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Fair Value
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Fair Value [Abstract]  
Fair Value
D. Fair Value

All of the instruments within cash and cash equivalents, investments in securities and securities sold, not yet purchased are measured at fair value.  Certain investments in partnerships are also measured at fair value.

The Company's assets and liabilities recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy in accordance with the FASB's guidance on fair value measurement.  The levels of the fair value hierarchy and their applicability to the Company are described below:

-  
Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the reporting date.  Level 1 assets include cash equivalents, government obligations, open-end mutual funds, closed-end funds and equities.
-  
Level 2 inputs utilize inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities that are not active and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly-quoted intervals.  Assets that generally are included in this category may include certain limited partnership interests in private funds in which the valuations for substantially all of the investments within the fund are based upon Level 1 or Level 2 inputs and over the counter derivatives that have inputs to the valuations that can generally be corroborated by observable market data.
-  
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.  Assets included in this category generally include equities that trade infrequently and direct private equity investments held within consolidated partnerships.
 
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.  The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.  Investments are transferred into or out of any level at their beginning period values.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from product to product and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of product, whether the product is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction.  To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment.  Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized as Level 3.

The valuation process and policies reside with the financial reporting and accounting group which reports to the Chief Financial Officer.  The Company uses the "market approach" valuation technique to value its investments in Level 3 investments.  The Company's valuation of the Level 3 investments has been based upon either i) the recent sale prices of the issuers or ii) the net assets, book value or cost basis of the issuer when there is no recent sales prices available.

In the absence of a closing price, an average of the bid and ask price is used.  Bid prices reflect the highest price that the market is willing to pay for an asset.  Ask prices represent the lowest price that the market is willing to accept for an asset.
 
Cash equivalents - Cash equivalents primarily consist of an affiliated money market mutual fund which is invested solely in U.S. Treasuries.  U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are also considered cash equivalents.  Cash equivalents are valued using quoted market prices.

Investments in securities and securities sold, not yet purchased - Investments in securities and securities sold, not yet purchased are generally valued based on quoted prices from an exchange.  To the extent these securities are actively traded, valuation adjustments are not applied, and they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.  Securities categorized in Level 2 investments are valued using other observable inputs.  Nonpublic and infrequently traded investments are included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because significant inputs to measure fair value are unobservable.

Investments in Partnerships - The Company's investments include limited partner investments in consolidated feeder funds.  The Company considers the net asset value of the master funds held by the consolidated feeder fund to be the best estimate of fair value.  Investments in private funds that are redeemable at the measurement date or within the near term, are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  These funds primarily invest in long and short investments in debt and equity securities that are traded in public and over-the-counter exchanges in the United States and are generally classified as Level 1 assets or liabilities in the master funds' financial statements.  We may redeem our investments in these funds monthly with 30 days' notice.

The following tables present information about the Company's assets and liabilities by major categories measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2011 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value:

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands)
 
   
Quoted Prices in Active
  
Significant Other
  
Significant
  
Balance as of
 
   
Markets for Identical
  
Observable
  
Unobservable
  
March 31,
 
Assets
 
Assets (Level 1)
  
Inputs (Level 2)
  
Inputs (Level 3)
  
2012
 
Cash equivalents
 $324,333  $-  $-  $324,333 
Investments in partnerships
  -   23,166   -   23,166 
Investments in securities:
                
  AFS - Common stocks
  34,578   -   -   34,578 
  AFS - Mutual funds
  2,109   -   -   2,109 
  Trading - Gov't obligations
  48,630   -   -   48,630 
  Trading - Common stocks
  169,463   114   647   170,224 
  Trading - Mutual funds
  1,495   -   -   1,495 
  Trading - Other
  293   -   278   571 
Total investments in securities
  256,568   114   925   257,607 
Investments in sponsored registered investment companies:
             
  AFS - Closed-end Funds
  58,721   -   -   58,721 
  AFS - Mutual Funds
  3,567   -   -   3,567 
  Trading - Mutual funds
  17   -   -   17 
Total investments in sponsored
                
  registered investment companies
  62,305   -   -   62,305 
Total investments
  318,873   23,280   925   343,078 
Total assets at fair value
 $643,206  $23,280  $925  $667,411 
Liabilities
                
  Trading - Common stocks
 $9,553  $-  $-  $9,553 
  Trading - Other
  -   104   -   104 
Securities sold, not yet purchased
 $9,553  $104  $-  $9,657 
 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands)
 
   
Quoted Prices in Active
  
Significant Other
  
Significant
  
Balance as of
 
   
Markets for Identical
  
Observable
  
Unobservable
  
December 31,
 
Assets
 
Assets (Level 1)
  
Inputs (Level 2)
  
Inputs (Level 3)
  
2011
 
Cash equivalents
 $260,969  $-  $-  $260,969 
Investments in partnerships
  -   27,122   -   27,122 
Investments in securities:
                
  AFS - Common stocks
  33,282   -   -   33,282 
  AFS - Mutual funds
  1,905   -   -   1,905 
  Trading - Gov't obligations
  42,126   -   -   42,126 
  Trading - Common stocks
  158,623   21   670   159,314 
  Trading - Mutual funds
  1,307   -   -   1,307 
  Trading - Other
  55   60   284   399 
Total investments in securities
  237,298   81   954   238,333 
Investments in sponsored registered investment companies:
             
  AFS - Closed-end Funds
  55,855   -   -   55,855 
  AFS - Mutual Funds
  3,341   -   -   3,341 
  Trading - Mutual funds
  18   -   -   18 
Total investments in sponsored
                
  registered investment companies
  59,214   -   -   59,214 
Total investments
  296,512   27,203   954   324,669 
Total assets at fair value
 $557,481  $27,203  $954  $585,638 
Liabilities
                
  Trading - Common stocks
 $5,415  $-  $-  $5,415 
  Trading - Other
  -   73   -   73 
Securities sold, not yet purchased
 $5,415  $73  $-  $5,488 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of March 31, 2011 (in thousands)
 
   
Quoted Prices in Active
  
Significant Other
  
Significant
  
Balance as of
 
   
Markets for Identical
  
Observable
  
Unobservable
  
March 31,
 
Assets
 
Assets (Level 1)
  
Inputs (Level 2)
  
Inputs (Level 3)
  
2011
 
Cash equivalents
 $161,946  $-  $-  $161,946 
Investments in partnerships
  -   28,473   -   28,473 
Investments in securities:
                
  AFS - Common stocks
  37,408   -   -   37,408 
  AFS - Mutual funds
  2,360   -   -   2,360 
  Trading - Gov't obligations
  12,076   -   -   12,076 
  Trading - Common stocks
  225,008   13   568   225,589 
  Trading - Mutual funds
  1,629   -   -   1,629 
  Trading - Convertible bonds
  175   -   -   175 
  Trading - Other
  120   -   356   476 
Total investments in securities
  278,776   13   924   279,713 
Investments in sponsored registered investment companies:
             
  AFS - Closed-end Funds
  61,734   -   -   61,734 
  AFS - Mutual Funds
  4,144   -   -   4,144 
  Trading - Mutual funds
  25   -   -   25 
Total investments in sponsored
                
  registered investment companies
  65,903   -   -   65,903 
Total investments
  344,679   28,486   924   374,089 
Total assets at fair value
 $506,625  $28,486  $924  $536,035 
Liabilities
                
  Trading - Common stocks
 $15,550  $-  $-  $15,550 
Securities sold, not yet purchased
 $15,550  $-  $-  $15,550 
 
The following tables present additional information about assets by major categories measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value.

Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 (in thousands)
 
            
Total
                
            
Unrealized
                
            
Gains or
  
Total
             
      
Total Realized and
  
(Losses)
  
Realized
             
   
December
  
Unrealized Gains or
  
Included in
  
and
        
Transfers
    
    31, 2011  
(Losses) in Income
  
Other
  
Unrealized
        
In and/or
    
   
Beginning
     
AFS
  
Comprehensive
  
Gains or
        
(Out) of
  
Ending
 
Asset
 
Balance
  
Trading
  
Investments
 
Income
  
(Losses)
  
Purchases
  
Sales
  
Level 3
  
Balance
 
Financial
                            
instruments owned:
                            
Trading - Common
                            
  stocks
 $670  $-  $-  $-  $-  $57  $(80) $-  $647 
Trading - Other
  284   (2)  -   -   (2)  4   (8)  -   278 
Total
 $954  $(2) $-  $-  $(2) $61  $(88) $-  $925 
 
There were no transfers between any Levels during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 (in thousands)
 
            
Total
                
            
Unrealized
                
            
Gains or
  
Total
             
      
Total Realized and
  
(Losses)
  
Realized
             
   
December
  
Unrealized Gains or
  
Included in
  
and
        
Transfers
    
    31, 2010  
(Losses) in Income
  
Other
  
Unrealized
        
In and/or
    
   
Beginning
     
AFS
  
Comprehensive
  
Gains or
        
(Out) of
  
Ending
 
Asset
 
Balance
  
Trading
  
Investments
 
Income
  
(Losses)
  
Purchases
  
Sales
  
Level 3
  
Balance
 
Financial
                            
instruments owned:
                            
Trading - Common
                            
  stocks
 $147  $21  $-  $-  $21  $400  $-  $-  $568 
Trading - Other
  278   126   -   -   126   -   (48)  -   356 
Total
 $425  $147  $-  $-  $147  $400  $(48) $-  $924 
 
There were no transfers between any Levels during the three months ended March 31, 2011.