News Details

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 2006--Ameriprise Financial Education and Planning Services today announced Pension Change Education Solutions, part of its InMotion suite of financial education programs for corporate and organizational change.

Mounting costs and tightening regulatory requirements for defined benefit plans have led to an unprecedented rise in the number of companies making major changes to their pension programs. The Pension Change Education Solutions program helps employers stay focused on executing benefits changes by leveraging Ameriprise Financial's communication development capabilities, employee education and financial planning services. This allows employers to direct their attention to implementing the changes while knowing that employees are receiving timely, thorough education to help them understand the personal long-term impacts of pension plan changes.

"Whatever drives change in an organization's retirement plan benefits, employers hope to minimize employee anxiety when communicating those changes," said Rusty Field, vice president of Ameriprise Financial Education and Planning Services. "Benefits leaders can become overwhelmed by employee questions during these times. Our goal is to deliver consistent and relevant information for employees, allowing employers to focus on the larger challenges of leading the changes in their organization."

A dedicated service team, including a Financial Education Consultant and additional subject matter experts, are trained in depth on specific changes, benefit offerings and (unique of each company current corporate situation. The Pension Change Education Solutions are tailored to the employer's needs but can include:

    Face-to-Face Interaction:

    --  Group education sessions addressing the details of the benefit
        change and critical dates, led by a knowledgeable financial
        advisor.

    --  Individual one-on-one consultations:

        --  Utilize client-provided pension modeling tools

        --  Address broader financial considerations

        --  Discuss strategies to recuperate pension losses

    --  Workplace-priced personal financial planning:

        --  Provides a customized and goal-driven investment strategy

        --  Encourages greater benefits appreciation and utilization

        --  Addresses savings and protection gaps

    Written Materials and Tools:

    --  Assist in the development and/or distribution of plan sponsor
        communications

    --  Provide employee communications (upon request)

    Phone Interaction:

    --  Retirement Consultation Services

        --  Goal-setting support

        --  Retirement check-in

    --  Supplemental savings account opening

    Online Tools and Materials:

    --  Retirement planning calculators

    --  Pension vs. 401(k) calculators

    --  Topical articles

Ameriprise Financial is a leader in workplace financial education serving over 1,600 companies and their more than 1.8 million employees across the United States. Since 2004, the Company has developed customized InMotion education programs for more than 50 organizations helping more than 50,000 employees navigate through pension plan changes or other benefits changes significantly impacting their long-term retirement savings. Visit www.ameriprise.com/inmotion or call 800-437-0600 for more information.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a leading financial planning and services company with more than 12,000 financial advisors and registered representatives that provides solutions for clients' asset accumulation, income management and insurance protection needs. The Company's financial advisors deliver tailored solutions to clients through a comprehensive and personalized financial planning approach built on a long-term relationship with a knowledgeable advisor. The Company specializes in meeting the retirement-related financial needs of the mass affluent. Financial advisory services and investments are available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member NASD and SIPC. For more information, visit www.ameriprise.com.

(C) 2006 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

    CONTACT: Ameriprise Financial, Inc., MinneapolisTodd Wold, 612-671-6583
             todd.wold@ampf.com
             or
             Tunheim Partners for Ameriprise Retirement Services
             Stephanie Fox, 952-851-7241
             sfox@tunheim.com

    SOURCE: Ameriprise Financial, Inc.