Subject: File Number S7-14-08

August 30, 2008

To Whom It May Concern,

I have run my own insurance agency for 9 years and I have learned that a rule is not the way to manage a situation or problem. People manage people, rules do not! Therefore, If the intent of this law is to better manage the way in which annuities are offered, it will fail. I highly recommend better inforcement of suitabilties and disclosures but this inforcement needs to come from the State Department of Insurance not the SEC, since index annuities are clearly an INSURANCE PRODUCT and can not lose principal.

Thank You,
Melinda Small
President of Pinetree Retirement Planning