Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	$ 297,827	$ 160,423
Financial instruments owned		1,148,785	749,443
Available-for-sale securities		3,145,267	1,629,907
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	2,300,092	1,874,998
Investments, at fair value		153,595	181,017
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	261,734	278,674
Bank deposits		9,885,441	6,638,356
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		665,757	521,744
Derivative contracts		10,599	3,591
Borrowings		234,200	89,084
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		675,057	811,019
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		166	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		297,827	160,423
Financial instruments owned		1,148,785	749,443
Available-for-sale securities		3,145,267	1,629,907
Held-to-maturity securities		2,241,203	1,855,399
Loans held for sale		217,316	189,921
Bank loans		4,956,676	3,143,515
Investments, at fair value		153,595	181,017
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		261,734	278,674
Bank deposits		9,885,441	6,638,356
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		665,757	521,744
Derivative contracts	[4]	10,599	3,591
Borrowings		234,200	89,084
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		500,000	148,000
Senior notes		795,780	740,136
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		67,500	82,500
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		675,057	811,019
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		166	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		297,827	160,423
Financial instruments owned		1,148,785	749,443
Available-for-sale securities		3,145,267	1,629,907
Held-to-maturity securities		2,300,092	1,874,998
Loans held for sale		217,316	189,921
Bank loans		5,027,419	3,188,402
Investments, at fair value		153,595	181,017
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		261,734	278,674
Bank deposits		9,683,872	6,627,818
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		665,757	521,744
Derivative contracts	[4]	10,599	3,591
Borrowings		234,200	89,084
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		500,000	148,000
Senior notes		809,971	736,135
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		$ 49,466	$ 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.

[4] Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated statements of financial condition.