Dearborn Financial Services Launches New Learning Management and Compliance Solution

Single Source Platform Integrates Learning Content and Compliance Tracking Systems to Boost Productivity and Minimize Risk

Chicago, IL - July 15, 2004 - Dearborn Financial Services, a Kaplan Professional Company, today announced the launch of Dearborn Learning and Compliance Manager, a comprehensive solution that enables financial services organizations to manage critical learning and compliance activities in a single, integrated system.

This solution provides organizations with a central point of entry for firm-wide learning programs and streamlines compliance workflow processes for meeting federal-, state- and firm-mandated requirements. Dearborn Learning and Compliance Manager enables firms to boost productivity, maximize control over learning and compliance initiatives and minimize risks of non-compliance by providing integration with critical learning management, broker/dealer trading, human resources, legal and finance systems.

"Our customers are challenged by rapid changes in the regulatory landscape and the increasing requirements for training and compliance processes," said Eric Cantor, president of Kaplan Professional. "This new offering represents our commitment to expand our offerings to meet the changing needs of financial services organizations and professionals in this heightened regulatory environment."

Dearborn Learning and Compliance Manager will be available in Fall 2004. A centerpiece of the new solution is Dearborn Compliance Manager™, a comprehensive suite of e-tools and services that integrates:

broker/dealer registration
records management
complaint management
advertising management
branch office audit tools
annual compliance meeting services and annual certifications

Dearborn Compliance Manager™ can work with Dearborn learning content or firms' existing learning management systems. In addition, Dearborn Compliance Manager's web-based application offers electronic form preparation for broker/dealers and registered reps, providing a seamless interface with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Web CRD and Web EFT for form filing and data uploads and downloads. Since firms have historically relied on paper-based methods to prepare and file licensing documents such as U4 registrations and U5 terminations, Dearborn Compliance Manager™ streamlines this labor-intensive process.

The system also provides a robust suite of reports that enables administrators and individuals to track learning and compliance progress quickly, in one place.

"Having all critical learning and compliance information in a single, integrated system is essential for financial services organizations today. Our new solution offers customers seamless integration to reduce time spent on compliance activities and minimize risks of non-compliance," said Bryan Austin, general manager of Dearborn Financial Services.

Compliance officers and other executives can obtain a higher level of control over risk exposure with Dearborn Compliance Manager™ by providing critical data to all "need to know" personnel through a central database. This helps reduce the potential for regulator sanctions and fines and enables firms to easily assemble the information necessary to pass internal (mock) and regulator audits.

"By marrying the specific features of a compliance application with the overall capabilities of Oracle® portal technology, Dearborn Compliance Manager™ will allow compliance staff to communicate with a large and decentralized population of producers and registered representatives," said Mick Demakos, chief technology officer for Kaplan Professional. "This solution also provides personalized views of the data being tracked in the system to producers and registered representatives, compliance staff and senior executives."

In the creation of Dearborn Learning and Compliance Solutions, security and customer care were made top priorities. As a result, the solution is designed for industry standard security and enterprise scalability. Additionally, Dearborn has invested heavily to ensure knowledgeable and responsive customer service and technical support from startup phase to ongoing operations.

About Dearborn Financial Services
Dearborn Financial Services (www.dearborn.com), a Kaplan Professional company, is a leading provider of learning and compliance solutions to the financial services industry. Dearborn offers a comprehensive library of courses designed to meet state- and firm-mandated regulatory requirements; professional development programs for certificates and designations, finance, selling skills, and business management; and enterprise learning management and compliance services.

Offering a broad array of tools including online courses, classroom instruction, interactive CD-ROMs, and print materials, Dearborn supplies education courseware to corporations, independent schools, and colleges, and conducts classes in more than 120 locations in the U.S. For more than 80 years, Dearborn has worked with top insurance companies, securities firms, and banks, providing high-quality, professional, and personalized education to executives and staff.

About Kaplan Professional
Kaplan Professional provides licensing and continuing education training, certification, professional development courses, and compliance tracking for financial services, legal, IT, and real estate professionals and corporations. Offering an array of educational tools, from on-site training and classroom instruction to over 600 online courses and programs, Kaplan Professional serves individuals who must maintain licenses and comply with regulatory mandates. For more information, please visit www.kaplanprofessional.com.

Kaplan Professional is a unit of Kaplan, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.

Press Contacts:

Betsy Turenne
212-707-5287
betsy_turenne@kaplan.com

Paige Hunting
212-974-6233
paige_hunting@kaplan.com

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