Income Taxes (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2011
Income Taxes Disclosure Table [Abstract]  
Components of income tax benefit (expense)
        
 (in thousands) 2011 2010 2009
 Current:      
  Federal$ 88,051$ 124,526$ 102,868
  State  13,925  18,241  6,317
 Deferred:      
  Federal  48,091  (13,981)  (34,641)
  State  6,777  (2,523)  (3,500)
 Total$ 156,844$ 126,263$ 71,044
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities
 (in thousands) 2011 2010
       
 Deferred tax assets:    
  Closed-end fund expenses$ -$94,678
  Stock-based compensation 67,190 60,873
  Differences between book and tax bases of investments 5,763 5,334
  Deferred rent 4,874 5,105
  Federal benefit of unrecognized state tax benefits 3,554 3,489
  Compensation and benefit expense 3,077 3,145
  Capital loss carry-forward  - 1,288
  Unrealized losses on derivative instruments 929 1,086
  Other 403 695
 Total deferred tax asset$85,790$175,693
       
 Deferred tax liabilities:    
  Closed-end fund expenses$ -$(21,542)
  Compensation and benefit expense (10,909) (15,424)
  Deferred sales commissions (10,624) (18,263)
  Differences between book and tax bases of goodwill    
   and intangibles (16,075) (16,505)
  Differences between book and tax bases of property (4,966) (5,718)
  Unrealized net holding gains on investments (1,873) (967)
 Total deferred tax liability$(44,447)$(78,419)
 Net deferred tax asset$41,343$97,274
Reconciliation of the difference between the federal statutory income tax rate and the effective income tax rate
  201120102009
        
 Federal statutory rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0%
 State and local income tax, net of      
  federal income tax benefit 3.6  3.4  2.5 
 Non-controlling interest 1.6  (0.9)  (0.9) 
 Stock-based compensation 0.6  0.9  (1.0) 
 Release of liabilities associated with      
  uncertain tax positions -  (0.1)  (1.5) 
 Other 0.3  0.3  0.1 
 Effective income tax rate 41.1% 38.6% 34.2%
Reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits
 (in thousands) 2011 2010 2009
 Beginning Balance$ 9,474$ 9,975$ 16,638
  Additions for tax provisions of prior years  -  245  3,732
  Reductions for tax provisions of prior years  -  (771)  (3,257)
  Additions based on tax provisions related to current year  -  30  210
  Reductions for settlements with taxing authorities  -  (5)  (7,348)
 Ending Balance $ 9,474$ 9,474$ 9,975