AGE Edwards AG

Online Game Designed to Help Kids Develop and Practice Sound Budgeting, Saving and Spending Habits ST. LOUIS, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As the next phase of its "Nest Egg Knowledge for Kids" initiative, A.G. Edwards (NYSE:AGE) today introduced "Savings Quest," an interactive game aimed at children ages nine and older. Available online at mysavingsquest.com, Savings Quest helps kids learn about sound budgeting, spending and saving habits in an effort to reach their long-term saving goals. Children get to simulate making real-life decisions, such as choosing a career, selecting a place to live, paying bills, and deciding how to spend or save extra money. According to a recent A.G. Edwards Nest Egg Score Survey (March 2006), most parents cite age as the main reason they have not talked with their children about money. For instance: -- Only 57 percent of parents with children ages six to 17 have ever discussed savings or investing with their kids, while only 53 percent of parents with children aged six to 12 have. -- 40 percent of parents of six- to 17-year-olds consider their children too young to understand. That number increases to 48 percent for parents of children aged six to 12. -- 40 percent of parents with children aged six to 17 say their child is too young to worry about savings or investing, while 47 percent say their six- to 12-year-old is too young to worry about these issues. With little help coming from school-sponsored programs or other external factors, most children are not learning their financial ABCs until later in life. "We must teach children basic financial lessons early in life, so they are equipped with the knowledge they need to succeed," said Robert L. Bagby, chairman and chief executive officer of A.G. Edwards. "Savings Quest is the latest component of our Nest Egg Knowledge for Kids initiative to provide fun yet educational ways to help children understand the value of money and how to make responsible and intelligent financial decisions." To supplement the financial-education concepts taught by Savings Quest, A.G. Edwards offers educators a classroom kit of financial-literacy worksheet activities to incorporate as they choose -- using some or all of the activities as appropriate for their individual situation. A CD-ROM of the online game is available in the classroom kit. Although there are a wide variety of financial-literacy tools available for adults, few target school-aged children to create sound habits early. Yet a recent National Endowment for Financial Education symposium concluded that financial literacy is a lifelong process and reaching youth is critical, "the sooner the better." The Savings Quest game begins by letting a user select and customize a character. The player then walks through a series of tasks -- from selecting a job and a residence to choosing a savings goal -- whether it's storing away cash for a new video game system or a big-screen TV. With six months (in game time) to complete their Savings Quest, a player must complete a task to receive a paycheck each month. Once the paycheck is deposited, the player must pay bills and make choices about fun and entertainment opportunities while keeping an eye on the amount of savings they are accumulating along the way. If the player saves enough after six months to pay for his or her savings goal, he or she "wins" the game. If the player falls short, he or she is encouraged to re-evaluate their budget choices and play again. "We designed the game to be educational as well as engaging, while allowing children to actually use the knowledge and skills they acquire along the way," said A.G. Edwards Financial Planning Specialist Sophie Beckmann, CFP(R), CPA. "Savings Quest is a fun and easy-to-understand way for kids to think about important topics such as budgeting and saving for the future and will open the door to a lifetime of financial learning. By starting their financial education early, children establish a strong foundation from which to build, rather than starting from scratch much later in life." To make Savings Quest kid-friendly and effectively speak to children about these important topics, A.G. Edwards interviewed children ages 9 to 14 years old. The children seemed most engaged by the challenge of "going to work" and "earning money." After playing, they were able to relay a basic understanding of a budget, the importance of saving up for something you want, and how money flows in and out of bank accounts (depositing paychecks, paying bills, allocating money for savings, etc.). A.G. Edwards also interviewed educators of 4th, 5th and 6th grade students. Teachers particularly liked the cross-curriculum approach of the "jobs." Job assignments were developed with math, English and social science curriculum goals in mind. In addition, teachers liked the idea of having classroom worksheet activities available to use along with the game. About The "Nest Egg Knowledge For Kids" Initiative The Savings Quest game was developed as part of A.G. Edwards' larger "Nest Egg Knowledge For Kids" initiative, a dedicated effort to effectively teach the basics of financial literacy to our nation's youth. The "Nest Egg Knowledge For Kids" initiative began in April 2006, when A.G. Edwards pledged a half-million dollars in the form of grants and support to 17 children's museums across the country. The grants have been used to help fund unique educational programs at each of the museums to teach young people the concepts of earning, budgeting and saving money. The museum effort was modeled after A.G. Edwards' longstanding support of the successful "Money Doesn't Grow on Trees" program at The Magic House St. Louis Children's Museum, which helps students make connections between everyday living and finances. Students earn paychecks, make consumer choices, use teamwork and learn how community members depend on each other. For more information on the "Nest Egg Knowledge For Kids" initiative, go to http://www.agedwards.com/nesteggknowledge . About A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Drawn to the firm's client-first philosophy, individuals and businesses have turned to A.G. Edwards 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 more than 6,600 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 . Nest Egg Score Survey Methodology Harris Interactive(R) fielded the online survey on behalf of A.G. Edwards between March 14 and March 16, 2006, among a nationwide sample of 2,182 U.S. adults 18 years of age or older, of whom 461 are parents or legal guardians of a child or children living in their household and 295 are parents or legal guardians of a child or children between the ages of 6 and 17. The data were weighted to be representative of the total U.S. adult population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and propensity to be online. In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall sample of adults have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Sampling error for sub-sample results is higher and varies. This online sample is not a probability sample. About Harris Interactive Harris Interactive(R) is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions, which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive(R) is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive(R) serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services, as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive(R) may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/ . DATASOURCE: A.G. Edwards CONTACT: Pia Reinhold, +1-314-955-4651, , or, Margaret Welch, +1-314-955-5912, , both of A.G. Edwards Web site: http://www.agedwards.com/nesteggknowledge http://www.agedwards.com/ http://www.agedwards.com/disclosures

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