Defined Benefits Investment-only (DB INVO) services

Sun Life has substantial experience managing Defined Benefits Investment-only (DB INVO) plans, with over 200 Clients and more than $8B in assets under administration (AUA) and paying over 150,000 pensioners every month.

Our DB INVO program provides:

  • a choice of investment options,
  • Canadian institutional investment and retail managers,
  • investment performance and comprehensive financial reporting,
  • pension benefit payments, pensioner support, including the investment of assets, and asset mix re-balancing - all at a competitive price. 

We’ve built a core investment platform, with over 140 funds and 30 different fund managers. The platform offers a diverse range of high-quality funds that are relevant for DB INVO plans, such as:

  • Long duration fixed income
  • Target duration funds (3, 8, 15 and 20+ year terms)
  • Bank loans
  • Private fixed income
  • Direct real estate (Canadian and Global)
  • Direct global infrastructure

Please refer to the DB INVO investment platform list for more details.

We can offer you simplicity of dealing with a single provider as single point of contact​ in addition to:

  • Timely financial reporting and online reports available to you within the plan sponsor services site;
  • Payroll services allowing timely and cost-effective payments from the pension fund;
  • Access to governance support and tools, all available online;
  • Periodic automatic asset mix re-balancing & capabilities to accommodate de-risking glidepaths;
  • Dedicated Client Services Team accountable for setting up the fund and processing contributions and disbursements.

Our experience administering pensioner payment services for DB INVO plans has afforded us a unique understanding of pensioners' needs, and we have specifically designed a direct customer service approach, at implementation and ongoing, that allows us to devote as much time as necessary to each retiree. This includes:

  • Dedicated call centre available Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Benefit administration system that automatically generates and manages all regular payments, tax withholding and tax forms;
  • Monthly sponsor reporting available online 

With our scale as Canada’s leading pension provider, our Clients have access to a wide variety of funds as well as bundled investment management and custody services at a lower total cost than outsourcing each individually.

In addition, if you offer both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, you’ll be able to leverage our expertise across both platforms. You’ll be able to enjoy the ease, convenience and lower cost – a benefit to you and plan members.

We can help with your DB investment needs

For more information, please contact your Sun Life Group Retirement Services representative.