UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR QUARTER ENDED September 30, 2004

Commission File Number:   0-31226

INVESTOOLS INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(281) 588-9700

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

$.01 par value per share Common Stock:  44,763,566 as of November 1, 2004

INVESTOOLS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Report on Form 10-Q

Quarter Ended September 30, 2004

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.           Consolidated Financial Statements

INVESTOOLS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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INVESTOOLS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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INVESTOOLS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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INVESTOOLS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

Note 1.          Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of INVESTools Inc. (the “Company” or “INVESTools”) and its majority-owned subsidiaries for which the Company exercises control.  All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X for interim financial statements required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and do not include all information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  However, in the opinion of management, the information furnished reflects all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary to make a fair presentation of financial position and operating results for the interim periods.  The results of operations for the nine month period ended September 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Amounts in the September 30, 2003 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

Note 2.          Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of costs (using the first-in, first-out method) or market value.  The Company’s inventories include digital video disks and educational manuals.  At September 30, 2004, $1.8 million in net inventories are included as part of other current assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 3.          Acquisitions

On February 26, 2004, the Company acquired Service Enhancement Systems, Inc., a privately-held California corporation operating under the assumed name 360 Group (“360 Group”).  360 Group is a direct marketing company that provides services such as custom database development and management, strategic planning, media and list planning and buying, creative and production services, response management, and analytic services.  At closing, the sellers received a cash payment of $875,000 and 830,000 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $1,875,000.  In addition, the Company incurred $669,000 of costs related to the acquisition, of which $226,000 were paid with 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.  During the three months ended June 30, 2004, the sellers received an additional cash payment of $213,000 based on a net working capital adjustment provided for in the merger agreement recorded as additional purchase price resulting in an increase to goodwill.  During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the 360 Group achieved revenue targets, thereby obligating the Company to pay additional merger consideration in the form of earn out payments.  The additional merger consideration consists of an additional cash payment of $438,000 and 415,000 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $842,000 recorded as additional purchase price resulting in an increase to goodwill.  Per the merger agreement, the Company is required to remit the cash payment and release the shares to former shareholders of the 360 Group by February 26, 2005.  The Company acquired 360 Group to in-source the Company’s direct marketing and database management.

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The following table summarizes the purchase price for 360 Group and includes the payments for the working capital adjustment and earn out discussed above:

In addition to the merger consideration in the table above, the Company will be obligated to pay up to an aggregate of 415,000 shares of its common stock and $438,000 in cash as additional merger consideration in the form of earn out payments if certain future revenue targets are achieved in 2005.

The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price for 360 Group and the estimated amortization period for the acquired intangibles:

The following unaudited pro forma results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, assumes the purchase of 360 Group occurred on January 1, 2003, and assumes the purchase price has been allocated to the assets purchased and the liabilities assumed based on their values at the date of purchase.  The pro forma results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2004 is not presented since 360 Group is included in the full period.  Pro forma net loss includes amortization of the intangible assets.

The foregoing unaudited pro forma results of operations are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the transaction had been consummated at the dates indicated.  Furthermore, such unaudited pro forma results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future operating results of the combined companies due to changes in operating activities following the purchase, and should not be construed as representative of the operating results of the combined companies for any future dates or periods.

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Note 4.          Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were as follows:

Acquired Intangibles

Acquired intangibles with finite lives as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were as follows:

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, amortization was $70,000 and $177,000 respectively, as compared to $20,000 and $61,000 for the same periods in 2003.

Estimated future amortization expense is as follows:

Note 5.          Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s long term employee incentive plans provide for the awarding of stock options to employees and directors.  On January 1, 2003, the Company voluntarily adopted the fair value expense recognition method available under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 and the transition provisions of SFAS No. 148.  SFAS No. 148 permits recognition on a prospective basis whereby any new options granted after January 1, 2003 will be accounted for using the fair value method.  The fair value method requires a calculation of the fair value of the option at the date of the grant using a valuation model, such as the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the value of the option is amortized ratably into expense over the appropriate vesting period.

With respect to stock options that were granted prior to December 31, 2002, the Company accounted for the stock-based compensation under SFAS No. 123, which permits using either the intrinsic value method or using the fair value method.  The Company chose to use the intrinsic value method whereby compensation cost is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant over the exercise price of the option granted.  Compensation cost for stock options, if any, is recognized ratably over the vesting period.  The Company’s policy is to grant options with an exercise price equal to the quoted closing market price of the

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Company’s stock on the business day of the grant date.  Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized under the Company’s stock option plans for the granting of stock options to employees made prior to December 31, 2002.

In accordance with SFAS No. 148, the following table illustrates the effect on net loss and earnings per share if the fair value method of accounting for stock options had been applied to all outstanding and unvested stock awards in each reporting period as follows:

The following table provides the weighted average assumptions for the Black Scholes Options Pricing Model assuming a dividend rate of zero for all periods:

Note 6.          Comprehensive Loss

The following table sets forth the activity in other comprehensive loss:

Note 7.          Marketable Securities

The Company invests its excess cash in marketable securities.  As of September 30, 2004, the cost of these securities was $9.7 million.  The Company has classified these marketable securities as available for sale under SFAS No. 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.”  Accordingly, the securities are recorded at fair value and any unrealized gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity.  Declines in value which are considered other than temporary are charged against earnings in the period that the decline occurs.  The Company recognized $6,000 and $60,000 in realized losses related to the sale of marketable securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004,

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respectively.  There were no realized gains or losses recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003.  The Company earned interest of $26,000 and $85,000 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively.  The Company earned interest of $17,000 and $20,000 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively.

Note 8.          Contingencies

From time to time the Company is involved in certain legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  It is the opinion of management that such litigation will be resolved without a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

On July 9, 2004, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (“ASIC”) filed a lawsuit against Online Investors Advantage, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“OIA”) and Phillip Town, a workshop presenter on behalf of OIA (“Town”).  The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court of Queensland, alleges that (i) OIA failed to provide a “financial services guide” or other information to attendees at seminars held in Brisbane and Melbourne in July 2004, as otherwise required under the Australian Corporations Act; (ii) failed to provide to the attendees of the Brisbane seminar a warning regarding the provision of general financial advice that was required to be given under the Corporations Act; (iii) engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct at the Brisbane and Melbourne seminars, regarding certain oral representations made by the presenter at the seminars (on behalf of OIA) and regarding certain written representations appearing in the registration form for workshops conducted on behalf of Online; and (iv) carried on a “financial services business,” as defined in the Corporations Act, without the required Australian license.  ASIC sought a temporary injunction prohibiting OIA from holding any workshops while the lawsuit is pending.  The court did not grant the injunction but did order OIA to place $0.3 million into escrow for all revenues received from its workshops while the lawsuit is pending.  These amounts are included in Current portion of restricted cash in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.  ASIC sought to stop OIA from delivering the workshop and to refund to participants the fees paid for the workshop.  In addition, if the court finds in favor of ASIC, the Company could be assessed penalties.  A trial of the proceedings was heard on September 6-8, 2004 in the Supreme Court of Queensland.  At trial, ASIC abandoned two of its allegations that OIA had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct.  At the conclusion of the trial the court reserved its decision. The Company anticipates the court’s judgment within three months.  The Company believes that it has good defenses to the alleged claims and intends to continue to vigorously defend against this lawsuit.  At this time it is not possible to determine the amount of penalties that may be assessed, if any.  Furthermore, the Company believes that it is not probable or currently estimable of the amount which might possibly have to be paid as a result of this proceeding.

On March 4, 2003, a foreign national filed a complaint in the San Diego Superior Court against ZiaSun Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“ZiaSun”).  The complaint alleges that certain individuals, who are not parties in the lawsuit, persuaded the plaintiff to purchase shares of ZiaSun common stock and the complaint also alleges a failure to deliver a stock certificate.  ZiaSun does not have any ownership or control of the third party brokerage house from whom plaintiff claims to have purchased stock.  The plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages for the alleged fraud in the sale of the stock.  The Company believes that it has good defenses to the alleged claims and intends to vigorously defend against this lawsuit.

Note 9.          Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss), the numerator, by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, the denominator, during the period.  Diluted net income (loss) per shares gives effect to equity instruments considered to be potential common shares, if dilutive, computed using the treasury stock method of accounting.

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The following table presents the calculation for the number of shares used in the basic and diluted net income (loss) per chare computations.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and nine months ended September 30, 2003, dilutive net loss per share is computed without the effect of equity instruments considered to be potential common shares because their impact would be antidilutive as the Company incurred losses for each period.  As the Company reported losses for each period, 1,949,000 and 1,924,000 common stock equivalent shares were excluded from the computation of net loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively, as compared to 300,000 common stock equivalents, for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

Note 10.   Stock Repurchase Program

In June 2004, the Company authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company can repurchase up to 3,500,000 shares over a two year period.  The shares will be retired upon acquisition.  As of September 30, 2004, the Company repurchased and retired 750,000 shares of its own common stock for a total cost of $1.5 million.  The remaining repurchase authorization under this program totaled 2,750,000 shares at September 30, 2004.

Note 11.   Issued But Not Yet Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2004, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) on paragraphs 6 through 20, 22 and 23 of EITF Issue No. 03-01, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments” (“ EITF 03-01”).  EITF 03-01 provided for adoption of the related consensus as of the beginning of the third quarter of 2004.  Subsequent to the FASB’s ratification, in September 2004 the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) EITF 03-1-1 which effectively delays the guidance in paragraphs 10 through 20 of EITF 03-01 until the FASB issues final guidance, expected in the fourth quarter of 2004. In addition, the FASB issued proposed FSP EITF 03-1-a, which provides guidance on the application of EITF 03-01 to debt securities that are impaired as a result of interest rate and/or sector spread increases, and is expected to be discussed and issued in final form in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Paragraphs 10 through 20 of EITF 03-01 provide guidance on when impairment of debt and equity securities is considered other-than-temporary.  This guidance generally states impairment is considered other-than-temporary unless the holder of the security has both the intent and the ability to hold the security until the fair value recovers and evidence supporting the recovery outweighs evidence to the contrary.  We are currently evaluating the impact that implementation of this guidance could have on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Note 12.   Subsequent Events

On October 19, 2004, the Company entered into a separation agreement and general release, effective as of October 13, 2004, with Scott K. Waltz, a former executive officer.  The separation agreement requires the Company to pay the former executive $0.2 million in severance and related benefits.  Additionally, the agreement requires the Company to repurchase 304,000 shares of the Company’s stock that were earned as part of the 2004 earn out related to the 360 Group acquisition for $0.7 million.

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Item 2.           Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Business Overview

Our mission is to empower individual investors to achieve their unfulfilled financial goals by using the INVESTools Method ä, an integration of Web-based tools, instruction and support.  We do not promote individual stocks, bonds, derivatives or any other types of investments, but rather educate investors on performing research to analyze investments.  Such investor education is delivered through instructor-led workshops, home study products, and one-to-one teaching, and includes an Investor Toolbox website subscription.  We market our workshop products through radio/television and print media as well as direct mailings and email, or in conjunction with events or conferences conducted by our co-marketing partners.

At workshop events and subsequent to workshop events graduates have the opportunity to purchase additional products.  This has become a significant revenue channel and source of increased lifetime value of each student.  Leads generated in the marketing process are additionally pursued through telemarketing efforts selling the entire range of products.

Concentration Risk

We currently access approximately 90% of our new students through our co-branding (CNBC and BusinessWeek) and co-marketing (Get Motivated Seminars and MIT Financial) relationships.  Students accessed through each of these relationships contributed from 10% to 35% of our revenues.  The loss of one of these partners could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance in the short-term.  However, we are constantly pursuing new student acquisition partnerships and we believe business from new and existing partnerships would replace such lost volumes if they were to occur.  There can be no assurance that we will be successful in establishing new partnerships.

Acquisition of 360 Group

In February 2004, we announced the acquisition of 360 Group for $5.5 million if all contingent consideration is ultimately paid.  360 Group, a San Rafael, California based agency, is a direct marketing company that provides services such as custom database development and management, strategic planning, media and list planning and buying, creative and production services, response management, and analytic services.  As a result of this transaction, all outstanding shares of 360 Group’s common stock were converted into the right to receive an aggregate of 830,000 shares of our common stock and approximately $875,000 in cash.  During the three months ended June 30, 2004, the sellers received an additional cash payment of $213,000 based on a net working capital provision provided for in the merger agreement.  During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the 360 Group achieved revenue targets, thereby obligating us to pay additional merger consideration in the form of earn out payments.  The additional merger consideration consists of an additional cash payment of $438,000 and 415,000 shares of the common stock valued at $842,000.  Pursuant to the merger agreement, we are required to remit the cash payment and release the shares to former shareholders of the 360 Group by February 26, 2005.  In addition to the merger consideration discussed above, we will be obligated to pay up to an aggregate of 415,000 shares of our common stock and approximately $438,000 in cash as additional merger consideration in the form of earn out payments if certain future revenue targets are achieved in 2005.  We used cash on hand to fund the cash portion of the merger consideration paid at closing and the subsequent cash payment during the second quarter.  In connection with the merger, Scott K. Waltz, the former Vice President, Client Services of 360 Group, was named Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer of the Company, and Don Klabunde, the former Chief Technology Officer of 360 Group, was named Vice President, Chief Information Officer of the Company.

Effective October 19, 2004, we entered into a separation agreement and general release effective as of October 13, 2004, with Scott K. Waltz, the former Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Company. The separation agreement requires us to pay Mr. Waltz $0.2 million in severance and related benefits.  Additionally, the agreement requires us to repurchase 304,000 shares of our stock for $0.7 million that was earned as part of the 2004 earn out as discussed in the previous paragraph.

We believe that the strategic acquisition of the 360 Group has been instrumental in increasing total student acquisition and return on marketing.  360 Group has been managing all student acquisition efforts for us as well as building and coordinating our marketing database to improve student retention and cross-selling efforts since October 2002.  This database is a significant strategic asset and will be critical to future profitability as we work toward increasing student lifetime value.

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Critical Accounting Policies

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon the Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.

We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements.  We believe the following critical accounting policies reflect our more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is calculated using the asset and liability method.  Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  We provide valuation allowances against the deferred tax assets if, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  Due to the losses incurred during 2002, 2003 and for the first three quarters of 2004, we have recorded a valuation allowance to offset the net deferred tax asset.  In determining the adequacy of the valuation allowance, which totaled $4.7 million as of September 30, 2004, we assess our profitability by taking into account the present and anticipated amounts of domestic and international earnings, as well as the anticipated taxable income as a result of the reversal of future taxable temporary differences.  For financial reporting purposes, we generally provide taxes at the rate applicable for the appropriate tax jurisdiction.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets, Including Goodwill

At least annually we review for impairment of goodwill resulting from business combinations in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”  We expect to complete our annual impairment review during the fourth quarter of 2004.

A discounted cash flow model is used to estimate the fair value of a reporting unit.  This model requires the use of long-term planning estimates and assumptions regarding industry-specific economic conditions that are outside our control.  The annual test for impairment includes the selection of an appropriate discount rate to value cash flow information.  The basis of this discount rate calculation is derived from several internal and external factors.  These factors include, but are not limited to, the average market price of our common stock, the number of shares of common stock outstanding, the book value of our debt, if any, a long-term risk free interest rate, and both market and size specific risk premiums.  Our annual goodwill impairment testing, performed during the fourth quarter of 2003, indicated that the fair value of all reporting units tested exceeded their respective book values and therefore no additional goodwill impairment testing was required.  Due to uncertain market conditions, it is possible that estimates used for goodwill impairment testing may change in the future.  Therefore, there can be no assurance that future goodwill impairment tests will not result in a charge to earnings.

We have not materially changed our methodology for goodwill impairment testing for the periods presented.  There are currently no known trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that have occurred or are reasonably likely to occur that would materially affect the methodology or assumptions described above.

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Revenue Recognition

Revenue is not recognized until it is realized or realizable and earned.  The criteria to meet this guideline are: 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, 2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, 3) the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectibility is reasonably assured.

We sell our products bundled together in various ways.  Each sale is separated into its specific element and revenue from each element is recognized according to the following policies:

The revenue for each element is calculated based upon the fair value of each separate element, which has been determined by prices paid when each product is sold separately.  We offer these products bundled together at a discounted rate.  The discount is allocated pro rata to each element of revenue based on the relative fair value of each element.

Deferred revenue arises from subscriptions to the websites and personal training sessions because the payments are received before the delivery of the service has been rendered.  Deferred revenue is recognized into revenue over the period that the services are performed.  We also sell certificates to attend workshops in the future.  Revenue from these sales is deferred until the certificate is used or expires.

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At the end of December 2003, we entered into a revised agreement with one of our co-marketing partners, and in August 2004, we entered into a revised agreement with another one of our co-marketing partners whereby the partners recognize all revenues and associated selling costs related to workshop sales generated through the co-marketing partners’ channels.  By making these changes the Company is aligning risk and rewards for customer acquisition with these co-marketing partners by transferring ownership of the customer acquisition revenues and expenses.  We and our partners expect this arrangement to generate increased customer volumes thereby leveraging higher margin fulfillment and retention sales consistent with our lifetime value of the customer strategy.  Workshop revenues no longer recognized by us as a result of these agreements were $8.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and $21.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004.  The workshop revenues resulting from this co-marketing partnership in 2003 were $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and $11.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.  Therefore, after adjusting the 2003 workshop revenues to remove such revenues for comparability with 2004, workshop revenues increased $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, when compared to the same period in 2003.  The primary reason for the increase in workshops revenue is due to an increase in attendance at workshops associated with our co-branding and other co-marketing partnerships.  We anticipate that workshop revenues will decrease in the future as a result of the August 2004 arrangement with our second co-marketing partner.  On a go forward basis, the majority of workshop revenues will be generated from our co-branding partnerships.

Sales of personal training, home study and website subscription renewals all increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to the same periods in 2003.  Several factors contributed directly to this increase in revenue.  In the first quarter of 2003, the Company began offering additional products during the workshops.  These sales are typically made as the students are completing workshops, and are generally various combinations of advanced home study programs, advanced workshops, additional personal training sessions and additional website subscription renewals.  For the three months ended September 30, 2004, sales at workshops accounted for 99% of the increase in personal training sessions, or $4.7 million, 103% of the increase in home study sales, or $4.9 million, and 19% of the increase in website renewals, or $1.1 million, when compared to the same periods in 2003.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, sales at workshops accounted for 88% of the increase in personal training sessions, or $12.8 million, 91% of the increase in home study sales, or $13.0 million, and 31% of the increase in website renewals, or $3.0 million, when compared to the same periods in 2003.  Some of this volume was sold as part of the Masters program introduced in February 2004 and PhD program introduced in July 2004.  The Masters program combines basic and advanced home study products, additional training sessions, 24-month website subscription renewal, and a one-year workshop certificate into one product.  The PhD program provides for advanced workshops, advanced home study products, additional training sessions, 24-month website subscription renewal, 24-month hotline service subscription and a two-year workshop certificate into one product.

Website subscription renewal revenue increased $3.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2004 and increased $10.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004.  We continue to improve and enhance our Investor Toolbox websites, offering more features and improved service to our students.  Website subscription renewals sold by our telemarketing department increased $1.9 million, or 49%, of the $3.8 million increase in the three months ended September 30, 2004 and increased $5.5 million, or 56%, of the $10.0 million increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2004.  The remaining increase for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, was a result of increased sales of advanced products at workshops that are bundled with website subscription renewals.

Deferred revenue increased $5.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2004 and $13.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, when compared to the same periods in 2003.  The increase was a result of increased sales of training sessions, advanced workshops and website subscription renewals during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.  Revenue from the training sessions, advanced workshops and website subscription renewals is deferred and ratably recognized in future periods as services to the student are delivered.  As we execute our lifetime value of the student strategy, more of the sales will be in products where the revenue is deferred.

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The terms and conditions of our revenue arrangements with our customers result in the deferral of a significant amount of revenue.  However, we recognize the costs associated with deferred revenue as they are incurred. Over two-thirds of deferred revenue amounts relate to website subscriptions, for which the remaining fulfillment costs represent an allocation of website hosting costs which are substantially fixed in nature at current subscriber levels.  The balance of deferred revenue primarily corresponds to training sessions, for which the remaining fulfillment cost represents labor cost of less than 15% of related deferred training revenue.

Partner commissions consists of amounts that are paid to co-branding and co-marketing partnerships based on sales achieved through these channels.  At the end of December 2003 and in August 2004, we entered into revised agreements with two of our co-marketing partners, whereby the partners recognize all revenues and associated selling costs related to workshop sales generated through the co-marketing partner’s channels.  The partner commissions resulting from these co-marketing partnerships in 2003 was $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and $8.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.  Therefore, after adjusting for the 2003 partner commissions related to workshop sales to exclude such partner commissions for comparability with 2004, partner commissions increased $5.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2004 and increased $16.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, when compared to the same periods in 2003.  The primary reason for the increase in partner commissions is due to our increased revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.  The primary reasons for the fluctuations as a percentage of sales is due to a change in mix of sales between our co-branding and co-marketing channels for the three months ended September 30, 2004.

Payroll costs are commissions based on a percentage of revenues that are paid to employees based on the amount of sales achieved at each event.  Payroll costs increased $1.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2004 and increased $3.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004, when compared to the same periods in 2003.  The primary reason for the increase in payroll costs is due to our increased revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.

Other costs consist of material costs (including shipping costs), credit card fees, travel expenditures and other costs directly related to revenues.  Other costs increased $1.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2004 and increased $5.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004.  The primary reason for the increase in other costs is due to our increased revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.

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Selling expenses increased $1.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2004 when compared to the same period in 2003, primarily due to increased spending on direct mail advertising associated with our co-branded channels, spending on product development costs, partially off-set by a decrease in radio and newspaper advertising.  Selling expenses increased $4.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 when compared to the same period in 2003, primarily due to an increased spending on direct mail, radio and newspaper advertising associated with our co-branded channels, spending on product development costs, partially offset by a reduction in email advertising and a reduction in printing and shipping costs as a result of decreased spending associated with our preview marketing.

(*) Includes depreciation and amortization

General and administrative expenses increased $1.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2004 when compared to the same period in 2003, primarily due to an increase in professional fees associated with the implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, increased legal costs associated with our Australian litigation, increased payroll related costs and intangibles amortization expense resulting from the acquisition of the 360 Group.  General and administrative expenses increased $4.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 when compared to the same periods in 2003, primarily due to increased payroll related costs resulting from the acquisition of the 360 Group, increased professional fees associated with the implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and increased legal costs associated with our Australian litigation.

Liquidity

Cash Flows

At September 30, 2004, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of $18.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities as compared to $12.3 million at December 31, 2003.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $8.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to $3.2 million net cash provided by operating activities during the comparable period of 2003 after excluding $3.0 million of cash tax refunds related to prior years.  The primary reason for the increase in

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