EXHIBIT 23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 33-74840, No. 33-74842, No. 333-41102, and No. 333-41100) of Fechtor, Detwiler, Mitchell & Co. and subsidiaries of our report dated February 27, 2001 relating to the financial statements which appear in this Form 10-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Boston, Massachusetts February 27, 2001