STATE STREET RESEARCH INTRODUCES NEW PROGRAM TO HELP FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS BUILD MORE BUSINESS

State Street Research developed the Multiplier Program in response to markettrends that show investors are seeking advice and planning tools when makinginvestment decisions. Leading market research firm Cerulli Associates hasidentified that expanded product choice and the shift from a product-drivento a financial planning-driven sale has resulted in a greater need for assetmanagers to focus on supporting intermediaries that distribute theirproducts.

"We are committed to helping financial professionals build their businessand strengthen client relationships by offering a comprehensive package oftools and strategies that are customized to fit their needs," said KevinWilkins, executive vice president and head of investment services for StateStreet Research.

The first kit available in the program is Strategies for WealthManagement, which covers estate planning, tax-managed investing andinvesting for income. This kit features various ways to identify thespecific investing needs of the affluent investor, and includes a series oftools for financial professionals and their clients, including seminars andbrochures.

According to the Spectrem Group, the number of millionaires andpenta-millionaires has grown more than 10 times faster than the generalpopulation over the past five years and the top 18% of U.S. householdscontrol 80% of all investable assets.

"The rapid growth of new affluent investors, including business owners,entrepreneurs and senior corporate executives, is driving the demand foradvice and specialized products," added Wilkins. "This group is savvyabout their investments and has accumulated wealth over time, presenting aunique opportunity for investment professionals to examine a client's entireportfolio and plan for growth."

The Multiplier program is one of several value-added programs that StateStreet Research has introduced to the investment community. Most recently,the company launched the Tax Law Opportunity Kit, which provides educationalmaterials and tools to navigate the Economic Growth and Tax ReliefReconciliation Act of 2001. A component of the kit was a series of Q&A'sthat were well received by both clients and financial planners.

State Street Research & Management Company, with a history dating back to1924, is one of the nation's first investment management organizations. TheBoston-based company actively manages stock, bond and balanced portfoliosfor both institutional and individual investors. As of January 31, 2001,State Street Research managed $45.8 billion in assets, of which $28.3billion represented institutional clients and $17.5 billion representedmutual fund and variable annuity portfolios. The firm has managed pensionmoney for many of the largest U.S. corporate pension plans for over 30years. State Street Research also manages money for union programs, publicemployee pension plans, mutual funds for over 576,000 shareholder accounts,as well as individually managed accounts for affluent investors. The firm'sWeb site address is www.ssrfunds.com.