On the occasion of Independence Day, as a nation we will celebrate the things that make us truly great -- things like freedom, baseball, capitalism, the entrepreneurial spirit, heroism, independence, and fat-free Hostess Cupcakes. While we can't be there with you to run through the sprinklers and light the sparklers, we plan on continuing to do our part to uphold the patriotic -- and Foolish -- virtues of freedom and independence in the realm of financial education and advice.

We're Still Free
At The Motley Fool we believe that every American should have access to meaningful financial education. While we all wait for educational reforms in this direction, we pledge to do our part on Fool.com to offer free tools to help bridge the gap. (By the way, in this case "free" means free -- nothing to buy, no vacation property to inspect, no fine print, and no Kenny G boxed CD sets to send back.)

Our website has been free since 1997. We hope you will take advantage of the many resources available at Fool.com that come with no charge whatsoever. With 30,000-plus pages of financial advice and educational information, chances are we cover a money topic that's on your mind.

It takes just a minute to whip through our aptly titled 60-second guides to buying a home, short-term savings, and setting up an IRA. In addition to our daily news, market commentary, and specials, our real-money, educational portfolios are available to you 24/7 for nothing. You may have to register to read some features (hey, we want to get to know you a little, too), but registration (easy!) is also completely free (Scout's honor!). To entice you even more, we've lined up some great free offers -- like The Wall Street Journal and Investor's Business Daily. So, don't hold back.

Feel like socializing? Join the discussion and learn from thousands of other folks on The Motley Fool discussion boards -- affectionately known as Fool Community. While this is a subscription service with an annual fee of $29, you can take advantage of a month-long Free Trial so that you can understand the personal value of this service before plunking down your hard-earned dollars.

We're Still Independent
In a world of Enrons and WorldComs, we know it's more important than ever that you have someone to turn to for unconflicted advice and education. Here at the Fool, we are still a completely independent voice in the morass of the market.

Unlike investment bankers, insurance brokers, most stockbrokers, and mutual fund companies, we are not offering financial advice as a way of selling you on a particular investment, nor are we trying to control your money and take a fat fee for the pleasure. 

Both online and offline, you can use The Motley Fool to protect and grow your wealth and improve your financial situation in just about every way -- from getting out of debt to making better stock decisions to planning for your retirement and your kids' college education. And when you learn with us, you don't have to worry about ulterior motives or conflicts. Our mission since 1993 simply has been, and continues to be: to educate, amuse, and enrich. 

To that end, we have many products and services to help you in every aspect of your financial life. Here are just a few:

TMF Money Advisor -- Our most comprehensive package of Fool services includes a financial advice hotline directly to independent financial advisors at our partner, The Ayco Company, membership in the Fool community, access to seminars and crash courses, and more.

The Motley Fool Select -- Thorough, independent stock ideas, research, and analysis written in a tone your grandmother could understand. 

Motley Fool Stock Advisor -- Our new print newsletter that pits David and Tom Gardner against each other in a fight to the death! Okay, not quite, but they will argue and debate the merits of each other's stock ideas. And you can track their progress and see who comes out on top.

Online Seminars and Crash Courses -- Get personalized instruction from Fool staffers in these seminars and  self-paced courses you can do at your leisure. We cover everything from how to peacefully co-exist financially with your spouse to how to read a balance sheet and cash flow statement. Check out our latest event seminar -- When to Sell: The Foolish Selling Strategy.

We're Fighting a Revolution 
"Isn't revolution a bit of an overstatement?" you ask? Not really. The Motley Fool has never really been one to lie down sheepishly when reform is needed or the rights of individual investors are at stake. 

Last year we helped level the playing field for individual investors by helping the SEC pass Reg FD to get companies to stop favoring Wall Street when it comes to giving out information. We've been outspoken
on the issue of auditor independence, and we have helped educate Congress and other government agencies on how scandals like Enron and WorldCom affect investor confidence. We were honored by the invitation to participate in the SEC's recent Investor Summit and by the many requests from the media looking for our perspective.

The turns the markets have taken have provided unique learning opportunities for every investor. We Fools hope to share what we have learned and to bring about market reform. Have you read The Motley Fool Manifesto? Did you see us on Today, Fox News Channel, PBS, or in USA Today? Have you heard The Motley Fool Radio Show on NPR or read our latest book, What to Do With Your Money Now? Have you tasted our carrot cake recipe?

As long as there is a need for clarity, truth, education, and explanation in the financial world, the Fool will be shouting from every rooftop and using every means in its power to crusade for the rights of individuals. 

We believe that there has never been a better time to be an investor or a Fool. This Fourth of July, we'll be lighting off fireworks in motley celebration of that as together we continue to educate, amuse, and enrich. We hope you will, too.

As always, thanks for your continued loyalty and support. And Fool on!