The following comment on Letter Type H,
or variations thereof, was submitted by
12 individuals or entities on S7-27-03.

Letter Type H:

Dear _____________________________:

As a public employer, I am concerned about SEC proposals that would eliminate the ability to my participants to place mutual fund trade orders that otherwise would be filled on the same day. This would be the effect on my retirement plan if the SEC’s “hard 4:00 p.m. close rule” becomes law. I am opposed to this proposed regulation and by copy of this letter via email to the SEC, I would the SEC to consider this letter a comment on its proposed rule (SEC File No. S7-27- 03).

While my participants may be long-term investors, that does not mean they do not care when their mutual fund trade order is filled. When a participant wants to change his or her investments in his or her retirement plan account, they want it done as soon as possible and certainly as quickly as any other investor’s trades are made. Being forced to wait until the next day or possibly the day after could significantly affect their returns and would make their retirement plan less attractive. They do not want to stretch out their trades over several days while other investors can still trade on the same day.

I understand this rule is being suggested as a method to stop people from trading after the market closes. However, it is likely that their investments were negatively affected by these late traders and the proposed rule would punish them again for someone else’s behavior.

I understand that late last year, the House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 2420) which directs the SEC to make an exception to the “hard 4:00 p.m. close rule” for retirement plan administrators that have sufficient processes in place to prevent late trading. I like this approach and strongly encourage you to continue to fight for this provision of the bill should any changes be suggested.

Thanks you for your time.

http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/s72703/s72703typeh.htm