CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (3,802,000)	$ (5,448,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	14,311,000
Amortization of stock-based compensation	9,326,000	23,547,000
Deferred income taxes	2,887,000	(9,478,000)
Gain from bargain purchase - ClearPoint Funding, Inc. acquisition	(2,330,000)
Amortization of intangible assets	1,528,000	2,038,000
Depreciation and amortization	961,000	742,000
Investment losses/(gains), net	318,000	1,512,000
Amortization of discount of mandatorily redeemable preferred stock		116,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs		84,000
Loss from disposal of office equipment and leasehold improvements		312,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory purposes	(3,900,000)
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	(216,516,000)
Net receivable/payable from/to related parties	971,000	(2,053,000)
Net receivable from others	394,000	5,372,000
Financial instruments owned, at fair value	86,341,000	24,478,000
Income taxes receivable/payable, net	(120,000)	(12,512,000)
Other assets	1,081,000	(312,000)
Net payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(76,601,000)	7,168,000
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	191,449,000
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	41,541,000	12,588,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	16,000	1,348,000
Accrued compensation	(41,219,000)	(42,823,000)
Drafts payable	(897,000)	(423,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,739,000	6,256,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Return of capital - investments	1,772,000	609,000
Purchases of office equipment and leasehold improvements	(1,709,000)	(3,776,000)
ClearPoint acquisition - net cash acquired (See Note 11)	626,000
Capital contribution - investments	(103,000)	(433,000)
Loan receivable - held for investment		(5,000,000)
Payment to sellers of American Technology Holdings, Inc.		(1,382,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	586,000	(9,982,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from secured borrowings	373,039,000
Repayments of secured borrowings	(357,293,000)
Purchases of treasury stock	(10,333,000)
Payment for employee tax withholdings on stock-based compensation	(5,441,000)	(2,732,000)
Repayment of subordinated debt	(108,000)	(288,000)
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation	238,000	2,156,000
Net cash provided by/(used in) by financing activities	102,000	(864,000)
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6,427,000	(4,590,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	40,009,000	24,997,000
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	46,436,000	20,407,000
NON CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Treasury stock issued, net of forfeitures, for stock-based compensation exercises and vesting and distributions of deferred compensation related to the employee stock trust (in shares)	600,000	900,000
Common stock issued for settlement of stock-based compensation awards (in shares)	2,300,000	3,300,000
Fair value of non-cash assets acquired in the ClearPoint Funding, Inc. acquisition (See Note 11)	51,600,000
Fair value of liabilities assumed in the ClearPoint Funding, Inc. acquisition (See Note 11)	49,900,000
Increase in goodwill in connection with a contingent consideration arrangement related to the acquisition of American Technology Research Holdings, Inc. ("AmTech") (See Note 16)		$ 800,000
Common stock issued to the former shareholders of AmTech in connection with contingent consideration arrangement (in shares)		345,000