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Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in the opinion of management reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain accounts in the prior years’ consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s consolidated financial statements presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the previously reported operating results. Foreign Currency Translation Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar are translated based on the end of period exchange rates from local currency to U.S. dollars. Results of operations are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the period. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Revenue Recognition The Company earns investment advisory fees as well as licensing fees from third parties. Advisory fees are based on a percentage of the ETPs average daily net assets and recognized over the period the related service is provided. Licensing fees are based on a percentage of the average monthly net assets and recognized over the period the related service is provided. Depreciation and Amortization Depreciation is provided for using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:
Equipment |  |  | 5 years |
Furniture and fixtures |  |  | 15 years |
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of their respective leases or service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Marketing and Advertising Advertising costs, including media advertising and production costs are expensed when incurred. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be classified as cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are held primarily with one large financial institution. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable are customer and other obligations due under normal trade terms. An allowance for doubtful accounts is not provided since, in the opinion of management, all accounts receivable recorded are deemed collectible. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets On a periodic basis, the Company performs a review for the impairment of long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the assets are less than their carrying amounts or when other events occur which may indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Earnings per Share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the reduction in earnings per share assuming options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Investments The Company accounts for all of its investments as held-to-maturity, which are recorded at amortized cost. For held-to-maturity investments, the Company has the intent and ability to hold investments to maturity and it is not more-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity. On a periodic basis, the Company reviews its portfolio of investments for impairment. If a decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the security is written down to its fair value through earnings. Goodwill Goodwill is the excess of the fair value of the purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable net assets at the acquisition date. The Company tests its goodwill for impairment at least annually. An impairment loss is triggered if the estimated fair value of the operating reporting unit is less than the estimated net book value. Such loss is calculated as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and its carrying value. Stock-Based Awards Accounting for stock-based compensation requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all equity awards based on estimated fair values. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation for its employees based on the cost of employee services received in exchange for a stock-based award. Stock-based compensation is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award and are amortized over the relevant service period. Stock-based awards granted to non-employees for goods or services are valued at the fair value of the equity instruments issued or the fair value of consideration received, whichever is a more reliable measure of the fair value of the transaction, and recognized when performance obligations are complete. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, which requires the determination of deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial and tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are adjusted by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In order to recognize and measure any unrecognized tax benefits, management evaluates and determines whether any of its tax positions are more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Once it is determined that a position meets this recognition threshold, the position is measured to determine the amount of benefit to be recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The Company records interest expense and penalties related to tax expenses as income tax expense. Related Party Transactions The Company’s revenues are derived primarily from investment advisory agreements with WTT and WisdomTree ETFs. Under these agreements, the Company has granted WTT an exclusive license to its own indexes for operation of the WisdomTree ETFs. The Trustees are primarily responsible for overseeing the management and affairs of the WisdomTree ETFs and the Trust for the benefit of the WisdomTree ETF shareholders and WTT has contracted with the Company to provide for general management and administration of WTT and the WisdomTree ETFs. The Company is also responsible for certain expenses of WTT, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration and accounting, legal, audit, and other non-distribution services, excluding extraordinary expenses, taxes and certain other expenses. In exchange, the Company receives fees based on a percentage of the ETF average daily net assets. The advisory agreements may be terminated by WTT upon notice. Certain officers of the Company also provide general management oversight of WTT; however, these officers have no material decision making responsibilities and primarily implement the decisions of the Trustees. At December 31, 2014, and 2013, the balance of accounts receivable from WTT was approximately $17,288 and $14,791, respectively which is included as a component of accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheet. Revenue from advisory services provided to WTT for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $181,987, $148,594 and $84,024, respectively. Revenue from advisory fee services provided to BI for the period from April 15, 2014 to December 31, 2014 was approximately $829. Third Party Sharing Arrangements Included in third party sharing arrangements expense are payments from the Company with respect to (i) a collaborative arrangement and (ii) marketing agreements with third parties to sell the Company’s ETFs or include them on certain platforms. Collaborative Arrangement—In 2008, the Company entered into a mutual participation agreement with Mellon Capital Management Corporation (“Mellon Capital”) and The Dreyfus Corporation (“Dreyfus”) in which the parties agreed to collaborate in developing currency and fixed income ETFs under WTT. Under the agreement, the Company was responsible for operating the ETFs and providing sales, marketing and research support at its own cost. Mellon Capital and Dreyfus were responsible for providing sub-advisory, fund administration and accounting services for these collaborative ETFs at their own cost. Any revenues less third party costs, such as marketing, legal, accounting or fund management, related to these collaborative products were shared equally, including any losses (“net profit/(loss)”). The Company was responsible for arranging any third party costs related to this collaborative arrangement. In October 2012, the parties agreed to end this joint venture as of December 31, 2012 and entered into a new fee arrangement effective January 1, 2013. The Company had determined it was the principal participant for transactions under this collaborative arrangement and as such, recorded these transactions on a gross basis reflecting all of the revenues and third party expenses on its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the nature of the revenue or expense. Any net profit/(loss) payments were reflected in Third Party Sharing Arrangements expense on the consolidated financial statements. Revenues and expenses under this collaborative arrangement included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements were as follows:
|  | 2012 |
ETF advisory fee revenue |  | $ | 10,968 |
Expenses: |  |  |  |
Fund management and administration |  |  | 1,341 |
Marketing and advertising |  |  | 39 |
Sales and business development |  |  | 24 |
Third party expenses |  |  | 1,404 |
Net profit |  |  | 9,564 |
Sharing |  | $ | 4,662 |
Marketing agreements—In 2010, the Company entered into agreements with firms to serve as the external marketing agents for the WisdomTree ETFs. Under these agreements, the Company will pay a percentage of its advisory fee revenue based on incremental growth in AUM, subject to caps or minimums, to the marketing agents to sell WisdomTree ETFs or to include them on their customer platforms. The Company incurred marketing fees of $594, $1,368 and $806 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively. Segment, Geographic and Customer Information The Company operates as a single business segment as an ETP sponsor and asset manager providing investment advisory services. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues, pretax income and assets are derived or located in the U.S. The Company maintains operations in Europe through its acquisition of Boost, now known as WisdomTree Europe (Note 13). Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09) Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which is a new comprehensive revenue recognition standard on the financial reporting requirements for revenue from contracts entered into with customers. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of the adoption of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. Business Combinations The Company includes the results of operations of the businesses that it acquires from the respective dates of acquisition. The fair values of the purchase price of the acquisitions are allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase price over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Subsequent Events The Company has evaluated subsequent events after the date of the consolidated financial statements to consider whether or not the impact of such events needed to be reflected or disclosed in the consolidated financial statements. Such evaluation was performed through the issuance date of the consolidated financial statements.

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