The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG) is one of the largest multi-line insurance and investment companies that operates primarily in the United States, with over $307 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2009.^[1] The Hartford operates in two broad segments: Life and Property & Casualty (P&C). The Hartford has offered its services in the United States since 1810, but since has expanded its operations to Canada, Japan, Brazil, Ireland, and the United Kingdom ^[2].

The Hartford's relationship with the AARP helps the company to differentiate its insurance products, which approach being treated as commodities. Personal Line written premiums, directly related to the AARP deal, increased by 3%, and retirement plan deposits increased to $2.3 billion. Given that there were over 38 million people who were 65 or older in 2009, and that this statistic is projected to double by 2050, the Hartford is positioned to exploit this competitive advantage ^[3].

(Read more at Wikinvest )