2009 News Releases

Boston – Leveraging the success of the PRIME Elements marketing program introduced in January, John Hancock Retirement Plan Services (RPS) recently introduced a streamlined proposal designed to make it easier for plan sponsors to ensure all the important elements of a successful 401(k) plan are included in their considerations.

The new proposal was launched with a fresh new look, new content and new packaging, all designed to help financial advisors and plan consultants tell the John Hancock story. The new proposal and PRIME pitchbook are built around the five PRIME Elements of retirement plan success and showcase how John Hancock brings unique value to a company’s 401(k) plan.

“We are very excited about the success of the PRIME Elements program and extending it to include a new proposal was a natural next step,” said Andrew Ross, Senior Vice President, Marketing, John Hancock Retirement Plan Services.

The new proposal was built to be flexible, allowing financial advisors and plan consultants to use it to highlight elements that are of particular relevance to a plan sponsor while ensuring all important aspects of a 401(k) plan have been included in the solution.

About John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
Among mutual fund, life insurance companies and banks, JHRPS is ranked as the #1 provider to 401(k)s based on number of 401(k) plans managed, according CFO Magazine. (CFO Magazine 401(k) Buyers Guide Study, published May 2008.)

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 $405.3 billion (U.S. $321.7 billion) as at March 31, 2009.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘945’ 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 whole life, term life, variable life, and universal life insurance, as well as college savings products, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, mutual funds and various forms of business insurance.

Both John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York do business under certain instances using the John Hancock Retirement Plan Services name. Group annuity contracts and recordkeeping agreements are issued by: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02210 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595. Product features and availability may differ by state. Guarantees of withdrawals provided under "Guaranteed Income for Life" are supported by the issuer's general account and are subject to the claims paying ability of the issuer, which does not relate to the investment performance or safety of the investment options to which the feature applies. Before selecting this feature, you should consider the objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of these investment options, and the limitations, terms and conditions of the feature as set forth in the Lifetime Income Benefit Rider.

NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY

© 2009 John Hancock. All rights reserved.

SOURCE: John Hancock Retirement Plan Services

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Contact:
Melissa Berczuk
Phone: (617) 663-4750
E-mail: mberczuk@jhancock.com