Financial professional newsletter
Q3 2026
Longevity preparedness tool for more impactful conversations
Living longer—and better—starts with knowing where you stand today. Our interactive tool,1 built with the MIT AgeLab, gives individuals a personalized score and actionable steps to help them thrive as they age.
The results can open the door to deeper, more holistic planning conversations and help you:
- Understand a participant’s priorities beyond finances
- Anticipate life transitions that influence planning
- Connect financial strategies to real-world needs such as caregiving, health, housing, and community
We encourage you to explore the tool yourself and find out your own longevity preparedness score. Experiencing it firsthand is one of the best ways to understand how it can help you reframe the retirement conversation.
Celebrating our 14 NAPA top 100 Advisor Allies
We pride ourselves on working side by side with financial professionals to offer retirement plans that can lead to better outcomes, and we’re honored to be recognized for our efforts. For the eighth year in a row, we have the most NAPA Advisor Allies of any firm.2 Thank you for your continued support and trust in us!
2026 Midyear macroeconomic outlook
The Middle East conflict has altered macroeconomic activity here in the U.S. and abroad. And your clients likely have many questions. Our 2026 midyear outlook can help you address their concerns and plan for the months ahead, with insight from our economic strategists on:
- Where the U.S. and other countries stand today
- What we’re watching
- Market implications
Integrating AI into financial planning
While AI has become mainstream in many ways, people still have concerns about using it to manage their finances. This concern can affect how you integrate AI into your practice and the services you provide to clients. Our AI and financial planning article contains valuable insight to help you shape your strategy, including:
- Types of financial tasks individuals are willing to use AI for
- The willingness of people to work with robo-advisors, broken down by age, gender, and income
You can also find tips for using AI in financial planning that you can share with participants.
How alternative investments are innovating DC retirement plans
Alternative investments (alts) in retirement plans are far from mainstream, but interest is growing—and for good reason. They can help boost diversification, reduce volatility, and potentially enhance participant returns over the long term. Our most recent thought leadership on this topic helps plan sponsors understand:
- How alts differ from stocks and bonds
- Common types of private assets
- Factors behind the growth of alts in retirement plans
- How they can access alts for their plan and much more
Securing retirement: What makes a strong retirement system
Longevity is changing how we help participants plan for retirement. It’s no longer just about helping them save more or build a decumulation plan. It’s about helping them thrive as they age. Our latest research breaks down five key qualities of a strong retirement system.
1 Adequacy and longevity protection
2 Access and inclusion for all workers
3 Flexibility with protection
4 Confidence through advice and engagement
5 Transparency and accountability in outcomes
While our report takes a broad view, it directly relates to the work you do every day and can help guide your strategy. Contact your Manulife John Hancock representative to discuss how you can integrate this insight into your client conversations.
Important disclosures
Important disclosures
This communication does not include unbiased investment advice from Manulife John Hancock. In the event a plan fiduciary you advise selects Manulife John Hancock Retirement as a recordkeeper, Manulife John Hancock and our sales professionals and other employees who assist in bringing and retaining retirement plan business to Manulife John Hancock Retirement will receive compensation.
The content of this document is for general information only and is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the posting date, but may be subject to change. It is not intended to provide investment, tax, plan design, or legal advice. Please consult your own independent advisor as to any investment, tax, or legal statements made.
John Hancock Retirement Plan Services LLC provides administrative and/or recordkeeping services to sponsors or administrators of retirement plans through an open-architecture platform. John Hancock Trust Company LLC, a New Hampshire non-depository trust company, provides trust and custodial services to such plans, offers an Individual Retirement Accounts product, and maintains specific Collective Investment Trusts. Group annuity contracts and recordkeeping agreements are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA (not licensed in NY), and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY. Product features and availability may differ by state. All entities do business under certain instances using the John Hancock brand name. Each entity makes available a platform of investment alternatives to sponsors or administrators of retirement plans without regard to the individualized needs of any plan. Unless otherwise specifically stated in writing, each entity does not, and is not undertaking to, provide impartial investment advice or give advice in a fiduciary capacity.
Securities are offered through John Hancock Distributors LLC, member FINRA, SIPC.
Manulife, Manulife Retirement, Stylized M Design, and Manulife Retirement & Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and John Hancock and the Stylized John Hancock Design are trademarks of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.). Each are used by it and by its affiliates under license, including John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York.
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