By Ben Edwards. People who thrive on thrills and excitement got more than their share watching segments of the sometimes-insecure securities industry during the past year. Some of the big New York operators in the investment field paid for their high jinks in 1986 with egg on their faces and names turned into mud.

Meanwhile, far away from Wall Street, the St. Louis firm known as A. G. Edwards continued to compile a record of solid accomplishment and steady growth as it prepared to cele