ING U.S. announced today that it has introduced a new investment strategy within its Variable Universal Life (VUL) insurance and ING Select Advantage IRA (“Select Advantage”) mutual fund custodial account products. The ING Global Perspectives Fund (“Global Perspectives Fund”), managed by Douglas Cote, Chief Market Strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management, offers a balanced approach to asset allocation with a focus on broad diversification and tactical allocation changes based on key market drivers. The Global Perspectives Fund was available to ING U.S. Insurance Solutions VUL and Select Advantage customers starting May 1, 2013.
“Adding the Global Perspectives Fund to our line-up of options sets us apart in the market and brings a compelling investment strategy to our customers and distribution partners,” said Butch Britton, chief executive officer of ING U.S. Insurance Solutions. “In today’s economic environment, an investment strategy with the ability to adjust based on pre-defined market signals can be very appealing. We’re thrilled to be leveraging the expertise of ING Investment Management to deliver this popular solution. This is a great example of the synergies and distinctive value offered by our compelling mix of businesses.”
ING Global Perspectives was introduced in 2011 on the advisory platform of the ING Financial Partners broker-dealer network. After strong acceptance of the strategy by financial advisors, this expansion to new markets extends its reach and application.
In its current investment mix, the Global Perspectives Fund has a standard allocation of 60 percent equity and 40 percent fixed income. Yet, the tactical element of the strategy allows it to adjust in uncertain times based on market fundamentals. The strategy utilizes ten broadly diversified underlying holdings that are equally weighted to provide a balance of upside potential and an element of protection in sustained market downswings.
“We believe this strategy cuts through the noise of conflicting market signals to offer potential long-term results that life insurance policyholders and their financial advisors are seeking,” commented Cote. “We are delighted to be part of this new partnership to bring this strategy to new markets.”
Within ING U.S. Insurance Solutions VUL products, the Global Perspectives Fund is available for both in-force and new policyholders who can place some or all of the cash value portion of their life insurance policy into the strategy. This approach may alleviate some of the concerns that market volatility creates and help round out a policyholder’s financial portfolio.
Accumulation-focused life insurance products, including VUL, can play a key role in meeting a range of financial needs, including helping clients with their retirement readiness. A 2012 ING U.S. Insurance Revealed studyfound that the most common reason to purchase life insurance – cited by half of the survey respondents – is to replace income or pay off debts. Yet very few highlighted its value to protect retirement savings (4 percent) or build wealth (1 percent). To build awareness of the accumulation potential of life insurance, the ING U.S. family of companies has a full scope of products, educational programs, resources and tools to help our distribution partners and their clients.
Individual employees have more responsibility today to plan and save for their own retirement. Due to the more transient nature of the job market, there is also a greater likelihood that workers have multiple retirement accounts from various employers. Select Advantage provides a single product with over 120 mutual fund choices from over 30 well-known managers – including Global Perspectives – to help financial professionals simplify retirement planning and consolidate retirement assets for their clients when appropriate.
In gaining access to the Global Perspectives platform, financial advisors also benefit from the availability of diverse education and resource materials that can be shared with clients. These materials include market commentaries, research, analysis and presentations.
With the expansion of Global Perspectives, ING U.S. brings together its investment and insurance expertise to deliver a solution that helps meet a market need for a balanced and disciplined investment approach with global diversification and tactical allocation.
Press inquiries:
Maggie Dietrich
ING U.S.
Office: 860-580-2699
About ING
ING U.S. (NYSE: VOYA), which plans to rebrand in the future as Voya Financial, serves the financial needs of approximately 13 million individual and institutional customers with a comprehensive array of retirement, investment and insurance products and services, 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. Our dedicated workforce of more than 7,000 employees is focused on ING U.S.’s mission to guide Americans on their journey to greater retirement readiness and to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family and one institution at a time. ING U.S.’s vision is to be America’s Retirement CompanyTM. For more information, visit http://ing.us.
You should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the variable product and its underlying fund options; or mutual funds offered through a retirement plan, carefully before investing. The prospectuses/prospectus summaries/information booklets containing this and other information, can be obtained by contacting your local representative. Please read the information carefully before investing.
Variable insurance products and mutual funds are not guaranteed and are subject to investment risk including the possible loss of principal. The investment return and principal value of the security will fluctuate so that when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original investment.
Variable universal life insurance products are issued by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company (Minneapolis, MN), ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York (Woodbury, NY) and Security Life of Denver Insurance Company (Denver, CO) and distributed by ING America Equities, Inc. Within the state of New York, only ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York is admitted, and its products issued. All are members of the ING family of companies.
ING National Trust is the custodian for ING Select Advantage IRA Mutual Fund Custodial Accounts. ING Select Advantage IRA mutual fund retirement programs are distributed by ING Financial Advisers, LLC (member SIPC), One Orange Way, Windsor, CT 06095-4774 or other broker-dealers with which it has a wholesaling or selling agreement. Both are members of the ING family of companies.
