Lincoln Financial Launches Small-to-Mid Size Plan Product
PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 8, 2007 -- Lincoln Employer Markets, a division of Lincoln Financial Group, announces the launch of Lincoln SmartFuture
SM, a retirement program with a mutual-fund and collective trust- based platform designed for small-to-mid size plans providing features generally reserved for plans of larger organizations, including bundled recordkeeping and administrative solutions. Lincoln SmartFuture provides 110 investment options, fiduciary guidance, discretionary account advice services, flexible pricing structure and program support for plan sponsors and participants. Employers will be able to utilize fiduciary guidance that will include investment selection, monitoring, evaluation and substitution services. The program also provides plan participants with investment advice and education services geared toward individual learning styles.
Lincoln Employer Markets, a division of Lincoln Financial Group, is focused on addressing the retirement income security needs of employers and their employees through retirement plans, group insurance and executive benefits.
"The Lincoln SmartFuture Retirement program is a significant offering for plan sponsors," said Westley Thompson, president of Lincoln Employer Markets. "The launch of Lincoln SmartFuture helps complete our product continuum and enables us to provide smaller-to-mid size employers with features generally reserved for plans of larger organizations."
The Lincoln SmartFuture program offers plan sponsors flexibility and can be used to fund a variety of defined contribution plans including 401k, 401(a), governmental 457, and 403b plans. Features of Lincoln SmartFuture include:
- Low-cost, institutionally-priced collective trusts
- A fiduciary services guarantee to the plan sponsor
- Bundled recordkeeping and administrative solutions
- Flexible pricing structure to accommodate various plan sizes, complexities and compensation structures
- Enrollment services designed to support the financial advisor
The product also includes Lincoln LifeSpan(R) education and investment models geared toward individual learning styles designed to help participants build investment knowledge with the option of investing in funds that combines a retirement target date with a participant's risk tolerance.
"Many employers are looking for affordable yet flexible retirement programs that are able to meet the needs of their employees, said Mark Hackl, Vice President of Defined Contribution Pricing and Product Development. "Lincoln SmartFuture fills a much-needed gap in the marketplace by providing plan sponsors with education, fiduciary guidance, flexibility and plan support as well as low-cost investment options."
Investment Options
Lincoln SmartFuture includes an elite group of outstanding investment managers. These distinguished fund families are among the most widely-known and respected names in the financial services industry. Plan Sponsors can choose one of two pre-designed and selected investment line-ups or customize a line-up from an extensive list of available options. Each pre-selected line-up as well as the complete list of available options, is designed for quality and affordability, and provides a well-diversified portfolio. Among the investment choices are a number of collective trusts, some of which utilize Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) as the underlying investment vehicle.
Lincoln Ibbotson Insight Series
Lincoln Employer Markets has signed an agreement with Ibbotson Associates to offer the Lincoln Ibbotson Insight Series to its defined contribution plan sponsor clients. The Lincoln Ibbotson Insight Series is a specially crafted fund lineup that is tailored to fit the needs of plan sponsors. The Lincoln Ibbotson Insight Series is selected by Ibbotson Associates from the investment options that Lincoln makes available within certain defined contribution products. In addition to a simplified selection process, employers can be secure in knowing that Ibbotson, a registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc., will act as fiduciary in selecting and monitoring the investment lineup.
"Today, saving for retirement has shifted away from the employer and landed squarely on the shoulders of employees," said Thompson. "Given the recent legislative and regulatory changes in the retirement planning landscape, Lincoln SmartFuture is an especially well-timed offering for Lincoln and is one more example of our leadership role in helping employees redefine their financial security."
About Morningstar, Inc. and Ibbotson Associates
Morningstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN) is a leading provider of independent investment research in the United States and in major international markets. The company offers an extensive line of Internet, software, and print-based products and services for individuals, financial advisors, and institutions. Morningstar provides data on more than 250,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles. The company has operations in 16 countries and minority ownership positions in companies based in three other countries. Ibbotson Associates is a registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. Founded by Professor Roger Ibbotson in 1977, Ibbotson Associates is a leading authority on asset allocation, offering managed retirement accounts, funds of funds consulting and sub-advisory work, and a variety of investment management consulting services.
About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in Philadelphia, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $245 billion as of June 30, 2007. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life and disability insurance; 401k and 403b plans; savings plans; mutual funds; managed accounts; institutional investments; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. Affiliates also include: Delaware Investments, the marketing name for Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries; Lincoln Financial Media, which owns and operates three television stations, 18 radio stations, and the Lincoln Financial Sports production and syndication business; and Lincoln UK. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit http://www.lincolnfinancial.com.
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