John Hancock Launches Back-to-School Campaign to Jump Start 529 Plan Sales Season

BOSTON, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock College Savings is launching a 7-week back-to-school campaign to jump start the 529 sales season, providing information and tools to help financial consultants talk to customers and prospects about using 529 plans to save for education. The campaign's main components include distribution of direct mail and sales ideas for the professionals and a fun, college savings-oriented tool kit they can leave with clients.

"We're very excited to kick off this year's main selling season with a whole campaign to make it easy and fun for financial professionals who sell our 529," said Diana Scott, Senior Vice President and General Manager of John Hancock College Savings. "Not only is Back-to-School the perfect time for financial professionals to come back after the summer, we now can help them communicate the positive news about the pension bill that it looks like federal tax free distributions are here to stay and also about our recent addition of lifestyle funds to our 529 investment lineup."

The kit offers useful tools for the college savings discussion including a college cost slide ruler which displays projected college costs for different ages as well as the corresponding savings amounts needed to meet these costs - - broken out annually, monthly, or in a lump sum amount. The kit also contains information on Hancock's product, John Hancock Freedom 529, as well as back-to-school themed giveaways such as pencils, erasers, a calculator ruler, word magnet/photo frame, note pad and highlighter among other things.

"The passage of the pension bill allows 529s to retain one of its most attractive features -- federal tax free distributions," said Scott. "We are also excited to continue introducing our three new lifestyle 529 portfolios, which we feel will not only provide an excellent investment choice for investors but also help advisors manage their business and focus on the client relationship."

The three lifestyle 529 portfolios have become John Hancock Freedom 529's fourth investment strategy, in addition to the current Enrollment-based, Static, and Individual portfolios, bringing the total number of Hancock's 529 investment option choices to 22. Clients have the choice of investing in one of these strategies, or a combination of all four.

"As the kids head back to school, we've found that many advisors use the college savings discussion as a way to begin building their businesses. We want them to know we're behind them, developing products, processes and marketing support. The purpose of the kit is to motivate them to get started, but we really hope their experience with our product and sales staff keeps them engaged," said Scott.

John Hancock Freedom 529

John Hancock Freedom 529 is a national Section 529 college savings plan. John Hancock Freedom 529 is offered by the Education Trust of Alaska and managed by T. Rowe Price, and is distributed by Hancock Distributors LLC, through other broker/dealers that have a selling agreement with John Hancock Distributors LLC. John Hancock Distributors LLC is a member of the NASD and is listed with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). The plan offers a multi-managed approach, allowing investors to work with their financial consultants to pursue a strategy to maximize their investment opportunities, while managing risk. Expanding upon the inherent advantages of a typical 529 savings plan, the product offers investment choices from some of the nation's top mutual fund managers.

About Manulife Financial and John Hancock

John Hancock is a 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$370 billion (US$332 billion) as at June 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 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 universal life insurance, variable life, term life and whole life, as well as college savings products, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, mutual funds, 401(k) plans and various forms of business insurance.

If your state or your designated Beneficiary's state offers a 529 plan you may want to consider what, if any, potential state income tax or other benefits it offers, before investing. State tax or other benefits should be one of many factors to be considered prior to making an investment decision. Please consult with your financial, tax or other advisor about how these state benefits, if any, may apply to your specific circumstances. You may also contact your state 529 plan or any other 529 college savings plan to learn more about their features. Please contact your financial consultant or call 1-866-222-7498 to obtain a Plan Disclosure Document or prospectus for any of the underlying funds. The Plan Disclosure Document contains complete details on investment objectives, risks, fees, charges and expenses, as well as more information about municipal fund securities and the underlying investment companies that should be considered before investing. Please read the Plan Disclosure Document carefully prior to investing.

John Hancock Freedom 529 is a college savings plan offered by the Education Trust of Alaska, managed by T. Rowe Price, and distributed by John Hancock Distributors LLC through other broker/dealers that have a selling agreement with John Hancock Distributors LLC. John Hancock Distributors LLC is a member of the NASD and is listed with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). Information included in this material is believed to be accurate as of the August 2006 printing date.

529 plans are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not bank or state guaranteed.