You can meet with a licenced Sun Life consultant for “360 Plan Advice” anytime during the year. Book a phone or Zoom appointment between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and if you wish, include a spouse or trusted friend in your planning discussion. Once connected, you’ll be able to reach out to your consultant when you have questions as your plan evolves.
Learn more about getting personal 1:1 supports from Sun Life

This spring the Pension Board provided updates on plan performance, responsible investing, a new investment fund and enhancements to member support. They also answered your questions:

• See the presentation slides with important updates
• Watch a recording of the annual meeting presentation on YouTube

Learn how to get support in making decisions, managing your account, and planning for your financial future.
View presentation slides

Learn how to navigate your investments and stay on track with saving goals even during uncertain times.
View presentation slides

Struggling with debt and saving for the future? You’re not alone! This topic is best suited to anyone who needs help managing their savings.

Visit the Sun Life webinar page for more information and to register.

If you are saddled with money troubles or wondering where to start your financial plan, this webinar by Sun Life will focus on the five steps to boost your financial health.

Money may not buy happiness, but your relationship with it can affect your health. This webinar explores the connection.

Helpful for all (10 min)

This video discusses saving for your future and the tools and services available to support that goal. Topics include sources of retirement income (government, employer pension, personal savings), examines key features of your Western pension plan, and points you to tools, resources and Customer Care options to help you get answers to your questions.

To view: Go to Western's home page on Sun Life. No login needed to access links to useful resources, including two featured videos (scroll down to see tulips photo). Select Understanding the Value of Your Western Pension Plan.

Designed for those in early or mid-career (11 min)

The video offers a good overview of how to save for your future and the tools and services available to support that goal. It will cover sources of retirement income and give you a closer look at Western’s Pension Plan and how to get the most from it. It will also show you the impact of starting early!

To view: Go to Western's home page on Sun Life. No login needed to access links to useful resources, including two featured videos (scroll down to see tulips photo). Select Choosing Your Investments in the Western Pension Plan.

Helpful for all

Rebalancing the asset mix in your account is a recommended way to help manage risk. This session, recorded by the Western Pension Board's investment consultants at Mercer Canada, will help you understand what it means to rebalance and how you can do it in your Sun Life account.

View video on Rebalancing Your Western Pension Plan

Helpful for all (11 min)

This recorded session reviews investment fundamentals around market volatility. It can help you understand your comfort with risk, help you focus on your end game, and diversify to help protect your investments. It can also show you resources and services available when you need information and advice.

To view: Go to Western's home page on Sun Life. No login needed to access links to useful resources, including two featured videos (scroll down to see tulips photo). Select Investing: The Essentials. 

Designed for those in mid or late career (17 min)

Part 1 of this series has a focus on the six to fifteen years prior to retirement, planning for your desired retirement lifestyle, reviewing expenses and creating a budget. You'll examine government sources of income, types of pension and savings plans, and vehicles for converting savings to income such as LIF/RIFs, annuities, etc.

To view: Go to the Western RIF/LIF login page on the Sun Life site. No login needed to access links to useful resources on this page, including all three parts of Becoming Retirement Ready. 

Designed for those in mid or late career (13 min)

Part 2 focuses on the 10 years prior to retirement, covering risks (longevity, inflation, market downturns, unexpected events), the income options to mitigate those risks, and the features of each. Government benefits will also be explained as well as steps to take to plan for lifetime expenses and income.

With a focus on the Sun Life Retirement & Savings Plan for Western Retirees, this video uses a case study to convey possible income sources, available accounts (such as RIF/LIF, RRSP, etc), provides information about fees, sources of government income, and reviews the supports available to help you with your plan.

To view: Go to the Western RIF/LIF login page on the Sun Life site. No login needed to access links to useful resources on this page, including all three parts of Becoming Retirement Ready. 

Designed for those in late career (12 min)

With a focus on the Sun Life Retirement & Savings Plan for Western Retirees, this video uses a case study to convey possible income sources, available accounts (such as RIF/LIF, RRSP, etc), provides information about fees, sources of government income, and reviews the supports available to help you with your plan.

To view: Go to the Western RIF/LIF login page on the Sun Life site. No login needed to access links to useful resources on this page, including all three parts of Becoming Retirement Ready.

The Western pension plans have considered Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in the investment portfolio since 2007 and have offered a Socially Responsible Global Equity fund option since 2008. The Academic and Administrative Pension Boards are reviewing the approach to ESG considerations and engaged with plan members in May and June 2022.

Here are the latest updates:

• In January 2023, the Joint Pension Board released Responsible Investing and the Western Pension Plans: Report to Members on the Survey Conducted May 31 to June 14, 2022. Thank you to more than 600 plan members who participated in a survey.
• In January 2022 Western’s Annual Investment Commentary included a Responsible Investing Update.
• As part of the annual member engagement Western hosted a panel discussion on May 5, 2022. Watch a recording of the event - or - read a transcript.
• Read the audience questions and expert answers from the Responsible Investing panel discussion
• There is new content within the Sun Life plan member site. Login, select my plan, then Resources and Responsible investing.

The Annual Investment Commentary is a useful tool to review the previous year's market activity and returns.  

Read the 2022 Annual Investment Commentary now
Read document: Responsible Investing and the Western Pension Plans - Report to Members on the Survey Conducted May 31 to June 14, 2022

Throughout the year Sun Life Financial hosts live online webinars on a variety of interesting and informative topics to help you manage your money, invest with confidence and plan your retirement. Registration opens eight to ten weeks before each scheduled webinar.

Visit the Sun Life webinar webpage to browse the full list of topics and dates for upcoming live webinars, and to register.

If you are new to mysunlife.ca look on the mysunlife.ca/western login page for a link to a helpful, short video that will help you get to know mysunlife.ca. 

• sunlife.ca/western - as our primary provider of member services for the Western Pension Plan, Sun Life Financial offers an extensive suite of tools and resources to help you make the most of your Western Pension Plan including calculators, webinars, articles and financial planning tips for all stages of your life.
• Investment Advice - For investment advice on your Western Pension Plan, you can speak with a licensed Investment Advice Specialist at Sun Life Financial who can provide you with personal, unbiased, one-on-one investment advice on your Western Pension Plan, and discuss what makes sense for you. Call 1-866-733-8612 any business day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET to speak with an Investment Advice Specialist today!
• Canada.ca – The official site for the federal government with access to information and services on pensions and benefits you may be eligible for upon retirement. Information on pensions and retirement is located in the Money and Finances section and includes a step-by-step Retirement Income Calculator to help you estimate your retirement income including OAS, CPP, employer pensions and other sources of income.
• Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) – The FCAC is an independent body working to protect and inform consumers of financial products and services. Topics on planning your retirement can be found under Life Events for Consumers and include how much will you need to retire, understanding Canada's retirement income system, when you should start saving for retirement and sources of retirement income.