Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss) for the period	$ 5,989	$ 6,792
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities
Payment of taxes due for vested share-based awards related to amounts the Company withheld on behalf of its employees to meet minimum statutory tax withholding requirements	(1,683)	(2,074)
Depreciation and amortization of office facilities and leasehold improvements	5,471	5,787
Deferred income taxes	1,103	6,423
Amortization of notes receivable	9,742	12,393
Amortization of debt issuance costs	364	408
Write-off of debt issuance costs	0	588
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights	829	2,025
Provision for credit losses	77	28
Share-based compensation	2,569	3,682
Decrease (increase) in operating assets:
Cash segregated for regulatory and other purposes	17,739	17,217
Deposits with clearing organizations	(24,860)	(7,932)
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(84,333)	(16,070)
Receivable from customers	(31,948)	(14,292)
Income tax receivable	(1,865)	(1,239)
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	251,606	(65,175)
Securities owned	(197,476)	49,316
Notes receivable	(8,434)	(9,315)
Loans held for sale	(14,807)	55,894
Mortgage servicing rights	(283)	(2,642)
Other assets	(1,668)	31,644
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Drafts payable	(11,371)	(23,882)
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(6,648)	(18,365)
Payable to customers	40,160	62,799
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	(224,366)	(69,181)
Securities sold, but not yet purchased	219,154	51,948
Accrued compensation	(39,285)	(40,574)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	4,425	(22,466)
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(89,799)	13,737
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of office facilities	(3,613)	(3,366)
Cash used in investing activities	(3,613)	(3,366)
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock	(4,531)	(4,483)
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock	0	185
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation	(6,618)	0
Tax benefit (deficiency) from share-based awards	(235)	1,275
Redemption of senior secured notes	0	(45,000)
Increase in bank call loans, net	88,300	17,300
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	76,916	(30,723)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(16,496)	(20,352)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	63,807	98,294
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	47,311	77,942
Schedule of non-cash financing activities
Employee share plan issuance	3,373	2,014
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for interest	9,568	11,400
Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net of refunds	$ 5,972	$ 4,103