Legal Proceedings	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]
Legal Proceedings	NOTE 14 – Legal Proceedings Our company and its subsidiaries are named in and subject to various proceedings and claims arising primarily from our securities business activities, including lawsuits, arbitration claims, class actions, and regulatory matters. Some of these claims seek substantial compensatory, punitive, or indeterminate damages. Our company and its subsidiaries are also involved in other reviews, investigations, and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory organizations regarding our business, which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, and other relief. We are contesting allegations in these claims, and we believe that there are meritorious defenses in each of these lawsuits, arbitrations, and regulatory investigations. In view of the number and diversity of claims against our company, the number of jurisdictions in which litigation is pending, and the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of litigation and other claims, we cannot state with certainty what the eventual outcome of pending litigation or other claims will be. We have established reserves for potential losses that are probable and reasonably estimable that may result from pending and potential legal actions, investigations, and regulatory proceedings. In many cases, however, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or reasonably possible or to estimate the amount or range of any potential loss, particularly where proceedings may be in relatively early stages or where plaintiffs are seeking substantial or indeterminate damages. Matters frequently need to be more developed before a loss or range of loss can reasonably be estimated. In our opinion, based on currently available information, review with outside legal counsel, and consideration of amounts provided for in our consolidated financial statements with respect to these matters, including the matter described below, the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations. However, resolution of one or more of these matters may have a material effect on the results of operations in any future period, depending upon the ultimate resolution of those matters and depending upon the level of income for such period. For matters where a reserve has not been established and for which we believe a loss is reasonably possible, as well as for matters where a reserve has been recorded but for which an exposure to loss in excess of the amount accrued is reasonably possible, based on currently available information, we believe that such losses will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. Karegnondi Water Authority As previously disclosed, Stifel has been named as a defendant in a United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, litigation in connection with the underwriting of bonds to finance the Karegnondi Water Authority (“KWA”) pipeline, a new water pipeline intended to serve Flint, Michigan and surrounding areas. The lawsuit was filed against JP Morgan Chase, as senior manager, and Stifel and Wells Fargo, as co-managers, who underwrote the bonds for the KWA in 2014. The complaint alleged novel claims against the underwriter defendants, including conspiracy and professional negligence. On March 29, 2022 the court granted our motion to dismiss, and entered judgment dismissing the case with prejudice. On April 28, 2022 we received notification that plaintiffs have appealed the court’s decision granting our motion to dismiss. We intend to continue to defend the matter vigorously, including the court’s decision to dismiss.

Legal Proceedings

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]

NOTE 14 – Legal Proceedings

Our company and its subsidiaries are named in and subject to various proceedings and claims arising primarily from our securities business activities, including lawsuits, arbitration claims, class actions, and regulatory matters. Some of these claims seek substantial compensatory, punitive, or indeterminate damages. Our company and its subsidiaries are also involved in other reviews, investigations, and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory organizations regarding our business, which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, and other relief. We are contesting allegations in these claims, and we believe that there are meritorious defenses in each of these lawsuits, arbitrations, and regulatory investigations. In view of the number and diversity of claims against our company, the number of jurisdictions in which litigation is pending, and the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of litigation and other claims, we cannot state with certainty what the eventual outcome of pending litigation or other claims will be.

We have established reserves for potential losses that are probable and reasonably estimable that may result from pending and potential legal actions, investigations, and regulatory proceedings. In many cases, however, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or reasonably possible or to estimate the amount or range of any potential loss, particularly where proceedings may be in relatively early stages or where plaintiffs are seeking substantial or indeterminate damages. Matters frequently need to be more developed before a loss or range of loss can reasonably be estimated.

In our opinion, based on currently available information, review with outside legal counsel, and consideration of amounts provided for in our consolidated financial statements with respect to these matters, including the matter described below, the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations. However, resolution of one or more of these matters may have a material effect on the results of operations in any future period, depending upon the ultimate resolution of those matters and depending upon the level of income for such period. For matters where a reserve has not been established and for which we believe a loss is reasonably possible, as well as for matters where a reserve has been recorded but for which an exposure to loss in excess of the amount accrued is reasonably possible, based on currently available information, we believe that such losses will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Karegnondi Water Authority

As previously disclosed, Stifel has been named as a defendant in a United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, litigation in connection with the underwriting of bonds to finance the Karegnondi Water Authority (“KWA”) pipeline, a new water pipeline intended to serve Flint, Michigan and surrounding areas. The lawsuit was filed against JP Morgan Chase, as senior manager, and Stifel and Wells Fargo, as co-managers, who underwrote the bonds for the KWA in 2014. The complaint alleged novel claims against the underwriter defendants, including conspiracy and professional negligence. On March 29, 2022 the court granted our motion to dismiss, and entered judgment dismissing the case with prejudice. On April 28, 2022 we received notification that plaintiffs have appealed the court’s decision granting our motion to dismiss. We intend to continue to defend the matter vigorously, including the court’s decision to dismiss.