John Hancock Adds Emerging Markets Fund to 529 Lineup

The fund, subadvised by Dimensional Fund Advisors, provides John Hancock’s national Section 529 college savings plan with a diversified and comprehensive platform using a multi-manager approach, the company said in a news release.

At the same time, Hancock is expanding its international allocation in these portfolios in order to better diversify the international component of its investment options and more effectively respond to changes in the international environment, John Hancock said.

“The investment options available in John Hancock Freedom 529 are a great strength of our plan,” said Terri Hayes, vice president, John Hancock College Savings, in the release. “Adding an emerging markets fund at this time strengthens our offering to clients.”

Following overall investment guidelines established by the Education Trust of Alaska, John Hancock and T. Rowe Price have jointly hand-selected some of “the most respected managers who have consistently shown the ability to outperform their peers,’ the release said.

“We work to provide you with diversification in three ways: by asset class, by investment style and by money manager,’ Hayes said. “ Whichever portfolios customers choose, they have access to funds managed by top fund managers and can benefit from their varied strengths, investment styles, and expertise in different asset classes.’