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                                                                 EXHIBIT 23.6



        CONSENT OF DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION








        We hereby consent to (i) the inclusion of our opinion letter, dated
February 26, 1996, to the Board of Directors of Financial Benefit Group, Inc.
(the "Company") as Appendix III to the Prospectus/Proxy Statement which forms a
part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 relating to the proposed Merger
of the Company with and into AmVestors Acquisition Subsidiary, Inc. a wholly
owned subsidiary of AmVestors Financial Corporation and (ii) all references to
DLJ in the sections captioned "Summary Information -- FBG's Reasons for the
Merger -- Opinion of FBG'S Financial Advisor" and "Plan of Merger -- Background
of the Merger -- FBG's Reasons for the Merger --  Projections -- Opinions of
Financial Advisor" therein.  In giving such consent, we do not admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under, and we do
not admit and we disclaim that we are "experts" for purposes of, the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                              DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                                                 SECURITIES CORPORATION



                                              By: /s/ Robert S. Fleischer
                                                 ------------------------------
New York, New York                               Robert S. Fleischer  
February 26, 1996                                Managing Director