Nationwide New Heights by Nationwide Financial

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This is a single premium deferred fixed indexed annuity with surrender period of 10 years and excellent optional lifetime income and death benefit riders. The contract minimum is $25,000. This annuity offers 3 Balanced Allocation Strategy (BAS) options, which are a blend of an equity indexed component (based on S&P 500), a declared rate component, and a strategy spread component. There is a market value adjustment (MVA) appled to withdrawals in excess of the contract’s limit, however it is waived for long-term care event, terminal illness or injury withdrawals and if a death benefit is payable. Contract includes the waiver of surrender charges in case of long-term care event or terminal illness, which comes in effect after the end of the first contract year.

The Nationwide High Point® 365 Lifetime Income Benefit (LIB) Rider is available at contract issue for contract owners age 40-80. This rider is not available in conjunction with the Enhanced Death Benefit rider. Paid benefits depend on the age at contract issue, and the number of completed contact years when lifetime income is elected to begin. For example, in 15 years the benefit is 8.62% for a single 65 year old and 15.35% for a 85 year old. As part of LIB, client can purchase additional 3% bonus at contract issue. If the lifetime income benefit is not initiated and the contract is surrendered, the client can receive back 100% of the rider purchase payment (plus purchase payment bonus if elected).

Nationwide High Point® Enhanced Death Benefit Rider(EDB) guarantees minimum death benefit of purchase payment with compounded annual interest of 4%, up to a 200% cap of purchase payment, or until the contract anniversary after the older annuitant reaches age 80, whichever occurs first. As part of EDB, client can also purchase an additional 3% bonus at contract issue.

Pros:

  • This annuity accepts traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Non-Qualified, and Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT)

  • Surrender charges waiver for long-term care event, terminal illness is included

  • Excellent Lifetime Income Benefit and Enhanced Death Benefit rider options

  • Lifetime Income Benefit has single and joined options

  • MVA doesn’t apply to long-term care event, terminal illness and death

  • Under Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee, the rider payments are returned if contract is surrendered and the rider payments were not initiated

Cons:

  • Penalty free surrender for long-term care event, terminal illness and death is in effect only in one year after the contract is signed

  • Penalty-free withdrawal percentage is relatively low, 7% of contract value for years 2-9, comparing to 10% offered by other leading fixed annuity products, however the surrender charges significantly reduce over the years (year 5 - 6%, year 9 - 2%)

  • Balanced Allocation Strategy (BAS) options are difficult to for prospective customers to understand and follow

  • Annual rider charge(0.95%-1.25% for LIB and 0.50%-0.80% for EDB) reduces the contract value

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