Human Resources: MassMutual and Clients Capture Gold, Silver and Bronze 'Signature Awards' From Profit Sharing/401(k)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- MassMutual's Retirement
Services Division along with several of its clients were the recipients of
Gold, Silver and Bronze "Signature Awards" from the Profit Sharing/401(k)
Council of America (PSCA). The annual PSCA "Signature Awards", designed to
honor excellence in retirement plan communication and investment education,
were presented at the organization's 60th annual conference in Rancho Mirage,
Cal. this week. MassMutual developed the award-winning education campaigns
with plan sponsors to help overcome specific challenges. Awards were presented
in the following categories:

Gold (Category: Increasing Deferrals: Small Company - less than 4,000
employees)
MassMutual/J.F. Shea Company, Inc.

Silver (Category: Plan Design Changes)
MassMutual/Ateeco, Inc. (Mrs. T's Pierogies)

Bronze (Category: Generic Participant Education Campaign)
MassMutual - Extended Total Retirement Statement

"The winners of the distinguished Signature Awards have proven that
retirement plan communication and education programs can have a positive
impact on the average American worker's retirement saving behavior," said
David Wray, president of the PSCA. "These sponsors, together with providers
like MassMutual, are best-practice examples of how an effective education
strategy can really inspire workers to take responsibility for their own
retirement success."

MassMutual's education campaign for J.F. Shea Company, Inc. earned a Gold
Signature Award in the Increasing Deferrals category for increasing the
savings rate among a targeted group of participants from an average of 3.42%
to 8.14% -- a 238% increase. MassMutual utilized its proprietary data
analytics technology to identify which participants were deferring at a low
rate and then designed the communications campaign to inspire them to take
positive action.

A Silver Signature Award was presented to MassMutual and client Ateeco,
Inc., maker of Mrs. T's Pierogies, in the category of Plan Design Changes.
MassMutual's comprehensive education campaign for Ateeco achieved an increase
in plan participation from 43% to 87%. The average savings rate among
participants also doubled as a result of the campaign.

MassMutual also earned a Bronze Signature Award in the Generic Participant
Education category for its Extended Total Retirement Statement that gives
participants a holistic view of their total retirement picture from all
sources. The statement shows total and vested balance by each plan type in
which they have a balance, defined benefit data by early and normal retirement
dates, accrued benefit details and Social Security estimates. The statement
also includes colorful, graphical estimates of income replacement, account
growth, and other retirement milestones at different return assumptions.
MassMutual's award-winning statement also incorporates a call to action that,
during pilot testing, drove a 76% increase in average deferral rate -- from
5.94% to 10.49% -- among recipients.

"MassMutual has been a leading advocate for applying behavioral science to
the development of more effective education materials. With our help, these
plan sponsors have successfully leveraged our proprietary analytics technology
to implement targeted, behavior-based education campaigns that deliver award-
winning results," said Fred Castellani, executive vice president, MassMutual.
"The results are a testament to the good that can occur on behalf of
participants when providers and sponsors work together toward a common goal."

The Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America is a nonprofit association
advocating increased retirement security through profit sharing, 401(k) and
related defined contribution programs.

For more information about MassMutual retirement services, please call
your retirement 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 one million participants.

MassMutual Financial Group is the fleet name for Massachusetts Mutual Life
Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliates, with more than $450 billion
in assets under management at year-end 2006. Assets under management include
assets and certain external investment funds managed by MassMutual's
affiliates.

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a mutually owned financial protection,
accumulation and income management company headquartered in Springfield, Mass.
MassMutual's major affiliates include: OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; Babson Capital
Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate
Advisers LLC; MML Investors Services, Inc., MassMutual International LLC and

The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. MassMutual is on the Internet at
www.massmutual.com.