SIEBERT FINANCIAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2010 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

	For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010

o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

	For the transition period from _______________________________ to _______________________________


	Commission file number	0-5703

Siebert Financial Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


New York		11-1796714

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Organization)

885 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(212) 644-2400

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.)

Yes o No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)


Large Accelerated Filer o	Accelerated Filer o

Non-Accelerated Filer o	Smaller Reporting Company x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: As of November 5, 2010, there were 22,141,403 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company” shall mean Siebert Financial Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries and “Siebert” shall mean Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

Certain statements contained in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below and elsewhere in this document, as well as oral statements that may be made by us or by our officers, directors or employees acting on our behalf, that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and known and unknown factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from our historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including, without limitation: changes in general economic and market conditions; fluctuations in volume and prices of securities; demand for brokerage and investment banking services; competition within and without the discount brokerage business, including the offer of broader services; competition from electronic discount brokerage firms offering lower rates on commissions than we do; prevalence of a flat fee environment; decline in participation in equity or municipal finance underwritings; limited trading opportunities; the method of placing trades by our customers; computer and telephone system failures; our level of spending on advertising and promotions; trading errors and the possibility of losses from customer non-payment of amounts due; other increases in expenses and changes in net capital or other regulatory requirements. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date when such statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. An investment in us involves various risks, including those mentioned above and those which are detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition


	September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)			December 31, 2009


ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	23,491,000		$	24,184,000
Cash equivalents – restricted		1,532,000			1,532,000
Receivable from clearing broker		1,073,000			1,954,000
Securities owned, at fair value		1,076,000			1,607,000
Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net		1,379,000			1,569,000
Investment in and advances to affiliates		8,649,000			9,040,000
Income tax refund receivable		795,000			1,074,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets		650,000			1,050,000
Intangibles, net		775,000			750,000
Deferred taxes		—			1,323,000

	$	39,420,000		$	44,083,000


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		4,022,000			4,695,000

Contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 49,000,000 shares authorized, 23,211,846 shares issued and 22,172,175 and 22,185,325 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively		232,000			232,000
Additional paid-in capital		19,481,000			19,474,000
Retained earnings		20,279,000			24,249,000
Less: 1,039,671 and 1,026,521 shares of treasury stock, at cost at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively		(4,594,000	)		(4,567,000	)

		35,398,000			39,388,000


	$	39,420,000		$	44,083,000

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009			2010			2009


Revenues:
Commissions and fees	$	2,875,000		$	4,389,000		$	13,207,000		$	14,140,000
Investment banking		552,000			576,000		$	1,312,000			4,009,000
Trading profits		282,000			348,000			839,000			1,387,000
Interest and dividends		33,000			47,000			93,000			98,000

		3,742,000			5,360,000			15,451,000			19,634,000


Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		2,172,000			2,599,000			7,024,000			8,492,000
Clearing fees, including floor brokerage		669,000			1,266,000			2,614,000			4,300,000
Professional fees		1,511,000			1,529,000			5,320,000			4,988,000
Advertising and promotion		111,000			173,000			364,000			660,000
Communications		542,000			671,000			1,811,000			1,953,000
Occupancy		321,000			332,000			970,000			984,000
Other general and administrative		760,000			696,000			2,160,000			1,997,000

		6,086,000			7,266,000			20,263,000			23,374,000


Income from equity investees		628,000			615,000			2,452,000			2,903,000


Loss before income taxes		(1,716,000	)		(1,291,000	)		(2,360,000	)		(837,000	)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes		1,842,000			(840,000	)		1,610,000			(618,000	)

Net loss	$	(3,558,000	)	$	(451,000	)	$	(3,970,000	)	$	(219,000	)


Net loss per share of common stock -
Basic and Diluted	$	(.16	)	$	(.02	)	$	(.18	)	$	(.01	)
Weighted average shares outstanding -
Basic and Diluted		22,176,191			22,191,696			22,178,584			22,195,649

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010			2009

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(3,970,000	)	$	(219,000	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		396,000			369,000
Deferred tax provision (benefit)		1,323,000			(23,000	)
Income from equity investees		(2,452,000	)		(2,903,000	)
Distribution from equity investees		2,894,000			1,431,000
Employee stock based compensation		7,000			18,000
Changes in:
Securities owned, at fair value		531,000			33,000
Receivable from clearing brokers		881,000			313,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets		400,000			223,000
Income tax refund receivable		279,000			(459,000	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(673,000	)		(1,131,000	)

Net cash used in operating activities		(384,000	)		(2,348,000	)


Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of customer lists		(25,000	)
Purchase of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements		(206,000	)		(278,000	)
Net (payment) collection of advances made to equity investees		(51,000	)		103,000

Net cash used in investing activities		(282,000	)		(175,000	)


Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury shares		(27,000	)		(23,000	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(27,000	)		(23,000	)


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(693,000	)		(2,546,000	)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period		24,184,000			29,617,000


Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	23,491,000		$	27,071,000


Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Cash paid for:
Income taxes	$	16,000		$	237,000

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)


1.	Organization and Basis of Presentation:

	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Siebert Financial Corp. (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc. (“Siebert”) and Siebert Women’s Financial Network, Inc. (“WFN”). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Investment in two entities in which the Company has ownership interests of 49% and 33.33%, respectively, are accounted for by the equity method.

	The condensed consolidated interim financial statements presented herein are unaudited and include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations of the interim periods pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America (“U.S.”) have been condensed or omitted. The balance sheet at December 31, 2009 has been derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial condition at that date, but does not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Because of the nature of the Company’s business, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the full year.

2.	Securities Transactions:

	Securities owned are carried at fair value. Interest is recorded on an accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Siebert clears all its security transactions through two unaffiliated clearing firms on a fully disclosed basis. Accordingly, Siebert does not hold funds or securities for or owe funds or securities to its customers. Those functions are performed by the clearing firms.

	Authoritative accounting guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

	Level 1 – valued based on quoted prices at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities trading in active markets.

	Level 2 – quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability.

	Level 3 – valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs is not readily observable.

As of September 30, 2010, the classification of securities owned was as follows:


Securities owned	Level 1		Level 2		Total

Municipal bonds		—	$	878,000	$	878,000
Common stock	$	198,000		—	$	198,000
Total	$	198,000	$	878,000	$	1,076,000


	Common stock is valued on the last business day of the period at the last available reported sales price on the primary securities exchange.

	Municipal bonds are valued based on prices obtained from pricing sources, which derive values from observable inputs.

3.	Earnings per Share:

	Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes the effect of stock options utilizing the treasury stock method, only when such effect is dilutive.

	The weighted average number of shares used in the basic and diluted loss per share computations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, together with excluded shares whose effect is anti-dilutive, are as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,

	2010		2009		2010		2009

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding as used in computation of basic per share data		22,176,191		22,191,696		22,178,584		22,195,649


Effect of dilutive securities — stock options		—		—		—		—

Shares used in computation of diluted per share data		22,176,191		22,191,696		22,178,584		22,195,649

Shares of underlying stock options not included in diluted computation		1,704,700		1,727,200		1,704,700		1,727,200


4.	Net Capital:

	Siebert is subject to the SEC’s Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1), which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital. Siebert has elected to use the alternative method, permitted by the Rule, which requires that Siebert maintain minimum net capital, as defined, equal to the greater of $250,000 or two percent of aggregate debit balances arising from customer transactions, pursuant to the Rule. As of September 30, 2010, Siebert had net capital of approximately $20,465,000 as compared with net capital requirements of $250,000.


5.	Capital Transactions:

	On January 22, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a buy back of up to 300,000 shares of common stock. Shares will be purchased from time to time, at management’s discretion, in the open market and in private transactions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company purchased 13,150 shares at a cost of $27,000 which represents an average price of $2.07.

6.	Investment in and advances to affiliates:

	Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co., L.L.C. (“SBS”)

	Siebert holds a 49% ownership interest in SBS which is engaged in municipal bond underwritings. Income from SBS is considered to be integral to Siebert’s operations and material to its results of operations.

	Summarized financial data of SBS is set forth below.


	September 30,
	2010		2009


Total assets including secured demand note of $1,200,000 due from Siebert	$	42,828,000
Total liabilities including subordinated liabilities of $1,200,000 due to Siebert		26,039,000
Total members’ capital		16,789,000
Regulatory minimum net capital requirement		723,000
Nine months ended:
Total revenues		31,661,000		31,166,000
Net income		5,028,000		6,155,000
Three months ended:
Total revenues		9,290,000		9,981,000
Net income		1,291,000		1,114,000


	Siebert charged SBS $56,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $18,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for general and administrative services, which Siebert believes approximates the cost of furnishing such services.

	Siebert’s share of net income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $633,000 and $546,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $2,464,000 and $3,016,000, respectively.

	Siebert received distributions from SBS of $2,892,000 and $1,431,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and Siebert’s share of undistributed earnings from SBS amounted to $7,835,000 at September 30, 2010. Such amount may not be immediately available for distribution to Siebert for various reasons including the amount of SBS’s available cash, the provisions of the agreement among Siebert and the principals of SBS and SBS’s continued compliance with its regulatory and net capital requirements.

	SBS Financial Products Company, LLC (“SBSFPC”)

	The Company has a 33.33% ownership interest in, and the two individual principals of SBS have an aggregate 66.66% ownership interest in, SBSFPC which engages in derivatives transactions related to the municipal


	underwriting business. Income/(loss) from SBSFPC is considered to be integral to the Company’s operations and material to its results of operations.

Summarized financial data of SBSFPC is set forth below.


	September 30,

	2010			2009

Total assets	$	191,000,000
Total liabilities		190,000,000
Total members’ capital		950,000
Nine months ended:
Total revenues*		110,000			(186,000	)
Net loss		(35,000	)		(340,000	)
Three months ended:
Total revenues		36,000			256,000
Net loss		(13,000	)		207,000


	*Attributable to unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts.

	The Company’s share of net income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to ($4,000) and $69,000 respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to ($12,000) and ($113,000) respectively.

	Siebert received distributions from SBSFPC of $2,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. At September 30, 2010, SBSFPC had an accumulated loss of $250,000 of which the Company’s share was $83,000.

7.	New Clearing Agreement:

	As part of the negotiations with one of the Company’s clearing firms for a three year fully disclosed clearing agreement which was entered into on May 5, 2010, the Company resolved at $3 million the amount due to the Company from the clearing firm on past transactions cleared by the Company. This amount is included in commission and fee income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

8.	Contingent Liabilities:

	Retail customer transactions are cleared through clearing brokers on a fully disclosed basis. If customers do not fulfill their contractual obligations, the clearing broker may charge Siebert for any loss incurred in connection with the purchase or sale of securities at prevailing market prices to satisfy the customer obligations. Siebert regularly monitors the activity in its customer accounts for compliance with its margin requirements. Siebert is exposed to the risk of loss on unsettled customer transactions if customers are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. There were no material losses for unsettled customer transactions for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

	Siebert is party to certain claims, suits and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management all such claims, suits and complaints are without merit, or involved amounts which would not have a material effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

9.	Income Taxes:

	Due to cumulative losses incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries during the current nine month period and prior two years, the Company has concluded that it is not more likely than not that it will realize its net deferred tax asset and, accordingly, has recorded a deferred tax provision of $1,555,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2010 to setup a valuation allowance to fully offset its deferred tax asset at September 30, 2010. During the three months ended September 30, 2009 a tax benefit of $330,000 was recognized relating to prior years based on the Company’s 2009 consolidated income tax returns which were filed during such period.


	As of September 30, 2010, the Company has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits, which remains unchanged from December 31, 2009.

10.	Subsequent Event

	On November 1, 2010, Siebert entered into a Temporary Subordinated Agreement with SBS which it made a subordinated loan to SBS in exchange for a promissory note bearing interest at 2% and maturing on December 15, 2010.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

Business Environment

The financial crisis affecting the global economy has created historic volatility in the marketplace. Our working capital is invested primarily in money market funds, so that liquidity has not been materially affected. The crisis did have the effect of reducing participation in the securities markets by our retail and institutional customers, which has had an adverse effect on our revenues. Competition in the brokerage industry remains intense.

The following table sets forth certain metrics as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which we use in evaluating our business.


	For the Three Months ended September 30,				For the Nine Months ended September 30,
Retail Customer Activity:	2010		2009		2010		2009


Total retail trades:		83,914		108,601		298,953		345,117
Average commission per retail trade:	$	19.77	$	21.97	$	20.74	$	22.36


	As of September 30,

Retail Customer Balances:	2010		2009

Retail customer net worth (in billions):	$	6.3	$	5.9
Retail customer money market fund value (in billions):	$	1.0	$	1.1
Retail customer margin debit balances (in million):	$	188.5	$	143.8
Retail customer accounts with positions:		49,730		54,083

Description:


•	Total retail trades represent retail trades that generate commission.

•	Average commission per retail trade represents the average commission generated for all types of retail customer trades.

•	Retail customer net worth represents the total value of securities and cash in the retail customer accounts before deducting margin debits.

•	Retail customer money market fund value represents all retail customers accounts invested in money market funds.

•	Retail customer margin debits balances represents credit extended to our customers to finance their purchases against current positions.

•	Retail customer accounts with positions represents retail customers with cash and/or securities in their accounts.

Like other securities firms, we are directly affected by general economic and market conditions including fluctuations in volume and prices of securities, changes and prospects for changes in interest rates and demand for brokerage and investment banking services, all of which can affect our relative profitability. In periods of reduced market activity, profitability is likely to be adversely affected because certain expenses, including salaries and related costs, portions of communications costs and occupancy expenses remain relatively fixed. Earnings, or loss, for any period should not be considered representative of any other period.

Recent Developments

As part of the negotiations with one of the company’s clearing firms for a three year fully disclosed clearing agreement which was entered into on May 5, 2010, the Company resolved at $3 million the amount due to the Company from the clearing firm on past transactions cleared for the Company. This amount is included in commission and fee income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

On January 23, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a buy back of up to 300,000 shares of common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company purchased 13,150 shares at an average price of $2.07.

Critical Accounting Policies

We generally follow accounting policies standard in the brokerage industry and believe that our policies appropriately reflect our financial position and results of operations. Our management makes significant “estimates” that effect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities included in the financial statements. The estimates relate primarily to revenue and expense items in the normal course of business as to which we receive no confirmations, invoices, or other documentation at the time the books are closed for a period. We use our best judgment, based on our knowledge of these revenue transactions and expenses incurred, to estimate the amounts of such revenue and expense. We are not aware of any material differences between the estimates used in closing our books for the last five years and the actual amounts of revenue and expenses incurred when we subsequently receive the actual confirmations, invoices or other documentation. Estimates are also used in determining the useful lives of intangible assets, and the fair market value of intangible assets and securities. Our management believes that its estimates are reasonable.

Results of Operations

We believe that our business reflects the current difficult business environment for discount and online and institutional brokers. We had a net loss of $3.6 million and $4.0 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $3.8 million, a decrease of $1.6 million or 30.2% from the same period in 2009.

Commission and fee income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $2.9 million, a decrease of $1.5 million or 34.5% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to a decrease in retail customer trading volumes as well as a decrease in the retail customer average commission charged per trade. Additionally, there was a decrease in 12b-1 fees due to lower rates offset by an increase in fees from margin debits due to increased customer margin debit balances. Our institutional trading commissions and commission recapture decreased as well.

Investment banking revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $552,000, a decrease of $24,000 or 4.2% from the same period in 2009 due to our participation in fewer new issues in the equity capital markets.

Trading profits were $282,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2010, a decrease of $66,000 or 19.0% from the same period in 2009 due to an overall decrease in trading volume primarily in the debt markets and the loss of two debt sales-traders.

Interest and dividends for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $33,000, a decrease of $14,000 or 29.8% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to lower cash balances.

Total expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $6.1 million, a decrease of $1.2 million or 16.2% from the same period in 2009.

Employee compensation and benefit costs for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $2.2 million, a decrease of $427,000 or 16.4% from the same period in 2009. This decrease was due to decreases in commissions paid based on production and a reduction in headcount for registered representatives.

Clearing and floor brokerage costs for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $669,000, a decrease of $597,000 or 47.2% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to the execution of a Fully Disclosed Clearing Agreement with our primary clearing firm in the second quarter of 2010 which reduced our fees for clearing costs as well as a decrease in volume of trade executions for retail customers and a decrease in execution charges for institutional debt and equity customers.

Professional fees for the three months ended September 30, 2010, were $1.5 million, a decrease of $18,000 or 1.2% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to a decrease in consulting fees relating to the commission recapture business and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Advertising and promotion expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $111,000, a decrease of $62,000 or 35.8% from the same period in 2009 due to a decrease in print advertising.

Communications expense for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $542,000, a decrease of $129,000 or 19.0% from the same period in 2009 due to a decrease of hosting and communication costs associated with the our website.

Occupancy costs for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $321,000, a decrease of $11,000 or 3.3% from the same period in 2009 due to a decrease in rent in our New Jersey office offset by increases in our Florida branches.

Other general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $760,000, an increase of $64,000 or 9.2% from the same period in 2009 due to an increase in computer updates, placement fees, depreciation, registration fees offset by decreases in training, supplies and transportation costs.

Income from Siebert’s equity investment in SBS for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $633,000, an increase of $87,000 or 15.9% from the same period in 2009. This increase was due to SBS participating in more senior managed or co-managed transactions. Loss from our equity investment in SBSFPC for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $4,000 as compared to income of $69,000 from the same period in 2009. This loss in 2010 was due to the mark to market loss in positions. Income and loss from equity investees is considered to be integral to our operations and material to the results of operations.

The tax provision for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $1.8 million and a tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $840,000. The tax provision for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was incurred due to the recording of a full valuation allowance on deferred taxes based on recent losses and the likelihood of realization. The tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was due to our loss before taxes of $1.3 million. Further, at September 30, 2009, the Company increased its income tax receivable balance based on the Company’s 2008 consolidated income tax returns filed in the third quarter of 2009 and recorded a benefit of approximately $330,000 relating to prior years resulting in an effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2009 of 65%.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $15.5 million, a decrease of $4.2 million or 21.3% from the same period in 2009.

Commission and fee income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $13.2 million, a decrease of $933,000 or 6.6% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to a decrease in retail customer trading volumes as well as a decrease in the retail customer average commission charged per trade offset by an increase in fees from margin debits due to increased customer margin debit balances and 12b-1 fees due to recording $3 million as commission and fee income as part of our negotiations with our primary clearing firm for a three year Fully Disclosed Clearing Agreement in the second quarter of 2010. Our institutional trading commissions and commission recapture decreased as well.

Investment banking revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $1.3 million, a decrease of $2.7 million or 67.3% from the same period in 2009 due to our participation in fewer new issues in the equity and debt capital markets.

Trading profits were $839,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, a decrease of $548,000 or 39.5% from the same period in 2009 due to a decrease in trading volume primarily in the debt markets and the loss of two debt sales-traders in the second quarter of 2009.

Interest and dividends for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $93,000, a decrease of $5,000 or 5.1% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to lower cash balances.

Total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $20.3 million, a decrease of $3.1 million or 13.3% from the same period in 2009.

Employee compensation and benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $7.0 million, a decrease of $1.5 million or 17.3% from the same period in 2009. This decrease was due to decreases in commissions paid based on production and a reduction headcount for registered representatives and staff offset by increases in health insurance.

Clearing and floor brokerage costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $2.6 million, a decrease of $1.7 million or 39.2% from the same period in 2009, primarily due to the execution of a Fully Disclosed Clearing Agreement with our primary clearing firm in the second quarter of 2010 which reduced our fees for clearing costs as well as a decrease in volume of trade executions for retail customers and a decrease in execution charges for institutional debt and equity customers.

Professional fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $5.3 million, an increase of $332,000 or 6.7% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to an increase in legal fees relating to a dispute with a former employee offset by a decrease in consulting fees relating to the commission recapture business and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Advertising and promotion expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $364,000, a decrease of $296,000 or 44.9% from the same period in 2009 primarily due to decreases in production and airing of television commercials and print advertising, brochures and direct mailings to our retail customer base.

Communications expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $1.8 million, a decrease of $142,000 or 7.3% from the same period in 2009 due to a decrease in local and 1(800) telephone usage and hosting and communication costs associated with the our website.

Occupancy costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $970,000, a decrease of $14,000 or 1.4% from the same period in 2009 due to a decrease in rents in the New Jersey office offset by an increase in rents in our Florida branches.

Other general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $2.2 million, an increase of $163,000 or 8.2% from the same period in 2009. This increase was a result of increases in computer updates, placement fees, depreciation, registration fees, insurance and SIPC fees, offset by printing, subscriptions and transportation costs.

Income from Siebert’s equity investment in SBS for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $2.5 million, a decrease of $552,000 or 18.3% from the same period in 2009. This decrease was due to SBS participating in fewer senior managed or co-managed transactions. Loss from our equity investment in SBSFPC for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $12,000 as compared to a loss of $113,000 from the same period in 2009. These losses were due to the mark to market loss in positions. We consider income and loss from equity investees to be integral to our operations and material to the results of operations.

The tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $1.6 million and a tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $618,000. The tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was incurred due to the recording of a full valuation allowance on deferred taxes based on recent losses and the likelihood of realization. The tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was due to our loss before taxes of $837,000. Further, at September 30, 2009, the Company increased its income tax receivable balance based on the Company’s 2008 consolidated income tax returns filed in the third quarter of 2009 and recorded a benefit of approximately $330,000 relating to prior years resulting in an effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2009 of 65%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our assets are highly liquid, consisting generally of cash in money market funds. Our total assets at September 30, 2010 were $39 million. As of that date, we regarded $24.6 million, or 62%, of total assets as highly liquid.

Siebert is subject to the net capital requirements of the SEC, FINRA and other regulatory authorities. At September 30, 2010, Siebert’s regulatory net capital was $20.5 million, $20.2 million in excess of its minimum capital requirement of $250,000.

On January 22, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a buy back of up to 300,000 shares of common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, 13,150 shares were purchased at an average price of $2.07 per share.

Siebert has entered into a Secured Demand Note Collateral Agreement with SBS under which Siebert is obligated to lend to SBS up to $1.2 million pursuant to a secured promissory note on a subordinated basis. Amounts pledged by Siebert under the facility are reflected on our balance sheet as “cash equivalents – restricted”. SBS pays Siebert interest on the Secured Demand Note at the rate of 4% per annum. The facility expires on August 31, 2012, at which time SBS is obligated to repay to Siebert any amounts borrowed by SBS thereunder.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We generally invest working capital temporarily in dollar denominated money market funds and United States Treasury Bills. These investments are not subject to material changes in value due to interest rate movements.

In the normal course of its business, Siebert enters into transactions in various financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. This risk includes both market and credit risk, which may be in excess of the amounts recognized in our financial statements. Retail customer transactions are cleared through clearing brokers on a fully disclosed basis. If customers do not fulfill their contractual obligations, the clearing broker may charge Siebert for any loss incurred in connection with the purchase or sale of securities at prevailing market prices to satisfy the customers’ obligations. Siebert regularly monitors the activity in its customer accounts for compliance with its margin requirements. Siebert is exposed to the risk of loss on unsettled customer transactions if customers and other counterparties are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange of 1934, as amended. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding timely disclosure.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in various routine lawsuits of a nature deem to be customary and incidental to our business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of such actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which could materially affect our business, financial position and results of operations. There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Item 2. Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On January 23, 2008, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 300,000 shares of our common stock. Shares will be purchased from time to time, in our discretion, in the open market and in private transactions. We purchased 4,268 shares at an average price of $1.55 in the third quarter of 2010.

A summary of our repurchase activity for the three months ended September 30, 2010 is as follows:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities


Period	Total Number Of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans		Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under The Plans

July 2010		12	$	2.07		37,832		262,168

August 2010		226	$	2.05		38,058		261,942

September 2010		4,030	$	1.52		42,088		257,912


Total		4,268	$	1.55		42,088		257,912

All of the purchases were made in open market transactions.

Item 6. Exhibits


	31.1		Certification of Muriel F. Siebert pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	31.2		Certification of Joseph M. Ramos, Jr. pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	32.1		Certification of Muriel F. Siebert of Periodic Financial Report under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	32.2		Certification of Joseph M. Ramos, Jr. of Periodic Financial Report under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	SIEBERT FINANCIAL CORP.

	By:	/s/ Muriel F. Siebert

		Muriel F. Siebert
		Chairwoman and President
		(principal executive officer)

	Dated: November 15, 2010

	By:	/s/ Joseph M. Ramos, Jr.

		Joseph M. Ramos, Jr.
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		(principal financial and accounting officer)

	Dated: November 15, 2010