Investments

Investments consist primarily of investments in the Company's sponsored mutual funds. The Company’s investments, excluding the assets of consolidated sponsored investment products and the assets of the consolidated investment product discussed in Note 18, at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:



	December 31,
	2016		2015
($ in thousands)
Marketable securities	$	74,907	$	41,496
Equity method investments	7,731		9,007
Nonqualified retirement plan assets	5,808		5,310
Other investments	925		925
Total investments	$	89,371	$	56,738

Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities consist of both trading (including securities held by a broker-dealer affiliate) and available-for-sale securities. The composition of the Company’s marketable securities is summarized as follows:



December 31, 2016
	Cost		Unrealized Loss			Unrealized Gain		Fair Value
($ in thousands)
Trading:
Sponsored funds	$	61,784	$	(1,942	)	$	177	$	60,019
Equity securities	10,578		—			895		11,473
Available-for-sale:
Sponsored closed-end funds	3,500		(265		)	180		3,415
Total marketable securities	$	75,862	$	(2,207	)	$	1,252	$	74,907



December 31, 2015
	Cost		Unrealized Loss			Unrealized Gain		Fair Value
($ in thousands)
Trading:
Sponsored funds	$	31,167	$	(2,134	)	$	298	$	29,331
Equity securities	9,434		(386		)	120		9,168
Available-for-sale:
Sponsored closed-end funds	3,355		(365		)	7		2,997
Total marketable securities	$	43,956	$	(2,885	)	$	425	$	41,496

For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized a net realized loss of $0.3 million on trading securities. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recognized a net realized gain of $0.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively, on trading securities.

Equity Method Investments

In 2014, the Company acquired an interest in a limited partnership for approximately $5.0 million which included a future capital commitment for up to $5.0 million, in the event that it was called by the partnership. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company made capital contributions of $2.5 million to the partnership, and the remaining capital commitment is $2.3 million.

On April 9, 2013, the Company acquired a 24% noncontrolling Euro-denominated equity interest in Kleinwort Benson Investors International, Ltd. (“KBII”), a subsidiary of Kleinwort Benson Investors (Dublin) (“KBID”) for €2.6 million or $3.4 million. KBII is a U.S. registered investment adviser that provides specialized equity strategies. This investment is translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates as of the end of each accounting period. Net income or loss of the noncontrolled affiliate is translated at average exchange rates in effect during the accounting period. Net translation exchange gains and losses are excluded from income and recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. This equity method investment was sold during 2016 for a realized gain of $2.9 million.

Nonqualified Retirement Plan Assets

The Company has a nonqualified retirement plan ( the "Excess Incentive Plan") which allows certain employees to voluntarily defer compensation. The Company holds the Excess Incentive Plan assets in a rabbi trust, which is subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of the Company’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Assets held in trust are included in investments and are carried at fair value in accordance with ASC 320; the associated obligations to participants are included in other liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Other Investments

Other investments represents interests in entities not accounted for under the equity method such as the cost method or fair value.