Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Fair Value Hierarchy for Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	$ 25,288	$ 18,732
Carrying Amount [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	6,195	11,174
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	22,206	23,723
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	395	333
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	12,821	13,453
Securities held to maturity	25,818	18,194
Loans to banking clients - net	11,732	10,726
Other assets	63	64
Total	79,230	77,667
Liabilities:
Deposits from banking clients	84,345	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	2,150	1,068
Payables to brokerage clients	36,852	40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	426	353
Long-term debt	1,630	1,632
Total	125,403	122,760
Carrying Amount [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	7,430	6,471
Carrying Amount [Member] | Home equity lines of credit [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	3,108	3,267
Carrying Amount [Member] | Personal loans secured by securities [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	1,166	963
Carrying Amount [Member] | Other [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	28	25
Carrying Amount [Member] | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	24,887	17,750
Carrying Amount [Member] | Other securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	931	444
Fair Value [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	6,195	11,174
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	22,206	23,723
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	395	333
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	12,821	13,453
Securities held to maturity	25,288	18,732
Loans to banking clients - net	11,704	10,969
Other assets	63	64
Total	78,672	78,448
Liabilities:
Deposits from banking clients	84,345	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	2,150	1,068
Payables to brokerage clients	36,852	40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	426	353
Long-term debt	1,738	1,782
Total	125,511	122,910
Fair Value [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	7,451	6,687
Fair Value [Member] | Home equity lines of credit [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	3,059	3,295
Fair Value [Member] | Personal loans secured by securities [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	1,166	963
Fair Value [Member] | Other [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	28	24
Fair Value [Member] | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	24,428	18,289
Fair Value [Member] | Other securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	860	443
Fair Value [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	6,195	11,174
Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes	22,206	23,723
Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	395	333
Receivables from brokerage clients - net	12,821	13,453
Securities held to maturity	25,288	18,732
Loans to banking clients - net	11,704	10,969
Other assets	63	64
Total	78,672	78,448
Liabilities:
Deposits from banking clients	84,345	79,377
Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	2,150	1,068
Payables to brokerage clients	36,852	40,330
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	426	353
Long-term debt	1,738	1,782
Total	125,511	122,910
Fair Value [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Residential real estate mortgages [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	7,451	6,687
Fair Value [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Home equity lines of credit [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	3,059	3,295
Fair Value [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Personal loans secured by securities [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	1,166	963
Fair Value [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Other [Member]
Assets:
Loans to banking clients - net	28	24
Fair Value [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	24,428	18,289
Fair Value [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Other securities [Member]
Assets:
Securities held to maturity	$ 860	$ 443