Restrictions on Cash and Intercompany Funds Transfer (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reserve Balances Deposited with Federal Reserve Banks [Abstract]
Average amount of reserve balances deposited by the Firm's bank subsidiaries with various Federal Reserve Banks	$ 4,443,000,000	$ 803,000,000
Disclosure of Restrictions on Dividends, Loans and Advances Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal Restriction on Secured Borrowings from Subsidiaries, Per Loan, Portion of Subsidiary Total Capital, Percentage	10.00%
Federal Restriction on Secured Borrowings from Subsidiaries, All Loans, Portion of Subsidiary Total Capital, Percentage	20.00%
Cash and Securities Segregated under Federal and Other Regulations Disclosures [Abstract]
Amount of cash that was segregated in special bank accounts for the benefit of securities and futures brokerage customers	25,400,000,000	25,000,000,000
Amount of securities at fair value that were segregated in special bank accounts for the benefit of securities and futures brokerage customers	23,400,000,000	9,700,000,000
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	4,200,000,000	2,700,000,000
Bank and Bank Holding Company Subsidiaries [Member]
Disclosure of Restrictions on Dividends, Loans and Advances Disclosure [Abstract]
Amount Available for Dividend Distribution by Banking Subsidiaries without Prior Approval from Regulatory Agency	$ 7,400,000,000