broker-dealer

This subtopic governs how broker-dealers account for investments in debt and equity securities, covering both clearance/settlement activities (General) and proprietary trading (Proprietary Trading Securities). The core rules are that all regular-way trades are reflected on a trade-date basis (320-940-25-1), and proprietary security positions — both inventory and obligations for short inventory positions — are measured initially and subsequently at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in profit or loss (320-940-30-2, 35-1, 35-2).

This Subtopic gives the industry-specific consolidation guidance for brokers and dealers in securities. Its single substantive rule is a presentation exception: a broker-dealer parent within the scope of Topic 940 does not consolidate a majority-owned subsidiary in which it has a controlling financial interest (and that is not a variable interest entity) when control is likely to be temporary (810-940-45-1, cross-referencing 810-10-15-10(a)(2)).

ASC 940-10 is the Overall subtopic of the Financial Services—Brokers and Dealers Topic, which lists the Topic's constituent subtopics (Broker-Dealer Activities, Receivables, Investments, Other Assets and Deferred Costs, Liabilities, Consolidation, and Fair Value Measurements) and sets its scope. The Topic applies to all entities that are brokers and dealers in securities and supplies only incremental industry-specific guidance; broker-dealers must still follow all other applicable GAAP outside the Topic.

ASC 940-20 governs specific broker-dealer activities, organized into General (commissions, soft-dollar arrangements, mutual fund distribution fees, agency transactions, financial presentation), Clearing (fails, due bills, suspense accounts, trading errors), and Underwriting Subsections. Its core rules are that agency transactions stay off the broker-dealer's statement of financial condition unless they fail to settle on the contracted settlement date, commission income is recognized under Topic 606 while related expenses accrue on trade date, and fails-to-deliver/fails-to-receive are recorded at selling/purchase price including accrued interest.