Associate Counsel - Advanced Planning

John Hancock seeks a seeks an attorney to join its Advanced Markets team as Associate Counsel. This dynamic role partners with sales personnel, distributors, and internal business partners to deliver sophisticated planning strategies for clients. The attorney will provide technical and legal guidance on advanced planning matters, translate complex concepts into practical business solutions, and help expand sales and marketing opportunities while supporting responsible growth and alignment with enterprise legal, compliance and risk frameworks.

John Hancock has earned an industry-leading reputation for delivering advanced sales strategies, innovative educational resources, and expert case consultation to distributors and financial professionals. The Advanced Markets team plays a dual role: serving as a strategic sales partner while providing appropriate oversight and risk management for complex planning concepts and sales strategies. The successful candidate will bring a strong technical foundation in high-end estate and business planning, a can-do attitude, and the ability to work independently from issue identification through resolution.

With knowledge and practical experience in the areas of wealth transfer planning, business succession planning, charitable planning and related tax issues, the associate counsel will work as a trusted partner who can effectively engage across a wide customer network to help navigate and implement sophisticated planning opportunities. This position also partners closely with advanced markets consultants, product, marketing, compliance, sales leadership, and operations to enable growth, manage regulatory risk, and advance strategic initiatives.

This opportunity is a remote role and can be based anywhere in the US. Key Accountabilities: Strategic Case Consultation Provide timely written and verbal consultation on complex life insurance opportunities involving wealth transfer, estate planning, business succession, charitable planning, executive benefits, and related tax matters. Analyze sophisticated client fact patterns and develop practical planning approaches that are technically sound, commercially relevant, and consistent with company guidelines and risk principles.

Partner with sales professionals and distributors to clarify objectives, identify planning considerations, and communicate recommendations in clear, actionable terms. Exercise sound judgment and appropriate independence in managing inquiries, research, follow-up, and stakeholder communication. Advanced Planning, Legal Research, and Risk Management  Serve as a technical resource on federal estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer, income, and related tax issues affecting advanced life insurance planning.

Research emerging planning strategies, legislative and regulatory developments, and industry trends; assess their implications for clients, distribution partners, and the business. Assist with complex legal, regulatory, and compliance matters and review planning concepts within the company’s legal, compliance, and enterprise risk framework. Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, Underwriting, Product, Operations, Marketing, and Sales leadership to facilitate well-reasoned and appropriate outcomes.

Content Development, Innovation, Education, and Thought Leadership  Draft and review advanced markets educational, promotional, and technical materials, including concept pieces, case studies, presentations, articles, guides, and field-facing resources. Conduct legal and technical review of materials created by attorneys and non-attorneys for accuracy, clarity, and alignment with applicable standards.

Develop and deliver education on advanced planning concepts and relevant legislative, regulatory, tax, and industry developments for internal and external audiences. Present at conferences, study groups, webinars, producer meetings, and internal forums, adapting highly technical content for audiences with varying levels of ex