For those in mid or late career

This webinar is facilitated by Gregory Clooney of LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell). Retirement income comes in many forms – including government programs, your pension plan and individual savings. From LIFs, LIRAs and annuities to tax issues and retiring outside Canada, this workshop will examine rules, advantages and restrictions and cover a lot of ground for those in the planning stage of retirement.

To register, login to My Human Resources, then choose Training, then Internal Training. Search by Course Number: RETINC and Session: 0009.

For those in late career

This webinar is facilitated by Tyler Scott of LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell).The funds you need to retire depend largely on how much you plan to spend. This interactive workshop will show you two ways to prepare your current and retirement budget, outline typical expenses, the impact of taxes and inflation, and discuss life expectancy.

To register, login to My Human Resources, then choose Training, then Internal Training. Search by Course Number: WELLMS and Session: 0002.

For those in early or mid-career

This webinar is facilitated by Tyler Scott of LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell). It is a great introduction to investment concepts and principles. You'll get comfortable with terminology, understand the forces that drive the market, and review considerations in making investment decisions, including risk tolerance, asset allocation, expected returns, fees and more.

To register, login to My Human Resources, then choose Training, then Internal Training. Search by Course Number: FILRN and Session: 0001

For those in late career

This webinar is facilitated by Maria Jin of LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell). Examining investment options at retirement – this seminar will review the investment products and vehicles available, including the Sun Life Retirement & Savings Plan for Western Retirees. Learn about investment risk and return, asset allocation, and build your action plan!

To register, login to My Human Resources, then choose Training, then Internal Training. Search by Course Number: FIINV and Session: 0003.

Helpful for all

Designed to ensure your wishes for your assets, and for health oversight are respected in the case of illness or death, this seminar will cover estate planning, wills, beneficiaries, insurance, powers of attorney, living wills, guardianship and more.

Watch here for further information on times and registration.

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 (9 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 (16 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 (19 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.

Each spring Western provides an update to all members on behalf of the Joint Pension Board. The reports to members are available in two recorded videos:

• Investments: This presentation by Western's Director of Investments, Martin Bélanger includes a performance overview for 2020 and insights into the impact of inflation and interest rates on pension investments.
  • View presentation now
  • View slides from presentation
• Plan Member Decisions: The presentation is hosted by Cara Bourdeau, Senior Human Resources Consultant. Each member of the Western pension plans has unique retirement goals, and each also has the ability to make decisions that can impact when and how those goals are met. Using the Retirement planner tool available from the Sun Life plan member account, this recorded session looks at contributions, retirement date, investment risk and returns, and how members are using these levers to meet their goals. 
  • View presentation now
  • View slides from presentation

Each year in November, Western Human Resources celebrates Financial Literacy Week by presenting free financial workshops (virtual) and the opportunity to meet 1:1 (online) with a Sun Life Consultant. 

Watch this space for information on plans for November 2021.

Financial wellness is an integral part of our overall wellness. As part of a broader offering of activities and fun to boost your physical and mental well-being, Western Human Resources partnered with our expert providers to offer a great selection of webinars and other opportunities to boost your investing confidence and knowledge.  Thanks for attending!

Live Webinars

The following webinars were offered:

1/ The Western Pension Plan Investment Structure: An overview - Presented by Western and Sun Life - COMPLETE

View the Investment Funds Overview slide presentation
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2/ 5 Steps to Boost your Financial Health – Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 1 p.m. - COMPLETE

View the presentation slides from 5 Steps to Boost your Financial Health.
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3/ Investing: The Essentials - COMPLETE

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.