1
                             
                 
                    RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL, INC.
                         880 Carillon Parkway
                    St. Petersburg, Florida 33716
                            (813) 573-3800

               NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                          FEBRUARY 13, 199712, 1998


To the Shareholders of Raymond James Financial, Inc.:

      The  Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Raymond James Financial,  Inc.
will  be  held at the Raymond James Financial Center, 880 Carillon Parkway,
St.  Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday, February 13, 199712, 1998 at 4:3000  p.m.  for
the following purposes:

1.   To elect eleventwelve nominees to the Board of Directors of the Company;

2.   To ratify Incentive Compensation Criteria for certain of the Company's
     executive officers;

3.   To  ratify  the  selectionappointment of Price Waterhouse  LLP  as  independent
     accountants  of the Company for the fiscal year ending  September  26,
     1997;25,
     1998;

4.   To  adopt  an amendment to Article IV of the Articles of Incorporation
     that  would  increase  the  authorized common  stock  from  50,000,000
     shares,  $.01 par value to 100,000,000 shares, $.01 par value with  no
     change  to  the  authorized  10,000,000  shares,  $.10  par  value  of
     preferred stock.

5.   To  adopt  an amendment to the 1992 Employees Stock Option  Plan  (the
     Plan)  to add 1,500,000 shares of common stock to the number of shares
     authorized for option grants under the Plan.

6.   To  transact  any  other  business as may  properly  come  before  the
     meeting.

      Shareholders  of record as of the close of business on  December  13,
199617,
1997  will be entitled to vote at this meeting or any adjournment  thereof.
Information relating to the matters to be considered and voted  on  at  the
Annual  Meeting  is  set  forth  in the Proxy Statement  accompanying  this
Notice.

                                   By order of the Board of Directors,

                                   /s/ BARRY AUGENBRAUN
                                   Barry Augenbraun, Secretary

December 20, 199617, 1997

                                   If you do not expect
                    to  attend  the meeting in  person,
                    please  vote on the matters  to  be
                    considered   at  the   meeting   by
                    completing the enclosed  Proxy  and
                    mailing it promptly in the enclosed
                    envelope.


                             PROXY STATEMENT


   This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation  of
proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of Raymond James Financial, Inc.
(the  "Company")  for  the  Annual Meeting of Shareholders  to  be  held  on
February 13, 199712, 1998 at 4:3000 p.m., or any adjournment thereof.

  If the accompanying proxy form is completed, signed and returned, the shares
represented  thereby will be voted at the meeting.  Delivery  of  the  proxy
does  not  affect the right to vote in person should the shareholder  attend
the  meeting.  The shareholder may revoke the proxy at any time prior to the
voting thereof.

  The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock represented
at  the  meeting,  either in person or by proxy, will be  required  for  the
election of any nominee, or the ratification or approval of any proposal  or
other business that may properly come before the meeting.

   The annual report of the Company for the year ended September 27, 199626, 1997 is
being  mailed with this proxy statement to shareholders entitled to vote  at
the  meeting.   The  cost of all proxy solicitation  will  be  paid  by  the
Company.


                      SHAREHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE
                                   AND
                          PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

  Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 199617, 1997 will be
entitled  to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.  At  that  date,
there  were  20,970,68131,878,062 shares of common stock outstanding and  entitled  to
vote.   Shareholders are entitled to one vote per share on all matters.  All
references to number of shares in this proxy statement have been adjusted to
reflect the 3-for-2 stock split paid to shareholders on April 3, 1997.

   The following table sets forth, as of December 13, 1996,17, 1997, information with
respect to the common stock ownership of each person known by the Company to
own  beneficially more than 5% of the shares of the Company's common  stock,
and of all Executive Officers and Directors as a group:

                                               Shares (1)Beneficially     Percent
       Name                  Address         Beneficially Owned Shares (1)   of Class
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas A. James       880 Carillon Parkway     5,147,374 (2)          24.5%7,191,602(2)      22.56%
                      St. Petersburg,
                      Florida  33716

All Executive Officers
and                            6,822,960              32.5% Directors as a Group                       (189,110,426         28.58%
(15 Persons)

(1)  Includes shares credited to Employee Stock Ownership Plan accounts  and
  shares which can be acquired within sixty days of record date through  the
  exercise of stock options.

(2)  Includes 1,698,525400,672 shares owned by the James' Children Annuity  Trust  of
  which  Thomas A. James is a beneficiary and for which Sound Trust Company,
  a  wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, serves as trustee. In addition,
  includes  shares  held by two trusts, of which he is  not  a  beneficiary:
  2,341,787  shares  owned  by the Robert A. James Trust*, establishedTrust,  for  the benefit of members of the James family,which  Sound
  Trust  Company serves as trustee, and 267,115113,266 shares owned by  the  James'
  Children Annuity Trust*,Grandchildren's  Trust, for which SoundRaymond James Trust Company,  a  wholly-ownedwholly-
  owned subsidiary of the Company, serves as trustee, and  75,511
  shares  owned  by  the James' Grandchildren's Trust*,  forboth of which Raymond
  James  Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, serveshave  as
  trustee.

  *The beneficiaries of these trusts are theother James family members, including Huntington  A.  James.
  Thomas A. James and his son, Huntington A. James.disclaims any beneficial interest in these two trusts.


                    PROPOSAL 1:  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

      ElevenTwelve  directors are to be elected to hold office until  the  Annual
Meeting of Shareholders in 19981999 and until their respective successors shall
have been elected.  NineEleven of the nominees were elected by the shareholders
on February 15, 1996,13, 1997, to serve as Directors of the Company until the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders in 1997.  Mr. Zank1998.  Ms. Biever was appointed by the Board  of
Directors  in  May 1996.   Mr.
Herbert  E. Ehlers, who has been a director of the Company since  1986,  is
not standing for re-election since his investment advisory company, Liberty
Investment  Management, Inc., recently agreed to be  acquired  by  Goldman,
Sachs Co.August 1997. It is intended that proxies  received  will  be
voted to elect the nominees named below.

      Should any nominee decline or be unable to accept such nomination  to
serve  as  a  director, due to events which are not presently  anticipated,
discretionary authority may be exercised to vote for a substitute nominee.

                                 Principal Occupation, (1)
                                    Directorships and             Director
    Nominee           Age        Security Ownership    (2)          Since
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angela M. Biever       44     Independent Consultant since 1997;       1997
                              Various senior management positions
                              with First Data Corporation, an
                              information and transaction processor
                              from 1991 to 1997, beginning as Senior
                              Vice President, Finance and Planning
                              and culminating as Executive Vice
                              President, Integrated Services; Vice
                              President, American Express Company from
                              1987 to 1991.
                              Member of Audit and Compensation
                              Committees.
                              Common shares owned: 1,000  (.003%)

Jonathan A. Bulkley    6263      Managing Director, Barents Group LLC     1986
                               (emerging markets/capital markets
                               development consulting) since 1992;
                               President and CEO, Charterhouse
                               Media Group (investment banking) from
                               1988 until 1992; President and CEO
                               Jesup & Lamont Securities Group, Inc.
                               (securities broker-dealer) from 1987
                               until 1988; Prior to 1986, President and
                               CEO of Moseley, Hallgarten, Estabrook
                               & Weeden Inc. (securities broker-dealer).
                               Member of Audit Committee, Chairman of
                               Compensation Committee.
                               Common shares owned:  23,687 (.11%30,280 (.09%)

Thomas S. Franke       5556      President and COO of Raymond James &     1991
                               Associates, Inc. ("RJA")* since
                               January 1991; President and CEO
                               of Blunt Ellis & Loewi, Inc. (securities
                               broker-dealer) from 1986 to 1990.
                               Common shares owned:  77,887 (.37%126,600 (.40%)

Francis S. Godbold     5354      President of Raymond James Financial,    1977
                               Inc.("RJF"); Executive Vice President 
                               of RJA.
                               Common shares owned:  484,995 (2.31%605,170 (1.90%)


M. Anthony  Greene     5859      Chairman,CEO and President ofInvestment 1975
                               Management & Research, Inc. ("IM&R")*;
                               Executive Vice President of RJF.
                               Common shares owned:  267,555 (1.28%397,006 (1.25%)

Harvard H.Hill, Jr.    6061      Managing General Partner of Houston      1986
                               Partners (venture capital) since July, 1985.1985;
                               Prior to 1985, President and CEO
                               of Criterion Investments; President
                               and COO of Rotan Mosle; and Vice
                               President of Dean Witter & Co.
                               Director of Wonderware Corporation.
                               Chairman of Audit Committee,
                               Member of Compensation Committee
                               Common shares owned:  5,500 (.03%6,000  (.02%)

Huntington A.James       28A. James    29      Syndicate Associate,RJA since 1994.    ----1994;     1996   
                               MBA   Darden   School   of   Business,
                               University of Virginia, 1992-1994.1992-1994;
                               Corporate Finance analyst, Smith
                               Barney, 1990-1992.
                               Son of Thomas A. James.
                               Common shares owned: 53,08178,151  (.25%)

Thomas A. James        5455      Chairman of the Board and Chief          1970
                               Executive Officer of RJF; Chairman
                               of the Board of RJA.  Director and
                               Officer of various affiliated
                               entities. Past Chairman of the
                               Securities Industry Association.
                               Director of Arbor Health Care Corporation
                               (nursing homes); and IMCO Recycling, Inc.
                               (metal recycling)and World of Science,
                               Inc. (retail).
                               Common shares beneficially
                               owned: 5,147,374 (24.5%7,191,602   (22.56%)(3)

Paul W. Marshall       5556      Chairman and CEO of Rochester            1993
                               Shoe Tree Co., Inc. since 1992;
                               Senior Lecturer on Business Administration
                               at Harvard since 1996.1996;
                               Adjunct Professor at Harvard Graduate
                               School of Business from 1989 through
                               1992; Chairman of Industrial Economics,
                               Inc. from 1989 through 1992.
                               Director of Applied Extrusion Technologies
                               (manufacturer); and Foodbrands America, Inc.
                                 (food processing and distribution).
                               Member of Audit and Compensation
                               Committees.
                               Common shares owned:  6,000 (.03%11,250 (.04%)

J. Stephen Putnam      5354      President of Robert Thomas Securi-       1989
                               ties, Inc. ("RTS")*; Executive Vice
                               President of RJF.  Vice President and
                               Director of F.L. Putnam Securities.
                               Treasurer of Meescheart Fund, Inc.
                               (mutual fund).  Director of F.L.
                               Putnam Investment Management Co.
                               (investment advisor).
                               Common shares owned:  80,148121,279 (.38%)

Robert F. Shuck        5960      Vice Chairman of RJF;Executive Vice     1970
                               President of RJA from 1975 through
                               1991.
                               Common shares owned:  331,125 (1.58%447,444 (1.40%)


Dennis W. Zank         4243      Executive Vice President, Operations     1996
                               and Administration, RJA.  Director
                               and
                                 Officer of several affiliated entities.
                               Common shares owned:  37,71558,966 (.18%)

* A wholly-owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc.
(1)  Unless  otherwise  noted,  the nominee  has  had  the  same  principal
     occupation and employment during the last five years.
(2)  Includes  shares  credited  to  their Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan
     accounts and shares which can be acquired within sixty days of  record
     date through the exercise of stock options.
(3)  See footnotes under the Principal ShareholdersShareholders' Ownership table.

      The Board of Directors held 4four regular meetings during fiscal 1996.1997.
Each  of  the directors attended a minimum of seventy five percent  of  the
meetings  held during the year. Ms. Biever has attended all meetings  since
her appointment.

      The  current  standing committees of the Board of Directors  are  the
Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.  These committees met  four
times  during  the fiscal year ended September 27, 1996.26, 1997.   Each  member  of
these committees attended a minimum of seventy five percent of the meetings
held  during theeach director's tenure this year.  The function of  the  Audit
Committee  is  to  ensure that the Company has taken appropriate  steps  to
safeguard  assets,  operate  efficiently and  generate  accurate  financial
information.    The  Committee  meets  periodically  with   the   Company's
independent accountants to review the scope and results of the audit and to
consider  various accounting and auditing matters related to  the  Company,
supervises  the  Company's  system of internal  controls  and  reviews  the
results   of   regulatory   examinations.    The   Committee   also   makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the appointment of  the
Company's  independent  public  accountants.   The  Compensation  Committee
reviews  and approves the compensation to be paid to executive officers  of
the Company and its subsidiaries and performs certain duties prescribed  by
the Board with respect to employee benefit plans.

      Mssrs.Directors Marshall, Hill, Bulkley and BulkleyBiever receive a $6,000  annual
retainer, a $1,500 attendance fee for each regular meeting, $250  for  each
telephone   meeting,  and  a  $250  attendance  fee  for  each  Audit   and
Compensation Committee meeting.

Outside Director Stock Options
- ------------------------------
      The inside  Directors who are also employees of the Company  have  voted  in
favor  of  a  non-qualified  stock option issuances under whichplan for  the  Company's  outside
Directors  have been granted non-qualified options covering  73,060253,125 shares of the Company's common  stock.   These
options,  30,87829,061  of  which were outstanding at  September  27, 1996,26,  1997,  are
exercisable  at  prices  ranging from $15.39$10.26 to  $22.13$27.50  at  various  times
through November 2001.August 2000.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
- -------------------------------------------------------
     Robert Shuck, Vice Chairman and Director was late in filing three Form
4  Reports with respect to the disposition of 3,735 shares of common  stock
during  February,  March and April of 1997 and the diversification  of  his
Employee  Stock Ownership Plan balance by the disposition of 41,528  shares
of common stock from his account.




         COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


Overview and Philosophy
- -----------------------
       The  Compensation  Committee  (the  "Committee")  reviews  all  corporate
compensation and benefit plan policies, as well as the structure and amount
of  all  compensation for executive officers of the Company.  The Committee
is  composed exclusively of outside directors of the Company and is
currently chaired
by Mr. Bulkley.

      The  Committee's  goal  is  to establish  and  maintain  compensation
policies that will enable the Company to attract, motivate and retain high-
quality  executives  and  to  ensure that their  individual  interests  are
aligned with the long-term interests of the Company and its investors.

      The Company's objectives are met through a compensation package which
includes  four major components - base salary, annual bonus,  stock  option
awards and retirement plans.

      The  cash compensation components (base salary and annual bonus)  are
heavily  weighted  towardstoward annual bonus.  These bonuses  are  based  on  the
attainment  of performance goals, specifically the profits of an individual
subsidiary/department or on the profits of the Company  as  a  whole.   The
emphasis  on profit-based compensation serves two functions; it  encourages
executives to be conscious of the "bottom line" and it keeps the  Company's
base  salary structure at a modest level, which is advantageous to the firm
given the cyclical nature of the securities industry.

      The  third component of the compensation package, incentive and  nonqualifiednon-
qualified stock option awards, is designed to provide a direct link between
the    long-term  interests   of   executives  and   shareholders.  Historically, options have beenOptions
are granted every threetwo years to key management employees.  From time to time
special  awards may be granted when a unique situation exists,  or  if  job
performance or a change in job duties warrants.

      Beginning  in fiscal 1996, the frequency of option grants to key management
employees was increased to every two years.

      The fourth and final component of the compensation package is Company
contributions  to  various retirement plans.  The Company  maintains  three
qualified  retirement  plans;plans:  a profit sharing  plan,  an  employee  stock
ownership plan and a 401(k) plan.  Contributions to the profit sharing  and
employee  stock  ownership plans, if any, are dependent  upon  the  overall
profits  of the Company.  Since inception of the 401(k) plan in  1987,  the
Company  has matched a portion of the first $1,000 contributed annually  by
employees  to  their 401(k) accounts.  Effective January 1, 1994  the  plan
provides  for the Company to match 100% of the first $500 and  50%  of  the
next  $500  of  compensation deferred by each participant annually.   These
three  plans are offered to all full-time employees who meet the length  of
service  requirements (six months for the 401(k) plan and one year for  the
other  two  plans).   The  Company also maintains a non-qualified  deferred
management bonus plan.  Eligibility is restricted to those who meet certain
compensation levels set annually by the Board of Directors.  The class year
vesting schedule of this plan is designed to encourage long-term employment
with the firm, and the earliest a participant may become fully vested is at
age  55  with  20 years of service.  Contributions to this  plan  are  also
dependent  upon  the Company's earnings.  In addition, the Company  has  an
employee  stock purchase plan which allows employees to purchase shares  of
the Company's common stock on four specified dates throughout the year at a
15% discount from the market value, subject to certain limitations.

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
- -------------------------------------------
      In  keeping with the general compensation philosophy outlined  above,
Mr. James' base salary for calendar 19971998 will be $226,000,$237,000, which represents
a  4.6%4.9% increase from the $216,000$226,000 received in 1996.1997.  Mr. James' salary  is
subject  to  an annual review, as is true of all employees.   It  was  last
adjusted in December 1995,November 1996, to be effective January 1, 1996.1997.

      The  determination of 1997 pretax profits for purposes  of  computing
bonuses  for  executives, including Mr. James, excluded the gain  from  the
sale  of  Liberty  Investment Management, Inc.  In  determining  the  bonus
offered to Mr. James for fiscal 19961997 the Committee considered many factors,
including the following:
      *    19961997 was the twelfththirteenth consecutive record year for the firm
          in terms of revenues;*
      Record net income, increasing 43%21% over the prior year;*
      Book  value  per share increased to $15.63,$13.31, a 21%28%  increase
          over the prior yearend;
          *
      Return on average equity for the year was 22.4%21.4%;* and
      The  compensation of the chief executive officers of  other
          similar   brokerage  firms,  as  of  their  most   recent   proxy
          statements.

                * Does not give effect to the gain from the sale of Liberty
          Investment Management, Inc.


                                        Compensation Committee
                                        December 9, 19961997


                                        Jonathan A. Bulkley, Chairman
                                        Harvard H. Hill, Jr.
                                        Paul W. Marshall
                                        Angela M. Biever


          PROPOSAL 2:  TO RATIFY INCENTIVE COMPENSATION CRITERIA
             FOR CERTAIN OF THE COMPANY'S EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

      InSeveral  years  ago,  the  past two years' proxy statements, dated December 29, 1995 and
December  28, 1994, executive officers'Company adopted a  policy  of  formalizing
incentive compensation calculations were formalized.for executive officers.  This was  done
in  consideration  of  the limitations on tax deductibility  imposed  under
Section  162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.   Section
162(m) limits deductions for compensation in excess of $1 million per  year
by a public corporation to any one of its executive officers unless certain
criteria  are  met.  This rule requires that the incentive compensation  be
based on attainment of one or more performance goals and that the Company's
shareholders  approve both the performance goals and the  formula  used  to
calculate the payment amount.

      The intention of the Committee remains that the executive officers be
compensated  on  a basis consistent with prior years; i.e.,  for  obtaining
certain performance goals.  It is the Company's practice that a portion  of
any  formula-driven  bonus amount can be withheld  based  on  a  subjective
performance  evaluation.  The Compensation Committee  considers  the  bonus
formulas  for executive officers each year. In that regard, Mr.  James  has
advised  the  Compensation Committee of his desire to  reduce  his  maximum
bonus  amount  for  fiscal 1998 from 1.5% to 1.3% of pre-tax  profits.  The
Committee also approved a change in the formulas for the Presidents of  the
two  independent contractor broker-dealers to create incentive for  greater
collaborative  efforts to improve the profitability  of  both  firms.   For
purposes  of determining incentive compensation for the executive  officers
for  fiscal  1997,1998, the Committee has approved the executive bonus  formulas
described below and recommends a vote FOR the approval of these amended  formulas by
shareholders.

Recommended Bonus Formulas for Executive Officers
- -------------------------------------------------
                                                   Percent for Calculation
Executive Officer          Basis                       of Maximum Bonus
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas A. James     Total company pretax profits            1.50%1.30%


Francis S. Godbold  Subjective                              ----


Thomas S. Franke    RJA retail division's pretax            4.00%
                    profits per Retail
                    Contribution Report*, and
                    pretax profits of the RJA
                    fixed income department,
                    Planning Corporation of
                    America, Inc. and Internationalcertain
                    international operations


M. Anthony Greene   IM&RCombined pretax profits of              2.75%
                    IM&R and RTS per Retail          4.50%                 
                    Contribution Report*


J. Stephen Putnam   RTSCombined pretax profits of              1.75% 
                    IM&R and RTS per Retail           4.00%                 
                    Contribution Report*

                    Correspondent clearing                  2.50%
                    department's pretax profits
                    per Retail Contribution
                    Report*


* The   Retail  Contribution  Report  adjusts  financial  statement  pretax
  profits  for items related to the retail sales force, primarily a  credit
  for  interest income on cash balances arising from retail customers,  and
  also  includes adjustments to actual clearing costs, a portion of  mutual
  fund  revenues  and expenses, credit for correspondent  clearing  profits
  and accruals for benefit expenses.

                        SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
remuneration  earned  during  the last three  fiscal  years  by  the  Chief
Executive  Officer  and  each  of the four other  most  highly  compensated
executive officers of the Company.
                                                             Long-Term
                          Annual Compensation              Compensation
                     -------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Other
                                                   Annual    Stock   All Other
                Fiscal                     Commis -Compen-Commis- Compen-   Option   Compen-
Name             Year   Salary   Bonus (1)  sions  sation(1)sation(2) Awards  sation(2)sation(3)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas A.James 1996$A. James   1997 $223,005 $1,450,000 $288,114      -      -     $62,173
Chairman and CEO  1996  212,500  $1,250,000(3)$1,250,000  210,242      -      -      $58,389
Chairman58,389
                  1995  200,100    875,000(3)875,000  144,462      -      -      45,795

and CEO        1994 194,000    760,000    161,239      -      -      41,775

Francis S. Godbold        1996 173,000  2,066,252(3)  23,630  $163,443  5,000   58,271Godbold1997  193,250    700,000   25,142 $143,400  22,500   62,788
President of RJF, 1996  173,000  2,066,252   23,630  163,443   7,500   58,271
Exec. VP of RJA   1995  171,250    741,000(3)741,000   21,435   62,772    -      45,708

Executive
 VP of RJA     1994 164,000  1,058,401     21,148    87,144   -      41,708

M. Anthony Greene 1996 209,500  1,000,000(3)     4621997  219,500  1,020,000        -      5,000   58,093-    22,500   62,586
President of IM&R 1996  209,500  1,000,000      462      -     7,500   58,093
                  1995  200,100    772,000(3)772,000       13      -      -      45,577

1994 192,050    678,451         28Thomas S. Franke  1997  192,500    855,000    4,888      -    -     41,608

Thomas S.Franke199622,500   62,063
President         1996  189,250  1,000,000(3)(4)1,000,000(4) 4,524      -     5,0007,500   56,897
 President & COO of RJA     1995  182,500    375,000(3)375,000    2,244      -      -      45,239

COO of RJA     1994 176,000    420,000      2,173J.Stephen Putnam  1997  138,250    633,565    7,271      -    -     41,349

J. Stephen
 Putnam        1996 131,600    492,000(3)   6,372       -    5,000   56,80322,500   62,316
President of RTS  1996  131,600    492,000    6,372      -     7,500   56,803
                  1995  126,150    293,273(3)293,273    7,910      -      -      33,540



1994 120,800    257,771      8,517       -      -     38,728



(1)  In  accordance with the bonus formulas approved at the annual meetings
     of  the  shareholders  on February 13, 1997,  February  15,  1996  and
     February 16, 1995.

(2)  Represents distributions received by Mr. Godbold from investor limited
     partnerships which were syndicated by, and have as a General  Partner,
     a  subsidiary of the Company. The distributions were a portion of  the
     General  Partner's  incentive profits ownership  interest,  which  Mr.
     Godbold had purchased in prior years for a nominal amount.

(2)(3)  This column includes the amount of the Company's contributions to  its
     401(k)  Plan, Profit Sharing Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan,  and
     Deferred Management Bonus Plan.

(3)  In  accordance with the bonus formulas approved at the annual meetings
     of the shareholders on February 15, 1996 and February 16, 1995.

(4)  In  addition to the bonus calculated by the bonus formula approved  at
     the  annual  meeting  of the shareholders on February  15,  1996,  Mr.
     Franke's  bonus  includes  a one-time special  award  of  $248,000  in
     consideration of his efforts in the day to day management  of  certain
     Equity  Capital Markets departments of RJA and in introducing  certain
     investment banking business during fiscal 1996.


Incentive Stock Options
- -----------------------
      The  following tables contain information concerning options  granted
to,  and  exercised  by,  the executive officers included  in  the  Summary
Compensation Table during the fiscal year.

                                Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
                    ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Potential Realizable
                            % of Total                   Potential Realizable
                             Options                     Value at Assumed
                             Granted toOptions                     Annual Rates of
                    Options  EmployeesGranted   Exercise  Expir-  Stock Appreciation
                    Granted in Fiscal   Price    ration  for Option Term(2)
Name                (#) (1)    Year   ($/share)   Date      5%        10%
                    ---------------------------------------------------------
Francis S. Godbold  5,000     1.66   $22.12522,500   4.33%    $18.917  12/14/00 $30,564   $67,53821/01  $117,594  $259,853
M. Anthony Greene   5,000     1.66    22.12522,500   4.33%    $18.917  12/14/00  30,564    67,53821/01  $117,594  $259,853
Thomas S. Franke    5,000     1.66    22.12522,500   4.33%    $18.917  12/14/00  30,564    67,53821/01  $117,594  $259,853
J. Stephen Putnam   5,000     1.66    22.12522,500   4.33%    $18.917  12/14/00  30,564    67,53821/01  $117,594  $259,853


(1)  All  of  these options are non-qualified and were granted on  November
     14, 1995.21,  1996.  The options vest 60% after three years, an additional  20%
     after four years and the remaining 20% after five years.
(2)  Potential realized values represent the future value, net of  exercise
     price,  of  the options granted if the Company's stock  price  was  to
     appreciate  by  5%  and 10% during each year of the awards'  five-year
     life.

                    Aggregated Option Exercises during
                   Last Fiscal Year and Year End Value
                   -----------------------------------
                                                              Value of
                                            Number of        Unexercised
                                           Unexercised      In-the-Money
                                            Options at       Options at
                      Shares              Sept. 27, 199626, 1997   Sept. 27, 199626, 1997
                     Acquired    Value    (Exercisable/    (Exercisable/
Name                on Exercise Realized  Unexercisable)   Unexercisable)
                   ---------------------------------------------------------
Francis S. Godbold      -                -     4,500/ 8,000    $66,749/155,1259,000/32,250   $229,942/$584,300
M. Anthony Greene       -                -     4,500/ 8,000     66,749/155,1259,000/32,250    229,942/ 584,300
Thomas S. Franke       33,750   $509,389    525/11,975      7,787/214,0851,050   $ 21,832      0/39,675          0/ 774,003
J. Stephen Putnam       -                -     4,500/ 8,000     66,749/155,1259,000/32,250    229,942/ 584,300

Comparative Stock Performance
- -----------------------------
      The  graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return  on
the  common shares of the Company for the last five fiscal years  with  the
cumulative  total return on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, the  Financial
Service  Analytics stock price index ("FSA index") for regional  securities
brokerage  firms and the Value
Line  Securities  Brokerage  Indexsecurities industry over the same period (assuming
an  investment  of $100 in each on October 1, 19911992 and the reinvestment  of
all  dividends). The FSA index for the regional securities brokerage  firms
is comprised of 16 publicly traded regional securities firms, including the
Company. The FSA index for the securities industry is comprised of  the  16
publicly  traded regional firms and 13 publicly traded national  securities
firms.  The  Company  decided to change its industry  index  this  year  to
improve comparability and consistency within our peer group.

Name                      1991                          1992     1993     1994    1995     1996    Securities Brokers      $100.00  $111.30  $196.49 $148.96  $245.96  $259.741997
Raymond James Financial,Inc.$100.00  99.43   164.71  139.57   199.77   226.52$166.11  $140.03 $200.56  $227.49 $513.45
Regional Securities 
  Brokerage  Firms           100.00   165.69   137.60  216.94   249.45  610.95
Securities  Industry         100.00   171.25   132.33  207.11   214.50  444.61
Standard & Poors 500         100.00   111.20   125.68  130.62   169.56   201.70112.97   117.12  151.92   182.79  256.69

Source:  Financial Service Analytics

                 TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT & DIRECTORS

      IM&R  leases  its  Atlanta, Georgia headquarters  office  from  Eagle
Management  Associates  (no  relation to Eagle Asset  Management,  Inc.,  a
subsidiary  of  the  Company),  which  is  owned  by  M.  Anthony   Greene.
Management believes the rental paid to Eagle Management Associates, $77,800$80,000
in  fiscal  1996,1997, does not exceed that charged by unaffiliated parties  for
similar space.

      Mr. Francis S. Godbold, President and a Director of the Company, owns
7.5%  of  the  outstanding shares of common stock of  RJ  Properties,  Inc.
("RJP").,  a  subsidiary of the Company.  Such shares were acquired  by  Mr.
Godbold  for  nominal consideration in connection with the organization  of
RJP in 1980.

      In fiscal 1995, the Company committed to invest $1 million in Houston
Partners  -  a venture capital fund managed by Houston Partners,  of  which
Harvard  H.  Hill, Jr. is the Managing General Partner.  The commitment  is
recorded  as  an  investment  and a liability in  the  Company's  financial
statements.

       As   of  January  1,  1995,  Liberty  Investment  Management,   Inc.
("Liberty"), was formed by Herbert E. Ehlers, director and former President
and Chief Investment Officer of Eagle Asset Management, Inc. ("Eagle").  At
this   time,   Liberty  assumed  responsibility  for  providing  investment
management  services  to  institutional growth equity  accounts  previously
managed  by  Eagle.   Pursuant  to Ehlers'  employment  contract  with  the
Company, the Company was to receive 50% of the revenues from these accounts
through  December 31, 1999 while bearing none of the expenses.  At the  end
of the 5-
year5-year period, the Company was to have the option to purchase 20% of
Liberty  at  a  predetermined  price.  However, subsequent to year end,On January  2,  1997,  Liberty  entered
into  an agreement to sellsold
substantially  all  of its assets to Goldman Sachs Asset  Management.Management,  Inc.
Accordingly,  the Company Eagle,  Ehlers  and  Liberty
reached an agreement whereby the Company will receivereceived a lump sum settlement of  $30.6  million
for its remaining three years' interest in Liberty's revenue stream and itsthe
Company's option to purchase 20% of Liberty at a future date.

     The amount and timing
of  the  payments  to  the  Company from Liberty are  contingent  upon  the
occurrence  of  several  events prior to or  shortly  after  the  scheduled
closing date in January of 1997.  The Company will ultimately receive up to
$30  million as its settlement amount.  Eagle will continue to receive  50%
of fee revenues until the closing.

     The Company, in the ordinary course of its business, extends credit to
certain
margin  accounts  in which certain of its officers and  directors  have  an
interest,  in connection with the purchase of securities.  These extensions
of  credit  have  been  made  on substantially the  same  terms,  including
interest  rates  and  collateral,  as those  prevailing  at  the  time  for
comparable  transactions with non-affiliated persons, and  do  not  involve
more  than  normal  risk  of  collectibility or present  other  unfavorable
features.   The Company also, from time to time and in the ordinary  course
of its business, enters into transactions involving the purchase or sale of
securities as principal from, or to, directors, officers and employees  and
accounts  in  which they have an interest.  These purchases  and  sales  of
securities  on  a  principal basis are effected on substantially  the  same
terms as similar transactions with unaffiliated third parties.

 PROPOSAL 3: SELECTIONRATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The firm of Price Waterhouse LLP has served as independent accountants
of   the   Company  since  fiscal  1979,  and  has  audited  the  Company's
broker-dealer subsidiaries since fiscal 1970.

     A representative of Price Waterhouse LLP will be present at the Annual
Meeting  of Shareholders.  Such representative will be available to respond
to appropriate questions and may make a statement if he so desires.

      The  Board  of  Directors recommends a vote FOR ratification  of  the
appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as the Company's auditors for 1998.

           PROPOSAL 4:  TO AMEND THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE
      THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY
                                     
     The Company's Board of Directors recommends an amendment to the
Company's Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("common stock"), from
50,000,000 to 100,000,000 shares. No change is being recommended in the
currently authorized 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.10 par value.
At the record date of December 17, 1997, 31,878,062 shares of common stock
were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued
and outstanding. The unissued preferred stock may be issued with such
rights, preferences and limitations as the Board of Directors of the
Company may determine from time to time.

     Presented below is the complete text of the proposed amended first
paragraph of Article IV of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.

                                ARTICLE IV
                                     
                                     
                               Stock Clause
                                     
     Shares Authorized. The aggregate number of shares of stock which this
corporation shall have authority to issue shall be one hundred million
(100,000,000) shares of common stock, each with a par value of one cent
($.01) and ten million (10,000,000) shares of preferred stock, each with a
par value of ten cents ($.10).

      Since the Company has 31,878,062 common shares outstanding out of  an
authorized  50,000,000  shares, the Board of Directors  believes  that  the
proposed increase in common stock is desirable to provide the Company  with
the  ability,  if  the  need arises, to issue shares  of  common  stock  in
connection  with  future opportunities for expanding its  business  through
acquisitions,  as  well  as  stock for dividends,  stock  splits,  employee
benefit plans, or for other corporate purposes. The Board of Directors  has
no other plans, agreements or understandings for the issuance or use of the
proposed additional shares of common stock. Authorized but unissued  shares
of  the  Company's common and preferred stock may be issued at such  times,
for such purposes and for such considerations as the Board of Directors may
determine  to  be  appropriate  without  further  authorization  from   the
Company's shareholders unless otherwise required by applicable law or stock
exchange rules. In addition, shareholders do not have preemptive rights.

      The  Board  of  Directors of the Company recommends a  vote  FOR  the
adoption   of   the  proposed  amendment  to  the  Company's  Articles   of
Incorporation.



     PROPOSAL 5:  AMENDMENT OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN

      Under  the 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), the Company
may grant options to its management personnel for up to 1,575,000 shares of
common  stock.  Options  are  granted to key administrative  employees  and
registered representatives of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. who  achieve
certain  gross commission levels. The exercise price of each option  equals
the  market  price  of  the Company's stock on the date  of  grant  and  an
option's maximum term is 10 years. Options are generally exercisable in the
36th  to 72nd months following the date of grant and only in the event that
the grantee is an employee of the Company at that time.

      Subject  to the approval of the shareholders, the Board of Directors,
as of November 18, 1997, approved an increase in the total number of shares
authorized  for  option  grants under the Plan  from  1,575,000  shares  to
3,075,000 shares. Options covering 1,533,809 shares have been granted under
the plan as of December 17, 1997.

The Board of Directors recommends the shareholders vote FOR this proposal.


                              OTHER MATTERS


      Proposals  which shareholders intend to present at  the  19981999  annual
meeting  of  shareholders must be received by the  Company  no  later  than
October 1, 19971998 to be eligible for inclusion in the proxy material for that
meeting.

      Management knows of no matter to be brought before the meeting  which
is not referred to in the Notice of Meeting.  If any other matters properly
come  before  the  meeting, it is intended that the shares  represented  by
proxy will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of
the persons voting them.


                                   By Order of the Board of Directors,

                                   /s/ Barry Augenbraun, Secretary