Exhibit 23




Consent of Independent Accountants




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


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration
statements of The Advest Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries on Form S-8
(File No. 2-92868) concerning its 1983 Incentive Stock Option
Plan, Form S-8 (File No. 33-17674) concerning its 1986 Incentive
Stock Option Plan, Form S-8 (File No. 33-72042) concerning its
Advest Thrift Plan and Form S-8 (File No. 33-56275) concerning its
1995 Equity Plan, of our reports dated October 26, 1995, on our
audits of the consolidated financial statements and financial
statement schedules of The Advest Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries as
of September 30, 1995 and 1994 and for the years ended September
30, 1995, 1994 and 1993, which reports are incorporated by
reference and included, respectively, in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.






COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.







Hartford, Connecticut
December 19, 1995

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