Subject: File No. S7-25-99
From: Charles S. Zimmerman
Affiliation: Fee Based Financial Advisor

February 1, 2005

I am writing in support of high standards for all individuals providing personal financial advice.

As a fee based financial advisor and member of a Registered Investment Advisor, I clearly have a stake in this issue. However, I believe consumers have an even bigger stake.

It is an unfortunate fact that many consumers seeking financial advise conduct little or no due diligence. In addition, the ability of even the most conscientious consumer to make quantitative judgements about financial advisors is limited.

A partial solution to this issue is recognizable standards, such as are used in insurance and securities trading. The CFP designation, for example is coming to be recognized as a standard of achievement.

I approve of standards for those giving financial advise, so I am not interested in sinking to the level of those not held to standards. I am simply requesting that others be required to meet the same standards.

I urge you to apply consistent standards to all financial service providers. Consumers deserve no less.