PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Standard has announced that it has created a new fee education campaign for retirement plan participants. Getting the Most from Your Plan: a Participant's Guide to Retirement Plan Fees is now available to employees of companies and organizations who are retirement plan clients of The Standard. Earlier this year, The Standard created a similar educational campaign for plan sponsors, entitled A Plan Sponsor's Guide to Retirement Plan Fees.

"Participant education that addresses plan fees and expenses is an integral part of our participant-centric approach," said Sheri Fitts, director of communications and large case sales. "Understanding how plan fees work, their impact on investment earnings and how to avoid or eliminate some fees are all critical to becoming an informed investor."

The educational guide describes the types of services covered by retirement plan fees, with easy to understand examples and illustrations. In addition, the guide also educates participants about the potential negative effects and costs associated with taking loans from the retirement plan, as well as taking early withdrawals from the retirement plan prior to age 59 1/2.

Both the plan sponsor and plan participant guide are available for viewing or downloading by visiting retirement.standard.com.

The Standard has provided retirement plan services for more than 70 years. Full and recordkeeping-only services are available on a trust platform in all states and a group annuity platform in all states except New York. The Standard promotes a participant-centric approach with services such as Mainspring Managed, its managed account option for plan participants. For more information on The Standard's retirement services, visit retirement.standard.com.

About The Standard

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. ("StanCorp") (NYSE: SFG - News) through its subsidiaries marketed as The Standard -- Standard Insurance Company, The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, Standard Retirement Services, StanCorp Mortgage Investors, StanCorp Investment Advisers, StanCorp Real Estate, StanCorp Equities, and StanCorp Trust Company -- is a leading provider of financial products and services. The Standard serves approximately 8.2 million customers nationwide as of June 30, 2007, with group and individual disability insurance, group life and dental insurance, retirement products and services and investment advice. For more information about The Standard visit http://www.standard.com.

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Source: The Standard

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