Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 113,745	$ 98,619
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	25,162	21,958
Amortization of loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	48,368	42,687
Amortization of premium on available-for-sale securities	5,568	11,215
Provision for loan losses and allowance for loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	6,395	1,685
Amortization of intangible assets	4,145	3,713
Deferred income taxes	(70,687)	53,872
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(10,446)	(14,510)
Stock-based compensation	124,835	29,213
Gains on investments	11,636	(29,272)
Other net	23,792	143
Decrease/(increase) in operating assets:
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes and restricted cash	127,993	292
Receivables:
Brokerage clients	(35,741)	41,000
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(197,148)	39,889
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	(9,487)	(66,509)
Loans originated as held for sale	(1,069,168)	(1,156,692)
Proceeds from mortgages held for sale	1,197,539	1,075,487
Trading securities owned, including those pledged	23,895	(271,262)
Loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	(59,751)	(53,351)
Other assets	37,855	(21,360)
Increase/(decrease) in operating liabilities
Brokerage clients	38,363	84,040
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	23,379	19,272
Drafts	(35,282)	(12,504)
Trading securities sold, but not yet purchased	128,169	106,024
Other liabilities and accrued expenses	(20,012)	(54,341)
Net cash used in operating activities	433,117	(50,692)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Maturities, calls, sales, and principal paydowns on available-for-sale securities	376,104	353,324
Calls on held-to-maturity securities	60,385	10,500
Sale or maturity of investments	74,271	84,718
Sale of other real estate owned	373	137
Increase in bank loans, net	(244,838)	(112,687)
Payments for:
Purchase of available-for-sale securities	(1,125,644)	(607,579)
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities	(16,438)	(477,117)
Purchase of investments	(70,650)	(58,912)
Purchase of fixed assets	(21,077)	(13,823)
Acquisitions	(165,300)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,132,814)	(821,439)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
(Repayments of)/ proceeds from short-term borrowings from banks	(171,600)	(101,500)
Proceeds from Senior Note offering		170,291
Increase/(decrease) in securities sold under agreements to repurchase	115,105	(1,739)
Increase in bank deposits, net	882,272	851,933
Increase in securities loaned	149,168	(35,102)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	10,446	14,510
Issuance of common stock	15
Repurchase of common stock	(13,670)	(9,163)
Reissuance of treasury stock	951	8,829
Repayment of non-recourse debt	(26,881)
Extinguishment of subordinated debt	(2,187)	(1,639)
Net cash provided by financing activities	943,619	896,420
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1,381	1,373
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	245,303	25,662
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	403,941	167,671
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	649,244	193,333
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	8,594	2,940
Cash paid for interest	34,196	22,567
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Units, net of forfeitures	205,520	106,404
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	$ 265,918