Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ' |
Nature of Operations [Text Block] | ' |
Nature of Operations |
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First Trinity Financial Corporation (the “Company”) is the parent holding company of Trinity Life Insurance Company, Family Benefit Life Insurance Company, First Trinity Capital Corporation and Southern Insurance Services, LLC. The Company was incorporated in Oklahoma on April 19, 2004, for the primary purpose of organizing a life insurance subsidiary. The Company raised $1,450,000 from two private placement stock offerings during 2004. |
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On June 22, 2005, the Company’s intrastate public stock offering filed with the Oklahoma Department of Securities for $12,750,000, which included a 10% "over-sale" provision (additional sales of $1,275,000), was declared effective. The offering was completed February 23, 2007. The Company raised $14,025,000 from this offering. |
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On June 29, 2010, the Company commenced a public offering of its common stock registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Securities. The offering was completed April 30, 2012. The Company raised $11,000,010 from this offering. |
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On August 15, 2012, the Company commenced a private placement of its common stock primarily in the states of Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota. The private placement was for 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for $8.50 per share. If all shares would have been sold, the Company would have received $4,335,000 after reduction for estimated offering expenses. This offering was suspended on March 8, 2013 and resulted in gross proceeds of $644,470 from the subscription of 75,820 shares of its common stock and incurred $321,944 in offering costs. |
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The Company purchased First Life America Corporation (“FLAC”) on December 23, 2008. On August 31, 2009, two of the Company’s subsidiaries, Trinity Life Insurance Company (“Old TLIC”) and FLAC, were merged, with FLAC being the surviving company. Immediately following the merger, FLAC changed its name to Trinity Life Insurance Company (“TLIC”). After the merger, the Company had two wholly owned subsidiaries, First Trinity Capital Corporation (“FTCC”) and TLIC, domiciled in Oklahoma. |
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TLIC is primarily engaged in the business of marketing, underwriting and distributing a broad range of individual life and annuity insurance products to individuals in eight states primarily in the Midwest. TLIC’s current product portfolio consists of a modified premium whole life insurance policy with a flexible premium deferred annuity rider, whole life, term, final expense, accidental death and dismemberment and annuity products. The term products are both renewable and convertible and issued for 10, 15, 20 and 30 years. They can be issued with premiums fully guaranteed for the entire term period or with a limited premium guarantee. The final expense product is issued as either a simplified issue or as a graded benefit, determined by underwriting. TLIC also offers various annuity and deposit-type liability products. The products are sold through independent agents in the states of Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. |
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TLIC purchased Family Benefit Life Insurance Company (“Family Benefit Life”) on December 28, 2011. Family Benefit Life is primarily engaged in the business of marketing, underwriting and distributing a broad range of individual life and annuity insurance products to individuals in sixteen states. Family Benefit Life’s current product portfolio consists of whole life, term, accidental death and dismemberment, annuity, endowment and group life insurance products. The products are sold through independent agents in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Oklahoma. In late 2012, Family Benefit Life was initially licensed in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and West Virginia. In 2013, Family Benefit Life was initially licensed in Illinois and Pennsylvania. |
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FTCC was incorporated in 2006, and began operations in January 2007. FTCC provides financing for casualty insurance premiums for individuals and companies and is licensed to conduct premium financing business in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma. |
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The Company’s management decided to focus on the Company’s core life and annuity insurance business and discontinue offering premium finance contracts. Specifically on May 16, 2012, the Company determined and then announced that FTCC would not accept new premium financing contracts after June 30, 2012. FTCC continued to process payments and service all existing premium financing contracts after June 30, 2012 through the duration that the property and casualty premium financing contracts were in force. The Company virtually completed processing and servicing its premium finance operations on June 30, 2013 subject to minor refunds, minor collections of past due accounts and legal matters. The Company incurred minimal costs related to exiting its premium financing operations since resources were redeployed into its growing life and annuity insurance operations. |
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The Company also owns 100% of Southern Insurance Services, LLC, (“SIS”), a limited liability company acquired in 2009, that operated as a property and casualty insurance agency but currently has no operations |
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Basis of Presentation |
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The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). |
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Principles of Consolidation |
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The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. |
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Reclassifications |
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Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior year financial statements to conform to current year classifications. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or shareholders' equity. |
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Use of Estimates |
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The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, they may ultimately differ from actual results. |
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Investments |
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Fixed maturity securities are comprised of bonds that are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The amortized cost of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale is adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount to maturity. |
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Interest income, as well as the related amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is included in net investment income under the effective yield method. The amortized cost of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale is written down to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. |
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Equity securities available-for-sale is comprised of mutual funds, common stocks and preferred stocks that are carried at fair value. The associated unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. The cost of equity securities available-for-sale is written down to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. Dividends from these investments are recognized in net investment income when declared. |
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The Company evaluates the difference between the cost or amortized cost and estimated fair value of its investments to determine whether any decline in value is other-than-temporary in nature. This determination involves a degree of uncertainty. If a decline in the fair value of a security is determined to be temporary, the decline is recorded as an unrealized loss in stockholders' equity. If a decline in a security's fair value is considered to be other-than-temporary, the Company then determines the proper treatment for the other-than-temporary impairment. For fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, the amount of any other-than-temporary impairment related to a credit loss is recognized in earnings and reflected as a reduction in the cost basis of the security; and the amount of any other-than-temporary impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) with no change to the cost basis of the security. For equity securities available-for-sale, the amount of any other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings and reflected as a reduction in the cost basis of the security. |
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The assessment of whether a decline in fair value is considered temporary or other-than-temporary includes management's judgment as to the financial position and future prospects of the entity issuing the security. It is not possible to accurately predict when it may be determined that a specific security will become impaired. Future adverse changes in market conditions, poor operating results of underlying investments and defaults on mortgage loan payments could result in losses or an inability to recover the current carrying value of the investments, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future. |
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Likewise, if a change occurs in the Company’s intent to sell temporarily impaired securities prior to maturity or recovery in value, or if it becomes more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell such securities prior to recovery in value or maturity, a future impairment charge could result. |
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If an other-than-temporary impairment related to a credit loss occurs with respect to a bond, the Company amortizes the reduced book value back to the security's expected recovery value over the remaining term of the bond. The Company continues to review the security for further impairment that would prompt another write-down in the value. |
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Mortgage loans are carried at unpaid balances, net of unamortized premium or discounts. Interest income and the amortization of premiums or discounts are included in net investment income. Mortgage loan fees, certain direct loan origination costs, and purchase premiums and discounts on loans are recognized as an adjustment of yield by the interest method based on the contractual terms of the loan. In certain circumstances, prepayments may be anticipated. The Company has established a valuation allowance for mortgage loans on real estate that are not supported by funds held in escrow. |
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Investment real estate is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation on investment real estate is calculated over an estimated useful life of 19 years. |
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Policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances. Interest income on policy loans is recognized in net investment income at the contract interest rate when earned. |
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Other long term investments are comprised of lottery prize receivables and are carried at amortized cost, net of unamortized discount. Interest income and the accretion of discount are included in net investment income. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Cash and Cash Equivalents |
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Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks and money market instruments. |
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Investment Income and Realized Gains and Losses on Sales of Investments |
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Interest and dividends earned on investments are included in net investment income. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are recognized in operations on the specific identification basis. |
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs |
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Commissions and other acquisition costs which vary with and are primarily related to the successful production of new business are deferred and amortized in a systematic manner based on the related contract revenues or gross profits as appropriate. Recoverability of deferred acquisition costs is evaluated periodically by comparing the current estimate of the present value of expected pretax future profits to the unamortized asset balance. If this current estimate is less than the existing balance, the difference is charged to expense. |
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Deferred acquisition costs for the successful production of traditional life insurance contracts are deferred to the extent deemed recoverable and amortized over the premium paying period of the related policies using assumptions consistent with those used in computing future policy benefit liabilities. Deferred acquisition costs related to the successful production of insurance and annuity products that subject the Company to mortality or morbidity risk over a period that extends beyond the period or periods in which premiums are collected and that have terms that are fixed and guaranteed (i.e., limited-payment long-duration annuity contracts) are deferred to the extent deemed recoverable and amortized in relation to the present value of actual and expected gross profits on the policies. |
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To the extent that realized gains and losses on fixed income securities result in adjustments to deferred acquisition costs related to insurance and annuity products, such adjustments are reflected as a component of the amortization of deferred acquisition costs. Deferred acquisition costs related to limited-payment long-duration insurance and annuity contracts are also adjusted, net of tax, for the change in amortization that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains (losses) from available-for-sale securities had actually been realized. This adjustment is included in the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available-for-sale securities, a component of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” in the shareholders’ equity section of the statement of financial position |
Policy Loans Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Loans from Premium Financing |
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Loans from premium financing are carried at their outstanding unpaid principal balances, net of unearned interest, charge-offs and an allowance for loan losses. Interest on loans is earned based on the interest method for computing unearned interest. The rule of 78s is used to calculate the amount of the interest charge to be forgiven in the event that a loan is repaid prior to the agreed upon number of monthly payments. When serious doubt concerning collectability arises, loans are placed on a nonaccrual basis. Generally if no payment is received after one hundred twenty days, all accrued and uncollected interest income is reversed against current period operations. Interest income on nonaccrual loans is recognized only when the loan is paid in full. Loan origination fees and costs are charged to expense as incurred. |
Premiums Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Estimation Methodology, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Allowance for Loan Losses from Premium Financing |
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The allowance for possible loan losses from financing casualty insurance premiums is a reserve established through a provision for possible loan losses charged to expense which represents, in management’s judgment, the known and inherent credit losses existing in the loan portfolio. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to reserve for estimated loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio and reduces the carrying value of the loans from premium financing to the estimated net realizable value on the statement of financial position. |
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While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Company’s control, including the performance of the Company’s loan portfolio, the economy and changes in interest rates. The Company’s allowance for possible loan losses consists of specific valuation allowances established for probable losses on specific loans and a portfolio reserve for probable incurred but not specifically identified loans. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. |
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Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis. |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Property and Equipment |
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Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation or amortization. Office furniture, equipment and computer software is recorded at cost or fair value at acquisition less accumulated depreciation or amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the respective assets of three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are recorded at cost and depreciated over the remaining non-cancellable lease term. |
Reinsurance Accounting Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Reinsurance |
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The Company cedes reinsurance under various agreements allowing management to control exposure to potential losses arising from large risks and providing additional capacity for growth. Estimated reinsurance recoverable balances are reported as assets and are recognized in a manner consistent with the liabilities related to the underlying reinsured contracts. |
Intangible Assets Arising from Insurance Contracts Acquired in Business Combination, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Value of Insurance Business Acquired |
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As a result of the Company’s purchase of FLAC and Family Benefit Life, an asset was recorded in the application of purchase accounting to recognize the value of acquired insurance in force. The Company’s value of acquired insurance in force is an intangible asset with a definite life and is amortized under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance. The value of acquired insurance in force is amortized primarily over the emerging profit of the related policies using the same assumptions that were used in computing liabilities for future policy benefits. |
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For the amortization of the value of acquired insurance in force, the Company periodically reviews its estimates of gross profits. The most significant assumptions involved in the estimation of gross profits include interest rate spreads, future financial market performance, business surrender/lapse rates, mortality and morbidity, expenses and the impact of realized investment gains and losses. In the event actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or assumptions are significantly revised, the Company is required to record a charge or credit to amortization expense for the period in which an adjustment is made. |
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As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there was $1,653,087 and $1,230,982, respectively, of accumulated amortization of the value of insurance business acquired due to the purchases of FLAC and Family Benefit Life. The Company expects to amortize the value of insurance business acquired by the following amounts over the next five years: $444,757 in 2014, $419,319 in 2015, $387,194 in 2016, $359,659 in 2017 and $308,631 in 2018. |
Other Assets and Liabilities Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Other Assets and Other Liabilities |
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Other assets consist primarily of prepaid expenses, recoverable federal and state income taxes, guaranty funds, notes receivable, customer account balances receivable and receivables for securities sold with trade dates and settlement dates in different years. Other liabilities consist primarily of accrued expenses, account payables, deposits on pending policy applications, unearned investment income and payable for securities purchased with trade dates and settlement dates in different years. |
Policyholder Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Policyholders’ Account Balances |
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The Company’s liability for policyholders’ account balances represents the contract value that has accrued to the benefit of the policyholder as of the financial statement date. This liability is generally equal to the accumulated account deposits plus interest credited less policyholders’ withdrawals and other charges assessed against the account balance. Interest crediting rates for individual annuities range from 2.25% to 5.00%. Interest crediting rates for deposit-type liabilities range from 3.00% to 5.25%. |
Future Policy Benefits Liability, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Future Policy Benefits |
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The Company’s liability for future policy benefits is primarily comprised of the present value of estimated future payments to or on behalf of policyholders, where the timing and amount of payment depends on policyholder mortality or morbidity, less the present value of future net premiums. For life insurance and annuity products, expected mortality and morbidity is generally based on the Company’s historical experience or standard industry tables including a provision for the risk of adverse deviation. Interest rate assumptions are based on factors such as market conditions and expected investment returns. Although mortality, morbidity and interest rate assumptions are “locked-in” upon the issuance of new insurance with fixed and guaranteed terms, significant changes in experience or assumptions may require the Company to provide for expected future losses on a product by establishing premium deficiency reserves. |
Unpaid Policy Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Policy Claims |
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Policy claim liabilities represent the estimated liabilities for claims reported plus estimated incurred but not yet reported claims developed from trends of historical market data applied to current exposure. |
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Federal Income Taxes |
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The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for cumulative temporary differences between balances of assets and liabilities determined under GAAP and balances determined using tax bases. A valuation allowance is established for the amount of the deferred tax asset that exceeds the amount of the estimated future taxable income needed to utilize the future tax benefits. |
Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Common Stock |
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Common stock is fully paid, non-assessable and has a par value of $.01 per share. |
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On January 11, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 5% common stock dividend by which shareholders received a share of common stock for each 20 shares of common stock of the Company they held. The dividend was payable to the holders of shares of the Company as of March 10, 2012. Fractional shares were rounded to the nearest whole number of shares. The Company issued 378,928 shares in connection with the stock dividend that resulted in accumulated earnings being charged $2,841,960 with an offsetting credit of $2,841,960 to common stock and additional paid-in capital. |
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These stock dividends were non-cash investing and financing activities |
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
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FASB guidance requires the inclusion of unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax, as a component of other comprehensive income. Unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income that are later recognized in net income through a reclassification adjustment are identified on the specific identification method. |
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In addition, deferred acquisition costs related to limited-payment long-duration insurance and annuity contracts are also adjusted, net of tax, for the change in amortization that would have been recorded if the unrealized gains (losses) from available-for-sale securities had actually been realized. This adjustment is included in the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available-for-sale securities, a component of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” in the shareholders’ equity section of the statement of financial position. |
Insurance Premiums Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Revenues and Expenses |
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Revenues on traditional life insurance products consist of direct premiums reported as earned when due. Liabilities for future policy benefits are provided and acquisition costs are amortized in a systematic manner based on the related contract revenues or gross profits as appropriate. Acquisition costs for traditional life insurance contracts are deferred to the extent deemed recoverable and are amortized over the premium paying period of the related policies using assumptions consistent with those used in computing future policy benefit liabilities. Traditional life insurance products are treated as long-duration contracts since they are ordinary whole life insurance products, which generally remain in force for the lifetime of the insured. |
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Deferred acquisition costs related to insurance and annuity products that subject the Company to mortality or morbidity risk over a period that extends beyond the period or periods in which premiums are collected and that have terms that are fixed and guaranteed are deferred to the extent deemed recoverable and amortized in relation to the present value of actual and expected gross profits on the policies. These insurance and annuity contracts are treated as long-duration insurance contracts since the Company is subject to risk from policyholder mortality and morbidity over an extended period. |
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Income from premium financing includes cancellation and late fees. |
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Net Income per Common Share |
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Net income per common share basic and diluted is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and subscribed during the year. The weighted average outstanding and subscribed common shares basic and diluted for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were 7,852,014 and 7,883,901 respectively. These weighted average shares reflect the retrospective adjustment for the impact of the 5% stock dividend declared by the Company on January 11, 2012 and payable to holders of shares of the Company as of March 10, 2012. |
Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Subsequent Events |
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Management has evaluated all events subsequent to December 31, 2013 through the date that these financial statements have been issued. |
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] | ' |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
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Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
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In February 2013, the FASB issued updated guidance to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The guidance requires an entity to present, either on the face of the statement of operations or in the notes, separately for each component of comprehensive income, the current period reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income affected by the reclassification. |
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The updated guidance is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted the updated guidance effective March 31, 2013, and such adoption did not have any effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity. |