FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Waltham, MA - December 9, 2004 - Archimedes Systems, Inc., has announced a series of enhancements to its Retirement Planner Accumulation Version that increase both the level of detail and usefulness of the Planner.

Perhaps foremost is the redesign of the “slider” section. One of the most compelling features of the original Planner was the use of sliders to quickly change assumptions and instantly show their impact of projected retirement income.

In the new version, the sliders have been arranged in themed groups to aid users in understanding the scenarios they are creating. For example, the sliders for desired retirement age and assumed life expectancy are shown together, because together they define the length of the retirement period. Likewise, pre-retirement and post-retirement investment returns are grouped together so users can compare the rates they are assuming for these periods.

Best of all, the new format adds a “solutions box” which displays the answer to the question: “How much more do I need to save (over my planned savings) in order to reach my goal?” If the required savings are deemed unrealistic, the user can change the underlying assumptions, including lowering the target income.

Another feature of the new Planner is the addition of a section to record employer matching contributions to 401(k) and other defined contribution savings plans. Over time, employer contributions can have a substantial impact on the amount of capital that can be accumulated for retirement.

Finally, the Social Security section has been expanded. Users can now use their own estimates or rely on the estimate provided by the Planner, or indicate that Social Security should not be included at all in the projection.

About Archimedes Systems, Inc.
Archimedes Systems builds and delivers personalized education and decision-making tools for the financial services and employee benefits communities. For over 20 years, Archimedes’ staff has helped plan vendors and sponsors by providing printed and Web-enabled tools that generate personal financial plans, 401(k) proposals, comprehensive employee benefit statements and personalized enrollment and post-enrollment decision-support analyses. In the college funding market, Archimedes is a leading provider of Sec. 529 decision support tools, combining key financial calculations and content to provide robust solutions to financial professionals and individual investors. Financial service marketers, plan sponsors and benefit consultants can visit www.archimedes.com to learn more about Archimedes’ products and services.

Editorial Contacts:

Joel Karasik joel@archimedes.com

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