The Markets January 25, 2008

New S&P Indexes Track Stocks With Dividend Opportunities

Standard&Poor’s has launched the S&P Dividend Opportunities Indices, two new indexes designed to “provide investors with exposure to high yielding stocks throughout the world.″
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According to a press release, the S&P Global Dividend Opportunities Index and the S&P International Dividend Opportunities Index are designed to serve as alpha generating indices for income seeking investors.

Both indexes are comprised of 100 tradable, exchange-listed common stocks from across the world that offer high dividend yields. The S&P International Dividend Opportunities Index does not include U.S. domiciled securities.

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The universe from which the S&P Dividend Opportunities Indices is drawn from is the S&P/Citigroup Broad Market Index, an index that includes all dividend paying common stocks and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) listed on eligible exchanges around the world. Derivatives, structured products, over-the-counter listings, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are not eligible.

“The launch of these two indices underscores Standard & Poor’s commitment to producing alpha generating strategy indices with a methodology designed to provide returns over and above traditional benchmark indices,” said Tim Eisenhauer, Vice President of Standard & Poor’s Index Services, in a press release.

For more information on the S&P Dividend Opportunities Indices, check out http://www.standardandpoors.com/indices and click on “Strategy Indices” in the left navigation tab.

Products January 25, 2008

MassMutual Adopts New Model for Adviser and Plan Sponsor Services

MassMutual has adopted an enhanced regional model for its adviser and plan sponsor service operations that it says offers enhanced synergy between sales and service both before and after a plan is sold.
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Under the new regional service model, each MassMutual relationship manager and account manager will retain existing account assignments, but as new plans are installed, assignments will be made to align geographically by region, the company said in a news release. This model is designed to deliver relationship consistency between MassMutual, the plan adviser and the plan sponsor, and ensure that clients and advisers are served by a team that is geographically accessible as appropriate.

Four new assistant vice presidents of service have been appointed to lead the four regional service teams:

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  • Joanne Kisiel, Assistant Vice President, Southeast Region – Most recently, Kisiel served as director of new business installation. In this role, she led MassMutual’s National Accounts New Business Installation operation where she and her team achieved top tier customer and adviser satisfaction scores while supporting a rapidly growing number of new plans.
  • Eric Leverson, Assistant Vice President, Northeast Region – Leverson was most recently director of relationship management for the company’s Eastern region. Prior to joining MassMutual, Leverson spent six years with Cigna.
  • Una Morabito, Assistant Vice President, Midwest Region – She joined MassMutual in 1996 and was most recently the director of national accounts, supporting some of MassMutual’s largest and most complex clients with a high degree of expertise and satisfaction.
  • Tracy Tierney-Clifford, Assistant Vice President, West/Southwest Regions – She joined MassMutual in November of 2007 from Putnam Investments where she led the relationship management team supporting the Western region. Prior to that, she served in both plan administration and relationship management roles.

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to do business with MassMutual and to deliver the highest level of service possible to advisors, plan sponsors and participants,” said Marie Augsberger, senior vice president and chief operating officer for the company’s Retirement Services Division, in the release.

MassMutual said it will continue to have separate dedicated service teams for its TPA Alliance, Taft-Hartley, and PEO clients.

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