Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Commissions and fees	$ 376,463	$ 405,679	$ 436,172
Recurring	81,916	107,184	103,794
Other	10,673	121,940	19,848
Total revenues	469,052	634,803	559,814
Expenses:
Compensation and employee benefits	188,886	209,323	215,758
Transaction processing	90,271	91,492	86,400
Occupancy and equipment	56,189	57,495	59,811
Telecommunications and data processing services	56,643	51,523	51,187
Restructuring charge	9,620
Other general and administrative	108,466	101,915	79,349
Interest expense	2,217	1,829	2,322
Total expenses	512,292	513,577	494,827
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense	(43,240)	121,226	64,987
Income tax (benefit) expense	(17,322)	29,656	14,095
Net (loss) income	$ (25,918)	$ 91,570	$ 50,892
(Loss) income per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.79)	$ 2.70	$ 1.44
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.79)	$ 2.63	$ 1.40
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	32,906	33,907	35,349
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	32,906	34,815	36,365