BOSTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Building on the recent expansion of the TPA Services Team, John Hancock Retirement Plan Services (RPS) today announces a new web-facilitated training program for its 401(k) Third Party Administrators (TPAs). Called "Forum Coach," the program was developed in response to TPAs' requests for:

    -- relevant and timely compliance instruction
    -- information on new products and services
    -- training programs to help new associates earn industry designations and
       provide those with existing designations, valuable CE credits.

"The mission of the TPA Services Team is to build strong relationships with these critical business partners. We strive to really listen to our TPAs, find out how we can help them succeed in their businesses, and then provide valuable services to assist them," said George Revoir, Senior Vice President, John Hancock RPS. "We've been committed to TPAs since our business began. The Forum Coach program is a continuation of this, and by leveraging technology we're able to reach even more TPAs."

Forum Coach is made up of two components:

1) E-Tutor

In order to provide optimal compliance training, John Hancock has engaged the services of Janice Wegesin to create and facilitate a series of compliance webcast training sessions. Ms. Wegesin is a nationally known speaker and author on the subject, as well as the recipient of both the ASPPA (American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries) Educator's Award and the NIPA (National Institute of Pension Administrators) Lifetime Achievement Award.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with Ms. Wegesin to create this training program," said Ann Slotwinski, Assistant Vice President, John Hancock RPS. "As an industry leader, she provides new associates with the most up-to-date information when preparing for their exams, and valuable insight for industry veterans, who are acquiring CE credits to maintain their designations."

Based on the curriculum for the ASPPA and NIPA entry level exams, topics will range from the basics of understanding retirement plan history, to key topics on how to effectively administer these plans.

2) John Hancock Product & Services

In addition to introducing the E-Tutor sessions, John Hancock will begin to leverage web technology to facilitate training that is focused on providing TPAs with details on new products and services. Other topics include setting up a new plan and seamlessly integrating their pension administration systems with John Hancock.

"We are excited to offer these two training components under the new Forum Coach program," said Ms. Slotwinski. "We have assembled an outstanding curriculum, and through the use of technology, we have made the program accessible to our important TPA partners. It is another example of how committed we are to their success."

About John Hancock Retirement Plan Services

Among 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. (CFO Magazine 401(k) Buyers Guide Study, published May 2007.)

About John Hancock and Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is 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$396 billion (US$401 billion) as at December 31, 2007.

Manulife Financial is one of two publicly traded life insurance companies in North America whose rated life insurance subsidiaries hold Standard & Poor's AAA Rated (extremely strong financial security characteristics, 1st category of 8) and Moody's Aa1 Rated (excellent financial security, 2nd category of 9)(1), both representing financial strength.

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 http://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.

Both John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York do business under certain instances using the John Hancock Retirement Plan Services name. Group annuity contracts are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), 601 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02116, which is licensed and offers products in all states, except New York. Product features and availability may differ by state. Group annuity contracts and administrative services or record keeping agreements issued in New York are only issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, 100 Summit Lake Drive, Valhalla, New York 10595, which is licensed in New York.

    (1) These ratings which are current as of February 15, 2008 and are
        subject to change, apply to John Hancock Life Insurance Company
        (U.S.A.) and its subsidiaries as a measure of the company's ability to
        honor the death benefit and life annuitization guarantees, but not
        specific to its products, the performance of these products, the value
        of any investment in these products upon withdrawal or to individual
        securities held in any portfolio. Insurance ratings do not apply to
        the safety and performance of separate accounts. These ratings apply
        to John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and John Hancock Life
        Insurance Company of New York with the exception of Moody's, which
        does not rate John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York.

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Source: John Hancock Retirement Plan Services

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