UNITED
STATES


SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549




____




FORM 10-K


FOR
ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS


PURSUANT
TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE


SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




(Mark
One)




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




For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008




or




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




For the
transition period from ________ to ________




Commission
File Numbers: 333-111858-03, 001-32235




Synthetic
Fixed-Income Securities, Inc.




on behalf
of:




STRATSSM Trust
For Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8





(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)




Delaware
              52-2316339(State
      or other jurisdiction of incorporationor
      organization)
              (I.R.S.
      Employer Identification No.)





301
      South College, Charlotte, North Carolina
              28288(Address
      of principal executive offices)
              (Zip
      Code)


Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (704) 383-7727




Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:




Title of each class
              Name of Registered exchange on which
      registeredSTRATSSM
      Certificates, Series 2004-8
              New
      York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)












Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:   None




Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.




Yes o  No x




Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.




Yes o  No x




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 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.




Yes x  No o




Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K.




Not
applicable.




Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer or a non-accelerated filer. See the definition of “accelerated filer and
large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check
one):




Large accelerated
      filer o
            Accelerated filer
      o
            Non- accelerated
      filer x




Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act).




Yes o  No x




State the
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common
equity  held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at
which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of
such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most
recently completed second fiscal quarter:




The
registrant has no voting stock or class of common stock that is held by
non-affiliates.






DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE




The
following documents are incorporated by reference into Part IV of this
Annual Report: The distribution reports to security holders filed on
Form 8-K during the fiscal year, in lieu of reports on Form 10-Q,
which include the reports filed on Form 8-K listed in Item 15(a)
hereto.




Introductory
Note




Synthetic
Fixed-Income Securities, Inc. (the “Depositor”) is the Depositor in respect of
the STRATSSM Trust
For Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8 (the “Trust”), a common
law trust formed pursuant to the Base Trust Agreement, dated as of September 26,
2003, between the Depositor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee
(the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the STRATSSM
Certificates Series Supplement 2004-8 (the “Series Supplement”) dated as
of  June 29, 2004 in respect of the Trust. The Trust’s assets consist
solely of notes issued by The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The Certificates do
not represent obligations of or interests in the Depositor or the
Trustee.




Pursuant
to staff administrative positions established in Corporate Asset Backed
Corporation (available August 9, 1995), the Trust is not required to respond to
various items of Form 10-K. Such items are designated herein as “Not
Applicable.” Distribution reports detailing receipts and distributions by the
Trust are filed after each distribution date on Form 8-K in lieu of reports
on Form 10-Q.




2






The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., the issuer of the underlying securities, is subject
to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”). For information on The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc. please see its periodic and current reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under its Exchange Act
file number, 001-14965. The Commission maintains a site on the World Wide Web at
“http://www.sec.gov” at which users can view and download copies of reports,
proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically
through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, or
“EDGAR.” Periodic and current reports and other information required to be filed
pursuant to the Exchange Act by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. may be accessed on
this site. Neither Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc. nor the Trustee has
participated in the preparation of such reporting documents, or made any due
diligence investigation with respect to the information provided therein.
Neither Synthetic Fixed-Income Securities, Inc. nor the Trustee has verified the
accuracy or completeness of such documents or
 reports.
There can be no assurance that events affecting the issuer of the underlying
securities, or the underlying securities themselves, have not occurred or have
not yet been publicly disclosed which would affect the accuracy or completeness
of the publicly available documents described above.






PART
I




Item 1.
Business.




Not
Applicable




Item 1A. Risk
Factors.




Not
Applicable




Item 1B. Unresolved Staff
Comments.




Not
Applicable




Item 2.
Properties.




Not
Applicable




Item 3. Legal
Proceedings.




None




Item 4. Submission of
Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.




None






PART
II




Item 5. Market for
Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities.




The Certificates
representing investors’ interest in the Trust are represented by one or more
physical Certificates registered in the name of “Cede & Co.”, the nominee of
The Depository Trust Company.  The Certificates are listed on the
NYSE.




Item 6. Selected Financial
Data.




Not
Applicable




3




Item 7. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.




Not
Applicable




Item 7A. Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.




Not
Applicable




Item 8. Financial Statements
and Supplementary Data.




Not
Applicable




Item 9. Changes in and
Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure.




None




Item 9A.  Controls
and Procedures.




Not
Applicable




Item 9B. Other
Information.




None






PART
III




Item 10. Directors and
Executive Officers of the Registrant.




Not
Applicable




Item 11. Executive
Compensation.




Not
Applicable




Item 12. Security Ownership
of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stock
Matters.




Not
Applicable




Item 13. Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions.




None




Item 14. Principal
Accounting Fees and Services.




Not
Applicable






PART
IV




Item 15. Exhibits, Financial
Statement Schedules.




(a)           The
following documents have been filed as part of this report.




4




1.
            Trustee’s
      Distribution Statements documented on Form 8-K of STRATSSM
      Trust For Goldman Sachs Group Securities, Series 2004-8 to the
      certificateholders for the period from January 1, 2008 through and
      including December 31, 2008 have been filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission and are hereby incorporated by reference. Filing dates
      are listed below:




Trust
      Description
                  Distribution
      Date
                  Filed
      onSTRATSSM
      Trust For Goldman Sachs Securities, Series 2004-8
                  01-15-2008
                    02-15-2008
                    03-17-2008
                      04-15-2008
                      05-15-2008
                        06-16-2008
                          07-15-2008
                            08-15-2008
                              09-15-2008
                                10-15-2008
                                  11-17-2008
                                    12-15-2008
                  01-28-2008
                      02-26-2008
                      03-27-2008
                        04-24-2008
                        05-23-2008
                          06-30-2008
                            07-25-2008
                              08-22-2008
                                09-30-2008
                                  10-30-2008
                                    11-25-2008
                                      12-30-2008





2.
            None




3.
            Exhibits:




31.1
      – Certification by Director of the Registrant pursuant to 15 U.S.C.
      Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the
      Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.




99.1
      – Annual Compliance Report by Trustee pursuant to 15 U.S.C.
      Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the
      Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.




99.2
      – Report of Aston Bell, CPA.




99.3
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on January 28, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.




99.4
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on February 26, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.




99.5
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on March 27, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  99.6
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on April 24, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  99.7
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on May 23, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by
reference.
  99.8
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on June 30, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
    5
   99.9
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on July 25, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  99.10
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on August 22, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  99.11
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on September 30, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  99.12
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on October 30, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  99.13
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on November 25, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.
  99.14
      - Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on December 30, 2008, as further described in Item
      15(a)(1) above, is incorporated herein by
  reference.


(b)           See
Item 15(a) above.




(c)           Not
Applicable.








6






SIGNATURE




Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




Synthetic
      Fixed-Income Securities, Inc.,
                    as
      Depositor for the TrustBy:
                  /s/ James
      WhangName:
                  James
      WhangTitle:
                  Director




Dated:  March
30, 2009
















7
  
  EXHIBIT
INDEX
  Reference
      Number per Item 601 of Regulation SK
                                    Description
      of Exhibits
                                    Exhibit
      Number in this Form 10-K(31.1)
                                    Certification
      by Director of the Registrant pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as
      adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
      2002.
                                    31.1(99.1)
                                    Annual
      Compliance Report by Trustee pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as
      adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
      2002.
                                    99.1(99.2)
                                    Report
      of Aston Bell, CPA.
                                    99.2(99.3)
                                    Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on January 28, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by reference.
                                    99.3(99.4)
                                    Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on February 26, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by reference.
                                    99.4(99.5)
                                    Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on March 27, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above,
      is incorporated herein by reference.
                                    99.5(99.6)
                                    Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on April 24, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above,
      is incorporated herein by reference.
                                    99.6(99.7)
                                    Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on May 23, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above,
      is incorporated herein by reference.
                                    99.7(99.8)
                                    Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on June 30, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above,
      is incorporated herein by reference.
                                    99.8(99.9)
                                    Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on July 25, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1) above,
      is incorporated herein by reference.
                                    99.9
 
  8









(99.10)
                          Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on August 22, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by reference.
                          99.10(99.11)
                          Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on September 30, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by reference.
                          99.11(99.12)
                          Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on October 30, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by reference.
                          99.12(99.13)
                          Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on November 25, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by reference.
                          99.13(99.14)
                          Registrant’s
      Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission on December 30, 2008, as further described in Item 15(a)(1)
      above, is incorporated herein by reference.
                          99.14









9