Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX:SLF) has launched a new tool that informs consumers of recommended financial considerations associated with their specific stage in life, the company said Tuesday.

Sun Life’s Life Stage Planner was developed after feedback from clients indicated that consumers do not always know where to start when considering their financial options at the various stages of their lives.

The new interactive tool invites visitors to share information about themselves and based on that input, the program creates a response using age, marital status, dependents and type of employment/business ownership to indicate what the consumer should be thinking about, financially.

Users are provided with relevant and personal information that places them in the driver’s seat to talk with a financial advisor and determine their next steps towards achieving their financial goals.

“Like everything else, your financial needs change as you enter different stages of your life,” says Kevin Strain, senior vice president, individual insurance and investments, Sun Life Financial Canada.

“Life Stage Planner is a fantastic new tool that provides consumers with the opportunity to financially educate themselves about what they need to help them achieve lifetime financial security at any stage of life.”

According to the 2009 Sun Life Canadian Unretirement Index, advice and knowledge can go a long way and this information is more important than ever to Canadians. Sixty-seven per cent of working Canadians who had an advisor believed their retirement will be as comfortable as they expected, compared to 57% without an advisor.

“We’ve heard from Canadians that those with financial advisors believe their retirement will be more comfortable than those without an advisor,” says Strain.

“While not everyone has an advisor, the Life Stage Planner tool provides a good starting point for people who want to educate themselves on what they need to consider for their financial plan based on where they are in life right now.”