Employee Incentive, Deferred Compensation, And Retirement Plans	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Share Based Compensation Allocation And Classification In Financial Statements [Abstract]
Employee Incentive, Deferred Compensation, And Retirement Plans	NOTE 18 – Employee Incentive, Deferred Compensation, and Retirement Plans We maintain several incentive stock award plans that provide for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance award, stock units and debentures to our employees. We are permitted to issue new shares under all stock award plans approved by shareholders or to reissue our treasury shares. Awards under our company’s incentive stock award plans are granted at market value at the date of grant. The awards generally vest ratably over a one- to ten-year vesting period. All stock-based compensation plans are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”), which has the authority to interpret the plans, determine to whom awards may be granted under the plans, and determine the terms of each award. According to these plans, we are authorized to grant an additional 5.9 million shares at September 30, 2017. Stock-based compensation expense included in compensation and benefits expense in the consolidated statements of operations for our company’s incentive stock award plans was $32.5 million and $56.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $98.1 million and $151.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As a result of the adoption of a new accounting standard on January 1, 2017, we recognized an excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation of $0.3 million and $17.4 million in the provision for income taxes on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We adopted the new guidance prospectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the tax impact related to stock-based compensation was a provision of $0.6 million and $5.8 million, respectively. Stock Units A stock unit represents the right to receive a share of common stock from our company at a designated time in the future without cash payment by the employee and is issued in lieu of cash incentive, principally for deferred compensation and employee retention plans. The restricted stock units vest on an annual basis over the next one to ten years and are distributable, if vested, at future specified dates. Our Company grants Performance-based Restricted Stock Units (“PRSUs”) to its executive officers. Under the terms of the grants, the number of PRSUs that will vest and convert to shares will be based on the Company's achievement of the pre-determined performance objectives during the performance period. The PRSUs will be measured over a four-year performance period and vested over a five-year period. The number of shares converted has the potential to range from 0% to 200% based on how the Company performs during the performance period. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the service period based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. The Company’s pre-determined performance objectives must be met for the awards to vest. Employees forfeit unvested share units upon termination of employment with a corresponding reversal of compensation expense. At September 30, 2017, the total number of stock units outstanding was 19.5 million, of which 16.1 million were unvested. At September 30, 2017, the total number of PRSUs was 0.6 million, of which all were unvested. At September 30, 2017, there was unrecognized compensation cost for stock units of approximately $337.4 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years. Deferred Compensation Plans The Wealth Accumulation Plan (the “Plan”) is provided to certain revenue producers, officers, and key administrative employees, whereby a certain percentage of their incentive compensation is deferred as defined by the Plan into company stock units and debentures. Participants may elect to defer a portion of their incentive compensation. Deferred awards generally vest over a one- to eight-year period and are distributable upon vesting or at future specified dates. Deferred compensation costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Elective deferrals are 100% vested. Additionally, the Plan allows Stifel’s financial advisors who achieve certain levels of production to defer a certain percentage of their gross commissions. As stipulated by the Plan, the financial advisors will defer 5% of their gross commissions. The mandatory deferral will be split evenly between company restricted stock units and a company fixed-rate cash debenture. They have the option to defer an additional 1% of gross commissions into company stock units with a 25% matching contribution. In addition, certain financial advisors, upon joining our company, may receive company stock units in lieu of transition cash payments. Deferred compensation related to these awards generally vests over a one- to eight-year period. Deferred compensation costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the deferral period. Profit Sharing Plan Eligible employees of our company who have met certain service requirements may participate in the Stifel Financial Corp. Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). Employees are permitted within limitations imposed by tax law to make pre-tax contributions to the 401(k) Plan. We may match certain employee contributions or make additional contributions to the 401(k) Plan at our discretion. Our contributions to the 401(k) Plan were $1.8 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $5.5 million and $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

NOTE 18 – Employee Incentive, Deferred Compensation, and Retirement Plans

We maintain several incentive stock award plans that provide for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance award, stock units and debentures to our employees. We are permitted to issue new shares under all stock award plans approved by shareholders or to reissue our treasury shares. Awards under our company’s incentive stock award plans are granted at market value at the date of grant. The awards generally vest ratably over a one- to ten-year vesting period.

All stock-based compensation plans are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”), which has the authority to interpret the plans, determine to whom awards may be granted under the plans, and determine the terms of each award. According to these plans, we are authorized to grant an additional 5.9 million shares at September 30, 2017.

Stock-based compensation expense included in compensation and benefits expense in the consolidated statements of operations for our company’s incentive stock award plans was $32.5 million and $56.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $98.1 million and $151.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

As a result of the adoption of a new accounting standard on January 1, 2017, we recognized an excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation of $0.3 million and $17.4 million in the provision for income taxes on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. We adopted the new guidance prospectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the tax impact related to stock-based compensation was a provision of $0.6 million and $5.8 million, respectively.

Stock Units

A stock unit represents the right to receive a share of common stock from our company at a designated time in the future without cash payment by the employee and is issued in lieu of cash incentive, principally for deferred compensation and employee retention plans. The restricted stock units vest on an annual basis over the next one to ten years and are distributable, if vested, at future specified dates. Our Company grants Performance-based Restricted Stock Units (“PRSUs”) to its executive officers. Under the terms of the grants, the number of PRSUs that will vest and convert to shares will be based on the Company's achievement of the pre-determined performance objectives during the performance period. The PRSUs will be measured over a four-year performance period and vested over a five-year period. The number of shares converted has the potential to range from 0% to 200% based on how the Company performs during the performance period. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the service period based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. The Company’s pre-determined performance objectives must be met for the awards to vest. Employees forfeit unvested share units upon termination of employment with a corresponding reversal of compensation expense. At September 30, 2017, the total number of stock units outstanding was 19.5 million, of which 16.1 million were unvested. At September 30, 2017, the total number of PRSUs was 0.6 million, of which all were unvested.

At September 30, 2017, there was unrecognized compensation cost for stock units of approximately $337.4 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.

Deferred Compensation Plans

The Wealth Accumulation Plan (the “Plan”) is provided to certain revenue producers, officers, and key administrative employees, whereby a certain percentage of their incentive compensation is deferred as defined by the Plan into company stock units and debentures. Participants may elect to defer a portion of their incentive compensation. Deferred awards generally vest over a one- to eight-year period and are distributable upon vesting or at future specified dates. Deferred compensation costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Elective deferrals are 100% vested.

Additionally, the Plan allows Stifel’s financial advisors who achieve certain levels of production to defer a certain percentage of their gross commissions. As stipulated by the Plan, the financial advisors will defer 5% of their gross commissions. The mandatory deferral will be split evenly between company restricted stock units and a company fixed-rate cash debenture. They have the option to defer an additional 1% of gross commissions into company stock units with a 25% matching contribution.

In addition, certain financial advisors, upon joining our company, may receive company stock units in lieu of transition cash payments. Deferred compensation related to these awards generally vests over a one- to eight-year period. Deferred compensation costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the deferral period.

Profit Sharing Plan

Eligible employees of our company who have met certain service requirements may participate in the Stifel Financial Corp. Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). Employees are permitted within limitations imposed by tax law to make pre-tax contributions to the 401(k) Plan. We may match certain employee contributions or make additional contributions to the 401(k) Plan at our discretion. Our contributions to the 401(k) Plan were $1.8 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $5.5 million and $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.