Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Insurance - Life / FBL Financial Group Inc.

FBL Financial Group Inc.

ffg · NYSE Financial Services
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Ticker ffg
Exchange NYSE
Sector Financial Services
Industry Insurance - Life
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2014 Annual Report · FBL Financial Group Inc.
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2014 Annual Report

“We continue to grow a profitiable book of business – balanced  

  between life insurance and annuity business, control expenses and 

  maintain a strong capital position.”

  Jim Brannen, Chief Executive Officer

Letter To Shareholders

FBL Financial Group delivered excellent financial results again in 2014. For the second consecutive year, we reported 
record net income per share and record operating income per share. We continue to grow a profitable book of 
business – balanced between life insurance and annuity business. We have a focus on expense control and maintain a 
strong capital position. 

Each and every day the people of FBL Financial Group keep our promises to the many people who count on us. Our 
goal is to protect livelihoods and futures while making insurance simple. We serve our Farm Bureau market niche, and 
with that focus, we expect to achieve outstanding financial results for our shareholders.       

FBL’s net income increased to $110 million, or $4.39 per share for 2014. Operating income increased 9.5% to $4.27 
per share. Both were record highs. FBL’s regular quarterly dividend was raised significantly in 2014 to $0.35 per share 
and again in 2015 to $0.40 per share. And in 2015 we recently paid a $2.00 per share special dividend. FBL’s stock 
price increased 30% in 2014, reaching a succession of new all-time highs in the fourth quarter. Combining dividends 
and the significant increase in stock price, the total return for the shareholders was an impressive 33.5% for the 
year. We closed the year with a very strong capital position and ample excess capital. This financial strength was 
recognized by A.M. Best in December, with a ratings upgrade to “A” Excellent. 

We made significant strides this year to grow and further develop our agency force. This is the first full year that 
our improved training, compensation and retention program has been in place. The cornerstone of this strategy, the 
reserve agent program, built momentum allowing for further growth in 2015. Our multiline exclusive agency force is 
one of our most important competitive advantages, along with an industry-leading cross-sell rate, deep knowledge of 
the agricultural market and a trusted, loyal brand following.  

A new year brings more opportunities to protect livelihoods and futures, as we serve our policyholders and maintain 
FBL’s strong financial foundation. We’ve been diligent and successful in achieving our financial targets during this 
challenging low interest rate environment.  I’m extremely proud of our employees and agents, and pleased with FBL’s 
2014 results. I look forward to the opportunities before us in 2015, and thank you again for sharing our commitment to 
growth and success.

Sincerely, 

James P. Brannen
Chief Executive Officer

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2014 Annual Report

“2014 was a year of success for FBL Financial Group in which we 

delivered strong financial results and achieved new highs in operating 

income per share and net income per share.”

  Don Seibel, Chief Financial Officer

Financial Review

2014 was a year of success for FBL Financial Group. We delivered strong financial results and achieved new highs 

in operating income per share and net income per share. We accomplished this by growing our business and 

actively managing spreads and expenses. At the same time we returned more than $50 million to shareholders 

through dividends and common stock repurchases. 

We have ample excess capital and recently increased our regular quarterly cash dividend 14% to $0.40 per share 

and paid a $2.00 per share special dividend.

As we move forward in 2015, we continue to address the challenges of the low interest rate environment and 

further build on FBL’s strong financial foundation. 

Some of our more significant financial metrics are highlighted in the following charts. In addition, our Form 10-K 

contains more detailed information.

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2014 Annual Report

Net Income per common share

Record net income per share was achieved in 2014, 

reflecting steady and consistent growth from  

Farm Bureau Life. 

Operating Income per common share

Operating income grew in 2014 to an all-time high of 

$107 million, or $4.27 per share, reflecting growth 

in the volume of business, active management of 

spreads, higher investment fee income and favorable 

mortality experience.

Capitalization

FBL’s total capitalization is $1.3 billion. Farm Bureau Life consistently generates excess capital, and FBL’s total excess 

capital is estimated to be $230 million at year end 2014. 

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Statutory Capital

Farm Bureau Life’s capital position remains very strong. 

The company action level risk based capital, or RBC*, 

ended 2014 at 545%. The increase in 2014 reflects 

strong earnings growth partially offset by a $45 million 

dividend paid from Farm Bureau Life to the parent 

company. 

Book Value per common share

FBL’s book value grew by 20.2% in 2014 to $50.57. 

Excluding AOCI, book value per share grew by 7.6%. 

Investments By Type

At December 31, 2014, FBL’s investments totaled  

$7.7 billion and are well diversified by individual issue 

and industry.

Investments By Quality

FBL’s investment portfolio quality is high with 96.4% of 

the fixed maturity securities being investment grade. 

2014 Annual Report

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Management & Directors
Senior Management

2014 Annual Report

James P. Brannen
Chief Executive Officer
James P. (Jim) Brannen was named Chief Executive Officer of FBL Financial Group, Inc. in 
August, 2012. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Brannen served as Chief 
Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Treasurer since 2007. He joined FBL in 1991, 
and held various positions in finance and executive management. Prior to joining FBL, Brannen 
worked in public accounting. 

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Brannen is a certified public accountant and a member of 
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Iowa Society of Certified Public 
Accountants. Brannen is active in civic and industry organizations, currently serving on the 
board of directors of United Way of Central Iowa, as vice-chair of the board for The Greater Des 
Moines Partnership and as a member of the Greater Des Moines Committee. He also serves 
as president of the Federation of Iowa Insurers and as a member of the Property Casualty 
Insurance Association of America (PCI) Board of Governors.

Donald J. Seibel
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Donald J. (Don) Seibel was named Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in August, 2012. 
Prior to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Seibel served on the 
executive management team as Vice President – Finance since 2007. Seibel joined FBL in 
1996 and became GAAP accounting vice president in 1998 and vice president-accounting in 
2002. Prior to joining FBL, Seibel worked in public accounting. 

Seibel holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Iowa State University, is a certified 
public accountant and chartered global management accountant, a member of the 
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Iowa Society of Certified Public 
Accountants, and holds the Fellow Life Office Management Institute (FLMI) certification. 
Seibel is also active in civic and industry organizations, currently serving as past president 
of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and on the board of directors of Variety - 
The Children’s Charity.

Daniel Greteman
Chief Information Officer 
Daniel Greteman was named Chief Information Officer of FBL Financial Group in January, 
2015. Greteman has more than 27 years of experience in leading and providing information 
technology solutions for a variety of businesses in the insurance and communications 
industries. Prior to joining FBL, Greteman held management positions at Nationwide, most 
recently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Allied Group 
Information Technology (AGIT). Prior to Nationwide, Greteman was a partner at Accenture, a 
global management consulting, technology services & outsourcing company.

Greteman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Iowa State 
University. He is an executive board member and secretary of the Technology Association of 
Iowa and is a board member for Living History Farms, an open-air museum with a mission 
to educate and demonstrate 300 years of Iowa’s agricultural history.

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2014 Annual Report

Charles T. Happel
Chief Investment Officer
Charles T. (Charlie) Happel is Chief Investment Officer of FBL Financial Group. He joined the 
company in 1984 as a Farm Bureau Financial Services agent, moving to the corporate office 
in 1986. Over the next 15 years, he held various positions in investments, including securities 
analyst and portfolio manager. Happel became securities vice president in 2001, vice president 
- investments in August 2008, and was named chief investment officer in September 2009.

Happel is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and earned an MBA from Drake 
University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder and holds a number of 
industry designations, including CFP, FLMI, ChFC, CLU, and CPCU. He is also a member of the 
CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Iowa.

David A. McNeill
General Counsel
David A. McNeill, General Counsel of FBL Financial Group, joined the company in 1989. He 
held various positions in the legal department before being named to his current position in 
2009. Prior to joining FBL, McNeill was in private practice as an attorney in the Springfield, 
Mo. law firm of Miller & Sanford (now part of Lathrop & Gage) and later, the Des Moines 
law firm of Davis, Hockenberg, Wine, Brown, Koehn & Shors (now the Davis Brown Law 
Firm). 

McNeill received his Juris Doctorate degree, with honors, from Drake University Law 
School and his bachelor’s degree from Simpson College. McNeill is a director and serves as 
Secretary and Vice Chair of the Kansas Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association.

Daniel D. Pitcher
Chief Operating Officer – Property Casualty Companies 
Daniel D. (Dan) Pitcher is Chief Operating Officer – Property Casualty Companies of FBL 
Financial Group. Prior to his current position, he served as vice president, property/casualty 
companies from 2007 to 2011. Pitcher joined FBL in 1998 and held various information 
system roles including as information systems vice president in 2002. 

Prior to joining FBL, Pitcher spent 15 years with Nationwide/Allied Insurance in various 
life and property casualty information systems roles. Pitcher holds a bachelor’s degree 
in business administration from Drake University, and holds the Fellow Life Office 
Management Institute (FLMI) certification.

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2014 Annual Report

Scott Stice
Chief Marketing Officer
Scott Stice was named Chief Marketing Officer of FBL Financial Group, Inc. in June 2013. 
Stice has overall responsibility for sales, marketing and distribution for the company’s brand, 
Farm Bureau Financial Services, and its multiline exclusive agency force.

Prior to joining FBL, Stice was senior vice president and head of field strategy and execution 
at Farmers Insurance. Stice began his insurance career with Farmers as an exclusive agent in 
1990, and held various agency, marketing and field operations positions. Stice holds a BS in 
Business Management and Administration from the University of Redlands, and he earned an 
MBA from Pepperdine University. Stice serves on the board of directors and on the executive 
committee of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa (JACI).

Raymond W. Wasilewski
Chief Operating Officer – Life Companies 
Raymond W. (Ray) Wasilewski was named Chief Operating Officer – Life Companies of 
FBL Financial Group in July 2014. Wasilewski most recently served as Chief Administrative 
Officer, responsible for Information Technology, Human Resources and Agency Services. 
Since joining the companies in 1997, Wasilewski held various roles in information technology 
throughout the enterprise. 

Wasilewski holds a bachelor’s degree in vocational education from Southern Illinois 
University and a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Nova 
Southeastern University. Before joining FBL Financial Group, he was a consultant, a 
commercial software designer, a computer science and electronics instructor at Alaska 
Junior College, and he served in the U.S. Navy for 17 years in the cryptography field. 
Wasilewski serves on the board of the Global Insurance Accelerator.

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Management & Directors
Board of Directors

2014 Annual Report

Craig D. Hill
Chairman
Craig D. Hill, Chairman of the Board and chair of the Executive Committee, has been a Class 
B Director since 2007 and previously from 2002 to 2004. He was elected President of the 
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and its subsidiary, Farm Bureau Management Corporation, in 
December 2011 and has served on its board of directors since 1989. He was its Vice President 
from 2001 to 2011. He served on the board of Farm Bureau Life from 1989 to 2007, and again 
from December 2011 when he also became its President. He has been on the board of Farm 
Bureau Property & Casualty since 1989, and also serves on the board of Western Ag. Hill is 
also a director of the American Farm Bureau Federation and FB BanCorp. Hill farms 1,000 
acres of row crops and has a swine operation near Milo, Iowa.

Jerry L. Chicoine
Vice Chairman
Jerry L. Chicoine, Class A Director since 1996, is Lead Independent Director and Vice 
Chairman of the Board. He retired effective January 1, 2001 as Chairman and Chief 
Executive Officer of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. He had served in those capacities 
since 1999, and was Pioneer’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 
1997. From 1988 to 1997 he had served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. 
He was named a director of Pioneer Hi-Bred in March 1998. He was named Outstanding 
CPA in Business and Industry by the Iowa Society of CPAs in 1998. He was a partner in the 
accounting firm of McGladrey & Pullen from 1969 to 1986, and also holds a law degree.

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2014 Annual Report

James P. Brannen
James P. (Jim) Brannen was named Chief Executive Officer of FBL Financial Group, Inc. in 
August, 2012. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Brannen served as Chief 
Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Treasurer since 2007. He joined FBL in 
1991, and held various positions in finance and executive management. Prior to joining FBL, 
Brannen worked in public accounting. 

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Brannen is a certified public accountant and a member 
of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Iowa Society of Certified 
Public Accountants. Brannen is active in civic and industry organizations, currently serving 
on the board of directors of United Way of Central Iowa, as vice-chair of the board for The 
Greater Des Moines Partnership and as a member of the Greater Des Moines Committee. 
He also serves as president of the Federation of Iowa Insurers and as a member of the 
Property Casualty Insurance Association of America (PCI) Board of Governors.

Roger K. Brooks
Roger K. Brooks, Class A Director since 2009, is the retired Chief Executive Officer and 
Chairman of AmerUs Group. He retired from AmerUs in 2005, after nearly 50 years of service. 
Brooks has served on numerous community boards and is a member of the Iowa Insurance 
Hall of Fame and Iowa Business Hall of Fame. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. 
Brooks graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the 
University of Iowa. He also participated in Stanford University’s Executive Program.

Richard W. Felts
Richard Felts is President of the Kansas Farm Bureau and is a director of Farm Bureau Life 
and Farm Bureau Property & Casualty. He farms near Liberty, Kansas and is a partner in 
Felts Farms, a diversified grain and livestock operation. Felts earned a bachelor’s degree in 
agriculture and animal science from Kansas State University.

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2014 Annual Report

Joe D. Heinrich
Joe Heinrich, Class B Director since 2013, was elected Vice President of the Iowa Farm 
Bureau Federation in 2011 and to its board of directors in 2004. He is a director of Farm 
Bureau Life, Farm Bureau Property & Casualty and Western Ag, and a member of the board 
of managers of 5400 Holdings, LLC. Heinrich and his family farm with his nephew. Together, 
they have a diversified operation including corn, soybeans, oats and hay, plus a beef cow-
calf herd and a dairy operation

Paul E. Larson
Paul E. Larson, Class A Director since 2004, retired in 1999 as President of Equitable Life 
of Iowa and its subsidiary, USG Annuity and Life, after 22 years with the companies. Larson 
holds both a law degree and a certified public accountant designation. He was named 
Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry by the Iowa Society of CPAs in 1999, and 
inducted into the American Institute of CPA’s Business and Industry Hall of Fame in 2000. 
He is a member of the board of directors of non-public companies Wellmark, Inc., Wellmark 
of South Dakota, Inc., GuideOne Mutual Insurance Company and GuideOne Specialty 
Mutual Insurance Company. He was also a board member of EquiTrust Mutual Funds (which 
was then managed by one of our subsidiaries), where he was chair of the Audit Committee 
and the committee’s financial expert. He resigned from the EquiTrust Mutual Funds board 
upon election to our Board in 2004.

Frank S. Priestley
Frank S. Priestley, Class B Director since 2013 and previously from 1998 to 2004, owns 
and operates a farm in Franklin, Idaho. He raises alfalfa, hay, wheat, barley, pasture and 
Holstein dairy heifers. He was elected President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation in 
1997, having first been elected to the Board of Directors of Idaho Farm Bureau Federation 
in 1985. He is President and a director of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Idaho 
and Farm Bureau Finance Company (Idaho), and a director of Farm Bureau Life. He is also a 
director of FB BanCorp, American Agricultural Insurance Company, American Farm Bureau 
Insurance Services and The Mountain States Legal Foundation. He previously served on the 
Board of Directors of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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2014 Annual Report

Kevin G. Rogers
Kevin Rogers, Class B Director since 2008, has served as President of the Arizona Farm 
Bureau Federation since 2003. He also served on the board of the American Farm Bureau 
Federation and its executive committee for six years through 2010. He is a director of FB 
BanCorp. He is an officer of the Arizona Cotton Grower’s Association and serves on the board 
of the National Cotton Council, the USDA’s Cotton Board (chairman) and is on the USDA’s Air 
Quality Task Force. Rogers is chair of the Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance and 
Western Agricultural boards of directors, and a director of Farm Bureau Life Insurance. His 
family farms 7,000 acres in the Phoenix metropolitan area and produces cotton, alfalfa, wheat, 
barley and corn.

Scott E. VanderWal
Scott E. VanderWal, Class B Director since 2011, has been president of the South Dakota 
Farm Bureau Federation since 2004, and a member of its board of directors since 1997. 
He is also a member of the boards of directors of Farm Bureau Property & Casualty 
(since 2004), Farm Bureau Life (since 2004), Western Ag (since 2006), FB BanCorp (since 
2004) and American Farm Bureau Federation (since2006), and member of a number of 
American Farm Bureau task forces. VanderWal received a bachelor’s degree in General 
Agriculture, with a Plant Science minor, from South Dakota State University in 1985. His 
family farm operation near Volga, SD includes corn, soybeans, custom cattle feeding and 
custom harvesting. VanderWal does the overall financial management, accounting, crop 
management and planning for the farm operation. He has also traveled to Brazil, China, 
Switzerland, Cuba, Panama and Colombia on agriculture trade and marketing trips.

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2014 Annual Report

Company Profile
FBL Financial Group is a holding company whose purpose is to protect livelihoods and futures. Its primary 
operating subsidiary, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, underwrites and markets a broad range of life 
insurance and annuities to individuals and businesses, which are distributed by multiline exclusive Farm Bureau 
agents. In addition, FBL Financial Group manages all aspects of two Farm Bureau affiliated property-casualty 
insurance companies for a management fee. FBL Financial Group, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, is 
traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FFG.  

Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company

Greenfields Life Insurance Company

Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company
Western Agricultural Insurance Company

FBL Financial Group’s Farm Bureau Life 
Insurance Company subsidiary has 1,795 
exclusive agents and managers in 14 
Midwestern and Western states. Farm 
Bureau Life, which originated in 1945, 
serves the niche marketplace of Farm 
Bureau members with a comprehensive 
line of life insurance and annuity products.

Greenfields Life Insurance Company is a 
subsidiary of Farm Bureau Life Insurance 
Company and was created in 2013 to offer 
life insurance and annuity products in the 
state of Colorado. 

FBL Financial Group manages all aspects of 
two Farm Bureau affiliated property-casualty 
insurance companies: Farm Bureau Property 
& Casualty Insurance Company and Western 
Agricultural Insurance Company, which operate 
predominantly in eight states. FBL Financial 
Group receives a management fee from these 
companies and underwriting results do not 
impact FBL Financial Group’s results. 

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Shareholder Information

Corporate Headquarters

FBL Financial Group, Inc.
5400 University Avenue
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
(515) 225-5400
www.fblfinancial.com

Stock Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
866-892-5627
www.amstock.com

Financial and Investor Inquiries

Independent Auditors

Ernst & Young LLP
Suite 3000
801 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Form 10-K and Proxy Statement 

View FBL Financial Group’s Form 10-K 
and Proxy Statement by visiting
www.fblfinancial.com and selecting 
Financial Information, SEC Filings.

Anyone interested in learning more about FBL Financial Group can ask questions and/or request news releases, annual reports, 
financial supplements, and Forms 10-K and 10-Q at no charge by completing our Document Request Form for printed materials 
or our Contact Us Form for questions or comments. Direct mail inquires should be forwarded to:

Kathleen Till Stange
Vice President  Corporate & Investor Relations 
FBL Financial Group, Inc.
5400 University Avenue
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
(515) 226-6780
email: Kathleen.TillStange@FBLFinancial.com

Direct Stock Purchase Plan 

You can purchase FBL Financial Group Class A common stock through our stock transfer agent, American Stock Transfer. To find 
out more, purchase stock or manage your existing account, call 866-892-5627 or visit www.amstock.com. 

Forward Looking Statements

Statements concerning FBL Financial Group’s prospects for the future are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for 
the “safe harbor” from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. This includes statements on this 
website, statements contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and statements made by 
officers of the Company in oral discussions. These statements generally can be identified by their context, including terms such 
as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” or similar words. 

These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those 
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties are detailed in FBL Financial Group’s 
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include, but are not limited to, difficult conditions in financial 
markets and the economy, lack of liquidity and access to capital, investment valuations, interest rate changes, changes in 
laws and regulations, competitive factors, relationships with Farm Bureau organizations, differences between actual claims 
experience and underwriting assumptions, the ability to attract and retain sales agents, adverse results from litigation and 
a decrease in ratings. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which FBL Financial Group believes to 
be reasonable; however, no assurance can be given that the assumptions will prove to be correct. These important risks and 
uncertainties should be considered in evaluating any statement contained herein. 

Investors should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements. FBL disclaims any obligation to update forward-
looking statements. Further, FBL Financial Group assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies or misstatements that occur 
as a result of the review of dated material. For FBL Financial Group’s most current information, please reference FBL Financial 
Group’s current SEC filings, which may be found on FBL Financial Group’s website under Investor Relations, SEC Filings.

5400 University Avenue • West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 • 515-225-5400

www.fblfinancial.com