Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 14,191,200 common shares of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (“LTS”), a publicly traded diversified financial services company engaged in independent brokerage and advisory services, investment banking, equity research, institutional sales and trading, asset management services, wholesale life insurance brokerage and trust services. The Company, through its various investments in LTS, beneficially owned approximately 7.84% and accounts for its investment in LTS under the equity method of accounting. In September 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with LTS pursuant to which the Company agreed to make available to LTS the services of the Company’s Executive Vice President (the “EVP”) to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of LTS and to provide certain other financial, accounting and tax services, including assistance with complying with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and assistance in the preparation of income tax returns. LTS paid the Company $850 for 2015 and 2014 and $750 for 2013 under the agreement and pays the Company at a rate of $850 per year in 2016. These amounts are recorded as equity income. LTS paid compensation to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, who serves as Vice Chairman of LTS, of $1,300, $1,375 and $1,250 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and director fees of $38, $39 and $36 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. LTS paid compensation to the Company EVP, who serves as President and CEO of LTS, of $1,450, $1,375 and $1,250 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. On November 4, 2011, Vector was part of a consortium, which included Dr. Phillip Frost, who is a beneficial owner of approximately 15.3% of the Company’s common stock and the EVP that agreed to provide a five-year loan to LTS. Vector’s portion of the loan was $15,000. Interest on the loan, which is due on November 4, 2016, is payable quarterly at 11% per annum and commenced on December 31, 2011. The Company recorded equity income of $280, $574 and $1,810 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2015, $1,680 principal amount of the loan remained outstanding and was recorded as part of the ending carrying value of the Company's equity method investment in LTS. In addition, LTS paid a one-time funding fee to the consortium of lenders and issued warrants (“LTS Warrants”) to purchase shares of LTS common stock. Vector received $75 as its portion of the funding fee and 1,000,000 of the LTS Warrants. The LTS Warrants are exercisable at any time prior to their expiration on November 4, 2016 at $1.68 per share, which was the closing price of the LTS common stock on November 4, 2011. The LTS Warrants may be exercised in cash, by net exercise or pursuant to the Company’s surrender of all or a portion of the principal amount of its note. The LTS Warrants were included in the ending carrying value of the Company's equity method investment in LTS. On May 22, 2013, the Company purchased in a public offering 240,000 shares of LTS’s 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $25.00 Per Share) (“LTS Preferred”) for $6,000. LTS will pay a monthly cumulative dividend of 8% per annum on the LTS Preferred. LTS, at its option, may redeem any or all of the LTS Preferred at $25.00 per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends on or after May 24, 2018. The Company recorded dividend income from the investment of $133 in 2015 and $480 in 2014. Castle Brands Inc. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 12,671,159 common shares of Castle (NYSE MKT: ROX), a publicly traded developer and importer of premium branded spirits. The Company accounts for its investment in Castle under the equity method. In October 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Castle where the Company agreed to make available to Castle the services of the EVP to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Castle and to provide other financial, accounting and tax services. The Company recognized management fees at a rate of $100 in each of 2015, 2014 and 2013, under the agreement and Castle has agreed to pay it at a rate of $100 per year in 2016. These amounts are recorded as equity income. In December 2010, the Company participated in a consortium that lent Castle $1,000. The consortium included Dr. Frost and the EVP. The Company lent $200 of this amount and received a note bearing interest at 11% per annum. On October 14, 2011, $217 of principal and outstanding interest associated with this note was exchanged for shares of Castle’s convertible preferred stock. As part of the debt exchange, Castle also issued 357,796 warrants (the “Castle Warrants”). The Castle Warrants entitled Vector to purchase 357,796 shares of Castle common stock. The Castle Warrants were exercisable at any time prior to their expiration on October 14, 2016 at $0.38 per share and were exercised in February 2014. In February 2014, Castle forced a conversion of its convertible preferred stock and the Company received 884,787 additional common shares of Castle stock and the Company’s shares of Castle’s convertible preferred stock were canceled. In 2013, the Company purchased in a private placement $200 of Castle’s convertible debt, which bears interest at 5% per annum, is convertible into 222,222 shares of Castle common stock and is due on December 15, 2018. The Castle convertible debt was included in the ending carrying value of the Company's equity method investment in Castle. Morgans Hotel Group Co. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 2,459,788 common shares of Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC), a publicly traded company that acquires, owns, develops and redevelops boutique hotels, primarily in gateway cities and select resort markets in the United States, Europe and other international locations. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer serves as MHGC's Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Company beneficially owned approximately 7.09% and accounts for its investment in MHFC as investment securities available for sale. Insurance. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, a firm in which he is a shareholder, and affiliates of that firm received insurance commissions aggregating approximately $217, $261 and $245 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, on various insurance policies issued for the Company and its subsidiaries. Other. In addition to its investment in LTS and Castle, the Company has made investments in entities where Dr. Frost has a relationship. These include the following: (i) three investments in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2015 totaling approximately $12,788 in common stock of OPKO Inc. (NYSE MKT: OPK) and its predecessor eXegenics Inc. and in January 2013, the Company purchased $5,000 of Opko’s 3.00% convertible senior notes due 2033 which were converted into 726,036 shares of common stock in May 2015 ; (ii) a $500 investment in 2008 in Cardo Medical Inc.; and (iii) a $250 investment in 2008 in Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (f/ka/ Cocrystal Discovery Inc.). Dr. Frost is a director, executive officer and/or more than 10% shareholder in these entities as well as LTS. Additional investments in entities where Dr. Frost has a relationship may be made in the future. In May 2009, the Company issued in a private placement the 6.75% Note in the principal amount of $50,000. The purchase price was paid in cash ($38,225) and by tendering $11,005 principal amount of the 5% Notes, valued at 107% of principal amount. The purchaser of the 6.75% Note was an entity affiliated with Dr. Frost. In March 2014, the holder of the 6.75% Note elected to convert $25,000 of the principal balance of the Note into 2,338,930 shares of the Company's common stock. On November 14, 2014, the Note was amended to extend the stated maturity date of the Note from November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015. On February 3, 2015, the remaining $25,000 of principal of the Note was converted into 2,338,930 shares of the Company's common stock. Vector made cash interest payments of $1,094 and $5,415 associated with the Note in 2015 and 2014, respectively. In September 2012, the Company entered into an office lease (the “Lease”) with Frost Real Estate Holdings, LLC (“FREH”), an entity affiliated with Dr. Frost. The Lease is for 12,390 square feet of space in an office building in Miami, Florida. The initial term of the Lease is five years, subject to two optional five-year term extensions. Payments under the lease commenced in May 2013. The Lease provides for payments of $31 per month in the first year increasing to $35 per month in the fifth year, plus applicable sales tax. The rent is inclusive of operating expenses, property taxes and parking. A $220 tenant improvement allowance will be credited to the rent pro-rata over the initial five-year term. In connection with the execution of the Lease, the Company received the advice and opinion of a commercial real estate firm that the Lease terms were fair and that the Company received terms favorable in the market. The Company recorded rental expense of $380 and $336 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, associated with the lease. A son of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer is an associate broker with Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC and he received commissions and other payments of $453 in accordance with brokerage activities in 2015. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer has reserved a unit in a real estate venture for a purchase price of $5,200 in 2015 and he may reserve or purchase units in other real estate ventures in the future.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 14,191,200 common shares of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (“LTS”), a publicly traded diversified financial services company engaged in independent brokerage and advisory services, investment banking, equity research, institutional sales and trading, asset management services, wholesale life insurance brokerage and trust services. The Company, through its various investments in LTS, beneficially owned approximately 7.84% and accounts for its investment in LTS under the equity method of accounting.

In September 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with LTS pursuant to which the Company agreed to make available to LTS the services of the Company’s Executive Vice President (the “EVP”) to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of LTS and to provide certain other financial, accounting and tax services, including assistance with complying with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and assistance in the preparation of income tax returns. LTS paid the Company $850 for 2015 and 2014 and $750 for 2013 under the agreement and pays the Company at a rate of $850 per year in 2016. These amounts are recorded as equity income. LTS paid compensation to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, who serves as Vice Chairman of LTS, of $1,300, $1,375 and $1,250 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and director fees of $38, $39 and $36 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. LTS paid compensation to the Company EVP, who serves as President and CEO of LTS, of $1,450, $1,375 and $1,250 for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

On November 4, 2011, Vector was part of a consortium, which included Dr. Phillip Frost, who is a beneficial owner of approximately 15.3% of the Company’s common stock and the EVP that agreed to provide a five-year loan to LTS. Vector’s portion of the loan was $15,000. Interest on the loan, which is due on November 4, 2016, is payable quarterly at 11% per annum and commenced on December 31, 2011. The Company recorded equity income of $280, $574 and $1,810 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2015, $1,680 principal amount of the loan remained outstanding and was recorded as part of the ending carrying value of the Company's equity method investment in LTS.

In addition, LTS paid a one-time funding fee to the consortium of lenders and issued warrants (“LTS Warrants”) to purchase shares of LTS common stock. Vector received $75 as its portion of the funding fee and 1,000,000 of the LTS Warrants. The LTS Warrants are exercisable at any time prior to their expiration on November 4, 2016 at $1.68 per share, which was the closing price of the LTS common stock on November 4, 2011. The LTS Warrants may be exercised in cash, by net exercise or pursuant to the Company’s surrender of all or a portion of the principal amount of its note. The LTS Warrants were included in the ending carrying value of the Company's equity method investment in LTS.

On May 22, 2013, the Company purchased in a public offering 240,000 shares of LTS’s 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $25.00 Per Share) (“LTS Preferred”) for $6,000. LTS will pay a monthly cumulative dividend of 8% per annum on the LTS Preferred. LTS, at its option, may redeem any or all of the LTS Preferred at $25.00 per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends on or after May 24, 2018. The Company recorded dividend income from the investment of $133 in 2015 and $480 in 2014.

Castle Brands Inc. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 12,671,159 common shares of Castle (NYSE MKT: ROX), a publicly traded developer and importer of premium branded spirits. The Company accounts for its investment in Castle under the equity method.

In October 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Castle where the Company agreed to make available to Castle the services of the EVP to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Castle and to provide other financial, accounting and tax services. The Company recognized management fees at a rate of $100 in each of 2015, 2014 and 2013, under the agreement and Castle has agreed to pay it at a rate of $100 per year in 2016. These amounts are recorded as equity income. In December 2010, the Company participated in a consortium that lent Castle $1,000. The consortium included Dr. Frost and the EVP. The Company lent $200 of this amount and received a note bearing interest at 11% per annum. On October 14, 2011, $217 of principal and outstanding interest associated with this note was exchanged for shares of Castle’s convertible preferred stock. As part of the debt exchange, Castle also issued 357,796 warrants (the “Castle Warrants”). The Castle Warrants entitled Vector to purchase 357,796 shares of Castle common stock. The Castle Warrants were exercisable at any time prior to their expiration on October 14, 2016 at $0.38 per share and were exercised in February 2014. In February 2014, Castle forced a conversion of its convertible preferred stock and the Company received 884,787 additional common shares of Castle stock and the Company’s shares of Castle’s convertible preferred stock were canceled.

In 2013, the Company purchased in a private placement $200 of Castle’s convertible debt, which bears interest at 5% per annum, is convertible into 222,222 shares of Castle common stock and is due on December 15, 2018. The Castle convertible debt was included in the ending carrying value of the Company's equity method investment in Castle.

Morgans Hotel Group Co. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 2,459,788 common shares of Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC), a publicly traded company that acquires, owns, develops and redevelops boutique hotels, primarily in gateway cities and select resort markets in the United States, Europe and other international locations. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer serves as MHGC's Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Company beneficially owned approximately 7.09% and accounts for its investment in MHFC as investment securities available for sale.

Insurance. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, a firm in which he is a shareholder, and affiliates of that firm received insurance commissions aggregating approximately $217, $261 and $245 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, on various insurance policies issued for the Company and its subsidiaries.

Other. In addition to its investment in LTS and Castle, the Company has made investments in entities where Dr. Frost has a relationship. These include the following: (i) three investments in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2015 totaling approximately $12,788 in common stock of OPKO Inc. (NYSE MKT: OPK) and its predecessor eXegenics Inc. and in January 2013, the Company purchased $5,000 of Opko’s 3.00% convertible senior notes due 2033 which were converted into 726,036 shares of common stock in May 2015 ; (ii) a $500 investment in 2008 in Cardo Medical Inc.; and (iii) a $250 investment in 2008 in Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (f/ka/ Cocrystal Discovery Inc.). Dr. Frost is a director, executive officer and/or more than 10% shareholder in these entities as well as LTS. Additional investments in entities where Dr. Frost has a relationship may be made in the future.

In May 2009, the Company issued in a private placement the 6.75% Note in the principal amount of $50,000. The purchase price was paid in cash ($38,225) and by tendering $11,005 principal amount of the 5% Notes, valued at 107% of principal amount. The purchaser of the 6.75% Note was an entity affiliated with Dr. Frost. In March 2014, the holder of the 6.75% Note elected to convert $25,000 of the principal balance of the Note into 2,338,930 shares of the Company's common stock. On November 14, 2014, the Note was amended to extend the stated maturity date of the Note from November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015. On February 3, 2015, the remaining $25,000 of principal of the Note was converted into 2,338,930 shares of the Company's common stock. Vector made cash interest payments of $1,094 and $5,415 associated with the Note in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

In September 2012, the Company entered into an office lease (the “Lease”) with Frost Real Estate Holdings, LLC (“FREH”), an entity affiliated with Dr. Frost. The Lease is for 12,390 square feet of space in an office building in Miami, Florida. The initial term of the Lease is five years, subject to two optional five-year term extensions. Payments under the lease commenced in May 2013. The Lease provides for payments of $31 per month in the first year increasing to $35 per month in the fifth year, plus applicable sales tax. The rent is inclusive of operating expenses, property taxes and parking. A $220 tenant improvement allowance will be credited to the rent pro-rata over the initial five-year term. In connection with the execution of the Lease, the Company received the advice and opinion of a commercial real estate firm that the Lease terms were fair and that the Company received terms favorable in the market. The Company recorded rental expense of $380 and $336 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, associated with the lease.

A son of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer is an associate broker with Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC and he received commissions and other payments of $453 in accordance with brokerage activities in 2015. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer has reserved a unit in a real estate venture for a purchase price of $5,200 in 2015 and he may reserve or purchase units in other real estate ventures in the future.