The Options Industry Council Announces Expansion of Educational Program for Financial Advisors

CHICAGO, IL, Apr 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Options Industry Council (OIC) announced today a new effort to serve
the educational needs of financial advisors with the launch of a
dedicated advisor web portal and the addition of Eric S. Cott as Director
of Financial Advisor Education.

Options are a powerful tool that financial advisors can use to build their
business, particularly as more investors discover how this versatile
product can help them protect capital, generate income, and successfully
navigate different market conditions. Behind a secure login at
www.OptionsEducation.org/advisor are trading tools, best practices,
concepts and strategies, and an options refresher course designed for
advisors so they can help their clients achieve their investment goals.

While educating financial advisors has always been a part of OIC's
mission, these new tools are a major expansion of that educational
outreach, as is the retention of Eric Cott to assist with this effort. In
this newly created consulting role, Mr. Cott will represent OIC at
advisor-focused conferences, develop options curriculum and web content
for the OIC Advisor website, and work with firms, associations and
academic institutions to build and promote options education.

Mr. Cott has spent much of his career as a financial advisor, including
four years as a producing branch manager. In addition, he has supported
and directed financial advisors through different roles over the last 16
years. Most recently he was a Regional Vice President and Retirement
Income Consultant at Sunlife Financial Distributors Inc. where he
identified and cultivated new business, increasing assets and revenue
share. Prior to that he was an Assistant Vice President at Merrill Lynch
Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. where he built and maintained a successful
wealth management practice.

About OIC

OIC is an industry cooperative funded by the Boston Options Exchange,
Chicago Board Options Exchange, International Securities Exchange, NASDAQ
OMX PHLX, NASDAQ Options Market, NYSE Amex Options, NYSE Arca Options, and
The Options Clearing Corporation. OIC was formed in 1992 to educate
investors and their financial advisors about the benefits and risks of
exchange-traded equity options. OIC's resources include: The Options
Industry Services Help Desk at 1-888-OPTIONS, educational Web sites at
www.optionseducation.org and www.OICoptions.com, evening seminars
throughout the continental United States and Canada, instructional DVDs
and educational literature and software.

Jim Binder
312-322-9853
Email Contact

Angela Kotso
312-322-6267
Email Contact

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