EXHIBIT A

                      FORM OF NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF OPTION

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          DATE

Individual Investor Group, Inc.
1633 Broadway, 38th Floor
New York, New York 10019

Attention:        Stock Option Committee of
                    the Board of Directors

                           Re:      Purchase of Option Shares

Gentlemen:

                  In accordance with my Stock Option Agreement dated as of
                                    ("Agreement")  with Individual  Investor 
Group, Inc. (the "Company"),  I hereby irrevocably  elect to  exercise  the 
right to purchase  _________  shares of the Company's  common stock,  par value
$.01 per share ("Common  Stock"),  which are being purchased for investment and
not for resale.

                  As payment  for my  shares,  enclosed  is (check and  complete
                  applicable box[es]):


        [ ]       a [personal check]  [certified  check] [bank check] payable to
                  the order of "Individual  Investor Group, Inc." in the sum 
                  of $_________;

        [ ]       confirmation of wire transfer in the amount 
                  of $_____________; and/or

        [ ]       certificate  for ____ shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock,
                  free and clear of any  encumbrances,  duly endorsed,  having a
                  Fair Market Value (as such term is defined in the Agreement of
                  $---------.

                  I hereby represent, warrant to, and agree with, the Company 
                  that

                           a)       I am  acquiring  the Option  and shall  
                  acquire  the  Option  Shares for my own 
                  account and not with a view towards the distribution thereof;

                           b)       I have  received a copy of all  reports and
                  documents  required to be filed by the Company  with the 
                  Commission  pursuant to the  Exchange Act within the last 24
                  months and all reports issued by the Company to its
                  stockholders;

                           c) I understand that I must bear the economic risk of
                  the investment in the Option Shares,  which cannot be sold by
                  me unless they are  registered  under the Securities Act of
                  1933 (the "1933 Act")or an exemption therefrom is available  
                  thereunder and that the company is under no obligation to
                  register the Option Shares for sale under the 1933 Act;

                           d) in my position  with the Company,  I have had both
         the  opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the officers
         and  directors  of the  Company  and all  persons  acting on its behalf
         concerning  the terms and conditions of the offer made hereunder and to
         obtain any additional  information to the extent the Company  possesses
         or may possess such information or can acquire it without  unreasonable
         effort or expense  necessary to verify the accuracy of the  information
         obtained pursuant to clause (ii) above;

                           e) I am  aware  that the  Company  shall  place  stop
         transfer  orders with its  transfer  agent  against the transfer of the
         Option Shares in the absence of  registration  under the 1933 Act or an
         exemption therefrom as provided herein;

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                           f)       my rights with respect to the Option Shares
         shall, in all respects,  be subject to the terms and conditions of this
         Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan and this Agreement; and

                           g) the certificates evidencing the Option Shares 
         shall bear the following legends:

                           "The shares represented by this certificate have been
                           acquired for investment and have not been  registered
                           under the  Securities Act of 1933. The shares may not
                           be  sold  or  transferred  in  the  absence  of  such
                           registration  or an  exemption  therefrom  under said
                           Act."

Kindly forward to me my certificate at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours,



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(Signature)                                                   (Address)

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(Print Name)






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