EXHIBIT 10.10
BROKER'S PAYEE CONTRACT
MML INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Broker's Payee Contract
Financial Institution
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THIS CONTRACT, Made this ____ day of ___________, 2000, by and between MML
Insurance Agency, Inc., MML Insurance Agency of Ohio,
Inc., MML Insurance Agency of Nevada, Inc., MML Insurance
Agency of Mississippi, P.C., MML Insurance Agency
of Texas, Inc., DISA Insurance Services of America, Inc.
(collectively, "MMLIAI") and ___________________________
_____________________________ ("Payee").
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained the said parties do
hereby agree as follows:
1. This Contract shall be know and identified as a Broker's Payee
Contract and shall become effective on the date specified above. "Company" as
used herein shall refer to any insurance company whose products have been
approved for distribution by MMLIAI, and with which the Payee has a broker's
contract.
2. In conjunction with an agent of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
Company ("MassMutual") who has executed a Broker's Payee Contract ("MassMutual
Agent"), Payee may submit to MMLIAI applications for individual insurance and
annuity policies issued by a Company and applications for group insurance and
group annuity policies or amendments thereto issued by a Company (all such
individual or group policies and amendments being hereinafter referred to as
"Business"). All such applications, including medical examiners' reports, if
any, shall be forwarded promptly to MMLIAI (or its agent for purposes of
processing Business) or a Company (as directed by MMLIAI) and all monies
received in connection therewith, or with the policies issued thereon, shall be
paid over promptly to MMLIAI or to said Company. No right of action shall arise
because of refusal by a Company, for any reason, to issue a policy on any such
application or amendment.
3. Solicitation shall be conducted by MassMutual Agent. Payee's
employees or representatives shall not engage in solicitation or any
insurance-related activities on behalf of MMLIAI. Nothing in this contract shall
be construed as creating the relationship of employer and employee between
MMLIAI and Payee or between a Company and Payee.
4. Subject to the provisions of this Contract, on premiums duly paid to
a Company on Business (other than variable insurance contracts) submitted
hereunder and for which Payee is properly licensed, MMLIAI will allow Payee or
arrange for the allowance to Payee of first year commissions and renewal
commissions in accordance with MMLIAI's published Payee's Compensation Schedule
for Non-Securities Products or other memoranda that are announced and published
by MMLIAI from time to time, in effect on the date on which such Business is
submitted. Payee, however, waives its right to payment of such compensation
until such time as MMLIAI is in receipt of the commissions from which Payee's
commissions are to be paid. MMLIAI's liability for payment of such commissions
is limited solely to the proceeds of the commissions which MMLIAI receives from
Companies as a result of Business submitted pursuant to this Contract. MMLIAI
shall not in any way be held responsible for a Company's failure to pay
commissions to MMLIAI or to Payee.
5. Subject to the provisions of this Contract, on premiums duly paid to
a Company on any variable insurance contract that is subject to regulation under
the federal securities laws and/or is subject to the rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD"), MMLIAI will allow Payee revenue
sharing payments in accordance with Payee's Securities Brokerage and Services
Agreement with MML Investors Services, Inc. ("MMLISI").
6. If a Company, under its contract with MMLIAI or MMLIAI's agent for
purposes of submitting applications for Business to such Company, shall reduce
the number or rate of commissions, a corresponding reduction shall automatically
be operative as to commissions payable under this Contract. Any such change
shall apply only to Business submitted and paid for after the effective date of
such change. In no event shall any compensation be allowed Payee if prohibited
by rules of a Company, by law, or by ruling or regulation of any governmental
body or agency.
7. Commissions payable under this Contract shall be paid to Payee not
less frequently than monthly; provided, however, that if the total amount of
commissions payable to Payee in any commission cycle shall be less than $50.00,
or any other sum that MMLIAI in its sole discretion may determine ("minimum
distribution amount"), then such commissions may be held for Payee's account and
accumulated with other commissions, if any, hereafter accruing to Payee until a
commission cycle in which the aggregate commissions equal at least $50.00 or the
minimum distribution amount.
8. If for any reason a Company cancels or reverses the issue of a
policy or contract, Payee shall lose all right to commissions for such Business,
and shall return to MMLIAI, on demand, any commissions received which are
attributable to such Business. MMLIAI may withhold and retain from any
commissions or other sums due Payee a sum sufficient: (1) to discard any
obligation owed to MMLIAI under this paragraph, or (2) to satisfy any obligation
or liability of Payee to MMLIAI. Payee shall not be entitled to any commissions
or other compensation as a result of any transaction submitted in violation of
any provision of this Contract.
9. Payee authorizes MassMutual and any General Agent thereof, and any
direct or indirect subsidiary of MassMutual and any General Agent thereof (each
such company and person to be referred to as a "MassMutual Party") to pay
directly to MMLIAI any commissions, renewals, overrides, advances, allowances,
or other compensation which is otherwise payable to Payee by such MassMutual
Party in order to satisfy any obligation or liability of Payee to such
MassMutual Party.
Payee authorizes (including its agent for purposes of making payments
to Payee pursuant to this Agreement) to pay directly to each MassMutual Party
any commissions, renewals, advances, allowances or other compensation which is
otherwise payable to Payee by MMLIAI in order to satisfy any obligation or
liability of Payee to MMLIAI.
Any assignment by Payee of this Contract or of any claims or rights
accrued or to accrue hereunder shall be void unless assented to in writing by
MMLIAI, provided, however, that unless such assent shall specifically so state,
the right to offset provided for by this section shall not be thereby waived or
released.
10. Payee at all times shall indemnify and save harmless MMLIAI from
and against all manner of actions, claims, suits, liabilities, costs or expenses
incurred by MMLIAI and resulting from Payee's breach of any of the provisions of
this Contract or any supplement thereto. MMLIAI at all times shall indemnify and
save harmless Payee from and against all manner of actions, claims, suits,
liabilities, costs or expenses incurred by Payee and resulting from MMLIAI's
violation of any of the provisions of this Contract or any supplement thereto.
11. Payee shall have no authority to incur any obligations in the name
of or on behalf of MMLIAI or a company.
12. No act of forbearance or failure to insist upon the prompt
performance by Payee of any of the conditions of this Contract, either expressed
or implied, shall be construed as a waiver by MMLIAI of any of MMLIAI's rights
hereunder.
13. This Contract, which shall be construed and governed by the laws of
Massachusetts, constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between MMLIAI
and Payee regarding all matters herein and any matters which would ordinarily be
included in a contract of this type, and shall supersede all previous
agreements, oral or written, between the parties hereto. MMLIAI may amend this
Contract at anytime without prior notice to Payee. Payee's continued affiliation
with MMLIAI after receipt of notice of such amendment shall constitute Payee's
agreement to any such amendment.
14. This Contract shall terminate on:
(a) Written agreement of the parties; or
(b) Date of mailing of written notice of termination with or
without cause by either party to the other party, such notice
being mailed to the last known post office address; or
(c) Upon the filing by the Payee for dissolution or corporate
reorganization.
15. All disputes arising pursuant to Payee's relationship with MMLIAI,
whether arising under this Contract or otherwise, shall be settled by
arbitration in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American
Arbitration Association. The written decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be
binding on the parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Contract in
duplicate, the day and year first above written.
MML INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. PAYEE
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(Signature) (Name of Financial Institution)
Its By
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Its
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Broker#
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(address)
General Agent
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MML INSURANCE AGENCY MML INSURANCE AGENCY
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OF OHIO, INC. OF NEVADA, INC.
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(Signature) (Signature)
Its Its
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MML INSURANCE AGENCY MML INSURANCE AGENCY
OF TEXAS, INC. OF MISSISSIPPI, P.C.
(Signature) (Signature)
Its Its
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DISA INSURANCE SERVICES DIVERSIFIED INSURANCE
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OF AMERICA, INC. SERVICES OF AMERICA, INC.
(Signature) (Signature)
Its Its
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MML INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Payee's Compensation Schedule for Non-Securities Products
Financial Institution
August, 1999
1. Commissions. On all Business described in Section 4 of the Broker's Payee
Contract which is accepted by a Company and subject to revenue sharing
arrangements with MassMutual Agents for jointly submitted business, Payee
shall be entitled to 100% of the base agent commissions and renewals
provided by such Company in accordance with the contract or other
agreement in effect between the Company and MMLIAI, BISYS Insurance
Services, or other brokerage general agency.
2. Vesting. All compensation on Business described in Section 4 of the
Broker's Payee Contract which is earned by Payee pursuant to the Broker's
Payee Contract shall be paid in accordance with the vesting schedule
established by each Company, provided that such payments comply with
federal and state law. Payee waives its right to payment of such
commissions until such time as MMLIAI is in receipt of the compensation
from which Payee's commissions are to be paid. In the case of a Payee who
terminates its Broker's Payee Contract, MMLIAI shall send such payments
to the last address of record in its file; Payee is responsible for
notifying MMLIAI of any address changes. If MMLIAI is unable to deliver
such payments to Payee after four documented attempts to effect delivery,
then MMLIAI shall have no further delivery obligation and ownership of
such payments shall revert to MMLIAI.
3. ERA Payments. Expense Reimbursement Allowance ("ERA") payments on
Business described in Section 4 of the Broker's Payee Contract are
administered and paid by the Payee's General Agent. MMLIAI shall not in
any way be responsible for ERA payments to Payee. ERA payments are not
vested.
