CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities attributable to continuing operations:
Net income and comprehensive income	$ 17,828,000	$ 96,499,000	$ 15,578,000
Less: Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	21,632,000	12,820,000	3,840,000
Net income from continuing operations	39,460,000	109,319,000	19,418,000
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities attributable to continuing operations:
(Gain) loss on impairments and disposal of assets	(695,000)	2,210,000	840,000
Amortization of intangibles	55,241,000	23,468,000	12,992,000
Depreciation	10,998,000	7,385,000	7,085,000
Rental amortization of intangibles and depreciation	0	630,000	1,474,000
Non-cash compensation expense	52,167,000	44,365,000	23,361,000
Deferred income taxes	(8,555,000)	(63,901,000)	(6,370,000)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	28,402,000	10,788,000	23,931,000
Bad debt expense	1,697,000	880,000	195,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,974,000	1,776,000	1,032,000
Write-off of previously-capitalized debt issuance costs	333,000	0	90,000
Amortization of convertible debt discount	12,016,000	11,397,000	6,385,000
ROU asset amortization, offset by change in operating lease liabilities	213,000	0	0
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(22,457,000)	(16,820,000)	(11,381,000)
Prepaid and other current assets	(3,258,000)	(2,985,000)	(5,358,000)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(2,322,000)	14,270,000	31,108,000
Current contingent consideration	(12,500,000)	(21,912,000)	0
Income taxes receivable	4,548,000	3,669,000	(1,104,000)
Other, net	(88,000)	(591,000)	(160,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities attributable to continuing operations	157,174,000	123,948,000	103,538,000
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Capital expenditures	(20,041,000)	(14,907,000)	(8,040,000)
Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets	24,077,000	0	0
Acquisition of intangible assets	0	0	(5,000)
Net cash used in investing activities attributable to continuing operations	(101,060,000)	(383,038,000)	(74,435,000)
Cash flows from financing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments related to net-share settlement of stock-based compensation, net of proceeds from exercise of stock options	(8,406,000)	2,217,000	1,602,000
Contingent consideration payments	(21,275,000)	(27,588,000)	0
Net (repayment of) proceeds from revolving credit facility	(50,000,000)	125,000,000	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	$ 0	(499,000)	0
Interest rate	0.625%
Proceeds from the issuance of 0.625% Convertible Senior Notes	$ 0	0	300,000,000
Payment of convertible note hedge transactions	0	0	(61,500,000)
Proceeds from the sale of warrants	0	0	43,410,000
Payment of debt issuance costs	(2,518,000)	(583,000)	(10,486,000)
Purchase of treasury stock	(5,470,000)	(93,704,000)	(19,901,000)
Other financing activities	(9,000)	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities attributable to continuing operations	(87,678,000)	4,843,000	253,125,000
Total cash (used in) provided by continuing operations	(31,564,000)	(254,247,000)	282,228,000
Discontinued operations:
Net cash used in operating activities attributable to discontinued operations	(13,255,000)	(13,236,000)	(4,807,000)
Total cash used in discontinued operations	(13,255,000)	(13,236,000)	(4,807,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents	(44,819,000)	(267,483,000)	277,421,000
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period	105,158,000	372,641,000	95,220,000
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	60,339,000	105,158,000	372,641,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Capital additions from tenant improvement allowance	1,111,000	0	0
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest	7,005,000	3,593,000	1,327,000
Income tax payments	25,000	541,000	20,359,000
Income tax refunds	4,743,000	5,678,000	133,000
ValuePenguin
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired	(105,578,000)	0	0
QuoteWizard
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities attributable to continuing operations:
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	27,100,000	6,800,000
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired	482,000	(297,072,000)	0
Student Loan Hero
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired	0	(59,483,000)	0
Ovation
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities attributable to continuing operations:
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		1,600,000
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired	0	(11,566,000)	0
SnapCap
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities attributable to continuing operations:
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	2,200,000	(300,000)	700,000
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments to acquire businesses	0	(10,000)	(11,886,000)
DepositAccounts
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities attributable to continuing operations:
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	(1,000,000.0)	2,000,000.0	2,000,000
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments to acquire businesses	0	0	(25,000,000)
MagnifyMoney
Cash flows from investing activities attributable to continuing operations:
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired	$ 0	$ 0	$ (29,504,000)