Stancorp Financial (SFG) 10-Q 2003 Q2 Quarterly report

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Eric E. Parsons of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: August 6, 2003

/s/    ERIC E. PARSONS        

Eric E. Parsons

President and Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and will be retained by StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.