MassMutual and Clients Win Highest Number of 2010 PSCA 'Signature Awards' Among All Retirement Providers

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Profit Sharing/401k 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 63^rd Annual Conference and recognize plan sponsors and providers who help American workers attain their retirement goals by providing the best in education and communication.

"The Signature Awards categories for 2010 were changed from previous competitions to reflect the evolution of the defined contribution plan world," says David Wray, president, PSCA. "MassMutual's outstanding showing in this year's competition demonstrates true commitment to helping every American understand the importance of planning and saving for retirement, and their willingness to invest in education programs for sponsors and participants that change with the times," adds Wray.

MassMutual and its clients earned a total of 12 awards for both sponsor and participant communications covering corporate, union and nonprofit defined contribution plans including:

PSCA Awards – MassMutual and Clients

Gold (Category: Onsite Events and Workshops)

MassMutual/Archdiocese of Chicago

Silver (Category: New Media)

MassMutual/Bravo Health

Silver (Category: Preparation for Retirement)

MassMutual/Archdiocese of Chicago

Bronze (Category: Retirement Readiness)

MassMutual/Bravo Health

Bronze (Category: Onsite Events and Workshops)

MassMutual/Bravo Health

Bronze (Category: Increasing Plan Participation and Savings Rates)

MassMutual/Ingalls Health System

Bronze (Category: Asset Allocation)

MassMutual/UA Local 614

PSCA Awards – MassMutual Provider Awards

Several new awards for plan providers were added this year for communications directly to plan sponsors as well as communications developed by the provider to help them communicate with their employees. MassMutual captured awards for the following programs:

Gold (Category: Singular Campaign) for MassMutual's Targeted Direct Mail Campaigns for Participants

Silver (Category: Fiduciary Resources) for MassMutual's ERISA Advisory Services

Bronze (Category: Plan Administration Communications) for MassMutual's Strategic Plan Review

Bronze (Category: Fiduciary Resources) for MassMutual's Strategic Plan Review

Bronze (Category: Participant Education Programs) for MassMutual's RetireSmart(SM) Academy

"As a leading retirement services provider, MassMutual is proud of our success in delivering educational programs that help our clients and their participants identify the action steps necessary to help them be successful," says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and chairman and CEO of MassMutual International LLC. "Together with retirement plan advisors, we are focused on helping individuals understand the need to achieve a level of income from their retirement savings that will help them sustain a comfortable retirement," adds Sarsynski. "These awards are a testament to MassMutual's innovative approach to meeting this goal."

The Profit Sharing/401k 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 call your retirement advisor or contact MassMutual at (888) 626-4911.

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 © 2010 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001.

All rights reserved.

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services Division