Nationwide Secure Growth Fixed Annuity – Reliable Growth and Principal Protection
Lock in Safety and Growth for Your Retirement
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help clients build retirement strategies centered around security, stability, and long-term peace of mind. The Nationwide Secure Growth Fixed Annuity, issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company, is designed for individuals who want guaranteed interest earnings, full principal protection, and a straightforward path toward income planning without exposing their savings to stock market volatility. In today’s environment—where equity markets can shift rapidly and bond yields fluctuate with interest rate policy—many retirees and pre-retirees are searching for predictability. A fixed annuity provides that predictability by offering a declared rate of interest for a specified term, allowing your money to grow at a steady pace regardless of what happens in the broader markets. For conservative investors, or for those repositioning funds from CDs, savings accounts, or brokerage cash allocations, this type of annuity can serve as a foundational piece of a well-structured retirement portfolio.
Unlike market-based investments, the Nationwide Secure Growth Fixed Annuity does not rise and fall with daily headlines. Your premium is protected from market loss, and your interest rate is locked in for the duration of your selected guarantee period. That means no downside exposure, no participation rates, and no caps to calculate. You know exactly what you are earning and for how long. For individuals comparing safe money options, it may be helpful to review how a fixed indexed annuity works to understand the difference between declared-rate products and index-linked strategies. While indexed annuities offer upside potential tied to a market index with downside protection, a traditional fixed annuity like Nationwide Secure Growth focuses purely on steady, guaranteed accumulation.
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One of the strongest advantages of the Nationwide Secure Growth Fixed Annuity is tax-deferred compounding. Interest earned inside the contract is not taxed annually like a CD or savings account. Instead, taxes are deferred until you begin taking withdrawals, allowing your balance to compound more efficiently over time. For many retirees, controlling when taxable income is recognized is a critical component of income planning. If you would like a more detailed explanation of how taxation works inside annuities, review how annuities are taxed. Understanding the tax treatment helps you compare annuities properly against bonds, money markets, and other fixed-income alternatives.
The Nationwide Secure Growth annuity also includes a Return of Purchase Payment Rider, which guarantees that you can recover at least your original premium, subject to contract terms, even if circumstances change. This added layer of protection provides reassurance for individuals who value flexibility alongside safety. Additionally, after the first contract year, you may withdraw up to 10% of your contract value annually without surrender charges. This feature offers liquidity without sacrificing the long-term benefits of the guaranteed rate. If you are evaluating how surrender schedules operate and why they exist, consider reviewing annuity surrender charges explained so you can align contract duration with your true time horizon.
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Beyond accumulation, many retirees eventually shift their focus toward income distribution. While the Nationwide Secure Growth Fixed Annuity is primarily an accumulation vehicle, it can serve as a building block for future guaranteed income planning. At the end of the guarantee term, funds may be repositioned into an income-oriented annuity strategy if desired. If you are weighing the decision between annuitizing versus using an income rider on another product, review the key differences between annuitizing and using an income rider. Each approach carries unique benefits depending on your objectives.
For estate planning purposes, the Nationwide Secure Growth annuity provides a straightforward death benefit. In the event of death, beneficiaries receive the full contract value without surrender charges. This creates a clean and efficient transfer of wealth without exposure to market timing risk. Brokerage accounts and mutual funds can fluctuate significantly at the wrong moment; a fixed annuity ensures the declared value transfers according to contract terms. To better understand beneficiary structures and payout mechanics, you may also explore annuity beneficiary death benefits.
Ultimately, this annuity is well-suited for retirees who want guaranteed growth with zero market exposure, individuals seeking alternatives to CDs and bonds, families focused on preserving wealth, and anyone building a conservative retirement income foundation. If you are still asking whether a fixed annuity belongs in your financial plan, we encourage you to read are annuities worth it? to gain a broader perspective on how these contracts fit within diversified retirement strategies.
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Ready to explore this annuity in more detail—or compare it with other carriers to see if even higher rates are available? With guaranteed income, principal protection, and long-term growth potential on the line, making the right choice is essential. The experienced advisors at Diversified Insurance Brokers will guide you through the options and design a strategy tailored to your retirement goals.
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FAQs: Nationwide Secure Growth Annuity
What is the Nationwide Secure Growth Annuity?
The Nationwide Secure Growth Annuity is a fixed or fixed-indexed annuity designed to help you accumulate retirement savings with principal protection and the potential for growth through fixed-rate or index-linked interest crediting. It’s structured to offer a balance of safety and upside potential over a multi-year horizon.
How does interest or index crediting work?
You may choose between a guaranteed fixed-interest option or one or more index-linked crediting strategies. If using an index option, interest credits are calculated using caps, participation rates, or spreads. Your money is not directly invested in the stock market — only the crediting formula is linked to index performance.
Is my principal protected from market downturns?
Yes. Because this is a fixed or fixed-indexed annuity, the accumulation value (your principal plus any credited interest) is shielded from market losses. Negative index performance simply results in no credited interest for that period — it does not reduce your account value, assuming no withdrawals or other contract actions occur.
Can I access my money before maturity or income phase?
Many contracts allow limited annual free withdrawals after the first contract year, often up to a small percentage of account value without surrender charges. However, withdrawals above that amount or early surrender during the surrender-charge period may trigger fees or reduce future crediting or benefit features.
What happens if I surrender or withdraw early?
Early surrender or withdrawals beyond permitted free-withdrawals may lead to surrender charges, reductions in credited interest or benefits, and potential loss of optional rider features. That can significantly affect long-term value, so this annuity is best suited for funds you can leave invested for the term.
Does Secure Growth offer income or payout options?
Depending on the version, you may have the option to add riders or convert the annuity into income — providing structured payouts or lifetime income. Evaluate income-option terms, payout amounts, and any associated fees carefully before selecting that path.
How are earnings and distributions taxed?
Earnings accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. When you take withdrawals or begin income payments, earnings are taxed as ordinary income. Withdrawals made before age 59½ may also be subject to additional IRS penalties, as with other annuities.
What happens if I die before or after income begins?
If the contract includes a death-benefit or beneficiary provision, your heirs may receive a benefit based on the accumulation value or a guaranteed minimum. If income payments have started, payout options like joint-life or period-certain may allow continuation for a spouse or beneficiary, depending on the selected terms.
Who is the Secure Growth Annuity a good fit for?
This annuity may suit individuals who want to combine safety of principal with potential for modest growth — people who value downside protection but still want upside potential, and who are comfortable locking in funds for multiple years. It can work well for retirement accumulation or as a conservative growth component in a diversified portfolio. You might compare it alongside other secure options in our fixed indexed annuity primer.
What should I review before purchasing?
Before buying, examine the crediting method (fixed vs index), surrender-charge schedule, free-withdrawal provisions, liquidity needs, and any optional riders or income features. Ensure the contract’s structure aligns with your time horizon, risk tolerance, and retirement goals.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC and Chief Underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades 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, 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, 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.
