AGe-connect is believed to be the first Web site in the industry where a firm's financial consultants have the ability to provide Web content that can be customized for each of their clients based upon a client's particular investing profile and interests.

"Because each of our clients has different needs, we have tapped technology to provide them with the ability to receive information specific to their needs efficiently and conveniently via AGe-connect," said Mike Flood, vice president and manager of Internet Services.

But what sets apart A.G. Edwards clients' Web pages is the high level of customization the financial consultants can provide their clients that goes beyond presenting biographical information, photos and e-mail addresses of the financial consultants on their clients' home pages.

For example, a financial consultant with a client who has just retired can provide investing information of interest to retirees on that client's AGe-connect home page. In addition, tools such as financial calculators and information on particular types of investments suitable for this age group would also be prominently visible. This same financial consultant then could provide different information tailored to help with other needs - such as small-business owners, affluent investors and new investors.

Add One
The enhancements to AGe-connect also will include free real-time quotes, charts and news; an expanded array of research reports and interactive portfolio tools, as well as the ability to download into personal financial management tools such as Quicken® software and Microsoft Money. All of these features will be available through the personalized Web pages provided by financial consultants for their clients.

"For our clients, the Internet is a convenient communications link, so we've enhanced our online account access system to help our clients and their financial consultants to work together more efficiently and effectively," Flood said. "We are committed to providing state-of-the-art technology that can be used to reinforce the relationships between our clients and their financial consultants."

New features of the AGe-connect online account access service also include:

• Intra-day Portfolio Valuations - Clients now will have access to intra-day portfolio valuations updated continuously throughout the day. AGe-connect also lets clients track the performance of investments they hold at other institutions as well as create hypothetical portfolios made up of positions or securities that they do not hold but want to track.
• Real-Time Quotes, Charts and News - Clients will be able to monitor individual securities by accessing real-time quotes provided by ILX, the world's fastest-growing market data company and the largest provider of financial information systems to securities firms, banks and asset managers. Thumbnail and market-activity charts for more than 50,000 symbols are provided by CBS MarketWatch.com, Inc. In addition, clients will be able to stay on top of breaking financial news stories through Dow Jones Newswires, the leading electronic provider of comprehensive business and stock market news to the securities industry. With editors and reporters stationed around the globe, Dow Jones Newswires delivers the most comprehensive real-time news available.

Add Two

• Expanded Research Library - An extensive online library of A.G. Edwards' nationally recognized research will provide clients access to the knowledge of the firm's research analysts with the click of a button. Standard & Poor's Stock Reports will also provide vital analysis, commentary and quantitative data on publicly held U.S. corporations. Standard & Poor's Company Profiles will let clients obtain further research on a particular company with a comprehensive look at more than 10,500 U.S. companies.
• Account Data Downloads - Clients who use personal financial management software to keep track of their finances will be able to download their A.G. Edwards account data into Quicken 99, Quicken 2000, Quicken 2001 or Microsoft Money 2000 or 2001 software packages. Downloading account information from AGe-connect will be simple, fast and accurate with no need to copy and paste or print out and re-key.
• Focused Coverage of Specific Financial Topics - Clients will be able to access information on specific topics such as technology news columns - Silicon Stocks, Chip Stocks and Net Stocks -- provided by CBS MarketWatch.com. Standard & Poor's Market Movers will give clients updated information on which stocks are influencing the markets throughout the trading day and why. The Economic Calendar will track important economic developments as they unfold. Clients also will have access to Currency Market Watch, Market Snapshot and Stock Splits lists.
• Interactive Tools - Comprehensive technical analysis from CBS MarketWatch.com will be available to help clients track a security's performance based on criteria they select. For example, clients will be able to chart performance of a particular company's stock in comparison to a well-known market index.

Add Three
All of the enhancements are now available to A.G. Edwards' AGe-connect online account access clients. In addition, a significant investment has been made to update and expand the technology infrastructure and architecture, which will provide the foundation for a number of additional features and services in the coming months. For example, later this year the firm will roll out online investing, and early next year the firm will begin to offer online electronic funds transfer and online bill payment.

"Technology can be a powerful communications tool in enhancing the relationships our financial consultants share with their clients," Flood said. "Our objective continues to be harnessing the communications possibilities of the Internet, while maintaining and reinforcing our personalized and client-focused approach."

As one of the nation's largest investment firms, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. and its affiliates encompass more than 7,000 financial consultants in 696 offices throughout 49 states, the District of Columbia and London, England.