John Hancock Financial Network Joins the Retirement Income Industry Association

Membership Signals Commitment to Leadership Role in U.S. Retirement Security

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Dec 07, 2011, 10:52 ET

BOSTON, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Financial Network (JHFN) has signaled its continued commitment to leadership in the retirement income business by announcing it has become a member of the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), a national, non-profit organization dedicated to helping the industry better serve the needs of Americans to create a secure retirement.

In these challenging times, the insurance and financial services industry must significantly improve products, processes and advisor and investor education to help Americans generate durable, inflation-adjusted retirement income that can last 30 years or more in retirement. Moreover, insurance and financial professionals must acquire new skills, training and insights to offer effective retirement income planning and retirement income management for their clients.

According to Francois Gadenne, RIIA's Chairman and Executive Director, RIIA's mission is to influence industry-wide actions related to product development, advisory services and process strategies that will address the challenges of producing a secure retirement income. "Just as important, we are committed to advisor training through our advanced education designation, the Retirement Management Analyst(SM) program and thought leadership through our Thought Leadership Awards program and our Retirement Management Journal™. We are pleased that such a well-respected organization as John Hancock Financial Network will be involved in supporting our efforts."

"I am excited JHFN will be part of RIIA and participate in the exchange of knowledge among institutions, academics, researchers, and advisors interested in providing retirement income service and advice," said Bruce Harrington, vice president of sales and business development at JHFN. "Through JHFN's membership in RIIA, our advisors will be on the front line of innovative new trends in retirement income and become more valuable to their clients."

About the Retirement Income Industry Association (www.riia-usa.org)

Founded in 2006 by leading companies, advisors and academics, RIIA and its members address the challenges facing the dramatically changing retirement income landscape. RIIA's mission as a national not-for-profit organization is to bring the retirement income industry together with a "View Across Silos" to stimulate the development of the education, products, processes and advisory services Americans and their advisors need to create a secure retirement. Because RIIA members span the entire industry, they create a forum for sharing the freshest outlooks, the most modern thinking, the latest research and the newest product development within the realm of retirement income.

About John Hancock Financial Network

John Hancock Financial Network is a national network of independent firms with approximately 1,900 advisors across the U.S. A leader with the stability and scale to offer an innovative business model, John Hancock Financial Network gives entrepreneurial advisors 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.

Securities offered through registered representatives of Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, 197 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02110.

About John Hancock Financial

John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canada-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 21 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. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$492 billion (US$473 billion) as at September 30, 2011. 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 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 johnhancock.com.