MassMutual Annuities

MassMutual Annuities Review

With the average life expectancy in the United States approaching 79 years, many people have a very long retirement to fund. Social Security alone may not cover all of a retiree’s living expenses, which could leave them scrambling to make up the difference. An annuity can be part of your financial plan to help bridge the income gap so you can live more comfortably in your retirement years.

In business for over 160 years, MassMutual offers several annuity options to provide investors with a lifetime stream of income, enabling them to enjoy a more secure financial future. Having this predictable additional income stream allows seniors to plan and cover their expenses more easily. MassMutual gets a nod in our Best Annuities Guide for having exceptional financial strength and stability in the industry with AM Best and Fitch ratings of A++, Moody’s Aa2, and Standard & Poor’s AA+.

Pros

• Many annuities to choose from
• Several options to customize the income stream
• Financially stable company

Cons

• Inadequate information about annuity products on the website

Investing With MassMutual Annuities

MassMutual offers many annuities to suit a variety of investment needs. Depending on your circumstances and personal preferences, you can choose from deferred fixed, fixed index, variable, immediate income, or deferred income annuities. Below you will find three of MassMutual’s annuity products to give you an idea of what to expect.

Annuity and Minimum Investment	Annuity Highlights	Pros and Cons
MassMutual Stable Voyage Fix Deferred Annuity $10,000 minimum investment Single Premium	Guaranteed income stream for life Fixed rate of return Rate locked in for up to 9 years at a time	Best annuity for a stable, guaranteed interest rate and income stream. This annuity may not work for those who prefer a higher growth level and liquidity.
MassMutual RetireEase Choice Deferred Income Annuity (DIA) Single or Multiple Premiums $10,000 initial investment, $500 minimum subsequent	Guaranteed lifetime income beginning 30 years after account opens Option to add a spouse No risk to principal No funds access until deferral period ends	Best for those with long life expectancy who want to supplement retirement income. It might be best to look elsewhere if you need to access funds quickly.
MassMutual Odyssey Select Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity Single or Multiple Premiums Minimum investment: $4,000 to $10,000, $1,000 minimum subsequent	Provides lifetime income Guaranteed fixed interest rates Longer accumulation or surrender periods for higher yield $50 subsequent investments with automatic transfers	Best for stable, guaranteed interest rate and income stream for a secure retirement. This annuity does not ensure high growth or liquidity.

MassMutual Annuity Plan Options

Retirement comes with many “what if” questions. MassMutual offers several ways to customize an annuity to prepare you for many typical circumstances:

• Death benefit protection so you can leave your principal or income stream to a beneficiary.
• Inflation protection boosts your income by a percentage each year to match the annual cost of living increase.
• Hospital and nursing home stay protection allows you to withdraw funds if you must remain in an accredited, licensed long-term care facility for 90 or more days.
• Terminal illness protection lets you withdraw funds to pay for expenses related to a terminal illness diagnosis.

MassMutual Annuity Costs

Aside from the minimum cost to invest, MassMutual may charge various fees to oversee and administer your plan. Personalizing your annuity with optional coverages may increase these fees. If your MassMutual annuity plan allows withdrawals, and you take out more than 10% of the balance before the accumulation phase or surrender period expires, you will have to pay a surrender fee.

Make sure you have a clear understanding of your annuity fee schedule before committing to the contract. Also, you may want to check in with your financial planner regarding how annuity taxation impacts cash flow, and read Pros and Cons of Retirement Annuities. Annuities are ideal for generating retirement income for many people, but they are not for everyone.

How to Buy MassMutual Annuities

You will need to work with a MassMutual financial planning partner to purchase annuities. You can find a local partner by using the financial advisor lookup tool on the website. The site also has a contact form you can fill out to have an advisor get in touch with you.

MassMutual Annuities Complaints

MassMutual received some mixed reviews online. ConsumersAdvocate scores the company a perfect 10 out of 10 and awards MassMutual the second spot on their top annuities list. MassMutual is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau, which isn’t a concern given the company has been in business for nearly 170 years. The BBB rates MassMutual a B for having 10 unresolved complaints. However, we searched claims submitted to the BBB going back two years and found none related to annuities. ConsumerAffairs readers give MassMutual Annuities 2.75 out of 5 stars. While there are many positive reviews, we also found complaints revolving around poor customer service and miscommunications, and difficulty processing withdrawals.

MassMutual continues to rank in the top 100 on the FORTUNE 500 list and is a FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Company. As of 2018, MassMutual had racked up 36 Signature Awards from the Plan Sponsor Council of America over five years for outstanding communication and education programs for retirement plans. MassMutual is also consistently recognized for having a diverse workforce and using call center best practices.

MassMutual Annuities Q&A

Conclusion

An annuity can be an ideal solution for a financially secure retirement with an ongoing income stream. MassMutual offers a variety of annuities, and an advisor can help you find one that best suits your unique circumstances. MassMutual can also take care of your other money management needs with the convenience of keeping your accounts with one financial institution.