Brightscape - The Independent Investment Advisory Franchise.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Eric J. Weiss, President
info@brightscape.com
Brightscape Investment Centers, Inc.
9130 So. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 1602
Pinecrest , FL 33156
Phone: (888) 888-0967
http://www.brightscape.com

Brightscape Combats Abusive Mutual Fund Sales Practices

Miami, FL – January 15, 2004 -- Brightscape Investment Centers, Inc., the only nationwide franchisor of independent investment advisory businesses, called attention today to abusive mutual fund sales tactics practiced at some financial institutions.

Citing a recent Wall Street Journal front page article describing how one nationwide brokerage firm instructed its over 8,000 sales offices to sell certain underperforming mutual funds because of fees paid to the firm (by the fund company), Eric Weiss, president of the Company said, “such practices are a direct contradiction of these firm’s public advertising and make a mockery of their fiduciary obligations.”

This firm and other Wall Street Goliaths’ mission is to build brand and sell theirs or third party products, if the compensation is sufficient. Weiss goes on to say, “while their practices are in blatant disregard of their fiduciary responsibilities, their strategy is to promote the advantages of their size and comfort level associated with tradition.” Weiss further adds, “in essence they run a propaganda machine, with the public hearing little in the way of countervailing publicity from the nation’s 25,000 independent investment advisors each of whom lacks the marketing muscle of the Goliaths.”

Brightscape, through its franchising program, is trying to remedy the situation by creating a nationwide network of independent investment advisors who provide independent and objective advice to the nation’s investors. Brightscape franchisees select the best from over 11,000 mutual funds and are not compensated nor compromised by the products they select. In selecting products the Company selects funds with low costs and those that “stick to their knitting” by not deviating from their stated investment objective.

For a mere $20,000 initial investment, Brightscape franchisees receive the use of proprietary software and back-office support to create personalized and unbiased investment solutions for clients. An asset management fee rather than fess paid by fund companies compensates franchisees.

“We have gotten great interest in our franchise from across the country having opened our first franchise in Dallas; we currently have 10-15 applicants in the final stages of documentation,” says Weiss.

One facet of the Brightscape system is the Company’s proprietary software Advice Manager, cited in January of 2003 as a “Best Technology of 2002” for financial advisors by MorningstarAdvisor.com. This software, for which the Company invested over $1 million to develop, decreases preparation and completion time of customized investment plans for clients. Brightscape has filed a patent application covering some of the software’s functionality (U.S. patent application 09/736,064).

Brightscape Investment Centers, Inc.’s co-founders, Eric J. Weiss and R. Dirk Peters, have over 25 years of financial and investment experience with Citibank and J. P. Morgan Chase.

The company is rolling out the Brightscape franchise nationwide. More information on the company and how the franchise works is available at http://www.brightscape.com.

Phone: (888) 888-0967

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