Online resource to help advisors address Canadian small business owners' total financial needs

WATERLOO - Manulife Financial is launching an online Small Business Solutions centre to help advisors work more closely with small business by making it easy to identify and provide comprehensive business and personal financial solutions for their Canadian small business clients. The site, which is exclusive to Manulife, provides advisors with one-stop access to products and information suited to meet the financial needs of small business owners - including group and individual insurance, wealth management, banking and group retirement solutions.

"Manulife's product breadth and strong advisor relationships have given us a solid reputation in the small business market" said Rick Brunet, Executive Vice President, Group, Manulife Financial. "The Small Business Solutions centre lets us build on those strengths and expand our focus beyond products to total client solutions. It's an easy way to let us help our advisors offer comprehensive advice that covers business and personal financial needs, from tax and estate issues to cost-effective ways to help them attract and retain the best employees."

One-stop shopping suits many small business owners' needs

In a recent survey for Manulife, small business owners (those with fewer than 100 employees) confirmed that their growth and success hinged upon customized advice. Especially key in the current economic slowdown, entrepreneurs want to balance personal financial needs with creative workforce solutions.

"Many advisors are also small business owners, so they know entrepreneurs' business and personal needs are intertwined, calling for affordable, custom-designed programs that reflect their clients' personal financial and business goals," said Marilee Mark, Vice President, Marketing, Manulife Financial Group Benefits. "The site makes it easy for advisors to provide small business owners with one-stop solutions, using tools that are bundled together in one place."

The Small Business Solutions centre features online access to a variety of business and personal products. Designed from the ground up with small business owners' needs in mind, advisors will easily and quickly find resources to effectively support their clients' needs and offer innovative options to help them plan for future growth.

Easy access to the latest content will keep advisors on top of trends and new product offerings so they are well-positioned to provide ongoing relevant and effective advice.

Manulife's Small Business Solutions Centre can be found at www.winwithsmallbiz.ca.

The online poll for Manulife, conducted by Rogers Business Professional Group, surveyed 436 small business owners (with fewer than 100 employees) across Canada. The online survey, conducted in January, contains a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20.