income securities.

Due to the business of accepting funds to pay future obligations in later years and the underlying economics, the relevant factors affecting the Company’s business and profitability include the following:

• the level of sales and premium revenues collected

• persistency of policies and contracts

• returns on investments sufficient to produce acceptable spread margins over interest crediting rates

• investment credit quality which minimizes the risk of default or impairment

• levels of policy benefits and costs to acquire business

• the level of operating expenses

• effect of interest rate changes on revenues and investments including asset and liability matching

• maintaining adequate levels of capital and surplus

• actual levels of surrenders, withdrawals, claims and interest spreads and changes in assumptions for amortization of deferred policy acquisition expenses and deferred sales inducements

• changes in the fair value of derivative index options and embedded derivatives pertaining to fixed-index life and annuity products

• pricing and availability of adequate reinsurance

The Company monitors these factors continually as key business indicators. The discussion that follows in this Item 2 includes these indicators and presents information useful to an overall understanding of the Company's business performance in 2012, incorporating required disclosures in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

48

Insurance Operations - Domestic

The Company is currently licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia except for New York. Products marketed are annuities, universal life insurance, fixed-indexed universal life, and traditional life insurance, which include both term and whole life products. The Company's domestic sales have historically been more heavily weighted toward annuity products, which include single and flexible premium deferred annuities, single premium immediate annuities, and fixed-indexed annuities. Most of these annuities can be sold as tax qualified or nonqualified products. At September 30, 2012, the Company maintained approximately 141,000 annuity contracts in force.

National Western markets and distributes its domestic products primarily through independent national marketing organizations ("NMOs"). These NMOs assist the Company in recruiting, contracting, and managing independent agents. The Company currently has approximately 13,300 domestic independent agents contracted. Roughly 22% of these contracted agents have submitted policy applications to the Company in the past twelve months.

Insurance Operations - International

The Company's international clientele consists mainly of foreign nationals in upper socioeconomic classes. Insurance products are issued primarily to residents of countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim based upon applications received in the Company's home office in Austin, Texas. Issuing policies to residents of countries in these different regions provides diversification that helps to minimize large fluctuations that could arise due to various economic, political, and competitive pressures that may occur from one country to another. Products issued to international residents are almost entirely universal life and traditional life insurance products. However, certain annuity and investment contracts are also available. At September 30, 2012, the Company had approximately 73,110 international life insurance policies in force representing approximately $18.9 billion in face amount of coverage.

International applications are submitted by independent contractor consultants and broker-agents. The Company has approximately 3,520 independent international consultants and brokers currently contracted, 31% of which have submitted policy applications to the Company in the past twelve months.

There are some inherent risks of accepting international applications which are not present within the domestic market that are reduced substantially by the Company in several ways. As previously described, the Company accepts applications from foreign nationals in upper socioeconomic classes who have substantial financial resources. This targeted customer base coupled with the Company's conservative underwriting practices have historically resulted in claims experience, due to natural causes, similar to that in the United States. The Company minimizes exposure to foreign currency risks by requiring payment of premiums, claims and other benefits almost entirely in United States dollars. The Company's fifty years of experience with the international products and its longstanding independent consultant and broker-agent relationships further serve to minimize risks.

49

SALES

Life Insurance

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's life insurance sales activity as measured by annualized first year premiums. While the figures shown below are in accordance with industry practice and represent the amount of new business sold during the periods indicated, they are considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes sales are a measure of distribution productivity and are a leading indicator of future revenue trends. However, revenues are driven by sales in prior periods as well as in the current period and therefore, a reconciliation of sales to revenues is not meaningful or determinable.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
International:
Universal life	$	1,502	2,198	4,679	5,568
Traditional life	876		827	2,404	2,447
Equity-indexed life	3,464		5,030	10,442	14,131
	5,842		8,055	17,525	22,146
Domestic:
Universal life	73		163	147	214
Traditional life	72		13	96	33
Equity-indexed life	2,898		1,535	6,732	3,264
	3,043		1,711	6,975	3,511
Totals	$	8,885	9,766	24,500	25,657

Life insurance sales as measured by annualized first year premiums declined 9% in the third quarter of 2012 as compared to the third quarter of 2011. By market segment, the domestic life insurance line of business posted a 78% increase over the comparable results during the third quarter of 2011 while international life sales decreased 27.5% during the same time frame. For the nine months ended September 30th, total life insurance sales declined 4.5% as international life sales decreased by 21% during this period while domestic life insurance sales increased 99%.

The Company's international life business consists of applications accepted from residents of various regions outside of the United States, the volume of which typically varies based upon changes in the socioeconomic climates of these regions. Historically, the Company has experienced a simultaneous combination of rising and declining sales in various countries; however, the appeal of the Company's dollar-denominated life insurance products overcomes many of the local and national difficulties. In the “Great Recession” economic climate during 2008-2009, individuals in countries outside of the United States became increasingly leery of the U.S. economy and the stability of financial institutions and markets. These concerns resulted in reduced international sales during this time period. As fiscal and regulatory policies were enacted in response to the financial market turmoil, the ensuing level of relative stability served to recapture the confidence of international markets. Consequently, the Company witnessed an increased level of submitted life insurance applications beginning during the latter half of 2010.

As reported in the Company's Form 10-Q filing for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, Brazilian insurance regulators publicly stated their intention to curtail the sales activity of certain foreign multinational insurers, including National Western, and attempt to levy fines. This public announcement has served to decrease the number of new applications for insurance from residents of Brazil since that time. Excluding sales to residents of Brazil, international life sales increased 5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the comparable period in 2011.

50

Applications submitted from residents of Latin America and the Pacific Rim perennially have comprised the majority of the Company's international life insurance sales. Several years ago, new sales efforts were directed toward the sale of a traditional endowment form of life insurance product for residents of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union). However, the Company has scaled back its efforts in these areas due to profitability concerns. As noted previously, the Company's international sales by geographic market tend to fluctuate with the socio and economic climates in these regions. The Company's mix of international sales by geographic region is as follows.

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011
Percentage of International Sales:
Latin America	87.9	%	87.9	%
Pacific Rim	10.7		10.8
Eastern Europe	1.4		1.3
Totals	100.0	%	100.0	%

Year-to-date, the Company has accepted new business from residents outside of the United States in over thirty different countries with Brazil (21%), Venezuela (21%), and Taiwan (10%) comprising the largest contributions. Sales to residents in Venezuela increased 44% in the first nine months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

The Company's domestic operations have historically been more heavily skewed toward annuity sales rather than life insurance sales. Partially in response to comments from outside rating agencies who expressed a preference for a greater proportion of overall Company earnings to derive from the life insurance line of business, management began placing emphasis on building domestic life insurance sales as a strategic focus for future growth. The Company revamped its domestic life operations by changing the way it contracts distribution for life business, eliminating products and distribution that had not contributed significantly to earnings, and creating new and competitive products. These new offerings included single premium universal life ("SPUL") and equity-indexed universal life ("EIUL") products.

More recently the Company has developed hybrids of its EIUL and SPUL products, combining features, and discontinued the marketing of smaller premium and volume life insurance policies. The Company's product development emphasis in creating SPUL, EIUL, and single or limited pay EIUL products has been positioned to take advantage of the changing demographic in the marketplace as the “Baby Boomer” generation began reaching 65 years of age in 2011. These products are designed to facilitate the wealth transfer of accumulated savings of this segment of the population via systematic funding mechanisms such as single premium immediate annuities. These life products have been valuable offerings for the Company's distributors as evidenced by the 99% increase in domestic life sales in the first nine months of 2012 versus 2011.

The Company's implementation of commission caps on domestic policies in 2009 discouraged sales of larger face amounts resulting in lower sales levels and amounts of insurance per policy as shown below. While the average new policy face amounts subsequently declined, the increased sales activity in the past two years has produced a modest upward trend in this figure. Conversely, the Company's sales to international residents have witnessed a steady growth in the average face amount of insurance coverage per policy over the same time period.

	Average New Policy Face Amount
	Domestic	International
Year ended December 31, 2006	315,800	254,700
Year ended December 31, 2007	416,800	251,000
Year ended December 31, 2008	455,200	272,000
Year ended December 31, 2009	201,400	315,300
Year ended December 31, 2010	164,800	338,600
Year ended December 31, 2011	178,500	363,600
Nine months ended September 30, 2012	234,700	372,000

51

After several challenging years of life insurance sales in the wake of the global financial crisis, life insurers are looking for new ways to rebuild premium levels. The Company's focus is directed toward its competitive advantages in international markets and wealth transfer strategies for domestic life sales. Critical to these strategies is the Company's portfolio of fixed-index (equity indexed) life insurance products. Fixed-index life products accounted for 70% of total life sales in the first nine months of 2012, a slight increase from 68% for the same period in 2011.

The table below sets forth information regarding the Company's life insurance in force for each date presented.

	Insurance In Force as of
	September 30,
	2012		2011
	($ in thousands)
Universal life:
Number of policies	58,140		61,200
Face amounts	$	7,406,390	7,495,130
Traditional life:
Number of policies	41,860		43,890
Face amounts	$	3,102,580	2,852,560
Fixed-indexed life:
Number of policies	33,740		32,180
Face amounts	$	8,379,160	7,873,690
Rider face amounts	$	2,403,570	2,291,630
Total life insurance:
Number of policies	133,740		137,270
Face amounts	$	21,291,700	20,513,010

The Company's domestic in force business includes final expense policies and other smaller face amount traditional life policies written over the past several decades. As the Company's domestic product portfolio has changed to higher face amount universal life and fixed-indexed life policies, a decline in the number of traditional life policies in force has been steadily occurring.

At September 30, 2012, the Company’s face amount of life insurance in force was comprised of $18.9 billion from the international line of business and $2.4 billion from the domestic line of business. At December 31, 2011, these amounts were $18.6 billion and $2.3 billion for the international and domestic lines of business, respectively.

52

Annuities

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's annuity sales activity as measured by single and annualized first year premiums. Similar to life insurance sales, these figures are considered a non-GAAP financial measure but are shown in accordance with industry practice and depict the Company's sales productivity.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Fixed-indexed annuities	$	166,318	238,473	484,715	703,374
Other deferred annuities	49,746		120,863	117,081	324,423
Immediate annuities	10,136		10,427	33,976	27,127
Totals	$	226,200	369,763	635,772	1,054,924

Annuity sales in the third quarter of 2012 were 39% lower than in the third quarter of 2011. Likewise, annuity sales for the first nine months of 2012 were 40% lower than the comparable period in 2011. Although both periods are lower than the pace of 2011, annuity sales thus far in 2012 are in line with the Company's sales goals for the 2012 calendar year.

The recessionary contraction and financial market crisis that began in the latter half of 2007 and persisted into 2009 impacted many annuity carriers. Losses from investment impairments and equity exposure (for insurers with variable annuity product offerings) crippled the capital position of numerous companies and limited their ability to write new business. In contrast, the Company's substantial capital position attained through profitable operations and limited investment loss exposure positioned it to write additional levels of annuity business. In the past two years, the Company sold approximately $1.4 billion of annuity products per year indicative of the Company's enhanced competitive position in the marketplace.

Under the auspices of the Company's enterprise risk management (ERM) processes, management evaluated the potential ramifications of continuing a high level of annuity sales in the current depressed interest rate environment precipitated by the "quantitative easing" programs enacted by the Federal Reserve and the European debt crisis. Considered was the Federal Reserve's announced intention to maintain interest rates at current levels over the next several years and hints of future quantitative easing initiatives. While the Company does not subsidize its interest crediting rates on new policies in order to obtain market share, the Company's ERM considerations determined that managing to a lower level of annuity sales was prudent in the present environment.

The Company's mix of annuity sales tends to shift with interest rate levels and the relative performance of the equity market. Over the past several years, sales of fixed-indexed products have accounted for 55% to 75% of all annuity sales. During the first nine months of 2012 this percentage reached 76% reflecting the bull market run in equities since bottoming out in the first quarter of 2009 and the low level of fixed interest rates. For all fixed-indexed products, the Company purchases over the counter options to hedge the equity return feature. The options are purchased relative to the issuance of the annuity contracts in such a manner to minimize timing risk. Generally, the index return during the indexing period (if the underlying index increases) becomes a component in a formula (set forth in the annuity), the result of which is credited as interest to contract holders electing the index formula crediting method at the beginning of the indexing period. The formula result can never be less than zero with these products. The Company does not deliberately mismatch or under hedge for the equity feature of the products. Fixed-indexed products also provide the contract holder the alternative to elect a fixed interest rate crediting option.

Although a relatively smaller proportion of total annuity sales, sales of single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs) have increased during the past year in conjunction with the Company's life insurance sales strategy of wealth transfer. SPIAs are often used as the funding mechanism for transferring accumulated wealth into a life insurance product given its tax deferral advantages. Consequently, the Company's sales of these products have shown growth during the periods shown.

53

The increased level of annuity sales volume the past several years has required a greater level of asset/liability analysis. The Company monitors its asset/liability matching within the self-constraints of desired capital levels and risk tolerance. Despite the amounts of new business, the Company's capital level remains substantially above industry averages and regulatory targets. Management has performed analyses of the capital strain associated with incrementally higher levels of annuity new business and determined that the Company's capital position is more than sufficient to handle increased sales activity.

The following table sets forth information regarding annuities in force for each date presented.

	Annuities In Force as of
	September 30,
	2012		2011
	($ in thousands)
Fixed-indexed annuities
Number of policies	58,730		53,100
GAAP annuity reserves	$	4,098,748	3,626,488
Other deferred annuities
Number of policies	64,470		67,670
GAAP annuity reserves	$	2,725,878	2,744,797
Immediate annuities
Number of policies	17,840		17,260
GAAP annuity reserves	$	422,103	430,716
Total annuities
Number of policies	141,040		138,030
GAAP annuity reserves	$	7,246,729	6,802,001

Impact of Recent Business Environment

Economic data has shown mixed signs of improvement and backsliding over the past several quarters generating uncertainty about the direction of the economy at least in the near term. Recently, corporate earnings have displayed a degree of softness versus previous quarters, and there are various pockets of anecdotal evidence of a global slowdown that suggest tougher times ahead. It remains uncertain whether the financial stresses of various countries in the European community will be contained or disrupt the economic expansion in core Europe. Weaker growth figures from China seem to indicate a slowing down by one of the major underlying global economic machines. Concerns about the oncoming "fiscal cliff" in the U.S. appear to be restraining business owners from making investment commitments needed to fund future growth. The recent elections create an additional unknown regarding the ability to quickly address fiscal imbalances at the same time that the Federal Reserve's resolve to extend "QE" programs provide questionable stimulus for accelerating the grinding pace of economic activity. All of the above have served to decrease interest rate levels to historic lows.

With so much uncertainty regarding the future, it is difficult to confidently predict the direction that the U.S. and global economies are headed. While U.S. economic activity seems to be barely holding its own, global economies appear to be contracting or moving to slower levels of activity. Strong economic expansion generally benefits the Company's business. Alternatively, a tepid economic pace consisting of higher unemployment, lower personal income, muted consumer spending and lackluster corporate earnings and business investment could adversely impact the demand for the Company's products. Household financial income compression may also cause us to experience a higher incidence of claims, lapses or surrenders of policies. It is not possible to predict with certainty whether or when such activity may occur or what impact, if any, such actions could have on the Company's business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

54

As noted previously, the Company has enjoyed substantially higher annuity sales the past two years. While there may be many underlying reasons for this expansion in our annuity business, we believe that at least the following factors may explain this outcome: (1) during uncertain economic periods, consumers follow a flight to safety toward lower risk assets such as annuity products; (2) the Company's strong financial position, upgrade in financial strength rating from A.M. Best during 2009 and ample capital resources enhanced our presence in the annuity marketplace with independent distributors and end market consumers; (3) many of the Company's competitors incurred reductions in their capital base due to a deterioration in the quality of their investment portfolios, including investment impairments and losses, which caused them to curtail sales activity and recruitment of independent distribution; and (4) the uncertainty surrounding the potential regulation of fixed-indexed annuities by the SEC was eliminated when the U.S Court of Appeals vacated the proposed regulation (Rule 151A) and Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act which exempted annuities under the Securities Act of 1933. Despite these factors and their impact on the growth in the Company's annuity sales, the low interest rate environment expected to last over the next few years will present a different set of challenges in terms of managing risk and profitability.

The fixed income markets, our primary investment source, have experienced an improvement in fundamental credit quality. Credit downgrades of fixed income instruments by rating agencies were fairly prevalent during 2008 and 2009. However, credit default rates have since declined. The Company experienced minimal impairment and degradation of quality in its fixed income holdings during the financial crisis and subsequent recovery. There is no certainty that future events may produce the same success in this regard.

The unprecedented low U. S. Treasury yields combined with tightening credit spreads (difference between bond yields and risk-free interest rates) on fixed maturity securities has produced new challenges in managing Company profitability given the resulting “compression” on interest spreads (difference between the yield on investments and the amounts required to credit on associated policy values). Industry analysts and observers generally agree that a sudden jump in interest rate levels would be harmful to life insurers with interest-sensitive products as it could provide an impetus for abnormal product surrenders and withdrawals at the same time fixed debt securities held by insurers declined in market value. The federal government's burgeoning deficit and initial “quantitative easing” initiatives (QE) served to put upward pressure on longer term interest rates. The second round of initiatives announced by the Federal Reserve, referred to as "Operation Twist", targeted longer term yields in the hopes that lowering this end of the yield curve may prompt economic expansion particularly in the moribund housing sector. The third QE announcement by the Federal Reserve targeting the purchase of $40 billion of mortgage-backed securities per month is further intended to keep interest rates low through pumping additional liquidity into the financial system. Consequently, although it appears that the economy may be in a prolonged period of low interest rates, it is uncertain what direction and at what pace interest rate movements may occur in the future and what impact, if any, such movements would have on the Company's business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Our operating strategy continues to be to maintain capital levels substantially above regulatory and rating agency requirements. The Company maintains resources more than adequate to fund future growth and absorb abnormal periods of cash outflows.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In addition, the Company regularly evaluates operating performance using non-GAAP financial measures which exclude or segregate derivative and realized investment gains and losses from operating revenues. Similar measures are commonly used in the insurance industry in order to assess profitability and results from ongoing operations. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures enhances the understanding of the Company's results of operations by highlighting the results from ongoing operations and the underlying profitability factors of the Company's business. The Company excludes or segregates derivative and realized investment gains and losses because such items are often the result of events which may or may not be at the Company's discretion and the fluctuating effects of these items could distort trends in the underlying profitability of the Company's business. Therefore, in the following sections discussing condensed consolidated operations and segment operations, appropriate reconciliations have been included to report information management considers useful in enhancing an understanding of the Company's operations to reportable GAAP balances reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

55

Consolidated Operations

Revenues.  The following details Company revenues.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Universal life and annuity contract charges	$	36,924	34,550		109,776	97,014
Traditional life and annuity premiums	4,124		4,685		13,111	13,314
Net investment income (excluding derivatives)	106,705		106,062		324,485	314,551
Other revenues	5,923		5,643		17,444	20,247
Operating revenues	153,676		150,940		464,816	445,126
Derivative gain (loss)	32,369		(61,524	)	42,328	(38,774	)
Net realized investment gains (losses)	4,940		2,938		8,112	6,520
Total revenues	$	190,985	92,354		515,256	412,872

Universal life and annuity contract charges - Revenues for universal life and annuity contracts increased for the nine months in 2012 compared to 2011 primarily due to (1) higher cost of insurance and administrative charge revenues associated with a larger block of annuity business and life insurance volume in force and (2) greater surrender charges collected on terminated policies. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, revenues before reinsurance premiums ceded increased 10.1% compared to the comparable period in 2011. Effective April 1, 2011, the Company increased its retention on life insurance coverage from $300,000 on any one life to $500,000 which lowered the amount of reinsurance premium ceded.

Revenues for these products consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, administration charges, and surrender charges assessed against policyholder account balances, less reinsurance charges, as shown in the following table.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Contract Revenues:
Cost of insurance and administrative charges	$	31,990		29,628		93,245		86,369
Surrender charges	9,356			9,043		28,861		23,914
Other charges	(131		)	258		65		635
Gross contract revenues	41,215			38,929		122,171		110,918
Reinsurance premiums	(4,291		)	(4,379	)	(12,395	)	(13,904	)
Net contract revenues	$	36,924		34,550		109,776		97,014

Traditional life and annuity premiums - Traditional life and annuity premiums were down slightly in the first nine months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Traditional life insurance premiums for products such as whole life and term life are recognized as revenues over the premium-paying period. The Company's life insurance sales focus has been primarily centered around universal life products. Universal life products, especially the Company's equity indexed universal life products which offer the opportunity for consumers to acquire life insurance protection and receive credited interest linked in part to an outside market index such as the S&P 500 Index^®, have been more popular product offerings in the Company's markets.

56

Net investment income - To ensure the Company will be able to honor future commitments to policyholders and provide a financial return, the funds received as premium payments and deposits are invested in high quality investments, primarily fixed maturity debt securities. The income from these investments is closely monitored by the Company due to its significant impact on the business. A detail of net investment income (with and without index options) is provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Gross investment income:
Debt securities	$	102,137	100,920		306,544	298,038
Mortgage loans	2,571		3,163		9,255	8,822
Policy loans	1,232		1,271		3,839	3,916
Short-term investments	258		68		762	128
Other invested assets	737		1,010		4,892	4,399
Total investment income	106,935		106,432		325,292	315,303
Less: investment expenses	230		370		807	752
Net investment income (excluding derivatives)	106,705		106,062		324,485	314,551
Derivative gain (loss)	32,369		(61,524	)	42,328	(38,774	)
Net investment income	$	139,074	44,538		366,813	275,777

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, investment grade debt securities generated approximately 94.2% of total investment income, excluding derivative gain (loss). The growth in investment income from debt securities in the third quarter of 2012 versus 2011 reflects the increase in the size of the portfolio fueled by investable cash inflows from annuity sales. Mortgage loan investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased over the comparable period in 2011 reflecting additional payoff amounts received on loans closed in 2012. The increase in short-term investment income during 2012 is indicative of an increased use of short-term commercial paper as a temporary investment strategy while the Company endeavors to invest its sizable cash flow in longer term debt securities.

In order to assess underlying profitability and results from ongoing operations, net investment income performance is analyzed excluding derivative gain (loss), which is a common practice in the insurance industry.  Net investment income performance is summarized as follows:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Excluding derivatives:
Net investment income	$	324,485		314,550
Average invested assets, at amortized cost	$	8,697,100		7,994,444
Annual yield on average invested assets	4.97		%	5.25	%
Including derivatives:
Net investment income	$	366,813		275,777
Average invested assets, at amortized cost	$	8,735,274		8,089,081
Annual yield on average invested assets	5.60		%	4.55	%

57

The lower yield on average invested assets, excluding derivatives, through the third quarter of 2012 compared to 2011 is due to the progressively lower yields obtained on new fixed maturity debt securities investments. During 2011, the average yield on bond purchases to fund insurance operations was 4.18% representing a 1.43% spread over treasury rates. Insurance operation bond purchases through the third quarter of 2012 had an average yield of 3.47% with spreads expanding to 1.65% over treasury rates. The Company's general investment strategy is to purchase securities with maturity dates approximating ten years in the future. Accordingly, an appropriate measure for benchmarking the direction of interest rate levels for the Company's debt security purchases is the ten year treasury bond rate. The ten year year treasury bond rate reached as low as 1.40% during the third quarter of 2012.

Other revenues - Other revenues primarily pertain to the Company's two nursing home operations in Reno, Nevada and San Marcos, Texas. Revenues associated with these operations were $17.0 million and $16.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Other revenues in the first nine months of 2011 also includes a $4.0 million gross settlement amount, netted for legal expenses incurred, from a lawsuit in which the Company was the plaintiff.

Derivative gain (loss) - Index options are derivative financial instruments used to hedge the equity return component of the Company's fixed-indexed products. Derivative gain or loss includes the amounts realized from the sale or expiration of the options. Since the index options do not meet the requirements for hedge accounting under GAAP, they are marked to fair value on each reporting date and the resulting unrealized gain or loss is also reflected as a component of net investment income.

Gains and losses from index options are due to equity market conditions. Index options are intended to act as hedges to match the returns on the product's underlying reference index and the rise or decline in the index relative to index level at the time of the option purchase causes option values to likewise rise or decline. As income from index options fluctuates with the underlying index, the contract interest expense to policyholder accounts for the Company's fixed-indexed products also fluctuates in a similar manner and direction. For the quarter ended September 30, 2012 , the reference indices increased and the Company recorded an overall gain from index options with a corresponding increase in contract interest expense during this period.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Derivatives:
Unrealized gain (loss)	$	26,800	(84,610	)	65,097		(71,519	)
Realized gain (loss)	5,569		23,086		(22,769	)	32,745
Total gain (loss) included in net investment income	$	32,369	(61,524	)	42,328		(38,774	)
Total contract interest	$	89,386	1,873		216,933		147,254

The economic impact of the option performance in the Company's financial statements is not generally determined solely by the option gain or loss included in net investment income as a corresponding amount is recorded in the contract interest expense line. Rather, the Company's financial result for these options is dependent upon the purchase cost of the option remaining within the financial budget for purchasing options embedded in the product pricing. Option prices vary with interest rates, volatility, and dividend yields among other things. As option prices vary, the Company manages for the variability by making offsetting adjustments to product caps, participation rates, and management fees. For the periods shown, the Company's option costs have been within the product pricing budgets.

Net realized investment gains (losses) - Realized gains on investments in the third quarter of 2012 primarily resulted from bond calls and sales. The net gains reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 consisted of gross gains of $9.9 million offset by gross losses of $1.8 million, which include other-than-temporary impairment losses.

58

The Company records impairment write-downs when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary and full recovery of the investment is not expected. Impairments due to credit factors are recorded in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings while non-credit (liquidity) impairment losses are included in other comprehensive income (loss). Impairment and valuation write-downs reflected in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings are summarized in the following table.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Impairment or valuation write-downs:
Bonds	$	494	8	1,060	8
Equities	17		14	70	14
Mortgage loans	—		—	—	39
Real estate	—		—		50
Total	$	511	22	1,130	111

Bond impairments during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012 pertained to asset-backed securities whose cash flows and fair values did not support the amortized cost basis at which the instrument was recorded in the financial records. Equity impairments represent a mark-to-market write-down on securities in which the market discount to book value was significant and had been maintained for several reporting periods. Equity securities represent 0.1% of invested assets and individual holdings have an average cost basis of approximately $50,000.

Benefits and Expenses.  The following table details benefits and expenses.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Life and other policy benefits	$	12,323	12,363	39,858	34,177
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	28,403		29,909	91,463	96,246
Universal life and annuity contract interest	89,386		1,873	216,933	147,254
Other operating expenses	22,143		18,948	64,613	58,727
Totals	$	152,255	63,093	412,867	336,404

Life and other policy benefits - Death claim benefits, the largest component of policy benefits, decreased to $6.6 million during the third quarter of 2012 compared to $8.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. For the nine months ending September 30, death claims were $23.6 million and $23.2 million for 2012 and 2011, respectively. Although not utilized previously, the Company has initiated a project to identify unreported death claims by researching the Social Security Administration master data base for deceased individuals which matches with insureds under in force policies. While the results thus far have not been substantial, the claim activity for 2012 includes incremental amounts associated with this project. Death claim amounts are generally subject to variation from period to period and the Company's mortality experience has been consistent with or better than its product pricing assumptions.

59

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs - Life insurance companies are required to defer certain expenses that vary with, and are primarily related to, the cost of acquiring new business. The majority of these acquisition expenses consist of commissions paid to agents, underwriting costs, and certain marketing expenses and sales inducements. The Company defers sales inducements in the form of first year interest bonuses on annuity and universal life products that are directly related to the production of new business. These charges are deferred and amortized using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize other capitalized acquisition costs and the amortization is included in contract interest. Recognition of these deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”) as an expense in the condensed consolidated financial statements occurs over future periods in relation to the expected emergence of profits priced into the products sold. This emergence of profits is based upon assumptions regarding premium payment patterns, mortality, persistency, investment performance, and expense patterns. Companies are required to review universal life and annuity contract assumptions periodically to ascertain whether actual experience has deviated significantly from that assumed. If it is determined that a significant deviation has occurred, the emergence of profits pattern is to be "unlocked" and reset based upon the actual experience. DPAC balances are also adjusted each period to reflect current policy lapse or termination rates, expense levels and credited rates on policies compared to anticipated experience (“true-up”) with the adjustment reflected in current period amortization expense. In accordance with GAAP guidance the Company must also write-off deferred acquisition costs, unearned revenue liabilities, and deferred sales inducement assets upon internal replacement of certain contracts as well as annuitizations of deferred annuities.

The following table identifies the effects of unlocking and true-up adjustments on DPAC balances recorded through amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

Increase (Decrease) in DPAC Balance	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Unlocking	$	—	—		—	—
True-up	2,925		(608	)	2,427	(8,636	)
Totals	$	2,925	(608	)	2,427	(8,636	)

True-up adjustments were recorded in 2012 and 2011 relative to partial surrender rates, mortality rates, credited interest rates and earned rates for the current year's experience. This resulted in a $2.9 million decrease in amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and a $2.4 million decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The true-up adjustments for the life lines of business have been positive (decrease to amortization expense) by $13.6 million in the first nine months of 2012 whereas the true-up adjustments for the annuity line of business during the same periods were negative by $11.2 million incrementally adding to amortization expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, true-up adjustments for the annuity line of business increased amortization expense by $5.6 million of the total $8.6 million shown in the table above.

In addition to the true-up adjustments shown above, during the second quarter of 2011 the Company decreased its DPAC balances (increased amortization expense) an additional $4.0 million for adjustments determined in conjunction with the implementation of a new actuarial software platform which allowed the Company to perform an analysis of DPAC balances in finer detail. Refer to the discussion on segment results for further information.

Universal life and annuity contract interest - The Company closely monitors its credited interest rates on interest sensitive policies, taking into consideration such factors as profitability goals, policyholder benefits, product marketability, and economic market conditions. As long term interest rates change, the Company's credited interest rates are often adjusted accordingly, taking into consideration the factors as described above. The difference between yields earned on investments over policy credited rates is often referred to as the "interest spread".

60

The Company's approximated average credited rates, excluding and including fixed-indexed (derivative) products, were as follows:

	September 30,				September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
	(Excluding fixed-index products)				(Including fixed-index products)
Annuity	2.92	%	3.11	%	3.21	%	2.58	%
Interest sensitive life	4.07	%	4.15	%	5.89	%	3.75	%

Contract interest including fixed-index products also encompasses the performance of the index options associated with the Company's fixed-index products. As previously noted, the market performance of these derivative features resulted in net realized and unrealized gains (losses) of $32.4 million and $(61.5) million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Other operating expenses - Other operating expenses consist of general administrative expenses, licenses and fees, commissions not subject to deferral, nursing home expenses and compensation costs. These expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are summarized in the table that follows.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
General insurance expenses	$	6,087	5,122	18,914	17,593
Nursing home expenses	5,429		5,124	16,245	15,467
Compensation expenses	5,466		4,407	16,923	14,223
Commission expenses	3,713		2,879	8,674	7,834
Taxes, licenses and fees	1,448		1,417	3,857	3,610
Totals	$	22,143	18,949	64,613	58,727

General insurance expenses include amortization expense associated with capitalized system costs. The Company has been involved in major information system initiatives to enhance actuarial, accounting, policy acquisition, and policy administration processes. Costs related to these systems are capitalized during the development process and then amortized once they are placed into service and used in operations. Amortization expense in association with these system implementations was $2.3 million and $2.2 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The increasing trend in amortization expense is attributable to additional functionality being placed into operation during the period.

Compensation expenses include share based compensation costs for the Company’s stock option plans related to outstanding vested and unvested stock options. As these costs vary in tandem with the Company's Class A common share price as a result of marking the stock options to fair value under the liability method of accounting, the related expense amount varies positive or negative in any given period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 share based compensation expense was $0.4 million while for the comparable period in 2011 share based compensation expense was $(2.2) million. The price of the Company's Class A common stock increased between December 2011 and September 2012 from $136.16 to $143.25. In addition, total compensation expense related to share based compensation also increased due to the granting of SARs in December 2011. The negative expense for the period ended September 30, 2011 was the result of a decline in the Company's Class A common stock price.

Federal Income Taxes. Federal income taxes on earnings from operations reflect an effective tax rate of 34.3%for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 37.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 33.0% for nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 34.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The effective tax rate is lower than the Federal rate of 35% primarily due to tax-exempt investment income related to municipal securities and dividends-received deductions on income from stocks. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 includes a $2.7 million 2011 tax return to 2011 tax provision adjustment finalized at the time of filing the Company's 2011 tax return in September 2012.

Segment Operations

61

Summary of Segment Earnings

A summary of segment earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is provided below. The segment earnings exclude realized gains and losses on investments, net of taxes.

	Domestic Life Insurance			International Life Insurance	Annuities	All Others	Totals
	(In thousands)
Segment earnings (losses):
Three months ended:
September 30, 2012	$	1,598		10,888	4,657	3,968	21,111
September 30, 2011	$	(147	)	6,942	6,531	4,029	17,355
Nine months ended:
September 30, 2012	$	2,386		25,547	23,735	10,368	62,036
September 30, 2011	$	222		17,270	19,946	9,589	47,027

Domestic Life Insurance Operations

A comparative analysis of results of operations for the Company's domestic life insurance segment is detailed below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Premiums and other revenues:
Premiums and contract charges	$	7,680		8,345		22,499	20,994
Net investment income	6,037			1,655		15,846	11,136
Other revenues	(46		)	3		6	8
Total revenues	13,671			10,003		38,351	32,138
Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits	4,482			2,151		7,750	6,575
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	437			2,791		4,896	8,445
Universal life insurance contract interest	2,976			2,848		11,419	7,335
Other operating expenses	3,313			2,426		10,659	9,453
Total benefits and expenses	11,208			10,216		34,724	31,808
Segment earnings (loss) before Federal income taxes	2,463			(213	)	3,627	330
Provision (benefit) for Federal income taxes	865			(66	)	1,241	108
Segment earnings (loss)	$	1,598		(147	)	2,386	222

62

Revenues from domestic life insurance operations include life insurance premiums on traditional type products and contract revenues from universal life insurance. Revenues from traditional products are simply premiums collected, while revenues from universal life insurance consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration fees, and surrender charges assessed during the period. A comparative detail of premiums and contract revenues is provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Universal life insurance revenues	$	8,240		7,721		22,821		19,703
Traditional life insurance premiums	1,000			1,659		4,183		4,893
Reinsurance premiums	(1,560		)	(1,035	)	(4,505	)	(3,602	)
Totals	$	7,680		8,345		22,499		20,994

The Company's domestic life insurance in force has been declining since 2008 resulting in lower universal life contract revenue charges. The pace of new policies issued has lagged the number of policies terminating from death or surrender by roughly a six-to-one rate over the past several years causing a declining level of insurance in force from which contract charge revenue is received. This ratio has improved somewhat in the first nine months of 2012 to a four-to-one relationship. Nonetheless, the number of domestic life insurance policies has declined from 66,000 at December 31, 2010 to 62,900 at December 31, 2011, and to 60,600 at September 30, 2012. Universal life insurance revenues are also generated with the issuance of new business based upon amounts per application and percentages of the face amount (volume) of insurance issued. Revenues associated with issuing new business are typically greater than that realized in a renewal period for in force policies. The number of domestic life policies issued in the first nine months of 2012 was 48% higher than in the comparable period for 2011 and the volume of insurance issued was 107% greater than that in 2011. Contract revenues associated with this increased new business activity account for the overall increase in domestic life premiums and contract charges.

Premiums collected on universal life products are not reflected as revenues in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings in accordance with GAAP.  Actual domestic universal life premiums collected are detailed below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Universal life insurance:
First year and single premiums	$	21,096	9,003	44,738	16,320
Renewal premiums	3,731		4,737	12,840	15,321
Totals	$	24,827	13,740	57,578	31,641

The Company's efforts over the past several years have been to attract new independent agents and to promote life products to improve domestic life sales. During 2011, the Company began to achieve some success in this regard with the number of new policies issued increasing 76% over the prior year, reversing a multi-year trend of declining activity. This trend continued through the third quarter of 2012 as noted above. Sales over the past two years have been substantially weighted toward single premium policies which do not have recurring premium payments. These products are targeting wealth transfer strategies involving the movement of accumulated wealth in alternative investment vehicles, including annuities, into life insurance products.

Net investment income includes the gains and losses on index options purchased to back the index crediting mechanism on equity-indexed universal products. As noted previously in the Results of Operations discussion, option values have increased more rapidly in the first nine months of 2012 as compared to 2011 with the third quarter in particular incurring larger option value gains.

63

Life and policy benefits for a smaller block of business are subject to variation from quarter to quarter. Claim activity during the first nine months of 2012 was consistent compared to historical trends. The Company's overall mortality experience for this segment is in line with pricing assumptions.

As noted previously in the discussion of Results of Operations, the Company records true-up adjustments to DPAC balances each period to reflect current policy lapse or termination rates, expense levels and credited rates on policies as compared to anticipated experience with the adjustment reflected in current period amortization expense. To the extent required, the Company may also record unlocking adjustments to DPAC balances. The following table identifies the effects of unlocking and true-up adjustments on domestic life insurance DPAC balances recorded through amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Increase (Decrease) in DPAC Balance
Unlocking	$	—	—		—	—
True-up	2,867		(1,209	)	4,186	(1,246	)
Totals	$	2,867	(1,209	)	4,186	(1,246	)

As noted in the table above, the true-up adjustments recorded in 2012 increased the DPAC balance which conversely reduced amortization expense by a like amount for the periods shown.

International Life Insurance Operations

The Company's international life operations have been a significant factor in the Company's overall earnings performance and represents a niche where the Company believes it has a competitive advantage. A stable population of distribution relationships has been developed given the Company's longstanding reputation for supporting its international life products coupled with the instability of competing companies in international markets.

64

A comparative analysis of results of operations for the Company's international life insurance segment is detailed below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Premiums and other revenues:
Premiums and contract charges	$	28,453	25,375		83,999	75,551
Net investment income	12,255		3,253		34,967	25,806
Other revenues	32		(20	)	378	346
Total revenues	40,740		28,608		119,344	101,703
Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits	4,827		4,737		14,622	13,898
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	2,083		8,249		15,448	24,374
Universal life insurance contract interest	9,602		766		30,845	22,192
Other operating expenses	7,069		4,353		19,605	15,552
Total benefits and expenses	23,581		18,105		80,520	76,016
Segment earnings (losses) before Federal income taxes	17,159		10,503		38,824	25,687
Provision (benefit) for Federal income taxes	6,271		3,561		13,277	8,417
Segment earnings (loss)	$	10,888	6,942		25,547	17,270

As with domestic life operations, revenues from the international life insurance segment include both premiums on traditional type products and contract revenues from universal life insurance. A comparative detail of premiums and contract revenues is provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Universal life insurance revenues	$	28,061		25,693		82,962		77,433
Traditional life insurance premiums	3,920			3,536		11,229		10,358
Reinsurance premiums	(3,528		)	(3,854	)	(10,192	)	(12,240	)
Totals	$	28,453		25,375		83,999		75,551

In general, universal life revenues and operating earnings are anticipated to emerge with the amount of international life insurance in force and a steady growth in new sales. The volume of insurance in force has grown from $18.2 billion at September 30, 2011 to $18.6 billion at December 31, 2011 and to $18.9 billion at September 30, 2012. Universal life insurance revenues are generated with the issuance of new business based upon amounts per application and percentages of the face amount (volume) of insurance issued and have been lower in 2012 than 2011. The number of international life policies issued in the first nine months of 2012 was 20% lower than in the first nine months of 2011 and the volume of insurance issued was 17% less than that in 2011 during the same period.

65

International universal life revenues also include surrender charges assessed upon surrender of contracts by policyholders. In the midst of the financial crisis the past few years, the Company's international policyholders in particular exhibited concern regarding the developments in U.S. financial markets. This evidenced itself in the Company's termination activity in its international life policies in force. During 2009, the Company incurred higher termination experience than is typical which resulted in recognition of increased surrender charge fee income. This level of termination activity subsequently subsided, although the first nine months of 2012 has witnessed an increase over the pace incurred in 2011. The following table illustrates the Company's recent international life termination experience.

	Amount in $'s		Annualized Termination Rate
	(millions)
Volume In Force Terminations
Nine months ended September 30, 2012	$	1,356.2	8.7	%
Year ended December 31, 2011	1,465.1		7.3	%
Year ended December 31, 2010	1,721.8		9.0	%
Year ended December 31, 2009	2,423.2		13.0	%
Year ended December 31, 2008	1,923.2		10.8	%
Year ended December 31, 2007	1,674.3		10.2	%

As noted previously, premiums collected on universal life products are not reflected as revenues in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings in accordance with GAAP. Actual international universal life premiums collected are detailed below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Universal life insurance:
First year and single premiums	$	7,684	10,054	23,348	27,684
Renewal premiums	30,098		30,459	87,410	87,229
Totals	$	37,782	40,513	110,758	114,913

The Company's most popular international products have been its fixed-indexed universal life products in which the policyholder can elect to have the interest rate credited to their policy account values linked in part to the performance of the S&P 500 Index^®. Included in the totals in the above table are collected premiums for fixed-indexed universal life products of approximately $69.1 million and $71.7 million for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

66

As previously noted, net investment income and contract interest include period-to-period changes in fair values pertaining to call options purchased to hedge the interest crediting feature on the fixed-index universal life products. With the growth in the fixed-indexed universal life block of business, the period-to-period changes in fair values of the underlying options have had an increasingly greater impact on net investment income and universal life contract interest. A detail of net investment income for international life insurance operations is provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Net investment income (excluding derivatives)	$	7,356	8,852		28,397	29,498
Derivative gain (loss)	4,899		(5,599	)	6,570	(3,692	)
Net investment income	$	12,255	3,253		34,967	25,806

A comparable impact for the derivative component in the equity-indexed universal life product is reflected in the contract interest expense for each respective period.

Life and policy benefits primarily consist of death claims on policies. The Company's clientele for international products are wealthy individuals with access to U.S. dollars and quality medical care. Consequently, the amounts of coverage purchased tend to be larger amounts. In the year ended December 31, 2011, the average face amount of insurance purchased was approximately $364,000, and in the first nine months of 2012 the average was $372,000. While life and policy benefit expense for the international life segment reflects the larger policies purchased, mortality due to natural causes is comparable to that in the United States.

As noted previously, the Company records true-up adjustments to DPAC balances each period to reflect current policy lapse or termination rates, expense levels and credited rates on policies as compared to anticipated experience as well as unlocking adjustments as necessary. The following table identifies the effects of unlocking and true-up adjustments on international life insurance DPAC balances recorded through amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Increase (Decrease) in DPAC Balance
Unlocking	$	—	—		—	—
True-up	2,878		(437	)	9,472	(1,752	)
Totals	$	2,878	(437	)	9,472	(1,752	)

True-up adjustments in the first nine months of 2012 increased the DPAC balance and decreased amortization expense while in the first nine months of 2011 true-up assumptions decreased the DPAC balance and increased amortization expense.

As indicated in the discussion concerning net investment income, contract interest expense includes fluctuations that are the result of the performance of underlying equity indices associated with fixed-indexed universal life products. The derivative gain (loss) realized on purchased call options is included in the amounts the Company credits to policyholders. For more details about the Company's use of index options to hedge the performance of equity indices refer to the derivative gain (loss) discussion in the Condensed Consolidated Operations section of this Item 2.

67

Annuity Operations

The Company's annuity operations are almost exclusively with residents of the United States. Although some of the Company's investment contracts are available to international residents, current sales are small relative to total annuity sales. A comparative analysis of results of operations for the Company's annuity segment is detailed below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Premiums and other revenues:
Premiums and contract charges	$	4,915	5,515		16,389	13,783
Net investment income	115,781		33,940		302,045	225,882
Other revenues	213		152		14	3,143
Total revenues	120,909		39,607		318,448	242,808
Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits	3,014		5,475		17,486	13,704
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	25,883		18,869		71,119	63,427
Annuity contract interest	76,808		(1,741	)	174,669	117,727
Other operating expenses	7,332		7,059		19,104	18,282
Total benefits and expenses	113,037		29,662		282,378	213,140
Segment earnings (loss) before Federal income taxes	7,872		9,945		36,070	29,668
Provision (benefit) for Federal income taxes	3,215		3,414		12,335	9,722
Segment earnings (loss)	$	4,657	6,531		23,735	19,946

A comparative detail of the components of premiums and annuity contract revenues is provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Surrender charges	$	4,915	5,515	16,385	13,779
Payout annuity and other revenues	—		—	—	—
Traditional annuity premiums	—		—	4	4
Totals	$	4,915	5,515	16,389	13,783

The Company's lapse rate for annuity contracts in the first nine months of 2012 was 5.8% compared to 6.6% during the same time frame in 2011. Surrender charge revenue is also dependent upon the duration of the policy at the time of termination as typical surrender charge provisions decrease during the tenure of the contract. Accordingly, the increase in surrender charge revenue in the first nine months of 2012 is primarily a function of the growth in the annuity block of business the past couple of years and an earlier termination of contracts.

68

Deposits collected on annuity contracts are not reflected as revenues in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings, in accordance with GAAP. Actual annuity deposits collected for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are detailed below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Fixed-indexed annuities	$	175,672	258,030		494,289	694,547
Other deferred annuities	46,725		116,165		122,045	342,940
Immediate annuities	7,059		(1,738	)	23,613	18,488
Totals	$	229,456	372,457		639,947	1,055,975

Fixed-indexed products are more attractive for consumers when interest rate levels remain low and equity markets produce positive returns. Since the Company does not offer variable products or mutual funds, fixed-indexed products provide an important alternative to the Company's existing fixed interest rate annuity products. Fixed-indexed annuity deposits as a percentage of total annuity deposits were 77% and 66% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The increasing percentage of fixed-indexed products of total annuity sales reflects the low interest rate environment and the current bull market in equities.

As a selling inducement, some of the deferred products, as well as the fixed-indexed annuity products, include a first year interest bonus ranging from 1% to 7% depending upon the product, in addition to a base interest rate. Other products include a premium bonus ranging from 2% to 10% which is credited to the account balance when premiums are applied. These bonus rates are deferred in conjunction with other capitalized policy acquisition costs. The amount deferred to be amortized over future periods amounted to approximately $23.5 and $34.9 million during the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. Amortization of deferred sales inducements is included as a component of annuity contract interest as described later in this discussion of Annuity operations.

A detail of net investment income for annuity operations is provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Net investment income (excluding derivatives)	$	88,142	89,165		267,510	260,740
Derivative gain (loss)	27,639		(55,225	)	34,535	(34,858	)
Net investment income	$	115,781	33,940		302,045	225,882

As previously described, derivatives are call options purchased to hedge the equity return component of the Company's fixed-indexed annuity product with any gains or losses from the sale or expiration of the options, as well as period-to-period changes in fair values, reflected in net investment income. Generally, a comparable impact for the derivative component in fixed-indexed annuity products is reflected in contract interest expense.

69

Consistent with the domestic and international life segments, the Company records true-up adjustments to DPAC balances each period to reflect current policy lapse or termination rates, expense levels and credited rates on policies as compared to anticipated experience as well as unlocking adjustments as necessary. The following table identifies the effects of unlocking and true-up adjustments on annuity DPAC balances recorded through amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Increase (Decrease) in DPAC Balance
Unlocking	$	—		—	—		—
True-up	(2,820		)	1,037	(11,231	)	(5,638	)
Totals	$	(2,820	)	1,037	(11,231	)	(5,638	)

As the true-up adjustments decreased the DPAC balances for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, a corresponding increase in DPAC amortization was recorded in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings in each respective period.

In addition to the true-up adjustments shown above, during the second quarter of 2011 the Company decreased its DPAC balances (increased amortization expense) an additional $4.0 million for adjustments determined in conjunction with the implementation of a new actuarial software platform which allowed the Company to perform an analysis of DPAC balances in finer detail.

Annuity contract interest includes the equity component return associated with the call options purchased to hedge the Company's fixed-indexed annuities. The detail of fixed-indexed annuity contract interest compared to contract interest for all other annuities is as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Fixed-indexed annuities	$	49,156		(35,384	)	113,365		68,568
All other annuities	27,486			40,832		64,353		61,627
Gross contract interest	76,642			5,448		177,718		130,195
Bonus interest deferred and capitalized	(5,514		)	(13,689	)	(23,483	)	(34,881	)
Bonus interest amortization	5,680			6,500		20,434		22,413
Total contract interest	$	76,808		(1,741	)	174,669		117,727

The fluctuation in reported contract interest amounts for fixed-indexed annuities is driven by sales levels, the level of the business in force and the positive or negative performance of equity markets on option values. The derivative gain (loss) information included in the net investment income discussion above is largely reflected in the amounts shown for contract interest for fixed-indexed annuities. In the second quarter of 2011, the Company decreased its deferred sales inducements balance (increased bonus interest amortization) by $1.6 million pertaining to its implementation of new actuarial system technology.

70

Other Operations

National Western Life Insurance Company's primary business encompasses its domestic and international life insurance operations and its annuity operations. However, National Western also has small real estate, nursing home, and other investment operations through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Nursing home operations generated $0.8 million and $1.3 million of operating earnings in the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decrease in operating earnings reflects an increase in expenses incurred at the Company's San Marcos location in an effort to build a presence in the community for this operation that started in the latter half of 2009. The remaining earnings of $5.9 million and $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, in Other Operations represent investment income from real estate, municipal bonds, and common and preferred equities held in subsidiary company portfolios. Included in these amounts are the semi-annual distributions from the life interest in the Libby Shearn Moody Trust which is an asset held in NWLSM, Inc.

INVESTMENTS

General

The Company's investment philosophy emphasizes the careful handling of policyowners' and stockholders' funds to achieve security of principal, to obtain the maximum possible yield while maintaining security of principal, and to maintain liquidity in a measure consistent with current and long-term requirements of the Company.

The Company's overall conservative investment philosophy is reflected in the allocation of its investments, which is detailed below. The Company emphasizes investment grade debt securities with smaller holdings in mortgage loans.

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Carrying Value		%	Carrying Value		%
	(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Debt securities	$	8,658,978	96.2	$	8,250,316	96.3
Mortgage loans	135,776		1.5	157,460		1.8
Policy loans	74,138		0.8	74,967		0.9
Derivatives, index options	87,833		1.0	30,844		0.4
Real estate	18,910		0.2	19,220		0.2
Equity securities	12,305		0.1	16,546		0.2
Other	22,436		0.2	15,252		0.2
Totals	$	9,010,376	100.0	$	8,564,605	100.0

71

Debt and Equity Securities

The Company maintains a diversified portfolio which consists mostly of corporate, mortgage-backed, and public utility fixed income securities. Investments in mortgage-backed securities primarily include U.S. Government agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMO"). The Company's investment guidelines prescribe limitations by type of security as a percent of the total investment portfolio and all holdings were within these threshold limits. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company's debt securities portfolio consisted of the following:

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Carrying Value		%	Carrying Value		%
	(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Corporate	$	5,067,464	58.5	$	4,289,680	52.0
Mortgage-backed securities	2,044,392		23.6	2,258,706		27.4
Public utilities	1,029,501		11.9	1,045,387		12.6
State and political subdivisions	391,355		4.5	362,252		4.4
U.S. agencies	48,120		0.6	205,464		2.5
Asset-backed securities	50,154		0.6	56,178		0.7
Foreign governments	26,086		0.3	30,712		0.4
U.S. Treasury	1,906		—	1,937		—
Totals	$	8,658,978	100.0	$	8,250,316	100.0

Substantially all of the Company's investable cash flows are directed toward the purchase of debt securities. The Company's investment policy calls for investing in debt securities that are investment grade, meet quality and yield objectives, and provide adequate liquidity for obligations to policyholders. Debt securities with intermediate maturities are targeted by the Company as they more closely match the intermediate nature of the Company's policy liabilities and provide an appropriate strategy for managing cash flows. Debt securities purchased to fund insurance company operations are summarized below.

	Nine Months Ended September 30,			Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011
	($ In thousands)
Cost of acquisitions	$	1,088,539		$	1,410,389
Average S&P®  quality	A-			AA-
Effective annual yield	3.47		%	4.18		%
Spread to treasuries	1.65		%	1.43		%
Effective duration	8.1 years			7.1 years

The Company predominantly holds agency mortgage-backed securities. Because mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment and extension risk, the Company has substantially reduced these risks by investing in collateralized mortgage obligations, which have more predictable cash flow patterns than pass-through securities. These securities, known as planned amortization class I ("PAC I"), very accurately defined maturity ("VADM") and sequential tranches are designed to amortize in a more predictable manner than other CMO classes or pass-throughs. The Company does not purchase tranches, such as PAC II and support tranches, that subject the portfolio to greater than average prepayment risk. Using this strategy, the Company can more effectively manage and reduce prepayment and extension risks, thereby helping to maintain the appropriate matching of the Company's assets and liabilities.

72

In addition to diversification, an important aspect of the Company's investment approach is managing the credit quality of its investment in debt securities. Thorough credit analysis is performed on potential corporate investments including examination of a company's credit and industry outlook, financial ratios and trends, and event risks. This emphasis is reflected in the high average credit rating of the Company's debt securities portfolio with 98.0% held in investment grade securities. In the table below, investments in debt securities are classified according to credit ratings by Standard and Poor's ("S&P^®"), or other nationally recognized statistical rating organizations if securities were not rated by S&P^®.

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Carrying Value		%	Carrying Value		%
	(In thousands)			(In thousands)
AAA	$	150,470	1.7	$	173,176	2.0
AA	2,737,857		31.6	3,067,454		37.2
A	2,421,326		28.0	2,078,808		25.2
BBB	3,175,167		36.7	2,784,711		33.8
BB and other below investment grade	174,158		2.0	146,167		1.8
Totals	$	8,658,978	100.0	$	8,250,316	100.0

The Company's investment guidelines do not allow for the purchase of below investment grade securities.  The investments held in debt securities below investment grade are the result of subsequent downgrades of the securities.  These holdings are further summarized below.

	Below Investment Grade Debt Securities
	Amortized Cost		Carrying Value	Fair Value	% of Invested Assets
	(In thousands, except percentages)
September 30, 2012	$	172,170	174,158	174,566	1.9	%
December 31, 2011	$	144,131	146,167	140,590	1.7	%

The Company's percentage of below investment grade securities compared to total invested assets increased slightly from December 31, 2011 primarily due to several securities being downgraded during the first nine months of 2012. The Company's holdings of below investment grade securities are relatively small and as a percentage of total invested assets low compared to industry averages.

73

Holdings in below investment grade securities by category as of September 30, 2012 are summarized below, including September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 fair values for comparison. The Company is continually monitoring developments in these industries that may affect security valuation issues.

	Below Investment Grade Debt Securities
Industry Category	Amortized Cost September 30, 2012		Carrying Value September 30, 2012	Fair Value September 30, 2012	Fair Value December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Retail	$	24,801	22,454	22,454	8,478
Telecommunications	5,435		8,035	8,035	7,863
Asset-backed securities	8,845		8,845	10,015	12,498
Mortgage-backed	8,122		7,872	7,872	8,173
Banking/finance	42,521		42,533	40,395	35,927
Manufacturing	52,742		54,215	55,793	55,210
Transportation	—		347	347	415
Other	29,704		29,857	29,655	12,026
Totals	$	172,170	174,158	174,566	140,590

The Company closely monitors its below investment grade holdings by reviewing investment performance indicators, including information such as issuer operating performance, debt ratings, analyst reports and other economic factors that may affect these specific investments.  While additional losses are not currently anticipated, based on the existing status and condition of these securities, continued credit deterioration of some securities or the markets in general is possible, which may result in further write-downs.

Certain European countries have experienced varying degrees of financial stress. Risks from the continued debt crisis in Europe could continue to disrupt financial markets and have a detrimental impact on global conditions as well as on sovereign and non-sovereign obligations.The Company has no exposure to the sovereign debt of Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece or Spain. These countries in particular are experiencing significant economic, fiscal and political strains that increase the likelihood of default for these countries. Additionally, the Company has no exposure to the debt of financial institutions domiciled in these countries.

However, the Company does have exposure to the debt of non-financial companies in these countries. The following table shows bond holdings at September 30, 2012 of non-financial companies that are domiciled in Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece or Spain held in the available for sale and held to maturity debt security portfolios.

Securities Available for Sale

Company	S&P Rating	Amortized Cost 9/30/12		Fair Value 9/30/12	Country Domiciled
	(In thousands)
Covidien	A	$	24,210	26,382	Ireland
CRH	BBB+	10,997		11,714	Ireland
Telecom Italia	BBB	11,997		12,375	Italy
Telefonica	BBB	11,749		12,326	Spain
Totals		$	58,953	62,797

74

Securities Held to Maturity

Company	S&P Rating	Book Value 9/30/12		Fair Value 9/30/12	Country Domiciled
	(In thousands)
Coca-Cola HBC	BBB	$	4,018	4,321	Greece
CRH	BBB+	3,009		3,122	Ireland
EDP	BB+	17,207		17,041	Portugal
Enel	BBB+	19,911		21,591	Italy
Finmeccanica	BBB-	15,025		14,137	Italy
Iberdrola Finance	BBB+	2,896		3,018	Spain
Telecom Italia	BBB	2,996		3,098	Italy
Telefonica	BBB	8,145		8,040	Spain
Totals		$	73,207	74,368

Generally accepted accounting principles require that investments in debt securities be written down to fair value when declines in value are judged to be other-than-temporary.  Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price methodology). Refer to Note 10, Fair Values of Financial Instruments, of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 the Company recorded other-than-temporary impairment credit related write-downs on debt securities totaling $0.6 million and negligible amounts on equity securities. The Company had no other-than-temporary impairment write-downs on debt securities other than on certain asset-backed securities whose fair value and net present value of future cash flows fell below the amortized cost of the security. See Note 9, Investments, of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion. Since the Company's adoption of the GAAP guidance on the recognition and accounting for other-than-temporary impairments due to credit loss versus non-credit loss, the Company has recognized a total of $8.5 million of other-than-temporary impairments of which $3.0 million was deemed credit related and recognized as realized investment losses in earnings, and $5.5 million was deemed a non-credit related impairment and recognized in other comprehensive income.

The Company is required to classify its investments in debt and equity securities into one of three categories: (a) trading securities; (b) securities available for sale; or (c) securities held to maturity. The Company purchases securities with the intent to hold to maturity and accordingly does not maintain a portfolio of trading securities. Of the remaining two categories, available for sale and held to maturity, the Company makes a determination on categorization based on various factors including the type and quality of the particular security and how it will be incorporated into the Company's overall asset/liability management strategy. As shown in the table below, at September 30, 2012, approximately 31% of the Company's total debt and equity securities, based on fair values, were classified as securities available for sale. These holdings in available for sale provide flexibility to the Company to react to market opportunities and conditions and to practice active management within the portfolio to provide adequate liquidity to meet policyholder obligations and other cash needs.

	Fair Value		Amortized Cost	Unrealized Gains (Losses)
	(In thousands)
Securities held to maturity:
Debt securities	$	6,414,860	5,849,916	564,944
Securities available for sale:
Debt securities	2,809,062		2,550,665	258,397
Equity securities	12,305		9,560	2,745
Totals	$	9,236,227	8,410,141	826,086

75

Asset-Backed Securities

The Company holds approximately $50.2 million in asset-backed securities as of September 30, 2012. This portfolio includes $17.8 million of manufactured housing bonds and $32.4 million of home equity loans (also referred to as subprime securities). The Company does not have any holdings in collaterized bond obligations (“CBO”s), collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”s), or collateralized loan obligations (“CLO”s). Principal risks in holding asset-backed securities are structural, credit, and capital market risks. Structural risks include the securities' priority in the issuer's capital structure, the adequacy of and ability to realize proceeds from collateral and the potential for prepayments. Credit risks include corporate credit risks or consumer credit risks for financing such as subprime mortgages. Capital market risks include the general level of interest rates and the liquidity for these securities in the marketplace.

The Company holds one Alt-A security with a carrying value of $4.0 million. The Alt-A sector is a sub-sector of the jumbo prime MBS sector. The average FICO for an Alt-A borrower is approximately 715 compared to a score of 730 for a jumbo prime borrower. The Company's exposure to the Alt-A and subprime sectors is limited to investments in the senior tranches of structured securities collateralized by Alt-A or subprime residential mortgage loans. The subprime sector is generally categorized under the asset-backed sector. This sector lends to borrowers who do not qualify for prime interest rates due to poor or insufficient credit history. Subprime borrowers generally have FICO scores of 660 or below. The slowing housing market, rising interest rates, and relaxed underwriting standards for loans originated after 2005 resulted in higher delinquency rates and losses beginning in 2007. These events caused illiquidity in the market and volatility in the market prices of subprime securities. With the government intervention initiatives in 2009, the housing market began to show signs of stabilizing. There was an improvement in the prices of subprime securities as the bond market also became more liquid. All of the loans classified as Alt-A or subprime in the Company's portfolio as of September 30, 2012 were underwritten prior to 2005 as noted in the table below.

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Investment Origination Year	Carrying Value		Fair Value	Carrying Value	Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Subprime:
1998	$	5,732	5,416	6,767	6,611
2002	—		—	492	740
2003	3,924		4,604	4,296	4,186
2004	22,769		25,934	21,123	19,931
Subtotal subprime	$	32,425	35,954	32,678	31,468
Alt A:
2004	$	3,962	3,962	4,223	4,223

As of September 30, 2012, 5 of the subprime securities were rated AAA, 2 were rated AA, 2 were rated BBB, and 2 were rated CC. The Company sold a subprime security in the current quarter and realized a gain on the previously impaired security.

Mortgage Loans and Real Estate

In general, the Company originates loans on high quality, income-producing properties such as shopping centers, freestanding retail stores, office buildings, industrial and sales or service facilities, selected apartment buildings, motels, and health care facilities.  The location of these properties is typically in major metropolitan areas that offer a potential for property value appreciation. Credit and default risk is minimized through strict underwriting guidelines and diversification of underlying property types and geographic locations.  In addition to being secured by the property, mortgage loans with leases on the underlying property are often guaranteed by the lease payments and also by the borrower.  This approach has proven to result in quality mortgage loans with few defaults.  Mortgage loan interest income is recognized on an accrual basis with any premium or discount amortized over the life of the loan.  Prepayment and late fees are recorded on the date of collection.

76

The Company requires a minimum specified yield on mortgage loan investments. During the past several years, the low interest rate environment has resulted in fewer loan opportunities being available that meet the Company's required rate of return. Mortgage loans originated by the Company totaled $37.3 million for the year December 31, 2011 and $16.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. Principal repayments on mortgage loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $38.8 million.

Loans in foreclosure, loans considered impaired or loans past due 90 days or more are placed on a non-accrual status.  If a mortgage loan is determined to be on non-accrual status, the mortgage loan does not accrue any revenue into the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.  The loan is independently monitored and evaluated as to potential impairment or foreclosure.  If delinquent payments are made and the loan is brought current, then the Company returns the loan to active status and accrues income accordingly.  The Company has no loans past due 90 days which are accruing interest.

The Company held net investments in mortgage loans totaling $135.8 million and $157.5 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The diversification of the portfolio by geographic region and by property type was as follows:

	September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Amount		%		Amount		%
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)
Mortgage Loans by Geographic Region:
West South Central	$	74,290	54.7	%	$	84,903	53.9	%
New England	21,223		15.6	%	21,401		13.6	%
Mountain	2,565		1.9	%	15,922		10.1	%
Pacific	14,871		11.0	%	12,001		7.6	%
East North Central	9,831		7.2	%	10,018		6.4	%
East South Central	10,300		7.6	%	10,411		6.6	%
South Atlantic	569		0.4	%	609		0.4	%
Middle Atlantic	2,127		1.6	%	2,195		1.4	%
Totals	$	135,776	100.0	%	$	157,460	100.0	%

	September 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
	Amount		%		Amount		%
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)
Mortgage Loans by Property Type:
Retail	$	95,127	70.1	%	$	93,310	59.3	%
Hotel/Motel	4,156		3.0	%	25,679		16.3	%
Land/Lots	9,326		6.9	%	13,604		8.6	%
Apartments	16,153		11.9	%	11,103		7.1	%
Office	4,402		3.2	%	8,858		5.6	%
All other	6,612		4.9	%	4,906		3.1	%
Totals	$	135,776	100.0	%	$	157,460	100.0	%

77

The Company's direct investments in real estate are not a significant portion of its total investment portfolio as most of these investments were acquired through mortgage loan foreclosures.  The Company also participates in several real estate joint ventures, limited partnerships, and other loans that invest primarily in income-producing retail properties.  These investments have enhanced the Company's overall investment portfolio returns. The Company's real estate investments totaled approximately $18.9 million and $19.2 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The Company recognized operating income on these properties of approximately $1.2 million for the first nine months of 2012. The Company monitors the conditions and market values of these properties on a regular basis and makes repairs and capital improvements to keep the properties in good condition.

Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of change in market values of financial instruments due to changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices, or equity prices. The most significant market risk exposure for National Western is interest rate risk. Substantial and sustained increases and decreases in market interest rates can affect the profitability of insurance products and fair value of investments. The yield realized on new investments generally increases or decreases in direct relationship with interest rate changes. The fair values of fixed income debt securities correlate to external market interest rate conditions as market values typically increase when market interest rates decline and decrease when market interest rates rise. However, market values may fluctuate for other reasons, such as changing economic conditions, market dislocations or increasing event-risk concerns.

Interest Rate Risk

A gradual increase in interest rates from current levels would generally be a positive development for the Company. Rate increases would be expected to provide incremental net investment income, produce increased sales of fixed rate products, and limit the potential erosion of the Company's interest rate spread on products due to minimum guaranteed crediting rates in products. Alternatively, a rise in interest rates would reduce the fair value of the Company's investment portfolio and if long-term rates rise dramatically within a relatively short time period could expose the Company to disintermediation risk. Disintermediation risk is the risk that policyholders will surrender their policies in a rising interest rate environment forcing the Company to liquidate assets when they are in an unrealized loss position.

A decline in interest rates could cause certain mortgage-backed securities in the Company's portfolio to be more likely to pay down or prepay. In this situation, the Company typically will be unable to reinvest the proceeds at comparable yields. Lower interest rates will likely also cause lower net investment income, subject the Company to reinvestment rate risks, and possibly reduce profitability through reduced interest rate margins associated with products with minimum guaranteed crediting rates. Alternatively, the fair value of the Company's investment portfolio will increase when interest rates decline.

The correlation between fair values and interest rates for debt securities is reflected in the tables below.

	September 30, 2012			June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands except percentages)
Debt securities - fair value	$	9,223,922		8,991,347		8,690,737
Debt securities - amortized cost	$	8,400,581		8,263,248		8,058,057
Fair value as a percentage of amortized cost	109.80		%	108.81	%	107.85	%
Unrealized gain balance	$	823,341		728,099		632,680
Ten-year U.S. Treasury bond – (decrease) increase in yield for the period	(0.01		)%	(0.57	)%	(1.42	)%

78

	Unrealized Gains Balance
	At September 30, 2012		At June 30, 2012	At December 31, 2011	Quarter Change in Unrealized Balance	Change in Unrealized Balance
Debt securities held to maturity	$	564,944	506,910	440,421	58,034	124,523
Debt securities available for sale	258,397		221,189	192,259	37,208	66,138
Totals	$	823,341	728,099	632,680	95,242	190,661

Changes in interest rates typically have a sizable effect on the fair values of the Company's debt securities. The market interest rate of the ten-year U.S. Treasury bond decreased approximately 25 basis points from year-end 2011 through the first nine months of 2012 and the Company's unrealized gain position increased $190.7 million on a portfolio with an amortized cost basis of approximately $8.4 billion. However, since the majority of the Company's debt securities are classified as held to maturity, which are recorded at amortized cost, changes in fair values have relatively small effects on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The Company manages interest rate risk principally through ongoing cash flow testing as required for insurance regulatory purposes. Computer models are used to perform cash flow testing under various commonly used stress test interest rate scenarios to determine if existing assets would be sufficient to meet projected liability outflows. Sensitivity analysis allows the Company to measure the potential gain or loss in fair value of its interest-sensitive instruments and to protect its economic value and achieve a predictable spread between what is earned on invested assets and what is paid on liabilities. The Company seeks to minimize the impact of interest risk through surrender charges that are imposed to discourage policy surrenders. Interest rate changes can be anticipated in the computer models and the corresponding risk addressed by management actions affecting asset and liability instruments. However, potential changes in the values of financial instruments indicated by hypothetical interest rate changes will likely be different from actual changes experienced, and the differences could be significant.

The Company has the ability to adjust interest rates, participation rates, and asset fees and caps, as applicable, in response to changes in investment portfolio yields for a substantial portion of its business in force. The ability to adjust these rates is subject to competitive forces in the market for the Company’s products. Surrender rates could increase and new sales could be negatively affected if crediting rates are not competitive with the rates offered on competing products offered by other insurance companies and financial service entities. The Company designs its products with features encouraging persistency. Interest sensitive life and annuity products have surrender and withdrawal penalty provisions. Depending on the products, surrender charge rates on annuity contracts sold or in force range up to 25% and surrender charge periods up to 15 years. Typically, surrender charge rates gradually decrease each year the contract is in force.

The Company performed detailed sensitivity analysis as of December 31, 2011, for its interest rate-sensitive assets and liabilities. The changes in market values of the Company's debt securities in the first nine months of 2012 were reasonable given the expected range of results of this analysis.

Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to credit risk through counterparties and within its investment portfolio. Credit risk relates to the uncertainty associated with an obligor's continued ability to make timely payments of principal and interest in accordance with the contractual terms of an instrument or contract. As previously discussed, the Company manages credit risk through established investment credit policies and guidelines which address the quality of creditors and counterparties, concentration limits, diversification practices and acceptable risk levels. These policies and guidelines are regularly reviewed and approved by senior management and the Company's Board of Directors.

79

In connection with the Company’s use of call options to hedge the equity return component of its fixed-indexed annuity and life products, the Company is exposed to the risk that a counterparty fails to perform under terms of the option contract. The Company purchases one-year option contracts from multiple counterparties and evaluates the creditworthiness of all counterparties prior to the purchase of the contracts. For consideration in contracting with a counterparty the rating required by the Company is a Standard & Poor’s credit rating of “A” or higher and a Moody’s rating of “A2” or higher. Accordingly, all options are purchased from nationally recognized financial institutions with a demonstrated performance for honoring their financial obligations and possessing substantial financial capacity. In addition, each counterparty is required to execute a credit support agreement obligating the counterparty to provide collateral to the Company when the fair value of the Company’s exposure to the counterparty exceeds specified amounts. The amount of collateral to be provided is based upon a sliding scale tied to the credit rating of the counterparty(the higher the credit rating of the counterparty the higher the threshold of exposure before collateral is to be provided). At the highest credit rating level the maximum counterparty net exposure not subject to collateral support is $20 million. This net exposure level declines as the counterparty credit rating declines and ultimately is $0 at a rating of “BBB+”. Counterparty credit ratings and credit exposure are monitored continuously by the Company’s Investment department with adjustments to collateral levels managed as incurred under the credit support agreements.

The Company is also exposed to credit spread risk related to market prices of investment securities and cash flows associated with changes in credit spreads. Credit spread tightening will reduce net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed debt securities and increase the fair value of the investment portfolio. Credit spread widening will reduce the fair value of the investment portfolio and will increase net investment income on new purchases.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

Liquidity requirements are met primarily by funds provided from operations. Premium deposits and annuity considerations, investment income, and investment maturities and prepayments are the primary sources of funds while investment purchases, policy benefits in the form of claims, and payments to policyholders and contract holders in connection with surrenders and withdrawals as well as operating expenses are the primary uses of funds. To ensure the Company will be able to pay future commitments, the funds received as premium payments and deposits are invested in high quality investments, primarily fixed income securities. Funds are invested with the intent that the income from investments, plus proceeds from maturities, will meet the ongoing cash flow needs of the Company. The approach of matching asset and liability durations and yields requires an appropriate mix of investments. Although the Company historically has not been put in the position of having to liquidate invested assets to provide cash flow, its investments consist primarily of marketable debt securities that could be readily converted to cash for liquidity needs. The Company may also borrow up to $40 million on its bank line of credit for short-term cash needs. There were no borrowings outstanding under the line of credit at September 30, 2012.

A primary liquidity concern for life insurers is the risk of an extraordinary level of early policyholder withdrawals. The Company includes provisions within its annuity and universal life insurance policies, such as surrender and market value adjustments, that help limit and discourage early withdrawals.

The actual amounts paid by product line in connection with surrenders and withdrawals for the periods ended September 30, are noted in the table below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Product Line:
Traditional Life	$	1,724	891	4,569	3,036
Universal Life	13,048		11,257	37,094	30,293
Annuities	106,911		112,624	336,138	359,417
Total	$	121,683	124,772	377,801	392,746

80

The above contractual withdrawals, as well as the level of surrenders experienced, were generally consistent with the Company's assumptions in asset/liability management, and the associated cash outflows did not have an adverse impact on overall liquidity. Individual life insurance policies are less susceptible to withdrawal than annuity reserves and deposit liabilities because policyholders may incur surrender charges and undergo a new underwriting process in order to obtain a new insurance policy. Cash flow projections and tests under various market interest rate scenarios are also performed to assist in evaluating liquidity needs and adequacy. The Company currently expects available liquidity sources and future cash flows to be more than adequate to meet the demand for funds.

In the past, cash flows from the Company's insurance operations have been sufficient to meet current needs. Cash flows from operating activities were $223.7 million and $172.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company also has significant cash flows from both scheduled and unscheduled investment security maturities, redemptions, and prepayments. Investment related cash flows totaled $1,274.1 million and $464.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These cash flow items could be reduced if interest rates rise. Net cash flows from the Company's universal life and investment annuity deposit product operations totaled $89.7 million and $501.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Capital Resources

The Company relies on stockholders' equity for its capital resources as there is no long-term debt outstanding and the Company does not anticipate the need for any long-term debt in the near future.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company had no commitments beyond its normal operating and investment activities.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

It is not Company practice to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements or to issue guarantees to third parties, other than in the normal course of issuing insurance contracts. Commitments related to insurance products sold are reflected as liabilities for future policy benefits. Insurance contracts guarantee certain performances by the Company.

Insurance reserves are the means by which life insurance companies determine the liabilities that must be established to assure that future policy benefits are provided for and can be paid. These reserves are required by law and based upon standard actuarial methodologies to ensure fulfillment of commitments guaranteed to policyholders and their beneficiaries, even though the obligations may not be due for many years. Refer to Note (1) in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of reserving methods.

The table below summarizes future estimated cash payments under existing contractual obligations.

	Payment Due by Period
	Total		Less Than 1 Year	1 - 3 Years	3 - 5 Years	More Than 5 Years
	(In thousands)
Operating lease obligations	$	—	—	—	—	—
Life claims payable (1)	62,888		62,888	—	—	—
Other long-term reserve liabilities reflected on the balance sheet under GAAP (2)	9,985,860		1,025,182	1,903,902	1,680,296	5,376,480
Total	$	10,048,748	1,088,070	1,903,902	1,680,296	5,376,480

(1) Life claims payable include benefit and claim liabilities for which the Company believes the amount and timing of the payment is essentially fixed and determinable. Such amounts generally relate to incurred and reported death and critical illness claims including an estimate of claims incurred but not reported.

81

(2)  Other long-term liabilities include estimated life and annuity obligations related to death claims, policy surrenders, policy withdrawals, maturities and annuity payments based on mortality, lapse, annuitization, and withdrawal assumptions consistent with the Company's historical experience. These estimated life and annuity obligations are undiscounted projected cash outflows that assume interest crediting and market growth consistent with assumptions used in amortizing deferred acquisition costs. They do not include any offsets for future premiums or deposits. Other long-term liabilities also include determinable payout patterns related to immediate annuities. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the actual cash outflows will differ both in amount and timing, possibly materially, from these estimates.

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Changes in Accounting Principles

Refer to Note (1) of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

REGULATORY AND OTHER ISSUES

Statutory Accounting Practices

Regulations that affect the Company and the insurance industry are often the result of efforts by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"). The NAIC routinely publishes new regulations as model acts or laws which states subsequently adopt as part of their insurance regulations. Currently, the Company is not aware of any NAIC regulatory matter material to its operations or reporting of financial results.

Risk-Based Capital Requirements

The NAIC established risk-based capital ("RBC") requirements to help state regulators monitor the financial strength and stability of life insurers by identifying those companies that may be inadequately capitalized. Under the NAIC's requirements, each insurer must maintain its total capital above a calculated threshold or take corrective measures to achieve the threshold. The threshold of adequate capital is based on a formula that takes into account the amount of risk each company faces on its products and investments. The RBC formula takes into consideration four major areas of risk which are: (i) asset risk which primarily focuses on the quality of investments; (ii) insurance risk which encompasses mortality and morbidity risk; (iii) interest rate risk which involves asset/liability matching issues; and (iv) other business risks. Statutory laws prohibit public dissemination of certain RBC information. However, the Company's current statutory capital and surplus is significantly in excess of the threshold RBC requirements.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Refer to Note 8(A) "Legal Proceedings" of the accompanying financial statements included in this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no changes relative to the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

82

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Effective August 22, 2008, the Company adopted and implemented a limited stock buy-back program associated with the Company's 2008 Incentive Plan which provides Option Holders the additional alternative of selling shares acquired through the exercise of options directly back to the Company. This program succeeded a similar buy-back program implemented March 10, 2006 associated with the Company's 1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. Option Holders may elect to sell such acquired shares back to the Company at any time within ninety (90) days after the exercise of options at the prevailing market price as of the date of notice of election.

The following table sets forth the Company's repurchase of its Class A common shares from Option Holders for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. There were no shares repurchased during the period.

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid Per Share	Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1, 2012 through July 31, 2012	—	—	N/A	N/A
August 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012	—	—	N/A	N/A
September 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012	—	—	N/A	N/A
Total	—		N/A	N/A

Purchased shares are reported in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements as authorized and unissued.

ITEM 4.  Removed and Reserved.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

Exhibit 31(a)	-	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 31(b)	-	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32(a)	-	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

83

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(Registrant)

Date:	November 9, 2012	/S/ Ross R. Moody
		Ross R. Moody
		President, Chief Operating Officer,
		and Director
		(Authorized Officer)
Date:	November 9, 2012	/S/ Brian M. Pribyl
		Brian M. Pribyl
		Senior Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
		(Principal Financial Officer)
Date:	November 9, 2012	/S/ Thomas F. Kopetic
		Thomas F. Kopetic
		Vice President,
		Controller and Assistant Treasurer
		(Principal Accounting Officer)

84

EX-31.A

EXHIBIT 31(a)

CERTIFICATION

I, Robert L. Moody, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of National Western Life Insurance Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter  (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	November 9, 2012	/S/ Robert L. Moody
		Robert L. Moody
		Chairman of the Board and
		Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.B

EXHIBIT 31(b)

CERTIFICATION

I, Brian M. Pribyl, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of National Western Life Insurance Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter  (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

Date:	November 9, 2012	/S/Brian M. Pribyl
		Brian M. Pribyl
		Senior Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer and
		Treasurer

EX-32.A

EXHIBIT 32(a)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of National Western Life Insurance Company ("Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof ("Report"), I, Robert L. Moody, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and I, Brian M. Pribyl, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of the Company, each certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) to my knowledge, the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	November 9, 2012
		/S/Robert L. Moody
		Robert L. Moody
		Chairman of the Board and
		Chief Executive Officer
		/S/Brian M. Pribyl
		Brian M. Pribyl
		Senior Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer
		and Treasurer

XML

Investments (Securities Available for Sale) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 2,560,225	$ 2,422,650
Gross Unrealized Gains	265,931	211,607
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4,789)	(9,304)
Fair Value	2,821,367	2,624,953
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	49,416	124,570
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(2,256)	(5,189)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	37,189	28,851
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(2,533)	(4,115)
Total, Fair Value	86,605	153,421
Total, Unrealized Losses	(4,789)	(9,304)
Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	2,550,665	2,416,148
Gross Unrealized Gains	263,113	201,418
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4,716)	(9,159)
Fair Value	2,809,062	2,608,407
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	46,781	123,848
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(2,234)	(5,105)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	36,849	28,552
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(2,482)	(4,054)
Total, Fair Value	83,630	152,400
Total, Unrealized Losses	(4,716)	(9,159)
U.S. Agencies [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	0
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	0
U.S. Treasury [Member]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	0
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	0
States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	599	4,042
Gross Unrealized Gains	11	16
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(170)
Fair Value	610	3,888
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	2,257
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	(170)
Total, Fair Value	0	2,257
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	(170)
Foreign Governments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	15,136	20,145
Gross Unrealized Gains	965	588
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	16,101	20,733
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	0
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Public Utilities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	258,889	327,794
Gross Unrealized Gains	27,574	32,511
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(907)
Fair Value	286,463	359,398
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	19,314
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	(907)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	19,314
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	(907)
Corporate [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	2,135,990	1,881,735
Gross Unrealized Gains	224,001	155,144
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2,644)	(5,839)
Fair Value	2,357,347	2,031,040
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	34,346	100,584
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(1,625)	(4,009)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	30,940	20,944
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(1,019)	(1,830)
Total, Fair Value	65,286	121,528
Total, Unrealized Losses	(2,644)	(5,839)
Mortgage-backed [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	122,348	163,856
Gross Unrealized Gains	10,320	12,389
Gross Unrealized Losses	(251)	(189)
Fair Value	132,417	176,056
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	7,872	3,950
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(251)	(189)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	7,872	3,950
Total, Unrealized Losses	(251)	(189)
Home Equity [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	12,293	10,887
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	30
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,821)	(2,054)
Fair Value	10,472	8,863
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	4,563	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(358)	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	5,909	5,351
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(1,463)	(2,054)
Total, Fair Value	10,472	5,351
Total, Unrealized Losses	(1,821)	(2,054)
Manufactured Housing [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Debt securities	5,410	7,689
Gross Unrealized Gains	242	740
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	5,652	8,429
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	0
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	12,305	16,546
Equity Private [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Equity securities		195
Gross Unrealized Gains		7,923
Gross Unrealized Losses		0
Fair Value		8,118
Equity Public [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost, Equity securities	9,560	6,307
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,818	2,266
Gross Unrealized Losses	(73)	(145)
Fair Value	12,305	8,428
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	2,635	722
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(22)	(84)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	340	299
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(51)	(61)
Total, Fair Value	2,975	1,021
Total, Unrealized Losses	$ (73)	$ (145)

XML

Derivative Investments (Statements of Earnings) (Details) (Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	$ (619)	$ 4,227	$ (5,722)	$ 3,197
Equity Index Options [Member] | Investment Income [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	32,369	(61,524)	42,328	(38,774)
Fixed-Index Products [Member] | Universal Life and Annuity Contract Interest [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	$ (32,988)	$ 65,751	$ (48,050)	$ 41,971

XML

Share-Based Payments (Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Outstanding) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares Available For Grant, Beginning Balance			291,000
Shares Available For Grant, Exercised			0
Shares Available For Grant, Forfeited			0
Shares Available For Grant, Expired			0
Shares Available For Grant, Granted			0
Shares Available For Grant, Ending Balance	291,000		291,000
Shares/Awards [Roll Forward]
Options Outstanding, Shares, Beginning Balance			86,118
Options Outstanding, Shares, Exercised			0
Options Outstanding, Shares, Forfeited			(3,050)
Options Outstanding, Shares, Expired			0
Options Outstanding, Shares, Granted			0
Options Outstanding, Shares, Ending Balance	83,068		83,068
Weighted-Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance			$ 187.83
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercised			$ 0.00
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Forfeited			$ 218.94
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Expired			$ 0.00
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Granted			$ 0.00
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance	$ 186.69		$ 186.69
Compensation cost, liability balance	$ 2,000,000	$ 1,700,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 1,700,000
Total intrinsic value of options exercised			66,000	557,000
Total share-based liabilities paid	66,000	179,000	66,000	179,000
Total fair value of shares vested			400,000	600,000
Cash received from exercise of options	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]
Shares/Awards [Roll Forward]
Options Outstanding, Shares, Beginning Balance			75,411
Options Outstanding, Shares, Exercised			(2,700)
Options Outstanding, Shares, Forfeited			(2,250)
Options Outstanding, Shares, Granted			0
Options Outstanding, Shares, Ending Balance	70,461		70,461
Weighted-Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance			$ 126.64
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercised			$ 121.28
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Forfeited			$ 149.57
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Granted			$ 0.00
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance	$ 126.11		$ 126.11

XML

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis

	December 31, 2011
	Total		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,608,407	—	2,608,407	—
Equity securities, available for sale	16,546		8,233	195	8,118
Derivatives, index options	30,844		—	30,844	—
Total assets	$	2,655,797	8,233	2,639,446	8,118
Policyholder account balances (a)	$	47,129	—	47,129	—
Other liabilities (b)	1,647		—	—	1,647
Total liabilities	$	48,776	—	47,129	1,647

(a)  Represents the fair value of certain product-related embedded derivatives that were recorded at fair value.

(b)  Represents the liability for share-based compensation.

The following tables set forth the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the date indicated:

	September 30, 2012
	Total		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,809,062	—	2,809,062	—
Equity securities, available for sale	12,305		12,184	121	—
Derivatives, index options	87,833		—	87,833	—
Total assets	$	2,909,200	12,184	2,897,016	—
Policyholder account balances (a)	$	98,396	—	98,396	—
Other liabilities (b)	2,003		—	—	2,003
Total liabilities	$	100,399	—	98,396	2,003

Schedule of Assets by Pricing Source and Fair Value Hierarchy Measured on Recurring Basis

The following tables present, by pricing source and fair value hierarchy level, the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	September 30, 2012
	Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	$	2,809,062		—		2,809,062		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	2,809,062			—		2,809,062		—
Equity securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	12,305			12,184		121		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	12,305			12,184		121		—
Derivatives, index options:
Priced by third-party vendors	87,833			—		87,833		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	87,833			—		87,833		—
Total	$	2,909,200		12,184		2,897,016		—
Percent of total	100.0		%	0.4	%	99.6	%	—	%

	December 31, 2011
	Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	$	2,608,407		—		2,608,407		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	2,608,407			—		2,608,407		—
Equity securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	8,428			8,233		195		—
Priced internally	8,118			—		—		8,118
Subtotal	16,546			8,233		195		8,118
Derivatives, index options:
Priced by third-party vendors	30,844			—		30,844		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	30,844			—		30,844		—
Total	$	2,655,797		8,233		2,639,446		8,118
Percent of total	100.0		%	0.3	%	99.4	%	0.3	%

Schedule of Significant Unobservable Inputs for Fair Value Measurements

The following tables provide additional information about fair value measurements for which significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs were utilized to determine fair value.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale		Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets	Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, July 1, 2012	$	—	—	—	2,217
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—		—	—	(166	)
Included in other comprehensive income	—		—	—	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	—		—	—	(48	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—		—	—	—
Balance at end of period	$	—	—	—	2,003
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—	—	—	(68	)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale			Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, July 1, 2011	$	17,157		8,119	25,276		3,090
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—			—	—		(1,375	)
Included in other comprehensive income	(1,802		)	—	(1,802	)	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	30			—	30		—
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—			—	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	15,385		8,119	23,504		1,715
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—		—	—		(1,375	)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale		Equity Securities, Available for Sale		Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2012	$	—	8,118		8,118		1,647
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—		—		—		422
Included in other comprehensive income	—		897		897		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	—		—		—		(66	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—		(9,015	)	(9,015	)	—
Balance at end of period	$	—	—		—		2,003
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—	—		—		583

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale			Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2011	$	18,602		7,564	26,166		4,512
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—			—	—		(2,240	)
Included in other comprehensive income	(2,615		)	555	(2,060	)	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	(602		)	—	(602	)	(557	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—			—	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	15,385		8,119	23,504		1,715
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—		—	—		(1,642	)

Schedule of Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments are as follows:

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Carrying Values		Fair Values	Carrying Values	Fair Values
	(In thousands)
ASSETS
Investments in debt and equity securities:
Securities held to maturity	$	5,849,916	6,414,860	5,641,909	6,082,330
Securities available for sale	2,821,367		2,821,367	2,624,953	2,624,953
Cash and short-term investments	127,945		127,945	119,290	119,290
Mortgage loans	135,776		141,013	157,460	158,958
Policy loans	74,138		74,138	74,967	74,967
Other loans	14,691		14,903	16,287	16,780
Derivatives, index options	87,833		87,833	30,844	30,844
Life interest in Libbie Shearn Moody Trust	83		12,775	330	12,775
LIABILITIES
Deferred annuity contracts	$	6,840,702	6,466,991	6,606,886	6,273,379
Immediate annuity and supplemental contracts	503,147		548,490	506,982	521,122

XML

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	$ 2,821,367		$ 2,624,953
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Total assets	2,909,200		2,655,797
Policyholder account balances	98,396	[1]	47,129	[1]
Other liabilities	2,003	[2]	1,647	[2]
Total liabilities	100,399		48,776
Percent of total	100.00%		100.00%
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Total assets	12,184		8,233
Policyholder account balances	0	[1]	0	[1]
Other liabilities	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total liabilities	0		0
Percent of total	0.40%		0.30%
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Total assets	2,897,016		2,639,446
Policyholder account balances	98,396	[1]	47,129	[1]
Other liabilities	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total liabilities	98,396		47,129
Percent of total	99.60%		99.40%
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Total assets	0		8,118
Policyholder account balances	0	[1]	0	[1]
Other liabilities	2,003	[2]	1,647	[2]
Total liabilities	2,003		1,647
Percent of total	0.00%		0.30%
Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	2,809,062		2,608,407
Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	2,809,062		2,608,407
Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Equity Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	12,305		16,546
Equity Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	12,184		8,233
Equity Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	121		195
Equity Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		8,118
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	2,809,062		2,608,407
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	2,809,062		2,608,407
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	12,305		8,428
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	12,184		8,233
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	121		195
Priced by Third-Party Vendors [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced Internally [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Debt Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		8,118
Priced Internally [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	0		0
Priced Internally [Member] | Equity Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale	$ 0		$ 8,118

[1] Represents the fair value of certain product-related embedded derivatives that were recorded at fair value.

[2] Represents the liability for share-based compensation.

XML

Investments (Investment Gains and Losses) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Held to maturity debt securities:
Real estate gains (losses)	$ 2,644	$ 0	$ 2,485	$ (50)
Mortgage loans write-downs	0	0	0	(39)
Other	12	0	12	0
Totals	5,451	2,960	9,242	6,542
Percentage of gains on bonds, due to calls of securities			77.00%
Total other-than-temporary impairment gains (losses) on debt securities	1,267	(1,727)	858	(1,727)
Portion of loss (gain) recognized in comprehensive income	(1,761)	1,719	(1,918)	1,719
Net impairment losses (gains) on debt securities recognized in earnings	(494)	(8)	(1,060)	(8)
Equity securities impairments	(17)	(14)	(70)	(14)
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(511)	(22)	(1,130)	(22)
Non-Credit Other-than-Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	1,688		1,122	997	997
Additions for credit losses not previously recognized in other-than-temporary impairments	494		1,060		125
Ending balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	2,182		2,182		1,122
New Orleans Property Impaired by Hurricane Katrina [Member]
Held to maturity debt securities:
Real estate gains (losses)	(2,600)
Debt Securities [Member]
Held to maturity debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	1,102	269	1,262	747
Realized losses on disposal	(267)	(520)	(680)	(520)
Debt Securities [Member]
Available for sale debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	1,847	3,211	6,054	6,348
Realized losses on disposal	0	0	0	0
Equity Securities [Member]
Held to maturity debt securities:
Equity securities realized gains (losses)	$ 113	$ 0	$ 109	$ 56

XML

New Accounting Pronouncements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

During July 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new guidance that requires additional disclosures related to an entity’s financing receivables and the nature of its credit risks related to financing receivables.  The effective date was for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2010.  The adoption of this guidance was effective December 31, 2010.  See Note 9, Investments, of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for additional disclosures. The adoption of this guidance will not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

During October 2010, the FASB issued new guidance affecting insurance companies that incur costs in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts.  The guidance addresses the diversity in practice regarding the interpretation for which costs relating to the acquisition of new or renewal business qualify for deferral.  The new guidance specifies the acquisition costs which are capitalizable and those which must be expensed.  The effective date is for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2011.  The Company has evaluated the impact of this guidance on the condensed consolidated financial statements. Based on evaluation of actual expenses from 2011 the Company determined that $2.5 million of capitalized expenses during 2011 would not have been deferrable under the new guidance. The change would have reduced 2011 pretax operating income by 3.0%. Thus, management prospectively adopted the guidance and has concluded the new guidance does not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

During January 2011, the FASB issued new guidance which defers the effective date of disclosures about troubled debt restructurings in Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-20.  The new anticipated effective date is for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance will not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS”. ASU No. 2011-04 does not extend the use of the existing concepts or guidance regarding fair value. The guidance emphasizes using the same meaning and disclosures of fair value within the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The guidance requires disclosure of additional information about transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, additional disclosures for Level 3 fair value measurement, including quantitative and qualitative information about significant unobservable inputs and discussions about the sensitivity of these unobservable inputs and a description of the Company's valuation process. ASU No. 2011-04 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company has included the additional disclosures in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05 “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income”.  ASU No. 2011-05 provides that entities must present the components of net income, the components of comprehensive income and the total of comprehensive income for all periods presented.   ASU No. 2011-05 is effective for interim or annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011.  The provisions of ASU No. 2011-05 relate only to the presentation of other comprehensive income and, accordingly, its adoption did not have an impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.  This guidance was amended by ASU No. 2011-12 below.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, which defers certain provisions of ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  One of ASU No. 2011-05's provisions requires entities to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component in both the statement in which net income is presented and the statement in which other comprehensive income is presented. This requirement is indefinitely deferred by ASU No. 2011-12. ASUs No. 2011-05 and 2011-12 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The guidance did not have a significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements and current disclosures.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the American Institute of Certified Pubic Accounts ("AICPA"), and the SEC did not, or are not believed by management to, have a material impact on the Company’s present or future condensed consolidated financial statements.

XML

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Fair Value Measurements for Level 3 Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 0	$ 25,276	$ 8,118	$ 26,166
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	0	0	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	0	(1,802)	897	(2,060)
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	0	30	0	(602)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	(9,015)	0
Balance at end of period	0	23,504	0	23,504
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at the end of period	0	0	0	0
Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,217	3,090	1,647	4,512
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	(166)	(1,375)	422	(2,240)
Included in comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	(48)	0	(66)	(557)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	2,003	1,715	2,003	1,715
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	(68)	(1,375)	583	(1,642)
Debt Securities, Available for Sale [Member]
Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	17,157	0	18,602
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	0	0	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	0	(1,802)	0	(2,615)
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	0	30	0	(602)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	0	15,385	0	15,385
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at the end of period	0	0	0	0
Equity Securities, Available for Sale [Member]
Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	8,119	8,118	7,564
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	0	0	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	0	0	897	555
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	0	0	0	0
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	(9,015)	0
Balance at end of period	0	8,119	0	8,119
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at the end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Allocation of net income:
Allocation of undistributed income	$ 23,049	$ 17,994	$ 66,036	$ 49,994
Net income	24,322	19,265	67,309	51,265
Class A [Member]
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	1,237	1,235	1,237	1,235
Allocation of undistributed income	22,397	17,485	64,168	48,580
Net income	23,634	18,720	65,405	49,815
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares (in shares)	3,435	3,435	3,435	3,433
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)	0	1	0	4
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions (in shares)	3,435	3,436	3,435	3,437
Basic Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 6.88	$ 5.45	$ 19.04	$ 14.51
Diluted Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 6.88	$ 5.45	$ 19.04	$ 14.49
Class B [Member]
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	36	36	36	36
Allocation of undistributed income	652	509	1,868	1,414
Net income	$ 688	$ 545	$ 1,904	$ 1,450
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares (in shares)	200	200	200	200
Effect of dilutive stock options (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions (in shares)	200	200	200	200
Basic Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.44	$ 2.73	$ 9.52	$ 7.25
Diluted Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.44	$ 2.73	$ 9.52	$ 7.25

XML

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Aug. 17, 2012 Common Class A [Member]	Aug. 19, 2011 Common Class A [Member]	Aug. 17, 2012 Common Class B [Member]	Aug. 19, 2011 Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Maximum dividend payment which may be paid without prior approval from Colorado Division of Insurance	$ 91.9
Common stock, dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, dividends declared (in dollars per share)			$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.18	$ 0.18

XML

Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Fair Value by Balance Sheet Grouping) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Securities held to maturity	$ 6,414,859	$ 6,082,330
Securities available for sale	2,821,367	2,624,953
Derivatives, index options	87,833	30,844
Carrying Values [Member]
ASSETS
Securities held to maturity	5,849,916	5,641,909
Securities available for sale	2,821,367	2,624,953
Cash and short-term investments	127,945	119,290
Mortgage loans	135,776	157,460
Policy loans	74,138	74,967
Other loans	14,691	16,287
Derivatives, index options	87,833	30,844
Life interest in Libbie Shearn Moody Trust	83	330
LIABILITIES
Deferred annuity contracts	6,840,702	6,606,886
Immediate annuity and supplemental contracts	503,147	506,982
Fair Values [Member]
ASSETS
Securities held to maturity	6,414,860	6,082,330
Securities available for sale	2,821,367	2,624,953
Cash and short-term investments	127,945	119,290
Mortgage loans	141,013	158,958
Policy loans	74,138	74,967
Other loans	14,903	16,780
Derivatives, index options	87,833	30,844
Life interest in Libbie Shearn Moody Trust	12,775	12,775
LIABILITIES
Deferred annuity contracts	6,466,991	6,273,379
Immediate annuity and supplemental contracts	$ 548,490	$ 521,122

XML

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2007
Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Vesting percentage in accrued benefits from plan freeze					100.00%
Service cost	$ 44,000	$ 0	$ 131,000	$ 0
Interest cost	232,000	258,000	696,000	776,000
Expected return on plan assets	(268,000)	(259,000)	(803,000)	(777,000)
Amortization of prior service cost	1,000	1,000	3,000	3,000
Amortization of net loss	196,000	126,000	589,000	374,000
Net periodic benefit cost	205,000	126,000	616,000	376,000
Minimum required contribution	1,100,000		1,100,000
Company expected contributions to plans in fiscal year	500,000		500,000
Contributions payable, from prior plan years	400,000		400,000
Company contributions to plan			700,000
Chairman and President Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service cost	42,000	9,000	126,000	36,000
Interest cost	228,000	190,000	684,000	722,000
Amortization of prior service cost	14,000	92,000	44,000	350,000
Amortization of net loss	286,000	118,000	857,000	447,000
Net periodic benefit cost	570,000	409,000	1,711,000	1,555,000
Company expected contributions to plans in fiscal year	2,000,000		2,000,000
Company contributions to plan			1,300,000
Aggregate average annual participant salary increase (as a percentage)			10.00%
Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Interest cost	32,000	38,000	97,000	113,000
Amortization of prior service cost	25,000	28,000	77,000	85,000
Amortization of net loss	11,000	0	31,000	0
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 68,000	$ 66,000	$ 205,000	$ 198,000

XML

Segment and Other Operating Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	$ 849,222	$ 866,548	$ 849,222	$ 866,548
Total segment assets	10,103,615	9,439,462	10,103,615	9,439,462
Other unallocated assets	62,479	62,680	62,479	62,680
Total condensed consolidated assets	10,166,094	9,502,142	10,166,094	9,502,142	9,727,999
Future policy benefits	8,467,600	7,911,911	8,467,600	7,911,911
Other policyholder liabilities	152,725	148,384	152,725	148,384	151,308
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	41,048	39,235	122,887	110,328
Net investment income	139,074	44,538	366,813	275,777
Other revenues	5,923	5,643	17,444	20,247
Realized gains (losses) on investments	4,940	2,938	8,112	6,520
Total condensed consolidated premiums and other revenues	190,985	92,354	515,256	412,872
Total revenues	186,045	89,416	507,144	406,352
Life and other policy benefits	12,323	12,363	39,858	34,177
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	28,403	29,909	91,463	96,246
Universal life and annuity contract interest	89,386	1,873	216,933	147,254
Other operating expenses	22,143	18,948	64,613	58,727
Federal income taxes (benefit)	12,679	8,968	32,241	22,921
Taxes on realized gains (losses) on investments	1,729	1,028	2,839	2,282
Total condensed consolidated Federal income taxes	14,408	9,996	35,080	25,203
Total expenses	164,934	72,061	445,108	359,325
Segment earnings (loss)	21,111	17,355	62,036	47,027
Realized gains (losses) on investments, net of taxes	3,211	1,910	5,273	4,238
Net earnings	24,322	19,265	67,309	51,265
Domestic Life Insurance [Member]
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	38,052	40,676	38,052	40,676
Total segment assets	450,649	401,243	450,649	401,243
Future policy benefits	380,752	335,100	380,752	335,100
Other policyholder liabilities	13,401	13,883	13,401	13,883
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	7,680	8,345	22,499	20,994
Net investment income	6,037	1,655	15,846	11,136
Other revenues	(46)	3	6	8
Total revenues	13,671	10,003	38,351	32,138
Life and other policy benefits	4,482	2,151	7,750	6,575
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	437	2,791	4,896	8,445
Universal life and annuity contract interest	2,976	2,848	11,419	7,335
Other operating expenses	3,313	2,426	10,659	9,453
Federal income taxes (benefit)	865	(66)	1,241	108
Total expenses	12,073	10,150	35,965	31,916
Segment earnings (loss)	1,598	(147)	2,386	222
International Life Insurance [Member]
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	224,814	229,656	224,814	229,656
Total segment assets	1,111,039	1,034,324	1,111,039	1,034,324
Future policy benefits	821,178	744,862	821,178	744,862
Other policyholder liabilities	11,536	17,567	11,536	17,567
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	28,453	25,375	83,999	75,551
Net investment income	12,255	3,253	34,967	25,806
Other revenues	32	(20)	378	346
Total revenues	40,740	28,608	119,344	101,703
Life and other policy benefits	4,827	4,737	14,622	13,898
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	2,083	8,249	15,448	24,374
Universal life and annuity contract interest	9,602	766	30,845	22,192
Other operating expenses	7,069	4,353	19,605	15,552
Federal income taxes (benefit)	6,271	3,561	13,277	8,417
Total expenses	29,852	21,666	93,797	84,433
Segment earnings (loss)	10,888	6,942	25,547	17,270
Annuities [Member]
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	586,356	596,216	586,356	596,216
Total segment assets	8,302,668	7,784,519	8,302,668	7,784,519
Future policy benefits	7,265,670	6,831,949	7,265,670	6,831,949
Other policyholder liabilities	127,788	116,934	127,788	116,934
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	4,915	5,515	16,389	13,783
Net investment income	115,781	33,940	302,045	225,882
Other revenues	213	152	14	3,143
Total revenues	120,909	39,607	318,448	242,808
Life and other policy benefits	3,014	5,475	17,486	13,704
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	25,883	18,869	71,119	63,427
Universal life and annuity contract interest	76,808	(1,741)	174,669	117,727
Other operating expenses	7,332	7,059	19,104	18,282
Federal income taxes (benefit)	3,215	3,414	12,335	9,722
Total expenses	116,252	33,076	294,713	222,862
Segment earnings (loss)	4,657	6,531	23,735	19,946
All Others [Member]
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	0	0	0	0
Total segment assets	239,259	219,376	239,259	219,376
Future policy benefits	0	0	0	0
Other policyholder liabilities	0	0	0	0
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	0	0	0	0
Net investment income	5,001	5,690	13,955	12,953
Other revenues	5,724	5,508	17,046	16,750
Total revenues	10,725	11,198	31,001	29,703
Life and other policy benefits	0	0	0	0
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	0	0	0	0
Universal life and annuity contract interest	0	0	0	0
Other operating expenses	4,429	5,110	15,245	15,440
Federal income taxes (benefit)	2,328	2,059	5,388	4,674
Total expenses	6,757	7,169	20,633	20,114
Segment earnings (loss)	$ 3,968	$ 4,029	$ 10,368	$ 9,589

XML

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

CONSOLIDATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of National Western Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (“Company” or "National Western") as of September 30, 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. It is recommended that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 accessible free of charge through the Company's internet site at www.nationalwesternlife.com or the Securities and Exchange Commission internet site at www.sec.gov. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Western Life Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: The Westcap Corporation, NWL Investments, Inc., NWL Services, Inc., NWL Financial, Inc., NWLSM, Inc. and Regent Care San Marcos Holdings, LLC. All significant intercorporate transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include (1) liabilities for future policy benefits, (2) valuation of derivative instruments, (3) recoverability and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, (4) valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, (5) other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities, (6) commitments and contingencies, and (7) valuation allowances for mortgage loans and real estate.

The Company implemented new actuarial reserving systems that enhance its ability to provide better estimates used in establishing future policy liabilities, monitor the deferred acquisition cost asset and the deferred sales inducements asset as well as support other actuarial processes within the Company. The implementation of these new reserving systems for specific blocks of business began in the second quarter of 2009 and was completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.  As the Company applied these new systems to a line of business, current reserving assumptions were reviewed and updated as appropriate. In different reporting periods during this time period, certain corrections were made to reserve and Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs balances as a result of the implementation of the new reserving system.  As the amounts of these corrections were determined to have occurred over the course of multiple previously reported periods, it was concluded that the amounts of the corrections were immaterial to the financial results reported in any of these periods. None of these corrections occurred in 2012.

Certain amounts in the prior year condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

XML

Share-Based Payments (General Descriptions) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Common Class A [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Common Class A [Member]	Jun. 20, 2008 Common Class A [Member]	Jun. 25, 2004 Common Class A [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Director [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employees [Member]	Jun. 25, 2004 1995 Plan [Member]	Jun. 20, 2008 2008 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock, par value									$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Share-based payments, number of shares authorized under plans															300,000	300,000
Annual vesting percentage													20.00%	20.00%
Requisite service period of awards													1 year	3 years
Expiration period of awards							10 years
Awards issued during the period (in shares)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Period in force, from which option holders may elect to sell back acquired shares							90 days
Pre-tax compensation cost (benefit) recognized							$ 0.4	$ (2.2)
Compensation cost (benefit), tax expense (benefit)							0.1	(0.8)
Compensation cost related to nonvested options not yet recognized	$ 1.6						$ 1.6
Compensation cost related to nonvested options not yet recognized, weighted-average period of recognition							3 years 6 months

XML

Investments (Unrealized Losses) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 securities	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 securities	Sep. 30, 2011
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Credit impairment reported in earnings	$ 511,000	$ 22,000	$ 1,130,000	$ 22,000
Other-than-temporarily impaired securities, number of securities rated investment grade	2		2
Asset-Backed Security [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Securities, other-than-temporarily impaired	5
Credit impairment reported in earnings	500,000
Liquidity loss, not affecting current earnings, expected to be recovered	$ 1,200,000
Equity Securities [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Securities, other-than-temporarily impaired	3
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	13		13
Debt Securities [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of issues	49		49
Gross unrealized losses, percentage of total debt	4.00%		4.00%
Gross unrealized losses, market value as a percent of amortized cost	97.00%		97.00%
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities with maturities of 12 months or greater	15		15
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities with maturities of 12 months or greater (as a percentage)	30.60%		30.60%
Debt Securities [Member] | Investment Grade [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	38		38
U.S. Treasury [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	0		0
U.S. Agencies [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	0		0
States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	5		5
States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | A Minus Rating or Above [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	4		4
States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | BB Rating [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	1		1
Foreign Governments [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	0		0
Public Utilities [Member] | BB Plus [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	5		5
Corporate [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	27		27
Corporate [Member] | Below Investment Grade [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	5		5
Mortgage-backed [Member] | CCC Rating [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	2		2
Home Equity [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	8		8
Home Equity [Member] | AAA Rating [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	5		5
Home Equity [Member] | AA Rating [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	2		2
Home Equity [Member] | CC Rating [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	1		1
Manufactured Housing [Member] | A Rating or Above [Member]
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade	2		2

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Investments:
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $6,414,860 and $6,082,330)	$ 5,849,916		$ 5,641,909
Securities available for sale, at fair value (cost: $2,560,225 and $2,422,650)	2,821,367		2,624,953
Mortgage loans, net of allowance for possible losses ($0 and $4,571)	135,776	[1]	157,460	[1]
Policy loans	74,138		74,967
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Other long-term investments	41,346		34,472
Total investments	9,010,376		8,564,605
Cash and short-term investments	127,945		119,290
Deferred policy acquisition costs	698,283		722,542
Deferred sales inducements	150,939		155,753
Accrued investment income	93,727		87,875
Federal income tax receivable	1,368		0
Other assets	83,456		77,934
Total assets	10,166,094		9,727,999
Future policy benefits:
Universal life and annuity contracts	8,329,743		8,023,798
Traditional life reserves	137,857		139,657
Other policyholder liabilities	152,725		151,308
Deferred Federal income tax liability	52,795		46,481
Federal income tax payable	0		5,962
Other liabilities	124,578		84,008
Total liabilities	8,797,698		8,451,214
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8)
Common stock:
Additional paid-in capital	37,767		37,767
Accumulated other comprehensive income	78,751		53,176
Retained earnings	1,248,243		1,182,207
Total stockholders’ equity	1,368,396		1,276,785
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	10,166,094		9,727,999
Common Class A [Member]
Common stock:
Common stock, value outstanding	3,435		3,435
Common Class B [Member]
Common stock:
Common stock, value outstanding	$ 200		$ 200

[1] Loan-to-Value Ratio using the most recent appraised value.

XML

Derivative Investments (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	$ 87,833		$ 30,844
Liability Derivatives	98,396	[1]	47,129	[1]
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Liability Derivatives	98,396		47,129
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Equity Index Options [Member] | Derivatives, Index Options [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives, index options	87,833		30,844
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Fixed-Index Products [Member] | Universal Life and Annuity Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives	$ 98,396		$ 47,129

[1] Represents the fair value of certain product-related embedded derivatives that were recorded at fair value.

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Unrealized gains on non-impaired securities [Member]	Unrealized losses on impaired held to maturity securities [Member]	Unrealized losses on impaired available for sale securities [Member]	Foreign currency translation adjustments [Member]	Benefit plan liability adjustment [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]
Total stockholders’ equity at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 3,629	$ 37,140		$ 62,499	$ (2,713)	$ 0	$ 2,585	$ (11,963)	$ 1,127,614
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares exercised under stock option plan		6	901
Change in unrealized gains during period, net of tax	11,318				7,188
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle						0
Amortization						163
Other-than-temporary impairments, non-credit, net of tax						0
Additional credit loss on previously impaired securities						0
Change in shadow deferred policy acquistion costs						184	622
Other-than-temporary impairments, non-credit, net of tax							(1,117)
Recoveries, net of tax							0
Change in translation adjustments during period	(155)							(155)
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain, net of tax	(819)								819
Net earnings	51,265									51,265
Stockholder dividends										(1,271)
Total stockholders’ equity at Sep. 30, 2011	1,277,396	3,635	38,041	58,112	69,687	(2,366)	(495)	2,430	(11,144)	1,177,608
Total stockholders’ equity at Dec. 31, 2011	1,276,785	3,635	37,767		69,116	(2,320)	(608)	2,368	(15,380)	1,182,207
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares exercised under stock option plan		0	0
Change in unrealized gains during period, net of tax	28,578				24,705
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle						0
Amortization						21
Other-than-temporary impairments, non-credit, net of tax						316
Additional credit loss on previously impaired securities						360
Change in shadow deferred policy acquistion costs						(178)	(955)
Other-than-temporary impairments, non-credit, net of tax							0
Recoveries, net of tax							570
Change in translation adjustments during period	307							307
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain, net of tax	(429)								429
Net earnings	67,309									67,309
Stockholder dividends										(1,273)
Total stockholders’ equity at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 1,368,396	$ 3,635	$ 37,767	$ 78,751	$ 93,821	$ (1,801)	$ (993)	$ 2,675	$ (14,951)	$ 1,248,243

XML

Share-Based Payments (Black Scholes Option Pricing Model Assumptions) (Details)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility, minimum	21.99%	25.39%
Expected volatility, maximum	35.57%	37.73%
Expected dividend yield	0.25%	0.26%
Risk-free rate, minimum	0.37%	0.73%
Risk-free rate, maximum	1.55%	2.03%
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term of options	2 years	2 years
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term of options	9 years	10 years
Weighted-average [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility, weighted-average	27.54%	30.87%
Risk-free rate, weighted-average	0.88%	1.16%

XML

Segment and Other Operating Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summary of Segment Information, by Quarter

A summary of segment information for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is provided below.

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic Life Insurance			International  Life Insurance	Annuities	All  Others	Totals
					(In thousands)
September 30, 2012
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	$	38,052		224,814	586,356	—	849,222
Total segment assets	450,649			1,111,039	8,302,668	239,259	10,103,615
Future policy benefits	380,752			821,178	7,265,670	—	8,467,600
Other policyholder liabilities	13,401			11,536	127,788	—	152,725
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	7,680		28,453	4,915	—	41,048
Net investment income	6,037			12,255	115,781	5,001	139,074
Other revenues	(46		)	32	213	5,724	5,923
Total revenues	13,671			40,740	120,909	10,725	186,045
Life and other policy benefits	4,482			4,827	3,014	—	12,323
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	437			2,083	25,883	—	28,403
Universal life and annuity contract interest	2,976			9,602	76,808	—	89,386
Other operating expenses	3,313			7,069	7,332	4,429	22,143
Federal income taxes (benefit)	865			6,271	3,215	2,328	12,679
Total expenses	12,073			29,852	116,252	6,757	164,934
Segment earnings (loss)	$	1,598		10,888	4,657	3,968	21,111

	Domestic Life Insurance		International Life Insurance	Annuities	All Others	Totals
				(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	22,499	83,999	16,389	—	122,887
Net investment income	15,846		34,967	302,045	13,955	366,813
Other revenues	6		378	14	17,046	17,444
Total revenues	38,351		119,344	318,448	31,001	507,144
Life and other policy benefits	7,750		14,622	17,486	—	39,858
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	4,896		15,448	71,119	—	91,463
Universal life and annuity contract interest	11,419		30,845	174,669	—	216,933
Other operating expenses	10,659		19,605	19,104	15,245	64,613
Federal income taxes (benefit)	1,241		13,277	12,335	5,388	32,241
Total expenses	35,965		93,797	294,713	20,633	445,108
Segment earnings (loss)	$	2,386	25,547	23,735	10,368	62,036

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic Life Insurance			International  Life Insurance		Annuities		All  Others	Totals
						(In thousands)
September 30, 2011
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	$	40,676		229,656		596,216		—	866,548
Total segment assets	401,243			1,034,324		7,784,519		219,376	9,439,462
Future policy benefits	335,100			744,862		6,831,949		—	7,911,911
Other policyholder liabilities	13,883			17,567		116,934		—	148,384
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	8,345		25,375		5,515		—	39,235
Net investment income	1,655			3,253		33,940		5,690	44,538
Other revenues	3			(20	)	152		5,508	5,643
Total revenues	10,003			28,608		39,607		11,198	89,416
Life and other policy benefits	2,151			4,737		5,475		—	12,363
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	2,791			8,249		18,869		—	29,909
Universal life and annuity contract interest	2,848			766		(1,741	)	—	1,873
Other operating expenses	2,426			4,353		7,059		5,110	18,948
Federal income taxes (benefit)	(66		)	3,561		3,414		2,059	8,968
Total expenses	10,150			21,666		33,076		7,169	72,061
Segment earnings (loss)	$	(147	)	6,942		6,531		4,029	17,355

	Domestic Life Insurance		International Life Insurance	Annuities	All Others	Totals
				(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	20,994	75,551	13,783	—	110,328
Net investment income	11,136		25,806	225,882	12,953	275,777
Other revenues	8		346	3,143	16,750	20,247
Total revenues	32,138		101,703	242,808	29,703	406,352
Life and other policy benefits	6,575		13,898	13,704	—	34,177
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	8,445		24,374	63,427	—	96,246
Universal life and annuity contract interest	7,335		22,192	117,727	—	147,254
Other operating expenses	9,453		15,552	18,282	15,440	58,727
Federal income taxes (benefit)	108		8,417	9,722	4,674	22,921
Total expenses	31,916		84,433	222,862	20,114	359,325
Segment earnings (loss)	$	222	17,270	19,946	9,589	47,027

Reconciliation of Segment Premiums and Other Revenues to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Reconciliations of segment information to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Premiums and Other Revenues:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	41,048	39,235	122,887	110,328
Net investment income	139,074		44,538	366,813	275,777
Other revenues	5,923		5,643	17,444	20,247
Realized gains (losses) on investments	4,940		2,938	8,112	6,520
Total condensed consolidated premiums and other revenues	$	190,985	92,354	515,256	412,872

Reconciliation of Segment Federal Income Taxes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Federal Income Taxes:
Total segment Federal income taxes	$	12,679	8,968	32,241	22,921
Taxes on realized gains (losses) on investments	1,729		1,028	2,839	2,282
Total condensed consolidated Federal income taxes	$	14,408	9,996	35,080	25,203

Reconciliation of Segment Net Earnings to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Net Earnings:
Total segment earnings	$	21,111	17,355	62,036	47,027
Realized gains (losses) on investments, net of taxes	3,211		1,910	5,273	4,238
Total condensed consolidated net earnings	$	24,322	19,265	67,309	51,265

Reconciliation of Segment Assets to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

	September 30,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Total segment assets	$	10,103,615	9,439,462
Other unallocated assets	62,479		62,680
Total condensed consolidated assets	$	10,166,094	9,502,142

XML

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Feb. 03, 2010 Sheila Newman case [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Western National Life Insurance Company case [Member] Other Revenues [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Final Judgement amount		$ 208,000
Final Judgement amount, actual damages		113,000
Final Judgement amount, exemplary damages		150,000,000
Gain contingency, settlement payment received			4,000,000
Commitments to extend credit relating to mortgage loans	$ 5,700,000

XML

Investments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Excluding Impairment Losses

The table below presents realized investment gains and losses, excluding impairment losses, for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Available for sale debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	$	1,847		3,211		6,054		6,348
Realized losses on disposal	—			—		—		—
Held to maturity debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	1,102			269		1,262		747
Realized losses on disposal	(267		)	(520	)	(680	)	(520	)
Equity securities realized gains (losses)	113			—		109		56
Real estate gains (losses)	2,644			—		2,485		(50	)
Mortgage loans write-downs	—			—		—		(39	)
Other	12			—		12		—
Totals	$	5,451		2,960		9,242		6,542

Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings

The table below presents net impairment losses recognized in earnings for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Total other-than-temporary impairment gains (losses) on debt securities	$	1,267		(1,727	)	858		(1,727	)
Portion of loss (gain) recognized in comprehensive income	(1,761		)	1,719		(1,918	)	1,719
Net impairment losses (gains) on debt securities recognized in earnings	(494		)	(8	)	(1,060	)	(8	)
Equity securities impairments	(17		)	(14	)	(70	)	(14	)
Totals	$	(511	)	(22	)	(1,130	)	(22	)

Credit Losses on Securities, Also Recorded as Non-Credit Other-than-Temporary Impairments in Other Comprehensive Loss

The table below presents a roll forward of credit losses on securities for which the Company also recorded non-credit other-than-temporary impairments in other comprehensive loss.

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011
			(In thousands)
Beginning balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	$	1,688	1,122	997
Additions for credit losses not previously recognized in other-than-temporary impairments	494		1,060	125
Ending balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairment	$	2,182	2,182	1,122

Schedule of Held-to-Maturity Securities

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	48,120	3,029	—		51,149
U.S. Treasury	1,906		680	—		2,586
States and political subdivisions	390,745		42,014	(112	)	432,647
Foreign governments	9,985		729	—		10,714
Public utilities	743,038		88,341	(212	)	831,167
Corporate	2,710,117		280,836	(4,081	)	2,986,872
Mortgage-backed	1,911,975		149,410	—		2,061,385
Home equity	21,953		4,119	(590	)	25,482
Manufactured housing	12,077		783	(3	)	12,857
Totals	$	5,849,916	569,941	(4,998	)	6,414,859

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	205,464	3,519	(330	)	208,653
U.S. Treasury	1,937		648	—		2,585
States and political subdivisions	358,364		27,338	(280	)	385,422
Foreign governments	9,979		927	—		10,906
Public utilities	685,989		77,060	(4,498	)	758,551
Corporate	2,258,640		195,551	(14,483	)	2,439,708
Mortgage-backed	2,082,650		155,413	(29	)	2,238,034
Home equity	23,815		439	(1,649	)	22,605
Manufactured housing	15,071		876	(81	)	15,866
Totals	$	5,641,909	461,771	(21,350	)	6,082,330

Schedule of Available-for-Sale Securities

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
States and political subdivisions	$	4,042	16	(170	)	3,888
Foreign governments	20,145		588	—		20,733
Public utilities	327,794		32,511	(907	)	359,398
Corporate	1,881,735		155,144	(5,839	)	2,031,040
Mortgage-backed	163,856		12,389	(189	)	176,056
Home equity	10,887		30	(2,054	)	8,863
Manufactured housing	7,689		740	—		8,429
	2,416,148		201,418	(9,159	)	2,608,407
Equity private	195		7,923	—		8,118
Equity public	6,307		2,266	(145	)	8,428
Totals	$	2,422,650	211,607	(9,304	)	2,624,953

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
States and political subdivisions	$	599	11	—		610
Foreign governments	15,136		965	—		16,101
Public utilities	258,889		27,574	—		286,463
Corporate	2,135,990		224,001	(2,644	)	2,357,347
Mortgage-backed	122,348		10,320	(251	)	132,417
Home equity	12,293		—	(1,821	)	10,472
Manufactured housing	5,410		242	—		5,652
	2,550,665		263,113	(4,716	)	2,809,062
Equity public	9,560		2,818	(73	)	12,305
Totals	$	2,560,225	265,931	(4,789	)	2,821,367

Schedule of Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Values of Heald-to-Maturity Investments, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's held to maturity investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	7,791		(113	)	—	—		7,791	(113	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	15,973		(11	)	13,702	(201	)	29,675	(212	)
Corporate	136,726		(521	)	41,603	(3,559	)	178,329	(4,080	)
Mortgage-backed	—		—		—	—		—	—
Home equity	1,047		(128	)	12,410	(462	)	13,457	(590	)
Manufactured housing	825		(3	)	—	—		825	(3	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	162,362	(776	)	67,715	(4,222	)	230,077	(4,998	)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's held to maturity investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	24,985	(16	)	27,010	(314	)	51,995	(330	)
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	805		(82	)	17,117	(198	)	17,922	(280	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	26,509		(1,388	)	17,242	(3,110	)	43,751	(4,498	)
Corporate	199,934		(7,215	)	95,975	(7,268	)	295,909	(14,483	)
Mortgage-backed	23,256		(29	)	—	—		23,256	(29	)
Home equity	—		—		11,660	(1,649	)	11,660	(1,649	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		2,436	(81	)	2,436	(81	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	275,489	(8,730	)	171,440	(12,620	)	446,929	(21,350	)

Schedule of Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Values of Available-for-Sale Investments, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's available for sale investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	—		—		—	—		—	—
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	—		—		—	—		—	—
Corporate	34,346		(1,625	)	30,940	(1,019	)	65,286	(2,644	)
Mortgage-backed	7,872		(251	)	—	—		7,872	(251	)
Home equity	4,563		(358	)	5,909	(1,463	)	10,472	(1,821	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		—	—		—	—
	46,781		(2,234	)	36,849	(2,482	)	83,630	(4,716	)
Equity public	2,635		(22	)	340	(51	)	2,975	(73	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	49,416	(2,256	)	37,189	(2,533	)	86,605	(4,789	)

Liq

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's available for sale investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	—		—		2,257	(170	)	2,257	(170	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	19,314		(907	)	—	—		19,314	(907	)
Corporate	100,584		(4,009	)	20,944	(1,830	)	121,528	(5,839	)
Mortgage-backed	3,950		(189	)	—	—		3,950	(189	)
Home equity	—		—		5,351	(2,054	)	5,351	(2,054	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		—	—		—	—
	123,848		(5,105	)	28,552	(4,054	)	152,400	(9,159	)
Equity public	722		(84	)	299	(61	)	1,021	(145	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	124,570	(5,189	)	28,851	(4,115	)	153,421	(9,304	)

Schedule of Mortgage Loans by Loan-to-Value Ratio

The following table represents the loan-to-value ratio using the most recent appraised value.

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Amount	%		Amount	%
	(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Mortgage Loans by Loan-to-Value Ratio (1):
Less than 50%	58,307	42.9	%	68,048	43.2	%
50% to 60%	17,719	13.1	%	32,091	20.4	%
60% to 70%	27,685	20.4	%	25,692	16.3	%
70% to 80%	8,659	6.4	%	5,505	3.5	%
80% to 90%	—	—	%	—	—	%
Greater than 90%	23,406	17.2	%	26,124	16.6	%
Totals	135,776	100.0	%	157,460	100.0	%

(1) Loan-to-Value Ratio using the most recent appraised value.

Schedule of Allowance for Mortgage Loans

The following table represents the mortgage loan allowance for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011:

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	4,571		3,962
Provision	—			609
Releases	(4,571		)	—
Balance, end of period	$	—		4,571

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 67,309	$ 51,265
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
Universal life and annuity contract interest	216,933	147,254
Surrender charges and other policy revenues	(10,854)	(1,340)
Realized (gains) losses on investments	(8,112)	(6,520)
Accrual and amortization of investment income	(1,740)	(2,140)
Depreciation and amortization	4,246	4,019
(Increase) decrease in value of index options	(42,328)	38,774
(Increase) decrease in deferred policy acquisition and sales inducement costs	(3,604)	(52,324)
(Increase) decrease in accrued investment income	(5,852)	(10,052)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(6,088)	(6,015)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities for future policy benefits	8,335	17,250
Increase (decrease) in other policyholder liabilities	1,417	(3,142)
Increase (decrease) in Federal income taxes	(14,391)	(4,353)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	18,416	(322)
Other, net	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	223,687	172,354
Proceeds from sales of:
Securities available for sale	7,539	19,248
Other investments	8,646	4,732
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of:
Securities held to maturity	1,021,666	375,016
Securities available for sale	252,464	89,379
Index options	25,225	73,980
Purchases of:
Securities held to maturity	(1,208,044)	(884,205)
Securities available for sale	(388,228)	(263,937)
Index options	(42,184)	(50,239)
Other investments	(5,036)	(10,361)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	38,783	13,577
Cost of mortgage loans acquired	(16,728)	(33,918)
Decrease (increase) in policy loans	829	4,225
Other, net	(2)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(305,070)	(662,503)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deposits to account balances for universal life and annuity contracts	715,037	1,116,161
Return of account balances on universal life and annuity contracts	(625,306)	(615,196)
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan	0	908
Net cash provided by financing activities	89,731	501,873
Effect of foreign exchange	307	(154)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and short-term investments	8,655	11,570
Cash and short-term investments at beginning of period	119,290	80,332
Cash and short-term investments at end of period	127,945	91,902
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	30	10
Income taxes	49,540	30,209
Noncash operating activities:
Deferral of sales inducements	$ 2,965	$ 12,386

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Securities held to maturity-fair value	$ 6,414,859	$ 6,082,330
Securities available for sale-amortized cost	2,560,225	2,422,650
Mortgage loans-allowance for possible losses	$ 0	$ 4,571
Common Class A [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	7,500,000	7,500,000
Common stock, shares issued	3,434,763	3,434,766
Common stock, shares outstanding	3,434,763	3,434,766
Common Class B [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000	200,000
Common stock, shares issued	200,000	200,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	200,000	200,000

XML

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. In compliance with this GAAP guidance, the Company has categorized its financial instruments, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three level hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). If the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the category level is based on the lowest priority level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are categorized as follows:

Level 1: Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Company for identical assets or liabilities. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. These generally provide the most reliable evidence and are used to measure fair value whenever available. The Company's Level 1 assets include equity securities that are traded in an active exchange market. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets.

Level 2: Fair value is based upon significant inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability through corroboration with observable market data as of the reporting date. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted market prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable and other observable inputs. The Company's Level 2 assets include fixed maturity debt securities (corporate and private bonds, government and agency securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities), preferred stock, certain equity securities, and over-the-counter derivative contracts. The Company's Level 2 liabilities consist of certain product-related embedded derivatives. Valuations are generally obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or determined through use of valuation methodologies using observable market inputs.

Level 3: Fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs which reflect the entity's or third party pricing service's assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The Company's Level 3 assets include certain equity securities and certain less liquid or private fixed maturity debt securities where significant valuation inputs cannot be corroborated with market observable data. The Company's Level 3 liabilities consist of share-based compensation obligations. Valuations are estimated based on non-binding broker prices or internally developed valuation models or methodologies, discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques.

The following tables set forth the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the date indicated:

	September 30, 2012
	Total		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,809,062	—	2,809,062	—
Equity securities, available for sale	12,305		12,184	121	—
Derivatives, index options	87,833		—	87,833	—
Total assets	$	2,909,200	12,184	2,897,016	—
Policyholder account balances (a)	$	98,396	—	98,396	—
Other liabilities (b)	2,003		—	—	2,003
Total liabilities	$	100,399	—	98,396	2,003

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company transferred out of Level 3, equity securities available for sale, its investment in an affiliated company, Moody Bancshares. The security is held at its equity value and was transferred to other long-term investments. The Company did not make any other transfers of assets into or out of levels 1, 2 or 3 during the period reported.

	December 31, 2011
	Total		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,608,407	—	2,608,407	—
Equity securities, available for sale	16,546		8,233	195	8,118
Derivatives, index options	30,844		—	30,844	—
Total assets	$	2,655,797	8,233	2,639,446	8,118
Policyholder account balances (a)	$	47,129	—	47,129	—
Other liabilities (b)	1,647		—	—	1,647
Total liabilities	$	48,776	—	47,129	1,647

(a)  Represents the fair value of certain product-related embedded derivatives that were recorded at fair value.

(b)  Represents the liability for share-based compensation.

The following tables present, by pricing source and fair value hierarchy level, the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	September 30, 2012
	Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	$	2,809,062		—		2,809,062		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	2,809,062			—		2,809,062		—
Equity securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	12,305			12,184		121		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	12,305			12,184		121		—
Derivatives, index options:
Priced by third-party vendors	87,833			—		87,833		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	87,833			—		87,833		—
Total	$	2,909,200		12,184		2,897,016		—
Percent of total	100.0		%	0.4	%	99.6	%	—	%

	December 31, 2011
	Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Debt securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	$	2,608,407		—		2,608,407		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	2,608,407			—		2,608,407		—
Equity securities, available for sale:
Priced by third-party vendors	8,428			8,233		195		—
Priced internally	8,118			—		—		8,118
Subtotal	16,546			8,233		195		8,118
Derivatives, index options:
Priced by third-party vendors	30,844			—		30,844		—
Priced internally	—			—		—		—
Subtotal	30,844			—		30,844		—
Total	$	2,655,797		8,233		2,639,446		8,118
Percent of total	100.0		%	0.3	%	99.4	%	0.3	%

The following tables provide additional information about fair value measurements for which significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs were utilized to determine fair value.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale		Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets	Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, July 1, 2012	$	—	—	—	2,217
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—		—	—	(166	)
Included in other comprehensive income	—		—	—	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	—		—	—	(48	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—		—	—	—
Balance at end of period	$	—	—	—	2,003
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—	—	—	(68	)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale			Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, July 1, 2011	$	17,157		8,119	25,276		3,090
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—			—	—		(1,375	)
Included in other comprehensive income	(1,802		)	—	(1,802	)	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	30			—	30		—
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—			—	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	15,385		8,119	23,504		1,715
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—		—	—		(1,375	)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale		Equity Securities, Available for Sale		Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2012	$	—	8,118		8,118		1,647
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—		—		—		422
Included in other comprehensive income	—		897		897		—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	—		—		—		(66	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—		(9,015	)	(9,015	)	—
Balance at end of period	$	—	—		—		2,003
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—	—		—		583

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
	Debt Securities, Available for Sale			Equity Securities, Available for Sale	Total Assets		Other Liabilities
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2011	$	18,602		7,564	26,166		4,512
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income	—			—	—		(2,240	)
Included in other comprehensive income	(2,615		)	555	(2,060	)	—
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	(602		)	—	(602	)	(557	)
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	—			—	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	15,385		8,119	23,504		1,715
Amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in net income attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at end of period	$	—		—	—		(1,642	)

Realized gains (losses) on debt and equity securities are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings as net investment gains (losses). Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale debt and equity securities are reported as other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders' equity of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The fair value hierarchy classifications are reviewed each reporting period. Reclassification of certain financial assets and liabilities may result based on changes in the observability of valuation attributes. Reclassifications are reported as transfers into and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments are as follows:

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Carrying Values		Fair Values	Carrying Values	Fair Values
	(In thousands)
ASSETS
Investments in debt and equity securities:
Securities held to maturity	$	5,849,916	6,414,860	5,641,909	6,082,330
Securities available for sale	2,821,367		2,821,367	2,624,953	2,624,953
Cash and short-term investments	127,945		127,945	119,290	119,290
Mortgage loans	135,776		141,013	157,460	158,958
Policy loans	74,138		74,138	74,967	74,967
Other loans	14,691		14,903	16,287	16,780
Derivatives, index options	87,833		87,833	30,844	30,844
Life interest in Libbie Shearn Moody Trust	83		12,775	330	12,775
LIABILITIES
Deferred annuity contracts	$	6,840,702	6,466,991	6,606,886	6,273,379
Immediate annuity and supplemental contracts	503,147		548,490	506,982	521,122

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company's entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a portion of the Company's financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

XML

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 07, 2012 Common Class A [Member]	Nov. 07, 2012 Common Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000070684
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,434,763	200,000

XML

Derivative Investments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Investments

DERIVATIVE INVESTMENTS

Fixed-indexed products provide traditional fixed annuities and universal life contracts with the option to have credited interest rates linked in part to an underlying equity index or a combination of equity indices. The equity return component of such policy contracts is identified separately and accounted for in future policy benefits as embedded derivatives on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The remaining portions of these policy contracts are considered the host contracts and are recorded separately as fixed annuity or universal life contracts. The host contracts are accounted for under debt instrument type accounting in which future policy benefits are recorded as discounted debt instruments that are accreted, using the effective yield method, to their minimum account values at their projected maturities or termination dates.

The Company purchases over-the-counter index options, which are derivative financial instruments, to hedge the equity return component of its fixed-indexed annuity and life products. The index options act as hedges to match closely the returns on the underlying index or indices. The amounts which may be credited to policyholders are linked, in part, to the returns of the underlying index or indices. As a result, changes to policyholders' liabilities are substantially offset by changes in the value of the options. Cash is exchanged upon purchase of the index options and no principal or interest payments are made by either party during the option periods. Upon maturity or expiration of the options, cash may be paid to the Company depending on the performance of the underlying index or indices and terms of the contract.

The Company does not elect hedge accounting relative to these derivative instruments.The index options are reported at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The changes in the values of the index options and the changes in the policyholder liabilities are both reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Any changes relative to the embedded derivatives associated with policy contracts are reflected in contract interest in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Any gains or losses from the sale or expiration of the options, as well as period-to-period changes in values, are reflected as net investment income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Although there is credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the index options, the Company does not expect any counterparties to fail to meet their obligations, given their high credit ratings. In addition, credit support agreements are in place with all counterparties for option holdings in excess of specific limits, which may further reduce the Company's credit exposure.

The tables below present the fair value of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

	September 30, 2012
	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
		(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Equity index options	Derivatives, Index Options	$	87,833
Fixed-indexed products				Universal Life and Annuity Contracts	$	98,396
Total		$	87,833		$	98,396

	December 31, 2011
	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
		(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Equity index options	Derivatives, Index Options	$	30,844
Fixed-indexed products				Universal Life and Annuity Contracts	$	47,129
Total		$	30,844		$	47,129

The table below presents the effect of derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

		September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
Derivatives Not Designated  As Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain  or (Loss) Recognized In Income on Derivative	Amount of Gain or  (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Derivative
		(In thousands)
Equity index options	Net investment income	$	32,369		(61,524	)
Fixed-index products	Universal life and annuity contract interest	(32,988		)	65,751
		$	(619	)	4,227

The table below presents the effect of derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

		September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
Derivatives Not Designated  As Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain  or (Loss) Recognized In Income on Derivative	Amount of Gain or  (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Derivative
		(In thousands)
Equity index options	Net investment income	$	42,328		(38,774	)
Fixed-index products	Universal life and annuity contract interest	(48,050		)	41,971
		$	(5,722	)	3,197

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Premiums and other revenues:
Universal life and annuity contract charges	$ 36,924	$ 34,550	$ 109,776	$ 97,014
Traditional life premiums	4,124	4,685	13,111	13,314
Net investment income	139,074	44,538	366,813	275,777
Other revenues	5,923	5,643	17,444	20,247
Net realized investment gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) gains (losses)	1,250	(1,741)	788	(1,741)
Portion of OTTI (gains) losses recognized in other comprehensive income	(1,761)	1,719	(1,918)	1,719
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(511)	(22)	(1,130)	(22)
Other net investment gains (losses)	5,451	2,960	9,242	6,542
Total net realized investment gains (losses)	4,940	2,938	8,112	6,520
Total revenues	190,985	92,354	515,256	412,872
Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits	12,323	12,363	39,858	34,177
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	28,403	29,909	91,463	96,246
Universal life and annuity contract interest	89,386	1,873	216,933	147,254
Other operating expenses	22,143	18,948	64,613	58,727
Total benefits and expenses	152,255	63,093	412,867	336,404
Earnings before Federal income taxes	38,730	29,261	102,389	76,468
Federal income taxes	14,408	9,996	35,080	25,203
Net earnings	24,322	19,265	67,309	51,265
Common Class A [Member]
Benefits and expenses:
Net earnings	23,634	18,720	65,405	49,815
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 6.88	$ 5.45	$ 19.04	$ 14.51
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 6.88	$ 5.45	$ 19.04	$ 14.49
Common Class B [Member]
Benefits and expenses:
Net earnings	$ 688	$ 545	$ 1,904	$ 1,450
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.44	$ 2.73	$ 9.52	$ 7.25
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.44	$ 2.73	$ 9.52	$ 7.25

XML

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

(A) Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees. The plan provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The Company makes annual contributions to the plan that complies with the minimum funding provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). On October 19, 2007, the Company's Board of Directors approved an amendment to freeze the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2007. The freeze ceased future benefit accruals to all participants and closed the plan to any new participants. In addition, all participants became immediately 100% vested in their accrued benefits as of that date. Going forward future pension expense is projected to be minimal. Fair values of plan assets and liabilities are measured as of the prior December 31 for each respective year. The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost.

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	44		—		131		—
Interest cost	232			258		696		776
Expected return on plan assets	(268		)	(259	)	(803	)	(777	)
Amortization of prior service cost	1			1		3		3
Amortization of net loss	196			126		589		374
Net periodic benefit cost	$	205		126		616		376

The Company's minimum required contribution for the 2012 plan year is slightly over $1.1 million of which it expects to contribute just under $0.5 million during 2012 with the remainder to be contributed in 2013. The Company's minimum required contribution was reduced during the third quarter of 2012 as a result of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) which was enacted. In addition, the Company has contributions for the 2011 plan year payable during 2012 of $0.4 million. As of September 30, 2012, the Company has contributed $0.7 million to the plan for the 2011 and 2012 plan years.

The Company also sponsors a non-qualified defined benefit plan primarily for senior officers. The plan provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The pension obligations and administrative responsibilities of the plan are maintained by a pension administration firm, which is a subsidiary of American National Insurance Company ("ANICO"). ANICO has guaranteed the payment of pension obligations under the plan. However, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the plan should these entities be unable to meet their obligations under the existing agreements. Also, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the plan in the event that a plan participant continues employment with the Company beyond age seventy, the aggregate average annual participant salary increases exceed 10% per year, or any additional employees become eligible to participate in the plan. If any of these conditions are met, the Company would be responsible for any additional pension obligations resulting from these items. Amendments were made to the plan to allow an additional employee to participate and to change the benefit formula for the Chairman of the Company. As previously mentioned, these additional obligations are a liability to the Company. Effective December 31, 2004, this plan was frozen with respect to the continued accrual of benefits of the Chairman and the President of the Company in order to comply with law changes under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 ("Act").

Effective July 1, 2005, the Company established a second non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the Chairman of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that mirror and supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the previously discussed non-qualified defined benefit plan, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

Effective November 1, 2005, the Company established a third non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the President of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the first non-qualified defined benefit plan as previously discussed, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs for the Chairman and President non-qualified defined benefit plans.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	42	9	126	36
Interest cost	228		190	684	722
Amortization of prior service cost	14		92	44	350
Amortization of net loss	286		118	857	447
Net periodic benefit cost	$	570	409	1,711	1,555

The Company expects to contribute $2.0 million to these plans in 2012.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company has contributed $1.3 million to the plans.

(B) Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plans

The Company sponsors two healthcare plans to provide postretirement benefits to certain fully-vested individuals.  The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	32	38	97	113
Amortization of prior service cost	25		28	77	85
Amortization of net loss	11		—	31	—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	68	66	205	198

The Company expects to contribute minimal amounts to the plan in 2012.

XML

Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share of common stock are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share assumes the issuance of common shares applicable to stock options in the denominator.

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012				2011
	Class A			Class B	Class A		Class B
	(In thousands except per share amounts)
Numerator for Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net income	$	24,322			19,265
Dividends - Class A shares	(1,237		)		(1,235	)
Dividends - Class B shares	(36		)		(36	)
Undistributed income	$	23,049			17,994
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	$	1,237		36	1,235		36
Allocation of undistributed income	22,397			652	17,485		509
Net income	$	23,634		688	18,720		545
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares	3,435			200	3,435		200
Effect of dilutive stock options	—			—	1		—
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions	3,435			200	3,436		200
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	6.88		3.44	5.45		2.73
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	6.88		3.44	5.45		2.73

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012				2011
	Class A			Class B	Class A		Class B
	(In thousands except per share amounts)
Numerator for Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net income	$	67,309			51,265
Dividends - Class A shares	(1,237		)		(1,235	)
Dividends - Class B shares	(36		)		(36	)
Undistributed income	$	66,036			49,994
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	$	1,237		36	1,235		36
Allocation of undistributed income	64,168			1,868	48,580		1,414
Net income	$	65,405		1,904	49,815		1,450
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares	3,435			200	3,433		200
Effect of dilutive stock options	—			—	4		—
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions	3,435			200	3,437		200
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	19.04		9.52	14.51		7.25
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	19.04		9.52	14.49		7.25

For the three and nine month per share calculations as of September 30, 2012, the exercise price of all outstanding stock options was above the market price of the Company's Class A common shares as of that date. Accordingly, there is no dilutive impact for stock options upon earnings per share during these periods.

XML

Share-Based Payments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Summary of Shares Available for Grant and Stock Option Activity

A summary of shares available for grant and stock option activity is detailed below.

		Options Outstanding
	Shares Available For Grant	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Stock Options:
Balance at January 1, 2012	291,000	86,118		$	187.83
Exercised	—	—		—
Forfeited	—	(3,050	)	218.94
Expired	—	—		—
Stock options granted	—	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	291,000	83,068		$	186.69

Schedule of Stock Appreciation Rights Activity

	Stock Appreciation Rights Outstanding
	Awards		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Stock Appreciation Rights:
Balance at January 1, 2012	75,411		$	126.64
Exercised	(2,700	)	121.28
Forfeited	(2,250	)	149.57
Granted	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	70,461		$	126.11

Summary of Information About Stock Options and SARs Outstanding

The following table summarizes information about stock options and SARs outstanding at September 30, 2012.

	Options/SARs Outstanding
	Number Outstanding		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	Options Exercisable
Exercise prices:
$150.00	50,050		1.6 years	50,050
255.13	24,018		5.6 years	9,608
208.05	9,000		5.7 years	7,200
251.49	1,000		5.9 years	400
236.00	250		5.9 years	100
114.64	33,443		6.4 years	10,129
132.56	35,768		9.2 years	—
Totals	153,529			77,487
Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)	$	1,339		$	290

Summary of Assumptions Employed Using Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model

In estimating the fair value of the options outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company employed the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumptions as detailed below.

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Expected term of options	2 to 9 years		2 to 10 years
Expected volatility:
Range	21.99% to 35.57%		25.39% to 37.73%
Weighted-average	27.54	%	30.87	%
Expected dividend yield	0.25	%	0.26	%
Risk-free rate:
Range	0.37% to 1.55%		0.73% to 2.03%
Weighted-average	0.88	%	1.16	%

XML

Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Subsequent events have been evaluated through November 8, 2012, which is the date that the financial statements have been issued, and no reportable items were identified.

XML

Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(A) Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company is involved or may become involved in various legal actions in which claims for alleged economic and punitive damages have been or may be asserted, some for substantial amounts. In recent years, carriers offering life insurance and annuity products have faced litigation, including class action lawsuits, alleging improper product design, improper sales practices, and similar claims. As discussed below, the Company has been a defendant over the past several years in such a class action lawsuit. Given the uncertainty involved in these types of actions, the ability to make a reliable evaluation of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or an estimate of the amount of or range of potential loss is endemic to the particular circumstances and evolving developments of each individual matter on its own merits.

The Company is currently a defendant in a class action lawsuit pending as of June 12, 2006, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The case is titled In Re National Western Life Insurance Deferred Annuities Litigation. The complaint asserts claims for RICO violations, Financial Elder Abuse, Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17200, et seq, Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17500, et seq, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Aiding and Abetting Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Fraudulent Concealment, Cal. Civ. Code 1710, et seq, Breach of the Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, and Unjust Enrichment and Imposition of Constructive Trust. On July 12, 2010, the Court certified a nationwide class of policyholders under the RICO allegation and a California class under all of the remaining causes of action except breach of fiduciary duty. A trial date is not presently set. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses in this cause and intends to vigorously defend itself against the asserted claims. In addition, given the speculative and vague damage theories presented by the plaintiffs in the matter, the inability to ascertain any financial harm to the class of policyholders, and the current status of the case before the Court, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate a possible range of loss for disclosure in the accompanying financial statements. Therefore, no amounts have been provided in the financial statements of the Company as of September 30, 2012 for this matter.

In addition to the class action lawsuit described above, the Company is the named defendant in the case of Sheila Newman vs. National Western Life Insurance Company, which alleged mishandling of policyholder funds by an agent.  On February 3, 2010, the 415th Judicial District Court of Parker County in Weatherford, Texas, entered a Final Judgment against the Company of approximately $208,000 including actual damages of $113,000 and amounts for attorney's fees, and prejudgment interest on the actual damages.  In addition, the Final Judgment included $150 million for exemplary damages. The Court of Appeals on August 11, 2011, reversed the trial court judgment in its entirety and rendered a take nothing verdict in favor of National Western Life Insurance Company. Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed a motion for a rehearing which the Court ruled on October 13, 2011 that the trial court's judgment was still reversed and judgment was still entered that Newman take nothing, all in favor of National Western Life Insurance Company. The Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed a Motion for Reconsideration En Banc which the Court of Appeals denied on October 27, 2011. The Plaintiffs (Appellees) then filed a Motion for Rehearing of the Court's amended decision, which the Court of Appeals denied on December 22, 2011. On March 21, 2012, Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed a Petition for Review with the Texas Supreme Court and the Company filed its response on April 20, 2012. The Supreme Court has requested the Parties to file Briefs on the merits. Plaintiffs (Appellees) filed their Brief on October 31, 2012. The Company is currently working on its response.

Although there can be no assurances, at the present time, the Company does not anticipate that the ultimate liability arising from such other potential, pending, or threatened legal actions will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operating results of the Company.

The Company was involved in litigation as the plaintiff in a matter pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (“District Court”) against defendant, Western National Life Insurance Company and its parent company, AGC Life Insurance Company. The matter dealt with the alleged infringement of registered trademarks held by the Company. On March 25, 2011, the parties executed a Memorandum of Understanding on Settlement (“Memorandum”) under which the Company was to receive a settlement payment of $4 million. This amount was subsequently received and included in Other revenues, net of attorney fees, in the financial statements in the second quarter, 2011. The parties entered into a final written confidential settlement agreement originally dated May 2, 2011 and amended August 15, 2011.

Brazilian insurance regulators have sought to impose substantial penal fines against National Western Life Insurance Company. The Company firmly believes that Brazilian insurance regulators have no jurisdiction over the Company and that any such fines would be unenforceable against it.

(B) Financial Instruments

In order to meet the financing needs of its customers in the normal course of business, the Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. These financial instruments are commitments to extend credit which involve elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amounts, assuming that the amounts are fully advanced and that collateral or other security is of no value. Commitments to extend credit are legally binding agreements to lend to a customer that generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Commitments do not necessarily represent future liquidity requirements, as some could expire without being drawn upon. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The Company controls the credit risk of these transactions through credit approvals, limits, and monitoring procedures.

The Company had $5.7 million of commitments to extend credit relating to mortgage loans at September 30, 2012. The Company evaluates each customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.

XML

Segment and Other Operating Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment and Other Operating Information

SEGMENT AND OTHER OPERATING INFORMATION

The Company defines its reportable operating segments as domestic life insurance, international life insurance, and annuities. These segments are organized based on product types and geographic marketing areas.  A summary of segment information for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is provided below.

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic Life Insurance			International  Life Insurance	Annuities	All  Others	Totals
					(In thousands)
September 30, 2012
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	$	38,052		224,814	586,356	—	849,222
Total segment assets	450,649			1,111,039	8,302,668	239,259	10,103,615
Future policy benefits	380,752			821,178	7,265,670	—	8,467,600
Other policyholder liabilities	13,401			11,536	127,788	—	152,725
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	7,680		28,453	4,915	—	41,048
Net investment income	6,037			12,255	115,781	5,001	139,074
Other revenues	(46		)	32	213	5,724	5,923
Total revenues	13,671			40,740	120,909	10,725	186,045
Life and other policy benefits	4,482			4,827	3,014	—	12,323
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	437			2,083	25,883	—	28,403
Universal life and annuity contract interest	2,976			9,602	76,808	—	89,386
Other operating expenses	3,313			7,069	7,332	4,429	22,143
Federal income taxes (benefit)	865			6,271	3,215	2,328	12,679
Total expenses	12,073			29,852	116,252	6,757	164,934
Segment earnings (loss)	$	1,598		10,888	4,657	3,968	21,111

	Domestic Life Insurance		International Life Insurance	Annuities	All Others	Totals
				(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	22,499	83,999	16,389	—	122,887
Net investment income	15,846		34,967	302,045	13,955	366,813
Other revenues	6		378	14	17,046	17,444
Total revenues	38,351		119,344	318,448	31,001	507,144
Life and other policy benefits	7,750		14,622	17,486	—	39,858
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	4,896		15,448	71,119	—	91,463
Universal life and annuity contract interest	11,419		30,845	174,669	—	216,933
Other operating expenses	10,659		19,605	19,104	15,245	64,613
Federal income taxes (benefit)	1,241		13,277	12,335	5,388	32,241
Total expenses	35,965		93,797	294,713	20,633	445,108
Segment earnings (loss)	$	2,386	25,547	23,735	10,368	62,036

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic Life Insurance			International  Life Insurance		Annuities		All  Others	Totals
						(In thousands)
September 30, 2011
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and sales inducements	$	40,676		229,656		596,216		—	866,548
Total segment assets	401,243			1,034,324		7,784,519		219,376	9,439,462
Future policy benefits	335,100			744,862		6,831,949		—	7,911,911
Other policyholder liabilities	13,883			17,567		116,934		—	148,384
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	8,345		25,375		5,515		—	39,235
Net investment income	1,655			3,253		33,940		5,690	44,538
Other revenues	3			(20	)	152		5,508	5,643
Total revenues	10,003			28,608		39,607		11,198	89,416
Life and other policy benefits	2,151			4,737		5,475		—	12,363
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	2,791			8,249		18,869		—	29,909
Universal life and annuity contract interest	2,848			766		(1,741	)	—	1,873
Other operating expenses	2,426			4,353		7,059		5,110	18,948
Federal income taxes (benefit)	(66		)	3,561		3,414		2,059	8,968
Total expenses	10,150			21,666		33,076		7,169	72,061
Segment earnings (loss)	$	(147	)	6,942		6,531		4,029	17,355

	Domestic Life Insurance		International Life Insurance	Annuities	All Others	Totals
				(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	20,994	75,551	13,783	—	110,328
Net investment income	11,136		25,806	225,882	12,953	275,777
Other revenues	8		346	3,143	16,750	20,247
Total revenues	32,138		101,703	242,808	29,703	406,352
Life and other policy benefits	6,575		13,898	13,704	—	34,177
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	8,445		24,374	63,427	—	96,246
Universal life and annuity contract interest	7,335		22,192	117,727	—	147,254
Other operating expenses	9,453		15,552	18,282	15,440	58,727
Federal income taxes (benefit)	108		8,417	9,722	4,674	22,921
Total expenses	31,916		84,433	222,862	20,114	359,325
Segment earnings (loss)	$	222	17,270	19,946	9,589	47,027

Reconciliations of segment information to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are provided below.

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Premiums and Other Revenues:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	41,048	39,235	122,887	110,328
Net investment income	139,074		44,538	366,813	275,777
Other revenues	5,923		5,643	17,444	20,247
Realized gains (losses) on investments	4,940		2,938	8,112	6,520
Total condensed consolidated premiums and other revenues	$	190,985	92,354	515,256	412,872

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Federal Income Taxes:
Total segment Federal income taxes	$	12,679	8,968	32,241	22,921
Taxes on realized gains (losses) on investments	1,729		1,028	2,839	2,282
Total condensed consolidated Federal income taxes	$	14,408	9,996	35,080	25,203

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Net Earnings:
Total segment earnings	$	21,111	17,355	62,036	47,027
Realized gains (losses) on investments, net of taxes	3,211		1,910	5,273	4,238
Total condensed consolidated net earnings	$	24,322	19,265	67,309	51,265

	September 30,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Total segment assets	$	10,103,615	9,439,462
Other unallocated assets	62,479		62,680
Total condensed consolidated assets	$	10,166,094	9,502,142

XML

Share-Based Payments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Share-Based Payments

SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The Company had a stock and incentive plan ("1995 Plan") which provided for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards to eligible employees: (1) stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options; (2) stock appreciation rights, in tandem with stock options or freestanding; (3) restricted stock; and (4) performance awards. The 1995 Plan began on April 21, 1995, and was amended on June 25, 2004 to extend the termination date to April 20, 2010. The number of shares of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock which were allowed to be issued under the 1995 Plan, or as to which stock appreciation rights or other awards were allowed to be granted, could not exceed 300,000. Effective June 20, 2008, the Company's shareholders approved a 2008 Incentive Plan (“2008 Plan”). The 2008 Plan is substantially similar to the 1995 Plan and authorized an additional number of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock shares eligible for issue not to exceed 300,000. These shares may be authorized and unissued shares. The Company has issued only nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights under these plans.

All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the current 2008 Plan (as well as previously in the expired 1995 Plan). In addition, directors of the Company are eligible to receive the same types of awards as employees except that they are not eligible to receive incentive stock options. Company directors, including members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, are eligible for nondiscretionary stock options. The directors' grants vest 20% annually following one full year of service to the Company from the date of grant. The employees' grants vest 20% annually following three full years of service to the Company from the date of grant. All grants issued expire after ten years. No awards were issued during the first three quarters of 2012 or 2011.

Effective during March 2006, the Company adopted and implemented a limited stock buy-back program with respect to the 1995 Plan which provides option holders the additional alternative of selling shares acquired through the exercise of options directly back to the Company. Option holders may elect to sell such acquired shares back to the Company at any time within ninety (90) days after the exercise of options at the prevailing market price as of the date of notice of election. The buy-back program did not alter the terms and conditions of the 1995 Plan; however, the program necessitated a change in accounting from the equity classification to the liability classification.

In August 2008, the Company implemented another limited stock buy-back program, substantially similar to the 2006 program, for shares issued under the 2008 Plan.

The Company uses the current fair value method to measure compensation cost. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, the liability balance was $2.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively. A summary of shares available for grant and stock option activity is detailed below.

		Options Outstanding
	Shares Available For Grant	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Stock Options:
Balance at January 1, 2012	291,000	86,118		$	187.83
Exercised	—	—		—
Forfeited	—	(3,050	)	218.94
Expired	—	—		—
Stock options granted	—	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	291,000	83,068		$	186.69

	Stock Appreciation Rights Outstanding
	Awards		Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Stock Appreciation Rights:
Balance at January 1, 2012	75,411		$	126.64
Exercised	(2,700	)	121.28
Forfeited	(2,250	)	149.57
Granted	—		—
Balance at September 30, 2012	70,461		$	126.11

Stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) shown as forfeited in the above tables represent vested and unvested awards not exercised by plan participants prior to their termination from the Company. Forfeited stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were each awarded under the 1995 Plan. As the 1995 Plan terminated during calendar year 2010, the forfeited shares are not shown as being added back to the "Shares Available For Grant" balance.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $66,000 and $557,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The total share-based liabilities paid were $66,000 and $179,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively. For the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the total cash received from the exercise of options under the Plans was $0 and $0, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about stock options and SARs outstanding at September 30, 2012.

	Options/SARs Outstanding
	Number Outstanding		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	Options Exercisable
Exercise prices:
$150.00	50,050		1.6 years	50,050
255.13	24,018		5.6 years	9,608
208.05	9,000		5.7 years	7,200
251.49	1,000		5.9 years	400
236.00	250		5.9 years	100
114.64	33,443		6.4 years	10,129
132.56	35,768		9.2 years	—
Totals	153,529			77,487
Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)	$	1,339		$	290

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above is based on the closing stock price of $143.25 per share on September 30, 2012.

In estimating the fair value of the options outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company employed the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumptions as detailed below.

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Expected term of options	2 to 9 years		2 to 10 years
Expected volatility:
Range	21.99% to 35.57%		25.39% to 37.73%
Weighted-average	27.54	%	30.87	%
Expected dividend yield	0.25	%	0.26	%
Risk-free rate:
Range	0.37% to 1.55%		0.73% to 2.03%
Weighted-average	0.88	%	1.16	%

The Company reviewed the contractual term relative to the options as well as perceived future behavior patterns of exercise.  Volatility is based on the Company’s historical volatility over the expected term of the option’s expected exercise date.

The pre-tax compensation cost (benefit) recognized in the financial statements related to the two plans defined above was $0.4 and $(2.2) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The related tax expense (benefit) recognized was $0.1 million and $(0.8) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

As of September 30, 2012, the total compensation cost related to nonvested options not yet recognized was $1.6 million.  This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.5 years.  The Company recognizes compensation cost over the graded vesting periods.

XML

Investments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments

INVESTMENTS

(A) Investment Gains and Losses

The table below presents realized investment gains and losses, excluding impairment losses, for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Available for sale debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	$	1,847		3,211		6,054		6,348
Realized losses on disposal	—			—		—		—
Held to maturity debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	1,102			269		1,262		747
Realized losses on disposal	(267		)	(520	)	(680	)	(520	)
Equity securities realized gains (losses)	113			—		109		56
Real estate gains (losses)	2,644			—		2,485		(50	)
Mortgage loans write-downs	—			—		—		(39	)
Other	12			—		12		—
Totals	$	5,451		2,960		9,242		6,542

The Company uses the specific identification method in computing realized gains and losses. Approximately 77% of the gains on bonds are due to calls of securities rather than sales. This includes calls out of the Company's available for sale portfolio of debt securities. Real estate gains of $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2012 pertain to the sale of a New Orleans property previously impaired as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

The table below presents net impairment losses recognized in earnings for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Total other-than-temporary impairment gains (losses) on debt securities	$	1,267		(1,727	)	858		(1,727	)
Portion of loss (gain) recognized in comprehensive income	(1,761		)	1,719		(1,918	)	1,719
Net impairment losses (gains) on debt securities recognized in earnings	(494		)	(8	)	(1,060	)	(8	)
Equity securities impairments	(17		)	(14	)	(70	)	(14	)
Totals	$	(511	)	(22	)	(1,130	)	(22	)

The table below presents a roll forward of credit losses on securities for which the Company also recorded non-credit other-than-temporary impairments in other comprehensive loss.

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011
			(In thousands)
Beginning balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	$	1,688	1,122	997
Additions for credit losses not previously recognized in other-than-temporary impairments	494		1,060	125
Ending balance, cumulative credit losses related to other-than-temporary impairment	$	2,182	2,182	1,122

(B) Debt and Equity Securities

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	48,120	3,029	—		51,149
U.S. Treasury	1,906		680	—		2,586
States and political subdivisions	390,745		42,014	(112	)	432,647
Foreign governments	9,985		729	—		10,714
Public utilities	743,038		88,341	(212	)	831,167
Corporate	2,710,117		280,836	(4,081	)	2,986,872
Mortgage-backed	1,911,975		149,410	—		2,061,385
Home equity	21,953		4,119	(590	)	25,482
Manufactured housing	12,077		783	(3	)	12,857
Totals	$	5,849,916	569,941	(4,998	)	6,414,859

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
States and political subdivisions	$	599	11	—		610
Foreign governments	15,136		965	—		16,101
Public utilities	258,889		27,574	—		286,463
Corporate	2,135,990		224,001	(2,644	)	2,357,347
Mortgage-backed	122,348		10,320	(251	)	132,417
Home equity	12,293		—	(1,821	)	10,472
Manufactured housing	5,410		242	—		5,652
	2,550,665		263,113	(4,716	)	2,809,062
Equity public	9,560		2,818	(73	)	12,305
Totals	$	2,560,225	265,931	(4,789	)	2,821,367

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	205,464	3,519	(330	)	208,653
U.S. Treasury	1,937		648	—		2,585
States and political subdivisions	358,364		27,338	(280	)	385,422
Foreign governments	9,979		927	—		10,906
Public utilities	685,989		77,060	(4,498	)	758,551
Corporate	2,258,640		195,551	(14,483	)	2,439,708
Mortgage-backed	2,082,650		155,413	(29	)	2,238,034
Home equity	23,815		439	(1,649	)	22,605
Manufactured housing	15,071		876	(81	)	15,866
Totals	$	5,641,909	461,771	(21,350	)	6,082,330

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
States and political subdivisions	$	4,042	16	(170	)	3,888
Foreign governments	20,145		588	—		20,733
Public utilities	327,794		32,511	(907	)	359,398
Corporate	1,881,735		155,144	(5,839	)	2,031,040
Mortgage-backed	163,856		12,389	(189	)	176,056
Home equity	10,887		30	(2,054	)	8,863
Manufactured housing	7,689		740	—		8,429
	2,416,148		201,418	(9,159	)	2,608,407
Equity private	195		7,923	—		8,118
Equity public	6,307		2,266	(145	)	8,428
Totals	$	2,422,650	211,607	(9,304	)	2,624,953

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's held to maturity investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	7,791		(113	)	—	—		7,791	(113	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	15,973		(11	)	13,702	(201	)	29,675	(212	)
Corporate	136,726		(521	)	41,603	(3,559	)	178,329	(4,080	)
Mortgage-backed	—		—		—	—		—	—
Home equity	1,047		(128	)	12,410	(462	)	13,457	(590	)
Manufactured housing	825		(3	)	—	—		825	(3	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	162,362	(776	)	67,715	(4,222	)	230,077	(4,998	)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's available for sale investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2012.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	—		—		—	—		—	—
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	—		—		—	—		—	—
Corporate	34,346		(1,625	)	30,940	(1,019	)	65,286	(2,644	)
Mortgage-backed	7,872		(251	)	—	—		7,872	(251	)
Home equity	4,563		(358	)	5,909	(1,463	)	10,472	(1,821	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		—	—		—	—
	46,781		(2,234	)	36,849	(2,482	)	83,630	(4,716	)
Equity public	2,635		(22	)	340	(51	)	2,975	(73	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	49,416	(2,256	)	37,189	(2,533	)	86,605	(4,789	)

Liquidity in the bond market improved in 2012 and 2011 as economic and market conditions stabilized. Although the unrealized losses declined substantially in 2011 and continued to decline through the first three quarters of 2012, there continues to be uncertainty in the bond markets regarding the economic recovery and some unrealized losses remain in the Company's portfolio. The Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as the Company does not intend to sell these securities nor does it think it will be forced to sell until recovery in fair value or maturity, and expects to receive all amounts due relative to principal and interest.

The Company does not consider securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired when the market decline is attributable to factors such as market volatility, liquidity, spread widening and credit quality and when recovery of all amounts due under the contractual terms of the security is anticipated. Based on the review and the Company's ability and intent not to sell these securities until maturity, the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2012. The Company will monitor the investment portfolio for future changes in issuer facts and circumstances that could result in future impairments beyond those currently identified.

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment on five asset-backed securities. The securities had $0.5 million of credit impairment which is reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and $1.2 million of liquidity gains which did not affect current earnings. The Company intends to hold the securities until recovery of fair market value or maturity.

Debt securities. The gross unrealized losses for debt securities are made up of 49 individual issues, or 4.0% of the total debt securities held by the Company. The market value of these bonds as a percent of amortized cost averages 97.0%. Of the 49 securities, 15, or approximately 30.6%, fall in the 12 months or greater aging category; and 38 were rated investment grade at September 30, 2012. Additional information on debt securities by investment category is summarized below.

U.S. Government agencies.No securities had an unrealized loss.

U.S. Treasury. No securities had an unrealized loss.

State and political subdivisions. The unrealized losses on these investments are the result of holdings in 5 securities. Of these securities, all are rated A- or above except 1 security which is rated BB. Based on these facts and the Company's intent to hold to maturity, no other-than-temporary loss was recognized as of September 30, 2012.

Foreign governments.No securities had an unrealized loss.

Public utilities. Of the 5 securities, all are rated BB+ or above. At this time, the Company does not consider any of these unrealized losses as other-than-temporary.

Corporate bonds. Corporate securities with unrealized losses are reviewed based on monitoring procedures described previously. The review includes the amount of the unrealized loss, the length of time that the issue has been in an unrealized loss position, credit ratings, analyst reports, and recent issuer financial information. A total of 27 securities had unrealized losses; 5 issues were rated below investment grade. More extensive analysis was performed on these 5 issues. Based on the analysis performed, none of these securities are considered other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2012.

Mortgage-backed securities. 2 securities had unrealized losses. Both are rated CCC and were impaired based on cash flow analysis. The Company generally purchases these investments at a discount relative to their face amount and it is expected that the securities will not be settled at a price less than the stated par.

Home equity. Of the 8 securities, 5 are rated AAA, 2 are rated AA, and 1 is rated CC. The Company performs quarterly cash flow analysis on asset-backed securities. Based on cash flow analysis, other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized on 2 of the securities as of September 30, 2012 .

Manufactured housing.Two securities had negligible unrealized losses. The securities are rated A and above and are not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

Equity securities. The gross unrealized losses for equity securities are made up of 13 individual issues. These holdings are reviewed for impairment quarterly. As of September 30, 2012, 3 equity securities were other-than-temporarily impaired.

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's held to maturity investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	24,985	(16	)	27,010	(314	)	51,995	(330	)
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	805		(82	)	17,117	(198	)	17,922	(280	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	26,509		(1,388	)	17,242	(3,110	)	43,751	(4,498	)
Corporate	199,934		(7,215	)	95,975	(7,268	)	295,909	(14,483	)
Mortgage-backed	23,256		(29	)	—	—		23,256	(29	)
Home equity	—		—		11,660	(1,649	)	11,660	(1,649	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		2,436	(81	)	2,436	(81	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	275,489	(8,730	)	171,440	(12,620	)	446,929	(21,350	)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's available for sale investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2011.

	Securities Available for Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater			Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses		Fair Value	Unrealized Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. agencies	$	—	—		—	—		—	—
U.S. Treasury	—		—		—	—		—	—
States and political subdivisions	—		—		2,257	(170	)	2,257	(170	)
Foreign governments	—		—		—	—		—	—
Public utilities	19,314		(907	)	—	—		19,314	(907	)
Corporate	100,584		(4,009	)	20,944	(1,830	)	121,528	(5,839	)
Mortgage-backed	3,950		(189	)	—	—		3,950	(189	)
Home equity	—		—		5,351	(2,054	)	5,351	(2,054	)
Manufactured housing	—		—		—	—		—	—
	123,848		(5,105	)	28,552	(4,054	)	152,400	(9,159	)
Equity public	722		(84	)	299	(61	)	1,021	(145	)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	124,570	(5,189	)	28,851	(4,115	)	153,421	(9,304	)

(C)  Transfer of Securities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company made no transfers to the held to maturity category from securities available for sale. Lower holdings of securities available for sale reduces the Company's exposure to market price volatility while still providing securities available for liquidity and asset/liability management purposes.

(D) Mortgage Loans and Real Estate

A financing receivable is a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in a company's statement of financial position. Mortgage, equity, participation and mezzanine loans on real estate are considered financing receivables reported by the Company.

Credit and default risk is minimized through strict underwriting guidelines and diversification of underlying property types and geographic locations. In addition to being secured by the property, mortgage loans with leases on the underlying property are often guaranteed by the lease payments and also by the borrower. This approach has proven to result in quality mortgage loans with few defaults. Mortgage loan interest income is recognized on an accrual basis with any premium or discount amortized over the life of the loan. Prepayment and late fees are recorded on the date of collection.

Loans in foreclosure, loans considered impaired or loans past due 90 days or more are placed on a non-accrual status. If a mortgage loan is determined to be on non-accrual status, the mortgage loan does not accrue any revenue into the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The loan is independently monitored and evaluated as to potential impairment or foreclosure. If delinquent payments are made and the loan is brought current, then the Company returns the loan to active status and accrues income accordingly. The Company has no loans past due 90 days which are accruing interest.

The following table represents the loan-to-value ratio using the most recent appraised value.

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	Amount	%		Amount	%
	(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Mortgage Loans by Loan-to-Value Ratio (1):
Less than 50%	58,307	42.9	%	68,048	43.2	%
50% to 60%	17,719	13.1	%	32,091	20.4	%
60% to 70%	27,685	20.4	%	25,692	16.3	%
70% to 80%	8,659	6.4	%	5,505	3.5	%
80% to 90%	—	—	%	—	—	%
Greater than 90%	23,406	17.2	%	26,124	16.6	%
Totals	135,776	100.0	%	157,460	100.0	%

(1) Loan-to-Value Ratio using the most recent appraised value.

The mortgage loans in the greater than 90% category relate to new loans made with a long standing borrower. The loans are backed by the investment property, contracted leases, as well as a separate and additional guarantee of the long standing borrower.

The Company does not consider its mortgage loans to be a separate portfolio segment. The Company considers its primary class to be property type and primarily uses loan-to-value as its credit risk quality indicator. All loans within the portfolio are analyzed quarterly in order to monitor the financial quality of these assets. Based on ongoing monitoring, mortgage loans with a likelihood of becoming delinquent are identified and placed on an internal “watch list”. Among the criteria that would indicate a potential problem are: major tenant vacancies or bankruptcies, late payments, and loan relief/restructuring requests. The mortgage loan portfolio is analyzed for the need for a valuation allowance on any loan that is on the internal watch list, in the process of foreclosure or that currently has a valuation allowance.

Mortgage loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. When it is determined that a loan is impaired, a loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying amount of the mortgage loan and the estimated value reduced by the cost to sell. Estimated value is typically based on the loan's observable market price or the fair value of the collateral less cost to sell. Impairments and changes in the valuation allowance are reported in net realized capital gains (losses) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

The following table represents the mortgage loan allowance for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011:

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	4,571		3,962
Provision	—			609
Releases	(4,571		)	—
Balance, end of period	$	—		4,571

The mortgage loan allowance released in the second quarter of 2012 pertained to a property forced into bankruptcy which the Company subsequently acquired in a bankruptcy auction. The mortgage loan was closed and the property reclassified as a real estate investment included in other long-term investments on the Company's balance sheet. The property was subsequently sold in the third quarter of 2012 for a net gain of $2.7 million.

XML

Share-Based Payments (Exercise Range) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number Outstanding	153,529
Number Outstanding, Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 1,339
Options Exercisable	77,487
Options Exercisable, Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 290
Closing stock price	$ 143.25
Exercise Price $150.00 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price	$ 150.00
Number Outstanding	50,050
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 7 months 6 days
Options Exercisable	50,050
Exercise Price $255.13 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price	$ 255.13
Number Outstanding	24,018
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 7 months 6 days
Options Exercisable	9,608
Exercise Price $208.05 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price	$ 208.05
Number Outstanding	9,000
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 8 months 12 days
Options Exercisable	7,200
Exercise Price $251.49 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price	$ 251.49
Number Outstanding	1,000
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 10 months 24 days
Options Exercisable	400
Exercise Price $236.00 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price	$ 236.00
Number Outstanding	250
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 10 months 24 days
Options Exercisable	100
Exercise Price $114.64 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price	$ 114.64
Number Outstanding	33,443
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 4 months 24 days
Options Exercisable	10,129
Exercise Price $132.56 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise price	$ 132.56
Number Outstanding	35,768
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years 2 months 12 days
Options Exercisable	0

XML

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost.

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2012			2011		2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	44		—		131		—
Interest cost	232			258		696		776
Expected return on plan assets	(268		)	(259	)	(803	)	(777	)
Amortization of prior service cost	1			1		3		3
Amortization of net loss	196			126		589		374
Net periodic benefit cost	$	205		126		616		376

Chairman and President Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plans [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs for the Chairman and President non-qualified defined benefit plans.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Service cost	$	42	9	126	36
Interest cost	228		190	684	722
Amortization of prior service cost	14		92	44	350
Amortization of net loss	286		118	857	447
Net periodic benefit cost	$	570	409	1,711	1,555

Defined Benefit Postretirement Healthcare Plans [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs.

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,
	2012		2011	2012	2011
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	32	38	97	113
Amortization of prior service cost	25		28	77	85
Amortization of net loss	11		—	31	—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	68	66	205	198

XML

Derivative Investments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The tables below present the fair value of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

	September 30, 2012
	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
		(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Equity index options	Derivatives, Index Options	$	87,833
Fixed-indexed products				Universal Life and Annuity Contracts	$	98,396
Total		$	87,833		$	98,396

	December 31, 2011
	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
		(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Equity index options	Derivatives, Index Options	$	30,844
Fixed-indexed products				Universal Life and Annuity Contracts	$	47,129
Total		$	30,844		$	47,129

Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

The table below presents the effect of derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

		September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
Derivatives Not Designated  As Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain  or (Loss) Recognized In Income on Derivative	Amount of Gain or  (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Derivative
		(In thousands)
Equity index options	Net investment income	$	32,369		(61,524	)
Fixed-index products	Universal life and annuity contract interest	(32,988		)	65,751
		$	(619	)	4,227

The table below presents the effect of derivative instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

		September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
Derivatives Not Designated  As Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain  or (Loss) Recognized In Income on Derivative	Amount of Gain or  (Loss) Recognized in  Income on Derivative
		(In thousands)
Equity index options	Net investment income	$	42,328		(38,774	)
Fixed-index products	Universal life and annuity contract interest	(48,050		)	41,971
		$	(5,722	)	3,197

XML

Investments (Mortgage Loans and Real Estate) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, Amount	$ 135,776	[1]		$ 135,776	[1]		$ 157,460	[1]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, %	100.00%	[1]		100.00%	[1]		100.00%	[1]
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period				4,571		3,962	3,962
Provision				0			609
Releases				(4,571)			0
Balance, end of period	0			0			4,571
Net gain on sale of real estate investment	(2,644)		0	(2,485)		50
Other Long-term Investments [Member]
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Net gain on sale of real estate investment	2,700
Less than 50% [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, Amount	58,307	[1]		58,307	[1]		68,048	[1]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, %	42.90%	[1]		42.90%	[1]		43.20%	[1]
50% to 60% [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, Amount	17,719	[1]		17,719	[1]		32,091	[1]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, %	13.10%	[1]		13.10%	[1]		20.40%	[1]
60% to 70% [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, Amount	27,685	[1]		27,685	[1]		25,692	[1]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, %	20.40%	[1]		20.40%	[1]		16.30%	[1]
70% to 80% [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, Amount	8,659	[1]		8,659	[1]		5,505	[1]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, %	6.40%	[1]		6.40%	[1]		3.50%	[1]
80% to 90% [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, Amount	0	[1]		0	[1]		0	[1]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, %	0.00%	[1]		0.00%	[1]		0.00%	[1]
Greater than 90% [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, Amount	$ 23,406	[1]		$ 23,406	[1]		$ 26,124	[1]
Mortgage Loans by Loans-To-Value Ratio, %	17.20%	[1]		17.20%	[1]		16.60%	[1]

[1] Loan-to-Value Ratio using the most recent appraised value.

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net earnings	$ 24,322	$ 19,265	$ 67,309	$ 51,265
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:
Net unrealized holding gains arising during period	15,202	5,543	28,578	11,318
Net unrealized liquidity gains (losses)	(3)	(498)	134	(148)
Reclassification adjustment for net amounts included in net earnings	(1,175)	(2,069)	(3,873)	(4,148)
Amortization of net unrealized (gains) losses related to transferred securities	(1)	11	0	18
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities	14,023	2,987	24,839	7,040
Foreign currency translation adjustments	22	(21)	307	(155)
Benefit plans:
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain (loss)	(19)	236	429	819
Other comprehensive income	14,026	3,202	25,575	7,704
Comprehensive income	$ 38,348	$ 22,467	$ 92,884	$ 58,969

XML

Stockholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

The Company is restricted by state insurance laws from the Colorado Division of Insurance as to dividend amounts which may be paid to stockholders without prior approval. The restrictions are based on statutory earnings and surplus levels of the Company. The maximum dividend payment which may be made without prior approval in 2012 is $91.9 million. The Company did not pay cash dividends on common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. However, the Company did declare a cash dividend on August 17, 2012 payable December 3, 2012 to stockholders on record as of October 29, 2012. The dividends declared were $0.36 per common share to Class A stockholders and $0.18 per common share to Class B stockholders. A dividend in the same amounts per share on Class A and Class B common stock was declared in August and paid in December of 2011.

XML

New Accounting Pronouncements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 15, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Capitalized expenses, not deferrable under new guidance		$ 2.5
Effect on 2011 pretax operating income from change in guidance (as a percentage)	3.00%

XML

Investments (Securities Held to Maturity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 5,849,916	$ 5,641,909
Gross Unrealized Gains	569,941	461,771
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4,998)	(21,350)
Fair Value	6,414,859	6,082,330
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	162,362	275,489
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(776)	(8,730)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	67,715	171,440
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(4,222)	(12,620)
Total, Fair Value	230,077	446,929
Total, Unrealized Losses	(4,998)	(21,350)
U.S. Agencies [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	48,120	205,464
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,029	3,519
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(330)
Fair Value	51,149	208,653
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	24,985
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	(16)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	27,010
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	(314)
Total, Fair Value	0	51,995
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	(330)
U.S. Treasury [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,906	1,937
Gross Unrealized Gains	680	648
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	2,586	2,585
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	0
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	0
States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	390,745	358,364
Gross Unrealized Gains	42,014	27,338
Gross Unrealized Losses	(112)	(280)
Fair Value	432,647	385,422
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	7,791	805
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(113)	(82)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	17,117
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	(198)
Total, Fair Value	7,791	17,922
Total, Unrealized Losses	(113)	(280)
Foreign Governments [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	9,985	9,979
Gross Unrealized Gains	729	927
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair Value	10,714	10,906
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	0
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Public Utilities [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	743,038	685,989
Gross Unrealized Gains	88,341	77,060
Gross Unrealized Losses	(212)	(4,498)
Fair Value	831,167	758,551
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	15,973	26,509
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(11)	(1,388)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	13,702	17,242
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(201)	(3,110)
Total, Fair Value	29,675	43,751
Total, Unrealized Losses	(212)	(4,498)
Corporate [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	2,710,117	2,258,640
Gross Unrealized Gains	280,836	195,551
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4,081)	(14,483)
Fair Value	2,986,872	2,439,708
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	136,726	199,934
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(521)	(7,215)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	41,603	95,975
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(3,559)	(7,268)
Total, Fair Value	178,329	295,909
Total, Unrealized Losses	(4,080)	(14,483)
Mortgage-backed [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,911,975	2,082,650
Gross Unrealized Gains	149,410	155,413
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(29)
Fair Value	2,061,385	2,238,034
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	0	23,256
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	0	(29)
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	0
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Total, Fair Value	0	23,256
Total, Unrealized Losses	0	(29)
Home Equity [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	21,953	23,815
Gross Unrealized Gains	4,119	439
Gross Unrealized Losses	(590)	(1,649)
Fair Value	25,482	22,605
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	1,047	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(128)	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	12,410	11,660
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	(462)	(1,649)
Total, Fair Value	13,457	11,660
Total, Unrealized Losses	(590)	(1,649)
Manufactured Housing [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-maturity Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	12,077	15,071
Gross Unrealized Gains	783	876
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3)	(81)
Fair Value	12,857	15,866
Held-to-maturity Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	825	0
Less than 12 Months, Unrealized Losses	(3)	0
12 Months or Greater, Fair Value	0	2,436
12 Months or Greater, Unrealized Losses	0	(81)
Total, Fair Value	825	2,436
Total, Unrealized Losses	$ (3)	$ (81)

XML

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012				2011
	Class A			Class B	Class A		Class B
	(In thousands except per share amounts)
Numerator for Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net income	$	24,322			19,265
Dividends - Class A shares	(1,237		)		(1,235	)
Dividends - Class B shares	(36		)		(36	)
Undistributed income	$	23,049			17,994
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	$	1,237		36	1,235		36
Allocation of undistributed income	22,397			652	17,485		509
Net income	$	23,634		688	18,720		545
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares	3,435			200	3,435		200
Effect of dilutive stock options	—			—	1		—
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions	3,435			200	3,436		200
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	6.88		3.44	5.45		2.73
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	6.88		3.44	5.45		2.73

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012				2011
	Class A			Class B	Class A		Class B
	(In thousands except per share amounts)
Numerator for Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net income	$	67,309			51,265
Dividends - Class A shares	(1,237		)		(1,235	)
Dividends - Class B shares	(36		)		(36	)
Undistributed income	$	66,036			49,994
Allocation of net income:
Dividends	$	1,237		36	1,235		36
Allocation of undistributed income	64,168			1,868	48,580		1,414
Net income	$	65,405		1,904	49,815		1,450
Denominator:
Basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares	3,435			200	3,433		200
Effect of dilutive stock options	—			—	4		—
Diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted-average shares for assumed conversions	3,435			200	3,437		200
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	19.04		9.52	14.51		7.25
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	19.04		9.52	14.49		7.25