Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 321,164	$ 230,426	$ 264,768
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	21,398	25,397	26,085
Unamortized gain on derivative instrument	0	2,015	0
Amortization of deferred sales commissions	17,664	19,643	20,480
Stock-based compensation	60,281	59,285	56,027
Deferred income taxes	11,382	(7,293)	(11,478)
Net (gains) losses on investments and derivatives	6,946	5,080	(10,957)
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of amortization	(20,274)	(18,020)	(4,161)
Dividends received from affiliates	16,079	16,869	11,369
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	52,996	0
Consolidated CLO entities' operating activities:
Net (gains) losses on bank loans, other investments and note obligations	1,282	7,151	(22,648)
Amortization	(754)	(808)	(1,014)
Net increase (decrease) in other assets and liabilities, including cash	(114,974)	9,943	(23,060)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Investment advisory fees and other receivables	(16,206)	(30,571)	(2,735)
Investments in trading securities	(187,295)	(251,437)	(142,862)
Deferred sales commissions	(17,580)	(18,230)	(11,933)
Other assets	(8,092)	17,501	(5,049)
Accrued compensation	11,140	22,620	7,944
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	5,911	(4,872)	7,549
Other liabilities	(9,287)	(21,328)	20,453
Net cash provided by operating activities	98,785	116,367	178,778
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to equipment and leasehold improvements	(7,580)	(6,274)	(4,109)
Net cash paid in acquisition	0	(86,429)	(12,334)
Cash paid for intangible assets	0	(300)	(200)
Proceeds from sale of investments	95,788	107,285	82,422
Purchase of investments	(27,846)	(7,356)	(209,870)
Consolidated CLO entities' investing activities:
Proceeds from sales and maturities of bank loans and other investments	378,100	354,806	169,099
Purchase of bank loans and other investments	(253,002)	(184,704)	(115,913)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	185,460	177,028	(90,905)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Purchase of additional non-controlling interest	(26,872)	(43,507)	(19,864)
Proceeds from issuance of subsidiary equity	0	1,092	0
Line of credit issuance costs	(1,111)	0	(1,192)
Debt issuance costs	0	(2,940)	0
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0	323,440	0
Repayment of debt	0	(250,000)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(52,996)	0
Proceeds from issuance of Voting Common Stock	162	0	56
Proceeds from issuance of Non-Voting Common Stock	88,236	119,250	55,711
Repurchase of Voting Common Stock	(77)	(73)	0
Repurchase of Non-Voting Common Stock	(322,020)	(73,941)	(106,470)
Principal repayments on notes receivable from stock option exercises	1,853	2,135	821
Excess tax benefit of stock option exercises	18,570	20,584	8,618
Dividends paid	(105,848)	(215,539)	(87,826)
Net subscriptions received from (redemptions/distributions paid to) non-controlling interest holders	(5,702)	56,977	42,012
Consolidated CLO entities' financing activities:
Repayment of line of credit	(247,789)	0	0
Repayment of redeemable preferred shares	(60,000)	0	0
Issuance of senior and subordinated notes and preferred shares	429,582	0	0
Principal repayments of senior note obligations	(128,362)	(177,500)	(28,614)
Net cash used for financing activities	(359,378)	(293,018)	(136,748)
Effect of currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,558)	(547)	38
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(76,691)	(170)	(48,837)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	461,906	462,076	510,913
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	385,215	461,906	462,076
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest	29,298	28,712	32,772
Cash paid for interest by consolidated CLO entities	7,103	13,220	19,508
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	172,119	145,343	152,730
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Information:
Increase in equipment and leasehold improvements due to non-cash additions	154	379	513
Exercise of stock options through issuance of notes receivable	3,549	5,102	535
Acquisition of non-controlling interests through issuance of subsidiary equity	9,935	0	0
Non-controlling interest call option exercises recorded in other liabilities	11,594	34,488	0
Initial Consolidation of CLO Entities:
Increase in other assets, net of other liabilities	0	(113,731)	0
Increase in investments	0	424,152	0
Increase in borrowings	0	307,789	0
Deconsolidation Of CLO Entity:
Decrease in other assets, net of other liabilities	(19,210)	0	0
Decrease in investments	(411,897)	0	0
Decrease in borrowings	(427,418)	0	0
Deconsolidations of Sponsored Investment Funds:
Decrease in investments	(4,122)	(92,399)	(66,778)
Decrease in non-controlling interests	$ (4,111)	$ (93,689)	$ (65,092)