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Why partner with us

Sun Life can be your partner of choice, given our expertise and experience with DB pension plan de-risking solutions.

Why partner with us

  • Strength

  • Protection

  • Experience

  • Talent

  • Client Service

Expand the sections below for more information on each topic.

The strength and stability of a trusted Canadian company means security for your plan members’ pensions.

  • AA financial strength rating from Standard & Poor’s
  • 130% LICAT ratio1
  • $27 billion in market capitalization1
  • 150 year history in Canada, providing annuities to Canadians for over 140 years

1As of March 31, 2020, for Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.

Sun Life’s prudent risk management practices and capital policies ensure we keep our promises to clients.

There are several layers of security when you work with Sun Life:

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance protection

 Strong risk management capabilities

 

 

 

Low probability of default

 

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High expected recovery
Prudent assessment of liabilities
Regulatory capital
Additional capital
OSFI monitoring
OSFI intervention
Assuris
  • Strong risk management capabilities. We follow an enterprise risk management framework with a risk culture embedded in our philosophy, values and accountabilities.
  • Prudent assessment of liabilities. We are required to hold reserves equal to the best estimate of our liabilities, plus a margin for adverse experiences.
  • Regulatory and additional capital. We are required to hold capital in addition to reserves, in accordance with the Life Insurance and Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT). With a LICAT ratio of 130% (as of March 31, 2020), our capital ratio is well above OSFI’s supervisory target ratio of 100% and regulatory minimum ratio of 90%.
  • OSFI monitoring and intervention. OSFI monitors us closely and requires immediate corrective action if defined thresholds are breached.
  • Assuris. In the unlikely event that Sun Life becomes insolvent, the annuity policy is transferred to a solvent company. Assuris guarantees that plan participants will retain up to $2,000 per month or 85% of the promised pension, whichever is higher.

You can benefit from our long history of successfully executing large and complex pension risk transfer deals and our long-standing history of managing liability driven investments.

Annuities and longevity insurance:

  • #1 provider of group annuities since 2008
  • Over 200 group annuity deals implemented since 2008, including 25 annuity purchases of $100 million or more
  • A robust implementation process guided by a dedicated client services manager

Innovation at a glance:

  • 1st longevity insurance deal in North America
  • Largest single day, single employer annuity deal with Alcoa
  • 1st annuity deal for active members with Husky Energy
  • 1st Canadian in-kind transfer
  • 1st annuity buy-in solution

Liability driven investments1:

  • We manage over $230 billion of assets – of which over $100 billion is managed on an LDI basis.
  • We have over 220 investment professionals and over 80 asset liability management professionals
  • We are one of Canada’s largest and oldest LDI investors in Canada, which has been core to our business for more than 50 years.
  • We have a diverse and integrated LDI toolkit, drawing on a range of strategies from our SLC Management
  • We understand pensions. Through Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada -- the number one provider of group annuities -- we have the expertise to translate the needs of pension plans into effective investment solutions.

1Liability driven investment solutions are provided by Sun Life Capital Management (Canada) Inc., a Canadian registered portfolio manager, investment fund manager, exempt market dealer, and in Ontario, commodity trading manager.

You can rely on our diverse team of pension and investment experts to help solve your most challenging pension headaches.

We have a diverse background - including:

  • Former plan sponsors
  • Pension actuaries
  • Annuity experts
  • Longevity researchers

We are passionate about helping you translate your challenges into customized, cost effective solutions. We believe this is the only team of its kind in Canada.

We provide high touch service to ensure an exceptional client experience for you and your plan members.

  • A proven administration system processes $67 million pension payments to 150,000 retired members every month
  • A dedicated client relationship team provides day-to-day contact for plan sponsors to oversee implementations, provide reporting and updates and assist in governance activities.

Annuities – at a glance:

  • $75 million in annuity payments paid every month
  • Involved in 160,000 monthly pensions
  • 37,000 calls handled every year

Data as of December 31, 2019.