AXA Distributors, LLC is rolling out significant enhancements to its Web site, AXAdistributors.com, in order to mitigate potential fraud.  It is also offering tips to registered representatives to help them protect their clients privacy and security, as well as their own.

"Every day brings news of companies that fail to protect their clients information.  AXA Distributors continually takes steps to make it more difficult for unauthorized parties to access accounts," said Jamie Shepherdson, President of AXA Distributors and Executive Vice President of New York-based parent company AXA Financial, Inc.

 AXA Distributors is adding three major new elements to its Web site:

• The Message Center provides notices to each registered representative specifically about his book of business, including an email record of all client-related transactions.
• The Staff Access Level Mechanism allows firms to determine the types of information that individual reps may view, including client account information, policy details, and underwriting details.
• The Email Subscriptions Mechanism offers reps the ability to opt in to receive notices about product updates, money manager changes, and more. 

TIPS FOR REPS TO PROTECT PRIVACY AND SECURITY

"Were proud of the steps that we at AXA Distributors are taking to ensure a secure online environment," said Mr. Shepherdson.  "But our efforts to preserve the privacy of our wholesale producers and their clients are only half the battle.  Fortunately, there are a few simple things reps can do when using our Web site to further protect the security and privacy of all parties."

Reps should consider incorporating the following steps into their Web routines:

• Whether prompted or not, change your password every 90 days.
• Do not share your ID and password unless absolutely necessary. If it is necessary, periodically review your account activity with the user to ensure that your information, and your clients information, is safe and secure.
•  If you access the AXAdistributors.com Web site, or other secure sites, from a computer that is different than the one you use regularly, be sure you have completely logged off the site. Just to be safe, you should shut down the browser before leaving the work area.
• If you do not currently use anti-virus and anti-spyware or security software on your computer, consider doing so. If you do, make sure your software is up to date.

For more information, please send your e-mails to swm@infothe.com.

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