METLIFE ANNOUNCES ENHANCEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ITS WORLDCLASS AFFILIATED DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL
NEW YORK, June 01, 2010
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today its efforts to enhance its "face-to-face" affiliated distribution channel. The company is further investing in its local infrastructure, management and financial professionals in key markets to enhance its leadership position and capitalize on growth opportunities in the U.S. MetLife currently invests more than $30 million annually in its Practice Development Management.
"Now, more than ever, as consumers and employees are clamoring for education and advice, they need the help of a financial professional to cut through the clutter and provide solutions for their often complex financial needs," said Michael J. Vietri, executive vice president, Individual Distribution, MetLife. "At MetLife, we are investing to continue to grow strong, experienced financial professionals and local management. Through our investment and strategy, we are bolstering our worldclass distribution."
"With millions of Americans under-insured and under-funded for retirement, we believe that our strength in protection and retirement income products, including annuities, life and disability insurance, as well as retirement advice and estate planning assistance positions us well to meet the evolving needs of our clients," added Vietri.
MetLife attributes its distribution success, in part, to its long standing programs, including Advanced Markets (a team that assists with complex estate planning and other issues), Financial Planning, retirewise® (a comprehensive series of solutions-oriented retirement seminars delivered at the workplace) and Personal Assistant Program, among others. In addition MAX, a proprietary leading-edge Web-based learning delivery system launched in 2009, helps firms and financial professionals maximize growth.
The company has also identified optimal business models based on best practices that it is deploying throughout its affiliated distribution channel in the U.S., including strengthening firms in key markets. Additional elements of this overall strategy will be announced later in 2010 and in 2011. MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance, employee benefits and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe, Middle East and India and Asia Pacific regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.