Lincoln Financial Group Introduces LVIP Protected Profile Funds to Retirement Plan Investment Lineup

Target-Date Innovation Offers Plan Participants Access to Sophisticated Capital Protection and Volatility Management Techniques

News provided by

Lincoln Financial Group

Oct 13, 2011, 12:00 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC) today announced the introduction of the LVIP Protected Profile Funds, a target-date fund-of-funds investment option available through its micro-to-small market retirement plan solution. Designed to adjust its equity allocation in response to prevailing market conditions, the multi-manager investment approach of Protected Profile Funds offers investors access to both capital protection and volatility management within a target-date fund. Unique advantages include a simplified process to help investors achieve a diversified portfolio and exposure to a wide variety of asset classes, regions and investments styles.

"Protected Profile Funds help address plan participants' concerns over sustained losses during a market downswing, as the glide path can adjust its equity and fixed income allocation in response to varying market conditions," says Eric Levy, Head of Defined Contribution Products. "We're confident that this innovative and simple long-term investing approach seeks to provide a safeguard retirement savings in good times and bad."

Managed by Lincoln Investment Advisors Corp., which oversees $27.7B in retirement related assets, the five target-date Protected Profile Funds (2010, 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050) are one of many asset allocations and managed account strategies that Lincoln offers. The new Funds are unique in that they are made up of a mix of asset classes, managed by multiple managers, designed to accommodate changing market conditions and help investors meet their investment objectives throughout retirement.

The Protected Profile Funds seek to reduce volatility risk by targeting a specific level of variability of returns based on each fund's respective target date. While the results are not guaranteed, the fund seek to manage this and other risks by employing a protection strategy designed to respond to changing market conditions and periodically rebalance and adjust their overall asset allocation to reflect the level of risk in the market.

The investment lineup with the Lincoln micro-to-small market retirement program offers a broad range of investment options from leading investment managers, providing plan participants with an opportunity to choose from over 90 investment options from 17 fund families. The program also offers a range of innovative distribution options, including Lincoln's patented i4LIFE® Advantage solution that can ensure a lifetime of income, with a minimum guarantee and control over assets.

About Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust
The LVIP Protected Profile Funds are five separate series of the Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust, a registered investment company offered solely to separate accounts that fund variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts of The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, its affiliates, and third party insurance companies. You cannot purchase shares of the Funds directly.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Funds before investing. The Fund prospectuses contain this and other important information. Please read the prospectuses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, call 1-800-4Lincoln (800 454 6265).

The LVIP Protected Profile Funds are not guaranteed or insured by Lincoln, nor by any other insurance company or other entity. The Funds are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed by any bank and may lose value.

About Insurance Products
In New York, contracts are issued by Lincoln Life & Annuity of New York, Syracuse, NY on contract form #19476NY-A.

The i4LIFE Advantage (rider forms I4LA-EMG and I4LA-EMI) is available on contracts issued by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company only and is not available in New York.

Contractual obligations are backed by the claims paying ability of the issuing company.

About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $164 billion as of June 30, 2011. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.LincolnFinancial.com.

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SOURCE Lincoln Financial Group