BOSTON, April 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Retirement
Plan Services ("John Hancock") is enhancing its participant experience by providing its open
architecture retirement plan participants access to personalized information including frequently-asked account queries through
their Alexa-enabled devices.
Now, by saying, "Alexa, open John Hancock," and providing a secure and personalized voice code,
participants can hear their account and loan balances, fund allocations, personal rates of return, contact information for the
plan, and more. Participants whose Alexa-enabled devices have a built-in display capability, such as the Echo Show, will also see
the information displayed on screen.
"Our goal is to make it easier for people in our plans to save more for retirement, and to do that we want to provide the
personal information they need in the ways they want to receive it," said Patrick Murphy,
president and CEO of John Hancock Retirement Plan Services. "With the growth in voice-enabled technology, we're pleased to offer
services which provide quick, secure access to important account information."
Account security and data protection is a serious and important concern to John Hancock and the
company incorporates a variety of safety measures to address potential issues into its skills for Alexa. For example, a
participant's identity will be verified through multi-factor authentication during the account linking process. In addition,
participants will be required to set up a secure voice code when first enabling the skill in the Alexa app, and recite it
correctly before getting access to any account information. No participant account information is recorded or maintained on their
Alexa-enabled device or in the hardware servers storing their Amazon account.
"Technology evolves so quickly and whether or not Alexa becomes the method of choice for participants to securely obtain
account information, it is a valuable tool for learning what helps our customers take action when it comes to their retirements,"
said Mr. Murphy.
About John Hancock and Manulife
John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international
financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide
financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. Assets under
management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were CAD$1.1 trillion (US$794 billion) as of December 31, 2018. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as
MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.
One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John
Hancock supports more than 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and college savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be found
at johnhancock.com.
John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, Boston, MA 02116.
NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED
© 2019 All rights reserved.
MS032919489228
TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945
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SOURCE John Hancock