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- Definition

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]

+ Details

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- Definition

Maximum fee application by plaintiff's counsel.

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- Definition

Insurance proceeds under applicable policies for the settlement of pending or threatened litigation relating to the YieldPlus Fund.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of class action lawsuits formally filed in a court of law, in arbitration or mediation.

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- Definition

Alleged minimum percentage of fund assets invested in CMOs and mortgage-backed securities without obtaining shareholder vote

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- Definition

The aggregate face amount of unsecured standby letter of credit agreements.

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- Definition

The net proceeds or assets obtained in excess of (less than) the net carrying amount of assets recorded, or assets distributed and liabilities assumed less than (in excess of) estimated litigation liability extinguished, in settlement of a litigation matter. Represents (for other than an insurance entity in its normal claims settlement process), the amount of income (expense) recognized in the period to settle pending or threatened litigation and insurance claims.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

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The total amount of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency accrual as of the balance sheet date.

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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Margin requirements	Sep. 30, 2011 Collateral Requirements	Aug. 28, 2008 Total Bond Market Fund Litigation	Sep. 30, 2011 optionsXpress Merger Litigation LegalMatter	Sep. 30, 2011 optionsXpress Merger Litigation Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois LegalMatter	Sep. 30, 2011 optionsXpress Merger Litigation Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware LegalMatter	Sep. 30, 2011 optionsXpress Merger Litigation Settlement of Litigation	Sep. 30, 2011 optionsXpress Merger Litigation Settlement of Litigation Maximum	Dec. 31, 2010 YieldPlus Fund Litigation
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Aggregate face amount of letter of credit agreements			$ 445,000,000	$ 91,000,000
Alleged minimum percentage of fund assets invested in CMOs and mortgage-backed securities without obtaining shareholder vote					25.00%
Number of class action lawsuits filed Between March 21, 2011 and April 6, 2011						10	7	3
Number of consolidated amended complaints							1	1
Settlement agreement date									Jul. 29, 2011
Fee application by plaintiff's counsel										650,000
Class action litigation charges	(7,000,000)	(196,000,000)									199,000,000
Insurance Proceeds											$ 39,000,000