Nationwide Annuities

Nationwide Product Types & Features

Nationwide is an insurance company that offers a wide variety of annuity products, including fixed, variable, indexed, registered index-linked, and immediate annuities. This range allows customers to choose solutions that align with their income needs, growth goals, and risk tolerance.

Secure Growth® Fixed Annuity

The Secure Growth® is a single premium fixed annuity with a minimum purchase requirement of $10,000. It offers guarantee periods of one, three, five, or seven years. The product includes surrender charge waivers for terminal illness or long-term care at no additional cost. An optional return of purchase payment rider is also available for an additional fee.

Who It Works Best For: Buyers seeking stability and flexible guarantee periods with optional principal return protection.

Platinum Edge® Fixed Annuity

The Platinum Edge® is a market value adjusted (MVA) annuity that allows for flexible premium payments. It offers guarantee periods ranging from three to ten years. This product is designed to provide competitive interest rates for those who are comfortable with potential adjustments under the MVA provision.

Who It Works Best For: Rate-focused savers willing to accept MVA adjustments in exchange for higher interest potential.

Comparing Nationwide Fixed Annuities

Product	Premium Type	Minimum Premium	Guarantee Periods	Key Features	Best Fit
Secure Growth®	Single Premium	$10,000	1, 3, 5, or 7 years	Surrender charge waivers for terminal illness/long-term care; optional return of purchase payment rider	Stability-focused buyers who want flexible guarantee periods
Platinum Edge®	Flexible Premium, MVA	$25,000	3–10 years	Potential for higher interest with MVA; flexible premium	Rate-focused savers willing to accept MVA adjustments

Destination® B 2.0 Variable Annuity

The Destination® B 2.0 variable annuity has a minimum premium requirement of $10,000. It includes no-cost benefits such as a return of premium, spousal protection death benefit, and enhanced surrender value in the event of terminal illness. Customers may also choose from optional enhanced death benefit riders and living benefit options for an additional cost. Fees for this annuity include a 1.10% mortality & expense (M&E) ratio, a 0.20% administrative charge, and a $30 annual maintenance fee.

Who It Works Best For: Investors seeking a robust set of included benefits with multiple rider options.

Destination® All-American Gold 2.0 Variable Annuity

This annuity requires a minimum premium of $3,000 and offers the same benefits and riders as the Destination® B 2.0, with the added advantage of a liquidity option. It has a lower M&E ratio of 0.95%, making it a more cost-efficient choice.

Who It Works Best For: Buyers wanting similar features to B 2.0 at a lower cost and with added liquidity.

Destination® Navigator 2.0 Variable Annuity

The Destination® Navigator 2.0 combines the liquidity option found in the All-American Gold 2.0 with the benefit enhancements offered by the B 2.0. Its fee structure matches that of the B 2.0, providing a familiar cost profile with added flexibility.

Who It Works Best For: Clients who want both liquidity and the benefit package of B 2.0.

Destination® Future Variable Annuity

The Destination® Future is a low-cost variable annuity with a $15,000 minimum premium. It has total fees of 0.95%, and the spousal protection death benefit is available only as an optional add-on. Rider availability is more limited compared to other Nationwide variable annuities.

Who It Works Best For: Cost-conscious buyers willing to forgo some included benefits.

Destination® Architect 2.0 Variable Annuity

The Destination® Architect 2.0 offers ultra-low costs, with total fees of just 0.40%. It requires a $25,000 minimum premium and does not have a surrender charge schedule, allowing greater flexibility for withdrawals.

Who It Works Best For: Investors seeking maximum flexibility and low ongoing costs.

Destination® Freedom+ Variable Annuity

The Destination® Freedom+ has a five-year surrender charge schedule and requires a minimum premium of $10,000. It offers two death benefit rider choices and charges a $50 annual maintenance fee (waived for contract balances over $50,000), a 0.85% M&E ratio, and a 0.15% administrative fee.

Who It Works Best For: Those seeking a balance of benefits with a moderate surrender period.

Soloist® Variable Annuity

The Soloist® is available to buyers up to age 78 and has a very low minimum premium of $300. Total fees are 1.30%, and it includes a return of premium death benefit at no extra charge. The three retirement income options include lifetime, lifetime with period certain, and joint-and-survivor.

Who It Works Best For: Low-entry buyers wanting essential protection benefits.

Best of America® IV Variable Annuity

The Best of America® IV has a maximum issue age of 78 and is designed primarily for use with qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s. There is no minimum investment for qualified contracts, while non-qualified contracts require a minimum of $1,500. Total fees for this annuity amount to 1.30%.

Who It Works Best For: Retirement savers funding an annuity through an existing qualified plan.

Comparing Nationwide Variable Annuities

Product	Minimum Premium	Fees	Key Features	Best Fit
Destination® B 2.0	$10,000	1.10% M&E, 0.20% admin, $30 maintenance	Return of premium, spousal protection death benefit, enhanced surrender value; optional enhanced death and living benefits	Investors wanting robust benefits and multiple rider options
Destination® All-American Gold 2.0	$3,000	1.30% M&E, 0.20% admin, $30 maintenance	Same benefits as B 2.0 plus liquidity option	Buyers wanting similar benefits to B 2.0 with lower cost and liquidity
Destination® Navigator 2.0	$10,000	Matches B 2.0 fees	Combines liquidity of All-American Gold with benefits of B 2.0	Clients wanting both liquidity and enhanced benefits
Destination® Future	$15,000	0.95% total	Low-cost option, optional spousal protection death benefit, limited riders	Cost-conscious buyers willing to forgo included benefits
Destination® Architect 2.0	$25,000	0.40% total	Ultra-low cost, no surrender charges	Investors seeking maximum flexibility and low fees
Destination® Freedom+	$10,000	1.00% total	Moderate surrender schedule, two death benefit rider choices	Balanced benefits with moderate surrender period
Soloist®	$300	1.30% total	Return of premium death benefit included	Low-entry buyers seeking essential protection
Best of America® IV	None (qualified), $1,500 (non-qualified)	1.30% total	Designed for qualified plans, return of premium death benefit	Retirement savers funding through qualified plans

Peak® Series Indexed Annuity

Offered in a fixed or indexed account format, the Peak® series includes three single premium indexed annuities, each with a $25,000 minimum premium. These annuities include surrender charge waivers for terminal illness or long-term care at no additional cost. There’s also a joint option on the death benefit to provide protection for a spouse.

Who It Works Best For: Buyers who want indexed growth potential with straightforward contract terms and added protection for health-related needs.

New Heights® Series Indexed Annuity

The New Heights® series features four indexed annuities with surrender charge schedules ranging from eight to twelve years. Most have a $25,000 minimum premium, except for the New Heights® 8, which can be opened with $10,000. All include a free return of premium guarantee, with two enhanced death benefit options and two living benefit options available for an additional cost.

Who It Works Best For: Clients seeking a balance of growth potential, flexible contract lengths, and optional income or death benefit enhancements.

Summit® Indexed Annuity Indexed Annuity

The Summit® indexed annuity requires a $25,000 minimum premium and has a seven-year surrender charge schedule. Like the Peak® series, it includes surrender charge waivers for terminal illness or long-term care at no additional cost.

Who It Works Best For: Investors who want a single indexed annuity option with moderate contract length and built-in health-related protections.

Comparing Nationwide Indexed Annuities

Product	Minimum Premium	Surrender Schedule	Key Features	Best Fit
Peak® Series	$25,000	Varies	Surrender charge waivers for terminal illness/long-term care	Indexed growth with health-related protections
New Heights® Series	$25,000 ($10k for New Heights® 8)	8–12 years	Free return of premium; optional death and living benefits	Growth potential with flexible terms and rider options
Summit®	$25,000	7 years	Surrender charge waivers for terminal illness/long-term care	Moderate term with built-in protections

DefenderSM Annuity (Buffer Model) RILA

Available in one, three, and six-year terms, the DefenderSM is a buffer registered index-linked annuity that protects contract value from losses up to either a 10% or 20% buffer. Owners can choose from five available indexes to link their contract to and have the option to lock in index performance once per strategy term. This annuity has two death benefit options and charges an annual product fee of 1.10%.

Who It Works Best For: Buyers who want to participate in market growth while limiting losses to a defined percentage, and who value the ability to lock in gains periodically.

Defined Protection® Annuity (Floor Model) RILA

The Defined Protection® annuity is a floor RILA that protects against losses beyond a selected floor level. Owners can choose from three protection levels (90%, 95%, or 100%), eight available indexes, and one-year or three-year strategy terms. This annuity has no annual contract or administrative fees.

Who It Works Best For: Investors who want a high degree of downside protection, with the flexibility to choose their protection level and a broad selection of index and term options.

Comparing Nationwide RILAs

Product	Model	Minimum Premium	Key Features	Best Fit
DefenderSM	Buffer	$25,000	10% or 20% buffer; five index choices; lock-in feature; 1.10% product fee	Market growth with defined loss limits and gain lock-in
Defined Protection®	Floor	$25,000	90%, 95%, or 100% protection; eight indexes; 1- or 3-year terms; no annual fees	High downside protection with flexible term and index options

Nationwide Immediate Annuity

The INCOME Promise Select® is a single premium immediate annuity with a $10,000 minimum premium. It offers multiple payout options, including single life, joint life, and term certain structures, allowing owners to tailor income to their personal or household needs. Available features include a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to help offset inflation, a liquidity feature for added flexibility, and Medicaid eligibility provisions.

Who It Works Best For: Retirees who want guaranteed income starting right away, with customizable payout options and the ability to add inflation protection or maintain some liquidity.

Product	Minimum Premium	Payout Options	Key Features	Best Fit
INCOME Promise Select®	$10,000	Single life, joint life, term certain	COLA option, liquidity feature, Medicaid eligibility	Retirees wanting immediate guaranteed income with customization

Today’s Best Nationwide Annuity Rates

Term	Product	AM Best Rating	Rate
5 Years	Secure Growth	A+	5.25 %
5 Years	Secure Growth	A+	4.80 %
5 Years	Secure Growth	A+	4.80 %

If you’d like to see how Nationwide’s annuities compare, our side-by-side guide makes it easy. In clear, straightforward terms, you can review contract details, guarantees, and payout options so you can choose the product that best fits your retirement goals with confidence.

Customer Satisfaction and Complaint History

Nationwide has built a strong reputation for customer satisfaction, earning consistent recognition in the J.D. Power U.S. Individual Annuity Study. In 2023, the company placed third overall — behind Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company and MassMutual — before moving to tenth place in 2024. The 2025 ratings have not yet been released.

They’re doing home policies, auto policies and they have retirement options. To some degree, they are definitely a one-stop shop for insurance for their customers.

Ryan CicchelliFounder of The Safe Investing Expert

For its size, Nationwide receives relatively few formal complaints from annuity customers. According to the Complaint IndexNAIC Complaint IndexDetermined by dividing the company’s share of complaints in the U.S. market by the company’s share of premiums in the U.S. market. The National Complaint Index is always 1.00, so a score of 2.00, for example, is twice as high as expected in the market., the company reported just one complaint to state insurance commissions in 2024, indicating above-average performance in service delivery and issue resolution.

NAIC Complaint Index for Nationwide

Individual Annuities Only

0.03

Manage Your Nationwide Annuity Online

Nationwide’s secure online account portal makes it easy to view your contract details, monitor performance, and manage your annuity anytime, from anywhere. Logging in is the quickest way to stay informed about your policy and make the most of your retirement strategy. You can also access your account through the Nationwide mobile app, available for both iPhone and Android devices.