BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Details - Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation) - USD ($) $ in Thousands									12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 23, 2018	Jun. 11, 2018	Sep. 19, 2017	Jun. 20, 2017	Jun. 14, 2017	Nov. 16, 2016	May 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill									$ 348,347	$ 113,368	$ 56,457
Student Loan Hero [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net working capital and other assets									5,429
Intangible assets									19,600
Total intangible assets with definite lives, net		$ 19,600
Goodwill		40,900							40,856
Deferred tax liabilities									(5,467)
Total purchase price		$ 60,400							60,418
Weighted Average Amortization Life		4 years
QuoteWizard [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net working capital and other assets									8,535
Fixed assets									1,501
Intangible assets									120,400
Total intangible assets with definite lives, net	$ 120,400
Goodwill	182,900								182,863
Other noncurrent assets									17
Total purchase price	$ 313,300								313,316
Weighted Average Amortization Life	7 years 11 months
Ovation [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net working capital and other assets									323
Fixed assets									76
Intangible assets									8,900
Total intangible assets with definite lives, net			$ 8,900
Goodwill			11,300						11,260
Deferred tax liabilities									(2,688)
Total purchase price			$ 17,900						$ 17,871
Weighted Average Amortization Life			5 years 5 months
DepositAccounts [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets						$ 9,600				9,600
Goodwill						19,400				19,389
Total purchase price						$ 29,000				28,989
Weighted Average Amortization Life						5 years 1 month 25 days
CompareCards [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable										3,538
Intangible assets										55,400
Total intangible assets with definite lives, net							$ 55,400
Goodwill							52,500			52,450
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities										(7,638)
Total purchase price							$ 103,800			103,750
Weighted Average Amortization Life							7 years 5 months
MagnifyMoney [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net working capital and other assets										921
Intangible assets					$ 9,700					9,700
Goodwill					$ 23,800					23,784
Deferred tax liabilities										(4,176)
Noncontrolling interest										(637)
Total purchase price										29,592
Weighted Average Amortization Life					3 years 8 months 27 days
SnapCap [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net working capital and other assets										42
Fixed assets										146
Intangible assets				$ 4,300						4,300
Goodwill				13,700						13,738
Total purchase price				$ 18,200						$ 18,226
Weighted Average Amortization Life				8 years 8 months
SimpleTuition [Domain]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable								$ 125
Total intangible assets with definite lives, net								4,500
Goodwill								375
Total purchase price								$ 5,000
Weighted Average Amortization Life								9 years 2 months