Income Taxes Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Income Taxes Receivable	$ 2,000
Accrued Income Taxes	20
Valuation allowance	2,119	$ 0
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	188,549	193,868
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	20,774	50,308
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(22,594)	(47,522)	$ (128,105)
Operating Loss Carryforwards	6,600
Other	2,238	2,317
Deferred tax asset, deduction limitation	2,400
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	800	1,000
Tax Liabilities, Undistributed Foreign Earnings	100	$ 100
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 142,800
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2036
Inland Revenue, Hong Kong [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 12,800
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 296,700
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2036
California Franchise Tax Board [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 61,800
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2036
MASSACHUSETTS
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 31,500
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2036
ILLINOIS
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 12,300
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2028
New York State Division of Taxation and Finance [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 95,600
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date	Dec. 31, 2036
Luxembourg Reinsurance Companies
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	$ 113,800
Other	113,800
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross, Current	357,100
LaBranche and Co Inc. [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	57,200
Deferred tax asset, deduction limitation	$ 6,700