497 1 tm218782d12_497.htm MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT 4
Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement Dated September 1, 2021 to the Prospectus dated September 1, 2021
for MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity Issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4
This Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement (“Rate Sheet”) should be read carefully and retained with the Prospectus dated September 1, 2021 for the MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity. You may obtain a current Prospectus at www.MassMutual.com/Envision or by calling (800) 272-2216, sending an email request to ANNfax@MassMutual.com, or writing to MassMutual, P.O. Box 9067, Springfield, MA 01102-9067.
We are issuing this Rate Sheet to update the following information regarding the MassMutual RetirePaySM Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (RetirePay):

Withdrawal Rates,

Lifetime Guarantee Rates,

RetirePay Charges, and

Investment Allocation Restrictions
(collectively, referred to as the “RetirePay Terms.”)
The RetirePay Terms included in this Rate Sheet are effective for applications submitted on or after September 1, 2021 until a new Rate Sheet is issued that replaces and supersedes this Rate Sheet.
This Rate Sheet replaces and supersedes any previously issued Rate Sheet. This Rate Sheet has no specified end date. This Rate Sheet must be used in conjunction with an effective MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity Prospectus. For complete information about RetirePay, see the “Additional Benefits — MassMutual RetirePaySM” section in the MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity Prospectus.
If we change the RetirePay Terms, we will issue a new Rate Sheet. In the event we issue a new Rate Sheet, we will provide at least 10 business days’ notice of the effective date of the superseding Rate Sheet.
Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions
Certain Rate Sheet eligibility conditions apply when we have issued a superseding Rate Sheet after you apply for your contract and prior to your issue date.
In order for the RetirePay Terms in this Rate Sheet to apply to your Contract, your necessary application information, including any applicable transfer form(s), must be submitted to an order entry system utilized to issue the Contract (“application submit date”) on or after September 1, 2021 and prior to the effective date of the superseding Rate Sheet. For purposes of this process, the application submit date is also defined to include the date the application is signed if a paper application is necessary.
Application Information Submitted with a Purchase Payment
In addition to the submission of your necessary application information, we also require payment of at least the minimum initial Purchase Payment and the application information to be in Good Order within 10 business days after the application submit date.
If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are met, and the Contract is issued, the RetirePay Terms in this Rate Sheet will apply, unless a beneficial superseding rate sheet applies, as described under “Rate Sheet Comparison Process.”
If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are not met, we will cancel the application and return your Purchase Payment.
Application Information Submitted without a Purchase Payment
If you plan to pay the initial Purchase Payment with proceeds from an IRS Section 1035 exchange or direct transfer, your transfer form(s) and application information must be in Good Order within 10 Business Days after the application submit date. In addition, the initial Purchase Payment necessary to issue the Contract must be received within 90 calendar days after the application submit date.
If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are met, and the Contract is issued, the RetirePay Terms in this Rate Sheet will apply, unless a beneficial superseding rate sheet applies, as described under “Rate Sheet Comparison Process.”

If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are not met, we will inform you and request instructions regarding whether to issue the Contract with the RetirePay Terms in effect under the superseding Rate Sheet or cancel the application.
If you have not provided us with the requested instructions within 2 business days after we have received your Purchase Payment, we will return your Purchase Payment to the original source.
The requirement to have the necessary application information in Good Order within 10 Business Days for application information received with a Purchase Payment or without a Purchase Payment includes completion of the broker-dealer suitability review.
Rate Sheet Comparison Process
Subject to satisfying the Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions established in this Rate Sheet, if after your application submit date and prior to your Issue Date, a subsequent Rate Sheet is issued with only beneficial changes to the RetirePay Terms, the subsequent Rate Sheet will apply. The changes will be considered to be beneficial unless any of the following occurs:

Withdrawal Rates and/or Lifetime Guarantee Rates have decreased,

RetirePay Charges have increased, or

Investment Allocation Restrictions have changed (unless the sole change to the Investment Allocation Restrictions is the addition of available investment options).
For example, if the RetirePay Charges have increased, you will receive the RetirePay Terms included in the Rate Sheet in effect on your application submit date even if the Withdrawal Rates and/or Lifetime Guarantee Rates have increased in the subsequent Rate Sheet.
You should not purchase RetirePay without first obtaining the applicable Rate Sheet. To obtain a current Rate Sheet:

Contact your financial advisor

Contact us toll-free at (800) 272-2216

Go to www.MassMutual.com/Envision
On the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, we will determine the Withdrawal Rate and the Lifetime Guarantee Rate based on the number of full Contract Years from the RetirePay Issue Date and the Age of the Covered Person (or the youngest Covered Person for a Joint Life Version). The Withdrawal Rate applies when your Contract Value is greater than zero. The Lifetime Guarantee Rate applies when your Contract Value is zero. Once the contract is issued, the Withdrawal Rates and the Lifetime Guarantee Rates applicable to your Contract below will not change for the life of your Contract.
SINGLE LIFE WITHDRAWAL RATES:
       Age Range
Full Contract Years from the RetirePay Issue Date
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10+
Withdrawal Rates
5912 – 61
3.75%
3.85%
3.90%
4.00%
4.05%
4.50%
4.60%
4.65%
4.75%
4.80%
5.65%
62 – 66
4.00%
4.10%
4.15%
4.25%
4.30%
4.60%
4.70%
4.75%
4.85%
4.90%
5.80%
67 – 71
4.75%
4.85%
4.95%
5.05%
5.15%
5.45%
5.55%
5.65%
5.75%
5.85%
6.65%
72 – 76
5.25%
5.35%
5.45%
5.55%
5.65%
6.05%
6.15%
6.25%
6.35%
6.45%
7.35%
77+
5.50%
5.60%
5.70%
5.85%
5.95%
6.35%
6.45%
6.55%
6.65%
6.75%
7.70%

JOINT LIFE WITHDRAWAL RATES:
       Age Range
Full Contract Years from the RetirePay Issue Date
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10+
Withdrawal Rates
5912 – 61
3.10%
3.15%
3.20%
3.30%
3.35%
3.70%
3.80%
3.85%
3.90%
3.95%
4.65%
62 – 66
3.35%
3.40%
3.50%
3.55%
3.60%
3.85%
3.90%
4.00%
4.05%
4.10%
4.85%
67 – 71
4.10%
4.20%
4.25%
4.35%
4.45%
4.70%
4.80%
4.90%
4.95%
5.05%
5.75%
72 – 76
4.60%
4.70%
4.80%
4.90%
4.95%
5.30%
5.40%
5.45%
5.55%
5.65%
6.45%
77+
4.85%
4.95%
5.05%
5.15%
5.25%
5.60%
5.65%
5.75%
5.85%
5.95%
6.80%
SINGLE LIFE LIFETIME GUARANTEE RATES:
       Age Range
Full Contract Years from the RetirePay Issue Date
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10+
Lifetime Guarantee Rates
5912 – 61
3.75%
3.85%
3.90%
4.00%
4.05%
4.50%
4.60%
4.65%
4.75%
4.80%
5.65%
62 – 66
4.00%
4.10%
4.15%
4.25%
4.30%
4.60%
4.70%
4.75%
4.85%
4.90%
5.80%
67 – 71
4.75%
4.85%
4.95%
5.05%
5.15%
5.45%
5.55%
5.65%
5.75%
5.85%
6.65%
72 – 76
5.25%
5.35%
5.45%
5.55%
5.65%
6.05%
6.15%
6.25%
6.35%
6.45%
7.35%
77+
5.50%
5.60%
5.70%
5.85%
5.95%
6.35%
6.45%
6.55%
6.65%
6.75%
7.70%
JOINT LIFE LIFETIME GUARANTEE RATES:
       Age Range
Full Contract Years from the RetirePay Issue Date
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10+
Lifetime Guarantee Rates
5912 – 61
3.10%
3.15%
3.20%
3.30%
3.35%
3.70%
3.80%
3.85%
3.90%
3.95%
4.65%
62 – 66
3.35%
3.40%
3.50%
3.55%
3.60%
3.85%
3.90%
4.00%
4.05%
4.10%
4.85%
67 – 71
4.10%
4.20%
4.25%
4.35%
4.45%
4.70%
4.80%
4.90%
4.95%
5.05%
5.75%
72 – 76
4.60%
4.70%
4.80%
4.90%
4.95%
5.30%
5.40%
5.45%
5.55%
5.65%
6.45%
77+
4.85%
4.95%
5.05%
5.15%
5.25%
5.60%
5.65%
5.75%
5.85%
5.95%
6.80%
CURRENT RETIREPAY CHARGES
The current RetirePay Charges applicable to your Contract are as follows:

Single Life Highest Anniversary Value Step-up Charge
1.45%

Joint Life Highest Anniversary Value Step-up Charge
1.45%

Single Life Highest Quarterly Value Step-up Charge
1.60%

Joint Life Highest Quarterly Value Step-up Charge
1.60%
The amount that is deducted from your Contract Value is equal to the RetirePay Charge multiplied by the Benefit Base. We may increase the RetirePay Charges at any time, with prior notice, but the charges will never exceed the maximum RetirePay Charge. The maximum charge can be found in the “RetirePay Charge” section of the current MassMutual Envision prospectus.

INVESTMENT ALLOCATION RESTRICTIONS
While RetirePay is in effect, your investment allocations are restricted.
You must either be invested 100% in one of the MML Asset Allocation Sub-Accounts or invested 100% in the Custom Allocation Program.
MML Asset Allocation Sub-Accounts:
MML Conservative Allocation
MML Moderate Allocation
MML Balanced Allocation
MML American Funds Core Allocation
MML Growth Allocation
MML Blend
MML iShares® 80/20 Allocation
MML iShares® 60/40 Allocation
Custom Allocation Program:
Multiple Sub-Accounts can be selected within each category. The total allocation for all Sub-Accounts within each category must be between the minimum and maximum allocation. The Contract Value in the Custom Allocation Program will be rebalanced based on your elected frequency. If no election is made, rebalancing will occur quarterly during each calendar year.
Minimum
Allocation
Maximum
Allocation
Allocation Category 1
30%
30%
Available sub-accounts:
MML U.S. Government Money Market
MML Dynamic Bond
MML Managed Bond
MML Short-Duration Bond
MML Total Return Bond
MML Inflation-Protected and Income
Allocation Category 2
40%
70%
Available sub-accounts:
MML Blue Chip Growth
MML Large Cap Growth
MML American Funds Growth
MML Focused Equity
MML Fundamental Equity
MML Equity Income
MML Fundamental Value
MML Income & Growth
MML Mid Cap Growth
MML Small Cap Growth Equity
MML Small Cap Equity
MML Mid Cap Value
MML Foreign
MML Global
MML American Funds International
MML International Equity
MML Strategic Emerging Markets
MML High Yield
Allocation Category 3
0%
30%
Available sub-accounts:
MML Growth & Income
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund®
MML Equity
MML Equity Momentum
MML Equity Rotation
Invesco V.I. Global Strategic Income
Invesco V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth
MML Small Company Value
MML Small/Mid Cap Value
Invesco V.I. Global
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth
MML Special Situations
Delaware Ivy VIP Asset Strategy
Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation
Fidelity® VIP Real Estate
Fidelity® VIP Health Care
Fidelity® VIP Strategic Income
PIMCO Income Portfolio

If a requested change in your allocations or a transfer of any portion of your contract value does not comply with these investment restrictions, you will be required to terminate your RetirePay by written request before the allocation change or transfer can be processed. We reserve the right, upon thirty calendar days advance notice to you, to change the investment restrictions. If we change the investment restrictions, you must change your allocations to comply within thirty calendar days of the restrictions becoming effective, or we will terminate your RetirePay.
If you have any questions regarding this Rate Sheet, please contact us toll free at (800) 272-2216. Please keep this Rate Sheet for future reference.

MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity
Issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4
This prospectus describes an individual variable deferred annuity contract with flexible premium payments (“Contract”) offered by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). The Contract may not be available in all states. The Contract offers a choice of features and benefits. You, as the owner of the Contract (“you,” “Owner”), determine which ones may be appropriate for you, based on your financial circumstances and objectives. The fees and charges that you pay are based on the features and benefits that you select.
You may accumulate value on a tax-deferred basis under your Contract by allocating your money to a fixed account for dollar cost averaging (“DCA Fixed Account”) and/or one or more variable investment divisions (“Sub-Accounts”) of Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 (“Separate Account”). Each Sub-Account, in turn, invests in one of the investment entities (“Funds”) listed in “Appendix A – Funds Available Under the Contract.” The investment choices available to you are restricted if MassMutual RetirePaySM is in effect. See “Additional Benefits – MassMutual RetirePaySM” for more information. You bear the entire investment risk for all amounts you allocate to a Sub-Account.
To learn more about the Contract, you can obtain a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), dated September 1, 2021. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The prospectus and SAI are parts of the registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains the registration statement, material incorporated by reference, and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC.
For a free copy of the SAI, or for general inquiries, call our Service Center at (800) 272-2216, send an email request to ANNfax@MassMutual.com, or write to our Service Center using the following address: MassMutual, P.O. Box 9067, Springfield, MA 01102-9067.
The Contract:

is not a bank or credit union deposit or obligation.

is not FDIC or NCUA insured.

is not insured by any federal government agency.

is not guaranteed by any bank or credit union.

may go down in value.

provides guarantees that are subject to our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
IF YOU ARE A NEW INVESTOR IN THE CONTRACT, YOU MAY CANCEL YOUR CONTRACT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF
RECEIVING IT WITHOUT PAYING FEES OR PENALTIES.
In some states this cancellation period may be longer. Upon cancellation, you will receive either a full refund of the amount you paid with your application or your total Contract Value. You should review the prospectus, or consult with your investment professional, for additional information about the specific cancellation terms that apply.
Additional information about certain investment products, including variable annuities, has been prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff and is available at Investor.gov.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus is not an offer to sell the Contract in any jurisdiction where it is illegal to offer the Contract nor is it an offer to sell the Contract to anyone to whom it is illegal to offer the Contract.
Please read this prospectus before investing. You should keep it for future reference. It contains important information about the MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity.
Effective September 1, 2021

Table of Contents
Glossary 1
4
4
6
6
7
8
Overview of the Contract 9
Additional Information about Fees 11
Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract 14
15
15
15
16
16
17
18
18
Charges and Deductions 20
20
20
21
22
22
22
22
Ownership 23
23
23
23
24
Purchasing a Contract 24
24
25
25
26
27
27
Transfers and Transfer Programs 27
27
28
28
28
29
The Annuity Phase 30
Benefits Available Under the Contract 35
Death Benefit 37
37
38
39
40
41
41
Additional Benefits 41
41
42
42
Withdrawals 51
Taxes 53
Distribution 61
Other Information 62
62
63
63
63
63
63
64
64
64
64
65
i

ii

Glossary
Accumulation Phase. Your Contract’s Accumulation Phase begins on the date we issue your Contract and ends on the Annuity Date, the date you withdraw all of your Contract Value, or the date your Contract terminates.
Accumulation Unit. A unit of measure used to determine your value in a Sub-Account during the Accumulation Phase.
Age. The attained age of any Owner or that of any Annuitant or Beneficiary, as applicable, at his or her last birthday, except with respect to fixed annuity payout rates. If the Contract is owned by a non-natural person (e.g., a corporation, trust or other entity), then Age shall mean the attained age of any Annuitant at his/her last birthday, except with respect to fixed annuity payout rates. If you have elected RetirePay, this definition of Age also applies to the Covered Person. For the purpose of calculating Annuity Payments, Age will be determined based on each Annuitant’s nearest birthday on the Annuity Date. For example, Age 65 is considered the period of time between age 64 years, 6 months and one day, and age 65 years and 6 months.
Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount. The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is the maximum amount that may be withdrawn in the current Contract Year without being considered an Excess Withdrawal while RetirePay is in effect.
Annuitant. The person(s) on whose life Annuity Payments are based, with the exception of the period certain Annuity Option. The term Annuitant shall also include the joint Annuitant, if any. The Annuitant has no rights to the Contract.
Annuity Date. The date Annuity Payments begin. The latest date that the Contract Value may be applied to provide Annuity Payments is set forth in “The Annuity Phase – Latest Permitted Annuity Date.”
Annuity Options. Options available for Annuity Payments.
Annuity Payments. A series of payments that will be made pursuant to the Annuity Option you elect.
Annuity Phase. The period which begins on the Annuity Date and ends with the last Annuity Payment.
Beneficiary. The person(s) or entity(ies) that you designated to receive the death benefit provided by the Contract.
Benefit Base. The Benefit Base is the amount we use to determine your Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount while RetirePay is in effect.
Business Day.  Every day the New York Stock Exchange or its successors (“NYSE”) is open for trading. Our Business Day ends at the Close of Business.
Close of Business. The time on a Business Day when the NYSE ends regular trading, usually at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Company. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, which may also be referred to in this prospectus as “we”, “us”, or “our”.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC). A charge that may be assessed against each Purchase Payment you withdraw from the Contract. (In some states referred to as a surrender charge.)
Contract. The MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity; an individual variable deferred annuity contract with flexible premium payments.
Contract Anniversary. An anniversary of the Issue Date of the Contract.
Contract Schedule Date. The effective date of any schedule to the Contract. A Contract schedule bearing the latest Contract Schedule Date will supersede all previous Contract schedules.
Contract Value. The sum of your value in the Sub-Accounts and in the Fixed Account(s) during the Accumulation Phase.
Contract Withdrawal Value. The Contract Value less any applicable Premium Taxes not previously deducted; less any applicable annual contract maintenance charge; less any applicable CDSC; less any Purchase Payments credited to the Contract that have not yet cleared the bank, until they clear the bank.
1

Contract Year. The first Contract Year is the annual period which begins on the Issue Date and ends on the last calendar day before the first Contract Anniversary. Subsequent Contract Years begin on subsequent Contract Anniversaries.
Covered Person. The person(s) whose life is used to determine the duration of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount provided under RetirePay.
Excess Withdrawal. Under the optional RetirePay feature, an Excess Withdrawal is:
(a)
prior to the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, any withdrawal, including the Free Withdrawal Amount, and
(b)
on or after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, any portion of a withdrawal (including CDSCs applicable to the withdrawal) that causes the cumulative withdrawals to exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year and any withdrawal that occurs after the cumulative withdrawals exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year, unless the withdrawal is taken as a part of the Company’s Systematic Withdrawal Program established for the payment of RMDs, under which the RMD is calculated by the Company for the current calendar year based solely on the fair market value of the Contract as defined in IRC Section 401(a)(9) and no other withdrawals are taken within the Contract Year.
Fixed Account For Dollar Cost Averaging. An investment option within the General Account which may be selected during the Accumulation Phase and also is referred to as the “DCA Fixed Account”. The DCA Fixed Account is a fixed account from which assets are systematically transferred to any Sub-Account(s) you select.
Fixed Annuity Payments. Annuity Payments made during the Annuity Phase which we guarantee as to the dollar amount of each Annuity Payment.
Free Withdrawal Amount. The Free Withdrawal Amount is an amount of your Purchase Payment(s) that you may withdraw that is not subject to the CDSC.
Fund. An investment entity into which the assets of a Sub-Account will be invested.
General Account. The Company’s general investment account, which supports the Company’s annuity and insurance obligations. The General Account’s assets include all of our assets, with the exception of the Separate Account and the Company’s other segregated asset accounts.
Good Order. An instruction or transaction request that we receive at our Service Center generally is considered in “Good Order” if:
(1)
we receive it within the time limits, if any, prescribed in this prospectus for a particular request or transaction;
(2)
it includes all information necessary for us to execute the request or transaction; and
(3)
it is signed by you or persons authorized to provide instruction to engage in the request or transaction.
A request or transaction may be rejected or delayed if not in Good Order. Good Order generally means the actual receipt by our Service Center of the instructions related to the request or transaction in writing (or, when permitted, by telephone, fax or Internet) along with all forms, information and supporting legal documentation we require to effect the request or transaction. This information generally includes to the extent applicable: the completed application or instruction form; your Contract number; the transaction amount (in dollars or percentage terms); the names and allocation to and/or from the Sub-Accounts affected by the request or transaction; the signatures of all owners; if necessary, Social Security Number or Tax Identification number; tax certification; and any other information or supporting documentation we may require including consents, certifications and guarantees. Instructions must be complete and sufficiently clear so that we do not need to exercise any discretion to follow such instructions. We will not accept instructions that require additional requirements or burdens not provided for within the Contract. With respect to Purchase Payments, Good Order also generally includes receipt by us of sufficient funds to affect the purchase. We may, in our sole discretion, determine whether any particular request or transaction is in Good Order, and we reserve the right to change or waive any Good Order requirements at any time. If you have any questions you may contact our Service Center before submitting the form or request. See “Sending Requests in Good Order” for more information.
Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date. The date on which the Company guarantees the Withdrawal Rate under the benefit, and on which you may begin receiving payments of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount while RetirePay is in effect. This date must be selected by the Owner and cannot be prior to the youngest Covered Person attaining age 5912.
2

Issue Date. The date the Contract became effective, as shown in the Contract schedule.
Lifetime Guarantee Rate. The Lifetime Guarantee Rate is a percentage we multiply by the Benefit Base to determine the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount once the Contract enters the Settlement Phase while RetirePay is in effect.
Non-Business Day. Any day when the NYSE is not open for trading.
Non-Qualified Contract. Your Contract is referred to as a Non-Qualified Contract if you purchase the Contract as an individual, and not under a qualified plan such as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) or a Roth IRA.
Owner. The person(s) or entity (“you” and “your”) entitled to the ownership rights stated in the Contract. The term Owner also shall include the joint Owner, if any.
Premium Tax. A tax imposed on us by certain states and other jurisdictions when a Purchase Payment is made, when Annuity Payments begin, or when Contract Value is withdrawn.
Purchase Payment. Any amount paid to us by you or on your behalf with respect to the Contract during the Accumulation Phase. Purchase Payments may not be added after the Annuity Date. Restrictions will apply if RetirePay is in effect.
Qualified Contract. Your Contract is referred to as a Qualified Contract if it is purchased under a qualified retirement plan (qualified plan) such as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) or a Roth IRA.
Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement. A periodic supplement to the information contained in this prospectus which sets forth the Withdrawal Rates, Lifetime Guarantee Rates, current RetirePay Charges, and investment allocation restrictions under RetirePay. See “Benefits Available Under The Contract – MassMutual RetirePaySM” in this prospectus.
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is a minimum amount the federal tax law requires to be withdrawn from certain Qualified Contracts each year. RMDs are generally required to begin by the required beginning date specified in IRC Section 401(a)(9).
RetirePay Charge. The RetirePay Charge is an amount that is deducted from your Contract Value equal to the current RetirePay Charge multiplied by the Benefit Base on such day (after taking into account any other transactions processed on such day) while RetirePay is in effect.
RetirePay. An optional benefit for an additional charge. If you elect RetirePay, we will permit you to receive the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount for the life of the Covered Person, even if your Contract Value is zero and subject to the terms and conditions described in the section of this prospectus concerning the benefit while RetirePay is in effect.
Settlement Phase. When the Contract Value is reduced to zero after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date due to a withdrawal that is not an Excess Withdrawal or due to the application of any charges against Contract Value while RetirePay is in effect.
Separate Account. The account that holds the assets underlying the Contract that are not allocated to the Fixed Account(s). The assets of the Separate Account are kept separate from the assets of the General Account and the Company’s other separate accounts.
Service Center.  MassMutual, P.O. Box 9067, Springfield, MA 01102-9067, (800) 272-2216, www.MassMutual.com.
Sub-Account(s). Separate Account assets are divided into Sub-Accounts, which are listed on the Contract schedule. The assets of each Sub-Account will be invested in the shares of a single Fund.
Withdrawal Rate. The Withdrawal Rate is a percentage we multiply by the Benefit Base to determine the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount prior to the Settlement Phase while RetirePay is in effect.
Written Notice. A written or electronic communication or instruction we send to you. Any notice that we send to you will be sent to your last known address, unless you request otherwise via Written Request. You must promptly provide us with notice of any change of your address.
Written Request. A written communication or instruction you send to us in Good Order. We may consent to receiving requests electronically or by telephone at our Service Center.
3

Important Information You Should Consider About the MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity Contract
FEES AND EXPENSES
LOCATION IN
PROSPECTUS
Charges for Early Withdrawals
If you withdraw money from your Contract within seven years following your last Purchase Payment, you may be assessed a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) of up to 7% of the value of the Purchase Payment withdrawn, declining to 0% over seven years.
For example, if you purchased the Contract and withdrew the $100,000 initial Purchase Payment during the first two years after that Purchase Payment, you could be assessed a charge of up to $7,000 on the Purchase Payment withdrawn.
Charges and Deductions – Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC)
Transaction Charges
Currently, we do not assess any transaction charges. Charges and Deductions
4

FEES AND EXPENSES
LOCATION IN
PROSPECTUS
Ongoing Fees and Expenses (annual charges)
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay each year, depending on the options you choose. Please refer to your Contract specifications page for information about the specific fees you will pay each year based on the options you have elected. Charges and Deductions
Annual Fee
Minimum
Maximum
1. Base contract
1.31%(1)
1.31%(1)
2. Investment options
(Fund fees and expenses)
0.52%(2)
1.65%(2)
3. Optional benefits available for an additional charge
(for a single optional benefit, if elected)
1.45%(3)
2.50%(3)
Because your Contract is customizable, the choices you make affect how much you will pay. To help you understand the cost of owning your Contract, the following table shows the lowest and highest cost you could pay each year, based on current charges. This estimate assumes that you do not take withdrawals from the Contract, which could add CDSCs that substantially increase costs.
Lowest Annual Cost:
Highest Annual Cost:
$1,612
$3,489
Assumes: Assumes:

Investment of $100,000

5% annual appreciation

Least expensive combination of Contract Share Classes and Fund fees and expenses

No optional benefits

No CDSC

No additional Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals

Investment of $100,000

5% annual appreciation

Most expensive combination of Contract Share Classes, optional benefits and Fund fees and expenses

No CDSC

No additional Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals
(1)
Represents an estimate of the mortality and expense risk charge and administrative charge (charged as a percentage of Contract Value) and an estimate of the annual contract maintenance charge (a fixed dollar amount that may be waived for certain Contract Value amounts) collected during the Contract Year that are attributable to the Contract divided by an estimate of the total average net assets that are attributable to the Contract.
(2)
As a percentage of Fund assets.
(3)
The fee is the annual fee for RetirePay, and is a percentage of the Benefit Base. See “Benefits Available Under the Contract – MassMutual RetirePaySM” and the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement for the current RetirePay Charges.
5

RISKS
LOCATION IN
PROSPECTUS
Risk of Loss
You can lose money by investing in the Contract, including loss of principal. Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
Not a Short-Term Investment

The Contract is not designed for short-term investing and is not appropriate for an investor who needs ready access to cash.

CDSCs apply for up to seven years following your last Purchase Payment.

CDSCs will reduce the value of your Contract if you withdraw money during the CDSC period. The benefits of tax deferral also mean the Contract is more beneficial to investors with a long time horizon.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
Risks Associated with Investment Options

An investment in the Contract is subject to the risk of poor investment performance of the Funds you choose and can vary depending upon the performance of the investment options available under the Contract.

Each Fund (and each Fixed Account) has its own unique risks.

You should review the prospectuses for the available Funds and the section of this prospectus concerning the DCA Fixed Account before making an investment decision.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
Insurance Company Risks
Any obligations (including under any fixed account investment option), guarantees, and benefits of the Contract are subject to the claims-paying ability of MassMutual. If MassMutual experiences financial distress, it may not be able to meet its obligations to you. More information about MassMutual, including its financial strength ratings, is available at www.MassMutual.com/ratings.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
RESTRICTIONS
LOCATION IN
PROSPECTUS
Investments

MassMutual reserves the right to remove or substitute Funds as investment options available under the Contract.

We reserve the right to limit transfers if frequent or large transfers occur.
The Separate Account, Limits on Frequent Trading and Market Timing Activity
6

RESTRICTIONS
LOCATION IN
PROSPECTUS
Optional Benefits

Your Contract will be subject to investment allocation restrictions while RetirePay is in effect. This means you will be limited in your choice of Sub-Account investments, and may be limited in how much you can invest in certain Sub-Accounts. We impose these allocation restrictions to reduce the risk of investment losses that may require us to use our General Account assets to honor the guarantee under RetirePay.

Withdrawals that are prior to the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date are Excess Withdrawals. On or after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, the portion of a withdrawal (including CDSCs) from the Contract Value that causes the cumulative withdrawals to exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year will be an Excess Withdrawal unless the withdrawal is taken as a part of the Company’s Systematic Withdrawal Program established for the payment of RMDs, under which the RMD is calculated by the Company for the current calendar year based solely on the fair market value of the Contract as defined in IRC Section 401(a)(9) and no other withdrawals are taken within the Contract Year. Any withdrawal that occurs after the cumulative withdrawals exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year will also be an Excess Withdrawal. Excess Withdrawals can result in a significant reduction of your Benefit Base, depending upon the amount of the withdrawal.

You may not make additional Purchase Payments that total more than $10,000 in a Contract Year after the first Contract Year while RetirePay is in effect. You may not make additional Purchase Payments on or after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date while RetirePay is in effect.
Benefits Under The Contract – MassMutual RetirePaySM
TAXES
LOCATION IN
PROSPECTUS
Tax Implications

You should consult with a tax professional to determine the tax implications of an investment in and payments received under the Contract.

If you purchase the Contract through a qualified retirement plan or individual retirement account (IRA), you do not receive any additional tax benefit.

Earnings on your Contract are taxed at ordinary income tax rates when you withdraw them, and you may have to pay an additional income tax if you take a withdrawal before age 5912.
Taxes
7

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
LOCATION IN
PROSPECTUS
Investment Professional Compensation
Your registered representative may receive compensation for selling the Contract to you in the form of commissions. If your registered representative is also a MassMutual insurance agent, they are also eligible for certain cash and non-cash benefits from MassMutual. Cash compensation includes bonuses and allowances based on factors such as sales, productivity and persistency (contract retention). Non-cash compensation includes various recognition items such as prizes and awards as well as attendance at, and payment of the costs associated with attendance at, conferences, seminars and recognition trips, and also includes contributions to certain individual plans such as pension and medical plans. Sales of the Contract may help these registered representatives and their supervisors qualify for such benefits.
This conflict of interest may influence your registered representative to recommend the Contract over another investment.
Distribution
Exchanges
Some investment professionals may have a financial incentive to offer you the Contract in place of the one you own. You should only exchange your current contract if you determine, after comparing the features, fees, and risks of both contracts, that it is preferable for you to purchase the Contract rather than continue to own your existing contract. Purchasing a Contract
8

Overview of the Contract
What is the Contract, and what is it designed to do? The MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity is designed to enable you to accumulate assets through investments in one or more of the variable investment divisions (Sub-Accounts) of the Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 (Separate Account) and the DCA Fixed Account. The Contract can supplement your retirement income by providing a stream of income during the Annuity Phase. Before you begin receiving annuity payments, the Contract also provides a death benefit for your designated beneficiaries. The Contract may be appropriate if you have a long term investment horizon. It is not intended for people who need to take early withdrawals or who intend to engage in frequent trading among the Sub-Accounts of the Separate Account.
How do I accumulate assets in the Contract and receive income from the Contract? The Contract has two phases 1) the Accumulation Phase and 2) the Annuity Phase.
Accumulation Phase
During the Accumulation Phase, subject to certain restrictions, including restrictions associated with RetirePay, you may apply Purchase Payments to the Contract and allocate the Purchase Payments:

among the Sub-Accounts of the Separate Account, each of which invests in a mutual fund (Fund), with each Fund having its own investment strategy, investment adviser, expense ratio and returns, and

the DCA Fixed Account for a scheduled term of six or twelve months. Assets allocated to the DCA Fixed Account are credited with a fixed rate of interest and are systematically transferred to Sub-Accounts that you select.
A list of the Funds in which you may invest is provided at the back of this prospectus. See “Appendix A – Funds Available Under the Contract.”
Annuity Phase
During the Annuity Phase, you may receive annuity payments under the Contract by applying your Contract Value to a payment option.

Depending on the payment option you select, payments may continue for the life of one or two annuitants or for a specified period between 10 and 30 years. The payments will remain the same throughout the Annuity Phase, unless you elect either of the Joint and 2/3 Survivor annuity options, which reduce payments on the death of the first annuitant.
When you elect to receive Annuity Payments, the Contract Value is applied to an Annuity Option and you may no longer be able to withdraw money at will from the Contract. If you apply your Contract Value to an Annuity Option, the Accumulation Phase will end and the death benefit will terminate.
RetirePay will terminate if you apply your Contract Value to an Annuity Option other than one of the Annuity Options under RetirePay. Upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant on or after the Annuity Date, the death benefit, if any, is as specified in the Annuity Option elected. Upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant during the Annuity Phase, any remaining payment under the elected Annuity Option will be paid to the Beneficiary. See “The Annuity Phase.”
9

What are the primary features and options that the MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity offers? 

Accessing your money. During the Accumulation Phase, you may make a partial or full withdrawal of your Contract Value by submitting our partial withdrawal form or full withdrawal form in Good Order to our Service Center. You may also submit the requests by other means that we authorize, such as e-mail, telephone or fax. Contact our Service Center for details.
All withdrawals are subject to the limitations described in the prospectus. Withdrawal rights during the Annuity Phase will depend on the Annuity Option selected.

Tax treatment. You may transfer Contract Value among Sub-Accounts without tax implications, and earnings (if any) on your investments are generally tax-deferred. You are generally taxed only when (1) you make a partial or full withdrawal; (2) you receive an Annuity Payment under the Contract; or (3) upon payment of the death benefit.

Death Benefit. Your Contract includes a death benefit that will pay your designated beneficiaries the greater of (1) the Contract Value when we receive due proof of death and election of a payment method; or (2) an amount based on your Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals.

RetirePay Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit. For an additional charge, you may elect RetirePay, under which we guarantee that you may take a certain amount of withdrawals annually for life, so long as you adhere to the requirements of the benefit (e.g., allocating your Contract Value only to the Sub-Accounts that are prescribed for this benefit). For complete information on RetirePay, including charges and limitations, see “Benefits Under The Contract – MassMutual RetirePaySM.”

Additional Benefits and Services. We make certain additional services available under the Contract at no additional charge:
The Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program allows you to transfer a set amount from a Sub-account to any other Sub-account on a regular schedule. The Automatic Rebalancing Program automatically rebalances your Contract Value among your selected Sub-Accounts in order to restore your allocation to the original level. You may participate only in one Program at a time, and you may not participate in either Program if any Contract Value is allocated to the DCA Fixed Account.
The Systematic Withdrawal Program allows you to set up automatic periodic withdrawals from your Contract Value. We will take any withdrawal under this Program proportionally from your Contract Value in your selected investment choices.
The Terminal Illness Withdrawal Benefit allows you to withdraw all or a portion of your Contract Value without incurring a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) if we receive a Written Request in Good Order that certain conditions are met.
The Nursing Home and Hospital Withdrawal Benefit allows you to withdraw all or a portion of your Contract Value without incurring a CDSC if we receive a Written Request in Good Order that you (or the Annuitant, if the Owner of the Contract is not a natural person) have been admitted to a licensed nursing care facility or an accredited hospital and certain other conditions are satisfied. See “Additional Benefits” for a full explanation of the required conditions.
The Terminal Illness Withdrawal Benefit and the Nursing Home and Hospital Withdrawal Benefit are not available in all states.
The prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (SAI) describe all material terms and features of your Contract. Certain non-material provisions of your Contract may be different than the general description in the prospectus and the SAI, and certain riders may not be available because of legal requirements in your state. Any such state variations will be included in your Contract or in riders or endorsements attached to your Contract. See your Contract for specific variations. Also see “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features.”
10

Additional Information about Fees
The following tables describe the fees and expenses you will pay when buying, owning, and surrendering or making withdrawals from the Contract. Please refer to your Contract specifications page for information about the specific fees you will pay each year based on the options you have elected.
The first table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay at the time that you buy the Contract, surrender or make withdrawals from the Contract, or transfer Contract Value between investment options. State premium taxes may also be deducted.
Transaction Expenses
Maximum
Current
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge(1)
(as a percentage of Purchase Payment withdrawn)
7%
7%
(1)
The CDSC percentage charge is based on the “age” of the Purchase Payment(s) being withdrawn (i.e., the number of full years from application of the Purchase Payment).
The CDSC percentages are 7% (for first three years), 6% (for 4th year), 5% (for 5th year), 4% (for 6th year), 3% (for 7th year), and 0% (for 8th year and later).
See “Charges and Deductions – Contingent Deferred Sales Charge” for more information.
The next table describes the fees and expenses you will pay each year during the time you own the Contract, not including underlying Fund fees and expenses. If you choose to purchase an optional benefit, you will pay additional charges, as shown below.
Annual Contract Expenses
Maximum
Current
Administrative Expenses
$40 per Contract Year(1)
$40 per Contract Year(1)
Base Contract Expenses (as a percentage of average account value)
1.30%(2)
1.30%(2)
(1)
Currently, we waive this charge if, when we would make the deduction, your Contract Value is $100,000 or more. We assess the charge on each Contract Anniversary and when you make a full withdrawal.
(2)
The Base Contract Charge is the sum of the mortality and expense risk charge and the administrative charge. The current and maximum mortality and expense risk charge is 1.15% annually and the current administrative charge is 0.15% annually. These charges are a percentage of average account value in the Separate Account on an annualized basis.
Optional Benefit Expenses
Maximum
Current
RetirePay (as a percentage of Benefit Base)
For current RetirePay Charges, see the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement attached to your prospectus.
Single Life Highest Anniversary Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
Joint Life Highest Anniversary Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
Single Life Highest Quarterly Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
Joint Life Highest Quarterly Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
(3)
We deduct the quarterly portion of this annualized charge from your Contract Value on a quarterly basis in arrears.
11

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
The next item shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses charged by the Funds that you may pay periodically during the time that you own the Contract. A complete list of Funds available under the Contract, including their annual expenses, may be found in Appendix A.
Charge
Minimum
Maximum
Range of total annual fund operating expenses including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other expenses.(1)
0.52% 1.65%
(1)
The Fund expenses used to prepare this table were provided to us by the Funds. We have not independently verified such information provided to us by Funds that are not affiliated with us.
The information above describes the fees and expenses you pay related to the Contract. For information on compensation we may receive from the Funds and their advisers and sub-advisers, see “General Information about Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Separate Account and the Investment Choices – Compensation We Receive from Funds, Advisers and Sub-Advisers.” For information on compensation we pay to broker-dealers selling the Contract, see “Distribution.”
Examples
These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Contract with the cost of investing in other variable annuity contracts. These costs include Owner transaction expenses, annual Contract expenses, and Fund fees and expenses.
The first example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Contract for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and assumes the most expensive combination of annual Fund expenses and RetirePay is in effect for an additional charge. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Maximum Expenses
Current Expenses
Years
1
3
5
10
1
3
5
10
If you withdraw all of your
Contract Value at the
end of each year shown
Maximum total Fund operating expenses
$ 11,760 $ 22,605 $ 31,550 $ 53,484 $ 10,710 $ 19,608 $ 26,812 $ 45,289
Minimum total Fund operating expenses
$ 10,630 $ 19,377 $ 26,442 $ 44,629 $ 9,580 $ 16,310 $ 21,474 $ 35,459
If you do not withdraw any
of your Contract Value
at the end of each year
shown
Maximum total Fund operating expenses
$ 5,460 $ 16,305 $ 27,050 $ 53,484 $ 4,410 $ 13,308 $ 22,312 $ 45,289
Minimum total Fund operating expenses
$ 4,330 $ 13,077 $ 21,942 $ 44,629 $ 3,280 $ 10,010 $ 16,974 $ 35,459
If you decide to begin the
Annuity Phase at the end
of each year shown
Maximum total Fund operating expenses
N/A N/A $ 27,050 $ 53,484 N/A N/A $ 22,312 $ 45,289
Minimum total Fund operating expenses
N/A N/A $ 21,942 $ 44,629 N/A N/A $ 16,974 $ 35,459
12

The next example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Contract for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and assumes the least expensive combination of annual Fund expenses and assumes RetirePay is not in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
Maximum Expenses
Current Expenses
Years
1
3
5
10
1
3
5
10
If you withdraw all of your Contract Value at the end of each year shown
Maximum total Fund operating
expenses
$ 9,260 $ 15,362 $ 19,916 $ 32,471 $ 9,260 $ 15,362 $ 19,916 $ 32,471
Minimum total Fund operating
expenses
$ 8,130 $ 11,966 $ 14,249 $ 21,144 $ 8,130 $ 11,966 $ 14,249 $ 21,144
If you do not withdraw any of
your Contract Value at the
end of each year shown
Maximum total Fund operating
expenses
$ 2,960 $ 9,062 $ 15,416 $ 32,471 $ 2,960 $ 9,062 $ 15,416 $ 32,471
Minimum total Fund operating
expenses
$ 1,830 $ 5,666 $ 9,749 $ 21,144 $ 1,830 $ 5,666 $ 9,749 $ 21,144
If you decide to begin the Annuity Phase at the end of each year shown
Maximum total Fund operating
expenses
N/A N/A $ 15,416 $ 32,471 N/A N/A $ 15,416 $ 32,471
Minimum total Fund operating
expenses
N/A N/A $ 9,749 $ 21,144 N/A N/A $ 9,749 $ 21,144
13

Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
There are risks associated with investing in the Contract. The value of your investment and any returns will depend on the performance of the Funds you select. Each Fund may have its own unique risks. You bear the risk of any decline in your Contract Value resulting from the poor performance of the Funds you have selected. You can lose money in a variable annuity, including potential loss of your original investment.
Variable annuities are not a short-term investment vehicle. The CDSC may apply for a number of years, so that the Contract should only be purchased for the long-term. Under some circumstances, you may receive less than the sum of your Purchase Payments. In addition, full or partial withdrawals will be subject to income tax to the extent that they consist of earnings and an additional 10% federal income tax may apply to the taxable portion if taken before age 5912. Accordingly, you should carefully consider your income and liquidity needs before purchasing a Contract. Additional information about these risks appear in “Important Information You Should Consider About the MassMutual EnvisionSM Variable Annuity Contract” page 4, in “Withdrawals” page 51 and “Taxes” page 53.
Investment Risk. You bear the risk of any decline in the Contract Value caused by the performance of the Funds held by the Subaccounts. Those Funds could decline in value very significantly, and there is a risk of loss of your entire amount invested. The risk of loss varies with each Fund. This risk could have a significant negative impact on the value under RetirePay. The investment risks are described in the prospectuses for the Funds.
Investment Restrictions – Opportunity Risks. RetirePay restricts your choice of available Funds. These restrictions are intended to protect us financially, in that they reduce the likelihood that we will have to pay guaranteed benefits under RetirePay from our own assets. These restrictions could result in an opportunity cost – in the form of Funds that you did not invest in that ultimately might generate superior investment performance. Thus, you should consider these restrictions when deciding whether to elect RetirePay.
Risk Associated With Election of RetirePay. RetirePay includes several requirements and limitations that must be adhered to in order to preserve and maximize the guarantees we offer under the benefit. If you fail to adhere to these requirements, that may diminish the value of the benefit and even possibly cause termination of the benefit. In addition, it is possible that you will pay fees for RetirePay without fully realizing the guarantees available under the benefit. For example, if your Contract terminates before the Settlement Phase, you will not have maximized the benefits provided under RetirePay.
Insurance Company Insolvency. It is possible that we could experience financial difficulty in the future and even become insolvent, and therefore unable to provide all of the guarantees and benefits that we promise that exceed the value of the assets in the Separate Account. Similarly, our experiencing financial difficulty could interfere with our ability to fulfill our obligations under the DCA Fixed Account.
Tax Consequences. Withdrawals are generally taxable to the extent of any earnings in the Contract, and prior to age 5912 an additional 10% federal income tax may apply to the taxable portion. In addition, even if the Contract is held for years before any withdrawal is made, withdrawals are taxable as ordinary income rather than capital gains.
Cybersecurity and Certain Business Continuity Risks
Our operations support complex transactions and are highly dependent on the proper functioning of information technology and communication systems. Any failure of or gap in the systems and processes necessary to support complex transactions and avoid systems failure, fraud, information security failures, processing errors, cyber intrusion, loss of data and breaches of regulation may lead to a materially adverse effect on our results of operations and corporate reputation. In addition, we must commit significant resources to maintain and enhance our existing systems in order to keep pace with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards and customer preferences. If we fail to maintain secure and well-functioning information systems, we may not be able to rely on information for product pricing, compliance obligations, risk management and underwriting decisions. In addition, we cannot assure investors or consumers that interruptions, failures or breaches in security of these processes and systems will not occur, or if they do occur, that they can be timely detected and remediated. The occurrence of any of these events may have a materially adverse effect on our businesses, results of operations and financial condition.
For additional detail regarding cybersecurity and related risks, please see “Other Information – Computer System, Cybersecurity, and Service Disruption Risks” in this prospectus.
14

General Information about Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Separate Account and the Investment Choices
The Company
MassMutual is organized as a mutual life insurance company. MassMutual’s home office is located at 1295 State Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01111-0001.
MassMutual and its domestic life insurance subsidiaries provide individual and group life insurance, disability insurance, individual and group annuities and guaranteed interest contracts to individual and institutional customers in all 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Products and services are offered primarily through the Company’s distribution channels: MassMutual Financial Advisors, Digital Direct to Consumer and Business to Business, Institutional Solutions and Workplace Solutions.
The assets of our General Account support our insurance and annuity obligations and are subject to our general liabilities from our business operations and to claims by our creditors. You should be aware that, unlike the Separate Account, the Company’s General Account is not segregated or insulated from the claims of the Company’s creditors. In addition, because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, the General Account, unlike the Separate Account, has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act) or the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act). Because of this, the General Account is generally not subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act. However, disclosures regarding the General Account are subject to certain generally applicable provisions of the federal securities laws that require complete and accurate statements in prospectuses.
Financial Condition of the Company
We use General Account assets for many purposes, including to pay death benefits, Annuity Payments, withdrawals and transfers from Fixed Account investment choices and to pay amounts we provide to you through any elected additional feature that are in excess of your Contract Value allocated to the Separate Account. Any amounts that we may be obligated to pay under the Contract in excess of Contract Value are subject to our financial strength and claims-paying ability and our long-term ability to make such payments. The assets of the Separate Account, however, are also available to cover the liabilities of our General Account, but only to the extent they exceed our liabilities under the Contract and other contracts we issue that are funded by the Separate Account.
We issue other types of insurance policies and financial products as well, and we pay our obligations under those products from our assets in the General Account.
As an insurance company, we are required by state insurance regulation to hold a specified amount of reserves in order to meet the contractual obligations of our General Account to our insurance policies and financial products. We monitor our reserves so that we hold sufficient amounts to cover actual or expected contract and claims payments. In addition, we hedge our investments in our General Account and may require that purchasers of certain of our variable insurance products allocate Purchase Payments and Contract Value according to specified investment requirements. Even with these safeguards in place, there are risks to purchasing any insurance product and there is no guarantee that we will always be able to meet our claims-paying obligations.
State insurance regulators also require insurance companies to maintain a minimum amount of capital, which acts as a cushion if the insurer suffers a financial setback because of the inherent risks in the insurer’s operations. These risks include losses that we may incur as the result of defaults on the payment of interest or principal on our General Account assets – e.g., bonds, mortgages, general real estate investments, and stocks – as well as the loss in market value of these investments.
We continue to evaluate our investment portfolio to mitigate market risk and actively manage the investment in that portfolio.
The MassMutual financial information in the SAI includes a more detailed discussion of the risks inherent in our General Account assets. We encourage both existing and prospective Owners to read and understand our financial statements.
15

The Separate Account
We established Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 (Separate Account) as a separate account under Massachusetts law on July 9, 1997. The Separate Account is registered with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act.
The Separate Account holds the assets that underlie the Contracts (and certain other contracts that we issue), except any assets allocated to our General Account. We keep the Separate Account assets separate from the assets of our General Account and other separate accounts. The Separate Account is divided into Sub-Accounts, each of which invests exclusively in a single Fund.
We own the assets of the Separate Account. We credit gains to, or charge losses against, the Separate Account, whether or not realized, without regard to the performance of other investment accounts. The Separate Account’s assets may not be used to pay any of our liabilities other than those arising from the Contracts (or other contracts that we issue and that are funded by the Separate Account). If the Separate Account’s assets exceed the required reserves and other liabilities, we may transfer the excess to our General Account. The obligations of the Separate Account are not our generalized obligations and will be satisfied solely by the assets of the Separate Account. We are obligated to pay all amounts promised to investors under the Contract.
We reserve the right, subject to compliance with applicable federal securities laws and regulations and any other federal or state law, to make certain changes to the structure and operation of the Separate Account, including, among other things:

eliminate, combine or add Sub-Accounts;

combine the Separate Account or any Sub-Account(s) with one or more different separate account(s) or Sub-Account(s);

close existing Sub-Accounts to allocations of new Purchase Payments and Contract Value by current or new Owners;

transfer assets of the Separate Account or any Sub-Account that we may determine to be associated with the class of contracts in which the Contract belongs to another separate account or Sub-Account;

operate the Separate Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act, or as any other form permitted by law;

add or remove Funds or Fund classes in which the Sub-Accounts invest; and

substitute a new Fund for a Fund in which a Sub-Account currently invests (new or substitute Funds may have different fees and expenses).
In the event we exercise these rights, we will provide Written Notice to the Owner(s).
The Funds
Information about each Fund, including its name, type or investment objective, investment adviser(s) expenses, and performance is available in an appendix to this Prospectus. See “Appendix A – Funds Available Under the Contract”. There is no assurance that any of the Funds will achieve their stated objectives.
These Funds are only available to insurance company separate accounts and qualified retirement plans, are not available for purchase directly by the general public, and are not the same as other mutual fund portfolios with very similar or nearly identical names and investment goals and policies that are sold directly to the public. While a Fund may have many similarities to these other publicly available mutual funds, you should not expect the investment results of the Fund to be the same as the investment results of those publicly available mutual funds. We do not guarantee or make any representation that the investment results of the Funds will be comparable to the investment results of any other mutual fund, even a mutual fund with the same investment adviser or manager.
The prospectus for each Fund contains more detailed information about the Fund. You may obtain copies of the Fund prospectuses by contacting our Service Center. If you received a summary prospectus for a Fund, please follow the directions on the first page of the Summary Prospectus to obtain a copy of the full Fund prospectus.
Conflicts of Interest
The Funds available with the Contract may also be available to registered separate accounts offering variable annuity and variable life products of other affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies, as well as to the Separate Account and
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other separate accounts of MassMutual. Although we do not anticipate any disadvantages to this, it is possible that a material conflict may arise between the interests of the Separate Account and one or more of the other separate accounts participating in the Funds. A conflict may occur, for example, as a result of a change in law affecting the operations of variable life and variable annuity separate accounts, differences in the voting instructions of the Owners and payees and those of other insurance companies, or some other reason. In the event of a conflict of interest, we will take steps necessary to protect Owners and payees, including withdrawing the Separate Account from participation in the Funds involved in the conflict or substituting shares of other funds.
We do not recommend or endorse any particular Fund, and we do not provide investment advice. You are responsible for choosing the Funds, and the amounts allocated to each, that are appropriate for your own individual circumstances and your investment goals, financial situation, and risk tolerance. Because many Funds have similar names, be sure to state or write the full name of the Sub-Account when providing your allocation instructions to ensure that your allocation instructions are in Good Order. You bear the risk of any decline in your Contract Value resulting from the performance of the Funds that you choose.
Selection of Funds
When we select the Funds offered through the Contract, we consider various factors, including, but not limited to, asset class coverage, the strength of the adviser’s or sub-adviser’s reputation and tenure, brand recognition, performance, and the capabilities and qualifications of each investment firm. We may also consider whether the Fund, its service providers (e.g., the investment adviser or sub-advisers), or its affiliates will make payments to us or our affiliates in connection with certain administrative, marketing, and support services, or whether affiliates of the Fund can provide marketing and distribution support for sales of the Contracts. (For additional information on these arrangements, see the section below entitled “Compensation We Receive from Funds, Advisers and Sub-Advisers.”) We review the Funds periodically and may remove a Fund, or limit its availability to new Purchase Payments and/or transfers of Contract Value if we determine that a Fund no longer satisfies one or more of the selection criteria, and/or if the Fund has not attracted significant allocations from Owners.
Compensation We Receive from Funds, Advisers and Sub-Advisers
Compensation We Receive from Advisers and Sub-Advisers
We and certain of our insurance affiliates receive compensation from the advisers and sub-advisers to some of the Funds. We may use this compensation to pay expenses that we incur in promoting, issuing, distributing and administering the Contract, and in providing services on behalf of the Funds in our role as intermediary to the Funds. The amount of this compensation is determined by multiplying a specified annual percentage rate by the average net assets held in that Fund that are attributable to the variable annuity and variable life insurance products issued by us and our affiliates that offer the particular Fund (MassMutual’s variable contracts). These percentage rates differ, but currently do not exceed 0.25%. Some advisers and sub-advisers pay us more than others; some do not pay us any such compensation.
The compensation may not be reflected in a Fund’s expenses because this compensation may not be paid directly out of a Fund’s assets. These payments also may be derived, in whole or in part, from the advisory fee deducted from Fund assets. Owners, through their indirect investment in the Funds, bear the costs of these advisory fees (see the Funds’ prospectuses for more information).
In addition, we may receive fixed dollar payments from the advisers and sub-advisers to certain funds so that the adviser and sub-adviser can participate in sales meetings conducted by MassMutual. Attending such meetings provides advisers and sub-advisers with opportunities to discuss and promote their funds. For a list of the Funds whose advisers and sub-advisers currently pay such compensation, visit www.MassMutual.com/legal/compensation-arrangements or call our Service Center at the number shown on the cover page of this prospectus.
Compensation We Receive from Funds
We and certain of our affiliates also receive compensation from certain Funds pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. This compensation is paid out of the Fund’s assets and may be as much as 0.25% of the average net assets of an underlying Fund which are attributable to MassMutual’s variable contracts. An investment in a Fund with a 12b-1 fee will increase the cost of your investment in the Contract.
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Compensation and Fund Selection
The compensation that we receive may be significant and we may profit from this compensation. Additionally, when selecting the Funds that will be available with MassMutual’s variable contracts, we consider the amount of compensation that we receive from the Funds, their advisers, sub-advisers, or their distributors along with the Funds’ name recognition, asset class, the managers’ reputation, and fund performance. We offer certain Funds through the Contract at least in part because they are managed by us or an affiliate.
Voting Rights
We are the legal owner of the Fund shares. When a Fund solicits proxies in conjunction with a vote of shareholders, we are required to obtain, from you and other Contract Owners, instructions as to how to vote those shares.
When we receive those instructions, we will vote all the shares for which we do not receive voting instructions, in proportion to those instructions. This will also include any shares that we own on our own behalf. This may result in a small number of Owners controlling the outcome of a vote. If we determine that we are no longer required to vote shares in accordance with Contract owner instructions, we will vote the shares in our own right.
During the Accumulation Phase, we determine the number of shares you may vote by dividing your Contract Value in each Fund by $100, including fractional shares. You do not have any voting rights during the Annuity Phase.
We may, when required by state insurance regulatory authorities, disregard voting instructions, if such instructions would require shares to be voted so as to cause a change in the sub-classification or investment objective of a fund or to approve or disapprove an investment advisory contract for the fund. In addition, we may disregard voting instructions that would require a change in the investment policy or investment adviser of one or more of the available funds. Our disapproval of such change must be reasonable and based on a good faith determination that the change would be contrary to state law or otherwise inappropriate, considering the fund’s objectives and purpose. If we disregard Owner voting instructions, we will advise Owners of our action and the reasons for such action.
Fixed Account For Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA Fixed Account)
We offer a fixed account for dollar cost averaging (the DCA Fixed Account) as an investment choice under the Contract. Purchase Payments allocated to the DCA Fixed Account become part of our General Account which supports insurance and annuity obligations.
If you are participating in the DCA Fixed Account, the following other features are not available to you: the Automatic Rebalancing Program and Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program.
You may not participate in the DCA Fixed Account if RetirePay is in effect.
Description
The DCA Fixed Account is a fixed account from which assets are systematically transferred to any Sub-Account(s) you select. No transfers may be made to the DCA Fixed Account from any other Fixed Account(s) or Sub-Account maintained under the Contract.
How to Participate in the DCA Fixed Account
You can elect the DCA Fixed Account at the time your Contract is issued or at a later date by submitting a Written Request and applying a Purchase Payment of at least $5,000 to a DCA Term. We reserve the right to reject subsequent Purchase Payments into the DCA Fixed Account to establish a DCA Fixed Account Term.
You cannot transfer current Contract Value into the DCA Fixed Account.
You may apply additional Purchase Payments to a current DCA Term. Such additional Purchase Payments will be added to the amount in the current DCA Fixed Account term for the remaining period of the current DCA Fixed Account term. No transfers may be made to the DCA Fixed Account term from any other Fixed Account(s) or Sub-Account maintained under the Contract. We reserve the right to reject subsequent Purchase Payments into a current DCA Term.
DCA Term
You may elect a DCA Term for a period of either six or 12 months, beginning with the receipt of a new Purchase Payment allocated to the DCA Fixed Account and a Written Request to establish a DCA Term. Only one DCA Fixed
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Account term may be operative at a time. If you elect to make an allocation to a DCA Fixed Account, but your Annuity Date will occur prior to the end of that DCA term, your DCA Term will expire on your Annuity Date.
DCA Fixed Account Value
Unless specified otherwise, the DCA Fixed Account value at any time is equal to:
(1)
any Purchase Payments allocated to the DCA Fixed Account; plus
(2)
Any interest credited to that portion of the Contract Value allocated to the DCA Fixed Account; less
(3)
Any Contract Value transferred from the DCA Fixed Account; less
(4)
Any prior withdrawals of Contract Value from the DCA Fixed Account and any applicable charges; less
(5)
Applicable charges, fees, or taxes.
With regard to credited interest that is part of the DCA Fixed Account value, we periodically determine the interest rate at our sole discretion, but guarantee that the rate will not be less than the applicable state nonforfeiture interest rate. Interest will be credited daily on the remaining DCA Fixed Account value. The interest rate credited to each Purchase Payment applied to the DCA Fixed Account will not change for the duration of the DCA Fixed Account Term, except to account for any applicable increase to the applicable state nonforfeiture interest rate. We may apply different interest rates to different portions of the DCA Fixed Account value, based upon the date on which a Purchase Payment is applied to the DCA Fixed Account.
A DCA Term will terminate:

at the scheduled end of the DCA Term;

if you withdraw the total Contract Value;

upon our receipt of due proof of the Owner’s death and election of the payment method by any Beneficiary;

if you apply your entire Contract Value to an Annuity Option; or

if we receive a Written Request from you to terminate the DCA Fixed Account at our Service Center prior to the next transfer date.
If the DCA Term terminates due to the Owner’s death or upon Written Request, the remaining value in the DCA Fixed Account will be allocated in accordance with your current allocation instructions, unless you indicate otherwise.
DCA Transfers
Except for the scheduled DCA Fixed Account transfers, no transfers may be made from the DCA Fixed Account before the expiration or termination of the DCA Fixed Account term. DCA Fixed Account transfers will be made on the scheduled transfer dates. If a scheduled transfer date is not a Business Day, the transfer will be made on the next Business Day. Transfers from the DCA Fixed Account are calculated on a first-in, first-out basis, which means the oldest Purchase Payments are transferred first. Scheduled transfers will begin five business days after the establishment of the DCA Term and will be made from the DCA Fixed Account monthly. You may elect to have the scheduled transfers made to any available Sub-Accounts, but not to any other fixed accounts.
Withdrawals When Contract Value Allocated To DCA Fixed Account
If you make a partial withdrawal and you have Contract Value allocated to the DCA Fixed Account, such withdrawal will be made from the Sub-Accounts and fixed account(s) in the ratio that your Contract Value in each Sub-Account and fixed account(s) bears to your Contract Value. Partial withdrawals from the DCA Fixed Account are calculated on a first-in, first-out basis, which means the oldest Purchase Payments are withdrawn first.
Suspension or Deferral of Payments
We reserve the right to suspend or postpone payments for a partial or total withdrawal or transfer from the DCA Fixed Account for a period of up to six months, subject to state insurance department approval, if applicable. With regard to transfers, we will disclose to you the specific date on which the transfer will be effective, the reason for the delay, and the value of the transfer as of the date we receive the request.
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Charges and Deductions
This section describes the charges and deductions we make under the Contract to compensate us for the services and benefits we provide, costs and expenses we incur and risks we assume. We may profit from the charges deducted and we may use any such profits for any purpose, including payment of marketing and distribution expenses. These charges and deductions reduce the return on your investment in the Contract.
Insurance Charges
Each Business Day we deduct our insurance charges from the assets of the Separate Account. We do this as part of our calculation of the value of the Accumulation Units and the Annuity Units. The insurance charge has two parts: (1) the mortality and expense risk charge and (2) the administrative charge.
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
The mortality and expense risk charge is for:

the mortality risk associated with the insurance benefits provided, including our obligation to make Annuity Payments after the Annuity Date regardless of how long all Annuitants live, the death benefits, and the guarantee of rates used to determine your Annuity Payments during the Annuity Phase; and

the expense risk that the current charges will be insufficient to cover the actual cost of administering the Contract.
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
When Charge is Deducted
Current (annual rate)
Maximum (annual rate)
Daily as a percentage of the daily value
of the assets invested in each
Sub‑Account
1.15%
1.15%
For all Contracts, if the amount of the charge is more than sufficient to cover the mortality and expense risk, we will make a profit on the charge. We may use this profit for any purpose, including the payment of marketing and distribution expenses for the Contract. If the mortality and expense risk charge is not sufficient to cover the mortality and expense risk, we will bear the loss.
Administrative Charge
This charge reimburses us for the expenses associated with the administration of the Contract and the Separate Account. Some of these expenses are: preparation of the Contract, confirmations, annual reports and statements, maintenance of Contract records, personnel costs, legal and accounting fees, filing fees, and computer and systems costs. This charge is calculated based on a percentage of the daily value of the assets invested in each Fund, after Fund expenses are deducted. The table below reflects the current and maximum charge.
Administrative Charge
When Charge is Deducted
Current (annual rate)
Maximum (annual rate)
Daily as a percentage of the daily value
of the assets invested in each
Sub-Account
0.15%
0.15%
Annual Contract Maintenance Charge
This charge reimburses us for the costs of maintaining the Contract. We will deduct the annual contract maintenance charge proportionately from the Sub-Account(s) you have selected.
Annual Contract Maintenance Charge
Contract Value at Time
Charge is Deducted
When Charge is Deducted
Current
Maximum
Less than $100,000
On each Contract Anniversary or total withdrawal.
$40
$40
$100,000 or more Not applicable N/A N/A
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Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC)
We do not deduct a sales charge when we receive a Purchase Payment. However, we may assess a CDSC for withdrawals that exceed the Free Withdrawal Amount, but not against earnings that you withdraw. We use this charge to cover certain expenses relating to the sale of the Contract. The charge is a percentage of the Purchase Payments you withdraw that exceed the Free Withdrawal Amount.
If we assess a CDSC, we will deduct it from the amount you withdraw.
Each Purchase Payment has its own CDSC schedule. The amount of the charge depends on the length of time between the date Purchase Payments were applied and the date of withdrawal. To determine if a CDSC applies, we process withdrawals as follows:

first from earnings (Contract Value less Purchase Payments not previously withdrawn);

then from Purchase Payments no longer subject to a CDSC according to the CDSC schedule;

then from the Free Withdrawal Amount or the amounts attributable to any CDSC waivers (taken from Purchase Payments not previously withdrawn in the order they were received with the oldest Purchase Payment first); and

then from Purchase Payments not previously withdrawn in the order they were received with the oldest Purchase Payment being first.
CDSC
Number of full years from application
of each Purchase Payment*
CDSC (as a percentage of
each Purchase Payment withdrawn)
0
7%
1
7%
2
7%
3
6%
4
5%
5
4%
6
3%
7 or more
0%
*See “Appendix B – Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Example.”
In addition to the free withdrawals described later in this section, we will not impose a CDSC under the following circumstances:

Upon payment of the death benefit.

On amounts withdrawn as RMDs to the extent they exceed the Free Withdrawal Amount. In order to qualify for this exception, (a) you must be participating in a Systematic Withdrawal Program established for the payment of RMDs, under which the annual RMD is calculated by us, based solely on the fair market value of the Contract (RMD program) and (b) you must not take any other withdrawals from the Contract in that Contract Year. If you choose to take withdrawals to satisfy your RMD for the Contract outside of our RMD program, or if you choose to take any other withdrawals from the Contract, CDSCs may apply not only to those withdrawals, but also to any subsequent RMD withdrawals taken under the RMD program in the same Contract Year.

Upon application of the Contract Value to any Annuity Option.

If you redeem excess contributions from an IRA. We look to the IRC for the definition and description of excess contributions.

Under a replacement program offered by us, when the Contract is exchanged for another annuity contract issued by us or one of our affiliated insurance companies, of the type and class which we determine is eligible for such an exchange. A contingent deferred sales charge may apply to the Contract received in the exchange. A reduced CDSC schedule may apply under the Contract if another variable annuity contract issued by us or one of our affiliated insurance companies is exchanged for the Contract. Exchange programs may not be available in all states. If you want more information about our current exchange programs, contact your registered representative or us at our Service Center.

If you are eligible for waiver of the CDSC due to your election of the Nursing Home and Hospital Withdrawal Benefit or the Terminal Illness Withdrawal Benefit described in “Additional Features.”

On any withdrawals made when you reach the Latest Permitted Annuity Date for your Contract.
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Free Withdrawal Amount
The Free Withdrawal Amount is an amount of your Purchase Payment(s) that you may withdraw that is not subject to the CDSC. During the first Contract Year, your Free Withdrawal Amount is ten percent (10%) of the Initial Purchase Payment applied on the Issue Date, plus ten percent (10%) of any subsequent Purchase Payments received in that Contract Year. Any available Free Withdrawal Amount during the first Contract Year will be reduced by any Free Withdrawal Amount previously taken during that Contract Year.
During each subsequent Contract Year, your Free Withdrawal Amount is ten percent (10%) of your total Purchase Payments still subject to a CDSC as of the last calendar day of the previous Contract Year, plus 10% of any subsequent Purchase Payments received in the current Contract Year. Any available Free Withdrawal Amount during such Contract Year will be reduced by any Free Withdrawal Amount previously taken during that Contract Year.
Any withdrawal taken during a previous Contract Year may impact the available Free Withdrawal Amount if it results in a decrease in the amount of Purchase Payments still subject to a CDSC.
Any unused Free Withdrawal Amount(s) during any particular Contract Year may not be carried over to any succeeding Contract Year.
Premium Taxes
Some states and other governmental entities charge Premium Taxes or similar taxes. We are responsible for the payment of these taxes and may deduct them from the Purchase Payments or Contract Value, or we may adjust the annuity rates for Premium Tax assessed. Some of these taxes are due when your Contract is issued, others are due when Annuity Payments begin. Premium Taxes generally range from 0% to 3.5%, depending on the state.
Income Taxes
We will deduct from the Contract any income taxes which we incur because of the operation of the Separate Account. We will deduct any withholding taxes required by law.
Fund Expenses
The Separate Account purchases shares of the Funds at net asset value. The net asset value of each Fund reflects investment management fees and other expenses already deducted from the assets of the Fund. In addition, one or more of the Funds available as an investment choice may pay a distribution fee out of the Fund’s assets to us, known as a 12b-1 fee. Any investment in one or more of the Funds with a 12b-1 fee will increase the cost of your investment in the Contract. Please refer to the Fund prospectuses for more information regarding these expenses.
RetirePay Charges
We will assess the RetirePay Charge on a quarterly basis in arrears. On the last calendar day of each Contract Quarter, a charge will be assessed against your Contract Value. The amount that is deducted from your Contract Value is equal to the RetirePay Charge multiplied by the Benefit Base on such day (after taking into account any other transactions processed on such day).
If RetirePay terminates, a pro-rata portion of the RetirePay Charge will generally be assessed based on the number of days from the first calendar day of the current Contract quarter to the date of termination. If you reach your Latest Permitted Annuity Date, and your Contract Value is applied to an Annuity Option, the RetirePay Charge is waived. Once RetirePay has terminated, there will be no further RetirePay Charges assessed. See “Additional Benefits – MassMutual RetirePaySM.”
We deduct the RetirePay Charge pro-rata from each Sub-Account in which you are invested.
The maximum annualized RetirePay Charge is 2.50%. For current RetirePay Charges, see the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement attached to your prospectus.
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Ownership
Owner
In this prospectus, “you” and “your” refer to the Owner of the Contract. The Owner is named at the time you apply for a Contract. The Owner can be an individual or a non-natural person (e.g., a corporation, limited liability company partnership or certain other entities). The Owner must be at least the age of majority in the state the Contract is issued, and may not be older than Age 85 on the Issue Date. If you elect RetirePay, the Owner must be at least Age 45 and may not be older than Age 80 when the Contract is issued. The maximum issue age for the Contract and certain additional features may be reduced in connection with the offer of the Contract through certain broker-dealers. You should discuss this with your registered representative.
If your Contract is non-qualified and owned by a non-natural person, the Contract will generally not be treated as an annuity for tax purposes. This means that gain in the Contract will be taxed each year while the Contract is in the Accumulation Phase. This treatment is not generally applied to a Contract held by a trust or other entity as an agent for a natural person. Before purchasing a Contract to be owned by a non-natural person or before changing ownership on an existing Contract that will result in it being owned by a non-natural person, you should consult a tax adviser to determine the tax impact. See “Taxes – Non-Natural Owner.”
As the Owner of the Contract, you exercise all rights under the Contract, unless limited by an assignment or by designation of an irrevocable Beneficiary. On or after the Annuity Date, you continue as the Owner.
You may change the Owner of a Non-Qualified Contract at any time by Written Request, subject to our approval. You may not change the Owner(s) without our approval. We will refuse or accept any requested change on a non-discriminatory basis. You may not change the Owner to an individual who was over the maximum age for purchasing the Contract on the Issue Date of the Contract.
A change of Owner will take effect on the date the Written Request is signed, unless you specify otherwise. We will not be liable for any payment made or action taken prior to our receipt and approval of the Written Request. A change of Owner that we allow will automatically revoke any prior designation of Owner. Changing the Owner may result in tax consequences. See “Taxes – Tax Treatment of Assignments” for more information.
Joint Owner
The Contract can be owned by Joint Owners. However, the Contract cannot be jointly owned if it is a Qualified Contract, if an Owner is a non-natural person, or by more than two individuals. The Joint Owner must be at least the age of majority in the state the Contract is issued, and may not be older than Age 85 on the Issue Date. If you elect RetirePay, the Joint Owner must be at least Age 45 and may not be older than age 80 when the Contract is Issued.
If the Contract is jointly owned, we will use the Age of the oldest Owner to determine certain benefits. If there are Joint Owners, we require authorization from both Owners for all transactions.
Annuitant
The Annuitant is the person(s) on whose life (or lives, in the case of joint Annuitants) we base Annuity Payments, with the exception of the non-lifetime contingent option. You designate the Annuitant(s) at the time of application. A Contract may not have more than two Annuitants. There is no minimum age applicable to the Annuitant or joint Annuitant; however, any Annuitant must be at least 18 on the Annuity Date in order for you to elect a life contingent Annuity Option. Annuitants may not be older than Age 85 on the Issue Date. If you elect RetirePay, Annuitants may not be older than Age 80 on the Issue Date.
You may change the Annuitant(s) before the Annuity Date by Written Request, subject to our approval and restrictions that apply if RetirePay is in effect. However, if the Contract is owned by a non-natural person, the Annuitant may not be changed and we will use the Age of the oldest Annuitant to determine certain benefits. The Annuitant generally cannot be changed if the Contract is an individually owned Qualified Contract. We will use the Age of the oldest Annuitant to determine all applicable benefits under a Contract owned by a non-natural person.
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When calculating Annuity Payments, we determine Age based on each Annuitant’s nearest birthday on the Annuity Date. See “The Annuity Phase – Annuity Age.”
Any change of Annuitant must be made by Written Request. An approved change will take effect on the date the Written Request is signed, unless you specify otherwise. We will not be liable for any payment made or action taken prior to our receipt of the Written Request. A change of Annuitant that we allow will automatically revoke any prior designation of Annuitant. The Annuitant may not be changed, nor may an Annuitant be added, after the Annuity Date.
Beneficiary
The Beneficiary is the person(s) or entity(ies) you name to receive any death benefit. You name the Beneficiary at the time of application. If the Owner is a non-natural person, the Owner must be the sole primary Beneficiary unless we allow otherwise.
Unless an irrevocable Beneficiary has been named, you can change the Beneficiary by Written Request at any time before you die subject to the restrictions that apply if RetirePay is in effect. If you name an irrevocable Beneficiary but wish to change the Beneficiary, you must deliver written authorization from the irrevocable Beneficiary to our Service Center on our form in Good Order.
A change of Beneficiary will take effect on the date the Written Request is signed, unless you specify otherwise. We will not be liable for any payment made or action taken prior to our receipt of the Written Request.
If there is a joint Annuitant on an individually owned Qualified Contract, the joint Annuitant must also be the sole primary Beneficiary.
Unless you provide otherwise, the death benefit will be paid as follows:
(1)
In equal shares to the primary Beneficiary(ies) who survives your death and/or any Annuitant’s death, as applicable;
(2)
If there is no primary Beneficiary who survives your death and/or any Annuitant’s death, as applicable, in equal shares to the contingent Beneficiary(ies) who survives your death and/or any Annuitant’s death, as applicable; or
(3)
If there is no primary or contingent Beneficiary who survives your death and/or any Annuitant’s death, to you or your estate, as applicable.
We will treat a surviving Owner as the primary Beneficiary and treat any other Beneficiary designation, on record at the time of death, as a contingent Beneficiary.
If the Owner is a non-natural person, the Owner must be the sole primary Beneficiary unless we allow otherwise.
Purchasing a Contract
To purchase a Contract, you must submit your initial Purchase Payment to your registered representative or to us at our Service Center. Once we receive your initial Purchase Payment and the necessary information at our Service Center, we will credit your initial Purchase Payment to your Contract within two Business Days. If you do not give us all of the information we need, we will notify you. When we receive all of the information we need, we will apply your initial Purchase Payment within two Business Days. If we do not have the necessary information to issue your Contract within five Business Days, then we will either return your Purchase Payment or ask your permission to retain your Purchase Payment until all the necessary information is received.
The date when we credit your initial Purchase Payment to your Contract is the Issue Date. We use the Issue Date to determine Contract Years and Contract Anniversaries.
Contract Delay
Our receipt of your initial Purchase Payment may be delayed because of circumstances outside of our control (for example, delays because of the failure of the selling broker-dealer or your registered representative to forward the Purchase
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Payment in Good Order to us promptly or because of delays in determining whether the Contract is suitable for you). Any such delays will affect when we can issue your Contract and when your initial Purchase Payment will be allocated among the investment choices under the Contract.
Purchase Payments
The minimum amount we accept for an initial Purchase Payment is:

$10,000 if you are buying the Contract as a Non-Qualified Contract; or

$5,000 if you are buying the Contract as a Qualified Contract.
You can make additional Purchase Payments to your Contract throughout the Accumulation Phase, subject to the conditions noted below. You can make additional Purchase Payments by sending payments to one of our purchase payment processing service centers:

by check that clearly indicates your name and Contract number, mailed to:
First Class Mail
MassMutual Envision
Annuity Payment Services
P.O. Box 75222
Chicago, IL 60675-5222
Overnight Mail
MassMutual Envision
Annuity Payment Services
Dept #75222
350 N Orleans St, Ste 800
Chicago, IL 60654-1529

by Wire Transfer to:
JP Morgan Chase Bank
New York, New York
ABA #021000021
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Account #323954820
Reference: Annuity Contract #, Name (Your Name)
Additional Purchase Payments of less than $500 are subject to our approval. The maximum total Purchase Payments we will allow without our approval is $1,500,000. In calculating the maximum, we will take into account the cumulative Purchase Payments on the Contract and multiple purchases of the Contract by the same Owner (whether as the sole Owner or Joint Owner), or with the same Annuitant (whether as the Annuitant or joint Annuitant). If RetirePay is in effect with your Contract, you are subject to the restrictions on additional Purchase Payments under the RetirePay Benefit Base provisions. See “Additional Benefits – MassMutual RetirePaySM – Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments” for more information.
If you make additional Purchase Payments, we will credit these amounts to your Contract on the Business Day we receive them and all necessary information, in Good Order, at one of our purchase payment processing service centers. If we receive your Purchase Payment on a Non-Business Day or after the Close of Business, we will credit the amount to your Contract effective the next Business Day.
We reserve the right to reject any application or Purchase Payment. See “Other Information – Reservation of Rights” for more information. Moreover, if RetirePay is in effect with your Contract, we reserve the right to reject any Purchase Payment not conforming to the terms of RetirePay.
Automatic Investment Plan (AIP)
Under the AIP, you may authorize us to periodically draw funds from an account of your choosing (restrictions may apply) for the purpose of making Purchase Payments to your Contract. Contact our Service Center for information regarding setting up an AIP and any restrictions regarding use of the AIP. If you participate in the AIP, the minimum additional Purchase Payment is $100. Additionally, the AIP may not be available for Contracts held as a SEP IRA or SIMPLE IRA.
Allocation of Purchase Payments
When you purchase your Contract, we allocate your Purchase Payment received in Good Order among the investment choices according to the allocation instructions you provide. If you make additional Purchase Payments, we will allocate
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them based on your current allocation instructions, unless you request a different allocation by sending us a Written Request. We reserve the right to allocate initial Purchase Payments to a money market Sub-Account, until the expiration of the Right to Examine Contract time period.
Any allocations to the Sub-Accounts that invest in the Funds that you have selected must be in whole percentages and must total 100%.
You may allocate Purchase Payments to the DCA Fixed Account, subject to conditions we may impose on such allocations. See “Transfers and Transfer Programs” for allocation restrictions applicable to that feature.
If you have elected RetirePay, you are subject to restrictions on the allocation of Purchase Payments while RetirePay is in effect. See “Additional Benefits – MassMutual RetirePaySM.” If RetirePay is in effect, changing your current Purchase Payment allocations will change the allocations for any future Purchase Payments as well as transfer Contact Value from your current allocations to your new allocations.
Contract Value
Your Contract Value is the sum of your values in the Sub-Accounts and the DCA Fixed Account.
The value of your investments in the Separate Account will vary depending on the investment performance of the Funds you choose. In order to keep track of your Contract Value in the Separate Account, we use a unit of measure called an Accumulation Unit.
Any Contract Value allocated to the DCA Fixed Account will be credited with a fixed interest rate.
Accumulation Units
Every Business Day we determine the value of an Accumulation Unit for each of the Sub-Accounts. Changes in the Accumulation Unit value reflect the investment performance of the Fund as well as deductions for insurance and other charges. The value of an Accumulation Unit may go up or down from Business Day to Business Day.
When you make a Purchase Payment, we credit your Contract with Accumulation Units. We determine the number of Accumulation Units to credit by dividing the amount of the Purchase Payment allocated to a Sub-Account by the value of the Accumulation Unit for that Sub-Account. When you make a withdrawal, we deduct from your Contract Accumulation Units representing the withdrawal amount.
We calculate the value of an Accumulation Unit for each Sub-Account after the Close of Business each Business Day. Any change in the Accumulation Unit value will be reflected in your Contract Value.
Calculation of Accumulation Unit Value
The Accumulation Unit Value for each Sub-Account was set initially at $10. Subsequently, the Accumulation Unit Values on any Business Day will be those we calculate after the Close of Business on that day. We calculate the Accumulation Unit Values for each Sub-Account by applying the Change in Net Asset Value (NAV) Formula. That formula derives the daily investment rate of return for each Sub-Account net of all Separate Account charges. The Change in NAV Formula is applied to each Sub-Account as follows:
(1)
The daily change in NAV of the Fund is added to the amount of any Fund distribution (income or capital gain distribution) on that Business Day. This sum is then divided by the previous Business Day NAV of the Fund. This is the daily gross investment rate of return for the Fund.
(2)
The daily accrual for all the Separate Account charges are then subtracted from the daily gross investment rate of return for the Fund.
(3)
The result is then multiplied by the previous Business Day Accumulation Unit Value to produce the next Accumulation Unit Value.
We have the right to split or consolidate the number of Accumulation Units credited to your Contract, with a corresponding increase or decrease in the Accumulation Unit Values.
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Example:
On Monday we receive an additional Purchase Payment of  $5,000 from you. You have told us you want this to go to the MML Managed Bond Sub-Account. When the NYSE closes on that Monday, we determine that the value of an Accumulation Unit for the MML Managed Bond Sub-Account is $13.90. We then divide $5,000 by $13.90 and credit your Contract on Monday night with 359.71 Accumulation Units for the MML Managed Bond Sub-Account.
Right to Cancel Your Contract
You have a right to examine your Contract (sometimes referred to as a free look period). If you change your mind about owning your Contract, you can cancel it within ten calendar days after receiving it. This time period may vary by state, but will never be less than ten calendar days.
When you cancel the Contract within this time period, we will not assess a CDSC. Unless your state has other requirements, you will receive back your Contract Value plus any fees or charges previously deducted from your Purchase Payments as of the Business Day we receive your Written Request in Good Order at our Service Center, and your Contract will be terminated. If state law requires us to return the amount of your Purchase Payments, then we will return the greater of: (i) the full amount of any Purchase Payment(s) less any withdrawals, or (ii) your Contract Value plus any fees or charges previously deducted from your Purchase Payments. If you purchase the Contract as an IRA, we will return the greater of your Purchase Payments less any withdrawals, or the Contract Value plus any fees or charges previously deducted from your Purchase Payments. Please see “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features” for more information about state variations.
Sending Requests in Good Order
From time to time you may want to submit a request for transfer among investment choices, a withdrawal, a change of Beneficiary, or some other action. We can only act upon your request if we receive it in “Good Order.” To help protect against unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions, we will use reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions given to us are genuine. We may record all telephone instructions.
In addition to Written Requests, we may allow requests to our Service Center:

by fax at (866) 329-4272,

by e-mail at ANNfax@MassMutual.com,

by telephone at (800) 272-2216, or

by internet at www.MassMutual.com.
Fax, telephone, e-mail, or internet transactions may not always be available. Fax, telephone, and computer systems can experience outages or slowdowns for a variety of reasons. These outages or slowdowns may prevent or delay our receipt of your request. We may make these additional methods available at our discretion. They may be suspended or discontinued at any time without notice. Not all transaction types can be requested by fax, telephone, or the internet.
Transfers and Transfer Programs
General Overview
Generally, you can transfer all or part of your Contract Value among investment choices. However, there are restrictions that are detailed later in this section. You can make transfers by Written Request, e-mail, telephone, fax, or other authorized means. You must clearly indicate the amount and investment choices from and to which you wish to transfer. We reserve the right, at any time, to terminate, suspend, or modify the transfer provisions of the Contract.
Your transfer is effective at the Close of Business on the Business Day we receive your Written Request, in Good Order, at our Service Center. If we receive your transfer request at our Service Center in Good Order on a Non-Business Day or after Close of Business, your transfer request will be effective on the next Business Day.
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Transfers During the Accumulation Phase
You may transfer all or part of your Contract Value allocated to a Sub-Account. You can make a transfer to or from any Sub-Account. If your Contract has RetirePay in effect, there are restrictions on available Sub-Accounts. See “Benefits Available Under The Contract – MassMutual RetirePaySM.”
Currently, we do not limit the number of transfers you may make; however, we reserve the right to limit transfers when the transfer privilege is being exercised to the detriment of other Owners. We further reserve the right, upon 30 calendar days advance notice to you, to limit the number of transfers in the future. We will exercise this right should we see a significant increase in transfer activity by Owners that leads to an increase in cost to administer the Contract. If we exercise this right, we will do so in the same manner for all Owners, and we will provide Owners with prior Written Notice of our decision to limit the number of transfers you may make.
Transfers During the Annuity Phase
We do not allow transfers during the Annuity Phase.
Transfer Programs
For detailed rules and restrictions pertaining to these programs and instructions for electing a program contact our Service Center.
Overview
We currently offer the following transfer programs: Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program and Automatic Rebalancing Program. These programs are available only during the Accumulation Phase. You may participate in only one of these programs at any one time.
You may not participate in the Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program or the Automatic Rebalancing Program if you have a current election in the DCA Fixed Account.
You may not participate in the Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program or Automatic Rebalancing Program if RetirePay is in effect.
Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program
This program allows you to systematically transfer a set amount from a Sub-Account to any of the other Sub-Account(s). By allocating amounts on a regular schedule as opposed to allocating the total amount at one particular time, you may be less susceptible to the impact of market fluctuations. Dollar cost averaging does not assure a profit and does not protect you against loss in declining markets. Since dollar cost averaging involves continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuating price levels of such securities, you should consider your financial ability to continue the program through periods of fluctuating price levels.
Your Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program will terminate:

if you withdraw the total Contract Value;

upon our receipt of due proof of the Owner’s death and election of the payment method by any Beneficiary;

if the last transfer you selected has been made;

if there is insufficient Contract Value in the selected Sub-Account to make the transfer; or

if we receive from you a Written Request or a request over the telephone to terminate the program at our Service Center prior to the next transfer date.
Automatic Rebalancing Program
Over time, the performance of each Sub-Account may cause your allocation to shift from your original allocation. You can direct us to automatically rebalance your Contract Value allocated to the Sub-Accounts in order to return to your original percentage allocations by selecting our Automatic Rebalancing Program.
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This program will terminate:

if you withdraw the total Contract Value;

upon our receipt of due proof of the Owner’s death and election of the payment method by any Beneficiary;

if we receive any unscheduled transfer request; or

if we receive from you a Written Request or request over the telephone to terminate the program at our Service Center prior to the next transfer date.
Limits on Frequent Trading and Market Timing Activity
The Contract and its investment choices are not designed to serve as vehicles for what we have determined to be frequent trading or market timing trading activity. We consider these activities to be abusive trading practices that can disrupt the management of a Fund in the following ways:

by requiring the Fund to keep more of its assets liquid rather than investing them for long-term growth, resulting in lost investment opportunity; and

by causing unplanned portfolio turnover.
These disruptions, in turn, can result in increased expenses and can have an adverse effect on Fund performance that could impact all Owners and Beneficiaries under the Contract, including long-term Owners who do not engage in these activities. Therefore, we discourage frequent trading and market timing trading activity and will not accommodate frequent transfers of Contract Value among the Funds. Organizations and individuals that intend to trade frequently and/or use market timing investment strategies should not purchase the Contract.
We have adopted policies and procedures to help us identify those individuals or entities that we determine may be engaging in frequent trading and/or market timing trading activities. We monitor trading activity to uniformly enforce those procedures. However, those who engage in such activities may employ a variety of techniques to avoid detection. Our ability to detect frequent trading or market timing may be limited by operational or technological systems, as well as by our ability to predict strategies employed by Owners (or those acting on their behalf) to avoid detection. Therefore, despite our efforts to prevent frequent trading and the market timing of Funds among the Sub-Accounts, there can be no assurance that we will be able to identify and curtail every instance of trading of those who trade frequently or those who employ a market timing strategy or those who act as intermediaries on behalf of such persons. Moreover, our ability to discourage and restrict frequent trading or market timing may be limited by decisions of state regulatory bodies and court orders that we cannot predict.
In addition, some of the Funds are available with variable products issued by other insurance companies. We do not know the effectiveness of the policies and procedures used by these other insurance companies to detect frequent trading and/or market timing. As a result of these factors, the Funds may reflect lower performance and higher expenses across all Contracts as a result of undetected abusive trading practices.
If we, or any investment adviser to any of the Funds available with the Contract, determine that an Owner’s transfer patterns reflect frequent trading or employment of a market timing strategy, we will allow the Owner to submit transfer requests by regular mail only. We will not accept other Owner transfer requests if submitted by overnight mail, fax, the telephone, our website, or any other type of electronic medium. Additionally, we may reject any single trade that we determine to be abusive or harmful to the Fund. Orders for the purchase of Fund shares may be subject to acceptance by the Fund. Therefore, we reserve the right to reject, without prior notice, any Fund transfer request if the investment in the Fund is not accepted for any reason.
The Funds may assess a redemption fee (which we reserve the right to collect) on shares held for a relatively short period. The prospectuses for the Funds describe the Funds’ frequent trading and market timing policies and procedures, which may be more or less restrictive than the policies and procedures we have adopted. We have entered into a written agreement, as required by SEC regulation, with each Fund or its principal underwriter that obligates us to provide to the Fund promptly upon request certain information about the trading activity of individual Owners, and to execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or transfers by specific Owners who violate the frequent trading or market timing policies established by the Fund.
Owners and other persons with interests in the Contracts should be aware that the purchase and redemption orders received by the Funds generally are “omnibus” orders from intermediaries, such as retirement plans or separate accounts funding variable insurance contracts. The omnibus orders reflect the aggregation and netting of multiple orders from individual owners of variable contracts and/or individual retirement plan participants. The omnibus nature of these orders
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may limit the Funds in their ability to apply their frequent trading or market timing policies and procedures. It may also require that we restrict or prohibit further purchases or transfers as requested by a Fund on all contracts owned by an Owner whose trading activity under one variable contract has violated a Fund’s frequent trading or market timing policy. If a Fund believes that an omnibus order reflects one or more transfer requests from Owners engaged in frequent trading or market timing activity, the Fund may reject the entire omnibus order.
We will notify you in writing if we reject a transfer or if we implement a restriction due to frequent trading or the use of market timing investment strategies. If we do not accept a transfer request, no change will be made to your allocations per that request. We will then allow you to resubmit the rejected transfer by regular mail only.
Additionally, we may in the future take any of the following restrictive actions that are designed to prevent the employment of a frequent trading or market timing strategy:

not accept transfer instructions from an Owner or other person authorized to conduct a transfer;

limit the number of transfer requests that can be made during a Contract Year; and

require the value transferred into a Fund to remain in that Fund for a particular period of time before it can be transferred out of the Fund.
We will apply any restrictive action we take uniformly to all Owners we believe are employing a frequent trading or market timing strategy. These restrictive actions may not work to deter frequent trading or market timing activity.
We reserve the right to revise our procedures for detecting frequent trading and/or market timing at any time without prior notice if we determine it is necessary to do so in order to better detect frequent trading and/or market timing, to comply with state or federal regulatory requirements, or to impose different restrictions on frequent traders and/or market timers. If we modify our procedures, we will apply the new procedure uniformly to all Owners.
The Annuity Phase
Overview
If you want to receive regular income from your Annuity, you can elect to apply your Contract Value so that you can receive Fixed Annuity Payments under one of the Annuity Options described in this section. If you have reached your Annuity Date and you have not chosen an Annuity Option, we will assume you elected a Single Life Annuity with Period Certain Annuity Option with fixed payments and ten years of payments guaranteed. If the Contract has joint Annuitants, we will assume you elected the Joint and Survivor Life Annuity Option with fixed payments and ten years of payments guaranteed. If your Contract is a Qualified Contract, additional requirements may apply. We may base Annuity Payments on the Age and sex of the Annuitant under all options except the Non-Lifetime Contingent Annuity Option. We consider a Non-Lifetime Contingent Annuity Option to be an Annuity Option which provides an Annuity Payment for a fixed period of time only. See “The Annuity Phase – Non-Lifetime Contingent Option – Period Certain Annuity Option.” We may require proof of Age and sex before Annuity Payments begin.
You may only apply your full Contract Value to an Annuity Option. If the amount to be applied under an Annuity Option results in an Annuity Payment of less than $20 monthly (or the equivalent amount based on the selected frequency), we will pay the amount in a lump sum. If any Annuity Payment is less than $100, we will change the payment basis to equivalent quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments.
Annuity Payment Start Date
You can choose the day, month and year in which Annuity Payments begin; however, the day must be between the 1st and 28th day of the month. We call that date the Annuity Date. According to your Contract, your Annuity Date cannot be earlier than five years after you buy the Contract (unless state law requires a shorter waiting period).
When you purchase the Contract, your Annuity Date is the Latest Permitted Annuity Date. After you purchase your Contract you can request an earlier Annuity Date by Written Request. If you have elected an Annuity Date earlier than your Latest Permitted Annuity Date, you can request that we delay your Annuity Date by Written Request or by telephone any time before the Annuity Date.
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Latest Permitted Annuity Date
Unless the laws or regulations of the state in which your Contract was issued requires an earlier date, Annuity Payments must begin by the Contract Anniversary after the 95th birthday of the oldest Annuitant or the oldest Owner (whichever is sooner).
Annuity Payments
On the Annuity Date, you will begin receiving Annuity Payments under the Annuity Option that you elected. Your Annuity Payments will be fixed, meaning that the payments will not vary unless you elect either of the Joint and 2/3 Survivor Annuity Options that reduce payments upon the death of the first Annuitant. The amount of your Annuity Payments will depend upon the following:

the value of your Contract on the Annuity Date;

the Annuity Option you elect;

the Age and sex of the Annuitant or joint Annuitants, if applicable;

the minimum guaranteed payout rates associated with your Contract; and

the deduction of Premium Taxes, if applicable.
Generally, the more frequently the Annuity Payments will be made or the longer the Annuity Period will last, the lower the amount of your Annuity Payments will be.
See “Fixed Annuity Payout Rates” section in the SAI for more information.
Annuity Age
When calculating Annuity Payments, we determine Age based on each Annuitant’s nearest birthday on the Annuity Date. For example, we consider age 80 to be the period of time between age 79 years, 6 months, and 1 day and age 80 years and 6 months.
Annuity Options
The available fixed Annuity Options are listed in this section in the Annuity Options table. We may consent to other plans of payment in addition to those listed. After Annuity Payments begin, you cannot change the Annuity Option or the frequency of Annuity Payments. Generally, you cannot make withdrawals during the Annuity Phase; however, certain Annuity Options may allow for commuted value withdrawals. See “The Annuity Phase – Annuity Payment Commutation.” For all lifetime contingent Annuity Options, the Annuitant(s) must be at least age 18 as of the Annuity Date.
RMDs for Qualified Contracts
In order to avoid adverse tax consequences, you should begin to take distributions from your Contract no later than the beginning date required by the IRC. These distributions can be withdrawals or Annuity Payments. The distributions should be at least equal to the minimum amount required by the IRC or paid through an Annuity Option that complies with the RMD rules of IRC Section 401(a)(9). If your Contract is an individual retirement annuity, the required beginning date is no later than April 1 of the calendar year: (1) after you reach age 72, if you were born after June 30, 1949 or (2) after you reach age 7012, if you were born before July 1, 1949.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC)
We will not deduct a CDSC if you apply your Contract Value to any Annuity Option.
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Limitations on Payment Options
If you purchased the Contract as a Qualified Contract, the RMD rules that apply to annuitized Contracts during your lifetime may impose restrictions on the types of payment options that you may elect. In addition, in order to ensure that the Contract will comply with the RMD requirements that apply upon your death, you may not elect a joint and survivor annuity option with a non-spouse Joint Annuitant who is more than 10 years younger than you.
For Qualified Contracts, if, upon the death of the owner (annuitant if the contract is held as a Custodial IRA), there are annuity payments remaining, we may shorten the remaining payment period in order to ensure that payments do not continue beyond the 10 year post-death distribution period provided under IRC section 401(a)(9), or beyond the beneficiary’s life or life expectancy for certain classes of beneficiaries, such as a spouse or an individual who is not more than 10 years younger than the decedent. In such a case, the adjusted payment stream will be calculated by first calculating the commuted value of the remaining payments, and then calculating an actuarially equivalent payment stream over the revised period, using the same rate used in the commutation calculation.
Single Lifetime Contingent Options (fixed payments only)
Single Life Annuity
Single Life Annuity with
Cash Refund
Single Life Annuity with
Period Certain
Number of Annuitants:
One One One
Length of Payment Period:
For as long as the Annuitant lives.
For as long as the Annuitant lives.
For a guaranteed period of either 10 or 20 years or as long as the Annuitant lives, whichever is longer.
Annuity Payments After
Death of the Annuitant:
None. All payments end upon the Annuitant’s death.
If the total of all Annuity Payments made is less than the amount applied to the Annuity Option, the Beneficiary will receive the difference in a lump sum. If the total of all Annuity Payments made is equal to or greater than the amount applied to the Annuity Option, no additional payment will be made.
When the Annuitant dies, if there are remaining guaranteed payments, the Beneficiary may elect to continue receiving remaining guaranteed payments or the Beneficiary may elect a lump sum payment equal to the commuted value of the remaining guaranteed Annuity Payments.
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Joint Lifetime Contingent Options (fixed payments only)
Joint and Survivor
Annuity
Joint and Survivor
Annuity with Period
Certain
Joint and 2/3 Survivor
Life Annuity
Joint and 2/3 Survivor
Life Annuity with
Period Certain
Number of Annuitants:
Two Two Two Two
Length of Payment Period:
For as long as either Annuitant lives.
For a guaranteed period of either 10 or 20 years or as long as either Annuitant lives, whichever is longer.
For as long as either Annuitant lives.
For a guaranteed period of either 10 or 20 years or as long as either Annuitant lives, whichever is longer.
Annuity Payments After Death of the Annuitant:
100% of the payments will continue for the life of the surviving Annuitant. No payments will continue after the death of both Annuitants.
100% of the payments will continue for the life of the surviving Annuitant.
When both Annuitants have died, if there are remaining guaranteed payments, the Beneficiary(ies) may elect to continue receiving remaining guaranteed payments or the Beneficiary(ies) may elect a lump sum payment equal to the commuted value of the remaining guaranteed Annuity Payments.
At the death of either Annuitant, Annuity Payments will continue to be paid at the same frequency then in effect for the life of the surviving Annuitant, but at a reduced rate of two-thirds of the original Annuity Payment. Annuity Payments cease upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant. At the end of the period certain following the death of either Annuitant, or upon the death of either Annuitant after the end of the period certain, Annuity Payments will continue to be paid at the same frequency then in effect to the surviving Annuitant, but at a reduced rate of two-thirds of the original Annuity Payment. If the last surviving Annuitant dies before the end of the period certain, Annuity Payments will continue at 100% of the amount and at the same frequency then in effect until the end of the period certain. The Beneficiary(ies) may instead elect to receive the commuted value of the remaining period certain annuity payments in a lump sum. If the last surviving Annuitant dies after the end of the period certain, no additional Annuity Payments will be made.
Non-Lifetime Contingent Option (fixed payments only)
Period Certain Annuity Option(1)
Number of Annuitants:
One or two
Length of Payment Period:
For a specified period no less than 10 years and no greater than 30 years.
Annuity Payments after Death of the Annuitant:
If the last Annuitant dies before the end of the period certain, Annuity Payments will continue to be paid at the same frequency then in effect until the end of the period certain. The Beneficiary(ies) may instead elect to receive the commuted value of the remaining period certain Annuity Payments in a lump sum.
(1)
We consider this Annuity Option to be a non-lifetime contingent Annuity Option.
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Annuity Payment Commutation
Once during lifetime of the Contract, you may, upon Written Request, withdraw all or a portion of the Commuted Value of any remaining Period Certain Annuity Payments, subject to the following conditions:
This commutation right is only available for use with the following Annuity Options:

Single Life Annuity – Period Certain for 10 or 20 years; or

Joint and Survivor Life Annuity – Period Certain for 10 or 20 years, with or without a reduction; or

Period Certain Annuity Only – 10 years or greater.
A commuted value withdrawal:

may not be taken any earlier than one year following the date you apply your Contract Value to an Annuity Option;

may not be taken after the end of the Period Certain portion of the Annuity Phase;

may not be taken if the requested withdrawal would cause the remaining Annuity Payment to be less than the Minimum Annuity Payment payable under the Contract at the existing Annuity Payment frequency; and

must be at least $10,000.
The Commuted Value of the remaining Period Certain Annuity Payments is calculated using the Commuted Value Formula specified on the Contract Schedule. All Commuted Values will be determined upon our receipt of a Written Request at our Service Center. Upon receipt of such Written Request, we will provide you with a notice of the amount payable, how the amount was determined and the impact on remaining Annuity Payments, if applicable.
For Period Certain Only Annuity Options, future Annuity Payments will be proportionally reduced by the ratio of the amount of the withdrawal to the Commuted Value. If the full Commuted Value is withdrawn, no future Annuity Payments will be made, and the Contract will terminate.
For Life Contingent Period Certain Annuity Options, future Annuity Payments during the remaining Period Certain will be proportionally reduced by the ratio of the amount of the withdrawal to the Commuted Value. Any future life contingent Annuity Payments will revert to the scheduled payment amount at the end of the Period Certain as long as an Annuitant is alive.
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Benefits Available Under the Contract
The following table summarizes information about the benefits available under the Contract. 
Benefit
Purpose
Benefit is
Standard
or Optional
Fee
Restrictions/Limitations
Death Benefit
Upon your death, we will pay your designated beneficiaries the greater of (1) the Contract Value when we receive due proof of death and election of a payment method; or (2) an amount based on your Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals Standard
None

Withdrawals, including withdrawals of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount while RetirePay is in effect, reduce the death benefit amount in direct proportion to Contract Value reduction.

This benefit terminates when Contract terminates, upon annuitization, and upon due proof of Owner’s death and election of a payment method.
Automatic Rebalancing Program
Automatically rebalances the Sub-Accounts you select to maintain original percentage allocation of Contract Value Optional
None
Cannot use with DCA Fixed Account, Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program, or if RetirePay is in effect.
DCA Fixed Account
Automatically transfers a specific amount of Contract Value from the DCA Fixed Account to the Sub-Accounts you have selected, at set intervals over a period of either six or twelve months Optional
None

Cannot use with the Automatic Rebalancing Program, Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program, or if RetirePay is in effect.

Must apply a Purchase Payment of at least $5,000 to establish a DCA Term.

You cannot transfer current Contract Value into the DCA Fixed Account.

No transfers may be made from the DCA Fixed Account.
Separate Account Dollar Cost Averaging Program
Automatically transfers a specific amount of Contract Value from a single Sub-Account to other Sub-Accounts you have selected, at set intervals Optional
None
Cannot combine with Automatic Rebalancing Program, DCA Fixed Account, or if RetirePay is in effect.
Systematic Withdrawal Program
Automatically withdraws Contract Value proportionally from all of your investment choices Optional
None
In order to participate in this program:
1) there must be at least $5,000 in Contract Value
2) minimum withdrawal amount must be $100
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Benefit
Purpose
Benefit is
Standard
or Optional
Fee
Restrictions/Limitations
Annuity Payment Commutation
Allows withdrawal of all or a portion of the Commuted Value of any remaining Period Certain Annuity Payments once per lifetime of the Contract Optional
None

Available only for Annuity Options that include a Period Certain guarantee.

May only be taken once during the lifetime of the Contract and may not be taken any earlier than one year following the date you apply your Contract Value to an Annuity Option.

May not be taken after the end of the Period Certain portion of the Annuity Phase.

May not be taken if the requested withdrawal would cause the remaining Annuity Payment to be less than the Minimum Annuity Payment payable under the Contract at the existing Annuity Payment frequency.

Must be at least $10,000.
Terminal Illness Withdrawal Benefit
Allows withdrawal of some or all Contract Value without a CDSC if diagnosed with terminal illness or terminal medical condition Optional
None

You cannot be diagnosed with the terminal illness or the terminal condition or both as of Issue Date.

Each withdrawal request must be made one year or more after Issue Date.

We require proof that you are terminally ill, including, but not limited to, certification by a state licensed medical practitioner.

Cannot use with Systematic Withdrawal Program

May not be available in all states. See “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features.”
Nursing Home and Hospital Withdrawal Benefit
Allows withdrawal of some or all Contract Value without incurring a CDSC if admitted to a licensed nursing care facility or accredited hospital Optional
None

Confinement must begin after Issue Date.

Each withdrawal request must be made one year or more after Issue Date.

Each withdrawal request must be made within 120 calendar days after services were provided.

Confinement must be for at least 90 consecutive calendar days.

Confinement must be prescribed by state licensed medical practitioner.

Each withdrawal request must be accompanied by proof above conditions are met.

Cannot use with Systematic Withdrawal Program.

May not be available in all states. See “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features.”
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Benefit
Purpose
Benefit is
Standard
or Optional
Fee
Restrictions/Limitations
MassMutual RetirePaySM
Guarantees that prescribed level of withdrawals can be taken for life beginning on the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, even if Contract Value is zero
Optional
Maximum RetirePay Charge:

May allocate Contract Value only to certain Sub-Accounts.

May not make additional purchase payments that total more than $10,000 in a Contract Year after the first Contract Year.

Subsequent Purchase Payments not allowed after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date.

Any withdrawal prior to the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date and, on and after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, the portion of a withdrawal (including CDSCs) from the Contract Value that causes the cumulative withdrawals to exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year will be an Excess Withdrawal unless the withdrawal is taken as a part of the Company’s Systematic Withdrawal Program established for the payment of RMDs, under which the RMD is calculated by the Company for the current calendar year based solely on the fair market value of the Contract as defined in IRC Section 401(a)(9) and no other withdrawals are taken within the Contract Year. Any withdrawal that occurs after the cumulative withdrawals exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year will also be an Excess Withdrawal.

Excess Withdrawals negatively impact the benefit.

Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is not available until youngest Covered Person attains age 5912.
Single Life Highest Anniversary Value Step-up Charge 2.50%
Joint Life
Highest
Anniversary Value Step-up Charge
2.50%
Single Life Highest
Quarterly Value Step-up Charge
2.50%
Joint Life Highest
Quarterly Value Step-up Charge
2.50%
For current RetirePay charges, see the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement attached to your prospectus.
Some of the benefits identified in the Table of Benefits Available Under the Contract are described in more detail following the table and other benefits are disclosed in more detail in other sections of the prospectus.
Death Benefit
Death of Owner During the Accumulation Phase
If you, or any Joint Owner, die during the Accumulation Phase, we will pay a death benefit to the primary Beneficiary. If any Owner dies, we will treat the surviving Owner as the primary Beneficiary and treat any other Beneficiary designation, on record at the time of death, as a contingent Beneficiary.
The Beneficiary may request that the death benefit be paid under one of the death benefit options. If the sole primary Beneficiary is your spouse and your Contract is a Non-Qualified Contract or is held as a traditional IRA (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs) or Roth IRA, he or she may elect to become the Owner of the Contract by continuing the Contract at the death benefit amount payable. Generally, if the Contract is continued then:

the initial Contract Value will equal the death benefit amount;

all applicable Contract features and benefits will be in the surviving spouse’s name; and

the surviving spouse will exercise all of the Owner’s rights under the Contract.
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Restrictions are as follows:

if, at the time the Owner purchased the Contract, the surviving spouse was over the maximum contract issue age, then the Contract cannot be continued;

if the surviving spouse is not a Covered Person, RetirePay will be terminated.
If the sole primary Beneficiary is a domestic partner or civil union partner, as defined under applicable state laws, we will treat him or her as a spouse for this provision, and he or she may elect to continue the Contract as described herein. However, a domestic partner or civil union partner cannot elect to continue the Contract if it is a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Since current federal tax law does not define a spouse to include a domestic partner or civil union partner, such domestic partner or civil union partner who elects to continue the Contract must still meet the distribution requirements of IRC Section 72(s). In order to meet these requirements, the amount of any gain in the Contract will become subject to income tax at the time the election to continue the Contract is made.
The right to continue the Contract by a surviving spouse, a domestic partner, or a civil union partner can only be exercised once while the Contract is in effect.
See “Taxes – Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships” if you are in a domestic partnership or civil union.
Death Benefit Amount During the Accumulation Phase
Return of Purchase Payment Death Benefit
The death benefit during the Accumulation Phase will be the greater of 1 and 2 below.
(1)
The total Purchase Payments, reduced by an adjustment for each withdrawal. The adjustment is equal to A divided by B, with the result multiplied by C, where:
A = the Contract Value withdrawn, including any applicable CDSC;
B = the Contract Value immediately prior to the withdrawal; and
C = the total Purchase Payments adjusted for any prior withdrawals.
(2)
The Contract Value.
A withdrawal will reduce the death benefit amount in direct proportion to the Contract Value reduction, including withdrawals of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount if RetirePay is in effect. For example, if you take a 20% withdrawal from your Contract Value, the death benefit will be reduced by 20%. Since withdrawals result in a pro rata adjustment to the death benefit amount, the death benefit amount will be reduced by more than the actual dollar amount of the withdrawals when the death benefit is greater than the Contract Value. See “Appendix D – Return of Purchase Payment Death Benefit Examples.”
The death benefit that is payable during the Accumulation Phase is determined as of the Close of Business on the Business Day on which we receive both due proof of death and an election of a payment method at our Service Center in Good Order. Where there is more than one Beneficiary, we will determine the death benefit as of the Close of Business on the first Business Day that any Beneficiary submits due proof of death and election of a payment method in Good Order. If the death benefit payable is greater than the Contract Value, we will apply an amount equal to the difference between the death benefit and Contract Value to each Sub-Account and/or the DCA Fixed Account, if applicable, in the ratio that your value bears to your Contract Value. Any current DCA Term will then terminate. Each Beneficiary’s portion of the death benefit will be applied to their chosen death benefit payout option on the Business Day we receive their election of a payment method at our Service Center in Good Order, and will be paid from the Sub-Accounts on a pro rata basis. The balance of the death benefit will remain in the Sub-Accounts based on the current allocation until each of the other Beneficiaries submits their election of a payment method to our Service Center in Good Order. From the time the death benefit is determined until complete distribution is made, any amount in a Sub-Account will be subject to investment risk. This risk is borne by the Beneficiary(ies).
The Return of Purchase Payment Death Benefit will terminate if the Contract terminates, once the Contract enters the Annuity Phase, or upon our receipt of due proof of the Owner’s death and election of the payment method unless the Contract is continued by the surviving spouse.
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Death Benefit Payment Options During the Accumulation Phase
The availability of certain death benefit options may be limited for tax-qualified contracts in order to comply with RMD rules.
For Non-Qualified Contracts, each Beneficiary must elect the death benefit to be paid under one of the following options in the event that a death benefit becomes payable during the Accumulation Phase:

Option 1 – Lump sum payment of the death benefit.

Option 2 – Payment of the entire death benefit within five years of the date of any Owner’s death. This option may not be available if there are multiple Beneficiaries.

Option 3 – Payment of the death benefit under an Annuity Option over the lifetime of the Beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the Beneficiary. Distribution must begin within one year of the date of any Owner’s death. This option is not available for a Beneficiary that is a non-natural person.
For Qualified Contracts, each Beneficiary must elect the death benefit to be paid under one of the following options in the event that a death benefit becomes payable during the Accumulation Phase:

Option 1 – Lump sum payment of the death benefit.

Option 2 – Payment of the entire death benefit by the end of the calendar year that contains the tenth anniversary of your death. This option may not be available if there are multiple Beneficiaries.

Option 3 – If the Beneficiary is your surviving spouse, or is not more than ten years younger than you, payment of the death benefit under an Annuity Option over the lifetime of the Beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the Beneficiary. Distribution must generally begin by the end of the calendar year following the year of your death. Additional deferral may be available for a spouse Beneficiary.

Option 4 – If the Beneficiary is your surviving spouse, or is not more than ten years younger than you, payment of the death benefit from a deferred annuity Contract over the life expectancy of the Beneficiary through a series of non-annuitized withdrawals made at least annually. Distribution must generally begin by the end of the calendar year following the year of your death. Additional deferral may be available for a spouse Beneficiary. Additional withdrawals, including full withdrawals, are available. This option may not be available if there are multiple Beneficiaries. See “Death Benefit – Death Benefit Payment Options During the Accumulation Phase – Beneficiary IRA” for rules and restrictions.
If the sole primary Beneficiary is a spouse, continuation of the Contract in his or her own name is described previously in this section under “Death Benefit – Death of Owner During the Accumulation Phase.”
For Non-Qualified Contracts, any portion of the death benefit not applied to Option 3 within the time period specified must be distributed within five years of the date of the Owner’s death under Option 1 or Option 2. For Qualified Contracts, any portion of the death benefit not applied to Option 3 or Option 4 within the time period specified must be distributed by the end of the calendar year that contains the tenth anniversary of your death under Option 1 or Option 2. This is true even if you have restricted the Beneficiary’s payout option. You may restrict a Beneficiary’s right to elect a death benefit payout option. If you do so, such rights or options will not be available to the Beneficiary.
We may also consent to other death benefit payout options in addition to those described in this section as long as they comply with IRC Section 72(s) or Section 401(a)(9), as applicable.
If a Beneficiary chooses to receive payment of the Death Benefit other than as a lump sum, their successor beneficiary will only receive any remaining Contract Value in the event of death before full distribution has been made. The ROP Death Benefit will not apply upon the death of the Beneficiary.
Lump Sum Payments
If a lump sum payment is requested, we will pay the amount within seven calendar days after we receive proof of death and election of the payment method in Good Order at our Service Center, unless we are required to suspend or delay payment.
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Beneficiary IRA
Beneficiary, Inherited, Legacy or “Stretch” IRAs are all terms used to describe an IRA that is used exclusively to distribute death proceeds of an IRA or other qualified investment to the Beneficiary over that Beneficiary’s life expectancy in order to meet the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules. Upon the Contract Owner’s death under an IRA or other qualified Contract, an “eligible designated beneficiary(ies)” may generally establish a Beneficiary IRA by either purchasing a new annuity Contract or, in some circumstances, by electing the Beneficiary IRA payout option under the current Contract. Until withdrawn, amounts in a Beneficiary IRA continue to be tax-deferred. Amounts withdrawn each year, including amounts that are required to be withdrawn under the RMD rules, are subject to tax.
If the Contract Owner died on or before December 31, 2019 (on or before December 31, 2021 for participants of a governmental plan or a plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement), an individual designated Beneficiary, and certain trusts as Beneficiary, are treated as eligible designated Beneficiaries, and can elect to take distributions over their life expectancy (life expectancy of the oldest trust Beneficiary).
However, if the Contract Owner dies on or after January 1, 2020 (on or after January 1, 2022 for participants of a governmental plan or a plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement), only certain designated Beneficiaries are treated as eligible designated Beneficiaries, and we will only offer the Beneficiary IRA payout option to a designated Beneficiary who either (1) is the surviving spouse of the deceased qualified plan participant or IRA owner or, (2) is not more than 10 years younger than the deceased qualified plan participant or IRA owner. In the future, we may allow additional classes of eligible designated Beneficiaries to elect the Beneficiary IRA payout option. See “Death Benefit – Death Benefit Payment Options During the Accumulation Phase” for more information.
See “Taxes – Required Minimum Distributions for Qualified Contracts” for more information.
Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions:
If a Beneficiary(ies) elects payment under Option 4 as a Beneficiary IRA after the death of the Owner, the following rules apply:

The annuity Contract will be titled in the Beneficiary’s name as Beneficiary for the deceased Owner. The Beneficiary must be the Annuitant, and the Annuitant cannot be changed.

For non-spousal Beneficiary IRAs, RMDs must begin by December 31st of the year following the year of the date of the Owner’s death. For spousal Beneficiary IRAs, RMDs may be deferred until the year for which the original Owner would have been required to begin RMDs. The RMD amount will generally be calculated based on the Beneficiary’s life expectancy and will be withdrawn from each Sub-Account and/or the DCA Fixed Account, if applicable, in the ratio that your value in each bears to your Contract Value.

We will not offer a Beneficiary IRA to a trust.

RMDs must be made at least annually through a SWP that we administer. The SWP cannot be terminated.

Withdrawals will not be subject to a CDSC.

The Beneficiary’s initial Contract Value will be equal to the death benefit that would have been payable to the Beneficiary if a lump sum distribution had been elected.

Additional contributions cannot be applied to the Contract.

Upon the death of the Annuitant, any remaining Contract Value will be paid to the succeeding Beneficiary in a lump sum or over the Annuitant’s remaining life expectancy as determined by the applicable IRS table, but in no case may payments extend beyond the end of the calendar year that contains the tenth anniversary of the Annuitant’s death.

A Beneficiary IRA may only be established by the Beneficiary of the IRA owner/qualified plan participant whose death triggered the RMD requirements of IRC Section 401(a)(9). A Beneficiary IRA may not be established as a “second generation” Beneficiary IRA by a successor Beneficiary.

Joint ownership of a Beneficiary IRA is not allowed.

If RetirePay is in effect, it will be terminated.
Beneficiaries should consult a qualified tax adviser for advice prior to establishing a Beneficiary IRA.
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Death of Owner During the Annuity Phase
Upon any Owner’s death during the Annuity Phase, if the Annuitant is still alive, the surviving Owner will retain the ownership of the Contract. If there is no surviving Owner, the Beneficiary will become the Owner. Any remaining Annuity Payments under the Annuity Option elected will continue to be paid at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution in effect at such Owner’s death. For Qualified Contracts, the Beneficiary(ies) may be required to receive an adjusted payment stream in order to comply with RMD rules that apply upon the Owner/Annuitant’s death. If the Beneficiary is not an “Eligible Designated Beneficiary” as defined by IRC Section 401(a)(9), Annuity Payments may only continue through the end of the calendar year that contains the tenth anniversary of the Owner/Annuitant’s death, even if a longer Annuity Payment option was elected, including a Joint and Last Survivor Annuity Option where the Joint Annuitant is still living.
Death of Annuitant
If an Annuitant, who is not the Owner or Joint Owner, dies during the Accumulation Phase, you can name a new Annuitant subject to our approval. If there is no surviving Annuitant, the oldest Owner will become the Annuitant. If the Owner is a non-natural person and an Annuitant dies, you may not name a new Annuitant. In this case we will treat the death of the Annuitant as the death of the Owner and pay the death benefit as described in “Death Benefit – Death of Owner During the Accumulation Phase.”
Upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant on or after the Annuity Date, the death benefit, if any, is as specified in the Annuity Option elected. Upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant during the Annuity Phase, any remaining payment under the elected Annuity Option will be paid to the Beneficiary. For Qualified Contracts, the Beneficiary(ies) may be required to receive an adjusted payment stream in order to comply with RMD rules that apply upon the Owner/​Annuitant’s death. If the Beneficiary is not an “Eligible Designated Beneficiary” as defined by IRC Section 401(a)(9), Annuity Payments may only continue through the end of the calendar year that contains the tenth anniversary of the Owner/ Annuitant’s death, even if a longer Annuity Payment option was elected, including a Joint and Last Survivor Annuity Option where the Joint Annuitant is still living. We will treat a surviving Owner as the primary Beneficiary and treat any other Beneficiary designation on record at the time of death as a contingent Beneficiary.
Due Proof of Death
For purposes of determining due proof of death, we require:

a certified death certificate; or

a certified decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding of death; or

any other proof satisfactory to us.
Additional Benefits
Terminal Illness Withdrawal Benefit
With this benefit, you may withdraw all or a portion of your Contract Value without incurring a CDSC if we receive a Written Request in Good Order at our Service Center that you (or an Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) have met the following conditions:

For purposes of this benefit, you (or an Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) were not diagnosed with a terminal illness or a terminal condition resulting from bodily injury or disease or both as of the Issue Date.

Each withdrawal request is made on or after the “Eligibility Date for Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge,” which is one year after the Issue Date.

We will require proof that you (or an Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) are terminally ill, as described above, and not expected to live more than 12 months. This proof will include, but is not limited to, certification by a state licensed medical practitioner performing within the scope of his/her license. The state licensed medical practitioner must not be you or your parent, sibling, spouse or child (or an Annuitant or an Annuitant’s parent, sibling, spouse or child if the Owner is a non-natural person).
If we determine that your Written Request for a withdrawal free of CDSC does not meet the qualifying conditions, we will provide a Written Notice of such determination. We will not proceed with your Written Request for a withdrawal until
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we receive notification from you that you accept or reject the withdrawal including the CDSC assessed. If you do not accept the withdrawal including the CDSC, the withdrawal request will not be processed. If you do accept the withdrawal including the CDSC, we will process it on the Business Day you notify us of your acceptance.
There is no charge for the Terminal Illness Withdrawal Benefit. The Terminal Illness Withdrawal Benefit may not be available in all states. See “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features.” Please contact your registered representative or call the Service Center for more information.
Nursing Home and Hospital Withdrawal Benefit
With this benefit, you may withdraw all or a portion of your Contract Value without incurring a CDSC if we receive a Written Request in Good Order at our Service Center that you (or an Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) have been admitted to a licensed nursing care facility or accredited hospital or its successor, subject to the following requirements:

For purposes of this benefit, you (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) are not confined in a licensed nursing care facility or accredited hospital or its successor on the Issue Date.

Each withdrawal request is made on or after the “Eligibility Date for Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge,” which is one year after the Issue Date.

Each withdrawal request is made within 120 calendar days after services were provided to you (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person). You must have been confined at a licensed nursing care facility and/or accredited hospital or its successor for a consecutive period of at least 90 consecutive calendar days.

The confinement must be prescribed by a state licensed medical practitioner performing within the scope of his/her license.

Each withdrawal is accompanied by proof satisfactory to us that you (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) meet the qualifying conditions above.
You may not participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Program if we are currently waiving the CDSC in accordance with this benefit.
A licensed nursing care facility is an institution licensed by the state in which it is located to provide skilled nursing care, intermediate nursing care, or custodial nursing care. An accredited hospital is a hospital licensed, or recognized as a general hospital, by the state in which it is located or by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals, or its successors.
If we determine that your Written Request for a withdrawal free of CDSC does not meet the qualifying conditions, we will provide a Written Notice of such determination. We will not proceed with your Written Request for a withdrawal until we receive notification from you that you accept or reject the withdrawal including the CDSC assessed. If you do not accept the withdrawal including the CDSC, the withdrawal request will not be processed. If you do accept the withdrawal including the CDSC, we will process it on the Business Day you notify us of your acceptance.
There is no charge for the Nursing Home and Hospital Withdrawal Benefit. The Nursing Home and Hospital Withdrawal Benefit may not be available in all states. See “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features.” Please contact your registered representative or call the Service Center for more information.
MassMutual RetirePaySM
We offer an optional guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (“RetirePay”) under the Contract. RetirePay guarantees that each Contract Year beginning with the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, you can receive guaranteed lifetime income equal to the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount even if your Contract Value is reduced to zero as long as there is a positive Benefit Base. However, you will not receive that guaranteed lifetime income if your Contract Value is reduced to zero due to a withdrawal prior to the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date or due to an Excess Withdrawal.
There are two versions of RetirePay: a single life version and a joint life version. For each version, there are two Automatic Step-Up options.
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Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement Information
We use the Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement (“Rate Sheet”) to provide current information about the RetirePay Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit as of a certain effective date. The Rate Sheet updates the following information regarding RetirePay:

Withdrawal Rates,

Lifetime Guarantee Rates,

RetirePay Charges, and

Investment Allocation Restrictions
(collectively, referred to as the “RetirePay Terms”).
A Rate Sheet that supersedes a prior Rate Sheet will not become effective unless Written Notice of the effective date of the new Rate Sheet is given at least 10 Business Days in advance. The relevant information from all superseded Rate Sheets can be found in Appendix H to this prospectus.
Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions
Certain Rate Sheet eligibility conditions apply when we have issued a subsequent Rate Sheet after you apply for your contract and prior to your issue date.
In order for the RetirePay Terms in any particular Rate Sheet to apply to your Contract, your necessary application information, including any applicable transfer form(s), must be submitted to an order entry system utilized to issue the Contract (“application submit date”) on or after the effective date of that Rate Sheet and prior to the effective date of the subsequent Rate Sheet. For purposes of this process, the application submit date is also defined to include the date the application is signed if a paper application is necessary.
Application Information Submitted with a Purchase Payment
In addition to the submission of your necessary application information, we also require payment of at least the minimum initial Purchase Payment and the application information to be in Good Order within 10 Business Days after the application submit date.
If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are met, and the Contract is issued, the RetirePay Terms in the Rate Sheet in effect on the application submit date will apply, unless a beneficial superseding rate sheet applies, as described under “Rate Sheet Comparison Process.”
If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are not met, we will cancel the application and return your Purchase Payment.
Application Information Submitted without a Purchase Payment
If you plan to pay the initial Purchase Payment with proceeds from a IRC Section 1035 exchange or direct transfer, your transfer form(s) and application information must be in Good Order within 10 Business Days after the application submit date. In addition, the initial purchase payment necessary to issue the Contract must be received within 90 calendar days after the application submit date.
If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are met, and the Contract is issued, the RetirePay Terms in the Rate Sheet on the application submit date will apply, unless a beneficial superseding rate sheet applies, as described under “Rate Sheet Comparison Process.”
If these Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions are not met, we will inform you and request instructions regarding whether to issue the Contract with the RetirePay Terms in effect under the superseding Rate Sheet or cancel the application.
If you have not provided us with the requested instructions within 2 Business Days after we have received your Purchase Payment, we will return your Purchase Payment to the original source.
The requirement to have the necessary application information in Good Order within 10 Business Days for application information received with a Purchase Payment or without a Purchase Payment includes completion of the broker-dealer suitability review.
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Rate Sheet Comparison Process
Subject to satisfying the Rate Sheet Eligibility Conditions established in the applicable Rate Sheet, if after your application submit date and prior to your issue date, a subsequent Rate Sheet is issued with only beneficial changes to the RetirePay Terms, the subsequent Rate Sheet will apply. The changes will be considered to be beneficial unless any of the following occurs:

Withdrawal Rates and/or Lifetime Guarantee Rates have decreased,

RetirePay Charges have increased, or

Investment Allocation Restrictions have changed (unless the sole change to the Investment Allocation Restrictions is the addition of available investment options).
For example, if the RetirePay Charges have increased, you will receive the RetirePay Terms included in the Rate Sheet in effect on your application submit date even if the Withdrawal Rates and/or Lifetime Guarantee Rates have increased in the subsequent Rate Sheet.
You should not purchase RetirePay without first obtaining the applicable Rate Sheet. To obtain a current Rate Sheet:

Contact your financial advisor

Contact us toll-free at (800) 272-2216

Go to www.MassMutual.com/Envision
The relevant information from all superseded Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplements can be found in Appendix H to this prospectus.
RetirePay Investment Allocation Restrictions
While RetirePay is in effect, the investment choices available to you are restricted.
If a requested change in your allocations or a transfer of any portion of your Contract Value does not comply with these investment restrictions, you will be required to terminate RetirePay by Written Request before the allocation change or transfer can be processed. We reserve the right, upon thirty calendar days advance notice to you, to change the investment restrictions. If we change the investment restrictions, you must change your allocations to comply within 30 calendar days of the restrictions becoming effective, or we will terminate RetirePay.
For current investment choice restrictions, see the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement attached to your prospectus.
Covered Person(s)
The Covered Person(s) is the person(s) whose life is used to determine the duration of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount. The Covered Person(s) is identified on the date RetirePay is issued, and cannot be changed after that issue date, even if there is a divorce involving the Covered Person(s).
If the single life version is elected, the Covered Person is:
a)
the Owner, if the Owner is a natural person,
b)
the oldest Joint Owner, if the Contract has Joint Owners, or
c)
the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person.
If the single life version is elected, we only allow one Annuitant, and the Annuitant must be the Covered Person. However, if you reach your Annuity Date and choose an Annuity Option other than that described under the “Latest Permitted Annuity Date” section, then you may change the Annuitant and/or name a joint Annuitant.
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If the joint life version is elected, the Covered Persons are:
a)
the Owner and his/her spouse (or domestic partner or civil union partner for Non-Qualified Contracts), if the Contract is owned by one natural person.
b)
both Owners, if the Contract is jointly owned. The Joint Owners must be spouses (or domestic partners or civil union partners for Non-Qualified Contracts), or
c)
the Annuitant and his/her spouse, if the Owner is a Custodial IRA.
The joint life version is not available under a Contract owned by a non-natural person, other than a Custodial IRA.
The Joint Covered Person will be considered the primary Beneficiary, and any other Beneficiary designation will be treated as a contingent Beneficiary. However, the Beneficiary may be changed if the Joint Covered Person is no longer the spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner of the Owner, and the Contract has not yet entered the Annuity Phase.
If the joint life version is elected, the Annuitant must be a Covered Person and cannot be changed. If only one Annuitant is named and the Annuitant dies while RetirePay remains in effect, the surviving Covered Person becomes the Annuitant. Upon reaching the Latest Permitted Annuity Date or entering the Settlement Phase, if both Covered Persons are living, they will become joint Annuitants. If you reach your Annuity Date and choose an Annuity Option other than that described under the Latest Permitted Annuity Date section, then you may change the Annuitant(s). See the Latest Permitted Annuity Date and Payments During the Settle Phase sections.
However, for Qualified Contracts and Contracts held as Custodial IRAs, if the Covered Person who is not the Owner (the Annuitant, if the Owner is a Custodial IRA) is no longer the Beneficiary (Beneficiary of the custodial account, if the Owner is a Custodial IRA) when the Annuity Date is reached, due to a Beneficiary change after a divorce, then that Covered Person cannot become an Annuitant.
Lifetime Withdrawals
Availability of Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount
Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date – The date on which the Company guarantees the Withdrawal Rate and on which you may begin receiving payments of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount. This date must be selected by the Owner and cannot be prior to the youngest Covered Person attaining age 5912. There is no Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount prior to the election of the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date.
Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount when Contract Value is Greater than Zero
After the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, and as long as your Contract Value is greater than zero, the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is the maximum amount that may be withdrawn in the current Contract Year without being considered an Excess Withdrawal. Each withdrawal of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount will reduce your Contract Value.
On your Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, your Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount equals:

the applicable Withdrawal Rate multiplied by

the Benefit Base.
Each time a withdrawal is made, we decrease the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount for that Contract Year by such withdrawal. The remaining amount is called the “Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount” available for that Contract Year. Any Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount not withdrawn in a Contract Year is not available in later Contract Years.
Withdrawal Rate – On the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, we will determine the Withdrawal Rate based on the number of full Contract Years from the RetirePay Issue Date and the Age of the Covered Person (or the youngest Covered Person for a joint life version of RetirePay). The Withdrawal Rate will not change once determined. Generally, the greater the number of years from the RetirePay Issue Date, and the older the Covered Person, the higher the Withdrawal Rate.
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The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is recalculated on each Contract Anniversary after the recalculation of the Benefit Base. The calculation of the Benefit Base is explained in the Benefit Base section. The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is recalculated before any other transactions are processed on the Contract Anniversary. The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount will change on a Contract Anniversary if the Benefit Base has changed since the prior Contract Anniversary.
In the Contract Year in which the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date occurs, the entire Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is available for withdrawal in that Contract Year.
For current Withdrawal Rates, see the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement attached to your prospectus.
Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount when Contract Value Reduces to Zero
If your Contract Value is reduced to zero due to an Excess Withdrawal, the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is no longer available. No further benefits will be payable under RetirePay, and RetirePay will terminate.
If your Contract Value is reduced to zero after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date due to a withdrawal that is not an Excess Withdrawal, or due to the application of any Contract and rider charges against your Contract Value, your Contract will enter the Settlement Phase. Once the Contract has entered the Settlement Phase, no death benefit will be available, no additional Purchase Payments will be allowed, and no additional charges for RetirePay will be assessed.
Payments During the Settlement Phase
When the Contract enters the Settlement Phase, we will first pay you any Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount for that Contract Year.
Effective as of your next Contract Anniversary:

The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount will equal:

the applicable Lifetime Guarantee Rate, multiplied by

the Benefit Base.

We will begin paying you the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in monthly installments for the rest of the Covered Person’s life (or if the joint life version was elected, for the rest of the lives of both Covered Persons).
Lifetime Guarantee Rate – On the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, we will determine the Lifetime Guarantee Rate based on the number of full Contract Years from the RetirePay Issue Date and the Age of the Covered Person (or the youngest Covered Person for a joint life version of RetirePay). Generally, the greater the number of years from the RetirePay Issue Date, and the older the Covered Person, the higher the Lifetime Guarantee Rate. The Lifetime Guarantee Rate will not change once determined.
If the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date has not yet been selected by the Owner when you reach the Settlement Phase, then your next Contract Anniversary will be considered the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date.
For Contracts with the joint life version, the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount will be paid for the life of both Covered Persons. If an Owner dies after the Contract enters the Settlement Phase, and there is a surviving Covered Person, the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount will be paid to the Beneficiary for the life of the surviving Covered Person. If the surviving Covered Person is not the Beneficiary (due to a Beneficiary change after a divorce or dissolution of a civil union or domestic partnership), the surviving Covered Person will have no rights to the Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount.
While you are receiving payments of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in the Settlement Phase, the Contract will be considered to be in the Annuity Phase, payments will be treated as Annuity Payments, and the joint Covered Persons will be the Annuitants.
However, for contracts held as an IRA or a Custodial IRA, if, at the time the Settlement Phase begins, the joint Covered Person is no longer the Beneficiary (or the Beneficiary of the custodial account if the Owner is a Custodial IRA), the joint Covered Person will not become an Annuitant and payments will cease upon death of the Owner (Annuitant if the Owner is a Custodial IRA). Therefore, any change in the Beneficiary due to a divorce could result in a payout based only on a single life even when the joint life version was elected.
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If the monthly installment of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is less than $100, the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount may be paid at any other frequency acceptable to us, but not less frequently than annually, and will be equal to the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount divided by the number of payments per year.
For current Lifetime Guarantee Rates, see the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement attached to your prospectus.
Benefit Base
The Benefit Base is the amount that we use to determine your Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount. The Benefit Base cannot be withdrawn or paid as a death benefit and is not an amount that is guaranteed to be returned to you.
The initial Benefit Base is equal to Purchase Payment as of the RetirePay Issue Date.
Effect of Subsequent Purchase Payments on Benefit Base
The Benefit Base will be recalculated with each subsequent Purchase Payment received after the RetirePay Issue Date. The Benefit Base, after the application of each subsequent Purchase Payment, will be equal to the Benefit Base immediately prior to the subsequent Purchase Payment, plus the amount of the subsequent Purchase Payment, net of any applicable taxes.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments
After your first Contract Year and prior to your Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, we limit the total dollar amount of subsequent Purchase Payments that can be applied to your Contract during each Contract Year to $10,000 per Contract Year.
Subsequent Purchase Payments may not be made on or after your Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date.
Effect of Withdrawals on Benefit Base
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSCs) may apply if any withdrawals exceed the Free Withdrawal Amount. CDSCs will not apply to an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount that exceeds the Free Withdrawal Amount.
Withdrawals prior to the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date:
Any withdrawal, including the Free Withdrawal Amount, that occurs prior to the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date, will be an Excess Withdrawal and will reduce the Benefit Base.
Withdrawals after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date:
Any withdrawal taken after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date that is less than or equal to the Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount will not be considered an Excess Withdrawal and will not reduce the Benefit Base.
The portion of a withdrawal (including CDSCs) from the Contract Value that causes the cumulative withdrawals to exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year will be an Excess Withdrawal unless the withdrawal is taken as a part of the Company’s Systematic Withdrawal Program established for the payment of RMDs, under which the RMD is calculated by the Company for the current calendar year based solely on the fair market value of the Contract as defined in IRC Section 401(a)(9) and no other withdrawals are taken within the Contract Year. Any withdrawal that occurs after the cumulative withdrawals exceed the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount in that Contract Year will also be an Excess Withdrawal and will reduce the Benefit Base.
Impact of Excess Withdrawals
Any Excess Withdrawal will have a negative impact on the Benefit Base. An Excess Withdrawal will decrease the Benefit Base in the same proportion as the amount of the Excess Withdrawal (including CDSCs) divided by the Contract Value prior to the Excess Withdrawal. An Excess Withdrawal will reduce the Benefit Base by more than the dollar amount of the Excess Withdrawal when the Benefit Base is greater than the Contract Value. Unlike the proportional impact of an Excess Withdrawal on the Benefit Base, an Excess Withdrawal will reduce your Contract Value on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
See “Appendix F – RetirePay Examples” for a hypothetical example of the impact of an Excess Withdrawal on the Benefit Base.
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Effect of Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Withdrawals on Benefit Base
Any withdrawal taken to satisfy Required Minimum Distribution rules will not be considered an Excess Withdrawal and will not result in a reduction to the Benefit Base provided all the following conditions are met:

It must be taken as part of the Company’s Systematic Withdrawal Program established for the payment of RMDs, with no other withdrawals occurring within the Contract Year;

It is taken after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date;

The RMD amount must be calculated by us based solely on the fair market value (as defined in the regulations under Code section 401(a)(9)) of the Contract;

The RMD must be the RMD calculated for the current calendar year.
Effect of Automatic Step-Up on the Benefit Base
The Benefit Base may increase due to an Automatic Step-Up on each Contract Anniversary, provided that the Age of the Covered Person (or the youngest Covered Person for a joint life version of RetirePay) on the last calendar day of the prior Contract Year does not exceed the maximum automatic step-up age of 90.
You must elect one of two automatic step-up options at the RetirePay Issue Date. You may not discontinue or change the automatic step-up option elected.
Highest Anniversary Value Step-Up
If you elect the highest anniversary value step-up option, an automatic step-up will occur on the Contract Anniversary provided that on the last calendar day of the prior Contract Year the Contract Value exceeds the Benefit Base.
Any applicable automatic step-up will increase the Benefit Base to the Contract Value. When calculating the automatic step-up, the Contract Value that is compared to the Benefit Base will be determined after processing any transactions on the last calendar day of the prior Contract Year.
Highest Quarterly Value Step-Up
If you elect the Highest Quarterly Value Step-Up option, an automatic step-up will occur on the Contract Anniversary provided that the Contract Value, on the last calendar day of any Contract Year quarter within the prior Contract Year, exceeds the Benefit Base immediately before the automatic step-up.
Any applicable automatic step-up will increase the Benefit Base to the highest quarterly Contract Value that occurred during the prior Contract Year. When calculating the automatic step-up, the Contract Value for each Contract Year quarter that is compared to the Benefit Base will be determined after processing any transactions on the last calendar day of that Contract Year quarter.
Impact of Withdrawals on Highest Quarterly Value Step-Up
If the highest quarterly value step-up option has been elected, withdrawals may impact the highest quarterly value step-up. For the purpose of determining the highest quarterly value step-up, each quarterly Contract Value will be reduced by withdrawals taken after the last calendar day of that Contract Year quarter.
The quarterly Contract Value will be reduced by:
a)
the total dollar amount of all withdrawals less than or equal to the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount and any applicable RMDs that meet the conditions under the “Effect of Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Withdrawals on Benefit Base” section, and
b)
if applicable, an amount equal to the same percentage that the Contract Value is reduced as a result of an Excess Withdrawal. For example, if the Contract Value is reduced by 5% due to an Excess Withdrawal the quarterly Contract Value will also be reduced by an additional 5%.
If multiple withdrawals occur in a Contract Year, each quarterly value may be reduced multiple times.
For example, if you request a withdrawal during the second Contract Year quarter, your quarterly Contract Value for the first Contract Year quarter will be reduced by the withdrawal. If you then request another withdrawal during the third
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Contract Year quarter, your quarterly Contract Value for the first Contract Year quarter will be reduced again by the second withdrawal and your quarterly Contract Value for the second Contract Year quarter will also be reduced by that withdrawal.
See “Appendix F – RetirePay Examples” for a hypothetical example of the impact of withdrawals on the Highest Quarterly Value Step-Up.
RetirePay Charge
We will assess the RetirePay Charge on a quarterly basis in arrears. On the last calendar day of each Contract Quarter, a charge will be assessed against your Contract Value. The amount that is deducted from your Contract Value is equal to the RetirePay Charge multiplied by the Benefit Base on such day (after taking into account any other transactions processed on such day).
If RetirePay terminates, except for a termination under sections (a), (b) and (c) under “RetirePay Termination”, a pro-rata portion of the RetirePay Charge will be assessed based on the number of days from the first calendar day of the current Contract quarter to the date of termination. If RetirePay terminates under sections (a), (b) and (c) under “Termination of Rider,” the charge is waived. If you reach your Latest Permitted Annuity Date, and your Contract Value is applied to an Annuity Option described under the Latest Permitted Annuity Date section of below, the RetirePay Charge is also waived. Once RetirePay has terminated, there will be no further RetirePay Charges assessed.
We deduct the RetirePay Charge pro-rata from each Sub-Account in which you are invested.
The maximum annualized RetirePay Charge is shown in the following table. For current RetirePay Charges, see the applicable Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement attached to your prospectus.
Maximum
RetirePay Charge (as a percentage of Benefit Base)
Single Life Highest Anniversary Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
Joint Life Highest Anniversary Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
Single Life Highest Quarterly Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
Joint Life Highest Quarterly Value Step-up
2.50%(3)
(3)
We deduct the quarterly portion of this annualized charge from your Contract Value on a quarterly basis in arrears.
Contract Continuation
If the joint life version of RetirePay is elected and a Covered Person continues the Contract under the death benefit provisions section of the Contract, RetirePay will also continue as long as it was in effect at the time of the continuation. The Covered Person is eligible to receive the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount each year for the remainder of his or her life, provided RetirePay is not terminated.
If the joint life version of RetirePay is elected and you, as IRA Custodian, continue the Contract under the death benefit provisions section of the Contract, and the deceased Annuitant’s surviving spouse is also a Covered Person, RetirePay will also continue as long as it was in effect at the time of the continuation. You are guaranteed to receive the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount each year for the remainder of the Covered Person’s life, provided RetirePay is not terminated.
If you (Annuitant for a Custodial IRA) die before the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date and if the Contract is continued, then the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date elected by the Owner of the continued Contract will determine the Withdrawal Rate and Lifetime Guarantee Rate for the Contract.
If you (Annuitant for a Custodial IRA) die on or after the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date and if the Contract is continued, then the Withdrawal Rate and Lifetime Guarantee Rate that apply after the continuation will be the same as the Withdrawal Rate and Lifetime Guarantee Rate in effect prior to the continuation.
Latest Permitted Annuity Date
If RetirePay is in effect, you have reached the Latest Permitted Annuity Date of your Contract, and your Contract Value has not reached zero, one of the following additional Annuity Options will be available to you based upon the number of
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Covered Persons still living. Unless you direct us otherwise, we will automatically pay you Annuity Payments under an installment refund annuity option based upon the number of Covered Persons still living.
One (1) Covered Person – Installment Refund
Beginning on the Annuity Date, we will make Annuity Payments equal to the amount of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount for the life of the Annuitant. Annuity Payments cease upon the death of the Annuitant, subject to the installment refund guarantee. The installment refund guarantees upon the death of the Annuitant, if the total of all Annuity Payments made is less than the Contract Withdrawal Value on the Latest Permitted Annuity Date, Annuity Payments will continue to be paid in the same amount and at the same frequency then in effect, until the total Annuity Payments made is equal to the Contract Withdrawal Value on the Latest Permitted Annuity Date. The Beneficiary(ies) may instead elect to receive the commuted value calculated as shown on the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit Contract schedule, of any remaining Annuity Payments in a lump sum. If the total of all Annuity Payments made is equal to or greater than the Contract Withdrawal Value on the Latest Permitted Annuity Date, no additional Annuity Payments will be made.
Two (2) Covered Persons – Installment Refund
Beginning on the Annuity Date, we will make Annuity Payments equal to the amount of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount for the life of the Annuitant and the joint Annuitant. Annuity Payments cease upon the death of the surviving Annuitant, subject to the installment refund guarantee. The installment refund guarantees upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant, if the total of all Annuity Payments made is less than the Contract Withdrawal Value on the Latest Permitted Annuity Date, Annuity Payments will continue to be paid in the same amount and at the same frequency then in effect, until the total Annuity Payments made is equal to the Contract Withdrawal Value on the Latest Permitted Annuity Date. The Beneficiary(ies) may instead elect to receive the commuted value calculated as shown on the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit Contract schedule, of any remaining Annuity Payments in a lump sum. If the total of all Annuity Payments made is equal to or greater than the Contract Withdrawal Value on the Latest Permitted Annuity Date, no additional Annuity Payments will be made.
However, for Qualified Contracts and contracts held as Custodial IRAs, if the Covered Person, who is not the Owner (Annuitant if the Owner is a Custodial IRA), is no longer the Beneficiary (Beneficiary of the custodial account if the Owner is a Custodial IRA) when the Latest Permitted Annuity Date is reached (due to a Beneficiary change after a divorce), this section will apply as if that Covered Person were no longer living. Therefore, any change in the Beneficiary after a divorce could result in a payout based only on a single life even when the joint life version was elected. See “The Annuity Phase – Limitations on Payment Options.”
RetirePay Terminaton
RetirePay will terminate upon the earliest of:
a)
Death of the Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) unless the joint life version of RetirePay is in effect and the Contract is continued under the death benefit provisions section of the Contract and in accordance with the contract continuation provisions of RetirePay;
b)
Death of the Owner (or the Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) after the Contract has been continued by the surviving spouse or an IRA Custodian;
c)
The date you apply your Contract Value to an Annuity Option, unless you are receiving payments under one of the Annuity Options under RetirePay at the Latest Permitted Annuity Date, in which case, RetirePay will terminate upon the last Annuity Payment;
d)
In most states, upon a change in ownership (or assignment) of the Contract, unless:
i.
the new Owner or assignee assumes full ownership of the Contract and is essentially the same person as the previous Owner, (e.g. an individual ownership changed to a personal revocable trust, a change to a court appointed guardian representing the Owner during the Owner’s lifetime, etc.);
ii.
the assignment is for an exchange under IRC Section 1035 (i.e., RetirePay may continue during the temporary assignment period and not terminate until the Contract is fully surrendered);
iii.
the Contract is transferred to a spouse (or domestic partner or civil union partner for Non-Qualified Contracts) and the new Owner was a Covered Person as of the RetirePay Issue Date; or
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iv.
the Contract is transferred to a spouse (or domestic partner or civil union partner for Non-Qualified Contracts) or to a former spouse in connection with a divorce and the new Owner was a Covered Person as of the RetirePay Issue Date.
e)
The date we receive a Written Request to terminate RetirePay.
f)
Termination of the Contract to which RetirePay is attached.
In most states, if RetirePay is terminated, it cannot be re-elected at a later date. See “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features.”
Important RetirePay Considerations
This feature may not be appropriate for all Contract Owners. You should understand RetirePay completely before you elect this feature. In particular, please note the following:

RetirePay does not in any way guarantee the performance of any of the investment choices available under the Contract. The guarantees apply to the Benefit Base and the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount, which are subject to limitations in terms of your ability to access those values.

Postponing withdrawals may positively impact the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount (e.g., because of higher Withdrawal Rates when you are older). However, if you postpone taking withdrawals, you may limit the value of this feature because your remaining life expectancy shortens as you age.

Payments of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount will first be made from your Contract Value. Our obligation to pay you more than your Contract Value, while RetirePay is in effect, will only arise if your Contract Value is reduced to zero and there is still a Benefit Base remaining.

Excess Withdrawals may significantly reduce or eliminate the value of the guarantees provided by RetirePay. Please consider the value of future withdrawals that you will need in deciding whether to elect RetirePay or the dollar amount of the purchase payments you apply to this Contract.

Because the RetirePay Charge is a percentage of the Benefit Base, the positive effect of an increase in the Benefit Base will be partially offset by an increase in the cost of the benefit.

If you plan on making additional purchase payments, you should consider the limitations on subsequent purchase payments when RetirePay is in effect.

Your investment allocations are restricted. You should consider these restrictions when deciding whether to elect RetirePay.

If the joint life version of RetirePay is purchased, a later divorce may adversely impact the benefits of RetirePay, including possibly terminating the benefit, or resulting in a payment for only a single life, even though the joint life version was selected.

The Benefit Base is the amount that we use to determine your Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount. The Benefit Base cannot be withdrawn or paid as a death benefit and is not an amount that is guaranteed to be returned to you.

In states where a change of ownership does not terminate RetirePay, such a change may adversely impact the benefits provided by RetirePay.

For mathematical examples illustrating how RetirePay operates, see prospectus Appendix F.

Please consult with a qualified financial professional when evaluating RetirePay.
Withdrawals
Your ability to take a withdrawal may be restricted by certain provisions of the IRC. Income taxes, tax penalties, a CDSC and certain restrictions may apply to any withdrawal you make.
During the Accumulation Phase you may make either partial or full withdrawals of your Contract Value. When making a partial withdrawal, you must withdraw at least $100 or your entire Contract Value in a Sub-Account, if less. We reserve the right to increase the minimum withdrawal amount to $500 upon thirty (30) calendar days advance notice. We will exercise this right should we see a significant increase in withdrawal activity by Owners that leads to an increase in cost to administer the Contract. If we exercise this right, we will do so in the same manner for all Owners, and we will provide Owners with prior Written Notice of our decision to increase the minimum withdrawal amount.
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You may make a partial withdrawal only if at least $2,000 in Contract Value remains following the partial withdrawal, unless the partial withdrawal:

is the payment of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount under RetirePay,

is under a Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) and the withdrawal is an RMD, or

is made under a SWP intended to qualify as a series of substantially equal periodic payments for purposes of avoiding the additional 10% tax applicable to distributions that occur prior to age 59½.
If you have elected RetirePay, and you make a partial withdrawal, we require the withdrawal to be taken from the Sub-Accounts according to the ratio that your Contract Value in each Sub-Account bears to your Contract Value.
If you have Contract Value allocated to the DCA Fixed Account, and you make a partial withdrawal, we require the withdrawal to be taken from the Sub-Accounts and fixed account(s) according to the ratio that your Contract Value in each Sub-Account and fixed account(s) bears to your Contract Value.
When a partial withdrawal is made from a Contract, we reflect the withdrawal as (a) a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the Contract Value (b) a pro rata reduction of the value of the Contract’s death benefit and (c) if you have RetirePay, a potential reduction to the Benefit Base (the amount of which depends on the timing and amount of the withdrawal). See “Benefits Available Under The Contract – MassMutual RetirePaySM.” When you make a partial withdrawal, we determine the number of Accumulation Units for each Sub-Account that correspond to the dollar amount of the withdrawal, and reduce the Accumulation Units credited to you by that number.
When you make a full withdrawal you will receive your Contract Value:

less any applicable CDSC;

less any applicable Premium Tax;

less any applicable annual contract maintenance charge; and

less any Purchase Payments we credited to your Contract that have not cleared the bank, until they clear the bank.
See “Appendix B – Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Example.”
Requests in Writing
To request a withdrawal in writing, submit either our partial withdrawal or full withdrawal form in Good Order to our Service Center. If your withdrawal involves an exchange or transfer of assets to another financial institution, we also require a “letter of acceptance” from the financial institution.
Requests by Other Means
You may request certain partial and total withdrawals by other means we authorize such as e-mail, telephone, or fax. Contact our Service Center for details.
Withdrawal Effective Date
Your withdrawal is effective on the Business Day we receive it in Good Order at our Service Center:

our partial withdrawal form or full withdrawal form (as applicable); and

if applicable, a “letter of acceptance.”
If we receive this/these item(s) at our Service Center on a Non-Business Day or after the Close of Business, your withdrawal request will be effective on the next Business Day. For e-mail, telephone or fax requests, your withdrawal is effective on the Business Day we receive your request in Good Order, provided it is received prior to the Close of Business. For requests received after the Close of Business, your withdrawal will be effective on the next Business Day.
Delivery of Withdrawal Amount
We will pay any withdrawal amount within seven calendar days of the withdrawal effective date unless we are required to suspend or postpone withdrawal payments. See “Other Information – Payments We Make.”
We will generally pay any full or partial withdrawal to the Owner, unless you direct otherwise. If the Owner is a non-natural person, withdrawals will be paid to the Owner.
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Systematic Withdrawal Program
For detailed rules and restrictions pertaining to this program and instructions for electing the program contact our Service Center.
The Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) allows you to set up automatic periodic withdrawals from your Contract Value.
We will take any withdrawal under this program proportionally from your Contract Value in your selected investment choices.
Your SWP will end:

if you withdraw your total Contract Value;

if we receive, in Good Order, a notification of the Owner’s death;

if we receive, in Good Order, a notification of the Annuitant’s death if the Owner is a non-natural person;

if we process the last withdrawal for the period you selected, if applicable;

if the next withdrawal will lower your Contract Value below the minimum Contract Value we allow following a partial withdrawal, unless your withdrawal is a RMD or is made under a SWP intended to qualify as a series of substantially equal periodic payments for purposes of avoiding the additional 10% tax applicable to distributions that occur prior to age 5912;

if you apply your Contract Value to an Annuity Option; or

if you give us a Written Request or request over the telephone, in Good Order, to terminate your program any time on or before the next withdrawal date. If your Contract is a Beneficiary IRA, your SWP cannot be terminated.
Taxes
The information in this prospectus is general and is not an exhaustive discussion of all tax questions that might arise under the Contract. The information is not written or intended as tax or legal advice. You should consult a tax adviser about your own circumstances. In addition, we do not profess to know the likelihood that current federal income tax laws and Treasury Regulations or the current interpretations of the Internal Revenue Code, Regulations, and other guidance will continue. We cannot make any guarantee regarding the future tax treatment of any Contract. We reserve the right to make changes in the Contract to assure that it continues to qualify as an annuity for tax purposes.
No attempt is made in this prospectus to consider any applicable state or other tax laws.
Taxation of the Company
MassMutual is taxed as a life insurance company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC). For federal income tax purposes, the Separate Account is not a separate entity from MassMutual, and its operations form a part of MassMutual.
Investment income and any realized gains on Separate Account assets generally are reflected in the Contract Value, although treated as accruing to the Company and not to you. As a result, no taxes are due currently on interest, dividends and short or long-term gains earned by the Separate Account with respect to your Contract. The Company may be entitled to certain tax benefits related to the investment of Company assets, including assets of the Separate Account. These tax benefits, which may include foreign tax credits and the corporate dividends received deduction, are not passed back to you since the Company is the owner of the assets from which the tax benefits are derived.
Annuities in General
Annuity contracts are a means of both setting aside money for future needs – usually retirement – and for providing a mechanism to administer the payout of those funds. Congress recognized how important providing for retirement was and created special rules in the IRC for annuities. Simply stated, these rules provide that you will generally not be taxed on the earnings on the money held in your annuity Contract until you take the money out. This is referred to as tax deferral.
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Diversification
IRC Section 817(h) imposes certain diversification standards on the underlying assets of variable annuity contracts. The IRC provides that a variable annuity contract will not be treated as an annuity contract for any period (and any subsequent period) for which the investments are not, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the United States Treasury Department, adequately diversified. Disqualification of the Contract as an annuity contract would result in a loss of tax deferral, meaning the imposition of federal income tax to the Owner with respect to earnings under the Contract prior to the receipt of payments under the Contract. We intend that all investment portfolios underlying the contracts will be managed in such a manner as to comply with these diversification requirements.
Investor Control of Assets
For variable annuity contracts, tax deferral also depends on the insurance company, and not you, having control of the assets held in the separate accounts. You can transfer among the Sub-Accounts but cannot direct the investments each underlying Fund makes. If you have too much investor control of the assets supporting the Separate Account Funds, then you will be taxed on the gain in the Contract as it is earned rather than when it is withdrawn. The IRS has provided some guidance on investor control by issuing Revenue Rulings 2003-91 and 2003-92, but some issues remain unclear. One unanswered question is whether an owner will be deemed to own the assets in the contract if a variable contract offers too large a choice of Funds in which to invest, and if so, what that number might be. We do not know if the IRS will issue any further guidance on this question. We do not know if any guidance would have a retroactive effect. Consequently, we reserve the right to modify the Contract, as necessary, so that you will not be treated as having investor control of the assets held under the Separate Account.
Non-Qualified Contracts
Your Contract is referred to as a Non-Qualified Contract if you do not purchase the Contract under a qualified plan such as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) or Roth IRA.
Qualified Contracts
Your Contract is referred to as a Qualified Contract if it is purchased under a qualified retirement plan (qualified plan) such as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) or Roth IRA. Qualified plans are subject to various limitations on eligibility, contributions, transferability and distributions based on the type of plan. The tax rules regarding qualified plans are very complex and will have differing applications depending on individual facts and circumstances. You should consult a tax adviser as to the tax treatment and suitability of such an investment.
Taxation of participants in each qualified plan varies with the type of plan and terms and conditions of each specific plan. Owners, Annuitants and Beneficiaries are cautioned that benefits under a qualified plan may be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan regardless of the terms and conditions of the contracts issued pursuant to the plan. Some retirement plans are subject to distribution and other requirements that are not incorporated into our administrative procedures. Owners, participants and Beneficiaries are responsible for determining that contributions, distributions and other transactions with respect to the contracts comply with applicable law.
Contracts issued under a qualified plan include special provisions restricting Contract provisions that may otherwise be available as described in this prospectus. Generally, Contracts issued under a qualified plan are not transferable. Various penalty and excise taxes may apply to contributions or distributions made in violation of applicable limitations. Furthermore, certain withdrawal penalties and restrictions may apply to distributions from qualified contracts. See “Taxes – Taxation of Qualified Contracts.”
Eligible rollover distributions from an IRA, TSA, qualified plan or governmental 457(b) deferred compensation plan may generally be rolled over into another IRA, TSA, qualified plan or governmental 457(b) deferred compensation plan, if permitted by the plan.
These amounts may be transferred directly from one qualified plan or account to another, or as an indirect rollover, in which the plan participant receives a distribution from the qualified plan or account, and reinvests it in the receiving qualified plan or account within 60 days of receiving the distribution.
IRC Section 408(d)(3)(B) provides that an individual is only permitted to make one indirect rollover from an IRA to another IRA in any 1-year period. The IRS previously applied this limitation on an IRA-by-IRA basis, allowing a taxpayer
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to make an indirect rollover from an IRA, so long as he or she had not made an indirect rollover from that same IRA within the preceding 1-year period, even if he or she had made indirect rollovers from a different IRA. Effective for distributions on or after January 1, 2015 the limitation applies on an aggregate basis, meaning that an individual cannot make an indirect rollover from one IRA to another if he or she has made an indirect rollover involving any IRA (including a Roth, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA) within one year.
It is important to note that the one rollover per year limitation does not apply to amounts transferred directly between IRAs in a trustee-to-trustee transfer.
On July 6, 1983, the Supreme Court decided in Arizona Governing Committee v. Norris that optional annuity benefits provided under an employer’s deferred compensation plan could not, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, vary between men and women. The Contracts we sell in connection with employer-sponsored qualified plans use annuity tables which do not differentiate on the basis of sex. Such annuity tables are also available for use in connection with certain non-qualified deferred compensation plans.
Following are general descriptions of the types of qualified plans with which the Contracts may be used. Such descriptions are not exhaustive and are for general informational purposes only. The tax rules regarding qualified plans are very complex and will have differing applications depending on individual facts and circumstances. You should consult a tax adviser as to the tax treatment and suitability of your investment. The contribution limits referenced in the plan descriptions below are the limits for 2021, and may change in subsequent years.
Individual Retirement Annuities
IRC Section 408(b) permits eligible individuals to contribute to an individual retirement program known as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA). IRAs are subject to limitations on eligibility, contributions, transferability and distributions. See “Taxes – Taxation of Qualified Contracts.” IRA contributions are limited to the lesser of  $6,000 or 100% of compensation, and an additional catch-up contribution of  $1,000 is available for individuals age 50 and over. Contributions are deductible, unless you are an active participant in a qualified plan and your modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain limits. Contracts issued for use with IRAs are subject to special requirements by the IRC, including the requirement that certain informational disclosure be given to persons desiring to establish an IRA. You should consult a tax adviser as to the tax treatment and suitability of such an investment.
SEP IRAs
IRC Section 408(k) permits certain employers to establish IRAs for employees that qualify as Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs. Contributions to the plan for the benefit of employees will not be includible in the gross income of the employees until distributed from the plan. SEP IRAs are treated as defined contribution plans for purposes of the limits on employer contributions. Employer contributions cannot exceed the lesser of:

$58,000; or

25% of compensation (a maximum of  $290,000 of compensation may be considered).
The employee may treat the SEP account as a traditional IRA and make deductible and non-deductible contributions if the general IRA requirements are met. SEP IRAs are subject to additional restrictions, including on items such as: the form, manner and timing of distributions; transferability of benefits; vesting and non-forfeitability of interests; nondiscrimination in eligibility and participation; and the tax treatment of distributions and withdrawals. See “Taxes – Taxation of Qualified Contracts.” You should consult a tax adviser as to the tax treatment and suitability of such an investment.
SIMPLE IRAs
IRC Section 408(p) permits certain small employers to establish a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA. SIMPLE IRA plans permit employees to make elective contributions only through a qualified salary reduction agreement.
Employers can make contributions to the plan through either matching contributions or non-elective contributions. An employee’s annual elective salary reduction contributions are limited to the lesser of  $13,500 or 100% of compensation, and an additional catch-up contribution is available for individuals age 50 and over, up to the lesser of  $3,000 or total compensation less any other elective deferrals. Elective contributions made to a SIMPLE IRA are counted against the overall limit on elective deferrals by any individual (the lesser of  $19,500 or 100% of compensation). The employer must make certain matching contributions or non-elective contributions to the employee’s account. SIMPLE IRAs are
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subject to additional restrictions, including on items such as: the form, manner and timing of distributions; transferability of benefits; vesting and non-forfeitability of interests; nondiscrimination in eligibility and participation; and the tax treatment of distributions and withdrawals. See “Taxes – Taxation of Qualified Contracts.” You should consult a tax adviser as to tax treatment and suitability of such an investment.
Roth IRAs
IRC Section 408A permits eligible individuals to contribute to a non-deductible IRA, known as a Roth IRA. Roth IRAs are subject to limitations on eligibility, contributions, transferability and distributions. Roth IRA contributions are limited to the lesser of  $6,000 or 100% of compensation, and an additional catch-up contribution of  $1,000 is available for individuals age 50 or over. The maximums are decreased by any contributions made to a traditional IRA for the same tax year. Lower maximum Roth IRA contribution limits apply to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain limits. Amounts may be rolled over from one Roth IRA to another Roth IRA. Furthermore, an individual may make a rollover contribution from a non-Roth IRA to a Roth IRA, known as a conversion. The individual must pay tax on any portion of the IRA being rolled over that represents income or previously deductible IRA contributions. The determination of taxable income is based on the fair market value of the IRA at the time of the conversion. See “Taxes – Required Minimum Distributions for Qualified Contracts” for information on the determination of the fair market value of an annuity contract that provides additional benefits (such as certain living or death benefits). You should consult a tax adviser as to the tax treatment and suitability of such an investment.
Taxation of Non-Qualified Contracts
You, as the Owner of a non-qualified annuity, will generally not be taxed on any increases in the value of your Contract until a distribution occurs. There are different rules as to how you are taxed depending on whether the distribution is a withdrawal or an Annuity Payment.
Withdrawals
The IRC generally treats any withdrawal (1) allocable to investment in the Contract made after August 13, 1982 in an annuity contract entered into prior to August 14, 1982 and (2) from an annuity contract entered into after August 13, 1982, as first coming from earnings and then from your investment in the Contract. The withdrawn earnings are subject to tax as ordinary income.
Annuity Payments
Annuity Payments occur as the result of the Contract reaching its annuity start date. Non-annuitized life expectancy distributions made to a Beneficiary, under a Non-Qualified Beneficiary Annuity SWP program that we administer, are also treated as Annuity Payments. A portion of each Annuity Payment is treated as a partial return of your investment in the Contract and is not taxed. The remaining portion of the Annuity Payment is treated as ordinary income. The Annuity Payment is divided between these taxable and non-taxable portions based on the calculation of an exclusion amount. The exclusion amount for Annuity Payments based on a fixed Annuity Option is determined by multiplying the payment by the ratio that the cost basis of the Contract (adjusted for any period certain or refund feature) bears to the expected return under the Contract.
The exclusion amount for Annuity Payments based on a variable Annuity Option is determined by dividing the cost basis of the Contract (adjusted for any period certain or refund guarantee) by the number of years over which the annuity is expected to be paid. If, in any year, total payments received under a variable Annuity Option are less than the exclusion amount allocable to that year, Treasury Regulations allow you to choose to recalculate your exclusion amount in subsequent years, by filing a statement with your income tax return. We will continue to report distributions using the exclusion amount as originally calculated. For additional information, please consult with your tax advisor and see IRS Publication 939. Annuity Payments received after you have recovered all of your investment in the Contract are fully taxable.
The IRC also provides that any amount received (both Annuity Payments and withdrawals) under an annuity contract which is included in income may be subject to an additional income tax. The amount of the additional tax is an additional tax equal to 10% of the amount that is includible in income. Some withdrawals will be exempt from the additional tax. They include any amounts:
(1)
paid on or after you reach age 5912;
(2)
paid to your Beneficiary after you die;
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(3)
paid if you become totally disabled (as that term is defined in the IRC);
(4)
paid in a series of substantially equal periodic payments made annually (or more frequently) for your life or life expectancy or for the joint lives or joint life expectancies of you and your designated Beneficiary;
(5)
paid under an immediate annuity; or
(6)
which come from investment in the Contract made before August 14, 1982.
With respect to (4) above, if the series of substantially equal periodic payments is modified before the later of your attaining age 5912 or five years from the date of the first periodic payment, then the tax for the year of the modification is increased by an amount equal to the tax which would have been imposed (the 10% additional tax), but for the exception, plus interest for the tax years in which the exception was used. The rules governing substantially equal periodic payments are complex. You should consult a tax adviser for more specific information.
Multiple Contracts
The IRC provides that multiple non-qualified annuity contracts which are issued within a calendar year to the same owner by one company or its affiliates are treated as one deferred annuity contract for purposes of determining the tax consequences of any distribution. Such treatment may result in adverse tax consequences including more rapid taxation of the distributed amounts from such combination of contracts. This rule does not apply to immediate annuities.
Tax Treatment of Assignments
An assignment or pledge of a contract may be a taxable event. You should consult a tax adviser if you wish to assign or pledge your Contract. Annuity contracts issued after April 22, 1987 that are transferred for less than full and adequate consideration (including gifts) are subject to tax to the extent of gain in the contract. This does not apply to transfers between spouses or certain transfers incident to a divorce under IRC Section 1041.
Distributions After Death of Owner
In order to be treated as an annuity contract for federal income tax purposes, IRC Section 72(s) requires any Non-Qualified Contract to contain certain provisions specifying how your interest in the Contract will be distributed in the event of the death of an Owner of the Contract. Specifically, IRC Section 72(s) requires that:
(a)
if any Owner dies on or after the annuity start date, but prior to the time the entire interest in the Contract has been distributed, the entire interest in the Contract will be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of such Owner’s death; and
(b)
if any Owner dies prior to the annuity start date, the entire interest in the contract will be distributed within five years after the date of such Owner’s death.
These requirements will be considered satisfied as to any portion of an Owner’s interest which is payable to or for the benefit of a designated Beneficiary and which is distributed over the life of such designated Beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of that Beneficiary, provided that such distributions begin within one year of the Owner’s death. The designated Beneficiary refers to a natural person designated by the Owner as a Beneficiary and to whom ownership of the Contract passes by reason of death. However, if the designated Beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the deceased Owner, the Contract may be continued with the surviving spouse as the new Owner. The Non-Qualified Contracts contain provisions that are intended to comply with these IRC requirements, although no regulations interpreting these requirements have yet been issued. We intend to review such provisions and modify them if necessary to assure that they comply with the applicable requirements when such requirements are clarified by regulation or otherwise.
Taxation of Qualified Contracts
If you have no cost basis for your interest in a Qualified Contract, the full amount of any distribution is taxable to you as ordinary income. If you do have a cost basis for all or some of your interest, a portion of the distribution is taxable, generally based on the ratio of your cost basis to your total Contract Value. Special tax rules may be available for certain distributions from a qualified plan.
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IRC Section 72(t) imposes a 10% additional income tax on the taxable portion of any distribution from qualified plans, including contracts issued and qualified under IRC Sections 408 (IRAs) and 408A (Roth IRAs). With respect to SIMPLE IRAs, the 10% additional tax is increased to 25% if the distribution occurs within the first two years after the commencement of the employee’s participation in the plan. Exceptions from the additional tax are as follows:
(1)
distributions made on or after you reach age 5912;
(2)
distributions made after your death;
(3)
distributions made that are attributable to the employee being disabled as defined in the IRC;
(4)
after severance from employment, distributions that are part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made not less frequently than annually for your life (or life expectancy) or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of you and your designated Beneficiary (in applying this exception to distributions from IRAs, a severance of employment is not required);
(5)
distributions made to you up to the amount allowable as a deduction to you under IRC Section 213 for amounts you paid during the taxable year for medical care;
(6)
distributions made on account of an IRS levy made on a qualified retirement plan or IRA;
(7)
distributions from an IRA for the purchase of medical insurance (as described in IRC Section 213(d)(1)(D)) for you and your spouse and dependents if you received unemployment compensation for at least 12 weeks and have not been re-employed for at least 60 days;
(8)
certain qualified reservist distributions;
(9)
distributions from an IRA to the extent they do not exceed your qualified higher education expenses (as defined in IRC Section 72(t)(7)) for the taxable year;
(10)
distributions from an IRA which are qualified first-time homebuyer distributions (as defined in IRC Section 72(t)(8)); and
(11)
distributions which are qualified birth or adoption distributions (as defined in IRC Section 72(t)(2)(H)).
With respect to (4) above, if the series of substantially equal periodic payments is modified before the later of your attaining age 5912 or five years from the date of the first periodic payment, then the tax for the year of the modification is increased by an amount equal to the tax which would have been imposed (the 10% additional tax) but for the exception, plus interest for the tax years in which the exception was used. The IRS has indicated that a modification will occur if, after the first valuation date, there is:

any addition to the account balance other than gains or losses,

any non-taxable transfer of a portion of the account balance to another retirement plan, or

a rollover by the individual of the amount received resulting in such amount not being taxable.
The rules governing substantially equal periodic payments are complex. You should consult a tax adviser or IRS Revenue Ruling 2002-62 for more specific information.
Required Minimum Distributions for Qualified Contracts
For Qualified Contracts other than Roth IRAs, distributions generally must begin no later than April 1st of the calendar year following the later of:
(1)
the calendar year in which you attained age 7012, if you were born before July 1, 1949, or the calendar year in which you attain age 72, if you were born after June 30, 1949; or
(2)
the calendar year in which you retire.
The date set forth in (2) does not apply to an IRA or to a five percent owner of the employer maintaining the plan. Required distributions generally must be over a period not exceeding your life or life expectancy or the joint lives or joint life expectancies of you and your designated Beneficiary. Upon your death, additional distribution requirements are imposed. If your Contract is held as a Roth IRA, there are no RMDs during your life. However, upon your death your Beneficiary is subject to RMD requirements. If RMDs are not made, a 50% penalty tax is imposed on the amount that should have been distributed.
These rules were significantly changed under the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, enacted in late 2019, and differ for Qualified Contracts when death occurs after December 31, 2019 versus those where death occurred on or before December 31, 2019 (on or before December 31, 2021 for participants of a governmental plan or a plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement).
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Where the Owner’s death occurred on or before December 31, 2019 (on or before December 31, 2021 for participants of a governmental plan or a plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement), if the Contract had not yet entered the Annuity Phase and death occurred after the required beginning date, distributions must be made at least as rapidly as under the method in effect at the time of the Owner’s death, or over the life or life expectancy of the designated Beneficiary. If the Contract had not entered the Annuity Phase and death occurred before the required beginning date, the remaining interest must be distributed within five years or over the life or life expectancy of the designated Beneficiary. If the Owner’s death occurred after the contract had entered the Annuity Phase, distributions must be made at least as rapidly as under the method in effect at the time of the Owner’s death.
If your death occurs after December 31, 2019 (after December 31, 2021 for participants of a governmental plan or a plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement) and your designated Beneficiary is not an “Eligible Designated Beneficiary” as defined in IRC Section 401(a)(9), the remaining interest must be distributed within ten years, regardless of whether your death occurs before or after your required beginning date or whether your Contract had entered the Annuity Phase. If your designated Beneficiary is considered an Eligible Designated Beneficiary, the remaining interest must be distributed within ten years or over the life or life expectancy of the designated Beneficiary.
If your death occurs after December 31, 2019 (after December 31, 2021 for participants of a governmental plan or a plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement) and you do not have a designated Beneficiary (including where your estate or certain trusts are the Beneficiary), the pre-2019 distribution rules generally apply. If your Contract has not yet entered the Annuity Phase and death occurs after your required beginning date, distributions must be made at least as rapidly as under the method in effect at the time of your death. If the Contract has not yet entered the Annuity Phase and your death occurs before your required beginning date, the remaining interest must be distributed within five years. If your death occurs after your Contract has entered the Annuity Phase, distributions must be made at least as rapidly as under the method in effect at the time of your death. We only offer a life or life expectancy distribution option to a designated beneficiary who either (1) is the surviving spouse of the deceased qualified plan participant or IRA owner or, (2) is not more than ten years younger than the deceased qualified plan participant or IRA owner. In the future, we may allow additional classes of eligible designated beneficiaries to elect a life or life expectancy distribution option.
The Regulations under IRC Section 401(a)(9) include a provision that could increase the dollar amount of RMDs for individuals who fund their IRA or qualified retirement plan with an annuity contract. During the Accumulation Phase of the annuity Contract, Treasury Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-6, Q&A-12 requires that individuals add the actuarial present value of any additional benefits provided under the annuity (such as certain living or death benefits) to the dollar amount credited to the Owner or Beneficiary under the Contract in order to determine the fair market value of the Contract. A larger fair market value will result in the calculation of a higher RMD amount. You should consult a tax adviser to determine how this may impact your specific circumstances.
Taxation of Death Benefit Proceeds
Amounts may be distributed from a Contract because of your death or the death of the Annuitant. Generally, such amounts are includible in the income of the recipient as follows:

if distributed under Death Benefit Payment Option 1 (lump sum) or Option 2 (payment within five years of the date of the Owner’s death), they will be treated in the same manner as a withdrawal from the Contract; or

if distributed under Death Benefit Payment Option 3, they will be treated as Annuity Payments.
Section 1035 Tax Free Exchanges
IRC Section 1035 provides that a life insurance, endowment, or annuity contract may be exchanged for an annuity contract on a tax free basis. When this type of exchange occurs, the gain in the original contract is preserved in the new contract by transferring the cost basis under the original contract to the new contract. The IRS has provided guidance on the partial exchange of an annuity contract for another annuity contract. According to the guidance, partial exchanges occurring on or after October 24, 2011 will be tax free if no distribution takes place from either contract within 180 days after the exchange. If a distribution occurs within 180 days after the exchange, the IRS will apply general tax principles to determine the tax treatment of the transfer. The limitation on distributions within 180 days does not apply to Annuity Payments that are based on life expectancy or on a period certain of ten or more years. You should consult a tax adviser before entering into any 1035 exchange.
Partial exchanges which occurred prior to October 24, 2011 were subject to more restrictive guidance. You should consult a tax adviser if you have questions regarding the taxation of a prior exchange.
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Beginning January 1, 2010, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 permits the exchange of an annuity contract for a qualified long-term care contract to qualify as a tax free 1035 exchange. However, if an annuity contract has entered the Annuity Phase, there is uncertainty and a lack of guidance regarding whether the exchange can qualify. Therefore, if an annuity contract has entered the Annuity Phase and the contract or the resulting Annuity Payments are exchanged for a qualified long-term care contract, we will not treat that as a tax free 1035 exchange.
The IRS has also issued guidance allowing a beneficiary of a non-qualified annuity contract to enter into a 1035 exchange of the death benefit for a new annuity contract, provided that the new contract will be administered as if the owner is deceased for purposes of the death benefit requirements of IRC Section 72(s). In order to allow the death benefit under a non-qualified annuity contract to be exchanged, we may require additional documentation from the issuer of the new contract, in order to ensure that this requirement is met.
Income Tax Reporting and Withholding
Federal law requires that we file an information return on Form 1099-R with the IRS (with a copy to you) reporting any taxable amounts paid to you under the annuity contract. By January 31 of the calendar year following the year of any payment(s), we will issue the Form 1099-R to the owner of the annuity contract. Following the death of the Owner the Form 1099-R will be sent to each Beneficiary who receives a payment under the Contract.
The portion of any distribution that is includible in the gross income of the Owner is subject to federal income tax withholding. The amount of the withholding depends on the type of distribution. Withholding for periodic payments is at the same rate as wages and at the rate of 10% from non-periodic payments. However, the Owner, in most cases, may elect not to have taxes withheld or to have withholding done at a different rate (but not lower). Distributions from certain retirement plans, excluding IRAs, that are not directly rolled over to another eligible retirement plan or IRA, are subject to a mandatory 20% withholding.
The 20% withholding requirement generally does not apply to:

a series of substantially equal payments made at least annually for:

the life or life expectancy of the Owner, or joint and last survivor expectancy of the Owner and a designated Beneficiary, or

for a specified period of ten years or more;

distributions which are RMDs;

hardship distributions from a 401(k) plan; or

distributions that are qualified birth or adoption distributions as defined in IRC section 72(t)(2)(H).
You should consult a tax adviser regarding withholding requirements.
Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Withholding
Under certain circumstances, the IRC may impose a generation skipping transfer tax when all or part of an annuity contract is transferred to, or a death benefit is paid to, an individual two or more generations younger than the Owner. Regulations issued under the IRC may require us to deduct the tax from your Contract, or from any applicable payment, and pay it directly to the IRS.
Medicare Hospital Insurance Tax
A Medicare Hospital Insurance Tax (known as the Unearned Income Medicare Contribution) applies to all or part of a taxpayer’s net investment income, at a rate of 3.8%, when certain income thresholds are met. Net investment income is defined to include, among other things, non-qualified annuities and net gain attributable to the disposition of property. Under final tax regulations, the taxable portion of any distribution from a non-qualified annuity contract – including withdrawals and Annuity Payments – is included in net investment income. Net investment income also includes the gain from the sale of a non-qualified annuity contract. Under current guidance, we are required to report to the IRS whether a distribution is potentially subject to the tax. You should consult a tax adviser as to the potential impact of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Tax on your Contract.
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Non-Resident Aliens and Foreign Entities
Generally, a distribution from a Contract to a non-resident alien or foreign entity is subject to federal tax withholding at a rate of 30% of the amount of income that is distributed. A non-resident alien is a person who is neither a citizen, nor a resident, of the United States of America (U.S.). We are required to withhold the tax and send it to the IRS. Some distributions to non-resident aliens or foreign entities may be subject to a lower (or no) tax if a treaty applies. In order to obtain the benefits of such a treaty, the non-resident alien must claim the treaty benefit on Form W-8BEN (or the equivalent form), providing us with:
(1)
proof of residency (in accordance with IRS requirements), and
(2)
the applicable taxpayer identification number.
If the above conditions are not met, we will withhold 30% of the income from the distribution. Additionally, under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act effective July 1, 2014, U.S. withholding may occur with respect to certain foreign entity owners (including foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities (such as corporations, partnerships, and trusts)) at a 30% rate without regard to lower treaty rates.
Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships
Parties to a civil union or domestic partnership are not treated as spouses under federal law. Consequently, certain transactions, such as a change of ownership or continuation of the Contract after death, may be taxable to those individuals. You should consult a tax adviser for more information on this subject.
Non-Natural Owner
When a Non-Qualified Contract is owned by a non-natural person (e.g., a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or certain other entities) the Contract will generally not be treated as an annuity for tax purposes. This means that gain in the Contract will be taxed each year while the Contract is in the Accumulation Phase. This treatment is not generally applied to a Contract held by a trust or other entity as an agent for a natural person. If a trust is not a grantor trust for income tax purposes, and any beneficiary (including a contingent beneficiary) of the trust is a non-natural person, the Contract will not be treated as owned by an agent for a natural person, and gain in the Contract will be taxed annually. This treatment also does not apply to a Contract that qualifies as an immediate annuity. Before purchasing a Contract to be owned by a non-natural person or changing ownership on an existing Contract that will result in it being owned by a non-natural person, you should consult a tax adviser to determine the tax impact.
Distribution
The Contract is sold by both registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC (MMLIS), a subsidiary of MassMutual, and by registered representatives of other broker-dealers who have entered into distribution agreements with MML Strategic Distributors, LLC (MSD), a subsidiary of MassMutual. Pursuant to separate underwriting agreements with MassMutual, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Separate Account, MMLIS serves as principal underwriter of the Contracts sold by its registered representatives, and MSD serves as principal underwriter of the Contracts sold by registered representatives of other broker-dealers who have entered into distribution agreements with MSD.
MMLIS and MSD are registered with the SEC as broker-dealers under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). MMLIS and MSD also receive compensation for their actions as principal underwriters of the Contracts.
Commissions and Allowances Paid
Commissions for sales of the Contract by MMLIS registered representatives are paid on behalf of MMLIS by MassMutual to MMLIS registered representatives. Commissions for sales of the Contract by registered representatives of other broker-dealers are paid on behalf of MSD by MassMutual to those broker-dealers. The maximum commission payable for the Contract is 8.63% of Purchase Payments made to a Contract and/or up to 2.4% of Contract Value annually.
Additional Compensation Paid to MMLIS
Most MMLIS registered representatives are also MassMutual insurance agents, and as such, are eligible for certain cash and non-cash benefits from MassMutual. Cash compensation includes bonuses and allowances based on factors such as
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sales, productivity and persistency. Non-cash compensation includes various recognition items such as prizes and awards as well as attendance at, and payment of the costs associated with attendance at, conferences, seminars and recognition trips, and also includes contributions to certain individual plans such as pension and medical plans. Sales of the Contract may help these registered representatives and their supervisors qualify for such benefits. MMLIS registered representatives who are also general agents or sales managers of MassMutual also may receive overrides, allowances and other compensation that is based on sales of the Contract by their registered representatives.
Additional Compensation Paid to Certain Broker-Dealers
We and MSD make additional commission payments to certain broker-dealers in the form of asset-based payments and sales-based payments. We also make cash payments and non-cash payments to certain broker-dealers. The asset-based and sales-based payments are made to participate in those broker-dealers’ preferred provider programs or marketing support programs, or to otherwise promote the Contract. Asset-based payments are based on the value of the assets in the MassMutual contracts sold by that broker-dealer. Sales-based payments are paid on each sale of the Contract and each subsequent Purchase Payment applied to the Contract. Cash payments are made to attend sales conferences and educational seminars sponsored by certain broker-dealers. Non-cash payments include various promotional items. For a list of the broker-dealers to whom we currently pay additional compensation for selling the Contract, visit www.MassMutual.com/legal/compensation-arrangements or call our Service Center at the number shown on the cover page of this prospectus.
The additional compensation arrangements described in the preceding paragraphs are not offered to all broker-dealers and the terms of such arrangements may differ among broker-dealers. Some broker-dealers may receive two or more of these payments. Such payments may give us greater access to the registered representatives of the broker-dealers that receive such compensation or may influence the way that a broker-dealer markets the Contract. Any such compensation will be paid by MSD or us and will not result in any additional direct charge to you.
Compensation in General
The compensation arrangements described above may provide a registered representative with an incentive to sell the Contract over other available contracts whose issuers do not provide such compensation. You may want to take these compensation arrangements into account when evaluating any recommendation regarding the Contract.
We intend to recoup a portion of the cash and non-cash compensation payments that we make through the assessment of certain charges described in this prospectus. We may also use some of the 12b-1 distribution fee payments and other payments that we receive from certain Funds to help us make these cash and non-cash payments.
You may want to contact MMLIS or your registered representative to find out more about the compensation they receive in connection with your purchase of a Contract.
Commissions or overrides may also be paid to broker-dealers providing wholesaling services (such as providing sales support and training for sales representatives who sell the Contracts).
Other Information
Collateral Assignment
In certain states, you cannot assign the Contract without our approval. We will refuse or accept any request to assign the Contract on a non-discriminatory basis. Please refer to your Contract.
We must receive a Written Request from you, in Good Order, for any assignment we allow to be binding on us. We will not be liable for any payment or other action we take in accordance with the Contract before we receive notice of the assignment. We are not responsible for the validity of an assignment. You may be subject to tax consequences if you assign your Contract.
In most states, you cannot assign the Contract if RetirePay is in effect. See “Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features.”
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If the Contract is issued pursuant to a qualified plan, there may be limitations on your ability to assign the Contract. If you assign your Contract, your rights may only be exercised with the consent of the assignee of record.
Registered Representative Transaction Authority
You may authorize us to accept instructions from the registered representative assigned to your Contract in order to make transfers among investment choices and changes to allocations for future Purchase Payments. To authorize the registered representative assigned to your Contract to make premium allocations and transfers, you must send a completed Producer Transaction Authorization Form to our Service Center. We may revoke transaction authorization privileges for certain Owners. Transaction authorization may be elected, changed or canceled at any time. We will confirm all transactions in writing.
We are not liable for any loss, cost or expense for action on instructions which are believed to be genuine in accordance with the procedures. As these parties act on your behalf, you are responsible for and bear the consequences of their instructions and other actions, including any limits on transfers.
Unclaimed Property
Every state has some form of unclaimed property law that imposes varying legal and practical obligations on insurers and, indirectly, on Contract Owners, Beneficiaries, and any other payees of proceeds from a Contract.
Unclaimed property laws generally provide for the transfer of benefits or payments under various circumstances to the abandoned property division or unclaimed property office in the state of last residence. This process is known as escheatment. To help avoid escheatment, keep your own information, as well as Beneficiary and any other payee information up-to-date, including: full names, postal and electronic media addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and social security numbers. To update this information, contact our Service Center.
Anti-Money Laundering
Federal laws designed to counter terrorism and prevent money laundering might, in certain circumstances, require us to reject a Purchase Payment or block a Contract Owner’s ability to make certain transactions and thereby refuse to accept any request for transfers, withdrawals, or death benefits, until instructions are received from the appropriate regulator. We may also be required to provide additional information about you and your Contract to government regulators.
Payments We Make
We may be required to suspend or postpone payments for withdrawals or transfers from the Sub-Accounts for any period when:

the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings);

trading on the NYSE is restricted;

an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of shares of the Funds is not reasonably practicable or we cannot reasonably value the shares of the Funds; or

during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits for your protection.
In addition, if, pursuant to the SEC’s rules, a money market Fund suspends payment of redemption proceeds in connection with a liquidation of that Fund, we will delay payment of any transfer, withdrawal or death benefit from the applicable money market Sub-Account until the Fund is liquidated.
Federal laws designed to counter terrorism and prevent money laundering might, in certain circumstances, require us to reject a Purchase Payment or block an Owner’s ability to make certain transactions and thereby refuse to accept any request for transfers, withdrawals, or death benefits, until instructions are received from the appropriate regulator. We may also be required to provide additional information about you and your Contract to government regulators.
Changes to the Contract
We reserve the right to amend the Contract to meet the requirements of applicable federal or state laws or regulations, or as otherwise provided in the Contract. We will notify you by Written Notice of such amendments.
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Special Arrangements
For certain group or sponsored arrangements there may be expense savings that can be passed on to the customer because our cost for sales, administration, and mortality generally vary with the size of the customer. We will consider factors such as the size of the group, the nature of the sale, the expected Purchase Payment volume, and other factors we consider significant in determining whether to reduce charges. Subject to applicable state laws and regulations, we reserve the right to reduce or waive the mortality and expense risk charge, the administrative charge, the annual contract maintenance charge or any other charge that is appropriate to reflect any expense savings. We will make any reductions according to our rules in effect when an application for a Contract is approved. We may change these rules from time to time. Any reduction in charges will reflect differences in costs or services, and will not be unfairly discriminatory.
We reserve the right to modify or terminate such arrangements.
Termination of the Contract
We will terminate your Contract upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

the date of the last Annuity Payment; or

the date payment is made of the entire Contract Withdrawal Value, unless RetirePay is in effect and the Benefit Base is greater than zero after the withdrawal; or

the date of the last death benefit payment; or

the date your Contract is returned under the right to examine Contract provision.
In addition, in most states we reserve the right to terminate your Contract if the following conditions are met:
(1)
the RetirePay Benefit Base is zero;
(2)
no Purchase Payment has been made for at least two consecutive years measured from the date we received the last Purchase Payment; and
(3)
each of the following amounts is less than $2,000 on the date we send Written Notice of our election to terminate your Contract provided that no Annuity Option is in effect at that time:

your Contract Value less any Premium Tax deducted; and

the sum of all Purchase Payments made into your Contract adjusted for any partial withdrawals.
If we exercise the right to terminate the Contract, we will send you a Written Notice of termination at your last known address shown on our records. This Written Notice will state that the Contract will terminate thirty calendar days after we have mailed the notice unless we receive a Purchase Payment that brings the Contract Value (less any Premium Tax) to at least $2,000 before that time. If the Contract is terminated pursuant to the reserved right to terminate the Contract, we will pay the Contract Value to you.
Reservation of Rights
If we reserve the right to limit a contractual right, we will do so by providing prior Written Notice and on a non-discriminatory basis in order to respond to changes in any of the following:

market or economic conditions;

regulatory requirements;

current and future anticipated expenses;

unfavorable mortality experience;

our financial condition.
Computer System, Cybersecurity, and Service Disruption Risks
The Company and its business partners rely on computer systems to conduct business, including customer service, marketing and sales activities, customer relationship management and producing financial statements. While the Company and its business partners have policies, procedures, automation and backup plans designed to prevent or limit the effect of failures, our respective computer systems may be vulnerable to disruptions or breaches as the result of natural disasters,
64

man-made disasters, criminal activity, pandemics, or other events beyond our control. The failure of our or our business partners’ computer systems for any reason could disrupt operations, result in the loss of customer business and adversely impact profitability.
The Company and its business partners retain confidential information on our respective computer systems, including customer information and proprietary business information. Any compromise of the security of our or our business partners’ computer systems that results in the disclosure of personally identifiable customer information could damage our reputation, expose us to litigation, increase regulatory scrutiny and require us to incur significant technical, legal, and other expenses.
Geopolitical and other events, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, economic uncertainty, trade disputes, public health crises and related geopolitical events, and widespread disease, including pandemics (such as COVID-19) and epidemics, have led, and in the future may lead, to increased market volatility, which may disrupt U.S. and world economies and markets and may have significant adverse direct or indirect effects on the Company. These events may adversely affect computer and other systems on which the Company relies, interfere with the processing of contract- related transactions (including the processing of orders from Owners and orders with the Funds) and the Company’s ability to administer the contract in a timely manner, or have other possible negative effects. These events may also impact the issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which may cause the Funds underlying the Contract to lose value. There can be no assurance that we, the Funds or our service providers will avoid losses affecting the Contract due to these geopolitical and other events. If we are unable to receive U.S. mail or fax transmissions due to a closure of U.S. mail delivery by the government or due to the need to protect the health of our employees, you may still be able to submit transaction requests to the Company electronically or over the telephone. Our inability to receive U.S. mail or fax transmissions may cause delays in the pricing and processing of transaction requests submitted to us by U.S. mail or by fax during that time period.
Legal Proceedings
The Company is subject to legal and regulatory actions, including class action lawsuits, in the ordinary course of its business. Our pending legal and regulatory actions include proceedings specific to us, as well as proceedings generally applicable to business practices in the industry in which we operate. From time to time, we also are subject to governmental and administrative proceedings and regulatory inquiries, examinations, and investigations in the ordinary course of our business. In addition, we, along with other industry participants, may occasionally be subject to investigations, examinations, and inquiries (in some cases industry-wide) concerning issues upon which regulators have decided to focus. Some of these proceedings involve requests for substantial and/or unspecified amounts, including compensatory or punitive damages.
While it is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of any pending litigation proceedings or regulatory action, management believes, based on information currently known to it, that the ultimate outcome of all pending litigation and regulatory matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification, is not likely to have a material adverse effect upon the Separate Account, the ability of the principal underwriter(s) to perform in accordance with its contracts with the Company on behalf of the Separate Account, or the ability of the Company to meet its obligations under the Contract.
For more information regarding the Company’s litigation and other legal proceedings, see the notes to the Company’s financial statements contained within the SAI.
Our Financial Statements
The financial statements for the Separate Account and the Company are included in the SAI. Our financial statements should be distinguished from the financial statements of the Separate Account, and you should consider our financial statements as bearing only upon our ability to meet our obligations under the Contracts. Contact us at our Service Center for a free copy of these financial statements and the SAI.
65

Appendix A
Funds Available Under the Contract
The following is a list of Funds currently available under the Contract. The list of Funds is subject to change, as discussed in the prospectus for the Contract. While RetirePay is in effect, the investment choices available to you are restricted. Please see the current Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement. Before you invest, you should review the prospectuses for the Funds. These prospectuses contain more information about the Funds and their risks and may be amended from time to time. You can find the prospectuses and other information about the Funds online at www.MassMutual.com/Envision. You can also request this information at no cost by calling (800) 272-2216 or sending an email request to ANNfax@MassMutual.com.
The current expenses and performance information below reflects fees and expenses of the Funds, but does not reflect the other fees and expenses that your Contract may charge. Expenses would be higher and performance would be lower if these charges were included. Each Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of future performance.
Fund and
Adviser/Subadviser
Current
Expenses
(expenses/​
average
assets)
Average Annual Total Returns
Fund Type
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
Asset Allocation
MML Aggressive Allocation Fund
(Service Class)(1)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.23% 13.08% 10.42% 9.44%
Asset Allocation
MML American Funds Core Allocation Fund (Service Class I)(1)(2)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.01%(5) 11.39% 9.41% 8.25%
Asset Allocation
MML Balanced Allocation Fund (Service Class)(1)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.07% 10.65% 7.65% 6.98%
Asset Allocation
MML Conservative Allocation Fund (Service Class)(1)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.04% 9.67% 6.96% 6.29%
Asset Allocation
MML Growth Allocation Fund (Service Class)(1)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.14% 12.47% 9.43% 8.58%
Asset Allocation
MML iShares® 80/20 Allocation Fund (Service Class I)(1)*
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: BlackRock Investment Management, LLC
0.75%
Asset Allocation
MML iShares® 60/40 Allocation Fund (Service Class I)(1)*
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: BlackRock Investment Management, LLC
0.75%
66

Fund and
Adviser/Subadviser
Current
Expenses
(expenses/​
average
assets)
Average Annual Total Returns
Fund Type
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
Asset Allocation
MML Moderate Allocation Fund (Service Class)(1)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.10% 10.16% 8.17% 7.51%
Balanced
MML Blend Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: BlackRock Investment Management, LLC
0.72% 12.57% 10.29% 9.78%
Money Market
MML U.S. Government Money Market Fund (Initial Class)(3)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Barings LLC
0.52% 0.23% 0.75% 0.37%
Fixed Income
Fidelity® VIP Strategic Income Portfolio
(Service Class 2)
Adviser: Fidelity Management Research
Company LLC
Sub-Adviser: FIL Investment Advisors (UK)
Limited et. al
0.92% 7.25% 6.02% 4.58%
Fixed Income
Invesco V.I. Global Strategic Income Fund (Series II)
Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.16%(5) 2.99% 4.15% 3.34%
Fixed Income
MML Dynamic Bond Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: DoubleLine Capital LP
0.85%(5) 3.51% 4.06%
 —
Fixed Income
MML High Yield Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Barings LLC
1.07%(5) 5.38% 7.35% 6.80%
Fixed Income
MML Inflation-Protected and Income Fund
(Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Barings LLC
0.85%(5) 10.88% 4.96% 3.57%
Fixed Income
MML Managed Bond Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Barings LLC
0.68% 7.44% 4.58% 3.84%
Fixed Income
MML Short-Duration Bond Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Barings LLC
0.81% 1.34% 2.32% 2.02%
Fixed Income
MML Total Return Bond Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC
0.87% 8.60% 4.32%
67

Fund and
Adviser/Subadviser
Current
Expenses
(expenses/​
average
assets)
Average Annual Total Returns
Fund Type
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
Fixed Income
PIMCO Income Portfolio (Advisor Class)
Adviser: Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
0.94% 6.41%
Large Cap Value
MML Equity Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Advisers: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC
0.70% 2.77% 8.50% 9.06%
Large Cap Value
MML Equity Income Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
1.04% 1.17% 9.65% 9.01%
Large Cap Value
MML Fundamental Value Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Boston Partners Global Investors, Inc.
1.03%(5) 2.37% 7.79% 8.79%
Large Cap Value
MML Income & Growth Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss LLC
0.95% 2.79% 8.86% 9.28%
Large Cap Blend
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Portfolio (Service Class 2)
Adviser: Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC
Sub-Advisers: FMR Investment Management (UK) Limited, Fidelity Management & Research (Hong Kong) Limited, and Fidelity Management & Research (Japan) Limited
0.86% 30.23% 15.89% 13.23%
Large Cap Blend
MML Focused Equity Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Wellington Management Company LLP
1.12% 12.54% 16.12%
 —
Large Cap Blend
MML Fundamental Equity Fund
(Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
1.07% 19.59% 16.17%
 —
Large Cap Blend
MML Growth & Income Fund
(Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Massachusetts Financial Services Company
0.82% 14.24% 13.77% 12.58%
Large Cap Growth
MML American Funds Growth Fund (Service Class I)(2)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.03% 51.41% 22.23% 16.34%
68

Fund and
Adviser/Subadviser
Current
Expenses
(expenses/​
average
assets)
Average Annual Total Returns
Fund Type
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
Large Cap Growth
MML Blue Chip Growth Fund
(Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
1.03% 34.00% 19.28% 17.21%
Large Cap Growth
MML Large Cap Growth Fund
(Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
0.97% 31.53% 17.45% 14.23%
Small/Mid-Cap Value
MML Mid Cap Value Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: American Century Investment
Management, Inc.
1.14% 1.48% 9.20% 10.32%
Small/Mid-Cap Value
MML Small Company Value Fund
(Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
1.31% 8.92% 11.77% 9.38%
Small/Mid-Cap Value
MML Small/Mid Cap Value Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: AllianceBernstein L.P.
1.06% 4.32% 8.44% 8.83%
Small/Mid-Cap Blend
MML Small Cap Equity Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
0.98% 20.39% 12.85% 12.07%
Small/Mid Cap Growth
Invesco V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund (Series II)
Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.05%(5) 40.24% 19.09% 15.62%
Small/Mid-Cap Growth
MML Mid Cap Growth Fund
(Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Advisers: T. Rowe Price Associates,
Inc. and Wellington Management Company
LLP
1.06% 25.25% 16.13% 14.50%
Small/Mid-Cap Growth
MML Small Cap Growth Equity Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Wellington Management Company LLP
1.33%(5) 35.29% 18.83% 14.14%
International/Global
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Fund (Series II)
Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.25%(5) 21.04% 8.92% 7.57%
International/Global
Invesco V.I. Global Fund (Series II)
Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.02%(5) 27.34% 14.56% 11.36%
69

Fund and
Adviser/Subadviser
Current
Expenses
(expenses/​
average
assets)
Average Annual Total Returns
Fund Type
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
International/Global
MML American Funds International Fund (Service Class I)(2)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
1.28% 13.44% 10.22% 6.20%
International/Global
MML Foreign Fund (Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC
1.13%(5) 5.57% 4.20% 3.43%
International/Global
MML Global Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Massachusetts Financial Services Company
1.05% 13.70% 12.18% 10.55%
International/Global
MML International Equity Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Harris Associates L.P.
1.25%(5) 5.07% 6.88%
 —
International/Global
MML Strategic Emerging Markets Fund (Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
1.60%(5) 17.26% 12.75% 2.13%
Specialty(4)
Fidelity® VIP Health Care Portfolio
(Service Class 2)
Adviser: Fidelity Management & Research
Company LLC
Sub-Adviser: FIL Investment Advisors (UK)
Limited et. al
0.89% 21.28% 13.23% 18.16%
Specialty(4)
Fidelity® VIP Real Estate Portfolio
(Service Class 2)
Adviser: Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC
Sub-Adviser: FMR Co., Inc.
0.91% -6.79% 3.25% 7.40%
Specialty(4)
Delaware Ivy VIP Asset Strategy Portfolio
(Series II)
Adviser: Delaware Management Company
Sub-Advisers: Macquarie Funds
Management Hong Kong Limited,
Macquarie Investment Management
Global Limited,
Macquarie Investment Management Austria
Kapitalanlage AG, and
Macquarie Investment
Management Europe Limited
0.87% 13.88% 8.61% 6.15%
Specialty(4)
Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Portfolio (Service Shares)
Adviser: Janus Capital Management LLC
Sub-Adviser: N/A
0.99% 50.73% 29.43% 19.87%
Specialty(4)
MML Equity Momentum Fund
(Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
1.00%(5) 20.00% 15.03%
70

Fund and
Adviser/Subadviser
Current
Expenses
(expenses/​
average
assets)
Average Annual Total Returns
Fund Type
1 Year
5 Year
10 Year
Specialty(4)
MML Equity Rotation Fund
(Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
0.99%(5) 22.57% 14.52%
Specialty(4)
MML Managed Volatility Fund
(Service Class)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Gateway Investment
Advisers, LLC
1.31% 6.42% 4.90% 5.63%
Specialty(4)
MML Special Situations Fund
(Service Class I)
Adviser: MML Investment Advisers, LLC
Sub-Adviser: Barings LLC
1.18%(5) 29.24% 15.71%
(1)
These are fund-of-funds investment choices. They are known as fund-of-funds because they invest in other underlying funds. A fund offered in a fund-of-funds structure may have higher expenses than a direct investment in its underlying funds because a fund-of-funds bears its own expenses and indirectly bears its proportionate share of expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests.
(2)
The fund is a “feeder” fund, meaning that it does not buy investment securities directly, but instead invests in shares of a corresponding “master” fund, which in turn purchases investment securities. A fund offered in a master feeder structure may have higher expenses than those of a fund which invests directly in securities because the “feeder” fund bears its own expenses in addition to those of the “master” fund. You should read the fund prospectuses for more information about this “feeder” fund.
(3)
You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time. The yield of this fund may become very low during periods of low interest rates. After
deduction of Separate Account charges, the yield in the division that invests in this fund could be negative.
(4)
Specialty funds are an all-encompassing equity category that consists of funds that forgo broad diversification to concentrate on a certain segment of the economy or a specific targeted strategy. For example, sector funds are targeted strategy funds aimed at specific sectors of the economy, such as financial, technology, healthcare, and so on. Sector funds can, therefore, be more volatile than a more diversified equity fund since the stocks in a given sector tend to be highly correlated with each other.
(5)
These Funds, and their investment advisers, have entered into contractual fee waivers or expense reimbursements. These temporary fee reductions are reflected in their current expenses. These contractual arrangements are designed to reduce the funds’ total current expenses for Contract Owners and will continue past the current year.
*
The expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year of the Fund. The Fund has not been in operation for a full calendar year, and therefore has no performance history. Performance history will be available for the Fund after it has been in operation for one calendar year.
71

Appendix B
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) Example
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

The following Purchase Payments are made:
Purchase Payment
Contract Year
Date
Amount
1 (on Issue Date)
1
January 15
$ 100,000
2
1
May 15
10,000
3
2
January 15
200,000

On February 15 of Contract Year 4, the Contract Value is $350,000 and a partial withdrawal of  $150,000 is made.
To calculate the CDSC, we first determine the withdrawal amount not subject to a CDSC:
(1)
First, the earnings of  $40,000 ($350,000 – $310,000 = $40,000) are not subject to a CDSC.
(2)
Next, we would take the withdrawal amount from any Purchase Payments no longer subject to a CDSC. Because all of the Purchase Payments were made within the last seven years, and are therefore still subject to a CDSC, we can ignore this step.
(3)
Finally, we look at the Free Withdrawal Amount, which is 10% of the Purchase Payments still subject to a CDSC. The Free Withdrawal Amount is $31,000 (10% x $310,000 = $31,000) and is not subject to a CDSC.
Based on the withdrawal amount not subject to a CDSC, we can determine that $79,000 ($150,000 – $40,000 – $31,000 = $79,000) is the withdrawal amount that is subject to a CDSC.
Next, we calculate the amount of the CDSC:
(1)
First, we look at the amount of CDSC from Purchase Payment #1. After reducing Purchase Payment #1 by the Free Withdrawal Amount, the amount remaining subject to a CDSC is $69,000 ($100,000 – $31,000 = $69,000). Since Purchase Payment #1 is three years from the date that purchase payment was applied, the CDSC charge is 6% or $4,140 ($69,000 x 6% = $4,140).
(2)
The remaining withdrawal amount still subject to a CDSC is $10,000 ($79,000 – $69,000 = $10,000).
(3)
Next, we look at the amount of CDSC from Purchase Payment #2. The Purchase Payment #2 amount is $10,000 and since Purchase Payment #2 is two years from the date that purchase payment was applied, the CDSC charge is 7% or $700 ($10,000 x 7% = $700).
(4)
There is no available remaining withdrawal amount still subject to a CDSC ($10,000 – $10,000 = $0).
(5)
The total CDSC is $4,840, which is the sum of the charges on each Purchase Payment ($4,140 + $700 = $4,840).
The total CDSC for this withdrawal is $4,840, which is deducted from the withdrawal amount of  $150,000. The net amount of  $145,160 ($150,000 – $4,840 = $145,160) is paid to the Owner, unless otherwise instructed.
72

Appendix C
Free Withdrawal Amount Examples
Example 1 ~ Free Withdrawal Amount in Contract Year 1
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Your Contract Issue Date is January 15. This is the date when we credit your initial Purchase Payment to your Contract.

The following Purchase Payments are made:
Purchase Payment
Contract Year
Date
Amount
1 (on Issue Date)
1
January 15
$ 100,000
2
1
May 15
10,000
To calculate the Free Withdrawal Amount for Contract Year 1, we do the following:

We multiply the initial Purchase Payment applied on the Issue Date by 10% ($100,000 x 10% = $10,000).

We then multiply the subsequent Purchase Payment received on May 15 by 10% ($10,000 x 10% = $1,000).

The total free withdrawal amount in Contract Year 1 is $11,000 ($10,000 + $1,000 = $11,000).
73

Example 2 ~ Free Withdrawal Amount in Fifth Contract Year with a Withdrawal in
Contract Year 4
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Your Contract Issue Date is January 15. This is the date when we credit your initial Purchase Payment to your Contract.

The following Purchase Payments are made:
Purchase Payment
Contract Year
Date
Amount
1 (on Issue Date)
1
January 15
$ 100,000
2
1
May 15
10,000
3
2
January 15
200,000
4
4
March 15
15,000

On February 15 of Contract Year 4, the Contract Value is $350,000 and a partial withdrawal of  $145,000 is made.
To determine the total Purchase Payments still subject to a CDSC as of the previous Contract Anniversary (the fourth Contract Anniversary), we do the following:
Before calculating amounts for Contract Year 5, we first need to calculate the impact of the February 15 withdrawal in Contract Year 4 on the remaining Purchase Payments in the Contract:

We calculate the total remaining Purchase Payments in the Contract as of February 15 is $310,000 ($100,000 + $10,000 + $200,000 = $310,000). The March 15 Purchase Payment is not included because it happened after the February 15 withdrawal.

Next, the earnings of  $40,000 ($350,000 – $310,000 = $40,000) are withdrawn.

The remaining withdrawal ($145,000 – $40,000 = $105,000) is applied to Purchase Payment #1 of  $100,000, reducing Purchase Payment #1 to $0.

Then the remaining withdrawal after Purchase Payment #1 ($105,000 – $100,000 = $5,000) is applied to reduce the amount of Purchase Payment #2 that is subject to a CDSC ($10,000 – $5,000 = $5,000).

Now, none of the $145,000 withdrawal is left to apply to a previous Purchase Payment ($5,000 – $5,000 = $0).
After the withdrawal, we also have a Purchase Payment in Contract Year 4 on March 15, so we have remaining Purchase Payments as follows at the beginning of Contract Year 5:
Purchase Payment
Contract Year
Date
Amount Remaining
1 (on Issue Date)
1
January 15
$ 0
2
1
May 15
5,000
3
2
January 15
200,000
4
4
March 15
15,000
Having determined the impact of the withdrawal to the remaining Purchase Payments, we can now determine the Free Withdrawal Amount available at the beginning of Contract Year 5. The Free Withdrawal Amount is based on the remaining Purchase Payments subject to a CDSC at the beginning of Contract Year 5 (4th Contract Anniversary):

All the remaining Purchase Payments are subject to a CDSC.

We calculate the remaining Purchase Payments subject to a CDSC ($5,000 + $200,000 + $15,000 = $220,000).

The Free Withdrawal Amount is then calculated as 10% of the remaining Purchase Payments (10% x $220,000 = $22,000).
So if there are any withdrawals taken in Contract Year 5, a starting Free Withdrawal Amount of  $22,000 is available.
74

Appendix D
Return of Purchase Payment Death Benefit Examples
Example 1 ~ Impact of Purchase Payments and Determination of Benefit
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Initial Purchase Payment = $100,000

A subsequent Purchase Payment of  $10,000 is made at beginning of Contract Year 2

Contract Owner dies in Contract Year 5
Beginning of Contract Year
Purchase Payment
Withdrawal
Contract Value
Total Purchase Payments
Adjusted for Withdrawals
1 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000
2 10,000 115,000 110,000
5 (receive due proof of Owner’s death and election of the payment method)
101,000 110,000

On the Contract Issue Date, a $100,000 Purchase Payment is made. This is the initial total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals.

At the beginning of Contract Year 2, a $10,000 subsequent Purchase Payment is made, bringing the total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals to $110,000.

Contract Owner dies in Contract Year 5. When we receive due proof of death and election of the payment method for the death benefit, the Contract Value is $101,000. The total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals is $110,000. The Return of Purchase Payment Death Benefit is the greater of the Contract Value and the total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals. Therefore, the death benefit is $110,000.
75

Example 2 ~ Impact of Withdrawal and Determination of Benefit
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Initial Purchase Payment = $100,000

A subsequent Purchase Payment of  $10,000 is made at beginning of Contract Year 2

A withdrawal of  $20,000 is made at beginning of Contract Year 3

Contract Owner dies in Contract Year 5
Beginning of Contract Year
Purchase Payment
Withdrawal
Contract Value
Total Purchase Payments
Adjusted for Withdrawals
1 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000
2 10,000 115,000 110,000
3 (immediately prior to withdrawal) 120,750 110,000
3 (immediately after withdrawal) $ 20,000 100,750 91,781
4 95,713 91,781
5 (receive due proof of Owner’s death) 90,927 91,781

On the Contract Issue Date, a $100,000 Purchase Payment is made. This is the initial total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals.

At the beginning of Contract Year 2, a $10,000 subsequent deposit is made, bringing the total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals to $110,000.

At the beginning of Contract Year 3, a $20,000 withdrawal (including any CDSC) is made.

Immediately prior to when the withdrawal is made, the Contract Value is $120,750, and the total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals is $110,000.

Immediately after the withdrawal is made, the Contract Value becomes $100,750 ($120,750 – $20,000 = $100,750), and the total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals is reduced by the same proportion that the Contract Value is reduced:
Total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals (immediately after the withdrawal) = total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals (immediately prior to the withdrawal) – (withdrawal amount / Contract Value immediately prior to the withdrawal) x total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals (immediately prior to the withdrawal)
= $110,000 – ($20,000 / $120,750) x $110,000
= $110,000 – $18,219
= $91,781

Contract Owner dies in Contract Year 5. When we receive due proof of death, the Contract Value is $90,927. The total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals is $91,781. The Return of Purchase Payment Death Benefit is the greater of the Contract Value and the total Purchase Payments adjusted for withdrawals. Therefore, the death benefit is $91,781.
76

Appendix E
Commuted Value Withdrawal Example
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Contract Annuitized for a life with fifteen year period certain at the beginning of Contract Year 20.

The annuity payments are $1,000 quarterly.

Owner requests a $10,000 commuted value withdrawal at the beginning of Contract Year 25.

The commuted value of the remaining guaranteed annuity payments is $40,000 at the beginning of Contract Year 25.
Beginning of Contract Year
Quarterly
Annuity Payout
Withdrawal
Commuted Value
25 (before commuted value withdrawal) $ 1,000 $ 40,000
25 (after commuted value withdrawal) 750 $ 10,000 $ 30,000
35 1,000

At the beginning of Contract Year 25, $10,000 is 25% of the total commuted value ($10,000 / $40,000).

The annuity payout is reduced by $250 ($1,000 x 25%) to $750 ($1,000 – $250) until the end of the period certain.

The remaining commuted value is $30,000 ($40,000 – $10,000).

At the beginning of Contract Year 35, the period certain ends. The owner is still due payments as provided by the life guarantee. The life payments are for $1,000 as they were not reduced by the commuted value withdrawal.

The commuted value of the remaining life only annuity payouts is $0 because there are no remaining guaranteed annuity payments.
77

Appendix F
RetirePay Examples
Example 1 ~ Setting of Initial Values
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000 is made on 9/1/2021 (RetirePay Issue Date).
Beginning of Contract Year
Contract Value
Benefit Base
1 $ 100,000 $ 100,000
Therefore, the initial Benefit Base is equal to the Initial Purchase Payment, $100,000.
Example 2A ~ Highest Anniversary Step-Up
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000 is made on 9/1/2021 (RetirePay Issue Date).
Date
Event
Contract Value
Benefit Base
9/1/2021
Beginning of Contract Year 1
$ 100,000 $ 100,000
8/31/2022
End of Contract Year 1
110,000 100,000
9/1/2022
Beginning of Contract Year 2
110,000 110,000

At the beginning of year 1, the Benefit Base is set to the Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000.

At the beginning of year 2, the Contract Value at the End of Contract Year 1 is compared to the current Benefit Base. The Contract Value ($110,000) is greater than the Benefit Base ($100,000) so the new Benefit Base is set to the End of Year 1 Contract Value ($110,000).
Example 2B ~ Highest Quarterly Value Step-Up
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000 is made on 9/1/2021 (RetirePay Issue Date).
Date
Event
Contract Value
Benefit Base
9/1/2021
Beginning of Contract Year 1
$ 100,000 $ 100,000
11/30/2021
End of First Contract Quarter
98,000 100,000
2/28/2022
End of Second Contract Quarter
103,000 100,000
5/31/2022
End of Third Contract Quarter
110,000 100,000
8/31/2022
End of Fourth Contract Quarter
108,000 100,000
9/1/2022
Beginning of Contract Year 2
108,000 110,000

At the beginning of year 1, the Benefit Base is set to the Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000.

The end of the Contract quarter values are the Contract Value as of the last business day prior to the quarterversary of the contract.

At the beginning of year 2, the Contract Value from the end of each quarter is compared to the current Benefit Base. The maximum Contract Value of the four quarters is $110,000 (maximum of  $98,000, $103,000, $110,000, and $108,000), which is greater than the Benefit Base ($100,000) so the new Benefit Base is set to $110,000.
78

Example 2C ~ Impact of withdrawals on Highest Quarterly Value Step-Up
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:
On 4/6/2022, the current Contract Year began.

On 4/6/2022, the Contract Value is $117,000.

On 4/6/2022, the Benefit Base is $115,000.

On 4/6/2022 the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $6,000.

On 5/15/2022, a withdrawal of  $2,000 is taken.

On 7/5/2022, the Contract Value for the first Contract Year quarter is $125,000.

On 7/15/2022, a withdrawal of  $1,000 is taken.

On 10/5/2022, the Contract Value for the second Contract Year quarter is $128,000.

On 11/15/2022, a withdrawal of  $3,000 is taken.

On 1/5/2023, the Contract Value for the third Contract Year quarter is $127,000.

On 2/15/2023, prior to any withdrawals the Contract Value is $126,500.

On 2/15/2023, a withdrawal of  $1,500 is taken and is an Excess Withdrawal. This represents a 1.19% reduction in the Contract Value. Excess Withdrawals reduce the Benefit Base proportionally.

On 2/15/2023, after the Excess Withdrawal, the Benefit Base is reduced by 1.19% to $113,636.

On 4/5/2023, the Contract Value for the fourth quarter is $125,000.
These are the impacts to your Contract Value and Benefit Base which will be used to determine your Highest Quarterly Step-Up Value.
Date
Event
Contract Value
Remaining Annual
Lifetime Benefit
Amount
Adjustment to
Benefit Base
Benefit Base
04/06/2022
Beginning of
Contract Year
$117,000
$ 6,000
0
$ 115,000
5/15/2022
Withdrawal
N/A
4,000
0
115,000
7/5/2022
End of First
Quarter
125,000
4,000
0
115,000
7/15/2022
Withdrawal
N/A
3,000
0
115,000
10/5/2022
End of Second
Quarter
128,000
3,000
0
115,000
11/15/2022
Withdrawal
N/A
0
0
115,000
1/5/2023
End of Third
Quarter
127,000
0
0
115,000
2/15/2023
Before Withdrawal
126,500
0
0
115,000
2/15/2023
After Withdrawal
125,000
0
Benefit Base
Reduced by
1.19%
113,636
4/5/2023
End of Fourth
Quarter
125,000
0
0
113,636
79

The values above result in the following values used to determine the Highest Quarterly Value step-up. See below the table for additional explanation.
Date
Event
Contract Value
Adjustment to
Quarterly Value
Adjusted
Q1 Value
Adjusted
Q2 Value
Adjusted
Q3 Value
Q4 Value
04/06/2022
Beginning of
Contract Year
$117,000
$0
5/15/2022
Withdrawal
N/A
2,000 (N/A)
7/5/2022
End of First
Quarter
125,000
0
125,000
7/15/2022
Withdrawal
N/A
1,000
124,000
10/5/2022
End of
Second
Quarter
128,000
0
124,000 128,000
11/15/2022
Withdrawal
N/A
3,000
121,000 125,000
1/5/2023
End of Third
Quarter
127,000
0
121,000 125,000 127,000
2/15/2023
Before
Withdrawal
126,500
0
121,000 125,000 127,000
2/15/2023
After
Withdrawal
125,000
1.19%
Reduction
119,560 123,512 125,489
4/5/2023
End of Fourth
Quarter
125,000
0
119,560 123,512 125,489 125,000
For the purposes of determining the highest quarterly value step-up:

The withdrawal of  $2,000 which occurred on 5/15/2022 did not have an impact on the determination of the highest quarterly value step-up as it occurred prior to the end of the first Contract Year quarter.

The withdrawal on 2/15/2023 represented a 1.19% reduction in the Contract Value.

The reduction for the Excess Withdrawal for the first Contract Year quarter is equal to $1,440 (1.19% x ($125,000 – $1,000 – $3,000)). The Contract Value for the first Contract Year quarter is equal to $119,560 ($125,000 – $1,000 – $3,000 – $1,440 = $119,560).

The reduction for the Excess Withdrawal for the second Contract Year quarter is equal to $1,488 (1.19% x ($128,000 – $3,000)). The Contract Value for the first Contract Year quarter is equal to $123,512 ($128,000 – $3,000 – $1,488).

The reduction for the Excess Withdrawal for the third Contract Year quarter is equal to $1,511 (1.19% x $127,000 = $1,511). The Contract Value for the first Contract Year quarter is equal to $125,489 ($127,000 – $1,511).

The Contract Value for the fourth Contract Year quarter is $125,000.
The Highest Quarterly Value Step-Up for the Contract Year is $125,489, which equals the Adjusted Q3 Value.
80

Example 3 ~ Redetermination of Benefit Base for a Subsequent Purchase Payment
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

The Contract Owner elected the Highest Anniversary Value Step-Up.

An Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000 is made (RetirePay Issue Date).

A subsequent Purchase Payment of  $10,000 is made at the beginning of year 2.
Period
Contract Value
Benefit Base
Beginning of Contract Year 1
$ 100,000 $ 100,000
End of Contract Year 1
95,000 100,000
Beginning of Contract Year 2
immediately prior to Purchase Payment
95,000 100,000
Beginning of Contract Year 2
immediately after Purchase Payment
105,000 110,000

At the beginning of year 1, the Benefit Base is set to the Contract Value of  $100,000.

At the beginning of year 2, the Contract Value from the end of year 1 is compared to the current Benefit Base because the Contract Owner elected the Highest Anniversary Value Step-Up. The Contract Value ($95,000) is less than the Benefit Base so the Benefit Base stays as $100,000.

The Subsequent Purchase Payment is added to the Contract Value and the Benefit Base. The new Contract Value is $105,000 ($95,000 + $10,000). The new Benefit Base is $110,000 ($100,000 + $10,000).
Example 4A ~ Calculation of Annual Lifetime Benefit Amounts
The examples for 4A and 4B use these hypothetical Joint Life Withdrawal Rates where applicable. Current Joint Life Withdrawal Rates may be different.
Number of Full Contract Years from the Rider Effective Date
Youngest Covered Person Age
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10+
59.5 3.50% 3.62% 3.74% 3.86% 3.98% 4.50% 4.62% 4.74% 4.86% 4.98% 5.50%
62 4.00% 4.14% 4.27% 4.41% 4.54% 5.13% 5.26% 5.40% 5.53% 5.67% 6.25%
67 4.50% 4.72% 4.80% 4.95% 5.10% 5.75% 5.90% 6.05% 6.20% 6.35% 7.00%
72 5.25% 5.42% 5.60% 5.77% 5.94% 6.69% 6.86% 7.03% 7.20% 7.37% 8.15%

The rider effective date is the same as the contract issue date, 9/1/2021 (RetirePay Issue Date).

The owner elects the joint life version of the rider.

The owner’s birthdate is 8/1/1953.

The birthdate of the owner’s spouse is 2/1/1960.
Date
Event
Benefit Base
Age of Youngest
Covered Person
Number of Full
Contract Years
from the Rider
Effective Date
Withdrawal
Rate
Annual
Lifetime Benefit
Amount*
9/1/2021
Beginning of
Contract Year 1
$ 100,000 61
0
3.50% $ 3,500
6/1/2022
Beginning of
Fourth Quarter
100,000 62
0
4.00% $ 4,000
9/1/2022
Beginning of
Contract Year 2
100,000 62
1
4.14% $ 4,140
*
The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is not set until the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date is elected by the owner. These values assume the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date is set at the date shown. See explanation of how these values are determined below.
81

For the purposes of determining the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount:

If the Owner elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date on the RetirePay Issue Date, the youngest covered person is age 61 (on 9/1/2021 with a birthdate of 2/1/1960) and the Number of Full Years from the RetirePay Issue Date is 0 so the rate is 3.5%. This is multiplied times the Benefit Base for an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount of $3,500 (3.5% x $100,000).

If the Owner elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date on 6/1/2022, the youngest covered person is age 62 (on 6/1/2022 with a birthdate of 2/1/1960) and the Number of Full Years from the RetirePay Issue Date is 0 so the Withdrawal Rate is 4.0%. This is multiplied times the Benefit Base for an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount of $4,000 (4.0% x $100,000).

If the Owner elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date at the beginning of contract year 2 on 9/1/2022, the youngest covered person is age 62 (on 9/1/2022 with a birthdate of 2/1/1960) and the Number of Full Years from the RetirePay Issue Date is 1 so the Withdrawal Rate is 4.14%. This is multiplied times the Benefit Base for an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount of  $4,140 (4.14% x $100,000).
Example 4B ~ Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount when Youngest Covered Person is Deceased

The rider effective date is the same as the contract issue date, 9/1/2021 (RetirePay Issue Date).

The owner elects the joint life version of the rider.

The owner’s birthdate is 8/1/1953.

The birthdate of the owner’s spouse is 2/1/1960.

The spouse is deceased on 12/1/2022.
The inputs for the calculation and the resulting Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount are summarized as:
Date
Event
Benefit Base
Age Used to
Determine
Withdrawal Rate
Number of Full
Contract Years
from the Rider
Effective Date
Lifetime
Withdrawal Rate
Annual
Lifetime Benefit
Amount*
9/1/2021
Beginning of
Contract Year 1
$ 100,000 61
0
3.50% $ 3,500
3/1/2022
Beginning of
Third Quarter
100,000 62
0
4.00 $ 4,000
9/1/2022
Beginning of
Contract Year 2
100,000 62
1
4.14 $ 4,140
11/30/2022
Prior to death
of Younger
Covered Person
100,000 62
1
4.14 $ 4,140
12/1/2022
After death
of Younger
Covered Person
100,000 68
1
4.72 $ 4,720
*
The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is not set until the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date elected by the owner. These values assume the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date is set at the time shown. See explanation of how these values are determined below.
For the purposes of determining the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount:

If the Owner elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date on the RetirePay Issue Date, the youngest covered person is age 61 (on 9/1/2021 with a birthdate of 2/1/1960) and the Number of Full Years from the RetirePay Issue Date is 0 so the rate is 3.5%. This is multiplied times the Benefit Base for an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount of $3,500 (3.5% x $100,000).

If the Owner elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date on 3/1/2022, the youngest covered person is age 62 (on 3/1/2022 with a birthdate of 2/1/1960) and the Number of Full Years from the RetirePay Issue Date is 0 so the Withdrawal Rate is 4.0%. This is multiplied times the Benefit Base for an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount of $4,000 (4.0% x $100,000).

If the Owner elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date at the beginning of contract year 2 on 9/1/2022, the youngest covered person is age 62 (on 9/1/2022 with a birthdate of 2/1/1960) and the Number of Full Years from the RetirePay Issue Date is 1 so the Withdrawal Rate is 4.14%. This is multiplied times the Benefit Base for an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount of  $4,140 (4.14% x $100,000).
82


If the Owner elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date on 12/1/2022, after the death of a covered person, the age of the surviving Joint Covered Person is used, even if they are originally not the Youngest Covered Person. So, the age of the owner on 12/1/2022 is 68 (on 9/1/2021 with a birthdate of 8/1/1953). So, the lookup of the Withdrawal Rate would now use age 68 and the Number of Full Years from the RetirePay Issuer Effective Date of 1 to use a rate of 4.72%.
This is multiplied times the Benefit Base for an Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount of  $4,720 (4.72% x $100,000).
Example 5A ~ Redetermination of Benefit Base for Excess Withdrawal Prior to Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date
The values shown are based on the following assumptions:

On 9/1/2021, an Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000 is made.

On 8/31/2022, the Contract Value as of the last business day of Contract year 1 is $95,000.

On 10/1/2022, a withdrawal of  $12,000 is made where the Contract Value prior to the withdrawal is $96,000.

The contract owner has not elected a Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date.
Date
Event
Contract Value
Benefit Base
9/1/2021
Beginning of Contract Year 1
$ 100,000 $ 100,000
8/31/2022
End of Contract Year 1
95,000 100,000
9/1/2022
Beginning of Contract Year 2
95,000 100,000
10/1/2022
Immediately before withdrawal
96,000 100,000
10/1/2022
Immediately after withdrawal
84,000 87,500

At the beginning of year 1, the Benefit Base is set to the Contract Value of  $100,000.

At the beginning of year 2, the Contract Value from the end of year 1 is compared to the current Benefit Base. The Contract Value ($95,000) is less than the Benefit Base so the Benefit Base stays as $100,000.

On 10/1/2022, the Benefit Base is redetermined for the withdrawal.
Until a Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date is elected, there is no Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount. So, the entire withdrawal is treated as an excess withdrawal.
The Benefit Base is reduced by 12.5% (12,000 / 96,000) for a total reduction of  $12,500 (12.5% x $100,000). The remaining Benefit Base after the withdrawal is $87,500 ($100,000 – $12,500).
Example 5B ~ Redetermination of Benefit Base for a Withdrawal Greater than Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount
The values shown are based on the following assumptions, which match to the assumptions in example 5A above, except that the owner elects a Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date prior to the withdrawal:

On 9/1/2021, an Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000 is made.

On 8/31/2022, the Contract Value as of the last business day of Contract year 1 is $95,000.

On 10/1/2022, the owner elects a Guaranteed Withdrawal Date where the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $4,000.

On 10/1/2022, a withdrawal of  $12,000 is made where the Contract Value prior to the withdrawal is $96,000.
For the purposes of determining the Benefit Base:

The withdrawal reduces the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount to $0.

The withdrawal remaining after the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $8,000 ($12,000 – $4,000).

The Cash Value remaining after the withdrawal of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $92,000 ($96,000 – $4,000).

The Benefit Base is reduced by 8.70% (8,000 / 92,000) for a total reduction of  $8,700 (8.70% x $100,000). The remaining Benefit Base after the withdrawal is $91,300 ($100,000 – $8,700).
83

Date
Event
Remaining
Withdrawal
Contract
Value
Benefit Base
Remaining Annual
Lifetime Benefit
Amount
9/1/2021
Beginning of Contract
Year 1
$ 100,000
$100,000
8/31/2022
End of Contract Year 1
95,000
100,000
9/1/2022
Beginning of Contract
Year 2
95,000
100,000
10/1/2022
Immediately before
withdrawal
$12,000
96,000
100,000
$ 4,000
10/1/2022
After withdrawal of the
Annual Lifetime Benefit
Amount
8,000
92,000
100,000
0
10/1/2022
After reduction of the
Benefit Base due to Excess
Withdrawal
0
84,000
91,300
0
Example 5C ~ Required Minimum Distribution Greater than Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount
The values shown are based on the following assumptions, which match to the assumptions in example 5B above, except that the owner is taking his withdrawal as part of an annual systematic Required Minimum Distribution program administered by us.

On 9/1/2021, an Initial Purchase Payment of  $100,000 is made.

On 8/31/2022, the Contract Value as of the last business day of Contract year 1 is $95,000.

On 10/1/2022, the owner elects a Guaranteed Withdrawal Date where the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $4,000.

The owner elects to begin a systematic Required Minimum Distribution program with annual payouts. The first annual payout on 10/1/2022 of  $12,000 is made where the Contract Value prior to the withdrawal is $96,000.
For the purposes of determining the Benefit Base:

The withdrawal reduces the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount to $0.

The withdrawal remaining after the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $8,000 ($12,000 – $4,000).

Normally the Cash Value remaining after the withdrawal of the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount would reduce the Benefit Base, however, because it is being done as part of a Required Minimum Distribution, there is no reduction of the Benefit Base.
Date
Event
Remaining Required
Minimum Distribution
Contract
Value
Benefit Base
Remaining Annual
Lifetime Benefit
Amount
9/1/2021
Beginning of Contract
Year 1
$ 100,000
$100,000
8/31/2022
End of Contract
Year 1
95,000
100,000
9/1/2022
Beginning of Contract
Year 2
95,000
100,000
10/1/2022
Immediately before
Required Minimum
Distribution
$12,000
96,000
100,000
$ 4,000
10/1/2022
After withdrawal of the
Annual Lifetime Benefit
Amount
8,000
92,000
100,000
0
10/1/2022
After withdrawal of the
remaining Required
Minimum Distribution
0
84,000
100,300
0
84

Example 6 ~ Impact of Contract Value being reduced to $0 because of the withdrawal of Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount
Lifetime Withdrawal Rates for this example.
Number of Full Contract Years from the Rider Effective Date
Youngest Covered Person Age
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10+
67 5.00% 5.25% 5.40% 5.55% 5.70% 5.85%
6.00%
6.15% 6.30% 6.45% 6.60%

On 4/6/2022, the Contract is issued with a RetirePay Issue Date of 4/6/2022.

On 4/6/2029, the Owner Elected the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date.
The Benefit Base is $100,000.
The Youngest Covered Person is 67.
The contract is six full contract years from the RetirePay Issue Date, so the Withdrawal Rate is 6% and the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $6,000.

On 4/6/2032, the current Contract Year began.
The Contract Value is $4,000.
The Benefit Base is $100,000.
The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $6,000.

On 5/15/2032, a withdrawal of  $3,000 is taken with $4,000 in Contract Value prior to the withdrawal.

On 11/15/2032, a withdrawal of  $3,000 is taken with $1,000 in Contract Value prior to the withdrawal.

On 4/5/2033, the Benefit Base is $100,000.
Date
Event
Contract Value
Remaining Annual
Lifetime Benefit
Amount
Benefit Base
04/06/2032
Beginning of
Contract Year 10
$ 117,000 $ 6,050
$100,000
5/15/2032
Prior to Withdrawal
4,000 6,000
100,000
5/15/2032
After Withdrawal
1,000 3,000
11/15/2032
Prior to Withdrawal
1,000 3,000
100,000
11/15/2032
After Withdrawal
0 2,000
100,000
11/15/2032
After Payout of
Remaining Annual
Lifetime Benefit
Amount
0 0
100,000
04/06/2033
Beginning of
Contract Year 11
0 0
100,000
For determining the values because of the contract value reaching $0, we have:

On 5/15/2032, the withdrawal of  $3,000 reduces the Contract Value to $1,000 ($4,000 – $1,000).
The Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $3,000 ($6,000 – $3,000).

On 11/15/2032, the withdrawal of  $3,000 reduces the Contract Value to $0 ($3,000 > $1,000).
The Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $2,000 ($3,000 – $1,000).
The Remaining Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is added to the withdrawal for a payout of  $3,000 ($1,000 + $2,000).
The contract enters the settlement phase.
The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount remains at $6,000. This is paid in monthly payments of  $500 ($6,000 / 12).
85

Example 7 ~ Annuitization of RetirePay on Latest Permitted Annuity Date
The Withdrawal Rates used for this example are as follows:
Number of Full Contract Years from the Rider Effective Date
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10+
5912 – 61 3.75% 3.85% 3.90% 4.00% 4.05% 4.50% 4.60% 4.65% 4.75% 4.80% 5.65%
62 – 66 4.00% 4.10% 4.15% 4.25% 4.30% 4.60% 4.70% 4.75% 4.85% 4.90% 5.80%
67 – 71 4.75% 4.85% 4.95% 5.05% 5.15% 5.45% 5.55% 5.65% 5.75% 5.85% 6.65%
72 – 76 5.25% 5.35% 5.45% 5.55% 5.65% 6.05% 6.15% 6.25% 6.35% 6.45% 7.35%
77+ 5.50% 5.60% 5.70% 5.85% 5.95% 6.35% 6.45% 6.55% 6.65% 6.75%
7.70%

On 4/6/2022, the Contract is issued with a Rider Effective Date of 4/6/2022.
The Covered Person at issue is age 80.
The Latest Permitted Annuity Date for the Contract is 4/6/2037.

On 4/6/2032, the Owner elects the Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Date.
The Benefit Base is $200,000.
The Covered Person is age 90.
The number of full contract years from the Rider Effective Date is 10.
The applicable Withdrawal Rate is 7.70%.
The Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount is $15,400.

On 4/6/2037, the Contract Value is $185,000.
The Benefit Base is still $200,000.
The Covered Person is age 95.
Date
Event
Contract Value
Benefit Base
Monthly Annuity
Payment
Installment
Refund Death
Benefit
04/06/2037
Beginning of
Contract Year 16
$ 185,000 $ 200,000
04/06/2037
Annuitization
$ 1,283 $ 185,000
For determining the values of the Installment Refund Payout Option:

On 4/6/2037, the Latest Permitted Annuity Date, the contract automatically starts to make Annuity Payments for the life of the Annuitant.
The Benefit Base is $200,000.
The Installment Refund Amount is set equal to the Contract Value on that date of  $185,000.
The amount of the monthly Annuity Payment is equal to the Annual Lifetime Benefit Amount divided by 12. ($15,400 / 12 = $1,283)
86

Appendix G – State Variations of Certain Contract Features
The following chart describes the material variation of certain features and/or benefits of the Contract in states where the Contract has been approved as of the date of the prospectus.
State
Feature
Variation
Delaware Replacement Free Look Period Requires 20-day free look period for replacements.
North Dakota Free Look Period
Contract must be returned within 20 days of receipt, including where Contract is issued as a replacement.
87

Appendix H – Superseded Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement Information
As of the date of this prospectus, there is no superseded Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement information.
88

The SAI contains additional information about the Separate Account. The SAI is incorporated into this prospectus by reference and it is legally part of this prospectus. We filed the SAI with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains the SAI, material incorporated by reference and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC.
Reports and other information about the Registrant are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
For a free copy of the SAI, other information about this Contract, or general inquiries, contact our Service Center:
MassMutual
P.O. Box 9067
Springfield, MA 01102-9067
You can also request, free of charge, a personalized illustration of death benefits, surrender values, and cash values from your registered representative or by calling our Service Center.
Investment Company Act file number: 811-08619
Securities Act file number: 333-255824
Class (Contract) Identifier: C000228859

 
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
1295 State Street
Springfield, Massachusetts 01111-0111
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(Depositor)
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT 4
(Registrant)
MASSMUTUAL ENVISIONSM VARIABLE ANNUITY
An individual flexible premium deferred variable annuity
Contract Class: B-Share
September 1, 2021
This is not a prospectus. This Statement of Additional Information should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated September 1, 2021 for the individual flexible premium deferred variable annuity contracts (Contracts) that are referred to herein.
For a copy of the prospectus call (800) 272-2216, visit online at www.MassMutual.com/​Envision, send an email request to ANNfax@MassMutual.com, or write to: MassMutual, P.O. Box 9067, Springfield, MA 01102-9067.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAI
Prospectus
The Company
2 15
The Separate Account
2 16
Services
2
Distribution
2 61
Fixed Annuity Payout Rates
3 31
Payment of Death Benefit
3 38
Experts
3
Financial Statements
4
 
1

THE COMPANY
MassMutual is organized as a mutual life insurance company. MassMutual’s home office is located at 1295 State Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01111-0001.
MassMutual and its domestic life insurance subsidiaries provide individual and group life insurance, disability insurance, individual and group annuities and guaranteed interest contracts to individual and institutional customers in all 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Products and services are offered primarily through the Company’s distribution channels: MassMutual Financial Advisors, Digital Direct to Consumer and Business to Business, Institutional Solutions and Workplace Solutions.
The assets of our General Account support our insurance and annuity obligations and are subject to our general liabilities from our business operations and to claims by our creditors. You should be aware that, unlike the Separate Account, the Company’s General Account is not segregated or insulated from the claims of the Company’s creditors. In addition, because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, the General Account, unlike the Separate Account, has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act) or the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act). Because of this, the General Account is generally not subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act. However, disclosures regarding the General Account are subject to certain generally applicable provisions of the federal securities laws that require complete and accurate statements in prospectuses.
THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
We established Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 (Separate Account) as a separate account under Massachusetts law on July 9, 1997. The Separate Account is registered with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act.
The Separate Account holds the assets that underlie the Contracts (and certain other contracts that we issue), except any assets allocated to our General Account. We keep the Separate Account assets separate from the assets of our General Account and other separate accounts. The Separate Account is divided into Sub-Accounts, each of which invests exclusively in a single Fund.
We own the assets of the Separate Account. We credit gains to, or charge losses against, the Separate Account, whether or not realized, without regard to the performance of other investment accounts. The Separate Account’s assets may not be used to pay any of our liabilities other than those arising from the Contracts (or other contracts that we issue and that are funded by the Separate Account). If the Separate Account’s assets exceed the required reserves and other liabilities, we may transfer the excess to our General Account. The obligations of the Separate Account are not our generalized obligations and will be satisfied solely by the assets of the Separate Account. We are obligated to pay all amounts promised to investors under the Contract.
SERVICES
MassMutual holds title to the assets of the Separate Account. MassMutual maintains the records and accounts relating to the guaranteed principal account, the Separate Account, the segment within the Separate Account established to receive and invest premium payments for the contracts, and divisions of that segment. MassMutual’s principal business address is 1295 State Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01111-0001.
DISTRIBUTION
The Contract is sold by both registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC (MMLIS), a subsidiary of MassMutual, and by registered representatives of other broker-dealers who have entered into distribution agreements with MML Strategic Distributors, LLC (MSD), a subsidiary of MassMutual. Pursuant to separate underwriting agreements with MassMutual, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Separate Account, MMLIS serves as principal underwriter of the Contracts sold by its registered representatives, and MSD serves as principal underwriter of the Contracts sold by registered representatives of other broker-dealers who have entered into distribution agreements with MSD.
MMLIS and MSD are located at 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. MMLIS and MSD are registered with the SEC as broker-dealers under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Commissions for sales of the Contract by MMLIS registered representatives are paid by MassMutual on behalf of MMLIS to MMLIS registered representatives. Commissions for sales of the Contract by registered representatives of other broker-dealers are paid by MassMutual on behalf of MSD to those broker-dealers.
As the contract has not yet been offered for sale, there are no commissions paid and reported at this time.
2

FIXED ANNUITY PAYOUT RATES
The assumptions for determining the Fixed Annuity Payout Rates are:
(1)  The 2012 Individual Annuity Mortality (IAM) mortality table, projected to the year 2052 with 100% of Projection Scale G2 for both males and females, applies to all Annuity Options which include life contingent payments. Where applicable, unisex mortality rates and projection factors are based on a 30%/70% male/female weighting.
(2)  Age will be determined based on each Annuitant’s birthday nearest the applicable Annuity Date with a five-year Age setback applied in all instances. For example, age 65 is considered the period of time between age 64 years, 6 months and one day and age 65 years and 6 months. Once the Age has been determined, the setback would then be applied (e.g. Age 65 will be considered Age 60).
(3)  An effective annual interest rate of 0.10% (0.05% for Contracts issued in New York).
If the single premium immediate annuity rates we offer to the same class of Annuitants and designate for this purpose on the Annuity Date are higher than the Fixed Annuity Payout Rates for the Contract, the higher rates will be used.
PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT
MassMutual will require due proof of death before any death benefit is paid. Due proof of death will be:
(1)
a certified death certificate;
(2)
a certified decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding of death; or
(3)
any other proof satisfactory to MassMutual.
All death benefits will be paid in accordance with applicable law or regulations governing death benefit payments.
The Beneficiary designation in effect on the date we issue the Contract will remain in effect until changed. Unless you provide otherwise, the death benefit will be paid in equal shares to the Beneficiary(ies) as follows:
(1)  to the primary Beneficiary(ies) who survive your death and/or the Annuitant’s death, as applicable; or
(2)  if there is no primary Beneficiary who survives your death and/or any Annuitant’s death, as applicable, to the contingent Beneficiary(ies) who survive the Owner’s and/or the Annuitant’s death, as applicable; or
(3)  if there is no primary or contingent Beneficiary who survives your death, and/or any Annuitant’s death, as applicable, to you or your estate.
You may name an irrevocable Beneficiary(ies). In that case, a change of Beneficiary requires the consent of any irrevocable Beneficiary. If an irrevocable Beneficiary is named, the Owner retains all other contractual rights.
See the “Death Benefit” section in the prospectus for more information on death benefits.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 as of December 31, 2020 and for each of the years or periods in the two-year period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended and the statutory financial statements of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, each have been included in this Statement of Additional Information herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, each of which are also included herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report on the financial statements of the Company, dated February 24, 2021, states that the Company prepared its financial statements using statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Insurance (statutory accounting practices), which is a basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, the audit report, dated February 24, 2021, states that the financial statements of the Company are not intended to be and, therefore, are not presented fairly in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and further states that those statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with the statutory accounting practices. The principal business address of KPMG LLP is One Financial Plaza, 755 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06103.
3

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Registrant
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2020
Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Notes to Financial Statements
The Depositor
Independent Auditors’ Report
Statutory Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2020 and 2019
Statutory Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Statutory Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Notes to Statutory Financial Statements
4

 

KPMG LLP
Two Financial Center
60 South Street
Boston, MA 02111

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Contract Owners of Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 (comprised of the sub-accounts listed in Appendix A to the opinion) (collectively, “the Separate Account”) as of December 31, 2020, the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for each of the years or periods (as described in Appendix A) in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the “financial statements”) and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Separate Account as of December 31, 2020, the results of its operations and the changes in its net assets for each of the years or periods in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five- year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Separate Account’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Separate Account in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2020, by correspondence with the underlying mutual funds or their transfer agent. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

We have served as the Separate Account’s auditor since 2004.

 

Boston, Massachusetts

March 10, 2021

 

 

 

KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the

KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with

KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.

 

 F-1 

 

 

Appendix A

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 is comprised of the following sub-accounts and the activities of each sub-account have been included within the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2020 and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for each of the years or periods (as described below) in the two-year period then ended.

 

Sub-Accounts   Sub-Accounts
     
BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF V.I. Sub-Account (Class III) **   Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Sub-Account (Series I)
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Sub-Account (Initial Class)   Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Sub-Account (Series II)
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Sub-Account (Service Class 2)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub-Account (Series II) *
  Invesco V.I. Health Care Sub-Account (Series I) **
Invesco V.I. Health Care Sub-Account (Series II) **
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub-Account (Series I) *   Invesco V.I. Technology Sub-Account (Series I)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Sub-Account (Series II) *
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Sub-Account (Series I) *
  Invesco V.I. Technology Sub-Account (Series II)
Ivy VIP Asset Strategy Sub-Account
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub- Account (Series II) *   MML Aggressive Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub- Account (Series I) *   MML Aggressive Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Sub-Account (Series II) *   MML American Funds Core Allocation Sub-Account
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Sub-Account (Series I) *
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Sub-Account (Series II) *
  MML American Funds Growth Sub-Account
MML American Funds International Sub-Account
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Sub-Account (Series I) *   MML Balanced Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Government Money Sub-Account *   MML Balanced Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Sub-Account (Series II) *
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Sub-Account (Series I) *
  MML Blend Sub-Account (Initial Class)
MML Blend Sub-Account (Service Class)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Sub-Account (Series II) *   MML Blue Chip Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Sub-Account (Series I) *   MML Blue Chip Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Total Return Bond Sub-Account *
MML Growth Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)
  MML Conservative Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)
MML Conservative Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)
MML Growth Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)
MML High Yield Sub-Account
  MML Dynamic Bond Sub-Account (Service Class I)
MML Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class)
 MML Income & Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)   MML Equity Sub-Account (Service Class)
    MML Equity Income Sub-Account (Initial Class)
MML Equity Income Sub-Account (Service Class)
    MML Equity Index Sub-Account (Class I)
MML Equity Index Sub-Account (Service Class I)
    MML Equity Momentum Sub-Account (Service Class I)**
    MML Equity Rotation Sub-Account (Service Class I)

 

 F-2 

 

 

Sub-Accounts   Sub-Accounts
     
MML Income & Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)   MML Focused Equity Sub-Account
MML Inflation-Protected and Income Sub-Account (Initial Class)   MML Foreign Sub-Account (Initial Class)
MML Inflation-Protected and Income Sub-Account (Service Class)   MML Foreign Sub-Account (Service Class)
MML International Equity Sub-Account   MML Fundamental Equity Sub-Account**
MML Large Cap Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)   MML Fundamental Value Sub-Account
MML Large Cap Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)   MML Global Sub-Account (Class I)
MML Managed Volatility Sub-Account (Service Class)   MML Global Sub-Account (Service Class I)
MML Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)   MML Global Sub-Account (Class II)
MML Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)   MML Growth & Income Sub-Account (Initial Class)
MML Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Initial Class)   MML Growth & Income Sub-Account (Service Class)
MML Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Service Class)   MML Moderate Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)
MML Managed Bond Sub-Account (Initial Class)   MML Moderate Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)
MML Managed Bond Sub-Account (Service Class)   MML Short-Duration Bond Sub-Account
MML Managed Volatility Sub-Account (Initial Class)   MML Small Cap Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class)
    MML Small Cap Equity Sub-Account (Service Class)
    MML Small Cap Growth Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class)
    MML Small Cap Growth Equity Sub-Account (Service Class)
    MML Small Company Value Sub-Account
    MML Small/Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Initial Class)
    MML Small/Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Service Class)
    MML Special Situations Sub-Account (Service Class I)
    MML Strategic Emerging Markets Sub-Account
    MML Total Return Bond Sub-Account
     MML U.S. Government Money Market Sub-Account
     Oppenheimer Global Multi-Alternatives Sub-Account***
     PIMCO CommodityRealReturn® Strategy Sub-Account
    VY® Clarion Global Real Estate Sub-Account

 

* See Note 2 to the financial statements for the information regarding the merger of this sub-account.

** See Note 2 to the financial statements for the former name of this Sub-Account.

*** Effective April 29, 2019 this Sub-Account liquidated and any contract value in the Sub-Account after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on April 29, 2019 was automatically transferred to the MML U.S. Government Money Market Sub-Account.

 

 F-3 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2020

 

   BlackRock
60/40 Target
Allocation
ETF V.I.
Sub-Account
   Fidelity®
VIP
Contrafund®
Sub-Account
   Fidelity®
VIP
Contrafund®
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Capital
Appreciation
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Capital
Appreciation
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Conservative
Balanced
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Conservative
Balanced
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Discovery
Mid Cap Growth
Sub-Account
 
   (Class III)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class 2)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II) 
ASSETS                                
Investments                                
Number of shares   652,618   4,925,428    4,906,007    192,552    2,286,806    4,329    393,877    289,025 
Identified cost  $7,729,445   $163,065,088   $164,872,267   $10,243,442   $122,996,270   $51,144   $4,928,420   $21,560,850 
Value  $8,908,234   $237,257,876   $229,257,703   $13,216,800   $160,853,938   $76,543   $7,062,219   $28,338,942 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total assets   8,908,234   237,257,876    229,257,703    13,216,800    160,853,938    76,543    7,062,219    28,338,942 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    10,606    -    -    5,075    -    1,116    - 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -   119    4    17    314    9    112    9 
Total liabilities   -   10,725    4    17    5,389    9    1,228    9 
NET ASSETS  $8,908,234   $237,247,151   $229,257,699   $13,216,783   $160,848,549   $76,534   $7,060,991   $28,338,933 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $8,908,234   $229,603,366   $229,253,178   $13,216,783   $156,831,207   $76,534   $7,009,694   $28,336,495 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   -   7,643,785    4,521    -    4,017,342    -    51,297    2,438 
Net assets  $8,908,234   $237,247,151   $229,257,699   $13,216,783   $160,848,549   $76,534   $7,060,991   $28,338,933 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   603,542    4,994,284    8,326,913    366,591    4,332,520    4,777    377,168    1,067,971 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $-   $63.30   $-   $-   $35.69   $-   $18.15   $- 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   -    47.35    -    -    35.64    -    17.81    - 
Tier 2   -    46.03    -    -    34.65    -    17.32    - 
Tier 3   -    49.94    -    -    37.59    -    18.76    - 
Tier 4   -    47.70    -    -    35.90    -    17.91    - 
MassMutual Artistry   -    42.98    -    -    26.28    -    18.39    - 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   -    54.52    -    -    40.20    -    20.14    - 
Package Plan I   -    54.52    -    -    40.20    -    20.14    - 
Package Plan II   -    51.09    -    -    37.67    -    18.87    - 
Package Plan III   -    48.77    -    -    35.96    -    18.02    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-4 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   BlackRock
60/40 Target
Allocation
ETF V.I.
Sub-Account
   Fidelity®
VIP
Contrafund®
Sub-Account
   Fidelity®
VIP
Contrafund®
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Capital
Appreciation
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Capital
Appreciation
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Conservative
Balanced
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Conservative
Balanced
Sub-Account
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Discovery
Mid Cap Growth
Sub-Account
 
   (Class III)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class 2)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                
Tier 1   -    42.37    -    -    33.78    -    15.66    - 
Tier 2   -    39.61    -    -    31.58    -    14.64    - 
Tier 3   -    37.98    -    -    30.28    -    14.04    - 
Tier 4   -    39.55    -    -    31.53    -    14.62    - 
Tier 5   -    36.97    -    -    29.48    -    13.67    - 
Tier 6   -    35.45    -    -    28.26    -    13.10    - 
Tier 7   -    39.04    -    -    31.13    -    14.43    - 
Tier 8   -    36.44    -    -    29.06    -    13.47    - 
Tier 9   -    -    36.94    29.45    -    13.66    -    35.13 
Tier 10   -    -    40.08    31.95    -    14.82    -    38.12 
Tier 11   -    -    34.48    27.49    -    12.75    -    32.79 
Tier 12   -    -    38.15    30.42    -    14.11    -    36.29 
Tier 13   -    -    32.86    26.20    -    -    -    31.25 
Tier 14   -    -    35.21    28.07    -    -    -    33.48 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    27.92    -    -    27.26    -    12.31    - 
Tier 2   -    29.88    -    -    29.17    -    13.18    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    48.30    -    -    39.20    -    17.63    - 
Tier 2   -    -    46.83    38.01    -    17.10    -    44.92 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   -    -    19.45    -    -    -    -    22.42 
Tier 2   -    -    19.10    -    -    -    -    22.02 
Tier 3   -    -    19.45    -    -    -    -    22.42 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   14.51    -    19.40    -    -    -    -    22.36 
Tier 2   14.77    -    19.76    -    -    -    -    22.77 
Tier 3   14.17    -    18.95    -    -    -    -    21.85 
Tier 4   14.51    -    19.40    -    -    -    -    22.36 
Tier 5   14.43    -    19.30    -    -    -    -    22.25 
Tier 6   14.77    -    19.76    -    -    -    -    22.77 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-5 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Discovery
Mid Cap Growth
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global Strategic
Income
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global Strategic
Income
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Government
Money
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
International
Growth
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
International
Growth
 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)       (Series II)   (Series I) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   994,947    1,475,503    3,388,586    12,223,541    31,845,105    6,850,774    8,499,067    11,011,755 
Identified cost  $76,013,175   $59,294,866   $128,887,755   $62,112,456   $158,329,793   $6,850,774   $20,382,241   $24,871,813 
Value  $106,389,698   $75,781,849   $176,613,098   $61,117,705   $154,130,311   $6,850,774   $25,837,164   $32,044,207 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    5    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    314    -    -    -    -    - 
Total assets   106,389,698    75,781,849    176,613,412    61,117,705    154,130,311    6,850,779    25,837,164    32,044,207 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   6,361    -    5,888    -    5,154    3,346    -    531 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   302    21    -    1    214    78    5    106 
Total liabilities   6,663    21    5,888    1    5,368    3,424    5    637 
NET ASSETS  $106,383,035   $75,781,828   $176,607,524   $61,117,704   $154,124,943   $6,847,355   $25,837,159   $32,043,570 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units – value  $103,130,177   $75,776,424   $172,348,429   $61,117,704   $150,507,585   $6,735,745   $25,837,159   $30,980,572 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   3,252,858    5,404    4,259,095    -    3,617,358    111,610    -    1,062,998 
Net assets  $106,383,035   $75,781,828   $176,607,524   $61,117,704   $154,124,943   $6,847,355   $25,837,159   $32,043,570 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   2,592,033    2,759,316    4,227,403    4,076,835    8,478,804    657,647    1,189,787    1,029,713 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $33.14   $-   $51.74   $-   $22.99   $11.86   $-   $43.95 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   32.63    -    50.94    -    22.45    10.17    -    28.24 
Tier 2   31.72    -    49.52    -    21.82    9.89    -    27.46 
Tier 3   34.41    -    53.72    -    23.67    10.73    -    29.78 
Tier 4   32.87    -    51.31    -    22.61    10.25    -    28.45 
MassMutual Artistry   18.41    -    35.94    -    22.94    10.44    -    21.09 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   46.92    -    46.75    -    22.64    10.41    -    34.27 
Package Plan I   46.92    -    46.75    -    22.64    10.41    -    34.27 
Package Plan II   43.96    -    43.80    -    21.21    9.76    -    32.11 
Package Plan III   41.97    -    41.81    -    20.25    9.31    -    30.66 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-6 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Discovery Mid Cap
Growth
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global Strategic
Income
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Global Strategic
Income
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Government
Money
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
International
Growth
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
International
Growth
 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)       (Series II)   (Series I) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                        
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                        
Tier 1   40.33    -    36.01    -    16.72    9.38    -    28.23 
Tier 2   37.70    -    33.67    -    15.63    8.77    -    26.40 
Tier 3   36.15    -    32.28    -    14.99    8.41    -    25.31 
Tier 4   37.64    -    33.61    -    15.61    8.76    -    26.35 
Tier 5   35.19    -    31.42    -    14.59    8.19    -    24.64 
Tier 6   33.74    -    30.13    -    13.99    7.85    -    23.62 
Tier 7   37.17    -    33.19    -    15.41    8.65    -    26.02 
Tier 8   34.69    -    30.98    -    14.38    8.07    -    24.29 
Tier 9   -    31.40    -    14.56    -    -    24.57    - 
Tier 10   -    34.07    -    15.80    -    -    26.66    - 
Tier 11   -    29.31    -    13.59    -    -    22.93    - 
Tier 12   -    32.44    -    15.04    -    -    25.37    - 
Tier 13   -    27.94    -    12.95    -    -    21.85    - 
Tier 14   -    29.93    -    13.88    -    -    23.41    - 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   29.44    -    22.51    -    13.79    -    -    15.49 
Tier 2   31.51    -    24.10    -    14.76    -    -    16.58 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   46.37    -    42.79    -    17.81    10.06    -    33.62 
Tier 2   -    41.50    -    17.24    -    -    32.53    - 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   -    17.97    -    11.16    -    -    14.08    - 
Tier 2   -    17.65    -    10.96    -    -    13.83    - 
Tier 3   -    17.97    -    11.16    -    -    14.08    - 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   -    17.93    -    11.14    -    -    14.05    - 
Tier 2   -    18.25    -    11.34    -    -    14.30    - 
Tier 3   -    17.51    -    10.88    -    -    13.72    - 
Tier 4   -    17.93    -    11.14    -    -    14.05    - 
Tier 5   -    17.83    -    11.08    -    -    13.97    - 
Tier 6   -    18.25    -    11.34    -    -    14.30    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-7 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Main Street
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Main Street
   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Total Return Bond
   Invesco V.I.
Diversified
Dividend
   Invesco V.I.
Diversified
Dividend
   Invesco V.I.
Health Care
   Invesco V.I.
Health Care
   Invesco V.I.
Technology
 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series II)   (Series I)       (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   721,789    1,104,850    237,543    245,043    428,663    336,214    391,616    258,910 
Identified cost  $20,405,999   $30,579,195   $1,790,733   $5,944,818   $11,054,336   $9,302,983   $9,995,064   $6,626,577 
Value  $21,292,784   $33,046,069   $2,002,491   $6,302,514   $10,939,483   $11,327,046   $12,414,238   $9,463,151 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    -    -    -    -    2    21 
Total assets   21,292,784    33,046,069    2,002,491    6,302,514    10,939,483    11,327,046    12,414,240    9,463,172 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    1,040    9    -    -    1,098    -    1,816 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   4    145    -    88    10    122    -    - 
Total liabilities   4    1,185    9    88    10    1,220    -    1,816 
NET ASSETS  $21,292,780   $33,044,884   $2,002,482   $6,302,426   $10,939,473   $11,325,826   $12,414,240   $9,461,356 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $21,292,780   $32,805,259   $2,002,197   $6,149,915   $10,939,473   $10,879,018   $12,414,240   $9,187,829 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   -    239,625    285    152,511    -    446,808    -    273,527 
Net assets  $21,292,780   $33,044,884   $2,002,482   $6,302,426   $10,939,473   $11,325,826   $12,414,240   $9,461,356 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   1,040,875    1,047,878    120,583    483,803    945,327    309,109    350,828    381,843 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $-   $27.50   $16.61   $14.16   $-   $36.19   $-   $11.87 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   -    27.93    -    13.90    -    35.52    -    11.66 
Tier 2   -    27.15    -    13.51    -    34.53    -    11.33 
Tier 3   -    29.45    -    14.64    -    37.40    -    12.27 
Tier 4   -    28.13    -    13.98    -    35.72    -    11.72 
MassMutual Artistry   -    25.67    -    12.89    -    32.66    -    11.70 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   -    35.61    -    13.79    -    40.42    -    45.92 
Package Plan I   -    35.61    -    13.79    -    40.42    -    45.92 
Package Plan II   -    33.37    -    12.92    -    37.88    -    43.02 
Package Plan III   -    31.85    -    12.34    -    36.16    -    41.07 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-8 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

    Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Main Street
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Main Street
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
Total Return Bond
Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.  
Diversified
Dividend
Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.
Diversified
Dividend
Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.
Health Care
Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.
Health Care
Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.
Technology
Sub-Account
 
    (Series II)     (Series I)           (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)  
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                                                
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                                                
Tier 1     -       29.91       -       10.81       -       32.59       -       41.45  
Tier 2     -       27.96       -       10.11       -       30.47       -       38.75  
Tier 3     -       26.81       -       9.69       -       29.21       -       37.16  
Tier 4     -       27.92       -       10.09       -       30.42       -       38.69  
Tier 5     -       26.10       -       9.43       -       28.44       -       36.17  
Tier 6     -       25.02       -       9.04       -       27.26       -       34.68  
Tier 7     -       27.56       -       9.96       -       30.03       -       38.20  
Tier 8     -       25.73       -       9.30       -       28.03       -       35.66  
Tier 9     26.09       -       -       -       9.44       -       28.42       -  
Tier 10     28.31       -       -       -       10.25       -       30.84       -  
Tier 11     24.35       -       -       -       8.82       -       26.52       -  
Tier 12     26.95       -       -       -       9.76       -       29.35       -  
Tier 13     23.21       -       -       -       8.40       -       25.28       -  
Tier 14     24.87       -       -       -       9.00       -       27.09       -  
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                                                
Tier 1     -       22.24       -       8.50       -       26.70       -       35.94  
Tier 2     -       23.80       -       9.10       -       28.57       -       38.47  
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                                                
Tier 1     -       34.43       -       12.64       -       38.42       -       55.37  
Tier 2     33.40       -       -       -       12.29       -       37.26       -  
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                                                
Tier 1     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 2     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 3     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 4     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                                                
Tier 1     16.60       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 2     16.30       -       -       -       -       -        -       -  
Tier 3     16.60       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                                                
Tier 1     16.56       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 2     16.86       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 3     16.18       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 4     16.56       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 5     16.47       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Tier 6     16.86       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

  

 F-9 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   Invesco V.I. Technology   Ivy VIP Asset Strategy   MML Aggressive Allocation   MML Aggressive Allocation   MML American Funds Core Allocation   MML American Funds Growth   MML American Funds International   MML Balanced Allocation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series II)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)               (Initial Class) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   386,209    1,270,836    3,174,704    9,008,695    76,505,673    12,775,103    5,436,251    8,043,699 
Identified cost  $9,907,682   $11,498,410   $31,445,728   $88,155,911   $913,442,363   $180,196,683   $53,026,219   $78,778,623 
Value  $13,181,328   $13,270,579   $33,588,369   $93,600,338   $930,308,981   $249,753,262   $58,820,237   $83,010,968 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total assets   13,181,328    13,270,579    33,588,369    93,600,338    930,308,981    249,753,262    58,820,237    83,010,968 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   2    21    30    3    121    67    61    80 
Total liabilities   2    21    30    3    121    67    61    80 
NET ASSETS  $13,181,326   $13,270,558   $33,588,339   $93,600,335   $930,308,860   $249,753,195   $58,820,176   $83,010,888 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $13,178,822   $13,270,558   $33,588,339   $93,600,335   $929,936,518   $249,515,979   $58,820,176   $83,010,888 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   2,504    -    -    -    372,342    237,216    -    - 
Net assets  $13,181,326   $13,270,558   $33,588,339   $93,600,335   $930,308,860   $249,753,195   $58,820,176   $83,010,888 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   274,028    904,514    1,451,095    4,774,344    49,211,939    7,372,819    3,496,882    4,442,634 
                                         
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $-   $-   $22.56   $-   $-   $-   $-   $18.46 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   -    -    22.30    -    -    -    -    18.24 
Tier 2   -    -    21.84    -    -    -    -    17.87 
Tier 3   -    -    23.03    -    -    -    -    18.84 
Tier 4   -    -    22.27    -    -    -    -    18.22 
                                         
MassMutual Artistry   -    -    23.21    -    25.78    60.76    23.24    18.99 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   -    -    23.92    -    -    -    -    19.56 
Package Plan I   -    -    23.92    -    -    -    -    19.56 
Package Plan II   -    -    22.86    -    -    -    -    18.70 
Package Plan III   -    -    22.13    -    -    -    -    18.10 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-10 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

                   MML   MML   MML     
       Ivy VIP   MML   MML   American   American   American   MML 
   Invesco V.I.   Asset   Aggressive   Aggressive   Funds   Funds   Funds   Balanced 
   Technology   Strategy   Allocation   Allocation   Core Allocation   Growth   International   Allocation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series II)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)               (Initial Class) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                        
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                        
Tier 1   -    15.20    22.13    -    19.59    41.41    16.76    18.10 
Tier 2   -    14.71    21.01    -    18.65    39.42    15.96    17.19 
Tier 3   -    14.41    20.34    -    18.09    38.23    15.47    16.64 
Tier 4   -    14.71    21.01    -    18.65    39.42    15.96    17.19 
Tier 5   -    14.24    19.95    -    17.75    37.53    15.19    16.32 
Tier 6   -    13.95    19.32    -    17.22    36.39    14.73    15.80 
Tier 7   -    14.59    20.74    -    18.42    38.94    15.76    16.97 
Tier 8   -    14.12    19.70    -    17.54    37.07    15.00    16.11 
Tier 9   36.13    14.35    -    19.60    17.97    37.99    15.38    - 
Tier 10   39.21    14.95    -    20.91    19.12    40.41    16.35    - 
Tier 11   33.73    13.89    -    18.62    17.11    36.17    14.64    - 
Tier 12   37.32    14.47    -    19.91    18.20    38.46    15.57    - 
Tier 13   32.15    13.39    -    17.74    16.31    34.47    13.95    - 
Tier 14   34.44    13.84    -    18.69    17.13    36.21    14.66    - 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    15.70    23.30    -    20.58    43.50    17.61    19.06 
Tier 2   53.68    15.70    -    22.57    20.58    43.50    17.61    - 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   -    13.63    -    15.05    14.36    25.47    14.47    - 
Tier 2   -    13.38    -    14.78    14.10    25.02    14.21    - 
Tier 3   -    13.63    -    15.05    14.36    25.47    14.47    - 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   -    13.59    -    15.01    14.33    25.41    14.43    - 
Tier 2   -    13.84    -    15.28    14.59    25.87    14.70    - 
Tier 3   -    13.28    -    14.66    14.00    24.82    14.10    - 
Tier 4   -    13.59    -    15.01    14.33    25.41    14.43    - 
Tier 5   -    13.52    -    14.93    14.25    25.28    14.36    - 
Tier 6   -    13.84    -    15.28    14.59    25.87    14.70    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-11 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

   MML           MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Balanced   MML   MML   Blue Chip   Blue Chip   Conservative   Conservative   Dynamic 
   Allocation   Blend   Blend   Growth   Growth   Allocation   Allocation   Bond 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   36,513,997    2,622,612    7,529,909    3,164,627    9,365,223    7,362,693    33,086,015    1,198,582 
Identified cost  $360,404,521   $57,733,285   $165,883,815   $52,119,095   $151,920,446   $71,462,432   $318,212,978   $11,957,745 
Value  $373,173,054   $65,024,697   $185,705,283   $64,906,509   $181,685,334   $76,130,243   $338,139,074   $12,453,262 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company    -    274    -    321    -    -    -    - 
Total assets   373,173,054    65,024,971    185,705,283    64,906,830    181,685,334    76,130,243    338,139,074    12,453,262 
                                         
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    519    -    1,434    -    -    -    - 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   8    -    7    -    17    36    14    - 
Total liabilities   8    519    7    1,434    17    36    14    - 
NET ASSETS  $373,173,046   $65,024,452   $185,705,276   $64,905,396   $181,685,317   $76,130,207   $338,139,060   $12,453,262 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $373,025,091   $63,378,591   $185,705,276   $63,612,482   $181,678,396   $75,989,366   $338,139,060   $12,453,262 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   147,955    1,645,861    -    1,292,914    6,921    140,841    -    - 
Net assets  $373,173,046   $65,024,452   $185,705,276   $64,905,396   $181,685,317   $76,130,207   $338,139,060   $12,453,262 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   22,692,373    2,246,956    10,470,381    1,113,935    6,214,398    4,208,998    21,085,898    1,102,442 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $-   $25.27   $-   $64.02   $-   $17.76   $-   $- 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   -    26.71    -    63.01    -    17.55    -    - 
Tier 2   -    25.96    -    61.26    -    17.19    -    - 
Tier 3   -    28.17    -    65.86    -    18.13    -    - 
Tier 4   -    26.90    -    62.90    -    17.53    -    - 
MassMutual Artistry   -    27.92    -    66.56    -    18.27    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   -    33.14    -    61.03    -    18.82    -    - 
Package Plan I   -    33.14    -    61.03    -    18.82    -    - 
Package Plan II   -    31.05    -    57.18    -    17.99    -    - 
Package Plan III   -    29.64    -    54.58    -    17.42    -    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-12 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

   MML           MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Balanced   MML   MML   Blue Chip   Blue Chip   Conservative   Conservative   Dynamic 
   Allocation   Blend   Blend   Growth   Growth   Allocation   Allocation   Bond 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                        
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                        
Tier 1   -    27.35    -    50.13    -    17.42    -    - 
Tier 2   -    25.57    -    46.86    -    16.54    -    - 
Tier 3   -    24.51    -    44.93    -    16.01    -    - 
Tier 4   -    25.53    -    46.79    -    16.54    -    - 
Tier 5   -    23.86    -    43.74    -    15.70    -    - 
Tier 6   -    22.88    -    41.94    -    15.20    -    - 
Tier 7   -    25.20    -    46.19    -    16.33    -    - 
Tier 8   -    23.52    -    43.12    -    15.50    -    - 
Tier 9   16.07    -    23.84    -    43.69    -    15.43    - 
Tier 10   17.14    -    25.87    -    47.41    -    16.46    - 
Tier 11   15.26    -    22.26    -    40.79    -    14.65    - 
Tier 12   16.32    -    24.63    -    45.13    -    15.67    - 
Tier 13   14.54    -    21.21    -    38.87    -    13.96    - 
Tier 14   15.32    -    22.73    -    41.65    -    14.70    - 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    21.64    -    38.92    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    23.16    -    41.66    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    30.50    -    58.83    -    18.34    -    - 
Tier 2   18.51    -    29.57    -    57.04    -    17.76    - 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   13.29    -    15.09    -    22.79    -    12.86    11.24 
Tier 2   13.05    -    14.82    -    22.38    -    12.63    11.04 
Tier 3   13.29    -    15.09    -    22.79    -    12.86    11.24 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   13.26    -    15.06    -    22.73    -    12.83    11.21 
Tier 2   13.50    -    15.33    -    23.15    -    13.06    11.42 
Tier 3   12.95    -    14.71    -    22.21    -    12.53    10.96 
Tier 4   13.26    -    15.06    -    22.73    -    12.83    11.21 
Tier 5   13.19    -    14.98    -    22.62    -    12.76    11.16 
Tier 6   13.50    -    15.33    -    23.15    -    13.06    11.42 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-13 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Equity   Equity   Equity   Equity 
   Equity   Equity   Equity Income   Equity Income   Index   Index   Momentum   Rotation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   862,345    3,833,235    13,809,403    8,155,848    1,134,317    1,597,989    155,630    136,965 
Identified cost  $21,572,414   $99,522,013   $143,082,518   $85,462,784   $31,272,720   $42,337,856   $1,779,061   $1,757,723 
Value  $21,591,157   $94,339,627   $141,960,666   $82,700,293   $32,974,599   $44,360,171   $2,048,092   $2,017,490 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    -    -    -    1    -    - 
Total assets   21,591,157    94,339,627    141,960,666    82,700,293    32,974,599    44,360,172    2,048,092    2,017,490 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   327    -    1,545    -    -    -    -    - 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   74    3    115    8    87    -    -    - 
Total liabilities   401    3    1,660    8    87    -    -    - 
NET ASSETS  $21,590,756   $94,339,624   $141,959,006   $82,700,285   $32,974,512   $44,360,172   $2,048,092   $2,017,490 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $20,782,188   $94,339,624   $137,718,296   $82,694,621   $31,628,792   $44,360,172   $2,048,092   $2,017,490 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   808,568    -    4,240,710    5,664    1,345,720    -    -    - 
Net assets  $21,590,756   $94,339,624   $141,959,006   $82,700,285   $32,974,512   $44,360,172   $2,048,092   $2,017,490 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   925,884    4,851,758    5,424,458    3,974,069    1,036,338    1,247,806    109,941    108,233 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $18.62   $-   $31.56   $-   $28.33   $-   $-   $- 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   20.65    -    31.06    -    29.38    -    -    - 
Tier 2   20.07    -    30.20    -    28.56    -    -    - 
Tier 3   21.77    -    32.47    -    30.99    -    -    - 
Tier 4   20.80    -    31.01    -    29.59    -    -    - 
MassMutual Artistry   22.27    -    32.81    -    26.97    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   28.08    -    29.21    -    39.57    -    -    - 
Package Plan I   28.08    -    29.21    -    39.57    -    -    - 
Package Plan II   26.31    -    27.37    -    37.07    -    -    - 
Package Plan III   25.11    -    26.13    -    35.39    -    -    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-14 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Equity   Equity   Equity   Equity 
   Equity   Equity   Equity Income   Equity Income   Index   Index   Momentum   Rotation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                        
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                        
Tier 1   23.12    -    24.10    -    32.94    -    -    - 
Tier 2   21.62    -    22.53    -    30.80    -    -    - 
Tier 3   20.72    -    21.60    -    29.53    -    -    - 
Tier 4   21.58    -    22.49    -    30.75    -    -    - 
Tier 5   20.18    -    21.03    -    28.74    -    -    - 
Tier 6   19.34    -    20.16    -    27.56    -    -    - 
Tier 7   21.31    -    22.21    -    30.36    -    -    - 
Tier 8   19.89    -    20.73    -    28.34    -    -    - 
Tier 9   -    20.16    -    21.03    -    28.72    -    - 
Tier 10   -    21.88    -    22.82    -    31.16    -    - 
Tier 11   -    18.82    -    19.63    -    26.80    -    - 
Tier 12   -    20.83    -    21.72    -    29.66    -    - 
Tier 13   -    17.94    -    18.71    -    25.55    -    - 
Tier 14   -    19.22    -    20.04    -    27.37    -    - 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   15.68    -    16.76    -    24.56    -    -    - 
Tier 2   16.78    -    17.93    -    26.29    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   25.74    -    26.87    -    37.71    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    24.97    -    26.08    -    36.56    -    - 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    28.71    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    29.13    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    30.22    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    30.22    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   -    13.77    -    14.49    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    13.52    -    14.23    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    13.77    -    14.49    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   -    13.73    -    14.45    -    -    18.30    18.31 
Tier 2   -    13.98    -    14.72    -    -    18.63    18.64 
Tier 3   -    13.41    -    14.12    -    -    17.88    17.89 
Tier 4   -    13.73    -    14.45    -    -    18.30    18.31 
Tier 5   -    13.66    -    14.38    -    -    18.20    18.21 
Tier 6   -    13.98    -    14.72    -    -    18.63    18.64 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-15 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (continued)

December 31, 2020

 

   MML           MML   MML             
   Focused   MML   MML   Fundamental   Fundamental   MML   MML   MML 
   Equity   Foreign   Foreign   Equity   Value   Global   Global   Global 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)           (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Class II) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   2,716,032    11,810,999    836,100    1,843,500    1,309,751    369,955    1,314,265    313,580 
Identified cost  $15,998,233   $112,986,106   $8,045,273   $18,684,157   $16,609,378   $4,465,877   $15,625,949   $3,661,881 
Value  $18,957,903   $118,346,216   $8,319,199   $19,006,482   $14,865,673   $5,164,568   $18,084,285   $4,487,331 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total assets   18,957,903    118,346,216    8,319,199    19,006,482    14,865,673    5,164,568    18,084,285    4,487,331 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    1,111    -    -    -    -    -    7 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   43    136    16    32    65    84    17    12 
Total liabilities   43    1,247    16    32    65    84    17    19 
NET ASSETS  $18,957,860   $118,344,969   $8,319,183   $19,006,450   $14,865,608   $5,164,484   $18,084,268   $4,487,312 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $18,957,860   $114,239,748   $8,319,183   $18,918,472   $14,865,608   $4,805,538   $18,084,268   $4,487,083 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   -    4,105,221    -    87,978    -    358,946    -    229 
Net assets  $18,957,860   $118,344,969   $8,319,183   $19,006,450   $14,865,608   $5,164,484   $18,084,268   $4,487,312 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   881,782    7,346,537    584,504    880,974    1,019,772    214,433    924,023    256,171 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $27.24   $15.22   $-   $28.28   $18.65   $-   $-   $19.87 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   27.03    15.31    -    28.06    18.51    -    -    19.23 
Tier 2   26.66    14.89    -    27.67    18.25    -    -    18.69 
Tier 3   27.62    16.15    -    28.68    18.91    -    -    20.28 
Tier 4   27.01    15.42    -    28.04    18.49    -    -    19.37 
MassMutual Artistry   27.76    14.40    -    28.83    19.01    -    -    14.28 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   28.32    18.07    -    29.41    19.39    24.80    -    - 
Package Plan I   28.32    18.07    -    29.41    19.39    24.80    -    - 
Package Plan II   27.48    16.93    -    28.53    18.81    23.23    -    - 
Package Plan III   26.89    16.16    -    27.92    18.41    22.18    -    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-16 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

   MML           MML   MML             
   Focused   MML   MML   Fundamental   Fundamental   MML   MML   MML 
   Equity   Foreign   Foreign   Equity   Value   Global   Global   Global 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)           (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Class II) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                        
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                        
Tier 1   26.89    15.20    -    27.92    18.41    22.02    -    - 
Tier 2   25.97    14.21    -    26.96    17.78    20.59    -    - 
Tier 3   25.42    13.63    -    26.39    17.40    19.74    -    - 
Tier 4   25.97    14.19    -    26.96    17.78    20.56    -    - 
Tier 5   25.09    13.26    -    26.05    17.18    19.22    -    - 
Tier 6   24.55    12.72    -    25.49    16.81    18.43    -    - 
Tier 7   25.75    14.01    -    26.73    17.63    20.30    -    - 
Tier 8   24.87    13.08    -    25.82    17.03    18.94    -    - 
Tier 9   25.31    -    13.25    26.27    17.33    -    19.28    - 
Tier 10   26.43    -    14.38    27.44    18.09    -    20.92    - 
Tier 11   24.44    -    12.37    25.38    16.74    -    17.99    - 
Tier 12   25.53    -    13.68    26.50    17.48    -    19.91    - 
Tier 13   23.51    -    11.79    24.41    16.10    -    17.15    - 
Tier 14   24.34    -    12.63    25.27    16.66    -    18.37    - 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    9.24    -    -    -    17.63    -    - 
Tier 2   -    9.89    -    -    -    18.87    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   27.84    17.18    -    28.90    19.06    26.82    -    - 
Tier 2   27.84    -    16.65    28.90    19.06    -    26.11    - 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   19.03    -    10.83    19.71    13.30    -    16.13    - 
Tier 2   18.68    -    10.64    19.36    13.06    -    15.84    - 
Tier 3   19.03    -    10.83    19.71    13.30    -    16.13    - 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   18.98    -    10.80    19.66    13.27    -    16.08    - 
Tier 2   19.32    -    11.00    20.02    13.51    -    16.38    - 
Tier 3   18.54    -    10.55    19.21    12.96    -    15.71    - 
Tier 4   18.98    -    10.80    19.66    13.27    -    16.08    - 
Tier 5   18.88    -    10.75    19.56    13.20    -    16.00    - 
Tier 6   19.32    -    11.00    20.02    13.51    -    16.38    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-17 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML       MML   MML   Inflation- 
   Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth   MML   Income   Income   Protected 
   & Income   & Income   Allocation   Allocation   High Yield   & Growth   & Growth   and Income 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   3,484,525    2,449,344    41,939,540    84,892,152    4,247,340    2,169,541    2,744,896    11,478,243 
Identified cost  $39,881,113   $40,542,604   $380,898,269   $779,536,500   $41,274,861   $22,064,496   $27,815,257   $119,636,649 
Value  $71,537,293   $49,795,172   $393,392,887   $788,648,089   $42,643,293   $21,695,409   $27,009,778   $130,966,753 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    -    135    -    -    -    95 
Total assets   71,537,293    49,795,172    393,392,887    788,648,224    42,643,293    21,695,409    27,009,778    130,966,848 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   5,971    -    -    -    106    209    -    2,182 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   256    1    6    -    43    108    3    - 
Total liabilities   6,227    1    6    -    149    317    3    2,182 
NET ASSETS  $71,531,066   $49,795,171   $393,392,881   $788,648,224   $42,643,144   $21,695,092   $27,009,775   $130,964,666 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $71,141,684   $49,795,171   $393,392,881   $788,563,256   $42,639,613   $20,778,976   $27,009,775   $127,450,272 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   389,382    -    -    84,968    3,531    916,116    -    3,514,394 
Net assets  $71,531,066   $49,795,171   $393,392,881   $788,648,224   $42,643,144   $21,695,092   $27,009,775   $130,964,666 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   1,995,917    2,420,663    18,484,124    39,460,627    2,894,882    893,631    1,567,693    8,662,812 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $36.16   $-   $21.01   $-   $17.78   $27.07   $-   $15.80 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   35.59    -    20.77    -    17.61    20.83    -    15.55 
Tier 2   34.59    -    20.34    -    17.31    20.25    -    15.12 
Tier 3   37.19    -    21.45    -    18.08    21.97    -    16.25 
Tier 4   35.52    -    20.74    -    17.59    20.98    -    15.52 
MassMutual Artistry   37.59    -    21.62    -    18.20    19.79    -    16.43 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   39.15    -    22.27    -    18.65    26.57    -    17.11 
Package Plan I   39.15    -    22.27    -    18.65    26.57    -    17.11 
Package Plan II   36.80    -    21.28    -    17.97    24.90    -    16.08 
Package Plan III   35.21    -    20.61    -    17.50    23.77    -    15.39 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-18 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML       MML   MML   Inflation- 
   Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth   MML   Income   Income   Protected 
   & Income   & Income   Allocation   Allocation   High Yield   & Growth   & Growth   and Income 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                        
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                        
Tier 1   26.89    -    20.61    -    17.50    21.52    -    14.43 
Tier 2   25.14    -    19.57    -    16.77    20.11    -    13.49 
Tier 3   24.11    -    18.94    -    16.33    19.29    -    12.93 
Tier 4   25.10    -    19.57    -    16.77    20.08    -    13.47 
Tier 5   23.47    -    18.58    -    16.07    18.77    -    12.59 
Tier 6   22.50    -    17.99    -    15.64    18.00    -    12.07 
Tier 7   24.78    -    19.31    -    16.59    19.83    -    13.29 
Tier 8   23.13    -    18.34    -    15.90    18.51    -    12.41 
Tier 9   -    23.44    -    18.29    16.24    -    18.77    - 
Tier 10   -    25.44    -    19.51    17.13    -    20.37    - 
Tier 11   -    21.88    -    17.37    15.56    -    17.52    - 
Tier 12   -    24.22    -    18.57    16.41    -    19.39    - 
Tier 13   -    20.86    -    16.55    14.83    -    16.70    - 
Tier 14   -    22.35    -    17.43    15.48    -    17.89    - 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   21.06    -    -    -    -    15.31    -    13.89 
Tier 2   22.54    -    -    -    -    16.39    -    14.86 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   30.74    -    21.70    -    18.26    24.34    -    15.42 
Tier 2   -    29.80    -    21.06    18.26    -    23.62    - 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   -    17.62    -    14.40    12.80    -    14.24    - 
Tier 2   -    17.30    -    14.14    12.57    -    13.99    - 
Tier 3   -    17.62    -    14.40    12.80    -    14.24    - 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   -    17.57    -    14.36    12.76    -    14.21    - 
Tier 2   -    17.89    -    14.63    13.00    -    14.47    - 
Tier 3   -    17.17    -    14.03    12.47    -    13.88    - 
Tier 4   -    17.57    -    14.36    12.76    -    14.21    - 
Tier 5   -    17.48    -    14.29    12.70    -    14.13    - 
Tier 6   -    17.89    -    14.63    13.00    -    14.47    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-19 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

   MML                             
   Inflation-   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Protected   International   Large Cap   Large Cap   Managed   Managed   Managed   Managed 
   and Income   Equity   Growth   Growth   Bond   Bond   Volatility   Volatility 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
ASSETS                                        
Investments                                        
Number of shares   4,077,648    691,680    1,250,285    1,657,612    8,416,899    19,720,056    6,763,277    1,968,115 
Identified cost  $42,085,043   $6,611,140   $13,431,640   $17,790,814   $106,621,747   $247,725,718   $84,762,993   $24,601,508 
Value  $46,199,758   $6,833,800   $17,478,982   $22,228,573   $114,407,663   $266,777,219   $93,222,933   $26,903,894 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total assets   46,199,758    6,833,800    17,478,982    22,228,573    114,407,663    266,777,219    93,222,933    26,903,894 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    -    287    -    1,601    -    1,186    - 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   6    28    62    2    162    31    124    9 
Total liabilities   6    28    349    2    1,763    31    1,310    9 
NET ASSETS  $46,199,752   $6,833,772   $17,478,633   $22,228,571   $114,405,900   $266,777,188   $93,221,623   $26,903,885 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $46,193,736   $6,833,772   $17,340,975   $22,228,571   $111,290,744   $266,769,377   $90,528,615   $26,903,885 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   6,016    -    137,658    -    3,115,156    7,811    2,693,008    - 
Net assets  $46,199,752   $6,833,772   $17,478,633   $22,228,571   $114,405,900   $266,777,188   $93,221,623   $26,903,885 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   3,431,376    562,014    492,342    965,919    6,518,330    17,765,196    5,170,638    1,669,075 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $-   $-   $28.15   $-   $-   $14.27   $16.46   $- 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   -    -    28.37    -    21.57    -    16.15    - 
Tier 2   -    -    27.58    -    20.97    -    15.70    - 
Tier 3   -    -    29.92    -    22.75    -    17.01    - 
Tier 4   -    -    28.58    -    21.73    -    16.25    - 
MassMutual Artistry   -    11.28    23.20    -    21.87    -    17.07    - 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   -    11.45    40.27    -    20.18    -    21.43    - 
Package Plan I   -    11.45    40.27    -    20.18    -    21.43    - 
Package Plan II   -    11.19    37.73    -    18.91    -    20.08    - 
Package Plan III   -    11.00    36.02    -    18.05    -    19.17    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-20 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   MML
Inflation-
Protected
and Income
Sub-Account
   MML
International
Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Large Cap
Growth
Sub-Account
   MML
Large Cap
Growth
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Bond
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Bond
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Volatility
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Volatility
Sub-Account
 
   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                
Tier 1   -    11.00    34.10    -    16.21    -    16.66    - 
Tier 2   -    10.71    31.88    -    15.15    -    15.58    - 
Tier 3   -    10.54    30.56    -    14.53    -    14.93    - 
Tier 4   -    10.71    31.83    -    15.13    -    15.55    - 
Tier 5   -    10.43    29.75    -    14.14    -    14.54    - 
Tier 6   -    10.26    28.53    -    13.56    -    13.94    - 
Tier 7   -    10.64    31.42    -    14.94    -    15.35    - 
Tier 8   -    10.36    29.33    -    13.94    -    14.33    - 
Tier 9   12.58    10.50    -    29.72    -    14.13    -    14.53 
Tier 10   13.65    10.86    -    32.25    -    15.34    -    15.77 
Tier 11   11.74    10.23    -    27.74    -    13.19    -    13.56 
Tier 12   12.99    10.57    -    30.70    -    14.60    -    15.01 
Tier 13   11.19    9.92    -    26.44    -    12.58    -    12.93 
Tier 14   11.99    10.19    -    28.32    -    13.47    -    13.85 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    29.86    -    15.04    -    12.13    - 
Tier 2   -    -    31.96    -    16.10    -    12.98    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    11.30    42.37    -    17.38    -    18.96    - 
Tier 2   14.95    11.30    -    41.07    -    16.86    -    18.39 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   11.76    12.28    -    20.89    -    11.48    -    11.91 
Tier 2   11.54    12.06    -    20.52    -    11.28    -    11.69 
Tier 3   11.76    12.28    -    20.89    -    11.48    -    11.91 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   11.73    12.25    -    20.84    -    11.45    -    11.88 
Tier 2   11.94    12.47    -    21.22    -    11.66    -    12.09 
Tier 3   11.46    11.97    -    20.36    -    11.19    -    11.60 
Tier 4   11.73    12.25    -    20.84    -    11.45    -    11.88 
Tier 5   11.66    12.19    -    20.73    -    11.39    -    11.81 
Tier 6   11.94    12.47    -    21.22    -    11.66    -    12.09 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-21 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   MML
Mid Cap
Sub-Account
   MML
Mid Cap Growth
Sub-Account
   MML
Mid Cap Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Mid Cap Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Moderate
Allocation
Sub-Account
   MML
Moderate
Allocation
Sub-Account
   MML
Short-Duration
Bond
Sub-Account
   MML
Small Cap
Equity
Sub-Account
 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class) 
ASSETS                                
Investments                                
Number of shares   4,969,688    6,892,094    12,576,506    4,939,303    21,687,964    147,236,440    4,513,109    2,453,768 
Identified cost  $75,771,814   $101,901,816   $130,354,387   $51,653,823   $226,812,137   $1,573,368,889   $43,587,813   $22,173,246 
Value  $89,951,347   $117,785,885   $133,185,201   $51,269,965   $235,097,525   $1,575,429,909   $44,273,597   $27,262,515 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    -    -    -    -    23    299    - 
Total assets   89,951,347    117,785,885    133,185,201    51,269,965    235,097,525    1,575,429,932    44,273,896    27,262,515 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   1,939    -    3,866    -    -    -    1,016    2,832 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   142    8    192    17    64    -    -    154 
Total liabilities   2,081    8    4,058    17    64    -    1,016    2,986 
NET ASSETS  $89,949,266   $117,785,877   $133,181,143   $51,269,948   $235,097,461   $1,575,429,932   $44,272,880   $27,259,529 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $88,465,722   $117,785,877   $129,436,928   $51,269,948   $235,097,461   $1,575,414,397   $44,228,821   $26,929,301 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   1,483,544    -    3,744,215    -    -    15,535    44,059    330,228 
Net assets  $89,949,266   $117,785,877   $133,181,143   $51,269,948   $235,097,461   $1,575,429,932   $44,272,880   $27,259,529 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   1,454,733    4,168,210    3,707,481    2,406,081    11,897,524    87,882,437    4,150,563    706,873 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $103.40   $-   $45.26   $-   $19.40   $-   $10.82   $46.65 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   76.57    -    47.92    -    19.18    -    10.72    41.99 
Tier 2   74.43    -    46.58    -    18.78    -    10.54    40.82 
Tier 3   80.75    -    50.53    -    19.81    -    11.01    44.28 
Tier 4   77.12    -    48.27    -    19.15    -    10.71    42.29 
MassMutual Artistry   61.93    -    51.29    -    19.96    -    11.08    40.65 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   70.09    -    41.45    -    20.57    -    11.35    39.49 
Package Plan I   70.09    -    41.45    -    20.57    -    11.35    39.49 
Package Plan II   65.68    -    38.84    -    19.65    -    10.94    37.00 
Package Plan III   62.69    -    37.07    -    19.03    -    10.65    35.32 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-22 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   MML
Mid Cap
Sub-Account
   MML
Mid Cap Growth
Sub-Account
   MML
Mid Cap Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Mid Cap Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Moderate
Allocation
Sub-Account
   MML
Moderate
Allocation
Sub-Account
   MML
Short-Duration
Bond
Sub-Account
   MML
Small Cap
Equity
Sub-Account
 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class) 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                
Tier 1   41.52    -    32.42    -    19.03    -    10.65    31.09 
Tier 2   39.16    -    30.31    -    18.07    -    10.20    29.07 
Tier 3   37.75    -    29.06    -    17.49    -    9.94    27.87 
Tier 4   39.16    -    30.26    -    18.07    -    10.20    29.02 
Tier 5   36.93    -    28.29    -    17.16    -    9.78    27.13 
Tier 6   35.60    -    27.13    -    16.61    -    9.52    26.01 
Tier 7   38.60    -    29.88    -    17.84    -    10.10    28.66 
Tier 8   36.40    -    27.89    -    16.94    -    9.67    26.75 
Tier 9   -    36.52    -    28.27    -    16.87    9.88    - 
Tier 10   -    39.28    -    30.68    -    18.00    10.42    - 
Tier 11   -    34.44    -    26.39    -    16.02    9.47    - 
Tier 12   -    37.40    -    29.21    -    17.13    9.99    - 
Tier 13   -    32.82    -    25.16    -    15.27    9.03    - 
Tier 14   -    34.81    -    26.95    -    16.08    9.42    - 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   35.82    -    22.51    -    -    -    -    23.47 
Tier 2   38.34    -    24.09    -    -    -    -    25.12 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   44.03    -    35.71    -    20.04    -    11.11    36.61 
Tier 2   -    42.70    -    34.63    -    19.43    11.11    - 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   -    19.81    -    14.28    -    13.60    10.36    - 
Tier 2   -    19.46    -    14.02    -    13.35    10.18    - 
Tier 3   -    19.81    -    14.28    -    13.60    10.36    - 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   -    19.76    -    14.24    -    13.56    10.34    - 
Tier 2   -    20.12    -    14.50    -    13.81    10.53    - 
Tier 3   -    19.31    -    13.91    -    13.25    10.10    - 
Tier 4   -    19.76    -    14.24    -    13.56    10.34    - 
Tier 5   -    19.66    -    14.16    -    13.49    10.28    - 
Tier 6   -    20.12    -    14.50    -    13.81    10.53    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-23 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   MML
Small Cap
Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Small Cap
Growth Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Small Cap
Growth Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Small
Company Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Small/Mid Cap
Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Small/Mid Cap
Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Special
Situations
Sub-Account
   MML
Strategic
Emerging
Markets
Sub-Account
 
   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I)     
ASSETS                                
Investments                                
Number of shares   2,331,431    5,396,406    2,013,469    1,742,820    8,930,505    2,066,029    64,220    1,122,940 
Identified cost  $20,872,676   $70,112,793   $26,391,223   $24,917,253   $93,943,461   $22,538,625   $757,915   $12,072,526 
Value  $25,344,935   $90,996,175   $31,164,773   $25,549,738   $97,699,723   $22,292,449   $950,460   $16,215,248 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    62    -    -    -    1    -    - 
Total assets   25,344,935    90,996,237    31,164,773    25,549,738    97,699,723    22,292,450    950,460    16,215,248 
LIABILITIES                                        
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    4,136    -    -    1,514    -    -    - 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   8    -    9    36    37    -    -    77 
Total liabilities   8    4,136    9    36    1,551    -    -    77 
NET ASSETS  $25,344,927   $90,992,101   $31,164,764   $25,549,702   $97,698,172   $22,292,450   $950,460   $16,215,171 
Net Assets:                                        
Accumulation units - value  $25,344,927   $87,777,419   $31,164,764   $25,549,702   $94,424,016   $22,292,450   $950,460   $16,215,171 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   -    3,214,682    -    -    3,274,156    -    -    - 
Net assets  $25,344,927   $90,992,101   $31,164,764   $25,549,702   $97,698,172   $22,292,450   $950,460   $16,215,171 
Outstanding units                                        
Contract owners   1,169,902    1,790,589    1,072,366    1,280,052    3,498,522    1,139,563    50,391    1,017,814 
UNIT VALUE                                        
Panorama Premier  $-   $61.21   $-   $-   $36.63   $-   $-   $- 
Panorama Passage®                                        
Tier 1   -    54.04    -    -    36.05    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    52.53    -    -    35.05    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    56.98    -    -    37.68    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    54.43    -    -    35.99    -    -    - 
MassMutual Artistry   -    38.71    -    33.50    38.08    -    -    19.00 
MassMutual Transitions®                                        
Custom Plan   -    60.18    -    -    39.66    -    -    - 
Package Plan I   -    60.18    -    -    39.66    -    -    - 
Package Plan II   -    56.38    -    -    37.28    -    -    - 
Package Plan III   -    53.82    -    -    35.67    -    -    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-24 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)
December 31, 2020

 

   MML
Small Cap
Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Small Cap
Growth Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Small Cap
Growth Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Small
Company Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Small/Mid Cap
Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Small/Mid Cap
Value
Sub-Account
   MML
Special
Situations
Sub-Account
   MML
Strategic
Emerging
Markets
Sub-Account
 
   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I)     
UNIT VALUE (continued)                                
MassMutual EvolutionSM                                
Tier 1   -    44.52    -    32.09    25.61    -    -    14.81 
Tier 2   -    41.62    -    30.63    23.94    -    -    14.10 
Tier 3   -    39.90    -    29.75    22.96    -    -    13.67 
Tier 4   -    41.55    -    30.63    23.91    -    -    14.10 
Tier 5   -    38.85    -    29.23    22.35    -    -    13.42 
Tier 6   -    37.25    -    28.39    21.43    -    -    13.01 
Tier 7   -    41.03    -    30.27    23.60    -    -    13.92 
Tier 8   -    38.29    -    28.89    22.03    -    -    13.25 
Tier 9   27.06    -    38.81    29.57    -    22.32    -    13.58 
Tier 10   29.37    -    42.11    31.35    -    24.22    -    14.45 
Tier 11   25.26    -    36.23    28.22    -    20.83    -    12.93 
Tier 12   27.96    -    40.09    29.92    -    23.05    -    13.75 
Tier 13   24.08    -    34.53    26.90    -    19.86    -    12.33 
Tier 14   25.80    -    36.99    28.19    -    21.27    -    12.95 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    31.31    -    -    16.85    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    33.51    -    -    18.03    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                                        
Tier 1   -    54.46    -    33.62    28.11    -    -    15.56 
Tier 2   35.44    -    52.81    33.62    -    27.25    -    15.56 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                                        
Tier 1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                                        
Tier 1   17.05    -    21.65    15.61    -    13.56    -    16.22 
Tier 2   16.74    -    21.26    15.33    -    13.32    -    15.93 
Tier 3   17.05    -    21.65    15.61    -    13.56    -    16.22 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                                        
Tier 1   17.00    -    21.59    15.57    -    13.53    18.53    16.18 
Tier 2   17.31    -    21.98    15.85    -    13.77    18.87    16.47 
Tier 3   16.61    -    21.09    15.21    -    13.21    18.10    15.80 
Tier 4   17.00    -    21.59    15.57    -    13.53    18.53    16.18 
Tier 5   16.92    -    21.48    15.49    -    13.46    18.43    16.09 
Tier 6   17.31    -    21.98    15.85    -    13.77    18.87    16.47 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-25 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

           PIMCO   VY® 
       MML U.S.   Commodity   Clarion 
   MML Total   Government   RealReturn®   Global 
   Return Bond   Money Market   Strategy   Real Estate 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
ASSETS                    
Investments                    
Number of shares   4,307,066    143,713,749    1,244,319    1,197,324 
Identified cost  $46,003,502   $143,711,740   $8,302,334   $13,451,539 
Value  $47,980,719   $143,713,775   $7,627,679   $12,571,894 
Dividends receivable   -    -    -    - 
Receivable from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   -    56    -    - 
Total assets   47,980,719    143,713,831    7,627,679    12,571,894 
LIABILITIES                    
Annuitant mortality fluctuation reserve   -    2,014    73    77 
Payable to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company   31    -    115    57 
Total liabilities   31    2,014    188    134 
NET ASSETS  $47,980,688   $143,711,817   $7,627,491   $12,571,760 
Net Assets:                    
Accumulation units - value  $47,980,688   $142,989,904   $7,388,714   $12,056,110 
Contracts in payout (annuitization) period   -    721,913    238,777    515,650 
Net assets  $47,980,688   $143,711,817   $7,627,491   $12,571,760 
Outstanding units                    
Contract owners   4,106,252    15,675,879    1,401,409    807,288 
                     
UNIT VALUE                    
Panorama Premier  $11.78   $8.83   $5.35   $15.43 
Panorama Passage®                    
Tier 1   11.69    8.72    5.28    15.23 
Tier 2   11.53    8.55    5.15    14.88 
Tier 3   11.94    9.01    5.47    15.80 
Tier 4   11.68    8.71    5.27    15.21 
MassMutual Artistry   12.01    9.08    5.52    15.94 
MassMutual Transitions®                    
Custom Plan   12.25    9.36    5.71    16.49 
Package Plan I   12.25    9.36    5.71    16.49 
Package Plan II   11.88    8.94    5.42    15.66 
Package Plan III   11.63    8.66    5.23    15.10 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-26 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

           PIMCO   VY® 
       MML U.S.   Commodity   Clarion 
   MML Total   Government   RealReturn®   Global 
   Return Bond   Money Market   Strategy   Real Estate 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
UNIT VALUE (continued)                    
MassMutual EvolutionSM                    
Tier 1   11.63    8.66    5.23    15.09 
Tier 2   11.23    8.22    4.93    14.23 
Tier 3   10.99    7.96    4.75    13.72 
Tier 4   11.23    8.22    4.93    14.23 
Tier 5   10.85    7.81    4.65    13.42 
Tier 6   10.62    7.56    4.48    12.94 
Tier 7   11.13    8.12    4.86    14.03 
Tier 8   10.75    7.71    4.58    13.23 
Tier 9   10.94    7.92    4.74    13.69 
Tier 10   11.43    8.45    5.10    14.72 
Tier 11   10.57    7.52    4.47    12.91 
Tier 12   11.04    8.04    4.86    14.02 
Tier 13   10.17    7.17    4.26    12.30 
Tier 14   10.52    7.55    4.52    13.05 
MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM                    
Tier 1   -    8.92    5.28    12.18 
Tier 2   -    9.19    5.66    13.04 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM                    
Tier 1   12.04    9.12    5.54    16.00 
Tier 2   12.04    9.12    5.54    16.00 
MassMutual Equity EdgeSM                    
Tier 1   -    8.80    -    - 
Tier 2   -    -    -    - 
Tier 3   -    -    -    - 
Tier 4   -    9.10    -    - 
MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II                    
Tier 1   11.46    9.70    -    - 
Tier 2   11.26    9.53    -    - 
Tier 3   11.46    9.70    -    - 
MassMutual Capital VantageSM                    
Tier 1   11.43    9.68    -    - 
Tier 2   11.64    9.85    -    - 
Tier 3   11.17    9.45    -    - 
Tier 4   11.43    9.68    -    - 
Tier 5   11.37    9.63    -    - 
Tier 6   11.64    9.85    -    - 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-27 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

   BlackRock           Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco 
   60/40 Target   Fidelity®   Fidelity®   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I. 
   Allocation   VIP   VIP   Capital   Capital   Conservative   Conservative   Discovery 
   ETF V.I.   Contrafund®   Contrafund®   Appreciation   Appreciation   Balanced   Balanced   Mid Cap Growth 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Class III)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class 2)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $116,275   $557,850   $159,181   $-   $-   $1,391   $141,102   $- 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fee and administrative charges   61,737    2,795,018    2,620,841    163,741    1,910,010    1,050    77,324    278,443 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   54,538    (2,237,168)   (2,461,660)   (163,741)   (1,910,010)   341    63,778    (278,443)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   86,316    23,385,017    6,208,732    590,231    10,239,137    2,589    275,562    189,797 
Realized gain distribution   14,098    1,234,403    1,080,496    1,814,781    21,660,438    1,758    156,789    1,863,813 
Realized gain (loss)   100,414    24,619,420    7,289,228    2,405,012    31,899,575    4,347    432,351    2,053,610 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments   1,053,232    34,970,871    47,885,827    1,391,942    15,551,455    4,511    373,131    6,038,721 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   1,153,646    59,590,291    55,175,055    3,796,954    47,451,030    8,858    805,482    8,092,331 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   1,208,184    57,353,123    52,713,395    3,633,213    45,541,020    9,199    869,260    7,813,888 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   3,661,160    2,112,378    17,286,293    145,925    773,400    -    15,576    4,020,301 
Transfers due to death benefits   -    (1,939,940)   (1,210,488)   (107,866)   (1,403,757)   -    (151,874)   (130,010)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (806,297)   (105)   -    (312,139)   -    (7,790)   (55)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (134,553)   (30,172,823)   (23,115,223)   (1,736,083)   (22,716,393)   (4,404)   (475,801)   (2,082,172)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    50,784    -    -    11,863    -    (624)   - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   -    (580,454)   (129,474)   (11,469)   (482,916)   28    (5,420)   (7,285)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (1,112)   -    -    (434)   -    (74)   - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    18,018    (631)   -    109,706    -    2,126    (329)
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   597,613    (20,897,923)   (7,838,577)   (1,595,520)   (22,019,795)   -    (57,430)   702,304 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   4,124,221    (52,217,369)   (15,008,205)   (3,305,013)   (46,040,465)   (4,376)   (681,311)   2,502,754 
Total increase (decrease)   5,332,404    5,135,754    37,705,190    328,200    (499,445)   4,823    187,949    10,316,642 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   3,575,830    232,111,397    191,552,509    12,888,583    161,347,994    71,711    6,873,042    18,022,291 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $8,908,234   $237,247,151   $229,257,699   $13,216,783   $160,848,549   $76,534   $7,060,991   $28,338,933 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-28 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

   Invesco           Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco 
   Oppenheimer V.I.   Invesco   Invesco   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I. 
   Discovery   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Global Strategic   Global Strategic   Government   International   International 
   Mid Cap Growth   Global   Global   Income   Income   Money   Growth   Growth 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)       (Series II)   (Series I) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $40,848   $293,032   $1,094,284   $3,381,199   $9,052,690   $15,468   $154,359   $284,201 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fee and administrative charges   1,286,771    857,975    1,992,610    836,519    1,959,827    79,761    311,079    358,889 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (1,245,923)   (564,943)   (898,326)   2,544,680    7,092,863    (64,293)   (156,720)   (74,688)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   6,964,624    1,374,744    11,885,653    (3,029,059)   (5,865,207)   -    221,711    1,631,098 
Realized gain distribution   8,515,542    2,430,032    5,701,535    -    -    -    324,338    419,761 
Realized gain (loss)   15,480,166    3,804,776    17,587,188    (3,029,059)   (5,865,207)   -    546,049    2,050,859 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   19,030,198    13,084,911    22,322,127    614,565    747,269    -    3,963,612    3,693,695 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   34,510,364    16,889,687    39,909,315    (2,414,494)   (5,117,938)   -    4,509,661    5,744,554 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   33,264,441    16,324,744    39,010,989    130,187    1,974,925    (64,293)   4,352,941    5,669,866 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   602,760    1,915,116    1,199,778    1,738,065    1,489,551    246,305    982,892    409,575 
Transfers due to death benefits   (799,434)   (363,201)   (1,433,584)   (459,037)   (2,452,333)   (68,087)   (113,158)   (182,506)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (280,522)   (122)   (369,034)   -    (324,436)   (9,045)   -    (74,380)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (16,806,972)   (7,474,702)   (23,545,009)   (12,016,537)   (28,502,153)   (1,592,382)   (4,525,875)   (4,297,561)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   31,110    -    15,300    -    11,001    -    -    388 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (331,878)   (151,739)   (398,304)   (233,021)   (573,605)   24,574    (52,797)   (100,680)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   (150)   -    (699)   -    (514)   (492)   -    (255)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   60,862    (747)   73,764    -    87,658    1,359    -    2,067 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (15,833,872)   (4,320,176)   (13,996,641)   (2,970,774)   7,577,621    1,247,658    (1,773,433)   (2,151,906)
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (33,358,096)   (10,395,571)   (38,454,429)   (13,941,305)   (22,687,210)   (150,110)   (5,482,371)   (6,395,258)
Total increase (decrease)   (93,655)   5,929,173    556,560    (13,811,118)   (20,712,285)   (214,403)   (1,129,430)   (725,392)
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   106,476,690    69,852,655    176,050,964    74,928,822    174,837,228    7,061,758    26,966,589    32,768,962 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $106,383,035   $75,781,828   $176,607,524   $61,117,704   $154,124,943   $6,847,355   $25,837,159   $32,043,570 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-29 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

           Invesco                     
   Invesco   Invesco   Oppenheimer V.I.   Invesco V.I.   Invesco V.I.             
   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Total Return   Diversified   Diversified   Invesco V.I.   Invesco V.I.   Invesco V.I. 
   Main Street   Main Street   Bond   Dividend   Dividend   Health Care   Health Care   Technology 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series II)   (Series I)       (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $224,043   $452,252   $61,859   $186,110   $297,410   $33,121   $11,164   $- 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fee and administrative charges   238,834    340,322    26,096    65,654    147,016    122,614    155,243    90,543 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (14,791)   111,930    35,763    120,456    150,394    (89,493)   (144,079)   (90,543)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (258,618)   1,137,243    (30,933)   36,289    (100,883)   1,389    (323,568)   1,076,830 
Realized gain distribution   1,897,379    2,978,341    -    154,776    271,103    252,131    293,366    720,315 
Realized gain (loss)   1,638,761    4,115,584    (30,933)   191,065    170,220    253,520    (30,202)   1,797,145 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments   741,960    (569,431)   155,020    (421,581)   (856,870)   1,191,716    1,516,185    1,309,016 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   2,380,721    3,546,153    124,087    (230,516)   (686,650)   1,445,236    1,485,984    3,106,161 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets                                        
resulting from operations   2,365,930    3,658,083    159,850    (110,060)   (536,256)   1,355,743    1,341,905    3,015,618 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   1,576,897    294,205    -    108,879    82,521    114,126    169,413    165,898 
Transfers due to death benefits   (177,909)   (332,631)   (46,161)   (1,938)   (55,543)   (82,555)   (111,366)   (15,719)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (16,052)   (22)   (18,539)   -    (83,799)   -    (66,617)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (1,763,373)   (2,610,657)   (89,359)   (508,522)   (1,666,721)   (1,412,055)   (2,150,350)   (1,587,350)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    13,452    -    732    -    7,146    -    (2,141)
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (2,698)   (27,834)   -    (5,103)   (1,770)   (13,765)   (6,278)   (12,676)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (327)   (32)   (4)   -    (171)   -    (93)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    (9,112)   (57)   3,328    -    5,884    -    877 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (288,157)   (518,338)   (9,904)   62,179    (1,064,662)   (109,307)   (220,404)   556,281 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (655,240)   (3,207,294)   (145,535)   (358,988)   (2,706,175)   (1,574,496)   (2,318,985)   (961,540)
Total increase (decrease)   1,710,690    450,789    14,315    (469,048)   (3,242,431)   (218,753)   (977,080)   2,054,078 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   19,582,090    32,594,095    1,988,167    6,771,474    14,181,904    11,544,579    13,391,320    7,407,278 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $21,292,780   $33,044,884   $2,002,482   $6,302,426   $10,939,473   $11,325,826   $12,414,240   $9,461,356 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-30 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

                   MML
American
   MML   MML     
       Ivy VIP   MML   MML   Funds   American   American   MML 
   Invesco V.I.   Asset   Aggressive   Aggressive   Core   Funds   Funds   Balanced 
   Technology   Strategy   Allocation   Allocation   Allocation   Growth   International   Allocation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Series II)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)               (Initial Class) 
Investment income                                
Dividends  $-   $243,495   $573,501   $1,179,859   $15,905,441   $1,513,959   $564,967   $2,454,424 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fee and administrative charges   144,036    159,381    420,724    1,055,661    12,140,262    2,679,171    694,987    1,197,213 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (144,036)   84,114    152,777    124,198    3,765,179    (1,165,212)   (130,020)   1,257,211 
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   1,500,816    5,940    (961,653)   (5,432,728)   (243,425)   9,032,971    (1,806,686)   (4,863,657)
Realized gain distribution   1,084,374    202,005    2,434,256    5,961,284    49,646,431    21,964,901    3,130,525    3,233,179 
Realized gain (loss)   2,585,190    207,945    1,472,603    528,556    49,403,006    30,997,872    1,323,839    (1,630,478)
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments        1,689,258           1,169,392           2,291,322           8,649,520           31,117,487           59,062,610           5,284,257           7,955,906   
Net gain (loss) on investments   4,274,448    1,377,337    3,763,925    9,178,076    80,520,493    90,060,482    6,608,096    6,325,428 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations        4,130,412           1,461,451           3,916,702           9,302,274           84,285,672           88,895,270           6,478,076           7,582,639   
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   97,486    1,044,049    592,241    2,335,373    17,078,306    11,121,431    1,674,170    311,877 
Transfers due to death benefits   (4,500)   (96,142)   (214,845)   (1,546,194)   (4,349,251)   (902,395)   (321,865)   (862,295)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (58)   -    -    -    (35,238)   (12,319)   -    (216,246)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (2,287,199)   (1,175,258)   (5,166,688)   (12,115,062)   (121,664,086)   (25,285,087)   (7,531,978)   (25,536,172)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    -    24,067    -    6,285    14,924    9,862    (32,446)
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (4,066)   2,131    (83,203)   (61,439)   (5,724,751)   (574,558)   (226,801)   (588,963)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    -    (5)   -    -    -    -    - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation        (347 )        -           -           -           5,904           (24,153 )        -           (25,817 )
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account        1,093,164           (369,033 )        (2,988,698 )        48,981           (28,794,470 )        (15,225,807 )        (2,771,294 )        3,352,143   
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions        (1,105,520 )        (594,253 )        (7,837,131 )        (11,338,341 )        (143,477,301 )        (30,887,964 )        (9,167,906 )        (23,597,919 )
Total increase (decrease)   3,024,892    867,198    (3,920,429)   (2,036,067)   (59,191,629)   58,007,306    (2,689,830)   (16,015,280)
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   10,156,434    12,403,360    37,508,768    95,636,402    989,500,489    191,745,889    61,510,006    99,026,168 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $13,181,326   $13,270,558   $33,588,339   $93,600,335   $930,308,860   $249,753,195   $58,820,176   $83,010,888 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-31 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

   MML           MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Balanced   MML   MML   Blue Chip   Blue Chip   Conservative   Conservative   Dynamic 
   Allocation   Blend   Blend   Growth   Growth   Allocation   Allocation   Bond 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $9,184,783   $-   $-   $-   $-   $1,961,221   $7,902,848   $38,159 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fee and administrative charges   4,950,616    727,851    2,098,960    699,208    1,990,475    940,240    4,221,451    135,495 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   4,234,167    (727,851)   (2,098,960)   (699,208)   (1,990,475)   1,020,981    3,681,397    (97,336)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (14,039,466)   1,582,968    (146,129)   2,613,420    2,263,299    (684,695)   (6,449,105)   2,351 
Realized gain distribution   13,440,374    2,657,314    7,363,875    4,992,911    14,108,057    2,089,319    9,264,320    - 
Realized gain (loss)   (599,092)   4,240,282    7,217,746    7,606,331    16,371,356    1,404,624    2,815,215    2,351 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments        28,374,634           3,130,351           13,549,436           10,177,219           30,387,676           4,196,494           20,748,401           334,065   
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   27,775,542    7,370,633    20,767,182    17,783,550    46,759,032    5,601,118    23,563,616    336,416 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations        32,009,709           6,642,782           18,668,222           17,084,342           44,768,557           6,622,099           27,245,013           239,080   
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   15,804,694    403,389    14,002,423    671,307    14,654,393    979,900    14,216,941    1,811,288 
Transfers due to death benefits   (2,817,835)   (1,543,685)   (953,676)   (587,552)   (874,301)   (1,311,367)   (2,128,188)   (29,784)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (748)   (246,627)   -    (449,042)   (162)   (16,714)   -    - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (61,877,451)   (5,359,739)   (10,485,842)   (7,594,052)   (11,491,986)   (57,485,898)   (105,137,283)   (316,614)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    24,990    -    3,330    -    332    -    - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (1,641,221)   (87,842)   (38,065)   (95,980)   (43,970)   (471,348)   (1,271,216)   - 
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (872)   -    (433)   -    (9)   -    - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation        -           56,595           -           22,166           (975 )        3,248           -           -   
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account        (17,214,650 )        2,154,655           2,653,482           (515,122 )        (2,659,936 )        53,015,936           92,491,649           604,942   
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions        (67,747,211 )        (4,599,136 )        5,178,322           (8,545,378 )        (416,937 )        (5,285,920 )        (1,828,097 )        2,069,832   
Total increase (decrease)   (35,737,502)   2,043,646    23,846,544    8,538,964    44,351,620    1,336,179    25,416,916    2,308,912 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   408,910,548    62,980,806    161,858,732    56,366,432    137,333,697    74,794,028    312,722,144    10,144,350 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $373,173,046   $65,024,452   $185,705,276   $64,905,396   $181,685,317   $76,130,207   $338,139,060   $12,453,262 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-32 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Equity   Equity   Equity   Equity 
   Equity   Equity   Equity Income   Equity Income   Index   Index   Momentum   Rotation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $494,101   $1,837,083   $3,343,656   $1,643,101   $491,663   $613,730   $144   $23,469 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fee and administrative charges   262,209    1,102,647    1,710,873    963,033    387,457    529,773    18,310    16,905 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   231,892    734,436    1,632,783    680,068    104,206    83,957    (18,166)   6,564 
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (514,579)   (3,604,074)   (9,567,610)   (5,909,073)   1,312,657    1,507,291    27,846    8,407 
Realized gain distribution   2,399,290    10,037,569    9,568,072    5,294,534    7,120,435    10,485,053    192,206    29,940 
Realized gain (loss)   1,884,711    6,433,495    462    (614,539)   8,433,092    11,992,344    220,052    38,347 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments        (2,019,460  )        (5,723,865  )        (255,045  )        9,508           (3,896,364  )        (5,662,509  )        113,790           295,370   
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   (134,749)   709,630    (254,583)   (605,031)   4,536,728    6,329,835    333,842    333,717 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations        97,143           1,444,066           1,378,200           75,037           4,640,934           6,413,792           315,676           340,281   
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   186,159    4,433,683    879,502    3,300,651    331,117    303,099    29,552    35,783 
Transfers due to death benefits   (290,537)   (1,483,499)   (1,368,322)   (423,466)   (556,049)   (275,080)   -    - 
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (56,520)   -    (309,059)   (128)   (298,062)   -    -    - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (3,419,457)   (11,175,499)   (21,592,335)   (9,193,600)   (3,571,071)   (7,448,636)   (129,055)   (32,053)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   15,985    -    4,818    -    (67)   -    -    - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (49,348)   (342,472)   (453,193)   (316,054)   (18,568)   (144,557)   -    - 
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   (125)   -    (172)   -    (217)   -    -    - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation        4,121           -           110,062           (788 )        27,291           -           -           -   
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account        18,370           4,405,402           6,290,243           2,519,693           (625,871 )        (461,216 )        (61,767 )        (67,826 )
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions        (3,591,352 )        (4,162,385 )        (16,438,456 )        (4,113,692 )        (4,711,497 )        (8,026,390 )        (161,270 )        (64,096 )
Total increase (decrease)   (3,494,209)   (2,718,319)   (15,060,256)   (4,038,655)   (70,563)   (1,612,598)   154,406    276,185 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   25,084,965    97,057,943    157,019,262    86,738,940    33,045,075    45,972,770    1,893,686    1,741,305 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $21,590,756   $94,339,624   $141,959,006   $82,700,285   $32,974,512   $44,360,172   $2,048,092   $2,017,490 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-33 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

   MML           MML   MML             
   Focused   MML   MML   Fundamental   Fundamental   MML   MML   MML 
   Equity   Foreign   Foreign   Equity   Value   Global   Global   Global 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)           (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Class II) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $111,489   $3,494,647   $236,635   $-   $142,651   $54,689   $146,255   $41,614 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   216,524    1,455,834    107,089    204,971    163,499    57,488    209,240    50,738 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (105,035)   2,038,813    129,546    (204,971)   (20,848)   (2,799)   (62,985)   (9,124)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (1,512,399)   (1,406,010)   (666,274)   (794,047)   (864,651)   118,423    (63,385)   78,945 
Realized gain distribution   815,027    4,113,265    306,522    2,029,175    1,669,207    193,055    658,822    150,452 
Realized gain (loss)   (697,372)   2,707,256    (359,752)   1,235,128    804,556    311,478    595,437    229,397 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments        2,850,433           1,342,570           496,229           1,868,693           (603,186  )        242,081           1,426,151           264,809   
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   2,153,061    4,049,826    136,478    3,103,821    201,370    553,559    2,021,588    494,206 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations        2,048,026           6,088,639           266,024           2,898,850           180,522           550,760           1,958,603           485,082   
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   1,877,283    693,862    165,147    2,035,290    724,517    15,187    1,273,850    66,261 
Transfers due to death benefits   (161,590)   (879,967)   (120,908)   -    (109,665)   (16,433)   (63,953)   (101,345)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (288,436)   -    (5,886)   -    (31,877)   -    (30)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (1,846,771)   (18,262,985)   (1,442,712)   (927,878)   (1,419,864)   (927,843)   (1,714,396)   (161,360)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   75    8,329    -    -    135    -    -    983 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   1,299    (435,022)   (20,082)   472    522    (17,235)   (41,111)   - 
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (49)   -    -    -    -    -    (107)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation        -           101,377           -           (8,404 )        -           (9,967 )        -           4   
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account        (640,385 )        3,210,920           (343,701 )        210,731           439,339           (115,929 )        (433,446 )        (118,279 )
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions        (770,089 )        (15,851,971 )        (1,762,257 )        1,304,325           (365,016 )        (1,104,097 )        (979,056 )        (313,873 )
Total increase (decrease)   1,277,937    (9,763,332)   (1,496,233)   4,203,175    (184,494)   (553,337)   979,547    171,209 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   17,679,923    128,108,301    9,815,416    14,803,275    15,050,102    5,717,821    17,104,721    4,316,103 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $18,957,860   $118,344,969   $8,319,183   $19,006,450   $14,865,608   $5,164,484   $18,084,268   $4,487,312 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-34 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML       MML   MML   Inflation- 
   Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth   MML   Income   Income   Protected 
   & Income   & Income   Allocation   Allocation   High Yield   & Growth   & Growth   and Income 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $610,571   $318,699   $9,829,049   $16,342,725   $9,851   $405,219   $452,593   $143,457 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   716,750    557,818    5,934,671    10,709,684    506,821    236,039    317,632    1,644,202 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (106,179)   (239,119)   3,894,378    5,633,041    (496,970)   169,180    134,961    (1,500,745)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   6,754,506    2,328,425    (36,377,012)   (58,704,285)   (762,433)   (684,589)   (2,140,181)   1,175,792 
Realized gain distribution   4,848,013    3,335,341    29,330,178    55,942,227    -    57,035    73,434    - 
Realized gain (loss)   11,602,519    5,663,766    (7,046,834)   (2,762,058)   (762,433)   (627,554)   (2,066,747)   1,175,792 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments        (3,133,875  )        325,252           46,364,299           80,243,355           2,629,248           589,092           2,001,019           11,503,768   
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   8,468,644    5,989,018    39,317,465    77,481,297    1,866,815    (38,462)   (65,728)   12,679,560 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations        8,362,465           5,749,899           43,211,843           83,114,338           1,369,845           130,718           69,234           11,178,815   
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   395,512    3,512,819    3,626,243    13,561,246    3,087,289    281,481    1,347,941    950,456 
Transfers due to death benefits   (1,077,026)   (230,858)   (1,357,734)   (4,888,600)   (237,225)   (209,420)   (116,848)   (1,668,092)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (45,640)   -    -    -    (546)   (76,672)   -    (415,663)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (7,117,344)   (3,931,359)   (132,405,262)   (191,647,465)   (3,382,889)   (2,303,296)   (3,079,953)   (25,069,004)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   6,851    -    35,144    -    3,262    2,900    -    12,229 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (85,951)   (60,152)   (3,756,204)   (4,924,820)   2,353    (31,742)   (30,338)   (467,565)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   (329)   -    (191)   -    -    (324)   -    (30)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation        14,956           -           -           -           239           9,401           -           90,271   
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account        (2,285,027 )        (1,242,079 )        (29,972,914 )        (85,366,751 )        (1,388,937 )        (306,256 )        (619,559 )        9,231,835   
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions        (10,193,998 )        (1,951,629 )        (163,830,918 )        (273,266,390 )        (1,916,454 )        (2,633,928 )        (2,498,757 )        (17,335,563 )
Total increase (decrease)   (1,831,533)   3,798,270    (120,619,075)   (190,152,052)   (546,609)   (2,503,210)   (2,429,523)   (6,156,748)
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   73,362,599    45,996,901    514,011,956    978,800,276    43,189,753    24,198,302    29,439,298    137,121,414 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $71,531,066   $49,795,171   $393,392,881   $788,648,224   $42,643,144   $21,695,092   $27,009,775   $130,964,666 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-35 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

   MML                             
   Inflation-   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Protected   International   Large Cap   Large Cap   Managed   Managed   Managed   Managed 
   and Income   Equity   Growth   Growth   Bond   Bond   Volatility   Volatility 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $51,184   $180,546   $54,131   $30,950   $106,933   $244,955   $1,261,730   $317,733 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   578,271    68,737    174,665    240,571    1,389,568    3,244,733    1,162,620    361,420 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (527,087)   111,809    (120,534)   (209,621)   (1,282,635)   (2,999,778)   99,110    (43,687)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   550,477    (505,042)   109,185    333,827    962,544    973,433    (1,335,757)   (680,056)
Realized gain distribution   -    171,435    734,836    877,134    -    -    -    - 
Realized gain (loss)   550,477    (333,607)   844,021    1,210,961    962,544    973,433    (1,335,757)   (680,056)
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments   3,915,603    550,600    3,652,163    4,012,144    6,875,643    16,502,588    4,951,983    1,938,274 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   4,466,080    216,993    4,496,184    5,223,105    7,838,187    17,476,021    3,616,226    1,258,218 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   3,938,993    328,802    4,375,650    5,013,484    6,555,552    14,476,243    3,715,336    1,214,531 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   2,142,964    557,891    326,097    2,399,865    1,014,488    7,967,302    688,268    771,652 
Transfers due to death benefits   (292,511)   (54,801)   (432,479)   (92,455)   (1,871,119)   (1,709,009)   (732,987)   (177,289)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (143)   -    (123,025)   -    (357,053)   (186)   (216,033)   - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (8,728,239)   (570,897)   (1,954,907)   (1,545,218)   (27,928,878)   (37,410,465)   (15,225,348)   (5,058,370)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    -    3,714    -    6,345    -    13,349    - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (101,411)   191    (20,362)   (5,766)   (340,095)   (1,253,471)   (361,647)   (125,537)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    -    (186)   -    (176)   (71)   (287)   - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   (847)   -    2,444    -    155,870    (1,107)   69,646    - 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   6,003,620    (70,846)   (525,880)   67,869    19,362,493    24,004,932    4,061,114    (311,960)
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (976,568)   (138,462)   (2,724,584)   824,295    (9,958,126)   (8,402,075)   (11,703,925)   (4,901,504)
Total increase (decrease)   2,962,425    190,340    1,651,066    5,837,779    (3,402,574)   6,074,168    (7,988,589)   (3,686,973)
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   43,237,327    6,643,432    15,827,567    16,390,792    117,808,474    260,703,020    101,210,212    30,590,858 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $46,199,752   $6,833,772   $17,478,633   $22,228,571   $114,405,900   $266,777,188   $93,221,623   $26,903,885 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-36 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Moderate   Moderate   Short-Duration   Small Cap 
   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Value   Mid Cap Value   Allocation   Allocation   Bond   Equity 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $62,150   $-   $2,299,399   $737,517   $6,979,627   $35,189,855   $81   $124,436 
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   919,811    1,344,574    1,581,886    598,749    3,453,280    20,419,613    422,721    263,146 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (857,661)   (1,344,574)   717,513    138,768    3,526,347    14,770,242    (422,640)   (138,710)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   1,184,077    (1,056,477)   (7,551,226)   (2,202,680)   (11,778,568)   (44,321,025)   (244,636)   (591,926)
Realized gain distribution   7,619,607    10,615,548    -    -    12,971,783    73,504,537    -    223,302 
Realized gain (loss)   8,803,684    9,559,071    (7,551,226)   (2,202,680)   1,193,215    29,183,512    (244,636)   (368,624)
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments   10,021,075    15,274,250    8,214,495    2,194,081    15,322,789    79,597,270    785,424    4,876,989 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   18,824,759    24,833,321    663,270    (8,599)   16,516,004    108,780,782    540,789    4,508,365 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   17,967,098    23,488,747    1,380,783    130,169    20,042,351    123,551,024    118,149    4,369,655 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   852,411    4,847,398    857,283    2,322,306    1,990,550    24,098,436    3,053,614    308,128 
Transfers due to death benefits   (545,468)   (1,019,057)   (1,004,043)   (151,110)   (1,694,201)   (9,383,841)   (153,270)   (130,285)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (192,136)   -    (337,244)   -    -    (187)   (5,443)   (26,420)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (7,650,653)   (11,067,418)   (18,523,734)   (4,806,389)   (83,715,445)   (252,298,517)   (13,319,863)   (2,906,233)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   15,210    -    16,287    -    52,596    -    -    2,385 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (94,939)   (179,554)   (387,037)   (108,613)   (2,054,550)   (9,219,729)   (3,711)   (29,251)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   (1,371)   -    (1,305)   -    (5)   -    -    (305)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   (18,134)   -    100,322    -    -    (315)   3,628    (156)
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (3,975,630)   (7,083,799)   6,099,542    660,587    (10,316,624)   (53,427,740)   22,406,133    (1,038,646)
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (11,610,710)   (14,502,430)   (13,179,929)   (2,083,219)   (95,737,679)   (300,231,893)   11,981,089    (3,820,783)
Total increase (decrease)   6,356,388    8,986,317    (11,799,146)   (1,953,050)   (75,695,328)   (176,680,869)   12,099,237    548,872 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   83,592,878    108,799,560    144,980,289    53,222,998    310,792,789    1,752,110,801    32,173,643    26,710,657 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $89,949,266   $117,785,877   $133,181,143   $51,269,948   $235,097,461   $1,575,429,932   $44,272,880   $27,259,529 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-37 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   Strategic 
   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small   Small/Mid Cap   Small/Mid Cap   Special   Emerging 
   Equity   Growth Equity   Growth Equity   Company Value   Value   Value   Situations   Markets 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I)     
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $62,292   $-   $-   $13,885   $1,015,721   $166,203   $196   $29,231 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   264,734    1,117,083    317,174    276,647    1,179,713    252,169    7,682    177,425 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (202,442)   (1,117,083)   (317,174)   (262,762)   (163,992)   (85,966)   (7,486)   (148,194)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (644,904)   2,784,341    (367,806)   (1,360,940)   (7,720,193)   (2,178,860)   27,338    763,451 
Realized gain distribution   206,796    10,878,120    3,402,966    1,174,511    4,199,225    913,591    107,618    409,015 
Realized gain (loss)   (438,108)   13,662,461    3,035,160    (186,429)   (3,520,968)   (1,265,269)   134,956    1,172,466 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments   4,801,749    15,663,756    5,352,138    2,424,334    10,922,813    2,198,420    75,779    1,182,854 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   4,363,641    29,326,217    8,387,298    2,237,905    7,401,845    933,151    210,735    2,355,320 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   4,161,199    28,209,134    8,070,124    1,975,143    7,237,853    847,185    203,249    2,207,126 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   1,929,835    507,134    1,567,145    1,738,580    788,978    1,122,164    3,927    690,398 
Transfers due to death benefits   (349,997)   (632,837)   (154,321)   (60,565)   (687,844)   (116,339)   -    (75,198)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (213,260)   -    -    (232,787)   -    -    - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (1,835,869)   (13,666,331)   (2,279,492)   (2,309,393)   (14,946,928)   (2,680,002)   (26,235)   (1,598,239)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    6,626    -    5,753    12,702    -    -    22 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (8,640)   (318,807)   (28,288)   (11,842)   (324,426)   (37,265)   -    (14,999)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (226)   -    -    (7)   -    -    - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    70,841    -    -    69,834    -    -    - 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (1,246,230)   (17,715,045)   (2,036,515)   (453,096)   77,983    (130,043)   (66,226)   (732,958)
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (1,510,901)   (31,961,905)   (2,931,471)   (1,090,563)   (15,242,495)   (1,841,485)   (88,534)   (1,730,974)
Total increase (decrease)   2,650,298    (3,752,771)   5,138,653    884,580    (8,004,642)   (994,300)   114,715    476,152 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   22,694,629    94,744,872    26,026,111    24,665,122    105,702,814    23,286,750    835,745    15,739,019 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $25,344,927   $90,992,101   $31,164,764   $25,549,702   $97,698,172   $22,292,450   $950,460   $16,215,171 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-38 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

           PIMCO   VY® 
       MML U.S.   Commodity   Clarion 
   MML Total   Government   RealReturn®   Global 
   Return Bond   Money Market   Strategy   Real Estate 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
Investment income                    
Dividends  $1,229,618   $175,914   $477,603   $742,132 
                     
Expenses                    
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   492,403    1,272,620    95,620    162,251 
                     
Net Investment income (loss)   737,215    (1,096,706)   381,983    579,881 
                     
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                    
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   610,725    3,442    (1,373,916)   (692,959)
Realized gain distribution   181,822    -    -    1,090,688 
Realized gain (loss)   792,547    3,442    (1,373,916)   397,729 
                     
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   1,136,855    (3,415)   909,027    (2,096,688)
                     
Net gain (loss) on investments   1,929,402    27    (464,889)   (1,698,959)
                     
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   2,666,617    (1,096,679)   (82,906)   (1,119,078)
                     
Capital transactions:                    
Transfer of net premiums   5,611,075    11,978,609    93,165    192,625 
Transfers due to death benefits   (280,764)   (509,353)   (32,677)   (81,225)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (55,060)   (18,360)   (42,689)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (4,903,961)   (180,003,121)   (1,284,088)   (2,150,747)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   2,735    23,654    1,491    (867)
Transfers due to cost of insurance   6,441    (53,103)   (30,854)   (38,175)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (356)   (6)   (12)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    14,482    3,609    10,573 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   12,904,738    237,878,522    (55,757)   49,599 
                     
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   13,340,264    69,274,274    (1,323,477)   (2,060,918)
Total increase (decrease)   16,006,881    68,177,595    (1,406,383)   (3,179,996)
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   31,973,807    75,534,222    9,033,874    15,751,756 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $47,980,688   $143,711,817   $7,627,491   $12,571,760 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-39 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

   BlackRock           Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco 
   60/40 Target   Fidelity®   Fidelity®   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I. 
   Allocation   VIP   VIP   Capital   Capital   Conservative   Conservative   Discovery 
   ETF V.I.   Contrafund®   Contrafund®   Appreciation   Appreciation   Balanced   Balanced   Mid Cap Growth 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Class III)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class 2)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $63,619   $1,031,459   $383,073   $-   $98,041   $1,436   $155,492   $- 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   15,576    2,831,394    2,252,071    165,124    2,015,235    1,034    78,807    188,124 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   48,043    (1,799,935)   (1,868,998)   (165,124)   (1,917,194)   402    76,685    (188,124)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   21,130    20,486,032    4,165,800    (287,724)   6,138,714    2,285    209,796    20,027 
Realized gain distribution   31,781    26,730,567    19,673,650    1,215,071    15,438,471    1,154    110,137    1,950,061 
Realized gain (loss)   52,911    47,216,599    23,839,450    927,347    21,577,185    3,439    319,933    1,970,088 
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments   172,192    14,339,328    22,307,326    2,828,645    28,148,314    6,345    642,199    2,552,659 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   225,103    61,555,927    46,146,776    3,755,992    49,725,499    9,784    962,132    4,522,747 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   273,146    59,755,992    44,277,778    3,590,868    47,808,305    10,186    1,038,817    4,334,623 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   2,352,817    2,005,517    20,128,525    258,032    957,594    -    12,626    3,493,349 
Transfers due to death benefits   -    (1,287,714)   (988,830)   (160,906)   (1,316,677)   -    (108,365)   (79,387)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (639,595)   -    -    (295,422)   -    (7,390)   - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (50,176)   (26,306,517)   (19,660,946)   (1,583,089)   (21,843,667)   (4,505)   (765,392)   (1,646,226)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    (3,155)   -    -    (2,505)   -    551    - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   -    (651,127)   (147,774)   (13,461)   (545,922)   21    (5,898)   (5,710)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (1,040)   -    -    (377)   -    (83)   - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    97,460    -    -    83,973    -    2,932    - 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (51,014)   (13,001,508)   (2,267,590)   (228,902)   (14,225,111)   (1)   (19,821)   746,734 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   2,251,627    (39,787,679)   (2,936,615)   (1,728,326)   (37,188,114)   (4,485)   (890,840)   2,508,760 
Total increase (decrease)   2,524,773    19,968,313    41,341,163    1,862,542    10,620,191    5,701    147,977    6,843,383 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   1,051,057    212,143,084    150,211,346    11,026,041    150,727,803    66,010    6,725,065    11,178,908 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $3,575,830   $232,111,397   $191,552,509   $12,888,583   $161,347,994   $71,711   $6,873,042   $18,022,291 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-40 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

    Invesco                 Invesco     Invesco     Invesco     Invesco     Invesco  
    Oppenheimer V.I.     Invesco     Invesco     Oppenheimer V.I.     Oppenheimer V.I.     Oppenheimer V.I.     Oppenheimer V.I.     Oppenheimer V.I.  
    Discovery     Oppenheimer V.I.     Oppenheimer V.I.     Global Strategic     Global Strategic     Government     International     International  
    Mid Cap Growth     Global     Global     Income     Income     Money     Growth     Growth  
    Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account  
    (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)           (Series II)     (Series I)  
Investment income                                                                
Dividends   $ -     $ 424,340     $ 1,558,872     $ 2,446,735     $ 6,649,244     $ 122,182     $ 181,114     $ 337,841  
                                                                 
Expenses                                                                
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges     1,371,376       857,020       2,124,329       925,238       2,193,467       80,722       321,450       379,862  
                                                                 
Net Investment income (loss)     (1,371,376 )     (432,680 )     (565,457 )     1,521,497       4,455,777       41,460       (140,336 )     (42,021 )
                                                                 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                                                
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares     13,318,154       1,443,645       14,304,507       (1,109,341 )     (3,142,770 )     -       422,436       1,473,017  
Realized gain distribution     13,843,266       9,583,142       24,623,412       -       -       -       1,252,186       1,656,553  
Realized gain (loss)     27,161,420       11,026,787       38,927,919       (1,109,341 )     (3,142,770 )     -       1,674,622       3,129,570  
                                                                 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments     8,693,739       6,457,530       7,534,847       5,915,099       14,432,197       -       4,435,578       4,578,494  
                                                                 
Net gain (loss) on investments     35,855,159       17,484,317       46,462,766       4,805,758       11,289,427       -       6,110,200       7,708,064  
                                                                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations     34,483,783       17,051,637       45,897,309       6,327,255       15,745,204       41,460       5,969,864       7,666,043  
                                                                 
Capital transactions:                                                                
Transfer of net premiums     846,960       3,998,368       1,343,993       4,106,953       1,382,765       465,601       1,607,203       270,377  
Transfers due to death benefits     (780,422 )     (402,402 )     (1,130,674 )     (316,017 )     (1,870,164 )     (132,243 )     (149,846 )     (177,061 )
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments     (212,706 )     -       (325,379 )     -       (341,262 )     (9,447 )     -       (79,400 )
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds     (14,669,535 )     (7,102,098 )     (19,812,113 )     (8,139,311 )     (22,400,256 )     (1,877,281 )     (3,043,515 )     (3,166,155 )
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments     19,201       -       721       -       (479 )     6,721       -       (359 )
Transfers due to cost of insurance     (379,813 )     (168,620 )     (459,844 )     (262,142 )     (675,617 )     14,157       (61,880 )     (115,825 )
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges     (150 )     -       (663 )     -       (546 )     (415 )     -       (237 )
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation     58,468       -       94,020       -       93,073       2,847       --       17,347  
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account     (12,360,018 )     (1,841,257 )     (10,595,545 )     3,005,528       9,654,837       714,026       (985,075 )     (1,690,800 )
                                                                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions     (27,478,015 )     (5,516,009 )     (30,885,484 )     (1,604,989 )     (14,157,649 )     (816,034 )     (2,633,113 )     (4,942,113 )
Total increase (decrease)     7,005,768       11,535,628       15,011,825       4,722,266       1,587,555       (774,574 )     3,336,751       2,723,930  
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year     99,470,922       58,317,027       161,039,139       70,206,556       173,249,673       7,836,332       23,629,838       30,045,032  
NET ASSETS, at end of the year   $ 106,476,690     $ 69,852,655     $ 176,050,964     $ 74,928,822     $ 174,837,228     $ 7,061,758     $ 26,966,589     $ 32,768,962  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-41 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

                Invesco                                
    Invesco     Invesco     Oppenheimer V.I.     Invesco V.I.     Invesco V.I.                    
    Oppenheimer V.I.     Oppenheimer V.I.     Total Return     Diversified     Diversified     Invesco V.I.     Invesco V.I.     Invesco V.I.  
    Main Street     Main Street     Bond     Dividend     Dividend     Health Care     Health Care     Technology  
    Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account  
    (Series II)     (Series I)           (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)  
Investment income                                                                
Dividends   $ 144,284     $ 339,072     $ 69,198     $ 194,279     $ 384,177     $ 4,470     $ -     $ -  
                                                                 
Expenses                                                                
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges     223,032       355,970       27,243       74,454       201,762       119,524       162,048       79,523  
                                                                 
Net Investment income (loss)     (78,748 )     (16,898 )     41,955       119,825       182,415       (115,054 )     (162,048 )     (79,523 )
                                                                 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                                                
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares     (81,269 )     2,031,625       (72,863 )     354,836       560,348       14,228       (1,048,946 )     371,991  
Realized gain distribution     2,862,220       5,104,342       -       360,544       781,526       248,462       311,373       600,781  
Realized gain (loss)     2,780,951       7,135,967       (72,863 )     715,380       1,341,874       262,690       (737,573 )     972,772  
                                                                 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments     1,782,839       1,265,119       193,430       582,389       1,633,360       2,701,215       4,223,352       1,127,027  
                                                                 
Net gain (loss) on investments     4,563,790       8,401,086       120,567       1,297,769       2,975,234       2,963,905       3,485,779       2,099,799  
                                                                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations     4,485,042       8,384,188       162,522       1,417,594       3,157,649       2,848,851       3,323,731       2,020,276  
                                                                 
Capital transactions:                                                                
Transfer of net premiums     1,615,212       207,202       -       135,299       163,728       185,100       219,770       126,743  
Transfers due to death benefits     (64,820 )     (246,034 )     (49,227 )     (69,543 )     (36,521 )     (100,551 )     (52,250 )     (80,759 )
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments     -       (17,022 )     -       (22,395 )     -       (36,727 )     -       (13,965 )
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds     (1,435,312 )     (3,079,307 )     (167,887 )     (482,620 )     (3,879,312 )     (999,953 )     (1,983,721 )     (709,263 )
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments     -       13,983       -       (570 )     -       (4,969 )     -       815  
Transfers due to cost of insurance     (3,949 )     (31,480 )     -       (6,633 )     (2,293 )     (15,284 )     (6,033 )     (11,513 )
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges     -       (337 )     (31 )     (6 )     -       (165 )     -       (84 )
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation     -       4,303       -       4,519       -       7,858       -       5,546  
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account     309,564       (1,631,978 )     (29,862 )     (464,336 )     (204,922 )     (25,105 )     161,302       26,038  
                                                                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions     420,695       (4,780,670 )     (247,007 )     (906,285 )     (3,959,320 )     (989,796 )     (1,660,932 )     (656,442 )
Total increase (decrease)     4,905,737       3,603,518       (84,485 )     511,309       (801,671 )     1,859,055       1,662,799       1,363,834  
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year     14,676,353       28,990,577       2,072,652       6,260,165       14,983,575       9,685,524       11,728,521       6,043,444  
NET ASSETS, at end of the year   $ 19,582,090     $ 32,594,095     $ 1,988,167     $ 6,771,474     $ 14,181,904     $ 11,544,579     $ 13,391,320     $ 7,407,278  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-42 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

                            MML     MML     MML        
          Ivy VIP     MML     MML     American     American     American     MML  
    Invesco V.I.     Asset     Aggressive     Aggressive     Funds     Funds     Funds     Asset  
    Technology     Strategy     Allocation     Allocation     Core Allocation     Growth     International     Momentum  
    Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account     Sub-Account  
    (Series II)           (Initial
Class)
    (Service Class)                       (Service Class I)  
Investment income                                                                
Dividends   $ -     $ 252,128     $ 701,564     $ 1,532,835     $ 23,331,103     $ 566,898     $ 1,620,351     $ 11,125  
                                                                 
Expenses                                                                
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges     134,886       160,806       433,410       1,105,512       13,092,232       2,313,930       761,627       16,385  
                                                                 
Net Investment income (loss)     (134,886 )     91,322       268,154       427,323       10,238,871       (1,747,032 )     858,724       (5,260 )
                                                                 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                                                
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares     709,623       (247,527 )     (235,566 )     (1,570,531 )     12,980,725       1,672,272       510,970       13,151  
Realized gain distribution     901,658       480,737       3,182,935       7,977,684       69,255,848       22,925,352       2,987,202       82,458  
Realized gain (loss)     1,611,281       233,210       2,947,369       6,407,153       82,236,573       24,597,624       3,498,172       95,609  
                                                                 
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments     1,459,573       1,843,362       3,765,968       10,968,570       56,642,518       21,658,126       6,690,165       399,315  
                                                                 
Net gain (loss) on investments     3,070,854       2,076,572       6,713,337       17,375,723       138,879,091       46,255,750       10,188,337       494,924  
                                                                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations     2,935,968       2,167,894       6,981,491       17,803,046       149,117,962       44,508,718       11,047,061       489,664  
                                                                 
Capital transactions:                                                                
Transfer of net premiums     89,531       887,307       915,247       5,042,933       27,613,079       15,223,124       2,454,248       51,199  
Transfers due to death benefits     (5,090 )     (68,520 )     (10,572 )     (377,679 )     (6,184,778 )     (1,092,483 )     (241,490 )     -  
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments     -       -       -       -       (31,165 )     -       -       -  
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds     (2,168,617 )     (1,586,502 )     (2,848,186 )     (7,817,189 )     (120,703,201 )     (18,770,012 )     (5,897,403 )     (108,009 )
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments     -       -       (16,185 )     -       14,964       (22,550 )     1,705       -  
Transfers due to cost of insurance     (3,865 )     1,624       (99,361 )     (68,304 )     (6,271,281 )     (600,221 )     (257,470 )     -  
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges     -       -       (5 )     -       -       -       -       -  
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation     -       -       -       -       5,696       -       -       -  
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account     (257,207 )     (122,301 )     1,501,250       (2,134,615 )     961,143       (5,959,275 )     (199,607 )     80,219  
                                                                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions     (2,345,248 )     (888,392 )     (557,812 )     (5,354,854 )     (104,595,543 )     (11,221,417 )     (4,140,017 )     23,409  
Total increase (decrease)     590,720       1,279,502       6,423,679       12,448,192       44,522,419       33,287,301       6,907,044       513,073  
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year     9,565,714       11,123,858       31,085,089       83,188,210       944,978,070       158,458,588       54,602,962       1,380,613  
NET ASSETS, at end of the year   $ 10,156,434     $ 12,403,360     $ 37,508,768     $ 95,636,402     $ 989,500,489     $ 191,745,889     $ 61,510,006     $ 1,893,686  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-43 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

   MML   MML           MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Balanced   Balanced   MML   MML   Blue Chip   Blue Chip   Conservative   Conservative 
   Allocation   Allocation   Blend   Blend   Growth   Growth   Allocation   Allocation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends   $2,487,669   $9,417,853   $1,477,989   $3,100,730   $-   $-   $1,978,322   $7,830,240 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   1,257,566    5,351,668    727,089    1,813,433    647,645    1,566,365    911,282    4,261,074 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   1,230,103    4,066,185    750,900    1,287,297    (647,645)   (1,566,365)   1,067,040    3,569,166 
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (1,778,522)   (7,423,221)   1,057,206    (73,179)   405,776    (348,578)   (1,662,609)   (7,575,750)
Realized gain distribution   4,474,621    18,903,620    3,001,460    6,623,292    7,087,372    16,705,052    2,740,736    12,038,400 
Realized gain (loss)   2,696,099    11,480,399    4,058,666    6,550,113    7,493,148    16,356,474    1,078,127    4,462,650 
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   9,658,376    41,306,061    6,115,051    16,815,310    6,405,103    13,746,567    7,402,973    31,647,572 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   12,354,475    52,786,460    10,173,717    23,365,423    13,898,251    30,103,041    8,481,100    36,110,222 
                                         
 Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   13,584,578    56,852,645    10,924,617    24,652,720    13,250,606    28,536,676    9,548,140    39,679,388 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   822,191    23,585,504    704,086    28,306,885    599,469    17,920,830    913,574    16,370,995 
Transfers due to death benefits   (1,059,605)   (5,526,818)   (811,623)   (759,035)   (397,075)   (594,311)   (435,446)   (4,488,827)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    -    (164,737)   -    (103,503)   -    (12,388)   - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (10,426,606)   (56,175,493)   (4,709,066)   (10,775,020)   (5,162,760)   (9,890,716)   (10,938,468)   (51,013,859)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   161    -    10,879    -    1,770    -    1,349    - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (676,653)   (1,975,339)   (97,048)   (47,055)   (96,492)   (50,196)   (507,759)   (1,464,941)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    -    (884)   -    (416)   -    (9)   - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    -    18,606    -    24,967    -    3,148    - 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   5,251,910    1,032,323    528,310    1,874,532    39,107    1,943,125    4,034,277    7,483,468 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (6,088,602)   (39,059,823)   (4,521,477)   18,600,307    (5,094,933)   9,328,732    (6,941,722)   (33,113,164)
Total increase (decrease)   7,495,976    17,792,822    6,403,140    43,253,027    8,155,673    37,865,408    2,606,418    6,566,224 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   91,530,192    391,117,726    56,577,666    118,605,705    48,210,759    99,468,289    72,187,610    306,155,920 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $99,026,168   $408,910,548   $62,980,806   $161,858,732   $56,366,432   $137,333,697   $74,794,028   $312,722,144 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-44 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS  (Continued)
For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

   MML                   MML   MML   MML 
   Dynamic   MML   MML   MML   MML   Equity   Equity   Equity 
   Bond   Equity   Equity   Equity Income   Equity Income   Index   Index   Rotation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class I)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $274,456   $485,153   $1,676,046   $3,576,268   $1,717,767   $884,171   $1,149,404   $3,009 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   95,181    296,446    1,200,457    1,961,158    1,075,963    447,557    571,371    16,022 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   179,275    188,707    475,589    1,615,110    641,804    436,614    578,033    (13,013)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   1,427    749,881    777,595    5,871,611    (1,050,516)   4,484,017    2,224,443    9,364 
Realized gain distribution   -    1,256,784    4,947,171    14,400,377    7,762,803    2,865,640    4,048,456    28,617 
Realized gain (loss)   1,427    2,006,665    5,724,766    20,271,988    6,712,287    7,349,657    6,272,899    37,981 
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   346,144    2,950,898    13,402,010    12,687,501    10,590,788    902,994    4,403,413    199,355 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   347,571    4,957,563    19,126,776    32,959,489    17,303,075    8,252,651    10,676,312    237,336 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   526,846    5,146,270    19,602,365    34,574,599    17,944,879    8,689,265    11,254,345    224,323 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   2,974,296    185,153    6,706,389    1,087,477    4,776,915    471,599    527,775    70,159 
Transfers due to death benefits   (45,005)   (158,112)   (412,527)   (1,086,408)   (375,312)   (256,839)   (271,227)   - 
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (53,342)   -    (313,693)   -    (276,703)   -    - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (344,139)   (2,317,806)   (9,491,666)   (19,508,804)   (9,422,654)   (5,842,613)   (4,858,285)   (52,309)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    16,384    -    253    -    356    -    - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   -    (57,173)   (399,000)   (542,262)   (377,941)   (20,905)   (174,466)   - 
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (138)   -    (197)   -    (205)   -    - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    18,777    -    92,785    -    36,550    -    - 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   762,486    346,927    (1,923,228)   (5,876,500)   (1,147,099)   (2,645,108)   (1,330,691)   36,723 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   3,347,638    (2,019,330)   (5,520,032)   (26,147,349)   (6,546,091)   (8,533,868)   (6,106,894)   54,573 
Total increase (decrease)   3,874,484    3,126,940    14,082,333    8,427,250    11,398,788    155,397    5,147,451    278,896 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   6,269,866    21,958,025    82,975,610    148,592,012    75,340,152    32,889,678    40,825,319    1,462,409 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $10,144,350   $25,084,965   $97,057,943   $157,019,262   $86,738,940   $33,045,075   $45,972,770   $1,741,305 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-45 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

   MML           MML   MML             
   Focused   MML   MML   Fundamental   Fundamental   MML   MML   MML 
   Equity   Foreign   Foreign   Growth   Value   Global   Global   Global 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)           (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Class II) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $6,699   $2,272,943   $144,438   $54,648   $232,145   $37,767   $54,838   $22,489 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   175,527    1,633,343    122,796    154,034    170,309    63,754    205,129    47,771 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (168,828)   639,600    21,642    (99,386)   61,836    (25,987)   (150,291)   (25,282)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (2,184,422)   3,539,573    (145,497)   (326,200)   (294,936)   211,854    (142,953)   33,609 
Realized gain distribution   337,215    1,885,363    142,048    2,557,420    1,571,320    179,921    500,867    121,283 
Realized gain (loss)   (1,847,207)   5,424,936    (3,449)   2,231,220    1,276,384    391,775    357,914    154,892 
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   5,321,730    7,941,866    1,003,675    1,140,270    1,220,745    1,037,749    3,656,323    783,827 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   3,474,523    13,366,802    1,000,226    3,371,490    2,497,129    1,429,524    4,014,237    938,719 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   3,305,695    14,006,402    1,021,868    3,272,104    2,558,965    1,403,537    3,863,946    913,437 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   3,164,542    941,022    526,877    2,037,236    1,671,731    42,259    1,915,690    86,452 
Transfers due to death benefits   -    (923,814)   (154,274)   (7,178)   (106,796)   (48,380)   (18,406)   (20,300)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (279,323)   -    (1,461)   -    (24,812)   -    (31)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (1,070,252)   (17,512,310)   (1,087,729)   (772,024)   (1,610,521)   (680,605)   (2,496,196)   (172,591)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   212    969    -    21    359    -    -    (142)
Transfers due to cost of insurance   2,442    (511,222)   (24,191)   326    914    (19,424)   (46,045)   - 
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (64)   -    -    -    -    -    (121)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    84,269    -    611    -    10,956    -    2 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   1,897,869    8,100,781    205,070    293,384    429,042    (47,233)   (99,849)   382,365 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   3,994,813    (10,099,692)   (534,247)   1,550,915    384,729    (767,239)   (744,806)   275,634 
Total increase (decrease)   7,300,508    3,906,710    487,621    4,823,019    2,943,694    636,298    3,119,140    1,189,071 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   10,379,415    124,201,591    9,327,795    9,980,256    12,106,408    5,081,523    13,985,581    3,127,032 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $17,679,923   $128,108,301   $9,815,416   $14,803,275   $15,050,102   $5,717,821   $17,104,721   $4,316,103 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-46 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML       MML   MML   Inflation- 
   Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth   MML   Income   Income   Protected 
   & Income   & Income   Allocation   Allocation   High Yield   & Growth   & Growth   and Income 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $672,195   $307,225   $11,446,890   $19,537,848   $2,412,973   $460,893   $492,319   $3,272,991 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   757,278    513,163    6,572,344    11,876,132    504,446    272,859    356,924    1,769,421 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (85,083)   (205,938)   4,874,546    7,661,716    1,908,527    188,034    135,395    1,503,570 
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   5,522,284    2,017,856    10,475,690    1,737,755    (513,435)   173,854    (782,735)   (2,007,838)
Realized gain distribution   6,384,555    3,734,294    41,510,815    80,232,504    -    874,162    1,063,492    - 
Realized gain (loss)   11,906,839    5,752,150    51,986,505    81,970,259    (513,435)   1,048,016    280,757    (2,007,838)
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   6,966,573    4,836,076    33,540,151    80,413,697    2,476,461    3,452,493    5,080,163    9,764,163 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   18,873,412    10,588,226    85,526,656    162,383,956    1,963,026    4,500,509    5,360,920    7,756,325 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   18,788,329    10,382,288    90,401,202    170,045,672    3,871,553    4,688,543    5,496,315    9,259,895 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   468,473    5,785,071    5,339,237    14,997,556    5,998,856    270,832    2,340,640    1,117,735 
Transfers due to death benefits   (446,328)   (271,180)   (1,529,300)   (3,096,552)   (263,938)   (190,348)   (233,995)   (1,850,026)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (42,347)   -    -    (2,263)   (574)   (83,618)   -    (305,244)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (8,116,917)   (3,515,917)   (42,098,972)   (103,778,660)   (3,872,436)   (2,022,827)   (2,523,761)   (18,756,163)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   (1,516)   -    (5,141)   -    (2,837)   3,648    -    (10,131)
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (99,638)   (66,959)   (4,240,050)   (5,630,300)   1,308    (37,073)   (40,500)   (534,538)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   (316)   -    (190)   -    -    (375)   -    (32)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   16,840    -    -    (1,112)   229    25,034    -    92,098 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (1,888,680)   (129,602)   (18,071,826)   (9,001,361)   1,464,730    675,415    (35,132)   12,314,609 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (10,110,429)   1,801,413    (60,606,242)   (106,512,692)   3,325,338    (1,359,312)   (492,748)   (7,931,692)
Total increase (decrease)   8,677,900    12,183,701    29,794,960    63,532,980    7,196,891    3,329,231    5,003,567    1,328,203 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   64,684,699    33,813,200    484,216,996    915,267,296    35,992,862    20,869,071    24,435,731    135,793,211 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $73,362,599   $45,996,901   $514,011,956   $978,800,276   $43,189,753   $24,198,302   $29,439,298   $137,121,414 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-47 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

   MML
Inflation-
Protected
and Income
Sub-Account
   MML
International
Equity
Sub-Account
   MML
Large Cap
Growth
Sub-Account
   MML
Large Cap
Growth
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Bond
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Bond
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Volatility
Sub-Account
   MML
Managed
Volatility
Sub-Account
 
   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $933,563    $99,692   $90,420   $61,834   $4,354,846   $8,767,931   $1,635,550   $407,250 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   548,685   68,125    167,366    176,307    1,467,059    3,283,312    1,297,370    390,199 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   384,878    31,567    (76,946)   (114,473)   2,887,787    5,484,619    338,180    17,051 
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (1,017,498)   (68,061)   (387,196)   (196,708)   (851,705)   (1,741,366)   2,643,757    46,512 
Realized gain distribution   -    371,778    1,911,728    1,827,707    -    -    -    - 
Realized gain (loss)   (1,017,498)   303,717    1,524,532    1,630,999    (851,705)   (1,741,366)   2,643,757    46,512 
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   3,323,559    817,753    2,626,699    1,837,611    7,653,288    16,063,860    6,951,075    2,813,553 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   2,306,061    1,121,470    4,151,231    3,468,610    6,801,583    14,322,494    9,594,832    2,860,065 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   2,690,939    1,153,037    4,074,285    3,354,137    9,689,370    19,807,113    9,933,012    2,877,116 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   4,480,483    1,159,841    181,779    3,688,983    1,149,609    10,318,815    735,111    1,065,432 
Transfers due to death benefits   (336,538)   (47,888)   (202,147)   (91,936)   (1,637,188)   (1,884,956)   (761,097)   (207,031)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    -    (6,748)   -    (251,526)   -    (212,082)   - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (6,401,188)   (404,412)   (1,947,654)   (1,230,296)   (16,207,043)   (32,989,096)   (14,004,484)   (3,280,834)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    -    7,935    -    (5,917)   -    (3,155)   - 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (113,632)   (543)   (19,547)   (5,144)   (380,702)   (1,373,407)   (419,452)   (147,142)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    -    (170)   -    (170)   (75)   (296)   - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    -    1,960    -    (19,363)   -    58,766    - 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   1,518,047    114,017    (541,528)   87,387    7,827,258    16,536,477    6,896,791    1,319,963 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (852,828)   821,015    (2,526,120)   2,448,994    (9,525,042)   (9,392,242)   (7,709,898)   (1,249,612)
Total increase (decrease)   1,838,111    1,974,052    1,548,165    5,803,131    164,328    10,414,871    2,223,114    1,627,504 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   41,399,216    4,669,380    14,279,402    10,587,661    117,644,146    250,288,149    98,987,098    28,963,354 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $43,237,327    $6,643,432   $15,827,567   $16,390,792   $117,808,474   $260,703,020   $101,210,212   $30,590,858 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-48 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Moderate   Moderate   Short-Duration   Small Cap 
   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Value   Mid Cap Value   Allocation   Allocation   Bond   Equity 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class) 
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $17,189   $-   $2,343,586   $717,625   $7,705,794   $39,415,583   $877,443   $123,700 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   945,631    1,335,109    1,798,227    645,484    3,855,856    22,874,917    362,171    294,425 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (928,442)   (1,335,109)   545,359    72,141    3,849,938    16,540,666    515,272    (170,725)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   3,225,081    75,254    (4,702,859)   (1,449,968)   2,787,411    (8,168,525)   (93,672)   (56,468)
Realized gain distribution   10,776,125    14,186,832    14,458,779    5,181,581    18,234,185    104,673,927    -    2,221,545 
Realized gain (loss)   14,001,206    14,262,086    9,755,920    3,731,613    21,021,596    96,505,402    (93,672)   2,165,077 
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments        7,882,228           12,770,845           24,652,920           7,917,263           22,949,084           157,224,534           353,421           3,755,794   
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   21,883,434    27,032,931    34,408,840    11,648,876    43,970,680    253,729,936    259,749    5,920,871 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations        20,954,992           25,697,822           34,954,199           11,721,017           47,820,618           270,270,602           775,021           5,750,146   
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   591,856    8,319,419    1,124,564    4,670,803    2,308,004    44,475,190    4,828,347    192,318 
Transfers due to death benefits   (366,600)   (418,095)   (937,553)   (155,184)   (2,197,148)   (8,476,592)   (420,870)   (273,705)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   (194,349)   -    (341,749)   -    -    -    (508)   (18,708)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (7,949,060)   (11,424,523)   (18,654,446)   (5,522,537)   (27,842,530)   (230,383,971)   (5,436,024)   (2,806,611)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   4,159    -    4,968    -    (3,523)   -    163    2,935 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (111,621)   (206,235)   (459,683)   (130,856)   (2,362,558)   (10,686,266)   721    (34,306)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   (1,359)   -    (1,429)   -    (7)   -    -    (303)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation        34,192           -           84,838           -           -           -           211           (2,268 )
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (2,929,978)   (2,106,070)   (6,718,743)   (613,538)   2,149,241    (2,995,200)   4,955,519    (129,646)
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (10,922,760)   (5,835,504)   (25,899,233)   (1,751,312)   (27,948,521)   (208,066,839)   3,927,559    (3,070,294)
Total increase (decrease)   10,032,232    19,862,318    9,054,966    9,969,705    19,872,097    62,203,763    4,702,580    2,679,852 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   73,560,646    88,937,242    135,925,323    43,253,293    290,920,692    1,689,907,038    27,471,063    24,030,805 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $83,592,878   $108,799,560   $144,980,289   $53,222,998   $310,792,789   $1,752,110,801   $32,173,643   $26,710,657 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-49 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   Strategic 
   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small   Small/Mid Cap   Small/Mid Cap   Special   Emerging 
   Equity   Growth Equity   Growth Equity   Company Value   Value   Value   Situations   Markets 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I)     
Investment income                                        
Dividends  $54,890   $-   $-   $17,086   $643,843   $84,555   $-   $808 
                                         
Expenses                                        
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   273,113    1,230,552    297,507    279,820    1,335,767    282,219    7,493    177,655 
                                         
Net Investment income (loss)   (218,223)   (1,230,552)   (297,507)   (262,734)   (691,924)   (197,664)   (7,493)   (176,847)
                                         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                                        
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   (528,103)   (2,139,360)   (411,252)   (268,857)   5,032,444    (586,307)   18,818    308,458 
Realized gain distribution   1,868,747    16,362,801    4,375,793    3,270,006    12,450,021    2,708,057    -    - 
Realized gain (loss)   1,340,644    14,223,441    3,964,541    3,001,149    17,482,465    2,121,750    18,818    308,458 
                                         
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   3,410,403    14,231,752    2,583,821    1,810,489    1,273,499    1,671,298    133,505    2,888,283 
                                         
Net gain (loss) on investments   4,751,047    28,455,193    6,548,362    4,811,638    18,755,964    3,793,048    152,323    3,196,741 
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   4,532,824    27,224,641    6,250,855    4,548,904    18,064,040    3,595,384    144,830    3,019,894 
                                         
Capital transactions:                                        
Transfer of net premiums   2,409,137    646,149    3,650,727    2,704,368    780,026    2,345,390    72,574    1,793,029 
Transfers due to death benefits   (219,187)   (765,536)   (215,011)   (122,337)   (654,097)   (176,395)   -    (192,291)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (201,492)   -    -    (255,812)   -    -    - 
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (2,372,962)   (13,247,148)   (2,421,982)   (1,627,235)   (13,952,871)   (1,904,858)   (15,077)   (1,469,743)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   -    762    -    (3,997)   (2,780)   -    -    755 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   (10,528)   (369,155)   (30,616)   (14,126)   (382,430)   (42,655)   -    (16,440)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (220)   -    -    (13)   -    -    - 
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    54,368    -    -    69,768    -    -    - 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   (69,857)   (7,676,486)   (488,533)   156,888    1,652,039    275,047    (9,017)   (90,869)
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   (263,397)   (21,558,758)   494,585    1,093,561    (12,746,170)   496,529    48,480    24,441 
Total increase (decrease)   4,269,427    5,665,883    6,745,440    5,642,465    5,317,870    4,091,913    193,310    3,044,335 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   18,425,202    89,078,989    19,280,671    19,022,657    100,384,944    19,194,837    642,435    12,694,684 
                                         
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $22,694,629   $94,744,872   $26,026,111   $24,665,122   $105,702,814   $23,286,750   $835,745   $15,739,019 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 F-50 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)

For The Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

               PIMCO   VY® 
       MML U.S.   Oppenheimer   Commodity   Clarion 
   MML Total   Government   Global Multi-   RealReturn®   Global 
   Return Bond   Money Market   Alternatives   Strategy   Real Estate 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
Investment income                         
Dividends  $840,729   $1,236,319   $25,745   $395,402   $402,148 
                          
Expenses                         
Mortality and expense risk fees and administrative charges   345,638    853,495    9,712    116,223    198,024 
                          
Net Investment income (loss)   495,091    382,824    16,033    279,179    204,124 
                          
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments                         
Realized gain (loss) on sale of fund shares   44,377    9,172    (52,512)   (1,242,030)   279,825 
Realized gain distribution   -    -    -    -    - 
Realized gain (loss)   44,377    9,172    (52,512)   (1,242,030)   279,825 
                          
Change in net unrealized appreciation/ depreciation of investments   1,325,845    (9,171)   105,766    1,820,946    2,648,085 
                          
Net gain (loss) on investments   1,370,222    1    53,254    578,916    2,927,910 
                          
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   1,865,313    382,825    69,287    858,095    3,132,034 
                          
Capital transactions:                         
Transfer of net premiums   6,878,184    7,178,793    77,299    245,228    244,406 
Transfers due to death benefits   (207,413)   (695,051)   -    (25,266)   (96,548)
Transfers due to annuity benefit payments   -    (54,531)   -    (19,829)   (49,653)
Transfers due to withdrawal of funds   (2,032,460)   (24,972,215)   (97,676)   (1,162,008)   (1,750,988)
Transfers due to loans, net of repayments   1,485    11,537    -    635    2,106 
Transfers due to cost of insurance   466    (87,585)   251    (35,387)   (45,552)
Transfers due to contingent deferred sales charges   -    (382)   -    (7)   (17)
Transfers due to net charge (credit) to annuitant mortality fluctuation   -    16,604    -    4,098    11,761 
Transfers between Sub-Accounts and to/from Fixed Account   1,792,124    16,989,570    (2,332,862)   201,011    129,245 
                          
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions   6,432,386    (1,613,260)   (2,352,988)   (791,525)   (1,555,240)
Total increase (decrease)   8,297,699    (1,230,435)   (2,283,701)   66,570    1,576,794 
NET ASSETS, at beginning of the year   23,676,108    76,764,657    2,283,703    8,967,304    14,174,962 
NET ASSETS, at end of the year  $31,973,807   $75,534,222   $2   $9,033,874   $15,751,756 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

  

 F-51 

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4

 

Notes To Financial Statements

 

1.ORGANIZATION

 

Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 (“the Separate Account”) is a separate investment account of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”) established on July 9, 1998. The Separate Account is registered as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“the 1940 Act”).

 

MassMutual maintains ten segments within the Separate Account, they are: Panorama Premier, Panorama Passage®, MassMutual Artistry, MassMutual Transitions®, MassMutual EvolutionSM, MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM, MassMutual Transitions SelectSM, MassMutual Equity EdgeSM, MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II and MassMutual Capital Vantage®. Seven of the ten segments within the Separate Account: Panorama Passage®, MassMutual EvolutionSM, MassMutual RetireEase SelectSM, MassMutual Transitions SelectSM, MassMutual EquityEdgeSM, MassMutual Transitions SelectSM II and MassMutual Capital Vantage® have multiple tiers. The unit values of these tiers differ based on the associated expense ratios.

 

The assets and liabilities of the Separate Account are clearly identified and distinguished from MassMutual’s other assets and liabilities. The Separate Account assets are not chargeable with liabilities arising from any other MassMutual business.

 

 F-52 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

2INVESTMENT OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT’S ASSETS

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Separate Account consists of ninety-two sub-accounts which invest in the following mutual funds. All of the funds may not be available to all of the ten segments of the Separate Account:

 

  The sub-account listed in the first column
Sub-Accounts invests in the fund in this column
BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF V.I. Sub-Account BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF V.I. Fund(Class
(Class III) III)7,9
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Sub-Account (Initial Class) Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Portfolio (Initial Class)1
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Sub-Account (Service Class 2) Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Portfolio (Service Class 2)1
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
Account (Series II) (Series II)3,10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
Account (Series I) (Series I)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Fund
Account (Series II) (Series II)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Fund
Account (Series I) (Series I)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth
Account (Series II) Fund (Series II)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth
Account (Series I) Fund (Series I)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Sub-Account (Series II) Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Fund (Series II)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Sub-Account (Series I) Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Fund (Series I)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Fund
Account (Series I) (Series I)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Government Money Sub-Account Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Government Money Fund3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Fund
Account (Series II) (Series II)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Sub- Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Fund
Account (Series I) (Series I)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Sub-Account (Series II) Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Fund® (Series II)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Sub-Account (Series I) Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Fund® (Series I)3, 10
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Total Return Bond Sub-Account Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Total Return Bond Fund3, 10
Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Sub-Account (Series I) Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Fund (Series I)3
Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Sub-Account (Series II) Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Fund (Series II)3
Invesco V.I. Health Care Sub-Account (Series I) Invesco V.I. Health Care Fund (Series I)3
Invesco V.I. Health Care Sub-Account (Series II) Invesco V.I. Health Care Fund (Series II)3, 8
Invesco V.I. Technology Sub-Account (Series I) Invesco V.I. Technology Fund (Series I)3, 8
Invesco V.I. Technology Sub-Account (Series II) Invesco V.I. Technology Fund (Series II)3
Ivy VIP Asset Strategy Sub-Account Ivy VIP Asset Strategy Portfolio6
MML Aggressive Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Aggressive Allocation Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Aggressive Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Aggressive Allocation Fund (Service Class)4
MML American Funds Core Allocation Sub-Account MML American Funds Core Allocation Fund4
MML American Funds Growth Sub-Account MML American Funds Growth Fund4
MML American Funds International Sub-Account MML American Funds International Fund4
MML Balanced Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Balanced Allocation Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Balanced Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Balanced Allocation Fund (Service Class)4
MML Blend Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Blend Fund (Initial Class)4

 

 F-53 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

MML Blend Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Blend Fund (Service Class)4
MML Blue Chip Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Blue Chip Growth Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Blue Chip Growth Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Blue Chip Growth Fund (Service Class)4
MML Conservative Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Conservative Allocation Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Conservative Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Conservative Allocation Fund (Service Class)4
MML Dynamic Bond Sub-Account (Service Class I) MML Dynamic Bond Fund (Service Class I)4
MML Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Equity Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Equity Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Equity Fund (Service Class)4
MML Equity Income Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Equity Income Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Equity Income Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Equity Income Fund (Service Class)4
MML Equity Index Sub-Account (Class I) MML Equity Index Fund (Class I)4
MML Equity Index Sub-Account (Service Class I) MML Equity Index Fund (Service Class I)4
MML Equity Momentum Sub-Account (Service Class I) MML Equity Momentum Fund (Service Class I)4, 12
MML Equity Rotation Sub-Account (Service Class I) MML Equity Rotation Fund (Service Class I)4
MML Focused Equity Sub-Account MML Focused Equity Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Foreign Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Foreign Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Foreign Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Foreign Fund (Service Class)4
MML Fundamental Equity Sub-Account MML Fundamental Equity Fund (Initial Class)4, 13
MML Fundamental Value Sub-Account MML Fundamental Value Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Global Sub-Account (Class I) MML Global Fund (Class I)4
MML Global Sub-Account (Service Class I) MML Global Fund (Service Class I)4
MML Global Sub-Account (Class II) MML Global Fund (Class II)4
MML Growth & Income Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Growth & Income Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Growth & Income Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Growth & Income Fund (Service Class)4
MML Growth Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Growth Allocation Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Growth Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Growth Allocation Fund (Service Class)4
MML High Yield Sub-Account MML High Yield Fund4
MML Income & Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Income & Growth Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Income & Growth Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Income & Growth Fund (Service Class)4
MML Inflation-Protected and Income Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Inflation-Protected and Income Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Inflation-Protected and Income Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Inflation-Protected and Income Fund (Service Class)4
MML International Equity Sub-Account MML International Equity Fund4
MML Large Cap Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Large Cap Growth Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Large Cap Growth Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Large Cap Growth Fund (Service Class)4
MML Managed Bond Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Managed Bond Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Managed Bond Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Managed Bond Fund (Service Class)4
MML Managed Volatility Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Managed Volatility Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Managed Volatility Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Managed Volatility Fund (Service Class)4
MML Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Mid Cap Growth Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Mid Cap Growth Fund (Service Class)4
MML Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Mid Cap Value Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Mid Cap Value Fund (Service Class)4
MML Moderate Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Moderate Allocation Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Moderate Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Moderate Allocation Fund (Service Class)4
MML Short-Duration Bond Sub-Account MML Short-Duration Bond Fund4

 

 F-54 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

MML Small Cap Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Small Cap Equity Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Small Cap Equity Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Small Cap Equity Fund (Service Class)4
MML Small Cap Growth Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Small Cap Growth Equity Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Small Cap Growth Equity Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Small Cap Growth Equity Fund (Service Class)4
MML Small Company Value Sub-Account MML Small Company Value Fund4
MML Small/Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Initial Class) MML Small/Mid Cap Value Fund (Initial Class)4
MML Small/Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Service Class) MML Small/Mid Cap Value Fund (Service Class)4
MML Special Situations Sub-Account (Service Class I) MML Special Situations Fund (Service Class I)4
MML Strategic Emerging Markets Sub-Account MML Strategic Emerging Markets Fund4
MML Total Return Bond Sub-Account MML Total Return Bond Fund4
MML U.S. Government Money Market Sub-Account MML U.S. Government Money Market Fund4
PIMCO CommodityRealReturn® Strategy Sub-Account PIMCO CommodityRealReturn® Strategy Portfolio5
VY® Clarion Global Real Estate Sub-Account VY® Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio2

 

In addition to the ninety-two sub-accounts, some contract owners may also allocate funds to the Fixed Interest Account (“FIA”), which is part of MassMutual’s general investment account (“General Account”). Because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions in the securities law, interests in the FIA are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and the General Account and the FIA are not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

 

1 Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC is the investment adviser to this Portfolio.

2 Voya Investments, LLC is the investment adviser to this Portfolio.

3 Invesco Advisers, Inc. is the investment adviser to this Fund.

4 MML Investment Advisers, LLC is the investment adviser to this Fund.

5 Pacific Investment Management Company LLC is the investment adviser to this Portfolio.

6 Ivy Investment Management Company is the investment adviser to this Portfolio.

7 BlackRock Advisors, LLC is the investment adviser for this Fund.

8Invesco V.I. Health Care was formerly known as Invesco V.I. Global Health Care.

9BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF V.I. was formerly known as BlackRock iShares® Dynamic Allocation V.I.

10Effective after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on May 24, 2019, Invesco Ltd. completed its acquisition of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Acquiring Funds/Sub-Accounts assume the accounting and performance history of the corresponding Merging Funds/Sub-Accounts. In connection with that transaction the following Funds/Sub-Accounts merged: 

MERGING FUND/SUB-ACCOUNT ACQUIRING FUND/SUB-ACCOUNT
Fund: Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub-Account
Fund: Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Sub-Account
Fund: Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub-
Fund: Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Global Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Sub-Account
Fund: Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Sub-Account
Fund: Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Government Money Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Government Money Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Government Money Sub-Account
Fund: Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer International Growth Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Sub-Account
Fund: Oppenheimer Main Street Fund®/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Fund®
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Main Street Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Sub-Account
Fund: Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA Fund: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Total Return Bond Fund
Sub-Account: Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Sub-Account Sub-Account: Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Total Return Bond Sub-Account

11*Effective April 29, 2019 Oppenheimer Global Multi-Alternatives Sub-Account liquidated and any contract value in the Sub-Account after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on April 29, 2019 was automatically transferred to the MML U.S. Government Money Market Sub-Account. In addition to the ninety- two Sub-Accounts listed above, the accompanying financial statements also include statement of operations for the period from January 1,2019 to April 29,2019. 

12MML Equity Momentum Sub-Account was formerly known as MML Asset Momentum Sub-Account. 

13MML Fundamental Equity Sub-Account was formerly known as MML Fundamental Growth Sub-Account.

 

 F-55 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Separate Account in preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Separate Account Massachusetts Mutual Variable Annuity Separate Account 4 follows the accounting and reporting guidance in FASB Accounting Standards Codification 946.

 

A.Investment Valuation

Investments in the investment sub-accounts are valued at the closing net asset value of each of the respective underlying funds, which value their investment securities at fair value.

 

B.Accounting for Investments

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis and identified cost is the basis followed in determining the cost of investments sold for financial statement purposes. Dividend income and gains from realized gain distributions are recorded on the ex-distribution date, and they are generally reinvested in the underlying investment sub-accounts.

 

C.Federal Income Taxes

MassMutual is taxed under federal law as a life insurance company under the provisions of the 1986 Internal Revenue Code, as amended. Under existing federal law, no taxes are payable on net investment income and net realized capital gains attributable to contracts which depend on the Separate Account’s investment performance. Accordingly, no provision for federal income tax has been made. MassMutual may, however, make such a charge in the future if an unanticipated change of current law results in a company tax liability attributable to the Separate Account.

 

D.Contract Charges

See Note 8B for charges associated with the contracts

 

E.Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

F.Loans

If the certificate is a tax-sheltered annuity (“TSA”), the participants may be able to take a loan under their certificate. All such loans must conform to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. There are limitations on the amount of the loan the participants can take, and there is a required loan repayment schedule. When a loan is made, the Separate Account transfers the amount of the loan to MassMutual, thereby decreasing both the investments and net assets of the Separate Account by an equal amount. The contract owner is charged interest on the outstanding loan amount based on the interest rate then in effect.

 

G.Annuitant Mortality Fluctuation

The Separate Account maintains a reserve as required by regulatory authorities to provide for mortality losses incurred. The reserve is adjusted quarterly for mortality losses and gains and its proportionate

 

 F-56 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

share of changes in value. Transfers to or from MassMutual are then made quarterly to adjust the Separate Account. Net transfers from the Separate Account to MassMutual totaled $1,210,647 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Net transfers from the Separate Account to MassMutual totaled $1,216,739 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The reserve is subject to a maximum of 3% of the Separate Account’s annuity reserves. Any mortality losses in excess of this reserve will be borne by MassMutual. The reserve is not available to owners of the contracts except to the extent necessary to cover mortality losses under the contracts.

 

H.Annuity Reserves

Annuity reserves are developed by using accepted actuarial methods and are computed using the 1994 MGDB table, except for the MassMutual RetireEase Select SM Segment which uses the Annuity 2000 table.

 

4.FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Separate Account defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Separate Account generally uses the market approach as the valuation technique due to the nature of the mutual fund investments offered in the Separate Account. This technique maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. Investments in mutual funds are valued at the mutual fund’s closing net asset value per share on the day of valuation.

 

Valuation Inputs: Various inputs are used to determine the value of the Separate Account’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

·Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
·Level 2 – observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk)
·Level 3 – unobservable inputs

 

The investments of the Separate Account are measured at fair value. All the investments are categorized as Level 1 as of December 31, 2020. There have been no transfers between levels for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

5.RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

A.Sales Agreements

 

The contracts currently being offered are sold by both registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC (“MMLIS”), a subsidiary of MassMutual, and by registered representatives of other broker-dealers who have entered into distribution agreements with MML Strategic Distributors, LLC (“MSD”), a subsidiary of MassMutual. Pursuant to separate underwriting agreements with MassMutual, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Separate Account, MMLIS serves as principal underwriter of the contracts sold by its registered representatives and MSD serves as principal underwriter of the contracts sold by registered representatives of other broker-dealers who have entered into distribution agreements with MSD.

 

Both MMLIS and MSD are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as broker-dealers under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Commissions for sales of contracts by MMLIS registered representatives are paid on behalf of MMLIS to its registered representatives. Commissions for sales of contracts by registered representatives of other broker-dealers are paid on behalf of MSD to those

 

 F-57 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

broker-dealers. MMLIS and MSD also receive compensation for their actions as principal underwriters of the contracts.

 

B.Receivable from/Payable to MassMutual

Certain fees such as cost of insurance fees and mortality and expense risk fees are charges paid between the General Account and the Separate Account.

 

 F-58 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

6.PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
  
 The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales investments for the year ended December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

     BlackRock           Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco 
     60/40 Target   Fidelity®   Fidelity®   Oppenheimer V.I.    Oppenheimer   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I. 
     Allocation   VIP   VIP   Capital   V.I. Capital   Conservative   Conservative   Discovery 
     ETF V.I.   Contrafund®   Contrafund®   Appreciation   Appreciation   Balanced   Balanced   Mid Cap Growth 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Class III)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class 2)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II) 
                                   
  Cost of purchases  $4,658,916   $16,219,530   $21,504,443   $2,431,615   $27,904,326   $3,209   $368,796   $8,675,488 
  Proceeds from sales   (466,058)   (69,438,233)   (37,893,807)   (4,085,582)   (54,193,030)   (5,491)   (829,486)   (4,587,373)
                                           
     Invesco           Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco   Invesco 
     Oppenheimer V.I.   Invesco   Invesco   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I. 
     Discovery   Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Global Strategic   Global Strategic   Government   International   International 
     Mid Cap Growth   Global   Global   Income   Income   Money   Growth   Growth 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)       (Series II)   (Series I) 
                                   
  Cost of purchases  $13,969,315   $6,229,147   $14,591,122   $9,654,611   $31,741,691   $2,416,727   $1,979,748   $3,953,156 
  Proceeds from sales   (40,053,672)   (14,759,622)   (48,241,757)   (21,051,233)   (47,336,331)   (2,630,826)   (7,294,506)   (10,003,281)
                                           
     Invesco   Invesco   Invesco
Oppenheimer V.I.
   Invesco V.I.   Invesco V.I.             
     Oppenheimer V.I.   Oppenheimer V.I.   Total Return   Diversified   Diversified   Invesco V.I.   Invesco V.I.   Invesco V.I. 
     Main Street   Main Street   Bond   Dividend   Dividend   Health Care   Health Care   Technology 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Series II)   (Series I)       (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I)   (Series II)   (Series I) 
  Cost of purchases  $4,638,836   $4,483,825   $62,161   $1,252,126   $1,154,869   $1,217,333   $1,120,627   $3,060,326 
  Proceeds from sales   (3,411,503)   (4,601,019)   (171,926)   (1,335,871)   (3,439,549)   (2,628,413)   (3,290,323)   (3,390,397)
                                           
                     MML   MML   MML     
         Ivy VIP   MML   MML   American   American   American   MML 
     Invesco V.I.   Asset   Aggressive   Aggressive   Funds   Funds   Funds   Balanced 
     Technology   Strategy   Allocation   Allocation   Core Allocation   Growth   International   Allocation 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Series II)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)               (Initial Class) 
  Cost of purchases  $3,963,653   $1,786,987   $8,068,107   $14,680,179   $109,076,106   $47,107,628   $8,469,251   $36,002,247 
  Proceeds from sales   (4,128,840)   (2,095,120)   (13,318,202)   (19,933,035)   (199,141,812)   (57,195,892)   (14,636,632)   (55,109,740)

 

 F-59 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

6.PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)

 

     MML           MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
     Balanced   MML   MML   Blue Chip   Blue Chip   Conservative   Conservative   Dynamic 
     Allocation   Blend   Blend   Growth   Growth   Allocation   Allocation   Bond 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I) 
  Cost of purchases  $46,400,239   $13,220,482   $28,323,549   $12,652,393   $35,120,050   $79,302,303   $135,580,648   $3,540,871 
  Proceeds from sales   (96,472,898)   (15,891,155)   (17,880,305)   (16,904,092)   (23,419,396)   (81,477,918)   (124,463,031)   (1,568,375)
                                           
                     MML   MML   MML   MML 
     MML   MML   MML   MML   Equity   Equity   Equity   Equity 
     Equity   Equity   Equity Income   Equity Income   Index   Index   Momentum   Rotation 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I) 
  Cost of purchases  $6,300,283   $22,807,136   $35,026,328   $16,815,857   $9,797,402   $14,434,786   $269,808   $109,824 
  Proceeds from sales   (7,260,492)   (16,197,507)   (40,264,021)   (14,954,955)   (7,284,247)   (11,892,177)   (257,038)   (137,416)
                                           
     MML           MML   MML             
     Focused   MML   MML   Fundamental   Fundamental   MML   MML   MML 
     Equity   Foreign   Foreign   Equity   Value   Global   Global   Global 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
         (Initial Class)   (Service Class)           (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Class II) 
  Cost of purchases  $4,384,308   $22,897,953   $1,453,839   $5,735,816   $3,708,525   $1,026,128   $3,018,360   $290,775 
  Proceeds from sales   (4,444,415)   (32,597,817)   (2,780,014)   (2,607,313)   (2,425,165)   (1,939,967)   (3,401,566)   (463,317)
                                           
                             MML   MML 
     MML   MML   MML   MML       MML   MML   Inflation- 
     Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth   MML   Income   Income   Protected 
     & Income   & Income   Allocation   Allocation   High Yield   & Growth   & Growth   and Income 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) 
  Cost of purchases  $7,960,773   $8,836,854   $98,327,256   $91,276,468   $4,333,002   $2,452,520   $3,254,364   $31,172,564 
  Proceeds from sales   (13,412,804)   (7,692,264)   (228,933,621)   (302,967,700)   (6,746,419)   (4,860,169)   (5,544,723)   (50,008,852)

 

 F-60 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

6.PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)

 

     MML                             
     Inflation-   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
     Protected   International   Large Cap   Large Cap   Managed   Managed   Managed   Managed 
     and Income   Equity   Growth   Growth   Bond   Bond   Volatility   Volatility 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
                                   
  Cost of purchases  $13,131,006   $1,418,620   $2,329,471   $5,353,103   $29,798,427   $40,456,146   $20,320,550   $3,565,906 
  Proceeds from sales   (14,634,662)   (1,273,834)   (4,439,680)   (3,861,293)   (41,039,223)   (51,857,970)   (31,925,351)   (8,511,098)
                                           
                     MML   MML   MML   MML 
     MML   MML   MML   MML   Moderate   Moderate   Short-Duration   Small Cap 
     Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Value   Mid Cap Value   Allocation   Allocation   Bond   Equity 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class) 
                                   
  Cost of purchases  $11,837,060   $17,475,899   $19,313,959   $5,800,615   $60,572,865   $136,913,840   $28,710,101    $1,953,658 
  Proceeds from sales   (16,685,672)   (22,707,359)   (31,776,768)   (7,745,062)   (139,812,419)   (348,871,079)   (17,151,056)   (5,687,937)
                                           
                                 MML 
     MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   Strategic 
     Small Cap   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small   Small/Mid Cap   Small/Mid Cap   Special   Emerging 
     Equity   Growth Equity   Growth Equity   Company Value   Value   Value   Situations   Markets 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
     (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I)     
                                   
  Cost of purchases  $4,797,826   $20,790,256   $6,165,250   $4,641,917   $22,798,028   $4,282,299   $132,640   $1,922,091 
  Proceeds from sales   (6,304,366)   (42,990,405)   (6,010,938)   (4,820,728)   (34,005,477)   (5,296,163)   (121,042)   (3,392,243)
                                           
             PIMCO   VY®                                 
         MML U.S.   Commodity   Clarion                                 
     MML Total   Government   RealReturn®   Global                                 
     Return Bond   Money Market   Strategy   Real Estate                                 
     Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account                                 
                                                   
  Cost of purchases  $24,102,720    205,038,984    1,733,772    3,513,141                                 
  Proceeds from sales   (9,843,418)   (136,860,918)   (2,675,261)   (3,903,503)                                

 

 F-61 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

7.NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN OUTSTANDING UNITS

 

The changes in outstanding units for the two years ended December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

 

 

    BlackRock
60/40 Target
Allocation
ETF V.I.

Sub-Account
      Fidelity®
VIP
Contrafund®

Sub-Account
      Fidelity®
VIP
Contrafund®

Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Capital
Appreciation
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Capital
Appreciation
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Conservative
Balanced
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Conservative
Balanced

Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Discovery
Mid Cap
Growth
Sub-Account
 
2020   (Class III)     (Initial Class)     (Service Class 2)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)  
Units purchased     357,566       55,306       1,090,897       5,260       31,433       -       1,066       317,419  
Units withdrawn     (28,337 )     (803,152 )     (934,347 )     (64,156 )     (783,313 )     (302 )     (37,459 )     (139,686 )
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account     -       (577,336 )     (165,683 )     (55,689 )     (761,706 )     -       (3,653 )     15,124  
Net increase (decrease)     329,229       (1,325,182 )     (9,133 )     (114,585 )     (1,513,586 )     (302 )     (40,046 )     192,857  
                                                                 
            Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I. Discovery
Mid Cap
Growth
Sub-Account
      Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Global
Sub-Account
      Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I. Global

Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Global
Strategic
Income
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Global
Strategic
Income
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.

Government
Money
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.

International

Growth

Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
International
Growth

Sub-Account
 
                               
                               
                               
                               
2020 (Continued)   (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)           (Series II)     (Series I)  
Units purchased     27,305       166,719       42,433       225,515       87,367       23,626       90,434       16,970  
Units withdrawn     (547,575 )     (351,563 )     (738,346 )     (911,056 )     (1,871,852 )     (156,928 )     (219,208 )     (176,567 )
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account     (470,118 )     (110,061 )     (402,608 )     (195,511 )     442,795       116,952       (57,919 )     (78,135 )
Net increase (decrease)     (990,388 )     (294,905 )     (1,098,520 )     (881,051 )     (1,341,690 )     (16,351 )     (186,693 )     (237,732 )
                                                                 
2020 (Continued)     Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Main Street
Sub-Account
      Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Main Street
Sub-Account
    Invesco
Oppenheimer
V.I.
Total Return
Bond

Sub-Account
      Invesco V.I.
Diversified
Dividend

Sub-Account
      Invesco V.I.
Diversified
Dividend

Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.
Health Care
Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.
Health Care
Sub-Account
    Invesco V.I.
Technology
Sub-Account
 
                               
                               
                               
                               
  (Series II)     (Series I)           (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)  
Units purchased     159,047       11,478       22       9,806       7,846       4,488       5,539       10,121  
Units withdrawn     (112,216 )     (102,290 )     (8,349 )     (47,085 )     (167,712 )     (48,001 )     (71,745 )     (59,668 )
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account     (28,545 )     (20,597 )     (609 )     3,639       (98,678 )     (2,612 )     (7,407 )     22,117  
Net increase (decrease)     18,285       (111,410 )     (8,936 )     (33,641 )     (258,544 )     (46,125 )     (73,613 )     (27,431 )
                                                                 

 

2020 (Continued)

 

 

 

Invesco V.I.

Technology

Sub-Account

   

 

Ivy VIP

Asset

Strategy

Sub-Account

   

 

MML

Aggressive

Allocation

Sub-Account

   

 

MML

Aggressive

Allocation

Sub-Account

   

MML

American

Funds

Core Allocation

Sub-Account

   

MML

American

Funds

Growth

Sub-Account

   

MML

American

Funds

International

Sub-Account

   

 

MML

Balanced

Allocation

Sub-Account

 
                               
                               
                               
                               
  (Series II)           (Initial Class)     (Service Class)                       (Initial Class)  
Units purchased     2,662       101,162       31,461       346,717       1,250,095       639,896       176,521       19,421  
Units withdrawn     (56,979 )     (116,431 )     (259,568 )     (879,812 )     (7,609,223 )     (978,949 )     (594,858 )     (1,573,259 )
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account     28,252       (24,072 )     (141,820 )     (18,320 )     (1,463,806 )     (393,049 )     (154,323 )     186,997  
Net increase (decrease)     (26,064 )     (39,341 )     (369,927 )     (551,415 )     (7,822,933 )     (732,103 )     (572,661 )     (1,366,841 )

 

 F-62 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

7.NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN OUTSTANDING UNITS (Continued)

 

   MML           MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Balanced   MML   MML   Blue Chip   Blue Chip   Conservative   Conservative   Dynamic 
   Allocation   Blend   Blend   Growth   Growth   Allocation   Allocation   Bond 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2020 (Continued)  (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I) 
Units purchased   1,328,458    19,811    1,159,518    13,774    937,124    59,582    1,962,641    318,673 
Units withdrawn   (4,412,817)   (276,375)   (767,709)   (174,491)   (625,471)   (3,459,470)   (7,230,536)   (125,575)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (868,962)   84,240    83,360    (15,098)   (12,811)   3,128,829    5,423,744    (8,871)
Net increase (decrease)   (3,953,321)   (172,324)   475,170    (175,814)   298,842    (271,059)   155,848    184,227 
                                         
                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Equity   Equity   Equity   Equity 
   Equity   Equity   Equity Income   Equity Income   Index   Index   Momentum   Rotation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2020 (Continued)  (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I) 
Units purchased   10,828    471,429    44,557    396,316    14,492    10,248    5,566    3,610 
Units withdrawn   (180,938)   (741,244)   (1,026,116)   (601,450)   (154,310)   (262,150)   (16,405)   (7,351)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (1,061)   198,347    418,955    130,021    (28,661)   (7,303)   (19)   (1,387)
Net increase (decrease)   (171,171)   (71,469)   (562,604)   (75,113)   (168,479)   (259,204)   (10,858)   (5,128)
                                         
   MML           MML   MML             
   Focused   MML   MML   Fundamental   Fundamental   MML   MML   MML 
   Equity   Foreign   Foreign   Equity   Value   Global   Global   Global 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2020 (Continued)      (Initial Class)   (Service Class)           (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Class II) 
Units purchased   168,194    62,827    32,387    171,772    138,482    981    131,122    5,605 
Units withdrawn   (156,801)   (1,376,138)   (120,427)   (101,441)   (120,105)   (47,205)   (130,138)   (15,927)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (17,246)   387,929    (27,643)   12,960    (14,988)   (5,552)   (21,480)   (7,919)
Net increase (decrease)   (5,853)   (925,382)   (115,684)   83,290    3,389    (51,777)   (20,495)   (18,240)
                                         
                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML       MML   MML   Inflation- 
   Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth   MML   Income   Income   Protected 
   & Income   & Income   Allocation   Allocation   High Yield   & Growth   & Growth   and Income 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2020 (Continued)  (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) 
Units purchased   13,778    288,681    199,594    1,181,761    317,975    16,031    165,766    72,571 
Units withdrawn   (264,264)   (315,398)   (7,065,734)   (10,960,916)   (309,574)   (126,066)   (245,593)   (1,880,486)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (76,263)   (24,039)   (1,534,624)   (4,544,010)   (96,220)   (10,949)   (34,446)   536,155 
Net increase (decrease)   (326,749)   (50,756)   (8,400,764)   (14,323,164)   (87,819)   (120,985)   (114,273)   (1,271,760)

 

 F-63 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

7.NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN OUTSTANDING UNITS (Continued)

 

   MML                             
   Inflation-   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Protected   International   Large Cap   Large Cap   Managed   Managed   Managed   Managed 
   and Income   Equity   Growth   Growth   Bond   Bond   Volatility   Volatility 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2020 (Continued)  (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
Units purchased   453,757    111,913    12,223    203,665    69,774    1,293,093    45,976    111,234 
Units withdrawn   (712,543)   (113,763)   (77,268)   (130,043)   (1,819,283)   (2,747,441)   (951,940)   (367,263)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   238,623    (7,684)   (20,530)   (4,265)   1,143,895    1,089,448    182,258    (26,689)
Net increase (decrease)   (20,163)   (9,534)   (85,575)   69,357    (605,615)   (364,900)   (723,706)   (282,718)
                                         
                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Moderate   Moderate   Short-Duration   Small Cap 
   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Value   Mid Cap Value   Allocation   Allocation   Bond   Equity 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2020 (Continued)  (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class) 
Units purchased   19,263    367,727    30,405    270,336    114,317    1,967,183    657,905    11,156 
Units withdrawn   (185,942)   (537,727)   (638,867)   (256,768)   (4,799,088)   (16,042,323)   (1,517,915)   (105,075)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (88,805)   (159,582)   271,794    12,234    (597,413)   (3,220,297)   1,985,352    (30,756)
Net increase (decrease)   (255,484)   (329,582)   (336,669)   25,802    (5,282,184)   (17,295,437)   1,125,341    (124,674)
                                         
                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   Strategic 
   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small   Small/Mid Cap   Small/Mid Cap   Special   Emerging 
   Equity   Growth Equity   Growth Equity   Company Value   Value   Value   Situations   Markets 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2020 (Continued)  (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I)     
Units purchased   172,720    16,856    129,646    229,882    37,584    213,542    2,202    72,528 
Units withdrawn   (171,514)   (368,620)   (138,535)   (190,068)   (690,431)   (219,818)   (7,058)   (174,796)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (15,492)   (345,811)   (46,066)   (14,577)   252,454    (10,173)   (1,443)   (30,537)
Net increase (decrease)   (14,285)   (697,575)   (54,954)   25,237    (400,392)   (16,448)   (6,299)   (132,805)
                                         
           PIMCO   VY®                                 
       MML U.S.   Commodity   Clarion                                 
   MML Total   Government   RealReturn®   Global                                 
   Return Bond   Money Market   Strategy   Real Estate                                 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account                                 
2020 (Continued)                                                
Units purchased   999,043    4,010,672    20,500    15,562                                 
Units withdrawn   (655,687)   (21,919,889)   (280,439)   (160,648)                                
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   826,869    25,510,380    (78)   3,913                                 
Net increase (decrease)   1,170,225    7,601,162    (260,016)   (141,173)                                

 

 F-64 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

7.NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN OUTSTANDING UNITS (Continued)

 

   

BlackRock

60/40 Target

Allocation

ETF V.I.

Sub-Account

   

 

Fidelity®

VIP

Contrafund®

Sub-Account

   

 

Fidelity®

VIP

Contrafund®

Sub-Account

   

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Capital

Appreciation

Sub-Account

   

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Capital

Appreciation

Sub-Account

   

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Conservative

Balanced

Sub-Account

   

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Conservative

Balanced

Sub-Account

   

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Discovery

Mid Cap Growth

Sub-Account

 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
2019   (Class III)     (Initial Class)     (Service Class 2)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)  
Units purchased     189,641       69,290       1,419,698       11,187       44,075       -       939       283,614  
Units withdrawn     (12,054 )     (863,590 )     (839,360 )     (73,709 )     (967,794 )     (340 )     (56,007 )     (82,102 )
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account     6       (372,643 )     (65,201 )     (9,752 )     (563,198 )     -       (1,028 )     647  
Net increase (decrease)     177,593       (1,166,943 )     515,136       (72,274 )     (1,486,917 )     (340 )     (56,096 )     202,159  
                                                                 
  

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Discovery

Mid Cap Growth

Sub-Account

  

 

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Global

Sub-Account

  

 

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Global

Sub-Account

  

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Global Strategic

Income

Sub-Account

  

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Global Strategic

Income

Sub-Account

  

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Government

Money

Sub-Account

  

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

International

Growth

Sub-Account

  

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

International

Growth

Sub-Account

 
2019 (Continued)   (Series I)    (Series II)    (Series I)    (Series II)    (Series I)         (Series II)    (Series I) 
Units purchased   39,716    331,553    51,327    397,597    84,446    44,577    160,185    15,166 
Units withdrawn   (574,727)   (315,390)   (725,975)   (597,553)   (1,462,923)   (192,075)   (180,072)   (147,834)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (418,531)   (84,041)   (335,364)   183,604    605,055    71,689    (37,247)   (69,215)
Net increase (decrease)   (953,542)   (67,879)   (1,010,012)   (16,352)   (773,422)   (75,809)   (57,133)   (201,884)
                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Main Street

Sub-Account

   

 

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Main Street

Sub-Account

   

Invesco

Oppenheimer V.I.

Total Return

Bond

Sub-Account

   

 

Invesco V.I.

Diversified

Dividend

Sub-Account

   

 

Invesco V.I.

Diversified

Dividend

Sub-Account

   

 

 

Invesco V.I.

Health Care

Sub-Account

   

 

 

Invesco V.I.

Health Care

Sub-Account

   

 

 

Invesco V.I.

Technology

Sub-Account

 
                               
                               
                               
                               
2019 (Continued)   (Series II)     (Series I)           (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)     (Series II)     (Series I)  
Units purchased     175,511       9,713       -       12,016       14,434       7,121       8,085       10,555  
Units withdrawn     (109,465 )     (130,272 )     (14,333 )     (48,130 )     (359,475 )     (40,819 )     (77,472 )     (36,289 )
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account     2,086       (62,497 )     (1,978 )     (36,696 )     (19,259 )     (271 )     6,417       (5,272 )
Net increase (decrease)     68,131       (183,056 )     (16,311 )     (72,810 )     (364,300 )     (33,968 )     (62,970 )     (31,007 )
                                                                 
   

 

 

Invesco V.I.

Technology

Sub-Account

   

 

Ivy VIP

Asset

Strategy

Sub-Account

   

 

MML

Aggressive

Allocation

Sub-Account

   

 

MML

Aggressive

Allocation

Sub-Account

   

MML

American

Funds

Core Allocation

Sub-Account

   

MML

American

Funds

Growth

Sub-Account

   

MML

American

Funds

International

Sub-Account

   

 

MML

Asset

Momentum

Sub-Account

 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
2019 (Continued)   (Series II)           (Initial Class)     (Service Class)                       (Service Class I)  
Units purchased     2,943       98,698       48,661       518,013       1,978,329       979,415       228,772       10,949  
Units withdrawn     (72,251 )     (132,535 )     (157,042 )     (705,473 )     (8,189,022 )     (851,095 )     (462,063 )     (11,172 )
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account     (8,507 )     (31,304 )     79,963       (46,440 )     216,201       (236,456 )     (40,316 )     1,100  
Net increase (decrease)     (77,815 )     (65,141 )     (28,418 )     (233,899 )     (5,994,492 )     (108,135 )     (273,607 )     877  

 

 F-65 

 

 

   

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

7.NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN OUTSTANDING UNITS (Continued)

 

   MML   MML           MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Balanced   Balanced   MML   MML   Blue Chip   Blue Chip   Conservative   Conservative 
   Allocation   Allocation   Blend   Blend   Growth   Growth   Allocation   Allocation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2019 (Continued)  (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
Units purchased   51,675    2,026,029    31,846    2,186,950    14,769    1,252,468    57,489    1,984,269 
Units withdrawn   (751,487)   (4,286,597)   (239,671)   (536,822)   (140,292)   (386,909)   (744,924)   (3,982,691)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   335,689    60,045    22,527    13,622    7,172    (19,589)   251,390    116,375 
Net increase (decrease)   (364,123)   (2,200,522)   (185,299)   1,663,751    (118,351)   845,970    (436,045)   (1,882,047)
                                         
   MML                   MML   MML   MML 
   Dynamic   MML   MML   MML   MML   Equity   Equity   Equity 
   Bond   Equity   Equity   Equity Income   Equity Income   Index   Index   Rotation 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2019 (Continued)  (Service Class I)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Service Class I) 
Units purchased   373,967    11,847    572,428    48,820    426,641    18,812    19,212    11,709 
Units withdrawn   (64,240)   (122,354)   (572,820)   (893,149)   (489,311)   (261,713)   (200,527)   (7,852)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   617    16,937    (93,101)   (232,217)   (86,845)   (97,852)   (43,951)   (137)
Net increase (decrease)   310,344    (93,570)   (93,493)   (1,076,546)   (149,516)   (340,752)   (225,266)   3,720 
                                         
   MML           MML   MML             
   Focused   MML   MML   Fundamental   Fundamental   MML   MML   MML 
   Equity   Foreign   Foreign   Growth   Value   Global   Global   Global 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2019 (Continued)      (Initial Class)   (Service Class)           (Class I)   (Service Class I)   (Class II) 
Units purchased   306,026    72,025    57,192    161,905    163,886    2,929    169,454    7,328 
Units withdrawn   (106,994)   (1,284,160)   (94,883)   (78,808)   (110,948)   (38,382)   (146,613)   (12,577)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   49,220    552,356    12,533    17,465    7,247    (4,534)   (22,378)   23,931 
Net increase (decrease)   248,252    (659,779)   (25,158)   100,562    60,185    (39,987)   463    18,682 
                                         
                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML       MML   MML   Inflation- 
   Growth   Growth   Growth   Growth   MML   Income   Income   Protected 
   & Income   & Income   Allocation   Allocation   High Yield   & Growth   & Growth   and Income 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2019 (Continued)  (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class) 
Units purchased   17,084    422,955    300,417    1,283,599    517,866    14,723    175,355    87,978 
Units withdrawn   (300,163)   (233,929)   (2,695,267)   (6,518,290)   (253,007)   (103,285)   (167,158)   (1,589,248)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (63,095)   (9,485)   (1,037,634)   (675,511)   47,905    38,841    7,150    924,600 
Net increase (decrease)   (346,174)   179,541    (3,432,485)   (5,910,202)   312,764    (49,721)   15,347    (576,671)

  

 F-66 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

7.NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN OUTSTANDING UNITS (Continued)

 

   MML                             
   Inflation-   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   Protected   International   Large Cap   Large Cap   Managed   Managed   Managed   Managed 
   and Income   Equity   Growth   Growth   Bond   Bond   Volatility   Volatility 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2019 (Continued)  (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class) 
                                 
Units purchased   425,361    123,717    9,302    299,671    70,250    1,013,292    48,854    122,389 
Units withdrawn   (531,945)   (66,586)   (85,570)   (121,404)   (1,156,891)   (2,512,273)   (924,097)   (258,555)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   102,712    18,466    (22,608)   2,287    507,733    989,459    411,250    76,516 
Net increase (decrease)   (3,872)   75,597    (98,876)   180,554    (578,908)   (509,522)   (463,993)   (59,650)
                                         
                   MML   MML   MML   MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   Moderate   Moderate   Short-Duration   Small Cap 
   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Growth   Mid Cap Value   Mid Cap Value   Allocation   Allocation   Bond   Equity 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2019 (Continued)  (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class) 
                                 
Units purchased   15,093    585,095    36,333    395,313    139,009    3,285,111    1,086,005    8,190 
Units withdrawn   (195,489)   (438,756)   (628,848)   (236,738)   (1,913,048)   (15,368,442)   (816,570)   (108,640)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (67,953)   (108,466)   (205,384)   (39,390)   122,343    (369,316)   121,323    (3,227)
Net increase (decrease)   (248,350)   37,873    (797,899)   119,185    (1,651,696)   (12,452,647)   390,758    (103,677)
                                         
                               MML 
   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   MML   Strategic 
   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small Cap   Small   Small/Mid Cap   Small/Mid Cap   Special   Emerging 
   Equity   Growth Equity   Growth Equity   Company Value   Value   Value   Situations   Markets 
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account 
2019 (Continued)  (Service Class)   (Initial Class)   (Service Class)       (Initial Class)   (Service Class)   (Service Class I)     
                                 
Units purchased   204,885    20,979    255,914    219,444    33,233    227,459    7,042    148,852 
Units withdrawn   (147,945)   (413,608)   (123,478)   (110,020)   (592,164)   (137,352)   (3,669)   (143,182)
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   (4,027)   (213,516)   (13,270)   4,945    70,526    4,449    39    (10,233)
Net increase (decrease)   52,913    (606,145)   119,167    114,369    (488,404)   94,556    3,412    (4,563)
                                         
               PIMCO   VY®                         
       MML U.S.   Oppenheimer   Commodity   Clarion                         
   MML Total   Government   Global Multi-   RealReturn®   Global                         
   Return Bond   Money Market   Alternatives   Strategy   Real Estate                         
   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account   Sub-Account                         
2019 (Continued)                                                 
                                                  
Units purchased   736,983    1,648,532    11,797    47,261    17,200                         
Units withdrawn   (192,058)   (3,609,517)   (141,453)   (237,753)   (124,378)                        
Units transferred between Sub-Accounts and to/from the Fixed Account   69,784    1,750,432    (117,338)   39,024    6,478                         
Net increase (decrease)   614,710    (210,553)   (246,994)   (151,467)   (100,700)                        

  

 F-67 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

A.A summary of units outstanding, unit values, net assets, investment income ratios, expense ratios (excluding expenses of the underlying funds) and total return ratios for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2020 follows:

  

   At December 31,For the Years Ended December 31, 
                           Investment                           
          Unit Value3         Income    Expense Ratio2    Total Return3 
     Units    (Lowest to Highest)    Net Assets    Ratio1    (Lowest to Highest)    (Lowest to Highest) 
BlackRock iShares® Alternatives Strategies V.I. Sub-Account (Class III)            
2020       -     $ - to     $ -     $ -       - %      - to       - %      - % to       - % 
2019       -         to       -       -       -       -   to       -       -   to       -  
20187       -       11.29 to       11.55       -       -       1.00   to       1.80       0.98   to       1.52  
2017       92,123       11.18 to       11.37       1,047,836       2.98       1.00   to       1.80       10.45   to       11.33  
2016       54,350       10.12 to       10.22       555,192       4.32       1.00   to       1.80       4.33   to       5.16  
                                                                                     
BlackRock 60/40 Target Allocation ETF V.I. Sub-Account (Class III)                                            
2020       603,542       14.17 to       14.77       8,908,234       1.89       1.00   to       1.80       12.31   to       13.21  
2019       274,313       12.62 to       13.05       3,575,830       4.15       1.00   to       1.80       19.06   to       20.02  
2018       96,720       10.60 to       10.87       1,051,057       0.87       1.00   to       1.80       (6.88 ) to       (6.13 )
2017       76,335       11.38 to       11.58       884,020       2.54       1.00   to       1.80       12.69   to       13.59  
2016       35,649       10.10 to       10.20       363,359       2.71       1.00   to       1.80       4.27   to       5.10  
                                                                                     
BlackRock iShares® Dynamic Fixed Income V.I. Sub-Account (Class III)                                
2020       -       - to       -       -       -       -   to       -       -   to       -  
2019       -       - to       -       -       -       -   to       -       -   to       -  
20188       -       9.88 to       10.07       -       -       1.00   to       1.80       (2.29 ) to       (2.10 )
2017       162,634       10.11 to       10.29       1,672,552       2.52       1.00   to       1.80       1.76   to       2.57  
2016       111,228       9.94 to       10.03       1,115,162       2.42       1.00   to       1.80       1.48   to       2.29  
                                                                                     
BlackRock iShares® Equity Appreciation V.I. Sub-Account (Class III)                                  
2020       -       - to       -       -       -       -   to       -       -   to       -  
2019       -       - to       -       -       -       -   to       -       -   to       -  
20188       -       11.96 to       12.20       -       -       1.00   to       1.80       (2.34 ) to       (2.15 )
2017       70,900       12.25 to       12.47       882,818       1.88       1.00   to       1.80       19.41   to       20.36  
2016       59,162       10.26 to       10.36       612,291       2.98       1.00   to       1.80       7.11   to       7.97  
                                                                                     
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Sub-Account (Initial Class)                        
2020       4,994,284       35.45 to       54.52       237,247,151       0.24       0.95   to       2.60       27.22   to       29.33  
2019       6,319,467       27.86 to       42.16       232,111,397       0.45       0.95   to       2.60       28.20   to       30.33  
2018       7,486,410       21.73 to       32.34       212,143,084       0.68       0.95   to       2.60       (8.79 ) to       (7.27 )
2017       8,813,211       23.83 to       34.88       270,257,413       0.98       0.95   to       2.60       18.76   to       20.73  
2016       10,065,234       20.07 to       28.89       256,505,001       0.79       0.95   to       2.60       5.24   to       6.99  
                                                                                     
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Sub-Account (Service Class 2)                        
2020       8,326,913       19.76 to       32.86       229,257,699       0.08       1.00   to       3.10       26.26   to       28.94  
2019       8,336,046       15.32 to       26.03       191,552,509       0.22       1.00   to       3.10       27.27   to       29.97  
2018       7,820,910       11.79 to       20.45       150,211,346       0.45       1.00   to       3.10       (9.51 ) to       (7.57 )
2017       6,722,621       12.76 to       22.60       154,879,781       0.80       1.00   to       3.10       17.89   to       20.38  
2016       5,476,326       10.60 to       19.17       118,297,754       0.66       1.00   to       3.10       4.45   to       6.66  
                                                                                     
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub-Account (Series II)9                
2020       366,591       26.20 to       38.01       13,216,783       -       1.15   to       3.10       32.08   to       34.68  
2019       481,175       19.83 to       28.22       12,888,583       -       1.15   to       3.10       31.70   to       34.29  
2018       553,449       15.06 to       21.01       11,026,041       -       1.15   to       3.10       (8.84 ) to       (7.04 )
2017       636,528       16.52 to       22.60       13,651,148       0.01       1.15   to       3.10       22.66   to       25.06  
2016       669,136       13.47 to       18.07       11,507,034       0.11       1.15   to       3.10       (5.40 ) to       (3.54 )
                                                                                     
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub-Account (Series I)9                
2020       4,332,520       28.26 to       40.20       160,848,549       -       0.95   to       2.60       33.08   to       35.30  
2019       5,846,107       21.24 to       29.72       161,347,994       0.06       0.95   to       2.60       32.70   to       34.91  
2018       7,333,024       16.00 to       22.03       150,727,803       0.33       0.95   to       2.60       (8.16 ) to       (6.63 )
2017       8,824,152       17.42 to       23.59       195,124,067       0.24       0.95   to       2.60       23.59   to       25.64  
2016       10,289,099       14.10 to       18.78       181,883,596       0.42       0.95   to       2.60       (4.71 ) to       (3.12 )

  

 F-68 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

  

   At December 31,For the Years Ended December 31, 
                           Investment                           
          Unit Value3         Income    Expense Ratio2    Total Return3 
     Units    (Lowest to Highest)    Net Assets    Ratio1    (Lowest to Highest)    (Lowest to Highest) 
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Sub-Account (Series II)9            
2020    4,777   $12.75 to   $17.10  $76,534    1.88%   1.15% to    2.65%   11.59% to    13.28%
2019    5,079    11.42 to    15.09    71,711    2.00    1.15  to    2.65    14.15  to    15.88 
2018    5,419    10.01 to    13.03    66,010    1.73    1.15  to    2.65    (8.02) to    (6.62)
2017    5,979    10.88 to    13.95    78,036    1.69    1.15  to    2.65    6.11  to    7.71 
2016    6,910    10.25 to    12.95    84,787    2.12    1.15  to    2.65    2.22  to    3.77 
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Conservative Balanced Sub-Account (Series I)9               
2020    377,168    13.10 to    20.14    7,060,991    2.07    0.95  to    2.60    11.91  to    13.77 
2019    417,214    11.71 to    17.70    6,873,042    2.24    0.95  to    2.60    14.50  to    16.40 
2018    473,310    10.23 to    15.21    6,725,065    1.97    0.95  to    2.60    (7.77) to    (6.22)
2017    534,403    11.09 to    16.22    8,114,383    1.96    0.95  to    2.60    6.46  to    8.22 
2016    630,503    10.42 to    14.99    8,876,450    2.39    0.95  to    2.60    2.57  to    4.27 
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Series II)9               
2020    1,067,971    22.77 to    31.25    28,338,933    -    1.00  to    3.10    35.96  to    38.85 
2019    875,114    16.40 to    22.99    18,022,291    -    1.00  to    3.10    34.77  to    37.63 
2018    672,955    11.92 to    17.06    11,178,908    -    1.00  to    3.10    (9.18) to    (7.24)
2017    531,806    12.85 to    18.78    10,967,039    -    1.00  to    3.10    24.55  to    27.18 
2016    413,368    10.10 to    15.08    7,455,029    -    1.00  to    3.10    (1.03) to    1.06 
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Discovery Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Series I)9          
2020    2,592,033    33.74 to    46.92    106,383,035    0.04    0.95  to    2.60    37.08  to    39.36 
2019    3,582,421    24.61 to    33.67    106,476,690    -    0.95  to    2.60    35.79  to    38.05 
2018    4,535,962    18.13 to    24.39    99,470,922    -    0.95  to    2.60    (8.51) to    (6.98)
2017    5,478,879    19.81 to    26.22    130,393,799    0.03    0.95  to    2.60    25.50  to    27.58 
2016    6,350,802    15.79 to    20.55    119,229,530    -    0.95  to    2.60    (0.29) to    1.37 
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Sub-Account (Series II)9                     
2020    2,759,316    18.25 to    27.94    75,781,828    0.44    1.00  to    3.10    23.45  to    26.07 
2019    3,054,222    14.48 to    22.63    69,852,655    0.64    1.00  to    3.10    27.44  to    30.15 
2018    3,122,101    11.13 to    17.76    58,317,027    0.76    1.00  to    3.10    (16.05) to    (14.26)
2017    2,668,038    12.98 to    21.15    65,203,626    0.72    1.00  to    3.10    32.17  to    34.97 
2016    2,429,442    9.61 to    16.00    47,830,566    0.77    1.00  to    3.10    (3.20) to    (1.15)
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Sub-Account (Series I) 9          
2020    4,227,403    30.13 to    46.75    176,607,524    0.67    0.95  to    2.60    24.36  to    26.43 
2019    5,325,923    24.23 to    36.97    176,050,964    0.89    0.95  to    2.60    28.41  to    30.54 
2018    6,335,935    18.87 to    28.32    161,039,139    0.99    0.95  to    2.60    (15.42) to    (14.01)
2017    7,226,325    22.31 to    32.94    214,656,278    0.94    0.95  to    2.60    33.17  to    35.38 
2016    8,685,167    16.75 to    24.33    191,007,098    1.07    0.95  to    2.60    (2.48) to    (0.86)
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Sub-Account (Series II)9        
2020    4,076,835    11.34 to    12.95    61,117,704    5.16    1.00  to    3.10    (0.15) to    1.97 
2019    4,957,887    11.12 to    12.97    74,928,822    3.39    1.00  to    3.10    7.23  to    9.51 
2018    4,974,238    10.16 to    12.10    70,206,556    4.56    1.00  to    3.10    (7.47) to    (5.49)
2017    4,881,261    10.75 to    13.07    75,321,693    1.95    1.00  to    3.10    2.81  to    4.99 
2016    4,528,125    10.24 to    12.72    68,620,181    4.57    1.00  to    3.10    3.03  to    5.21 
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Global Strategic Income Sub-Account (Series I)9          
2020    8,478,804    13.99 to    22.64    154,124,943    5.81    0.95  to    2.60    0.75  to    2.42 
2019    9,820,494    13.89 to    22.10    174,837,228    3.80    0.95  to    2.60    7.96  to    9.76 
2018    10,593,916    12.86 to    20.14    173,249,673    4.84    0.95  to    2.60    (6.86) to    (5.31)
2017    12,240,624    13.81 to    21.27    211,836,285    2.29    0.95  to    2.60    3.55  to    5.27 
2016    13,230,514    13.34 to    20.20    218,695,233    5.00    0.95  to    2.60    3.81  to    5.53 

 

 F-69 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

   At December 31,For the Years Ended December 31, 
                           Investment                           
          Unit Value3         Income    Expense Ratio2    Total Return3 
     Units    (Lowest to Highest)    Net Assets    Ratio1    (Lowest to Highest)    (Lowest to Highest) 
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Government Money Sub-Account9             
2020    657,647   $7.85 to   $10.41   $6,847,355    0.22%   0.95% to    2.60%   (2.35)% to    (0.73)%
2019    673,998    8.04 to    10.49    7,061,758    1.70    0.95  to    2.60    (0.90) to    0.75 
2018    749,807    8.11 to    10.41    7,836,332    1.34    0.95  to    2.60    (1.26) to    0.39 
2017    758,493    8.21 to    10.37    7,890,182    0.38    0.95  to    2.60    (2.18) to    (0.56)
2016    769,084    8.40 to    10.43    8,057,894    0.01    0.95  to    2.60    (2.55) to    (0.93)
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Sub-Account (Series II)9          
2020    1,189,787    14.30 to    21.85    25,837,159    0.62    1.00  to    3.10    17.35  to    19.84 
2019    1,376,480    11.94 to    18.62    26,966,589    0.71    1.00  to    3.10    24.05  to    26.68 
2018    1,433,614    9.42 to    15.01    23,629,838    0.60    1.00  to    3.10    (22.02) to    (20.36)
2017    1,259,629    11.83 to    19.25    28,549,998    1.14    1.00  to    3.10    22.60  to    25.19 
2016    1,142,092    9.45 to    15.70    22,105,225    0.82    1.00  to    3.10    (5.68) to    (3.68)
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. International Growth Sub-Account (Series I)9          
2020    1,029,713    23.62 to    34.27    32,043,570    0.93    0.95  to    2.60    18.38  to    20.35 
2019    1,267,445    19.95 to    28.48    32,768,962    1.05    0.95  to    2.60    25.30  to    27.39 
2018    1,469,329    15.92 to    22.36    30,045,032    0.86    0.95  to    2.60    (21.50) to    (20.18)
2017    1,586,186    20.29 to    28.01    40,886,987    1.43    0.95  to    2.60    23.06  to    25.10 
2016    1,727,776    16.48 to    22.39    35,872,901    1.10    0.95  to    2.60    (4.62) to    (3.04)
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Sub-Account (Series II)9          
2020    1,040,875    16.86 to    23.21    21,292,780    1.17    1.00  to    3.10    10.22  to    12.56 
2019    1,022,590    14.98 to    21.06    19,582,090    0.81    1.00  to    3.10    27.72  to    30.43 
2018    954,458    11.49 to    16.49    14,676,353    0.90    1.00  to    3.10    (10.92) to    (9.02)
2017    811,263    12.62 to    18.51    14,827,618    1.01    1.00  to    3.10    13.09  to    15.48 
2016    578,264    10.93 to    16.37    10,570,828    0.81    1.00  to    3.10    7.91  to    10.19 
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Main Street Sub-Account (Series I)9          
2020    1,047,878    25.02 to    35.61    33,044,884    1.49    0.95  to    2.60    11.02  to    12.87 
2019    1,159,288    22.54 to    31.55    32,594,095    1.06    0.95  to    2.60    28.69  to    30.83 
2018    1,342,344    17.52 to    24.12    28,990,577    1.17    0.95  to    2.60    (10.26) to    (8.76)
2017    1,485,284    19.52 to    26.43    35,355,748    1.25    0.95  to    2.60    13.92  to    15.81 
2016    1,636,217    17.13 to    22.82    33,814,437    1.12    0.95  to    2.60    8.76  to    10.56 
                                                       
Invesco Oppenheimer V.I. Total Return Bond Sub-Account9          
2020    120,583    - to    16.61    2,002,482    3.09    -  to    1.40    -  to    8.18 
2019    129,518    - to    15.35    1,988,167    3.32    -  to    1.40    -  to    8.00 
2018    145,829    - to    14.21    2,072,652    3.33    -  to    1.40    -  to    (2.41)
2017    165,749    - to    14.56    2,413,840    2.43    -  to    1.40    -  to    3.14 
2016    187,107    - to    14.12    2,642,040    3.70    -  to    1.40    -  to    1.84 
                                                       
Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Sub-Account (Series I)9          
2020    483,803    9.04 to    13.79    6,302,426    3.18    0.95  to    2.60    (2.43) to    (0.81)
2019    517,444    9.27 to    13.91    6,771,474    2.90    0.95  to    2.60    21.88  to    23.91 
2018    590,254    7.60 to    11.22    6,260,165    2.36    0.95  to    2.60    (9.96) to    (8.45)
2017    676,418    8.45 to    12.26    7,720,912    1.65    0.95  to    2.60    5.80  to    7.55 
2016    736,362    7.98 to    11.40    7,837,640    1.38    0.95  to    2.60    11.87  to    13.73 
                                                       
Invesco V.I. Diversified Dividend Sub-Account (Series II)          
2020    945,327    8.40 to    12.29    10,939,473    2.70    1.15  to    3.10    (3.18) to    (1.28)
2019    1,203,871    8.68 to    12.44    14,181,904    2.53    1.15  to    3.10    20.97  to    23.35 
2018    1,568,171    7.17 to    10.09    14,983,575    2.15    1.15  to    3.10    (10.64) to    (8.87)
2017    1,643,070    8.03 to    11.07    17,155,729    1.50    1.15  to    3.10    5.05  to    7.11 
2016    1,687,179    7.64 to    10.34    16,407,276    1.27    1.15  to    3.10    11.05  to    13.23 

 

 F-70 

 

  

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

    At December 31,For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
Invesco V.I. Health Care Sub-Account (Series I)               
2020    309,109   $27.26 to   $40.42   $11,325,826    0.31%   0.95% to    2.60%   11.52% to    13.38%
2019    355,234    24.45 to    35.65    11,544,579    0.04    0.95  to    2.60    29.10  to    31.25 
2018    389,202    18.94 to    27.16    9,685,524    -    0.95  to    2.60    (1.70) to    (0.05)
2017    449,464    19.26 to    27.18    11,252,795    0.36    0.95  to    2.60    12.86  to    14.73 
2016    550,239    17.07 to    23.69    12,141,263    -    0.95  to    2.60    (13.73) to    (12.30)
                                                       
Invesco V.I. Health Care Sub-Account (Series II)               
2020    350,828    25.28 to    37.26    12,414,240    0.09    1.15  to    3.10    10.71  to    12.89 
2019    424,441    22.83 to    33.00    13,391,320    -    1.15  to    3.10    28.15  to    30.67 
2018    487,410    17.82 to    25.26    11,728,521    -    1.15  to    3.10    (2.47) to    (0.54)
2017    579,001    18.27 to    25.40    13,988,456    0.08    1.15  to    3.10    12.03  to    14.23 
2016    665,130    16.31 to    22.23    14,005,123    -    1.15  to    3.10    (14.37) to    (12.69)
                                                       
Invesco V.I. Technology Sub-Account (Series I)                 
2020    381,843    34.68 to    45.92    9,461,356    -    0.95  to    2.60    42.37  to    44.74 
2019    409,274    24.36 to    31.73    7,407,278    -    0.95  to    2.60    32.39  to    34.59 
2018    440,280    18.40 to    23.57    6,043,444    -    0.95  to    2.60    (3.02) to    (1.40)
2017    485,107    18.97 to    23.91    7,039,384    -    0.95  to    2.60    31.68  to    33.86 
2016    477,318    14.41 to    17.86    5,520,565    -    0.95  to    2.60    (3.30) to    (1.69)
                                                       
Invesco V.I. Technology Sub-Account (Series II)               
2020    274,028    32.15 to    53.68    13,181,326    -    1.15  to    3.10    41.35  to    44.13 
2019    300,092    22.74 to    37.25    10,156,434    -    1.15  to    3.10    31.42  to    34.01 
2018    377,907    17.30 to    27.79    9,565,714    -    1.15  to    3.10    (3.76) to    (1.85)
2017    364,551    17.98 to    28.32    9,417,375    -    1.15  to    3.10    30.64  to    33.20 
2016    347,245    13.76 to    21.26    6,782,767    -    1.15  to    3.10    (4.02) to    (2.14)
                                                       
Ivy VIP Asset Strategy Sub-Account                     
2020    904,514    13.39 to    13.84    13,270,558    2.02    1.00  to    3.10    10.40  to    12.74 
2019    943,855    12.13 to    12.27    12,403,360    2.13    1.00  to    3.10    18.06  to    20.57 
2018    1,008,997    10.18 to    10.27    11,123,858    1.88    1.00  to    3.10    (8.34) to    (6.39)
2017    982,489    10.88 to    11.21    11,774,897    1.59    1.00  to    3.10    14.67  to    17.10 
2016    1,062,865    9.29 to    9.77    11,011,299    0.59    1.00  to    3.10    (5.53) to    (3.54)
                                                       
MML Aggressive Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)               
2020    1,451,095    19.32 to    23.92    33,588,339    1.67    0.95  to    2.60    10.44  to    12.27 
2019    1,821,022    17.49 to    21.30    37,508,768    1.99    0.95  to    2.60    20.75  to    22.76 
2018    1,849,440    14.49 to    17.35    31,085,089    1.34    0.95  to    2.60    (10.49) to    (8.99)
2017    2,054,640    16.18 to    19.07    38,015,322    1.11    0.95  to    2.60    15.73  to    17.65 
2016    2,239,323    13.98 to    16.21    35,369,015    1.55    0.95  to    2.60    5.76  to    7.52 
                                                       
MML Aggressive Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)               
2020    4,774,344    15.28 to    17.74    93,600,335    1.38    1.00  to    3.10    9.63  to    11.95 
2019    5,325,759    13.65 to    16.18    95,636,402    1.71    1.00  to    3.10    19.87  to    22.42 
2018    5,559,658    11.15 to    13.50    83,188,210    1.17    1.00  to    3.10    (11.26) to    (9.36)
2017    5,308,383    12.30 to    15.21    90,242,471    0.96    1.00  to    3.10    14.83  to    17.26 
2016    4,946,142    10.49 to    13.25    73,642,938    1.34    1.00  to    3.10    4.98  to    7.20 
                                                       
MML Amerian Funds Core Allocation Sub-Account               
2020    49,211,939    14.59 to    16.31    930,308,860    1.73    1.00  to    3.10    7.99  to    10.28 
2019    57,034,873    13.23 to    15.10    989,500,489    2.39    1.00  to    3.10    14.51  to    16.94 
2018    63,029,364    11.31 to    13.19    944,978,070    1.71    1.00  to    3.10    (7.76) to    (5.79)
2017    67,444,935    12.01 to    14.30    1,083,277,030    1.41    1.00  to    3.10    11.44  to    13.80 
2016    64,956,863    10.55 to    12.83    932,979,667    1.87    1.00  to    3.10    5.65  to    7.89 
                                                       
MML Amerian Funds Growth Sub-Account               
2020    7,372,819    25.87 to    34.47    249,753,195    0.72    1.00  to    3.10    46.80  to    49.91 
2019    8,104,921    17.26 to    23.48    191,745,889    0.32    1.00  to    3.10    26.25  to    28.93 
2018    8,213,057    13.39 to    18.60    158,458,588    0.28    1.00  to    3.10    (3.70) to    (1.65)
2017    8,081,415    13.61 to    19.32    167,744,731    0.30    1.00  to    3.10    23.90  to    26.52 
2016    7,943,777    10.76 to    15.59    136,717,100    0.21    1.00  to    3.10    5.69  to    7.92 

 

 F-71 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

    At December 31, For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
MML Amerian Funds International Sub-Account                            
2020    3,496,882   13.95 to   $14.70   58,820,176    1.03%   1.00% to    3.10%   9.98% to    12.31%
2019    4,069,542    12.69 to    13.09    61,510,006    2.74    1.00  to    3.10    18.58  to    21.09 
2018    4,343,149    10.70 to    10.81    54,602,962    0.82    1.00  to    3.10    (16.18) to    (14.39)
2017    4,359,057    12.62 to    12.76    64,715,051    0.82    1.00  to    3.10    27.64  to    30.35 
2016    4,560,968    9.68 to    10.00    52,316,709    1.16    1.00  to    3.10    (0.16) to    1.95 
                                                       
MML Balanced Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    4,442,634    15.80 to    19.56    83,010,888    2.67    0.95  to    2.60    8.09  to    9.89 
2019    5,809,475    14.62 to    17.80    99,026,168    2.57    0.95  to    2.60    13.75  to    15.65 
2018    6,173,598    12.85 to    15.40    91,530,192    2.29    0.95  to    2.60    (6.93) to    (5.38)
2017    7,150,965    13.81 to    16.27    112,285,437    1.92    0.95  to    2.60    8.63  to    10.43 
2016    7,704,110    12.71 to    14.73    110,199,123    2.28    0.95  to    2.60    3.43  to    5.15 
                                                       
MML Balanced Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    22,692,373    13.50 to    14.54    373,173,046    2.42    1.00  to    3.10    7.27  to    9.54 
2019    26,645,694    12.32 to    13.56    408,910,548    2.31    1.00  to    3.10    13.05  to    15.45 
2018    28,846,215    10.67 to    11.99    391,117,726    2.07    1.00  to    3.10    (7.69) to    (5.72)
2017    31,226,600    11.32 to    12.99    459,709,617    1.71    1.00  to    3.10    7.82  to    10.11 
2016    32,113,847    10.28 to    12.05    438,781,835    2.11    1.00  to    3.10    2.60  to    4.77 
                                                       
MML Blend Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    2,246,956    22.88 to    33.14    65,024,452    -    0.95  to    2.60    9.97  to    11.80 
2019    2,419,280    20.81 to    29.64    62,980,806    2.43    0.95  to    2.60    18.27  to    20.23 
2018    2,604,579    17.59 to    24.65    56,577,666    2.11    0.95  to    2.60    (6.81) to    (5.25)
2017    2,870,494    18.88 to    26.02    66,201,478    2.11    0.95  to    2.60    12.31  to    14.17 
2016    3,185,857    16.81 to    22.79    64,599,999    2.13    0.95  to    2.60    6.62  to    8.39 
                                                       
MML Blend Sub-Account (Service Class)                                      
2020    10,470,381    15.33 to    21.21    185,705,276    -    1.00  to    3.10    9.14  to    11.45 
2019    9,995,211    13.76 to    19.44    161,858,732    2.20    1.00  to    3.10    17.38  to    19.87 
2018    8,331,460    11.47 to    16.56    118,605,705    2.01    1.00  to    3.10    (7.51) to    (5.53)
2017    5,096,057    12.15 to    17.90    88,119,240    1.97    1.00  to    3.10    11.47  to    13.83 
2016    3,435,697    10.67 to    16.06    60,017,383    1.94    1.00  to    3.10    5.82  to    8.06 
                                                       
MML Blue Chip Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    1,113,935    41.94 to    61.03    64,905,396    -    0.95  to    2.60    30.96  to    33.13 
2019    1,289,749    32.02 to    45.84    56,366,432    -    0.95  to    2.60    26.51  to    28.62 
2018    1,408,101    25.31 to    35.64    48,210,759    -    0.95  to    2.60    (0.75) to    0.91 
2017    1,675,677    25.51 to    35.32    57,023,079    0.01    0.95  to    2.60    32.74  to    34.94 
2016    1,882,269    19.22 to    26.17    47,571,672    -    0.95  to    2.60    (1.68) to    (0.04)
                                                       
MML Blue Chip Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)                                   
2020    6,214,398    23.15 to    38.87    181,685,317    -    1.00  to    3.10    29.91  to    32.66 
2019    5,915,556    17.45 to    29.92    137,333,697    -    1.00  to    3.10    25.60  to    28.27 
2018    5,069,585    13.60 to    23.82    99,468,289    -    1.00  to    3.10    (1.44) to    0.66 
2017    3,342,409    13.51 to    24.17    77,072,040    -    1.00  to    3.10    31.76  to    34.55 
2016    2,352,355    10.04 to    18.35    47,399,149    -    1.00  to    3.10    (2.41) to    (0.35)
                                                       
MML Conservative Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    4,208,998    15.20 to    18.82    76,130,207    2.60    0.95  to    2.60    7.11  to    8.89 
2019    4,480,056    14.19 to    17.29    74,794,028    2.68    0.95  to    2.60    12.24  to    14.11 
2018    4,916,102    12.65 to    15.15    72,187,610    2.52    0.95  to    2.60    (5.99) to    (4.41)
2017    5,515,710    13.45 to    15.85    84,980,369    2.17    0.95  to    2.60    6.81  to    8.59 
2016    6,405,735    12.59 to    14.59    91,123,910    2.33    0.95  to    2.60    3.08  to    4.79 
MML Conservative Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)                                    
2020    21,085,898    13.06 to    13.96    338,139,060    2.48    1.00  to    3.10    6.32  to    8.58 
2019    20,930,050    12.03 to    13.13    312,722,144    2.47    1.00  to    3.10    11.42  to    13.79 
2018    22,812,097    10.57 to    11.79    306,155,920    2.26    1.00  to    3.10    (6.65) to    (4.66)
2017    25,771,201    11.09 to    12.63    368,723,696    1.97    1.00  to    3.10    6.01  to    8.25 
2016    27,042,671    10.25 to    11.91    364,206,497    2.16    1.00  to    3.10    2.27  to    4.43 

  

 F-72 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

  At December 31, For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
MML Dynamic Bond Sub-Account (Service Class I)                              
2020    1,102,442   10.96 to   $11.42    $12,453,262    0.34%   1.00% to    1.80%   1.67% to    2.48%
2019    918,215    10.78 to    11.14    10,144,350    3.42    1.00  to    1.80    6.59  to    7.45 
2018    607,871    10.11 to    10.37    6,269,866    3.31    1.00  to    1.80    (2.11) to    (1.32)
2017    421,103    10.33 to    10.51    4,411,076    3.26    1.00  to    1.80    2.26  to    3.08 
2016    275,395    10.10 to    10.20    2,803,633    3.26    1.00  to    1.80    2.80  to    3.63 
                                                       
MML Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    925,884    19.34 to    28.08    21,590,756    2.35    0.95  to    2.60    0.38  to    2.05 
2019    1,097,055    19.27 to    27.51    25,084,965    2.04    0.95  to    2.60    22.69  to    24.73 
2018    1,190,624    15.71 to    22.06    21,958,025    1.77    0.95  to    2.60    (12.32) to    (10.85)
2017    1,330,305    17.91 to    24.74    27,833,264    1.82    0.95  to    2.60    12.83  to    14.70 
2016    1,478,690    15.88 to    21.57    27,122,827    1.72    0.95  to    2.60    9.71  to    11.53 
                                                       
MML Equity Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    4,851,758    13.98 to    17.94    94,339,624    2.14    1.00  to    3.10    (0.37) to    1.75 
2019    4,923,227    13.74 to    18.01    97,057,943    1.82    1.00  to    3.10    21.78  to    24.36 
2018    5,016,720    11.05 to    14.79    82,975,610    1.58    1.00  to    3.10    (12.97) to    (11.12)
2017    4,961,769    12.43 to    16.99    94,815,216    1.67    1.00  to    3.10    11.99  to    14.36 
2016    4,623,570    10.87 to    15.17    82,044,629    1.56    1.00  to    3.10    8.89  to    11.19 
                                                       
MML Equity Income Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    5,424,458    20.16 to    29.21    141,959,006    2.46    0.95  to    2.60    (1.26) to    0.38 
2019    5,987,062    20.42 to    29.10    157,019,262    2.28    0.95  to    2.60    23.21  to    25.26 
2018    7,063,608    16.57 to    23.23    148,592,012    1.88    0.95  to    2.60    (11.70) to    (10.23)
2017    8,186,156    18.77 to    25.88    192,596,091    2.14    0.95  to    2.60    13.36  to    15.24 
2016    9,518,731    16.56 to    22.46    194,949,078    2.01    0.95  to    2.60    15.65  to    17.56 
                                                       
MML Equity Income Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    3,974,069    14.72 to    18.71    82,700,285    2.20    1.00  to    3.10    (1.92) to    0.16 
2019    4,049,182    14.69 to    19.07    86,738,940    2.07    1.00  to    3.10    22.27  to    24.86 
2018    4,198,697    11.77 to    15.60    75,340,152    1.70    1.00  to    3.10    (12.37) to    (10.50)
2017    4,146,101    13.15 to    17.80    86,207,492    1.98    1.00  to    3.10    12.44  to    14.82 
2016    4,106,682    11.45 to    15.83    77,668,627    1.83    1.00  to    3.10    14.86  to    17.29 
                                                       
MML Equity Index Sub-Account (Class I)                                 
2020    1,036,338    27.56 to    39.57    32,974,512    1.64    0.95  to    2.60    15.03  to    16.94 
2019    1,204,817    23.96 to    33.84    33,045,075    2.57    0.95  to    2.60    27.50  to    29.62 
2018    1,545,569    18.79 to    26.10    32,889,678    1.51    0.95  to    2.60    (7.26) to    (5.71)
2017    1,976,015    20.26 to    27.68    44,330,016    0.94    0.95  to    2.60    18.24  to    20.20 
2016    2,503,591    17.14 to    23.03    46,624,051    1.61    0.95  to    2.60    8.63  to    10.43 
                                                       
MML Equity Index Sub-Account (Service Class I)                                 
2020    1,247,806    25.55 to    36.56    44,360,172    1.46    1.15  to    3.10    14.14  to    16.39 
2019    1,507,010    22.38 to    31.41    45,972,770    2.57    1.15  to    3.10    26.57  to    29.06 
2018    1,732,277    17.68 to    24.34    40,825,319    1.36    1.15  to    3.10    (7.96) to    (6.13)
2017    1,942,798    19.21 to    25.93    48,715,396    0.87    1.15  to    3.10    17.37  to    19.68 
2016    2,014,920    16.37 to    21.66    42,156,829    1.57    1.15  to    3.10    7.81  to    9.93 
                                                       
MML Equity Momentum Sub-Account (Service Class I)                                 
202011    109,941    17.88 to    18.63    2,048,092    0.01    1.00  to    1.80    17.86  to    18.81 
2019    120,799    15.17 to    15.68    1,893,686    0.68    1.00  to    1.80    35.06  to    36.14 
2018    119,922    11.23 to    11.52    1,380,613    0.09    1.00  to    1.80    (18.42) to    (17.76)
2017    108,500    13.77 to    14.01    1,518,813    1.42    1.00  to    1.80    31.40  to    32.45 
2016    78,083    10.48 to    10.58    824,965    0.85    1.00  to    1.80    7.89  to    8.76 
                                                       
MML Equity Rotation Sub-Account (Service Class I)                            
2020    108,233    17.89 to    18.64    2,017,490    1.39    1.00  to    1.80    20.39  to    21.35 
2019    113,361    14.86 to    15.36    1,741,305    0.19    1.00  to    1.80    14.22  to    15.14 
2018    109,641    13.01 to    13.34    1,462,409    0.76    1.00  to    1.80    (10.73) to    (10.01)
2017    86,852    14.57 to    14.83    1,286,782    0.82    1.00  to    1.80    27.38  to    28.40 
2016    27,425    11.44 to    11.55    316,663    1.69    1.00  to    1.80    15.13  to    16.06 

 

 F-73 

 

  

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

  At December 31, For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
MML Focused Equity Sub-Account                                 
2020    881,782    $23.51 to   $28.32    $18,957,860    0.64%   0.95% to    3.10%   9.10% to    11.47%
2019    887,636    21.55 to    25.41    17,679,923    0.05    0.95  to    3.10    25.77  to    28.50 
2018    639,384    17.13 to    19.77    10,379,415    2.82    0.95  to    3.10    (2.11) to    0.03 
2017    514,836    17.50 to    19.77    9,043,125    2.54    0.95  to    3.10    17.91  to    20.46 
2016    389,111    14.84 to    16.41    6,163,329    1.17    0.95  to    3.10    14.16  to    16.63 
                                                       
MML Foreign Sub-Account (Initial Class)                     
2020    7,346,537    12.72 to    18.07    118,344,969    3.10    0.95  to    2.60    3.21  to    4.93 
2019    8,271,919    12.32 to    17.22    128,108,301    1.79    0.95  to    2.60    10.26  to    12.10 
2018    8,931,698    11.18 to    15.36    124,201,591    2.25    0.95  to    2.60    (18.07) to    (16.70)
2017    9,523,939    13.64 to    18.44    159,914,007    2.06    0.95  to    2.60    18.62  to    20.59 
2016    11,158,817    11.50 to    15.29    156,153,111    2.02    0.95  to    2.60    (1.16) to    0.48 
                                                       
MML Foreign Sub-Account (Service Class)                       
2020    584,504    11.00 to    11.79    8,319,183    2.84    1.00  to    3.10    2.34  to    4.52 
2019    700,188    10.52 to    11.52    9,815,416    1.52    1.00  to    3.10    9.34  to    11.66 
2018    725,345    9.43 to    10.53    9,327,795    2.00    1.00  to    3.10    (18.61) to    (16.87)
2017    719,693    11.34 to    12.94    11,484,300    1.85    1.00  to    3.10    17.76  to    20.25 
2016    751,624    9.43 to    10.99    10,230,593    1.76    1.00  to    3.10    (1.90) to    0.18 
                                                       
MML Fundamental Equity Sub-Account                       
202012    880,974    24.41 to    29.41    19,006,450    -    0.95  to    3.10    15.94  to    18.46 
2019    797,684    21.05 to    24.82    14,803,275    0.44    0.95  to    3.10    29.26  to    32.07 
2018    697,122    16.29 to    18.80    9,980,256    1.16    0.95  to    3.10    (2.43) to    (0.30)
2017    415,149    16.69 to    18.85    6,501,613    1.01    0.95  to    3.10    23.44  to    26.12 
2016    298,369    13.52 to    14.95    4,030,111    0.55    0.95  to    3.10    0.38  to    2.56 
                                                       
MML Fundamental Value Sub-Account               
2020    1,019,772    16.10 to    19.39    14,865,608    1.08    0.95  to    3.10    (0.76) to    1.40 
2019    1,016,383    16.22 to    19.12    15,050,102    1.71    0.95  to    3.10    18.75  to    21.33 
2018    956,198    13.66 to    15.76    12,106,408    1.56    0.95  to    3.10    (13.31) to    (11.41)
2017    791,976    15.75 to    17.79    11,904,817    1.83    0.95  to    3.10    11.29  to    13.70 
2016    586,038    14.16 to    15.65    8,339,048    1.20    0.95  to    3.10    9.61  to    11.99 
                                                       
MML Global Sub-Account (Class I)               
2020    214,433    18.43 to    24.80    5,164,484    1.09    0.95  to    2.60    11.09  to    12.94 
2019    266,210    16.59 to    21.96    5,717,821    0.68    0.95  to    2.60    27.24  to    29.36 
2018    306,197    13.04 to    16.97    5,081,523    1.12    0.95  to    2.60    (11.87) to    (10.39)
2017    350,013    14.79 to    18.94    6,524,622    1.21    0.95  to    2.60    20.99  to    22.99 
2016    386,442    12.22 to    15.40    5,876,396    1.16    0.95  to    2.60    4.80  to    6.54 
                                                       
MML Global Sub-Account (Service Class I)               
                                                       
2020    924,023    16.38 to    17.15    18,084,268    0.90    1.00  to    3.10    10.23  to    12.57 
2019    944,518    14.55 to    15.56    17,104,721    0.35    1.00  to    3.10    26.30  to    28.98 
2018    944,055    11.28 to    12.32    13,985,581    0.94    1.00  to    3.10    (12.61) to    (10.74)
2017    932,097    12.64 to    14.10    15,992,714    1.10    1.00  to    3.10    20.18  to    22.72 
2016    824,746    10.30 to    11.73    12,126,653    1.02    1.00  to    3.10    4.08  to    6.28 
                                                       
MML Global Sub-Account (Class II)             
2020    256,171    14.28 to    18.69    4,487,312    1.05    1.18  to    1.65    12.10  to    12.63 
2019    274,411    12.68 to    16.68    4,316,103    0.60    1.18  to    1.65    28.45  to    29.05 
2018    255,730    9.82 to    12.98    3,127,032    1.12    1.18  to    1.65    (11.06) to    (10.64)
2017    279,833    10.99 to    14.60    3,861,879    1.21    1.18  to    1.65    22.27  to    22.84 
2016    279,376    8.95 to    11.94    3,199,295    1.15    1.18  to    1.65    5.78  to    6.28 

  

 F-74 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

  At December 31, For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
MML Growth & Income Sub-Account (Initial Class)                            
2020    1,995,917   $22.50 to   $39.15   $71,531,066    0.91%   0.95% to    2.60%   11.57% to    13.43%
2019    2,322,666    20.17 to    34.51    73,362,599    0.94    0.95  to    2.60    28.71  to    30.85 
2018    2,668,840    15.67 to    26.38    64,684,699    0.85    0.95  to    2.60    (7.65) to    (6.10)
2017    3,052,179    16.97 to    28.09    78,933,783    0.92    0.95  to    2.60    20.53  to    22.53 
2016    3,454,803    14.08 to    22.93    72,981,281    1.05    0.95  to    2.60    5.99  to    7.75 
                                                       
MML Growth & Income Sub-Account (Service Class)                    
2020    2,420,663    17.89 to    20.86    49,795,171    0.72    1.00  to    3.10    10.75  to    13.10 
2019    2,471,418    15.82 to    18.83    45,996,901    0.76    1.00  to    3.10    27.79  to    30.51 
2018    2,291,878    12.12 to    14.74    33,813,200    0.71    1.00  to    3.10    (8.37) to    (6.41)
2017    1,766,489    12.95 to    16.08    30,613,749    0.78    1.00  to    3.10    19.66  to    22.19 
2016    1,516,385    10.60 to    13.44    23,199,559    0.85    1.00  to    3.10    5.20  to    7.43 
                                                       
MML Growth Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)                    
2020    18,484,124    17.99 to    22.27    393,392,881    2.15    0.95  to    2.60    9.87  to    11.69 
2019    26,884,888    16.37 to    19.94    514,011,956    2.27    0.95  to    2.60    18.10  to    20.06 
2018    30,317,373    13.86 to    16.61    484,216,996    1.76    0.95  to    2.60    (9.31) to    (7.79)
2017    33,909,954    15.29 to    18.01    589,829,186    1.49    0.95  to    2.60    13.10  to    14.98 
2016    36,689,881    13.52 to    15.66    556,965,915    1.90    0.95  to    2.60    4.82  to    6.56 
                                                       
MML Growth Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)                       
2020    39,460,627    14.63 to    16.55    788,648,224    1.88    1.00  to    3.10    9.04  to    11.35 
2019    53,783,791    13.13 to    15.18    978,800,276    2.03    1.00  to    3.10    17.24  to    19.73 
2018    59,693,993    10.97 to    12.95    915,267,296    1.53    1.00  to    3.10    (9.95) to    (8.03)
2017    64,140,636    11.93 to    14.38    1,080,894,605    1.26    1.00  to    3.10    12.28  to    14.66 
2016    67,568,784    10.40 to    12.81    1,001,300,773    1.66    1.00  to    3.10    3.96  to    6.16 
                                                       
MML High Yield Sub-Account                            
2020    2,894,882    14.83 to    18.65    42,643,144    0.02    0.95  to    3.10    2.16  to    4.38 
2019    2,982,701    14.52 to    17.87    43,189,753    6.00    0.95  to    3.10    8.45  to    10.80 
2018    2,669,937    13.39 to    16.13    35,992,862    6.18    0.95  to    3.10    (6.50) to    (4.46)
2017    2,318,594    14.32 to    16.88    34,421,883    7.05    0.95  to    3.10    4.60  to    6.87 
2016    1,814,841    13.69 to    15.80    26,901,271    7.19    0.95  to    3.10    12.72  to    15.16 
                                                       
MML Income & Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)                    
2020    893,631    18.00 to    26.57    21,695,092    2.03    0.95  to    2.60    0.38  to    2.05 
2019    1,014,616    17.93 to    26.04    24,198,302    1.99    0.95  to    2.60    21.24  to    23.26 
2018    1,064,337    14.79 to    21.13    20,869,071    1.74    0.95  to    2.60    (13.96) to    (12.52)
2017    1,224,390    17.19 to    24.15    27,604,331    1.65    0.95  to    2.60    14.43  to    16.33 
2016    1,362,608    15.02 to    20.76    26,577,770    1.78    0.95  to    2.60    13.42  to    15.30 
                                                       
MML Income & Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)                    
2020    1,567,693    14.47 to    16.70    27,009,775    1.83    1.00  to    3.10    (0.35) to    1.76 
2019    1,681,966    14.22 to    16.76    29,439,298    1.78    1.00  to    3.10    20.35  to    22.90 
2018    1,666,619    11.57 to    13.93    24,435,731    1.59    1.00  to    3.10    (14.64) to    (12.82)
2017    1,541,562    13.27 to    16.31    27,684,978    1.52    1.00  to    3.10    13.65  to    16.05 
2016    1,231,768    11.43 to    14.36    20,617,145    1.56    1.00  to    3.10    12.56  to    14.94 
                                                       
MML Inflation-Protected and Income Sub-Account (Initial Class)                    
2020    8,662,812    12.07 to    17.11    130,964,666    0.11    0.95  to    2.60    8.26  to    10.06 
2019    9,934,572    11.15 to    15.54    137,121,414    2.38    0.95  to    2.60    5.53  to    7.29 
2018    10,511,243    10.56 to    14.49    135,793,211    3.09    0.95  to    2.60    (3.84) to    (2.23)
2017    12,563,423    10.99 to    14.82    166,498,888    3.30    0.95  to    2.60    0.56  to    2.23 
2016    12,945,199    10.92 to    14.49    168,517,535    2.36    0.95  to    2.60    2.52  to    4.22 
                                                       
MML Inflation-Protected and Income Sub-Account (Service Class)                    
2020    3,431,376    11.19 to    11.94    46,199,752    0.11    1.00  to    3.10    7.49  to    9.77 
2019    3,451,539    10.41 to    10.88    43,237,327    2.22    1.00  to    3.10    4.76  to    6.98 
2018    3,455,411    9.94 to    10.17    41,399,216    2.86    1.00  to    3.10    (4.57) to    (2.53)
2017    3,682,017    10.41 to    10.43    46,122,629    3.07    1.00  to    3.10    (0.17) to    1.94 
2016    3,768,338    10.23 to    10.43    47,031,894    2.09    1.00  to    3.10    1.71  to    3.86 

 

 F-75 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

    At December 31,   For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
MML International Equity Sub-Account  
2020    562,014   $9.92 to   $11.45   $6,833,772    3.20%   0.95% to    3.10%   1.86% to    4.07%
2019    571,549    9.74 to    11.01    6,643,432    1.79    0.95  to    3.10    20.55  to    23.17 
2018    495,952    8.08 to    8.94    4,669,380    1.59    0.95  to    3.10    (26.38) to    (24.77)
2017    312,168    10.98 to    11.88    3,854,469    1.76    0.95  to    3.10    26.20  to    28.94 
2016    98,906    8.70 to    9.21    931,432    1.70    0.95  to    3.10    4.68  to    6.95 
                                                       
MML Large Cap Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)     
2020    492,342    28.53 to    40.27    17,478,633    0.33    0.95  to    2.60    28.40  to    30.53 
2019    577,917    22.22 to    30.85    15,827,567    0.58    0.95  to    2.60    28.60  to    30.74 
2018    676,794    17.28 to    23.60    14,279,402    0.63    0.95  to    2.60    (4.79) to    (3.19)
2017    782,688    18.15 to    24.38    17,285,084    0.37    0.95  to    2.60    30.09  to    32.25 
2016    891,625    13.95 to    18.43    15,027,089    0.13    0.95  to    2.60    (2.93) to    (1.32)
                                                       
MML Large Cap Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)     
2020    965,919    21.22 to    26.44    22,228,571    0.17    1.00  to    3.10    27.52  to    30.22 
2019    896,562    16.30 to    20.73    16,390,792    0.46    1.00  to    3.10    27.64  to    30.35 
2018    716,008    12.50 to    16.24    10,587,661    0.56    1.00  to    3.10    (5.46) to    (3.44)
2017    426,985    12.95 to    17.18    7,506,816    0.24    1.00  to    3.10    28.96  to    31.69 
2016    239,844    9.83 to    13.32    3,605,074    -    1.00  to    3.10    (3.55) to    (1.51)
                                                       
MML Managed Bond Sub-Account (Initial Class)               
2020    6,518,330    13.56 to    20.18    114,405,900    0.10    0.95  to    2.60    4.95  to    6.69 
2019    7,123,945    12.92 to    18.91    117,808,474    3.67    0.95  to    2.60    6.99  to    8.77 
2018    7,702,853    12.08 to    17.39    117,644,146    3.44    0.95  to    2.60    (3.01) to    (1.38)
2017    9,210,636    12.45 to    17.63    143,060,562    3.15    0.95  to    2.60    2.02  to    3.71 
2016    9,792,140    12.21 to    17.00    147,103,492    2.81    0.95  to    2.60    0.12  to    1.78 
                                                       
MML Managed Bond Sub-Account (Service Class)               
2020    17,765,196    11.66 to    12.58    266,777,188    0.10    1.00  to    3.10    4.16  to    6.37 
2019    18,130,096    10.96 to    12.07    260,703,020    3.46    1.00  to    3.10    6.19  to    8.45 
2018    18,639,618    10.11 to    11.37    250,288,149    3.23    1.00  to    3.10    (3.73) to    (1.68)
2017    19,712,043    10.28 to    11.81    273,576,011    2.94    1.00  to    3.10    1.25  to    3.40 
2016    18,648,805    9.94 to    11.66    255,334,043    2.61    1.00  to    3.10    (0.63) to    1.47 
                                                       
MML Managed Volatility Sub-Account (Initial Class)          
2020    5,170,638    13.94 to    21.43    93,221,623    1.40    0.95  to    2.60    3.94  to    5.67 
2019    5,894,344    13.41 to    20.28    101,210,212    1.62    0.95  to    2.60    9.03  to    10.84 
2018    6,358,338    12.30 to    18.30    98,987,098    1.20    0.95  to    2.60    (7.15) to    (5.59)
2017    7,501,892    13.25 to    19.38    124,404,125    1.26    0.95  to    2.60    6.24  to    8.01 
2016    8,129,791    12.47 to    17.95    125,435,320    1.74    0.95  to    2.60    1.03  to    2.71 
MML Managed Volatility Sub-Account (Service Class)          
2020    1,669,075    12.09 to    12.93    26,903,885    1.15    1.00  to    3.10    3.17  to    5.36 
2019    1,951,793    11.48 to    12.53    30,590,858    1.37    1.00  to    3.10    8.21  to    10.51 
2018    2,011,443    10.39 to    11.58    28,963,354    0.95    1.00  to    3.10    (7.84) to    (5.88)
2017    2,157,161    11.04 to    12.56    33,697,976    1.04    1.00  to    3.10    5.45  to    7.69 
2016    2,218,201    10.25 to    11.91    32,568,807    1.53    1.00  to    3.10    0.27  to    2.39 
                                                       
MML Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Initial Class)          
2020    1,454,733    35.60 to    70.09    89,949,266    0.08    0.95  to    2.60    22.35  to    24.38 
2019    1,710,217    29.09 to    56.35    83,592,878    0.02    0.95  to    2.60    27.93  to    30.05 
2018    1,958,567    22.74 to    43.33    73,560,646    -    0.95  to    2.60    (4.70) to    (3.10)
2017    2,245,834    23.86 to    44.72    86,805,680    0.03    0.95  to    2.60    21.62  to    23.64 
2016    2,524,036    19.62 to    36.17    79,181,316    -    0.95  to    2.60    3.57  to    5.29 
                                                       
MML Mid Cap Growth Sub-Account (Service Class)          
2020    4,168,210    20.12 to    32.82    117,785,877    -    1.00  to    3.10    21.43  to    24.01 
2019    4,497,792    16.23 to    27.03    108,799,560    -    1.00  to    3.10    27.01  to    29.71 
2018    4,459,919    12.51 to    21.28    88,937,242    -    1.00  to    3.10    (5.45) to    (3.43)
2017    4,003,907    12.96 to    22.51    91,130,983    -    1.00  to    3.10    20.68  to    23.24 
2016    3,514,218    10.51 to    18.65    71,215,184    -    1.00  to    3.10    2.80  to    4.97 

 

 F-76 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

  At December 31,   For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
MML Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                      
2020    3,707,481    $27.13 to   $41.45    $133,181,143    1.82%   0.95% to    2.60%   (0.90)% to    0.75%
2019    4,044,150    27.37 to    41.14    144,980,289    1.62    0.95  to    2.60    25.82  to    27.91 
2018    4,842,049    21.75 to    32.16    135,925,323    1.50    0.95  to    2.60    (15.24) to    (13.82)
2017    5,436,760    25.67 to    37.32    177,889,628    1.55    0.95  to    2.60    8.84  to    10.65 
2016    6,226,253    23.58 to    33.73    184,615,243    1.57    0.95  to    2.60    20.08  to    22.07 
                                                       
MML Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    2,406,081    14.50 to    25.16    51,269,948    1.58    1.00  to    3.10    (1.62) to    0.47 
2019    2,380,279    14.43 to    25.57    53,222,998    1.44    1.00  to    3.10    24.97  to    27.62 
2018    2,261,094    11.31 to    20.46    43,253,293    1.33    1.00  to    3.10    (15.97) to    (14.18)
2017    2,049,183    13.18 to    24.35    49,740,379    1.41    1.00  to    3.10    8.07  to    10.36 
2016    1,782,027    11.94 to    22.53    44,150,408    1.48    1.00  to    3.10    19.12  to    21.64 
                                                       
MML Moderate Allocation Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                    
2020    11,897,524    16.61 to    20.57    235,097,461    2.55    0.95  to    2.60    7.71  to    9.50 
2019    17,179,709    15.42 to    18.78    310,792,789    2.52    0.95  to    2.60    15.54  to    17.46 
2018    18,831,405    13.35 to    15.99    290,920,692    2.12    0.95  to    2.60    (7.92) to    (6.38)
2017    21,236,900    14.50 to    17.08    351,616,486    1.79    0.95  to    2.60    10.43  to    12.26 
2016    23,743,681    13.13 to    15.21    351,322,644    2.08    0.95  to    2.60    4.15  to    5.88 
                                                       
MML Moderate Allocation Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    87,882,437    13.81 to    15.27    1,575,429,932    2.23    1.00  to    3.10    6.80  to    9.07 
2019    105,177,875    12.66 to    14.30    1,752,110,801    2.26    1.00  to    3.10    14.75  to    17.18 
2018    117,630,522    10.81 to    12.46    1,689,907,038    1.88    1.00  to    3.10    (8.60) to    (6.65)
2017    131,309,540    11.58 to    13.63    2,047,325,711    1.58    1.00  to    3.10    9.55  to    11.87 
2016    139,446,724    10.35 to    12.44    1,969,560,365    1.88    1.00  to    3.10    3.34  to    5.53 
                                                       
MML Short-Duration Bond Sub-Account                                   
2020    4,150,563    9.03 to    11.35    44,272,880    -    0.95  to    3.10    (1.75) to    0.39 
2019    3,025,222    9.19 to    11.31    32,173,643    3.11    0.95  to    3.10    0.99  to    3.19 
2018    2,634,464    9.10 to    10.96    27,471,063    2.75    0.95  to    3.10    (1.82) to    0.33 
2017    2,599,515    9.26 to    10.92    27,262,598    2.47    0.95  to    3.10    (0.82) to    1.33 
2016    2,606,803    9.34 to    10.78    27,104,043    2.00    0.95  to    3.10    (0.57) to    1.58 
                                                       
MML Small Cap Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                   
2020    706,873    26.01 to    39.49    27,259,529    0.53    0.95  to    2.60    17.60  to    19.55 
2019    831,548    22.12 to    33.03    26,710,657    0.47    0.95  to    2.60    23.22  to    25.27 
2018    935,224    17.95 to    26.37    24,030,805    0.49    0.95  to    2.60    (12.51) to    (11.04)
2017    1,054,841    20.52 to    29.64    30,563,941    0.83    0.95  to    2.60    11.44  to    13.29 
2016    1,204,534    18.41 to    26.16    30,878,286    1.05    0.95  to    2.60    15.19  to    17.10 
                                                       
MML Small Cap Equity Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    1,169,902    17.31 to    24.08    25,344,927    0.30    1.00  to    3.10    16.72  to    19.20 
2019    1,184,188    14.53 to    20.63    22,694,629    0.26    1.00  to    3.10    22.30  to    24.89 
2018    1,131,275    11.63 to    16.87    18,425,202    0.32    1.00  to    3.10    (13.16) to    (11.31)
2017    855,645    13.11 to    19.42    17,644,215    0.69    1.00  to    3.10    10.61  to    12.96 
2016    631,631    11.61 to    17.56    13,279,472    0.85    1.00  to    3.10    14.33  to    16.75 
                                                       
MML Small Cap Growth Equity Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    1,790,589    37.25 to    60.18    90,992,101    -    0.95  to    2.60    32.15  to    34.34 
2019    2,488,164    28.19 to    44.79    94,744,872    -    0.95  to    2.60    30.88  to    33.06 
2018    3,094,310    21.54 to    33.66    89,078,989    -    0.95  to    2.60    (7.33) to    (5.78)
2017    3,752,747    23.24 to    35.73    115,332,900    -    0.95  to    2.60    19.67  to    21.66 
2016    4,504,045    19.42 to    29.37    114,360,455    -    0.95  to    2.60    9.86  to    11.68 

 

 F-77 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

  At December 31, For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
MML Small Cap Growth Equity Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    1,072,366    $21.98 to   $34.53    $31,164,764    -%   1.00% to    3.10%   31.16% to    33.94%
2019    1,127,320    16.41 to    26.33    26,026,111    -    1.00  to    3.10    29.90  to    32.66 
2018    1,008,153    12.37 to    20.27    19,280,671    -    1.00  to    3.10    (8.03) to    (6.06)
2017    646,706    13.17 to    22.03    16,123,932    -    1.00  to    3.10    18.78  to    21.29 
2016    559,854    10.86 to    18.55    12,968,514    -    1.00  to    3.10    9.04  to    11.35 
                                                       
MML Small Company Value Sub-Account                                 
2020    1,280,052    15.85 to    26.90    25,549,702    0.06    1.00  to    3.10    5.60  to    7.84 
2019    1,254,816    14.70 to    25.47    24,665,122    0.08    1.00  to    3.10    21.43  to    24.01 
2018    1,140,446    11.85 to    20.98    19,022,657    0.19    1.00  to    3.10    (15.86) to    (14.06)
2017    891,099    13.79 to    24.93    19,508,502    0.48    1.00  to    3.10    8.03  to    10.31 
2016    612,066    12.50 to    23.08    14,305,376    0.41    1.00  to    3.10    28.14  to    30.85 
                                                       
MML Small/Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Initial Class)                                 
2020    3,498,522    21.43 to    39.66    97,698,172    1.10    0.95  to    2.60    1.96  to    3.66 
2019    3,898,914    21.01 to    38.26    105,702,814    0.61    0.95  to    2.60    17.19  to    19.14 
2018    4,387,318    17.93 to    32.11    100,384,944    0.46    0.95  to    2.60    (17.12) to    (15.73)
2017    4,849,266    21.64 to    38.11    132,667,980    0.50    0.95  to    2.60    10.54  to    12.37 
2016    5,653,797    19.57 to    33.91    138,163,724    0.55    0.95  to    2.60    21.90  to    23.92 
                                                       
MML Small/Mid Cap Value Sub-Account (Service Class)                                 
2020    1,139,563    13.77 to    19.86    22,292,450    0.84    1.00  to    3.10    1.14  to    3.29 
2019    1,156,012    13.34 to    19.63    23,286,750    0.39    1.00  to    3.10    16.32  to    18.78 
2018    1,061,456    11.23 to    16.88    19,194,837    0.26    1.00  to    3.10    (17.73) to    (15.97)
2017    962,628    13.36 to    20.51    22,379,494    0.30    1.00  to    3.10    9.63  to    11.96 
2016    886,931    11.93 to    18.71    19,564,381    0.32    1.00  to    3.10    21.03  to    23.58 
                                                       
MML Special Situations Sub-Account (Service Class I)                                 
2020    50,391    18.10 to    18.87    950,460    0.03    1.00  to    1.80    26.93  to    27.95 
2019    56,690    14.26 to    14.75    835,745    -    1.00  to    1.80    21.29  to    22.27 
2018    53,278    11.76 to    12.06    642,435    0.41    1.00  to    1.80    (6.83) to    (6.08)
2017    37,834    12.62 to    12.84    485,763    -    1.00  to    1.80    16.47  to    17.40 
2016    23,898    10.83 to    10.94    261,283    0.54    1.00  to    1.80    13.48  to    14.39 
                                                       
MML Strategic Emerging Markets Sub-Account                                 
2020    1,017,814    12.33 to    16.47    16,215,171    0.20    1.00  to    3.10    13.68  to    16.09 
2019    1,150,619    10.84 to    14.19    15,739,019    0.01    1.00  to    3.10    21.36  to    23.93 
2018    1,155,182    8.93 to    11.45    12,694,684    -    1.00  to    3.10    (15.28) to    (13.47)
2017    1,061,488    10.55 to    13.23    13,380,725    -    1.00  to    3.10    29.77  to    32.51 
2016    947,781    8.13 to    9.99    8,983,421    0.24    1.00  to    3.10    2.88  to    5.05 
                                                       
MML Total Return Bond Sub-Account                                 
2020    4,106,252    10.17 to    12.25    47,980,688    3.09    0.95  to    3.10    5.28  to    7.57 
2019    2,936,027    9.66 to    11.39    31,973,807    3.02    0.95  to    3.10    5.34  to    7.63 
2018    2,321,318    9.17 to    10.58    23,676,108    1.76    0.95  to    3.10    (3.41) to    (1.29)
2017    1,912,466    9.49 to    10.72    19,956,564    1.84    0.95  to    3.10    (0.40) to    1.76 
2016    1,691,159    9.53 to    10.53    17,462,137    1.68    0.95  to    3.10    (0.82) to    1.33 
                                                       
MML U.S. Government Money Market Sub-Account                                 
2020    15,675,879    7.17 to    9.36    143,711,817    0.17    0.95  to    3.10    (2.83) to    (0.72)
2019    8,074,717    7.37 to    9.42    75,534,222    1.69    0.95  to    3.10    (1.40) to    0.75 
2018    8,285,272    7.48 to    9.35    76,764,657    1.34    0.95  to    3.10    (1.77) to    0.37 
2017    7,302,616    7.61 to    9.32    67,087,752    0.35    0.95  to    3.10    (2.70) to    (0.59)
2016    7,886,513    7.83 to    9.37    72,659,675    -    0.95  to    3.10    (2.94) to    (0.84)
                                                       
Oppenheimer Global Multi-Alternatives Sub-Account                                 
2020    -    - to    -    -    -    -  to    -    -  to    - 
2019    2    8.54 to    9.51    -    1.11    0.95  to    3.10    2.36  to    3.08 
2018    246,995    8.34 to    9.22    2,283,703    0.17    0.95  to    3.10    (6.27) to    (4.22)
2017    232,850    8.90 to    9.63    2,246,753    0.79    0.95  to    3.10    (2.86) to    (0.76)
2016    179,042    9.16 to    9.70    1,736,290    1.31    0.95  to    3.10    0.34  to    2.51 

 

 

 F-78 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)

 

  At December 31, For the Years Ended December 31, 
                      Investment                       
        Unit Value3       Income   Expense Ratio2   Total Return3 
    Units   (Lowest to Highest)   Net Assets   Ratio1   (Lowest to Highest)   (Lowest to Highest) 
PIMCO CommodityRealReturn® Strategy Sub-Account                                 
2020    1,401,409    $4.26 to   $5.71   $7,627,491    6.33%   0.95% to    3.10%   (1.86)% to    0.27%
2019    1,661,426    4.34 to    5.70    9,033,874    4.33    0.95  to    3.10    7.95  to    10.30 
2018    1,812,893    4.02 to    5.16    8,967,304    1.98    0.95  to    3.10    (16.84) to    (15.02)
2017    2,037,819    4.84 to    6.08    11,904,973    10.98    0.95  to    3.10    (1.06) to    1.09 
2016    2,151,246    4.89 to    6.01    12,471,316    1.01    0.95  to    3.10    11.37  to    13.79 
                                                       
VY® Clarion Global Real Estate Sub-Account                               
2020    807,288    12.30 to    16.49    12,571,760    5.83    0.95  to    3.10    (7.94) to    (5.94)
2019    948,461    13.36 to    17.53    15,751,756    2.58    0.95  to    3.10    20.55  to    23.17 
2018    1,049,161    11.09 to    14.23    14,174,962    5.26    0.95  to    3.10    (11.55) to    (9.61)
2017    1,209,503    12.53 to    15.74    18,104,285    3.51    0.95  to    3.10    7.14  to    9.46 
2016    1,330,784    11.70 to    14.38    18,270,700    1.09    0.95  to    3.10    (2.44) to    (0.33)

 

 F-79 

 

  

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

B.The Separate Account assesses charges associated with the contract. These charges are either assessed as a direct reduction in unit values or through a redemption of units for all contracts contained within the Separate Account. The assessment of charges is based on the actual product and additional benefits or riders purchased.

 

Mortality and Expense Risk Charge* This charge is equal, on an annual
  basis, to 0.80% - 1.60% of the
  daily value of the assets invested
  in each fund.
This charge is assessed through a reduction in unit values.  
Administrative Charge  
  This charge is equal, on an annual
  basis, to 0.15% of the daily value
  of the assets invested in each fund.
This charge is assessed through a reduction in unit values.  
Administrative Contract Maintenance Charge $0 - $40 per contract, annually.
This charge is assessed through the redemption of units.  
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge/Surrender Charge 0% - 8%
This charge is assessed through the redemption of units.  
Payment Protector Charge This charge is equal, on an annual
  basis, to 0.00% - 0.50% of the
  daily value of the assets invested
  in each fund.
This charge is assessed through a reduction in unit values.  
Additional Death Benefit Options  
These charges are annualized and are assessed through either a  
reduction in unit values or the redemption of units.  
A.  Reset Death Benefit** 0.00% - 0.20%
B.  Ratchet Death Benefit*** 0.00% - 0.70%
C.  5% roll Up Death Benefit 0.00% - 0.40%
D.  Basic Death Benefit with Combination Feature 0.00% - 0.45%
E.  Return of Purchase Payment 0.00% - 0.35%

 

 F-80 

 

 

Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)

 

8.Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Rider Charges  
These charges are annualized and are assessed through either a  
reduction in unit values or the redemption of units.  
A.  Equalizer Benefit 0.00% - 0.50%
B.  Nursing Home Waiver 0.00% - 0.05%
C.  Earnings Enhancement Benefit 0.00% - 0.30%
D.  10% / 20% Free Withdrawal Amount 0.00% - 0.25%
E.  15% / 30% Free Withdrawal Amount 0.00% - 0.15%
F.  Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) 0.00% - 1.50%
G.  Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit (GMAB) 0.00% - 1.40%
H.  Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) 0.00% - 0.95%

 

*The Panorama Premier segment charges its contract owners a mortality and expense risk charge equal, on an annual basis, to 1.25% of the daily value of the assets invested in each fund. Subject to state availability, certificates issued on or after September 10, 2001 will receive an increase in the certificate value allocated to the fund by 0.15% on each certificate anniversary.

 

**For Panorama Passage the charge for the Reset Death Benefit is 0.10% on an annual basis of the daily value of the certificate value allocated to the funds and the fixed accounts, unless the charge exceeds the maximum charge, in which case, the charge is the maximum charge. The maximum charge is 0.20% on an annual basis of the daily value of the certificate value allocated to the funds.

 

***The Ratchet Death Benefit is 0.25% for Panorama Passage and 0.15% for Panorama Premier on an annual basis of the daily value of the certificate value allocated to the funds and the fixed accounts, unless that charge exceeds the maximum, in this case the charge is the maximum charge. The maximum charge is 0.35% if age 60 or less at certificate issue, 0.50% if age 61 through age 70 at certificate issue, and 0.70% if age 71 or older at certificate issue, of the certificate value allocated to the funds.

 

Certain contracts may offer credits which will result in the purchase of units.

 

9.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Separate Accounts management has reviewed events occurring through March 10, 2021, the date the financial statements were issued, and no subsequent events occurred requiring accrual or disclosure.

 

 F-81 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 

 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and

for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 

Table of Contents

 

    Page
Independent Auditors’ Report   1
Statutory Statements of Financial Position   3
Statutory Statements of Operations   4
Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus   5
Statutory Statements of Cash Flows   6
Notes to Statutory Financial Statements:   7
  1.   Nature of operations   7
  2.   Summary of significant accounting policies   7
  3.   New accounting standards   20
  4.   Fair value of financial instruments   22
  5.   Investments   29
    a. Bonds   29
    b. Preferred stocks   33
    c. Common stocks – subsidiaries and affiliates   34
    d. Common stocks – unaffiliated   36
    e. Mortgage loans   36
    f. Real estate   40
    g. Partnerships and limited liability companies   41
    h. Derivatives   42
    i. Repurchase agreements   46
    j. Net investment income   47
    k. Net realized capital (losses) gains   47
  6.   Federal income taxes   48
  7.   Other than invested assets   55
  8.   Policyholders’ liabilities   57
  9.   Reinsurance   62
  10.   Withdrawal characteristics 65 Debt   65
  11.   Debt   69
  12.   Employee benefit plans   70
  13.   Employee compensation plans   81
  14.   Surplus notes   83
  15.   Presentation of the Statutory Statements of Cash Flows   84
  16.   Business risks, commitments and contingencies   85
  17.   Related party transactions   91
  18.   Subsidiaries and affiliated companies   93
  19.   Subsequent events   96
  20.   Impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities   97

  

 

 

 

KPMG LLP

One Financial Plaza
755 Main Street

Hartford, CT 06103

 

Independent Auditors’ Report 

 

The Board of Directors and Policyholders of
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company:

 

We have audited the accompanying statutory financial statements of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (the Company), which comprise the statutory statements of financial position as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related statutory statements of operations, changes in surplus, and cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes to the statutory financial statements.

 

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these statutory financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Insurance. Management is also responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of statutory financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditors’ Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these statutory financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statutory financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the statutory financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the statutory financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the statutory financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the statutory financial statements.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinions.

 

Basis for Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

 

As described in Note 2 to the statutory financial statements, the statutory financial statements are prepared by the Company using statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Insurance, which is a basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, the statutory financial statements are not intended to be presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

The effects on the statutory financial statements of the variances between the statutory accounting practices described in Note 2 and U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, although not reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.

 

 

 

KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the
KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with
KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.

 

 1 

 

 

 

Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

 

In our opinion, because of the significance of the variances between statutory accounting practices and U.S. generally accepted accounting principles discussed in the Basis for Adverse Opinion on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles paragraph, the statutory financial statements referred to above do not present fairly, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, or the results of its operations or its cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020.

 

Opinion on Statutory Basis of Accounting

 

In our opinion, the statutory financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Insurance described in Note 2.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP 

 

Hartford, Connecticut
February 24, 2021 

 

 2 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

   As of December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
Assets:        
Bonds  $114,684   $101,907 
Preferred stocks   470    749 
Common stocks – subsidiaries and affiliates   19,895    16,971 
Common stocks – unaffiliated   1,192    1,185 
Mortgage loans   26,078    27,473 
Policy loans   15,597    14,725 
Real estate   362    358 
Partnerships and limited liability companies   9,534    9,012 
Derivatives   21,076    12,064 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments   5,738    3,793 
Other invested assets   1,503    2,036 
Total invested assets   216,129    190,273 
Investment income due and accrued   3,859    2,687 
Net deferred income taxes   509    1,108 
Other than invested assets   3,996    3,951 
Total assets excluding separate accounts   224,493    198,019 
Separate account assets   75,966    70,230 
Total assets  $300,459   $268,249 
           
Liabilities and Surplus:          
Policyholders’ reserves  $125,167   $130,479 
Liabilities for deposit-type contracts   14,580    15,297 
Contract claims and other benefits   726    474 
Policyholders’ dividends   1,708    1,684 
General expenses due or accrued   1,253    1,214 
Federal income taxes   670    23 
Asset valuation reserve   5,205    4,670 
Repurchase agreements   4,006    3,834 
Commercial paper   250    250 
Collateral   5,551    3,285 
Derivatives   17,349    9,608 
Funds held under coinsurance   17,929    4,252 
Other liabilities   5,772    4,056 
Total liabilities excluding separate accounts   200,166    179,126 
Separate account liabilities   75,966    70,230 
Total liabilities   276,132    249,356 
Surplus   24,327    18,893 
Total liabilities and surplus  $300,459   $268,249 

  

See notes to statutory financial statements

 

 3 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
Revenue:            
Premium income  $10,323   $22,781   $22,929 
Net investment income   8,752    7,693    7,774 
Fees and other income   3,726    1,381    1,018 
Total revenue   22,801    31,855    31,721 
Benefits, expenses and other deductions:               
Policyholders’ benefits   24,784    24,573    22,818 
Change in policyholders’ reserves   (8,965)   2,409    4,499 
Change in group annuity reserves assumed   (1,038)   (1,271)   (1,221)
General insurance expenses   2,394    2,391    2,366 
Commissions   1,091    1,067    1,062 
State taxes, licenses and fees   275    271    258 
Other deductions   1,626    298    189 
Total benefits, expenses and other deductions   20,167    29,738    29,971 
Net gain from operations before dividends and federal income taxes   2,634    2,117    1,750 
Dividends to policyholders   1,697    1,671    1,695 
Net gain from operations before federal income taxes   937    446    55 
Federal income tax expense (benefit)   135    (15)   (168)
Net gain from operations   802    461    223 
Net realized capital losses   (586)   (37)   (1,044)
Net income (loss)  $216   $424   $(821)

 

See notes to statutory financial statements

 

 4 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SURPLUS

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
Surplus, beginning of year  $18,893   $15,610   $15,705 
Net increase/(decrease) due to:               
Net income (loss)   216    424    (821)
Change in net unrealized capital gains, net of tax   1,422    3,433    1,779 
Change in net unrealized foreign exchange capital gains (losses), net of tax   1,010    282    (594)
Change in other net deferred income taxes   (23)   (55)   291 
Change in nonadmitted assets   50    747    (716)
Change in asset valuation reserve   (535)   (1,363)   (100)
Change in reserve valuation basis   (48)   -    - 
Change in surplus notes   1,537    (33)   - 
Change in minimum pension liability   111    (68)   128 
Prior period adjustments   33    (70)   (47)
Deferred gain on reinsurance transactions   1,665    -    - 
Other   (4)   (14)   (15)
Net increase (decrease)   5,434    3,283    (95)
Surplus, end of year  $24,327   $18,893   $15,610 

 

See notes to statutory financial statements

 

 5 

 

  

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
Cash from operations:               
Premium and other income collected  $19,750   $22,979   $23,625 
Net investment income   7,281    8,303    6,762 
Benefit payments   (24,243)   (24,526)   (22,916)
Net transfers from separate accounts   4,020    5,814    3,091 
Net receipts from group annuity reserves assumed   1,038    1,271    1,221 
Commissions and other expenses   (3,911)   (3,816)   (3,924)
Dividends paid to policyholders   (1,674)   (1,700)   (1,588)
Federal and foreign income taxes recovered   142    552    162 
Net cash from operations   2,403    8,877    6,433 
                
Cash from investments:               
Proceeds from investments sold, matured or repaid:               
Bonds   23,128    22,233    19,214 
Preferred and common stocks – unaffiliated   547    839    985 
Common stocks – affiliated   8    5    1,723 
Mortgage loans   4,098    2,418    2,330 
Real estate   1    192    276 
Partnerships and limited liability companies   1,051    1,207    2,155 
Derivatives   1,855    996    633 
Other   542    (995)   (548)
Total investment proceeds   31,230    26,895    26,768 
Cost of investments acquired:               
Bonds   (38,209)   (25,867)   (26,526)
Preferred and common stocks – unaffiliated   (321)   (1,443)   (311)
Common stocks – affiliated   (2,003)   (204)   (583)
Mortgage loans   (4,293)   (6,211)   (3,698)
Real estate   (120)   (120)   233 
Partnerships and limited liability companies   (1,847)   (1,368)   (1,653)
Derivatives   (428)   (302)   (927)
Other   78    (81)   202 
Total investments acquired   (47,143)   (35,596)   (33,263)
Net increase in policy loans   (872)   (852)   (546)
Net cash used in investing activities   (16,785)   (9,553)   (7,041)
                
Cash from financing and miscellaneous sources:               
Net (withdrawals) deposits on deposit-type contracts   (1,031)   868    87 
Cash provided (applied to) by surplus note issuance   697    (39)   - 
Change in repurchase agreements   172    (935)   565 
Change in collateral   2,270    550    50 
Other cash provided (used)   14,219    (293)   644 
Net cash from financing and miscellaneous sources   16,327    151    1,346 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments   1,945    (525)   738 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments:               
Beginning of year   3,793    4,318    3,580 
End of year  $5,738   $3,793   $4,318 

 

See notes to statutory financial statements 

 6 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.Nature of operations

 

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual or the Company), a mutual life insurance company domiciled in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and its domestic life insurance subsidiaries provide individual and group life insurance, disability insurance, individual and group annuities and guaranteed interest contracts (GIC) to individual and institutional customers in all 50 states of the United States of America (U.S.), the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Products and services are offered primarily through the Company’s MassMutual Financial Advisors (MMFA), Digital Direct to Consumer and Business to Business (DTC&B2B), Institutional Solutions (IS) and Workplace Solutions (WS) distribution channels.

 

MMFA is a sales force that includes financial professionals that operate in the U.S. MMFA sells individual life, individual annuities, long term care (LTC) and disability insurance (DI). The Company’s DTC&B2B distribution channel sells individual life and supplemental health insurance primarily through direct response television advertising, digital media, search engine optimization and search engine marketing. The Company’s IS distribution channel sells group annuities, group life and GIC primarily through retirement advisory firms, actuarial consulting firms, investment banks, insurance benefit advisors and investment management companies. The Company’s WS distribution channel sells group life insurance and annuity products as well as individual life insurance, critical illness and DI products distributed through financial advisors.

 

2.Summary of significant accounting policies

 

a.Basis of presentation

 

The statutory financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the statutory accounting practices of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Insurance (the Division).

 

Statutory accounting practices are different in some respects from financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). The more significant differences between statutory accounting practices and U.S. GAAP are as follows:

 

Invested assets

 

·Bonds are generally carried at amortized cost, whereas U.S. GAAP reports bonds at fair value for bonds available for sale and trading or at amortized cost for bonds held to maturity
·Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are recorded as changes in surplus, whereas U.S. GAAP generally reports these changes in revenue unless deemed an effective hedge
·Interest rate and credit default swaps associated with replicated synthetic investment transactions are carried at amortized cost, whereas U.S. GAAP would carry them at fair value
·Embedded derivatives are recorded as part of the underlying contract, whereas U.S. GAAP would identify and bifurcate certain embedded derivatives from the underlying contract or security and account for them separately at fair value
·Income recognition on partnerships and limited liability companies, which are accounted for under the equity method, is limited to the amount of cash distribution, whereas U.S. GAAP is without limitation
·Certain majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities are accounted for using the equity method, whereas U.S. GAAP would consolidate these entities

 

Policyholders’ liabilities

 

·Statutory policy reserves are generally based upon prescribed methods, such as the Commissioners’ Reserve Valuation Method, Commissioners’ Annuity Reserve Valuation Method or net level premium method, and prescribed statutory mortality, morbidity and interest assumptions at the time of issuance, whereas U.S. GAAP policy reserves would generally be based upon the net level premium method or the estimated gross margin method with estimates, at time of issuance, of future mortality, morbidity, persistency and interest

 

 7 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

·Liabilities for policyholders’ reserves, unearned premium, and unpaid claims are presented net of reinsurance ceded, whereas U.S. GAAP would present the liabilities on a direct basis and report an asset for the amounts recoverable or due from reinsurers
·Payments received for universal and variable life insurance products, certain variable and fixed deferred annuities and group annuity contracts are reported as premium income and corresponding change in reserves, whereas U.S. GAAP would treat these payments as deposits to policyholders’ account balances

  

General insurance expenses and commissions

 

·Certain acquisition costs, such as commissions and other variable costs, directly related to successfully acquiring new business are charged to current operations as incurred, whereas U.S. GAAP generally would capitalize these expenses and amortize them based on profit emergence over the expected life of the policies or over the premium payment period

 

Net realized capital (losses) gains

 

·After-tax realized capital gains (losses) that result from changes in the overall level of interest rates for all types of fixed-income investments and interest-related hedging activities are deferred into the interest maintenance reserve (IMR) and amortized into revenue, whereas U.S. GAAP reports these gains and losses as revenue

  

Surplus

 

·Changes in the balances of deferred income taxes, which provide for book versus tax temporary differences, are subject to limitation and are recorded in surplus, whereas U.S. GAAP would generally include the change in deferred taxes in net income without limitation
·Assets are reported at admitted asset value and assets designated as nonadmitted are excluded through a charge against surplus, whereas U.S. GAAP recognizes all assets, net of any valuation allowances
·An asset valuation reserve (AVR) is reported as a contingency reserve to stabilize surplus against fluctuations in the statement value of real estate, partnerships and limited liability companies and certain common stocks as well as credit-related changes in the value of bonds, mortgage loans and certain derivatives, whereas U.S. GAAP does not record this reserve
·Changes to the mortgage loan valuation allowance are recognized in net unrealized capital gains (losses), net of tax, in the Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus, whereas U.S. GAAP reports these changes in net realized capital (losses) gains
·The overfunded status of pension and other postretirement plans, which is the excess of the fair value of the plan assets over the projected benefit obligation, is a nonadmitted asset for statutory accounting whereas U.S. GAAP recognizes the overfunded status as an asset
·Surplus notes are reported in surplus, whereas U.S. GAAP reports these notes as liabilities
·Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus includes net income, change in net unrealized capital gains (losses), change in net unrealized foreign exchange capital gains (losses), change in other net deferred income taxes, change in nonadmitted assets, change in AVR, prior period adjustments and change in minimum pension liability, whereas U.S. GAAP presents net income as retained earnings and net unrealized capital gains (losses), change in net unrealized foreign exchange capital gains (losses), change in minimum pension liability as other comprehensive income
·The change in the fair value for unaffiliated common stock is recorded in surplus, whereas the change in the fair value for ownership interests in an entity not accounted for under the equity method or consolidated are recorded in revenue for U.S. GAAP

  

 8 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Other  

 

·Assets and liabilities associated with certain group annuity and variable universal life contracts, which do not pass-through all investment experience to contract holders, are maintained in separate accounts and are presented on a single line in the statutory financial statements, whereas U.S. GAAP reports these contracts as general investments and liabilities of the Company

  

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of assets and liabilities as of the date of the statutory financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates and assumptions include those used in determining the carrying values of investments including the amount of mortgage loan investment valuation reserves, other-than-temporary impairment(s) (OTTI), the value of the investment in MassMutual Holding LLC (MMHLLC), the liabilities for policyholders’ reserves, the determination of admissible deferred tax assets (DTA), the liability for taxes and the liability for litigation or other contingencies. Future events including, but not limited to, changes in the level of mortality, morbidity, interest rates, persistency, asset valuations and defaults could cause results to differ from the estimates used in the statutory financial statements. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes the amounts presented are appropriate.

 

Certain prior year amounts within these financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

b.Corrections of errors and reclassifications

 

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, corrections of prior years’ errors were recorded in surplus, net of tax: 

 

   Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 
   Increase (Decrease) to: 
  

Prior
Years’

Net Income

   Current
Year
Surplus
   Asset
or Liability
Balances
 
   (In Millions) 
   2020   2019   2020   2019   2020   2019 
Common stocks -subsidiaries and affiliates(1)  $-   $-   $(35)  $-   $(35)  $- 
Net deferred income taxes(1)   -    -    8    -    8    - 
Other than invested assets   -    (13)  $-    106   $-    106 
Policyholders’ reserves   33    (87)   33    (87)   (33)   87 
Liabilities for deposit-type contracts   -    42    -    42    -    (42)
Contract claims and other benefits   -    (5)   -    (5)   -    5 
Other Liabilities   -    (7)   -    (7)   -    7 
Total  $33   $(70)  $6   $49   $(60)  $163 

 

(1)The change in common stocks subsidiaries and affiliates and net deferred income taxes were recorded through surplus as a change in unrealized capital losses, net of tax.

 

c.Bonds

 

Bonds are generally valued at amortized cost using the constant yield interest method with the exception of NAIC Category 6 bonds, which are in or near default, and certain residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), which are rated by outside modelers, which are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. NAIC ratings are applied to bonds and other investments. Categories 1 and 2

 

 9 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

are considered investment grade, while Categories 3 through 6 are considered below investment grade. Bonds are recorded on a trade date basis, except for private placement bonds, which are recorded on the funding date.

 

For loan-backed and structured securities, such as asset-backed securities (ABS), mortgage-backed securities (MBS), including RMBS and CMBS, and structured securities, including collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), amortization or accretion is revalued quarterly based on the current estimated cash flows, using either the prospective or retrospective adjustment methodologies.

 

Fixed income securities, with the highest ratings from a rating agency follow the retrospective method of accounting.

 

All other fixed income securities, such as floating rate bonds and interest only securities, including those that have been impaired, follow the prospective method of accounting.

 

The fair value of bonds is based on quoted market prices when available. If quoted market prices are not available, values provided by other third-party organizations are used. If values provided by other third-party organizations are unavailable, fair value is estimated using internal models by discounting expected future cash flows using observable current market rates applicable to yield, credit quality and maturity of the investment or using quoted market values for comparable investments. Internal inputs used in the determination of fair value include estimated prepayment speeds, default rates, discount rates and collateral values, among others. Structure characteristics and cash flow priority are also considered. Fair values resulting from internal models are those expected to be received in an orderly transaction between willing market participants.

 

Refer to Note 2dd. “Net realized capital (losses) gains including other-than-temporary impairments and unrealized capital gains (losses)” for information on the Company’s policy for determining OTTI.

 

d.Preferred stocks

 

Preferred stocks in good standing, those that are rated Categories 1 through 3 by the Securities Valuation Office (SVO) of the NAIC, are generally valued at amortized cost. Preferred stocks not in good standing, those that are rated Categories 4 through 6 by the SVO, are valued at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Fair values are based on quoted market prices, when available. If quoted market prices are not available, values provided by third-party organizations are used. If values provided by third-party organizations are unavailable, fair value is estimated using internal models. These models use inputs not directly observable or correlated with observable market data. Typical inputs integrated into the Company’s internal discounted expected earnings models include, but are not limited to, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization estimates. Fair values resulting from internal models are those expected to be received in an orderly transaction between willing market participants.

 

Refer to Note 2dd. “Net realized capital (losses) gains including other-than-temporary impairments and unrealized capital gains (losses)” for information on the Company’s policy for determining OTTI.

 

e.Common stocks – subsidiaries and affiliates

 

In December 2020, MassMutual contributed its ownership in MassMutual Asset Finance (MMAF), LLC and MML Management LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries with a combined carrying value of $1,602 million, to MM Investment Holding (MMIH), a wholly owned subsidiary, in an affiliated transaction and therefore no gain or loss was recognized on the transaction. There was no impact to surplus.

 

Common stocks of unconsolidated subsidiaries, primarily C.M. Life Insurance Company (C.M. Life), MML Bay State Life Insurance Company (MML Bay State), and MMHLLC, are accounted for using the statutory equity method. The Company accounts for the value of MMHLLC at its underlying U.S. GAAP equity value less an adjustment of $295 million as of December 31, 2020 for a portion of its noncontrolling interests. Operating results, less dividends declared, for MMHLLC is reflected as net unrealized capital gains (losses) in the Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus. Dividends declared from MMHLLC are recorded in net investment income when declared and are limited to MMHLLC’s U.S. GAAP retained earnings. The cost basis of common stocks – subsidiaries and affiliates is adjusted for impairments deemed to be other than temporary.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Refer to Note 10c. “Common stocks – subsidiaries and affiliates” for further information on the valuation of MMHLLC.

 

f.Common stocks – unaffiliated

 

Unaffiliated common stocks are carried at fair value, which is based on quoted market prices when available. If quoted market prices are not available, values provided by third-party organizations are used. If values from third parties are unavailable, fair values are determined by management using estimates based upon internal models. The Company’s internal models include estimates based upon comparable company analysis, review of financial statements, broker quotes and last traded price. Fair values resulting from internal models are those expected to be received in an orderly transaction between willing market participants.

 

Refer to Note 2dd. “Net realized capital (losses) gains including other-than-temporary impairments and unrealized capital gains (losses)” for information on the Company’s policy for determining OTTI.

 

g.Mortgage loans

 

Mortgage loans are valued at the unpaid principal balance of the loan, net of unamortized premium, discount, mortgage origination fees and valuation allowances. Interest income earned on impaired loans is accrued on the outstanding principal balance of the loan based on the loan’s contractual coupon rate. Interest is not accrued for (a) impaired loans more than 60 days past due, (b) delinquent loans more than 90 days past due, or (c) loans that have interest that is not expected to be collected. The Company continually monitors mortgage loans where the accrual of interest has been discontinued, and will resume the accrual of interest on a mortgage loan when the facts and circumstances of the borrower and property indicate that the payments will continue to be received according to the terms of the original or modified mortgage loan agreement.

 

h.Policy loans

 

Policy loans are carried at the outstanding loan balance less amounts unsecured by the cash surrender value of the policy and amounts ceded to reinsurers.

 

i.Real estate

 

Investment real estate, which the Company has the intent to hold for the production of income, and real estate occupied by the Company are carried at depreciated cost, less encumbrances. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the real estate holding, not to exceed 40 years. Depreciation expense is included in net investment income.

 

Real estate held for sale is initially carried at the lower of depreciated cost or fair value less estimated selling costs and is no longer depreciated. Adjustments to carrying value, including for further declines in fair value, are recorded in a valuation reserve, which is included in net realized capital (losses) gains.

 

Fair value is generally estimated using the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the underlying risks, net of encumbrances. The Company also obtains external appraisals for a rotating selection of properties annually. If an external appraisal is not obtained, an internal appraisal is performed.

 

j.Partnerships and limited liability companies

 

Partnerships and limited liability companies, except for partnerships that generate and realize low income housing tax credits (LIHTCs), are accounted for using the equity method with the change in the equity value of the underlying investment recorded in surplus. Distributions received are recognized as net investment income to the extent the distribution does not exceed previously recorded accumulated undistributed earnings.

 

Investments in partnerships that generate LIHTCs are carried at amortized cost unless considered impaired. Under the amortized cost method, the excess of the carrying value of the investment over its estimated residual value is amortized into net investment income during the period in which tax benefits are recognized.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The equity method is suspended if the carrying value of the investment is reduced to zero due to losses from the investment. Once the equity method is suspended, losses are not recorded until the investment returns to profitability and the equity method is resumed. However, if the Company has guaranteed obligations of the investment or is otherwise committed to provide further financial support for the investment, losses will continue to be reported up to the amount of those guaranteed obligations or commitments.

 

k.Derivatives

 

Interest rate swaps and credit default swaps associated with replicated assets are valued at amortized cost and all other derivative types are carried at fair value, which is based primarily upon quotations obtained from counterparties and independent sources. These quotations are compared to internally derived prices and a price challenge is lodged with the counterparties and independent sources when a significant difference cannot be explained by appropriate adjustments to the internal model. When quoted market values are not reliable or available, the value is based on an internal valuation process using market observable inputs that other market participants would use. Changes in the fair value of these instruments other than interest rate swaps and credit default swaps associated with replicated synthetic investments are recorded as unrealized capital (losses) gains in surplus. Gains and losses realized on settlement, termination, closing or assignment of contracts are recorded in net realized capital (losses) gains. Amounts receivable and payable are accrued as net investment income.

 

l.Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

Cash and cash equivalents, which are carried at amortized cost, consist of all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less.

 

Short-term investments, which are carried at amortized cost, consist of short-term bonds, money market mutual funds and all highly liquid investments purchased with maturities of greater than three months and less than or equal to 12 months.

 

The carrying value reported in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position for cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment instruments approximates the fair value.

 

m.Investment income due and accrued

 

Accrued investment income consists primarily of interest and dividends. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis and dividends are recorded as earned on the ex-dividend date.

 

n.Federal income taxes

 

Total federal income taxes are based upon the Company’s best estimate of its current and DTAs or deferred tax assets or liabilities. Current tax expense (benefit) is reported in the Statutory Statements of Operations as federal income tax expense (benefit) if resulting from operations and within net realized capital (losses) gains if resulting from invested asset transactions. Changes in the balances of net deferred taxes, which provide for book-to-tax temporary differences, are subject to limitations and are reported within various lines within surplus. Accordingly, the reporting of book-to-tax temporary differences, such as reserves and policy acquisition costs, and of book-to-tax permanent differences, such as tax-exempt interest and tax credits, may result in effective tax rates in the Statutory Statements of Operations that differ from the federal statutory tax rate.

 

o.Other than invested assets

 

Other than invested assets primarily includes the Company’s investment in corporate-owned life insurance, deferred and uncollected life insurance premium, receivable from subsidiaries and affiliates, reinsurance recoverable, fixed assets and other receivables.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

p.Separate accounts

 

Separate accounts and sub-accounts are segregated funds administered and invested by the Company, the performance of which primarily benefits the policyholders/contract holders with an interest in the separate accounts. Group and individual variable annuity, variable life and other insurance policyholders/contract holders select from among the separate accounts and sub-accounts made available by the Company. The separate accounts and sub-accounts are offered as investment options under certain insurance contracts or policies. The returns produced by separate account assets increase or decrease separate account reserves. Separate account assets consist principally of marketable securities reported at fair value. Except for the Company’s seed money, supplemental accounts and certain guaranteed separate accounts issued in Minnesota, separate account assets can only be used to satisfy separate account liabilities and are not available to satisfy the general obligations of the Company. Separate account administrative and investment advisory fees are included in fees and other income.

 

Assets may be transferred from the general investments of the Company to seed the separate accounts. When assets are transferred, they are transferred at fair market value. Gains related to the transfer are deferred to the extent that the Company maintains a proportionate interest in the separate account. The deferred gain is recognized as the Company’s ownership decreases or when the underlying assets are sold. Losses associated with these transfers are recognized immediately.

 

Separate accounts reflect two categories of risk assumption: nonguaranteed separate accounts for which the policyholder/contract holder assumes the investment risk and guaranteed separate accounts for which the Company contractually guarantees a minimum return, a minimum account value, or both to the policyholder/contract holder. For certain guaranteed separate account products such as interest rate guaranteed products and indexed separate account products, reserve adequacy is performed on a contract-by-contract basis using, as applicable, prescribed interest rates, mortality rates and asset risk deductions. If the outcome from this adequacy analysis produces a deficiency relative to the current account value, a liability is recorded in policyholders’ reserves or liabilities for deposit-type contracts in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position with the corresponding change in the liability recorded as change in policyholders’ reserves or policyholders’ benefits in the Statutory Statements of Operations.

 

Premium income, benefits and expenses of the separate accounts are included in the Statutory Statements of Operations with the offset recorded in the change in policyholders’ reserves. Investment income, realized capital gains (losses) and unrealized capital gains (losses) on the assets of separate accounts, other than seed money, accrue to policyholders/contract holders and are not recorded in the Statutory Statements of Operations.

 

q.Nonadmitted assets

 

Assets designated as nonadmitted by the NAIC primarily include pension plan assets, intangibles, certain electronic data processing equipment, advances and prepayments, certain investments in partnerships and LLCs for which qualifying audits are not performed, the amount of DTAs (subject to certain limitations) that will not be realized by the end of the third calendar year following the current year end, furniture and equipment, certain other receivables and uncollected premium greater than 90 days past due. Due and accrued income is nonadmitted on: (a) bonds delinquent more than 90 days or where collection of interest is improbable; (b) impaired bonds more than 60 days past due; (c) bonds in default; (d) mortgage loans in default where interest is 180 days past due; (e) rent in arrears for more than 90 days; and (f) policy loan interest due and accrued more than 90 days past due and included in the unpaid balance of the policy loan in excess of the cash surrender value of the underlying contract. Assets that are designated as nonadmitted are excluded from the Statutory Statements of Financial Position through a change in nonadmitted assets on the Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus.

 

r.Reinsurance

 

The Company enters into reinsurance agreements with affiliated and unaffiliated insurers in the normal course of business to limit its insurance risk or to assume business.

 

Premium income, policyholders’ benefits (including unpaid claims) and policyholders’ reserves are reported net of reinsurance. Premium, benefits and reserves related to reinsured business are accounted for on bases consistent with

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

  

those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. The Company records a receivable for reinsured benefits paid, but not yet reimbursed by the reinsurer and reduces policyholders’ reserves for the portion of insurance liabilities that are reinsured. Commissions and expense allowances on reinsurance ceded and modified coinsurance (Modco) reserve adjustments on reinsurance ceded are recorded as revenue. Commissions and expense allowances on Retirement Plan Group reinsurance assumed and Modco reserve adjustments on reinsurance assumed are recorded as an expense. 

 

s.Policyholders’ reserves

 

Policyholders’ reserves are developed by actuarial methods that will provide for the present value of estimated future obligations in excess of estimated future premium on policies in force and are determined based on either statutory prescribed mortality/morbidity tables using specified interest rates and valuation methods, or principles-based reserving under Valuation Manual (VM)-20 which considers a wide range of future economic conditions, computed using justified company experience factors, such as mortality, policyholder behavior and expenses.

 

On January 1, 2020, the Company transitioned from Actuarial Guideline 43 to VM-21 for valuing guaranteed living benefits on certain annuity products for statutory reserves.

 

The Company waives deduction of deferred fractional premium at death and returns any portion of the final premium beyond the date of death. Reserves are computed using continuous functions to reflect these practices.

 

The Company charges a higher premium on certain contracts that cover substandard mortality risk. For these policies, the reserve calculations are based on a substandard mortality rate, which is a multiple of the standard mortality tables.

 

Certain variable universal life and universal life contracts include features such as guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB) or other guarantees that ensure continued death benefit coverage when the policy would otherwise lapse. The value of the guarantee is only available to the beneficiary in the form of a death benefit. The liability for variable and universal life GMDBs and other guarantees is included in policyholders’ reserves and the related change in this liability is included in change in policyholders’ reserves in the Statutory Statements of Operations.

 

Certain individual variable annuity and fixed annuity products have a variety of additional guarantees such as GMDBs and variable annuity guaranteed living benefits (VAGLB). The primary types of VAGLBs include guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (GMAB), guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIB) including GMIB Basic and GMIB Plus and guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWB). In general, these benefit guarantees require the contract owner or policyholder to adhere to a company-approved asset allocation strategy. The liabilities for individual variable annuity GMDBs and VAGLBs are included in policyholders’ reserves in the Statements of Financial Position and the related changes in these liabilities are included in change in policyholders’ reserves in the Statutory Statements of Operations.

 

Separate accounts include certain group annuity contracts used to fund retirement plans that offer a guarantee of a contract holder’s principal, which can be withdrawn over a stated period of time. These contracts offer a stated rate of return backed by the Company. Contract payments are not contingent upon the life of the retirement plan participants.

 

Unpaid claims and claim expense reserves are related to disability and LTC claims. Unpaid disability claim liabilities are projected based on the average of the last three disability payments. LTC unpaid claim liabilities are projected using policy specific daily benefit amounts and aggregate utilization factors. Claim expense reserves are based on an analysis of the unit expenses related to the processing and examination of new and ongoing claims. Interest accrued on reserves is calculated by applying NAIC prescribed interest rates to the average reserves by year incurred.

 

Tabular interest, tabular reserves, reserves released, and tabular cost for all life and annuity contracts and supplementary contracts involving life contingencies are determined in accordance with NAIC Annual Statement instructions. For tabular interest, whole life and term products use a formula that applies a weighted average interest rate determined from a seriatim valuation file to the mean average reserves. Universal life, variable life, group life,

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

annuity and supplemental contracts use a formula that applies a weighted average credited rate to the mean account value. For contracts without an account value (e.g., a Single Premium Immediate Annuity) a weighted average statutory valuation rate is applied to the mean statutory reserve or accepted actuarial methods using applicable interest rates are applied.

 

All policyholders’ reserves and accruals are presented net of reinsurance. Management believes that these liabilities and accruals represent management’s best estimate and will be sufficient, in conjunction with future revenues, to meet future anticipated obligations of policies and contracts in force.

 

t.Liabilities for deposit-type contracts

 

Liabilities for funding agreements, dividend accumulations, premium deposit funds, investment-type contracts such as supplementary contracts not involving life contingencies and certain structured settlement annuities are based on account value or accepted actuarial methods using applicable interest rates.

 

u.Participating contracts

 

Participating contracts are those that may be eligible to share in any dividends declared by the Company. Participating contracts issued by the Company represented 61% of the Company’s policyholders’ reserves and liabilities for deposit-type contracts as of December 31, 2020 and 55% as of December 31, 2019.

 

v.Policyholders’ dividends

 

Dividends expected to be paid to policyholders in the following year are approved annually by MassMutual’s Board of Directors and are recorded as an expense in the current year. The allocation of these dividends to policyholders reflects the relative contribution of each group of participating policies to surplus and considers, among other factors, investment returns, mortality and morbidity experience, expenses and taxes. The liability for policyholders’ dividends includes the estimated amount of annual dividends and settlement dividends. A settlement dividend is an extra dividend payable at termination of a policy upon maturity, death or surrender.

 

w.Asset valuation reserve

 

The Company maintains an AVR that is a contingency reserve to stabilize surplus against fluctuations in the carrying value of common stocks, real estate, partnerships and limited liability companies as well as credit-related changes in the value of bonds, preferred stocks, mortgage loans, and certain derivatives. The AVR is reported as a liability within the Statutory Statements of Financial Position and the change in AVR, net of tax, is reported within the Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus.

 

x.Repurchase agreements

 

Repurchase agreements are contracts under which the Company sells securities and simultaneously agrees to repurchase the same or substantially the same securities. These repurchase agreements are carried at cost and accounted for as collateralized borrowings with the proceeds from the sale of the securities recorded as a liability while the underlying securities continue to be recorded as an investment by the Company. Earnings on these investments are recorded as investment income and the difference between the proceeds and the amount at which the securities will be subsequently reacquired is amortized as interest expense. Repurchase agreements are used as a tool for overall portfolio management to help ensure the Company maintains adequate assets in order to provide yield, spread and duration to support liabilities and other corporate needs.

 

The Company provides collateral, as dictated by the repurchase agreements, to the counterparty in exchange for a loan. If the fair value of the securities sold becomes less than the loan, the counterparty may require additional collateral.

 

The carrying value reported in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position for repurchase agreements approximates the fair value.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

y.Commercial paper

 

The Company issues commercial paper (CP) in the form of unsecured notes. Interest on CP is calculated using a 360-day year based on the actual number of days elapsed. Due to the short-term nature of CP, the carrying value approximates fair value.

 

z.Interest maintenance reserve

 

The Company maintains an IMR that is used to stabilize net income against fluctuations in interest rates. After-tax realized capital gains (losses), which result from changes in interest rates for all types of fixed-income investments and interest-related derivatives, are deferred into the IMR and amortized into net investment income using the grouped amortization method. In the grouped amortization method, assets are grouped based on years of maturity. IMR is reduced by the amount ceded to reinsurers when entering into in force coinsurance ceding agreements. The IMR is included in other liabilities, or if negative, is recorded as a nonadmitted asset.

 

aa.Employee compensation plans

 

The Company has a long-term incentive compensation plan, under which certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries may be issued phantom share-based compensation awards. These awards include Phantom Stock Appreciation Rights (PSARs) and Phantom Restricted Stock (PRS). These awards do not grant an equity or ownership interest in the Company.

 

PSARs provide the participant with the opportunity to share in the value created in the total enterprise. The PSAR value is the appreciation in the phantom stock price between the grant price and the share price at the time of exercise. Awards can only be settled in cash. PSARs typically cliff vest at the end of three years and expire five years after the date of grant. Vested PSARs may be exercised during quarterly two-week exercise periods prior to expiration. The compensation expense for an individual award is recognized over the service period.

 

PRS provide the participant with the opportunity to share in the value created in the total enterprise. Participants receive the full phantom share value (grant price plus/minus any change in share price) over the award period. Awards can only be settled in cash. PRS typically vests on a graded basis over five years, one third per year after years three, four and five. On each vesting date, a lump sum cash settlement is paid to the participant based on the number of shares vested multiplied by the most recent phantom stock price. Compensation expense is recognized on the accelerated attribution method. The accelerated attribution method recognizes compensation expense over the vesting period by which each separate payout year is treated as if it were, in substance, a separate award.

 

All awards granted under the Company’s plans are compensatory classified awards. Compensation costs are based on the most recent quarterly calculated intrinsic value of the PSARs (current share price less grant price per share not less than zero) and PRS (current share price per share), considering vesting provisions, net of forfeiture assumptions and are included in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position as a liability in general expenses due or accrued. The compensation expense for an individual award is recognized over the service period. The cumulative compensation expense for all outstanding awards in any period is equal to the change in calculated liability period over period. The requisite service period for the awards is the vesting period.

 

At the time of death or disability, awards contain vesting conditions, whereby employees’ unvested awards immediately vest on an accelerated basis with a one-year exercise period for PSARs, full accelerated vesting and settlement for PRS awards granted 2016 and after. For PRS awards granted prior to 2016, awards vest on a pro-rata basis with immediate settlement.

 

At the time of retirement, for awards granted beginning in 2016, both PRS and PSAR vest according to the original grant terms. For awards granted prior to 2016, unvested awards immediately vest on an accelerated basis with a two-year exercise period for PSARs, and a pro-rata basis with immediate settlement for PRS.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The phantom share price is determined as the greater of the share price calculated using management basis core operating income or the share price calculated using management basis equity. This phantom share price is calculated and communicated to all participants quarterly and is used in calculating the liability of the Company based on intrinsic value.

 

bb.Other liabilities

 

Other liabilities primarily consist of the derivative interest expense liability, remittances and items not allocated, other miscellaneous liabilities, liabilities for employee benefits and accrued separate account transfers.

 

cc.Premium and related expense recognition

 

Life insurance premium revenue is generally recognized annually on the anniversary date of the policy. However, premium for flexible products, primarily universal life and variable universal life contracts, is recognized as revenue when received. Annuity premium is recognized as revenue when received. Disability income and LTC premium is recognized as revenue when due.

 

Premium revenue is adjusted by the related deferred premium adjustment. Deferred premium adjusts for the overstatement created in the calculation of reserves as the reserve computation assumes the entire year’s net premium is collected annually at the beginning of the policy year and does not take into account installment or modal payments.

 

Commissions and other costs related to issuance of new policies and policy maintenance and settlement costs are charged to current operations when incurred. Surrender fee charges on certain life and annuity products are recorded as a reduction of benefits and expenses.

 

dd.Net realized capital (losses) gains including other-than-temporary impairments and unrealized capital gains (losses)

 

Net realized capital (losses) gains, net of taxes, exclude gains (losses) deferred into the IMR and gains (losses) of the separate accounts. Net realized capital (losses) gains, including OTTI, are recognized in net income and are determined using the specific identification method.

 

Bonds - general

 

The Company employs a systematic methodology to evaluate OTTI by conducting a quarterly analysis of bonds. OTTI is evaluated in a manner consistent with market participant assumptions. The Company considers the following factors, where applicable depending on the type of securities, in the evaluation of whether a decline in value is other than temporary: (a) the likelihood that the Company will be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the debt security; (b) the present value of the expected future cash flows of the security; (c) the characteristics, quality and value of the underlying collateral or issuer securing the position; (d) collateral structure; (e) the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been below amortized cost; (f) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; (g) adverse conditions related to the security or industry; (h) the rating of the security; (i) the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery to amortized cost; and (j) other qualitative and quantitative factors in determining the existence of OTTI including, but not limited to, unrealized loss trend analysis and significant short-term changes in value.

 

In addition, if the Company has the intent to sell, or the inability, or lack of intent to retain the investment for a period sufficient to recover the amortized cost basis, an OTTI is recognized as a realized loss equal to the entire difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date.

 

When a bond is other-than-temporarily impaired, a new cost basis is established.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

Bonds - corporate

 

For corporate securities, if it is determined that a decline in the fair value of a bond is other than temporary, OTTI is recognized as a realized loss equal to the difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and, generally, its fair value at the balance sheet date.

 

The Company analyzes investments whose fair value is below the cost for impairment. Generally, if the investment experiences significant credit or interest rate related deterioration, the cost of the investment is not recoverable, or the Company intends to sell the investment before anticipated recovery, an OTTI is recognized as realized investment loss.

 

Bonds - loan-backed and structured securities

 

For loan-backed and structured securities, if the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis of the security, an OTTI is recognized as a realized loss equal to the difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and the present value of cash flows expected to be collected. The expected cash flows are discounted at the security’s effective interest rate. Internal inputs used in determining the amount of the OTTI on structured securities include collateral performance, prepayment speeds, default rates, and loss severity based on borrower and loan characteristics, as well as deal structure including subordination, over-collateralization and cash flow priority.

 

ABS and MBS are evaluated for OTTI using scenarios and assumptions based on the specifics of each security including collateral type, loan type, vintage and subordination level in the structure. Cash flow estimates are based on these assumptions and inputs obtained from external industry sources along with internal analysis and actual experience. Where applicable, assumptions include prepayment speeds, default rates and loss severity, weighted average maturity and changes in the underlying collateral values.

 

The Company has a review process for determining if CDOs are at risk for OTTI. For the senior, mezzanine and junior debt tranches, cash flows are modeled using multiple scenarios based on the current ratings and values of the underlying corporate credit risks and incorporating prepayment and default assumptions that vary according to collateral attributes of each CDO. The prepayment and default assumptions are varied within each model based upon rating (base case), historical expectations (default), rating change improvement (optimistic), rating change downgrade (pessimistic) and fair value (market). The default rates produced by these multiple scenarios are assigned an expectation weight according to current market and economic conditions and fed into a final scenario. OTTI is recorded if this final scenario results in the loss of any principal or interest payments due.

 

For the most subordinated junior CDO tranches, the present value of the projected cash flows in the final scenario is measured using an effective yield. If the current book value of the security is greater than the present value measured using an effective yield, an OTTI is taken in an amount sufficient to produce its effective yield. Certain CDOs cannot be modeled using all of the scenarios because of limitations on the data needed for all scenarios. The cash flows for these CDOs, including foreign currency denominated CDOs, are projected using a customized scenario management believes is reasonable for the applicable collateral pool.

 

For loan-backed and structured securities, any difference between the new amortized cost basis and any increased present value of future cash flows expected to be collected is accreted into net investment income over the expected remaining life of the bond.

 

Common and preferred stock

 

The cost basis of common and preferred stocks is adjusted for impairments deemed to be other than temporary. The Company considers the following factors in the evaluation of whether a decline in value is other than temporary: (a) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; (b) the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period sufficient to allow for a near-term recovery in value; and (c) the period and degree to which the value has been below cost. The Company conducts a quarterly analysis of issuers whose common or preferred stock is not-in-good standing or valued below 80% of cost. The Company also considers other qualitative and quantitative factors in determining the existence of OTTI including, but not limited to, unrealized loss trend analysis

 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

and significant short-term changes in value.

 

Mortgage loans

 

The Company performs internal reviews at least annually to determine if individual mortgage loans are performing or nonperforming. The fair values of performing mortgage loans are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using current interest rates for similar loans with similar credit risk. For nonperforming loans, the fair value is the estimated collateral value of the underlying real estate. If foreclosure is probable, the Company will obtain an external appraisal.

 

Mortgage loans are considered to be impaired when, based upon current available information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts of principal and interest due according to the contractual terms of the mortgage loan agreement. A valuation allowance is recorded on a loan-by-loan basis in net unrealized capital losses for the excess of the carrying value of the mortgage loan over the fair value of its underlying collateral. Such information or events could include property performance, capital budgets, future lease roll, a property inspection as well as payment trends. Collectability and estimated decreases in collateral values are also assessed on a loan-by-loan basis considering all events and conditions relevant to the loan. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revisions as more information becomes available, as changes occur in the market or as negotiations with the borrowing entity evolve. If there is a change in the fair value of the underlying collateral or the estimated loss on the loan, the valuation allowance is adjusted accordingly. An OTTI occurs upon the realization of a credit loss, typically through foreclosure or after a decision is made to accept a discounted payoff, and is recognized in realized capital losses. The previously recorded valuation allowance is reversed from unrealized capital losses. When an OTTI is recorded, a new cost basis is established reflecting estimated value of the collateral.

 

Real estate

 

For real estate held for the production of income, depreciated cost is adjusted for impairments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, with the impairment being included in realized capital losses. An impairment is recorded when the property’s estimated future net operating cash flows over ten years, undiscounted and without interest charges, is less than book value.

 

Adjustments to the carrying value of real estate held for sale are recorded in a valuation reserve as realized capital losses when the fair value less estimated selling costs is less than the carrying value.

 

Partnerships and limited liability companies

 

When it is probable that the Company will be unable to recover the outstanding carrying value of an investment based on undiscounted cash flows, or there is evidence indicating an inability of the investee to sustain earnings to justify the carrying value of the investment, OTTI is recognized in realized capital losses reflecting the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value of the investment. The estimated fair values of limited partnership interests are generally based on the Company’s share of the net asset value (NAV) as provided in the financial statements of the investees. In certain circumstances, management may adjust the NAV by a premium or discount when it has sufficient evidence to support applying such adjustments.

 

For determining impairments in partnerships that generate LIHTCs, the Company uses the present value of all future benefits, the majority of which are tax credits, discounted at a risk-free rate for future benefits of ten or more years and compares the results to its current book value. Impairments are recognized in realized capital losses reflecting the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value of the investment.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

Unrealized capital gains (losses)

 

Unrealized capital gains (losses) include changes in the fair value of derivatives, excluding interest rate swaps and credit default index swaps associated with replicated assets; currency translation adjustments on foreign-denominated bonds; changes in the fair value of unaffiliated common stocks; changes in the fair value of bonds and preferred stocks that are carried at fair value; and changes in the inflation adjustments on U.S Treasury inflation-indexed securities. Changes in the Company’s equity investments in partnerships and LLCs, including the earnings as reported on the financial statements, earnings recorded as accumulated undistributed earnings, foreign exchange asset valuation and mark-to-market on operating assets, and certain subsidiaries and affiliates are also reported as changes in unrealized capital gains (losses). Unrealized capital gains (losses) are recorded as a change in net unrealized capital gains (losses), net of tax, within the Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus.

 

3.New accounting standards

 

Adoption of new accounting standards

 

In June 2016, the NAIC adopted modifications to Statements of Statutory Accounting Principles (SSAP) No. 51R, Life Contracts, to incorporate references to the Valuation Manual and to facilitate the implementation of VM-20, which were effective on January 1, 2017. The adoption of VM-20 only applies to new life insurance policies issued after January 1, 2017, however the Company adopted these revisions to SSAP No. 51R using the 3-year phased in approach as of January 1, 2020. Prior to adoption, the Company used formulas and assumptions to determine reserves as prescribed by state laws and regulations. Under VM-20, the Company is required to hold the higher of (a) the reserve using prescribed factors and (b) the VM-20 reserve which considers a wide range of future economic conditions, computed using justified company experience factors, such as mortality, policyholder behavior and expenses. At the time of adoption, the modifications did not have a material effect on the Company’s total life reserves and surplus in the financial statements.

 

In April 2019, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP No. 16R, Electronic Data Processing Equipment and Software, effective January 1, 2020, the Company elected to early adopt effective April 1, 2019. This guidance aligns and clarifies the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract, with the requirement for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Costs for implementation activities in the application development stage is capitalized, depending on the nature of the costs and would be nonadmitted, while costs incurred during preliminary project or post implementation stages are expensed as incurred. The amendments also require the entity to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the lesser of the expected term of the hosting arrangement or five years. The Company adopted this guidance on a prospective basis and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In August 2019, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP No. 51R, Life Contracts, to incorporate references to the Valuation Manual and to facilitate the implementation of VM-21. The adoption, effective January 1, 2020, only applies to certain annuity products and includes inforce policies issued after 1980. Prior to adoption, the Company used formulas and assumptions to determine reserves as prescribed by state laws and regulations. Under VM-21, the aggregate reserve for contracts falling within the scope of these requirements shall equal the stochastic reserve plus the additional standard projection amount less the projected IMR included in the starting assets. These requirements constitute the Commissioners Annuity Reserve Valuation Method for all contracts encompassed by the scope. The modifications did not have a material effect on the Company’s total annuity reserves and surplus in the financial statements.

 

In April 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP Nos. 15, 22R and 86. These revisions adopt Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Update No. 2020-04 Reference Rate Reform, which applies only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. Optional expedients allow entities (under certain circumstances) to avoid having to remeasure contracts or reassess a previous accounting determination for hedged items. The guidance is effective through December 31, 2022. The Company has adopted this guidance and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

 20 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

In April 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP Nos. 6, 47, 51R and 65. This guidance extends the 90-Day Rule due to the impacts of COVID-19 and provides exception to the 90-day past due rule for nonadmittance required in SSAP No. 6 for premiums, SSAP No. 47 for uncollected uninsured plan receivables, SSAP No. 51R for life premiums and SSAP No. 65 for high deductible policies. This guidance expired on December 30, 2020. The Company has adopted this guidance and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In April 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP No. 36. This guidance notes a mortgage loan or bank loan modification due to the impacts of COVID-19 on the borrower will not automatically be categorized as a troubled debt restructuring (TDR). To qualify for relief, the borrower must have been in good standing as of December 31, 2019 (not more than 30 days past due). This guidance expires on January 1, 2022. The Company has adopted this guidance and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In April 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP Nos. 26R, 30R, 37, 43R and 48. This guidance provides limited time exceptions for impairment assessments related to mortgage loans, bank loans and other investments that predominantly invest in mortgage loans and does not require an impairment classification under SSAP No. 37 for mortgage loans or SSAP No. 26R for bank loans that are deferred/modified in response to the impacts of COVID-19. It also provides limited-scope provisions for assessing impairment for other investments (e.g., mutual funds, limited liability companies) that predominantly invest in mortgage loans impacted due to fair value declines if the entity does not intend to sell. This guidance only defers the assessment of impairment due to situations caused by the forbearance or modification of mortgage loan or bank loan payments for borrowers who are or may be unable to meet their contractual payment obligations because they are experiencing short-term financial or operational problems due to the effects of COVID-19. This guidance expired on December 30, 2020. The Company has adopted this guidance and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In May 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP No. 34. This guidance notes if investments have been impacted by forbearance or other modification provisions, a reporting entity shall assess whether the investment income has been earned in accordance with the modified terms. This guidance expired on December 30, 2020. The Company has adopted this guidance and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In May 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP Nos. 26R, 36, 43R and 103R. This guidance clarifies how to determine when restructuring or modification of certain debt investments due to COVID-19 are a TDR. The guidance also clarifies whether a modification that is not a TDR needs to be assessed as an exchange under SSAP No. 103R. This guidance expires on January 1, 2022 and was effective for the specific purpose to provide practical expedients in assessing whether modifications in response to COVID-19 are insignificant under SSAP No. 36 and in assessing whether a change is substantive under SSAP No. 103R. The Company has adopted this guidance and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

Future adoption of new accounting standards

 

In July 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP No. 26R, Accounting for Bond Tender Offers, effective January 1, 2021. The modifications apply similar reporting for gains or losses due to a tender offer as previously adopted for calls. The difference between consideration and par is recognized as net investment income, while any difference between book value and par is recognized as realized gain or loss. The modifications are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In July 2020, the NAIC adopted modifications to SSAP No. 32, Preferred Stock, effective January 1, 2021. The modifications define carrying value of redeemable preferred stock as amortized cost for NAIC 1-3 designations, the lower of amortized cost or fair value for NAIC 4-6 designations, and new fair value measurement for perpetual and mandatorily convertible preferred stock. They clarify when failure to meet certain dividends or redemption payments could trigger an impairment assessment, that preferred shares issued by joint ventures are included in the scope of this guidance, and clarifies scope related to sinking fund schedules, mandatory conversions, and various other features. They also clarify fair value would be capped by any currently effective call price. The revisions would impact the Company’s current unaffiliated and affiliated perpetual preferred stock investments. The modifications are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

 21 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

4.Fair value of financial instruments

 

The following presents a summary of the carrying values and fair values of the Company’s financial instruments: 

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Carrying   Fair             
   Value   Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
   (In Millions) 
Financial assets:                         
Bonds:                         
U. S. government and agencies  $4,438   $5,351   $-   $5,351   $- 
All other governments   1,848    2,121    -    2,034    87 
States, territories and possessions   424    498    -    498    - 
Political subdivisions   431    507    -    507    - 
Special revenue   6,241    7,257    -    7,247    10 
Industrial and miscellaneous   94,990    103,560    110    57,947    45,503 
Parent, subsidiaries and affiliates   6,312    6,409    -    -    6,409 
Preferred stocks   470    516    1    -    515 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   361    361    172    -    189 
Common stocks - unaffiliated   1,192    1,192    780    -    412 
Mortgage loans - commercial   22,216    23,150    -    -    23,150 
Mortgage loans - residential   3,862    3,885    -    -    3,885 
Derivatives:                         
Interest rate swaps   20,081    22,591    -    22,591    - 
Options   411    411    64    347    - 
Currency swaps   517    517    -    517    - 
Forward contracts   62    62    -    62    - 
Credit default swaps   -    2    -    2    - 
Financial futures   5    5    5    -    - 
Cash, cash equivalents and                         
short-term investments   5,738    5,738    272    5,466    - 
Separate account assets   75,966    75,966    51,281    22,851    1,834 
Financial liabilities:                         
GICs   11,464    11,807    -    -    11,807 
Group annuity contracts and other deposits   1,736    1,892    -    -    1,892 
Individual annuity contracts   9,764    12,473    -    -    12,473 
Supplementary contracts   1,129    1,130    -    -    1,130 
Repurchase agreements   4,006    4,006    -    4,006    - 
Commercial paper   250    250    -    250    - 
Derivatives:                         
Interest rate swaps   16,134    16,843    -    16,843    - 
Options   8    8    8    -    - 
Currency swaps   864    864    -    864    - 
Forward contracts   279    279    -    279    - 
Credit default swaps   1    1    -    1    - 
Financial futures   63    63    63    -    - 

 

Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates do not include unconsolidated subsidiaries, which had statutory carrying values of $19,534 million.

 

 22 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Carrying Value   Fair Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
   (In Millions) 
                     
Financial assets:                         
Bonds:                         
U. S. government and agencies  $4,361   $4,944   $-   $4,944   $- 
All other governments   1,589    1,762    -    1,693    69 
States, territories and possessions   547    603    -    603    - 
Political subdivisions   517    569    -    569    - 
Special revenue   5,807    6,594    -    6,584    10 
Industrial and miscellaneous   82,586    88,206    10    48,715    39,481 
Parent, subsidiaries and affiliates   6,500    6,658    -    381    6,277 
Preferred stocks   749    787    11    -    776 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   282    282    162    -    120 
Common stocks - unaffiliated   1,185    1,185    917    -    268 
Mortgage loans - commercial   24,163    25,090    -    -    25,090 
Mortgage loans - residential   3,310    3,304    -    -    3,304 
Derivatives:                         
Interest rate swaps   10,571    11,983    -    11,983    - 
Options   575    575    40    535    - 
Currency swaps   880    880    -    880    - 
Forward contracts   11    11    -    11    - 
Credit default swaps   22    31    -    31    - 
Financial futures   5    5    5    -    - 
Cash, cash equivalents and                         
short-term investments   3,793    3,793    206    3,587    - 
Separate account assets   70,230    70,230    48,151    21,113    966 
Financial liabilities:                         
GICs   9,815    9,909    -    -    9,909 
Group annuity contracts and other deposits   17,963    18,600    -    -    18,600 
Individual annuity contracts   8,338    10,317    -    -    10,317 
Supplementary contracts   1,185    1,186    -    -    1,186 
Repurchase agreements   3,834    3,834    -    3,834    - 
Commercial paper   250    250    -    250    - 
Derivatives:                         
Interest rate swaps   9,124    9,972    -    9,972    - 
Options   2    2    2    -    - 
Currency swaps   212    212    -    212    - 
Forward contracts   158    158    -    158    - 
Financial futures   112    112    112    -    - 

  

Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates do not include unconsolidated subsidiaries, which had statutory carrying values of $16,689 million.

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The authoritative guidance for fair value establishes a measurement framework that includes a hierarchy used to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques into three levels. Each level reflects a unique description of the inputs that are significant to the fair value measurements. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1 – Observable inputs in the form of quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be derived from observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

Level 3 – One or more unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using internal models, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

 

When available, the Company generally uses unadjusted quoted market prices from independent sources to determine the fair value of investments, and classifies such items within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. If quoted prices are not available, prices are derived from observable market data for similar assets in an active market or obtained directly from brokers for identical assets traded in inactive markets. Investments that are priced using these inputs are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. When some of the necessary observable inputs are unavailable, fair value is based upon internally developed models. These models use inputs not directly observable or correlated with observable market data. Typical inputs, which are integrated in the Company’s internal discounted cash flow models and discounted earnings models include, but are not limited to, issuer spreads derived from internal credit ratings and benchmark yields such as LIBOR, cash flow estimates and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization estimates. Investments that are priced with such unobservable inputs are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classifications at each reporting period. Overall, reclassifications between levels occur when there are changes in the observability of inputs and market activity used in the valuation of a financial asset or liability. Such reclassifications are reported as transfers between levels at the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur. Given the types of assets classified as Level 1 (primarily equity securities including mutual fund investments), transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 measurement categories are expected to be infrequent. Transfers into and out of Level 3 are summarized in the schedule of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities.

 

The fair value of group annuity contracts and other deposits is determined by multiplying the book value of the contract by an average market value adjustment factor. The market value adjustment factor is directly related to the difference between the book value of client liabilities and the present value of installment payments discounted at current market value yields. The market value yield is measured by the Barclay’s Aggregate Bond Index, subject to certain adjustments, and the installment period is equivalent to the duration of the Company’s invested asset portfolio.

 

The fair value of individual annuity and supplementary contracts is determined using one of several methods based on the specific contract type. For short-term contracts, generally less than 30 days, the fair value is assumed to be the book value. For contracts with longer durations, GICs and investment-type contracts, the fair value is determined by calculating the present value of future cash flows discounted at current market interest rates, the risk-free rate or a current pricing yield curve based on pricing assumptions using assets of a comparable corporate bond quality. Annuities receiving dividends are accumulated at the average minimum guaranteed rate and discounted at the risk-free rate. All others are valued using cash flow projections from the Company’s asset/liability management analysis.

 

 24 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

The following presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Financial assets:                    
Bonds:                    
Special revenue  $-   $2   $-   $2 
Industrial and miscellaneous   110    221    112    443 
 Preferred stocks   -    -    18    18 
 Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   172    -    189    361 
 Common stocks - unaffiliated   780    -    412    1,192 
 Derivatives:                    
Interest rate swaps   -    20,081    -    20,081 
Options   64    347    -    411 
Currency swaps   -    517    -    517 
Forward contracts   -    62    -    62 
Credit default swaps   -    2    -    2 
Financial futures   5    -    -    5 
 Separate account assets   51,281    22,851    1,834    75,966 
 Total financial assets carried at fair value  $52,412   $44,083   $2,565   $99,060 
                     
Financial liabilities:                    
Derivatives:                    
Interest rate swaps  $-   $16,134   $-   $16,134 
Options   8    -    -    8 
Currency swaps   -    864    -    864 
Forward contracts   -    279    -    279 
Credit default swaps   -    1    -    1 
Financial futures   63    -    -    63 
Total financial liabilities carried at fair value  $71   $17,278   $-   $17,349 

  

For the year ended December 31, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any financial instruments that were carried at NAV as a practical expedient.

  

 25 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

The following presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value:

 

   December 31, 2019
   Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total
   (In Millions)
Financial assets:                    
Bonds:                    
Industrial and miscellaneous  $10   $143   $111   $264 
Preferred stocks   -    -    13    13 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   162    -    120    282 
Common stocks - unaffiliated   917    -    268    1,185 
Derivatives:                    
Interest rate swaps   -    10,571    -    10,571 
Options   40    535    -    575 
Currency swaps   -    880    -    880 
Forward contracts   -    11    -    11 
Financial futures   5    -    -    5 
Separate account assets   48,151    21,113    966    70,230 
Total financial assets carried at fair value  $49,285   $33,253   $1,478   $84,016 
                     
Financial liabilities:                    
Derivatives:                    
Interest rate swaps  $-   $9,124   $-   $9,124 
Options   2    -    -    2 
Currency swaps   -    212    -    212 
Forward contracts   -    158    -    158 
Financial futures   112    -    -    112 
Total financial liabilities carried at fair value  $114   $9,494   $-   $9,608 

 

The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period. Changes in the observability of the valuation attributes and the level of market activity may result in a reclassification of certain financial assets or liabilities between fair value hierarchy classifications. Such reclassifications are reported as transfers between levels in the beginning fair value for the reporting period in which the changes occur.

 

Valuation Techniques and Inputs

 

The Company determines the fair value of its investments using primarily the market approach or the income approach. The use of quoted prices for identical assets and matrix pricing or other similar techniques are examples of market approaches, while the use of discounted cash flow methodologies is an example of the income approach. The Company attempts to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in selecting whether the market or the income approach is used.

 

A description of the significant valuation techniques and inputs to the determination of estimated fair value for the more significant asset and liability classes measured at fair value on a recurring basis and categorized within Level 2 and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy is as follows:

 

 26 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

  

Separate account assets – These assets primarily include bonds (industrial and miscellaneous; U.S. government and agencies), and derivatives. Their fair values are determined as follows:

 

Bonds (Industrial and miscellaneous) – These securities are principally valued using the market or the income approaches. Level 2 valuations are based primarily on quoted prices in markets that are not active, broker quotes, matrix pricing or other similar techniques that use standard market observable inputs such as benchmark yields, spreads versus benchmark yields, new issuances, issuer ratings, duration, and trades of identical or comparable securities. Privately placed securities are valued using discounted cash flow models using standard market observable inputs, and inputs derived from, or corroborated by, market observable data including market yield curve, duration, call provisions, observable prices and spreads for similar publicly traded or privately traded issuances that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer. This level also includes securities priced by independent pricing services that use observable inputs. Valuations based on matrix pricing or other similar techniques that utilize significant unobservable inputs or inputs that cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data, including adjustments for illiquidity, delta spread adjustments or spreads to reflect industry trends or specific credit−related issues are classified as Level 3. In addition, inputs including quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2 are classified as Level 3.

 

Bonds (U.S. government and agencies) – These securities are principally valued using the market approach. Level 2 valuations are based primarily on quoted prices in markets that are not active, or using matrix pricing or other similar techniques using standard market observable inputs such as the benchmark U.S. Treasury yield curve, the spreads versus the U.S. Treasury yield curve for the identical security and comparable securities that are actively traded.

 

Derivative assets and liabilities – These financial instruments are primarily valued using the market approach. The estimated fair value of derivatives is based primarily on quotations obtained from counterparties and independent sources, such as quoted market values received from brokers. These quotations are compared to internally derived prices and a price challenge is lodged with the counterparties and an independent source when a significant difference cannot be explained by appropriate adjustments to the internal model. When quoted market values are not reliable or available, the value is based upon an internal valuation process using market observable inputs that other market participants would use. Significant inputs to the valuation of derivative financial instruments include overnight index swaps and LIBOR basis curves, interest rate volatility, swap yield curve, currency spot rates, cross currency basis curves and dividend yields. Due to the observability of the significant inputs to these fair value measurements, they are classified as Level 2.

 

The use of different assumptions or valuation methodologies may have a material impact on the estimated fair value amounts. For the periods presented, there were no significant changes to the Company’s valuation techniques.

 

 27 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

 The following presents changes in the Company’s Level 3 assets carried at fair value:

 

   Balance as of   Gains (Losses) in Net   Losses (Gains) in                  
Transfers
       Balance as of 
   1/1/20   Income   Surplus   Purchases   Issuances   Sales   Settlements   In   Out   Other   12/31/20 
   (In Millions) 
                                             
Financial assets:                                                       
Bonds:                                                       
Industrial and miscellaneous  $111   $(2)  $(16)  $4   $11   $-   $(2)  $2   $(28)  $32   $112 
Preferred stocks   13    -    (13)   7    2    -    -    -    -    9    18 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   120    -    18    41    15    -    (4)   -    -    (1)   189 
Common stocks - unaffiliated   268    18    19    118    30    (6)   (36)   1    -    -    412 
 Separate account assets   966    50    1    836    -    (19)   -    -    -    -    1,834 
   Total financial assets  $1,478   $66   $9   $1,006   $58   $(25)  $(42)  $3   $(28)  $40   $2,565 

 

   Balance as of   Gains (Losses) in Net   Losses
(Gains)
in
                   Transfers       Balance as of 
   1/1/19   Income   Surplus   Purchases   Issuances   Sales   Settlements   In   Out   Other   12/31/19 
   (In Millions) 
                                             
Financial assets:                                                       
Bonds:                                                       
Industrial and miscellaneous  $64   $(1)  $(2)  $28   $1   $-   $(5)  $2   $-  $24   $111 

Parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates

   66    -    -   -    -    -    -    -    (8)   (58)   - 
Preferred stocks   -    -    (1)   2    -    -    -    -    -    12    13 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   165    1    (41)   1    -    -    (6)   -    -    -   120 
Common stocks - unaffiliated   306    18    9    4    -    (60)   (9)   -    -    -    268 
 Separate account assets   551    42    (1)   797    -    (423)   -    -    -    -    966 
   Total financial assets  $1,152   $60   $(36)  $832   $1   $(483)  $(20)  $2   $(8)  $(22)  $1,478 

  

Other transfers include assets that are either no longer carried at fair value, or have just begun to be carried at fair value, such as assets with no level changes but a change in the lower of cost or market carrying basis. Industrial and miscellaneous bonds in other contain assets that are now carried at fair value due to ratings changes and assets are no longer carried at fair value where the fair value is now higher than the book value.

 

Level 3 transfers in are assets that are consistently carried at fair value but have had a level change. Common stocks unaffiliated assets were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 due to a change in the observability of pricing inputs, at the beginning fair value for the reporting period.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

5.Investments

 

The Company maintains a diversified investment portfolio. Investment policies limit concentration in any asset class, geographic region, industry group, economic characteristic, investment quality or individual investment.

 

a.Bonds

 

The carrying value and fair value of bonds were as follows:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Carrying Value   Gross Unrealized Gains   Gross Unrealized Losses   Fair Value 
   (In Millions) 
                 
U.S. government and agencies  $4,438   $914   $1   $5,351 
All other governments   1,848    274    1    2,121 
States, territories and possessions   424    74    -    498 
Political subdivisions   431    76    -    507 
Special revenue   6,241    1,020    4    7,257 
Industrial and miscellaneous   94,990    9,122    552    103,560 
Parent, subsidiaries and affiliates   6,312    97    -    6,409 
Total  $114,684   $11,577   $558   $125,703 

  

The December 31, 2020 gross unrealized losses exclude $72 million of losses included in the carrying value. These losses include $70 million from NAIC Class 6 bonds and $2 million from RMBS and CMBS whose ratings were obtained from outside modelers. These losses were primarily included in industrial and miscellaneous or parent, subsidiaries and affiliates. 

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Carrying Value   Gross Unrealized Gains   Gross Unrealized Losses   Fair Value 
   (In Millions) 
                 
U.S. government and agencies  $4,361   $585   $2   $4,944 
All other governments   1,589    174    1    1,762 
States, territories and possessions   547    56    -    603 
Political subdivisions   517    52    -    569 
Special revenue   5,807    789    2    6,594 
Industrial and miscellaneous   82,586    5,900    280    88,206 
Parent, subsidiaries and affiliates   6,500    158    -    6,658 
Total  $101,907   $7,714   $285   $109,336 

  

The December 31, 2019 gross unrealized losses exclude $26 million of losses included in the carrying value. These losses include $25 million from NAIC Class 6 bonds and $1 million from RMBS and CMBS whose ratings were obtained from outside modelers. These losses were primarily included in industrial and miscellaneous or parent, subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

 29 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

The quality of the bond portfolio is determined by the use of SVO ratings and the equivalent rating agency designations, except for RMBS and CMBS that use outside modelers. The following sets forth the NAIC class ratings for the bond portfolio including RMBS and CMBS: 

 

       December 31, 
       2020   2019 
NAIC Class   Equivalent Rating Agency Designation  Carrying Value   % of Total   Carrying Value   % of Total 
       ($ In Millions) 
                         
1   Aaa/ Aa/ A  $58,267    51%  $52,828    52%
2   Baa   45,426    40    38,740    38 
3   Ba   4,830    4    6,214    6 
4   B   3,082    3    1,747    2 
5   Caa and lower   2,558    2    1,907    2 
6   In or near default   521    -    471    - 
    Total  $114,684    100%  $101,907    100%

  

The following summarizes NAIC ratings for RMBS and CMBS investments subject to NAIC modeling:

 

    December 31, 
    2020   2019 
    RMBS   CMBS   RMBS   CMBS 
NAIC   Carrying   % of   Carrying   % of   Carrying   % of   Carrying   % of 
Class   Value   Total   Value   Total   Value   Total   Value   Total 
    ($ In Millions) 
                                  
1   $1,520    90%  $1,993    75%  $1,100    92%  $2,474    88%
2    167    10    173    6    92    8    213    8 
3    -    -    275    10    -    -    42    1 
4    -    -    95    4    -    -    21    1 
5    -    -    54    2    -    -    35    1 
6    -    -    87    3    -    -    40    1 
    $1,687    100%  $2,677    100%  $1,192    100%  $2,825    100%

 

The following is a summary of the carrying value and fair value of bonds as of December 31, 2020 by contractual maturity. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties. Securities with more than one maturity date are included in the table using the final maturity date.

 

   Carrying Value   Fair Value 
   (In Millions) 
         
Due in one year or less  $3,975   $4,014 
Due after one year through five years   22,983    23,727 
Due after five years through ten years   29,545    32,041 
Due after ten years   58,181    65,921 
Total  $114,684   $125,703 

 

 30 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

Sales proceeds and related gross realized capital gains (losses) from bonds were as follows:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
             
Proceeds from sales  $15,457   $13,979   $10,742 
Gross realized capital gains from sales   1,416    256    151 
Gross realized capital losses from sales   (251)   (96)   (199)

 

The following is a summary of the fair values and gross unrealized losses aggregated by bond category and length of time that the securities were in a continuous unrealized loss position: 

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Less Than 12 Months   12 Months or Longer 
   Fair Value   Unrealized Losses   Number of Issuers   Fair Value   Unrealized Losses   Number of Issuers 
   ($ In Millions) 
                         
U.S. government and agencies  $65   $1    7   $-   $-    2 
All other governments   72    1    6    10    -    1 
States, territories and possessions   2    -    1    -    -    - 
Special revenue   342    3    35    14    1    9 
Industrial and miscellaneous   9,956    447    872    4,540    177    412 
Parent, subsidiaries and affiliates   134    -    1    85    -    1 
   Total  $10,571   $452    922   $4,649   $178    425 

 

The December 31, 2020 gross unrealized losses include $72 million of losses included in the carrying value. These losses include $70 million from NAIC Class 6 bonds and $2 million from RMBS and CMBS whose ratings were obtained from outside modelers. These losses were primarily included in industrial and miscellaneous or parent, subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Less Than 12 Months   12 Months or Longer 
   Fair Value   Unrealized Losses   Number of Issuers   Fair Value   Unrealized Losses   Number of Issuers 
   ($ In Millions) 
                         
U.S. government and agencies  $49   $1    6   $31   $1    6 
All other governments   32    -    10    16    -    5 
States, territories and possessions   46    -    5    -    -    - 
Political subdivisions   6    -    3    -    -    - 
Special revenue   83    1    36    27    1    12 
Industrial and miscellaneous   4,995    82    699    7,616    225    559 
Parent, subsidiaries and affiliates   155    -    1    13    -    1 
   Total  $5,366   $84    760   $7,703   $227    583 

  

The December 31, 2019 gross unrealized losses include $26 million of losses included in the carrying value. These losses include $25 million from NAIC Class 6 bonds and primarily included in industrial and miscellaneous or parent, subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, management has not deemed these unrealized losses to be other than temporary because the investment’s carrying value is expected to be realized and the Company has the ability and intent not to sell these investments until recovery, which may be at maturity.

 

As of December 31, 2020, investments in structured and loan-backed securities that had unrealized losses, which were not recognized in earnings, had a fair value of $6,979 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months had a fair value of $3,970 million and unrealized losses of $206 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months had a fair value of $3,009 million and unrealized losses of $86 million. These securities were primarily categorized as industrial and miscellaneous or parent, subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

As of December 31, 2019, investments in structured and loan-backed securities that had unrealized losses, which were not recognized in earnings, had a fair value of $7,496 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months had a fair value of $2,268 million and unrealized losses of $24 million. Securities in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months had a fair value of $5,228 million and unrealized losses of $92 million. These securities were primarily categorized as industrial and miscellaneous or parent, subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

In the course of the Company’s investment management activities, securities may be sold and reacquired within 30 days to enhance the Company’s yield on its investment portfolio. The Company did not sell any securities with the NAIC Designation 3 or below for the years ended December 31, 2020 or 2019, that were reacquired within 30 days of the sale date.

 

The Company had assets on deposit with government authorities or trustees, as required by law, in the amount of $10 million as of December 31, 2020, and $10 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

Residential mortgage-backed exposure

 

RMBS are included in the U.S. government and agencies, special revenue, and industrial and miscellaneous bond categories. The Alt-A category includes option adjustable-rate mortgages and the subprime category includes ‘scratch and dent’ or reperforming pools, high loan-to-value pools, and pools where the borrowers have very impaired credit but the average loan-to-value is low, typically 70% or below. In identifying Alt-A and subprime exposure, management used a combination of qualitative and quantitative factors, including FICO scores and loan-to-value ratios.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

As of December 31, 2020, RMBS had a total carrying value of $2,561 million and a fair value of $2,670 million, of which approximately 11%, based on carrying value, was classified as Alt-A. Alt-A and subprime RMBS had a total carrying value of $1,006 million and a fair value of $1,062 million. As of December 31, 2019, RMBS had a total carrying value of $1,780 million and a fair value of $1,892 million, of which approximately 18%, based on carrying value, was classified as Alt-A. Alt-A and subprime RMBS had a total carrying value of $883 million and a fair value of $945 million.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2020, there were no significant credit downgrades for the securities held by the Company that were backed by residential mortgage pools.

 

Leveraged loan exposure

 

Leveraged loans are loans extended to companies that already have considerable amounts of debt. The Company reports leveraged loans as bonds. These leveraged loans have interest rates higher than typical loans, reflecting the additional risk of default from issuers with high debt-to-equity ratios.

 

As of December 31, 2020, total leveraged loans and leveraged loan CDOs had a carrying value of $17,173 million and a fair value of $17,286 million, of which approximately 78%, based on carrying value, were domestic leveraged loans and CDOs. As of December 31, 2019, total leveraged loans and leveraged loan CDOs had a carrying value of $14,133 million and a fair value of $14,209 million, of which approximately 80%, based on carrying value, were domestic leveraged loans and CDOs.

 

Commercial mortgage-backed exposure

 

The Company holds bonds backed by pools of commercial mortgages. The mortgages in these pools have varying risk characteristics related to underlying collateral type, borrower’s risk profile and ability to refinance and the return provided to the borrower from the underlying collateral. These investments had a carrying value of $ 2,670 million and fair value of $ 2,731 million as of December 31, 2020 and a carrying value of $ 2,827 million and fair value of $ 2,932 million as of December 31, 2019. 

 

b.Preferred stocks

 

The carrying value and fair value of preferred stocks were as follows: 

  

   December 31,  
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Carrying value  $470   $749 
Gross unrealized gains   47    52 
Gross unrealized losses   -    (15)
Fair value  $517   $786 

  

As of December 31, 2020, investments in preferred stocks in an unrealized loss position included holdings with a fair value of $12 million in three issuers, $5 million of which was in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. As of December 31, 2019, investments in preferred stocks in an unrealized loss position included holdings with a fair value of $133 million in 3 issuers, $131 million of which was in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. Based upon the Company’s impairment review process discussed in Note 2dd. “Net realized capital (losses) gains including other-than-temporary impairments and unrealized capital gains (losses)” the decline in value of these securities was not considered to be other than temporary as of December 31, 2020 or 2019.

 

The Company held preferred stocks for which the transfer of ownership was restricted by contractual requirements

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

with carrying values of $422 million as of December 31, 2020 and $684 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

c.Common stocks – subsidiaries and affiliates

 

The Company has two primary domestic life insurance subsidiaries, C.M. Life, which primarily provides fixed and variable annuities and universal life insurance business, and MML Bay State, a subsidiary of C.M. Life, which primarily issues variable life and bank-owned life insurance policies.

 

Summarized below is certain combined statutory financial information for the unconsolidated domestic life insurance subsidiaries:

 

   As of and for the Years Ended December 31,  
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
             
Total revenue  $674   $792   $782 
Net income   114    130    105 
Assets   14,489   13,463   12,863
Liabilities   12,750    11,728    11,226 
Shareholder’s equity   1,739    1,735    1,637 

 

 

MMHLLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MassMutual, is the parent of subsidiaries that include Barings LLC (Barings) and deals in markets that include retail and institutional asset management entities and registered broker dealers.

 

The MMHLLC statutory carrying value was $16.2 billion as of December 31, 2020 and $13.9 billion as of December 31, 2019.

 

Summarized below is certain U.S. GAAP financial information for MMHLLC:

 

   As of and for the Years Ended
December 31,
 
   2020  2019   2018 
    (In Billions) 
    Continuing Operations    Discontinued Operations    Total    Continuing Operations    Discontinued Operations    Total    Continuing Operations    Discontinued Operations    Total 
Total revenue  $3.2   $-   $3.2   $3.6   $5.2   $8.8   $3.1   $2.2   $5.3 
Net income   0.7    -    0.7    0.9    3.5    4.4    0.5    0.5    1.0 
Assets   24.9    -    24.9    22.9    -    22.9    16.5    2.6    19.1 
Liabilities   8.4    -    8.4    8.3    -    8.3    7.5    0.8    8.3 
Member’s equity   16.5    -    16.5    14.6    -    14.6    10.8    -    10.8 

 

MMHLLC paid $266 million in dividends to MassMutual for the year ended December 31, 2020, $200 million of which were declared in 2019, and declared $500 million in dividends, of which $300 million was paid to MassMutual for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

MMHLLC declared an additional $1,000 million in dividends to MassMutual for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

MassMutual contributed capital of $1,948 million to MMHLLC for the year ended December 31, 2020, of which $1,884 million was used for the Rothesay additional investment, and $290 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. On December 1, 2020, MassMutual purchased, through an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary, an additional investment in Rothesay Holdco UK Limited (RHUK) for $1,875 million. RHUK wholly owns Rothesay Life. The

 

 34 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

purchase increased MassMutual’s indirect ownership in Rothesay Life from 24.9% to 48.9%.

 

In December 2020, MassMutual contributed its ownership in MMAF and MML Management LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries with a combined carrying value of $1,602 million, to MMIH, a wholly owned subsidiary, in an affiliated transaction and therefore no gain or loss was recognized on the transaction. There was no impact to surplus.

 

In 2020, C.M. Life declared and paid $173 million in dividends to MassMutual.

 

Summarized below is certain U.S. GAAP financial information for MMIH:

 

   As of and for the Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
    (In Billions) 
Total revenue  $0.3   $-   $- 
Net income   0.1    -    - 
Assets   9.0    -    - 
Liabilities   7.4    -    - 
Member’s equity   1.6    -    - 

 

On May 24, 2019, an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of MassMutual, MM Asset Management Holding LLC (MMAMH) executed the sale of its retail asset management affiliate, Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. (OAC), to Invesco Ltd (Invesco), a global asset manager. Under the terms of the sale, MMAMH and OAC employee shareholders received 81.8 million of Invesco common shares and $4.0 billion in perpetual, non-cumulative preference shares with a fixed cash dividend rate of 5.9%. MMAMH is a directly wholly owned subsidiary of MMHLLC. In turn, at the time of the transaction, MMAMH received a 15.7% common equity interest in post transaction Invesco and MMAMH entered into a shareholder agreement pursuant to which MMAMH has customary minority shareholder rights, including the appointment of a director to Invesco’s board of directors. MassMutual’s investment in MMHLLC was increased from the impact of this sale through change in unrealized capital gains of $3,361 million, with an approximate net increase to surplus of $2,500 million.

 

Subsidiaries of MMHLLC are involved in litigation and investigations arising in the ordinary course of their business, which seek compensatory damages, punitive damages and equitable remedies. Although the Company is not aware of any actions or allegations that reasonably could give rise to a material adverse impact to the Company’s financial position or liquidity, the outcome of litigation cannot be foreseen with certainty. It is the opinion of management that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not materially impact the Company’s financial position or liquidity. However, the outcome of a particular proceeding may be material to the Company’s Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus for a particular period depending upon, among other factors, the size of the loss and the level of the Company’s changes in surplus for the period.

 

MassMutual International LLC (MMI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, includes investments in international life insurance companies. On December 31, 2018, MMI was transferred from Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates to Partnerships and limited liability companies due to the sale of majority interests in two international life insurance operating subsidiaries in 2018.

 

MMI completed the sale of MassMutual Asia Limited (MM Asia) to Yunfeng Financial Group (Yunfeng FG) and several Asia-based investors. Under the terms of the agreement, MMI received $1,012 million in cash and 800 million shares of Yunfeng FG, which represented approximately 24.8% ownership at the time of the close. In turn, Yunfeng FG held, at the time of closing, a 60% interest in MM Asia and the other investors held the remainder. The transaction was signed and announced in August 2017.

 

In March 2018, MassMutual and MMI entered into an agreement to sell 85.1% of MassMutual Life Insurance Company in Japan (MM Japan), a wholly-owned life insurance and wealth management subsidiary of MMI, to

 

 35 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

Nippon Life. MMI estimated the fair value of the retained portion of MM Japan based upon an internal valuation model. The sale of MM Japan closed in May 2018. MMI received $960 million in cash proceeds from the sale.

 

The amount of the proceeds from the sale of MM Japan and MM Asia was less than MMI’s book value. As such, MMI’s book value was reduced to an estimated fair value of $2,700 million and an impairment of $1,257 million was recorded in net realized capital gains (losses) in 2018.

 

MassMutual contributed additional capital of $214 million to MMI during the year ended December 31, 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2018, MassMutual received $1,583 million as a return of capital from MMI.

 

The Company does not rely on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet its operating cash flow requirements. For the domestic life insurance subsidiaries, substantially all of their statutory shareholder’s equity of $1,739 million as of December 31, 2020 was subject to dividend restrictions imposed by the State of Connecticut.

 

For further information on related party transactions with subsidiaries and affiliates, see Note 17. “Related party transactions”.

 

d.Common stocks - unaffiliated

 

The adjusted cost basis and carrying value of unaffiliated common stocks were as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Adjusted cost basis  $979   $1,076 
Gross unrealized gains   254    155 
Gross unrealized losses   (41)   (46)
Carrying value  $1,192   $1,185 

 

As of December 31, 2020, investments in unaffiliated common stocks in an unrealized loss position included holdings with a fair value of $206 million in 112 issuers, $131 million of which were in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. As of December 31, 2019, investments in unaffiliated common stocks in an unrealized loss position included holdings with a fair value of $273 million in 95 issuers, $123 million of which were in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. Based upon the Company’s impairment review process discussed in Note 2dd. “Net realized capital (losses) gains including other-than-temporary impairments and unrealized capital gains (losses)” the decline in value of these securities was not considered to be other than temporary as of December 31, 2020 or 2019.

 

The Company held common stocks, for which the transfer of ownership was restricted by contractual requirements, with carrying values of $119 million as of December 31, 2020 and $112 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

e.Mortgage loans

 

Mortgage loans are comprised of commercial mortgage loans and residential mortgage loans. The Company’s commercial mortgage loans primarily finance various types of real estate properties throughout the U.S., the United Kingdom and Canada. The Company holds commercial mortgage loans for which it is the primary lender or a participant or co-lender in a mortgage loan agreement and mezzanine loans that are subordinate to senior secured first liens. The Company’s loan agreements with the senior lender contain negotiated provisions that are designed to maximize the Company’s influence with the objective of mitigating the Company’s risks as the secondary lender for mezzanine loans. Commercial mortgage loans have varying risk characteristics including, among others, the borrower’s liquidity, the underlying percentage of completion of a project, the returns generated by the collateral, the refinance risk associated with maturity of the loan and deteriorating collateral value.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

Residential mortgage loans are primarily seasoned pools of homogeneous residential mortgage loans substantially backed by Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Veterans Administration (VA) guarantees. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company did not have any direct subprime exposure through the purchases of unsecuritized whole-loan pools.

 

Geographical concentration is considered prior to the purchase of mortgage loans and residential mortgage loan pools. The mortgage loan portfolio is diverse with no significant collateral concentrations in any particular geographic region as of December 31, 2020 or 2019.

 

The carrying value and fair value of the Company’s mortgage loans were as follows:

 

   December 31, 2020   December 31, 2019 
   Carrying Value   Fair Value   Carrying Value   Fair Value 
   (In Millions) 
Commercial mortgage loans:                    
Primary lender  $22,116   $23,048   $24,163   $25,090 
Mezzanine loans   100    102    -    - 
Total commercial mortgage loans   22,216    23,150    24,163    25,090 
                     
Residential mortgage loans:                    
FHA insured and VA guaranteed   3,127    3,158    2,590    2,581 
Other residential loans   735    727    720    723 
Total residential mortgage loans   3,862    3,885    3,310    3,304 
Total mortgage loans  $26,078   $27,035   $27,473   $28,394 

 

As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the loan-to-value ratios of 99% of the Company’s commercial mortgage loans were less than 81%.

 

The Company uses an internal rating system as its primary method of monitoring credit quality. The following illustrates the Company’s mortgage loan portfolio rating, translated into the equivalent rating agency designation:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   AAA/AA/A   BBB   BB   B   CCC and Lower   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Commercial mortgage loans:                              
Primary lender  $7,372   $10,257   $3,915   $475   $97   $22,116 
Mezzanine loans   -    20    80    -    -    100 
Total commercial mortgage loans   7,372    10,277    3,995    475    97    22,216 
Residential mortgage loans:                              
FHA insured and VA guaranteed   3,128    -    -    -    -    3,128 
Other residential loans   2    711    21    -    -    734 
Total residential mortgage loans   3,130    711    21    -    -    3,862 
Total mortgage loans  $10,502   $10,988   $4,016   $475   $97   $26,078 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

   December 31, 2019 
   AAA/AA/A   BBB   BB   B   CCC and Lower   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Commercial mortgage loans:                              
Primary lender  $12,176   $10,373   $1,466   $120   $28   $24,163 
Total commercial mortgage loans   12,176    10,373    1,466    120    28    24,163 
Residential mortgage loans:                              
FHA insured and VA guaranteed   2,590    -    -    -    -    2,590 
Other residential loans   67    653    -    -    -    720 
Total residential mortgage loans   2,657    653    -    -    -    3,310 
Total mortgage loans  $14,833   $11,026   $1,466   $120   $28   $27,473 

 

The maximum percentage of any one commercial mortgage loan to the estimated value of secured collateral at the time the loan was originated, exclusive of mezzanine, insured, guaranteed or purchase money mortgages, was 81.2% as of December 31, 2020 and 81.2% as of December 31, 2019.

 

The geographic distribution of commercial mortgage loans was as follows:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Carrying Value   Average Loan-to-Value Ratio 
   ($ In Millions) 
         
California  5,115    50%
New York   2,342    52%
United Kingdom   2,123    50%
Illinois   1,990    62%
Texas   1,920    57%
Washington   1,125    49%
District of Columbia   1,127    55%
All other   6,474    56%
Total commercial mortgage loans  $22,216    54%

 

All other consists of 29 jurisdictions, with no individual exposure exceeding $900 million.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Carrying Value   Average Loan-to-Value Ratio 
   ($ In Millions) 
         
California  $ 5,678    48%
New York   2,396    49%
United Kingdom   2,445    51%
Illinois   2,152    52%
Texas   1,961    53%
Washington   1,184    53%
District of Columbia   1,514    49%
All other   6,833    52%
Total commercial mortgage loans  $24,163    51%

 

All other consists of 30 jurisdictions, with no individual exposure exceeding $970 million. 

 

Interest rates, including fixed and variable, on the Company’s portfolio of mortgage loans were:

 

   Years Ended December 31 
   2020   2019 
                 
    Low    High    Low    High 
                     
Commercial mortgage loans   1.9%   9.3%   3.0%   10.0%
Residential mortgage loans   2.9%   9.3%   3.3%   10.0%
Mezzanine mortgage loans   3.5%   6.6%   %   %

 

Interest rates, including fixed and variable, on new mortgage loans were:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019 
                 
    Low    High    Low    High 
                     
Commercial mortgage loans   1.9%   7.4%   3.0%   8.7%
Residential mortgage loans   3.6%   5.4%   4.2%   6.1%
Mezzanine mortgage loans   3.5%   6.6%   %   %

 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had impaired mortgage loans with or without a valuation allowance or mortgage loans derecognized as a result of foreclosure, including mortgage loans subject to a participant or co-lender mortgage loan agreement with a unilateral mortgage loan foreclosure restriction or mortgage loan derecognized as a result of a foreclosure.

 

The following presents a summary of the Company’s impaired mortgage loans as of December 31, 2020:

 

   December 31, 2020 
       Average   Unpaid         
   Carrying   Carrying   Principal   Valuation   Interest 
   Value   Value   Balance   Allowance   Income 
   (In Millions) 
With no allowance recorded:                         
Commercial mortgage loans:                         
Primary lender   63    82    103    -    2 
Total   63    82    103    -    2 
Total impaired commercial mortgage loans  $63   $82   $103   $-   $2 

 

The Company did not hold any impaired mortgage loans subject to a participant or co-lender mortgage loan agreement with a unilateral mortgage loan foreclosure restriction as of December 31, 2019.             

 

The Company did not hold any restructured mortgage loans, mortgage loans with principal or interest past due, or mortgage loans with suspended interest accruals as of December 31, 2020 or 2019. The carrying value of commercial mortgage loans subject to a participant or co-lender mortgage loan agreement was $1,249 million as of December 31, 2020 and $657 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

f.Real estate

 

The carrying value of real estate was as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Held for the production of income  $1,828   $1,784 
Accumulated depreciation   (781)   (711)
Encumbrances   (950)   (924)
Held for the production of income, net   97    149 
           
Occupied by the Company   512    441 
Accumulated depreciation   (247)   (232)
Occupied by the Company, net   265    209 
           
Total real estate  $362   $358 

 

Depreciation expense on real estate was $85 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, $91 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $102 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

g.Partnerships and limited liability companies

 

The carrying value of partnership and LLC holdings by annual statement category were:

 

   December 31,   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
Joint venture interests:          
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates  $2,430   $3,130 
Common stocks - unaffiliated   2,554    2,098 
Real estate   1,360    1,183 
Bonds/preferred stock   1,140    1,064 
Other   594    274 
Mortgage loans   895    673 
Surplus notes   362    348 
LIHTCs   199    242 
Total  $9,534   $9,012 

 

The Company held three affiliated partnerships and limited liability companies in a loss position with accumulated losses of $3 million as of December 31, 2020, and three affiliated partnerships and limited liability companies in a loss position with accumulated losses of $57 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

The Company’s unexpired tax credits expire within a range of less than 1 year to 13 years.

 

The Company recorded tax credits on these investments of $49 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $45 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The minimum holding period required for the Company’s LIHTC investments extends from 1 year to 15 years.

 

For determining impairments for LIHTC investments, the Company uses the present value of all future benefits, the majority of which are tax credits, discounted at a risk-free rate ranging from 0.1% for future benefits of two years to 0.9% for future benefits of ten or more years, and compares the result to its current carry value. The Company recorded $(4) million of impairments for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted into law on December 22, 2017, reduced the statutory federal tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018. Due to this law change, impairments of $2 million were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

There were no write-downs or reclassifications of LIHTC partnerships made during the years ended December 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019, due to forfeiture or ineligibility of tax credits or similar issues. In addition, there are no LIHTC investments subject to regulatory review for the years ended December 31, 2020 or 2019.

 

In 2020, there was a decrease in carrying value of an affiliated partnership and LLC of $245 million, which included an OTTI of $257 million from one investment.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

h.Derivatives

 

The Company uses derivative financial instruments in the normal course of business to manage risks, primarily to reduce currency, interest rate and duration imbalances determined in asset/liability analyses. The Company also uses a combination of derivatives and fixed income investments to create replicated synthetic investments. These replicated synthetic investments are created when they are economically more attractive than the actual instrument or when similar instruments are unavailable. Replicated synthetic investments are created either to hedge and reduce the Company’s credit exposure or to create an investment in a particular asset. The Company held replicated synthetic investments with a notional amount of $15,989 million as of December 31, 2020 and $16,039 million as of December 31, 2019, as defined under statutory accounting practices as the result of pairing of a long derivative contract with cash instruments.

 

The Company’s derivative strategy employs a variety of derivative financial instruments: including interest rate, currency, equity, bond, and credit default swaps; options; forward contracts and financial futures. Investment risk is assessed on a portfolio basis and individual derivative financial instruments are not generally designated in hedging relationships; therefore, as allowed by statutory accounting practices, the Company intentionally has not applied hedge accounting.

 

Interest rate swaps are primarily used to more closely match the cash flows of assets and liabilities. Interest rate swaps are also used to mitigate changes in the value of assets anticipated to be purchased and other anticipated transactions and commitments. The Company uses currency swaps for the purpose of managing currency exchange risks in its assets and liabilities.

 

The Company does not sell credit default swaps as a participant in the credit insurance market. The Company does, however, use credit default swaps as part of its investment management process. The Company buys credit default swaps as an efficient means to reduce credit exposure to particular issuers or sectors in the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company sells credit default swaps in order to create synthetic investment positions that enhance the return on its investment portfolio by providing comparable exposure to fixed income securities that might not be available in the primary market.

 

Options grant the purchaser the right to buy or sell a security or enter a derivative transaction at a stated price within a stated period. The Company’s option contracts have terms of up to 15 years. A swaption is an option to enter an interest rate swap to either receive or pay a fixed rate at a future date. The Company purchases these options for the purpose of managing interest rate risks in its assets and liabilities.

 

The Company adopted a clearly defined hedging strategy (CDHS) to enable the Company to incorporate currently held hedges in risk-based capital (RBC) calculations. The CDHS is used to significantly mitigate the impact that movements in capital markets have on the liabilities associated with annuity guarantees. The hedge portfolio consists mainly of interest rate swaps, equity swaps, interest rate swaptions and equity futures, and provides protection in the stress scenarios under which RBC is calculated. The hedge portfolio has offsetting impacts relative to the total asset requirement for RBC and surplus for GMDB and VAGLB.

 

The Company utilizes certain other agreements including forward contracts and financial futures. In addition, the Company also uses “to be announced” forward contracts (TBAs) to hedge interest rate risk and participate in the mortgage-backed securities market in an efficient and cost-effective way. Typically, the price is agreed upon at contract inception and payment is made at a specified future date. The Company usually does not purchase TBAs with settlement by the first possible delivery date and thus, accounts for these TBAs as derivatives. TBAs that settle on the first possible delivery date are accounted for as bonds. The Company’s futures contracts are exchange traded and have credit risk. Margin requirements are met with the deposit of securities. Futures contracts are generally settled with offsetting transactions. Forward contracts and financial futures are used by the Company to reduce exposures to various risks including interest rates and currency rates.

 

The Company’s principal derivative exposures to market risk are interest rate risk, which includes inflation and credit risk. Interest rate risk pertains to the change in fair value of the derivative instruments as a result of changes in market interest rates. The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivative financial instruments. The Company regularly monitors counterparty credit ratings,

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

derivative positions, valuations and the value of collateral posted to ensure counterparties are credit-worthy and the concentration of exposure is minimized and monitors its derivative credit exposure as part of its overall risk management program.

 

The Company enters derivative transactions through bilateral derivative agreements with counterparties, or through over the counter cleared derivatives with a counterparty and the use of a clearinghouse. To minimize credit risk for bilateral transactions, the Company and its counterparties generally enter into master netting agreements based on agreed upon requirements that outline the framework for how collateral is to be posted in the amount owed under each transaction, subject to certain minimums. For over the counter cleared derivative transactions between the Company and a counterparty, the parties enter into a series of master netting and other agreements that govern, among other things, clearing and collateral requirements. These transactions are cleared through a clearinghouse and each derivative counterparty is only exposed to the default risk of the clearinghouse. Certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps are considered cleared transactions. These cleared transactions require initial and daily variation margin collateral postings. These agreements allow for contracts in a positive position, in which amounts are due to the Company, to be offset by contracts in a negative position. This right of offset, combined with collateral obtained from counterparties, reduces the Company’s credit exposure.

 

Net collateral pledged by the counterparties was $4,849 million as of December 31, 2020 and $2,270 million as of December 31, 2019. In the event of default, the full market value exposure at risk in a net gain position, net of offsets and collateral, was $194 million as of December 31, 2020 and $51 million as of December 31, 2019. The statutory net amount at risk, defined as net collateral pledged and statement values excluding accrued interest, was $296 million as of December 31, 2020 and $412 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

The Company had the right to rehypothecate or repledge securities totaling $829 million of the $4,849 million as of December 31, 2020 and $1,126 million of the $2,270 million as of December 31, 2019 of net collateral pledged by counterparties. There were no securities rehypothecated to other counterparties as of December 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

 

The following summarizes the carrying values and notional amounts of the Company’s derivative financial instruments:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Assets   Liabilities 
   Carrying   Notional   Carrying   Notional 
   Value   Amount   Value   Amount 
   (In Millions) 
                 
Interest rate swaps  $20,081   $110,698   $16,134   $106,433 
Options   411    17,234    8    53 
Currency swaps   517    6,163    864    10,624 
Forward contracts   62    4,793    279    9,009 
Credit default swaps   -    5    1    95 
Financial futures   5    373    63    2,595 
Total  $21,076   $139,266   $17,349   $128,809 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Assets   Liabilities 
   Carrying   Notional   Carrying   Notional 
   Value   Amount   Value   Amount 
   (In Millions) 
                 
Interest rate swaps  $10,571   $88,850   $9,124   $113,150 
Options   575    19,360    2    3 
Currency swaps   880    10,727    212    5,511 
Forward contracts   11    2,220    158    8,055 
Credit default swaps   22    1,185    -    34 
Financial futures   5    291    112    2,974 
Total  $12,064   $122,633   $9,608   $129,727 

 

The average fair value of outstanding derivative assets was $25,764 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and $12,321 million for the years ended December 31, 2019. The average fair value of outstanding derivative liabilities was $19,396 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and $8,686 million for the years ended December 31, 2019.

 

The following summarizes the notional amounts of the Company’s credit default swaps by contractual maturity:

 

   December 31,   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Due in one year or less  $-   $9 
Due after one year through five years   100    1,210 
Total  $100   $1,219 

 

The following presents the Company’s gross notional interest rate swap positions:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Open interest rate swaps in a fixed pay position  $101,419   $94,420 
Open interest rate swaps in a fixed receive position   111,639    103,960 
Other interest related swaps   4,073    3,620 
Total interest rate swaps  $217,131   $202,000 

 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

The following summarizes the Company’s net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts and change in net unrealized gains (losses) related to market fluctuations on open contracts by derivative type:

 

   Year Ended 
   December 31, 2020 
   Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Closed Contracts   Change In Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Open Contracts 
   (In Millions) 
         
Interest rate swaps  $465   $2,503 
Currency swaps   196    (1,028)
Options   449    (111)
Credit default swaps   8    - 
Forward contracts   (195)   (71)
Financial futures   381    50 
Total  $1,304   $1,343 

 

 

   Year Ended 
   December 31, 2019 
   Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Closed Contracts   Change In Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Open Contracts 
   (In Millions) 
         
Interest rate swaps  $172   $(534)
Currency swaps   25    58 
Options   (30)   (273)
Credit default swaps   13    - 
Interest rate caps and floors   -    (6)
Forward contracts   228    (239)
Financial futures   524    (309)
Total  $932   $(1,303)

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

   Year Ended 
   December 31, 2018 
   Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Closed Contracts   Change In Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Open Contracts 
   (In Millions) 
         
Interest rate swaps  $(105)  $(390)
Currency swaps   37    795 
Options   (38)   112 
Credit default swaps   12    2 
Interest rate caps and floors   (3)   6 
Forward contracts   175    170 
Financial futures   (316)   200 
Total  $(238)  $895 

 

The following summarizes gross and net information of derivative assets and liabilities, along with collateral posted in connection with master netting agreements:

 

   December 31, 2020   December 31, 2019 
   Derivative   Derivative       Derivative   Derivative     
   Assets   Liabilities   Net   Assets   Liabilities   Net 
   (In Millions) 
                         
Gross  $21,076   $17,349   $3,727   $12,064   $9,608   $2,456 
Due and accrued   1,030    1,607    (577)   807    1,894    (1,087)
Gross amounts offset   (17,273)   (17,273)   -    (9,458)   (9,458)   - 
Net asset   4,833    1,683    3,150    3,413    2,044    1,369 
Collateral posted   (6,381)   (1,532)   (4,849)   (4,407)   (2,137)   (2,270)
Net  $(1,548)  $151   $(1,699)  $(994)  $(93)  $(901)

 

i.Repurchase agreements

 

The Company had repurchase agreements with carrying values of $4,006 million as of December 31, 2020 and $3,834 million as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2020, the maturities of these agreements ranged from January 3, 2020 through February 14, 2020 and the interest rates ranged from 0.19% to 0.27%. The outstanding amounts were collateralized by cash and bonds with a carrying value of $4,008 million as of December 31, 2020 and $3,846 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

j.Net investment income

 

Net investment income, including IMR amortization, comprised the following:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
             
Bonds  $4,526   $4,417   $4,062 
Preferred stocks   22    38    35 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   1,243    503    910 
Common stocks - unaffiliated   34    40    43 
Mortgage loans   1,225    1,084    997 
Policy loans   965    927    857 
Real estate   91    128    110 
Partnerships and LLCs   583    878    1,030 
Derivatives   487    335    313 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments   93    78    71 
Other   44    40    6 
Subtotal investment income   9,313    8,468    8,434 
Amortization of the IMR   111    11    64 
Investment expenses   (672)   (786)   (724)
Net investment income  $8,752   $7,693   $7,774 

 

k.Net realized capital (losses) gains

 

Net realized capital (losses), which include other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) and are net of deferral to the IMR, comprised the following:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
             
Bonds  $1,025   $56   $(169)
Preferred stocks   (14)   -    - 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   1    1    (1,242)
Common stocks - unaffiliated   (89)   31    92 
Mortgage loans   (72)   3    (1)
Real estate   (30)   33    168 
Partnerships and limited liability companies   (73)   40    (57)
Derivatives   1,304    932    (238)
Other   (64)   3    (29)
Net realized capital gains before federal and state taxes and deferral to the IMR   1,988    1,099    (1,476)
Net federal and state tax expense   (361)   (116)   48 
Net realized capital gains before deferral to the IMR   1,627    983    (1,428)
Net after tax (gains) deferred to the IMR   (2,213)   (1,020)   384 
Net realized capital (losses)  $(586)  $(37)  $(1,044)

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The IMR liability balance was $2,084 million as of December 31, 2020 and $438 million as of December 31, 2019 and was included in other liabilities on the Statutory Statements of Financial Position.

 

OTTI, included in the realized capital losses, consisted of the following:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
             
Bonds  $(140)  $(103)  $(121)
Common stocks- subsidiaries and affiliates   -    -    (1,259)
Common stocks - unaffiliated   (80)   (8)   (12)
Mortgage loans   (40)   -    - 
Partnerships and LLCs   (89)   (86)   (62)
Total OTTI  $(349)   (197)   (1,454)

 

The Company recognized OTTI of $9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 on structured and loan-backed securities, which are included in bonds, primarily due to the present value of expected cash flows being less than the amortized cost.

 

The Company utilized internally-developed models to determine less than 1% of the $140 million of bond OTTI for the year ended December 31, 2020, less than 1% of the $103 million of bond OTTI for the year ended December 31, 2019 and less than 1% of the $64 million of bond OTTI for the year ended December 31, 2018. The remaining OTTI amounts were determined using external inputs such as publicly observable fair values and credit ratings. Refer to Note 2dd. “Net realized capital (losses) gains including other-than-temporary impairments and unrealized capital gains (losses)” for more information on assumptions and inputs used in the Company’s OTTI models.

 

6.Federal income taxes

 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021 was signed into law on December 27, 2020. The CARES Act, among other things, permits net operating loss (NOL) carryovers and carrybacks to offset 100% of taxable income for taxable years beginning before 2021. In addition, the CARES Act allows NOLs incurred in 2018, 2019, and 2020 to be carried back to each of the five preceding taxable years to generate a refund of previously paid income taxes. The CAA extends and expands certain tax provisions of the CARES Act. The CARES Act as well as the CAA did not have a material effect on the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating modifications extending into 2021, however these modifications are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Company provides for DTAs in accordance with statutory accounting practices and has met the required threshold to utilize the three-year reversal period and 15% of surplus limitation.

 

 48 

 

  

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The net DTA or deferred tax liability (DTL) recognized in the Company’s assets, liabilities and surplus is as follows:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Gross DTAs  $2,836   $258   $3,094 
Statutory valuation allowance adjustment   -    -    - 
Adjusted gross DTAs   2,836    258    3,094 
DTAs nonadmitted   -    -    - 
Subtotal net admitted DTA   2,836    258    3,094 
Total gross DTLs   (2,114)   (471)   (2,585)
Net admitted DTA(L)  $722   $(213)  $509 

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Gross DTAs  $2,807   $125   $2,932 
Statutory valuation allowance adjustment   -    -    - 
Adjusted gross DTAs   2,807    125    2,932 
DTAs nonadmitted   -    -    - 
Subtotal net admitted DTA   2,807    125    2,932 
Total gross DTLs   (1,192)   (632)   (1,824)
Net admitted DTA(L)  $1,615   $(507)  $1,108 

 

   Change 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Gross DTAs  $29   $133   $162 
Statutory valuation allowance adjustment   -    -    - 
Adjusted gross DTAs   29    133    162 
DTAs nonadmitted   -    -    - 
Subtotal net admitted DTA   29    133    162 
Total gross DTLs   (922)   161    (761)
Net admitted DTA(L)  $(893)  $294   $(599)

 

 

 49 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The amount of adjusted gross DTA admitted under each component of the guidance and the resulting change by tax character are as follows:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Admitted DTA 3 years:               
Federal income taxes that can be recovered  $-   $54   $54 
Remaining adjusted gross DTAs expected to be realized within 3 years:               
1. Adjusted gross DTA to be realized    1,056    -    1,056 
2. Adjusted gross DTA allowed per limitation threshold   3,336    -    3,336 
Lesser of lines 1 or 2   1,056    -    1,056 
Adjusted gross DTAs offset by existing DTLs   1,780    204    1,984 
Total admitted DTA realized within 3 years  $2,836   $258   $3,094 

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Admitted DTA 3 years:               
Federal income taxes that can be recovered  $-   $68   $68 
Remaining adjusted gross DTAs expected to be realized within 3 years               
1. Adjusted gross DTA to be realized    1,079    -    1,079 
2. Adjusted gross DTA allowed per limitation threshold   2,663    -    2,663 
Lesser of lines 1 or 2   1,079    -    1,079 
Adjusted gross DTAs offset by existing DTLs   1,728    57    1,785 
Total admitted DTA realized within 3 years  $2,807   $125   $2,932 

 

   Change 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Admitted DTA 3 years:               
Federal income taxes that can be recovered  $-   $(14)  $(14)
Remaining adjusted gross DTAs expected to be realized within 3 years               
1. Adjusted gross DTA to be realized    (23)   -    (23)
2. Adjusted gross DTA allowed per  limitation threshold   673    -    673 
Lesser of lines 1 or 2   (23)   -    (23)
Adjusted gross DTAs offset by existing DTLs   52    147    199 
Total admitted DTA realized within 3 years  $29   $133   $162 

 

 50 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The Company’s total realization threshold limitations are as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   ($ In Millions) 
         
Ratio percentage used to determine          
recovery period and threshold limitation   928%   838%
           
Amount of adjusted capital and surplus used to determine          
recovery period and threshold limitation above  $22,238   $18,351 

 

 

The ultimate realization of DTAs depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the temporary differences are deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of DTLs, including the impact of available carryback and carryforward periods, projected taxable income and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. The impact of tax-planning strategies is as follows:

 

   December 31, 2020 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (Percent) 
Impact of tax-planning strategies:            
Adjusted gross DTAs (% of total adjusted gross DTAs)   - %   - %   %
                
Net admitted adjusted gross DTAs (% of total net admitted adjusted gross DTAs)   30%   %   30%

 

   December 31, 2019 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (Percent) 
Impact of tax-planning strategies:            
Adjusted gross DTAs (% of total adjusted gross DTAs)   %   %   %
                
Net admitted adjusted gross DTAs (% of total net admitted adjusted gross DTAs)   46%   %   46%

 

   Change 
   Ordinary   Capital   Total 
   (Percent) 
Impact of tax-planning strategies:            
Adjusted gross DTAs (% of total adjusted gross DTAs)   %   %   %
                
Net admitted adjusted gross DTAs (% of total net admitted adjusted gross DTAs)   (16)%   %   (16)%

 

There are no reinsurance strategies included in the Company’s tax-planning strategies.

 

 51 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The provision for current tax expense on earnings is as follows:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
             
Federal income tax expense (benefit) on operating earnings  $133   $(18)  $(174)
Foreign income tax expense on operating earnings   2    3    1 
Total federal and foreign income tax expense (benefit) before impact of change in enacted legislation   135    (15)   (173)
Impact of change in enacted tax legislation on operating earnings   -    -    5 
Total federal and foreign income tax expense (benefit) on operating earnings   135    (15)   (168)
Federal income tax expense (benefit) on net realized capital gains (losses) before impact of change in enacted legislation   359    116    (48)
Impact of change in enacted tax legislation on net realized Total federal and foreign income tax expense (benefit)  $494   $101   $(216)

 

 

 52 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the DTAs and DTLs are as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019   Change 
   (In Millions) 
DTAs:            
Ordinary            
Reserve items  $1,191   $1,238   $(47)
Policy acquisition costs   649    572    77 
Nonadmitted assets   299    310    (11)
Pension and compensation related items   220    204    16 
Policyholders’ dividends   193    192    1 
Investment items   191    137    54 
Expense items   56    61    (5)
Unrealized investment losses   10    7    3 
Other   27    86    (59)
Total ordinary DTAs   2,836    2,807    29 
Nonadmitted DTAs   -    -    - 
Admitted ordinary DTAs   2,836    2,807    29 
                
Capital               
Unrealized investment losses   209    120    89 
Investment items   49    5    44 
Total capital DTAs   258    125    133 
Admitted capital DTAs   258    125    133 
                
Admitted DTAs   3,094    2,932    162 
                
DTLs:               
Ordinary               
Reserve items   356    424    (68)
Unrealized investment gains   830    -    830 
Deferred and uncollected premium   258    241    17 
Pension items   211    182    29 
Investment items   234    109    125 
Other   225    237    (12)
Total ordinary DTLs   2,114    1,193    921 
                
Capital               
Unrealized investment gains   471    631    (160)
Total capital DTLs   471    631    (160)
                
Total DTLs   2,585    1,824    761 
                
Net admitted DTA  $509   $1,108   $(599)

 

  

 53 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The change in net deferred income taxes comprised the following:

 

     Years Ended December 31, 
     2020   2019   2018 
     (In Millions) 
               
Net DTA(L)  $(599)  $125   $222 
Less: Items not recorded in the change in net deferred income taxes:               
  Tax-effect of unrealized gains/(losses)   576    (180)   69 
  Change in net deferred income taxes  $(23)  $(55)  $291 

 

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no net operating or capital loss carryforwards to include in deferred income taxes. The Company has no tax credit carryforwards included in deferred taxes.

 

The components of federal and foreign income tax are recorded in the Statutory Statements of Operations and the  Statutory Statements of Changes in Surplus and are different from those which would be obtained by applying the prevailing federal income tax rate to net gain from operations before federal income taxes.  The significant items causing this difference are as follows:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
    21%   21%   21%
                
Provision computed at federal statutory rate  $967   $324   $(299)
Change in reserve valuation basis   (2)   (23)   (7)
Expense items   3    5    2 
Foreign governmental income taxes   1    3    1 
Investment items   (411)   (183)   (21)
Nonadmitted assets   11    39    (56)
Tax credits   (50)   (48)   (47)
Other   (2)   39    (79)
Total statutory income tax expense (benefit)  $517   $156   $(506)
                
Federal and foreign income tax expense (benefit)  $494   $101   $(215)
Change in net deferred income taxes   23    55    (291)
Total statutory income tax expense (benefit)  $517   $156   $(506)

 

The Company received federal net income tax refunds of $141 million in 2020 and $551 million in 2019.

 

The total income taxes incurred in the current and prior years that will be available for recoupment in the event of future net capital losses totaled $354 million related to 2020, $54 million related to 2019, and $86 million related to 2018.

 

 54 

 

  

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

MassMutual and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries are included in a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. MassMutual and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries also file income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. MassMutual and its eligible U.S. subsidiaries and certain affiliates (the Parties) have executed and are subject to a written tax allocation agreement (the Agreement). The Agreement sets forth the manner in which the total combined federal income tax is allocated among the Parties. The Agreement provides MassMutual with the enforceable right to recoup federal income taxes paid in prior years in the event of future net capital losses, which it may incur. Further, the Agreement provides MassMutual with the enforceable right to utilize its net losses carried forward as an offset to future net income subject to federal income taxes.

 

Companies are generally required to disclose unrecognized tax benefits, which are the tax effect of positions taken on their tax returns that may be challenged by various taxing authorities, in order to provide users of financial statements more information regarding potential liabilities. The Company recognizes tax benefits and related reserves in accordance with existing statutory accounting practices for liabilities, contingencies and impairments of assets.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability for unrecognized tax benefits (in millions):

 

     
Balance, January 1, 2020  $147 
Gross change related to positions taken in prior years   - 
Gross change related to settlements   - 
Gross change related to positions taken in current year   70 
Gross change related to lapse of statutes of limitations   - 
Balance, December 31, 2020  $217 

 

Included in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2020, are $205 million of tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. The liability for the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2020 includes $9 million of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the Company’s effective tax rate.

 

The Company recognized an increase of $3 million in accrued interest related to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes. The amount of net interest recognized was $17 million as of December 31, 2020 and $14 million as of December 31, 2019. The Company has no accrued penalties related to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. In the next year, the Company does not anticipate the total amount of uncertain tax positions to significantly increase or decrease.

 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has completed its examination of MassMutual and its subsidiaries for the 2011-2016 tax years which are currently at IRS Appeals.   The IRS commenced its examination of years 2017-2018 in October 2020. The adjustments resulting from these examinations are not expected to materially affect the position or liquidity of the Company.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company did not recognize any protective deposits as admitted assets.

 

7.Other than invested assets

 

a.Corporate-owned life insurance

 

The Company holds corporate-owned life insurance issued by unaffiliated third party insurers to cover the lives of certain qualified senior employees. The primary purpose of the program is to offset future employee benefit expenses. The Company pays all premiums and is the owner and beneficiary of these policies. The Company had recorded cash surrender values of these policies of $2,420 million as of December 31, 2020 and $2,290 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

 55 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The cash surrender value is allocated by the following investment categories:

 

   December 31,   
   2020     2019   
             
Bonds   34 %    32 % 
Other Invested Assets   27      26   
Stocks   20      19   
Cash and Short-Term Investments   17      21   
Real Estate   2      2   
    100 %    100 % 

 

b.Deferred and uncollected life insurance premium

 

Deferred and uncollected life insurance premium, net of loading and reinsurance, are included in other than invested assets in the Company’s Statutory Statements of Financial Position. The following summarizes the deferred and uncollected life insurance premium on a gross basis, as well as, net of loading and reinsurance:

 

 

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   Gross   Net   Gross   Net 
   (In Millions) 
                 
Ordinary new business  $148   $77   $152   $44 
Ordinary renewal   934    974    866    956 
Group life   11    11    8    8 
Total  $1,093   $1,062   $1,026   $1,008 

 

Deferred premium is the portion of the annual premium not earned at the reporting date. Loading on deferred premium is an amount obtained by subtracting the valuation net deferred premium from the gross deferred premium and generally includes allowances for acquisition costs and other expenses.

 

Uncollected premium is gross premium net of reinsurance that is due and unpaid as of the reporting date, net of loading. Net premium is the amount used in the calculation of reserves. The change in deferred and uncollected life insurance premium is included in premium income. The change in loading is included as an expense and is not shown as a reduction to premium income.

 

Ordinary new business and ordinary renewal business consist of the basic amount of premium required on the underlying life insurance policies.

 

In certain instances, gross premium is less than net premium according to the standard valuation set by the Division and the Department. The gross premium is less than the net premium needed to establish the reserves because the statutory reserves must use standard conservative valuation mortality tables, while the gross premium calculated in pricing uses mortality tables that reflect both the Company’s experience and the transfer of mortality risk to reinsurers. The Company had life insurance in force of $55,337 million as of December 31, 2020 and $46,228 million as of December 31, 2019 for which gross premium was less than net premium.

 

 56 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

8.Policyholders’ liabilities

 

a.Policyholders’ reserves

 

The Company had life insurance in force of $795,983 million as of December 31, 2020 and $734,969 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

The following summarizes policyholders’ reserves, net of reinsurance, and the range of interest rates by type of product:

 

   December 31,
   2020  2019
   Amount   Interest Rates  Amount   Interest Rates
   ($ In Millions)
                         
Individual life  $ 65,343    2.5%  - 6.0%  $ 61,017   2.5% - 6.0%
Group annuities   15,352    2.3%  - 11.8%   28,101   2.3% - 11.8%
Individual universal and variable life   20,155    3.5%  - 6.0%   18,700   3.0% - 6.0%
Individual annuities   15,259    2.3%  - 11.8%   14,170   1.9% - 11.8%
Group life   5,471    2.5%  - 4.5%   5,021   2.5% - 4.5%
Disabled life claim reserves   1,833    3.5%  - 6.0%   1,825   3.5% - 6.0%
Disability active life reserves   1,342    3.5%  - 6.0%   1,249   3.5% - 6.0%
Other   412    2.5%  - 6.0%   396   2.5% - 6.0%
Total  $125,167            $130,479         

 

Individual life includes whole life and term insurance. Group life includes corporate-owned life insurance, bank-owned life insurance, group universal life and group variable universal life products. Individual annuities include individual annuity contracts, supplementary contracts involving life contingencies and structured settlements. Group annuities include deferred annuities and single premium annuity contracts. Disabled life claim reserves include disability income and LTC contracts and cover the future payments of known claims. Disability active life reserves include disability income and LTC contracts issued. Other is comprised of disability life and accidental death insurance. In 2019, certain corporate-owned life insurance and bank owned-life insurance policies were reclassified to individual as they did not meet the group classification qualifications.

 

 57 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

 

b.Liabilities for deposit-type contracts

 

The following summarizes liabilities for deposit-type contracts and the range of interest rates by type of product:

 

   December 31,
   2020  2019
   Amount  Interest Rates  Amount  Interest Rates
   (In Millions)
GICs:                        
Note programs  $ 8,803  0.4%  -  5.6%  $ 6,936  1.4%  -  5.6%
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston  1,686  0.8%  -  3.4%  1,104  2.1%  -  3.4%
Municipal contracts  975  0.4%  -  5.6%  766  1.3%  -  7.3%
Other                -  1.5%  -  3.4%  1,010  1.5%  -  3.4%
Supplementary contracts  2,605  0.3%  -  7.0%  2,643  0.3%  -  6.8%
Dividend accumulations  482  3.0%  -  3.4%  493  3.0%  -  3.5%
Other deposits  29  4.0%  -  8.0%  2,345  4.0%  -  8.0%
Total  $ 14,580           $ 15,297         

 

Note programs

 

Funding agreements are investment contracts sold to domestic and international institutional investors. Funding agreement liabilities are equal to the account value and are established by contract deposits, increased by interest credited and decreased by contract coupon payments and maturities. Contract holders do not have the right to terminate the contract prior to the contractually stated maturity date. The Company may retire funding agreements prior to the contractually-stated maturity date by repurchasing the agreement in the market or, in some cases, by calling the agreement. If this occurs, the difference in value is an adjustment to interest credited to liabilities for deposit-type contracts in the Statutory Statements of Operations. Credited interest rates vary by contract and can be fixed or floating. Agreements do not have put provisions or ratings-based triggers. The liability of non-U.S. dollar denominated funding agreements may increase or decrease due to changes in foreign exchange rates. Currency swaps are employed to eliminate foreign exchange risk from all funding agreements issued to back non-U.S. dollar denominated notes.

 

Under the note programs, the Company creates special purpose entities (SPEs), which are investment vehicles or trusts, for the purpose of issuing medium-term notes to investors. Proceeds from the sale of the medium-term notes issued by these SPEs are used to purchase funding agreements from the Company. The payment terms of any particular series of notes are matched by the payment terms of the funding agreement securing the series. Notes are currently issued from the Company’s $16.0 billion Global Medium-Term Note Program.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston

 

The Company has funding agreements with Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLB Boston) in an investment spread strategy, consistent with its other funding agreements. These funding agreements are collateralized by securities with estimated fair values of $1,753 million as of December 31, 2020. The Company’s borrowing capacity with FHLB Boston is subject to the lower of the limitation on the pledge of collateral for a loan set forth by law or by the Company’s internal limit. The Company’s unused capacity was $4,314 million as of December 31, 2020. As a member of FHLB Boston, the Company held common stock of FHLB Boston with a statement value of $81 million as of December 31, 2020 and $59 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

 58 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

Municipal contracts

 

Municipal guaranteed investment contracts (municipal contracts) include contracts that contain terms with above market crediting rates. Liabilities for these contracts includes the municipal contracts’ account values, which are established by contract deposits, increased by interest credited (fixed or floating) and decreased by contract coupon payments, additional withdrawals, maturities and amortization of premium. Certain municipal contracts allow additional deposits, subject to restrictions, which are credited based on the rates in the contracts. Contracts have scheduled payment dates and amounts and interest is paid periodically. In addition, certain contracts allow additional withdrawals above and beyond the scheduled payments. These additional withdrawals have certain restrictions on the number per year, minimum dollar amount and are limited to the maximum contract balance. The majority of the municipal contracts allow early contract termination under certain conditions.

 

Certain municipal contracts contain make-whole provisions, which document the formula for full contract payout. Certain municipal contracts have ratings-based triggers that allow the trustee to declare the entire balance due and payable. Municipal contracts may also have terms that require the Company to post collateral to a third party based on the contract balance in the event of a downgrade in ratings below certain levels under certain circumstances. When the collateral is other than cash, the collateral value is required to be greater than the account balance. The collateral was $137 million as of December 31, 2020 and $148 million as of December 31, 2019. The Company employs a rigorous asset/liability management process to help mitigate the economic impacts of various liability risks. By performing asset liability management and performing other risk management activities, the Company believes that these contract provisions do not create an undue level of operating risk to the Company.

Other deposits

 

Other deposits primarily consist of investment contracts assumed as part of the indemnity reinsurance agreement discussed in Note 9. “Reinsurance”. These contracts are used to fund retirement plans. Contract payments are not contingent upon the life of the retirement plan participant.

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s GICs by expected maturity year were as follows (in millions):

 

2021   $1,565 
2022    2,330 
2023    1,577 
2024    1,041 
2025    1,413 
Thereafter    3,538 
Total   $11,464 

 

Most GICs only mature on their contractual maturity date. Actual maturities for municipal contracts may differ from their contractual maturity dates, as these contracts permit early contract termination under certain conditions.

 

c.Unpaid claims and claim expense reserves

 

The Company establishes unpaid claims and claim expense reserves to provide for the estimated costs of claims for individual disability and LTC policies. These reserves include estimates for both claims that have been reported and those that have been incurred but not reported, and include estimates of all future expenses associated with the processing and settling of these claims. This estimation process is primarily based on the assumption that experience is an appropriate indicator of future events and involves a variety of actuarial techniques that analyze experience, trends and other relevant factors. The amounts recorded for unpaid claims and claim expense reserves represent the Company’s best estimate based upon facts and actuarial guidelines. Accordingly, actual claim payouts may vary from these estimates.

 

 59 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The following summarizes the changes in disabled life and LTC unpaid claims and claim expense reserves:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Claim reserves, beginning of year  $2,095   $2,102 
Less:  Reinsurance recoverables   242    228 
Net claim reserves, beginning of year   1,853    1,874 
           
Claims paid related to:          
Current year   (14)   (13)
Prior years   (349)   (339)
Total claims paid   (363)   (352)
           
Incurred related to:          
Current year’s incurred   264    240 
Current year’s interest   7    3 
Prior year’s incurred   25    11 
Prior year’s interest   76    77 
Total incurred   372    331 
           
Adjustments through surplus   (3)   - 
           
Net claim reserves, end of year   1,859    1,853 
Reinsurance recoverables   259    242 
Claim reserves, end of year  $2,118   $2,095 

 

The changes in reserves for incurred claims related to prior years are generally the result of recent loss development trends. The $25 million increase in the prior years’ incurred claims for 2020 and the $11 million increase in the prior years’ incurred claims for 2019 were generally the result of differences between actual termination experience and statutorily prescribed termination tables. In 2020, claim experience included normal claim volume with higher terminations, resulting in a reduction to the incurred reserve from favorable experience, while 2019 claims incurred was due to maturing LTC business partially offset by a corresponding increase in reinsurance recoverable.

 

The following reconciles disabled life claim reserves to the net claim reserves at the end of the years presented in the previous table. Disabled life claim reserves are recorded in policyholders’ reserves. Accrued claim liabilities are recorded in other liabilities.

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Disabled life claim reserves  $1,833   $1,825 
Accrued claim liabilities   27    28 
Net claim reserves, end of year  $1,860   $1,853 

 

d.Additional liability for annuity contracts

 

Certain individual variable annuity and fixed index annuity products have additional death or other insurance benefit features, such as GMDBs, GMIBs, GMABs and GLWBs. In general, living benefit guarantees require the contract holder or policyholder to adhere to a company approved asset-allocation strategy. Election of these benefit guarantees is generally only available at contract issue.

 

 

 60 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The following shows the changes in the liabilities for GMDB, GMIB, GMAB and GLWB (in millions):

 

     
Liability as of January 1, 2019  $756 
Incurred guarantee benefits   (164)
Paid guarantee benefits   (8)
Liability as of December 31, 2019   584 
Incurred guarantee benefits   (366)
Paid guarantee benefits   (7)
Liability as of December 31, 2020  $211 

 

The following summarizes the account values, net amount at risk and weighted average attained age for variable annuity contracts with GMDB, GMIB, GMAB and GLWB classified as policyholders’ reserves and separate account liabilities. The net amount at risk is defined as the minimum guarantee less the account value calculated on a policy-by-policy basis, but not less than zero.

 

   December 31, 2020   December 31, 2019 
       Net   Weighted       Net   Weighted 
   Account   Amount   Average   Account   Amount   Average 
   Value   at Risk   Attained Age   Value   at Risk   Attained Age 
   ($ In Millions) 
GMDB  $11,434   $36    65   $18,345   $40    65 
GMIB Basic   705    11    70    718    28    69 
GMIB Plus   1,494    185    67    2,906    532    68 
GMAB   2,415    1    61    2,544    2    60 
GLWB   146    7    72    151    10    71 

 

As of December 31, 2020, the GMDB account value above consists of $4,402 million of Modco assumed within the separate accounts. As of December 31, 2019, the GMDB account value above consists of $4,088 million of Modco assumed within the separate accounts.

 

Account values of variable annuity contracts with GMDB, GMIB, GMAB and GLWB are summarized below:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   Separate   General       Separate   General     
   Account   Account   Total   Account   Account   Total 
   (In Millions) 
GMDB  $10,141   $1,293   $11,434   $14,585   $3,760   $18,345 
GMIB Basic   685    20    705    700    18    718 
GMIB Plus   1,494    -    1,494    2,906    -    2,906 
GMAB   2,371    44    2,415    2,504    40    2,544 
GLWB   146    -    146    151    -    151 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

e.Additional liability for individual life contracts

 

Certain universal life and variable universal life contracts include features such as GMDBs or other guarantees that ensure continued death benefit coverage when the policy would otherwise lapse. The value of the guarantee is only available to the beneficiary in the form of a death benefit.

 

The following presents the changes in the liability, net of reinsurance, for guarantees on universal life and variable universal life type contracts:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
Beginning balance  $4,003   $3,807 
Net liability increase   296    196 
Ending balance  $4,299   $4,003 

 

9.Reinsurance

 

The Company enters into reinsurance agreements with affiliated and unaffiliated insurers in the normal course of business in order to mitigate the impact of underwriting mortality and morbidity risks or to assume business. Such transfers do not relieve the Company of its primary liability to its customers and, as such, failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in credit losses that could arise if a reinsurer defaults. The Company reduces reinsurance default risk by evaluating the financial condition of reinsurers and monitoring for possible concentrations within the Company’s reinsurers and using trust structures, when appropriate. The Company reinsures a portion of its mortality risk in its life business under either a first dollar quota-share arrangement or an in excess of the retention limit arrangement with reinsurers. The Company also reinsures a portion of its morbidity risk in its disability and LTC business. The amounts reinsured are on a yearly renewable term, coinsurance funds withheld, coinsurance or Modco basis. The Company’s highest retention limit for new issues of life policies ranges from $15 million to $25 million.

 

Refer to Note 17. “Related party transactions” for information about the Company’s affiliated assumed reinsurance transactions.

 

The Company did not reinsure any policies with a company chartered in a country other than the U.S., excluding U.S. branches of these companies, which was owned in excess of 10% or controlled directly or indirectly by an insured, a beneficiary, a creditor or any other person not primarily engaged in the insurance business. There are no reinsurance agreements in effect under which the reinsurer may unilaterally cancel any reinsurance for reasons other than for nonpayment of premium or other similar credits. The Company has no reinsurance agreements in effect such that the amount of losses paid or accrued through the statement date may result in a payment to the reinsurer of amounts which, in aggregate and allowing for offset of mutual credits from other reinsurance agreements with the same reinsurer, exceed the total direct premium collected under the reinsured policies.

 

If all reinsurance agreements were terminated by either party as of December 31, 2020, the resulting reduction in surplus due to loss of reinsurance reserve credits, net of unearned premium, would be approximately $5,538 million assuming no return of the assets, excluding assets in trust, backing these reserves from the reinsurer to the Company.

 

 62 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

Reinsurance amounts included in the Statutory Statements of Operations were as follows:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
             
Direct premium  $32,089   $25,407   $23,294 
Premium assumed   1,145    1,468    1,327 
Premium ceded   (22,911)   (4,094)   (1,692)
Total net premium  $10,323   $22,781   $22,929 
                
Ceded reinsurance recoveries  $1,034   $757   $732 
                
Assumed losses  $219   $171   $206 

 

Reinsurance amounts included in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position were as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
Reinsurance reserves:          
Assumed  $7,615   $8,734 
Ceded   (40,280)   (15,041)
           
Ceded amounts recoverable  $285   $222 
           
Benefits payable on assumed business  $54   $31 
           
Funds held under coinsurance          
Ceded  $17,929   $4,252 

 

Reinsurance reserves ceded to unaffiliated reinsurers as of December 31, 2020 include $8,385 million associated with life insurance policies, $3,916 million for LTC, $27,953 million for annuity, $19 million for disability and $7 million for group life and health. Reinsurance reserves ceded to unaffiliated reinsurers as of December 31, 2019 include $7,869 million associated with life insurance policies, $3,598 million for LTC, $3,543 million for annuity, $23 million for disability and $8 million for group life and health.

 

On July 1, 2020, MassMutual recaptured a coinsurance agreement and ceded the recaptured inforce business to a subsidiary of the initial reinsurer through a coinsurance funds withheld agreement. This resulted in an increase of invested assets of $4,986 million with an offsetting funds withheld liability in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position and a decrease in premium and other income collected with an offset in other cash provided from financing and miscellaneous sources in the Statutory Statements of Cash Flows.

 

 63 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

On December 31, 2020, the Company completed the sale of its retirement plan business to Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (“Great-West”) in a reinsurance transaction for a ceding commission of $2,351 million. Upon closing, Great-West or its affiliates have reinsured $19,580 million of policyholders’ liabilities and $47,154 million of separate account liabilities of the Company’s liabilities. As part of the reinsurance transaction, the Company also transferred invested assets with a carrying value of $7,956 million, net of the ceding commission, to Great-West or its affiliates. These amounts are subject to change pending final determination of the net assets sold, transaction costs and other adjustments.

 

This reinsurance transaction includes a retrocession of the business that the Company reinsures under the terms of the reinsurance agreement between Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Company (Talcott, formerly known as Hartford Life Insurance Company) and the Company. Of the reinsured policyholder’s liabilities above, $6,987 million is retroceded. Also, part of the retrocession are $19,525 million of separate account liabilities of Talcott.

 

In 2020, a $7 million net loss was recorded for the termination of certain yearly renewable term life insurance treaties, representing the write-off of net receivables and a $6 million increase in surplus was realized for termination of unauthorized reinsurance.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company increased its gross LTC policyholders’ reserve by $206 million through a combination of prior year error correction of $159 million and various assumption changes to reflect the risk inherent in the cash flows of this business. This risk is ceded to an unaffiliated reinsurer, therefore the ceded policyholders’ reserves have also been increased by an additional $206 million.

 

In 2019, the Company increased its gross LTC policyholders’ reserves by $1,224 million through a combination of prior year error corrections of $729 million and various assumption changes to reflect the risk inherent in the cash flows of this business. This risk is ceded to an unaffiliated reinsurer, therefore the ceded policyholders’ reserves have also been increased by an additional $1,224 million.

 

In 2018, the Company increased its gross LTC policyholders’ reserves by $390 million to reflect the risk inherent in the cash flows of this business. This risk is ceded to an unaffiliated reinsurer, therefore the ceded policyholders’ reserves have also been increased by $390 million.

 

In 2018, a $27 million net loss was recorded for the recapture of certain yearly renewable term life insurance treaties, with $14 million recorded in premium income and $41 million recorded in change in policyholder reserves.

 

As of December 31, 2020, one reinsurer accounted for 28% of the outstanding balance of the reinsurance recoverable and the next largest reinsurer had 19%. The Company continues to monitor its morbidity risk ceded to one unaffiliated reinsurer for its LTC business, in which 28% of the reserves are held in trust.

 

 64 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

  

10.Withdrawal characteristics

 

a.Annuity actuarial reserves and liabilities for deposit-type contracts

 

The withdrawal characteristics of the Company’s annuity actuarial reserves and deposit-type contracts as of December 31, 2020 are illustrated below:

 

Individual annuities  General Account   Separate Account with Guarantees   Separate
Account Non-
Guaranteed
   Total   % of Total 
   (In Millions)     
Subject to discretionary withdrawal:                         
With market value adjustment  $28   $-   $-   $ 28    %
At book value less current surrender charge of 5% or more   11,741    -    -    11,741    36 
At fair value   -    -    10,764    10,764    33 
Total with market value adjustment or at fair value   11,769    -    10,764    22,533    70 
 At book value without adjustment (minimal or no charge or adjustment)   4,090    -    -    4,090    13 
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal   5,643    -    -    5,643    17 
Total  $21,502   $-   $10,764   $ 32,266    100%
Reinsurance ceded   6,456    -    -    6,456      
Total, net of reinsurance  $15,046   $-   $10,764   $25,810      
Amount included in book value moving to at book value without adjustment after statement date   379    -    -    379      

 

Group annuities

 

   General Account   Separate Account with Guarantees   Separate
Account Non-
Guaranteed
   Total   % of Total 
   (In Millions)     
Subject to discretionary withdrawal:                         
With market value adjustment  $15,132   $-   $-   $ 15,132    19%
At book value less current surrender charge of 5% or more   -    -    -    -    - 
At fair value   -    18,883    29,368    48,251    59 
Total with market value adjustment or at fair value   15,132    18,883    29,368    63,383    78 
 At book value without adjustment (minimal or no charge or adjustment)   1,768    -    -    1,768    2 
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal   16,319    -    -    16,319    20 
Total  $33,219   $18,883   $29,368   $81,470    100%
Reinsurance ceded   17,868    -    -    17,868      
Total, net of reinsurance  $15,351   $18,883   $29,368   $63,602      

 

 65 

 

  

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

Deposit-type contracts

 

   General Account   Separate Account with Guarantees   Separate
Account Non-
Guaranteed
   Total   % of Total 
   (In Millions)     
Subject to discretionary withdrawal:                         
With market value adjustment  $2,633   $-   $-   $ 2,633    8%
At book value less current surrender At fair value   -    1,678    11,620    13,298    42 
Total with market value adjustment or at fair value   2,633    1,678    11,620    15,931    50 
 At book value without adjustment (minimal or no charge or adjustment)   3,047    -    -    3,047    10 
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal   12,528    -    -    12,528    40 
Total  $18,208   $1,678   $11,620   $31,506    100%
Total, net of reinsurance  $14,580   $1,678   $11,620   $27,878      

 

The following is a summary of total annuity actuarial reserves and liabilities for deposit-type contracts as of  December 31, 2020 (in millions):

 

     
Statutory Statements of Financial Position:    
Policyholders’ reserves – group annuities  $15,351 
Policyholders’ reserves – individual annuities   15,046 
Liabilities for deposit-type contracts    14,580 
Subtotal   44,977 
Separate Account Annual Statement:     
Annuities   59,015 
Other annuity contract deposit-funds and GICs    13,298 
Subtotal   72,313  
Total  $117,290 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

b.Analysis of Life Actuarial Reserves by Withdrawal Characteristics

 

The withdrawal characteristics of the Company’s life actuarial reserves as of December 31, 2020 are illustrated below:

 

General Account

 

   Account   Cash     
   Value   Value   Reserve 
   (In Millions) 
Subject to discretionary withdrawal, surrender values, or policy loans:               
Universal life   17,774    17,763    17,829 
Universal life with secondary guarantees   2,002    1,711    6,219 
Other permanent cash value life insurance   -    67,897    70,794 
Variable life   1    1    - 
Variable universal life   394    386    435 
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal or no cash values:               
Term policies without cash value   -    -    2,784 
Accidental death benefits   -    -    3 
Disability - active lives   -    -    155 
Disability - disabled lives   -    -    276 
Miscellaneous reserves   -    -    1,271 
Total (gross: direct + assumed)   20,171    87,758    99,766 
Reinsurance Ceded   4,314    4,548    8,385 
Total (net)  $15,857   $83,210   $91,381 

 

Separate Account with Guarantees

 

   Account   Cash     
   Value   Value   Reserve 
   (In Millions) 
Subject to discretionary withdrawal, surrender values, or policy loans:               
Variable universal life   1,597    1,568    1,597 
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal or no cash values:               
Total (gross: direct + assumed)   1,597    1,568    1,597 
Total (net)  $1,597   $1,568   $1,597 

 

Separate Account Nonguaranteed

 

   Account   Cash     
   Value   Value   Reserve 
   (In Millions) 
Subject to discretionary withdrawal, surrender values, or policy loans:               
Variable life   1    2    2 
Variable universal life   1,501    1,488    1,497 
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal or no cash values:               
Total (gross: direct + assumed)   1,502    1,490    1,499 
Total (net)  $1,502   $1,490   $1,499 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued  

 

c.Separate accounts

 

The Company has guaranteed separate accounts classified as the following: nonindexed, which have multiple concurrent guarantees, including a guarantee that applies for as long as the contract is in effect and does not exceed a 4% rate of return. The Company has nonguaranteed separate accounts which are variable accounts where the benefit is determined by the performance and/or market value of the investments held in the separate account with incidental risk, notional expense and minimum death benefit guarantees.

 

Information regarding the separate accounts of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 is as follows:

 

   Guaranteed         
       Nonindexed         
       Less Than/   Non     
   Indexed   Equal to 4%   Guaranteed   Total 
   (In Millions) 
Net premium, considerations or deposits for the year ended December 31, 2020  $-   $-   $11,803   $11,803 
                     
Reserves at December 31, 2020:                    
For accounts with assets at:                    
Fair value  $-   $20,561   $53,252   $73,813 
Amortized cost/book value   -    1,597    -    1,597 
Subtotal SIA Reserves   -    22,158    53,252    75,410 
Nonpolicy liabilities   -    1    556    557 
Total Separate Account Liabilities  $-   $22,159   $53,808   $75,967 
                     
Reserves by withdrawal characteristics:                    
Subject to discretionary withdrawal:                    
At fair value  $-   $20,561   $53,252   $73,813 
At book value without market value adjustment and current surrender charge of less than 5%   -    1,597    -    1,597 
    Subtotal   -    22,158    53,252    75,410 
Nonpolicy liabilities   -    1    556    556 
Total Separate Account Liabilities  $-   $22,159   $53,808   $75,967 

 

The Company does not have any reserves in separate accounts for asset default risk in lieu of AVR.

 

 68 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued    

 

The following is a reconciliation of amounts reported as transfers (from) to separate accounts in the Summary of Operations of the Company’s NAIC Separate Account Annual Statement to the amounts reported as net transfers (from) to separate accounts in change in policyholders’ reserves in the accompanying Statutory Statements of Operations:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2020   2019   2018 
   (In Millions) 
From the Separate Account Annual Statement:               
Transfers to separate accounts  $9,867   $7,260   $8,326 
Transfers from separate accounts   (12,701)   (12,313)   (9,846)
Subtotal   (2,834)   (5,053)   (1,520)
Reconciling adjustments:               
Net deposits on deposit-type liabilities   (812)   (967)   (1,488)
Net transfers from separate accounts  $(3,646)  $(6,020)  $(3,008)

 

Net deposits on deposit-type liabilities are not considered premium and therefore are excluded from the Statutory Statements of Operations.

 

11.Debt

 

MassMutual issues commercial paper in the form of Notes in minimum denominations of $250 thousand up to a total aggregation of $1,000 million with maturity dates up to a maximum of 270 days from the date of issuance. Noninterest bearing Notes are sold at par less a discount representing an interest factor. Interest bearing Notes are sold at par. The Notes are not redeemable or subject to voluntary prepayments by MassMutual. The Notes had a carrying value and face amount of $250 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. Notes issued in 2020 had interest rates ranging from 0.14% to 1.80% with maturity dates ranging from 1 to 35 days. Interest expense for commercial paper was $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

MassMutual has a $1,000 million, five-year credit facility, with a syndicate of lenders that can be used for general corporate purposes and to support commercial paper borrowings. During December 2018, the facility was renewed and the scheduled maturity is December 2023. The facility includes two one-year extension options that may be exercised with proper notification as set forth in the agreement. The facility has an upsize option for an additional $500 million. The terms of the credit facility additionally provide for, among other provisions, covenants pertaining to liens, fundamental changes, transactions with affiliates and adjusted statutory surplus. As of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, MassMutual was in compliance with all covenants under the credit facility. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no draws on the credit facilities. Credit facility fees were less than $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

  

 69 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

  

12.Employee benefit plans

 

The Company sponsors multiple employee benefit plans, providing retirement, life, health and other benefits to employees, certain employees of unconsolidated subsidiaries, agents, general agents and retirees who meet plan eligibility requirements.

 

a.Pension plans

 

The Company has funded and unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plans that cover substantially all employees, agents and retirees. The qualified defined benefit plan includes a defined benefit formula and a cash balance formula. Participants earn benefits under the plan based on the defined benefit formula, the cash balance formula, or a combination of both formulas as determined by their date of hire or rehire. Under the defined benefit formula, benefits are calculated based on final average earnings and length of service. Benefits under the cash balance formula are determined based on age, service and salary during the participants’ careers.

 

The Company’s policy is to fund qualified pension costs in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The company contributed $80 million to its qualified benefit plan in 2020 and there were no contributions in 2019.

 

b.Defined contribution plans

 

The Company sponsors funded (qualified 401(k) thrift savings) and unfunded (nonqualified deferred compensation thrift savings) defined contribution plans for its employees, agents and retirees. The qualified 401(k) thrift savings plans’ net assets available for benefits were $3,862 million as of December 31, 2020 and $3,385 million as of December 31, 2019. The Company match for the qualified 401(k) thrift savings plans is limited to 5% of eligible W-2 compensation. The Company’s total matching thrift savings contributions, included in general insurance expenses were $53 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $54 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $51 million for 2018.

 

The Company also maintains a defined contribution plan for agents, which was frozen in 2001. The net assets available for these benefits were $183 million as of December 31, 2020 and $174 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

c.Other postretirement benefits

 

The Company provides certain life insurance and health care benefits (other postretirement benefits) for its retired employees and agents, their beneficiaries and covered dependents. MMHLLC has the obligation to pay the Company’s other postretirement benefits. The transfer of this obligation to MMHLLC does not relieve the Company of its primary liability. MMHLLC is allocated other postretirement expenses related to interest cost, amortization of actuarial gains (losses) and expected return on plan assets, whereas service cost and prior service cost are recorded by the Company.

 

Substantially all of the Company’s U.S. employees and agents may become eligible to receive other postretirement benefits. These benefits are funded as the benefits are provided to the participants. For employees who retire after 2009, except certain employees who were close to retirement in 2010, the Company’s cost is limited to a retiree health reimbursement account (RHRA), which accumulates during an employee’s career and can be drawn down by the retiree to purchase coverage outside of the Company or for other health care costs. Retired employees with a RHRA also may choose to purchase coverage through the private retiree exchange.

 

For other current and future retired employees, and current and future retired agents, the Company provides access to postretirement health care plans through a private retiree exchange. The Company’s cost is limited to the fixed annual subsidy provided to retirees through a Health Reimbursement Account each year that the retiree can use to purchase coverage on the exchange or for other health care costs.

 

Company-paid basic life insurance is provided to retirees who retired before 2010 and certain employees who retire after 2009 but were close to retirement in 2010. Supplemental life insurance is available to certain retirees on a retiree-pay-all basis.

 

 70 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The Company provides retiree life insurance coverage for home office employees who, as of January 1, 2010, were age 50 with at least 10 years of service or had attained 75 points, generally age plus service, with a minimum 10 years of service.

 

d.Benefit obligations

 

Accumulated benefit obligations are the present value of pension benefits earned as of a December 31 measurement date (the Measurement Date) based on service and compensation and do not take into consideration future salary levels.

 

Projected benefit obligations for pension benefits are the present value of pension benefits earned as of the Measurement Date projected for estimated salary increases to an assumed date with respect to retirement, termination, disability or death.

 

Refer to Note 12f. “Amounts recognized in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position,” for details on the funded status of the plans.

 

Accumulated and projected postretirement benefit obligations for other postretirement benefits are the present value of postretirement medical and life insurance benefits earned as of the Measurement Date projected for estimated salary and medical claim rate increases to an assumed date with respect to retirement, disability or death.

 

Actuarial (gains) losses represent the difference between the expected results and the actual results used to determine the projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and current year expense. Select assumptions used in this calculation include expected future compensation levels, healthcare cost trends, mortality and expected retirement age.

 

The following presents the total pension and other postretirement accumulated benefit obligation:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
   Pension   Other Postretirement 
   Benefits   Benefits 
   (In Millions) 
                     
Accumulated benefit obligation  $3,254   $3,270   $389   $383 

 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The following sets forth the change in projected benefit obligation of the defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
   Pension   Other Postretirement 
   Benefits   Benefits 
   (In Millions) 
                 
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year  $3,270   $2,850   $383   $341 
Service cost   114    111    14    13 
Interest cost   98    118    11    13 
Actuarial (gains) losses   12    11    (9)   (9)
Benefits paid   (92)   (139)   (14)   (15)
Change in discount rate   204    431    19    34 
Special termination benefits   -    -    6    - 
Settlements and curtailments   (198)   -    (3)   - 
Change in actuarial assumptions   (154)   (112)   (18)   6 
Projected benefit obligation, end of year  $3,254   $3,270   $389   $383 

 

The determination of the discount rate is based upon rates commensurate with current yields on high quality corporate bonds as of the Measurement Date. A spot yield curve is developed from this data that is used to determine the present value for the obligation. The projected plan cash flows are discounted to the Measurement Date based on the spot yield curve. A single discount rate is utilized to ensure the present value of the benefits cash flow equals the present value computed using the spot yield curve. A 25 basis point change in the discount rate results in approximately a $95 million change in the projected pension benefit obligation. The methodology includes producing a cash flow of annual accrued benefits. Refer to Note 12h. “Assumptions” for details on the discount rate. The 2020 change in actuarial assumptions is due to an updated demographics experience study, which consisted of updated retirement rates, turnover rates and the percentage of participants electing lump-sum.

 

During 2020, the qualified pension plan offered a lump sum window program to terminated vested participants. Lump sums paid under this program, combined with routine annual lump sums paid during 2020, totaled $185 million, which triggered settlement accounting. Also during 2020, as a result of the sale of the retirement plan business, curtailment gains of $13 million and $3 million were reflected in the projected benefit obligation for pension benefits and other postretirement benefit benefits, respectively.

 

e.Plan assets

 

The assets of the qualified pension plan are invested through a MassMutual group annuity contract and investments held in a trust. The group annuity contract invests in the General Investment Account (GIA) of the Company and separate investment accounts. The separate investment accounts are managed by the Company, the Company’s indirectly wholly owned asset manager, subsidiaries, as well as unaffiliated asset managers.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The Company’s qualified pension plan assets managed by the Company and its indirectly wholly owned subsidiaries are as follows:

 

         
   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
   (In Millions) 
         
General Investment Account  $237   $245 
Separate Investment Accounts:          
Barings Long Duration Bond Fund   318    326 
   $555   $571 

 

The approximate amount of annual benefits to be paid to plan participants covered by a group annuity contract issued by the employer or related parties is $305 million for 2021.

 

The Company employs a total return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed-income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets with a prudent level of risk. Risk tolerance is established through consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status and the Company’s financial condition. The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of equity and fixed-income investments. Alternative assets such as private equity funds, hedge funds, private real estate funds, equity index exchange traded funds and bond index exchange traded funds are used to improve portfolio diversification. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through quarterly investment portfolio reviews, annual liability measurements and periodic asset and liability studies.

 

The target range allocations for the qualified pension plan assets are 12.5% to 22.5% domestic equity securities, 25% to 45% long duration bond securities, 5% to 15% GIA and aggregate bond assets, 12.5% to 22.5% international equity securities and 10% to 30% alternative investments. Domestic equities primarily include investments in large capitalization (large cap) companies and small capitalization (small cap) companies. Long duration bond securities invest in several long-duration bond exchange traded funds. International equities include investments in American Depository Receipts and limited partnerships that trade primarily in foreign markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia. The pension plan assets invested in the GIA through the unallocated group annuity contract earn a fixed interest. These assets comprised approximately 8% of the plan assets as of December 31, 2020 and 9% as of December 31, 2019.

 

The following presents the change in fair value of plan assets:

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019   2020   2019 
   Pension   Other Postretirement 
   Benefits   Benefits 
   (In Millions) 
                 
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year  $2,738   $2,403   $3   $4 
Actual return on plan assets   401    450    -    - 
Employer contributions   101    24    12    13 
Contributions by plan participants   -    -    -    1 
Benefits paid   (91)   (139)   (13)   (15)
Other   (185)   -    -    - 
Fair value of plan assets, end of year  $2,964   $2,738   $2   $3 

 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

The General Investment Account is designed to provide stable, long-term investment growth. The account value is maintained at a stable value (generally referred to as “book value”) regardless of financial market fluctuations; however, if the plan sponsor initiates a full or partial termination, the amount liquidated is subject to an adjustment that could result in an increase or decrease in the book value of the plan’s investment.

 

The following presents the GIA allocation by type of investment:

 

 

 

   December 31, 
   2020   2019 
         
Bonds   57%   58%
Mortgage loans   14    16 
Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates   10    10 
Other investments   12    9 
Partnerships and limited liability companies   5    5 
Cash and cash equivalents   2    2 
    100%   100%

 

The majority of the assets of the qualified pension plan are invested in the following separate investment account options as well as certain private equity funds, hedge funds, private real estate funds and an all cap U.S. equity index exchange traded fund held in the MassMutual Pension Plan Trust (Pension Trust Assets):

 

Pacific Investment Management Company Long Duration Bond Fund is a separate investment account advised by Pacific Investment Management Company that invests in a diversified portfolio of fixed-income securities, including short-term, intermediate and long-term credit and government securities and cash. The specific performance objective is to outperform the total return of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Government/Credit Bond index.

 

Goldman Sachs Asset Management Long Duration Bond Fund is a separate investment account advised by Goldman Sachs Asset Management that invests in a diversified portfolio of fixed-income securities, including short-term, intermediate and long-term credit, government securities and cash. The specific performance objective is to outperform the total return of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Government/Credit Bond index.

 

Barings Long Duration Bond Fund is a separate investment account advised by Barings with a long duration bond strategy that invests in a diversified portfolio of fixed-income securities, including, short-term, intermediate and long-term credit, government securities and cash. The specific performance objective is to outperform the total return of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Government/Credit Bond index.

 

Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund is a separate investment account investing in a mutual fund advised by Vanguard Group Inc. that seeks to passively track the performance of the Russell 1000 Index, representing U.S. large capitalization stocks.

 

MFS Institutional International Equity Fund is a separate investment account investing in a mutual fund advised by Massachusetts Financial Services Company that seeks to outperform the MSCI EAFE Index over full market cycles. The fund’s strategy is to construct a well-diversified portfolio of high-conviction ideas following a growth-at-a-reasonable price style with a quality bias.

 

MassMutual Pension Plan Trust is a trust account with a strategy of investing in alternative investments as directed by the Investment Fiduciary Committee. These investments include private equity, infrastructure, private debt, hedge funds, and private real estate, with allocations temporarily awaiting investment held in an all cap U.S. equity index exchange traded fund.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company’s fair value hierarchy is defined in Note 4. “Fair Value of financial instruments”.

 

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used to measure fair value for the investments in the qualified pension plan.

 

Separate Investment Accounts: There are two methods of determining unit value for the separate investment accounts. The portfolio method is used when the separate investment account invests in a portfolio of securities or two or more underlying mutual funds, bank collective trust funds or other investment vehicles (each an underlying fund). Under this method, the unit value of a separate investment account is determined by dividing the market value of such separate investment account on any valuation date by the total number of units in the separate investment account. The net investment factor method (NIF) is used when the separate investment account invests in shares or units of a single underlying fund. Under this method, the unit value of a separate investment account is determined by taking the unit value for the prior valuation day and multiplying it by the net investment factor for the current valuation day. Under both of these methods the separate investment accounts are therefore classified as Level 2. As of December 31, 2020, the Plan had no specific plans or intentions to sell investments at amounts other than NAV. These investments can be redeemed on a daily basis and have no lockups or funding commitments.

 

Corporate debt instruments: If Level 1 valuations are not available, the fair value is determined using models such as matrix pricing and therefore, is classified as Level 2, which uses quoted market prices of debt securities with similar characteristics. Valued using the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.

 

PIMCO bond funds: Valued using the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded and therefore classified as Level 1.

 

Government securities: Marked to market daily based on values provided by third-party vendors or market makers to the extent available or based on model prices. Valuations furnished by a pricing service take into account factors such as institutional-size trading in similar securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data and are therefore classified as Level 2.

 

Common stocks: Valued using the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded and therefore classified as Level 1.

 

Collective investment trust: The net asset value per unit of the Funds is calculated on each business day by dividing the total value of assets, less liabilities, by the number of units outstanding. Unit issuances and redemptions are based on the net asset value determined at the end of the current day.

 

Limited partnerships: The Plan utilizes the practical expedient to calculate fair value of its investments based on the Plan’s pro rata interest in net assets of each underlying partnership. All valuations utilize financial information supplied by the partnership, including income, expenses, gains and losses. The underlying investments of the partnership are accounted for at fair value as described in the partnership’s audited financial statements. The multi-strategy hedge fund can be redeemed semi-annually with 95 day notice. The remaining funds can be redeemed periodically with notice that generally ranges from 45 to 90 days. There are no lockups or funding commitments.

 

Registered investment companies: There are two methods of determining the unit value for the registered investment companies. For the registered investment company that is valued at an unaffiliated company the investment is valued using the closing price reported on the active market on which the funds are traded and is therefore classified as Level 1. For the registered investment company that is valued in-house on the unival system the NIF method is used which takes the unit value for the prior valuation day and multiplies it by the NIF for the current valuation day.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

 

Other: Valued using the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded. If Level 1 valuations are not available, the fair value is determined using models such as matrix pricing and therefore, is classified as Level 2, which uses quoted market prices with similar characteristics. Investments included in this category include short term investments, real estate investment trusts, asset backed securities, mortgage backed securities, swaps, derivatives, futures and options. Investments in multi-strategy hedge fund and real estate are based on the Plan’s pro rata interest in the net assets of the partnership and have a redemption period, therefore are based on NAV as a practical expedient and are reported in the NAV Practical Expedient column. The multi-strategy hedge fund is comprised of two funds, one of which has a quarterly redemption period and the other with a monthly redemption period. They both require 45 days notice. The real estate fund does not have a specific redemption period, but is dependent upon the liquidation of underlying assets. None of the funds have a lock up period or funding commitment.

 

Cash and cash equivalents: Stated at cost, which is equal to fair value, and held by an unaffiliated bank.

 

General Investment Account option: Liquidation value based on an actuarial formula as defined under the terms of the contract. 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following presents the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s pension plan assets by asset class:
                
   December 31, 2020
            NAV   
            Practical   
   Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Expedient  Total
   (In Millions)
Investments in the qualified pension plan:                         
Pooled separate accounts:                         
Common stocks:                         
U.S. large capitalization  $-   $134   $-   $-   $134 
International large capitalization   -    120    -    -    120 
Total pooled separate accounts   -    254    -    -    254 
Nonpooled separate accounts:                         
Common stocks:                         
U.S. large capitalization   -    322    -    -    322 
U.S. small capitalization   45    -    -    -    45 
U.S. mid capitalization   23    -    -    -    23 
International small/mid capitalization   2    -    -    -    2 
International large capitalization   -    278    -    -    278 
International emerging markets   -    84    -    -    84 
Total common stocks   70    684    -    -    754 
Debt instruments:                         
Corporate and other bonds   -    502    -    -    502 
Long-term bond mutual funds   130    -    -    -    130 
Short-term bond mutual funds   32    -    -    -    32 
Total debt instruments   162    502    -    -    664 
Other:                         
Government securities   -    360    -    -    360 
Collective investment trust   -    -    -    81    81 
Other   -    32    -    -    32 
Total other   -    392    -    81    473 
Total nonpooled separate accounts   232    1,578    -    81    1,891 
Total separate investment accounts   232    1,832    -    81    2,145 
Pension trust assets:                         
Common stocks:                         
Cash Equivalent   15    -    -    -    15 
Collective investment trust   -    48    -    -    48 
Hedge fund   -    -    -    30    30 
Limited partnerships:                         
Private equity/venture capital   -    -    -    222    222 
Real estate   -    -    -    125    125 
Hedge   -    -    -    165    165 
Total pension trust assets   15    48    -    542    605 
Total General Investment Account   -    -    237    -    237 
Total  $247   $1,880   $237   $623   $2,987 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following presents the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s pension plan assets by asset class:
                
   December 31, 2019
            NAV   
            Practical   
   Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Expedient  Total
   (In Millions)
Investments in the qualified pension plan:                         
Pooled separate accounts:                         
Common stocks:                         
U.S. large capitalization  $176   $-   $-   $-   $176 
International large capitalization   -    98    -    -    98 
Total pooled separate accounts   176    98    -    -    274 
Nonpooled separate accounts:                         
Common stocks:                         
U.S. large capitalization   316    -    -    -    316 
U.S. small capitalization   18    -    -    -    18 
U.S. mid capitalization   7    -    -    -    7 
International large capitalization   -    232    -    -    232 
Total common stocks   341    232    -    -    573 
Debt instruments:                         
Corporate and other bonds   -    483    -    -    483 
Long-term bond mutual funds   125    -    -    -    125 
Short-term bond mutual funds   14    -    -    -    14 
Total debt instruments   139    483    -    -    622 
Registered investment companies:                         
Emerging markets   -    38    -    -    38 
Total registered investment companies   -    38    -    -    38 
Other:                         
Government securities   -    389    -    -    389 
Collective investment trust   -    -    -    77    77 
Other   -    61    -    -    61 
Total other   -    450    -    77    527 
Total nonpooled separate accounts   480    1,203    -    77    1,760 
Total separate investment accounts   656    1,301    -    77    2,034 
Pension trust assets:                         
Common stocks:                         
Cash Equivalent   98    -    -    -    98 
Collective investment trust   -    48    -    -    48 
Hedge fund   -    -    -    24    24 
Limited partnerships:                         
Private equity/venture capital   -    -    -    142    142 
Real estate   -    -    -    122    122 
Hedge   -    -    -    93    93 
Total pension trust assets   98    48    -    381    527 
Total General Investment Account   -    -    245    -    245 
Total  $754   $1,349   $245   $458   $2,806 

 

The Company evaluated the significance of transfers between levels based upon the nature of the financial instrument and size of the transfer relative to total net assets available for benefits. Based on these criteria, there were no significant transfers into or out of Level 1, 2, or 3 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.  

  

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

f.Amounts recognized in the Statutory Statements of Financial Position

 

Unrecognized prior service cost is the adjustment to the projected benefit obligation as a result of plan amendments. It represents the increase or decrease in benefits for service performed in prior periods. For pension benefits, this cost is amortized into net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service years of active employees at the time of the amendment. For other postretirement benefits, this cost is amortized into net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining lifetime of eligible employees and retirees at the time of the amendment.

 

Unrecognized net actuarial (gains) losses are variances between assumptions used and actual experience. These assumptions include return on assets, discount rate, demographics and mortality. The unrecognized net actuarial (gains) losses are amortized if they exceed 10% of the projected benefit obligation and are amortized starting in the period after recognition. These are amortized for pension and other postretirement benefits into net periodic benefit cost over the remaining service-years of active employees.

 

The prepaid pension asset is a cumulative balance of employer contributions made to the plan netted against the plan’s accumulated net periodic benefit costs. The prepaid pension asset is a nonadmitted asset.

 

The accrued benefit cost recognized is the funded status of the plan adjusted for the remaining balance of unrecognized prior service cost, unrecognized net actuarial loss and the nonadmitted prepaid pension asset.

 

The following sets forth the projected benefit obligation funded status of the plans:

             
   December 31,
   2020  2019  2020  2019
   Pension  Other Postretirement
   Benefits  Benefits
   (In Millions)
             
Projected benefit obligation  $3,254   $3,270   $389   $383 
Less: fair value of plan assets   2,964    2,738    2    3 
Projected benefit obligation funded status  $(290)  $(532)  $(387)  $(380)
                     

The qualified pension plan was overfunded by $147 million as of December 31, 2020 and underfunded by $140 million as of December 31, 2019. The nonqualified pension plans are not funded and have total projected benefit obligations of $437 million as of December 31, 2020 and $392 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

The qualified pension plan nonadmitted pension plan asset was $637 million as of December 31, 2020 and $642 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

The Company intends to fund $48 million in 2021 to meet its expected current obligations under its qualified and nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

g.  Net periodic cost

 

The net periodic cost represents the annual accounting income or expense recognized by the Company and is included in general insurance expenses in the Statutory Statements of Operations. The net periodic cost recognized is as follows:

                   
   Years Ended December 31,
   2020  2019  2018  2020  2019  2018
   Pension  Other Postretirement
   Benefits  Benefits
   (In Millions)
                   
Service cost  $114   $111   $113   $14   $13   $14 
Interest cost   98    118    108    11    13    12 
Expected return on plan assets   (177)   (160)   (172)   -    -    - 
Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial and other losses   52    56    55    2    (1)   2 
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost   -    -    3    (6)   (6)   (6)
Total net periodic cost  $87   $125   $107   $21   $19   $22 
                               
Settlement and curtailment   36    -    -    -    -    - 
Special termination benefits   -    -    -    6    -    - 
Total net expense  $123   $125   $107   $27   $19   $22 

 

The expected future pension and other postretirement benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are as follows:

 

      Other
   Pension  Postretirement
   Benefits  Benefits
   (In Millions)
       
2021   $336   $18 
2022    189    19 
2023    193    20 
2024    194    20 
2025    198    20 
2026-2030    969    102 

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The net expense recognized in the Statutory Statements of Operations for all employee and agent benefit plans is as follows:

          
   Years Ended December 31,
   2020  2019  2018
   (In Millions)
          
Health  $124   $139   $113 
Pension   123    125    107 
Thrift   53    54    51 
Postretirement   27    19    22 
Disability   3    3    4 
Life   4    4    4 
Postemployment   (2)   8    (2)
Other benefits   11    13    23 
Total  $343   $365   $322 

 

h.Assumptions

 

The assumptions the Company used to calculate the benefit obligations and to determine the benefit costs are as follows:

                   
   Years Ended December 31,
   2020  2019  2018  2020  2019  2018
   Pension  Other Postretirement
   Benefits  Benefits
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine:                              
Benefit obligations:                              
Discount rate   2.50%   3.05%   4.20%   2.45%   3.05%   4.05%
Expected rate of compensation increase   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%
Interest Crediting rate   5.00%   5.00%   6.00%   2.45%   3.05%   4.05%
                               
Net periodic benefit cost:                              
Discount rate   3.05%   4.20%   3.60%   3.05%   4.05%   3.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets   6.50%   6.75%   6.75%   3.00%   3.00%   3.00%
Expected rate of compensation increase   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%
Interest Crediting rate   5.00%   6.00%   6.00%   3.05%   4.05%   3.40%

 

The discount rate used to determine the benefit obligations as of year end is used to determine the expense in the next fiscal year.

 

The Company determines its assumptions for the expected rate of return on plan assets for its plans using a “building block” approach, which focuses on ranges of anticipated rates of return for each asset class. A weighted range of nominal rates is determined based on target allocations for each class of asset.

 

13.Employee compensation plans

 

The Company has a long-term incentive compensation plan under which certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries may be issued phantom stock-based compensation awards. These awards include PSARs and PRS. These awards do not grant an equity or ownership interest in the Company.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

A summary of the weighted average grant price of PSARs and PRS shares granted, the intrinsic value of PSARs shares exercised, the PRS liabilities paid and the fair value of shares vested during the year is as follows:

       
   December 31,
   2020  2019  2018
Weighted average grant date fair value:         
PSARs granted during the year  $130.35   $123.43   $98.77 
PRS granted during the year   130.10    123.29    99.75 
Intrinsic value (in thousands):               
PSARs options exercised   53,676    35,065    33,532 
PRS liabilities paid   43,616    34,391    21,922 
Fair value of shares vested during the year   106,461    69,456    42,141 

 

A summary of PSARs and PRS shares is as follows:

 

   PSARs  PRS
      Weighted Average     Weighted Average
   Number     Remaining  Number     Remaining
   of     Contract  of     Contract
   Share Units  Price  Terms  Share Units  Price  Terms
   (In Thousands)     (In Years)  (In Thousands)     (In Years)
                   
Outstanding as of                               
December 31, 2018    4,398   $90.81    3.7    1,312   $87.84    2.8 
Granted    1,677    123.43         297    123.29      
Exercised    (1,074)   89.40         (279)   86.23      
Forfeited    (195)   102.09         (60)   96.92      
Outstanding as of                               
December 31, 2019    4,806    102.04    3.9    1,270    96.33    2.6 
Granted    1,599    130.35         271    130.10      
Exercised    (1,148)   83.13         (337)   89.08      
Forfeited    (89)   122.64         (47)   119.25      
Outstanding as of                               
December 31, 2020    5,168    114.55    4.0    1,157    105.37    2.5 
                                
Exercisable as of                               
December 31, 2020    426   $103.48    2.9    26   $131.71    2.2 

 

The PSARs compensation was an expense of $73 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and an expense of $56 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and an expense of $103 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The PSARs accrued compensation liability was $132 million as of December 31, 2020 and $108 million as of December 31, 2019. The unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested PSARs awards was $11 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, $35 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $54 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The weighted average period over which the expense is expected to be recognized is 4.0 years. The PSARs unrecognized compensation expense represents the total intrinsic value of all shares issued if 100% vested at current stock price, minus current compensation liability.

 

The PRS compensation expense was $51 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $46 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $53 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The PRS accrued compensation liability was $107 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $97 million for the year ended December 31,

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

2019. The unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested PRS awards was $53 million as of December 31, 2020, $67 million as of December 31, 2019 and $69 million as of December 31, 2018 respectively. The weighted average period over which the expense is expected to be recognized is 2.5 years. The PRS unrecognized compensation expense represents the total value of all shares issued if 100% vested at the current stock price, minus current compensation liability.

 

14.Surplus notes

 

On April 16, 2020, MassMutual issued $700 million of surplus notes at a fixed 3.375% coupon rate maturing in 2050.

 

On June 26, 2020, MassMutual executed a drawdown of $600 million from its pre-capitalized surplus notes (P-Caps) facility and received $837 million in market value proceeds, at a fixed 5.077% coupon rate, maturing in 2069 and callable beginning in 2049. As of December 31, 2020, there was a remaining capacity of raising $200 million of capital through the P-Caps facility.

 

The following table summarizes the surplus notes issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020:

 

Issue  Face  Carrying  Interest  Maturity  Scheduled Interest
Date  Amount  Value  Rate  Date  Payment Dates
   ($ In Millions)         
11/15/1993  $250   $250    7.625%   11/15/2023   May 15 & Nov 15
03/01/1994   100    100    7.500%   03/01/2024   Mar 1 & Sept 1
05/12/2003   193    193    5.625%   05/15/2033   May 15 & Nov 15
06/01/2009   130    129    8.875%   06/01/2039   Jun 1 & Dec 1
01/17/2012   263    263    5.375%   12/01/2041   Jun 1 & Dec 1
04/15/2015   258    254    4.500%   04/15/2065   Apr 15 & Oct 15
03/23/2017   475    471    4.900%   04/01/2077   Apr 1 & Oct 1
10/11/2019   838    581    3.729%   10/15/2070   Apr 15 & Oct 15
04/16/2020   700    697    3.375%   04/15/2050   Apr 15 & Oct 15
06/26/2020   600    835    5.077%   02/15/2069   Apr 15 & Oct 15
Total  $3,807   $3,773             

 

All payments of interest and principal are subject to the prior approval of the Division. Interest expense is not recorded until approval for payment is received from the Division. As of December 31, 2020, the unapproved interest was $40 million. Through December 31, 2020, the Company paid cumulative interest of $1,995 million on surplus notes. Interest of $157 million was approved and paid during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Anticipated sinking fund payments are due for the notes issued in 1993 and 1994 as follows: $63 million in 2021, $88 million in 2022, $150 million in 2023 and $50 million in 2024. There are no sinking fund requirements for the notes issued in 2003, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017 or 2019.

 

These notes are unsecured and subordinate to all present and future indebtedness of the Company, all policy claims and all prior claims against the Company as provided by the Massachusetts General Laws. The surplus notes are all held by bank custodians for unaffiliated investors. All issuances were approved by the Division. Surplus notes are included in surplus on the Statutory Statements of Financial Position.

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

15.Presentation of the Statutory Statements of Cash Flows

 

The following table presents those transactions that have affected the Company’s recognized assets or liabilities but have not resulted in cash receipts or payments during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. Accordingly, the Company has excluded these non-cash activities from the Statutory Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

 

   Years Ended December 31,
   2020  2019  2018
   (In Millions)
Premium ceded in exchange for invested assets  $(11,197)  $-   $- 
Bonds transferred in exchange for premium ceded   9,379    -    - 
Bond conversions and refinancing   4,922    1,025    1,058 
Premium income recognized for individual annuity contracts   3,721    -    - 
Bonds received as consideration for individual annuity contracts   (3,720)   -    - 
Mortgage loans transferred in exchange for premium ceded   1,725    -    - 
Premium income recognized for group annuity contracts   1,250    916    292 
Bonds received as consideration for group annuity contracts   (1,250)   (916)   (292)
Surplus notes issued in exchange for bonds   837    -    - 
Bonds received as consideration for surplus notes   (837)   -    - 
Transfer of mortgage loans to partnerships and LLCs   353    96    244 
Change in market value of COLI   140    175    11 
Preferred stock transferred in exchange for premium ceded   93    -    - 
Stock conversion   79    64    128 
Assets received in-kind for bond maturity   57    -    - 
Net investment income payment in-kind bonds   12    5    9 
Preferred stock received as consideration for individual annuity contracts   (1)   -    - 
Dividend reinvestment   -    3    11 
Transfer of common stocks - affiliated to partnerships and LLCs   -    -    1,334 
Partnerships and LLCs contributed to Insurance Road LLC   -    -    476 
Transfer of bonds to other than invested assets   -    -    200 
Transfer of bonds to partnerships   -    -    81 
Bonds and common stock contributed to EM Opportunities LLC   -    -    74 
Other   -    1    113 

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

16.Business risks, commitments and contingencies

 

a.Risks and uncertainties

 

The Company operates in a business environment subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks include insurance and underwriting risks, investment and interest rate risks, currency exchange risk and credit risk. The combined impact of these risks could have a material, adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements or result in operating losses in future periods. The Company employs the use of reinsurance, portfolio diversification, asset/liability management processes and other risk management techniques to mitigate the impact of these risks.

 

Insurance and underwriting risks

 

The Company prices its products based on estimated benefit payments reflecting assumptions with respect to mortality, morbidity, longevity, persistency, interest rates and other factors. If actual policy experience emerges that is significantly and adversely different from assumptions used in product pricing, the effect could be material to the profitability of the Company. For participating whole life products, the Company’s dividends to policyholders primarily reflect the difference between actual investment, mortality, expense and persistency experience and the experience embedded in the whole life premiums and guaranteed elements. The Company also reinsures certain life insurance and other long-term care insurance policies to mitigate the impact of its underwriting risk.

 

Investment and interest rate risks

 

The fair value, cash flows and earnings of investments can be influenced by a variety of factors including changes in interest rates, credit spreads, equity markets, portfolio asset allocation and general economic conditions. The Company employs a rigorous asset/liability management process to help mitigate the economic impacts of various investment risks, in particular interest rate risk. By effectively matching the market sensitivity of assets with the liabilities they support, the impact of interest rate changes is addressed, on an economic basis, as the change in the value of the asset is offset by a corresponding change in the value of the supported liability. The Company uses derivatives, such as interest rate swaps and swaptions, as well as synthetic assets to reduce interest rate and duration imbalances determined in asset/liability analyses.

 

The levels of U.S. interest rates are influenced by U.S. monetary policies and by the relative attractiveness of U.S. markets to investors versus other global markets. As interest rates increase, certain debt securities may experience amortization or prepayment speeds that are slower than those assumed at purchase, impacting the expected maturity of these securities and the ability to reinvest the proceeds at the higher yields. Rising interest rates may also result in a decrease in the fair value of the investment portfolio. As interest rates decline, certain debt securities may experience accelerated amortization and prepayment speeds than what was assumed at purchase. During such periods, the Company is at risk of lower net investment income as it may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at comparable yields. Declining interest rates may also increase the fair value of the investment portfolio.

 

Interest rates also have an impact on the Company’s products with guaranteed minimum payouts and on interest credited to account holders. As interest rates decrease, investment spreads may contract as crediting rates approach minimum guarantees, resulting in an increased liability.

 

In periods of increasing interest rates, policy loans, surrenders and withdrawals may increase as policyholders seek investments with higher perceived returns. This could result in cash outflows requiring the Company to sell invested assets at a time when the prices of those assets are adversely affected by the increase in market interest rates, which could cause the Company to realize investment losses.

 

Currency exchange risk

 

The Company has currency risk due to its non-U.S. dollar denominated investments and medium-term notes along with its indirect international operations. The Company mitigates a portion of its currency risk through the use of cross-currency swaps and forward contracts. Cross-currency swaps are used to minimize currency risk for certain non-U.S. dollar assets and liabilities through a pre-specified exchange of interest and principal. Forward contracts are used to hedge movements in exchange rates.

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Credit and other market risks

 

The Company manages its investments to limit credit and other market risks by diversifying its portfolio among various security types and industry sectors as well as purchasing credit default swaps to transfer some of the risk.

 

Stressed conditions, volatility and disruptions in global capital markets or in particular markets or financial asset classes can have an adverse effect on the Company, in part because the Company has a large investment portfolio and assets supporting the Company’s insurance liabilities are sensitive to changing market factors. Global market factors, including interest rates, credit spread, equity prices, real estate markets, foreign currency exchange rates, consumer spending, business investment, government spending, the volatility and strength of the capital markets, deflation and inflation, all affect the business and economic environment and, ultimately, the profitability of the Company’s business. Disruptions in one market or asset class can also spread to other markets or asset classes. Upheavals in the financial markets can also affect the Company’s business through their effects on general levels of economic activity, employment and customer behavior.

 

Real estate markets are monitored continuously with attention on regional differences in price performance, absorption trends and supply and demand fundamentals that can impact the rate of foreclosures and delinquencies. Public sector strengths and weaknesses, job growth and macro-economic issues are factors that are closely monitored to identify any impact on the Company’s real estate related investments.

 

The CMBS, RMBS and leveraged loan sectors are sensitive to evolving conditions that can impair the cash flows realized by investors and is subject to uncertainty. Management’s judgment regarding OTTI and estimated fair value depends upon the evolving investment sector and economic conditions. It can also be affected by the market liquidity, a lack of which can make it difficult to obtain accurate market prices for RMBS and other investments, including CMBS and leveraged loans. Any deterioration in economic fundamentals, especially related to the housing sector could affect management’s judgment regarding OTTI.

 

The Company has investments in structured products exposed primarily to the credit risk of corporate bank loans, corporate bonds or credit default swap contracts referencing corporate credit risk. Most of these structured investments are backed by corporate loans and are commonly known as collateralized loan obligations that are classified as CDO. The portfolios backing these investments are actively managed and diversified by industry and individual issuer concentrations. Due to the complex nature of CDO and the reduced level of transparency to the underlying collateral pools for many market participants, the recovery in CDO valuations generally lags the overall recovery in the underlying assets. Management believes its scenario analysis approach, based primarily on actual collateral data and forward looking assumptions, does capture the credit and most other risks in each pool. However, in a rapidly changing economic environment, the credit and other risks in each collateral pool will be more volatile and actual credit performance of CDO may differ from the Company’s assumptions.

 

The Company continuously monitors its investments and assesses their liquidity and financial viability; however, the existence of the factors described above, as well as other market factors, could negatively impact the market value of the Company’s investments. If the Company sells its investments prior to maturity or market recovery, these investments may yield a return that is less than the Company otherwise would have been able to realize.

 

Asset-based fees calculated as a percentage of the separate account assets are a source of revenue to the Company. Gains and losses in the investment markets may result in corresponding increases and decreases in the Company’s separate account assets and related revenue.

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Market risk arises within the Company’s employee benefit plans to the extent that the obligations of the plans are not fully matched by assets with determinable cash flows. Pension and postretirement obligations are subject to change due to fluctuations in the discount rates used to measure the liabilities as well as factors such as changes in inflation, salary increases and participants living longer. The risks are that such fluctuations could result in assets that are insufficient over time to cover the level of projected benefit obligations. In addition, increases in inflation and members living longer could increase the pension and postretirement obligations. Management determines the level of this risk using reports prepared by independent actuaries and takes action, where appropriate, in terms of setting investment strategy and determining contribution levels. In the event that the pension obligations arising under the Company’s employee benefit plans exceed the assets set aside to meet the obligations, the Company may be required to make additional contributions or increase its level of contributions to these plans.

 

The spread of the coronavirus, causing increased cases of COVID-19, around the world in 2020 has caused significant volatility in U.S. and international markets. There is significant uncertainty around the breadth and duration of business disruptions related to COVID-19, as well as its impact on the U.S. and international economies. At this time, the Company is not able to reliably estimate the length and severity of the COVID-19 public health crises and, as such, cannot quantify its impact on the financial results, liquidity and capital resources and its operations in future periods.

 

Political Uncertainties

 

Political events, domestically or internationally, may directly or indirectly trigger or exacerbate risks related to product offerings, profitability, or any of the risk factors described above. Whether those underlying risk factors are driven by politics or not, the Company’s dynamic approach to managing risks enables management to identify risks, internally and externally, develop mitigation plans, and respond to risks in an attempt to proactively reduce the potential impact of each underlying risk factor on the Company.

 

b.Leases

 

The Company leases office space and equipment in the normal course of business under various noncancelable operating lease agreements. Additionally, the Company, as lessee, has entered various sublease agreements with affiliates for office space, such as Barings. Total rental expense on net operating leases, recorded in general insurance expenses, was $114 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $118 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Net operating leases are net of sublease receipts of $7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $10 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

The Company has entered into a sale-leaseback transaction with an unrelated party to sell and leaseback certain fixed assets with book values of $100 million, which resulted in no gain or loss. The lease has a five year term, which expires in 2021 with annual lease payment of approximately $20 million. At the end of the lease, the Company has the option to purchase the underlying assets at fair value.

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Future minimum commitments for all lease obligations as of December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

      Affiliated  Nonaffiliated   
   Gross  Subleases  Subleases  Net
   (In Millions)
             
2021   $98   $3   $1   $94 
2022    65    -    1    64 
2023    55    -    -    55 
2024    41    -    -    41 
2025    29    -    -    29 
Thereafter    36    -    -    36 
Total   $324   $3   $2   $319 

 

c.Guaranty funds

 

The Company is subject to state insurance guaranty fund laws. These laws assess insurance companies’ amounts to be used to pay benefits to policyholders and policy claimants of insolvent insurance companies. Many states allow these assessments to be credited against future premium taxes. The Company believes such assessments in excess of amounts accrued will not materially impact its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

d.Litigation and regulatory matters

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in disputes, litigation and governmental or regulatory inquiries, administrative proceedings, examinations and investigations, both pending and threatened. These matters, if resolved adversely against the Company or settled, may result in monetary damages, fines and penalties or require changes in the Company’s business practices. The resolution or settlement of these matters is inherently difficult to predict. Based upon the Company’s assessment of these pending matters, the Company does not believe that the amount of any judgment, settlement or other action arising from any pending matter is likely to have a material adverse effect on the statement of financial position. However, an adverse outcome in certain matters could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations for the period in which such matter is resolved, or an accrual is determined to be required, on the financial statement financial position, or on our reputation.

 

The Company evaluates the need for accruals of loss contingencies for each matter. When a liability for a matter is probable and can be estimated, the Company accrues an estimate of the loss offset by related insurance recoveries or other contributions, if any. An accrual may be subject to subsequent adjustment as a result of additional information and other developments. The resolution of matters are inherently difficult to predict, especially in the early stages of matter. Even if a loss is probable, due to many complex factors, such as speed of discovery and the timing of court decisions or rulings, a loss or range of loss may not be reasonably estimated until the later stages of the matter. For matters where a loss is material and it is either probable or reasonably possible then it is disclosed. For matters where a loss may be reasonably possible, but not probable, or is probable but not reasonably estimated, no accrual is established, but the matter, if material, is disclosed.

 

In connection with the May 24, 2019 sale of OAC to Invesco, Invesco identified an accounting matter related to four Master Limited Partnership funds managed by a subsidiary of OAC prior to the sale that Invesco has stated may result in an indemnification claim against MassMutual under the terms of the acquisition agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, MassMutual may be liable to Invesco under the acquisition agreement for a portion of any actual losses incurred by Invesco in excess of $173 million and up to a cap of $575 million. There are currently considerable uncertainties as to the nature, scope and amount of the potential losses for which Invesco may seek indemnity. In addition to the $173 million deductible, it is uncertain whether the indemnification obligations set forth in the acquisition agreement would apply to this situation and MassMutual believes it has a number of defenses available that may mitigate or eliminate its exposure to any losses claimed by Invesco should such obligations apply. However, the outcome of any indemnification dispute (including any resulting litigation), should Invesco

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

assert such a claim, and its potential impact on MassMutual’s financial position cannot be foreseen with certainty at this time.

 

e.Commitments

 

In the normal course of business, the Company provides specified guarantees and funding to MMHLLC and certain of its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $490 million of these unsecured funding commitments to its subsidiaries and $622 million as of December 31, 2019. The unsecured commitments are included in private placements in the table below. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had not funded, nor had an outstanding balance due on, these commitments.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into letter of credit arrangements. The Company had outstanding letter of credit arrangements of approximately $84 million as of December 31, 2020 and approximately $145 million as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company did not have any funding requests attributable to these letter of credit arrangements.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into commitments to purchase certain investments. The majority of these commitments have funding periods that extend between one and five years. The Company is not required to fund commitments once the commitment period expires.

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had the following outstanding commitments:

 

                      
   2021  2022  2023  2024  2025  Thereafter  Total
   (In Millions)
Private placements  $1,685   $2,957   $1,348   $121   $385   $501   $6,997 
Mortgage loans   385    424    176    245    26    122    1,378 
Real estate   -    -    -    -    -    1    1 
Partnerships and LLC   154    592    666    205    382    1,682    3,681 
LIHTCs (including equity contributions)   -    172    -    -    17    287    476 
Total  $2,224   $4,145   $2,190   $571   $810   $2,593   $12,533 

 

In the normal course of business the Company enters into commitments related to property lease arrangements, certain indemnities, investments and other business obligations. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no outstanding obligations attributable to these commitments.

 

f.Guarantees

 

In the normal course of business the Company enters into guarantees related to employee and retirement benefits, the maintenance of subsidiary regulatory capital, surplus levels and liquidity sufficient to meet certain obligations, and other property lease arrangements. If the Company were to recognize a liability, the financial statement impact would be to recognize either an expense or an investment in a subsidiary, controlled, or affiliated entity. The Company has no expectations for recoveries from third parties should these guarantees be triggered. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no outstanding obligations to any obligor attributable to these guarantees.

 

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NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following details contingent guarantees that are made on behalf of the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates as of December 31, 2020.

 

Type of guarantee   Nature of guarantee (including term) and events and circumstances that would require the guarantor to perform under guarantee   Carrying amount of liability   Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) required under the guarantee
             
Employee and Retirement Benefits   The Company guarantees the payment of certain employee and retirement benefits for its wholly-owned subsidiary Barings, if the subsidiary is unable to pay.    -   The liabilities for these plans of $427 million have been recorded on the subsidiaries’ books and represent the Company’s maximum obligation.
             
Capital and Surplus Support of Subsidiaries   Certain guarantees of the Company provide for the maintenance of a subsidiary’s regulatory capital, surplus levels and liquidity sufficient to meet certain obligations.  These unlimited guarantees are made on behalf of certain wholly-owned subsidiaries. (C.M. Life and MML Bay State Life).    -   These guarantees are not limited and cannot be estimated.
             
Other Property Lease Arrangements   The Company guarantees the payment of various lease obligations on behalf of its subsidiaries and affiliates.    -   The future maximum potential obligations are immaterial to the Company.
             
Real Estate Development Completion Guarantee   The Company issued a construction loan for a real estate development project. The land on which the property is to be built is subject to a ground lease. In conjunction with issuing this construction loan, the Company has also issued a completion guarantee to the land owner that pays only in the event the project is not completed. The project is expected to be completed by March 2021.    -   $350 million.
             
Secure Capital for Variable Annuity Separate Accounts   The Company guarantees the capital contributions required to be made by a variable annuity separate account contract holder in the event the contract holder fails to payoff a subscription line utilized to deploy capital for the separate account.   -   $288 million with the right to increase the line to $310 million.

 

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17.Related party transactions

 

MassMutual has management and service contracts and cost-sharing arrangements with various subsidiaries and affiliates where MassMutual, for a fee, will furnish a subsidiary or affiliate, as required, operating facilities, human resources, computer software development and managerial services.

 

MassMutual has agreements with its subsidiaries and affiliates, including Insurance Road LLC (IRLLC), Copper Hill LLC (CHLLC), MML Investment Advisers LLC, The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB, MassMutual International LLC (MMI) and Baring International Investment Limited, where MassMutual receives revenue for certain recordkeeping and other services that MassMutual provides to customers who select, as investment options, mutual funds managed by these affiliates.

 

MassMutual has agreements with its subsidiaries, Barings, MML Investment Advisers LLC and MassMutual Intellectual Property LLC (MMIP), which provide investment advisory services and licensing agreements to MassMutual.

 

The following table summarizes the transactions between the Company and the related parties:

 

   Years Ended December 31,    
   2020  2019  2018    
   (In Millions)    
Fee income:                 
Management and service contracts and cost-sharing arrangements  $335   $427   $440   
Investment advisory income   22    23    24   
Recordkeeping and other services   20    21    22   
Fee expense:                 
Investment advisory services   268    277    270   
Royalty and licensing fees   58    58    56   

 

The Company reported amounts due from subsidiaries and affiliates of $54 million as of December 31, 2020 and $80 million as of December 31, 2019. The Company reported amounts due to subsidiaries and affiliates of $8 million as of December 31, 2020 and less than $1 million as of December 31, 2019. Terms generally require settlement of these amounts within 30 to 90 days.

 

The Company’s wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Barings, invests a portion of their nonqualified compensation plan in GICs with the Company. The Company credited interest on deposits of $2 million to the Barings contract for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

The Company held debt issued by MMHLLC that amounted to $2,079 million as of December 31, 2020 and $1,948 million as of December 31, 2019. The Company recorded interest income on MMHLLC debt of $103 million in 2020 and $80 million in 2019. Notes maturing as of March and December 2020 were refinanced at 4.3% annual interest for $632 million.

 

As of December 31, 2020, MMIH and C.M. Life, together, provided financing of $5,500 million, $5,253 million and $247 million respectively, for MMAF that can be used to finance ongoing asset purchases. MMIH provided financing of $5,253 million as of December 31, 2020 and $4,229 million as of December 31, 2019. During 2020, MMAF borrowed $2,005 million and repaid $1,859 million under the credit facility. During 2019, MMAF borrowed $1,959 million and repaid $2,068 million under the credit facility. Outstanding borrowings under the facility were $3,552 million as of December 31, 2020 and $3,371 million as of December 31, 2019. Interest for these borrowings was $80 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $90 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The floating rate borrowings bear interest at a spread over the 30 day LIBOR. The fixed rate borrowings bear an interest at a spread over average life Treasuries. MassMutual provided financing of $3,552 million to MMIH as of December 31, 2020.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Together, MassMutual and C.M. Life, provide a credit facility to Jefferies Finance, LLC whereby Jefferies Finance, LLC (Jefferies) borrows cash through short-term approved financings to fund the purchase of loans for securitization. During 2020, Jefferies borrowed $849 million and repaid $895 million under the credit facility. During 2019, Jefferies borrowed $405 million and repaid $359 million under the credit facility. As of December 31, 2020, there were no outstanding borrowings under this facility. All outstanding interest due under the facility, as of December 31, 2020, had been paid. The interest of this facility is calculated based on a full pass through of interest accrued on the underlying loans purchased.

 

In 2020, MassMutual contributed capital of $37 million to MassMutual Mortgage Lending LLC.

 

In 2020, MassMutual contributed capital of $15 million to MassMutual MCAM Insurance Company, Inc.

 

In 2020, MassMutual contributed capital of $14 million to MM Global Capabilities I LLC.

 

In 2020, MassMutual transferred $335 million of mortgage loans to Barings Multifamily TEBS 2020 LLC. Subsequently, MassMutual received a $288 million return of capital distribution.

 

In 2020, IRLLC issued and paid a return of capital of $90 million to MassMutual. In 2019, IRLLC declared a distribution to the Company of $150 million, which was paid in 2020.

 

In 2020, MassMutual Retirement Services LLC declared and paid $57 million in dividends to MassMutual.

 

Effective December 31, 2020, MassMutual will provide C.M. Life a stop-loss coverage to transfer a specific interest rate risk. All Odyssey fixed-deferred annuity contracts issued by C.M. Life are covered under this agreement. C.M. Life will pay an annual premium to MassMutual. If the coverage is triggered, there will be a settlement at year end from MassMutual to C.M. Life. The maximum total liability of MassMutual under the agreement is $100 million over 5 years.

 

The Company has reinsurance agreements with its subsidiary, C.M. Life, and its indirect subsidiary, MML Bay State, including stop-loss, Modco and yearly renewable term agreements on life insurance and annuity products. The Company also has coinsurance agreements with C.M. Life where the Company assumes substantially all of the premium on certain universal life policies.

 

As of December 31, 2020, the net reinsurance amounts due to C.M. Life and MML Bay State were $66 million and as of December 31, 2019, the net reinsurance amounts due to C.M. Life and MML Bay State were $39 million. These outstanding balances are due and payable with terms ranging from monthly to annually, depending on the agreement in effect.

 

The following table summarizes the reinsurance transactions for these reinsurance agreements:

 

   Years Ended December 31,
   2020  2019  2018
   (In Millions)
          
Premium assumed  $46   $45   $49 
Modco adjustments, included in fees and other income   11    9    12 
Expense allowance on reinsurance assumed, included in commissions   (14)   (14)   (20)
Policyholders’ benefits   (89)   (101)   (139)
Experience refunds (paid) received   -    (1)   (3)

 

For further information on common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates, refer to Note 5c. “Common stocks - subsidiaries and affiliates.”

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

In the normal course of business, the Company provides specified guarantees and funding to MMHLLC and certain of its subsidiaries. Refer to Note 16e. “Commitments” for information on the Company’s accounting policies regarding these related party commitments and Note 16f. “Guarantees” for information on the guarantees.

 

18.Subsidiaries and affiliated companies

 

A summary of ownership and relationship of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies as of December 31, 2020 is illustrated below. Subsidiaries are wholly owned, except as noted.

 

Subsidiaries of MassMutual

C.M. Life

Berkshire Way LLC

MML Special Situations Investor LLC

Timberland Forest Holding LLC – 37% (remaining 63% owned by MassMutual Trad Private Equity LLC)

WP – SC, LLC – 81% (remaining 19% owned by C.M. Life)

MSP – SC, LLC

Insurance Road LLC

MM Copper Hill Road LLC

Jefferies Finance LLC– 50% (remaining 50% owned by Jefferies Group, Inc.)

MML Distributors LLC – 99% (remaining 1% owned by MassMutual Holding LLC)

MML Investment Advisers, LLC

Pioneers Gate LLC

MML Strategic Distributors, LLC

The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB

MassMutual Mortgage Lending LLC

MML Private Placement Investment Company I, LLC

MML Private Equity Fund Investor LLC

MM Private Equity Intercontinental LLC

MassMutual Holding LLC

MassMutual Investment Holding

MassMutual International, LLC

MML Mezzanine Investor II, LLC

MML Mezzanine Investor III, LLC

MassMutual External Benefits Group LLC

EM Opportunities LLC

MassMutual MCAM Insurance Company, Inc.

MassMutual Global Business Services India LLP

CML Global Capabilities

MM Global Capabilities I LLC

MM Global Capabilities II LLC

MM Global Capabilities III LLC

Barings Ascend LLC

MML CM LLC

 

Subsidiaries of C.M. Life Insurance Company

MML Bay State Life Insurance Company

CML Mezzanine Investor III, LLC

CML Special Situations Investor LLC

 

Subsidiaries of MML Bay State Life Insurance Company

(No subsidiaries)

 

Subsidiaries of Timberland Forest Holding LLC

Lyme Adirondack Forest Company, LLC

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Subsidiaries of Insurance Road LLC

MassMutual Trad Private Equity LLC

MassMutual Intellectual Property LLC

Trad Investments LLC

 

MML Investment Advisers, LLC

(No Subsidiaries)

 

Pioneers Gate LLC

(No subsidiaries)

 

Subsidiaries of MassMutual Holding LLC

Fern Street LLC

Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC

MassMutual Assignment Company

MassMutual Capital Partners LLC

MassMutual Ventures Holding LLC

MM Rothesay Holdco US LLC

MML Investors Services, LLC

LifeScore Labs, LLC

Sleeper Street LLC

MM Asset Management Holding LLC

MM Catalyst Fund LLC

 

Subsidiaries of MassMutual International LLC

MassMutual Solutions LLC

 

Subsidiaries of MassMutual Ventures Holding LLC

MassMutual Ventures US I LLC

MassMutual Ventures US II LLC

MassMutual Ventures US III LLC

MassMutual Ventures UK LLC

MassMutual Ventures Southeast Asia I LLC

MassMutual Ventures Southeast Asia II LLC

MassMutual Ventures Management LLC

MassMutual Ventures SEA Management Private Limited (an indirect subsidiary of Subsidiary of MassMutual Ventures Holding LLC)

Athens Fund Management LLC

Open Alternatives LLC

 

MML Investors Services, LLC

MMLISI Financial Alliances, LLC

MML Insurance agency, LLC

 

Subsidiaries of Barings LLC (a subsidiary of MM Asset Management Holding LLC)

Barings Finance LLC

Barings Securities LLC

Barings Guernsey Limited

Barings Real Estate Advisers, Inc.

Barings Asset Management (Asia) Holdings Limited

Barings Multifamily Capital Holdings LLC

 

Subsidiaries of Baring Asset Management Limited (an indirect subsidiary of MassMutual Baring Holding LLC)

Baring International Investment Limited

Baring International Investment Management Holdings Limited

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Baring Fund Managers Limited

Baring Pension Trustees Limited

Baring Investment Services Limited

Barings Global Advisers Limited

Barings European Core Property Fund GP Sàrl

Barings BME GP Sàrl

 

Subsidiaries of Baring International Investment Limited

(No subsidiaries)

 

Subsidiaries of MassMutual Investment Holding

MML Management Corporation

MassMutual Asset Finance LLC

 

Subsidiaries of MML Management Corporation

MassMutual Holding MSC, Inc.

MassMutual International Holding MSC, Inc.

 

Subsidiaries of MassMutual Asset Finance LLC

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2013-A

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2014-A

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2015-A

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2016-A

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2017-A

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2017-B

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2018-A

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2019-A

MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2019-B

Rozier LLC

 

 95 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

Information regarding filings of Subsidiaries and Controlled Affiliates

 

The following presents certain information regarding the Company’s valuation filings for controlled affiliates of the Company:

 

        As of December 31, 2020                  
    CUSIP   Gross Value   Non-admitted   Admitted   Latest Filing   2019 Approved Valuation   Filing Code   Valuation Method Disallowed?
    ($ in Millions)
                                         
MassMutual Holding LLC   57543#-11-8   $ 16,183   $ -   $ 16,183   7/31/2020   $ 13,868   Sub-2   No
The MassMutual Trust Co, FSB   57631@-10-5     26     -     26   3/27/2020     27   Sub-2   No
Cornerstone Global REIT Corp   21926@-10-5     -     -     -   7/31/2018     -    Sub-2   No
MM Investment Holding         1,609     -     1,609   N/A             N/A    Sub-2   No
MML Management Corporation   55338@-10-5     -     -     -   6/15/2020     1,083   Sub-2   No
Aggregate Total:       $ 17,818   $ -   $ 17,818       $ 14,978        

 

19.Subsequent events

 

Management of the Company has evaluated subsequent events through February 24, 2021, the date the financial statements were available to be issued to state regulators and subsequently on the Company’s website. No events have occurred subsequent to the date of the financial statements, except for:

 

On January 27, 2021, the Company announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with American Financial Group, Inc. to purchase its wholly-owned subsidiary, Great American Life Insurance Company and other subsidiaries and affiliated entities, which primarily offer traditional fixed and fixed indexed annuity products. The purchase price is approximately $3,500 million, subject to adjustment at closing. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory and other necessary approvals, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.

 

On February 1, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Flourish, a fintech platform for registered investment advisors (RIAs), from Stone Ridge Asset Management for a purchase price of $6 million. Flourish provides digitally enabled products and services to RIAs through various modules, including an established cash management offering, Flourish Cash. Flourish Cash is offered through Stone Ridge Securities LLC, Stone Ridge’s registered broker-dealer, which the Company acquired. MML CML LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of MassMutual, will directly own Flourish.

 

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MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

20.   Impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities
                             
The following are the total cumulative adjustments and impairments for loan-backed and structured securities since July 1, 2009:
                             
Period Ended Amortized Cost before Cumulative Adjustment Cumulative Adjustment Amortized Cost before OTTI Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
December 31, 2020 $ 16,071,907 $ - $ 16,071,907 $ 14,674,300 $ (1,397,607) $ 14,674,300 $ 15,473,517
September 30, 2020   21,375,383   -   21,375,383   19,160,250   (2,215,134)   19,160,250   18,862,027
June 30, 2020   10,180,123   -   10,180,123   8,992,610   (1,187,513)   8,992,610   9,249,851
March 31, 2020   24,799,788   -   24,799,788   20,197,344   (4,602,443)   20,197,344   24,683,947
December 31, 2019   3,992,400    -      3,992,400   3,539,281   (453,119)   3,539,281   3,439,138
September 30, 2019   16,909,029    -      16,909,029   15,191,932   (1,717,097)   15,191,932   14,639,756
June 30, 2019   6,980,030    -      6,980,030   6,187,029   (793,001)   6,187,029   7,133,620
March 31, 2019   7,791,000    -      7,791,000   7,634,637   (156,363)   7,634,637   7,683,021
December 31, 2018   4,550,173   -   4,550,173   3,815,559   (734,614)   3,815,559   4,014,514
September 30, 2018   4,320,826   -   4,320,826   3,663,181   (657,645)   3,663,181   3,687,297
June 30, 2018   634,235   -   634,235   279,221   (355,014)   279,221   386,752
March 31, 2018   645,690   -   645,690   488,181   (157,509)   488,181   448,494
December 31, 2017   3,949,513   -   3,949,513   1,958,759   (1,990,754)   1,958,759   2,023,952
September 30, 2017   4,436,542   -   4,436,542   876,942   (3,559,600)   876,942   4,647,683
June 30, 2017   40,538,551   -   40,538,551   39,808,956   (729,595)   39,808,956   60,990,732
March 31, 2017   41,788,380   -   41,788,380   41,391,889   (396,491)   41,391,889   56,156,936
December 31, 2016   42,175,938   -   42,175,938   42,045,721   (130,217)   42,045,721   54,619,477
September 30, 2016   44,266,478   -   44,266,478   41,890,535   (2,375,942)   41,890,535   61,300,066
June 30, 2016   49,097,217   -   49,097,217   48,202,703   (894,514)   48,202,703   63,207,410
March 31, 2016   57,985,071   -   57,985,071   55,783,979   (2,201,092)   55,783,979   70,578,397
December 31, 2015   4,881,394   -   4,881,394   4,783,194   (98,200)   4,783,194   4,728,736
September 30, 2015   50,531,382   -   50,531,382   45,665,859   (4,865,524)   45,665,859   58,523,652
June 30, 2015   66,924,927   -   66,924,927   65,240,585   (1,684,341)   65,240,585   72,953,475
March 31, 2015   17,856,447   -   17,856,447   17,681,510   (174,937)   17,681,510   17,553,999
December 31, 2014   69,225,743   -   69,225,743   68,301,291   (924,452)   68,301,291   79,410,553
September 30, 2014   645,721   -   645,721   604,437   (41,284)   604,437   627,381
June 30, 2014   57,012,606   -   57,012,606   55,422,168   (1,590,438)   55,422,168   75,253,388
March 31, 2014   91,702,041   -   91,702,041   80,744,074   (10,957,967)   80,744,074   97,672,071
December 31, 2013   113,707,951   -   113,707,951   108,815,640   (4,892,311)   108,815,640   111,783,052
September 30, 2013   81,945,730   -   81,945,730   80,589,482   (1,356,248)   80,589,482   77,049,314
June 30, 2013   147,215,936   -   147,215,936   142,140,572   (5,075,365)   142,140,572   130,973,023
March 31, 2013   194,772,025   -   194,772,025   188,372,089   (6,399,936)   188,372,089   176,678,910
December 31, 2012   378,096,660   -   378,096,660   366,323,110   (11,773,550)   366,323,110   333,086,073
September 30, 2012   816,573,456   -   816,573,456   788,350,823   (28,222,633)   788,350,823   697,683,289
June 30, 2012   912,025,937   -   912,025,937   890,494,221   (21,531,716)   890,494,221   708,872,106
March 31, 2012   1,095,018,529   -   1,095,018,529   1,058,132,041   (36,886,488)   1,058,132,041   841,095,013
December 31, 2011   1,090,904,993   -   1,090,904,993   1,056,761,288   (34,143,705)   1,056,761,288   754,310,838
September 30, 2011   762,320,632   -   762,320,632   738,510,048   (23,810,584)   738,510,048   546,494,232
June 30, 2011   1,130,732,656   -   1,130,732,656   1,078,535,670   (52,196,986)   1,078,535,670   839,143,290
March 31, 2011   1,097,705,351   -   1,097,705,351   1,068,852,204   (28,853,147)   1,068,852,204   816,688,348
December 31, 2010   968,742,508   -   968,742,508   950,111,417   (18,631,091)   950,111,417   708,895,637
September 30, 2010   915,728,030   -   915,728,030   889,896,058   (25,831,972)   889,896,058   673,462,493
June 30, 2010   1,362,887,892   -   1,362,887,892   1,335,628,212   (27,259,681)   1,335,628,212   975,241,506
March 31, 2010   1,471,905,696   -   1,471,905,696   1,391,337,543   (80,568,153)   1,391,337,543   1,015,645,802
December 31, 2009   1,349,124,214   -   1,349,124,214   1,290,817,168   (58,307,047)   1,290,817,168   852,088,739
September 30, 2009   2,953,442,689   (106,853,708)   2,846,588,981   2,700,948,264   (145,640,717)   2,700,948,264   1,692,409,640
Totals     $ (106,853,708)         $ (658,423,735)        

 

 97 

 

  

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended December 31, 2020:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
01853GAB6 $ 166,318 $ - $ 166,318 $ 58,609 $ (107,709) $ 58,609 $ 136,619
05535DCF9   2,639,139   -   2,639,139   2,595,116   (44,023)   2,595,116   2,812,127
61750FAE0   594,740   -   594,740   584,887   (9,853)   584,887   530,736
61750MAB1   4,675   -   4,675   4,502   (173)   4,502   4,545
92926SAB2   585   -   585   567   (18)   567   562
124860CB1   21,523   -   21,523   14,872   (6,651)   14,872   17,887
18974BAA7   205,451   -   205,451   204,843   (608)   204,843   186,946
18974BAN9   101,669   -   101,669   101,513   (156)   101,513   98,300
2254W0NK7   89,902   -   89,902   23,726   (66,176)   23,726   94,611
45660LYW3   1,074,456   -   1,074,456   1,035,449   (39,007)   1,035,449   1,020,046
65535VRK6   681,735   -   681,735   601,631   (80,104)   601,631   653,481
79548KXQ6   99,323   -   99,323   98,725   (598)   98,725   92,899
92978EAA2   130,042   -   130,042   125,448   (4,594)   125,448   119,223
23332UBW3   26,310   -   26,310   21,116   (5,193)   21,116   30,347
576433H33   1,207,614   -   1,207,614   1,145,808   (61,806)   1,145,808   1,116,853
125435AA5   1,635,577   -   1,635,577   1,543,519   (92,058)   1,543,519   1,596,490
36298XAA0   6,639,520   -   6,639,520   5,802,921   (836,599)   5,802,921   6,153,831
55274SAM3   61,225   -   61,225   42,760   (18,465)   42,760   93,792
86359DME4   673,784   -   673,784   662,791   (10,993)   662,791   698,159
929227ZF6   18,319   -   18,319   5,496   (12,823)   5,496   16,063
Totals $ 16,071,907 $ - $ 16,071,907 $ 14,674,300 $ (1,397,607) $ 14,674,300 $ 15,473,517
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended September 30, 2020:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
US05618HAE53 $ 555,162 $ - $ 555,162 $ 387,040 $ (168,122) $ 387,040 $ 162,575
00442FAB8   144,957   -   144,957   79,275   (65,682)   79,275   112,060
05535DCF9   2,755,413   -   2,755,413   2,649,186   (106,228)   2,649,186   2,553,142
46630KAA4   191,718   -   191,718   184,342   (7,376)   184,342   179,699
61749BAB9   105,432   -   105,432   91,620   (13,812)   91,620   88,204
61750MAB1   4,837   -   4,837   4,672   (165)   4,672   3,421
92926SAB2   604   -   604   588   (16)   588   438
07384YPP5   12,990   -   12,990   9,466   (3,524)   9,466   35,174
073879QF8   45,111   -   45,111   43,889   (1,222)   43,889   39,772
17307GRU4   104,250   -   104,250   55,590   (48,659)   55,590   91,680
18974BAA7   215,833   -   215,833   212,231   (3,602)   212,231   183,053
18974BAN9   106,359   -   106,359   104,851   (1,507)   104,851   97,631
9393365V1   399,194   -   399,194   394,263   (4,932)   394,263   364,935
23332UBW3   31,650   -   31,650   29,218   (2,432)   29,218   22,244
12669GWN7   849,557   -   849,557   799,224   (50,333)   799,224   782,638
12669GXW6   244,251   -   244,251   233,647   (10,604)   233,647   223,233
32051DCK6   79,208   -   79,208   61,819   (17,389)   61,819   82,998
36298XAA0   7,738,893   -   7,738,893   7,511,130   (227,763)   7,511,130   7,120,125
36298XAB8   7,666,120   -   7,666,120   6,250,751   (1,415,369)   6,250,751   6,539,292
45660LY94   13,115   -   13,115   6,394   (6,721)   6,394   26,528
74951PBT4   110,729   -   110,729   51,052   (59,676)   51,052   153,185
Totals $ 21,375,383 $ - $ 21,375,383 $ 19,160,250 $ (2,215,134) $ 19,160,250 $ 18,862,027

 

 98 

 

   

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended June 30, 2020:

                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
17307GRU4 $ 107,326 $ - $ 107,326 $ 77,392 $ (29,934) $ 77,392 $ 160,449
18974BAA7   245,427   -   245,427   235,230   (10,197)   235,230   201,416
18974BAN9   119,509   -   119,509   114,571   (4,938)   114,571   107,924
362290AC2   220,776   -   220,776   219,541   (1,235)   219,541   307,360
79548KXQ6   172,175   -   172,175   170,007   (2,168)   170,007   130,248
855541AC2   508,940   -   508,940   384,558   (124,383)   384,558   460,800
9393365V1   433,313   -   433,313   415,261   (18,053)   415,261   356,247
45660LY94   28,987   -   28,987   13,258   (15,729)   13,258   21,174
57643QAE5   2,203,118   -   2,203,118   1,819,560   (383,558)   1,819,560   2,367,000
74951PBT4   260,811   -   260,811   143,231   (117,579)   143,231   157,616
86359DMC8   5,799,490   -   5,799,490   5,333,524   (465,966)   5,333,524   4,907,737
92990GAE3   80,251   -   80,251   66,477   (13,773)   66,477   71,880
Totals $ 10,180,123 $ - $ 10,180,123 $ 8,992,610 $ (1,187,513) $ 8,992,610 $ 9,249,851
 
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended March 31, 2020:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
05535DCF9 $ 3,012,907 $ - $ 3,012,907 $ 2,862,429 $ (150,478) $ 2,862,429 $ 2,528,432
24763LFY1   147,758   -   147,758   146,827   (931)   146,827   180,454
45071KDD3   575,329   -   575,329   510,787   (64,542)   510,787   491,576
07384YPP5   33,493   -   33,493   28,061   (5,431)   28,061   46,723
12667GKG7   93,290   -   93,290   83,622   (9,668)   83,622   98,905
17307GRU4   114,325   -   114,325   112,699   (1,625)   112,699   157,144
362290AC2   316,883   -   316,883   225,907   (90,976)   225,907   322,987
59020UW43   214,183   -   214,183   182,719   (31,463)   182,719   200,181
65535VRK6   716,497   -   716,497   699,498   (16,998)   699,498   646,333
75115DAH8   6,842   -   6,842   6,564   (279)   6,564   6,397
76112BUE8   181,578   -   181,578   148,845   (32,733)   148,845   129,998
79548KXQ6   187,063   -   187,063   182,973   (4,090)   182,973   137,728
92926UAC5   136,220   -   136,220   130,734   (5,486)   130,734   130,957
23332UBW3   46,195   -   46,195   32,143   (14,052)   32,143   24,852
12669GWN7   889,281   -   889,281   871,126   (18,155)   871,126   863,235
32051DCK6   88,205   -   88,205   86,848   (1,358)   86,848   89,678
362334CN2   14,634   -   14,634   11,177   (3,457)   11,177   13,996
466247K93   7,584   -   7,584   6,335   (1,249)   6,335   7,318
57645LAA2   18,017,521   -   18,017,521   13,868,050   (4,149,471)   13,868,050   18,607,055
Totals $ 24,799,788 $ - $ 24,799,788 $ 20,197,344 $ (4,602,443) $ 20,197,344 $ 24,683,947
 
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended December 31, 2019:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
24763LFY1 $ 182,113 $ - $ 182,113 $ 160,832 $ (21,281) $ 160,832 $ 200,613
05535DAN4   1,930,918   -   1,930,918   1,855,207   (75,711)   1,855,207   1,598,238
07384YPP5   187,700   -   187,700   39,691   (148,009)   39,691   71,760
17307GRU4   164,558   -   164,558   133,524   (31,034)   133,524   229,670
18974BAN9   134,619   -   134,619   125,398   (9,221)   125,398   126,170
65535VRK6   797,949   -   797,949   712,007   (85,942)   712,007   774,700
79548KXQ6   207,254   -   207,254   192,282   (14,972)   192,282   113,588
85554NAG5   194,730   -   194,730   158,214   (36,515)   158,214   187,575
12669FXR9   117,999   -   117,999   114,307   (3,692)   114,307   101,165
23332UBW3   74,561   -   74,561   47,819   (26,742)   47,819   35,659
Totals $ 3,992,400 $ - $ 3,992,400 $ 3,539,281 $ (453,119) $ 3,539,281 $ 3,439,138
                             

 

 99 

 

  

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended September 30, 2019:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
12667F2A2 $ 642,800 $ - $ 642,800 $ 484,346 $ (158,455) $ 484,346 $ 68,241
32053LAA0   47,447   -   47,447   40,280   (7,167)   40,280   47,846
761118FM5   2,843,393   -   2,843,393   2,789,133   (54,260)   2,789,133   2,918,992
79548KXQ6   297,379   -   297,379   277,239   (20,140)   277,239   60,979
23332UBW3   78,084   -   78,084   76,934   (1,151)   76,934   43,636
576433H33   1,579,401   -   1,579,401   1,448,247   (131,155)   1,448,247   1,448,863
12669GWN7   1,037,688   -   1,037,688   957,205   (80,484)   957,205   936,853
17309FAE8   161,243   -   161,243   129,536   (31,707)   129,536   159,357
36298XAA0   10,097,887   -   10,097,887   8,887,246   (1,210,641)   8,887,246   8,841,272
92990GAE3   86,314   -   86,314   85,680   (634)   85,680   87,117
US74951PBV94   37,392   -   37,392   16,087   (21,305)   16,087   26,602
Totals $ 16,909,029 $ - $ 16,909,029 $ 15,191,932 $ (1,717,097) $ 15,191,932 $ 14,639,756
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended June 30, 2019:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
61750MAB1 $ 4,942 $ - $ 4,942 $ 4,899 $ (42) $ 4,899 $ 4,344
18974BAN9   143,913   -   143,913   143,911   (2)   143,911   141,999
761118FM5   3,338,972   -   3,338,972   3,276,460   (62,512)   3,276,460   3,468,889
79548KXQ6   335,309   -   335,309   321,864   (13,445)   321,864   218,663
55274SAM3   114,173   -   114,173   79,608   (34,565)   79,608   119,029
57643QAE5   3,042,722   -   3,042,722   2,360,287   (682,436)   2,360,287   3,180,695
Totals $ 6,980,030 $ - $ 6,980,030 $ 6,187,029 $ (793,001) $ 6,187,029 $ 7,133,620
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended March 31, 2019:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
61750MAB1 $ 5,275 $ - $ 5,275 $ 4,933 $ (341) $ 4,933 $ 4,989
65106FAG7   232,843   -   232,843   215,726   (17,118)   215,726   6,316
18974BAA7   285,889   -   285,889   270,801   (15,088)   270,801   278,616
18974BAN9   149,774   -   149,774   139,333   (10,441)   139,333   148,234
22541QQR6   1,569   -   1,569   -   (1,569)   -   1
32051GCF0   22,786   -   22,786   (6,720)   (29,507)   (6,720)   17,553
761118FM5   3,259,303   -   3,259,303   3,218,368   (40,935)   3,218,368   3,244,154
17309FAE8   200,512   -   200,512   200,501   (11)   200,501   208,828
466247UG6   467,713   -   467,713   452,359   (15,354)   452,359   459,812
57643QAE5   3,114,325   -   3,114,325   3,109,376   (4,949)   3,109,376   3,256,107
US74951PBV94   51,011   -   51,011   29,960   (21,051)   29,960   58,411
Totals $ 7,791,000 $ - $ 7,791,000 $ 7,634,637 $ (156,362) $ 7,634,637 $ 7,683,021
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended December 31, 2018:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
65106FAG7 $ 205,885 $ - $ 205,885 $ 17,668 $ (188,218) $ 17,668 $ 21,031
18974BAA7   306,428   -   306,428   295,291   (11,137)   295,291   294,986
22541QQR6   28,742   -   28,742   (9,704)   (38,446)   (9,704)   1
32051GCF0   32,493   -   32,493   20,481   (12,012)   20,481   20,063
17309FAE8   203,743   -   203,743   202,326   (1,417)   202,326   201,875
57643QAE5   3,657,695   -   3,657,695   3,177,611   (480,084)   3,177,611   3,365,017
92990GAE3   115,186   -   115,186   111,886   (3,300)   111,886   111,541
Totals $ 4,550,173 $ - $ 4,550,173 $ 3,815,559 $ (734,614) $ 3,815,559 $ 4,014,514
                             

 

 100 

 

  

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended September 30, 2018:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
05535DCF9 $ 3,454,425 $ - $ 3,454,425 $ 3,141,048 $ (313,377) $ 3,141,048 $ 3,134,409
07384YPP5   321,829   -   321,829   148,884   (172,945)   148,884   132,968
07386HCP4   2,164   -   2,164   (6,255)   (8,418)   (6,255)   320
76110H4M8   1,715   -   1,715   (3,719)   (5,434)   (3,719)   641
79548KXQ6   423,086   -   423,086   383,222   (39,864)   383,222   292,015
939336Z48   117,607   -   117,607   -   (117,607)   -   126,945
Totals $ 4,320,826 $ - $ 4,320,826 $ 3,663,181 $ (657,645) $ 3,663,181 $ 3,687,297
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended June 30, 2018:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before 

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
59020UW43 $ 337,732 $ - $ 337,732 $ 271,686 $ (66,046) $ 271,686 $ 354,508
76110H4M8   6,848   -   6,848   1,969   (4,879)   1,969   1,713
863579DV7   289,655   -   289,655   5,567   (284,089)   5,567   30,531
Totals $ 634,235 $ - $ 634,235 $ 279,221 $ (355,014) $ 279,221 $ 386,752
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended March 31, 2018:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
07386HEN7 $ 43,711 $ - $ 43,711 $ 2,334 $ (41,377) $ 2,334 $ 1,609
79548KXQ6   520,764   -   520,764   476,293   (44,471)   476,293   365,994
45660NZY4   81,215   -   81,215   9,554   (71,661)   9,554   80,891
Totals $ 645,690 $ - $ 645,690 $ 488,181 $ (157,509) $ 488,181 $ 448,494
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended December 31, 2017:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI 

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
03927RAA2 $ 2,886,563 $ - $ 2,886,563 $ 1,464,907 $ (1,421,656) $ 1,464,907 $ 1,481,241
03927RAB0   910,639   -   910,639   363,543   (547,096)   363,543   362,176
07386HCP4   7,995   -   7,995   1,386   (6,609)   1,386   2,673
12669GMS7   25,101   -   25,101   21,923   (3,177)   21,923   21,921
22541QQR6   21,202   -   21,202   12,504   (8,698)   12,504   16,106
2254W0NK7   97,695   -   97,695   94,495   (3,200)   94,495   139,833
86359ACG6   318   -   318   -   (318)   -   2
Totals $ 3,949,513 $ - $ 3,949,513 $ 1,958,759 $ (1,990,754) $ 1,958,759 $ 2,023,952
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended September 30, 2017:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
22541NMA4 $ 42,273 $ - $ 42,273 $ 41,434 $ (839) $ 41,434 $ 41,095
22541NMB2   11,869   -   11,869   11,634   (234)   11,634   11,535
22541SSD1   12,232   -   12,232   20   (12,213)   20   5,978
52108MDP5   3,497,947   -   3,497,947   -   (3,497,947)   -   1,925,413
55274SAM3   167,196   -   167,196   153,991   (13,206)   153,991   179,429
76110W4J2   1,131   -   1,131   229   (902)   229   556
88157QAL2   686,945   -   686,945   660,921   (26,024)   660,921   2,125,943
89789KAC9   16,949   -   16,949   8,714   (8,235)   8,714   357,735
Totals $ 4,436,542 $ - $ 4,436,542 $ 876,942 $ (3,559,600) $ 876,942 $ 4,647,683

 

 101 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

 

The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended June 30, 2017:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
76110H4M8 $ 4,413 $ - $ 4,413 $ 2,326 $ (2,087) $ 2,326 $ 4,073
86358RLG0   3,485   -   3,485   2,670   (815)   2,670   30,171
86359ACG6   16,324   -   16,324   2   (16,322)   2   2
88157QAL2   774,182   -   774,182   675,599   (98,583)   675,599   1,947,675
89789KAC9   17,294   -   17,294   8,920   (8,374)   8,920   356,047
77277LAF4   22,514,590   -   22,514,590   22,167,493   (347,097)   22,167,493   34,318,674
77277LAH0   1,135,088   -   1,135,088   1,118,159   (16,929)   1,118,159   2,738,435
77277LAJ6   16,073,175   -   16,073,175   15,833,787   (239,388)   15,833,787   21,595,653
Totals $ 40,538,551 $ - $ 40,538,551 $ 39,808,956 $ (729,595) $ 39,808,956 $ 60,990,732
                             
The following is the impairment listing for loan-backed and structured securities for the three months ended March 31, 2017:
                             
CUSIP

Amortized Cost before

Cumulative Adjustment

Cumulative Adjustment

Amortized Cost before

OTTI

Projected Cash Flow

Recognized

OTTI

Amortized Cost

after OTTI

Fair Value
17307GH76 $ 274,894 $ - $ 274,894 $ 44,730 $ (230,163) $ 44,730 $ 152,777
22541QJR4   11,175   -   11,175   54   (11,122)   54   6,866
32051DCK6   182,177   -   182,177   160,728   (21,449)   160,728   179,180
55274SAM3   225,790   -   225,790   209,839   (15,951)   209,839   218,832
86358RA23   1,326,199   -   1,326,199   1,253,636   (72,563)   1,253,636   1,289,099
86359ACG6   6,287   -   6,287   49   (6,239)   49   2
US77277LAF40   22,537,014   -   22,537,014   22,514,590   (22,424)   22,514,590   31,699,907
US77277LAH06   1,136,182   -   1,136,182   1,135,088   (1,094)   1,135,088   2,662,526
US77277LAJ61   16,088,661   -   16,088,661   16,073,175   (15,486)   16,073,175   19,947,746
Totals $ 41,788,380 $ - $ 41,788,380 $ 41,391,889 $ (396,491) $ 41,391,889 $ 56,156,936

 

 102