Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Weisel Capital Management LLC [Member]
Assets in partnership	$ 271,600,000		$ 235,200,000
Loss limited to investments advances and commitments and receivables	1,800,000	18,000,000
Potential ownership interest upon conversion of notes issued to FSI	49.9
Convertible promissory note minimum coupon rate	10.00%
Maximum rate interest related to certain defined cash flows	18.00%
Financing form of convertible promissory note to FSI	$ 18,000,000