Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 122,875		$ 78,163
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	55,078	[1]	225,075	[1]
Financial instruments owned	786,855		801,494
Available-for-sale Securities	1,513,478		1,756,253
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated fair value	1,211,976		1,305,959
Investments, at fair value	210,255		217,228
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	39,180	[2]	263,809	[2]
Bank deposits	4,790,081		4,663,323
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	587,265		481,214
Derivative contracts	5,641		9,349
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	689,782		716,560
Restricted cash			4,268
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes	49,646		35
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	55,078		225,075
Financial instruments owned	786,855		801,494
Available-for-sale Securities	1,513,478		1,756,253
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated fair value	1,177,565		1,312,115
Loans held for sale	121,939		109,110
Bank loans	2,065,420		1,404,353
Investments, at fair value	210,255		217,228
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	39,180		263,809
Bank deposits	4,790,081		4,663,323
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	587,265		481,214
Derivative contracts	5,641		9,349
Senior notes	625,000		325,000
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts	82,500		82,500
Liabilities subordinated to the claims of general creditors			3,131
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	689,782		716,560
Restricted cash			4,268
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes	49,646		35
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	55,078		225,075
Financial instruments owned	786,855		801,494
Available-for-sale Securities	1,513,478		1,756,253
Held-to-maturity securities, Estimated fair value	1,211,976		1,305,959
Loans held for sale	121,939		109,110
Bank loans	2,086,864		1,420,068
Investments, at fair value	210,255		217,228
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	39,180		263,809
Bank deposits	4,246,214		4,072,038
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value	587,265		481,214
Derivative contracts	5,641		9,349
Senior notes	638,690		328,635
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts	76,714		72,201
Liabilities subordinated to the claims of general creditors			$ 3,122

[1] Collateral received includes securities received by our company from the counterparty. These securities are not included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless there is an event of default.

[2] Collateral pledged includes the fair value of securities pledged by our company to the counter party. These securities are included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless we default.