3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense based on estimated fair values for all stock-based awards made to employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock, and warrants. The Company estimates fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service periods. Because stock-based compensation expense is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, stock-based compensation expense has been reduced to account for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

To calculate stock-based compensation resulting from the issuance of options, restricted common stock, and warrants, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. No tax benefits were attributed to the share-based compensation expense because a valuation allowance was maintained for all net deferred tax assets.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding shares of non-vested stock. Diluted income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares used in the basic income per share calculation plus the number of common shares that would be issued assuming exercise or conversion of all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding, including non-vested stock. Diluted loss per share is unchanged from basic loss per share because the addition of common shares that would be issued assuming exercise or conversion would be anti-dilutive. Interest and dividends for convertible debt and convertible preferred stock are also not considered since including them in the calculation of diluted loss per share would be anti-dilutive.

The table below represents a list of potentially dilutive securities outstanding as of June 30, 2013 and 2012:

	June 30,
	2013		2012

Series D convertible preferred stock warrants		3,388,677		3,388,677
Conversion of Series D preferred stock		-		6,358,872
Series E convertible preferred stock warrants		3,412,721		3,127,344
Conversion of Series E preferred stock		-		6,254,680
Stock options		12,850,141		2,726,137
Warrants issued in connection with Secured Promissory Notes		492,620		87,720
Warrants issued in connection with recap		34,436,447		-
Other outstanding warrants		759,287		780,787
Potentially dilutive securities oustanding		55,339,893		22,724,217

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Emerging Issues Task Force and the SEC have issued certain accounting standards updates and regulations as of June 30, 2013 that will become effective in subsequent periods; however, management of the Company does not believe that any of those updates would have significantly affected the Company’s financial accounting measures or disclosures had they been in effect during the period, and does not believe that any of those pronouncements will have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements at the time they become effective.

Securities Owned

Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition consist of financial instruments carried at fair value with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in principal transactions in the consolidated statement of operations. The securities owned are classified into “Marketable” and “Non-marketable.” Marketable securities are those that can readily be sold, either through a stock exchange or through a direct sales arrangement. Non-marketable securities are typically securities restricted under the Federal Securities Act of 1933 provided by SEC Rule 144 (Rule 144) or have some restriction on their sale whether or not a buyer is identified.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Substantially all of the Company’s financial instruments are recorded at fair value or contract amounts that approximate fair value. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, due from clearing broker, accounts receivable, accounts payable, commissions and bonus payable, accrued expenses and other, securities sold, not yet purchased, deferred revenue, and capital lease obligation, approximate their fair values.

Fair Value Measurement—Definition and Hierarchy

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, for its financial assets and liabilities. Under ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters, or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments’ complexity. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated statement 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 and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities, are as follows:

Level 1 — Unadjusted, quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. The types of assets and liabilities carried at Level 1 fair value generally are G-7 government and agency securities, equities listed in active markets, investments in publicly traded mutual funds with quoted market prices and listed derivatives.

Level 2 — Pricing inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life. Fair valued assets which are generally included in this category are stock warrants for which market-based implied volatilities are available, and unregistered common stock.

Level 3 — Pricing inputs are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. These inputs generally 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 risk inherent in the inputs to the model. Fair valued assets which are generally included in this category are stock warrants for which market-based implied volatilities are not available.

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

For further information on financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis, and a description of valuation techniques, see Note 4.

Concentrations and Credit Risk

Substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held at two major U.S. financial institutions. The majority of the Company’s cash equivalents consist of short-term marketable securities. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand.

As of June 30, 2013, the Company held concentrated positions in three securities with total fair values of $1,057,000. The prices of these securities are highly volatile.

As of June 30, 2013, the Company held concentrated positions in accounts receivable with one client which exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable (approximately $120,000).

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, two sales professionals accounted for more than 10% of total revenue (approximately $1,607,000) and one customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenue (approximately $514,000). During the six months ended June 30, 2012, one sales professionals accounted for more than 10% of total revenue (approximately $1,049,000) and no customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenue.

The Company is also exposed to credit risk as it relates to the collection of receivables from third parties, including lead managers in underwriting transactions and the Company’s corporate clients related to private placements of securities and financial advisory services.

Subsequent Events

Under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 855 – Subsequent Events, the Company has evaluated all subsequent events through the date these consolidated financial statements were issued. (See Note 12)