July 26, 2006, Wayne, PA — The Diversified Services Group (DSG) announced its much expanded Annual Retirement Products Study is underway. The study tracks the ‘state of the market’ for products that provide income and protection to retirees. In addition to the growing range of income alternatives, this year’s study covers "Living Benefit" options and the emerging suitability guidelines for selling these products. The study helps sponsors to determine the state and direction of the retirement income market, and "benchmark" themselves against their chief competitors on a number of strategic and performance levels.

The 7th annual study will cover key areas including:

• Most popular product and "living benefit" rider design features.
• Alternate retirement income solutions - in use and under consideration.
• Retirement marketing practices and strategies.
• Suitability issues and trends pertaining to sales to senior buyers
• Future trends on product design and performance metrics.
• Identification of gaps in expectations between the actuaries, product managers, and senior executives.

About the RM² Report Series: The 2006 Annual Retirement Income Products study is part of DSG’s ongoing series of syndicated research reports, the RM2 Reports™. The series began in 1996, and focuses on retirement market opportunities and issues that firms face as they develop services, products and marketing initiatives to reach individuals and compete at and after the Retirement Inflexion Point™.

About DSG: DSG’ Retirement Practice provides consulting and research to the financial services industry with a focus on the Retirement Management Market, its trends, products, services, and delivery channels. DSG manages the Retirement Management Executive Forum, a select study group of senior executives with primary responsibility for their firms response to the burgeoning retirement market.

For more information on the study, please contact:

Wm. Borden Ayers, Principal

Ph: 610-989-1710, ext. 21
Fax: 610-989-1730
e-mail: bordena@dsg-network.com

Diversified Services Group, Inc.
303 West Lancaster Avenue, Ste 2E
Wayne, PA 19087-3938