ING U.S. Offers New Retirement Income Practice Management Program for ING Financial Partners Network

WINDSOR, Conn., Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ING U.S., through its broker-dealer, ING Financial Partners, has developed a new practice management program that can help financial advisors address important lifetime income planning needs with clients who are approaching and entering retirement. The program, which rolled out in early October, is available to more than 1,400 financial advisors in the ING Financial Partners network.

"At the heart of a client's financial plan – especially one who is on the cusp of retirement – should be a strategy for turning some or all of their nest egg into a steady stream of income that is able to last a lifetime," said Karl Lindberg, president of ING Financial Partners.  "Financial advisors are eager to have the necessary tools and resources at their fingertips to guide clients through this complicated process.  ING Financial Partners has developed a holistic approach to retirement income that incorporates best practices from the industry and proprietary research conducted with our own representatives. We also worked with Marcia Mantell, a retirement income consultant with 20 years of broad-based expertise, who helped us on the components and processes for the program."

The new practice management program includes pre-approved pre-retiree and retiree seminars, educational materials with action plans, online tools and a structured framework that financial advisors can follow with their clients.  The scripted, 20-minute seminars address relevant topics, including health care, longevity risk, budgeting, lifetime income and financial risks.  They are organized into modules that offer flexibility and enable customization for each audience's needs.  For example, if a client is particularly concerned about health care, a financial advisor can start with the pre-retiree seminar that focuses on Medicare and potential health care costs.

Financial advisors of ING Financial Partners can engage in the retirement income program to help grow their business in today's changing retirement marketplace. The program also provides a step-by-step resource guide for financial advisors and detailed training sessions, along with tips on how to identify the clients who will benefit from a retirement income conversation. The retirement income program can help financial advisors grow their business by expanding existing client relationships and building new ones.

"Retirement income planning has moved into a new and more complex dimension in recent years, with a whole new reality for today's retirees," commented Marcia Mantell, president of Mantell Retirement Consulting, Inc.  "Financial advisors need to proactively initiate detailed retirement income discussions with their clients, yet many admit that they don't know where to start and would benefit from a formalized process to follow.  Practice management programs that arm financial advisors with the right tools and education - specifically about retirement income - help position a financial practice for success, while working to build a more secure retirement for clients."

Retirement income continues to gain attention as more Baby Boomers figure out how to tackle this important part of the overall planning equation.  A study by the ING Retirement Research Institute found that 86% of consumers say they need help determining how long their savings will last in retirement.¹  After earning a steady paycheck throughout their working years, retirees are looking for ways to develop a steady income stream in retirement.  Financial advisors who are able to provide a retirement income strategy as part of a holistic retirement income planning process are at an advantage and can demonstrate value with their client base.

As a leading provider of financial products and services dedicated to a client-centered philosophy, ING Financial Partners offers a comprehensive array of financial services and products, including life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, advisory programs, alternative investments, institutional investment management, annuities, financial planning and more.  For more information on ING Financial Partners, visit http://ingfp.com.

¹  ING Retirement Research Institute:  Shedding Light on Retirement…In Today's World for Today's Consumers, 2011

Securities and investment advisory services offered through ING Financial Partners, member SIPC.

About ING U.S.

ING U.S. constitutes the U.S.-based retirement, investment and insurance operations of Netherlands-based ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING).  In the U.S., the ING U.S. family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, including retirement plans, IRA rollovers and transfers, stable value, institutional investment management, mutual funds, alternative investments, life insurance, employee benefits, fixed and indexed annuities and financial planning.  ING U.S. holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves approximately 13 million customers across the nation.  For more information, visit http://ing.us.

SOURCE ING U.S.