Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Financial Information	Basis of Financial Information The unaudited consolidated financial statements (“financial statements”) are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the Firm to make estimates and assumptions regarding the valuations of certain financial instruments, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, compensation, deferred tax assets, the outcome of legal and tax matters, allowance for credit losses and other matters that affect its financial statements and related disclosures. The Firm believes that the estimates utilized in the preparation of its financial statements are prudent and reasonable. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to the current presentation. The Firm has evaluated subsequent events for adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements through the date of this report and has not identified any recordable or disclosable events not otherwise reported in these financial statements or the notes thereto. The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Firm’s financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2018 Form 10-K. Certain footnote disclosures included in the 2018 Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted from these financial statements as they are not required for interim reporting under U.S. GAAP. The financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim period. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.
Consolidation	Consolidation The financial statements include the accounts of the Firm, its wholly owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Firm has a controlling financial interest, including certain VIEs (see Note 12). For consolidated subsidiaries that are not wholly owned, the third-party holdings of equity interests are referred to as noncontrolling interests. The net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for such subsidiaries is presented as Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests in the consolidated income statements (“income statements”). The portion of shareholders’ equity that is attributable to noncontrolling interests for such subsidiaries is presented as noncontrolling interests, a component of total equity, in the consolidated balance sheets (“balance sheets”). For a discussion of the Firm’s significant regulated U.S. and international subsidiaries and its involvement with VIEs, see Note 1 to the financial statements in the 2018 Form 10-K.
Accounting Updates Adopted	Accounting Updates Adopted The Firm adopted the following accounting updates on January 1, 2019. Prior periods are presented under previous policies. Leases Upon the adoption of Leases, the Firm began recognizing in the balance sheet leases with terms exceeding one year as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and corresponding liabilities. The adoption resulted in an increase to Retained earnings of approximately $63 million, net of tax, related to deferred revenue from previously recorded sale-leaseback transactions. At transition on January 1, 2019, the adoption also resulted in a balance sheet gross-up of approximately $4 billion reflected in Other assets and Other liabilities and accrued expenses. See Note 11 for lease disclosures, including amounts reflected in the September 30, 2019 balance sheet. Prior period amounts were not restated. As allowed by the guidance, the Firm elected not to reassess the following at transition: whether existing contracts are or contain leases, and for existing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. In addition, the Firm continues to account for existing land easements as service contracts. Both at transition and for new leases thereafter, ROU assets and lease liabilities are initially recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term, including non-lease components such as fixed common area maintenance costs and other fixed costs such as real estate taxes and insurance. The discount rates used in determining the present value of leases are the Firm’s incremental borrowing rates, developed based upon each lease’s term and currency of payment. The lease term includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Firm will exercise that option. For operating leases, the ROU assets also include any prepaid lease payments and initial direct costs incurred and are reduced by lease incentives. For these leases, lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term if the ROU asset has not been impaired or abandoned. Derivatives and Hedging (ASU 2018-16) The amendments in this update permit use of the OIS rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. The Firm adopted this update on a prospective basis for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships. This update did not impact the Firm’s pre-existing hedges.
Goodwill	Goodwill The Firm completed its annual goodwill impairment testing as of July 1, 2019. The Firm's impairment testing did not indicate any goodwill impairment, as each of the Firm's reporting units with goodwill had a fair value that was substantially in excess of its carrying value.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

The unaudited consolidated financial statements (“financial statements”) are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the Firm to make estimates and assumptions regarding the valuations of certain financial instruments, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, compensation, deferred tax assets, the outcome of legal and tax matters, allowance for credit losses and other matters that affect its financial statements and related disclosures. The Firm believes that the estimates utilized in the preparation of its financial statements are prudent and reasonable. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to the current presentation.

The Firm has evaluated subsequent events for adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements through the date of this report and has not identified any recordable or disclosable events not otherwise reported in these financial statements or the notes thereto.

The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Firm’s financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2018 Form 10-K. Certain footnote disclosures included in the 2018 Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted from these financial statements as they are not required for interim reporting under U.S. GAAP. The financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim period. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.

Consolidation

The financial statements include the accounts of the Firm, its wholly owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Firm has a controlling financial interest, including certain VIEs (see Note 12). For consolidated subsidiaries that are not wholly owned, the third-party holdings of equity interests are referred to as noncontrolling interests. The net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for such subsidiaries is presented as Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests in the consolidated income statements (“income statements”). The portion of shareholders’ equity that is attributable to noncontrolling interests for such subsidiaries is presented as noncontrolling interests, a component of total equity, in the consolidated balance sheets (“balance sheets”).

For a discussion of the Firm’s significant regulated U.S. and international subsidiaries and its involvement with VIEs, see Note 1 to the financial statements in the 2018 Form 10-K.

Accounting Updates Adopted

The Firm adopted the following accounting updates on January 1, 2019. Prior periods are presented under previous policies.

Leases

Upon the adoption of Leases, the Firm began recognizing in the balance sheet leases with terms exceeding one year as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and corresponding liabilities. The adoption resulted in an increase to Retained earnings of approximately $63 million, net of tax, related to deferred revenue from previously recorded sale-leaseback transactions. At transition on January 1, 2019, the adoption also resulted in a balance sheet gross-up of approximately $4 billion reflected in Other assets and Other liabilities and accrued expenses. See Note 11 for lease disclosures, including amounts reflected in the September 30, 2019 balance sheet. Prior period amounts were not restated.

As allowed by the guidance, the Firm elected not to reassess the following at transition: whether existing contracts are or contain leases, and for existing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. In addition, the Firm continues to account for existing land easements as service contracts.

Both at transition and for new leases thereafter, ROU assets and lease liabilities are initially recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term, including non-lease components such as fixed common area maintenance costs and other fixed costs such as real estate taxes and insurance.

The discount rates used in determining the present value of leases are the Firm’s incremental borrowing rates, developed based upon each lease’s term and currency of payment. The lease term includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Firm will exercise that option. For operating leases, the ROU assets also include any prepaid lease payments and initial direct costs incurred and are reduced by lease incentives. For these leases, lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term if the ROU asset has not been impaired or abandoned.

Derivatives and Hedging (ASU 2018-16)

The amendments in this update permit use of the OIS rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. The Firm adopted this update on a prospective basis for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships. This update did not impact the Firm’s pre-existing hedges.

Goodwill

The Firm completed its annual goodwill impairment testing as of July 1, 2019. The Firm's impairment testing did not indicate any goodwill impairment, as each of the Firm's reporting units with goodwill had a fair value that was substantially in excess of its carrying value.