MassMutual Introduces the MassMutual Center for Special Needs

In Partnership with The American College to Help More Families with Members with Special Needs

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., June 30, 2015 – Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and The American College, the nation's premier educator of financial services professionals, announced today the establishment of the MassMutual Center for Special Needs.

The $2.5 million investment by MassMutual will establish the first academic center of its kind, serving as the nation's leading authority on life care planning for a person with a disability or other special needs. The mission of the Center is to elevate the knowledge of financial services professionals, equipping them to advocate for the economic security of individuals with disabilities across all stages of life.

More Options for Care-Providers

“Those caring for a person with a disability or other special needs will soon have more options for providing the best care possible to their loved one, while managing the needs of other family members,” said Mike Fanning, executive vice president, U.S. Insurance Group, MassMutual. “MassMutual is proud to partner with The American College to not only elevate financial professionals’ understanding of special needs planning, but also educate them to advocate for the economic well-being of individuals with disabilities across all life stages.”

MassMutual has long been at the forefront of special needs planning, and is entering into the second decade of its SpecialCareSM program. The program is an innovative outreach initiative that provides access to information, specialists, and financial products and services that can help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and other special needs.

MassMutual has more than 500 active financial professionals who have earned the Special Care Planner certification*, with 150 of those having earned Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC™) designation. That number continues to grow, underscoring MassMutual’s commitment to help secure the futures of people with a disability or other special needs.

“The Center will enable us to expand curriculum and partnerships with the social services sector, and increase awareness of the planning options available for caregivers as well as their loved ones,” said Robert R. Johnson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, president and CEO of The American College.

“This gift, made possible through the generosity of MassMutual, reinforces The College's position as the premier learning institution for the financial services industry."

Chartered Special Needs Consultant 

The Center is now open and currently accepting enrollees for the ChSNC™ designation program. *Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC®) – a professional designation awarded to those individuals who’ve completed 120 hours of academic classes in addition to holding either Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations and previously completing the Special Care Planner certification program. The ChSNC designation was developed by The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The certification program and the professional designation evolved from MassMutual’s SpecialCare(SM) Program.

About MassMutual
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. 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 policyowners consistently 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 www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+.

About The American College
The American College is the nation's largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has served as a valued business partner to banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies and others for over 86 years. The American College's faculty represents some of the financial services industry's foremost thought leaders. For more information, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu.