Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Estimated Fair Values Of Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		$ 90,582	$ 122,875
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	88,467	55,078
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	1,132,502	1,211,976
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	106,937	39,180
Bank deposits		4,116,811	4,790,081
Borrowings		398,338
Senior notes		450,000	625,000
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		90,582	122,875
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		516,518	566,907
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		321	49,646
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		88,467	55,078
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
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		106,937	39,180
Bank deposits		4,070,949	4,246,214
Borrowings		398,338
Senior notes		454,282	638,690
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		73,875	76,714
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		516,518	566,907
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		321	49,646
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		88,467	44,996
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		19,476	39,180
Senior notes		454,282	638,690
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell			10,082
Held-to-maturity securities		891,975	969,913
Loans held for sale		179,588	121,939
Bank loans		2,427,355	2,086,864
Bank deposits		4,070,949	4,246,214
Borrowings		398,338
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity securities		240,526	242,063
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		87,461
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.