Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	$ 207,946	$ 160,423
Financial instruments owned		1,028,781	749,443
Available-for-sale securities		2,125,466	1,629,907
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	2,064,996	1,874,998
Investments, at fair value		165,424	181,017
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	290,729	278,674
Bank deposits		7,218,100	6,638,356
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		674,841	521,744
Derivative contracts		12,192	3,591
Borrowings		827,581	237,084
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		577,350	811,019
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		37,051	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		207,946	160,423
Financial instruments owned		1,028,781	749,443
Available-for-sale securities		2,125,466	1,629,907
Held-to-maturity securities		2,028,179	1,855,399
Loans held for sale		132,900	189,921
Bank loans		3,467,187	3,143,515
Investments, at fair value		165,424	181,017
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		290,729	278,674
Bank deposits		7,218,100	6,638,356
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		674,841	521,744
Derivative contracts	[4]	12,192	3,591
Borrowings		827,581	237,084
Senior notes		740,409	740,136
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		577,350	811,019
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		37,051	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		207,946	160,423
Financial instruments owned		1,028,781	749,443
Available-for-sale securities		2,125,466	1,629,907
Held-to-maturity securities		2,064,996	1,874,998
Loans held for sale		132,900	189,921
Bank loans		3,494,993	3,188,402
Investments, at fair value		165,424	181,017
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		290,729	278,674
Bank deposits		7,098,427	6,627,818
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		674,841	521,744
Derivative contracts	[4]	12,192	3,591
Borrowings		827,581	237,084
Senior notes		739,058	736,135
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		$ 66,779	$ 72,371

[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.