FINANCING RECEIVABLES (Past Due Financing Receivables) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	$ 714,000	$ 875,000
90-180 Days Past Due	1,200,000	1,257,000
Greater than 181 Days	53,678,000	60,717,000
Total Past Due	55,592,000	62,849,000
Current	9,646,000	4,394,000
Total	65,238,000	67,243,000
Commercial finance investment entities [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	0	0
90-180 Days Past Due	0	0
Greater than 181 Days	34,907,000	44,355,000
Total Past Due	34,907,000	44,355,000
Current	16,000	48,000
Total	34,923,000	44,403,000
Allowance for credit losses, commercial finance	32,500,000	36,200,000
Real estate investment entities [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	707,000	793,000
90-180 Days Past Due	1,199,000	1,229,000
Greater than 181 Days	18,730,000	16,323,000
Total Past Due	20,636,000	18,345,000
Current	6,710,000	3,142,000
Total	27,346,000	21,487,000
Financial fund management entities [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	0	35,000
90-180 Days Past Due	1,000	3,000
Greater than 181 Days	40,000	29,000
Total Past Due	41,000	67,000
Current	456,000	1,071,000
Total	497,000	1,138,000
Other [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	0	33,000
90-180 Days Past Due	0	21,000
Greater than 181 Days	0	0
Total Past Due	0	54,000
Current	2,391,000	70,000
Total	2,391,000	124,000
Receivables from Managed Entities and Related Parties [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	707,000	861,000
90-180 Days Past Due	1,200,000	1,253,000
Greater than 181 Days	53,677,000	60,707,000
Total Past Due	55,584,000	62,821,000
Current	9,573,000	4,331,000
Total	65,157,000	67,152,000
Rent receivables - real estate [Member]
Aging of the Company's past due financing receivables, gross of allowances for credit losses
30-89 Days Past Due	7,000	14,000
90-180 Days Past Due	0	4,000
Greater than 181 Days	1,000	10,000
Total Past Due	8,000	28,000
Current	73,000	63,000
Total	$ 81,000	$ 91,000