Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Investments
(4)
Investments
(a)
Fixed-Maturity Securities
At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and fair values of available-for-sale securities are as shown in the following tables:
 
Amortized cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Fair value
2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government
$
77,857

 
253

 
450

 
77,660

States and political subdivisions
10,502

 
503

 

 
11,005

Foreign government
2,984

 

 
51

 
2,933

Corporate securities
615,077

 
28,056

 
2,258

 
640,875

Mortgage-backed securities
259,748

 
1,825

 
2,823

 
258,750

Total fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale
$
966,168

 
30,637

 
5,582

 
991,223

 
Amortized cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Fair value
2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government
$
48,676

 
644

 
103

 
49,217

States and political subdivisions
10,546

 
285

 
187

 
10,644

Corporate securities
491,518

 
21,500

 
3,739

 
509,279

Mortgage-backed securities
184,217

 
1,732

 
3,558

 
182,391

Total fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale
$
734,957

 
24,161

 
7,587

 
751,531

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not have any OTTI losses in AOCI.
The net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities consist of the following at December 31:
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale:
$
25,055

 
16,574

 
13,608

Adjustments for:
 
 
 
 
 
Shadow adjustments
(5,704
)
 
(5,501
)
 
(5,916
)
Deferred taxes
(6,344
)
 
(3,876
)
 
(2,692
)
Net unrealized gains (losses)
$
13,007

 
7,197

 
5,000

The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities at December 31, 2017, by contractual maturity, are shown below:
 
Amortized cost
 
Fair value
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale:
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
$
39,718

 
40,248

Due after one year through five years
283,071

 
287,678

Due after five years through ten years
238,451

 
240,552

Due after ten years
140,938

 
159,567

Structured securities
263,990

 
263,178

Total fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale
$
966,168

 
991,223

Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Fixed-maturity securities not due at a single maturity date have been presented in the year of final contractual maturity. Structured securities are shown separately, as they are not due at a single maturity.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, investments with a fair value of $1,688 and $1,699, respectively were held on deposit as required by statutory regulations.
The Company’s fixed-maturity security portfolios include mortgage-backed securities. Due to the high quality of these investments and the lack of subprime loans within the securities, the Company does not have a material exposure to subprime mortgages.
(b)
Unrealized Investment Losses
The following table summarizes the fair value and related unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities that have been in a continuous loss position for the respective years ended December 31 are shown below:
 
12 months or less
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Total
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government
$
34,218

 
400

 
1,986

 
50

 
36,204

 
450

Foreign government
2,933

 
51

 

 

 
2,933

 
51

Corporate securities
116,272

 
1,035

 
41,688

 
1,223

 
157,960

 
2,258

Mortgage-backed securities
90,852

 
677

 
54,608

 
2,146

 
145,460

 
2,823

Total temporarily impaired securities
$
244,275

 
2,163

 
98,282

 
3,419

 
342,557

 
5,582

 
12 months or less
 
Greater than 12 months
 
Total
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair value
 
Unrealized losses
2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government
$
11,713

 
103

 

 

 
11,713

 
103

States and political subdivisions
4,286

 
187

 

 

 
4,286

 
187

Corporate securities
132,387

 
3,313

 
7,253

 
426

 
139,640

 
3,739

Mortgage-backed securities
102,435

 
3,483

 
1,622

 
75

 
104,057

 
3,558

Total temporarily impaired securities
$
250,821

 
7,086

 
8,875

 
501

 
259,696

 
7,587

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were 160 and 149 available-for-sale fixed-maturity security holdings that were in an unrealized loss position, respectively.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, of the total amount of unrealized losses, $5,498 or 98.6% and $7,250 or 95.6%, respectively, are related to unrealized losses on investment grade securities. Investment grade is defined as a security having a credit rating of Aaa, Aa, A, or Baa from Moody’s or a rating of AAA, AA, A, or BBB from Standards and Poor’s (S&P), or a NAIC rating of 1 or 2 if a Moody’s or S&P rating is not available. Unrealized losses on securities are principally related to changes in interest rates or changes in sector spreads from the date of purchase. As contractual payments continue to be met, management continues to expect all contractual cash flows to be received and does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
(c)
OTTI Losses
The following table presents a rollforward of the Company’s cumulative credit impairments on fixed-maturity securities held at December 31:
 
2017
 
2016
Balance as of January 1
$

 

Additions for credit impairments recognized on:
 
 
 
Securities not previously impaired
257

 
387

Reductions for credit impairments previously on:
 
 
 
Securities that matured, were sold, or were liquidated during the period
(257
)
 
(387
)
Balance as of December 31
$

 

(d)
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
Gross and net realized investment gains (losses) for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows:
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Gross gains on sales and exchanges
$
52

 
1,130

 
895

Gross losses on sales and exchanges
(167
)
 
(949
)
 
(133
)
OTTI
(257
)
 
(387
)
 
(184
)
Net gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
(372
)
 
(206
)
 
578

Other
49

 
1

 
5

Net realized investment gains (losses)
$
(323
)
 
(205
)
 
583

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities for the years ended December 31 are presented in the following table:
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity
$
16,917

 
59,031

 
54,740

(e)
Trading Gains and Losses
The Company recognized unrealized gains (losses) of $248, $136, and $(19) during 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively, on trading securities still held at the reporting date. The Company did not recognize any gains or losses on trading securities sold during 2017, 2016, and 2015.
(f)
Interest and Similar Income
Major categories of Interest and similar income, net, for the respective years ended December 31 are shown below:
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Interest and similar income:
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities
$
31,442

 
30,189

 
27,699

Trading securities
34

 
16

 
24

Policy loans
22

 
22

 
18

Short-term securities and cash and cash equivalents
631

 
165

 
24

Total
32,129

 
30,392

 
27,765

Less: Investment expenses
847

 
834

 
378

Total interest and similar income, net
$
31,282

 
29,558

 
27,387

(g)
Variable Interest Entities
The Company invests in structured securities which represent interests in VIEs. The Company has carefully analyzed the VIEs to determine whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, taking into consideration whether the Company, or the Company together with its affiliates, has the power to direct the activities of the VIE, that most affect its economic performance and whether the Company has the right to benefits from the VIE. The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary for any of the VIEs invested in by the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to VIEs in which the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary as of December 31were as follows:
 
2017
 
2016
 
Carrying amount
 
Maximum exposure to loss (1)
 
Carrying amount
 
Maximum exposure to loss (1)
Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities
$
4,428

 
4,428

 
5,700

 
5,700

Mortgage-backed securities
258,750

 
258,750

 
182,391

 
182,391

Total fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale
$
263,178

 
263,178

 
188,091

 
188,091

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) The maximum exposure to loss is equal to the carrying amount for Fixed-maturity securities, available-for-sale.