Rendering

Component: (Network and Table)
Network
080500 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Tables)
(http://associated-capital-group.com/role/FairValueTables)
Table(Implied)
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Reporting Entity [Axis]0001642122 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)
Fair Value [Abstract]Period [Axis]
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31
Fair Value [Abstract]
 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities by major categories measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value:

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands)

  
Quoted Prices in Active
  
Significant Other
  
Significant
  
Investments
  
Other Assets
  
Balance as of
 
  
Markets for Identical
  
Observable
  
Unobservable
  
Measured at
  
Not Held at
  
December 31,
 
Assets
 
Assets (Level 1)
  
Inputs (Level 2)
  
Inputs (Level 3)
  
NAV (a)
  
Fair Value (b)
  
2016
 
Cash equivalents
 
$
314,082
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
314,082
 
Investments in partnerships
  
-
   
-
   
-
   
125,527
   
3,871
   
129,398
 
Investments in securities (including GBL stock):
                        
AFS - Common stocks
  
135,701
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
135,701
 
AFS - Mutual funds
  
500
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
500
 
Trading - Gov't obligations
  
119,823
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
119,823
 
Trading - Common stocks
  
81,696
   
1
   
461
   
-
   
-
   
82,158
 
Trading - Mutual funds
  
3,143
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
3,143
 
Trading - Other
  
1,062
   
127
   
283
   
-
   
-
   
1,472
 
Total investments in securities
  
341,925
   
128
   
744
   
-
   
-
   
342,797
 
Investments in affiliated
                        
registered investment companies:
                        
AFS - Closed-end Funds
  
80,650
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
80,650
 
AFS - Mutual Funds
  
5,644
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
5,644
 
Trading - Mutual funds
  
45,351
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
45,351
 
Total investments in affiliated
                        
registered investment companies
  
131,645
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
131,645
 
Total investments
  
473,570
   
128
   
744
   
125,527
   
3,871
   
603,840
 
Total assets at fair value
 
$
787,652
  
$
128
  
$
744
  
$
125,527
  
$
3,871
  
$
917,922
 
Liabilities
                        
Trading - Common stocks
 
$
9,947
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
9,947
 
Trading - Other
  
-
   
37
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
37
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased
 
$
9,947
  
$
37
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
9,984
 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands)

  
Quoted Prices in Active
  
Significant Other
  
Significant
  
Investments
  
Other Assets
  
Balance as of
 
  
Markets for Identical
  
Observable
  
Unobservable
  
Measured at
  
Not Held at
  
December 31,
 
Assets
 
Assets (Level 1)
  
Inputs (Level 2)
  
Inputs (Level 3)
  
NAV (a)
  
Fair Value (b)
  
2015
 
Cash equivalents
 
$
205,733
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
205,733
 
Investments in partnerships
  
-
   
-
   
-
   
101,454
   
3,597
   
105,051
 
Investments in securities (including GBL stock):
                        
AFS - Common stocks
  
136,360
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
136,360
 
AFS - Mutual funds
  
1,143
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
1,143
 
Trading - Gov't obligations
  
99,940
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
99,940
 
Trading - Common stocks
  
91,686
   
-
   
508
   
-
   
-
   
92,194
 
Trading - Mutual funds
  
3,216
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
3,216
 
Trading - Other
  
230
   
236
   
305
   
-
   
-
   
771
 
Total investments in securities
  
332,575
   
236
   
813
   
-
   
-
   
333,624
 
Investments in affiliated
                        
registered investment companies:
                        
AFS - Closed-end Funds
  
72,591
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
72,591
 
AFS - Mutual Funds
  
2,952
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
2,952
 
Trading - Mutual funds
  
43,133
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
43,133
 
Total investments in affiliated
                        
registered investment companies
  
118,676
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
118,676
 
Total investments
  
451,251
   
236
   
813
   
101,454
   
3,597
   
557,351
 
Total assets at fair value
 
$
656,984
  
$
236
  
$
813
  
$
101,454
  
$
3,597
  
$
763,084
 
Liabilities
                        
Trading - Common stocks
 
$
9,537
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
9,537
 
Trading - Other
  
-
   
86
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
86
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased
 
$
9,537
  
$
86
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
9,623
 

(a)
Amounts are comprised of certain investments measured at fair value using NAV (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient.  These investments have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy (see Note B, Recent Accounting Developments, for more detail).
(b)
Amounts are comprised of certain equity method investments which are not accounted for under a fair value measure.  In accordance with GAAP, certain equity method investees do not account for both their financial assets and liabilities under fair value measures; therefore, the Company’s investment in such equity method investees may not represent fair value.

  
Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities

The following table presents additional information about assets by major categories measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:

Changes in Level 3 Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the year ended December 31, 2016 (in thousands)

      
Total
           
      
Unrealized
           
      
Gains or
 
Total
         
    
Total Realized and
 
(Losses)
 
Realized
         
  
December
 
Unrealized Gains or
 
Included in
 
and
     
Transfers
   
  31, 2015  (Losses) in Income  Other Unrealized     In and/or    
  
Beginning
   
AFS
 
Comprehensive
 
Gains or
     
(Out) of
 
Ending
 
Asset
 
Balance
 
Trading
 
Investments
 
Income
 
(Losses)
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Level 3
 
Balance
 
Financial
                      
instruments owned:
                      
Trading - Common
                               
stocks
 $ 
508
  
$
(47
)
 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
(47
)
 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
461
 
Trading - Other
 $ 
305
   
(2
)
  
-
   
-
   
(2
)
  
-
   
(20
)
  
-
   
283
 
Total
 $ 
813
  
$
(49
)
 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
(49
)
 
$
-
  
$
(20
)
 
$
-
  
$
744
 

Changes in Level 3 Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for the year ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands)

      
Total
           
      
Unrealized
           
      
Gains or
 
Total
         
    
Total Realized and
 
(Losses)
 
Realized
         
  
December
 
Unrealized Gains or
 
Included in
 
and
     
Transfers
   
  31, 2014  (Losses) in Income  Unrealized  Gains or      In and/or    
  
Beginning
   
AFS
 
Comprehensive
 
Gains or
     
(Out) of
 
Ending
 
Asset
 
Balance
 
Trading
 
Investments
 
Income
 
(Losses)
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Level 3
 
Balance
 
Financial
                      
instruments owned:
                      
Trading - Common
                               
stocks
 $ 
1,293
  
$
(195
)
 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
(195
)
 
$
6
  
$
(238
)
 
$
(358
)
 
$
508
 
Trading - Other
 $ 
294
   
98
   
-
   
-
   
98
   
5
   
(80
)
  
(12
)
  
305
 
Total
 $ 
1,587
  
$
(97
)
 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
(97
)
 
$
11
  
$
(318
)
 
$
(370
)
 
$
813