NEW YORK, April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company released today the latest episode in its "Retirement Reality Show" video series exploring the attitudes, behaviors and experiences of Americans as they prepare for and live through retirement.

"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Financial Freedom," is set against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty. On the occasion of National Retirement Planning Week, AXA Equitable went to Liberty Island to ask people how much time they spend planning their vacations versus planning for financial freedom in retirement.

"We wanted to explore the idea that people are spending more time planning a brief holiday than they are preparing for retirement -- what some consider the ultimate vacation," said Chris Winans, senior vice president, External Affairs at AXA Equitable. "People told us they spend three to six months, and in some cases up to a year, planning a one-week vacation but not nearly as much time planning for a retirement that could last hopefully for decades."

The National Retirement Planning Coalition – a group of financial industry, education and advocacy organizations – sponsors National Retirement Planning Week each year in April. The objective is to raise public awareness of the need for comprehensive retirement planning – to demonstrate it's possible to "Retire On Your Terms."

AXA Equitable's "Retirement Reality Show" video series complements the company's ongoing research and thought leadership programs on the issues surrounding retirement and serves as a platform for taking the public's pulse on financial risks and preparedness. The purpose of the series is to learn firsthand what real retirement savers and retirees are thinking and doing.

To access "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Financial Freedom," please visit The Source, AXA Equitable's multi-media Web page that provides information and thought leadership on a wide array of financial protection and retirement planning topics.

Previous episodes in AXA Equitable's "Retirement Reality Show" series include:

Series Premier: "Is Retirement a Shore Thing? Wall Street Hope Meets Boardwalk Reality"

Episode Two: "A Garden State of Mind: Expecting the Unexpected?"

Episode Three: "Protecting Retirement – Not a Walk in the Park"

Episode Four: "In The Long Run"

Please note that the comments made in this video are not intended as investment or securities advice and do not constitute an offer or solicitation of any kind.

About AXA Equitable

In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation's premier providers of life insurance and annuity products, as well as investment products and services through its affiliates, including AXA Advisors, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC. The company's products and services are distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors and to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC.  

AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial, Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management. "AXA Group" refers to AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and financial services companies together with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries. For more information, visit www.axa-equitable.com.

About National Retirement Planning Week®

National Retirement Planning Week®, April 11 – 15, is sponsored by The National Retirement Planning Coalition – a group of prominent financial industry, education and advocacy organizations that have joined together to raise public awareness of the need for comprehensive retirement planning. The Coalition is headed by the IRI, and includes the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), Americans for Secure Retirement (ASR), Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), Financial Services Forum, Financial Services Institute (FSI), Financial Services Roundtable (FSR), National Association of Fixed Annuities (NAFA), NICSA, Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), The American College, The Aspen Institute Initiative on Financial Security (Aspen IFS) and Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER).

The Coalition recognizes that the need to educate Americans on retirement planning is an ongoing effort and is committed to making this a national priority. The National Retirement Planning Week® and other coalition activities will demonstrate that it is possible to "Retire On Your Terms" if comprehensive retirement plans are properly developed and managed.

To support these education efforts, the coalition maintains a year-round website - www.retireonyourterms.org - offering resources to both consumers and financial professionals alike, in order to help them stay focused on long-term financial goals.

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Links:

http://thesource.axaequitable.com/news/retirement-reality-show-series-premiere/ 

http://thesource.axaequitable.com/news/retirement-reality-show-episode-two/ 

http://thesource.axaequitable.com/news/the-retirement-reality-show-episode-three/ 

http://thesource.axaequitable.com/news/the-retirement-reality-show-episode-four/

http://www.youtube.com/AXAEquitable

SOURCE AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company