Winter is a season - RRSP (and retirement) is not!

TORONTO, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - Traditionally the months of January and February are known for two things in Canada - winter and RRSP season. Although there's not much we can do about the weather, we can change the way we think about retirement.

Whether you're retiring next year or 30 years from now, creating a plan and then understanding how to allocate your savings to last throughout your retirement is critical.

Everyone has different needs and priorities when it comes to finances and planning. No two situations are the same. With health, wealth and life insurance experts, Sun Life spokespeople can speak to a broad range of issues relating to financial services and financial advice.

Interview opportunities

    -   Pension reform in Canada - We are on the verge of some of the most
        significant changes to Canada's pension system since the creation of
        the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in 1997. Sun Life can
        provide insight on the rationale behind the federal government's
        proposal to create Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPP). Increased
        health care costs in retirement are also a growing issue, and we can
        provide comment on potential solutions such as a Registered Health
        Savings Plan (RHSP), which would allow Canadians to save tax-free to
        deal with health expenses in retirement.
    -   Post retirement plans - So much attention is paid to saving for
        retirement, but what about managing your money after you've left the
        workforce?
    -   CPP changes - Starting this year, deciding to retire before or after
        age 65 may make a big difference to the income you receive. What does
        this mean to you and your planned retirement date? Sun Life can help
        you figure it out with a calculator tool at My retirement café
        (www.MyRetirementCafe.ca).
    -   Employer-matching programs - Are you taking advantage of employer-
        matching programs at work? If not, how much money are you leaving on
        the table?
    -   Health and wealth - According to the Sun Life Canadian Health Index
        ™ (www.sunlife.ca/CanadianHealthIndex), Canadians believe they're
        healthy, but a large percentage exhibit unhealthy behaviours. With
        health care costs rising, what affect will this have on their
        retirement plans?
    -   Planning and advice - Why is it so important to have a financial
        plan? What can an advisor tell you that you don't already know?
    -   The great debate: RRSP or TFSA? Is it one or the other, or both? How
        do you choose?

    Whether it's discussing new trends on the retirement landscape or
answering more specific questions Canadians may have, our experts will show
you that at Sun Life, retirement season covers twelve months of the year.

    Retirement facts

    50%
    -   The chances one member of a 65-year old couple will live to age 90.
        There's a 25 per cent chance one member of the couple will reach age
        94. That's more than 30 years of retirement.(1)

    25 years
    -   The average length of retirement today. That's 10 years longer than
        we used to plan for retirement savings to last.(1)

    Approximately 1,000
    -   The number of baby boomers turning 65 every day this year.(2)

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 September 30, 2010, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of CDN$455 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

------------------------
    (1) Source: Canadian Institute of Actuaries, UP-94 Projected to 2015
    (2) Source: Statistics Canada. Table 051-0001 - Estimates of population,
        by age group and sex for July 1, 2010, Canada, provinces and
        territories, annual (persons unless otherwise noted), CANSIM
        (database).