Consolidated Statements Of Financial Condition (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 649,244	$ 403,941
Restricted cash	4,419	4,414
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes	33	128,031
Receivables:
Brokerage clients, net	523,516	487,761
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	547,636	276,224
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	168,182	158,695
Trading securities owned, at fair value	847,652	763,608
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value	1,231,571	1,625,168
Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost	1,723,482	708,008	[1]
Loans held for sale	75,440	214,531
Bank loans, net of allowance	1,061,150	815,937
Investments	233,778	236,434
Fixed assets, net	124,765	141,403
Goodwill	742,654	419,393
Intangible assets, net	28,078	28,967
Loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees, net	189,769	179,284
Deferred tax assets, net	291,566	124,576
Other assets	266,524	249,765
Total Assets	8,709,459	6,966,140
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Short-term borrowings from banks	133,100	304,700
Payables:
Brokerage clients	333,872	295,509
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	205,758	33,211
Drafts	55,151	90,433
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	255,451	140,346
Bank deposits	4,228,405	3,346,133
Trading securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	495,658	319,742
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	28,598	22,966
Accrued compensation	247,168	187,466
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	289,067	259,163
Senior notes	357,111	383,992
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust	82,500	82,500
Total Liabilities	6,711,839	5,466,161
Liabilities subordinated to claims of general creditors	3,131	5,318
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock - $1 par value
Common stock - $0.15 par value	9,536	8,245
Additional paid-in-capital	1,533,849	1,100,137
Retained earnings	493,029	383,970
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(36,427)	4,918
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,999,987	1,497,270
Treasury stock, at cost	(5,498)	(2,505)
Unearned employee stock ownership plan shares, at cost		(104)
Total Equity	1,994,489	1,494,661
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	8,709,459	6,966,140
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust II [Member]
Payables:
Debenture to Stifel Financial Capital Trust	$ 82,500	$ 82,500

[1] Held-to-maturity securities are carried at historical cost or at fair value at the time of transfer from the available-for-sale to held-to-maturity category, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts and credit-related other-than-temporary impairment.