THE FAMILY FINANCIAL NETWORK-- YOUR FAMILY'S ONLINE LINK TO FINANCIAL HEALTH

CLEVELAND, OHIO , October 12, 2000--There's now an easy, convenient online resource to help families plan finances and make securities transactions--the Family Financial Network (FFN), www.familyfinancialnetwork.com. This content-rich web portal, created by Sherry Bruce's State Discount Brokers, provides families with a wealth of information and materials to assist in long-term financial planning.

"Our primary focus for the FFN is to provide families with a 'home' or portal on the Internet where they can access the resources and information they need to successfully reach their family's financial goals," said Sherry Bruce, State Discount Brokers founder and CEO. "From saving for a child's education to saving for a home to estate planning, the family is a major factor in financial planning." The Family Financial Network is a growing wealth of financial, investment and family-related resources. Along with several links to daily, up-to-the-minute financial news, this financial portal provides links to some of the Internet's premiere financial web sites and investment tools, including online trading through State Discount Brokers.

The "Investing for Kids" link opens up the world of finance for children through a variety of fun, easy games and tips for parents. The "Investing for Teens" section has links to web sites such as, Youth and Investing, Financial Literacy and Young Investor Web Site. Parents even have a link in this section devoted to saving for college and education finance. And the "Investing for Women" section has a wide variety of topics to choose from, like financial and retirement planning, retirement calculator, and women-friendly mutual funds. Other site sections include "New to Investing," "Experienced Investing," "How to Trade Online," "What's New," and a link to State Discount Brokers. FFN will continue to add essential links to pertinent financial resources. There are almost 50 links total currently on FFN.

Through FFN, families also have direct access to State Discount Brokers, where new and existing clients execute trades online, by touch-tone phone or through broker assistance. "We make it easier to trade online," said Bruce. "Through the FFN and State Discount Brokers, we can provide our clients with the level of personal assistance they need." Any family can access the Family Financial Network, even if they are not a State Discount Brokers' client. "We believe family financial issues are so important that we're making the FFN open to all families," said Bruce.

Sherry Bruce founded State Discount Brokers, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1985. This family-friendly brokerage firm now has offices in Philadelphia, Pa., Boca Raton, Fla., and Las Vegas, NV. The firm has grown to be the largest woman-owned, privately-held brokerage in the country. State Discount Brokers offers competitive rates and superior customer service. "Telephone customer service was commended during our tests. All responses to our inquiries were timely and accurate," said Gomez.com Broker Center. For more information regarding Sherry Bruce¹s State Discount Brokers, call 800-99-STATE, or visit http://www.statediscountbrokers.com/