Investments | 5. Investments The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets to determine fair value disclosures. Fixed maturity available-for-sale securities and equity securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. FASB ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods used to measure fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC Topic 820 are as follows: Level 1: Quoted (unadjusted) prices for identical assets in active markets. Level 2: Quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in nonactive markets (few transactions, limited information, noncurrent prices, high variability over time, etc., inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset (interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, default rates, etc., and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by other observable market data)). Level 3: Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data. Under ASC Topic 820, we base fair values of assets on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It is our policy to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when developing fair value measurements, in accordance with the fair value hierarchy in FASB ASC Topic 820. Fair value measurements for assets where there exists limited or no observable market data and, therefore, are based primarily upon our or other third-party’s estimates, are often calculated based on the characteristics of the asset, the economic and competitive environment and other such factors. Management uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of financial instruments; however, there are inherent weaknesses in any estimation technique. Therefore, for substantially all financial instruments, the fair value estimates herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts we could have realized in a sales transaction on the dates indicated. The estimated fair value amounts have been measured as of their respective period end and have not been re-evaluated or updated for purposes of the consolidated and combined financial statements subsequent to those respective dates. As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than the amounts reported at each period-end. Additionally, changes in the underlying assumptions used, including discount rates and estimates of future cash flows, could significantly affect the results of current or future valuations. We obtain one price for each security primarily from a third-party pricing service (“pricing service”), which generally uses quoted prices or other observable inputs for the determination of fair value. The pricing service normally derives the security prices through recently reported trades for identical or similar securities, making adjustments through the reporting date based upon available observable market information. For securities not actively traded, the pricing service may use quoted market prices of comparable instruments or discounted cash flow analyses, incorporating inputs that are currently observable in the markets for similar securities. Inputs that are often used in the valuation methodologies include, but are not limited to, non-binding broker quotes, benchmark yields, credit spreads, default rates, and prepayment speeds. In instances in which the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability. Amortized cost/cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair value of fixed maturity securities by major security type for the results at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: Amortized Cost/Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value December 31, 2019 U.S. government $ 10,689,829 $ 100,223 $ 38,490 $ 10,751,562 States, territories, and possessions 1,096,638 46,385 — 1,143,023 Subdivisions of states, territories, and possessions 12,440,863 389,472 7,470 12,822,865 Industrial and miscellaneous 69,445,114 1,591,777 6,299 71,030,592 Total fixed maturity securities $ 93,672,444 $ 2,127,857 $ 52,259 $ 95,748,042 Amortized Cost/Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Fair Value December 31, 2018 U.S. government $ 12,859,101 $ 87,354 $ 208,699 $ 12,737,756 States, territories, and possessions 1,111,879 14,497 897 1,125,479 Subdivisions of states, territories, and possessions 13,230,690 105,965 44,591 13,292,064 Industrial and miscellaneous 59,561,984 14,030 1,524,644 58,051,370 Total fixed maturity securities $ 86,763,654 $ 221,846 $ 1,778,831 $ 85,206,669 The table below sets forth the contractual maturity profile of our investments in fixed maturity securities at December 31, 2019 and 2018. Expected maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties. December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 Amortized Cost/Cost Fair Value Amortized Cost/Cost Fair Value Due in less than one year $ 8,570,607 $ 8,584,991 $ 7,094,266 $ 6,549,872 Due after one year to five years 59,713,323 60,844,219 50,676,297 47,892,580 Due after five years to ten years 24,656,702 25,539,400 27,617,956 29,361,896 Due after ten years 731,812 779,432 1,375,135 1,402,321 $ 93,672,444 $ 95,748,042 $ 86,763,654 $ 85,206,669 Realized gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, proceeds from maturities and sales and gross realized gains and losses on securities and other investments are as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 Proceeds $ 18,672,307 $ 19,660,697 Gross gains 651,765 206,973 Gross losses 299,997 182,717 The components of net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 (Loss) gain on sales of fixed maturity securities $ (27,146 ) $ 26,112 Gain (loss) on sales of equity securities and other investments 378,914 (1,856 ) Total gain on sales of investments 351,768 24,256 Unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities and other investments 952,508 (1,557,518 ) Total net realized investment gains (losses) $ 1,304,276 $ (1,533,262 ) The components of net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 Fixed maturity securities $ 2,328,645 $ 2,311,546 Cash and short-term investments 441,666 61,402 Equity securities 274,791 316,736 Other investments 27,708 9,022 3,072,810 2,698,706 Less investment expenses 112,443 129,799 Net investment income $ 2,960,367 $ 2,568,907 The following table shows fair value and gross unrealized losses of our fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other-than temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2019: Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total Description of securities Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses December 31, 2019: U.S. government $ 2,628,516 $ 8,227 $ 4,061,077 $ 30,263 $ 6,689,593 $ 38,490 Subdivisions of states, territories, and possessions — — 93,000 7,470 93,000 7,470 Industrial and miscellaneous 4,773,607 5,934 350,922 365 5,124,529 6,299 Total fixed maturity securities $ 7,402,123 $ 14,161 $ 4,504,999 $ 38,098 $ 11,907,122 $ 52,259 At December 31, 2019, we had 47 fixed maturity securities in unrealized loss positions of less than 12 months with a combined gross unrealized loss of $14,161 and 40 securities in unrealized loss positions of 12 months or longer with a combined gross unrealized loss of $38,098. The following table shows fair value and gross unrealized losses of our fixed maturity investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other-than temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2018: Less than 12 months 12 months or longer Total Description of securities Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses December 31, 2018: U.S. government $ 1,757,021 $ 5,521 $ 8,858,782 $ 203,178 $ 10,615,803 $ 208,699 States, territories, and possessions 410,416 897 — — 410,416 897 Subdivisions of states, territories, and possessions 3,138,650 11,729 1,993,170 32,862 5,131,820 44,591 Industrial and miscellaneous 28,187,416 563,317 25,787,215 961,327 53,974,631 1,524,644 Total fixed maturity securities $ 33,493,503 $ 581,464 $ 36,639,167 $ 1,197,367 $ 70,132,670 $ 1,778,831 At December 31, 2018, we had 210 fixed maturity securities in unrealized loss positions of less than 12 months with a combined gross unrealized loss of $581,464 and 243 fixed maturity securities in unrealized loss positions of 12 months or longer with a combined gross unrealized loss of $1,197,367. Fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments may be affected by increases and decreases in prevailing interest rates, which generally translate, respectively, into decreases and increases in fair values of fixed maturity investments. The fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments also may be affected by the credit worthiness of the issuer, prepayment options, relative values of other investments, the liquidity of the instrument, and other general market conditions. We evaluated each security and took into account the severity and duration of the impairment, the current rating on the bond, and the outlook for the issuer according to independent analysts. We found that the declines in fair value are most likely attributable to increases in interest rates, and there is no evidence that the likelihood of not receiving all of the contractual cash flows as expected has changed. Our fixed maturity portfolio is managed by our investment committee in concert with an outside investment manager for investment grade bond investments. By agreement, the investment manager cannot sell any security without the consent of our investment committee if such sale will result in a net realized loss. We monitor our investment portfolio and review securities that have experienced a decline in fair value below cost to evaluate whether the decline is other than temporary. When assessing whether the amortized cost basis of the security will be recovered, we compare the present value of the cash flows likely to be collected, based on an evaluation of all available information relevant to the collectability of the security, to the amortized cost basis of the security. The shortfall of the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected in relation to the amortized cost basis is referred to as the “credit loss.” If there is a credit loss, the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary. If we identify that an other-than-temporary impairment loss has occurred, we then determine whether we intend to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security prior to recovering the amortized cost basis less any current-period credit losses. If we determine that we do not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that we won’t be required to sell the security, then the amount of the impairment loss related to the credit loss will be recorded in earnings, and the remaining portion of the other-than-temporary impairment loss will be recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. If we determine that we intend to sell the security, or that it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security prior to recovering its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit losses, then the full amount of the other-than-temporary impairment will be recognized in earnings. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we determined that none of our fixed maturity securities were other-than-temporarily impaired. Adverse investment market conditions, or poor operating results of underlying investments, could result in impairment charges in the future. The table below presents the level within the fair value hierarchy generally utilized by us to estimate the fair value of assets disclosed on a recurring basis at December 31, 2019: Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 U.S. government $ 10,751,562 $ — $ 10,751,562 $ — States, territories, and possessions 1,143,023 — 1,143,023 — Subdivisions of states, territories and possessions 12,822,865 — 12,822,865 — Industrial and miscellaneous 71,030,592 — 71,030,592 — Total fixed maturity securities 95,748,042 — 95,748,042 — Equity securities 7,756,966 7,756,966 — — $ 103,505,008 $ 7,756,966 $ 95,748,042 $ — The table below presents the level within the fair value hierarchy generally utilized by us to estimate the fair value of assets disclosed on a recurring basis at December 31, 2018: Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 U.S. government $ 12,737,756 $ — $ 12,737,756 $ — States, territories, and possessions 1,125,479 — 1,125,479 — Subdivisions of states, territories and possessions 13,292,064 — 13,292,064 — Industrial and miscellaneous 58,051,370 — 58,051,370 — Total fixed maturity securities 85,206,669 — 85,206,669 — Equity securities 7,267,094 7,267,094 — — $ 92,473,763 $ 7,267,094 $ 85,206,669 $ — At December 31, 2018, we had ownership interests in limited partnership equity hedge funds. Our partnership interests were measured at fair value using the funds’ net asset values as a practical expedient and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy tables above. At December 31, 2018, the fair value and cost basis of these investments were $4,051,399 and $3,547,687, respectively. During the second half of 2019, we sold our interests in these limited partnership funds and recognized a pre-tax gain of $556,723. There were no sales of these investments in 2018. |