Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 118,538	$ 113,031
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred sales commissions	8,957	11,074
Non-cash long-term incentive compensation expense	6,101	7,093
Depreciation and other amortization	16,206	15,424
Unrealized losses (gains) on investments	(2,499)	(8,482)
Other, net	(171)	(3,567)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in segregated cash and securities	80,737	479,728
(Increase) in receivables	(125,446)	(141,651)
Decrease (increase) in investments	11,473	(3,508)
(Increase) decrease in deferred sales commissions	(9,815)	4,455
(Increase) in other assets	(33,991)	(17,857)
Increase (decrease) in payables	24,294	(555,227)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	2,652	(10,067)
Increase in accrued compensation and benefits	29,654	43,159
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	126,690	(66,395)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(190)	0
Proceeds from sales of investments	42	11
Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	(4,345)	(3,379)
Proceeds from sales of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	23	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,470)	(3,368)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of commercial paper, net	104,497	59,027
Increase (decrease) in overdrafts payable	(41,517)	63,684
Distributions to General Partner and unitholders	(178,994)	(106,182)
Capital contributions from General Partner	437	750
Capital contributions from Holding	5,772	0
Payment for contingent payment arrangements	(517)	0
Additional investments by Holding from distributions paid to AllianceBernstein consolidated rabbi trust	26	5,929
Additional investments by Holding with proceeds from exercise of compensatory options to buy Holding Units	4,656	6,642
Purchases of Holding Units to fund long-term incentive compensation plan awards, net	(3,385)	(21,310)
Purchases of AllianceBernstein Units	(229)	(7)
Other	(9)	(6)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(109,263)	8,527
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,271	(6,476)
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	15,228	(67,712)
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of the period	509,891	627,182
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of the period	$ 525,119	$ 559,470