Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 25,598	$ 43,388	$ 46,682
Non-cash items included in consolidated net income:
Depreciation and amortization	3,433	3,228	4,461
Net investment (gains) losses	(234)	6,594	1,418
Restricted stock units recognized	47,071	39,990	56,100
Deferred taxes	(6,058)	3,633	(7,710)
Deferred gain on sale of certain merchant banking assets	0	(195)	(195)
Losses on fair value of contingent obligation	503	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Advisory fees receivable	17,341	3,465	(30,792)
Other receivables and assets	(1,779)	(4,099)	(1,333)
Compensation payable	(4,271)	12,554	(7,556)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	2,135	69	7,162
Current income taxes payable	9,012	(5,338)	(452)
Net cash provided by operating activities	92,751	103,289	67,785
Investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(21)	(28)	(560)
Proceeds from sales of investments	0	0	36,230
Distributions from investments	853	658	1,283
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,242)	(2,439)	(1,151)
Payment for Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Liability	13,144	0	0
Cogent acquisition	(45,265)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(33,531)	(1,809)	35,802
Financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving bank loan	80,000	72,176	109,150
Repayment of revolving bank loan	(75,800)	(67,425)	(107,426)
Proceeds from bank term loans	45,000	0	0
Repayment of bank term loans	(11,250)	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(311)
Dividends paid	(58,940)	(56,283)	(56,225)
Purchase of treasury stock	(11,902)	(36,179)	(55,406)
Net tax benefit (cost) from the delivery of restricted stock units and payment of dividend equivalents	(5,944)	(2,888)	8
Net cash used in financing activities	(38,836)	(90,599)	(110,210)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,362)	(2,620)	(1,022)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	19,022	8,261	(7,645)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	50,940	42,679	50,324
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	69,962	50,940	42,679
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	2,427	1,116	989
Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds	$ 14,445	$ 26,079	$ 32,521