Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 298,513	$ 254,970
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred sales commissions	25,112	18,283
Non-cash long-term incentive compensation expense	9,682	12,693
Depreciation and other amortization	28,391	32,120
Unrealized (gains) on investments	(4,826)	(8,680)
Other, net	(8,486)	(272)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in segregated cash and securities	8,821	390,557
(Increase) in receivables	(87,105)	(106,941)
Decrease in investments	56,117	6,385
(Increase) in deferred sales commissions	(26,475)	(44,998)
(Increase) in other assets	(60,687)	(37,318)
(Decrease) in payables	(18,922)	(330,720)
(Decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(14,931)	(19,745)
Increase in accrued compensation and benefits	230,865	172,008
Net cash provided by operating activities	436,069	338,342
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(88)	(190)
Proceeds from sales of investments	0	42
Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	(11,730)	(14,202)
Proceeds from sales of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	33	245
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired	0	(60,610)
Net cash used in investing activities	(11,785)	(74,715)
Cash flows from financing activities:
(Repayment) issuance of commercial paper, net	(84,907)	55,795
Proceeds from bank loans	50,000	0
Increase (decrease) in overdrafts payable	28,901	(10,349)
Distributions to General Partner and Unitholders	(313,597)	(298,022)
Contributions from (to) non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	430	(11,375)
Capital contributions from General Partner	657	844
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding	136	(855)
Payments of contingent payment arrangements	(404)	(196)
Additional investments by AB Holding with proceeds from exercise of compensatory options to buy AB Holding Units	8,979	12,026
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term incentive compensation plan awards, net	(19,709)	(3,548)
Purchases of AB Units	(726)	(1,020)
Other	(14)	(13)
Net cash used in financing activities	(330,254)	(256,713)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,176)	4,988
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	89,854	11,902
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of the period	555,503	509,891
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of the period	645,357	521,793
Non-cash investing activities:
Fair value of assets acquired	0	87,821
Fair value of liabilities assumed	0	1,342
Fair value of redeemable non-controlling interest recorded	0	16,504
Non-cash financing activities:
Payables recorded under contingent payment arrangements	$ 0	$ 9,365