Enhanced marketFLEX Combines Variable Annuities with Alternative Asset Classes to Help Clients Improve Risk Management

COLUMBUS, OH, June 20 -- Nationwide Mutual Insurance issued the following news release:

With continued market uncertainty, low interest rates and global financial concerns, financial advisors are increasingly looking for alternative investment options to help provide balance to client portfolios. To accommodate this growing demand, Nationwide Financial announced today that it is enhancing its marketFLEX (http://www.nationwide.com/variable-annuity-products.jsp) products, designed to help advisors offer clients the protection of a variable annuity with the enhanced risk management and diversification provided by extended investment options, including alternative investments.

The following enhancements have been added to both America's marketFLEX (R) Advisor Variable Annuity (for fee-based advisors) and America's marketFLEX (R) II Variable Annuity (for commission-based advisors):

Two New Funds:

* Northern Lights Mariner Hyman Beck Portfolio (Mariner) - Managed futures fund comprised mainly of technical trend following methodologies which provide for potential returns in both upward and downward moving market environments

* Northern Lights Power Income VIT Fund (WEDCO) - Tactical Bond Management strategy using high yield bond funds and money market funds that seeks to identify and profit from trends in the high yield asset class

Extension of Web trading deadline by 10 minutes (from 3:35 pm to 3:45 pm)

VBI Illustration tool - A new tool will help advisors demonstrate to clients how marketFLEX may fit into an overall portfolio

"More and more advisors are encouraging clients to include alternative investments as a component of their portfolio - and not just high net worth clients," said Eric Henderson, Senior Vice President of Individual Products and Solutions for Nationwide Financial. "Nationwide is proud to have been among the first in the industry to offer a lower-cost variable annuity solution with alternative asset class investment options nearly a decade ago. With our long-term experience and the enhancements announced today, marketFLEX continues to help advisors tap into a market with significant growth potential."

America's marketFLEX Variable Annuities allow advisors to help clients take advantage of possible benefits associated with variable annuities (http://www.nationwide.com/variable-deferred-annuities.jsp), including tax advantages, spousal protection and death benefits. With 17 fund families, marketFLEX offers a wide variety of alternative and traditional asset classes to help clients improve performance and reduce exposure to risk and portfolio volatility, with just a 10,000 Dollars minimum investment.

"The recent influx of new companies entering this market is evidence of growing advisor and consumer interest in this type of strategy," Henderson said. "We're excited about this opportunity because marketFLEX brings together the benefits of variable annuities and alternative asset classes at a very competitive price point."

TNS C 71NayakRashmita 120621-JF78-3918541 StaffFurigay