Exhibit 99.1


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   First Montauk Completes Asset Sale Transaction and Closes its Broker-Dealer
                                   Operations

December 29, 2008 -- Red Bank, NJ -- First Montauk Financial Corp. (OTCBB: FMFK)
announced today that it has completed the previously announced sale of certain
assets of its primary subsidiary, First Montauk Securities Corp., a registered
Broker-Dealer and Investment Advisor ("FMSC") to First Allied Securities, Inc.,
an Advanced Equities Financial Corp. company. Upon the closing under the
definitive asset purchase agreement, many of First Montauk's independent
registered representatives joined First Allied, and First Allied acquired the
right to service the customer accounts of those representatives that join First
Allied. As previously disclosed in its proxy statement to shareholders, dated
September 23, 2008, upon completion of the sale of assets to First Allied,
substantially all of the assets of FMSC were sold and acquired by First Allied,
and FMSC is ceasing its broker-dealer operations. To that end, First Montauk
also announced that on December 23, 2008 FMSC filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), effective December 31, 2008, Form BDW to withdraw its
registration as a broker-dealer and Form ADV-W to terminate its registration as
an investment advisor. Each such filing of termination is subject to approval by
the SEC which is expected to be obtained within 60 days.

Under the terms of the definitive asset purchase agreement, First Montauk will
receive an aggregate purchase price of approximately $4,197,000 which includes
receipt at the closing of a credit for $250,000 which was paid to First Montauk
upon the signing of the agreement on July 11, 2008 and a credit for the
cancellation of the balance of principal and interest outstanding totaling
approximately $1,055,670 under a secured convertible promissory note, dated
December 7, 2007 executed in connection with a loan to First Montauk by an
affiliate of First Allied. The balance of the purchase price is payable in two
installments, 30 days and 90 days after the closing. Such installments may be
subject, however, to certain downward adjustments under the terms of the asset
purchase agreement. First Montauk will use a portion of the proceeds to pay
outstanding obligations of First Montauk and its broker-dealer subsidiary to
wind down their existing operations and a portion of the proceeds, will be paid
to those of FMSC's independent registered representatives who have affiliated
with First Allied.


"This sale brings to an end our broker-dealer operations which have been
hard-pressed to compete in this difficult economic environment", stated Victor
K. Kurylak, President and Chief Executive of First Montauk.

As a result of the substantial obligations outstanding that are due and payable
by First Montauk, the Company does not anticipate that the shareholders will
receive any distribution of any proceeds of the sale of assets just completed.
The Board is evaluating the benefits of positioning the Company as a shell
company to be used as a potential merger candidate for another operating
business. First Montauk does not have any specific merger, stock exchange, asset
acquisition, reorganization or other business combination under consideration or
contemplation. The Company has not contacted any potential target business or
had any discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction.


First Montauk also announced that the employment contracts of Mr. Kurylak and
Celeste Leonard, the Company's Executive Vice President and the Chief Compliance
Officer of FMSC, will terminate on December 31, 2008 in accordance with their
respective terms and will not be renewed by the Company. Mr. Kurylak and Ms.
Leonard will, however, remain on the Board of Directors of the Company.


Montauk Financial Group is a service mark of First Montauk Securities Corp.,
Member FINRA/SIPC. First Montauk Financial Corp. is the parent company of First
Montauk Securities Corp., a registered securities broker/dealer headquartered in
Red Bank, NJ. Additional information is available at its website at
www.montaukfinancial.com.


The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for
forward-looking statements. This press release may contain certain statements of
a forward-looking nature relating to future events or future business
performance. Any such statements that refer to First Montauk Financial Corp.'s
estimated or anticipated future results or other non-historical facts are
forward-looking and reflect First Montauk's current perspective of existing
trends and information. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that
cannot be predicted or quantified and, consequently, actual results may differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks and uncertainties
detailed in each Securities and Exchange Commission filings of First Montauk,
including each of First Montauk's annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q, and its 2008 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement. The
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Each of
First Montauk and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update publicly
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.


                                    Contact:


First Montauk Financial Corp.
Robert I. Rabinowitz
(800) 876-3672, ext. 4223

info@montaukfinancial.com




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