ING More Than Doubles Number of Transition Counselors To Help With Retirement Questions From Employees Who Leave Their Job

- Increase is in Response to Baby Boomers Retiring; Younger Workers Changing Jobs -

PRNewswire-FirstCall
HARTFORD, Conn.
Sep 25, 2006

ING, a global financial services leader, announced today it recently increased its number of Transition Counselors to respond to the growing number of Baby Boomers retiring and the younger generation that has a tendency to switch jobs more often. Transition Counseling is a service provided to employers who select ING as their retirement services provider. When an employee decides to retire or leave their job, ING Transition Counselors help answer questions and provide guidance regarding their retirement savings.

A time of personal transition -- like a job change or retirement -- is overwhelming for many employees, who not only have to manage the change in their work lives, but also need to make very important decisions that may have significant impact on their financial future.

"We have started to see an increase in demand for the Transition Counseling services, particularly as the front end of the Baby Boomers begin to retire," said Bill Lowe, Head of ING's Financial Horizons. "To help meet the increasing market demand, we have more than doubled the number of Transition Counselors available to our retirement services customers."

ING's goal is to help make it easier for employees in transition to make important decisions about their financial lives, as well as to take some of the administrative burden off the shoulders of the employer, where human resources personnel may not be equipped or qualified to answer employees' retirement plan questions.

The Transition Counselors help the employee review his or her retirement account, and guide them through the options and possible tax implications for their retirement savings. They also make recommendations based on the individual's financial objectives and personal circumstances, and provide all of the necessary forms and support in completing required paperwork.

The Transition Counselors are all licensed, registered representatives of ING Financial Advisers, LLC with a minimum of a Series 6 and Life and Health insurance registrations, and many having multiple designations and certifications - such as Registered Investment Advisors and Certified Financial Planners.

  Press inquiries:
  Caroline Campbell, ING, 212-309-5931 or caroline.campbell@us.ing.com

  About ING

ING Group is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of more than 113,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves more than 15 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com.

Securities offered through ING Financial Advisers, LLC (member SIPC).

SOURCE: ING U.S. Financial Services

CONTACT: Caroline Campbell of ING, +1-212-309-5931, or
caroline.campbell@us.ing.com

Web site: http://www.ing.com/us