Fair Value Measurements | Note 4. Fair Value Measurements Estimates of fair value for financial assets and liabilities are based on the framework established in the accounting guidance for fair value measurements. The framework defines fair value, provides guidance for measuring fair value and requires certain disclosures. The framework prioritizes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The following three broad levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value under the fair value hierarchy: · Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. · Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. · Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management's estimates of market participant assumptions. If the inputs used to measure the financial assets and liabilities fall within more than one of the different levels described above, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument. The following table shows our cash and available-for-sale securities’ adjusted cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value by significant investment category recorded as cash and cash equivalents or short- or long-term investments as of June 30, 2017: June 30, 2017 Adjusted Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Value Cash and Cash Equivalents Short-Term Investments Long-Term Investments Cash $ 2,290,062 $ - $ - $ 2,290,062 $ 2,290,062 $ - $ - Level 1: Money market funds 8,141,006 - - 8,141,006 8,141,006 - - Subtotal 8,141,006 - - 8,141,006 8,141,006 - - Level 2: Certificates of deposit 2,160,000 - (936 ) 2,159,064 - 1,439,326 719,738 Commercial paper 1,190,110 - (238 ) 1,189,872 - 1,189,872 - Corporate notes/bonds 9,656,454 - (6,198 ) 9,650,256 - 9,650,256 - U.S. government agencies 3,500,642 - (6,117 ) 3,494,525 - 1,996,040 1,498,485 Subtotal 16,507,206 - (13,489 ) 16,493,717 - 14,275,494 2,218,223 Total $ 26,938,274 $ - $ (13,489 ) $ 26,924,785 $ 10,431,068 $ 14,275,494 $ 2,218,223 We consider all cash on-hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. We classify marketable securities having original maturities of more than three months when purchased and remaining maturities of one year or less as short-term investments and marketable securities with remaining maturities of more than one year as long-term investments. We further classify marketable securities as available-for-sale. We have not designated any of our marketable securities as trading securities or as held to maturity. We may sell any of our marketable securities prior to their stated maturities for strategic reason including, but not limited to, anticipation of credit deterioration and duration management. The long term securities have a contractual term that ranges from November to December 2018. We consider the declines in market value of our marketable securities investment portfolio to be temporary in nature. We typically invest in highly-rated securities, and our investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid money market funds and debt securities with original maturities of three months or less totaling approximately $10.4 million and approximately $9.4 million at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Money market funds present negligible risk of changes in value due to changes in interest rates, and their cost approximates their fair market value. We maintain cash in bank accounts, which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts. Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign bank accounts totaled approximately $669,000 and approximately $507,000 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. |