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In addition to investments, we also offer individual life insurance products that provide solutions for a variety of cus- tomer needs–liquidity for estate taxes, income replacement for families, protection and tax-preferred benefits for small businesses, and more. 

Individuals and families are increasingly turning to The Hartford’s complete portfolio of individual life insurance products to help protect and grow their wealth. Long a leader in variable universal life insurance, we have broadened our individual life products to include universal life, whole life, term insurance, and our new “Quantum” product that com- bines the most attractive elements of variable universal life and universal life. 

In 2004, The Hartford’s broad product appeal in life insur- ance, coupled with the largest sales force in the industry focused on financial advisors, yielded strong results. For this segment, we saw 19 percent growth to record sales of $233 million, a rate that outpaced overall industry sales growth. Over the past two years, this segment’s annual growth rate was 16 percent. 

Record sales are the best evidence that our strategy is work- ing, but a benchmark of true excellence is third-party valida- tion. For the third year in a row, the Life Insurance Marketing Resource Association (LIMRA) ranked The Hartford number one in national broker-dealer accounts and bank distribution. 

The Hartford’s individual annuity business model, which propelled us to the number one position in the U.S. market, has also been a resounding success in Japan, the world’s second largest economy. The Hartford has experienced remarkable growth in Japan , where our market share is 29 percent of the total variable annuity assets under management, nearly double the market’s number two provider. Total annuity sales for 2004 were $7.8 billion, with annuity assets under management reaching $14.7 billion. 

In August 2004, we broadened our portfolio by introducing two fixed-annuity products that are also off to a fast start. One is U.S. dollar-based and the other is yen-based. 

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Doubled our annuity assets in Japan to $14 . 7 billion 

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of beginning the New Year with a visit to a shrine. According to Japanese authorities, almost 90 million people visit shrines at this time of year. 

Posters were placed country- wide at train stations closest to the top 40 shrines. There were two designs; each featured The Hartford Stag and the mes- sage, “Master of Retirement Income SM ,” along with greetings for the New Year. 

To reinforce The Har tford’s commitment to the retirement business in Japan, small cards were also sent to existing and potential customers. 

The Hartford is the number one seller of variable annuities in Japan, with a new record of $14.7 billion in annuity assets under management. We have been selling variable annuities in Japan since December 2000 and have a 29 percent share of the market. 

##    links retirement to The Hartford 

The Hartford’s opera- tions in Japan ushered in 2005 and the New Year with a nation- wide ad campaign capitalizing on the traditional Hatsumode, the national practice 

