AGE Edwards AG

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To assist investors who want to invest in foreign and emerging markets, A.G. Edwards (NYSE:AGE) is leading the way with a new portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on the international research of the acclaimed economic research and consulting firm Laffer Associates. "For those looking for international investments, we are providing our clients with a unique way to take advantage of both the convenience of ETFs and the worldwide expertise of Laffer's investment research, " said Mike Scafati, senior vice president and manager of managed products for A.G. Edwards. "Drawing on their premier institutional global research, our new portfolio uses Laffer's specific country recommendations to help select the appropriate funds." The A.G. Edwards Investment Advisory Committee oversees the discretionary management of the portfolios, based on the investment recommendations developed by Laffer Investments - an affiliate of Laffer Associates. Relying on decades of experience in top-down, supply-side research to determine the country allocation for the portfolio, Laffer uses a proprietary global competitiveness ranking system to look at macroeconomic variables such as real exchange rates, general fiscal policy, changes to capital gains rates and corporate and personal tax rates. Based on these variables, Laffer identifies the top eight countries positioned for the greatest equity price appreciation. Dr. Arthur B. Laffer was a member of President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board for the President's two terms (1981 - 1989), and he is a founding member of the Congressional Policy Advisory Board, which assists in shaping legislative policies for Congress. Dr. Laffer also created the Laffer Curve - illustrating the tradeoff between tax revenues and productivity - which has earned acclaim in both the investment arena and the mainstream media. Among the first to introduce the ETF model portfolio approach in 2001, A.G. Edwards - through its Allocation Advisors program - offers 26 ETF portfolios in addition to the Laffer Global ETF Portfolio. While the firm's Investment Advisory Committee is responsible for selecting the specific investments and setting the allocations for the majority of its offerings, clients also have access to several other models developed by outside advisors like Laffer Investments. The firm's additional outside offerings include: Ibbotson Strategic ETF Portfolios, advised by Ibbotson Associates Advisors, LLC, which include five asset allocation models designed to serve investors ranging from conservative to aggressive, and a Standard & Poor's Sector Rotation Portfolio that invests in sector-specific ETFs. Advised by Standard & Poor's Investment Advisory Services (SPIAS), the S&P Portfolio strives to increase investment exposure to top-performing sectors through the duration of various economic cycles. Both the Laffer Global ETF Portfolio and the S&P Sector Rotation Portfolio are most appropriate for aggressive growth investors looking for capital appreciation, while the Ibbotson Strategic ETF Portfolio is suitable for a range of investors, looking for anything from income to capital appreciation. Fees for the portfolios are based on asset size, with a minimum investment of $25,000. The funds available in the Allocation Advisors program are offered by prospectus only. The prospectus contains more complete information, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses, which you should carefully consider. Please contact your A.G. Edwards financial consultant for a copy of the prospectus, which contains this and other important information and should be read carefully before you invest or send money. There are risks associated with investing in exchange-traded funds. Your investment return and principal value will fluctuate and you may receive more or less than your original investment when you redeem your shares. About A.G. Edwards Drawn to the firm's client-first philosophy, individuals and businesses have turned to A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. for sound advice and access to a wide array of investment products and services that can help them meet their financial goals and objectives. Founded in 1887, A.G. Edwards and its affiliates employ nearly 7,000 financial consultants in more than 700 offices nationwide and two European locations in London and Geneva. More information can be found on http://agedwards.com/ . How we do business Allocation Advisors is an investment management service in which A.G. Edwards acts as investment advisor. Apart from this program, the firm is acting only as a broker-dealer unless otherwise specifically indicated in writing, and its obligations will vary with the role the firm plays. Please consult "Important Information About Your Relationship With A.G. Edwards" on http://agedwards.com/disclosures for a discussion of the differences between brokerage and advisory services. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: byron.goodrich@agedwards.com DATASOURCE: A.G. Edwards CONTACT: Byron Goodrich of A.G. Edwards, +1-314-955-3235, Web site: http://www.agedwards.com/

Copyright