Revenues from contracts with customers

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenues from contracts with customers

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 are expected 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 funds' 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 and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

(Expressed in thousands)	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Reportable Segments
	Private Client		Asset Management		Capital Markets		Corporate/Other		Total
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Commissions from sales and trading	$	40,742	$	—	$	43,389	$	3	$	84,134
Mutual fund income	8,097		—		2		8		8,107
Advisory fees	67,949		20,634		—		12		88,595
Investment banking - capital markets	3,962		—		31,577		—		35,539
Investment banking - advisory	—		—		30,706		—		30,706
Bank deposit sweep income	4,619		—		—		—		4,619
Other	5,720		—		32		9		5,761
Total revenue from contracts with customers	131,089		20,634		105,706		32		257,461
Other sources of revenue:
Interest	5,939		(5)		1,539		67		7,540
Principal transactions, net	1,223		—		6,357		123		7,703
Other	2,846		3		687		19		3,555
Total other sources of revenue	10,008		(2)		8,583		209		18,798
Total revenue	$	141,097	$	20,632	$	114,289	$	241	$	276,259

(Expressed in thousands)	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Reportable Segments
	Private Client		Asset Management		Capital Markets		Corporate/Other		Total
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Commissions from sales and trading	$	35,994	$	—	$	32,569	$	9	$	68,572
Mutual fund income	10,050		—		1		4		10,055
Advisory fees	62,510		18,366		2		9		80,887
Investment banking - capital markets	2,557		—		8,773		—		11,330
Investment banking - advisory	—		—		10,468		—		10,468
Bank deposit sweep income	28,894		—		—		—		28,894
Other	3,296		2		448		576		4,322
Total revenue from contracts with customers	143,301		18,368		52,261		598		214,528
Other sources of revenue:
Interest	8,652		—		3,272		420		12,344
Principal transactions, net	70		—		8,515		(979)		7,606
Other	31		—		20		264		315
Total other sources of revenue	8,753		—		11,807		(295)		20,265
Total revenue	$	152,054	$	18,368	$	64,068	$	303	$	234,793

(Expressed in thousands)	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Reportable Segments
	Private Client		Asset Management		Capital Markets		Corporate/Other		Total
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Commissions from sales and trading	$	129,652	$	—	$	141,013	$	22	$	270,687
Mutual fund income	26,414		3		7		15		26,439
Advisory fees	193,297		57,411		2		30		250,740
Investment banking - capital markets	11,382		—		78,991		—		90,373
Investment banking - advisory	—		—		47,786		—		47,786
Bank deposit sweep income	30,567		—		—		—		30,567
Other	11,983		—		1,318		115		13,416
Total revenue from contracts with customers	403,295		57,414		269,117		182		730,008
Other sources of revenue:
Interest	18,753		—		5,390		507		24,650
Principal transactions, net	1,164		—		19,853		(2,118)		18,899
Other	1,128		9		741		324		2,202
Total other sources of revenue	21,045		9		25,984		(1,287)		45,751
Total revenue	$	424,340	$	57,423	$	295,101	$	(1,105)	$	775,759

(Expressed in thousands)	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Reportable Segments
	Private Client		Asset Management		Capital Markets		Corporate/Other		Total
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Commissions from sales and trading	$	110,496	$	—	$	98,621	$	16	$	209,133
Mutual fund income	29,788		(5)		3		13		29,799
Advisory fees	181,634		53,572		9		26		235,241
Investment banking - capital markets	9,568		—		32,065		—		41,633
Investment banking - advisory	—		—		40,214		—		40,214
Bank deposit sweep income	94,692		—		—		—		94,692
Other	10,101		2		1,289		2,369		13,761
Total revenue from contracts with customers	436,279		53,569		172,201		2,424		664,473
Other sources of revenue:
Interest	27,699		—		9,566		1,356		38,621
Principal transactions, net	2,292		—		24,984		(5,187)		22,089
Other	11,239		7		97		972		12,315
Total other sources of revenue	41,230		7		34,647		(2,859)		73,025
Total revenue	$	477,509	$	53,576	$	206,848	$	(435)	$	737,498

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 $30.9 million and $28.9 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company had no significant impairments related to these receivables during the three and nine months ended September 30, 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 $1.3 million and $408,000 at September 30, 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
	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Contract assets (receivables):
Commission (1)	$	780	$	2,824
Mutual fund income (2)	5,866		6,746
Advisory fees (3)	1,431		1,594
Bank deposit sweep income (4)	697		3,454
Investment banking fees (5)	15,983		9,284
Other	6,100		4,986
Total contract assets	$	30,857	$	28,888
Deferred revenue (payables):
Investment banking fees (6)	$	659	$	408
IRA fees (7)	636		—
Total deferred revenue	$	1,295	$	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.