Bank Loans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Nonaccrual loans more than 90 days past due	$ 4,900,000	$ 1,500,000
Specific allowance	300,000	200,000
Troubled debt restructurings	1,000,000	400,000
Collateralized loan portfolio	95.80%	96.80%
Mortgage loans held for sale	121,939,000	109,110,000
Gains recognized from sale of loans	7,400,000	11,300,000	13,800,000
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans outstanding amount	5,300,000	5,900,000
Stifel Bank [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans outstanding amount	$ 600,000	$ 600,000