<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000720672-02-000020
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20021017
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20021017
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP
<CIK>0000720672
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6211
<IRS-NUMBER>431273600
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09305
<FILM-NUMBER>02791761
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA
<STREET2>501 N BROADWAY
<CITY>ST. LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63102-2102
<PHONE>314-342-2000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA
<STREET2>501 N BROADWAY
<CITY>ST. LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63102-2102
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>r8k_oct2002.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K DATED OCTOBER 17, 2002
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY LINK="#0000ff">

<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<B><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<B><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">FORM 8-K</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">CURRENT REPORT</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</P>
</B><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  October 16, 2002</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<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>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=638>
<TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">Delaware</U></TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">1-9305</U></TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">43-1273600</U></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=34>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(State of Incorporation)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=34>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(Commission File Number)</TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=34>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">(IRS Employer</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Identification No.)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=638>
<TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<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>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">(314) 342-2000</P>
</U><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Registrant's telephone number, including area code</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<B><P>Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits</P>
</B>
<P> (c)  Exhibits.</P>

<P>      &#9;Exhibit 99: Press Release</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<B><P>Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure</P>
</B>
<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>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<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>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P><DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>

<P>STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.</P>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>

<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=638>
<TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>Date:  October 17, 2002</TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>By:<U>  /s/  James M. Zemlyak&#9;&#9;</U></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>Name:  James M. Zemlyak</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>Title:  Chief Financial Officer</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&#9; &#9;&#9;</P><DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>

<P>                </P>
<P>                </P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<FONT FACE="Courier New" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="RIGHT">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="RIGHT">&nbsp;</P></DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>r8k_exh99oct.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY LINK="#0000ff">

<P>&#9;&#9;</P><DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>

<P>                </P>
<P>                </P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="RIGHT">&nbsp;</P></DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>

<B><P ALIGN="RIGHT">Exhibit 99 </P>
<P ALIGN="RIGHT"></P>
</B><P><u>[Stifel Financial Corp. logo]<B><FONT SIZE=5>   Stifel Financial News</B></u></FONT><I><FONT SIZE=2>__________________________________________________</P>
</I><P ALIGN="RIGHT">One Financial Plaza</p>
<P ALIGN="RIGHT">501 North Broadway</P>
<P ALIGN="RIGHT">St. Louis, MO 63102</P>
<P ALIGN="RIGHT">(314) 342-2000</P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><P>For further information contact:</P>
<P>Thomas A. Prince</P>
<P>General Counsel</P>
<P>314-342-4068</P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<B><U><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">For Immediate Release</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
</U><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP. ANNOUNCES ARBITRATION AWARD</P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">St. Louis, Missouri, October 16, 2002</B> - Stifel Financial Corp. announced today 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.  "We believe the award was in disregard of the applicable law, and we intend to ask the federal court to set aside the decision," said Tom Prince, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Stifel, Nicolaus &amp; Company, Incorporated.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Stifel anticipates taking an after-tax charge of approximately $3 to $3.5 million for the third quarter ending September 30, 2002.  The company anticipates releasing third quarter results on October 24, 2002.  </P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Stifel Financial Corp. is a financial services holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in general securities brokerage, investment banking, and money management with 77 locations in 15 states, primarily in the Midwest.  To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company's web site at www.stifel.com.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">###</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P></BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
