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Annuity products

What is an annuity?

An annuity protects you from the risk of outliving your money and helps to cover basic expenses in retirement. In exchange for a lump-sum premium, an insurance company – like Sun Life Financial – guarantees to pay you an income for life or as long as the annuity contract specifies. Your income will be secure from both market and interest rate risks – and, if you buy your annuity with non-registered savings, you could also benefit from tax savings.

Getting Started

Types of annuity products:

Life annuity

  • A life annuity provides guaranteed income payments for as long as you live. Or in the case of a joint life annuity, as long as you or your spouse/partner lives.
  • You also have the option to choose a guaranteed period. If you die before the end of that period, your beneficiary will receive the balance of the guaranteed income payments.
  • With life annuities, you never have to worry about outliving your retirement income.

Learn more about life annuities

Term certain annuity

  • A term certain annuity provides guaranteed income payments for a specific period of time.
  • If you die before the end of that period, your beneficiary will receive the balance of the guaranteed income payments.
  • Term certain annuities bought with money from an RRSP or RRIF must extend to age 90.

Learn more about term certain annuities

Purchasing annuity products

  • Step 1
    Find an advisor

    An advisor’s job is to help you understand how different products – each with their own features and options – can best meet your individual needs. Talk to your advisor; if you don't have an advisor, find one you're comfortable working with. There’s no cost to talk to an advisor.

    Find an advisor

    How advisors help

    Tips on finding the right advisor

  • Step 2
    Meet with your advisor

    To get the most out of the meeting with your advisor, take some time beforehand to think carefully about what you want to achieve. To help your advisor recommend the right products for your needs, it will be helpful if you gather some basic information about your income, assets and liabilities – including your savings, investment and pension plan statements.

  • Step 3
    Make your investment

    Your advisor will use an annuity calculator to help you understand your options and then work with you to complete the paperwork that’s required and ensure your money is transferred. Shortly after making your purchase, you will receive a policy document confirming the details of your new annuity.