Goodwill and Intangibles	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill and intangibles [Abstract]
Goodwill and intangibles	16. Goodwill and intangibles Goodwill arose upon the acquisitions of Oppenheimer, Old Michigan Corp., Josephthal & Co. Inc., Grand Charter Group Incorporated and the Oppenheimer Divisions. The Company defines a reporting unit as an operating segment. The Company’s goodwill resides in its Private Client Division (“PCD”). Goodwill of a reporting unit is subject to at least an annual test for impairment to determine if the fair value of goodwill of a reporting unit is less than its estimated carrying amount. The Company derives the estimated carrying amount of its operating segments by estimating the amount of stockholders’ equity required to support the activities of each operating segment. The goodwill of a reporting unit is required to be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Due to the volatility in the financial services sector and equity markets in general, determining whether an impairment of the goodwill has occurred is increasingly difficult and requires management to exercise significant judgment. The Company performed its annual test for goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2011 which did not result in any impairment charges. The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis performed at December 31, 2011 applied the same valuation methodologies with consistent inputs as that performed at December 31, 2010, as follows: In estimating the fair value of the PCD, the Company used traditional standard valuation methods, including the market comparable approach and income approach. The market comparable approach is based on comparisons of the subject company to public companies whose stocks are actively traded (“Price Multiples”) or to similar companies engaged in an actual merger or acquisition (“Precedent Transactions”). As part of this process, multiples of value relative to financial variables, such as earnings or stockholders’ equity, are developed and applied to the appropriate financial variables of the subject company to indicate its value. The income approach involves estimating the present value of the subject company’s future cash flows by using projections of the cash flows that the business is expected to generate, and discounting these cash flows at a given rate of return (“Discounted Cash Flow” or “DCF”). Each of these standard valuation methodologies requires the use of management estimates and assumptions. In its Price Multiples valuation analysis, the Company used various operating metrics of comparable companies, including revenues, pre-tax and after-tax earnings, EBITDA on a trailing-twelve-month basis as well as price-to-book value ratios at a point in time. The Company analyzed prices paid in Precedent Transactions that are comparable to the business conducted in the PCD. The DCF analysis included the Company’s assumptions regarding growth rates of the PCD’s revenues, expenses, EBITDA, and capital expenditures, adjusted for current economic conditions and expectations. The Company’s assumptions also included a discount rate of 12.7% and a terminal growth rate of 3% in its calculations. The Company weighted each of the three valuation methods equally in its overall valuation. Given the subjectivity involved in selecting which valuation method to use, the corresponding weightings, and the input variables for use in the analyses, it is possible that a different valuation model and the selection of different input variables could produce a materially different estimate of the fair value of our goodwill. Based on the analysis performed, the Company concluded that the PCD’s fair value exceeded its carrying amount including goodwill as of December 31, 2011. The PCD operating segment produced positive revenues, cash flows, and earnings in the year ended December 31, 2011. Intangible assets arose upon the acquisition, in January 2003, of the Oppenheimer Divisions and comprise customer relationships and trademarks and trade names. Customer relationships of $4.9 million were amortized on a straight-line basis over 80 months commencing in January 2003 (fully amortized and carried at $nil since December 31, 2010). Trademarks and trade names, carried at $31.7 million, which are not amortized, are subject to at least an annual test for impairment to determine if the fair value is less than their carrying amount. Trademarks and trade names recorded as at December 31, 2011 have been tested for impairment and it has been determined that no impairment has occurred. Intangible assets also arose from the January 2008 acquisition of certain businesses from CIBC and are comprised of customer relationships and a below market lease. Customer relationships are carried at $690,000 (which is net of accumulated amortization of $251,000) as at December 31, 2011 and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 180 months commencing in January 2008. The below market lease is carried at $3.2 million (which is net of accumulated amortization of $18.1 million) as at December 31, 2011. The below market lease was determined to amortize on a straight-line basis over 60 months commencing in January 2008. However, due to the plan to consolidate the Company’s headquarters, the Company notified its landlord of its intent to terminate the lease which resulted in a reevaluation of the remaining useful life of the below market lease intangible asset and amortized $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The Company will accelerate the amortization of the remaining $3.2 million during the first quarter of 2012.

Goodwill and Intangibles

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

16. Goodwill and intangibles

Goodwill arose upon the acquisitions of Oppenheimer, Old Michigan Corp., Josephthal & Co. Inc., Grand Charter Group Incorporated and the Oppenheimer Divisions. The Company defines a reporting unit as an operating segment. The Company’s goodwill resides in its Private Client Division (“PCD”). Goodwill of a reporting unit is subject to at least an annual test for impairment to determine if the fair value of goodwill of a reporting unit is less than its estimated carrying amount. The Company derives the estimated carrying amount of its operating segments by estimating the amount of stockholders’ equity required to support the activities of each operating segment.

The goodwill of a reporting unit is required to be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Due to the volatility in the financial services sector and equity markets in general, determining whether an impairment of the goodwill has occurred is increasingly difficult and requires management to exercise significant judgment. The Company performed its annual test for goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2011 which did not result in any impairment charges.

The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis performed at December 31, 2011 applied the same valuation methodologies with consistent inputs as that performed at December 31, 2010, as follows:

In estimating the fair value of the PCD, the Company used traditional standard valuation methods, including the market comparable approach and income approach. The market comparable approach is based on comparisons of the subject company to public companies whose stocks are actively traded (“Price Multiples”) or to similar companies engaged in an actual merger or acquisition (“Precedent Transactions”). As part of this process, multiples of value relative to financial variables, such as earnings or stockholders’ equity, are developed and applied to the appropriate financial variables of the subject company to indicate its value. The income approach involves estimating the present value of the subject company’s future cash flows by using projections of the cash flows that the business is expected to generate, and discounting these cash flows at a given rate of return (“Discounted Cash Flow” or “DCF”). Each of these standard valuation methodologies requires the use of management estimates and assumptions.

In its Price Multiples valuation analysis, the Company used various operating metrics of comparable companies, including revenues, pre-tax and after-tax earnings, EBITDA on a trailing-twelve-month basis as well as price-to-book value ratios at a point in time. The Company analyzed prices paid in Precedent Transactions that are comparable to the business conducted in the PCD. The DCF analysis included the Company’s assumptions regarding growth rates of the PCD’s revenues, expenses, EBITDA, and capital expenditures, adjusted for current economic conditions and expectations. The Company’s assumptions also included a discount rate of 12.7% and a terminal growth rate of 3% in its calculations. The Company weighted each of the three valuation methods equally in its overall valuation. Given the subjectivity involved in selecting which valuation method to use, the corresponding weightings, and the input variables for use in the analyses, it is possible that a different valuation model and the selection of different input variables could produce a materially different estimate of the fair value of our goodwill.

Based on the analysis performed, the Company concluded that the PCD’s fair value exceeded its carrying amount including goodwill as of December 31, 2011. The PCD operating segment produced positive revenues, cash flows, and earnings in the year ended December 31, 2011.

Intangible assets arose upon the acquisition, in January 2003, of the Oppenheimer Divisions and comprise customer relationships and trademarks and trade names. Customer relationships of $4.9 million were amortized on a straight-line basis over 80 months commencing in January 2003 (fully amortized and carried at $nil since December 31, 2010). Trademarks and trade names, carried at $31.7 million, which are not amortized, are subject to at least an annual test for impairment to determine if the fair value is less than their carrying amount. Trademarks and trade names recorded as at December 31, 2011 have been tested for impairment and it has been determined that no impairment has occurred.

Intangible assets also arose from the January 2008 acquisition of certain businesses from CIBC and are comprised of customer relationships and a below market lease. Customer relationships are carried at $690,000 (which is net of accumulated amortization of $251,000) as at December 31, 2011 and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 180 months commencing in January 2008. The below market lease is carried at $3.2 million (which is net of accumulated amortization of $18.1 million) as at December 31, 2011. The below market lease was determined to amortize on a straight-line basis over 60 months commencing in January 2008. However, due to the plan to consolidate the Company’s headquarters, the Company notified its landlord of its intent to terminate the lease which resulted in a reevaluation of the remaining useful life of the below market lease intangible asset and amortized $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The Company will accelerate the amortization of the remaining $3.2 million during the first quarter of 2012.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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