Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. As of December 31, 2016, the Company owned 15,191,200 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 8.28% 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 each of 2016, 2015 and 2014 under the agreement and pays the Company at a rate of $850 per year in 2017. 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 $1,250, $1,300 and $1,375 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and director fees of $36, $38 and $39 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. LTS paid compensation to the Company EVP, who serves as President and CEO of LTS, of $1,450, $1,450 and $1,375 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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 as of February 21, 2017 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 was due on November 4, 2016, was payable quarterly at 11% per annum and commenced on December 31, 2011. The Company recorded equity in earnings of $205, $280 and $574 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the interest payments. On October 26, 2016, the Company surrendered the remaining principal amount of $1,680 of its note to pay for the exercise price of 1,000,000 LTS Warrants that were exercised in full on the same date. The LTS warrants had been received in connection with the funding of the five-year loan to LTS. The Company owns 240,000 shares of LTS’s 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $25.00 Per Share) and recorded dividend income from the investment of $480 in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014. Castle Brands Inc. As of December 31, 2016, 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 2016, 2015 and 2014, under the agreement and Castle has agreed to pay it at a rate of $100 per year in 2017. 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. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) in 2015 and 2016. As of November 30, 2016, the Company beneficially owned approximately 2,459,788 (7.03%) and accounted for its investment in MHGC as investment securities available for sale. On December 1, 2016, MHGC merged with another company and, as a result, the common shares of MHGC ceased to be outstanding and were converted into the right to receive $2.25 in cash. The Company received $5,535 for its investment in MHGC and recorded a gain of $2,140, after recognizing an impairment charge of $4,772 in the first quarter of 2016. 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 $247, $217 and $261 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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 BioCardia, Inc (formerly known as Tiger X Medical Inc. and 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 2,455,877 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 2,455,876 shares of the Company's common stock. Vector made cash interest payments of $1,094 associated with the Note in 2015. 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 for each of the three years ended December 31, 2016, 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 $640 and $453 in accordance with brokerage activities in 2016 and 2015, respectively. 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, 2016, the Company owned 15,191,200 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 8.28% 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 each of 2016, 2015 and 2014 under the agreement and pays the Company at a rate of $850 per year in 2017. 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 $1,250, $1,300 and $1,375 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and director fees of $36, $38 and $39 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. LTS paid compensation to the Company EVP, who serves as President and CEO of LTS, of $1,450, $1,450 and $1,375 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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 as of February 21, 2017 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 was due on November 4, 2016, was payable quarterly at 11% per annum and commenced on December 31, 2011. The Company recorded equity in earnings of $205, $280 and $574 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the interest payments. On October 26, 2016, the Company surrendered the remaining principal amount of $1,680 of its note to pay for the exercise price of 1,000,000 LTS Warrants that were exercised in full on the same date. The LTS warrants had been received in connection with the funding of the five-year loan to LTS.

The Company owns 240,000 shares of LTS’s 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Liquidation Preference $25.00 Per Share) and recorded dividend income from the investment of $480 in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Castle Brands Inc. As of December 31, 2016, 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 2016, 2015 and 2014, under the agreement and Castle has agreed to pay it at a rate of $100 per year in 2017. 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. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) in 2015 and 2016. As of November 30, 2016, the Company beneficially owned approximately 2,459,788 (7.03%) and accounted for its investment in MHGC as investment securities available for sale. On December 1, 2016, MHGC merged with another company and, as a result, the common shares of MHGC ceased to be outstanding and were converted into the right to receive $2.25 in cash. The Company received $5,535 for its investment in MHGC and recorded a gain of $2,140, after recognizing an impairment charge of $4,772 in the first quarter of 2016.

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 $247, $217 and $261 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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 BioCardia, Inc (formerly known as Tiger X Medical Inc. and 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 2,455,877 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 2,455,876 shares of the Company's common stock. Vector made cash interest payments of $1,094 associated with the Note in 2015.

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 for each of the three years ended December 31, 2016, 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 $640 and $453 in accordance with brokerage activities in 2016 and 2015, respectively. 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.