Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Credit Loss [Abstract]

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

Under ASC 326, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses", the Company can elect to use an approach to measure the allowance for credit losses using the fair value of collateral where the borrower is required to, and reasonably expected to, continually adjust and replenish the amount of collateral securing the instrument to reflect changes in the fair value of such collateral. The Company has elected to use this approach for securities borrowed, margin loans, and reverse repurchase agreements. No material historical losses have been reported on these assets. See note 9 for details.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $67.9 million of notes receivable ($62.6 million as of December 31, 2023). Notes receivable represent recruiting and retention payments generally in the form of upfront loans to financial advisors and key revenue producers as part of the Company's overall growth strategy. These notes generally amortize over a service period of 3 to 9 years from the initial date of the note or based on productivity levels of employees. All such notes are contingent on the employees' continued employment with the Company. The unforgiven portion of the notes becomes due on demand in the event the employee departs during the service period. At that point, any uncollected portion of the notes is reclassified into a defaulted notes category.

The allowance for uncollectibles is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the defaulted notes balance to present the net amount expected to be collected. Balances are charged-off against the allowance when management deems the amount to be uncollectible.

The Company reserves 100% of the uncollected balance of defaulted notes which are five years and older and applies an expected loss rate to the remaining balance. The expected loss rate is based on historical collection rates of defaulted notes. The expected loss rate is adjusted for changes in environmental and market conditions such as changes in unemployment rates, changes in interest rates and/or other relevant factors. For the year ended December 31, 2024, no adjustments were made to the expected loss rates. The Company will continuously monitor the effect of these factors on the expected loss rate and adjust it as necessary.

The allowance is measured on a pool basis as the Company has determined that the entire defaulted portion of notes receivable has similar risk characteristics.

As of December 31, 2024, the balance of defaulted notes was $5.0 million and the allowance for uncollectibles was $2.8 million. The allowance for uncollectibles consisted of $1.3 million related to defaulted notes balances (five years and older) and $1.5 million (under five years).

The following table presents the disaggregation of defaulted notes by year of default as of December 31, 2024:

(Expressed in thousands)
	As of December 31, 2024
2024	$	449
2023	1,091
2022	141
2021	1,541
2020	423
2019 and prior	1,340
Total	$	4,985

The following table presents activity in the allowance for uncollectibles of defaulted notes for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

(Expressed in thousands)
	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2024		2023
Beginning balance	$	3,869	$	4,327
Write-offs	(1,901)		(1,420)
Recoveries	$	847	$	962
Ending balance	$	2,815	$	3,869