Our Commitment to Taft-Hartley Plans Solutions to maximize the value of your retirement program Integrity People Investments Technology Communications insure invest retire FOR PLAN SPONSOR USE ONLY NOT FOR PARTICIPANT DISTRIBUTION Retirement Services
Commitment and Experience When choosing the right provider for your members retirement plan or plans, commitment and experience are of paramount importance. You want to know that your retirement provider understands both the unique attributes of Taft-Hartley clients, as well as the diversity of needs that can exist among members within the same union. You want to find a provider that has a proven track record of working with union plans. Stability and Strength MassMutual s financial strength ratings* are among the highest in any industry. These ratings demonstrate the stability and strength needed for the long-term. AAA (Extremely Strong), Standard & Poor s A++ (Superior), A.M. Best Company Aa1 (Excellent), Moody s Investors Service AAA (Exceptionally Strong), Fitch Ratings MassMutual is that provider. At MassMutual, we ve been around for a while. We have a more than 150-year tradition of excellence built on integrity and financial success. As such, we can fully appreciate the proud traditions of labor unions, and we support the high quality and integrity provided by union craftsmanship throughout the United States. We are committed to the future of working families by continuing to build and service union retirement plans of every shape and size. Unions built our country, and we are proud to help build retirement security for their members. As Taft-Hartley plan specialists, we understand the importance of meeting the changing needs of unions and their defined contribution, defined benefit, trusteedirected and member-directed plans. By choosing MassMutual, you can be more confident about fulfilling your fiduciary obligations and helping your members realize their retirement dreams. *Financial strength ratings are for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and do not apply to any separate investment accounts or mutual funds offered under the contract. Ratings are as of October 1, 2007 and are subject to change. Broad-Reaching Experience At MassMutual, we have been working with Taft- Hartley plan sponsors for more than 30 years, helping them navigate the complexities that these plans can involve. More than just spanning a number of years, however, our experience with Taft-Hartley customers encompasses a wide spectrum of trades, as well. Bricklayers and Craftworkers Building Trades Electrical Workers Elevator Constructors Graphic Communications Iron Workers Laborers Longshoremen Operating Engineers Pipefitters Plumbers Service Employees Sheet Metal Workers Stationary Engineers Steamfitters Steel Workers Theatrical Stage Employees and Actors Teamsters Our Commitment to Union Labor MassMutual s commitment to union labor goes above and beyond helping union members to retire comfortably. It drives MassMutual s policy, and the policy of MassMutual subsidiary Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, with regard to contracting labor for construction projects undertaken by the two companies. For example, MassMutual and Cornerstone strive to employ union labor for construction projects for all properties 100% owned and occupied by MassMutual and its subsidiaries and 100% MassMutual owned investment real estate properties. MassMutual s formal policy also reflects an appreciation for the skill and training of union labor, as well as covering guidelines around subcontracting and wages.
The MassMutual Investment Program As plan fiduciaries, today s retirement plan sponsors have tremendous responsibilities with regard to plan investments. Sponsors must select and replace investments in pursuit of a prudent, diversified array that allows plan participants to construct portfolios in consideration of their individual needs. Sponsors also have the responsibility to assess the quality of the selected group of investments on an ongoing basis, and so much more. Smart Architecture SM MassMutual s Smart Architecture SM is a rational and disciplined methodology for identifying and screening available investment options to help retirement plan fiduciaries satisfy their duties in today s environment. Through Smart Architecture methodology, we strive to provide an investment program distinguished by quality and diversity, offering: Wide range of asset classes and styles Multiple managers Institutional and retail investment options Flexible product pricing options Manager Identification MassMutual identifies managers for inclusion in the MassMutual Investment Program to fulfill specific investment objectives. With a defined investment mandate, we examine managers who strive for style consistency and whose risk parameters are within a specific range. When the need arises to conduct a manager search, we identify investment managers based on the value they add in expanding the range and depth of options on our investment platform and the potential they have to satisfy the investment goals of our clients retirement plans. Investment Screening The screening process we apply to our array of investment types has a singular objective creating and maintaining a high-quality investment program based upon quantitative and qualitative factors all to help ensure that plan sponsors will be able to provide their participants with the investment resources to match their investment needs, personal risk profiles and retirement timeframes. We then evaluate every option in the program on an ongoing basis using only high quality analytical tools. Results of these analyses are reflected monthly and/or quarterly in various qualitative and quantitative reports. Participant Investment Strategies Your members are likely quite diverse in terms of age, accumulated assets, current allocations, risk tolerance and retirement goals. As a result, your members require an investment selection that is broad, diverse and rational in providing solutions for a number of investment strategies. Regardless of the investor profiles of your members, we will help you make available a broad range of investments that allow your members to create an asset allocation strategy based upon their individual needs. Third-Party Certification At MassMutual we stand behind our Smart Architecture Investment Program, which we believe is among the best in the industry. And we don t stand behind our program alone. Mesirow Financial, one of the nation s leading financial services firms, specializing in quantitative analysis, fundamental analysis and macroeconomic research, has independently certified the soundness of MassMutual s investment identification, screening and monitoring processes. As a result, plan sponsors can have even greater peace of mind when selecting MassMutual and investments in its Smart Architecture Program. 1
A Commitment to Service A Commitment to Service Our ongoing commitment to Taft-Hartley plans is demonstrated in a variety of tangible ways through the service we provide to our union clients. We dedicate significant resources to meeting both your immediate and long-term needs: Dedicated Regional Taft-Hartley Relationship Manager: MassMutual is based in Massachusetts, and chances are that your organization is not. Nonetheless, we understand the need to have a more local point of contact on hand to help you with plan questions, communications planning and the like. We have experienced Taft-Hartley relationship managers and retirement education specialists located across the country. Your regional relationship manager will be your single point of contact, leading a team of professionals to coordinate all of your retirement needs, including plan design, compliance, administration, investments, communications and education. Experienced Taft-Hartley Conversion Team: We offer an efficient conversion process managed by experts who focus on every detail of the transition. Your assigned transition team plans and facilitates a smooth transition from your prior recordkeeper. MassMutual was first in the industry to achieve a successful zero blackout conversion, and we strive to limit the blackout period on every plan we convert to no more than 24 hours. This means your plan can be live on our system within 24 hours after we receive the final records from your current vendor. A dramatic example of our recordkeeping strength, an accelerated conversion means making the switch from your previous plan provider with limited interruption in service to you or your union members. Knowledgeable Taft-Hartley Call Center: The mission of our call center is to help your members meet their retirement goals. Therefore, each of our representatives really listens to the questions and concerns of your members and takes a consultative role throughout the retirement plan process from enrollment into the plan and asset accumulation, through retirement preparation and asset distribution. Dedicated Taft-Hartley Service Team: In addition to our Taft-Hartley relationship managers, conversion team and knowledgeable call center, MassMutual also has a National Accounts service team dedicated to the sole purpose of meeting the needs of our Taft-Hartley clients. This team has been in place for more than 10 years, and the experience among service professionals that make up the team runs deep. What this boils down to is that MassMutual s Taft- Hartley clients are in good hands. 2
Freeing You to Focus on Other Tasks You want your members to have the best possible retirement benefits, but MassMutual understands that plan management can be a challenge. Our blend of high technology and highly personalized service streamlines administration of the plan so you can concentrate on your other responsibilities. Technology-Enabled Plan Management From the time members accounts are opened until they receive their final distributions, MassMutual s proprietary recordkeeping system handles the key administrative events. This blend of high technology and personalized service for Taft-Hartley plans allows us to automate functions and manage the daily details of your retirement plan in accordance with the terms of your plan and your instructions. This enables you and your Fund Office to focus on your other priorities. Designed for dynamic interactions, MassMutual s secure plan sponsor Web site, the Total Retirement Center (TRC), gives you two-way, electronic information exchange capabilities, and provides: Easy transfers of contribution and demographic data The latest investment performance information Financial, member, loan and other reporting Complete loan administration E-mails alerting you of important plan activity Detailed plan information and event summary Industry and compliance updates Our funds have relationships with a number of service vendors the staff at MassMutual seems to provide the highest and most efficient level of service among them all. Carnell Joyner, Jr. Fund Administrator Local 1 I.A.T.S.E. 3
Communications A good communications program helps your members take the actions they need to help meet their retirement goals. That is, it helps them understand the savings behaviors they need to exhibit now to be able to have the freedom to spend their time in the way that is most meaningful to them in retirement. Moreover, participants who feel comfortable that they are taking appropriate actions to prepare for retirement feel more confident and secure. They are also more appreciative of the retirement benefit you provide. MassMutual is continually breaking ground with our innovative approach to participant communications. Our behavioral approach and communications process, coupled with our data tracking and analytics capabilities, provide you with the resources you need to help your members make the savings decisions that are right for them. Behavioral Economics Theory At its most fundamental level, behavioral economics is the study of why people make decisions and take action in such a way that does not ultimately promote their own selfinterest. Behavioral research suggests that, while people know they should be saving for retirement, they are biased toward inertia and procrastination in retirement planning and decision-making. These are barriers that plan sponsors need to address. MassMutual is a pioneer in applying behavioral economics to identify new ways to help participants save for retirement. Our research helps us to better understand your members so that we can develop targeted communications designed to turn intentions into action. A Proven Communication Process Sporadic and haphazard communications rarely do much to move the needle of employee action in any sort of meaningful way, which is why MassMutual has developed a methodical approach to running participant communications. Study: The first step in our process is to truly understand your plan. We have a dedicated team of analysts who conduct research on our more than 4,000 plans and almost 1 million participants. Our analytics technology gives analysts access to all of this data and the tools to do thorough analysis. This analysis is supplemented with information about industry trends and benchmarks for a fuller understanding of your plan. Listen: While it may sound basic, our process starts with listening. We listen to you to understand your needs for your plan. We strive to understand your members perceptions and attitudes toward retirement savings. It is upon this foundation of understanding that an impactful communications plan is built. Solve: Given what we have learned about your needs and those of your members, as well as the wealth of information we have about success we have seen with plans that are similar to yours, we then develop a strategy to address your plan s needs. We work with you to develop communication that complements the natural tendencies, attitudes and preferences of your participants. We deliver targeted, relevant information designed to engage participants in effective asset accumulation. Using a variety of media, we focus on key messages that are relevant, consistent and easy to act on. We know that people are not always rational or consistent. However, we do know that there are some systematic inconsistencies in how people act. We tailor our communication to take advantage of these things. 4
Take Action: Once the plan is in place, execution on plan deliverables begins. Whether you are running one campaign at a time, or multiple campaigns targeted at different behavioral groups, your MassMutual service team will help ensure you are using appropriate messages for inspiring the actions your participants need to take. Measure: Measurement is the critical final step in the MassMutual communications process. It is by carefully measuring campaign results that overall campaign success can be evaluated, and meaningful campaign improvements be made for the future. Learn more... about the power of MassMutual s retirement solutions. Contact your retirement services professional or call 877-333-4356. www.massmutual.com/retire The Power of Data Using data as a means to measure success at the end of our communications process is just the tip of the iceberg. At MassMutual we believe that in order to provide targeted and effective participant communications, from start to finish, you need data. This is exactly what we can get at with our analytics tools. We are able to track, segment and target communications strategies to drive appropriate participant behavior. Customized Member Statements: In addition to our behavioral economics, communication process and data analytics, MassMutual remains a pioneer with regard to statements, as well. Our customized Taft-Hartley member statements have become a key feature of our program for Taft-Hartley plans. Our statements were the first in the industry to itemize contributions by contractor, making it simple for your members to verify contributions for each job, and also to provide members with their individual rates of return. Additionally, our statements allow trustees to incorporate messaging to members on subjects of interest. Contributions by contractors are itemized, making it simple for your members to verify contributions for each job. 5
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001 www.massmutual.com Securities offered through registered representatives of MML Investors Services, Inc., 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111. 2007 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing designation (or fleet name) for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliates. RSU2876 1107 C:06412-02