Note 18 - Fair Value of Financial Measurements and Disclosures (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes Tables

Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]

	December 31, 2016				September 30, 2016
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents (Level 2)	$	16,041,000	$	16,041,000	$	18,526,000	$	18,526,000
Available-for-sale investments (Level 1)		55,045,000		55,045,000		56,764,000		56,764,000
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation (Level 3)		11,884,000		45,061,000		14,320,000		47,233,000
Structured settlements (Level 3)		91,505,000		91,505,000		85,708,000		85,708,000
Other investments, net (1)		3,354,000		3,354,000		3,590,000		3,590,000
Financial liabilities
Other debt – CBC, revolving line of credit (Level 3)		15,264,000		15,264,000		10,154,000		10,154,000
Other debt – CBC, non-recourse notes payable with varying installments (Level 3)		56,302,000		56,302,000		57,281,000		57,281,000

Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Table Text Block]

	Fair Value		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Rate
Structured settlements at fair value	$	91,505,000	Discounted cash flow	Discount rate		4.85	%

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

Balance at September 30, 2016	$	85,708,000
Total gains included in earnings		1,598,000
Purchases		4,595,000
Interest accreted		1,567,000
Payments received		(1,963,000	)
Total	$	91,505,000
The amount of total gains for the three month period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains relating to assets held at December 31, 2016	$	1,598,000

Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings [Table Text Block]

Total gains included in the three months ended December 31, 2016	$	1,598,000
Change in unrealized gains relating to assets still held at December 31, 2016	$	1,598,000