Investools Establishes First Annual '401(k) New Year's Baby Scholarship'

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investools Inc., the investor
education division of thinkorswim Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SWIM), a leading provider
of trading technology and online brokerage services, is creating a new
scholarship for investors who want to exercise greater control over their
portfolios by applying advanced strategies.

This year's volatile market conditions have forced millions of investors to play
a more active role in managing their stock portfolios, including their 401(k)s,
IRAs and college savings accounts. But to do that effectively, investors need
training in areas ranging from basic fundamental and technical analysis, to more
advanced volatility analysis to the application of risk management tools prior
to trade execution. Thorough understanding of sound investment techniques is
within the grasp of all investors who recognize that they themselves are the
best stewards of their financial futures.

Investools, thinkorswim's educational division, is helping a new generation of
investors understand market dynamics and the wide range of investment choices
available to them, while providing them with investing skills that will provide
lifelong benefits. Parents who want to provide for their children's futures, and
even their own retirement security, have realized that it is never too early to
begin educating themselves about markets and investing, and that there is no
such thing as a "born investor."

"We are increasingly seeing that more and more people want to learn the
practical 'hows' and 'whys' of stock picking, market timing, sector and index
investing, and using options and futures to reduce risk and enhance portfolio
performance," states Lee Barba, Chairman and CEO of thinkorswim Group Inc. "For
the past 25 years, we have been educating investors and giving them the
straightforward knowledge and tools they need to navigate any type of market
environment. We are committed to helping the next generation of investors be
smarter about their financial choices as they work towards financial security
for themselves and their families."

To build the ranks of a more educated generation of investors, and to welcome
our newest Americans -- babies born on New Year's Day 2009 -- Investools will be
giving the parents of the first 401 babies born in the U.S. on that day a
scholarship to its Investing Foundation Course. With just a copy of their
child's birth certificate, parents can begin learning how to take greater
control of their financial future and develop the skills to help make their
children's futures brighter as well.

The scholarships are being awarded in conjunction with a new ad campaign that
includes a television spot, airing nationally on cable that features an
unscripted baby and the message that investing really isn't so simple that "even
a baby can do it."

The Investools Scholarship provides total, free access to the Investing
Foundation Course (a $299 value), which covers fundamental investing principles,
streamlined stock selection processes and active investment management
techniques. The course uses the Investools 7-Step Investing Formula(tm), a
step-by-step approach that helps investors find and analyze suitable stocks and
determine entry and exit timing and prices based on facts, not emotions.

The scholarship also includes a six-month subscription to the Investor
Toolbox(r) and a live, two-day Investing Foundation Workshop, which will empower
investors to rely on their own investing knowledge when making decisions.

The first 401 proud parents of babies born on New Year's Day 2009 who send a
copy of their baby's birth certificate via email (baby@investools.com) or fax
(801-816-6010) by January 31, 2009, will receive an Investools Scholarship
redeemable for the course.

Lee Barba, CEO, thinkorswim, is available for interview.

A high-resolution copy of the new Investools "Baby Spot" television ad is
available upon request or can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWWxkcwsIzE

About thinkorswim Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SWIM)

thinkorswim Group Inc. (www.thinkorswim.com) offers market-leading online
brokerage, investor education and related financial products and services for
self-directed investors and active traders. thinkorswim Inc., our award-winning
online brokerage division, provides a suite of trading platforms serving
self-directed and institutional traders and money managers. thinkorswim
platforms have easy-to-use interfaces, sophisticated analytical and research
tools, and fast and efficient order execution for even the most complex trading
strategies. thinkorswim customers trade a broad range of products, including
stock and stock options, index options, futures and futures options, forex,
mutual funds and fixed income. Investools Education Group offers a full range of
investor education products and services that provide lifelong learning in a
variety of interactive delivery formats. Investools graduates can then apply
what they've learned by trading with thinkorswim's online brokerage platforms.

The Investools Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5657

Safe Harbor

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements may be identified by words such as "believe," "intend," "expect,"
"may," "could," "would," "will," "should," "plan" or similar statements. All
forward-looking statements are based largely on current expectations, beliefs
and assumptions concerning future events that are subject to substantial risks
and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to: general changes in economic conditions and changes in conditions affecting
the financial services industry specifically, regulatory developments that
affect the way we market or sell our products and services, our inability to
protect our proprietary technology, our ability to sell existing products and
services in both new and existing markets, and other factors which are more
fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize,
actual results may vary in material aspects from those currently anticipated.
The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events
as of the date of this release. We undertake no ongoing obligation to update
these statements.

-0-
CONTACT: thinkorswim Group Inc.
Media Contact:
Danielle Nacco
347.248.1677
Danielle@erichopr.com