AXA Equitable Explores Americans' (Dis)Trust in the Financial System

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company released today a video that explores the trust (or lack of it) that Americans have toward financial institutions in the wake of the economic crisis. Accompanying the video is an invitation to participate in an opinion survey and continue the conversation online at The Source @ AXA Equitable.

"In Doubt We Trust?," a video shot in Chicago, features unscripted Americans sharing their attitudes toward financial institutions, as well as suggestions for how to improve the financial system. The video juxtaposes recent findings of the Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index with the frank skepticism of people on and off Michigan Avenue.

"The comments we hear in this video are sobering – a well-deserved wake-up call for all of us in the financial services business," said Andrew McMahon, president of AXA Equitable. "At AXA Equitable, trust is the core value we aspire to earn. Our customers – and often their children, grandchildren and business partners – rely on us to make and keep long-term promises."

"In Doubt We Trust?" and the online survey are part of AXA Equitable's ongoing efforts to get at the heart of the issues surrounding financial protection. "In Doubt We Trust?" complements the company's "Retirement Reality Show" video series exploring the attitudes, behaviors and experiences of Americans as they prepare for and live through retirement. Together, these videos serve as an unblinking way to take the public's pulse on financial risks and preparedness.

"Understanding the foundations of trust and what can undermine that trust is critical to earning it every day," added McMahon. "Listening to people, whether in Chicago or online, helps us better understand what lies at the heart of our business – people's confidence in financial markets and in financial professionals like ourselves."

To access "In Doubt We Trust?" and its accompanying online "Financial Trust Survey," please visit The Source @ AXA Equitable, a multi-media Web room that provides information and hopefully inspiration on a wide array of financial protection and retirement planning topics.

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

Series Premiere: "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.

The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISIN FR0000120628 -Bloomberg: CS FP - Reuters: AXAF.PA).

Links:

http://thesource.axaequitable.com/news/in-doubt-we-trust/

http://thesource.axaequitable.com/news/retirement-reality-show-%E2%80%93-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