Skip to main content Accessibility help
The blue logo for John Hancock
  • Help center
  1. Help center

For financial professionals

  • Life insurance
  • Investments
  • Retirement
  1. For financial professionals

    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
  • For plan sponsors
  1. For plan sponsors
Sign in or register
  • Home

  • Insure

    Insure

    Protect what matters most.

    Explore insure
    • Term life insurance
    • Employer Solutions
      1. Premier Benefit IUL
    • Hybrid solutions
      1. LifeCare
    • Permanent life insurance
    • Vitality
    • Aspire with Vitality
    Life insurance to help you live a longer, healthier life.
    Talk to an insurance professional
  • Invest

    Invest

    Make your money work harder for you.

    Explore invest
    Personalized advice to help you meet your financial goals.
  • Retire

    Retire

    Something you can look forward to.

    Explore retire
    Enjoy what comes next
  • Insights

  • About us

    About us

    Connecting customers and communities.

    Explore about us
    • Community Investment
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Newsroom
    • Our Culture
    Let’s build better, together
    View current career opportunities
  • Help center

    Help center

    Resources, FAQs, contact information and more.

    Get started
    • Life insurance
    • Retirement
    • Individual annuities
    • Long-Term Care
    • Investments
    • Group annuities
    • Other resources
    Have questions about a product or service?
    See how to contact us
  • Home
  • Insure
    • Explore insure
    • Term life insurance
    • Employer Solutions
      1. Premier Benefit IUL
    • Hybrid solutions
      1. LifeCare
    • Permanent life insurance
    • Vitality
    • Aspire with Vitality
  • Invest
    • Explore invest
  • Retire
    • Explore retire
  • Insights
  • About us
    • Explore about us
    • Community Investment
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Newsroom
    • Our Culture
  • Help center
    • Get started
    • Life insurance
    • Retirement
    • Individual annuities
    • Long-Term Care
    • Investments
    • Group annuities
    • Other resources
    • Help center
    1. Help center

    For financial professionals

    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
    1. For financial professionals

      • Life insurance
      • Investments
      • Retirement
    • For plan sponsors
    1. For plan sponsors

Your browser is not supported.

To use our website, we recommend using the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Safari.

Christopher Maryanopolis to Succeed Brian Heapps as Head of Independent Broker-Dealer, Signator Investors, Inc.

John Hancock
Melissa Berczuk November 03, 2016

BOSTON, Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Signator Investors, Inc., John Hancock's dual registered broker dealer/investment advisor, announced that Christopher Maryanopolis, with Signator nearly 10 years, will succeed Brian Heapps as head of Signator Investors, Inc., effective January 1, 2017. Heapps, who is retiring, will remain as chairman of Signator's board, assisting with input on future strategy and direction.

Christopher Maryanopolis, New Head of Independent Broker-Dealer, Signator Investors, Inc.

With more than 28 years in the financial services industry, Maryanopolis brings substantial experience and institutional knowledge to ensure the organization continues to thrive and grow. Originally brought in to oversee the operations, service and trading areas of Signator Investors, Chris quickly moved on to become head of the broker-dealer and corporate registered investment adviser. 

Over the years, Maryanopolis increased service to advisors and clients by merging the trading and service areas, creating a one-stop shop for calls and service. He upgraded the broker-dealer business processing technology, bringing together advisor business held at different financial institutions into one easy-to-use business system. He also introduced many products, tools and services to the business to attract more advisors and clients.

Heapps, who had served John Hancock for 20 years as an advisor and later a firm owner, joined the home office in 2007 and successfully led the transition of the company's field business model from primarily a career agency system focused on proprietary protection products to one of the country's premier independent broker dealers with an open product architecture, including a wide array of investment offerings. In addition, he oversaw two successful mergers adding significantly to Signator's size and scale.

"Although Signator has changed dramatically in the past ten years, I believe the next ten could be equally as transformative," said Heapps. "Signator will continue to thrive under Chris, who has worked closely with me throughout Signator's transformation. He has a great understanding of all the facets of our business as well as what is needed to succeed in today's ever-changing regulatory, advisor and customer environments."

"I look forward to continue strengthening Signator's value proposition for advisors while enhancing the client experience," said Maryanopolis. "There will be no shortage of significant demographic and regulatory challenges facing broker-dealers over the next few years, but I think, given Signator's strong foundation, as well as the innovativeness, intelligence and commitment of our staff and field, we will emerge positioned for future success."

Prior to joining John Hancock, Maryanopolis had worked as the president of Equity Services, Inc. and had served as the chief of Broker Dealer Operations with NYLIFE Securities.

Maryanopolis earned an M.B.A. from Fordham University and a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

About Signator Investors, Inc.
Signator Investors, Inc. is a dual-registered broker dealer/investment adviser with a national network of independent firms and more than 2,000 financial professionals across the U.S. A leader in the financial services industry having the stability and scale to offer an innovative business model, Signator gives entrepreneurial financial professionals the power to effectively build unique businesses, based on their own vision and market opportunity. For more information on Signator Investors, Inc. and its national network of independent firms, visit http://www.signatorinvestors.com/

Brian B. Heapps

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161102/435553 
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161102/435554

SOURCE Signator Investors, Inc.

Latest News

  • May 01, 2025
    JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS DECLARE MONTHLY DISTRIBUTIONS
    Read more
  • April 30, 2025
    JOHN HANCOCK TAX-ADVANTAGED DIVIDEND INCOME FUND NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS - SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
    Read more
  • April 30, 2025
    JOHN HANCOCK PREMIUM DIVIDEND FUND NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS - SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)
    Read more
View all news
Individual
  • Annuities
  • College savings
  • Group annuities
  • Life insurance
  • Investments
  • Retirement
  • Rollover
  • Safe-access accounts
  • Travel insurance
Financial Professional
  • Annuities
  • College savings
  • Life insurance
  • Investments
  • Retirement
Plan Sponsor
  • Retirement / TPA
  • Retirement / plan sponsors
  • International group program
About Us
  • Community Investment
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Leadership
  • News
  • Our Culture
Quick Links
  • Careers
  • Help center
  • Lost or unclaimed policy form
  • Contact John Hancock
  • Manulife Global
  • Manulife Investments
  • Manulife Real Estate
  • Manulife Re
  • © 2025 John Hancock
  • Stock Price
  • Privacy & Security
  • Fraud Prevention Center
  • Legal
  • Accessibility
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information