Investments In Equity Method Investees (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total equity method sponsored funds	$ 66,558,000	$ 28,488,000
Equity Method Investees [Abstract]
Hexvest assets	25,182,000
Other investees assets	363,539,000
Total assets	388,721,000	323,126,000
Hexavest liabilities	11,544,000
Other investees liabilities	14,351,000
Total liabilities	25,895,000	415,000
Hexavest revenue	10,691,000
Other investees revenue	8,788,000
Total revenue	19,479,000	20,609,000	41,715,000
Hexavest operating income	6,060,000
Other investees operating income	5,286,000
Total operating income	11,346,000	1,469,000	5,069,000
Hexavest net income	4,714,000
Other investees net income	34,339,000
Total net income	39,053,000	93,896,000	3,741,000
Lloyd George Management Limited [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Realized gains	2,400,000	5,500,000
Private Equity Partnership [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	7.00%	7.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	9,800,000	18,400,000
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Bond Strategies Long Term Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	31.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	10,346,000
AGF Floating Rate Income Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	21.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	15,334,000
Eaton Vance Parametric Structured Currency Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	33.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	1,043,000
Eaton Vance Parametric Structured Commodity Strategy Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage		47.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost		9,190,000
Eaton Vance Real Estate Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	48.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	16,494,000
Eaton Vance Parametric Option Absolute Return Strategy Fund[ Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage		27.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost		19,298,000
Eaton Vance Richard Bernstein All Asset Strategy Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	44.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	23,341,000
Hexavest [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	49.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	181,200,000
Equity method investment underlying equity in net assets	3,400,000
Intangible assets net excluding goodwill, equity in investee	42,700,000
Goodwill, equity in investee	146,600,000
Deferred tax liability, equity in investee	$ 11,500,000
Additional interest that may be purchased by the company	26.00%
Weighted-average remaining amortization period on Hexavest intangible assets	17 years