CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Feb. 29, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 85,496	$ 96,717
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	17,393	17,693
Bargain purchase gain		(3,368)
Gain on repurchase of long-term debt		(9,898)
Fees related to assigned management agreements	(1,154)	(739)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred interests of consolidated subsidiaries	10,961	21,844
Accruals related to various benefit plans and stock issuances, net of forfeitures	23,505	24,987
Decrease (increase) in cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations	352,891	(290,223)
(Increase) decrease in receivables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(1,027,671)	(482,230)
Customers	(130,543)	260,225
Fees, interest and other	(29,149)	(43,498)
(Increase) decrease in securities borrowed	(224,557)	135,129
Decrease in financial instruments owned	229,394	2,591,767
(Increase) decrease in loans to and investments in related parties	(197,166)	46,441
Increase in investments in managed funds	(2,213)	(2,275)
Increase in securities purchased under agreements to resell	(224,418)	(1,537,111)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	22,335	(76,800)
(Decrease) increase in payables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(1,031,335)	(1,501,144)
Customers	(111,139)	538,234
(Decrease) increase in securities loaned	(28,138)	120,968
Increase in financial instruments sold, not yet purchased	2,327,667	1,387,536
Decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase	(197,493)	(1,047,485)
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities	(258,836)	(199,438)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(394,170)	47,332
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net payments on premises and equipment	(10,706)	(11,642)
Cash received from contingent consideration	1,203	741
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,503)	(10,901)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits from the issuance of share-based awards	5,682	29,316
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	6,744,000	109,513
Payments on short-term borrowings	(6,794,000)	(67,007)
Proceeds from secured credit facility	900,000	160,000
Payments on secured credit facility	(990,007)	(10,000)
Proceeds from other secured financings	60,000
Payments on repurchase of long-term debt		(1,435)
Payments on mandatorily redeemable preferred interest of consolidated subsidiaries	(61)
Payments on repurchase of common stock	(166,541)	(47,930)
Payments on dividends	(15,799)	(15,605)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, not including tax benefits	57
Net proceeds from (payments on):
Issuance of senior notes, net of issuance costs	991,469
Noncontrolling interest	(1,262)
Net cash provided by financing activities	733,538	156,852
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,502)	2,113
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	325,363	195,396
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,692,595	2,393,797
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,017,958	2,589,193
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	178,836	214,800
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ (34,054)	$ (1,785)