Manulife and CENTUM Strengthen Partnership to Enhance Mortgage Insurance Solutions for Canadians

Manulife and CENTUM have renewed their strategic partnership to provide Canadian homeowners with industry-leading mortgage insurance solutions. The partnership includes the introduction of new retirement savings opportunities for CENTUM agents, building on CENTUM's long-standing offerings of Manulife's flexible mortgage lending options and trusted insurance protection. The partnership aims to help Canadians safeguard their homes and families with simple, personal, and life-built solutions.

Manulife and Centum Financial Group Inc. (CENTUM) have renewed and expanded their strategic partnership to deliver industry-leading mortgage insurance solutions to Canadians from coast to coast. The renewed partnership emphasizes a shared commitment to empowering CENTUM's national network of mortgage professionals with innovative financial solutions that help Canadians protect their homes, families, and financial futures [1].

As part of the enhanced partnership, Manulife and CENTUM are introducing new retirement savings opportunities for CENTUM agents. This addition builds on CENTUM's long-standing offerings of Manulife's flexible mortgage lending options and trusted insurance protection. The partnership aims to provide Canadians with simple, personal, and life-built solutions to safeguard their homes and families [1].

The renewal of the partnership includes several key initiatives:

1. Strengthening Commitment to Mortgage Protection Plan (MPP): CENTUM agents will continue to offer Manulife's Mortgage Protection Plan (MPP), a life and disability insurance product designed to help clients protect their families, homes, and savings. MPP provides peace of mind for homeowners by covering mortgage payments in the event of life's unexpected events [1].

2. Anchoring the Client Relationship: Manulife Bank mortgage solutions, including Manulife One, give brokers a powerful starting point with clients at the mortgage stage, where the relationship begins and opportunities for protection and planning naturally follow [1].

3. Investing in Brokers: On September 1, CENTUM agents will gain access to a new Group RRSP program offered through Manulife and administered through CENTUM's proprietary DirectPay platform. This program supports their own long-term financial goals alongside those of their clients [1].

The continued collaboration between Manulife and CENTUM underscores their ongoing journey to better serve Canadian homeowners and support mortgage professionals across the country. The partnership aims to provide comprehensive mortgage and financial protection for families and homeowners, securing their futures with confidence [1].

Institutional investors have shown interest in Manulife Financial Corp, with Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. increasing its holdings by 5.8% during the first quarter. The institutional investor now owns 516,568 shares of Manulife Financial Corp, valued at approximately $16.1 million [2].

Analysts have set varied price targets for Manulife Financial, with Royal Bank of Canada lowering their price target from $51.00 to $49.00 while maintaining an "outperform" rating [2]. Despite a drop in earnings, the company has maintained a strong financial performance, with a return on equity of 15.77% and a net margin of 10.46% for the latest quarter [2].

Manulife Financial Corp has also increased its quarterly dividend to $0.3199 per share, resulting in a 4.2% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 57.14% [2].

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/manulife-centum-deepen-strategic-partnership-120000518.html
[2] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-northwest-ethical-investments-lp-buys-28204-shares-of-manulife-financial-corp-nysemfc-2025-08-17/