Why partner with us

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

• AA financial strength rating from Standard & Poor’s
• 140% LICAT ratio¹
• $275 billion in assets undermanagement¹
• 160 year history in Canada, providing annuities to Canadians for over 140 years

Sun Life’s 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:

• 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 140% (as of December 31, 2025), our 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 $5,000 per month or 90% of the promised pension, whichever is higher.

You can benefit from our long history of successfully executing large and complex pension risk transfer deals.

Annuities and longevity insurance:

• Sun Life has transacted over $24B since embarking in the Canadian pension risk transfer market in 2008, maintaining a 33% market share over this period.²
• Over 390 group annuity deals implemented since 2008, including over 50 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
• 1st jumbo deal in Canada (single insurer in a single day)
• 1st annuity deal for active members with Husky Energy
• 1st Canadian in-kind transfer
• 1st annuity buy-in solution

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

We have a diverse background - including:

• Pension actuaries
  
• Annuity experts
• Longevity researchers

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

• A proven administration system that processes $1.4 billion in annual pension payments to 130,000 retired members every month.*
• A dedicated client relationship team who provides day-to-day contact for plan sponsors to oversee implementations, provide reporting and updates and assist in governance activities.