There is a need for fresh thinking about generating retirement income.

In a 2026 survey1 by the Nationwide Retirement Institute® of nearly 2,000 adults ages 18 and older:

Over 70%
The percentage of income that an average retiree expects to use to cover their essential expenses

1 in 2
Expect to (or are not sure if they will) run out of money in retirement

Over 80%
The percentage of the those working with a paid financial professional that want to better understand how Social Security benefits and other retirement income sources are taxed

Following the Total Retirement Income Planning process helps you better deliver what today’s retirees tell us they expect.

Step 1 icon
step 1

Assess each client’s personalized view of retirement.

Spark more engaging client conversations with Nationwide’s My Retirement Vision BoardSM. In less than 5 minutes, clients can uncover and share what matters most, helping you shape retirement income plans around the priorities they want to protect.

Share My Retirement Vision BoardSM

Step 2 icon
step 2

Develop a plan to cover out-of-pocket healthcare or long-term
care costs.

Out-of-pocket healthcare and long-term care expenses are often cited as the top spending shocks by retirees. Powered by HealthView Services, Nationwide's personalized Healthcare and Long-Term Care Cost Assessment offers a no-cost way to plan ahead for likely expenses.

Get cost assessment

Step 3 icon
step 3

Connect sources of protected income to essential expenses.

For most retirees, Social Security benefits serve as their income floor in retirement. Our Social Security 360 Analyzer® illustrates a client’s optimal filing approach to help boost annual benefits by as much as 77%.

Try our tool

Step 4 icon
step 4

Optimize retirement savings for tax efficiency.

Use our fillable digital worksheet with clients to provide both a self-assessment of retirement savings and insights about how tax diversification now can help provide tax efficiency later.

Get tax worksheet

Step 5 icon
step 5

Align each income plan to meet protection preferences.

Just as you gauge asset allocation preferences for new clients, a review of personalized protection preferences is essential. Only 1 in 3 retirees desire an unprotected total return approach (such as the 4% rule) for income planning.1

Gauge preferences

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step 6

Leverage our product and thought leadership specialists.

Consult with your Nationwide product wholesaler(s) and the credentialed specialists from the Nationwide Retirement Institute® for help, no matter how simple or complex your client’s protection needs may be.

Schedule consultation

A retired couple sitting on their deck, holding hands and enjoying the view

Total Retirement Income Planning from Nationwide

Discover the benefits of a more personalized retirement income planning process that accounts for protected income strategies.

[1] “The Nationwide Retirement Institute 2026 Social Security Survey,” conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the Nationwide Retirement Institute. This online survey was conducted May 11 through June 4, 2026, among 1,823 U.S. adults age 18 or older.

My Retirement Vision Board is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Social Security 360 Analyzer is a service mark of Nationwide Life Insurance Company. Third-party marks that appear in this message are the property of their respective owners.