Joe Ricketts Strong Quotations

Since Thanksgiving and throughout the normally slow holiday period, we experienced unexpectedly strong trading activity and that strength has not yet ebbed,

We're off to a great start in fiscal 1999, with trading volumes and account growth during the first quarter turning out to be stronger than we expected.

We feel now is the time to deepen our management structure and bring it a stronger technology orientation and focus. As this growth continues, we're confident that Tom's business and technology leadership skills will prove invaluable in guiding the company to the levels that we need to provide our customers the highest quality products and services,