Subject: File No. S7-14-08
From: Keith Karasik
Affiliation: Financial Planner, Carrio, Karasik & McKee, LLP

July 1, 2008

I have been a licensed registered representative since 1982 and believe that Index Annuities represent the following opportunities for customers that securities do not:

  1. Guaranteed principal
  2. Guaranteed interest
  3. Tax-deferral
  4. Advanced estate planning strategies by multiple ownership and beneficiary arrangements.

The market indices do not affect the principal.

There is no buying and selling of annuity contracts in the open market as with securities… the true nature of the securities industry.

Only the interest that exceeds the guaranties is related to market activity.

Thank you,

Keith Karasik, Financial Planner
Carrio, Karasik & McKee, LLP
632 St. Georges Station Rd.
Reisterstown, MD 21136