Revenue from contracts with customers

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when, or as, the Company satisfies its performance obligations by transferring the promised goods or services to customers. A good or service is transferred to a customer when, or as, the customer obtains control of that good or service. A performance obligation may be satisfied over time or at a point in time. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied over time is recognized by measuring the Company's progress in satisfying the performance obligation in a manner that depicts the transfer of the goods or services to the customer. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied at a point in time is recognized at the point in time that the Company determines the customer obtains control over the promised good or service. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those promised goods or services (i.e., the "transaction price"). In determining the transaction price, the Company considers multiple factors, including the effects of variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainties with respect to the amount are resolved. In determining when to include variable consideration in the transaction price, the Company considers the range of possible outcomes, the predictive value of its past experiences, the time period when uncertainties expect to be resolved and the amount of consideration that is susceptible to factors outside of the Company's influence, such as market volatility or the judgment and actions of third parties.

The Company earns revenue from contracts with customers and other sources (principal transactions, interest and other). The following provides detailed information on the recognition of the Company's revenue from contracts with customers:

Commissions

Commissions from Sales and Trading — The Company earns commission revenue by executing, settling and clearing transactions with clients primarily in exchange-traded and over-the-counter corporate equity and debt securities, money market instruments and exchange-traded options and futures contracts. A substantial portion of Company's revenue is derived from commissions from private clients through accounts with transaction-based pricing. Trade execution and clearing services, when provided together, represent a single performance obligation as the services are not separately identifiable in the context of the contract. Commission revenue associated with combined trade execution and clearing services, as well as trade execution services on a standalone basis, is recognized at a point in time on trade date when the performance obligation is satisfied.

Commission revenue is generally paid on settlement date, which is generally two business days after trade date for equity securities and corporate bond transactions and one day for government securities, options, and commodities transactions. The Company records a receivable on the trade date and receives a payment on the settlement date.

Mutual Fund Income — The Company earns mutual fund income for sales and distribution of mutual fund shares. Many mutual fund companies pay distribution fees to intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, for selling their shares. The fees are operational expenses of the mutual fund and are included in its expense ratio. The Company recognizes mutual fund income at a point in time on trade date when the performance obligation is satisfied which is when the mutual fund interest is sold to the investor. Mutual fund income is generally received within 90 days.

Advisory Fees

The Company earns management and performance (or incentive) fees in connection with the advisory and asset management services it provides to various types of funds and investment vehicles through its subsidiaries. Management fees are generally based on the account value at the valuation date per the respective asset management agreements and are recognized over time as the customer receives the benefits of the services evenly throughout the term of the contract. Performance fees are recognized when the return on client AUM exceeds a specified benchmark return or other performance targets over a 12-month measurement period. Performance fees are considered variable as they are subject to fluctuation and/or are contingent on a future event over the measurement period and are not subject to adjustment once the measurement period ends. Such fees are computed as of the fund's year-end when the measurement period ends and generally are recorded as earned in the fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year. Both management and performance fees are generally received within 90 days.

Investment Banking

The Company earns underwriting revenues by providing capital raising solutions for corporate clients through initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, equity-linked offerings, private investments in public entities, and private placements. Underwriting revenues are recognized at a point in time on trade date, as the client obtains the control and benefit of the capital markets offering at that point. These fees are generally received within 90 days after the transactions are completed. Transaction-related expenses, primarily consisting of legal, travel and other costs directly associated with the transaction, are deferred and recognized in the same period as the related investment banking transaction revenue. Underwriting revenues and related expenses are presented gross on the condensed consolidated income statements.

Revenue from financial advisory services includes fees generated in connection with mergers, acquisitions and restructuring transactions and such revenue and fees are primarily recorded at a point in time when services for the transactions are completed and income is reasonably determinable, generally as set forth under the terms of the engagement. Payment for advisory services is generally due upon completion of the transaction or milestone. Retainer fees and fees earned from certain advisory services are recognized ratably over the service period as the customers receive the benefit of the services throughout the term of the contracts, and such fees are collected based on the terms of the contracts.

Bank Deposit Sweep Income

Bank deposit sweep income consists of revenue earned from the FDIC-insured bank deposit program. Under this program, client funds are swept into deposit accounts at participating banks and are eligible for FDIC deposit insurance up to FDIC standard maximum deposit insurance amounts. Fees are earned over time and are generally received within 30 days.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following presents the Company's revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by major business activity and other sources of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:



(Expressed in thousands)	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
	Reportable Segments
	Private Client			Asset Management		Capital Markets		Corporate/Other			Total
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Commissions from sales and trading	$	47,105		$	—	$	46,287	$	20		$	93,412
Mutual fund income	9,827			3		3		4			9,837
Advisory fees	66,883			19,270		2		9			86,164
Investment banking - capital markets	3,950			—		11,942		—			15,892
Investment banking - advisory	—			—		9,836		—			9,836
Bank deposit sweep income	18,826			—		—		—			18,826
Other	3,131			—		640		101			3,872
Total revenue from contracts with customers	149,722			19,273		68,710		134			237,839
Other sources of revenue:
Interest	7,680			—		2,824		386			10,890
Principal transactions, net	(2,715		)	—		3,984		(2,137		)	(868		)
Other	(13,269		)	3		24		151			(13,091		)
Total other sources of revenue	(8,304		)	3		6,832		(1,600		)	(3,069		)
Total revenue	$	141,418		$	19,276	$	75,542	$	(1,466	)	$	234,770



(Expressed in thousands)	For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	Reportable Segments
	Private Client		Asset Management			Capital Markets		Corporate/Other			Total
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Commissions from sales and trading	$	37,477	$	—		$	32,316	$	2		$	69,795
Mutual fund income	9,614		(6		)	1		5			9,614
Advisory fees	57,044		16,589			5		9			73,647
Investment banking - capital markets	2,749		—			8,593		—			11,342
Investment banking - advisory	—		—			16,701		—			16,701
Bank deposit sweep income	33,968		—			—		—			33,968
Other	3,278		—			319		256			3,853
Total revenue from contracts with customers	144,130		16,583			57,935		272			218,920
Other sources of revenue:
Interest	9,408		—			2,835		484			12,727
Principal transactions, net	1,684		—			10,157		(403		)	11,438
Other	8,305		3			34		343			8,685
Total other sources of revenue	19,397		3			13,026		424			32,850
Total revenue	$	163,527	$	16,586		$	70,961	$	696		$	251,770

Contract Balances

The timing of the Company's revenue recognition may differ from the timing of payment by its customers. The Company records receivables when revenue is recognized prior to payment and it has an unconditional right to payment. Alternatively, when payment precedes the provision of the related services, the Company records deferred revenue until the performance obligations are satisfied.

The Company had receivables related to revenue from contracts with customers of $22.7 million and $28.9 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company had no significant impairments related to these receivables during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Deferred revenue relates to IRA fees received annually in advance on customers' IRA accounts managed by the Company and the retainer fees and fees earned from certain advisory transactions where the performance obligations have not yet been satisfied. Total deferred revenue was $2.2 million and $408,000 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

The following presents the Company's contract assets and deferred revenue balances from contracts with customers, which are included in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet:



(Expressed in thousands)
	As of
	March 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Contract assets (receivables):
Commission ⁽¹⁾	$	4,298	$	2,824
Mutual fund income ⁽²⁾	6,736		6,746
Advisory fees ⁽³⁾	1,080		1,594
Bank deposit sweep income ⁽⁴⁾	1,610		3,454
Investment banking fees ⁽⁵⁾	4,392		9,284
Other	4,560		4,986
Total contract assets	$	22,676	$	28,888
Deferred revenue (payables):
Investment banking fees ⁽⁶⁾	$	289	$	408
IRA fees ⁽⁷⁾	1,906		—
Total deferred revenue	$	2,195	$	408


(1)	Commission recorded on trade date but not yet settled.


(2)	Mutual fund income earned but not yet received.


(3)	Management and performance fees earned but not yet received.


(4)	Fees earned from FDIC-insured bank deposit program but not yet received.


(5)	Underwriting revenue and advisory fees earned but not yet received.


(6)	Retainer fees and fees earned from certain advisory transactions where the performance obligations have not yet been satisfied.


(7)	Fee received in advance on an annual basis.