Ameriprise Retirement Services to Host President's Council; The 2005 Conference Will Address What's Next for Retirement Plans and Ameriprise Financial as a Newly Independent Company.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Ameriprise Retirement Services (formerly known as American Express Retirement Services) will host the 2005 President's Council October 12-14 for senior-level decision makers from client companies at the Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort in Miami, Fla.

The symposium features a range of industry experts presenting sessions and leading roundtable, interactive discussions. The focus of the conference will address "what's next"--what's next in the retirement benefits arena, what's next for corporate benefits leaders and their businesses, and what's next for Ameriprise Retirement Services as part of a newly independent company, Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

"The President's Council is an opportunity to join together with our clients and look at the challenges that lie ahead and the opportunities that are shaping the future of the retirement plan world," said Ward Armstrong, president of Ameriprise Retirement Services. "We hope that this year's President's Council will be a first-class event that leaves decision makers from client companies excited about stepping into the future with their retirement plans."

Several seminars and discussions will address key issues plan sponsors and service providers face, including:

--Strategic business futurist and keynote speaker, Roger Herman will address the events and trends that impact where and how we work, live and play, as well as important connections to the retirement plan industry;

--Ameriprise Retirement Services President, Ward Armstrong, and President of U.S. Asset Management, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., Ted Truscott, will offer their perspectives on what's next for Ameriprise Retirement Services and institutional asset management;

--Charles Ruffel, CEO of Asset International, publisher of Plan Sponsor magazine, will highlight emerging retirement and benefit industry trends;

--Ameriprise Financial Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, Denise Ferguson, will present a primer on federal retirement security legislative proposals;

--Noted ERISA attorney, Fred Reish, will speak about critical fiduciary issues and trends;

--Vice President of Ameriprise Retirement Services, Rusty Field, will speak about BluePrint Design(SM) and where it's headed next.

"The format of the conference allows benefits and retirement plan leaders from our client companies to interact with their peers and our leadership on a personal and professional level," said John Baker, chief operations officer of Ameriprise Retirement Services. "For us these conversations are essential, allowing clients to lend their important voices in shaping our future direction and strategies."

About Ameriprise Retirement Services

Ameriprise Retirement Services, a service group of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., provides corporations, unions and municipalities, and more than 800,000 workers nationwide with a complete package of financial education, recordkeeping, investments and trustee services for their qualified retirement plans, as well as workplace financial education programs through Ameriprise Financial and Ameriprise Trust Company. For more information on Ameriprise Retirement Services, visit www.ameriprise.com/sponsors.

Ameriprise Financial is one of the nation's leading financial planning, asset management and insurance companies. Through its nationwide network of more than 10,500 financial advisors, Ameriprise Financial delivers solutions to clients through a comprehensive and personalized financial planning approach built on a long term relationship with a knowledgeable advisor. The company specializes in meeting the retirement-related financial needs of the mass affluent. For more information, visit www.ameriprise.com.

Ameriprise Retirement Services is a service group of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ameriprise Trust Company. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member NASD, offers registered investments and financial planning services. Ameriprise Trust Company offers retirement plan related services and provides collective funds.

(C) 2005 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

First use: 10/05