Segment Information - Financial Information for Partnership's Reportable Segments (Detail) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Advisor	Sep. 25, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 26, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Advisor	Sep. 26, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 27, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Advisor	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Advisor	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) Advisor
Net revenue:
Total net revenue	$ 1,658	$ 1,645	$ 1,681	$ 1,635	$ 1,641	$ 1,583	$ 1,564	$ 1,490	$ 6,619	$ 6,278	$ 5,657
Net interest and dividends revenue:
Total net interest and dividends revenue									83	80	75
Pre-variable income:
Total pre-variable income									1,658	1,571	1,317
Variable compensation:
Total variable compensation									820	801	643
Income (loss) before allocations to partners:
Total income before allocations to partners	194	$ 208	$ 222	$ 214	195	$ 195	$ 194	$ 186	838	770	674
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									94	90	84
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									83	82	82
Total assets at year end:
Total assets	$ 16,356				$ 14,770				$ 16,356	$ 14,770	$ 13,795
Financial advisors at year end:
Total financial advisors | Advisor	14,508				14,000				14,508	14,000	13,158
United States [Member]
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									$ 6,432	$ 6,074	$ 5,457
Net interest and dividends revenue:
Total net interest and dividends revenue									81	76	70
Pre-variable income:
Total pre-variable income									1,650	1,559	1,310
Variable compensation:
Total variable compensation									803	781	626
Income (loss) before allocations to partners:
Total income before allocations to partners									847	778	684
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									93	88	81
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									81	80	80
Total assets at year end:
Total assets	$ 15,897				$ 14,290				$ 15,897	$ 14,290	$ 13,341
Financial advisors at year end:
Total financial advisors | Advisor	13,839				13,287				13,839	13,287	12,483
Canada [Member]
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									$ 187	$ 204	$ 200
Net interest and dividends revenue:
Total net interest and dividends revenue									2	4	5
Pre-variable income:
Total pre-variable income									8	12	7
Variable compensation:
Total variable compensation									17	20	17
Income (loss) before allocations to partners:
Total income before allocations to partners									(9)	(8)	(10)
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									1	2	3
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									2	2	2
Total assets at year end:
Total assets	$ 459				$ 480				$ 459	$ 480	$ 454
Financial advisors at year end:
Total financial advisors | Advisor	669				713				669	713	675