Press Release

Release No. 1206-21

RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL
PRESIDENT & COO CHET HELCK
ELECTED TO SIFMA BOARD

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – Chet Helck, president and chief operating officer of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF) has been elected to the board of directors of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) for a two-year term.

He joins 34 other executives from the financial services industry as members of the inaugural board of SIFMA.

“This is an exceptionally talented group of people with a broad range of experience,” said Ed Forst, SIFMA co-chair. “Their insights and counsel will be invaluable to the organization as we advance our agenda in 2007.”

Mr. Helck began his association with Raymond James in 1989 as a vice president of business development for its independent contractor subsidiary. Following a period of remarkable growth under his leadership, he became president and chief operating officer of Raymond James Financial in February of 2002.

A graduate of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of Business and Harvard Business School’s Leading Professional Service Firms Program, Mr. Helck has been dubbed, one of the “25 most influential people in and around the financial planning industry,” by Investment Advisor magazine.

SIFMA was created in July 2006 when The Securities Industry Association and The Bond Market Association voted to merge the two organizations into one. SIFMA is comprised of three business groups, the Capital Markets Group, the Private Client Group and the Asset Management Group.  The new board of directors has representation from large global firms, middle market and smaller U.S. companies, non-U.S. firms and asset managers ensuring the association fully represents all of its members. 

“We couldn’t have asked for a better group of representatives to advocate on behalf of the industry,” said Ellyn McColgan, SIFMA co-chair. “Their diverse backgrounds are sure to provide strong leadership for SIFMA and the industry.”

About Raymond James Financial

Raymond James Financial (NYSE-RJF) is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies. Its three wholly owned broker/dealers, Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Services and Raymond James Ltd., have more than 4,700 financial advisors serving approximately 1.5 million accounts in 2,200 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. In addition, total client assets are currently over $190 billion, of which approximately $33.7 billion are managed by the firm’s asset management subsidiaries.

About SIFMA

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association brings together the shared interests of more than 650 securities firms, banks and asset managers. SIFMA's mission is to promote policies and practices that work to expand and perfect markets, foster the development of new products and services and create efficiencies for member firms, while preserving and enhancing the public's trust and confidence in the markets and the industry. SIFMA works to represent its members’ interests locally and globally. It has offices in New York, Washington D.C., and London and its associated firm, the Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, is based in Hong Kong.

- 30 -

For additional information, please contact Anthea Penrose at 727-567-5283.

Please visit the Raymond James Press Center at www.RaymondJames.com/media