Brian K. Lee, ChFC, CFP(R) Expands MassMutual's Multicultural Reach in Greater Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has announced Brian K. Lee, ChFC, CFP^® will lead the company's Greater Los Angeles Agency in California.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121106/NY06715)

Lee, who speaks three languages – Cantonese, Mandarin, and English – will build on the agency's decades-long commitment to the area as well as expand the agency's multicultural reach to also address the financial needs of various ethnic groups in and around the greater Los Angeles area.

"We will exceed our service to our clients and continue to reach out and help others who can benefit from our expertise. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the U.S. It is very diverse and we need financial professionals who are equally diverse and can understand people's financial and cultural needs simultaneously," said Lee.

At present, 40 financial professionals in the Greater Los Angeles Agency speak 10 different languages, including Spanish, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and more. Lee expects to bring on an additional 10 multilingual financial professionals by year's end.

"People simply feel more welcome when you speak their language," Lee said.

And along with language, Lee's office strives to effectively mirror the community in which it is located, with financial experts who represent the many diverse local cultures.

"We engage with national and local multicultural professional organizations and are able to learn from MassMutual's extensive research, as well. By being part of our various ethnic communities, we are better able to help these quick growing and underserved markets plan for their businesses and their families' financial futures."

Lee said although there are some cultural differences among his client base, one aspect remains constant - all cultures strive to provide a better future for their loved ones.

"At the Greater Los Angeles agency we help all clients plan for life events with products like whole life insurance, help them with investments and savings programs, and continuously guide people toward healthy financial decisions over the course of their lives," said Lee.

MassMutual and Lee also extend such advice to small business owners. MassMutual's "Business Owner Perspectives: 2011 Insights in an Uncertain Economy" gave small business owners a new and additional view on the unique needs of African American, Asian Indian, Chinese, Hispanic, and Korean business owners, Lee said.

"We need to listen to people and their concerns in new ways," Lee said.  "By looking at research and talking to people in our community we know, for example, that while Hispanic business owners predominately want to leave their business in the family, many do not have a plan in place to achieve that dream. Our job is to help them get there."

Lee lives with his wife, Betty and two sons, Brendan, 7, and Benjamin, 4. The family lives in Westlake Village, Calif.

About MassMutual
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 consistently 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) 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, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+.

Contact: Patty Norris Lubold, +1-413-744-6957

SOURCE MassMutual