Nationwide Adds 2 Index Options To New Heights FIAs

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent addition of two indices unique to Nationwide New Heights^® fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) provides clients with more options to help with growth potential in a variety of market environments.

The J.P. Morgan Mozaic II^SM Index is a momentum-based index that strategically rebalances every month among a diverse range of global asset classes, with the aim to capture the continued performance of asset classes that have exhibited recent strong returns. The rebalancing process provides the flexibility to adapt to a variety of market environments and create consistent returns. Nationwide New Heights are the only FIAs to offer J.P. Morgan Mozaic II as an index option.

The NYSE^® Zebra Edge™ Index, developed by economist Professor Roger Ibbotson and his team at Zebra Capital Management, is the first index founded on Ibbotson's behavioral finance research on popularity. It's also the first NYSE index to be featured in a FIA and is exclusively available in Nationwide New Heights. By removing the stocks that are popular with investors and often the most volatile, the index seeks to identify stocks that are less popular yet historically provide higher returns with less risk, according to Ibbotson's research.

"Both of these indices have average back-tested, hypothetical performance of more than 5.25 percent annually, and their low volatility allows for index allocations that can be higher than 100 percent in some New Heights products," said Mike Morrone, associate vice president of fixed annuity product strategy at Nationwide. "In today's low interest rate environment, these additional index options offer more risk-averse clients the accumulation opportunities that they want."

Both new indices are available on all new Nationwide New Heights FIA contracts.

"Nationwide is committed to helping advisors meet their clients' retirement income needs, whether that is growing and protecting savings, creating a stream of lifetime income or securing a legacy for loved ones," said Eric Henderson, Nationwide senior vice president of life insurance and annuities. "Nationwide will continue to evolve its New Heights line because we feel that there will be continued demand for the role fixed indexed annuities fill in today's market environment."

Visit www.nationwidenewheights.com or ask your financial professional for more information about the New Heights FIAs. IMO advisors should contact their Annexus representative with questions about New Heights.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide New Heights is underwritten by Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio.

The J.P. Morgan Mozaic II^SM Index ("Index") has been licensed to Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company (the "Licensee") for the Licensee's benefit. Neither the Licensee nor Nationwide New Heights^® Fixed Indexed Annuity (the "Product") is sponsored, operated, endorsed, recommended, sold or promoted by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC ("JPMS") or any of its affiliates (together and individually, "JPMorgan"). JPMorgan makes no representation and gives no warranty, express or implied, to contract owners taking exposure to the Product. Such persons should seek appropriate professional advice before making any investment. The Index has been designed and is compiled, calculated, maintained and sponsored by JPMS without regard to the Licensee, the Product or any contract owner. JPMorgan is under no obligation to continue compiling, calculating, maintaining or sponsoring the Index. JPMorgan may independently issue or sponsor other indices or products that are similar to and may compete with the Index and the Product. JPMorgan may also transact in assets referenced in the Index (or in financial instruments such as derivatives that reference those assets). These activities could have a positive or negative effect on the value of the Index and the Product.

The NYSE^® Zebra Edge™ Index has been licensed to Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company ("Nationwide"). Neither Nationwide nor the Nationwide New Heights^® Fixed Indexed Annuity (the "Product") is sponsored, operated, endorsed, recommended, sold or promoted by Zebra, NYSE or UBS and in no event shall Zebra, NYSE or UBS have any liability with respect to the Product or the Index. Zebra, NYSE and UBS make no representations, give no express or implied warranties and have no obligations with regard to the Index, the Product or otherwise to any investor in the Product, client or other third party. The marks NYSE^®, and NYSE Arca^® are registered trademarks of NYSE Group, Inc., Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. or their affiliates.  The marks Zebra^® and Zebra Edge™ are trademarks of Zebra, may not be used without prior authorization from Zebra, and are being utilized by NYSE under license and agreement.

Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, Nationwide is on your side, Nationwide New Heights and New Heights are service markets of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2017 Nationwide

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Contact:
Ryan Ankrom
(614) 249-5145
[email protected]

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SOURCE Nationwide