MassMutual Retirement Services Readies ‘Best in Class’ RetireSmart(SM) Participant Website

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning in the first quarter of 2011, MassMutual's Retirement Services Division will launch Phase I of its new RetireSmart(SM) participant website that promises to be an "engine for action" among participants striving to plan and save for retirement. The new website will capitalize on significant technology investments MassMutual is making to support its simple, action-oriented approach to participant education.

The differentiator behind MassMutual's overall RetireSmart(SM) participant education platform is that it prompts participants to take appropriate stepswhen it makes the most sensefor them – and makes it as easy as possible for participants to do so in the manner they prefer.

"MassMutual's participant experience is evolving to take advantage of the latest behavioral research and technologies available," says E. Heather Smiley, chief marketing officer for MassMutual's Retirement Services Division. "Every retirement plan participant should have access to the tools and resources they need to effectively plan and save for retirement – and we believe MassMutual's participant website will be the model of the future," she adds.

"Every participant on our platform, regardless of plan size, will enjoy the benefits of MassMutual's significant investment in tools and resources that make retirement planning and saving as simple as possible," adds Kris Gates, assistant vice president, participant education and technology.

Highlights of Phase I will include:

• Custom "look and feel" including the plan sponsor's logo for consistency with other plan education materials and stronger identification with the employer
• A video game designed to raise retirement awareness in a fun, engaging way
• Shorter, more intuitive menus to help participants find what they need quickly and easily
• "Quick Links" to Plan, Save, Allocate and Consolidate tools so participants can take immediate action while they are focused on a particular behavior
• A powerful search feature that enables enrolled and yet-to-be-enrolled employees (as well as their spouses and family members) to search MassMutual's RetireSmart(SM) Academy by topic, age, life event, level of investment knowledge and other criteria
• An area where plan sponsors can post important information for their participants
• A participant experience that extends beyond the website into social media

"These participant website enhancements are just the first in a series of upgrades planned to help participants, plan sponsors and advisors successfully manage resources related to their retirement plans," says Scott Palmer, vice president, MassMutual Retirement Services Systems. "We're excited to be on the leading edge in all matters related to participant education and look forward to rolling out Phase I next quarter. Stay tuned – we have lots of exciting plans for our customers," adds Smiley.

For more information about MassMutual Retirement Services, please contact your retirement plan advisor or call 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 1.5 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