According to one embodiment of the invention, a financial instrument includes a first tax-deferred account and first, second, and third guarantees. The first tax-deferred account has an account balance based in part on a deduction from wages paid to an employee. The first guarantee is a guarantee of a first protected value based upon a deposit growing at a minimum growth rate The second guarantee is a guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of the employee. The third guarantee is a guarantee that the first protected value may be transferred with the first tax-deferred account to a separate financial instrument including a second tax-deferred account, a fourth guarantee of a second protected value, and a fifth guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of the employee.