THE INSTITUTIONAL GROUP of Securities & Investment Planning Company offers a competitively-priced, agency-only trading desk with advantages and alternatives to meet the needs of buy-side firms ranging from hedge funds to mutual funds to other money management organizations. The Institutional Group is carefully insulated from the firm's other trading activities, enabling us to work solely in our clients' best interests, without making markets or principal-trading against customer orders in any stock transactions. At the same time, we are able to take advantage of access to a dedicated fixed income desk, staffed by highly experienced professionals.

Benefits of working with the Institutional Group of Securities & Investment Planning Company include:

• responsive, personalized service;
• superior execution;
• an attractive soft-dollar program including independent, third-party research; and
• an in-house bond desk.

The Institutional Group works for you. We serve only the interest of our clients, seeking out the best price and executing trades according to client preferences. We profit only from commissions, so there is never any conflict of interest.

We keep our overhead low and avoid complicated pricing schedules to offer our clients highly-competitive pricing without hidden costs, and without discrimination on the basis of frequency or volume of trades. The same pricing structure applies for OTC, listed stocks, pre-market, and extended hours trading. In addition, we can offer competitive rates for option trading.

Effective trade execution helps us to protect client anonymity. We have access to multiple trading platforms and numerous sources of liquidity, as well as important relationships throughout Wall Street, giving us an advantage as we seek the best prices for our clients. The variety of execution venues available to us (including ECNs and other broker dealers and third market trading platforms) help us to maintain the client's anonymity when entering and exiting large positions.

Service is central to our approach. Many customers appreciate the value of efficient, personalized service. For those who prefer direct contact with a professional to an automated entry system, we provide a dedicated toll-free number for calling in orders and a commitment to answering in two rings, so that orders can be placed in seconds. Clients have the opportunity to build relationships with traders, ensuring that trades are carried out in the manner specified by the client.

We also offer our clients a range of tools to assist in investment decision-making. Research is critical to making investment decisions, and we include access to third-party independent research among the tools we offer. In-depth, individual research reports can be created in industries covered.

We feature a flexible and advantageous soft dollar program that can expand access to brokerage services and independent, third-party research, in accordance with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

We are pleased to offer prime brokerage services for our clients, allowing clients to maintain one account location consolidating assets, securities trading activity, reporting needs, and financing. Prime brokerage services we offer include improved buying power, account consolidation, centralized custody, margin financing, stock lending, trade processing, DVP-RVP processing, and Internet access to portfolio reports and customer statements.

The Institutional Group can also help its clients who acquire restricted securities or hold control securities to determine whether they are eligible to trade these securities under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 144. When you enroll in our Premier 144™ service, we will help you develop and implement an effective strategy to accomplish your financial objectives by using your restricted/control stock. Strategies include, but are not limited to, hedging, borrowing, liquidating, and diversifying. We will assist clients in the registration of eligible securities.

Opening an account is easy. A delivery-vs.-payment (DVP) account can usually be opened in minutes. For more information on working with the Institutional Group as an institutional client or Premier 144™ client, please contact us directly at institutionalgroup@siponline.com or 973-701-1279.