John Hancock Investments announces plans to open office in Tempe, Arizona

BOSTON, May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Investments today announced plans to expand to a third U.S. location in Tempe, Arizona, in the fourth quarter of 2016. The new location will serve as an additional hub for sales and service support operations. Initially, the new location will be home to a staff of nearly 60 employees.

"This expansion has been a long time coming," said Andrew G. Arnott, president and CEO. "Our significant growth over the past decade created a need to increase our sales and service support staff, and there were multiple benefits to doing so through a new location in Tempe."

John Hancock Investments' organic growth has been among the fastest in the asset management industry in recent years. Assets under management reached $83.7 billion at the end of the March 2016, a record for the firm, and the first quarter marked the 18th consecutive quarter of positive net inflows for John Hancock Investments.

Among the benefits of an additional location, Arnott cited being able to better support financial advisors and distribution partners in the Pacific and Mountain time zones and a means to accommodate a larger staff to support growing product lines, including the firm's new exchange-traded fund business.

Diversifying John Hancock Investments' base of operations offers additional benefits. From a business continuity perspective, the additional U.S. location will help the company to avoid interruptions in sales and service operations in the case of New England- or Boston-based business disruptions, weather-related or otherwise.

The company also believes the new foothold will help it recruit from an underserved talent pool. "The Phoenix area is home to a number of colleges and universities, as well as notable employers in the financial services, technology, healthcare, and other fields," Arnott said. "Together, these institutions could represent a valuable source of talent in the future as we continue to grow our operations."

About John Hancock Investments

John Hancock has helped individuals and institutions build and protect wealth since 1862. Today, we are one of America's strongest and most-recognized brands. As a manager of managers, John Hancock Investments searches the world to find proven portfolio teams with specialized expertise for every fund we offer, then we apply vigorous investment oversight to ensure they continue to meet our uncompromising standards and serve the best interests of our shareholders. Our unique approach to asset management has led to a diverse set of investments deeply rooted in investor needs, along with strong risk-adjusted returns across asset classes.

Registered investment products of John Hancock Investments are offered through
John Hancock Funds, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, 601 Congress Street, Boston, MA  02210

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife

John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada, and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, our group of companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents, and distribution partners. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were C$904 billion (US$676 billion) as of March 31, 2016. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments,  401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investments