2008-05-16 21:59:52 -

- Hadley Green Creates Hamilton McCulloh, 206-957-4260 hamiltonm@hgcreates.com Two retired investors from the Puget Sound region have filed separate claims against Charles Schwab seeking damages for substantial financial losses due to Schwab's sale of its "YieldPlus Fund." Schwab marketed YieldPlus as a "safe alternative to money market funds and/or certificates of deposit." The plaintiffs, who invested heavily in the Schwab

YieldPlus Fund, maintain that Charles Schwab did not properly disclose the fund's risks of loss and did not market the fund correctly.

Each investor had placed a substantial amount of money in YieldPlus Fund to generate "high current income with minimal changes in share price." The fund has dropped from $10.6 billion in assets to $4.9 billion since August 2007, losing 11 percent of its value this year through March 17 alone. The Fund was ranked last out of 50 "ultrashort" funds tracked by Morningstar.

The investors are represented by John Bender of Seattle-based law firm, Ryan Swanson Cleveland. For more than 20 years, Bender has focused his practice on resolving challenging securities, franchise, banking, and other complex civil cases on behalf of businesses and individuals.

"Schwab's YieldPlus Fund was marketed as a safe alternative to money market funds and/or certificates of deposit," said John Bender of Ryan Swanson & Cleveland. "Investors assumed a low rate of return in exchange for low risk and freedom of liquidity. In addition, Schwab did not disclose that 38.7% of the fund was invested in high risk sub-prime mortgages."

There are a number of class action law suits from around the country filing claims against Schwab with regard to these funds. Class action suits address the sufficiency of prospectus disclosures and usually do not address the individual claims that those people with significant investments may have relating to what their broker told them. Those investors may seek relief through Securities Arbitration to recover their losses. For more information about securities arbitration visit the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority online at www.finra.org.

Ryan Swanson Cleveland

Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC is a leader in providing legal counsel and representation for businesses - small and large, privately-held and public, domestic and international. Since 1897, the firm has steadily built its reputation and success by maintaining a commitment to exceptional representation and unparalleled client service. Today, the firm's 48 lawyers and 50 support personnel remain dedicated to a tradition of excellence. That dedication, together with a unique combination of skills, specialties and backgrounds, enables the firm to handle sophisticated transactions and complex multi-party lawsuits without ever sacrificing the personal attention clients deserve. For more information visit www.ryanlaw.com.

Seattle-based law firm of Ryan Swanson & Cleveland to handle
arbitration claim