School To Design Retirement Plans

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has turned to Rhode Island School of Design's (RISD's) graphic design students to help the company develop new and innovative ways of engaging and motivating 20-somethings to better prepare for retirement. As part of the school's Corporate Sponsored Studio: Designing Today For Tomorrow program and following a visit to the company's headquarters in Springfield, Mass., the students are tasked with creating eye-catching graphics and communication materials to help their generation better understand the importance of planning and saving for retirement – and the benefits of starting early.

"I know I speak for the entire class in saying how exciting it is to be able to work with MassMutual on such an important issue," says Richard Rose, class professor with RISD.  "It is no surprise that Americans tend to delay preparing for retirement, especially the younger workers, and I look forward to the fountain of fresh and innovative ideas that these students will explore to speak directly to their generation and encourage them to start planning today," adds Rose.

"We came to RISD because these young thinkers aren't hampered by old 20th-century ways of thinking, and will come up with new and innovative ways to reach 20-somethings beyond what MassMutual alone can imagine," says Kris Gates, assistant vice president of participant and interactive marketing with MassMutual's Retirement Services Division. "By developing action-inspiring messaging that speaks directly to those just starting, we can help ensure they are better prepared for retirement than those generations before them," adds Gates.

For more information about MassMutual Retirement Services, please contact your retirement plan advisor or call MassMutual at 1-866-444-2601.

About MassMutual

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.

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'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 1.6 million participants.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+. 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.

About the Rhode Island School of Design

Founded in 1877, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is one of the oldest and best-known colleges of art and design in the U.S. Each year approximately 2,300 students from around the world pursue a creative, studio-based education at RISD, which offers rigorous bachelor's and master's degree programs in 19 architecture, design, fine arts and art education majors. The college is located in Providence, Rhode Island, which offers its own vibrant art scene and is conveniently located between two other major cultural centers: Boston and New York. For more information, visit http://www.risd.edu/.

Copyright ©2012 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved.

Contact: Jessica Barry 
413-744-8334
[email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services