DALBAR Inc. has ranked investor statements for Manulife Financial Corp.’s segregated funds as the best in Canada.

The financial-services market research firm grades financial statements according to their success in meeting various investor needs and preferences. Manulife’s seg fund statements also ranked first in DALBAR’s initial review of Canadian seg fund statements in 2001.

DALBAR rankings of mutual fund and brokerage statements have helped to measure and raise standards for investor communications in Canada and the U.S.

“Even in the face of improvements in other companies’ statements, Manulife remains at the top,” says Mark McDonald, client relationship manager with DALBAR’s Canadian office in Toronto. “Manulife is a leader because they are effective at addressing the important statement needs of investors.”

Key features required in segregated fund statements noted by DALBAR were: visual display of information with graphs and charts; effective display of guaranteed amounts, and account performance with personalized rates of return.