John Hancock Financial Network Recognizes Leadership of Top Independent Firms and...

John Hancock Financial Network Recognizes Leadership of Top Independent Firms
and Representative of the Year for 2008

Awards go to Leaders in Roseland, NJ, Allentown, PA, Buffalo, NY and
Nashville, TN

BOSTON, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Financial Network (JHFN)
recently announced 2008 awards for leadership of its top independent firms and
for its leading financial representative of the year. Those recognized were:

-- Joseph J. Oakes IV, Managing Partner of Acorn Financial Services,
based
in Roseland, NJ, was recognized with the prestigious Trophy Award for
the firm's top sales performance in its insurance protection and
wealth management businesses across all the independent John Hancock
Financial Network firms. Acorn Financial Services, which also received
this award in 2006, has offices in Roseland, Paramus and Morristown,
NJ.

-- Thomas Nikles, Managing Partner of Keystone Financial Management,
based
in Allentown, PA, was recognized with the Growth Award for the
firm's growth in insurance protection and wealth management
businesses, the largest percentage growth over last year's business
in all independent John Hancock Financial Network firms. Keystone
Financial Management has offices in Allentown, Lancaster, Harrisburg,
Media and Moosic, PA.

-- Brian O'Mara, Managing Partner, and Robert Burgio, Associate
Managing Partner, of JHFN - Empire Financial Partners, based in
Buffalo,
NY, were recognized with the Brokerage Award for exceeding all
independent John Hancock Financial Network firms in the sale of
insurance protection and wealth management products through broker
relationships. John Hancock Financial Network - Empire Financial
Partners, which also received this award last year, has offices in
Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Williamsville, Fairport,
Vestal, NY, and in Erie, PA.

-- Laurence V. Plummer, LUTCF, head of Plummer Financial Services, LLC,
in
Nashville, TN, earned the Financial Representative of the Year Award
for
his top performance across all financial representatives within the
independent John Hancock Financial Network firms.

"These leaders from our national network of independent firms are a reflection
of the high level of professionalism, respect, integrity and real value that
they deliver to clients every day," said Brian Heapps, Executive Vice
President of Sales and Business Development for John Hancock Financial
Network. "To that end, and especially given the difficult financial
environment, these firms and their leaders have gone above and beyond to serve
their clients."

About John Hancock Financial Network
John Hancock Financial Network is a national network of independent firms with
over 1,800 financial professionals across the U.S. A leader with the
stability and scale to offer an innovative business model, John Hancock
Financial Network gives entrepreneurial financial professionals 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 www.jhnetwork.com.

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 in most of Asia, and primarily as 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 $405.3 billion (U.S. $321.7
billion) as at March 31, 2009. 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 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 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 www.johnhancock.com.

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Signator
Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor, 197,
Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116.

SOURCE John Hancock Financial Network

Melissa Berczuk of John Hancock Financial Network, +1-617-663-4750,
mberczuk@jhancock.com