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Fair Value
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Fair Value
 
Financial instruments carried at fair value
Our available-for-sale and equity securities are recorded at fair value, which is the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly transaction between willing market participants as of the measurement date.
 
Valuation techniques used to derive the fair value of our available-for-sale and equity securities are based upon observable and unobservable inputs.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources.  Unobservable inputs reflect our own assumptions regarding fair market value for these securities.  Financial instruments are categorized based upon the following characteristics or inputs to the valuation techniques:

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date.

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
 
Estimates of fair values for our investment portfolio are obtained primarily from a nationally recognized pricing service.  Our Level 1 securities are valued using an exchange traded price provided by the pricing service. Pricing service valuations for Level 2 securities include multiple verifiable, observable inputs including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data.  Pricing service valuations for Level 3 securities are based upon proprietary models and are used when observable inputs are not available or in illiquid markets.
 
Although virtually all of our prices are obtained from third party sources, we also perform internal pricing reviews, including evaluating the methodology and inputs used to ensure that we determine the proper classification level of the financial instrument and reviewing securities with price changes that vary significantly from current market conditions or independent price sources.  Price variances are investigated and corroborated by market data and transaction volumes. We have reviewed the pricing methodologies of our pricing service as well as other observable inputs and believe that the prices adequately consider market activity in determining fair value. 

In limited circumstances we adjust the price received from the pricing service when, in our judgment, a better reflection of fair value is available based upon corroborating information and our knowledge and monitoring of market conditions such as a disparity in price of comparable securities and/or non-binding broker quotes.  In other circumstances, certain securities are internally priced because prices are not provided by the pricing service.
 
When a price from the pricing service is not available, values are determined by obtaining broker/dealer quotes and/or market comparables. When available, we obtain multiple quotes for the same security. The ultimate value for these securities is determined based upon our best estimate of fair value using corroborating market information. As of June 30, 2021, nearly all of our available-for-sale and equity securities were priced using a third party pricing service.
The following tables present our fair value measurements on a recurring basis by asset class and level of input as of: 
June 30, 2021
(in thousands)TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate debt securities$564,689 $2,461 $556,150 $6,078 
Collateralized debt obligations115,442 114,692 750 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities112,292 95,159 17,133 
Residential mortgage-backed securities93,652 90,611 3,041 
Other debt securities29,332 26,788 2,544 
U.S. Treasury21,391 21,391 
Total available-for-sale securities936,798 2,461 904,791 29,546 
Equity securities - nonredeemable preferred and common stock:
Financial services sector75,212 20,628 53,584 1,000 
Utilities sector10,470 3,594 6,876 
Energy sector2,952 957 1,995 
Consumer sector2,295 607 1,688 
Communications sector2,161 1,123 1,038 
Industrial sector915 915 
Total equity securities94,005 27,824 65,181 1,000 
Total$1,030,803 $30,285 $969,972 $30,546 


December 31, 2020
(in thousands)TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate debt securities$566,425 $1,281 $559,319 $5,825 
Collateralized debt obligations110,447 110,447 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities120,201 100,739 19,462 
Residential mortgage-backed securities112,179 111,242 937 
Other debt securities18,984 18,984 
Total available-for-sale securities928,236 1,281 900,731 26,224 
Equity securities - nonredeemable preferred and common stock:
Financial services sector76,575 24,981 51,594 
Utilities sector8,742 3,957 4,785 
Energy sector2,206 676 1,530 
Consumer sector3,068 576 2,492 
Communications sector2,699 2,699 
Industrial sector800 800 
Total equity securities94,090 33,689 60,401 
Total$1,022,326 $34,970 $961,132 $26,224 
We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period. Transfers between hierarchy levels may occur due to changes in available market observable inputs.

Level 3 Assets – 2021 Quarterly Change:

(in thousands) 
Beginning balance at March 31, 2021
Included in earnings(1)
Included
in other
comprehensive
income
PurchasesSales
Transfers into
Level 3(2)
Transfers out of Level 3(2)
Ending balance at June 30, 2021
Available-for-sale securities:        
Corporate debt securities$5,460 $14 $37 $1,476 $(303)$1,347 $(1,953)$6,078 
Collateralized debt obligations750 750 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 16,241 (102)(10)579 (961)2,624 (1,238)17,133 
Residential mortgage-backed securities473 (3)(224)3,030 (236)3,041 
Other debt securities521 (4)2,060 (33)2,544 
Total available-for-sale securities22,695 (91)24 4,865 (1,521)7,001 (3,427)29,546 
Nonredeemable preferred stock1,090 1,000 (1,095)1,000 
Total Level 3 securities$23,785 $(86)$24 $5,865 $(1,521)$7,001 $(4,522)$30,546 


Level 3 Assets – 2021 Year-to-Date Change:
(in thousands)Beginning balance at December 31, 2020
Included in earnings(1)
Included
in other
comprehensive
income
PurchasesSales
Transfers into
Level 3(2)
Transfers out of Level 3(2)
Ending balance at June 30, 2021
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate debt securities$5,825 $20 $79 $2,258 $(673)$2,549 $(3,980)$6,078 
Collateralized debt obligations750 750 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities19,462 (197)(447)2,844 (966)3,854 (7,417)17,133 
Residential mortgage-backed securities937 (6)(476)3,030 (444)3,041 
Other debt securities(2)2,588 (42)2,544 
Total available-for-sale securities26,224 (183)(370)8,440 (2,157)9,433 (11,841)29,546 
Nonredeemable preferred stock1,000 1,090 (1,095)1,000 
Total Level 3 securities$26,224 $(178)$(370)$9,440 $(2,157)$10,523 $(12,936)$30,546 


Level 3 Assets – 2020 Quarterly Change:
(in thousands)Beginning balance at March 31, 2020
Included in earnings(1)
Included
in other
comprehensive
income
PurchasesSales
Transfers into
Level 3(2)
Transfers out of Level 3(2)
Ending balance at June 30, 2020
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate debt securities$12,056 $(2)$867 $783 $(115)$1,142 $(9,815)$4,916 
Collateralized debt obligations12 247 259 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities7,383 (34)268 6,891 (201)4,334 (575)18,066 
Total available-for-sale securities19,439 (36)1,147 7,921 (316)5,476 (10,390)23,241 
Nonredeemable preferred stock(25)820 795 
Total Level 3 securities$19,439 $(61)$1,147 $8,741 $(316)$5,476 $(10,390)$24,036 
Level 3 Assets – 2020 Year-to-Date Change:
(in thousands)Beginning balance at December 31, 2019
Included in earnings(1)
Included
in other
comprehensive
income
PurchasesSales
Transfers into
Level 3(2)
Transfers out of Level 3(2)
Ending balance at June 30, 2020
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate debt securities$8,324 $$(511)$2,501 $(542)$8,037 $(12,898)$4,916 
Collateralized debt obligations12 247 259 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities3,321 (42)120 7,203 (287)8,891 (1,140)18,066 
Total available-for-sale securities11,645 (37)(379)9,951 (829)16,928 (14,038)23,241 
Nonredeemable preferred stock(25)820 795 
Total Level 3 securities$11,645 $(62)$(379)$10,771 $(829)$16,928 $(14,038)$24,036 
(1)These amounts are reported as net investment income and net realized investment gains (losses) for each of the periods presented above.
(2)Transfers into and/or (out) of Level 3 are primarily attributable to the availability of market observable information and the re-evaluation of the observability of pricing inputs.


Financial instruments not carried at fair value
The following table presents the carrying values and fair values of financial instruments categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy that are recorded at carrying value as of:
June 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(in thousands)Carrying valueFair valueCarrying valueFair value
Agent loans (1)
$68,558 $72,593 $69,212 $73,854 
Long-term borrowings (2)
95,103 103,036 96,113 113,054 
(1)The discount rate used to calculate fair value at June 30, 2021 is reflective of a decrease in the BB+ financial yield curve.
(2)The discount rate used to calculate fair value at June 30, 2021 is reflective of an increase in U.S. Treasury bond yields.