Contact:
Gordon G. Andrew                   
Highlander Consulting
(609) 987-0200
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        
 
 
TWO RYAN BECK & CO. ANALYSTS SELECTED AS TOP STOCK PICKERS IN INDUSTRY’S ANNUAL AWARDS COMPETITION
 
Florham Park, NJ – May 2, 2006 -- Ryan Beck & Co. today announced that two of the firm’s equity analysts – Collyn Gilbert and Margaret Whitfield – have been named #1 industry stock pickers for 2005 in their respective industries in StarMine’s Fifth Annual Analyst Awards. StarMine is the leading provider of objective ratings of securities analysts, and measures analysts' performance based on the return of their stock recommendations and the accuracy of their earnings estimates.
 
Collyn Gilbert, a member of Ryan Beck’s financial institutions equity research group, was recognized as the #1 stock picker in StarMine’s thrift and mortgage finance industry category. Margaret Whitfield, Ryan Beck’s specialty retailing analyst, was named as the #1 stock picker in StarMine’s specialty retail industry category.   
 
“We are delighted that Collyn Gilbert and Margaret Whitfield have earned top ratings based on StarMine’s exacting standards,” said Lisa Schultz, Executive Vice President and co-head Ryan Beck’s Capital Markets Group.  “Our equity analyst team is committed to providing insightful, value-added research for our retail and institutional investor client base, focusing on promising emerging growth companies in a broad range of industries. Collyn’s and Margaret’s recognition by StarMine are reflective of the firm’s high standards.”
 
The StarMine Annual Analyst Award program measures the performance of analysts based  on the returns of their buy/sell recommendations and the accuracy of their earnings estimates. The 2005 awards are based on the 2005 calendar-year performance of recommendations and estimates on companies that are based in the United States. StarMine identifies the top three stock pickers and earnings estimators in 61 industries. Inorder to quality for the industry stock picking award, an analyst must cover at least five stocks in an industry during the year, and the analyst’s excess return must exceed that of a relevant industry benchmark. A more comprehensive explanation of the awards and the criterion are available at www.starmine.com
 
Additional information on companies covered by Ms. Gilbert and Ms. Whitfield, as well as information on Ryan Beck’s overall equity research capability, is available online at www.ryanbeck.com

About Ryan Beck & Co., Inc.

Founded in 1946, Ryan Beck & Co., Inc. provides financial advice and innovative solutions to individuals, institutions and corporate clients through the activities of approximately 1,100 employees in 43 offices located in 14 states.  For individual investors, the firm’s Private Client Group provides a full range of financial services, including investment consulting, retirement plans, insurance and investment advisory  services. Institutional clients benefit from the market making, underwriting and distribution activities of the firm’s experienced Capital Markets Group, which encompasses equity and fixed income trading and institutional sales as well as research.  Through its Investment Banking Group, Ryan Beck raises capital and provides financial advisory services to financial institutions, middle market companies and municipalities.