MassMutual's San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency General Agent Awarded Finance Industry Honor

Firm's CEO Robert Fakhimi Recognized With Esteemed First in Class Award


WALNUT CREEK, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 26, 2011) - The MassMutual Financial Group has announced that Robert Fakhimi, CEO, San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency, has received GAMA International's James H. Krueger First in Class Award. The First in Class Award is given annually by GAMA member companies to top leaders and is presented at LAMP, GAMA's annual conference, this year held in March in Washington, DC. MassMutual also awarded this honor to General Agent Peter Novak of the Hartford/Springfield office.

Fakhimi has led the San Francisco office since 2001 and consistently helped the Agency achieve outstanding results:

  • Earned the MassMutual National Chairman's Trophy again this year, for the eighth time in the last nine years
  • Five first-year agents have won Freshman Five honor in the last seven years

Fakhimi is the immediate past president of the MassMutual General Agents Association. In this role, he headed the advisory group of General Agents to help them determine new offerings and represent the policyholders to the company.

GAMA International created the First in Class Award in 2000 to recognize first-line leaders in the insurance, investment and financial services industry who have led their agencies or firms to the No. 1 position in their company in the preceding year. Individual recipients are selected by their companies and are urged to nominate field leaders who excel as leaders in both their career and their community.

"I am thrilled to be chosen for this very special honor. The GAMA First in Class awards are highly regarded and well-respected and I'm very proud to be one of the MassMutual winners this year," said Fakhimi.

Says John Vaccaro, senior vice president, MassMutual, "Bob represents an outstanding example of MassMutual's most valuable asset -- our people. He embodies all the leadership skills and accomplishments that this GAMA honor stands for. He has consistently focused on his core values of integrity and accountability and is always recruiting new professionals to the field, teaching them the right habits and continuing to help and coach them to success. He is an excellent General Agent who deserves this recognition."

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 clients(1)
  • 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 force(2)
  • Will return more than $8.3 million in dividends to its participating policyholders in 2010(3)

Robert Fakhimi is CEO and Managing Partner of the San Francisco Bay Area Insurance Agency LLC. Headquarters is in Walnut Creek and branch offices are located 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.

Contact Information:

Contact:
Erica Zeidenberg
925-631-0553