Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ___________________ to ___________________

 Commission file number 1-9305

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

STIFEL, NICOLAUS PROFIT SHARING 401(k) PLAN

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive offices:

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
One Financial Plaza
501 N. Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2188

Issuer's telephone number, including area code 314-342-2000



Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan
EIN 43-0538770 PN 001
Accountants' Report and Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003


 

Contents

Independent Accountants' Report

1

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

2

Financial Statements

 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

3

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

4

Notes to Financial Statements

5-9

Supplemental Schedule

 

Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

10

Signatures

11

   



 

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT

Administrative Committee
Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan
St. Louis, Missouri

We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan as of December 31, 2004, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. The financial statements of Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003, were audited by other accountants whose report dated June 25, 2004, expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the 2004 financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan as of December 31, 2004, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the 2004 basic financial statements, and, in our opinion, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the 2004 basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

/s/ BKD, LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
June 17, 2005

Federal Employer Identification Number 44-0160260

Page 1


 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Administrative Committee and Trustees
Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan
St. Louis, Missouri

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan (the "Plan") as of December 31, 2003, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2003, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
June 25, 2004

Page 2


Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2004 and 2003

2004

2003

     

Investments

$ 64,815,805

$ 54,139,106

     

Net Assets Available for Benefits

$ 64,815,805

$ 54,139,106

Page 3


 

 

 

Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

2004

2003

     

Investment Income

   

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

$ 6,531,271

$ 10,843,557

Interest and dividends

524,083

324,184

     

Net investment income

7,055,354

11,167,741

     

Contributions

   

Employer

423,159

416,483

Participants

6,183,329

5,372,684

Rollovers

749,246

196,522

 

7,355,734

5,985,689

     

Total additions

14,411,088

17,153,430

     

Deductions

   

Benefits paid to participants

3,667,429

2,307,762

Administrative expenses

66,960

42,638

     

Total deductions

3,734,389

2,350,400

     

Net Increase

10,676,699

14,803,030

     

Net Assets Available for Benefits, Beginning of Year

54,139,106

39,336,076

     

Net Assets Available for Benefits, End of Year

$ 64,815,805

$ 54,139,106

     

Page 4


Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2004 and 2003

  1. Description of the Plan
  2. The following description of the Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan (the "Plan") provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions, which is available from the plan administrator.

    General

    The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all employees of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (the "Company") and affiliates who meet the eligibility provisions of the Plan. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

    Contributions

    Each year, the Company contributes a percentage of eligible participant contributions as determined by the Company's Board of Directors. For the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Board elected to match 50% of the first $1,000 contributed by the participant.

    In addition, each year the Company may make a discretionary contribution based on profitability. Discretionary contributions are allocated to the participants employed on the last day of the Plan year on the basis of participants' compensation. There were no discretionary contributions in 2004 or 2003.

    Participants may contribute an amount from 1% to 100% of their eligible compensation in increments of 1%. Contributions are subject to certain limitations. Participants direct the investment of their contributions as well as the Company's contribution into various investment options offered by the Plan. The Plan currently offers fifteen pooled separate accounts, one guaranteed account, one mutual fund, the common stock of the Company's parent and a self-directed brokerage account as investment options for participants.

    Participant Accounts

    Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution, the Company's contributions and plan earnings and is charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account.

    Page 5


    Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

    Notes to Financial Statements
    December 31, 2004 and 2003

    Vesting

    Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions plus earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company's contributions portion of their accounts plus earnings thereon is based on years of service. A participant is fully vested after three years of service. The nonvested balance is forfeited upon termination of service. Forfeitures are used to reduce the Company's contributions and then, to the extent any forfeitures remain, reallocated to participants' accounts.

    Payment of Benefits

    Upon termination of service, an employee may elect to receive a lump-sum amount equal to the vested value of his account, net of any outstanding loan balance. Upon death, a participant's account is paid in a lump sum to the designated beneficiary.

    Participant Loans

    Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance, whichever is less. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at rates that range from 5.0% to 10.5%, which are commensurate with local prevailing rates as determined by the plan administrator. The repayment period shall not exceed five years, unless such loan is used to acquire a dwelling unit, which will be used as the principal residence of the participant, in which case the repayment period shall not exceed ten years, and interest is charged at prime rate plus one percent.

    Plan Termination

    Although it has not expressed an intention to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan, subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.

  3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
  4. Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition

    Pooled separate accounts are valued at estimated fair value as provided by the Trustee. The mutual fund, common stock and self-directed brokerage account are stated at fair value based upon quoted market prices. Participant loans and investments in the guaranteed income account are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.

    Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

    Page 6


    Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

    Notes to Financial Statements
    December 31, 2004 and 2003

    Use of Estimates

    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

    Plan Tax Status

    The Plan adopted a prototype plan document which obtained its latest determination letter on February 6, 2002, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan and related trust, as then designed, were in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore not subject to tax. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the plan administrator believes that the Plan and related trust are currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.

    Payment of Benefits

    Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution.

    Reclassifications

    Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2003 financial statement to conform to the 2004 financial statement presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on changes in net assets available for benefits.

    Page 7


    Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

    Notes to Financial Statements
    December 31, 2004 and 2003

  5. Investments
  6. The Plan's investments are held by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company ("Prudential"). The following table presents the Plan's investments. Investments that represent 5% or more of total plan assets in either year are separately identified.

     

    2004

    2003

    Investments at Fair Value

       
         

    Common Stock

       

    Stifel Financial Corp

    $ 5,689,724

    $ 3,617,843

         

    Mutual Fund

       

    American Funds Investment Company of America

    8,980,627

    2,555,794

         

    Self-Directed Brokerage Account

    6,480,306

    5,555,984

         

    Investments at Estimated Fair Value

       
         

    Pooled Separate Accounts

       

    AIM Premier Equity Fund

    - -

    4,833,633

    Large Cap Growth/Goldman Sachs Fund

    3,449,667

    3,709,083

    Large Cap Value/Wellington Management

    5,367,285

    1,207,191

    Lazard Equity Account

    - -

    3,045,820

    Small Cap Growth/Timessquare Fund

    6,427,299

    6,127,712

    Small Cap Value/Perkins, Wolf, McDonnell Fund

    3,424,824

    2,455,627

    Templeton Foreign Account

    4,778,219

    3,753,757

    Other

    10,517,653

    7,858,105

         

    Prudential Guaranteed Income Accoun

    8,036,723

    8,259,422

         

    Participant Loans

    1,663,478

    1,159,135

         

    Total investments

    $ 64,815,805

    $ 54,139,106

    Page 8


    Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

    Notes to Financial Statements
    December 31, 2004 and 2003

    During the years ended 2004 and 2003, the Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments bought, sold and held during the year) appreciated in value by $6,531,271 and $10,843,557, respectively, as follows:

     

    2004

    2003

         

    Investments at Fair Value

       

    Mutual fund

    $ 502,487

    $ 99,804

    Stifel Financial Corp. common stock

    1,655,478

    1,544,880

    Self-directed brokerage account

    696,256

    1,455,059

         

    Investments at Estimated Fair Value

       

    Pooled separate accounts

    3,677,050

    7,743,814

         

    Net appreciation in fair value

    $ 6,531,271

    $ 10,843,557

    Interest and dividends realized on the Plan's investments for the years ended 2004 and 2003 were $524,083 and $324,184, respectively.

  7. Related Party Transactions
  8. Active participants can purchase the common stock of Stifel Financial Corp., the parent of the Company, from their existing account balances. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, participants held 271,586 and 185,530 shares, respectively.

    Certain plan investments are units of pooled separate accounts and a guaranteed account managed by Prudential, the trustee of the Plan.

    The Plan incurs expenses related to general administration. The plan sponsor pays these expenses and certain accounting and auditing fees relating to the Plan.

  9. Change in Trustee

On April 1, 2004, CIGNA Corporation completed the sale of its retirement benefits business to Prudential Financial, Inc. As a result of the sale, Prudential Financial, Inc. established Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company ("Prudential") to provide retirement services to customers and serve as the Plan trustee. The transition of trustee from CIGNA to Prudential did not affect the net assets or administration of the Plan.

* * * * * *

Page 9


Supplemental Schedule

Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

EIN 43-0538770 PN 001
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2004

Investment Type and Issuer

Description of Investment

 

Current
Value

* Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company Pooled Separate Accounts

     

Dyden S&P 500 Index Fund

37,330

Units

$ 2,583,155

High Grade Bond/BSAM Fund

101,069

Units

1,475,460

Large Cap Growth/Goldman Sachs Fund

317,123

Units

3,449,667

Large Cap Growth/Wellington Management

59,321

Units

400,301

Large Cap Value/Wellington Management

454,503

Units

5,367,285

Lifetime 20 Fund

5,319

Units

136,770

Lifetime 30 Fund

16,334

Units

420,697

Lifetime 40 Fund

15,399

Units

378,725

Lifetime 50 Fund

6,771

Units

163,441

Lifetime 60 Fund

781

Units

17,411

Mid Cap Growth/Artisan Partners

280,074

Units

2,868,914

Mid Cap Value/Wellington Management

122,621

Units

2,072,779

Small Cap Growth/Timessquare Fund

297,072

Units

6,427,299

Small Cap Value/Perkins, Wolf, McDonnell Fund

145,901

Units

3,424,824

Templeton Foreign Account

250,012

Units

4,778,219

       

* Prudential Guaranteed Income Account

2.90%

 

8,036,723

* Stifel Financial Corp Common Stock

271,586

Shares

5,689,724

       

Mutual Fund

     

American Funds Investment Company of America Fund

292,433

Shares

8,980,627

       

Self-Directed Brokerage Account

6,480,306

Units

6,480,306

Participant Loans

5.0% - 10.5%

 

1,663,478

       
     

$ 64,815,805

 

    * Represents party-in-interest to the Plan.

 

Page 10


 

SIGNATURES

 

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Stifel, Nicolaus Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan
(Name of Plan)

Date: June 29, 2005

By /s/ Bernard N. Burkemper

 

Bernard N. Burkemper
(Senior Vice-President / Review Committee)

Page 11


STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBIT INDEX

December 31, 2004

 

Exhibit Number

Description

23.1

Consent of BKD LLP

23.2

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP