Sir Allen Stanford

Archived April 5, 2006

Houston, TX (April 5, 2006) ­ R. Allen Stanford, chairman and CEO of Stanford Private Wealth Management, knows that one of the most important factors in building a successful company is to hire the best and the brightest.

He has done just that for his financial planning and wealth management company, hiring innovative entrepreneurs who bring unmatched expertise in their field.

One such Stanford associate has recently published a book that, like his expertise, is unparalleled in the field of public fund investing. In his new book, The Politics of Public Fund Investing: How to Modify Wall Street to Fit Main Street, author Ben Finkelstein provides a unique approach to public sector investment strategies. Finkelstein is senior managing director of public funds for Stanford Group Company (member NASD/SIPC), an affiliate of Stanford Private Wealth Management. The 186-page, hardcover publication focuses on public fund investing and targets public funding managers, elected officials and others who are faced with the task of making investment decisions on behalf of public funds.

Published by Simon & Schuster, the book is available at www.simonsays.com.

The book provides for the first time a practical framework for creating successful public fund investment portfolios, delineating how public fund investing varies from traditional Wall Street investment practices.

“Whether overseeing the monies for a local school district, city, or county, public fund managers face different political pressures - and priorities for their portfolios - than their colleagues on Wall Street,” said Stanford.

“Ben has done a good job, in his book, of explaining how and why the portfolio-management tools that work so well for individual investors and mutual funds should not be directly applied to the world of public funds,” he added.

According to Finkelstein’s book, public fund managers must learn how to optimize income while balancing the safety of the principal and providing for adequate liquidity in case of an unexpected fiscal crisis. Unlike Wall Street managers, public fund managers must often justify their investment decisions to elected officials and answer citizens’ critiques. Ultimately, a successful public fund manager will both increase income for public goods and services, and help reduce taxes.

The book has been chosen as the textbook for a new course offering by the Washington-based Public Treasury Institute and is being touted by industry experts as a must-read and a vital resource for anyone who manages, supervises, or audits a public fund. Rick Phillips, president and CEO, Olympus Investment Management, LLC said, “Mr. Finkelstein’s book helps raise the bar for state and local government investment officers. This book is right on the mark and is a prudent, effective approach to the investment of public funds.”

According to Mr. Stanford, Finkelstein’s book is a stellar example of innovation and expertise brought together for the greater good. “We’re very proud of Ben and his book. Helping communities raise the bar on public fund investing ultimately strengthens those communities by improving their financial health and well-being. And strengthening communities is a priority for our company and something we can all take pride in,” he said.

Stanford Private Wealth Management is a global network of financial and affiliated companies rooted firmly on an enduring commitment to strengthen every community it serves.

Stanford provides a wide range of coordinated wealth management and investment advisory services, trust administration, and commercial management services including international private banking, investment banking, insurance and real estate development. Stanford employs approximately 3,000 professionals who serve over 70,000 clients in 102 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe.

Securities products and services offered through Stanford Group Company, member NASD/SIPC. More information on the company can be found at www.stanfordgroup.com.