MassMutual Retirement Services Posts Highest Sales in History Despite Challenging Economy

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- September marked MassMutual Retirement Services Division's highest sales month in history. September sales totaled nearly a billion -- $979.2 million to be exact -- representing the highest monthly total in the division's 60+year history, and contributing to record Q3 sales of $1.7 billion as well.

"Advisors have identified MassMutual as a retirement plan provider of choice in a very competitive market," says Hugh O'Toole, senior vice president of sales and client management for MassMutual's Retirement Services Division. "A lot of plan consolidation is taking place and those plans that are changing providers want a seamless transition. MassMutual's world-class service and expertise in consolidating multiple plans of different types are differentiators. As such, we also have a very strong pipeline of prospective sales across the organization."

September's exceptional sales results included plans under MassMutual's fully bundled and TPA service models in defined contribution, defined benefit, nonprofit, Taft-Hartley and PEO markets, as well as roll-in and First Mercantile's collective investment trust product.

"We're confident that our sales results in September are evidence of several positive trends we're seeing at MassMutual," states Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and chairman and CEO of MassMutual International LLC. "Retirement plan advisors and plan sponsors are looking for a provider that is financially strong and here for the long term, and MassMutual is very well positioned in this regard."

For more information regarding MassMutual Retirement Services, please call your retirement plan advisor or contact MassMutual at 1-866-444-2601.

About MassMutual

MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has been serving retirement plans for more than 60 years. It offers a full range of products and services for corporate, union, nonprofit and governmental employers' defined benefit, defined contribution and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. It serves approximately one million participants.

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders every year since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) [of which Retirement Services is a division] and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. For more information, visit massmutual.com.

Copyright © 2009 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001.

All rights reserved.

    Contact: Lisa Reilly
             413-744-0589
             lreilly@massmutual.com

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services