Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 90,582	$ 122,875
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	88,467	55,078
Financial instruments owned		812,976	786,855
Available-for-sale securities		659,832	1,513,478
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	1,132,502	1,211,976
Investments, at fair value		160,240	210,255
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	106,937	39,180
Bank deposits		4,116,811	4,790,081
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		512,323	587,265
Derivative contracts		4,652	5,641
Borrowings		398,338
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		607,100	689,782
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		321	49,646
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		88,467	55,078
Financial instruments owned		812,976	786,855
Available-for-sale securities		659,832	1,513,478
Held-to-maturity securities		1,095,793	1,177,565
Loans held for sale		179,588	121,939
Bank loans		2,409,399	2,065,420
Investments, at fair value		160,240	210,255
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		106,937	39,180
Bank deposits		4,116,811	4,790,081
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		512,323	587,265
Derivative contracts	[4]	4,652	5,641
Borrowings		398,338
Senior notes		450,000	625,000
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		82,500	82,500
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		607,100	689,782
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		321	49,646
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		88,467	55,078
Financial instruments owned		812,976	786,855
Available-for-sale securities		659,832	1,513,478
Held-to-maturity securities		1,132,501	1,211,976
Loans held for sale		179,588	121,939
Bank loans		2,427,355	2,086,864
Investments, at fair value		160,240	210,255
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		106,937	39,180
Bank deposits		4,070,949	4,246,214
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		512,323	587,265
Derivative contracts	[4]	4,652	5,641
Borrowings		398,338
Senior notes		454,282	638,690
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		$ 73,875	$ 76,714

[1] Collateral received includes securities received by our company from the counterparty. These securities are not included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless there is an event of default.

[2] 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.

[3] Collateral pledged includes the fair value of securities pledged by our company to the counter party. These securities are included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless we default.

[4] Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated statements of financial condition.