MassMutual and Clients Win Highest Number of 2012 PSCA Signature Awards Among All Retirement Providers

Awards Recognize "Best in Education and Communication" to Help American Workers Plan and Save for Retirement

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Sep 12, 2012, 04:04 ET

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) awarded its highest number of Signature Awards among all providers to MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and its clients, recognizing the company's outstanding communication and education programs for both retirement plan sponsors and participants. The Signature Awards winners were announced today at the PSCA's 65th Annual Conference to honor retirement plan services providers and plan sponsors for their successful efforts in helping American workers plan and save toward for retirement.

"The Signature Awards represent the 'best of the best' in defined contribution plan communication and education," says David Wray, president, PSCA. "MassMutual's outstanding showing this year demonstrates true commitment to helping every American understand the importance of planning and saving for retirement. These retirement plan sponsors, together with providers like MassMutual, are best-practice examples of how an effective education strategy can really make a difference when implemented effectively," adds Wray.

"Once again, by winning the highest number of PSCA Signature Awards, MassMutual continues to show its leadership, innovation and collaboration with plan sponsors in producing creative and engaging communication and education solutions that drive positive and record-breaking results," states Robert Benish, executive director and chief operating officer, PSCA. "Garnering four golds and multiple other awards, MassMutual deserves recognition as one of the foremost leaders in the retirement services industry," adds Benish.

MassMutual and its clients earned a total of 11 awards for both sponsor and participant communications covering corporate, union and nonprofit defined contribution plans including:

PSCA Awards – MassMutual and Clients

Gold (Category: Language and Cultural Diversity)
MassMutual/The Board of Trustees of the Elevator Constructors Annuity and 401(k) Retirement Plan

Gold (Category: Language and Cultural Diversity)
MassMutual/Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership

Gold (Category: On-Site Events and Workshops)
MassMutual/Baystate Health, Inc.

Silver (Category: Asset Allocation)
MassMutual/The Board of Trustees of the IATSE Annuity Fund

Bronze (Category: Retirement Readiness: Planning for Retirement for all Participants)
MassMutual/Structural Iron Workers Local # 1

Bronze (Category: Asset Allocation)
MassMutual/The GEO Group, Inc.

Honorable Mention (Category: Asset Allocation)
MassMutual/Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.

PSCA Awards – MassMutual Provider Awards

MassMutual also garnered awards in multiple categories for its innovative participant and plan sponsor tools, educational programs and campaigns:

Gold (Category: New Media) for MassMutual's 'Your Future Moves' RetireSmart^SM Game

Silver (Category: Fiduciary and Plan Design Resources) for MassMutual's PlanSmart^SM Analysis report

Bronze (Category: Education Programs) for MassMutual's Form 5500 E-File Educational Program

Bronze (Category: Singular Campaign) for MassMutual's RetireSmart National Campaign

"Earning this recognition from the PSCA is so exciting," says Joe Torraco, vice president, compensation, benefits and HRIS with The GEO Group, Inc., headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. "We are a firm believer in investment diversification. Partnering with MassMutual to get the message out is one of many steps we are taking to help our employees," adds Torraco.

"As the Retirement Leader of the Year*, MassMutual is proud of our success in delivering communications and educational programs that help retirement plan sponsors, their advisors, and plan participants work together toward a common goal," says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and chairman and CEO of MassMutual International LLC. "Effective communication and education lead to a healthy retirement plan and, ultimately, plan participants who have the tools to achieve a comfortable level of income in retirement. These awards are a testament to MassMutual's innovative approach to meeting this goal," adds Sarsynski.

The Plan Sponsor Council of America is a nonprofit association advocating increased retirement security through profit sharing, 401(k) and related defined contribution programs.

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

^*MassMutual was named Retirement Leader of the Year by the editors of Fund Industry Intelligence, a premium publication of Euromoney Institutional Investor focused on the mutual fund industry.

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

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's Retirement Services Division has been serving retirement plans for 65 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 1.6 million participants.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+. For information regarding MassMutual's Retirement Services Division, you may also visit massmutual.com/retire or find us on Facebook.com/retiresmart and YouTube.com/retiresmart.

Contact: Jessica Barry
860-573-7755
[email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services