Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Estimated Fair Values Of Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	$ 207,946	$ 160,423
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	2,064,996	1,874,998
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	290,729	278,674
Bank deposits		7,218,100	6,638,356
Borrowings		827,581	237,084
Senior notes		740,409	740,136
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		566,973	733,922
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		37,051	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		207,946	160,423
Held-to-maturity securities		2,064,996	1,874,998
Loans held for sale		132,900	189,921
Bank loans		3,494,993	3,188,402
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		290,729	278,674
Bank deposits		7,098,427	6,627,818
Borrowings		827,581	237,084
Senior notes		739,058	736,135
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		66,779	72,371
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		566,973	733,922
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		37,051	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		207,946	160,423
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		290,729	278,674
Senior notes		739,058	736,135
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity securities		1,377,031	1,317,582
Loans held for sale		132,900	189,921
Bank loans		3,494,993	3,188,402
Bank deposits		7,098,427	6,627,818
Borrowings		827,581	237,084
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity securities		687,965	557,416
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		$ 66,779	$ 72,371

[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] Held-to-maturity securities are carried in the consolidated statements of financial condition at amortized cost, and the changes in the value of these securities, other than impairment charges, are not reported on the consolidated financial statements.

[3] 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.