<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-11-12</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000878520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SWS GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWS</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001171440</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOSLE JON L JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1201 ELM STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75270</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock $.10 Par Value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-11-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>492</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>20673</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Phantom Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>20.32</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2000-11-01</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2010-11-01</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock $.10 Par Value</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>1513</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>1513</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option SWS Stock Option Plan</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>10.9245</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1999-05-03</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2003-11-03</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock $.10 Par Value</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>0</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option SWS Stock Option Plan</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>17.9834</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2000-05-01</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2004-11-01</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock $.10 Par Value</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>2974</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>2974</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option SWS Stock Option Plan</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>20.891</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2001-04-30</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2005-10-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock $.10 Par Value</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>2704</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>2704</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option SWS Stock Option Plan</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>15.781</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2002-05-06</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2006-11-06</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock $.10 Par Value</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>2458</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>2458</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option SWS Stock Option Plan</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>12.98</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-05-05</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2007-11-05</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock $.10 Par Value</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>2000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>2000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes />
  <remarks />
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Allen R. Tubb, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

