SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash (paid) received:
Interest	$ (3,889)	$ (9,926)	$ (9,433)
Income tax payments	(1,424)	(964)	(1,325)
Refund of income taxes	109	596	2,860
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.09
Non-cash activities:
Repurchases of common stock from employees in exchange for the payment of income taxes and option exercises	1,718	113	54
Issuance of treasury stock for the Company's investment savings plan	539	730	1,091
Common stock issued to former director in exchange for vested director units	135	0	0
Warrants issued and recorded as a discount to the Senior Notes	0	0	2,339
Leasehold improvements paid by the landlord	0	0	668
Sale of commercial finance assets to RSO:
Reduction of investments in commercial finance assets	0	0	99,386
Termination of associated secured warehouse facility	0	0	(99,386)
Effects from the deconsolidation of entities:(1)
Restricted cash	20,282	0	0
Receivables from managed entities and related parties, net	(2,696)	0	0
Receivables	954	0	9
Investments in commercial finance, net	199,955	0	0
Investments in unconsolidated entities	5,225	0	0
Property and equipment, net	3,754	0	1,638
Deferred tax assets, net	4,558	0	0
Goodwill	7,969	0	0
Other assets	6,826	0	755
Accrued expense and other liabilities	(11,146)	0	(174)
Payables to managed entities and related parties	(98)	0	0
Borrowings	(202,481)	0	(1,013)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	255	0	0
Noncontrolling interests	(37,668)	0	0
Equity	$ 0	$ 0	$ (1,258)
Financial Fund Management [Member]
Other Significant Noncash Transactions [Line Items]
Number of Partnerships Dissolved			2