Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
3 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Mar. 31, 2026 | |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Financial Information | Basis of Financial Information The financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the Firm to make estimates and assumptions regarding the valuations of certain financial instruments, the valuations of goodwill and intangible assets, the outcome of legal and tax matters, deferred tax assets, ACL, and other matters that affect its financial statements and related disclosures. The Firm believes that the estimates utilized in the preparation of its financial statements are prudent and reasonable. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. The Notes are an integral part of the Firm’s financial statements. The Firm has evaluated subsequent events for adjustment to or disclosure in these financial statements through the date of this report and has not identified any recordable or disclosable events not otherwise reported in these financial statements or the notes thereto. The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Firm’s financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2025 Form 10-K. Certain footnote disclosures included in the 2025 Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted from these financial statements as they are not required for interim reporting under U.S. GAAP. The financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim period. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.
|
| Consolidation | Consolidation The financial statements include the accounts of the Firm, its wholly owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Firm has a controlling financial interest, including certain VIEs (see Note 14). Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. For consolidated subsidiaries that are not wholly owned, the third-party holdings of equity interests are referred to as Noncontrolling interests. The net income attributable to Noncontrolling interests for such subsidiaries is presented as Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests in the income statement. The portion of shareholders’ equity that is attributable to Noncontrolling interests for such subsidiaries is presented as Noncontrolling interests, a component of Total equity, in the balance sheet. For a discussion of the Firm’s significant regulated U.S. and international subsidiaries and its involvement with VIEs, see Note 1 to the financial statements in the 2025 Form 10-K.
|
| Hedge Accounting | Hedge Accounting Cash Flow Hedges—Equity Price Risk The Firm designated total return swaps as hedges of the variability in forecasted cash flows from the majority of unvested DCP obligations due to variability in the underlying DCP investments. The Firm uses regression analysis to perform an ongoing prospective and retrospective assessment of the effectiveness of these hedging relationships. Changes in the fair value of these hedging derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded in OCI and subsequently reclassified into Compensation and benefits expense in the same period that the related DCP award vests and the related Compensation and benefits expense is recognized. Other Hedges In addition to hedges that are designated and qualify for cash flow hedge accounting, the Firm uses derivatives to economically hedge equity price risk primarily associated with vested DCP awards. The Firm presents changes in the fair value of the derivatives related to economic hedges of DCP awards in Compensation and benefits expense. Previously, the Firm economically hedged the awards primarily with cash instruments whereby changes in the fair value of the hedges were recorded in Trading revenues.
|
| Deferred Compensation | Deferred Compensation Deferred Cash-Based Compensation Compensation expense for DCP awards is calculated based on the notional value of the award granted, adjusted for changes in the fair value of the referenced investments that employees select. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period relevant to each separately vesting portion of deferred awards. The majority of unvested DCP awards are subject to cash flow hedge accounting to mitigate the recognition timing difference on compensation expenses. Vested DCP awards are economically hedged using derivatives. For more information regarding cash flow hedge accounting for DCP awards, refer to “Hedge Accounting – Cash Flow Hedges – Equity Price Risk” herein. For more information on economic hedges for DCP awards, refer to “Other Hedges” herein.
|