ING Introduces ING MoneyMentor - A Fresh View on Personal Finance
ING Working with AOL Time Warner to Develop a First-of-its-Kind Unique Blend of Education and Entertainment
ING MoneyMentor is Smart. Fun. Financial.
PRNewswire-FirstCall
ATLANTA
May 12, 2003
ING's US Financial Services, a US component of global leader ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING), announced today the launch of its new 'ING MoneyMentor.com' -- a dynamic site where individuals can go to access learning segments that are leading edge, yet easy to use and understand. The interactive segments are themed around personal financial issues -- but are delivered with unexpected style and personality. This first-of-its-kind personal tool is now live and available free of charge for public use.
For this innovative, interactive personal financial learning center, ING signed AOL Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: AOL) to a multi-million, three-year media and marketing alliance. ING chose AOL Time Warner to incorporate editorial and entertainment content and talent from the AOL Time Warner portfolio of properties, such as CNNMoney.com, Money magazine, DC Comics and TBS Superstation.
Blending education and entertainment to bring "edutainment" to financial services
"Learning more about managing finances does not have to be boring," said Tom McInerney, Chief Executive Officer of ING's US Financial Services. "Individuals can now access credible information, blended with the very best of entertainment properties. We think of this blend of education and entertainment as 'edutainment' -- and what could be the mark of a new service category in financial services."
McInerney continued, "ING MoneyMentor is smart, fun and financial. It's a multiplex theater of personal financial learning."
ING worked with AOL Time Warner to build ING MoneyMentor to serve the current needs in the marketplace, including the growing number of consumers who turn first to the web as a means of personal learning. ING MoneyMentor's site is like a multiplex movie theatre -- individuals can go when they want and choose from a variety of interactive segments, each styled with its own entertainment personality. Only four to six minutes in length, the interactive segments focus on a variety of personal finance topics selected based on relevance to current consumer needs and interests.
The segments feature content drawn from AOL Time Warner resources, including TBS, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Inc. ING also tapped the editorial experience and perspectives within the AOL Time Warner resources to identify the most timely and top of mind personal finance topics in the minds of today's consumer.
"ING is committed to standing out in the financial services' sea of sameness, and ING MoneyMentor is a prime example of ING bringing fresh ideas and thinking to the financial services marketplace," McInerney said. "With the AOL Time Warner entertainment resources acting as familiar faces and fun- loving guides, we think this is a great way for individuals to start thinking about a topic important to everyone -- their money."
ING MoneyMentor is a learning tool that individuals can access at their convenience at www.ingmoneymentor.com to expand their level of financial knowledge and confidence. ING believes a firm foundation of information will enhance individuals' interactions with financial professionals, and allow them to be more engaged in critical financial decisions.
"We are excited to join ING in developing an innovative personal finance tool that mixes education and entertainment and allows us to leverage the combined power of AOL Time Warner's diverse businesses," said Don Logan, Chairman of AOL Time Warner's Media & Communications Group.
In addition to AOL Time Warner entertainment and content resources, the development of ING MoneyMentor also leverages AOL Time Warner's skill and resources as the leader in online capabilities. Seven interactive segments are currently available, and can be accessed at www.ingmoneymentor.com . An interactive segment takes approximately five minutes to complete and may focus on a variety of topics, such as How to Save for College, or How to Rollover Your 401K. ING and AOL Time Warner will continue to develop new interactive segments for introduction later in the year.
"Individuals now want more engagement and have higher expectations -- and research clearly shows that consumers want to know more about how to manage their money," said Shaun Mathews, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for ING's US Financial Services.
ING's research indicates that over half of Americans believe that professional financial advice is a necessity in order to achieve the comfortable retirement they want. But ING also recognizes that individuals want to be much more engaged in the process, as well as in thinking through the appropriateness of financial decisions.
Mathews added, "With individuals' expanding reliance on the Internet for information and education, we've created an online environment that is enjoyable, informative, timely, meaningful, easy to navigate and appealing."
About ING MoneyMentor
ING MoneyMentor is an innovative new website that uses a unique blend of education and entertainment -- to teach consumers about managing their money. At INGMoneyMentor.com, consumers learn by completing dynamic, interactive segments on a variety of topics -- from how to save for college to how to rollover your 401K. The segments are spiced up with entertainment content, such as properties like TBS Superstation's "Dinner & A Movie" and DC Comics superheros (The Flash and The Green Lantern). Each module takes 4-6 minutes to complete.
ING is working with AOL Time Warner to create interactive segments for this innovative new website, which features the editorial and entertainment content and talent from the AOLTW portfolio of properties -- such as CNNMoney.com, Money magazine, DC Comics and TBS Superstation. The relationship is part of a multi-million, three-year media and marketing deal between ING and AOL Time Warner.
About AOL Time Warner
AOL Time Warner is the world's leading media and entertainment company, whose businesses include interactive services, cable systems, filmed entertainment, television networks, music and publishing. AOL Time Warner's Global Marketing Solutions (GMS) group works with marketers to create cross- platform, multi-media marketing opportunities.
About ING
ING is one of largest financial services organizations in the world -- and is a leading provider in U.S. and global markets. (www.ing.com ) ING's US financial services, through its member companies, offers a comprehensive array of products and services, including retirement programs, fixed and variable annuities; life insurance; employee benefits; mutual funds, and financial planning the United States. ING holds top-5 rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the country. ING's U.S. financial services is part of ING Groep N.V., which offers banking, insurance and asset management to over 50 million private, corporate and institutional clients through operations in 65 countries around the world.
ING is not affiliated with AOL Time Warner and its affiliated companies.
Contact: ING - Cindy Schaus - 515.698.7607- Cindy.Schaus@ING-dm.com
ING - Dana Ripley - 770.980.3317- Dana.Ripley@ing-fsi-na.com
AOL Time Warner - Mia Carbonell - 212.484.6684-
Mia.Carbonell@aoltw.com
SOURCE: ING Americas
CONTACT: Cindy Schaus, +1-515-698-7607, or Cindy.Schaus@ING-dm.com , or
Dana Ripley, +1-770-980-3317, or Dana.Ripley@ing-fsi-na.com , both of ING; or
Mia Carbonell of AOL Time Warner, +1-212-484-6684, or Mia.Carbonell@aoltw.com