Shelley M. Fiore to Assume Leadership Post at MassMutual's Detroit Financial Group, LLC

DETROIT, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has appointed financial services veteran, Shelley M. Fiore, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, LIC, to a leadership post at Detroit Financial Group LLC, a general agency of the company. Fiore joins her partner and husband, Dennis Fiore, CLU, ChFC, as Co-General Agent at the firm he has led for 22 years.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100922/NE69892 )

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100922/NE69892 )

MassMutual and Dennis Fiore tapped Shelley Fiore for leadership because of her skills and passion for touting the unlimited career opportunities available to professional women -- including working mothers -- in financial services, as well as her commitment to connect with consumers through financial literacy education.

"Shelley's experience coupled with Dennis Fiore's two decades of leadership at the agency that includes expertise in wealth protection and planning for closely held business makes the Fiores a notable team for MassMutual and an asset to Detroit area consumers," said John Vaccaro, senior vice president of Sales & Distribution for the company. "Shelley's track record of providing long-term solutions for her clients also speaks volumes about her ability to nurture existing relationships and solidify new ones -- a trait that will serve us well as we continue our focus to welcome more women into our ranks."

Fiore, a mother of three, built a distinguished career at MassMutual, becoming the first female president of its over 100-year-old Agents Association in 2008 and a consistent top performer among the company's 5,000 plus sales professionals. Fiore also spearheaded a culture-change initiative, called "Bridging the Understanding Gap" to build greater understanding between MassMutual home-office employees and its agents.

"I love this business and with this new position, I can open avenues for other women professionals. With my 27 years of experience, much of  that as a working mom, I will be able to support and attract female recruits for our agency and help make MassMutual the premier company for women in this industry," Fiore said.  

Indeed, successful female financial professionals who have built strong practices, like Fiore, can experience work/life balance without the typical earnings setbacks some other working women find commonplace when reentering the workforce after raising children, or reducing their hours to care for them, because they can set their own schedules, Fiore said.

A 2009 University of Chicago study found that 15 years after business school graduation, men were making about 75 percent more than their female classmates who were more likely to take time off or reduce their working hours to raise a family.

"That was not my experience and it doesn't have to be the common scenario for other women," said Fiore, adding that like most moms, juggling responsibilities was at times difficult but never a deal breaker as she pursued her career.

Fiore's commitment to coaching and recruiting women will also benefit female consumers who often see the financial world a bit differently than their male counterparts. A July study by the industry group LIMRA found gender differences exist with risk tolerance and how they view wealth accumulation.

"Shelley is going to be able to help our agency recruit and retain women because she knows what it takes to be a successful financial services professional. She's lived it.  Shelley has always been an asset in our agency and now we are taking our partnership and her expertise to the next strategic level," said Dennis Fiore.

Shelley Fiore will take her position among several other top female sales force leaders at MassMutual, including General Agent Kim Michel in Los Angeles, General Agent Barbara Gill in Detroit and General Agent Vlasta Duffy in Arizona.

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 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) 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.

SOURCE MassMutual Financial Group