Nationwide New Heights Annuity
Nationwide New Heights Annuity
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help clients use annuities to create dependable retirement income, not just chase returns. The Nationwide New Heights Annuity Select is one of those strategies — a contract from Nationwide that combines market-linked growth potential, strong downside protection, and optional income and legacy riders that can support a full retirement plan.
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Nationwide New Heights Select: Key Product Features at a Glance
| Product Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Carrier | Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio. AM Best: A+ (Superior). S&P: A+. Moody’s: A1. Fortune 100 company. Nearly 100-year operating history. Wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Not FDIC insured. Guarantees backed by claims-paying ability of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company. Not available in New York, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. |
| Product Type | Single-premium fixed indexed deferred annuity (FIA). Available in multiple surrender charge period versions (8-, 9-, 10-, and 12-year). Principal protected from negative index performance — your contract cannot lose value due to index declines. Tax-deferred growth. Not a direct market investment. Does not directly participate in the stock market or any index. |
| Minimum Premium | $10,000 minimum single purchase payment. Eligible funds: Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Non-Qualified, Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT), SEP IRA, Simple IRA, and 401(a). Single premium product — no additional premiums after issue. |
| Daily Accumulation Value (DAV) | A unique tracking feature that monitors contract value daily. The DAV is the greater of: (1) the contract value plus any strategy earnings not yet credited to the contract, or (2) the Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee amount. The DAV is used to calculate death benefits, lock-in elections, and income base step-ups under the optional riders. Provides daily transparency into where the contract value stands rather than requiring the owner to wait until end-of-term crediting. |
| Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee | After the surrender charge period, or at qualifying events (death, long-term care waiver, terminal illness waiver), Nationwide guarantees you will receive at least your original purchase payment back, adjusted for withdrawals taken — even if markets were unfavorable throughout the term. This floor is the second component of the DAV calculation. |
| Index Strategies and Crediting | Up to 10 strategy options may be held simultaneously. Available indices include the S&P 500 and diversified multi-asset/global indices such as J.P. Morgan Mozaic II, Goldman Sachs New Horizons, NYSE Zebra Edge II, and others depending on the product version. Each strategy tracks an underlying index and applies the contract’s crediting factors — index allocation, declared rate allocation, and a strategy spread. Annual crediting: if the index is negative, credited interest is zero (no loss of principal). Positive credits are locked in at term end through the annual reset mechanism. |
| Mid-Term Lock-In Feature | Available once per strategy term per strategy option. At any point before the strategy term end, if the index has performed well, the owner may elect to lock in the current index value for that strategy. The locked value is then used to calculate strategy earnings at term end, protecting those gains from any subsequent pullback in the remaining portion of the term. This one-time-per-term election can be a meaningful tool for clients who want to capture a strong market run without waiting for the full term to end. |
| Free Withdrawal Provision | 7% of contract value annually during the surrender charge period, increasing to 10% after the surrender charge period ends. Free withdrawals are credited with “earnings to date” — accumulated interest is not forfeited when using the free withdrawal provision as intended. RMDs from tax-qualified contracts are generally treated as free withdrawals. Note: the 7% free withdrawal during surrender is lower than many competing FIAs that offer 10% throughout. |
| Surrender Charges and MVA | Surrender charges apply to excess withdrawals above the free withdrawal amount during the surrender charge period. Schedule varies by product version and state — for the 9-year version, representative schedules run 9% declining to 4% in year 9, then 0%. MVA may apply on excess withdrawals in applicable states. MVA can increase or decrease the net amount received based on interest rate changes since issue. All surrender charges and MVA are eliminated at the end of the surrender charge period. |
| Crisis Waivers | After the first contract year: long-term care waiver and terminal illness waiver. If the annuitant qualifies, all withdrawals are treated as free withdrawals — no surrender charges or MVA apply. Eligibility criteria and documentation requirements defined in the contract. These waivers provide access to the contract’s own value under qualifying health conditions. |
| Death Benefit | Standard death benefit = greater of DAV or surrender value. Surrender charges and MVA waived at death. Joint option available: naming spouse as co-annuitant allows the death benefit to be paid to whichever spouse dies first, with the surviving spouse having the option to continue the contract at the death benefit value with no remaining surrender charges or MVA. Optional enhanced death benefit riders available (see below). |
| Optional Riders (One Per Contract) | Only one optional rider may be elected at the time of application — and cannot be changed after issue. Four rider options span two income riders and two enhanced death benefit riders. Income riders: (1) High Point 365 Select (No Bonus) — rider fee 0.95%; (2) High Point 365 Select with Bonus — rider fee 1.10%. Enhanced death benefit riders: (3) High Point Select EDB; (4) High Point Select EDB with Purchase Payment Bonus. Rider fees are deducted from contract value quarterly and are calculated on the applicable benefit base, not on the contract value — the fee base grows over time, which increases the dollar amount of fees as the benefit base grows. |
| Tax Treatment | Interest grows tax-deferred until withdrawal. Non-qualified: earnings taxed as ordinary income when distributed. Qualified accounts: full distributions taxed as ordinary income. Withdrawals before age 59½ subject to 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty on taxable portion. Not FDIC insured. |
What Is Nationwide New Heights Select?
Nationwide New Heights Select is a fixed indexed annuity. Your money is backed by Nationwide’s claims-paying ability and never goes directly into the stock market. Instead, your contract credits interest based on the performance of one or more market indices plus declared rate components, subject to the contract’s crediting factors. When an index struggles, your account value is protected from negative returns; when it performs well, your contract can capture part of that upside.
For many clients, New Heights Select is most attractive as a core retirement asset: a place to move some conservative money that needs both growth potential and clear guarantees around principal and income. It is issued by Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, which holds an AM Best A+ (Superior) rating — one of the highest financial strength ratings in the annuity market — and brings nearly 100 years of operating history as a Fortune 100 institution.
How the Growth Engine Works — Index Strategies, DAV, and Crediting
When you fund a New Heights Select contract, your purchase payment is allocated among different strategy options. Each strategy tracks an underlying index — including options like the S&P 500, J.P. Morgan Mozaic II, Goldman Sachs New Horizons, and the NYSE Zebra Edge II — and applies the contract’s crediting terms: an index allocation component, a declared rate component, and a strategy spread. The index performance and declared rate are combined and then reduced by the spread to determine any interest credited for that term. Up to 10 strategy options may be held simultaneously, providing meaningful diversification across index types and methodologies within the same contract. For a deeper explanation of how this crediting structure works, our resource on how annuities earn interest covers the mechanics of indexed crediting in plain language.
A unique feature of New Heights Select is the Daily Accumulation Value. Instead of waiting until the end of a term to see how the contract is performing, the DAV tracks your value each business day, reflecting both the index-linked component and the contract’s built-in Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee. The DAV is always the greater of two amounts: the contract value plus any strategy earnings not yet formally credited, or the Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee amount — whichever is higher. This daily tracking makes it easier to understand how the annuity is behaving in different markets and where your protected value stands at any given time. It also serves as the basis for the optional riders’ step-up and income calculation mechanisms.
Locking In Gains and Protecting Principal
New Heights Select is built to protect retirement dollars from major market setbacks. Your principal and any interest already credited are insulated from index losses, and the contract cannot lose value solely because an index goes negative. At the end of each strategy term, any positive earnings are locked in and become part of your contract value going forward — those gains cannot be taken back due to future downturns.
You also have a one-time-per-term lock-in feature for each strategy option. If the index has had a strong run and you are satisfied with the gain at that point, you can elect to lock in that index value before the term ends, effectively securing current performance against any potential pullback for the remainder of that term. This is available once per strategy per term and applies to the locked value used to calculate strategy earnings at term end — as well as to withdrawals or death benefits if they occur during the remaining term after the lock-in election. For clients close to retirement who want to capture a favorable market stretch without needing to time the market perfectly, this lock-in can be a meaningful planning tool.
The contract also includes a Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee. As long as contract rules are followed, Nationwide guarantees that after the surrender charge period — or at death, or at qualifying long-term care or terminal illness events — you will receive at least your original purchase payment back adjusted for withdrawals, even if markets were unfavorable throughout the term. That structure is one reason many conservative savers view New Heights Select as a sleep-well asset within their broader portfolio.
Optional Lifetime Income Riders
For clients who want built-in retirement paychecks, Nationwide offers two optional income riders with New Heights Select. These riders are elected when the contract is issued, carry an additional annual charge, and are designed to turn your annuity into a predictable income engine later in retirement. Only one optional rider per contract is permitted — and the selection cannot be changed after issue — so the decision between an income rider and an enhanced death benefit rider should be made deliberately at application.
High Point 365 Select with Bonus — Income Rider
This version is for clients who want a strong, guaranteed growth path for their future income base. At issue, Nationwide boosts the rider’s Minimum Income Benefit Value by adding a 30% bonus to the purchase payment. From there, that income value is guaranteed to grow daily at a 9.5% compound annual rate for up to 12 years, or until lifetime income withdrawals begin — whichever comes first, assuming the rider rules are followed and excess withdrawals are avoided. In parallel, the income benefit base tracks the Highest DAV and steps up daily whenever the contract’s Daily Accumulation Value sets a new high. The income used to calculate lifetime income is the greater of the Minimum Income Benefit Value (bonus + 9.5% compound growth) or the Highest DAV — whichever is larger at the time income is activated. The rider fee for this version is 1.10% annually, calculated on the High Point Income Benefit Base and deducted from the contract value quarterly.
Once the client is ready to activate income — after at least one contract year and once the younger covered life reaches the required age — the lifetime income payment is the income benefit base at activation multiplied by the payout percentage applicable to the owner’s age and single or joint life election. Payout percentages are set at issue and increase within a defined range for each year income is deferred, up to a maximum. Once lifetime income payments begin, the payout percentage is guaranteed not to change. For couples, the joint-life option can guarantee income as long as either spouse is living, which can pair well with strategies that coordinate Social Security and annuity income for survivors.
High Point 365 Select (No Bonus) — Income Rider
The second income rider is focused on tracking and locking in market-driven growth while still providing a guaranteed floor. Here, the High Point Income Benefit Base automatically steps up and locks in every time the DAV reaches a new high. In addition, the rider’s Minimum Income Benefit Value grows at a 1% guaranteed compound annual rate for up to 10 years, or until the first lifetime income withdrawal — providing a baseline of steady growth even if markets are flat or choppy. The income benefit base is the greater of this Minimum Income Benefit Value or the Highest DAV, and future lifetime income is calculated by applying the payout percentage to whichever is larger at activation. The rider fee for this version is 0.95% annually, also calculated on the High Point Income Benefit Base and deducted quarterly.
As with the bonus rider, payout percentages increase as income is deferred within the defined range, and are locked in once lifetime income payments begin. For clients with a longer time horizon who want strong participation in index growth — with less emphasis on an upfront bonus — this rider can be a compelling way to position money for lifetime income. If you would like a deeper dive into how these kinds of benefits work in general, our article on how annuity income riders work is helpful.
Enhanced Death Benefit Riders for Legacy Planning
Some clients are less focused on income and more focused on leaving a protected legacy. For that group, New Heights Select offers enhanced death benefit riders that can grow the amount payable to beneficiaries beyond the regular contract value. The High Point Select Enhanced Death Benefit rider builds a death benefit based on the greater of two measures: the highest Daily Accumulation Value the contract has ever reached (subject to certain age limits), or a Minimum EDB Value that grows daily at a 4% annual rate until it reaches 200% of the original purchase payment, or the contract anniversary after the older annuitant turns age 80, or when the first death benefit is due — whichever occurs first. A purchase payment bonus version is also available, which immediately increases the starting value used for both the contract and the EDB calculation.
Because these riders are designed to enhance legacy value rather than income, they work well for clients who want a protected way to pass assets to children or grandchildren while still benefiting from index-linked growth. When combined with thoughtful beneficiary designations and a good understanding of annuity death benefit rules, they can be a powerful part of an estate strategy.
Access, Liquidity, and Surrender Charges
Even though New Heights Select is designed as a long-term retirement contract, Nationwide provides structured access to the contract value. After the first contract anniversary, 7% of the contract value may be withdrawn annually as free withdrawals without surrender charges — increasing to 10% after the surrender charge period ends. Free withdrawals are credited with earnings to date, so accumulated interest is not forfeited when using the provision as intended. RMDs from tax-qualified contracts are generally treated as free withdrawals. The 7% free withdrawal during the surrender period is worth noting as a distinguishing characteristic: while it is more flexible than some competitors that allow only 5% in early years, it is lower than the 10% that many competing FIAs offer throughout the surrender period.
Withdrawals above the remaining free-withdrawal amount during the surrender charge period are subject to surrender charges and may be subject to a Market Value Adjustment depending on the state. The MVA can increase or decrease the amount received based on how interest rates have moved since issue. As with any long-term annuity, it is important to ensure that money going into New Heights Select is not earmarked for short-term emergencies or near-term large purchases. Pairing this annuity with more liquid vehicles — money market accounts, short-term bonds, or other accessible assets — keeps the overall retirement plan flexible. For a broader overview of how free withdrawal features work across carriers, our guide on annuity free withdrawal rules provides useful context.
How New Heights Select Fits in a Retirement Plan
New Heights Select is typically used in three main ways. First, as a growth-and-protection sleeve for clients who are uncomfortable leaving too much in the market but still need higher potential returns than CDs or money markets offer. Second, as an income foundation using one of the High Point 365 Select riders, often paired with Social Security, pensions, and other guaranteed sources to cover essential expenses — with the annuity providing the guaranteed paycheck layer and other assets providing flexibility. Third, as a legacy tool when the enhanced death benefit rider is added, especially for families where the client wants to create a more predictable inheritance while still benefiting from index-linked growth potential.
Because the contract’s mechanics can be complex — multiple indices, strategy options, crediting factors, and riders — comparing it to other strong fixed indexed annuities for income and discussing the trade-offs is worth the time. The key analytical questions are how the High Point benefit bases grow under realistic market scenarios, how the payout percentages line up with your income timing, and how the surrender schedule works alongside your broader liquidity plan.
Strengths of Nationwide New Heights Select
From our perspective, the main strengths include: strong downside protection with upside potential — the contract value is insulated from negative index returns while still having the ability to grow based on diversified indices and declared rate components; daily tracking and lock-in of high points — the Daily Accumulation Value and high point functionality help clients see and secure gains more transparently than traditional FIA designs where all tracking happens at term end; powerful income riders — the combination of a guaranteed growth path for the income base and increasing payout percentages can produce competitive lifetime income for clients who defer withdrawals and follow the rider rules; flexible legacy options through enhanced death benefit riders that include a minimum growth component and optional purchase payment bonus; and top-tier carrier backing from a Fortune 100 A+ rated institution with nearly a century of history, which many clients find reassuring when committing dollars for the long term.
Considerations Before Purchasing
On the other side of the ledger, there are important considerations to weigh. The contract is complex — it is not a simple CD alternative, and understanding how strategies, DAV, lock-ins, MVAs, and riders interact is essential. Rider charges at 0.95% to 1.10% annually are calculated on the benefit base rather than the contract value, and because the benefit base grows over time, the dollar amount of fees increases year by year even if the contract value stays flat. The 7% free withdrawal during the surrender period is below the 10% many competing FIAs offer throughout. The surrender period itself — 9 years on the most common version — is on the longer end for the FIA market. As with other deferred annuities, gains are taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn, and distributions before age 59½ may face a 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty. For many retirees the tax deferral is a net benefit, but it is important to coordinate with broader tax planning. If you are evaluating whether an annuity belongs in your plan at all, our educational resource on whether annuities are worth it walks through the broader pros and cons.
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FAQs: Nationwide New Heights Select Fixed Indexed Annuity
What is the Daily Accumulation Value (DAV) and how is it different from the contract value?
The Daily Accumulation Value is one of New Heights Select’s most distinctive features and the concept that sets it apart from most competing FIAs. In a standard fixed indexed annuity, the only formally recognized value at any given moment is the contract value — which only reflects index credits formally earned at the end of each crediting term. Mid-term, you cannot see how much you might earn if the index closed at today’s level; you only know what has already been locked in. The DAV changes this. It monitors the combined daily fluctuations of all elected strategy options and calculates a running estimate of where the contract stands, including strategy earnings not yet formally credited to the contract. The DAV is defined as the greater of two amounts: the contract value plus any unrealized strategy earnings (strategy earnings that have accumulated during the current term but have not yet been credited), or the Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee amount. In practical terms, the DAV gives you daily visibility into approximately what you would receive if you were at a term-end crediting date today. It is not a cash value you can withdraw on any given day — it is a tracking and calculation mechanism that also serves as the basis for the optional riders’ step-up and income calculation features. The benefit of daily transparency is particularly meaningful for clients who want to understand whether and when to use the mid-term lock-in feature, and for beneficiaries whose death benefit is calculated based on the DAV rather than just the formally credited contract value.
How does the mid-term lock-in feature work and when should I use it?
The mid-term lock-in feature is a one-per-term-per-strategy election that allows you to lock in the current index value for a strategy option before the strategy term ends. Once elected, the locked index value is used to calculate the strategy’s earnings at the end of the term, rather than the index’s actual value on the term end date. This means that if the index has had a strong run during the term and you are satisfied with the gain at the current level, you can lock in that gain and protect it from any subsequent decline during the remainder of the term. The lock-in is available at any point before the strategy term end date — there is no required minimum gain threshold, no waiting period from the start of the term, and no fee specifically for using the feature. You request the lock-in through the contract’s online portal or by contacting Nationwide directly. The locked-in value also applies to withdrawals or death benefits that occur during the remaining term after the lock-in election — meaning if you pass away or take a withdrawal after locking in a strategy, the locked value is used in the relevant calculations rather than the current index value. The practical question of when to use the lock-in comes down to your personal assessment of risk and the specific gain achieved: if you have a meaningful gain in a strategy and believe the index is at an elevated level that could reverse before the term ends, locking in that gain eliminates the uncertainty for the remainder of the term. The lock-in resets at each new strategy term, so you have a fresh opportunity each term cycle to use the feature.
Should I choose the High Point 365 Select with Bonus or the No Bonus income rider?
The choice between the two income riders is fundamentally a question of time horizon and income priority. The High Point 365 Select with Bonus rider provides a 30% immediate bonus to the Minimum Income Benefit Value at issue and then grows that income value at a 9.5% compound annual rate for up to 12 years. For clients who are close to income activation — say, within 5 to 7 years — the combination of the upfront bonus and the compound growth rate can produce substantially higher guaranteed income than what the No Bonus rider would produce in the same timeframe, because the bonus provides an immediately larger base from which the 9.5% compounds. The rider fee is 1.10% annually on the benefit base. The High Point 365 Select (No Bonus) rider does not provide an upfront bonus, but it tracks and steps up the income benefit base whenever the DAV hits a new high — allowing market-driven growth to build the income base above the 1% guaranteed floor. For clients with a longer time horizon before income is needed — 10 or more years — market performance during that deferral window may allow the No Bonus DAV step-up mechanism to build an income base that rivals or exceeds what the bonus + 9.5% formula would produce, depending on index performance. The rider fee is 0.95%. The deciding analysis: request illustrations for both riders at your specific premium, issue age, and expected income activation age. Compare the projected income amounts side by side at your realistic income start date — not the maximum theoretical deferral — because the bonus rider’s advantage over the No Bonus rider compresses at longer deferral periods as strong index performance potentially closes the gap.
How do rider fees work, and does the fee increase over time?
This is one of the most important things to understand about the New Heights Select income riders before electing one. Rider fees are calculated as a percentage of the High Point Income Benefit Base — not the contract value — and are deducted from the contract value quarterly. The critical implication is that as the income benefit base grows over time through the bonus (if applicable), the 9.5% or 1% guaranteed growth, and the DAV step-ups, the dollar amount of the rider fee increases proportionally, even if the contract value itself is flat or declining. For the bonus rider at 1.10%: if the income benefit base grows from $100,000 at issue to $180,000 after five years of 9.5% compound growth, the annual rider fee at that point is $1,980 per year (1.10% × $180,000) — roughly double the $1,100 fee in year one. This fee is deducted from the contract value, reducing the accumulation that the indexed strategies would otherwise build. The fee drag is not a reason to avoid the rider — in return for the fee, you receive a specific income guarantee that most standalone FIA contracts cannot match — but it is important to model the net contract value impact over the full deferral period, not just the headline income base growth. Any illustration provided by Diversified Insurance Brokers will show both the projected income base growth and the net contract value after rider fee deductions, so the full picture is visible before purchase.
Why is the free withdrawal only 7% during the surrender period, not 10%?
The 7% free withdrawal during the surrender period is a meaningful design distinction for the New Heights Select compared to competing FIAs that offer 10% annual free withdrawal throughout the surrender period. In exchange for the lower free withdrawal percentage during the surrender period, the contract’s crediting structure, the DAV tracking feature, the lock-in capability, and the quality of the income rider guarantees are calibrated at levels that Nationwide believes justify the lower liquidity. The 7% is still meaningfully more than some competing FIA products that allow only 5% per year, particularly in the early surrender years. After the surrender period ends, the free withdrawal increases to 10%. For most clients whose primary liquidity needs are RMDs — which are treated as free withdrawals regardless of amount — or modest annual spending supplements below the 7% threshold, the distinction between 7% and 10% may not be practically material. Where it becomes meaningful is for clients who might need to take larger annual withdrawals during the surrender period — for example, someone who needs to draw more than 7% of the contract value per year for ongoing expenses. For those clients, the 7% cap creates a higher surrender charge risk than a 10% free withdrawal contract would, and that additional liquidity constraint should be evaluated as part of the overall suitability analysis.
Can excess withdrawals terminate the income rider?
Yes — this is a critical rule in the New Heights Select income rider design that all clients must understand before taking any withdrawal above the permitted free amount. Excess withdrawals — withdrawals above the free withdrawal amount, or above the permitted lifetime income payment amount after income begins — reduce both the contract value and the income benefit base. The specific method of reduction is proportional: if an excess withdrawal reduces the contract value by a certain percentage, the income benefit base is reduced by the same percentage. This can meaningfully reduce future lifetime income payments if the excess withdrawal occurs during the deferral period, because the reduced income benefit base then compounds forward at a lower starting point. More critically: excess withdrawals that reduce the contract value to zero result in termination of both the rider and the contract. Once the contract is terminated this way, the income guarantee is lost — there are no further lifetime income payments, and no contract value remains. This is different from the scenario where the contract value naturally reaches zero through legitimate lifetime income payments that are within the rider rules — in that case, Nationwide continues making lifetime income payments funded by its claims-paying ability. The difference is whether the zero contract value resulted from rule-following lifetime income payments or from excess withdrawals. The practical takeaway is that clients with a New Heights Select income rider should treat the income rider’s permitted withdrawal amounts as a strict ceiling and ensure that any additional liquidity needed is funded from outside the annuity rather than through excess withdrawals from the contract.
How does the joint option work for the death benefit and income riders?
The joint option in New Heights Select allows the contract owner to name their spouse as co-annuitant. For the standard death benefit, the joint option means the death benefit is paid to whichever spouse dies first — regardless of which spouse owns the contract — and the surviving spouse has the option to continue the contract at the death benefit value with all remaining surrender charges and MVA waived. This spousal continuation provision allows the surviving spouse to maintain the contract’s accumulation and income potential rather than being forced into an immediate distribution at an emotionally and financially challenging time. For the income riders, the joint-life election means that Lifetime Income Payments continue for as long as either spouse is living — the payments do not stop when the first spouse dies. The joint payout percentage is lower than the single life percentage for the same age, reflecting the longer expected combined lifetime for two individuals. For married couples evaluating New Heights Select for income planning, the joint option provides meaningful survivor protection that complements Social Security survivor benefits and other income sources, and it eliminates the risk that the surviving spouse loses annuity income upon the first death. The joint-life election must be made at application and cannot be changed to single life or vice versa after the contract is issued.
How strong is Nationwide as a carrier for a long-term annuity commitment?
Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company is one of the strongest-rated insurance carriers in the U.S. annuity market. AM Best rates the company A+ (Superior) — the second highest rating available, shared by a small number of major carriers and placing Nationwide meaningfully above the A- and B++ ratings common among specialty FIA issuers. S&P assigns A+, and Moody’s assigns A1. Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company with nearly 100 years of operating history as a mutual-affiliate organization — meaning it does not have the same pressure to maximize quarterly returns for public shareholders that publicly-traded insurance holding companies face. The annuity guarantees in New Heights Select — the Return of Purchase Payment Guarantee, the income base growth rates, the lifetime income payments — are backed by Nationwide’s claims-paying ability, and the A+ rating reflects AM Best’s assessment of that ability as very strong. For clients committing 8-12 years of retirement savings to a single contract, the carrier’s financial strength matters as much as any product feature. The New Heights Select’s combination of top-tier carrier strength, competitive income rider terms, and the DAV/lock-in structural advantages positions it well in the income FIA market for clients who want both strong carrier backing and differentiated product mechanics.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA and Chief Underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers (NPN 20471358), is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than 25 years of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, Group Health, Travel Medical and Evacuation Insurance, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, and contributions from his agency featured in Kiplinger and GoBankingRates— highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient. Visitors who want to explore current annuity rates and compare options across multiple insurers can also use this annuity quote and comparison tool.
Explore More Annuity Options: Browse our complete guide to What Is a Fixed Indexed Annuity? — covering FIA education, carrier products, income riders & indexed annuity strategies from 100+ carriers.
Last Reviewed: June 21, 2026 |
Reviewed by: Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA
Chief Underwriter, Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. | NPN: 20471358 | Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. — Licensed in all 50 states
Fact Checked by: Tonia Pettitt, CMIP©
Medicare Specialist, Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. | NPN: 14374308 | Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. — Licensed in all 50 states
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