Mutual Opportunities
Lead Counsel – Investment Advisor Practice Group
Springfield, Massachusetts; Boston, Massachusetts
Thank you to our employees for voting us one of the top places to work in Massachusetts for five consecutive years!
Overview
A career with us means you’ll work alongside exceptional people and be empowered to reach your professional and personal goals. Our employees are at the foundation of what enables MassMutual to deliver on our purpose to help people secure their futures and protect the ones they love.
We embrace the idea that we all are stronger and better through our support for one another. We strive to create a culture where employees feel valued and are celebrated for who they are.
“Since our founding in 1851, mutuality has put our policyowners at the center of everything we do. At our core, we’re a company of people helping people in their time of need, and that spirit extends to the culture we’ve built at our company. Our employees support and rely on each other each day, collaborating to deliver the best solutions for our customers and help millions more secure their future and protect the ones they love.”
Job Description
The Opportunity
As a member of MassMutual’s Legal Department, you will be an integral member of MassMutual’s distribution attorney team, responsible for providing legal advice and counsel supporting MassMutual’s retail investment adviser and broker-dealer, with over 6,500 financial professionals nationwide and over $250 billon in client assets.
The Team
MassMutual Financial Advisors (“MMFA”) serves as the career agency distribution channel at MassMutual, providing a wide range of products and services, including life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance and annuities, distributed through over 6500+ career agents and registered representatives. MassMutual Wealth Management (“MMWM”) includes brokerage and advisory products and solutions sold through MML Investors Services (“MMLIS”), MassMutual’s retail broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser.
As Lead Counsel, you will be one of the attorneys primarily responsible for supporting MMLIS, with a focus on its growing investment advisory business, by developing substantive relationships with multiple business areas (including product and operations) and providing legal/regulatory advice on new product initiatives, new and existing rules, policies and procedures, and other matters. You will also partner closely with Compliance to provide legal support for SEC, FINRA, and state regulatory examinations, inquiries, and enforcement matters. You will promote an environment that fosters and supports diversity and inclusion, values pro bono opportunities and reflects MassMutual’s mission and goals.
The Impact
The Lead Counsel will be responsible for:
- Supporting the expansion of MMWM, including advising on key business, product development and operational projects, including enhancements to offerings on our investment advisory and broker-dealer platform.
- Proactively monitoring and advising on proposed and current regulations and legislation, as well as other legal developments impacting broker-dealers and investment advisers.
- Proactively identifying/recommending action steps to mitigate identified areas of legal risk.
- Providing legal support for SEC, FINRA and state regulatory examinations, inquiries, and enforcement matters, both routine and complex, partnering with the business and Compliance.
- Working with outside counsel in managing larger enforcement matters brought by the firm’s regulators.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with multiple regulatory contacts and industry groups.
- Providing technical support to the Company’s government relations team on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the Company.
- Overseeing and participating in internal investigations, as needed.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with business and compliance leaders, as well as with industry contacts and industry groups.
- Effectively managing outside counsel.
THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Four to ten years in a top law firm, in-house law department, or regulatory agency dealing with investment adviser and broker-dealer issues.
- JD from an accredited law school, a member of the Bar in good standing (any state), and the ability to become licensed for in-house practice in Massachusetts if not now licensed in Massachusetts.
- Must be able to pass a background check required under FINRA rules.
- Must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future.
THE IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Expertise with the federal and state investment advisory/securities laws applicable to investment advisers, broker-dealers and wealth management services.
- Expertise in federal and state best interest and fiduciary rules including Regulation Best Interest, Advisers Act and ERISA.
- Experience handling securities enforcement and examination matters.
- Effective management presence and excellent interpersonal, communication and writing skills.
- Ability to identify issues, exercise sound judgment, and provide practical legal advice in a fast-paced environment, while navigating a complex regulatory landscape.
- Strong client relationship skills and the ability to consult with all levels of management.
- Intellectual curiosity, collegiality, initiative and independence.
#LI-IZ
MassMutual is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply. Note: Veterans are welcome to apply, regardless of their discharge status.If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
MassMutual will accept applications on an ongoing basis until such time as a candidate has been offered employment. The job description includes the main duties of this position, which may evolve over time. You may be required to perform other duties not listed.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.
Salary Range: $199,600.00-$261,900.00
Hiring Process
Explore
Explore our open jobs by clicking 'search jobs' to find a position that aligns with your experience and skills. You may also consider joining our Talent Network.
Apply
Click the “apply” button on that job posting to complete and submit your application. Your application will be reviewed by a recruiter, which, due to the volume of applications received, may take some time as we carefully consider each application.
Screen
After your application has been reviewed, if you meet the qualifications for the role, a recruiter will reach out to you to start a conversation.
Interview
If you are invited for an interview, you will be scheduled to meet with the hiring manager and hiring team.
Offer
If you are extended an offer to join MassMutual and accept, your start will be contingent upon a satisfactory background check.
Hire
If you accept the offer, we will be so excited to welcome you to the MassMutual community!
If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
By the numbers*
- 88% of employee respondents say they are proud to work at MassMutual
-
90
% of employee respondents say they feel encouraged to bring forth new ideas - 86% of employee respondents say MassMutual cares about and supports the well-being of their employees
*Source: 2024 MassMutual employee engagement survey
Award-Winning Culture
MassMutual is guided by a single purpose: We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. As a company operated for the benefit of our members and participating policyowners, we are defined by mutuality and our vision to provide financial well-being for all Americans. It’s more than our company structure — it’s our way of life. We are a company of people protecting people. Our company exists because people are willing to share risk and resources and rely on each other when it counts.
We strive to embrace diversity in every sense, focusing on building a thriving community where everyone is valued, included, and feels that they belong.
At MassMutual, we Live Mutual.
How We Work
MassMutual’s flexible workplace approach combines the importance of connecting in person and the flexibility of working remotely. Our hybrid model puts collaboration first with employees coming in at least three days per week to our spectacular campus settings and also enjoying the flexibility of remote Fridays, company-wide remote weeks, and a bank of flexible remote weeks to use throughout the year.
Benefits for the whole you (and your loved ones)
There’s more to your life than your job and there’s more to your aspirations than a paycheck. We take a holistic view of compensation and benefits that provides the flexibility to create a healthy balance in your life for work, family, and community. We offer the benefits you’d expect, like medical, dental, 401(k), and generous vacation time, but we also offer ones you might not expect, like three paid days for volunteering, a $1,250 annual Well-Being Wallet, and up to 320 hours of caregiver leave.
Explore some of our offerings below. Benefit details can be found here.
Why MassMutual?
Kevin
Compliance Consultant
Seth
Service Management Consultant
Kymberly
Head of Experience Journey Mapping
where we work
Springfield Office
1295 State Street, Springfield, MA
Boston Office
10 Fan Pier Blvd, Boston, MA
New York Office
2 Park Ave,
New York, NY
Virtual
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