Annual Report 2020: The Power of Partnership Back to Homepage

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Building partnership and
driving better outcomes

Take a few minutes to see how we’re pairing high-tech solutions with high-touch service to drive better outcomes on behalf of the NLADA.

For more than a century, the Washington, D.C.-based National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) has been at the forefront of the fight to protect and advance equal justice in America. As the only national organization whose resources are dedicated exclusively to protecting access to both civil and criminal justice legal assistance for low-income people, the NLADA provides capacity-building services and technical support to a coast-to-coast network of legal aid partners.

Mutual of America has served the retirement plan needs of the NLADA since 2004. “The NLADA is the go-to source of information and support for nonprofit legal agencies across the country,” said Lisa Loughry, Senior Vice President of National Accounts at Mutual of America. “When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, we quickly reached out to our NLADA clients to check on their employees and to provide information and updates on the CARES Act and other relief packages which helped their members navigate this incredibly challenging time. The virtual presentations we conducted were well received not only for their content but also for the way in which they demonstrated Mutual of America’s care and concern.”

Enhancing Retirement Readiness

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148

NLADA member clients.

43%

Percentage of NLADA member programs using Mutual of America as their 403(b) or 401(k) plan service provider as of December 31, 2020.

24.7

Average number of years NLADA member programs have been Mutual of America clients.

Advancing the
Greater Good

National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), Client since 2009

Jo-ann Wallace - NLADA

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Jo-Ann Wallace

President and CEO of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Jo-Ann Wallace, President and CEO of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), believes in the essential role that civil legal aid professionals and public defenders have in advancing American society. “By serving people who cannot afford a lawyer, these public servants are helping to protect and improve the well-being of our country’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Wallace.

Wallace also recognizes that a top-quality retirement plan can help to attract and retain the talented and dedicated professionals that organizations like the NLADA need to serve their communities. “Mutual of America understands our mission and actively works to support it with flexible plan design, attractive pricing and value-added services that help maximize the value of this benefit and drive better outcomes for our organization and our employees.”

On the Front Line of Legal Justice

Community Legal Services, Inc. (CLS), Client since 1995

Lillian Johnson - CLS

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Lillian Johnson

Executive Director of Community Legal Services, Inc.

Community Legal Services, Inc. (CLS), is a nonprofit law firm and NLADA member that has provided legal services, advocacy and education to Arizona’s most underserved communities since 1952.

“Our employees are on the front line of the civil justice system, helping low-income individuals to protect their livelihoods, their health and their families. It is important to us that we empower these valued professionals, who are dedicating their lives to helping others, to build financial resilience for themselves,” said Lillian Johnson, Executive Director of CLS.

“For more than 25 years, our Mutual of America retirement plan has been helping to do that. The employer match we offer, combined with the outstanding education provided by Mutual of America’s representatives, including special COVID-19-related information and one-on-one personalized attention, show our employees that their financial well-being matters.”

Leveraging the Strength of Community

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA), Client since 1986

Yvonne Mariajimenez - NLSLA

Yvonne Mariajimenez

President and CEO of Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially devastating for people living in poverty. “Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) has always had strong ties to our community partners,” said Yvonne Mariajimenez, NLSLA President and CEO. “When we had to shift to working virtually, we immediately leveraged those relationships to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens know how to access our housing and homelessness-prevention services, disaster relief, healthcare and other legal services.”

“Our ability to pivot ensured that we could be there for our communities when they needed us most. Once COVID hit, our Mutual of America representative offered virtual meetings to discuss things like the volatility in the financial markets and to help ensure that our employees remained focused on their long-term retirement goals.”

Employee Perspectives

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It was super easy to roll over assets from my previous retirement plan. I made a call to Mutual of America, and they sent me a form to complete. After I returned it to them, almost immediately the transfer was completed.”*

Lorena Perez Paralegal at Community Legal Services, Inc.

*Before making a transfer, you should review the accounts you have with other providers to determine the fees and expenses you currently pay and whether there are any surrender charges that may result and to ensure that it is in your best interest to transfer your other accounts to your current plan.

When I first started saving, I didn’t fully realize how important it was. Now, I’m glad I started early, because I don’t want to be struggling financially when I’m older. I want to be comfortable.”

Lorena Perez Paralegal at Community Legal Services, Inc.

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changing lives

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