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MetLife and Alight collaborate on new retirement account

The companies say it meets the need for ‘guaranteed’ income

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Mark Huffman
Reporter

Mark Huffman has covered consumer issues since 2004, with a special focus on protecting and empowering older adults. A former news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One, and ConsumerAffairs, Mark brings decades of journalistic experience to RetirementLiving.com. He is passionate about giving consumers a voice and helping them make informed decisions. Mark has also created educational content, including Senior Scam Alert, a video resource designed to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud. He holds a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and lives with his family in Richmond, Virginia.
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Key Insights

  • New partnership: MetLife’s institutional income annuities will now be available through Alight’s Worklife platform, serving nearly 12 million retirement plan participants.
  • Addressing insecurity: Nearly 70% of workers say guaranteed income would help them feel more secure in retirement, according to MetLife’s latest study.
  • Simplifying retirement planning: The integration allows savers to easily convert part of their nest egg into predictable monthly income.

As the safety net of traditional pensions fades and stock market swings continue to unsettle savers, MetLife, Inc. and Alight, Inc. are joining forces to offer a product they say provides more retirement security. 

The companies announced a strategic collaboration that will bring MetLife’s institutional income annuities to Alight’s Worklife platform, expanding access to guaranteed lifetime income options for millions of employees with defined contribution (DC) plans.

The companies say it meets the demand for predictable retirement income. According to MetLife’s 2025 Enduring Retirement Model Study, nearly all plan sponsors (93%) acknowledge the need for reliable income in retirement, and two-thirds plan to offer such solutions within five years. Meanwhile, 69% of workers say guaranteed income would help them feel more confident about their retirement years.

‘Dependable income solutions’

“With so many workers feeling anxious about how to make their savings last in retirement, access to dependable income solutions is more important than ever,” said Graham Cox, executive vice president and head of Retirement & Income Solutions at MetLife. “By teaming up with Alight, we’re simplifying the path to lifetime income and helping today’s workforce retire with greater confidence.”

Enabled by the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0, Alight’s plan sponsor clients can now integrate two of MetLife’s key products into their plans:

  • MetLife Guaranteed Income (MGI): a fixed immediate annuity that starts providing income right away.
  • Retirement Income Insurance (RII) QLAC: a fixed deferred income annuity designed to begin payments later in retirement.

These tools allow participants to convert a portion of their savings into guaranteed monthly income, helping ensure financial stability regardless of market fluctuations or longevity.

“This collaboration with MetLife brings the power of retirement simplicity, education and security together for today’s workforce,” said Rob Sturrus, chief client officer at Alight. “We’re helping employers offer their people a clearer, more informed path to retirement—one that makes their savings last a lifetime.”

Complementing broader retirement efforts

The MetLife-Alight partnership builds on Alight’s recent collaboration with Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) to enhance defined contribution wealth solutions. Together, these efforts reflect a broader trend: viewing lifetime income not as an add-on, but as a core component of holistic retirement planning.

Despite growing employer support for retirement income options, many workers still lack financial confidence. According to Alight’s 2025 Employee Mindset Study, just 42% of employees feel secure about their financial situation, and more than half (56%) want help from their employers.