Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 54,640	$ 81,164
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	31,928	27,386
Amortization of loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	53,046	50,529
Amortization of premium on investment portfolio	8,561	2,557
Provision for loan losses and allowance for loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	11,402	5,509
Amortization of intangible assets	10,558	5,952
Deferred income taxes	26,448	8,814
Excess tax deficit/(tax benefits) from stock-based compensation	5,797	(17,031)
Stock-based compensation	149,093	110,569
Losses on sale of investments	3,680	10,102
Gain on extinguishment of Stifel Financial Capital Trust	(5,607)
Other, net	4,479	278
Decrease/(increase) in operating assets, net of assets acquired:
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes and restricted cash	226,903	49,325
Receivables:
Brokerage clients	149,744	(112,106)
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	36,681	33,517
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	(137,404)	(33,389)
Financial instruments owned, including those pledged	(399,342)	31,484
Mortgages originated as held for sale	(1,919,714)	(1,347,547)
Proceeds from mortgages held for sale	1,893,352	1,317,242
Loans and advances to financial advisors and other employees	(61,660)	(68,468)
Other assets	(135,030)	19,619
Increase/(decrease) in operating liabilities, net of liabilities assumed:
Brokerage clients	(69,064)	102,353
Brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations	(42,812)	50,028
Drafts	(123,948)	(5,682)
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased	144,013	(74,942)
Other liabilities and accrued expenses	(142,799)	(248,703)
Net cash used in operating activities	(227,055)	(1,440)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Maturities and principal paydowns of available-for-sale securities	140,453	853,441
Calls and principal paydowns of held-to-maturity securities	163,913	82,941
Sale or maturity of investments	33,615	52,959
Disposition of business, net	12,597
Increase in bank loans, net	(1,821,877)	(375,194)
Payments for:
Purchase of available-for-sale securities	(1,637,419)	(423)
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities	(551,984)
Purchase of investments	(9,873)	(17,086)
Purchase of fixed assets	(21,315)	(61,663)
Acquisitions, net of cash received	(71,924)	18,456
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(3,763,814)	553,431
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings, net	145,116	86,617
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances, net	352,000	96,000
Payment of contingent consideration		(29,598)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	201,632
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net	145,275
(Decrease)/increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase	(16,940)	67,757
Increase/(decrease) in bank deposits, net	3,247,085	(673,270)
Increase in securities loaned	69,055	42,752
Excess (tax deficit)/tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(5,797)	17,031
Proceeds from stock option exercises	214	343
Repurchase of common stock	(113,462)	(65,858)
Cash dividends on preferred stock	(1,563)
Extinguishment of Stifel Financial Capital Trust	(9,393)
Repayment of senior notes	(150,000)	(175,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities	3,863,222	(633,226)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(8,315)	(1,447)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(135,962)	(82,682)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	811,019	689,782
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	675,057	607,100
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	22,063	45,115
Cash paid for interest	46,617	29,673
Noncash financing activities:
Unit grants, net of forfeitures	158,345	132,145
Issuance of common stock for acquisitions	$ 11,427	80,981
Shares surrendered into treasury		$ 223