| Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation These condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding financial reporting with respect to Form 10 - Q. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020. The condensed consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2019 has been derived from the audited financial statements not included herein. These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and reflect all adjustments of a normal and recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year. In March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus as a pandemic. The pandemic affects all countries in which we operate. The response of governments and societies to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes temporary closures of businesses; social distancing; travel restrictions, “shelter in place” and other governmental regulations; and reduced consumer spending due to job losses, has significantly impacted market volatility and general economic conditions. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company could be significant but currently cannot be quantified, as it will depend on numerous evolving factors that currently cannot be accurately predicted, including, but not limited to the duration and spread of the pandemic; its impact on our customers, employees and vendors; governmental regulations in response to the pandemic; and the overall impact of the pandemic on the economy and society; among other factors. Any of these events could have significant accounting and financial reporting implications (i.e., reassessing accounting estimates related to credit losses, valuation of certain investments, deferred tax assets and contingency reserves). We have reviewed our assumptions related to the above estimates and have not made any adjustments. Principles of Consolidation, including Noncontrolling Interests These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IBG, Inc. and its majority and wholly owned subsidiaries. As sole managing member of IBG LLC, IBG, Inc. exerts control over IBG LLC’s operations. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, “ Consolidation, ” the Company consolidates IBG LLC’s financial statements and records the interests in IBG LLC that it does not own as noncontrolling interests. The Company’s policy is to consolidate all other entities in which it owns more than 50% unless it does not have control. All inter - company balances and transactions have been eliminated. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and Operating Business Segment Presentation Changes As previously disclosed in the Company’s 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and in subsequent filings, the Company intended to eliminate the reporting of separate operating business segments upon its determination that the continued wind-down of the Company’s market making activity rendered it no longer reportable as a business segment. Pursuant to the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 280, “ Segment Reporting, ” the Company performed a quantitative and a qualitative assessment of its business and determined that its remaining market making activity no longer supports the Company’s reporting of separate business segments. Accordingly, effective the first quarter of 2020 the Company discontinued the reporting of separate business segments. Since the Company’s decision to wind down its market making activities, management has continued to shift its focus to growing and strengthening the Company’s electronic brokerage business. The Company believes the elimination of segment reporting aligns its financial reporting with its business strategy and management’s focus on the electronic brokerage business. For each of the eight quarters during 2018 and 2019, the market making segment’s contribution to the Company’s consolidated net revenues, income before income taxes, and total assets did not exceed 7 %, 4 %, and 6 %, respectively. As a result, effective the first quarter of 2020, the Company modified the presentation of its segment financial information with retrospective application to all prior periods presented. In addition, effective the first quarter of 2020, the Company changed the presentation of its condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income to better align with its business strategy. As a result, the Company made the following reclassifications to amounts reported in its condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019: Other fees and services – reclassified $ 35 million and $ 70 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 previously reported as other income to other fees and services, which includes market data fees, account activity fees, risk exposure fees, order flow income from options exchange-mandated programs, and revenues from other fees and services. These items have been historically reported as a component of other income. Other income – reclassified $ 6 million and $ 13 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 previously reported as trading gains to other income as a component of “principal transactions.” Other income includes gains (losses) from principal transactions; the impact of the currency diversification strategy; gains (losses) from equity method investments; and other revenues not directly attributable to the Company’s core business offerings. Previously reported amounts in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income and notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to conform to the current presentation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in these condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions are based on judgment and the best available information at the time. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Such estimates include the allowance for credit losses, valuation of certain investments, compensation accruals, current and deferred income taxes, and contingency reserves. Fair Value Substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities, including financial instruments, are carried at fair value based on published market prices and are marked to market, or are assets and liabilities which are short - term in nature and are carried at amounts that approximate fair value. The Company applies the fair value hierarchy in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820, “ Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC Topic 820”) , to prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are: Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Level 2 Quoted prices for similar assets in an active market, quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to fair value measurement and unobservable. Financial instruments owned, at fair value and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value are generally classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s Level 1 financial instruments, which are valued using quoted market prices as published by exchanges and clearing houses or otherwise broadly distributed in active markets, include active listed stocks, options, warrants, and U.S. and foreign government securities. The Company does not adjust quoted prices for financial instruments classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, even in the event that the Company may hold a large position whereby a purchase or sale could reasonably impact quoted prices. Currency forward contracts are valued using broadly distributed bank and broker prices, and are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy since inputs to their valuation can be generally corroborated by market data. Other securities that are not traded in active markets are also classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Level 3 financial instruments are comprised of securities that have been delisted or otherwise are no longer tradable in active markets and have been valued by the Company based on internal estimates. Earnings per Share Earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260, “ Earnings per Share .” Basic EPS is computed by dividing the net income available for common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for that period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing the net income available for common stockholders by the diluted weighted average shares outstanding for that period. Diluted EPS includes the determinants of basic EPS and, in addition, reflects the dilutive effect of shares of common stock estimated to be distributed in the future under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, with no adjustments to net income available for common stockholders for potentially dilutive common shares. Current Expected Credit Losses On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 326 – “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” (“ASC Topic 326”) which replaces the incurred loss methodology with the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology. The new guidance applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost, held-to-maturity debt securities and off-balance sheet credit exposures. For on-balance sheet assets, an allowance must be recognized at the origination or purchase of in-scope assets and represents the expected credit losses over the contractual life of those assets. Expected credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures must be estimated over the contractual period the Company is exposed to credit risk as a result of a present obligation to extend credit. The Company adopted ASC Topic 326 using the modified retrospective approach for all in-scope assets, which did not result in an adjustment to the opening balance in retained earnings. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC Topic 326 while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable U.S. GAAP. The impact to the current period is not material since the Company’s in-scope assets are primarily subject to collateral maintenance provisions for which the Company elected to apply the practical expedient of reporting the difference between the fair value of collateral and the amortized cost for the in-scope assets as the allowance for current expected credit losses. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposits with banks and all highly liquid investments, with maturities of three months or less, that are not segregated and deposited for regulatory purposes or to meet margin requirements at clearing houses and clearing banks. Cash and Securities - Segregated for Regulatory Purposes As a result of customer activities, certain operating subsidiaries are obligated by rules mandated by their primary regulators to segregate or set aside cash or qualified securities to satisfy such regulations, which have been promulgated to protect customer assets. Restricted cash represents cash and cash equivalents that are subject to withdrawal or usage restrictions. Cash segregated for regulatory purposes meets the definition of restricted cash and is included in “cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash” in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The table below presents the composition of the Company’s securities segregated for regulatory purposes for the periods indicated. June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 (in billions) U.S. government securities $ 5.0 $ 3.8 Securities purchased under agreements to resell 1 28.5 14.0 $ 33.5 $ 17.8 ___________________________ (1) These balances are collateralized by U.S. government securities. Securities Borrowed and Securities Loaned Securities borrowed and securities loaned are recorded at the amount of the cash collateral advanced or received. Securities borrowed transactions require the Company to provide counterparties with collateral, which may be in the form of cash, letters of credit or other securities. With respect to securities loaned, the Company receives collateral, which may be in the form of cash or other securities in an amount generally in excess of the fair value of the securities loaned. The Company monitors the market value of securities borrowed and loaned on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained or refunded as permitted contractually. The Company’s policy is to net, in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, securities borrowed and securities loaned entered into with the same counterparty that meet the offsetting requirements prescribed in FASB ASC Topic 210-20, “Balance Sheet – Offsetting” (“ASC Topic 210-20”). Securities lending fees received and paid by the Company are included in interest income and interest expense, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell and Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase Securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are reported as collateralized financing transactions, are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value. To ensure that the fair value of the underlying collateral remains sufficient, the collateral is valued daily with additional collateral obtained or excess collateral returned, as permitted under contractual provisions. The Company’s policy is to net, in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, securities purchased under agreements to resell transactions and securities sold under agreements to repurchase transactions entered into with the same counterparty that meet the offsetting requirements prescribed in ASC Topic 210-20. Financial Instruments Owned and Financial Instruments Sold, But Not Yet Purchased, at Fair Value Financial instrument transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Financial instruments owned and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased are stated at fair value based upon quoted market prices, or if not available, are valued by the Company based on internal estimates (see Fair Value above). The Company’s financial instruments pledged to counterparties where the counterparty has the right, by contract or custom, to sell or repledge the financial instruments are reported as financial instruments owned and pledged as collateral in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Customer Receivables and Payables Customer securities transactions are recorded on a settlement date basis and customer commodities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Receivables from and payables to customers include amounts due on cash and margin transactions, including futures contracts transacted on behalf of customers. Securities owned by customers, including those that collateralize margin loans or other similar transactions, are not reported in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Amounts receivable from customers that are determined by management to be uncollectible are recorded as customer bad debt expense in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include net receivables and payables from unsettled trades, including amounts related to futures and options on futures contracts executed on behalf of customers, amounts receivable for securities not delivered by the Company to the purchaser by the settlement date (“fails to deliver”) and cash deposits. Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations also include amounts payable for securities not received by the Company from a seller by the settlement date (“fails to receive”). Investments The Company makes certain strategic investments related to its business which are included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company accounts for these investments as follows: Under the equity method of accounting as required under FASB ASC Topic 323, “ Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. ” These investments, including where the investee is a limited partnership or limited liability company, are recorded at the fair value amount of the Company’s initial investment and are adjusted each period for the Company’s share of the investee’s income or loss. Contributions paid to and distributions received from equity method investees are recorded as additions or reductions, respectively, to the respective investment balance. At fair value if the investment in equity securities has a readily determinable fair value. At adjusted cost if the investment does not have a readily determinable fair value. Adjusted cost represents the historical cost, less impairment, if any. If the Company identifies observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer, the Company measures the equity security at fair value as of the date that the observable transaction occurred in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 321, “Investments in Equity Securities.” A judgmental aspect of accounting for investments is evaluating whether a decline in the value of an investment has occurred. The evaluation of an impairment is dependent on specific quantitative and qualitative factors and circumstances surrounding an investment, including recurring operating losses, credit defaults and subsequent rounds of financing. Most of the Company’s equity investments do not have readily determinable market values. All investments are reviewed for changes in circumstances or occurrence of events that suggest the Company’s investment may not be recoverable. An impairment loss, if any, is recognized in the period the determination is made . The table below presents the composition of the Company’s investments for the periods indicated. June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 (in millions) Equity method investments 1 $ 21 $ 22 Investments in equity securities at adjusted cost 2 7 5 Investments in equity securities at fair value 2 42 36 Investments in exchange memberships and equity securities of certain exchanges 2 3 3 $ 73 $ 66 ___________________________ (1) The Company’s share of income or losses is included in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. (2) These investments do not qualify for equity method of accounting and the dividends received are included in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Property, Equipment, and Intangible Assets Property, equipment, and intangible assets, which are included in other assets in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, consist of leasehold improvements, computer equipment, software developed for the Company’s internal use, office furniture and equipment . Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Additions and improvements that extend the lives of assets are capitalized, while expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight - line method. Equipment is depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets, while leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated economic useful life of the asset or the term of the lease. Computer equipment is depreciated over three to five years and office furniture and equipment are depreciated over five to seven years . Intangible assets with a finite life are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of three years , and tested for recoverability whenever events indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Qualifying costs for internally developed software are capitalized and amortized over the expected useful life of the developed software, not to exceed three years . Upon retirement or disposition of property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and any resulting gain or loss is recorded in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Fully depreciated (or amortized) assets are retired periodically throughout the year. Leases The Company reviews all relevant contracts to determine if the contract contains a lease at its inception date. A contract contains a lease if the contract conveys to the company the right to control the use of an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. If the Company determines that a contract contains a lease, it recognizes, in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, a lease liability and a corresponding right-of-use asset on the commencement date of the lease. The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term using the rate implicit in the lease or, if not readily determinable, the Company’s secured incremental borrowing rate. An operating lease right-of-use asset is initially measured at the value of the lease liability minus any lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred plus any prepaid rent. The Company’s leases are classified as operating leases and consist of real estate leases for office space, data centers and other facilities. Each lease liability is measured using the Company’s secured incremental borrowing rate, which is based on an internally developed yield curve using interest rates of third parties’ corporate debt issued with a similar risk profile as the Company and a duration similar to the lease term. The Company’s leases have remaining terms of one to twelve years, some of which include options to extend the lease term, and some of which include options to terminate the lease upon notice. The Company considers these options when determining the lease term used to calculate the right-of-use asset and the lease liability when the Company is reasonably certain it will exercise such option. The Company’s operating leases contain both lease components and non-lease components . Non-lease components are distinct elements of a contract that are not related to securing the use of the underlying assets, such as common area maintenance and other management costs. The Company elected to measure the lease liability by combining the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. As such, the Company includes the fixed payments and any payments that depend on a rate or index that relate to the lease and non-lease components in the measurement of the lease liability. Some of the non-lease components are variable in nature and not based on an index or rate, and as a result, are not included in the measurement of the right-of-use asset or lease liability. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in occupancy, depreciation and amortization, expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Comprehensive Income and Foreign Currency Translation The Company’s operating results are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 220, “ Comprehensive Income. ” Comprehensive income consists of two components: net income and other comprehensive income (“OCI”). The Company’s OCI is comprised of gains and losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements of non-U.S. subsidiaries , net of related income taxes, where applicable. In general, the practice and intention of the Company is to reinvest the earnings of its non - U.S. subsidiaries in those operations, therefore tax is usually not accrued on OCI. The Company’s non - U.S. domiciled subsidiaries have a functional currency that is other than the U.S. dollar. Such subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at period - end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Adjustments that result from translating amounts from a subsidiary’s functional currency to the U.S. dollar (as described above) are reported net of tax, where applicable, in accumulated OCI in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Revenue Recognition Commissions Commissions earned for executing and/or clearing transactions are accrued on a trade date basis and are reported as commissions in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Commissions also include payments for order flow income related to IBKR Lite SM customers. See Note 8 for further information on revenue from contracts with customers. Other fees and services The Company earns fee income on services provided to customers, which includes market data fees, risk exposure fees, payments for order flow from exchange-mandated programs, minimum activity fees, and other fees and services charged to customers. Fee income is recognized either daily or monthly. See Note 8 for further information on revenue from contracts with customers. Interest Income and Expense The Company earns interest income and incurs interest expense primarily in connection with its electronic brokerage customer business and its securities lending activities, which are recorded on an accrual basis and are included in interest income and interest expense, respectively, in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Principal Transactions Principal transactions include gains and losses as a result of changes in the fair value of financial instruments owned, at fair value, financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value, and other investments measured at fair value (i.e., unrealized gains and losses) and realized gains and losses related to the Company’s principal transactions. Included are net gains and losses on stocks, options, U.S. and foreign government securities, futures, foreign exchange and other derivative instruments. Dividends are integral to the valuation of stocks. Accordingly, dividends income and expense attributable to financial instruments owned, at fair value and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value, are reported on a net basis in other income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Foreign Currency Gains and Losses Foreign currency balances are assets and liabilities in currencies other than the Company’s functional currency. At every reporting date, the Company revalues its foreign currency balances to its functional currency at the spot exchange rate and records the associated foreign currency gains and losses. These foreign currency gains and losses are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, as follows: (a) foreign currency gains and losses related to the Company’s currency diversification strategy are reported in other income; (b) foreign currency gains and losses arising from currency swap transactions are reported in interest income or interest expense; and (c) all other foreign currency gains and losses are reported in other income . Rebates Rebates consist of volume discounts, credits or payments received from exchanges or other market centers related to the placement and/or removal of liquidity from the marketplace and are recorded on an accrual basis. Rebates are recorded net within execution, clearing and distribution fees in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Rebates received for trades executed on behalf of customers that elect tiered pricing are passed, in whole or part, to these customers; and such pass-through amounts are recorded net within commissions in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Stock - Based Compensation The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 718, “ Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC Topic 718”) , to account for its stock - based compensation plans. ASC Topic 718 requires all share - based payments to employees to be recognized in the consolidated financial statements using a fair value - based method. Grants, which are denominated in U.S. dollars, are communicated to employees in the year of grant, thereby establishing the fair value of each grant. The fair value of awards granted to employees are generally expensed as follows: 50 % in the year of grant in recognition of the plans’ post-employment provisions (as described below) and the remaining 50 % over the related vesting period utilizing the “graded vesting” method permitted under ASC Topic 718. In the case of “retirement eligible” employees (those employees older than 59), 100 % of awards are expensed when granted. Awards granted under stock - based compensation plans are subject to the plans’ post-employment provisions in the event an employee ceases employment with the Company. The plans provide that employees who discontinue employment with the Company without cause and continue to meet the terms of the plans’ post - employment provisions will be eligible to earn 50 % of previously granted but not yet earned awards, unless the employee is over the age of 59, in which case the employee would be eligible to receive 100 % of previously granted but not yet earned awards. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740, “ Income Taxes” (“ASC Topic 740”) . The Company’s income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits are based on enacted tax laws (see Note 11) and reflect management’s best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid. The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Determining income tax expense requires significant judgment and estimates. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities arise from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of underlying assets and liabilities. In evaluating the ability to recover deferred tax assets within the jurisdictions from which they arise, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax - planning strategies, and results of recent operations. In projecting future taxable income, historical results are adjusted for changes in accounting policies and incorporate assumptions including the amount of future state, federal and foreign pre-tax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax - planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates the Company is using to manage the underlying businesses. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, three years of cumulative operating income (loss) are considered. Deferred income taxes have not been provided for U.S. tax liabilities or for additional foreign taxes on th |
