Manulife John Hancock Shines with Triple Recognition for AI and Retirement Services Excellence
In an impressive display of excellence, Manulife John Hancock, a prominent player in the U.S. retail and retirement sectors under the umbrella of Manulife Wealth and Asset Management (WAM), has garnered three notable accolades at the 2026 Asset Management STAR Awards North America. This recognition not only highlights the company's groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence but also underscores its commitment to enhancing retirement planning services.
The coveted AI Utilization Award is credited to Manulife John Hancock Investments for the innovative application of AI within its sales enablement platform. This forward-thinking tool seamlessly merges internal insights with comprehensive conversation and workflow support. As a result, distribution teams are equipped with the knowledge they need to engage advisors more effectively, ultimately focusing on building relationships and addressing customer needs. The platform empowers sales professionals by offering quick access to crucial information such as advisor profiles, meeting preparations, and potential growth opportunities, effectively replacing hours of manual searches with instant insights.
Kristie Feinberg, President and CEO of Manulife John Hancock Investments, explained that "what began as a productivity tool has evolved into a powerful way to help our teams better understand and support advisors." By transforming fragmented data into actionable insights, the platform fosters more meaningful conversations and helps identify valuable opportunities, enabling sales professionals to prioritize what truly matters—advisor and client needs. This proactive approach exemplifies how artificial intelligence can create real value in a customer-centric environment.
In addition to the AI Utilization Award, Manulife John Hancock Retirement earned two further accolades, underscoring its leadership in supporting financial resilience and longevity. The first of these recognitions stems from an innovative campaign focused on retirement planning thought leadership. This initiative provides practical insights designed to empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding their savings and financial futures. The second award recognizes the educational materials developed for the Longevity Preparedness Index campaign, which offers vital support to defined contribution plan sponsors and participants.
Wayne Park, CEO of Manulife John Hancock Retirement, noted that "these awards reflect our commitment to helping people navigate the financial realities of living longer lives with greater confidence." Through research and insights, the organization enables financial advisors and plan sponsors to guide individuals in making informed decisions aimed at building greater resilience and security in their financial journeys.
Overall, these three awards highlight Manulife WAM's mission to combine advanced technology, insightful research, and human expertise to enhance experiences and outcomes for advisors, plan sponsors, and individual clients alike. The Asset Management STAR Awards North America is a prestigious program recognizing outstanding innovation, performance, and impact in the asset management industry. Developed in conjunction with the Investment Management Education Alliance (IMEA) and powered by industry experts, the awards evaluate entries based on criteria such as performance results, innovation, strategy execution, and engagement impact.
Notably, the awards are open to asset managers and service providers operating in North America with a minimum of three years in the field. Judged by a panel of industry experts, the selected entries demonstrated remarkable achievements from March 2025 to March 2026 within their respective peer groups. This extensive evaluation process ensures that only those who exemplify excellence are recognized.
As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife WAM is dedicated to simplifying decision-making and improving the lives of individuals by facilitating confident investment choices. With a robust array of global expertise across various domains, the firm strives to deliver meaningful outcomes while placing a strong emphasis on transparency, trust, and intellectual curiosity. Through innovative technology, personalized advice, and a commitment to responsible stewardship, Manulife Wealth and Asset Management continues to be a trusted partner for clients seeking to navigate the complexities of the financial landscape.