Answer 6 simple questions to identify your retirement mindset and learn tips unique to you to help with retirement planning.
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Answer 6 simple questions to identify your retirement mindset and learn tips unique to you to help with retirement planning.
How ready are you for retirement income?
Learn about different income strategies, check out our retirement roadmap, see if annuities are right for you, and more.
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Retirement planning tips
Retirement Readiness: Easy Math You Should Do Before You Retire
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The Head Start
Watch these path to retirement savings stories from people like you to learn how you can take the right steps toward building confidence in your retirement.
Itʼs time to invest in your future self
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Retirement confidence
I usually have money left over at the end of the month
Question 1/6
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I am comfortable making important retirement income planning decisions on my own, without help of retirement planning expert
Question 2/6
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Every little step builds retirement confidence
RETIREMENT LIFETIME INCOME HUB
Youʼve spent years building your savings. Now itʼs about turning that hard work into income you can rely on. Retirement isnʼt just about how much you have—itʼs about the confidence it brings. And that confidence builds over time, through understanding your options and taking the right steps.
Guaranteed income for life helps create a steady, predictable paycheck—so you can protect what you’ve earned and move into retirement with greater clarity and confidence.
Now is the time to turn your retirement savings into a paycheck for life.
Confidence starts here
I conduct research on my retirement plan investment selections and feel confident in my ability to choose them
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I am satisfied with my household's current retirement savings situation
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Your Roadmap to Retirement
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Which of the following best describes you?
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I do/would rely solely on the advice of others to make decisions about income in retirement
I do/would make decisions about income in retirement based solely on my own judgement
I always follow the opinions of others when deciding how to plan for my retirement income
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Retirement Readiness: 5 Things to Consider Before Retirement
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Retirement Questions You Need To Ask Yourself At Every Life Stage
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The Truth About Income Annuities in Your Retirement Plan
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Defer Retirement Income for the Later Years in Life
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The Bridge
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Storm days, markets drop
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Flexibility, plans change
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There is a lot of misinformation about lifetime income solutions, and since they’re not all alike, it’s important to understand the facts about the income annuity available through your employer.
Income annuities: Separating fact from fiction
1All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing company.
2The cost to elect these features is generally higher and the initial payments lower than for payment options selected without these features. Electing these features may also affect the tax calculation in payments received. Please consult your tax advisor.
This article is intended to provide general information only and does not describe any specific MetLife product, service or feature.
Like most people approaching retirement, you probably have questions about what to do with your retirement savings and how to make it last. The good news is that your employer may offer a lifetime income solution (also known as an income annuity)—a valuable solution that can help you retire confidently by guaranteeing an income stream in retirement.1 You can elect this option at the start of retirement using all or a portion of your retirement plan savings.
Much like a pension, lifetime income solutions provide you with a monthly payment that’s guaranteed for the rest of your life.1 The income you receive from your income annuity will never run out, so you’ll have the security you need to live the retirement that you want.
Contact your HR department to learn more about the guaranteed income options available in your retirement plan.
Guaranteed income for life1
Fiction
“Income annuities are bad investments compared to other financial options. I can do better on my own.”
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While many people think that income annuities are a type of investment (like a stock or a bond) this is actually not the case. The income annuity available through your employer is an insurance product. Purchasing this product provides protection for all or a portion of your retirement savings and converts it into a reliable monthly paycheck that cannot be outlived. Even if the stock market goes up or down, you can rest easy knowing that your income will never change.
Fact
Fiction
“I will lose control over my finances if I purchase an income annuity.”
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Fact
You may actually gain more control over your finances. Purchasing an income annuity allows you to create a guaranteed stream of monthly payments that will last as long as you live.1 The payment amount will never change and will allow you to budget for day-to-day living expenses.
Fiction
“If I die after purchasing an income annuity, the insurance company keeps my money.”
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Fact
Your chances of living a long life are increasing all the time. And there are a number of flexible payment options available should you die before receiving the full amount you paid into the annuity.2 For example, you may elect to have the balance of the premium you used to buy the annuity (minus any income payments you already received) returned to your spouse or beneficiary. In this instance, your spouse or beneficiary is guaranteed to receive at least as much as you put into theannuity. Another option is to have your income payments continue to your spouse upon your death. In this event, your spouse will continue to receive guaranteed income for the rest of his or her life.1
Fiction
“It is not smart to purchase an income annuity product because it ties up my money.”
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Fact
Earmarking just a portion of your retirement plan savings to purchase an income annuity can provide you the security unavailable through investments alone. This way, you can keep the remainder of your retirement assets invested, yet accessible, for the financial flexibility you may need in retirement.
Fiction
“Income annuities are overly complex and confusing.”
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Fact
Income annuities are simpler than you think. The predictable cash flow provided by a lifetime income product makes it easy to turn some of your assets into a steady “retirement paycheck” that replaces some of the monthly income you received while you were working. There are no investment decisions that you need to make or ongoing fees that you need to pay. And your monthly income payments will never change.
All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing MetLife company.
Group annuity contracts can be issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLIC), 200 Park Ave. NY, NY 10166 or Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company (MTL), 5601 South 59th St., Lincoln, NE 68516, two wholly owned subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. (“MetLife”). Like most group annuity contracts, MetLife group annuities contain certain limitations, exclusions and terms for keeping them in force. MTL and MLIC annuity products may not be available in all states. Ask a MetLife representative for costs and complete details.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 200 Park Ave., New York, NY 10166 Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company, 5601 South 59th St., Lincoln, NE 68516 © 2026 MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC L5557686[exp0128][All States][DC]
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