Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Intersegment balances
Net fee revenues from external sources	$ 28,139	$ 22,654	$ 84,608	$ 66,013
Net interest and dividend revenue	42	140	208	418
Other revenue	(59)	204	160	142
Total revenues	28,122	22,998	84,976	66,573
Economic Earnings	10,881	7,344	31,758	20,970
Less: Restricted stock expense			10,103	8,512
Intangible amortization			270	270
Net income	7,118	4,301	21,271	12,074
Segment assets	132,615	104,902	132,615	104,902	116,050
Segment goodwill	11,255	11,255	11,255	11,255	11,255
Operating Segments | Advisory
Intersegment balances
Net fee revenues from external sources	22,857	17,982	69,147	52,550
Net intersegment revenues	3,493	2,937	10,157	7,194
Net interest and dividend revenue	42	140	207	417
Other revenue	(59)	203	159	142
Total revenues	26,333	21,262	79,670	60,303
Economic Earnings	11,610	8,269	34,871	23,902
Segment assets	141,030	103,502	141,030	103,502
Segment goodwill	5,219	5,219	5,219	5,219
Operating Segments | Trust
Intersegment balances
Net fee revenues from external sources	5,282	4,672	15,461	13,463
Net intersegment revenues				9
Net interest and dividend revenue			1	1
Other revenue		1	1
Total revenues	5,282	4,673	15,463	13,473
Economic Earnings	514	525	1,341	1,418
Segment assets	17,780	13,849	17,780	13,849
Segment goodwill	6,036	6,036	6,036	6,036
Corporate, Non-Segment | Westwood Holdings
Intersegment balances
Economic Earnings	(1,243)	(1,450)	(4,454)	(4,350)
Segment assets	7,819	5,651	7,819	5,651
Intersegment Eliminations
Intersegment balances
Net intersegment revenues	(3,493)	(2,937)	(10,157)	(7,203)
Total revenues	(3,493)	(2,937)	(10,157)	(7,203)
Segment assets	(34,014)	(18,100)	(34,014)	(18,100)
Material Reconciling Items
Intersegment balances
Less: Restricted stock expense	3,635	2,915	10,103	8,512
Intangible amortization	90	90	270	270
Deferred taxes on goodwill	$ 38	$ 38	$ 114	$ 114