content: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 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) September 6, 2000
                                                   -----------------
  
                           RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL, INC.
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
               Florida                                        No. 59-1517485
   -------------------------------     --------------        ------------------
   (State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation  or organization)      File Number)           Identification
  No.)
  
  
   880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida  33716
  ------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)
  
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code (727) 573-3800
                                                     --------------
  _____________________________________________________________
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.
  
  Item 5. Other Events.
  
  On  September 5,2000 the Company issued the following press
  release:
  
  Raymond James Financial / Press Release
  
  Release No. 0900-1                                 FOR IMMEDIATE
  RELEASE
  September 5, 2000
  RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL
  TO ACQUIRE GOEPEL McDERMID
  
  ST.  PETERSBURG, Fla. - Raymond James Financial, Inc.  (NYSE  -  RJF)
  today announced that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire  the
  Canadian investment firm of Goepel McDermid Inc.
  
  Raymond James will pay approximately $76 million, including up to one
  million  shares  of  its  common stock, to acquire  the  100  percent
  employee-owned Vancouver-based company and will create a $12  million
  retention pool for key employees.
  
  In  addition, approximately 25-30 percent of the purchase price  will
  be  deferred for 24 months and will be subject to the satisfaction of
  certain  conditions.  This transaction is  expected  to  be  slightly
  dilutive  to  earnings per share for Raymond James Financial  in  the
  first year and accretive thereafter.
  
  The  acquisition, which has been approved by the boards of  directors
  of  both  firms  pending completion of due diligence  and  regulatory
  approval, is expected to close in the fourth calendar quarter of this
  year.
  
  "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to affiliate with Goepel
  McDermid  as  a means of expanding our capital markets activities  in
  Canada  and  our overall retail distribution network,"  according  to
  Thomas  A.  James, chairman of the Raymond James Financial board  and
  CEO.
  
  James  adds  that "we view Canada as a growing market for  investment
  services.  Further, there is a growing interrelationship between  the
  U.S.  and  Canadian economies, which will benefit a firm  having  the
  ability  to  offer  cross-border investment planning  and  investment
  banking services."
  
  Goepel McDermid, according to Kenneth A. Shields, president and  CEO,
  will  benefit  from  a  strong  U.S.  partner,  particularly  in  the
  expansion  of  its capital markets activities. "Our  private  clients
  will also have access to a wider range of U.S. investments, while our
  Investment  Advisors  will benefit from improved  financial  planning
  support.
  
  "The  relationship  will  also provide a  significant  advantage  for
  private   investors  in  Canada  who  are  seeking  the   independent
  investment  dealer  alternative for wealth management  services,"  he
  continues.
  
  Shields  adds  that  he  first met James in 1998  and  the  two  have
  considered the prospect of an alliance since that time.
  
  "Our  firms  are  remarkably  similar," he  continues.  "We  share  a
  dedication  to  personalized  client  service  and  are  both  firmly
  committed to the autonomy of our people."
  
  According  to  Shields,  "Raymond  James'  core  businesses   ideally
  complement  those  areas in which Goepel McDermid has  been  enjoying
  accelerating growth."
  
  Following  the acquisition, Goepel McDermid will utilize the  Raymond
  James  name  in order to take advantage of the firm's North  American
  branding campaign.
  
  Goepel McDermid's management team will remain in place, according  to
  James, and the firm, which is one of the largest Canadian independent
  broker/dealers, will be Raymond James Financial's third  wholly-owned
  broker/dealer subsidiary.
  
  There  will be some immediate cooperative efforts in capital markets,
  but,  for  the  most part, Goepel McDermid will continue  to  operate
  independently.
  
  Both  Shields and James emphasized they do not expect that there will
  be  any  changes in staffing at Goepel McDermid, as their  regulatory
  environments  are  different  and there  is  no  operational  overlap
  between the firms.
  
  Goepel  McDermid  has  approximately 250 Investment  Advisors  in  22
  branches across Canada.
  
  For  the  fiscal year ended March 31, the firm generated revenues  of
  approximately Cdn. $152 million.
  
  Raymond  James Financial provides financial services to  individuals,
  corporations   and   municipalities  through  its  two   wholly-owned
  investment  firms,  Raymond  James &  Associates  and  Raymond  James
  Financial Services, which have 4,400 Financial Advisors in more  than
  1,800 locations throughout the United States and overseas, as well as
  through  its asset management subsidiaries which currently manage  in
  excess of $17 billion.
  
  
  
                                     - 30 -
   For additional information, please contact Larry Silver at 727-578-3800 or
                             lsilver@market.rjf.com.
                            Updated September 5, 2000
                    Copyright c 2000 Raymond James Financial
  
  
  Caution concerning forward-looking statements
  
  
  This  8-K contains forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking
  statements  are found in various places throughout the press  release
  and  include, without limitation, statements concerning the terms and
  the  expected  timing and benefits of the merger.  At this  time  the
  Company  has  signed  a letter of intent.  The  consummation  of  the
  transaction  is  subject  to  a number of  conditions  including  the
  execution  of  a  final  agreement, satisfactory  completion  of  due
  diligence,  and  various regulatory approvals. While  these  forward-
  looking  statements  represent  the Company's  judgments  and  future
  expectations  concerning  the development of  our  business  and  the
  timing  and  benefits of the merger, should it  occur,  a  number  of
  risks,  uncertainties and other important factors could cause  actual
  developments  and results to differ materially from our expectations.
  These  factors include but are not limited to, the costs  related  to
  the  transaction; the inability to obtain, or meet conditions imposed
  for,   regulatory  approvals  for  the  transaction;  the  risk  that
  anticipated synergies will not be obtained or not obtained within the
  time  anticipated; and other key factors that could adversely  affect
  the  Company's businesses and financial performance as set out in the
  Company's  annual  report  on form 10-K for  the  fiscal  year  ended
  September  24,  1999 and other reports filed with the Securities  and
  Exchange Commission. The Company is not under any obligation to  (and
  expressly  disclaims  any such obligations to) update  or  alter  its
  forward-looking  statements whether as a result of  new  information,
  future events or otherwise.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  SIGNATURES
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
        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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                        RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL, INC.
                                                 (Registrant)
  
  
  
  
  Date:     September 6, 2000                   /s/ Thomas A. James
                                                Thomas A. James
                                               Chairman and Chief
                                               Executive Officer
  
  
  
  
                                              /s/ Jeffrey P. Julien
                                              Jeffrey P. Julien
                                           Vice President - Finance
                                              and Chief Financial
                                                    Officer
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "g8k600.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8615}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL INC", "cik": "0000720005", "assigned-sic": "6211", "irs-number": "591517485", "state-of-incorporation": "FL", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-09109", "film-number": "717487"}, "business-address": {"street1": "880 CARILLON PKWY", "street2": "P O BOX 12749", "city": "ST PETERSBURG", "state": "FL", "zip": "33716", "phone": "727-573-3800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 12749", "city": "ST. PETERSBURG", "state": "FL", "zip": "33716"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "RJ FINANCIAL CORP/FL", "date-changed": "19870303"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 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) September 6, 2000
                                                   -----------------
  
                           RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL, INC.
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
               Florida                                        No. 59-1517485
   -------------------------------     --------------        ------------------
   (State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation  or organization)      File Number)           Identification
  No.)
  
   880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida  33716
  ------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code (727) 573-3800
                                                     --------------
  _____________________________________________________________
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.
  
  Item 5. Other Events.
  
  On  September 5,2000 the Company issued the following press
  release:
  
  Raymond James Financial / Press Release
  
  Release No. 0900-1                                 FOR IMMEDIATE
  RELEASE
  September 5, 2000
  RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL
  TO ACQUIRE GOEPEL McDERMID
  
  ST.  PETERSBURG, Fla. - Raymond James Financial, Inc.  (NYSE  -  RJF)
  today announced that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire  the
  Canadian investment firm of Goepel McDermid Inc.
  
  Raymond James will pay approximately $76 million, including up to one
  million  shares  of  its  common stock, to acquire  the  100  percent
  employee-owned Vancouver-based company and will create a $12  million
  retention pool for key employees.
  
  In  addition, approximately 25-30 percent of the purchase price  will
  be  deferred for 24 months and will be subject to the satisfaction of
  certain  conditions.  This transaction is  expected  to  be  slightly
  dilutive  to  earnings per share for Raymond James Financial  in  the
  first year and accretive thereafter.
  
  The  acquisition, which has been approved by the boards of  directors
  of  both  firms  pending completion of due diligence  and  regulatory
  approval, is expected to close in the fourth calendar quarter of this
  year.
  
  "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to affiliate with Goepel
  McDermid  as  a means of expanding our capital markets activities  in
  Canada  and  our overall retail distribution network,"  according  to
  Thomas  A.  James, chairman of the Raymond James Financial board  and
  CEO.
  
  James  adds  that "we view Canada as a growing market for  investment
  services.  Further, there is a growing interrelationship between  the
  U.S.  and  Canadian economies, which will benefit a firm  having  the
  ability  to  offer  cross-border investment planning  and  investment
  banking services."
  
  Goepel McDermid, according to Kenneth A. Shields, president and  CEO,
  will  benefit  from  a  strong  U.S.  partner,  particularly  in  the
  expansion  of  its capital markets activities. "Our  private  clients
  will also have access to a wider range of U.S. investments, while our
  Investment  Advisors  will benefit from improved  financial  planning
  support.
  
  "The  relationship  will  also provide a  significant  advantage  for
  private   investors  in  Canada  who  are  seeking  the   independent
  investment  dealer  alternative for wealth management  services,"  he
  continues.
  
  Shields  adds  that  he  first met James in 1998  and  the  two  have
  considered the prospect of an alliance since that time.
  
  "Our  firms  are  remarkably  similar," he  continues.  "We  share  a
  dedication  to  personalized  client  service  and  are  both  firmly
  committed to the autonomy of our people."
  
  According  to  Shields,  "Raymond  James'  core  businesses   ideally
  complement  those  areas in which Goepel McDermid has  been  enjoying
  accelerating growth."
  
  Following  the acquisition, Goepel McDermid will utilize the  Raymond
  James  name  in order to take advantage of the firm's North  American
  branding campaign.
  
  Goepel McDermid's management team will remain in place, according  to
  James, and the firm, which is one of the largest Canadian independent
  broker/dealers, will be Raymond James Financial's third  wholly-owned
  broker/dealer subsidiary.
  
  There  will be some immediate cooperative efforts in capital markets,
  but,  for  the  most part, Goepel McDermid will continue  to  operate
  independently.
  
  Both  Shields and James emphasized they do not expect that there will
  be  any  changes in staffing at Goepel McDermid, as their  regulatory
  environments  are  different  and there  is  no  operational  overlap
  between the firms.
  
  Goepel  McDermid  has  approximately 250 Investment  Advisors  in  22
  branches across Canada.
  
  For  the  fiscal year ended March 31, the firm generated revenues  of
  approximately Cdn. $152 million.
  
  Raymond  James Financial provides financial services to  individuals,
  corporations   and   municipalities  through  its  two   wholly-owned
  investment  firms,  Raymond  James &  Associates  and  Raymond  James
  Financial Services, which have 4,400 Financial Advisors in more  than
  1,800 locations throughout the United States and overseas, as well as
  through  its asset management subsidiaries which currently manage  in
  excess of $17 billion.
  
                                     - 30 -
   For additional information, please contact Larry Silver at 727-578-3800 or
                             lsilver@market.rjf.com.
                            Updated September 5, 2000
                    Copyright c 2000 Raymond James Financial
  
  Caution concerning forward-looking statements
  
  This  8-K contains forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking
  statements  are found in various places throughout the press  release
  and  include, without limitation, statements concerning the terms and
  the  expected  timing and benefits of the merger.  At this  time  the
  Company  has  signed  a letter of intent.  The  consummation  of  the
  transaction  is  subject  to  a number of  conditions  including  the
  execution  of  a  final  agreement, satisfactory  completion  of  due
  diligence,  and  various regulatory approvals. While  these  forward-
  looking  statements  represent  the Company's  judgments  and  future
  expectations  concerning  the development of  our  business  and  the
  timing  and  benefits of the merger, should it  occur,  a  number  of
  risks,  uncertainties and other important factors could cause  actual
  developments  and results to differ materially from our expectations.
  These  factors include but are not limited to, the costs  related  to
  the  transaction; the inability to obtain, or meet conditions imposed
  for,   regulatory  approvals  for  the  transaction;  the  risk  that
  anticipated synergies will not be obtained or not obtained within the
  time  anticipated; and other key factors that could adversely  affect
  the  Company's businesses and financial performance as set out in the
  Company's  annual  report  on form 10-K for  the  fiscal  year  ended
  September  24,  1999 and other reports filed with the Securities  and
  Exchange Commission. The Company is not under any obligation to  (and
  expressly  disclaims  any such obligations to) update  or  alter  its
  forward-looking  statements whether as a result of  new  information,
  future events or otherwise.
  
  SIGNATURES
  
        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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                        RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL, INC.
                                                 (Registrant)
  
  Date:     September 6, 2000                   /s/ Thomas A. James
                                                Thomas A. James
                                               Chairman and Chief
                                               Executive Officer
  
                                              /s/ Jeffrey P. Julien
                                              Jeffrey P. Julien
                                           Vice President - Finance
                                              and Chief Financial
                                                    Officer