Nationwide Defender® annuity

The best defense is a good offense

When it comes to securing an investor's retirement — putting their savings in a winning position is key. The Nationwide Defender® Annuity maximizes growth potential, but still provides protection against downside risk.
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What type of annuity is Nationwide Defender® Annuity?

Nationwide Defender® Annuity is a buffer registered index-linked annuity (RILA), an individual single-purchase-payment deferred annuity that provides opportunity for growth while protecting against market volatility and the potential for losses.

It offers more growth potential than a fixed indexed annuity, but less potential return and less risk than a variable annuity.

Customize the strategy in 3 simple steps

Balancing growth potential with protection in a way that aligns with investor goals is simple. It just takes 3 steps:

Step 1: Choose an index

Select the index option that aligns with specific investment goals.

  • S&P 500®
  • MSCI EAFE
  • S&P MidCap 400®
  • Russell 2000®
  • Nasdaq-100®

Not sure which index is right for you? Learn more.

Step 2: Pick the level of buffer protection1

  • 10% buffer: Protects against the first 10% of an index loss
  • 20% buffer: Protects against the first 20% of an index loss

In either case, you will assume any loss beyond the buffer percentage.

Buffer protection

Step 3: Decide the length of the term

Shorter terms may allow investors to make changes more frequently, while a longer term may offer better protection or growth potential

  • 1-year term
  • 3-year term
  • 6-year term

Lock in potential gains

If the annuity value increases to a certain level and you want to ensure it won't go back down—the Performance Lock feature allows you to lock in potential gains.*

Performance lock

*This hypothetical example is not a projection or prediction of future performance. The performance could be significantly different than the performance shown and shouldn’t be considered a representation of investor experience in the future.

There is no guarantee that exercising a performance lock will result in better strategy performance. Contract owners may miss out on gains that occur after the performance lock or lock in losses that would not have occurred without a performance lock.

Choose a death benefit option

Nationwide Defender® Annuity has 2 death benefit options to choose from:

  • Contract value: Beneficiaries receive the contract value on the day the death benefit is processed (Standard: No additional cost)
  • Return of premium: Beneficiaries receive the greater of the contract value or the initial premium adjusted for withdrawals (Optional: 0.15% additional cost)2

Spousal protection

The Nationwide Defender® Annuity Spousal Protection Feature lets investors extend the guaranteed death benefit to cover both spouses, regardless of who passes away first. The surviving spouse can then choose between these 2 options:

  • Continue the contract at the death benefit amount with no tax consequences and name a new beneficiary
  • Take a lump-sum distribution with no penalties3
Learn more

Want to know more about Nationwide Defender® Annuity?

Review these other important product details.

Review these valuable resources

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Questions? We're here to help.

Call the Nationwide Annuity Solutions Center at 1-800-321-6064 or visit our FAQs to learn more.

1

The contract may gain or lose value before the end of the strategy term. Buffer protection and growth potential are not fully realized until the end of the strategy term. As a result, you may experience a loss even if negative index performance is within the buffer percentage during a strategy term.



2

Available for annuitants and co-annuitants who are age 75 or younger on the application signing date.



3

Taxes may be applicable.