SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Basis of presentation [Abstract]
Percent ownership of subsidiaries that are consolidated (in hundredths)	100.00%
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Recorded goodwill related to acquisitions	$ 72,000,000	$ 63,000,000
Recognition of revenues [Abstract]
Total commissions generated by correspondents	39,300,000	36,400,000	32,100,000
Commissions remitted	36,100,000	33,200,000	28,700,000
Cash and cash equivalents [Abstract]
Maturities of cash equivalents (in days)	90D
Available for sale securities [Abstract]
Number of subordinated non-agency securities	1
Auction rate securities, rate setting interval, minimum (in days)	7D
Auction rate securities, rate setting interval, maximum (in days)	35D
Private equity investments [Abstract]
Number of private equity funds held	46
Private equity investments estimated life, minimum (in years)	10Y
Private equity investments estimated life, maximum (in years)	15Y
Brokerage client receivables, loans to financial advisors and allowance for doubtful accounts [Abstract]
Repayment period of loans to financial advisors and certain key revenue producers, minimum (in years)	5Y
Repayment period of loans to financial advisors and certain key revenue producers, maximum (in years)	8Y
Loans outstanding to financial advisors	231,500,000	227,800,000
Allowance for loans outstanding to financial advisors	5,900,000	6,000,000
Loans associated with financial advisors no longer affiliated with the entity, net of allowance	1,700,000	1,000,000
Bank loans and allowances for losses [Abstract]
Number of loan portfolio segments	5
Minimum past due for loans placed on nonaccrual status (in days)	90D
Period of satisfactory performance for loans to be returned to accrual status (in months)	6M
Number of components comprising the allowance for loan loss	2
Number of aspects of risk factors analyzed	2
Period of historical data on which ratings are based (in years)	2Y
Number of quarters on which estimated loss rates are based	8
Minimum amount of Shared National Credit (SNC) loan syndications	20,000,000
Minimum number of regulated institutions with which SNCs are shared	3
Minimum past due for residential and consumer loans to be reviewed (in days)	60D
Minimum past due for charge-offs to be considered on residential mortgage loans (in days)	90D
Maximum past due for charge-offs taken on residential mortgage loans (in days)	120D
Minimum period for which updated valuation is obtained for loans in pre-foreclosure status (in months)	6M
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill allocated to reporting units	72,000,000	63,000,000
Restricted Stock Trust Fund [Abstract]
Number of restricted stock plans for which a trust is utilized	1
LIHTC Funds [Abstract]
Minimum number of investor members or limited partners of LIHTC Funds	1
Number of guaranteed tax credit funds	1
Number of general types of non-guaranteed tax credit funds	2
Entities evaluated but determined not to be VIEs [Abstract]
Ownership percentage of LIHTC funds which are not VIEs (in hundredths)	99.00%
Maximum number of days that interests in tax credit limited partnerships are held (in days)	90D
Other real estate limited partnerships and LLCs [Abstract]
Number of subsidiaries that is either the general partner or limited partner in limited partnerships involved in various real estate activities	1
Managed Funds [Abstract]
Number of subsidiaries that is the general partner in funds which were determined to be VIEs not required to consolidate	1
Reclassifications [Abstract]
Amount of reclassification		94,000,000	80,000,000
Howe Barnes [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Effective date of acquisition	April 1, 2011
Common stock issued for acquisition (in shares)	217,088
Value of common stock issued for acquisition	8,300,000
Recorded goodwill related to acquisitions	2,400,000
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill allocated to reporting units	2,400,000
Raymond James European Securities [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Effective date of acquisition	April 4, 2011
Recorded goodwill related to acquisitions	6,900,000
Cash contributed in exchange for additional shares of affiliate	6,400,000
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill allocated to reporting units	6,900,000
Software [Member]
Property and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives, minimum (in years)	2
Estimated useful lives, maximum (in years)	7
Furniture, fixtures and equipment [Member]
Property and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives, minimum (in years)	2
Estimated useful lives, maximum (in years)	5
Buildings, building components, building improvements and land improvements [Member]
Property and equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives, minimum (in years)	10
Estimated useful lives, maximum (in years)	31
Cumulative-Effect Adjustment, Deconsolidation of Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Cumulative effect adjustment [Abstract]
Number of VIEs affected by change in classification	2
Consolidated assets of VIEs affected by change in classification	3,500,000
Consolidated liabilities of VIEs affected by change in classification	0
After-tax cumulative effect increase (decrease) to retained earnings	3,300,000
After-tax cumulative effect increase (decrease) to noncontrolling interests	(6,800,000)
Cumulative-Effect Adjustment, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Cumulative effect adjustment [Abstract]
Number of VIEs affected by change in classification	2
Consolidated assets of VIEs affected by change in classification	56,800,000
Consolidated liabilities of VIEs affected by change in classification	42,100,000
Maximum ownership interest held in VIEs affected by change in classification (in hundredths)	1.00%
After-tax cumulative effect increase (decrease) to noncontrolling interests	$ 14,700,000