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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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<PAGE> PAGE 13
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<PAGE> PAGE 14
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<PAGE> PAGE 15
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<PAGE> PAGE 16
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<PAGE> PAGE 17
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<PAGE> PAGE 18
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SIGNATURE SUSAN S. NEWTON
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND - CLASS A
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 380,658,377
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 23,482,394
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 19.30
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.10
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,361,152,243
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,742,176,069
<RECEIVABLES> 10,909,350
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<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,753,171,766
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,311,922
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 168,176,846
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 23,463
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</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 013
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN INVESTORS FUND - CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,361,152,243
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,742,176,069
<RECEIVABLES> 10,909,350
<ASSETS-OTHER> 451,796
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<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,753,171,766
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 23,482,394
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,464,526
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,229,369
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,116,297
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 85,851
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 61,871,178
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<NET-ASSETS> 1,726,224,846
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 15,704,440
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<EXPENSES-NET> 9,974,734
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 246,468
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 147,535
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 47,425
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 12,962
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 168,176,846
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 23,463
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 11,691,146
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,609,120
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 9,974,734
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,646,024,127
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<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.21
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BALANCED FUND - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 137,043,066
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 157,606,936
<RECEIVABLES> 1,370,338
<ASSETS-OTHER> 40,119
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 20,563,290
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 214,753
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<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (42,809)
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 4,778,901
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<NET-ASSETS> 158,802,060
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,145,534
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<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,294,530
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,404,987
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 5,064,369
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 7,913,099
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 441,206
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 685,201
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 95,973
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1,164,472
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1,435
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (285,468)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 467,672
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 158,482,153
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.75
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.21
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.41
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.21
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.16
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.27
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 022
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BALANCED FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 137,043,066
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 157,606,936
<RECEIVABLES> 1,370,338
<ASSETS-OTHER> 40,119
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 20,563,290
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 159,016,813
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 214,753
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 214,753
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 133,501,844
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7,267,307
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,478,401
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (42,809)
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 4,778,901
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<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20,564,124
<NET-ASSETS> 158,802,060
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<EXPENSES-NET> 1,294,530
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 418,713
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<SHARES-REINVESTED> 91,171
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1,164,472
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1,435
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (285,468)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 158,482,153
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.74
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.17
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.97
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
