A computer-implemented method of administering income distributions from an employer-sponsored retirement plan having a participant account value provides an option to a plan participant to elect a lifetime payout funded by at least a portion of the participant's account value. The lifetime payout may be funded by a Plan Distributed Annuity (“PDA”) or through the plan. An access period may be provided in the latter case, during which a participant maintains access to, and control over, the account.