Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Estimated Fair Values Of Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		$ 91,268	$ 122,875
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	160,423	55,078
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	1,874,998	1,211,976
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	278,674	39,180
Bank deposits		6,638,356	4,790,081
Borrowings		237,084
Senior notes		750,000	625,000
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		91,268	122,875
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		719,751	566,907
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		227,727	49,646
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		160,423	55,078
Held-to-maturity securities		1,874,998	1,211,976
Loans held for sale		189,921	121,939
Bank loans		3,188,402	2,086,864
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		278,674	39,180
Bank deposits		6,627,818	4,246,214
Borrowings		237,084
Senior notes		745,999	638,690
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		72,371	76,714
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		719,751	566,907
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		227,727	49,646
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		160,423	44,996
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		278,674	39,180
Senior notes		745,999	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		1,317,582	969,913
Loans held for sale		189,921	121,939
Bank loans		3,188,402	2,086,864
Bank deposits		6,627,818	4,246,214
Borrowings		237,054
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		557,416	242,063
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		$ 72,371	$ 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.