SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AVA Digital Awards recently presented its Gold Award to MassMutual's Retirement Services Division in honor of its SmartView webisode series. The international AVA Digital Awards recognizes outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, direction, shooting, and editing of audio-visual materials and programs.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130313/NE76570 )

MassMutual's SmartView webisode series took the Gold Award in the "Video for the Web" category. This award is presented to those entrants whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

Launched in September 2012, the firm's SmartView webisode series features real talk about money and retirement from real people. In two- to three-minute webisodes, the show's host Sofia Ramos and her two co-hosts, David North, a systems IT professional, and Lindsey Parker, billing administrator for a large hospital, discussed important financial and retirement-related topics, including:

• Episode 1: How Much Should I Save?
• Episode 2: Strategies for Job Changers
• Episode 3: Should I Borrow from My 401(k)?
• Episode 4: Tax Credits for Savers
• Episode 5: Refinancing the Mortgage
• Episode 6: Sandwich Generation Takes On More Than They Can Chew
• Episode 7: Mixing It Up
• Episode 8: Pre-Retirement Jitters
• Episode 9: Season One Bloopers

All Season One webisodes are available to watch on-demand via MassMutual Retirement Services Division's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

"Winning a Gold AVA Digital Award is quite an honor," says E. Heather Smiley, senior vice president and chief marketing officer with MassMutual's Retirement Services Division. "At MassMutual Retirement Services, we proudly step outside the box and don't just look at what the retirement services industry is doing, but look at what the best companies in the world are creating. With The Smart View, we didn't want to talk at people – we wanted to hold casual conversations across topics that are top of mind for our customers. This award is proof that educating Americans across a variety of financial topics can be done in a fun and creative way. Stay tuned for an exciting Season Two!" adds Smiley.

For more information about MassMutual Retirement Services, please contact your retirement plan advisor or call MassMutual at 1-866-444-2601.

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 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.

MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has been serving retirement plans for more than 65 years. It offers a full range of products and services for corporate, union, nonprofit and governmental employers' defined benefit, defined contribution and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. It serves approximately 3 million participants.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+. For information regarding MassMutual's Retirement Services Division, you may also visit massmutual.com/retire or find us on Facebook.com/RetireSmart and YouTube.com/RetireSmart.

About the AVA Digital Awards
AVA recognizes outstanding achievement by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication. Work ranges from audio and video productions – to websites and social media sites that present interactive components such as video, animation, blogs, and podcasts – to other forms of user-generated digital communication.

There were about 2,000 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and several other countries in the 2013 competition.

The AVA Digital Awards is sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The international organization consists of several thousand production, marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, and free-lance professionals. AMCP administers recognition programs, provides judges and rewards outstanding achievement and service to the profession.

Copyright ©2013 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved.

Contact: Jessica Barry
413-744-8334
jbarry2@massmutual.com

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services