Celebrating Over a Century

Since 1921, MetLife has worked with companies on their de-risking journey while providing retirees financial security. 

MetLife, through Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company, is a market leader in the pension risk transfer industry, managing over $5 billion in benefit payments each year for around 889,000 annuitants.1

Through the years, MetLife has worked with companies to provide for the financial security of their retirees and beneficiaries. MetLife’s expertise in managing transferred pension liabilities helps its clients feel secure that their risks are well-managed and their retirees’ pension benefits are protected.

MetLife has successfully orchestrated many pension buyouts through its history, providing superior implementation and client service. In 2024, MetLife’s Retirement & Income Solutions (RIS) customer service organization received J.D. Power certification for providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience” for the phone support for the sixth consecutive year. MetLife’s RIS business is among a select few institutional retirement providers that have achieved this status.2

Over 100 years ago MetLife was the first insurer, through Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, to develop and offer a group annuity contract to fund a defined benefit (DB) plan, issuing a group annuity contract to fund the William Rudge Printing Company’s DB pension plan. This first helped pave the way for today’s pension risk transfer market.

Timeline

1921

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company was the 1st life insurance company to develop and offer group annuity contracts.

1925

MetLife was the 1st insurance company to establish a fully funded, formal contractual group annuity plan for its own employees.

1980

Group pension sales exceeded $1 Billion for the first time.

1985

MetLife set an industry record in the sale of pension contracts for the third consecutive year - $5.5 Billion.

1991

MetLifesurpassed

2018

MetLife2018

2022

MetLife2021

Pension Risk Solutions

Pension decisions today will impact many lives for years. See how we can help you decrease plan risk and protect retiree benefits.