John Hancock Retirement Funds Class R
               Supplement to the Prospectus dated October 1, 2003


John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund


The Fund's Trustees  approved the Fund's mailing to its shareholders on December
31, 2003, a proxy to approve a  sub-investment  management  contract  among John
Hancock Advisers,  LLC, the Fund and Sustainable  Growth Advisers,  L.P ("SGA").
The principal  officers of SGA are George P. Fraise and Gordon M. Marchand,  the
Fund's  current  portfolio  managers,  as well as Robert L. Rohn. If approved by
shareholders, SGA will become the Fund's subadviser on February 16, 2004.


January 7, 2004