Exhibit 99.1

News release via Canada NewsWire, Toronto 416-863-9350

	    Attention Business Editors:
	    Sun Life Financial announces issue of innovative Tier 1 Securities

	    TORONTO, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX/NYSE: SLF)
announced today that Sun Life Capital Trust II, a trust established by Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada ("SLA"), will issue in Canada $500 million
principal amount of Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities Series 2009-1 due
December 31, 2108 ("SLEECS Series 2009-1") under a final prospectus that it
intends to file with the Canadian securities regulators as soon as possible.
The SLEECS Series 2009-1 are expected to qualify as regulatory capital of SLA.
The net proceeds of the issue will be used by SLA for general corporate
purposes, including investments in subsidiaries.
	    Interest on the SLEECS Series 2009-1 will be payable semi-annually. The
interest rate on the SLEECS Series 2009-1 from the date of issue to but
excluding December 31, 2019 will be 5.863% per annum. On that date and
thereafter on each fifth anniversary of that date, the interest rate on the
SLEECS Series 2009-1 for the ensuing five years will be reset at a rate equal
to 3.40% above the then-yield on a Government of Canada bond having a term to
maturity of five years.
	    As described further in the prospectus, the SLEECS Series 2009-1 may in
certain circumstances be automatically exchanged for a series of SLA preferred
shares, and in certain other circumstances a series of SLA preferred shares
may be issued in lieu of interest payable on the SLEECS Series 2009-1.
	    On or after December 31, 2014, subject to certain conditions, the SLEECS
Series 2009-1 may be redeemed in whole or in part at the option of Sun Life
Capital Trust II.
	    The issue of SLEECS Series 2009-1 is underwritten by a syndicate co-led
by Scotia Capital Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc., and is expected to
close on November 20, 2009.
	    The SLEECS Series 2009-1 have not been and will not be registered under
the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered,
sold or delivered within the United States of America and its territories and
possessions or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons
except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of
such Act. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
to buy such securities in the United States.

	    About Sun Life Financial

	    Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services
organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation
products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in
1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets
worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of
September 30, 2009, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets
under management of $412 billion. For more information please visit
www.sunlife.com.
	    Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and
Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

	    Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.

	    %CIK: 0001097362

	    /For further information: Media Relations Contact: Steve Kee, Assistant
Vice-President, Communications, Tel: (416) 979-6237, steve.kee(at)sunlife.com;
Investor Relations Contact: Paul Petrelli, Vice-President, Investor Relations,
Tel: (416) 204-8163, investor.relations(at)sunlife.com/
	    (SLF. SLF)

CO:  Sun Life Financial Inc.

CNW 20:07e 17-NOV-09