Contest period: September 28, 2026 to December 20, 2026
This FAQ explains the contest in plain language. The official contest rules govern. If anything in this FAQ differs from the rules, the rules apply. You can find the rules here.
Start here: the top 5 questions
- What is the contest?
A limited-time contest that rewards you for taking small actions towards your financial wellness and retirement readiness using your Sun Life workplace savings plan between September 28 and December 20, 2026. - Who can enter?
Active members of an eligible employer- or association-sponsored Sun Life group retirement or savings plan, who hasn’t ended the employment under which they contributed to the plan, who live in Canada and are the age of majority where they live. - What can I win?
You can win one of six prizes: there are five prizes of $10,000 or one grand prize of $50,000. - How many entries can I earn?
Up to five (5) entries in total: a maximum of four (4) entries from the qualifying actions, plus one (1) additional entry if you enter by mail. - Do I have to make a purchase?
No. You can earn entries without contributing, including by mailing in an essay, reading a financial wellness article or through other non-financial actions. No purchase is necessary.
About the contest
What is the “Small steps. Big rewards” contest?
It’s a limited-time contest that rewards you for taking small steps with your Sun Life workplace savings plan to improve your overall financial wellness and retirement readiness. Each time you complete a qualifying action during the contest period, you earn an entry into the prize draws.
When does the contest run?
The contest starts September 28, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends December 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Who is running the contest?
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the contest sponsor.
Who can enter
Am I eligible to enter?
You’re eligible if you:
- Are an active member of an eligible employer- or association-sponsored group retirement or savings plan with Sun Life
- Are a legal resident of Canada
- Are the age of majority in the province or territory where you live
What does “active member” mean, and do I need to still be active at the draw?
If you are eligible (as explained above), being an active member means you’ve completed everything needed to enrol in your eligible group retirement or savings plan, and you haven’t ended your membership in the plan or the employment through which you accumulated contributions. Sun Life confirms eligibility at the time of each draw. If you stop being an active member, the entries you earned up to that date stay in the draws, subject to the contest rules – but you can’t earn any new entries.
Who can’t enter?
- Members whose only relationship with Sun Life is through a Group Choices plan
- Employees, representatives and agents of Sun Life and its affiliates OR their immediate family (spouse, parent, sibling or child) and anyone living in the same household
Could my plan be excluded from the contest?
It’s possible. Plan sponsors can choose not to take part in the contest. Your plan design may also limit which actions are available to you – for example, some plans don’t allow certain contributions or transfers. If your plan is eligible, you can still earn entries through the actions that are available to you, or by mailing in an essay.
How to earn entries
What actions earn me an entry?
There are seven ways to earn an entry. Each way described below earns one entry. You can earn a maximum of four (4) entries through the qualifying actions (1 to 6 below), plus one (1) additional entry by mailing in an essay — up to five (5) entries in total.
- Make a lump sum contribution
- What counts: Make a voluntary lump sum contribution or set up a new recurring lump sum contribution to an eligible Sun Life group retirement plan during the contest period. Regular payroll contributions, employer contributions, or existing recurring lump sum contributions don’t count.
- How to complete it: Online at mysunlife.ca or by phone, if your plan allows.
- Transfer in savings
- What counts: Transfer in funds from a financial institution outside Sun Life and its affiliates during the contest period.
- How to complete it: Online at mysunlife.ca or by phone, if your plan allows.
- Use Sun Life One Plan
- What counts: Do any one of the following: create a new One Plan, open your existing One Plan so your plan data refreshes automatically, or add a goal and save your updated plan.
- How to complete it: Online at mysunlife.ca or by phone, if your plan allows.
- Do an asset allocation review
- What counts: Start “Update asset allocation” for any investment product, complete page 2 and select “Next” during the contest period.
- How to complete it: Online at mysunlife.ca or by phone, if your plan allows.
- Read article 1
- What counts: Read “What can you do about U.S. tariffs affecting your finances?" at mysunlife.ca during the Contest Period.
- How to complete it: Online at mysunlife.ca or by phone, if your plan allows.
- Read article 2
- What counts: Read “5 Ways to Master Your RRSP Strategy Before Next Year” at mysunlife.ca during the Contest Period.
- How to complete it: Online at mysunlife.ca or by phone, if your plan allows.
- Mail in an essay
- What counts: Mail an essay of at least 250 words about why planning for retirement is important. This entry is in addition to the four entries available through actions 1 to 6. See “Entering by mail” below.
- How to complete it: By mail.
Do my regular payroll contributions count?
No. Any of your existing contributions, made as part of your workplace savings plan [required or voluntary] do not earn you an entry. Only voluntary lump sum contributions and new recurring lump sum contributions you make count towards an entry in the contest.
Can contributions to my FHSA earn me an entry?
A lump-sum contribution can earn you an entry, as long as it’s deposited to an eligible group retirement or savings plan account with Sun Life. Contributions made through payroll or existing recurring lump sum contributions don’t earn an entry, the same as for any other account.
Is there a minimum contribution or transfer amount?
No, there is no minimum contribution or transfer amount.
Does my contribution or transfer need to be completed to count?
Yes. You need to start the contribution or transfer during the contest period, and the money needs to be successfully received by Sun Life. If your entry came from a contribution or transfer and you’re selected in a draw, that transaction must be completed within 60 days after the draw date.
Can I complete these actions by phone instead of online?
For most actions, yes – if your plan allows it. Contributions, transfers-in, One Plan and the asset allocation review can be completed online at mysunlife.ca or by calling the Client Contact Centre at 1-866-733-8612. Reading the featured articles can only be done online. Mailing in the essay can only be done through postal mail.
Do I need to sign up for the contest?
No. Entries are added automatically when you complete a qualifying action.
Your entries
How many entries can I earn?
Up to five (5) entries in total. There are six qualifying actions, and you can earn a maximum of four (4) entries from them – so you can choose the four that work best for you. Mailing in an essay earns one (1) additional entry on top of that.
Can I earn more entries by doing the same action twice?
No. Each action earns one entry, no matter how many times you complete it. For example, making three lump-sum contributions still earns one entry.
Do my entries carry forward to later draws if I have yet to win?
Yes. Once you earn an entry, it stays in every remaining draw, including the grand prize draw. Entering early means your entry is included in more draws.
Can I check how many entries I have?
No. There isn’t a page that shows how many entries you’ve earned. You can track your entries yourself as you complete the qualifying actions during the contest period.
Entering by mail (no purchase necessary)
Do I have to contribute money to enter?
No. No purchase or contribution is necessary. You can earn entries through the non-financial actions, including by mailing in an essay.
How does the mail-in entry work?
Write an essay of at least 250 words about why planning for retirement is important, and include your full name, address, phone number and email address. Mail it to:
2026 Small Steps, Big Rewards Contest
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
227 King St S
Waterloo, ON N2J 1R2
A few things to know:
- You can send one mail-in entry during the contest period, and it earns one entry
- The postmark date determines which draws your entry is included in
- Your entry must be received by December 20, 2026
- Sun Life isn’t responsible for lost or misdirected mail
- This entry is in addition to the maximum of four entries you can earn through the qualifying actions
Prizes and draws
What can I win?
There are six prizes in total: five prizes of $10,000 and one grand prize of $50,000. Prizes must be accepted as awarded and can’t be substituted. You can win a maximum of one of the six prizes; if you win one prize, you are no longer eligible to win additional prizes.
When are the draws?
There are six draws. Every draw includes all entries earned since the contest started on September 28, 2026. Each draw takes place at 1:00 p.m. ET on the date shown below, at the Sun Life office at 1 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, once Sun Life has finished validating entries for that period.
- September 28 – October 11, 2026
- Draw date: October 15, 2026
- Prize: $10,000
- October 12 – October 25, 2026
- Draw date: October 29, 2026
- Prize: $10,000
- October 26 – November 8, 2026
- Draw date: November 12, 2026
- Prize: $10,000
- November 9 – November 22, 2026
- Draw date: November 26, 2026
- Prize: $10,000
- November 23 – December 6, 2026
- Draw date: December 10, 2026
- Prize: $10,000
- September 28 – December 20, 2026 (grand prize)
- Draw date: December 23, 2026
- Prize: $50,000
What are my chances of winning?
Every entry has an equal chance of being selected. Your odds depend on the total number of entries in the draw.
Can I win more than once?
No. You can win one of the six prizes during the contest, including the grand prize. If you win a prize, your entries are removed from any remaining draws.
If your entry is selected
How will I know if I’ve been selected?
We’ll try to reach you by phone or email up to three times within 10 business days of the draw date. Please make sure your contact information on mysunlife.ca is up to date.
What do I need to do to claim a prize?
Being selected doesn’t automatically make you a winner. Before a prize is awarded, you’ll need to:
- Respond to us within 10 business days
- Correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question
- Sign and return a declaration and release form within 10 business days
- If your entry came from a contribution or transfer-in, have that transaction successfully completed within 60 days of the draw date
What happens if I don’t respond or complete these steps?
The prize would be forfeited, and another entry may be selected at random.
How the prize is paid
How would I receive my prize money?
You’d speak with a Financial Services Consultant (Financial Security Advisor in Quebec) about your options. Your prize can be deposited as a lump sum into a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or non-registered account with Sun Life. For an RRSP or TFSA, you need to confirm you have available contribution room and direct us to make the deposit as a contribution by you – you’re solely responsible for making sure that room is available. If you choose not to have your prize deposited to an account, it will be paid by cheque made out to you and mailed to your home address. Receiving financial advice isn’t a condition of receiving your prize.
Do I need to open a new account to receive a prize?
No. Opening a new account isn’t a condition of receiving a prize. If you choose to open one, normal suitability and enrolment requirements apply.
Are there taxes on the prize?
Any applicable government taxes on a prize are the winner’s sole responsibility. You’re also responsible for getting any independent tax advice you feel you need.
Your privacy and your choices
How is my personal information used?
Your information is used to administer the contest, select entries and award prizes. It’s handled in line with Sun Life’s privacy policy, available at sunlife.com. Some information collected during the contest is temporarily stored by a third-party vendor that may be located outside your province or country, which means it may be subject to the laws of that jurisdiction.
What if I don’t want to take part?
You can opt out by emailing GRS.Contests.Concours.RCR@sunlife.com or by calling the Client Contact Centre at 1-866-733-8612. Once your opt-out is processed, any entries you’ve earned are removed, you won’t earn new entries and you won’t be eligible to win a prize.
Questions and full rules
Where can I read the official rules?
The full official rules are available at Contest Official Rules. The rules govern the contest. If anything in this FAQ differs from the rules, the rules as outlined in the terms and conditions apply. Sun Life may amend, suspend or withdraw the contest, or adjust dates, as set out in the rules.
Who can I contact with questions?
Email GRS.Contests.Concours.RCR@sunlife.com, or call the Client Contact Centre at 1-866-733-8612.
