Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2010	Nov. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 240,267	$ 286,368	$ 311,819
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	42,087	68,522	40,662
Bargain purchase gain		(52,509)
Gain on repurchase of long-term debt		(21,107)	(7,673)
Fees related to assigned management agreements	(3,590)	(3,724)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred interests of consolidated subsidiaries	14,916	3,622	37,248
Accruals related to various benefit plans and stock issuances, net of estimated forfeitures	153,950	144,886	133,523
Deferred income taxes	4,389	30,177	10,147
Decrease (increase) in cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations	(546,793)	1,417,107	61,620
Decrease (increase) in receivables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(1,062,106)	1,652,426	(752,108)
Customers	(321,008)	385,686	(474,181)
Fees, interest and other	(57,482)	3,856	(21,566)
Decrease in securities borrowed	52,634	3,014,442	764,577
Decrease (increase) in financial instruments owned	(6,434,698)	299,558	(4,781,858)
Increase in loans to and investments in related parties	(27,443)	(375,031)	(53,616)
Decrease (increase) in investments in managed funds	(9,833)	60,855	(15,529)
Decrease (increase) in securities purchased under agreements to resell	266,132	372,470	(2,268,338)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(123,933)	(122,568)	22,516
Increase (decrease) in payables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	1,001,155	880,998	506,073
Customers	467,164	(2,324,839)	1,476,096
(Decrease) increase in securities loaned	(455,750)	(1,428,852)	333,261
(Decrease) increase in financial instruments sold, not yet purchased	3,685,421	(2,892,462)	2,664,934
(Decrease) increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase	2,444,802	(1,083,191)	1,511,871
(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities	218,255	(599,677)	373,602
Net cash used in operating activities	(451,464)	(282,987)	(126,920)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net payments on premises and equipment	(38,426)	(77,330)	(37,483)
Deconsolidation of asset management entity	(407)
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired		(320,697)	(38,760)
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights		0	(8,628)
Cash received from contingent consideration	2,930	3,733
Cash paid for contingent consideration	(8,332)	(754)	(28,653)
Net cash used in investing activities	(44,235)	(395,048)	(113,524)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits from the issuance of share-based awards	2,397	34,552	12,408
Gross proceeds from short-term borrowings	2,446,000	3,032,010	5,781,738
Gross payments on short-term borrowings	(2,446,000)	(3,283,231)	(5,781,738)
Gross proceeds from secured credit facility		260,000
Gross payments on secured credit facility		(160,000)
Payments on repurchase of common stock	(140,071)	(152,827)	(263,794)
Payments on dividends	(51,536)	(58,531)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, not including tax benefits	108	95	69
Payments on repurchase of long-term debt		(49,692)	(12,796)
Payments on mandatorily redeemable preferred interest of consolidated subsidiaries	(17,078)	(8,973)	(124)
Net proceeds from (payments on):
Issuance of common shares		494,892
Issuance of senior notes, net of issuance costs	1,041,353	794,587	1,053,092
Noncontrolling interest	(2,744)	(20,343)	(2,804)
Net cash provided by financing activities	832,429	882,539	786,051
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	(899)	295	13,231
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	335,831	204,799	558,838
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,853,167	2,188,998	1,294,329
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,188,998	2,393,797	1,853,167
Cash paid (received) during the year for:
Interest	579,915	943,031	434,163
Income taxes, net	182,633	153,416	(27,106)
Acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired, including goodwill		4,703,560	53,104
Liabilities assumed		(4,229,011)	(14,344)
Bargain purchase gain		(52,509)
Total purchase price		422,040	38,760
Cash acquired		(101,343)
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired		$ 320,697	$ 38,760