Income Taxes Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards - Annual (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Income Taxes Receivable	$ 1,800
Accrued tax liabilities	1,100
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	193,868	$ 169,357
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	8,000	56,700	$ 11,900
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	50,308	37,694
Deferred Tax Assets, Other	2,317	2,394
Valuation allowance	0	2,263
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	1,000	1,100
Tax Liabilities, Undistributed Foreign Earnings	100	200
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes, Foreign	3,500	1,100	6,400
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	47,522	$ 128,105	$ (28)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 264,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Dates	Dec. 31, 2033
The New York State [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 84,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Dates	Dec. 31, 2033
Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 13,000
New York City [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 123,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Dates	Dec. 31, 2033
Luxembourg Reinsurance Companies [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Other	$ 75,300
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross, Current	351,000
Valuation allowance	75,300
LaBranche and Co Inc. [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	64,000
Deferred tax asset, deduction limitation	$ 6,700