Segment Information - Financial Information for Partnership's Reportable Segments (Detail) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Advisor	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 24, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Advisor	Sep. 25, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 26, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Advisor	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Advisor	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Advisor
Net revenue:
Total net revenue	$ 1,653	$ 1,683	$ 1,660	$ 1,561	$ 1,658	$ 1,645	$ 1,681	$ 1,635	$ 6,557	$ 6,619	$ 6,278
Net interest and dividends revenue:
Total net interest and dividends revenue									118	83	80
Pre-variable income:
Total pre-variable income									1,418	1,658	1,571
Variable compensation:
Total variable compensation									672	820	801
Income (loss) before allocations to partners:
Total income before allocations to partners	161	$ 186	$ 208	$ 191	194	$ 208	$ 222	$ 214	746	838	770
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									73	94	90
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									82	83	82
Total assets at year end:
Total assets	$ 19,424				$ 16,356				$ 19,424	$ 16,356	$ 14,770
Financial advisors at year end:
Total financial advisors | Advisor	14,919				14,508				14,919	14,508	14,000
United States [Member]
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									$ 6,381	$ 6,432	$ 6,074
Net interest and dividends revenue:
Total net interest and dividends revenue									116	81	76
Pre-variable income:
Total pre-variable income									1,417	1,650	1,559
Variable compensation:
Total variable compensation									657	803	781
Income (loss) before allocations to partners:
Total income before allocations to partners									760	847	778
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									72	93	88
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									80	81	80
Total assets at year end:
Total assets	$ 18,850				$ 15,897				$ 18,850	$ 15,897	$ 14,290
Financial advisors at year end:
Total financial advisors | Advisor	14,259				13,839				14,259	13,839	13,287
Canada [Member]
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									$ 176	$ 187	$ 204
Net interest and dividends revenue:
Total net interest and dividends revenue									2	2	4
Pre-variable income:
Total pre-variable income									1	8	12
Variable compensation:
Total variable compensation									15	17	20
Income (loss) before allocations to partners:
Total income before allocations to partners									(14)	(9)	(8)
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									1	1	2
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									2	2	2
Total assets at year end:
Total assets	$ 574				$ 459				$ 574	$ 459	$ 480
Financial advisors at year end:
Total financial advisors | Advisor	660				669				660	669	713