The Hartford’s Jeff Reiss Honored As a 2010 Rising Star of Mutual Funds

Jeff Reiss, vice president and national sales manager for the wirehouse division at The Hartford Mutual Funds, was honored by Institutional Investor News and Fund Action as a 2010 Rising Star of Mutual Funds. He was honored at the 17^th Annual Mutual Fund Industry Awards, held April 15 in New York.

The Rising Stars of Mutual Funds are chosen annually by the editors of Institutional Investor News and represent up-and-comers whose accomplishments in, and contributions to, the industry make them standout among their peers and position them as future thought leaders.

"The Rising Star award reiterates the superb leadership that Jeff brings to the organization,” says Bill Wolfe, senior vice president of sales at The Hartford Mutual Funds. "He has been integral to the growth of our fund family. Wirehouse sales have been growing steadily, reaching $3.5 billion last year under Jeff’s leadership.”

Reiss is responsible for planning, generation, and servicing of The Hartford Mutual Funds in the wirehouse channel. He joined The Hartford on the sales desk in 1995. In 1996, he became a regional marketing director in the bank channel covering Georgia and Alabama, and was named Rookie of the Year. In 2001, Reiss had the third-highest sales in the bank channel and the fourth-highest for the firm overall. He was soon promoted to divisional sales manager, overseeing a sales force covering a five-state region. He became head of East Coast wirehouse sales before being named national sales director for the wirehouse division in 2006, and assuming his current role in 2008.

"We are very proud that The Hartford Mutual Funds has had positive net flows since the inception of the fund family in 1996, and a large part of that is attributable to success in the wirehouse channel,” says Rob Arena, executive vice president of The Hartford’s Retirement Division. "This award represents the positive contributions of leaders like Jeff within the broader industry and makes a positive statement for all of The Hartford.”

Reiss earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa. and holds FINRA Series 6, 24, and 63 licenses as well as life insurance licensing. He resides in the Philadelphia area with his wife and their three children.

About The Hartford Mutual Funds

The Hartford Mutual Funds, established in 1996, offers a wide array of both broad-mandate and style-focused equity and fixed-income investment options. The Hartford Mutual Funds draw on the expertise of sub-advisers Wellington Management and Hartford Investment Management. These two organizations bring their decades of market experience, in-house investment capabilities, rigorous research and time-tested investment process to bear in managing the funds to help The Hartford Mutual Fund investors meet their long-term financial goals. Total retail mutual fund assets under management were $46.8 billion as of Dec. 31, 2009. For more information on The Hartford Mutual Funds, including current holdings, visit www.hartfordmutualfunds.com.

About The Hartford

Celebrating nearly 200 years of helping its customers achieve what’s ahead, The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) is an insurance and wealth management company. Through its unique focus on customer needs, the company serves businesses and consumers by providing the products and solutions they need to protect their assets and income from risks and manage their wealth and retirement needs. A Fortune 100 company, The Hartford is recognized widely for its service expertise and as one of the world's most ethical companies. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com.

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Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2009 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.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

You should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of The Hartford Mutual Funds before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's prospectus, which can be obtained from your investment representative or by calling 888-843-7824. Please read it carefully before you invest or send money.

Mutual fund inception dates range from 1949 to date. The Hartford Mutual Funds are not a subsidiary of The Hartford but are underwritten, distributed by, and advised by subsidiaries of The Hartford. Investments in The Hartford Mutual Funds are not guaranteed by The Hartford or any other entity.

Wellington Management Company, LLP is an independent and unaffiliated sub-adviser to The Hartford.

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.