South Carolina Retirement System, Columbia, hired Hartford Investment...

South Carolina Retirement System, Columbia, hired Hartford Investment Management to replace ING Financial Advisors as a bundled provider for the $23.5 million State Optional Retirement Plan, a 401(a) plan offered as an alternative to the $22 billion pension plan; all new state employees and teachers must choose between the two systems. The optional plan's other providers, AIG VALIC, TIAA-CREF and CitiStreet, were rehired, said Michael Sponhour, a spokesman. Providers were required to rebid and an evaluation panel chose the new firms, Mr. Sponhour said. The vendors will sign three-year contracts, renewable at the discretion of the retirement system.