John Hancock Funds Seek Shareholder Approval for 5 Trustee Elections

TL;DR

**Vote FOR the trustee elections; it's a routine governance move to solidify board legitimacy and won't shake up your John Hancock investments.**

AI Summary

John Hancock Strategic Series, along with 11 other John Hancock Trusts, is holding a Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders on November 12, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. Eastern time, at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The primary proposal for shareholder vote is the election of five trustees to the Board of Trustees. This includes two new independent nominees, Christine L. Hurtsellers and Kenneth J. Phelan, and three current trustees who were previously appointed: Kristie M. Feinberg (Non-Independent Trustee, effective June 30, 2025), William K. Bacic (Independent Trustee, effective August 1, 2024), and Thomas R. Wright (Independent Trustee, effective August 1, 2024). The Board, which currently comprises 12 trustees (10 independent, 2 non-independent), will expand to 14 trustees (12 independent, 2 non-independent) if all nominees are elected. This election aims to ensure all trustees are shareholder-elected, allowing the Board to fill future vacancies without immediate shareholder votes until the number of elected trustees falls below two-thirds of the total. The Board unanimously recommends shareholders vote FOR the proposal, stating it is a routine item with no material effect on fund management or investment objectives.

Why It Matters

This DEF 14A filing is crucial for investors as it outlines the proposed changes to the governance structure of John Hancock Strategic Series and its affiliated trusts, impacting the oversight of 95 investment portfolios. The election of five trustees, including two new independent members, could bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the Board, potentially influencing strategic decisions and risk management. For employees and customers, a stable and well-governed board ensures continuity and adherence to investment objectives. In a competitive market, strong governance is a key differentiator, signaling reliability and accountability to the broader financial community, especially with the expansion to 14 trustees and the goal of having all trustees shareholder-elected.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — The filing explicitly states the proposal is a "routine item" and "is not expected to have any material effect on the manner in which any fund is managed or on its current investment objective." The Board unanimously recommends approval, indicating a low likelihood of adverse impact on shareholders.

Analyst Insight

Investors should vote FOR the election of trustees as recommended by the Board to support stable governance and ensure all trustees are shareholder-elected. This is a procedural vote, not indicative of a shift in investment strategy, so no immediate portfolio adjustments are necessary.

Key Numbers

• 12 — Current number of Trustees (Comprising 10 Independent and 2 Non-Independent Trustees)
• 5 — Number of Trustees proposed for election (Includes 2 new nominees and 3 current appointed Trustees)
• 14 — Projected number of Trustees after election (Comprising 12 Independent and 2 Non-Independent Trustees)
• 95 — Total number of investment portfolios (Funds) (Across the 12 Trusts as of the Record Date)
• August 27, 2025 — Record Date for voting eligibility (Shareholders of record on this date can vote)
• September 15, 2025 — Filing Date of the DEF 14A (Date the proxy statement was filed)
• June 30, 2025 — Effective date of Kristie M. Feinberg's appointment (As a Non-Independent Trustee)
• August 1, 2024 — Effective date of William K. Bacic and Thomas R. Wright's appointments (As Independent Trustees)

Key Players & Entities

• JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES (company) — Registrant and one of the Trusts involved in the proxy solicitation
• Kristie M. Feinberg (person) — President and CEO of Manulife John Hancock Investments, Head of Retail for Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, and a Non-Independent Trustee nominee
• William K. Bacic (person) — Current Independent Trustee, nominated for election
• Thomas R. Wright (person) — Current Independent Trustee, nominated for election
• Christine L. Hurtsellers (person) — New Independent Trustee nominee
• Kenneth J. Phelan (person) — New Independent Trustee nominee
• John Hancock Investment Management LLC (company) — Investment Advisor and Administrator for each Trust and Fund
• Manulife Financial Corporation (company) — Ultimate parent entity of JHIM and the Distributor
• Christopher Sechler (person) — Secretary of the Trusts
• November 12, 2025 (date) — Date of the Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders

FAQ

Industry Context

The John Hancock Strategic Series operates within the highly competitive U.S. mutual fund industry. This sector is characterized by a wide array of investment products, fee pressures, and evolving regulatory landscapes. Asset managers are increasingly focused on demonstrating value through performance, specialized strategies, and efficient operations to attract and retain investor assets.

Regulatory Implications

The election of trustees is a standard governance procedure for registered investment companies, subject to SEC regulations. Ensuring a properly constituted board with a majority of independent trustees is a key compliance requirement. The process outlined in the DEF 14A filing adheres to these regulatory expectations for shareholder voting and board composition.

What Investors Should Do

1. Vote your shares
2. Review the proxy statement
3. Vote by November 12, 2025

Key Dates

• 2025-11-12: Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders — Shareholders will vote on the election of five trustees to the Board of Trustees.
• 2025-08-27: Record Date for voting eligibility — Shareholders of record on this date are entitled to vote at the meeting.
• 2025-09-15: Filing Date of the DEF 14A — The proxy statement was filed, providing details on the shareholder meeting and proposals.
• 2025-06-30: Effective date of Kristie M. Feinberg's appointment — Kristie M. Feinberg became a Non-Independent Trustee.
• 2024-08-01: Effective date of William K. Bacic and Thomas R. Wright's appointments — William K. Bacic and Thomas R. Wright became Independent Trustees.

Glossary

DEF 14A

A filing required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for definitive proxy statements. (This document contains the official notice and details for the shareholder meeting, including the proposal to elect trustees.)

Trustee

A member of the Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing the management and affairs of the investment trusts. (The primary purpose of the shareholder meeting is to elect five new trustees to the Board.)

Independent Trustee

A trustee who has no material relationship with the investment company, its investment adviser, or other principal underwriters. (The election includes both new and current independent trustees, contributing to the Board's independence.)

Non-Independent Trustee

A trustee who has a material relationship with the investment company, its investment adviser, or other principal underwriters. (The election includes a non-independent trustee, Kristie M. Feinberg, whose appointment is being formalized.)

Proxy Statement

A document that the SEC requires companies to provide to shareholders before a shareholder meeting, detailing the matters to be voted upon. (This document provides shareholders with the necessary information to make an informed decision on the election of trustees.)

Year-Over-Year Comparison

This filing is a routine proxy statement focused on the election of trustees and does not appear to be a comprehensive annual report. Therefore, a direct comparison of key financial metrics like revenue growth, net income, or margins to a previous filing is not feasible based on the provided text. The primary change highlighted is the proposed expansion of the Board of Trustees from 12 to 14 members, with an increase in independent trustees from 10 to 12.

Filing Documents

• d908307ddef14a.htm (DEF 14A) — 4460KB
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• 0001193125-25-203246.txt ( ) — 5105KB
• S000000648
• C000001863 (JHFIX)
• C000001865 (JSTCX)
• C000001866 (JSTIX)
• C000078712 (JSNFX)
• C000078713 (JSNVX)
• C000106430 (JSNWX)
• C000113489 (JSNSX)
• S000065848
• C000212730 (JMABX)
• S000065849
• C000212731 (JMADX)
• S000065850
• C000212732 (JMAEX)
• S000077548
• C000238026 (JHFMX)
• S000083451
• C000247081 (JHBMX)

Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings 31 Required Vote 31 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 32 Shareholders and Voting Information 39 Other Matters 42 Appendix A - John Hancock Funds Procedures for the Selection of Independent Trustees A-1 Appendix B - Outstanding Shares and Share Ownership B-1 Exhibit A - Procedures for the Selection of New Independent Trustees C-1 1 Table of Contents JOHN HANCOCK BOND TRUST JOHN HANCOCK CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND JOHN HANCOCK CAPITAL SERIES JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST JOHN HANCOCK CURRENT INTEREST JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS III JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST II JOHN HANCOCK MUNICIPAL SECURITIES TRUST JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BOND FUND JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES (each, a "Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts") 200 Berkeley Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 PROXY STATEMENT SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 12, 2025 Introduction This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Trustees (the "Board" or "Trustees") of each Trust of proxies to be used at a Special Joint Meeting of shareholders of the Trusts (the "Meeting") to be held on November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM Easter n Tim e, at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Pursuant to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), the Board has designated August 27, 2025 as the record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting (the "Record Date"). All shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to one vote for each share of beneficial interest of Funds held. This Proxy Statement is first being sent to shareholders on or about September 22, 2025. Each Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The shares of each of the

View Full Filing

View this DEF 14A filing on SEC EDGAR