Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Investment banking:
Capital raising	$ 61,508	$ 103,902	$ 186,516
Advisory	9,583	11,353	9,697
Institutional brokerage	45,442	56,182	53,738
Net investment income	5,433	17,774	6,920
Interest	31,774	13,067	1,790
Dividends and other	1,692	1,030	1,160
Total revenues	155,432	203,308	259,821
Interest expense	35,037	21,183	0
Revenues, net of interest expense	120,395	182,125	259,821
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits	77,463	103,811	144,720
Professional services	13,287	13,259	12,326
Occupancy and equipment	12,680	13,480	12,271
Communications	10,865	11,514	11,101
Business development	9,819	11,689	9,602
Clearing and brokerage fees	5,328	4,757	4,922
Other operating expenses	6,711	6,255	7,609
Total non-interest expenses	136,153	164,765	202,551
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(15,758)	17,360	57,270
Income tax (benefit) expense	(8,297)	341	(27,483)
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of taxes	(7,461)	17,019	84,753
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	8,159
Net (loss) income	$ (7,461)	$ 17,019	$ 92,912
Basic (loss) income per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$ (0.92)	$ 1.66	$ 7.09
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	0.68
Basic (loss) income per share	(0.92)	1.66	7.77
Diluted (loss) income per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of taxes	(0.92)	1.48	6.54
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	0.63
Diluted (loss) income per share	$ (0.92)	$ 1.48	$ 7.17
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands)	8,069	10,283	11,963
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands)	8,069	11,465	12,960
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.40	$ 0	$ 0