Nationwide Financial sponsors 2006 State of the Black Union conference
Discussion to focus on economic empowerment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2006
Contacts:
Bob Cunningham (614) 249-3091
cunninb1@nationwide.com
Erica Lewis 614) 249-0184
lewise6@nationwide.com
Columbus, Ohio — Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS) is the presenting sponsor of the seventh annual State of the Black Union conference. The conference will take place in Houston, Texas on Saturday, Feb. 25. Tavis Smiley, a nationally syndicated commentator, advocacy journalist, author and television and radio host will moderate the event.
This year’s conference will feature three distinct panels, and Nationwide Financial will have representation on the morning panel, entitled “Economic Empowerment: Building and Leveraging Wealth in the African American Community.” The discussion will cover money management, wealth building, retirement planning, investments, homeownership and financial literacy.
Keith Millner, senior vice president of Nationwide Financial, will participate in the morning panel along with several financial and public policy leaders. Other panelists include Michelle Singletary, business and finance columnist for The Washington Post; Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League; and Alphonso Jackson, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The conference is produced by Tavis Smiley Presents.
“Past conferences focused on health, religion and family issues, but building wealth and achieving economic empowerment are also of great importance to African Americans. The average African American has a net worth of $5,9981, while the average American has a net worth of $86,1002, said Millner.
“At Nationwide Financial, we believe that preparing for financial security begins with education. Our goal for this conference is to motivate everyone to seriously evaluate their financial lifestyle and retirement readiness. Some of the keys to building wealth include delayed gratification, disciplined savings, wise investing and healthy living,” Millner said.
“Economic empowerment is a primary concern for African Americans. I’m pleased to have Nationwide Financial partner with us as we work toward enlightening our community on this crucial issue,” said Smiley.
More than 5,000 participants are expected to attend the conference, which is free and open to the public. The entire conference will air on C-SPAN starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.
About Nationwide Financial®
Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS), a publicly traded company based in Columbus, Ohio, provides a variety of financial services that help consumers invest and protect their long-term assets, and offers retirement plans and services through both public- and private-sector employers.
It’s part of the Nationwide group of companies, which offers diversified insurance and financial services. The group is led by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, which is ranked No. 99 on the Fortune 500 based on 2004 revenue.3 For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Tavis Smiley Presents is an event production company dedicated to bringing thought provoking discussions, engaging town hall meetings, and consumer expos to communities across the country. During the last six years its programs have reached more than 200,000 conference attendees and attracted millions of television viewers nationwide. Tavis Smiley is the host of Tavis Smiley on PBS, a weeknight half-hour talk show and the host of The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI, a two-hour news and opinion program featuring provocative commentary and exclusive interviews. He’s the author of nine books including the 2006 release, Never Mind Success… Go for Greatness!. He founded the Tavis Smiley Foundation to provide leadership training skills to youth ages 13 to 18. For more information, visit: www.tavistalks.com.
- 30 -
Annuities and life insurance is issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company or Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio. The general distributor is Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member NASD. In MI only: Nationwide Investment Svcs. Corporation.
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark, Nationwide Financial and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
(NFV-0262AO)
1Nikitra S. Bailey, “Predatory Lending: The New Face of Economic Injustice,” Human Rights Magazine ,
American Bar Association, available at http://www.abanet.org/irr/hr/summer05/predator.html
2Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Reserve Bulletin, January 2003.
3Fortune Magazine, April 2005
Investments Retirement Insurance www.nationwide.com One Nationwide Plaza Columbus, OH 43215-2220
