# John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC

> John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in Boston, MA, registered since 1987, reporting over $5 billion in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 25, 2026.

- CRD: 16009
- Filed as: JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE TRUST ADVISERS LLC
- Registration: SEC-registered investment adviser (status as filed: Approved)
- Location: Boston, MA
- Filing period: October 2026
- Form ADV filing dated: March 25, 2026
- SEC record (IAPD): https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/16009
- AdvisorCensus page: https://advisorcensus.com/firm/john-hancock-variable-trust-advisers-llc-boston-ma-16009

## Quick answers

**How is John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC compensated?**
On its Form ADV (Item 5.E, October 2026), John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC reports these compensation arrangements: a percentage of assets under its management.

**What does John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC's brochure say about its fees?**
Its Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 25, 2026 states: Asset-based fee: 0.34% to 1.05% a year (a range, as the brochure states it). Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable; the brochure is the complete statement.

**Where is John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC located?**
John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC's principal office is in Boston, MA, according to its Form ADV.

**Is John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC registered with the SEC or a state?**
John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, registered since 1987. Status as filed: Approved. CRD 16009.

**How much does John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC manage?**
John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC reports $68,590,778,624 in regulatory assets under management in its Form ADV filing dated March 25, 2026 (100% discretionary).

**How have John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC's assets and staff changed since 2021?**
In the Form ADV data for John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC: Regulatory assets under management: $76,566,818,503 in the October 2021 data and $68,590,778,624 in the October 2026 data, down 10%. Total employees: 208 in October 2021 and 192 in October 2026. Assets under management move with markets as well as with clients coming and going.

**What types of clients does John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC serve?**
By number of clients on Form ADV Item 5.D: investment companies (50).

**Does John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC report any disciplinary disclosures?**
Reports 3 disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11: yes answers to 11.D(1) (another regulator's finding of a false statement or omission, or of dishonest, unfair, or unethical conduct), 11.D(2) (another regulator's finding of a violation), and 11.D(4) (another regulator's order in the past ten years). Each question covers the firm and its advisory affiliates, and one event can produce several yes answers. The detail of any item is on the firm's SEC record: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/16009

**What changed in John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC's recent Form ADV filings?**
In the April 2026 filing data: Item 11 disclosure answers changed: 3 yes answers, previously 2 (now yes: 11.D(1)).

## From the Form ADV filing

### Compensation (Item 5.E)
- A percentage of assets under your management

### Fees and minimums (Form ADV Part 2A brochure dated March 25, 2026)

- Asset-based fee: 0.34% to 1.05% a year (a range, as the brochure states it)

> The advisory fees charged by John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers to the Funds in the Trust range from 0.34% to 1.05% of assets under management.

As stated in the firm's brochure. Fees can differ by service and may be negotiable.

### Regulatory assets under management (Item 5.F)
- Total: $68,590,778,624
- Discretionary: $68,590,778,624
- Non-discretionary: $0

### Clients (Item 5.D)

| Client type | Clients | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Investment companies | 50 | $68,590,778,624 |

### Advisory services (Item 5.G)
- Portfolio management for investment companies (and business development companies)

### Firm details
- Registered since: 1987 (39 years)
- Employees: 192 total, 28 performing advisory functions
- Wrap fee program participation: No
- Disclosures (Item 11): Reports 3 disclosure items on Form ADV Item 11.

### Item 11 questions answered yes
- 11.D(1): Has another federal regulator, a state regulator, or a foreign financial regulator ever found that the firm or an advisory affiliate made a false statement or omission, or was dishonest, unfair, or unethical?
- 11.D(2): Has another federal regulator, a state regulator, or a foreign financial regulator ever found that the firm or an advisory affiliate was involved in a violation of investment-related regulations or statutes?
- 11.D(4): In the past ten years, has another federal regulator, a state regulator, or a foreign financial regulator entered an order against the firm or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?

Each question covers the firm and its advisory affiliates: its current employees other than clerical staff, its officers, partners, and directors, and anyone who controls the firm or is controlled by it. One event can produce yes answers to several questions. SEC-registered advisers and exempt reporting advisers may leave out events more than ten years old, and may answer 11.A(2) and 11.B(2) for pending charges only. The detail of each yes answer is on the firm's SEC record: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/16009

### Websites listed on Form ADV (Item 1.I)
- johnhancock.com

## Assets and staff over time

| Data period | Regulatory assets under management | Employees | Filing dated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| October 2021 | $76,566,818,503 | 208 | March 30, 2021 |
| October 2022 | $78,613,828,551 | 200 | July 28, 2022 |
| October 2023 | $60,258,933,303 | 223 | June 20, 2023 |
| October 2024 | $65,090,895,426 | 209 | June 10, 2024 |
| October 2025 | $67,607,139,485 | 194 | June 27, 2025 |
| October 2026 | $68,590,778,624 | 192 | March 25, 2026 |

Regulatory assets under management: $76,566,818,503 in the October 2021 data and $68,590,778,624 in the October 2026 data, down 10%.
Total employees: 208 in October 2021 and 192 in October 2026.

## Changes in the filing (last 12 months)

### April 2026
- Item 11 disclosure answers changed: 3 yes answers, previously 2 (now yes: 11.D(1)).

## Source

Form ADV as filed, October 2026. Values appear as filed. Cite as: AdvisorCensus. John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (CRD 16009): Form ADV filing data as of October 2026.