SUN LIFE N Y VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
497, 1998-05-07
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<PAGE>
                                                                      PROSPECTUS
                                                                     MAY 1, 1998
 
                                   COMPASS 3
 
    The individual flexible payment deferred annuity contracts (the "Contracts")
offered by this Prospectus are designed for use in connection with personal
retirement plans, some of which qualify for federal income tax advantages
available under Sections 401, 403 or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code. The
Contracts are issued by Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York (the
"Company"). The Company's Annuity Service Mailing Address is 80 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.
 
    The Owner of a Contract may elect to have Contract values accumulated on a
fixed basis in the Fixed Account (which is part of the Company's general account
and pays interest at a guaranteed fixed rate) or on a variable basis in Sun Life
(N.Y.) Variable Account B (the "Variable Account"), a separate account of the
Company, or divided among the Fixed Account and the Variable Account. The assets
of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each Sub-Account uses its
assets to purchase, at net asset value, shares of a specific series of MFS/Sun
Life Series Trust (the "Series Fund"), a mutual fund registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Shares of the Series Fund are issued in
twenty-six series, each corresponding to an independent portfolio of securities.
Seven series are available as the investment medium for the Contracts: (1) Money
Market Series; (2) High Yield Series; (3) Capital Appreciation Series; (4)
Government Securities Series; (5) World Governments Series; (6) Total Return
Series; and (7) Managed Sectors Series. If the Owner elects certain forms of an
annuity as a retirement benefit, payments may be funded from either the Fixed
Account or the Variable Account or from both the Fixed Account and the Variable
Account. Contract values allocated to the Variable Account and annuity payments
elected on a variable basis will vary to reflect the investment performance of
the series of the Series Fund selected by the Owner.
 
    This Prospectus sets forth information about the Contracts and the Variable
Account that a prospective purchaser should know before investing. Additional
information about the Contracts and the Variable Account has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in a Statement of Additional Information
dated May 1, 1998 which is incorporated herein by reference. The Statement of
Additional Information is available without charge from the Company upon written
request to the above address or by telephoning (212) 943-3855 or (800) 447-7569.
The Table of Contents for the Statement of Additional Information is shown on
page 21 of this Prospectus.
 
THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY,
ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
THIS PROSPECTUS IS VALID ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE CURRENT PROSPECTUS OF THE
SERIES FUND.
 
THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         PAGE
<S>                                                                      <C>
Definitions                                                                2
Synopsis                                                                   3
Expense Summary                                                            4
Condensed Financial Information                                            5
Performance Data                                                           6
Financial Statements                                                       6
A Word About the Company, the Variable Account and the Series Fund         6
Purchase Payments and Contract Values During Accumulation Period           8
Cash Withdrawals                                                           9
Death Benefit                                                             11
Contract Charges                                                          11
Annuity Provisions                                                        14
Other Contract Provisions                                                 16
Federal Tax Status                                                        18
Year 2000 Compliance                                                      17
Distribution of the Contracts                                             20
Legal Proceedings                                                         20
Owner Inquiries                                                           20
Table of Contents for Statement of Additional Information                 21
</TABLE>
 
                                  DEFINITIONS
 
    The following terms as used in this Prospectus have the indicated meanings:
 
Accumulation Account:  An account established for the Contract to which net
Purchase Payments are credited in the form of Accumulation Units.
 
Accumulation Unit:  A unit of measure used in the calculation of the value of
the Accumulation Account. There are two types of Accumulation Units: Variable
Accumulation Units and Fixed Accumulation Units.
 
Annuitant:  The person or persons named in the Contract and on whose life the
first annuity payment is to be made. If more than one person is so named, all
provisions of the Contract which are based on the death of the "Annuitant" will
be based on the date of death of the last surviving of the persons so named. By
example, the death benefit will become due only upon the death, prior to the
Annuity Commencement Date, of the last surviving of the persons so named.
Collectively, these persons are referred to in this Contract as "Annuitants."
The Owner is not permitted to name a "Co-Annuitant" under a Qualified Contract.
 
Annuity Commencement Date:  The date on which the first annuity payment is to be
made.
 
Annuity Unit:  A unit of measure used in the calculation of the amount of the
second and each subsequent Variable Annuity payment.
 
Beneficiary:  The person who has the right to the death benefit set forth in the
Contract.
 
Contract Years and Contract Anniversaries:  The first Contract Year shall be the
period of 12 months plus a part of a month as measured from the date the
Contract is issued to the first day of the calendar month which follows the
calendar month of issue. All Contract Years and Contract Anniversaries
thereafter shall be 12 month periods based upon such first day of the calendar
month which follows the calendar month of issue.
 
Due Proof of Death:  An original certified copy of an official death
certificate, or an original certified copy of a decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction as to the finding of death, or any other proof satisfactory to the
Company.
 
Fixed Account:  The Fixed Account consists of all assets of the Company other
than those allocated to a separate account of the Company.
 
Fixed Annuity:  An annuity with payments which do not vary as to dollar amount.
 
Non-Qualified Contract:  A Contract used in connection with a retirement plan
which does not receive favorable federal income tax treatment under Sections
401, 403 or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
The Contract must be owned by a natural person or by a trust or other entity as
agent for a natural person for the Contract to receive favorable income tax
treatment as an annuity.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
Owner:  The person, persons or entity entitled to the ownership rights stated in
the Contract and in whose name or names the Contract is issued.
 
Payee:  The recipient of payments under the Contract. The term may include an
Annuitant, a Beneficiary who becomes entitled to benefits upon the death of the
Annuitant or any person who is designated as the beneficiary of distributions
made as a result of the death of the Owner.
 
Purchase Payment (Payment):  An amount paid to the Company by the Owner or on
the Owner's behalf as consideration for the benefits provided by the Contract.
 
Qualified Contract:  A Contract used in connection with a retirement plan which
receives favorable federal income tax treatment under Sections 401, 403 or 408
of the Code.
 
Series Fund:  MFS/Sun Life Series Trust.
 
Seven Year Anniversary:  The seventh Contract Anniversary and each succeeding
Contract Anniversary occurring at any seven year interval thereafter, for
example, the 14th, 21st and 28th Contract Anniversaries.
 
Sub-Account:  That portion of the Variable Account which invests in shares of a
particular series or sub-series of the Series Fund.
 
Valuation Period:  The period of time from one determination of Accumulation
Unit and Annuity Unit values to the next subsequent determination of these
values.
 
Variable Annuity:  An annuity with payments which vary as to dollar amount in
relation to the investment performance of specified Sub- Accounts of the
Variable Account.
 
                                    SYNOPSIS
 
    Purchase Payments are allocated to Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account or
to the Fixed Account or to both Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account as selected
by the Owner. Purchase Payments must total at least $300 for the first Contract
Year and each Purchase Payment must be at least $25 (see "Purchase Payments" on
page 8). Subject to certain conditions, during the accumulation period the Owner
may, without charge, transfer amounts among the Sub-Accounts and between the
Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account (see "Transfers/Conversions of Accumulation
Units" on page 9).
 
    No sales charge is deducted from Purchase Payments; however, if any portion
of a Contract's Accumulation Account is surrendered, the Company will, with
certain exceptions, deduct a withdrawal charge (i.e., a contingent deferred
sales charge) ranging from 6% to 0% to cover certain expenses relating to the
sale of the Contracts. A portion of the Accumulation Account may be withdrawn
each year without the assessment of a withdrawal charge, and after a Purchase
Payment has been held by the Company for seven years it may be withdrawn without
charge. Also, no withdrawal charge is assessed upon annuitization or upon the
transfers/ conversions described above (see "Cash Withdrawals" and "Withdrawal
Charges" on pages 9 and 12, respectively).
 
    Special restrictions on withdrawals apply to Contracts used with
Tax-Sheltered Annuities established pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Code (see
"Section 403(b) Annuities" on page 10).
 
    In addition, under certain circumstances withdrawals may result in tax
penalties (see "Federal Tax Status" on page 18).
 
    In the event of the death of the Annuitant prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Company will pay a death benefit to the Beneficiary. If the death of
the Annuitant occurs on or after the Annuity Commencement Date, no death benefit
will be payable under the Contract except as may be provided under the annuity
option elected (see "Death Benefit" on page 11).
 
    On each Contract Anniversary and on surrender of the Contract for full
value, the Company will deduct a contract maintenance charge of $30 from the
Accumulation Account to reimburse it for administrative expenses related to the
issuance and maintenance of the Contracts. After the Annuity Commencement Date
the charge will be deducted pro rata from each annuity payment made during the
year (see "Contract Maintenance Charge" on page 11).
 
    The Company also deducts a mortality and expense risk charge at the end of
each Valuation Period equal to an annual rate of 1.25% of the daily net assets
of the Variable Account for mortality and expense risks assumed by the Company.
In addition, for the first seven Contract Years the Company deducts a
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
distribution expense charge at the end of each Valuation Period equal to an
annual rate of 0.15% of the daily net assets of the Variable Account
attributable to the Contracts. There is no deduction for the distribution
expense charge after the seventh Contract Anniversary (see "Mortality and
Expense Risk Charge and Distribution Expense Charge" on page 12).
 
    Premium taxes payable to any governmental entity will be charged against the
Contracts (see "Premium Taxes" on page 13).
 
    Annuity payments will begin on the Annuity Commencement Date. The Owner
selects the Annuity Commencement Date, frequency of payments, and the annuity
option (see "Annuity Provisions" on page 14).
 
    If the Owner is not satisfied with the Contract it may be returned to the
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address within ten days after it was
delivered to the Owner. When the Company receives the returned Contract it will
be cancelled and the value of the Contract's Accumulation Account at the end of
the Valuation Period during which the Contract was received by the Company will
be refunded to the Owner.
 
                                EXPENSE SUMMARY
 
    The purpose of the following table and Examples is to help Owners and
prospective purchasers of the Contracts to understand the costs and expenses
that are borne, directly and indirectly, by Owners. The table reflects expenses
of the Variable Account attributable to the Contracts as well as of the Series
Fund. The information set forth should be considered together with the narrative
provided under the heading "Contract Charges" in this Prospectus, and with the
Series Fund's prospectus. In addition to the expenses listed below, premium
taxes may be applicable if the Owner is other than a New York State resident.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  MONEY     HIGH        CAPITAL      GOVERNMENT       WORLD        TOTAL    MANAGED
                                                 MARKET     YIELD    APPRECIATION    SECURITIES    GOVERNMENTS    RETURN    SECTORS
OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES                       SERIES    SERIES       SERIES         SERIES         SERIES      SERIES     SERIES
- -----------------------------------------------  -------   -------   -------------   -----------   ------------   -------   --------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>       <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>       <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases................    $0        $0           $0             $0            $0           $0        $0
Deferred Sales Load (as a percentage of
  Purchase Payments withdrawn) (1)
  Number of Complete Contract Years Payment in
    Accumulation Account
    0-1........................................     6%        6%           6%             6%            6%           6%        6%
    2-3........................................     5%        5%           5%             5%            5%           5%        5%
    4-5........................................     4%        4%           4%             4%            4%           4%        4%
    6..........................................     3%        3%           3%             3%            3%           3%        3%
    7 or more..................................     0%        0%           0%             0%            0%           0%        0%
Exchange Fee...................................    $0        $0           $0             $0            $0           $0        $0
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE                                                 $30 per Contract
- ---------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>      <C>      <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>      <C>
SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of average Separate Account assets)
Mortality and Expense Risk Fees....................     1.25%    1.25%       1.25%         1.25%         1.25%      1.25%     1.25%
Distribution Expense Charge (2)....................     0.15%    0.15%       0.15%         0.15%         0.15%      0.15%     0.15%
Other Account Fees and Expenses....................     0.00%    0.00%       0.00%         0.00%         0.00%      0.00%     0.00%
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses.............     1.40%    1.40%       1.40%         1.40%         1.40%      1.40%     1.40%
 
SERIES FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of Series Fund average net assets)
Management Fees....................................     0.50%    0.75%       0.73%         0.55%         0.75%      0.66%     0.74%
Other Expenses.....................................     0.07%    0.09%       0.05%         0.08%         0.16%      0.05%     0.08%
Total Series Fund Annual Expenses..................     0.57%    0.84%       0.78%         0.63%         0.91%      0.71%     0.82%
<FN>
- ------------------------------
(1)  A portion of the Accumulation Account value may be withdrawn each year
     without imposition of any withdrawal charge, and after a Purchase Payment
     has been held by the Company for seven years it may be withdrawn free of
     any withdrawal charge.
 
(2)  The Distribution Expense Charge is imposed only during the first seven
     Contract Years. This charge may be deemed a deferred sales charge.
</TABLE>
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                    EXAMPLES
 
    If you surrender your Contract at the end of the applicable time period, you
would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual
return on assets:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                                                                            ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                                                                         <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
Money Market Series.......................................................................   $74      $107      $142       $224
High Yield Series.........................................................................    77       115       156        252
Capital Appreciation Series...............................................................    76       113       153        246
Government Securities Series..............................................................    75       109       145        230
World Governments Series..................................................................    77       117       160        259
Total Return Series.......................................................................    75       111       149        239
Managed Sectors Series....................................................................    77       114       155        250
</TABLE>
 
If you do NOT surrender your Contract, or if you annuitize at the end of the
applicable time period, you would pay the following expenses on a $1,000
investment, assuming a 5% annual return on assets:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                                                                            ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                                                                         <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
Money Market Series.......................................................................   $20       $62      $106       $224
High Yield Series.........................................................................    23        70       120        252
Capital Appreciation Series...............................................................    22        68       117        246
Government Securities Series..............................................................    21        64       109        230
World Governments Series..................................................................    23        72       124        259
Total Return Series.......................................................................    21        66       113        239
Managed Sectors Series....................................................................    23        69       119        250
</TABLE>
 
    THE EXAMPLES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TO BE REPRESENTATIONS OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES, AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
 
           CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION--ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES
 
    The following information should be read in conjunction with the Variable
Account's financial statements appearing in the Statement of Additional
Information, all of which has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
certified public accountants.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             PERIOD ENDED         YEAR ENDED          YEAR ENDED
                                                                             DECEMBER 31,        DECEMBER 31,        DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                1993*                1994                1995
                                                                          ------------------   -----------------   -----------------
<S>                                                                       <C>                  <C>                 <C>
CAPITAL APPRECIATION SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                        $10.0000            $10.3891            $ 9.8771
    End of Period                                                              $10.3891            $ 9.8771            $13.0981
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                                17,574             135,042             184,876
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                        $10.0000            $10.0022            $ 9.6514
    End of Period                                                              $10.0022            $ 9.6514            $11.1980
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                                 7,140              32,725              39,286
HIGH YIELD SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                        $10.0000            $10.4094            $10.0368
    End of Period                                                              $10.4094            $10.0368            $11.5849
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                                 2,726              37,197              43,963
MANAGED SECTORS SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                        $10.0000            $ 9.5946            $ 9.2925
    End of Period                                                              $ 9.5946            $ 9.2925            $12.1391
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                                 1,619              28,752              53,846
MONEY MARKET SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                        $10.0000            $10.0435            $10.2716
    End of Period                                                              $10.0435            $10.2716            $10.6823
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                                 5,787              33,901              44,348
TOTAL RETURN SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                        $10.0000            $ 9.9794            $ 9.6190
    End of Period                                                              $ 9.9794            $ 9.6190            $12.0270
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                                30,589             154,543             185,716
WORLD GOVERNMENTS SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                        $10.0000            $10.1398            $ 9.5512
    End of Period                                                              $10.1398            $ 9.5512            $10.8976
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                                 6,287              43,259              46,895
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                             YEAR ENDED          YEAR ENDED
                                                                            DECEMBER 31,        DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                1996                1997
                                                                          -----------------   -----------------
<S>                                                                       <C>                 <C>
CAPITAL APPRECIATION SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                       $13.0981            $15.6920
    End of Period                                                             $15.6920            $19.0541
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                              231,231             291,968
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                       $11.1980            $11.2212
    End of Period                                                             $11.2212            $12.0343
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                               58,052              55,194
HIGH YIELD SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                       $11.5849            $12.8082
    End of Period                                                             $12.8082            $14.3002
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                               58,945              60,217
MANAGED SECTORS SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                       $12.1391            $14.0980
    End of Period                                                             $14.0980            $17.4931
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                               82,578             100,687
MONEY MARKET SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                       $10.6823            $11.0530
    End of Period                                                             $11.0530            $11.4533
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                               83,267              47,433
TOTAL RETURN SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                       $12.0270            $13.5283
    End of Period                                                             $13.5283            $16.2726
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                              255,284             281,915
WORLD GOVERNMENTS SERIES
  Unit Value
    Beginning of Period                                                       $10.8976            $11.2477
    End of Period                                                             $11.2477            $11.0071
  Units Outstanding End of Period                                               47,922              42,551
 
<FN>
 
* From March 1, 1993 (date of commencement of sales of the Contracts).
</TABLE>
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                                PERFORMANCE DATA
 
    From time to time the Variable Account may publish reports to shareholders,
sales literature and advertisements containing performance data relating to the
Sub-Accounts. Performance data will consist of total return quotations which
will always include quotations for the period subsequent to the date each Sub-
Account became available for investment under the Contracts, and for recent one
year and, when applicable, five and ten year periods. Such quotations for such
periods will be the average annual rates of return required for an initial
Purchase Payment of $1,000 to equal the actual variable accumulation value
attributable to such Purchase Payment on the last day of the period, after
reflection of all applicable withdrawal and Contract charges. In addition, the
Variable Account may calculate non-standardized rates of return that do not
reflect withdrawal and Contract charges. Results calculated without withdrawal
and/or Contract charges will be higher. Performance figures used by the Variable
Account are based on the actual historical performance of the Series Fund for
specified periods, and the figures are not intended to indicate future
performance. The Variable Account may also from time to time compare its
investment performance to various unmanaged indices or other variable annuities
and may refer to certain rating and other organizations in its marketing
materials. More detailed information on the computations is set forth in the
Statement of Additional Information.
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    Financial Statements of the Variable Account and the Company are included in
the Statement of Additional Information.
 
       A WORD ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT AND THE SERIES FUND
 
THE COMPANY
 
    Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York (the "Company") is a
stock life insurance company incorporated under the laws of New York on May 25,
1983. Its Home Office is located at 80 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004.
 
    The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.) ("Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)"), a stock life insurance company
incorporated in Delaware and having its Executive Office at One Sun Life
Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181. Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)
is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada,
150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a mutual life insurance company
incorporated in Canada in 1865.
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    Sun Life (N.Y.) Variable Account B (the "Variable Account") was established
as a separate account of the Company on December 3, 1984 pursuant to a
resolution of the Company's Board of Directors. The Variable Account meets the
definition of a separate account under the federal securities laws and is
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a unit investment
trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under New York insurance law,
and under the Contracts, the income, gains or losses of the Variable Account are
credited to or charged against the assets of the Variable Account without regard
to the other income, gains or losses of the Company. Although the assets
maintained in the Variable Account will not be charged with any liabilities
arising out of any other business conducted by the Company, all obligations
arising under the Contracts, including the promise to make annuity payments, are
general corporate obligations of the Company.
 
    The assets of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each
Sub-Account invests exclusively in shares of a specific series of the Series
Fund described below.
 
    In addition to the Contracts offered by this Prospectus, the Company issues
other variable annuity contracts participating in the Variable Account.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
THE SERIES FUND
 
    All amounts allocated to the Variable Account will be used to purchase, at
their net asset value, shares of MFS/Sun Life Series Trust (the "Series Fund")
as designated by the Owner. Any and all distributions made by the Series Fund
with respect to the shares held by the Variable Account will be reinvested to
purchase additional shares at their net asset value. Deductions from the
Variable Account for cash withdrawals, annuity payments, death benefits,
administrative charges, Contract charges against the assets of the Variable
Account for the assumption of mortality and expense risks and distribution
expenses and any applicable taxes will, in effect, be made by redeeming the
number of Series Fund shares, at their net asset value, equal in total value to
the amount to be deducted. The Variable Account will be fully invested in Series
Fund shares at all times.
 
    Shares of the Series Fund are available exclusively to separate accounts
established by the Company and Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) to fund benefits under
variable life insurance and variable annuity products. Certain risks involved in
funding benefits under both life insurance and annuity contracts are discussed
in the Series Fund prospectus under the caption "Management of the Series Fund."
The Series Fund is composed of twenty-six independent portfolios of securities,
each of which has separate investment objectives and policies. Shares of the
Series Fund are issued in twenty-six series, each corresponding to one of the
portfolios; however the Contracts provide for investment only in shares of the
seven series of the Series Fund described below. Massachusetts Financial
Services Company, an affiliate of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.), is the Series
Fund's investment adviser. The investment objectives of each of the seven
available series of the Series Fund are summarized below. More detailed
information may be found in the current prospectus of the Series Fund and the
Series Fund's Statement of Additional Information. A prospectus for the Series
Fund must accompany this Prospectus and should be read in conjunction herewith.
 
    (1) MONEY MARKET SERIES ("MMS") will seek maximum current income to the
extent consistent with stability of principal by investing exclusively in money
market instruments maturing in less than 13 months. An investment in this series
is neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government. There can be no
assurance that this series will be able to maintain a stable net asset value of
$1.00 per share.
 
    (2) HIGH YIELD SERIES ("HYS") will seek high current income and capital
appreciation by investing primarily in fixed income securities of U.S. and
foreign issuers which may be in the lower rated categories or unrated (commonly
known as "junk bonds") and which may include equity features. The series may
invest up to 100% of its net assets in these securities, which generally involve
greater risks, including volatility of price, risk to principal and income,
default risks, and less liquidity, than securities in the higher rated
categories. Any person contemplating allocating Purchase Payments to the
Sub-Account investing in shares of the High Yield Series should review the risk
disclosure in the Series Fund prospectus carefully and consider the investment
risks involved.
 
    (3) CAPITAL APPRECIATION SERIES ("CAS") will seek capital appreciation by
investing in securities of all types, with a major emphasis on common stocks.
 
    (4) GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES ("GSS") will seek current income and
preservation of capital by investing in U.S. Government and U.S.
Government-related Securities.
 
    (5) WORLD GOVERNMENTS SERIES ("WGS") will seek moderate current income and
preservation and growth of capital by investing in a portfolio of U.S. and
Foreign Government Securities.
 
    (6) TOTAL RETURN SERIES ("TRS") will seek primarily to obtain above-average
income (compared to a portfolio entirely invested in equity securities)
consistent with prudent employment of capital. Its secondary objective is to
take advantage of opportunities for growth of capital and income. Assets will be
allocated and reallocated from time to time between money market, fixed income
and equity securities. Under normal market conditions, at least 25% of the Total
Return Series' assets will be invested in fixed income securities and at least
40% and no more than 75% of its assets will be invested in equity securities.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
    (7) MANAGED SECTORS SERIES ("MSS") will seek capital appreciation by varying
the weighting of its portfolio of common stocks among certain industry sectors.
Dividend income, if any, is incidental to its objective of capital appreciation.
 
                     PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND CONTRACT VALUES
                           DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD
 
PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
    All Purchase Payments are to be paid to the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing Address. Purchase Payments may be made annually, semi-annually,
quarterly, monthly, or on any other frequency acceptable to the Company. Unless
the Contract has been surrendered, Purchase Payments may be made at any time
during the life of the Annuitant and before the Annuity Commencement Date. The
amount of Purchase Payments may vary; however, Purchase Payments must total at
least $300 for the first Contract Year, and each Purchase Payment must be at
least $25. In addition, the prior approval of the Company is required before it
will accept a Purchase Payment which would cause the value of a Contract's
Accumulation Account to exceed $1,000,000. If the value of a Contract's
Accumulation Account exceeds $1,000,000, no additional Purchase Payments will be
accepted without prior approval.
 
    An applicant's completed application forms, together with the initial
Purchase Payment, are forwarded to the Company. Upon acceptance, the Contract is
issued to the Owner and the initial Purchase Payment is credited to the Contract
in the form of Accumulation Units. The initial Purchase Payment must be applied
within two business days of receipt of a completed application. The Company may
retain the Purchase Payment for up to five business days while attempting to
complete an incomplete application. If the application cannot be made complete
within five business days, the applicant will be informed of the reasons for the
delay and the Purchase Payment will be returned immediately unless the applicant
specifically consents to the Company's retaining the Purchase Payment until the
application is made complete. Thereafter, the Purchase Payment must be applied
within two business days. All subsequent Purchase Payments will be applied using
the Accumulation Unit values for the Valuation Period during which the Purchase
Payment is received by the Company.
 
    The Company will establish an Accumulation Account for each Contract. The
Contract's Accumulation Account value for any Valuation Period is equal to the
variable accumulation value, if any, plus the fixed accumulation value, if any,
for that Valuation Period. The variable accumulation value is equal to the sum
of the value of all Variable Accumulation Units credited to the Contract's
Accumulation Account.
 
    Each net Purchase Payment will be allocated to either the Fixed Account (see
Appendix A to the Statement of Additional Information for a description of the
Fixed Account) or to Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account or to both
Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account in accordance with the allocation factors
specified by the Owner in the application or as subsequently changed. Upon
receipt of a Purchase Payment, all or that portion, if any, of the net Purchase
Payment to be allocated to the Sub-Accounts will be credited to the Accumulation
Account in the form of Variable Accumulation Units. The number of particular
Variable Accumulation Units to be credited is determined by dividing the dollar
amount allocated to the particular Sub-Account by the Variable Accumulation Unit
value for the particular Sub-Account for the Valuation Period during which the
Purchase Payment is received.
 
    The Variable Accumulation Unit value for each Sub-Account was established at
$10.00 for the first Valuation Period of the particular Sub-Account. The
Variable Accumulation Unit value for any subsequent Valuation Period is
determined by methodology which is the mathematical equivalent of multiplying
the Variable Accumulation Unit value for the immediately preceding Valuation
Period by the appropriate Net Investment Factor for such subsequent Valuation
Period. The Variable Accumulation Unit value for each Sub-Account for any
Valuation Period is determined at the end of the particular Valuation Period and
may increase, decrease or remain constant from Valuation Period to Valuation
Period, depending upon the investment performance of the series of the Series
Fund in which the Sub-Account is invested, and the expenses and charges deducted
from the Variable Account.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR
 
    The Net Investment Factor is an index applied to measure the investment
performance of a Sub-Account from one Valuation Period to the next. The Net
Investment Factor may be greater or less than or equal to one; therefore, the
value of a Variable Accumulation Unit may increase, decrease or remain the same.
 
    The Net Investment Factor for any Sub-Account for any Valuation Period is
determined by dividing (a) by (b) and then subtracting (c) from the result
where:
 
        (a) is the net result of:
 
            (1) the net asset value of a Series Fund share held in the
                Sub-Account determined as of the end of the Valuation Period,
                plus
 
            (2) the per share amount of any dividend or other distribution
                declared on the Series Fund shares held in the Sub-Account if
                the "ex dividend" date occurs during the Valuation Period, plus
                or minus
 
            (3) a per share credit or charge with respect to any taxes paid, or
                reserved for by the Company during the Valuation Period which
                are determined by the Company to be attributable to the
                operation of the Sub-Account (no federal income taxes are
                applicable under present law);
 
        (b) is the net asset value of a Series Fund share held in the
            Sub-Account determined as of the end of the preceding Valuation
            Period; and
 
        (c) is the risk charge factor determined by the Company for the
            Valuation Period to reflect the charge for assuming the mortality
            and expense risks and distribution expense risk.
 
TRANSFERS/CONVERSIONS OF ACCUMULATION UNITS
 
    During the accumulation period the Owner may convert the value of a
designated number of Fixed Accumulation Units then credited to a Contract's
Accumulation Account into Variable Accumulation Units of particular Sub-Accounts
having an equal aggregate value, or may convert the value of a designated number
of Variable Accumulation Units into other Variable Accumulation Units and/or
Fixed Accumulation Units having an equal aggregate value. These
transfers/conversions are subject to the following conditions: (1) conversions
involving Fixed Accumulation Units may be made only during the 45 day period
before and the 45 day period after each Contract Anniversary; (2) not more than
12 conversions may be made in any Contract Year; and (3) the value of
Accumulation Units converted may not be less than $1,000 unless all of the Fixed
Accumulation Units or all of the Variable Accumulation Units of a particular
Sub-Account credited to the Accumulation Account are being converted. In
addition, these transfers/conversions shall be subject to such terms and
conditions as may be imposed by the Series Fund. The conversion will be made
using the Accumulation Unit values for the Valuation Period during which the
request for conversion is received by the Company.
 
                                CASH WITHDRAWALS
 
    At any time before the Annuity Commencement Date and during the lifetime of
the Annuitant, the Owner may elect to receive a cash withdrawal payment from the
Company. Any such election shall specify the amount of the withdrawal and will
be effective on the date that it is received by the Company. The withdrawal will
result in the cancellation of Accumulation Units with an aggregate value equal
to the dollar amount of the cash withdrawal payment plus, if applicable, the
contract maintenance charge and any withdrawal charge. Unless instructed to the
contrary, the Company will cancel Fixed Accumulation Units and Variable
Accumulation Units of the particular Sub-Accounts on a pro rata basis reflecting
the existing composition of the Contract's Accumulation Account. If a partial
withdrawal is requested which would leave an Accumulation Account value of less
than the contract maintenance charge, then such partial withdrawal will be
treated as a full surrender.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    Under certain conditions, the Company will assess a withdrawal charge if a
cash withdrawal payment is made. The amount of any withdrawal charge and the
conditions under which the charge will apply are discussed under "Withdrawal
Charges".
 
    Any cash withdrawal payment will be paid within seven days from the date the
election becomes effective, except as the Company may be permitted to defer such
payment in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940. Deferment is
currently permissible only (1) for any period (a) during which the New York
Stock Exchange is closed other than customary week-end and holiday closings, or
(b) during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted as
determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, (2) for any period during
which an emergency exists as a result of which (a) disposal of securities held
by the Series Fund is not reasonably practicable, or (b) it is not reasonably
practicable to determine the value of the net assets of the Series Fund, or (3)
for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission may by order
permit for the protection of security holders.
 
    Special restrictions on withdrawals apply to certain Qualified Contracts,
including Contracts used with Tax-Sheltered Annuities established pursuant to
Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 403(b) Annuities"), as
discussed below.
 
    Reference should be made to the terms of the particular retirement plan for
which Qualified Contracts are issued for any limitations or restrictions on cash
withdrawals. A cash withdrawal under either a Qualified Contract or a
Non-Qualified Contract also may result in the imposition of a tax penalty (see
"Federal Tax Status").
 
SECTION 403(B) ANNUITIES
 
    The Internal Revenue Code imposes restrictions on cash withdrawals from
Contracts used with Section 403(b) Annuities. In order for the Contract to
receive tax deferred treatment, the Contract must provide that cash withdrawals
of amounts attributable to salary reduction contributions (other than
withdrawals of Accumulation Account value as of December 31, 1988 ("Pre-1989
Account Value")) may be made only when the Owner attains age 59 1/2, separates
from service with the employer, dies or becomes disabled (within the meaning of
Section 72(m)(7) of the Code). These restrictions apply to any growth or
interest on or after January 1, 1989 on Pre-1989 Account Value, salary reduction
contributions made on or after January 1, 1989, and any growth or interest on
such contributions ("Restricted Account Value").
 
    Withdrawals of Restricted Account Value are also permitted in cases of
financial hardship, but only to the extent of contributions; earnings on
contributions cannot be withdrawn for hardship reasons. While specific rules
defining hardship have not been issued by the Internal Revenue Service, it is
expected that to qualify for a hardship distribution, the Owner must have an
immediate and heavy bona fide financial need and lack other resources reasonably
available to satisfy the need. Hardship withdrawals (as well as certain other
premature withdrawals) will be subject to a 10% tax penalty, in addition to any
withdrawal charge applicable under the Contract (see "Federal Tax Status").
Under certain circumstances, the 10% tax penalty will not apply to withdrawals
to pay medical expenses.
 
    Under the terms of a particular Section 403(b) plan, the Owner may be
entitled to transfer all or a portion of the Accumulation Account value to one
or more alternative funding options. Owners should consult the documents
governing their plan and the person who administers such plan for information as
to such investment alternatives.
 
    For information on the federal income tax withholding rules that apply to
distributions from Qualified Contracts (including Section 403(b) annuities) see
"Federal Tax Status."
 
                                 DEATH BENEFIT
 
    In the event of the death of the Annuitant prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Company will pay a death benefit to the Beneficiary. If the death of
the Annuitant occurs on or after the Annuity Commencement Date, no death benefit
will be payable under the Contract except as may be provided under the annuity
option elected.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    During the lifetime of the Annuitant and prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Owner may elect to have the value of the Accumulation Account applied
under one or more annuity options to effect a Variable Annuity or a Fixed
Annuity or a combination of both for the Beneficiary as Payee after the death of
the Annuitant. If no election of a method of settlement of the death benefit by
the Owner is in effect on the date of death of the Annuitant, the Beneficiary
may elect (a) to receive the death benefit in the form of a cash payment; or (b)
to have the value of the Accumulation Account applied under one or more of the
annuity options (on the Annuity Commencement Date described under "Payment of
Death Benefit") to effect a Variable Annuity or a Fixed Annuity or a combination
of both for the Beneficiary as Payee. Any election of a method of settlement of
the death benefit by the Beneficiary will become effective on the later of: (a)
the date the election is received by the Company; or (b) the date Due Proof of
Death of the Annuitant is received by the Company. If an election by the
Beneficiary is not received by the Company within 60 days following the date Due
Proof of Death of the Annuitant is received by the Company, the Beneficiary will
be deemed to have elected a cash payment as of the last day of the 60 day
period.
 
    In all cases, no Owner or Beneficiary shall be entitled to exercise any
rights that would adversely affect the treatment of the Contract as an annuity
contract under the Code (see "Other Contractual Provisions-- Death of Owner").
 
PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT
 
    If the death benefit is to be paid in cash to the Beneficiary, payment will
be made within seven days of the date the election becomes effective or is
deemed to become effective, except as the Company may be permitted to defer such
payment in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 under the
circumstances described in this Prospectus under "Cash Withdrawals." If the
death benefit is to be paid in one lump sum to the Owner, or to the estate of
the deceased Owner/Annuitant, payment will be made within seven days of the date
Due Proof of Death of the Annuitant, the Owner and/or the Beneficiary is
received. If settlement under one or more of the annuity options is elected the
Annuity Commencement Date will be the first day of the second calendar month
following the effective date or the deemed effective date of the election, and
the Contract's Accumulation Account will be maintained in effect until the
Annuity Commencement Date.
 
AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT
 
    The death benefit is equal to the greatest of: (1) the value of the
Contract's Accumulation Account; (2) the total Purchase Payments made under the
Contract reduced by all withdrawals; or (3) the value of the Contract's
Accumulation Account on the Seven Year Anniversary immediately preceding the
date of death of the Annuitant, adjusted for any Purchase Payments or cash
withdrawal payments made and Contract charges assessed subsequent to such Seven
Year Anniversary. The Accumulation Unit values used in determining the amount of
the death benefit under (1) above will be the values for the Valuation Period
during which Due Proof of Death of the Annuitant is received by the Company if
settlement is elected by the Owner under one or more of the annuity options or,
if no election by the Owner is in effect, either the values for the Valuation
Period during which an election by the Beneficiary is effective or the values
for the Valuation Period during which Due Proof of Death of both the Annuitant
and the designated Beneficiary is received by the Company if the amount of the
death benefit is to be paid in one sum to the deceased Owner/Annuitant's estate.
 
                                CONTRACT CHARGES
 
    Contract charges may be assessed under the Contracts as follows:
 
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE
 
    On each Contract Anniversary and on surrender of the Contract for full value
on other than the Contract Anniversary, the Company deducts from the
Accumulation Account a contract maintenance charge of $30 to reimburse it for
administrative expenses relating to the issuance and maintenance of the
Contract. The contract maintenance charge will be deducted in equal amounts from
the Fixed Account and each Sub-Account in which the Owner has Accumulation Units
at the time of such deduction. On the Annuity Commencement Date the value of the
Contract's Accumulation Account will be reduced by a proportionate
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
amount of the contract maintenance charge to reflect the time elapsed between
the last Contract Anniversary and the day before the Annuity Commencement Date.
After the Annuity Commencement Date, the contract maintenance charge will be
deducted pro rata from each annuity payment made during the year.
 
    The amount of the contract maintenance charge may not be increased by the
Company. The Company reserves the right to reduce the amount of the contract
maintenance charge for groups of participants with individual Contracts under an
employer's retirement program in situations in which the size of the group and
established administrative efficiencies contribute to a reduction in
administrative expenses.
 
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE AND DISTRIBUTION EXPENSE CHARGE
 
    The mortality and expense risks assumed by the Company are the risks that
Annuitants may live for a longer period of time than estimated by the Company in
establishing the guaranteed annuity rates incorporated into the Contract and the
risk that administrative charges assessed under the Contracts may be
insufficient to cover actual administrative expenses incurred by the Company.
 
    For assuming these risks, the Company makes a deduction from the Variable
Account at the end of each Valuation Period during both the accumulation period
and after annuity payments begin at an effective annual rate of 1.25%. The rate
of this deduction may be changed annually but in no event will it exceed 1.25%
on an annual basis. If the deduction is insufficient to cover the actual cost of
the mortality and expense risk undertaking, the Company will bear the loss.
Conversely, if the deduction proves more than sufficient, the excess would be
profit to the Company and would be available for any proper corporate purpose
including, among other things, payment of distribution expenses. If the
withdrawal charges and distribution expense charges described below prove
insufficient to cover expenses associated with the distribution of the
Contracts, the deficiency will be met from the Company's general corporate
funds, which may include amounts derived from the mortality and expense risk
charges. For the year ended December 31, 1997 mortality and expense risk charges
imposed under the Contracts and other contracts participating in the Variable
Account and the distribution expense charges described below were the only
expenses of the Variable Account.
 
    The Company assumes the risk that withdrawal charges assessed under the
Contracts may be insufficient to compensate the Company for the costs of
distributing the Contracts. For assuming such risk the Company makes a deduction
from the Variable Account with respect to the Contracts at the end of each
Valuation Period for the first seven Contract Years (during both the
accumulation period and, if applicable, after annuity payments begin) at an
effective annual rate of 0.15% of the assets of the Variable Account
attributable to the Contracts. No deduction is made after the seventh Contract
Anniversary. If the distribution expense charge is insufficient to cover the
actual risk assumed, the Company will bear the loss; however, if the charge is
more than sufficient, any excess will be profit to the Company and would be
available for any proper corporate purpose. In no event will the distribution
expense charges and any withdrawal charges assessed under a Contract exceed 9%
of the Purchase Payments.
 
WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
 
    No sales charges are deducted from Purchase Payments. However, a withdrawal
charge (i.e., a contingent deferred sales charge), when applicable, will be
assessed to reimburse the Company for certain expenses relating to the
distribution of the Contracts, including commissions, costs of preparation of
sales literature and other promotional costs and acquisition expenses.
 
    A portion of the Accumulation Account value may be withdrawn each year
without imposition of any withdrawal charge, and after a Purchase Payment has
been held by the Company for seven years it may be withdrawn free of any
withdrawal charge. In addition, no withdrawal charge is assessed upon
annuitization or upon the transfer of Accumulation Account values among the
Sub-Accounts or between the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account.
 
    The withdrawal charge is not assessed with respect to a Contract established
for the personal account of an employee of the Company or of any of its
affiliates, or of a licensed insurance agent engaged in distributing the
Contracts.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    All other full or partial withdrawals are subject to a withdrawal charge
which will be applied as follows:
 
    (1) Old Payments, new Payments and accumulated value: With respect to a
particular Contract Year, "new Payments" are those Payments made in that
Contract Year or in the six immediately preceding Contract Years; "old Payments"
are those Payments not defined as new Payments; and "accumulated value" is the
value of the Accumulation Account minus the sum of both old and new Payments.
 
    (2) Order of liquidation: To effect a full surrender or partial withdrawal,
the oldest previously unliquidated Payment will be deemed to have been
liquidated first, then the next oldest, and so forth. Once all old and new
Payments have been withdrawn, additional amounts withdrawn will be attributed to
accumulated value.
 
    (3) Maximum free withdrawal amount: The maximum amount that can be withdrawn
in a Contract Year without a withdrawal charge is equal to the sum of (a) any
old Payments not already liquidated, and (b) 10% of any new Payments,
irrespective of whether these new Payments have been liquidated.
 
    (4) Amount subject to withdrawal charge: The amount subject to the
withdrawal charge will be the excess, if any, of (a) amounts liquidated from old
and new Payments over (b) the remaining maximum free withdrawal amount at the
time of the withdrawal.
 
    The withdrawal charge percentage varies according to the number of complete
Contract Years between the Contract Year in which a Purchase Payment was
credited to a Contract's Accumulation Account and the Contract Year in which it
was withdrawn, in accordance with the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    NUMBER OF COMPLETE                 WITHDRAWAL CHARGE
                      CONTRACT YEARS                      PERCENTAGE
                 -----------------------               -----------------
      <S>                                              <C>
      0-1...........................................           6%
      2-3...........................................           5%
      4-5...........................................           4%
      6.............................................           3%
      7 or more.....................................           0%
</TABLE>
 
    In no event shall the aggregate withdrawal charges (including the
distribution expense charge described above) assessed against a Contract exceed
9% of the aggregate Purchase Payments made under the Contract. (See Appendix C
in the Statement of Additional Information for examples of withdrawals and
withdrawal charges.)
 
PREMIUM TAXES
 
    A deduction, when applicable, is made for premium taxes or similar state or
local taxes. Currently, no premium taxes are applicable in the State of New
York; however, if an Owner or Payee is other than a New York State resident, a
premium tax ranging from 0% to 3.5% may be assessed, depending on the state of
residence. It is currently the Company's policy to deduct the tax from the
amount applied to provide an annuity at the time annuity payments commence.
However, the Company reserves the right to deduct such taxes on or after the
date they are incurred.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
CHARGES OF THE SERIES FUND
 
    The Variable Account purchases shares of the Series Fund at net asset value.
The net asset value of these shares reflects investment management fees and
expenses (including, but not limited to, compensation of trustees, governmental
expenses, interest charges, taxes, fees of auditors, legal counsel, transfer
agent and custodian, transactional expenses and brokerage commissions) already
deducted from the assets of the Series Fund. These fees and expenses are more
fully described in the Series Fund's prospectus and the Statement of Additional
Information.
 
                               ANNUITY PROVISIONS
 
ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE
 
    Annuity payments under a Contract will begin on the Annuity Commencement
Date selected by the Owner at the time the Contract is applied for. This date
may be changed by the Owner as provided in the Contract; however the new Annuity
Commencement Date must be at least 30 days after the effective date of the
change, the first day of a month and not later than the first day of the first
month following the Annuitant's 85th birthday, unless, in the case of a
Qualified Contract, otherwise limited or restricted by the particular retirement
plan or by applicable law. In most situations, current law requires that the
Annuity Commencement Date under a Qualified Contract be no later than April 1
following the year the Annuitant reaches age 70 1/2 (or, for Qualified Contracts
other than IRAs, no later than April 1 following the year the Annuitant retires,
if later than the year the Annuitant reaches age 70 1/2), and the terms of the
particular retirement plan may impose additional limitations. The Annuity
Commencement Date may also be changed by an election of an annuity option as
described under "Death Benefit."
 
    On the Annuity Commencement Date the Contract's Accumulation Account will be
cancelled and its adjusted value will be applied to provide an annuity. The
adjusted value will be equal to the value of the Accumulation Account for the
Valuation Period which ends immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date,
reduced by any applicable premium or similar taxes and a proportionate amount of
the contract maintenance charge (see "Contract Maintenance Charge"). NO CASH
WITHDRAWALS WILL BE PERMITTED AFTER THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE EXCEPT AS MAY
BE AVAILABLE UNDER THE ANNUITY OPTION ELECTED.
 
    Since the Contracts offered by this Prospectus may be issued in connection
with retirement plans which meet the requirements of Sections 401, 403 or 408 of
the Internal Revenue Code, as well as certain non-qualified plans, reference
should be made to the terms of the particular plan for any limitations or
restrictions on the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
ANNUITY OPTIONS
 
    Unless restricted by the particular retirement plan or any applicable
legislation, during the lifetime of the Annuitant and prior to the Annuity
Commencement Date the Owner may elect one or more of the annuity options
described below or such other settlement option as may be agreed to by the
Company for the Annuitant as Payee. Annuity options may also be elected by the
Owner or the Beneficiary as provided under "Death Benefit." The Owner may not
change any election after 30 days prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, and no
change of annuity option is permitted after the Annuity Commencement Date. If no
election is in effect on the 30th day prior to the Annuity Commencement Date,
Annuity Option B, for a Life Annuity with 120 monthly payments certain, will be
deemed to have been elected. If more than one person is named as "Annuitant" due
to the designation of a co-annuitant, the adjusted value of the Accumulation
Account will be applied under Annuity Option C, with the survivor benefit to be
calculated in accordance with such option using fifty percent (50%).
 
    Any election may specify the proportion of the adjusted value of the
Contract's Accumulation Account to be applied to the Fixed Account and the
Sub-Accounts. In the event the election does not so specify, then the portion of
the adjusted value of the Accumulation Account to be applied to the Fixed
Account and the Sub-Accounts will be determined on a pro rata basis from the
composition of the Accumulation Account on the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
    Annuity Options A, B and C are available to provide either a Fixed Annuity
or a Variable Annuity. Annuity Options D and E are available only to provide a
Fixed Annuity.
 
    Annuity Option A. Life Annuity: Monthly payments during the lifetime of the
Payee. This option offers a higher level of monthly payments than Annuity
Options B or C because no further payments are payable after the death of the
Payee, and there is no provision for a death benefit payable to a Beneficiary.
 
    Annuity Option B. Life Annuity with 60, 120, 180 or 240 Monthly Payments
Certain: Monthly payments during the lifetime of the Payee and in any event for
60, 120, 180 or 240 months certain as elected. The election of a longer period
certain results in smaller monthly payments than would be the case if a shorter
period certain were elected.
 
    Annuity Option C. Joint and Survivor Annuity: Monthly payments payable
during the joint lifetime of the Payee and the designated second person and
during the lifetime of the survivor. During the lifetime of the survivor,
variable monthly payments, if any, will be determined using the percentage
chosen at the time of the election of this option of the number of each type of
Annuity Unit credited to the Contract and each fixed monthly payment, if any,
will be equal to the same percentage of the fixed monthly payment payable during
the joint lifetime of the Payee and the designated second person.
 
    *Annuity Option D. Fixed Payments for a Specified Period Certain: Fixed
monthly payments for a specified period of time (at least five years but not
exceeding 30 years), as elected.
 
    *Annuity Option E. Fixed Payments: The amount applied to provide fixed
payments in accordance with this option will be held by the Company at interest.
Fixed payments will be made in such amounts and at such times (at least over a
period of five years) as may be agreed upon with the Company and will continue
until the amount held by the Company with interest is exhausted. Interest will
be credited yearly on the amount remaining unpaid at a rate which shall be
determined by the Company from time to time but which shall not be less than 4%
per year compounded annually. The rate so determined may be changed by the
Company at any time; however, the rate may not be reduced more frequently than
once during each calendar year.
 
DETERMINATION OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    The dollar amount of the first Variable Annuity payment will be determined
in accordance with the annuity payment rates found in the Contract which are
based on an assumed interest rate of 4% per year. All Variable Annuity payments
other than the first are determined by means of Annuity Units credited to the
Contract. The number of Annuity Units to be credited in respect of a particular
Sub-Account is determined by dividing that portion of the first Variable Annuity
payment attributable to that Sub-Account by the Annuity Unit value of that
Sub-Account for the Valuation Period which ends immediately preceding the
Annuity Commencement Date. The number of Annuity Units of each particular
Sub-Account credited to the Contract then remains fixed unless an exchange of
Annuity Units is made as described below. The dollar amount of each Variable
Annuity payment after the first may increase, decrease or remain constant
depending on the investment performance of the Sub-Accounts.
 
    The Statement of Additional Information contains detailed disclosure
regarding the method of determining the amount of each Variable Annuity payment
and calculating the value of a Variable Annuity Unit, as well as hypothetical
examples of these calculations.
 
EXCHANGE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY UNITS
 
    After the Annuity Commencement Date the Payee may exchange the value of a
designated number of Variable Annuity Units of particular Sub-Accounts then
credited to the Contract for other Variable Annuity Units, the value of which
would be such that the dollar amount of an annuity payment made on the date of
the exchange would be unaffected by the fact of the exchange. Exchanges may be
made only between Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account. Twelve such exchanges
may be made within each Contract Year.
 
- ---------
* The election of this Annuity Option may result in the imposition of a penalty
tax.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
ANNUITY PAYMENT RATES
 
    The Contract contains annuity payment rates for each Annuity Option
described above. The rates show, for each $1,000 applied, the dollar amount of
(a) the first monthly Variable Annuity payment based on the assumed interest
rate of 4%, and (b) the monthly Fixed Annuity payment, when this payment is
based on the minimum guaranteed interest rate of 4% per year. The annuity
payment rates may vary according to the annuity option elected and the adjusted
age of the Payee. Over a period of time, if the Sub-Accounts achieved a net
investment return exactly equal to the assumed interest rate of 4%, the amount
of each Variable Annuity payment would remain constant. However, if the
Sub-Accounts achieved a net investment result greater than 4%, the amount of
each variable annuity payment would increase; conversely, a net investment
result smaller than 4% would decrease the amount of each variable annuity
payment.
 
                           OTHER CONTRACT PROVISIONS
 
OWNER
 
    The Owner is entitled to exercise all Contract rights and privileges without
the consent of the Beneficiary or any other person. Such rights and privileges
may be exercised only during the lifetime of the Annuitant and prior to the
Annuity Commencement Date, except as otherwise provided in the Contract. The
Owner of a Non-Qualified Contract may change the ownership of the Contract,
subject to the provisions of the Contract, although such change may result in
the imposition of tax (see "Federal Tax Status--Taxation of Annuities in
General"). Transfer of ownership of a Qualified Contract is governed by the laws
and regulations applicable to the retirement or deferred compensation plan for
which the Contract was issued. Subject to the foregoing, a Qualified Contract
may not be sold, assigned, transferred, discounted or pledged as collateral for
a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other
purpose to any person other than the Company.
 
    Subject to the rights of an irrevocably designated Beneficiary, the Owner
may change or revoke the designation of a Beneficiary at any time while the
Annuitant is living.
 
DEATH OF OWNER
 
    If the Owner of a Non-Qualified Contract dies prior to the Annuitant and
before the Annuity Commencement Date the death benefit (as determined in
accordance with the Amount of Death Benefit provision) must be distributed to
the Beneficiary, if then alive, either (1) within five years after the date of
death of the Owner, or (2) over some period not greater than the life or
expected life of the Beneficiary, with annuity payments beginning within one
year after the date of death of the Owner. The person named as Beneficiary shall
be considered the designated beneficiary for the purposes of Section 72(s) of
the Internal Revenue Code and if no person then living has been so named, then
the Annuitant shall automatically be the designated beneficiary for this
purpose.
 
    These mandatory distribution requirements will not apply when the designated
beneficiary is the spouse of the Owner, if the spouse elects to continue the
Contract in the spouse's own name as Owner. When the Owner was also the
Annuitant the surviving spouse (if the designated beneficiary) may elect to be
named as both Owner and Annuitant and continue the Contract, but if that
election is not made, the Death Benefit provision of the Contract shall be
controlling. In all other cases where the Owner and the Annuitant are the same
individual, the Death Benefit provision of the Contract controls.
 
    If the Owner/Annuitant dies on or after the Annuity Commencement Date and
before the entire accumulation under the Contract has been distributed, the
remaining portion of such accumulation, if any, must be distributed at least as
rapidly as the method of distribution then in effect.
 
    In all cases, no Owner or Beneficiary shall be entitled to exercise any
rights that would adversely affect the treatment of the Contract as an annuity
contract under the Code.
 
    Any distributions upon the death of the Owner of a Qualified Contract will
be subject to the laws and regulations governing the particular retirement or
deferred compensation plan in connection with which the Qualified Contract was
issued.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
VOTING OF SERIES FUND SHARES
 
    The Company will vote Series Fund shares held by the Sub-Accounts at
meetings of shareholders of the Series Fund or in connection with similar
solicitations, but will follow voting instructions received from persons having
the right to give voting instructions. Series Fund shares for which no timely
voting instructions are received will be voted by the Company in the same
proportion as the shares for which instructions are received from persons having
such voting rights. The Owner is the person having the right to give voting
instructions prior to the Annuity Commencement Date. On or after the Annuity
Commencement Date the Payee is the person having such voting rights.
 
    Owners of Contracts held pursuant to retirement plans may be subject to
other voting provisions of the particular retirement plan. Employees who
contribute to retirement plans which are funded by the Contracts are entitled to
instruct the Owners as to how to instruct the Company to vote the Series Fund
shares attributable to their contributions. Such plans may also provide the
additional extent, if any, to which the Owners shall follow voting instructions
of persons with rights under the plans.
 
    The number of particular Series Fund shares as to which each such person is
entitled to give instructions will be determined by the Company on a date not
more than 90 days prior to each such meeting. Prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the number of particular Series Fund shares as to which voting
instructions may be given to the Company is determined by dividing the value of
all of the Variable Accumulation Units of the particular Sub-Account credited to
the Contract's Accumulation Account by the net asset value of one particular
Series Fund share as of the same date. On or after the Annuity Commencement
Date, the number of particular Series Fund shares as to which such instructions
may be given by a Payee is determined by dividing the reserve held by the
Company in the particular Sub-Account for the Contract by the net asset value of
a particular Series Fund share as of the same date.
 
SUBSTITUTED SECURITIES
 
    Shares of a particular series of the Series Fund may not always be available
for purchase by the Variable Account or the Company may decide that further
investment in any such shares is no longer appropriate in view of the purposes
of the Variable Account or in view of legal, regulatory or federal income tax
restrictions. In either event, shares of another series or shares of another
registered open-end investment company may be substituted both for Series Fund
shares already purchased by the Variable Account and as the security to be
purchased in the future provided that these substitutions have been approved by
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Superintendent of Insurance of
the State of New York. In the event of any substitution pursuant to this
provision, the Company may make appropriate endorsement to the Contract to
reflect the substitution.
 
MODIFICATION
 
    Upon notice to the Owner, or to the Payee during the annuity period, the
Contract may be modified by the Company, but only if such modification (i) is
necessary to make the Contract or the Variable Account comply with any law or
regulation issued by a governmental agency to which the Company is subject or
(ii) is necessary to assure continued qualification of the Contract under the
Internal Revenue Code or other federal or state laws relating to retirement
annuities or annuity contracts or (iii) is necessary to reflect a change in the
operation of the Variable Account or the Sub-Accounts or (iv) provides
additional Variable Account and/or fixed accumulation options. In the event of
any such modification, the Company may make appropriate endorsement to the
Contract to reflect such modification.
 
CHANGE IN OPERATION OF VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    At the Company's election and subject to the prior approval of the
Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York and to any necessary vote
by persons having the right to give instructions with respect to the voting of
Series Fund shares held by the Sub-Accounts, the Variable Account may be
operated as a management company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or it
may be deregistered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 in the event
registration is no longer required. Deregistration of the Variable Account
requires an order by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the event of any
change in the operation of the Variable Account pursuant to this provision, the
Company, subject to the prior
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
approval of the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York, may make
appropriate endorsement to the Contract to reflect the change and take such
action as may be necessary and appropriate to effect the change.
 
SPLITTING UNITS
 
    The Company reserves the right to split or combine the value of Variable
Accumulation Units, Fixed Accumulation Units, Annuity Units or any of them. In
effecting any such change in unit values, strict equity will be preserved and no
change will have a material effect on the benefits or other provisions of the
Contract.
 
                               FEDERAL TAX STATUS
 
INTRODUCTION
 
    The Contracts described in this Prospectus are designed for use in
connection with retirement plans that may or may not be qualified plans under
Sections 401, 403 or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). The ultimate
effect of federal income taxes may depend upon the type of retirement plan for
which the Contract is purchased and a number of different factors. This
discussion is general in nature, is based upon the Company's understanding of
current federal income tax laws, and is not intended as tax advice. Congress has
the power to enact legislation affecting the tax treatment of annuity contracts,
and such legislation could be applied retroactively to Contracts purchased
before the date of enactment. Any person contemplating the purchase of a
Contract should consult a qualified tax adviser. THE COMPANY DOES NOT MAKE ANY
GUARANTEE REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL TAX STATUS OF ANY CONTRACT OR
ANY TRANSACTION INVOLVING A CONTRACT.
 
TAX TREATMENT OF THE COMPANY AND THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under the Code. The
operations of the Variable Account are accounted for separately from other
operations of the Company for purposes of federal income taxation, but the
Variable Account is not taxable as a regulated investment company or otherwise
as an entity separate from the Company. The income of the Variable Account
(consisting primarily of interest, dividends and net capital gains) is not
taxable to the Company to the extent that it is applied to increase reserves
under contracts participating in the Variable Account.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITIES IN GENERAL
 
    Purchase Payments made under Non-Qualified Contracts are not deductible from
the Owner's income for federal income tax purposes. Owners of Qualified
Contracts should consult a tax adviser regarding the tax treatment of Purchase
Payments.
 
    Generally, no taxes are imposed on the increase in the value of a Contract
held by an individual Owner until a distribution occurs, either as an annuity
payment or as a cash withdrawal or lump sum payment prior to the Annuity
Commencement Date. However, corporate Owners and other Owners that are not
natural persons are subject to current taxation on the annual increase in the
value of a Non-Qualified Contract, unless the non-natural person holds the
Contract as agent for a natural person (such as where a bank or other entity
holds a Contract as trustee under a trust agreement). This current taxation of
annuities held by non-natural persons does not apply to earnings accumulated
under an immediate annuity, which the Code defines as a single premium contract
with an annuity commencement date within one year of the date of purchase.
 
    A partial cash withdrawal (i.e., a withdrawal of less than the entire value
of the Contract's Accumulation Account) from a Non-Qualified Contract before the
Annuity Commencement Date is treated first as a withdrawal from the increase in
the Accumulation Account's value, rather than as a return of Purchase Payments.
The amount of the withdrawal allocable to this increase will be includible in
the Owner's income and subject to tax at ordinary income rates. If an individual
receives a loan under a Contract or if the Contract is assigned or pledged as
collateral for a loan, the amount borrowed from the Contract or the amount
assigned or pledged must be treated as if it were withdrawn from the Contract.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    In the case of annuity payments under a Non-Qualified Contract after the
Annuity Commencement Date, a portion of each payment is treated as a nontaxable
return of Purchase Payments. The nontaxable portion is determined by applying to
each annuity payment an "exclusion ratio," which, in general, is the ratio that
the total amount the Owner paid for the Contract bears to the Payee's expected
return under the Contract. The remainder of the payment is taxable at ordinary
income rates.
 
    The total amount that a Payee may exclude from income through application of
the "exclusion ratio" is limited to the amount the Owner paid for the Contract.
If the Annuitant survives for his full life expectancy, so that the Payee
recovers the entire amount paid for the Contract, any subsequent annuity
payments will be fully taxable as income. Conversely, if the Annuitant dies
before the Payee recovers the entire amount paid, the Payee will be allowed a
deduction for the amount of unrecovered Purchase Payments.
 
    Taxable cash withdrawals and lump sum payments from Non-Qualified Contracts
may be subject to a penalty tax equal to 10% of the amount treated as taxable
income. This 10% penalty also may apply to certain annuity payments. This
penalty will not apply in certain circumstances (such as where the distribution
is made upon the death of the Owner). The withdrawal penalty also does not apply
to distributions under an immediate annuity (as defined above).
 
    In the case of a Qualified Contract, distributions generally are taxable and
distributions made prior to age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% penalty tax,
although this penalty tax will not apply in certain circumstances. Certain
distributions, known as "eligible rollover distributions," if rolled over to
certain other qualified retirement plans (either directly or after being
distributed to the Payee), are not taxable until distributed from the plan to
which they are rolled over. In general, an eligible rollover distribution is any
taxable distribution other than a distribution that is part of a series of
payments made for life or for a specified period of ten years or more. Owners,
Annuitants, Payees and Beneficiaries should seek qualified advice about the tax
consequences of distributions, withdrawals, payments and rollovers under the
retirement plans in connection with which the Contracts are purchased.
 
    If the Owner of a Non-Qualified Contract dies, the value of the Contract
generally must be distributed within a specified period (see "Other Contractual
Provisions--Death of Owner"). For Contracts owned by non-natural persons, a
change in the Annuitant is treated as the death of the Owner.
 
    A purchaser of a Qualified Contract should refer to the terms of the
applicable retirement plan and consult a tax adviser regarding distribution
requirements upon the death of the Owner.
 
    A transfer of a Non-Qualified Contract by gift (other than to the Owner's
spouse) is treated as the receipt by the Owner of income in an amount equal to
the value of the Contract's Accumulation Account minus the total amount paid for
the Contract.
 
    The Company will withhold and remit to the U.S. Government a part of the
taxable portion of each distribution made under a Non-Qualified Contract or
under a Qualified Contract issued in connection with an individual retirement
account, unless the Owner or Payee provides his or her taxpayer identification
number to the Company and notifies the Company (in the manner prescribed) before
the time of the distribution that he or she chooses not to have any amounts
withheld.
 
    In the case of distributions from a Qualified Contract (other than
distributions from a Contract issued for use with an individual retirement
account), the Company or the plan administrator must withhold and remit to the
U.S. Government 20% of each distribution that is an eligible rollover
distribution (as defined above) unless the Owner or Payee elects to make a
direct rollover of the distribution to another qualified retirement plan that is
eligible to receive the rollover. If a distribution from a Qualified Contract is
not an eligible rollover distribution, then the Owner or Payee can choose not to
have amounts withheld as described above for Non-Qualified Contracts and
individual retirement accounts.
 
    Amounts withheld from any distribution may be credited against the Owner's
or Payee's federal income tax liability for the year of the distribution.
 
    The Internal Revenue Service has issued regulations that prescribe
investment diversification requirements for mutual fund series underlying
nonqualified variable contracts. Contracts that do not comply with
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
these regulations do not qualify as annuities for federal income tax purposes,
and therefore the annual increase in the value of such contracts is subject to
current taxation. The Company believes that each series of the Series Fund
complies with the regulations.
 
    The preamble to the regulations states that the Internal Revenue Service may
promulgate guidelines under which a variable contract will not be treated as an
annuity for tax purposes if the owner has excessive control over the investments
underlying the contract. It is not known whether such guidelines, if in fact
promulgated, would have retroactive effect. If guidelines are promulgated, the
Company will take any action (including modification of the Contract and/or the
Variable Account) necessary to comply with the guidelines.
 
QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS
 
    The Qualified Contracts described in this Prospectus are designed for use
with the following types of qualified retirement plans:
 
        (1) Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans established by business employers
    and certain associations, as permitted by Sections 401(a), 401(k) and 403(a)
    of the Code, including those purchasers who would have been covered under
    the rules governing old H.R. 10 (Keogh) Plans;
 
        (2) Tax-Sheltered Annuities established pursuant to the provisions of
    Section 403(b) of the Code for public school employees and employees of
    certain types of charitable, educational and scientific organizations
    specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code; and
 
        (3) Individual Retirement Annuities permitted by Sections 219 and 408 of
    the Code, including Simplified Employee Pension Plans established by
    employers pursuant to Section 408(k) and Simple Retirement Accounts
    established pursuant to Section 408(p).
 
    The tax rules applicable to participants in such plans vary according to the
type of plan and its terms and conditions. Therefore, no attempt is made herein
to provide more than general information about the use of Qualified Contracts.
Participants in such plans as well as Owners, Annuitants, Payees and
Beneficiaries are cautioned that the rights of any person to any benefits under
these plans are subject to the terms and conditions of the plans themselves,
regardless of the terms and conditions of the Qualified Contracts. These terms
and conditions may include restrictions on, among other things, ownership,
transferability, assignability, contributions and distributions. The Company
will provide purchasers of Qualified Contracts used in connection with
Individual Retirement Annuities with such supplemental information as may be
required by the Internal Revenue Service or other appropriate agency. Any person
contemplating the purchase of a Qualified Contract should consult a qualified
tax adviser.
 
                              YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
 
    The Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations could
be materially and adversely affected by the failure of its systems and
applications (or those either provided or operated by third-parties) to properly
operate or manage dates beyond the year 1999. However, the Company has
investigated the nature and extent of the work necessary to render its computer
systems capable of processing beyond the turn of the century ("Year 2000
compliant"), and has made substantial progress toward achieving this goal,
including upgrading and/or replacing existing systems. The Company expects that
its principal systems will be Year 2000 compliant by the end of 1998, leaving
1999 for extensive testing. While it is believed that these efforts do involve
substantial costs, the Company closely monitors associated costs and continues
to evaluate associated risks based on actual testing. Based on available
information, the Company believes that it will be able to manage its total Year
2000 transition without a material adverse effect on its business operations,
financial condition, or results of operations.
 
                         DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The Contracts will be sold by licensed insurance agents in the State of New
York. Such agents will be registered representatives of broker-dealers
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 who are members of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The Contracts will be
distributed by
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc., One Sun Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills,
Massachusetts 02181, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.). Commissions and other distribution expenses will be paid by the
Company and will not be more than 6.31% of Purchase Payments. Commissions will
not be paid with respect to Contracts established for the personal account of
employees of the Company or any of its affiliates, or of persons engaged in the
distribution of the Contracts.
 
                               LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    There are no pending legal proceedings affecting the Variable Account. The
Company is engaged in various kinds of routine litigation which, in management's
opinion, is not of material importance to the Company's total assets or material
with respect to the Variable Account.
 
                                OWNER INQUIRIES
 
    All Owner inquiries should be directed to the Company at the Annuity Service
Mailing Address shown on the cover of this Prospectus.
 
           TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                      <C>
General Information...................................................     2
Annuity Provisions....................................................     2
Other Contract Provisions.............................................     3
Administration of the Contracts.......................................     4
Distribution of the Contracts.........................................     4
Accountants...........................................................     4
Calculation of Performance Data.......................................     5
Advertising and Sales Literature......................................     7
Financial Statements..................................................     9
Appendix A -- The Fixed Account.......................................    32
Appendix B -- Variable Accumulation Unit Value, Variable Annuity Unit
  Value and Variable Annuity Payment Calculations.....................    35
Appendix C -- Withdrawals and Withdrawal Charges......................    36
</TABLE>
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    This Prospectus sets forth information about the Contracts and the Variable
Account that a prospective purchaser should know before investing. Additional
information about the Contracts and the Variable Account has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in a Statement of Additional Information
dated May 1, 1998 which is incorporated herein by reference. The Statement of
Additional Information is available upon request and without charge from Sun
Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York. To receive a copy, return this
request form to the address shown below or telephone (212) 943-3855 or (800)
447-7569.
 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
To:   Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York
     80 Broad Street
     New York, New York 10004
 
    Please send me a Statement of Additional Information for
    Compass 3 Sun Life (N.Y.) Variable Account B.
Name  ____________________________________________
Address  ____________________________________________
     ____________________________________________
City____________________________ State___________ Zip______________
Telephone  ____________________________________________
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                                                                       [LOGO]
 
PROSPECTUS
 
MAY 1, 1998
 
COMBINATION FIXED/VARIABLE
ANNUITY FOR PERSONAL AND
QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS
 
  ISSUED BY
  SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
  OF NEW YORK
  Annuity Service Mailing Address:
  80 Broad Street
  New York, New York 10004
 
  LEGAL COUNSEL
  Covington & Burling
  1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
  P.O. Box 7566
  Washington, D.C. 20044
 
  AUDITORS
  Deloitte & Touche LLP
  125 Summer Street
  Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
              ISSUED IN CONNECTION
              WITH SUN LIFE (N.Y.)
              VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
CO3NY-1 5/98
<PAGE>
                                                                     MAY 1, 1998
 
                                   COMPASS 3
 
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                       SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
General Information...............................          2
Annuity Provisions................................          2
Other Contract Provisions.........................          3
Administration of the Contracts...................          4
Distribution of the Contracts.....................          4
Accountants.......................................          4
Calculation of Performance Data...................          5
Advertising and Sales Literature..................          7
Financial Statements..............................          9
Appendix A -- The Fixed Account...................         32
Appendix B -- Variable Accumulation Unit Value,
  Variable Annuity Unit Value and Variable Annuity
  Payment Calculations............................         35
Appendix C -- Withdrawals and Withdrawal
  Charges.........................................         36
 
    This Statement of Additional Information sets forth information which may be
of  interest to prospective  purchasers of Compass  3 Combination Fixed/Variable
Annuity Contracts (the "Contracts") for personal and qualified retirement  plans
issued  by Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York (the "Company") in
connection with  Sun Life  (N.Y.) Variable  Account B  (the "Variable  Account")
which  is not  necessarily included  in the Prospectus  dated May  1, 1998. This
Statement of  Additional Information  should  be read  in conjunction  with  the
Prospectus,  a copy of which may be  obtained without charge from the Company at
its Annuity Service Mailing Address, 80 Broad Street, New York, New York  10004,
or by telephoning (212) 943-3855 or (800) 447-7569.
 
    The  terms used  in this Statement  of Additional Information  have the same
meanings as in the Prospectus.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS  NOT A PROSPECTUS AND IS  AUTHORIZED
FOR  DISTRIBUTION TO PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ONLY IF PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY A
CURRENT PROSPECTUS.
<PAGE>
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
THE COMPANY
 
    Sun  Life Insurance  and Annuity  Company of New  York (the  "Company") is a
stock life insurance company incorporated under the laws of New York on May  25,
1983. Its Home Office is located at 80 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004.
 
    The  Company is a  wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun  Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.) ("Sun  Life of  Canada (U.S.)"),  a stock  life insurance  company
incorporated  in  Delaware  and having  its  Executive  Office at  One  Sun Life
Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181. Sun Life of Canada  (U.S.)
is  an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of  Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
("Sun Life (Canada)"), 150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a  mutual
life insurance company incorporated in Canada in 1865. Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)
is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.,
which  on  December  18,  1997  became a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Sun Life
Assurance Company  of  Canada  --  U.S.  Operations  Holdings,  Inc.,  a  direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life (Canada).
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    Sun  Life (N.Y.) Variable  Account B (the "Variable  Account") is a separate
account of the Company  which meets the definition  of a separate account  under
the  federal securities  laws and  which is  registered with  the Securities and
Exchange Commission as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company  Act
of 1940.
 
THE FIXED ACCOUNT
 
    If  the Owner elects to  have Contract values accumulated  on a fixed basis,
Purchase Payments are allocated to the  Fixed Account. Because of exemptive  and
exclusionary provisions, that part of the Contract relating to the Fixed Account
is  not registered under the  Securities Act of 1933  ("1933 Act") and the Fixed
Account is not registered as an investment company under the Investment  Company
Act  of  1940 ("1940  Act").  Accordingly, neither  the  Fixed Account,  nor any
interests therein, are subject to the provisions or restrictions of the 1933 Act
or the 1940 Act, and the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
reviewed the  disclosures  in  this Statement  of  Additional  Information  with
respect  to  that  portion  of  the  Contract  relating  to  the  Fixed Account.
Disclosures regarding the fixed portion of  the Contract and the Fixed  Account,
however,  may  be  subject to  certain  generally applicable  provisions  of the
federal securities laws relating to the accuracy and completeness of  statements
made herein (see Appendix A).
 
                               ANNUITY PROVISIONS
 
DETERMINATION OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    On the Annuity Commencement Date the Contract's Accumulation Account will be
cancelled  and its adjusted value will be  applied to provide a Variable Annuity
or a Fixed Annuity or a combination of both. The adjusted value will be equal to
the value  of the  Accumulation  Account for  the  Valuation Period  which  ends
immediately  preceding the Annuity Commencement  Date, reduced by any applicable
premium or similar taxes and a proportionate amount of the contract  maintenance
charge to reflect the time elapsed between the last Contract Anniversary and the
day before the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
    The  dollar amount of the first  variable annuity payment will be determined
in accordance with  the annuity payment  rates found in  the Contract which  are
based  on an assumed interest rate of 4% per year. All variable annuity payments
other than the first are  determined by means of  Annuity Units credited to  the
Contract.  The number of Annuity Units to be credited in respect of a particular
Sub-Account is determined by dividing that portion of the first variable annuity
payment attributable  to that  Sub-Account by  the Annuity  Unit value  of  that
Sub-Account  for  the  Valuation  Period which  ends  immediately  preceding the
Annuity Commencement  Date.  The number  of  Annuity Units  of  each  particular
Sub-Account  credited to the  Contract then remains fixed  unless an exchange of
Annuity Units is made as described in the Prospectus. The dollar amount of  each
variable  annuity  payment  after the  first  may increase,  decrease  or remain
constant, and is
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
equal to the sum of the amounts determined by multiplying the number of  Annuity
Units  of a particular Sub-Account credited to  the Contract by the Annuity Unit
value for  the  particular  Sub-Account  for the  Valuation  Period  which  ends
immediately preceding the due date of each subsequent payment.
 
    For a description of fixed annuity payments, see Appendix A.
 
    For a hypothetical example of the calculation of a variable annuity payment,
see Appendix B.
 
ANNUITY UNIT VALUE
 
    The  Annuity Unit value  for each Sub-Account was  established at $10.00 for
the first Valuation Period of the particular Sub-Account. The Annuity Unit value
for any subsequent  Valuation Period  is determined by  multiplying the  Annuity
Unit value for the immediately preceding Valuation Period by the appropriate Net
Investment  Factor  (See  "Net Investment  Factor"  in the  Prospectus)  for the
current Valuation  Period and  then  multiplying that  product  by a  factor  to
neutralize  the  assumed interest  rate of  4%  per year  used to  establish the
annuity payment rates found in the Contract. The factor is 0.99989255 for a  one
day Valuation Period.
 
    For  a hypothetical example  of the calculation  of the value  of a Variable
Annuity Unit, see Appendix B.
 
                           OTHER CONTRACT PROVISIONS
 
OWNER AND CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP
 
    The Contract shall belong to the  Owner. All Contract rights and  privileges
may be exercised by the Owner without the consent of the Beneficiary (other than
an  irrevocably designated  beneficiary) or  any other  person. Such  rights and
privileges may be exercised only during the lifetime of the Annuitant and  prior
to  the Annuity Commencement Date, except as otherwise provided in the Contract.
The Annuitant becomes the Owner on and after the Annuity Commencement Date.  The
Beneficiary  becomes the Owner on the death  of the Annuitant. In some qualified
plans the  Owner of  the Contract  is a  Trustee and  the Trust  authorizes  the
Annuitant/participant to exercise certain contract rights and privileges.
 
    Ownership  of a Qualified Contract may not be transferred except to: (1) the
Annuitant; (2) a  trustee or successor  trustee of a  pension or profit  sharing
trust which is qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code; (3) the
employer of the Annuitant provided that the Qualified Contract after transfer is
maintained  under the terms of a  retirement plan qualified under Section 403(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code for the  benefit of the Annuitant; (4) the  trustee
of  an individual  retirement account  plan qualified  under Section  408 of the
Internal Revenue  Code  for  the benefit  of  the  Owner; or  (5)  as  otherwise
permitted  from time to time by laws and regulations governing the retirement or
deferred compensation  plans  for which  a  Qualified Contract  may  be  issued.
Subject  to  the foregoing,  a  Qualified Contract  may  not be  sold, assigned,
transferred, discounted or pledged as collateral  for a loan or as security  for
the  performance of an obligation  or for any other  purpose to any person other
than the Company.
 
    The Owner  of a  Non-Qualified  Contract may  change  the ownership  of  the
Contract  during  the  lifetime  of  the  Annuitant  and  prior  to  the Annuity
Commencement Date, although such change may result in the imposition of tax (see
"Federal Tax Status--Taxation  of Annuities  in General" in  the Prospectus).  A
change  of  ownership  will  not  be  binding  upon  the  Company  until written
notification is received by the Company. Once received by the Company the change
will be effective as of the date on  which the request for change was signed  by
the  Owner but the change will be without prejudice to the Company on account of
any payment made  or any  action taken  by the  Company prior  to receiving  the
change. The Company may require that the signature of the Owner be guaranteed by
a  member  firm of  the  New York,  American,  Boston, Midwest,  Philadelphia or
Pacific Stock Exchange, or by a commercial bank (not a savings bank) which is  a
member  of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  or, in certain cases, by a
member firm of the  National Association of Securities  Dealers, Inc. which  has
entered into an appropriate agreement with the Company.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
DESIGNATION AND CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY
 
    The  Beneficiary  designation contained  in the  application will  remain in
effect until  changed.  The  interest  of any  Beneficiary  is  subject  to  the
particular Beneficiary surviving the Annuitant.
 
    Subject  to the rights  of an irrevocably  designated Beneficiary, the Owner
may change or  revoke the designation  of a  Beneficiary at any  time while  the
Annuitant is living by filing with the Company a written beneficiary designation
or  revocation in such form as the Company may require. The change or revocation
will not be binding upon the Company  until it is received by the Company.  When
it  is so received the change or revocation  will be effective as of the date on
which the beneficiary designation or revocation was signed by the Owner.
 
CUSTODIAN
 
    The Company is Custodian of the assets of the Variable Account. The Company,
as Custodian, will purchase shares of a particular series of the Series Fund  at
net  asset  value  in  connection  with  amounts  allocated  to  the  particular
Sub-Account in accordance with the instructions  of the Owner and redeem  Series
Fund  shares  at net  asset value  for  the purpose  of meeting  the contractual
obligations of the  Variable Account,  paying charges relative  to the  Variable
Account or making adjustments for annuity reserves held in the Variable Account.
 
                        ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The  Company  performs  certain  administrative  functions  relating  to the
Contracts and the Variable Account. These functions include, among other things,
maintaining the books and records of the Variable Account and the  Sub-Accounts,
and  maintaining records of  the name, address,  taxpayer identification number,
Contract number,  type of  contract issued  to  each Owner,  the status  of  the
Accumulation  Account  under  each  Contract,  and  other  pertinent information
necessary to the administration and operation of the Contracts. The Company  has
entered  into service agreements with its  parent, Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.), and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, under which the  latter
have agreed to provide the Company with certain services on a cost reimbursement
basis. These services include, but are not limited to, accounting and investment
services,   systems  support  and  development,  pricing,  product  development,
actuarial,  legal  and  compliance  functions,  marketing  services  and   staff
training.
 
                         DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The  offering of the Contracts is continuous.  The Contracts will be sold by
licensed insurance  agents  in  the State  of  New  York. Such  agents  will  be
registered  representatives  of broker-dealers  registered under  the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 who are  members of the National Association of  Securities
Dealers,  Inc. The Contracts will be  distributed by Clarendon Insurance Agency,
Inc. ("Clarendon"), One Sun Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills,  Massachusetts
02181, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.).
Commissions  and other distribution compensation will be paid by the Company and
will not be more than 6.31% of  Purchase Payments. Commissions will not be  paid
with  respect to Contracts established for  the personal account of employees of
the Company or any of its affiliates, or of persons engaged in the  distribution
of the Contracts. During 1995, 1996 and 1997, approximately $21,127, $39,481 and
$30,614,  respectively, was paid to and retained by Clarendon in connection with
the distribution of the Contracts.
 
                                  ACCOUNTANTS
 
    Deloitte & Touche LLP, 125  Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110,  are
the  Variable  Account's  independent  certified  public  accountants  providing
auditing and other professional services.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                        CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA
 
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN:
 
    The table below shows, for various Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account, the
Average Annual Total Return for the stated periods (or shorter period  indicated
in  the  note below),  based  upon a  hypothetical  initial Purchase  Payment of
$1,000, calculated in accordance with the  formula set out below the table.  For
purposes   of  determining  these  investment  results,  the  actual  investment
performance of each Series  of MFS/Sun Life Series  Trust is reflected from  the
date  such Series commenced operations, although the Contracts have been offered
only since March 1, 1993.
 
                          AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
                        PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1997
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 10
                                           1 YEAR    5 YEAR     YEAR          DATE OF
                                           PERIOD    PERIOD    PERIOD   LIFE*   INCEPTION
                                          --------   -------   ------   -- --------------
<S>                                       <C>        <C>       <C>      <C>
                                                                             August 13,
Capital Appreciation Series.............    15.16 %  15.31  %  15.88 %  --      1985
                                                                             August 12,
Government Securities Series............     1.59 %   4.33  %   6.58 %  --      1985
                                                                             August 13,
High Yield Series.......................     6.02 %   9.09  %   9.05 %  --      1985
Managed Sectors Series..................    18.26 %  12.14  %  --       15.56%  May 27, 1988
                                                                             August 29,
Money Market Series.....................    -1.97 %   2.08  %   3.74 %  --      1985
Total Return Series.....................    14.19 %  11.66  %  --       11.27%  May 16, 1988
World Governments Series................    -7.75 %   4.12  %  --       6.11%  May 16, 1988
<FN>
- ------------------------
 *From Date of Inception, as the lifetimes of these series are less than ten
  years.
</TABLE>
 
    The length of the period and the last  day of each period used in the  above
table  are set out in the table heading  and in the footnotes above. The Average
Annual Total Return for each period was determined by finding the average annual
compounded rate of return over each period that would equate the initial  amount
invested  to the ending redeemable value for that period, in accordance with the
following formula:
 
                                P(1 + T)n = ERV
 
<TABLE>
<C>        <C>        <S>
 Where: P      =      a hypothetical initial Purchase Payment of $1,000
        T      =      average annual total return for the period
        n      =      number of years
      ERV      =      redeemable  value  (as  of  the   end  of  the  period)  of   a
                      hypothetical  $1,000 Purchase Payment made  at the beginning of
                      the 1-year, 5-year,  or 10-year period  (or fractional  portion
                      thereof)
</TABLE>
 
   The  formula assumes that: 1) all recurring  fees have been deducted from the
   Contract's Accumulation  Account; 2)  all applicable  non-recurring  Contract
   charges  are deducted at the end  of the period; and 3)  there will be a full
   surrender at the end of the period.
 
    The $30  annual contract  maintenance  charge will  be allocated  among  the
Sub-Accounts  so  that each  Sub-Account's allocated  portion  of the  charge is
proportional to the  percentage of  the number  of Contracts  that have  amounts
allocated  to  that  Sub-Account.  Because the  impact  of  contract maintenance
charges  on  a  particular  Contract  may  differ  from  those  assumed  in  the
computation  due to differences between actual allocations and the assumed ones,
the total return  that would have  been experienced by  an actual Contract  over
these same time periods may have been different from that shown above.
 
NON-STANDARDIZED INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE:
 
    The  Variable Account  may illustrate its  results over  various periods and
compare its results to indices and  other variable annuities in sales  materials
including advertisements, brochures and reports. Such results may be computed on
a "cumulative" and/or "annualized" basis.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    "Cumulative"  quotations are  arrived at  by calculating  the change  in the
Accumulation Unit value of a Sub-Account between  the first and last day of  the
base period being measured, and expressing the difference as a percentage of the
Accumulation Unit value at the beginning of the base period.
 
    "Annualized"  quotations  (described  in the  following  table  as "Compound
Growth Rate") are calculated  by applying a formula  which determines the  level
rate  of return which, if earned over  the entire base period, would produce the
cumulative return.
 
                    NON-STANDARDIZED INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
$10,000 INVESTED IN              WOULD HAVE GROWN TO THIS AMOUNT ON
THIS SUB-ACCOUNT UNDER A                 DECEMBER 31, 1997*
COMPASS 3 CONTRACT
THIS MANY YEARS AGO...
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Capital Appreciation Series                              Government Securities Series
- --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Number                               Cumulative  Compound Number                               Cumulative  Compound
  of                                   Growth     Growth    of                                   Growth     Growth
Years        Periods        Amount      Rate       Rate   Years        Periods        Amount      Rate       Rate
- ------  ----------------- ---------- ----------  -------- ------  ----------------- ---------- ----------  --------
<S>     <C>               <C>        <C>         <C>      <C>     <C>               <C>        <C>         <C>
  1     12/31/96-12/31/97 $12,142.58    21.43%     21.43%   1     12/31/96-12/31/97 $10,724.65    7.25%      7.25%
  2     12/31/95-12/31/97 $14,547.26    45.47%     20.61%   2     12/31/95-12/31/97 $10,746.86    7.47%      3.67%
  3     12/31/94-12/31/97 $19,291.32    92.91%     24.49%   3     12/31/94-12/31/97 $12.468.98   24.69%      7.63%
  4     12/31/93-12/31/97 $18,340.56    83.41%     16.37%   4     12/31/93-12/31/97 $12.031.63   20.32%      4.73%
  5     12/31/92-12/31/97 $21,350.81   113.51%     16.38%   5     12/31/92-12/31/97 $12,895.30   28.95%      5.22%
  10    12/31/87-12/31/97 $45,412.54   354.13%     16.34%   10    12/31/87-12/31/97 $19,668.62   96.69%      7.00%
 Life    8/13/85-12/31/97 $54,867.60   448.68%     14.73%  Life    8/12/85-12/31/97 $22,908.04  129.08%      6.92%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    High Yield Series                                      Managed Sectors Series
- --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Number                               Cumulative  Compound Number                               Cumulative  Compound
  of                                   Growth     Growth    of                                   Growth     Growth
Years        Periods        Amount      Rate       Rate   Years        Periods        Amount      Rate       Rate
- ------  ----------------- ---------- ----------  -------- ------  ----------------- ---------- ----------  --------
<S>     <C>               <C>        <C>         <C>      <C>     <C>               <C>        <C>         <C>
  1     12/31/96-12/31/97 $11,164.85    11.65%     11.65%   1     12/31/96-12/31/97 $12,408.26   24.08%     24.08%
  2     12/31/95-12/31/97 $12,343.83    23.44%     11.10%   2     12/31/95-12/31/97 $14,410.59   44.11%     20.04%
  3     12/31/94-12/31/97 $14,247.79    42.48%     12.53%   3     12/31/94-12/31/97 $18,824.92   88.25%     23.47%
  4     12/31/93-12/31/97 $13,737.73    37.38%      8.26%   4     12/31/93-12/31/97 $18,232.26   82.32%     16.20%
  5     12/31/92-12/31/97 $15,956.09    59.56%      9.80%   5     12/31/92-12/31/97 $18,330.95   83.31%     12.89%
  10    12/31/87-12/31/97 $24,614.10   146.14%      9.43%
 Life    8/13/85-12/31/97 $27,768.73   177.69%      8.59%  Life    5/27/88-12/31/97 $40,460.18  304.60%     15.67%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Total Return Series                                    World Governments Series
- --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Number                               Cumulative  Compound Number                               Cumulative  Compound
  of                                   Growth     Growth    of                                   Growth     Growth
Years        Periods        Amount      Rate       Rate   Years        Periods        Amount      Rate       Rate
- ------  ----------------- ---------- ----------  -------- ------  ----------------- ---------- ----------  --------
<S>     <C>               <C>        <C>         <C>      <C>     <C>               <C>        <C>         <C>
  1     12/31/96-12/31/97 $12,028.52    20.29%     20.29%   1     12/31/96-12/31/97 $ 9,786.08   -2.14%     -2.14%
  2     12/31/95-12/31/97 $13,530.06    35.30%     16.32%   2     12/31/95-12/31/97 $10,100.46    1.00%      0.50%
  3     12/31/94-12/31/97 $16,917.05    69.17%     19.15%   3     12/31/94-12/31/97 $11,524.25   15.24%      4.84%
  4     12/31/93-12/31/97 $16,306.12    63.06%     13.00%   4     12/31/93-12/31/97 $10,855.26    8.55%      2.07%
  5     12/31/92-12/31/97 $18,230.49    82.30%     12.76%   5     12/31/92-12/31/97 $12,735.58   27.36%      4.96%
 
 Life    5/16/88-12/31/97 $28,796.67   187.97%     11.61%  Life    5/16/88-12/31/97 $17,915.44   79.15%      6.24%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
*For purposes of  determining these  investment results,  the actual  investment
 performance  of each series of MFS/Sun Life  Series Trust is reflected from the
 date such series commenced operations, although the Contracts have been offered
 only since March 1,  1993. The charges imposed  under the Contract against  the
 assets of the Variable Account for mortality and expense risks and distribution
 expenses  have been deducted. However, the  annual Account Fee is not reflected
 and these examples do not assume surrender at the end of the period.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
                        ADVERTISING AND SALES LITERATURE
 
    As set  forth in  the Prospectus,  the Company  may refer  to the  following
organizations (and others) in its marketing materials:
 
    A.M.  BEST'S  RATING  SYSTEM is  designed  to evaluate  the  various factors
affecting the overall performance of an insurance company in order to provide an
opinion as to an insurance company's relative financial strength and ability  to
meet its contractual obligations. The procedure includes both a quantitative and
qualitative review of each company.
 
    DUFF  &  PHELPS  CREDIT  RATING COMPANY's  Insurance  Company  Claims Paying
Ability Rating is an  independent evaluation by  a nationally accredited  rating
organization  of an insurance  company's ability to  meet its future obligations
under the contracts and  products it sells. The  rating takes into account  both
quantitative and qualitative factors.
 
    LIPPER  VARIABLE  INSURANCE  PRODUCTS  PERFORMANCE  ANALYSIS  SERVICE  is  a
publisher of statistical data  covering the investment  company industry in  the
United  States and overseas. Lipper is recognized  as the leading source of data
on open-end and  closed-end funds.  Lipper currently tracks  the performance  of
over  5,000  investment companies  and  publishes numerous  specialized reports,
including reports  on  performance  and  portfolio  analysis,  fee  and  expense
analysis.
 
    STANDARD & POOR's insurance claims-paying ability rating is an opinion of an
operating  insurance  company's financial  capacity to  meet obligations  of its
insurance policies in accordance with their terms.
 
    VARDS (Variable  Annuity Research  Data  Service) provides  a  comprehensive
guide to variable annuity contract features and historical fund performance. The
service  also  provides a  readily  understandable analysis  of  the comparative
characteristics and market performance of funds included in variable contracts.
 
    STANDARD & POOR'S INDEX--broad-based measurement of changes in  stock-market
conditions  based on the  average performance of 500  widely held common stocks;
commonly known as the Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500). The selection of  stocks,
their  relative weightings to  reflect differences in  the number of outstanding
shares, and publication of  the index itself are  services of Standard &  Poor's
Corporation,  a financial advisory, securities  rating, and publishing firm. The
index tracks  400  industrial  company  stocks,  20  transportation  stocks,  40
financial company stocks, and 40 public utilities.
 
    NASDAQ-OTC  Price Index--this index is based  on the National Association of
Securities Dealers  Automated Quotations  (NASDAQ) and  represents all  domestic
over-the-counter  stocks except those traded on  exchanges and those having only
one market maker, a total of some 3,500 stocks. It is market value-weighted  and
was introduced with a base of 100.00 on February 5, 1971.
 
    DOW  JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE (DJIA)--price-weighted  average of 30 actively
traded blue chip stocks, primarily  industrials, but including American  Express
Company  and American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Prepared and Published by
Dow Jones & Company, it is the oldest  and most widely quoted of all the  market
indicators. The average is quoted in points, not dollars.
 
    In  its advertisements and  other sales literature  for the Variable Account
and the Series  Fund, the Company  intends to illustrate  the advantages of  the
Contracts in a number of ways:
 
    COMPOUND INTEREST ILLUSTRATIONS.  These will emphasize several advantages of
the  variable annuity contract. For  example, but not by  way of limitation, the
literature may  emphasize  the  potential  savings  through  tax  deferral;  the
potential  advantage of  the Variable  Account over  the fixed  account; and the
compounding effect when an Owner makes regular deposits to his or her Account.
 
    DOLLAR COST  AVERAGING ILLUSTRATIONS.   These  illustrations will  generally
discuss  the price-leveling  effect of  making regular  investments in  the same
Sub-Accounts over a period of  time, to take advantage  of the trends in  market
prices of the portfolio securities purchased by those Sub-Accounts.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
    THE  COMPANY'S ASSETS, SIZE.  The  Company may discuss its general financial
condition (see, for  example, the  references to  Standard &  Poor's, A.M.  Best
Company  and Duff  & Phelps  above); it  may refer  to its  assets; it  may also
discuss its relative  size and/or  ranking among  companies in  the industry  or
among   any  sub-classification  of  those   companies,  based  upon  recognized
evaluation criteria.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
STATEMENT OF CONDITION-- December 31, 1997
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS:
   Investment in MFS/Sun Life Series Trust       Shares        Cost         Value
                                               ----------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                            <C>         <C>           <C>
    Capital Appreciation Series ("CAS")......   1,690,865  $ 51,349,789  $ 67,868,674
    Government Securities Series ("GSS").....   1,720,075    21,379,490    22,430,830
    High Yield Series ("HYS")................   1,353,848    11,994,948    13,146,857
    Managed Sectors Series ("MSS")...........     446,837    11,030,212    13,029,464
    Money Market Series ("MMS")..............  12,406,672    12,406,672    12,406,672
    Total Return Series ("TRS")..............   2,090,778    34,857,281    44,569,654
    World Governments Series ("WGS").........     478,903     5,498,072     5,137,026
                                                           ------------  ------------
                                                           $148,516,464  $178,589,177
                                                           ------------
                                                           ------------
LIABILITY:
  Payable to sponsor...................................................        70,619
                                                                         ------------
        Net Assets.....................................................  $178,518,558
                                                                         ------------
                                                                         ------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Applicable to Owners of
                                                         Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts  Reserve for
NET ASSETS:                                              -----------------------------------   Variable
COMPASS 2 CONTRACTS:                                       Units    Unit Value     Value       Annuities       Total
                                                         ---------  ----------  ------------  -----------   ------------
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>
    CAS................................................  1,049,111    $ 59.1724 $ 62,072,312   $  241,312   $ 62,313,624
    GSS................................................    897,267      24.1586   21,672,617       94,840     21,767,457
    HYS................................................    421,472      29.0298   12,237,445       43,066     12,280,511
    MSS................................................    270,624      41.5939   11,272,473      --          11,272,473
    MMS................................................    713,552      16.6078   11,843,273       10,976     11,854,249
    TRS................................................  1,345,153      29.1777   39,309,920      609,566     39,919,486
    WGS................................................    256,940      18.1356    4,669,373      --           4,669,373
                                                                                ------------  -----------   ------------
                                                                                $163,077,413   $  999,760   $164,077,173
                                                                                ------------  -----------   ------------
 
<CAPTION>
COMPASS 3 CONTRACTS:
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>
    CAS................................................    291,968    $ 19.0541 $  5,562,736   $      109   $  5,562,845
    GSS................................................     55,194      12.0343      663,723      --             663,723
    HYS................................................     60,217      14.3002      861,335      --             861,335
    MSS................................................    100,687      17.4931    1,755,888          227      1,756,115
    MMS................................................     47,433      11.4533      543,064      --             543,064
    TRS................................................    281,915      16.2726    4,586,550          100      4,586,650
    WGS................................................     42,551      11.0071      467,653      --             467,653
                                                                                ------------  -----------   ------------
                                                                                $ 14,440,949   $      436   $ 14,441,385
                                                                                ------------  -----------   ------------
        Net Assets............................................................  $177,518,362   $1,000,196   $178,518,558
                                                                                ------------  -----------   ------------
                                                                                ------------  -----------   ------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS-- December 31, 1997
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        CAS            GSS            HYS           MSS
                                                    Sub-Account    Sub-Account    Sub-Account   Sub-Account
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
INCOME AND EXPENSES:
  Dividend income and capital gain distributions
    received......................................  $  5,671,221   $ 1,773,033    $  888,949    $  1,371,268
  Mortality and expense risk charges..............       842,418       321,292       169,971         157,979
  Distribution expense charges....................         7,164           992         1,194           2,203
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
      Net investment income.......................  $  4,821,639   $ 1,450,749    $  717,784    $  1,211,086
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES):
  Realized gains (losses) on investment
    transactions:
    Proceeds from sales...........................  $ 14,132,590   $ 9,865,167    $5,608,186    $  4,092,808
    Cost of investments sold......................     9,867,505     9,941,116     5,133,558       3,008,351
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
      Net realized gains (losses).................  $  4,265,085   $   (75,949)   $  474,628    $  1,084,457
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
  Net unrealized appreciation on investments:
    End of year...................................  $ 16,518,885   $ 1,051,340    $1,151,909    $  1,999,252
    Beginning of year.............................    13,093,275       670,954       861,574       1,586,190
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
      Change in unrealized appreciation...........  $  3,425,610   $   380,386    $  290,335    $    413,062
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
    Realized and unrealized gains.................  $  7,690,695   $   304,437    $  764,963    $  1,497,519
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS............  $ 12,512,334   $ 1,755,186    $1,482,747    $  2,708,605
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
                                                    ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       MMS          TRS          WGS
                                                    Sub-Account  Sub-Account  Sub-Account     Total
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
<S>                                                 <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
INCOME AND EXPENSES:
  Dividend income and capital gain distributions
    received......................................  $  675,167   $4,275,683   $ 252,673    $14,907,994
  Mortality and expense risk charges..............     176,350     528,904       74,258      2,271,172
  Distribution expense charges....................       1,117       6,104          775         19,549
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
      Net investment income.......................  $  497,700   $3,740,675   $ 177,640    $12,617,273
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES):
  Realized gains (losses) on investment
    transactions:
    Proceeds from sales...........................  $14,314,584  $8,762,067   $2,194,887   $58,970,289
    Cost of investments sold......................  14,314,584   6,102,334    2,416,005     50,783,453
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
      Net realized gains (losses).................  $   --       $2,659,733   $(221,118 )  $ 8,186,836
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
  Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
    investments
    End of Year...................................  $   --       $9,712,373   $(361,046 )  $30,072,713
    Beginning of Year.............................      --       8,090,640     (245,952 )   24,056,681
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
      Change in unrealized appreciation
        (depreciation)............................  $   --       $1,621,733   $(115,094 )  $ 6,016,032
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
    Realized and unrealized gains (losses)........  $   --       $4,281,466   $(336,212 )  $14,202,868
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM
 OPERATIONS.......................................  $  497,700   $8,022,141   $(158,572 )  $26,820,141
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
                                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                CAS                               GSS
                                                            Sub-Account                       Sub-Account
                                                   ------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                                      Year Ended December 31,           Year Ended December 31,
                                                   ------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                                        1997            1996             1997             1996
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
<S>                                                <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income..........................   $ 4,821,639      $ 3,981,524      $ 1,450,749     $  1,241,066
  Net realized gains (losses)....................     4,265,085        4,576,791          (75,949)         (27,070)
  Net unrealized gains (losses)..................     3,425,610        2,015,008          380,386       (1,124,217)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
      Increase in net assets from operations.....   $12,512,334      $10,573,323      $ 1,755,186     $     89,779
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation Activity:
    Purchase payments received...................   $ 2,627,696      $ 2,717,881      $   593,679     $    894,639
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account....................................       668,389       (1,800,976)      (1,912,328)         493,206
    Withdrawals, surrenders, annuitizations and
      contract charges...........................    (7,704,458)      (7,564,122)      (4,863,706)      (4,694,596)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
      Net accumulation activity..................   $(4,408,373)     $(6,647,217)     $(6,182,355)    $ (3,306,751)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
  Annuitization Activity:
    Annuitizations...............................   $    67,112      $     7,453      $  --           $     10,761
    Annuity payments and contract charges........       (26,334)         (21,172)         (22,850)         (43,569)
    Adjustments to annuity reserve...............        (3,618)             775            3,140            1,408
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
      Net annuitization activity.................   $    37,160      $   (12,944)     $   (19,710)    $    (31,400)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract owner
    transactions.................................   $(4,371,213)     $(6,660,161)     $(6,202,065)    $ (3,338,151)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
    Increase (decrease) in net assets............   $ 8,141,121      $ 3,913,162      $(4,446,879)    $ (3,248,372)
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year..............................    59,735,348       55,822,186       26,878,059       30,126,431
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
  End of year....................................   $67,876,469      $59,735,348      $22,431,180     $ 26,878,059
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                HYS                               MSS
                                                            Sub-Account                       Sub-Account
                                                   ------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                                      Year Ended December 31,           Year Ended December 31,
                                                   ------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                                        1997            1996             1997             1996
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
<S>                                                <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income..........................   $   717,784      $   942,056      $ 1,211,086     $  1,252,707
  Net realized gains.............................       474,628          281,243        1,084,457          346,321
  Net unrealized gains...........................       290,335          168,726          413,062           27,275
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
      Increase in net assets from operations.....   $ 1,482,747      $ 1,392,025      $ 2,708,605     $  1,626,303
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation Activity:
    Purchase payments received...................   $   212,184      $   373,887      $   641,130     $    728,572
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account....................................       199,334         (133,634)          83,029          455,068
    Withdrawals, surrenders, annuitizations and
      contract charges...........................    (2,269,739)      (2,039,017)      (2,113,363)      (1,326,391)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
      Net accumulation activity..................   $(1,858,221)     $(1,798,764)     $(1,389,204)    $   (142,751)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
  Annuitization Activity:
    Annuitizations...............................   $   --           $   --           $  --           $   --
    Annuity payments and contract charges........        (5,630)          (6,135)            (164)            (135)
    Adjustments to annuity reserves..............          (427)            (255)         (11,371)          11,582
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
      Net annuitization activity.................   $    (6,057)     $    (6,390)     $   (11,535)    $     11,447
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract owner
    transactions.................................   $(1,864,278)     $(1,805,154)     $(1,400,739     $   (131,304)
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
      (Increase) in net assets...................   $  (381,531)     $  (413,129)     $ 1,307,866        1,494,999
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year..............................    13,523,377       13,936,506       11,720,722       10,225,723
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
  End of year....................................   $13,141,846      $13,523,377      $13,028,588     $ 11,720,722
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
                                                   --------------   -------------   --------------   --------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      MMS                              TRS
                                                                  Sub-Account                      Sub-Account
                                                         ------------------------------   -----------------------------
                                                            Year Ended December 31,          Year Ended December 31,
                                                         ------------------------------   -----------------------------
                                                              1997             1996            1997            1996
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
<S>                                                      <C>               <C>            <C>              <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income................................    $   497,700     $   524,831     $  3,740,675    $  2,404,032
  Net realized gains...................................       --               --             2,659,733       1,937,824
  Net unrealized gains.................................       --               --             1,621,733         489,044
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
      Increase in net assets from operations...........    $   497,700     $   524,831     $  8,022,141    $  4,830,900
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation Activity:
    Purchase payments received.........................    $   361,788     $   506,719     $  1,583,065    $  1,903,724
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account..........................................        457,557       1,225,167          101,838         (23,251)
    Withdrawals, surrenders, annuitizations and
      contract charges.................................     (4,535,913)     (3,891,615)      (6,305,584)     (5,723,230)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
      Net accumulation activity........................    $(3,716,568)    $(2,159,729)    $ (4,620,681)   $ (3,842,757)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
  Annuitization Activity:
    Annuitizations.....................................    $  --           $   --          $     56,378    $     19,728
    Annuity payments and contract charges..............         (1,179)         (4,273)         (82,242)        (68,505)
    Adjustments to annuity reserves....................         10,821         (11,568)         (19,810)        (13,885)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
      Net annuitization activity.......................    $     9,642     $   (15,841)    $    (45,674)   $    (62,662)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract owner
    transactions.......................................    $(3,706,926)    $(2,175,570)    $ (4,666,355)   $ (3,905,419)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
    Increase (decrease) in net assets..................    $(3,209,226)    $(1,650,739)    $  3,355,786    $    925,481
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year....................................     15,606,539      17,257,278       41,150,350      40,224,869
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
  End of year..........................................    $12,397,313     $15,606,539     $ 44,506,136    $ 41,150,350
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                      WGS
                                                                  Sub-Account                         Total
                                                         ------------------------------   -----------------------------
                                                            Year Ended December 31,          Year Ended December 31,
                                                         ------------------------------   -----------------------------
                                                              1997             1996            1997            1996
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
<S>                                                      <C>               <C>            <C>              <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income................................    $   177,640     $   951,977     $ 12,617,273    $ 11,298,193
  Net realized gains (losses)..........................       (221,118)       (130,309)       8,186,836       6,984,800
  Net unrealized gains (losses)........................       (115,094)       (582,106)       6,016,032         993,730
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
      Increase (decrease) in net assets from
        operations.....................................    $  (158,572)    $   239,562     $ 26,820,141    $ 19,276,723
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation Activity:
    Purchase payments received.........................    $   200,405     $   408,414     $  6,219,947    $  7,533,836
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account..........................................       (327,982)       (463,423)        (730,163)       (247,843)
    Withdrawals, surrenders, annuitizations and
      contract charges.................................     (1,751,969)     (1,295,854)     (29,544,732)    (26,534,825)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
      Net accumulation activity........................    $(1,879,546)    $(1,350,863)    $(24,054,948)   $(19,248,832)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
  Annuitization Activity:
    Annuitizations.....................................    $  --           $   --          $    123,490    $     37,942
    Annuity payments and contract charges..............       --               --              (138,399)       (143,789)
    Adjustments to annuity reserves....................       --               --               (21,265)        (11,943)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
      Net annuitization activity                           $  --           $   --          $    (36,174)   $   (117,790)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract owner
    transactions.......................................    $(1,879,546)    $(1,350,863)    $(24,091,122)   $(19,366,622)
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
    Increase (decrease) in net assets..................    $(2,038,118)    $(1,111,301)    $  2,729,019    $    (89,899)
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year....................................      7,175,144       8,286,445      175,789,539     175,879,438
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
  End of year..........................................    $ 5,137,026     $ 7,175,144     $178,518,558    $175,789,539
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
                                                         ---------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
(1) ORGANIZATION
 
Sun Life (N.Y.) Variable Account B (the "Variable Account"), a separate account
of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York, the Sponsor (a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)), was
established on December 3, 1984 as a funding vehicle for individual variable
annuities. The Variable Account is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a unit investment trust.
 
The assets of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each
Sub-Account is invested in shares of a specific series of MFS/Sun Life Series
Trust (the "Series Trust") as selected by contract owners. The Series Trust is
an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Massachusetts Financial Services Company, an affiliate of
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), is investment adviser to the Series
Trust.
 
(2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
GENERAL
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
INVESTMENT VALUATIONS
 
Investments in shares of the Series Trust are recorded at their net asset value.
Realized gains and losses on sales of shares of the Series Trust are determined
on the identified cost basis. Dividend income and capital gain distributions
received by the Sub-Accounts are reinvested in additional Series Trust shares
and are recognized on the ex-dividend date.
 
Exchanges between Sub-Accounts requested by contract owners are recorded in the
new Sub-Account upon receipt of the redemption proceeds.
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
 
The operations of the Variable Account are part of the operations of the Sponsor
and are not taxed separately. The Variable Account is not taxed as a regulated
investment company. The Sponsor qualifies for the federal income tax treatment
granted to life insurance companies under Subchapter L of the Internal Revenue
Code. Under existing federal income tax law, investment income and capital gains
earned by the Variable Account on contract owner reserves are not subject to
tax.
 
(3) CONTRACT CHARGES
 
A mortality and expense risk charge based on the value of the Variable Account
is deducted from the Variable Account at the end of each valuation period for
the mortality and expense risks assumed by the Sponsor. These deductions are
transferred periodically to the Sponsor. Currently, the deduction is at an
effective annual rate of 1.3% of the assets of the Variable Account attributable
to Compass 2 contracts and 1.25% of the assets of the Variable Account
attributable to Compass 3 contracts.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
 
Each year on the contract anniversary, a contract maintenance charge of $30 is
deducted from each contract's accumulation account to cover administrative
expenses relating to the contract. After the annuity commencement date the
charge is deducted pro rata from each annuity payment made during the year.
 
The Sponsor does not deduct a sales charge from purchase payments. However, a
withdrawal charge (contingent deferred sales charge) may be deducted to cover
certain expenses relating to the sale of the contract. In no event shall the
aggregate withdrawal charges (including the distribution expense charge
described below applicable to Compass 3 contracts) exceed 5% of the purchase
payments made under a Compass 2 contract or 9% of the purchase payments made
under a Compass 3 contract.
 
For assuming the risk that withdrawal charges may be insufficient to compensate
it for the costs of distributing the Compass 3 contracts, the Sponsor makes a
deduction from the Variable Account at the end of each valuation period for the
first seven contract years (during both the accumulation period and, if
applicable, after annuity payments begin) at an effective annual rate of 0.15%
of the assets of the Variable Account attributable to such contracts. No
deduction is made after the seventh contract anniversary. No such deduction is
made with respect to assets attributable to Compass 2 contracts.
 
(4) ANNUITY RESERVES
 
Annuity reserves for contracts with annuity commencement dates prior to February
1, 1987 have been calculated using the 1971 Individual Annuitant Mortality
Table. Annuity reserves for contracts with annuity commencement dates on or
after February 1, 1987 are calculated using the 1983 Individual Annuitant
Mortality Table. All annuity reserves are calculated using an assumed interest
rate of 4%. Required adjustments to the reserve are accomplished by transfers to
or from the Sponsor.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
 
(5) UNIT ACTIVITY FROM CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             CAS                       GSS                     HYS
                                         Sub-Account               Sub-Account             Sub-Account
                                   -----------------------   -----------------------   -------------------
                                         Year Ended                Year Ended              Year Ended
                                        December 31,              December 31,            December 31,
                                   -----------------------   -----------------------   -------------------
COMPASS 2 CONTRACTS                   1997         1996         1997         1996        1997       1996
- ---------------------------------  ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
<S>                                <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>
Units Outstanding Beginning of
 Year                               1,149,253    1,311,905    1,160,869    1,317,288    489,793    570,116
    Units purchased                    25,636       34,513       22,468       29,010      3,272      5,193
    Units transferred between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account                           7,308      (32,094)     (79,806)      25,659      6,890     (6,162)
    Units withdrawn, surrendered,
      and annuitized                 (133,086)    (165,071)    (206,264)    (211,088)   (78,483)   (79,354)
                                   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
Units Outstanding End of Year       1,049,111    1,149,253      897,267    1,160,869    421,472    489,793
                                   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
                                   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
 
<CAPTION>
                                             MSS
                                         Sub-Account
                                   -----------------------
                                         Year Ended
                                        December 31,
                                   -----------------------
COMPASS 2 CONTRACTS                   1997         1996
- ---------------------------------  ----------   ----------
<S>                                <C>          <C>
Units Outstanding Beginning of
 Year                                 314,243      331,221
    Units purchased                     8,716       11,544
    Units transferred between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account                          (1,885)      12,613
    Units withdrawn, surrendered,
      and annuitized                  (50,450)     (41,135)
                                   ----------   ----------
Units Outstanding End of Year         270,624      314,243
                                   ----------   ----------
                                   ----------   ----------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           MMS                     TRS                   WGS
                                       Sub-Account             Sub-Account           Sub-Account
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------  ------------------
                                        Year Ended              Year Ended            Year Ended
                                       December 31,            December 31,          December 31,
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------  ------------------
                                     1997        1996        1997        1996       1997      1996
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
<S>                               <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
Units Outstanding Beginning of
 Year                                917,551   1,084,910   1,532,369   1,740,564   358,117   433,736
    Units purchased                   14,540      20,814      34,725      40,026     6,591    10,747
    Units transferred between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account                         50,095      58,322         146      (6,258)  (15,604)  (20,115)
    Units withdrawn, surrendered,
      and annuitized                (268,634)   (246,495)   (222,087)   (241,963)  (92,164)  (66,251)
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
Units Outstanding End of Year        713,552     917,551   1,345,153   1,532,369   256,940   358,117
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
</TABLE>
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE (N.Y.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             CAS                       GSS                     HYS
                                         Sub-Account               Sub-Account             Sub-Account
                                   -----------------------   -----------------------   -------------------
                                         Year Ended                Year Ended              Year Ended
                                        December 31,              December 31,            December 31,
                                   -----------------------   -----------------------   -------------------
COMPASS 3 CONTRACTS                   1997         1996         1997         1996        1997       1996
- ---------------------------------  ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
<S>                                <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>
Units Outstanding Beginning of
 Year                                 231,231      184,876       58,052       39,286     58,945     43,963
    Units purchased                    72,122       82,988        6,833       23,535      9,036     20,780
    Units transferred between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account                           6,347      (23,851)        (373)      (1,004)       291      1,055
    Units withdrawn, surrendered,
      and annuitized                  (17,732)     (12,782)      (9,318)      (3,765)    (8,055)    (6,853)
                                   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
Units Outstanding End of Year         291,968      231,231       55,194       58,052     60,217     58,945
                                   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
                                   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   --------
 
<CAPTION>
                                             MSS
                                         Sub-Account
                                   -----------------------
                                         Year Ended
                                        December 31,
                                   -----------------------
COMPASS 3 CONTRACTS                   1997         1996
- ---------------------------------  ----------   ----------
<S>                                <C>          <C>
Units Outstanding Beginning of
 Year                                  82,578       53,846
    Units purchased                    18,777       29,174
    Units transferred between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account                          10,378        4,546
    Units withdrawn, surrendered,
      and annuitized                  (11,046)      (4,988)
                                   ----------   ----------
Units Outstanding End of Year         100,687       82,578
                                   ----------   ----------
                                   ----------   ----------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           MMS                     TRS                   WGS
                                       Sub-Account             Sub-Account           Sub-Account
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------  ------------------
                                        Year Ended              Year Ended            Year Ended
                                       December 31,            December 31,          December 31,
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------  ------------------
                                     1997        1996        1997        1996       1997      1996
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
<S>                               <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
Units Outstanding Beginning of
 Year                                 83,267      44,348     255,284     185,716    47,922    46,895
    Units purchased                   11,190      16,424      44,905      80,349     7,395    20,202
    Units transferred between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account                        (32,545)     25,043       4,923      10,544    (4,116)   (9,737)
    Units withdrawn, surrendered,
      and annuitized                 (14,479)     (2,548)    (23,197)    (21,325)   (8,650)   (9,438)
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
Units Outstanding End of Year         47,433      83,267     281,915     255,284    42,551    47,922
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------
</TABLE>
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
To the Contract Owners participating in Sun Life (N.Y.) Variable Account B
  and the Board of Directors of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New
York:
 
We have audited the accompanying statement of condition of Sun Life (N.Y.)
Variable Account B (the "Variable Account") as of December 31, 1997, the related
statements of operations for the year then ended and the statements of changes
in net assets for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996. These financial
statements are the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities held at December 31, 1997 by correspondence with the
custodian. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Variable Account as of December 31,
1997, the results of its operations and the changes in its net assets for the
respective stated periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Boston, Massachusetts
February 6, 1998
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.))
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF ADMITTED ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL STOCK AND
SURPLUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                          --------------------------
                                              1997          1996
                                          ------------  ------------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>
ADMITTED ASSETS
General Account Assets:
    Bonds                                 $ 61,703,336  $ 77,142,619
    Mortgage loans on real estate           25,787,001    40,431,773
    Properties acquired in satisfaction
      of debt                                  --          1,377,041
    Policy loans                               636,277       651,332
    Cash and short-term investments         10,120,237     4,614,994
    Life insurance premiums and annuity
      considerations due and uncollected       791,011       421,112
    Accident and health premiums due and
      unpaid                                   158,858        69,672
    Investment income due and accrued        1,083,939     1,737,199
    Other assets                               497,790        14,668
                                          ------------  ------------
    General account assets                 100,778,449   126,460,410
Separate Account Assets:
    Unitized                               406,430,585   303,896,114
    Non-unitized                           116,889,545    87,676,015
                                          ------------  ------------
    Total Admitted Assets                 $624,098,579  $518,032,539
                                          ------------  ------------
                                          ------------  ------------
LIABILITIES
General Account Liabilities:
    Aggregate reserve for life policies
      and contracts                       $ 22,374,626  $ 20,404,586
    Aggregate reserve for accident and
      health policies                        7,414,000     4,185,000
    Policy and contract claims               1,912,737     1,107,333
    Liability for premium and other
      deposit funds                         31,341,254    61,747,147
    Interest maintenance reserve               885,581     1,173,961
    Commissions to agents due or accrued       521,106       217,449
    General expenses due or accrued            415,105       218,624
    Transfers from Separate Accounts due
      or accrued                            (7,224,058)   (1,689,278)
    Taxes, licenses and fees due or
      accrued                                  114,986        96,884
    Federal income taxes due or accrued      1,000,000       400,000
    Asset valuation reserve                  1,346,335     1,845,237
    Payable to parent, subsidiaries and
      affiliates                             1,266,475     1,614,355
    Other liabilities                          810,594       509,201
                                          ------------  ------------
    General account liabilities             62,178,741    91,830,499
Separate Account Liabilities:
    Unitized                               406,249,110   303,723,382
    Non-unitized                           116,889,545    87,676,015
                                          ------------  ------------
    Total liabilities                      585,317,396   483,229,896
                                          ------------  ------------
CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
    Capital Stock--Par value $1,000;
      authorized issued and outstanding;
      2,000 shares                           2,000,000     2,000,000
                                          ------------  ------------
    Gross paid in and contributed
      surplus                               29,500,000    29,500,000
    Group life contingency reserve fund        180,457       118,381
    Unassigned funds                         7,100,726     3,184,262
                                          ------------  ------------
    Total Surplus                           36,781,183    32,802,643
                                          ------------  ------------
    Capital Stock and Surplus               38,781,183    34,802,643
                                          ------------  ------------
    Total liabilities, capital stock and
      surplus                             $624,098,579  $518,032,539
                                          ------------  ------------
                                          ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          ----------------------------------------
                                              1997          1996          1995
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>           <C>
INCOME:
    Premiums and annuity considerations   $ 16,670,915  $ 11,581,817  $ 11,731,623
    Deposit-type funds                     122,789,862    72,121,136    73,714,439
    Net investment income                    8,824,668    12,313,903    18,450,106
    Amortization of interest maintenance
      reserve                                  519,001       704,763       753,351
    Net gain from operations from
      Separate Accounts                          8,743         8,101       --
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Total Income                         148,813,189    96,729,720   104,649,519
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES:
    Death benefits                           4,916,746     2,881,367     2,589,934
    Annuity benefits                         5,439,091     7,175,995     6,606,801
    Disability benefits and benefits
      under accident and health policies       939,635       464,615       233,549
    Surrender benefits and other fund
      withdrawals                          111,623,776   118,432,072   118,975,912
    Interest on policy or contract funds        75,069        83,323       --
    Increase in aggregate reserves for
      life and accident and health
      policies and contracts                 5,199,040     1,550,701     3,022,081
    Decrease in liability for premium
      and other deposit funds              (30,405,893)  (67,996,389)  (71,733,008)
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Total Benefits                        97,787,464    62,591,684    59,695,269
    Commissions on premiums and annuity
      considerations (direct business
      only)                                  5,582,738     3,047,358     3,212,849
    General insurance expenses               7,687,478     6,093,131     5,716,492
    Insurance taxes, licenses and fees,
      excluding federal income taxes           788,386       729,244       579,585
    Net transfers to Separate Accounts      31,479,097    19,487,747    32,047,554
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Total Benefits and Expenses          143,325,163    91,949,164   101,251,749
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
    Net gain from operations before
      dividends to policyholders and
      federal income taxes                   5,488,026     4,780,556     3,397,770
    Federal income taxes incurred
      (excluding tax on capital gains)       2,315,259     1,938,734     2,446,706
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
    Net gain from operations after
      dividends to policyholders and
      federal income taxes and before
      realized capital gains                 3,172,767     2,841,822       951,064
    Net realized capital gains (losses)
      less capital gains tax and
      transferred to the interest
      maintenance reserve                      183,262      (439,101)      (21,536)
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
NET INCOME                                $  3,356,029  $  2,402,721  $    929,528
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          -------------------------------------
                                             1997         1996         1995
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS, BEGINNING OF YEAR    $34,802,643  $31,964,414  $31,409,069
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
    Net income                              3,356,029    2,402,721      929,528
    Change in net unrealized capital
      gains (losses)                          138,000      702,000     (672,000)
    Change in nonadmitted assets and
      related items                           (14,391)      32,888       71,263
    Change in asset valuation reserve         498,902     (299,380)     226,554
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
    Net change in capital and surplus
      for the year                          3,978,540    2,838,229      555,345
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS, END OF YEAR          $38,781,183  $34,802,643  $31,964,414
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.))
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          ----------------------------------------
                                              1997          1996          1995
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>           <C>
CASH PROVIDED
    Premiums, annuity considerations and
      deposit funds received              $139,005,632  $ 83,598,181  $ 85,243,958
    Net investment income                    9,707,801    14,106,521    19,808,090
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Total receipts                       148,713,433    97,704,702   105,052,048
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
    Benefits paid                          122,170,301   128,975,968   128,129,129
    Insurance expenses and taxes paid       13,540,362     9,712,774     9,655,310
    Net cash transfers to separate
      accounts                              37,013,877    22,213,704    29,702,679
    Federal income tax payments
      (excluding tax on capital gains)       1,715,259     2,909,899     2,125,541
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Total payments                       174,439,799   163,812,345   169,612,659
    Net cash from operations               (25,726,366)  (66,107,643)  (64,560,611)
    Proceeds from long-term investments
      sold, matured or repaid (after
      deducting taxes on capital gains
      of $222,860 for 1997, $(112,405)
      for 1996 and $324,248 for 1995)       59,132,310    86,583,714   123,662,512
    Other cash provided                        325,543     4,654,856       444,240
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Total cash provided                   59,457,853    91,238,570   124,106,752
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
CASH APPLIED
    Cost of long-term investments
      acquired                              27,369,138    28,654,582    51,631,901
    Other cash applied                         857,106       166,107     2,401,799
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Total cash applied                    28,226,244    28,820,689    54,033,700
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
      Net change in cash and short-term
        investments                          5,505,243    (3,689,762)    5,512,441
CASH AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS:
BEGINNING OF YEAR                            4,614,994     8,304,756     2,792,315
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
END OF YEAR                               $ 10,120,237  $  4,614,994  $  8,304,756
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
1.  DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
GENERAL--
 
Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York (the "Company") is
incorporated as a life insurance company and is currently engaged in the sale of
individual fixed and variable annuities and group life and long-term disability
insurance. The parent company, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) (Sun
Life of Canada (U.S.)), is ultimately a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada (Sun Life (Canada)), a mutual life insurance
company.
 
The Company, which is domiciled in the State of New York, prepares its financial
statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or
permitted by the Insurance Department of the State of New York. Prescribed
accounting practices include a variety of publications of the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"), as well as New York State laws,
regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted accounting practices
encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed. The permitted accounting
practices adopted by the Company are not material to the financial statements.
Prior to 1996, statutory accounting practices were recognized by the insurance
industry and the accounting profession as generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") for mutual life insurance companies and stock life insurance
companies wholly owned by mutual life insurance companies. In April of 1993, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an interpretation (the
"Interpretation") which became effective in 1996 that has changed the previous
practice of mutual life insurance companies (and stock life insurance companies
that are wholly owned subsidiaries of mutual life insurance companies) with
respect to utilizing statutory basis financial statements for general purposes,
in that it will no longer allow such financial statements to be described as
having been prepared in conformity with GAAP. Consequently, these financial
statements prepared in conformity with statutory accounting practices as
described above, vary from and are not intended to present the Company's
financial position, results of operations or cash flow in conformity with GAAP.
(See Note 16 for further discussion relative to the Company's basis of financial
statement presentation.) The effects on the financial statements of the
variances between the statutory basis of accounting and GAAP, although not
reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.
 
INVESTED ASSETS--
 
Bonds are carried at cost adjusted for amortization of premium or accrual of
discount. Mortgage loans acquired at a premium or discount are carried at
amortized values and other mortgage loans at the amounts of the unpaid balances.
Real estate investments are carried at the lower of cost, adjusted for
accumulated depreciation, or appraised value less encumbrances. Short-term
investments are carried at amortized cost which approximates fair value.
Depreciation of buildings and improvements is calculated using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful life of the property, generally three to
sixteen years.
 
POLICY AND CONTRACT RESERVES--
 
The reserves for group life insurance, group long-term disability insurance and
annuity contracts, developed by accepted actuarial methods, have been
established and maintained on the basis of published mortality and morbidity
tables using assumed interest rates and valuation methods that will provide
reserves at least as great as those required by law and contract provisions.
 
INCOME AND EXPENSES--
 
For group life, group long-term disability and annuity contracts, premiums are
recognized as revenues over the premium paying period, whereas commissions and
other costs applicable to the acquisition of new business are charged to
operations as incurred.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
1.  DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES (CONTINUED):
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS--
 
The Company has established unitized separate accounts applicable to individual
qualified and non-qualified variable annuity contracts.
 
Assets and liabilities of the separate accounts, representing net deposits and
accumulated net investment earnings less fees, held primarily for the benefit of
contract holders, are shown as separate captions in the statutory financial
statements. Assets held in the separate accounts are carried at market values.
 
The Company has also established a non-unitized separate account for amounts
allocated to the fixed portion of a certain combination fixed/variable deferred
annuity contract. The assets of this account are available to fund general
account liabilities and general account assets are available to fund liabilities
of this account.
 
Gains (losses) from mortality experience and investment experience of the
separate accounts, not applicable to contract owners, are transferred to (from)
the general account. Accumulated gains (losses) that have not been transferred
are recorded as payable (receivable) to (from) the general account. Transfers
from separate accounts due or accrued amounted to $7,224,000 in 1997 and
$1,689,000 in 1996.
 
OTHER--
 
Preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Certain 1996 and 1995 amounts have been reclassified to conform to amounts as
presented in 1997.
 
2.  BONDS:
Investments in debt securities are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                      GROSS       GROSS     ESTIMATED
                                          AMORTIZED UNREALIZED   UNREALIZED   FAIR
                                            COST      GAINS       LOSSES     VALUE
                                          --------  ----------   --------   --------
                                                          (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>
Long-term bonds:
    United States Government and
     government agencies and authorities  $15,005     $  311        -$      $15,316
    Foreign governments                       523         16        -           539
    Public utilities                       12,126        341        -        12,467
    Finance                                 4,026         80        -         4,106
    All other corporate bonds              30,023        696          16     30,703
                                          --------  ----------   --------   --------
        Total long-term bonds              61,703      1,444          16     63,131
                                          --------  ----------   --------   --------
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers
     acceptances and commercial paper       9,406      -            -         9,406
                                          --------  ----------   --------   --------
                                          $71,109     $1,444         $16    $72,537
                                          --------  ----------   --------   --------
                                          --------  ----------   --------   --------
</TABLE>
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
2.  BONDS (CONTINUED):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                          --------------------------------------------
                                                      GROSS        GROSS      ESTIMATED
                                          AMORTIZED UNREALIZED   UNREALIZED     FAIR
                                            COST      GAINS        LOSSES      VALUE
                                          --------  ----------   ----------   --------
                                                           (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>       <C>          <C>          <C>
Long-term bonds:
    United States Government and
     government agencies and authorities  $ 9,075     $  179       $-         $ 9,254
    Foreign governments                       530         14        -             544
    Public utilities                       19,997        434            8      20,423
    Transportation                            468         34        -             502
    Finance                                 9,643        182        -           9,825
    All other corporate bonds              37,430      1,149           33      38,546
                                          --------  ----------      -----     --------
        Total long-term bonds              77,143      1,992           41      79,094
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers
     acceptances and commercial paper       4,507      -            -           4,507
                                          --------  ----------      -----     --------
                                          $81,650     $1,992       $   41     $83,601
                                          --------  ----------      -----     --------
                                          --------  ----------      -----     --------
</TABLE>
 
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of bonds at December 31, 1997 by
contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from
contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay
obligations with or without call and/or prepayment penalties.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                          -----------------------
                                          AMORTIZED   ESTIMATED
                                            COST      FAIR VALUE
                                          ---------  ------------
                                                (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>        <C>
Maturities are:
    Due in one year or less                $21,723     $ 21,825
    Due after one year through five
     years                                  33,228       34,015
    Due after five years through ten
     years                                   2,386        2,499
    Due after ten years                      6,162        6,471
                                          ---------  ------------
        Subtotal                            63,499       64,810
                                          ---------  ------------
    Mortgage-backed securities               7,610        7,727
                                          ---------  ------------
                                           $71,109     $ 72,537
                                          ---------  ------------
                                          ---------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments in debt securities during
1997, 1996 and 1995 were $42,986,000, $76,431,000 and $111,448,000,
respectively. Gross gains of $395,000, $537,000 and $1,295,000 and gross losses
of $40,000, $183,000 and $335,000 were realized on such sales during 1997, 1996
and 1995, respectively.
 
A bond, included above, with an amortized cost of approximately $408,000 and
$412,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, was on deposit with the
Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York as required by law.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
3.  MORTGAGE LOANS:
The Company invests in commercial first mortgage loans throughout the United
States. The Company monitors the condition of the mortgage loans in its
portfolio. In those cases where mortgages have been restructured, appropriate
allowances for losses have been made. In those cases where, in management's
judgment, the mortgage loans' values are impaired, appropriate losses are
recorded.
 
The following table shows the geographic distribution of the mortgage loan
portfolio at December 31:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           1997     1996
                                          -------  -------
                                             (IN 000'S)
 
<S>                                       <C>      <C>
New York                                  $ 4,375  $10,717
California                                  4,672    4,884
Massachusetts                               2,556    6,542
Ohio                                        1,308    3,445
Florida                                     3,313    3,795
All other                                   9,563   11,049
                                          -------  -------
                                          $25,787  $40,432
                                          -------  -------
                                          -------  -------
</TABLE>
 
As of December 31, 1997, the Company has restructured mortgage loans totaling
$960,000 against which there are allowances for losses of $250,000.
 
4.  INVESTMENT GAINS (LOSSES):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              YEARS ENDED
                                             DECEMBER 31,
                                          -------------------
                                          1997   1996   1995
                                          -----  -----  -----
                                              (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>    <C>    <C>
Realized capital gains (losses):
    Mortgage loans                        $  (6) $(676) $  (1)
    Real estate                             288    -      (32)
                                          -----  -----  -----
                                            282   (676)   (33)
                                          -----  -----  -----
                                          -----  -----  -----
Changes in unrealized capital gains
 (losses) on mortgage loans               $ 138  $ 702  $(672)
                                          -----  -----  -----
                                          -----  -----  -----
</TABLE>
 
Realized capital gains and losses on bonds and mortgages which relate to changes
in levels of interest rate risk are charged or credited to an interest
maintenance reserve ("IMR") and amortized into income over the remaining
contractual life of the security sold. The gross realized capital gains credited
to the interest maintenance reserve were $355,000, $354,000 and $960,000 in
1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. All gains are transferred net of applicable
income taxes.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
5.  NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
Net investment income consisted of the following for:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          -------------------------
                                           1997     1996     1995
                                          -------  -------  -------
                                                 (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>      <C>      <C>
Interest income from bonds                $ 5,622  $ 8,576  $13,020
Interest income from mortgage loans         3,279    4,252    5,882
Real estate investment income (loss)          483      376      (52)
Other investment income (loss)                170      (93)     170
                                          -------  -------  -------
    Gross investment income                 9,554   13,111   19,020
Investment expenses                           729      797      570
                                          -------  -------  -------
Net investment income                     $ 8,825  $12,314  $18,450
                                          -------  -------  -------
                                          -------  -------  -------
</TABLE>
 
6.  REINSURANCE:
The Company has agreements with Sun Life (Canada) which provide that Sun Life
(Canada) will reinsure the mortality and morbidity risks of the group life
insurance contracts and group long-term disability contracts issued by the
Company. Under these agreements, basic death benefits and long-term disability
benefits are reinsured on a yearly renewable term basis. The agreements provide
that Sun Life (Canada) will reinsure the mortality risks in excess of $50,000
per policy for group life insurance contracts and $3,000 per policy per month
for the group long-term disability contracts ceded by the Company. Reinsurance
transactions under these agreements had the effect of increasing income from
operations by $139,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997, decreasing income
from operations by $500,000 for the year ended December 31, 1996 and increasing
income from operations by $652,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
The group life and long-term disability reinsurance agreements require that the
reinsurer provide funds in amounts equal to the reserves ceded.
 
The following are summarized proforma results of operations of the Company for
the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 before the effect of
reinsurance transactions with Sun Life (Canada).
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          ---------------------------
                                            1997     1996      1995
                                          --------  -------  --------
                                                  (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>       <C>      <C>
Income:
    Premiums, annuity deposits and other
     revenues                             $142,915  $85,947  $ 86,819
    Net investment income                    9,343   13,019    19,204
                                          --------  -------  --------
    Subtotal                               152,258   98,966   106,023
                                          --------  -------  --------
Benefits and expenses:
    Policyholder benefits                  101,371   64,328    61,720
    Other expenses                          45,538   29,357    41,557
                                          --------  -------  --------
    Subtotal                               146,909   93,685   103,277
                                          --------  -------  --------
Income from operations                    $  5,349  $ 5,281  $  2,746
                                          --------  -------  --------
                                          --------  -------  --------
</TABLE>
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
7.  WITHDRAWAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANNUITY ACTUARIAL RESERVES AND DEPOSIT
LIABILITIES:
Withdrawal characteristics of general account and separate account annuity
reserves and deposits:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                          --------------------
                                           AMOUNT   % OF TOTAL
                                          --------  ----------
                                               (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>       <C>
Subject to discretionary withdrawal:
  --with market value adjustment          $120,764     21.40%
  --at book value less surrender charges
   (surrender charge > 5%)                  13,811      2.40
  --at book value (minimal or no charge
   or adjustment)                          410,484     72.70
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal
 provision                                  19,972      3.50
                                          --------  ----------
Total annuity actuarial reserves and
 deposit liabilities                      $565,031    100.00%
                                          --------  ----------
                                          --------  ----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                           DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                          --------------------
                                           AMOUNT   % OF TOTAL
                                          --------  ----------
                                               (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>       <C>
Subject to discretionary withdrawal:
  --with market value adjustment          $ 92,135     19.60%
  --at book value less surrender charges
   (surrender charge > 5%)                  38,668      8.20
  --at book value (minimal or no
   surrender charge or adjustment)         318,886     67.90
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal
 provision                                  20,326      4.30
                                          --------  ----------
Total annuity actuarial reserves and
 deposit liabilities                      $470,015    100.00%
                                          --------  ----------
                                          --------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
8.  RETIREMENT PLANS:
The Company participates with Sun Life (Canada) and Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) in
a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering essentially all
employees. The benefits are based on years of service and compensation.
 
The funding policy for the pension plan is to contribute an amount which at
least satisfies the minimum amount required by ERISA; the plan is currently
fully funded. The Company is charged for its share of the pension cost based
upon its covered participants. Pension plan assets consist principally of a
variable accumulation fund contract held in a separate account of Sun Life
(Canada).
 
The Company's share of the group's accrued pension cost at December 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995 was $211,000, $178,000 and $97,000, respectively. The Company's
share of net periodic pension cost was $33,000, $81,000 and $18,000 for the
years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
The Company also participates with Sun Life (Canada), Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)
and certain affiliates in a 401(k) savings plan for which substantially all
employees are eligible. The Company matches, up to specified amounts, employees'
contributions to the plan. Employer contributions were $28,000, $27,000 and
$21,000 for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
 
In addition to pension benefits, the Company provides certain health, dental and
life insurance benefits ("post-retirement benefits") for retired employees and
dependents. Substantially all employees may become eligible for these benefits
if they reach normal retirement age while working for the Company, or retire
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
8.  RETIREMENT PLANS (CONTINUED):
early upon satisfying an alternate age plus service condition. Life insurance
benefits are generally set at a fixed amount. The expense recognized in the
financial statements relative to this plan was $16,000 in 1997, $8,000 in 1996
and $7,000 in 1995.
 
9.  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:
The following table presents the carrying amounts and fair values of the
Company's financial instruments at December 31, 1997 and 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1997                            1996
                                          -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                             CARRYING                        CARRYING
                                              AMOUNT        FAIR VALUE        AMOUNT        FAIR VALUE
                                          --------------   ------------   --------------   ------------
                                                                   (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>              <C>            <C>              <C>
ASSETS:
Bonds                                        $ 71,109        $ 72,537        $ 81,650        $   83,601
Mortgages                                      25,787          26,557          40,432            41,196
                                              -------      ------------   --------------   ------------
Total                                        $ 98,896        $ 99,094        $122,082        $  124,797
                                              -------      ------------   --------------   ------------
                                              -------      ------------   --------------   ------------
LIABILITIES:
Individual annuities                         $ 40,479        $ 38,177        $ 70,166        $   68,830
                                              -------      ------------   --------------   ------------
                                              -------      ------------   --------------   ------------
</TABLE>
 
The major methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of
financial instruments are as follows:
 
The fair values of short-term bonds are estimated to be the amortized cost. The
fair values of long-term bonds which are publicly traded are based upon market
prices or dealer quotes. For privately placed bonds, fair values are estimated
using prices for publicly traded bonds of similar credit risk, maturity,
repayment and liquidity characteristics.
 
The fair values of the Company's general account reserves and liabilities under
investment-type contracts (insurance and annuity contracts that do not involve
mortality or morbidity risks) are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses
or surrender values. Those contracts that are deemed to have short-term
guarantees have a carrying amount equal to the estimated market value.
 
The fair values of mortgages are estimated by discounting future cash flows
using current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with
similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.
 
10. STATUTORY INVESTMENT VALUATION RESERVES:
The asset valuation reserve ("AVR") provides a reserve for losses from
investments in bonds, mortgage loans, real-estate and other invested assets with
related increases or decreases being recorded directly to surplus.
 
Realized capital gains and losses on bonds and mortgages which relate to changes
in levels of interest rate risk are charged or credited to an IMR and amortized
into income over the remaining contractual life of the security sold.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
10. STATUTORY INVESTMENT VALUATION RESERVES (CONTINUED):
The table shown below presents changes in the major elements of the AVR and IMR.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               1997            1996
                                          --------------  --------------
                                           AVR     IMR     AVR     IMR
                                          ------  ------  ------  ------
                                            (IN 000'S)      (IN 000'S)
<S>                                       <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
Balance, beginning of year                $1,845  $1,174  $1,546  $1,648
Net realized capital gains (losses), net
 of tax                                      183     231    (439)    230
Amortization of net investment gains        -       (519)   -       (704)
Unrealized investment gains                  138    -        702    -
Required by formula                         (820)   -         36    -
                                          ------  ------  ------  ------
Balance, end of year                      $1,346  $  886  $1,845  $1,174
                                          ------  ------  ------  ------
                                          ------  ------  ------  ------
</TABLE>
 
11. LIABILITY FOR UNPAID CLAIMS AND CLAIM ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES:
Activity in the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expense is
summarized below (in 000's).
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1997     1996     1995
                                                     -------  -------  -------
 <S>                                                 <C>      <C>      <C>
 Balance, January 1                                  $ 6,129  $ 4,320  $ 2,322
 Claims incurred                                       9,008    5,061    4,789
 Claims paid                                          (4,898)  (3,252)  (2,791)
                                                     -------  -------  -------
 Balance, December 31                                $10,239  $ 6,129  $ 4,320
                                                     -------  -------  -------
                                                     -------  -------  -------
</TABLE>
 
The information presented above includes unpaid benefit claims and claim
adjustment expenses for the group life and group long-term disability contracts.
As of December 31, 1997, the unpaid claim and claim adjustment liability for
these contracts is included in Policy Reserves.
 
12. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES:
The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return with Sun Life of
Canada (U.S.) and other affiliates. Federal income taxes are calculated as if
the Company filed a return as a separate company. No provision is recognized for
timing differences which may exist between financial statement and taxable
income. Such differences include reserves, depreciation and accrual of market
discount on bonds. The Company made cash payments to Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)
of $1,938,000, $2,797,000 and $2,421,000 during 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
 
13. LEASE COMMITMENTS:
The Company leases two separate facilities for its annuity operations and group
sales office. Both leases commenced in March 1994.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company Of Canada (U.S.))
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
13. LEASE COMMITMENTS (CONTINUED):
Future minimum lease commitments are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
 ------------------------------  AMOUNT
                                 ------
                                  (IN
                                 000'S)
 <S>                             <C>
 1998                            $ 354
 1999                              305
 2000                              237
 2001                              237
 2002                              237
 Thereafter                        275
                                 ------
 Total                           $1,645
                                 ------
                                 ------
</TABLE>
 
Rent expense under these and prior leases in 1997, 1996 and 1995 amounted to
$348,000, $336,000 and $336,000, respectively.
 
14. MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACTS:
The Company has agreements with Sun Life (Canada) which provide that Sun Life
(Canada) will furnish to the Company, as requested, personnel as well as certain
investment, actuarial and administrative services on a cost reimbursement basis.
Expenses under these agreements amounted to approximately $1,155,000 in 1997,
$1,866,000 in 1996 and $1,741,000 in 1995.
 
15. RISK-BASED CAPITAL:
Effective December 31, 1993, the NAIC adopted risk-based capital requirements
for life insurance companies. The risk-based capital requirements provide a
method for measuring the minimum acceptable amount of adjusted capital that a
life insurer should have, as determined under statutory accounting practices,
taking into account the risk characteristics of its investments and products.
The Company has met the minimum risk-based capital requirements at December 31,
1997 and 1996.
 
16. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES:
The financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the basis of
statutory accounting practices which, prior to 1996, were considered by the
insurance industry and the accounting profession to be in accordance with GAAP
for mutual life insurance companies. The primary differences between statutory
accounting and GAAP are described as follows. Statutory accounting practices do
not recognize the following assets or liabilities which are reflected under
GAAP; deferred acquisition costs, deferred federal income taxes and statutory
non admitted assets. AVR and IMR are established under statutory accounting
practices but not under GAAP. Methods for calculating real estate depreciation
and investment valuation allowances differ under statutory accounting practices
and GAAP. Premiums for investment-type products are recognized as income for
statutory purposes and as deposits to policyholders' accounts for GAAP.
 
Because the Company's management uses financial information prepared in
conformity with accounting policies generally accepted in Canada in the normal
course of business, the management of the Company has determined that the cost
of complying with Statement No. 120 would exceed the benefits that the Company,
or the users of its financial statements, would experience. Consequently, the
Company has elected not to apply such standards in the preparation of these
financial statements.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY OF NEW YORK
 
We have audited the accompanying statutory statements of admitted assets,
liabilities and capital stock and surplus of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity
Company of New York ("the Company") as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the
related statutory statements of operations, changes in capital stock and
surplus, and cash flow for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
As described more fully in Notes 1 and 16 to the financial statements, the
Company prepared these financial statements using accounting practices
prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Department of the State of New York,
which practices differ from generally accepted accounting principles. The
effects on the financial statements of the variances between the statutory basis
of accounting and generally accepted accounting principles, although not
reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the admitted assets, liabilities and capital stock and
surplus of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York as of December 31,
1997 and 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash flow for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 on the basis of accounting
described in Notes 1 and 16.
 
However, because of the effects of the matter discussed in the second preceding
paragraph, in our opinion, the statutory financial statements referred to above
do not present fairly, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles, the financial position of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of
New York as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 or the results of its operations or
its cash flow for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997.
 
As management has stated in Note 16, because the Company's management uses
financial information prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in Canada in the normal course of business, the management of
Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York has determined that the cost
of complying with Statement No. 120, Accounting and Reporting by Mutual Life
Insurance Enterprises and by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration
Participating Contracts, would exceed the benefits that the Company, or the
users of its financial statements would experience. Consequently, the Company
has elected not to apply such standards in the preparation of these financial
statements.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
February 5, 1998
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX A
                               THE FIXED ACCOUNT
 
    THAT PORTION OF THE CONTRACT RELATING TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IS NOT REGISTERED
UNDER  THE SECURITIES  ACT OF  1933 ("1933  ACT") AND  THE FIXED  ACCOUNT IS NOT
REGISTERED AS AN  INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER  THE INVESTMENT COMPANY  ACT OF  1940
("1940  ACT"). ACCORDINGLY, NEITHER THE FIXED  ACCOUNT NOR ANY INTERESTS THEREIN
ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OR RESTRICTIONS  OF THE 1933 ACT OR THE 1940  ACT,
AND  THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS APPENDIX A HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY THE STAFF OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWING DISCLOSURE ABOUT  THE
FIXED  ACCOUNT MAY BE SUBJECT TO  CERTAIN GENERALLY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE
FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS REGARDING THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF DISCLOSURE.
 
A WORD ABOUT THE FIXED ACCOUNT
 
    The Fixed Account is  made up of  all of the general  assets of the  Company
other  than those allocated  to any separate account.  Purchase Payments will be
allocated to the Fixed Account as elected  by the Owner at the time of  purchase
or  as subsequently  changed. The  Company will invest  the assets  of the Fixed
Account in those  assets chosen by  the Company and  allowed by applicable  law.
Investment  income from such Fixed Account  assets will be allocated between the
Company and the contracts participating in the Fixed Account, in accordance with
the terms of such contracts.
 
    Annuity payments made to Annuitants under the Contracts will not be affected
by the mortality experience (death rate)  of persons receiving such payments  or
of  the general population. The Company  assumes this "mortality risk" by virtue
of annuity  rates incorporated  in  the Contract  which  cannot be  changed.  In
addition,  the  Company  guarantees  that  it  will  not  increase  charges  for
maintenance of the Contracts regardless of its actual expenses.
 
    Investment income from the Fixed  Account allocated to the Company  includes
compensation  for mortality and expense risks borne by the Company in connection
with Fixed Account Contracts. The Company  expects to derive a profit from  this
compensation.  The amount of  such investment income  allocated to the Contracts
will vary from year to year in the sole discretion of the Company. However,  the
Company  guarantees that it will  credit interest at a rate  of not less than 3%
per year, compounded annually, to amounts  allocated to the Fixed Account  under
the  Contracts. The Company  may credit interest at  a rate in  excess of 3% per
year; however, the Company is not obligated to credit any interest in excess  of
3%  per  year. There  is no  specific  formula for  the determination  of excess
interest credits. Such credits, if any, will be determined by the Company  based
on  information as to expected  investment yields. Some of  the factors that the
Company may  consider  in determining  whether  to credit  interest  to  amounts
allocated  to  the Fixed  Account and  the amount  thereof are  general economic
trends, rates of  return currently  available and anticipated  on the  Company's
investments,  regulatory  and  tax  requirements  and  competitive  factors. ANY
INTEREST CREDITED TO AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF 3%  PER
YEAR WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY. THE OWNER ASSUMES
THE  RISK THAT INTEREST CREDITED TO FIXED ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS MAY NOT EXCEED THE
MINIMUM GUARANTEED OF 3% FOR ANY GIVEN YEAR.
 
    The Company is aware  of no statutory limitations  on the maximum amount  of
interest  it may  credit, and  the Board  of Directors  has set  no limitations.
However, inherent in the Company's exercise of discretion in this regard is  the
equitable  allocation of  distributable earnings  and surplus  among its various
policyholders and contract owners and to its sole stockholder.
 
    Excess interest, if any, will be  credited on the fixed accumulation  value.
The  Company guarantees that, at any time, the fixed accumulation value will not
be less than  the amount of  Purchase Payments allocated  to the Fixed  Account,
plus  interest  at  the rate  of  3%  per year,  compounded  annually,  plus any
additional interest which  the Company  may, in  its discretion,  credit to  the
Fixed  Account, less  the sum of  all administrative or  withdrawal charges, any
applicable premium  taxes,  and  less  any amounts  surrendered.  If  the  Owner
surrenders  the Contract,  the amount available  from the Fixed  Account will be
reduced by any applicable
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
withdrawal charge (see "Withdrawal Charges" in the Prospectus). In no event will
the portion of the contract maintenance  charge that is deducted from the  Fixed
Account  cause the  Contract's fixed accumulation  value (adjusted  for any cash
withdrawals) to increase by less than 3% per year.
 
    If on  any  Contract Anniversary  the  rate  at which  the  Company  credits
interest  to amounts allocated to  the Fixed Account under  the Contract is less
than 80% of the  average discount rate on  52-week United States Treasury  Bills
for  the most  recent auction  prior to  the Contract  Anniversary on  which the
declared interest rate becomes applicable,  then during the 45-day period  after
the  Contract Anniversary the Owner may elect  to receive the value of the Fixed
Accumulation Units  credited  to  the Contract's  Accumulation  Account  without
assessment  of  a withdrawal  charge. Such  withdrawal  may, however,  result in
adverse tax consequences (see "Federal Tax Status" in the Prospectus).
 
    The Company reserves  the right to  defer the payment  of amounts  withdrawn
from  the Fixed  Account for  a period not  to exceed  six months  from the date
written request for such withdrawal is received by the Company.
 
FIXED ACCUMULATION VALUE
(1) CREDITING FIXED ACCUMULATION UNITS
 
    Upon receipt of a Purchase Payment by  the Company, all or that portion,  if
any,  of  the net  Purchase  Payment to  be allocated  to  the Fixed  Account in
accordance with  the allocation  factor  will be  credited to  the  Accumulation
Account   in  the  form  of  Fixed  Accumulation  Units.  The  number  of  Fixed
Accumulation Units to be  credited is determined by  dividing the dollar  amount
allocated  to the  Fixed Account  by the Fixed  Accumulation Unit  value for the
Contract for the Valuation Period during which the Purchase Payment is  received
by the Company.
 
(2) FIXED ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE
 
    A  Fixed  Accumulation Unit  value is  established at  $10.00 for  the first
Valuation Period of the calendar month in which the Contract is issued and  will
increase  for  each  successive Valuation  Period  as interest  is  accrued. All
Contracts issued in  a particular  calendar month and  at a  particular rate  of
interest, as specified in advance by the Company from time to time, will use the
same  series of  Fixed Accumulation  Unit values  throughout the  first Contract
Year.
 
    At the first Contract Anniversary the Fixed Accumulation Units credited to a
Contract's Accumulation Account  will be exchanged  for a second  type of  Fixed
Accumulation  Unit with an equal aggregate value.  The value of this second type
of Fixed Accumulation Unit will increase  for each Valuation Period during  each
Contract  Year as interest is accrued at a rate which shall have been determined
by the Company prior to the first day of each Contract Year.
 
    The Company  will  credit  interest to  the  Contract's  Fixed  Accumulation
Account  at a rate of  not less than 3% per  year, compounded annually. Once the
rate applicable to a specific Contract is established by the Company, it may not
be changed for the balance of the Contract Year. Additional Payments made during
the Contract Year will be credited with interest for the balance of the Contract
Year at the rate applicable  at the beginning of  that Contract Year. The  Fixed
Accumulation  Unit value for the Contract for  any Valuation Period is the value
determined as of the end of such Valuation Period.
 
(3) FIXED ACCUMULATION VALUE
 
    The fixed accumulation value of a Contract, if any, for any Valuation Period
is equal  to  the  value  of  the  Fixed  Accumulation  Units  credited  to  the
Accumulation Account for such Valuation Period.
 
LOANS FROM THE FIXED ACCOUNT (QUALIFIED CONTRACTS ONLY)
 
    Loans  will be permitted from the  Contract's Fixed Accumulation Account (to
the extent permitted by the retirement plan for which the Contract is purchased)
UNDER QUALIFIED CONTRACTS ONLY. The maximum
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
loan amount is the  amount determined under the  Company's maximum loan  formula
for qualified plans. The minimum loan amount is $1,000. Loans will be secured by
a  security interest in the Contract. Loans are subject to applicable retirement
program legislation and their  taxation is determined  under the federal  income
tax  laws. The amount borrowed will be  transferred to a fixed minimum guarantee
accumulation account  in the  Company's  general account  where it  will  accrue
interest  at  a  specified  rate  below the  then  current  loan  interest rate.
Generally, loans must be repaid within five years.
 
    The amount of the death benefit, the amount payable on a full surrender  and
the  amount applied to provide an annuity  on the Annuity Commencement Date will
be reduced  to  reflect any  outstanding  loan balance  (plus  accrued  interest
thereon). Partial withdrawals may be restricted by the maximum loan limitation.
 
FIXED ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    The  dollar  amount of  each  fixed annuity  payment  will be  determined in
accordance with the annuity payment rates found in the Contract which are  based
on  a minimum guaranteed interest rate of 4%  per year, or, if more favorable to
the Payee(s), in accordance with  the Single Premium Immediate Settlement  Rates
published by the Company and in use on the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX B
                             ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE CALCULATIONS
 
    Suppose  the net asset value of a particular Series Fund share at the end of
the current Valuation Period is $18.38; at the end of the immediately  preceding
Valuation  Period is $18.32;  the Valuation Period  is one day;  no dividends or
distributions caused  the  particular Series  Fund  shares to  go  "ex-dividend"
during  the current  Valuation Period. $18.38  divided by  $18.32 is 1.00327511.
Subtracting the one day risk factor for mortality and expense risks of .00003809
(the daily equivalent of the current charge of 1.40% on an annual basis) gives a
net investment factor of 1.00323702. If  the value of the Variable  Accumulation
Unit  for the  immediately preceding Valuation  Period had  been 14.5645672, the
value for  the  current  Valuation  Period would  be  14.6117130  (14.5645672  X
1.00323702).
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY UNIT VALUE CALCULATIONS
 
    Suppose  the circumstances of the  first example exist, and  the value of an
Annuity Unit for the immediately preceding Valuation Period had been 12.3456789.
If the first variable annuity payment is determined by using an annuity  payment
based  on an assumed interest rate of 4% per year, the value of the Annuity Unit
for the current Valuation Period would be 12.3843113 (12.3456789 X 1.00323702  X
0.99989255).
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYMENT CALCULATIONS
 
    Suppose  that the  Accumulation Account of  a deferred  Contract is credited
with 8,765.4321 Variable Accumulation Units  of a particular Sub-Account but  is
not  credited with any Fixed Accumulation  Units; that the Variable Accumulation
Unit value and  the Annuity Unit  value for the  particular Sub-Account for  the
Valuation  Period which ends immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date
are 14.5645672 and 12.3456789, respectively;  that the annuity payment rate  for
the  age and option elected is $6.78 per $1,000; and that the Annuity Unit value
on the day prior to the second variable annuity payment date is 12.3856421.  The
first  variable annuity payment would be $865.57 (8,765.4321 X 14.5645672 X 6.78
divided by  1,000).  The number  of  Annuity  Units credited  would  be  70.1112
($865.57 divided by 12.3456789) and the second variable annuity payment would be
$868.28 (70.1112 X 12.3843113).
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX C
                       WITHDRAWALS AND WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
 
    This  example  assumes  that  the  date of  the  full  surrender  or partial
withdrawal is during the 9th Contract Year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    1          2          3          4          5          6
- ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
1          $   1,000  $   1,000  $       0          0% $       0
2              1,200      1,200          0          0          0
3              1,400      1,280        120          3       3.60
4              1,600          0      1,600          4      64.00
5              1,800          0      1,800          4      72.00
6              2,000          0      2,000          5     100.00
7              2,000          0      2,000          5     100.00
8              2,000          0      2,000          6     120.00
9              2,000          0      2,000          6     120.00
           ---------  ---------  ---------             ---------
           $  15,000  $   3,480  $  11,520             $  579.60
           ---------  ---------  ---------             ---------
           ---------  ---------  ---------             ---------
</TABLE>
 
EXPLANATION OF COLUMNS IN TABLE
 
  COLUMNS 1 AND 2:
 
    Represent Purchase  Payments  ("Payments")  and amounts  of  Payments.  Each
Payment was made on the first day of each Contract Year.
 
  COLUMN 3:
 
    Represents  the  amounts that  may be  withdrawn  without the  imposition of
withdrawal charges, as follows:
 
        a)   Payments  1 and  2,  $1,000  and $1,200,  respectively,  have  been
    credited to the Contract for more than seven years.
 
        b)    $1,280 of  Payment 3  represents  10% of  Payments that  have been
    credited to  the Contract  for less  than  seven years.  The 10%  amount  is
    applied  to the  oldest unliquidated  Payment, then  the next  oldest and so
    forth.
 
  COLUMN 4:
 
    Represents the  amount of  each  Payment that  is  subject to  a  withdrawal
charge.  It is determined by subtracting the amount in Column 3 from the Payment
in Column 2.
 
  COLUMN 5:
 
    Represents the  withdrawal  charge percentages  imposed  on the  amounts  in
Column 4.
 
  COLUMN 6:
 
    Represents  the withdrawal charge imposed on  each Payment. It is determined
by multiplying the amount in Column 4 by the percentage in Column 5.
 
    For example, the withdrawal charge imposed on Payment 8
            = Payment 8 Column 4 X Payment 8 Column 5
            = $2,000 X 6%
            = $120
 
FULL SURRENDER:
 
    The total of Column  6, $579.60, represents the  total amount of  withdrawal
charges imposed on Payments in this example.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL:
 
    The  sum  of amounts  in Column  6 for  as many  Payments as  are liquidated
reflects the withdrawal charges imposed in the case of a partial withdrawal.
 
    For example,  if $7,000  of  Payments (Payments  1, 2,  3,  4, and  5)  were
withdrawn,  the amount  of the  withdrawal charges imposed  would be  the sum of
amounts in Column 6 for Payments 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 which is $139.60
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
                       SUN LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY
                       COMPANY OF
                       NEW YORK
                       Annuity Service Mailing Address:
                       80 Broad Street
                       New York, New York 10004
 
                       LEGAL COUNSEL
                       Covington & Burling
                       1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                       P.O. Box 7566
                       Washington, D.C. 20044
 
                       AUDITORS
                       Deloitte & Touche LLP
                       125 Summer Street
                       Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
                       CO3NY-13 5/98


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