As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 1999.
                                          Registration No. 33-

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      Washington, D.C. 20549

                            Form S-8
                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                              Under
                    THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      THE ADVEST GROUP, INC.
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                             06-0950444
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or organization)             Identification No.)

           90 State House Square, Hartford, Connecticut 06103
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

  The Advest Group, Inc. 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
                  The Advest Group, Inc. Equity Plan
         The Advest Group, Inc. Key Professionals Equity Plan
       The Advest Group, Inc. Non-Employee Director Equity Plan
                   The Advest Group, Inc. Thrift Plan
                       (Full title of the plan)

                           Lee G. Kuckro, Esq.
                      Secretary and General Counsel
                         The Advest Group, Inc.
                         90 State House Square
                      Hartford, Connecticut 06103
                (Name and address of agent for service)
                        (860) 509-1000  ext. 2406
       (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                     CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


                                  Proposed      Proposed
 Title of                          maximum       maximum
Securities         Amount         offering      aggregate    Amount of
   to be           to be            price       offering    registration
registered      registered(1)   per share(2)      price         fee

Common Stock,   2,000,000 shs.    $20.125       $40,250,000    $11,190.00
$.01 par value


1  Such shares are offered pursuant to the following plans of The Advest Group,
   Inc.; 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan; Advest Equity Plan; Key
   Professionals Equity Plan; Non-Employee Director Equity Plan; and Advest
   Thrift Plan.

2  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) solely for the purposes of
   calculating the registration fee, and based on the average of the high and
   low prices of a share of Common Stock as reported in the consolidated
   reporting system on July 2, 1999.

<PAGE>                             -2-
                                 Part II

            INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     This Registration Statement relates to shares of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share ("Common Stock"), which may be acquired or have been acquired
under the following plans of The Advest Group, Inc. (the "Company"): 1994 Non-
Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Option Plan"); Advest Equity Plan
(the "Equity Plan"); Key Professionals Equity Plan; Non-Employee Director Equity
Plan; and Advest Thrift Plan.  With respect to the 1994 Option Plan and the
Equity Plan, this Registration Statement includes (i) shares of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share which may be acquired or have been acquired by
participants and (ii) shares of common stock which may be acquired by
participants upon exercise of options issued or issuable under such
plans.

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

     (a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     September 30, 1998, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act");

     (b)  The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
     December 31, 1998 and March 31, 1999; and

     (c)  The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in
     its registration statement on Form 8-A filed under the 1934 Act, and any
     amendment or report filed under the 1934 Act for the purpose of updating
     such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
which deregisters all shares of Common Stock remaining unsold shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.

<PAGE>                             -3-

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL"), directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals
may be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits
or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of a corporation--a "derivative action") if
they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct
was unlawful.  A similar standard of care is applicable in the case of
derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses
(including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with defense of settlement of
such an action and the DGCL requires court approval before there can be any
indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable
to the corporation.  Additionally, a corporation is required to indemnify its
directors and officers against expenses to the extent that such directors or
officers have been successful on the merits or otherwise in any action, suit or
proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.

     Unless ordered by a court, an indemnification can be made by a corporation
only upon a determination that indemnification is proper in the circumstances
because the party seeking indemnification has met the applicable standard of
conduct as set forth in Delaware law.  The indemnification provided by Section
145 of the DGCL includes the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses
incurred in defending proceedings in advance of their final disposition.  Such
advance payment of expenses, however, may be made only upon delivery to the
corporation by the indemnified party of an undertaking to repay all amounts so
advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the person receiving such
payments is not entitled to be indemnified.

     The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred by Section
145 of the DGCL is not exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws, or otherwise.  In addition, Section 145 of the DGCL authorizes a
corporation to maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any of
its directors, officers, employees or agents against any expense, liability or
loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such
person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

     The Company's Certificate of Incorporation permits indemnification of
directors and officers to the full extent permitted by the DGCL.  In addition,
the Company currently maintains an insurance policy insuring its officers and
directors against certain liabilities incident to their position with the
Company.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not applicable.

<PAGE>                             -4-

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit No.     Description

4.1     The Advest Group, Inc. 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
        (incorporated by Reference to Exhibit A to the Company's Proxy Statement
        dated December 20, 1994).

4.2     The Advest Group, Inc. Equity Plan, effective November 19, 1998, as
        amended and restated as of June 3, 1999.

4.3      The Advest Group, Inc. Key Professionals Equity Plan (incorporated by
         Reference to Exhibit 10(g) to the Company's Report on Form 10-K for its
         fiscal year ended September 30, 1997).

4.4      The Advest Group, Inc. Non-Employee Director Equity Plan (incorporated
         by Reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for
         the quarter ended June 30, 1996).

4.5      The Advest Group, Inc. Thrift Plan (incorporated by Reference to
         Exhibit 10(a) to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
         ended December 31, 1992; Exhibit 10(a) to the Company's Report on Form
         10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996; and Exhibit 10(k) to the
         Company's Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 30,
         1997).

5        Opinion of David A. Horowitz, Esq., Assistant General Counsel of the
         Company, with respect to the legality of the Common Stock registered
         hereby

23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

23.2     Letter re Unaudited Interim Statements.

23.3     Consent of David A. Horowitz, Esq. (See Exhibit 5.)

24       Power of attorney  (See Signature Pages.)


Item 9.  Undertakings.

A.  Undertaking to Update Annually

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

<PAGE>                             -5-

     (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

     (i)     To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
             Securities Act of 1933;

     (ii)    To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after the
             effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
             post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
             aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
             forth in the Registration Statement;

     (iii)   To include any material information with respect to the plan of
             distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
             or any material change to such information in the Registration
             Statement;

provided, however, that paragraph (A)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
Registration Statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information required
to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.

     (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

B.  Undertaking With Respect to Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents
    By Reference

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

C.  Undertaking With Respect to Indemnification of Directors, Officers or
    Controlling Persons

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission

<PAGE>                             -6-

such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Hartford, State of Connecticut on June 29, 1999.

                                        THE ADVEST GROUP, INC.



                                        By      /s/ Grant W. Kurtz
                                                Grant W. Kurtz
                                                Chief Executive Officer


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.  Each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes Grant W. Kurtz, Lee G. Kuckro and David A. Horowitz and
each of them singly, such person's true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them to sign for such person and in such person's name and
capacity indicated below, any and all amendments to this Registration Statement,
hereby ratifying and confirming such person's signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys to any and all amendments.

      Signature                 Title                              Date


/s/ Grant W. Kurtz          Chief Executive Officer              June 29, 1999
Grant W. Kurtz              (Principal Executive Officer)
                            and Director

/s/ Martin M. Lilienthal    Executive Vice President and         June 29, 1999
Martin M. Lilienthal        Treasurer (Chief Financial
                            and Principal Accounting
                            Officer)

<PAGE>                             -7-

/s/ Sanford Cloud, Jr.      Director                             June 29, 1999
Sanford Cloud, Jr.


/s/ Ronald E. Compton       Director                             June 29, 1999
Ronald E. Compton


/s/ Richard G. Dooley       Director                             June 29, 1999
Richard G. Dooley


/s/ William B. Ellis        Director                             June 29, 1999
William B. Ellis


/s/ Robert W. Fiondella     Director                             June 29, 1999
Robert W. Fiondella


/s/ Marne Obernauer, Jr     Director                             June 29, 1999
Marne Obernauer, Jr


/s/ Barbara L. Pearce       Director                             June 29, 1999
Barbara L. Pearce


/s/ Allen Weintraub         Chairman of the Board                June 29, 1999
Allen Weintraub
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 16443}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ADVEST GROUP INC", "cik": "0000319489", "assigned-sic": "6211", "irs-number": "060950444", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-82235", "film-number": "99658978"}, "business-address": {"street1": "90 STATE HOUSE SQ", "street2": "280 TRUMBULL ST", "city": "HARTFORD", "state": "CT", "zip": "06103", "phone": "8605091000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "90 STATE HOUSE SQUARE", "street2": "280 TRUMBULL STREET", "city": "HARTFORD", "state": "CT", "zip": "06103"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 1999.
                                          Registration No. 33-

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      Washington, D.C. 20549

                            Form S-8
                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                              Under
                    THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      THE ADVEST GROUP, INC.
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                             06-0950444
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or organization)             Identification No.)

           90 State House Square, Hartford, Connecticut 06103
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

  The Advest Group, Inc. 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
                  The Advest Group, Inc. Equity Plan
         The Advest Group, Inc. Key Professionals Equity Plan
       The Advest Group, Inc. Non-Employee Director Equity Plan
                   The Advest Group, Inc. Thrift Plan
                       (Full title of the plan)

                           Lee G. Kuckro, Esq.
                      Secretary and General Counsel
                         The Advest Group, Inc.
                         90 State House Square
                      Hartford, Connecticut 06103
                (Name and address of agent for service)
                        (860) 509-1000  ext. 2406
       (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                     CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                                  Proposed      Proposed
 Title of                          maximum       maximum
Securities         Amount         offering      aggregate    Amount of
   to be           to be            price       offering    registration
registered      registered(1)   per share(2)      price         fee

Common Stock,   2,000,000 shs.    $20.125       $40,250,000    $11,190.00
$.01 par value

1  Such shares are offered pursuant to the following plans of The Advest Group,
   Inc.; 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan; Advest Equity Plan; Key
   Professionals Equity Plan; Non-Employee Director Equity Plan; and Advest
   Thrift Plan.

2  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) solely for the purposes of
   calculating the registration fee, and based on the average of the high and
   low prices of a share of Common Stock as reported in the consolidated
   reporting system on July 2, 1999.
-2-
                                 Part II

            INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     This Registration Statement relates to shares of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share ("Common Stock"), which may be acquired or have been acquired
under the following plans of The Advest Group, Inc. (the "Company"): 1994 Non-
Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Option Plan"); Advest Equity Plan
(the "Equity Plan"); Key Professionals Equity Plan; Non-Employee Director Equity
Plan; and Advest Thrift Plan.  With respect to the 1994 Option Plan and the
Equity Plan, this Registration Statement includes (i) shares of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share which may be acquired or have been acquired by
participants and (ii) shares of common stock which may be acquired by
participants upon exercise of options issued or issuable under such
plans.

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

     (a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     September 30, 1998, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act");

     (b)  The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
     December 31, 1998 and March 31, 1999; and

     (c)  The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in
     its registration statement on Form 8-A filed under the 1934 Act, and any
     amendment or report filed under the 1934 Act for the purpose of updating
     such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
which deregisters all shares of Common Stock remaining unsold shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.
-3-

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL"), directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals
may be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits
or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of a corporation--a "derivative action") if
they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct
was unlawful.  A similar standard of care is applicable in the case of
derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses
(including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with defense of settlement of
such an action and the DGCL requires court approval before there can be any
indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable
to the corporation.  Additionally, a corporation is required to indemnify its
directors and officers against expenses to the extent that such directors or
officers have been successful on the merits or otherwise in any action, suit or
proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.

     Unless ordered by a court, an indemnification can be made by a corporation
only upon a determination that indemnification is proper in the circumstances
because the party seeking indemnification has met the applicable standard of
conduct as set forth in Delaware law.  The indemnification provided by Section
145 of the DGCL includes the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses
incurred in defending proceedings in advance of their final disposition.  Such
advance payment of expenses, however, may be made only upon delivery to the
corporation by the indemnified party of an undertaking to repay all amounts so
advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the person receiving such
payments is not entitled to be indemnified.

     The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred by Section
145 of the DGCL is not exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws, or otherwise.  In addition, Section 145 of the DGCL authorizes a
corporation to maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any of
its directors, officers, employees or agents against any expense, liability or
loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such
person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

     The Company's Certificate of Incorporation permits indemnification of
directors and officers to the full extent permitted by the DGCL.  In addition,
the Company currently maintains an insurance policy insuring its officers and
directors against certain liabilities incident to their position with the
Company.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not applicable.
-4-

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit No.     Description

4.1     The Advest Group, Inc. 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
        (incorporated by Reference to Exhibit A to the Company's Proxy Statement
        dated December 20, 1994).

4.2     The Advest Group, Inc. Equity Plan, effective November 19, 1998, as
        amended and restated as of June 3, 1999.

4.3      The Advest Group, Inc. Key Professionals Equity Plan (incorporated by
         Reference to Exhibit 10(g) to the Company's Report on Form 10-K for its
         fiscal year ended September 30, 1997).

4.4      The Advest Group, Inc. Non-Employee Director Equity Plan (incorporated
         by Reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for
         the quarter ended June 30, 1996).

4.5      The Advest Group, Inc. Thrift Plan (incorporated by Reference to
         Exhibit 10(a) to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
         ended December 31, 1992; Exhibit 10(a) to the Company's Report on Form
         10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996; and Exhibit 10(k) to the
         Company's Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 30,
         1997).

5        Opinion of David A. Horowitz, Esq., Assistant General Counsel of the
         Company, with respect to the legality of the Common Stock registered
         hereby

23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

23.2     Letter re Unaudited Interim Statements.

23.3     Consent of David A. Horowitz, Esq. (See Exhibit 5.)

24       Power of attorney  (See Signature Pages.)

Item 9.  Undertakings.

A.  Undertaking to Update Annually

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
-5-

     (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

     (i)     To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
             Securities Act of 1933;

     (ii)    To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after the
             effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
             post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
             aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
             forth in the Registration Statement;

     (iii)   To include any material information with respect to the plan of
             distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
             or any material change to such information in the Registration
             Statement;

provided, however, that paragraph (A)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
Registration Statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information required
to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.

     (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

B.  Undertaking With Respect to Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents
    By Reference

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

C.  Undertaking With Respect to Indemnification of Directors, Officers or
    Controlling Persons

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
-6-

such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Hartford, State of Connecticut on June 29, 1999.

                                        THE ADVEST GROUP, INC.

                                        By      /s/ Grant W. Kurtz
                                                Grant W. Kurtz
                                                Chief Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.  Each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes Grant W. Kurtz, Lee G. Kuckro and David A. Horowitz and
each of them singly, such person's true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them to sign for such person and in such person's name and
capacity indicated below, any and all amendments to this Registration Statement,
hereby ratifying and confirming such person's signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys to any and all amendments.

      Signature                 Title                              Date

/s/ Grant W. Kurtz          Chief Executive Officer              June 29, 1999
Grant W. Kurtz              (Principal Executive Officer)
                            and Director

/s/ Martin M. Lilienthal    Executive Vice President and         June 29, 1999
Martin M. Lilienthal        Treasurer (Chief Financial
                            and Principal Accounting
                            Officer)
-7-

/s/ Sanford Cloud, Jr.      Director                             June 29, 1999
Sanford Cloud, Jr.

/s/ Ronald E. Compton       Director                             June 29, 1999
Ronald E. Compton

/s/ Richard G. Dooley       Director                             June 29, 1999
Richard G. Dooley

/s/ William B. Ellis        Director                             June 29, 1999
William B. Ellis

/s/ Robert W. Fiondella     Director                             June 29, 1999
Robert W. Fiondella

/s/ Marne Obernauer, Jr     Director                             June 29, 1999
Marne Obernauer, Jr

/s/ Barbara L. Pearce       Director                             June 29, 1999
Barbara L. Pearce

/s/ Allen Weintraub         Chairman of the Board                June 29, 1999
Allen Weintraub