Sun Life Reviews

Pros

Flexible Schedule.
Good entry level if you are new to the industry.

Cons

It's really interesting to see the views from the other side of the table. I work for Sunlife on the sales force team both as a financial advisor and before that as a Sales Manager. This company, although they try to appear as they are ethical, they are a wolf in sheep's clothing. They will lie about anything in order to decieve people into joing their offices. I have stayed quiet all too long and really need to get this off my chest. They are one of the cheapest companies I have ever experienced and even though they claim to pay high commissions, they only pay on their system that keeps an advisor in the highest productivity while drawing away from any type of social and family life in order to maintain this productivity. They even train you to incorporate business talk into all of you social networks. I don't think they understand that sometimes you want to talk to your friends over drinks without bringing up sunlife! Another reason why this company is so unethical is that they make the advisor pay rent for the office, internet use, telephone use, and for any type of office supply. They even make you pay for your benefits. How sick is this! That a group coverage provider makes their own advisor pay for a group plan that you can not opt out off which generally cost 400+ depending whether your single or with a family. The last straw for myself was the fact that I had to pay $200 in order to go to the company christmas party. What kind of legit organization makes you pay for a company christmas party! I don't even celebrate christmas! When I first joined Sunlife, they keep reminding you that the high turnover rate is because people are lazy and do not have good work ethic, however now I know why individuals tend to leave. You can only allow yourself to get screwed for so long. I have done extremely well when I first started as a Advisor, attending their conventions, making all the campaigns, but now I look back and realize how much money I have hemerged out into this business in terms of prospecting and business expenses. I would have done things very differently many years ago and would have never joined this immoral, unethical company who lies, cheats, and steals from the people who place faith in them. For anyone looking at a career with Sunlife as an Advisor and you happen to be reading this, please don't believe everything they say, they might look the part however their whole goal and pay structure is to bring you in and make you sell insurance. Although they say they are holistic, the pay structure is concentrated on insurance, management gets paid very little on investement, mainly on insurance and mainly on advisor less than 2 years in the business. If you have a university degree, don't waste it here. They reward the quantity unethical salesman, not the quality ethical financail advisor. I will be leaving Sun Life, and this is one experience I would love to forgot.

Advice to Senior Management

There is no such thing as Management, mainly they are all Recruiters!!!
Sunlife has destroyed a once good organization

Pros

Flexibility & good work environment

Cons

Limited scope of work due to legal issues in Canada..

Pros

The best reason to work at Sun Life is basic business experience. You learn a lot about a lot of different things.

Cons

The company can often feel like a bureaucracy.

Advice to Senior Management

It's all about customer service, this is something that Sun Life preaches but often seems to forget in practice unfortunately.

Pros

If you're good you'll make a lot of money. The people who work in the office are fun usually happy people.

Cons

They have make some really bad decisions on picking managers. Because of that there has been heavy turnover and low moral in the office. With senior management being as solid as they are it surprises me why they haven't taken a better look at making the baltimore a top office.

Advice to Senior Management

Figure out why we were so much better in Baltimore 5 years ago than we are now.

Pros

- Flexiable hour
- Self - employer w/ benefit
- good work training
- good management
- Stock and RRSP options

Cons

- need discipline
- no basic & won't provide clients
- need to pay rent and uitility
- my branch is too far for me

Pros

Easy work load good benefits

Cons

The place is run by women for women. Promotions are often given to women who are less experienced than their male counterparts. There is a womens leadership network, a dvieristy committee that has representation from ever type of group except whites and males. The diversity award is often given to an insider minority who works within the HR department.

Advice to Senior Management

Worst middle management team, get out of your office and get to know your staff. Get back to the Jim McNulty days or treating the staff with respect

Pros

It is a big company

Cons

One would never find out what is going on in the management's head.

Pros

There is a lot of freedom with the job.

Cons

Sun Life's rates are not very competitive

Advice to Senior Management

Get better rates.

Pros

Flexibility with work schedules, vacation time, good benefits

Cons

small office environment, some paid parking

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the marketing efforts

Pros

Make your own hours
Compensation package is good- good benefits and pension
Ability to work offsite (from home)
Subsidized lunches (at Atria)

Cons

It's like being transported into 1985. Technology is several generations behind. My desk phone is a NT model from 1978. I'm not kidding.
The environment is highly political. Decisions are not made on sound business cases or good judgement. It's all about playing the political game.
If you're thinking of working here, I'd advise you to give it some serious thought. The environment is poisonous, and you're just a number.
Believe me when I tell you the company does not treat and support employees in a way that makes them feel respected or appreciated.
There are worse places to work, but this isn't the kind of place anyone should waste their time with. Life's too short to compromise in this case.

Advice to Senior Management

The little things count. Christmas parties, team building, the odd free snacks