Updated: July 17, 2024
Are you interested in becoming a Sun Life Financial Advisor in the Philippines? If yes, then some of the things you would like to know might be: how to apply online, what are the benefits, what’s the job description, and how about the salary (do we have one)? Lastly, how much is Sun Life’s agent commission? Don’t worry, I’ll talk about these.
But before that, let’s talk more about statistics.
Table of Contents
Why be a financial advisor?
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), about 4.3%, or more than 5 million fellow Filipinos, were unemployed in 2023. Furthermore, the underemployment rate rose to 12.3%, equivalent to 8.5 million. If you add them up, that’s 13.5 million Filipinos in dire need of a dependable source of income.
As per the Insurance Commission (IC), the insurance penetration rate in the Philippines is only 1.68% versus the global average of 6.7% in 2022. It means that there are still several Filipinos out there that you can educate about the importance of life insurance.
In short, you get to earn additional income by helping others get life insurance, which is an important tool in nation-building.
This is perfect as:
- A side hustle, gig, part-time, or additional source of income for professionals
- A source of income for housewives (you can work at home)
- Full-time career
For example, I joined Sun Life as a part-timer. After 8 months, I decided to make it a full-time career. And I can say, there’s no looking back. I’ll share more of my story later.
Get to know Sun Life?
Sun Life is the first and oldest (129-year-old) insurance company in the Philippines. As of 2020, the company has more than 5 million clients. So if you are up for the challenge of helping others, you are in the right place.
READ: Sun Life Remains the Top Life Insurance Company in the Philippines
Sun Life was established in 1895, three years before the Republic of the Philippines was founded. So, Filipinos can enjoy the humanitarian benefits of insurance.
7 Steps on How to Become a Sun Life Financial Advisor
I’m glad you are interested in becoming a Sun Life financial advisor. Keep in mind the steps and procedures of regular employment are different.
Nonetheless, I can guarantee that it will be worth it.
Here are the steps on how to become a Sun Life Financial Advisor in the Philippines:
1. Connect to a Sun Life Unit Manager
Are you excited to be a Sun Life financial advisor?
The first step is to connect with a Sun Life unit manager like me. So if you want to join Sun Life and be part of my growing team, just fill out the form below.
Just remember, this is not your regular job.
You’ll be dealing with money from people you may not even know personally. So we must get to know you, especially since you’ll be part of our team. We will also ask you to upload your updated CV or resume for the same purpose.
Once you submit the form, you confirm that you have read and understood this article.
After that, we will enroll you in the online training and invite you to the #LiveBrighter portal (an online application portal wherein you upload your requirements).
2. Career Orientation
The next step is to attend a career orientation. It can be any combination of a phone call, Zoom meeting, or face-to-face forum.
Sun Life conducts several career orientation forums all over the country every month. So there will be one near your location.
If you join my team, I’ll call you immediately for a career orientation. Here, I discuss the benefits of being a Sun Life financial advisor (more of how it can help you), set your expectations, the process (how we can move forward), and you can ask questions.
It’s the most important step because this is when you have to decide if this is the right career for you.
3. Pay the Examination Fee
As mandated by the Insurance Commission, a license is necessary before you can sell life insurance plans. There are two licenses you need to secure: traditional and VUL.
So you must pay Php 2,020 for the two licensure examinations held online, at the Insurance Commission, or in a remote location (Sun Life BGC Centre).
I expect you to settle your examination fee immediately. You can pay it by sending it to Sun Life’s bank account.
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Account Name: Sun Life of Canada (Phils) Inc
Account Number: 0993015679
Don’t forget to screenshot your payment as proof and send it to me.
4.a. Online Training
If you decide to continue, you will be enrolled in the first online training, which is a requirement by the Insurance Commission before you can take the licensure examination.
There are 2 trainings you must complete. The first one is called Insurance Concepts. Then the second is the Sun Life Training Course (SLTC).
You can finish each training session in 1 or 2 days. (This is an on-demand online training, so you can do it at any time of the day.)
Once completed, you’ll receive a certificate. By then, we can now ask for an examination schedule.
4.b. Completion of Requirements
Finally, Sun Life can now process advisor applications online.
By the way, you’ll receive an email about your online application portal (called #LiveBrighter Portal) on the same day of your enrollment in the online training.
So you can do them both in 2 weeks.
In the #LiveBrighter portal, you will:
- Encode basic information about you
- Upload requirements
- Answer medical (for insurance benefit purposes) and personality questions.
Here is the list of requirements:
- A soft copy of the 1×1 ID picture on yellow background
- Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)
- TIN Card or any BIR document indicating TIN
- Proof of SSS (any record showing SSS number like payslip, company ID, E1, etc. except UMID)
- Payment of Exam Fee (Php2,020)
- Insurance Concepts Training Certificate
- NBI Clearance
- Photocopy of clearance from employer (if currently unemployed)
- Permit to Sell from management (if government employee)
- Photocopy of Exam Results
- Licensing Fee (Php3,030)
- NBI Clearance hardcopy
- SLTC training certificate
- 2 Documentary stamps to be affixed on CA forms
- 2 (Trad & VUL) filled out and “notarized” with documentary stamp Certificate of Authority (CA) Forms.
The Insurance Commission releases the exam results in 1 to 2 weeks. You can use this time to complete the requirements.
5. IC Licensure Examination
You’ll have to take and pass the licensure examination by the Insurance Commission. It’s a 50-item test per license, and the passing mark is 70%.
Don’t worry.
There is a review session so you can pass the exam on your first try. It will be a waste of money and time if you fail.
I bet you don’t want that.
6. Contracting and Coding
Good news!
You can now sign the contract online. It will be sent to your email.
Once you understand the benefits and guidelines of the company, you can now sign the contract.
By then, we can request your code.
The advisor code serves as your identity in Sun Life. You use it in every transaction you have while representing the company.
7. Protect and Serve
Once you get your code, you can now formally offer life insurance plans to your family, friends, or anyone.
Don’t worry, your unit manager will train, guide, and accompany you until you can do it on your own.
Job Description of a Sun Life Financial Advisor
I bet you only thought that your responsibility ends with selling insurance. You are more than that. I must say, it’s just one of your roles as a financial advisor. To help you visualize the work. Here is the Sun Life Financial Advisor’s job description.
1. Sell Life Insurance Products
As a Sun Life financial advisor, you’ll earn money by selling insurance plans. So you must allocate a portion of your time to your selling activities. But you don’t have to spend 8 hours of your day to get appointments. For example, I spend 2 hours on Mondays setting appointments for the whole week.
2. Servicing Existing Clients
Would you agree that happy clients are more likely to get additional plans from you or refer you to family or friends?
How do you make them happy?
Just make sure you are with them when they need your assistance with their plan. Maybe they need to update payment details, address, or marital status, or they want to make fund withdrawals or file a claim. Whatever it is, you must make sure you are there for them. You are their financial partner for life.
3. Attend Training and Seminars
While this is not a must, you should aspire for excellence. Don’t you want to give the best service to your clients? You can only do that if you are knowledgeable about the products you are selling and how to service them.
Confidence comes from knowledge. Your clients will appreciate having a knowledgeable financial advisor. At the end of the day, confidence will build trust, which is essential to your client-advisor relations.
4. Join Monthly Meetings
You must attend monthly/bi-monthly branch meetings set by the branch. The schedule is pre-determined for the whole year, so you can plot it on your calendar.
Why is attending a branch meeting important?
The branch invites successful financial advisors to inspire you to work even harder. They will also share ways on how you can replicate their successes. And lastly, you must be informed of the latest happenings in Sun Life, like new products and award recognition.
Who knows if you are one of those being recognized?
5. Work With Your Unit Manager
Lastly, while you work mostly on your own, you must be able to update and communicate with your unit manager. Remember, your goal is part of the goal of a team, our branch, and Sun Life. We all work together to bring it to fruition.
So remember to always talk with your unit manager about your concerns, goals, and challenges. You can also celebrate your wins together.
What are the qualifications to be a Sun Life Advisor?
The qualifications I’m looking for in an advisor must empower the team. So before you fill out the form below, please assess yourself to see if you’re fit for my team.
Some are non-negotiable, so we will transfer you to another unit manager if necessary.
So here are the qualifications I’m looking for:
- 25 to 40 years old
- Living (willing to work) in NCR
- Open for additional job
- Reachable via messenger, text, call, etc.
- A college graduate is preferable but not needed
- A former student leader is a PLUS
- Management experience is a PLUS
- Sales experience is a PLUS
7 Benefits of a Sun Life Financial Advisor
As a Sun Life Financial Advisor, it offers you more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to become a trusted partner in guiding others towards financial security.
Here are the 5 benefits of a Sun Life Financial Advisor:
1. Earn Unlimited Income
There’s no monthly salary for a Sun Life financial advisor. It’s commission-based, which means that you’ll get to earn based on your productivity.
It might scare you at first since there is no steady source of income. But fret not, because if you look at the brighter side, it means that you are not tied to a fixed income.
In your corporate job, no matter how much effort you put in to produce exceptional output, you’ll receive the same paycheck every single time (unless you get promoted).
Here are some of my milestones in Sun Life:
I bought my first car using my earnings as a Sun Life advisor. I needed this to better serve my clients. Now, I’m looking forward to buying my dream car.
I earned my first million. Most advisors will say that they bought a car, started a business, made their first million, and so on when they joined Sun Life. I guess it’s possible if you’re working hard for a great company.
It’s genuinely a fulfilling job when you can get the things you deserve.
2. Flexible Time
For part-timers, you can work in your free time. So it could be after work. Others do it during lunch breaks, while in transit, or during holidays or weekends.
As they say, time is money. That’s why it is up to you how you’ll spend your time on something productive.
For full-timers, who is tired of waking up daily at 4 am to prepare for 8 am work? How about the ever-stressful traffic from home going to your office? I know it’s frustrating to brave EDSA to arrive late at work.
But once you join Sun Life, you’ll not be required to wake up early. In other words, you can rise from bed at 9 am and still be productive.
(But of course, if you can still wake up at 4 am, that’s even better.)
3. Enjoy Professional Growth
Sun Life offers financial assistance to further your competency. The company also provides free training and seminars, so you can be confident in answering your client’s questions.
Regardless of age and tenure, if you perform well, you can be promoted.
I’ve seen someone as young as 22 years old promoted to unit manager, making him the youngest unit manager in Sun Life’s history.
Who knows if you’re next in line?
4. Get Rewarded for Your Efforts
Don’t you love to be recognized for your hard work?
No matter how big or small the battle, Sun Life knows how to recognize it through simple prizes like jackets, certificates, cash incentives, medals, and trophies to something you couldn’t afford to imagine, like your dream vacation like a trip to Boracay, Bohol, Japan, the Caribbean, etc.
On top of that, Sun Life is very generous in giving bonuses you won’t usually get by working in an office setup.
Our picture while enjoying our all-expense-paid trip by Sun Life for three (3) days and two (2) nights in Shangri-La Boracay.
We did not even spend a centavo on this trip on food, transportation, and accommodation.
5. A Business of Helping Others
What I truly love about being in this career is the power vested in us to change the lives of our clients.
Commission, incentives, and bonuses are just like icing on the cake. Above all, nothing beats the happiness that comes from securing a family.
The simple “thank you” that we receive is motivation that keeps us going no matter how challenging it might get.
Always remember this: financial advisors’ work is not just about selling life insurance and collecting payments. But to be integrated into the journey of clients toward financial freedom.
6. Create a Steady Stream of Income
While the work of a Sun Life financial advisor is purely commission-based, you can still create a steady income. You can do it by having consistent activities.
For example, if you can get 3 clients per month, you are bound to earn about P50k monthly income. There’s no guarantee that your sales activity will translate to this amount. However, your chances of hitting it increase with the level of hard work you put in.
So if you want to create a higher amount monthly, then you must also increase your activity. When you make it a habit, you are on your way to achieving a steady (or nearly steady) source of income.
7. A Legacy You Can Pass On
Have you ever noticed how many Sun Life Financial Advisors have spouses or children who are also working as financial advisors? You can easily spot one if you know a more senior advisor.
The reason is simple.
Because this is one, if not the only, of the works you can pass on from generation to generation. You can pass it on to your kids as your legacy.
If you have spent, let’s say, 20 years in Sun Life, by then you’ll have a tremendous list of clients that you nurtured. Once you want to retire and enjoy your hard work, you can pass on your clients to your kids (or anyone in the family).
Your kids will earn once your existing clients avail new plans from them. In this system, they will have a market-to-resell plan, a never-ending source of income.
So, are you ready to set up a legacy for your kids?
Sun Life Advisor Application:
Are you ready to jumpstart your career at Sun Life?
Your opportunity awaits, as we’re seeking dedicated individuals to join our team as Sun Life Advisors.
It’s your chance to make a meaningful impact and build a rewarding career.
Fill out the form below, and we’ll contact you within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you want to be a Financial Advisor, you must ready Php 5,500.
You can finish the process in less than a month, but it will still depend on the time you are willing to spare.
A financial advisor earns from the commission of selling insurance plans. The earnings will depend on what type of insurance plan you are selling.
Yes. The quota or validating requirement is very easy to achieve. It’s the amount you don’t want to get because it’s too small. If you join our team, we’ll help you unleash your maximum potential.
Aside from the commission, Sun Life has a lot in store for you like HMO benefits, car loans, house loans, monthly bonuses, local and international trips, provident funds, and so much more.
Yes, part-timers are welcome to join. For instance, I joined Sun Life as a part-timer and eventually became a full-time advisor. Aside from the compensation, self-development and a stress-free environment made me decide to go full-time.
No, because the license issued by the Insurance Commission is only binding inside the Philippines.
Learn More About Our Team
Our team is called “Acqua di Gio Unit.” You may watch my YouTube video to learn why I picked this name.
Who is Ton?
In Sun Life they call me Ton, an electronics engineer and the founder of TheWiseGuyPH.
I joined Sun Life in the hope of creating more income for the growing needs of my family since my father died in 2015.
I am one of the youngest successful financial advisors in one of Sun Life’s Branches in Makati, despite being timid, lacking the right market to offer my services, and having no sales experience.
You may wonder how I made it, right?
It’s simple. My need during that time is more significant than my fears.
So I just did what I had to do.
Shy? I joined several activities and communities where I practiced my social skills.
No market? I created my own through Facebook and Google marketing.
No sales experience? I read books, watched sales techniques on YouTube, and enrolled in several workshops to upskill myself.
And if I’ve done it, you can too.
You might surpass me, and I’ll be happy to be part of your success.
Meet Our Team
Our team is composed of engineers (just like me), accountants, hoteliers, salespersons, professors, government employees, etc., who are hard-working and very passionate about helping others.
*****
Disclaimer: I am a proud Sun Life Financial Advisor who can help you in your journey towards financial freedom. However, my posts only reflect my personal views and opinions.
Ton is an electronics engineer, financial blogger, insurance agent, and a certified investment solicitor. A multi-awarded financial advisor with clients ranging from lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants, business owners, company directors, and OFWs to minimum wage earners had sought advice from him in achieving lifetime financial freedom.
68 thoughts on “How to Become a Sun Life Financial Advisor in the Philippines”
Hi Federico! I’m interested to join the team as a part time agent. I would like to ask do I still need to prepare 5,500 even during pandemic. Coz, I think licensure exam has been postponed? Also, I’m living in Makati however, I am stranded in our province. Could I still join? I am also turning next year on January, would that be a problem if I join now? Thank you. God Bless and More Powers!!!
Hi Claudine. Yes, you are correct there’s no examination now. The good news is that the IC is now issuing temporary insurance. The process is practically the same less the examination. So you just need to prepare Php 3,030 for the license.
Please kindly fill out the form if you are serious about being part of my team. Thanks 🙂
Hi there, I am very interested. Kindly send me the requirements. Thanks!
Hi Lovely Rose. Please kindly fill out the form above and send your resume to federico.suan@gmail.com. You may also reach me via FB. Thanks 🙂
Hi Sir Federico, I live in Bulacan and currently working in Quezon City. Can I still join your team? I want to be a part-time financial advisor.
Hi Gracey. I have an advisor in Bulacan. Don’t worry, for as long as you are willing to in Makati; it doesn’t matter. Let’s connect on FB or email 🙂
Hi Federico, I want to become a Sunlife Financial Advisor. I have been unemployed for about 5 years because I focused in helping my parents in our family business. Do I still have a chance po ba if mag apply ako as a Financial Advisor?
Hi Ma. Dennisa. Yes, you are welcome to join us here in Sun Life. We offer training that can supplement your existing skillset. And of course, we’ll also guide you in your journey here with us. Please connect with me on FB to know more. Thanks 🙂
Add me on Facebook: Federico Suan, Jr.
Alright sir. Thank you. I added your fb na po.
I am an ofw here in sg and ‘will be going back for good (just waiting for lockdown to lift up ?). I want to be a part of your team if i may. Hoping to talk to you about it.
Hi Jun. Let’s connect soon so I can share with you how Sun Life can add value to you and your family. Thanks 🙂
Greetings!
I would like to be part of your team. I am goal oriented and I love to earn more money and helping people too.
thanks and regards,
Mary Joy
Hi Mary Joy. We also want you to be on my team. I’ll email you for details. Thanks 🙂
Hi Sir Federico. I just purchased a new policy, can I also apply as an FA. Thank you very much. You are a big help 🙂
Hi Cindy. Even if you don’t have you are still welcome. But it’s a plus if you have. Just in case you would want to pursue this purposeful career please fill out the form above. Thanks 🙂
Hi I would like to join your team.
Thank you
I would love to have you on my team as well. Let’s talk more about this over an email. Thanks 🙂
Hi Federico, I’d like to join your team on a part-time basis. Please get in touch with me. I’ve already passed the trad and variable insurance exams last April. Thank you 🙂
Hi Rubi. It’s a delight to have you on my team. Let’s talk over email. Thanks 🙂
I really want to be a financial advisor, however i dont have much experience yet but im willing to undergo training, i hope you will accept me and be my mentor. Thank you
Hi Mary Jane. Good to know you are very interested to join my team and for sure you will be a wonderful addition to it. I’ll e-mail you for more details. Thank you 🙂
Hi Federico. I want to join your team and I want to be a part time Advisor. Is there an age limit?
I got a Life Insurance in year 1996 at Sun Life of Canada and I am still paying my premiums until now.
Thank you and more power.
What are the qualifications to become a financial advisor? Is there any educational attainment required?
Hi Mateo. It is a plus but not necessary. Thanks 🙂
open for a variety of opportunities towards financial freedom.
Hi Adelaida. Good to know that you are open for opportunities like this. If you are interested please kindly fill out the form below. Thanks 🙂
Hi Sir Federico,
Good Morning! I am working as an OFW.
Can I join your team in a part time basis?
Thanks and Regards,
Louie
Hi Louie. As much as we would love to have you in our team but sorry we don’t accept OFWs as FA’s because by law applications for life insurances should be signed here. Plus, as FA, you must attend meetings and training to further enhance your skills for the benefit of your clients. However, if you eventually decided to stay here for good you can always reach me in the future. Thanks 🙂
i am very interested to be a financial planner please accept me and be my mentor.
Thanks Joebel for the interest. I’ve seen your request and we’ll contact you soon. Thanks again!
Hi,
I would like to join your team as FA of sunlife, can you please tell me how?
Looking forward.
Thank you.
Ana
Hi Ana. Please kindly fill out the form.
Just to inform others as well. If you would like to join our team please read and “fill-out” the form. Thank you!
Applying for part – time FA 🙂 hope to be part of ur team! Thank u & Godspeed ?
Hi Mary Ailene. We would like you to join our team. Just shoot us a message to know more of how Sun Life can help you jumpstart your dreams. Thanks 🙂
Hi Sir! I would love to join your team, but i don’t have a professional experience yet. I’m a college graduate, but i didn’t have a job because of my medical condition. Am I qualified to be a part of your team?
Hi Anna. I hope you’re getting better. Being your future manager, if you pursue this application, it doesn’t matter what your medical condition is, for as long as you can do the job. How you control your mind is more powerful than what the body can do.
Please fill out the form above so we can move forward. Thanks 🙂
Hi Federico. I am an OFW. But I want to be an advisor part-time. I read that OFW is not allowed?
Hi John Robert. Yes, you read it right. This is due to the limitations of the license issued by the Insurance Commission. It will only allow agents to sell life insurance to someone who is currently in the country at the time of application. Also, it somehow protects the interest of the public from fraudulent transactions.
You may still consider being a financial advisor once you settle here in the Philippines for good. I’m just an email away. Thanks 🙂
I would like to join your team!
We want you to join our team as well Marinissa but please fill out the form first. Thanks
Can I join your team even if I’m based abroad?
Hi Michael. No, you need to get a license here in Insurance Commission and that license is only valid in the Philippines. Thanks
I would like to be part of your team.
We would like you to be part of our team as well. Please kindly fill out the form. Thanks
I am one among the many who disregards financial literacy. As years gone by I felt the need to grow my wisdom in terms of finances. I aim to achieve financial freedom and preferably bring every hard working Filipinos to that same state.
Hi Gracelyn. Thank you for sharing that. It’s true, very common for us to neglect the importance of financial literacy. Though we know we need it but the importance of it only shows when we experience financial struggles in our life. That’s where Financial Advisors like us step in to explain and let them understand the things they need to while they’re not experiencing it or if they wouldn’t want to experience it again in the future.
Hoping you can join us in spreading financial awareness that will bring them into a brighter life while enriching yours as well. Thanks again 🙂
I want to join the team!
We want you to join us Meleyne. Have you filled out the form above? If not, please do so. Thanks!
I would like to be part of your Team.
Hi Antonette. Please kindly fill out the form above. Thanks!
Hi! I’m from Parañaque City and I would like to be part of your team.
Hi Joyce. You are more than welcome to join our team. Please drop us an email so we can discuss the opportunity further. Thanks!
I would like to join your team. I am in Rome. Thanks
Hi Cristina. This is only for those who reside in the Philippines. It’s not allowed to sell insurances coming from here outside the Philippines. Thanks!
hi sir i would like to be part of your team.
Hi Wichelle. Have you filled out the form? If not yet. Please do so we can reach you easily. Thanks!
Hi Good day Sir federico, I’m from Antipolo City and i would like to be part of your team. Thank you.
Hi Daniel. You’re more than welcome to apply. Please connect with me on FB or via email. Thanks 🙂
Good day Sir! I would like to join your team! 🙂
Hi Cindy. Have you filled out the form? I did not see your name. Please kindly answer it. Thanks!
Hi Sir! I would like to join your team. Thank you!
Hi Welalyn. You are more than welcome to join our team. Please reach me thru my email or phone. Thanks!
Hi, I would like to join your team!
Hi Regina. You’re more than welcome to join our team. We’ll reach you at the soonest time. Please keep your line open. Thanks!
I would like to join in your team.
Hi Joanalyn. You are most welcome to join our team. Our secretary will reach out to you regarding this. Thanks!
I would like to join in your team.
Hi Jolly Ann. Thank you for your time in meeting us. Rest assured that you’ll not just enjoy the experience and help others but there’s a lot more you will get than your normal 8 to 5 job. The better life you envisioned to your family, I must say it is possible to diligence and hard work. Can’t wait for you to soar high in Sun Life. Thanks again 🙂