Innovation in wealth management is accelerating, and advisors are at the center of the storm. From the rise of active ETFs to the need for global capabilities and deeper advisor partnerships, firms are rethinking how to deliver solutions for multiple generations of investors. At the 2025 Future Proof Festival in Southern California, Manulife John Hancock Investments stepped into that conversation, highlighting how its evolving brand and expanding ETF platform reflect a broader strategy for the future of advice.
In a conversation with The Wealth Advisor’s Scott Martin at the festival, Kristie Feinberg, President and CEO of Manulife John Hancock Investments, emphasized how the dual Manulife–John Hancock brand highlights both heritage and global scale.
Manulife, a century-old financial services leader, acquired John Hancock roughly 20 years ago, but the U.S. business has continued to operate primarily under the John Hancock name. Over time, Feinberg explains, the company has seen increasing value in elevating the combined identity. “As we continue to evolve and grow, we wanted to be able to demonstrate the true global breadth and depth of the organization,” she says.
Bringing the two names together allows the firm to showcase its capabilities more fully, particularly where Manulife has historically had deep expertise. “The two organizations both have existed for quite some time, and this was our opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities, especially on our internal capabilities and our private market side,” Feinberg notes. The brand shift underscores access to a global investment powerhouse with about $1 trillion in assets under management and administration as of June, while retaining the familiar John Hancock name that many U.S. investors know and trust.
A Decade of ETF Progress
While some may think of Manulife John Hancock Investments as a traditional asset manager, the firm has been expanding in ETFs for a decade. In September, the platform marked its 10-year anniversary. The early line-up featured subadvised ETFs managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), but more recent growth has been driven by actively managed strategies. Feinberg points out that the firm’s fixed income active ETFs, some of which recently hit their three-year track records, are already gaining traction—and the momentum reflects broader trends in advisor demand.
“We’re focused on ensuring that we’re able to provide a spectrum of offerings across the board as active ETFs become more in demand,” Feinberg says. The goal is not to replicate benchmarks but to equip advisors with differentiated solutions for client portfolios.
Today, the ETF platform spans more than a dozen funds across fixed income, U.S. equity, and international equity. On the equity side, Manulife John Hancock Investments partners with subadvisors like DFA and Boston Partners, offering multifactor large-, mid-, and small-cap ETFs as well as value-driven strategies. In fixed income, the range spans core and core-plus bond ETFs, mortgage-backed securities, municipals, high yield, and preferred income, with the John Hancock Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (ticker: JHMB) and John Hancock Corporate Bond ETF (ticker: JHCB) standouts in terms of scale.
Among the most notable additions is the John Hancock Global Senior Loan ETF (ticker: JHLN), which launched in August 2025. Subadvised by Manulife | CQS Investment Management, the fund seeks to provide a high level of current income by investing at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of senior loans, including first- and second-lien loans, delayed-draw term loans, revolving credit facilities, and club deals. With senior loans notoriously difficult to index effectively, this ETF aims to give advisors access to a specialized asset class to diversify portfolios and provide income.
As Feinberg notes, the firm is also planning a concentrated large-cap value ETF, in partnership with Boston Partners, and is exploring opportunities in semiliquid strategies. The growth of the ETF lineup underscores Manulife John Hancock Investments’ evolution from an early adopter of multifactor strategies to a broad-based provider of active and specialized solutions.
Advisor Demand and the Active ETF Advantage
For advisors, the surge in active ETFs is about more than convenience. Clients increasingly expect solutions that align with personalized goals, whether income stability, tax efficiency, or long-term growth. “From the advisor standpoint, active ETFs as we know are becoming a vehicle of choice,” says Feinberg. “So, in order to be able to ensure that we meet those needs, we need to continue to have a close connection, engagement with the advisors and ensure that the offerings are available.”
That relationship extends well beyond product development. The firm has long emphasized partnership, providing advisors with practice management support, portfolio insights, and consulting resources in addition to investment strategies. For many advisors navigating an expanding ETF universe, the combination of products and hands-on support can be the difference between simply adding another fund to a menu and building portfolios that advance client outcomes.
Preparing for Longevity and the Great Wealth Transfer
Looking ahead, Feinberg sees demographic and cultural developments driving profound changes in wealth management. She points to two forces in particular: longevity and the great wealth transfer. Both factors are reshaping how money is managed, how advice is delivered, and what clients expect from their advisors. “It’s not just about being a financial shift; it’s transformational,” she believes. “It’s a cultural shift, and along with that comes the way that we’re going to manage money.”
The changing nature of advice will require rethinking portfolio construction for multigenerational households, as well as strategies that address tax efficiency and long-term sustainability. “The way advice is given will be different,” Feinberg stresses, noting that advisors will need to consider not only investment returns but also intergenerational dynamics and new cultural expectations around wealth.
ETFs, she adds, can be a powerful tool for the demographic and cultural transition underway. “I think the ETF wrappers are an excellent starting point to be able to deliver the solutions that clients are looking for,” Feinberg explains. The combination of efficiency, transparency, and flexibility potentially makes ETFs a practical foundation for strategies designed to serve clients across lifetimes and generations.
A Call to Engagement
While innovation and product development are central, Feinberg emphasizes that advisor engagement remains the critical component of success. Manulife John Hancock Investments is of course positioned to help. “Take the time, engage with our business consultants, look at the offerings, and let us help you provide the guidance that you’re looking for, for your clients,” she says.
The partnership mindset reflects the firm’s broader philosophy, which focuses on delivering investment vehicles while ensuring advisors have the tools, insights, and support needed to optimally apply those vehicles. From alternatives and asset allocation strategies to retirement solutions and practice management, the objective is to empower advisors to deliver better outcomes with confidence.
Global Capabilities, Local Partnerships
Feinberg’s background underscores the strategic evolution of the firm. Before taking on her current leadership role, she served as CFO and Global Head of Strategy for Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, guiding financial planning and due diligence across global operations. Her experience also includes senior finance roles at Invesco and OppenheimerFunds, giving Feinberg a broad perspective on both corporate strategy and advisor needs.
The mix of global expertise and local focus is central to how Manulife John Hancock Investments operates today. The firm combines internal asset management talent with a multimanager approach that taps specialized experience worldwide. Advisors benefit from access to both extensive in-house resources and a curated network of unaffiliated managers, allowing them to choose from a wide spectrum of strategies designed to complement different client profiles.
Looking Forward
For advisors, the key takeaway from Feinberg’s message at Future Proof is clear: the dual Manulife–John Hancock identity is more than a branding consideration. It signals a commitment to global resources, innovative product development, and deeper engagement with the advisor community. As active ETFs grow in importance, and as demographic shifts reshape client expectations, the firm is positioning itself as a partner ready to help write the next chapter of wealth management.
Advisors seeking to build portfolios that reflect both current opportunities and long-term generational needs may find that Manulife John Hancock Investments offers not only the right tools but also the collaborative support to use them effectively.
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