Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Estimated Fair Values Of Financial Instruments Not Measured At Fair Value On A Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	[1]	$ 297,827	$ 160,423
Held-to-maturity securities	[2]	2,300,092	1,874,998
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	[3]	261,734	278,674
Bank deposits		9,885,441	6,638,356
Borrowings		234,200	89,084
Senior notes		795,780	740,136
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		655,111	733,922
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		166	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		297,827	160,423
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
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		261,734	278,674
Bank deposits		9,683,872	6,627,818
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
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash		655,111	733,922
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		166	227,727
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		282,202	160,423
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase			278,674
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		500,000	148,000
Senior notes		809,971	736,135
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		15,625
Held-to-maturity securities		2,078,767	1,317,582
Loans held for sale		217,316	189,921
Bank loans		5,027,419	3,188,402
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		261,734
Bank deposits		9,683,872	6,627,818
Borrowings		234,200	89,084
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		221,325	557,416
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.