UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[  3   ]          ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2001

[        ]           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission File Number: 2-17039

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

COLORADO

84-0467208

(State of Incorporation)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

850 EAST ANDERSON LANE

AUSTIN, TX 78752-1602

(512) 836-1010

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Telephone Number)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:

Yes [ 3  ]   No  [    ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ T ]

The aggregate market value of the common stock (based upon the closing price) held by non-affiliates of the Registrant at March 18, 2002, was approximately $247,455,000.

As of March 18, 2002, the number of shares of Registrant's common stock outstanding was:   Class A - 3,318,447 and Class B - 200,000.


PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS


(a) General Development of Business

Life Insurance and Annuity Operations

National Western Life Insurance Company (hereinafter referred to as "National Western," "Company," or "Registrant") is a life insurance company, chartered in the State of Colorado in 1956, and doing business in forty-six states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories or possessions. National Western is also licensed in Haiti, and although not otherwise licensed, accepts applications from and issues policies to residents of various countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim. Such policies are underwritten, accepted, and issued in the United States upon applications submitted by independent contractor broker-agents. The Company
=s operations are generally segmented as follows: domestic life insurance, international life insurance, and annuity operations. During 2001, the Company recorded approximately $383 million in premium revenues and universal life and investment annuity contract deposits. New life insurance issued during 2001 approximated $1.6 billion, and the total amount in force at year-end 2001 was $10.0 billion. As of December 31, 2001, the Company had total consolidated assets of $3.8 billion.

Competition: National Western is one of over 1,400 life insurers domiciled in the United States. As of December 31, 2000, the most recent date of available information, National Western's total assets and capital and surplus placed it in the top 100 under both measures among this group of life insurers according to A.M. Best Company. The Company's competitive environment, however, extends beyond this universe of companies.

The November 1999 passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act allows banks, insurance companies and securities firms to merge and acquire one another. Although there has not been a significant movement to converge financial services to-date, it is highly evident that banks, insurance companies and mutual funds are competing for the same investor dollar. In addition, well-capitalized international financial services conglomerates have introduced additional competition by entering the U.S. market via acquisitions obtaining assets and market share. Asset retention has become critical for life insurers in the face of intensifying global competition.

In this competitive environment, consumers increasingly look for assurance that they are placing their savings with reputable and stable companies. Consequently, financial strength ratings from independent rating agencies have taken on added importance for life insurers. National Western is rated "A- (excellent)" by A.M. Best Company reflecting demonstrated excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance, and business profile in the opinion of A.M. Best. The Company has also been assigned an "A+ (strong)" rating by Standard & Poor's Corporation with respect to its ability to pay its obligations under its insurance policies and contracts in accordance with their terms.

In order to compete successfully, life insurers have turned their attention toward distribution, technology, defined end market targets, speed to the market in terms of product development, and customer relationship management as ways of gaining a competitive edge. Core competency in one or more of these areas will be critical for companies for competing in the future.

Agents and Employees: National Western has 251 employees at its principal office supporting and administering its business lines. Sales are conducted primarily through broker-agents, which numbered 8,628 at December 31, 2001. The Company's agents are independent contractors who are compensated on a commission basis. Domestic agents are contracted with National Western through independent marketing organizations which have well developed agent networks, financial resources, and success in marketing life insurance and annuity products. International broker-agents are independent contractors and are a significantly smaller group than the domestic force. However, these broker-agents have been carefully selected and are proven producers, many of whom have submitted policy applications to the Company for 20 or more years. Domestic and international agency operations are supervised by Company senior vice presidents in each area.

Although many agents sell National Western's products, a sizable portion of the Company's annuity sales were sold through agents of two independent marketing organizations in recent years. These two organizations combined accounted for 32% to 35% of domestic annuity sales in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Types of Insurance Written: National Western offers a broad portfolio of individual whole life, universal life and term insurance plans, and annuities, including supplementary riders. Annuity products sold include flexible premium and single premium deferred annuities, equity-indexed annuities, and single premium immediate annuities. These products can be tax qualified or nonqualified annuities. Distributions of the Company's direct premium revenues and deposits are provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Investment annuities:

     Single premium deferred

$

121,205 

108,600 

129,430 

     Flexible premium deferred

111,091 

96,062 

76,120 

     Equity-indexed deferred

47,081 

99,876 

153,503 

     Single premium immediate

17,089 

24,464 

30,510 

Total annuities

296,466 

329,002 

389,563 

Universal life insurance

71,804 

70,514 

69,906 

Traditional life and other

14,982 

18,105 

19,154 

Total direct premiums and deposits collected

$

383,252 

417,621 

478,623 


Geographical Distribution of Business: The Company accepts applications from and issues policies to residents in forty-six states (domestic business) as well as to residents in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim (international business). In 2001, premium revenues and deposits from domestic product sales accounted for 81% of total premium revenues and deposits as shown in the following table:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

United States domestic products:

     Investment annuities

$

285,495 

316,649 

385,019 

     Life insurance

25,008 

27,104 

28,435 

Total domestic products

310,503 

343,753 

413,454 

International products:

     Investment annuities

10,971 

12,353 

4,544 

     Life insurance

61,778 

61,515 

60,625 

Total international products

72,749 

73,868 

65,169 

Total direct premiums and deposits collected

$

383,252 

417,621 

478,623 


Of the 2001 total premium revenues and deposits, amounts received on policies from residents of Michigan (10%), Texas (10%), Pennsylvania (10%), and California (9%), were the largest percentage contributors.

International product revenues and deposits are generated from applications submitted by international insurance brokers acting as independent contractors which are forwarded to the United States for underwriting, acceptance, and issuance. Substantially all international products contain a currency clause stating that premium and claim "dollars" refer to lawful currency of the United States. Policy applications submitted by international insurance brokers are generally associated with individuals in upper socioeconomic classes who desire the stability and inflationary hedge of dollar denominated insurance products issued by the Company. The favorable demographics of this group typically results in a higher average policy size, strong persistency, and claims experience similar to that in the United States. By accepting applications submitted on residents outside the United States, the Company is able to further diversify its revenue, earnings, and insurance risk.

Regulation: The Company is subject to regulation by the supervisory agency of each state or other jurisdiction in which it is licensed to do business. These agencies have broad administrative powers, including the granting and revocation of licenses to transact business, the licensing of agents, the approval of policy forms, the form and content of mandatory financial statements, capital, surplus, reserve requirements, and the types of investments which may be made. The Company is required to annually file detailed financial reports with each state or jurisdiction in which it is licensed, and its books and records are subject to examination by each. Examination of the Company's records routinely takes place every three to five years by the Company's domiciliary state with the most recent completed examination covering the five-year period ended December 31, 1997. The examination was completed by the Colorado Division of Insurance in February, 2000 and their report contained no financial adjustments and no issues which had an impact on the operations of the Company.

Regulations that affect the Company and the insurance industry are often the result of efforts by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), an association of state insurance commissioners and regulators that acts as a coordinating body for the state insurance regulatory process. The NAIC completed a comprehensive process of codifying statutory accounting practices and procedures in 2000 which the Company
=s state of domicile, Colorado, adopted beginning in 2001. The financial effects of the implementation for National Western were to increase statutory capital and surplus by approximately 1% or $3.9 million as of January 1, 2001.

In its regulatory oversight capacity, the NAIC has established two mechanisms to help state regulators monitor the financial strength and stability of life insurers. The first, referred to as Risk-Based Capital (RBC), attempts to identify those companies that may be inadequately capitalized based on a formula that takes into account the amount of risk a company faces on the quality of investments, mortality and morbidity, asset/liability matching, and other business risks. The Company's capital and surplus is significantly in excess of the threshold requirements of the RBC formula at December 31, 2001. The second monitoring mechanism of the NAIC is its Insurance Regulatory Information System (IRIS). IRIS is a statistical analysis of key financial ratio results obtained from an insurers statutory annual statements compared against usual ranges to identify trends or areas requiring additional review or analysis. Typically, three or more ratios outside the usual ranges can result in increased regulatory scrutiny. All of the Company
=s ratios for 2001 were within usual ranges.

Federal regulation also affects the life insurance industry in various areas such as pension regulations, securities laws, and Federal taxation. At various times, the Federal government has considered revising or eliminating the income tax deferral feature inherent in life insurance products. Such a change, if ever enacted, could have an adverse effect on the Company
=s ability to sell its products. Because many consumers purchase annuities and life insurance for their tax deferral advantages over other investments or retirement products, a reduction in the Federal income tax rate for capital gains could also diminish the appeal of life and annuity products. However, it is impossible to predict what changes, if any, will be made to the existing Federal income tax structure and the timing of any such changes.

Other Operations

National Western
=s primary business encompasses its life insurance and annuity operations, but the Company also has small real estate, nursing home, and other investments through wholly owned subsidiaries. These operations are substantially less in scope and significance to National Western=s consolidated financial operations. As more fully described in Item 7, Management=s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, these other operations contributed $4.3 million, $3.1 million, and $3.2 million to consolidated earnings for the years 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

(b) Financial Information About Industry Segments

A summary of financial information for the Company's industry segments follows:

Domestic

International

Life

Life

All

Insurance

Insurance

Annuities

Others

Totals

(In thousands)

Revenues, excluding

realized gains (losses):

          2001

$

49,292

64,894

204,609

11,357

330,152

          2000

50,189

66,573

189,159

6,036

311,957

          1999

49,762

64,751

227,583

4,906

347,002

Segment earnings: (A)

          2001

$

5,846

10,289

41,724

4,306

62,165

          2000

6,124

6,719

25,059

3,146

41,048

          1999

8,209

6,798

38,068

3,238

56,313

Segment assets: (B)

          2001

$

407,089

392,501

2,943,174

55,929

3,798,693

          2000

402,419

387,586

2,831,022

52,956

3,673,983

          1999

403,819

379,771

2,841,173

39,247

3,664,010


Notes to Table:

(A)
Amounts exclude realized gains and losses on investments, net of taxes.

(B) Amounts exclude other unallocated assets.

Additional information concerning these industry segments is included in Item 1.(a) and Note 14, Segment and Other Operating Information, of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

(c) Narrative Description of Business

Included in Item 1.(a).

(d) Financial Information About Geographic Areas

Included in Item 1.(a) and Note 14, Segment and Other Operating Information, of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company leases approximately 72,000 square feet of office space in Austin, Texas. This lease expires in 2010 and specifies lease payments that gradually increase over the term of the lease. Currently, lease payments are $550,800 per year plus taxes, insurance, maintenance, and other operating costs. Additionally, the Company=s wholly owned subsidiary, The Westcap Corporation, owns two buildings adjacent to the Company's principal office space totaling approximately 21,000 square feet that are leased and utilized by the Company. The Company=s affiliate, Regent Care Building, Limited Partnership, owns a 46,000 square foot building in Reno, Nevada, which is leased and utilized by another of the Company=s affiliates, Regent Care Operations, Limited Partnership, for use in its nursing home operations. Lease costs and related operating expenses for facilities of the Company=s subsidiaries are currently not significant in relation to the Company=s consolidated financial statements. The intercompany lease costs related to The Westcap Corporation and the nursing home have been eliminated for consolidated reporting purposes.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is currently a defendant in several lawsuits, substantially all of which are in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the liability, if any, which may arise from these lawsuits would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE
OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to a vote of the Company's security holders during the fourth quarter of 2001.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

(a) Market Information

The principal market on which the common stock of the Company trades is The Nasdaq Stock Market
7 under the symbol "NWLIA". The high and low sales prices for the common stock for each quarter during the last two years are shown in the following table:

High

Low

2001:

  First Quarter

$

118

.00

85

.56

  Second Quarter

120

.00

81

.38

  Third Quarter

117

.25

96

.30

  Fourth Quarter

113

.80

99

.00

2000:

  First Quarter

$

81

.00

68

.50

  Second Quarter

80

.00

67

.00

  Third Quarter

78

.00

68

.50

  Fourth Quarter

104

.88

70

.25


(b) Equity Security Holders

The number of stockholders of record on December 31, 2001, was as follows:

Class A Common Stock

5,438

Class B Common Stock

2


(c) Dividends

The Company has never paid cash dividends on its common stock. Payment of dividends is within the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. Presently, the Company's policy is to reinvest earnings internally to finance the development of new business, and there are no plans to pay cash dividends to stockholders in the foreseeable future.

ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following five-year financial summary includes comparative amounts derived from the audited consolidated financial statements.

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

(In thousands except per share amounts)

Earnings Information:

Revenues:

    Life and annuity premiums

$

14,013 

17,615 

18,423 

19,685 

20,968 

    Universal life and investment

      annuity contract revenues

75,026 

82,742 

76,655 

76,649 

75,094 

    Net investment income

234,866 

210,654 

242,980 

233,844 

217,446 

    Other income

6,247 

946 

8,944 

1,052 

354 

    Realized gains (losses)

      on investments

(27,046)

(19,242)

4,481 

2,384 

(1,588)

    Total revenues

303,106 

292,715 

351,483 

333,614 

312,274 

Expenses:

    Policyholder benefits

31,715 

35,078 

32,456 

32,441 

35,285 

    Amortization of deferred

      policy acquisition costs

27,424 

47,948 

39,148 

40,415 

39,934 

    Universal life and investment

      annuity contract interest

144,516 

137,711 

162,302 

158,889 

145,200 

    Other operating expenses

31,681 

29,427 

27,764 

35,504 

27,560 

    Total expenses

235,336 

250,164 

261,670 

267,249 

247,979 

Earnings before Federal income

    taxes, cumulative effect of change

    in accounting principle and

    discontinued operations

67,770 

42,551 

89,813 

66,365 

64,295 

Federal income taxes

23,185 

14,011 

30,588 

17,347 

21,723 

Earnings from continuing operations

44,585 

28,540 

59,225 

49,018 

42,572 

Cumulative effect of change in

    accounting principle

2,134 

-   

-   

-   

-   

Losses from discontinued operations

-   

-   

-   

(14,125)

(1,000)

Net earnings

$

46,719 

28,540 

59,225 

34,893 

41,572 

Diluted Earnings Per Share:

Earnings from continuing operations

$

12.59 

8.11 

16.78 

13.87 

12.09 

Cumulative effect of change in

    accounting principle

0.60 

-   

-   

-   

-   

Losses from discontinued operations

-   

-   

-   

(4.00)

(0.28)

Net earnings

$

13.19 

8.11 

16.78 

9.87 

11.81 

Balance Sheet Information:

Total assets

$

3,809,472 

3,693,820 

3,678,738 

3,513,601 

3,220,590 

Total liabilities

$

3,250,084 

3,193,714 

3,203,216 

3,075,236 

2,819,727 

Stockholders' equity

$

559,388 

500,106 

475,522 

438,365 

400,863 

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Insurance Operations - Domestic

The Company is currently licensed to do business in all states except for New York, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Products marketed are annuities, universal life insurance, and traditional life insurance, which includes both term and whole life products. The majority of domestic sales are the Company
=s annuities, which include single and flexible premium deferred annuities, single premium immediate annuities, and equity-indexed annuities. Most of these annuities can be sold as tax qualified or nonqualified products. At December 31, 2001, the Company maintained over 101,000 annuity policies inforce.

National Western markets and distributes its domestic products primarily through independent marketing organizations (IMOs). These IMOs assist the Company in recruiting, contracting, and managing independent agents. The Company currently has over 85 IMOs contracted who in turn have contracted over 6,000 independent agents with the Company. Roughly 20% of these contracted agents have submitted policy applications to the Company in the past twelve months.

Insurance Operations - International

The Company
=s international operations focus on foreign nationals in upper socioeconomic classes. Insurance products are issued primarily to residents of countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim. Issuing policies to residents in countries in these different regions provides diversification that helps to minimize large fluctuations that could arise due to various economic, political, and competitive pressures that may occur from one country to another. Products issued to international residents are almost entirely universal life and traditional life insurance products. However, certain annuity and investment contracts are also available. At December 31, 2001, the Company had nearly 48,000 international life insurance policies inforce representing approximately $7.1 billion in face amount of coverage.

International applications are submitted by independent contractor broker-agents, many of whom have been submitting policy applications to National Western for 20 or more years. The Company has approximately 2,600 independent international agents currently contracted, over 40% of which have submitted policy applications to the Company in the past twelve months.

There are some inherent risks of accepting international applications which are not present within the domestic market that are reduced substantially by the Company in several ways. As previously described, the Company accepts applications from foreign nationals in upper socioeconomic classes who have substantial financial resources. This targeted customer base coupled with National Western
=s conservative underwriting practices have historically resulted in claims experience similar to that in the United States. The Company minimizes exposure to foreign currency risks by requiring payment of premiums and claims in United States dollars. Finally, the Company=s thirty-five years of experience with the international products and its longstanding independent broker-agent relationships further serve to minimize risks.


INVESTMENTS

General

The Company's investment philosophy emphasizes the prudent handling of policyowners' and stockholders' funds to achieve security of principal, to obtain the maximum possible yield while maintaining security of principal, and to maintain liquidity in a measure consistent with current and long-term requirements of the Company.

The Company's overall conservative investment philosophy is reflected in the allocation of its investments, which is detailed below as of December 31, 2001 and 2000. The Company emphasizes investment grade debt securities, with smaller holdings in mortgage loans and policy loans.

Percent of Investments

2001

2000

Debt securities

89.1

%

88.0

%

Mortgage loans

5.6

6.1

Policy loans

2.9

3.4

Equity securities

0.4

0.5

Real estate

0.4

0.4

Index options

0.2

0.2

Other

1.4

1.4

Totals

100.0

%

100.0

%


Debt and Equity Securities

The Company maintains a diversified portfolio which consists primarily of corporate, mortgage-backed, and public utilities fixed income securities. Investments in mortgage-backed securities include primarily U.S. government agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs). As of December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, the Company's debt securities portfolio consisted of the following:

Percent of Debt Securities

2001

2000

1999

Corporate

53.1

%

54.5

%

55.6

%

Mortgage-backed securities

22.7

21.0

20.9

Public utilities

14.5

13.6

13.0

Asset-backed securities

7.1

8.0

7.8

Foreign governments

1.8

1.8

1.8

States & political subdivisions

0.7

0.8

0.6

U.S. government

0.1

0.3

0.3

Totals

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%



In addition to diversification, an important aspect of the Company
=s investment approach is managing the credit quality of its investments in debt securities. Thorough credit analysis is performed on potential corporate investments including examination of a company=s credit and industry outlook, financial ratios and trends, and event risks.

This emphasis is reflected in the high average credit rating of the Company
=s portfolio. In the table below, investments in debt securities are classified according to credit ratings by Standard and Poor=s (S&P7), or other nationally recognized statistical rating organizations if securities were not rated by S&P7 :

December 31,

2001

2000

1999

AAA and U.S. government

30.8

%

30.0

%

28.7

%

AA

6.9

8.4

8.8

A

28.5

31.4

34.1

BBB

29.8

27.3

25.9

BB and other below investment grade

4.0

2.9

2.5

Totals

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%


National Western does not purchase below investment grade securities. Investments held in debt securities below investment grade are the result of subsequent downgrades of the securities. During 2001, the Company's percentage of below investment grade securities increased primarily after the events of September 11th as Company holdings in certain industries (i.e. airlines) were downgraded across the board. Despite these downgrades, the Company's holdings of below investment grades securities is much lower than industry averages and is a small percentage of total invested assets. These holdings are summarized below.

Below Investment Grade Debt Securities

% of

Amortized

Carrying

Fair

Invested

Cost

Value

Value

Assets

(In thousands except percentages)

December 31, 2001

$

132,689 

119,960 

118,709 

3.6%

December 31, 2000

$

113,018 

82,764 

75,700 

2.6%

December 31, 1999

$

73,607 

70,900 

63,864 

2.2%



From a historical standpoint, 2001 is generally regarded as one of the poorest years in terms of corporate defaults. The economic recession, the terrorist attack in September, and revelations of financial reporting irregularities by major companies converged to produce a crisis of confidence in corporate credit quality. Generally accepted accounting principles require that investments in debt securities be written down to fair value when declines in value are judged to be other than temporary. Since quoted market prices are readily available and understood by investors and creditors they are the most common source for fair value estimation. In some instances, quoted market prices may not be available for securities that have limited buyer demand. When the quoted market price is not available other valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis and fundamental analysis may be used.

National Western held investments in several issuers whose decline in value was considered other than temporary during 2001 and these holdings were written down to fair value and included as realized losses on investments as follows:

Total Par

2001

Holdings

Writedown

(In thousands)

Issuer:

Enron Corporation

$

10,000 

8,997 

Lukens, Inc.

15,300 

14,358 

Federal Mogul Corporation

5,000 

4,392 

Northstar CBO

8,354 

4,600 

$

38,654 

32,347 


With the exception of Enron, whose deterioration was much more precipitous and unexpected, the Company had been concerned about these securities prior to the end of 2001. However, the events of September 11th and the resulting economic recession eventually caused their outlook to become overwhelmingly negative and the securities were adjusted down to the quoted market values in 2001.

The Company is closely monitoring its other below investment grade holdings. While additional losses are not currently anticipated based on the existing status and condition of these securities, continued credit deterioration of some securities is possible, which may result in further writedowns.

The Company is required to classify its investments in debt and equity securities into one of three categories: (a) trading securities, (b) securities available for sale, or (c) securities held to maturity. The Company purchases securities with the intent to hold to maturity and accordingly does not maintain a portfolio of trading securities. Of the remaining two categories, available for sale and held to maturity, the Company makes a determination based on various factors including the type and quality of the particular security and how it will be incorporated into the Company's overall asset/liability management strategy. As shown in the table below, at December 31, 2001, approximately 30% of the Company's total debt and equity securities, based on fair values, were classified as securities available for sale. These holdings provide flexibility to the Company to react to market opportunities and conditions and to practice active management within the portfolio to provide adequate liquidity to meet policyholder obligations and other cash needs.

Fair

Amortized

Unrealized

Value

Cost

Gains (Losses)

(In thousands)

Securities held to maturity:

    Debt securities

$

2,128,586 

2,059,146 

69,440 

Securities available for sale:

    Debt securities

912,886 

919,246 

(6,360)

    Equity securities

13,089 

8,609 

4,480 

Totals

$

3,054,561 

2,987,001 

67,560 


As part of an evaluation of its entire investment portfolio, the Company made the determination to transfer debt securities with fair values totaling $112 million from securities available for sale to securities held to maturity as of January 1, 2001. In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," the transfers were recorded at fair values, and the unrealized holding loss totaling $647,000 at the date of transfer, net of the effects of deferred taxes and deferred policy acquisition costs, has been reported in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be amortized over the remaining lives of the securities. The transfer of securities from available for sale to held to maturity had no effect on the net earnings of the Company.

In conjunction with the required implementation of SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," during 2001 the Company was permitted to reclassify securities previously included as held to maturity to available for sale with an aggregate amortized cost of $294 million. The net unrealized losses on the transferred securities totaled $5,148,000, after the effects of deferred taxes and deferred policy acquisition costs. This adjustment was reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements in other comprehensive income as part of the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle as of January 1, 2001.

Mortgage Loans and Real Estate

In general, the Company originates loans on high quality, income-producing properties such as shopping centers, freestanding retail stores, office buildings, industrial and sales or service facilities, selected apartment buildings, motels, and health care facilities. The location of these loans is typically in major metropolitan areas that offer a potential for property value appreciation. Credit and default risk is minimized through strict underwriting guidelines and diversification of underlying property types and geographic locations. In addition to being secured by the property, mortgage loans with leases on the underlying property are often guaranteed by the lessee. This approach has proven to result in higher quality mortgage loans with fewer defaults.

The Company's direct investments in real estate are not a significant portion of its total investment portfolio as many of these investments were acquired through mortgage loan foreclosures. The Company also participates in several real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships that invest primarily in income-producing retail properties. These investments have enhanced the Company
=s overall investment portfolio returns.

The Company held net investments in mortgage loans totaling $186,278,000 and $195,665,000 at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The diversification of the portfolio by geographic region and by property type was as follows:

December 31,

Geographic Region:

2001

2000

West South Central

54.8

%

57.1

%

Mountain

22.5

20.0

Pacific

11.1

11.0

South Atlantic

4.1

4.6

East South Central

3.9

3.8

All other

3.6

3.5

Totals

100.0

%

100.0

%

December 31,

Property Type:

2001

2000

Retail

63.8

%

62.0

%

Office

22.0

23.0

Hotel/Motel

6.5

6.5

Land/Lots

3.7

3.1

Apartment

1.0

1.0

Nursing homes

0.8

2.0

All other

2.2

2.4

Totals

100.0

%

100.0

%


The Company does not recognize interest income on loans past due three months or more. At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company had mortgage loan principal balances past due three months or more of $3,014,000 and $2,983,000, respectively. The Company will at times restructure mortgage loans under certain conditions, which may involve changes in interest rates, payment terms, or other modifications. The Company had mortgage loan principal balances with restructured terms totaling $7,486,000 and $7,749,000 at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Interest income not recognized for past due and restructured loans totaled approximately $236,000 and $309,000 in 2001 and 2000, respectively.

The contractual maturities of mortgage loan principal balances at December 31, 2001, are as follows:

Principal

Due

(In thousands)

Due in one year or less

$

28,322

Due after one year through five years

63,300

Due after five years through ten years

93,946

Due after ten years through fifteen years

2,846

Due after fifteen years

21

Total

$

188,435


As of December 31, 2001, the allowance for possible losses on mortgage loans was $2,115,000 representing a reduction of $2,100,000 from December 31, 2000. The allowance was adjusted as a result of an analysis of specific loans and management believes that the allowance for possible losses is adequate. While the Company closely manages its mortgage loan portfolio, future changes in economic conditions can result in impairments beyond those currently identified.

The Company's real estate investments totaled approximately $15,220,000 and $14,683,000 at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, and consist primarily of income-producing properties which are being operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company recognized operating income on these properties of approximately $845,000 and $1,063,000 for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Company monitors the conditions and market values of these properties on a regular basis and makes repairs and capital improvements to keep the properties in good condition. The Company recorded net realized investment losses of $25,000 and $420,000 in 2001 and 2000, respectively, associated with these properties.

Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of change in market values of financial instruments due to changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices, or equity prices. The most significant market risk exposure for National Western is interest rate risk. The fair values of fixed income debt securities correlate to external market interest rate conditions. Because interest rates are fixed on almost all of the Company
=s debt securities, market values typically increase when market interest rates decline, and decrease when market interest rates rise. However, market values may fluctuate for other reasons, such as changing economic conditions or increasing event-risk concerns.

The correlation between fair values and interest rates for debt securities is reflected in the tables below.

December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands except percentages)

Debt securities - fair value

$

3,041,472 

2,832,119 

2,786,442 

Debt securities - amortized cost

$

2,978,392 

2,881,682 

2,880,777 

Fair value as a percentage of amortized cost

102.12 

%

98.3 

%

96.7 

%

Unrealized gains (losses) at year-end

$

63,080 

(49,563)

(94,335)

Ten-year U.S. Treasury bond - increase (decrease)

in yield for the year

(0.6)

%

(1.3)

%

1.8 

%

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

At

At

Unrealized

December 31,

December 31,

Gains

2001

2000

During 2001

(In thousands)

Debt securities held to maturity

$

69,440 

(3,333)

72,773 

Debt securities available for sale

(6,360)

(46,230)

39,870 

Totals

$

63,080 

(49,563)

112,643 


Changes in interest rates typically have a significant impact on the fair values of the Company's debt securities. Market interest rates of the ten-year U.S. Treasury bond declined approximately 60 basis points from year-end 2000 causing an unrealized gain of $112.6 million on a portfolio of approximately $3 billion. The Company would expect similar results in the future from any significant upward or downward movement in market rates. However, since the majority of the Company's debt securities are classified as held to maturity, which are recorded at amortized cost, changes in fair values have relatively small effects on the Company's operating results.

The Company manages interest rate risk through on-going cash flow testing required for insurance regulatory purposes. Computer models are used to perform cash flow testing under various commonly used stress test interest rate scenarios to determine if existing assets would be sufficient to meet projected liability outflows. Sensitivity analysis allows the Company to measure the potential gain or loss in fair value of its interest-sensitive instruments and to protect its economic value and achieve a predictable spread between what is earned on invested assets and what is paid on liabilities. The Company seeks to minimize the impact of interest risk through surrender charges that are imposed to discourage policy surrenders. Interest rate changes can be anticipated in the computer models and the corresponding risk addressed by management actions affecting asset and liability instruments. However, potential changes in the values of financial instruments indicated by hypothetical interest rate changes will likely be different from actual changes experienced, and the differences could be significant.

The following table illustrates the market risk sensitivity of the Company's interest rate-sensitive assets. The table shows the effect of a change in interest rates on the fair value of the portfolio using models that measure the change in fair value arising from an immediate and sustained change in interest rates in increments of 100 basis points.

Fair Values of Assets

Changes in Interest Rates in Basis Points

-200

- 100

0

+ 100

+ 200

(In thousands)

Debt and equity securities

$

3,283,021

3,174,914

3,054,561

2,941,436

2,822,986

Mortgage loans

201,774

195,181

188,604

182,506

176,624

Policy loans

139,054

129,690

121,299

113,750

106,932

Other loans

31,371

29,895

28,510

27,208

25,984

Index options

5,938

6,113

6,288

6,464

6,641


Expected maturities of debt securities may differ from contractual maturities due to call or prepayment provisions. The models assume that prepayments on mortgage-backed securities are influenced by agency and pool types, the level of interest rates, loan age, refinancing incentive, month of the year, and underlying coupon. During periods of declining interest rates, principal payments on mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations increase as the underlying mortgages are prepaid. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the rate of prepayment slows. Both of these situations can expose the Company to the possibility of asset/liability cash flow and yield mismatch. The model uses a proprietary method of sampling interest rate paths along with a mortgage prepayment model to derive future cash flows. The initial interest rates used are based on the current U.S. Treasury yield curve as well as current mortgage rates for the various types of collateral in the portfolio.

Mortgage and other loans were modeled by discounting scheduled cash flows through the scheduled maturities of the loans, starting with interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers with similar credit ratings. Policy loans were modeled by discounting estimated cash flows using U.S. Treasury Bill interest rates as the base rates at December 31, 2001. The estimated cash flows include assumptions as to whether such loans will be repaid by the policyholders or settled upon payment of death or surrender benefits on the underlying insurance contracts and incorporate both Company experience and mortality assumptions associated with such contracts.

In addition to the securities analyzed above, the Company invests in index options which are derivative financial instruments used to hedge the equity return component of the Company's equity-indexed annuities. The values of these options are primarily impacted by equity price risk, as the options' fair values are dependent on the performance of the S&P 500
7 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index7). However, increases or decreases in investment returns from these options are substantially offset by corresponding increases or decreases in amounts paid to equity-indexed annuity policyholders, subject to minimum guaranteed policy interest rates.

The Company's market risk liabilities, which include policy liabilities for investment annuity and supplemental contracts, are managed for interest rate risk through cash flow testing as previously described. As part of this cash flow testing, the Company has analyzed the potential impact on net earnings of both a 100 basis point increase and decrease in the U.S. Treasury yield curve as of December 31, 2001. A 100 basis point interest rate decline would decrease net earnings for 2002 by approximately $95,000, based on the Company's projections. A 100 basis point increase in interest rates would increase net earnings by approximately $115,000, based on the Company's projections. These estimated impacts to earnings are net of tax effects and the estimated effects of deferred policy acquisition costs.

The above-described scenarios produce estimated changes in cash flows as well as cash flow reinvestment projections. Estimated cash flows in the Company's model assume cash flow reinvestments which are representative of the Company's current investment strategy. Calls and prepayments include scheduled maturities and those expected to occur which would benefit the security issuers. Assumed policy surrenders consider differences and relationships between credited interest rates and market interest rates as well as surrender charges on individual policies. The impact to earnings also includes the expected effects on amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs. The model considers only investment annuity and supplemental contracts in force at December 31, 2001, and does not consider new product sales or the possible impact of interest rate changes on sales.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated Operations

A summary of operating results, net of taxes, for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 is provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands except per share data)

Revenues:

Revenues, excluding realized gains (losses)

   on investments and index options

$

343,691 

344,225 

336,283 

Index options

(13,539)

(32,268)

10,719 

Realized gains (losses) on investments

(27,046)

(19,242)

4,481 

Total revenues

$

303,106 

292,715 

351,483 

Earnings:

Earnings from operations, excluding

   realized gains (losses) on investments

$

62,165 

41,048 

56,313 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting

   for equity-indexed annuities

2,134 

-   

-   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

(17,580)

(12,508)

2,912 

Net earnings

$

46,719 

28,540 

59,225 

Basic Earnings Per Share:

Earnings from operations, excluding

   realized gains (losses) on investments

$

17.71 

11.72 

16.09 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting

   for equity-indexed annuities

0.61 

-   

-   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

(5.01)

(3.57)

0.83 

Net earnings

$

13.31 

8.15 

16.92 

Diluted Earnings Per Share:

Earnings from operations, excluding

   realized gains (losses) on investments

$

17.55 

11.66 

15.96 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting

   for equity-indexed annuities

0.60 

-   

-   

Net realized gains (losses) on investments

(4.96)

(3.55)

0.82 

Net earnings

$

13.19 

8.11 

16.78 


Revenues: The following details revenues excluding index options and realized gains (losses) on investments:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Universal life and annuity product charges

$

75,026 

82,742 

76,655 

Traditional life premiums

14,013 

17,615 

18,423 

Net investment income

248,405 

242,922 

232,261 

Other revenue

6,247 

946 

8,944 

Totals

$

343,691 

344,225 

336,283 


Revenues for universal life and annuity products consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, administration charges, and surrender charges assessed against policyholder account balances. During 2000, the Company's revenues associated with surrender charges increased substantially due to higher than normal terminations of annuity contracts. Although generating revenue for financial reporting purposes, the increase in annuity terminations negatively impacted 2000 earnings as the Company lost the profits associated with maintaining the contracts inforce. In 2001, the Company's retention of inforce policies and contracts improved substantially contributing to higher operating earnings. However, revenues decreased from a lower incidence of surrender charges. Surrender charge revenue was $26.7 million in 2001 compared to $36.4 million and $31.2 million in 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Traditional life insurance premiums for products such as whole life and term life are recognized as revenues over the premium-paying period. These are product lines that the Company has been de-emphasizing in favor of interest sensitive products, particularly in its international life insurance operations. In addition, 2001 traditional life premiums were muted for increases in reinsurance premiums and translation losses associated with policies in Haiti which is the only international country where premiums and benefits may be paid in other than U.S. dollars.

A detail of net investment income, excluding index options, is provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Gross investment income:

    Debt securities

$

213,512 

210,194 

204,294 

    Mortgage loans

17,835 

18,395 

16,262 

    Policy loans

7,791 

8,120 

8,232 

    Other investment income

11,072 

9,253 

7,501 

Total investment income

250,210 

245,962 

236,289 

Investment expenses

1,805 

3,040 

4,028 

Net investment income

$

248,405 

242,922 

232,261 


Net investable cash flow is primarily invested in investment grade debt securities. With the steady decline in interest rate levels during 2001, this was even more the case as the market for mortgage loans fell below the Company's required yield levels for this type of investment. Despite the drop in interest rate levels, the Company still generated higher net investment earnings. A significant contributor was increased profit participation earnings related to other equity-type loans on income producing real estate properties. Although the Company has minimal holdings in these type loans, these investments have been profitable, are related to high quality properties, and are supported by strong borrower guarantees. In addition, investment expenses were reduced substantially as legal fees associated with an investment related lawsuit subsided with the favorable resolution of this matter to the Company.

Net income performance is summarized as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands except percentages)

Net investment income, excluding index options

$

248,405 

242,922 

232,261 

Average invested assets, at amortized cost

$

3,326,296 

3,269,475 

3,177,303 

Yield on average invested assets

7.47%

7.43%

7.31%


Other revenue in 2001 consists primarily of two sources. Approximately $5.2 million pertains to the Company's other operations involving a nursing home which commenced operations in 2000. Revenues in 2000 associated with this operation were $0.6 million. Also included in 2001 other revenue is nearly $0.7 million received from the favorable resolution of longstanding litigation against the Company and one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, The Westcap Corporation (Westcap). The United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, ruled in favor of Westcap on the matter in 2001.

Index Options: Index options are derivative financial instruments used to hedge the equity return component of the Company's equity-indexed annuity products, which were first introduced for sale in 1997. Any gains or losses from the sale or expiration of the options, as well as period-to-period changes in fair values, are reflected as a component of net investment income. However, increases or decreases in income from these options are substantially offset by corresponding increases or decreases in amounts paid to equity-indexed annuity policyholders.

The loss from index options in 2001 and 2000 was due to poor stock market conditions, specifically the performance of the S&P 500 Index®. Index options are intended to act as hedges to match closely the returns on the S&P 500 Index®. With the decline in this index, the index option values likewise declined. While income from index options was lower, the contract interest expense for the Company's equity-indexed annuities was also substantially lower.

Realized Gains and Losses on Investments: The losses in 2001 and 2000 consist primarily of impairment writedowns for investments in debt securities. The Company records impairment writedowns when a decline in value is considered other than temporary and full recovery of the investment is not expected. During 2001, several noteworthy corporations filed for bankruptcy in whose debt securities the Company held positions. Impairment writedowns were recorded for these holdings including Enron Corporation ($9.0 million), Lukens, Inc. ($14.4 million) and Federal Mogul Corporation ($4.4 million). Impairment writedowns in 2000 totaled $14.7 million. The gains in 1999 consist primarily of gains from sales and calls of debt securities totaling $6.3 million, offset by other than temporary impairment writedowns of $4.4 million. The Company also recognized gains totaling $2.0 million on real estate in 1999.

Benefits and Expenses: The following details benefits and expenses:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Policy benefits

$

31,715 

35,078 

32,456 

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

27,424 

47,948 

39,148 

Universal life and annuity contract interest

144,516 

137,711 

162,302 

Other operating expenses

31,681 

29,427 

27,764 

Totals

$

235,336 

250,164 

261,670 

The Company benefited from improved mortality experience in 2001 resulting in lower policy benefits. Death claims decreased to $23.6 million in 2001 from $26.2 million with both domestic life and international life recording more favorable results. The Company's mortality experience over the past five years has generally been consistent with its product pricing assumptions.

Life insurance companies are required to defer certain expenses associated with acquiring new business. The majority of these acquisition expenses consist of commissions paid to agents, underwriting costs, and certain marketing expenses. Recognition of these deferred policy acquisition costs in the financial statements is to occur over future periods in relation to the emergence of profits priced into the products sold. This emergence of profits is based upon assumptions regarding premium payment patterns, mortality, persistency, investment performance, and expense patterns. Companies are required to revisit these assumptions periodically to ascertain whether actual experience has deviated significantly from that assumed. If it is determined that a significant deviation has occurred, the emergence of profits pattern is to be "unlocked" and reset based upon the actual experience. In 2000, the Company determined that the persistency of annuity contracts had deviated from assumptions such that an unlocking was required to accelerate the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs. As a result, amortization expense increased from $39.1 million in 1999 to $47.9 million 2000. In 2001, the Company revisited its assumptions regarding the emergence of profits of its business and determined that unlocking was again required to incorporate improved persistency with respect to its annuity block of business and to factor in the recent realized investment loss experience. The outcome of these revisions resulted in the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs decreasing to $27.4 million in 2001. While the Company is required to evaluate its emergence of profits continually, management believes that the current amortization patterns of deferred policy acquisition costs are reflective of actual experience.

The Company closely monitors its credited interest rates on interest sensitive policies, taking into consideration such factors as profitability goals, policyholder benefits, product marketability, and economic market conditions. Average credited rates, calculated based on policy reserves for the Company
=s universal life and investment annuity business, have generally declined since 1997, which is consistent with declines in market interest rates. As market interest rates fluctuate, the Company=s credited interest rates are often adjusted accordingly taking into consideration other factors as described above. Raising policy credited rates can typically have an impact sooner than higher market rates on the Company=s investment portfolio yield, making it more difficult to maintain the current interest spread. The difference between yields earned over policy credited rates is often referred to as the interest spread.

Contract interest also includes the performance of the equity-index component of the Company's equity-indexed annuities. As previously noted, the recent market performance of these equity-index features reduced contract interest expenses while also reducing the Company's investment income given the hedge nature of the options purchased for these products. Excluding equity-indexed annuities, the Company's average credited rate on annuity products was approximately 5.4% in 2001. The average credited rate in 2001 for interest sensitive life products approximated 5.5%. With these credited rates, the Company generally realized 95% to 100% of its required interest spread on its products.

Other operating expenses consist of general administrative expenses, licenses and fees, and commissions not subject to deferral. As noted with Other Revenues, the Company commenced its nursing home operations in 2000 and these expenses are included in other operating expenses in the amount of $4.8 million in 2001 and $1.3 million in 2000. Excluding nursing home operations expenses, the Company has been able to leverage its operations to keep expenses relatively stable.

Federal Income Taxes: Federal income taxes on earnings from continuing operations for 2001, 2000, and 1999 reflect effective tax rates of 34.2%, 32.9%, and 34.1%, respectively, which are lower than the expected Federal rate of 35%. The effective tax rate is lower than the Federal rate of 35% primarily due to tax-exempt investment income related to municipal securities and dividends-received deductions on income from stocks.

Segment Operations

Summary of Segment Earnings

A summary of segment earnings from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 is provided below. The segment earnings exclude realized gains and losses on investments, net of taxes.

Domestic

International

Life

Life

All

Insurance

Insurance

Annuities

Others

Totals

(In thousands)

Segment earnings:

    2001

$

5,846 

10,289 

41,724 

4,306 

62,165 

    2000

6,124 

6,719 

25,059 

3,146 

41,048 

    1999

8,209 

6,798 

38,068 

3,238 

56,313 


Domestic Life Insurance Operations

A comparative analysis of results of operations for the Company
=s domestic life insurance segment is detailed below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Premiums and other revenue:

    Premiums and contract revenues

$

23,238 

23,864 

24,668 

    Net investment income

26,015 

26,295 

25,054 

    Other income

39 

30 

40 

Total premiums and other revenue

49,292 

50,189 

49,762 

Benefits and expenses:

    Policy benefits

15,935 

17,299 

15,547 

    Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

5,522 

4,305 

3,387 

    Universal life insurance contract interest

9,750 

10,183 

9,826 

    Other operating expenses

9,169 

9,183 

8,563 

Total benefits and expenses

40,376 

40,970 

37,323 

Segment earnings before Federal income taxes

8,916 

9,219 

12,439 

Federal income taxes

3,070 

3,095 

4,230 

Segment earnings

$

5,846 

6,124 

8,209 


Revenues from domestic life insurance operations include life insurance premiums on traditional type products and revenues from universal life insurance. Revenues from traditional products are simply premiums collected, while revenues from universal life insurance consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration fees, and surrender charges assessed during the period. A comparative detail of premiums and contract revenues is provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Universal life insurance revenues

$

15,467 

15,345 

15,208 

Traditional life insurance premiums

8,568 

9,475 

10,132 

Reinsurance premiums

(797)

(956)

(672)

Totals

$

23,238 

23,864 

24,668 


The Company's U.S. operations have historically emphasized annuity product sales over life product sales. Consequently, domestic life revenues have been declining for several years. However, a refocus on domestic life business was identified as a focal point of the Company in 2001 which resulted in increased recruiting of new distribution and the development of new life insurance products. It is the Company's goal to more than double domestic life product sales in 2002 and to continue to attract new sources of distribution.

Segment earnings have declined as the block of business has contracted. The face amount of domestic life insurance inforce has declined from $3.2 billion at December 31, 1999, to $3.0 billion at December 31, 2000 and $2.9 billion at December 31, 2001. Absent the growth rates targeted by management, the block of business will continue to contract due to the normal incidence of terminations from death or surrender with lower earnings resulting.

International Life Insurance Operations

A comparative analysis of results of operations for the Company
=s international life insurance segment is detailed below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Premiums and other revenue:

    Premiums and contract revenues

$

42,010 

43,665 

43,018 

    Net investment income

22,855 

22,864 

21,692 

    Other income

29 

44 

41 

Total premiums and other revenue

64,894 

66,573 

64,751 

Benefits and expenses:

    Policy benefits

14,909 

17,548 

16,451 

    Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

9,964 

15,413 

14,647 

    Universal life insurance contract interest

15,928 

15,148 

13,923 

    Other operating expenses

8,400 

8,349 

9,429 

Total benefits and expenses

49,201 

56,458 

54,450 

Segment earnings before Federal income taxes

15,693 

10,115 

10,301 

Federal income taxes

5,404 

3,396 

3,503 

Segment earnings

$

10,289 

6,719 

6,798 


As with domestic operations, revenues from the international life insurance segment include both premiums on traditional type products and revenues from universal life insurance. A comparative detail of premiums and contract revenues is provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Universal life insurance revenues

$

44,506 

42,533 

41,243 

Traditional life insurance premiums

5,961 

8,688 

9,007 

Reinsurance premiums

(8,457)

(7,556)

(7,232)

Totals

$

42,010 

43,665 

43,018 


International operations have emphasized universal life policies over traditional life insurance products. Premiums collected on universal life products are not reflected as revenues in the Company's statements of earnings in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual universal life premiums collected are detailed below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Universal life insurance:

    First year and single premiums

$

15,826 

14,520 

14,084 

    Renewal premiums

38,631 

37,125 

36,428 

Totals

$

54,457 

51,645 

50,512 


The Company's international life operations has been a steady performer as evidenced by the growth in collected premiums. Management expects this growth to accelerate in 2002 with the addition of new contracted distribution which began to occur in the fourth quarter of 2001. This distribution was attracted to National Western given the Company's longstanding reputation for supporting its international life products and the instability of competing companies in this area. In addition, the Company released its first equity-indexed universal life product for international life operations early in 2002 which has been well received by its independent distribution.

After an unusually high amount of death claims in 2000, international life mortality returned to expected levels. As the international life insurance inforce continues to grow, the Company anticipates operating earnings to similarly increase. The amount of international life insurance inforce has grown from $6.6 billion at December 31, 1999, to $6.7 billion at December 2000 and $7.1 billion at December 31, 2001.

Annuity Operations

The Company
=s annuity operations are almost exclusively in the United States. Although some of the Company=s annuities and investment contracts are available to international residents, current sales are small relative to total annuity sales. A comparative analysis of results of operations for the Company=s annuity segment is detailed below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Premiums and other revenue:

    Premiums and contract revenues

$

23,791 

32,828 

27,392 

    Net investment income

180,522 

156,014 

191,328 

    Other income

296 

317 

8,863 

Total premiums and other revenue

204,609 

189,159 

227,583 

Benefits and expenses:

    Policy benefits

871 

231 

458 

    Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

11,938 

28,230 

21,114 

    Annuity contract interest

118,838 

112,380 

138,553 

    Other operating expenses

9,323 

10,593 

9,772 

Total benefits and expenses

140,970 

151,434 

169,897 

Segment earnings before Federal income taxes

63,639 

37,725 

57,686 

Federal income taxes

21,915 

12,666 

19,618 

Segment earnings

$

41,724 

25,059 

38,068 


Revenues from annuity operations include primarily surrender charges and recognition of deferred revenues relating to immediate or payout annuities. A comparative detail of the components of premiums and annuity contract revenues is provided below.

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Surrender charges

$

18,029 

26,911 

21,345 

Payout annuity and other revenues

5,705 

5,851 

5,972 

Traditional annuity premiums

57 

66 

75 

Totals

$

23,791 

32,828 

27,392 


As previously noted, the Company's earnings are dependent upon annuity contracts persisting or remaining in force. While revenues decline with a reduction in surrender charges, the Company's earnings benefit.

Deposits collected on annuity contracts are not reflected as revenues in the Company's statements of earnings in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual annuity deposits collected for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 are detailed below.

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Equity-indexed annuities

$

47,081 

99,876 

153,503 

Other deferred annuities

232,296 

204,662 

205,550 

Immediate annuities

17,089 

24,464 

30,510 

Totals

$

296,466 

329,002 

389,563 


Sales of equity-indexed annuities began declining during the year ended December 31, 1999, primarily due to volatility in the stock market. This volatility affects both the demand for these annuities and the pricing of these products. Increased product costs from stock market volatility, including costs of index options used to hedge the equity return component of these annuities and lower policyholder asset fees can reduce potential credited interest to policyholders. The lower production level continued throughout 2001, which is consistent with the poor performance of the stock market and the negative outlook that persisted during 2001. However, because the Company does not offer variable products or mutual funds, these products provide a key equity-based alternative to the Company
=s existing fixed annuity products.

As previously described, index options are used to hedge the equity return component of the Company
=s equity-indexed annuity products with any gains or losses from the sale or expiration of the options, as well as period-to-period changes in fair values, reflected in net investment income. Excluding index option income or losses from investment income in the annuity segment results in net investment income totaling $194.1 million, $188.3 million, and $180.6 million for 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

Other income for 1999 includes $8.5 million in income pertaining to litigation involving an independent marketing organization. The amount related to accrued bonus commissions which were not owed as a result of the settlement of the Company's lawsuit against the former marketing organization.

As previously described the Company unlocked its deferred policy acquisition cost amortization factors for changes in persistency of the annuity block of business in both 2000 and 2001 and for changes in investment earnings in 2001. The changes in 2000 accelerated the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs while the 2001 unlocking adjusted the amortization stream back. The Company is required to periodically adjust these factors for actual experience that varies from assumptions. While management does not currently anticipate any impact from unlocking in 2002, facts and circumstances may arise in the future which require that the factors be reexamined.

Annuity contract interest includes the equity component return associated with the Company's equity-indexed annuities. The detail of equity-index annuity contract interest compared to contract interest for all other annuities is as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Equity-index annuities

$

4,226 

(2,881)

20,480 

All other annuities

114,612 

115,261 

118,073 

Totals contract interest

$

118,838 

112,380 

138,553 


The decrease in contract interest for all other annuities reflects managed reductions in credited interest rates necessary for the Company to maintain its required spread.

Other Operations

National Western
=s primary business encompasses its domestic and international life insurance operations and its annuity operations. However, National Western also has small real estate, nursing home, and other investment operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Most of the income from the Company=s subsidiaries is from a life interest in a trust. Gross income distributions from the trust totaled $3,753,000, $3,643,000, and $3,595,000, in 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2000, the Company acquired a nursing home facility through an affiliated limited partnership. The acquisition, which totaled approximately $6.6 million, was made by a newly formed limited partnership, the partners of which are downstream subsidiaries of National Western. The nursing home facility, which opened in late July, 2000, is operated by an affiliated limited partnership, and the financial operating results are consolidated with those of the Company. Daily operations and management of the nursing home are performed by an experienced management company through a contract with the limited partnership. Nursing home operations generated $425,000 of operating earnings in 2001 compared to operating losses of $850,000 in 2000.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

Liquidity requirements are met primarily by funds provided from operations. Premium deposits and revenues, investment income, and investment maturities are the primary sources of funds while investment purchases, policy benefits, and operating expenses are the primary uses of funds. Although the Company historically has not been put in the position of liquidating invested assets to provide cash flow, its investments consist primarily of marketable debt securities that could be readily converted to cash for liquidity needs. The Company may also borrow up to $60 million on its bank line of credit for short-term cash needs.

A primary liquidity concern is the risk of an extraordinary level of early policyholder withdrawals. The Company includes provisions within its annuity and universal life insurance policies, such as surrender charges, that help limit and discourage early withdrawals. Cash flow projections and cash flow tests under various market interest rate scenarios are also performed to assist in evaluating liquidity needs and adequacy. The Company currently expects available liquidity sources and future cash flows to be adequate to meet the demand for funds.

In the past, cash flows from the Company's insurance operations have been more than adequate to meet current needs. Cash flows from operating activities were $142 million, $139 million, and $118 million in 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively. The Company also has significant cash flows from both scheduled and unscheduled investment security maturities, redemptions, and prepayments. These cash flows totaled $162 million, $113 million, and $187 million in 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively. The Company expects cash flows from these sources in 2002 at levels consistent with the past year.

Capital Resources

The Company relies on stockholders' equity for its capital resources as there is no long-term debt outstanding and the Company does not anticipate the need for any long-term debt in the near future. There are also no current or anticipated material commitments for capital expenditures in 2002.


CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Change in Accounting Principles

Derivative Instruments: In June, 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." . In June, 2000, the FASB issued SFAS No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities," which amended SFAS No. 133 for certain specifically identified derivative instruments and hedging activities. Both pronouncements were required to be implemented effective January 1, 2001. They establish accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. Derivatives must be recognized as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and be measured at fair value.

The Company offers for sale equity-indexed annuities that contain an equity return component for policyholders which is an embedded derivative instrument under the FASB pronouncements. Equity-indexed annuities combine features associated with traditional fixed annuities with the option to have interest rates linked entirely or in part to an index, such as the S&P 500 Index®. The equity return component of such policy contracts must be separately identified and accounted for at fair value as embedded derivatives reflected in the balance sheet as a component of future policy benefits with changes in fair value included in earnings. The remaining portions of these policy contracts are considered the host contracts and are recorded separately as fixed annuity contracts. The host contracts are accounted for as investment contracts under provisions of SFAS No. 97, which requires the host contracts to be recorded as discounted debt instruments that are accreted, using the effective yield method, to their guaranteed account values at the projected maturity or termination dates. The cumulative effect adjustment for the implementation of the change in accounting for equity-indexed annuities resulted in an increase to net earnings totaling $2,134,000, net of taxes of $1,149,000 as of January 1, 2001.

One of the more complex and challenging aspects of interpreting and implementing SFAS No. 133 and No. 138 was how the insurance industry was to apply the statement's provisions to policy liabilities for equity-indexed products. The Derivatives Implementation Group (DIG) of the FASB addressed this policy liability issue, and released guidance for the liability calculation which was not approved by FASB until an effective date of April 1, 2001. The Company implemented this additional guidance on the policy liability valuation method for equity-indexed annuities as of April 1, 2001, which produced an additional reduction in policy liabilities contributing over $1.8 million, net of taxes, to operating earnings.

In conjunction with the sale of equity-indexed annuities, the Company purchases index options to hedge or offset the equity return component of the annuities. Although the Company uses index options to hedge the equity return component of the equity-indexed annuities, these options do not qualify as hedging instruments or for hedge accounting treatment pursuant to SFAS No. 133. Accordingly, the index options are carried at fair value in the balance sheet based upon quoted market prices and mark-to-market gains or losses to record the options at fair value are recognized as net investment income in earnings in the period of change, which has been the Company's practice. Consequently, there was no change in accounting principle for these options upon implementation of SFAS No. 133.

Critical Accounting Policies

Future Policy Benefits: Because of the long-term nature of insurance contracts, the Company is liable for policy benefit payments many years into the future. The liability for future policy benefits represents estimates of the present value of the Company's expected benefit payments, net of the related present value of future net premium collections. For traditional life insurance contracts, this is determined by standard actuarial procedures, using assumptions as to mortality (life expectancy), morbidity (health expectancy), persistency, and interest rates, which are based on the Company's experience with similar products. The assumptions used are those considered to be appropriate at the time the policies are issued. An additional provision is made on most products to allow for possible adverse deviation from the assumptions assumed. For universal life, investment annuity and equity-indexed annuity products, the Company's liability is the amount of the contract's account balance. Account balances are also subject to minimum liability calculations as a result of minimum guaranteed interest rates in the policies. While management and company actuaries have used their best judgment in determining the assumptions and in calculating the liability for future policy benefits, there is no assurance that the estimate of the liabilities reflected in the financial statements represents the Company's ultimate obligation. Additionally, significantly different assumptions could result in materially different reported amounts. A discussion of the assumptions used to calculate the liability for future policy benefits is reported in Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found on page __ of this report.

Deferred Acquisition Costs: As previously noted in the discussion of the Company's benefits and expenses on page __ of this report, the Company is required to defer certain policy acquisition costs and amortize them over future periods. Deferred acquisition costs are subject to periodic recoverability and loss recognition testing. These tests ensure that the present value of future contract-related cash flows will support the capitalized deferred acquisition cost balance. The present value of these cash flows, less the benefit reserve, is compared with the unamortized deferred acquisition cost balance and if the asset balance is greater, the deficiency is charged to expense as a component of amortization and the asset balance is reduced to the recoverable amount. For more information about accounting for deferred acquisition costs see Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found on page __ of this report.

Revenue Recognition: Premium income for the Company's traditional life insurance contracts is generally recognized as the premium becomes due. Revenue on universal life and annuity contracts (deposit balance products) are recognized differently. Premiums on deposit balance products are added to the policy account value as the Company's liability. This deposit balance is then charged a fee for the cost of insurance, administration, surrender, and certain other charges which are recognized as revenue in the period the fees are charged to the policyholder. Benefits and expenses are matched against revenues in a manner by which they are incurred as the revenues are earned.

Investment activities of the Company are integral to its insurance operations. Since life insurance benefits may not be paid until many years into the future, the accumulation of cash flows from premium receipts are invested with income reported as revenue when earned. Anticipated yields on investments are reflected in premium rates, contract liabilities, and other product contract features. These anticipated yields are implied in the interest required on the Company's net insurance liabilities (future policy benefits less deferred acquisition costs) and contractual interest obligations in its insurance and annuity products. The Company benefits to the extent actual net investment income exceeds the required interest on net insurance liabilities and manages the rates it credits on its products to maintain the targeted excess or "spread" of investment earnings over interest credited. The Company will continue to be required to provide for future contractual obligations in the event of a decline in investment yield. For more information concerning revenue recognition, investment accounting, and interest sensitivity, please refer to Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies beginning on page __, Note 3, Investments beginning on page __ in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and discussions under the captions Investments on page __ and Market Risk on page __ of this report.


REGULATORY AND OTHER ISSUES

Statutory Accounting Practices

As discussed in Item 1.(a), regulations that affect the Company and the insurance industry are often the result of efforts by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Insurance companies were required to adopt new statutory accounting practices promulgated by the NAIC in 2001 which resulted in changes to existing practices used in the preparation of statutory financial statements, and in the case of National Western increased statutory capital and surplus by approximately $3.9 million as of January 1, 2001. The NAIC routinely publishes new regulations as model acts or laws which states subsequently adopt as part of their insurance regulations. Currently, the Company is not aware of any other NAIC regulatory matter material to its operations or reporting of financial results.

Risk-Based Capital Requirements

The NAIC established risk-based capital (RBC) requirements to help state regulators monitor the financial strength and stability of life insurers by identifying those companies that may be inadequately capitalized. Under the NAIC's requirements, each insurer must maintain its total capital above a calculated threshold or take corrective measures to achieve the threshold. The threshold of adequate capital is based on a formula that takes into account the amount of risk each company faces on its products and investments. The RBC formula takes into consideration four major areas of risk which are: (i) asset risk which primarily focuses on the quality of investments; (ii) insurance risk which encompasses mortality and morbidity risk; (iii) interest rate risk which involves asset/liability matching issues; and (iv) other business risks. Statutory laws prohibit public dissemination of certain RBC information. However, the Company's current statutory capital and surplus is significantly in excess of the threshold RBC requirements.

Disclosure Matters

The events of 2001 have called into question company activities and transactions which are not regularly disclosed in an SEC registrant's Annual Report and are not readily apparent from the financial statements. These include the use of unconsolidated entities, off-balance sheet arrangements and other transactions not conducted at arm's-length. The Company's consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries and related operations and the Company does not utilize relationships with unconsolidated entities that facilitate the transfer of or access to assets such as "structured finance" or "special purpose" entities. Accordingly, the Company does not rely on off-balance sheet arrangements for financing, liquidity, or market or credit risk support which would expose the Company to liabilities not reflected on the face of its consolidated financial statements. All related party transactions and relationships have been fully disclosed in Items 10 and 13, and Note 16, Related Party Transactions, on page 88 of this report.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a
Asafe harbor@ for forward-looking statements. Certain information contained herein or in other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of National Western Life Insurance Company or its subsidiaries are or may be viewed as forward-looking. Although the Company has used appropriate care in developing any such information, forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact actual results. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, matters described in the Company=s SEC filings such as exposure to market risks, anticipated cash flows or operating performance, future capital needs, and statutory or regulatory related issues. However, National Western, as a matter of policy, does not make any specific projections as to future earnings, nor does it endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by others. Whether or not actual results differ materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events or developments. Also, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK

This information is included in Item 7, Management=s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in the Investments section.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The information required by this item is reported in Attachment A beginning on page __. See Index to Financial Statements and Schedules on page __ for a list of financial information included in Attachment A.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

On and effective April 20, 2001, the Board of Directors of the Company notified KPMG LLP that their contractual appointment as independent auditors had not been renewed, as recommended by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The reports of KPMG LLP on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for either of the two most recent fiscal years did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion. Such reports were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the immediately preceding two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 and during the interim period through April 20, 2001, there were no reportable events as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K or disagreements between KPMG LLP and the Company on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG LLP, would have caused that firm to make reference to the subject matter of such disagreement in connection with its report on the Company's financial statements. By letter dated May 16, 2001 addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission, KPMG LLP indicated their concurrence with the foregoing statements.

Also, on and effective April 20, 2001, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP as its new principal accountants, as recommended by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. During the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 and during the interim period through April 20, 2001, the Company did not consult with Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, nor the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

(a) Identification of Directors

The following information as of January 31, 2002, is furnished with respect to each director. All terms expire in June of 2002.

Principal Occupation During Last Five

First

Name of Director

Years and Directorships

Elected

Age

Robert L. Moody

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive

1963

66

(1) (3)

Officer of the Company

Ross R. Moody

President and Chief Operating Officer of the

1981

39

(1) (3)

Company

Arthur O. Dummer

President, The Donner Company,

1980

68

(1) (2) (3)

Salt Lake City, Utah

Harry L. Edwards

Retired; Former President and Chief

1969

80

Operating Officer of the Company,

Austin, Texas

E. Douglas McLeod

Director of Development, The Moody

1979

60

Foundation, Galveston, Texas

Charles D. Milos

Senior Vice President of the Company

1981

56

(1) (3)

Frances A. Moody

Executive Director,

1990

32

The Moody Foundation,

Dallas, Texas, 1997 - present;

Investments, Dallas, Texas, 1992 - 1997

Russell S. Moody

Investments, Austin, Texas

1988

40

Louis E. Pauls, Jr.

President, Louis Pauls & Company;

1971

66

(2)

Investments, Galveston, Texas

E. J. Pederson

Executive Vice President,

1992

54

(2)

The University of Texas

Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas


(1) Member of Executive Committee; (2) Member of Audit Committee; (3) Member of Investment Committee.

(b) Identification of Executive Officers

The following is a list of the Company's executive officers, their ages, and their positions and offices as of January 31, 2002.

Name of Officer

Age

Position (Year elected to position)

Robert L. Moody

66

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive

Officer (1963-1968, 1971-1980, 1981), Director

Ross R. Moody

39

President and Chief Operating Officer (1992), Director

Charles P. Baley

63

Senior Vice President - Information Services (1990)

Robert L. Busby, III

64

Senior Vice President (1992)

Richard M. Edwards

49

Senior Vice President - International Marketing (1990)

Paul D. Facey

50

Senior Vice President - Chief Actuary (1992)

Rodney K. Foster

50

Senior Vice President - Chief Marketing Officer (2001)

Charles D. Milos

56

Senior Vice President - Investment Analyst (1990), Director

James P. Payne

57

Senior Vice President - Secretary (1998)

Brian M. Pribyl

43

Senior Vice President - Chief Financial & Administrative

Officer and Treasurer (2001)

Patricia L. Scheuer

50

Senior Vice President - Chief Investment Officer (1992)


(c) Identification of Certain Significant Employees

None in addition to the individuals identified in Item 10.(b).

(d) Family Relationships

Family relationships among the executive officers and directors are: Mr. Robert Moody and Mr. McLeod are brothers-in-law; Mr. Robert Moody is the father of Ms. Frances Moody, Mr. Ross Moody, and Mr. Russell Moody; and Mr. Harry Edwards is the father of Mr. Richard Edwards. There are no arrangements or understandings pursuant to which any officer was elected. All officers hold office for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified, unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors.

(e) Business Experience

All of the executive officers listed above have served in various executive capacities with the Company for more than five years, with the exception of the following:

Mr. Foster was an independent agent from 1981 to 1984. He was Assistant Vice President-Sales of Lincoln Benefit Life from 1985 to 1993; Vice President-Sales of Southland Life from 1993 to 1994; and Executive Vice President-Chief Marketing Officer of Interstate Assurance Company from September, 1994 until March, 2001.

Mr. Pribyl was an audit manager for Price Waterhouse from 1983 - 1990. He was Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Secretary of Interstate Assurance Company from July, 1990 until April, 2001.

(f) Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

There are no events pending, or during the last five years, under any bankruptcy act, criminal proceedings, judgments, or injunctions material to the evaluation of the ability and integrity of any director or executive officer.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(b) Summary Compensation Table

Long Term

Compensation

No. of

Securities

Annual Compensation

Underlying

All Other

Name and

Salary

Bonus

Options

Compensation

Principal Position

Year

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

1

Robert L. Moody

2001

$

1,282,663 

$

-   

12,500 

$

470,305 

Chairman of the Board

2000

1,227,962 

-   

-   

372,803 

and Chief Executive Officer

1999

1,173,965 

-   

-   

322,229 

2

Ross R. Moody

2001

461,238 

15,000 

11,500 

28,385 

President and Chief

2000

450,418 

-   

-   

26,145 

Operating Officer

1999

440,630 

-   

-   

31,299 

3

Rodney K. Foster

2001

140,340 

138,942 

1,500 

64,737 

Senior Vice President -

2000

-   

-   

-   

-   

Chief Marketing Officer

1999

-   

-   

-   

-   

4

Richard M. Edwards

2001

174,402 

77,738 

1,300 

15,112 

Senior Vice President-

2000

168,212 

64,038 

-   

13,919 

International Marketing

1999

163,301 

77,909 

-   

14,435 

5

Robert L. Busby, III

2001

231,262 

-   

-   

19,839 

Senior Vice President

2000

222,577 

-   

-   

13,073 

1999

205,025 

-   

-   

12,254 


Notes to Summary Compensation Table
:

(A) Salary includes directors' fees from National Western Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.

(B) Bonuses include employment and performance related bonuses which are occasionally granted.

(C) Represents stock options granted under the National Western Life Insurance Company 1995 Stock and Incentive Plan.

(D) All other compensation includes primarily employer contributions made to the Company's 401(k) Plan and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan on behalf of the employee. In addition, this item also includes taxable income for Robert L. Moody of approximately $396,000, $348,000, and $299,000 in 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively, related to his assignment of excess insurance on the Libbie Shearn Moody Trust. Further included are various expense allowances for Ross R. Moody in 1999 of approximately $5,000, reimbursement of moving expenses and related payroll taxes to Rodney K. Foster in 2001 of approximately $48,000, and payment of payroll taxes on certain benefits in 2001 for Robert L. Moody of approximately $48,000 and for Robert L. Busby, III of approximately $6,000.

(c) Option/SAR Grants Table

During 1995 the Company adopted the National Western Life Insurance Company 1995 Stock and Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to align the personal financial incentives of key personnel with the long-term growth of the Company and the interests of the Company's stockholders through the ownership and performance of the Company's Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock, to enhance the Company's ability to retain key personnel, and to attract outstanding prospective employees and directors.
The Plan was effective as of April 21, 1995, and will terminate on April 20, 2005, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. The number of shares of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock which may be issued under the Plan, or as to which stock appreciation rights or other awards may be granted, may not exceed 300,000. These shares may be authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the Plan. In addition, directors of the Company, other than Compensation and Stock Option Committee members, are eligible for restricted stock awards, incentive awards, and performance awards. Company directors, including members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, are eligible for nondiscretionary stock options.

The Committee approved the issuance of nonqualified stock options to selected officers of the Company during 2001 totaling 44,043. Additionally, during 2001 the Committee granted 10,000 nonqualified, nondiscretionary stock options to Company directors. The directors
= stock options vest 20% annually following one full year of service to the Company from the date of grant. The officers= stock options vest 20% annually following three full years of service to the Company from the date of grant. The exercise prices of the stock options were set at the fair market values of the common stock on the dates of grant. Nonqualified stock options were not issued in 2000 and 1999.

% of Total

Potential Realizable

Options

Value at Assumed Annual

Number of

Granted to

Rates of Stock

Securities

Employees

Price Appreciation for

Underlying

and Directors

Option Term

Options

in Fiscal

Exercise

Expiration

Name

Granted

Year

Price

Date

5%

10%

1 Robert L. Moody

11,500

21.3

%

$

92.13

4-20-2011

$

666,311

$

1,688,862

1,000

1.9

95.00

6-22-2011

59,745

151,406

2 Ross R. Moody

10,500

19.4

92.13

4-20-2011

608,371

1,541,731

1,000

1.9

95.00

6-22-2011

59,745

151,406

3 Rodney K. Foster

1,500

2.8

92.13

4-20-2011

86,910

220,247

4 Richard M. Edwards

1,300

2.4

92.13

4-20-2011

81,116

205,564

5 Robert L. Busby, III

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   

-   


(d) Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Value Table

For the year ended December 31, 2001, detailed below is stock option information for the Company
=s named executive officers:

Number of

Shares

Securities Underlying

Value of Unexercised

Acquired

Unexercised Options

In-The-Money Options

On

Value

Name

Exercise

Realized

Exercisable

Unexercisable

Exercisable

Unexercisable

1 Robert L. Moody

-   

$

-   

35,640 

39,260 

$

1,979,248 

$

1,080,562 

2 Ross R. Moody

1,972 

144,206 

9,828 

25,400 

421,861 

512,173 

3 Rodney K. Foster

-   

-   

-   

1,500 

-   

28,605 

4 Richard M. Edwards

1,500 

93,771 

2,300 

5,500 

74,060 

133,656 

5 Robert L. Busby, III

1,700 

86,425 

-   

3,000 

-   

99,725 


(e) Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards Table

None.

(f) Defined Benefit or Actuarial Plan Disclosure

The Company currently has two employee defined benefit plans for the benefit of its employees and officers. A brief description and formulas by which benefits are determined for each of the plans are detailed as follows:

Qualified Defined Benefit Plan - This plan covers all full-time employees and officers of the Company and provides benefits based on the participant
=s years of service and compensation. The Company makes annual contributions to the plan that comply with the minimum funding provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Annual pension benefits for those employees who became eligible participants prior to January 1, 1991, are calculated as the sum of the following:

(1) 50% of the participant's final 5-year average annual eligible compensation at December 31, 1990, less 50% of their primary social security benefit determined at December 31, 1990; this net amount is then prorated for less than 15 years of benefit service at normal retirement date. This result is multiplied by a fraction which is the participant's years of benefit service at December 31, 1990, divided by the participant's years of benefit service at normal retirement date.

(2) 1.5% of the participant's eligible compensation earned during each year of benefit service after December 31, 1990.

Annual pension benefits for those employees who become eligible participants on or subsequent to January 1, 1991, are calculated as 1.5% of their compensation earned during each year of benefit service.

Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan - This plan covers those officers who were in the position of senior vice president or above prior to 1991 and other employees who have been designated by the President of the Company as being in the class of persons who are eligible to participate in the plan. This plan also provides benefits based on the participant
=s years of service and compensation. However, no minimum funding standards are required.

The benefit to be paid pursuant to this Plan to a Participant who retires at his normal retirement date shall be equal to (a) minus (b) minus (c) where:

(a) is the benefit which would have been payable at the participant's normal retirement date under the terms of the Qualified Defined Benefit Plan as of December 31, 1990, as if that Plan had continued without change, and,

(b) is the benefit which actually becomes payable under the terms of the Qualified Defined Benefit Plan at the participant's normal retirement date, and,

(c) is the actuarially equivalent life annuity which may be provided by an accumulation of 2% of the participant's compensation for each year of service on or after January 1, 1991, accumulated at an assumed interest rate of 8.5% to his normal retirement date.

In no event will the benefit be greater than the benefit which would have been payable at normal retirement date under the terms of the Qualified Defined Benefit Plan as of December 31, 1990, as if that plan had continued without change.

The estimated annual benefits payable to the named executive officers upon retirement, at normal retirement age, for the Company's defined benefit plans are as follows:

Estimated Annual Benefits

Qualified

Non-Qualified

Defined

Defined

Name

Benefit Plan

Benefit Plan

Totals

1 Robert L. Moody

$

129,659 

406,344 

536,003 

2 Ross R. Moody

103,668 

-   

103,668 

3 Rodney K. Foster

47,049 

-   

47,049 

4 Richard M. Edwards

75,997 

1,047 

77,044 

5 Robert L. Busby, III

48,265 

40,857 

89,122 



The pension obligations and administrative responsibilities of the non-qualified defined benefit plan have been transferred to a pension administration firm. Upon transfer, the Company made a payment to the firm to cover current and future liabilities and administration of the plan. However, as more fully described in Note 7, Pension Plans on page __, of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, National Western retains certain contingent liabilities with respect to the plan.

(g) Compensation of Directors

All directors of the Company currently receive $18,000 a year and $500 for each board meeting attended. They are also reimbursed for actual travel expenses incurred in performing services as directors. An additional $500 is paid for each committee meeting attended. However, a director attending multiple meetings on the same day receives only one meeting fee. The amounts paid pursuant to these arrangements are included in the summary compensation table under Item 11(b). The directors and their dependents are also insured under the Company's group insurance program.

During 1995 the Company adopted the National Western Life Insurance Company 1995 Stock and Incentive Plan (the Plan), as more fully described in Item 11.(c). Directors of the Company, other than Compensation and Stock Option Committee members, are eligible for restricted stock awards, incentive awards, and performance awards. Nonemployee directors, including members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, are eligible for nondiscretionary stock options. On May 19, 1995, the Committee approved the issuance of 7,000 nonqualified, nondiscretionary stock options to nonemployee Company directors, with each such director receiving 1,000 stock options. On June 19, 1998, the stockholders approved the issuance of 10,000 nonqualified, nondiscretionary stock options to all Company directors, with each such director receiving 1,000 stock options. On June 22, 2001, the stockholders approved the issuance of 10,000 nonqualified, nondiscretionary stock options to all Company directors, with each such director receiving 1,000 stock options.

Directors of the Company's subsidiary, NWL Investments, Inc., receive $250 annually. Nonemployee directors of the Company
=s subsidiary, NWL Services, Inc., receive $1,000 per board meeting attended. Directors of the Company=s downstream subsidiaries, Regent Care General Partner, Inc., and Regent Care Operations General Partner, Inc., receive $250 per board meeting attended.

(h) Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements

Rodney K. Foster, a named executive officer, was hired by the Company in 2001 pursuant to an agreement executed by Mr. Foster and an executive search firm acting in the Company's behalf. The agreement sets forth Mr. Foster's compensation package, including salary, bonuses, relocation, and other benefits. Compensation pursuant to the agreement is included in parts (b) and (f) of this Item.

Richard M. Edwards, also a named executive officer, had a bonus compensation contract with the Company during 2001. The contract consisted of several components in which certain levels of Company performance relating to annuity account balances, life insurance persistency rates, life insurance premiums, and annuity contract deposits were required in order to earn bonuses. Compensation bonuses paid to Mr. Edwards are disclosed in part (b) of this Item.

Robert L. Busby, III, also a named executive officer, executed a retirement agreement with the Company during 2001. The agreement established Mr. Busby's retirement date and outlined Mr. Busby's and the Company's rights and responsibilities, as well as Mr. Busby's compensation, for the period of April 19, 2001, to his retirement date, March 1, 2002. Compensation pursuant to the agreement is included in parts (b) and (f) of this Item.

(i) Report on Repricing of Options/SARs

None.

(j) Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Company's Board of Directors performs the functions of an executive compensation committee. The Board is responsible for developing and administering the policies that determine executive compensation. Additionally, a separate Compensation and Stock Option Committee, comprised of outside, independent directors, determines compensation for the three highest-paid Company executives. The committee also performs various projects relating to executive compensation at the request of the Board of Directors. Those directors serving on the committee include Arthur O. Dummer, Harry L. Edwards, and E. J. Pederson.

Mr. Robert Moody, Mr. Ross Moody, and Mr. Charles Milos serve as directors and also serve as officers and employees of National Western Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ross Moody serves as an officer and director of the Company
=s wholly owned subsidiaries, The Westcap Corporation, NWL 806 Main, Inc., NWL Investments, Inc., NWL Properties, Inc., NWL Financial, Inc., NWL Services, Inc., Regent Care Limited Partner, Inc., and Regent Care Operations Limited Partner, Inc. Mr. Charles Milos serves as an officer and director of The Westcap Corporation, Regent Care General Partner, Inc., and Regent Care Operations General Partner, Inc. and as an officer of NWL 806 Main, Inc., NWL Investments, Inc., NWL Properties, Inc., NWL Financial, Inc., NWL Services, Inc., Regent Care Limited Partner, Inc., and Regent Care Operations Limited Partner, Inc. Mr. Robert Moody is an officer of NWL Services, Inc. Mr. Harry Edwards serves as a director and was formerly an officer of National Western Life Insurance Company. Mr. Arthur Dummer is an officer and director of NWL Services, Inc., and Regent Care Operations General Partner, Inc., and a director of Regent Care General Partner, Inc. The Donner Company, 100% owned by Mr. Dummer was paid $85,000 in 2001 pursuant to an agreement between The Donner Company and a reinsurance intermediary relating to a reinsurance contract between the Company and certain life insurance reinsurers.

No compensation committee interlocks exist with other unaffiliated companies.

(k) Board Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

The Company
=s Board of Directors determines and approves executive compensation, along with developing and administering the policies that determine executive compensation.

Executive compensation, including that of the chief executive officer, is comprised primarily of a base salary. The salary is adjusted annually based on a performance review of the individual as well as the performance of the Company as a whole. The president and chief executive officer make recommendations annually to the Board of Directors regarding such salary adjustments. The review encompasses the following factors: (1) contributions to the Company's short and long-term strategic goals, including financial goals such as Company revenues and earnings, (2) achievement of specific goals within the individual's realm of responsibility, (3) development of management and employees within the Company, and (4) performance of leadership within the industry. These policies are reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors to ensure the support of the Company's overall business strategy and to attract and retain key executives.

As previously described, a separate Compensation and Stock Option Committee, comprised of outside, independent directors, determines compensation for the three highest-paid Company executives. The policies used by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee in determining compensation are similar to those described above for all other Company executives.

(l) Performance Graph

The following graph compares the change in the Company's cumulative total stockholder return on its common stock with the Nasdaq - U.S. Companies Index and the Nasdaq Insurance Stock Index. The graph assumes that the value of the Company's common stock and each index was $100 at December 31, 1996, and that all dividends were reinvested.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

(a) Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

Set forth below is certain financial information concerning persons who are known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of any class of the Company's common stock on December 31, 2001:

Name and Address

Title

Amount and Nature of

Percent

of

of

Beneficial Ownership

of

Beneficial Owners

Class

Record and Beneficially

Class

Robert L. Moody

Class A Common

1,159,096

34.97

%

2302 PostOffice Street, Suite 702

Class B Common

198,074

99.04

%

Galveston, Texas

Westport Asset Management, Inc.

Class A Common

359,400

10.84

%

253 Riverside Avenue

Westport, Connecticut

Tweedy Browne Company

Class A Common

304,880

9.20

%

350 Park Avenue

New York, New York

FMR Corp.

Class A Common

211,100

6.37

%

82 Devonshire Street

Boston, Massachusetts



(b) Security Ownership of Management

The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2001, information concerning the beneficial ownership of the Company's common stock by all directors, named executive officers, and all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group:

Title

Amount and Nature of

Percent

Directors

of

Beneficial Ownership

of

and Officers

Class

Record and Beneficially

Class

Directors and Named Executive Officers:

Robert L. Moody

Class A Common

1,159,096

34.97

%

Class B Common

198,074

99.04

%

Ross R. Moody

Class A Common*

625

.02

%

Class B Common*

482

.24

%

Directors:

Arthur O. Dummer

Class A Common

310

.01

%

Class B Common

-   

-   

Harry L. Edwards

Class A Common

20

-   

Class B Common

-   

-   

E. Douglas McLeod

Class A Common

10

-   

Class B Common

-   

-   

Charles D. Milos

Class A Common

528

.02

%

Class B Common

-   

-   

Frances A. Moody

Class A Common

1,850

.06

%

Class A Common*

625

.02

%

Class B Common*

482

.24

%

Russell S. Moody

Class A Common

1,850

.06

%

Class A Common*

625

.02

%

Class B Common*

482

.24

%

Louis E. Pauls, Jr.

Class A Common

110

-   

Class B Common

-   

-   

E. J. Pederson

Class A Common

100

-   

Class B Common

-   

-   

Named Executive Officers:

Robert L. Busby, III

Class A Common

-   

-   

Class B Common

-   

-   

Richard M. Edwards

Class A Common

303

.01

%

Class B Common

-   

-   

Rodney K. Foster

Class A Common

-   

-   

Class B Common

-   

-   

Directors and Executive

Class A Common

1,166,884

35.20

%

Officers as a Group

Class B Common

199,520

99.76

%


* Shares are owned indirectly through the Three R Trusts. The Three R Trusts are four Texas trusts for the benefit of the children of Mr. Robert L. Moody (Robert L. Moody Jr., Ross R. Moody, Russell S. Moody, and Frances A. Moody). The Three R Trusts own a total of 2,500 Class A common stock shares and 1,926 Class B common stock shares.

(c) Changes in Control

None.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

(a) Transactions with Management and Others

The Donner Company, 100% owned by Mr. Arthur Dummer, a director of National Western Life Insurance Company, was paid $85,000 in 2001 pursuant to an agreement between The Donner Company and a reinsurance intermediary relating to a reinsurance contract between the Company and certain life insurance reinsurers.

Moody Insurance Group, Inc., wholly owned by Mr. Robert L. Moody, Jr. was paid $316,644 in commissions in 2001 pursuant to an agency contract with National Western Life Insurance Company. Mr. Robert L. Moody, Jr. is an employee of the Company and the son of Mr. Robert L. Moody, who serves as a director and chief executive officer of the Company, the brother of Mr. Ross R. Moody, who serves as a director and president of the Company, and the brother of Mr. Russell S. Moody and Ms. Frances A. Moody, who serve as directors of the Company. The 2001 commissions paid were based on premiums and deposits totaling approximately $15,927,000 from sales of National Western life insurance and annuity products. In addition, Mr. Robert L. Moody, Jr. personally received $475 in commissions in 2001 pursuant to an agency contract between himself and the Company.

Regent Management Services, Limited Partnership was paid $208,580 in fees for the operation and management of a nursing home owned by Regent Care Operations, Limited Partnership, a downstream subsidiary of National Western Life Insurance Company. Regent Management Services, Limited Partnership is owned by general partner RCC Management Services, Inc. and the following limited partners: Three R Trusts, Jay W. Balentine, and Rex Greebon. Mr. Jay W. Balentine is the step, son-in-law of Mr. Robert L. Moody. Mr. Balentine's limited partnership interest totals 19.8%. He also owns 20.0% of and serves as president of RCC Management Services, Inc. The Three R Trusts are four Texas trusts for the benefit of the children of Mr. Robert L. Moody (Robert L. Moody Jr., Ross R. Moody, Russell S. Moody, and Frances A. Moody).

(b) Certain Business Relationships

None.

(c) Indebtedness of Management

The Company holds three mortgage loans issued to Gal-Tex Hotel Corporation, which is owned 50% by the Libbie Shearn Moody Trust and 50% by The Moody Foundation. The first mortgage loan in the amount of $1,969,000 was issued in 1988 and originally matured in May of 1998. It was extended during 1998 to May of 2003 and pays interest of 8%. The loan is secured by property consisting of a hotel located in Kingsport, Tennessee. The second mortgage loan in the amount of $7,344,000 was issued in 1994, will mature in October of 2004, and pays interest of 8.75%. The loan is secured by property consisting of a hotel located in Houston, Texas. The third mortgage loan in the amount of $1,507,000 was issued in 1995, will mature in January of 2006, and pays interest of 9%. The loan is secured by property consisting of a hotel located in Woodstock, Virginia. Each of these loans is current as to principal and interest payments.

The Company
=s wholly owned subsidiary, NWL Services, Inc., is the beneficial owner of a life interest (1/8 share), previously owned by Mr. Robert L. Moody, in the trust estate of Libbie Shearn Moody. The trustee of this estate is The Moody National Bank of Galveston. The Moody National Bank is ultimately controlled by the Three R Trusts, Galveston, Texas, whose ultimate beneficiaries are the children of Robert L. Moody: Robert L. Moody, Jr., Ross R. Moody, Russell S. Moody, and Frances A. Moody. The Moody Foundation is a private charitable foundation governed by a Board of Trustees of three members. Mr. Robert L. Moody and Mr. Ross R. Moody are members of the Board of Trustees.

(d) Transactions with Promoters

None.

PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES,
AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a) 1. Listing of Financial Statements

See Attachment A, Index to Financial Statements and Schedules, on page __ for a list of financial statements included in this report.

(a) 2. Listing of Financial Statement Schedules

See Attachment A, Index to Financial Statements and Schedules, on page __ for a list of financial statement schedules included in this report.

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required, or because the information required by the schedule is included elsewhere in the financial statements or notes.

(a) 3. Listing of Exhibits

Exhibit 2

-

Order Confirming Third Amended Joint Consensual Plan Of Reorganization Proposed By The Debtors And The Official Committee Of Unsecured Creditors (As Modified As Of August 28, 1998) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the Company=s Form 8-K dated August 28, 1998).

Exhibit 3(a)

-

Restated Articles of Incorporation of National Western Life Insurance Company dated April 10, 1968 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 3(b)

-

Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of National Western Life Insurance Company dated July 29, 1971 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 3(c)

-

Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of National Western Life Insurance Company dated May 10, 1976 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(c) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 3(d)

-

Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of National Western Life Insurance Company dated April 28, 1978 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(d) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 3(e)

-

Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of National Western Life Insurance Company dated May 1, 1979 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(e) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 3(f)

-

Bylaws of National Western Life Insurance Company as amended through April 24, 1987 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(f) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 10(a)

-

National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan dated July 26, 1991 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 10(b)

-

National Western Life Insurance Company Officers' Stock Bonus Plan effective December 31, 1992 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Form S-8 registration dated January 27, 1994).

Exhibit 10(c)

-

National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, dated March 27, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 10(d)

-

First Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective July 1, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 10(e)

-

National Western Life Insurance Company 1995 Stock and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).

Exhibit 10(f)

-

First Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan effective December 17, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996).

Exhibit 10(g)

-

Second Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan effective December 17, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996).

Exhibit 10(h)

-

Second Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective December 17, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996).

Exhibit 10(i)

-

Third Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective December 17, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(i) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996).

Exhibit 10(j)

-

Fourth Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective June 20, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(j) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997).

Exhibit 10(k)

-

First Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company 1995 Stock and Incentive Plan effective June 19, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(k) to the Company=s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998).

Exhibit 10(l)

-

Joint Motion For Preliminary Approval Of Settlement Agreement, To Authorize Class Notice, To Enjoin Other Actions And To Schedule Fairness Hearing (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(l) to the Company=s Form 8-K dated September 8, 1998).

Exhibit 10(m)

-

Fifth Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective July 1, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(l) to the Company=s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998).

Exhibit 10(n)

-

Sixth Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective August 7, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(n) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998).

Exhibit 10(o)

-

Third Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan effective August 7, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(o) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998).

Exhibit 10(p)

-

Exchange Agreement by and among National Western Life Insurance Company, NWL Services, Inc., Alternative Benefit Management, Inc., and American National Insurance Company effective November 23, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(p) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998).

Exhibit 10(q)

-

Bonus Agreement by and between National Western Life Insurance Company and Richard M. Edwards effective August 1, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(q) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999).

Exhibit 10(r)

-

Bonus Agreement by and between National Western Life Insurance Company and Arthur W. Pickering effective August 10, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(r) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999).

Exhibit 10(s)

-

Seventh Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective August 7, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

Exhibit 10(t)

-

Bonus Agreement by and between National Western Life Insurance Company and Richard M. Edwards effective May 30, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(t) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

Exhibit 10(u)

-

Eighth Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan effective December 1, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(u) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

Exhibit 10(v)

-

Fourth Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan effective December 1, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(v) to the Company=s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000).

Exhibit 10(w)

-

Second Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company 1995 Stock and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(w) to the Company=s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001).

Exhibit 10(x)

-

Bonus Agreement by and between National Western Life Insurance Company and Richard M. Edwards effective June 1, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(x) to the Company=s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001).

Exhibit 10(y)

-

Employment letter to Rodney K. Foster, dated December 28, 2000 (filed on page __ of this report).

Exhibit 10(z)

-

Fifth Amendment to the National Western Life Insurance Company Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plan effective January 1, 2001 (filed on page __ of this report).

Exhibit 10(aa)

-

Employment letter to Brian M. Pribyl, dated March 23, 2001 (filed on page __ of this report).

Exhibit 10(ab)

-

Employee Retirement Agreement, with exhibits, by and between National Western Life Insurance Company and Robert L. Busby, III, executed April 19, 2001 (filed on page __ of this report).

Exhibit 10(ac)

-

Modification of Employee Retirement Agreement by and between National Western Life Insurance Company and Robert L. Busby, III, executed on January 23, 2002 (filed on page ___ of this report).

Exhibit 16

-

Letter Regarding Change In Certifying Accountant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 16 to the Company's Form 8-K dated April 20, 2001).

Exhibit 21

-

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed on page ___ of this report).

Exhibit 23(a)

-

Independent Auditors' Consent (filed on page ___ of this report).

Exhibit 23(b)

-

Independent Auditors' Consent (filed on page ___ of this report).



(b) Reports on Form 8-K

No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended December 31, 2001.

(c) Exhibits

Exhibits required by Regulation S-K are listed as to location in the Listing of Exhibits in Item 14.(a)3. above. Exhibits not referred to have been omitted as inapplicable or not required.

(d) Financial Statement Schedules

The financial statement schedules required by Regulation S-K are listed as to location in Attachment A, Index to Financial Statements and Schedules, on page __ of this report.

ATTACHMENT A

Index to Financial Statements and Schedules

Page

Independent Auditors' Report - Deloitte & Touche LLP

Independent Auditors' Report - KPMG LLP

Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2001 and 2000

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Schedule I - Summary of Investments Other Than Investments in Related Parties, December 31, 2001

Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999


All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required, or because the information required by the schedule is included elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements or notes.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


The Board of Directors and Stockholders
National Western Life Insurance Company
Austin, Texas

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of National Western Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2001, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended. Our audit also included the financial statement schedules listed in the accompanying Index. These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of National Western Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.



DELOITTE & TOUCHE, LLP
March 8, 2002
Fort Worth, Texas


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


The Board Directors and Stockholders
National Western Life Insurance Company
Austin, Texas

We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of National Western Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries ("Company") as of December 31, 2000 and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2000. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of National Western Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2000, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

KPMG LLP


Austin, Texas
March 5, 2001

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2001 and 2000

(In thousands)

ASSETS

2001

2000

Cash and investments:

    Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost

       (fair value: $2,128,586 and $2,113,286)

$

2,059,146 

2,116,619 

    Securities available for sale, at fair value

       (cost: $927,855 and $777,732)

925,975 

735,110 

    Mortgage loans, net of allowance for possible

       losses ($2,115 and $4,215)

186,278 

195,665 

    Policy loans

97,019 

106,820 

    Index options

6,288 

5,402 

    Other long-term investments

51,272 

37,386 

    Cash and short-term investments

10,203 

22,665 

Total cash and investments

3,336,181 

3,219,667 

Deferred policy acquisition costs

401,380 

394,198 

Accrued investment income

49,537 

48,265 

Federal income tax receivable

1,284 

3,888 

Deferred Federal income tax asset

-   

3,576 

Other assets

21,090 

24,226 

$

3,809,472 

3,693,820 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2001 and 2000

(In thousands except share amounts)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

2001

2000

LIABILITIES:

Future policy benefits:

    Traditional life and annuity contracts

$

146,891 

159,840 

    Universal life and investment annuity contracts

3,039,056 

2,979,407 

Other policyholder liabilities

38,655 

33,640 

Federal income tax liability:

    Current

3,581 

222 

    Deferred

263 

-   

Other liabilities

21,638 

20,605 

Total liabilities

3,250,084 

3,193,714 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes 4, 7, and 9)

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

Common stock:

    Class A - $1 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized; 3,314,947

       and 3,304,255 shares issued and outstanding in 2001 and 2000

3,315 

3,304 

    Class B - $1 par value; 200,000 shares authorized, issued,

       and outstanding in 2001 and 2000

200 

200 

Additional paid-in capital

25,921 

25,174 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

4,134 

(7,671)

Retained earnings

525,818 

479,099 

Total stockholders' equity

559,388 

500,106 

$

3,809,472 

3,693,820 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

(In thousands except per share amounts)

2001

2000

1999

Premiums and other revenue:

    Life and annuity premiums

$

14,013 

17,615 

18,423 

    Universal life and investment annuity

       contract revenues

75,026 

82,742 

76,655 

    Net investment income

234,866 

210,654 

242,980 

    Other income

6,247 

946 

8,944 

    Realized gains (losses) on investments

(27,046)

(19,242)

4,481 

Total premiums and other revenue

303,106 

292,715 

351,483 

Benefits and expenses:

    Life and other policy benefits

35,225 

40,506 

34,775 

    Decrease in liabilities for future policy benefits

(3,510)

(5,428)

(2,319)

    Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

27,424 

47,948 

39,148 

    Universal life and investment annuity

       contract interest

144,516 

137,711 

162,302 

    Other operating expenses

31,681 

29,427 

27,764 

Total benefits and expenses

235,336 

250,164 

261,670 

Earnings before Federal income taxes and cumulative

   effect of change in accounting principle

67,770 

42,551 

89,813 

Federal income taxes

23,185 

14,011 

30,588 

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in

   accounting principle

44,585 

28,540 

59,225 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting for

   equity-indexed annuities, net of $1,149

   of Federal income taxes

2,134 

-   

-   

Net earnings

$

46,719 

28,540 

59,225 

Basic Earnings Per Share:

    Earnings before cumulative effect of change

       in accounting principle

$

12.70 

8.15 

16.92 

    Cumulative effect of change in accounting

       for equity-indexed annuities

0.61 

-   

-   

Net earnings

$

13.31 

8.15 

16.92 

Diluted Earnings Per Share:

    Earnings before cumulative effect of change

       in accounting principle

$

12.59 

8.11 

16.78 

    Cumulative effect of change in accounting

       for equity-indexed annuities

0.60 

-   

-   

Net earnings

$

13.19 

8.11 

16.78 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

(In thousands)

2001

2000

1999

Net earnings

$

46,719 

28,540 

59,225 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of effects of

   deferred policy acquisition costs and taxes:

    Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

        Unrealized holding gains (losses)

           arising during period

1,604 

(57)

(20,051)

        Reclassification adjustment for net losses (gains)

           included in net earnings

16,412 

6,809 

(2,111)

        Amortization of net unrealized losses (gains)

           related to transferred securities

176 

(581)

(250)

        Unrealized losses on securities transferred

           during period from available for sale

           to held to maturity

647 

-   

-   

        Unrealized losses on securities transferred during

           period from held to maturity to available for sale

-   

(11,041)

-   

        Cumulative effect of change in accounting

           principle - transfers of securities from held

           to maturity to available for sale upon adoption

           of Statement of Financial Accounting

           Standards No. 133

(5,148)

-   

-   

        Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities

13,691 

(4,870)

(22,412)

    Foreign currency translation adjustments

(574)

765 

212 

    Minimum pension liability adjustment

(1,312)

-   

-   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

11,805 

(4,105)

(22,200)

Comprehensive income

$

58,524 

24,435 

37,025 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

(In thousands)

2001

2000

1999

Common stock:

    Balance at beginning of year

$

3,504 

3,501 

3,498 

    Shares exercised under stock option plan

11 

Balance at end of year

3,515 

3,504 

3,501 

Additional paid-in capital:

    Balance at beginning of year

25,174 

25,028 

24,899 

    Shares exercised under stock option plan

747 

146 

129 

Balance at end of year

25,921 

25,174 

25,028 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

    Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

        Balance at beginning of year

(11,282)

(6,412)

16,000 

        Change in unrealized gains (losses) during period

13,691 

(4,870)

(22,412)

    Balance at end of year

2,409 

(11,282)

(6,412)

    Foreign currency translation adjustments:

        Balance at beginning of year

3,611 

2,846 

2,634 

        Change in translation adjustments during period

(574)

765 

212 

    Balance at end of year

3,037 

3,611 

2,846 

    Minimum pension liability adjustment:

      Balance at beginning of year

-   

-   

-   

      Change in minimum pension liability

         adjustment during period

(1,312)

-   

-   

    Balance at end of year

(1,312)

-   

-   

Accumulated other comprehensive

   income (loss) at end of year

4,134 

(7,671)

(3,566)

Retained earnings:

    Balance at beginning of year

479,099 

450,559 

391,334 

    Net earnings

46,719 

28,540 

59,225 

Balance at end of year

525,818 

479,099 

450,559 

Total stockholders' equity

$

559,388 

500,106 

475,522 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

(In thousands)

2001

2000

1999

Cash flows from operating activities:

    Net earnings

$

46,719 

28,540 

59,225 

    Adjustments to reconcile net earnings

    to net cash provided by operating activities:

       Universal life and investment annuity

          contract interest

144,516 

137,711 

162,302 

       Surrender charges and other policy revenues

(32,472)

(42,485)

(37,811)

       Realized (gains) losses on investments

27,046 

19,242 

(4,481)

       Accrual and amortization of investment income

(6,650)

(4,873)

(4,505)

       Depreciation and amortization

1,293 

1,188 

1,028 

       Decrease (increase) in value of index options

(12,182)

26,349 

2,330 

       Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs

(22,985)

(11,642)

(26,289)

       Increase in accrued investment income

(1,272)

(509)

(2,979)

       Decrease (increase) in other assets

(1,029)

(2,572)

1,357 

       Decrease in liabilities for future policy benefits

(3,510)

(5,428)

(2,319)

       Increase in other policyholder liabilities

5,015 

9,537 

148 

       Increase (decrease) in Federal income tax liability

1,532 

(14,217)

6,503 

       Increase (decrease) in other liabilities

(986)

(960)

(35,589)

       Cumulative effect of change in accounting for

          equity-indexed annuities, before taxes

(3,283)

-   

-   

       Other

638

(882)

(549)

Net cash provided by operating activities

142,390 

139,999 

118,371 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    Proceeds from sales of:

        Securities held to maturity

-   

-   

-   

        Securities available for sale

73,897 

42,206 

56,126 

        Other investments

4,577 

7,171 

2,180 

    Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of:

        Securities held to maturity

76,789 

47,473 

114,448 

        Securities available for sale

59,200 

37,879 

56,782 

        Index options

26,382 

27,450 

16,201 

    Purchases of:

        Securities held to maturity

(212,477)

(118,069)

(231,136)

        Securities available for sale

(116,729)

(25,929)

(152,595)

        Other investments

(35,796)

(35,660)

(38,715)

    Principal payments on mortgage loans

21,574 

26,276 

40,145 

    Cost of mortgage loans acquired

(9,418)

(40,661)

(45,348)

    Decrease in policy loans

9,801 

6,353 

7,132 

    Decrease in assets of discontinued operations

-   

-   

48 

    Decrease in liabilities of discontinued operations

-   

-   

(48)

    Other

(581)

(6,957)

(1,107)

Net cash used in investing activities

(102,781)

(32,468)

(175,887)

(Continued on next page)

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, CONTINUED

For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

(In thousands)

2001

2000

1999

Cash flows from financing activities:

    Deposits to account balances for universal life

       and investment annuity contracts

$

315,526 

349,044 

410,666 

    Return of account balances on universal life

       and investment annuity contracts

(368,052)

(447,128)

(363,802)

    Issuance of common stock under stock option plan

547 

149 

132 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(51,979)

(97,935)

46,996 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(92)

(59)

(22)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and

   short-term investments

(12,462)

8,655 

(10,498)

Cash and short-term investments at

   beginning of year

22,665 

14,010 

24,508 

Cash and short-term investments at end of year

$

10,203 

22,665 

14,010 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Cash paid during the year for:

    Interest

$

135 

388 

190 

    Income taxes

20,142 

28,228 

24,084 

Noncash investing activities:

    Foreclosed mortgage loans

$

-   

3,111 

-   

    Mortgage loans originated to facilitate

       the sale of real estate

57 

-   

3,000 


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1)  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(A) Principles of Consolidation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Western Life Insurance Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the Company), The Westcap Corporation, NWL Investments, Inc., NWL Properties, Inc., NWL 806 Main, Inc., NWL Services, Inc., and NWL Financial, Inc. All significant intercorporate transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

(B) Basis of Presentation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include (1) liabilities for future policy benefits, (2) valuation of derivative instruments, (3) recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs, (4) valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, (5) impairment losses on debt securities, and (6) valuation allowances for mortgage loans and real estate.

National Western Life Insurance Company also files financial statements with insurance regulatory authorities which are prepared on the basis of statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Colorado Division of Insurance which are significantly different from consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These differences are described in detail in the statutory information section of this note.

(C) Investments
- Investments in debt securities the Company purchases with the intent to hold to maturity are classified as securities held to maturity. The Company has the ability to hold the securities, as it would be unlikely that forced sales of securities would be required prior to maturity to cover payments of liabilities. As a result, securities held to maturity are carried at amortized cost less declines in value that are other than temporary.

Investments in debt and equity securities that are not classified as securities held to maturity are reported as securities available for sale. Securities available for sale are reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements at fair value. Any valuation changes resulting from changes in the fair value of the securities are reflected as a component of stockholders' equity in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. These unrealized gains or losses in stockholders' equity are reported net of taxes and adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs.

Transfers of securities between categories are recorded at fair value at the date of transfer. The unrealized holding gains or losses for securities transferred from available for sale to held to maturity are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss and amortized into earnings over the remaining life of the security as an adjustment to yield in a manner consistent with the amortization or accretion of premium or discount on the associated security.

Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related security as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, the effective interest method is used based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When estimates of prepayments change, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments. The net investment in the securities is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied at the time of acquisition. This adjustment is reflected in net investment income.

Realized gains and losses for securities available for sale and securities held to maturity are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold. A decline in the fair value below cost that is deemed other than temporary is charged to earnings, resulting in the establishment of a new cost basis for the security.

Mortgage loans and other long-term investments are stated at cost, less unamortized discounts and allowances for possible losses. Policy loans are stated at their aggregate unpaid balances. Real estate is stated at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell.

Impaired loans are those loans where it is probable that all amounts due according to contractual terms of the loan agreement will not be collected. The Company has identified these loans through its normal loan review procedures. Impaired loans include (1) nonaccrual loans, (2) loans which are 90 days or more past due, unless they are well secured and are in the process of collection, and (3) other loans which management believes are impaired. Impaired loans are measured based on (1) the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan
=s effective interest rate, (2) the loan=s observable market price, or (3) the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Substantially all of the Company=s impaired loans are measured at the fair value of the collateral. In limited cases the Company may use other methods to determine the level of impairment of a loan if such loan is not collateral dependent.

(D) Cash Equivalents - For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all short-term investments with a maturity at date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

(E) Derivative Financial Instruments - The Company purchases over-the-counter index options, which are derivative financial instruments, to hedge the equity return component of its equity-indexed annuity products. The index options act as hedges to match closely the returns on the S&P 500®
Composite Stock Price Index which may be paid to policyholders. As a result, changes to policyholders= liabilities are substantially offset by changes in the value of the options. Cash is exchanged upon purchase of the index options, and no principal or interest payments are made by either party during the option periods. Upon maturity or expiration of the options, cash is paid to the Company based on the S&P 500® performance and terms of the contract.

The index options are reported at fair value in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The changes in the values of the index options and the changes in the policyholder liabilities are both reflected in the statement of earnings. Any gains or losses from the sale or expiration of the options, as well as period-to-period changes in values, are reflected as net investment income in the statement of earnings.

Although there is credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the index options, the Company does not expect any counterparties to fail to meet their obligations, given their high credit ratings. In addition, credit support agreements are in place with all counterparties for option holdings in excess of specific limits, which may further reduce the Company
=s credit exposure. At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the fair values of index options owned by the Company totaled $6,288,000 and $5,402,000, respectively.

(F) Insurance Revenues and Expenses - Premiums on traditional life insurance products are recognized as revenues as they become due or, for short duration contracts, over the contract periods. Benefits and expenses are matched with premiums in arriving at profits by providing for policy benefits over the lives of the policies and by amortizing acquisition costs over the premium-paying periods of the policies. For universal life and investment annuity contracts, revenues consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, policy administration, and surrender charges assessed during the period. Expenses for these policies include interest credited to policy account balances and benefit claims incurred in excess of policy account balances. The related deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized in relation to the present value of expected gross profits on the policies.

(G) Federal Income Taxes - Federal income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is provided if all or some portion of the deferred tax asset may not be realized. An increase or decrease in a valuation allowance that results from a change in circumstances that affects the realizability of the related deferred tax asset is included in income in the period the change occurs.

(H) Depreciation of Property, Equipment, and Leasehold Improvements - Depreciation is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets and is calculated on the straight-line and accelerated methods. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the economic useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease.

(I) Classification - Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years to conform to the reporting categories used in 2001.

(J) Statutory Information - Domiciled in Colorado, the Company prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Colorado Division of Insurance. The Company adopted the provisions of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' ("NAIC") Codification of Statutory Accounting Practices as modified by the Colorado Division of Insurance for the preparation of statutory financial statements effective January 1, 2001. The adoption of the new accounting principles has the effect of increasing statutory surplus at January 1, 2001 by $3,881,000, which relates primarily to accounting principles regarding deferred income taxes.

The following are major differences between GAAP and accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Colorado Division of Insurance:

1.  The Company accounts for universal life and investment annuity contracts based on the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 97, "Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments." The basic effect of the statement with respect to certain long-duration contracts is that deposits for universal life and investment annuity contracts are not reflected as revenues, and surrenders and certain other benefit payments are not reflected as expenses. However, only those contracts with no insurance risk qualify for such treatment under statutory accounting practices. For all other contracts, statutory accounting practices do reflect such items as revenues and expenses.

A summary of direct premiums and deposits collected is provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Investment annuity deposits

$

296,466 

329,002

389,563

Universal life insurance deposits

71,804 

70,514

69,906

Traditional life and other premiums

14,982 

18,105

19,154

Totals

$

383,252 

417,621

478,623


2.  Under GAAP, commissions and certain expenses related to policy issuance and underwriting, all of which generally vary with and are related to the production of new business, are deferred. For traditional products, these costs are amortized over the premium-paying period of the related policies in proportion to the ratio of the premium earned to the total premium revenue anticipated, using the same assumptions as to interest, mortality, and withdrawals as were used in calculating the liability for future policy benefits. For universal life and investment annuity contracts, these costs are amortized in relation to the present value of expected gross profits on these policies. The Company evaluates the recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs on an annual basis. In this evaluation, the Company considers estimated future gross profits or future premiums, as applicable for the type of contract. The Company also considers expected mortality, interest earned and credited rates, persistency, and expenses. Statutory accounting practices require commissions and related costs to be expensed as incurred.

A summary of information relative to deferred policy acquisition costs is provided in the table below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Deferred policy acquisition costs, beginning of year

$

394,198 

369,665

314,493

Policy acquisition costs deferred:

    Agents= commissions

48,439 

57,426

62,932

    Other

1,970 

2,164

2,505

Total costs deferred

50,409 

59,590

65,437

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

(27,424)

(47,948)

(39,148)

Adjustments for unrealized gains and

   losses on investment securities

(15,803)

12,891

28,883

Deferred policy acquisition costs, end of year

$

401,380 

394,198

369,665


3.  Under GAAP, the liability for future policy benefits on traditional products has been calculated by the net level method using assumptions as to future mortality (based on the 1965-1970 and 1975-1980 Select and Ultimate mortality tables), interest ranging from 4% to 8%, and withdrawals based on Company experience. For universal life and investment annuity contracts, the liability for future policy benefits represents the account balance. Equity-indexed annuities combine features associated with traditional fixed annuities, such as guaranteed minimum interest rates, with the option to have interest rates linked in part to an equity-index like the S&P 500 Index®. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, the equity return component of such policy contracts must be identified separately and accounted for as embedded derivatives. The remaining portions of these policy contracts are considered the host contracts and are recorded separately as fixed investment annuity contracts. The host contracts are accounted for under provisions of SFAS No. 97 that requires debt instrument type accounting. The host contracts are recorded as discounted debt instruments that are accreted, using the effective yield method, to their minimum account values at their projected maturities or termination dates. The embedded derivatives are recorded at fair values. For statutory accounting purposes, liabilities for future policy benefits for life insurance policies are calculated by the net level premium method or the commissioners reserve valuation method. Future policy benefit liabilities for annuities are calculated based on the continuous commissioners annuity reserve valuation method and provisions of Actuarial Guidelines 33 and 35.

4.  Deferred Federal income taxes are provided for temporary differences which are recognized in the consolidated financial statements in a different period than for Federal income tax purposes. Deferred taxes are also recognized in statutory accounting practices however there are limitations as to the amount of deferred tax assets that may be reported as admitted assets.

5.  For statutory accounting purposes, debt securities are recorded at amortized cost, except for securities in or near default, which are reported at market value. While under GAAP they are carried at either amortized cost or fair value based on their classification as either held to maturity or available for sale.

6.  Investments in subsidiaries are recorded at admitted asset value for statutory purposes, whereas the financial statements of the subsidiaries have been consolidated with those of the Company under GAAP.

7.  The asset valuation reserve and interest maintenance reserve, which are investment valuation reserves prescribed by statutory accounting practices, have been eliminated as they are not required under GAAP.

8.  The recorded value of the life interest in the Libbie Shearn Moody Trust (the Trust) is reported at its initial valuation, net of accumulated amortization, under GAAP. The initial valuation was based on the assumption that the Trust would provide certain income to the Company at an assumed interest rate and is being amortized over 53 years, the life expectancy of Mr. Robert L. Moody at the date he contributed the life interest to the Company. For statutory accounting purposes, the life interest has been valued at $26,400,000, which was computed as the present value of the estimated future income to be received from the Trust. However, this amount was amortized to a valuation of $12,775,000 over a seven-year period ended December 31, 1999, in accordance with Colorado Division of Insurance permitted accounting requirements. Prescribed statutory accounting practices provide no accounting guidance for such asset. The statutory admitted value of this life interest at December 31, 2001, is $12,775,000 in comparison to a carrying value of $3,464,000 in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

9.  Reconciliations of statutory capital and surplus, as included in the annual statements filed with the Colorado Division of Insurance, to total stockholders equity as reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements prepared under GAAP are as follows:

Stockholders' Equity

as of December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Statutory equity

$

431,256 

396,277

363,526

Adjustments:

    Difference in valuation of investment in

       the Libbie Shearn Moody Trust

(9,311)

(9,014)

(8,719)

    Deferral of policy acquisition costs

401,380 

394,198

369,665

    Adjustment of future policy benefits

(275,192)

(265,365)

(251,887)

    Difference in deferred Federal income taxes

(4,494)

3,576

(4,659)

    Adjustment of securities available for sale to fair value

(8,258)

(45,419)

(23,580)

    Reversal of asset valuation reserve

12,490 

11,880

16,870

    Reversal of interest maintenance reserve

9,223 

10,578

14,314

    Reinstatement of other nonadmitted assets

3,259 

2,140

2,598

    Valuation allowances on investments

(3,063)

2,282

(1,560)

    Other, net

2,098 

(1,027)

(1,046)

GAAP equity

$

559,388 

500,106

475,522


10.  Reconciliations of statutory net income, as included in the annual statements filed with the Colorado Division of Insurance, to the respective amounts as reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements prepared under GAAP are as follows:

Net Earnings for the

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Statutory net earnings

$

37,092 

40,047 

24,335 

Adjustments:

    Subsidiary earnings (losses) before deferred

       Federal income taxes and intercompany eliminations

5,056 

2,719 

5,836 

    Deferral of policy acquisition costs

25,903 

11,642 

26,289 

    Adjustment of future policy benefits

(9,714)

(13,478)

(18,968)

    Benefit (provision) for deferred Federal income taxes

2,516 

6,025 

(6,966)

    Valuation allowances and other than temporary

       impairment writedowns on investments

(16,601)

(13,692)

(3,004)

    Tax benefit (expense) recorded in statutory surplus

-   

(511)

1,342 

    Increase (decrease) in interest maintenance reserve

(499)

(3,736)

4,174 

    Joint venture income recorded in statutory surplus

2,346 

-   

-   

    Statutory realized loss on The Westcap Corporation

       preferred stock previously recorded in surplus

-   

-   

24,775 

    Other, net

620 

(476)

1,412 

GAAP net earnings

$

46,719

28,540 

59,225 


(K) Changes in Accounting Principles - Effective January 1, 2001, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. It requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value. The statement defines several designations of derivatives based on the instrument's intended use and specifies the appropriate accounting treatment for changes in the fair value of the derivative based on its resulting designation. The designations of derivatives are typically referred to as fair value hedges, cash flow hedges, foreign currency hedges, or no hedging designation. A derivative that is not designated or does not qualify as an effective hedge will be marked to fair value through earnings. The Company applied SFAS No. 133, as amended, to all derivative instruments on January 1, 2001, which resulted in an increase to net earnings totaling $2,134,000, net of taxes of $1,149,000.

The Company offers for sale equity-indexed annuities that contain an equity return component for policyholders which is an embedded derivative instrument under the FASB pronouncements. Equity-indexed annuities combine features associated with traditional fixed annuities with the option to have interest rates linked entirely or in part to an index, such as the S&P 500 Index®. The equity return component of such policy contracts must be separately identified and accounted for at fair value as embedded derivatives with changes in fair value included in earnings. The remaining portions of these policy contracts are considered the host contracts and are recorded separately as fixed annuity contracts. The host contracts are accounted for as investment contracts under provisions of SFAS No. 97, which requires the host contracts to be recorded as discounted debt instruments that are accreted, using the effective yield method, to their guaranteed account values at the projected maturity or termination dates.

One of the more complex and challenging aspects of interpreting and implementing SFAS No. 133, as amended, was how the insurance industry was to apply the statement's provisions to policy liabilities for equity-indexed products. The Derivatives Implementation Group (DIG) of the FASB addressed this policy liability issue, and released guidance for the liability calculation, which was not approved by FASB until an effective date of April 1, 2001. The Company implemented this additional guidance on the policy liability valuation method for equity-indexed annuities as of April 1, 2001, which produced an additional reduction in policy liabilities contributing over $1.8 million, net of taxes, to operating earnings.

In conjunction with the sale of equity-indexed annuities, the Company purchases index options to hedge or offset the equity return component of the annuities. Although the Company uses index options to hedge the equity return component of the equity-indexed annuities, these options do not qualify as hedging instruments or for hedge accounting treatment pursuant to SFAS No. 133. Accordingly, mark-to-market gains or losses to record the options at fair value are recognized in earnings in the period of change which has been the Company's practice, consequently, there was no change in accounting principle for these options upon implementation of SFAS No. 133.

Effective April 1, 2001, the Company adopted Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) No. 99-20 Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased and Retained Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets. EITF 99-20 changed the method of accounting for most asset-backed securities, but it excluded U.S. Government and government-guaranteed securities as well as other asset-backed securities of similar credit quality. It requires that interest income be accounted for using the prospective effective-yield method, whereby changes in future cash flow expectations are accounted for over the remaining life of the security. EITF 99-20 also set forth specific new guidance regarding the impairment of asset-backed securities. Future impairments, if any, are to be recognized as a component of realized investment losses. Reversals of impairment charges recognized subsequent to adoption of EITF 99-20 are prohibited. In accordance with this guidance, the Company evaluated the expected cash flows of its asset-backed securities as required and, as a result, the Company recognized $4.6 million of pretax impairment charges on asset-backed securities in 2001.

SFAS 141, Business Combinations, and SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, were issued in June 2001. SFAS 141 was effective July 1, 2001 and SFAS 142 is effective beginning January 1, 2002. Under these new standards, goodwill and intangible assets having indefinite lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject to annual impairment tests.

SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, was issued in June 2001 and is effective beginning January 1, 2003. SFAS 143 requires that any legal obligation related to the retirement of long-lived assets be quantified and recorded as a liability and an offsetting asset retirement cost on the balance sheet in the period it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the liability can be made.

SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, was issued in August 2001 and is effective beginning January 1, 2002. SFAS 144 provides a single, comprehensive accounting model for impairment and disposal of long-lived assets and discontinued operations.

Adoption of SFAS 141, 142, 143 and 144 is not expected to result in any material effects on the Company's consolidated financial statements.


(2) DEPOSITS WITH REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

The following assets were on deposit with state and other regulatory authorities as required by law at the end of each year:

December 31,

2001

2000

(In thousands)

Debt securities

$

18,158 

17,529 

Short term investments

285 

285 

Totals

$

18,443 

17,814 


(3) INVESTMENTS

(A) Investment Income

The major components of net investment income are as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Gross investment income:

    Debt securities

$

213,512 

210,194 

204,294 

    Mortgage loans

17,835 

18,395 

16,262 

    Policy loans

7,791 

8,120 

8,232 

    Index options

(13,539)

(32,268)

10,719 

    Other investment income

11,072 

9,253 

7,501 

Total investment income

236,671 

213,694 

247,008 

Investment expenses

1,805 

3,040 

4,028 

Net investment income

$

234,866 

210,654 

242,980 


The Company had real estate investments that were not income producing for the preceding twelve months totaling $901,000, $677,000, and $946,000 at December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

The Company had mortgage loans totaling $3,014,000, $2,983,000, and $3,014,000 that were on nonaccrual status as of December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively. Reductions in interest income associated with nonperforming mortgage loans totaled $184,000, $252,000, and $192,000 in 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

The Company had investments in debt securities with carrying values totaling $10,531,000, $4,138,000, and $6,500,000 that were on nonaccrual status as of December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively. Reductions in interest income associated with nonperforming investments in debt securities totaled $2,093,000, $990,000, and $83,000 in 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

(B) Mortgage Loans and Real Estate

Concentrations of credit risk arising from mortgage loans exist in relation to certain groups of borrowers. A group concentration arises when a number of counterparties have similar economic characteristics that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. The Company does not have a significant exposure to any individual customer or counterparty. The major concentrations of mortgage loan credit risk for the Company arise by geographic location in the United States and by property type as detailed below.

December 31,

Geographic Region:

2001

2000

West South Central

54.8

%

57.1

%

Mountain

22.5

20.0

Pacific

11.1

11.0

South Atlantic

4.1

4.6

All other

7.5

7.3

Totals

100.0

%

100.0

%

December 31,

Property Type:

2001

2000

Retail

63.8

%

62.0

%

Office

22.0

23.0

Hotel/Motel

6.5

6.5

Land/Lots

3.7

3.1

All other

4.0

5.4

Totals

100.0

%

100.0

%


As of December 31, 2001 and 2000, mortgage loans with book values totaling $5,959,000 and $2,983,000, respectively, were considered impaired. For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, average investments in impaired mortgage loans were $3,670,000, $3,441,000 and $1,616,000, respectively. Interest income recognized on impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, was $319,000 and $268,000, respectively, while interest income for the year ended December 31, 1999 was not significant. Impaired loans are typically placed on nonaccrual status, and no interest income is recognized. However, if cash is received on the impaired loan, it is applied to principal and interest on past due payments, beginning with the most delinquent payment.

Detailed below are changes in the allowance for mortgage loan losses for 2001, 2000, and 1999:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Balance at beginning of year

$

4,215 

4,104 

4,640 

Net changes recorded as realized

   investment (gains) losses

(2,100)

111 

(536)

Balance at end of year

$

2,115 

4,215 

4,104 


At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company owned investment real estate totaling $15,220,000 and $14,683,000 which is reflected in other long-term investments in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Company records real estate at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. Real estate values are monitored and evaluated at least annually by the use of independent appraisals or internal valuations. Decreases in market values affecting carrying values are recorded in a valuation allowance which is reflected in realized gains or losses on investments. For the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, impairment losses on real estate due to decreases in market values totaled $25,000 and $420,000, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 1999, there were no impairment losses on real estate due to decreases in market value.

(C) Investment Gains and Losses

The table below presents realized gains and losses and changes in unrealized gains and losses on investments for 2001, 2000, and 1999. Securities available for sale are net of the effects of deferred policy acquisition costs and taxes.

Changes in

Realized

Unrealized

Investment

Investment

Gains

Gains (Losses)

(Losses)

From Prior Year

(In thousands)

Year Ended December 31, 2001:

    Securities held to maturity

$

(3,802)

72,773 

    Securities available for sale

(25,249)

13,691 

    Other

2,005 

-   

Totals

$

(27,046)

86,464 

Year Ended December 31, 2000:

    Securities held to maturity

$

(8,573)

64,097 

    Securities available for sale

(10,475)

(4,870)

    Other

(194)

-   

Totals

$

(19,242)

59,227 

Year Ended December 31, 1999:

    Securities held to maturity

$

(1,454)

(162,417)

    Securities available for sale

3,248 

(22,412)

    Other

2,687 

-   

Totals

$

4,481 

(184,829)


(D) Debt and Equity Securities

The tables below present amortized cost and fair values of securities held to maturity and securities available for sale at December 31, 2001:

Securities Held to Maturity

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

Cost

Gains

Losses

Value

(In thousands)

Debt securities:

    U.S. Treasury and other U.S.

    government corporations

    and agencies

$

4,000 

275 

-   

4,275 

    States and political subdivisions

954 

70 

-   

1,024 

    Foreign governments

52,020 

3,284 

-   

55,304 

    Public utilities

362,691 

13,414 

935 

375,170 

    Corporate

942,986 

40,081 

8,434 

974,633 

    Mortgage-backed

505,707 

19,494 

727 

524,474 

    Asset-backed

190,788 

5,207 

2,289 

193,706 

Totals

$

2,059,146 

81,825 

12,385 

2,128,586 

Securities Available for Sale

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

Cost

Gains

Losses

Value

(In thousands)

Debt securities:

    U.S. Treasury and other U.S.

    government corporations

    and agencies

$

261 

19 

-   

280 

    States and political subdivisions

20,924 

483 

808 

20,599 

    Public utilities

69,687 

1,981 

533 

71,135 

    Corporate

637,003 

16,790 

27,572 

626,221 

    Mortgage-backed

171,723 

6,767 

162 

178,328 

    Asset-backed

19,648 

288 

3,613 

16,323 

Equity securities

8,609 

4,612 

132 

13,089 

Totals

$

927,855 

30,940 

32,820 

925,975 

The tables below present amortized cost and fair values of securities held to maturity and securities available for sale at December 31, 2000:

Securities Held to Maturity

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

Cost

Gains

Losses

Value

(In thousands)

Debt securities:

    U.S. Treasury and other U.S.

    government corporations

    and agencies

$

4,115 

302 

-   

4,417 

    States and political subdivisions

6,752 

524 

39 

7,237 

    Foreign governments

51,515 

1,532 

-   

53,047 

    Public utilities

345,062 

5,932 

2,871 

348,123 

    Corporate

1,191,413 

17,643 

29,788 

1,179,268 

    Mortgage-backed

411,502 

9,559 

228 

420,833 

    Asset-backed

106,260 

320 

6,219 

100,361 

Totals

$

2,116,619 

35,812 

39,145 

2,113,286 

Securities Available for Sale

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Fair

Cost

Gains

Losses

Value

(In thousands)

Debt securities:

    U.S. Treasury and other U.S.

    government corporations

    and agencies

$

3,257 

20 

-   

3,277 

    States and political subdivisions

15,463 

620 

346 

15,737 

    Public utilities

46,040 

1,161 

494 

46,707 

    Corporate

379,915 

4,352 

52,229 

332,038 

    Mortgage-backed

194,513 

5,814 

1,433 

198,894 

    Asset-backed

125,875 

1,155 

4,850 

122,180 

Equity securities

12,669 

3,975 

367 

16,277 

Totals

$

777,732 

17,097 

59,719 

735,110 


The amortized cost and fair values of investments in debt securities at December 31, 2001, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Securities

Securities

Available for Sale

Held to Maturity

Amortized

Fair

Amortized

Fair

Cost

Value

Cost

Value

(In thousands)

Due in 1 year or less

$

5,463 

5,200 

82,062 

84,673 

Due after 1 year through 5 years

303,104 

301,891 

703,425 

735,896 

Due after 5 years through 10 years

362,610 

356,004 

485,740 

497,941 

Due after 10 years

56,698 

55,140 

91,424 

91,896 

727,875 

718,235 

1,362,651 

1,410,406 

Mortgage and asset-backed securities

191,371 

194,651 

696,495 

718,180 

Totals

$

919,246 

912,886 

2,059,146 

2,128,586 


The Company uses the specific identification method in computing realized gains and losses. Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale during 2001, 2000, and 1999 totaled $73,897,000, $42,206,000, and $56,126,000, respectively. Gross gains and losses realized on those sales are detailed below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Gross realized gains

$

2,608 

457 

4,055 

Gross realized losses

(398)

(4,858)

-   

Net realized gains (losses)

$

2,210 

(4,401)

4,055 


The Company did not sell any held to maturity securities in 2001, 2000, or 1999.

The Company held in its investment portfolio below investment grade debt securities totaling $119,960,000 and $82,764,000 at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. These amounts represent 3.6% and 2.6% of total invested assets at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Below investment grade securities generally have greater default risk than higher rated corporate debt. The issuers of these securities are usually more sensitive to adverse industry or economic conditions than are investment grade issuers. For the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company recorded realized losses totaling $32,347,000 and $14,671,000, respectively, for other than temporary impairment writedowns for investments in debt securities. . In connection with the decline in the credit quality of Enron, Inc., the Company transferred debt securities totaling $1,000,000 after writedowns from held to maturity to available for sale. There were no unrealized losses on the transferred securities as they were written down to fair value as previously noted.

The Company had investments totaling $56,799,000 in Citigroup, Inc., or its affiliates at December 31, 2000. Except for U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities, the Company had no other investments in any entity in excess of 10% of stockholders' equity at December 31, 2001.

(E) Transfers of Securities

At July 31, 1994, the Company transferred debt securities with fair values totaling $805 million from securities available for sale to securities held to maturity. On December 29, 1995 and January 1, 2001, the Company made additional transfers totaling $156 million and $112 million, respectively to the held to maturity category from securities available for sale. Lower holdings of securities available for sale significantly reduce the Company's exposure to equity volatility while still providing securities for liquidity and asset/liability management purposes. The transfers of securities were recorded at fair values in accordance with SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." This statement requires that the unrealized holding gain or loss at the date of the transfer continue to be reported in a separate component of stockholders' equity but shall be amortized over the remaining life of the security as an adjustment of yield in a manner consistent with the amortization of any premium or discount. The amortization of an unrealized holding gain or loss reported in equity will offset or mitigate the effect on interest income of the amortization of the premium or discount for the held to maturity securities. The transfer of securities from available for sale to held to maturity had no effect on net earnings of the Company. However, stockholders' equity was adjusted as follows:

Net Unrealized Gains (Losses)

as of December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Beginning unamortized gains from transfers

$

198 

779 

1,029 

Net unrealized losses on securities transferred during

   period from available for sale to held to maturity

(647)

-   

-   

Amortization of net unrealized gains related

   to transferred securities, net of effects of

   deferred policy acquisition costs and taxes

(176)

(581)

(250)

Ending unamortized gains (losses) from transfers

$

(625)

198 

779 


Net unrealized gains and losses on investment securities included in stockholders' equity at December 31, 2001 and 2000, are as follows:

December 31,

2001

2000

(In thousands)

Gross unrealized gains

$

30,940 

17,097

Gross unrealized losses

(32,820)

(59,719)

Adjustments for:

    Deferred policy acquisition costs

6,549 

24,960

    Deferred Federal income tax benefits (expense)

(1,635)

6,182

3,034 

(11,480)

Net unrealized gains (losses) related to securities

  transferred to held to maturity

(625)

198

Net unrealized losses on investment securities

$

2,409 

(11,282)


(4) REINSURANCE

The Company is party to several reinsurance agreements. The Company's general policy is to reinsure that portion of any risk in excess of $200,000 on the life of any one individual. Total life insurance in force was $10.05 billion and $9.71 billion at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Of these amounts, life insurance in force totaling $1.96 billion and $1.82 billion was ceded to reinsurance companies, primarily on a yearly renewable term basis, at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. In accordance with the reinsurance contracts, reinsurance receivables including amounts related to claims incurred but not reported and liabilities for future policy benefits totaled $6,453,000 and $6,486,000 at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Premium revenues were reduced by $9,254,000, $8,512,000, and $7,904,000 for reinsurance premiums incurred during 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively. Benefit expenses were reduced by $6,532,000, $10,942,000, and $3,350,000 for reinsurance recoveries during 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively. A contingent liability exists with respect to reinsurance, as the Company remains liable if the reinsurance companies are unable to meet their obligations under the existing agreements. The Company does not assume reinsurance.


(5) FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

Total Federal income taxes for 2001, 2000, and 1999 were allocated as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Taxes on earnings from continuing operations:

    Current

$

26,850 

20,036

23,622

    Deferred

(3,665)

(6,025)

6,966

Taxes on earnings before cumulative effect of

   change in accounting principle

23,185 

14,011

30,588

Taxes on cumulative effect of change in accounting

   for equity-indexed annuities

1,149 

-   

-   

Taxes on earnings

24,334 

14,011 

30,588 

Taxes on components of stockholders= equity:

    Net unrealized gains and losses on

       securities available for sale

7,372 

(2,622)

(12,068)

    Foreign currency translation adjustments

(310)

412

115

    Minimum pension liability adjustment

(707)

-   

-   

Total Federal income taxes

$

30,689 

11,801

18,635


The provisions for Federal income taxes attributable to earnings from continuing operations vary from amounts computed by applying the statutory income tax rate to earnings before Federal income taxes. The reasons for the differences and the corresponding tax effects are as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Income tax expense at statutory rate

$

23,720 

14,893 

31,435 

Tax-exempt income

(1,366)

(1,287)

(1,096)

Amortization of life interest in the

   Libbie Shearn Moody Trust

104 

103 

102 

Non-deductible travel and entertainment

88 

103 

92 

Other

639 

199 

55 

Taxes on earnings from continuing operations

$

23,185 

14,011 

30,588 

There were no deferred taxes attributable to enacted tax rate changes for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2001 and 2000, are presented below:

December 31,

2001

2000

(In thousands)

Deferred tax assets:

    Future policy benefits, excess of financial

       accounting liabilities over tax liabilities

$

114,795 

110,029 

    Debt securities writedowns for financial

       accounting purposes

14,964 

6,357 

    Mortgage loans, principally due to valuation

       allowances for financial accounting purposes

522 

1,132 

    Real estate, principally due to writedowns

       for financial accounting purposes

2,096 

2,049 

    Accrued and unearned investment income

       recognized for tax purposes and deferred for

       financial accounting purposes

1,669 

1,233 

    Accrued operating expenses recorded for financial

       accounting purposes not currently tax deductible

1,801 

1,920 

    Net unrealized losses on securities available for sale

-   

6,074 

    Minimum pension liability adjustment

707 

-   

    Other

34 

660 

Total gross deferred tax assets

136,588 

129,454 

Deferred tax liabilities:

    Deferred policy acquisition costs, principally

       expensed for tax purposes

(124,961)

(115,895)

    Securities, principally due to deferred

       market discount for tax

(8,286)

(7,168)

    Real estate, principally due to differences in tax and

       financial accounting for depreciation

(843)

(861)

    Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale

(1,298)

-   

    Foreign currency translation adjustments

(1,449)

(1,945)

    Other

(14)

(9)

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

(136,851)

(125,878)

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)

$

(263)

3,576 


There was no valuation allowance for deferred tax assets at December 31, 2001 and 2000. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences.

Prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1984 (1984 Act), a portion of a life insurance company's income was not subject to tax until it was distributed to stockholders, at which time it was taxed at the regular corporate tax rate. In accordance with the 1984 Act, this income, referred to as policyholders' surplus, would not increase, yet any amounts distributed would be taxable at the regular corporate rate. The balance of this account as of December 31, 2001, is approximately $2,446,000. No provision for income taxes has been made on this untaxed income, as management is of the opinion that no distribution to stockholders will be made from policyholders' surplus in the foreseeable future. Should the balance in the policyholders' surplus account at December 31, 2001, become taxable, the Federal income taxes computed at present rates would be approximately $856,000.

The Company files a consolidated Federal income tax return with its subsidiaries. Allocation of the consolidated tax liability is based on separate return calculations pursuant to the "wait-and-see
@ method as described in sections 1.1552-1(a)(1) and 1.1502-33(d)(2) of the current Treasury Regulations. Under this method, consolidated group members are not given current credit for net losses until future net taxable income is generated to realize such credits.


(6) TRANSACTIONS WITH CONTROLLING STOCKHOLDER AND AFFILIATES

(A) Life Interest in Libbie Shearn Moody Trust

The Company
=s wholly owned subidiary, NWL Services, Inc., is the beneficial owner of a life interest (1/8 share) in the trust estate of Libbie Shearn Moody (the Trust) which was previously owned by Mr. Robert L. Moody, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company has issued term insurance policies on the life of Mr. Robert L. Moody which are reinsured through agreements with unaffiliated insurance companies. NWL Services, Inc., is the beneficiary of these policies for an amount equal to the statutory admitted value of the Trust, which was $12,775,000 at December 31, 2001. The excess of $27,000,000 face amount of the reinsured policies over the statutory admitted value of the Trust has been assigned to Mr. Robert L. Moody. The recorded net asset values in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for the life interest in the Trust are as follows:

December 31,

2001

2000

(In thousands)

Original valuation of life interest at February 26, 1960

$

13,793 

13,793 

Less accumulated amortization

(10,329)

(10,032)

Carrying basis at year end

$

3,464 

3,761 


Income from the Trust and related expenses reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings are summarized as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Income distributions

$

3,753 

3,643

3,595

Deduct:

    Amortization

(297)

(295)

(291)

    Reinsurance premiums

(450)

(389)

(340)

Net income from life interest in the Trust

$

3,006 

2,959

2,964


(B) Common Stock

Mr. Robert L. Moody, Chairman of the Board of Directors, owns 198,074 of the total outstanding shares of the Company's Class B common stock and 1,159,096 of the Class A common stock.

Holders of the Company's Class A common stock elect one-third of the Board of Directors of the Company, and holders of the Class B common stock elect the remainder. Any cash or in-kind dividends paid on each share of Class B common stock shall be only one-half of the cash or in-kind dividends paid on each share of Class A common stock. Also, in the event of liquidation of the Company, the Class A stockholders shall first receive the par value of their shares; then the Class B stockholders shall receive the par value of their shares; and the remaining net assets of the Company shall be divided between the stockholders of both Class A and Class B common stock, based on the number of shares held.


(7) PENSION PLANS

(A) Defined Benefit Plans

The Company has a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all full-time employees. The plan provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The Company makes annual contributions to the plan that comply with the minimum funding provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. A detail of plan disclosures is provided below:

The following summarizes the changes in benefit obligations for the years ended:

December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Benefit obligations at beginning of year

$

10,586 

9,950 

10,291 

Service cost

374 

357 

414 

Interest cost

783 

738 

717 

Actuarial (gain) loss

856 

140 

(812)

Benefits paid

(746)

(599)

(660)

Benefit obligations at end of year

$

11,853 

10,586 

9,950 


The following summarizes the changes in the fair value of plan assets, primarily consisting of equity and fixed income securities, for the years ended:

December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

$

10,268 

10,839 

10,301 

Actual return on plan assets

(582)

28 

1,198 

Benefits paid

(746)

(599)

(660)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

$

8,940 

10,268 

10,839 


The following sets forth the plan
=s funded status and the related amounts recognized in the Company=s consolidated financial statements as of:

December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Funded status

$

(2,913)

(318)

889 

Unrecognized net actuarial (gain) loss

2,745 

564 

(340)

Unrecognized transition assets

-   

(44)

(99)

Unrecognized prior service cost

(56)

(86)

(116)

Prepaid (accrued) benefit cost

$

(224)

116 

334 

Accrued benefit liability

$

(2,243)

-   

-   

Accrued other comprehensive income

2,019 

-   

-   

Accrued benefit cost

$

(224)

-   

-   


The following are the plan assumptions as of:

December 31,

2001

2000

1999

Discount rate

7.00

%

7.50

%

7.75

%

Expected return on plan assets

7.50

7.50

7.50

Rate of compensation increase

4.50

4.50

4.50



Net periodic benefit cost includes the following components:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Service cost

$

374 

357 

414 

Interest cost

783 

738 

717 

Expected return on plan assets

(744)

(792)

(730)

Amortization of unrecognized transition assets

(44)

(55)

(55)

Amortization of prior service cost

(30)

(30)

(30)

Recognized net actuarial loss

-   

-   

24 

Net periodic benefit cost

$

339 

218 

340 


The Company also sponsors a nonqualified defined benefit plan primarily for senior officers. The plan provides benefits based on the participants' years of service and compensation. The pension obligations and administrative responsibilities of the plan have been transferred to a pension administration firm, which is a subsidiary of American National Insurance Company (ANICO). ANICO has guaranteed the payment of pension obligations under the plan. However, National Western has a contingent liability with respect to the pension plan should these entities be unable to meet their obligations under the existing agreements. Also, National Western has a contingent liability with respect to the plan in the event that a plan participant continues employment with National Western beyond age seventy, the aggregate average annual participant salary increases exceed 10% per year, or any additional employees become eligible to participate in the plan. If any of these conditions are met, National Western would be responsible for any additional pension obligations resulting from these items.

(B) Defined Contribution Plans

In addition to the defined benefit plans, the Company has a qualified 401(k) plan for substantially all full-time employees and a nonqualified deferred compensation plan primarily for senior officers. The Company makes annual contributions to the 401(k) plan of two percent of each employee's compensation. Additional Company matching contributions of up to two percent of each employee's compensation are also made each year based on the employee's personal level of salary deferrals to the plan. All Company contributions are subject to a vesting schedule based on the employee's years of service. For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, Company contributions totaled $306,000, $307,000, and $272,000, respectively.

The nonqualified deferred compensation plan was established to allow eligible employees to defer the payment of a percentage of their compensation and to provide for additional Company contributions. Company contributions are subject to a vesting schedule based on the employee's years of service. For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, Company contributions totaled $98,000, $74,000, and $79,000, respectively.


(8) SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

The Company has available a $60 million bank line of credit primarily for cash management purposes relating to investment transactions. The Company is required to maintain a collateral security deposit in trust with the bank equal to 120% of any outstanding liability. The Company had no outstanding liabilities or collateral security deposits with the bank at December 31, 2001 and 2000. The weighted average interest rates on borrowings for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 were 5.80%, 7.57%, and 5.88%, respectively. Interest expense for 2001, 2000, and 1999 totaled $160, $319,000, and $55,000, respectively. Additionally, the bank charges a fee of 0.1% of the available line of credit annually. These fees for 2001, 2000, and 1999 were $60,000 per year.


(9) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(A) Legal Proceedings

The Company is currently a defendant in several lawsuits, substantially all of which are in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the liability, if any, which may arise from these lawsuits would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

(B) Financial Instruments

In order to meet the financing needs of its customers in the normal course of business, the Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. These financial instruments are commitments to extend credit which involve elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the balance sheet.

The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amounts, assuming that the amounts are fully advanced and that collateral or other security is of no value. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The Company controls the credit risk of these transactions through credit approvals, limits, and monitoring procedures.

The Company had commitments to extend credit relating to mortgage loans totaling $4,080,000 at December 31, 2001. Commitments to extend credit are legally binding agreements to lend to a customer that generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Commitments do not necessarily represent future liquidity requirements, as some could expire without being drawn upon. The Company evaluates each customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.

(C) Guaranty Association Assessments

The Company is subject to state guaranty association assessments in all states in which it is licensed to do business. These associations generally guarantee certain levels of benefits payable to resident policyholders of insolvent insurance companies. Many states allow premium tax credits for all or a portion of such assessments, thereby allowing potential recovery of these payments over a period of years. However, several states do not allow such credits.

The Company estimates its liabilities for guaranty association assessments by using the latest information available from the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations. The Company monitors and revises its estimates for assessments as additional information becomes available which could result in changes to the estimated liabilities. As of December 31, 2001 and 2000, liabilities for guaranty association assessments totaled $2,300,000, and $3,100,000, respectively. Guaranty association assessment expenses were significantly lower in 2001 and 1999. The reductions are due to changes in estimated liabilities, changes in estimated recoverable capitalized assessments, and assessment refunds received from states during 2001 and 1999. These changes and refunds resulted in a net credit in other operating expenses for guaranty association assessments totaling $530,000 in 2001. Other operating expenses related to state guaranty association assessments totaled $612,000 and $104,000 for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

(D) Leases

The Company leases its executive office building and various computer and other office related equipment. Rental expenses for these leases for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 were $1,117,000, $1,053,000, and $920,000, respectively.

Total annual lease obligations as of December 31, 2001, are as follows (in thousands):

2002

$

1,138 

2003

970 

2004

592 

2005

612 

2006

612 

2007 and thereafter, in aggregate

2,154 

Total

$

6,078 



(10) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(A) Changes in Common Stock Shares Outstanding

Details of changes in shares of common stock outstanding are provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Common stock shares outstanding:

    Shares outstanding at beginning of year

3,504 

3,501 

3,498 

    Shares exercised under stock option plan

11 

Shares outstanding at end of year

3,515 

3,504 

3,501 


(B) Dividend Restrictions

The Company is restricted by state insurance laws as to dividend amounts which may be paid to stockholders without prior approval from the Colorado Division of Insurance. The restrictions are based on statutory earnings and surplus levels of the Company. The maximum dividend payment which may be made without prior approval in 2002 is $48,380,000. The Company has never paid cash dividends on its common stock, as it follows a policy of retaining any earnings in order to finance the development of business and to meet regulatory requirements for capital.

(C) Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Colorado Division of Insurance imposes minimum risk-based capital requirements on insurance companies that were developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The formulas for determining the amount of risk-based capital (RBC) specify various weighting factors that are applied to statutory financial balances or various levels of activity based on the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of the Company's regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level RBC, as defined by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The Company's current statutory capital and surplus is significantly in excess of all RBC requirements.

(D) Stock and Incentive Plan

The Company has a stock and incentive plan which provides for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards to eligible employees: (1) stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options; (2) stock appreciation rights, in tandem with stock options or freestanding; (3) restricted stock; (4) incentive awards; and (5) performance awards. The plan began on April 21, 1995, and will terminate on April 20, 2005, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. The number of shares of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock which may be issued under the plan, or as to which stock appreciation rights or other awards may be granted, may not exceed 300,000. These shares may be authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the plan. In addition, directors of the Company, other than Compensation and Stock Option Committee members, are eligible for restricted stock awards, incentive awards, and performance awards. Company directors, including members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, are eligible for nondiscretionary stock options.

Nonqualified stock options were not issued in 2000 and 1999. The Committee approved the issuance of nonqualified stock options to selected officers of the Company during 2001 totaling 44,043. Additionally, during 2001 the Committee granted 10,000 nonqualified, nondiscretionary stock options to Company directors. The directors' stock options vest 20% annually following one full year of service to the Company from the date of grant. The officers' stock options vest 20% annually following three full years of service to the Company from the date of grant. The exercise prices of the stock options were set at the fair market values of the common stock on the dates of grant. A summary of shares available for grant and stock option activity is detailed below:

Options Outstanding

Shares

Weighted-

Available

Average

For Grant

Shares

Exercise Price

Balance at December 31, 1998

127,450 

165,760 

$

73.68

Stock Options:

    Exercised

-   

(2,600)

50.40

    Forfeited

1,000 

(1,000)

105.25

Balance at December 31, 1999

128,450 

162,160 

73.86

Stock Options:

    Exercised

-   

(3,500)

42.73

    Forfeited

6,450 

(6,450)

82.67

Balance at December 31, 2000

134,900 

152,210 

74.20

Stock Options:

    Granted

(54,043)

54,043 

92.66

    Exercised

-   

(10,692)

51.15

    Forfeited

700 

(700)

99.50

Balance at December 31, 2001

81,557 

194,861 

$

80.50


Vested and exercisable options at December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999 totaled 67,388, 47,150, and 26,170, respectively. The weighted-average exercise price for these options was $64.22, $55.23, and $49.92 at December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2001.

Options Outstanding

Weighted-

Number

Average

Options

Outstanding

Remaining Life

Exercisable

Exercise prices:

$    38.13

40,188 

3.4 years

30,188 

      65.00

28,350 

4.3 years

16,030 

      85.13

18,680 

5.3 years

6,770 

    105.25

43,600 

6.3 years

8,400 

    112.38

10,000 

6.5 years

6,000 

      92.13

44,043 

9.3 years

-   

      95.00

10,000 

9.5 years

-   

Totals

194,861 

67,388 


SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for stock-based employee compensation plans. It defines a fair value based method of accounting for employee stock options or similar equity instruments. However, it also allows an entity to continue to measure compensation cost for plans using the intrinsic value based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees."

Under the fair value based method, compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. For stock options, fair value is determined using an option pricing model that takes into account various information and assumptions regarding the Company's stock and options. Under the intrinsic value based method, compensation cost is the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the stock at grant date or other measurement date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock.

The Company has elected to continue to apply the accounting methods prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 for its existing stock and incentive plan. No compensation costs have been recorded for the Company
=s existing plan using the intrinsic value based method. However, if compensation expense for the stock options had been determined using the fair value based method under SFAS No. 123, the Company=s net earnings and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands except per share amounts)

Net earnings:

    As reported

$

46,719

28,540

59,225

    Pro forma

$

46,096

28,060

58,542

Basic earnings per share:

    As reported

$

13.31

8.15

16.92

    Pro forma

$

13.13

8.01

16.73

Diluted earnings per share:

    As reported

$

13.19

8.11

16.78

    Pro forma

$

13.02

7.97

16.59


The fair value of the options used in estimating the pro forma amounts above were estimated on the date of grant using an option pricing model with the weighted-average assumptions as detailed below for the year ended December 31, 2001.

Risk-free interest rates

4.7%

Dividend yields

-   

Volatility factors

27.3%

Weighted-average expected life

6.6 years

Weighted-average fair value per share

$36.15



(11) EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share amounts for the Company are presented using two different computations. Basic earnings per share excludes dilutive effects of certain securities or contracts, such as stock options, and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity. Stock options not included in the weighted average number of diluted shares because such shares would have been anti-dilutive were immaterial. The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands except per share amounts)

Numerator for basic and diluted

earnings per share:

    Earnings from continuing operations

    available to common stockholders

    before and after assumed conversions

$

46,719 

28,540 

59,225 

Denominator:

    Basic earnings per share -

    weighted-average shares

3,511 

3,502 

3,500 

    Effect of dilutive stock options

30 

19 

29 

    Diluted earnings per share -

    adjusted weighted-average shares

    for assumed conversions

3,541 

3,521 

3,529 

Basic earnings per share

$

13.31 

8.15 

16.92 

Diluted earnings per share

$

13.19 

8.11 

16.78 



(12) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 130,
AReporting Comprehensive Income,@ establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components (revenues, expenses, gains, and losses) in a full set of general-purpose financial statements. This statement requires that all items that are required to be recognized under accounting standards as components of comprehensive income be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements. This statement requires that an enterprise (a) classify items of other comprehensive income by their nature in a financial statement and (b) display the accumulated balance of other comprehensive income separately from retained earnings and additional paid-in capital in the equity section of a statement of financial position.

SFAS No. 130 affects the Company
=s reporting presentation of certain items such as foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on investment securities, and minimum pension liabilities. These items are reflected as components of other comprehensive income, as reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Components of other comprehensive income and related tax effect are provided below for 2001, 2000, and 1999.

Amounts

Tax

Amounts

Before

(Expense)

Net of

Taxes

Benefit

Taxes

(In thousands)

2001:

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of effects

of deferred policy acquisition costs of $15,803:

    Unrealized holding gains (losses)

       arising during period

$

2,466 

(862)

1,604 

    Reclassification adjustment for

       (gains) losses included in net earnings

25,249 

(8,837)

16,412 

    Amortization of net unrealized gains

       related to transferred securities

271 

(95)

176

    Unrealized losses on securities transferred

       during period from available for sale

       to held to maturity

997 

(350)

647

    Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle -

       transfers of securities from held to maturity to

       available for sale upon adoption of Statement of

       Financial Accounting Standards No. 133

(7,920)

2,772 

(5,148)

    Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities

21,063 

(7,372)

13,691 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(884)

310 

(574)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

(2,019)

707 

(1,312)

Other comprehensive income

$

18,160 

(6,355)

11,805 

2000:

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of effects

of deferred policy acquisition costs of $12,891:

    Unrealized holding gains (losses)

       arising during period

$

(87)

30 

(57)

    Reclassification adjustment for

       (gains) losses included in net earnings

10,475 

(3,666)

6,809 

    Amortization of net unrealized gains

       related to transferred securities

(894)

313 

(581)

    Unrealized losses on securities transferred

       during period from held to maturity

       to available for sale

(16,986)

5,945 

(11,041)

    Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities

(7,492)

2,622 

(4,870)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

1,177 

(412)

765 

Other comprehensive loss

$

(6,315)

2,210 

(4,105)

Amounts

Tax

Amounts

Before

(Expense)

Net of

Taxes

Benefit

Taxes

(In thousands)

1999:

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities, net of effects

of deferred policy acquisition costs of $28,883:

    Unrealized holding gains (losses)

       arising during period

$

(30,847)

10,796 

(20,051)

    Reclassification adjustment for

       (gains) losses included in net earnings

(3,248)

1,137 

(2,111)

    Amortization of net unrealized gains

       related to transferred securities

(385)

135 

(250)

    Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities

(34,480)

12,068 

(22,412)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

327 

(115)

212 

Other comprehensive loss

$

(34,153)

11,953 

(22,200)


(13) UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

Quarterly results of operations for 2001 are summarized as follows:

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Quarter

Quarter

Quarter

Quarter

(In thousands except per share data)

2001:

Revenues

$

77,434 

86,267 

67,946 

71,459 

Earnings:

   Earnings before cumulative effect

      of change in accounting principle

$

8,966 

16,232 

3,623 

15,764 

   Net earnings

$

11,100 

16,232 

3,623 

15,764 

Basic earnings per share:

   Earnings before cumulative effect

      of change in accounting principle

$

2.56 

4.62 

1.03 

4.49 

    Net earnings

$

3.17 

4.62 

1.03 

4.49 

Diluted earnings per share:

   Earnings before cumulative effect

      of change in accounting principle

$

2.54 

4.59 

1.02 

4.44 

   Net earnings

$

3.14 

4.59 

1.02 

4.44 


Quarterly results of operations for 2000 are summarized as follows:

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Quarter

Quarter

Quarter

Quarter

(In thousands except per share data)

2000:

Revenues

$

80,550 

71,406 

78,594 

62,165 

Net earnings (loss)

$

12,333 

7,593 

9,006 

(392)

Basic earnings per share:

Net earnings (loss)

$

3.52 

2.17 

2.57 

(0.11)

Diluted earnings per share:

Net earnings (loss)

$

3.51 

2.16 

2.56 

(0.11)


The fourth quarter net earnings for 2001 and 2000 reflect the following significant items:

The Company recorded net earnings totaling $15,764,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2001, compared to a net loss of $392,000 for the fourth quarter of 2000. Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2001 were positively impacted by improved mortality and persistency experience. Death claim benefits were $3.9 million and $6.3 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, while surrender benefits were $1.9 million and $3.3 million for the same periods.

Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2001 include an adjustment in the Company amortization factors for deferred policy acquisition costs. These factors were updated to reflect improved persistency, particularly with respect to the annuity block of business, and the recent investment loss experience. As a result, the Company's amortization in the fourth quarter of 2001 was a benefit of $7.0 million as compared to an expense of $10.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2000.

The Company's fourth quarter 2000 earnings were significantly impacted due to deteriorating stock market conditions during the quarter. Because of the large decline in the S&P 500 Index
7 during the fourth quarter of 2000, the Company recorded significant decreases in investment income resulting from realized and unrealized losses on index options. The S&P 500 Index7 decline also resulted in lower interest credited to equity-indexed annuity contracts. However, primarily because of policy liabilities related to minimum guaranteed interest rates, the reduction in annuity contract interest expense was much less than the decline in investment income. The combination of these results produced lower earnings for the fourth quarter of 2000. The S&P 500 Index7 in the fourth quarter of 2001 posted positive results and thus the Company's earnings with respect to equity-indexed annuity contracts were not impaired.

The fourth quarter of both 2001 and 2000 incurred significant realized losses primarily due to other than temporary impairment writedowns for debt securities. Realized losses on investments, net of taxes, were $10.0 million and $8.3 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.


(14) SEGMENT AND OTHER OPERATING INFORMATION

(A) Operating Segment Information

Under SFAS No. 131,
ADisclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,@ the Company defines its reportable operating segments as domestic life insurance, international life insurance, and annuities. The Company=s segments are organized based on product types and geographic marketing areas.

A summary of segment information, prepared in accordance with SFAS No. 131, is provided below:

Domestic

International

Life

Life

All

Insurance

Insurance

Annuities

Others

Totals

(In thousands)

2001:

Selected Balance Sheet Items:

Deferred policy acquisition

    costs

$

71,151 

79,274 

250,955 

-   

401,380 

Total segment assets

407,089 

392,501 

2,943,174 

55,929 

3,798,693 

Future policy benefits

320,581 

297,489 

2,567,877 

-   

3,185,947 

Other policyholder liabilities

9,718 

11,304 

17,633 

-   

38,655 

Condensed Income Statements:

Premiums and contract

revenues

$

23,238 

42,010 

23,791 

-   

89,039 

Net investment income

26,015 

22,855 

180,522 

5,474 

234,866 

Other income

39 

29 

296 

5,883 

6,247 

    Total revenues

49,292 

64,894 

204,609 

11,357 

330,152 

Policy benefits

15,935 

14,909 

871 

-   

31,715 

Amortization of deferred

    policy acquisition costs

5,522 

9,964 

11,938 

-   

27,424 

Universal life and investment

    annuity contract interest

9,750 

15,928 

118,838 

-   

144,516 

Other operating expenses

9,169 

8,400 

9,323 

4,789 

31,681 

Federal income taxes

3,070 

5,404 

21,915 

2,262 

32,651 

    Total expenses

43,446 

54,605 

162,885 

7,051 

267,987 

Segment earnings

$

5,846 

10,289 

41,724 

4,306 

62,165 

2000:

Selected Balance Sheet Items:

Deferred policy acquisition

    costs

$

73,933 

75,796 

244,469 

-   

394,198 

Total segment assets

402,419 

387,586 

2,831,022 

52,956 

3,673,983 

Future policy benefits

319,631 

299,213 

2,520,403 

-   

3,139,247 

Other policyholder liabilities

9,508 

10,878 

13,254 

-   

33,640 

Condensed Income Statements:

Premiums and contract

    revenues

$

23,864 

43,665 

32,828 

-   

100,357 

Net investment income

26,295 

22,864 

156,014 

5,481 

210,654 

Other income

30 

44 

317 

555 

946 

    Total revenues

50,189 

66,573 

189,159 

6,036 

311,957 

Policy benefits

17,299 

17,548 

231 

-   

35,078 

Amortization of deferred

    policy acquisition costs

4,305 

15,413 

28,230 

-   

47,948 

Universal life and investment

    annuity contract interest

10,183 

15,148 

112,380 

-   

137,711 

Other operating expenses

9,183 

8,349 

10,593 

1,302 

29,427 

Federal income taxes

3,095 

3,396 

12,666 

1,588 

20,745 

    Total expenses

44,065 

59,854 

164,100 

2,890 

270,909 

Segment earnings

$

6,124 

6,719 

25,059 

3,146 

41,048 

Domestic

International

Life

Life

All

Insurance

Insurance

Annuities

Others

Totals

(In thousands)

1999:

Selected Balance Sheet Items:

Deferred policy acquisition

    costs

$

73,519 

74,928 

221,218 

-   

369,665 

Total segment assets

403,819 

379,771 

2,841,173 

39,247 

3,664,010 

Future policy benefits

319,862 

295,225 

2,532,993 

-   

3,148,080 

Other policyholder liabilities

10,045 

5,754 

8,304 

-   

24,103 

Condensed Income Statements:

Premiums and contract

    revenues

$

24,668 

43,018 

27,392 

-   

95,078 

Net investment income

25,054 

21,692 

191,328 

4,906 

242,980 

Other income

40 

41 

8,863 

-   

8,944 

    Total revenues

49,762 

64,751 

227,583 

4,906 

347,002 

Policy benefits

15,547 

16,451 

458 

-   

32,456 

Amortization of deferred

    policy acquisition costs

3,387 

14,647 

21,114 

-   

39,148 

Universal life and investment

    annuity contract interest

9,826 

13,923 

138,553 

-   

162,302 

Other operating expenses

8,563 

9,429 

9,772 

-   

27,764 

Federal income taxes

4,230 

3,503 

19,618 

1,668 

29,019 

    Total expenses

41,553 

57,953 

189,515 

1,668 

290,689 

Segment earnings

$

8,209 

6,798 

38,068 

3,238 

56,313 


Reconciliations of segment information to the Company
=s consolidated financial statements are provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Premiums and Other Revenue:

Premiums and contract revenues

$

89,039 

100,357 

95,078 

Net investment income

234,866 

210,654 

242,980 

Other income

6,247 

946 

8,944 

Realized gains (losses) on investments

(27,046)

(19,242)

4,481 

Total consolidated premiums and other revenue

$

303,106 

292,715 

351,483 

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Federal Income Taxes:

Total segment Federal income taxes

$

32,651 

20,745 

29,019 

Taxes on realized gains (losses) on investments

(9,466)

(6,734)

1,569 

Taxes on cumulative effect of change in

   accounting for equity-indexed annuities

1,149 

-   

-   

Total taxes on consolidated net earnings

$

24,334 

14,011 

30,588 

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Net Earnings:

Total segment earnings

$

62,165 

41,048 

56,313 

Realized gains (losses) on investments,

    net of taxes

(17,580)

(12,508)

2,912 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting

   for equity-indexed annuities, net of taxes

2,134 

-   

-   

Total consolidated net earnings

$

46,719

28,540 

59,225 

December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

Assets:

Total segment assets

$

3,798,693 

3,673,983

3,664,010 

Other unallocated assets

10,779 

19,837 

14,728 

Total consolidated assets

$

3,809,472 

3,693,820 

3,678,738 


(B) Geographic Information

A significant portion of the Company
=s premiums and contract revenues are from countries other than the United States. Premiums and contract revenues detailed by country are provided below:

Years Ended December 31,

2001

2000

1999

(In thousands)

United States

$

47,826 

57,649 

52,732 

Argentina

8,229 

8,460 

8,761 

Chile

7,465 

7,142 

6,892 

Peru

7,140 

7,891 

8,201 

Haiti

4,427 

6,151 

5,543 

Columbia

4,098 

3,932 

3,888 

Other foreign countries

19,108 

17,644 

16,965 

Revenues, excluding reinsurance premiums

98,293 

108,869 

102,982 

Reinsurance premiums

(9,254)

(8,512)

(7,904)

Total premiums and contract revenues

$

89,039 

100,357 

95,078 


Premiums and contract revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the policyholder. The Company has no significant assets, other than financial instruments, located in countries other than the United States.

(C)  Major Agency Relationships

A significant portion of the Company's premiums and deposits were sold through two independent marketing agencies in recent years. Combined business from these agencies accounted for approximately 25% of total direct premium revenues and universal life and investment annuity contract deposits for 2001, 2000 and 1999.


(15) FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:

Investment securities:
Fair values for investments in debt and equity securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. For securities not actively traded, fair values are estimated using values obtained from various independent pricing services. In the cases where prices are unavailable from these sources, values are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using a current market rate applicable to the yield, credit quality, and maturity of the investments.

Cash and short-term investments: The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for these instruments approximate their fair values.

Mortgage and other loans: The fair values of performing mortgage and other loans are estimated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the scheduled maturities of the loans, using interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers with similar credit ratings. Fair values for significant nonperforming loans are based on recent internal or external appraisals. If appraisals are not available, estimated cash flows are discounted using a rate commensurate with the risk associated with the estimated cash flows. Assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows, and discount rates are judgmentally determined using available market information and specific borrower information.

Policy loans: The fair values for policy loans are calculated by discounting estimated cash flows using U.S. Treasury bill rates as of December 31, 2001 and 2000. The estimated cash flows include assumptions as to whether such loans will be repaid by the policyholders or settled upon payment of death or surrender benefits on the underlying insurance contracts. As a result, these assumptions incorporate both Company experience and mortality assumptions associated with such contracts.

Index options: Fair values for index options are based on quoted market prices.

Life interest in Libbie Shearn Moody Trust: The fair value of the life interest is estimated based on assumptions as to future dividends from the Trust over the life expectancy of Mr. Robert L. Moody. These estimated cash flows were discounted at a rate consistent with uncertainties relating to the amount and timing of future cash distributions. However, the Company has limited the fair value to the statutory admitted value of the Trust, as this is the maximum amount to be received by the Company in the event of Mr. Moody's premature death.

Investment annuity and supplemental contracts: Fair values of the Company's liabilities for deferred investment annuity contracts are estimated to be the cash surrender values of each contract. The cash surrender value represents the policyholder's account balance less applicable surrender charges. The fair values of liabilities for immediate investment annuity contracts and supplemental contracts with and without life contingencies are estimated by discounting estimated cash flows using U.S. Treasury bill rates as of December 31, 2001 and 2000.

Fair values for the Company's insurance contracts other than investment contracts are not required to be disclosed. This includes the Company's traditional and universal life products. However, the fair values of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in the Company's overall management of interest rate risk, which minimizes exposure to changing interest rates through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under insurance and investment contracts.

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments are as follows:

December 31, 2001

December 31, 2000

Carrying

Fair

Carrying

Fair

Values

Values

Values

Values

(In thousands)

ASSETS

Investments in debt and equity securities:

    Securities held to maturity

$

2,059,146 

2,128,586 

2,116,619 

2,113,286 

    Securities available for sale

925,975 

925,975 

735,110 

735,110 

Cash and short-term investments

10,203 

10,203 

22,665 

22,665 

Mortgage loans

186,278 

188,604 

195,665 

198,331 

Policy loans

97,019 

121,299 

110,956 

127,382 

Other loans

28,724 

28,510 

17,143 

16,903 

Index options

6,288 

6,288 

5,402 

5,402 

Life interest in Libbie Shearn

   Moody Trust

3,464

12,775 

3,761 

12,775 

LIABILITIES

Deferred investment annuity contracts

$

2,315,245 

2,043,585 

2,253,160 

1,952,058 

Immediate investment annuity and

   supplemental contracts

235,265 

251,458 

245,359 

243,713 


Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company's entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a portion of the Company's financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.


(16)  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Donner Company, 100% owned by Mr. Arthur Dummer, a director of National Western Life Insurance Company, was paid $85,000, $84,332 and $80,902 in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, pursuant to an agreement between The Donner Company and a reinsurance intermediary relating to a reinsurance contract between the Company and certain life insurance reinsurers.

Moody Insurance Group, Inc., wholly owned by Mr. Robert L. Moody, Jr. was paid $316,644, $426,057 and $348,284 in commissions in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, pursuant to an agency contract with National Western Life Insurance Company. Mr. Robert L. Moody, Jr., is an employee of the Company and the son of Mr. Robert L. Moody, who serves as a director and chief executive officer of the Company, the brother of Mr. Ross R. Moody, who serves as a director and president of the Company, and the brother of Mr. Russell S. Moody and Ms. Frances A. Moody, who serve as directors of the Company. The commissions paid were based on premiums and deposits totaling approximately $15,927,000, $19,218,000 and $15,264,000 from sales of National Western life insurance and annuity products in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. In addition, Mr. Robert L. Moody, Jr. personally received $475, $593 and $498 in commissions in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, pursuant to an agency contract between himself and the Company.

Jay W. Balentine is the son-in-law of Robert L. Moody. Jay W. Balentine has a 100% ownership interest in JWB Development Corporation. Jay W. Balentine also has a 19.8% limited partner interest in Regent Management Services, Limited Partnership (a Nevada limited partnership); a 20.0% interest in RCC Management Services, Inc. (the general partner of Regent Management Services, Limited Partnership); and is also president of RCC Management Services, Inc.

On or about March 29, 2000, National Western Life Insurance Company purchased Nevada Health Development II, Limited Partnership from its partners, JWB Development Corporation (1% general partner interest), Three R Trusts (50% limited partner interest) and Jay W. Balentine (49% limited partner interest). The Three R Trusts are four Texas trusts for the benefit of the children of Robert L. Moody (Robert L. Moody, Jr., Ross R. Moody and Russell S. Moody are the sons of Robert L. Moody and Frances A. Moody is the daughter of Robert L. Moody). This transaction involved the purchase of a nursing home in Reno, Nevada, owned by Nevada Health Development II, Limited Partnership, and a merger into a partnership owned by corporations that are wholly owned subsidiaries of National Western. The result was that the nursing home became the sole property of a subsidiary of National Western Life Insurance Company. Further, that purchase was ultimately financed by a mortgage loan totaling $7,000,000 from National Western to a subsidiary, Regent Care Building, Limited Partnership (a Nevada limited partnership).

Further, as a result of that purchase, and the following merger of Nevada Health Development II, Limited Partnership, into Regent Care Building, Limited Partnership, another subsidiary of National Western, Regent Care Operations, Limited Partnership (a Nevada limited partnership), leased the nursing home building from Regent Care Building, Limited Partnership. Following that, Regent Care Operations, Limited Partnership, contracted with Regent Management Services, Limited Partnership, for the management and operations of the nursing home. Regent Management Services, Limited Partnership, is owned by general partner RCC Management Services, Inc. (a Nevada corporation) and the following limited partners: Three R Trusts, Jay W. Balentine, and Rex Greebon.

Robert L. Moody serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Moody National Bank (MNB) whose ultimate owner is the Three R Trust. In addition, Ross R. Moody is a Director of MNB. The Company utilizes MNB for certain bank custodian services as well as administrative services with respect to the Company's defined benefit and contribution plans. Fees paid to MNB pertaining to these services were $130,804, $122,099 and $129,663 in 2001, 2000, and 1999, respectively.

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE I

SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS

OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES

December 31, 2001

(In thousands)

(1)

Fair

Balance Sheet

Type of Investment

Cost

Value

Amount

Fixed maturity bonds:

    Securities held to maturity:

        United States government and government

           agencies and authorities

$

4,000 

4,275 

4,000 

        States, municipalities, and political subdivisions

954 

1,024 

954 

        Foreign governments

52,020 

55,304 

52,020 

        Public utilities

362,691 

375,170 

362,691 

        Corporate

942,986 

974,633 

942,986 

        Mortgage-backed

505,707 

524,474 

505,707 

        Asset-backed

190,788 

193,706 

190,788 

    Total securities held to maturity

2,059,146 

2,128,586 

2,059,146 

    Securities available for sale:

        United States government and government

           agencies and authorities

261 

280 

280 

        States, municipalities, and political subdivisions

20,924

20,599 

20,599 

        Public utilities

69,687 

71,135 

71,135 

        Corporate

637,003 

626,221 

626,221 

        Mortgage-backed

171,723 

178,328 

178,328 

        Asset-backed

19,648 

16,323 

16,323 

    Total securities available for sale

919,246 

912,886 

912,886 

Total fixed maturity bonds

2,978,392 

3,041,472 

2,972,032 

Equity securities:

     Securities available for sale:

        Common stocks:

                Public utilities

192 

347 

347 

                Banks, trust and insurance companies

195 

4,496 

4,496 

        Preferred stocks

8,222 

8,246 

8,246 

Total equity securities

8,609 

13,089 

13,089 

Index options

15,086 

6,288 

Mortgage loans (2)

177,573 

175,458 

Policy loans

97,019 

97,019 

Other long-term investments (3)

53,785 

51,272 

Cash and short-term investments

10,203 

10,203 

Total investments other than

   investments in related parties

$

3,340,668 

3,325,361 

Notes:
(1) Bonds are shown at amortized cost, mortgage loans are shown at unpaid principal balances before allowances for possible losses of $2,115,000, and real estate is stated at cost before allowances for possible losses of $2,513,000.
(2) Mortgage loans with related parties totaling $10,820,000 have been excluded.
(3) Real estate acquired by foreclosure included in other long-term investments is as follows: cost $6,167,000; balance sheet amount $4,698,000.

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE V

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000, and 1999

(In thousands)

(1)

Balance at

Charged to

Balance at

Beginning

Costs and

End of

Description

of Period

Expenses

Reductions

Transfers

Period

Valuation accounts deducted

from applicable assets:

Allowance for possible

losses on mortgage loans:

December 31, 2001

$

4,215 

(2,100)

-   

-   

2,115 

December 31, 2000

$

4,104 

111 

-   

-   

4,215 

December 31, 1999

$

4,640 

(536)

-   

-   

4,104 

Allowance for possible

losses on real estate:

December 31, 2001

$

2,488 

25 

-   

-   

2,513 

December 31, 2000

$

2,068 

420 

-   

-   

2,488 

December 31, 1999

$

2,068 

-   

-   

-   

2,068 



Notes:
(1) These amounts were recorded to realized (gains) losses on investments.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Registrant)

Date: March 28, 2002

/S/ Robert L. Moody

By: Robert L. Moody, Chairman of the Board,

        Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title (Capacity)

Date

/S/ Robert L. Moody

Chairman of the Board,

March 28, 2002

Robert L. Moody

Chief Executive Officer, and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

/S/ Ross R. Moody

President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director

March 28, 2002

Ross R. Moody

/S/ Brian M. Pribyl

Senior Vice President - Chief Financial &

March 28, 2002

Brian M. Pribyl

Administrative Officer, and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

/S/ Larry E. Carson

Assistance Vice President - Assistant Controller

March 28, 2002

Larry E. Carson

(Principal Accounting Officer)

/S/ Arthur O. Dummer

Director

March 28, 2002

Arthur O. Dummer

Director

March 28, 2002

Harry L. Edwards

Director

March 28, 2002

E. Douglas McLeod

/S/ Charles D. Milos

Director

March 28, 2002

Charles D. Milos

Director

March 28, 2002

Frances A. Moody

Director

March 28, 2002

Russell S. Moody

/S/ Louis E. Pauls, Jr.

Director

March 28, 2002

Louis E. Pauls, Jr.

/S/ E.J. Pederson

Director

March 28, 2002

E.J. Pederson