Bank Loans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Nonaccrual loans more than 90 days past due	$ 1,500,000	$ 1,800,000
Specific allowance	200,000	600,000
Troubled debt restructurings	400,000	1,600,000
Collateralized loan portfolio	96.80%	96.10%
Mortgage loans held for sale	109,110,000	214,531,000
Gains recognized from sale of loans	11,300,000	13,800,000	9,700,000
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Loans outstanding amount	5,900,000	7,200,000
Stifel Bank [Member]
Loans outstanding amount	$ 600,000	$ 600,000