Accounting Policies (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Accounting Changes [Text Block]

Accounting Policies

Newly Adopted Accounting Policies. The company adopted the following accounting policies during 2020:

Credit Losses. In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance that changes how credit losses are measured for most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments. The standard requires an entity to estimate its lifetime expected credit loss and record an allowance, that when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, presents the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. This forward-looking expected loss model generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The standard also amends the impairment model for available for sale debt securities and requires entities to determine whether all or a portion of the unrealized loss on an available for sale debt security is a credit loss. Severity and duration of the unrealized loss are no longer permissible factors in concluding whether a credit loss exists. Entities will recognize improvements to estimated credit losses on available for sale debt securities immediately in earnings rather than as interest income over time. The company implemented this standard on January 1, 2020 by recognizing an immaterial cumulative-effect adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings.

The company has not experienced significant levels of underpayment or nonpayment by customers and does not expect changes to this trend over the payment terms of our receivables. Exposure to losses on receivables for clearing and transaction fees and other amounts owed by clearing and trading firms is dependent on each firm's financial condition. With respect to clearing firms, the company's credit loss exposure is mitigated by the memberships that collateralize fees owed to the company. The allowance for credit losses on accounts receivable is calculated by evaluating the aging of the company's billings by revenue stream: clearing and transaction, market data, and other. This aging assessment, as well as contemplation of current and anticipated economic factors, including the interest rate environment and pricing levels are the primary considerations that most significantly impact the collectibility of accounts receivable. The allowance for accounts receivable is $4.8 million at March 31, 2020.

Income Taxes. In December 2019, the FASB issued an accounting update that is intended to reduce cost and complexity related to accounting for income taxes. The update removes specific exceptions to the general principles for accounting for income taxes. Specifically, it eliminates the need for an entity to analyze whether the following exceptions apply in a given period: incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation, accounting basis differences when there are ownership changes in foreign investments, and interim period income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. The update also simplifies the accounting for the following: franchise taxes that are partially based on income, transactions with a government that result in a step up in the tax basis of goodwill, separate financial statements of legal entities that are not subject to tax, and enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. This update is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The company has early adopted this standard on January 1, 2020. The impact of adoption of this standard was immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In August 2018, the FASB issued a standards update that modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined pension or other postretirement plans. The guidance clarifies certain existing disclosures and expands the requirements for others. Disclosures that are not considered cost beneficial are removed by the update. Also, there is a new disclosure requirement to include an explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning in 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The company plans to update the disclosures for these changes upon adoption of the guidance in 2021.