8-16-12 (St.Paul, MN)  --  The state Commerce Department has fined four big life insurance companies 200-thousand dollars each for alleged misconduct.  Officials say Prudential, MetLife, John Hancock and ING inappropriately enrolled beneficiaries in retained asset accounts and didn't provide information needed to choose lump sum payments.  The Commerce Department also ordered the companies to modify their claims processes, change business practices and re-establish cash payouts as the default claim option for Minnesota consumers.  Commissioner Mike Rothman says beneficiaries deserve all the information they need to make an informed choice about a lump sum payment.