Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 463,611	$ 425,412
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred sales commissions	31,606	37,471
Non-cash long-term incentive compensation expense	6,530	12,122
Depreciation and other amortization	44,010	42,388
Unrealized (gains) losses on investments	(27,659)	37,438
Other, net	8,099	(11,067)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in segregated cash and securities	73,252	94,693
(Increase) in receivables	(206,052)	(1,574)
Decrease (increase) in investments	184,655	38,959
(Increase) in deferred sales commissions	(2,171)	(27,862)
(Increase) in other assets	(40,933)	(64,041)
Increase (decrease) in payables	268,937	(125,494)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	59,950	(10,234)
Increase in accrued compensation and benefits	322,600	356,083
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,141,905	804,294
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	0	(86)
Proceeds from sales of investments	191	4,189
Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	(28,318)	(17,084)
Proceeds from sales of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	14	36
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired	(20,541)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(48,654)	(12,945)
Cash flows from financing activities:
(Repayment) of commercial paper, net	(197,064)	(132,843)
(Decrease) increase in overdrafts payable	(74,837)	17,781
Distributions to General Partner and Unitholders	(400,441)	(461,956)
Capital contributions/Redemptions of non-controlling interests of consolidated VIEs, net	364	(10,159)
Capital contributions from affiliates	439	214
Payments of contingent payment arrangements/purchase of shares	(1,693)	(4,820)
Additional investments by AB Holding with proceeds from exercise of compensatory options to buy AB Holding Units	2,371	8,979
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term incentive compensation plan awards, net	(128,778)	(99,590)
Purchases of AB Units	(359)	(802)
Other	(19)	(20)
Net cash used in financing activities	(839,544)	(683,216)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	7,155	(8,925)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	260,862	99,208
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of the period	577,300	555,503
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of the period	838,162	654,711
VIEs Consolidated
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized (gains) losses on investments	(16,675)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Consolidation of cash and cash equivalents of consolidated variable interest entities, net	8,512	0
Decrease (increase) in investments	(34,576)	0
(Increase) in other assets	(1,791)	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contributions/Redemptions of non-controlling interests of consolidated VIEs, net	(39,527)	$ 0
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of the period	0
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of the period	$ 42,615