Nationwide Retirement Solutions Takes Top Spot in Defined Contribution News Annual Survey

COLUMBUS, OH, March 10, 2003 -- Nationwide Retirement Solutions, a subsidiary of Nationwide Financial (NYSE: NFS), is ranked at the top of bundled service providers, according to a survey conducted by Defined Contribution News (DCN).

The survey categorizes bundled service providers as companies that handle multiple functions for the retirement plan, such as plan administration, record keeping, participant services and education, as well as investment products.

Nationwide Retirement Solutions ranked first in new assets under management for 2002 with net growth of $4.8 billion for the year. This accomplishment is largely attributed to the company's success in securing a new relationship with the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan. In addition, the company added 103 new clients in 2002.

"We are pleased to be recognized as an industry leader in full-service retirement solutions," said Duane Meek, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions. "I'm particularly proud of Nationwide's commitment to education focused on helping participants make difficult decisions when investing for retirement. Our focus on education, along with our long-term commitment to servicing local and state government employers, was instrumental to our growth in 2002."

Nationwide Retirement Solutions provides record keeping, education and administrative services for public employee defined contribution plans that cover more than 1.5 million state, county and municipal employees across the country. The company (formerly know as PEBSCO) has been a leader in deferred compensation products and services to the public sector for more than 25 years.

Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS), based in Columbus, is a leading provider of annuities, life insurance, retirement plans, and other financial services for individuals and institutional clients. The major operating subsidiary of NFS is Nationwide Life Insurance Company, the country's 11th-largest life insurer(1).

Nationwide Financial, with assets under management of more than $95 billion in 2002, is the retirement savings and income operation of Nationwide, a leading provider of diversified insurance and financial services. The parent company is ranked No. 136 on the Fortune 500 based on revenue. For more information about Nationwide Financial visit http://www.nationwidefinancial.com .

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