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Survey says Manulife College savings offers best tools to help advisors build business Boston, MA – Manulife College Savings’ sales and Web tools ranked overwhelmingly as number one in helping financial consultants build their 529 business in a recent survey of 529 plan sales literature and Web sites. This study was conducted by Marketing Matrix International, an independent firm based in California, which specializes in marketing research for financial services companies. Marketing Matrix surveyed 138 wirehouse, regional, independent, bank and financial consultants in four locations across the U.S. Advisors were interviewed individually and given a self-administered questionnaire, which asked them to rate sales materials and the Web sites of nine of the top companies offering 529 plans today. “We are pleased with the results of this study, as it reinforces that advisors look to us when it comes to providing them the tools they need to build their 529 business,” said Carey Foran Hoch, VP of Marketing and Product, Manulife College Savings. “Meeting the needs of advisors is at the forefront of everything that we do. We are currently promoting our comprehensive gifting campaign that provides an array of tools to help advisors prospect with end of year 529 gifting.” Comprehensive Sales Kit Motivates Advisors to Sell Manulife College Savings comprehensive and visually appealing sales materials were singled out as the best materials to help increase 529 business by almost two-thirds (67%) of the advisors, with the next company only garnering 35% of the advisors. These materials, which include seminar materials, fact sheets, prospecting letters and postcard mailers for clients, motivated 84% of those advisors polled to sell Manulife College Savings. Besides finding Manulife College Savings’ sales kit visually appealing, advisors commented that the materials were “comprehensive” with “a logical structure” that is “easy to use.” “The excellent quality, presentation and complete offering of tools helped Manulife College Savings’ sales literature rise above its competitors,” said Dr. Marcia Selz, Chief Research Director for Marketing Matrix. “The comprehensive nature of the Manulife College Savings’ sales kit translates into motivating advisors to sell because the advisor has immediate access to everything needed to make the sale.” Best Online Source to Increase Business – Manulife’s Financial Advisor Resource Center More than half of all advisors (55%) would go to Manulife College Savings’ advisor-specific, Web site first (www.manulifecollegesavings.com). Citing that the site is easy to use (65%), as well as educational and informational, the advisors overwhelmingly agreed that Manulife College Savings’ Web site best helps them to increase their 529 business. More than three-quarters (76%) of the advisors answered that manulifecollegesavings.com is a tool that helps them to build business with the second highest Web site only obtaining 33% of the advisors surveyed. 82% of these advisors stated that the Manulife Web site helped to motivate them to sell 529 plans. “We take pride in our comprehensive, easy to use sales tools and will continue to solicit feedback to meet the needs of our core audience – the advisor,” said Bill Burrow, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Manulife College Savings. Manulife College Savings Manulife College Savings, a nationally distributed Section 529 education plan was launched in July of 2001. In 2001, Manulife entered the college savings market with Manulife College Savings, a national multi-managed Section 529 education savings plan distributed by Manulife Financial Securities LLC, managed by T. Rowe Price and sponsored by the Education Trust of Alaska. The multi-manager approach of Manulife College Savings allows investors to work with their financial consultants to pursue a strategy that helps to maximize their investment opportunities, while effectively managing risk. Expanding upon the inherent advantages of a typical 529 savings plan, Manulife College Savings offers investment choices from some of the nation’s top mutual fund managers. Mutual fund managers available with Manulife College Savings are A I M Advisors, Inc., Davis Selected Advisors, L.P., Franklin Templeton, MFS Investment Management, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. About Manulife The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (Manulife USA) is committed to offering the highest quality annuity, life insurance, pension, tax-deferred college savings, and separately managed account products to its clients. Its family of products has been built around a powerful combination of investment options chosen with the goal of providing attractive risk-adjusted returns and broad diversification across asset classes, investment styles, and asset managers. With its extensive product lines, competitive underwriting, excellent ratings, and quality customer service, Manulife USA is dedicated to providing quality products designed to help create and preserve wealth for its clients. Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds under management by Manulife Financial were US$87.8 billion (Cdn$139.2 billion) as at September 30, 2002. 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 www.manulife.com. Manulife College Savings is distributed by Manulife Financial Securities LLC, managed by T. Rowe Price, and sponsored by the Education Trust of Alaska. Manulife Financial Securities LLC is a member of the NASD and is listed with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). -30- Media Contact: Wendy W. Smith U.S. Communications 617-854-4348 |
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