FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The authoritative literature for fair value measurements established a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs in measuring fair value. These tiers are as follows: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as significant unobservable inputs (entity developed assumptions) in which little or no market data exists.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company held certain investments that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The following tables present the Company’s fair value hierarchy for these financial assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

December 31, 2017	Type of Instrument	Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Cash equivalents	Institutional Money Market	$	3,108,549	$	3,108,549	$	-	$	-

Cash equivalents	Municipal Bonds		800,000		-		800,000		-

Investments	Municipal Bonds		1,102,650		-		1,102,650		-

Investments	Corporate Bonds		51,299,068		-		51,299,068		-

Investments	Certificates of Deposit		5,318,227		5,318,227		-		-

December 31, 2016	Type of Instrument	Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Cash equivalents	Institutional Money Market	$	2,290,331	$	2,290,331	$	-	$	-

Investments	Municipal Bonds		7,554,028		-		7,554,028		-

Investments	Corporate Bonds		33,354,407		-		33,354,407		-

Investments	Certificates of Deposit		7,117,807		7,117,807		-		-

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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