Guaranteed Income Direct – Employee Education Toolkit

The uncertainty of having enough to cover their bills in retirement may leave your employees concerned as they transition from saving to living.

A guaranteed income annuity might help by providing a steady flow of income to help cover any gaps in their essential expenses throughout their lifetime.

According to a recent study, people who have a guaranteed income annuity as part of their retirement income plan actually tend to feel more secure in retirement.1 And here’s why:

  • No outliving their savings2
  • Are protected from market swings
  • Initial investment may not be taxed (monthly payments are taxed as income)3

Offering access to guaranteed income options in the plan is one way for you to help your employees successfully transition into retirement.



Eligible experience – guides users through a short series of questions that will help them review, compare, and evaluate whether a fixed income annuity may fit their retirement needs. Typically, participants are eligible for Guaranteed Income Direct once they are terminated/retired.

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Pre-retiree (ineligible) experience – includes guaranteed income education and access to Guaranteed Income Estimator to see what their monthly income could be with a guaranteed income annuity

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Screenshot for illustrative purposes.


Toolkit Resources
The following resources are designed to help you educate and inform employees about the benefits of Guaranteed Income Direct in your plan. Additional guaranteed income materials can be found in this toolkit and can be used for pre-retiree education. Before you get started, consider reviewing the for ideas on how to use these resources.

Email – Guaranteed Income Direct – for eligible participants
Educate retired and separated employees about guaranteed income and Guaranteed Income Direct.

Email – Guaranteed Income Direct – for eligible and ineligible participants
Tell employees about new Guaranteed Income Direct benefit and each participant will be directed to the appropriate Guaranteed Income Direct experience (see screenshots above).

Video – Role of income annuities
Provide engaging education on annuities and how they could become part of their retirement income plan.

Video – Guaranteed Income Direct experience
Share the Guaranteed Income Direct experience on NetBenefits.


Educate employees about retirement income planning, how income annuities can fill a gap, and their access to Guaranteed Income Direct.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Provide answers to your participants’ most common questions about Guaranteed Income Direct.


Share an overview of Guaranteed Income Direct with employees. Use this piece as a standalone or inserted into educational workshops offered by Fidelity.

Newsletter / Blog post
Post about how your employees can benefit from guaranteed income in retirement.

Intranet/Internal Social Copy
“Coming soon” message that can help build employee awareness and engagement around this new plan benefit.


Send guaranteed income information directly to your eligible employees.

Please note: Guaranteed Income Direct is only available for plans who have the solution offered in their plan.

By using these communications, you represent that you are an authorized representative of the organization for which you are copying, distributing, posting, or otherwise using the Fidelity-prepared communications attached here, and you accept these terms and conditions on behalf of the organization.

FOR PLAN SPONSOR AND INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY.

1 “Retirees Who Own an Annuity Are More Confident.” Limra Research, 2018.

2 A lifetime income annuity can provide an income stream for your entire life. When you opt for a period certain annuity, you can receive income payments for a set number of years you choose.

3 Some state laws require payment of a premium tax. If required, this deduction is reflected in the benefit payment amount being quoted.

Annuity guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Income annuities have limited or no access to assets.

Withdrawals of taxable amounts and taxable income received from an annuity are subject to ordinary income tax. Withdrawals of taxable amounts taken before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.

Fixed annuities available through Guaranteed Income Direct are issued by third-party insurance companies, which are not affiliated with any Fidelity Investments company. A contract’s financial guarantees are solely the responsibility of and are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Income annuities available as plan distribution options are selected by the plan’s fiduciaries and sold and issued by thirdparty insurance companies which are not affiliated with any Fidelity Investments company. Fidelity Health Insurance

Services, LLC (“FHIS”) may receive a fee from the issuing insurance company; however, FHIS does not directly or indirectly solicit, negotiate, or sell any annuities available as plan distribution options. A contract’s financial guarantees are solely the responsibility of and are subject to the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Fidelity does not provide legal or tax advice. The information herein is general in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation.

Fidelity Health Insurance Services, LLC 245 Summer Street, V4C, Boston, MA 02210-1129

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917

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