2006 News Releases

John Hancock Lifecycle Portfolios offer eight target date funds and a Retirement Portfolio 

Boston – John Hancock Retirement Plan Services announced today that nine new asset allocation funds have been added to its investment lineup. John Hancock Lifecycle Portfolios feature eight target date funds and the Retirement Portfolio. The Lifecycle Portfolios will be an option available to participants through John Hancock 401(k) plans.

Offering smart, simple solutions to help Americans reach their retirement goals, Lifecycle funds aim to make investing easier. Participants’ investment decisions can be guided simply by their choice of retirement date.

“We’ve taken the time to get it right,” said Bob Boyda, Senior Vice President, John Hancock Investment Management Services, which oversees investment activities in the Lifecycle Portfolios. “We started with what our participants would need when they retire and then engineered our asset allocation strategy from that point,” he explained. “We believe our multi-manager platform and optimization process offer unique advantages in the asset allocation market.”

“We offer participants simplicity and provide plan sponsors with convenient investment options that work for their participants,” explained Ed Eng, Senior Vice President, Product Development, John Hancock Retirement Plan Services. “Our research has shown that many participants feel they lack investment knowledge.¹  Even when participants understand the importance of asset allocation and diversification they simply may not have the resources, inclination or time to manage their investments. John Hancock has a proven track record in asset allocation funds² – this new option makes it even easier for participants.”

John Hancock is a leader in the asset allocation market, providing participants with results², choice and simplicity. With more than $40.1 billion in Lifestyle, or target risk, assets under management (as of September 30, 2006), John Hancock is one of the largest lifestyle providers in the US market and one of the top providers using a multi-manager approach.³  John Hancock’s rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis, continuous scrutiny of underlying funds and multi-manager approach provide unique, disciplined and sophisticated investment management. Other features of this proprietary process include double optimization for asset class and manager selection coupled with stringent ongoing review and rebalancing of underlying funds. The new Lifecycle Portfolios use this rigorous process.

As part of the Lifecycle Portfolio suite, John Hancock will also offer a Retirement Portfolio. With the Retirement Portfolio, John Hancock employs its asset allocation expertise to provide a unique investment option after retirement. The structure of the Retirement Portfolio reflects John Hancock’s view that asset allocation in retirement, and equity exposure in particular, cannot be static. The Retirement Portfolio aims to provide more investment stability throughout retirement in volatile markets. Its goal is to maintain a low probability of negative returns in any 12-month period. While there is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives this consistent, long-term approach to capital preservation and growth is aimed at allowing clients to maintain a regular withdrawal rate over an extended period of time.⁴

New asset allocation funds include:

John Hancock Retirement Portfolio	John Hancock Lifecycle 2025 Portfolio
John Hancock Lifecycle 2045 Portfolio	John Hancock Lifecycle 2020 Portfolio
John Hancock Lifecycle 2040 Portfolio	John Hancock Lifecycle 2015 Portfolio
John Hancock Lifecycle 2035 Portfolio	John Hancock Lifecycle 2010 Portfolio
John Hancock Lifecycle 2030 Portfolio

^1. Mathew Greenwald & Associates Survey, 2005, commissioned by John Hancock Retirement Plan Services.

^2. Burgess & Associates study, August 2006, commissioned by John Hancock Retirement Plan Services.

^3. Strategic Insight as of 8/31/06. Includes lifestyle and lifecycle mutual fund assets, and fund-of-funds variable product assets. John Hancock’s Retail Mutual Funds Lifestyle Portfolios were newly organized in October 2005.

^4. In employing its investment strategies for the Lifecycle Retirement Portfolio, the subadvisor attempts to achieve a total rate of return that will support an inflation-adjusted average annual withdrawal rate of 6% of initial investment (gross of advisory fees) over a long-term time horizon (approximately 30 years) while attempting to maintain a low probability of negative returns in any 12-month time period. The Advisor and subadvisor do not represent or guarantee that the Retirement Portfolio will meet this total return goal or achieve positive returns every year. This Fund may use Hedging and Other Strategic Transactions (derivatives). Hedging and Other Strategic Transactions (derivatives) could involve a loss to the fund if the transaction is not successful and may involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of the risks assumed. Certain of these transactions also have the risk of loss if the counterparty does not perform as promised.

A Lifecycle Portfolio is subject to the same risks as the underlying funds in which it invests, which include the following risks. Stocks can decline due to market, regulatory or economic developments. Investing in foreign securities is subject to certain risks not associated with domestic investing such as currency fluctuations and changes in political and economic conditions. The securities of small capitalization companies are subject to higher volatility than larger, more established companies. High yield bond investments are subject to additional risks such as the increased risk of default. Before making an investment in a Lifecycle Portfolio, you should consider all the risks associated with it. Diversification does not assure a profit or ensure against loss.

These Funds were recently introduced and may not be available in all states.  Please visit our website www.jhpensions.com to obtain John Hancock USA group annuity investment option Fund Sheets for its sub-accounts and to request prospectuses for the sub-accounts’ underlying mutual funds. The prospectuses for the sub-accounts’ underlying mutual funds contain complete details on investment objectives, risks, fees, charges and expenses as well as other information about the underlying mutual funds which should be carefully considered.

Group annuity contracts are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (John Hancock USA) John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser, provides investment information relating to the contracts. Product features and availability may differ by state. In New York, products are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York.

About John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
Amongst 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. (2006 CFO Magazine 401(k) Buyers Guide Study, published June 2006.)

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 Asia, and primarily through 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$381 billion (US$341 billion) as at September 30, 2006.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ 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.

Insurance products are issued by the following John Hancock insurance companies: John Hancock Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Company*, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)* and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York.

*Not licensed in New York

SOURCE: John Hancock Retirement Plan Services

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Contact:
Laurie Lupton
416-852-7792
Beth McGoldrick
617-663-4751