First Mercantile Adds Grant Boucek to National Sales Team

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Grant Boucek has joined First Mercantile's national sales team effective October 12, 2009, as regional sales director for its new Mid-South region.

"Grant brings a solid foundation of retirement plan experience to us," says Stan Label, vice president of sales and distribution for First Mercantile, to whom Boucek reports. "The retirement plan professionals he will support can look forward to a high level of expertise, delivered with great passion."

Mr. Boucek is responsible for developing new business through bank brokers, consultants, employee benefit brokers, independent broker-dealers, life brokers, registered investment advisors, regional stock brokers, TPAs, and wirehouses in First Mercantile's Mid-South region.

The Mid-South Region is a new territory comprised of the states of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. "Our proposal pipeline is hovering at near-record levels. We expect the addition of Grant to this new territory will contribute significantly to First Mercantile's momentum," adds Label.

In his previous position, Grant was a regional sales director with The Hartford Financial Group. Prior to joining The Hartford, he was a financial advisor for Morgan Keegan, a Tennessee-based broker-dealer.

Boucek can be reached at gboucek@firstmerc.com. For more information regarding First Mercantile, please contact your advisor or call First Mercantile at 800-753-9863.

Photo available upon request from psaddler@firstmerc.com.

About First Mercantile
First Mercantile, one of the premier collective investment trust (CIT) recordkeepers in the United States, offers investment solutions for qualified retirement plans. Employing a due diligence process, First Mercantile Trust (FMT) searches the investment universe to select non-proprietary options suited for the investment platforms. CITs are sub-advised by institutional money managers, or invest in mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs). Also included on the investment platform are Dimensional Advisor Funds (DFA), Lifestyle and Target Date options. First Mercantile acts in a fiduciary capacity with respect to the management of the assets of the collective investment trust. The Advisor Review Committee oversees the entire due diligence process, which includes qualitative and quantitative analysis.

These investment products are distributed through solid relationships with quality investment consultants and third-party administrators. First Mercantile offers full fee disclosure and transparency with a flexible and competitive cost structure. FMT has a national network of seasoned, knowledgeable professionals to provide excellent client service, customer care and support.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. www.firstmerc.com.

    Contact:  Patrice Saddler
              (901) 463-1226
              psaddler@firstmerc.com