Consumer Credit Counseling Service and MassMutual Team Up to Enable Families to Apply...

Consumer Credit Counseling Service and MassMutual Team Up to Enable Families
to Apply For Free Life Insurance
LifeBridge(sm) Program Puts Money In Trust to Pay for Children's Educational
Expenses

CAMARILLO, Calif., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Credit Counseling
Service (CCCS) announced today it is teaming up with MassMutual Financial
Group to offer eligible families free $50,000 term life insurance policies
under MassMutual's LifeBridge(sm) Free Life Insurance Program. If an insured
parent or legal guardian passes away during the 10-year term of the policy,
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) will put $50,000 in
trust to pay solely for the educational expenses of dependent children.
"This is an opportunity to make a valuable program available to our
eligible families at no extra cost," said Joy Thormodsgard, President & CEO of
CCCS, which is based in Camarillo and serves Santa Clara through Ventura
Counties. "This is an absolutely free program. MassMutual pays all the
premiums."
Robert Walker, President and CEO of Walker Financial Partners, LLC, and
Arkady Milgram, local MassMutual representatives, are providing the free
program as a community service. "Our philanthropic goal is to ensure that
eligible parents have the peace of mind that there will be money available for
their children's education should they pass away during the term of the
policy."
Consumer Credit Counseling Service is sponsoring a LifeBridge application
meeting. The meeting will be held at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service,
80 North Wood Rd., Camarillo, CA, on Saturday, January 26th, between 10 a.m.
and 2 p.m. Eligible individuals should call CCCS at 800-540-2227 to schedule
their 15 minute appointment to apply.
"We're trying to help ensure that all children have the same access to
educational opportunities," Ms. Thormodsgard said. "With LifeBridge, if the
insured passes away during the policy's term, MassMutual will put aside
$50,000 to pay for the educational expenses of their children. And children
have until age 35 to use the benefit. At first, we thought this was too good
to be true, but the fact is that LifeBridge policies are indeed free, and we
encourage all eligible individuals to take advantage of this opportunity."
"It's not every day that something comes along for free," said Mr.
Milgram. "A LifeBridge policy costs a parent or legal guardian nothing, and
it is a way for us to combine our philanthropic focus--- education -- with one
of our primary products -- life insurance."
LifeBridge applicants must meet all program criteria and be:

-- between the ages of 19-42 (inclusive);

-- a permanent, legal U.S. resident;

-- the parent or legal guardian of one or more dependent children under
the age of 18;
-- currently employed - either full- or part-time - and have a family
income of between $10,000 and $40,000 on their most recent income tax
return; and

-- in good health, as determined by MassMutual's guidelines.

Each LifeBridge policy has a 10-year policy term. If the insured parent
or legal guardian dies during that time, the $50,000 life insurance benefit
will be paid to a trust administered by the MassMutual Trust Company, FSB on
behalf of the children. The trust pays the educational expenses of the
children directly to the educational institution.
Various types of schools qualify for reimbursement including pre-school,
private school, vocational school, community college, universities, art and
music schools or graduate schools. Some of the expenses covered include
books, tuition, and on-campus room and board.
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual
Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales
representatives. MassMutual and its subsidiaries have 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
subsidiaries.
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., member FINRA and SIPC
(www.finra.org and www.sipc.org); MassMutual International LLC; and The
MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. MassMutual is on the Internet at
www.massmutual.com.
Contact: Mark Cybulski, 413-744-5427
SOURCE MassMutual Financial Group