MassMutual Shares Best Practices for Growth and Success at Annual Conference for Third-Party Administrators

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MassMutual's Retirement Services Division recently hosted its 2011 National TPA Conference for third-party administrators (TPAs) in Buckhead (Atlanta), Ga. Approximately 60 third-party administrators nationwide attended the conference which was based on the theme, "The Time is Now."

Hugh O'Toole, senior vice president of sales and client management for MassMutual's Retirement Services Division, presented "How to Develop and Implement Results-Driven Participant Education." O'Toole discussed the state of retirement in America and MassMutual's innovative approach to participant retirement readiness, communication, and retirement plan health. MassMutual recently introduced its RetireSmart(SM) Ready tool, an innovative solution that provides participants with a simple way to calculate and implement saving rates and asset allocation strategies that may significantly increase their chances of achieving enough income in retirement.

Guest speakers included basketball legend Bill Walton who offered his perspective on "Climbing Back to the Top of the Mountain – One More Time," and Chris Stroud, Simoneaux and Stroud Consulting Services, Marco Island, Fla., who spoke on "TPA Best Practices: Firms Focused on the Future."

"MassMutual has been working with TPAs for more than 30 years and, in 2010, we achieved our highest annual sales ever in this market," says O'Toole. "This is a testament to the collaboration and commitment MassMutual enjoys with our TPA Alliance, and the fact that TPAs and the entire advisor community recognize MassMutual's deep understanding and appreciation of their business challenges and opportunities."

Mike McKenzie, corporate vice president and head of operations for MassMutual's Retirement Services Division, shared his perspective on how TPAs can leverage the resources provided by MassMutual on behalf of sponsors and participants. "Our goal for TPAs is to help them be as successful as they can be on all fronts while making it as easy as possible for them to do business with us," adds McKenzie.

"This was the best conference ever," said Sabrina L. Holme, CPA and partner, KSPH LLC, a third-party consulting firm based in Richmond, Va. "MassMutual is definitely the industry leader in innovation and communication."

For more information about MassMutual's TPA Alliance, please contact your advisor or call MassMutual at 1-866-444-2601

About MassMutual

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 1.3 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, LLC., member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or 'Like" MassMutual on Facebook and Facebook.com/retiresmart.

Contact: Lisa Reilly
413-744-0589
[email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services Division