Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues
Advisory revenues	$ 237,997	$ 334,787	$ 260,281
Investment revenues	1,185	732	1,279
Total revenues	239,182	335,519	261,560
Operating Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	160,201	182,478	147,200
Occupancy and equipment rental	20,713	19,553	21,271
Depreciation and amortization	3,114	3,243	3,433
Information services	9,529	8,920	8,975
Professional fees	8,212	6,851	7,856
Travel related expenses	13,142	11,912	12,580
Other operating expenses	17,371	11,454	14,472
Total operating expenses	232,282	244,411	215,787
Total operating income	6,900	91,108	45,773
Interest expense	7,198	3,227	2,478
Income (loss) before taxes	(298)	87,881	43,295
Provision for taxes	26,353	27,119	17,697
Net income allocated to common stockholders	$ (26,651)	$ 60,762	$ 25,598
Average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	32,074,894	32,042,594	31,197,288
Diluted (shares)	32,074,894	32,074,232	31,200,378
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.83)	$ 1.90	$ 0.82
Diluted (usd per share)	(0.83)	1.89	0.82
Dividends declared and paid per share (usd per share)	$ 1.4	$ 1.80	$ 1.80