SunWise Elite Plus, offering guaranteed income for life, exceeds $1 billion in assets

May 20, 2008


    TORONTO, May 20 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial and CI Investments Inc. today
announced that SunWise Elite Plus segregated funds with the Guaranteed Minimum
Withdrawal Benefit, a rider that offers investors a guaranteed retirement
income, have surpassed $1 billion in assets under management.
    "This milestone shows how SunWise Elite Plus has struck a chord with
Canadians," said Dean Connor, President, Sun Life Financial Canada. "Many
people are concerned about outliving their retirement savings and SunWise
Elite Plus, which offers a guaranteed income for life, provides security and
peace of mind."
    "SunWise Elite Plus is successful because it allows investors to protect
their savings, lock in a guaranteed income, and still position their portfolio
for continued growth," said Peter W. Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, CI
Investments. "It brings certainty to retirement planning."
    SunWise Elite Plus with the Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB)
was launched in April 2007 and enhanced in March 2008 with the lifetime
withdrawal option. Features include: a guaranteed income for life; locking in
investment gains every three years so that investors can benefit from the
growth potential of the markets; and a 5% annual guaranteed income bonus for
every year there is no withdrawal in the first 15 years. The 5% bonus means an
investor could increase their guaranteed income by a minimum of 75%,
regardless of market conditions during that time.
    "SunWise Elite Plus is designed to protect Canadians against the
financial risks of retirement, including the possibility that a market decline
just before or following their retirement could significantly reduce their
income for the rest of their lives," Mr. Anderson said. "This is especially
relevant today, with global markets having posted high levels of volatility
since last summer."
    SunWise Elite Plus is eligible for both registered and non-registered
plans and guarantees Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) payments for
life. It has the industry's widest selection of investment funds available
with the GMWB, with 54, including 27 equity funds, representing Canada's
leading investment managers, including CI Investments, AIM Trimark
Investments, Dynamic Funds, Fidelity Investments, Mackenzie Investments,
Manulife Investments, Northwest Mutual Funds, RBC Asset Management, and TD
Asset Management.
    In total, SunWise Elite and SunWise Elite Plus have $3.2 billion in
assets under management as of April 2008. Sales of SunWise Elite and SunWise
Elite Plus increased 72 per cent over year-to-date 2007. SunWise Elite and
SunWise Elite Plus policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada, a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies, and managed by
CI Investments.

    About Sun Life Financial

    Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services
organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation
products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in
1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets
worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of
March 31, 2008, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets
under management of $415 billion.
    Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and
Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol SLF.

    About CI Investments

    CI Investments Inc. is one of Canada's largest investment fund companies
with $57 billion in assets under management. CI offers a broad range of
investment products and services, including an industry-leading selection of
investment funds, and is on the Web at www.ci.com. CI is controlled by CI
Financial Income Fund (TSX: CIX.UN), an independent, Canadian-owned wealth
management firm with $102.4 billion in fee-earning assets as of
April 30, 2008.




For further information:

For further information: Krista Wilson, Manager, External
Communications, Sun Life Financial Canada, (519) 888-3900 x4896,
krista.wilson@sunlife.com; Murray Oxby, Director, Communications, CI
Investments Inc., (416) 681-3254