MassMutual's Rick Schulitz Named 'Rising Star of Mutual Funds'

ENFIELD, Conn., April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Rick Schulitz, a portfolio manager for the MassMutual RetireSMART^SM Funds, has been named as a Rising Star of Mutual Funds by Fund Action and Fund Directions, one of the publications' 2015 Mutual Fund Industry Awards.

The Award is bestowed on "self-starters who've risen quickly to further the development of their company or institution and/or advance the industry as a whole," Fund Action and Fund Directions report. Winners are selected based on the following criteria:

• Leadership in profession, firm and/or industry;
• Outstanding contributions to innovations, product development, client service, sales and/or growth in assets or returns;
• Recognition by the firm and/or industry groups;
• Active contribution to the broader mutual fund community;
• Spending fewer than 15 years working in the mutual fund industry; and
• Other quantifiable contributions to profession, firm, clients and/or industry.

"MassMutual is very proud of Rick and his contributions to our award-winning family of mutual funds," said Brian Haendiges, Senior Vice President, Investment Services. "Rick has made significant contributions to our firm and has helped advance our goal of providing high-quality investments to help our nearly three million retirement plan participants retire on their own terms."

Schulitz is a portfolio manager of the MassMutual RetireSMART Funds, which are a series of the MassMutual Funds and available to MassMutual Retirement Services clients' retirement savings plans and their participants. The MassMutual RetireSMART Funds include both target-date and risk-based options. The MassMutual Funds employ a multi-manager, subadvised strategy that strives to provide retirement plan savers access to the best experts in their investment category.

Recently, Schulitz spearheaded the creation of the firm's MapSMART^SM software, which helps map investment solutions and lineups, and makes comparisons to clients' existing fund lineups. More than 100 sales people use the software, which is patent-pending.

"The MapSMART software helped take our ability to provide investment solutions, lineups and comparisons to a higher plane and highlight our investment insight," said Bruce Picard, Chief Investment Officer, Asset Allocation Practice for MassMutual Retirement Services. "Rick is helping us offer a higher level of service for our clients while differentiating us in the marketplace."

Schulitz joined MassMutual in 2006 after working as an investment analyst for Cigna, ING, Priceline.com and First USA Bank. Six months into his new role at MassMutual, he was promoted to Portfolio Manager.

Schulitz received a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo, a Master of Science from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University. In addition, he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst^® designation.

For more information about MassMutual's Retirement Services Division, please contact your financial professional or call MassMutual at 1-800-874-2502, option 4.

About MassMutual
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. 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 policyowners 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, Google+ and Pinterest. 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.

Copyright ©2015 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved.

Contact: David Potter
860-562-1525
[email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services

Related Links

https://www.massmutual.com

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