Basis Of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation	NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION *The Partnership's Business and Basis of Accounting.* The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Jones Financial Companies, L.L.L.P. and all wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Partnership"). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Non-controlling minority interests are accounted for under the equity method. The results of the Partnership's subsidiary in Canada are included in the Partnership's Consolidated Financial Statements for the three month and nine month periods ended August 31, 2011 and 2010 because of the timing of the Partnership's financial reporting process. The Partnership's principal operating subsidiary, Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. ("Edward Jones"), is comprised of two registered broker-dealers primarily serving individual investors in the United States of America ("U.S.") and Canada. Edward Jones primarily derives its revenues from the retail brokerage business through the sale of listed and unlisted securities and insurance products, investment banking, principal transactions, as a distributor of mutual fund shares and through revenues related to assets held by and account services provided to its customers. Edward Jones conducts business in the U.S. and Canada with its customers, various brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, depositories and banks. For financial information related to the Partnership's two operating segments for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and September 24, 2010, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Trust services are offered to Edward Jones' U.S. customers through Edward Jones Trust Company ("EJTC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP") which require the use of certain estimates by management in determining the Partnership's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Under the terms of the Eighteenth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement (the "Partnership Agreement"), a partner's capital will be redeemed by the Partnership in the event of the partner's death, resignation or termination. In the event of a partner's death, the Partnership must generally redeem the partner's capital within six months. Limited partners withdrawing from the Partnership due to termination or resignation are repaid their capital in three equal annual installments beginning the month after their resignation or termination. The capital of general partners resigning or terminating from the Partnership is usually converted to subordinated limited partnership capital. Subordinated limited partners are repaid their capital in six equal annual installments beginning the month after their request for withdrawal of contributed capital. The Partnership's Managing Partner has discretion to waive these withdrawal restrictions. All current and future partnership capital is subordinate to all current and future liabilities of the Partnership. The interim financial information included herein is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, such information includes all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results of interim operations. The results of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ended December 31, 2011. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Revenue Recognition. The Partnership records commissions, principal transactions and investment banking revenues on a trade date basis. All other forms of revenue are recorded on an accrual basis. The Partnership classifies its revenue into the following categories: Commissions revenue consists of charges to customers for the purchase or sale of listed and unlisted securities, insurance products and mutual fund shares. Principal transactions revenue is the result of the Partnership's participation in market-making activities in over-the-counter corporate securities, municipal obligations (including general obligations and revenue bonds), U.S. government obligations, unit investment trusts, mortgage-backed securities and certificates of deposit. Investment banking revenue is derived from the Partnership's underwriting of corporate securities and municipal obligations and distribution of U.S. government obligations and unit investment trusts on behalf of issuers. Asset-based fee revenue is derived from fees determined by the underlying value of client assets. Most asset-based fee revenue is generated from fees for investment advisory services within the Partnership's advisory programs, including Edward Jones Advisory Solutions ("Advisory Solutions") and Edward Jones Managed Account Program ("Managed Account Program"). The Partnership also earns asset-based fee revenue through service fees and other revenues received under agreements with mutual fund and insurance companies based on the underlying value of the Partnership's customers' assets invested in those companies' products, including revenue related to the Partnership's ownership interest in Passport Research Ltd., the advisor to the Edward Jones Money Market Funds. The Partnership expanded its Advisory Solutions program in the second quarter of 2011 to include Unified Managed Account ("UMA") models. The UMA models offer an expanded level of portfolio management expertise for eligible accounts. Account and activity fee revenue includes fees received from mutual fund companies for sub-transfer agent accounting services performed by the Partnership and retirement account fees primarily consisting of self-directed IRA custodian account fees. This revenue category also includes other activity-based fee revenue from customers, mutual fund companies and insurance companies. Interest and dividend revenue is earned on margin account balances, cash and cash equivalents, cash and investments segregated under federal regulations, securities purchased under agreements to resell, interest on partnership loans for general partnership interests, inventory securities and investment securities. The Partnership derived from one mutual fund vendor 18% and 20% of its total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and 20% and 22% of its total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2010, respectively. All of the revenue generated from this vendor related to business conducted with the Partnership's U.S. segment. Significant reductions in the revenues from this mutual fund source due to regulatory reform or other changes to the Partnership's relationship with this mutual fund vendor could have a material impact on the Partnership's results of operations.

Basis Of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The Partnership's Business and Basis of Accounting. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of The Jones Financial Companies, L.L.L.P. and all wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Partnership"). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Non-controlling minority interests are accounted for under the equity method. The results of the Partnership's subsidiary in Canada are included in the Partnership's Consolidated Financial Statements for the three month and nine month periods ended August 31, 2011 and 2010 because of the timing of the Partnership's financial reporting process.

The Partnership's principal operating subsidiary, Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. ("Edward Jones"), is comprised of two registered broker-dealers primarily serving individual investors in the United States of America ("U.S.") and Canada. Edward Jones primarily derives its revenues from the retail brokerage business through the sale of listed and unlisted securities and insurance products, investment banking, principal transactions, as a distributor of mutual fund shares and through revenues related to assets held by and account services provided to its customers. Edward Jones conducts business in the U.S. and Canada with its customers, various brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, depositories and banks. For financial information related to the Partnership's two operating segments for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and September 24, 2010, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Trust services are offered to Edward Jones' U.S. customers through Edward Jones Trust Company ("EJTC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership.

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP") which require the use of certain estimates by management in determining the Partnership's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Under the terms of the Eighteenth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement (the "Partnership Agreement"), a partner's capital will be redeemed by the Partnership in the event of the partner's death, resignation or termination. In the event of a partner's death, the Partnership must generally redeem the partner's capital within six months. Limited partners withdrawing from the Partnership due to termination or resignation are repaid their capital in three equal annual installments beginning the month after their resignation or termination. The capital of general partners resigning or terminating from the Partnership is usually converted to subordinated limited partnership capital. Subordinated limited partners are repaid their capital in six equal annual installments beginning the month after their request for withdrawal of contributed capital. The Partnership's Managing Partner has discretion to waive these withdrawal restrictions. All current and future partnership capital is subordinate to all current and future liabilities of the Partnership.

The interim financial information included herein is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, such information includes all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results of interim operations.

The results of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ended December 31, 2011. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Revenue Recognition. The Partnership records commissions, principal transactions and investment banking revenues on a trade date basis. All other forms of revenue are recorded on an accrual basis. The Partnership classifies its revenue into the following categories:

Commissions revenue consists of charges to customers for the purchase or sale of listed and unlisted securities, insurance products and mutual fund shares.

Principal transactions revenue is the result of the Partnership's participation in market-making activities in over-the-counter corporate securities, municipal obligations (including general obligations and revenue bonds), U.S. government obligations, unit investment trusts, mortgage-backed securities and certificates of deposit.

Investment banking revenue is derived from the Partnership's underwriting of corporate securities and municipal obligations and distribution of U.S. government obligations and unit investment trusts on behalf of issuers.

Asset-based fee revenue is derived from fees determined by the underlying value of client assets. Most asset-based fee revenue is generated from fees for investment advisory services within the Partnership's advisory programs, including Edward Jones Advisory Solutions ("Advisory Solutions") and Edward Jones Managed Account Program ("Managed Account Program"). The Partnership also earns asset-based fee revenue through service fees and other revenues received under agreements with mutual fund and insurance companies based on the underlying value of the Partnership's customers' assets invested in those companies' products, including revenue related to the Partnership's ownership interest in Passport Research Ltd., the advisor to the Edward Jones Money Market Funds. The Partnership expanded its Advisory Solutions program in the second quarter of 2011 to include Unified Managed Account ("UMA") models. The UMA models offer an expanded level of portfolio management expertise for eligible accounts.

Account and activity fee revenue includes fees received from mutual fund companies for sub-transfer agent accounting services performed by the Partnership and retirement account fees primarily consisting of self-directed IRA custodian account fees. This revenue category also includes other activity-based fee revenue from customers, mutual fund companies and insurance companies.

Interest and dividend revenue is earned on margin account balances, cash and cash equivalents, cash and investments segregated under federal regulations, securities purchased under agreements to resell, interest on partnership loans for general partnership interests, inventory securities and investment securities.

The Partnership derived from one mutual fund vendor 18% and 20% of its total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and 20% and 22% of its total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2010, respectively. All of the revenue generated from this vendor related to business conducted with the Partnership's U.S. segment. Significant reductions in the revenues from this mutual fund source due to regulatory reform or other changes to the Partnership's relationship with this mutual fund vendor could have a material impact on the Partnership's results of operations.