Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses and other liabilities Accumulated other comprehensive loss Additional paid-in capital Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Other Other Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used for) provided by operating activities: Amendment Flag Total assets Total assets Assets Securities available for sale Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period (Decrease) increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents (Decrease) increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes (including resale agreements of $9,789 at March 31, 2010 and $8,346 at December 31, 2009) Cash Paid During Period For [Abstract] Cash paid during the period for: Commitments and Contingent Liabilities Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock - 3 billion shares authorized; $.01 par value per share; 1,421,761,844 shares issued at March 31, 2010 and 1,392,091,544 shares issued at December 31, 2009 Communications Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Current Fiscal Year End Date Deposits from banking clients Depreciation and amortization Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document - Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Period End Date Document Type Earnings Per Share - Basic Earnings Per Share - Diluted Earnings Per Share Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity [Domain] Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities Asset management and administration fees Other securities owned - at fair value Class action litigation reserve Class action litigation reserve Goodwill Securities held to maturity (fair value - $8,852 at March 31, 2010 and $6,880 at December 31, 2009) Securities held to maturity, fair value Income before taxes on income Income before taxes on income Income Statement [Abstract] Income taxes Taxes on income Taxes on income Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses and other liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Brokerage Receivables Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations The net change during the reporting period in the amount of cash subject to withdrawal restrictions, restricted deposits held as compensating balances, and cash and securities segregated in compliance with regulations (such as cash deposited in a special reserve account for the exclusive benefit of customers pursuant). Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes Net change in deposits from banking clients Other securities owned Other securities owned Net change in: Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Payables to Broker-Dealers Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations The net change during the reporting period in the amounts payable to customers at the balance sheet date. The term customers generally excludes other broker-dealers; persons who are principal officers, directors, and stockholders; and persons whose securities or funds are part of the regulatory net capital of the broker-dealer. Another broker-dealer's account can be classified as a customer if the account is carried as an omnibus account in compliance with certain regulations. The accounts of principal officers, directors and stockholders may be combined in the customer captions if they are not material and the combination is disclosed in the oath that is required to accompany the annual audited FOCUS Report. Increase (Decrease) in Payables to Customers Payables to brokerage clients The net change during the reporting period in receivables from brokerage clients. Brokerage client balances include margin loans to clients stated net of allowance for doubtful accounts. Receivables from brokerage clients Receivables from brokerage clients Interest Expense Interest expense Net interest revenue Net interest revenue Interest revenue Interest Securities Available for Sale and Securities Held to Maturity Disclosures related to the issuance of common stock. Equity Offering Compensation and benefits Legal Entity [Axis] Total liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Loans to banking clients - net Loans to Banking Clients and Related Allowance for Credit Losses Loans held for sale Long-term debt Advertising and market development Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash provided by financing activities Cash Flows from Financing Activities Net cash used for investing activities Net cash used for investing activities Cash Flows from Investing Activities Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net income Net Income Net other-than-temporary-impairments (credit related losses) recognized in earnings. Net impairment losses on securities Net impairment losses on securities Change in net unsettled security transactions. Securities purchased during the period but settled after period end Noncash Investing Activities [Abstract] Non-cash investing activity: Noncredit portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of stockholders' equity) on the consolidated balance sheet. Other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive income Total expenses excluding interest Total expenses excluding interest Expenses Excluding Interest Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Occupancy and equipment Introduction and Basis of Presentation Other assets Other Expenses Other Other Income Other Total other-than-temporary-impairments on debt securities, which is based on current fair values, as well as the noncredit portion of that loss, which is the amount of impairment loss the Company does not expect to realize. Total other-than-temporary impairment losses Parent Company [Member] Payables to Broker-Dealers and Clearing Organizations Payables to brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations Payables to Customers Payables to brokerage clients Originations of loans held for sale Originations of loans held for sale Net increase in loans to banking clients Net increase in loans to banking clients Other investing activities Other investing activities Dividends paid Dividends paid Purchases of securities available for sale Purchases of securities available for sale Purchases of securities held to maturity Purchases of securities held to maturity Purchase of equipment, office facilities, and property Purchase of equipment, office facilities, and property Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, issued Preferred stock - 9,940,000 shares authorized; $.01 par value per share; none issued Net proceeds from common stock offering Principal payments on securities available for sale Principal payments on securities held to maturity Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale Proceeds from stock options exercised and other Professional services Equipment, office facilities, and property - net Includes margin loans to clients stated net of allowance for doubtful accounts. Receivables from brokerage clients - net Receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations Regulatory Requirements Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Retained earnings Total net revenues Total net revenues Net Revenues New Accounting Standards Cash and investments segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes, resale agreements Segment Information Stock-based compensation Statement [Line Items] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Total stockholders' equity Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' equity: Supplemental Cash Flow Information Trading revenue Trading Symbol Treasury stock, shares Treasury stock, at cost - 228,591,078 shares at March 31, 2010 and 229,983,936 shares at December 31, 2009 Treasury stock, at cost - 228,591,078 shares at March 31, 2010 and 229,983,936 shares at December 31, 2009 Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted