The Hartford Introduces Professional Liability Insurance Designed Especially for Small Real Estate Firms

New 'E&O' coverage taps an underserved market; completes insurer's E&O portfolio for real estate industry

HARTFORD, Conn., February 22, 2006 - The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), building on its experience insuring major real estate brokers, has just created a new Real Estate Errors and Omission (E&O) Liability product designed specifically for the small to mid-size broker. And since one size doesn't often fit all in an insurance purchase, or a in real estate transaction, the policy can be customized to meet the needs of different firms.

Professional Liability, or E&O, is similar to malpractice insurance, protecting professionals from liability when an action - or failure to take action - results in injury or financial damage to a client. The Hartford's new E&O product offers broad coverage for real estate firms engaged in residential sales, commercial sales, property leasing, appraisal and third-party property management. The insurance is underwritten by the company's Hartford Financial Products (HFP) division, a major provider of professional liability and other management liability products.

"Until now, smaller real estate firms have faced a tough challenge to find comprehensive and competitively priced E&O insurance coverage from a financially strong insurance company," said Greg Leffard, a vice president at HFP. "This market segment, and its need for tailored coverage, are both steadily growing, and The Hartford is applying its expertise with larger real estate firms to the underserved, smaller-broker market."

Sold as a stand-alone policy through insurance agents and brokers, The Hartford's Real Estate E&O policy provides broad protection that can be customized to meet the specific needs of brokers at small and mid-size real estate firms. Key policy features include:

Coverage for the sale of agent-owned residential property (subject to policy conditions);
A 50 percent reduction of the deductible when claims are settled by alternate dispute resolution (ADR);
Payment for defense costs in disciplinary proceedings and reimbursement for lost earnings due to court appearances;
A variety of extended loss-reporting-period options, including one that covers retired real estate agents; and
Defense coverage for discrimination charges.

The Hartford has provided E&O coverage for larger real estate firms since 2001, and the new product for smaller firms adds a new dimension to its business. The Hartford also is the nation's largest writer of directors and officers (D&O) liability for Real Estate Investment Trusts, and offers the only directors and officers program sponsored by the National Association of Real Estate Investments Trusts®.

For more information about this or other insurance offered by Hartford Financial Products, brokers and agents can visit www.hfpinsurance.com or call Patricia Fitzgerald at 1-212-277-0457.

The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest financial services and insurance companies, with 2005 revenues of $27.1 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property-casualty insurance. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.

The description herein is a summary only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the policy for details. Coverage is provided by The Hartford companies and may not be available in all states. Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Hartford cautions investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in The Hartford's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Hartford assumes no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.