NOTE 2 – FAIR VALUE

Substantially all of the Partnership’s financial assets and financial liabilities covered under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure (“ASC 820”), are carried at fair value or at contracted amounts which approximate fair value given the short time to maturity.

Fair value of a financial instrument is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, also known as the “exit price.” Financial assets are marked to bid prices and financial liabilities are marked to offer prices. The Partnership’s financial assets and financial liabilities recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels, defined by ASC 820 with the related amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to value these assets and liabilities at fair value for each level, are as follows:

Level I – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

The types of assets and liabilities categorized as Level I generally are U.S. treasuries, investments in publicly traded mutual funds with quoted market prices, equities listed in active markets and government and agency obligations.

Level II – Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level I) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with related market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life. The Partnership uses the market approach valuation technique which incorporates third-party pricing services and other relevant observable information (such as market interest rates, yield curves, prepayment risk and credit risk generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities) in valuing these types of investments. When third-party pricing services are used, the methods and assumptions used are reviewed by the Partnership.

The types of assets and liabilities categorized as Level II generally are certificates of deposit, state and municipal obligations, corporate bonds and notes, and collateralized mortgage obligations.

Level III – Inputs are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the inputs to the model.

The Partnership did not have any assets or liabilities categorized as Level III during the nine and twelve month periods ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. In addition, there were no transfers into or out of Levels I, II or III during these periods.

The following tables show the Partnership’s financial assets measured at fair value:

	Financial Assets at Fair Value as of
	September 30, 2016
	Level I		Level II		Level III		Total
Cash equivalents:
Certificates of deposit	$	—	$	150	$	—	$	150

Investments segregated under federal regulations:
U.S. treasuries	$	2,601	$	—	$	—	$	2,601
Certificates of deposit		—		300		—		300
Total investments segregated under federal regulations	$	2,601	$	300	$	—	$	2,901

Securities owned:
Investment securities:
Mutual funds⁽¹⁾	$	204	$	—	$	—	$	204
Equities		5		—		—		5
Government and agency obligations		4		—		—		4
Corporate bonds and notes		—		1		—		1
Total investment securities	$	213	$	1	$	—	$	214

Inventory securities:
State and municipal obligations	$	—	$	34	$	—	$	34
Equities		19		—		—		19
Mutual funds		16		—		—		16
Certificates of deposit		—		7		—		7
Corporate bonds and notes		—		3		—		3
Collateralized mortgage obligations		—		2		—		2
Total inventory securities	$	35	$	46	$	—	$	81

⁽¹⁾	The mutual funds balance consists primarily of securities held to economically hedge future liabilities related to the non-qualified deferred compensation plan.

	Financial Assets at Fair Value as of
	December 31, 2015
	Level I		Level II		Level III		Total
Cash equivalents:
Certificates of deposit	$	—	$	150	$	—	$	150

Investments segregated under federal regulations:
U.S. treasuries	$	2,706	$	—	$	—	$	2,706
Certificates of deposit		—		300		—		300
Total investments segregated under federal regulations	$	2,706	$	300	$	—	$	3,006

Securities owned:
Investment securities:
Mutual funds	$	192	$	—	$	—	$	192
Equities		4		—		—		4
Government and agency obligations		4		—		—		4
Corporate bonds and notes		—		1		—		1
Total investment securities	$	200	$	1	$	—	$	201

Inventory securities:
Equities	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	17
State and municipal obligations		—		11		—		11
Mutual funds		7		—		—		7
Corporate bonds and notes		—		1		—		1
Total inventory securities	$	24	$	12	$	—	$	36