<PAGE>
                                United States
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, DC 20549
                                Form 10-K/A
                                      
(X)  Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934.
                For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997
                                     Or
( ) Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934.
                For the transition period from            to
                        Commission File Number 1-8408

                           THE ADVEST GROUP, INC.
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
             Delaware                                        06-0950444
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)                        Identification Number)

90 State House Square, - Hartford, Connecticut                  06103
    (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)
    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:    (860) 509-1000

      Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Yes

                                                   Name of each exchange on
    Title of each class                                which registered
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value                    New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None

Indicate by an (X) whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.       Yes   X       No

Indicate by an (X) if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K/A or any amendment to
this Form 10-K/A. [X]

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant was $184,116,101 as of December 1, 1997.

On December 1, 1997 the Registrant has outstanding 8,680,332 shares of common
stock of $.01 par value, which is the Registrant's only class of common
stock.

Part III incorporates information by reference from the Registrant's 
definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting to be held on 
January 29, 1998.

Total number of sequentialy numbered pages 74
Exhibit index sequetial page number page   71

<PAGE>

                                   Part I
Item 1.  Business

General Development of Business
(1) The Advest Group, Inc. ("AGI"), a Delaware corporation, is a financial
services holding company engaged, with its operating subsidiaries
(collectively the "Company"), in securities brokerage, trading, investment
banking, residential lending, asset management, trust and other financial
services. It is organized under the laws of Delaware and commenced operations
on January 1, 1977. AGI is successor to a partnership which resulted from
mergers of five New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE") member firms organized
between 1898 and 1919. The Company's broker/dealer subsidiary, Advest, Inc.
("Advest"), was organized to succeed the business of the partnership,
effective January 1, 1977. Since that date, a number of other operating
subsidiaries in the brokerage and financial services industries have been
established or acquired.
   In addition to Advest, operating subsidiaries include Advest Bank and
Trust Company (the "Bank"), a federal savings bank; Boston Security
Counsellors, Inc. ("BSC"), an investment management company; and Billings &
Company, Inc. ("Billings"), a real estate services company. Material
acquisitions and dispositions by the Company during the past four years
follow.
   During fiscal 1994, Lyons, Zomback & Ostrowski, Inc., a financial
consulting company specializing in the banking industry and a subsidiary of
AGI, was merged into the corporate finance division of Advest as the
Financial Institutions Group (the "FIG"). The FIG unit serves as an advisor
to small and medium-sized community banks.
   During fiscal 1995, the Company sold the investment advisory business
related to its proprietary mutual funds in three separate transactions. The
total gain from all sales was $10.1 million and is reported separately on the
Consolidated Statement of Earnings. Additional consideration of $.1 and $.6
million was received in fiscal 1997 and 1996, respectively, under the terms
of one of the sales agreements.
   In October 1996, the Company formed The Hannah Consulting Group ("HCG"),
an investment management subsidiary.  HCG is located in Boston, MA and its
employees provide investment management services primarily to pension plans.

   In October 1997, Advest acquired Ironwood Capital Ltd. ("Ironwood"), a
private investment bank that originates and distributes private placements of
taxable fixed income securities.  Ironwood and its twelve employees became
the Corporate Fixed Income Group of Advest's Investment Banking Division.
The Company issued 137,060 shares of its common stock in conjunction with the
acquisition which will be accounted for as a pooling of interests.  Due to
the immaterial effect on the Company's consolidated financial position,
results of operations and cash flows, operating results of Ironwood will be
included prospectively in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

(2) Advest is engaged in a broad range of activities in the securities
brokerage, investment banking and asset management businesses. Specific
services include retail brokerage, institutional sales, origination of and
participation in underwritings and distribution of corporate and municipal
securities, market making and trading activities in corporate securities,
government and municipal bonds, research, custody and money management.
   Advest has been classified by the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") and the Securities Industry Association as a "large regional"
brokerage firm. "Regional" is a term commonly used in the securities industry
to indicate that a firm's headquarters are located outside New York City.
Advest has retail clients in all fifty states with the largest concentration
in the
                                    -2-
<PAGE>

Northeast and Midwest regions and also services institutional accounts
throughout the country. During fiscal 1997, Advest opened 3 new sales offices
- in Norwell, MA, New Canaan, CT and Garden City, NY.  At September 30, 1997,
Advest had sales locations, including satellite offices, and account
executives in 16 states and the District of Columbia as follows:

Number of
                                               Number of   Investment
        State                                  Locations   Executives
---------------------------------------------------------------------
        Connecticut                                    9           72
        District of Columbia                           1           11
        Florida                                        7           59
        Illinois                                       1            4
        Kentucky                                       3           15
        Maine                                          5           21
        Maryland                                       1            5
        Massachusetts                                  8           52
        Missouri                                       1           11
        New Hampshire                                  3            7
        New Jersey                                     4           24
        New York                                      16          117
        Ohio                                          12           60
        Pennsylvania                                  12           53
        Rhode Island                                   1           11
        Vermont                                        1            3
        Virginia                                       4           13
                                                     ---          ---
                                                      89          538
                                                     ===          ===

   Advest is a member of all major securities exchanges in the United States,
the National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") and the Securities
Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC"). In addition, Advest is registered
with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") as a commodity trading
advisor and a futures commission merchant and clears all option transactions
through an independent third party broker.
   The Bank opened for business in 1984 as a state-chartered savings bank.
Effective April 15, 1997, the Bank converted to a federal savings bank, and
ceased to be a state-chartered bank.  As a federal savings bank, the Bank is
regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), but its deposits
continue to be insured under the Bank Insurance Fund of the FDIC.  This
regulatory and charter change enables the Bank to provide residential lending
and trust services in all 50 states.  The Bank's headquarters is located at
90 State House Square, Hartford, Connecticut 06103.  The Bank closed its sole
retail branch located in Hartford, CT during the current fiscal year,
subsequent to its conversion to a federal charter which does not require it
to have a branch office.  The Bank has representative offices in Springfield,
Massachusetts and Columbus, Ohio for trust and mortgage origination,
respectively, as well as two trust offices opened during fiscal 1997 in New
Canaan, CT and Pittsburgh, PA.  All representative offices share office space
with Advest retail offices. The Bank's principal business activities consist
of soliciting and servicing fiduciary and retirement plan trust business and
conducting a broad range of mortgage banking services, primarily to clients
of Advest.  The Bank also provides residential first mortgage and home equity
lending funded by customer deposits, together with funds from capital and
other borrowings.  In recent years, the total assets of the Bank have
declined as part of a planned reduction in its asset base.  The Bank's loan
portfolio includes single and multi-family residential mortgages, consumer
loans and commercial mortgages.  The Bank has expanded its residential
mortgage lending
                                    -3-
<PAGE>

production in recent years, and places excess volume not retained in
portfolio with investors, principally federal agencies and major private
mortgage conduits.  It is the Bank's strategy to sell most of the newly
originated fixed rate and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans to
investors in the secondary market by securitizing with government agencies or
selling as whole loans to secondary market investors.  Investments include
government and agency obligations and mortgage-backed securities.  The Bank
does not currently have a material source of deposits other than those
obtained through Advest.  Deposits in the Bank are insured by the Bank
Insurance Fund of the FDIC, subject to applicable limits.
   In fiscal 1991, the OTS approved requests by AGI and the Bank for the Bank
to be deemed a "savings association" by virtue of its meeting the test for a
qualified thrift lender and for AGI, as the sole shareholder of a "savings
association", to be treated as a unitary thrift holding company.  In order to
retain its status as a "savings association" the Bank must continue to
satisfy the "qualified thrift lender" test.  This test generally requires
that an institution maintain a minimum of 65% of its assets in residential
real estate and related investments.  At September 30, 1997, 86.7% of the
Bank's portfolio consisted of such assets.

(3)  The Company's principal executive offices are located at 90 State House
  Square, Hartford, Connecticut, 06103 (telephone number (860) 509-1000).
     At September 30, 1997, the Company employed 1,631 persons. The Company
considers its compensation and employee benefits, which include medical, life
and disability insurance, and a 401(k) defined contribution plan, to be
competitive with those offered by other securities firms. None of the
Company's employees is covered by collective bargaining agreements.  The
Company considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory.
However, there is considerable competition for experienced financial services
professionals, particularly investment executives, and periodically the
Company may experience the loss of valued professionals.

Financial Information about Industry Segments
The information required by this item is disclosed in item 8 of this filing
in Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Narrative Description of Business
(1)  Revenues
The principal sources of revenue for the last five years are disclosed in
item 8 of this filing under the caption "Five Year Financial Summary". A
discussion of the components of services provided and related compensation
follows.

Agency Commissions
   Listed   Advest acts as an agent for its customers in the purchase and
sale of securities on the major securities exchanges.  Commissions generated
by these customers represent a large portion of the Company's revenue.
   Mutual Funds   Advest executes purchases and redemptions of shares for its
clients in many diverse mutual funds.
   Nasdaq   In executing customers' orders in the Nasdaq market, Advest
generally acts as agent with another firm which is a market maker in the
securities being purchased or sold.  The market price executed represents the
best inter-dealer market price available.
   Insurance   Advest acts as agent for several life insurance companies and
sells life insurance and tax-advantaged annuities to its brokerage clients.
A principal objective of Advest's

                                    -4-
<PAGE>

insurance department is to assist account executives in protecting the assets
of high net worth individuals and businesses. The department provides
customized advice and recommends appropriate products to meet unique
individual, professional or business needs.
   Options   Advest also effects for its customers the purchase and sale of
put and call options traded on all major stock exchanges.
   Other   Other commissions include commissions from commodity trading,
international stocks and bonds, certificates of deposit and income from
correspondent brokers.

Principal Transactions
Revenue from principal transactions includes realized and unrealized gains
and losses on trading positions of Advest and related sales credits as well
as realized gains and losses on available for sale securities of the Bank.
The Company does not actively participate in the high yield securities
market. Advest manages the risk associated with its corporate and municipal
bond trading securities by entering into derivative transactions, primarily
exchange-traded financial futures contracts, when certain inventory levels
are reached.  Derivative positions are generally not material and are marked-
to-market daily.
   Advest actively engages in trading as principal in various phases of the
over-the-counter securities business and acts as principal to facilitate the
execution of customers' orders.  Advest buys, sells and maintains an
inventory of a security in order to "make a market" in that security.  As of
September 30, 1997, Advest made dealer markets in the common stock or other
equity securities of approximately 151 corporations. Advest also actively
engages in trading municipal and corporate bonds and unit investment trusts.

Investment Banking
Advest manages and participates as an underwriter of corporate, municipal and
government securities, mutual funds and private placement offerings.  Its
Syndicate Department is responsible for Advest's participation in
underwritings managed by Advest and other firms. The Corporate Finance and
Public Finance Departments are responsible for offerings managed or co-
managed by Advest.
   Underwriting involves both economic and regulatory risks.  An underwriter
may incur losses if it is unable to resell the securities it is committed to
purchase or if it is forced to liquidate its commitments at less than the
agreed purchase price.  In addition, under the Securities Act of 1933, other
laws and court decisions with respect to underwriters' liability and
limitation on indemnification of underwriters by issuers, an underwriter is
subject to substantial potential liability for material misstatements or
omissions in prospectuses and other communications with respect to
underwritten offerings.  Furthermore, underwriting commitments constitute a
charge against net capital and Advest's underwriting commitments may be
limited by the requirement that it must at all times be in compliance with
the net capital Rule 15c3-1 of the SEC.
   Advest also provides merger and acquisition advisory services, appraisals
and related services.  Generally, the Company does not engage in bridge
financing activities.

Asset Management and Administration
Advest provides money management services to its brokerage customers through
its Investment Management Department ("IMD").  IMD provides various services
to brokerage clients including client profiling, asset allocation, manager
selection, due diligence and performance measurement. Recommended portfolio
managers include managers in the proprietary Advest Managed Portfolio
Services as well as managers not affiliated with the Company.  Revenue is
generated from fees and/or commissions. At September 30, 1997, IMD had
approximately $2.7 billion of assets under

                                    -5-
<PAGE>

management.
   BSC, an investment advisor, services private clients and was investment
advisor to the Company's proprietary mutual funds, until their sale in fiscal
1995.  HCG, an investment management firm acquired by the Company in the
current year, provides consulting services primarily to pension funds.  Other
services include retirement plan administration, securities custody and
safekeeping.
   The Advest Reserve Cash Account ("ARCA") enables brokerage clients to
participate in an integrated financial services program.  ARCA clients have
access to their assets through unlimited checkwriting and a VISA debit card
issued by a major third party bank as well as on-request loans collateralized
by margined securities.  Direct deposit is available to ARCA accounts who can
select among several automatic investment options for idle cash balances,
including an FDIC-insured money market account with the Bank and five money
market mutual funds.  Other services offered to all clients include
retirement plan servicing, securities custody and asset safekeeping.
   The Bank, through its Trust Division, provides fiduciary, trustee and
custody services to individuals, corporate retirement plans, financial
institutions and other entities.  The Bank primarily acquires trust and
custody accounts through Advest's retail sales force.

Advest Bank and Trust Company Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the excess of the interest income and loan fee income
over interest expense. The Bank derives interest income from loans extended
for the purposes of residential, commercial and consumer credit. Funds not
used in lending are invested primarily in money market instruments and short
and adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities.  The Bank's loans and
investments are funded by interest-bearing deposits, by debt (primarily
advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston), and by the Bank's equity
capital. The Bank's interest and loan fee income has historically exceeded
the interest expense of funding and has produced positive net interest
income.
   The Bank is subject to interest rate risk to the degree that the Bank's
interest-bearing liabilities reprice or mature more rapidly, and in greater
volume, as is the case currently, than its interest-earning assets (see
Distribution of assets, liabilities and shareholder's equity, interest rates
and interest differentials as disclosed on page 10 of this filing and in
Notes 15 and 16 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in item 8 of
this filing.

Interest Income and Customer Financing
Advest's customers' transactions in securities are effected on either a cash
or margin basis.  In a margin account, the customer pays less than the full
cost of a security purchased and the broker/dealer makes a loan for the
balance of the purchase price which is secured by the securities purchased,
or other securities owned by the investor.  The amount of the loan is subject
to the margin regulations (Regulation T) of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, NYSE margin requirements, and the firm's internal
policies which in some instances are more stringent than Regulation T or NYSE
requirements.  Currently, in most transactions, Regulation T requires that
the amount loaned to a customer for a particular purchase not exceed 50% of
the purchase price of a security, so that initially the customer's equity in
the purchase exceeds the NYSE's rules.  A member firm is required to have the
customer deposit cash or additional securities so that the loan to the
customer for which marginable equity securities are pledged as collateral is
no greater than 75% of the value of the securities in the account.
   Interest is charged on the amount borrowed to finance customers' margin
transactions. The rate of interest charged customers is based primarily on
the brokers' call rate (the charge on bank

                                    -6-
<PAGE>

loans to brokers secured by firm and customers' securities), to which an
additional amount is added up to 2.75%.  The amount of this interest
surcharge is dependent on the average net margin balance and the dollar
amount of commissions charged on account transactions during the month.
   Customer credit balances, retained earnings, cash received from stock loan
activities, and short-term borrowings are the primary source for financing
customer margin accounts.

Other Income
Other income includes execution fees, exchange and other marketing credits,
transfer and service fees, gains on sales of mortgages by the Bank in
secondary markets and investment gains and losses.

Research
Through the combined resources of its in-house research staff and
correspondent research provided by three leading outside research firms,
Advest provides its brokerage clients with a full range of research services.
These include corporate data, financial analysis, identification of emerging
trends and objective recommendations. In-house analysts specialize in health
care, regional banking, insurance, technology and consumer products and
services. Correspondent research provides information and recommendations on
approximately 3,000 domestic and international equities in over 60 industries
in 30 countries.
(2)  Competition
All aspects of the business of the Company are highly competitive. Advest
competes with numerous regional and national broker/dealers and other
entities, many of which have greater financial resources than the Company.
Because of the variety of financial services offered by the Company and the
various types of entities that provide such services (including other
brokers, banks, insurance companies and retail merchandise outlets), it is
not possible to estimate the number of companies that compete with the
Company for investor assets. Advest competes with other firms on the basis of
transaction prices, quality of service, product availability and locations.
With respect to price, service and product, the Company believes it is
competitively well-positioned; it is impossible to predict, however, the
effect of the broader distribution locales offered by competing entities or
the lower costs which may be offered by certain discount brokers. In
addition, there is competition for investment professionals among the large
number of companies now in the financial services field.
   The mortgage banking environment that the Bank operates within is highly
competitive. The Bank competes with mortgage companies, banks, savings banks,
savings and loans, credit unions, finance companies and other financial
intermediaries for conventional and home equity residential loans. The market
for qualifying conventional loans is defined and dominated by federal
agencies such as Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") and the
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), who effectively act as the
market makers and are the dominant investors. This market is also highly
sensitive to the level and volatility of interest rates, which effects the
volume of business being conducted.
   The Bank in soliciting trust business encounters significant competition
from trust companies, savings banks, savings and loans, insurance companies,
broker/dealers, investment firms, mutual funds, and law firms in attracting
trust accounts, particularly fiduciary relationships.
   In attracting deposits, the Bank faces strong competition from numerous
savings banks, savings and loan associations, commercial banks,
broker/dealers, credit unions, insurance companies, investment firms and
mutual funds with offices located primarily in its primary market area. The
Bank also faces significant competition for investors' funds from short-term
money market funds and other corporate and government securities.

                                    -7-
<PAGE>

   The Bank's deposit base is substantially derived from Advest's brokerage
clients. A portion of these deposits, primarily certificates of deposits, are
acquired on a fee basis and are considered "brokered" under FDIC rules. The
Bank does not possess branch operations with which it may attract significant
additional retail deposits other than those obtained through Advest. Pursuant
to the terms of federal banking regulations concerning brokered deposits, the
Bank at September 30, 1997 was deemed to be a "well capitalized" bank and as
such was not subject to restrictions regarding brokered deposits.  Prior to
September 30, 1996, the Bank was deemed to be an "adequately capitalized
bank", and as such was limited as to the maximum interest rates it could
offer on its brokered deposit products to rates which did not exceed (1) the
rate paid on deposits of similar maturity in the Bank's normal market area
for deposits accepted or (2) the "national rate" paid on deposits of
comparable maturity for deposits accepted outside the Bank's normal market
area. The Bank had $61.4 million of brokered deposits as of September 30,
1997.
(3)  Regulation
The securities industry in the United States is subject to extensive
regulation under both Federal and state laws. The SEC is the Federal agency
charged with administration of the Federal securities laws. Much of the
regulation of broker/dealers has been delegated to self-regulatory
authorities, principally the NASD, the CFTC and the securities exchanges.
These self-regulatory organizations conduct periodic examinations of member
broker/dealers in accordance with the rules they have adopted and amended
from time to time, subject to approval by the SEC. Securities firms are also
subject to regulation by state securities commissions in those states in
which they do business.
   Broker/dealers are subject to regulations which cover all aspects of the
securities business, including sales methods, trading practices among
broker/dealers, uses and safekeeping of customers' funds and securities,
capital structure of securities firms, recordkeeping and the conduct of
directors, officers and employees. Additional legislation, changes in rules
promulgated by the SEC and self-regulatory authorities, or changes in the
interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules, may directly affect
the mode of operation and profitability of broker/dealers. The SEC, self-
regulatory authorities and state securities commissions may conduct
administrative proceedings which can result in censure, fine, suspension or
expulsion of a broker/dealer, its officers or employees. Such administrative
proceedings, whether or not resulting in adverse findings, can require
substantial expenditures. The principal purpose of regulation and discipline
of broker/dealers is the protection of customers and the securities markets,
rather than protection of creditors and stockholders of broker/dealers.
   The Company's investment advisory subsidiaries, BSC and HCG, are also
subject to extensive Federal and state regulations by the SEC and state
securities commissions.
   Advest is required by Federal law to belong to the SIPC. The SIPC fund
provides protection for securities held in customer accounts up to $500,000
per customer, with a limitation of $100,000 on claims for cash balances. The
Company purchases coverage which provides an additional $24.5 million of
coverage per customer for securities held in customers' accounts.
   As a federal savings bank whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, subject
to applicable limits, the Bank is subject to extensive regulation and
supervision by both the OTS and the FDIC. The Bank is also subject to various
regulatory requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (the "Federal Reserve Board") applicable to FDIC insured financial
institutions. This governmental regulation is primarily intended to protect
depositors, rather than shareholders, and concerns, among other matters,
capital requirements, safety and soundness, permissible investments,
community reinvestment and credit discrimination. AGI, for the purpose of
ownership of the Bank, is a unitary savings and loan holding company, and is
subject to limited regulation and certain reporting requirements by the OTS.

                                    -8-
<PAGE>

   The Bank posted pre-tax income of $.7 million and $1.1 million,
respectively, for fiscal 1997 and 1996 after posting losses in each of the
previous six fiscal years.  In July 1991, the Bank entered into a Memorandum
of Understanding ("MOU") with its regulators to address certain concerns
arising out of an examination of the Bank. In February 1993, the Bank entered
into a new MOU with its regulators with terms similar to the original MOU.
During 1996, the Bank achieved compliance with all requirements of the MOU
and, in July 1996, the MOU was lifted.
   Refer to item 7 of this filing  under the caption "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and in item 8
of this filing in Notes 5 and 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements for a further description of capital and regulatory considerations
concerning the Bank.
   Certain legislative and regulatory proposals that could affect the Bank
and the banking business in general are pending, or may be introduced, before
the United States Congress, various state legislatures and governmental
agencies. These proposals include measures that may further alter the
structure, regulation and competitive relationship of financial institutions
and that may subject financial institutions to increased regulation,
disclosure and reporting requirements. The Bank is not restricted by federal
bank regulations from the declaration of dividends. No dividends were
declared in 1997. (For further discussion concerning dividend restriction
applicable to the Bank refer item 8 of this filing in Note 12 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements. It cannot be predicted whether or in what
form any future legislation or regulations will be enacted or to what extent
the business of the Bank may be affected.
   Federal banking regulations define five categories of capital adequacy for
all insured depository institutions, including categories that would prompt
supervisory actions. These categories include "well capitalized" (with total
risk based capital of greater than 10% of risk adjusted assets, Tier 1
capital of greater than 6% of risk adjusted assets and leverage capital of
greater than 5% of assets), "adequately capitalized" (greater than 8%, 5% and
4% respectively), "undercapitalized" (less than 8%, less than 4% and less
than 4%, respectively), "significantly undercapitalized" (less than 6%, 3%
and 3%, respectively) and "critically undercapitalized" (tangible capital of
less than 2% of total assets.) In addition, an institution may not be
categorized as "well capitalized" if it is subject to a regulatory order.
Financial institutions classified as one of the three undercapitalized
categories are subject to progressively more restrictive limitations on
activities and may be subject to orders to increase capital and to cease
certain activities and practices. A "critically undercapitalized"
institution, among other additional restrictions, may, under certain
conditions, be placed in a receivership or a conservatorship. Holding Company
guarantees apply if an insured institution is classified "undercapitalized".
Such holding company guarantees include guarantee of compliance with banking
rules, regulations and laws and the improvement of the bank, including
limited capital support. As previously disclosed, the Bank, meets the
criteria to be classified a "well capitalized" bank as of September 30, 1997.
(4)  Disclosure Requirements for Nonbank Holding Companies
Article 9 of Regulation S-X and Industry Guide 3 specify financial statement
and certain disclosure requirements for bank holding companies. SEC Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 69 ("SAB 69") details the view of the SEC staff
concerning the applicability of Article 9 and Industry Guide 3 to registrants
which are not bank holding companies. The bulletin concludes that a nonbank
holding company registrant engaged in similar lending and deposit activities
should provide certain disclosures relevant to an understanding of the
Registrant's operations. In accordance with SAB 69, the Company, a nonbank
holding company, makes the following disclosures regarding the Bank.

                                    -9-
<PAGE>

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity; Interest
Rates and Interest Differentials

The following table presents for the periods indicated (I) average
assets, liabilities and shareholder's equity, (II) interest income and
expense, (III) average yields on interest-earning assets and average
rates incurred on interest-bearing liabilities, (IV) the net interest
spread and (V) net interest margin on interest- earning assets.
Yields and rates are computed on a tax equivalent basis at tax rates
of 34% for each of the three years ended September 30, 1997. Average
balances are calculated predominately on a daily basis.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1997                       1996                        1995
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    InterestAverage            InterestAverage             Interest Average
                                           Average  Income/ Yields/   Average  Income/ Yields/   Average   Income/  Yields/
(In thousands)                             Balance  Expense  Rates    Balance  Expense  Rates    Balance   Expense   Rates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>         <C>       <C>  <C>         <C>       <C>  <C>        <C>          <C>
Assets
Interest-earning assets
  CD's, time deposits, federal funds
    and other short-term investments       $  5,674  $  313    5.52%  $  8,132  $  436    5.36%  $  6,294   $   366    5.82%
  Investment securities: <FN> (1)
    U.S. government and agency obligation       905      54    5.96%       541      32    5.91%     2,107       151    7.17%
    Other                                       500      39    7.80%       606      40    6.60%       703        47    6.69%
    Mortgage-backed securities               18,265   1,186    6.49%    21,815   1,378    6.32%    35,321     2,044    5.79%
    FHLB stock                                2,272     145    6.38%     2,233     145    6.49%     2,129       157    7.37%
  Loans (net of unearned income) <FN> (2)   184,619  13,867    7.51%   206,680  16,040    7.76%   258,011    19,975    7.74%
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total interest-earning assets         212,235  15,604    7.35%   240,007  18,071    7.53%   304,565    22,740    7.47%
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noninterest-earning assets
  Cash and cash equivalents                     817                        874                        960
  Property and equipment                        742                        683                        692
  Interest receivable                         1,151                      1,593                      2,339
  OREO and other assets                       2,654                      5,856                     16,839
                                         -----------                -----------                -----------
    Total noninterest-earning assets          5,364                      9,006                     20,830
                                         -----------                -----------                -----------
                                           $217,599                   $249,013                   $325,395
                                         ===========                ===========                ===========
Liabilities and shareholder's equity

Interest-bearing liabilities
  Total deposits <FN> (3)                  $182,739  $7,619    4.17%  $215,117  $8,974    4.17%  $275,962   $11,370    4.12%
  FHLB advances                              18,240   1,175    6.44%    14,364   1,005    7.00%    23,965     1,605    6.70%
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total interest-bearing liabilities      200,979   8,794    4.38%   229,481   9,979    4.35%   299,927    12,975    4.33%
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noninterest-bearing liabilities
  Accrued interest payable                      739                      1,023                      1,251
  Other liabilities                             887                      4,004                      5,138
  Accrued expenses                              257                        474                        232
                                         -----------                -----------                -----------
    Total noninterest-bearing liabilities     1,883                      5,501                      6,621
                                         -----------                -----------                -----------
Shareholder's equity                         14,737                     14,031                     18,847
                                         -----------                -----------                -----------
                                           $217,599                   $249,013                   $325,395
                                         ===========                ===========                ===========
Net interest income (tax equivalent basis)           $6,810                     $8,092                      $ 9,765
                                                    ========                   ========                   ==========
Net interest spread (tax equivalent basis)                     2.98%                      3.18%                        3.14%
                                                            ========                   ========                     ========
Net interest income as a percentage of
   interest-earning assets (tax equivalent basis)              3.21%                      3.37%                        3.21%
                                                            ========                   ========                     ========
<FN>
 <FN> (1)  Securities available for sale are included in investment securities.
 <FN> (2)  Nonaccrual loans at year end are included in the total loan portfolio.
 <FN> (3)  Includes net cost of interest rate swaps and caps.

                                    -10-
</TABLE>

Analysis of Changes in Interest Income and Interest Expense

The following table presents an analysis of increases and decreases in
interest income and expense in terms of changes in volume and interest
rates for the periods indicated.  Changes not due solely to either a
change in volume or a change in rate have been allocated based on the
respective percentage changes in average balances and average rates.
The table is presented on a tax equivalent basis at tax rates of 34%
for fiscal years 1997 and 1996.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1997 vs. 1996                      1996 vs. 1995
                                                    Increase (decrease) due to chang    Increase (decrease) due to change in
(In thousands)                                           Volume    Rate      Total           Volume    Rate   Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>     <C>        <C>              <C>     <C>     <C>
Interest income
  CD's, time deposits, federal funds
    and other short-term investments                    $(  132)  $     9   $(  123)        $   112 $(  42) $    70
  Investment securities: <FN> (1)
    US government and agency obligations                     21         1        22            (120)     1     (119)
    Other                                                    (7)        6        (1)             (6)    (1)      (7)
    Mortgage-backed securities                             (225)       33      (192)           (883)   217     (666)
    FHLB stock                                                3        (3)        0              50    (62)     (12)
  Loans (net of unearned income) <FN> (2)                (1,677)     (496)   (2,173)         (3,978)    43   (3,935)
                                                       -----------------------------       -------------------------
      Total interest income                              (2,017)     (450)   (2,467)         (4,825)   156   (4,669)
                                                       -----------------------------       -------------------------
Interest expense
  Total deposits <FN> (3)                                (1,350)       (5)   (1,355)         (2,634)   238   (2,396)
  FHLB advances                                             269       (99)      170            (420)  (180)    (600)
                                                       -----------------------------       -------------------------
      Total interest expense                             (1,081)     (104)   (1,185)         (3,054)    58   (2,996)
                                                       -----------------------------       -------------------------
Change in net interest income                           $(  936)  $(  346)  $(1,282)        $(1,771)$   98  $(1,673)
                                                       =============================       =========================

<FN>
 <FN> (1)  Securities available for sale are included in investment securities.
 <FN> (2)  Non-accrual loans at year end are included in the total loan portfolio.
 <FN> (3)  Includes net cost of interest rate swaps and caps.

</TABLE>

Investment Activities

The following table summarizes the composition of the securities
portfolio (book values) for the three years ended September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1997               1996             1995
                                                       ----------------------------------------------------
(In thousands)                                            Amount       %     Amount       %   Amount      %
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>          <C>   <C>          <C> <C>         <C>
US government and agency obligations                    $   600         3%  $   599      2% $   490      3%
Mortgage-backed securities                                8,002        38%   10,635     42%  21,965     83%
Other                                                       500         2%      500      2%     596      2%
FHLB stock                                                2,270        11%    2,233     10%   2,233      8%
Securities available for sale <FN> (4)                    9,677        46%   11,157     44%   1,127      4%
                                                       ----------------------------------------------------
Total                                                   $21,049       100%  $25,124    100% $26,411    100%
                                                       ====================================================
</TABLE>

The following table sets forth the maturities of investment securities
at September 30, 1997 and the weighted average (tax equivalent) yields
on such securities:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Five to
                                     Within               After one but           ten           After ten
                                    one year            within five years        years            years          Total
                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands)               Amount        Yield        Amount    Yield     Amount   Yield  Amount   Yield  Amount  Yield
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>            <C>            <C>      <C>         <C>     <C>  <C>      <C>   <C>     <C>
US government and agency
   obligations               $  600               5.25%                                                     $   600  5.25%
Mortgage-backed securities                                                                   $8,002   7.00%   8,002  7.00%
Other                                                      $500      8.00%                                      500  8.00%
FHLB stock                    2,270               6.45%                                                       2,270  6.45%
Securities available
  for sale <FN> (4)                                                                           9,677   5.34%   9,677  5.34%
                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total                    $2,870               6.20%    $500      8.00%       $0   0.00% $17,679   6.09% $21,049  6.00%
                             =============================================================================================

<FN>
<FN> (4) Securities available for sale are detailed in Note 4 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in item 8 of this filing.

As of  September 30, 1997, the Bank held no securities investments
which exceeded 10% of shareholder's equity.

                                    -11-
</TABLE>

Lending Activities

The following table summarizes the composition of loan portfolio for
the three years ended September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      1997                 1996                  1995
                             ------------------- ---------------------- --------------------
(In thousands)                 Amount      %       Amount        %        Amount      %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>           <C>    <C>             <C>   <C>              <C>
Commercial and financial      $  4,627        2%   $  2,757          2%  $  3,856         3%
Real estate construction         3,637        2%      4,946          2%     5,597         1%
Real estate mortgage           179,188       94%    177,734         95%   222,424        96%
Installment                      3,732        2%      1,097          1%       922          -
                             ------------------- ---------------------- --------------------
   Gross total loans          $191,184      100%   $186,534        100%  $232,799       100%
                                       =========            ===========           ==========

Less:  Allowance for loan los    2,479                2,278                 2,213
                             ----------          -----------            ----------
   Net total loans            $188,705             $184,256              $230,586
                             ==========          ===========            ==========
</TABLE>

Commercial loans, primarily to individuals and small to medium sized
firms, were made at a variety of repayment terms and are primarily
collateralized by equipment, marketable securities or inventory
primarily located in Connecticut.  Real estate mortgage and
construction balances as of September 30, 1997 are comprised of
residential, commercial and multifamily mortgages of approximately
$151.7 million, $23.1 million and $8.0 million, respectively.
Commercial real estate loans are primarily located in the Northeast
and include as collateral multifamily, health care, office and
industrial property.  The Bank is no longer an active loan originator
in the commercial real estate market.  The Bank's residential loan
portfolio is primarily collateralized by mortgages on 1-4 family
residential properties located throughout the eastern United States
with concentrations in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and
Florida.  Installment loans are made to individuals.  The Bank also
occasionally purchases residential mortgage loans for its portfolio
from other financial institutions and mortgage bankers.  Such
purchases are primarily loans collateralized by property located in
Connecticut and Massachusetts. During fiscal 1997, home equity lines
of credit of approximately $5.8 million were purchased, of which
approximately $1.7 million was advanced.

The following table shows the interest rate sensitivities of loans
outstanding as of September 30, 1997 which are due or reprice in the
periods indicated. Loans due within one year include demand loans.

<TABLE>
                                                  After  one   After
                                        Within    but within   five
(In thousands)                         one year   five years   years      Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>          <C>     <C>          <C>
Commercial and financial                 $  777     $ 3,234   $    616   $  4,627
Real estate construction                  2,610       1,027         -       3,637
Real estate mortgage                      1,843      34,313    143,032    179,188
Installment                                 604       2,737        391      3,732
                                       --------- ---------------------- ----------
    Total                                $5,834     $41,311   $144,039   $191,184
                                       ========= ====================== ==========

Fixed interest rate                       2,239     $11,926   $ 50,940
Variable interest rate                    3,595      29,385     93,099
                                       --------- ----------------------
    Total                                $5,834     $41,311   $144,039
                                       ========= ======================

</TABLE>

Nonperforming Assets

A summary of nonperforming assets by type follows for the three years
ended September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(In thousands)                                      1997       1996        1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>      <C>          <C>
Non-accrual loans                                    $4,135     $1,422     $  290
Restructured loans                                         -        -            -
Other real estate owned, net                          1,046        984      2,849
                                                 ---------------------- ----------
Total nonperforming assets                           $5,181     $2,406     $3,139
                                                 ====================== ==========
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans
  and other real estate owned                           2.7%       1.3%       1.3%
                                                 ====================== ==========

</TABLE>

Generally loans are placed on nonaccrual status when interest or
principal is past due for ninety days or earlier if circumstances
indicate collection is doubtful.  The Bank resumes the accrual of
interest on such loans if, in the opinion of management, the borrower
has demonstrated adequate financial resources and intent to meet the
terms and conditions of the loan, and all payments are again current.
Interest income forgone on nonperforming loans in fiscal years 1997,
1996, and 1995 amounted to $576,000, $297,000 and $508,000,
respectively.  During 1997 and 1996, approximately $2,000 and
$187,000, respectively, of income was recognized on non-accrual loans.
This income was recognized while the loans were performing and was
realized by cash payments. It is management's policy to reverse all
uncollected interest at the time a loan is placed on nonaccrual.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

The following table summarizes the Bank's loan loss experience for
each of the three years ended September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(In thousands)                                    1997     1996        1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>      <C>         <C>
Balance at beginning of period                    $2,278   $2,213      $4,645
                                                -------- --------    --------
Charge-offs:
     Real estate mortgage                            725    1,196       7,845
     Installment                                       -        -           -
     Commercial                                        -       81         483
                                                -------- --------    --------
                                                     725    1,277       8,328
                                                -------- --------    --------
Recoveries:
     Real estate mortgage                            297      273         258
     Commercial                                        -       15           1
                                                -------- --------    --------
                                                     297      288         259
                                                -------- --------    --------
Net charge-offs                                      428      989       8,069
Additions charged to operations                      629    1,054       5,637
                                                -------- --------    --------
Balance at end of period                          $2,479   $2,278      $2,213
                                                ======== ========    ========
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans
    outstanding during the period                  0.25%    0.48%       3.13%
                                                ======== ========    ========

</TABLE>

The Bank maintains general reserves for potential losses from its loan
portfolio in an Allowance for Possible Loan Losses. (the
"ALL").  The ALL is maintained at a level considered by management
to be adequate.  The adequacy of the ALL is reviewed quarterly by the
Bank's management and its Board of Directors, and is determined
primarily by management's informed judgment concerning the amount of
risk inherent in the portfolio at a point in time.  Management's
judgment is based on a number of factors including:  1) a detailed
risk rating system for commercial loans in which loans are
individually reviewed with respect to such criteria as the estimated
value of underlying loan collateral and the financial condition of
borrowers, 2) recent historical loan loss experience, 3) industry and
geographic concentrations, 4) the results of the most recent
regulatory examination available, 5) current national and local
economic conditions, and 6) other relevant  information as may be
available.  The balance of each risk rating category has a reserve
percentage applied for the  purpose of estimating each component of
the ALL.  A substantial portion of outstanding commercial loan
portfolio balances on an annualized basis are reviewed periodically by
a third party that is independent from the Bank and the results of
such review are factored into the risk rating system.


Management also reviews monthly, certain monitored performing and all
nonperforming loans individually and makes further reserve allocation
adjustments.  The Bank's one to four family residential mortgage
portfolio reserves are evaluated primarily upon the basis of portfolio
historical performance.  The Bank also maintains an unallocated and
supplemental  reserve that reflects management's assessment of local
and national economic, business and real estate market trends, and the
Bank's procedures, controls and personnel.


At September 30, 1997 and 1996, the bank classified $2,948,000
and $5,261,000 respectively, of loans as impaired.  A loan is
considered impaired if it is probable that the Company will be
unable to collect scheduled payments according to the terms of
the loan agreement. Impaired loans as of  September 30, 1997 and
1996 include $0 and $3,810,000 of loans restructured and
currently classified as performing, $2,948,000 and $639,000 of
loans currently classified as nonaccrual, and $0 and $812,000 of
loans in which potential credit problems may lead to future
nonaccrual status or possible charge-off. The nonaccrual impaired
loans are a component of nonperforming assets.

Loans are charged off against the ALL when management believes that
collection is unlikely.  Loan charge-offs are identified during the
loan review process.  The charge-offs recorded for all periods were
primarily associated with the real estate mortgage portfolios and
resulted from the decline in the value of the properties serving as
collateral for the loans.  The charge-offs recorded during 1995 were
also associated with the discounts necessary to attract buyers of
those distressed commercial OREO assets included in the Bank's
accelerated asset disposition plan and other bulk asset sales.

The following table presents the allocation of the reserve for
possible loan and lease losses by loan categories for the three years
ended September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   1997                 1996               1995
                           -------------------  ---------------------------------------
                                     Loans in            Loans in             Loans in
                            Amount   category    Amount  category     Amount  category
                              of    as a % of      of    as a % of      of   as a % of
(Dollars in thousands)      reserve total loans reserve  total loans reserve total loans
-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
<S>                         <C>            <C>  <C>          <C>     <C>            <C>
Commercial and financial     $   40         2%   $   24        2%     $   26         2%
Real estate construction         31         2%       44        2%         33         2%
Real estate mortgage          1,608        94%    1,587       96%      1,607        96%
Installment                      75         2%       22          -        18         -
Commitments                     434         -       340          -       219         -
Unallocated                     291         -       261          -       310         -
                           -------------------  -------- --------    ------------------
     Total                   $2,479       100%   $2,278      100%     $2,213       100%
                           ===================  ======== ========    ==================

                                      -13-
</TABLE>

Deposits

The Bank offers a variety of deposit accounts designed to attract both
short and long term funds.  The Bank provides a money market deposit
account to Advest's customers as a component of various cash
management products available to those customers.  The Bank primarily
markets brokered Certificates of Deposit (CD's) through Advest.  The
Bank also markets retail deposit accounts, such as money market
accounts, primarily through Advest.  At September 30, 1997, deposits
obtained through Advest constituted 75.4% of all deposits at the Bank.
Additional deposit information is disclosed in Note 5 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in item 8 of this filing.

The following table presents the average balances of and average rates
paid on deposits for the three years ended September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  1997                          1996                           1995
                          --------------------        ----------------------           --------------------
                            Average   Average           Average    Average               Average   Average
(Dollars in thousands)      balance    rate             balance     rate                 balance    rate
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Demand noninterest-bearing  $     99
Savings noninterest-bearin        95                    $     98                         $     66
Savings                           58     2.98%                19       2.36%                   33     1.99%
Money market                 120,963     2.82%           149,347       2.90%              209,407     3.22%
Time certificates             61,524     6.30%            65,653       6.24%               66,456     6.41%
                          --------------------        ----------------------           --------------------
  Total deposits            $182,739     4.17%          $215,117       4.17%             $275,962     4.12%
                          ====================        ======================           ====================
</TABLE>

Average balances are calculated predominately on a daily basis.

The following table sets forth the maturity distribution of time
deposits of $100,000 or more as of September 30, 1997:

                     (Dollars in thousands)             Amount
                     --------------------------------------------
                     Three months or less                $ 2,621
                     Over three months to six months       1,593
                     Over six months to twelve months      1,871
                     Over twelve months                    5,283
                                                      -----------
                                                         $11,368
                                                      ===========

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Return on Equity and Assets
                                                                 Years ended September 30,
                                                      ---------------------------------
                                                         1997       1996       1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>
Return on assets (net income/average total assets)          0.31%      0.41%     -2.72%
Return on equity (net income/average equity)                4.53%      7.21%    -49.49%
Net interest margin                                         3.13%      3.25%      3.00%
Equity to assets (average equity/average assets)            6.77%      5.63%      5.79%


</TABLE>

Short-Term Borrowings

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Years ended September 30,
                                                      ---------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)                                   1997       1996       1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>
Other short-term borrowings
  Balance at year end                                    $29,250    $ 4,750    $ 9,500
  Weighted-average interest rate at year end                5.90%      6.76%      6.76%
  Average amount outstanding during the year             $ 9,368    $ 7,827    $ 6,692
  Maximum amount outstanding at any month end            $29,250    $10,500    $17,000
  Weighted-average interest rate during the year            6.04%      7.01%      6.41%

In the ordinary course of business, short-term borrowings of the Bank
consisted primarily of the current portion of fixed-term, fixed-rate
advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank.

                                     -14-
</TABLE>

Item 2.  Properties
The Company conducts all of its operations from leased premises, generally
under non-cancelable leases with terms up to 15 years.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings
The Company has been named as defendant in a number of legal proceedings
arising principally from its securities and investment banking business. Some
of these actions involve claims by plaintiffs for substantial amounts. While
results of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of
management, based on discussion with counsel, the outcome of these matters
will not result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition or
future results of operations of the Company.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not applicable.

                                   Part II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters
The information required by this item is disclosed in item 8 of this filing
in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and under the
caption "Quarterly Financial Information".

Shareholder Information
Annual Meeting - The annual meeting of stockholders will be held at the Old
State House, Hartford, CT on January 29, 1998 at 10:30 AM. Proxy statements
and proxies are mailed to stockholders of record as of December 10, 1997. As
of September 30, 1997 there were 795 common stockholders of record.

Additional Information - Form 10-K - One copy of the Company's annual report
on Form 10-K to the Securities and Exchange Commission will be provided at no
charge upon written request to Corporate Marketing, The Advest Group, Inc.
   The Advest Group, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol ADV.

Registrar and Transfer Agent - BankBoston, NA, c/o Boston EquiServe, LP,
Shareholder Services, Mail Stop: 45-02-64, PO Box 8040, Boston, MA 02266

                                    -15-

<PAGE>

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Five Year Financial Summary
                                                                                           For the years ended September 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In thousands, except per share
  amounts and percentages                              1997             1996             1995             1994             1993
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
Revenues
  Commissions:
    Listed                                         $   49,499       $   43,390       $   39,773       $   36,284       $   39,199
    Mutual funds                                       36,661           34,210           22,693           22,337           21,448
    Over-the-counter                                   23,352           19,714           12,554           10,374            9,527
    Insurance                                           8,227            7,969            4,487            5,164            3,634
    Options                                             4,339            3,552            3,071            2,570            2,407
    Other                                                 954            1,280            1,686            2,761            1,620
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      123,032          110,115           84,264           79,490           77,835
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Interest:
    Margin accounts                                    28,670           25,246           23,761           17,868           14,158
    Loans                                              13,867           16,041           20,005           19,016           19,615
    Stock borrowed                                     10,645            6,970            3,773              978              645
    Investments                                         2,953            3,836            6,132            6,793            6,227
    Securities inventory                                2,525            1,849            1,470            1,016            1,015
    Other                                               1,222            1,283              941              413              783
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       59,882           55,225           56,082           46,084           42,443
  Principal transactions                               43,880           38,591           41,424           32,297           33,662
  Investment banking                                   31,291           26,687           17,571           25,743           31,102
  Asset management
   and administration                                  25,844           20,050           16,810           16,399           14,111
  Gain on sale of investment
    advisory business, net                                 57              627           10,092                0                0
  Other                                                 7,221            8,607            6,491            5,216            2,878
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues                                        291,207          259,902          232,734          205,229          202,031
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses
  Compensation and benefits                           163,852          146,573          121,646          114,800          111,615
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Interest:
    Stock loaned                                       10,261            6,496            4,050            1,103              731
    Brokerage customers                                 8,565            8,769            9,928            6,342            5,383
    Deposits                                            7,596            8,449           11,002            9,613           11,290
    Borrowings                                          5,369            4,651            4,704            5,064            5,120
    Other                                                 667            1,060              882              462              498
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       32,458           29,425           30,566           22,584           23,022
  Communications                                       23,955           20,917           18,999           19,135           17,154
  Occupancy and equipment                              17,758           17,567           17,369           15,614           15,637
  Professional                                          6,729            5,543            5,468            6,231            5,248
  Business development                                  6,664            5,613            4,204            4,532            4,033
  Brokerage, clearing
    and exchange                                        4,788            4,221            3,922            3,693            3,579
  Provision for credit losses
    and asset devaluation                                 915            1,258           10,338            5,411            4,292
  Other                                                 8,780            8,678            8,395            7,874            9,380
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total expenses                                        265,899          239,795          220,907          199,874          193,960
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before taxes
  and extraordinary credit                             25,308           20,107           11,827            5,355            8,071
Provision for income taxes                             10,376            8,847            5,440            2,302            2,903
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before
  extraordinary credit                                 14,932           11,260            6,387            3,053            5,168
Extraordinary credit -
    utiliztion of operating
    loss carryforwards                                      0                0                0                0            2,103
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                                         $   14,932       $   11,260       $    6,387       $    3,053       $    7,271
                                             =====================================================================================
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per share data
   Primary net income                              $     1.68       $     1.29       $     0.73       $     0.34       $     0.79
   Net income assuming                             $     1.62       $     1.18       $     0.72       $     0.34       $     0.75
     full dilution
   Book value                                      $    12.24       $    10.66       $     9.52       $     8.62       $     8.16

  Dividends declared                               $     0.09       $     0.00       $     0.00       $     0.00       $     0.00

Other data
   Total assets                                    $1,078,839       $  965,845       $  832,540       $  884,855       $  885,182
   Shareholders' equity                            $  105,653       $   89,590       $   79,818       $   73,980       $   73,989
   Subordinated borrowings                         $     0.00       $   20,552       $   20,552       $   20,997       $   21,375
   Long-term borrowings                            $   41,321       $   19,744       $   17,240       $   30,388       $   15,038
   Return on average equity                             15.4%            13.2%             8.3%             4.1%            10.2%
   Average common and common
    equivalent shares
      outstanding                                       8,878            8,748            8,735            8,997            9,248
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        -16-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
Overview
The Advest Group, Inc. ("AGI"), together with its subsidiaries (the
"Company"), provides diversified financial services including securities
brokerage, trading, investment banking, consumer lending, trust and asset
management. Advest, Inc. ("Advest"), a regional broker/dealer and the
Company's principal subsidiary, provides brokerage, investment banking and
asset management services to retail and institutional investors through 89
sales offices in 16 states and Washington, DC. Advest Bank and Trust Company
(the "Bank"), an FDIC-insured, federal savings bank, offers residential
mortgage lending and trust services primarily through Advest's branch
network.
   All aspects of the Company's business are highly competitive and impacted
by regulatory and other factors outside of its control, including general
economic and financial conditions, the volume and price levels of securities
markets, the demand for investment banking services and interest rate
volatility. The Company closely monitors its operating environment to enable
it to respond promptly to market cycles. In addition, the Company seeks to
lessen earnings volatility by controlling expenses, increasing fee-based
business and developing new revenue sources. Nonetheless, operating results
of any individual period should not be considered representative of future
performance.
   For the year ended September 30, 1997, the Company reported record net
income and earnings per share of $14.9 million ($1.68 per share) compared
with net income of $11.3 million ($1.29 per share) in 1996 and $6.4 million
($.73 per share) in 1995. Record revenue levels were achieved for the third
consecutive year with individual record levels attained from agency
commissions, investment banking, principal transactions and asset management
activities.
   Subsequent to fiscal year end, during the week ending October 31, 1997,
the equity markets experienced one of the most volatile weeks in market
history. On October 27, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ("DJIA") posted its
largest ever single day point decline - 554 points - causing the first use of
the halt feature implemented following the market turmoil of October 1987. As
a percentage, the decline was 13% from its August record high of 8259,
however, the DJIA was still up 11% for the calendar year. One day later, the
DJIA posted its single largest one day point increase of 337 on record
trading volume. By week's end, the DJIA had recouped most of the losses in a
very volatile trading week, limiting losses for the week to 273 points. This
unanticipated volatility underscores the fact that the markets can be
unpredictable and are impacted by many factors, in this case, turmoil in
foreign markets. The economy remains healthy with low interest rates,
inflation and unemployment and there are no indications that recent events
are anything more than a normal market correction, defined as declines of 10%
or more. However, as previously noted, markets are impacted by many factors
out of the Company's control and their direction cannot be predicted with any
certainty.

Advest, Inc.
Despite some mid-year volatility, the equity markets continued their
unprecedented upward momentum of the past seven years throughout fiscal 1997.
Sustained by healthy corporate earnings, low levels of inflation,
unemployment and interest rates, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed
6000, 7000 and 8000, achieved a record high 8259, and closed at 7945 on
September 30, a 35% one year gain. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices also set
several new highs

                                    -17-
<PAGE>

during the period closing up 38% and 35%, respectively. For the second
consecutive year, technology stocks led the way much of the year and small-
cap stocks substantially outperformed the blue chips in the fourth quarter.
Equity underwriting remained at high levels, benefiting from low interest
rates and a steady infusion of cash into mutual funds.
   Advest's results were favorably impacted by the robust markets. It
reported pre-tax income of $28.0 million, a record high and an increase of
31% from the prior year. Total revenues increased 14% to $271.6 million, a
record high with record levels achieved in all categories with the exception
of other income. Total expenses increased 13% to $243.69 million, primarily
due to increased compensation costs related to market-driven sales
compensation and higher firm-wide payroll.
   For fiscal 1996, Advest reported pre-tax income of $21.4 million, an
increase of 65% from $13.0 million in fiscal 1995. Total revenues increased
21% to $237.7 million with year to year revenue gains posted for investment
banking, up 52%, asset management activities, up 36%, commissions, up 31%,
net interest income, up 10%, and other revenues, up 27%. Revenue from
principal transactions declined 7%, primarily as a result of Nasdaq trading
losses. Total expenses increased 18%, to $216.3 million, primarily due to
increased compensation costs related to market-driven sales compensation and
personnel additions in research, investment banking, sales and trading.

Advest Bank and Trust Company
The Bank's 1997 pre-tax earnings were $.7 million compared with $1.1 million
last year. The decline is primarily attributable to a change in the mix of
average loans outstanding to lower yielding mortgages and home equity lines
from higher yielding commercial loans as well as a $2.7 million increase in
nonperforming assets ("NPAs"). During 1997 and 1996, the Bank continued its
strategic transition from a portfolio residential and commercial lender to a
mortgage banker, originating loans primarily for sale into secondary markets,
and a provider of personal trust services. The Bank provides first mortgage
and home equity lending and trust services primarily through referrals from
Advest's retail sales force. During 1997, $90.4 million of residential
mortgage and home equity loans were originated and secondary market mortgage
transactions totaled $30.1 million. Trust assets increased 61% to
approximately $475 million.
   The Bank's 1996 pre-tax earnings were $1.1 million compared with a pre-tax
loss of $9.3 million in 1995. The Bank recorded total loss provisions of
$10.1 million for fiscal 1995, including those required by the implementation
of an accelerated asset disposition plan as well as the bulk sales
consummated in the first half of fiscal 1995. Fiscal 1996's results
represented the Bank's first annual profit since 1989.
   At September 30, 1997 the Bank's leveraged capital, risk-based and Tier 1
capital ratios were 6.84%, 10.04% and 8.79%, respectively, which satisfied
all regulatory requirements. The Bank is deemed a "well capitalized" bank and
as such is able to accept brokered deposits without restriction.
   Effective April 15, 1997, the Bank converted to a federal savings bank,
and ceased to be a state-chartered bank. As a federal savings bank, the Bank
is regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), but its deposits
continue to be insured under the Bank Insurance Fund of the FDIC. This
regulatory and charter change enables the Bank to provide residential lending
and trust services in all 50 states.

Other
During fiscal 1995, the Company sold the investment advisory business related
to its proprietary mutual funds in three separate transactions. The total
gain from all sales was $10.1 million and is

                                    -18-
<PAGE>

reported as a separate line item on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Fiscal 1997 and 1996 revenues include $.1 million and $.6 million,
respectively, in trailer payments received under the terms of one of the
sales agreements.

Year 2000
In anticipation of technology and other changes required for the transition
to the year 2000, the Company has been in regular contact with all of its
external providers of technology and software services. The Company will be
an active participant in the testing process of securities industry
procedures. In addition, committees have been formed to identify all internal
processes and services that will be impacted. Work has already commenced to
effect all required changes on a timely basis. Management has not determined
what the cost associated with implementing all necessary changes for the Year
2000 conversion will be but does not expect it to be material to the
Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
Management believes the Company has taken all reasonable precautions to
ensure a smooth transition. However, like all securities firms, the Company's
brokerage business is highly dependent on outside service providers and, as
such, any problems encountered would potentially have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business activities and, accordingly, its results of
operations, financial condition and cashflows.

Subsequent Event
In October 1997, Advest acquired Ironwood Capital Ltd., ("Ironwood") a
private investment bank that originates and distributes private placements of
taxable fixed income securities. Ironwood and its twelve employees will
become the Corporate Fixed Income Group of Advest's Investment Banking
Division. The Company issued 137,060 shares of its common stock in
conjunction with the acquisition which will be accounted for as a pooling of
interests. Due to the immaterial effect on the Company's consolidated
financial position and results of operations, operating results of Ironwood
will only be included prospectively in the Company's consolidated financial
statements.

Results of Operations
Net income for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $14.9
million, $11.3 million and $6.4, million respectively. The following table
summarizes percentage changes for revenues, expenses and pre-tax income for
the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           %                  %
In thousands,                          Increase           Increase
   except percentages          1997   (Decrease)  1996   (Decrease)  1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
  Commissions               $123,032      12%   $110,115     31%   $84,264
  Interest                    59,882       8      55,225     (2)    56,082
  Principal transactions      43,880      14      38,591     (7)    41,424
  Investment banking          31,291      17      26,687     52     17,571
  Asset management and
    administration            25,844      29      20,050     19     16,810
  Gain on sale of investment
    investment advisory
    business,net                  57     (91)        627    (94)    10,092
                               7,221     (16)      8,607     33      6,491
                             ---------------------------------------------
                             291,207      12     259,902     12    232,734

                                    -19-
<PAGE>

  Interest expense            32,458      10      29,425     (4)    30,566
                            ----------------------------------------------
Net revenues                 258,749      12     230,477     14    202,168
                            ----------------------------------------------

Non-interest expenses        233,441      11     210,370     11    190,341
                            ----------------------------------------------

Pre-tax income              $ 25,308      26%   $ 20,107     77%  $ 11,827
                            ==============================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commissions
Current year agency commissions increased $12.9 million (12%) to a record
$123.0 million as equity markets sustained the upward momentum of the past
seven years. Year-to-year revenue gains were posted in each quarter. While
the number of investment executives has remained fairly constant over the
past three years, recruitment and retention of experienced professionals has
contributed to substantial increases in average annual production per broker.
Together with record stock market volume and prices, this contributed to
record commission revenues during fiscal 1997. Commissions on listed
securities increased $6.1 million (14%). Record revenue levels were attained
for a second consecutive year from over-the-counter securities, up $3.6
million (19%), mutual funds, including distribution and deferred sales
charges, up $2.5 million (7%) and insurance products, primarily variable
annuities, up $.3 million (3%).
   Agency commissions increased $25.9 million (31%) to $110.1 million in
fiscal 1996 reflecting strong equity markets throughout the year. Mutual fund
revenues, including distribution and deferred sales charges, increased $11.5
million (51%), over-the-counter issues, increased $7.2 million (57%) and
insurance products, primarily variable annuities, increased $3.5 million
(78%). Year-to-year revenue gains were primarily driven by record stock
market volumes and prices as well as an ongoing effort to recruit and retain
experienced investment executives. Commissions on listed securities gained
$3.6 million (9%).

Principal Transactions
Revenue from principal transactions includes realized and unrealized gains
and losses on Advest's trading accounts and related sales credits. During the
second quarter of fiscal 1996, Advest established a corporate bond trading
desk specializing in investment grade corporate bonds. Advest enters into
derivative transactions to manage the interest rate risk associated with its
municipal and corporate bond inventories. Derivatives are marked to market
daily with unrealized gains and losses reflected in revenue from principal
transactions. (Further discussion of derivatives is included under the
caption "Derivative Financial Instruments" and in Notes 1 and 15 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.) Advest holds only nominal inventory
positions of high yield securities. Realized gains and losses on the Bank's
trading and available for sale securities are reflected in revenue from
principal transactions.
   Current year revenue from principal transactions increased $5.3 million
(14%) to a record $43.9 million. Over-the-counter trading profits were $.6
million compared with a loss of $1.9 million in 1996 and related commissions
increased $1.8 million (11%). Corporate bond trading profits increased $1.1
million (191%) in that trading department's first full year of operations.
Municipal and government bond trading profits rose $.5 million (25%) and $.3
million (59%), respectively. Commissions on debt securities declined $.8
million (4%) reflecting investor interest in the equity markets. Advest
realized a $76,000 loss on derivative transactions in the current year
compared with a $20,000 profit in the prior year. The Bank posted a $72,000
loss from principal transactions in the current year compared with a small
profit in 1996.

                                    -20-
<PAGE>

   In fiscal 1996, revenue from principal transactions declined $2.8 million
(7%) to $38.6 million. Equity commissions increased $3.9 million (31%)
reflecting strong investor demand for small cap stocks during 1996. This
increase was substantially offset by a $3.3 million swing in over-the-counter
trading results from a $1.4 million profit in 1995 to a loss of $1.9 million
in 1996. Commissions on debt securities declined $2.7 million (12%) primarily
reflecting interest rate uncertainty and strong equity markets.

Investment Banking
To generate investment banking revenue, Advest manages and participates in
underwritings of corporate and municipal securities and closed-end funds.
Advest's Corporate Finance Department also provides merger and acquisition,
consulting and valuation services. In general, the Company does not
participate in bridge financing activities. Advest's Corporate Finance
Department concentrates its efforts on raising capital for mid-size
companies, primarily in the banking, insurance, high tech and health care
industries. Public Finance services health care and educational institutions
as well as state and local issuers primarily in New England and New York.
   Current year investment banking revenues rose $4.6 million (17%) to $31.3
million. Consulting and valuation fees increased $1.2 million (122%) while
merger and acquisition fees declined $.8 million (13%). Corporate Finance
completed 15 public offerings and private placements raising over $412
million for clients. Commissions on equity underwritings and unit investment
trust offerings each increased $1.1 million reflecting year-to-year gains of
14% and 42%, respectively. Underwriting fees declined $.2 million (6%) as a
result of a substantial fee related to the conversion of a mutual company to
a stock company earned in fiscal 1996. $2.2 million of the current year
increase relates to a change in the valuation of warrants received in
conjunction with equity investment banking activities.  In fiscal 1997, an
unrealized gain of $1.9 million was recorded while in fiscal 1996 an
unrealized loss of $.4 million was recorded.
   Investment banking revenues increased $9.0 million (52%) in fiscal 1996.
On the equity side, Corporate Finance raised more than $365 million for
clients from underwriting and private placement activities. Underwriting
fees, including private placements, increased $3.2 million (555%) and related
commissions and trading profits increased $2.6 million (48%) and $.4 million
(355%), respectively. Syndicate trading profits increased $.7 million (81%).
Merger and acquisition services were provided in transactions valued at more
than $330 million and related fees rose $2.5 million (66%). Consulting and
valuation fees declined $.9 million (49%). On the debt side, Advest continued
to gain market share in a contracting new issue environment during 1996 and
expanded its institutional sales efforts with the recruitment of several
experienced professionals in 1996 and 1995. Public finance underwriting fees
more than doubled to $1.1 million and municipal syndicate trading profits
were $.4 million compared with a negligible profit in 1995. Sales credits on
municipal issues gained $.5 million (46%).  Investment banking revenues were
negatively impacted $.8 million by valuation changes in warrants received in
conjunction with investment banking activities.

Asset Management and Administration
Advest's Investment Management Department provides various services for its
managed account base including client profiling, asset allocation, manager
selection and performance measurement. The Bank provides personal trust
services primarily through Advest's retail sales force. Boston Security
Counsellors ("BSC"), an investment advisor, services private clients and was
investment advisor to the Company's proprietary mutual funds, until their
sale in fiscal 1995. Hannah Consulting Group ("HCG"), an investment
management firm acquired by the Company in the current year, provides
consulting services primarily to pension funds. Other services include

                                    -21-
<PAGE>

retirement plan administration, securities custody and safekeeping.
   Current year revenues increased $5.8 million (29%) to $25.8 million, a
record high for the third consecutive year. Advest's revenues increased $4.9
million (27%) due primarily to increased money management fees. During the
year, Advest's Investment Management Department opened 1,226 new accounts and
together with increased business from existing accounts increased its managed
account base more than $1 billion. At September 30, 1997, managed accounts
totaled $2.8 billion, reflecting a 44% year-to-year gain. HCG, acquired by
the Company in the current year, generated $.5 million in management fees.
The Bank's revenues increased $.3 million primarily related to higher trust
revenues.
   Revenues increased $3.2 million (19%) in fiscal 1996. Advest's revenue
increased $4.8 million (36%) primarily related to increased managed account
business. BSC's revenue declined $1.9 million (61%). The 1995 sale of the
Company's proprietary mutual fund advisory business accounted for a $2.1
million decline in revenue as BSC had served as sole investment advisor for
the funds. Revenue from BSC's private client business increased $.2 million
(15%) in 1996. The Bank's revenues increased $.2 million (41%) primarily due
to growth in trust business.

Other Income
Other income declined $1.4 million (16%) to $7.2 million in the current year
primarily due to a $.6 million (38%) decline in execution fee income at
Advest related to regulatory changes which impact over-the-counter trading
revenues. Fiscal 1996 revenues also included a $.9 million gain on the sale
of an equity investment.
   During 1996, other income increased $2.1 million (33%). Advest's revenue
increased $1.7 million primarily due to higher fee income and a $.9 million
first quarter gain on the sale of an equity investment. Fiscal 1995 revenue
included a $.5 million gain from the sale of an exchange seat. The Bank's
income increased $.3 million in 1996 primarily due to a $.4 million increase
in gains on secondary markets mortgage transactions.

Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the excess of interest income and loan fee income over
interest expense and is derived primarily by the Bank and Advest. The Bank
derives most of its interest income from residential mortgage and home equity
loans and from investments. The Bank's loans and investments are primarily
funded by interest-bearing deposits, advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank
of Boston ("FHLBB") and by the Bank's equity capital. The Bank also enters
into derivative transactions, including interest rate swap and interest rate
cap contracts, as part of its interest rate risk management. The net payments
or receipts under these contracts are accounted for as an adjustment to
interest expense. (Further discussion of derivatives appears under the
caption "Derivative Financial Instruments" and in Note 15.) Advest derives
interest income primarily from financing brokerage customers margin
transactions, its stock borrowing activities and securities inventory. Advest
pays interest primarily on brokerage customer credits held for reinvestment,
its stock lending activities and short and long-term borrowings. The
components of interest revenue and expense are detailed in the Five Year
Financial Summary on page 17.
   Current year net interest income increased $1.6 million (6%). Advest's net
interest income increased $2.4 million (12%) primarily due to significantly
higher average margin balances. Average free credit balances in brokerage
accounts increased during the year but not enough to support the increased
margin balances. Together with higher securities inventory levels, this
resulted in increased bank borrowings which reduced overall interest spreads.
The Bank's net interest income declined $1.3 million (16%) during 1997. The
decline is attributable to a year-to-year $29 million (12%) decrease in
average assets and a change in the mix of average loans to

                                    -22-
<PAGE>

lower yielding residential mortgages and home equity lines from higher
yielding commercial loans. In addition, NPAs increased $2.7 million in the
current year primarily due to three commercial loans which were placed in a
nonaccrual status and which had an average interest rate of 10%. The Bank's
ratio of earning assets to total bank assets was 93.5% in the current year
compared with 96.7% in 1996. AGI's net interest improved $.8 million
primarily due to lower borrowing rates associated with its current year
private placement of $35 million of notes. The proceeds were used to retire
its convertible debentures and other higher cost debt and loan $10 million to
Advest with the balance invested in short-term securities.
   Net interest income increased $.3 million (1%) to $25.8 million in 1996.
Advest's net interest increased $1.7 million (10%) primarily due to
significantly higher average margin balances. Interest spreads declined
slightly primarily due to lower average interest rates in 1996, a sizable
decline in average free credit balances in brokerage accounts and increased
borrowing costs related to higher levels of trading inventories, specifically
corporate bonds. Increased stock lending/borrowing activities also favorably
impacted net interest income in fiscal 1996. The Bank's net interest income
declined $1.7 million (17%) during 1996. The decline was attributable to a
$48.3 million (18%) decline in the Bank's asset base.

Non-Interest Expenses
Current year compensation costs increased $17.3 million (12%). Advest's
compensation costs increased $16.5 million (12%) primarily due to volume-
related increases in salesmen's compensation and related incentives and
higher firm payroll costs associated with personnel additions, primarily in
capital markets departments, as well as general salary increases. HCG,
acquired in the current fiscal year, had compensation costs of $.7 million.
Communication costs increased $3.0 million (15%) primarily due to substantial
upgrades in software, quote services and service bureaus in the Company's
firm-wide Advantage2000 System. In addition, Advest's costs for its third
party back office data processor increased $.9 million (29%) primarily
related to higher securities transaction volume. Professional fees increased
$1.2 million (21%). Advest's professional fees increased $.5 million with
consulting fees and personnel agency fees increasing $.5 million (57%) and
$.3 million (40%), respectively and legal fees declining $.4 million (15%).
Professional fees for AGI increased $.5 million primarily due to increased
consulting costs associated with the Company's centennial celebration. HCG,
acquired in the current year, incurred $.4 million in consulting expenses.
Business development costs increased $1.1 million (19%) primarily due to
increases in the number of investment executives qualifying, as a result of
sales production and contests, to attend Advest's National Sales and
Education Conference and other Company-sponsored events. Brokerage, clearing
and exchange costs increased $.6 million (13%) due to increased securities
volume. The provision for credit losses and asset devaluation declined $.3
million (27%) primarily due to lower loss provisions required at the Bank.
Other expenses were substantially unchanged year-to-year, however, the
current year expenses includes a $.6 million loss on the second quarter
retirement of the Company's outstanding convertible debentures. This loss was
substantially offset by declines in carrying costs of other real estate
owned.
   Fiscal 1996 compensation costs increased $24.9 million (20%). Advest's
compensation increased $26.1 million (22%) primarily as a result of increased
sales compensation and related incentives and higher firm payroll. BSC's
payroll declined $.6 million (49%) as a result of personnel reductions
related to the sale of the Company's proprietary mutual fund advisory
business in fiscal 1995. Communication costs increased $1.6 million (9%)
primarily due to higher volume-driven costs for Advest's third party back
office data processing provider and increased software and supplies costs
related to technology upgrades. Business development costs increased

                                    -23-
<PAGE>

$1.4 million (34%) primarily due to significant increases in the number of
investment executives qualifying, as a result of sales production and
contests, to attend various Company-sponsored events. Provisions for credit
losses and asset devaluation declined $9.1 million in 1996 due to substantial
charges recorded in fiscal 1995 primarily related to an accelerated asset
disposition plan at the Bank. Other expenses increased $.6 million (7%)
primarily due to higher settlement costs at Advest which were partly offset
by a decline in FDIC deposit insurance premiums at the Bank.

Income Taxes
The effective income tax rates were 41%, 44% and 46%, respectively, for 1997,
1996 and 1995. The effective tax rate declined to 41% in the current year due
to reduced state tax obligations, primarily in Connecticut, where a portion
of the previously reserved tax benefit of state carryforward losses was
recognized. The higher rates of 1996 and 1995 are reflective of greater
levels of income apportioned to states with higher average tax rates.
   At September 30, 1997 the Company had net deferred tax assets, net of a
$.5 million valuation allowance, of $1.4 million. The Company expects to
realize all deferred tax assets, except for certain state net operating loss
carryforwards for which it has established the above valuation allowance. For
further information on the Company's income taxes refer to Notes 1 and 13 to
the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Derivative Financial Instruments
Advest Bank and Trust Company
The Bank enters into transactions involving derivative securities, including
interest rate swap and interest rate cap contracts as part of the Bank's
management of interest rate risk. (See Note 1 for further disclosure.) Swap
and cap contracts are used to hedge the cost of funds so that a more stable
net interest income will be earned by the Bank. The Bank is exposed to credit-
related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties but does not
expect any parties to fail to meet their obligations. The Bank currently has
outstanding contracts only with the FHLBB, which is the counterparty in $10.0
million and $5.0 million of the Bank's swap and cap contracts, respectively.
The notional amounts of contracts entered into by the Bank and their
potential credit exposure are disclosed in Note 15.

Advest, Inc.
Advest enters into derivative transactions, primarily short-term exchange-
traded futures to manage the interest rate risk associated with its trading
inventories, primarily municipal and corporate bonds, when inventory levels
exceed pre-determined levels, as defined in its risk management policy.
Hedging is limited to the underlying trading portfolio's interest rate risk
and is not speculative in and of itself. Derivatives and the underlying
inventory are marked to market daily. Positions are reviewed daily and, at
least annually, the strategy is re-evaluated based on anticipated inventory
levels and composition.
   The fair value of a derivative contract is the amount Advest would have to
pay a third party to assume its obligation under the contract or the amount
Advest would receive for its benefits under the contract in the reverse
situation. At September 30, 1997, Advest had only nominal open positions. At
September 30, 1996, Advest had no open positions. (See Note 15.)

Asset Quality
Advest Bank and Trust Company
The Bank's primary lending activity is originating loans collateralized by
owner-occupied one-to-

                                    -24-
<PAGE>

four family residential property. During 1997 and 1996, respectively, $37.0
million and $43.1 million of fixed rate and adjustable loans were originated,
and secondary market sales and loan securitizations totaled $30.1 million and
$67.8 million. In addition, in 1997 and 1996, respectively, $58.1 million and
$47.1 million of home equity lines of credit were originated and retained in
portfolio and advances on home equity lines of credit increased by a net
$19.2 million and $16.1 million for the respective year.
   Residential (including home equity line of credit loan advances) and
commercial loan portfolios increased $8.0 million and decreased $6.0 million,
respectively, in 1997, and increased $26.4 million and $20.1 million,
respectively, in 1996. At September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively, the
Bank's loan portfolio was comprised of $151.7 million and $143.7 million of
single-family residential mortgages and $39.5 million and $42.9 million of
commercial and other loans, representing 79% and 77% and 21% and 23% of total
loans, respectively.
   During fiscal 1995, the Bank evaluated alternatives to expedite the
disposition of its NPAs and implemented an accelerated asset disposition plan
with the objectives of allowing Bank management to focus on its residential
mortgage banking and trust businesses and expediting conditions under which a
Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") the Bank was subject to would be lifted.
Both in anticipation of and in accordance with the plan, the Bank recorded
loss provisions of $5.6 million in 1995 to dispose of NPAs and commercial
real estate loans. In July 1996, the Bank's regulators lifted the MOU. At
September 30, 1997 and 1996, the Bank's NPAs were $5.2 million and $2.4
million, respectively, reflecting 2% and 1%, respectively, of total bank
assets. The $2.8 million increase in NPAs primarily relates to a $2.7 million
increase in nonperforming loans. Of this increase, $2.1 million relates to
the default of two large commercial mortgages during fiscal 1997. These loans
are in the process of collection and one is expected to be repaid without
loss of principal in the near future. The Bank has not been an active
commercial mortgage lender since the late 1980's. The Bank's Allowance for
Loan Losses at September 30, 1997 did not materially increase on a year to
year basis as it was considered adequate to absorb losses from the entire
Bank loan portfolio, including the increased level of NPAs.
   At September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively, earning assets were 93.5%
and 96.7% of total bank assets. Loan delinquency was 3.43%, 1.84% and .87% of
total loans at September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Had interest
been accrued at contractual rates on nonaccrual and re-negotiated loans,
interest income would have increased by approximately $.6 million, $.3
million and $.5 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
   Bank loans classified impaired as of September 30, 1997 and 1996,
respectively, totaled $2.9 million and $5.3 million. Included in Bank
impaired loans at September 30, 1996 were $3.8 million of restructured loans
that had been returned to accruing status under the terms of their
restructuring, and $.8 million of loans where there was potential credit
problems. Both situations were satisfactorily resolved in the current year.
All remaining amounts classified impaired for both fiscal 1997 and 1996 were
included in nonaccrual loans, (See Note 2.)

Advest Group, Inc.
At September 30, 1995, the Bank transferred $4.6 million of NPAs to AGI in
accordance with an accelerated asset disposition. The assets were transferred
at their expected sales prices which reflected discounts from fair value.
During 1997 and 1996, respectively, $.9 million and $3.2 million of these
assets were liquidated.
  AGI holds a $9.0 million first mortgage on a property owned by a real
estate limited partnership for which Billings Management Company, a
subsidiary of the Company, serves as general partner. The first payment under
the mortgage is not due until January 2000, therefore, the loan is
technically performing. The property has been at full occupancy with a
waiting list for most

                                    -25-
<PAGE>

of the past four years, however, given its significant future financial
commitments, the Company has decided to treat the mortgage as a nonperforming
loan and, accordingly, no interest income is being accrued.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company's total assets were $1.1 billion at September 30, 1997,
reflecting a 12% increase from the prior year. Substantially all of the
increase was attributable to Advest where assets increased $112.3 million
(16%). The increase is primarily due to higher receivables related to stock
borrowing activities and higher margin debits.
   With the primary exception of loans held in portfolio by the Bank which
comprise 18% of total assets, the Company's assets are highly liquid in
nature. Liquid assets which include cash and cash equivalents, receivables
from brokerage customers, securities borrowed, receivables from brokers and
dealers, available for sale and trading securities comprised 75% of total
assets at September 30, 1997 compared with 72% for the prior year.
   Shareholders' equity increased $16.1 million (18%) to $105.7 million,
primarily as a result of a $14.9 million increase in retained earnings from
current year operating results and a $2.5 million increase in paid-in capital
primarily related to the sales of treasury stock to the Company's equity
plans and the exercise of stock options. The Company paid quarterly dividends
of $.03 per share on April 15, 1997, July 15, 1997 and October 15, 1997. The
total amount paid was $.8 million. At September 30, 1997, 2,696,277 shares of
the Company's common stock had been purchased since the inception of the
stock buyback program in August 1990, at an average price of $6.17 per share.
   AGI's principal source of funding is the earnings distributions from its
subsidiaries which are unrestricted. In December 1996, AGI issued $35 million
7.95% seven year senior notes in an unsecured private placement transaction
with three institutional investors. In December 1996, AGI repaid in full its
outstanding indebtedness of $4.4 million, including accrued interest and
fees, under a loan from a third party bank. On January 30, 1997, the Company
redeemed $20.3 million outstanding principal amount of its 9% convertible
subordinated debentures due 2008. The redemption price was 101.2% of the par
value of the debentures, together with accrued interest. A total of 18,716
shares were issued to debenture holders electing to convert $.3 million par
value of debentures into the Company's common stock at the conversion price
of $13.57. Cash was issued in lieu of fractional shares. The conversion of
the debentures eliminated the potential dilution of the Company's common
stock by 15%.

Advest, Inc.
In addition to funds generated from operations, sources used by Advest to
finance assets include credit balances in brokerage accounts which increased
$36.5 million (13%), short-term borrowings which decreased $1.8 million (5%),
deposits for securities loaned which increased $44.3 million (21%),
securities sold short which increased $4.7 million (10%) and long-term
borrowings which declined $6.3 million (100%). In January 1997, AGI loaned
Advest $10.0 million at a rate of 8% per annum, utilizing a portion of the
proceeds of its $35.0 million borrowing. The loan is unsecured and
subordinated to certain other corporate obligations. The purpose of the loan
was to increase Advest's regulatory net capital. On April 1, 1997, Advest
repaid in full an outstanding secured collateralized note in the amount of
$6.3 million to an unrelated third party lender.
   Prior to fiscal 1996, Advest's short-term borrowings primarily resulted
from timing differences related to trade settlements and were usually repaid
within a day or two. A significant increase in margin debits and Advest's
corporate bond trading inventories, together with the securities industry
conversion to same day funds settlement in February 1996, have resulted in

                                    -26-
<PAGE>

substantial and recurring short-term borrowings by Advest. Advest has
arrangements with certain financial institutions whereby it can borrow
amounts on a collateralized basis, principally to support securities
settlements and underwriting activities, including an uncommitted line of
credit of $90 million with its lead lending bank. Advest has substantial
levels of customer and firm securities which can be used as collateral.
   During fiscal 1998, Advest has planned approximately $2.5 million of new
expenditures related to technology upgrades. Management believes that
operating cash flow together with available credit lines will provide
sufficient resources to meet all present and reasonably foreseeable capital
needs.
   The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") requires Advest to maintain
liquid net capital to meet its obligations to customers. At September 30,
1997, Advest had excess net capital of approximately $51.9 million. (See Note
12.)

Advest Bank and Trust Company
At September 30, 1997, the Bank's regulatory liquid assets included cash,
federal funds and qualified securities (which include all available for sale
and certain held to maturity securities) of $6.5 million. In addition, the
Bank is a member of the FHLBB and, accordingly, has access to advances from
the FHLBB to the extent the Bank possesses eligible collateral. At September
30, 1997, the Bank had uncommitted, eligible collateral of $137.9 million.
Without giving effect to any operating results from subsequent periods,
management believes that the Bank has sufficient capital to comply with the
regulatory requirements.
   Pursuant to federal statute, federal savings banks are subject to a
liquidity requirement that specifies that at least 5% of total Bank assets to
be invested in qualified assets. As of September 30, 1997, the Bank's
liquidity ratio was 5.07%.
   The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") requires banks to
maintain a minimum leverage capital ratio of between 4% and 5%. At September
30, 1997, the Bank's leverage capital ratio was 6.84%. The Bank is also
subject to the FDIC's risk-based capital regulations which require the Bank
to maintain a total risk-based capital ratio of 8%, including at least 4%
Tier 1 capital. At September 30, 1997, the Bank's total risk-based and Tier 1
capital ratios were 10.04% (with capital of $17.4 million) and 8.79% (with
capital of $15.2 million), respectively, which met all regulatory
requirements.
   Pursuant to the FDIC Improvement Act ("FDICIA"), all banks are subject to
rules limiting brokered deposits and interest rates. Under FDICIA, the Bank
meets the conditions to be deemed a "well capitalized" bank, which means it
may accept brokered deposits without restriction. At September 30, 1997, the
Bank had $61.4 million of brokered deposits.

Cash Flows
Cash and cash equivalents increased $1.0 million, and $4.2 million in fiscal
1997 and 1996, respectively, compared with a negligible increase in 1995. The
current year increase resulted from increases in cash of $1.0 million and $.8
million at AGI and the Bank, respectively, offset by a decrease in cash of
$.8 million at Advest. AGI's cash from financing activities increased $10.0
million primarily related to a $35 million private placement of notes offset
by a $20.5 million payment for the retirement of the Company's convertible
debentures and $4.6 million of other debt repayment. AGI's cash from
investing activities declined $9.7 million primarily related to a $10.0
million subordinated loan to Advest. The 1996 increase was attributed to
increases in cash of $2.7 million, $.9 million and $.5 million at Advest, the
Bank and AGI, respectively. Advest generated $25.2 million from financing
activities, primarily short-term borrowings, but used $7.7 million for
investing and $14.9 million in operating cash primarily to finance increased
margin debits and

                                    -27-
<PAGE>

trading inventories. The Bank generated $47.5 million from investing
activities, primarily loan collections and sales of available for sale
securities, and used $47.0 million for financing activities, primarily a
decrease in deposits. The break even results for 1995 resulted from $1.0
million and $.3 million increases at the Bank and AGI, respectively, which
were offset by a $1.3 million decline at Advest. The Bank's increase was
primarily attributed to net funds generated by the accelerated asset
disposition plan and improved cash flow from operations. Advest generated
strong cash flow primarily from operations and a $6.25 million long-term
borrowing in 1995. However, the broker/dealer made significant 1995 capital
investments in computer hardware and software to support its sales force. In
addition, Advest incurred high costs associated with the recruitment of
investment professionals.
   During the current year, the Company generated $7.5 million of operating
cash primarily related to increased net income, as adjusted for non-cash
items, of $23.2 million, higher short inventory positions up $4.7 million and
increased liabilities. This was offset by a net $26.5 million cash used for
stock borrowing activities. $8.4 million of cash was used in investing
activities due primarily to an increase in loans originated of $50.4 million
compared with cash receipts from mortgage payments of $43.8 million. Cash
from financing activities increased $1.9 million primarily as a result of a
$35 million private placement of notes by AGI which was offset by a $20.5
million payment to retire its debentures as well as other debt
extinguishment. The Bank's deposits declined $21.6 million necessitating
increased net short-term borrowings of $20.4 million to support its lending
activities.
   During fiscal 1996, the Company used $45.2 million of operating cash
primarily to finance a $43.8 million increase in margin debits, a $17.4
million decline in brokerage customer credits, a $24.8 million increase in
loans held for resale and a $8.8 million increase in trading inventories net
of short sales. Operating cash was provided primarily by net income plus non-
cash items of $19.1 million and a $31.0 million decline in segregated cash
required by Rule 15c3-3. Financing activities used $14.2 million of cash
primarily related to a $44.5 million decline in deposits of the Bank which
was partly offset by a net increase of $23.3 million in short-term
borrowings. Investing activities generated $63.6 million of cash, including
$25.2 million decrease in available for sale securities and $41.6 million in
proceeds from loan sales.
   During fiscal 1995, the Company generated $16.8 million of operating cash
primarily from $15.5 million of net income adjusted for non-cash revenue and
expense items. Margin debits declined $13.1 million and 15c3-3 requirements
for segregated customer funds declined $18.0 million generating cash.
Brokerage customer credits declined $10.5 million.  Financing activities used
$93.6 million primarily due to a $56.2 million decline in customer deposits
at the Bank. Advest's short-term borrowings declined $22.5 million and its
long-term debt increased $6.25 million. The Bank paid down its short and long-
term borrowings by $9.5 million and $10.0 million, respectively. Investing
activities produced positive cash flow of $76.8 million primarily as a result
of $40.8 million in proceeds from the sales of performing and NPAs of the
Bank and $26.4 million from securities sales by the Bank. The Company
generated $10.1 million of cash from the sales of its proprietary mutual fund
investment advisory business.

Risk Management
During its normal course of business, Advest engages in the trading of
securities, primarily fixed income, in both a proprietary and market making
capacity, and holds securities for trading, rather than investment, purposes.
Advest makes a market in certain investment-grade corporate bonds, mortgage-
backed securities, municipal bonds and over-the-counter equities in order to
facilitate order flow and accommodate its retail and institutional customers.

                                    -28-
<PAGE>

The Bank is engaged in the business of investing customer deposits,
borrowings and funds from capital, in loans, primarily residential, and
investments.  Investments include government and agency obligations, mortgage-
backed securities and money market instruments.

Market Risk
Market Risk represents the potential change in the value of financial
instruments due to fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange
rates, equity and commodity prices.  In the course of its trading and hedging
activities, the Company is exposed to interest rate and equity price risk.

Interest Rate Risk. The Company is exposed to market risk arising from
changes in interest rates.  Advest's management seeks to reduce the risk of
its trading portfolio on an aggregate basis, through the use of derivative
transactions; principally exchange traded futures contracts.  The Company
uses derivatives for hedging purposes, and does not engage in speculative
trading.  The Bank enters into interest rate swap and cap transactions as
part of its overall risk management strategy to hedge against interest rate
risk on its non-trading portfolio.

Equity Price Risk. The Company is exposed to equity price risk as a result of
making a market in OTC equity securities.  Equity price risk arises from
changes in the price and volatility of equity securities.

Trading Accounts (Value at Risk Analysis)
For purposes of new Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure
requirements, the Company has performed a value at risk analysis of Advest's
trading financial instruments.  The value at risk calculation uses standard
statistical techniques to measure the potential loss in fair value based upon
a one-day holding period and a 95% confidence level.  The calculation is
based upon a variance-covariance methodology, which assumes a normal
distribution of changes in portfolio value.  The forecasts of variances and
covariances used to construct the variance/covariance matrix, for the market
factors relevant to the portfolio, are generated from historical data.
Although value at risk models are sophisticated, they can be limited, as
historical data is not always an accurate predictor of future conditions.
Accordingly, Advest will manage its exposure through other measures,
including predetermined trading authorization levels and a hedging
requirement policy.

At September 30, 1997, Advest's value at risk for each component of market
risk and in total was as follows (in thousands):

     Interest rate risk         $  213
     Equity price risk              64
     Diversification benefit       (16)

     Total Advest                  261

Non-trading Accounts (Tabular Presentation)
The following table shows the interest sensitivity of non-trading assets,
liabilities and financial instruments of Advest at September 30, 1997, based
on their estimated maturity/repricing structure:

                                    -29-

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                                               (in thousands)

                                                                   Fiscal Periods Ended September 30
                                                     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Percent of                                                                        After
                                    Amount   Total             1998      1999         2000         2001          2002          2002
                             ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest-sensitive Assets
<S>                               <C>       <C>           <C>        <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>          <C>

 Real estate mortgage,
  loans receivable,
  net (a)<FN>(1)                   191,491     82.36%      103,037     7,765        9,200        9,933         2,669        58,887
   Average interest rate              8.08%                   8.17%     8.60%        8.61%        8.54%         6.78%         7.75%

 Personal and non-mortgage
  commercial loans
  receivable, net (a)<FN>(1)         5,911      2.54%        4,272       535          579           97              0          428
   Average interest rate              8.35%                   8.46%     7.47%        8.25%        9.40%                       8.32%

 Mortgage-backed securities         16,961      7.29%        5,516         0            0            0             0         11,445
   Average interest rate              6.73%                   6.53%     0.00%        0.00%        0.00%         0.00%         6.83%

 Investment                         17,928      7.71%       15,430     1,998          250          250             0             0
  securities (b)<FN>(2)
   Average interest rate              6.38%                   6.22%     6.25%        8.00%        8.00%         0.00%         0.00%

 Interest-bearing deposits             224      0.10%          218        0             0            6             0             0
   Average interest rate              5.13%                   5.22%     0.00%        0.00%        2.00%         0.00%         0.00%


  Total Interest-sensitive
   Assets                          232,515     15.10%      128,473    10,298       10,029       10,286         2,669        70,760

Interest-sensitive Liabilities

 Regular savings accounts              411      0.17%            0        0              0         411             0             0
   Average interest rate              2.00%                   0.00%     0.00%        0.00%        2.00%         0.00%         0.00%

 Money market
  deposit accounts                 107,567     44.64%      107,567         0            0            0             0             0
   Average interest rate              2.75%                   2.75%     0.00%        0.00%        0.00%         0.00%         0.00%

 Certificate of
  Deposit accounts                  61,673     25.60%       34,398    17,132        7,465        2,176           182           320
   Average interest rate              6.31%                   6.22%     6.47%        6.35%        6.54%         6.19%         5.89%

 FHLB advances                      35,000     14.53%       29,250       750        3,500        1,500             0             0
   Average interest rate              6.01%                   5.91%     6.58%        6.45%        6.73%         0.00%         0.00%

 Other borrowings                   36,293     15.06%          704       262        7,279        7,048         7,000        14,000
   Average interest rate              7.84%                   3.91%     6.25%        7.88%        7.94%         7.95%         7.95%


  Total Interest-sensitive
   Liabilities                     240,944    100.00%      171,919    18,144       18,244       11,135         7,182        14,320


Interest Rate Derivatives

  Interest rate swaps:

   Fixed to variable notional amount                         5,000     5,000
     Average pay rate                                         8.79%     7.09%
     Average receive rate                                     5.81%     5.72%

  Interest rate caps                                                                             5,000
     Average interest rate                                                                        6.00%

-------------------------
<FN>
<FN> (1) (a) Loans are net of nonperforming loans, undisbursed portion of loans due borrowers
    and unearned discounts and premiums.
<FN> (2) (b) Investment securities include investment securities available-for-sale and FHLB stock.

</TABLE>
                                    -30-

<PAGE>

Accounting Pronouncements
   In fiscal 1997, the Company adopted SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-based
Compensation," as required. SFAS 123 encourages, but does not require
companies to record compensation cost for stock-based employee compensation
plans at fair value. The Company has elected to continue to account for stock-
based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting
Principles Board Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees."
(Refer to Note 10.)
   Effective October 1, 1996, the Company prospectively adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") 121, "Accounting for the Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of." Effective
January 1, 1997, the Company prospectively adopted SFAS 125, "Accounting for
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of
Liabilities," as amended by SFAS 127, "Deferral of the Effective Date of
Certain Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125." The adoptions of SFAS 121 and
SFAS 125, as amended by SFAS 127 which the Company will adopt in its 1998
fiscal year as required, have not had a material impact on the Company's
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
   The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS 128,
"Earnings Per Share" in February 1997. The Company will adopt SFAS 128 in its
1998 fiscal year, as required, and its implementation will not have a
material impact on the Company's computation of earnings per share.
   The FASB issued SFAS 129, "Disclosure of Information about Capital
Structure" in February 1997. The Company will adopt SFAS 129 in its 1998
fiscal year, as required, and its implementation will not have a material
impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows.
   The FASB issued SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" and SFAS 131,
"Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" in June
1997. The Company will adopt these pronouncements in its 1999 fiscal year, as
required. The Company is reviewing the provisions of both statements and has
not yet determined whether their implementation will have a material impact
on the presentation of the Company's financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows.

Forward Looking Statements
   Some matters discussed in this report include forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's
control, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and
technological factors affecting the Company's operations, markets, services
and prices and other factors.

                                    -31-

<PAGE>

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

<TABLE>
                                              The Advest Group, Inc.
                                        Consolidated Statements of Earnings


                                                                        Fiscal years ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)                           1997              1996              1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                          <C>               <C>                <C>
Revenues
    Commissions                                                $ 123,032         $ 110,115          $ 84,264
    Interest                                                      59,882            55,225            56,082
    Principal transactions                                        43,880            38,591            41,424
    Investment banking                                            31,291            26,687            17,571
    Asset management and administration                           25,844            20,050            16,810
    Gain on sale of investment advisory business, net                 57               627            10,092
    Other                                                          7,221             8,607             6,491
                                                          ---------------   ---------------   ---------------
Total revenues                                                   291,207           259,902           232,734
                                                          ---------------   ---------------   ---------------

Expenses
    Compensation                                                 163,852           146,573           121,646
    Interest                                                      32,458            29,425            30,566
    Communications                                                23,955            20,917            18,999
    Occupancy and equipment                                       17,758            17,567            17,369
    Professional                                                   6,729             5,543             5,468
    Business development                                           6,664             5,613             4,204
    Brokerage, clearing and exchange                               4,788             4,221             3,922
    Provision for credit losses and
      asset devaluation                                              915             1,258            10,338
    Other                                                          8,780             8,678             8,395
                                                          ---------------   ---------------   ---------------
Total Expenses                                                   265,899           239,795           220,907
                                                          ---------------   ---------------   ---------------
 Income before taxes                                              25,308            20,107            11,827

 Provision for income taxes                                       10,376             8,847             5,440
                                                          ---------------   ---------------   ---------------
 Net income                                                    $  14,932         $  11,260          $  6,387
                                                          ===============   ===============   ===============

 Net income per common and common equivalent shares:
       Primary                                                 $    1.68         $    1.29           $  0.73
       Assuming full dilution                                  $    1.62         $    1.18           $  0.72

 Cash dividends per common share                               $    0.09         $    0.00           $  0.00

 Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
    Primary                                                        8,878             8,748             8,735
    Assuming full dilution                                         9,394            10,270            10,298

<FN>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                     -32-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                       The Advest Group, Inc.
                                                    Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                                                   September 30,     September 30,
 In thousands, except share and per share amounts                                      1997              1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------
<S>                                                                                <C>              <C>
 Assets
 Cash and short-term investments
      Cash and cash equivalents                                                      $     12,459     $     11,461
      Cash and securities segregated under federal and other regulations                      265              265
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
                                                                                           12,724           11,726
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
 Receivables
      Brokerage customers, net                                                            389,137          352,434
      Loans, net                                                                          199,166          194,956
      Securities borrowed                                                                 290,745          219,919
      Brokers and dealers                                                                   4,096            5,394
      Other                                                                                12,006           10,963
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
                                                                                          895,150          783,666
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
 Securities
      Trading, at market value                                                             97,619           94,854
      Held to maturity (market values of $20,931 and $22,876)                              21,034           22,959
      Available for sale, at market value                                                  13,978           15,127
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
                                                                                          132,631          132,940
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------

 Other assets
      Equipment and leasehold improvements, net                                            14,500           14,187
      Other                                                                                23,834           23,326
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
                                                                                           38,334           37,513
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
 Total assets                                                                         $ 1,078,839         $965,845
                                                                                ==================  ===============
 Liabilities & shareholders' equity
 Liabilities
      Brokerage customers                                                                 319,101          282,618
      Deposits                                                                            169,583          191,186
      Securities loaned                                                                   258,295          213,996
      Short-term borrowings                                                                61,496           39,301
      Securities sold, not yet purchased, at market value                                  52,113           47,438
      Long-term borrowings                                                                 41,321           19,744
      Compensation and benefits                                                            26,448           21,837
      Checks payable                                                                       18,366           16,976
      Brokers and dealers                                                                   9,389            7,634
      Subordinated borrowings                                                                   0           20,552
      Other                                                                                17,074           14,973
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
                                                                                          973,186          876,255
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
 Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Notes 1, 12 and 14)
 Shareholders' equity
      Common stock, par value $.01, authorized 25,000,000 shares,
         issued 10,812,404 and 10,710,289 shares                                              108              107
      Paid-in capital                                                                      71,309           68,842
      Retained earnings                                                                    49,260           35,102
      Net unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of taxes                      (63)            (223)
      Treasury stock, at cost, 2,179,725 and 2,306,948 shares                             (14,390)         (14,182)
      Unamortized restricted stock compensation                                              (571)             (56)
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
                                                                                          105,653           89,590
                                                                                ------------------  ---------------
 Total liabilities and shareholders's equity                                          $ 1,078,839       $  965,845
                                                                                ==================  ===============
<FN>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                     -33-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                    The Advest Group,Inc.
                                             Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                                                                          Fiscal years ended September 30,
In thousands                                                              1997            1996            1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                 <C>             <C>              <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income                                                             $  14,932       $  11,260      $  6,387
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                                      8,526           8,222         8,905
        Provision for credit losses and asset devaluation                    915           1,258        10,338
        Gain on sale of investment advisory
          business, net                                                      (57)           (627)      (10,092)
        Loss on retirement of subordinated borrowings                        607               0             0
        Deferred income taxes                                               (122)            107         1,730
        Other                                                             (1,570)         (1,108)         (641)
   (Increase) decrease in operating assets:
        Receivables from brokerage customers, net                        (36,794)        (43,823)       13,079
        Securities borrowed                                              (70,826)       (109,238)      (44,930)
        Receivables from brokers and dealers                               1,298          (3,003)        1,148
        Trading securities                                                  (904)        (51,346)       (6,311)
        Cash and securities segregated under
          federal and other regulations                                        0          30,994        18,046
        Proceeds from sales of mortgages
          held for resale                                                 26,350           7,635         1,320
        Originations and purchases of
          held for resale                                                (29,218)        (32,454)      (13,360)
        Other                                                             (1,492)            493           134
   Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
        Brokerage customers                                               36,483         (17,393)      (10,526)
        Securities loaned                                                 44,299         100,364        34,173
        Securities sold, not yet purchased                                 4,675          42,591         2,660
        Checks payable                                                     1,390          10,225           (49)
        Other                                                              9,040             615         4,819
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities                       7,532         (45,228)       16,830
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
     Net decrease in deposits                                            (21,603)        (44,470)      (56,229)
     Proceeds from short-term borrowings                                  57,436               0             0
     Repayment of short-term borrowings                                  (37,044)        (10,496)      (10,298)
     Short-term brokerage borrowings, net                                 (1,800)         33,800       (22,501)
     Proceeds from long-term borrowings                                   35,000           8,250         7,250
     Repayment of long-term borrowings                                    (9,820)              0       (10,000)
     Retirement of subordinated borrowings                               (20,545)              0             0
     Other                                                                   272          (1,318)       (1,811)
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities                       1,896         (14,234)      (93,589)
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Proceeds from (payments for):
      Sales of available for sale securities                               4,871          26,290        23,075
      Maturities of available for sale securities                          1,759           1,969         2,544
      Maturities of held to maturity securities                           24,000          22,252        18,466
      Purchases of available for sale securities                          (1,598)         (3,033)       (1,215)
      Purchases of held to maturity securities                           (22,000)        (23,986)      (16,439)
    Sale of investment advisory business, net                                217             788        10,141
    Loans sold                                                                 0          41,622        34,809
    Sales of OREO, net                                                       791           3,959         6,021
    Principal collections on loans                                        43,830          21,777        60,432
    Loans originated                                                     (50,352)        (19,985)      (54,314)
    Other                                                                 (9,948)         (8,024)       (6,745)
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities                      (8,430)         63,629        76,775
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents                                        998           4,167            16
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                          11,461           7,294         7,278
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                              $ 12,459       $  11,461       $ 7,294
                                                                 ==============================================
Interest paid                                                           $ 31,705       $  29,580      $ 30,560
Income taxes paid                                                       $  7,987       $  10,067      $  2,273
Non-cash activities:
     Securities available for sale from
       held to maturity / investment securities                         $      0       $   9,962      $ 20,891
     Securitization of mortgages                                        $  3,684       $  27,307      $ 26,315
     Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures                        $    515       $      56      $      0

<FN>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                    -34-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>

                                                          The Advest Group,Inc.
                                        Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      Net unrealized
                                                                                                      gain (loss) on
                                                                                                          securities
                                                                                                           available
                                                                                                                 for
                         $.01 par value                                                       Unamortized      sale,
                          Common  stock                                  Treasury stock        restricted        net        Share-
In thousands, except     ---------------   Paid-in   Retained         -------------------           stock         of      holders'
share and per shar        Shares Amount    capital   earnings         Shares       Amount    compensation      taxes        Equity
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                  <C>          <C>     <C>        <C>         <C>            <C>                <C>          <C>      <C>
Balance as of
  September 30, 1994  10,570,222   $106    $67,405    $16,605     (1,987,357)    $(10,136)              $0          $0    $ 73,980

Cumulative effect
  of change in
  accounting of income
  recognition for
  stock warrents                                          850                                                                  850
                  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance as of
  September 30, 1994,
  as restated         10,570,222    106     67,405     17,455     (1,987,357)     (10,136)              0           0       74,830

Adjustment to
  beginning balance
  for change in
  accounting principle                                                                                            (57)         (57)

Net income                                              6,387                                                                6,387

Exercise of
  stock options           14,266                62                                                                              62

Repurchase of
  common stock                                                      (344,554)      (2,309)                                  (2,309)

Sale of treasury
  stock to
  equity plans                                                       129,392          846                                      846

Change in unrealized
  gain (loss),
  net of taxes                                                                                                     59           59
                  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance as of
  September 30, 1995  10,584,488    106     67,467     23,842     (2,202,519)     (11,599)              0           2       79,818

Net income                                             11,260                                                               11,260

Exercise of
  stock options          125,801      1        571                   138,270          504                                    1,076

Repurchase of
  common stock                                                      (398,900)      (3,799)                                  (3,799)

Sale of treasury
  stock to
  equity plans                                 782                   150,499          677                                    1,459

Change in unrealized
  gain (loss),
  net of taxes                                                                                                   (225)        (225)

Stock issued under
  restricted stock
  plans, less
  amortization
  of $1                                         22                     5,702           35             (56)                       1
                  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance as of
  September 30, 1996  10,710,289    107     68,842     35,102     (2,306,948)     (14,182)            (56)       (223)      89,590

Net income                                             14,932                                                               14,932

Exercise of
  stock options           83,399      1        839                    60,925           26                                      866

Dividends declared
  ($.09 per share)                                       (774)                                                                (774)

Repurchase of
  common stock                                                      (183,200)      (1,835)                                  (1,835)

Sale of treasury
  stock to
  equity plans                               1,104                   191,296        1,221                                    2,325

Change in unrealized
  gain (loss),
  net of taxes                                                                                                    160          160

Conversion of
  subordinated
  debentures
  at $13.57
  per share               18,716               254                                                                             254

Stock issued under
  restricted stock
  plans, less
  amortization
  of $95                                       255                    54,436          355            (515)                      95

Other                                           15                     3,766           25                                       40
                  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance as of
  September 30, 1997  10,812,404   $108    $71,309    $49,260     (2,179,725)    $(14,390)          $(571)       $(63)    $105,653
                  =================================================================================================================
<FN>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                     -35-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Advest
Group, Inc. ("AGI") and all subsidiaries (collectively the "Company").
Principal operating subsidiaries are Advest, Inc. ("Advest"), a broker/dealer
and Advest Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank"), a federal savings bank. The
Company provides diversified financial services including securities
brokerage, trading, investment banking, consumer lending, trust and asset
management. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates. All material intercompany accounts and transactions are
eliminated. Certain 1996 and 1995 amounts have been reclassified in the
accompanying consolidated financial statements to provide comparability with
the current year presentation.
   Cash equivalents are defined as short-term, highly liquid investments with
an original maturity of three months or less including amounts due from
banks, federal funds sold and overnight time deposits. At September 30, 1996,
Federal funds sold were $3,200,000. There were no positions at September 30,
1997.

Cash and securities segregated under federal and other regulations
Investments held in special reserve accounts for the exclusive benefit of
customers, in accordance with Rule 15c3-3, are primarily securities purchased
under agreements to resell which are financing transactions collateralized by
U.S. Government and Agency obligations and are carried at the amounts at
which the securities will be subsequently resold. The collateral, which is
held by a third party custodian bank, is valued daily and additional
collateral is obtained when appropriate. There were no positions at September
30, 1997 and 1996. Certain interest-bearing cash deposits are held in special
reserve accounts for the exclusive benefit of customers.

Loans
Loans are carried at their unpaid principal balances, and related interest is
recognized as income when earned but only to the extent considered
collectible. Generally loans are placed on a nonaccrual status when interest
or principal is unpaid for ninety days or earlier if circumstances indicate
collection is doubtful. The Company resumes the accrual of interest on a
delinquent loan if, in the opinion of management, the borrower has
demonstrated adequate financial resources and intent to meet the terms and
conditions of the loan, and all payments are current. If a loan has been
restructured during a period in which it was delinquent, or had sufficiently
met the definition of a restructured troubled loan in any other regard, a
loan would not be restored to accruing status until 1) adequate collateral
coverage had been provided and 2) an appropriate period (minimum six months)
has elapsed during which the restructured loan has performed according to the
terms and conditions of the restructuring.
   Loan origination fees and direct costs related to origination are deferred
and amortized into interest income over the contractual life of the loan,
using the level yield method. When a loan is prepaid or sold, any remaining
unamortized fees and costs are credited or charged to income at that time.

                                    -36-
<PAGE>

   Loans, usually mortgages, held for sale are carried at the lower of cost
or market, as determined by outstanding commitments from investors or current
investor yield requirements calculated on the aggregate loan basis,
stratified based on their predominate risk characteristics, including loan
type, amortization type (fixed or adjustable), and note rate. Gains and
losses resulting from changes in carrying values are included in other
income.
   Mortgage servicing rights are capitalized and accounted for in accordance
with SFAS 122 and SFAS 125. The total cost of loans originated or acquired is
allocated between the mortgage servicing rights and the mortgage loans
(without the servicing rights) based on relative fair values. The face amount
of loans being serviced by the Company was $58,980,000 and $58,202,000 as of
September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

Allowance for loan losses
Management's determination of the adequacy of the allowance, established
through charges against income, is based upon continuing evaluation of the
risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, current economic and real estate
market conditions, reviews of specific loans, estimates of current value of
underlying collateral, changes in loan portfolio composition, the results of
the most recent regulatory examination and other relevant factors. Loans are
charged against the allowance when management believes that collection is
unlikely. Any subsequent recoveries are credited to the allowance. The
Company's reserves are general reserves and are available to absorb losses to
the total loan portfolio as well as off-balance-sheet commitments, such as
commitments to extend credit, guarantee and standby letters of credit.

Receivables from and payables to brokerage customers
Receivables from and payables to brokerage customers arise from cash and
margin transactions executed by Advest on their behalf. In virtually all
instances, receivables are collateralized by securities with market values in
excess of the amounts due. The collateral is not reflected in the
accompanying financial statements. A reserve for doubtful accounts is
established based upon reviews of individual credit risks, as well as
prevailing and anticipated economic conditions. At September 30, 1997 and
1996, the reserve was $719,000 and $791,000, respectively. Included in
payables to brokerage customers are free credit balances of $288,070,000 and
$259,910,000 at September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Advest pays
interest on credit balances when the customer has indicated that the funds
are for reinvestment purposes.

Securities loaned and securities borrowed
Advest loans, to other brokers and dealers, securities owned by its customers
and others for which it receives cash deposits or other securities as
collateral. Advest also borrows securities from one broker/dealer and lends
to another. Securities borrowed and securities loaned are recorded at the
amount of cash collateral advanced or received, respectively. The initial
collateral advanced or received has a market value equal to the market value
of the underlying securities. The values of such securities at September 30,
1997 and 1996 approximate amounts owed.

Trading positions
Advest's trading securities and securities sold, not yet purchased are valued
at market with unrealized gains and losses reflected in current period
revenues from principal transactions and investment banking. Periodically
Advest receives stock warrants in connection with its investment banking
activities.  Retroactive to October 1, 1994, Advest adopted the accounting
treatment for warrants as prescribed by Emerging Issue Task Force ("EITF") 96-
11.  The warrants are classified as trading securities and carried at their
fair value which is determined using a standard option

                                    -37-
<PAGE>

valuation technique or Black-Scholes model depending on whether the
underlying stock is publicly traded.  The cumulative effect of adopting EITF
96-11 was an $850,000 increase to retained earnings as of September 30, 1994.
Financial statements for the three years in the period ended September 30,
1997 have been restated to reflect the adoption of EITF 96-11.

Investment securities
Securities available for sale are carried at fair value with unrealized
holding gains or losses, net of tax, credited or charged directly to
shareholders' equity. Realized gains and losses are recorded on trade date by
the specific identification method and are included in revenue from principal
transactions. Securities which the Company has the positive intent and
ability to hold until maturity are carried at amortized cost and classified
as held to maturity investments. Available for sale and held to maturity
securities are reduced to fair value, through charges to income, for declines
in value that are considered to be other than temporary.

Depreciation and amortization
Equipment and leasehold improvements are carried at cost. Depreciation of
equipment for financial accounting purposes is calculated primarily using the
straight-line method and is based upon the estimated useful lives of the
assets ranging from three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized
over the shorter of the terms of the respective leases or the estimated
useful lives of the improvements. At September 30, 1997 and 1996, accumulated
depreciation and amortization were $37,215,000 and $33,314,000, respectively.
   The excess cost over the fair value of net assets of acquired companies is
recorded as goodwill and is amortized on a straight-line basis over periods
between 15 and 40 years. At September 30, 1997 and 1996, the amount of
goodwill reported in other assets is $5,874,000 and $6,124,000, respectively.

Revenues from securities transactions and investment banking
Advest records securities transactions on a settlement date basis, which does
not materially differ from a trade date basis. Revenues and related expenses
for transactions executed but not settled are accrued on a trade date basis.
Securities transactions of the Bank are recorded on a trade date basis.
   Investment banking revenues are recorded, net of expenses, on the
settlement date for management fees and sales concessions, and on the dates
the underwriting syndications are closed for underwriting fees.

Provision for credit losses and asset devaluation
The provision for credit losses and asset devaluation reflects reserve
accruals and writedowns for loans, other real estate owned ("OREO") and
certain other investments and receivables.

Income taxes
Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences of
differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their
financial reporting amounts at each year end based on enacted tax rates
applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect
taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce
deferred tax assets to an amount which is more likely than not realizable.
Income tax expense is the sum of the taxes currently payable and the change
during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Net income per common and common equivalent shares
Primary net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the
average shares of

                                    -38-
<PAGE>

common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period.
Common stock equivalents are dilutive stock options which are assumed
exercised for calculation purposes. Fully diluted calculations assume full
conversion of the Company's outstanding subordinated debentures into common
stock and elimination of the related interest expense, net of taxes. The
debentures were retired in January 1997. (See Note 8.)
   The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") has issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") 128, "Earnings Per Share" in February
1997. The Company will adopt SFAS 128 in its 1998 fiscal year, as required,
and its implementation will not have a material impact on the Company's
computation of earnings per share.

Derivative financial instruments
Advest uses derivatives (primarily financial futures contracts) solely to
manage the risk associated with its municipal and corporate bond trading
inventories. Derivative transactions are entered into when inventory levels
exceed pre-determined thresholds specified in Advest's hedging policy, which
was developed and is reviewed at least annually by the chief executive
officer of the Company. Derivatives are considered off-balance-sheet
instruments because their notional amounts are not recorded on the balance
sheet. However, the fair values of Advest's futures contracts, which are
based on quoted market prices, are reflected in the consolidated balance
sheets within trading securities and the changes therein are reflected in the
operating activities section of the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Futures contracts are marked to market daily. Unrealized and realized gains
and losses from the termination or sale of the futures contracts are
reflected in revenue from principal transactions.
   The Bank enters into interest rate swap and cap contracts as part of its
interest rate risk management strategy. Such instruments are held for
purposes other than trading. These swaps and caps are intended to maintain a
targeted level of net interest margin between the return on the Bank's
interest-earning assets and the cost of funds. Interest rate swaps involve
the exchange of fixed and floating rate interest payments based on an
underlying notional amount. The Bank accrues interest expense based on a
fixed contract rate and accrues interest income based on a floating rate
which is reset according to the contract index (usually tied to 3-month
LIBOR) and settled quarterly. Interest rate cap contracts provide that, in
exchange for the payment of an initial premium, the Bank will receive
payments from the counterparty in the event that interest rates rise above a
predetermined level (the "strike rate"). The Bank amortizes the premium
monthly over the term of the cap contract as interest expense, and accrues
interest income when the reset of the contract rate (usually tied to 3-month
LIBOR) exceeds the strike rate, settled quarterly.
   Interest income and interest expense arising from interest rate swap and
cap contracts are recorded as components of accrued interest in the
consolidated balance sheet, as components of cash flows from operating
activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, and as components of
interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings. In the unlikely
event of perceived inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a
contract, the Bank would record interest income on a cash basis. Unamortized
premiums paid on cap contracts are recorded as a component of deposits in the
consolidated balance sheets, with amortization of such premiums reflected as
a component of cash flows from operating activities in the consolidated
statements of cash flows and as a component of interest expense in the
consolidated statements of earnings.

Stock-based compensation
In fiscal 1997, the Company adopted SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-based
Compensation," as required. SFAS 123 encourages, but does not require
companies to record compensation cost for stock-based employee compensation
plans at fair value. The Company has elected to continue to

                                    -39-
<PAGE>

account for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method
prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for
Stock Issued to Employees." (Refer to Note 10.)

Other accounting pronouncements
Effective October 1, 1996, the Company prospectively adopted SFAS 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets
to be Disposed Of." Effective January 1, 1997, the Company prospectively
adopted SFAS 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets
and Extinguishments of Liabilities," as amended by SFAS 127, "Deferral of the
Effective Date of Certain Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125." The
adoptions of SFAS 121 and SFAS 125, as amended by SFAS 127 which the Company
will adopt in its 1998 fiscal year as required, have not had a material
impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
   The FASB issued SFAS 129, "Disclosure of Information about Capital
Structure" in February 1997. The Company will adopt SFAS 129 in its 1998
fiscal year, as required, and its implementation will not have a material
impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows.
   The FASB issued SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" and SFAS 131,
"Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" in June
1997. The Company will adopt these pronouncements in its 1999 fiscal year, as
required. The Company is reviewing the provisions of both statements and has
not yet determined whether their implementation will have a material impact
on the presentation of the Company's financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows.

Note 2: Loans
At September 30, 1997 and 1996, loans consisted of:

        ------------------------------------------------
        In thousands                   1997       1996
        -----------------------------------------------
        Advest Bank and Trust Company:
           Mortgages
            Commercial              $ 23,144   $ 27,717
            Multi-family residential   7,975     11,285
            1 - 4 family residential
              conventional            73,846     84,987
            Home equity credit        77,860     58,691
            Commercial                 4,627      2,757
          Consumer                     3,732      1,097

        Advest Group, Inc.:
          Mortgages
            Commercial                 9,000      9,000
            1 - 4 family residential     232        555
            Home equity credit           127        232
        Other                          1,102      1,033
                                    --------   --------
                                    $201,645   $197,354
                                    ========   ========

       ------------------------------------------------

   Included in 1-4 family conventional residential loans are loans held for
sale of $3,760,000, $4,945,000 and $11,912,000 as of September 30, 1997, 1996
and 1995, respectively.  All other loans are classified as held for
investment. For the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
securitizations of loans were $3,684,000, $27,307,000 and $26,315,000,
respectively,

                                    -40-
<PAGE>

approximating 11.34%, 62.07%, and 45.02%, respectively, of residential
mortgage originations. All securitizations were with FNMA on a servicing-
retained basis. Securitizations in fiscal 1995 were a component of an
accelerated asset disposition plan. Securitizations of loans resulting in
mortgage-backed securities held in the investment portfolio were $0,
$11,283,000 and $1,027,000 for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and
1995, respectively. The balance of securitizations involve concurrent cash
sales.
   The Company maintains an allowance for possible future loan losses and
asset devaluation. For the three years in the period ended September 30,
1997, activity in the allowance for loan losses was as follows:

       ---------------------------------------------------
       In thousands             1997      1996        1995
       ---------------------------------------------------
       Balance at the beginning
         of the year          $2,398    $2,334      $4,900
       Provisions                671     1,022       5,637
       Charge-offs              (838)   (1,249)     (8,462)
       Recoveries                248       291         259
                            ------------------------------
       Balance at the end
        of the year           $2,479    $2,398      $2,334
                            ==============================

----------------------------------------------------------

   Nonperforming assets include nonaccruing loans, loans ninety days past due
and accruing interest, loans renegotiated on other than prevailing market
terms and OREO. OREO is included in other assets in the consolidated balance
sheets. All other nonperforming assets are classified as loans. It is
management's policy to reverse all uncollected interest at the time a loan is
placed on nonaccrual. Interest forgone on nonaccrual and restructured loans
of the Bank was $576,000, $297,000 and $509,000 for the years ended September
30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. As of September 30, 1997, no
additional funds were committed to clients whose loans have been restructured
or were nonperforming. At September 30, 1997 and 1996, nonperforming assets
were comprised of:

     ---------------------------------------------------
        In thousands                   1997         1996
     ---------------------------------------------------
        Advest Group, Inc.:
          Nonaccrual loans          $ 9,326      $ 9,555
          OREO                          159          800
        Advest Bank and Trust Company:
          Nonaccrual loans            4,135        1,422
          OREO, net                   1,046          984
        Other                           750          750
                                  ----------------------
                                    $15,416      $13,511
                                  ======================
        Nonperforming assets 
          as a percentage of
          loans and OREO               7.6%        6.8%
                                  ======================

        Nonperforming assets 
          as a percentage
          of total assets               1.4%        1.4%
                                  ======================

   At September 30, 1997 and 1996, the Company classified $2,948,000 and
$5,261,000, respectively, of loans as impaired. A loan is considered impaired
if it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect scheduled
payments according to the terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans as of
September 30, 1997 and 1996 include $-0- and $3,810,000 of loans restructured
and currently classified as performing, $2,948,000 and $639,000 of loans
currently

                                    -41-
<PAGE>

classified as nonaccrual, and $-0- and $812,000 of loans in which potential
credit problems may lead to future nonaccrual status or possible charge-off.
The nonaccrual impaired loans are a component of nonperforming assets.
   Impaired assets include only one loan requiring a specific impairment
reserve as of September 30, 1997. The loan balance was $1,342,000 and the
related allowance for credit losses was $65,000. No impaired loans required a
specific impairment reserve at September 30, 1996. The average recorded
investments in impaired loans were $4,582,000 and $5,075,000 for fiscal years
1997 and 1996, respectively. Income recognized for loans classified as
impaired was $288,000 and $292,000 during fiscal 1997 and 1996, respectively.
All impaired loans were classified as loans held for investment.

Note 3: Trading Positions

At September 30, 1997 and 1996, Advest's trading positions consisted of:

----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Securities sold,
                         Trading securities    not yet purchased
----------------------------------------------------------------
  In thousands               1997       1996     1997       1996
----------------------------------------------------------------
  Corporate obligations   $55,546    $53,114  $32,298    $44,825
  State and municipal
    obligations            24,627     25,796    1,402        183
  U.S. government and
    agency obligations     10,559     10,612   16,244        697
  Stocks and warrants       4,109      4,415    2,169      1,733
                          --------------------------------------
                          $94,841    $93,937  $52,113    $47,438
                          ======================================
----------------------------------------------------------------

Note 4: Investment Securities
As of September 30, 1997, the amortized cost and fair values of debt
securities, by contractual maturity, were:

----------------------------------------------------------------
                         Available for sale     Held to maturity
                         ---------------------------------------
                        Amortized      Fair   Amortized     Fair
  In thousands               cost     value        cost    value
----------------------------------------------------------------
  Due in one year or less  $   --   $    --     $12,532  $12,549
  Due after one year
    through five years         --        --         500      500
  Due after ten years       9,677     9,575       8,002    7,882
                          --------------------------------------
                           $9,677    $9,575     $21,034  $20,931
                          ======================================
----------------------------------------------------------------

   For the three years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively,
proceeds from the sale of securities available for sale were $4,871,000,
$26,290,000 and $23,075,000 and gross gains realized were $11,000, $115,000
and $152,000, respectively. Gross losses realized were $82,000 and $255,000
for 1997 and 1995, respectively, and there were no gross losses realized for
1996. The amortized cost and fair values of the Company's available for sale
securities at September 30, 1997 and 1996 were:

                                    -42-
<PAGE>

---------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Gross unrealized
                         Amortized    ----------------     Fair
   In thousands               cost    gains     losses    value
---------------------------------------------------------------
   1997
   FHLB stock             $ 2,270      $ --     $  --   $ 2,270
   Mortgage-backed securities
      of federal agencies   9,066        49      (157)    8,958
   Other                    2,740        25       (15)    2,750
                          -------------------------------------
                          $14,076      $ 74     $(172)  $13,978
                          =====================================

   1996
   ----
   FHLB stock             $ 2,233      $ --     $  --   $ 2,233
   Mortgage-backed securities
      of federal agencies   8,998         7      (350)    8,655
   Other mortgage-backed
      securities               99        --        --        99
   Other                    4,132        15        (7)    4,140
                          -------------------------------------
                          $15,462      $ 22     $(357)  $15,127
                          =====================================
---------------------------------------------------------------

   There were no sales of held to maturity securities during the three years
in the period ended September 30, 1997. The amortized cost and fair values of
the Company's held to maturity securities at September 30, 1997 and 1996
were:

---------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Gross unrealized
                         Amortized   ----------------      Fair
  In thousands                cost   gains     losses     value
---------------------------------------------------------------
  1997
  ----
  Mortgage-backed
    securities            $ 8,002        $3     $(123)  $ 7,882
  U.S. government and agency
    obligations            12,532        --        17    12,549
  Other                       500        --        --       500
                          -------------------------------------
                          $21,034        $3     $(106)  $20,931
                          =====================================

  1996
  ----
  Mortgage-backed
    securities            $10,635      $11       $(85)  $10,561
  U.S. government and agency
    obligations            11,824       --         (9)   11,815
  Other                       500       --         --       500
                          -------------------------------------
                          $22,959      $11       $(94)  $22,876
                          =====================================
---------------------------------------------------------------

Note 5: Deposits
Pursuant to the FDIC Improvement Act ("FDICIA"), banks are subject to rules
limiting brokered deposits and related interest rates. The Bank meets the
conditions of such rules to be deemed a "well capitalized" bank and as such
may accept brokered deposits without restriction. At September 30, 1997 and
1996, deposits at the Bank consisted of:

------------------------------------------------
In thousands                    1997        1996
------------------------------------------------
  Money market              $107,499    $127,840
  Certificates of deposit     61,673      63,271

                                    -43-
<PAGE>

  Savings                        411          75
                           ---------------------
                            $169,583    $191,186
                           =====================
------------------------------------------------

Note 6: Short-term Borrowings
In the ordinary course of business, primarily to facilitate securities
settlements and finance trading inventories, Advest obtains bank loans which
are collateralized by its trading securities and customers' margin
securities. The loans are payable on demand and bear interest based on the
federal funds rate. At September 30, 1997 and 1996, Advest had $32,001,000
and $33,801,000, respectively, in firm loans outstanding. The weighted
average interest rate on bank loans outstanding at September 30, 1997 and
1996, was 5.85% and 5.71%, respectively, and the weighted average interest
rates during fiscal 1997 and 1996 were 5.82% and 5.86%, respectively.
   Short-term borrowings of the Bank consisted primarily of the current
portion of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB"). At September
30, 1997, borrowings totaled $29,250,000 at rates from 5.61% to 7.17%. At
September 30, 1996, borrowings totaled $4,750,000 at rates from 6.30% to
8.60%. The Bank has unused short term credit lines of approximately
$7,942,000 with the FHLB at September 30, 1997. The Bank's borrowings with
the FHLB are collateralized by its holdings of FHLB stock as well as
otherwise unencumbered mortgage loans and investment securities. Based on
available qualified collateral balances of approximately $137,902,000, the
Bank had total borrowing capacity with the FHLB of approximately $104,654,000
at September 30, 1997.
   The advances are subject to prepayment penalties, which are intended to
make the FHLB indifferent to the prepayment and are approximately equivalent
to settlement of the obligations at their current fair value.
   AGI's short-term borrowings at September 30, 1997 were $245,000 which
represented the current portion of a promissory note due in 2000. At
September 30, 1996, AGI's short-term borrowings were $750,000, representing
the current portion of a mortgage due a third party lender which was repaid
in full in December 1996. Refer to Note 7 for additional information on both
borrowings.

Note 7: Long-term Borrowings
Long-term borrowings of the Bank were $5,750,000 and $8,750,000 as of
September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively, and represent the non-current
portion of FHLB advances. The borrowings are collateralized in the same
manner as short-term borrowings. As of September 30, 1997, the interest rates
and maturities of outstanding borrowings were:

------------------------------------------------------------
  In thousands                     Interest rates     Amount
   ---------------------------------------------------------
  Year ending
    September 30, 1999             6.58%         $   750,000
  Year ending
    September 30, 2001             6.27% - 6.68%   3,500,000
  Year ending
    September 30, 2002             6.73%           1,500,000
                                                  ----------
                                                  $5,750,000
                                                  ==========
------------------------------------------------------------

   At September 30, 1996, Advest had long-term borrowings of $6,250,000,
consisting entirely of a non-recourse note, collateralized exclusively by
furniture and computer equipment. Under the terms of the note, the principal
was due October 1, 1998, however, on April 1, 1997, Advest repaid the note in
full. The note bore interest at the variable rate of the LIBOR rate plus 2.5%
per annum. As required by the non-recourse note, AGI signed a collateralized
letter of credit with a third party bank guaranteeing 20% of Advest's debt.
Upon repayment of the note, the letter

                                    -44-
<PAGE>

 of credit was canceled and the collateral, consisting of government
securities, was released.
   At September 30, 1997 and 1996, long-term borrowings of AGI were
$35,571,000 and $4,744,000, respectively. On December 26, 1996, AGI entered
into a private placement transaction with three institutional investors. AGI
borrowed $35,000,000 on an unsecured basis and received an investment grade
rating. Under the terms of the note, the principal is payable in 5 equal
installments with payments due on December 31, 1999 and on the last day of
each December thereafter through and including December 31, 2003. The note
bears interest at the rate of 7.95% per annum payable semiannually on the
last day of June and December. On November 1, 1995, AGI signed a promissory
note with a third party lender for $1,250,000 due November 1, 2000. Under the
terms of the note, the principal is payable in 60 equal monthly installments
at an interest rate of 6.25%. On December 27, 1996, AGI repaid in full a loan
from a third party lender on a first mortgage which bore interest at 1.25%
over prime with interest and principal payments due monthly. The debt was
collateralized by a first mortgage on real estate managed by a subsidiary, as
well as a pledge of subsidiary stock. This collateral was released following
repayment of the loan.

Note 8: Subordinated Borrowings
In December 1996, the Company called for redemption of all of its then
outstanding 9% convertible subordinated debentures due in 2008. On January
30, 1997, the Company redeemed $20,298,000 at the redemption price of 101.2%
of the par value of the debentures, together with accrued interest. A total
of 18,716 shares were issued to debenture holders electing to convert
$254,000 par value of debentures into the Company's common stock at the
conversion price of $13.57. Cash was issued in lieu of fractional shares.

Note 9: Common Stock
The Company instituted a common stock repurchase program in August 1990. A
total of 3,000,000 shares have been authorized to be repurchased under the
program. During the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, 183,200 and
398,900 shares, respectively, were acquired for a total of 2,696,277 shares
repurchased since the start of the program.
   The payment of dividends on the Company's common stock is subject to (1)
the availability of funds from Advest, which may be restricted under the net
capital rule of the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), and from
the Bank, which is subject to minimum bank regulatory requirements, and (2) a
Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 27, 1996 with a consortium of
third party institutional investors. Such restrictions have never curtailed
the Company's ability to declare dividends; however, until the current fiscal
year, the Company had not paid a dividend since December 1990. The Company
resumed quarterly dividend payments, currently $.03 per share, as of April
15, 1997.
   In 1988, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a shareholder
rights plan. The plan provides for the distribution of one common stock
purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company.
Each right entitles the holder, following the occurrence of certain events,
to purchase one share of common stock at a purchase price of $30 per share
subject to adjustment. The rights will not be exercisable or transferable
apart from the common stock except under certain circumstances in which
either a person or group of affiliated persons acquires, or commences a
tender offer to acquire 20% or more of the Company's common stock or a person
or group of affiliated persons acquires 15% of the Company's common stock and
is determined by the Board of Directors to be an "Adverse Person." Rights
held by such an acquiring person or persons may thereafter become void. Under
certain circumstances, a right may become a right to purchase common stock or
assets of the Company or common stock of an acquiring company at a
substantial discount. Under certain circumstances, the Company may redeem the
rights at $.01 per

                                    -45-
<PAGE>

right. The rights will expire in October 1998 unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company.
   The Company has 2,000,000 shares, $.01 par value, preferred stock which
was authorized by shareholders in 1988. The board of directors has full
discretion with respect to designating and establishing the terms of each
class or series of preferred stock prior to its issuance. No preferred stock
has been issued to date.

Note 10: Stock Option Plans
1993 Stock Option Plan
The Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan (the "1993 Plan"), established during
fiscal 1994, provides for grants of incentive stock options or nonqualified
stock options for up to 500,000 shares of the Company's common stock. At
September 30, 1997, options for 363,061 shares had been granted under the
1993 Plan, of which 329,894 options were outstanding. Option grants under the
1993 Plan are made at the discretion of the Human Resources Committee of the
Board of Directors and become exercisable at such times (but not within six
months of grant) and expire at such time (but not later than ten years after
grant), as that committee determines.

1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
The Company's 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Plan"),
established during fiscal 1995, as amended, provides for annual grants of
2,500 incentive stock options to each director not employed by the Company up
to an aggregate of 100,000 options for all directors. At September 30, 1997,
options for 37,000 shares had been granted, of which 34,000 options were
outstanding under the 1994 Plan. Options granted under the 1994 Plan become
exercisable in equal thirds 30, 42 and 54 months after grant and expire 60
months after the grant.

Prior Stock Option Plans
At September 30, 1997, the Company had outstanding an aggregate of 125,946
options issued to employees under stock option plans maintained by the
Company in prior years under which no further grants are authorized. These
include 29,483 and 33,462 nonqualified stock options granted to top
investment executives under performance-based plans offered in calendar 1991
and 1992, respectively, which become exercisable five years after grant and
expire one year thereafter. These also include 63,001 five-year options
granted to executive officers and key employees other than investment
executives in February 1993.

Advest Equity Plans
During calendar 1997, 1996 and 1995 the Company offered the Advest Equity
Plan (the "Equity Plan") to certain eligible employees. The Equity Plan is a
salary deferral investment program and is described in more detail in Note
11. For deferrals during 1996 and 1995, 155,125 and 169,708, respectively,
nonqualified stock options were granted. For deferrals during 1997 through
June 30, 1997, 64,273 options were granted and additional options will be
granted based on deferrals from June 30, 1997 through December 31, 1997.
Options granted under the equity plans are nonqualified stock options which
will become exercisable five years after the end of the plan year and expire
two years later.

Exercise Price of Options
All options granted by the Company to date, or which may be granted under the
1993 Plan, the 1994 Plan and the Equity Plan, have or will have exercise
prices not less than 100% of the fair market value of the Company's common
stock on the date of grant.

                                    -46-
<PAGE>

   The Company applies the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles
Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," in
accounting for stock-based compensation and, accordingly, no compensation
cost has been recognized in the financial statements. Had the Company
determined compensation cost based on the fair value at the grant date for
its stock options under SFAS 123, the Company's net earnings would have been
the pro forma amounts indicated below:

     In thousands                   1997      1996
     ---------------------------------------------
     Net earnings
          As reported            $14,932   $11,260
          Pro forma               14,736    11,160

     Primary earnings per share
          As reported              $1.68     $1.29
          Pro forma                 1.66      1.28

     Fully diluted earnings per share
          As reported              $1.62     $1.18
          Pro forma                 1.60      1.17
     ---------------------------------------------


   Pro forma compensation expense associated with option grants is recognized
over the vesting period. The initial impact of applying SFAS 123 on pro forma
disclosure is not representative of the potential impact on pro forma net
earnings for future years, which will include compensation expense related to
vesting of 1996, 1997 and subsequent grants.
   Transactions under the Company's stock option plans are summarized below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Number  of         Weighted-average
                                    shares            exercise price
----------------------------------------------------------------------
         Options outstanding at
           September 30, 1994       705,767                $4.27
             Granted                156,500                 5.98
             Forfeited              (50,358)                5.54
             Exercised              (13,266)                4.40

         Options outstanding at
           September 30, 1995       798,643                 4.52
             Granted                431,818                 9.03
             Forfeited               (1,244)                5.21
             Exercised             (327,148)                2.84
                                   ---------
         Options outstanding at
           September 30, 1996       902,069                 7.29
             Granted                172,838                15.70
             Forfeited              (22,249)                8.42
             Exercised             (186,674)                5.38
                                   ---------
         Options outstanding at
           September 30, 1997       865,984                $9.35
                                   =========
----------------------------------------------------------------

   At September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, options were exercisable on 145,987,
116,537 and

                                    -47-
<PAGE>

190,501 shares, respectively, and the weighted average exercise price were
$5.87, $5.63 and $4.62, respectively.
   The weighted-average fair value of options granted in 1997 and 1996 is
$6.67 and $3.72 per option, respectively. Fair value is estimated as of the
grant date based on a Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following
weighted-average assumptions:

                                     1997      1996
               ---------------------------------------
               Risk-free interest
                 rate                6.33%     5.67%
               Expected life         5.41 yrs  4.9 yrs
               Expected volatility  36.00%    36.00%
               Dividend yield        0.46%       --%
               ---------------------------------------

   The following table summarizes information related to outstanding and
exercisable options at September 30, 1997:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Options outstanding              Options exercisable
                  ---------------------------------------------------------
                             Weighted-   Weighted-                Weighted-
                               average     average                  average
Exercise          Number of   exercise   remaining    Number of    exercise
 prices              shares      price        life       shares       price
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 $5.13 - $  6.25    282,779     $ 5.91    1.52 yrs      145,987       $5.87
 $8.50 - $ 11.375   519,532       9.45    4.85 yrs           --          --
 $23.75              63,673      23.75    7.26 yrs           --          --
                   --------------------------------------------------------
Total               865,984     $ 9.35    3.69 yrs      145,987       $5.87
                   ========================================================
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 11: Employee Compensation and Benefit Plans
Advest Thrift Plan
The Company maintains the Advest Thrift Plan (the "Thrift Plan") which is a
qualified employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP") and 401(k) plan covering all
employees who have completed one year of service. The Thrift Plan is the
successor to the December 31, 1992, merger of the Employee Stock Ownership
Plan, Incentive Savings Plan and Employees' Retirement Plan. The Company
matches 100% of participants' contributions to their Thrift Plan accounts up
to 2% of compensation. In addition, the Company has made or will make
discretionary contributions to participants' Thrift Plan accounts equal to
2.5%, 2.5% and 2.0% of their compensation for calendar 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. Contribution expense for fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995 was
$3,900,735, $3,610,731 and $2,624,281, respectively. No ESOP contributions
have been made by the Company since 1993.

Defined Benefit Plans
The Company's Account Executive Nonqualified Defined Benefit Plan (the "AE
Defined Benefit Plan"), effective October 1, 1992, offers certain high-
performing investment executives retirement benefits based upon a formula
reflecting their years of service, the gross commissions they generate and
Company contributions to their Thrift Plan 401(k) accounts.
   The Company's Executive Nonqualified Post-Employment Income Plan (the
"Executive Defined Benefit Plan"), effective October 1, 1993, provides
certain senior executives with income for 10 years after retirement equal to
a percentage of their final average earnings based upon a

                                    -48-
<PAGE>

formula reflecting years of service, assumed social security benefits and
Company contributions to certain other benefit plans on the executive's
behalf.
   Although the AE Defined Benefit Plan and the Executive Defined Benefit
Plan are considered to be "unfunded," assets have been set aside in revocable
trusts for each to fund future payments. These trusts are available to
general creditors of the Company in the event of liquidation. The fair value
of these trusts, which are included in trading securities and other assets,
at September 30, 1997 was $7,754,000, which was more than the projected
benefit obligation by $372,000.
   The following table sets forth the status of the AE Defined Benefit Plan
and Executive Defined Benefit Plan as well as amounts recognized in the
Company's consolidated financial statements at September 30, 1997 and 1996:

        ------------------------------------------------
        In thousands                    1997        1996
        ------------------------------------------------
        Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
          Vested                      $   38      $   --
          Non-vested                   5,607       3,952
                                     -------------------
        Accumulated benefit obligation 5,645       3,952
        Effect of projected future
          compensation levels          1,737       1,440
                                     -------------------
        Projected benefit obligation   7,382       5,392
        Unrecognized net loss           (354)       (111)
        Unrecognized prior service cost (476)       (529)
                                      ------------------
        Accrued pension liability     $6,552      $4,752
                                      ==================
--------------------------------------------------------

   Pension expense for the plans for the three years ended September 30, 1997
is included in the following components:

       ---------------------------------------------------
       In thousands             1997       1996       1995
       ---------------------------------------------------
       Service cost           $1,369     $1,257    $   878
       Interest cost             408        288        175
       Net amortization
         and deferral             23         65          6
                               ---------------------------
       Net benefit costs      $1,800     $1,610     $1,059
                               ===========================
       ---------------------------------------------------

   The following table provides the assumptions used in determining the
projected benefit obligation for the plans for the three years ended
September 30, 1997:

-----------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997     1996      1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average discount rate           7.25%     7.5%      7.0%
Rate of increase in future
  compensation levels                     5.0      5.0       5.0
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Equity Plans
For calendar 1997, 1996 and 1995 the Company offered the Advest Equity Plan
(the "Advest Equity Plan") to certain top performing investment executives
and designated key employees. The Advest Equity Plan allows those employees
to defer a portion of their compensation and invest it on a pre-tax basis in
units consisting of one share of the Company's common stock and one option to
purchase an additional share of common stock. The share portion of the unit
is issued monthly from treasury stock and will be restricted for three years
after the year of deferral. The option portion is described under Note 10.
Both the restricted stock and options will be subject to

                                    -49-
<PAGE>

forfeiture under certain circumstances. For calendar 1997, 1996 and 1995, the
Company offered substantially similar plans to executive officers, although
under the executive officer plans restricted stock was purchased on the open
market through December 1996 and options granted under the 1993 Stock Option
Plan.
   Beginning with fiscal 1996, the Company offered certain key professionals
the opportunity to defer a portion of their compensation over certain levels
and invest it in restricted stock at a discounted price of 75% of market. No
shares have been purchased under this plan during fiscal 1997 or 1996. Also,
beginning with calendar 1996, 50% of the annual retainer of each director of
the Company (or a greater portion, at their election) is invested in
restricted stock at 100% of market.

Management Incentive Plan
The Company has a Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP") which provides for
incentive compensation to salaried employees. Compensation presently is based
on the Company's pre-tax income. During fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, MIP
compensation was $2,462,000, $2,338,000 and $1,340,000, respectively. For
fiscal 1996, any MIP award to an executive officer in excess of 150% of the
amount of the MIP award for the prior fiscal year was invested in restricted
shares of the Company's common stock.

Restricted Stock
Restricted stock awards are made, and shares issued, to certain key employees
without cash payment by the employee. The shares are restricted for a vesting
period, generally five years from the award date. Certain key employees were
awarded 54,436 and 5,702 shares of restricted stock, with a fair value of
$610,000 and $57,000, during 1997 and 1996, respectively. As of September 30,
1997, stock awards for 60,138 shares were outstanding, with restrictions
expiring at various dates through 2003. The deferred cost of the restricted
stock awards is amortized on a straight-line basis.

Note 12: Capital and Regulatory Requirements
Advest is subject to the net capital rule adopted and administered by the
NYSE and the SEC. Advest has elected to compute its net capital under the
alternative method of the rule which requires the maintenance of minimum net
capital equal to 2% of aggregate debit balances arising from customer
transactions, as defined. The NYSE also may require a member firm to reduce
its business if net capital is less than 4% of aggregate debit balances and
may prohibit a member firm from expanding its business and declaring cash
dividends if net capital is less than 5% of aggregate debit balances. As of
September 30, 1997, Advest's regulatory net capital of $60,733,000 was 14% of
aggregate debit balances and exceeds required net capital by $51,870,000.
   Under bank regulatory restrictions, the Bank is required to maintain a
minimum level of capital. With its conversion to a federal charter in April
1997, the Bank is required to limit annual dividends to the total of the
current and prior four quarters retained net income. No dividends have been
declared or paid by the Bank in fiscal year 1997. At September 30, 1997, the
Bank's leverage capital, risk-based and Tier 1 capital ratios were 6.84%,
10.04% and 8.79%, respectively, which met all regulatory requirements. At
September 30, 1996, the Bank's leverage capital, risk-based and Tier 1
capital ratios were 6.56%, 10.44% and 9.19%, respectively, which also met
regulatory requirements. Refer to discussion in Management's Discussion and
Analysis under the caption "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Advest Bank and
Trust Company."

                                    -50-
<PAGE>

Note 13: Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the three years ended September 30, 1997
consisted of the following:

       --------------------------------------------------
       In thousands             1997       1996      1995
       --------------------------------------------------
       Current:
         Federal              $7,549     $5,893    $1,695
         State and local       2,453      3,270     1,985
                              ---------------------------
                              10,002      9,163     3,680
                              ---------------------------

        Deferred:
         Federal                 803       (155)    1,749
         State and local        (429)      (161)       (9)
                               --------------------------
                                 374       (316)    1,760
                               --------------------------

        Provision for income
         taxes               $10,376     $8,847    $5,440
                              ===========================
---------------------------------------------------------

   At September 30, 1997 and 1996, deferred tax assets and liabilities were
comprised of:

        ------------------------------------------------
        In thousands                    1997        1996
        ------------------------------------------------
        Deferred tax assets:
          Provision for credit losses and
            asset devaluation         $2,709      $2,753
          Employee benefits            5,156       4,579
          Lease commitments               --         434
          FAS115 losses                   35         112
          State NOL carryforwards      1,069       1,671
          Valuation allowance -
            state taxes                 (499)     (1,671)
          Other                           46          86
                                      ------------------
        Total deferred tax assets     $8,516      $7,964
                                      ------------------

        Deferred tax liabilities:
          Tax loan loss reserve in
            excess of base year      $   528     $   614
          Depreciation                 1,430       1,367
          Investment income              168         449
          Partnership basis difference 2,487       2,305
          Other                        2,470       1,343
                                      ------------------
        Total deferred tax
          liabilities                 $7,083      $6,078
                                      ------------------
        Net deferred tax asset        $1,433      $1,886
                                      ==================
        ------------------------------------------------

   The Company will only recognize a deferred tax asset when, based on
available evidence, realization is more likely than not. Accordingly, at
September 30, 1997 and 1996, the Company has recorded no valuation allowance
against federal deferred tax assets based on reversals of existing taxable
amounts and anticipated future earnings. A valuation reserve has been
established to cover state net operating loss carryforwards which are not
expected to be realized due to short carryforward time periods. At September
30, 1997, state net operating loss carryforwards were approximately
$11,250,000 which expire in various years between 1998 and 2000.
   A reconciliation of the difference between the statutory federal income
tax rate and the

                                    -51-
<PAGE>

effective income tax rate follows for the three years ended September 30,
1997 follows:

       ------------------------------------------------------
       Percent of pre-tax income    1997      1996       1995
       ------------------------------------------------------
       Statutory income tax rate   35.0%     35.0%      34.0%
       State and local income taxes,
         net of federal tax effect  6.9       9.8       11.1

       Recognition of state net
         operating losses          (1.5)       --         --
       Tax-exempt interest income  (1.5)     (1.6)      (1.9)
       Intangible assets            0.4       0.4        0.7
       Other                        1.7       0.4        2.1
                                   --------------------------
       Effective income tax rate   41.0%     44.0%      46.0%
                                   ==========================
      -------------------------------------------------------

   Effective for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, the Bank changed
its tax bad debt method to the specific charge-off method in accordance with
provisions of the Small Business Job Protection Act. The change in method
will result in taxable income of approximately $1,485,000 representing the
excess of the Bank's tax bad debt reserve at September 30, 1996 over the
reserve that arose in tax years beginning before December 31, 1987 (base year
reserve). Generally, the income will be recognized ratably over a six year
period. Accordingly, the deferred tax liability resulting from the change in
method is approximately $528,000 at September 30, 1997.
   As of September 30, 1997, the Bank has not recorded a deferred tax
liability for its base year reserve of $2,155,000. An income tax liability
could be incurred if certain excess distributions were made with respect to
the Bank's stock. It is not anticipated that such excess distributions would
be made.

Note 14: Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Leases
The Company conducts all of its operations from leased premises, and leases
data processing and communications equipment under noncancelable operating
leases primarily varying from one to ten years, with certain renewal options
for similar terms. Minimum rentals based upon the original terms (excluding
taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses which also are obligations) at
September 30, 1997 are (in thousands):

      ----------------------------------------------------------
                                       Data processing
       Fiscal year ended      Office  & communications
       September 30,      facilities         equipment     Total
      ----------------------------------------------------------
       1998                  $ 7,313            $1,895   $ 9,208
       1999                    5,890             1,077     6,967
       2000                    5,836               759     6,595
       2001                    5,551               759     6,310
       2002                    4,247               428     4,675
       2003 and thereafter    11,601                --    11,601
                           -------------------------------------
                             $40,438            $4,918   $45,356
                           =====================================
      ----------------------------------------------------------


   Rental expense under these leases was $9,338,000, $8,928,000 and
$9,458,000 for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.

                                    -52-
<PAGE>

Loan guarantees and letters of credit
Billings Management Company, a subsidiary of the Company, acts as general
partner in various real estate limited partnerships. At September 30, 1997
and 1996, AGI was a guarantor of borrowings by one of the partnerships in the
amount $275,000 and $503,000, respectively. The borrowings are
uncollateralized.
   At September 30, 1996, AGI was contingently liable under a collateralized
bank letter of credit in the amount of $1,250,000 required under the terms of
a non-recourse note entered into between Advest and a third party lender. The
note was repaid in full during fiscal 1997 and the letter of credit was
canceled. (See Note 7.)
   At September 30, 1997 and 1996, Advest was contingently liable under bank
letter of credit agreements in the amount of $1,835,000 and $1,255,000,
respectively, which are collateralized by securities held in customer
accounts.
   At September 30, 1997 and 1996, the Bank and AGI were contingently liable
under standby letters of credit and commitments to extend credit to customers
in the amount of $88,800,000 and $68,405,000, respectively. The value of
collateral required to be held for letter of credit commitments as of
September 30, 1997 ranges from 0% to 1174% of individual commitments with a
weighted average of 148%.

Litigation
The Company has been named as defendant in a number of legal proceedings
arising principally from its securities and investment banking business. Some
of these actions involve claims by plaintiffs for substantial amounts. While
results of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of
management, based on discussion with counsel, the outcome of these matters
will not result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition or
future operating results of the Company.

Note 15: Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk
In the normal course of business, Advest executes, settles and finances
customer and proprietary securities transactions. These activities may expose
Advest to off-balance-sheet risk in the event that customers or other parties
are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations.
   In accordance with industry practice, Advest records securities
transactions executed on behalf of its customers on settlement date which is
generally three business days after trade date. Should a customer or broker
fail to deliver cash or securities as agreed, Advest may be required to
purchase or sell securities at unfavorable market prices.
   Customer securities activities are transacted on either a cash or margin
basis. For margin transactions, in which Advest extends credit to customers,
it seeks to control its risk by requiring customers to maintain margin
collateral in compliance with various regulatory and internal guidelines.
Advest monitors required margin levels daily and requests customers to
deposit additional collateral or liquidate securities positions when
necessary. Such transactions expose Advest to off-balance-sheet risk in the
event margin requirements are not sufficient to cover customer losses.
   Advest's collateralized financing activities require it to pledge customer
securities as collateral for various secured financing sources such as bank
loans and securities loaned. In the event the counterparty is unable to meet
its contractual obligations, Advest may be exposed to the off-balance-sheet
risk of acquiring securities at prevailing market prices. The Company
monitors the credit standing of counterparties with whom it conducts
business. Risk is further controlled by monitoring the market value of
securities pledged on a daily basis and by requiring adjustment of

                                    -53-
<PAGE>

collateral levels as needed.
   Advest has sold securities that it does not currently own and will
therefore be obligated to purchase such securities at prevailing market
prices in the future. These obligations are recorded in the financial
statements at the market values of the related securities and Advest will
incur a loss if the market value of the securities increases.
   Advest seeks to manage the interest rate risk associated with its trading
positions, primarily its municipal and corporate bond inventories, by
entering into derivative transactions, principally short-term futures
contracts. The average fair value of futures contracts during the years ended
September 30, 1997 and 1996 were $875,752 and $598,303, respectively. A net
trading loss of $76,000 was realized in 1997, a net trading profit of $20,000
was realized in 1996 and a net trading loss of $100,000 was realized in
fiscal 1995. At September 30, 1997, Advest had only nominal open positions.
In 1996 there were no open hedge positions.
   The Bank is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk
in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its
customers. These financial instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements
of credit and interest rate risk. The Bank's exposure to credit loss in the
event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument is
represented by the contractual amount of these instruments. The Bank uses the
same credit policies in making commitments as it does for existing loans and
management believes that the Bank controls the risk of these financial
instruments through credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures.
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as
there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Since
many of the commitments could expire without being drawn upon, the total
commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The
amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Bank, upon
extension of credit is based on credit evaluation of its customer. Collateral
held varies but may include income-producing commercial properties, accounts
receivable, inventory and property, plant and equipment.
   Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank
to guarantee the performance of customers to a third party. The credit risk
involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that
involved in standing loan facilities to customers. The Bank holds real estate
and marketable securities as collateral supporting those commitments for
which collateral is deemed necessary.
   The Bank enters into interest rate swap and cap contracts as part of its
interest rate risk management strategy. The notional values do not represent
direct credit exposures. The Bank's credit exposure is limited to the net
difference between the calculated pay and receive amounts on each transaction
which is generally netted and paid quarterly.

                                    -54-
<PAGE>

   The following table illustrates the Bank's outstanding swap and cap
contracts at September 30, 1997:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Maturities
                            ---------------------    Balance  Balance
In thousands                1998    1999     2001    9/30/97  9/30/96
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed pay interest rate swaps:
  Notional value          $5,000  $5,000   $  --     $10,000  $20,000
  Weighted average
    receive rate          5.813%  5.719%      --%     5.719%   5.556%
  Weighted average
    pay rate              8.790%  7.090%      --%     7.940%   7.145%

Interest rate caps:
  Notional value          $ --    $ --     $5,000    $ 5,000  $ 5,000
  Strike rate               --%     --%    6.000%     6.000%   6.000%
  Unamortized premium     $ --    $ --     $  167    $   167  $    51

Total notional value      $5,000  $5,000   $5,000    $15,000  $25,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------

   In the absence of these interest rate swaps, net interest income would
have been higher by approximately $233,000 in 1997, $441,000 in 1996 and
$472,000 in 1995. In the absence of these cap contracts, net interest income
would have been higher by approximately $75,000 in 1997 and $57,000 in 1996,
and lower by approximately $128,000 in 1995.

Note 16: Concentrations of Credit Risk
Advest generally conducts business with brokers and dealers located in the
New York metropolitan area that are members of the major securities
exchanges. Advest's clients are predominantly retail investors located
throughout the United States but primarily in the Northeast and Florida.
Advest's activities primarily involve collateralized arrangements and may
result in credit exposure if the counterparties do not fulfill their
obligations. Advest's exposure to credit risk can be directly impacted by
volatile securities markets which may impair the ability of counterparties to
satisfy their contractual obligations.
   When entering into interest rate swap and cap agreements, the Bank is
subject to the risk of dealing with counterparties and their ability to meet
the terms of the contracts. The Bank enters into swap and cap contracts with
counterparties that are either highly rated by recognized rating agencies or
are federal agencies. The Bank minimizes the credit risk by performing credit
reviews on the swap counterparties and minimizes the interest rate risk by
its asset and liability management policies.

Note 17: Related Parties
As of September 30, 1997 and 1996, loans to related parties made by the Bank
totaled approximately $3,623,000 and $4,764,000, respectively. There were
approximately $1,130,000 of new loans and $2,271,000 of repayments during
1997. Related parties include directors and executive officers of the
Company, and their respective affiliates in which they have a 10% or more
interest. Such loans were made in the ordinary course of business. As of
September 30, 1997, all loans to related parties were performing.

                                    -55-
<PAGE>

Note 18: Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair values generally represent estimates of amounts at which a financial
instrument could be exchanged between willing parties in a current
transaction other than in forced liquidation. Where current exchange prices
are not available, other valuation techniques are used, such as discounting
the expected future cash flows. Fair value estimates are subjective and
depend on a number of significant assumptions based on management's judgment
regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk
characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. In
addition, a wide range of valuation techniques are permitted, making
comparisons difficult, even between similar entities. The fair value of other
financial assets and liabilities (consisting primarily of receivable from and
payable to brokers and dealers, customers, securities borrowed and loaned)
are considered to approximate the carrying value due to the short-term nature
of the financial instruments.
   For residential one to four family real estate mortgages, fair value is
estimated using quoted market prices for similar loans, adjusted for
differences in loan characteristics. For multi-family mortgages, commercial
real estate loans and commercial and consumer loans, fair value is estimated
by discounting the expected future cash flows using the current rates at
which similar loans would be originated to borrowers with similar credit
ratings for comparable remaining maturities. Fair values for fixed-rate
certificates of deposit are estimated by discounting future cash flows using
interest rates currently offered on time deposits with similar remaining
maturities. The fair value of advances from the FHLB, including the current
portion, are estimated using rates which approximate those currently being
offered by the FHLB for advances with similar remaining maturities. The fair
value of interest rate swap and cap agreements are obtained from quoted
market prices and dealer quotes. These values represent the estimated amount
that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the
reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the current
credit worthiness of the counterparties.
   The fair values of the Company's financial instruments at September 30,
1997 and 1996 are:

---------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1997               1996
                          -------------------------------------
                          Carrying     Fair   Carrying     Fair
   In thousands             amount    value     amount    value
---------------------------------------------------------------
   Financial assets:
     Loans, net          $199,166  $202,103  $194,956  $196,135
     Investment
       securities          35,012    34,909    38,086    38,003

   Financial liabilities:
     Deposits             169,583   169,747   191,186   191,554
     Short-term
       borrowings          61,496    61,544    39,301    39,326
     Long-term
       borrowings          41,321    41,273    19,744    19,873
     Subordinated
        borrowings             --        --    20,552    21,374

                          Notional      Fair  Notional      Fair
   In thousands             amount     value    amount     value
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   Unrecognized financial instruments:
     Fixed pay interest
       rate swaps         $10,000     $(163)  $ 20,000    $(317)
   Interest rate caps       5,000       114      5,000       16
   Commitments to
       extend credit      (87,922)        6    (67,935)      31
   Standby letters
       of credit           (2,193)       (3)    (2,975)     (11)
   -------------------------------------------------------------

                                    -56-
<PAGE>

Note 19: Segment Reporting
The Company operates principally in the financial services and banking
industries. Operations in the financial services industry include agency
transactions, principal transactions, investment banking, asset management
and consulting. The banking operations include residential mortgage lending,
trust services and investment of funds generated from borrowings and customer
deposits. Financial information by industry segments for the three years in
the period ended September 30, 1997 are summarized as follows:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Financial
   In thousands          services   Banking     Other    Consolidated
   ------------------------------------------------------------------
  1997
  ----
  Total revenues         $272,967  $ 16,925   $ 1,315      $  291,207
  Operating income
    (loss)                 27,310       720    (2,722)         25,308
  Identifiable assets     814,149   222,014    42,676       1,078,839
  Capital expenditures      4,235       377         4           4,616
  Depreciation and
    amortization            8,230       364       (68)          8,526

  1996
  ----
  Total revenues         $239,030  $ 19,324    $ 1,548       $259,902
  Operating income
    (loss)                 21,643     1,074     (2,610)        20,107
  Identifiable assets     712,844   219,245     33,756        965,845
  Capital expenditures      5,573       344         14          5,931
  Depreciation and
    amortization            7,694       332        195          8,221

  1995
  ----
  Total revenues         $207,674 $  23,464    $ 1,596       $232,734
  Operating income
    (loss)                 23,241    (9,301)    (2,113)        11,827
  Identifiable assets     532,722   269,500     30,318        832,540
  Capital expenditures      4,182       193          2          4,377
  Depreciation and
    amortization            8,391       313        201          8,905
  -------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 20: Subsequent Event
On October 2, 1997, the Company announced that it has entered into a letter
of intent to acquire Ironwood Capital, Ltd. ("Ironwood"), a private
investment bank, in exchange for 137,060 shares of AGI common stock. The
closing is expected to occur on or before November 15, 1997 and it is
anticipated that the acquisition will be accounted for as a pooling of
interests. Following the acquisition, Ironwood and its twelve employees will
become the Corporate Fixed Income Group within the Investment Banking
Division of Advest. Restatement of prior years' financial statements, as
required under a pooling of interests transaction, would not have a material
impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows. Consequently, Ironwood will be included in consolidated financial
statements of the Company prospectively from the acquisition date.

                                    -57-
<PAGE>

                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
   of The Advest Group, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Advest
Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997 and 1996, and the
related consolidated statements of earnings, changes in shareholders' equity
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30,
1997. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits 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 audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position
of The Advest Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997 and 1996,
and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company
adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived
Assets to be Disposed Of" as of October 1, 1996.

As discussed in Notes 1 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements, the
Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", as of October 1, 1996.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company
adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and
Extinguishments of Liabilities", as amended by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 127, "Deferral of the Effective date of Certain
Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125" as of January 1, 1997.

PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P.

Hartford, Connecticut
October 22, 1997

                                    -58-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In millions, except                1997 by fiscal quarters                 1996 by fiscal quarters
                                   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
per share data                        1st       2nd       3rd       4th       1st       2nd       3rd       4th
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Cash dividends per
  common shares                    $-        $ .03     $ .03     $ .03     $-        $-        $-        $-
Stock price range:  High           $10-7/8   $15       $27-1/2   $27-1/2   $9-3/4    $10-1/8   $11       $10-5/8
                    Low            $9        $10-3/8   $11-1/2   $20-1/2   $8-1/2    $8-5/8    $9-5/8    $9-1/4
                    Close          $10-3/4   $11-7/8   $23-3/4   $26-5/16  $8-1/2    $9-5/8    $10-1/4   $9-3/4

Revenues                           $70.2     $68.2     $73.8     $79.0     $64.9     $64.5     $68.8     $61.7
Income before taxes                $ 6.1     $ 5.3     $ 6.6     $ 7.3     $ 5.7     $ 5.4     $ 5.7     $ 3.3
Net income                         $ 3.4     $ 3.1     $ 3.8     $ 4.7     $ 3.1     $ 3.0     $ 3.2     $ 2.0

Net income per common share        $ .39     $ .35     $ .42     $ .51     $ .35     $ .34     $ .36     $ .23

</TABLE>

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
        Financial Disclosure

There were no disagreements with the Company's independent accounts on any
accounting or financial disclosure matters.

                                    -59-
<PAGE>

                                  Part III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The information required for "Directors" by this item is included under the
caption "Election of Directors" in the Company's Proxy Statement to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company's
annual meeting to be held January 29, 1998. Such information is hereby
incorporated by reference.
   The following table sets forth the executive officers of the Company at
December 2, 1997. Executive officers of the Company are appointed annually by
the Board of Directors to hold office until their successors are appointed
and qualify.

                                                                    Executive
                                                                     Officer
Name                 Age    Office                                    Since
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allen Weintraub       62    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer       1977
Grant W. Kurtz        55    President                                  1985
Murray M. Beach       43    Senior Vice President - Corporate
                              Finance, Advest, Inc.                    1996
Allen G. Botwinick    54    Executive Vice President, Administration
                              and Operations                           1980
George A. Boujoukos   63    Executive Vice President - Capital
                              Markets, Advest, Inc.                    1977
Harry H. Branning     46    Executive Vice President - National Sales
                              Manager, Advest, Inc.                    1994
Lee G. Kuckro         56    Senior Vice President, Secretary
                              and General Counsel                      1978
Martin M. Lilienthal  55    Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
                              Chief Financial Officer                  1977

Item 11.  Executive Compensation
The information required by this item is included under the caption
"Remuneration of Directors and Officers" and "Certain Transactions" of the
Company's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection with the Company's annual meeting to be held January
29, 1998. Such information is hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 12.  Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management
The information required by this item is contained under the caption
"Election of Directors" in the Company's Proxy Statement to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company's annual
meeting to be held January 29, 1998. Such information is hereby incorporated
by reference.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The information required by this item is included under the caption "Certain
Transactions" of the Company's Proxy Statement to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company's annual
meeting to be held January 29, 1998. Such information is hereby incorporated
by reference.

                                   -60-
<PAGE>

                                   Part IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

                                                      Page Reference
                                                    ----------------
                                                          10-K
                                                    ----------------
(a) 1. Financial Statements
    The Consolidated Financial Statements and The Report of
        Independent Accountants contained in the 1997 Annual
        Report to Shareholders are
          incorporated herein by reference:
    Consolidated Statements of Earnings                    32
    Consolidated Balance Sheets                            33
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                  34
    Consolidated Statement of Changes
        in Shareholders' Equity                            35
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements            36-57
    Report of Independent Accountants                      58

    2. Financial Statement Schedules
    Report of Independent Accountants on all schedules     66
    Schedule I - Condensed Financial
      Information of Registrant                           67-69
    Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts        70

     3. Exhibits
     The following is a list of exhibits to this Report on Form 10-K filed
herewith or incorporated by reference herein.

                                  Prior Filing(s) to which Reference is made,
Exhibit  Description              if applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3(a)     Restated Certificate of  Exhibit 3(a) of Incorporation Registrant's
         Incorporation of         Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
         Registration             ended March 31, 1989

3(b)     By-laws of Registrant,   Exhibit 3(b) to Registrant's
         as restated and amemded  Report on Form 10-Q and amended for the
                                  quarter ended March 31, 1989 and Exhibit
                                  3(a) to Registrant's Report on Form 10-Q
                                  for the quarter ended June 30, 1990

3(c)     Second Amendment to      Exhibit 3(c) to Registrant's Report on
         Restated By-laws of      Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
         Registrant               September 30, 1997

4(a)     Shareholder Rights       Exhibit to Registrant's Report on Form 8-k
         Agreement dated as of    November 1, 1988
         October 31, 1988 between
         Registrant and The
         Connecticut Bank and
         Trust Company, N.A.,
         as Rights Agent

                                   -61-
<PAGE>

                                  Prior Filing(s) to which Reference is made,
Exhibit  Description              if applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10(a)    Registrant's 1994        Exhibit A to Registrant's Proxy
         Non-Employee Director    Statement dated December 20, 1994
         Stock Option Plan

10(b)    First and Second         Exhibit 10(b) to Registrant's Report on
         Amendments to            Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
         Non-Employee Director    September 30, 1997
         Stock Option Plan

10(c)    Registrant's 1993 Stock  Exhibit A to Registrant's Proxy
         Option Plan              Statement dated December 21, 1993

10(d)    Registrant's 1983        Exhibit A to Registrant's Proxy Statement
         Incentive Stock Option   dated December 21, 1983 and Exhibit 10(a)
         Plan, as amended         to Registrant's Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                  quarter ended March 31, 1988

10(e)    Registrant's Deferred    Exhibit 10(f) to Registrant's Report on
         Compensation Savings and Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
         Investment Plan, Amended September 30, 1989, Exhibit 10(j) to
         and Restated as of       Registrant's Report on Form 10-K for its
         November 17,1989,        fiscal year ended September 30,1990 and
         as amended               Exhibit 10(b) of Registrant's Report on
                                  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
                                  31,1992

10(f)    Non-Employee Director    Exhibit 10(b) to Registrant's Report on
         Equity Plan              Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
                                  1996

10(g)    Key Professionals Equity Exhibit 10(g) to Registrant's Report on 
         Plan, as amended and     Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
         restated as of           September 30, 1997
         October 1,1997

10(h)    Forms of Executive       Exhibit 10 to Registrant's Report on Form
         Officer Restricted       10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
         Stock and Stock Option   1994 and Exhibit 10(c) to Registrant's
         Agreement for 1995,      Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
         1996 (as supplemented)   June 30, 1996 and Exhibit 4.4 to
         and 1997                 Registrant's Registration Statement on
                                  Form S-8, File No. 333-17711; and Exhibit
                                  4.5 to Registrant's Registration Statement
                                  4.6 on  Form S-8, File No. 333-17711

10(i)    Executive Officer        Exhibit 10(i) to Regiatrant's Report on
         Restricted Stock         Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
         and Stock Option         September 30, 1997
         Agreement for 1998

                                   -62-
<PAGE>

                                  Prior Filing(s) to which Reference is made,
Exhibit  Description              if applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10(j)    The Advest Thrift Plan   Exhibit 10(a) to Registrant's Report on
         Registrant, effective    Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
         as of December 31, 1992  31, 1992 and Exhibit 10(a) to Registrant's
         as amended               Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                                  June 30, 1996

10(k)   Fifth, Sixth and Seventh  Exhibit 10(k) to Registrant's Report on
        Amendments to the Advest  Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
        Thrift Plan of Registrant September 30, 1997

10(l)   Registrant's 1991 and     Exhibit 10(k) to Registrant's Report on
        1992 Top AE Stock         Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
        Option Plans              September 30, 1991, and Exhibit 10(c)       
                                  to Registrant's Report on Form 10-Q
                                  for the Quarter Ended December 31, 1992

10(m)   Registrant's Account      Exhibit 10(m) to Registrant's Report on
        Executive Nonqualified    Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
        Defined Benefit Plan,     September 30,1993, Exhibit 10(p) to
        as amended                Registrant's Report on Form 10-K for its
                                  fiscal year ended September 30,1995 and
                                  Exhibit 10(f) to Registrant's Report on
                                  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
                                  1996

10(n)  Registrant's Nonqualified  Exhibit 10(n) to Registrant's Report on
       Executive Post-employment  Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
       Income Plan, as amended    September 30, 1994and Exhibit 10(e) to
                                  Registrant's Report on Form 10-Q for the
                                  quarter ended June 30, 1996

10(o)  Registrant's 1995, 1996    Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Registration
       and 1997 Advest Equity     Statement on Form S-8, File No. 33-56275;
       Plans                      Exhibit 4 to Registrant's Registration
                                  Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-00797;
                                  and Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant's
                                  Registration Statement on Form S-8, File
                                  No. 333-17711

10(p)  1998 Advest Equity Plan    Exhibit 10(p) to Registrant's Report on
                                  Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
                                  September 30, 1997

10(q)  Amended and Restated       Exhibit 10(h) to Registrant's Report on
       Employement Agreement      Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
       Chief Executive Officer    1996

10(r)  Employment Agreement with  Exhibit 10(r) to Registrant's Report on
       President                  Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
                                  September 30, 1997

                                   -63-
<PAGE>

                                  Prior Filing(s) to which Reference is made,
Exhibit  Description              if applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10(s)    Note Purchase Agreement  Exhibit 10(a) to Registrant's Report on
         of the Registrant dated  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
         as of December 27, 1996  31, 1996
         1996 with respect to
         Registrant's 7.95%
         Senior Notes due December
         31, 2003

10(t)    Cash Subordination       Exhibit 10(b) to Registrant's Report on
         Agreement of the         Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
         Registrant dated as of   31, 1996
         January 31, 1997

11       Statement Regarding      Filed Herewith
         Computation of Net
         Income per Common Share

21       Subsidiaries             Exhibit 21 to Registrant's Report on 
                                  Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
                                  September 30, 1997 

23       Consent of Independent   Exhibit 23 to Registrant's Report on 
         Accountants              Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
                                  September 30, 1997  

27       Financial Data Schedule  Selected financial data - for EDGAR
                                  electronic filing only to SEC

99       Awarness Letter of       Filed Herewith
         Independent 
         Accountants

(b) Reports on Form 8-K
    No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of the year
    ended September 30, 1997.

                                   -64-
<PAGE>

                                 SIGNATURES

      Pursuant  to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                      THE ADVEST GROUP, INC.


                      By  /s/Martin M. Lilienthal           July 24, 1998
                          Martin M. Lilienthal
                          Senior Vice President and Treasurer
                         (Chief Financial and Principal Accounting Officer)

                                   -65-
<PAGE>

                      Report of Independent Accountants



The Board of Directors and Shareholders
  of The Advest Group, Inc.:


Our report on the consolidated financial statements of The Advest Group, Inc.
and Subsidiaries has been incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K/A from
page 58 of this filing. In connection with our audits of such financial
statements, we have also audited the related financial statemetn schedules
listed in the index on page 61 of this Form 10-K/A.

In our opinion, the financial statement schedules referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
present fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be
included therein.


                             /s/  PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P.


Hartford, Connecticut
October 22, 1997

                                   -66-
<PAGE>

                                                   Schedule I

                Condensed Financial Information of Registrant

                           The Advest Group, Inc.
                               (Parent Company)
                          Condensed Balance Sheets

                                                  September 30,
                                              -----------------
In thousands                                  1997        1996
---------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
  Cash                                   $   2,166    $  1,213
    Investment in subsidiaries,
     equity method(a)                      111,039      94,492
    Receivables from subsidiaries(a)         8,361       6,106
    Loans                                    9,359       9,787
    Subordinated Receivable(a)              10,000          --
    Held to maturity securities             11,932      11,226
    Other assets                             6,831       9,855
                                       -----------------------
  Total assets                            $158,943    $132,430
                                       =======================

Liabilities
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 11,517    $ 12,164
  Payable to subsidiaries(a)                 5,002       4,553
  Borrowings                                35,817       5,494
  Interest payable                             954          77
  Subordinated borrowings                       --      20,552
                                       -----------------------
    Total liabilities                       53,290      42,840

Shareholders' equity(b)                    105,653      89,590
                                       -----------------------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity                 $158,943    $132,430
                                       =======================

(a)Eliminated in consolidation.
(b)For an analysis of shareholders' equity and its components, see
   Registrant's Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Changes in
   Shareholders' Equity on pages 33 and 35 of this filing.

                                    -67-
<PAGE>

                                                      Schedule I
                                                     (Continued)

                            The Advest Group, Inc.
                               (Parent Company)
                       Condensed Statements of Earnings

                               For the years ended September 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------
In thousands                           1997      1996      1995
----------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
   Gain on sale of investment
     advisory business, net        $     57   $   627 $  10,092
   Interest                           1,741       482       232
   Other income                         384        65       196
                                  ------------------------------
Total revenues                        2,182     1,174    10,520
                                  ------------------------------

Expenses
   Interest                           2,898     2,447     2,452
   Loss on call of debentures           607        --        --
   Other                              1,390     1,259       807
                                 ------------------------------
Total expenses                        4,895     3,706     3,259
                                 ------------------------------

   Income (loss) before income tax benefit
      and equity in earnings
      of subsidiaries                (2,713)   (2,532)    7,261

Income tax benefit                    1,019       459       542
                                 ------------------------------
   Income (loss) before equity in
      earnings of subsidiaries       (1,694)   (2,073)    7,803

Equity in income (loss)
  of subsidiaries                    16,626     13,333   (1,416)
                                  ------------------------------
   Net income                       $14,932    $11,260 $  6,387
                                  ==============================

                                    -68-
<PAGE>

                                                         Schedule I
                                                        (Continued)

                              The Advest Group, Inc.
                                 (Parent Company)
                        Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

                                    For the years ended September 30,
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In thousands                               1997      1996      1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Activities:
  Net income                            $14,932    $11,260  $ 6,387
  Equity in (loss) income
    of subsidiaries                     (16,626)   (13,333)   1,416
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
     provide by operating activities        600        429    1,580
  Gain on sale of investment
    advisory business, net                  (57)      (627) (10,092)
  Net (increase) decrease
    in operating assets                     607     (1,335)     (20)
  Net increase (decrease)
    in operating liabilities              2,335      2,652    (2,103)
                                       ------------------------------
  Net cash provided by (used for)
    operating activities                  1,791       (954)   (2,832)
                                       ------------------------------
Financing Activities:
  Proceeds from long term borrowing      35,000      1,250     1,000
  Repayment of short term borrowings     (3,570)        --       --
  Repayment of short term borrowings     (1,107)      (996)     (798)
  Employee stock transactions               866      1,076        62
  Retirement of subordinated borrowings (20,545)        --        --
  Repurchase of subordinated borrowings      --         --      (410)
  Net (decrease) increase in payables
    to subsidiaries                      (1,231)     3,863     3,018
  Repurchase of common stock             (1,835)    (3,799)   (2,309)
  Other                                   1,241      1,101       846
                                       ------------------------------
  Net cash provided by
    financing activities                  8,819      2,495     1,409
                                       ------------------------------

Investing Activities:
  Proceeds from maturities of held to
     maturity securities                  21,388    18,400    12,500
  Proceeds from investment advisory
     business, net                           217       788    10,141
  Purchase of held to maturity
     securities                          (22,000)  (23,388)  (15,309)
  Purchase of available for
     sale securities                         (26)      (23)       --
  Sales of OREO, net                         655     2,090        --
  Principal collections on loans             141     1,135       746
  Purchases of subordinated receivable   (10,000)       --        --
  Acquisition of subsidiaries assets          --       --     (4,585)
  Increase in investments in subsidiaries     --       --       (152)
  Loans originated                           (32)      --     (1,761)
  Recovery on write-offs                      --       --        161
                                       ------------------------------
  Net cash (used for) provided by
            investing activities           (9,657)     (998)   1,741
                                       ------------------------------
Increase in cash                              953       543      318
Cash at beginning of period                 1,213       670      352
                                       ------------------------------
Cash at period end                       $  2,166   $ 1,213  $   670
                                       ==============================

Supplemental Information:
 Interest paid                           $  2,280   $ 2,447  $ 2,452
  Income taxes paid                      $  7,987   $10,067  $ 2,273
  Non-cash transfers
   (reduction of payable to
    subsidiaries effected in
     the form of dividends)              $    --    $ 8,500  $ 3,007
  Restricted stock awards,
     net of forfeitures                  $   515    $    56  $    --

                                    -69-
<PAGE>

                                                              Schedule II

                    The Advest Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                       Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

                                          Additions    Charge-
                             Balance at  charged to       offs     Balance
                              beginning    cost and        and      at end
In thousands                  of period    expenses recoveries   of period
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the years ended September 30,
---------------------------------
1997
----
Credit losses:
  Brokerage customers          $    791    $    160  $    (27)    $  924
  Loans                           2,398         671      (590)     2,479
Asset devaluation:
  Other real estate owned            --          --        --         --
  Other investments/assets        1,450          84      (233)     1,301
Valuation reserve on deferred
   taxes                          1,671          --    (1,172)       499
                               -----------------------------------------
                               $  6,310    $    915  $ (2,022)   $ 5,203
                               =========================================
1996
----
Credit losses:
  Brokerage customers          $     743   $    160  $    (112)   $  791
  Loans                            2,334      1,022       (958)    2,398
Asset devaluation:
  Other real estate owned            718         20       (738)       --
  Other investments/assets         1,250         56        144     1,450
Valuation reserve on deferred
  taxes                            1,510        161         --     1,671
                              ------------------------------------------
                               $   6,555   $  1,419  $  (1,664)   $6,310
                              ==========================================
1995
----
Credit losses:
  Brokerage customers          $    869    $    473  $    (599)   $  743
  Loans                           4,900       5,637     (8,203)    2,334
Asset devaluation:
  Other real estate owned         1,201       4,491     (4,974)      718
  Other investments/assets        2,218        (263)      (705)    1,250
Valuation reserve on deferred
   taxes                          1,360         150         --     1,510
                              ------------------------------------------
                               $ 10,548    $ 10,488  $ (14,481)   $6,555
                              ==========================================

                                    -70-
<PAGE>

                                  Form 10-K

                                Exhibit Index

Exhibit   Description
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11        Statement Regarding Computation of Net Income per Common Share

27        Financial Data Schedule (Selected financial data - for EDGAR
          electronic filing only to SEC)

99        Awareness Letter of Independent Accountants


                                   -71-