“Social Security and Your Retirement”

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MassMutual's Retirement Services Division continues its web-based RetireSmart(SM) interactive participant education series with "Social Security and Your Retirement," directly addressing a key topic of interest for participants of all ages based on 2011's post-event surveys.

MassMutual's live online seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 at 12:00 p.m. ET. During the 30-minute presentation, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will discuss the role Social Security will play in today's retirement plans. Specifically, the SSA will cover:

• An overview of the Social Security Trust Fund,
• Calculating and collecting social security benefits, and
• Review of online tools and services.

A 30-minute interactive question and answer session will directly follow the presentation.

"MassMutual's RetireSmart participant education series is just one way we engage participants and help them make smarter retirement decisions," says E. Heather Smiley, chief marketing officer for MassMutual's Retirement Services Division. "With the future of social security a top concern today, we knew participants were seeking more information on the role it will play in their retirement plans. MassMutual went straight to the source and is pleased to have a speaker from the Social Security Administration lead this much-anticipated presentation," adds Smiley.

MassMutual's latest RetireSmart online seminar, "Understanding Target Date & Target Risk Investments," featured three leaders of its own investment and portfolio teams to help explain the basics of target-date and target-risk investment strategies. The 30-minute presentation, led by Michael Eldredge, CFA, vice president; Bruce Picard, Jr., CFA, investment director; and Frederick (Rick) Schulitz, CFA, investment director, discussed how to take charge of retirement investing in today's market environment, the ABCs of target strategies, and how these investments may fit an overall retirement plan. Following the presentation, 60% of attendees indicated their intent to review their investment mix and 28% planned to consider a target-date or target-risk investment strategy based on the post-event survey. A free replay of this seminar is available for anyone who missed the live event.

Space for the upcoming "Social Security and Your Retirement" seminar is prioritized to retirement plan sponsors and participants on MassMutual's platform. MassMutual retirement plan clients can register by logging in to their retirement plan account at www.retiresmart.com or by visiting www.retiresmartseminars.com.

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

This presentation is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as, and is not intended as, investment, retirement, tax or financial planning advice. No securities or other financial products or services will be offered for sale.

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.

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