American Express and PTO Today Partner to Help Parents Save for College; College Funding Night First in Series of School Family Nights.

Business Editors & Education Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2002

With soaring college costs and the uncertain stock market, parents everywhere are wondering, "Is a college education out of reach for my children?" American Express Financial Advisors (NYSE:AXP) has joined with PTO Today magazine to address that concern by offering College Funding Night - a free informational event at schools across the country to help provide parents with the answers they need to plan for college.

According to the College Board, college costs have risen 71% since 1989. A recent American Express survey revealed that 70% of parents are concerned about whether they can afford to send their children to college. The stakes are high. The College Board says college graduates on average earn $1 million more over their lifetime than high school graduates.

"Sending a child to college is one of the largest single expenses a family will ever face," says Mick Endersbe, a national college planning expert and senior financial advisor at American Express. "Most parents recognize the value of a college degree, but far too many are unprepared for the enormous financial challenge of paying for it."

College Funding Night is designed specifically to help parents of elementary and middle school children learn more about the myriad of choices parents face when saving for college. Important and up-to-date information about popular 529 college savings plans, Coverdell Savings Accounts, UTMAs, UGMAs, Roth IRAs and financial aid opportunities will be presented by an American Express financial advisor at the free seminars held at local schools.

College Funding Night is the first in a series of School Family Nights, new from PTO Today, an organization that reaches more than 80,000 school parent groups nationwide through its magazine and Web site. PTO Today President and Publisher Tim Sullivan says, "It is our mission to provide parent groups with the resources they need to build parental involvement in schools. When parents are involved, test scores rise, children build more self-esteem, and their overall attitude toward learning improves."

Thirty years of research by the U.S. Department of Education shows that parent involvement is the single most accurate predictor of a child's academic success. College Funding Night provides a ready-made and free solution for parent group leaders looking to encourage parent involvement in schools. Parent groups receive posters, letters to parents, press releases and guidelines for the program, all developed by the editors of PTO Today and American Express.

"We're teaming with American Express to provide this service," says Sullivan. "American Express has a strong network of financial advisors that allows us to make College Funding Night available throughout the country."

Parents can obtain more information about hosting a College Funding Night at their school by visiting www.schoolfamilynights.com or by calling PTO Today at [phone].

PTO Today magazine is the nation's leading resource for parent groups (PTOs, PTAs, etc.) across the country. Published six times a year, its readership includes parent leaders at more than 80,000 public and private elementary and middle schools across the country.

PTO Today also hosts PTO Show conferences for school parent groups across the country and most recently developed and launched the National PTO Network. The National PTO Network provides school parent groups with key services including an insurance program tailored to their needs and expert advice to help them run their group more effectively.

American Express Financial Advisors is one of the nation's leading financial planning companies. It is part of the American Express Financial Corporation, which currently owns or manages more than $205 billion in assets. Through a network of more than 9,900 financial advisors and its online services, the company provides comprehensive, long-term financial planning and high-quality financial products to more than 2.6 million clients throughout the United States.

For more information, visit the company's Web site americanexpress.com or call (800) GET-ADVICE.

American Express Financial Advisors Inc. Member NASD. American Express Company is separate from American Express Financial Advisors Inc. and is not a broker-dealer.