Peter Hoopis to lead MassMutual’s new Illinois agency

CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has opened a new general agency, Hoopis Financial Group, in Deerfield, Illinois. The agency will be led by Peter Hoopis, CLU, ChFC, CLF. 

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121004/NY86480 )

Hoopis, a native of Lake Forest, whose father, Harry Hoopis was a successful manager and leader in the industry, first began to truly appreciate the nature of the financial services industry as a 19-year-old intern at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Driven by the positive impact his services had on his clients, Hoopis's career quickly took off.  Shortly after working as a successful sales representative, he realized the best way to serve his community was to go into management.  Instead of being able to serve 100 new clients and their families each year, as a successful manager, he could help his team reach even more people than he could do on his own.  He is looking forward to bringing his unique leadership style, passion and enthusiasm to MassMutual.

"I have seen many sides of the business and see limitless opportunity in the greater Chicago area," he said.  "There are many people being underserved at a time when financial education and planning help is in high demand."      

While financial services offerings are vast in the downtown area, Hoopis said many people in the suburbs do not have access to financial professionals in the comfort of their own neighborhoods. He envisions opening several more offices in other surrounding suburbs beyond Deerfield. The Hoopis Financial Group will focus on providing consumers with need based financial services.  Protecting families and helping them achieve their retirement goals over the long term is rewarding work, he said.

"Adding an additional MassMutual agency in the greater Chicago area will enable MassMutual to serve even more families and business owners in the region," said John Vaccaro, <org value="ACORN:2027229114" idsrc="xmltag.org">MassMutual's senior vice president of Sales and Distribution. "Peter Hoopis is a consummate professional and his commitment to give back to his hometown area personally and professionally is laudable."

Hoopis's new suburban focus will also allow him to recruit new financial professionals into a burgeoning marketplace. Hoopis plans to bring on 40 new recruits over the next year.

"This is an excellent profession for people interested in finance and helping people prosper," he said.  "If you have a good attitude and a strong desire to succeed, you will value a career with job flexibility, unlimited income possibilities, and the ability to positively impact people's lives."

Indeed the demand for personal financial advisers, insurance agents and financial analysts is expected to rise faster than average by 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2010-11.    

Hoopis lives in nearby Lake Forest with his wife, Kelley where the couple is raising their three young daughters, McKenzy 5, Teagan, 3, and Brecklyn, 21 months. 

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 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 and Google+.

SOURCE MassMutual