A system and method for providing a user with a portable benefit, within a qualified or non-qualified defined contribution plan, based on a formula the result of which indicates the exact guaranteed minimum periodic income that the user will receive no matter how long the user lives and the potential for an increase in the periodic income based on excess investment performance over the formula of the designated defined benefit investment options is disclosed. The system comprises a defined contribution module for periodically receiving at least one of a sponsor contribution and a participant contribution and for accumulating value over a period of time by investing at least one of the sponsor contribution and the participant contribution or any portion(s) thereof in any number of select investment options, the accumulated value, or any portion(s) thereof, being capable of: (1) being withdrawn at any time and reinvested in any other select investment options, and (2) being paid out after a predetermined period of time; and wherein the select investment options comprises any number of investment products and at least one designated defined benefit investment option module for: (1) receiving at least one investment payment from the defined contribution module, the investment payment comprising at least one of the sponsor contribution, the participant contribution, and/or the accumulated value, or any portion(s) thereof, (2) for paying out a guaranteed minimum income payment for life after the predetermined period of time, the guaranteed minimum income payment being based on a retirement income formula, and (3) increasing the income payment for life for excess performance over the formula of the designated defined investment option.