San Joaquin County, Stockton, Calif., hired Hartford Life Insurance...

San Joaquin County, Stockton, Calif., hired Hartford Life Insurance Co. as sole provider for its $140 million 457 plan. The decision was made to consolidate services, said Hartford spokesman David Potter. The county had used seven providers, including Hartford. Roger Gombert, San Joaquin County deputy director of human resources, said the move is expected to save plan participants $400,000 in fees the first year, because Hartford, which was collecting fees of between 90 and 95 basis points, had agreed to charge 15 basis points for the first five years, and then waive fees altogether. Mercer assisted.