Consolidated Statements Of Financial Condition (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 226,458,000		$ 167,671,000
Restricted cash	6,584,000		6,883,000
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes	26,000		26,000
Receivables:
Brokerage clients, net	569,276,000		560,018,000
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	237,258,000		252,636,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	103,958,000		75,455,000
Trading securities owned, at fair value (includes securities pledged of $425,845 and $392,395, respectively)	575,724,000		474,951,000
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value	1,347,535,000		1,214,141,000
Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost	327,447,000	[1]	190,484,000	[1]
Loans held for sale	141,136,000		131,754,000
Bank loans, net of allowance	657,193,000		632,140,000
Other real estate owned	717,000		708,000
Investments	244,106,000		239,208,000
Fixed assets, net	101,401,000		104,740,000
Goodwill	358,988,000		358,988,000
Intangible assets, net	32,534,000		33,863,000
Loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees, net	183,652,000		172,717,000
Deferred tax assets, net	141,798,000		177,803,000
Other assets	209,903,000		157,714,000
Total Assets	5,465,694,000		4,951,900,000
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Short-term borrowings from banks	187,400,000		199,400,000
Payables:
Brokerage clients	291,317,000		245,886,000
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	169,437,000		139,911,000
Drafts	56,627,000		75,901,000
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	142,119,000		80,176,000
Bank deposits	2,357,912,000		2,071,738,000
Trading securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	267,807,000		266,833,000
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	21,823,000		19,223,000
Accrued compensation	124,962,000		204,076,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	240,530,000		257,194,000
Senior notes	175,000,000
Total Liabilities	4,117,434,000		3,642,838,000
Liabilities subordinated to claims of general creditors	5,318,000		6,957,000
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock - $1 par value; authorized 3,000,000 shares; none issued
Exchangeable common stock - $0.15 par value; issued 34,593 and 172,672 shares, respectively	5,000		26,000
Common stock - $0.15 par value; authorized 97,000,000 shares; issued 53,685,423 and 53,547,774 shares, respectively	8,053,000		8,032,000
Additional paid-in-capital	1,051,863,000		1,078,743,000
Retained earnings	286,854,000		277,195,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(189,000)		(7,938,000)
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,346,586,000		1,356,058,000
Treasury stock, at cost, 92,359 and 1,769,096 shares, respectively	(3,383,000)		(53,640,000)
Unearned employee stock ownership plan shares, at cost, 61,013 and 73,215 shares, respectively	(261,000)		(313,000)
Total Equity	1,342,942,000		1,302,105,000
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	5,465,694,000		4,951,900,000
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust II [Member]
Payables:
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust	35,000,000		35,000,000
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust III [Member]
Payables:
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust	35,000,000		35,000,000
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust IV [Member]
Payables:
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust	$ 12,500,000		$ 12,500,000

[1] Held-to-maturity securities are carried in the consolidated statements of financial condition at amortized cost, and the changes in the value of these securities, other than impairment charges, are not reported on the consolidated financial statements.