HF Financial (www.HFFCarolinas.com), a General Agency of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), today announced that Ellen Linares, ChFC®, CLU, has earned the Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC™) professional designation from The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Created by MassMutual and The American College of Financial Services, the ChSNC™ program is considered the most comprehensive credential available for financial planners interested in effectively providing individuals with special needs and their families with informed financial advice designated to help preserve assets without jeopardizing access to essential support services.

A ChSNC™ can provide expert advice on a broad range of financial topics including special needs trusts; wills; powers-of-attorney; guardianships; Social Security and Medicaid; tax deductions and/or credits that apply to special needs individuals; and more.

“We are proud of Ellen [Linares] for earning the ChSNC designation,” said Timothy C. Flanagan, Jr., CLU, ChFC®, CFP®, ChSNC™, General Agent of HF Financial. “This enables our firm to further support our SpecialCare Planning Team so that we can better serve individuals and their loved ones.”

The SpecialCare SM Program, developed exclusively by MassMutual, is an innovative outreach initiative that provides access to information, specialists, and financial products and services that can help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and other special needs, as well as their families and caregivers. Since 2004, the SpecialCare Program has helped the families of more than five million children with special needs care for their loved ones.

The American College

The American College is the nation’s largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has served as a valued business partner to banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies and others for over 84 years. The American College’s faculty represents some of the financial service industry’s foremost thought leaders. For more information, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu.

About HF Financial

HF Financial (formerly Hinrichs Flanagan Financial) specializes in a broad spectrum of financial services that enables the firm to offer comprehensive strategies to individuals, families and businesses for risk management, asset allocation, estate planning, cash flow and wealth accumulation. Securities products and services are offered through qualified registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC. 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28210. (704) 557-9600. The firm serves clients in North and South Carolina. More information is available at www.hffcarolinas.com.

Founded in 1851, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(K) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance

Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is

headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital

Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter,

LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ and Pinterest.

Ellen Linares is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, Inc. Member SIPC. 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28210. (704) 557-9600.