John Hancock Financial Network (JHFN) Launches New Website To Educate and Inform Both Financial Professionals and Consumers

BOSTON, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Financial Network (JHFN) today launched a new website for prospective financial professionals, advisors, and customers, as well as for affiliated associates and existing clients at www.johnhancockfinancialnetwork.com. In addition to providing in-depth information about JHFN, the site uses resources, tools, and videos to deliver an "up close and personal perspective" on both the career opportunities and financial solutions offered by JHFN's national network of independent firms. To make it easy for viewers to find the information, the site has two portals: one for financial services professionals and one for individual investors.

The site's new design and content reflect JHFN's desire to be a resource for thoughtful information for financial professionals and consumers. It was designed to showcase the company's new business model, which has evolved to provide financial professionals the structure and resources to realize their business vision and tailor their business the way that works best for them – while having the backing of John Hancock Financial. Through personal stories told by advisors and detailed information on each of the Network's independent firms, the site helps financial advisors find a firm that's right for their personal situation.

"This site not only presents the facts and data about working with JHFN as an advisor and as a client, but also offers personal insights through our financial professionals' own words in dozens of video interviews," said Peter Gordon, president of JHFN.

On the site, financial professionals will get a complete picture of what it's like to affiliate with one of JHFN's regional firms including:

• Multiple affiliation options, branding flexibility, top producer practice management, and equity and succession planning
• Open product platform, the corporate RIA, financial planning, and insurance and wealth management products
• Flexible compensation and benefit packages
• Practice management resources including marketing, training, technology and compliance
• A dedicated transition team that provides concierge service, and the process from a career changer's perspective

They also will find a wealth of information, some proprietary to JHFN, to help them make key decisions in creating the practice that's right for them. One issue that JHFN has explored in depth is equity and succession planning, the cycle of a financial professional's practice from building equity, to choosing a successor, to implementing an exit strategy.  Currently, the site offers industry research and personal accounts from JHFN associates on this subject; in the future, there will also be a webinar series, assessment tools, and an eBook.

"Succession planning resources are just one example of the kind of information we'll be providing," said Kathy Klingler, vice president, Marketing and Competitive Strategy, who oversees the site. "We'll be posting new material on a range of issues important to financial professionals and advisors on a regular basis. There will also be RSS feeds to make it easy to follow a particular topic. Our goal is to make this site a trusted, go-to resource within our industry."

The site's consumer section was designed to help individual investors understand the range of financial solutions available and to demystify the process of choosing a financial advisor. There are resources about life events, product solutions arranged by life stages, and tips to consider when working with an advisor. The site also provides in-depth profiles of JHFN's independent regional firms. To add a personal dimension, users can view videos in which JHFN's financial professionals discuss how they work with clients to tailor solutions to meet each individual's goals.

"We wanted to give financial professionals a useful resource with helpful information and tools important to their business. We also wanted them to get a sense of who we are and what it's like to work with one of our independent regional firms, we've included unscripted conversations with our financial representatives on a range on interesting topics," said Klingler.

About John Hancock Financial Network

John Hancock Financial Network is a national network of independent firms with approximately 1,900 financial professionals across the U.S. A leader with the stability and scale to offer an innovative business model, John Hancock Financial Network gives entrepreneurial financial professionals the power to effectively build unique businesses, based on their own vision and market opportunity. For more information on John Hancock Financial Network and its national network of independent firms, visit www.johnhancockfinancialnetwork.com.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial

John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. For more than 120 years, clients have looked to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$446 billion (US$440 billion) as at March 31, 2010.

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 life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at www.johnhancock.com.

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor, 197, Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116.

SOURCE John Hancock Financial Network