CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended										6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 17, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
REVENUES:
Total revenues		$ 39,374	$ 47,889	$ 35,811	$ 39,996	$ 42,430	$ 45,944	$ 43,276	$ 35,282	$ 25,238	$ 19,400	$ 25,422	$ 78,558	$ 44,822	$ 124,502	$ 70,060	$ 170,900	$ 166,932	$ 88,728
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Restructuring expenses																	365
General and administrative																	10,460	11,522
(Gain) loss on sale of leases and loans																	(37)	(659)
Impairment charges																	2,280
Provision for credit losses																	17,246	10,661	5,209
Depreciation and amortization																	3,653	10,739
Costs and expenses							30,874	37,380	26,878	30,372	21,276	21,002	64,258	42,278	95,132	72,650	130,626	131,539	96,920
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)		3,985	16,238	5,810	13,478	6,023	15,070	5,896	8,404	(5,134)	(1,876)	4,420	14,300	2,544	29,370	(2,590)	40,274	35,393	(8,192)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiaries																	63,291
Loss on extinguishment of debt																	(2,190)
Gain on sale of management contract																		6,520
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																	63	(1,198)
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments																	(74)
Interest expense																	(4,741)	(15,343)
Other income (expense), net							(201)	(4,460)	3,215	(2,859)	(3,955)	(3,247)	(1,245)	(7,202)	(1,446)	(10,061)	75,702	(6,153)	(11,755)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes							14,869	1,436	11,619	(7,993)	(5,831)	1,173	13,055	(4,658)	27,924	(12,651)	115,976	29,240	(19,947)
Income tax provision (benefit) - RAI							1,440	(119)	1,167				1,048		2,488		28,114	7,429
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(239)	15,622	46,215	11,625	(3,625)	13,429	1,555	10,452	(6,589)	(1,845)		12,007	(1,257)	25,436	(7,846)	87,862	21,811	(17,297)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax							(23)	(2,153)		(1)	(2)		(2,153)	(2)	(2,176)	(3)	(58)	(2,202)	622
Net income (loss)		(259)	15,614	46,201	11,609	(3,651)	13,406	(598)	10,452	(6,590)	(1,847)	588	9,854	(1,259)	23,260	(7,849)	87,804	19,609	(16,675)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests							513	513	625	1,275	615		1,138	998	1,651	2,273	223	2,111
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders		(433)	(2,267)	30,211	(2,382)	(3,591)	(517)	(8,953)	(1,502)	(5,315)	(1,232)	971	(10,455)	(261)	(10,972)	(5,576)	25,507	(14,563)	(13,451)
Amounts attributable to common shareholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations							(494)	(6,800)	(1,502)	(5,314)	(1,230)		(8,302)	(259)	(8,796)	(5,573)	25,565	(12,361)	(14,073)
Discontinued operations	(2,200)	(20)	(8)	(14)	(16)	(26)	(23)	(2,153)	0	(1)	(2)		(2,153)	(2)	(2,176)	(3)	(58)	(2,202)	622
Net income (loss)		(433)	(2,267)	30,211	(2,382)	(3,591)	(517)	(8,953)	(1,502)	(5,315)	(1,232)	971	(10,455)	(261)	(10,972)	(5,576)	25,507	(14,563)	(13,451)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.11)	$ 1.52	$ (0.12)				$ (80.00)			$ 50.00					$ 1.29	$ (0.64)	$ (0.74)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00												$ 0.00	$ (0.11)	$ 0.03
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.11)	$ 1.52	$ (0.12)												$ 1.29	$ (0.75)	$ (0.71)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									19,076			18,689					19,740	19,525	18,942
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.11)	$ 1.44	$ (0.12)				$ (80.00)			$ 50.00					$ 1.24	$ (0.64)	$ (0.74)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00			$ (0.11)									$ 0.00	$ (0.11)	$ 0.03
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.11)	$ 1.44	$ (0.12)												$ 1.24	$ (0.75)	$ (0.71)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)							19,741	19,355	19,076	19,140	19,089	18,962	19,213	18,888	19,389	18,972	20,634	19,525	18,942
RSO [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate (includes revenues of $10,667 and $6,968 related to RSO)																	10,667,000	6,968,000
Financial fund management (includes revenues of $7,424 and $5,536 related to RSO)																	7,424,000	5,536,000
Commercial finance (includes revenues of $0 and $144 related to RSO)																	0	144,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Income tax provision (benefit) - RAI							1,289	1,171	1,809	0	0	0	2,980	0	4,269	0	14,602	12,036	0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(367)	(17,917)	(15,945)	(14,030)	(400)	(14,436)	(8,868)	(12,579)	0	0	0	(21,447)	0	(35,883)	0	(62,520)	(36,283)	0
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | RSO [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate (includes revenues of $10,667 and $6,968 related to RSO)							2,085	1,202	1,363	2,945	880	1,793	2,565	2,673	4,650	5,618
Financial fund management (includes revenues of $7,424 and $5,536 related to RSO)							721	1,535	2,402	1,257	267	672	3,937	939	4,658	2,197
Commercial finance (includes revenues of $0 and $144 related to RSO)							0		144	139		24			144	287
Total revenues		25,211	35,669	26,262	28,726	25,211	21,987	26,150	22,638	0	0	0	48,788	0	70,775	0	123,698	95,986	0
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Restructuring expenses																	0
General and administrative																	0	0
(Gain) loss on sale of leases and loans																	0	0
Impairment charges																	0
Provision for credit losses																	0	0
Depreciation and amortization																	0	0
Costs and expenses							9,631	15,743	7,698	0	0	0	23,441	0	33,072	0	63,850	50,103	0
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiaries																	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																	0
Gain on sale of management contract																		0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																	0	0
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments																	0
Interest expense																	0	0
Other (expense) income																	19,197	3,869	0
Other income (expense), net							3,875	(17)	11	0	0	0	(6)	0	3,869	0	19,197	3,869
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(62,520)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES:
Total revenues		(4,501)	(4,988)	(4,235)	(3,510)	(4,181)	(3,632)	(3,221)	(4,036)	0	0	0	(7,257)	0	(10,889)	0	(17,234)	(15,070)	0
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Restructuring expenses																	0
General and administrative																	0	0
(Gain) loss on sale of leases and loans																	0	0
Impairment charges																	0
Provision for credit losses																	0	0
Depreciation and amortization																	0	0
Costs and expenses							(2,582)	(2,389)	(3,110)	0	0	0	(5,499)	0	(8,081)	0	(16,360)	(11,061)	0
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiaries																	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt																	0
Gain on sale of management contract																		0
(Loss) gain on sale of investment securities, net																	0	0
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments																	0
Interest expense																	0	0
Other (expense) income																	227	212	0
Other income (expense), net							$ 34	$ 36	$ 39	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 75	$ 0	$ 109	$ 0	$ 227	$ 212