AXA Equitable's Latest Survey Finds More Than Three in Four Women Concerned About Meeting Financial Expenses

AXA Equitable's Latest Survey Finds More Than Three in Four Women Concerned
About Meeting Financial Expenses
Increased Focus on Retirement Does Not Translate into Long-Term Action;
Priorities Also Differ Across Generations and for Business Owners

NEW YORK, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
released today results of a recent survey that show women have placed
significantly more importance on retirement concerns and the ability to pay
everyday expenses than they did before the economic crisis. Since the crisis
hit, more than three in four women polled (77%) say they worry more now about
being able to make ends meet, up 16 percentage points from a similar poll
conducted in April 2008.

Focus on securing a sound retirement is also a main concern. Since October
2008, about 85 percent of women surveyed say that having a guaranteed source
of retirement income for life is highly important -- up from 72 percent in
April 2008. Though more preoccupied with financial matters, women are not
taking the long-term action necessary to achieve their goals. Specifically,
less than half of women surveyed (41%) report having a primary financial
professional, down 18 percentage points from last April. Women have also
reduced the number of investment products they own. Since April 2008, the
number of stocks, mutual funds, IRAs and annuities owned by women has dropped
about 10 percentage points.

"Women are clearly more focused on their finances and, although that may be
due to market conditions of the past 18 months, it's a step in the right
direction," said Barbara Goodstein, executive vice president and chief
innovation officer for AXA Equitable. "What is disconcerting, though, is that
they are going without the guidance of a trusted financial professional, and
are forsaking their long-term financial strategies for short-term moves that
may be manifested in panic."

Women and Financial Professionals
Women who use financial professionals are more focused on their financial
situations and this could potentially have a positive effect on their
retirement. Notable results include:

-- Women closer to retirement age or in retirement are most likely to
consult with a financial professional. Almost half (47%) of women aged
55 and older have a primary financial professional, while 64 percent
of
retired women are likely to have a financial professional.
-- More than seven in ten (71%) women with financial professionals
consider
preserving assets for retirement significantly more important,
compared
to just 60 percent of women without financial professionals.

-- Among women planning to postpone retirement, those with financial
professionals predict they will have to work less to offset their
losses
from recent market volatility and will retire, on average, two years
earlier than women without financial professionals.

"It's clear that women see the value in consulting with financial
professionals as they get closer to retirement, and that the relationship is
making a difference for them," said Andrew McMahon, executive vice president
of Retail Distribution for AXA Equitable and chairman of AXA Advisors, LLC,
the company's broker/dealer. "Equally, if not more important, however, is that
women need to reach out earlier so they can make the informed choices and take
the actions necessary to get their financial strategies on track, with the
overarching goal of securing a sound retirement."

Generational Differences
The latest survey, which marks the first time that AXA Equitable has released
results that compare the behaviors and attitudes of women across generations
and by employment, showed some stark differences based on life stages. Of
those surveyed:

-- About three-quarters (73%) of all Baby Boom women (aged 45-64)
indicate
their personal financial situation has worsened, in contrast to only
60
percent of Generation X women (aged 35-44).
-- Only 65 percent of Generation X women believe having a guaranteed
income
source is highly important, compared to 88 percent of Baby Boom women
aged 45-54.
-- Almost two-thirds (64%) of Baby Boom women aged 55-64 predict the
economy will worsen and 45 percent feel their personal financial
situation will decline over the next 12 months.

-- Of all women, Baby Boom women aged 55-64 are also the most likely to
take action. More than a third (36%) have already made changes to
their
investments, products or financial institutions, while 59 percent of
Generation X women do not plan on making any changes at all.

Women Business Owners Hit Harder
Women business owners have been hit harder by the market turmoil than other
women. They report significantly greater financial losses and have a more
negative outlook for the future. Of those surveyed:

-- More than three-quarters (76%) of women business owners say their
personal financial situation has declined, in contrast to 61 percent
of
women working for employers.
-- Half of women business owners indicate they need to postpone their
retirement an additional four years due to market conditions, compared
to 42 percent of other working women.

-- A quarter of all women business owners have decreased their savings
compared to just 14 percent of working women.

"It's not surprising that women business owners are facing greater
challenges," said Ms. Goodstein. "They are faced with not only keeping their
businesses profitable and helping their employees with retirement plans, but
also building their own retirement assets at the same time."

AXA Equitable analyzed its February 2009 survey results by gender and
generation to get a better understanding of the attitudes and behaviors of
women in support of its new company program -- "The AXA Equitable Connection:
Women, Wealth and Wisdom" -- launched last week. Among the goals of the
initiative, AXA Equitable aims to educate and empower women on numerous
financial topics, as well as to raise awareness of the unique retirement needs
of this historically underserved demographic. For more information on The AXA
Equitable Connection, visit www.axa-equitable.com/women.

About the Study
AXA Equitable conducted an online survey among 1,116 randomly chosen U.S.
consumers who were 25 to 70 years old, and with household incomes of $50,000
or higher or with household assets of $100,000 or higher. Of this number, 368
were women. Affluence is defined as household incomes of $100,000 or greater.

The research was conducted by a third-party independent research firm. The
study was fielded in February 2009, and initial results were announced in
April 2009. Comparisons are made in some cases to similar surveys conducted in
April 2008 and October 2008.

The numbers reflecting consumer financial concerns represent the percentage of
respondents rating a 9 or 10 on a 10-point importance scale. The study, in
total, has an error margin of +/-3% at the 95% confidence level interval
(i.e., 95 out 100 times that this study is repeated, the scores will fall
within +/-3%). The women's segment has an error margin of +/-5% at the 95%
confidence interval.

The study is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast or investment
advice, and is not a recommendation, offer, inducement or solicitation to buy
or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. AXA Equitable
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these findings,
whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances, or
otherwise.

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 annuities as well as financial strategies, and
investment products and services through its affiliate, AXA Advisors, LLC. The
company's products and services are distributed to individuals and business
owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors; to the financial
services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors,
LLC; and to corporations and their employees through its corporate
distribution channel, Corporate Markets.

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.

GE - 51213A (10/09)

SOURCE AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company

Jo Ann Tizzano, +1-212-314-2979, joann.m.tizzano@axa-equitable.com, or Michael
Arcaro, +1-212-314-2030, michael.arcaro@axa-equitable.com