Helping people achieve financial security is the mission that drives the people of Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio (WRL). Since 1957, agents and their clients have looked to the company for insurance product innovation and quality service.

That year, founder Bill Callaghan launched the company with more entrepreneur­ial spirit than capital, persuading 323 investors to buy into his vision for $5 a share.

One of the first carriers to offer a variable universal life policy, WRL's product lineup also includes universal life, term life and annuities. Each product addresses a customized set of objectives, which could include financial protection, asset accumulation or both.

The product development process often begins with input from financial professionals who share their unique perspective of client needs. From there, a team approach that blends actuarial, legal and marketing viewpoints ensures products enter the market quickly with features that make them competitive.

WRL distributes its products through registered representatives of World Financial Group, Inc. (WFG), InterSecurities, Inc. (ISI) and approximately 500 independent broker/dealers. It focuses primarily on middle- and high-income families throughout the U.S., but also provides marketing support to agents selling insurance to fill estate-planning and business-related needs.

Growth has always been at the heart of the WRL story. The company's focus for the near future reflects this with plans to increase its presence in the independent broker/dealer distribution channel while strengthening its relationships with WFG and ISI.

As the people of WRL plan for future expansion, they can build on a vision that took the company from humble beginnings to a financial institution with more than $85 billion of life insurance in force as of January 1, 2006.

Additional information can be found on at: www.westernreserve.com