Income Taxes Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards (Details) (USD $)			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 The New York State [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Luxembourg Reinsurance Companies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 LaBranche and Co Inc. [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards			$ 323,000,000	$ 390,000,000	$ 14,000,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Dates			Dec. 31, 2033	Dec. 31, 2033
Deferred Tax Assets, Other	4,842,000	3,532,000				160,100,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross, Current						193,400,000
Valuation Allowance, Amount	148,816,000	161,181,000				160,100,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign	1,800,000
Deferred tax asset, deduction limitation	2,400,000						6,700,000
Pre transaction losses	$ 13,700,000						$ 87,400,000