Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 491	$ 2,898	$ 9,561
Payment of taxes due for share-based awards	(1,341)	(1,683)	(2,074)
Non-cash items included in net income:
Depreciation and amortization of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	6,788	7,188	7,748
Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Credits	(2,941)	4,538	6,001
Amortization of notes receivable	12,960	12,708	16,043
Amortization of debt issuance costs	484	485	530
Write-off of debt issuance costs	0	0	588
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights	1,286	727	2,819
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses	(1,751)	118	4
Share-based compensation	6,203	2,860	6,074
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(16,475)	0	0
Decrease (increase) in operating assets:
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes	0	18,594	17,729
Deposits with clearing organizations	11,305	(12,980)	(12,831)
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	145,882	(46,438)	50,398
Receivable from customers	(5,280)	23,716	4,676
Income tax receivable	5,104	(6,697)	2,322
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	182,493	45,107	(66,781)
Securities owned	24,725	107,762	12,933
Notes receivable	(10,210)	(10,625)	(10,224)
Loans held for sale	60,234	(40,991)	56,746
Mortgage servicing rights	(1,300)	1,245	(4,080)
Other assets	2,368	35	53,929
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Drafts payable	(8,783)	12,638	(12,825)
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	56,843	(92,615)	33,846
Payable to customers	(144,887)	(57,423)	25,692
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	(273,361)	(35,995)	(70,051)
Securities sold but not yet purchased	(41,443)	33,983	16,196
Accrued compensation	(6,864)	(12,443)	(15,365)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(69,996)	22,469	(51,289)
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(67,466)	(20,819)	78,315
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements	(5,731)	(5,889)	(4,398)
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses	45,448	0	0
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	39,717	(5,889)	(4,398)
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock	(5,887)	(6,008)	(5,983)
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest	(5,740)	0	0
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock	0	0	185
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation	(3,935)	(8,250)	0
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) from share-based awards	(740)	(277)	1,194
Redemption of senior secured notes	0	0	(45,000)
Redemption of senior secured notes	45,600	40,800	(58,800)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	29,298	26,265	(108,404)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,549	(443)	(34,487)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	63,364	63,807	98,294
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	64,913	63,364	63,807
Schedule of non-cash financing activities
Employee share plan issuance	5,776	3,373	2,014
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the year for interest	19,705	17,273	18,784
Proceeds from Income Tax Refunds	$ (5,009)
Cash (received) paid during the year for income taxes, net		$ 6,088	$ 7,590