PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 30, 2006 – New York Life Investment Management LLC (NYLIM) today announced the appointments of Bill Higgins and Tom Smythe as vice presidents of MainStay Investments Wealth Strategies Group.  MainStay Investments, a division of NYLIM, offers investors a range of products including MainStay Funds and Separately Managed Accounts.

Higgins and Smythe will be responsible for the sales of MainStay Funds and NYLIM Institutional Products to the retirement platform and RIA marketplace.  Based in Philadelphia, Higgins will handle sales in the Eastern region.  Smythe will manage the Western region from Denver.  They will both report to Doug Amacher, Director of Retirement Platforms and RIA for MainStay Investments Wealth Strategies.

“We’re experiencing tremendous growth in both the retirement platform and RIA marketplaces,” noted Amacher.  “Bill and Tom will be integral to our success as we strengthen our commitment to institutional and retail investors on a national level.”

Higgins joins NYLIM from Constellation Funds, where he was responsible for Investment Only Defined Contribution Plan distribution of Constellation's suite of sub-advised fund products.  He has also held positions with Pilgrim Baxter & Associates and Provident Mutual Pension Services.

Previously, Smythe worked at Invesco where his 14 year span included positions in the Financial Institutions, Retirement and Institutional groups. 

With more than $200 billion in assets under management as of February 28, 2006, New York Life Investment Management LLC and its affiliates provide a wide range of investment services to institutional, individual, corporate, public, and Taft-Hartley clients, including institutional asset management, retail investments, retirement services, guaranteed products, real estate investments, and alternative investments. For more information, visit the New York Life Investment Management LLC site at www.nylim.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Bliss, Gouverneur & Associates
Meghan Lantier
ml@blisspr.com
212-840-1661

New York Life Investment Management LLC
Nancy Paris
973-394-4410