Fair Value Measurements | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Inputs used to measure fair value are prioritized within a three-level fair value hierarchy. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows: Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs. There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities between these fair value measurement classifications during the years ended December 31, 2022 or 2021. The Company’s fair value measurements are evaluated within the fair value hierarchy based on the nature of inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had the following financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis: Cash Equivalents — The Company’s cash equivalents include money market funds and U.S. government obligations, which are short term in nature with readily determinable values derived from active markets. Cash Equivalents Segregated Under Federal or Other Regulations — The Company’s cash equivalents segregated under federal or other regulations include U.S. treasury bills, which are short term in nature with readily determinable values derived from active markets. Trading Securities and Securities Sold, But Not Yet Purchased — The Company’s trading securities consist of house account model portfolios established and managed for the purpose of benchmarking the performance of its fee-based advisory platforms and temporary positions resulting from the processing of client transactions. The Company uses prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services to measure the fair value of its trading securities. Prices received from the pricing services are validated using various methods including comparison to prices received from additional pricing services, comparison to available quoted market prices and review of other relevant market data including implied yields of major categories of securities. In general, these quoted prices are derived from active markets for identical assets or liabilities. When quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities are not available, the quoted prices are based on similar assets and liabilities or inputs other than the quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly. For negotiable certificates of deposit and treasury securities, the Company utilizes market-based inputs, including observable market interest rates that correspond to the remaining maturities or the next interest reset dates. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not adjust prices received from the independent third-party pricing services. Other Assets — The Company’s other assets include: (1) deferred compensation plan assets that are invested in life insurance, money market and other mutual funds, which are actively traded and valued based on quoted market prices, and (2) certain non-traded real estate investment trusts and auction rate notes, which are valued using quoted prices for identical or similar securities and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. Fractional Shares — The Company’s investment in fractional shares held by customers is reflected in other assets while the related purchase obligation for such shares is reflected in other liabilities. The Company uses prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services to measure the fair value of its investment in fractional shares held by customers and the related repurchase obligation. Prices received from the pricing services are validated using various methods including comparison to prices received from additional pricing services, comparison to available quoted market prices and review of other relevant market data including implied yields of major categories of securities. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not adjust prices received from the independent third-party pricing services. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities — The Company’s accounts payable and accrued liabilities include contingent consideration liabilities that are measured using Level 3 inputs. Level 3 Recurring Fair Value Measurements The Company determines the fair value for its contingent consideration obligations using a scenario-based approach whereby the Company assesses the expected number of future transactions. The contingent payment is estimated by applying a discount rate to the expected payment to calculate the fair value as of the valuation date. The Company evaluates the underlying projections and other related factors used in determining fair value each period and makes updates when there have been significant changes in management’s expectations. Recurring Fair Value Measurements The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands): December 31, 2022 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Cash equivalents $ 13,639 $ — $ — $ 13,639 Cash equivalents segregated under federal or other regulations 1,131,040 — — 1,131,040 Investment securities - trading: U.S. treasury obligations 24,402 — — 24,402 Mutual funds 10,679 — — 10,679 Equity securities 980 — — 980 Debt securities — 585 — 585 Money market funds 112 — — 112 Total investment securities - trading 36,173 585 — 36,758 Other assets: Deferred compensation plan 489,976 — — 489,976 Fractional shares - investment (1) 122,253 — — 122,253 Other investments — 5,248 — 5,248 Total other assets 612,229 5,248 — 617,477 Total assets at fair value $ 1,793,081 $ 5,833 $ — $ 1,798,914 Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ — $ — $ 3,860 $ 3,860 Other liabilities: Securities sold, but not yet purchased: Debt securities — 61 — 61 Equity securities 20 — — 20 Mutual funds 4 — — 4 Total securities sold, but not yet purchased 24 61 — 85 Fractional shares - repurchase obligation (1) 122,253 — — 122,253 Total other liabilities 122,277 61 — 122,338 Total liabilities at fair value $ 122,277 $ 61 $ 3,860 $ 126,198 ____________________ (1) Investment in and related repurchase obligation for fractional shares resulting from the Company’s DRIP. The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands): December 31, 2021 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Cash equivalents $ 12,056 $ — $ — $ 12,056 Investment securities - trading: U.S. treasury obligations 19,599 — — 19,599 Mutual funds 19,112 — — 19,112 Equity securities 440 — — 440 Money market funds 123 — — 123 Total investment securities — trading 39,274 — — 39,274 Other assets: Deferred compensation plan 499,548 — — 499,548 Other investments — 9,166 — 9,166 Fractional shares - investment (1) 114,574 — — 114,574 Total other assets 614,122 9,166 — 623,288 Total assets at fair value $ 665,452 $ 9,166 $ — $ 674,618 Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ — $ — $ 3,530 $ 3,530 Other liabilities: Securities sold, but not yet purchased: Equity securities 467 — — 467 Debt securities — 105 — 105 Total securities sold, but not yet purchased 467 105 — 572 Fractional shares - repurchase obligation (1) 114,574 — — 114,574 Total other liabilities 115,041 105 — 115,146 Total liabilities at fair value $ 115,041 $ 105 $ 3,530 $ 118,676 ____________________ (1) Investment in and related repurchase obligation for fractional shares resulting from the Company’s DRIP. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value The following tables summarize the carrying values, fair values and fair value hierarchy level classification of financial instruments that are not measured at fair value (in thousands): December 31, 2022 Carrying Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Assets Cash $ 833,880 $ 833,880 $ — $ — $ 833,880 Cash segregated under federal or other regulations 1,068,322 1,068,322 — — 1,068,322 Restricted cash 90,389 90,389 — — 90,389 Receivables from clients, net 561,569 — 561,569 — 561,569 Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations 56,276 — 56,276 — 56,276 Advisor repayable loans, net (1) 280,040 — — 219,062 219,062 Other receivables, net 677,766 — 677,766 — 677,766 Investment securities - held-to-maturity securities 15,852 — 15,471 — 15,471 Other assets: Securities borrowed 9,626 — 9,626 — 9,626 Deferred compensation plan (2) 6,343 6,343 — — 6,343 Other investments (3) 4,647 — 4,647 — 4,647 Total other assets 20,616 6,343 14,273 — 20,616 Liabilities Client payables $ 2,694,929 $ — $ 2,694,929 $ — $ 2,694,929 Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations 147,752 — 147,752 — 147,752 Corporate debt and other borrowings, net 2,717,444 — 2,530,011 — 2,530,011 December 31, 2021 Carrying Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Fair Value Assets Cash $ 483,190 $ 483,190 $ — $ — $ 483,190 Cash segregated under federal or other regulations 1,496,463 1,496,463 — — 1,496,463 Restricted cash 80,655 80,655 — — 80,655 Receivables from clients, net 578,889 — 578,889 — 578,889 Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations 102,503 — 102,503 — 102,503 Advisor repayable loans, net (1) 191,242 — — 176,864 176,864 Other receivables, net 581,483 — 581,483 — 581,483 Investment securities - held-to-maturity securities 9,918 — 9,915 — 9,915 Other assets: Securities borrowed 9,958 — 9,958 — 9,958 Other investments (3) 4,595 — 4,595 — 4,595 Total other assets 14,553 — 14,553 — 14,553 Liabilities Client payables $ 1,712,224 $ — $ 1,712,224 $ — $ 1,712,224 Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations 170,119 — 170,119 — 170,119 Corporate debt and other borrowings, net 2,814,044 — 2,885,536 — 2,885,536 ____________________ (1) Includes repayable loans and forgivable loans which have converted to repayable upon advisor termination or change in agreed upon terms. (2) Includes cash balances awaiting investment or distribution to plan participants. (3) Other investments include Depository Trust Company common shares and Federal Reserve stock. |