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John Hancock Launches College Savings Back-To-School Campaign With Roll Of The Die “Road to College” Board Game Designed to Grab Financial Consultants’ Attention Boston – John Hancock Freedom 529 launched its annual back-to-school campaign with an innovative marketing tool designed to grab financial consultants’ attention: a full-fledged leave-behind board game for young players ages 5–10, called “The Road to College.” With turns such as three steps forward for reciting a poem in class or learning the state capitals or two back for forgetting homework or missing the bus, the colorful, eye-catching game takes players from pre-school to college with rewards for saving along the way. The game is part of John Hancock’s marketing effort to encourage financial consultants to address college savings when they speak to clients as well as to provide them with tools to make it easy to initiate the conversation. The game comes with a matching brochure for parents, which provides tips about saving for college at the various stages in a child’s life. In addition to “The Road to College,” the company will also be sending financial consultants a steady stream of direct mail and sales ideas through October. “Saving for college is an important financial need, and our 529 plan has some exciting changes for the back to school season this year,” said Terri Hayes, vice president, John Hancock College Savings. “School-time provides a great opportunity to remind Advisors to include saving for college in discussions with clients. It also provides a chance for us to remind them of our plan’s significant fee reduction.” Last December, John Hancock Freedom 529 lowered the annual program management fee for current and future John Hancock Freedom 529 Savings Plan account holders on a weighted average basis by approximately 30 percent, in addition to reductions in other fees and expenses. “While many clients would like to send their children to college, we’ve found saving for it is often so overwhelming they get paralyzed. If financial consultants bring the discussion up, clients who begin to save – even in small amounts – hopefully will feel a sense of relief,” said Hayes. John Hancock Freedom 529 John Hancock Freedom 529 is a national Section 529 college savings plan. John Hancock Freedom 529 is offered by the Education Trust of Alaska and managed by T. Rowe Price, and is distributed by John Hancock Distributors LLC, through other broker/dealers that have a selling agreement with John Hancock Distributors LLC. John Hancock Distributors LLC is a member of FINRA and is listed with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). The plan offers a multi-managed approach, allowing investors to work with their financial consultants to pursue a strategy to maximize their investment opportunities, while managing risk. Expanding upon the inherent advantages of a typical 529 savings plan, the product offers investment choices from some of the nation’s top mutual fund managers. About John Hancock and Manulife Financial John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation (the Company), a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$400 billion (US$393 billion) as at June 30, 2008. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com. The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. If your state or your designated Beneficiary's state offers a 529 plan you may want to consider what, if any, potential state income tax or other benefits it offers, before investing. State tax or other benefits should be one of many factors to be considered prior to making an investment decision. Please consult with your financial, tax or other advisor about how these state benefits, if any, may apply to your specific circumstances. You may also contact your state 529 plan or any other 529 college savings plan to learn more about their features. Please contact your financial consultant or call 1-866-222-7498 to obtain a Plan Disclosure Document or prospectus for any of the underlying funds. The Plan Disclosure Document contains complete details on investment objectives, risks, fees, charges and expenses, as well as more information about municipal fund securities and the underlying investment companies that should be considered before investing. Please read the Plan Disclosure Document carefully prior to investing. 529 plans are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not bank or state guaranteed. - 30 - Contact: Melissa Simon Berczuk Phone: 617-663-4750 E-mail: mberczuk@jhancock.com |
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