Lower Fees, Improved Service Send SMART529(R) to the Head of the College Savings Class

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) and the State of West Virginia have reached the culmination, resulting in a new 10-year agreement, of their efforts to improve the SMART529® college savings program by lowering fees, simplifying choices and enhancing customer service. Through this agreement, The Hartford and West Virginia will partner through 2017 in their mission to deliver a high-quality 529 program to help families across the country better save for college. Awareness and popularity of 529 college savings plans has steadily increased in recent years. In a survey from The Hartford conducted in June, about 40 percent of parents indicated a growing familiarity with 529 college savings plan compared to one year ago. And, with the recently passed Pension Protection Act fueling interest in these plans by making their tax deferred status permanent, numerous programs around the country are proactively lowering fees and improving product offerings and delivery. The SMART529 program crossed $1 billion in assets under management as of the end of April just as it was celebrating its five-year anniversary. These milestones provide a backdrop for the recent enhancements, which pass along the benefits of the program’s scale and experience to investors. "For anyone facing the big burden of paying for college, 529 plans are a smart choice, and we’ve now made the SMART529 even smarter,” said Jeff Coghan, director of 529 programs at The Hartford. "We salute the Program Board and the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office for their outstanding partnership in building a world-class savings program. With the enhancements we are announcing today, we now offer one of the strongest programs in the country.” The SMART529 program enhancements, available beginning in October, include: Fee Cuts: The new contract between The Hartford and West Virginia brings with it fee reductions across the product line-up. Investors in the newly-renamed flagship plan sold by financial professionals, The Hartford® SMART529® - offered by the West Virginia Prepaid Tuition and College Savings Program Board of Trustees – will now realize average savings of 13 percent or more. The SMART529 WV Direct Plan’s average fees have been reduced by 20 percent, making it more cost-effective for West Virginia residents to invest through a nationally-recognized college savings program. Over time, lower fees and expenses translate into major savings for investors and more dollars to offset students’ college expenses. Service Enhancements: The addition of new service features will help financial professionals and investors manage their SMART529 investments. Customers will see improved online account management capabilities, will be able to make electronic contributions directly from a bank account, and, through the re-introduction of Rights of Accumulation, can reduce sales charges by combining assets invested across The Hartford Mutual Funds and SMART529. Combining assets across products can produce a higher account balance, potentially lowering overall expenses for the investor. In addition, minimum contributions for both initial and subsequent investments have been reduced for all SMART529 products, making it easier for investors to start and continue saving for college. Investors can now get started for as little at $50 in the SMART WV Direct Plan and $250 in the programs available nationwide. In the emerging 529 plan industry, where strong fund performance, choice of investment options, devotion to customer service, and lower fees let superior programs stand out among the competition, SMART529 program is positioned for growth. "The success of our college savings program has allowed us to make long-term improvements which we expect will encourage more Americans to save for college,” said West Virginia State Treasurer John D. Perdue, who chairs the program Board of Trustees. "We are proud to offer such an excellent college savings vehicle in SMART529.” SMART529 is a qualified tuition program of the West Virginia Prepaid College Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees and administered by Hartford Life Insurance Company. For more information about SMART529, please visit www.hartfordinvestor.com or contact your financial professional. The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest financial services and insurance companies, with 2006 revenues of $26.5 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com. HIG-L Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements about our future results of operations. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued. You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of SMART529 and its Underlying Funds before investing. This and other information can be found in the offering statement for SMART529 and the prospectus or other disclosure documents for the Underlying Funds, which can be obtained from your investment representative or by calling 866-574-3542. Please read them carefully before you invest or send money. SMART529 is distributed by Hartford Securities Distribution Company, Inc. Member SIPC. If you reside or have taxable income in a state other than West Virginia, you should consider whether your state has a qualified tuition program that offers favorable state income tax or other benefits exclusively to your state’s program that are not available under the SMART529 program. Taxpayers and residents of other states who are interested in exploring such tax consequences should consult with a qualified tax advisor. This information is written in connection with the promotion or marketing of the matter(s) addressed in this material. The information cannot be used or relied upon for the purpose of avoiding IRS penalties. These materials are not intended to provide tax, accounting or legal advice. As with all matters of a tax or legal nature, you should consult your own tax or legal counsel for advice. SMART529 is a program of the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program, State Treasurer John Perdue, Chairman. The Board has selected Hartford Life Insurance Company to provide program management services for SMART529. Investments in SMART529 are not guaranteed or insured by the State of West Virginia, the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program, the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, Hartford Life Insurance Company, The Hartford Financial Services Group, the investment sub-advisors for the Underlying Funds or any depository institution. Investments in SMART529 are subject to investment risks, including the loss of the principal amount invested, and may not be appropriate for all investors. "The Hartford” is a registered trademark of Hartford Fire Insurance Company. "SMART529” is a registered trademark of West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees. The Hartford Mutual Funds are underwritten and distributed by Hartford Investment Financial Services, LLC. "The Hartford" is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.