The Value of Fair Accounting

I was a reluctant convert to fair value accounting, because I like standardization in accounting that allows for comparisons across corporations.  Also, unlike the complaints that emanate from financial companies that argue that fair value is procyclical, my experience has been that financial companies mismark their assets high, no matter what.

But when I read this article in the New York Times, it hit me.  The reason that the banks complain about fair value accounting being procyclical, is that they are mismatching assets and liabilities.

Think about it.  The argument that the banks make is that they are solvent.  Unfavorable temporary asset price changes should not be reflected in the accounting.  But if liabilities are marked to market at the same time, the difference should be minimal if the cash flows of the assets and liabilities are matched, unless there is a credit problem with the assets.

The thing is, with most banks, they have a large amount of their financing through deposits, savings accounts, CDs, and repo funding, all of which is short-dated, relative to the length of their assets.  (For floaters, look at the maturity, not the reset period.)

Thus, it should be no surprise when a bank is mismatched short versus its assets that it would squawk during times of crisis, and complain about fair value accounting.  But the problem isn’t the fair value accounting; it is the cash flow mismatch.  Banks try to make extra money off of that mismatch in good times, only for it to become a deadly risk in times of bad credit and liquidity.

Let the banks do what the insurers do, and come close to matching assets and liabilities.  If they do that, the financial system will become a lot more stable, and financial crises will be much less common.

And at that point, it won’t matter what accounting system is used, so long as those using book value impair assets fairly.  Still, I would prefer fair value.  Investors deserve the best information, even if it complicates life for corporate managements.

About David Merkel 145 Articles

Affiliation: Finacorp Securities

David J. Merkel, CFA, FSA — From 2003-2007, I was a leading commentator at the excellent investment website RealMoney.com (http://www.RealMoney.com). Back in 2003, after several years of correspondence, James Cramer invited me to write for the site, and now I write for RealMoney on equity and bond portfolio management, macroeconomics, derivatives, quantitative strategies, insurance issues, corporate governance, etc. My specialty is looking at the interlinkages in the markets in order to understand individual markets better. I still contribute to RealMoney, but I have scaled it back because my work duties have gotten larger, and I began this blog to develop a distinct voice with a wider distribution. After one year of operation, I believe I have achieved that.

In 2008, I became the Chief Economist and Director of Research of Finacorp Securities. Until 2007, I was a senior investment analyst at Hovde Capital, responsible for analysis and valuation of investment opportunities for the FIP funds, particularly of companies in the insurance industry. I also managed the internal profit sharing and charitable endowment monies of the firm.

Prior to joining Hovde in 2003, I managed corporate bonds for Dwight Asset Management. In 1998, I joined the Mount Washington Investment Group as the Mortgage Bond and Asset Liability manager after working with Provident Mutual, AIG and Pacific Standard Life.

I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University. In my spare time, I take care of our eight children with my wonderful wife Ruth.

Visit: The Aleph Blog

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