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  <B><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</P>
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  <B><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">FORM 8-K</P>
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  <B><P ALIGN="CENTER">CURRENT REPORT</P>
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  <P ALIGN="CENTER">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE </P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</P>
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  <P ALIGN="CENTER">Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  October 16, 2002</P>
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  <B><U><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP</U>.</P>
  </B></FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)</P>
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  <U><P ALIGN="CENTER">Delaware</U></TD>
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  <U><P ALIGN="CENTER">1-9305</U></TD>
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  <U><P ALIGN="CENTER">43-1273600</U></TD>
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  <P ALIGN="CENTER">(State of Incorporation)</P>
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  <P ALIGN="CENTER">(Commission File Number)</TD>
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  <P ALIGN="CENTER">(IRS Employer</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">Identification No.)</P>
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  <P ALIGN="CENTER">One Financial Plaza</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">501 North Broadway</P>
  <U><P ALIGN="CENTER">St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2188</P>
  </U><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</P>
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  <U><P ALIGN="CENTER">(314) 342-2000</P>
  </U><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Registrant's telephone number, including area code</P>
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  <B><P>Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits</P>
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  <P> (c)  Exhibits.</P>
  
  <P>      &#9;Exhibit 99: Press Release</P>
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  <B><P>Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure</P>
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  <P>&#9;On October 16, 2002, Stifel Financial Corp. (the "Registrant") announced that an NASD Arbitration panel awarded two customers of its subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus &amp; Company, Incorporated, $4.5 million in compensatory damages.  The award was issued in connection with the activities of a former Stifel broker in its Pikeville, Kentucky office.  The Registrant believes the award was in disregard of the applicable law, and intends to ask the federal court to set aside the decision.</P>
  
  <P>&#9;The Registrant anticipates taking an after-tax charge of approximately $3 to $3.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002.</P>
  
  <P>&#9;The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.  Certain statements contained in the press release are forward-looking statements.  Such statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results may differ materially from those currently expected.  </P>
  
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  <B><P ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURE</P>
  </B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
  <P 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>
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  <P>STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.</P>
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  <P>Date:  October 17, 2002</TD>
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  <P>By:<U>  /s/  James M. Zemlyak&#9;&#9;</U></TD>
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  <P>Name:  James M. Zemlyak</TD>
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  <P>Title:  Chief Financial Officer</TD>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "r8k_oct2002.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K DATED OCTOBER 17, 2002", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5112}]
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": "02791761"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA", "street2": "501 N BROADWAY", "city": "ST. LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63102-2102", "phone": "314-342-2000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA", "street2": "501 N BROADWAY", "city": "ST. LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63102-2102"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  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):  October 16, 2002
  STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP
  .
  (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
  Delaware
  1-9305
  43-1273600
  (State of Incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer
  Identification No.)
  One Financial Plaza
  501 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
  Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
  (c)  Exhibits.
  Exhibit 99: Press Release
  Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure
  On October 16, 2002, Stifel Financial Corp. (the "Registrant") announced that an NASD Arbitration panel awarded two customers of its subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, $4.5 million in compensatory damages.  The award was issued in connection with the activities of a former Stifel broker in its Pikeville, Kentucky office.  The Registrant believes the award was in disregard of the applicable law, and intends to ask the federal court to set aside the decision.
  The Registrant anticipates taking an after-tax charge of approximately $3 to $3.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002.
  The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.  Certain statements contained in the press release are forward-looking statements.  Such statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results may differ materially from those currently expected.
  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:  October 17, 2002
  By:
  /s/  James M. Zemlyak
  Name:  James M. Zemlyak
  Title:  Chief Financial Officer