Edgar Filing: NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE CO

nwl10q.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2010

o 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, TEXAS 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 þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated file" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

As of May 11, 2010, the number of shares of Registrant's common stock outstanding was: Class A – 3,425,966 and Class B - 200,000.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page

Part I. Financial Information:	3

Item 1. Financial Statements	3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31, 2010 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2009	3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)	5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)	6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)	7

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (Unaudited)	9

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	11

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations	40

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	66

Item 4. Controls and Procedures	66

Part II. Other Information:	67

Item 1. Legal Proceedings	67

Item 1A. Risk Factors	67

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	67

Item 6. Exhibits	67

Signatures	68

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)


	(Unaudited)
	March 31,		December 31,
ASSETS	2010		2009

Investments:
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value: $4,585,620 and $4,331,077)	$	4,365,685		4,176,661
Securities available for sale, at fair value (cost: $2,038,142 and $1,967,365)		2,156,231		2,050,079
Mortgage loans, net of allowance for possible losses ($5,418 and $5,033)		108,659		98,200
Policy loans		79,294		78,336
Derivatives, index options		83,348		89,915
Other long-term investments		31,822		32,829

Total Investments		6,825,039		6,526,020

Cash and short-term investments		51,690		108,866
Deferred policy acquisition costs		624,025		626,440
Deferred sales inducements		122,810		122,232
Accrued investment income		76,571		71,572
Other assets		68,949		63,605

	$	7,769,084		7,518,735

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share amounts)


	(Unaudited)
	March 31,		December 31,
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	2010		2009

LIABILITIES:

Future policy benefits:
Traditional life and annuity contracts	$	135,216		133,169
Universal life and annuity contracts		6,167,220		5,988,665
Other policyholder liabilities		143,121		128,931
Deferred Federal income tax liability		38,328		32,818
Federal income tax payable		9,622		13,197
Other liabilities		130,735		107,902

Total liabilities		6,624,242		6,404,682

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8)

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Common stock:
Class A - $1 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized; 3,425,966 issued and outstanding in 2010 and 2009		3,426		3,426
Class B - $1 par value; 200,000 shares authorized, issued, and outstanding in 2010 and 2009		200		200
Additional paid-in capital		36,680		36,680
Accumulated other comprehensive income		30,141		17,760
Retained earnings		1,074,395		1,055,987

Total stockholders’ equity		1,144,842		1,114,053

	$	7,769,084		7,518,735

Note: The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2009, has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)


	2010			2009

Premiums and other revenue:
Traditional life and annuity premiums	$	3,617			4,131
Universal life and annuity contract charges		32,094			38,571
Net investment income		102,850			70,606
Other income		6,152			3,594
Net realized investment losses:
Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses		(8,470	)		(5,280	)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income		8,248			-
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings		(222	)		(5,280	)
Other net investment losses		(207	)		(65	)
Total net realized investment losses		(429	)		(5,345	)

Total revenues		144,284			111,557

Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits		13,287			13,028
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements		23,769			27,948
Universal life and annuity contract interest		62,701			35,266
Other operating expenses		17,316			12,713

Total benefits and expenses		117,073			88,955

Earnings before Federal income taxes		27,211			22,602

Federal income taxes		8,803			7,574

Net earnings	$	18,408			15,028

Basic Earnings Per Share:
Class A	$	5.22			4.26
Class B	$	2.61			2.13

Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Class A	$	5.20			4.26
Class B	$	2.61			2.13

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)


	2010			2009

Net earnings	$	18,408			15,028

Other comprehensive income, net of effects of deferred costs and taxes:
Unrealized gains on securities:
Net unrealized holding gains arising during period		15,692			7,645
Net unrealized liquidity losses		(3,313	)		-
Reclassification adjustment for net amounts included in net earnings		(141	)		2,701
Amortization of net unrealized losses (gains) related to transferred securities		7			(32	)

Net unrealized gains on securities		12,245			10,314

Foreign currency translation adjustments		(153	)		(5	)

Benefit plans:
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain		290			412

Other comprehensive gain		12,382			10,721

Comprehensive income	$	30,790			25,749

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)


	2010			2009
Common stock:
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,626			3,626
Shares exercised under stock option plan		-			-

Balance at end of period		3,626			3,626

Additional paid-in capital:
Balance at beginning of period		36,680			36,680
Shares exercised under stock option plan		-			-

Balance at end of period		36,680			36,680

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on non-impaired securities:
Balance at beginning of period		31,639			(53,770	)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) during period		11,871			10,314

Balance at end of period		43,510			(43,456	)

Unrealized losses on impaired held to maturity securities:
Balance at beginning of period		(2,751	)		-
Amortization		40			-
Other-than-temporary impairments		(26	)		-
Additional credit loss on previously impaired securities		45			-
Change in shadow deferred policy acquisition costs		(18	)		-

Balance at end of period		(2,710	)		-

Unrealized losses on impaired available for sale securities:
Balance at beginning of period		(562	)		-
Other-than-temporary impairments		-			-
Recoveries		332			-

Balance at end of period		(230	)		-

Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Balance at beginning of period		2,893			2,966
Change in translation adjustments during period		(153	)		(5	)

Balance at end of period		2,740			2,961

Benefit plan liability adjustment:
Balance at beginning of period		(13,459	)		(14,554	)
Amortization of net prior service cost and net gain		290			412

Balance at end of period		(13,169	)		(14,142	)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at end of period		30,141			(54,637	)

(Continued on Next Page)

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY, CONTINUED
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)


	2010		2009

Retained earnings:
Balance at beginning of period		1,055,987		1,011,265
Net earnings		18,408		15,028

Balance at end of period		1,074,395		1,026,293

Total stockholders’ equity	$	1,144,842		1,011,962

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)


	2010			2009

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	18,408			15,028
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
from operating activities:
Universal life and annuity contract interest		62,701			35,266
Surrender charges and other policy revenues		(9,767	)		(15,598	)
Realized losses on investments		429			5,345
Accrual and amortization of investment income		(559	)		(1,427	)
Depreciation and amortization		(2,173	)		(2,062	)
Decrease in value of index options		5,788			1,365
Increase in deferred policy acquisition and sales inducement costs		(14,218	)		(4,516	)
Increase in accrued investment income		(4,999	)		(1,700	)
Increase in other assets		(2,792	)		(6,930	)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities for future policy benefits		2,046			(170	)
Increase in other policyholder liabilities		16,407			7,679
(Decrease) increase in Federal income tax liability		(4,657	)		7,211
Increase in other liabilities		9,748			589
Other, net		-			29

Net cash provided by operating activities		76,362			40,109

Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of:
Securities available for sale		13,899			11,595
Other investments		1,172			1,820
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of:
Securities held to maturity		217,556			310,381
Securities available for sale		22,591			38,830
Index options		10,167			11,605
Purchases of:
Securities held to maturity		(393,786	)		(416,297	)
Securities available for sale		(106,699	)		(49,420	)
Other investments		(9,912	)		(10,120	)
Principal payments on mortgage loans		9,017			1,493
Cost of mortgage loans acquired		(19,836	)		(2,513	)
(Increase) decrease in policy loans		(958	)		1,978

Net cash used in investing activities		(256,789	)		(100,648	)

(Continued on Next Page)

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, CONTINUED
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)


	2010			2009

Cash flows from financing activities:
Deposits to account balances for universal life and annuity contracts	$	274,820			166,815
Return of account balances on universal life and annuity contracts		(151,416	)		(145,978	)

Net cash provided by financing activities		123,404			20,837

Effect of foreign exchange		(153	)		(5	)

Net decrease in cash and short-term investments		(57,176	)		(39,707	)
Cash and short-term investments at beginning of period		108,866			67,796

Cash and short-term investments at end of period	$	51,690			28,089

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	$	10	10
Income taxes		13,700	582

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(1) CONSOLIDATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of National Western Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (“Company”) as of March 31, 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 accessible free of charge through the Company's internet site at www.nationalwesternlife.com or the Securities and Exchange Commission internet site at www.sec.gov.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of National Western Life Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: The Westcap Corporation, NWL Investments, Inc., NWL Services, Inc., NWL Financial, Inc., NWLSM, Inc. and Regent Care San Marcos Holdings, LLC. All significant intercorporate transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires 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 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include (1) liabilities for future policy benefits, (2) valuation of derivative instruments, (3) recoverability and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, (4) commitments and contingencies, (5) valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, (6) other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities and (7) valuation allowances for mortgage loans and real estate.

The Company is implementing new actuarial reserving systems that enhance its ability to provide better estimates used in establishing future policy liabilities, monitor the deferred acquisition cost asset and the deferred sales asset as well as support other actuarial processes within the Company. The implementation of these new reserving systems for specific blocks of business began in the second quarter of 2009 and is expected to be completed in 2010. As the Company applies these new systems to a line of business, current reserving assumptions are reviewed and updated as appropriate. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 a correction was made to a surrender charge assumption for future years on one deferred annuity product line. This change resulted in an unlocking adjustment that increased the current period’s Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (“DPAC”) amortization expense by $2.7 million. As the amount of the correction was determined to have occurred over the course of multiple previous reported periods, it was concluded that the amount of the correction was immaterial to the financial results reported in any of these periods, as well as the current period.

Certain amounts in the prior year condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

(2) NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance to provide a single definition of fair value, a framework for measuring fair value, and required additional disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities. The Company adopted it for its reporting of financial assets and financial liabilities on January 1, 2008. The effective date for implementation to non financial assets and non financial liabilities was delayed by the FASB until the first reporting period after November 15, 2008. The Company adopted this portion of the guidance effective January 1, 2009. The adoption of fair value measurements did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and results of operations.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

In December 2007, the FASB issued new guidance establishing accounting and reporting standards for entities that have equity investments that are not attributable directly to the parent, called noncontrolling interests or minority interests. More specifically, the guidance addresses where and how to report noncontrolling interests in the consolidated statements of financial position and operations, how to account for changes in noncontrolling interests and provides disclosure requirements. The Company adopted it effective January 1, 2009, and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued new guidance establishing how an entity accounts for the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interests acquired, how to account for goodwill acquired and determines what disclosures are required as part of a business combination, and it applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2009. Adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

In March 2008, the FASB issued new guidance to require companies with derivative instruments to disclose information about how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. This guidance became effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company adopted it on January 1, 2009 with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements. See Note 10, Fair Values of Financial Instruments, for additional information pertaining to this guidance.

In September 2008, the FASB issued new guidance establishing disclosure requirements by entities that assume credit risk through the sale of credit derivatives, including credit derivatives embedded in a hybrid instrument, to enable users of financial statements to assess the potential effect on its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows from these credit derivatives, and requires additional disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2009 and adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

In December 2008, the FASB issued new guidance which requires information to be disclosed on an annual basis pertaining to postretirement benefit plan assets. The Company would be required to separate plan assets into the three fair value hierarchy levels and provide a rollforward of the changes in fair value of plan assets classified as Level 3. The disclosures about plan assets were effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. Adoption of this guidance had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

In January 2009, the FASB issued new guidance to enhance guidance on impairments to remove the exclusive reliance on a “market participant” estimate of future cash flows to a holder’s estimate of whether there has been a “probable” adverse change in estimated cash flows. This allows management to apply reasonable judgment in assessing whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. It was effective for the Company as of December 31, 2008 and its adoption did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

In March 2009, the FASB issued new guidance establishing enhanced disclosures regarding an entity’s derivative and hedging activity to enable investors to better understand the effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2009. See Note 11, Derivative Investments, for disclosures regarding derivative instruments and hedging activities.

On April 9, 2009 the FASB issued new guidance for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased, and includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. This guidance emphasizes that even if there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability, and regardless of the valuation technique(s) used, the objective of a fair value measurement remains the same. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale) between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. As further discussed in Note 10, Fair Values of Financial Instruments, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

On April 9, 2009 the FASB issued new guidance to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements. It was effective for the Company as of June 30, 2009 and did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations. See Note 10, Fair Values of Financial Instruments, for additional disclosures.

On April 9, 2009 the FASB issued new guidance which amended the other-than-temporary impairment guidance for debt securities to make the guidance more operational, and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities in the financial statements. It did not amend existing recognition and measurement guidance related to other-than-temporary impairments of equity securities. This guidance was effective for the Company as of June 30, 2009. The impact of its adoption is discussed in Note 9, Investments.

On May 28, 2009 the FASB issued new guidance establishing general standards of accounting for the disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date, but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. It was effective for the Company as of June 30, 2009 and did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.

On June 12, 2009 the FASB issued new guidance that changes the way entities account for securitizations and special purpose entities. The guidance is effective as of the beginning of the Company’s first annual reporting period beginning after November 15, 2009. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

During January 2010, FASB issued new guidance that requires more robust fair value disclosures about the different classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the AICPA, and the SEC did not, or are not believed by management to, have a material impact on the Company's present or future consolidated financial statements.

(3) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

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 2010 in $81.3 million. The Company did not pay cash dividends on common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

Change in Accounting Principles

During the second quarter of 2009, the Company reviewed all previously recorded other-than-temporary impairments of securities in compliance with newly issued GAAP guidance and estimated the credit versus the non-credit component consistent with the methodology used in the current period to analyze and bifurcate impairments into credit and non-credit components. As a result, the Company determined that $0.8 million in previously recorded other-than-temporary impairments had been due to non-credit impairments.

For each security, the Company developed its best estimate of the net present value of the cash flows expected to be received. The credit component of the impairment for these securities was determined to be the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the projected net cash flows. The non-credit component was determined to be the difference between projected net cash flows and fair value. The Company also determined whether management had the intent to sell the security, or if it was more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security, prior to the recovery of the non-credit component.

As a result of the implementation, during the second quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a net of tax opening balance adjustment that increased retained earnings in the amount of $0.5 million and increased accumulated other comprehensive loss in the amount of $0.5 million.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(4) EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share of common stock are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share assumes the issuance of common shares applicable to stock options in the denominator.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010				2009
	Class A		Class B		Class A		Class B
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Numerator for Basic and
Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Net income	$	18,408				15,028
Dividends – Class A shares		-				-
Dividends – Class B shares		-				-

Undistributed income	$	18,408				15,028

Allocation of net income:
Dividends	$	-		-		-		-
Allocation of undistributed income		17,886		522		14,602		426

Net income	$	17,886		522		14,602		426

Denominator:
Basic earnings per share -
weighted-average shares		3,426		200		3,426		200
Effect of dilutive
stock options		14		-		3		-

Diluted earnings per share -
adjusted weighted-average
shares for assumed
conversions		3,440		200		3,429		200

Basic Earnings Per Share	$	5.22		2.61		4.26		2.13

Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	5.20		2.61		4.26		2.13

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(5) PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

(A) Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all 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 of 1974 ("ERISA"). On October 19, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an amendment to freeze the Pension Plan as of December 31, 2007. The freeze ceased future benefit accruals to all participants and closed the Plan to any new participants. In addition, all participants became immediately 100% vested in their accrued benefits as of that date. Going forward future pension expense is projected to be minimal. Fair values of plan assets and liabilities are measured as of the prior December 31 for each respective year. The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Service cost	$	-			-
Interest cost		259			262
Expected return on plan assets		(259	)		(222	)
Amortization of prior service cost		1			1
Amortization of net loss		124			148

Net periodic benefit cost	$	125			189

The Company expects to contribute $776 thousand to the plan in 2010. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company contributed $126 thousand to the plan.

The Company also sponsors a non-qualified 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 are maintained by 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, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the pension plan should these entities be unable to meet their obligations under the existing agreements. Also, the Company has a contingent liability with respect to the plan in the event that a plan participant continues employment with the Company 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, the Company would be responsible for any additional pension obligations resulting from these items. Amendments were made to the plan to allow an additional employee to participate and to change the benefit formula for the Chairman of the Company. As previously mentioned, these additional obligations are a liability to the Company. Effective December 31, 2004, this plan was frozen with respect to the continued accrual of benefits of the Chairman and the President of the Company in order to comply with law changes under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 ("Act").

Effective July 1, 2005, the Company established a second non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the Chairman of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that mirror and supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the previously discussed non-qualified plan, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

Effective November 1, 2005, the Company established a third non-qualified defined benefit plan for the benefit of the President of the Company. This plan is intended to provide for post-2004 benefit accruals that supplement the pre-2005 benefit accruals under the first non-qualified plan as previously discussed, while complying with the requirements of the Act.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs for these non-qualified plans.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Service cost	$	13		37
Interest cost		266		308
Amortization of prior service cost		129		260
Amortization of net loss		164		198

Net periodic benefit cost	$	572		803

The Company expects to contribute $2 million to these plans in 2010. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company contributed $495 thousand to the plans.

(B) Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans

The Company sponsors two healthcare plans to provide postretirement benefits to certain fully-vested individuals. The following summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Interest cost	$	34		32
Amortization of net loss		-		-
Amortization of prior service cost		26		26

Net periodic benefit cost	$	60		58

The Company expects to contribute minimal amounts to the plan in 2010.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(6) SEGMENT AND OTHER OPERATING INFORMATION

The Company defines its reportable operating segments as domestic life insurance, international life insurance, and annuities. These segments are organized based on product types and geographic marketing areas. A summary of segment information for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is provided below.

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic		International
	Life		Life				All
	Insurance		Insurance		Annuities		Others		Total
	(In thousands)

March 31, 2010:
Selected Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition
costs and sales inducements	$	47,966		206,341		492,528		-		746,835
Total segment assets		397,745		1,085,261		6,214,584		-		7,697,590
Future policy benefits		323,675		662,901		5,315,860		-		6,302,436
Other policyholder liabilities		11,395		24,419		107,307		-		143,121

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2010:
Condensed Income Statements:
Premiums and contract
revenues	$	6,985		24,117		4,609		-		35,711
Net investment income		4,798		10,322		86,181		1,549		102,850
Other income		33		65		552		5,502		6,152

Total revenues		11,816		34,504		91,342		7,051		144,713

Policy benefits		3,250		9,140		897		-		13,287
Amortization of deferred
acquisition costs		2,740		6,675		14,354		-		23,769
Universal life and investment
annuity contract interest		2,462		10,149		50,090		-		62,701
Other operating expenses		2,913		6,556		3,707		4,140		17,316
Federal income taxes		146		643		7,221		943		8,953

Total expenses		11,511		33,163		76,269		5,083		126,026

Segment earnings	$	305		1,341		15,073		1,968		18,687

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Selected Segment Information:
	Domestic		International
	Life		Life				All
	Insurance		Insurance		Annuities		Others		Total
	(In thousands)

March 31, 2009:
Selected Balance Sheet Items:
Deferred policy acquisition
costs and sales inducements	$	64,022		218,487		538,634		-		821,143
Total segment assets		389,812		983,113		5,298,071		134,691		6,805,687
Future policy benefits		317,526		599,477		4,690,822		-		5,607,825
Other policyholder liabilities		13,125		19,768		101,786		-		134,679

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009:
Condensed Income Statements:
Premiums and contract
revenues	$	9,539		26,249		6,914		-		42,702
Net investment income		5,098		4,058		60,021		1,429		70,606
Other income		14		27		135		3,418		3,594

Total revenues		14,651		30,334		67,070		4,847		116,902

Policy benefits		3,821		7,724		1,483		-		13,028
Amortization of deferred
acquisition costs		2,355		13,162		12,431		-		27,948
Universal life and investment
annuity contract interest		2,272		3,720		29,274		-		35,266
Other operating expenses		2,730		3,506		3,194		3,283		12,713
Federal income taxes		1,173		746		6,988		538		9,445

Total expenses		12,351		28,858		53,370		3,821		98,400

Segment earnings	$	2,300		1,476		13,700		1,026		18,502

Reconciliations of segment information to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are provided below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)
Premiums and Other Revenue:
Premiums and contract revenues	$	35,711			42,702
Net investment income		102,850			70,606
Other income		6,152			3,594
Realized losses on investments		(429	)		(5,345	)

Total consolidated premiums and other revenue	$	144,284			111,557

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)
Federal Income Taxes:
Total segment Federal income taxes	$	8,953			9,445
Taxes on realized losses on investments		(150	)		(1,871	)

Total consolidated Federal income taxes	$	8,803			7,574

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)
Net Earnings:
Total segment earnings	$	18,687			18,502
Realized losses on investments, net of taxes		(279	)		(3,474	)

Total consolidated net earnings	$	18,408			15,028

	March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Total segment assets	$	7,697,590		6,805,687
Other unallocated assets		71,494		47,297

Total consolidated assets	$	7,769,084		6,852,984

(7) SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The Company has issued only nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights. The Company has a stock and incentive plan ("1995 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; and (4) performance awards. The 1995 Plan began on April 21, 1995, and was amended on June 25, 2004 to extend the termination date to April 20, 2010. The number of shares of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock which may be issued under the 1995 Plan, or as to which stock appreciation rights or other awards may be granted, may not exceed 300,000. Effective June 20, 2008, the Company’s shareholders approved a 2008 Incentive Plan (“2008 Plan”). The 2008 Plan is substantially similar to the 1995 Plan and authorized an additional number of Class A, $1.00 par value, common stock shares eligible for issue not to exceed 300,000. These shares may be authorized and unissued shares.

All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the two Plans. In addition, directors of the Company are eligible to receive the same types of awards as employees except that they are not eligible to receive incentive stock options. Company directors, including members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, are eligible for nondiscretionary stock options. The directors’ grants vest 20% annually following one full year of service to the Company from the date of grant. The employees’ grants vest 20% annually following three full years of service to the Company from the date of grant. All grants issued expire after ten years. No awards were issued during the first quarter of 2010. On February 19, 2009, the Company awarded 29,393 stock appreciation rights to Company officers and 9,000 stock appreciation rights to Company directors at a market value price of $114.64.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Effective during March 2006, the Company adopted and implemented a limited stock buy-back program which provides option holders the additional alternative of selling shares acquired through the exercise of options directly back to the Company. Option holders may elect to sell such acquired shares back to the Company at any time within ninety (90) days after the exercise of options at the prevailing market price as of the date of notice of election. The buy-back program did not alter the terms and conditions of the Plan; however the program necessitated a change in accounting from the equity classification to the liability classification.

In August 2008, the Company implemented another limited stock buy-back program, substantially similar to the 2006 program, for shares issued under the 2008 Plan.

The Company uses the current fair value method to measure compensation cost. As of March 31, 2010 the liability balance was $6.1 million versus $5.4 million at December 31, 2009. A summary of shares available for grant and stock option activity is detailed below.

			Options Outstanding
						Weighted-
	Shares					Average
	Available					Exercise
	For Grant		Shares			Price

Stock Options:
Balance at January 1, 2010		292,400		104,577		$	174.24
Exercised		260		(260	)		92.13
Forfeited		-		-			-
Granted		-		-			-

Balance at March 31, 2010		292,660		104,317		$	174.44

	Stock Appreciation Rights Outstanding
			Weighted-
			Average
			Exercise
	Awards		Price

Stock Appreciation Rights:
Balance at January 1, 2010		41,143	$	123.40
Exercised		-		-
Forfeited		-		-
Granted		-		-

Balance at March 31, 2010		41,143	$	123.40

The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $26 thousand and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The total share-based liabilities paid were $26 thousand and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. There were no amounts received from the exercise of option under the plan for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. There were 1,800 shares vested during the first quarter of 2010.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes information about stock options and stock appreciation rights outstanding at March 31, 2010.

			Weighted-
			Average
	Number		Remaining		Options
	Outstanding		Contractual Life		Exercisable
Exercise prices:
$ 92.13		9,699		1.0 years		9,699
95.00		6,000		1.2 years		6,000
150.00		51,850	4.1 years			32,650
255.13		27,768	8.0 years			-
208.05		9,000	8.2 years			1,800
236.00		1,250	8.4 years			-
251.49		1,000	8.4 years			-
256.00		500	8.5 years			-
114.64		38,393	8.9 years			1,800

Totals		145,460				51,949

Aggregate intrinsic value
(In thousands)	$	5,888			$	2,678

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above is based on the closing stock price of $184.35 per share on March 31, 2010.

In estimating the fair value of the options outstanding at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company employed the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumptions as detailed below.

	2010			2009

Expected term of options	1 to 8 years			1 to 9 years
Expected volatility:
Range	28.45% to 78.07		%	28.41% to 101.39		%
Weighted-average		38.20	%		44.03	%
Expected dividend yield		0.20	%		0.30	%
Risk-free rate:
Range	0.92% to 3.68		%	1.58% to 2.89		%
Weighted-average		2.31	%		2.27	%

The Company reviewed the contractual term relative to the options as well as perceived future behavior patterns of exercise. Volatility is based on the Company’s historical volatility over the expected term of the option’s expected exercise date.

The pre-tax compensation cost recognized in the financial statements related to the Plan was $0.7 million and $(2.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The related tax benefit (expense) recognized was $0.3 million and $(0.8) million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

As of March 31, 2010, the total compensation cost related to nonvested options not yet recognized was $3.3 million. This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.3 years. The Company recognizes compensation cost over the graded vesting periods.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(8) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(A) Legal Proceedings

The Company was a defendant in a class action lawsuit initially filed on September 17, 2004, in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles. The California state court certified a class consisting of certain California policyholders age 65 and older alleging violations under California Business and Professions Code section 17200. The court additionally certified a subclass of 36 policyholders alleging fraud against their agent, and vicariously against the Company. The California Insurance Department had intervened in this case asserting that the Company has violated California insurance laws. The parties to this case had been involved in court-ordered mediation and ongoing negotiations. On February 22, 2010, the Company reported in a Form 8-K filing a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs and plaintiff in intervention providing a settlement benefit of approximately $17 million which was included in the Company’s legal accrual provision at December 31, 2009. The settlement agreement is subject to final court approval.

The Company is a defendant in a second class action lawsuit pending as of June 12, 2006, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The case is titled In Re National Western Life Insurance Deferred Annuities Litigation and is in the discovery phase. The complaint asserts claims for RICO violations, Financial Elder Abuse, Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17200, et seq, Violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17500, et seq, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Aiding and Abetting Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Fraudulent Concealment, Cal. Civ. Code 1710, et seq, Breach of the Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, and Unjust Enrichment and Imposition of Constructive Trust. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses in this case and intends to vigorously defend itself against the asserted claims.

The Company is the named Defendant in the case of Sheila Newman vs. National Western Life Insurance Company which alleged mishandling of policyholder funds by an agent. On February 3, 2010, the 415th Judicial District Court of Parker County in Weatherford, Texas, entered a Final Judgment against the Company of approximately $208,000 for actual damages, attorney’s fees for preparation of trial, and prejudgment interest on the actual damages. In addition, the Final Judgment included $150 million for exemplary damages. The Company will continue to vigorously defend this case and has filed a notice of appeal of the Final Judgment with the proper Court of Appeals in Texas. The Company believes the Final Judgment is inconsistent with current state and federal laws and intends to establish on appeal that it is not liable for the Plaintiff’s actual or exemplary damages.

The Company is involved or may become involved in various other legal actions, in the normal course of its business, in which claims for alleged economic and punitive damages have been or may be asserted, some for substantial amounts. Although there can be no assurances, at the present time, the Company does not anticipate that the ultimate liability arising from such other potential, pending, or threatened legal actions will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operating results of the Company.

The amounts accrued in the financial statements at March 31, 2010 of $23.4 million ($23.0 million at December 31, 2009) for the foregoing represent estimates made by the Company based upon current information and are subject to change as facts and circumstances change and develop.

In January 2009, the SEC published its newly adopted Rule 151A, Indexed Annuities and Certain Other Insurance Contracts. This rule defines “indexed annuities to be securities and thus subject to regulation by the SEC under federal securities laws”. Currently indexed annuities sold by life insurance companies are regulated by the States as insurance products and Section 3(a)(8) of the Securities Act of 1933 provides an exemption for certain “annuity contracts,” “optional annuity contracts,” and other insurance contracts. The Company and others subsequently filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to overturn this rule. The new rule was scheduled to be effective January 12, 2011, but is currently subject to legal challenges by National Western and other companies regarding its validity. The SEC, in briefing regarding appropriate remedies, has “determined to consent to” a two year stay of Rule 151A’s effective date to run from the date of publication of a reissued or retained Rule 151A in the Federal Register. In the proposed “Restoring Financial Stability Act” bill currently pending in Congress an amendment has been included that would define indexed annuities as insurance products regulated by states and territories and nullify Rule 151A. In the event Rule 151A is not overturned, it could have a material effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(9) INVESTMENTS

(A) Investment Gains and Losses

The table below presents realized investment gains and losses, excluding impairment losses, for the periods indicated.

	Three months ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Available for sale debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal	$	238			58
Realized losses on disposal		-			(150	)
Held to maturity debt securities:
Realized gains on disposal		98			79
Realized losses on disposal		(6	)		(5	)
Equity securities realized gains (losses)		22			(41	)
Real estate write-down		(174	)		-
Mortgage loans write-downs		(385	)		(6	)
Other		-			-

Totals	$	(207	)		(65	)

The table below presents net impairment losses recognized in earnings for the periods indicated.

	Three months ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Total other-than-temporary
impairment losses on
debt securities	$	(8,470	)		(4,875	)
Portion of loss recognized
in comprehensive income		8,248			-

Net impairment losses on debt
securities recognized in earnings		(222	)		(4,875	)
Equity securities impairments		-			(405	)

Totals	$	(222	)		(5,280	)

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company recognized $8.5 million as other-than-temporary impairments on four available for sale mortgage-backed securities and two held to maturity asset-backed securities of which $0.2 million was recognized in earnings as a credit loss and the remaining $8.2 million recognized in other comprehensive income as a non-credit loss. The credit component of the impairment was determined to be the difference between amortized cost and the present value of the cash flows expected to be received, discounted at the original yield. The significant inputs used to project cash flows are estimated future prepayment rates, default rates and default loss severity. Prior to adoption of the new guidance, the amount of impairment recognized in earnings was the difference between amortized cost and fair value.

The table below presents a roll forward of credit losses on securities for which the Company also recorded non-credit other-than-temporary impairments under the new guidance in other comprehensive loss.

	Three Months		Nine Months*
	Ended		Ended
	March 31, 2010		December 31, 2009
	(In thousands)

Beginning balance, cumulative credit losses related
to other-than-temporary impairments	$	327		28
Additions for credit losses not previously recognized in
other-than-temporary impairments		222		299

Ending balance, cumulative credit losses related to
other-than-temporary impairment.	$	549		327

*Since the adoption date of the new FASB GAAP guidance.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(B) Debt and Equity Securities

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at March 31, 2010.

	Securities Held to Maturity
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	176,742		2,789		138		179,393

U.S. Treasury		1,914		400		-		2,314

States and political subdivisions		191,241		2,994		1,325		192,910

Foreign governments		9,964		944		-		10,908

Public utilities		595,648		39,291		688		634,251

Corporate		1,544,221		87,923		13,533		1,618,611

Mortgage-backed		1,794,173		107,616		2,921		1,898,868

Home equity		28,332		322		3,755		24,899

Manufactured housing		23,450		536		520		23,466

Totals	$	4,365,685		242,815		22,880		4,585,620

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at March 31, 2010.

	Securities Available for Sale
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	-		-		-		-

U.S. Treasury		-		-		-		-

States and political subdivisions		8,474		-		362		8,112

Foreign governments		10,343		789		-		11,132

Public utilities		337,064		21,714		372		358,406

Corporate		1,423,310		92,256		6,902		1,508,664

Mortgage-backed		229,226		9,570		3,668		235,128

Home equity		13,350		-		4,458		8,892

Manufactured housing		10,331		734		-		11,065
		2,032,098		125,063		15,762		2,141,399

Equity private		195		7,370		-		7,565

Equity public		5,849		1,575		157		7,267

Totals	$	2,038,142		134,008		15,919		2,156,231

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities held to maturity at December 31, 2009.

	Securities Held to Maturity
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	103,176		2,450		810		104,816

U.S. Treasury		1,916		401		-		2,317

States and political subdivisions		140,393		2,379		1,054		141,718

Foreign governments		9,963		792		-		10,755

Public utilities		625,661		33,345		897		658,109

Corporate		1,511,565		71,255		27,804		1,555,016

Mortgage-backed		1,730,319		83,911		3,515		1,810,715

Home equity		28,910		196		5,853		23,253

Manufactured housing		24,758		384		764		24,378

Totals	$	4,176,661		195,113		40,697		4,331,077

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The table below presents amortized costs and fair values of securities available for sale at December 31, 2009.

	Securities Available for Sale
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	-		-		-		-

U.S. Treasury		-		-		-		-

States and political subdivisions		20,490		-		1,519		18,971

Foreign governments		10,358		959		-		11,317

Public utilities		322,653		16,845		769		338,729

Corporate		1,349,878		72,862		12,880		1,409,860

Mortgage-backed		233,841		8,661		5,518		236,984

Home equity		13,508		-		4,757		8,751

Manufactured housing		10,684		794		25		11,453
		1,961,412		100,121		25,468		2,036,065

Equity private		195		6,962		-		7,157

Equity public		5,758		1,277		178		6,857

Totals	$	1,967,365		108,360		25,646		2,050,079

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's held to maturity investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2010.

	Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater				Total
	Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government
agencies	$	34,762		138		-		-		34,762		138

U.S. Treasury		-		-		-		-		-		-

State and political		70,859		1,100		3,160		225		74,019		1,325
subdivisions

Foreign governments		-		-		-		-		-		-

Public utilities		37,358		365		9,639		323		46,997		688

Corporate bonds		67,538		368		163,532		13,165		231,070		13,533

Mortgage-backed		51,270		684		56,017		2,237		107,287		2,921

Home equity		3,007		871		13,381		2,884		16,388		3,755

Manufactured housing		54		-		7,728		520		7,782		520

Total temporarily
impaired securities	$	264,848		3,526		253,457		19,354		518,305		22,880

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair values of the Company's available for sale investments by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2010.

	Available For Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater				Total
	Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government
agencies	$	-		-		-		-		-		-

U.S. Treasury		-		-		-		-		-		-

State and political
subdivisions		-		-		8,112		362		8,112		362

Foreign governments		-		-		-		-		-		-

Public utilities		12,226		157		7,403		215		19,629		372

Corporate bonds		63,132		808		90,411		6,094		153,543		6,902

Mortgage-backed		21,235		119		21,173		3,549		42,408		3,668

Home equity		-		-		8,892		4,458		8,892		4,458

Manufactured housing		-		-		-		-		-		-
		96,593		1,084		135,991		14,678		232,584		15,762

Equity public		250		8		695		149		945		157

Total temporarily
impaired securities	$	96,843		1,092		136,686		14,827		233,529		15,919

Debt securities. The gross unrealized losses for debt securities at March 31, 2010 are made up of 162 individual issues, or 18.3% of the total debt securities held by the Company. The market value of these bonds as a percent of amortized cost averages 95.1%. Of the 162 securities, 76, or approximately 46.9%, fall in the 12 months or greater aging category; of the 162 debt securities, 146 were rated investment grade at March 31, 2010. Additional information on debt securities by investment category is summarized below:

U.S. Treasury. No securities had a gross unrealized loss.

U.S. Government agencies. Two securities had unrealized losses. Both are rated AAA.

State and political subdivisions. The unrealized losses on these investments are the result of holdings in 43 securities. Of these securities, all are rated A or above. Based on these facts and the Company's intent to hold to maturity, no other-than-temporary loss was recognized as of March 31, 2010.

Foreign governments. No securities had a gross unrealized loss.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Public utilities. Of the 17 securities, all are rated BBB or above except 1, which is priced at 96% of amortized cost. At this time, the Company does not consider any of these unrealized losses as other-than-temporary.

Corporate bonds. Corporate securities with unrealized losses are reviewed based on monitoring procedures including: review of the amount of the unrealized loss, the length of time that the issue has been in an unrealized loss position, credit ratings, analyst reports, and recent issuer financial information. A total of 63 securities had unrealized losses; with 10 issues rated below investment grade. More extensive analysis was performed on these 10 issues and based on the work performed, none of the unrealized losses are considered other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2010.

Mortgage-backed securities. Of the 22 securities, all are rated AAA except 2, which are rated CCC. The Company generally purchases these investments at a discount relative to their face amount and it is expected that the securities will not be settled at a price less than the stated par. Because the decline in market value is attributable to the current illiquidity in the market and not credit quality, and because the Company has the ability and intent to hold these securities until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, and based on the lack of adverse changes in expected cash flows, the Company does not consider these AAA rated investments and 1 CCC rated investment to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2010. The Company recognized an other-than-temporary loss at March 31, 2010 for the other CCC rated security.

Home equity. Of the 9 securities, 7 are rated AAA, 1 is rated AA and 1 is rated CC. The Company performs a quarterly cash flow analysis on asset-backed securities that are rated below AA. Based on the lack of adverse changes in expected cash flows, the 1 issue rated below AA is not considered impaired. One AAA security was other-than-temporarily impaired due to adverse cash flows.

Manufactured housing. Of the 6 securities with an unrealized loss, 3 are rated AAA and 3 are rated BBB or below. Based on lack of adverse changes in expected cash flows, 3 of the securities below A are not considered other-than-temporarily impaired.

Equity securities. The gross unrealized losses for equity securities are made up of 26 individual issues. These holdings are reviewed for impairment quarterly. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company recorded no other-than-temporary impairments.

Management believes the declines in value are temporary for all of the securities for which other-than-temporary impairment has not been recorded and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the securities until a market price recovery.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	Held to Maturity
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater				Total
	Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government
agencies	$	69,188		810		-		-		69,188		810

U.S. Treasury		-		-		-		-		-		-

State and political
subdivisions		60,382		954		3,284		100		63,666		1,054

Foreign governments		-		-		-		-		-		-

Public utilities		48,130		308		19,364		589		67,494		897

Corporate bonds		130,981		1,510		236,663		26,294		367,644		27,804

Mortgage-backed		33,917		489		57,337		3,026		91,254		3,515

Home equity		3,030		976		13,815		4,877		16,845		5,853

Manufactured housing		1,341		69		7,423		695		8,764		764

Total temporarily
impaired securities	$	346,969		5,116		337,886		35,581		684,855		40,697

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

	Available For Sale
	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater				Total
	Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses
	(In thousands)
Debt securities:
U.S. Government
agencies	$	-		-		-		-		-		-

U.S. Treasury		-		-		-		-		-		-

State and political
subdivisions		-		-		18,971		1,519		18,971		1,519

Foreign governments		-		-		-		-		-		-

Public utilities		16,597		272		17,118		497		33,715		769

Corporate bonds		18,730		166		199,968		12,714		218,698		12,880

Mortgage-backed		21,953		370		21,036		5,148		42,989		5,518

Home equity		-		-		8,751		4,757		8,751		4,757

Manufactured housing		3,774		24		119		1		3,893		25
		61,054		832		265,963		24,636		327,017		25,468

Equity public		196		21		1,316		157		1,512		178

Total temporarily
impaired securities	$	61,250		853		267,279		24,793		328,529		25,646

During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company made transfers totaling $11.7 million and $0.0 million, respectively, to the held to maturity category from securities available for sale. Lower holdings of securities available for sale reduce the Company's exposure to market price volatility while still providing securities available for liquidity and asset/liability management purposes. The transfers of securities were recorded at fair value in accordance with GAAP, which requires that the $0.6 million unrealized holding loss at the date of the transfer continue to be reported in a separate component of stockholders' equity and be amortized over the remaining lives of the securities, as an adjustment of yield, in a manner consistent with the amortization of any premium or discount.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

(10) FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. In compliance with this GAAP guidance, the Company has categorized its financial instruments, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three level hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). If the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the category level is based on the lowest priority level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument. If the inputs used for an asset change, such that the asset is transferred between levels, all transfers in and out of reporting levels take place on the end of the reporting period’s valuation date.

Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are categorized as follows:

Level 1: Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Company for identical assets or liabilities. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. These generally provide the most reliable evidence and are used to measure fair value whenever available. The Company’s Level 1 assets include equity securities that are traded in an active exchange market. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets.

Level 2: Fair value is based upon significant inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability through corroboration with observable market data as of the reporting date. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted market prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable and other observable inputs. The Company’s Level 2 assets include fixed maturity debt securities (corporate and private bonds, government or agency securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities), preferred stock, certain equity securities, and over-the-counter derivative contracts. The Company’s Level 2 liabilities consist of certain product-related embedded derivatives. Valuations are generally obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or determined through use of valuation methodologies using observable market inputs.

Level 3: Fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs which reflect the entity’s or third party pricing service’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The Company’s Level 3 assets include certain equity securities and certain less liquid or private fixed maturity debt securities where significant valuation inputs cannot be corroborated with market observable data. The Company’s Level 3 liabilities consist of share-based compensation obligations. Valuations are estimated based on non-binding broker prices or internally developed valuation models or methodologies, discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following table sets forth the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the date indicated:

	March 31, 2010
Description	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)

Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,141,399		-		2,123,666		17,733
Equity securities, available for sale		14,832		5,896		1,371		7,565
Derivatives		83,348		-		83,348		-

Total assets	$	2,239,579		5,896		2,208,385		25,298

Policyholder account balances (a)	$	84,095		-		84,095		-
Other liabilities (b)		6,077		-		-		6,077

Total liabilities	$	90,172		-		84,095		6,077

During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company did not make any transfers of assets into or out of levels 1,2 or 3.

	December 31, 2009
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)

Debt securities, available for sale	$	2,036,065		-		2,019,415		16,650
Equity securities, available for sale		14,014		5,536		1,321		7,157
Derivatives		89,915		-		89,915		-

Total assets	$	2,139,994		5,536		2,110,651		23,807

Policyholder account balances (a)	$	88,492		-		88,492		-
Other liabilities (b)		5,373		-		-		5,373

Total liabilities	$	93,865		-		88,492		5,373

(a) Represents the fair value of certain product-related embedded derivatives that were recorded at fair value.

(b) Represents the liability for share-based compensation.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following tables provide additional information about fair value measurements for which significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs were utilized to determine fair value.

	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
	Debt		Equity
	Securities,		Securities,
	Available		Available		Total		Other
	For Sale		For Sale		Assets		Liabilities
	(In thousands)

Beginning balance of period	$	16,650		7,157		23,807		5,373
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income		-		-		-		730
Included in other comprehensive income		955		408		1,363		-
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net		128		-		128		(26	)
Transfers into Level 3		-		-		-		-

Balance at end of period	$	17,733		7,565		25,298		6,077

Amount of total losses for the period included
in net income attributable to the change
in unrealized gains relating to assets still
held at end of period	$	-		-		-		(804	)

	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009
	Debt			Equity
	Securities,			Securities,
	Available			Available			Total			Other
	For Sale			For Sale			Assets			Liabilities
	(In thousands)

Beginning balance of period	$	10,242			7,190			17,432			3,787
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in net income		-			-			-			(2,275	)
Included in other comprehensive income		(3,264	)		(33	)		(3,297	)		-
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net		(2	)		-			(2	)		61
Transfers into Level 3		-			-			-			-

Balance at end of period	$	6,976			7,157			14,133			1,573

Amount of total losses for the period included
in net income attributable to the change
in unrealized gains relating to assets still
held at end of period	$	-			-			-			(2,275	)

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Realized gains (losses) on debt and equity securities are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings as net investment gains (losses), unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale debt and equity securities are reported as other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity.

The fair value hierarchy classifications are reviewed each reporting period. Reclassification of certain financial assets and liabilities may result based on changes in the observability of valuation attributes. Reclassifications are reported as transfers into and out of Level 3 at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.

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

	March 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
	Values		Values		Values		Values
	(In thousands)

ASSETS
Investments in debt and equity securities:
Securities held to maturity	$	4,365,685		4,585,620		4,176,661		4,331,077
Securities available for sale		2,156,231		2,156,231		2,050,079		2,050,079

Cash and short-term investments		51,690		51,690		108,866		108,866
Mortgage loans		108,659		108,630		98,200		97,763
Policy loans		79,294		79,294		78,336		78,336
Other loans		10,937		12,622		11,611		13,304
Derivatives		83,348		83,348		89,915		89,915
Life interest in Libbie Shearn
Moody Trust		900		12,775		981		12,775


LIABILITIES
Deferred annuity contracts	$	4,955,688		4,624,904		4,756,142		4,438,834
Immediate annuity and
supplemental contracts		472,661		465,263		465,471		450,154

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.

(11) Derivative Investments

Fixed-indexed products provide traditional fixed annuities and universal life contracts with the option to have credited interest rates linked in part to an underlying equity index or a combination of equity indices. The equity return component of such policy contracts is identified separately and accounted for in future policy benefits as embedded derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet. The remaining portions of these policy contracts are considered the host contracts and are recorded separately as fixed annuity or universal life contracts. The host contracts are accounted for under debt instrument type accounting in which future policy benefits 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.

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The Company purchases over-the-counter index options, which are derivative financial instruments, to hedge the equity return component of its fixed-indexed annuity and life products. The index options act as hedges to match closely the returns on the underlying index or indices. The amounts which may be credited to policyholders are linked, in part, to the returns of the underlying index or indices. 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 underlying index or indices performance and terms of the contract.

The Company does not elect hedge accounting relative to these derivative instruments. The index options are reported at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The changes in the values of the index options and the changes in the policyholder liabilities are both reflected in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings. Any changes relative to the embedded derivatives associated with policy contracts are reflected in contract interest in the condensed consolidated 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 condensed consolidated 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.

The table below presents the fair value of derivative instruments of March 31, 2010.

	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Balance			Balance
	Sheet		Fair	Sheet		Fair
	Location		Value	Location		Value
			(In thousands)			(In thousands)
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments under
statement 133

Equity index options	Derivatives,
	Index Options	$	83,348

				Universal Life
				and Annuity
Fixed-index products				Contracts	$	84,095

Total		$	83,348		$	84,095

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NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The table below presents the effect of derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

		Amount of Gain
		or (Loss)
		Recognized In
Derivatives Not Designated as	Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized	Income on
Hedging Instruments Under Statement 133	In Income on Derivative	Derivative
		(In thousands)

Equity index options	Net investment income	$	11,947

Fixed-index products	Universal life and annuity contract interest		(14,117	)

		$	(2,170	)

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe 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 is or may be viewed as forward-looking. Although the Company has taken 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.

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) of National Western Life Insurance Company for the three months ended March 31, 2010 follows. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes beginning on page 3 of this report.

Overview

The Company provides life insurance products on a global basis for the savings and protection needs of policyholders and annuity contracts for the asset accumulation and retirement needs of contract holders both domestically and internationally. The Company accepts funds from policyholders or contract holders and establishes a liability representing future obligations to pay the policy or contract-holders and their beneficiaries. To ensure the Company will be able to pay these future commitments, the funds received as premium payments and deposits are invested in high quality investments, primarily fixed income securities.

Due to the business of accepting funds to pay future obligations in later years and the underlying economics, the relevant factors affecting the Company’s business and profitability include the following:

Ÿ	the level of sales and premium revenues collected

Ÿ	persistency of policies and contracts

Ÿ	returns on investments sufficient to produce acceptable spread margins over interest crediting rates

Ÿ	investment credit quality which minimizes the risk of default or impairment

Ÿ	levels of policy benefits and costs to acquire business

Ÿ	the level of operating expenses

Ÿ	effect of interest rate changes on revenues and investments including asset and liability matching

Ÿ	maintaining adequate levels of capital and surplus

Ÿ	actual levels of surrenders, withdrawals, claims and interest spreads and changes in assumptions for amortization of deferred policy acquisition expenses and deferred sales inducements

Ÿ	changes in the fair value of derivative index options and embedded derivatives pertaining to fixed-indexed life and annuity products

The Company monitors these factors continually as key business indicators. The discussion that follows in this Item 2 includes these indicators and presents information useful to an overall understanding of the Company’s business performance in 2010, incorporating required disclosures in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Insurance Operations - Domestic

The Company is currently licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia except for New York. Products marketed are annuities, universal life insurance, fixed-indexed universal life, and traditional life insurance, which include both term and whole life products. The Company’s domestic sales have historically been more heavily weighted toward annuity products, which include single and flexible premium deferred annuities, single premium immediate annuities, and fixed-indexed annuities. Most of these annuities can be sold as tax qualified or nonqualified products. At March 31, 2010, the Company maintained approximately 123,000 annuity policies in force.

National Western markets and distributes its domestic products primarily through independent national marketing organizations ("NMOs"). These NMOs assist the Company in recruiting, contracting, and managing independent agents. The Company currently has approximately 8,100 independent agents contracted. Roughly 32% 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, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim. Issuing policies to residents of 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 March 31, 2010, the Company had approximately 71,300 international life insurance policies in force representing approximately $16.2 billion in face amount of coverage.

International applications are submitted by independent contractor consultants and broker-agents. The Company has approximately 3,800 independent international consultants and brokers currently contracted, 41% 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 the Company's conservative underwriting practices have historically resulted in claims experience, due to natural causes, similar to that in the United States. The Company minimizes exposure to foreign currency risks by requiring payment of premiums, claims and other benefits almost entirely in United States dollars. The Company's over forty years of experience with the international products and its longstanding independent consultant and broker-agents relationships further serve to minimize risks.

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SALES

Life Insurance

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's life insurance sales activity as measured by annualized first year premiums. While the figures shown below are in accordance with industry practice and represent the amount of new business sold during the periods indicated, they are considered a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes sales are a measure of distribution productivity and are a leading indicator of future revenue trends. However, revenues are driven by sales in prior periods as well as in the current period and therefore, a reconciliation of sales to revenues is not meaningful or determinable.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

International:
Universal life	$	1,483		1,073
Traditional life		631		1,348
Fixed-indexed life		3,454		4,266
		5,568		6,687

Domestic:
Universal life		217		232
Traditional life		28		46
Fixed-indexed life		521		500
		766		778

Totals	$	6,334		7,465

Life insurance sales as measured by annualized first year premiums declined 15% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009. Both of the Company's life insurance lines of business, international and domestic, posted decreases over the comparable results in the first quarter of 2009 with international sales 17% lower and domestic life sales down 2%.

Management has placed considerable emphasis on building domestic life insurance sales over the past several years as a strategic focus for future growth. This focus was partially in response to comments from outside rating agencies who expressed a preference for a greater proportion of overall Company earnings to derive from the life insurance line of business. The Company’s domestic operations have historically been more heavily skewed toward annuity sales than life insurance sales. The Company spent the greater part of 2003 and 2004 revamping its domestic life operations by changing the way it contracts distribution for life business, eliminating products and distribution that had not contributed significantly to earnings, and creating new and competitive products. A single premium universal life ("SPUL") product was launched at the end of 2003 beginning a diversification of the Company's product portfolio away from smaller dollar face amount policies. The Company released its first fixed equity-indexed universal life ("EIUL") product for its domestic markets at the end of 2005 and this product has subsequently accounted annually for 40% to 70% of domestic life insurance sales.

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The Company developed hybrids of the initial EIUL and SPUL products, combining features, and discontinued the marketing of smaller premium and volume life insurance policies. As a result, the Company attracted new independent distributors with access to customers purchasing larger face amounts of insurance per policy. During the latter part of 2008, the Company’s internal checking and monitoring procedures detected potential instances of rebating in certain domestic geographic markets and instituted commission caps and other preventive procedures to discourage this practice. Although not illegal in these markets, the practice of rebating is particularly prone to large face amount policies not renewing premium payments beyond the initial year of the policy. The Company’s actions discouraged sales of larger face amounts resulting in lower sales levels and amounts of insurance per policy as shown below.

	Average New Policy Face Amount
	Domestic		International

Year ended December 31, 2005		137,900		245,900
Year ended December 31, 2006		315,800		254,700
Year ended December 31, 2007		416,800		251,000
Year ended December 31, 2008		455,200		272,000
Year ended December 31, 2009		201,400		315,300
Three months ended March 31, 2010		166,800		328,100

In addition to the action taken above by the Company, the U.S. economic climate has had a significant impact upon life insurance sales industry wide. The financial burdens associated with the current climate evidenced by loss of employment, higher debt levels, a reduction in wealth through home and financial holdings declines in value, and a higher propensity to save versus spending have resulted in dramatically reduced purchases of life insurance in 2009 and thus far in 2010.

The Company's international life business consists of applications submitted from residents in various regions outside of the United States, the volume of which typically varies based upon changes in the socioeconomic climates of these regions. Historically, the Company has experienced a simultaneous combination of rising and declining sales in various countries; however, the appeal of the Company's dollar-denominated life insurance products overcomes many of the local and national difficulties. In the “Great Recession” economic climate of the past two years, individuals in countries outside of the United States have become increasingly leery of the U.S. economy and the stability of financial institutions and markets. These concerns have manifested via reduced international sales during this time period. While international life insurance sales declined during the first quarter of 2010 relative to 2009, the amount of submitted life insurance premium increased 8% with most of the increased activity occurring in the latter stages of the quarter.

Applications submitted from residents of Latin America and the Pacific Rim perennially have comprised the majority of the Company's international life insurance sales. Over the past few years, new sales efforts were directed toward the sale of a traditional endowment form of life insurance product for residents of Eastern European and the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union). However, the Company has scaled back its efforts in these areas due to profitability concerns. As noted previously, the Company’s international sales by geographic market tend to fluctuate with the socio and economic climates in these regions. The Company’s mix of international sales by geographic region is as follows.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
Percentage of International Sales:
Latin America		81.0	%		65.8	%
Pacific Rim		17.9			23.5
Eastern Europe		1.1			10.7

Totals		100.0	%		100.0	%

Year-to-date, the Company has recorded sales to residents outside of the United States in over thirty different countries with Brazil (32%), Taiwan (18%), and Venezuela (12%) making up the largest countries.

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The table below sets forth information regarding the Company's life insurance in force for each date presented.

	Insurance In Force as of March 31,
	2010		2009
	($ In thousands)
Universal life:
Number of policies		65,540		68,450
Face amounts	$	7,540,670		7,785,350

Traditional life:
Number of policies		46,540		49,020
Face amounts	$	2,424,940		2,184,620

Fixed-indexed life:
Number of policies		28,110		28,080
Face amounts	$	6,567,480		6,534,820

Rider face amounts	$	2,142,780		2,151,320

Total life insurance:
Number of policies		140,190		145,550
Face amounts	$	18,675,870		18,656,110

In addition to reduced sales levels, the economic environment of the past two years precipitated an increase in policy terminations, particularly with regard to international life products. During 2009, international policy terminations spiked during the first half of the year and eventually ended the year at an annualized rate of 13.0%. During the first quarter, the annualized lapse percentage for this block of business declined to 11.0%.

The Company’s domestic in force business includes final expense policies and other smaller face amount traditional life policies written over the past several decades. As the Company’s domestic product portfolio has changed to higher face amount universal life and fixed-indexed life policies, a decline in the traditional life in force block has been steadily occurring.

Annuities

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's annuity sales activity as measured by single and annualized first year premiums. Similar to life insurance sales, these figures are considered a non-GAAP financial measure but are shown in accordance with industry practice and depict the Company's sales productivity.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Fixed-indexed annuities	$	143,965		106,865
Other deferred annuities		114,442		44,093
Immediate annuities		5,946		5,814

Total	$	264,353		156,772

Annuity sales for the first quarter of 2010 were 69% higher than the comparable period in 2009 continuing a trend of higher sales activity that began during 2009 when the Company registered annual annuity sales of $835 million. Since 2003 when the Company achieved nearly $1.2 billion in sales, annuity sales had trended lower due to a combination of declining interest rates, investors shifting to alternative investment vehicles, and rating agency concerns regarding the percentage of new business derived from the annuity line of business. In addition, during a large portion of the past several years the interest rate yield curve has either been inverted (shorter term rates higher than longer term rates) or relatively flat. In such an interest rate environment, consumers tend toward short term investment vehicles such as bank certificates of deposits rather than longer term choices which include fixed rate annuities.

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The recessionary contraction and financial market crisis that began in the latter half of 2007 impacted many annuity carriers. Losses from investment impairments and equity exposure through variable annuity product offerings crippled the capital position of numerous insurers and limited their ability to write new business. The Company’s substantial capital position achieved through ongoing operating profitability and limited investment loss exposure positioned it to write additional levels of annuity new business. The sales increase during 2009 and in the first quarter of 2010 over the first quarter of 2009 is indicative of the Company’s enhanced competitive position in the marketplace. In addition, the Company’s rating increase to “A” (Excellent) received from A.M. Best during the second quarter of 2009 further advanced the appeal of the Company’s products in the marketplace. Management has performed analyses of the capital strain associated with incrementally higher levels of annuity new business and determined that the Company’s capital position is more than sufficient to handle increased sales activity.

The Company's mix of annuity sales tends to shift with interest rate levels and the relative performance of the equity market. Over the past several years, sales of fixed-indexed products have consistently accounted for more than one-half of all annuity sales and were 54% of annuity activity during the first three months of 2010. For all fixed-indexed products, the Company purchases over the counter options to hedge the equity return feature. The options are purchased relative to the issuance of the annuity contracts in such a manner to minimize timing risk. Generally, the index return during the indexing period (if the underlying index increases) becomes a component in a formula (set forth in the annuity), the result of which is credited as interest to contract holders electing the index formula crediting method at the beginning of the indexing period. The formula result can never be less than zero with these products. The Company does not deliberately mismatch or under hedge for the equity feature of the products. Fixed-indexed products also provide the contract holder the alternative to elect a fixed interest rate crediting option. Approximately one-half of fixed-indexed contract holders have currently elected this crediting option.

The increased level of annuity sales volume the past several years has required a greater level of asset/liability analysis. The Company monitors its asset/liability matching within the self-constraints of desired capital levels and risk tolerance. Despite the amounts of new business, the Company's capital level remains substantially above industry averages and regulator targets.

The following table sets forth information regarding annuities in force for each date presented.

	Annuities In Force as of March 31,
	2010		2009
	($ In thousands)

Fixed-indexed annuities
Number of policies		38,370		33,390
GAAP annuity reserves	$	2,118,960		2,050,431

Other deferred annuities
Number of policies		68,379		68,630
GAAP annuity reserves	$	2,299,510		2,295,391

Immediate annuities
Number of policies		16,060		14,980
GAAP annuity reserves	$	353,370		340,541

Total annuities
Number of policies		122,809		117,000
GAAP annuity reserves	$	4,771,840		4,686,363

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Impact of Recent Business Environment

In the “Great Recession” financial markets began experiencing stress during the second half of 2007 which significantly increased during 2008 and on into the first half of 2009. Volatility and disruption in the financial markets caused the availability and cost of credit to be materially affected. Consumer confidence declined in the face of depressed home prices, increasing foreclosures, and higher unemployment. Eventually, these factors precipitated a severe recession in many ways akin to the Great Depression.

This combination of economic conditions began to negatively impact our sales in 2008, particularly in the domestic life and international life segments. Although the financial markets and the economy began to show improvement in the latter half of 2009, international life insurance sales, as measured by placed annualized target premium, declined 15% from 2008 levels and domestic life insurance sales dropped 74%. Economic indicators are currently pointing toward the economy as having emerged from the trough of the recession and possibly toward a line of growth in the immediate future. The Company’s life insurance sales appear to have stabilized during the first quarter of 2010. However, high unemployment, massive Federal government budget deficits, instability in the European economic markets, and the threat of looming inflation make the prospects of future economic stability and prosperity anything but certain. Consequently, demand for our life insurance products may continue to be adversely impacted during this ongoing period of economic uncertainty. It is also uncertain what impact, if any, the current environment may have upon the incidence of claims, policy lapses, or surrenders of policies.

The economic backdrop did not have a similar influence on our annuity product sales. Annuity sales in 2009 increased 106% over the levels attained in 2008 and the pace thus far in 2010 is up significantly over 2009 levels. Several factors may explain this outcome including: (1) during uncertain economic periods, consumers follow a flight to safety toward lower risk assets such as annuity products; (2) the Company’s strong financial position, upgrade in financial strength rating from A.M. Best during the year and ample capital resources enhanced our presence in the annuity marketplace with independent distributors and end market consumers; and (3) many of the Company’s competitors incurred reductions in their capital base due to a deterioration in the quality of their investment portfolios, including investment impairments and losses, which caused them to curtail sales activity and recruitment of independent distribution. Despite the growth in annuity sales, it is unclear what effect ongoing economic challenges may have upon future business levels.

The fixed income markets, our primary investment source, have experienced a high level of turmoil and constrained market liquidity conditions. Recently, there have been some improvements in this market although the low interest rate environment and tightening of interest spreads over U.S. treasury investment rates present a different set of tests. Credit downgrades of fixed income instruments by rating agencies were fairly prevalent during the first nine months of calendar 2009 with the subsequent time period producing much less activity in this regard. Market analysts generally anticipate events of default to continue into 2010 with moderation occurring during the second half of the year. The Company has experienced minimal impairment and degradation of quality in its fixed income holdings thus far although future events may not produce the same success in this regard.

Credit spreads (difference between bond yields and risk-free interest rates) on fixed maturity securities increased markedly during 2008 given the market conditions but tightened throughout 2009 and on into 2010. While the increase in credit spreads in 2008 and early in 2009 generated higher yields making our products more attractive to consumers, the subsequent spread tightening caused investment yields to fall dramatically. The lower investment yields not only cause the Company’s products to appear less appealing to consumers but also require skillful management of the Company’s earnings margin relative minimum interest guarantee levels. It also caused us to hold a higher amount of cash and short-term investments at very low interest rates while portfolio managers searched for investment securities meeting the Company’s criteria for quality, diversification, duration and yield. The Company’s ample cash inflows from annuity sales further compounds this challenge.

Our operating strategy is to maintain capital levels substantially above regulatory and rating agency requirements. While not significant, our capital levels incurred declinations for impairment losses on investments during 2008 and 2009. Consequently, the Company maintains resources more than adequate to fund future growth and absorb abnormal periods of cash outflows.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). In addition, the Company regularly evaluates operating performance using non-GAAP financial measures which exclude or segregate derivatives and realized investment gains and losses from operating revenues and earnings. Similar measures are commonly used in the insurance industry in order to assess profitability and results from ongoing operations. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures enhances the understanding of the Company's results of operations by highlighting the results from ongoing operations and the underlying profitability factors of the Company's business. The Company excludes or segregates derivatives and realized investment gains and losses because such items are often the result of events which may or may not be at the Company's discretion and the fluctuating effects of these items could distort trends in the underlying profitability of the Company's business. Therefore, in the following sections discussing consolidated operations and segment operations, appropriate reconciliations have been included to report information management considers useful in enhancing an understanding of the Company's operations to reportable GAAP balances reflected in the consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Operations

Revenues. The following details Company revenues:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Traditional life and annuity premiums	$	3,617			4,131
Universal life and annuity contract charges		32,094			38,571
Net investment income (excluding derivatives)		90,903			83,576
Other revenues		6,152			3,594

Operating revenues		132,766			129,872
Derivative income (loss)		11,947			(12,970	)
Net realized investment losses		(429	)		(5,345	)

Total revenues	$	144,284			111,557

Traditional life and annuity premiums - Traditional life and annuity premiums decreased 12.4% in the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Traditional life insurance premiums for products such as whole life and term life are recognized as revenues over the premium-paying period. The Company’s life insurance sales focus has been primarily centered around universal life products. Universal life products, especially the Company’s equity indexed universal life products, offer the opportunity for consumers to acquire life insurance protection and receive credited interest linked in part to an outside market index such as the S&P 500 Index®.

Universal life and annuity contract revenues - Revenues for universal life and annuity contracts decreased 16.8% for the three months in 2010 compared to 2009 and consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, administration charges, and surrender charges assessed against policyholder account balances. Revenues in the form of cost of insurance charges were nearly flat at $21.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $21.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, reflective of the block of life insurance in force remaining steady at $18.7 billion. Surrender charges assessed against policyholder account balances upon withdrawal decreased to $9.6 million in the first quarter of 2010 versus $13.6 million in 2009 indicative of a slower incidence of policy withdrawals and terminations.

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Net investment income - To ensure the Company will be able to honor future commitments to policyholders and provide a financial return, the funds received as premium payments and deposits are invested in high quality investments, primarily fixed maturity debt securities. The income from these investments is closely monitored by the Company due to its significant impact on the business. A detail of net investment income (with and without derivatives) is provided below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Gross investment income:
Debt securities	$	87,641		80,740
Mortgage loans		1,889		1,859
Policy loans		1,350		1,476
Short-term investments		5		68
Other invested assets		583		414

Total investment income		91,468		84,557
Less: Investment expenses		565		981

Net investment income
(excluding derivatives)		90,903		83,576
Derivative income (loss)		11,947		(12,970	)

Net investment income	$	102,850		70,606

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, investment grade debt securities generated approximately 96% of total investment income, excluding derivatives. The growth in investment income from debt securities in the first quarter of 2010 reflects the increase in the size of the portfolio fueled by investable cash inflows from annuity sales. The decrease in short-term investment income is attributable to the very low interest rates available on money market funds during the period. Interest income earned on other investments increased during the current quarter due to new investments in collateralized loans made during the second half of 2009.

In order to assess underlying profitability and results from ongoing operations, net investment income performance is analyzed excluding derivative income (loss), which is a common practice in the insurance industry. Net investment income performance is summarized as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Excluding derivatives:
Net investment income	$	90,903			83,576
Average invested assets, at amortized cost	$	6,213,672			5,820,019
Annual yield on average invested assets		5.85	%		5.74	%

Including derivatives:
Net investment income	$	102,850			70,606
Average invested assets, at amortized cost	$	6,236,974			5,863,471
Annual yield on average invested assets		6.60	%		4.82	%

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The slightly higher yield on average invested assets in 2010 compared to 2009 is due to the higher yields obtained on new fixed maturity debt securities investments acquired during the last 12 months. During 2009, the average yield on bond purchases to fund insurance operations was 5.92% representing a 267 basis point spread over treasury rates. However, insurance operation bond purchases in the first quarter of 2010 had an average yield of 4.82% as spreads narrowed to 112 basis points over treasury rates.

Other revenues - Other revenues primarily pertain to the Company's two nursing homes operations in Reno, Nevada and San Marcos, Texas. Revenues associated with these operations were $5.5 million and $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The higher revenues in 2010 are attributable to the San Marcos location which commenced operations during the middle of calendar year 2009.

Derivative income (loss) - Index options are derivative financial instruments used to hedge the equity return component of the Company’s fixed-indexed products. Any income or loss 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.

Income and losses from index options are due to market conditions. Index options are intended to act as hedges to match the returns on the product’s underlying reference index and the rise or decline in the index relative to index level at the time of the option purchase causes option values to likewise rise or decline. The Company does not elect hedge accounting relative to these derivative instruments. While income from index options fluctuates with the underlying index, the contract interest expense to policyholder accounts for the Company’s fixed-indexed products also fluctuates in a similar manner and direction. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the reference indices increased and the Company recorded income from index options and likewise increased contract interest expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, the reference indices decreased resulting in index option losses and a decrease in contract interest expenses.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Derivatives:
Unrealized loss	$	(5,788	)		(1,365	)
Realized gain (loss)		17,735			(11,605	)

Total gain (loss) included in net investment income	$	11,947			(12,970	)

Total contract interest	$	62,701			35,265

Net realized investment losses - Realized losses on investments have primarily resulted from impairment write-downs on real estate and investments in debt securities and valuation allowances recorded on mortgage loans. The net losses reported in 2010 of $0.4 million consisted of gross gains of $0.4 million primarily from calls and sales of debt securities, offset by gross losses of $0.8 million, which includes other-than-temporary impairment losses.

The Company records impairment write-downs when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary and full recovery of the investment is not expected. Impairment write-downs are summarized in the following table.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Impairment or valuation write-downs:
Bonds	$	222		4,875
Equities		-		405
Mortgage loans		385		6
Real estate		174		-

	$	781		5,286

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The mortgage loan valuation write-down in 2010 involves a New Orleans, Louisiana property whose value was negatively impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The mortgage loan valuation write-down in 2009 relates to a property located in Steubenville, Ohio.

Benefits and Expenses. The following details benefits and expenses.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Life and other policy benefits	$	13,287		13,028
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		23,769		27,948
Universal life and annuity contract interest		62,701		35,266
Other operating expenses		17,316		12,713

Totals	$	117,073		88,955

Life and other policy benefits - Death claim benefits decreased slightly to $9.3 million during the first quarter of 2010 from $9.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009 the Company reviewed and updated its Incurred But Not Reported (“IBNR”) claims reserving assumptions. The updated estimates resulted in a reduction of approximately $2.1 million in the IBNR claims reserve component of the life and other policy benefits amount. While death claim amounts are subject to variation from period to period, the Company's mortality experience has generally been consistent with or better than its product pricing assumptions.

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs - 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 and sales inducements. The Company defers sales inducements in the form of first year interest bonuses on annuity and universal life products that are directly related to the production of new business. These charges are deferred and amortized using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize other capitalized acquisition costs and the amortization is included in contract interest. Recognition of these deferred policy acquisition costs in the financial statements occurs 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 review universal life and annuity contract 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. 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.

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs decreased by $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2009. The Company is implementing new actuarial reserving systems that enhance its ability to provide better estimates used in establishing future policy liabilities, monitor the deferred acquisition cost asset and the deferred sales asset as well as support other actuarial processes within the Company. The implementation of these new reserving systems for specific blocks of business began in the second quarter of 2009 and is expected to be completed in 2010. As the Company applies these new systems to a line of business, current reserving assumptions are reviewed and updated as appropriate. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 a correction was made to a surrender charge assumption for future years on one deferred annuity product line. This change resulted in an unlocking adjustment that increased the current period’s DPAC amortization expense by $2.7 million. As the amount of the correction was determined to have occurred over the course of multiple previous reported periods, it was concluded that the amount of the correction was immaterial to the financial results reported in any of these periods, as well as the current period.

The Company is required to periodically adjust for actual experience that varies from that assumed. True-up adjustments were recorded in the first quarter of 2010 and 2009 relative to partial surrender rates, mortality rates, credited interest rates and earned rates for the current year’s experience resulting in a $3.2 million decrease and a $0.7 million increase in amortization expense, respectively.

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Universal life and annuity contract interest - 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. As long term interest rates change, the Company's credited interest rates are often adjusted accordingly, taking into consideration the factors as described above. The difference between yields earned on investments over policy credited rates is often referred to as the "interest spread".

The Company's approximated average credited rates, excluding and including equity-indexed products, were as follows:

	March 31,						March 31,
	2010			2009			2010			2009
	(Excluding derivative products)						(Including derivative products)

Annuity		3.06	%		1.77	%		3.89	%		2.51	%
Interest sensitive life		3.19	%		2.20	%		5.62	%		3.06	%

Contract interest also includes the performance of the derivative component of the Company's equity-indexed products. As previously noted, the market performance of these derivative features increased contract interest expense for the first three months of 2010 and decreased contract interest expense in the first three months of 2009, with corresponding offsetting effects in the Company's investment income given the hedge nature of the options.

Other operating expenses - Other operating expenses consist of general administrative expenses, legal costs, licenses and fees and commissions not subject to deferral. In addition, similar to the nursing home revenues being included in other income, nursing home operation expenses are included in other operating expenses. These were $4.1 million and $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Other operating expenses include compensation costs for the Company's stock option plan as a result of marking the options and stock appreciation rights to fair value under the liability method of accounting. Compensation costs recorded in the first quarter of 2010 and 2009 were $0.7 million and $(2.2) million, respectively. The Company also increased its accrual for outstanding legal matters by $0.4 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Federal Income Taxes. Federal income taxes on earnings from continuing operations reflect effective tax rates of 32.4% and 33.5% for the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Actual rates are lower than the expected 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 for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 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:

March 31, 2010	$	305		1,341		15,073		1,968		18,687

March 31, 2009	$	2,300		1,476		13,700		1,026		18,502

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Domestic Life Insurance Operations

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)
Premiums and other revenue:
Premiums and contract charges	$	6,985		9,539
Net investment income		4,798		5,098
Other revenues		33		14

Total premiums and other revenue		11,816		14,651

Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits		3,250		3,821
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		2,740		2,355
Universal life insurance contract interest		2,462		2,272
Other operating expenses		2,913		2,730

Total benefits and expenses		11,365		11,178

Segment earnings before Federal income taxes		451		3,473

Federal income taxes		146		1,173

Segment earnings	$	305		2,300

Revenues from domestic life insurance operations include life insurance premiums on traditional type products and contract 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.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Universal life insurance revenues	$	6,447			8,695
Traditional life insurance premiums		1,942			2,172
Reinsurance premiums		(1,404	)		(1,328	)

Totals	$	6,985			9,539

Premiums collected on universal life products are not reflected as revenues in the Company's statements of earnings in accordance with GAAP. Actual domestic universal life premiums are detailed below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)
Universal life insurance:
First year and single premiums	$	3,503		2,182
Renewal premiums		5,518		5,568

Totals	$	9,021		7,750

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The Company's efforts over the past several years have been to attract new independent agents and to promote life products to improve domestic life sales. However, recent economic events continue to have an adverse effect on new life sales as the number of new applications received were lower than the prior years. However, the Company has partnered with a distributor for marketing its single premium universal life products which has resulted in an increase in premiums collected despite the lower volume of policy applications.

The decline in net investment income for this segment is attributable to the lower level of business in force. At the current sales pace, policies are terminating for death, lapse or surrender at a faster rate than new policies are being added.

Life and policy benefits for a smaller block of business are subject to variation from quarter to quarter. The Company’s overall mortality experience for this segment is in line with pricing assumptions.

As the domestic life insurance product portfolio includes an equity-indexed universal life product, the contract interest expense includes the derivative component. As previously discussed, the market performance of this derivative component increased contract interest expense in the first quarter of 2010, while decreasing it in the first quarter of 2009.

International Life Insurance Operations

The Company's international life operations have been a significant factor in the Company's overall earnings performance and represent a market niche where the Company believes it has a competitive advantage. A productive agency force has been developed given the Company's longstanding reputation for supporting its international life products coupled with the instability of competing companies in international markets.

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)
Premiums and other revenue:
Premiums and contract charges	$	24,117		26,249
Net investment income		10,322		4,058
Other revenues		65		27

Total premiums and other revenue		34,504		30,334

Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits		9,140		7,724
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		6,675		13,162
Universal life insurance contract interest		10,149		3,720
Other operating expenses		6,556		3,506

Total benefits and expenses		32,520		28,112

Segment earnings before Federal income taxes		1,984		2,222

Provision for Federal income taxes		643		746

Segment earnings	$	1,341		1,476

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Universal life insurance revenues	$	25,679			27,725
Traditional life insurance premiums		2,443			2,729
Reinsurance premiums		(4,005	)		(4,205	)

Totals	$	24,117			26,249

Premiums collected on universal life products are not reflected as revenues in the Company's statements of earnings in accordance with GAAP. Actual universal life premiums collected are detailed below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)
Universal life insurance:
First year and single premiums	$	6,596		7,601
Renewal premiums		24,575		22,346

Totals	$	31,171		29,947

The Company reported premiums for fixed-indexed universal life products of approximately $17.8 million and $15.2 million for the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively, an increase of 17%. Contract revenues increased as the amount of international life insurance in force grew from $15.8 billion as of March 31, 2009, to $16.2 billion as of March 31, 2010.

As previously noted, net investment income and contract interest include period-to-period changes in fair values pertaining to options purchased that are tied to the performance of the underlying indexes. The largest selling product in the international life insurance segment has been an equity-indexed universal life policy with the equity component linked in part to the underlying indices. With the growth in this block of business, the period-to-period changes in fair values of the underlying options can have a significant impact on net investment and contract interest. A detail of net investment income for international life insurance operations is provided below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Net investment income
(excluding derivatives)	$	8,486		7,197
Derivative income (loss)		1,836		(3,139	)

Net investment income	$	10,322		4,058

A comparable impact for the derivative component in the equity-indexed universal life product is reflected in the contract interest expense for each respective period.

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs decreased approximately 49% comparing the first three months of 2010 to the same period in 2009. True-up adjustments decreased DPAC amortization by $2.1 million for the current quarter. DPAC amortization in the first quarter of 2009 was higher due to higher lapse activity resulting from the financial market and economic conditions at that time.

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Life and other policy benefits increased $1.4 million principally due to the increase in death claims associated with the earthquake that occurred in Haiti in January 2010. After reinsurance, earthquake related claims approximated $3 million.

Annuity Operations

The Company's annuity operations are almost exclusively in the United States. Although some of the Company's 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.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)
Premiums and other revenue:
Premiums and contract charges	$	4,609		6,914
Net investment income		86,181		60,021
Other revenue		552		135

Total premiums and other revenue		91,342		67,070

Benefits and expenses:
Life and other policy benefits		897		1,483
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		14,354		12,431
Annuity contract interest		50,090		29,274
Other operating expenses		3,707		3,194

Total benefits and expenses		69,048		46,382

Segment earnings before Federal income taxes		22,294		20,688

Provision for Federal income taxes		7,221		6,988

Segment earnings	$	15,073		13,700

A comparative detail of the components of premiums and annuity contract revenues is provided below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Surrender charges	$	4,607		5,353
Payout annuity and other revenues		-		1,557
Traditional annuity premiums		2		4

Totals	$	4,609		6,914

The Company's earnings are dependent upon annuity contracts persisting or remaining in force. When premium and contract revenues decrease due to the decrease in surrender charges, the Company's investment earnings benefit as more policies remain in force.

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Deposits collected on annuity contracts are not reflected as revenues in the Company's statements of earnings in accordance with GAAP. Actual annuity deposits collected for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are detailed below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Fixed-indexed annuities	$	143,252		103,766
Other deferred annuities		112,722		47,549
Immediate annuities		5,620		5,238

Totals	$	261,594		156,553

Fixed-indexed products are more attractive for consumers when interest rate levels remain low and equity markets produce positive returns. Since the Company does not offer variable products or mutual funds, fixed-indexed products provide an important alternative to the Company's existing fixed interest rate annuity products. The recovery of the equity markets that started during 2009 and the increase in the number of contracted agents compared to the prior period were contributing factors to the 38% increase in fixed index annuity sales. Due to the Company’s strong capital and high solvency ratios, the Company was able to continue to accept new business without any constraints.

Sales of other deferred annuity products started increasing in 2009, and the trend continued into the first quarter of 2010. As a selling inducement, many of the deferred products, as well as the fixed-indexed annuity products, include a first year interest bonus ranging from 1% to 10% depending upon the product in addition to a base interest rate. These bonus rates are deferred in conjunction with other capitalized policy acquisition costs. The amount deferred and amortized over future periods amounted to approximately $8.6 million and $8.5 million during the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

A detail of net investment income for annuity operations is provided below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Net investment income
(excluding derivatives)	$	76,215		69,395
Derivative income (loss)		9,966		(9,374	)

Net investment income	$	86,181		60,021

As noted previously, derivative income and loss fluctuate from period to period based on the performance of the underlying indices and a comparable impact for the derivative component in fixed-indexed annuity products is reflected in the contract interest expense for each respective period. The growth in net investment, excluding derivatives, in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2009 is indicative of the increase in investable funds arising from the sizable upward trend in annuity sales.

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs increased approximately 15% as a result of the surrender charge correction on two deferred annuity products in the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The amount recorded in the quarter for the correction increased amortization expense by $2.7 million. In addition, true-up adjustments were recorded in the first quarter of 2010 and 2009 relative to partial surrender rates, mortality rates, credited interest rates and earned rates for the current year’s experience resulting in a $0.6 million decrease and a $0.1 million increase in amortization expense, respectively.

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands)

Fixed-indexed annuities	$	33,580			24,070
All other annuities		20,480			10,192

Gross contract interest		54,060			34,262
Bonus interest deferred and capitalized		(8,560	)		(8,479	)
Bonus interest amortization		4,590			3,491

Total contract interest	$	50,090			29,274

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. Nursing home operations generated $1.4 million and $0.1 million of operating earnings in the first quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, reflecting the commencement of operations of a second nursing home in the middle of calendar year 2009.

INVESTMENTS

General

The Company's investment philosophy emphasizes the careful 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. The Company emphasizes investment grade debt securities, with smaller holdings in mortgage loans and policy loans.

	March 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
	Carrying				Carrying
	Value		%		Value		%
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)

Debt securities	$	6,507,084		95.3		6,212,726		95.2
Mortgage loans		108,659		1.6		98,200		1.5
Policy loans		79,294		1.1		78,336		1.2
Derivatives, index options		83,348		1.3		89,915		1.4
Equity securities		14,832		0.2		14,014		0.2
Real estate		19,770		0.3		20,056		0.3
Other		12,052		0.2		12,773		0.2

Totals	$	6,825,039		100.0		6,526,020		100.0

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Debt and Equity Securities

The Company maintains a diversified portfolio which consists primarily of corporate, mortgage-backed, and public utility fixed income securities. Investments in mortgage-backed securities primarily include U.S. Government agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMO"). As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company's debt securities portfolio consisted of the following:

	March 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
	Carrying				Carrying
	Value		%		Value		%
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)

Corporate	$	3,052,885		46.9	$	2,921,425		47.0
Mortgage-backed securities		2,029,301		31.2		1,967,303		31.7
Public utilities		954,054		14.7		964,390		15.5
U.S. Government agencies		176,742		2.7		103,176		1.7
U.S. Treasury		1,914		0.0		1,916		0.0
Home equity		37,224		0.6		37,661		0.6
Manufactured housing		34,515		0.5		36,211		0.6
States & political subdivisions		199,353		3.1		159,364		2.6
Foreign governments		21,096		0.3		21,280		0.3

Totals	$	6,507,084		100.0	$	6,212,726		100.0

Because the Company's holdings of mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment and extension risk, the Company has substantially reduced these risks by investing in collateralized mortgage obligations, which have more predictable cash flow patterns than pass-through securities. These securities, known as planned amortization class I ("PAC I"), very accurately defined maturity ("VADM") and sequential tranches are designed to amortize in a more predictable manner than other CMO classes or pass-throughs. The Company does not purchase tranches, such as PAC II and support tranches, that subject the portfolio to greater than average prepayment risk. Using this strategy, the Company can more effectively manage and reduce prepayment and extension risks, thereby helping to maintain the appropriate matching of the Company's assets and liabilities.

The Company holds approximately $71.7 million in asset-backed securities at March 31, 2010. This portfolio includes $34.5 million of manufactured housing bonds and $37.2 million of home equity loans (also referred to as subprime securities). The Company does not have any holdings in collateralized bond obligations (CBOs), collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), or collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Principal risks in holding asset-backed securities are structural, credit, and capital market risks. Structural risks include the securities’ priority in the issuer’s capital structure, the adequacy of and ability to realize proceeds from collateral and the potential for prepayments. Credit risks include corporate credit risks or consumer credit risks for financing such as subprime mortgages. Capital market risks include the general level of interest rates and the liquidity for these securities in the marketplace.

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The mortgage-backed portfolio includes one Alt-A security with a carrying value of $3.8 million. The Alt-A sector is a sub-sector of the jumbo prime MBS sector. The average FICO for an Alt-A borrower is approximately 715 compared to a score of 730 for a jumbo prime borrower. The Company’s exposure to the Alt-A and subprime sectors is limited to investments in the senior tranches of structured securities collateralized by Alt-A or subprime residential mortgage loans. The asset-backed portfolio includes thirteen subprime securities, totaling $37.2 million. As of March 31, 2010, nine of the subprime securities were rated AAA, one was rated AA and three were rated CC. The subprime sector is generally categorized under the asset-backed sector. This sector lends to borrowers who do not qualify for prime interest rates due to poor or insufficient credit history. Subprime borrowers generally have FICO scores of 660 or below. The slowing housing market, rising interest rates, and relaxed underwriting standards for loans originated after 2005 resulted in higher delinquency rates and losses beginning in 2007. These events caused illiquidity in the market and volatility in the market prices of subprime securities. All of the loans classified as Alt-A or subprime in the Company’s portfolio as of March 31, 2010 were underwritten prior to 2005 as noted in the table below.

Investment	March 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
Origination Year	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
	(In thousands)

Subprime:
1998	$	10,504		8,402		10,776		8,467
2002		480		526		469		469
2003		4,502		4,163		4,608		3,664
2004		21,739		20,701		21,808		19,404

Subtotal subprime	$	37,225		33,792		37,661		32,004

Alt A:
2004	$	3,828		3,828		3,626		3,626

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 with 97.6% held in investment grade securities. In the table below, investments in debt securities are classified according to credit ratings by Standard and Poor's ("S&P®"), or other nationally recognized statistical rating organizations if securities were not rated by S&P®.

	March 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
	Carrying				Carrying
	Value		%		Value		%
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)

AAA and U.S. Government	$	2,341,859		36.0		2,183,561		35.2
AA		405,795		6.2		360,634		5.8
A		1,487,001		22.9		1,461,055		23.5
BBB		2,114,118		32.5		2,052,193		33.0
BB and other below investment grade		158,311		2.4		155,283		2.5

Totals	$	6,507,084		100.0		6,212,726		100.0

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The Company does not purchase below investment grade securities. Investments held in debt securities below investment grade are the result of subsequent downgrades of the securities. These holdings are summarized below.

	Below Investment Grade Debt Securities
							% of
	Amortized		Carrying		Fair		Invested
	Cost		Value		Value		Assets
	(In thousands, except percentages)

March 31, 2010	$	153,938		158,311		147,825		2.3	%

December 31, 2009	$	155,110		155,283		141,895		2.4	%

December 31, 2008	$	84,229		72,154		67,375		1.2	%

The Company's percentage of below investment grade securities compared to total invested assets decreased from December 31, 2009 primarily due to one security being sold during the first quarter. The Company's holdings of below investment grade securities as a percentage of total invested assets is relatively small compared to industry averages.

Holdings in below investment grade securities by category as of March 31, 2010 are summarized below, including March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 fair values for comparison. The Company is continually monitoring developments in these industries that may affect security valuation issues.

	Below Investment Grade Debt Securities
	Amortized		Carrying		Fair		Fair
	Cost		Value		Value		Value
	March 31,		March 31,		March 31,		December 31,
Industry Category	2010		2010		2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Retail	$	19,199		21,702		21,702		19,223
Telecommunications		6,319		10,575		10,575		10,600
Home equity		6,970		6,970		5,293		5,193
Manufactured housing		7,172		7,687		7,238		7,428
Mortgage-backed		9,804		7,956		7,956		6,705
Banking/finance		58,994		58,595		50,559		47,268
Manufacturing		32,051		32,457		32,132		31,306
Transportation		1,635		1,903		1,903		1,718
Other		11,794		10,466		10,467		10,175

Totals	$	153,938		158,311		147,825		139,616

The Company closely monitors its below investment grade holdings by reviewing investment performance indicators, including information such as issuer operating performance, debt ratings, analyst reports and other economic factors that may affect these specific investments. While additional losses are not currently anticipated, based on the existing status and condition of these securities, continued credit deterioration of some securities or the markets in general is possible, which may result in further write-downs.

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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 as to which category 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 March 31, 2010, approximately 32% 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
	(In thousands)
Securities held to maturity:
Debt securities	$	4,585,620		4,365,685		219,935
Securities available for sale:
Debt securities		2,141,399		2,032,098		109,301
Equity securities		14,832		6,044		8,788

Totals	$	6,741,851		6,403,827		338,024

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company recorded other-than-temporary impairment write-downs totaling $0.2 million pertaining to asset-backed securities whose discounted cash flows and fair values were less than the current amortized cost basis.

Mortgage Loans and Real Estate

The Company held net investments in mortgage loans totaling $108.7 million and $98.2 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The diversification of the portfolio by geographic region and by property type was as follows:

	March, 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
Geographic Region:	Amount		%		Amount		%
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)

West South Central	$	57,609		53.0	$	57,238		58.3
Mountain		21,842		20.1		22,007		22.4
East North Central		10,634		9.8		10,686		10.9
Middle Atlantic		7,030		6.5		2,359		2.4
East South Central		5,517		5.1		-		-
South Atlantic		3,745		3.4		3,570		3.6
Pacific		2,282		2.1		2,340		2.4

Totals	$	108,659		100.0	$	98,200		100.0

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	March, 31, 2010				December 31, 2009
Property Type:	Amount		%		Amount		%
	(In thousands)				(In thousands)

Retail	$	60,306		55.5	$	63,928		65.1
Hotel/Motel		19,896		18.3		19,996		20.4
Apartments		6,172		5.7		6,167		6.3
Office		11,651		10.7		5,634		5.7
Land/Lots		10,632		9.8		2,473		2.5
All other		2		-		2		-

Totals	$	108,659		100.0	$	98,200		100.0

All loans within the portfolio are analyzed regularly in order to monitor the financial quality of these assets. Based on ongoing monitoring, mortgage loans with a likelihood of becoming delinquent are identified and placed on an internal “watch list”. Among the criteria that would indicate a potential problem are: major tenant vacancies or bankruptcies, late payments, and loan relief/restructuring requests. The mortgage loan portfolio is analyzed for the need for a valuation allowance on any loan that is on the internal watch list, in the process of foreclosure or that currently has a valuation allowance.

Mortgage loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to contractual terms of the loan agreement. When it is determined that a loan is impaired, a loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying amount of the mortgage loan and the estimated value reduced by the cost to sell. Estimated value is typically based on the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral less cost to sell. Impairments and changes in the valuation allowance are reported in net realized investment gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of earnings.

The following table represents the mortgage loan allowance for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009:

	March 31,		December 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)

Balance, beginning of period	$	5,033		4,587
Provision		385		1,461
Releases		-		(1,015	)

Balance, end of period	$	5,418		5,033

The mortgage loan provision in the quarter ended March 31, 2010 pertains to a property in New Orleans, Louisiana whose value was negatively affected by Hurricane Katrina.

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.

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

	March 31,			December 31,
	2010			2009
	(In thousands, except percentages)

Debt securities - fair value	$	6,727,019			6,367,142
Debt securities - amortized cost	$	6,397,783			6,138,073
Fair value as a percentage of amortized cost		105.2	%		103.7	%
Unrealized gain balance	$	329,236			229,069
Ten-year U.S. Treasury bond – increase
in yield for the period		0.44	%		1.09	%

	Unrealized Gain Balance
	At		At		Change in
	March 31,		December 31,		Unrealized
	2010		2009		Balance
	(In thousands)

Debt securities held to maturity	$	219,935		154,416		65,519
Debt securities available for sale		109,301		74,653		34,648

Totals	$	329,236		229,069		100,167

Changes in interest rates typically have a sizable effect on the fair values of the Company's debt securities. Although market interest rates of the ten-year U.S. Treasury bond increased approximately 44 basis points from year-end 2009, the spread between corporate bond and treasury securities contracted approximately 100 basis points in the first quarter of 2010 causing an unrealized gain of $100.2 million during the quarter on a portfolio of approximately $6.4 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 consolidated balance sheet.

The Company manages interest rate risk through ongoing 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 Company performed detailed sensitivity analysis as of December 31, 2009, for its interest rate-sensitive assets and liabilities. The changes in market values of the Company's debt securities in the first quarter of 2010 were reasonable given the expected range of results of this analysis.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity

Liquidity requirements are met primarily by funds provided from operations. Premium deposits and annuity considerations, investment income, and investment maturities and prepayments are the primary sources of funds while investment purchases, policy benefits in the form of claims, and payments to policyholders and contract holders in connection with surrenders and withdrawals as well as operating expenses are the primary uses of funds. To ensure the Company will be able to pay future commitments, the funds received as premium payments and deposits are invested in high quality investments, primarily fixed income securities. Funds are invested with the intent that the income from investments, plus proceeds from maturities, will meet the ongoing cash flow needs of the Company. The approach of matching asset and liability durations and yields requires an appropriate mix of investments. 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 $40 million on its bank line of credit for short-term cash needs.

A primary liquidity concern for life insurers 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.

The actual amounts paid by product line in connection with surrenders and withdrawals for the periods ended March 31 are noted in the table below.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2010		2009
	(In thousands)
Product Line:
Traditional Life	$	899		1,279
Universal Life		10,729		15,865
Annuities		84,680		97,153

Total	$	96,308		114,297

The above contractual withdrawals, as well as the level of surrenders experienced, were generally consistent with the Company's assumptions in asset/liability management, and the associated cash outflows did not have an adverse impact on overall liquidity. Individual life insurance policies are less susceptible to withdrawal than annuity reserves and deposit liabilities because policyholders may incur surrender charges and undergo a new underwriting process in order to obtain a new insurance policy. Cash flow projections and 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 more than adequate to meet the demand for funds.

In the past, cash flows from the Company's insurance operations have been sufficient to meet current needs. Cash flows from operating activities were $76.4 million and $40.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company also has significant cash flows from both scheduled and unscheduled investment security maturities, redemptions, and prepayments. These cash flows totaled $240.1 million and $349.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These cash flow items could be reduced if interest rates rise. Net cash flows from the Company's universal life and investment annuity deposit product operations totaled $123.4 million and $20.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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. As of March 31, 2010, the Company had no commitments beyond its normal operating and investment activities.

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OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

It is not Company practice to enter into off-balance sheet arrangements or to issue guarantees to third parties, other than in the normal course of issuing insurance contracts. Commitments related to insurance products sold are reflected as liabilities for future policy benefits. Insurance contracts guarantee certain performances by the Company.

Insurance reserves are the means by which life insurance companies determine the liabilities that must be established to assure that future policy benefits are provided for and can be paid. These reserves are required by law and based upon standard actuarial methodologies to ensure fulfillment of commitments guaranteed to policyholders and their beneficiaries, even though the obligations may not be due for many years. Refer to Note (1) in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for a discussion of reserving methods.

The table below summarizes future estimated cash payments under existing contractual obligations.

	Payment Due by Period
			Less Than			1 - 3		3 - 5	More Than
	Total		1 Year		Years		Years		5 Years
	(In thousands)

Life claims payable (1)	$	61,176		61,176		-		-		-
Other long-term reserve liabilities
reflected on the balance sheet
under GAAP (2)		530,763		114,072		180,035		86,315		150,341

Total	$	591,939		175,248		180,035		86,315		150,341

(1) Life claims payable include benefit and claim liabilities for which the Company believes the amount and timing of the payment is essentially fixed and determinable. Such amounts generally relate to incurred and reported death and critical illness claims including an estimate of claims incurred but not reported.

(2) Other long-term liabilities include estimated life and annuity obligations related to death claims, policy surrenders, policy withdrawals, maturities and annuity payments based on mortality, lapse, annuitization, and withdrawal assumptions consistent with the Company’s historical experience. These estimated life and annuity obligations are undiscounted projected cash outflows that assume interest crediting and market growth consistent with assumptions used in amortizing deferred acquisition costs. They do not include any offsets for future premiums or deposits. Other long-term liabilities also include determinable payout patterns related to immediate annuities. In contrast to this table, the majority of the Company’s liabilities for future obligations recorded on the consolidated balance sheet do not incorporate future credited interest and market growth. Therefore, the estimated life and annuity obligations presented in this table significantly exceed the life and annuity liabilities recorded in the reserves for future life and annuity obligations. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the actual cash outflows will differ both in amount and timing, possibly materially, from these estimates.

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Changes in Accounting Principles

Refer to Note 1 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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REGULATORY AND OTHER ISSUES

Statutory Accounting Practices

Regulations that affect the Company and the insurance industry are often the result of efforts by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"). 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 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.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES

ABOUT MARKET RISK

This information is included in Item 2, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in the Investments in Debt and Equity Securities section.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing, and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act.

There have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting. As part of the Company’s implementation of a new general ledger and financial reporting system, management implemented certain transitional controls during the first quarter to validate the accuracy and propriety of data used to report financial results for the period. It is expected that additional controls will be implemented in future reporting periods as the Company fully migrates to the new general ledger and financial reporting system and integrates it into the Company’s financial reporting process.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Refer to Note 8(A) "Legal Proceedings" of the accompanying financial statements included in this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no changes relative to the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Effective August 22, 2008, the Company adopted and implemented a limited stock buy-back program associated with the Company's 2008 Incentive Plan which provides Option Holders the additional alternative of selling shares acquired through the exercise of options directly back to the Company. This program succeeded a similar buy-back program implemented March 10, 2006 associated with the Company’s 1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. Option Holders may elect to sell such acquired shares back to the Company at any time within ninety (90) days after the exercise of options at the prevailing market price as of the date of notice of election.

During March 2010, 260 shares were purchased from option holders at an average price $193.86. Purchased shares are reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as authorized and unissued.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

Exhibit 10(co)	-	Amended National Western Life Insurance Company Pension Plan, effective January 1, 2008.

Exhibit 31(a)	-	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 31(b)	-	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 32(a)	-	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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: May 17, 2010			/S/ Ross R. Moody
			Ross R. Moody
			President, Chief Operating Officer,
			and Director
			(Authorized Officer)




Date: May 17, 2010			/S/ Brian M. Pribyl
			Brian M. Pribyl
			Senior Vice President,
			Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
			(Principal Financial Officer)




Date: May 17, 2010			/S/ Michael G. Kean
			Michael G. Kean
			Vice President,
			Controller and Assistant Treasurer
			(Principal Accounting Officer)