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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                STOCKPOINT, INC.
                   1995 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN

         SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN. The purpose of this Stockpoint, Inc..,
1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan is to promote the interests of the
Company by enhancing its ability to attract and retain the services of
experienced and knowledgeable independent directors and by providing additional
incentive for these directors to increase their interest in the Company's
long-term success and progress. None of the options granted hereunder shall be
"incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code (as
hereinafter defined).

         SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall
apply:

         (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (c) "Committee" shall mean a committee of two or more persons appointed
             by the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (d) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the
             Company.

         (e) "Company" shall mean Stockpoint, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         (f) "Continuous Status as a Director" shall mean the absence of any
             interruption or termination of service as a Director.

         (g) "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.

         (h) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and Directors,
             employed by the Company or any parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
             The payment of a Director's fee by the Company shall not be
             sufficient in and of itself to constitute "employment" by the
             Company.

         (i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
             amended.

         (j) "Fair Market Value" the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be
             determined by the Committee in its discretion; provided however,
             that where there is a public market for the Common Stock, the fair
             market value per Share

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             shall be the closing price of the Common Stock in the
             over-the-counter market on the date of grant, as reported in The
             Wall Street Journal (or, if not so reported, as otherwise reported
             by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
             Quotation ("NASDAQ") System or, in the event the Common Stock is
             traded on the NASDAQ National Market System or listed on a stock
             exchange, the fair market value per Share shall be the closing
             price on such system or exchange on the date of grant of the
             Option, as reported in The Wall Street Journal.

         (k) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

         (l) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option.

         (m) "Optionee" shall mean an Outside Director who receives an Option.

         (n) "Outside Director" shall mean a Director who is not an Employee.

         (o) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation," whether now or
             hereafter existing, as defined in Section 425(e) of the Code.

         (p) "Plan" shall mean this 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan.

         (q) "Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock subject to Options
             under the Plan in accordance with Section 3 below, as adjusted in
             accordance with Section 10 below.

         (r) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
             hereafter existing, as defined in Section 425(f) of the Code.

         SECTION 3. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of
Section 10 below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned
and sold under the Plan is 75,000 shares of Common Stock. The Shares may be
authorized, but unissued, shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock which
have been reacquired by the Company. If an Option should expire or become
unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, the
unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have
been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan. If Shares
which were acquired upon exercise of an Option are subsequently repurchased by
the Company, such Shares shall not in any event be returned to the Plan and
shall not become available for future grant under the Plan.

         SECTION 4. ADMINISTRATION OF AND GRANTS OF OPTIONS UNDER THE PLAN.

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         (a) Administrator. Except as otherwise required herein, the Plan shall
be administered by the Committee.

         (b) Procedure for Grants. The provisions set forth in this Section 4(b)
shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than to comport with
changes in the Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, or the rules thereunder. All grants of Options hereunder shall be
automatic and nondiscretionary and shall be made strictly in accordance with the
following provisions:

             (i)  No person shall have any discretion to select which Outside
Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of Shares to be
covered by Options granted to Outside Directors.

             (ii) Each Outside Director shall be automatically granted an Option
(an "Initial Grant") to purchase 5,000 Shares upon the date on which such person
first becomes a Director, whether through election by the stockholders of the
Company or appointment by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy. Options
granted under this Section 4(b)(iii) shall become exercisable in three equal
annual installments with the first one-third installment vesting on the first
anniversary of the date of the Initial Grant and the two remaining one-third
installments vesting on the second and third anniversary of the Initial Grant,
respectively.

             (iii) Each Outside Director shall automatically receive, on the
date of each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, beginning with the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders held in 1996, an Option to purchase 5,000 Shares of the
Company's Common Stock, such Option to become exercisable one year subsequent to
the date of grant; provided however, that such Option shall only be granted to
Outside Directors who have served since the date of the last Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and will continue to serve after the date of grant of such Option.

             (iv) The terms of an Option granted hereunder shall be as follows:

                           (A)   The term of the Option shall be ten years.

                           (B)   The exercise price per Share shall be 100% of
                  the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the
                  Option.

                           (C)   To the extent necessary to comply with the
                  applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
                  Exchange Act ("Rule 16b-3"), no Option will be exercisable
                  until a date more than six months subsequent to the date of
                  the grant of that Option.

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         (c) Powers of the Committee. Subject to the provisions and restrictions
of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion, to: (i)
determine, upon review of relevant information and in accordance with the Plan,
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock; (ii) determine the exercise price per
share of Options to be granted, which exercise price shall be determined in
accordance with Section 7(a) of the Plan; (iii) interpret the Plan; (iv)
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (v)
authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required
to effectuate the grant of an Option previously granted hereunder; and (vi) make
all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of
the Plan.

         (d) Effect of Committee's Decision. All decisions, determinations and
interpretations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Optionees and
any other holders of any Options granted under the Plan.

         SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY. Options may be granted only to Outside
Directors. All Options shall be automatically granted in accordance with the
terms set forth in Section 4(b) hereof. The Plan shall not confer upon any
Optionee any right with respect to continuation of service as a Director or
nomination to serve as a Director, nor shall it interfere in any way with any
rights which the Director or the Company may have to terminate his or her
directorship at any time.

         SECTION 6. TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon its
approval by the stockholders of the Company as described in Section 16 of the
Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten years unless sooner
terminated under Section 12 of the Plan.

         SECTION 7. EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

         (a) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be
issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value
per Share on the date of grant of the Option.

         (b) Form of Consideration. Subject to compliance with applicable
provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or other applicable law, the
consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option,
including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Committee and may
consist entirely of (i) cash, (ii) check, (iii) other shares of Common Stock
which (X) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option, have been
owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender, and (Y)
have a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise
price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, (iv)
authorization for the Company to retain from the total number of Shares as to
which the Option is exercised that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value
on the date of

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exercise equal to the exercise price for the total number of Shares as to which
the Option is exercised, (v) delivery (including by facsimile) to the Company or
its designated agent of a properly executed irrevocable option exercise notice
together with irrevocable instructions to a broker-dealer to sell a sufficient
portion of the Shares and deliver the sale proceeds directly to the Company to
pay for the exercise price, (vi) by delivering an irrevocable subscription
agreement for the Shares which irrevocably obligates the option holder to take
and pay for the Shares not more than twelve months after the date of delivery of
the subscription agreement, (vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment or (viii) such other consideration and method of payment for the
issuance of Shares as may be permitted under applicable laws. In making any
determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Committee shall
consider whether acceptance of such consideration may reasonably be expected to
benefit the Company.

         SECTION 8. EXERCISE OF OPTION.

         (a) Procedure for Exercise: Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted
hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in Section 4(b)
hereof. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option
shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been
given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person
entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the Shares with respect to
which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company. Full payment may
consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 7(c)
of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the
books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of
the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive
dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the
Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. A share certificate
for the number of Shares so acquired shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as
practicable after exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a
dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock
certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 10 of the Plan. Exercise of
an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which
thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under
the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

         (b) Termination of Status as a Director. If an Outside Director ceases
to serve as a Director, such Outside Director may exercise his/her Option to the
extent that he/she was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such
termination. To the extent that such Outside Director was not entitled to
exercise an Option at the date of such termination, or if such Outside Director
does not exercise such Option (which he/she was entitled to exercise) within the
term of such Option, the Option shall terminate.

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         (c)   Disability of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section
8(b) above, in the event an Optionee is unable to continue service as a Director
with the Company as a result of such Optionee's total and permanent disability
(as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), such Optionee may exercise his/her
Option to the extent entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such
termination. To the extent that such Optionee was not entitled to exercise the
Option at the date of such termination, or if such Optionee does not exercise
such Option (which he/she was entitled to exercise) within the term of such
Option, the Option shall terminate.

         (d)   Death of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8(b)
above, if an Optionee dies during the term of an Option:

               (i)   if the Optionee was at the time of death serving as a
Director of the Company and had been in Continuous Status as a Director since
the date of grant of the Option, then the Option may be exercised by the
Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that
would have accrued had the Optionee continued living and remained in Continuous
Status as a Director for six months after the date of death; or

               (ii)  if the Optionee's death occurred within 30 days after
the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as a Director, then the
Option may be exercised by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the
right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent
of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of termination of
Continuous Status as a Director.

         SECTION 9.  NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. An Option may not be sold,
pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other
than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules
thereunder. An Option may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee,
only by the Optionee.

         SECTION 10. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION OR
MERGER.

         (a) In the event that the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock
is changed by a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination,
reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company
without consideration, the number of Shares available under this Plan and the
number of Shares subject to outstanding Options and the exercise price per Share
of such Options shall be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required
action by the Board or stockholders of

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the Company and compliance with applicable securities laws; provided however,
that no certificate or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon
exercise of any Option and any resulting fractions of a share shall be ignored.
Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect
shall be final, binding and conclusive.

         (b) In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, a
merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, a transaction or
series of related transactions in which 51% of the then outstanding voting stock
is sold or otherwise transferred (including (i) a public announcement that any
person has acquired or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 51% or
more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (for this purpose, the terms
"person" and "beneficial ownership" shall have the meanings provided in Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act or related rules promulgated by the Securities
Exchange Commission) and (ii) the commencement of or public announcement of an
intention to make a tender or exchange offer for 51% or more of the then
outstanding shares of the Common Stock) or the sale of substantially all of the
assets of the Company, any and all outstanding Options shall, notwithstanding
any contrary terms of the written agreement governing any such Option,
accelerate and become exercisable in full at least ten days prior to (and shall
expire on) the consummation of such dissolution, liquidation, merger or sale of
stock or sale of assets on such conditions as the Board shall determine unless
the successor corporation assumes the outstanding Options or substitutes
substantially equivalent options as determined by the Board. The acceleration of
the outstanding Options shall be conditioned on the actual occurrence of such a
dissolution, liquidation, merger or sale of stock or assets.

         SECTION 11. TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option
shall, for all purposes, be the date determined in accordance with Section 4(b)
hereof. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Outside Director to
whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such
grant.

         SECTION 12. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

         (a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter,
suspend, or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension, or
discontinuance shall be made which would impair the rights of any Optionee under
any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In addition, to the
extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 (or any other
applicable law or regulation), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of
any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

         (b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such
Options shall

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remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or
terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board,
which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

         SECTION 13. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be
issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option
and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with
all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, state securities laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange
upon which the Common Stock may then be listed or quoted, and shall be further
subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require
the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned relevant provisions of law. Inability of the Company to
obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority
is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in
respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite
authority shall not have been obtained.

         SECTION 14. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this
Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of the Shares
available for issuance pursuant to this Plan as shall be sufficient to satisfy
the requirements of the Plan.

         SECTION 15. OPTION AGREEMENT. Options shall be evidenced by written
option agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

         SECTION 16. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The Plan shall be subject to approval
by the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the
voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT is entered into on December 20, 1999 (the "Effective
Time"), by and between William E. Staib, an individual resident of the State of
Iowa ("Executive"), and Stockpoint, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company").

         WHEREAS, Executive has heretofore been employed as the Chief Executive
 Officer of the Company; and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to have the benefit of the
Executive's services as a corporate officer of the Company;

         WHEREAS, certain guarantors of borrowings of the Company have required,
as a condition to their guarantees, that the Company execute an employment
agreement with Executive and

         WHEREAS, the proceeds from such borrowings are necessary for the
Company's operations and will benefit the Company and the Executive.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the respective
undertakings of the Company and Executive set forth below, the Company and
Executive agree as follows:

         1.    Employment. The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and
Executive accepts such employment and agrees to perform services for the
Company, upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

         2.    Term. The term of this agreement is one year and renews annually,
unless either party provides written notification 90 days prior to the renewal.
See section 8 below for Termination definitions and remedies.

         3.    Positions, Duties and Reporting.

               3.01  Service with Company. During the term of this Agreement,
Executive agrees to perform such reasonable employment duties consistent with
the role of Chief Executive Officer as the Company shall assign to him/her from
time to time.

               3.02  Performance of Duties. Executive agrees to serve the
Company faithfully and to the best of his/her ability and to devote his/her full
time, attention, and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company during
the term of this Agreement. Executive represents to the Company that he/she is
under no contractual commitments inconsistent with his/her obligations set forth
in this Agreement, and that during the term of this Agreement, he/she will not
render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

               3.03  Reporting. This position will report to the Board of
Directors of the Company.

         4.    Compensation.

               4.01  Base Salary. As base compensation for all services to be
rendered by Executive under this Agreement during the first year of the term of
this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Executive a base salary at a rate of
$130,000 per year, which salary shall be paid on a twice-monthly basis in
accordance with the Company's normal payroll procedures and policies. The salary
payable to Executive during each subsequent year during the term of this
Agreement shall be established by the Company and Executive, but in no event
shall the salary for any subsequent year be less than the base salary in effect
for the prior year. Upon the completion of an initial public offering of the
Company's common stock or another strategic transaction that satisfies the
Company's present obligations to the Northern Trust Company in full, the base
salary payable to the Executive will be increased to at least $180,000 per year.

               4.02  Participation in Benefit Plans. During the term of this
Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to receive such medical and
hospitalization insurance and other fringe benefits as are being provided

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to the Company's other executive level employees from time to time to the extent
that Executive's age, position or other factors qualify him/her for such fringe
benefits.

               4.03  Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse Executive for
all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him/her in the
performance of his/her duties under this Agreement, subject to the presentment
of appropriate vouchers in accordance with the Company's normal policies for
expense verification.

               4.04  Incentive for completion of an initial public offering.
Upon the completion of an initial public offering of the Company's common stock,
the Company will also pay Executive an IPO cash bonus of $60,000, which is due
and payable, immediately upon the close.

               4.05  Annual Incentive Compensation. The Company shall formulate
and deliver to Executive by January 31, 2000 with respect to the remainder of
fiscal 2000, and by January 1 with respect to each succeeding fiscal year during
the term of this Agreement, and the Company and Executive shall use their best
efforts to negotiate and agree to, an annual incentive compensation plan for
Executive.

               4.06  Vesting of Stock Options.

         On September 15, 1999, the Company issued to the Executive an
additional option ("September 1999 Option") grant to purchase up to 200,000
shares of Company Common Stock at a price of $7.20 per share pursuant to the
Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). Such option shall become
exercisable with respect to 20% of the shares immediately upon execution of this
Agreement and the balance shall vest monthly at a rate of 1/60 of the total
September 1999 Option grant over the balance of the term. Such option shall
expire 10 years from the date of the grant and shall contain such other
provisions as are contained in the form of stock option agreement used by
Company under the Plan.

In the event that this Agreement is terminated as a result of the "Constructive
Termination" (as defined in Section 8.01(2)) or without "Cause" (as defined in
Section 8.01(1)) of the Executive, the September 1999 Option will vest with
respect to 40% of the shares subject thereto immediately. In addition, the
Company will permit the Executive to exercise all of his/her vested options for
a period of 12 months, commencing from the date of termination.

Vesting of all options granted to Executive will be accelerated with respect to
100% of the shares subject thereto in the event of a "Change in Control" of the
Company. For such purposes, a "Change in Control" shall mean any of the
following:

         (i)   A sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

         (ii)  The acquisition of more than 50% of the then outstanding Company
               Common Stock by any person or group of persons acting in concert;

         (iii) Any change that results in the Continuing Directors constituting
               less than a majority of the Board of Directors;

         (iv)  A reorganization or, a merger of Company with another company
               after which the holders of common stock of the Company
               immediately prior to the merger or reorganization hold less than
               50% of the voting power of the resulting corporations, or any
               other transaction in which the Company (other than as the parent
               corporation) is consolidated for federal income tax purposes or
               is eligible to be consolidated for federal income tax purposes
               with another corporation; or

         (v)   In the event that the Company Common Stock is traded on an
               established securities market: a public announcement that any
               person has acquired beneficial ownership of more than 25% of the
               then outstanding Company Common Stock and for this purpose the
               terms "person" and "beneficial ownership" shall have the meanings
               provided in Section 13(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of
               1934 or related rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
               Commission or; the commencement of or public announcement of an
               intention to make a tender offer for more than 50% of the then
               outstanding Company Common Stock.
<PAGE>   3

For purposes of this Section 4.06, "Continuing Directors" shall include only
those directors of the Company on the date hereof and those directors, as of a
date 30 days prior to an event that would otherwise be considered a "Change in
Control," who were nominated by Continuing Directors and duly elected by
shareholders at an annual meeting thereof or nominated and elected by directors
who were "Continuing Directors."

         5.    Confidential Information. Except as permitted or directed by the
Company's Board of Directors, during the term of this Agreement or at any time
thereafter, Executive shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or
use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the
Company) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company
which Executive has acquired or become acquainted with or will acquire or become
acquainted with during the period of his/her employment by the Company, whether
developed by himself/herself or by others, concerning any trade secrets,
confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material
(whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any
aspect of the business of the Company, any confidential or secret development or
research work of the Company, or any other confidential information or secret
aspects of the business of the Company. Executive expressly acknowledges that,
in addition to the Company's proprietary software and technical know-how, the
Company's customer lists and the form (including, without limitation, payment
terms) of the Company's relationships with its customers is not publicly known
and that the disclosure or use of such information for any purpose other than
for the benefit of the Company could cause substantial damage the Company and
would place the Company at a competitive disadvantage. Executive acknowledges
that the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and
valuable asset of the Company and that any disclosure or other use of such
knowledge or information other than the sole benefit of the Company would be
wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company. The foregoing
obligations of confidentiality shall not apply to any knowledge or information
which is now published, which subsequently becomes generally publicly known,
other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by
Executive, or which was known to the Executive prior to the term of his/her
employment with the Company. Executive agrees to notify any person or entity
with which Executive is employed or for which Executive provides services of the
requirements of this Section 5 and to notify the Company of the identity of any
such person or entity with which Executive is employed during the One year after
termination of this Agreement.

         6.    Employee Solicitation. During employment, and for a period of
nine months thereafter, Executive shall not (i) directly or indirectly solicit
any employee of the Company or any of Company's affiliates to leave the employ
of any such entity or in any way interfere adversely with the relationship
between any such employee and any such entity, (ii) directly or indirectly
solicit any employee of the Company or any affiliates to work for, render
services or provide advice to or supply confidential business information or
trade secrets of any such entity to any third person, firm or corporation, or
(iii) directly or indirectly solicit any existing customers and potential
customers that have an unexpired written proposals under consideration. For
purposes of the foregoing, solicitation shall not include solicitation of
employees, vendors or customers (i) who first solicit employment or a
relationship from Executive, or (ii) who are solicited (A) by advertising in
periodicals of general circulation or by general circulation Internet
advertising, or (B) by a search or consulting firm on behalf of Executive or
Executive's affiliates, so long as Executive or such affiliates did not direct
or encourage such firm to solicit such employee, vendor or customer of the
Company. If any restriction set forth in this paragraph is held to be
unreasonable, then Executive and the Company agree, and hereby submit, to the
reduction and limitation of such prohibition to such area or period as shall be
deemed reasonable.

         7.    Patent and Related Matter.

               7.01  Disclosure and Assignment. Executive will promptly disclose
in writing to the Company complete information concerning each and every
invention, discovery, improvement, work of authorship, device, design,
apparatus, practice, process, method or product whether patentable or not, made,
developed, authored, perfected, devised, conceived or first reduced to practice
by Executive, either solely or in collaboration with others, during the term of
this Agreement, whether or not during regular working hours, relating to the
Business of the Company (hereinafter referred to as "Developments"). Executive,
to the extent that he/she has the legal right to do so, hereby acknowledges that
any and all of said Developments are the property of the Company and hereby
assigns and agrees to assign to the Company any and all of Executive's right,
title and interest in and to any and all of such Developments.
<PAGE>   4
               7.02  Limitation on Section 7.01. The provisions of section 7.01
shall not apply to any Development meeting the following conditions:

                         (a)  such Development was developed entirely on
                              Executive's own time; and

                         (b)  such Development was made without the use of any
                              Company equipment, supplies, facility or trade
                              secret information, excluding Executives laptop;
                              and

                         (c)  such Development does not relate (I) directly to
                              the Business of the Company, or (ii) to the
                              Company's actual or demonstrably anticipated
                              research or development; and

                         (d)  such Development does not result from any work
                              performed by Executive for the Company.

               7.03  Assistance of Executive. Upon request and without further
compensation therefor, but at no expense to Executive, and whether during the
term of this Agreement or thereafter, Executive will do all lawful acts,
including, but not limited to, the execution of papers and lawful oaths and the
giving of testimony, that in the opinion of the Company, its successors and
assigns, may be necessary or desirable in obtaining, sustaining, reissuing,
extending and enforcing United States and foreign patents and/or registrations
including, but not limited to, design patents, on any and all of such
Developments (other than those described in 7.02), and for perfecting affirming
and recording the Company's complete ownership and title thereto, and to
cooperate otherwise in all proceedings and matters relating thereto.

               7.04  Obligations, Restrictions and Limitations. Executive
understands that the Company may enter into agreements or arrangements with
agencies of the United States Government, and that the Company may be subject to
laws and regulations which impose obligations, restrictions and limitations on
it with respect to inventions and patents which may be acquired by it or which
may be conceived, authored or developed by employees, consultants or other
agents rendering services to it. Executive agrees that he/she shall be bound by
all such obligations, restrictions and limitations applicable to any such
invention or work of authorship conceived, authored or developed by him/her
during the term of this Agreement and shall take any and all further action
which may be required to discharge such obligations and to comply with such
obligations and to comply with such restrictions and limitations.

         8.    Termination

               8.01  Grounds for Termination. This Agreement may be terminated:

                         (a)  by the Company, if Executive dies, or

                         (b)  by the Executive, if Executive becomes disabled
                              (as defined below), or

                         (c)  by the Company, if the Executive has engaged in
                              conduct constituting cause for his/her termination
                              and the Company notifies Executive in writing of
                              such election, or

                         (d)  by the Company without cause upon notice to the
                              Executive in writing of such election, provided
                              that such termination may only occur by unanimous
                              decision of the Board of Directors if there are
                              then three or fewer Directors or by a majority
                              decision of the Board of Directors if there are
                              then four or more Directors.

                         (e)  by the Executive, if the Executive is
                              constructively terminated, as defined in paragraph
                              8.01(2) herein and the Executive has notified the
                              Company of his/her election to terminate for
                              Constructive Termination, or

                         (f)  by the Executive upon notice to the Company in
                              writing of such election.

         If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to subsection (a), (b), (c),
         (e) or (f) of this section 8.01, such termination shall be effective
         immediately. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to subsection (d)
<PAGE>   5

         of this section 8.01, such termination shall be effective thirty (30)
         days after delivery of the notice of termination.

                     (1) "Cause" Defined.  "Cause" means:

                         (a)  The Employee has breached the provisions of
                     Section 5, 6 or 7 of this Agreement in any material
                     respect,

                         (b)  The Executive has engaged in willful and
                     material misconduct, including willful and material failure
                     to perform the Employee's duties as an officer or employee
                     of the Company and has failed to cure such default within
                     30 days after receipt of written notice of default from the
                     Company,

                         (c)  The Executive has committed fraud,
                     misappropriation or embezzlement in connection with the
                     Company's business, or

                         (d)  Executive has been convicted or has pleaded
                     nolo contendere to criminal misconduct that is detrimental
                     to the Company's reputation or that calls into question, in
                     the judgement of the Board, Executive's integrity in
                     fulfilling his/her duties under this Agreement.

                     In the event the Company terminates Executive's employment
         for "cause" pursuant to subsection 8.01 and Executive objects in
         writing to the Board's determination that there was proper "cause" for
         such termination within (30) days after Executive is notified of such
         termination, the matter shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance
         with the provisions of section 10.01. If Executive fails to object to
         any such determination of "cause" in writing within such thirty (30)
         day period, he/she shall be deemed to have waived his/her right to
         object to that determination. If such arbitration determines that there
         was not proper "cause" for termination, such termination shall be
         deemed to be a termination pursuant to subsection 8.01(d).

                     (2) "Constructive Termination" defined. Constructive
         Termination means termination by Executive after written notice to the
         Company that Executive deems such termination by Executive as a result
         of Constructive Termination, and only after:

                         (a)  A material breach by the Company of a material
                              obligation of the Company under this Agreement
                              after the Executive has given the Company written
                              notice of the breach and the Company has not
                              remedied the breach within 30 days;

                         (b)  A failure of the Company to pay when due to the
                              Executive any annual base salary, annual bonus or
                              other earned bonus or awards referred to in this
                              Agreement;

                         (c)  The relocation of the Executive's principal place
                              of employment to a location not within a 30 mile
                              radius of such place of employment on the
                              Effective Date;

                         (d)  A material reduction by the Company of the
                              Executive's duties or responsibilities;

                         (e)  The failure of the Company to obtain an agreement
                              reasonably satisfactory to the Executive from any
                              successor to assume and agree to perform this
                              Agreement , or, if the business for which the
                              Executive's services are principally performed is
                              sold or transferred, the failure of the Company to
                              obtain such an agreement from the purchaser or
                              transferee of such business; or

                         (f)  The Company becomes insolvent or bankrupt where
                              executive can no longer perform his/her duties as
                              outlined above.
<PAGE>   6
                     In the event the Executive terminates Executive's
               employment for "Constructive Termination" pursuant to subsection
               8.01 and the Company objects in writing to the Executive's
               determination that there was Constructive Termination within (30)
               days after Executive has notified the Company of the same, the
               matter shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the
               provisions of section 10.01. If the Company fails to object to
               any such determination of "Constructive Termination" in writing
               within such thirty (30) day period, it shall be deemed to have
               waived its right to object to that determination. If such
               arbitration determines that there was not proper "Constructive
               Termination", such termination shall be deemed to be a
               termination pursuant to subsection 8.01(c).

               8.02  "Disability" Defined. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term "disabled" means any mental or physical condition which renders Executive
unable to perform the essential functions of his/her positions, with or without
reasonable accommodation, for a period of more than ninety (90) days during any
consecutive one hundred twenty (120) day period.

               8.03  Surrender of Records and Property. Upon termination of
his/her employment with the Company, Executive shall deliver promptly to the
Company all records, manual, book, blank forms, document, letters, memoranda,
notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which
are the property of the Company or which relate in any way to the business,
products, practices or techniques of the Company, and all other property, trade
secrets and confidential information of the Company, including, but not limited
to, all documents which in whole or case are in his/her possession or under
his/her control.

               8.04  Wage and Benefit Continuation. If Executive's employment by
the Company is terminated pursuant to subsection 8.01 (d) or 8.01(e), the
Company shall continue to pay to Executive his/her base salary and shall
continue to provide health insurance benefits for Executive for a period 9
months after termination. In the event of a "Change in Control" as defined in
Section 4.07, if Executive's employment is terminated by "Constructive
Termination" as defined in Section 8.01(2)or without "Cause" as defined in as
defined in Section 8.01(1) within 12 months after the effective date of a
"Change in Control," the severance compensation package defined in this Section
will be doubled to 18 months. Notwithstanding anything else in this Section
8.04, Executive shall not be entitled under this Section 8.04 or any other
provision of this Agreement to receive any cash compensation pursuant to this
Agreement which constitutes an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor
provision or regulations promulgated.

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to subsection 8.01 (a), 8.01 (c), or
8.01 (f), Executive's right to base salary and benefits shall immediately
terminate except as may otherwise be required by applicable law.

               If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
pursuant to subsection 8.01(a), 8.01(b), 8.01(d) or 8.01(e), Executive shall
also be entitled to receive any bonus payment that as of the time of termination
would have been payable to him/her pursuant to any incentive plan then in
effect.

         9.    Indemnification and Directors & Officers Insurance

               9.01  Indemnification. The Company will provide Executive
indemnification, exculpation and expense advancement, to the fullest extent of
the law, including, without limitation, entering into an indemnification
agreement with Executive in at least as beneficial a form to Executive as the
Company has entered into with any other officer or director of the Company.

               9.02  Directors and Officers Insurance. The Company will provide,
at its expense, Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance in an amount deemed
appropriate by its Board of Directors and Officers. If the Company shall show
any employee as a named insured under such policy, the Executive shall be a
named insured under such policy.

         10.   Settlement of Disputes.

               10.01 Arbitration. Except as provided in section 10.02 any claims
or disputes of any nature between the Company and Executive arising from or
related to the performance, breach, termination,

<PAGE>   7

expiration, application, or meaning of this Agreement or any related matter
relating to Executive's employment and the termination of that employment by the
Company shall be resolved exclusively by arbitration in Minneapolis, MN, in
accordance with the then applicable rules of the American Arbitration
Association. Any such arbitration shall be conducted by an arbitrator with said
Rules, who has at least ten (10) years experience as an attorney in executive
compensation and employment law. The fees of the arbitrator (s) and other cost,
including attorney fees, incurred by Executive and the Company in connection
with such arbitration shall be paid by the party who is unsuccessful in such
arbitration, as determined by the arbitrator. The decision if the arbitrator(s)
shall be final and binding upon both parties. Judgement of the award rendered by
the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. In
the event of submission of any dispute to arbitration, each party shall, not
later than thirty (30) days prior to the date set forth hearing, provide to the
other party and to the arbitrator(s) a copy of all exhibits upon which the party
intends to rely at the hearing and a list of all persons each party intends to
call at the hearing.

               10.02 Resolution of Certain Claims- Injunctive Relief. Section
10.01 shall have no application to claims by the Company asserting a violation
of section 5, 6, 7 or 8.03 or seeking to enforce, by injunction or otherwise,
the terms of section 5, 6, 7 or 8.03. Such claims may be maintained by the
Company in a lawsuit subject to the terms of section 10.03. Executive agrees
that, in addition to, but not to the exclusion of any other available remedy,
the Company shall have the right to enforce the provisions of sections 5, 6, 7
and 8.03 by applying for and obtaining temporary and permanent restraining
orders injunctions from a court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity
of filing a bond therefor and without the necessity of proving actual damages,
and the Company shall be entitled to recover from the Employee its reasonable
attorneys' fees and costs in enforcing the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7 and
8.03.

               10.03 Venue. Any action at law, suit in equity, or judicial
proceeding arising directly or indirectly, or otherwise in connection with, out
of, related to or from this Agreement or any provisions hereof shall be
litigated only in the courts of the State of Iowa. Executive waives any right
the Executive may have to transfer or change the venue of any litigation brought
against Executive by the Company.

               10.04 Severability. To the extent any provisions of this
Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted
herefrom and the remainder of such provisions and if this Agreement shall be
unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not
in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of,
or business activities covered by, any provisions of this Agreement be in excess
of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such
provisions shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities
which may validly and enforceably be covered. Executive acknowledges the
uncertainty of the law in respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement
be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to
the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable
law.

         11    Miscellaneous.

               11.01 Governing Law. This Agreement is made under and shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa.

               11.02 Prior Agreements. Except as set forth in Section 1, this
Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the
employment of Executive by the Company and the ancillary matters discussed
herein and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings with respect to such
matters, and the parties hereto made no arrangements, representations or
warranties relating to such employment or ancillary matters which are not set
forth herein.

               11.03 Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any
benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes
shall be required pursuant to any law governmental regulation, or ruling or any
other amount owed to the Company.

               11.04 Amendments. No amendment or modification of this Agreement
shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the both
Executive and Company.

               11.05 No Waiver. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be
deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be any estoppel to enforce any
provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the
party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written
waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall
operate only as to specific

<PAGE>   8

term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or
condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

               11.06 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in
whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other
party, except that the Company may, without the consent of the Executive, assign
its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any corporation, firm or
other business entity with or into which the Company may merge or consolidate,
or to which the Company may sell or transfer all or substantially all of its
assets, or of which 50% or more of the equity investment and of the voting
control is owned, directly or indirectly, by, or is under common ownership with,
the Company; provided, however, that no such assignment will relieve Company of
any of its obligations hereunder. After any such assignee shall thereafter be
deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement
including section 9. .

               11.07 Counterparts. This Agreement may be simultaneously executed
in any number of counterparts, and such counterparts executed and delivered,
each as an original, shall constitute but the same instrument.

               11.08 Notices. All notices, demands and other communications to
be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement
will be in writing and will be deemed to have given when personally delivered or
three days after being mailed, if mailed, by first class mail, return receipt
requested, or when receipt is acknowledged, if sent by facsimile, telecopy or
other electronic transmission device. Notices, demands and communications to
Company and the Executive will, unless another address is specified in writing ,
be sent to the address indicated below:

         Notices to Company:                        Notice to Executive:
         -------------------                        --------------------
         Stockpoint, Inc.                           William Staib
         2600 Crosspark Road                        1916 Brown Deer Road
         Coralville, Iowa 52241                     Coralville, IA 52241
         Attn: President

               11.09 Captions and Headings. The captions and paragraph headings
used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not
affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any of the
provisions hereof.

               11.10 Effect of Termination. It is expressly understood that
neither the Company nor the Executive shall have any continuing obligation under
this agreement upon termination hereof, except in respect of the matters
referenced in Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8.03.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have executed this
Agreement as of date set forth herein.

                                Stockpoint, Inc.

                                By: /s/  Scott Porter
                                   ---------------------

                                Its  CFO
                                   ---------------------

                                EXECUTIVE

                                 /s/  William E. Staib
                                ------------------------
                                William E. Staib

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