Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2009	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Amounts receivable from or payable to related parties
Receivables from related parties				$ 1,372,000	$ 1,337,000
Payables to related parties				594,000	4,939,000
Former stockholders of Gleacher Partners, Inc.
Related Party Transactions
Amount agreed to pay to selling parties	10,000,000
Period over which purchase consideration will be paid to selling parties	5 years
Payment of purchase consideration obligation		4,400,000	4,900,000
Amounts receivable from or payable to related parties
Receivables from related parties				1,372,000	1,337,000
Payables to related parties				$ 594,000	$ 4,939,000