October 11, 2012
--- Nationwide
Financial is integrating its alternative and fee-based annuity solutions into
the company’s traditional product offerings.
---
The move will
better align Nationwide’s products with a team-based approach that matches
advisers with specialists across a range of solutions for clients.
Moving distribution
of America's marketFLEX Advisor Variable Annuity, marketFLEX II and Nationwide
Income Architect Annuity from specialty products to core products will provide
additional sales support and allow Nationwide to grow
within the fee-based market. It also provides broader support for advisers who
need to address client needs with annuities, life insurance, mutual funds and
retirement plans.
The growing
success of the fee-based market and increased use of alternative investments were
part of the reason Nationwide decided to broaden the distribution of specialty
product offerings, according to John Carter, president of distribution and
sales for Nationwide Financial. “Moving these to our core product line provides
advisers a wider variety of tools to help their clients prepare for and live in
retirement,” he said.
Nationwide Income
Architect is a no-load variable annuity, which includes a built-in minimum
guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit designed to complement the business
models of fee-based advisers.
Nationwide
Financial recently added funds to its marketFLEX products, designed to help
advisers offer clients the protection of a variable annuity with the enhanced
diversification provided by alternative investment options.
Jill Cornfield