Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014 cowenfund	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization [Line Items]
Number of funds, Consolidated	5
Deferred rent	$ 14.7	$ 14.6
Total net assets of consolidated VIEs	$ 9.8	$ 11.3
Investment Company
Organization [Line Items]
Number of funds, Consolidated	3
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of funds, Consolidated	3

The cumulative difference between the rental payments required by a lease agreement and the rental income or expense recognized on a straight-line basis, or other systematic and rational basis more representative of the time pattern in which use or benefit is granted or derived from the leased property, expected to be recognized in income or expense over the term of the leased property by the lessor or lessee, respectively.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7501430&loc=d3e39896-112707

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRentCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant