Get ready for upcoming enhancements to SunUniversalLife II this October

Starting October 5, 2026, Sun Life is rolling out significant enhancements to SunUniversalLife II (UL). Enhanced pricing helps Clients grow value, a new commission structure recognizes the ongoing service advisors provide to Clients and a bonus campaign helps maximize the opportunity. Universal life insurance can be a comprehensive solution for Clients seeking choice, flexibility, tax-preferred growth, liquidity and personalized advisor-led planning.

You’ll receive support to help you confidently integrate UL into your practice, including training, case studies, Client outreach materials and help from your sales support team.

Enhancements coming this October:

1. Drive sustainable growth: New and repriced YRT options

UL can be appropriate for Clients with active investment preferences for policy funding, multi-generation wealth planning goals who need cash flow flexibility. Our YRT enhancements help direct more of Clients’ dollars into the policy fund, increasing their tax-preferred growth potential.

New YRT 100 cost of insurance (COI) option

You’ll have access to a YRT 100 COI option available through illustrations and Sun eApp.

• The new YRT 100 COI option will be available for Clients aged 18–85, starting face amounts of $250,000.
• This addition provides lower cost of insurance in early years to direct more payments into the policy fund and maximizes tax-preferred growth potential.
• Our YRT 100 pricing is designed to help deliver stronger lifetime value for Clients compared to competitors (over the COI payment period).
  
• Special quotes are available for face amounts of $25 million and above.

Repriced YRT 70 and YRT 85 options

• YRT 70: For this unique COI option, we’ve enhanced affordability to create greater long-term value for Clients.  
• We’ve reduced rates by up to 25% on average for Clients aged 31–55, strengthening our competitiveness for this key market segment. For Clients age 0-30, we’ve made an increase of up to 10% on average.
• YRT 85: Building on an already competitive offering, we've reduced pricing for single-life Clients by up to 3% on average. For joint-life cases, we’ve made an increase of up to 3% on average.

Sun Life Illustrations reports will now show the annual Target Payment on the statement of variability page.

2. Evolving commissions to create lasting Client value

UL insurance requires sophisticated work – deeper discovery conversations, complex solution structuring and ongoing Client education. We're shifting UL commissions to recognize your role in long-term Client engagement and the ongoing service you provide to Clients. 

SunUniversalLife II policies issued on October 5, 2026 and onward will include asset-based commissions, starting in year 6, for the life of the policy. Payable on a monthly basis, based on the fund value at the end of each month, you’ll receive:

• Managed accounts: 0.25%, annualized rate, paid monthly
• Daily interest account (DIA)/Guaranteed interest accounts (GIA)/Sun Life Diversified Account (SLDA): 0.125%, annualized rate, paid monthly

We’re also changing renewal commissions. Effective for policies sold on October 5, 2026, or later, renewal commissions will be paid until the end of the 10th policy year.  

Commissions for YRT and Level COI options will be:

• Year 1: 60% of premiums up to target (= Level COI) + 5% of premiums above target
• Year 2-5: 3% of premiums up to target + 3% of premiums above target
• Year 6-10: 3% of premiums up to target + 3% of premiums above target + asset-based commissions as defined above
• Years 11+: 0% of premiums up to target + 0% of premiums above target + asset-based commissions as defined above

The new commission structure recognizes the ongoing support you provide Clients, including understanding Client needs, designing solutions and maintaining relationships that generate sustained value for Clients and your practice. This approach better aligns commissions with your efforts to deliver Client value, ongoing policy funding and long-term Client relationships

3. Greater flexibility and control: New alternate withdrawal order option

We’re adding a new withdrawal order option to Sun UL II. This new option prioritizes withdrawals from the Sun Life Diversified Account (SLDA) before any managed accounts. This option will be available to in-force Clients as well. Those who choose this option will receive an amendment and we’ll notify you. 

Clients benefit from the comfort of paying COIs through the lower volatility SLDA while allowing potential higher returns from managed accounts. This option may support liquidity strategies that appeal to Clients with diversified investment account portfolios. 

4. Limited-time advisor bonus campaign

A limited-time advisor bonus campaign will run from October 5, 2026 – June 30, 2027.

Advisors can earn bonus commission based on UL sales submitted during the campaign period and kept in force for a minimum of one year in one of the following two tiers:

• 2 to 4 UL policies issued = 10% bonus applies to all policies sold during the qualifying period
• 5+ UL policies issued = 15% bonus applies to all policies sold during the qualifying period

Policies must remain in force for a minimum of one year to qualify for the bonus and a bonus cap of $500,000 per advisor will apply to the program. Conversions are eligible.

Annual commission bonuses are based on FYC.

Some firms are not eligible for the bonus and will need to contact their head office for further details.

Calls-to-action:

• Refresh your UL knowledge and earn a CE credit using the self-directed training modules coming soon.
• Register for and attend the October CE Series webinar to learn more.

Resources

• Visit the SunUniversalLife II page for full details, terms and conditions, transition rules, training and support materials. 

Contact us

• Sales Desk