Managing money will be one less worry for families affected by the World Trade Center disaster, thanks to free financial planning offered by ML and other financial firms.

ML is part of the USG Financial Advice Referral Program, a group offering victims and their families free financial planning, investment advice and other services from top financial firms, including ML, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Prudential Financial and Salomon Smith Barney.

The firms are working with the 9/11 United Services Group, a not-for-profit consortium of 13 private, New York-based human-services organizations founded in December to aid people devastated by the tragedy.

"We are proud to offer our services to people who are enduring a very difficult time in their lives and struggling to get their finances in order as a result of the terrorist attacks," said SVP Robert Mulholland, head of the Client Relationship Group. "In this extraordinary situation — where people affected by the disaster are suddenly receiving large sums of compensation money, or are forced to become the family breadwinner — learning how to manage family finances is crucial."

Mulholland and other executives in the financial services industry announced the creation of the referral program at a press conference in Manhattan on 18 April.

The program's goal is to offer people affected by the disaster long-term financial planning assistance in three stages:

First, participants attend one of two classes: "Money Management Basics" or "Introduction to Financial Planning."

Then, the participants choose a financial advisor from ML or one of the other firms, to learn how to set up a budget and to invest and manage their funds.

Finally, the participants work with their financial advisor in a long-term relationship, to ensure that goals such as saving for college or retirement become a reality.

People affected by the disaster may call the September 11 Support Hotline at 866.689.HELP (4357) or sign up online at www.9-11usg.org.