Nationwide Financial unveils Flexible Advantage
New 401(k) product provides retirement plan specialist advisors with choice, flexibility and transparency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2011
Contacts:
Erica Lewis (614) 249-0184
lewise6@nationwide.com
Charley Gillespie (614) 249-5701
gillesc1@nationwide.com
Columbus, OH — Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. has expanded its retirement plan offerings to include a new product designed by and for retirement plan specialist advisors, who are predominately fee-based. These advisors represent one of the fastest growing segments in the retirement plans industry, accounting for 70 percent of industry sales – up from 55 percent in 2005.1
Nationwide Retirement Flexible AdvantageSM offers retirement plan specialist advisors a diverse selection of investment options, no proprietary fund requirements, fee transparency, fee-based compensation and comprehensive support. The new product builds upon Nationwide Financial’s existing 401(k) product suite.
“There is significant opportunity for growth in this industry and we strive to provide advisors with everything they need to build a successful practice,” said Anne Arvia, senior vice president of Retirement Plans for Nationwide Financial. “Flexible Advantage offers these advisors complete flexibility and choice, allowing them to better support the diverse needs of their plan sponsor clients.”
Some of the product’s key features include:
• Large selection of investment options with more than 900 mutual funds from 90 fund families, as well as a variety of fixed investment choices, including the Nationwide BankSM FDIC Insured Deposit Account.
• Personalized investment options to help meet nearly every participant’s needs, from participants who are looking for “do-it-for me” solutions to those interested in going it alone and everywhere in between. Flexible Advantage offers multiple target date fund options, a self-directed brokerage account and managed accounts from multiple providers.
• Flexible compensation for advisors with a variety of fee-based pricing options, including per participant, percent of assets or flat dollar. Plus, commission compensation is available, if needed.
• Upfront pricing so advisors can easily share expense information with their plan sponsor clients and participants. Flexible Advantage also offers Nationwide ClearCreditSM which enables Nationwide to lower overall plan costs.
• Fiduciary tools and support designed to help give advisors and plan sponsors confidence in managing and meeting their fiduciary responsibilities.
• Comprehensive plan support for advisors, including end-to-end sales support, plan reporting, participant education and an ERISA and regulatory online resource.
“We’re here to help advisors help plan sponsors build successful retirement plans for their participants. This product was designed based on research and feedback from retirement plan specialist advisors,” said Arvia. “Our intent with this product is to make it easier for them to focus on doing what they do best – help their clients prepare for and live in retirement.”
To learn more about Nationwide Retirement Flexible Advantage, please watch this short video featuring Anne Arvia.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest
diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S.
and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of
personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance,
motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial
insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds,
pensions and long-term savings plans. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
For more information about the available underlying investment options, including all charges and expenses, please consult a fund prospectus by calling 1-800-626-3112 or visiting nationwide.com. Fund prospectuses and additional information relating to your retirement plan can be obtained by contacting your Retirement Plan Representative. Before investing, carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. The fund prospectus contains this and other important information. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Target Maturity Funds are designed to provide diversification and asset allocation across several types of investments and asset classes, primarily by investing in underlying funds. Therefore, in addition to the expenses of the Target Maturity Funds, an investor is indirectly paying a proportionate share of the applicable fees and expenses of the underlying funds. Target Maturity Funds are subject to market risk and loss. Loss of principal can occur at any time, including before, at or after the target date. There is no guarantee that target date funds will provide enough income for retirement.
Self-directed brokerage services are available through TD Ameritrade Corporate Services, Division of Ameritrade, Inc., a registered broker-dealer not affiliated with Nationwide.
RIA Managed Account Services is a separate financial processing service offered by Nationwide through its affiliate, RIA Services, Inc. that allows sponsors of plans funded with the Nationwide Group Retirement Series to make investment advisory services available to participants. The plan sponsor must determine whether this service is appropriate for participants and consistent with the terms of the plan and has exclusive responsibility for the selection of any investment advisory firm. Offering not approved for use by all broker/dealers.
Nationwide ClearCredit is the amount by which the Nationwide Asset Fee is reduced for a particular fund. The ClearCredit is based upon the amount of payments Nationwide receives from the particular fund. It will change if the amount of payments Nationwide receives from a particular fund changes and is not applicable to every fund. (For more information about payments Nationwide receives, go to www.nationwide.com.)
Nationwide, Nationwide Bank, the Nationwide framemark and Nationwide ClearCredit are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
The Nationwide Group Retirement Series includes unregistered group fixed and variable annuities and trust programs. The unregistered group fixed and variable annuities are issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company. Trust programs and trust services are offered by Nationwide Trust Company, FSB, a division of Nationwide Bank. Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA. In MI only: Nationwide Investment Svcs. Corporation.
Life insurance is issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company or Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio.
Nationwide, Nationwide Financial, the Nationwide framemark, Nationwide YourLife and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
1Brightwork Partners, LLC.
