content: <!-- Document Prepared With E-Services, LLC HTML Software-->
  <!-- Copyright 2006 E-Services, LLC.-->
  <!-- All rights reserved EDGAR2.com -->
  
  <head>
  <!-- Document Prepared With E-Services, LLC HTML Software-->
  <!-- Copyright 2006 E-Services, LLC.-->
  <!-- All rights reserved EDGAR2.com -->
  
  <TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
  
  </HEAD>
  
  </head>
  
  <BODY style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'" bgColor=#ffffff>
  <DIV
  style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0.05em solid">
  <DIV
  style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0.25em solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>
  <FONT
  size=5>UNITED STATES</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>
  <FONT
  size=5>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT
  size=3>Washington, DC 20549</FONT></B></P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>
  <FONT
  size=6>FORM 8-K</FONT></B></P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>
  <FONT
  size=4>CURRENT REPORT</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>Pursuant To Section 13 OR 15(d) of the </B></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B></P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
  <b>April 1, 2011</b></P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><U><B>
  <FONT
  size=6>STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.</FONT></B></U></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <DIV align=center>
  <TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0
  width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="33%">
        <P
        style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><U><B>Delaware</B></U><BR>(State of
        incorporation)</P>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="33%">
        <P
        style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><U><B>001-09305</B></U><BR>(Commission File
        Number)</P>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="33%">
        <P
        style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><U><B>43-1273600</B></U><BR>(IRS
        Employer<BR>Identification No.)</P>
        </TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>One Financial Plaza</B></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>501 North Broadway,
  St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2102</B></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b>(314)
  342-2000</b></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Registrant's
  telephone number, including area code)</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  
  <DIV align=center>
  <TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0
  width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="20%">
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; "
      vAlign=top width="60%">
        <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><b>Not
  		Applicable</b></P></TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="20%">
        </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="20%">
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="60%">
        <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center>(Former name or former address, if changed since last
        report)</P></TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width="20%">
        </TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
  following provisions (<I>see</I> General
  Instruction A.2. below):</font></P>
  
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B>
  <font size="2" face="Wingdings">o</font></B><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the
  Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B>
  <font size="2" face="Wingdings">o</font></B><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
  Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B>
  <font size="2" face="Wingdings">o</font></B><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
  14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></P>
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B>
  <font size="2" face="Wingdings">o</font></B><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
  13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></P>
  
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 8.33%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <DIV
  style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0.25em solid">
  <DIV
  style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0.05em solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>
  
  <DIV title="EE+ Page Break" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
  </DIV>
  
  
  <p>&nbsp;</p>
  
  
  <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="672" style="width: 7.0in; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left:">
  	<tr>
  		<td width="120" valign="top" style="width:1.25in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
  		<p style="text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left; margin-left: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">
  		<b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Item 8</font></b><i>.</i><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">01</font></b></td>
  		<td width="552" valign="top" style="width:5.75in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
  		<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><b>Other
  		Events.</b></font></td>
  	</tr>
  </table>
  
  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace: none; margin: 5.0pt 0in" align="justify">On April 1,
  2011, Stifel, Nicolaus &amp; Company, Incorporated (&quot;Stifel Nicolaus&quot;), a wholly
  owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (the &quot;Company&quot;), received a &quot;Wells
  Notice&quot; from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &quot;SEC&quot;)
  advising Stifel Nicolaus that the staff intends to recommend the filing of a
  civil or administrative enforcement action against Stifel Nicolaus for possible
  violations of the securities laws relating to its role in certain investments
  made by five Southeastern Wisconsin school districts (the &quot;school districts&quot;)
  and other post-employment benefits trusts established by the school districts (&quot;OPEB
  trusts&quot;).&nbsp; A &quot;Wells Notice&quot; is not a formal allegation nor a finding of
  wrongdoing. Recipients of &quot;Wells Notices&quot; have the opportunity to respond to
  issues raised in the staff's investigation prior to any decision on an
  enforcement proceeding by the SEC.&nbsp; Stifel Nicolaus intends to respond and
  explain why it believes enforcement action is not warranted.</p>
  <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt" align="justify">As previously disclosed in Item
  3, &quot;Legal Proceedings&quot; in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
  period ended December 31, 2010, filed February 28, 2011, the Company had
  received inquiries from the SEC and a state regulatory authority relating to the
  Company's role in investments made in 2006 by the school districts in
  transactions involving collateralized debt obligations (&quot;CDOs&quot;). Stifel Nicolaus
  is fully cooperating with the SEC and the state regulatory authority in these
  investigations and have provided information and testimony.&nbsp; The Company and
  Stifel Nicolaus were named in a civil lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of
  Milwaukee, Wisconsin (the &quot;Wisconsin State Court&quot;) on September 29, 2008. The
  lawsuit has been filed against the Company, Stifel Nicolaus, Royal Bank of
  Canada Europe Ltd. (&quot;RBC&quot;), and certain other RBC entities (collectively the
  &quot;Defendants&quot;) by the school districts and the individual trustees for the OPEB
  trusts (collectively the &quot;Plaintiffs&quot;). </p>
  <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt" align="justify">The suit arises out of purchases
  of certain CDO by the OPEB trusts. The RBC entities structured and served as
  &quot;arranger&quot; for the CDO. Stifel Nicolaus served as the placement agent/broker in
  connection with the transactions.&nbsp; The school districts each formed trusts that
  made investments designed to address their OPEB liabilities.&nbsp; The total amount
  of the investments made by the OPEB trusts was $200.0 million. Since the
  investments were made, the Company believes their value has declined
  significantly and may ultimately result in a total loss for the OPEB trusts.&nbsp;
  The Plaintiffs have asserted that the school districts contributed $37.5 million
  to the OPEB trusts to purchase the investments. The balance of $162.5 million
  used to purchase the investments was borrowed by the OPEB trusts from Depfa
  Bank.&nbsp; The recourse of Depfa Bank, as the lender, is each of the OPEB trusts'
  respective assets and the moral obligation of each school district. The legal
  claims asserted include violation of the Wisconsin Securities Act, fraud, and
  negligence. The lawsuit seeks equitable relief, unspecified compensatory
  damages, treble damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees and costs. The
  Plaintiffs claim that the RBC entities and the Company and Stifel Nicolaus
  either made misrepresentations or failed to disclose material facts in
  connection with the sale of the CDO, and thus allegedly violated the Wisconsin
  Securities Act. The Company believes the Plaintiffs reviewed and understood the
  relevant offering materials and that the investments were suitable based upon,
  among other things, our receipt of written acknowledgement of risks from each of
  the Plaintiffs. The Wisconsin State Court denied the Defendants' motions to
  dismiss, and the Defendants have responded to the allegations of the Second
  Amended Complaint, denying the substantive allegations and asserting various
  affirmative defenses. Stifel Nicolaus and the RBC entities have asserted
  cross-claims for indemnity and contribution against each other. The Company
  continues to believe, based upon currently available information and review with
  outside counsel, that the Company has meritorious defenses to this lawsuit, and
  intends to vigorously defend all of the Plaintiffs' claims.</p>
  
  
  <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
  
  <DIV title="EE+ Page Break" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
  <HR align=center width="100%" noShade SIZE=2>
  </DIV>
  
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B>SIGNATURE</B></P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</P>
  
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: ; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</P>
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: ; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</P>
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: ; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</P>
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: ; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</P>
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: ; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</P>
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: ; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</P>
  
  
  <DIV align=left>
  <TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="65%"
  border=0>
  
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=359>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top colSpan=2>
        <P
        style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=359>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=20>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=490>
        </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=359>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=20>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=490>
        </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=359>
        <P
        style="MARGIN-TOP: 1pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
  		Date: April 1, 2011</P></TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=20>
        <P
        style="MARGIN-TOP: 1pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
  		By:</P></TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1pt solid"
      vAlign=top width=402>
        <P
        style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">/s/ James M. Zemlyak</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=359>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=20>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=402>
        <P
        style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
  		James M. Zemlyak</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=359>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=20>
        </TD>
      <TD
      style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in"
      vAlign=top width=402>
        <P
        style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
  		<i><font size="2">Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
    Officer</font></i></P></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
  <P
  style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  
  
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <HR align=center width="100%" noShade SIZE=2>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
  <P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT
  size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</P></BODY>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "formv8vk.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 18385}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0000720672", "assigned-sic": "6211", "irs-number": "431273600", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-09305", "film-number": "11732731"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ATTN: JAMES G. LASCHOBER", "street2": "501 N. BROADWAY", "city": "ST. LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63102-2102", "phone": "314-342-2000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ATTN: JAMES G. LASCHOBER", "street2": "501 N. BROADWAY", "city": "ST. LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63102-2102"}}
text: Form 8-K
  UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  Washington, DC 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT
  Pursuant To Section 13 OR 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
  April 1, 2011
  STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  (State of
        incorporation)
  001-09305
  (Commission File
        Number)
  43-1273600
  (IRS
        Employer
  Identification No.)
  One Financial Plaza
  501 North Broadway,
  St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2102
  (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
  (314)
  342-2000
  (Registrant's
  telephone number, including area code)
  Not
  		Applicable
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last
        report)
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
  following provisions (
  see
  General
  Instruction A.2. below):
  o
  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the
  Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
  Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
  14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
  13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 8
  .
  01
  Other
  		Events.
  On April 1,
  2011, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated ("Stifel Nicolaus"), a wholly
  owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (the "Company"), received a "Wells
  Notice" from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
  advising Stifel Nicolaus that the staff intends to recommend the filing of a
  civil or administrative enforcement action against Stifel Nicolaus for possible
  violations of the securities laws relating to its role in certain investments
  made by five Southeastern Wisconsin school districts (the "school districts")
  and other post-employment benefits trusts established by the school districts ("OPEB
  trusts").  A "Wells Notice" is not a formal allegation nor a finding of
  wrongdoing. Recipients of "Wells Notices" have the opportunity to respond to
  issues raised in the staff's investigation prior to any decision on an
  enforcement proceeding by the SEC.  Stifel Nicolaus intends to respond and
  explain why it believes enforcement action is not warranted.
  As previously disclosed in Item
  3, "Legal Proceedings" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
  period ended December 31, 2010, filed February 28, 2011, the Company had
  received inquiries from the SEC and a state regulatory authority relating to the
  Company's role in investments made in 2006 by the school districts in
  transactions involving collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs"). Stifel Nicolaus
  is fully cooperating with the SEC and the state regulatory authority in these
  investigations and have provided information and testimony.  The Company and
  Stifel Nicolaus were named in a civil lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of
  Milwaukee, Wisconsin (the "Wisconsin State Court") on September 29, 2008. The
  lawsuit has been filed against the Company, Stifel Nicolaus, Royal Bank of
  Canada Europe Ltd. ("RBC"), and certain other RBC entities (collectively the
  "Defendants") by the school districts and the individual trustees for the OPEB
  trusts (collectively the "Plaintiffs").
  The suit arises out of purchases
  of certain CDO by the OPEB trusts. The RBC entities structured and served as
  "arranger" for the CDO. Stifel Nicolaus served as the placement agent/broker in
  connection with the transactions.  The school districts each formed trusts that
  made investments designed to address their OPEB liabilities.  The total amount
  of the investments made by the OPEB trusts was $200.0 million. Since the
  investments were made, the Company believes their value has declined
  significantly and may ultimately result in a total loss for the OPEB trusts. 
  The Plaintiffs have asserted that the school districts contributed $37.5 million
  to the OPEB trusts to purchase the investments. The balance of $162.5 million
  used to purchase the investments was borrowed by the OPEB trusts from Depfa
  Bank.  The recourse of Depfa Bank, as the lender, is each of the OPEB trusts'
  respective assets and the moral obligation of each school district. The legal
  claims asserted include violation of the Wisconsin Securities Act, fraud, and
  negligence. The lawsuit seeks equitable relief, unspecified compensatory
  damages, treble damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees and costs. The
  Plaintiffs claim that the RBC entities and the Company and Stifel Nicolaus
  either made misrepresentations or failed to disclose material facts in
  connection with the sale of the CDO, and thus allegedly violated the Wisconsin
  Securities Act. The Company believes the Plaintiffs reviewed and understood the
  relevant offering materials and that the investments were suitable based upon,
  among other things, our receipt of written acknowledgement of risks from each of
  the Plaintiffs. The Wisconsin State Court denied the Defendants' motions to
  dismiss, and the Defendants have responded to the allegations of the Second
  Amended Complaint, denying the substantive allegations and asserting various
  affirmative defenses. Stifel Nicolaus and the RBC entities have asserted
  cross-claims for indemnity and contribution against each other. The Company
  continues to believe, based upon currently available information and review with
  outside counsel, that the Company has meritorious defenses to this lawsuit, and
  intends to vigorously defend all of the Plaintiffs' claims.
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
  Date: April 1, 2011
  By:
  /s/ James M. Zemlyak
  James M. Zemlyak
  Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
    Officer