AXA Equitable is one of the nation’s foremost providers of retirement savings plans. We have the expertise, technical knowledge, and administrative resources to provide the level of support you need to establish and maintain a 403(b) or a paired 403(b)/457(b) plan, in addition to other retirement savings plans that are appropriate for your organization.

With AXA Equitable, you and your employees benefit from:

• A local presence for immediate support and management ease. Your local financial professional will guide you through plan set-up, supply sample documents, answer your questions, and provide regular briefings on relevant issues;
• A full range of plan administration and compliance-monitoring services;
• Innovative, meaningful employee service that includes enrollment meetings, one-on-one consultations and online resources;
• Access to an extensive portfolio of products and services so your financial professional can help your employees build a customized retirement plan; and
• The extensive resources of a global financial organization.

A challenging set of economic events is rocking the financial services industry. But this is often when a company’s strength and stability are highlighted. AXA Equitable and the AXA Group¹ have earned the confidence of clients and investors.

Strength

Stability

Growth

Solvency

Future

Retirement Benefits Group

Strength

AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company is part of the AXA Group, ranked #1 in the world in the insurance category² and a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management.

AXA Equitable has been helping people address their financial goals since 1859 and is a leading provider of life insurance, annuity, and investment products and services.

AXA Equitable³ has:

• $539.46 billion in assets under management
• More than three million clients nationwide
• Over 17,000 school systems, colleges, hospitals, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations for which it provides services (as of 9/30/08)

The AXA Group has:

• $981 billion Euros in assets under management ⁴
• 67 million individual and corporate clients (as of 6/30/08)
• Operations in approximately 50 countries (as of 6/30/08)

Stability

Credit rating services agree. AXA Equitable has consistently earned high marks from the independent companies that rate insurance companies for their financial strength and stability. (The guarantees provided in our life insurance and annuity contracts are based on the claims paying ability of AXA Equitable.)

The following table shows the opinions of four rating agencies on AXA Equitable’s ability to meet its obligations to policyholders:

Ratings are subject to change: contact your financial professional/insurance-licensed registered representative for more details, including information on rating scales and individual rating sources. The ratings reflected have no bearing on the performance of the variable investment options.

A.M. Best:  A.M. Best’s Financial Strength Rating is the opinion of A.M. Best regarding an insurer’s ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. A.M. Best ratings range from A++ to S. A plus (+) or minus (-) following the rating shows relative standing within the major rating categories. The “A+” rating represents the second highest among sixteen rating levels.

Fitch: Fitch’s Insurer Financial Strength Rating provides an assessment of the financial strength of an insurance organization and its capacity to meet senior obligations to policyholders and contract holders on a timely basis. Fitch ratings range from AAA to C. A plus (+) or minus (-)  following the rating shows relative standing within the major rating categories. The “AA-” rating represents the fourth highest among twenty-one rating levels.

Moody’s: Moody’s Insurance Financial Strength Ratings represent the opinion of Moody’s regarding the ability of insurance companies to repay punctually senior policyholder claims and obligations. Moody’s ratings range from Aaa to C. Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 & 3 in each rating classification from Aa to Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking and a modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of the rating category. The “Aa3” rating represents the fourth highest among twenty-one rating levels.

Standard & Poors: A Standard & Poor’s Insurer Financial Strength Rating is its current opinion of the financial security characteristics of an insurance organization with respect to its ability to pay under its insurance policies and contracts in accordance with their terms. Standard & Poor’s ratings range from AAA to R. A plus(+) or minus (-) following the rating shows relative standing within the major rating categories. The “AA” rating represents the third highest among twenty-one ratings.

Growth

AXA Equitable and AXA Group remain financially strong. AXA Equitable remains focused on helping its clients address their long-term goals by continuing to develop and launch innovative new products and services.  We invest in state-of-the-art technology platforms and customer service initiatives. In doing so, we are capitalizing on our financial strength and extending AXA Group’s global leadership position in financial protection.

For more information on AXA Equitable and AXA Group financial information, go to www.axa-equitable.com

Solvency

The economic crisis in the financial services industry has several implications for plan sponsors when selecting their providers. Not only have the significant financial liability of some organizations been highlighted, but also the potential dangers inherent in a single-provider employer plan.

Without alternate providers readily available for contract exchanges, employees would have difficulty moving the value of their accounts to another provider – without sacrificing their contracts’ tax-deterred status – should the single provider become insolvent.

Future

We know that times like these can be unsettling. And while no one is immune from the challenges of a volatile market, we have taken crucial steps in recent years to strengthen our company and continually improve our ability to manage through turbulent market conditions when necessary. We have a solid long-term strategy that drives our efforts to grow and expand. We are strong as a company, strong in the industry, and intend to remain so.

The Retirement Benefits Group - Servicing the People Who Build Our Communities

AXA Equitable's retirement products and services for educators are delivered through the Retirement Benefits Group (RBG). The RBG, a specialized division of AXA Advisors, LLC, provides wealth management services and financial education to meet the retirement needs of those who build and serve our communities: educators and staff in our public schools, colleges, and universities;  hospital and municipal workers; and nonprofit employees.

With its dedicated team of over 1,000 fully-licensed financial professionals, the RBG serves more than 15,000 schools, universities, hospitals, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations nationwide. Our financial professionals continually undergo special training to maintain the RBG's internal certification of Retirement Benefits Specialist - Tax Sheltered Plans.

1 AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of AXA. "AXA Group" refers to AXA, an international financial services holding company, together with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries. AXA Equitable has sole responsibility for its life insurance and annuity obligations.

2 "2008 Global 500." Fortune, Global 500 by Industry: Insurance: Life, Health (Stock), July 21, 2008. Rankings are based on revenue.

3 AXA Equitable's assets under management are inclusive of assets under management held by an affiliate, AllianceBernstein LP.All data current as of 12/31/08. AXA Equitable has sole responsibility for its life insurance and annuity obligations.

4 As of December 31, 2008. Figure is $1.37 trillion using 12/31/08 closing exchange rate of Euro = $1.395.

While AXA Equitable is a part of the AXA Group, the guarantees in its annuity and life insurance products are backed solely by the claims-paying ability of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company.

Please be advised that this web content is not intended as legal or tax advice. Accordingly, any tax information provided in this web content is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The tax information was written to support the promotion or marketing of the transactions(s) or matter(s ) addressed, and you should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, NY, NY and AXA Advisors, LLC, member SIPC, are affiliated companies. Securities are offered through AXA Advisors, LLC. AXA Equitable has sole responsibility for its annuity and life insurance obligations.

AXA Equitable and AXA Advisors do not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax advisor as to your specific situation.

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