BOSTON, April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Financial Network (JHFN) announced today that Laurence V. Plummer, Sr., LUTCF, was named the John Hancock Financial Network Financial Representative of the Year.  Plummer is President and CEO of Memphis-based Plummer Financial Services, affiliated with Innovative Financial Group, an independent firm within John Hancock Financial Network's (JHFN) national network of independent firms.

"Laurence's leading performance is a reflection of the high level of professionalism, respect, integrity, and real value that he delivers to clients every day," said Brian Heapps, Executive Vice President of Sales and Business Development for John Hancock Financial Network (JHFN). "He is keenly focused on his clients' needs and developing solutions to address their personal financial and business situations."

Plummer began his career with JHFN in 1981 and started his own independent practice in 1989. Over the past 30 years, he has built a thriving business working with clergy and non-profit organizations as well as professional athletes and small businesses. A perennial leading representative, Plummer has won numerous awards from both JHFN and other industry organizations, including being named JHFN's #1 Financial Representative of the Year in 1996 and 2008, being inducted into the prestigious JHFN Hall of Fame in 2001 for his commitment to customers and community, and qualifying  for  the Achieving Client Excellence Award 24 times.  Plummer has also been named to the Top of the Table of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), an international association of leading financial services representatives.

"It's such an honor to achieve this recognition from John Hancock Financial Network," commented Plummer.  "My focus, however, is not winning awards, but working for my clients and guiding them to achieve their long-term financial security."

About Innovative Financial Group

A member of the John Hancock Financial Network based in Nashville, Innovative Financial Group (IFG) has been serving clients for more than 60 years. Additional locations in Memphis and Chattanooga have helped expand IFG's ability to provide financial solutions to meet the needs of individual and business clients.

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 https://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 $475 billion (US$478 billion) as at December 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.

Innovative Financial Group is independent of John Hancock and Signator Investors, Inc.

Registered Representative/Securities and Investment  Advisory Services offered through Signator Investors, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor and Broker/Dealer for  John Hancock Financial Network 197 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116.

0185-20110408-71135

PR-2011-20

SOURCE John Hancock Financial Network