Horace Mann Educators Corporation is a holding company for insurance subsidiaries that market and underwrite personal lines of property and casualty insurance products (primarily personal lines automobile and property insurance), supplemental insurance products (primarily cancer, heart, hospital, supplemental disability and accident coverages), retirement products (primarily tax-qualified fixed and variable annuities) and life insurance products, primarily to K-12 teachers, administrators and other employees of public schools and their families (collectively, HMEC, the Company or Horace Mann).

Effective for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company decided to change the approach it uses for presentation in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows from the direct method to the indirect method as management considers presentation under the indirect method as more comparable to the method used by others in the insurance industry. Accordingly, the Company has recast all prior periods presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The most significant critical accounting estimates include valuation of hard-to-value fixed maturity securities (including evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments), evaluation of goodwill and intangible assets for impairment, valuation of annuity and life deferred policy acquisition costs, valuation of liabilities for property and casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses and valuation of certain investment contracts and policy reserves.

The Company invests predominantly in fixed maturity securities. This category includes primarily bonds and notes, but also includes redeemable preferred stocks. These securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value, of which a portion represent securities that are hard-to-value. See Note 3 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Investments for a detailed description of how the Company estimates fair value for its fixed maturity securities portfolio including hard-to-value securities.

An adjustment for net unrealized investment gains (losses) on all fixed maturity securities available for sale and carried at fair value, is recognized as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) within shareholders' equity, net of applicable deferred taxes and the related impact on deferred policy acquisition costs (DAC) associated with annuity contracts and life insurance products with account values that would have occurred if the securities had been sold at their aggregate fair value and the proceeds reinvested at current yields.

Short-term and other investments are comprised of short-term fixed maturity securities, generally carried at cost which approximates fair value; derivatives, carried at fair value; policy loans, carried at unpaid principal balances; mortgage loans, carried at unpaid principal balances; and restricted Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) membership and activity stocks, carried at redemption value which approximates fair value.

The Company invests in fixed maturity securities and alternative investment funds that could qualify as variable interests in variable interest entities (VIEs), including corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. Such variable interests in VIEs have been reviewed and the Company determined that those VIEs are not subject to consolidation as the Company is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact those VIEs' economic performance.

The Company's methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) for fixed maturity securities is based on security-specific facts and circumstances as of the reporting date. Based on these facts, if (1) the Company has the intent to sell the security, (2) it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery of the amortized cost basis, or (3) management does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security, OTTI is considered to have occurred. Additionally, if events become known that call into question whether the security issuer has the ability to honor its contractual commitments, such security will be evaluated to determine whether or not such security has suffered an other-than-temporary decline in fair value.

The Company has a policy and process to evaluate fixed maturity securities (at the cusip/issuer level) on a quarterly basis to assess whether there has been OTTI. These reviews, in conjunction with the Company's investment managers' monthly credit reports and relevant factors such as (1) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (2) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis (3) the Company's intent to sell a security or whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery of the amortized cost basis, (4) the market leadership position of the issuer, (5) the debt ratings of the issuer, and (6) the cash flows and liquidity of the issuer or the underlying cash flows for asset-backed securities, are all considered in the impairment assessment.

credit loss component of the impairment from the amount related to all other factors and reports the credit loss component in net investment gains (losses). The impairment related to all other factors (non-credit factors) is reported in other comprehensive income (OCI). The allowance is adjusted for any additional credit losses and subsequent recoveries. Upon recognizing a credit loss, the cost basis is not adjusted. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments on January 1, 2020, when OTTI was deemed to have occurred, the investment would be written-down to fair value which became the new cost basis of the investment.

For fixed maturity securities the Company intends to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the full amount of the impairment is included in net investment gains (losses). The new cost basis of the investment is the previous amortized cost basis less the impairment recognized in net investment gains (losses). The new cost basis is not adjusted for any subsequent recoveries in fair value.

The Company reports accrued investment income separately from fixed maturity securities, available for sale, and has elected not to measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued investment income. Accrued investment income is written off and recognized as a net investment loss at the time the issuer of the fixed maturity security defaults or is expected to default on payments.

A decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis is not assumed to be other-than-temporary for fixed maturity securities with unrealized losses due to spread widening, market illiquidity or changes in interest rates where there exists a reasonable expectation based on the Company's consideration of all objective information available that the Company will recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security and the Company does not have the intent to sell the security before maturity or a market recovery is realized and it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the security. OTTI will be recognized based upon all relevant facts and circumstances for each investment, as appropriate.

Judgment regarding whether a corporate fixed maturity security is other-than-temporarily impaired includes analyzing the issuer's financial condition and whether there has been a decline in the issuer's ability to service the specific security. The analysis of the security issuer is based on asset coverage, cash flow multiples or other industry standards. Several factors assessed include, but are not limited to, credit quality ratings, cash flow sustainability, liquidity, financial strength, industry and market position. Sources of information include, but are not limited to, management projections, independent consultants, external analysts' research, peer analysis and the Company's internal analysis.

If the Company has concerns regarding the viability of the issuer or its ability to service the specific security after this assessment, a cash flow analysis is prepared to determine if the present value of future cash flows has declined below the amortized cost basis of the fixed maturity security. This analysis to determine an estimate of ultimate recovery value is combined with the estimated timing to recovery and any other applicable cash flows that are expected to be collected. If a cash flow analysis estimate is not feasible, then the market's view of cash flows implied by the period end fair value, market discount rates and effective yield are the primary factors used to estimate an ultimate recovery value.

The Company uses an estimate of future cash flows expected to be collected to evaluate its mortgage-backed securities for OTTI. The determination of cash flow estimates is inherently subjective and methodologies may vary depending on facts and circumstances specific to the security. All reasonably available information relevant to the collectability of the security, including past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable assumptions and forecasts, are considered when developing the estimate of future cash flows expected to be collected. Information includes, but is not limited to, debt-servicing, missed refinancing opportunities and geography.

Loan level characteristics such as issuer, FICO score, payment terms, level of documentation, property or residency type, and economic outlook are also utilized in financial models, along with historical performance, to estimate or measure the loan's propensity to default. Additionally, financial models take into account loan age, lease rollovers, rent volatilities, vacancy rates and exposure to refinancing as additional drivers of default. For transactions where loan level data is not available, financial models use a proxy that is based on the collateral characteristics. Loss severity is a function of multiple factors including, but not limited to, the unpaid balance, interest rate, mortgage insurance ratios, assessed property value at origination, change in property valuation and loan-to-value ratio at origination. Prepayment speeds, both actual and estimated, cost of capital rates and debt service ratios are also considered. The cash flows generated by the collateral securing these securities are then estimated with these default, loss severity and prepayment assumptions. These collateral cash flows are then utilized, along with consideration for the Company's position in the overall structure, to estimate the future cash flows associated with the residential or commercial mortgage-backed security held by the Company.

The Company's municipal bond portfolio consists primarily of revenue bonds, which present unique considerations in evaluating OTTI, but also includes general obligation bonds. The Company evaluates a revenue bond for OTTI based on guarantees associated with the repayment from revenues generated by the specified revenue-generating activity associated with the purpose of the bond. Judgment regarding whether a municipal bond is other-than-temporarily impaired includes analyzing the issuer's financial condition and whether there has been a decline in the overall financial condition of the issuer or its ability to service the specific security. Security credit ratings are reviewed with emphasis on the economy, finances, debt and management of the municipal issuer. Certain securities may be guaranteed by monoline credit insurers or other forms of guarantee.

While not relied upon in the initial security purchase decision, insurance benefits are considered in the assessments for OTTI, including the credit-worthiness of the guarantor. Municipalities possess unique powers, along with a special legal standing and protections, that enable them to act quickly to restore budgetary balance and fiscal integrity. These powers include the sovereign power to tax, access to one-time revenue sources, capacity to issue or restructure debt, and ability to shift spending to other authorities. State governments often provide secondary support to local governments in times of financial stress and the federal government has provided assistance to state governments during recessions.

If the Company has concerns regarding the viability of the municipal issuer or its ability to service the specific security after this analysis, a cash flow analysis is prepared to determine a present value and whether it has declined below the amortized cost basis of the security. If a cash flow analysis is not feasible, then the market's view of the period end fair value, market discount rates and effective yield are the primary factors used to estimate the present value.

The Company estimates the amount of the credit loss component of a fixed maturity security impairment as the difference between the amortized cost basis and the present value of the expected future cash flows of the security. Present value is determined using a best estimate of cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete an asset-backed or floating rate security. The methodology and assumptions for establishing a best estimate of cash flows vary depending on the type of security. Corporate fixed maturity security and municipal bond cash flow estimates are derived from scenario-based outcomes of expected restructurings or the disposition of assets using specific facts and other circumstances, including timing, security interests and loss severity and when not reasonably estimable, such securities are impaired to fair value based on management's best estimate of the present value of future cash flows. The cash flow estimates for mortgage-backed and other structured securities are based on security

DAC consists of commissions, policy issuance and other costs which are incremental and directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal business, which are deferred and amortized on a basis consistent with the type of insurance coverage. For property and casualty risks, DAC is amortized over the terms of the insurance policies (6 or 12 months). For supplemental policies, DAC is amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the terms of the insurance policies (approximately 6 years, based on an estimated average duration across all supplemental products). For all annuity contracts, DAC is amortized over 20 years in proportion to estimated gross profits. DAC is amortized in proportion to estimated gross profits over 20 years for certain life insurance products with account values and over 30 years for indexed universal life (IUL) products. For other individual life contracts, DAC is amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the terms of the insurance policies (10, 15, 20, 30 years).

The Company periodically reviews the assumptions and estimates used in DAC and also periodically reviews its estimations of gross profits, a process sometimes referred to as "unlocking". The most significant assumptions that are involved in the estimation of annuity gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, expenses and the impact of net investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity and equity securities. For the variable deposit portion of Retirement, the Company amortizes DAC utilizing a future financial market performance assumption of an 8% reversion to the mean approach with a 200 basis point corridor around the mean during the reversion period, representing a cap and a floor on the Company's long-term assumption. The Company's practice with regard to future financial market performance assumes that long-term appreciation in the financial markets is not changed by short-term market fluctuations, but is only changed when sustained deviations are experienced. The Company monitors these fluctuations and only changes the assumption when long-term expectations change.

Annually, the Company performs a gross premium valuation (GPV) on life insurance policies to assess whether a loss recognition event has occurred. This involves discounting expected future benefits and expenses less expected future premiums. To the extent that this amount is greater than the liability for future benefits less the DAC asset, in aggregate for the life insurance block, a loss would be recognized by first writing off the DAC asset and then increasing the liability.

In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company may be required to recognize a material charge or credit to current period DAC amortization expense for the period in which the adjustment is made. The Company recognized the following adjustments to DAC amortization expense as a result of evaluating actual experience and prospective assumptions (i.e., the impact of unlocking):

DAC for annuity contracts and life insurance products with account values are adjusted for the impact on estimated future gross profits as if net unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities had been realized at the reporting date. This adjustment reduced DAC by $90.5 million, $41.2 million and $17.9 million at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The after tax impact of this adjustment is included in AOCI (along with net unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities) within shareholders' equity.

The value of business acquired (VOBA) represents the difference between the fair value of insurance contracts and insurance policy reserves measured in accordance with the Company's accounting policies for insurance contracts acquired. VOBA was based on an actuarial estimate of the present value of future distributable earnings for insurance in force on the acquisition date. VOBA was $83.6 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized by product based on the present value of future premiums to be received. The Company estimates that it will recognize VOBA amortization of $6.6 million in 2021, $6.2 million in 2022, $5.8 million in 2023, $5.4 million in 2024 and $5.1 million in 2025.

The Company accounts for the value of distribution acquired (VODA) associated with the acquisition of NTA based on an actuarial estimate of the present value of future business to be written by the existing distribution channel. VODA was $44.7 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized on a straight-line basis. The Company estimates that it will recognize VODA amortization of $2.9 million in each of the years 2021 through 2025, respectively.

The Company accounts for VODA associated with the acquisition of Benefit Consultants Group, Inc. (BCG) based on management's estimate of the present value of future business to be written by the existing distribution channel. VODA was $0.7 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized based on the present value of future profits to be received. The Company estimates that it will recognize cumulative VODA amortization of $0.3 million for the years 2021 through 2025.

The Company accounts for the value of agency relationships based on the present value of commission overrides retained by NTA. Agency relationships was $12.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized based on the present value of future premiums to be received. The Company estimates that it will recognize agency relationships amortization of $2.2 million in 2021, $1.9 million in 2022, $1.6 million in 2023, $1.4 million in 2024 and $1.2 million in 2025.

The Company accounts for the value of customer relationships based on the present value of expected profits from existing BCG customers in force at the date of acquisition. Customer relationships was $5.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and is being amortized based on the present value of future profits to be received. The Company estimates that it will recognize customer relationships amortization of $1.2 million in 2021, $1.1 million in 2022, $0.9 million in 2023, $0.7 million in 2024 and $0.6 million in 2025.

Trade names represents the present value of future savings accruing to NTA and BCG by virtue of not having to pay royalties for the use of the trade names, valued using the relief from royalty method. State licenses represents the regulatory licenses held by NTA that were valued using the cost approach. Both trade names and state licenses are indefinite-lived intangible assets that are not subject to amortization.

current expected experience are consistently better than the initial VOBA assumptions, the remaining value in the block is sufficient to support the VOBA intangible asset and no loss recognition is necessary. If the historical and current expected assumptions are not uniformly better than the initial VOBA assumptions, a GPV is performed to assess whether a loss recognition event has occurred. This involves discounting expected future benefits and expenses less expected future premiums. To the extent that this amount is greater than the liability for future benefits less the VOBA intangible asset, in aggregate for the supplemental insurance block, a loss would be recognized by first writing off the VOBA and then increasing the liability. Currently, a GPV is not required for the acquired supplemental block. No such costs were deemed unrecoverable during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Amortizing intangible assets (i.e., VODA, agency relationships and customer relationships) are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of an amortizing intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying amount is not recoverable from undiscounted cash flows, the impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and fair value.

Intangible assets that are not subject to amortization (i.e., trade names and state licenses) are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of an intangible asset with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset that is not subject to amortization exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.

At October 1, 2020, the Company performed qualitative assessments to determine whether it was necessary to perform quantitative intangible asset impairment tests. Based on the assessments of qualitative factors, there were no events or circumstances that led to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an intangible asset is less than its carrying amount with exception to VODA and trade names intangible assets assigned to BCG, for which quantitative intangible asset impairment tests were performed that resulted in intangible asset impairment charges of $4.4 million in aggregate.

Goodwill represents the excess of the amounts paid to acquire a business over the fair value of its net assets at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or a business unit one level below an operating segment, if separate financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management at that level. The Company's reporting units, for which goodwill has been allocated, are equivalent to the Company's operating segments. Refer to Note 6 for the allocation of goodwill by reporting unit as of December 31, 2020.

The goodwill impairment test, as defined in GAAP, allows an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If an entity determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the entity performs a quantitative goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount for purposes of confirming and measuring an impairment. In the second quarter of 2019, the Company adopted guidance to eliminate Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Goodwill impairment is now the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. Any amount of goodwill determined to be impaired is recognized as an expense in the period in which the impairment determination is made.

During each year from 2018 through 2020, the Company completed the required annual goodwill impairment testing. With exception to the goodwill impairment charges described in Note 6, no other goodwill impairment charges were necessary as a result of such assessments. The assessment of goodwill recoverability requires significant judgment and is subject to inherent uncertainty. The use of different assumptions, within a reasonable range, could cause the fair value of a reporting unit to fall below its carrying amount. Subsequent goodwill assessments could result in impairment, particularly for any reporting unit with at-risk goodwill, due to the impact of a volatile financial market on earnings, discount rate assumptions, liquidity and market capitalization.

Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation, which is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives of real property range from 20 to 45 years. The estimated useful lives of leasehold improvements and other property and equipment, including capitalized software, generally range from 3 to 10 years. The following amounts are included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

Separate Account assets represent variable annuity contractholder funds invested in various mutual funds. The Separate Account assets comprise actively traded mutual funds that have daily quoted net asset values that are readily determinable for identical assets that the Company can access. Net asset values for the actively traded mutual funds in which the Separate Account assets are invested are obtained daily from the fund managers. Separate Account liabilities are equal to the estimated fair value of Separate Account assets. The investment income, gains and losses of these accounts accrue directly to the contractholders and are not included in the results of operations of the Company. The activity of the Separate Accounts is not reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations except for (1) contract charges earned, (2) the activity related to contract guarantees, which are benefits on existing variable annuity contracts, and (3) the impact of financial market performance on the amortization of DAC. The Company's contract charges earned include fees charged to the Separate Accounts, including mortality charges, risk charges, policy administration fees, investment management fees and surrender charges.

Liabilities for future policy benefits on certain supplemental and life insurance policies are computed using the net level premium method including assumptions as to investment yields, mortality, morbidity, persistency, expenses and other assumptions based on the Company's experience, including a provision for adverse deviation. These assumptions are established at the time the policy is issued and are intended to estimate the

A guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) generally provides an additional benefit if the contractholder dies and the variable annuity contract value is less than a contractually defined amount. The Company has estimated and recorded a GMDB reserve on variable annuity contracts in accordance with GAAP. Contractually defined amounts vary from contract to contract based on the date the contract was entered into as well as the GMDB feature elected by the contractholder. The Company regularly monitors the GMDB reserve considering fluctuations in financial markets. The Company has relatively low exposure to GMDB risk as shown below.

The Company offers fixed indexed annuity (FIA) products with interest crediting strategies linked to the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). The Company purchases call options on the applicable indices as an investment to provide the income needed to fund the annual index credits on the indexed products. These products are deferred fixed annuities with a guaranteed minimum interest rate plus a contingent return based on equity market performance and are considered hybrid financial instruments under GAAP.

The Company elected to not use hedge accounting for derivative transactions related to FIA products. As a result, the Company accounts for the purchased call options and the embedded derivative related to the provision of a contingent return at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized as Net investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host contract and included in Other policyholder funds in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The host contract is accounted for as a debt instrument in accordance with GAAP and is included in Investment contract and life policy reserves in the Consolidated Balance Sheets with any discount to the minimum account value being accreted using the effective yield method. In the Consolidated Statements of Operations, accreted interest for FIA products and benefit claims on these products incurred during the reporting period are included in Benefits, claims and settlement expenses.

The Company offers indexed universal life (IUL) products as part of its product portfolio with interest crediting strategies linked to the S&P 500 Index and the DJIA as well as a fixed option. The Company purchases call options monthly to economically hedge the potential liabilities arising in IUL accounts. The Company elected to not use hedge accounting for derivative transactions related to the IUL products. As a result, the Company records the purchased call options and the embedded derivative related to the provision of a contingent return at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in Net investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. IUL policies with a balance in one or more indexed accounts are considered to have an embedded derivative. The benefit reserve for the host contract is measured using the retrospective deposit method, which for Horace Mann's IUL product is equal to the account balance. The embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host contract, carried at fair value, and included in Investment contract and life policy reserves in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Liabilities for Property and Casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses include provisions for payments to be made on reported claims, claims incurred but not yet reported (IBNR) and associated settlement expenses. All of the Company's reserves for Property and Casualty unpaid claims and claim expenses are carried at the full value of estimated liabilities and are not discounted for interest expected to be earned on the reserves. Estimated amounts of salvage and subrogation on unpaid Property and Casualty claims are deducted from the liability for unpaid claims. Due to the nature of the Company's personal lines business, the Company has no exposure to losses related to claims for toxic waste cleanup, other environmental remediation or asbestos-related illnesses other than claims under property insurance policies for environmentally related items such as mold.

Other policyholder funds includes payout annuity contracts without life contingencies and dividend accumulations, as well as balances outstanding under funding agreements with FHLB and embedded derivatives related to FIA products. Except for embedded derivatives, each of these components is carried at cost. Embedded derivatives are carried at fair value. Amounts received and repaid under FHLB funding agreements are classified as financing activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In 2013, Horace Mann Life Insurance Company (HMLIC), and in 2019, NTA became members of FHLB, which provides both subsidiaries with access to collateralized borrowings and other FHLB products. Any borrowing from FHLB requires the purchase of FHLB activity-based common stock in an amount equal to 4.5% of the borrowing, or a lower percentage — such as 2.0% based on the Reduced Capitalization Advance Program. In 2019, HMEC's Board of Directors (Board) authorized a maximum amount equal to 15% of net aggregate admitted assets less separate account assets of the insurance subsidiaries for FHLB advances and funding agreements combined. In 2020, HMLIC and NTA collectively received an additional $95.5 million from FHLB under funding agreements. Outstanding advances under FHLB funding agreements are reported as Other policyholder funds in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $590.5 million as of December 31, 2020. Interest on the funding agreements accrues at their effective interest rates.

The Company enters into reinsurance arrangements pursuant to which it cedes certain insurance risks to unaffiliated reinsurers. Cessions under reinsurance agreements do not discharge the Company's obligations as the primary insurer. The accounting for reinsurance arrangements depends on whether the arrangement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with GAAP.

If the Company determines that a reinsurance agreement exposes the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the ceded unearned premiums and reinsurance balances recoverable on paid and unpaid losses and settlement expenses are reported separately as assets, instead of being netted with the related liabilities, since reinsurance does not relieve the Company of its legal liability to its policyholders. See Note 8 for further details.

If the Company determines that a reinsurance agreement does not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the Company recognizes the reinsurance agreement using the deposit method of accounting. The assets transferred to the reinsurer as consideration paid is reported as a Deposit asset on reinsurance on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. As amounts are received or paid or received, consistent with the underlying reinsured contracts, the Deposit asset on reinsurance is adjusted. The Deposit asset on reinsurance is accreted to the estimated ultimate cash flows using the interest method and the adjustment is reported as Net investment income. See Note 5 for further details.

Premiums and contract charges for life insurance contracts with account values and annuity contracts consist of charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration and withdrawals. Premiums for long-term traditional life and supplemental policies are recognized as revenues when due over the premium-paying period. Contract deposits to annuity contracts and life insurance contracts with account values represent funds deposited by policyholders and are not included in the Company's premiums or contract charges earned.

The Company grants stock options and both service-based and performance-based restricted common stock units (RSUs) to executive officers, other employees and Directors in an effort to attract and retain individuals while also aligning compensation with the interests of the Company's shareholders. Additional information regarding the Company's share-based compensation plans is contained in Note 12.

Stock options are accounted for under the fair value method of accounting using a Black-Scholes valuation model to measure stock option expense at the date of grant. The fair value of RSUs is measured at the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant, with the exception of market-based performance awards, for which the Company uses a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine fair value for purposes of measuring RSU expense. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $1.1 million, $1.2 million, and $1.2 million, respectively, of stock option expense as a result of stock options that vested during the respective periods. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $4.8 million, $5.2 million and $6.6 million, respectively, in RSU expense as a result of the performance and/or vesting of RSUs during the respective periods.

In 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted stock options as quantified in the table below, which also provides the weighted average grant date fair value for stock options granted in each year. The fair value of stock options granted was estimated on the respective dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the weighted average assumptions shown in the following table.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Number of stock options granted	234,248			282,040			223,208
Weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted	$	6.02		$	6.26		$	7.16
Weighted average assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate	0.8		%	2.5		%	2.6		%
Expected dividend yield	2.7		%	2.9		%	2.6		%
Expected life, in years	5.1			5.0			4.8
Expected volatility (based on historical volatility)	22.8		%	21.9		%	21.5		%

The weighted average fair value of nonvested stock options outstanding on December 31, 2020 was $6.31. Total unrecognized compensation expense relating to the nonvested stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020 was approximately $2.1 million. This amount will be recognized as expense over the remainder of the vesting period, which is scheduled to be 2021 through 2024. Expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. Forfeitures of unvested amounts due to terminations and/or early retirements are recognized as a reduction to the related expenses.

Total unrecognized compensation expense relating to RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2020 was approximately $6.5 million. This amount will be recognized as expense over the remainder of the performance and/or vesting period, which is scheduled to be 2021 through 2023. Expense is recognized on a straight-line basis from the date of grant through the end of the performance and/or vesting period for the entire award. Forfeitures of unvested amounts due to terminations are recognized as a reduction to the related expenses.

The Company uses the asset and liability method for calculating deferred federal income taxes. Income tax provisions are generally based on income reported for financial statement purposes. The provisions for federal income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 included amounts currently payable and deferred income taxes resulting from the cumulative differences in the Company's assets and liabilities, determined on a tax return versus financial statement basis.

Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the weighted average number of fully vested RSUs and common stock units (CSUs) payable as shares of HMEC common stock. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding, to the extent dilutive. The Company's common stock equivalents relate to outstanding common stock options, deferred compensation CSUs and incentive compensation RSUs, which are described in Note 12.


($ in thousands)	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Basic:
Net income for the period	$	133,315	$	184,443	$	18,343
Weighted average number of common shares during the period (in thousands)	41,881		41,738		41,570
Net income per share - basic	$	3.18	$	4.42	$	0.44

Diluted:
Net income for the period	$	133,315	$	184,443	$	18,343
Weighted average number of common shares during the period (in thousands)	41,881		41,738		41,570
Weighted average number of common equivalent shares to reflect the dilutive effect of common stock equivalent securities (in thousands):
Stock options	44		79		100
CSUs related to deferred compensation for employees	—		—		25
RSUs related to incentive compensation	116		132		199
Total common and common equivalent shares adjusted to calculate diluted earnings per share (in thousands)	42,041		41,949		41,894
Net income per share - diluted	$	3.17	$	4.40	$	0.44

In June 2016 , the FASB issued guidance which revised the credit loss recognition criteria for certain financial assets measured at amortized cost, including reinsurance recoverables. The new guidance replaced the existing incurred loss recognition model with an expected loss recognition model. The objective of the expected credit loss model is for a reporting entity to recognize its estimate of expected credit losses for affected financial assets in a valuation allowance that when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the related financial assets results in a net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected. A reporting entity must consider all relevant information available when estimating expected credit losses, including details about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts over the life of an asset. Financial assets may be evaluated individually or on a pooled basis when they share similar risk characteristics. The measurement of credit losses for available-for-sale debt securities measured at fair value is not affected except that credit losses recognized are limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost and the carrying value adjustment is recognized through a valuation allowance which may change over time but once recorded cannot subsequently be reduced to an amount below zero. The guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and for most affected instruments was adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to beginning retained earnings.

The Company’s implementation activities are complete and the impacts relate to the Company’s commercial mortgage loan portfolio, agent advances, reinsurance recoverables and off-balance-sheet credit exposures for unfunded commercial mortgage loan commitments. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2020 and recognized a cumulative effect adjustment that decreased retained earnings by $0.5 million.

In August 2018, the FASB issued accounting and disclosure guidance that contains targeted improvements to the accounting for long-duration insurance contracts. Under the new guidance, the cash flow assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits for traditional insurance contracts will be required to be updated at least annually with changes recognized as a benefit expense (i.e., assumptions will no longer be locked-in). Insurance entities will be required to use a standard discount rate to measure the liabilities that will be equivalent to the yield from a high-quality bond. The new guidance also changes the amortization of DAC to be on a constant-level basis over the expected term of the related contracts with no interest accruing on the DAC balance. The new guidance also introduces a new category of contract features associated with deposit type contracts referred to as market risk benefits (MRBs). Contract features meeting the definition of a MRB will be measured at fair value. New disclosures will be required for long-duration insurance contracts in order to provide better transparency into the exposure of insurance entities and the drivers of their results. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years. With regards to the liability for future policy benefits and DAC, the guidance applies to contracts in force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented and may be applied retrospectively. With regards to MRBs, the guidance is to be applied retrospectively at the beginning of the earliest period presented. Early adoption is permitted. Management is evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the results of operations and financial position of the Company.