AMENDMENT NUMBER 8 TO
                        PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

         Pursuant to the Principal Underwriting Agreement between HARTFORD
SECURITIES DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, INC. and THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
(formerly known as ITT Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc.) dated July 22, 1996, as
amended and as assigned to Hartford Investment Financial Services, LLC (formerly
known as Hartford Investment Financial Services Company) on November 1, 1998
(the "Agreement"), THE HARTFORD EQUITY INCOME FUND is hereby included as a new
Fund. All provisions in the Agreement shall apply to The Hartford Equity Income
Fund.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this amendment to be
executed on the 25th day of August, 2003.


                                    HARTFORD INVESTMENT FINANCIAL
                                    SERVICES, LLC


                                    By:     /s/ David M. Znamierowski
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            David M. Znamierowski
                                            Senior Vice President

                                    THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
                                    on behalf of:
                                    The Hartford Equity Income Fund

                                    By:     /s/ David M. Znamierowski
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            David M. Znamierowski
                                            President