1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
PromissoryNoteNonCurrent | |
Nature of operations | Capital Financial Holdings, Inc., (the “Company”) is the parent company of Capital Financial Services, Inc. Capital Financial Holdings, Inc. was established in September 1987 as a North Dakota corporation. Headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, the Company is marketing its services throughout the United States. The Company currently has two reporting segments: Broker-Dealer Services The Company derives all of its operating revenues from Capital Financial Services, Inc. through investment advisory fees as well as commissions earned from sales of mutual funds, insurance products, and various other securities. CFS is a full-service brokerage firm. CFS is registered with the SEC as an investment advisor and broker-dealer and also with FINRA as a broker-dealer. CFS specializes in providing investment products and services to independent investment representatives, financial planners, and investment advisors and currently supports approximately 130 investment representatives and investment advisors. The Company operates under the provision of Paragraph (k)(2)(ii) of Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and, accordingly, is exempt from the remaining provisions of that rule. To the best of management’s knowledge and belief the Company met the identified exemption provisions from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 without exception. Holding Company The Company encompasses cost associated with ownership of its office building, business development and acquisitions, dispositions of subsidiary entities and results of discontinued operations, dividend income and recognized gains or losses. |
Principles of consolidation | The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Capital Financial Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiary Capital Financial Services, Inc. (“CFS”). All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. |
Concentrations | Capital Financial Holdings, Inc. derives all of its revenues and net income from sales of mutual funds, insurance products, and various other securities through CFS, the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary. The Company’s revenues are largely dependent on the sales activity of registered representatives operating as independent contractors. Accordingly, fluctuations in financial markets and the composition of assets under management impact revenues and results of operations. |
Use of estimates | The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at 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. |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments | The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, accounts receivables, accounts payable and accrued expense obligations. The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of their underlying terms. |
Revenue recognition | Commission income and the related clearing expenses are recorded based on the trade date. The revenue earned from 12b-1 is recognized ratably over the period received. Investment advisory fees are derived from account management and investment advisory services. These fees are determined based on a percentage of the customer’s assets under sponsor management or a flat fee, may be billed monthly or quarterly and recognized ratably over the period received. |
Cash and cash equivalents | The Company’s policy is to record all liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less as cash equivalents. Liquid investments with maturities greater than three months are recorded as investments. |
Clearing Deposits | The Company has “Deposit Accounts” with each of its Clearing Firms, as set forth in each of the Clearing Agreements. Upon termination or expiration of these agreements, the Clearing Firms would deliver the balance of these accounts to the Company. As of December 31, 2018, the balance in the Company’s Dain account, Pershing account and NSCC was $50,000, $25,392 and $40,279, respectively. These deposits are included in Cash and cash equivalents. |
Accounts receivable | The Company’s receivables consist primarily of concessions related to registered representative activity. Management evaluates the need for an allowance for doubtful accounts by identifying troubled accounts and using historical experience. Accounts receivable are written off when management deems them uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received. The Company does not charge interest on its receivables. |
Goodwill | The Company accounts for goodwill under the FASB accounting and reporting standards for goodwill and other intangible assets, which requires that goodwill and indefinite-lived other intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite useful life be assessed annually for impairment using fair value measurement techniques. As of December 31, 2018, the Company no longer has a value for goodwill. |
Property and equipment | Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation computed on straight-line and accelerated methods over estimated useful lives of 5-7 years. The office building is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation computed on a straight line method over an estimated useful life of 39 years. |
Other assets | Other assets include other miscellaneous assets. |
Advertising | Costs of advertising and promotion are expensed as incurred. There were no advertising and promotion costs in 2018 or 2017. |
Earnings per common share | Basic earnings per common share was computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding of 1,241 in 2017 and 2018. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding adjusted for share equivalents arising from unexercised stock warrants, stock options, written put options, and preferred shares. |
Income taxes | The Company files a consolidated income tax return with its wholly owned subsidiary. The amount of deferred tax benefit or expense is recognized as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, utilizing currently enacted tax laws and rates. Deferred tax benefits or expenses are recognized in the financial statements for the changes in deferred tax assets between years. The Company’s policy is to evaluate the likelihood that its uncertain tax positions will prevail upon examination based on the extent to which those positions have substantial support within the Internal Revenue Code and Regulations, Revenue Rulings, court decisions, and other evidence. It is the opinion of management that the Company has no significant uncertain tax positions that would be subject to change upon examination. The federal income tax returns of the Company are subject to examination by the IRS, generally for three years after they were filed. |
Severance Escrow | The Company’s severance escrow accounts are restricted cash held in third-party administered escrow accounts for the sole purpose of funding certain employee severance plans established in 2010 by the Company’s Board of Directors for the benefit of and with the purpose of retaining its employees. These funds are held in escrow accounts pursuant to several Involuntary Termination Severance Pay Plans and are not available to the Company for use other than the Involuntary Termination Severance Plan purposes nor is it accessible to creditors of the Company. These restricted cash accounts, totaling $157,911 in 2017 and $157,927 in 2018 are included in Cash and cash equivalents. |
Concentration of Credit Risk | The Company has a concentration of credit risk for cash deposits at various financial institutions. These deposits may at times exceed amounts covered by insurance provided by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. |
Recent Accounting Developments | ASU 2014-15— Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. ASU 2016-02 — Leases (Topic 842): Leases ASU 2016-12— Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Revenue from Contracts with Customers Revenue Recognition, ASU 2016-15— Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-17— Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control. ASU 2016-18— Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2017-01— Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. |