8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15d of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934

               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                 March 31, 2000



                  THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                  -------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                          0-19277            13-3317783
- --------                          -------            ----------
State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File   (IRS Employer
Incorporation)                    Number)            Identification No.)


Hartford Plaza
Hartford, Connecticut               06115-1900
- ---------------------               ----------
(Address of principal executive     (Zip Code)
offices)


Registrant's telephone number: (860) 547-5000
                               --------------


Item 5.    Other Events:
- -------    -------------

     On March 31, 2000, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. ("The
Hartford") announced that its Board of Directors presented on March 27, 2000 an
offer to the Board of Directors of Hartford Life, Inc. ("Hartford Life") to
acquire all of the common shares of Hartford Life not already owned by The
Hartford. Additional information is set forth in The Hartford's press release,
which is filed as an exhibit hereto.

Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits
- -------    ---------------------------------

      c)   The following is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report:

Exhibit
Number          Description
- ------          -----------

99.1            Press release dated March 31, 2000.


                                   SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                             THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL
                             SERVICES GROUP, INC.


Date:  March 31, 2000        By:    /s/ C. Michael O'Halloran
                                    -------------------------
                             Name:  C. Michael O'Halloran
                             Title: Its Senior Vice President

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

[LOGO OF THE HARTFORD]

                                                                    News Release
                                              Hartford Plaza . Hartford CT 06115

Date:                 March 31, 2000
For Release:          Upon Receipt
Contact:              Joyce Willis                  Cynthia Michener
                      Office: 860/547-4951          Office: 860/547-5624
                      Home: 860/286-0202            Home: 860/347-5302

               THE HARTFORD MAKES OFFER FOR HARTFORD LIFE SHARES
              Proposal Advances the Company's Strategic Direction

HARTFORD, Conn. - The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: HIG) today
announced that its board of directors has presented an offer to the board of
directors of Hartford Life Inc. (NYSE: HLI) to acquire all of the common shares
of Hartford Life not already owned by The Hartford for $44 per share in cash.
The offer, which was made on March 27 to the Hartford Life board of directors,
represents a nine percent premium to the closing price on that day and a 25
percent premium over Hartford Life's average closing price of $35.33 per share
for the 30 days prior to the offer.

     A special committee consisting of Hartford Life directors not affiliated
with The Hartford has been appointed by the Hartford Life board to consider the
offer.

     The Hartford currently owns approximately 81.5 percent of the outstanding
shares of common stock of Hartford Life. Approximately 26 million shares of
Hartford Life's common stock are owned by the public.

     In addition to advancing the company's strategic direction, The Hartford's
Chairman and CEO Ramani Ayer said the transaction is part of an overall plan to
restructure The Hartford into two major operating entities, worldwide life
operations and worldwide property-casualty operations.

     "The management team at Hartford Life has built one of the premier life and
annuity companies in the U.S., and I can't think of a better use of our capital
than owning 100 percent of this great franchise," said Ayer. Lon Smith and
Thomas Marra will continue in their roles as Hartford Life's president and chief
operating officer, respectively.

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