CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (PARENT COMPANY ONLY), Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 30, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income attributable to RJF	$ 278,353		$ 228,283		$ 152,750
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Other, net	45,951		9,699		25,018
Net change in:
Other	(13,418)		(79,969)		814
Accrued compensation and benefits	34,187		89,678		(15,725)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1,558,441		(1,021,393)		374,159
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(400,143)		2,366,221		(1,026,084)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Exercise of stock options and employee stock purchases	47,383		19,917		25,022
Purchase of treasury stock	(23,111)		(3,537)		(4,339)
Dividends on common stock	(63,090)		(56,009)		(54,140)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,679,384)		(712,178)		(241,816)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(521,910)		633,766		(895,191)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,943,239	[1]	2,306,085		3,207,493
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	2,439,695	[1]	2,943,239	[1]	2,306,085
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	55,332		59,584		58,774
Cash (received) paid for income taxes	194,233		161,345		137,618
RJF Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income attributable to RJF	278,353		228,283		152,750
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Gain) loss on investments	(6,758)		(3,416)		2,109
Loss (gain) on company-owned life insurance	3,208		(10,290)		6,842
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries	(47,402)		(44,855)		(3,985)
Other, net	40,917		24,001		45,557
Net change in:
Intercompany receivables	(254,735)		152,103		(25,142)
Other	12,406		(19,425)		(2,508)
Intercompany payables	(6,090)		5,354		1,562
Trade and other	12,093		7,599		(695)
Accrued compensation and benefits	5,144		21,735		(7,116)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	37,136		361,089		169,374
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in subsidiaries, net	(264,000)		(15,650)		(210,611)
Purchases of investments, net	(5,859)		(8,926)		(312)
Purchase of investments in company-owned life insurance, net	(12,224)		(13,293)		(22,793)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(282,083)		(37,869)		(233,716)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowed funds, net	249,498		0		97,043
Exercise of stock options and employee stock purchases	47,383		19,917		25,022
Purchase of treasury stock	(23,111)		(3,537)		(4,339)
Dividends on common stock	(63,090)		(56,009)		(54,140)
Net cash used in financing activities	210,680		(39,629)		63,586
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(34,267)		283,591		(756)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	286,868	[2]	3,277		4,033
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	252,601	[2]	286,868	[2]	3,277
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	25,800		25,442		918
Cash (received) paid for income taxes	$ (15,613)		$ 20,919		$ (24,208)

[1] The total amount presented includes $471 million and $287 million of cash and cash equivalents which are either on deposit at RJ Bank or are otherwise invested by one of our subsidiaries, on behalf of RJF as of September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, respectively.

[2] Includes $250 million and $284 million at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, deposited with RJ Bank. The September 30, 2010 balance is associated with the point-in-time regulatory balance sheet composition requirements of RJ Bank. See Note 22 for discussion of the RJ Bank point-in-time requirements.