<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.46

================================================================================

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                             Dated January 15, 1999

                                      among

                               CLARK/BARDES, INC.

                                  as Borrower,


                              BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.

                                    as Agent,

                         U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                  as Co-Agent,

                         CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

                                   as Lenders,

                                       and

                         BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

                                   as Arranger


================================================================================


<PAGE>   2



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>


<S>                                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE I .....................................................................................    1
     DEFINITIONS ..............................................................................    1

ARTICLE II ....................................................................................   13
     THE CREDITS ..............................................................................   13
                    2.1    Commitments ........................................................   13 
                    2.2    Required Payments; Termination .....................................   14 
                    2.3    Ratable Loans ......................................................   15 
                    2.4    Types of Advances ..................................................   15 
                    2.5    Commitment Fee; Reductions in Aggregate Commitment .................   15 
                    2.6    Minimum Amount of Each Advance .....................................   15 
                    2.7    Optional Principal Payments ........................................   15 
                    2.8    Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Advances ....   15 
                    2.9    Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances ................   16 
                    2.10   Changes in Interest Rate, etc ......................................   16 
                    2.11   Rates Applicable After Default .....................................   16 
                    2.12   Method of Payment ..................................................   17 
                    2.13   Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness .......................   17 
                    2.14   Telephonic Notices .................................................   18 
                    2.15   Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis .....................   18 
                    2.16   Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and 
                           Commitment Reductions ..............................................   18
                    2.17   Lending Installations ..............................................   18 
                    2.18   Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent ..................................   18 
                    2.19   Extension of Revolving Credit Termination Date .....................   19 
                    2.20   Replacement of Lender ..............................................   19 
                           
ARTICLE III ...................................................................................   19
     YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES ..................................................................   19
                    3.1    Yield Protection ...................................................   19 
                    3.2    Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations ............................   20 
                    3.3    Availability of Types of Advances ..................................   20 
                    3.4    Funding Indemnification ............................................   21 
                    3.5    Taxes ..............................................................   21 
                    3.6    Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity ...........................   22 
                           
ARTICLE IV ....................................................................................   23
     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT .....................................................................   23
                    4.1    Initial Advance ....................................................   23
                    4.2    Each Advance .......................................................   23
</TABLE>


                            
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE V .....................................................................................   24
     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ...........................................................   24
                    5.1.   Existence and Standing .............................................   24 
                    5.2.   Authorization and Validity .........................................   24 
                    5.3.   No Conflict; Government Consent ....................................   24 
                    5.4.   Financial Statements ...............................................   25 
                    5.5.   Material Adverse Change ............................................   25 
                    5.6.   Taxes ..............................................................   25 
                    5.7.   Litigation and Contingent Obligations ..............................   25 
                    5.8.   Subsidiaries .......................................................   25 
                    5.9.   ERISA ..............................................................   25 
                    5.10.  Accuracy of Information ............................................   26 
                    5.11.  Regulation U .......................................................   26 
                    5.12.  Material Agreements ................................................   26 
                    5.13.  Compliance With Laws ...............................................   26 
                    5.14.  Ownership of Properties. ...........................................   26 
                    5.15.  Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions ...............................   26 
                    5.16.  Environmental Matters ..............................................   26 
                    5.17.  Investment Company Act .............................................   26 
                    5.18.  Public Utility Holding Company Act .................................   27 
                    5.19.  Year 2000 ..........................................................   27 
                    5.20.  Insurance ..........................................................   27 
                    5.21.  Solvency ...........................................................   27 
                           
ARTICLE VI ....................................................................................   27
     COVENANTS ................................................................................   27
                    6.1.   Financial Reporting ................................................   27 
                    6.2.   Use of Proceeds ....................................................   29 
                    6.3.   Notice of Default ..................................................   29 
                    6.4.   Conduct of Business ................................................   29 
                    6.5.   Taxes ..............................................................   29 
                    6.6.   Insurance ..........................................................   29 
                    6.7.   Compliance with Laws ...............................................   29 
                    6.8.   Maintenance of Properties ..........................................   29 
                    6.9.   Inspection .........................................................   29 
                    6.10.  Dividends ..........................................................   30 
                    6.11.  Indebtedness .......................................................   30 
                    6.12.  Merger .............................................................   30 
                    6.13.  Sale of Assets .....................................................   30 
                    6.14.  Investments and Acquisitions .......................................   30 
                    6.15.  Liens ..............................................................   31 
                    6.16.  Rentals ............................................................   31 
                    6.17.  Year 2000 ..........................................................   32 
                    6.18.  Affiliates .........................................................   32 
                    6.19.  Subordinated Indebtedness ..........................................   32 
                    6.20.  Omitted ............................................................   32 
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                             <C>
                    6.21.  Sale of Accounts ...................................................   32 
                    6.22.  Sale and Leaseback Transactions and other Off-Balance Sheet 
                           Liabilities ........................................................   32 
                    6.23.  Contingent Obligations .............................................   32 
                    6.24.  Letters of Credit ..................................................   32 
                    6.25.  Financial Covenants ................................................   32 
                    6.26.  Investment Company .................................................   33 

ARTICLE VII ...................................................................................   33
     DEFAULTS .................................................................................   33

ARTICLE VIII ..................................................................................   35
     ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES ...........................................   35
                    8.1.   Acceleration .......................................................   36 
                    8.2.   Amendments .........................................................   36 
                    8.3.   Preservation of Rights .............................................   36 
                                                                                            
ARTICLE IX ....................................................................................   37
     GENERAL PROVISIONS .......................................................................   37
                    9.1.   Survival of Representations ........................................   37 
                    9.2.   Governmental Regulation ............................................   37 
                    9.3.   Headings ...........................................................   37 
                    9.4.   Entire Agreement ...................................................   37 
                    9.5.   Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement ....................   37 
                    9.6.   Expenses; Indemnification ..........................................   37 
                    9.7.   Omitted ............................................................   38 
                    9.8.   Accounting .........................................................   38 
                    9.9.   Severability of Provisions .........................................   38 
                    9.10.  Nonliability of Lenders ............................................   38 
                    9.11.  Confidentiality ....................................................   39 
                    9.12.  Nonreliance ........................................................   39 
                    9.13.  Disclosure .........................................................   39 
                                                                                            
ARTICLE X .....................................................................................   39 
     THE AGENT ................................................................................   39 
                    10.1.  Appointment; Nature of Relationship ................................   39 
                    10.2   Powers .............................................................   40 
                    10.3   General Immunity ...................................................   40 
                    10.4   No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc .........................   40 
                    10.5   Action on Instructions of Lenders ..................................   40 
                    10.6   Employment of Agents and Counsel ...................................   40 
                    10.7   Reliance on Documents; Counsel .....................................   41 
                    10.8   Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification ..........................   41 
                    10.9   Notice of Default ..................................................   41 
                    10.10  Rights as a Lender .................................................   41 
                    10.11  Lender Credit Decision .............................................   41 
</TABLE>


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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                            <C>
                    10.12  Successor Agent ....................................................   42 
                    10.13  Agent's Fee ........................................................   42 
                    10.14  Delegation to Affiliates ...........................................   42 
                    10.15  Execution of Collateral Documents ..................................   42 
                    10.16  Collateral Releases ................................................   42 
                    10.17  Co-Agents and Arranger .............................................   43 
                                                                                            
ARTICLE XI ....................................................................................   43 
     SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS .................................................................   43 
                    11.1   Setoff .............................................................   43 
                    11.2   Ratable Payments ...................................................   43 
                    11.3   Proceeds of Collateral .............................................   44 
                                                                                            
ARTICLE XII ...................................................................................   44 
     BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS ........................................   44 
                    12.1.  Successors and Assigns .............................................   44 
                    12.2   Participations .....................................................   44 
                    12.3   Assignments ........................................................   45 
                    12.4   Dissemination of Information .......................................   46 
                    12.5   Tax Treatment ......................................................   46 
                                                                                            
ARTICLE XIII ..................................................................................   46 
     NOTICES ..................................................................................   46 
                    13.1   Notices ............................................................   46 
                    13.2   Change of Address ..................................................   46 
                                                                                            
ARTICLE XIV ...................................................................................   47 
     COUNTERPARTS .............................................................................   47 
                                                                                            
ARTICLE XV ....................................................................................   47 
     CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .............................   47 
                    15.1   CHOICE OF LAW ......................................................   47 
                    15.2   CONSENT TO JURISDICTION ............................................   47 
                    15.3   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL ...............................................   47 
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   6



                             SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

     Pricing Schedule
     Commitment Schedule
     Exhibit A - Form of Opinion
     Exhibit B - Form of Compliance Certificate 
     Exhibit C - Form of Assignment Agreement 
     Exhibit D - Form of Transfer Instructions 
     Exhibit E-1 - Form of Term Note 
     Exhibit E-2 - Form of Revolving Note 
     Schedule 1 - Subsidiaries and Other Investments 
     Schedule 2 - Indebtedness and Liens 
     Schedule 6.11 - Specific Indebtedness 
     Schedule 6.16 - Operating Leases


<PAGE>   7




                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This Credit Agreement, dated as of the 15th, day of January, 1999, is
among CLARK/BARDES, INC., a Delaware corporation, the LENDERS and BANK ONE,
TEXAS, N.A., as Agent. The parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         As used in this Agreement:

         "ACQUISITION" means any transaction, or any series of related
transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) acquires any going business or all or
substantially all of the assets of any firm, corporation or limited liability
company, or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or
otherwise or (ii) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the
most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in
number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting
power for the election of directors (other than securities having such power
only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage
or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or
limited liability company.

         "ACQUISITION EBITDA" is defined in the definition of Consolidated
EBITDA.

         "ADVANCE" means a borrowing hereunder, (i) made by the Lenders on the
same Borrowing Date, or (ii) converted or continued by the Lenders on the same
date of conversion or continuation, consisting, in either case, of the aggregate
amount of the several Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar
Loans, for the same Interest Period.

         "AFFILIATE" of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. A Person
shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person owns 10% or
more of any class of voting securities (or other ownership interests) of the
controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person,
whether through ownership of stock, by contract or otherwise.

         "AGENT" means Bank One in its capacity as contractual representative of
the Lenders pursuant to Article X, and not in its individual capacity as a
Lender, and any successor Agent appointed pursuant to Article X.

         "AGGREGATE COMMITMENT" means the sum of (i) the commitment amount of
the Revolving Credit Facility in the amount of $35,000,000, as reduced from time
to time pursuant to the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Section
2.1.1. and Section 2.5., plus (ii) the amount of the Term Loan.

         "AGREEMENT" means this credit agreement, as it may be amended or
modified and in effect from time to time.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 1
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         "AGREEMENT ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES" means generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with
that used in preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4.

         "ALTERNATE BASE RATE" means, for any day, a rate of interest per annum
equal to the higher of (i) the Corporate Base Rate for such day and (ii) the sum
of the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day plus 1/2% per annum.

         "APPLICABLE FEE RATE" means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum
at which Commitment Fees are accruing on the unused portion of the Aggregate
Commitment at such time as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.

         "APPLICABLE MARGIN" means, with respect to Advances of any Type at any
time, the percentage rate per annum which is applicable at such time with
respect to Advances of such Type as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.

         "ARRANGER" means Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., an Ohio corporation,
and its successors.

         "ARTICLE" means an article of this Agreement unless another document is
specifically referenced.

         "ASSUMED EXPENSE ALLOWANCE" means an expense and commission percentage
of twenty-five percent (25%).

         "AUTHORIZED OFFICER" means any of the Chief Financial Officer, the
Controller, the President of the Borrower, or any other person designated in
writing by any of the foregoing persons, acting singly.

         "BANK ONE" means Bank One, Texas, N.A., in its individual capacity, and
its successors.

         "BORROWER" means Clark/Bardes, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
successors and assigns.

         "BORROWING BASE" means an amount equal to the difference between (i)
eighty percent (80%) of the Net Present Value of Renewals, minus (ii) Borrower's
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness, each as indicated in the most recently
delivered quarterly compliance certificate and as such amount is approved by
Agent.

         "BORROWING DATE" means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.

         "BORROWING NOTICE" is defined in Section 2.8.

         "BUSINESS DAY" means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate
selection of Eurodollar Advances, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on
which banks generally are open in Dallas and New York for the conduct of
substantially all of their commercial lending activities and on which dealings
in United States dollars are carried on in the London interbank market and (ii)
for all other purposes, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks
generally are open in Dallas for the conduct of substantially all of their
commercial lending activities.

         "CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" means, without duplication, any expenditures for
any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a
fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles
excluding (i) the cost of assets acquired with Capitalized Lease Obligations,
(ii) expenditures of insurance 





CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 2
<PAGE>   9

proceeds to rebuild or replace any asset after a casualty loss and (iii)
leasehold improvement expenditures for which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is
reimbursed promptly by the lessor.

         "CAPITALIZED LEASE" of a Person means any lease of Property by such
Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS" of a Person means the amount of the
obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a
liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with
Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "CASH EQUIVALENT INVESTMENTS" means (i) short-term obligations of, or
fully guaranteed by, the United States of America, (ii) commercial paper rated
A-1 or better by S&P or P-1 or better by Moody's, (iii) demand deposit accounts
maintained in the ordinary course of business, and (iv) certificates of deposit
issued by and time deposits with commercial banks (whether domestic or foreign)
having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000; provided in each case that
the same provides for payment of both principal and interest (and not principal
alone or interest alone) and is not subject to any contingency regarding the
payment of principal or interest.

         "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means (i) the acquisition by any Person, or two or
more Persons acting in concert, other than any such Person or Persons in the
Control Group, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of
25% or more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Borrower or Parent;
(ii) Parent shall cease to own, free and clear of all Liens or other
encumbrances, at least 100% of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the
Borrower on a fully diluted basis; (iii) the failure of W. T. Wamberg
("WAMBERG") to (a) continue to be bound under the Principal Office Agreement
between Borrower and Wamberg,, (b) continue to own the greater of (1) 5% of the
outstanding capital stock of Parent or (2) more of the outstanding capital stock
in Parent than any other person in the Control Group or (c) continue to act as
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Parent.

         "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or
otherwise modified from time to time.

         "COLLATERAL" means all of the assets (fixed and intangible) of Borrower
and Parent, including, without limitation, all of the outstanding capital stock
in Borrower, which Collateral is to be pledged to the Lenders pursuant to the
Collateral Documents.

         "COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS" means, collectively, (i) the Pledge and Security
Agreement dated of even date herewith executed by Borrower and Parent in favor
of Lenders pursuant to which Borrower and Lender pledged and granted a security
interest in the Collateral, and (ii) the Unlimited Guaranty dated of even date
herewith executed by Parent in favor of Lender.

         "COMMITMENT" means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to
make Loans not exceeding such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the Aggregate
Commitment.

         "COMMITMENT SCHEDULE" means the Schedule attached hereto identified as
such.

         "COMMITMENT PERCENTAGE" means, for each Lender, the percentage of the
Aggregate Commitment such Lender has committed to make available to the Borrower
as set forth in the Commitment Schedule, or 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 3
<PAGE>   10

as set forth in any Notice of Assignment relating to any assignment that has
become effective pursuant to Section 12.3.2, as such amount may be modified from
time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

         "CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" means, with reference to any
period, the Capital Expenditures of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated
on a consolidated basis for such period.

         "CONSOLIDATED EBITDA" means Consolidated Net Income plus, to the extent
deducted from revenues in determining Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated
Interest Expense, (ii) expense for taxes paid during such period, (iii)
depreciation, (iv) amortization and (v) extraordinary losses incurred other than
in the ordinary course of business and other than as a result of discontinuation
of operations, minus, to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income,
extraordinary gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business, all
calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
Consolidated EBITDA shall be adjusted if Borrower consummates a Permitted
Acquisition during the period in question to include the effect of (x) pro-forma
EBITDA for the company acquired (based on EBITDA [calculated in the same manner
as Consolidated EBITDA] of the company acquired for the four quarters preceding
the date of acquisition), which amount shall be adjusted, with the approval of
Required Lenders, to negate the effect of excessive salaries and quantifiable
non-recurring expenses ("ACQUISITION EBITDA") and (y) pro-forma interest to be
paid on any Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness incurred in connection with such
Acquisition (but only if such Acquisition occurs after the date of this
Agreement). The foregoing adjustment based on Acquisition EBITDA is conditioned
upon receipt and approval by Required Lenders of information substantiating such
adjustment, including, without limitation, audited financial statements (or,
with the consent of Required Lenders, compiled financial statements certified by
the Chief Financial Officer of Borrower) of the company acquired for the most
recently ended fiscal year.

         "CONSOLIDATED FUNDED INDEBTEDNESS" means at any time the aggregate
dollar amount of Consolidated Indebtedness which has actually been funded and is
outstanding at such time, whether or not such amount is due or payable at such
time, including, without limitation, all Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness.

         "CONSOLIDATED INDEBTEDNESS" means at any time the Indebtedness of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such
time.

         "CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE" means, with reference to any period,
the interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a
consolidated basis for such period (excluding fees paid to Agent and the Lenders
in connection with closing of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement).

         "CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with reference to any period, the net
income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a
consolidated basis for such period.

         "CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH" means at any time the consolidated
stockholders' equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a
consolidated basis as of such time.

         "CONTINGENT OBLIGATION" of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or
arrangement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently
agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or
is contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person, or
agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition
of any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person
against loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating
agreement, take-or-pay contract or the obligations of any such Person as general
partner of a partnership with respect to the liabilities of the partnership.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 4
<PAGE>   11



         "CONTROL GROUP" means the following individuals: Tom Wamberg, Mel Todd,
Tom Pyra, Larry Hendrickson, and Rich Chapman.

         "CONTROLLED GROUP" means all members of a controlled group of
corporations or other business entities and all trades or businesses (whether or
not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the
Code.

         "CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE" is defined in Section 2.9.

         "CORPORATE BASE RATE" means a rate per annum equal to the corporate
base rate of interest announced by Bank One from time to time, changing when and
as said corporate base rate changes.

         "DEFAULT" means an event described in Article VII.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means any and all federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to
(i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on
human health, (iii) emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants,
contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or
land, or (iv) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous
substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and any rule or regulation issued thereunder.

         "EURODOLLAR ADVANCE" means an Advance which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.11, bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.

         "EURODOLLAR BASE RATE" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance for
the relevant Interest Period, the applicable London interbank offered rate for
deposits in U.S. dollars appearing on Dow Jones Markets (Telerate) Page 3750 as
of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period, and having a maturity equal to such Interest Period, provided
that, if Dow Jones Markets (Telerate) Page 3750 is not available for any reason,
the applicable Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall
instead be the applicable London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S.
dollars appearing on Reuters Screen FRBD as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, and having a
maturity equal to such Interest Period.

         "EURODOLLAR LOAN" means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided in
Section 2.11, bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.

         "EURODOLLAR RATE" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance for the
relevant Interest Period, the sum of (i) the quotient of (a) the Eurodollar Base
Rate applicable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one minus the Reserve
Requirement (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such Interest Period, plus
the Applicable Margin. The Eurodollar Rate shall be rounded to the next higher
multiple of 1/16 of 1% if the rate is not such a multiple.

         "EXCESS CASH FLOW" means (i) Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii)
Consolidated Interest Expense, plus (iii) depreciation, plus (iv) amortization,
minus (v) payments of principal and interest on the Consolidated Funded
Indebtedness, minus (vi) Consolidated Capital Expenditures, each of which is to
be 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 5
<PAGE>   12

determined for the 12 month period immediately preceding the date of
determination in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "EXCLUDED TAXES" means, in the case of each Lender or applicable
Lending Installation and the Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and
franchise taxes imposed on it.

         "EXHIBIT" refers to an exhibit to this Agreement, unless another
document is specifically referenced.

         "EXTENSION DATE" is defined in Section 2.19.

         "EXTENSION REQUEST" is defined in Section 2.19.

         "FACILITY TERMINATION DATE" means, (i) with respect to each Term
Conversion, five (5) years after the date of such Term Conversion, and (ii) with
respect to the entire Revolving Credit Facility, December 31, 2006, or any later
date as may be specified as the Facility Termination Date in accordance with
Section 2.19.

         "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE" means, for any day, an interest rate per
annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal
funds brokers on such day, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Dallas,
Texas time) on such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three
Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Agent in its sole
discretion.

         "FINANCIAL CONTRACT" of a Person means (i) any exchange-traded or
over-the-counter futures, forward, swap or option contract or other financial
instrument with similar characteristics, or (ii) any agreements, devices or
arrangements providing for payments related to fluctuations of interest rates,
exchange rates, forward rates or commodity prices, including, but not limited
to, interest rate swap or exchange agreements, forward currency exchange
agreements, interest rate cap or collar protection agreements, forward rate
currency or interest rate options.

         "FLOATING RATE" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to (i) the
Alternate Base Rate for such day plus (ii) the Applicable Margin, in each case
changing when and as the Alternate Base Rate changes.

         "FLOATING RATE ADVANCE" means an Advance which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.11, bears interest at the Floating Rate.

         "FLOATING RATE LOAN" means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided
in Section 2.11, bears interest at the Floating Rate.

         "GUARANTOR" means Parent and its successors and assigns.

         "GUARANTY" means that certain Unlimited Guaranty dated as of the date
hereof executed by the Guarantor in favor of the Agent, for the ratable benefit
of the Lenders, as it may be amended or modified and in effect from time to
time.

         "INDEBTEDNESS" of a Person means such Person's (i) obligations for
borrowed money, (ii) obligations representing the deferred purchase price of
Property or services (other than accounts payable arising in the 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 6
<PAGE>   13

ordinary course of such Person's business payable on terms customary in the
trade), (iii) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable
out of the proceeds or production from Property now or hereafter owned or
acquired by such Person, (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes,
acceptances, or other instruments, (v) obligations of such Person to purchase
securities or other Property arising out of or in connection with the sale of
the same or substantially similar securities or Property, (vi) Capitalized Lease
Obligations, (vii) Contingent Obligations, (viii) Letters of Credit, (ix) Net
Mark-to-Market Exposure of Rate Hedging Agreements and other Financial
Contracts, (x) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities, (xi) Operating Lease Obligations,
(xii) Rate Hedging Obligations, (xiii) Sale and Leaseback Transactions and (xiv)
any other obligation for borrowed money or other financial accommodation which
in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles would be shown as a liability
on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

         "INTEREST PERIOD" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance, a period
of one, three, six or twelve months commencing on a Business Day selected by the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end on the day
which corresponds numerically to such date one, three, six or twelve months
thereafter, provided, however, that if there is no such numerically
corresponding day in such next, third, sixth or twelfth succeeding month, such
Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such next, third, sixth or
twelfth succeeding month. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day
which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next
succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that if said next succeeding
Business Day falls in a new calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on
the immediately preceding Business Day.

         "INVESTMENT" of a Person means any loan, advance (other than
commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the
ordinary course of business), extension of credit (other than accounts
receivable arising in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the
trade) or contribution of capital by such Person; stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
partnership interests, notes, debentures or other securities owned by such
Person; any deposit accounts and certificate of deposit owned by such Person;
and structured notes, derivative financial instruments and other similar
instruments or contracts owned by such Person.

         "LENDERS" means the lending institutions listed on the signature pages
of this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.

         "LENDING INSTALLATION" means, with respect to a Lender or the Agent,
the office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Agent listed
on the signature pages hereof or on a Schedule or otherwise selected by such
Lender or the Agent pursuant to Section 2.17.

         "LETTER OF CREDIT" of a Person means a letter of credit or similar
instrument which is issued upon the application of such Person or upon which
such Person is an account party or for which such Person is in any way liable.

         "LEVERAGE RATIO" means, as of any date of calculation, the ratio of (i)
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness outstanding on such date to (ii) Consolidated
EBITDA for the Borrower's then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters.

         "LIEN" means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference,
priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or
nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor or
lessor under any conditional sale, Capitalized Lease or other title retention
agreement).


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 7
<PAGE>   14



         "LOAN" means, with respect to a Lender, such Lender's loan made
pursuant to Article II (or any conversion or continuation thereof).

         "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement and any Term Notes or Revolving
Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.13, the Collateral Documents, the Guaranty
and any other agreement or instrument executed in connection herewith or
therewith.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse effect on (i) the
business, Property, condition (financial or otherwise), or results of operations
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the
Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a
party, or (iii) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or
the rights or remedies of the Agent or the Lenders thereunder.

         "MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS" is defined in Section 7.5.

         "MOODY'S" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

         "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" means a Plan maintained pursuant to a collective
bargaining agreement or any other arrangement to which the Borrower or any
member of the Controlled Group is a party to which more than one employer is
obligated to make contributions.

         "NET MARK-TO-MARKET EXPOSURE" of a Person means, as of any date of
determination, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized
profits of such Person arising from Rate Hedging Agreements. "Unrealized losses"
means the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing such Rate
Hedging Agreement as of the date of determination (assuming the Rate Hedging
Agreement were to be terminated as of that date), and "unrealized profits" means
the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Rate Hedging
Agreement as of the date of determination (assuming such Rate Hedging Agreement
were to be terminated as of that date).

         "NET PRESENT VALUE OF RENEWALS"means an amount equal to the product of
(i) the advance rate of 90%, times (ii) the applicable Persistency Rate, times
(iii) one minus the Assumed Expense Allowance, times (iv) the Present Value of
Renewals.

         "NON-U.S. LENDER" is defined in Section 3.5(iv).

         "NOTE" means any promissory note issued at the request of a Lender
pursuant to Section 2.13 in the form of Exhibit E-1 or E-2, as applicable.

         "NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT" is defined in Section 12.3.2.

         "OBLIGATIONS" means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid
interest on the Loans, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses,
reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders
or to any Lender, the Agent or any indemnified party arising under the Loan
Documents.

         "OFF-BALANCE SHEET LIABILITY" of a Person means (i) any repurchase
obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes
receivable sold by such Person, (ii) any liability under any Sale and Leaseback
Transaction which is not a Capitalized Lease, (iii) any liability under any
so-called "synthetic lease" transaction entered into by such Person, or (iv) any
obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional
equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 8
<PAGE>   15

constitute a liability on the balance sheets of such Person, but excluding from
this clause (iv) Operating Leases.

         "OPERATING LEASE" of a Person means any lease of Property (other than a
Capitalized Lease) by such Person as lessee which has an original term
(including any required renewals and any renewals effective at the option of the
lessor) of one year or more.

         "OPERATING LEASE OBLIGATIONS" means, as at any date of determination,
the amount obtained by aggregating the present values, determined in the case of
each particular Operating Lease by applying a discount rate (which discount rate
shall equal the discount rate which would be applied under Agreement Accounting
Principles if such Operating Lease were a Capitalized Lease) from the date on
which each fixed lease payment is due under such Operating Lease to such date of
determination, of all fixed lease payments due under all Operating Leases of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

         "OTHER TAXES" is defined in Section 3.5(ii).

         "PARENT" means Clark/Bardes Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, of
which Borrower is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

         "PARTICIPANTS" is defined in Section 12.2.1.

         "PAYMENT DATE" means the first (1st) day of each month.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor
thereto.

         "PERMITTED ACQUISITION" means (a) an Acquisition by the Borrower or an
Affiliate of the Borrower which is approved in writing by Required Lenders or
(b) an Acquisition by Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower of companies in
the same industry as the Borrower where (i) the total consideration for such
Acquisition is less than $7,500,000 and the cash portion of such total is less
than $5,000,000 and (ii) financial projections for the Borrower (together with
the entity to be acquired) for the period following such Acquisition (verified
by receipt by Required Lenders of information substantiating such projections,
including, without limitation, audited financial statements [or, with the
consent of Required Lenders, compiled financial statements certified by the
Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower] of the company acquired for the most
recently ended fiscal year, and approval by Required Lenders of the accuracy of
such information and the methodology employed in making such projections) is
delivered to Required Lenders, indicating that such acquisition will not cause
the Borrower to be in default of any covenant contained herein.

         "PERMITTED ACQUISITION INDEBTEDNESS" means Indebtedness incurred by the
Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower as a portion of the purchase price of a
Permitted Acquisition, which Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness and
otherwise on terms and conditions satisfactory to Agent.

         "PERMITTED EMPLOYEE AND PRODUCER LOANS" means (i) secured advances to
the Borrower's employees or producers in the aggregate not to exceed $1,000,000
and (ii) unsecured advances to the Borrower's employees or producers in the
aggregate not to exceed $50,000.

         "PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS" is defined in Section 6.11.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 9
<PAGE>   16



         "PERMITTED PURCHASE MONEY OBLIGATIONS" means purchase money obligations
(including capital leases) incurred in the ordinary course of business of the
Borrower which are not in excess of $750,000 outstanding at any one time.

         "PERMITTED REPURCHASE" is defined in Section 6.10.

         "PERSISTENCY RATE" means, for each 12 month period following the date
of this Agreement, the following percentages:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  ======================================================
                        Period                         Persistency Rate
                  ------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>
                    Month 1 through 12                             95%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Month 13 through 24                         90.25%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Month 25 through 36                         85.74%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Months 37 through 48                        81.45%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Months 49 through 60                        77.38%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Months 61 through 72                        73.51%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Months 73 through 84                        69.83%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Months 85 through 96                        66.34%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Months 97 through 108                       63.03%
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                    Months 109 through 120                      59.87%
                  ======================================================
</TABLE>

         "PERSON" means any natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture,
partnership, limited liability company, association, enterprise, trust or other
entity or organization, or any government or political subdivision or any
agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

         "PLAN" means an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title
IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the
Code as to which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group may have any
liability.

         "PRESENT VALUE OF RENEWALS" means the net commissions and fees to be
earned by Borrower (after deducting the amount required to be paid to the
producer thereof) on renewals of existing policies and contracts (excluding any
surrendered or lapsed policies or contracts and any policies or contracts for
which Borrower has received notice of non-renewal) for the 10 year period
following the date of determination, discounted to present value at a per annum
rate equal to twelve percent (12%).

         "PRICING SCHEDULE" means the Schedule attached hereto identified as
such.

         "PROPERTY" of a Person means any and all property, whether real,
personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned,
leased or operated by such Person.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 10
<PAGE>   17

         "PURCHASERS" is defined in Section 12.3.1.

         "RATE HEDGING AGREEMENT" means an agreement, device or arrangement
providing for payments which are related to fluctuations of interest rates,
exchange rates or forward rates, including, but not limited to,
dollar-denominated or cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements, forward
currency exchange agreements, interest rate cap or collar protection agreements,
forward rate currency or interest rate options, puts and warrants.

         "RATE HEDGING OBLIGATIONS" of a Person means any and all obligations of
such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever
created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and
modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any and all Rate
Hedging Agreements, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals,
terminations or assignments of any Rate Hedging Agreement.

         "REGULATION D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto
or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors
relating to reserve requirements applicable to member banks of the Federal
Reserve System.

         "REGULATION U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor or other
regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the
extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin
stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

         "RENTALS" of a Person means the aggregate fixed amounts payable by such
Person under any Operating Lease.

         "REPORTABLE EVENT" means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043
of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan,
excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation waived
the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days
of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet the
minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA
shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the
notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section
412(d) of the Code.

         "REPORTS" is defined in Section 9.6.

         "REQUIRED LENDERS" means Lenders in the aggregate having at least
66.67% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been
terminated, Lenders in the aggregate holding at least 51% of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the outstanding Advances.

         "RESERVE REQUIREMENT" means, with respect to an Interest Period, the
maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic, supplemental,
marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on Eurocurrency
liabilities.

         "REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY" is defined in Section 2.1.

         "REVOLVING CREDIT TERMINATION BALANCE" means the aggregate principal
amount of Advances under the Revolving Credit Facility outstanding on December
31 of each year after giving effect to any Advances made or repaid by such date,
and less the Working Capital Sublimit.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 11
<PAGE>   18



         "REVOLVING CREDIT TERMINATION DATE" means, (i) with respect to each
Term Conversion of a Year End Balance, December 31 of such year and (ii) with
respect to the entire Revolving Credit Facility, December 31, 2001 or any later
date as may be specified as the Revolving Credit Termination Date in accordance
with Section 2.19 or any earlier date on which the Aggregate Commitment is
reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

         "REVOLVING NOTE" is defined in Section 2.13.

         "S&P" means Standard and Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The
McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.

         "SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTION" means any sale or other transfer of
Property by any Person with the intent to lease such Property as lessee.

         "SCHEDULE" refers to a specific schedule to this Agreement, unless
another document is specifically referenced.

         "SECTION" means a numbered section of this Agreement, unless another
document is specifically referenced.

         "SINGLE EMPLOYER PLAN" means a Plan maintained by the Borrower or any
member of the Controlled Group for employees of the Borrower or any member of
the Controlled Group.

         "SUBORDINATED INDEBTEDNESS" of a Person means any Indebtedness of such
Person the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the Obligations to the
written satisfaction of the Required Lenders.

         "SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the
outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time
be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more
of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or
(ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or
similar business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having
ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a "Subsidiary"
shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower and a Subsidiary of Parent.

         "SUBSTANTIAL PORTION" means, with respect to the Property of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Property which (i) represents more than 15% of
the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as would be shown
in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the month in which such
determination is made, or (ii) is responsible for more than 15% of the
consolidated net sales or of the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial statements referred to in clause (i)
above.

         "TAXES" means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies,
imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities with
respect to the foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes.

         "TERM CONVERSION" is defined in Section 2.1.

         "TERM LOAN" means a term loan by the Lenders in accordance with their
Commitment Percentages, in the aggregate amount of $30,000,000.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 12
<PAGE>   19



         "TERM NOTE" is defined in Section 2.13.

         "TRANSFEREE" is defined in Section 12.4.

         "TYPE" means, with respect to any Advance, its nature as a Floating
Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Advance.

         "UNFUNDED LIABILITIES" means the amount (if any) by which the present
value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Single Employer
Plans exceeds the fair market value of all such Plan assets allocable to such
benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such
Plans and as if such Plans were terminated on that date.

         "UNMATURED DEFAULT" means an event which but for the lapse of time or
the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.

         "WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary all of
the outstanding voting securities of which shall at the time be owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint venture or similar business organization 100% of the
ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be
so owned or controlled.

         "WORKING CAPITAL SUBLIMIT" means that portion of the Revolving Credit
Facility which shall be used solely for working capital and other general
corporate purposes, which shall not exceed $5,000,000.

         "YEAR END BALANCE" is defined in Section 2.1.

         "YEAR 2000 PROBLEM" means any significant risk that computer hardware
or software used in the Borrower's business or operations will not in the case
of any dates or time periods occurring after December 31, 1999 function at least
as effectively as in the case of dates or time periods occurring prior to
January 1, 2000.

         "YEAR 2000 PROGRAM" is defined in Section 5.19.

         The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS

         2.1  Commitments.


              2.1.1. Revolving Credit Facility. From and including the date of
this Agreement and prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date, each Lender
severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to
make revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time in amounts not to exceed
in the aggregate at any one time outstanding the amount of its Commitment
Percentage of the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base or (ii) $35,000,000 (the
"REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY"). Subject to the terms of this

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 13
<PAGE>   20

Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow under the Revolving
Credit Facility at any time prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
Commencing on December 31, 1999, and continuing on December 31 of each year
until the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Revolving Credit Termination
Balance on such date (the "YEAR END BALANCE") shall convert (a "TERM
CONVERSION") to a term loan, to be repaid as provided in Section 2.2. Each
Lender's Commitment to lend under the Revolving Credit Facility shall (i) be
reduced by its Commitment Percentage of the term loans resulting from each Term
Conversion and (ii) expire on the Revolving Credit Termination Date. Principal
payments made (a) on such Year End Balances and (b) after the Revolving Credit
Termination Date, may not be reborrowed. The Revolving Credit Facility (other
than the Working Capital Sublimit, which shall be used for the purposes set
forth in the definition thereof) shall be used solely for (x) the purchase of
assets used in the ordinary course or Borrower's business and (y) Permitted
Acquisitions.

              2.1.2. Term Loan. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make it's Commitment Percentage of
the Term Loan to the Borrower in two Advances as follows:

              (i)   the first Advance under the Term Loan in the amount of
              $25,000,000 upon request therefor by Borrower (not to exceed 11
              Business Days after the date of this Agreement); and

              (ii)  the final Advance under the Term Loan in the amount of
              $5,000,000 upon request therefor by Borrower (not to exceed 90
              days after the date of this Agreement).

         2.2  Required Payments; Termination.

              2.2.1. Year End Balances. Commencing on the last day of March
         following each Term Conversion, and continuing on the last day of each
         June, September, December and March thereafter until paid in full,
         Borrower shall make a principal payment (in addition to the interest
         payments required by Section 2.15) on the Year End Balances to Agent
         for the account of each Lender in an amount equal to the Year End
         Balance of such Term Conversion, divided by twenty (20).

              2.2.2. Term Loan. Commencing on the last day of March, 1999, and
         continuing on the last day of each June, September, December and March
         thereafter until paid in full, Borrower shall make a principal payment
         (in addition to the interest payments required by Section 2.15) on the
         Term Loan to Agent for the account of each Lender in an amount equal to
         $1,250,000. The Term Loan shall be payable in full on December 31,
         2004.

              2.2.3. Other Mandatory Principal Payments. In addition to the
         principal payments provided for above in Sections 2.2.1 and 2.2.2,
         Borrower shall pay to Agent for the account of each Lender 100% of the
         net cash proceeds (i.e. gross cash proceeds less ordinary and
         reasonable closing costs) of (i) the sale of accounts receivable or
         renewals, and (ii) the issuance of other Indebtedness other than
         Permitted Indebtedness (without implying the Lenders' consent to any
         such Indebtedness except as specifically provided herein). In addition,
         Borrower shall pay to Agent for the account of each Lender an annual
         payment (on March 31 of each year) of principal in an amount equal to
         sixty-five percent (65%) of Excess Cash Flow. If Borrower's
         Consolidated Funded Indebtedness exceeds eighty percent (80%) of the
         Net Present Value of Renewals as of the end of any of the four (4)
         calendar quarters preceding such date, then the mandatory prepayment
         required by the previous sentence shall be increased to eighty-five
         percent (85%) of Excess Cash Flow. Any mandatory prepayment under this
         Section 2.2.3 shall be applied first to the Term Loan, second to any
         then 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 14
<PAGE>   21

         existing portion of the Loan which is the subject of a Term Conversion,
         and third to the remainder of the Revolving Credit Facility, in each
         instance in the inverse order of maturity.

              2.2.4. Revolving Credit Facility. On the Revolving Credit
         Termination Date which relates to the entire Revolving Credit Facility,
         Borrower shall pay to Agent for the account of each Lender, the
         outstanding balance of the Working Capital Sublimit of the Revolving
         Credit Facility, together with any accrued but unpaid interest, and any
         unpaid fees and expenses relating thereto.

Any outstanding Advances and all other unpaid Obligations shall be paid in full
by the Borrower on the Facility Termination Date.

         2.3. Ratable Loans. Each Advance hereunder shall consist of Loans made
from the several Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitment
Percentages.

         2.4. Types of Advances. The Advances may be Floating Rate Advances or
Eurodollar Advances, or a combination thereof, selected by the Borrower in
accordance with Sections 2.8 and 2.9.

         2.5. Commitment Fee; Reductions in Aggregate Commitment. The Borrower
agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee at a
per annum rate equal to the Applicable Fee Rate on the daily unused portion of
such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the maximum amount of the Revolving
Credit Facility from the date hereof to and including the Revolving Credit
Termination Date, payable at the end of each calendar quarter hereafter and on
the Revolving Credit Termination Date. In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay
to the Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee at a per annum rate
equal to the Applicable Fee Rate on such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the
amount of the Term Loan not yet advanced from the date hereof to and including
the date that the Term Loan is fully advanced, payable on the dates of the
Advances under the Term Loan as provided in Section 2.1.2. The Borrower may
permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment (which shall also result in a
reduction in the commitment fee provided for in the first sentence of this
Section) in whole, or in part ratably among the Lenders in integral multiples of
$5,000,000, upon at least three Business Days' written notice to the Agent,
which notice shall specify the amount of any such reduction, provided, however,
that the amount of the Aggregate Commitment may not be reduced below the
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Advances. All accrued commitment
fees shall be payable on the effective date of any termination of the
obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

         2.6. Minimum Amount of Each Advance. Each Eurodollar Advance and each
Floating Rate Advance shall be in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 (and in
multiples of $100,000 if in excess thereof), provided, however, that any
Floating Rate Advance may be in the amount of the unused Aggregate Commitment.

         2.7. Optional Principal Payments. The Borrower may from time to time
pay, without penalty or premium, all outstanding Floating Rate Advances, or, in
a minimum aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple of $100,000 in
excess thereof, any portion of the outstanding Floating Rate Advances upon one
Business Days' prior notice to the Agent. The Borrower may from time to time
pay, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by
Section 3.4 but without penalty or premium, all outstanding Eurodollar Advances,
or, in a minimum aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple of
$100,000 in excess thereof, any portion of the outstanding Eurodollar Advances
upon three Business Days' prior notice to the Agent. Prior to the occurrence of
an Unmatured Default, principal payments shall be applied to the Loans as
determined by Borrower; after the occurrence of an Unmatured Default, principal
payments shall be applied to the Loans as determined by Required Lenders. In any
event, principal installments applied to the Term Loan shall be applied in the
inverse order of maturity.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 15
<PAGE>   22



         2.8. Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Advances.
The Borrower shall select the Type of Advance and, in the case of each
Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period applicable thereto from time to time.
The Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable notice (a "BORROWING NOTICE") not
later than 10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) at least one Business Day before the
Borrowing Date of each Floating Rate Advance and three Business Days before the
Borrowing Date for each Eurodollar Advance, specifying:

         (i)   the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such 
         Advance,

         (ii)  the aggregate amount of such Advance,

         (iii) the Type of Advance selected, and

         (iv) in the case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period
         applicable thereto.

Not later than noon (Dallas, Texas time) on each Borrowing Date, each Lender
shall make available its Loan or Loans in funds immediately available in Dallas,
Texas to the Agent at its address specified pursuant to Article XIII. The Agent
will make the funds so received from the Lenders available to the Borrower at
the Agent's aforesaid address. Borrower shall be entitled to no more than five
(5) Eurodollar Loans outstanding at any one time.

         2.9. Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances. Floating Rate
Advances shall continue as Floating Rate Advances unless and until such Floating
Rate Advances are converted into Eurodollar Advances pursuant to this Section
2.9 or are repaid in accordance with Section 2.7. Each Eurodollar Advance shall
continue as a Eurodollar Advance until the end of the then applicable Interest
Period therefor, at which time such Eurodollar Advance shall be automatically
converted into a Floating Rate Advance unless (x) such Eurodollar Advance is or
was repaid in accordance with Section 2.7 or (y) the Borrower shall have given
the Agent a Conversion/Continuation Notice (as defined below) requesting that,
at the end of such Interest Period, such Eurodollar Advance continue as a
Eurodollar Advance for the same or another Interest Period. Subject to the terms
of Section 2.6, the Borrower may elect from time to time to convert all or any
part of a Floating Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Advance. The Borrower shall
give the Agent irrevocable notice (a "CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE") of each
conversion of a Floating Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Advance or continuation
of a Eurodollar Advance not later than 10:00 a.m. (Dallas, Texas time) at least
three Business Days prior to the date of the requested conversion or
continuation, specifying:

         (i)   the requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such
         conversion or continuation,

         (ii)  the aggregate amount and Type of the Advance which is to be
         converted or continued, and

         (iii) the amount of such Advance which is to be converted into or
         continued as a Eurodollar Advance and the duration of the Interest
         Period applicable thereto.

         2.10. Changes in Interest Rate, etc. Each Floating Rate Advance shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and
including the date such Advance is made or is automatically converted from a
Eurodollar Advance into a Floating Rate Advance pursuant to Section 2.9, to but
excluding the date it is paid or is converted into a Eurodollar Advance pursuant
to Section 2.9 hereof, at a rate per annum equal to the Floating Rate for such
day. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 16
<PAGE>   23

of any Advance maintained as a Floating Rate Advance will take effect
simultaneously with each change in the Alternate Base Rate. Each Eurodollar
Advance shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from and
including the first day of the Interest Period applicable thereto to (but not
including) the last day of such Interest Period at the interest rate determined
by the Agent as applicable to such Eurodollar Advance based upon the Borrower's
selections under Sections 2.8 and 2.9 and otherwise in accordance with the terms
hereof. No Interest Period may end after the Facility Termination Date.

         2.11. Rates Applicable After Default. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 2.8 or 2.9, during the continuance of a Default or
Unmatured Default the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the
Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders
notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.2 requiring unanimous consent of the
Lenders to changes in interest rates), declare that no Advance may be made as,
converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Advance. During the continuance of a
Default the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower
(which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders
notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.2 requiring unanimous consent of the
Lenders to changes in interest rates), declare that (i) each Eurodollar Advance
shall bear interest for the remainder of the applicable Interest Period at the
rate otherwise applicable to such Interest Period plus 3% per annum and (ii)
each Floating Rate Advance shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the
Floating Rate in effect from time to time plus 3% per annum, provided that,
during the continuance of a Default under Section 7.6 or 7.7, the interest rates
set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above shall be applicable to all Advances
without any election or action on the part of the Agent or any Lender.

         2.12. Method of Payment. All payments of the Obligations hereunder
shall be made, without setoff, deduction, or counterclaim, in immediately
available funds to the Agent at the Agent's address specified pursuant to
Article XIII, or at any other Lending Installation of the Agent specified in
writing by the Agent to the Borrower, by noon (local time) on the date when due
and shall be applied ratably by the Agent among the Lenders. Each payment
delivered to the Agent for the account of any Lender shall be delivered promptly
by the Agent to such Lender in the same type of funds that the Agent received at
its address specified pursuant to Article XIII or at any Lending Installation
specified in a notice received by the Agent from such Lender. The Agent is
hereby authorized to charge the account of the Borrower maintained with Bank One
for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder.

         2.13. Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness. (i) Each Lender
shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts
evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each
Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal
and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

         (ii)  The Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record 
(a) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest
Period with respect thereto, (b) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder
and (c) the amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder from the Borrower
and each Lender's share thereof.

         (iii) The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to
paragraphs (i) and (ii) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and
amounts of the Obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure
of the Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall
not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Obligations
in accordance with their terms.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 17
<PAGE>   24



         (iv)  Any Lender may request that its Loans under the Term Loan be
evidenced by a promissory note (a "TERM NOTE"). In such event, the Borrower
shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Term Note payable to the
order of such Lender in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E-1. Thereafter, the
Loans evidenced by such Term Note and interest thereon shall at all times
(including after any assignment pursuant to Section 12.3) be represented by one
or more Term Notes payable to the order of the payee named therein or any
assignee pursuant to Section 12.3, except to the extent that any such Lender or
assignee subsequently returns any such Term Note for cancellation and requests
that such Loans once again be evidenced as described in paragraphs (i) and (ii)
above.

         (v)   Any Lender may request that its Loans under the Revolving Credit
Facility be evidenced by a promissory note (a "REVOLVING NOTE"). In such event,
the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Revolving Note
payable to the order of such Lender in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E-2.
Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such Revolving Note and interest thereon
shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to Section 12.3) be
represented by one or more Revolving Notes payable to the order of the payee
named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 12.3, except to the extent
that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such Revolving Note
for cancellation and requests that such Loans once again be evidenced as
described in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.

         2.14. Telephonic Notices. The Borrower hereby authorizes the Lenders
and the Agent to extend, convert or continue Advances, effect selections of
Types of Advances and to transfer funds based on telephonic notices made by any
person or persons the Agent or any Lender in good faith believes to be acting on
behalf of the Borrower, it being understood that the foregoing authorization is
specifically intended to allow Borrowing Notices and Conversion/Continuation
Notices to be given telephonically. The Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to
the Agent a written confirmation, if such confirmation is requested by the Agent
or any Lender, of each telephonic notice signed by an Authorized Officer. If the
written confirmation differs in any material respect from the action taken by
the Agent and the Lenders, the records of the Agent and the Lenders shall govern
absent manifest error.

         2.15. Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis. Interest accrued
on each Floating Rate Advance shall be payable on each Payment Date, commencing
with the first such date to occur after the date hereof and at maturity.
Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Advance shall be payable on the last day of
its applicable Interest Period, on any date on which the Eurodollar Advance is
prepaid, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and at maturity. Interest accrued
on each Eurodollar Advance having an Interest Period longer than three months
shall also be payable on the last day of each three-month interval during such
Interest Period. Interest and commitment fees shall be calculated for actual
days elapsed on the basis of a 360-day year. Interest shall be payable for the
day an Advance is made but not for the day of any payment on the amount paid if
payment is received prior to noon (local time) at the place of payment. If any
payment of principal of or interest on an Advance shall become due on a day
which is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding
Business Day and, in the case of a principal payment, such extension of time
shall be included in computing interest in connection with such payment.

         2.16. Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and
Commitment Reductions. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Agent will notify
each Lender of the contents of each Aggregate Commitment reduction notice,
Borrowing Notice, Conversion/Continuation Notice, and repayment notice received
by it hereunder. The Agent will notify each Lender of the interest rate
applicable to each Eurodollar Advance promptly upon determination of such
interest rate and will give each Lender prompt notice of each change in the
Alternate Base Rate.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 18
<PAGE>   25



         2.17. Lending Installations. Each Lender may book its Loans at any
Lending Installation selected by such Lender and may change its Lending
Installation from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any
such Lending Installation and the Loans and any Notes issued hereunder shall be
deemed held by each Lender for the benefit of any such Lending Installation.
Each Lender may, by written notice to the Agent and the Borrower in accordance
with Article XIII, designate replacement or additional Lending Installations
through which Loans will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are
to be made.

         2.18. Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent. Unless the Borrower or a
Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Agent prior to the date on which it is
scheduled to make payment to the Agent of (i) in the case of a Lender, the
proceeds of a Loan or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, a payment of principal,
interest or fees to the Agent for the account of the Lenders, that it does not
intend to make such payment, the Agent may assume that such payment has been
made. The Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the amount of such
payment available to the intended recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If
such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, has not in fact made such
payment to the Agent, the recipient of such payment shall, on demand by the
Agent, repay to the Agent the amount so made available together with interest
thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such
amount was so made available by the Agent until the date the Agent recovers such
amount at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of payment by a Lender, the
Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day for the first three days and,
thereafter, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan or (y) in the case
of payment by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan.

         2.19. Extension of Revolving Credit Termination Date. The Borrower may
request an extension of the Revolving Credit Termination Date by submitting a
request for an extension to the Agent (an "EXTENSION REQUEST") no more than 60
days prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date. The Extension Request must
specify the new Revolving Credit Termination Date requested by the Borrower and
the date (which must be at least 30 days after the Extension Request is
delivered to the Agent) as of which the Lenders must respond to the Extension
Request (the "RESPONSE DATE"). The new Revolving Credit Termination Date shall
be no more than 364 days after the Revolving Credit Termination Date in effect
at the time the Extension Request is received, including the Revolving Credit
Termination Date as one of the days in the calculation of the days elapsed.
Promptly upon receipt of an Extension Request, the Agent shall notify each
Lender of the contents thereof and shall request each Lender to approve the
Extension Request. Each Lender approving the Extension Request shall deliver its
written consent no later than the Response Date. If the consent of each of the
Lenders is received by the Agent, the Revolving Credit Termination Date
specified in the Extension Request shall become effective on the existing
Revolving Credit Termination Date and the Agent shall promptly notify the
Borrower and each Lender of the new Revolving Credit Termination Date.

         2.20. Replacement of Lender. If the Borrower is required pursuant to
Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.5 to make any additional payment to any Lender or if any
Lender's obligation to make or continue, or to convert Floating Rate Advances
into, Eurodollar Advances shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.3 (any Lender
so affected an "AFFECTED LENDER"), the Borrower may elect, if such amounts
continue to be charged or such suspension is still effective, to replace such
Affected Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that no Default or
Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such
replacement, and provided further that, concurrently with such replacement, (i)
another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower
and the Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Advances
and other Obligations due to the Affected Lender pursuant to an assignment
substantially in the form of Exhibit C and to become a Lender for all purposes
under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Affected Lender to be
terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of Section 12.3
applicable to assignments, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Affected
Lender in same day 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 19
<PAGE>   26

funds on the day of such replacement all interest, fees and other amounts then
accrued but unpaid to such Affected Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and
including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to
such Affected Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5.

                                   ARTICLE III

                             YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES

         3.1. Yield Protection. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the
adoption of any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation,
policy, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law), or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental or
quasi-governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender or
applicable Lending Installation with any request or directive (whether or not
having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency:

         (i)   subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation to any
         Taxes, or changes the basis of taxation of payments (other than with
         respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Lender in respect of its Eurodollar
         Loans, or

         (ii)  imposes or increases or deems applicable any reserve, assessment
         insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets
         of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any
         Lender or any applicable Lending Installation (other than reserves and
         assessments taken into account in determining the interest rate
         applicable to Eurodollar Advances), or

         (iii) imposes any other condition the result of which is to increase
         the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation of
         making, funding or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans or reduces any
         amount receivable by any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation
         in connection with its Eurodollar Loans, or requires any Lender or any
         applicable Lending Installation to make any payment calculated by
         reference to the amount of Eurodollar Loans held or interest received
         by it, by an amount deemed material by such Lender,

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or
applicable Lending Installation of making or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans or
Commitment or to reduce the return received by such Lender or applicable Lending
Installation in connection with such Eurodollar Loans or Commitment, then,
within 30 days of demand by such Lender and delivery to the Borrower of a
certified calculation of the amounts owed hereunder, the Borrower shall pay such
Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such
increased cost or reduction in amount received.

         3.2. Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations. If a Lender determines
the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender, any
Lending Installation of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender
is increased as a result of a Change, then, within 30 days of demand by such
Lender and delivery to the Borrower of a certified calculation of the amounts
owed hereunder, the Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount necessary to
compensate for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such
increased capital which such Lender determines is attributable to this
Agreement, its Loans or its Commitment to make Loans hereunder (after taking
into account such Lender's policies as to capital adequacy). "CHANGE" means (i)
any change after the date of this Agreement in the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines
or (ii) any adoption of or change in any other law, governmental or
quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline, interpretation, or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) after the date of this
Agreement which affects the amount of capital required or expected to be
maintained by any 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 20
<PAGE>   27

Lender or any Lending Installation or any corporation controlling any Lender.
"RISK-BASED CAPITAL GUIDELINES" means (i) the risk-based capital guidelines in
effect in the United States on the date of this Agreement, including transition
rules, and (ii) the corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory
authorities outside the United States implementing the July 1988 report of the
Basle Committee on Banking Regulation and Supervisory Practices Entitled
"International Convergence of Capital Measurements and Capital Standards,"
including transition rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior
to the date of this Agreement.

         3.3. Availability of Types of Advances. If any Lender determines that
maintenance of its Eurodollar Loans at a suitable Lending Installation would
violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, or directive, whether or not
having the force of law, or if the Required Lenders determine that (i) deposits
of a type and maturity appropriate to match fund Eurodollar Advances are not
available or (ii) the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Advances does not
accurately reflect the cost of making or maintaining Eurodollar Advances, then
the Agent shall suspend the availability of Eurodollar Advances and require any
affected Eurodollar Advances to be repaid or converted to Floating Rate
Advances, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required
by Section 3.4.

         3.4. Funding Indemnification. If any payment of a Eurodollar Advance
occurs on a date which is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period,
whether because of acceleration, prepayment (other than prepayments pursuant to
Section 2.2.3) or otherwise, or a Eurodollar Advance is not made on the date
specified by the Borrower for any reason other than default by the Lenders, the
Borrower will indemnify each Lender for any loss or cost incurred by it
resulting therefrom, including, without limitation, any loss or cost in
liquidating or employing deposits acquired to fund or maintain such Eurodollar
Advance.

         3.5. Taxes. (i) All payments by the Borrower to or for the account of
any Lender or the Agent hereunder or under any Note shall be made free and clear
of and without deduction for any and all Taxes. If the Borrower shall be
required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable
hereunder to any Lender or the Agent, (a) the sum payable shall be increased as
necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.5) such Lender or the
Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have
received had no such deductions been made, (b) the Borrower shall make such
deductions, (c) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant
authority in accordance with applicable law and (d) the Borrower shall furnish
to the Agent the original copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof within 30
days after such payment is made.

         (ii)  In addition, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or
future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes,
charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under
any Note or from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to,
this Agreement or any Note ("OTHER TAXES").

         (iii) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent and each Lender
for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any
Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on amounts payable under this Section 3.5) paid by
the Agent or such Lender and any liability (including penalties, interest and
expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. Payments due under this
indemnification shall be made within 30 days of the date the Agent or such
Lender makes demand therefor pursuant to Section 3.6.

         (iv)  Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America or a state thereof (each a "NON-U.S. LENDER") agrees that it
will, not less than ten Business Days after the date of this Agreement, (i)
deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent two duly completed copies of
United States 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 21
<PAGE>   28

Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224, certifying in either case that such
Lender is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes, and (ii) deliver to each
of the Borrower and the Agent a United States Internal Revenue Form W-8 or W-9,
as the case may be, and certify that it is entitled to an exemption from United
States backup withholding tax. Each Non-U.S. Lender further undertakes to
deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent (x) renewals or additional copies
of such form (or any successor form) on or before the date that such form
expires or becomes obsolete, and (y) after the occurrence of any event requiring
a change in the most recent forms so delivered by it, such additional forms or
amendments thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent.
All forms or amendments described in the preceding sentence shall certify that
such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without
deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes, unless an
event (including without limitation any change in treaty, law or regulation) has
occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be
required which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such
Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form or amendment with
respect to it and such Lender advises the Borrower and the Agent that it is not
capable of receiving payments without any deduction or withholding of United
States federal income tax.

         (v)   For any period during which a Non-U.S. Lender has failed to 
provide the Borrower with an appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv), above
(unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental
authority, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was
required to be provided), such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to
indemnification under this Section 3.5 with respect to Taxes imposed by the
United States; provided that, should a Non-U.S. Lender which is otherwise exempt
from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes
because of its failure to deliver a form required under clause (iv), above, the
Borrower shall take such steps as such Non-U.S. Lender shall reasonably request
to assist such Non-U.S. Lender to recover such Taxes.

         (vi)  Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of
withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement or any Note
pursuant to the law of any relevant jurisdiction or any treaty shall deliver to
the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent), at the time or times prescribed by
applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by
applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at
a reduced rate.

         (vii) If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental
authority of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision
thereof asserts a claim that the Agent did not properly withhold tax from
amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form
was not delivered or properly completed, because such Lender failed to notify
the Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered its exemption from
withholding ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify
the Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Agent as
tax, withholding therefor, or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and
including taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to the Agent
under this subsection, together with all costs and expenses related thereto
(including attorneys fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which
attorneys may be employees of the Agent). The obligations of the Lenders under
this Section 3.5(vii) shall survive the payment of the Obligations and
termination of this Agreement.

         3.6. Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity. To the extent reasonably
possible, each Lender shall designate an alternate Lending Installation with
respect to its Eurodollar Loans to reduce any liability of the Borrower to such
Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5 or to avoid the unavailability of
Eurodollar Advances under Section 3.3, so long as such designation is not, in
the judgment of such Lender, 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 22
<PAGE>   29

disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Lender shall deliver a written statement of
such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) as to the amount due, if
any, under Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5. Such written statement shall set forth
in reasonable detail the calculations upon which such Lender determined such
amount and shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Borrower in the absence
of manifest error. Determination of amounts payable under such Sections in
connection with a Eurodollar Loan shall be calculated as though each Lender
funded its Eurodollar Loan through the purchase of a deposit of the type and
maturity corresponding to the deposit used as a reference in determining the
Eurodollar Rate applicable to such Loan, whether in fact that is the case or
not. Unless otherwise provided herein, the amount specified in the written
statement of any Lender shall be payable on demand after receipt by the Borrower
of such written statement. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections 3.1,
3.2, 3.4 and 3.5 shall survive payment of the Obligations and termination of
this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         4.1. Initial Advance. The Lenders shall not be required to make the
initial Advance hereunder unless the Borrower has furnished to the Agent:

         (i)    Copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation of the
Borrower and each Guarantor, together with all amendments, and a certificate of
good standing, each certified by the appropriate governmental officer in its
jurisdiction of incorporation.

         (ii)   Copies, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the
Borrower and each Guarantor, of their by-laws and of their Board of Directors'
resolutions and of resolutions or actions of any other body authorizing the
execution of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower and each Guarantor is a
party.

         (iii)  An incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or 
Assistant Secretary of the Borrower and each Guarantor, which shall identify by
name and title and bear the signatures of the Authorized Officers and any other
officers of the Borrower and such Guarantor authorized to sign the Loan
Documents to which the Borrower and each Guarantor is a party, upon which
certificate the Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed
of any change in writing by the Borrower or a Guarantor.

         (iv)   A certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of the
Borrower, stating that on the initial Borrowing Date no Default or Unmatured
Default has occurred and is continuing.

         (v)    A written opinion of the Borrower's and Guarantors' counsel,
addressed to the Lenders in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

         (vi)   Any Notes requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.13 payable
to the order of each such requesting Lender.

         (vii)  Written money transfer instructions, in substantially the form 
of Exhibit D, addressed to the Agent and signed by an Authorized Officer,
together with such other related money transfer authorizations as the Agent may
have reasonably requested.

         (viii) Information satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Lenders
regarding the Borrower's Year 2000 Program.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 23
<PAGE>   30

         (ix)   The Collateral Documents, fully executed by all parties thereto.

         (x)    The insurance certificate described in Section 5.20.

         (xi)   A list of all existing insurance policies and contracts included
in the current calculation of Net Present Value of Renewals, certified as true
and correct by the chief financial officer of Borrower.

         (xii)  Such other documents as any Lender or its counsel may have
reasonably requested.

         4.2.   Each Advance. The Lenders shall not be required to make any
Advance unless on the applicable Borrowing Date:

                (i)     There exists no Default or Unmatured Default.

                (ii)    The representations and warranties contained in Article 
         V are true and correct as of such Borrowing Date except to the extent
         any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an
         earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have
         been true and correct on and as of such earlier date.

                  (iii) All legal matters incident to the making of such Advance
         shall be satisfactory to the Lenders and their counsel.

         Each Borrowing Notice with respect to each such Advance shall
constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions
contained in Sections 4.2(i) and (ii) have been satisfied. Any Lender may
require a duly completed compliance certificate in substantially the form of
Exhibit B as a condition to making an Advance.

                                    ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


         The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

         5.1. Existence and Standing. Each of the Borrower, Parent and their
respective Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership (in the case of
Subsidiaries only) or limited liability company duly and properly incorporated
or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such
concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority to
conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted.

         5.2. Authorization and Validity. The Borrower has the power and
authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it
is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery
by the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the performance
of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper corporate
proceedings, and the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party constitute
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the
Borrower in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 24
<PAGE>   31



         5.3. No Conflict; Government Consent. Neither the execution and
delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, nor the
consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the
provisions thereof will violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or (ii) the Borrower's or any Subsidiary's articles or certificate
of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, articles or
certificate of organization, by-laws, or operating or other management
agreement, as the case may be, or (iii) the provisions of any indenture,
instrument or agreement to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or is subject, or by which it, or its Property, is bound, or conflict with
or constitute a default thereunder, or result in, or require, the creation or
imposition of any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower or a Subsidiary
pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement. No order,
consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or
filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in
respect of any governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision
thereof, which has not been obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
is required to be obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings
under this Agreement, the payment and performance by the Borrower of the
Obligations or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any
of the Loan Documents.

         5.4. Financial Statements. The September 30, 1998, consolidated
financial statements of the Parent, Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries
heretofore delivered to the Lenders were prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in effect on the date such statements were
prepared and fairly present the consolidated financial condition and operations
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated results
of their operations for the period then ended.

         5.5. Material Adverse Change. Since September 30, 1998 there has been
no change in the business, Property, prospects, condition (financial or
otherwise) or results of operations of the Parent, Borrower and their respective
Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         5.6. Taxes. The Parent, Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries have
filed all United States federal tax returns and all other tax returns which are
required to be filed and have paid all taxes due pursuant to said returns or
pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
except such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which
adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with Agreement Accounting
Principles. No tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with
respect to any such taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental
charges are adequate. If the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a limited
liability company, each such limited liability company qualifies for partnership
tax treatment under United States federal tax law.

         5.7. Litigation and Contingent Obligations. There is no litigation,
arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or, to
the knowledge of any of their officers, threatened against or affecting the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect or which seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay the making of
any Loans. Other than any liability incident to any litigation, arbitration or
proceeding which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, the Borrower has no material contingent obligations not provided for or
disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4.

         5.8. Subsidiaries. Schedule 1 contains an accurate list of all
Subsidiaries of Parent and the Borrower as of the date of this Agreement,
setting forth their respective jurisdictions of organization and the 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 25
<PAGE>   32

percentage of their respective capital stock or other ownership interests owned
by Parent, the Borrower or other Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of such Subsidiaries have
been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership
interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

         5.9.  ERISA. The Unfunded Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans do
not in the aggregate exceed $500,000. Neither the Borrower nor any other member
of the Controlled Group has incurred, or is reasonably expected to incur, any
withdrawal liability to Multiemployer Plans in excess of $500,000 in the
aggregate. Each Plan complies in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of law and regulations, no Reportable Event has occurred with
respect to any Plan, neither the Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled
Group has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated steps to do so, and no steps have
been taken to reorganize or terminate any Plan.

         5.10. Accuracy of Information. No information, exhibit or report
furnished by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Agent or to any
Lender in connection with the negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan
Documents contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a
material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading.

         5.11. Regulation U. Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U)
constitutes less than 25% of the value of those assets of Parent, the Borrower
and their Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or
other restriction hereunder.

         5.12. Material Agreements. Neither Parent, the Borrower nor any of
their Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any
charter or other corporate restriction which could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent, the Borrower nor any of their
Subsidiaries is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any
of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in (i) any agreement to
which it is a party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing Indebtedness in excess of $50,000.

         5.13. Compliance With Laws. Parent, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries
have complied in all material respects with all applicable statutes, rules,
regulations, orders and restrictions of any domestic or foreign government or
any instrumentality or agency thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct of
their respective businesses or the ownership of their respective Property.

         5.14. Ownership of Properties. Except as set forth on Schedule 2, on
the date of this Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will have good
title, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.15, to all of
the Property and assets reflected in the Borrower's most recent consolidated
financial statements provided to the Agent as owned by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.

         5.15. Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. Neither Parent nor the
Borrower is an entity deemed to hold "plan assets" within the meaning of 29
C.F.R. ss. 2510.3-101 of an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA) which is subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Code), neither the execution of this Agreement nor the
making of Loans hereunder gives rise to a prohibited transaction within the
meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, and "benefit plan
investors" (as defined in 29 C.F.R. ss. 2510.3-101(f)) do not own 25% or more of
the value of any class of equity interests in the Borrower.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 26
<PAGE>   33



         5.16. Environmental Matters. In the ordinary course of its business,
the officers of the Borrower consider the effect of Environmental Laws on the
business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which they
identify and evaluate potential risks and liabilities accruing to the Borrower
due to Environmental Laws. On the basis of this consideration, the Borrower has
concluded that Environmental Laws cannot reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received
any notice to the effect that its operations are not in material compliance with
any of the requirements of applicable Environmental Laws or are the subject of
any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is
needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into
the environment, which non-compliance or remedial action could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.17. Investment Company Act. Neither Borrower nor Parent is an
"investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company",
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         5.18. Public Utility Holding Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary is a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company", or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company"
of a "holding company", within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended.

         5.19. Year 2000. The Borrower has made a full and complete assessment
of any potential Year 2000 Problems and has a realistic and achievable program
for remediating such Year 2000 Problems on a timely basis (the "YEAR 2000
PROGRAM"). Based on such assessment and on the Year 2000 Program the Borrower
does not reasonably anticipate that Year 2000 Problems will have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         5.20. Insurance. The certificate signed by the President or Chief
Financial Officer of the Borrower, that attests to the existence and adequacy
of, and summarizes, the property and casualty insurance program carried by the
Borrower with respect to itself and its Subsidiaries and that has been furnished
by the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders, is complete and accurate. This
summary includes the insurer's or insurers' name(s), policy number(s),
expiration date(s), amount(s) of coverage, type(s) of coverage, exclusion(s),
and deductibles. This summary also includes similar information, and describes
any reserves, relating to any self-insurance program that is in effect.

         5.21. Solvency. (i) Immediately after the consummation of the
transactions to occur on the date hereof and immediately following the making of
each Loan, if any, made on the date hereof and after giving effect to the
application of the proceeds of such Loans, (a) the fair value of the assets of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation,
will exceed the debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (b) the present fair
saleable value of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay
the probable liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis on their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or
otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c)
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay
their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such
debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital
with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such
businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted after the date
hereof.

         (ii)  The Borrower does not intend to, or to permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, and does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will,
incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 27
<PAGE>   34

into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such
Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect
of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS


         During the term of this Agreement, unless the Required Lenders shall
otherwise consent in writing:

         6.1.  Financial Reporting. The Borrower will maintain, for itself and
each Subsidiary, a system of accounting established and administered in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and furnish to the
Lenders:

         (i)   Within 90 days after the close of each of its fiscal years, an
unqualified audit report certified by independent certified public accountants
acceptable to the Lenders, prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting
Principles on a consolidated and consolidating basis (consolidating statements
need not be certified by such accountants) for Borrower, Parent and their
Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of the end of such period, related
profit and loss and reconciliation of surplus statements, and a statement of
cash flows, accompanied by any management letter prepared by said accountants.

         (ii)  Within 45 days after the close of the first three quarterly
periods of each of its fiscal years, for itself and its Subsidiaries,
consolidated and consolidating unaudited balance sheets as at the close of each
such period and consolidated and consolidating profit and loss and
reconciliation of surplus statements and a statement of cash flows for the
period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all
certified by its chief financial officer.

         (iii) As soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the
beginning of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the plan and forecast
(including a projected consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income
statement and funds flow statement) of the Borrower for such fiscal year.

         (iv)  Together with the financial statements required under Sections
6.1(i) and (ii), a compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit B
signed by an Authorized Officer of Borrower showing the calculations necessary
to determine compliance with this Agreement, showing the calculation of the
Borrowing Base and stating that no Default or Unmatured Default exists, or if
any Default or Unmatured Default exists, stating the nature and status thereof.

         (v)   Within 270 days after the close of each fiscal year, a statement 
of the Unfunded Liabilities of each Single Employer Plan, certified as correct
by an actuary enrolled under ERISA.

         (vi)  As soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after the
Borrower knows that any Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan,
a statement, signed by an Authorized Officer of Borrower, describing said
Reportable Event and the action which the Borrower proposes to take with respect
thereto.

         (vii) As soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after receipt
by the Borrower, a copy of (a) any notice or claim to the effect that the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a
result of the release by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other
Person of any toxic 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 28
<PAGE>   35

or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (b) any notice
alleging any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or
safety law or regulation by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which, in
either case, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (viii) Promptly upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of the
Borrower, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so
furnished.

         (ix)   Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration
statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular reports which the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

         (x)    Such other information (including non-financial information) as 
the Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

         6.2.   Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will, and will cause Parent and 
each Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of the Advances for the purposes set forth
in Section 2.1. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent or any
Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds of the Advances to purchase or carry any
"margin stock" (as defined in Regulation U).

         6.3.   Notice of Default. The Borrower will, and will cause Parent and
each Subsidiary to, give prompt notice in writing to the Lenders of the
occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default and of any other development,
financial or otherwise (including, without limitation, developments with respect
to Year 2000 Problems), which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         6.4.   Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause Parent 
and each Subsidiary to, carry on and conduct its business in a substantially
similar manner and in a substantially similar field of enterprise as it is
presently conducted and do all things necessary to remain duly incorporated or
organized, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such
entity) in good standing as a domestic corporation, partnership or limited
liability company in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the
case may be, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in
each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted.

         6.5.   Taxes. The Borrower will, and will cause Parent and each
Subsidiary to, timely file complete and correct United States federal and
applicable foreign, state and local tax returns required by law and pay when due
all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies upon it or its
income, profits or Property, except those which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves
have been set aside in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles. At any
time that the Borrower or Parent or any Subsidiary is organized as a limited
liability company, each such limited liability company will qualify for
partnership tax treatment under United States federal tax law.

         6.6.   Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause Parent and each
Subsidiary to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies
insurance on all their Property in such amounts and covering such risks as is
consistent with sound business practice, and the Borrower will furnish to any
Lender upon request full information as to the insurance carried.

         6.7.   Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause Parent 
and each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs,
judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject including,
without limitation, all Environmental Laws.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 29
<PAGE>   36

         6.8. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause
Parent and each Subsidiary to, do all things necessary to maintain, preserve,
protect and keep its Property in good repair, working order and condition, and
make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its
business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all
times.

         6.9. Inspection. The Borrower will, and will cause Parent and each
Subsidiary to, permit the Agent and the Lenders, by their respective
representatives and agents, with reasonable notice, to inspect any of the
Property, books and financial records of the Borrower, Parent and each
Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other
financial records of the Borrower, Parent and each Subsidiary, and to discuss
the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower, Parent and each Subsidiary
with, and to be advised as to the same by, their respective officers at such
reasonable times and intervals as the Agent or any Lender may designate.

         6.10. Dividends. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent or
any Subsidiary to, declare or pay any dividends or make any distributions on its
capital stock (other than dividends payable in its own capital stock) or redeem,
repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any of its capital stock at any time
outstanding, except (i) that any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or
make distributions to the Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Parent or
Borrower, (ii) prior to the occurrence of a Default or Unmatured Default,
Borrower may repurchase capital stock of Parent pursuant to its Employee Stock
Purchase Plan ("ESPP Repurchases"), and (iii) prior to the occurrence of a
Default or Unmatured Default, Borrower or Parent may otherwise repurchase or
retire (as applicable) capital stock in Parent in an amount not to exceed
$1,000,000 in the aggregate (a "PERMITTED REPURCHASE").

         6.11. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent or
any Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except the
following (collectively, the "PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS"):

         (i)   The Loans.

         (ii)  Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and described in 
Schedule 2.

         (iii) Indebtedness arising under Rate Hedging Agreements related to the
Loans.

         (iv)  Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness.

         (v)   Permitted Purchase Money Obligations.

         (vi)  the Indebtedness described in Schedule 6.11.

         6.12. Merger. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent or any
Subsidiary to, merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that a
Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

         6.13. Sale of Assets. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent
or any Subsidiary to, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of its Property to any
other Person, except:

         (i)   Sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business.

         (ii)  Leases, sales or other dispositions of its Property that, 
together with all other Property of the Borrower, Parent and their Subsidiaries
previously leased, sold or disposed of (other than inventory in the ordinary
course of business) as permitted by this Section during the twelve-month period
ending with the 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 30
<PAGE>   37

month in which any such lease, sale or other disposition occurs,
do not constitute a Substantial Portion of the Property of the Borrower, Parent
and their Subsidiaries.


The Lenders acknowledge that Borrower is obligated to pay a percentage of the
Renewals (as defined in the Collateral Documents) to the producers of such
Renewals pursuant to Principal Office Agreements (or similar oral arrangements)
between Borrower and such producers.

         6.14.    Investments and Acquisitions. (a) The Borrower will not, nor 
will it permit Parent or any Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist any
Investments (including without limitation, loans and advances to, and other
Investments in, Subsidiaries), or commitments therefor, or to create any
Subsidiary or to become or remain a partner in any partnership or joint venture,
or to make any Acquisition of any Person, except:

                  (i)   Cash Equivalent Investments.

                  (ii)  Existing Investments in Subsidiaries and other
                  Investments in existence on the date hereof and described in
                  Schedule 1.

                  (iii) Permitted Acquisitions.

                  (iv)  Permitted Employee and Producer Loans.

         (b) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent or any Subsidiary
to, make or suffer to exist any Permitted Acquisition if the total consideration
for such Acquisition, plus the total consideration for all Acquisitions
consummated during the 12 month period preceding the effective date of such
Permitted Acquisition, is greater than $15,000,000 without the prior written
consent of Required Lenders.

         6.15.    Liens.  (a)    The Borrower will not, nor will it permit 
Parent or any Subsidiary to, create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of
or on the Property of the Borrower, Parent or any Subsidiary, except:

         (i)   Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on
         its Property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or
         thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good
         faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in
         accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles shall have been set
         aside on its books.

         (ii)  Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's and
         mechanics' liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course
         of business which secure payment of obligations not more than 60 days
         past due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings and for which adequate reserves shall have been set aside
         on its books.

         (iii) Liens arising out of pledges or deposits under worker's
         compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other
         social security or retirement benefits, or similar legislation.

         (iv)  Utility easements, building restrictions and such other
         encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature
         generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character
         and which do not in any material way affect the marketability of the
         same or interfere with the use thereof in the business of the Borrower
         or its Subsidiaries.

         (v)   Liens existing on the date hereof and described in Schedule 2.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 31
<PAGE>   38

         (vii)  Liens in favor of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
         granted pursuant to any Collateral Document.

         (viii) Liens securing Permitted Purchase Money Obligations on the
         assets acquired with the proceeds of such Purchase Money Obligations.

         (ix)   Liens securing Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness on the assets
         acquired in the transaction giving rise to such Permitted Acquisition
         Indebtedness.

         (b)    Borrower shall not, and Borrower shall not permit Parent or any
Subsidiary of Parent or Borrower to, enter into any agreement (excluding this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents) prohibiting the creation or assumption of
any Lien upon any property, revenues, or assets of such Person, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired.

         6.16.  Rentals. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent or any
Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist obligations for Rentals in
excess of the sum of (i) those which relate to Operating Leases described on
Schedule 6.16 (including any increases in the Rentals contemplated by the terms
thereof), plus (ii)$500,000, plus (iii) those which relate to Operating Leases
which are assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition.

         6.17.  Year 2000. Not later than July 31, 1999, the Borrower shall have
accomplished all actions necessary to assure that its computer-based systems are
able to effectively process data, including dates, on and after January 1, 2000.
The Borrower shall promptly notify the Bank in writing (i) in the event of any
potential Year 2000 Problem and (ii) in the event that the Borrower believes
that the requirement specified in the first sentence of this Section 6.17 has
not been met or is not likely to be met by July 31, 1999. Such written notice
shall specify and describe in detail the nature of the Year 2000 Problem, or
reason for actual or anticipated failure to satisfy the requirements set forth
in this Section 6.17, as the case may be, including a description of the
equipment or systems involved, the event causing such Year 2000 Problem or
actual or anticipated failure.

         6.18.  Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any 
Parent or any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction (including, without
limitation, the purchase or sale of any Property or service) with, or make any
payment or transfer to, any Affiliate except in the ordinary course of business
and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Borrower's or such
Subsidiary's business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to
the Borrower or such Subsidiary than the Borrower or such Subsidiary would
obtain in a comparable arms-length transaction.

         6.19.  Subordinated Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not
permit Parent or any Subsidiary to, make any amendment or modification to the
indenture, note or other agreement evidencing or governing any Subordinated
Indebtedness, or directly or indirectly voluntarily prepay, defease or in
substance defease, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire, any
Subordinated Indebtedness.

         6.20.  Omitted.

         6.21.  Sale of Accounts. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit
Parent or any Subsidiary to, sell or otherwise dispose of any accounts
receivable, with or without recourse.

         6.22.  Sale and Leaseback Transactions and other Off-Balance Sheet
Liabilities. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit Parent or any Subsidiary
to, enter into or suffer to exist any (i) Sale and Leaseback 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 32
<PAGE>   39

Transaction, other than Permitted Indebtedness or (ii) any other transaction
pursuant to which it incurs or has incurred Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities, other
than Permitted Indebtedness.

         6.23.  Contingent Obligations. The Borrower will not, nor will it 
permit Parent or any Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist any Contingent
Obligation (including, without limitation, any Contingent Obligation with
respect to the obligations of a Subsidiary), except (i) by endorsement of
instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business and
(ii) for the Guaranty.

         6.24.  Letters of Credit. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit
Parent or any Subsidiary to, apply for or become liable upon or in respect of
any Letter of Credit.


         6.25.  Financial Covenants.

                6.25.1. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not 
         permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal
         quarters for the then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters, of (i)
         Consolidated EBITDA minus Consolidated Capital Expenditures minus taxes
         paid during such period to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, plus
         current maturities of principal Indebtedness (including Capitalized
         Lease Obligations), plus any Permitted Repurchases (other than ESPP
         Repurchases), all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
         consolidated basis, to be less than (i) for the period from the date of
         this Agreement until December 31, 1999, 1.15 to 1.00 and (ii)
         thereafter, 1.25 to 1.00.

                6.25.2. Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the
         Leverage Ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters
         for the then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters to be greater
         than (i) so long as the outstanding balance of all of the Loans is less
         than or equal to $50,000,000, 3.25 to 1.0 and (ii) following the date
         on which the outstanding balance of all of the Loans is greater than
         $50,000,000, 3.00 to 1.0.

                6.25.3. Minimum Net Worth. The Borrower will at all times
         maintain Consolidated Net Worth of not less than the sum of (i)
         $21,490,560, plus (ii) 75% of Consolidated Net Income earned in each
         fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 1998
         (without deduction for losses), plus (iii) 100% of the net cash
         proceeds of any offering of securities after the date of this Agreement
         (whether debt or equity and whether public or private).

         6.26.  Investment Company. The Borrower will cause any Subsidiary of
Borrower or Parent which is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by
an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (15 U.S.C.A. ss. 80a, et seq.) (the "INVESTMENT COMPANY Act")
or which is otherwise subject to the Investment Company Act to be in compliance
with the Investment Company Act, including, without limitation, 15 U.S.C.A. ss.
80a-18(f)(1).

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    DEFAULTS

         The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall
constitute a Default:

         7.1.   Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on 
behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Lenders or the Agent
under or in connection with this Agreement, any Loan, 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 33
<PAGE>   40

or any certificate or information delivered in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document shall be materially false on the date as of which made.

          7.2. Nonpayment of principal of any Loan when due, or nonpayment of
interest upon any Loan or of any commitment fee or other obligations under any
of the Loan Documents within five days after the same becomes due.

          7.3. The breach by the Borrower of any of the terms or provisions of
Article VI , Section 6.2, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.25 or 6.26.

          7.4. The breach by the Borrower (other than a breach which constitutes
a Default under another Section of this Article VII) of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within ten days after written
notice from the Agent or any Lender; provided, that if such breach can be cured
and Borrower begins and is diligently pursuing a cure thereof prior to the
expiration of the ten day cure period above provided, then Borrower shall not be
in default hereunder if Borrower cures such failure within thirty days after the
above provided written notice of such breach.

          7.5. Failure of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any
Guarantor to pay when due any Indebtedness aggregating in excess of $250,000
("MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS"); or the default by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any Guarantor in the performance(beyond the applicable grace
period with respect thereto, if any) of any term, provision or condition
contained in any agreement under which any such Material Indebtedness was
created or is governed, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the
effect of which default or event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders
of such Material Indebtedness to cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due
prior to its stated maturity; or any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries or any Guarantor shall be declared to be due and payable
or required to be prepaid or repurchased (other than by a regularly scheduled
payment) prior to the stated maturity thereof; or the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any Guarantor shall not pay, or admit in writing its inability
to pay, its debts generally as they become due.

          7.6. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Guarantor shall
(i) have an order for relief entered with respect to it under the Federal
bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect, (ii) make an assignment for the
benefit of creditors, (iii) apply for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the
appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar
official for it or any Substantial Portion of its Property, (iv) institute any
proceeding seeking an order for relief under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now
or hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or
seeking dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to file an
answer or other pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding
filed against it, (v) take any corporate or partnership action to authorize or
effect any of the foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.6 or (vi) fail
to contest in good faith any appointment or proceeding described in Section 7.7.

          7.7. Without the application, approval or consent of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor, a receiver, trustee, examiner,
liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any Guarantor or any Substantial Portion of its Property, or a
proceeding described in Section 7.6(iv) shall be instituted against the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries or any Guarantor and such appointment continues
undischarged or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period
of 60 consecutive days.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 34
<PAGE>   41



          7.8. Any court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize
or otherwise appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of
the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or any Guarantor which, when
taken together with all other Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or
any Guarantor so condemned, seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control
of, during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such
action occurs, constitutes a Substantial Portion.

          7.9. The Borrower, Parent or any of their Subsidiaries shall fail
within 30 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge one or more (i) judgments or
orders for the payment of money in excess of $25,000 (or the equivalent thereof
in currencies other than U.S. Dollars) in the aggregate, or (ii) nonmonetary
judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which judgment(s), in any such case,
is/are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good
faith.

         7.10. The Unfunded Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans shall
exceed in the aggregate $100,000 or any Reportable Event shall occur in
connection with any Plan.

         7.11. The Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group shall
have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred
withdrawal liability to such Multiemployer Plan in an amount which, when
aggregated with all other amounts required to be paid to Multiemployer Plans by
the Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group as withdrawal liability
(determined as of the date of such notification), exceeds $500,000 or requires
payments exceeding $ 250,000 per annum.

         7.12. The Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group shall
have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such
Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or is being terminated, within the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA, if as a result of such reorganization or
termination the aggregate annual contributions of the Borrower and the other
members of the Controlled Group (taken as a whole) to all Multiemployer Plans
which are then in reorganization or being terminated have been or will be
increased over the amounts contributed to such Multiemployer Plans for the
respective plan years of each such Multiemployer Plan immediately preceding the
plan year in which the reorganization or termination occurs by an amount
exceeding 100,000.

         7.13. The Borrower, Parent or any of their Subsidiaries shall (i) be
the subject of any proceeding or investigation pertaining to the release by the
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous
waste or substance into the environment, or (ii) violate any Environmental Law,
which, in the case of an event described in clause (i) or clause (ii), could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7.14. Any Change in Control shall occur.

         7.15. The occurrence of any "default", as defined in any Loan Document
(other than this Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of
any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), which default or breach continues
beyond any period of grace therein provided.

         7.16. Nonpayment by the Borrower of any Rate Hedging Obligation when
due or the breach by the Borrower of any term, provision or condition contained
in any Rate Hedging Agreement, and the expiration of any applicable cure period.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 35
<PAGE>   42

         7.17. Any Guaranty shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any
action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or
unenforceability of any Guaranty, or any Guarantor shall fail to comply with any
of the terms or provisions of any Guaranty to which it is a party, or any
Guarantor shall deny that it has any further liability under any Guaranty to
which it is a party, or shall give notice to such effect.

         7.18. Any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a
valid and perfected first priority security interest in any collateral purported
to be covered thereby, except as permitted by the terms of any Collateral
Document, or any Collateral Document shall fail to remain in full force or
effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity
or unenforceability of any Collateral Document, or the Borrower shall fail to
comply with any of the terms or provisions of any Collateral Document.

         7.19. The representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.15
shall at any time not be true and correct.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                 ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES


         8.1. Acceleration. If any Default described in Section 7.6 or 7.7
occurs with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans hereunder shall automatically terminate and the Obligations shall
immediately become due and payable without any election or action on the part of
the Agent or any Lender. If any other Default occurs, the Required Lenders (or
the Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) may terminate or suspend the
obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder, or declare the Obligations
to be due and payable, or both, whereupon the Obligations shall become
immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind, all of which the Borrower hereby expressly waives.

         If, within 30 days after acceleration of the maturity of the
Obligations or termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
hereunder as a result of any Default (other than any Default as described in
Section 7.6 or 7.7 with respect to the Borrower) and before any judgment or
decree for the payment of the Obligations due shall have been obtained or
entered, the Required Lenders (in their sole discretion) shall so direct, the
Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, rescind and annul such acceleration
and/or termination.

         8.2. Amendments. Subject to the provisions of this Article VIII, the
Required Lenders (or the Agent with the consent in writing of the Required
Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into agreements supplemental hereto for the
purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan Documents or changing
in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower hereunder or waiving any
Default hereunder; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall,
without the consent of all of the Lenders:

         (i)  Extend the final maturity of any Loan or postpone any regularly
scheduled payment of principal of any Loan or forgive all or any portion of the
principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of
interest or fees thereon.

         (ii) Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required
Lenders.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 36
<PAGE>   43

         (iii) Extend the Facility Termination Date, the Revolving Credit
Termination Date, or reduce the amount or extend the payment date for, the
mandatory payments required under Section 2.2, or increase the amount of the
Aggregate Commitment or of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder, or permit the
Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement.

         (iv)  Amend this Section 8.2.

         (v)   Release any guarantor of any Advance or, except as provided in 
the Collateral Documents, in one transaction or series of transactions, release
all or a Substantial Portion of the Collateral.

         (vi)  Amend the definition of Borrowing Base.

No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Agent shall be
effective without the written consent of the Agent. The Agent may waive payment
of the fee required under Section 12.3.2 without obtaining the consent of any
other party to this Agreement.

         8.3. Preservation of Rights. No delay or omission of the Lenders or the
Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such right or
be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and the
making of a Loan notwithstanding the existence of a Default or the inability of
the Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent to such Loan shall not
constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any single or partial exercise of any
such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents whatsoever shall be valid unless
in writing signed by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.2, and then only
to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All remedies contained in
the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be
available to the Agent and the Lenders until the Obligations have been paid in
full.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         9.1. Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of
the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive the making of the Loans
herein contemplated.

         9.2. Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to
the Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any
applicable statute or regulation.

         9.3. Headings. Section headings in the Loan Documents are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of
the provisions of the Loan Documents.

         9.4. Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement
and understanding among the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings among the Borrower, the Agent and the
Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof other than the fee letter
described in Section 10.13.

         9.5. Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement. The respective
obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and no Lender
shall be the partner or agent of any other (except to the extent to which the
Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any Lender to perform any of
its 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 37
<PAGE>   44

obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its
obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any
right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and
their respective successors and assigns, provided, however, that the parties
hereto expressly agree that the Arranger shall enjoy the benefits of the
provisions of Sections 9.6, 9.10 and 10.11 to the extent specifically set forth
therein and shall have the right to enforce such provisions on its own behalf
and in its own name to the same extent as if it were a party to this Agreement.

         9.6. Expenses; Indemnification. (i) THE BORROWER SHALL REIMBURSE THE
AGENT AND THE ARRANGER FOR ANY COSTS, INTERNAL CHARGES AND OUT-OF-POCKET
EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES AND TIME CHARGES OF ATTORNEYS FOR THE AGENT,
WHICH ATTORNEYS MAY BE EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENT) PAID OR INCURRED BY THE AGENT OR
THE ARRANGER IN CONNECTION WITH THE PREPARATION, NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION,
DELIVERY, SYNDICATION, REVIEW, AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND ADMINISTRATION OF
THE LOAN DOCUMENTS. THE BORROWER ALSO AGREES TO REIMBURSE THE AGENT, THE
ARRANGER AND THE LENDERS FOR ANY COSTS, INTERNAL CHARGES AND OUT-OF-POCKET
EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES AND TIME CHARGES OF ATTORNEYS FOR THE AGENT,
THE ARRANGER AND THE LENDERS, WHICH ATTORNEYS MAY BE EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENT, THE
ARRANGER OR THE LENDERS) PAID OR INCURRED BY THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER OR ANY
LENDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS.
EXPENSES BEING REIMBURSED BY THE BORROWER UNDER THIS SECTION INCLUDE, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, COSTS AND EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE REPORTS DESCRIBED
IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT FROM TIME TO TIME BANK
ONE MAY PREPARE AND MAY DISTRIBUTE TO THE LENDERS (BUT SHALL HAVE NO OBLIGATION
OR DUTY TO PREPARE OR TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE LENDERS) CERTAIN AUDIT REPORTS (THE
"REPORTS") PERTAINING TO THE BORROWER'S ASSETS FOR INTERNAL USE BY BANK ONE FROM
INFORMATION FURNISHED TO IT BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER, AFTER BANK ONE HAS
EXERCISED ITS RIGHTS OF INSPECTION PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT.

         (ii) THE BORROWER HEREBY FURTHER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY THE AGENT, THE
ARRANGER AND EACH LENDER, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES AGAINST ALL
LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, JUDGMENTS, LIABILITIES AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL EXPENSES OF LITIGATION OR PREPARATION
THEREFOR WHETHER OR NOT THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER OR ANY LENDER IS A PARTY
THERETO) WHICH ANY OF THEM MAY PAY OR INCUR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE
DIRECT OR INDIRECT APPLICATION OR PROPOSED APPLICATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF ANY
LOAN HEREUNDER EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE DETERMINED IN A FINAL
NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED
FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE PARTY SEEKING
INDEMNIFICATION. THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BORROWER UNDER THIS SECTION 9.6 SHALL
SURVIVE THE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

         9.7. Omitted.

         9.8. Accounting. Except as provided to the contrary herein, all
accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted and all accounting
determinations hereunder shall be made in accordance with 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 38
<PAGE>   45

Agreement Accounting Principles, except that any calculation or determination
which is to be made on a consolidated basis shall be made for the Borrower and
all its Subsidiaries, including those Subsidiaries, if any, which are
unconsolidated on the Borrower's audited financial statements.

         9.9. Severability of Provisions. Any provision in any Loan Document
that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction
shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid
without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the
operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other
jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared
to be severable.

         9.10. Nonliability of Lenders. The relationship between the Borrower on
the one hand and the Lenders and the Agent on the other hand shall be solely
that of borrower and lender. Neither the Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender
shall have any fiduciary responsibilities to the Borrower. Neither the Agent,
the Arranger nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to the Borrower to
review or inform the Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of the
Borrower's business or operations. The Borrower agrees that neither the Agent,
the Arranger nor any Lender shall have liability to the Borrower (whether
sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by the Borrower in
connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to, the transactions
contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act,
omission or event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in
a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such
losses resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party
from which recovery is sought. Neither the Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender
shall have any liability with respect to, and the Borrower hereby waives,
releases and agrees not to sue for, any special, indirect or consequential
damages suffered by the Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any
way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby.

         9.11. Confidentiality. Each Lender agrees to hold any confidential
information which it may receive from the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement in
confidence, except for disclosure (i) to its Affiliates and to other Lenders and
their respective Affiliates, (ii) to legal counsel, accountants, and other
professional advisors to such Lender or to a Transferee, (iii) to regulatory
officials, (iv) to any Person as requested pursuant to or as required by law,
regulation, or legal process, (v) to any Person in connection with any legal
proceeding to which such Lender is a party, (vi) to such Lender's direct or
indirect contractual counterparties in swap agreements or to legal counsel,
accountants and other professional advisors to such counterparties, and (vii)
permitted by Section 12.4.

         9.12. Nonreliance. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying
on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System) for the repayment of the Loans provided
for herein.

         9.13. Disclosure. Borrower and each Lender hereby (i) acknowledge and
agree that (a) one or more Affiliates of Bank One are or may become direct or
indirect equity investors in Borrower or Parent, (b) Bank One is or may become a
lender to, and agent bank for, Borrower or Parent, and (c) Bank One and/or its
Affiliates from time to time may hold other investments in, make other loans to
or have other relationships with Borrower or Parent, and (ii) waive any
liability of Bank One or such Affiliate to Borrower or any Lender, respectively,
arising out of or resulting from such investments, loans or relationships other
than liabilities arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
Bank One or its Affiliates.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 39
<PAGE>   46

                                    ARTICLE X

                                    THE AGENT

         10.1. Appointment; Nature of Relationship. Bank One is hereby appointed
by each of the Lenders as its contractual representative (herein referred to as
the "AGENT") hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the
Lenders irrevocably authorizes the Agent to act as the contractual
representative of such Lender with the rights and duties expressly set forth
herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Agent agrees to act as such
contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article
X. Notwithstanding the use of the defined term "Agent," it is expressly
understood and agreed that the Agent shall not have any fiduciary
responsibilities to any Lender by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document and that the Agent is merely acting as the contractual representative
of the Lenders with only those duties as are expressly set forth in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In its capacity as the Lenders'
contractual representative, the Agent (i) does not hereby assume any fiduciary
duties to any of the Lenders, (ii) is a "representative" of the Lenders within
the meaning of Section 9-105 of the Uniform Commercial Code and (iii) is acting
as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited to
those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each
of the Lenders hereby agrees to assert no claim against the Agent on any agency
theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of
which claims each Lender hereby waives.

         10.2. Powers. The Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under
the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of
each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The Agent shall have no implied duties to the Lenders, or any obligation to the
Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by
the Loan Documents to be taken by the Agent.

         10.3. General Immunity. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors,
officers, agents or employees shall be liable to the Borrower, the Lenders or
any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder
or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith except
to the extent such action or inaction is determined in a final non-appealable
judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.

         10.4. No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc. Neither the Agent nor
any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or
have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify (a) any statement, warranty
or representation made in connection with any Loan Document or any borrowing
hereunder; (b) the performance or observance of any of the covenants or
agreements of any obligor under any Loan Document, including, without
limitation, any agreement by an obligor to furnish information directly to each
Lender; (c) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article IV, except
receipt of items required to be delivered solely to the Agent; (d) the existence
or possible existence of any Default or Unmatured Default; (e) the validity,
enforceability, effectiveness, sufficiency or genuineness of any Loan Document
or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection therewith; (f) the
value, sufficiency, creation, perfection or priority of any Lien in any
collateral security; or (g) the financial condition of the Borrower or any
guarantor of any of the Obligations or of any of the Borrower's or any such
guarantor's respective Subsidiaries. The Agent shall have no duty to disclose to
the Lenders information that is not required to be furnished by the Borrower to
the Agent at such time, but is voluntarily furnished by the Borrower to the
Agent (either in its capacity as Agent or in its individual capacity).

         10.5. Action on Instructions of Lenders. The Agent shall in all cases
be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under
any other Loan Document in accordance with written instructions signed by the
Required Lenders (unless the consent of more than the Required Lenders is
required pursuant to Section 8.2, in which case the Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under any
other Loan Document in accordance with written 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 40
<PAGE>   47

instructions signed by the Lenders required by such Section), and such
instructions and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be
binding on all of the Lenders. The Lenders hereby acknowledge that the Agent
shall be under no duty to take any discretionary action permitted to be taken by
it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by the Required Lenders. The
Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action
hereunder and under any other Loan Document unless it shall first be indemnified
to its satisfaction by the Lenders pro rata against any and all liability, cost
and expense that it may incur by reason of taking or continuing to take any such
action.

         10.6.  Employment of Agents and Counsel. The Agent may execute any of
its duties as Agent hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through
employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the
Lenders, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized
agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care. The Agent shall be entitled to advice of
counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Agent and the Lenders
and all matters pertaining to the Agent's duties hereunder and under any other
Loan Document.

         10.7.  Reliance on Documents; Counsel. The Agent shall be entitled to
rely upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and, in respect to
legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Agent, which counsel
may be employees of the Agent.

         10.8.  Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification. The Lenders agree to
reimburse and indemnify the Agent ratably in proportion to their respective
Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, in proportion to their
Commitments immediately prior to such termination) (i) for any amounts not
reimbursed by the Borrower for which the Agent is entitled to reimbursement by
the Borrower under the Loan Documents, (ii) for any other expenses incurred by
the Agent on behalf of the Lenders, in connection with the preparation,
execution, delivery, administration and enforcement of the Loan Documents
(including, without limitation, for any expenses incurred by the Agent in
connection with any dispute between the Agent and any Lender or between two or
more of the Lenders) and (iii) for any liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or
asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan
Documents or any other document delivered in connection therewith or the
transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, for any such
amounts incurred by or asserted against the Agent in connection with any dispute
between the Agent and any Lender or between two or more of the Lenders), or the
enforcement of any of the terms of the Loan Documents or of any such other
documents, provided that (i) no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing
to the extent any of the foregoing is found in a final non-appealable judgment
by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of the Agent and (ii) any indemnification required
pursuant to Section 3.5(vii) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 10.8, be paid by the relevant Lender in accordance with the provisions
thereof. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.8 shall survive
payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

         10.9.  Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default
hereunder unless the Agent has received written notice from a Lender or the
Borrower referring to this Agreement describing such Default or Unmatured
Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that
the Agent receives such a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to
the Lenders.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 41
<PAGE>   48

         10.10. Rights as a Lender. In the event the Agent is a Lender, the
Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder and under any other Loan
Document with respect to its Commitment and its Loans as any Lender and may
exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the term "Lender" or
"Lenders" shall, at any time when the Agent is a Lender, unless the context
otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent and
its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in
any kind of trust, debt, equity or other transaction, in addition to those
contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, with the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary is not
restricted hereby from engaging with any other Person. The Agent, in its
individual capacity, is not obligated to remain a Lender.

         10.11. Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger or any other
Lender and based on the financial statements prepared by the Borrower and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without
reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger or any other Lender and based on such
documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to
make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         10.12. Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, such resignation to be
effective upon the appointment of a successor Agent or, if no successor Agent
has been appointed, forty-five days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its
intention to resign. The Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause
by written notice received by the Agent from the Required Lenders, such removal
to be effective on the date specified by the Required Lenders. Upon any such
resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint, on
behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a successor Agent. If no successor Agent
shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders within thirty days after
the resigning Agent's giving notice of its intention to resign, then the
resigning Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a
successor Agent. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Agent may at any
time without the consent of the Borrower or any Lender, appoint any of its
Affiliates which is a commercial bank as a successor Agent hereunder. If the
Agent has resigned or been removed and no successor Agent has been appointed,
the Lenders may perform all the duties of the Agent hereunder and the Borrower
shall make all payments in respect of the Obligations to the applicable Lender
and for all other purposes shall deal directly with the Lenders. No successor
Agent shall be deemed to be appointed hereunder until such successor Agent has
accepted the appointment. Any such successor Agent shall be a commercial bank
having capital and retained earnings of at least $100,000,000. Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such
successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed Agent. Upon
the effectiveness of the resignation or removal of the Agent, the resigning or
removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and
under the Loan Documents. After the effectiveness of the resignation or removal
of an Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall continue in effect for the
benefit of such Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was acting as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents. In the event that there is a successor to the Agent by merger, or the
Agent assigns its duties and obligations to an Affiliate pursuant to this
Section 10.12, then the term "Corporate Base Rate" as used in this Agreement
shall mean the prime rate, base rate or other analogous rate of the new Agent.

         10.13. Agent's Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent, for its
own account, the fees agreed to by the Borrower and the Agent pursuant to that
certain letter agreement dated of even date herewith or as otherwise agreed from
time to time.

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 42
<PAGE>   49

         10.14. Delegation to Affiliates. The Borrower and the Lenders agree
that the Agent may delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its
Affiliates. Any such Affiliate (and such Affiliate's directors, officers, agents
and employees) which performs duties in connection with this Agreement shall be
entitled to the same benefits of the indemnification, waiver and other
protective provisions to which the Agent is entitled under Articles IX and X.

         10.15. Execution of Collateral Documents. The Lenders hereby empower
and authorize the Agent to execute and deliver to the Borrower on their behalf
the Collateral Documents and all related financing statements and any financing
statements, agreements, documents or instruments as shall be necessary or
appropriate to effect the purposes of the Collateral Documents.

         10.16. Collateral Releases. The Lenders hereby empower and authorize
the Agent to execute and deliver to the Borrower on their behalf any agreements,
documents or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect any
releases of Collateral which shall be permitted by the terms hereof or of any
other Loan Document or which shall otherwise have been approved by the Required
Lenders (or, if required by the terms of Section 8.2, all of the Lenders) in
writing.

         10.17. Co-Agents and Arranger. Neither any of the Lenders identified in
this Agreement as a "co-agent" (if any) nor the Arranger shall have any right,
power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other
than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing,
none of such Lenders nor the Arranger shall have or be deemed to have a
fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same
acknowledgments with respect to such Lenders as it makes with respect to the
Agent in Section 10.11.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                            SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS

         11.1. Setoff. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of
the Lenders under applicable law, if the Borrower becomes insolvent, however
evidenced, or any Default occurs, any and all deposits (including all account
balances, whether provisional or final and whether or not collected or
available) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender or
any Affiliate of any Lender to or for the credit or account of the Borrower may
be offset and applied toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such
Lender, whether or not the Obligations, or any part hereof, shall then be due.

         11.2. Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise,
has payment made to it upon its Loans (other than payments received pursuant to
Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5) in a greater proportion than that received by any
other Lender, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to purchase a portion of
the Loans held by the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will
hold its ratable proportion of Loans. If any Lender, whether in connection with
setoff or amounts which might be subject to setoff or otherwise, receives
collateral or other protection for its Obligations or such amounts which may be
subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to take such action
necessary such that all Lenders share in the benefits of such collateral ratably
in proportion to their Loans. In case any such payment is disturbed by legal
process, or otherwise, appropriate further adjustments shall be made. If an
amount to be setoff is to be applied to Indebtedness of the Borrower to a Lender
other than Indebtedness comprised of Loans made by such Lender, such amount
shall be applied ratably to such other Indebtedness and to the Indebtedness
comprised of such Loans.

         11.3. Proceeds of Collateral. Lenders agree, among themselves, that
unless otherwise agreed to by Agent and the Required Lenders, all monies
collected or received by Agent after the occurrence of an 


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 43
<PAGE>   50

Event of Default in respect of the security for the Loans, directly or
indirectly, or by any other means shall be applied (a) to all costs of
collection or maintenance of the Collateral, and then to either interest or
principal of the Loans as recommended by Agent and approved by the Required
Lenders (except that any amounts to be applied to interest or principal shall be
distributed to Lenders based on their Commitment Percentage) until the Loans are
paid in full, and (b) to any Rate Hedging Obligations owed to any Lender under
any Rate Hedging Agreement, only after payment in full of the outstanding
principal and interest under the Loans.


                                   ARTICLE XII

                BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS


         12.1. Successors and Assigns. The terms and provisions of the Loan
Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the
Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, except that (i) the
Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights or obligations under the
Loan Documents and (ii) any assignment by any Lender must be made in compliance
with Section 12.3. Notwithstanding clause (ii) of this Section, any Lender may
at any time, without the consent of the Borrower or the Agent, assign all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement and any Note to a Federal Reserve
Bank; provided, however, that no such assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank shall
release the transferor Lender from its obligations hereunder. The Agent may
treat the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note as the owner
thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until such Person complies with
Section 12.3 in the case of an assignment thereof or, in the case of any other
transfer, a written notice of the transfer is filed with the Agent. Any assignee
or transferee of the rights to any Loan or any Note agrees by acceptance of such
transfer or assignment to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Loan
Documents. Any request, authority or consent of any Person, who at the time of
making such request or giving such authority or consent is the owner of the
rights to any Loan (whether or not a Note has been issued in evidence thereof),
shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee or assignee
of the rights to such Loan.




         12.2.    Participations.

                  12.2.1. Permitted Participants; Effect. Any Lender may, in the
         ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law,
         at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities
         ("PARTICIPANTS") participating interests in any Loan owing to such
         Lender, any Note held by such Lender, any Commitment of such Lender or
         any other interest of such Lender under the Loan Documents (in amounts
         of not less than $5,000,000, or a lesser amount with the consent of
         Borrower). In the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating
         interests to a Participant, such Lender's obligations under the Loan
         Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely
         responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such
         obligations, such Lender shall remain the owner of its Loans and the
         holder of any Note issued to it in evidence thereof for all purposes
         under the Loan Documents, all amounts payable by the Borrower under
         this Agreement shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such
         participating interests, and the Borrower and the Agent shall continue
         to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
         Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 44
<PAGE>   51



                  12.2.2. Voting Rights. Each Lender shall retain the sole right
         to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment,
         modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents other
         than any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any Loan or
         Commitment in which such Participant has an interest which forgives
         principal, interest or fees or reduces the interest rate or fees
         payable with respect to any such Loan or Commitment, extends the
         Revolving Credit Termination Date, postpones any date fixed for any
         regularly-scheduled payment of principal of, or interest or fees on,
         any such Loan or Commitment, releases any guarantor of any such Loan or
         releases all or substantially all of the collateral, if any, securing
         any such Loan.

                  12.2.3. Benefit of Setoff. The Borrower agrees that each
         Participant shall be deemed to have the right of setoff provided in
         Section 11.1 in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing
         under the Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its
         participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under the
         Loan Documents, provided that each Lender shall retain the right of
         setoff provided in Section 11.1 with respect to the amount of
         participating interests sold to each Participant. The Lenders agree to
         share with each Participant, and each Participant, by exercising the
         right of setoff provided in Section 11.1, agrees to share with each
         Lender, any amount received pursuant to the exercise of its right of
         setoff, such amounts to be shared in accordance with Section 11.2 as if
         each Participant were a Lender.

         12.3.    Assignments.

                  12.3.1. Permitted Assignments. Any Lender may, in the ordinary
         course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any
         time assign to one or more banks or other entities ("PURCHASERS") all
         or any part of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.
         Such assignment shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C or in
         such other form as may be agreed to by the parties thereto. The consent
         of the Borrower and the Agent shall be required prior to an assignment
         becoming effective with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or
         an Affiliate thereof; provided, however, that if a Default has occurred
         and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower shall not be required.
         Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Each such
         assignment with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or an
         Affiliate thereof shall (unless each of the Borrower and the Agent
         otherwise consents) be in an amount not less than the lesser of (i)
         $5,000,000 or (ii) the remaining amount of the assigning Lender's
         Commitment (calculated as at the date of such assignment) or
         outstanding Loans (if the applicable Commitment has been terminated).

                  12.3.2. Effect; Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Agent
         of an assignment, together with any consents required by Section
         12.3.1, and (ii) payment of a $4,000 fee paid by the assigning Lender
         or purchaser to the Agent for processing such assignment (unless such
         fee is waived by the Agent), such assignment shall become effective on
         the effective date specified in such assignment. The assignment shall
         contain a representation by the Purchaser to the effect that none of
         the consideration used to make the purchase of the Commitment and Loans
         under the applicable assignment agreement constitutes "plan assets" as
         defined under ERISA and that the rights and interests of the Purchaser
         in and under the Loan Documents will not be "plan assets" under ERISA.
         On and after the effective date of such assignment, such Purchaser
         shall for all purposes be a Lender party to this Agreement and any
         other Loan Document executed by or on behalf of the Lenders and shall
         have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan
         Documents, to the same extent as if it were an original party hereto,
         and no further consent or action by the Borrower, the Lenders or the
         Agent shall be required to release the transferor Lender with respect
         to the percentage of the 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 45
<PAGE>   52

         Aggregate Commitment and Loans assigned to such Purchaser. Upon the
         consummation of any assignment to a Purchaser pursuant to this Section
         12.3.2, the transferor Lender, the Agent and the Borrower shall, if the
         transferor Lender or the Purchaser desires that its Loans be evidenced
         by Notes, make appropriate arrangements so that new Notes or, as
         appropriate, replacement Notes are issued to such transferor Lender and
         new Notes or, as appropriate, replacement Notes, are issued to such
         Purchaser, in each case in principal amounts reflecting their
         respective Commitments, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.

         12.4. Dissemination of Information. The Borrower authorizes each Lender
to disclose to any Participant or Purchaser or any other Person acquiring an
interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "TRANSFEREE") and any
prospective Transferee any and all information in such Lender's possession
concerning the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including
without limitation any information contained in any Reports; provided that each
Transferee and prospective Transferee agrees to be bound by Section 9.11 of this
Agreement.

         12.5. Tax Treatment. If any interest in any Loan Document is
transferred to any Transferee which is organized under the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof, the transferor
Lender shall cause such Transferee, concurrently with the effectiveness of such
transfer, to comply with the provisions of Section 3.5(iv).

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                     NOTICES

         13.1. Notices. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 2.14 with
respect to borrowing notices, all notices, requests and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing (including electronic transmission,
facsimile transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party: (x)
in the case of the Borrower or the Agent, at its address or facsimile number set
forth on the signature pages hereof, (y) in the case of any Lender, at its
address or facsimile number set forth below its signature hereto or (z) in the
case of any party, at such other address or facsimile number as such party may
hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the Agent and the Borrower in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.1. Each such notice, request
or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile
transmission, when transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section
and confirmation of receipt is received, (ii) if given by mail, 72 hours after
such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid,
addressed as aforesaid, or (iii) if given by any other means, when delivered
(or, in the case of electronic transmission, received) at the address specified
in this Section; provided that notices to the Agent under Article II shall not
be effective until received.

         13.2. Change of Address. The Borrower, the Agent and any Lender may
each change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to
the other parties hereto.


CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 46
<PAGE>   53

                                   ARTICLE XIV

                                  COUNTERPARTS

         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of
which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties
hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. This
Agreement shall be effective when it has been executed by the Borrower, the
Agent and the Lenders and each party has notified the Agent by facsimile
transmission or telephone that it has taken such action.

                                   ARTICLE XV

          CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL


         15.1. CHOICE OF LAW. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINING A
CONTRARY EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISION) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INTERNAL LAWS ( BUT WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS OR
PRINCIPLES) OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE
TO NATIONAL BANKS.

         15.2. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS
TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR TEXAS STATE
COURT SITTING IN DALLAS, TEXAS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT
ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED
IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER
HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A
COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT
THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BORROWER
IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY THE BORROWER
AGAINST THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER
INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED
TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN
DALLAS, TEXAS.

         15.3. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND EACH LENDER
HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY
WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE
RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.




                         [No further text on this page]

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 47
<PAGE>   54



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent have
executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                    BORROWER:

                                    CLARK/BARDES, INC., a Delaware 
                                      corporation,


                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------------
                                    Print Name:
                                               -----------------------------
                                    Title:     
                                          ----------------------------------

                                               2121 San Jacinto Street; 
                                               Suite 2200
                                               Dallas, Texas 75201-7906
                                               Attention: Mel Todd and 
                                                          Tom Pyra
                                               Telephone: (214) 871-8717
                                               FAX: (214) 720-6050


COMMITMENTS:                        LENDERS:

Term: $9,230,769                    BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A., a national banking 
Revolving:  $10,769,231                association,
                                    Individually and as Agent


                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------------
                                    Print Name:
                                               -----------------------------
                                    Title:     
                                          ----------------------------------

                                               1717 Main Street; Third Floor
                                               Dallas, Texas 75201
                                               Attention: Chris Holder
                                               Telephone: (214) 290-4146
                                               FAX: (214) 290-2305


Term:  $9,230,769                   U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national 
Revolving:  $10,769,231             banking association, Individually and as 
                                    Co-Agent


                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------------
                                    Print Name:
                                               -----------------------------
                                    Title:     
                                          ----------------------------------

                                               601 Second Avenue South
                                               Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302
                                               Attention: Jose A. Peris
                                               Telephone: (612) 973-0551
                                               FAX: (612) 973-0832

CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 48
<PAGE>   55



Term: $6,923,077                    LASALLE NATIONAL BANK, N.A., a national 
Revolving: $8,076,923               banking association


                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------------
                                    Print Name:
                                               -----------------------------
                                    Title:     
                                          ----------------------------------

                                               135 South LaSalle Street
                                               Chicago, Illinois 60603
                                               Attention: Richard J. Melnick
                                               Telephone: (312) 904-7117
                                               FAX: (312) 904-6353



Term: $4,615,385                    COMPASS BANK, an Alabama state bank
Revolving: $5,384,615

                                    By:
                                       -------------------------------------
                                    Print Name:
                                               -----------------------------
                                    Title:     
                                          ----------------------------------

                                               8080 N. Central Expressway, 
                                               Suite 250
                                               Dallas, Texas 75206
                                               Attention: J. Paul Voorhies
                                               Telephone: (214) 706-8065
                                               FAX: (214) 890-8625




CREDIT AGREEMENT (Clark/Bardes, Inc.)                                   Page 49