Individual Life Sales ($ in millions) 00 01 02 03 04 0 50 100 150 200 $250 Fixed Variable 13 In addition to investments, we also offer individual life  insurance products that provide solutions for a variety of cus- tomer needs–liquidity for estate taxes, income replacement  for families, protection and tax-preferred benefits for small  businesses, and more. The Hartford’s opera- tions in Japan ushered in 2005 and the New Year with a nation- wide ad campaign capitalizing on the  traditional Hatsumode, the national practice    links retirement to  The Hartford of beginning the New Year with a visit to a shrine. According to Japanese authorities, almost 90 million people visit shrines at this time of year.  Posters were placed country- wide at train stations closest  to the top 40 shrines. There  were two designs; each featured The Hartford Stag and the mes- sage, “Master of Retirement Income SM ,” along with greetings  for the New Year. To reinforce The Har tford’s  commitment to the retirement  business in Japan, small cards  were also sent to existing and potential customers. The Hartford is the number  one seller of variable annuities  in Japan, with a new record of  $14.7 billion in annuity assets under management. We have been  selling variable annuities in Japan since December 2000 and have a 29 percent share of the market. In August 2004, we broadened our portfolio by introducing two fixed-annuity products that are also off to a fast start. One is U.S. dollar-based and the other is yen-based. The Hartford’s individual annuity business model, which propelled us to the number one position in the U.S. market,  has also been a resounding success in Japan, the world’s second largest economy. The Hartford has experienced  remarkable growth in Japan , where our market share is 29 percent of the total variable annuity assets under management, nearly double the market’s number two provider. Total annuity sales for  2004 were $7.8 billion, with annuity assets under management reaching $14.7 billion.  Record sales are the best evidence that our strategy is work- ing, but a benchmark of true excellence is third-party valida- tion. For the third year in a row, the Life Insurance Marketing Resource Association (LIMRA) ranked The Hartford number one in national broker-dealer accounts and bank distribution. In 2004, The Hartford’s broad product appeal in life insur- ance, coupled with the largest sales force in the industry focused on financial advisors, yielded strong results. For this segment,  we saw 19 percent growth to record sales of $233 million, a rate that outpaced overall industry sales growth. Over the past two years, this segment’s annual growth rate was 16 percent. Individuals and families are increasingly turning to  The Hartford’s complete portfolio of  individual life insurance  products to help protect and grow their wealth. Long a leader  in variable universal life insurance, we have broadened our  individual life products to include universal life, whole life,  term insurance, and our new “Quantum” product that com- bines the most attractive elements of variable universal life  and universal life. Doubled our annuity assets in Japan to $14 . 7 billion