BOSTON, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Manulife John Hancock, the U.S. retail and retirement businesses of Manulife Wealth and Asset Management (Manulife WAM), today announced that it has earned three 2026 Asset Management STAR Awards North America, including the AI Utilization Award for its innovative and responsible use of artificial intelligence to enhance marketing, sales, product or client outcomes. The company also won two retirement-focused awards for its leadership in financial resilience and longevity.

The AI Utilization Award recognizes Manulife John Hancock Investments’ AI-powered sales enablement platform, which combines internally developed intelligence with conversation and workflow support. The AI-based platform provides distribution teams with timely insights and guidance, helping them prepare for more relevant advisor conversations and spend more time focused on relationships, advice, and customer needs.

Using plain-language prompts, sales professionals can quickly access advisor profiles, pre-meeting intelligence, digital engagement, product usage and potential growth opportunities. The platform connects internal customer relationship management and business intelligence systems with other data sources, replacing hours of manual searching and helping teams prepare for meetings in minutes.

“What began as a productivity tool has evolved into a powerful way to help our teams better understand and support advisors,” said Kristie Feinberg, President and CEO of Manulife John Hancock Investments. “By turning fragmented data into actionable insights, the platform helps our sales professionals have more relevant conversations, identify meaningful opportunities and spend more time focused on advisor and customer needs. That’s where AI creates real value.”

The recognition supports Manulife’s strategic priority of becoming an AI-powered organization and using AI to create value, drive growth, and strengthen the client experience. The platform is designed to augment human expertise, with governance, accountability and human oversight embedded in its operation.

Financial resilience and longevity programs also recognized

Manulife John Hancock Retirement received two additional STAR Awards:

• Thought Leadership: Retirement Planning for the Financial Resilience and Longevity campaign, recognizing retirement planning thought leadership that provides practical insights to support better outcomes and help individuals make more informed savings and accumulation decisions as they prepare for retirement.
• DC Retirement Planning Content for the Longevity Preparedness Index campaign, recognizing educational retirement planning content designed to support defined contribution plan sponsors and participants.

“These awards reflect our commitment to helping people navigate the financial realities of living longer lives with greater confidence,” said Wayne Park, CEO, Manulife John Hancock Retirement. “Through research, insights and education, we are enabling financial advisors and plan sponsors to better help their participants to make more informed decisions and build greater financial resilience.”

Together, the three awards reflect Manulife WAM’s focus on combining technology, insight, and human expertise to help improve experiences and outcomes for advisors, plan sponsors, and individuals.

About Asset Management STAR Awards North America

The Asset Management STAR Awards North America recognize excellence in innovation, performance and impact across the asset management industry. Developed in partnership with the Investment Management Education Alliance (IMEA) and powered by the industry expertise of FT Live, Ignites and FundFire, the programme builds on IMEA’s long-established STAR Awards while introducing an expanded framework and new categories that reflect today’s evolving asset management landscape. The awards recognise excellence across thought leadership, marketing and product innovation, institutional and investor engagement, sales performance, leadership, strategic partnerships and community impact.

Click here to view the awards methodology.

The Asset Management STAR Awards North America awards are open to asset managers and service providers operating in or serving clients in North America with at least three years of operations in the region. For this award cycle, entries reflected activity from March 2025 through March 2026 and were evaluated within relevant peer groups, which may include asset class, investment strategy and/or firm size. Entries were judged by a panel of investment management leaders and other industry experts based on Performance & Results, Innovation & Creativity, Strategy & Execution, and Engagement & Impact.

About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management

As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management’s mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by helping people invest confidently to pursue a more secure financial future. Our strength comes from the diversity of our global asset management expertise and distribution capabilities. Our global investment teams span equities, fixed income, alternative credit, private markets, and multi-asset solutions. We provide investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to millions of individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the heart of our approach are three cultural pillars: Partner for Progress, Trust through Transparency, and Intellectual Curiosity. These values shape how we build long-term relationships, develop differentiated investment strategies, and empower advisors and clients to seek meaningful financial outcomes. Whether through cutting-edge technology, AI innovation, personalized advice, or sustainable stewardship, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management is a trusted partner helping clients navigate complexity and invest with confidence. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Manulife Investment Management.

Media contact:
Lauren Kosturik
Manulife Wealth & Asset Management
lauren_anne_kosturik@manulifeam.com 
289-885-4193

MGR1019266030803

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SOURCE Manulife Wealth & Asset Management