Fed Lowers Key Rate to 3.5%

Seasoned Investment Professional Offers Insights on Impact of Fed
Action
CINCINNATI--(Business Wire)--The cut of two key interest rates by the Fed this morning should
help calm the instability now being experienced by world markets,
according to Nicholas P. Sargen, senior vice president and chief
investment officer for Western & Southern Financial Group, a Fortune
500, Cincinnati-based financial services company.

"It seems that market events were overtaking the Fed," Sargen
said. "The Fed action announced today should help calm some investors'
fears."

According to Sargen, world markets are concerned about a possible
recession in the United States and have acted accordingly. And while
there is still some argument on whether or not the United States
already is in recession, "it appears we are in a Bear Market," Sargen
said.

"The real economy has weakened," Sargen said. "However, it is not
plummeting and we think policy actions will help stabilize it later
this year."

Sargen also thinks that a slowing in growth around the world will
cause the price of oil to drop, therefore providing some relief to
consumers. This, in turn, would help the economy to recover.

About Western & Southern Financial Group(R)

Western & Southern Financial Group (Western & Southern) is a
Cincinnati-based diversified family of financial services companies
with assets owned, managed and under our care in excess of $47
billion. A Fortune 500 company, Western & Southern has received A.M.
Best's highest rating of A++ Superior for financial strength, Standard
& Poor's AA+ rating (one of the 10 highest rated life insurance groups
in the world) and is consistently recognized by Moody's and Fitch for
financial strength and sound management. With a heritage dating to
1888, the group's affiliates include The Western and Southern Life
Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Capital
Analysts Incorporated,(1,2) Columbus Life Insurance Company, Eagle
Realty Group, LLC, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.,(1) Fort
Washington Savings Company,(3) IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity
Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, National
Integrity Life Insurance Company, Todd Investment Advisors, Inc.,(1)
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.,(1) and Touchstone Securities, Inc.(2) For
more information, visit www.westernsouthern.com. Western & Southern is
the title sponsor of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters
and Women's Open tennis tournaments.

(1) A registered investment advisor.

(2) A registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.

(3) Member FDIC.

Ratings refer to the financial strength of the insurance company
and not to the safety, stability or performance of any investment
product.

About Nick Sargen

-- Sargen frequently appears on CNBC, Bloomberg, FOX Business
Network and was a regular panelist on Louis Rukeyser from 2001
to 2004.

-- He has many years' experience as an international economist
and global money manager. He most recently served as managing
director for JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York, where he was
chief investment strategist for JPMorgan Private Bank. He also
has served as managing director for Prudential Insurance
Company, where he was chief investment officer for Global
Fixed Income Advisors. Sargen also served as director, bond
market research, for Salomon Brothers. His experience includes
positions with Morgan Guaranty Trust, the Federal Reserve Bank
of San Francisco and the U.S Department of Treasury.

-- Sargen was born and raised in the San Francisco bay area,
where he earned a Ph.D. and an M.A. in economics from Stanford
University and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the
University of California, Berkeley.

-- As Western & Southern's Chief Investment Officer, Sargen is
responsible for overseeing the investment activity for all
assets under management.

Nick Sargen is available for interviews.

Please contact Jose Marques at (513) 629-1448 or at
jose.marques@westernsouthern.com for further information or to
schedule an interview.

Western & Southern Financial Group
Jose Marques, 513-629-1448
Media Relations Manager
jose.marques@westernsouthern.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008