NEW YORK, August 31, 2011 – The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (GIAC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), today announced the availability of SWBC Investment Advisory Services LLC (SWBC) fiduciary support services for plan sponsors.

Beginning on September 1, the fiduciary support and investment advisory services of SWBC, an independent registered investment adviser, will be available to plan sponsors who utilize The Guardian Advantage® or The Guardian Choice® as the funding vehicle for their participant directed qualified retirement plan. SWBC will act as a fiduciary under ERISA Section 3(21) to plan sponsors who select the service, and enter into an advisory services agreement with SWBC.

The services of SWBC can help mitigate a plan sponsors’ risk for selecting, monitoring and diversifying the investment options that are available under the plan. Plan sponsors who use The Guardian Advantage® or The Guardian Choice®...