Lincoln Financial Group Launches Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage

PHILADELPHIA, May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A recent study suggests that nearly half of all 403(b) plan sponsors are not familiar with the new 403(b) requirements issued by the Internal Revenue Service, and 8 out of 10 say they welcome compliance help.(1) To help plan sponsors comply with the new 403(b) plan regulations that will take effect January 1, 2009, Lincoln National Corporation has launched Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage, a suite of services aimed at helping employers meet the new requirements and simplify administration.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050830/LFLOGO )

"While the new 403(b) regulations increase employer responsibility, the Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage solution can ease their burden by providing a streamlined, simplified solution. " said Wes Thompson, president of Lincoln Employer Markets. "Lincoln's suite of services enable employers to meet the new administrative requirements while allowing their participants to reach a more secure retirement."

The new 403(b) regulations, the first in almost 40 years, will dramatically increase the role of employers in governing investments, transfers, documentation, administration and participant disclosures. The Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage suite of services include access to expertise, products and tools that will help plan sponsors prepare for the changes ahead.

Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage offers plan sponsors: -- Lincoln Financial Group's strength and expertise that comes with a century of experience. -- Lincoln Unifier(SM), a part of Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage, is a tool that provides the information needed to ensure compliance. -- People, product and tools combine to provide an experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. -- A service model that is easy for employers to navigate.

One of the cornerstones of the Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage, is the Lincoln Unifier(SM) Service, a comprehensive suite of services designed to help employers meet the administrative burden of bringing their plan into compliance with the sweeping changes in the 403(b) regulations.

"In this new era of 403(b) plans, employers need more than just products to help them navigate the new regulations," said James Racine, AVP, Defined Contribution Strategy, Lincoln Employer Markets. "They need guidance, expertise, and the right tools. These tools include plan document services, common remitter administration, compliance services, consolidated reporting and a company with the resources to ensure they are compliant with the new regulations."

Lincoln Financial Group, with 40 years of experience in the 403(b) plan marketplace, manages nearly $22 billion in 403(b) plan assets and is ranked fifth by recordkeeping assets in 403(b) plans.(2) More than one million American workers are enrolled in employer-sponsored retirement programs and products provided by Lincoln Financial.(3)

Resources available to plan sponsors and participants through Lincoln 403(b)e SURE(SM) Advantage include representatives specializing in key disciplines such as Law, Compliance, and Account Management. The solution also includes products and programs for retirement plans of all sizes; from micro- to small to mid- to large-case to accommodate employer's retirement plans as their organization grows.

The Lincoln 403(b)e SURE Advantage offers tools including plan document services, including a sample document for non-ERISA plans and custom document services for ERISA plans, which are essential to helping plan sponsors become compliant with the new 403(b) regulations. The service also includes Lincoln LifeSpan(R), a participant learning program that offers a wide range of customized tools and materials designed to help employees build their investment skills and knowledge while meeting their changing needs over the course of a lifetime.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates. With headquarters in Philadelphia, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $225 billion as of March 31, 2008. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life and disability insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; mutual funds; managed accounts; institutional investments; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. Affiliates also include: Delaware Investments, the marketing name for Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries; and Lincoln UK. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit http://www.lincolnfinancial.com/.

1) PLANSPONSOR 2007 Recordkeeping Survey, June 2007. 2) Lincoln Financial Group ranks fifth by recordkeeping assets in 403(b) plans, according to the PLANSPONSOR 2007 Recordkeeping Survey published June 2007 3) Lincoln Financial Group serves more than 1.2 million retirement plan participants, according to the PLANSPONSOR 2007 Recordkeeping Survey published June 2007