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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) as established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) to ensure consistent reporting of financial condition. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Siebert and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Upon consolidation, all intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency of the Company and numbers are rounded for presentation purposes. The Company’s investments in non-majority-owned partnerships and affiliates are accounted for using the equity method until such time that they become wholly or majority-owned. Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests are recorded on the statements of income relating to wholly or majority-owned subsidiaries with the appropriate noncontrolling interest that represents the portion of equity not related to the Company’s ownership interest recorded on the statements of financial condition in each period. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. These estimates relate primarily to revenue and expenses in the normal course of business as to which the Company receives no confirmations, invoices, or other documentation at the time the books are closed. The Company uses its best judgment, based on knowledge of these revenue transactions and expenses incurred, to estimate the amount of such revenue and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company is not aware of any material differences between the estimates used in closing the Company’s books for the last five years and the actual amounts of revenue and expenses incurred when the Company subsequently receives the actual confirmations, invoices, or other documentation. Estimates are used in the allowance for credit losses, valuation of certain investments, intangible asset valuations and useful lives, depreciation, income taxes, and the contingent liabilities related to legal and healthcare expenses. The Company also estimates the valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets based on the more likely than not criteria. The Company believes that its estimates are reasonable. Accounting for Acquisitions ASC 805 is used for accounting in business acquisitions. ASC 805 requires that goodwill be recognized separately from assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill, as of the date of acquisition, is determined as the excess of the consideration transferred net of the acquisition date fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Fair value estimates at acquisition date may be assessed internally or externally using third parties. As part of the valuation and appraisal process, the third-party appraiser prepares a report assigning estimated acquisition date fair values to assets and liabilities. These fair value estimations are subjective and require careful consideration and sound judgment. Management reviews the third-party reports for fairness of the assigned values. Concentrations of Credit Risk The Company is engaged in various trading and brokerage activities whose contra-parties include broker-dealers, banks and other financial institutions. Siebert 2021 Form-10K 45 In the event contra-parties do not fulfill their obligations, the Company may sustain a loss if the market value of the instrument is different from the contract value of the transaction. The risk of default primarily depends upon the credit worthiness of the contra-parties involved in the transactions. It is the Company’s policy to review, as necessary, the credit standing of each contra-party with which it conducts business. The Company has experienced no material historical losses in relation to its contra-parties for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company maintained its cash balances at various financial institutions. These balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000 per institution. The Company is subject to credit risk to the extent that the financial institution with which it conducts business is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations and deposits exceed FDIC limits. Allowance for Credit Losses In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial-Instruments.” This ASU amends several aspects of the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including replacing the existing incurred credit loss model and other models with the Current Expected Credit Losses model (“CECL”). Under CECL, the allowance for credit losses on financial assets that are measured at amortized cost reflects management’s estimate of credit losses over the remaining expected life of the financial assets. Expected credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as changes to expected credit losses during the period, would be recognized in earnings, and adoption of the ASU will generally result in earlier recognition of credit losses. Expected credit losses will be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount, and credit losses will be generally recognized earlier than under previous U.S. GAAP. The Company’s adoption of this ASU using the modified retrospective approach for all in-scope assets did not result in an adjustment to the opening balance in retained earnings. The ASU impacts only those financial instruments that are carried by the Company at amortized cost such as securities borrowed / loaned, receivables from customers, receivables from broker-dealers and clearing organizations, and other receivables. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to the Company's financial statements. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents are all cash balances that are unrestricted. The Company has defined cash equivalents as highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than 90 days that are not held for sale in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not hold any cash equivalents. At certain times, cash balances may exceed FDIC insured limits. Cash and Securities Segregated For Regulatory Purposes MSCO is subject to Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3, referred to as the “Customer Protection Rule,” which requires segregation of funds in a special reserve account for the exclusive benefit of customers. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020 the Company did not have any securities segregated for regulatory purposes. Effective upon the Company’s acquisition of StockCross on January 1, 2020, the requirements and special reserve accounts of MSCO and StockCross were combined. Receivables From and Payables To Customers Receivables from and payables to customers include amounts due and owed on cash and margin transactions. Receivables from customers include margin loans to securities brokerage clients and other trading receivables. Margin loans are collateralized by customers securities and are carried at the amount receivable, net of an allowance for credit losses. Collateral is required to be maintained at specified minimum levels at all times. The Company monitors margin levels and requires customers to provide additional collateral, or reduce margin positions, to meet minimum collateral requirements if the fair value of the collateral changes. The Company expects the borrowers will continually replenish the collateral as necessary because the Company subjects the borrowers to an internal qualification process to align investing objectives and risk tolerance in addition to monitoring customer activity. The Company elected the practical expedient for Topic 326 which permits it to compare the amortized cost basis of the loaned amount with the fair value of collateral received at the reporting date to measure the estimate of expected credit losses. The Company has no expectation of credit losses for its receivables from customers as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. Securities beneficially owned by customers, including those that collateralize margin or other similar transactions, are not reflected in the statements of financial condition. Siebert 2021 Form-10K 46 Receivables From, Payables To, and Deposits With Broker-Dealers and Clearing Organizations Receivables from and payables to broker-dealers includes receivables from or payables to MSCO and RISE clearing broker-dealers, fail-to-deliver and fail-to-receive items, and amounts receivable for unsettled regular-way transactions. Deposits with broker-dealers and clearing organizations include amounts held on deposit with broker-dealers and clearing organizations. Amounts payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations are offset against corresponding amounts receivables from broker-dealers and clearing organizations. Receivables from these broker-dealers and clearing organizations are subject to clearing agreements and include the net receivable from net monthly revenues as well as cash on deposit. Receivables from and deposits with broker-dealers and clearing organizations are in scope of the amended guidance for Topic 326. The Company continually reviews the credit quality of its counterparties and historically has not experienced a default. Further, management reassessed the risk characteristics of its receivables and applied the collateral maintenance practical expedient for the secured receivables in line with the CECL guidance. As a result, the Company has no expectation of credit losses for these arrangements as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. MSCO customer transactions for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were both self-cleared and cleared on a fully disclosed basis through National Financial Services Corp. (“NFS”). RISE customer transactions for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were cleared on fully disclosed basis through GSCO and Pershing LLC (“Pershing”). The Company signed a four-year renewal with NFS commencing August 1, 2021 and ending on July 31, 2025, and NFS’s fees are offset against the Company’s revenues on a monthly basis. All other broker-dealer and clearing organization relationships operate on a month-to-month basis. Securities Borrowed and Securities Loaned Securities borrowed transactions are recorded at the amount of cash collateral delivered to the counterparty. Securities loaned are recorded at the amount of cash collateral received. For securities borrowed and loaned, the Company monitors the market value of the securities and obtains or refunds collateral as necessary. The Company can elect to use an approach to measure the allowance for credit losses using the fair value of collateral where the borrower is required to, and reasonably expected to, continually adjust and replenish the amount of collateral securing the instrument to reflect changes in the fair value of such collateral. The Company has elected to use this approach for its allowance for credit losses on securities borrowed. As a result of this election, and the fully collateralized nature of these arrangements, the Company has no expectation of credit losses on its securities borrowed balances as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. Securities Owned and Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased at Fair Value Securities owned, at fair value represent marketable securities owned by the Company at trade-date valuation. Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value represent marketable securities sold by the Company prior to purchase at trade-date valuation. Property, Office Facilities, and Equipment, Net Property, office facilities, and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation for equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally not exceeding four years. Office facilities are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful life or the remaining lease term unless the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee, or the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise an option to purchase the underlying asset, in which case the lessee will amortize over the estimated useful life of the leasehold improvements. Depreciation for property is calculated using the straight-line-method over the estimated useful life of the property, not exceeding 40 years. Software, Net The Company capitalizes certain costs for software such as website and other internal technology development and amortizes them over their useful life, generally not exceeding three years. Depending on the terms of the contract, the Company either records costs from software hosting arrangements as prepaid assets and amortizes them over the contract term, or the costs are expensed as incurred. Siebert 2021 Form-10K 47 The Company enters into certain software hosting arrangements where the cost for professional development services is capitalized and then amortized over the term of the contract. Other software costs such as routine maintenance and various data services to provide market information to customers are expensed as incurred. Equity Method Investments Investments in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not control, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are included in the equity method investment in related party line item in the statements of financial condition. Under this method of accounting, the Company’s share of the net income or loss of the investee is presented before the income before provision for income taxes on the statements of income. The Company evaluates its equity method investments whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may be impaired. If the impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary, the Company will recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference between the expected realizable value and the carrying value of the investment. Investments, Cost The Company measures equity investments (other than equity method investments, controlling financial interests that result in consolidation of the investee and certain other investments) at fair value and recognizes any changes in fair value in net income. Pursuant to ASU 2020-01, the Company has made an accounting policy election to measure equity securities without readily determinable fair value at cost, less any impairment, adjusted for any changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Intangible Assets, Net Certain identifiable intangible assets the Company acquires such as customer relationships and trade names are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Amortization expense associated with such intangible assets is included in the line item “Depreciation and amortization” on the statements of income. The Company evaluates intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis or when events or changes indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company also evaluates the remaining useful lives of intangible assets on an annual basis or when events or changes warrants the remaining period of amortization to be revised. Goodwill Goodwill is recognized as a result of business combinations and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or when events or changes indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment of goodwill to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its equity is less than the carrying value. If it is more likely than not that the fair value exceeds the carrying value, then no further testing is necessary; otherwise, the Company must perform a two-step quantitative assessment of goodwill. The Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing a two-step quantitative assessment. Payables to Non-Customers Payables to non-customers includes amounts due on cash and margin transactions on accounts owned and controlled by principal officers and directors of MSCO. Payables to non-customers amounts include any amounts received from interest on credit balances. Effective upon the Company’s acquisition of StockCross on January 1, 2020, the Company no longer had any proprietary accounts of introducing broker-dealers. Siebert 2021 Form-10K 48 Drafts Payable Drafts payable represent checks drawn by the Company against customer accounts which remained outstanding and had not cleared the bank as of the end of the period. Deferred Contract Incentive The Company entered into an amendment with its agreement with NFS whereby the Company received a one-time business development credit of $3 million, and NFS will pay the Company four annual credits of $100,000, which are recorded within the line item “Deferred contract incentive” on the statements of financial condition. Annual credits shall be paid on the anniversary of the date on which the first credit was paid. The business development credit and annual credits will be recognized as contra expense over four years and one year, respectively, in the line item “Clearing fees, including execution costs” on the statements of income. Revenue Recognition Revenue from contracts with customers and counterparties includes commissions and fees, principal transactions, market making, stock borrow / stock loan, advisory fees, interest, marketing and distribution fees, as well as other income. The recognition and measurement of revenue is based on the assessment of individual contract terms. Significant judgment is required to determine whether performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time or over time, how to allocate transaction prices where multiple performance obligations are identified, when to recognize revenue based on the appropriate measure of the Company’s progress under the contract, and whether constraints on variable consideration should be applied due to uncertain future events. Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $44,000 and $0 for the year ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, the Company determines deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If the Company determines that it would be able to realize deferred taxes in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, the Company would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes. The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits on the provision for income taxes line in the statements of income. Accrued interest and penalties would be included on the related tax liability line in the statements of financial condition. Capital Stock The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of a single class of common stock. Shares authorized were 100 million as of both December 31, 2021 and 2020. Per Share Data Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income available to the Company’s common stockholders by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income available to the Company’s common stockholders by the number of shares outstanding under the basic calculation and adding, all dilutive securities, which consist of options. The Company has no dilutive securities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. Siebert 2021 Form-10K 49 Accounting Standards Adopted in Fiscal 2021 ASU 2020-01 - In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, “Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815.” The ASU is based on a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force and is expected to increase comparability in accounting for these transactions. ASU 2016-01 made targeted improvements to accounting for financial instruments, including providing an entity the ability to measure certain equity securities without a readily determinable fair value at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Among other topics, the amendments clarify that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting. For public business entities, the amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. ASU 2019-12 - In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in the accounting standards. The ASU eliminates certain exceptions from ASC 740 related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. ASU 2016-13 - In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial-Instruments”. This ASU amends several aspects of the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including replacing the existing incurred credit loss model and other models with the Current Expected Credit Losses model (“CECL”). Under CECL, the allowance for losses for financial assets that are measured at amortized cost reflects management’s estimate of credit losses over the remaining expected life of the financial assets. Expected credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as changes to expected credit losses during the period, would be recognized in earnings, and adoption of the ASU will generally result in earlier recognition of credit losses. Expected credit losses will be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount, and credit losses will be generally recognized earlier than under previous U.S. GAAP. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021 using the modified retrospective approach for all in-scope assets, which did not result in an adjustment to the opening balance in retained earnings. The ASU impacts only those financial instruments that are carried by the Company at amortized cost such as securities borrowed / loaned, receivables from customers, non-customers, broker dealers and clearing organizations and other receivables. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to the Company's financial statements. Management has evaluated other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe that any of these pronouncements will have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures as of December 31, 2021.

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