Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 140,018	$ 100,044
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	161,029	173,046
Maturities of investment securities	2,653	517
Purchase of investment securities	(162,845)	(312,919)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	182	549
Purchase of long-term investments	(10,000)	(12,000)
Investments in real estate ventures	(43,280)	(29,378)
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	11,205	5,540
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(1,225)	(435)
Increase in restricted assets	(6,872)	(1,108)
Issuance of notes receivable	4,410	250
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	3	4
Capital expenditures	(7,859)	(20,746)
Repayments of notes receivable	5,106	933
Purchase of subsidiaries	0	(250)
Pay downs of investment securities	5,743	690
Proceeds from sale of preferred securities	1,000	0
Investments in real estate held for sale	(12,512)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(62,082)	(195,807)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,519	413,918
Deferred financing costs	(624)	(12,360)
Repayments of debt	(4,968)	(10,305)
Borrowings under revolver	130,691	645,894
Repayments on revolver	(146,655)	(673,866)
Dividends and distributions on common stock	(139,430)	(122,051)
Distributions to non-controlling interest	(564)	(4,861)
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	1,321	4,407
Tax benefit of options exercised	756	937
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(157,954)	241,713
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(80,018)	145,950
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	326,365	234,466
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 246,347	$ 380,416