Primerica (PRI) 10-Q 7 Nov 18 2018 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Primerica, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	1,475,922
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	PRI
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		42,938,145

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $2,016,559 in 2018 and $1,877,326 in 2017)	$ 2,010,900	[1]	$ 1,927,842	[2]
Fixed-maturity security held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $874,328 in 2018 and $779,472 in 2017)	891,860		737,150
Equity securities available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $0 in 2018 and $31,331 in 2017)			41,107
Equity securities, at fair value (historical cost: $34,842 in 2018 and $0 in 2017)	39,317
Trading securities, at fair value (amortized cost: $15,944 in 2018 and $6,172 in 2017)	15,955		6,228
Policy loans	30,902		32,816
Total investments	2,988,934		2,745,143
Cash and cash equivalents	225,378		279,962
Accrued investment income	18,202		16,665
Reinsurance recoverables	4,196,021		4,205,173
Deferred policy acquisition costs, net	2,107,814		1,951,892
Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables	295,885		229,522
Intangible assets, net (accumulated amortization: $81,186 in 2018 and $78,633 in 2017)	48,961		51,513
Income taxes	53,440		48,614
Other assets	352,897		359,347
Separate account assets	2,419,997		2,572,872
Total assets	12,707,529		12,460,703
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	6,132,750		5,954,524
Unearned premiums	439		486
Policy claims and other benefits payable	287,640		307,401
Other policyholders’ funds	394,046		377,998
Notes payable	373,567		373,288
Surplus note	891,139		736,381
Income taxes	182,240		177,468
Other liabilities	511,623		451,398
Payable under securities lending	70,632		89,786
Separate account liabilities	2,419,997		2,572,872
Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Commitments and Contingent Liabilities note)
Total liabilities	11,264,073		11,041,602
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized 500,000 in 2018 and 2017; issued and outstanding 42,977 shares in 2018 and 44,251 shares in 2017)	430		443
Retained earnings	1,452,841		1,375,090
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax:
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)	(5,300)		3,995
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) not other-than-temporarily impaired	(4,381)		39,686
Net unrealized investment losses other-than-temporarily impaired	(134)		(113)
Total stockholders’ equity	1,443,456		1,419,101
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 12,707,529		$ 12,460,703
[1]	Includes $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
[2]	Includes $0.2 million of OTTI losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Condensed Consolidated Balanc_2

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities available for sale, amortized cost	$ 2,016,559	[1]	$ 1,877,326	[2]
Fixed-maturity securities held to maturity, fair value	874,328		779,472
Equity securities available for sale, amortized cost	0		31,331
Equity securities, at fair value, historical cost	34,842		0
Trading securities, amortized cost	15,944		6,172
Intangible assets, net
Accumulated amortization on definite-lived intangible assets	$ 81,186		$ 78,633
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000		500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	42,977,000		44,251,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	42,977,000		44,251,000
[1]	Includes $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
[2]	Includes $0.2 million of OTTI losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues:
Direct premiums	$ 670,222	$ 646,079	$ 1,993,499	$ 1,911,203
Ceded premiums	(391,175)	(397,641)	(1,188,873)	(1,203,452)
Net premiums	279,047	248,438	804,626	707,751
Revenues	484,781	427,300	1,412,518	1,246,161
Investment income net of investment expenses	30,214	27,153	86,687	78,595
Interest expense on surplus note	(9,592)	(7,231)	(27,018)	(19,037)
Net investment income	20,622	19,922	59,669	59,558
Realized investment gains (losses), including other-than- temporary impairment losses	(126)	22	(470)	260
Other, net	14,359	14,291	43,047	41,381
Benefits and expenses:
Benefits and claims	118,787	105,864	340,747	307,761
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	59,534	53,384	173,546	153,094
Sales commissions	84,588	72,022	250,062	221,165
Insurance expenses	41,925	37,637	126,485	112,177
Insurance commissions	6,584	5,593	18,878	15,649
Interest expense	7,216	7,073	21,617	21,344
Other operating expenses	54,712	45,527	173,023	143,539
Total benefits and expenses	373,346	327,100	1,104,358	974,729
Income before income taxes	111,435	100,200	308,160	271,432
Income taxes	26,296	33,565	70,610	89,619
Net income	$ 85,139	$ 66,635	$ 237,550	$ 181,813
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.95	$ 1.46	$ 5.36	$ 3.94
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.94	$ 1.46	$ 5.34	$ 3.93
Weighted-average shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic	43,452	45,318	44,081	45,864
Diluted	43,589	45,408	44,212	45,947
Supplemental disclosures:
Total impairment losses recognized on invested assets	$ (49)	$ (668)	$ (152)	$ (1,363)
Impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income before income taxes		142		142
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(49)	(526)	(152)	(1,221)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)	(816)	548	350	1,481
Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities	739		(668)
Net realized investment gains (losses), including other-than- temporary impairment losses	(126)	22	(470)	260
Commissions and Fees [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 170,879	$ 144,627	$ 505,646	$ 437,211

Condensed Consolidated Statem_2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 85,139	$ 66,635	$ 237,550	$ 181,813
Unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities	(8,347)	(3,725)	(56,267)	7,447
Reclassification adjustment for realized investment (gains) losses included in net income	755	(554)	92	(896)
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)	5,009	10,000	(9,295)	17,878
Total other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes	(2,583)	5,721	(65,470)	24,429
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,720)	(1,391)	(12,014)	2,487
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	(863)	7,112	(53,456)	21,942
Total comprehensive income	$ 84,276	$ 73,747	$ 184,094	$ 203,755

Condensed Consolidated Statem_3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 457	$ 52,468	$ 1,138,851	$ 29,598
Repurchases of common stock		(18)	(74,121)	(65,316)
Net issuance of common stock		5	(5)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 1,280,530	444		1,228,546	51,540
Share-based compensation			21,658
Net income	$ 181,813			181,813
Dividends				(26,802)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)					17,685
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) not-other- than temporarily impaired					4,340
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) other-than-temporarily impaired					(83)
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.58
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2017		450		1,224,375	44,428
Repurchases of common stock		(7)	(4,565)	(53,344)
Net issuance of common stock		1	(1)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 1,280,530	444		1,228,546	51,540
Share-based compensation			4,566
Net income	$ 66,635			66,635
Dividends				(9,120)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)					9,893
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) not-other- than temporarily impaired					(2,691)
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) other-than-temporarily impaired					(90)
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.20
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,419,101	443		1,375,090	43,568
Repurchases of common stock		(17)	(22,380)	(151,128)
Net issuance of common stock		4	(4)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	1,443,456	430		1,452,841	(9,815)
Share-based compensation			22,384
Cumulative effect from the adoption of new accounting standards, net				24,610	73
Net income	$ 237,550			237,550
Dividends				(33,281)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)					(9,295)
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) not-other- than temporarily impaired					(44,140)
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) other-than-temporarily impaired					(21)
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.75
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2018		432		1,409,104	(8,952)
Repurchases of common stock		(3)	(4,019)	(30,482)
Net issuance of common stock		1	(1)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 1,443,456	$ 430		1,452,841	(9,815)
Share-based compensation			$ 4,020
Net income	$ 85,139			85,139
Dividends				$ (10,920)
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)					5,009
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) not-other- than temporarily impaired					(5,874)
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) other-than-temporarily impaired					$ 2
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.25

Condensed Consolidated Statem_4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 237,550	$ 181,813
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in future policy benefits and other policy liabilities	187,684	216,086
Deferral of policy acquisition costs	(329,672)	(317,112)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	173,546	153,094
Change in income taxes	5,313	22,151
Realized investment (gains) losses, including other-than-temporary impairments	470	(260)
Accretion and amortization of investments	(1,396)	(1,051)
Depreciation and amortization	9,122	10,323
Change in reinsurance recoverables	(662)	(24,137)
Change in agent balances, due premiums and other receivables	(14,336)	(30,283)
Trading securities sold, matured, or called (acquired), net	(11,174)	(4,147)
Share-based compensation	15,378	13,491
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net	13,457	(10,169)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	285,280	209,799
Cash flows from investing activities:
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities — sold	48,175	67,648
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities — matured or called	275,486	159,427
Available-for-sale equity securities — sold		2,125
Equity securities — sold	1,938
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities — acquired	(446,466)	(300,169)
Available-for-sale equity securities — acquired		(306)
Equity securities — acquired	(243)
Purchases of property and equipment and other investing activities, net	(11,013)	(7,965)
Cash collateral received (returned) on loaned securities, net	(19,154)	33,332
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments using securities lending collateral, net	19,154	(33,332)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(132,123)	(79,240)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(33,281)	(26,802)
Common stock repurchased	(167,395)	(132,751)
Tax withholdings on share-based compensation	(6,129)	(6,704)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(206,805)	(166,257)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	(936)	1,140
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(54,584)	(34,558)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	279,962	211,976
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 225,378	$ 177,418

Description of Business, Basis

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	(1) Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business . Primerica, Inc. (the "Parent Company"), together with its subsidiaries (collectively, "we", "us" or the "Company"), is a leading distributor of financial products to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. We assist our clients in meeting their needs for term life insurance, which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities, managed investments and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. Our primary subsidiaries include the following entities: Primerica Financial Services, LLC ("PFS"), a general agency and marketing company; Primerica Life Insurance Company ("Primerica Life"), our principal life insurance company; Primerica Financial Services (Canada) Ltd., a holding company for our Canadian operations, which includes Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada ("Primerica Life Canada") and PFSL Investments Canada Ltd. ("PFSL Investments Canada"); and PFS Investments Inc. ("PFS Investments"), an investment products company and broker-dealer. Primerica Life, domiciled in Tennessee, owns National Benefit Life Insurance Company ("NBLIC"), a New York life insurance company. Peach Re, Inc. ("Peach Re") and Vidalia Re, Inc. ("Vidalia Re") are special purpose financial captive insurance companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of Primerica Life. Peach Re and Vidalia Re have each entered into separate coinsurance agreements with Primerica Life whereby Primerica Life has ceded certain level-premium term life insurance policies to Peach Re and Vidalia Re (respectively, the "Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement" and the "Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement"). Basis of Presentation . We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect financial statement balances, revenues and expenses and cash flows, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management considers available facts and knowledge of existing circumstances when establishing the estimates included in our financial statements. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, generally consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary to fairly present the balance sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), and stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year or of the results to be expected in future periods. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are sufficient to make the information not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 ("2017 Annual Report"). Use of Estimates. The most significant items that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to change in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC"), future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, and income taxes. Estimates for these and other items are subject to change and are reassessed by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Consolidation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities required to be consolidated under U.S. GAAP. All material intercompany profits, transactions, and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated. Significant Accounting Policies . All significant accounting policies remain unchanged from the 2017 Annual Report unless otherwise described. New Accounting Principles. In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASC 606"). ASC 606 clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue by establishing the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Insurance contracts are specifically excluded from the scope of ASC 606 and therefore revenue from our insurance product lines is not affected by the new standard. We adopted the amendments in ASC 606 during the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 resulted in an increase to retained earnings of $24.7 million or 1.7% on January 1, 2018. The adjustment recognized upon the adoption of ASC 606 primarily consisted of recognizing the after tax net impact of renewal commissions we anticipate collecting in future periods less the portion we pay to our agents for the sale of prepaid legal service subscriptions and the referral of auto and homeowners’ insurance policies in our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment made prior to January 1, 2018. Specifically, the cumulative effect adjustment recognized as of January 1, 2018 increased the following balance sheet line items: January 1, 2018 (In thousands) Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables $ 45,730 Other liabilities 14,400 Income taxes (Liabilities) 6,647 Retained earnings 24,683 After the initial product sale or referral, we earn commissions from product providers for our distribution services as clients pay ongoing subscription fees for prepaid legal service subscriptions or premiums on auto and homeowners’ insurance policies purchased through our referral channel. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, we recognized commission revenue upon receipt of the commission revenue from the product providers, which is the point in time when revenue becomes fixed and determinable, as the commissions earned are dependent on our clients’ future renewal activity. After the adoption of ASC 606, we recognize commission revenue equal to the expected value of the commissions we will earn over the life of the subscription or the referred policy when that initial subscription sale or policy referral occurs, which coincides with when we satisfy our performance obligation to the product provider. The application of ASC 606 did not result in any material changes in the line items within our statements of income, comprehensive income (loss) and stockholders’ equity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or our statement of cash flows during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared with guidance in effect prior to the adoption of ASC 606, primarily due to the immaterial amount of revenue associated with these product distributions as well as the offsetting effect of replacing revenue for commissions received from existing sales prior to adopting ASC 606 with revenue for future estimated commissions from new sales subsequent to adopting ASC 606. Likewise, the application of ASC 606 as compared with guidance in effect prior to the adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on the line items within our balance sheet between January 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018. In addition, no changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition have been made in any of our other product lines as discussed further in Note 13 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers). In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10) Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Future Application of Accounting Standards. In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944) — Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts ("ASU 2018-12"). The amendments in this update change accounting guidance for insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts, including term life insurance. ASU 2018-12 requires companies that issue long-duration insurance contracts to update assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits, including mortality and persistency, at least annually instead of locking those assumptions at contract inception and reflecting differences in assumptions and actual performance as the experience occurs. ASU 2018-12 also includes changes to how insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts amortize DAC and determine and update the discount rate assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits reserves while increasing the level of financial statement disclosures required. The amendments in ASU 2018-12 are scheduled to be effective for the Company beginning in 2021 as of the earliest period presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements. We anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2018-12 will have a pervasive impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and will require changes to certain of our processes, systems and controls. We are unable to determine the magnitude of its impact at this time as we are in the early stages of evaluating this recently-issued standard. In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842) In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 ("ASU 2016-13"), Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Recently-issued accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, is immaterial to our consolidated financial statements, or did not or is not expected to have a material impact on our business. Income Taxes. On December 22, 2017 the Tax Reform Act was enacted in the United States. The Tax Reform Act introduced a broad range of tax reforms affecting businesses, including corporate tax rates, business deductions, and international tax provisions. Under U.S. GAAP, the effects of new legislation are recognized upon enactment, which, for federal legislation, is the date the president signs a bill into law. Accordingly, we recognized the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act as of December 31, 2017. The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which allows companies to recognize provisional amounts for the tax effects resulting from the enactment of the Tax Reform Act for which the accounting under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes ( " ASC 740 " ) is incomplete but a reasonable estimate can be determined. Adjustments to these provisional amounts, if any, are to be completed within a measurement period not to exceed one year. Amounts recognized by the Company as of December 31, 2017 represent reasonable estimates based on obtaining, preparing, and analyzing the information necessary at that time to account for the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act under ASC 740. As of September 30, 2018, we continued the effort to finalize our analysis of the incomplete areas and make any necessary adjustments to the provisional amounts recognized as of December 31, 2017. We identified the following updates to the areas discussed in the 2017 Annual Report that were or remain incomplete and subject to adjustment when the necessary information is available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting: • The Company has finalized its decision to make a policy election to account for estimated taxes in regard to global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions o f the Tax Reform Act by recognizing such taxes as incurred. We recognized $0.9 million and $2.9 million of income tax expense for the estimated taxes incurred for global intangible low-taxed income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. • We finalized the amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act, which resulted in a $1.0 reduction to income tax expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. As part of the finalization of the amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation, we identified excess foreign tax credits that could not be used to offset the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings stipulated by the Tax Reform Act of $6.1 tax credits is fully offset by a corresponding increase to the full valuation allowance recorded for these foreign tax credits as we do not expect to be able to utilize them in the future. • No changes have been made to the provisional amount recognized as of December 31, 2017 for the timing difference for the haircut on deductibility of future policy benefit reserves prescribed in the Tax Reform Act. The provisional amount could be subject to change upon the Company’s final computation as it relates to insurance contracts identified with cash value features. Adjustments to the provisional amount are not expected to impact the Company’s effective income tax rate or net deferred tax liability position but could impact the timing of when such temporary differences are eliminated. We expect to finalize our analysis of the remaining incomplete areas and make any necessary adjustments during the fourth quarter of 2018. The Tax Reform Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and had a significant impact on our effective tax rate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We have presented the primary components impacting our effective tax rate as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 U.S. federal statutory rate 21.0 % 35.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 % Difference between foreign statutory rate and U.S. statutory rate 1.0 % (1.6 )% 1.1 % (1.7 )% Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation (0.6 )% (0.9 )% (1.0 )% (1.9 )% Tax on global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act 0.8 % — % 0.9 % — % Updates to the provisional amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act (0.9 )% — % (0.9 )% — % Other 2.3 % 1.0 % 1.8 % 1.6 % Effective tax rate 23.6 % 33.5 % 22.9 % 33.0 %

Segment and Geographical Inform

Segment and Geographical Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment and Geographical Information	(2) Segment and Geographical Information Segments. We have two primary operating segments — Term Life Insurance and Investment and Savings Products. We also have a Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment. Notable information included in profit or loss by segment was as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Revenues: Term life insurance segment $ 287,972 $ 256,240 $ 831,259 $ 729,193 Investment and savings products segment 165,269 140,058 490,151 424,239 Corporate and other distributed products segment 31,540 31,002 91,108 92,729 Total revenues $ 484,781 $ 427,300 $ 1,412,518 $ 1,246,161 Net investment income: Term life insurance segment $ 3,506 $ 2,527 $ 9,841 $ 7,177 Investment and savings products segment - - - - Corporate and other distributed products segment 17,116 17,395 49,828 52,381 Total net investment income $ 20,622 $ 19,922 $ 59,669 $ 59,558 Amortization of DAC: Term life insurance segment $ 56,904 $ 50,386 $ 164,834 $ 145,456 Investment and savings products segment 2,349 2,780 7,870 6,824 Corporate and other distributed products segment 281 218 842 814 Total amortization of DAC $ 59,534 $ 53,384 $ 173,546 $ 153,094 Non-cash share-based compensation expense: Term life insurance segment $ 646 $ 298 $ 3,612 $ 2,375 Investment and savings products segment 581 354 2,099 1,895 Corporate and other distributed products segment 758 1,172 9,667 9,221 Total non-cash share-based compensation expense $ 1,985 $ 1,824 $ 15,378 $ 13,491 Income (loss) before income taxes: Term life insurance segment $ 74,337 $ 66,543 $ 209,787 $ 177,421 Investment and savings products segment 45,052 39,050 128,265 115,854 Corporate and other distributed products segment (7,954 ) (5,393 ) (29,892 ) (21,843 ) Total income before income taxes $ 111,435 $ 100,200 $ 308,160 $ 271,432 Total assets by segment were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Assets: Term life insurance segment $ 6,356,636 $ 6,205,837 Investment and savings products segment (1) 2,548,623 2,684,717 Corporate and other distributed products segment 3,802,270 3,570,149 Total assets $ 12,707,529 $ 12,460,703 _______________ (1) Geographical Information. Results of operations by country and long-lived assets, primarily tangible assets reported in other assets in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Revenues by country: United States $ 411,998 $ 358,534 $ 1,191,502 $ 1,047,717 Canada 72,783 68,766 221,016 198,444 Total revenues $ 484,781 $ 427,300 $ 1,412,518 $ 1,246,161 Income before income taxes by country: United States $ 91,793 $ 81,040 $ 249,106 $ 216,586 Canada 19,642 19,160 59,054 54,846 Total income before income taxes $ 111,435 $ 100,200 $ 308,160 $ 271,432 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Long-lived assets by country: United States $ 25,980 $ 27,443 Canada 4,612 656 Total long-lived assets $ 30,592 $ 28,099

Investments

Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investments	(3) Investments Available-for-sale Securities. The period-end amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of available-for-sale securities were as follows: September 30, 2018 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value (In thousands) Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value: Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 12,636 $ 124 $ (108 ) $ 12,652 Foreign government 163,357 3,026 (1,741 ) 164,642 States and political subdivisions 52,945 836 (554 ) 53,227 Corporates 1,388,166 13,964 (18,151 ) 1,383,979 Residential mortgage-backed securities 182,398 2,022 (3,533 ) 180,887 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 136,166 1,800 (2,657 ) 135,309 Other asset-backed securities 80,891 151 (838 ) 80,204 Total available-for-sale securities (1) $ 2,016,559 $ 21,923 $ (27,582 ) $ 2,010,900 (1) December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value (In thousands) Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value: Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 11,577 $ 283 $ (47 ) $ 11,813 Foreign government 139,486 5,651 (648 ) 144,489 States and political subdivisions 54,714 1,554 (141 ) 56,127 Corporates 1,337,321 42,616 (3,655 ) 1,376,282 Residential mortgage-backed securities 119,672 3,583 (297 ) 122,958 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 134,003 2,299 (910 ) 135,392 Other asset-backed securities 80,553 452 (224 ) 80,781 Total fixed-maturity securities (1) 1,877,326 56,438 (5,922 ) 1,927,842 Equity securities 31,331 9,796 (20 ) 41,107 Total fixed-maturity and equity securities $ 1,908,657 $ 66,234 $ (5,942 ) $ 1,968,949 (1) All of our available-for-sale mortgage- and asset-backed securities represent variable interests in variable interest entities ("VIEs"). We are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement in these VIEs equals the carrying value of the securities. The scheduled maturity distribution of the available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio as of September 30, 2018 was as follows: Amortized cost Fair value (In thousands) Due in one year or less $ 180,096 $ 181,719 Due after one year through five years 864,618 864,694 Due after five years through 10 years 521,980 515,449 Due after 10 years 50,410 52,638 1,617,104 1,614,500 Mortgage- and asset-backed securities 399,455 396,400 Total fixed-maturity securities $ 2,016,559 $ 2,010,900 Expected maturities may differ from scheduled contractual maturities because issuers of securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments. The net effect on stockholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments was as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities including OTTI: Available-for-sale securities $ (5,659 ) $ 60,292 (1) OTTI 171 174 Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI (5,488 ) 60,466 Deferred income taxes 1,107 (20,780 ) Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI, net of tax $ (4,381 ) $ 39,686 (1) Trading Securities. The amortized cost and fair value of the securities classified as trading securities were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Fair value Amortized cost Fair value (In thousands) Fixed-maturity securities $ 15,944 $ 15,955 $ 4,801 $ 4,800 Equity securities (1) - - 1,371 1,428 Total trading securities $ 15,944 $ 15,955 $ 6,172 $ 6,228 (1) . Held-to-maturity Security. Concurrent with the execution of the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement, Vidalia Re entered into a Surplus Note Purchase Agreement (the "Surplus Note Purchase Agreement") with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America and certain of its affiliates (collectively, "Hannover Re") and a newly formed limited liability company (the "LLC") owned by a third- party service provider. Under the Surplus Note Purchase Agreement, Vidalia Re issued a surplus note (the "Surplus Note") to the LLC in exchange for a credit enhanced note from the LLC with an equal principal amount (the "LLC Note"). The principal amount of both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note will fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of reserves contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. The LLC Note is guaranteed by Hannover Re through a credit enhancement feature in exchange for a fee, which is reflected in interest expense on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. The LLC is a VIE as its owner does not have an equity investment at risk that is sufficient to permit the LLC to finance its activities without Vidalia Re or Hannover Re. The Parent Company, Primerica Life, and Vidalia Re share the power to direct the activities of the LLC with Hannover Re, but do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive any residual returns related to the LLC’s primary risks or sources of variability. Through the credit enhancement feature, Hannover Re is the ultimate risk taker in this transaction and bears the obligation to absorb the LLC’s losses in the event of a Surplus Note default in exchange for the fee. Accordingly, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the LLC and does not consolidate the LLC within its consolidated financial statements. The LLC Note is classified as a held-to-maturity debt security in the Company’s invested asset portfolio as we have the positive intent and ability to hold the security until maturity. As of September 30, 2018, the LLC Note, which was rated A+ by Fitch Ratings, had an estimated unrealized holding loss attributable to the rise in market interest rates since issuance of $17.5 million Investments on Deposit with Governmental Authorities. As required by law, we have investments on deposit with governmental authorities and banks for the protection of policyholders. The fair values of investments on deposit were $10.0 million and $11.1 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Securities Lending Transactions. We participate in securities lending transactions with broker-dealers and other financial institutions to increase investment income with minimal risk. We require minimum collateral on securities loaned equal to 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities. We accept collateral in the form of securities, which we are not able to sell or encumber, and to the extent the collateral declines in value below 100%, we require additional collateral from the borrower. Any securities collateral received is not reflected on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. We also accept collateral in the form of cash, all of which we reinvest. For loans involving unrestricted cash collateral, the collateral is reported as an asset with a corresponding liability representing our obligation to return the collateral. We continue to carry the loaned securities as invested assets on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets during the terms of the loans, and we do not report them as sales. Cash collateral received and reinvested was $70.6 million and $89.8 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Investment Income. The components of net investment income were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale) $ 20,142 $ 19,268 $ 59,173 $ 57,537 Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity) 9,592 7,231 27,018 19,037 Equity securities 482 525 1,461 1,575 Policy loans and other invested assets 391 395 1,192 1,016 Cash and cash equivalents 664 282 1,892 722 Total return on deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement (1) 1,094 869 1,882 2,671 Gross investment income 32,365 28,570 92,618 82,558 Investment expenses (2,151 ) (1,417 ) (5,931 ) (3,963 ) Investment income net of investment expenses 30,214 27,153 86,687 78,595 Interest expense on surplus note (9,592 ) (7,231 ) (27,018 ) (19,037 ) Net investment income $ 20,622 $ 19,922 $ 59,669 $ 59,558 (1) The components of net realized investment gains (losses) recognized in net income as well as details on gross realized investment gains and losses were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Net realized investment gains (losses): Gross gains from sales of available-for-sale securities $ 238 $ 1,089 $ 1,025 $ 2,153 Gross losses from sales of available-for-sale securities (944 ) (9 ) (965 ) (36 ) OTTI losses of available-for-sale securities (49 ) (526 ) (152 ) (1,221 ) Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities 739 - (668 ) - Gains (losses) from bifurcated options (110 ) (532 ) 290 (636 ) Net realized investment gains (losses) $ (126 ) $ 22 $ (470 ) $ 260 The proceeds from sales or other redemptions of available-for-sale securities were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Proceeds from sales or other redemptions $ 83,398 $ 86,502 $ 323,661 $ 229,200 The components of net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities still held as of period-end were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities $ 739 $ - $ (668 ) $ - Less: Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities sold 1 - (48 ) - Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities still held as of period-end $ 738 $ - $ (620 ) $ - Other-Than-Temporary Impairment. We conduct a review each quarter to identify and evaluate impaired investments that have indications of possible OTTI. An investment in a debt security is impaired if its fair value falls below its cost. Factors considered in determining whether an impairment is temporary include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects for the issuer, and our ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery, which may be maturity for fixed-maturity securities. Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities with a cost basis in excess of their fair values were $1,349.2 million and $529.2 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The following tables summarize, for all available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the aggregate fair value and the gross unrealized loss by length of time such securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position: September 30, 2018 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities (Dollars in thousands) Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 4,756 $ (58 ) 3 $ 4,009 $ (50 ) 5 Foreign government 65,531 (939 ) 52 28,001 (802 ) 34 States and political subdivisions 22,293 (378 ) 19 7,538 (176 ) 9 Corporates 717,844 (12,321 ) 575 131,884 (5,830 ) 119 Residential mortgage-backed securities 120,866 (2,210 ) 53 27,114 (1,323 ) 17 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 84,144 (1,375 ) 62 42,365 (1,282 ) 46 Other asset-backed securities 46,702 (617 ) 38 18,539 (221 ) 28 Total fixed-maturity securities $ 1,062,136 $ (17,898 ) $ 259,450 $ (9,684 ) December 31, 2017 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities (Dollars in thousands) Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 4,754 $ (34 ) 5 $ 2,975 $ (13 ) 3 Foreign government 40,287 (465 ) 45 7,102 (183 ) 7 States and political subdivisions 7,369 (43 ) 7 6,267 (98 ) 7 Corporates 247,613 (2,323 ) 216 39,767 (1,332 ) 43 Residential mortgage-backed securities 33,610 (263 ) 16 2,592 (34 ) 8 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 60,116 (394 ) 52 22,149 (516 ) 25 Other asset-backed securities 32,605 (121 ) 33 14,819 (103 ) 19 Total fixed-maturity securities 426,354 (3,643 ) 95,671 (2,279 ) Equity securities 1,076 (16 ) 4 170 (4 ) 2 Total fixed-maturity and equity securities $ 427,430 $ (3,659 ) $ 95,841 $ (2,283 ) As of September 30, 2018, the unrealized losses on our available-for-sale fixed-maturity security portfolio were largely caused by interest rate sensitivity and, to a lesser extent, changes in credit spreads. We believe that fluctuations caused by movement in interest rates and credit spreads have little bearing on the recoverability of our investments. We do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired because we have the ability to hold these investments until maturity or a market price recovery, and we have no present intention to dispose of them. The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities in default were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Fair value Amortized cost Fair value (In thousands) Fixed-maturity securities in default $ 3 $ 192 $ 503 $ 654 OTTI recognized in earnings on available-for-sale securities were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) OTTI on fixed-maturity securities not in default $ 49 $ 412 $ 152 $ 947 OTTI on fixed-maturity securities in default - 114 - 114 OTTI on equity securities (1) - - - 160 Total OTTI recognized in earnings $ 49 $ 526 $ 152 $ 1,221 (1) . The securities noted above were considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired due to: our intent to sell them; adverse credit events, such as news of an impending filing for bankruptcy; analyses of the issuer’s most recent financial statements or other information in which liquidity deficiencies, significant losses and large declines in capitalization were evident; or analyses of rating agency information for issuances with severe ratings downgrades that indicated a significant increase in the possibility of default. We also recognized OTTI related to invested assets held at the Parent Company that we intended to sell to fund share repurchases. OTTI recognized in earnings for available-for-sale securities were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Total OTTI related to securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely-than-not will not be required to sell: Total OTTI losses recognized $ 49 $ 668 $ 152 $ 1,203 Less portion of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - 142 - 142 OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely than-not will not be required to sell before recovery 49 526 152 1,061 OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company intends to sell or more-likely-than-not will be required to sell before recovery - - - 160 OTTI recognized in earnings $ 49 $ 526 $ 152 $ 1,221 The rollforward of the OTTI recognized in net income for all fixed-maturity securities still held as of period end was as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, beginning of period $ 3,294 $ 5,575 $ 4,346 $ 5,774 Additions for securities where no OTTI were recognized prior to the beginning of the period - 351 - 351 Additions for securities where OTTI have been recognized prior to the beginning of the period 49 175 152 710 Reductions due to sales, maturities, calls, amortization or increases in cash flows expected to be collected over the remaining life of credit-impaired securities (578 ) (699 ) (1,733 ) (1,296 ) Reductions for exchanges of securities previously impaired - (1,047 ) - (1,184 ) Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, end of period $ 2,765 $ 4,355 $ 2,765 $ 4,355 As of September 30, 2018, no cumulative impairment losses have been recognized on the LLC Note held-to-maturity security. Derivatives. Embedded conversion options associated with fixed-maturity securities are bifurcated from the fixed-maturity security host contracts and separately recognized as equity securities. The change in fair value of these bifurcated conversion options is reflected in realized investment gains (losses), including OTTI losses. The fair value of these bifurcated options was $0 and $0.9 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. We have a deferred loss related to closed forward contracts, which were settled several years ago, that were used to mitigate our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates that resulted from the net investment in our Canadian operations. The amount of deferred loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) was $26.4 million

Fair Value of Financial Instrum

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	(4) Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information. We classify and disclose all invested assets carried at fair value in one of the following three categories: • Level 1. Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices in active markets, such as exchange-traded common stocks and actively traded mutual fund investments; • Level 2. Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using industry-standard pricing methodologies, models or other valuation methodologies. Various inputs are considered in deriving the fair value of the underlying financial instrument, including interest rate and yield curves, credit spread, and foreign exchange rates. All significant inputs are observable, or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Financial instruments in this category primarily include: certain public and private corporate fixed-maturity and equity securities; government or agency securities; and certain mortgage- and asset-backed securities; and • Level 3. Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable. Level 3 consists of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on industry-standard pricing methodologies and models using significant inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, readily available market information. Valuations for this category primarily consist of non-binding broker quotes. Financial instruments in this category primarily include less liquid mortgage-and asset-backed securities and equity securities. As of each reporting period, all assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input (Level 3 being the lowest) that is significant to the fair value measurement. Significant levels of estimation and judgment are required to determine the fair value of certain of our investments. The factors influencing these estimations and judgments are subject to change in subsequent reporting periods. The estimated fair value and hierarchy classifications for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows: September 30, 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (In thousands) Fair value assets: Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ - $ 12,652 $ - $ 12,652 Foreign government - 164,642 - 164,642 States and political subdivisions - 53,227 - 53,227 Corporates 3,060 1,380,916 3 1,383,979 Residential mortgage-backed securities - 180,614 273 180,887 Commercial mortgage-backed securities - 135,309 - 135,309 Other asset-backed securities - 80,204 - 80,204 Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities 3,060 2,007,564 276 2,010,900 Equity securities 38,057 1,065 195 39,317 Trading securities - 15,955 - 15,955 Separate accounts - 2,419,997 - 2,419,997 Total fair value assets $ 41,117 $ 4,444,581 $ 471 $ 4,486,169 Fair value liabilities: Separate accounts $ - $ 2,419,997 $ - $ 2,419,997 Total fair value liabilities $ - $ 2,419,997 $ - $ 2,419,997 December 31, 2017 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (In thousands) Fair value assets: Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ - $ 11,813 $ - $ 11,813 Foreign government - 144,489 - 144,489 States and political subdivisions - 56,127 - 56,127 Corporates 3,240 1,373,039 3 1,376,282 Residential mortgage-backed securities - 122,544 414 122,958 Commercial mortgage-backed securities - 135,392 - 135,392 Other asset-backed securities - 80,781 - 80,781 Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities 3,240 1,924,185 417 1,927,842 Available-for-sale equity securities 39,026 1,931 150 41,107 Trading securities 1,428 4,800 - 6,228 Separate accounts - 2,572,872 - 2,572,872 Total fair value assets $ 43,694 $ 4,503,788 $ 567 $ 4,548,049 Fair value liabilities: Separate accounts $ - $ 2,572,872 $ - $ 2,572,872 Total fair value liabilities $ - $ 2,572,872 $ - $ 2,572,872 In assessing fair value of our investments, we use a third-party pricing service for 94% of our securities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The remaining securities are primarily thinly-traded securities, such as private placements, and are valued using models based on observable inputs on public corporate spreads having similar characteristics (e.g., sector, average life and quality rating), liquidity and yield based on quality rating, average life and U.S. Treasury yields. All observable data inputs are corroborated by independent third-party data. We also corroborate pricing information provided by our third-party pricing service by performing a review of selected securities. Our review activities include obtaining detailed information about the assumptions, inputs and methodologies used in pricing the security; documenting this information; and corroborating it by comparison to independently obtained prices and/or independently developed pricing methodologies. Furthermore, we perform internal reasonableness assessments on fair value determinations within our portfolio throughout the quarter and as of quarter-end, including pricing variance analyses and comparisons to alternative pricing sources and benchmark returns. If a fair value appears unusual relative to these assessments, we will re-examine the inputs and may challenge a fair value assessment made by the pricing service. If there is a known pricing error, we will request a reassessment by the pricing service. If the pricing service is unable to perform the reassessment on a timely basis, we will determine the appropriate price by requesting a reassessment from an alternative pricing service or other qualified source as necessary. We do not adjust quotes or prices except in a rare circumstance to resolve a known error. Because many fixed-maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis, third-party pricing services generally determine fair value using industry-standard methodologies, which vary by asset class. For corporates, governments, and agency securities, these methodologies include developing prices by incorporating available market information such as U.S. Treasury curves, benchmarking of similar securities including new issues, sector groupings, quotes from market participants and matrix pricing. Observable information is compiled and integrates relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news. Additionally, security prices are periodically back-tested to validate and/or refine models as conditions warrant. Market indicators and industry and economic events are also monitored as triggers to obtain additional data. For certain structured securities (such as mortgage-and asset-backed securities) with limited trading activity, third-party pricing services generally use industry-standard pricing methodologies that incorporate market information, such as index prices or discounting expected future cash flows based on underlying collateral, and quotes from market participants, to estimate fair value. If one or more of these input measures are not deemed observable for a particular security, the security will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Where specific market information is unavailable for certain securities, pricing models produce estimates of fair value primarily using Level 2 inputs along with certain Level 3 inputs. These models include matrix pricing. The pricing matrix uses current U.S. Treasury rates and credit spreads received from third-party sources to estimate fair value. The credit spreads incorporate the issuer’s industry- or issuer-specific credit characteristics and the security’s time to maturity, if warranted. Remaining unpriced securities are valued using an estimate of fair value based on indicative market prices that include significant unobservable inputs not based on, nor corroborated by, market information, including the utilization of non-binding broker quotes. The roll-forward of the Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was as follows: Three months ended September 30, (1) Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Level 3 assets, beginning of period $ 516 $ 1,861 $ 567 $ 8,162 Net unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (4 ) 24 (17 ) 246 Realized gains (losses) and accretion (amortization) recognized in earnings, including OTTI 2 - 47 9 Purchases - - - 1,250 Settlements (43 ) (204 ) (126 ) (645 ) Transfers into Level 3 - - - 2,439 Transfers out of Level 3 (2) - - - (9,780 ) Level 3 assets, end of period $ 471 $ 1,681 $ 471 $ 1,681 (1) Activities for investments that enter Level 3 in one quarter and exit Level 3 in another quarter within the same fiscal year are not eliminated until year-end when only the full year amounts are presented. (2) During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, transfers out of Level 3 assets primarily consisted of newly issued fixed-maturity securities in the previous quarter for which observable inputs, most notably quoted prices, used to derive valuations became readily available. We obtain independent pricing quotes based on observable inputs as of the end of the reporting period for all securities in Level 2. Those inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, market bids/offers, quoted prices for similar instruments in markets that are not active, and other relevant data. We monitor these inputs for market indicators, industry and economic events. There were no material transfers between Level 1 and Level 3 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Carrying value Estimated fair value Carrying value Estimated fair value (In thousands) Assets: Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale) $ 2,010,900 $ 2,010,900 $ 1,927,842 $ 1,927,842 Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity) (3) 891,860 874,328 737,150 779,472 Available-for-sale equity securities - - 41,107 41,107 Equity securities 39,317 39,317 - - Trading securities 15,955 15,955 6,228 6,228 Policy loans (3) 30,902 30,902 32,816 32,816 Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement (3) 226,025 226,025 217,336 217,336 Separate accounts 2,419,997 2,419,997 2,572,872 2,572,872 Liabilities: Notes payable (1) (2) $ 373,567 $ 386,505 $ 373,288 $ 400,628 Surplus note (1) (3) 891,139 874,328 736,381 778,050 Separate accounts 2,419,997 2,419,997 2,572,872 2,572,872 (1) Carrying value amounts shown are net of issuance costs (2) Classified as a level 2 fair value measurement. (3) Classified as a level 3 fair value measurement. The fair values of financial instruments presented above are estimates of the fair values at a specific point in time using various sources and methods, including market quotations and a complex matrix system that takes into account issuer sector, quality, and spreads in the current marketplace. Financial Instruments Recognized at Fair Value in the Balance Sheet. Estimated fair values of investments in available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities are principally a function of current spreads and interest rates that are corroborated by independent third-party data. Therefore, the fair values presented are indicative of amounts we could realize or settle at the respective balance sheet date. We do not necessarily intend to dispose of or liquidate such instruments prior to maturity. Trading securities are carried at fair value. Equity securities, including common and nonredeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value. Segregated funds in separate accounts are carried at the underlying value of the variable insurance contracts, which is fair value.

Reinsurance

Reinsurance	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Reinsurance	(5) Reinsurance We use reinsurance extensively, which has a significant effect on our results of operations. Reinsurance arrangements do not relieve us of our primary obligation to the policyholder. We monitor the concentration of credit risk we have with any reinsurer, as well as the financial condition of the reinsurers. Details on in-force life insurance were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (Dollars in thousands) Direct life insurance in force $ 784,286,697 $ 767,001,938 Amounts ceded to other companies (682,975,825 ) (668,446,638 ) Net life insurance in force $ 101,310,872 $ 98,555,300 Percentage of reinsured life insurance in force 87 % 87 % Reinsurance recoverables include ceded reserve balances and ceded claim liabilities. Reinsurance recoverables and financial strength ratings by reinsurer were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Reinsurance recoverables A.M. Best rating Reinsurance recoverables A.M. Best rating (In thousands) Pecan Re Inc. (1) (2) $ 2,744,439 NR $ 2,725,795 NR SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies (3) 348,661 A+ 354,458 A+ Munich Re of Malta (2) (5) 293,572 NR 302,391 NR Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. (4) 235,511 A+ 245,543 A+ American Health and Life Insurance Company (2) 171,875 B 172,956 B Munich American Reassurance Company 110,365 A+ 112,841 A+ Korean Reinsurance Company 101,886 A 102,915 A RGA Reinsurance Company 89,250 A+ 90,037 A+ Hannover Life Reassurance Company 32,386 A+ 32,250 A+ TOA Reinsurance Company 25,519 A 24,619 A All other reinsurers 42,557 - 41,368 - Reinsurance recoverables $ 4,196,021 $ 4,205,173 NR – not rated (1) (2) Includes balances ceded under coinsurance transactions of term life insurance policies that were in force as of December 31, 2009. Amounts shown are net of their share of the reinsurance recoverables from other reinsurers. (3) Includes amounts ceded to Transamerica Reinsurance Companies and fully retroceded to SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies. (4) Includes amounts ceded to Lincoln National Life Insurance and fully (5) Benefits and claims ceded to reinsurers during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $310.8 million and $964.0 million, respectively, compared to $314.8 million and $991.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

Policy Claims and Other Benefit

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Liability For Future Policy Benefits And Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense [Abstract]
Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable	(6) Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable Changes in policy claims incurred and other benefits payable were as follows: Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period $ 307,401 $ 268,136 Less reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable 322,137 323,195 Net balance, beginning of period (14,736 ) (55,059 ) Incurred related to current year 131,862 120,062 Incurred related to prior years (1) (1,755 ) 2,179 Total incurred 130,107 122,241 Claims paid related to current year, net of reinsured policy claims received (194,564 ) (190,542 ) Reinsured policy claims received related to prior years, net of claims paid 21,889 60,118 Total paid (172,675 ) (130,424 ) Foreign currency translation (166 ) 330 Net balance, end of period (57,470 ) (62,912 ) Add reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable 345,110 347,363 Balance, end of period $ 287,640 $ 284,451 (1) des the difference between our estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported as of period end and the actual incurred claims reported after period end. The liability for policy claims and other benefits payable on traditional life insurance products includes estimated unpaid claims that have been reported to us and claims incurred but not yet reported. We estimate claims incurred but not yet reported based on our historical claims activity and reported lag time experience.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	(7) Stockholders’ Equity A reconciliation of the number of shares of our common stock follows: Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Common stock, beginning of period 44,251 45,721 Shares issued for stock options exercised 33 38 Shares of common stock issued upon lapse of restricted stock units ("RSUs") 428 430 Common stock retired (1,735 ) (1,809 ) Common stock, end of period 42,977 44,380 The above reconciliation excludes RSUs and performance-based stock units (“PSUs”), which do not have voting rights. As sales restrictions on RSUs lapse and PSUs are earned, we issue common shares with voting rights. As of September 30, 2018, we had a total of 643,856 RSUs and 85,010 PSUs outstanding. The PSU outstanding balance is based on the target number of PSUs granted pursuant to the award agreements; however, the actual number of common shares issued could be higher or lower based on actual versus target performance. See Note 9 (Share-Based Transactions) for discussion of the PSU award structure. On February 6, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $275.0 million of our outstanding common stock for purchases through June 30, 2019 (the “share repurchase program”). Under the share repurchase program, we repurchased 1,658,380 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $167.3 million through September 30, 2018. Approximately $107.7 million remains available for repurchases of our outstanding common stock under the share repurchase program as of September 30, 2018.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	(8) Earnings Per Share The Company has outstanding common stock and equity awards that consist of RSUs, PSUs and stock options. The RSUs maintain non-forfeitable dividend rights that result in dividend payment obligations on a one-to-one ratio with common shares for any future dividend declarations. Unvested RSUs are deemed participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per share ("EPS") as they maintain dividend rights. We calculate EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, we allocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period. Earnings attributable to unvested participating securities, along with the corresponding share counts, are excluded from EPS as reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. In calculating basic EPS, we deduct from net income any dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to unvested RSUs and then divide the result by the weighted-average number of common shares and vested RSUs outstanding for the period. We determine the potential dilutive effect of PSUs and stock options outstanding (“contingently-issuable shares”) on EPS using the treasury-stock method. Under this method, we determine the proceeds that would be received from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period. The proceeds from the contingently-issuable shares include the remaining unrecognized compensation expense of the awards and the cash received for the exercise price on stock options. We then use the average market price of our common shares during the period the contingently-issuable shares were outstanding to determine how many shares we could repurchase with the proceeds raised from the issuance of the contingently-issuable shares. The net incremental share count issued represents the potential dilutive securities. We then reallocate earnings to common shares and vested RSUs by incorporating the increased fully-diluted share count to determine diluted EPS. The calculation of basic and diluted EPS was as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands, except per-share amounts) Basic EPS: Numerator: Net income $ 85,139 $ 66,635 $ 237,550 $ 181,813 Income attributable to unvested participating securities (485 ) (465 ) (1,405 ) (1,326 ) Net income used in calculating basic EPS $ 84,654 $ 66,170 $ 236,145 $ 180,487 Denominator: Weighted-average vested shares 43,452 45,318 44,081 45,864 Basic EPS $ 1.95 $ 1.46 $ 5.36 $ 3.94 Diluted EPS: Numerator: Net income $ 85,139 $ 66,635 $ 237,550 $ 181,813 Income attributable to unvested participating securities (484 ) (464 ) (1,401 ) (1,324 ) Net income used in calculating diluted EPS $ 84,655 $ 66,171 $ 236,149 $ 180,489 Denominator: Weighted-average vested shares 43,452 45,318 44,081 45,864 Dilutive effect of incremental shares to be issued for contingently-issuable shares 137 90 131 83 Weighted-average shares used in calculating diluted EPS 43,589 45,408 44,212 45,947 Diluted EPS $ 1.94 $ 1.46 $ 5.34 $ 3.93

Share-Based Transactions

Share-Based Transactions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Transactions	(9) Share-Based Transactions The Company has outstanding equity awards under its Omnibus Incentive Plan ("OIP"). The OIP provides for the issuance of equity awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, RSUs, PSUs, and stock payment awards, as well as cash-based awards. In addition to time-based vesting requirements, awards granted under the OIP may also be subject to specified performance criteria. Since 2010, the Company has issued equity awards under the OIP to our management (officers and other key employees), non-employees who serve on our Board of Directors, and sales force leaders. For more information on equity awards granted under the OIP, see Note 14 (Share-Based Transactions) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report. Equity awards granted to our sales force prior to January 2018 contained sales restrictions that expired over three years. Because of such sales restrictions, the fair market value of the awards incorporated an illiquidity discount reflecting the risk associated with the post-vesting restrictions. Starting in January 2018, equity awards granted under quarterly contests no longer contain sales restrictions, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate an illiquidity discount. These awards are measured at fair value at the conclusion of the quarterly contest. Awards granted before January 2018 maintain the post-vest restrictions established at the time of grant. In connection with our granting of equity awards to management and members of the Board of Directors, we recognize expense over the requisite service period of the equity award. We defer and amortize the fair value of equity awards granted to our sales force in the same manner as other deferred policy acquisition costs for those awards that are an incremental direct cost of successful acquisitions of life insurance policies that result directly from and are essential to the policy acquisition(s) and would not have been incurred had the policy acquisition(s) not occurred. All equity awards granted to our sales force that are not directly related to the successful acquisition of life insurance policies are recognized as expense as incurred, which is in the quarter granted and earned. The impacts of equity awards granted are as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Total equity awards expense recognized $ 1,985 $ 1,824 $ 15,378 $ 13,491 Quarterly incentive awards expense deferred 2,035 2,744 7,014 8,162 On February 26, 2018, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors granted the following equity awards to employees as part of the annual approval of management incentive compensation: • 94,758 • 30,579 All awards granted to employees on February 26, 2018 vest upon voluntary termination of employment by any employee who is "retirement eligible" as of his or her termination date. In order to be retirement eligible, an employee must be at least 55 years old and his or her age plus years of service with the Company must equal at least 75. The number of PSUs that will ultimately vest for a retirement eligible employee is equal to the amount calculated using the Company’s actual cumulative three-year ROAE ending on December 31, 2020, even if that employee retires prior to the completion of the three-year performance period.

Commitments and Contingent Liab

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities	(10) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities Letter of Credit (“LOC”). Peach Re maintains a credit facility agreement with Deutsche Bank (the "Credit Facility Agreement") to support certain obligations for a portion of the Regulation XXX reserves related to the Peach Re Coinsurance Agreement. Under the Credit Facility Agreement, Deutsche Bank issued a letter of credit for the benefit of Primerica Life with a term ending on January 15, 2026. At September 30, 2018, the amount of the LOC outstanding was $312.8 million. This amount will decline over the remaining term of the LOC to correspond with declines in the Regulation XXX reserves. As of September 30, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility Agreement. Further discussion on the Company’s letter of credit is included in Note 16 (Commitments and Contingent Liabilities) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report. Contingent Liabilities. The Company is involved from time to time in legal disputes, regulatory inquiries and arbitration proceedings in the normal course of business. These disputes are subject to uncertainties, including the large and/or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation. As such, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from these matters unless otherwise indicated. The Company is currently undergoing multi-state unclaimed property audits by 30 jurisdictions, currently focusing on the life insurance claims paying practices of its subsidiaries, Primerica Life and NBLIC. Other jurisdictions may pursue similar audits. The potential outcome of such audits is difficult to predict but could subject the Company to adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, settlement payments, additional payments to beneficiaries and additional escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the likelihood or the impact of additional costs or liabilities that could result from the resolution of these matters.

Other Comprehensive Income

Other Comprehensive Income	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Other Comprehensive Income	(11) Other Comprehensive Income The components of other comprehensive income (loss) ( " " Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Foreign currency translation adjustments: Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) before income taxes $ 5,009 $ 10,000 $ (9,295 ) $ 17,878 Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) - 107 - 193 Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes $ 5,009 $ 9,893 $ (9,295 ) $ 17,685 Unrealized gain (losses) on available-for-sale securities: Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period before income taxes $ (8,347 ) $ (3,725 ) $ (56,267 ) $ 7,447 Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period (1,879 ) (1,304 ) (12,033 ) 2,608 Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during period, net of income taxes (6,468 ) (2,421 ) (44,234 ) 4,839 Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities 755 (554 ) 92 (896 ) Income tax (expense) benefit on (gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI to net income 159 (194 ) 19 (314 ) Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes 596 (360 ) 73 (582 ) Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustment $ (5,872 ) $ (2,781 ) $ (44,161 ) $ 4,257

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	(12) Debt Notes Payable. At September 30, 2018, the Company had $375.0 million of publicly-traded, senior unsecured notes (the " Senior Notes " ), with an annual interest rate of 4.75% that are scheduled to mature on July 15, 2022. As of September 30, 2018, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes. No events of default occurred on the Senior Notes during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Further discussion on the Company’s Senior Notes is included in Note 10 (Debt) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report. Surplus Note. At September 30, 2018, the principal amount outstanding on the Surplus Note issued by Vidalia Re was $891.7 million, which is equal to the principal amount of the LLC Note. The principal amount of both the Surplus Note and the LLC Note will fluctuate over time to coincide with the amount of policy reserves being contractually supported under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement. Both the LLC Note and the Surplus Note mature on December 31, 2030 and bear interest at an annual interest rate of 4.50%. Based on the estimated reserves for policies issued in 2011 through 2016 that have been ceded under the Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement, the principal amounts of the Surplus Note and the LLC Note are expected to reach $1.3 billion each. The Vidalia Re Coinsurance Agreement also provides the option for Primerica Life to cede level-premium term life insurance policies issued in 2017 to Vidalia Re at a future date. This financing arrangement is non-recourse to the Parent Company and Primerica Life, meaning that neither of these companies has guaranteed the Surplus Note or is otherwise liable for reimbursement for any payments triggered by the LLC Note’s credit enhancement feature. The Parent Company has agreed to support Vidalia Re’s obligation to pay the credit enhancement fee incurred on the LLC Note. Further discussion on the Company’s Surplus Note and LLC Note are included in Note 10 (Debt) and Note 4 (Investments) to our consolidated financial statements within our 2017 Annual Report. Revolving Credit Facility. We maintain an unsecured $200.0 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") with a syndicate of commercial banks that has a scheduled termination date of December 19, 2022. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a periodic rate equal to LIBOR or the base rate, plus in either case an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility also permits the issuance of letters of credit. The applicable margins are based on our debt rating with such margins for LIBOR rate loans and letters of credit ranging from 1.125% to 1.625% per annum and for base rate loans ranging from 0.125% to 0.625% per annum. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, we incur a commitment fee that is payable quarterly in arrears and is determined by our debt rating. This commitment fee ranges from 0.125% to 0.225% per annum of the aggregate $200.0 million commitment of the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018, no amounts have been drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility and we were in compliance with its covenants. Furthermore, no events of default have occurred under the Revolving Credit Facility during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Revenue from Contracts with Cus

Revenue from Contracts with Customers	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customers	(13) Revenue from Contracts with Customers Our revenues from contracts with customers primarily include: • Commissions and fees earned for the marketing and distribution of investment and savings products underwritten by mutual fund companies and annuity providers. For purposes of ASC 606, mutual fund companies and annuity providers are considered the customers in marketing and distribution arrangements. • Fees earned for investment advisory and administrative services within our managed investments programs. • Account-based fees for transfer agent recordkeeping functions and non-bank custodial services. • Fees associated with the distribution of other third-party financial products. • Other revenue from the sale of miscellaneous products and services including monthly subscription fees from our sales representatives for access to Primerica Online ( " POL " ), our primary sales force support tool. Premiums from insurance contracts we underwrite, fees received from segregated funds insurance contracts, and income earned on our invested assets are excluded from the definition of revenues from contracts with customers in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The disaggregation of our revenues from contracts with customers were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Term Life Insurance segment revenues: Other, net $ 10,615 $ 10,655 $ 31,943 $ 30,345 Total segment revenues from contracts with customers 10,615 10,655 31,943 30,345 Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers 277,357 245,585 799,316 698,848 Total Term Life Insurance segment revenues $ 287,972 $ 256,240 $ 831,259 $ 729,193 Investment and Savings Products segment revenues: Commissions and fees Sales-based revenues $ 64,181 $ 53,488 $ 192,949 $ 174,697 Asset-based revenues 63,529 55,219 184,222 158,748 Account-based revenues 20,306 13,811 61,339 40,310 Other, net 2,464 2,480 7,223 7,056 Total segment revenues from contracts with customers 150,480 124,998 445,733 380,811 Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers (segregated funds) 14,789 15,060 44,418 43,428 Total Investment and Savings Products segment revenues $ 165,269 $ 140,058 $ 490,151 $ 424,239 Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues: Commissions and fees (1) $ 8,074 $ 7,049 $ 22,718 $ 20,028 Other, net 1,280 1,156 3,881 3,980 Total segment revenues from contracts with customers 9,354 8,205 26,599 24,008 Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers 22,186 22,797 64,509 68,721 Total Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues $ 31,540 $ 31,002 $ 91,108 $ 92,729 (1) Commissions and fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 include to performance obligations satisfied in a previous reporting period and represent the collection of variable consideration in the transaction price that had been previously constrained. We recognize revenue upon the satisfaction of the related performance obligation, unless the transaction price includes variable consideration that is constrained; in which case, we recognize revenue when the uncertainty associated with the constrained amount is subsequently resolved. Variable consideration is not treated as constrained to the extent it is probable that no significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. We have no material obligations for refunds of commission and fees on contracts with customers subsequent to completion of our performance obligation. Investment and Savings Products Marketing and Distribution Services. We receive commissions and fees from mutual fund companies and annuity providers for the marketing and distribution by our licensed sales representatives of investment and savings products underwritten by such companies and providers. We recognize the sales-based marketing and distribution revenue received from such companies and providers at the point in time our performance obligation to them is satisfied, which is the trade date. The sales-based commissions from mutual fund companies and annuity providers are known and are due at the same time our performance obligation to such mutual fund companies and annuity providers is satisfied. We also receive ongoing asset-based commissions from mutual fund companies and annuity providers each reporting period based on client asset values. We do not recognize revenue for asset-based marketing and distribution commissions until the end of each subsequent reporting period when the amount becomes known and due from mutual fund companies or annuity providers as this revenue represents variable consideration that is fully constrained at the point in time our distinct performance obligation to mutual fund companies and annuity providers is satisfied. We consider variable consideration in the form of asset-based marketing and distribution commissions to be fully constrained as the amounts we will be entitled to collect are highly uncertain and susceptible to factors outside of our control. Such factors include the market values of assets under management and the length of time investors hold their accounts. Asset-based marketing and distribution commissions recognized during the current period are almost exclusively attributable to distinct performance obligations satisfied to mutual fund companies and annuity providers in previous periods. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for marketing and distribution services of investment and savings products. Investment Advisory and Administrative Services. We provide investment advisory and administrative services over time to investors in the managed investments programs we offer. We recognize revenue as our performance obligation is satisfied over time for daily investment advisory and administrative services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of delivery. Fees for these services, which are based on a percentage of client assets in managed investment programs, become known and are charged to investors during the same reporting period in which the daily investment advisory and administrative services are performed. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for investment advisory and administrative services. Account-based Services. We provide distinct transfer agent recordkeeping services for certain mutual funds we distribute and non-bank custodial services to investors purchasing investment products we distribute through qualified retirement accounts in the United States. Fees charged for these account-based services consist primarily of a stated fee for each investment position or each qualified retirement account. Generally, our performance obligation for each account-based service arrangement is satisfied over time and is substantially the same with the same pattern of delivery. We recognize revenue to which we are entitled for each investment position or each qualified account over time based on the time-based pro-rata amount earned each reporting period. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for account-based services. Distribution of Other Third-party Financial Products. We distribute various other financial products on behalf of third parties to consumers. We receive upfront commissions and/or renewal commissions from product providers for sales of other financial product sales we have arranged. We recognize revenue at the point in time our performance obligation to product providers is satisfied, which is generally on the date the financial product is purchased by the consumer from the product provider. For certain financial products, most notably prepaid legal subscriptions and auto and homeowners’ insurance referrals, we receive ongoing renewal commissions that coincide with recurring payments received by product providers from active subscribers or policyholders. Ongoing renewal commissions represent variable consideration that will not be resolved until after the reporting period in which our performance obligation has been satisfied. We estimate variable consideration in the transaction price for these financial products (with the exception of miscellaneous products for which we expect nominal ongoing commissions) as the expected amount of commissions to be received over the life of the subscription or referred policy and apply a constraint so that it is probable that a subsequent change in estimate will not result in a significant revenue reversal. Management judgement primarily is required to determine the average life of a subscription or referred policy, which we establish based on historical information. We recognize variable consideration in excess of the amount constrained in subsequent reporting periods when the uncertainty is resolved and the excess amounts are due from the product providers. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, we recognized revenue for ongoing renewal commissions associated with other third-party financial products upon receipt of the commission revenue from the product providers, which is the point in time when the amount became fixed and determinable. Revenue for Other Services. We recognize revenue from the sale of other miscellaneous products and services, including monthly subscription fees from our sales representatives for access to POL, upon the transfer of the promised product or service. For POL subscriptions, we satisfy our performance obligation by providing subscribers access to the promised services over time during each monthly subscription period. Revenue recognized from the sale of other miscellaneous products and services becomes known and charged at the same time we satisfy the corresponding performance obligation. The adoption of ASC 606 did not result in any changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition for revenue for other services. Contract Balances. For revenue associated with ongoing renewal commissions on other distributed financial products, we record a contract asset for the amount of ongoing renewal commissions we anticipate collecting in reporting periods subsequent to the sale or referral, less amounts that are constrained in other assets. The contract asset is reduced for commissions that are billed and become due receivables from product providers during the reporting period. Activity in the contract asset account was as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2018 Nine months ended September 30, 2018 (In thousands) Balance, beginning of period $ 48,168 $ 48,533 Current period sales, net of collection of renewal commissions 657 292 Balance, end of period $ 48,825 $ 48,825 No significant estimate adjustments were made to the contract asset and no impairment losses were recognized on the contract asset during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts, most notably sales commissions to our sales representatives, are not incurred prior to the recognition of the related revenue. Therefore, we have no assets recognized for incremental costs to obtain or fulfill contracts.

Description of Business, Basi_2

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation . We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). These principles are established primarily by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect financial statement balances, revenues and expenses and cash flows, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management considers available facts and knowledge of existing circumstances when establishing the estimates included in our financial statements. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, generally consisting of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary to fairly present the balance sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), and stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year or of the results to be expected in future periods. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are sufficient to make the information not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 ("2017 Annual Report").
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates. The most significant items that involve a greater degree of accounting estimates and actuarial determinations subject to change in the future are the valuation of investments, deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC"), future policy benefit reserves and corresponding amounts recoverable from reinsurers, and income taxes. Estimates for these and other items are subject to change and are reassessed by management in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Consolidation	Consolidation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities required to be consolidated under U.S. GAAP. All material intercompany profits, transactions, and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated.
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies . All significant accounting policies remain unchanged from the 2017 Annual Report unless otherwise described.
New Accounting Principles	New Accounting Principles. In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASC 606"). ASC 606 clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue by establishing the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Insurance contracts are specifically excluded from the scope of ASC 606 and therefore revenue from our insurance product lines is not affected by the new standard. We adopted the amendments in ASC 606 during the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 resulted in an increase to retained earnings of $24.7 million or 1.7% on January 1, 2018. The adjustment recognized upon the adoption of ASC 606 primarily consisted of recognizing the after tax net impact of renewal commissions we anticipate collecting in future periods less the portion we pay to our agents for the sale of prepaid legal service subscriptions and the referral of auto and homeowners’ insurance policies in our Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment made prior to January 1, 2018. Specifically, the cumulative effect adjustment recognized as of January 1, 2018 increased the following balance sheet line items: January 1, 2018 (In thousands) Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables $ 45,730 Other liabilities 14,400 Income taxes (Liabilities) 6,647 Retained earnings 24,683 After the initial product sale or referral, we earn commissions from product providers for our distribution services as clients pay ongoing subscription fees for prepaid legal service subscriptions or premiums on auto and homeowners’ insurance policies purchased through our referral channel. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, we recognized commission revenue upon receipt of the commission revenue from the product providers, which is the point in time when revenue becomes fixed and determinable, as the commissions earned are dependent on our clients’ future renewal activity. After the adoption of ASC 606, we recognize commission revenue equal to the expected value of the commissions we will earn over the life of the subscription or the referred policy when that initial subscription sale or policy referral occurs, which coincides with when we satisfy our performance obligation to the product provider. The application of ASC 606 did not result in any material changes in the line items within our statements of income, comprehensive income (loss) and stockholders’ equity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or our statement of cash flows during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared with guidance in effect prior to the adoption of ASC 606, primarily due to the immaterial amount of revenue associated with these product distributions as well as the offsetting effect of replacing revenue for commissions received from existing sales prior to adopting ASC 606 with revenue for future estimated commissions from new sales subsequent to adopting ASC 606. Likewise, the application of ASC 606 as compared with guidance in effect prior to the adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on the line items within our balance sheet between January 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018. In addition, no changes in the timing or measurement of revenue recognition have been made in any of our other product lines as discussed further in Note 13 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers). In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10) Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Future Application of Accounting Standards. In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944) — Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts ("ASU 2018-12"). The amendments in this update change accounting guidance for insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts, including term life insurance. ASU 2018-12 requires companies that issue long-duration insurance contracts to update assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits, including mortality and persistency, at least annually instead of locking those assumptions at contract inception and reflecting differences in assumptions and actual performance as the experience occurs. ASU 2018-12 also includes changes to how insurance companies that issue long-duration contracts amortize DAC and determine and update the discount rate assumptions used in measuring future policy benefits reserves while increasing the level of financial statement disclosures required. The amendments in ASU 2018-12 are scheduled to be effective for the Company beginning in 2021 as of the earliest period presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements. We anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2018-12 will have a pervasive impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and will require changes to certain of our processes, systems and controls. We are unable to determine the magnitude of its impact at this time as we are in the early stages of evaluating this recently-issued standard. In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842) In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 ("ASU 2016-13"), Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Recently-issued accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, is immaterial to our consolidated financial statements, or did not or is not expected to have a material impact on our business.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes. On December 22, 2017 the Tax Reform Act was enacted in the United States. The Tax Reform Act introduced a broad range of tax reforms affecting businesses, including corporate tax rates, business deductions, and international tax provisions. Under U.S. GAAP, the effects of new legislation are recognized upon enactment, which, for federal legislation, is the date the president signs a bill into law. Accordingly, we recognized the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act as of December 31, 2017. The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which allows companies to recognize provisional amounts for the tax effects resulting from the enactment of the Tax Reform Act for which the accounting under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes ( " ASC 740 " ) is incomplete but a reasonable estimate can be determined. Adjustments to these provisional amounts, if any, are to be completed within a measurement period not to exceed one year. Amounts recognized by the Company as of December 31, 2017 represent reasonable estimates based on obtaining, preparing, and analyzing the information necessary at that time to account for the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act under ASC 740. As of September 30, 2018, we continued the effort to finalize our analysis of the incomplete areas and make any necessary adjustments to the provisional amounts recognized as of December 31, 2017. We identified the following updates to the areas discussed in the 2017 Annual Report that were or remain incomplete and subject to adjustment when the necessary information is available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting: • The Company has finalized its decision to make a policy election to account for estimated taxes in regard to global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions o f the Tax Reform Act by recognizing such taxes as incurred. We recognized $0.9 million and $2.9 million of income tax expense for the estimated taxes incurred for global intangible low-taxed income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. • We finalized the amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act, which resulted in a $1.0 reduction to income tax expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. As part of the finalization of the amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation, we identified excess foreign tax credits that could not be used to offset the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings stipulated by the Tax Reform Act of $6.1 tax credits is fully offset by a corresponding increase to the full valuation allowance recorded for these foreign tax credits as we do not expect to be able to utilize them in the future. • No changes have been made to the provisional amount recognized as of December 31, 2017 for the timing difference for the haircut on deductibility of future policy benefit reserves prescribed in the Tax Reform Act. The provisional amount could be subject to change upon the Company’s final computation as it relates to insurance contracts identified with cash value features. Adjustments to the provisional amount are not expected to impact the Company’s effective income tax rate or net deferred tax liability position but could impact the timing of when such temporary differences are eliminated. We expect to finalize our analysis of the remaining incomplete areas and make any necessary adjustments during the fourth quarter of 2018. The Tax Reform Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and had a significant impact on our effective tax rate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We have presented the primary components impacting our effective tax rate as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 U.S. federal statutory rate 21.0 % 35.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 % Difference between foreign statutory rate and U.S. statutory rate 1.0 % (1.6 )% 1.1 % (1.7 )% Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation (0.6 )% (0.9 )% (1.0 )% (1.9 )% Tax on global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act 0.8 % — % 0.9 % — % Updates to the provisional amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act (0.9 )% — % (0.9 )% — % Other 2.3 % 1.0 % 1.8 % 1.6 % Effective tax rate 23.6 % 33.5 % 22.9 % 33.0 %

Description of Business, Basi_3

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	The Tax Reform Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and had a significant impact on our effective tax rate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We have presented the primary components impacting our effective tax rate as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 U.S. federal statutory rate 21.0 % 35.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 % Difference between foreign statutory rate and U.S. statutory rate 1.0 % (1.6 )% 1.1 % (1.7 )% Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation (0.6 )% (0.9 )% (1.0 )% (1.9 )% Tax on global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act 0.8 % — % 0.9 % — % Updates to the provisional amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act (0.9 )% — % (0.9 )% — % Other 2.3 % 1.0 % 1.8 % 1.6 % Effective tax rate 23.6 % 33.5 % 22.9 % 33.0 %
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Schedule of Cumulative Effect Adjustment of Balance Sheet	Specifically, the cumulative effect adjustment recognized as of January 1, 2018 increased the following balance sheet line items: January 1, 2018 (In thousands) Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables $ 45,730 Other liabilities 14,400 Income taxes (Liabilities) 6,647 Retained earnings 24,683

Segment and Geographical Info_2

Segment and Geographical Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Summary of Assets and Profit or Loss by Segment	Notable information included in profit or loss by segment was as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Revenues: Term life insurance segment $ 287,972 $ 256,240 $ 831,259 $ 729,193 Investment and savings products segment 165,269 140,058 490,151 424,239 Corporate and other distributed products segment 31,540 31,002 91,108 92,729 Total revenues $ 484,781 $ 427,300 $ 1,412,518 $ 1,246,161 Net investment income: Term life insurance segment $ 3,506 $ 2,527 $ 9,841 $ 7,177 Investment and savings products segment - - - - Corporate and other distributed products segment 17,116 17,395 49,828 52,381 Total net investment income $ 20,622 $ 19,922 $ 59,669 $ 59,558 Amortization of DAC: Term life insurance segment $ 56,904 $ 50,386 $ 164,834 $ 145,456 Investment and savings products segment 2,349 2,780 7,870 6,824 Corporate and other distributed products segment 281 218 842 814 Total amortization of DAC $ 59,534 $ 53,384 $ 173,546 $ 153,094 Non-cash share-based compensation expense: Term life insurance segment $ 646 $ 298 $ 3,612 $ 2,375 Investment and savings products segment 581 354 2,099 1,895 Corporate and other distributed products segment 758 1,172 9,667 9,221 Total non-cash share-based compensation expense $ 1,985 $ 1,824 $ 15,378 $ 13,491 Income (loss) before income taxes: Term life insurance segment $ 74,337 $ 66,543 $ 209,787 $ 177,421 Investment and savings products segment 45,052 39,050 128,265 115,854 Corporate and other distributed products segment (7,954 ) (5,393 ) (29,892 ) (21,843 ) Total income before income taxes $ 111,435 $ 100,200 $ 308,160 $ 271,432
Total Assets by Segment	Total assets by segment were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Assets: Term life insurance segment $ 6,356,636 $ 6,205,837 Investment and savings products segment (1) 2,548,623 2,684,717 Corporate and other distributed products segment 3,802,270 3,570,149 Total assets $ 12,707,529 $ 12,460,703 _______________ (1)
Long Lived Assets and Operations by Country	Geographical Information. Results of operations by country and long-lived assets, primarily tangible assets reported in other assets in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Revenues by country: United States $ 411,998 $ 358,534 $ 1,191,502 $ 1,047,717 Canada 72,783 68,766 221,016 198,444 Total revenues $ 484,781 $ 427,300 $ 1,412,518 $ 1,246,161 Income before income taxes by country: United States $ 91,793 $ 81,040 $ 249,106 $ 216,586 Canada 19,642 19,160 59,054 54,846 Total income before income taxes $ 111,435 $ 100,200 $ 308,160 $ 271,432 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Long-lived assets by country: United States $ 25,980 $ 27,443 Canada 4,612 656 Total long-lived assets $ 30,592 $ 28,099

Investments (Tables)

Investments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Schedule of Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Line Items]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities	The period-end amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of available-for-sale securities were as follows: September 30, 2018 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value (In thousands) Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value: Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 12,636 $ 124 $ (108 ) $ 12,652 Foreign government 163,357 3,026 (1,741 ) 164,642 States and political subdivisions 52,945 836 (554 ) 53,227 Corporates 1,388,166 13,964 (18,151 ) 1,383,979 Residential mortgage-backed securities 182,398 2,022 (3,533 ) 180,887 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 136,166 1,800 (2,657 ) 135,309 Other asset-backed securities 80,891 151 (838 ) 80,204 Total available-for-sale securities (1) $ 2,016,559 $ 21,923 $ (27,582 ) $ 2,010,900 (1) December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value (In thousands) Securities available-for-sale, carried at fair value: Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 11,577 $ 283 $ (47 ) $ 11,813 Foreign government 139,486 5,651 (648 ) 144,489 States and political subdivisions 54,714 1,554 (141 ) 56,127 Corporates 1,337,321 42,616 (3,655 ) 1,376,282 Residential mortgage-backed securities 119,672 3,583 (297 ) 122,958 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 134,003 2,299 (910 ) 135,392 Other asset-backed securities 80,553 452 (224 ) 80,781 Total fixed-maturity securities (1) 1,877,326 56,438 (5,922 ) 1,927,842 Equity securities 31,331 9,796 (20 ) 41,107 Total fixed-maturity and equity securities $ 1,908,657 $ 66,234 $ (5,942 ) $ 1,968,949 (1)
Fixed-maturity Securities Classified by Contractual Maturity Date	The scheduled maturity distribution of the available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio as of September 30, 2018 was as follows: Amortized cost Fair value (In thousands) Due in one year or less $ 180,096 $ 181,719 Due after one year through five years 864,618 864,694 Due after five years through 10 years 521,980 515,449 Due after 10 years 50,410 52,638 1,617,104 1,614,500 Mortgage- and asset-backed securities 399,455 396,400 Total fixed-maturity securities $ 2,016,559 $ 2,010,900
Net Effect on Stockholders' Equity of Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available-for-sale Securities	The net effect on stockholders’ equity of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments was as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities including OTTI: Available-for-sale securities $ (5,659 ) $ 60,292 (1) OTTI 171 174 Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI (5,488 ) 60,466 Deferred income taxes 1,107 (20,780 ) Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI, net of tax $ (4,381 ) $ 39,686 (1)
Amortized Costs and Fair Value of Securities Classified as Trading Securities	The amortized cost and fair value of the securities classified as trading securities were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Fair value Amortized cost Fair value (In thousands) Fixed-maturity securities $ 15,944 $ 15,955 $ 4,801 $ 4,800 Equity securities (1) - - 1,371 1,428 Total trading securities $ 15,944 $ 15,955 $ 6,172 $ 6,228 (1) .
Net Investment Income	Investment Income. The components of net investment income were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale) $ 20,142 $ 19,268 $ 59,173 $ 57,537 Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity) 9,592 7,231 27,018 19,037 Equity securities 482 525 1,461 1,575 Policy loans and other invested assets 391 395 1,192 1,016 Cash and cash equivalents 664 282 1,892 722 Total return on deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement (1) 1,094 869 1,882 2,671 Gross investment income 32,365 28,570 92,618 82,558 Investment expenses (2,151 ) (1,417 ) (5,931 ) (3,963 ) Investment income net of investment expenses 30,214 27,153 86,687 78,595 Interest expense on surplus note (9,592 ) (7,231 ) (27,018 ) (19,037 ) Net investment income $ 20,622 $ 19,922 $ 59,669 $ 59,558 (1)
Schedule of Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses Recognized in Net Income	The components of net realized investment gains (losses) recognized in net income as well as details on gross realized investment gains and losses were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Net realized investment gains (losses): Gross gains from sales of available-for-sale securities $ 238 $ 1,089 $ 1,025 $ 2,153 Gross losses from sales of available-for-sale securities (944 ) (9 ) (965 ) (36 ) OTTI losses of available-for-sale securities (49 ) (526 ) (152 ) (1,221 ) Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities 739 - (668 ) - Gains (losses) from bifurcated options (110 ) (532 ) 290 (636 ) Net realized investment gains (losses) $ (126 ) $ 22 $ (470 ) $ 260
Schedule of Proceeds from Sales or Other Redemptions of Available-for-Sale Securities	The proceeds from sales or other redemptions of available-for-sale securities were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Proceeds from sales or other redemptions $ 83,398 $ 86,502 $ 323,661 $ 229,200
Schedule of Unrealized Net Gains (Losses) Recognized in NI on Equity Securities Still Held at Period-End	The components of net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities still held as of period-end were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities $ 739 $ - $ (668 ) $ - Less: Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities sold 1 - (48 ) - Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities still held as of period-end $ 738 $ - $ (620 ) $ -
Schedule of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position	The following tables summarize, for all available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the aggregate fair value and the gross unrealized loss by length of time such securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position: September 30, 2018 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities (Dollars in thousands) Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 4,756 $ (58 ) 3 $ 4,009 $ (50 ) 5 Foreign government 65,531 (939 ) 52 28,001 (802 ) 34 States and political subdivisions 22,293 (378 ) 19 7,538 (176 ) 9 Corporates 717,844 (12,321 ) 575 131,884 (5,830 ) 119 Residential mortgage-backed securities 120,866 (2,210 ) 53 27,114 (1,323 ) 17 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 84,144 (1,375 ) 62 42,365 (1,282 ) 46 Other asset-backed securities 46,702 (617 ) 38 18,539 (221 ) 28 Total fixed-maturity securities $ 1,062,136 $ (17,898 ) $ 259,450 $ (9,684 ) December 31, 2017 Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities Fair value Unrealized losses Number of securities (Dollars in thousands) Fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ 4,754 $ (34 ) 5 $ 2,975 $ (13 ) 3 Foreign government 40,287 (465 ) 45 7,102 (183 ) 7 States and political subdivisions 7,369 (43 ) 7 6,267 (98 ) 7 Corporates 247,613 (2,323 ) 216 39,767 (1,332 ) 43 Residential mortgage-backed securities 33,610 (263 ) 16 2,592 (34 ) 8 Commercial mortgage-backed securities 60,116 (394 ) 52 22,149 (516 ) 25 Other asset-backed securities 32,605 (121 ) 33 14,819 (103 ) 19 Total fixed-maturity securities 426,354 (3,643 ) 95,671 (2,279 ) Equity securities 1,076 (16 ) 4 170 (4 ) 2 Total fixed-maturity and equity securities $ 427,430 $ (3,659 ) $ 95,841 $ (2,283 ) As of September 30, 2018, the unrealized losses on our available-for-sale fixed-maturity security portfolio were largely caused by interest rate sensitivity and, to a lesser extent, changes in credit spreads. We believe that fluctuations caused by movement in interest rates and credit spreads have little bearing on the recoverability of our investments. We do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired because we have the ability to hold these investments until maturity or a market price recovery, and we have no present intention to dispose of them.
Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Available-for-sale Fixed-maturity Securities in Default	The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities in default were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Fair value Amortized cost Fair value (In thousands) Fixed-maturity securities in default $ 3 $ 192 $ 503 $ 654
OTTI in Earnings on Available-for-sale Securities	OTTI recognized in earnings on available-for-sale securities were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) OTTI on fixed-maturity securities not in default $ 49 $ 412 $ 152 $ 947 OTTI on fixed-maturity securities in default - 114 - 114 OTTI on equity securities (1) - - - 160 Total OTTI recognized in earnings $ 49 $ 526 $ 152 $ 1,221 (1) .
Schedule of OTTI Recognized in Earnings for Available-for-sale Securities	The rollforward of the OTTI recognized in net income for all fixed-maturity securities still held as of period end was as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, beginning of period $ 3,294 $ 5,575 $ 4,346 $ 5,774 Additions for securities where no OTTI were recognized prior to the beginning of the period - 351 - 351 Additions for securities where OTTI have been recognized prior to the beginning of the period 49 175 152 710 Reductions due to sales, maturities, calls, amortization or increases in cash flows expected to be collected over the remaining life of credit-impaired securities (578 ) (699 ) (1,733 ) (1,296 ) Reductions for exchanges of securities previously impaired - (1,047 ) - (1,184 ) Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, end of period $ 2,765 $ 4,355 $ 2,765 $ 4,355
Available-for-Sale [Member]
Schedule of Investments Debt and Equity Securities [Line Items]
Schedule of OTTI Recognized in Earnings for Available-for-sale Securities	OTTI recognized in earnings for available-for-sale securities were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Total OTTI related to securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely-than-not will not be required to sell: Total OTTI losses recognized $ 49 $ 668 $ 152 $ 1,203 Less portion of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) - 142 - 142 OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely than-not will not be required to sell before recovery 49 526 152 1,061 OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company intends to sell or more-likely-than-not will be required to sell before recovery - - - 160 OTTI recognized in earnings $ 49 $ 526 $ 152 $ 1,221

Fair Value of Financial Instr_2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	The estimated fair value and hierarchy classifications for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows: September 30, 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (In thousands) Fair value assets: Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ - $ 12,652 $ - $ 12,652 Foreign government - 164,642 - 164,642 States and political subdivisions - 53,227 - 53,227 Corporates 3,060 1,380,916 3 1,383,979 Residential mortgage-backed securities - 180,614 273 180,887 Commercial mortgage-backed securities - 135,309 - 135,309 Other asset-backed securities - 80,204 - 80,204 Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities 3,060 2,007,564 276 2,010,900 Equity securities 38,057 1,065 195 39,317 Trading securities - 15,955 - 15,955 Separate accounts - 2,419,997 - 2,419,997 Total fair value assets $ 41,117 $ 4,444,581 $ 471 $ 4,486,169 Fair value liabilities: Separate accounts $ - $ 2,419,997 $ - $ 2,419,997 Total fair value liabilities $ - $ 2,419,997 $ - $ 2,419,997 December 31, 2017 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (In thousands) Fair value assets: Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities: U.S. government and agencies $ - $ 11,813 $ - $ 11,813 Foreign government - 144,489 - 144,489 States and political subdivisions - 56,127 - 56,127 Corporates 3,240 1,373,039 3 1,376,282 Residential mortgage-backed securities - 122,544 414 122,958 Commercial mortgage-backed securities - 135,392 - 135,392 Other asset-backed securities - 80,781 - 80,781 Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities 3,240 1,924,185 417 1,927,842 Available-for-sale equity securities 39,026 1,931 150 41,107 Trading securities 1,428 4,800 - 6,228 Separate accounts - 2,572,872 - 2,572,872 Total fair value assets $ 43,694 $ 4,503,788 $ 567 $ 4,548,049 Fair value liabilities: Separate accounts $ - $ 2,572,872 $ - $ 2,572,872 Total fair value liabilities $ - $ 2,572,872 $ - $ 2,572,872
Roll forward of Level 3 Assets Measured on Recurring Basis	The roll-forward of the Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was as follows: Three months ended September 30, (1) Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Level 3 assets, beginning of period $ 516 $ 1,861 $ 567 $ 8,162 Net unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (4 ) 24 (17 ) 246 Realized gains (losses) and accretion (amortization) recognized in earnings, including OTTI 2 - 47 9 Purchases - - - 1,250 Settlements (43 ) (204 ) (126 ) (645 ) Transfers into Level 3 - - - 2,439 Transfers out of Level 3 (2) - - - (9,780 ) Level 3 assets, end of period $ 471 $ 1,681 $ 471 $ 1,681 (1) Activities for investments that enter Level 3 in one quarter and exit Level 3 in another quarter within the same fiscal year are not eliminated until year-end when only the full year amounts are presented. (2) During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, transfers out of Level 3 assets primarily consisted of newly issued fixed-maturity securities in the previous quarter for which observable inputs, most notably quoted prices, used to derive valuations became readily available.
Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments	The carrying values and estimated fair values of our financial instruments were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Carrying value Estimated fair value Carrying value Estimated fair value (In thousands) Assets: Fixed-maturity securities (available-for-sale) $ 2,010,900 $ 2,010,900 $ 1,927,842 $ 1,927,842 Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity) (3) 891,860 874,328 737,150 779,472 Available-for-sale equity securities - - 41,107 41,107 Equity securities 39,317 39,317 - - Trading securities 15,955 15,955 6,228 6,228 Policy loans (3) 30,902 30,902 32,816 32,816 Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement (3) 226,025 226,025 217,336 217,336 Separate accounts 2,419,997 2,419,997 2,572,872 2,572,872 Liabilities: Notes payable (1) (2) $ 373,567 $ 386,505 $ 373,288 $ 400,628 Surplus note (1) (3) 891,139 874,328 736,381 778,050 Separate accounts 2,419,997 2,419,997 2,572,872 2,572,872 (1) Carrying value amounts shown are net of issuance costs (2) Classified as a level 2 fair value measurement. (3) Classified as a level 3 fair value measurement.

Reinsurance (Tables)

Reinsurance (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
In-force Life Insurance	Details on in-force life insurance were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (Dollars in thousands) Direct life insurance in force $ 784,286,697 $ 767,001,938 Amounts ceded to other companies (682,975,825 ) (668,446,638 ) Net life insurance in force $ 101,310,872 $ 98,555,300 Percentage of reinsured life insurance in force 87 % 87 %
Reinsurance Recoverables and Financial Strength Ratings by Reinsurer	Reinsurance recoverables include ceded reserve balances and ceded claim liabilities. Reinsurance recoverables and financial strength ratings by reinsurer were as follows: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Reinsurance recoverables A.M. Best rating Reinsurance recoverables A.M. Best rating (In thousands) Pecan Re Inc. (1) (2) $ 2,744,439 NR $ 2,725,795 NR SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies (3) 348,661 A+ 354,458 A+ Munich Re of Malta (2) (5) 293,572 NR 302,391 NR Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. (4) 235,511 A+ 245,543 A+ American Health and Life Insurance Company (2) 171,875 B 172,956 B Munich American Reassurance Company 110,365 A+ 112,841 A+ Korean Reinsurance Company 101,886 A 102,915 A RGA Reinsurance Company 89,250 A+ 90,037 A+ Hannover Life Reassurance Company 32,386 A+ 32,250 A+ TOA Reinsurance Company 25,519 A 24,619 A All other reinsurers 42,557 - 41,368 - Reinsurance recoverables $ 4,196,021 $ 4,205,173 NR – not rated (1) (2) Includes balances ceded under coinsurance transactions of term life insurance policies that were in force as of December 31, 2009. Amounts shown are net of their share of the reinsurance recoverables from other reinsurers. (3) Includes amounts ceded to Transamerica Reinsurance Companies and fully retroceded to SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies. (4) Includes amounts ceded to Lincoln National Life Insurance and fully (5)

Policy Claims and Other Benef_2

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Liability For Future Policy Benefits And Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense [Abstract]
Schedule of Liability For Future Policy Benefits and Unpaid Claims	Changes in policy claims incurred and other benefits payable were as follows: Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period $ 307,401 $ 268,136 Less reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable 322,137 323,195 Net balance, beginning of period (14,736 ) (55,059 ) Incurred related to current year 131,862 120,062 Incurred related to prior years (1) (1,755 ) 2,179 Total incurred 130,107 122,241 Claims paid related to current year, net of reinsured policy claims received (194,564 ) (190,542 ) Reinsured policy claims received related to prior years, net of claims paid 21,889 60,118 Total paid (172,675 ) (130,424 ) Foreign currency translation (166 ) 330 Net balance, end of period (57,470 ) (62,912 ) Add reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable 345,110 347,363 Balance, end of period $ 287,640 $ 284,451 (1) des the difference between our estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported as of period end and the actual incurred claims reported after period end.

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Number of Shares of Common Stock	A reconciliation of the number of shares of our common stock follows: Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Common stock, beginning of period 44,251 45,721 Shares issued for stock options exercised 33 38 Shares of common stock issued upon lapse of restricted stock units ("RSUs") 428 430 Common stock retired (1,735 ) (1,809 ) Common stock, end of period 42,977 44,380

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	The calculation of basic and diluted EPS was as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands, except per-share amounts) Basic EPS: Numerator: Net income $ 85,139 $ 66,635 $ 237,550 $ 181,813 Income attributable to unvested participating securities (485 ) (465 ) (1,405 ) (1,326 ) Net income used in calculating basic EPS $ 84,654 $ 66,170 $ 236,145 $ 180,487 Denominator: Weighted-average vested shares 43,452 45,318 44,081 45,864 Basic EPS $ 1.95 $ 1.46 $ 5.36 $ 3.94 Diluted EPS: Numerator: Net income $ 85,139 $ 66,635 $ 237,550 $ 181,813 Income attributable to unvested participating securities (484 ) (464 ) (1,401 ) (1,324 ) Net income used in calculating diluted EPS $ 84,655 $ 66,171 $ 236,149 $ 180,489 Denominator: Weighted-average vested shares 43,452 45,318 44,081 45,864 Dilutive effect of incremental shares to be issued for contingently-issuable shares 137 90 131 83 Weighted-average shares used in calculating diluted EPS 43,589 45,408 44,212 45,947 Diluted EPS $ 1.94 $ 1.46 $ 5.34 $ 3.93

Share-Based Transactions (Table

Share-Based Transactions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Impacts of Equity Awards Granted	The impacts of equity awards granted are as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Total equity awards expense recognized $ 1,985 $ 1,824 $ 15,378 $ 13,491 Quarterly incentive awards expense deferred 2,035 2,744 7,014 8,162

Other Comprehensive Income (Tab

Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The components of other comprehensive income (loss) ( " " Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Foreign currency translation adjustments: Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) before income taxes $ 5,009 $ 10,000 $ (9,295 ) $ 17,878 Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) - 107 - 193 Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes $ 5,009 $ 9,893 $ (9,295 ) $ 17,685 Unrealized gain (losses) on available-for-sale securities: Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period before income taxes $ (8,347 ) $ (3,725 ) $ (56,267 ) $ 7,447 Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period (1,879 ) (1,304 ) (12,033 ) 2,608 Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during period, net of income taxes (6,468 ) (2,421 ) (44,234 ) 4,839 Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities 755 (554 ) 92 (896 ) Income tax (expense) benefit on (gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI to net income 159 (194 ) 19 (314 ) Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes 596 (360 ) 73 (582 ) Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustment $ (5,872 ) $ (2,781 ) $ (44,161 ) $ 4,257

Revenue from Contracts with C_2

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]
Summary of Disaggregation of Revenues from Contracts	The disaggregation of our revenues from contracts with customers were as follows: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (In thousands) Term Life Insurance segment revenues: Other, net $ 10,615 $ 10,655 $ 31,943 $ 30,345 Total segment revenues from contracts with customers 10,615 10,655 31,943 30,345 Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers 277,357 245,585 799,316 698,848 Total Term Life Insurance segment revenues $ 287,972 $ 256,240 $ 831,259 $ 729,193 Investment and Savings Products segment revenues: Commissions and fees Sales-based revenues $ 64,181 $ 53,488 $ 192,949 $ 174,697 Asset-based revenues 63,529 55,219 184,222 158,748 Account-based revenues 20,306 13,811 61,339 40,310 Other, net 2,464 2,480 7,223 7,056 Total segment revenues from contracts with customers 150,480 124,998 445,733 380,811 Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers (segregated funds) 14,789 15,060 44,418 43,428 Total Investment and Savings Products segment revenues $ 165,269 $ 140,058 $ 490,151 $ 424,239 Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues: Commissions and fees (1) $ 8,074 $ 7,049 $ 22,718 $ 20,028 Other, net 1,280 1,156 3,881 3,980 Total segment revenues from contracts with customers 9,354 8,205 26,599 24,008 Revenues from sources other than contracts with customers 22,186 22,797 64,509 68,721 Total Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment revenues $ 31,540 $ 31,002 $ 91,108 $ 92,729 (1) Commissions and fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 include to performance obligations satisfied in a previous reporting period and represent the collection of variable consideration in the transaction price that had been previously constrained.
Summary of Contract Asset Account	Activity in the contract asset account was as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2018 Nine months ended September 30, 2018 (In thousands) Balance, beginning of period $ 48,168 $ 48,533 Current period sales, net of collection of renewal commissions 657 292 Balance, end of period $ 48,825 $ 48,825

Description of Business, Basi_4

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 02, 2018
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Pre-tax gains and losses in realized investment gains (losses)	$ 739			$ (668)
Equity securities, carrying value	34,842			34,842		$ 0
Tax cuts and jobs act, incomplete accounting, estimated income tax expense	900			2,900
Tax cuts and jobs act, incomplete accounting, change in income tax expense related to deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings	$ 1,000			$ 2,700
Tax cuts and jobs act, incomplete accounting, change in provisional income tax expense related to deemed repatriation of foreign earnings						$ 6,100
Federal Statutory Tax Rate	21.00%		35.00%	21.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Maximum [Member]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Provisional information accounting incomplete measurement period				1 year
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of accounting standard adoption on retained earnings							$ 24,700
Percentage of cumulative effect of accounting standard adoption on retained earnings							1.70%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of accounting standard adoption on increase retained earnings		$ 7,700
Decrease accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		7,700
Pre-tax gains and losses in realized investment gains (losses)	$ 700			$ (700)
Equity securities, carrying value	$ 1,400			$ 1,400
Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 [Member]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Decrease to retained earnings due to accounting standard adoption to reclassify stranded tax effects from Tax Reform Act		$ 7,800
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Anticipated impact of adopting result in immaterial increase to assets and liabilities				1.00%

Description of Business, Basi_5

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Cumulative Effect Adjustment of Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables	$ 295,885		$ 229,522
Other liabilities	511,623		451,398
Income taxes	182,240		177,468
Retained earnings	$ 1,452,841		$ 1,375,090
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Agent balances, due premiums and other receivables		$ 45,730
Other liabilities		14,400
Income taxes		6,647
Retained earnings		$ 24,683

Description of Business, Basi_6

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory rate	21.00%	35.00%	21.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Difference between foreign statutory rate and U.S. statutory rate	1.00%	(1.60%)	1.10%	(1.70%)
Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation	(0.60%)	(0.90%)	(1.00%)	(1.90%)
Tax on global intangible low-taxed income under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act	0.80%		0.90%
Updates to the provisional amount recognized for the one-time mandatory deemed repatriation of Canadian earnings required by the Tax Reform Act	(0.90%)		(0.90%)
Other	2.30%	1.00%	1.80%	1.60%
Effective tax rate	23.60%	33.50%	22.90%	33.00%

Segment and Geographical Info_3

Segment and Geographical Information - Narrative (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	2

Segment and Geographical Info_4

Segment and Geographical Information - Summary of Assets and Profit or Loss by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 484,781	$ 427,300	$ 1,412,518	$ 1,246,161
Net investment income		20,622	19,922	59,669	59,558
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		59,534	53,384	173,546	153,094
Share-based compensation		1,985	1,824	15,378	13,491
Income (loss) before income taxes		111,435	100,200	308,160	271,432
Assets		12,707,529		12,707,529		$ 12,460,703
Term Life Insurance Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		287,972	256,240	831,259	729,193
Net investment income		3,506	2,527	9,841	7,177
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		56,904	50,386	164,834	145,456
Share-based compensation		646	298	3,612	2,375
Income (loss) before income taxes		74,337	66,543	209,787	177,421
Assets		6,356,636		6,356,636		6,205,837
Investment and Savings Products Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		165,269	140,058	490,151	424,239
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		2,349	2,780	7,870	6,824
Share-based compensation		581	354	2,099	1,895
Income (loss) before income taxes		45,052	39,050	128,265	115,854
Assets	[1]	2,548,623		2,548,623		2,684,717
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		31,540	31,002	91,108	92,729
Net investment income		17,116	17,395	49,828	52,381
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		281	218	842	814
Share-based compensation		758	1,172	9,667	9,221
Income (loss) before income taxes		(7,954)	$ (5,393)	(29,892)	$ (21,843)
Assets		$ 3,802,270		$ 3,802,270		$ 3,570,149
[1]	The Investment and Savings Products segment includes assets held in separate accounts. Excluding separate accounts, the Investment and Savings Products segment assets were $128.7 million and $112.0 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Segment and Geographical Info_5

Segment and Geographical Information - Summary of Assets and Profit or Loss by Segment (Parenthetical) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investment and Savings Products Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets, excluding separate account assets	$ 128.7	$ 112

Segment and Geographical Info_6

Segment and Geographical Information - Long Lived Assets and Continuing Operations by Country (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 484,781	$ 427,300	$ 1,412,518	$ 1,246,161
Income (loss) before income taxes	111,435	100,200	308,160	271,432
Long-lived assets	30,592		30,592		$ 28,099
United States [Member]
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	411,998	358,534	1,191,502	1,047,717
Income (loss) before income taxes	91,793	81,040	249,106	216,586
Long-lived assets	25,980		25,980		27,443
Canada [Member]
Revenues From External Customers And Long Lived Assets [Line Items]
Revenues	72,783	68,766	221,016	198,444
Income (loss) before income taxes	19,642	$ 19,160	59,054	$ 54,846
Long-lived assets	$ 4,612		$ 4,612		$ 656

Investments - Schedule of Avail

Investments - Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	$ 2,016,559	[1]	$ 1,877,326	[2]
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	21,923	[1]	56,438	[2]
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(27,582)	[1]	(5,922)	[2]
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	2,010,900	[1]	1,927,842	[2]
Available-for-sale equity securities, cost	0		31,331
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized gain			9,796
Available-for-sale equity securities, gross unrealized loss			(20)
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value			41,107
Available-for-sale securities, amortized cost basis			1,908,657
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized gain			66,234
Available-for-sale securities, gross unrealized loss			(5,942)
Available-for-sale securities, fair value			1,968,949
U.S. Government and Agencies [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	12,636		11,577
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	124		283
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(108)		(47)
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	12,652		11,813
Foreign Government [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	163,357		139,486
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	3,026		5,651
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(1,741)		(648)
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	164,642		144,489
States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	52,945		54,714
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	836		1,554
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(554)		(141)
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	53,227		56,127
Corporates [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	1,388,166		1,337,321
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	13,964		42,616
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(18,151)		(3,655)
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	1,383,979		1,376,282
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	182,398		119,672
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	2,022		3,583
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(3,533)		(297)
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	180,887		122,958
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	136,166		134,003
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	1,800		2,299
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(2,657)		(910)
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	135,309		135,392
Other Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	80,891		80,553
Available-for-sale debt securities gross unrealized gain	151		452
Available-for-sale debt securities, gross unrealized loss	(838)		(224)
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	$ 80,204		$ 80,781
[1]	Includes $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
[2]	Includes $0.2 million of OTTI losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Investments - Schedule of Ava_2

Investments - Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities (Parenthetical) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, investments, portion in other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 0.2	$ 0.2

Investments - Fixed-maturity Se

Investments - Fixed-maturity Securities Classified by Contractual Maturity Date (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017	[2]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Due in one year or less, amortized cost	$ 180,096
Due after one year through five years, amortized cost	864,618
Due after five years through 10 years, amortized cost	521,980
Due after 10 years, amortized cost	50,410
Total fixed-maturity securities with single maturity dates, amortized cost	1,617,104
Mortgage and asset-backed securities, amortized cost	399,455
Available-for-sale debt securities, amortized cost basis	2,016,559	[1]	$ 1,877,326
Due in one year or less, fair value	181,719
Due after one year through five years, fair value	864,694
Due after five years through 10 years, fair value	515,449
Due after 10 years, fair value	52,638
Total fixed-maturity securities with single maturity dates, fair value	1,614,500
Mortgage and asset-backed securities, fair value	396,400
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value	$ 2,010,900	[1]	$ 1,927,842
[1]	Includes $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
[2]	Includes $0.2 million of OTTI losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Investments - Net Effect on Sto

Investments - Net Effect on Stockholders' Equity of Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized investment gains on available-for-sale securities including OTTI, Available-for-sale securities	$ (5,659)	$ 60,292	[1]
OTTI	171	174
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI	(5,488)	60,466
Less deferred income taxes	1,107	(20,780)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities excluding OTTI, net of tax	$ (4,381)	$ 39,686
[1]	Includes $9.8 million of net unrealized gains for equity securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01.

Investments - Net Effect on S_2

Investments - Net Effect on Stockholders' Equity of Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available-for-sale Securities (Parenthetical) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Net unrealized gains for equity securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) prior to adoption of ASU 2016-01	$ 9,796
Prior to adoption of ASU 2016-01 [Member]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Net unrealized gains for equity securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) prior to adoption of ASU 2016-01	$ 9,800

Investments - Amortized Costs a

Investments - Amortized Costs and Fair Value of Securities Classified as Trading Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Total trading securities, Amortized cost		$ 15,944	$ 6,172
Total trading securities, Fair value		15,955	6,228
Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Total trading securities, Amortized cost		15,944	4,801
Total trading securities, Fair value		$ 15,955	4,800
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule Of Trading Securities And Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Total trading securities, Amortized cost	[1]		1,371
Total trading securities, Fair value	[1]		$ 1,428
[1]	Equity securities, previously classified as trading securities, are no longer classified as trading securities due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01. As of September 30, 2018, all equity security investments held by the Company are presented in the balance sheet as equity securities .

Investments - Held-to-maturity

Investments - Held-to-maturity Security - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Schedule Of Held To Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity debt security estimated unrealized holding loss	$ 17.5
LLC Note [Member]
Schedule Of Held To Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Dec. 31, 2030
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.50%
Surplus Note [Member]
Schedule Of Held To Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Dec. 31, 2030
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.50%

Investments - Fair Value of Inv

Investments - Fair Value of Investments on Deposit with Governmental Authorities - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]
Fair values of investments on deposit	$ 10	$ 11.1

Investments - Securities Lendin

Investments - Securities Lending Collateral - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Securities Received as Collateral [Abstract]
Securities loaned, minimum collateral to loan ratio	102.00%
Securities loaned, additional collateral requirement, decline in collateral value threshold percentage	100.00%
Cash collateral received and reinvested	$ 70.6	$ 89.8

Investments - Net Investment In

Investments - Net Investment Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Gross investment income, operating		$ 32,365	$ 28,570	$ 92,618	$ 82,558
Investment expenses		(2,151)	(1,417)	(5,931)	(3,963)
Investment income net of investment expenses		30,214	27,153	86,687	78,595
Interest expense on surplus note		(9,592)	(7,231)	(27,018)	(19,037)
Net investment income		20,622	19,922	59,669	59,558
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Gross investment income, operating		482	525	1,461	1,575
Policy Loans and Other Invested Assets [Member]
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Gross investment income, operating		391	395	1,192	1,016
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Gross investment income, operating		664	282	1,892	722
Total return on deposit asset underlying 10% insurance agreement [Member]
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Gross investment income, operating	[1]	1,094	869	1,882	2,671
Available-for-Sale [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Gross investment income, operating		20,142	19,268	59,173	57,537
Held-to-Maturity [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Gross investment income, operating		$ 9,592	$ 7,231	$ 27,018	$ 19,037
[1]	Includes $0.3 million and $2.0 million of losses recognized for the change in fair value of the deposit asset underlying the 10% coinsurance agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The change in fair value of the deposit asset underlying the 10% coinsurance agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was not material.

Investments - Net Investment _2

Investments - Net Investment Income (Parenthetical) (Details) - Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement [Member] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Schedule of Net Investment Income, Reported Amounts, by Category [Line Items]
Losses recognized for change in fair value of deposit asset underlying the 10% coinsurance agreement	$ 300,000	$ 0	$ 2,000,000	$ 0
Percentage of coinsurance costs	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%

Investments - Schedule of Net R

Investments - Schedule of Net Realized Investment Gains and Losses Recognized in Net Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Realized Investment Gains Losses [Abstract]
Gross gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 238	$ 1,089	$ 1,025	$ 2,153
Gross losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(944)	(9)	(965)	(36)
OTTI losses of available-for-sale securities	(49)	(526)	(152)	(1,221)
Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities	739		(668)
Gains (losses) from bifurcated options	(110)	(532)	290	(636)
Net realized investment gains (losses), including other-than- temporary impairment losses	$ (126)	$ 22	$ (470)	$ 260

Investments - Schedule of Proce

Investments - Schedule of Proceeds from Sales or Other Redemptions of Available-For-Sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities [Abstract]
Proceeds from sales or other redemptions	$ 83,398	$ 86,502	$ 323,661	$ 229,200

Investments - Schedule of Unrea

Investments - Schedule of Unrealized Net Gains (Losses) Recognized in NI on Equity Securities Still Held at Period-End (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Realized Investment Gains Losses [Abstract]
Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities	$ 739	$ (668)
Less: Net gains (losses) recognized on equity securities sold	1	(48)
Net gains (losses) recognized in net income on equity securities still held as of period-end	$ 738	$ (620)

Investments - Available-for-sal

Investments - Available-for-sale Securities with Cost Basis in Excess of Fair Value - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale fixed-maturities with cost basis in excess of fair values, cost basis	$ 1,349.2	$ 529.2

Investments - Schedule of Secur

Investments - Schedule of Securities in Unrealized Loss Position (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)Securities	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value		$ 427,430
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses		(3,659)
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value		95,841
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses		(2,283)
Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	$ 1,062,136	426,354
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	(17,898)	(3,643)
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	259,450	95,671
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	(9,684)	(2,279)
U.S. Government and Agencies [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	4,756	4,754
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	$ (58)	$ (34)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities	3	5
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	$ 4,009	$ 2,975
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$ (50)	$ (13)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities	5	3
Foreign Government [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	$ 65,531	$ 40,287
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	$ (939)	$ (465)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities	52	45
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	$ 28,001	$ 7,102
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$ (802)	$ (183)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities	34	7
States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	$ 22,293	$ 7,369
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	$ (378)	$ (43)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities	19	7
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	$ 7,538	$ 6,267
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$ (176)	$ (98)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities	9	7
Corporates [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	$ 717,844	$ 247,613
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	$ (12,321)	$ (2,323)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities	575	216
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	$ 131,884	$ 39,767
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$ (5,830)	$ (1,332)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities	119	43
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	$ 120,866	$ 33,610
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	$ (2,210)	$ (263)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities	53	16
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	$ 27,114	$ 2,592
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$ (1,323)	$ (34)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities	17	8
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	$ 84,144	$ 60,116
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	$ (1,375)	$ (394)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities	62	52
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	$ 42,365	$ 22,149
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$ (1,282)	$ (516)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities	46	25
Other Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed-maturity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value	$ 46,702	$ 32,605
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses	$ (617)	$ (121)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities	38	33
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value	$ 18,539	$ 14,819
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses	$ (221)	$ (103)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities	28	19
Equity Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, fair value		$ 1,076
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, less than 12 months, aggregate losses		$ (16)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, less than one year | Securities		4
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, fair value		$ 170
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, 12 months or longer, aggregate losses		$ (4)
Available-for-sale, securities in unrealized loss positions, qualitative disclosure, number of positions, greater than or equal to one year | Securities		2

Investments - Amortized Cost an

Investments - Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Available-for-sale Fixed-maturity Securities in Default (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities in default, amortized cost	$ 3	$ 503
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities in default, fair value	$ 192	$ 654

Investments - OTTI in Earnings

Investments - OTTI in Earnings on Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
OTTI recognized in earnings		$ 49	$ 526	$ 152	$ 1,221
Fixed-maturity Securities [Member] | Investments in fixed-maturity securities not in default [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
OTTI recognized in earnings		$ 49	412	$ 152	947
Fixed-maturity Securities [Member] | Investments in fixed-maturity securities in default [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
OTTI recognized in earnings			$ 114		114
Equity Securities [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
OTTI recognized in earnings	[1]				$ 160
[1]	Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-01 all changes in the fair value of equity securities are recognized in net income and thus OTTI no longer applies to equity securities .

Investments - Schedule of OTTI

Investments - Schedule of OTTI Recognized in Earnings for Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized	$ 49	$ 668	$ 152	$ 1,363
Less portion of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		142		142
OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely than-not will not be required to sell before recovery	49	526	152	1,221
Does not intend to sell or more-likely-than-not will not be required to sell [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized	49	668	152	1,203
Less portion of OTTI recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		142		142
OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely than-not will not be required to sell before recovery	$ 49	$ 526	$ 152	1,061
Intends to sell or more-likely-than-not will be required to sell before recovery [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Line Items]
OTTI recognized in earnings for securities which the Company does not intend to sell or more-likely than-not will not be required to sell before recovery				$ 160

Investments - Rollforward of OT

Investments - Rollforward of OTTI Recognized in Net Income, Fixed-maturity Securities Still Held (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Other than Temporary Impairment, OTTI Recognized in Earnings [Roll Forward]
Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, beginning of period	$ 3,294	$ 5,575	$ 4,346	$ 5,774
Additions for securities where no OTTI were recognized prior to the beginning of the period		351		351
Additions for securities where OTTI have been recognized prior to the beginning of the period	49	175	152	710
Reductions due to sales, maturities, calls, amortization or increases in cash flows expected to be collected over the remaining life of credit-impaired securities	(578)	(699)	(1,733)	(1,296)
Reductions for exchanges of securities previously impaired		(1,047)		(1,184)
Cumulative OTTI recognized in net income for securities still held, end of period	$ 2,765	$ 4,355	$ 2,765	$ 4,355

Investments - Impairment Losses

Investments - Impairment Losses on Held-to-maturity Security - Narrative (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]
Cumulative impairment loss held-to-maturity security	$ 0

Investments - Derivative - Narr

Investments - Derivative - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Aggregate fair value of embedded conversion options	$ 0	$ 0.9

Investments - Loss from Closed

Investments - Loss from Closed Currency Forward Contracts Recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net [Abstract]
Deferred loss related to closed forward contracts	$ (26.4)	$ (26.4)

Fair Value of Financial Instr_3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Schedule of Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	$ 2,010,900	[1]	$ 1,927,842	[2]
Equity securities	39,317
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value			41,107
Trading securities	15,955		6,228
Separate accounts assets	2,419,997		2,572,872
Separate accounts liabilities	$ 2,419,997		2,572,872
Fair value assumptions, percentage of securities assessed by third-party pricing service	94.00%
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	$ 2,010,900		1,927,842
Equity securities	39,317
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value			41,107
Trading securities	15,955		6,228
Separate accounts assets	2,419,997		2,572,872
Assets, fair value disclosure	4,486,169		4,548,049
Separate accounts liabilities	2,419,997		2,572,872
Liabilities, fair value disclosure	2,419,997		2,572,872
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	3,060		3,240
Equity securities	38,057
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value			39,026
Trading securities			1,428
Assets, fair value disclosure	41,117		43,694
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	2,007,564		1,924,185
Equity securities	1,065
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value			1,931
Trading securities	15,955		4,800
Separate accounts assets	2,419,997		2,572,872
Assets, fair value disclosure	4,444,581		4,503,788
Separate accounts liabilities	2,419,997		2,572,872
Liabilities, fair value disclosure	2,419,997		2,572,872
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	276		417
Equity securities	195
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value			150
Assets, fair value disclosure	471		567
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | U.S. Government and Agencies [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	12,652		11,813
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | U.S. Government and Agencies [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	12,652		11,813
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Foreign Government [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	164,642		144,489
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Foreign Government [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	164,642		144,489
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | States and Political Subdivisions [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	53,227		56,127
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	53,227		56,127
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Corporates [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	1,383,979		1,376,282
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Corporates [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	3,060		3,240
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Corporates [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	1,380,916		1,373,039
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Corporates [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	3		3
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Residential Mortgage-backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	180,887		122,958
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Residential Mortgage-backed Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	180,614		122,544
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Residential Mortgage-backed Securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	273		414
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	135,309		135,392
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	135,309		135,392
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Other Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	80,204		80,781
Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] | Other Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities	$ 80,204		$ 80,781
[1]	Includes $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
[2]	Includes $0.2 million of OTTI losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Fair Value of Financial Instr_4

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Rollforward of Level 3 Assets Measured on Recurring Basis (Details) - Fair Value, Recurring Measurements [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Level 3 assets, beginning of period		$ 516	[1]	$ 1,861	[1]	$ 567	$ 8,162
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income		(4)	[1]	24	[1]	(17)	246
Realized gains (losses) and accretion (amortization) recognized in earnings, including OTTI		2	[1]			47	9
Purchases							1,250
Settlements		(43)	[1]	(204)	[1]	(126)	(645)
Transfers into Level 3							2,439
Transfers out of Level 3	[2]						(9,780)
Level 3 assets, end of period	[1]	$ 471		$ 1,681		$ 471	$ 1,681
[1]	Activities for investments that enter Level 3 in one quarter and exit Level 3 in another quarter within the same fiscal year are not eliminated until year-end when only the full year amounts are presented.
[2]	During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, transfers out of Level 3 assets primarily consisted of newly issued fixed-maturity securities in the previous quarter for which observable inputs, most notably quoted prices, used to derive valuations became readily available.

Fair Value of Financial Instr_5

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value security, level 1 to level 2 transfers, amount	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Fair Value security, level 1 to level 3 transfers, amount	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value of Financial Instr_6

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value		$ 2,010,900	[1]	$ 1,927,842	[2]
Fixed-maturity security held to maturity, fair value		874,328		779,472
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value				41,107
Equity securities		39,317
Trading securities		15,955		6,228
Separate accounts assets		2,419,997		2,572,872
Surplus note		891,139		736,381
Separate accounts liabilities		2,419,997		2,572,872
Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity)		891,860		737,150
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value		2,010,900		1,927,842
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value				41,107
Equity securities		39,317
Trading securities		15,955		6,228
Separate accounts assets		2,419,997		2,572,872
Separate accounts liabilities		2,419,997		2,572,872
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Policy loans	[3]	30,902		32,816
Surplus note	[3],[4]	891,139		736,381
Fixed-maturity security (held-to-maturity)	[3]	891,860		737,150
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Deposits [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement	[3]	226,025		217,336
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes payable	[4],[5]	373,567		373,288
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale debt securities, at fair value		2,010,900		1,927,842
Available-for-sale equity securities, at fair value				41,107
Equity securities		39,317
Trading securities		15,955		6,228
Separate accounts assets		2,419,997		2,572,872
Separate accounts liabilities		2,419,997		2,572,872
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fixed-maturity security held to maturity, fair value	[3]	874,328		779,472
Policy loans	[3]	30,902		32,816
Surplus note	[3],[4]	874,328		778,050
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Deposits [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deposit asset underlying 10% coinsurance agreement	[3]	226,025		217,336
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes payable	[4],[5]	$ 386,505		$ 400,628
[1]	Includes $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
[2]	Includes $0.2 million of OTTI losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
[3]	Classified as a level 3 fair value measurement.
[4]	Carrying value amounts shown are net of issuance costs
[5]	Classified as a level 2 fair value measurement.

Fair Value of Financial Instr_7

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Parenthetical) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Percentage of coinsurance costs	10.00%	10.00%

Reinsurance - In-force Life Ins

Reinsurance - In-force Life Insurance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Direct life insurance in force	$ 784,286,697	$ 767,001,938
Amounts ceded to other companies	(682,975,825)	(668,446,638)
Net life insurance in force	$ 101,310,872	$ 98,555,300
Percentage of reinsured life insurance in force	87.00%	87.00%

Reinsurance - Reinsurance Recov

Reinsurance - Reinsurance Recoverables and Financial Strength Ratings by Reinsurer (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		$ 4,196,021	$ 4,205,173
Pecan Re Inc [Member] | External credit rating, not rated [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[1],[2]	2,744,439	2,725,795
SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies [Member] | AM Best, A+ Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[3]	348,661	354,458
Munich Re of Malta [Member] | External credit rating, not rated [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[1],[4]	293,572	302,391
Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. [Member] | AM Best, A+ Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[5]	235,511	245,543
American Health and Life Insurance Company [Member] | AM Best, B Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[1]	171,875	172,956
Munich American Reassurance Company [Member] | AM Best, A+ Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		110,365	112,841
Korean Reinsurance Company [Member] | AM Best, A Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		101,886	102,915
RGA Reinsurance Company [Member] | AM Best, A+ Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		89,250	90,037
Hannover Life Reassurance Company [Member] | AM Best, A+ Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		32,386	32,250
TOA Reinsurance Company [Member] | AM Best, A Rating [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		25,519	24,619
All Other Reinsurers [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		$ 42,557	$ 41,368
[1]	Includes balances ceded under coinsurance transactions of term life insurance policies that were in force as of December 31, 2009. Amounts shown are net of their share of the reinsurance recoverables from other reinsurers.
[2]	Pecan Re Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc.
[3]	Includes amounts ceded to Transamerica Reinsurance Companies and fully retroceded to SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Companies.
[4]	This entity is rated AA- by S&P.
[5]	Includes amounts ceded to Lincoln National Life Insurance and fully

Reinsurance - Narrative (Detail

Reinsurance - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Benefits and claims ceded to reinsurers	$ 310.8	$ 314.8	$ 964	$ 991.9

Policy Claims and Other Benef_3

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable - Schedule of Liability For Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Roll Forward In Liability For Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense [Abstract]
Policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period		$ 307,401	$ 268,136
Reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period		322,137	323,195
Net balance, beginning of period		(14,736)	(55,059)
Incurred related to current year		131,862	120,062
Incurred related to prior years	[1]	(1,755)	2,179
Total incurred		130,107	122,241
Claims paid related to current year, net of reinsured policy claims received		(194,564)	(190,542)
Reinsured policy claims received related to prior years, net of claims paid		21,889	60,118
Total paid		(172,675)	(130,424)
Foreign currency translation		(166)	330
Net balance, end of period		(57,470)	(62,912)
Reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable, end of period		345,110	347,363
Policy claims and other benefits payable, end of period		$ 287,640	$ 284,451
[1]	Inclu des the difference between our estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported as of period end and the actual incurred claims reported after period end.

Stockholders' Equity - Reconcil

Stockholders' Equity - Reconciliation of Number of Shares of Common Stock (Details) - shares	8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]
Common stock, beginning of period		44,251,000	45,721,000
Shares issued for stock options exercised		33,000	38,000
Shares of common stock issued upon lapse of restricted stock units ("RSUs")		428,000	430,000
Common stock retired	(1,658,380)	(1,735,000)	(1,809,000)
Common stock, end of period	42,977,000	42,977,000	44,380,000

Stockholders' Equity - Narrativ

Stockholders' Equity - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Feb. 06, 2018
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchased program, authorized amount				$ 275,000,000
Stock repurchased and retired during period, shares	1,658,380	1,735,000	1,809,000
Stock repurchased and retired during period, value	$ 167,300,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount	$ 107,700,000	$ 107,700,000
Restricted stock units (RSUs) [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, non-option equity instruments, outstanding, number	643,856	643,856
Performance share units (PSUs) [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, non-option equity instruments, outstanding, number	85,010	85,010

Earnings Per Share - Calculatio

Earnings Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 85,139	$ 66,635	$ 237,550	$ 181,813
Income attributable to unvested participating securities, basic EPS	(485)	(465)	(1,405)	(1,326)
Net income used in calculating basic EPS	$ 84,654	$ 66,170	$ 236,145	$ 180,487
Weighted-average vested shares	43,452	45,318	44,081	45,864
Basic EPS	$ 1.95	$ 1.46	$ 5.36	$ 3.94
Income attributable to unvested participating securities, diluted EPS	$ (484)	$ (464)	$ (1,401)	$ (1,324)
Net income used in calculating diluted EPS	$ 84,655	$ 66,171	$ 236,149	$ 180,489
Dilutive effect of incremental shares to be issued for contingently-issuable shares	137	90	131	83
Weighted-average shares used in calculating diluted EPS	43,589	45,408	44,212	45,947
Diluted EPS	$ 1.94	$ 1.46	$ 5.34	$ 3.93

Share-Based Transactions - Narr

Share-Based Transactions - Narrative (Details) - $ / shares	Feb. 26, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity award granted with sales restrictions [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, sale restrictions expiration period		3 years
Restricted stock units (RSUs) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares awarded	94,758
Measurement date fair value	$ 100.55
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, award vesting period	3 years
Performance share units (PSUs) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares awarded	30,579
Measurement date fair value	$ 100.55
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, award vesting period	3 years
Performance share units (PSUs) [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of PSUs vested during the period	45,868
Performance share units (PSUs) [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of PSUs vested during the period	0

Share-Based Transactions - Impa

Share-Based Transactions - Impact of Equity Awards Granted (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total equity awards expense recognized	$ 1,985	$ 1,824	$ 15,378	$ 13,491
Expense Deferred [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Quarterly incentive awards expense deferred	$ 2,035	$ 2,744	$ 7,014	$ 8,162

Commitments and Contingent Li_2

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)Jurisdiction
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Number of jurisdiction | Jurisdiction	30
Letter of Credit [Member]
Commitments And Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Letter of credit, outstanding | $	$ 312.8

Other Comprehensive Income (Det

Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) before income tax expense (benefit)	$ 5,009	$ 10,000	$ (9,295)	$ 17,878
Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)		107		193
Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes	5,009	9,893	(9,295)	17,685
Unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities	(8,347)	(3,725)	(56,267)	7,447
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses) not-other-than-temporarily impaired, income tax expense (benefit)	(1,879)	(1,304)	(12,033)	2,608
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during period, net of income taxes	(6,468)	(2,421)	(44,234)	4,839
Reclassification adjustment for realized investment (gains) losses included in net income	755	(554)	92	(896)
Income tax (expense) benefits on (gains) losses reclassified from accumulated OCI to net income	159	(194)	19	(314)
Reclassification from accumulated OCI to net income for (gains) losses realized on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes	596	(360)	73	(582)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes and reclassification adjustment	$ (5,872)	$ (2,781)	$ (44,161)	$ 4,257

Debt - Narrative (Details)

Debt - Narrative (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 200,000,000
Debt instrument maturity date	Dec. 19, 2022
Debt instrument, frequency of commitment fee payable	quarterly
Debt instrument, current borrowing capacity	$ 0
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 1,300,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, commitment fee percentage	0.225%
Maximum [Member] | LIBOR Rate [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate margin	1.625%
Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate margin	0.625%
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, commitment fee percentage	0.125%
Minimum [Member] | LIBOR Rate [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate margin	1.125%
Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate margin	0.125%
Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 375,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.75%
Debt instrument maturity date	Jul. 15, 2022
Surplus Note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 891,700,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.50%
Debt instrument maturity date	Dec. 31, 2030

Revenue from Contracts with C_3

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenues from Contracts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		$ 484,781	$ 427,300	$ 1,412,518	$ 1,246,161
Term Life Insurance Segment Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		287,972	256,240	831,259	729,193
Term Life Insurance Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		10,615	10,655	31,943	30,345
Term Life Insurance Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Other, Net [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		10,615	10,655	31,943	30,345
Term Life Insurance Segment Revenues [Member] | Revenues from Sources Other Than Contracts with Customers (Segregated Funds) [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		277,357	245,585	799,316	698,848
Investment and Savings Products Segment Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		165,269	140,058	490,151	424,239
Investment and Savings Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		150,480	124,998	445,733	380,811
Investment and Savings Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Other, Net [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		2,464	2,480	7,223	7,056
Investment and Savings Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Commissions and Fees [Member] | Sales-based Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		64,181	53,488	192,949	174,697
Investment and Savings Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Commissions and Fees [Member] | Asset-based Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		63,529	55,219	184,222	158,748
Investment and Savings Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Commissions and Fees [Member] | Account-based Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		20,306	13,811	61,339	40,310
Investment and Savings Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Revenues from Sources Other Than Contracts with Customers (Segregated Funds) [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		14,789	15,060	44,418	43,428
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		31,540	31,002	91,108	92,729
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		9,354	8,205	26,599	24,008
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Other, Net [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		1,280	1,156	3,881	3,980
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Commissions and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers	[1]	8,074	7,049	22,718	20,028
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Revenues from Sources Other Than Contracts with Customers (Segregated Funds) [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Disaggregation of revenues from contracts with customers		$ 22,186	$ 22,797	$ 64,509	$ 68,721
[1]	Commissions and fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 include to performance obligations satisfied in a previous reporting period and represent the collection of variable consideration in the transaction price that had been previously constrained.

Revenue from Contracts with C_4

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenues from Contracts (Parenthetical) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Corporate and Other Distributed Products Segment Revenues [Member] | Total Segment Revenues from Contracts with Customers [Member] | Commissions and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Performance obligation satisfied and collection of variable consideration in transaction price	$ 1.1	$ 3.2

Revenue from Contracts with C_5

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Summary of Contract Asset Account (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Contract With Customer Asset And Liability [Abstract]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 48,168	$ 48,533
Current period sales, net of collection of renewal commissions	657	292
Balance, end of period	$ 48,825	$ 48,825

Revenue from Contracts with C_6

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]
Estimate adjustments to contract asset	$ 0	$ 0
Impairment losses recognized on contract asset	0	0
Assets recognized for incremental costs	$ 0	$ 0