San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency Achieves Record $5 Billion in Life Insurance Coverage in Force

WALNUT CREEK, CA--(Marketwire - Dec 5, 2011) - The San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency LLC (www.sfbaa.com), a Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) general agency based in Walnut Creek, Calif., announced today it has reached an agency record $5 billion of life insurance coverage in force issued by MassMutual and its affiliates. The Agency is also reporting that it experienced a 34% percent increase in sales of whole life insurance premiums so far during 2011.

"The Agency is fully committed to meeting our clients' financial needs and helping them meet their goals," said CEO Robert Fakhimi of the San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency. "Because of the ongoing difficult economy, fewer people are taking risks and are seeking products like whole life insurance to help give them peace-of-mind and a feeling of certainty."

The $5 billion of life insurance coverage in force represents the total face amount of life insurance coverage sold by the agency that is issued by MassMutual and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company.

"The strong demand for whole life insurance at our Agency is being reflected across all of MassMutual's agencies and it's evident that our local clients are turning to whole life insurance because it gives worried consumers many guarantees, including increasing cash value each year. It's becoming more and more apparent that whole life is at the foundation of a solid financial strategy," said Mr. Fakhimi.

The San Francisco Bay Area Agency is continuing to bring on more professionals and staff to handle growing demand. It has recently added 40 new career agents, increasing its field force of agents by 11-percent to handle growing demand. The Agency also added a new Palo Alto office to continue its outreach to the Asian community of the Bay Area.

As a MassMutual general agency, the San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency leverages the resources of a 160-year old company with local expertise on helping clients achieve their financial goals. The agency offers a broad range of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, and retirement planning products and services.

About the San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency LLC
With roots going back to 1891, the San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency LLC is a significant contributor to the local economy, as shown by the following figures about the San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency and its detached offices (as of December 31, 2010):

• More than 36,000 policyholders and clients¹
• Managing over $863 Million in assets (including assets and certain external investment funds managed by MassMutual and its subsidiaries)
• More than $4.7 billion in life insurance face amount in force²
• Will return more than $8.3 million in dividends to its participating policyholders in 2010³

Robert Fakhimi is CEO and Managing Partner of the San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency LLC. Recently named as one of the Bay Area's Best Places to Work, the agency is headquartered in Walnut Creek with branch offices in San Francisco, Fremont and Milpitas. Mr. Fakhimi can be reached at 888-803-3631, ext. 320 or by e-mailing him at rfakhimi@finsvcs.com. Securities and investment advisory services offered through qualified registered representatives of MML Investors Services, member SIPC, Inc. 2121 N. California Blvd. Suite 395 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 979-2300.

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 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 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 massmutual.com.

¹ An insured, owner, or payer of a MassMutual policy or contract.
² Amount of individual life insurance in force at the end of the period related to products issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Baystate Life Insurance Company.
³ The amount of dividends to whole life policyholders in 2010.