AGE Edwards AG

ST. LOUIS, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, A.G. Edwards (NYSE:AGE) has appeared in Training Magazine's annual listing of the top 100 corporate education programs. Ranking 26th in the survey, the St. Louis-based financial services company is also one of 10 companies to be singled out by the magazine for having an "Outstanding Training Initiative." "Having the best trained, best-educated employees in the industry is one of our top corporate objectives, so we are so pleased to see our efforts recognized by Training Magazine," said Robert L. Bagby, chairman and chief executive officer. "After all, our primary product is the knowledge we offer our clients every day as we work with them to develop the strategies they need to reach their financial goals. Our investment in training enables us to enhance this knowledge, allowing us to add greater value to our client relationships." Emphasizing the firm's commitment to training, the magazine highlighted A.G. Edwards' financial consultant training programs. The firm invests an average of $75,000 to train each financial consultant trainee during their first five years, while spending $50,000 over the same period to train experienced transfers. "As our clients' needs evolve, it is vital that our employees keep their knowledge current so that we can continue to be competitive in the marketplace," said Michael Zuccarello, director of Training and Development. "That is why we place so much emphasis on the training and development of all our employees, so that they can continue offering the service our clients have come to expect." Known internally as A.G. Edwards University, the firm's training courses are available through classroom sessions or self-study programs available at the St. Louis headquarters, online via the firm's intranet, and through the firm's internal television network (ETV). Employees also have 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. ACE has reviewed and recommended 25 of the brokerage firm's industry and professional development training courses for college credit. Training magazine surveys -- then ranks -- companies based on both quantitative and qualitative traits of their training departments. Training budget, percentage of employees participating in training programs, training goals and flexibility are just some of the criteria used to determine the best companies. Industries represented in the survey include financial services, insurance, manufacturing, government, educational services and more. In addition to making the Training Top 100, A.G. Edwards was also named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For In America" by Fortune Magazine in 2006 and tied for first place in the 15th annual "Broker Report Cards" given out by Registered Rep. Magazine in 2005. 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://www.agedwards.com/ . How we do business A.G. Edwards generally acts as a broker-dealer, but may act as an investment advisor on designated accounts, and the firm's obligations will vary with the role it plays. When working with clients the firm generally acts as a broker-dealer unless specifically indicated in writing. To better understand the differences between brokerage and advisory services, please consult "Important Information About Your Relationship With A.G. Edwards" on http://www.agedwards.com/disclosures . Past performance cannot guarantee future results. Training, Fortune and Registered Rep magazines are not associated with A.G. Edwards, nor does it endorse any products or services A.G. Edwards offers. DATASOURCE: A.G. Edwards CONTACT: Mary Pat Sueme of A.G. Edwards, +1-314-955-2096, Web site: http://www.agedwards.com/

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