Basis of Presentation, Organization and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (the "Parent") and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"). Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

These financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which are all of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's annual report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.

Recently Adopted & Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2016-02 — On October 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases, by applying the standard at the adoption date, recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. As a result, restated financial information and the additional disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for the comparative periods presented. The new guidance requires quantitative and qualitative disclosures that provide information about the amounts related to leasing arrangements recorded in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company elected a package of practical expedients available under the new guidance, which allows an entity to not reassess prior conclusions related to existing contracts containing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. In addition, the Company has elected to apply the short-term lease exception for lease arrangements with a maximum term of 12 months or less. Upon the adoption of the lease standard, the Company recognized a right-of-use ("ROU") asset and a lease liability on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet related to non-cancelable operating leases.

The cumulative effect of the changes made to the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2019 for the adoption of ASU 2016-02 were as follows (dollars in millions):

	Balance at September 30, 2019		Adjustments from Adoption of ASU 2016-02					Balance at October 1, 2019
Assets:
Other assets	$	308	$	341		(1	)	$	649
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	884		342			(2	)	1,226
Stockholders' Equity:
Retained earnings	8,580		(1		)	(3	)	8,579

(1) Adjustments include the following: (a) an increase of $347 million for the recognition of the ROU asset and (b) a decrease of $6 million for lease payments made to lessors at or before the commencement date, which were reclassified to the ROU lease liability upon the adoption of the lease standard.

(2) Adjustments include the following: (a) an increase of $379 million for the recognition of the ROU lease liability and (b) decreases of $30 million for deferred rent and $7 million related to the early termination of lease obligations, which were reclassified to the ROU asset upon the adoption of the lease standard.

(3) Represents the impact of a lease obligation which had no future benefit upon the adoption of the lease standard.

The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or cash flows. See Note 6 for additional information regarding the Company's operating leases.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2019-12 — In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740, Income Taxes. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The transition requirements are dependent upon each amendment within this update and will be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2016-13 — In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The main objective of ASU 2016-13 is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about an entity's expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit at each reporting date. To achieve this objective, the amendments in this update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to develop credit loss estimates. Subsequent to issuing ASU 2016-13, the FASB has issued additional standards for the purpose of clarifying certain aspects of ASU 2016-13, as well as providing codification improvements and targeted transition relief under the standard. The subsequently issued ASUs have the same effective date and transition requirements as ASU 2016-13. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact this ASU will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Loss Contingencies (ASC) 450

ASC 450, Loss Contingencies, governs the recognition and disclosure of loss contingencies, including potential losses from legal and regulatory matters. ASC 450 categorizes loss contingencies using three terms based on the likelihood of occurrence of events that result in a loss: "probable" means that "the future event or events are likely to occur;" "remote" means that "the chance of the future event or events occurring is slight;" and "reasonably possible" means that "the chance of the future event or events occurring is more than remote but less than likely." Under ASC 450, the Company accrues for losses that are considered both probable and reasonably estimable.

Fair Value Measurement (ASC) 820-10

ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

ASC 820-10 establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions about the assumptions other market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Revenue Recognition (ASC) 606

Mutual fund service fees includes shareholder services fees and SEC Rule 12b-1 service and distribution fees. Shareholder services fees are earned on the Company's client assets invested in money market mutual funds and other mutual funds for record-keeping and administrative services provided to these funds. The Company earns SEC Rule 12b-1 service and distribution fees for marketing and distribution services provided to these funds. The fees earned are based on contractual rates applied to the average daily net asset value of eligible shares of a respective fund held by the Company's clients. Shareholder services fees are earned over time and collected from the funds on a monthly or quarterly basis. SEC Rule 12b-1 fees are also earned over time and collected from the funds on a monthly or quarterly basis, as the variable consideration of a transaction price is no longer constrained and the value of consideration can be determined as discussed previously.

Investment program fees are earned through fees charged to clients enrolled in product offerings which are actively managed by TD Ameritrade Investment Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. These fees are earned over time and are based on contractual rates applied to asset balances held by the Company's clients in these product offerings. Certain program fees are based on quarter-end balances and are collected from clients in advance, at the beginning of each calendar quarter. Revenues collected on a quarterly basis, less refunds for clients ceasing participation in the program, are recognized during the quarter as performance obligations are satisfied. Other program fees are based on average daily asset balances and collected from clients on a monthly basis.

The Company also earns investment program fees through referral and asset-based program fees on its client assets managed by independent RIAs utilizing the Company's platform. These fees are earned based on contractual rates applied to the client's average daily asset balances under management. Referral fees are earned over time and collected from the independent RIAs on a monthly or quarterly basis, as the variable consideration of a transaction price is no longer constrained and the value of consideration can be determined as discussed previously. Asset-based program fees are also earned over time and collected from the independent RIAs on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Transaction-Based Revenues

Transaction-based revenues primarily consists of order routing revenue and trading commissions earned on trade execution, net of promotional allowances. The primary factors driving the Company's transaction-based revenues are total trades and average commissions per trade. Commission rates are based on rates established by the Company, which vary by type of trade. Transaction-based revenues are earned and recognized at a point in time, on a trade-date basis, as clients execute trades. These trades are generally settled and trading commissions are collected from the Company's clients within one to two business days after the trade date. Order routing revenues are generated from arrangements with market centers to receive cash payments and/or rebates in exchange for routing orders to these firms for execution and are generally collected from the market centers on a monthly basis. Securities owned by clients, including those that collateralize margin or similar transactions, are not reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Other Revenues

Other revenues primarily include proxy income, solicit and tender fees and other fees charged for ancillary services provided by the Company to its clients. In addition, other revenues include fair market value adjustments and gains/losses associated with investments held by the Company's broker-dealer subsidiaries. Other revenues generated from investments is covered by various other areas of GAAP, is not within the scope of ASC 606 and is included in the table above to reconcile to net revenues disclosed within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Proxy fee income is earned and collected at a point in time when the Company distributes proxy statements to its clients on behalf of a registrant and the revenue is based on the volume of proxies distributed and the rate per unit charged to each registrant. Solicit and tender fees are earned and collected from clients at a point

in time when the Company has satisfied its obligation to maintain its client accounts holding securities affected by corporate actions.

The amount of revenue recognized by the Company is measured based on the consideration specified in contracts with its clients. The Company recognizes revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied over time as the services are performed or at a point in time depending on the nature of the services provided as further discussed below.

Asset-Based Revenues

Asset-based revenues consists of bank deposit account fees, net interest revenue and investment product fees. The primary factors driving the Company's asset-based revenues are average balances and average rates. Average balances consist primarily of average client bank deposit account balances, average client margin balances, average segregated cash balances, average client credit balances, average fee-based investment balances and average securities borrowing and lending balances. Average rates consist of the average interest rates and fees earned and paid on such balances.

Bank deposit account fees

Bank deposit account fees consists of revenues earned and recognized over time resulting from a sweep program that is offered to eligible clients of the Company whereby clients' uninvested cash is swept off-balance sheet to FDIC-insured (up to specified limits) accounts with Sweep Program Counterparties participating in the program. These revenues are based on the return of floating-rate and fixed-rate notional investments, less the actual interest paid to clients and other applicable fees. Bank deposit account fees are collected from the Sweep Program Counterparties on a monthly basis. See "Insured Deposit Account Agreement" in Note 15 for a description of the sweep arrangement between the Company and TD.

Net interest revenue

Net interest revenue, which is generated from financial instruments covered by various other areas of GAAP, is not within the scope of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and is included in the table above to reconcile to net revenues disclosed within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Net interest revenue primarily consists of income generated by interest charged to clients on margin balances, net interest revenue from securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions and interest earned on client cash, net of interest paid to clients on their credit balances.

Investment product fees

Investment product fee revenue consists of revenues earned and recorded over time on client assets invested in money market mutual funds, other mutual funds and certain investment programs. Investment product fees also includes fees earned on client

assets managed by independent registered investment advisors ("RIAs") utilizing the Company's trading and investing platforms. Investment product fees are collected from clients and RIAs on a monthly or quarterly basis. Primary revenue sources within investment product fees are described below.