Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Intersegment balances
Net fee revenues from external sources	$ 30,689	$ 23,595	$ 56,469	$ 43,359
Net interest and dividend revenue	43	145	166	278
Other revenue	173	(265)	219	(62)
Total revenues	30,905	23,475	56,854	43,575
Economic Earnings	11,576	7,993	20,633	13,660
Less: Restricted stock expense	2,626	2,986	5,796	5,692
Intangible amortization	90	90	180	180
Deferred taxes on goodwill	38	38	76	76
Net income	8,822	4,879	14,581	7,712
Segment assets	115,193	95,195	115,193	95,195	116,020
Segment goodwill	11,255	11,255	11,255	11,255	11,255
Operating Segments | Advisory
Intersegment balances
Net fee revenues from external sources	25,538	19,021	46,290	34,568
Net intersegment revenues	3,283	2,324	6,664	4,257
Net interest and dividend revenue	43	145	165	277
Other revenue	173	(264)	218	(61)
Total revenues	29,037	21,226	53,337	39,041
Economic Earnings	12,436	7,478	23,105	12,767
Segment assets	116,433	94,069	116,433	94,069
Segment goodwill	5,219	5,219	5,219	5,219
Operating Segments | Trust
Intersegment balances
Net fee revenues from external sources	5,151	4,574	10,179	8,791
Net intersegment revenues		4		9
Net interest and dividend revenue			1	1
Other revenue		(1)	1	(1)
Total revenues	5,151	4,577	10,181	8,800
Economic Earnings	605	515	827	893
Segment assets	15,876	13,756	15,876	13,756
Segment goodwill	6,036	6,036	6,036	6,036
Corporate, Non-Segment | Westwood Holdings
Intersegment balances
Economic Earnings	(1,465)		(3,299)
Intersegment Eliminations
Intersegment balances
Net intersegment revenues	(3,283)	(2,328)	(6,664)	(4,266)
Total revenues	(3,283)	(2,328)	(6,664)	(4,266)
Segment assets	$ (17,116)	$ (12,630)	$ (17,116)	$ (12,630)