Segment Information - Reported Revenue and Profit Before Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 245,561		$ 255,168
Income (loss) before income taxes
Total income (loss) before income taxes	9,851		5,109
Private Client Division [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	139,932	[1]	147,820	[1]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Total income (loss) before income taxes	16,757	[1]	10,308	[1]
Asset management fees	77.50%		77.50%
Asset Management [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	24,461	[1]	24,610	[1]
Income (loss) before income taxes
Total income (loss) before income taxes	7,886	[1]	7,683	[1]
Asset management fees	22.50%		22.50%
Capital Markets [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	72,166		77,881
Income (loss) before income taxes
Total income (loss) before income taxes	6,735		11,184
Commercial Mortgage Banking [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	8,386		4,872
Income (loss) before income taxes
Total income (loss) before income taxes	4,037		1,849
Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	616		(15)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Total income (loss) before income taxes	$ (25,564)		$ (25,915)

[1] Asset management fees are allocated 22.5% to the Asset Management and 77.5% to the Private Client segments.