Products December 1, 2009

John Hancock Updates Retirement Plan Adviser Site

John Hancock Retirement Plan Services (RPS) has launched an enhanced Web site for financial representatives to help them support clients and grow their business.

Reported by

John Hancock said the enhanced site, www.jh401kadvisor.com, includes:

  • new “block of business” management functionality that allows financial representatives access to contract and participant-level information, and the ability to create advanced reports that can be used with prospects and clients;
  • the ability to compare and contrast John Hancock RPS investment options, create advanced investment reports for clients, and access historical returns;
  • FundEvaluator, an enhanced tool that offers a way to analyze John Hancock’s entire fund lineup and the ability to generate customized, professional reports for new or existing clients;
  • new practice management and business building online tools; and
  • an interactive version of John Hancock RPS’s PRIME Elements program, which focuses on five major elements required in successful retirement plans.


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Products December 1, 2009

Transamerica Funds Offer New Institutional Share Class

Transamerica Asset Management Group has introduced a new institutional share class to the Transamerica Funds lineup.

Reported by

A news release said the new Class I shares are designed primarily to serve the needs of certain institutional investors including fee-based programs, pension plans, endowments, and foundations. Other investors meeting certain eligibility requirements can also purchase Transamerica’s Class I shares. The new shares were available beginning Monday.

Funds offering the new shares are the Conservative, Moderate, Moderate Growth, and Growth Portfolios of the Transamerica Asset Allocation Funds, as well as the Alternative Strategies Portfolio and International Portfolio of the Transamerica Multi-Manager Funds. Several stock funds will offer the Class I shares including Transamerica’s Diversified Equity, Equity, Focus, Growth Opportunities, and Small/Mid Cap Value Funds.

On the fixed-income side, Transamerica’s High Yield Bond, Flexible Income, and Short-Term Bond Funds will offer Class I shares. Transamerica’s Balanced and Money Market Funds also will offer Class I shares.

Transamerica’s Class I shares carry a lower expense structure than the retail shares currently offered by the complex. A minimum investment of $1 million is required for Class I shares, but this requirement may be waived for certain financial intermediaries, including fee-based programs, pension plans, and financial intermediaries that submit trades on behalf of underlying investors.

Class I shares are available directly from Transamerica as well as through third-party retirement platforms, major mutual fund supermarkets, wirehouses, bank channels, and independent registered investment advisers, the company said.

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