Proof of Usefulness Report

Stifel Financial Corp.

Analysis completed on 1/25/2026

+704
Proof of Usefulness Score
Category Standard

Stifel Financial Corp. is a highly established, NYSE-listed financial services firm with significant real-world utility and massive verifiable traction ($10B+ market cap, thousands of employees). However, the submission itself appears to be a low-effort entry by a user ('FrostWing') rather than an official corporate submission, characterized by vague claims ('most people have used my product') and placeholder data. While the underlying entity commands a top-tier score for scale and utility, the score is moderated by the lack of technical detail regarding specific innovation and the poor quality of the input fields.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+23.75
Audience Reach Impact+22.80
Technical Innovation+3.75
Evidence Of Traction+24.50
Market Timing Relevance+8.00
Functional Completeness+0.50
Subtotal+83.30
Usefulness Multiplierx0.85
Final Score+704

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Established in 1890, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated is one of the nation’s premier full-service financial services firms, providing brokerage, trading, investment banking, investment advisory, and related services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities through more than 400 locations across the U.S. Stifel ranks as the 7th largest brokerage firm in the country as measured by number of financial advisors, with approximately 2,300, and features a highly regarded equity research department that has earned numerous accolades from such publications as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Financial Times. In 2023, 2024, and 2025 Stifel was recognized as the No. 1 wealth management firm for employee advisor satisfaction, based on the J.D. Power U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study*. Stifel is the principal subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF), a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Stifel Financial Corp.'s other subsidiaries include Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC, an independent contractor broker-dealer firm; Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, the Company’s European subsidiary; Stifel Nicolaus Canada, Inc., our Canadian subsidiary; Stifel Bank and Trust and Stifel Bank, retail and commercial banks; and Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A, our trust companies. *Based on the results of the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study℠. For J.D. Power 2025 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards. Compensation provided for using, bot obtaining the award.

Algorithm Insights

Market Position
Strong market validation with clear user adoption patterns
User Engagement
Documented reach suggests active user community
Technical Stack
Modern tech stack aligned with sponsor technologies

Recommendations to Increase Usefulness Score

Document User Growth

Provide specific metrics on user acquisition and retention rates

Showcase Revenue Model

Detail sustainable monetization strategy and current revenue streams

Expand Evidence Base

Include testimonials, case studies, and third-party validation

Technical Roadmap

Share development milestones and feature completion timeline