FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT (BROKER-DEALER VRDN FACILITY)

Exhibit 10.23

FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT (BROKER-DEALER VRDN FACILITY)

     THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT (BROKER-DEALER VRDN FACILITY) (this “Amendment”) made and entered into as of November 3, 2008, by and between: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (“Lender”); has reference to the following facts and circumstances (the “Preambles”):

     A. Borrower and Lender entered into the Loan Agreement (Broker-Dealer VRDN Facility) dated as of September 30, 2008 (as amended, the “Agreement”; all capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Amendment shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement as amended by this Amendment).

     B. Borrower and Lender desire to amend the Agreement in the manner hereinafter set forth.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower and Lender hereby agree as follows:

     1. Preambles. The Preambles are true and correct, and, with the defined terms set forth herein, are incorporated herein by this reference.

     2. Amendment to Agreement. The Agreement is amended as follows:

(a) The following definition of “Fed Funds” is added to Section 1 of the Agreement in the correct alphabetical order:

     “Fed Funds Rate shall mean an annual rate equal to the Fed Funds Rate reported by Garban-Intercapital (or any other interest rate reporting service from time to time used by Lender) at or about 2:00 p.m. (Central time) on each Banking Day for purchasing overnight federal funds in the national market, adjusted for any reserve requirement and any subsequent costs arising from a change in government regulation, which rate shall fluctuate as and when said reported rate shall change.”

(b)

The first sentence of Section 6 of the Agreement is deleted and replaced with the following:

“Borrower shall pay interest to Lender on the aggregate unpaid principal amounts of each Advance from time to time outstanding at an annual rate quoted by Lender equal to the Applicable Margin plus either the (a) Cost of Funds Rate, or (b) Fed Funds Rate.”

     3. References. All references in the Note, the Collateral Pledge Agreement, and the other Credit Documents to “the Loan Agreement (Broker-Dealer VRDN Facility)”, and any other references of similar import shall henceforth mean the Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

     4. Full Force and Effect. Except to the extent specifically amended by this Amendment, all of the terms, provisions, conditions, covenants, representations and warranties contained in the Agreement shall be and remain in full force and effect and the same are hereby ratified and confirmed.

     5. Continuing Security. The Agreement, as hereby amended, and the Note, are, and shall continue to be, secured by the Collateral Pledge Agreement.

     6. Successors and Assigns. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Borrower and Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrower may not assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under the Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

     7. Representations and Warranties. Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Lender that:

(a) the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Amendment are within the corporate powers of Borrower, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and require no action by or in respect of, consent of or filing or recording with, any governmental or regulatory body, instrumentality, authority, agency or official or any other person or entity;

(b) the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Amendment do not conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under or result in any violation of, the terms of the Certificate or Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of Borrower, any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory body, instrumentality authority, agency or official or any agreement, document or instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or any of its property or assets is bound or to which Borrower or any of its property is subject;

(c) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrower enforceable against Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

(d) all of the representations and warranties made by Borrower in the Agreement, the Note, the Collateral Agreement, and the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of this Amendment as if made on and as of the date of this Amendment; and

(e) as of the date of this Amendment, Borrower is in compliance with all provisions of the Agreement, the Note, the Collateral Agreement, and the other Credit Documents.

     8. Inconsistency. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between this Amendment and the Agreement, the terms, provisions and conditions contained in this Amendment shall govern and control.

     9. Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Amendment to the contrary, this Amendment shall not be effective unless and until Lender shall have received: (a) this Amendment, duly executed by Borrower; and (b) such other documents and information as reasonably required by Lender.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower and Lender have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

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FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT (BROKER-DEALER VRDN FACILITY)