May 9, 2009

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. plans to hire up to 40 sales agents in the Richmond area.

The local office, at 4880 Sadler Road in Glen Allen, already employs 75 people. The planned hirings are part of a nationwide drive to recruit up to 4,000 people to sell life insurance, disability income insurance and long-term care insurance.

"Hiring is in response to emerging consumer demands to work with conservative mutual companies instead of stock-trading companies," company spokesman Staasi Heropoulos said.

"With the big declines in equities and values, people are more risk-adverse."

Income for sales agents is based on a combination of commissions and subsidies for up to three years, providing that agents meet production goals. The average annual income here is expected to be about $50,000, Heropoulos said.

"We're looking for people with the entrepreneurial spirit who want to start and run their own businesses with our products, support and help," said Dawn Beeman, recruiting director in Richmond.

The local agency will help people get their licenses to sell insurance in Virginia, she said. "It's a hard but rewarding job."

MassMutual pays tuition and fees for agents who earn industry designations and college degrees including master's degrees in financial services.

The Springfield, Mass.-based firm is hiring agents at 90 agencies across the country. It employs 12,000 people worldwide

For information about the job openings, call Beeman at the local MassMutual office, (804) 346-1011.