Nationwide
Nationwide is a Fortune 100 mutual company celebrating its centennial in 2026. Its INCOME Promise Select SPIA stands out for a low $10,000 minimum, COLA options up to 5%, and a rare emergency-liquidity feature.
Products Offered
Nationwide offers 4 annuity product types. For help understanding the differences, see our types of annuities guide.
About Nationwide
Nationwide was founded in 1926 by the Ohio Farm Bureau to get farmers a fair deal on auto insurance — and celebrates its centennial in 2026 as a Fortune 100 company (#72 on the 2025 Fortune 500) with $359.8 billion in total assets and record capital levels. It remains a mutual company, owned by policyholders.
Nationwide is a top-ten annuity house: #7 in LIMRA's 2025 rankings at $21.9 billion, with balanced strength across fixed, indexed, and variable lines. Its life insurance companies — the entities behind its annuities — carry an A+ (Superior) from AM Best, affirmed November 2025.
Financial Strength Ratings
| Rating Agency | Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best | A+ (Superior) | Second-highest of 16 ratings — life/annuity companies, affirmed November 2025 |
| S&P Global | A+ (Strong) | Fifth-highest of S&P's ratings |
| Moody's | A1 | Fifth-highest of Moody's 21 ratings |
Nationwide Immediate Annuities (SPIA)
Nationwide's SPIA is INCOME Promise Select, with one of the lowest entry points among major carriers: a $10,000 minimum premium. Income can start immediately or be deferred up to 365 days, with single life, joint life, term certain, and life-with-cash-refund options.
Two features distinguish it. The optional cost-of-living adjustment is the widest we track — 1% to 5% compounded annually (availability varies). And a built-in liquidity feature allows emergency access to funds during the liquidity period, something very few SPIAs offer at all; withdrawals reduce future payments, but the option exists. The contract also includes Medicaid eligibility provisions relevant to long-term-care planning.
Key Strengths
- Low $10,000 SPIA minimum — accessible entry point
- Widest COLA range we track (1%–5% compounded annually)
- Rare emergency liquidity feature on a SPIA
- Fortune 100 mutual company with record capital entering its centennial
Honest Considerations
Immediate annuities are a small line for Nationwide — it ranked just #10 in LIMRA's 2025 payout-annuity category at $811 million, versus New York Life's $7.1 billion — so its SPIA pricing isn't always as sharp as the income-annuity specialists. Note also that the A+ rating belongs to Nationwide's life companies; the property-casualty parent was downgraded to A in 2023, which doesn't affect annuity guarantees but occasionally confuses headlines. S&P (A+) and Moody's (A1) grade it a notch below the top-tier mutuals.
Best For
Buyers who want SPIA flexibility — low minimum, wide COLA choices, and emergency liquidity — from a Fortune 100 mutual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nationwide a good annuity company?
Yes — Nationwide's life insurance companies carry an A+ (Superior) AM Best rating, it's a policyholder-owned mutual and Fortune 100 company with $359.8 billion in assets, and it ranked #7 in US annuity sales in 2025. Its INCOME Promise Select SPIA offers a low $10,000 minimum and unusually flexible features.
What is the minimum for a Nationwide immediate annuity?
Nationwide's INCOME Promise Select has a $10,000 minimum premium — among the lowest of any major SPIA carrier — with income starting immediately or within 365 days.
Does Nationwide's SPIA have inflation protection?
Yes — an optional cost-of-living adjustment of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, or 5% compounded annually, the widest COLA range among the carriers we track. Electing a COLA lowers your starting payment in exchange for growing income.
Nationwide vs. All Carriers — Male Rates
Compare Nationwide's male annuity rates against all carriers we track. Monthly income per $100,000 SPIA, single life with a 5-year period certain, from actual quote surveys.
Male Monthly Income Rates
Updated August 2026| Carrier | Rating | Age 55 | Age 60 | Age 65 | Age 70 | Age 75 | Age 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Life | A++ | $595/mo | $627/mo | $660/mo | $740/mo | $862/mo | $1,010/mo |
| Nationwide | A+ | $577/mo | $609/mo | $669/mo | $751/mo | $873/mo | $1,041/mo |
| Western & Southern | A+ | $580/mo | $618/mo | $654/mo | $729/mo | $842/mo | $1,001/mo |
| Athene | A+ | $578/mo | $621/mo | $675/mo | $748/mo | $854/mo | $1,016/mo |
| Penn Mutual | A+ | $567/mo | $600/mo | $646/mo | $727/mo | $831/mo | $954/mo |
| Pacific Life | A+ | $518/mo | $556/mo | $597/mo | $679/mo | $798/mo | $959/mo |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | $518/mo | $533/mo | $583/mo | $662/mo | $777/mo | $921/mo |
| Lincoln Financial | A | $492/mo | $515/mo | $573/mo | $654/mo | $769/mo | $926/mo |
Rates updated August 2026. Based on $100,000 premium. Your exact rate may differ — request a personalized quote.
Nationwide vs. All Carriers — Female Rates
Compare Nationwide's female annuity rates against all carriers.
Female Monthly Income Rates
Updated August 2026| Carrier | Rating | Age 55 | Age 60 | Age 65 | Age 70 | Age 75 | Age 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Life | A++ | $581/mo | $612/mo | $635/mo | $699/mo | $810/mo | $952/mo |
| Nationwide | A+ | $553/mo | $584/mo | $632/mo | $697/mo | $804/mo | $962/mo |
| Western & Southern | A+ | $574/mo | $611/mo | $637/mo | $698/mo | $801/mo | $955/mo |
| Athene | A+ | $552/mo | $593/mo | $635/mo | $691/mo | $784/mo | $937/mo |
| Penn Mutual | A+ | $559/mo | $591/mo | $627/mo | $694/mo | $789/mo | $908/mo |
| Pacific Life | A+ | $509/mo | $546/mo | $577/mo | $645/mo | $754/mo | $909/mo |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | $503/mo | $518/mo | $557/mo | $622/mo | $726/mo | $863/mo |
| Lincoln Financial | A | $472/mo | $493/mo | $541/mo | $607/mo | $709/mo | $856/mo |
Rates updated August 2026. Based on $100,000 premium. Your exact rate may differ — request a personalized quote.
What a $100,000 Immediate Annuity Pays Right Now — Nationwide vs. the Best Quote
If you are weighing a Nationwide income annuity, the number that matters is the monthly check. In August 2026, across the A-rated carriers we survey, $100,000 buys a 65-year-old:
| Age 65, per $100,000 | Nationwide | Best quote we track |
|---|---|---|
| Man, single life | $669/mo | $675/mo |
| Woman, single life | $632/mo | $637/mo |
| Couple, 100% to survivor | $578/mo | $587/mo |
Single life (or joint, 100% survivor) with a 5-year period certain, income starting next month, from August 2026 carrier quote surveys. Guarantees rest on the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability.
- See the payout for your premium: $100,000 · $250,000 · $500,000 · $1,000,000
- Rates at your age: 60 · 65 · 70 · 75 — and the month-over-month SPIA Payout Index
- Life only vs. cash refund vs. period certain: how each payout option changes the check
- Buying with IRA or 401(k) money? What changes (and what doesn't)
Should You Choose Nationwide?
Nationwide is a strong choice if you value financial stability — their A+ rating indicates superior financial strength. With 100 years in business, they have a proven track record of meeting their obligations to policyholders.
However, we always recommend comparing rates from multiple carriers. A carrier with a slightly lower brand profile may offer a meaningfully better rate for your specific age and situation. The rate tables above make it easy to compare Nationwide against 7 other A-rated carriers.
View all 8 carriers we track, or compare current rates side by side.
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