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Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
2. | Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Policies The complete list of the Company’s accounting policies is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 2, 2020 with the SEC. The following are updated, or new accounting policies related to the adoption of the credit losses standard. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers cash equivalents to include short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased. Portions of the balance of cash and cash equivalents were held in financial institutions, various money market funds with fixed and floating net asset values and short-term commercial paper. Money market funds have floating net asset values and may be subject to gating or liquidity fees. The Company assesses short-term commercial papers for impairment in connection with investments in marketable debt securities, available-for-sale. The likelihood of realizing material losses from cash and cash equivalents, including the excess of cash balances over federally insured limits, is remote. Commissions Receivable, Net Commissions receivable, net consists of commissions earned on brokerage and financing transactions for which payment has not yet been received. The Company evaluates the need for an allowance for credit losses based on consideration of historical experience, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. The majority of commissions receivable are settled within 10 days after the close of escrow. The allowance for credit losses for commissions receivable was not material as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Advances and Loans, Net Advances and loans, net includes amounts advanced and loans due from the Company’s investment sales and financing professionals. In order to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, from time to time, the Company advances funds to its investment sales and financing professionals. The advances are typically in the form of forgivable loans that have terms that are generally between 5 and 10 years. The principal amount of a forgivable loan and accrued interest are forgiven over the term of the loan, so long as the investment sales and financing professionals continue to be a service provider with the Company, or upon achieving contractual performance criteria. Amounts forgiven are charged to selling, general and administrative expense at the time the amounts are forgiven. If the investment sales and financing professional’s relationship with the Company is terminated before the amount advanced is forgiven, the unforgiven amount becomes due and payable. The Company evaluates the need for an allowance for credit losses based on amounts advanced and expected forgiveness, in consideration of historical experience, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. Estimated credit losses, net of any reversals, are charged to credit loss expense included in selling, general and administrative expense. Amounts are generally written off when amounts are determined to be no longer collectable. Accrued interest, when applicable, has historically been immaterial. The Company, from time to time, enters into various agreements with certain of its investment sales and financing professionals whereby these individuals receive loans. The notes receivable along with stated interest, are typically collected from future commissions or repaid based on the terms stipulated in the respective agreements that are generally between 1 and 7 years . The Company evaluates the need for an allowance for credit losses for the loans based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and forecasts of future economic conditions. Estimated credit losses, net of any reversals, are charged to credit loss expense included in selling, general and administrative expense. Amounts are generally written off when amounts are determined to be no longer collectable. Investments in Marketable Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale The Company maintains a portfolio of investments in a variety of fixed and variable rate debt securities, including U.S. treasuries, U.S. government sponsored entities, corporate debt, asset-backed securities (“ABS”) and other. The Company considers its investments in marketable debt securities to be available-for-sale, and accordingly are recorded at their fair values. The Company determines the appropriate classification of investments in marketable debt securities at the time of purchase. Interest along with accretion and amortization of purchase premiums and discounts from the purchase date through the estimated maturity date, including consideration of variable maturities and contractual call provisions, are included in other (expense) income, net in the condensed consolidated statements of net and comprehensive income. The Company typically invests in highly-rated debt securities, and its investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy requires substantially all investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss and matching long-term liabilities. The Company reviews quarterly its investment portfolio of all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if an impairment charge or credit reserve is required. The Company excludes accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment. An investment is impaired if the fair value is less than its amortized cost basis. Impairment relating to credit losses is recorded through a reduction in the amortized cost of the security or an allowance for credit losses and credit loss expense (included in selling, general and administrative expense), limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Impairment that has not been recorded as a credit loss is recorded through other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. The Company made an accounting policy election to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables. The Company evaluates write-off of accrued interest receivable by the major security-type level at the time credit loss exists for the underlying security. Determining whether a credit loss exists requires a high degree of judgment and the Company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors in making its determination. The Company evaluates its intent to sell, or whether the Company will more likely than not be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. For all securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company evaluates, among other items, the extent and length of time the fair market value of a security is less than its amortized cost, time to maturity, duration, seniority, the financial condition of the issuer including credit ratings, any changes thereto and relative default rates, leverage ratios, availability of liquidity to make principle and interest payments, performance indicators of the underlying assets, analyst reports and recommendations and changes in base and market interest rates. If qualitative and quantitative analysis is sufficient to conclude that an impairment related to credit losses does not exist, the Company typically does not perform further quantitative analysis to estimate the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security. Estimates of expected future cash flows are the Company’s best estimate based on past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. Concentrations of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments in marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, security deposits (included under other assets, non-current) and commissions receivable, net. Cash and cash equivalents are placed with high-credit quality financial institutions and invested in high-credit quality money market funds and commercial paper. Concentrations of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale are limited by the approved investment policy. To reduce its credit risk, the Company monitors the credit standing of the financial institutions money market funds that represent amounts recorded as cash and cash equivalents. The Company historically has not experienced any significant losses related to cash and cash equivalents. The Company derives its revenues from a broad range of real estate investors, owners, and users in the United States and Canada, none of which individually represents a significant concentration of credit risk. The Company maintains allowances, as needed, for estimated credit losses based on management’s assessment of the likelihood of collection. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, no transaction represented 10% or more of total revenues. Further, while one or more transactions may represent 10% or more of commissions receivable at any reporting date, amounts due are typically collected within 10 days of settlement and, therefore, do not expose the Company to significant credit risk. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s Canadian operations represented approximately 2% and 1% of total revenues, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, one office represented 10% or more of total revenues. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, no office represented 10% or more of total revenues. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (“ASU 2016-13”). The new standard requires the use of an expected-loss model for financial assets measured at amortized cost and marketable debt securities, available-for sale, which requires that identified credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as an impairment write-down. Reversals of credit losses (in situations in which the estimate of credit losses declines) is permitted in the reporting period that the change occurs. Previously, U.S. GAAP prohibited reflecting any reversals of impairment charges. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2020 using the modified-retrospective transition method for assets measured at amortized cost other than marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, which was adopted using a prospective transition approach as required by the new standard. On the adoption date, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment related to an allowance for credit losses related to commissions receivable and advances and loans, net of tax in the amount of $33,000 with the offset to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period presented after adoption. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on the Company’s investment policy and impairment model for marketable debt securities, available-for-sale. The Company elected the practical expedient to exclude accrued interest from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of marketable debt securities, available-for-sale, for the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40)—Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license), by permitting a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to capitalize certain implementation costs as if the arrangement was an internal-use software project. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2020 using the prospective method. The adoption of ASU 2018-15 did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Pending Adoption In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. For the Company, the new standard will be effective on January 1, 2021. ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions including the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities related to outside basis differences. It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes such as step-up in tax basis for goodwill and interim recognition of enactment of tax laws or rate changes. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard and does not expect ASU 2019-12 to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”). ASU 2020-04 provides temporary optional exceptions to the guidance in U.S. GAAP on contract modifications to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. ASU 2020-04 is effective for all entities upon issuance and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications through December 31, 2022. The guidance applies to the Company’s Credit Agreement (see Note 15 – “Commitments and Contingencies”), which references LIBOR, and will generally allow it to account for and present a modification as an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date or reassessment of a previous accounting determination. As of March 31, 2020, the Company has not drawn funds from the credit facility. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of this new standard and does not expect ASU 2020-04 to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

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