Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues [Abstract]
Service fee and commission income	$ 9,871	$ 7,687	$ 20,906
Rental income	3,341	3,345	10,040
Other income	(17)	93	601
Total revenues	13,195	11,125	31,547
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Claims authorized on vehicle service agreements	1,442	1,387	4,066
Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Period Expense (Income)	(19)	266	265
Commissions	971	525	2,154
Cost of services sold	2,033	1,951	4,546
General and administrative expenses	5,404	6,522	19,007
Leased real estate segment interest expense	1,540	1,563	4,706
Total operating expenses	11,371	12,214	34,744
Operating income (loss)	1,824	(1,089)	(3,197)
Other (revenues) expenses, net: [Abstract]
Net investment income	(629)	(1,133)	(3,165)
Net realized losses	414	0	1
Gain on change in fair value of equity investments	337	0	0
(Loss) gain on change in fair value of limited liability investments, at fair value	(131)	2,448	789
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on private company investments	19	0	(1,265)
Other Nonoperating Income	14	582	608
Interest expense not allocated to segments	(1,900)	(1,602)	(4,650)
Amortization of intangible assets	(1,339)	(269)	(815)
Contingent consideration benefit	0	0	212
Loss on change in fair value of debt	1,450	1,178	5,769
Gain on disposal of subsidiary	0	0	0
Equity in net (loss) income of investee	(339)	(897)	1,343
Total other revenues (expenses), net	(4,574)	217	(6,383)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense	(2,750)	(872)	(9,580)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(144)	124	1,648
Loss from continuing operations	(2,606)	(996)	(11,228)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	417	(371)	(468)
(Loss) gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes	(1,172)	0	1,017
Net loss	(3,361)	(1,367)	(10,679)
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	200	195	56
Less: dividends on preferred stock, net of tax	265	403	991
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$ (3,826)	$ (1,965)	$ (11,726)
Loss per share - continuing operations [Abstract]
Basic:	$ (0.14)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.57)
Diluted:	(0.14)	(0.07)	(0.57)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic and Diluted Share [Abstract]
Basic:	(0.03)	(0.02)	0.03
Diluted:	(0.03)	(0.02)	0.03
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Basic:	(0.18)	(0.09)	(0.55)
Diluted:	$ (0.18)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.55)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Basic:	21,708	21,559	21,492
Diluted:	21,708	21,559	21,492