Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 36,826	$ 63,985
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	21,604	14,899
Amortization of loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	33,079	28,692
Amortization of premium on investment portfolio	4,655	2,222
Provision for loan losses and allowance for loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	6,579	4,393
Amortization of intangible assets	8,008	3,673
Deferred income taxes	54,651	16,797
Excess tax benefits/(tax deficit) from stock-based compensation	5,197	(12,454)
Stock-based compensation	94,349	81,160
(Gains)/losses on sale of investments	3,911	(4,941)
Gain on extinguishment of Stifel Financial Capital Trust	(5,607)
Other, net	864	(7,012)
Decrease/(increase) in operating assets, net of assets acquired:
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes and restricted cash	167,593	49,496
Receivables:
Brokerage clients	133,799	(160,766)
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	12,396	(150,642)
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	(133,343)	(187,866)
Financial instruments owned, including those pledged	(337,032)	(100,353)
Loans originated as held for sale	(1,093,740)	(969,064)
Proceeds from mortgages held for sale	1,041,457	904,798
Loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	(47,760)	(48,472)
Other assets	(149,190)	(27,769)
Increase/(decrease) in operating liabilities, net of liabilities assumed:
Brokerage clients	(36,181)	128,338
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	4,439	57,487
Drafts	(115,039)	(15,619)
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased	93,941	(20,539)
Other liabilities and accrued expenses	(237,486)	(222,792)
Net cash used in operating activities	(432,030)	(572,349)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Maturities and principal paydowns of available-for-sale securities	104,660	728,809
Calls and principal paydowns of held-to-maturity securities	93,686	52,903
Sale or maturity of investments	26,150	50,912
Increase in bank loans, net	(1,032,497)	(356,580)
Payments for:
Purchase of available-for-sale securities	(927,687)	(199)
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities	(359,337)
Purchase of investments	(5,242)	(30,283)
Purchase of fixed assets	(14,159)	(32,309)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(71,924)	18,456
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(2,186,350)	431,709
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	246,073	327,568
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances	717,000
Increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase	38,328	303,170
Increase/(decrease) in bank deposits, net	1,242,863	(476,144)
Increase in securities loaned	44,008	99,446
Excess tax benefits/(tax deficit) from stock-based compensation	(5,197)	12,454
Issuance of common stock for stock option exercises	175	245
Repurchase of common stock	(95,116)
Extinguishment of Stifel Financial Capital Trust	(9,393)
Repayment of senior notes		(175,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,178,741	91,739
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(7,279)	1,056
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(446,918)	(47,845)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	811,019	689,782
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	364,101	641,937
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	21,211	31,951
Cash paid for interest	30,256	20,073
Noncash financing activities:
Unit grants, net of forfeitures	131,736	105,448
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	$ 11,427	80,981
Shares surrendered into treasury		$ 223