NU Online News Service, Dec. 16, 12:13 p.m. – Nationwide Financial Services Inc., Columbus, Ohio, is updating its variable annuity program and setting up a new BEST of AMERICA Advisory Services Program that will help its producers sell fee-based investment advisory services.
The annuity program will offer seven new variable annuities designed for specific channels of distribution; a new "principal protected" fund for customers who are afraid of investment risk but want some exposure to stocks; five subaccounts designed to match customers' levels of risk tolerance; and new Web tools.
The new fee-based advisory services program will provide model mutual fund portfolios, separately managed account portfolios, mutual funds and a no-load variable annuity. The minimum investment for the mutual fund and variable annuity options will be $25,000.