ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and establishes a hierarchy of fair value inputs. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market. Valuation techniques that are consistent with the market, income, or cost approach, as specified by ASC 820, are used to measure fair value.

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels:

Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for an identical asset or liability that the Company can assess at the measurement date.

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a variety of factors, such as the type of security, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. As such, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in level 3.

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The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of a market participant rather than an entity-specific measure. Therefore, even when market assumptions are not readily available, the Company’s own assumptions are set to reflect those that the Company believes market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

A description of the valuation techniques applied to the Company’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows:

U.S. government securities: U.S. government securities are valued using quoted market prices and as such, valuation adjustments are not applied. Accordingly, U.S. government securities are generally categorized in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Certificates of deposit: Certificates of deposit are included in investments valued at cost, which approximates fair value. When certificates of deposits are held directly with banking institutions and issued directly to the Company, these are categorized within cash equivalents in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. When certificates of deposits are available for trading, they are categorized within securities owned, at fair value in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Corporate bonds: The fair value of corporate bonds is determined using recently executed transactions, market price quotations (when observable), bond spreads, or credit default swap spreads obtained from independent external parties such as vendors and brokers, adjusted for any basis difference between cash and derivative instruments. The spread data used is for the same maturity as the bond. If the spread data does not reference the issuer, then data that references a comparable issuer is used. When position-specific external price data is not observable, fair value is determined based on either benchmarking to similar instruments or cash flow models with yield curves, bond, or single-name credit default swap spreads and recovery rates as significant inputs. Corporate bonds are generally categorized in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Equity securities: Equity securities are valued based on quoted prices from the exchange. To the extent these securities are actively traded, valuation adjustments are not applied, and they are categorized in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Securities quoted in inactive markets or with observable inputs are categorized into level 2. If there are no observable inputs or quoted prices, securities are categorized as level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy. Level 3 assets are not actively traded and subjective estimates based on managements’ assumptions are utilized for valuation.

Fair Value Hierarchy Tables

The following tables present the Company's fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the periods presented.

	As of December 31, 2021
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Securities owned, at fair value
U.S. government securities*	$	2,966,000	$	—	$	—	$	2,966,000
Certificates of deposit		—		91,000		—		91,000
Corporate bonds		—		12,000		—		12,000
Equity securities		489,000		433,000		—		922,000
Total Securities owned, at fair value	$	3,455,000	$	536,000	$	—	$	3,991,000

Liabilities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
Equity securities	$	—	$	24,000	$	—	$	24,000
Total Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	$	—	$	24,000	$	—	$	24,000

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	As of December 31, 2020
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Securities owned, at fair value
U.S. government securities*	$	2,029,000	$	—	$	—	$	2,029,000
Certificates of deposit		—		91,000		—		91,000
Corporate bonds		—		24,000		—		24,000
Equity securities		345,000		134,000		—		479,000
Total Securities owned, at fair value	$	2,374,000	$	249,000	$	—	$	2,623,000

Liabilities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
Equity securities	$	—	$	21,000	$	—	$	21,000
Total Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	$	—	$	21,000	$	—	$	21,000

*As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the U.S. government securities had maturity dates of August 15, 2024 and August 31, 2021, respectively.

A description of the valuation techniques applied to the Company’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis is as follows:

Non-marketable equity securities: The Company’s non-marketable equity securities are investments in privately held companies that do not have a readily determinable market value. Due to the absence of quoted market prices, these are classified as level 3 since considerable judgement and estimation is involved in determining the fair value of these securities.

The table below summarized the total carrying value of Level 3 equity assets and changes made during the periods presented.

Changes in Level 3 Equity Assets

Year Ended December 31, 2020

Amount

Valuation Technique

Reason for Change

Securities owned, at fair value

Balance – January 1, 2020

288,000

Liquidation value based on valuation report

Sale of equity security

(288,000

)

Sale of equity security

Balance – December 31, 2020

—

The following represents financial instruments in which the ending balances as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are not carried at fair value on the statements of financial condition:

Short-term financial instruments: The carrying value of short-term financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents as well as cash and securities segregated for regulatory purposes are recorded at amounts that approximate the fair value of these instruments. These financial instruments generally expose the Company to limited credit risk and have no stated maturities or have short-term maturities and carry interest rates that approximate market rates. The Company had no cash equivalents or securities segregated for regulatory purposes as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. Cash and cash equivalents and cash and securities segregated for regulatory purposes are classified as level 1.

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Receivables and other assets: Receivables from customers, receivables from non-customers, receivables from and deposits with broker-dealers and clearing organizations, other receivables, prepaid service contract, and prepaid expenses and other assets are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value and are classified as level 2 under the fair value hierarchy. The Company may hold cash equivalents related to rent deposits that are categorized as level 2 under the fair value hierarchy in other receivables.

Securities borrowed and securities loaned: Securities borrowed and securities loaned are recorded at amounts which approximate fair value and are primarily classified as level 2 under the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s securities borrowed and securities loaned balances represent amounts of equity securities borrow and loan contracts and are marked-to-market daily in accordance with standard industry practices which approximate fair value.

Payables: Payables to customers, payables to non-customers, drafts payable, payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and taxes payable are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their short-term nature and are classified as level 2 under the fair value hierarchy.

Notes payable – related party: The carrying amount of the notes payable – related party approximates fair value due to the relative short-term nature of the borrowing. Under the fair value hierarchy, the notes payable – related party is classified as level 2.

Long-term debt: The carrying amount of the line of credit and mortgage with East West Bank approximates fair value as they reflect terms that approximate current market terms for similar arrangements. Under the fair value hierarchy, the line of credit is classified as level 2.

Investments, cost: The Company’s non-marketable equity securities are investments in privately held companies without readily determinable market values. Due to the absence of quoted market prices, the inherent lack of liquidity and the fact that inputs used to measure fair value are unobservable and require management’s judgment. As there is no readily determinable fair value, the carrying amount of these investments minus impairment approximates the fair value. The cost will be adjusted upwards or downwards in accordance with observable market transactions and is recorded in the line item “Other general and administrative” in the statements of income. Under the fair value hierarchy, the investments, cost is classified as level 3.