Question 1

How does Sun Life protect my privacy?

Accepted Answer

We are committed to protecting your privacy. We keep your financial and personal information confidential. Access to this information is restricted to authorized individuals who are responsible for the administration, processing, and servicing of your contract(s) with us. These may include select employees, advisors, third party service providers, and reinsurers. 
Visit our website to know more about our Privacy Policy.

Question 2

What should I do when I receive my policy contract?

Accepted Answer

Please make sure that all details indicated in your policy contract are correct. If there is any error, inform us immediately so we can correct your policy records.
For all transactions and inquiries, always be ready with your policy number.

Question 3

What is an Insurance Advisor?

Accepted Answer

An authorized representative of an insurance company who sells and services insurance contracts. 
Also referred to as financial advisor or insurance advisor.

Question 4

What is the difference between a mutual fund and a unit investment trust fund?

Accepted Answer

Both Mutual Funds and Unit Investment Trust Funds are fundamentally similar in the sense that they are both pooled funds wherein a group of investors entrust the management of said fund to a fund manager. The fund manager must then manage the funds among certain asset classes usually indicated in the name of the fund such as stocks, bonds or balanced. Thus, the decision of the investor should ultimately be based on the skill and reputation of the fund manager. Similarly, funds are valued under similar accounting standards, such as those governing mark-to- market, and the funds are entrusted to third party custodians. Both Mutual Funds and UITFs are not guaranteed unlike time deposits.
Notwithstanding, there are still important differences. Mutual funds, which are regulated by the SEC are corporations, thus, investors in these funds are shareholders and entitled to all the rights given to shareholders (except preemptive rights) such as participating in stockholders meetings or electing directors. Clients of UITF which are regulated by the BSP are not shareholders and do not enjoy these rights.

Question 5

How is a VUL different from a participating life insurance?

Accepted Answer

In a participating insurance policy, the premiums, death benefits and cash values are fixed and it is the Company that decides on where to invest the premiums. In a variable unit-linked policy, the death benefits and premiums are flexible and it is the Policy Owner who chooses where to invest his/her funds.

Question 6

What is a variable unit-linked policy (VUL)?

Accepted Answer

Variable unit-linked insurance (VUL) is an insurance policy with benefits directly linked to the performance of underlying funds. It is also called "variable universal life policy," "equity-linked policy" "investment-linked policy" or "variable unit-link policy".

Question 7

What is NAVPS?

Accepted Answer

Investing in a mutual fund is similar to investing in a company. You receive shares/units of participation in a mutual fund in exchange for the cash you contribute. Each share/unit has a specific value, referred to as the Net Asset Value Per Share (NAVPS)/Net Asset Value Per Unit (NAVPU).
 
The NAVPS/NAVPU is calculated daily at the end of trading day. This considers the income or losses of the securities your fund is invested in, so the price may change from day to day. You can calculate the fund’s NAVPS/NAVPU by dividing total assets less total liabilities by the number of shares/units outstanding:
 
NAVPS/NAVPU = (Total Value of Fund Assets – Fund Liabilities) / Number of shares/units outstanding

Question 8

What is the Fund Value?

Accepted Answer

Fund Value is the total amount of money available in the funds that you selected. To get the fund value, multiply the outstanding units of each fund by their respective NAVPUs then add these together. 
The Fund Value varies as NAVPUs fluctuate in value on each valuation date.

Question 9

What is a Dividend?

Accepted Answer

A dividend is an amount of money given to the Policy Owner of a participating insurance policy. It results when actual mortality, investment earnings, expenses, and other factors are more favorable than expected when premiums were set. Policy dividends are not guaranteed.
Only participating policies earn dividends.
A Policy Owner has the following options in using dividends:
If you are a participating Policy Owner, you have the following options on how to use your dividends:
•Paid-Up Addition - Dividends are used to purchase additional insurance coverage.
•Premium Reduction - Dividends are used to pay the current year/s premium. If the dividend is insufficient to pay the full year/s premium, you will be billed for the difference. If the dividend is in excess, this amount will be given to you in the form of check.
•Dividend Accumulation - Dividends are left with the Company to accumulate at the declared rate.
•Cash - Dividends are paid yearly to the Policy Owner in the form of check.

Question 10

What is an anticipated endowment?

Accepted Answer

An anticipated endowment is a guaranteed cash benefit that is usually equivalent to a percentage of your face amount. This is paid out by the Company at intervals specified in your policy contract. Not all policies have this feature. 
Example:  Anticipated endowment = 20% of the Face Amount  Payout schedule: Starting at the end of the second policy year and every two (2) years thereafter.

Question 11

What is a Beneficiary?

Accepted Answer

The person or entity named in the policy as the recipient of the policy's living or death benefit.

Question 12

What is an Insurance Benefit?

Accepted Answer

The amount payable by the insurance company to a claimant, assignee, or beneficiary.

Question 13

What does Cancellation mean in Insurance?

Accepted Answer

The termination of insurance coverage.

Question 14

What is a Cash Surrender Value / Policy Surrender?

Accepted Answer

For a participating insurance policy, it is the amount of money adjusted for factors such as policy advances or unpaid premiums that the Policy Owner will receive if he/she surrenders the policy to the insurance company. 
For a variable life insurance policy, it is the amount of money calculated by multiplying the unit price of investment fund where the Policy Owner's funds are invested by the total number of units in said investment fund (i.e. unit price x total number of units) that the Policy Owner will receive if he/she surrenders the policy to the insurance company. 
A policy that has been surrendered can no longer be reinstated.

Question 15

What is a Cash Value?

Accepted Answer

For participating insurance policy, this is the amount available in cash upon surrender of a policy before it becomes payable upon death or maturity.

Question 16

What is an Insurance Claim?

Accepted Answer

When the Policy Owner or beneficiary asks the insurance company to pay the benefits covered by the insurance policy.

Question 17

What are Death Proceeds?

Accepted Answer

The amount of money payable to the beneficiary upon death of the life insured.

Question 18

What is the Effective Date of a life insurance policy?

Accepted Answer

This is the date when insurance coverage begins. This is also called issue date.

Question 19

What is the Social Security System (SSS)?

Accepted Answer

The Social Security System (SSS) is a state-funded system where all income earning members contribute monthly to the fund based on their salary range. The fund is then used for insurance benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death, and funeral expenses.

Question 20

Benefits of the Social Security System (SSS)?

Accepted Answer

The Social Security System (SSS) provides insurance benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death, and funeral expenses to its members.

Question 21

What is life insurance?

Accepted Answer

This is a type of insurance that pays out a sum of money either on the death of the insured person or after a set period.

Question 22

What is health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Health insurance is also known as medical insurance. It provides coverage for hospitalization expenses and accidents. The full coverage will depend on your insurance policy. Please contact your advisor for the full details.

Question 23

What is an insurance coverage?

Accepted Answer

Insurance coverage is the amount of risk or liability that is covered for an individual or entity by way of insurance services.

Question 24

What are pre-existing conditions?

Accepted Answer

Pre-existing conditions are health problems the insured has before a new health insurance policy coverage takes effect.

Question 25

What are critical illnesses?

Accepted Answer

A critical illness is a type of disease that may require long-term hospitalization and recovery or may even result in the patient's demise.

Question 26

What is estate planning?

Accepted Answer

Estate planning is the process of managing and disposing of an individual's assets in the event of their death or if he/she becomes incapacitated.

Question 27

What is a Life Insured?

Accepted Answer

The person whose life is insured under the policy.

Question 28

What is a Monthly Periodic Charge?

Accepted Answer

Cost of maintaining and administering the policy.

Question 29

What is an Insurance Policy Anniversary?

Accepted Answer

Anniversary of the policy's effective date.

Question 30

What is an Insurance Policy Contract?

Accepted Answer

Document which states all the benefits, terms and conditions of the policy.

Question 31

What is an Insurance Policy Owner?

Accepted Answer

Owner of a life insurance policy.

Question 32

What is an Insurance Premium?

Accepted Answer

Payment for an insurance policy.

Question 33

What is an Insurance Premium Charge?

Accepted Answer

Cost of sales transaction and other expenses for the acquisition of a VUL policy.

Question 34

What are Regular Premiums of an Insurance Policy?

Accepted Answer

These are annual, semi-annual or quarterly payments for a VUL policy. It consists of the basic and additional benefit premiums.

Question 35

What is an Insurance Policy Single Premium?

Accepted Answer

Lump-sum or one-time payment for an insurance policy.

Question 36

What is a Term Insurance?

Accepted Answer

A type of insurance policy that provides insurance coverage for a limited period as specified in the contract. This is not a participating policy.

Frequently Asked Questions