2nd Quarter Financial Results Audio File

Here is a link to a recording of MassMutual's second quarter financial results.
Second Quarter Results

Q2 Financial Update

To All Employees,
As we enter into the third quarter we would like to share with you our second quarter results.  In the midst of recent market turmoil and a downgrade in the U.S. credit rating, MassMutual has reported solid results and strong growth.  Our operating earnings and investment earnings have both increased by 30% in the first half of the year.  One measure that has decreased is sales in weighted whole life insurance. This is down 5%, although we are already noticing a rise on sales since the recent quarter end.

With the second quarter numbers recorded, we can begin to analyze the measures that determine our annual bonuses.  The main drivers for the bonus fund are net operating income, weighted whole life sales, and expense efficiency.  These drivers are performing well and we are on track to fund the bonus pool in the range of 85 - 110%.

Overall, MassMutual’s second quarter results are commendable and we want to thank each and every employee for helping the organization produce such strong results.  I have no doubt that with continued effort and hard work, we will be able to report even stronger numbers in the next half of the year. 

Final Exam

One last final.  Was it room one or two?  I picked one and walked in.  Before I could see if it was the right room, I tripped.  My papers, coffee, and I went flying.  I recovered and picked up my stuff then looked around.  I was in the wrong room. 

Think. Submit. Implement.

Have you automated a manual process that has saved your team or yourself multiple hours per week?  Do you have an idea for a new project that would improve cost savings for your team?  Do you like free lunches?  If yes, then I can show you a place where you can share your ideas, gain recognition for your efforts, and earn a free lunch ticket.

I would like to introduce MMy Ideas, MassMutual's new platform for employees to submit and/or view ideas for improvements or projects in your department.  Each employee will be able to enter in their ideas into the MMy Ideas webpage where they will be stored and tracked by department.  We welcome any idea, big or small.  It doesn’t matter whether it has only helped you save a few minutes a day or has helped your team save hours per week.  As long as it has improved your workday in any way, we want to hear about it. 

So please log onto our MMy Ideas website and start inputting your ideas and earn a free lunch ticket on us for your efforts.  The more people who share their ideas, the more we can spread the word and help others save some time and effort in their workday.  Think. Submit. Implement.  That’s MMy Ideas. 

Using Social Media to Our Advantage

MassMutual is becoming increasingly more open to social media sites and realizing that they have a lot of expsosure to a broad range of potential customers.  Social media sites are a great way to ensure that people will see advertising and information about MassMutual, especially the younger generation who are always using social media sites.  Advertising on sites such as Facebook or YouTube will help to give MassMutual the competivie edge it needs in order to appeal to a younger generation.  In my white paper, you will find more information about how MassMutual is using social media, externally and internally, to better their business.

Communication Tips and Techniques

One company that is really great about giving tips and guidance in the business world is Toastmasters.  It’s known for its localized education of public speaking and leadership skills, which provides a great opportunity to improve your communication skills and also to network with other business men and women in the community.  Toastmasters also has a magazine and a website that provides a wealth of information in a way that makes it interesting and fun to read. 
We have the magazine delivered to us at work and I always flip through it when I few extra minutes.  This past month has quite a few insightful articles.  One is about different apps you can download on your smart phone or ipad that will help you view and/or create presentations on the go - which is really handy in today’s technological world.  Another is about how to deal with an interrupter in your work group called, “How to Muzzle the Yakker.”  There always seems to be relevant articles which you can learn from and make you laugh at the same time.  It's always an enjoyable read.
Here’s a link to the Toastmasters website:  http://www.toastmasters.org/

Note to Staff

In the past few years, MassMutual has experienced several hard-hitting events that have tested our strength as a company, such as a market collapse, a financial recession, and increasing pressure from our competitors.  These hardships MassMutual has had to face has only made us a stronger company in the end. 

MassMutual is a mutually owned company which gives us an advantage over many of our competitors in the insurance industry and makes us less vulnerable to market fluctuations.  We have stayed true to our ourselves and our company by continuing to provide excellent products, services, and support to our customers. 

Our employees are what make us a great company and MassMutual has great employees who go above and beyond their job description and make sure the company will come out of any hardship on top.  For this, we thank each and every one of you.  By working together and for a universal goal, we can maintain our financial strength and steady growth that MassMutual is known for.   

WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?

One of the most popular, and sometimes worst, means of organizational communication is email.  Don’t get me wrong, email is easy, convenient and provides the necessary amount of detail for audit trails, but a lot can go wrong with email conversations if you’re not careful.  Sarcasm and tone completely get lost in translation so senders need to be really cautious about how their words are coming across to others.  Using all caps is another faux pas.  It makes people feel like they’re being yelled at and can come across as disrespectful. 

Anyone on the receiving end of a sarcastic email or an email in all caps is most likely going to end up confused or think that the sender is definitely not a nice person (not to mention a few eyes will be rolled and there may be some whispering behind the sender’s back).  So to save yourself from getting a bad rep, stay positive and direct to the point when writing emails.  One thing I always do is end each email with a ‘Thanks!’.  I like to think the exclamation point puts a friendly note on the email and the receiver is more likely to respond back to my email quicker than to an email that may come off as rude or demanding.