CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss) for the period	$ 3,893	$ (3,883)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities Non-cash items included in net income (loss):
Depreciation and amortization of office facilities and leasehold improvements	2,514	2,845
Deferred income taxes	14,560	(6,666)
Amortization of notes receivable	4,739	4,870
Amortization of debt issuance costs	160	99
Amortization of intangible assets		3,212
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses	(17)	178
Share-based compensation	1,879	1,259
Decrease (increase) in operating assets:
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes	(4,164)	(2,283)
Deposits with clearing organizations	1,378	(20,321)
Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations	188,744	(53,117)
Receivable from customers	(63,556)	(34,376)
Income tax receivable	(13,529)	4,016
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		847,199
Securities owned	(88,587)	(21,883)
Notes receivable	(2,445)	(4,412)
Other assets	(21,961)	72,769
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Drafts payable	(11,659)	(10,656)
Payable to brokers and clearing organizations	11,394	38,458
Payable to customers	(85,344)	63,897
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	151,745	(860,700)
Securities sold, but not yet purchased	(110,404)	20,993
Accrued compensation	(53,366)	(51,436)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(31,645)	(30,965)
Cash used in operating activities	(105,671)	(40,903)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of office facilities	(5,120)	(4,711)
Cash used in investing activities	(5,120)	(4,711)
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock	(1,497)	(1,495)
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation		(1,551)
Tax benefit from share-based awards		41
Increase in bank call loans, net	75,700	65,100
Cash provided by financing activities	74,203	62,095
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(36,588)	16,481
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	135,366	70,329
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	98,778	86,810
Schedule of non-cash financing activities
Employee share plan issuance		224
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for interest	2,171	4,038
Cash paid (refunded) during the period for income taxes	$ 1,725	$ (20)