The Hartford Launches Plan Sponsor Search Engine for Advisers

The Hartford Financial Services Group has launched a new search engine, which it said is designed to help financial advisers target potential sponsor clients.

A Hartford news release said the program is centered around an online search engine, featuring a directory with a pre-set query approach.

The company said advisers can use a range of criteria to search for information about sponsors, including those with advanced plan designs, professional firms, and employers with plan issues such as corrective distributions, expensive or restrictive plan designs, and low participation rates.

According to the announcement, there are no costs or requirements to have previously worked with The Hartford to take advantage of the system.

The directory, a proprietary tool available through Larkspur, enables financial advisers to target market-specific types of businesses or businesses within specific industries. By using the system, financial advisers can evaluate prospects within their own book of business, increase their access to professional practices, and connect with business owners, The Hartford said.

Larkspur’s query system incorporates data from Form 5500 filings.

“The unique system that The Hartford developed in conjunction with Larkspur allows financial advisers to easily generate meaningful reports in just a few steps. The reports are highly targeted and support each adviser’s business development goals,” said Chris Chaia, assistant vice president of marketing for RPG, in the announcement.

Shay Gets New Job at Securian

Bruce Shay, a Securian Financial Group senior vice president in charge of the company’s retirement business, has been promoted to executive vice president by the firm’s board of directors.

A Securian news release said while Shay will retain his leadership of the retirement services unit, the change means he will also take on responsibility for Securian’s individual life insurance product manufacturing and the Independent Distribution Group, which markets the individual life insurance offerings.  

Shay will continue to report to Randy Wallake, president and vice chair of Securian, and assume his additional responsibilities March 1.

Shay joined Securian’s retirement division in 1985. After serving in various sales and management positions, he was named vice president of the division in 2002 and senior vice president in 2004. Shay’s responsibilities were expanded in 2005 to include the individual annuity product line.

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