MetLife
MetLife is a Fortune 100 insurer with strong ratings — but it exited the individual annuity business in 2017, spinning it off as Brighthouse Financial. Today MetLife's annuities are institutional only: pension risk transfers, structured settlements, and workplace plans.
Products Offered
MetLife offers 3 annuity product types. For help understanding the differences, see our types of annuities guide.
About MetLife
Founded in 1868 and headquartered in New York City, MetLife (NYSE: MET) is one of America's largest insurers — #61 on the Fortune 500, with roughly $720 billion in total assets. Its financial strength is genuine: AM Best A+, S&P AA-, Moody's Aa3, and Fitch AA-, all affirmed in 2025–2026.
But here is what most annuity shoppers don't know: MetLife exited the retail annuity business in August 2017, spinning off its individual life and annuity operations as Brighthouse Financial. If you owned a MetLife annuity purchased before 2017, it is likely now administered by a Brighthouse entity. If you're shopping today, there is no MetLife-branded individual annuity to buy.
MetLife remains a giant in institutional annuities — it has been LIMRA's #1 provider of institutional income annuities for over 20 years and #1 in structured settlements for over 40, and it completed $14.2 billion in pension risk transfer deals in 2025. You can still end up a MetLife annuitant if your employer transfers its pension to MetLife or offers MetLife income annuities inside a workplace retirement plan — just not by walking in the retail door.
Financial Strength Ratings
| Rating Agency | Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best | A+ (Superior) | Second-highest of AM Best's 16 ratings — affirmed April 2026 |
| S&P Global | AA- (Very Strong) | Fourth-highest S&P rating |
| Moody's | Aa3 | Fourth-highest of Moody's 21 ratings |
| Fitch | AA- (Very Strong) | Fourth-highest Fitch rating |
MetLife Immediate Annuities (SPIA)
MetLife does not sell SPIAs — or any individual annuity — to retail consumers. That business went to Brighthouse Financial in the 2017 spin-off. Brighthouse itself is in transition: Aquarian Capital agreed in 2025 to acquire it for roughly $4.1 billion, with shareholders approving in February 2026.
If you were searching for a MetLife annuity because you trust the brand's financial strength, the practical next step is comparing carriers with similar or better ratings that actively compete for SPIA business — New York Life and MassMutual (both rated A++, a notch above MetLife) and Pacific Life among them. Our rate tables show what each currently pays.
Key Strengths
- Genuine Fortune 100 financial strength (A+ AM Best, ~$720B in assets)
- #1 in institutional income annuities per LIMRA for 20+ years
- #1 in structured settlements for 40+ years
- Strong ratings affirmed across all four agencies in 2025–2026
Honest Considerations
The consideration is simple: you can't buy one. MetLife's retail annuity era ended in 2017, and holders of legacy MetLife-branded contracts (now under Brighthouse entities) are watching Brighthouse's pending acquisition by Aquarian Capital rather than anything MetLife does. For new guaranteed-income purchases, MetLife's brand equity belongs to its institutional business — retail shoppers need to look elsewhere.
Best For
Understanding where MetLife's famous annuity business actually went — and finding comparable A-rated carriers that still sell retail SPIAs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a MetLife annuity?
Not as an individual. MetLife exited the retail annuity business in August 2017, spinning it off as Brighthouse Financial. Today MetLife sells annuities only through institutional channels — pension risk transfers, structured settlements, and employer retirement plans. Individuals shopping for a SPIA should compare carriers that actively sell them, such as New York Life, MassMutual, and Pacific Life.
What happened to MetLife annuities?
MetLife's individual annuity and life insurance business became Brighthouse Financial in a 2017 spin-off. Existing MetLife-branded contracts from before 2017 are generally administered by Brighthouse entities. Brighthouse itself agreed in 2025 to be acquired by Aquarian Capital for about $4.1 billion, with stockholder approval in February 2026.
Is MetLife financially strong?
Yes — MetLife holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, AA- from S&P and Fitch, and Aa3 from Moody's, with roughly $720 billion in total assets. Its strength today is in institutional markets: it has led LIMRA's institutional income annuity rankings for more than 20 years.
Compare Carriers That Do Sell Immediate Annuities
Since MetLife doesn't offer a SPIA, here's where to see current guaranteed-income payouts from A-rated carriers that do — updated monthly.
See Current SPIA Rates →What a $100,000 Immediate Annuity Pays Right Now
MetLife does not sell a single premium immediate annuity, but if guaranteed lifetime income is what you are after, here is what $100,000 buys a 65-year-old from the A-rated carriers we survey in August 2026:
| Age 65, per $100,000 | Best quote we track |
|---|---|
| Man, single life | $675/mo |
| Woman, single life | $637/mo |
| Couple, 100% to survivor | $587/mo |
Single life (or joint, 100% survivor) with a 5-year period certain, income starting next month, from August 2026 carrier quote surveys. Guarantees rest on the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability.
- See the payout for your premium: $100,000 · $250,000 · $500,000 · $1,000,000
- Rates at your age: 60 · 65 · 70 · 75 — and the month-over-month SPIA Payout Index
- Life only vs. cash refund vs. period certain: how each payout option changes the check
- Buying with IRA or 401(k) money? What changes (and what doesn't)
Should You Choose MetLife?
MetLife is a strong choice if you value financial stability — their A+ rating indicates superior financial strength. With 158 years in business, they have a proven track record of meeting their obligations to policyholders.
However, we always recommend comparing rates from multiple carriers. A carrier with a slightly lower brand profile may offer a meaningfully better rate for your specific age and situation. The rate tables above make it easy to compare MetLife against 7 other A-rated carriers.
View all 8 carriers we track, or compare current rates side by side.
Get a MetLife Annuity Quote
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Compare MetLife Rates