Resources
Tools and calculators
Life insurance calculator
What you get: An estimate of the amount of coverage you need to protect those who depend on you
Budget calculator
What you get: An understanding of your income and expenses and a budget you can return to and update as your needs change.
Retirement savings calculator
What you get: An assessment of whether you’re saving enough to retire when and how you want.
Partners
R. Paul Thorne, B. Comm., LL.B., LL.M., CFP®, TEP
Director of Advanced Planning Estate & Financial Planning Services, Central/Atlantic Region
Paul is the Director of Advanced Planning in Sun Life’s Estate & Financial Planning Services (EFPS) division. He focuses on complex case consultation within EFPS, with special attention to wills, trusts, estate planning, and Canadian business owners. Paul is passionate about taking these complex topics and distilling them down into practical solutions with a goal of ensuring Client’s understand how they’ll meet their goals and objectives tax efficiently.
He also heads content development for EFPS and acts as tax and legal subject-matter expert for various areas of Sun Life. Prior to joining Sun Life Financial, Paul practiced law with a focus on estate planning, trusts, corporate structures and reorganizations, and taxation. He is the former President of the Halifax Estate Planning Council and is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. Paul has won several awards while continuing to advance his education including First place on the President’s List for highest mark on the CFP exam in Canada in November 2014 and Highest mark on the Taxation of Trusts TEP exam in 2018. He was awarded the FP Canada Fellow distinction in 2024 for his significant volunteer contributions to FP Canada’s mandate of advancing professional financial planning in Canada.
Ben Sharma, CFP®, CIWM, FCSI®, TEP, CLU
Planning Director Estate & Financial Planning Services, Central/Atlantic Region
Ben focuses on complex case consultation with EFPS, primarily dealing with Ultra High Net worth / High Net worth clients, Professionals and Small Business Owners with a focus on areas of retirement, estate, tax and business succession planning. Ben has been working within the wealth management industry for over 18 years with a large Financial Institution and has held several positions as an advisor, a planning specialist and business practice management coach. With an accounting background, Ben brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Estate Planning and Investment planning.
Ben has been a Certified Financial Planner for more than 14 years, is member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (TEP), a Certified international Wealth Manager (CIWM), a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI).
Ellen Li, MA, CFP®, TEP, CLU, CFDS®
Planning Director Estate & Financial Planning Services, Central/Atlantic Region
Ellen has worked in several multi-national financial services institutions in Canada and Asia, providing comprehensive financial solutions to high net worth clients, with a variety of previous experience,including financial planning, investment, insurance and trust.
Ellen is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and has also obtained Qualified Family Office Professional (QFOP) designation. She is bilingual, fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English.
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