Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Segment Information (Reconciliation of EBITDA) (Details)

Segment Information (Reconciliation of EBITDA) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ 12,988	$ 12,657	$ 13,884	$ 7,636	$ (146)	$ 4,657	$ 1,187	$ (4,518)	$ 47,165	$ 1,180	$ (12,286)
Interest income									(2,504)	(506)	(672)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	73	54	50	61	67	3	63	(152)	238	(19)	216
Loss on extinguishment of debt									0	0	0
Interest									10,796	2,710	4,262
Depreciation and amortization									24,039	28,835	28,334
Non-cash compensation									5,882	5,539	5,311
Amortization of retention and forgivable loans									417	7,396	5,472
Amortization of contract acquisition costs									9,671	0	0
Financial advisor recruiting expense									370	5,721	1,882
Acquisition-related expense									1,010	3,469	1,357
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ (6)	$ (13)	$ (8)	$ (1)	$ 10	$ (3)	$ 3	$ 5	(28)	15	42
Other									3,392	1,661	1,853
EBITDA, as adjusted									100,448	56,001	35,771
Severance costs									481
Excise and franchise tax expense									629
Deferred compensation liability									5,882	5,539	5,311
Acquisition-related expenses									1,010	3,469	1,357
Share repurchase fees and other legal matters									21,927	19,588	14,126
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes									(29,030)	(19,686)	(17,609)
Interest									9,357	870	748
Depreciation and amortization									19	34	64
Non-cash compensation									3,844	3,692	3,519
EBITDA, as adjusted									(15,095)	(14,568)	(12,785)
Independent Advisory and Brokerage Services \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes									62,748	19,858	15,071
Interest									905	1,157	2,828
Depreciation and amortization									22,403	21,455	20,406
Non-cash compensation									1,220	1,035	1,010
EBITDA, as adjusted									98,411	59,756	47,977
Ladenburg \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes									11,464	6,346	(3,674)
Interest									62	0	4
Depreciation and amortization									471	505	703
Non-cash compensation									705	629	537
EBITDA, as adjusted									12,966	8,115	(1,676)
Insurance Brokerage \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes									1,983	(5,338)	(6,074)
Interest									472	683	682
Depreciation and amortization									1,146	6,841	7,161
Non-cash compensation									113	183	245
EBITDA, as adjusted									4,166	2,698	2,255
Other Adjustments to Income
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Severance costs										525	755
Excise and franchise tax expense										594	508
Deferred compensation liability									535	$ 559	$ 586
Share repurchase fees and other legal matters									$ 1,747