text: **“P**artnering” is a popular business buzzword that may 
  
  vanish as quickly as it appeared. The Hartford’s partner- 
  
  ships, on the other hand, are built for the long term and 
  
  have played a major role in the company’s growth and 
  
  success. 
  
  The company enjoys outstanding partnerships 
  
  with several of the world’s top asset managers. It also 
  
  values its thousands of relationships with ﬁnancial 
  
  intermediaries such as large broker-dealers, banks and 
  
  independent ﬁnancial planners—and with afﬁnity part- 
  
  ners who extend The Hartford’s reach into large, grow- 
  
  ing markets. 
  
  “A lot of people talk about having the right part- 
  
  ners, but The Hartford views it differently from most,” 
  
  says Gary Trippe, CEO of Fort Myers, Fla., property- 
  
  casualty agency Oswald, Trippe and Company, Inc. 
  
  “They look for partners who share their core values, 
  
  and the relationship is based on trust and respect. It’s 
  
  all about compatibility.” Trippe should know. His 