A commitment to sales, service and customer satisfaction. (Special Advertising Profile: Michel Financial Group, Mass Mutual).

When it comes to protecting their financial assets and growing their wealth, successful people almost always look to other successful people for advice and a broad range of products and services to meet their individual needs.

In Los Angeles, they need look no further than the Michel Financial Group. Located at 1875 Century Park East, the 48-person Michel team has a long and distinguished track record in the insurance and financial services industry. And the heart of the agency beats to five key principles: integrity, trust, professionalism, dedication and teamwork. These are the qualities that Kimberly Michel looks for when recruiting new associates and reinforces daily with her staff, which she describes as "the most talented, competent, customer-focused group of individuals I have ever worked with."

These five key principles have served her -- and her company -- quite well. A native Californian and graduate of UC Berkeley, Michel is the General Agent -- or key representative -- in Southern California for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), part of the MassMutual Financial Group, a premier financial services organization comprised of member companies with more than $240 billion in assets under management as of year-end 2002. As testament to the Michel Financial Group's ability to deliver outstanding service and client satisfaction, it was among the leading agencies nationally to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction and to generate premium for MassMutual last year.

Michel's accomplishments go well beyond her MassMutual roots. She was the first female to become the President of the Los Angeles Life Underwriters Association, as well as the Los Angeles General Agents Management Association. Last year, she was a nominee for the National Women Business Owners' Hall of Fame. And she is a member of "The Next Generation" of the Board of Directors of Saint John's Health Center, a peer group of successful, dynamic professionals whose objective is to help strengthen awareness and execute philanthropic strategies on behalf of the 61year old health center.

"The only measure that matters"

When asked about her success, Michel doesn't mention awards or personal accomplishments: "My business success is driven solely by how well we perform for our clients, and only our clients. They have chosen us -- among myriad competitors -- as their financial representatives. And whether it's helping them design a strategy to grow their assets -- or protecting assets in today's volatile investment climate -- our ability to help our clients meet their personal financial goals is the only measure that matters."

Growing her team by nearly 20 percent in the past two years, Michel is poised to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming the preeminent firm in Los Angeles offering insurance and investment products (Securities offered by Registered Representatives of MML Investors Services, Inc.).

"To be the best, you have to be a cut above everyone else in the business," she explains. "That's why we continue tube innovative and to emphasize personal growth throughout our organization."

Today, the agency provides an extensive portfolio of insurance and investment products including life insurance, disability income insurance protection, annuities, brokerage and investment-management services, and mutual funds. And for tomorrow?

"We keep up with the latest products and services in the financial services industry. If it's out there and it's a quality product, chances are we have it in our portfolio," she says.

"If a cheat needs us, we'll be there"

Product, however, is only one part of her success equation. Service is the other. Michel and her associates strive to provide the most responsive customer service of any financial services agency in Los Angeles. "We treat customers as we would expect to be treated ourselves. We have late hours, night hours, weekend hours, all hours. If a client needs us, our associates will make themselves available 24/7."

This interest in customer service is behind a Women's Advisory Board created at her agency to support "financial literacy" for women. The goal of the board is to provide women with the resources they need to understand more fully the intricacies of financial products and investment vehicles.

"The more informed customers are, the better able they'll be to make the most appropriate insurance or investment decisions," she says. Not to mention, the more apt they are to meet their long-term financial goals. Michel also seeks to mentor women considering careers in the financial services industry where, historically, there have been few female role models.

But lest you think that all of Michel's clients, are wealthy, this June she will introduce MassMutual's LifeBridge Free Life Insurance Program to the Los Angeles area. This unique program provides an absolutely free term-life insurance policy to eligible individuals who are: between the ages of 19-42 (inclusive); a permanent, legal U.S. resident; the legal guardian of one or more dependent children under the age of 18; currently employed (either full- or part-time); have a total family income between $10,000 and $40,000 annually; and meet the company's underwriting requirements. MassMutual pays the premium for these policies, and if the insured individual dies during the term of the policy, $50,000 will be put in trust to pay for the educational expenses of his or her qualified children. Nationally, MassMutual's goal is to give away 20,000 policies or $1 billion of free life insurance. "We hope to get as many of those 20,000 policies in Southern California as we can, and are currently looking at community-bas ed organizations to help attract potential applicants for the program," she says.

A Diverse, Talented Team

"Our team of diverse, talented people enables us to reach out to the many different communities and cultures in Greater Los Angeles," Michel adds.

Giving back to the Los Angeles community that has contributed so greatly to Michel's own success is key to her "balanced life," she says. "For me, it's a way of life. Achieving balance is my credo, and I strive to communicate that to associates and clients."

While the remainder of 2003 may well present economic challenges, given the significant geopolitical issues affecting the financial markets, Michel is confident that it also will present opportunities for her agency's clients. "Our aim is to design strategies to help protect our clients' wealth and grow their asset base," she says. "Although that will test our mettle during these toughest-of-tough economic times, we're more than qualified for the challenge."

Just ask their more than 10,000 clients.

For more information contact Kim Michel at [phone] or [e-mail]