Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. has reached what it called a milestone as it has now more than 5,000 financial professionals working for it in communities across the U.S.

MassMutual has been increasing its field force by more than 9% each of the last three years.

Nearly a quarter of all new recruits in 2009 were women, while 15% were from multicultural backgrounds, according to the company. College graduates interested in careers in financial services and people with successful careers in other fields, including retail management and education, have been joining the company’s ranks.

Michael Fanning, executive vice president for MassMutual’s U.S. Insurance Group said the company’s “entrepreneurial environment” is drawing attention.

The company saw its whole life insurance premium increase 9% and policy count rise 21% since the start of the year, he said.

“Mutual insurance companies like ours have remained strong during the economic downturn,” Fanning said in a statement.

Prospective candidates undergo rigorous screening prior to being offered a position. If chosen, they may receive extensive training in needs-based analysis, as well as mentoring from veteran financial services professionals, officials said.