Security National Financial Corp: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2024

Security National Financial Corporation (the “Company”) operates in three reportable business segments: life insurance, cemetery and mortuary, and mortgages. The life insurance segment is engaged in the business of selling and servicing selected lines of life insurance, annuity products, and accident and health insurance. These products are marketed in 42 states through a commissioned sales force of independent licensed insurance agents who may also sell insurance products of other companies. The cemetery and mortuary segment consists of eleven mortuaries and five cemeteries in the state of Utah, one cemetery in the state of California, and one cemetery and four mortuaries in the state of New Mexico. The Company also engages in pre-need selling of funeral, cemetery, mortuary, and cremation services through its cemetery and mortuary locations. The mortgage segment originates and underwrites or otherwise purchases residential and commercial loans for new construction, existing homes, and other real estate projects. The mortgage segment operates through 97 retail offices in 26 states and is an approved mortgage lender in several other states.

The Company’s design and structure are that each business segment is related to the other business segments and contributes to the profitability of the other segments. The Company’s cemetery and mortuary segment provides a level of public awareness that assists in the sales and marketing of insurance and pre-need cemetery and funeral products. The Company’s insurance segment invests its assets (including, in part, pre-need funeral products and services) in investments authorized by the respective insurance departments of their states of domicile. The Company also pursues growth through acquisitions. The Company’s mortgage segment provides mortgage loans and other real estate investment opportunities.

The Company was organized as a holding company in 1979 when Security National Life Insurance Company (“Security National Life”) became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and the former stockholders of Security National Life became stockholders of the Company. Security National Life was formed in 1965 and has acquired or purchased significant blocks of business which include Capital Investors Life Insurance Company (1994), Civil Service Employees Life Insurance Company (1995), Southern Security Life Insurance Company (1998), Menlo Life Insurance Company (1999), Acadian Life Insurance Company (2002), Paramount Security Life Insurance Company (2004), Memorial Insurance Company of America (2005 and subsequently sold in 2021 to FOXO Life Insurance Company), Capital Reserve Life Insurance Company (2007), Southern Security Life Insurance Company, Inc. (2008), North America Life Insurance Company (2011, 2015), Trans-Western Life Insurance Company (2012), Mothe Life Insurance Company (2012), DLE Life Insurance Company (2012), American Republic Insurance Company (2015), First Guaranty Insurance Company (2016), Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company (2019), and merger with FOXO Life Insurance Company (2023).

The cemetery and mortuary operations have also grown through the acquisition of other cemetery and mortuary companies. The cemetery and mortuary companies that the Company has acquired are Holladay Memorial Park, Inc. (1991), Cottonwood Mortuary, Inc. (1991), Deseret Memorial, Inc. (1991), Probst Family Funerals and Cremations L.L.C. (2019), Heber Valley Funeral Home, Inc. (2019), Rivera Funerals, Cremations and Memorial Gardens (2021), and Holbrook Mortuary (2021).

In 1993, the Company formed SecurityNational Mortgage Company (“SecurityNational Mortgage”) to originate and refinance residential mortgage loans.

See Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the business segments of the Company.

Life Insurance

Products

The Company, through Security National Life, First Guaranty Insurance Company (“First Guaranty”), and Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company (“Kilpatrick”), issues and administers selected lines of life insurance and annuities. The Company’s life insurance business includes funeral plans and interest-sensitive life insurance, as well as other traditional life, accident, and limited health insurance products. The Company places specific marketing emphasis on funeral plans through pre-need planning. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries, Kilpatrick, Southern Security Life Insurance Company, Inc. (“Southern Security”) and Trans-Western Life Insurance Company (“Trans-Western”), do not actively write policies, but service and maintain policies that were issued prior to their acquisition by Security National Life.

A funeral plan is a small face value life insurance policy that generally has face coverage of up to $30,000. The Company believes that funeral plans represent a marketing niche that has less competition because most insurance companies do not offer similar coverage. The purpose of the funeral plan policy is to pay the costs and expenses incurred at the time of a person’s death. On a per thousand-dollar cost of insurance basis, these policies can be more expensive to the policyholder than many types of non-burial insurance due to their low face amount, requiring the fixed cost of the policy administration to be distributed over a smaller policy size, and the simplified underwriting practices that result in higher mortality costs.

Markets and Distribution

The Company is licensed to sell insurance in 42 states. In marketing its life insurance products, the Company seeks to locate, develop and service specific niche markets. The Company’s funeral plan policies are sold primarily to people who range in age from 45 to 85 and have low to moderate income. Most of the Company’s funeral plan premiums come from the states of Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Utah.

The Company sells its life insurance products through direct agents, brokers, and independent licensed agents who may also sell insurance products of other companies. The commissions on life insurance products range from approximately 50% to 150% of first year premiums. In those cases where the Company utilizes its direct agents in selling such policies, those agents customarily receive advances against future commissions.

In some instances, funeral plan insurance is marketed in conjunction with the Company’s cemetery and mortuary sales force. When it is marketed by that group, the beneficiary is usually the Company’s cemeteries and mortuaries. Thus, death benefits that become payable under the policy are paid to the Company’s cemetery and mortuary subsidiaries to the extent of services performed and products purchased.

In marketing funeral plan insurance, the Company also seeks and obtains third-party endorsements from other cemeteries and mortuaries within its marketing areas. Typically, these cemeteries and mortuaries will provide letters of endorsement and may share in mailing and other lead-generating costs since these businesses are usually made the beneficiary of the policy. The following table summarizes the life insurance business for the five years ended December 31, 2024:

(1) Prior years have been adjusted to include accidental death benefit insurance in force that was inadvertently excluded.

Underwriting

The factors considered in evaluating an application for ordinary life insurance coverage can include the applicant’s age, occupation, general health condition, and medical history. Upon receipt of a satisfactory (non-funeral plan insurance) application, which contains pertinent medical questions, the Company issues insurance based upon its medical limits and requirements subject to the following general non-medical limits:

When underwriting life insurance, the Company will sometimes issue policies with higher premium rates for substandard risks.

The Company’s funeral plan insurance is written on a simplified medical application with underwriting requirements being a completed application, a phone interview of the applicant, and an intelliscript prescription history inquiry. There are several underwriting classes in which an applicant can be placed.

Annuities

Products

The Company’s annuity business includes single premium deferred annuities, flexible premium deferred annuities, and immediate annuities. A single premium deferred annuity is a contract where the individual remits a sum of money to the Company, which is retained on deposit until such time as the individual may wish to annuitize or surrender the contract for cash. A flexible premium deferred annuity gives the contract holder the right to make premium payments of varying amounts or to make no further premium payments after his initial payment. These single and flexible premium deferred annuities can have initial surrender charges. The surrender charges act as a deterrent to individuals who may wish to prematurely surrender their annuity contracts. An immediate annuity is a contract in which the individual remits a sum of money to the Company in return for the Company’s obligation to pay a series of payments on a periodic basis over a designated period, such as an individual’s life, or for such other period as may be designated.

Annuities have guaranteed interest rates that range from 1% to 6.5% per annum. Rates above the guaranteed interest rate credited are periodically modified by the Company’s Board of Directors at its discretion. For the Company to make a profit on an annuity product, the Company must maintain an interest rate spread between its investment income and the interest rates credited to the annuities. Commissions, issuance expenses, and general and administrative expenses are deducted from this interest rate spread.

Markets and Distribution

The general market for the Company’s annuities is middle to older age individuals. A major source of annuity sales comes from direct agents and are sold in conjunction with other insurance sales. If an individual does not qualify for a funeral plan, the agent will often sell that individual an annuity to fund final expenses.

The following table summarizes the annuity business for the five years ended December 31, 2024:

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Accident and Health

Products

Through its various acquisitions, the Company occasionally acquires small blocks of accident and health insurance policies, which it continues to service. The Company offered a low-cost comprehensive diver’s accident insurance policy that provided worldwide coverage for medical expense reimbursement in the event of a diving accident. This product was discontinued in March 2024.

Markets and Distribution

The Company marketed its diver’s accident insurance policies through the internet.

The following table summarizes the accident and health insurance business for the five years ended December 31, 2024:

Reinsurance

The primary purpose of reinsurance is to enable an insurance company to issue an insurance policy in an amount larger than the risk the insurance company is willing to assume for itself. The insurance company remains obligated for the amounts reinsured (ceded) in the event the reinsurers do not meet their obligations.

The Company currently cedes and assumes certain risks with various authorized unaffiliated reinsurers pursuant to reinsurance treaties, which are generally renewed annually. The premiums paid by the Company are based on a number of factors, primarily including the age of the insured and the risk ceded to the reinsurer.

It is the Company’s policy to retain no more than $100,000 of ordinary insurance per life insured, with the excess risk being reinsured. The total policy amount of life insurance reinsured by other companies as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, was $325,189,000 and $333,211,000, which represented approximately 9.4% and 9.3% of the Company’s total life insurance policy amount in force on that date, respectively.

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional disclosure and discussion regarding reinsurance.

Investments

The investments that support the Company’s life insurance and annuity obligations are determined by the investment committees of the Company’s subsidiaries and ratified by the full boards of directors of the respective subsidiaries. A significant portion of the Company’s investments must meet statutory requirements governing the nature and quality of permitted investments by its insurance subsidiaries. The Company maintains a diversified investment portfolio consisting of common stocks, preferred stocks, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage loans, real estate, and other securities and investments.

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional disclosure and discussion regarding investments.

Cemetery and Mortuary

Products

Through its cemetery and mortuary segment, the Company markets a variety of products and services both on a pre-need basis (prior to death) and an at-need basis (at the time of death). The products include plots, interment vaults, mausoleum crypts, markers, caskets, urns, and other death care related products. These services include professional services of funeral directors, opening and closing of graves, use of chapels and viewing rooms, and use of automobiles and clothing. The Company has a mortuary at each of its cemeteries, other than Holladay Memorial Park and Singing Hills Memorial Park, and has ten separate stand-alone mortuary facilities.

Markets and Distribution

The Company’s pre-need cemetery and mortuary sales are marketed to persons of all ages but are generally purchased by persons 45 years of age and older. The Company is limited in its geographic distribution of these products to areas lying within an approximate 20-mile radius of its mortuaries and cemeteries. The Company’s at-need sales are similarly limited in the geographic area.

The Company actively seeks to sell its cemetery and funeral products to customers on a pre-need basis. The Company employs cemetery sales representatives on a commission basis to sell these products. Many of these pre-need cemetery and mortuary sales representatives are also licensed insurance salesmen and sell funeral plan insurance. In some instances, the Company’s cemetery and mortuary facilities are the named beneficiaries of the funeral plan policies.

Potential customers are located via telephone sales prospecting, responses to letters mailed by the pre-planning consultants, billboards and other outside advertising, referrals, and door-to-door canvassing. The Company trains its sales representatives and helps generate leads for them.

Mortgage Loans

Products

The Company, through SecurityNational Mortgage, is active in the residential real estate market. SecurityNational Mortgage is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), and other secondary market investors, to originate a variety of residential mortgage loan products, which are subsequently sold to investors. The Company uses internal and external funding sources to fund mortgage loans.

Security National Life originates and funds commercial real estate loans, residential construction loans, and land development loans for internal investment.

Markets and Distribution

The Company’s residential mortgage lending services are marketed primarily to real estate brokers, builders and directly to consumers. The Company has a strong retail origination presence in the Utah, Florida, Texas, Nevada and Arizona markets and many other states across the country. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional disclosure and discussion regarding mortgage loans.

Recent Acquisitions and Other Business Activities

Real Estate Development

The Company is capitalizing on the opportunity to develop commercial and residential assets on its existing and recently acquired properties. The cost to acquire existing for-sale assets currently exceeds the replacement costs, thus creating the opportunity for development and redevelopment of the land that the Company currently owns. The Company has developed, or is in the process of developing, assets that have an initial development cost exceeding $100,000,000, primarily relating to the Center53 Development and multiple single family residential development projects. The Company plans to continue its development endeavors based upon its assessment of the market demand.

Center53 Development

Center53 Development is an office development project comprising nearly 20 acres of land that is currently owned by the Company in the central valley of Salt Lake City. At final completion, the multi-year phased development is expected to create a campus atmosphere and include nearly one million square-feet of office space in five buildings, ranging from four to eleven stories, and will be serviced by three parking structures with approximately 4,000 stalls. In 2015, the Company broke ground and commenced development on the first phase which included a six-story building of nearly 200,000 square feet and a parking garage with 748 parking stalls. The first phase of the project was completed in July 2017 and is currently 88% leased. The second phase of the project began in March 2020 and includes a second six-story building of nearly 221,000 square feet and a parking garage with approximately 870 stalls. The Company began its occupancy of a portion of the building in October 2021 and the remainder of the building is currently 100% leased. The Company plans to initiate future phases of the Center53 Development for additional Class A office space in the central valley of Salt Lake City.

Regulation

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to comprehensive regulations in the jurisdictions in which they do business under statutes and regulations administered by state insurance commissioners. Such regulation relates to, among other things, prior approval of the acquisition of a controlling interest in an insurance company; standards of solvency which must be met and maintained; licensing of insurers and their agents; nature of and limitations on investments; deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders; approval of policy forms and premium rates; periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies; annual and other reports required to be filed on the financial condition of insurers or for other purposes; and requirements regarding aggregate reserves for life policies and annuity contracts, policy claims, unearned premiums, and other matters. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to this type of regulation in any state in which they conduct relevant business. Such regulations may cause unforeseen costs and operational restrictions, and delay implementation of the Company’s business plans.

The Company’s life insurance subsidiaries are currently subject to regulations in Utah, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas under insurance holding company legislation, and other states where applicable. Generally, intercompany transfers of assets and dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries are subject to prior notice of approval from the relevant state insurance department when they are deemed “extraordinary” under relevant state law. The insurance subsidiaries are required, under state insurance laws, to file detailed annual reports with the supervisory agencies in each of the states in which they do business. Their business and accounts are also subject to examination by these agencies every three to five years. The Company’s life insurance subsidiaries completed their last examinations in 2021 and 2022 for the period ending December 31, 2020 and the resulting final examination reports were approved by the insurance departments and are public records. Security National Life, First Guaranty, Kilpatrick, and Southern Security have received notice of a regularly scheduled multi-year examination for the years 2021-2024 that will commence in the second quarter of 2025.

The Texas Department of Banking also audits pre-need insurance policies that are issued in the state of Texas. Pre-need policies include the life and annuity products sold as the funding mechanism for funeral plans through funeral homes by Security National agents. The Company is required to send the Texas Department of Banking an annual report that summarizes the number of policies in force and the face amount or death benefit for each policy. This annual report is also required to indicate the number of new policies issued for that year, all death claims paid that year, and all premiums received.

The Company’s cemetery and mortuary subsidiaries are subject to the Federal Trade Commission’s comprehensive funeral industry rules and to state regulations in the various states where such operations are domiciled. The morticians must be licensed by the respective state in which they provide their services. Similarly, the mortuaries and cemeteries are governed and licensed by state statutes and city ordinances in Utah, California, and New Mexico. The subsidiaries are required to keep annual reports on file including financial information concerning the number of spaces sold and, where applicable, funds provided to the Endowment Care Trust Fund. Licenses are issued annually based on such reports. The cemeteries maintain city or county licenses where they conduct business.

The Company’s mortgage subsidiaries are subject to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and to various state licensing acts and regulations and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). These regulations, among other things, specify minimum capital requirements; procedures for loan origination and underwriting, licensing of brokers and loan officers and quality review audits and specify the fees that can be charged to borrowers. Each year, the Company is required to have an audit completed for its mortgage subsidiary by an independent registered public accounting firm to verify compliance with the relevant regulations. In addition to the government regulations, the Company must meet loan requirements, and underwriting guidelines of various investors who purchase the loans.

Income Taxes

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries, Security National Life, First Guaranty and Kilpatrick are taxed under the Life Insurance Company Tax Act of 1984. Under the act, life insurance companies are taxed at standard corporate rates on life insurance company taxable income. Life insurance company taxable income is gross income less general business deductions and reserves for future policyholder benefits (with modifications). Under The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), December 31, 2017 policyholder surplus account balances result in taxable income over a period of eight years.

Security National Life, First Guaranty and Kilpatrick calculate their life insurance taxable income after establishing a provision representing a portion of the costs of acquisition of such life insurance business. The effect of the provision is that a certain percentage of the Company’s premium income is characterized as deferred expenses and recognized over a five or ten-year period. The Tax Act changed this recognition period for amounts deferred after December 31, 2017 to a five or fifteen-year period.

The Company’s non-life insurance company subsidiaries are taxed in general under the regular corporate tax provisions. The Company’s subsidiaries Southern Security and Trans-Western are regulated as life insurance companies but do not meet the Internal Revenue Code definition of a life insurance company, so they are taxed as insurance companies other than life insurance companies.

Competition

The life insurance industry is highly competitive. There are approximately 700 legal reserve life insurance companies in business in the United States. These insurance companies differentiate themselves through marketing techniques, product features, pricing, and customer service. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries compete with many insurance companies, many of which have greater financial resources, longer business histories, and more diversified lines of insurance products than the Company. In addition, such companies generally have larger sales forces. Further, the Company competes with mutual insurance companies which may have a competitive advantage because all profits accrue to policyholders. Because the Company is smaller by industry standards and lacks broad diversification of risk, it may be more vulnerable to losses than larger, better-established companies. The Company believes that its policies and rates for the markets it serves are generally competitive.

The cemetery and mortuary industry are highly competitive. In the Utah, California, and New Mexico markets where the Company competes, there are several cemeteries and mortuaries which have longer business histories, more established positions in the community, and stronger financial positions than the Company. In addition, some of the cemeteries with which the Company must compete for sales are owned by municipalities and, as a result, can offer lower prices than can the Company. The Company bears the cost of a pre-need sales program that is not incurred by those competitors which do not have a pre-need sales force. The Company believes that its products and prices are generally competitive with those in the industry.

The mortgage industry is highly competitive with many mortgage companies and banks in the same geographic area in which the Company is operating. The mortgage industry in general is sensitive to changes in interest rates and the refinancing market is particularly vulnerable to changes in interest rates.

Seasonality

The Company’s business is generally not subject to seasonal fluctuations.

Human Capital Management

As of December 31, 2024, the Company employed 1,186 full-time and 235 part-time employees. Of the full-time employees, 678 were employed by the mortgage segment, 388 by the life insurance segment, and 120 by the cemetery and mortuary segment. The Company requires monthly acknowledgement of its anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and communicates to its employees how to report concerns that relate to their employment experience.

Employee Benefits

All eligible employees may elect coverage under the Company’s group health (including health savings and flexible spending), retirement, supplemental life and voluntary benefit programs. As of December 31, 2024, 757 employees had elected to participate in the Company’s group health insurance plans.

The Company sponsors a 401(k) retirement plan for each business segment. These retirement plans qualify under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and, if approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company makes a matching contribution in Company stock based on the employee’s contribution amount.

The Company provides other time off benefits such as paid sick time and paid vacation time. The Company provides discounts on certain services provided by the Company to its employees. Additionally, the Company offers an employee assistance program that provides 24/7 counseling services for employees who may be facing challenges outside of the workplace.

Available Information

The Company’s internet address is www.securitynational.com (http://www.securitynational.com). The Company’s investor relations website is www.investor.securitynational.com (http://www.investor.securitynational.com) and the Company promptly makes available on this website, free of charge, the reports that it files or furnishes with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company maintains a strong information security program and systems (“Cybersecurity System”) to guard against unauthorized access, malicious software, corruption of data, disruption of its networks and systems and unauthorized release of confidential information. The Company’s Cybersecurity System is comprised of multiple layers of controls to reduce the risk of cybersecurity incidents.

Risk Management and Strategy

The Company’s Cybersecurity System includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and is designed to provide an appropriate level of protection to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the Company’s and its customers’ information. This includes protecting against known and evolving threats to the security of the Company’s systems and information, and against unauthorized access, compromise, or loss of data. The Cybersecurity System is managed centrally, so the same security controls, policies and procedures are implemented across the organization. The Company maintains cybersecurity policies including an Acceptable Use Policy that all system users sign to acknowledge that they understand their security responsibilities. All system users receive security awareness training which includes phishing attack simulation testing.

A key element of the Company’s Cybersecurity System is to mature the program to align with the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Critical Security Controls security framework. CIS controls are designed based on real-world data about cyber-attacks, to ensure that the measures are effective against current threats. The framework provides a prioritized set of actions, which enables the Company to focus its efforts on the most effective defensive measures first. This prioritization helps in optimizing the use of resources for maximum impact on security. This strategy provides a structured and effective approach to cybersecurity, helping the Company to protect its assets, comply with regulations, manage risks, and improve its overall security posture.

The Company maintains cyber insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms, conditions, and limitations, cover certain aspects of cybersecurity risks; however, such insurance coverage may be unavailable or insufficient to cover all losses or all types of claims that may arise in the continually evolving area of cyber risk.

Governance

The Company has established controls and procedures to escalate enterprise-level issues, including cybersecurity matters, to the appropriate management levels within its organization and to its Board of Directors, or members or committees thereof, as appropriate. The Company’s Board of Directors has oversight for enterprise risk management, including its approach to managing cybersecurity risk, and has delegated oversight responsibility of information security risks to its Audit Committee. Matters determined to present potential material impacts to the Company’s financial results, operations, and/or reputation are reported by management to the Company’s Board of Directors or its Audit Committee, as appropriate, in accordance with its escalation framework.

In addition, the Company has established procedures to ensure that management personnel are informed in a timely manner of known cybersecurity risks and incidents that may materially impact the Company’s operations and that timely public disclosure is made as appropriate. The Company’s Cybersecurity System is led by the Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) in collaboration with a third-party virtual Chief Information Security Officer (“vCISO”) and other third-party cybersecurity service providers which in turn assist in monitoring the Company’s exposure from significant information technology suppliers, significant software as service providers and major vendors with access to the Company’s information technology systems. The Company’s CIO has 10+ years of cybersecurity industry experience. Further, team members who support the Company’s cybersecurity program have relevant educational and industry experience through various roles involving information technology, security, auditing, compliance, systems, and programming, as well as cybersecurity certifications such as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). During the last three years, the Company has not experienced a material security breach and, as a result, the Company has not incurred any material expenses from such a breach. Furthermore, during such time, the Company has not been penalized or paid any amount under any information security breach settlement.

The tables below set forth the location of the Company’s office facilities and certain other information relating to these properties.

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The Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings outside the ordinary course of business or to any other legal proceedings, which if adversely determined, would be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operation.

Overview

The Company’s operations over the last several years generally reflect three strategies which the Company expects to continue: (i) increased attention to “niche” insurance products, such as the Company’s funeral plan policies and traditional whole life products; (ii) increased emphasis on cemetery and mortuary business; and (iii) capitalizing on the housing market by originating mortgage loans.

Insurance Operations

The following table shows the condensed financial results for the Company’s insurance operations for 2024 and 2023. See Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Profitability for 2024 increased due to (a) a $4,998,000 increase in insurance premiums and other considerations, (b) a $3,301,000 decrease in death, surrenders and other policy benefits, (c) a $2,323,000 decrease in amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, (d) a $1,092,000 increase in gains on investments and other assets, (e) a $443,000 increase in net investment income, and (f) a $354,000 decrease in interest expense, which were partially offset by (i) a $2,949,000 increase in income tax expense, (ii) a $2,929,000 increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, (iii) a $2,245,000 increase in future policy benefits, (iv) a $931,000 decrease in intersegment revenue, (v) a $102,000 decrease in other revenues, (vi) a $77,000 decrease in mortgage fee income, and (vii) a $42,000 increase in intersegment interest expense and other expenses.

Cemetery and Mortuary Operations

The following table shows the condensed financial results for the Company’s cemetery and mortuary operations for 2024 and 2023. See Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

19

Profitability in 2024 increased due to (a) a $1,140,000 increase in cemetery pre-need sales, (b) a $260,000 increase in mortuary at-need sales, (c) a $156,000 increase in gains on investments and other assets, (d) a $139,000 increase in other revenues, and (e) a $26,000 decrease in intersegment interest expense and other expenses, which were partially offset by (i) a $458,000 increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, (ii) a $383,000 decrease in net investment income, (iii) a $239,000 increase in amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, (iv) a $228,000 decrease in cemetery at-need sales, and (v) a $96,000 increase in income tax expense.

Mortgage Operations

The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, SecurityNational Mortgage, is a mortgage lender incorporated under the laws of the State of Utah and approved and regulated by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a department of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which originates mortgage loans that qualify for government insurance in the event of default by the borrower, in addition to various conventional mortgage loan products. SecurityNational Mortgage originates and refinances mortgage loans on a retail basis. Mortgage loans originated or refinanced by SecurityNational Mortgage are funded through loan purchase agreements with the Company, Security National Life, Kilpatrick Life, and unaffiliated financial institutions.

SecurityNational Mortgage receives fees from borrowers that are involved in mortgage loan originations and refinancings, and secondary fees earned from third party investors that purchase the mortgage loans. Mortgage loans are generally sold with mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) released to third-party investors or retained by SecurityNational Mortgage. SecurityNational Mortgage currently retains the MSRs on approximately 0.44% of its loan origination volume. These mortgage loans are serviced by either SecurityNational Mortgage or an approved third-party sub-servicer.

US Treasury rates continue to remain elevated despite the downward trend in inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s action to reduce rates. This has resulted in higher-than-expected mortgage rates, which in turn has further decreased the demand for loan originations classified as refinance. The higher-than-expected mortgage rates have also continued to have a negative effect on loan originations classified as purchases.

For 2024 and 2023, SecurityNational Mortgage originated 7,269 loans ($2,295,830,000 total volume) and 7,185 loans ($2,173,081,000 total volume), respectively.

The following table shows the condensed financial results for the Company’s mortgage operations for 2024 and 2023. See Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

20

Losses in 2024 compared to 2023 decreased due to (a) a $4,251,000 decrease in other expenses, (b) a $3,348,000 increase in the fair value of loans held for sale, (c) a $2,359,000 increase in income from loan originations, (d) a $2,177,000 decrease in personnel expenses, (e) a $1,927,000 increase in secondary gains from investors, (f) a $1,854,000 increase in the fair value of loan commitments, (g) a $1,729,000 decrease in rent and rent related expenses, (h) a $921,000 increase in other revenues, (i) a $904,000 decrease in intersegment interest expense and other expenses, (j) a $330,000 decrease in advertising expenses, (k) a $306,000 decrease in costs related to funding mortgage loans, (l) a $257,000 decrease in interest expense, (m) a $42,000 increase in intersegment revenues, and (n) a $29,000 decrease in depreciation on property and equipment, which were partially offset by (i) a $7,410,000 increase in commissions, (ii) a $2,717,000 increase in income tax expense, (iii) a $1,143,000 decrease in gains on investments and other assets, and (iv) a $678,000 decrease in net investment income.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company’s significant accounting policies are fundamental to understanding its results of operations and financial condition as they require that the Company use estimates and assumptions that may affect the value of its assets or liabilities and financial results. See Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Five of these policies, discussed below, relate to critical estimates because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company’s Management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors have reviewed and approved the accounting policies associated with these critical estimates.

Future Policy Benefits

Reserves for future policy benefits for traditional life insurance products requires the use of many assumptions, including the duration of the policies, mortality experience, expenses, investment yield, lapse rates, surrender rates, and dividend crediting rates.

These assumptions are made based upon historical experience, industry standards and a best estimate of future results and, for traditional life products, include a provision for adverse deviation. For traditional life insurance, once established for a particular series of products, these assumptions are generally held constant.

Deferred Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”) for interest sensitive products is dependent upon estimates of current and future gross profits or margins on this business. Key assumptions used include the following: yield on investments supporting the liabilities, amount of interest or dividends credited to the policies, amount of policy fees and charges, amount of expenses necessary to maintain the policies, amount of death and surrender benefits, and the length of time the policies will stay in force.

For nonparticipating traditional life products, these costs are amortized over the premium paying period of the related policies in proportion to the ratio of annual premium revenues to total anticipated premium revenues. Such anticipated premium revenues are estimated using the same assumption used for computing liabilities for future policy benefits and are generally “locked in” at the date the policies are issued.

Value of business acquired (“VOBA”) is the present value of estimated future profits of the acquired business and is amortized like deferred acquisition costs. The critical issues explained for deferred acquisition costs would also apply for value of business acquired.

Premium Deficiency and Loss Recognition Testing

At least annually, the Company tests the adequacy of the net benefit reserves (liability for future policy benefits, net of DAC and VOBA) recorded for life insurance and annuity products. The Company tests for recoverability by using the Company’s current best-estimate assumptions as to policyholder mortality, persistency, maintenance expenses and invested asset returns. These tests evaluate whether the present value of future contract-related cash flows will support the capitalized DAC and VOBA assets. These cash flows consist primarily of premium income, less benefits, and expenses. If the current contract liabilities plus the present value of future premiums is greater than the sum of the present values of future policy benefits, commissions, and expenses plus the current DAC and VOBA less unearned premium reserve balances, then the capitalized assets are deemed recoverable. The present values are calculated using the best estimate of the after-tax net investment earned rate.

Loan Loss Reserve

The Company provides for losses on its mortgage loans held for sale through the mortgage loan loss reserve (a liability account).

The mortgage loan loss reserve is an estimate of probable losses at the balance sheet date that the Company will realize in the future on mortgage loans sold to third-party investors. The Company may be required to reimburse third-party investors for costs associated with early payoff of loans within six months of origination of such loans and to repurchase loans where there is a default in any of the first four monthly payments to the investors or, in lieu of repurchase, to pay a negotiated fee to the investors. The Company’s estimates are based upon historical loss experience and the best estimate of the probable loan loss liabilities.

Upon completion of a transfer that satisfies the conditions to be accounted for as a sale, the Company initially measures at fair value liabilities incurred in a sale relating to any guarantee or recourse provisions in the event of defects in the representations and warranties made at loan sale. The Company accrues a monthly allowance for indemnification losses to investors based on total production. This estimate is based on the Company’s historical experience and is included as a component of mortgage fee income. Subsequent updates to the recorded liability from changes in assumptions are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. The estimated liability for indemnification losses is included in other liabilities and accrued expenses.

Loan Commitments

The Company estimates the fair value of a mortgage loan commitment based on the change in estimated fair value of the underlying mortgage loan, quoted mortgage-backed security (“MBS”) prices, estimates of the fair value of mortgage servicing rights, and an estimate of the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the commitment net of estimated commission expense. The change in fair value of the underlying mortgage loan is measured from the date the mortgage loan commitment is issued and is shown net of related expenses. Following issuance, the value of a loan commitment can be either positive or negative depending upon the change in value of the underlying mortgage loans. Fallout rates and other factors from the Company’s recent historical data are used to estimate the quantity and value of mortgage loans that will be funded within the terms of the commitments.

Results of Consolidated Operations

2024 Compared to 2023

Total revenues increased by $16,025,000, or 5.0%, to $334,522,000 for 2024 from $318,497,000 for 2023. Contributing to this increase in total revenues was primarily a $9,411,000 increase in mortgage fee income, a $4,997,000 increase in insurance premiums and other considerations, a $1,172,000 increase in net cemetery and mortuary sales, a $958,000 increase in other revenues, and a $105,000 increase in gains on investments and other assets. This increase in total revenues was offset by a $618,000 decrease in net investment income.

Mortgage fee income increased by $9,411,000, or 9.6%, to $107,559,000 for 2024, from $98,148,000 for 2023. This increase was primarily due to a $5,202,000 increase in the fair value of loans held for sale and loan commitments, a $3,264,000 increase in loan fees and interest income, a $1,850,000 increase in secondary gains from mortgage loans sold to third-party investors into the secondary market. This increase in mortgage fee income was partially offset by a $905,000 increase in the provision for loan loss reserve.

Insurance premiums and other considerations increased by $4,997,000, or 4.4%, to $119,656,000 for 2024, from $114,659,000 for 2023. This increase was due to an increase of $2,555,000 in first year premiums because of increased preneed insurance sales and an increase of $2,442,000 in renewal premiums due to the growth of the Company in recent years, particularly in whole life products, which resulted in more premium paying policies in force.

Net investment income decreased by $618,000, or 0.9%, to $71,725,000 for 2024, from $72,343,000 for 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to a $3,416,000 decrease in rental income from real estate held for investment and a $3,290,000 decrease in mortgage loan interest. This decrease was partially offset by a $2,427,000 increase in interest on cash and cash equivalents, a $1,853,000 increase in insurance assignment income, a $941,000 decrease in investment expenses, a $461,000 increase in fixed maturity securities income, a $189,000 increase in income in other investments, a $137,000 increase in policy loan income, and an $82,000 increase in equity securities income.

Net mortuary and cemetery sales increased by $1,172,000, or 4.2%, to $29,037,000 for 2024, from $27,865,000 for 2023. This increase was primarily due to a $1,140,000 increase in cemetery pre-need sales and a $260,000 increase in mortuary at-need sales. This increase was partially offset by a $228,000 decrease in cemetery at-need sales.

Gains on investments and other assets increased by $105,000, or 5.7%, to $1,942,000 for 2024, from $1,837,000 for 2023. This increase in gains on investments and other assets was primarily due to a $614,000 increase in gains on real estate held for investment, a $234,000 increase in gains on other assets, a $210,000 increase in gains on equity securities mostly attributable to increases in the fair value of these equity securities, and a $208,000 increase in gains on fixed maturity securities. This increase was partially offset by a $1,161,000 decrease in gains on mortgage loans held for investment.

Other revenues increased by $958,000, or 26.3%, to $4,604,000 for 2024 from $3,646,000 for 2023. This increase was primarily attributable to a $1,350,000 legal settlement, which was partially offset by a decrease of $392,000 in other miscellaneous revenues.

Total benefits and expenses were $300,419,000, or 89.8% of total revenues for 2024, as compared to $302,197,000, or 94.9% of total revenues for 2023.

Death benefits, surrenders and other policy benefits, and future policy benefits decreased by an aggregate of $1,056,000, or 1.1%, to $98,956,000 for 2024, from $100,012,000 for 2023. This decrease was primarily the result of a $3,274,000 decrease in death benefits and a $27,000 decrease in surrender and other policy benefits. This decrease was partially offset by a $2,245,000 increase in future policy benefits.

Amortization of deferred policy and pre-need acquisition costs and value of business acquired decreased by $2,084,000, or 11.6%, to $15,940,000 for 2024, from $18,024,000 for 2023. This decrease was primarily due to increased payment consistency from premium-paying products along with a decrease in new business.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by an aggregate of $1,975,000, or 1.1%, to $176,465,000 for 2024, from $174,490,000 for 2023. This increase was primarily the result of a $7,043,000 increase in commissions, a $1,943,000 increase in personnel expenses, and a $32,000 increase in depreciation on property and equipment. This increase was partially offset by a $4,432,000 decrease in other expenses, a $1,710,000 decrease in rent and rent related expenses, a $595,000 decrease in advertising expenses, and a $306,000 decrease in costs related to funding mortgage loans.

Interest expense decreased by $611,000, or 12.6%, to $4,254,000 for 2024, from $4,865,000 for 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease of $354,000 in interest expense on bank loans and a decrease of $257,000 in interest expense on mortgage warehouse lines of credit for loans held for sale.

Income tax expense increased by $5,763,000, or 319.2%, to $7,568,000 for 2024, from $1,805,000 for 2023. This increase was primarily due to an increase in earnings before income taxes for 2024 compared to 2023. The Company’s overall effective tax rate increased from 11.1% for 2023 to 22.2% in 2024, a 11.1% increase in the effective tax rate or a 100.6% change. This increase was partially due to the prior period reducing the valuation allowance to zero and no valuation allowance adjustment in the current period.

Risks

The following is a description of the material risks facing the Company and how it mitigates those risks:

Legal and Regulatory Risks. Changes in the legal or regulatory environment in which the Company operates may create additional expenses and risks not anticipated by the Company in developing and pricing its products. Regulatory initiatives designed to reduce insurer profits, new legal theories or insurance company insolvencies through guaranty fund assessments may create costs for the insurer beyond those recorded in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, changes in tax law with respect to mortgage interest deductions or other public policy or legislative changes may affect the Company’s mortgage sales. Also, the Company may be subject to further regulations in the cemetery and mortuary business. The Company aims to mitigate these risks by offering a wide range of products and by diversifying its operations, thus reducing its exposure to any single product or jurisdiction, and by employing underwriting practices that identify and minimize the adverse impact of such risks.

Mortgage Industry Risks. Developments in the mortgage industry and credit markets can adversely affect the Company’s ability to sell its mortgage loans to investors, which can impact the Company’s financial results by requiring it to assume the risk of holding and servicing any unsold loans.

The mortgage loan loss reserve is an estimate of probable losses at the balance sheet date that the Company could realize in the future on mortgage loans sold to third-party investors. The Company’s mortgage subsidiary may be required to reimburse third-party investors for costs associated with early payoff of loans within the first six months of such loans and to repurchase loans where there is a default in any of the first four monthly payments to the investors or, in lieu of repurchase, to pay a negotiated fee to the investors. The Company’s estimates are based upon historical loss experience and the best estimate of the probable loan loss liabilities.

During 2024 and 2023 the Company increased its loan loss reserve by $150,000 and decreased its loan loss reserve by $1,178,000, respectively, for loan originations, and the charges have been included in mortgage fee income. The estimated liability for indemnification losses is included in other liabilities and accrued expenses and, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the balances were $697,000 and $547,000, respectively. The Company believes the loan loss reserve represents probable loan losses incurred as of December 31, 2024. There is a risk, however, that future loan losses may exceed the loan loss reserve.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s mortgage loans held for investment portfolio consisted of mortgage loans in an aggregate principal amount of $11,400,000 with delinquencies exceeding 90 days. Of this amount, loans with an aggregate principal amount of $4,134,000 were in foreclosure proceedings. The Company has not received or recognized any interest income on the $11,400,000 in mortgage loans with delinquencies exceeding 90 days. During 2024 and 2023, the Company decreased its allowance for credit losses by $1,934,000 and increased it by $1,184,000, respectively, which was charged to bad debt expense and included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the period. The main reasons for the decrease in 2024 when compared to 2023 were due to a decrease in the commercial loan held for investment portfolio, further refinement of the Company’s quantitative loss analysis and general market improvements related to the residential mortgage loan held for investment single family portfolio. The allowances for credit losses on the Company’s mortgage loans held for investment portfolio as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $1,885,000 and $3,819,000, respectively.

Interest Rate Risk. Fluctuations in interest rates may cause a decrease in the value of the Company’s investments or impair the ability of the Company to market its mortgage and cemetery and mortuary products. This change in rates may cause certain interest-sensitive products to become uncompetitive or may cause disintermediation. The Company aims to mitigate this risk by charging fees for non-conformance with certain policy provisions, by offering products that transfer this risk to the purchaser, and by attempting to match the maturity schedule of its assets with the expected payouts of its liabilities. To the extent that liabilities come due more quickly than assets mature, the Company might have to borrow funds or sell assets prior to maturity and potentially recognize a loss on the sale.

Mortality and Morbidity Risks. The Company’s actuarial assumptions differing from actual mortality and morbidity experienced may mean that the Company’s relevant products sold were underpriced, may require the Company to liquidate insurance or make other claims earlier than planned, and have other potentially adverse consequences to the business. The Company aims to minimize this risk through sound underwriting practices, asset and liability duration matching, and sound actuarial practices.

Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near term are those used in determining the value of derivative assets and liabilities; those used in determining deferred acquisition costs and the value of business acquired; those used in determining the liability for future policy benefits; those used in determining the value of loans held for sale; and those used in determining loan loss reserve. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes the amounts provided are fairly stated in all material respects.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s life insurance subsidiaries and cemetery and mortuary subsidiaries realize cash flow from premiums, contract payments and sales on personal services rendered for cemetery and mortuary business, from interest and dividends on invested assets, and from the proceeds from the sale or maturity of investments. The mortgage subsidiaries realize cash flow from fees generated by originating and refinancing mortgage loans and fees on mortgage loans held for sale that are sold to investors into the secondary market. It should be noted that current conditions in the financial markets and economy may affect the realization of these expected cash flows. The Company considers these sources of cash flow to be adequate to fund future policyholder and cemetery and mortuary liabilities, which generally are long-term, and adequate to pay current policyholder claims, annuity payments, expenses related to the issuance of new policies, the maintenance of existing policies, debt service, and to meet current operating expenses.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s subsidiary SecurityNational Mortgage was not in compliance with the net income covenants under its warehouse lines of credit and its operating cash flow covenant for its standby letter of credit with its primary bank. SecurityNational Mortgage has received or is in the process of receiving waivers from the warehouse banks. In the unlikely event SecurityNational Mortgage is required to repay the outstanding advances of approximately $10,587,449 on the warehouse line of credit that has not provided a covenant waiver, SecurityNational Mortgage has sufficient cash and borrowing capacity on the warehouse lines of credit that have provided covenant waivers to fund its origination activities. The Company has done an internal analysis of the funding capacities of both internal and external sources and has determined that there are sufficient funds to continue its business model. The Company continues to negotiate other warehouse lines of credit with other lenders.

During 2024 and 2023, the Company’s operations provided cash of $57,320,000 and of $53,875,000, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operations was due primarily to the increase in net earnings.

The Company expects to pay out liabilities under its funeral plans over the long term given the nature of those plans. Funeral plans are small face value life insurance policies that payout upon a person’s death to cover funeral burial costs; policyholders generally keep these policies in force until, and do not surrender prior to, death. Because of the long-term nature of these liabilities, the Company can hold to maturity or for the targeted investment period its corresponding bond, real estate, and mortgage loan investments, thus reducing the risk of liquidating these long-term investments because of any sudden changes in their fair values.

The Company attempts to match the duration of invested assets with its policyholder and cemetery and mortuary liabilities. The Company may sell investments other than those held to maturity in the portfolio to help in this timing matching. The Company purchases short-term investments on a temporary basis to meet the expected short-term requirements of the Company’s insurance products. The Company’s investment philosophy is intended to provide a rate of return for the expected duration of its cemetery and mortuary policies that will exceed the accruing of liabilities under those policies regardless of future interest rate movements.

The Company’s investment policy is also to invest predominantly in fixed maturity securities, real estate, mortgage loans, and warehousing of mortgage loans held for sale. The warehoused mortgage loans are typically held for sale on a short-term basis before selling the loans to investors in accordance with the requirements and laws governing the Company’s life insurance subsidiaries. Bonds owned by the insurance subsidiaries amounted to $348,774,000 (at estimated fair value) and $362,663,000 (at estimated fair value) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This represented 38.0% and 38.7% of the total investments of the Company as of December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Generally, all bonds owned by the life insurance subsidiaries are rated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Under this rating system, there are six categories used for rating bonds. As of December 31, 2024, 2.4% (or $8,431,000) and as of December 31, 2023, 1.8% (or $6,954,000) of the insurance subsidiaries’ total bond investments were invested in bonds in rating categories three through six, which are considered non-investment grade.

See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the schedule of the maturity of fixed maturity securities available for sale and for the schedule of principal payments for mortgage loans held for investment.

See Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s sources of liquidity.

If market conditions were to cause interest rates to change, the fair value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio (of approximately $668,293,000), which includes bonds, preferred stocks and mortgage loans held for investment, could change by the following amounts based on the respective basis point swing (the change in the fair values were calculated using a modeling technique):

The Company’s life insurance subsidiaries are subject to risk-based capital guidelines established by statutory regulators requiring minimum capital levels based on the perceived risk of assets, liabilities, disintermediation, and business risk. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the life insurance subsidiaries were in compliance with the regulatory criteria.

The Company’s total capitalization of stockholders’ equity, and bank loans and other loans payable was $445,758,000 as of December 31, 2024, as compared to $418,450,000 as of December 31, 2023. This increase was primarily due to a $26,122,000 increase in stockholders’ equity and an increase of $1,185,000 in bank loans and other loans payable. Stockholders’ equity as a percentage of total capitalization was 76.1% and 74.8% as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Lapse rates measure the amount of insurance terminated during a particular period. The Company’s lapse rate for life insurance was 7.0% for 2024 as compared to a rate of 4.4% for 2023.

The combined statutory capital and surplus of the Company’s life insurance subsidiaries was $120,216,000 and $107,385,000 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The life insurance subsidiaries cannot pay dividends to their parent company without the approval of state insurance regulatory authorities.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their businesses without fear of litigation so long as those statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements. The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the act.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements, together with related data and projections, about the Company’s projected financial results and its plans and strategies. However, the actual results and needs of the Company may vary materially from forward-looking statements and projections made from time to time by the Company based on management’s then-current expectations. The business in which the Company is engaged involves changing and competitive markets, which may involve a high degree of risk, and there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements and projections will prove accurate.

Factors that may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or projected, forecast, estimated or budgeted in such forward looking statements include among others, the following possibilities: (i) heightened competition, including the intensification of price competition, the entry of new competitors, and the introduction of new products by new and existing competitors; (ii) adverse state and federal legislation or regulation, including decreases in rates, limitations on premium levels, increases in minimum capital and reserve requirements, benefit mandates and tax treatment of insurance products; (iii) fluctuations in interest rates causing a reduction of investment income or increase in interest expense and in the market value of interest rate sensitive investment; (iv) failure to obtain new customers, retain existing customers or reductions in policies in force by existing customers; (v) higher service, administrative, or general expenses due to the need for additional advertising, marketing, administrative or management information systems expenditures; (vi) loss or retirement of key executives or employees; (vii) increases in medical costs; (viii) changes in the Company’s liquidity due to changes in asset and liability matching; (ix) restrictions on insurance underwriting based on genetic testing and other criteria; (x) adverse changes in the ratings obtained by independent rating agencies; (xi) failure to maintain adequate reinsurance; (xii) possible claims relating to sales practices for insurance products and claim denials; (xiii) adverse trends in mortality and morbidity; (xiv) deterioration of real estate markets; and (xv) lawsuits in the ordinary course of business.

Off-Balance Sheet Agreements

The Company has commitments to fund existing construction and land development loans pursuant to the various loan agreements. As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s commitments were approximately $216,368,000 for these loans, of which $152,361,000 had been funded. The Company advances funds in accordance with the loan agreements once the work has been completed and an independent inspection is made. The maximum loan commitment ranges between 50% and 80% of appraised value. The Company receives fees and interest for these loans and the interest rate is generally fixed at 5.25% to 8.50% per annum. Maturities range between six and eighteen months.

Contractual Obligations

In the ordinary course of the Company’s operations, the Company enters certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include operating leases for office space, agreements with respect to borrowed funds and future policy benefits. See Notes 7, 22, 24 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information about these obligations.

Captive Insurance Participation

The Company has a limited equity interest in a captive insurance entity (the “Captive’) that provides workers compensation, general liability and automobile insurance . This program permits the Company to pool insurance risks and resources with like-minded companies in order to obtain more competitive pricing for claims administration, stop loss insurance premiums and to limit its risk of loss in any particular year. The Captive also provides access to a wide array of safety-related services and regular safety training to help the Company control claims. The maximum exposure to a loss related to the Company’s involvement in the Captive is limited to approximately $443,758, which is collateralized under a standby letter of credit issued on the insurance entity’s behalf. See Note 10, “Reinsurance, Commitments and Contingencies,” for additional discussion of commitments associated with the insurance program. The Company has been a member of the Captive since 2006 and does not expect any material losses to result from the issuance of the standby letter of credit given the Company’s past performance.

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(a) Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that:

• Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company,
• Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Company’s Board of Directors, and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.

Management performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 based on the framework in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The objective of this assessment was to determine whether the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024. Based on that assessment management believes that as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

This annual report on internal control over financial reporting does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting.

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred in the fourth quarter 2024 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.