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This paper reports the findings of an experiment designed to test extensions of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) within the context of using the World Wide Web to gather and analyze financial information. The proposed extensions are three-fold. Based on prior research, cognitive absorption variables are posited as predeterminants of ease of use. Similarly, cognitive instrumental variables are used as antecedents of usefulness. Finally a newly proposed construct, strategic importance, is used to capture perceptions of application relevance that are not personally motivated. While mixed support was found for the cognitive absorption variables, the cognitive instrumental variables were found to be strong predeterminants of usefulness. The relationship between usefulness and strategic importance was found to be highly significant; however, additional analysis indicated that strategic importance was a precursor rather than an effect of usefulness. The effects of adding strategic importance to the cognitive instrumental variables is also discussed. Includes seven tables: scale reliabilities; relationship of perceived ease of use, usefulness with intention to use; relationship of cognitive absorption variables with perceived ease of use; relationship of cognitive instrumental variables with usefulness; relationship of ease of use and usefulness with strategic importance; relationship of ease of use and usefulness with strategic importance; and relationship of cognitive instrumental variables and strategic importance with usefulness. Measurement scales are appended. (Contains eight references.) (Author)