ING Financial Partners Holds First Women Advisors Forum

ING Financial Partners recently held its first Women Advisors Forum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Featuring national keynote speakers and professional-development workshops, the event aimed to bring successful women financial professionals together to provide a unique education and networking opportunity.

"Financial planning and investments has been a field dominated by male advisors. But increasingly women are not only entering the field, but enjoying really strong success. With so many advisors nearing retirement, women will play a key role in the next generation of financial professionals," said Karl Lindberg, president and CEO of ING Financial Partners. "ING Financial Partners is committed to giving them the support they need to be successful and serve their clients well. We are seeking to attract and retain quality professionals and reflect the diverse population that they serve. We want all of our representatives to feel they have a voice in our organization."

"The Women Advisors Network was created as a 'study group' for our female representatives," added Bonnie Reed, vice president of business development with ING Financial Partners. "This is not about men versus women. It's about connecting to a community of information, support, accountability and friendship for representatives who primarily are in offices alone."

The event featured speakers including Barbara Stanney, author of "The Secrets of Six Figure Women," and Dr. Quincy Crosby, chief investment strategist with The Hartford. Topics focused on practice management, investment strategy, client service enhancement, marketing and branding and industry trends. The agenda was created from surveys of women representatives and tailored to their needs.

The event received tremendous response from attendees, such as this one from Clare Mertz of Albany, N.Y. "This is the best event I have ever attended. Everyone was willing to openly share their successes as well as things that did not work out so well. I learned so much, not just from the presenters, but also from the attendees. You normally don't get this kind of 'instant bonding' at conferences. But then again, most conferences are not as unique as this one."

ING Financial Partners launched the Women's Advisory Network in 2007 to support the practice development of its women representatives. The network, which is peer-led, meets regularly by phone and at ING Financial Partners national and regional conferences.

The network ties into ING's overall business strategy to focus on diversity and inclusion. ING was recently recognized as a 2008 winner of the prestigious Catalyst Award, presented annually to companies and firms with outstanding initiatives that result in women's career development and advancement.

Investment and insurance professionals interested in learning more about affiliating with ING Financial Partners can call Bonnie Reed at (800) 356- 2906, extension 86705.

About ING Financial Partners

ING Financial Partners, member SIPC, is a full-service, independently managed broker-dealer. The home office located in Des Moines, Iowa, serves over 2,300 financial professionals in branch offices located throughout the U.S. Registered representatives and investment adviser representatives enjoy full access to the ING brand, unique bank products, dedicated trust services, and a powerful technology platform. The extensive resources of ING behind each representative make it easier to succeed. For more information, visit www.ingfinancialpartners.com.

About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 75 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 130,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes 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 over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com/us.

  Press inquiries:
  Philip Margolis
  ING
  (860) 580-2676
  phil.margolis@us.ing.com

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SOURCE: ING

CONTACT: Philip Margolis, ING, +1-860-580-2676, phil.margolis@us.ing.com

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