First Investors changes its brand name to Foresters Financial

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - First Investors, a recognized leader in the financial services industry, changed its brand name to Foresters Financial™, effective September 21, 2015. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150918/268103LOGO)

The change is part of a broader announcement from Foresters™, the parent organization of First Investors, which plans to convert all of its businesses to the Foresters Financial™ brand by the end of 2016. New York-based First Investors is leading the way with a complete rebrand today. This includes changing everything from business cards to signage across its 42 branch offices.

"The First Investors business is an important part of our long-term strategy for sustainable growth in North America so it makes sense for us to fully integrate them into the organization," says Tony Garcia, President and CEO of the parent organization, Foresters.

First Investors CEO Bill Lipkus agrees: "Since joining the Foresters family of companies, we have had a tremendous partnership in delivering on the values and mission that we both share – to help families meet their financial goals and to enhance the well-being of families and communities. Sharing a visual identity and a name with Foresters will help us convey this mission in a more contemporary and consistent way and strengthen our ability to stand out in crowded marketplace."

While First Investors is changing its name and brand look, Lipkus stresses that the company's "commitment to our clients and representatives" remains unchanged. Its adoption of the Foresters Financial name and logo across its businesses begins immediately.

The specific names of its mutual funds, life insurance products, advisory products, as well as its contact information and customer service numbers, remain the same and serve to reassure existing clients that the solutions and trusted relationships they have had over the years will not be affected by the corporate name change.

To celebrate the rebrand, volunteers from across the organization helped build a new playground at the Pouch Scout Camp at 1465 Manor Road in Staten Island on September 19. Joining Foresters Financial in this neighborhood revitalization project were volunteers from the camp, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the Staten Island community. The new playground will serve more than 150,000 children and their families over the course of 15 years.

Since 2006, Foresters has invested over $10 million with KaBOOM! to build more than 120 playgrounds across the US and Canada by the end of 2015. KaBOOM! works to bring balanced and active play into the daily lives of all children, particularly those growing up in poverty in America.

About Foresters Financial (formerly First Investors)
The Foresters Financial (formerly First Investors) group of companies is a diversified financial services company and includes a registered broker-dealer, an investment adviser, a life insurance company and a transfer agent. Foresters Financial Services, Inc., a broker-dealer, helps everyday families reach their financial goals by offering solutions and guidance through its network of financial representatives working in 42 branch offices across the United States. Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc. is the investment adviser to the First Investors family of funds, which had nearly $11 billion in total assets under management as of June 30, 2015. Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company, Inc., a New York domiciled insurance company, offers a range of insurance and annuity products and maintains an "A" (Excellent) rating by A.M. Best¹. forestersfinancial.com

About Foresters
Foresters is an international financial services provider with more than three million clients and members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. We provide life insurance, savings, retirement and investment solutions that help families achieve their financial goals and make a lasting difference in their lives and communities. Foresters has assets of almost $12 billion, total funds under management of $28 billion and a surplus of $1.9 billion (all figures in Canadian dollars as of December 31, 2014) and maintains an "A" (Excellent) rating by A.M. Best¹. foresters.com

Foresters Financial™ and Foresters™ are the trade names and trademarks of The Independent Order of Foresters (a fraternal benefit society) and its subsidiaries, including Foresters Financial Services, Inc. Securities, life insurance and annuity products are offered through Foresters Financial Services, Inc. Insurance products are issued by Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company or The Independent Order of Foresters, which also offers its products through independent agents.

¹ An "A" (Excellent) rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best assigns ratings from A++ to F, A++ and A+ being superior ratings and A and A- being excellent ratings. In assigning The Independent Order of Foresters and Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company (formerly First Investors Life Insurance Company) rating on July 1, 2015, A.M. Best stated that the rating outlook is "stable", which means it is unlikely to change in the near future. See ambest.com for our latest rating.

SOURCE Foresters Financial