Sapient
Financial
Group

San Antonio, TX. December 1, 2008 – Diana Scheel*, CLU, ChFC, FLMI, FLHC, is the first San Antonio woman to win the national, Woman in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) Rookie Award. The award recognizes women with less than three years industry experience, and is awarded to the candidate with the leading business results for the year.

Ms. Scheel, a financial advisor with Sapient Financial Group, is a lifetime resident of San Antonio. Just three years ago, downsizing and restructuring ended her 31 year career at San Antonio based, USAA, and she lost her job as Vice President of Claims. But she has found a new career helping others – mostly women - make good decisions in difficult times.

“Most of my clients are women like me; baby boomers either retired or close to it. Being able to connect with them and understand their issues, has helped build the trusting relationships that have been vital to my success,” said Ms. Scheel.

“I find that women prefer to talk to other women about their financial situation, but with 80% of all financial professionals being male⁴ – such a woman can be hard to find. I’m delighted to do my bit to help correct the gender imbalance!”

“Diana is part of our success story at Sapient Financial Group, as we take proactive steps to better serve the entire community,” said Frank Woodruff, Sapient Financial Group’s CEO. “In less than three years, we’ve more than tripled the number of women on our team– and they are all doing exceptionally well. I’ve no doubt that Diana’s award will be the first of many coming to women in San Antonio.”

This is the second national financial services award for Ms. Scheel this year. Earlier she won the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) national “Freshman Five 2007” award which is bestowed on the top five, of over five hundred, MassMutual financial professionals who completed their first year with the company in 2007.

About Sapient Financial Group:
Sapient Financial Group offers a broad portfolio of investment, insurance and retirement products and services and has assisted individuals, families and businesses get to where they want to be by helping to provide protection, financial security, and stability. Formally known as the South Texas Agency, the company has been located in San Antonio, Texas, since 1952. The team of over 50 financial professionals has more than 500 cumulative year’s industry experience, serving over 23,000 clients and servicing a total of $1.0 billion of assets. ¹²³ www.SapientFinancialGroup.com.

About Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS): WIFS is the preeminent professional association for women in the insurance and financial services industry. Their mission is to support, encourage and advance the success of women in the industry by providing education, networking and skill building resources at the national level and through local WIFS chapters in the United States. For more information about WIFS visit the website at www.w-wifs.org.

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¹Securities and investment advisory services offered through MML Investors Services, Inc., member SIPC (www.SIPC.org), One Union Square, Suite 300, 10101 Reunion Place, San Antonio, TX 78216. 210.342.4141.

²Insurance offered through Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and other fine companies

³2007 Data included production from Sapient Financial Group and its detached offices

⁴Female and male sales force trends, LIMRA 2007

*Insurance Representative of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and other fine companies. Diana Scheel is a Registered Representative of and offers securities through MML Investors Services, Inc., Member SIPC (www.SIPC.org). Supervisory Office: One Union Square, Suite 300, 10101 Reunion Place, San Antonio, TX 78216-4157, (210) 342-4141. Sapient Financial Group, Frank Woodruff, CLU, ChFC, General Agent

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