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Manulife USA builds more user-focused features into Insurance Division’s advisor and policyholder Web sites -- Increased Content, Functionality, and Interactivity Added to SalesNet and ServiceNet Portals -- Boston - Utilizing technology to make business interactions increasingly easy and efficient for financial advisors and policyholders, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (Manulife USA) launched enhancements to the Company’s Web site at www.manulife.com/usinsurance. The redesigned site delivers more information in an easily accessible format that makes navigation intuitive for users of the advisor portal, SalesNet, and the policyholder portal, ServiceNet. Through new content, added functionality, and increased interactivity, Manulife USA has taken advantage of state-of-the-industry technology to provide a more convenient and useful resource for their clients. New Content In addition to an aesthetic redesign of the U.S. Insurance home page and the SalesNet and ServiceNet portals, one of the most readily apparent changes is the inclusion of comprehensive investment information. To provide greater access to up-to-date fund data, new pages deliver current performance values for both Manulife USA’s investment platform and the Venture® variable life product portfolio, along with prospectuses, a fund overview, and quarterly fund sheets. A new claims section, which is segmented to address specific user needs such as death claim filing, accelerated death benefit claims, waiver claims, and claim FAQ’s, has also been added. Both portals now feature real-time stock market quotes, as well. Further addressing the needs of financial advisors, more extensive product information has been added to SalesNet. From a general product overview page, users can drill down to access more details. Each product has its own descriptive page, along with a new marketing resource page that provides competitive comparisons, downloadable sales sheets, and brochures. In addition, Manulife USA created a business underwriting section that compiles all underwriting information for quick reference and an expanded Advanced Markets section that gives an overview of this elite Manulife team. The Advanced Markets section provides background information and links to legislative news, sales kits, relevant articles, and a secure library section that provides PowerPoint presentation downloads. Detailed sales contact information has also been added to this portal. New Functionality Manulife’s U.S. Insurance Web redesign also included the addition of new functionalities. For example, business forms functionality was added to SalesNet, allowing advisors to select forms by exact word match, by type, or by application kit. Search results allow users to view forms and application kits and their descriptions, as well as to print, email, or request hard copies of these materials. Additional enhancements to both SalesNet and ServiceNet include a search engine that enables users to search all live and archived content on the site and new printer-friendly functionality on many of the sites’ most frequently printed pages. Increased Interactivity One of the primary goals of the site redesign was to better facilitate the exchange of information between Manulife USA and its clients. To this end, the sites now feature improved interactivity with enhanced Contact Us sections that allow users to email directly from the Web site. In addition, feedback forms were created to gather any comments or questions about the site, Manulife USA’s insurance products, or the U.S. Insurance Division. “Throughout this redesign process, we tried to critically assess the ways in which our clients use our Web site and how these enhancements could improve their experience and increase their frequency of use,” said Robert A. Cook, President of U.S. Insurance, Manulife USA. “As a result, the improvements to our SalesNet and ServiceNet sites will make doing business with Manulife easier for all of our clients, bringing an unprecedented level of account accessibility and efficiency to our policyholders, while, at the same time, offering advisors new tools and functionalities that will help them to grow their 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. 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$96.4 billion (Cdn$141.6 billion) as at March 31, 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 617-854-4348 heather_carter@manulife.com |
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