AGE Edwards AG

A.G. Edwards' Training Courses Recommended for College Credit by the American Council on Education ST. LOUIS, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- St. Louis-based A.G. Edwards (NYSE:AGE) is the first full-service retail brokerage firm to give employees the opportunity to earn up to 29 hours of college credit by taking eligible industry, professional development and management training courses recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) and offered through A.G. Edwards University, the firm's internal training department. ACE has reviewed and recommended 25 of the brokerage firm's industry and professional development training courses for college credit. Training classes recommended by ACE for college credit range from brokerage industry requirements such as the Series 7, which an individual must pass to be licensed to buy and sell securities, to professional development programs such as Presentation Skills and Effective Meeting Skills. Employees who successfully complete the eligible courses have the potential to earn college credit toward elective requirements of an undergraduate degree. "This is another important step toward our goal of having the best educated and best trained employees in the industry," said Chairman and CEO Robert L. Bagby. "Not only do employees earning their college degrees benefit from the convenience, but they stay up-to-date on industry trends and developments, helping them provide the superior advice and service our clients have come to expect." When employees complete an eligible training course, A.G. Edwards notifies ACE. The credits are then submitted to the college or university the employee attends, and the institution evaluates the ACE transcript for credit recommendations, just as transcripts for transfer credits from another educational institution are reviewed. "Having our training courses recommended by ACE for college credit not only adds credibility to our training program but also provides a number of benefits for our employees who are working toward an undergraduate degree," said Chuck VanGronigen, senior vice president and director of Training. "By being able to submit eligible A.G. Edwards University training courses for credit at their college or university, employees will be able to complete their degrees faster and more conveniently while spending fewer nights and weekends away from home." Approximately 800 employees firm-wide enrolled in undergraduate courses during fiscal year 2004 (March 1, 2003, through Feb. 29, 2004). Most of the courses eligible for college credit are currently offered at the firm's Home Office in St. Louis, but several courses are offered to employees across the country through A.G. Edwards University self-study programs. "It is common for a bachelor's degree to require about 30 credit hours of elective courses," said Renee Huss, manager of Branch Support and Home Office Training. "By participating in the A.G. Edwards University training courses that are eligible for college credit, employees can fulfill many of those credit hours at minimal cost to the employee." Hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide accept ACE credits, as outlined in the organization's annual publication The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. Locally, in St. Louis, six universities accept ACE credit recommendations. About A.G. Edwards University A combination of virtual and traditional offerings, A.G. Edwards University offers more than 200 courses on topics including core investment product fundamentals, financial planning services (e.g., retirement planning, estate planning, business owner services), business development programs, computer workstation skills as well as team and leadership development and management training. Last year, more than 14,000 employees took advantage of training available through A.G. Edwards University. In addition, in 2004 the firm opened a 250,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Learning Center at our Home Office to house A.G. Edwards University's live training events. About A.G. Edwards For more than 115 years, individuals and businesses have turned to A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. to develop strong personal relationships with financial consultants who are dedicated to a client-first philosophy of providing sound investment advice and long-term financial strategies tailored to their clients' individual needs. A.G. Edwards and its affiliates encompass approximately 7,000 financial consultants in more than 700 offices nationwide and two European locations in London, England, and Geneva, Switzerland. More information about A.G. Edwards can be found at http://www.agedwards.com/ . About the American Council on Education ACE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make college possible for working adults. ACE's College Credit Recommendation Service reviews training courses taught in non-traditional settings, such as business, government and the military, and recommends them for college credit to colleges and universities throughout the United States and around the world. More information can be found at http://www.acenet.edu/ . DATASOURCE: A.G. Edwards CONTACT: Pia Reinhold of A.G. Edwards, +1-314-955-4651, Web site: http://www.acenet.edu/ http://www.agedwards.com/

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