Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies	2. Significant Accounting Policies For a detailed discussion about the Firm’s significant accounting policies, see Note 2 to the financial statements in the 2017 Form 10-K. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 (“current quarter”), there were no significant revisions to the Firm’s significant accounting policies, other than the following and the accounting updates adopted. Carried Interest The Firm is entitled to receive performance-based fees (also referred to as incentive fees, and includes carried interest) when the return on assets under management exceeds certain benchmark returns or other performance targets. Beginning January 1, 2018, when the Firm earns carried interest from funds as specified performance thresholds are met, that carried interest and any related general or limited partner interest is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and measured based on the Firm’s claim on the NAV of the fund at the reporting date taking into account the distribution terms applicable to the interest held. Performance-based fees in the form of carried interest considered equity method investments are therefore outside the scope of the policies for revenue from contracts with customers discussed below. See Note 11 for information regarding general partner guarantees, which include potential obligations to return performance fee distributions previously received. Accounting Updates Adopted The Firm adopted the following accounting updates in the current quarter. Prior year quarter results are presented under previous policies. See Note 14 for a summary of the Retained earnings impacts of these and other minor adoptions effective this quarter. Revenue from Contracts with Customers On January 1, 2018, we adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers using the modified retrospective method, which resulted in a net decrease to Retained earnings of $32 million, net of tax. Prior period amounts were not restated. See Note 20 for new disclosures related to the adoption of this standard. Our revised accounting policy in accordance with this adoption is effective January 1, 2018, and is discussed below. Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized when the promised goods or services are delivered to our customers, in an amount that is based on the consideration the Firm expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services when such amounts are not probable of significant reversal. Investment Banking Revenue from investment banking activities consists of revenues earned from underwriting primarily equity and fixed income securities and advisory fees for mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and advisory assignments. Underwriting revenues are generally recognized on trade date if there is no uncertainty or contingency related to the amount to be paid. Underwriting costs are deferred and recognized in the relevant non-compensation expense line items when the related underwriting revenues are recorded. Advisory fees are recognized as advice is provided to the client, based on the estimated progress of work and when the revenue is not probable of a significant reversal. Advisory costs are recognized as incurred in the relevant non-compensation expense line items, including when reimbursed. Commissions and Fees Commission and fee revenues result from transaction-based arrangements in which the client is charged a fee for the execution of transactions. Such revenues primarily arise from transactions in equity securities; services related to sales and trading activities; and sales of mutual funds, alternative funds, futures, insurance products and options. Commission and fee revenues are recognized on trade date when the performance obligation is satisfied. Asset Management Revenues Asset management, distribution and administration fees are generally based on related asset levels being managed, such as the AUM of a customer’s account, or the net asset value of a fund. These fees are generally recognized when services are performed and the fees become known. Management fees are reduced by estimated fee waivers and expense caps, if any, provided to the customer. Performance-based fees not in the form of carried interest are recorded when the annual performance target is met and the revenue is not probable of a significant reversal. Performance-based fees in the form of carried interest are considered equity method investments and are therefore outside the scope of these policies for revenue from contracts with customers. Sales commissions paid by the Firm in connection with the sale of certain classes of shares of its open-end mutual fund products are accounted for as deferred commission assets and amortized to expense over the expected life of the contract. The Firm periodically tests deferred commission assets for recoverability based on cash flows expected to be received in future periods. Other asset management and distribution costs are recognized as incurred in the relevant non-compensation expense line items. Other Items Revenue from commodities-related contracts is recognized as the promised goods or services are delivered to the customer. Receivables from contracts with customers are recognized in Customer and other receivables in the balance sheets when the underlying performance obligations have been satisfied and the Firm has the right per the contract to bill the customer. Contract assets are recognized in Other assets when the Firm has satisfied its performance obligations, but customer payment is conditional. Contract liabilities are recognized in Other liabilities when the Firm has collected payment from a customer based on the terms of the contract, but the underlying performance obligations are not yet satisfied. For contracts with a term less than one year, incremental costs to obtain the contract are expensed as incurred. Revenues are not discounted when payment is expected within one year. The Firm presents, net within revenues, all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the Firm from a customer. Derivatives and Hedging–Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities This accounting update aims to better align the hedge accounting requirements with an entity’s risk management strategies and improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships. It also results in simplification of the application of hedge accounting related to the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The Firm early adopted this accounting update in the first quarter of 2018. Upon adoption, the Firm recorded a cumulative catch-up adjustment, decreasing Retained earnings by $99 million, net of tax. This adjustment represents the cumulative effect of applying the new rules from the inception of certain fair value hedges of the interest rate risk of our borrowings, in particular the provision allowing only the benchmark rate component of coupon cash flows to be hedged. Effective January 1, 2018, in accordance with this adoption, the Firm has updated its accounting policies to permit the hedged item in a fair value hedge of interest rate risk to be defined as including only the benchmark rate component of contractual coupon cash flows, and to allow for hedging part of the contractual term of the hedged instrument. The accounting policy also requires the entire gain or loss from revaluing hedges of net investments in foreign operations at the spot rate to be reported within AOCI. Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income This accounting update, which the Firm elected to early adopt as of January 1, 2018, allows companies to reclassify from AOCI to Retained earnings the stranded tax effects associated with enactment of the Tax Act on December 22, 2017. These stranded tax effects resulted from the requirement to reflect the total amount of the remeasurement of and other adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities in 2017 income from continuing operations, regardless of whether the deferred taxes were originally recorded in AOCI. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2018, the Firm recorded a net increase to Retained earnings as a result of the reclassification of $443 million of such stranded tax effects previously recorded in AOCI, which were primarily the result of the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with the change in tax rates. Aside from the above treatment related to the Tax Act, the Firm releases stranded tax effects from AOCI into earnings once the related category of instruments or transactions giving rise to these effects no longer exists. For further detail on the tax effects reclassified, refer to Note 14 to the financial statements.

Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

2. Significant Accounting Policies

For a detailed discussion about the Firm’s significant accounting policies, see Note 2 to the financial statements in the 2017 Form 10-K.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 (“current quarter”), there were no significant revisions to the Firm’s significant accounting policies, other than the following and the accounting updates adopted.

Carried Interest

The Firm is entitled to receive performance-based fees (also referred to as incentive fees, and includes carried interest) when the return on assets under management exceeds certain benchmark returns or other performance targets. Beginning January 1, 2018, when the Firm earns carried interest from funds as specified performance thresholds are met, that carried interest and any related general or limited partner interest is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and measured based on the Firm’s claim on the NAV of the fund at the reporting date taking into account the distribution terms applicable to the interest held. Performance-based fees in the form of carried interest considered equity method investments are therefore outside the scope of the policies for revenue from contracts with customers discussed below. See Note 11 for information regarding general partner guarantees, which include potential obligations to return performance fee distributions previously received.

Accounting Updates Adopted

The Firm adopted the following accounting updates in the current quarter. Prior year quarter results are presented under previous policies. See Note 14 for a summary of the Retained earnings impacts of these and other minor adoptions effective this quarter.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

On January 1, 2018, we adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers using the modified retrospective method, which resulted in a net decrease to Retained earnings of $32 million, net of tax. Prior period amounts were not restated. See Note 20 for new disclosures related to the adoption of this standard.

Our revised accounting policy in accordance with this adoption is effective January 1, 2018, and is discussed below.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when the promised goods or services are delivered to our customers, in an amount that is based on the consideration the Firm expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services when such amounts are not probable of significant reversal.

Investment Banking

Revenue from investment banking activities consists of revenues earned from underwriting primarily equity and fixed income securities and advisory fees for mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and advisory assignments.

Underwriting revenues are generally recognized on trade date if there is no uncertainty or contingency related to the amount to be paid. Underwriting costs are deferred and recognized in the relevant non-compensation expense line items when the related underwriting revenues are recorded.

Advisory fees are recognized as advice is provided to the client, based on the estimated progress of work and when the revenue is not probable of a significant reversal. Advisory costs are recognized as incurred in the relevant non-compensation expense line items, including when reimbursed.

Commissions and Fees

Commission and fee revenues result from transaction-based arrangements in which the client is charged a fee for the execution of transactions. Such revenues primarily arise from transactions in equity securities; services related to sales and trading activities; and sales of mutual funds, alternative funds, futures, insurance products and options. Commission and fee revenues are recognized on trade date when the performance obligation is satisfied.

Asset Management Revenues

Asset management, distribution and administration fees are generally based on related asset levels being managed, such as the AUM of a customer’s account, or the net asset value of a fund. These fees are generally recognized when services are performed and the fees become known. Management fees are reduced by estimated fee waivers and expense caps, if any, provided to the customer.

Performance-based fees not in the form of carried interest are recorded when the annual performance target is met and the revenue is not probable of a significant reversal. Performance-based fees in the form of carried interest are considered equity method investments and are therefore outside the scope of these policies for revenue from contracts with customers.

Sales commissions paid by the Firm in connection with the sale of certain classes of shares of its open-end mutual fund products are accounted for as deferred commission assets and amortized to expense over the expected life of the contract. The Firm periodically tests deferred commission assets for recoverability based on cash flows expected to be received in future periods. Other asset management and distribution costs are recognized as incurred in the relevant non-compensation expense line items.

Other Items

Revenue from commodities-related contracts is recognized as the promised goods or services are delivered to the customer.

Receivables from contracts with customers are recognized in Customer and other receivables in the balance sheets when the underlying performance obligations have been satisfied and the Firm has the right per the contract to bill the customer. Contract assets are recognized in Other assets when the Firm has satisfied its performance obligations, but customer payment is conditional. Contract liabilities are recognized in Other liabilities when the Firm has collected payment from a customer based on the terms of the contract, but the underlying performance obligations are not yet satisfied.

For contracts with a term less than one year, incremental costs to obtain the contract are expensed as incurred. Revenues are not discounted when payment is expected within one year.

The Firm presents, net within revenues, all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the Firm from a customer.

Derivatives and Hedging–Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities

This accounting update aims to better align the hedge accounting requirements with an entity’s risk management strategies and improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships. It also results in simplification of the application of hedge accounting related to the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

The Firm early adopted this accounting update in the first quarter of 2018. Upon adoption, the Firm recorded a cumulative catch-up adjustment, decreasing Retained earnings by $99 million, net of tax. This adjustment represents the cumulative effect of applying the new rules from the inception of certain fair value hedges of the interest rate risk of our borrowings, in particular the provision allowing only the benchmark rate component of coupon cash flows to be hedged.

Effective January 1, 2018, in accordance with this adoption, the Firm has updated its accounting policies to permit the hedged item in a fair value hedge of interest rate risk to be defined as including only the benchmark rate component of contractual coupon cash flows, and to allow for hedging part of the contractual term of the hedged instrument. The accounting policy also requires the entire gain or loss from revaluing hedges of net investments in foreign operations at the spot rate to be reported within AOCI.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

This accounting update, which the Firm elected to early adopt as of January 1, 2018, allows companies to reclassify from AOCI to Retained earnings the stranded tax effects associated with enactment of the Tax Act on December 22, 2017. These stranded tax effects resulted from the requirement to reflect the total amount of the remeasurement of and other adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities in 2017 income from continuing operations, regardless of whether the deferred taxes were originally recorded in AOCI. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2018, the Firm recorded a net increase to Retained earnings as a result of the reclassification of $443 million of such stranded tax effects previously recorded in AOCI, which were primarily the result of the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with the change in tax rates.

Aside from the above treatment related to the Tax Act, the Firm releases stranded tax effects from AOCI into earnings once the related category of instruments or transactions giving rise to these effects no longer exists. For further detail on the tax effects reclassified, refer to Note 14 to the financial statements.