Bank Loans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Nonaccrual loans more than 90 days past due	$ 5,800,000		$ 4,900,000
Specific allowance	300,000		300,000
Troubled debt restructurings	900,000		1,000,000
Collateralized loan portfolio	97.20%sf_CollateralizedLoanPortfolio		95.80%sf_CollateralizedLoanPortfolio
Mortgage loans held for sale	188,783,000us-gaap_LoansHeldForSaleMortgages		121,939,000us-gaap_LoansHeldForSaleMortgages
Gains recognized from sale of loans	2,600,000us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfMortgageLoans	1,200,000us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfMortgageLoans
Stifel Financial Corp. [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans outstanding amount	5,500,000		5,300,000
Stifel Bank [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans outstanding amount	$ 600,000		$ 600,000

Collateralized loan portfolio

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- Definition

Aggregate amount of receivables to be collected from related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth, at the financial statement date. which are usually due after one year (or one business cycle).

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- Definition

The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings.

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- Definition

The gains (losses) included in earnings that represent the difference between the sale price and the carrying value of loans made to finance real estate acquisitions. This element refers to the gain (loss) and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of allowance for credit losses related to recorded investment.

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- Definition

Reflects the carrying amount of loans deemed to be questionable as to collection on which no interest is continuing to be recognized.

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- Definition

Amount of mortgage loans held for sale. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans classified as debt securities.

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