Coeur D’Alene Man Agrees To Settlement With Nasd

Coeur d’Alene resident Gregory Breemes has settled a rules violation claim brought by the National Association of Securities Dealers Inc.

Breemes accepted an association finding of improper actions without admitting or denying the allegations.

Breemes allegedly used his own name when investing $35,000 entrusted to him by two clients in a mutual fund.

The clients were repaid four years later, in May 1994, when they became aware of the diversion.

But the conduct was a misuse of funds and a violation of association Rules of Fair Practice.

Breemes accepted a censure, and he was barred permanently from associating with any NASD member.

If he tries to resume NASD membership or association with a member, he will have to pay a $50,000 fine suspended as part of the agreement.

‘Tuition shock’ absorbers

The Institute for Certified Financial Planners is offering a guide to “tuition shock” absorbers.

The Denver-based institute has produced a free brochure, “Your Children’s College Bill: How to Figure It … How to Pay for It,” that includes worksheets and tables to help parents confront annual bills that approach $25,000 in the case of elite private colleges.

For a copy, call 1-800-282-PLAN. You can also obtain the name of a certified financial planner in the area who can help put together a college-savings program.

‘Money Talk’ to feature author

Author Richard Maturi will be interviewed on Monday’s CNBC “Money Talk” program.

The 1:30 p.m. EST broadcast with host Ted Lewis will focus on Maturi’s latest work, The Hometown Investor: How to Find Investment Treasures in Your Own Backyard.”

The Wyoming-based author mentions several Northwest companies and brokerages in this latest work, as he did in his last, “The 105 Best Investments for the 21st Century.”

Phone cards at post office

Folks who’d rather call than write may soon be able to turn to the post office all the same.

The postal service will sell prepaid phone cards in eight cities - Salt Lake City is the closest - over the next 18 months to test the fast-growing market.

The Firstclass Phonecard will be offered in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 units, which can be recharged using major credit cards.

Originating in Europe, where most postal authorities are also in the telecommunications business, phone cards have become increasingly popular in this country, where they are sold by private companies.

The cards are authorized with a prepaid amount of money and can be used to pay for calls from any touch-tone phone. When used up, they can be recharged by calling a number and punching in a credit-card number.

American Express Telecom Inc., is handling the technical arrangements for the post office with MCI acting as the long-distance carrier.

, DataTimes