Ms. Diane Lafontaine reports

SUN LIFE FINANCIAL TO OFFER VRSP: MAKING SAVINGS EASIER FOR QUEBECERS

Sun Life Financial Inc. has reaffirmed its commitment to helping Quebeckers improve their financial future with an entirely new savings product.

"The authorization to act as a VRSP [voluntary retirement savings plan] administrator from the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF), added to the registration of our plan with the Regie des rentes du Quebec (RRQ) received today, makes our VRSP ready to go to market," stated Robert Dumas, senior vice-president, group business, Sun Life Financial, Quebec.

Businesses can count on Sun Life Financial's VRSP, and Brasseur de Montreal, a Montreal brewing company with about 50 employees, is doing just that. "We are pleased to be choosing Sun Life Financial's VRSP. We know Sun Life will be with us every step of the way during plan implementation, that this will be a simple process to keep our administrative work down, and, most important, that our employees will have the support they need to clearly understand their options and take full advantage of this new product," said Denise Merineau, president of Brasseur de Montreal.

For over two years, Sun Life Financial has been bringing its expertise to VRSP forums as Canada's leading provider of group retirement services. Its appearance before the parliamentary committee in September, 2013, is an example. The company also made sure to get a better understanding of what employers and employees eligible for this new savings tool were looking for, so Sun Life Financial can now offer a product and service tailored to the realities of Quebec small/medium enterprises (SMEs). The company has also opened a small business centre with a team dedicated to responding to VRSP questions and requests from advisers and SMEs.

VRSPs will be a new savings experience for many Quebeckers and to ensure it is a positive one; the Sun Life Financial team will aid many Quebeckers as they make the first tangible step toward taking charge of their financial futures.

The philosophy behind Sun Life Financial's VRSP offering is based on the added value advisers bring to the table -- they have the expertise Quebec businesses and their employees can count on for support with this new reality. Sun Life Financial's SME-focused team can be reached through Sun Life Financial's small business centre at 1-855-362-3086, by e-mail or by visiting the Sun Life website.