Unless you were 100% invested in U.S. Treasuries, the year 2008 took a toll on your portfolio. The stock market fell and bonds were disappointing, although some bond and money market funds helped cushion the decline for investors with diversified portfolios. So far, 2009 has been off to a shaky start. Yet, there are things you can do to position your portfolio for recovery.

1. Be a bargain hunter.
Some areas of the stock and bond markets have been beaten down to historically attractive levels. If you were shopping at the mall, you'd call them bargains. So what's wrong with approaching the financial markets the same way? The key is to identify investments that have been discounted by fear or uncertainty, but also offer solid rebound potential. The issuers are solid companies or municipalities that have been shunned by investors seeking to shed risk. Ask your financial professional to go bargain hunting with you. He or she can help you separate the real bargains from the merely cheap — and can help ensure that any investments you add are a fit with the rest of your portfolio and your risk tolerance.

2. Catch-up.
If you've lost ground with your retirement savings, one way to recover is to play catch-up. If you're age 50 or older, make sure you're taking advantage of every opportunity to make "catch-up" contributions to your tax-deferred accounts. For 2009, you can add an extra $6,000 to most workplace savings plans and an additional $1,000 to a Traditional or Roth IRA. Another catch-up strategy: if you've finished educating your children and/or paying your mortgage, dedicate that line item in your budget for investing. For many workers, the last decade before retirement offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build up savings, because other household obligations have been fulfilled.

3. Rebalance your portfolio.
Rebalancing means that you return your portfolio to its target allocation mix by selling your "winners" and adding to your "losers." If your stock market exposure has been sharply reduced over the past year, it may be time to add to your holdings. Even though it can be hard to do, it's a time-tested strategy that can help position you for the next market rebound. Your financial professional can guide you through the process. Because selling securities can trigger a tax bill, it's important to work with your financial professional to find the easiest, most tax-efficient approach to rebalancing.

4. Make investing automatic.
Many investors are sitting on the sidelines with money in their cash accounts because they simply don't know what to do. The answer is easy: keep investing according to the plan that you and your financial professional have laid out to meet your long-term goals. It's easier to discipline yourself if you make investing automatic. With John Hancock Funds Monthly Accumulation Plan, you can invest as little as $25 a month and have it transferred automatically from your bank account to the fund(s) of your choice. Automatic investing eliminates the guesswork that is inevitable during a market downturn - and it helps you buy more shares when prices are down.

Sometimes, it's what you DON'T do...
Economic times like these can be hard because you may not know what to do with your finances and, as a result, you may end up doing nothing. But, give yourself some time. Then call your financial professional, who can help you gain perspective - and give you the confidence to take action to help you keep your goals on track.

A fund"s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses should be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. For additional prospectuses or for performance data current to the most recent month end, contact your financial professional, call John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 or visit our Web site at www.jhfunds.com.

This material does not constitute tax, legal and accounting advice and neither John Hancock, nor any of its agents, employees or registered representatives are in the business of offering such advice. It was not written or intended for use and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding any IRS penalty. It was written to support the marketing of the transactions or topics it addresses. Anyone interested in these transactions or topics should seek advice based on his or her particular circumstances from independent investment professionals.

Rebalancing does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.