CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013 Successor [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Predecessor [Member]	May 31, 2012 Predecessor [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 42,711	$ 90,842	$ 165,096
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	(1,511)	17,393	37,619
Loss on conversion option	3,174
Bargain purchase gain			(3,368)
Gain on repurchase of long-term debt			(9,898)
Fees related to assigned management agreements	(1,329)	(1,154)	(1,721)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred interests of consolidated subsidiaries	3,368	10,961	26,300
Accruals related to various benefit plans and stock issuances, net of forfeitures		23,505	46,128
Income on loans to and investments in related parties	(28,540)
Distributions received on investments in related parties	19,353
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations	671,426	352,891	(589,496)
Receivables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(845,322)	(1,027,671)	(1,093,963)
Customers	(144,938)	(130,543)	95,463
Fees, interest and other	(39,832)	(29,149)	(82,434)
Securities borrowed	(47,036)	(224,557)	(205,559)
Financial instruments owned	1,116,683	229,394	1,641,825
Loans to and investments in related parties		(197,166)	(175,051)
Investments in managed funds	4,835	(2,213)	2,426
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	106,129	(224,418)	(424,271)
Other assets	37,970	25,489	(25,422)
Payables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	205,037	(1,031,335)	(1,463,427)
Customers	(18,807)	(111,139)	721,521
Securities loaned	780,579	(28,138)	723,486
Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased	(2,979,532)	2,327,667	818,272
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,521,605	(197,493)	(549,755)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	151,616	(267,336)	(20,733)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	557,639	(394,170)	(366,962)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net payments on premises and equipment	(10,071)	(10,706)	(26,083)
Contributions to loans to and investments in related parties	(345,955)
Distributions from loans to and investments in related parties	644,666
Cash received in connection with acquisition			2,257
Cash received from contingent consideration	1,284	1,203	1,719
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	289,924	(9,503)	(22,107)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits from the issuance of share-based awards	1,857	5,682	29,901
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	3,838,000	6,744,000	5,725,513
Payments on short-term borrowings	(3,938,000)	(6,794,000)	(5,533,007)
Proceeds from secured credit facility	265,000	900,000	420,000
Payments on secured credit facility	(450,000)	(990,007)	(105,000)
Repayment of long-term debt			(253,232)
Proceeds from other secured financings	105,000	60,000
Payments on repurchase of long-term debt			(1,435)
Payments on mandatorily redeemable preferred interest of consolidated subsidiaries	(64)	(61)	(5,271)
Payments on repurchase of common stock		(166,541)	(82,642)
Payments on dividends		(15,799)	(31,050)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, not including tax benefits		57	104
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of issuance costs		991,469	197,558
Proceeds from contributions of noncontrolling interests	27,200
Payments on distributions to noncontrolling interests	(306,830)	(1,262)	(6,763)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(457,837)	733,538	354,676
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,205)	(4,502)	(1,582)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	385,521	325,363	(35,975)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,017,958	2,692,595	2,393,797
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,403,479	3,017,958	2,357,822
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	195,409	178,836	441,403
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ (7,475)	$ (34,054)	$ 9,172