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):  December 31, 1997
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                       STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
       (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
                                  
                                  
                                  
        Delaware               1-9305              43-1273600
       (State of          (Commission File        (IRS Employer
     Incorporation)           Number)          Identification No.)
                                                        
                                  
                                  
                         500 North Broadway
                   St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2188
    (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                           (314) 342-2000
        (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  <PAGE>
                       STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
                              FORM 8-K
                       Dated December 31, 1997
  
  Item 5. Other Event
       Stifel  Financial  Corp. (the "Registrant")  announced  that
  members  of  AEGON  USA,  Inc.  Insurance  Group  ("AEGON")  sold
  1,150,000  shares  of the Registrant's common stock.   AEGON  had
  acquired 1,417,707 shares of the Registrant's shares in September
  and   October,   1997,   by  conversion  of  $10,000,000   senior
  convertible  notes.  AEGON informed the Registrant that,  due  to
  its  policy  based preference for fixed-income investments,  they
  would  not likely be a long-term holder of the stock.  After  the
  sale,  AEGON  owns  less  than  5  percent  of  the  Registrant's
  outstanding common stock.
       
       The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company ("Western  &
  Southern")  has  purchased  925,000 shares  of  the  Registrant's
  outstanding common stock, representing a 14.9 percent interest in
  the  Registrant,  from  AEGON.  Western &  Southern,  located  in
  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  is  part  of the Western-Southern  Enterprise
  which   consists  of  four  insurance  companies,  an  investment
  products   concern,   a  financial  services   organization,   an
  investment  advisory  firm  and a real  estate  asset  management
  company.  Western-Southern Enterprise has assets in excess of $12
  billion and life insurance in force of approximately $54 billion.
  Western  &  Southern  is a 109 year old life  insurance  company,
  licensed  in  44 states, that is rated AAA (highest)  for  claims
  paying  ability  by Standard & Poor's and Duff & Phelps  and  A++
  (superior)  by  A.  M.  Best.  Western &  Southern  respects  the
  registrant's desire to remain an independent company.
       
       In addition, Stifel, Nicolaus Stock Ownership Plan and Trust
  has  purchased 225,000 shares from AEGON.  The Registrant's Board
  of  Directors approved a 15 year loan to finance the purchase  of
  these shares.
       
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
  Exhibits
  
   (a)  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
  
        None.
  
   (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.
  
        None.
  
   (c)  Exhibits.
  
        Exhibit 99: Press Release
  
  <PAGE>     
                                  
                              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:  January 6, 1998             By:       /s/  Stephen J. Bushmann
                                           Name:    Stephen J. Bushmann
                                           Title:   Chief Financial Officer
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K; DATED DECEMBER 31,1997", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4510}]
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": "98501535"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 N. BROADWAY", "street2": "14TH FLOOR", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63102-2188", "phone": "3143422000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "500 N BROADWAY", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63102-2188"}}
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):  December 31, 1997
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                       STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
       (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
                                  
                                  
                                  
        Delaware               1-9305              43-1273600
       (State of          (Commission File        (IRS Employer
     Incorporation)           Number)          Identification No.)
                                                        
                                  
                                  
                         500 North Broadway
                   St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2188
    (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  
                           (314) 342-2000
        (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
                              FORM 8-K
                       Dated December 31, 1997
  
  Item 5. Other Event
       Stifel  Financial  Corp. (the "Registrant")  announced  that
  members  of  AEGON  USA,  Inc.  Insurance  Group  ("AEGON")  sold
  1,150,000  shares  of the Registrant's common stock.   AEGON  had
  acquired 1,417,707 shares of the Registrant's shares in September
  and   October,   1997,   by  conversion  of  $10,000,000   senior
  convertible  notes.  AEGON informed the Registrant that,  due  to
  its  policy  based preference for fixed-income investments,  they
  would  not likely be a long-term holder of the stock.  After  the
  sale,  AEGON  owns  less  than  5  percent  of  the  Registrant's
  outstanding common stock.
       
       The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company ("Western  &
  Southern")  has  purchased  925,000 shares  of  the  Registrant's
  outstanding common stock, representing a 14.9 percent interest in
  the  Registrant,  from  AEGON.  Western &  Southern,  located  in
  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  is  part  of the Western-Southern  Enterprise
  which   consists  of  four  insurance  companies,  an  investment
  products   concern,   a  financial  services   organization,   an
  investment  advisory  firm  and a real  estate  asset  management
  company.  Western-Southern Enterprise has assets in excess of $12
  billion and life insurance in force of approximately $54 billion.
  Western  &  Southern  is a 109 year old life  insurance  company,
  licensed  in  44 states, that is rated AAA (highest)  for  claims
  paying  ability  by Standard & Poor's and Duff & Phelps  and  A++
  (superior)  by  A.  M.  Best.  Western &  Southern  respects  the
  registrant's desire to remain an independent company.
       
       In addition, Stifel, Nicolaus Stock Ownership Plan and Trust
  has  purchased 225,000 shares from AEGON.  The Registrant's Board
  of  Directors approved a 15 year loan to finance the purchase  of
  these shares.
       
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
  Exhibits
  
   (a)  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
  
        None.
  
   (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.
  
        None.
  
   (c)  Exhibits.
  
        Exhibit 99: Press Release
  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:  January 6, 1998             By:       /s/  Stephen J. Bushmann
                                           Name:    Stephen J. Bushmann
                                           Title:   Chief Financial Officer