<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000720672-05-000088
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20051201
<ITEMS>7.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20051202
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20051202
<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>051241091
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ATTN: JAMES G. LASCHOBER
<STREET2>501 N. BROADWAY
<CITY>ST. LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63102-2102
<PHONE>314-342-2000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ATTN: JAMES G. LASCHOBER
<STREET2>501 N. BROADWAY
<CITY>ST. LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63102-2102
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>r8k_051201.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K DATED DECEMBER 1, 2005
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY LINK="#0000ff" VLINK="#800080">

<B><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=4>Washington, DC 20549</P>
</B></FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><B><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">FORM 8-K</P>
</B></FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia"><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><B><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">CURRENT REPORT<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia">Pursuant To Section 13 OR 15(d) of the <BR>
Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>
</B><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  <B>December 1, 2005</P>
</B><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><B><U><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.<BR>
</B></U></FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=2>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia"><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P></FONT>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=638>
<TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><U><P ALIGN="CENTER">Delaware<BR>
</B></U><FONT SIZE=3>(State of incorporation)</P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia"><P ALIGN="CENTER"></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><U><P ALIGN="CENTER">1-9305<BR>
</B></U><FONT SIZE=3>(Commission File Number)</P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia"><P ALIGN="CENTER"></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><U><P ALIGN="CENTER">43-1273600<BR>
</B></U><FONT SIZE=3>(IRS Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia"><P ALIGN="CENTER"></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER></P>

<FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia">
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">One Financial Plaza<BR>
501 North Broadway</B><BR>
<B><U>St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2102<BR>
</B></U>(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Registrant's telephone number, including area code </FONT><B><U><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia">(314) 342-2000</P>
</B></U>
</FONT><P>&nbsp;</P>
<U><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">___________________________N/A___________________________</U><BR>
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</P>

</FONT><FONT FACE="TimesNewRoman,Times New Roman" SIZE=2><P>Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):</P>
<P>[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>
<P>[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>
<P>[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>
<P>[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Bookman Old Style,Georgia" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER" ><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR ="#708090"><I> Page 1 </I></FONT><BR>
<HR NOSHADE></P>
<p Style='page-break-before:always'>


</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><P> </P>
</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=4><P>Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><A NAME="_DV_M29"></A>On December 1, 2005, Stifel Financial Corp. issued a press release announcing that it had closed on the acquisition of the Legg Mason Capital Markets business ("LM Capital Markets") from Citigroup Inc.  The LM Capital Markets business was part of Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc., which Citigroup acquired from Legg Mason, Inc. in a substantially simultaneous closing.  The LM Capital Markets business acquired by Stifel includes the Investment Banking, Equity and Fixed Income Research, Equity Sales and Trading, and Taxable Fixed Income Sales and Trading Departments of Legg Mason and employs approximately 500 professional and support staff.  A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The information in this Item 7.01 and the exhibit attached hereto will not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section, nor will such information or exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as may be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Certain statements in this Form 8-K are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws.  Stifel intends that these statements be covered by the safe harbors created under these laws.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the information set forth in these forward-looking statements include the satisfaction of the closing conditions for each of the Transactions, including the satisfactory completion by Stifel of its due diligence investigation and the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, and other factors and events.  Many of these factors and events are beyond Stifel's ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which only speak as of the date of this Form 8-K.  Stifel does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Form 8-K or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.</P>
<B><FONT SIZE=4>
<P>Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><P><A NAME="_DV_M30"></A>(c) Exhibits  </P><DIR>
<DIR>

<P><A NAME="_DV_M31"><A NAME="_DV_M33"></A></A>Exhibit 99.1:</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;Press release issued on December 1, 2005.</P></DIR>
</DIR>
<P ALIGN="CENTER" ><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR ="#708090"><I> Page 2 </I></FONT><BR>
<HR NOSHADE></P>
<p Style='page-break-before:always'>

<B><I><P ALIGN="CENTER"><A NAME="_DV_M34"></A></P>
</I></FONT><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="JUSTIFY"></P><DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>



<P>STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.</P>
</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:  December 1, 2005</TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>By:  &#9;<U> /s/  Ronald J. Kruszewski&#9;</U></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>Name:&#9;Ronald J. Kruszewski <br>Title:&#9;President and Chief Executive Officer</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P ALIGN="CENTER" ><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR ="#708090"><I> Page 3</I></FONT><BR>
<HR NOSHADE></P>
<p Style='page-break-before:always'>




<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">Exhibit Index</P>
</B>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 WIDTH=421>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="MIDDLE">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="80%" VALIGN="MIDDLE">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<B><FONT SIZE=2><P>Exhibit&nbsp;No.</P>
</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="80%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<B><FONT SIZE=2><P>Description</P>
</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">99.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="80%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<FONT SIZE=2><P>Press release issued on December 1, 2005.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER" ><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR ="#708090"><I> Page 4</I></FONT><BR>
<HR NOSHADE></P>
<p Style='page-break-before:always'>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<FONT FACE="Courier New" SIZE=2><P>&nbsp;</P></FONT></BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>r8k_051201e99.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE DATED DECEMBER 1, 2005
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>

<TITLE>For further information contact:</TITLE>
<META NAME="_AdHocReviewCycleID" CONTENT="1654162146">
<META NAME="_EmailSubject" CONTENT="2nd Quarter 2004 Earnings Release.doc">
<META NAME="_AuthorEmail" CONTENT="KellamsM@stifel.com">
<META NAME="_AuthorEmailDisplayName" CONTENT="Kellams, Marcia (Executive Office)">
</HEAD>
<BODY LINK="#0000ff" VLINK="#800080">

<B><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER">STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.<BR>
</B></FONT>Form 8-K Dated December 1, 2005<BR>
Exhibit 99: Press Release </P>
<P>[Stifel Financial Corp. logo]<B><FONT SIZE=5> Stifel Financial News</P></B></FONT>
<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=198>
<TR><TD VALIGN="TOP">
<P>One Financial Plaza<BR>
501 North Broadway <BR>
St. Louis, MO 63102<BR>
(314) 342-2000</P>
</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</P>

<B>
<P>For further information contact:</P><DIR>

<FONT SIZE=3><P>James M. Zemlyak<BR>Chief Financial Officer<BR>(314) 342-2228<BR>zemlyakj@stifel.com</P>
</B></FONT></DIR>

<B><U><P>For Immediate Release</P>
</U>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP. ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF<BR>LEGG MASON CAPITAL MARKETS BUSINESS</P>
</B>
<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">St. Louis, Missouri - December 1, 2005</B> - Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: "SF") announced today that it has closed on the acquisition of the Legg Mason Capital Markets business ("LM Capital Markets") from Citigroup Inc.  The LM Capital Markets business was part of Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc., which Citigroup acquired from Legg Mason, Inc. in a substantially simultaneous closing.  The LM Capital Markets business acquired by Stifel includes the Investment Banking, Equity and Fixed Income Research, Equity Sales and Trading, and Taxable Fixed Income Sales and Trading Departments of Legg Mason and employs approximately 500 professional and support staff.  </P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">With the addition of the LM Capital Markets business, Stifel operates 113 offices in 25 states and the District of Columbia through its principal subsidiary, Stifel Nicolaus, and 3 European offices through Stifel Nicolaus Ltd. Stifel Nicolaus provides securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services, primarily, to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the company's web site at www.stifel.com. </P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><I><P ALIGN="CENTER"># # #</P>
</B></I><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
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</SUBMISSION>
