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Horace Mann(HMN) - 2024 Q4 - Annual Report

Company Overview - The company serves approximately 1 million households, with about 80% of its customer base being educators[25]. - The company has approximately 1,750 employees across four offices in the U.S.[36]. - The company focuses on a niche market strategy tailored for educators, which allows for precise underwriting and targeted marketing[30]. Acquisitions and Market Share - In 2019, the company increased its market share by acquiring NTA Life Enterprises, LLC, and in 2022, it acquired Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc.[18]. - The company acquired Benefit Consultants Group, Inc. in 2019, migrating the administration of its retirement platform to the BCG platform, which had 1.0billionofrecordkeepingassetsunderadministrationasofDecember31,2024[93].EmployeeEngagementandBenefitsIn2024,741.0 billion of recordkeeping assets under administration as of December 31, 2024[93]. Employee Engagement and Benefits - In 2024, 74% of employees participated in the biennial employee experience survey, highlighting strengths in manager trust and support[42]. - The Total Rewards strategy includes competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and robust employee training, with all employees eligible for benefits with no waiting period[49][50]. - Over 70% of employees have the opportunity to work remotely, with 87% agreeing they have the flexibility needed to balance work and personal responsibilities[53]. - The company offers up to 1,000 annually to employee health savings accounts and provides mental and physical health resources[52]. Financial Performance - The Property & Casualty segment generated 741.5millionindirectpremiumsfortheyearendedDecember31,2024,withatotalof345,593autorisksand166,991propertyrisksinforce[65][64].Directpremiumsandcontractdepositsfortheemployersponsoredsegmenttotaled741.5 million in direct premiums for the year ended December 31, 2024, with a total of 345,593 auto risks and 166,991 property risks in force[65][64]. - Direct premiums and contract deposits for the employer-sponsored segment totaled 159.4 million, while the worksite direct segment totaled 121.8million[107][108].Theaveragefaceamountofindividuallifeinsurancepoliciesissuedwasapproximately121.8 million[107][108]. - The average face amount of individual life insurance policies issued was approximately 204,000, with life insurance in force rising to 21.1billionatyearend2024[88].TotalaccumulatedfixedandvariableannuitycashvalueondepositatDecember31,2024,was21.1 billion at year-end 2024[88]. - Total accumulated fixed and variable annuity cash value on deposit at December 31, 2024, was 5.5 billion, net of reinsurance[89]. Catastrophe and Risk Management - Catastrophe losses for 2024 amounted to 94.9million,withsignificanteventsincludingHurricaneHelenecausing94.9 million, with significant events including Hurricane Helene causing 27.8 million in losses[68]. - The company maintains a catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance coverage with a retention of 35.0million,providing8935.0 million, providing 89% coverage for losses between 25.0 million and 35.0millionfor2024[74].Thecompanyisactivelymonitoringtrendsinclimaterelatedrisks,whichareexpectedtoimpactinsuranceclaimsandcostsduetomorefrequentandsevereweatherevents[147].Thecompanyutilizespropertyandcasualtycatastrophemodelsandthirdpartysoftwareforcashflowprojectionstosupportitsriskanalysisandcapitaladequacyevaluations[152].InvestmentStrategyThetotalinvestmentsasofDecember31,2024,amountto35.0 million for 2024[74]. - The company is actively monitoring trends in climate-related risks, which are expected to impact insurance claims and costs due to more frequent and severe weather events[147]. - The company utilizes property and casualty catastrophe models and third-party software for cash flow projections to support its risk analysis and capital adequacy evaluations[152]. Investment Strategy - The total investments as of December 31, 2024, amount to 6,916.4 million, with publicly traded securities comprising 72.9% of the total investment portfolio[126]. - The investment strategy focuses on generating income while balancing principal protection and investment risk, primarily through investment grade fixed maturity securities[122]. - The investment grade fixed maturity securities represent 95.1% of the fixed maturity securities portfolio, with an average credit quality of A+ and an average option-adjusted duration of 5.6 years[129]. Regulatory and Compliance - The company is subject to various federal and state laws regarding privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity, which may require additional compliance efforts[141]. - The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving, with the company leveraging AI in underwriting, claims processing, and customer engagement while ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines[142]. - The evolving regulatory environment regarding cybersecurity and data protection may increase compliance costs and expose the company to liabilities in the event of a significant cyber-attack[207]. Challenges and Risks - The company's financial condition and results of operations are significantly affected by volatile financial markets and adverse economic environments, which can lead to increased claims and reduced demand for products[160]. - Interest rate fluctuations could materially impact the company's financial condition, with low rates reducing investment income and high rates increasing borrowing costs[164][167]. - Higher inflation over the past few years has significantly increased loss costs in auto and property businesses, with the potential for further increases if inflation remains elevated[191]. - Climate change presents risks that could lead to increased frequency and severity of weather-related catastrophes, resulting in higher overall losses and potentially higher reinsurance costs[199]. Cybersecurity - Cybersecurity threats have increased in frequency and sophistication, posing risks to the company's information technology systems and potentially leading to operational disruptions and reputational damage[204]. - The company cannot guarantee that its insurance coverage will be adequate for all financial and non-financial consequences from a cybersecurity event[209].