SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                         5300 South 360 West, Suite 250
                           Salt Lake City, Utah 84123


                                  June 11, 2004






Dear Stockholder:

     On behalf of the Board of  Directors,  it is my  pleasure  to invite you to
attend the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  of  Security  National  Financial
Corporation (the "Company") to be held on July 16, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., Mountain
Daylight Time, at 5300 South 360 West, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, Utah.

     The formal notice of the Annual  Meeting and the Proxy  Statement have been
made a part of  this  invitation.  A copy  of the  Company's  Annual  Report  to
Stockholders is also enclosed.

     The matters to be  addressed  at the meeting  will  include the election of
seven  directors and the  ratification of the appointment of Tanner + Co. as the
Company's independent  accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.
I  will  also  report  on the  Company's  business  activities  and  answer  any
stockholder questions.

     Your vote is very important.  We hope you will take a few minutes to review
the Proxy  Statement  and  complete,  sign,  and  return  your Proxy Card in the
envelope  provided,  even if you plan to attend the  meeting.  Please  note that
sending us your Proxy will not prevent you from voting in person at the meeting,
should you wish to do so.

     Thank you for your support of Security National Financial  Corporation.  We
look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

                                Sincerely yours,

                                SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                 George R. Quist
                                 Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                 Executive Officer





                     SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                         5300 South 360 West, Suite 250
                           Salt Lake City, Utah 84123




                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

     NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders of Security
National Financial Corporation (the "Company"), a Utah corporation, will be held
on July 16, 2004, at 5300 South 360 West,  Suite 250,  Salt Lake City,  Utah, at
10:00 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time, to consider and act upon the following:

1.   To elect a Board of Directors  consisting of seven directors (two directors
     to be  elected  exclusively  by the  Class  A  common  stockholders  voting
     separately as a class and the remaining five directors to be elected by the
     Class A and Class C common stockholders voting together) to serve until the
     next Annual Meeting of Stockholders  and until their successors are elected
     and qualified;

2.   To ratify  the  appointment  of Tanner + Co. as the  Company's  independent
     accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004;

3.   To  transact  such other  business as may  properly  come before the Annual
     Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     The  foregoing  items of  business  are more fully  described  in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice.

     The Board of Directors  has fixed the close of business on May 28, 2004, as
the record date for determining  stockholders  entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof.

     STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING. A PROXY STATEMENT
AND PROXY  CARD ARE  ENCLOSED  HEREWITH.  WHETHER  OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE
MEETING,  PLEASE SIGN,  DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE  ENCLOSED  POSTAGE
PAID  ENVELOPE SO THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE VOTED AT THE MEETING.  THE GIVING OF A
PROXY WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.

                                  By order of the Board of Directors,


                                 G. Robert Quist
                                 First Vice President and Secretary



June 11, 2004
Salt Lake City, Utah





                     SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                         5300 South 360 West, Suite 250
                           Salt Lake City, Utah 84123

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                         Annual Meeting of Stockholders
                           To Be Held on July 16, 2004

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

     This Proxy  Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors  of Security  National  Financial  Corporation
(the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July
16, 2004,  at 5300 South 360 West,  Suite 250,  Salt Lake City,  Utah,  at 10:00
a.m.,  Mountain  Daylight Time, or at any adjournment or  postponements  thereof
(the "Annual  Meeting").  The shares covered by the enclosed  Proxy,  if such is
properly  executed and received by the Board of Directors  prior to the meeting,
will be voted in favor of the proposals to be considered at the Annual  Meeting,
and in favor of the  election  of the  nominees to the Board of  Directors  (two
nominees to be elected by the Class A common stockholders voting separately as a
class  and  five  nominees  to be  elected  by the  Class A and  Class C  common
stockholders  voting together) as listed unless such Proxy specifies  otherwise,
or the  authority to vote in the election of directors is withheld.  A Proxy may
be revoked at any time before it is  exercised by giving  written  notice to the
Secretary  of the  Company  at the above  address.  Stockholders  may vote their
shares in person if they attend the Annual  Meeting,  even if they have executed
and returned a Proxy. This Proxy Statement and accompanying Proxy Card are being
mailed to stockholders on or about June 11, 2004.

     Your vote is important.  Please  complete and return the Proxy Card so your
shares can be represented at the Annual  Meeting,  even if you plan to attend in
person.

     If a  shareholder  wishes  to  assign a proxy  to  someone  other  than the
Directors' Proxy Committee,  all three names appearing on the Proxy Card must be
crossed out and the name(s) of another  person or persons  (not more than three)
inserted.  The signed card must be  presented  at the  meeting by the  person(s)
representing the shareholder.

     The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. The Company may
reimburse  brokerage firms and other persons  representing  beneficial owners of
shares  for  their  expenses  in  forwarding   solicitation  materials  to  such
beneficial  owners.  Proxies may also be solicited  by certain of the  Company's
directors, officers, and regular employees, without additional compensation.

     The  matters to be  brought  before  the  Annual  Meeting  are (1) to elect
directors to serve for the ensuing year; (2) to ratify the appointment of Tanner
+ Co. as the  Company's  independent  accountants  for the  fiscal  year  ending
December 31, 2004;  and (3) to transact such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting.

                                VOTING SECURITIES

     Only  holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on May 28,
2004,  will be entitled  to vote at the Annual  Meeting.  As of March 31,  2004,
there were  issued and  outstanding  5,054,906  shares of Class A Common  Stock,
$2.00 par value per share, and 6,260,793 shares of Class C Common Stock $.20 par
value per share,  resulting in a total of 11,315,699  shares of both Class A and
Class C Common  Stock  outstanding.  A majority  of the  outstanding  shares (or
5,657,850  shares) of Class A and Class C Common Stock will  constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at the meeting.

     The holders of each class of Common  Stock of the  Company are  entitled to
one vote per  share.  Cumulative  voting is not  permitted  in the  election  of
directors.






     The  Company's  Articles of  Incorporation  provide that the Class A common
stockholders and Class C common stockholders have different voting rights in the
election of directors.  The Class A common  stockholders  voting separately as a
class will be entitled to vote for two of the seven directors to be elected (the
nominees  to be voted  upon by the Class A  stockholders  separately  consist of
Messrs. Charles L. Crittenden and J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr.).

     The  remaining  five  directors  will be elected by the Class A and Class C
common stockholders voting together (the nominees to be so voted upon consist of
Messrs.  Robert G. Hunter, M.D, H. Craig Moody, George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist,
and Norman G.  Wilbur).  For the other  business to be  conducted  at the Annual
Meeting,  the Class A and Class C common  stockholders  will vote together,  one
vote per share.  Class A common  stockholders  will receive a different  form of
Proxy than the Class C common stockholders.

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

                                   PROPOSAL 1

     There  are  three  committees  of  the  Board  of  Directors,   which  meet
periodically during the year: the Audit Committee,  the Compensation  Committee,
and the Executive  Committee.  The Board of Directors does not have a Nominating
Committee.

     The Compensation  Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board of
Directors for approval the annual  compensation of each executive officer of the
Company and the  executive  officers of the Company's  subsidiaries,  developing
policy in the areas of compensation and fringe benefits, contributions under the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan,  contribution under the 401(k) Retirement Savings
Plan,  Deferred  Compensation  Plan,  granting of options under the stock option
plans,  and  creating  other  employee   compensation  plans.  The  Compensation
Committee  consists of Messrs.  Charles L.  Crittenden,  Norman G.  Wilbur,  and
George R. Quist. During 2003, the Compensation Committee met on two occasions.

     The Audit  Committee  directs  the  auditing  activities  of the  Company's
internal  auditors and outside public  accounting firm and approves the services
of the outside public  accounting firm. The Audit Committee  consists of Messrs.
Charles L. Crittenden,  H. Craig Moody,  and Norman G. Wilbur.  During 2003, the
Audit Committee met on two occasions.

     The Executive Committee reviews Company policy, major investment activities
and  other  pertinent  transactions  of the  Company.  The  Executive  Committee
consists of Messrs.  George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist, and H. Craig Moody. During
2003, the Executive Committee met on two occasions. During 2003, there were five
meetings of the Company's Board of Directors.

     The Company's  Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors  shall consist of
not less than  three nor more than  eleven  members.  The term of office of each
director is for a period of one year or until the election and  qualification of
his successor.  A director is not required to be a resident of the State of Utah
but must be a stockholder of the Company.

     The size of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company for the coming year is
seven members.  Unless  authority is withheld by your Proxy, it is intended that
the Common  Stock  represented  by your  Proxy will be voted for the  respective
nominees listed below. If any nominee should not serve for any reason, the Proxy
will be voted for such person as shall be  designated  by the Board of Directors
to replace such nominee. The Board of Directors has no reason to expect that any
nominee  will be unable to serve.  There is no  arrangement  between  any of the
nominees  and any other  person or persons  pursuant to which he was or is to be
selected as a director.  There is no family relationship between or among any of
the nominees, except that Scott M. Quist is the son of George R. Quist.

The Nominees

     The  nominees to be elected by the  holders of Class A Common  Stock are as
follows:

      Name               Age      Director Since    Position(s) with the Company
  ------------           ---     ----------------   ----------------------------
J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr.    50     March 2002         Vice President and Director
Charles L. Crittenden     84     October 1979       Director






     The  nominees  for  election  by the  holders of Class A and Class C Common
Stock, voting together, are as follows:

      Name              Age    Director Since    Position(s) with the Company
  ------------          ---    ----------------  ----------------------------
Robert G. Hunter, M.D.  44     October 1998      Director
H. Craig Moody          52     September 1995    Director
George R. Quist         83     October 1979      Chairman of the Board and
                                                 Chief Executive Officer
Scott M. Quist          51     May 1986          President, General Counsel,
                                                 Chief Operating Officer and
                                                 Director
Norman G. Wilbur        65     October 1998      Director


     The  following is a description  of the business  experience of each of the
nominees and directors.

     George R. Quist has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive  Officer
of the Company since  October  1979. In addition,  he served as President of the
Company from October 1979 until July 2002. Mr. Quist has also served as Chairman
of the Board and Chief  Executive  Officer of Southern  Security Life  Insurance
Company since  December  1998,  and as its President  from December 1998 to July
2002.  From 1960 to 1964,  he was  Executive  Vice  President  and  Treasurer of
Pacific  Guardian Life  Insurance  Company.  From 1946 to 1960, he was an agent,
District Manager and Associate  General Agent for various  insurance  companies.
Mr. Quist also served from 1981 to 1982 as President of The National Association
of Life Companies, a trade association of 642 life insurance companies, and from
1982 to 1983 as its Chairman of the Board.

     Scott M. Quist has been President of the Company since July 2002, its Chief
Operating  Officer since October  2001,  and its General  Counsel and a director
since May 1986. Mr. Quist served as First Vice President of the Company from May
1986 to July 2002.  Mr. Quist has also served as President of Southern  Security
Life  Insurance  Company  since July 2002,  its Chief  Operating  Officer  since
October 2001,  and its General  Counsel and a director  since December 1998. Mr.
Quist also served as First Vice  President of Southern  Security Life  Insurance
Company from December 1998 to July 2002.  From 1980 to 1982, Mr. Quist was a tax
specialist with Peat, Marwick,  Mitchell, & Co., in Dallas,  Texas. From 1986 to
1991,  he was  Treasurer  and a director  of The  National  Association  of Life
Companies,  a trade association of 642 insurance companies until its merger with
the American Council of Life Companies. Mr. Quist has been a member of the Board
of Governors of the Forum 500 Section  (representing small insurance  companies)
of the  American  Council  of Life  Insurance.  Mr.  Quist has also  served as a
regional  director  of Key  Bank of Utah  since  November  1993.  Mr.  Quist  is
currently  a  director  and past  president  of the  National  Alliance  of Life
Companies, a trade association of over 200 life companies.

     J. Lynn  Beckstead,  Jr. has been a Vice  President  and a director  of the
Company since March 2002. Mr.  Beckstead has also served as Vice President and a
director  of Southern  Security  Life  Insurance  Company  since March 2002.  In
addition, he is President of Security National Mortgage Company, an affiliate of
the Company,  having served in this position since July 1993. From 1980 to 1993,
Mr.   Beckstead  was  Vice  President  and  a  director  of  Republic   Mortgage
Corporation.  From 1983 to 1990, Mr. Beckstead was Vice President and a director
of Richards Woodbury Mortgage Corporation. From 1980 to 1983, he was a principal
broker  for  Boardwalk  Properties.  From  1978 to  1980,  Mr.  Beckstead  was a
residential loan officer for Medallion  Mortgage Company.  From 1977 to 1978, he
was a residential construction loan manager of Citizens Bank.

     Charles L.  Crittenden  has been a director  of the Company  since  October
1979.  Mr.  Crittenden is also a director of Southern  Security  Life  Insurance
Company and has served in this position since December 1998. Mr.  Crittenden has
been sole stockholder of Crittenden Paint & Glass Company since 1958. He is also
an owner of  Crittenden  Enterprises,  a real estate  development  company,  and
Chairman of the Board of Linco, Inc.

     Robert G.  Hunter,  M.D. has been a director of the Company  since  October
1998. Dr. Hunter is also a director of Southern  Security Life Insurance Company
and has served in this position  since  December 1998. Dr. Hunter is currently a
practicing  physician in private  practice.  Dr.  Hunter  created the  statewide
E.N.T. Organization (Rocky Mountain E.N.T., Inc.) where he is currently a member
of the  Executive  Committee.  He is also  Chairman  of  Surgery  at  Cottonwood
Hospital, a delegate to the Utah Medical Association and a delegate representing
the State of Utah to the American Medical  Association,  and a member of several
medical advisory boards.

     H. Craig Moody has been a director of the Company since September 1995. Mr.
Moody is also a director of Southern  Security  Life  Insurance  Company and has
served in this  position  since  December  1998.  Mr.  Moody is owner of Moody &
Associates,  a  political  consulting  and real estate  company.  He is a former
Speaker and House Majority Leader of the House of  Representatives  of the State
of Utah.






     Norman G. Wilbur has been a director of the Company since October 1998. Mr.
Wilbur is also a director of Southern  Security Life  Insurance  Company and has
served in this position since December 1998. Mr. Wilbur worked for J.C. Penney's
regional  offices in budget and  analysis.  His final  position  was  Manager of
Planning  and  Reporting  for J.C.  Penney's  stores.  After 36 years  with J.C.
Penney's, he took an option of an early retirement in 1997. Mr. Wilbur is a past
board member of a homeless organization in Plano, Texas.

Executive Officers

     The  following  table sets forth  certain  information  with respect to the
executive officers of the Company (the business biographies for George R. Quist,
Scott M. Quist and J. Lynn Beckstead are set forth above):

       Name               Age             Title
 George R. Quist1         83     Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                    Officer
 Scott M. Quist1          51     President, General Counsel and Chief
                                    Operating Officer
 G. Robert Quist1         52     First Vice President and Secretary
 Stephen M. Sill          58     Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
                                    Officer
 J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr.   50     Vice President and President of Security
                                    National Mortgage Company

     1George R. Quist is the father of Scott M. Quist and G. Robert Quist.

     G. Robert Quist has been First Vice  President and Secretary of the Company
since March 2002. Mr. Quist also served as a director of Southern  Security Life
Insurance Company since April 1999 and as its First Vice President and Secretary
since March 2002.  He has also served as First Vice  President of Singing  Hills
Memorial  Park since 1996.  Mr.  Quist has served as Vice  President of Memorial
Estates since 1982; he began working for Memorial  Estates in 1978.  Also, since
1987,  Mr.  Quist has served as  President  and a director  of Big Willow  Water
Company  and  as  Secretary-Treasurer  and  a  director  of  the  Utah  Cemetery
Association.  From 1987 to 1988,  he was a director  of  Investors  Equity  Life
Insurance Company of Hawaii.

     Stephen  M. Sill has been Vice  President,  Treasurer  and Chief  Financial
Officer of the Company since March 2002.  From 1997 to March 2002,  Mr. Sill was
Vice  President  and  Controller  of the  Company.  He has also  served  as Vice
President,  Treasurer  and Chief  Financial  Officer of Southern  Security  Life
Insurance  Company  since  March 2002.  From 1998 to March  2002,  Mr. Sill also
served as Vice  President  and  Controller of Southern  Security Life  Insurance
Company.  From 1994 to 1997,  Mr.  Sill was Vice  President  and  Controller  of
Security National Life Insurance  Company.  From 1989 to 1993, he was Controller
of Flying J. Inc.  From 1978 to 1989,  Mr.  Sill was Senior Vice  President  and
Controller  of Surety Life  Insurance  Company.  From 1975 to 1978,  he was Vice
President and Controller of Sambo's Restaurant, Inc. From 1974 to 1975, Mr. Sill
was Director of Reporting for Northwest Pipeline Corporation. From 1970 to 1974,
he was an auditor  with  Arthur  Andersen & Co. Mr. Sill is the  immediate  past
President and a director of the  Insurance  Accounting  and Systems  Association
(IASA), a national  association of over 1,300 insurance  companies and associate
members.

     The  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has a written  procedure,  which
requires  disclosure to the board of any material interest or any affiliation on
the part of any of its officers,  directors or employees  that is in conflict or
may be in conflict with the interests of the Company.

     No director,  officer or 5% stockholder of the Company or its subsidiaries,
or any  affiliate  thereof  has had any  transactions  with the  Company  or its
subsidiaries during 2003 or 2002.

     Each of the  directors of the Company are  directors  of Southern  Security
Life Insurance Company,  which has a class of equity securities registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition,  Scott M. Quist is
a regional director of Key Bank of Utah.

         All directors of the Company hold office until the next Annual Meeting
of Stockholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified.





                COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Executive Officer Compensation

     The  following  table sets forth,  for each of the last three fiscal years,
the  compensation  received by George R. Quist,  the  Company's  Chairman of the
Board  and  Chief  Executive   Officer,   and  all  other   executive   officers
(collectively,  the "Named  Executive  Officers")  at December 31,  2003,  whose
salary and bonus for all  services in all  capacities  exceed  $100,000  for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
Summary Compensation Table Annual Compensation Long-Term Compensation Other Annual Restricted Securities Long-Term All Other Name and Compen- Stock Underlying Incentive Compen- Principal Position Year Salary($) Bonus($) sation($)(2) Awards($) Options/SARs(#) Payout($) sation($)(3) - ------------------ ---- --------- -------- ------------ --------- --------------- --------- ------------ George R. Quist (1) 2003 $165,600 $50,000 $2,400 0 100,000 0 $23,273 Chairman of the 2002 165,600 25,000 2,400 0 80,000 0 31,186 Board and Chief 2001 148,737 20,200 2,400 0 40,000 0 37,358 Executive Officer Scott M. Quist (1) 2003 $205,400 $60,000 $7,200 0 70,000 0 $29,531 President, Chief 2002 179,400 35,000 7,200 0 40,000 0 24,066 Operating Officer 2001 148,737 20,200 2,400 0 40,000 0 34,739 and Director J. Lynn Beckstead Jr 2003 $158,500 $255,675 $0 0 15,000 0 $16,104 Vice President and 2002 150,000 120,401 0 0 10,000 0 15,101 Director 2001 140,580 71,929 0 0 10,000 0 11,527 G. Robert Quist (1) 2003 $ 87,175 $ 16,599 $2,400 0 35,000 0 $ 9,748 First Vice President and Secretary
(1) George R. Quist is the father of Scott M. Quist and G. Robert Quist. (2) The amounts indicated under "Other Annual Compensation" consist of payments related to the operation of automobiles by the Named Executive Officers. However, such payments do not include the furnishing of an automobile by the Company to George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist, J. Lynn Beckstead and G. Robert Quist, nor the payment of insurance and property taxes with respect to the automobiles operated by the Named Executive Officers. (3) The amounts indicated under "All Other Compensation" consist of (a) amounts contributed by the Company into a trust for the benefit of the Named Executive Officers under the Security National Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (for the years 2003, 2002, and 2001, such amounts were George R. Quist, $18,590, $16,207, and $32,077, respectively; Scott M. Quist, $23,000, $19,219, and $34,102, respectively; J. Lynn Beckstead $12,750, $0, and $0, respectively; and G. Robert Quist, $9,394 for 2003); (b) insurance premiums paid by the Company with respect to a group life insurance plan for the benefit of the Named Executive Officers (for the years 2003, 2002 and 2001, such amounts were George R. Quist, $39, $125, and $637, respectively; and Scott M. Quist, G. Robert Quist and J. Lynn Beckstead Jr., $354, $642, and $637 each, respectively); (c) life insurance premiums paid by the Company for the benefit of the family of George R. Quist ($4,644 for each of the years 2003, 2002 and 2001); Scott M. Quist ($6,177 for the year 2003, $4,205 for 2002, and $0 for 2001); (d) compensation paid for the cashless exercise of 50,000 shares of Company stock exercised by George R. Quist ($10,210) for the year 2002; (e) amounts contributed by the Company into a trust for the benefit of the Named Executive Officers under the Security National Financial Corporation's Employer Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) (for the years 2003, 2002 and 2001, such amounts were J. Lynn Beckstead Jr., $3,000, $2,754 and $4,912, respectively; and (f) amounts contributed by the Company into a trust for the benefit of the Named Executive Officers under the Security National Financial Corporation Tax-Favored Retirement Savings Plan (401(k) Plan) (for the years 2003, 2002, and 2001, such amounts were J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr., $0, $11,705, and $5,978, respectively; ) The amounts under "All Other Compensation" do not include the no interest loan in the amount of $172,000 that the Company made to George R. Quist on April 29, 1998 to exercise stock options. See Certain Transactions. The following table sets forth information concerning the exercise of options to acquire shares of the Company's Common Stock by the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, as well as the aggregate number and value of unexercised options held by the Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2003. Aggregated Option/SAR Exercised in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values:
Number of Securities Value of Underlying Unexercised Unexercised In-the-Money Shares Options/SARs Options/SARs at Acquired on at December 31, December 31, Exercise Value 2003(#) 2003 ------- ------ Name (#) Realized Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable - ---- -------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- George R. Quist -0- $ -0- 239,505 -0- $521,582 $-0- Scott M. Quist 48,099 336,174 73,500 -0- 134,575 -0- J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr. 22,647 152,867 27,326 -0- 91,081 -0- G. Robert Quist -0- -0- 48,050 -0- 118,177 -0-
Retirement Plans On December 8, 1988, the Company entered into a deferred compensation plan with George R. Quist, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The plan was later amended effective January 2, 2001. Under the terms of the plan as amended, upon the retirement of Mr. Quist, the Company is required to pay him ten annual installments in the amount of $60,000. Retirement is defined in the plan as the earlier or later of age 70, as specified by the Board of Directors. The $60,000 annual payments are to be adjusted for inflation in accordance with the United States Consumer Price Index for each year after January 1, 2002. If Mr. Quist's employment is terminated by reason of disability or death before he reaches retirement age, the Company is to make the ten annual payments to Mr. Quist, in the event of disability, or to his designated beneficiary, in the event of death. The plan also provides that the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, pay the amounts due under the plan in a single, lump-sum payment. In the event that Mr. Quist dies before the ten annual payments are made, the unpaid balance will continue to be paid to his designated beneficiary. The plan further requires the Company to furnish an automobile for Mr. Quist's use and to pay all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with its use for a ten year period, and to provide Mr. Quist with a hospitalization policy with similar benefits to those provided to him the day before his retirement or disability. However, in the event Mr. Quist's employment with the Company is terminated for any reason other than retirement, death, or disability, the entire amount of deferred compensation payments under the plan shall be forfeited by him. The Company has accrued a liability for the deferred compensation plan at December 31, 2003 of $319,000. Employment Agreements The Company maintains an employment agreement with Scott M. Quist. The agreement, which has a five-year term, was entered into in 1996, and renewed in 1997 and 2002. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Quist is to devote his full time to the Company serving as its President, General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer at not less than his current salary and benefits, and to include $500,000 of life insurance protection. In the event of disability, Mr. Quist's salary would be continued for up to five years at 75% of its current level. In the event of a sale or merger of the Company, and Mr. Quist were not retained in his current position, the Company would be obligated to continue Mr. Quist's current compensation and benefits for seven years following the merger or sale. On December 4, 2003, the Company, through its subsidiary Security National Mortgage Company, entered into an employment agreement with J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr., President of Security National Mortgage Company. The agreement has a five-year term, but the Company has agreed to renew the agreement on December 4, 2008 and 2013 for additional five-year terms, provided Mr. Beckstead performs his duties with usual and customary care and diligence. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Beckstead is to devote his full time to the Company serving as President of Security National Mortgage Company at not less than his current salary and benefits, and to include $350,000 of life insurance protection. In the event of disability, Mr. Beckstead's salary would be continued for up to five years at 50% of its current level. In the event of a sale or merger of the Company, and Mr. Beckstead were not retained in his current position, the Company would be obligated to continue Mr. Beckstead's current compensation and benefits for five years following the merger or sale. The agreement further provides that Mr. Beckstead is entitled to receive annual retirement benefits beginning one month from the date of his retirement of his employment without cause. These retirement benefits are to be paid for a period of ten years in annual installments in the amount equal to one-half of his then current annual salary. However, in the event that Mr. Beckstead dies prior to receiving all retirement benefits thereunder, the remaining benefits are to be paid to his heirs. Director Compensation Directors of the Company (but not including directors who are employees) are paid a director's fee of $12,000 per year by the Company for their services and are reimbursed for their expenses in attending board and committee meetings. No additional fees are paid by the Company for committee participation or special assignments. However, each director is provided with an annual grant of stock options to purchase 1,000 shares of Class A Common Stock under the 2000 Director Stock Option Plan. Employee 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan In 1995, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. Under the terms of the 401(k) plan, effective as of January 1, 1995, the Company may make discretionary employer matching contributions to its employees who choose to participate in the plan. The plan allows the board to determine the amount of the contribution at the end of each year. The Board adopted a contribution formula specifying that such discretionary employer matching contributions would equal 50% of the participating employee's contribution to the plan to purchase Company stock up to a maximum discretionary employee contribution of 1/2% of a participating employee's compensation, as defined by the plan. All persons who have completed at least one year's service with the Company and satisfy other plan requirements are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan. All Company matching contributions are invested in the Company's Class A Common Stock. The Company's matching contributions for 2003, 2002, and 2001 were approximately $4,493, $7,975 and $18,458, respectively. Also, the Company may contribute at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors an Employer Profit Sharing Contribution to the 401(k) plan. The Employer Profit Sharing Contribution shall be divided among three different classes of participants in the plan based upon the participant's title in the Company. All amounts contributed to the plan are deposited into a trust fund administered by an independent trustee. The Company's contributions to the plan for 2003, 2002 and 2001, were $110,081, $142,218 and $260,350, respectively. Employee Stock Ownership Plan Effective January 1, 1980, the Company adopted an employee stock ownership plan (the "Ownership Plan") for the benefit of career employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The following is a description of the Ownership Plan, and is qualified in its entirety by the Ownership Plan, a copy of which is available for inspection at the Company's offices. Under the Ownership Plan, the Company has discretionary power to make contributions on behalf of all eligible employees into a trust created under the Ownership Plan. Employees become eligible to participate in the Ownership Plan when they have attained the age of 19 and have completed one year of service (a twelve-month period in which the Employee completes at least 1,040 hours of service). The Company's contributions under the Ownership Plan are allocated to eligible employees on the same ratio that each eligible employee's compensation bears to total compensation for all eligible employees during each year. To date, the Ownership Plan has approximately 235 participants and had $98,588 contributions payable to the Plan in 2003. Benefits under the Ownership Plan vest as follows: 20% after the third year of eligible service by an employee, an additional 20% in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh years of eligible service by an employee. Benefits under the Ownership Plan will be paid out in one lump sum or in installments in the event the employee becomes disabled, reaches the age of 65, or is terminated by the Company and demonstrates financial hardship. The Ownership Plan Committee, however, retains discretion to determine the final method of payment. Finally, the Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Ownership Plan at any time. The trustees of the trust fund under the Ownership Plan are George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist and Robert G. Hunter, who each serve as a director of the Company. Deferred Compensation Plan In 2001, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a Deferred Compensation Plan. Under the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan, the Company will provide deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The board has appointed a committee of the Company to be the plan administrator and to determine the employees who are eligible to participate in the plan. The employees who participate may elect to defer a portion of their compensation into the plan. The Company may contribute into the plan at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company's contribution for 2003, 2002 and 2001 was $95,485, $100,577 and $220,038, respectively. 1987 Incentive Stock Option Plan In 1987, the Company adopted the 1987 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "1987 Plan"). The 1987 Plan provides that shares of the Class A Common Stock of the Company may be optioned to certain officers and key employees of the Company. The Plan establishes a Stock Option Plan Committee, which selects the employees to whom the options will be granted, and determines the price of the stock. The Plan establishes the minimum purchase price of the stock at an amount that is not less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock (110% for employees owning more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock). The Plan provides that if additional shares of Class A Common Stock are issued pursuant to a stock split or a stock dividend, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then covered by each outstanding option granted hereunder shall be increased proportionately with no increase in the total purchase price of the shares then so covered, and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for the purpose of the Plan shall be increased by the same proportion. In the event that the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company from time to time issued and outstanding are reduced by a combination of shares, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then covered by each outstanding option granted hereunder shall be reduced proportionately with no reduction in the total price of the shares then so covered, and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for the purposes of the Plan shall be reduced by the same proportion. The Plan terminated in 1997 and options granted are non-transferable. The Plan permits the holder of the option to elect to receive cash, amounting to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of the stock at the time of the exercise, or a lesser amount of stock without payment, upon exercise of the option. 1993 Stock Option Plan On June 21, 1993, the Company adopted the Security National Financial Corporation 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1993 Plan"), which reserves shares of Class A Common Stock for issuance thereunder. The 1993 Plan was approved at the annual meeting of the stockholders held on June 21, 1993. The 1993 Plan allows the Company to grant options and issue shares as a means of providing equity incentives to key personnel, giving them a proprietary interest in the Company and its success and progress. The 1993 Plan provides for the grant of options and the award or sale of stock to officers, directors, and employees of the Company. Both "incentive stock options," as defined under Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), and "non-qualified options" may be granted pursuant to the 1993 Plan. The exercise prices for the options granted are equal to or greater than the fair market value of the stock subject to such options as of the date of grant, as determined by the Company's Board of Directors. The options granted under the 1993 Plan, were to reward certain officers and key employees who have been employed by the Company for a number of years and to help the Company retain these officers by providing them with an additional incentive to contribute to the success of the Company. The 1993 Plan is to be administered by the Board of Directors or by a committee designated by the board. The terms of options granted or stock awards or sales affected under the 1993 Plan are to be determined by the Board of Directors or its committee. The Plan provides that if the shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of Options shall be increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the purchase price per share to reflect such subdivision, combination or stock dividend. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for purposes of the Plan shall be adjusted by the same proportion. No options may be exercised for a term of more than ten years from the date of grant. Options intended as incentive stock options may be issued only to employees, and must meet certain conditions imposed by the code, including a requirement that the option exercise price be no less than the fair market value of the option shares on the date of grant. The 1993 Plan provides that the exercise price for non-qualified options will be not less than at least 50% of the fair market value of the stock subject to such option as of the date of grant of such options, as determined by the Company's Board of Directors. The 1993 Plan has a term of ten years. The Board of Directors may amend or terminate the 1993 Plan at any time, subject to approval of certain modifications to the 1993 Plan by the shareholders of the Company as may be required by law or the 1993 Plan. On November 7, 1996, the Company amended the 1993 Plan as follows: (i) to increase the number of shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 1993 Plan from 300,000 Class A shares to 600,000 Class A shares; and (ii) to provide that the stock subject to options, awards and purchases may include Class C common stock. On October 14, 1999, the Company amended the 1993 Plan to increase the number of shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the plan from 746,126 Class A shares to 1,046,126 Class A shares. The Plan terminated on June 21, 2003. 2000 Director Stock Option Plan On October 16, 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan (the "Director Plan") effective November 1, 2000. The Director Plan provides for the grant by the Company of options to purchase up to an aggregate of 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for issuance thereunder. The Director Plan provides that each member of the Company's Board of Directors who is not an employee or paid consultant of the Company automatically is eligible to receive options to purchase the Company's Class A Common Stock under the Director Plan. Effective as of November 1, 2000, and on each anniversary date thereof during the term of the Director Plan, each outside director shall automatically receive an option to purchase 1,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. In addition, each new outside director who shall first join the Board after the effective date shall be granted an option to purchase 1,000 shares upon the date which such person first becomes an outside director and an annual grant of an option to purchase 1,000 shares on each anniversary date thereof during the term of the Director Plan. The options granted to outside directors shall vest in their entirety on the first anniversary date of the grant. The primary purposes of the Director Plan are to enhance the Company's ability to attract and retain well-qualified persons for service as directors and to provide incentives to such directors to continue their association with the Company. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another company, or a consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or other change in control transaction involving the Company, each option becomes exercisable in full, unless such option is assumed by the successor corporation. In the event the transaction is not approved by a majority of the "Continuing Directors" (as defined in the Director Plan), each option becomes fully vested and exercisable in full immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, whether or not assumed by the successor corporation. 2003 Stock Option Plan On July 11, 2003, the Company adopted the Security National Financial Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2003 Plan"), which reserves shares of Class A and Class C Common Stock for issuance thereunder. The 2003 Plan was approved by the Board of Directors on May 9, 2003 and by the stockholders at the annual meeting of the stockholders held on July 11, 2003. The 2003 Plan allows the Company to grant options and issue shares as a means of providing equity incentives to key personnel, giving them a proprietary interest in the Company and its success and progress. The 2003 Plan provides for the grant of options and the award or sale of stock to officers, directors, and employees of the Company. Both "incentive stock options," as defined under Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), and "non-qualified options" may be granted pursuant to the 2003 Plan. The exercise prices for the options granted are equal to or greater than the fair market value of the stock subject to such options as of the date of grant, as determined by the Company's Board of Directors. The options granted under the 2003 Plan are to reward certain officers and key employees who have been employed by the Company for a number of years and to help the Company retain these officers by providing them with an additional incentive to contribute to the success of the Company. The 2003 Plan is to be administered by the Board of Directors or by a committee designated by the board. The terms of options granted or stock awards or sales affected under the 2003 Plan are to be determined by the Board of Directors or its committee. The Plan provides that if the shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of Options shall be increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the purchase price per share to reflect such subdivision, combination or stock dividend. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for purposes of the Plan shall be adjusted by the same proportion. No options may be exercised for a term of more than ten years from the date of grant. Options intended as incentive stock options may be issued only to employees, and must meet certain conditions imposed by the code, including a requirement that the option exercise price be no less than the fair market value of the option shares on the date of grant. The 2003 Plan provides that the exercise price for non-qualified options will be not less than at least 50% of the fair market value of the stock subject to such option as of the date of grant of such options, as determined by the Company's Board of Directors. The 2003 Plan has a term of ten years. The Board of Directors may amend or terminate the 2003 Plan at any time, subject to approval of certain modifications to the 2003 Plan by the shareholders of the Company as may be required by law or the 2003 Plan. Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's executive officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of any class of the Company's common stock to file reports of ownership and periodic changes in ownership of the Company's common stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such persons are also required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of stock reports received by it with respect to fiscal 2003, or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that all filing requirements applicable to its directors, officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners were compiled with, except that G. Robert Quist, First Vice President and Secretary of the Company, through an oversight, filed one late Form 4 report reporting sales of shares of Class A Common Stock in 11 transactions. Certain Transactions The Company has made a loan in the amount of $172,000 to George R. Quist, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, without requiring the payment of any interest. The loan was made under a promissory note dated April 29, 1998 in order for Mr. Quist to exercise stock options, which were granted to him under the 1993 Stock Option Plan. No installment payments are required under the terms of the note, but the note must be paid in full as of December 31, 2007. Mr. Quist has the right to make prepayments on the note at any time. As of March 31, 2004, the outstanding balance of the note was $28,000. The loan was approved by the Company's directors on March 12, 1999, with Mr. Quist abstaining, at a special meeting of the Board of Directors. On December 19, 2001, the Company entered into an option agreement with Monument Title, LLC, a Utah limited liability company ("Monument Title") in which the Company made available a $100,000 line of credit to Monument Title at an interest rate of 8% per annum. The line of credit is secured by the assets of Monument Title. From December 28, 2001 to June 14, 2002, the Company advanced Monument Title a total of $77,953 under the line of credit. The amount advanced under the line of credit plus accrued interest are payable upon demand. This receivable was fully allowed for in 2003. Ron Motzkus and Troy Lashley, who own 90% and 10% of the outstanding shares of Monument Title, respectively, are brothers-in-law of Scott M. Quist, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The Company has the right under the option agreement for a period of five years from the date thereof to acquire 100% of the outstanding common shares of Monument Title for the sum of $10. The purpose of the transaction, which was approved by the Company's Board of Directors, is to insure that the title and escrow work performed for Security National Mortgage Company in connection with its mortgage loans are completed as accurately as possible by Monument Title to avoid any economic losses to the Company. The Company's Board of Directors has a written procedure that requires disclosure to the board of any material interest or any affiliation on the part of its officers, directors or employees that is in conflict or may be in conflict with the interests of the Company. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth security ownership information of the Company's Class A and Class C Common Stock as of March 31, 2004, (i) for persons who own beneficially more than 5% of the Company's outstanding Class A or Class C Common Stock, (ii) each director of the Company, and (iii) for all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group.
Class A and Class A Class C Class C Common Stock Common Stock Common Stock ------------ ------------ ------------ Amount Amount Amount Beneficially Percent Beneficially Percent Beneficially Percent Name and Address (1) Owned of Class Owned of Class Owned of Class - ---------------- ------- -------- ----- -------- ----- -------- George R. and Shirley C. Quist Family Partnership, Ltd.(2) 400,263 7.1% 3,195,860 51.0% 3,596,123 30.3% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (3) 546,344 9.7% 1,479,087 23.6% 2,025,431 17.0% George R. Quist (4)(5)(7)(8) 452,819 8.1% 448,015 7.2% 900,834 7.6% Scott M. Quist (4)(7)(9) 322,982 5.7% 321,505 5.1% 644,487 5.4% Associated Investors (10) 88,379 1.6% 624,391 10.0% 712,770 6.0% G. Robert Quist (6)(11) 93,521 1.7% 233,056 3.7% 326,577 2.7% J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr. (6) (12) 85,988 1.5% -- * 85,988 * Stephen M. Sill (6)(13) 53,163 * -- * 53,163 * Robert G. Hunter, M.D (4)(14) 5,899 * -- * 5,899 * Norman G. Wilbur (15) 4,628 * -- * 4,628 * Charles L. Crittenden 4,589 * -- * 4,589 * H. Craig Moody(16) 4,358 * -- * 4,358 * All directors and executive officers (9 persons) (4)(5)(6)(7) 1,428,210 25.4% 4,198,436 67.1% 5,626,646 47.3% - --------------- * Less than 1%
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each listed stockholder is c/o Security National Financial Corporation, 5300 South 360 West, Suite 250, Salt Lake City 84123. (2) This stock is owned by the George R. and Shirley C. Quist Family Partnership, Ltd., of which George R. Quist is the general partner. (3) The trustees of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) are George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist, and Robert G. Hunter, who exercise shared voting and investment powers. (4) Does not include 546,344 shares of Class A Common Stock and 1,479,087 shares of Class C Common Stock owned by the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), of which George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist, and Robert G. Hunter are the trustees and accordingly, exercise shared voting and investment powers with respect to such shares. (5) Does not include 88,379 shares of Class A Common Stock and 624,391 shares of Class C Common Stock owned by Associated Investors, a Utah general partnership, of which George R. Quist is the managing partner and, accordingly, exercises sole voting and investment powers with respect to such shares. (6) Does not include 200,031 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the Company's 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, of which G. Robert Quist, J. Lynn Beckstead and Stephen M. Sill are members of the Investment Committee and, accordingly, exercise shared voting and investment powers with respect to such shares. (7) Does not include 98,765 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan, of which George R. Quist and Scott M. Quist are members of the Investment Committee and, accordingly, exercise shared voting and investment powers with respect to such shares. (8) Includes options to purchase 239,505 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to George R. Quist, that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. (9) Includes options to purchase 73,500 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to Scott M. Quist that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. (10) The managing partner of Associated Investors is George R. Quist, who exercises voting and investment powers. (11) Includes options to purchase 36,750 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to G. Robert Quist, that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. (12) Includes options to purchase 15,750 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to Mr. Beckstead, which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. (13) Includes options to purchase 10,500 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to Mr. Sill, which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. (14) Includes options to purchase 3,477 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to Mr. Hunter, which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. (15) Includes options to purchase 3,477 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to Mr. Wilbur, which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. (16) Includes options to purchase 3,477 shares of Class A Common Stock granted to Mr. Moody, which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2004. The Company's officers and directors, as a group, own beneficially approximately 47.3% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Class A and Class C Common Stock. REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Under rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), the Company is required to provide certain data and information in regard to the compensation and benefits provided to the Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Compensation Committee, at the direction of the Board of Directors, has prepared the following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement. Executive Compensation Philosophy. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of three directors, two of whom are independent, outside directors. The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting and administering the policies and programs that govern both annual compensation and stock ownership programs for the executive officers of the Company. The Company's executive compensation policy is based on principles designed to ensure that an appropriate relationship exists between executive pay and corporate performance, while at the same time motivating and retaining executive officers. Executive Compensation Components. The key components of the Company's compensation program are base salary, an annual incentive award, and equity participation. These components are administered with the goal of providing total compensation that is competitive in the marketplace, rewards successful financial performance and aligns executive officers' interests with those of stockholders. The Compensation Committee reviews each component of executive compensation on an annual basis. Base Salary. Base salaries for executive officers are set at levels believed by the Compensation Committee to be sufficient to attract and retain qualified executive officers. Base pay increases are provided to executive officers based on an evaluation of each executive's performance, as well as the performance of the Company as a whole. In establishing base salaries, the Compensation Committee not only considers the financial performance of the Company, but also the success of the executive officers in developing and executing the Company's strategic plans, developing management employees and exercising leadership. The Compensation Committee believes that executive officer base salaries for 2003 were reasonable as compared to amounts paid by companies of similar size. Annual Incentive. The Compensation Committee believes that a significant proportion of total cash compensation for executive officers should be subject to attainment of specific Company financial performance. This approach creates a direct incentive for executive officers to achieve desired performance goals and places a significant percentage of each executive officer's compensation at risk. Consequently, each year the Compensation Committee establishes potential bonuses for executive officers based on the Company's achievement of certain financial performance. The Compensation Committee believes that executive officer annual bonuses for 2003 were reasonable as compared to amounts paid by companies of similar size. Stock Options. The Compensation Committee believes that equity participation is a key component of its executive compensation program. Stock options are granted to executive officers primarily based on the officer's actual and potential contribution to the Company's growth and profitability and competitive marketplace practices. Option grants are designed to retain executive officers and motivate them to enhance stockholder value by aligning the financial interests of executive officers with those of stockholders. Stock options also provide an effective incentive for management to create stockholder value over the long term since the full benefit of the compensation package cannot be realized unless an appreciation in the price of the Company's Class A Common Stock occurs over a number of years. Compensation of Chief Executive Officer. Consistent with the executive compensation policy and components described above, the Compensation Committee determined the salary, bonus and stock options received by George R. Quist, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, for services rendered in 2003. Mr. Quist received a base salary of $165,600 for 2003. He also received an annual bonus of $50,000 and stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $6.50 per share. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE George R. Quist, Chairman Charles L. Crittenden Norman G. Wilbur REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE The Company has an Audit Committee consisting of three non-management directors, Charles L. Crittenden, H. Craig Moody, and Norman G. Wilbur. Each member of the Audit Committee is considered independent and qualified in accordance with applicable independent director and audit committee listing standards. The Company's Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. During the year 2003, the Audit Committee met two times. The Audit Committee has met with management and discussed the Company's internal controls, the quality of the Company's financial reporting, the results of internal and external audit examinations, and the audited financial statements. In addition, the Audit Committee has met with the Company's independent auditors, Tanner + Co., and discussed all matters required to be discussed by the auditors with the Audit Committee under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (communication with audit committees). The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with the auditors their annual written report on their independence from the Company and its management, which is made under Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (independence discussions with audit committees), and considered with the auditors whether the provision of financial information systems design and implementation and other non-audit services provided by them to the Company during 2003 was compatible with the auditors' independence. In performing these functions, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. In its oversight role, the Audit Committee relies on the work and assurances of the Company's management, which is responsible for the integrity of the Company's internal controls and its financial statements and reports, and the Company's independent auditors, who are responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company's financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and for issuing a report on these financial statements. Pursuant to the reviews and discussions described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AUDIT COMMITTEE Norman G. Wilbur, Chairman Charles L. Crittenden H. Craig Moody COMPANY STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE The table below compares the cumulative total stockholder return of the Company's Class A Common Stock with the cumulative total return on the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and the Standard & Poor's Insurance Index for the period from December 31, 1998 through December 31, 2003. The table assumes that the value of the investment in the Company's Class A Common Stock and in each of the indexes was $100 at December 31, 1998, and that all dividends were reinvested. The comparisons in the table below are based on historical data and are not intended to forecast the possible future performance of the Company's Class A Common Stock.
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Security National Financial Corporation 100 124 87 100 268 326 S&P 500 100 120 107 93 72 90 S&P Insurance Index 100 106 104 123 96 115
The table set forth above is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed soliciting material or filed under such acts. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS PROPOSAL 2 The independent public accounting firm of Tanner + Co. has been the Company's independent accountants since December 31, 1999. The Audit Committee has recommended and the Board of Directors has appointed Tanner + Co. for purposes of auditing the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004. It is anticipated that representatives of Tanner + Co. will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be provided an opportunity to make a statement if they desire, and to be available to respond to appropriate questions. The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote "FOR" ratification of the appointment of Tanner + Co. as the Company's independent accountants for fiscal year ending December 31, 2004. AUDIT FEES, FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES AND ALL OTHER FEES Fees paid during the year 2003 for the annual audit of the financial statements and employee benefit plans and related quarterly reviews were approximately $224,000. There were approximately $15,000 in other fees paid during 2003. OTHER MATTERS The Company knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting, but if other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of Proxy to vote the shares they represent in accordance with their judgment. ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS You are referred to the Company's annual report, including financial statements, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. The annual report is incorporated in this Proxy Statement and is not to be considered part of the soliciting material. The Company will provide, without charge to each stockholder upon written request, a copy of the Company's Annual Report Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. Such requests should be directed to Mr. G. Robert Quist, First Vice President and Secretary, at P.O. Box 57250, Salt Lake City, Utah 84157-0250. DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER'S PROPOSALS FOR ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD IN JULY 2005 Any proposal by a stockholder to be presented at the Company's next Annual Meeting of Stockholders expected to be held in July 2005 must be received at the offices of the Company, P.O. Box 57250, Salt Lake City, Utah 84157-0250, no later than March 31, 2005. By order of the Board of Directors, G. Robert Quist First Vice President and Secretary June 11, 2004 Salt Lake City, Utah PROXY - SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION - PROXY THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CLASS C COMMON STOCK The undersigned Class C common stockholder of Security National Financial Corporation (the "Company") acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of the Stockholders to be held on July 16, 2004, at 5300 South 360 West, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, Utah, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, and hereby appoints Messrs. George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist and G. Robert Quist, or any of them, each with full power of substitution, as attorneys and proxies to vote all the shares of the undersigned at said Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at all adjournments or postponements thereof, hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and proxies may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The above-named attorneys and proxies are instructed to vote all of the undersigned's shares as follows: 1. To elect five of the seven directors to be voted upon by Class A and Class C common stockholders together: [ ] FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below. (INSTRUCTION: to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through that nominee's name in the list below.) Robert G. Hunter, M.D., H. Craig Moody, Scott M. Quist George R. Quist and Norman G. Wilbur 2. To ratify the appointment of Tanner + Co. as the Company's independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004; [ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 ABOVE AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 and 3. Dated ----------------------------------------------------------------, 2004 - ----------------------------------------- Signature of Stockholder - ------------------------------------------ Signature of Stockholder Please sign your name exactly as it appears on your share certificate. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. Executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries should so indicate when signing. Please sign, date, and return this Proxy Card immediately. NOTE: Securities dealers or other representatives please state the number of shares voted by this Proxy. PROXY - SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION - PROXY THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CLASS A COMMON STOCK The undersigned Class A common stockholder of Security National Financial Corporation (the "Company") acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of the Stockholders to be held on July 16, 2004, at 5300 South 360 West, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, Utah, at 10:00 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time, and hereby appoints Messrs. George R. Quist, Scott M. Quist and G. Robert Quist, or any of them, each with full power of substitution, as attorneys and proxies to vote all the shares of the undersigned at said Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at all adjournments or postponements thereof, hereby ratify and confirming all that said attorneys and proxies may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The above-named attorneys and proxies are instructed to vote all of the undersigned's shares as follows: 1. To elect two directors to be voted upon by Class A common stockholders voting separately as a class: [ ] FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below (INSTRUCTION: to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through that nominee's name in the list below.) Charles L. Crittenden and J. Lynn Beckstead, Jr. To elect the remaining five directors to be voted upon by Class A and Class C common stockholders together: [ ] FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below (INSTRUCTION: to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through that nominee's name in the list below.) Robert G. Hunter, M.D., H. Craig Moody, George R. Quist Scott M. Quist, and Norman G. Wilbur 2. To ratify the appointment of Tanner + Co. as the Company's independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004; [ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 ABOVE AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. Dated ----------------------------------------------------------------, 2004 - ----------------------------------------- Signature of Stockholder - ----------------------------------------- Signature of Stockholder Please sign your name exactly as it appears on your share certificate. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. Executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries should so indicate when signing. Please sign, date, and return this Proxy Card immediately. NOTE: Securities dealers or other representatives please state the number of shares voted by this Proxy.