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MANULIFE USA RECOGNIZED FOR 401(K) PARTICIPANT COMMUNICATION TOOLS BOSTON, MA (September 23, 2003) – In recognition of their efforts to provide 401(k) plan participants with meaningful tools that help them to plan for retirement, Manulife USA received a Signature Award in the Targeted Interactive Communication Tool category from the Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America in their annual competition. The award was given for Manulife USA’s participant Annual Review, a part of the Company’s dramatically new approach to retirement planning through which a simple three-step process makes it easier for 401(k) participants to set personal retirement goals and make informed decisions that will help them to achieve these goals. According to the PSCA, Manulife’s annual review process “should appeal to most participants because the questionnaire is well developed, simple, and very easy to complete. It only takes a few minutes for results that can last a lifetime.” In addition to the award for Targeted Communication Tool, Manulife USA also received recognition in the Financial Planning category for addressing education issues about retirement planning within the broader context of financial planning. Manulife USA’s participant communication materials encourage workers to focus on four key retirement planning questions: How much will my retirement cost? How much do I need to contribute to pay for it? How should I allocate my contributions? And how am I doing? “Our program is designed to help participants to identify and answer questions about their retirement in a meaningful way, giving a personal relevance to what may have once seemed like abstract concepts,” said Ralph Vizl, Vice President of Participant Marketing for Group Pensions, Manulife USA. “We feel it is important to provide participants with materials that they will find accessible and easy to use, regardless of their familiarity with investments or financial planning. This element of personalization is a large part of what helps our participant communications to reach such a wide variety of investors.” PSCA's annual Signature Awards is a competition designed to honor excellence in plan communication and investment education. By sponsoring the Signature Awards competition, PSCA encourages the sharing of communication ideas and rewards excellence in profit sharing and 401(k) plan communication and investment-education. The competition also provides plan sponsors with outside, objective recognition of the efforts of their company and their staff. “Manulife USA understands that in order for participant communication tools to be effective, they need to be both easy to use and helpful. Our research has shown that participants want tools that actually make a difference, reflecting the way they really think about retirement planning and quantifying their goals and progress in ways that are easy to understand,” said Paul Henry, Director of Strategic Planning and Market Research for Group Pensions, Manulife USA. “We are delighted to be recognized by the Profit Sharing Council of America for our success in creating tools that do just that.” About PSCA Established in 1947, PSCA is a national, non-profit association of 1,200 companies and their 3 million employees. PSCA represents its members' interests to federal policymakers and offers practical, cost-effective assistance with profit sharing and 401(k) plan design, administration, investment, compliance and communication. PSCA's services are tailored to meet the needs of both large and small companies. Members range in size from Fortune 100 firms to small, entrepreneurial businesses. About Manulife The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (Manulife USA) is committed to offering the highest quality life insurance, pension, and individual wealth management products to its clients. Its family of products has been built around a powerful combination of investment options chosen with the goal of providing attractive risk-adjusted returns and broad diversification across asset classes, investment styles, and asset managers. With its extensive product lines, competitive underwriting, excellent ratings, and quality customer service, Manulife USA is dedicated to providing quality products designed to help create and preserve wealth for its clients. Group annuity contracts are issued by Manulife USA. Product features and availability may differ by state. In New York, products are issued by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of New York (Manulife New York). Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds under management by Manulife Financial were US$106.5 billion (Cdn$144.3 billion) as at June 30, 2003. 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. - 30 - Media Contact:Heather Randolph Carter U.S. Communications 617-854-4342 |
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