Plan participants enrolled in retirement plans administered by Aetna can continue to access account information on-line. The new site will eventually provide them with access to internet-based, plan-specific investment advice via an alliance with 401K Forum. Aetna’s corporate plan sponsors will begin receiving this service over the next few months, with implementation scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 1999.

Aetna’s user-friendly site also boasts an array of features that allow individual investors to learn more about planning for their life goals – family, home, managing for today, retirement, education, and career. Each life goal section provides additional hyperlinks to useful resources making site visits efficient and informative.

"Our enhanced site reflects a strong commitment to helping our customers plan for their financial goals—at all stages of life—by offering the resources necessary to assist them in making informed investment decisions," said Allan Baker, head of Marketing, Aetna Retirement Services.

Throughout the site, useful tools including personalized account information, calculators, interactive worksheets, answers to frequently asked questions and a glossary of terms engage customers. Hyperlinks and menu bars facilitate movement within the site offering easy access to related websites.

Employers who offer their employees retirement plans administered by Aetna can use the "Sponsor Site" to review account information, updates on overall plan performance, performance by fund, details on sponsor and participant events, as well as educational information.

Aetna’s producers can log in to the "Producer Site" where they’ll find the latest news, product summaries and service guides, daily fund performance and interest rates, plus helpful marketing tools and a reference library.

Aetna’s intermediaries can log in to the "Third Party Administrator Site" where they’ll find news, information about products, a reference library, a directory of services, and functional areas to make inquiries and update their systems with downloads from Aetna’s site.

"Success in today’s marketplace has become increasingly dependent upon providing a unique and valuable Internet experience for the consumer," according to Steve Braun, head of Internet Strategies, Aetna Retirement Services.

Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aetna Retirement Services, Inc., provides a full range of products for a lifetime of financial needs. For a prospectus containing more complete information, including charges, and expenses, call 1-800-238-6254 or visit www.aetnafinancial.com. Investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. Insurance products are underwritten and issued through Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company. Securities are offered by Aetna Investment Services, Inc. Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company, Aetna Investment Services, Inc., and Aetna Retirement Services, Inc. are subsidiaries of Hartford, Connecticut-based Aetna Inc., one of the nation’s largest stockholder-owned insurance and financial services companies.

For more information about Aetna Inc., please visit the company's website at www.aetna.com.