NON-EMPLOYEE SHARE-BASED AND OTHER COMPENSATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

NON-EMPLOYEE SHARE-BASED AND OTHER COMPENSATION [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation Granted to Independent Contractor Financial Advisors

Expense (expense reduction) and income tax benefits related to our stock option grants to our independent contractor financial advisors are presented below:

	Year ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2009
	(in thousands)
Total share-based expense (expense reduction)	$	952	$	1,899	$	(5,291	)
Income tax benefits related to share-based expense		362		713		(1,987	)

The fair value of each fixed option grant awarded to an independent contractor financial advisor is estimated on the date of grant and periodically revalued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for fiscal years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009:

	Year ended September 30,
	2011	2010	2009
Dividend yield	1.62%	1.73%	2.34%
Expected volatility	44.14%	51.84%	44.44%
Risk-free interest rate	0.65%	0.88%	1.04%
Expected lives	2.54 yrs.	2.24 yrs	2.20 yrs

A summary of option activity of our fixed stock option plans under which awards are granted to our independent contractor financial advisors for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 is presented below:

	Options for shares			Weighted-average exercise price ($)		Weighted-average remaining contractual term (years)		Aggregate intrinsic value ($)
Outstanding at October 1, 2010		790,438		$	26.07		-
Granted		40,900			28.74		-
Exercised		(343,388	)		21.62		-
Forfeited		(10,950	)		30.29		-
Expired		(2,250	)		22.87		-
Outstanding at September 30, 2011		474,750		$	29.45	$	2.06	$	383,000
Exercisable at September 30, 2011		4,500		$	21.50	$	0.01	$	20,000

The following activity occurred under our fixed stock option plans available for grants to our independent contractor financial advisors:

	Year ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2009
	(in thousands)
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$	3,300	$	2,676	$	1,241
Total fair value of stock options vested		1,448		-		1,694

The following activity for our independent contractor financial advisors occurred during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011:

	Shares/Units			Weighted- average reporting date fair value ($)
Non-vested at October 1, 2010		156,380		$	25.33
Granted		-
Vested		(1,550	)
Forfeited		(2,500	)
Non-vested at September 30, 2011		152,330		$	25.96

Expense and income tax benefits related to our restricted stock plan available for grants to our independent contractor financial advisors are presented below:

	Year ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2009
	(in thousands)
Total share-based expense	$	923	$	858	$	378
Income tax benefits related to share-based expense		351		322		142