Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 60,762	$ 25,598	$ 43,388
Non-cash items included in consolidated net income:
Depreciation and amortization	3,243	3,433	3,228
Net investment (gains) losses	255	(234)	6,399
Restricted stock units recognized	45,880	47,071	39,990
Deferred taxes	(7,457)	(6,058)	3,633
Losses on fair value of contingent obligation	1,448	503	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Advisory fees receivable	(3,710)	17,341	3,465
Other receivables and assets	1,509	(1,779)	(4,099)
Deferred tax asset, net	7,668	7,882	4,727
Compensation payable	15,394	(4,271)	12,554
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(706)	(5,747)	(4,658)
Current income taxes payable	(52)	9,012	(5,338)
Net cash provided by operating activities	124,234	92,751	103,289
Investing activities:
Distributions from investments, net	937	832	630
Purchases of property and equipment	(1,737)	(2,242)	(2,439)
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent	0	13,144	0
Cogent acquisition	0	(45,265)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(800)	(33,531)	(1,809)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving bank loan	105,999	80,000	72,176
Repayment of revolving bank loan	(81,729)	(75,800)	(67,425)
Proceeds from bank term loans	0	45,000	0
Repayment of bank term loans	(16,875)	(11,250)	0
Dividends paid	(61,609)	(58,940)	(56,283)
Purchase of treasury stock	(28,186)	(11,902)	(36,179)
Net tax benefit (cost) from the delivery of restricted stock units and payment of dividend equivalents	(4,883)	(5,944)	(2,888)
Net cash used in financing activities	(87,283)	(38,836)	(90,599)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7,800)	(1,362)	(2,620)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	28,351	19,022	8,261
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	69,962	50,940	42,679
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	98,313	69,962	50,940
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	2,944	2,427	1,116
Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds	$ 28,979	$ 14,445	$ 26,079