2005 News Releases

Boston– John Hancock Financial Network* (JHFN), a national insurance and investment marketing organization, has launched a grassroots campaign among its 100 marketing firms nationwide to promote Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM). Held throughout the month of September, LIAM was created by the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE).

“With millions of Americans lacking the life insurance coverage they need, we’re very pleased to be able to sponsor this campaign and provide a platform from which our firms can reach out with educational messages about the importance of life insurance,” said William Palmer, President and CEO of JHFN. “Life insurance is such a vital part of all financial plans that both that US Senate and House of Representatives support this campaign and have passed resolutions recognizing September as Life Insurance Awareness Month.”

LIFE is promoting the LIAM campaign with radio and print advertising through a 16 page special section about life insurance in the September 5th issue of TIME magazine. In addition, a “realLife” special section will appear in the September 12 issue of Newsweek magazine as well as weekly advertisements in the magazine from 8/22 to 10/17. As a sponsor of LIAM, John Hancock Financial Network and its financial representatives are leveraging LIFE’s national marketing, advertising and publicity efforts to increase local awareness.

In support of local activities, John Hancock is providing JHFN firms with marketing materials, client communications and sales support. “We have packaged together co-branded advertising and marketing pieces, client letters, postcards, and turnkey seminars to help our firms participate in this unique event,” said Kathy Klingler, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. Additional support materials include banners for firm events, a Life Insurance 101 presentation and brochure, access to LIFE’s RealLIFE stories, ghost-written articles for local newspapers, and firm event press releases.

About John Hancock and Manulife Financial
John Hancock Financial Network (www.jhnetwork.com) has over 100 offices across the United States, and is a career agency distribution unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, 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$364 billion (US$297 billion) as at June 30, 2005.

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.

*John Hancock Financial Network is a service mark of John Hancock Life Insurance Company, Boston, MA and its affiliated companies.

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Melissa Berczuk
(617) 572-6390