03 02 01 00 99 L i f e Opera t i ons Asse t s Under Managemen t  ( $  i n b illi ons) $ 145 155 168 165 210 A head start for Mom and Pop X Want to feel old? Almost two-thirds of Generation Xers — children of baby boomers—are now parents.  Few things make you grow up faster—and change your priorities faster—than becoming a parent. At the top of most priority lists for people in this group are retirement and college-savings plans.  We target our 401(k) retirement plans to small companies — and  the people who work for them—that generally don’t offer as diverse  a benefits package as larger firms. The Hartford has helped some 6,000 small businesses and their 220,000 employees create a better future.  The plans help Gen Xers build solid investment programs with long- term, tax-deferred growth. We also help them prepare for the escalating cost of college tuition. In fact,  USA Today reported in 2002 that college tuition costs are rising faster than the average American income. Our SMART529 TM and multi-manager Leaders SMART529 programs make it easier for parents to prepare. Sales grew 51 percent in 2003, our first full year since these programs were launched, as more customers recognized the benefits, and the tax advantages, of a disciplined college- savings plan. The investments are managed by proven money managers, including Wellington Management Company, LLP; Hartford Investment Management Company; and American Funds. The investments offer a diverse—and growing—range of strategies, depending on parents’ time frames and risk tolerance. Those strategies help investors remain clearly focused on their objectives. We help families meet their financial objectives. College tuition costs are rising faster than the average American’s income, according to  USA Today . 2003 Annual Report Nineteen