Subject: File No. S7-25-99
From: William Durand, CFP

September 7, 2004

In the best interest of the public consumer. and for all the reasons cited by the countless practitioners of true financial planning, the SEC should move to rescind the distinction embodied in the so-called Merrill Lynch rule, and level the playing field so that any one person or party or company, in whatever way holding themselves out to the public as a counselor or advisor, be subject to the same level of operating oversight,due diligence, and fiduciary evaluation as duly registered persons /entities.