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Who we are

Financial security and a healthy life: We’re with you all the way

Life is full of surprises. Some are exciting. Some are difficult. We're here to help our Clients find their way through life's most important moments.

We serve millions in Canada, the U.S., Asia, the U.K. and other parts of the world. We have a network of Sun Life advisors, third-party partners and other distributors. Through them, we’re helping set our Clients free to live their lives their way, from now through retirement. We’re working hard to support their wellness and health management goals, too. That way, they can enjoy what matters most to them. And that’s anything from running a marathon to helping their grandchildren learn to ride a bike.

To do this, we offer a broad range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including:

  • Insurance. Life, health, wellness, disability, critical illness, stop-loss and long-term care insurance
  • Investments. Mutual funds, segregated funds, annuities and guaranteed investment products
  • Advice. Financial planning and retirement planning services
  • Asset management. Pooled funds, institutional portfolios and pension funds

We also help our Clients live healthier lives, both as individuals and as part of healthy communities. We do this through programs and initiatives such as:

  • Team Up Against Diabetes – millions of dollars supporting diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research across the globe
  • Health-screening clinics
  • Workplace peer-support programs
  • Disease-prevention programs

Get to know the changing face of Sun Life :

Get to know the changing face of Sun Life Video.

History of our commitment to Clients :

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For more than 150 years, Sun Life has been there for Clients in good times and tough times. Our resilience is our strength.  

World War I, 1914 – 1918: 
Sun Life steps in to support the war effort. 27% of the company, 171 employees took to the battlefield. Sun Life’s Board of Directors paid the salary of all employees who enlisted to serve.

Spanish Flu, 1918 – 1920:  
Over $2.1 million in claims were paid out once the epidemic ended.  
 
“It became apparent to Sun Life, and not to the Sun alone but to all insurance companies, that the improvement of public health was a joint interest of the insurer and the insured” Source: Joseph Schull, The Century of the Sun, 1971

Typhoid Epidemic, Montreal, Canada, 1927:  
Sun Life offered free inoculation clinics to employees, Clients, and the public. Over 50,000 people received free treatment.

The Great Depression, 1930s:  
An unprecedented time in economic history. The company makes difficult decisions but continues the groundwork for new growth when conditions improve. 

During this time, Sun Life paid an average of $16.5 million per year to par policy holders

World War II, War Aid Association & Boxes for Britain Committee, 1939-1945: 
Sun Life employees supported war relief activities, providing medical supplies, clothing, and the comforts of home for Canadian soldiers.

Victory bond rallies, 1944:  
Sun Life was credited with the largest individual subscription for a British war bond campaign. Sun Life had $180 million in Canadian Government bonds.

Post War Philippines, 1945: 
The Manila branch was disbanded. All policy records were lost. After World War II, there were many death claims with no paperwork. Sun Life paid every single claim without any proof. We trusted our Clients.

September 11, 2001: 
Canadian Employees donated more than $27,000, while Sun Life donated US $500,000 to the September 11th fund. Policy terms and conditions were lifted for Clients during this time. 

"We do not consider the events of Sept 11 to fall under an act-of-war exclusion in our policies, and we will pay all valid claims" Source: Sun Life spokesperson 

Global Financial Crisis, 2008:  
Despite economic turmoil, Sun Life remained among the world’s strongest insurance companies and maintained a strong capital position. Sun Life has gone 155 years without government bailout money.  Our entire history. 

COVID-19 Global Pandemic, 2020:  
Sun Life Family of Companies donated $2M to support food banks, health and elder care.  
 
We donated: 

  • 600,000 surgical masks to hospitals across Canada
  • 3,000 digital life insurance products to Philippines’ health workers

For Clients we:  

  • Expedited claims
  • Offered free debt consolidation plans
  • Deferred insurance payments
  • Extended coverage 
  • Waived waiting periods
  • Provided virtual care  

We do the right thing, especially when times are tough. Throughout our history, we’ve been here for our Clients and communities when they needed us and we will continue to be here in the moments that matter most.

[Logo] #SunLifeStrong

[Logo] Sun Life 

Strong and steady: You can count on us

Sun Life is one of the largest public companies in Canada. Our financial strength ratings are some of the highest in the industry. You can find shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) are listed on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges.

Our businesses are widely varied. We strike a balance between protection and wealth businesses. We operate in countries in many parts of the world. And our Clients include individuals, groups and institutions. We manage risk so we can steer through uncertain and volatile markets. That lets us help our Clients, no matter what the markets are doing.

Strong corporate governance: You can put your confidence in us

At Sun Life, we have always built our business on ethics and integrity. We set strict guidelines and rules about how we do business. And we follow them, wherever we do business. They include:

  • The Code of Conduct that tells every Sun Life employee and advisor how we expect them to act
  • Disciplined and well-ordered risk management systems
  • Strict information privacy and security programs

Our Board of Directors watches over the management of Sun Life. Each director adds to the long-term success of our company. Thanks to our directors, employees and advisors, we are respected for our commitment to governance, sustainability and corporate citizenship.

Sun Life is one of the 2020 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World.