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
Valerie Chan, CPA, CA, CPA (Washington), TEP, FEA, CLU, CFP®
Director of Advanced Planning Estate & Financial Planning Services, Western Region
Valerie is the Director of Advanced Planning for the Estate and Financial Planning Services in the West. She collaborates with Sun Life advisors on complex opportunities and advanced planning discussions to provide strategies and solutions for their Clients’ objectives. Valerie enjoys engaging with Clients and their professional advisors to promote cohesive holistic planning and help Clients cut through the complexity of navigating their estate and financial planning.
Prior to joining Sun Life, Valerie was a tax manager at a national accounting firm, where she specialized in personal, corporate and trust & estate taxation. She also has experience supporting ultra-high net worth clients with holistic wealth and tax planning at one of the national wealth management financial institutions in Canada. Valerie was awarded the Highest mark on the Taxation of Trusts TEP exam in 2020. In addition to the CFP, CLU, FEA, and TEP designations, Valerie holds accounting designations in Canada (CPA, CA) and in the US (CPA, Washington).
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.
Jessica Chou, BCom (Hons), CPA, CA, CPA (Washington), CFP®
Regional Director Estate & Financial Planning Services, Western Region
As a complement to the services provided by Sun Life Financial advisors, Estate & Financial Planning Services (EFPS) connects clients with a planner who is highly skilled in all facets of financial planning – from investment and tax-efficient strategies to risk management tactics and wealth protection techniques. For over 60 years, EFPS has helped our clients continue to grow their wealth and preserve it for future generations.
Jessica provides leadership and direction for our team of financial planning professionals in the Western region. Jessica started her career at a public accounting firm where she practiced for over 10 years and held senior management positions specializing in taxation. Prior to joining Sun Life in March of 2020, Jessica worked with high net worth families and business owners in a senior financial planning role with a large financial institution in their wealth management practice.
In addition to the CFP and FEA designations, Jessica holds accounting designations in both Canada (CPA, CA) and in the US (CPA (Washington)).
Taylor Goulden, MBA, CFP®, CLU
Planning Director Estate & Financial Planning Services, Western Region
Taylor took on the Planning Director role with the Estate & Financial Planning Services team in July 2022. Prior to joining Sun Life, Taylor worked as a senior financial planner with two independent wealth management firms. She has experience providing comprehensive tax, estate, and financial planning advice to business owners and high net worth individuals. With this background, Taylor takes pride in helping affluent Canadians meet their own retirement goals while leaving lasting legacies to their families and organizations close to heart.
Taylor has obtained the CFP and CLU designations to build on her knowledge of advanced planning strategies and has also completed her MBA from Thompson Rivers University.
Jesse Peikoff, CFP, PFP
Planning Director Estate & Financial Planning Services, Western Region
Jesse joined Sun Life in April 2022. He provides comprehensive and in-depth custom-built financial plans to support Sun Life advisors in creating strong relationships with their clients.
Prior to joining Sun Life, Jesse worked as a financial planner for a large financial institution, where he was employed for 14 years. His process includes examining investment strategies, risk management, estate maximization, retirement income planning, and the tax implications of the strategies recommended. Jesse specializes in working with farming, business owner, and high net worth clients.
Jesse holds the CFP and PFP designations, and regularly studies to stay current on advanced financial planning strategies.
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