What is covered in this annuity review?
This annuity review will cover the following information about the Nationwide Life MarketFlex Advisor Variable Annuity:- Product Type
- Fees
- Current Rates
- Realistic long-term expectations
- How this annuity is best used
- How it is most poorly used
Annuities can be complex. That’s where having an Annuity Investigator who loves math comes in. We make the complex, simple.
For anyone who is in the process of considering a variable annuity, it is necessary to keep in mind that, even though there is a long list of benefit that can be attained, there are also numerous risks that you need to be aware of. Without knowing just exactly what it is you are getting into, you may find that the product doesn’t always work the way you expected it to – which in many cases, could have a negative impact on your future financial situation. While there is a great deal of information that insurance companies provide for these types of annuities, many investors will oftentimes bypass wading through all of the “small print” details, and instead just rely on the information they get from their insurance or financial advisor. This could prove to be a big mistake. That’s because, unless your advisor has a key focus on annuities, he or she may not be able to provide you with all of the insight that you may need – and in turn, many investors end up finding out too late that the annuity they chose is not going to perform the way they expected it to. If you have been thinking about purchasing the Nationwide Life MarketFlex Advisor variable annuity, then you may have noticed that, as with other annuities, it can perform well in some areas, but there are other areas where it may not perform up to par. This is where we come in. We can assist you with sorting out what you need to know about the MarketFlex Advisor annuity from Nationwide, which in turn, can allow you to come to a more well-informed conclusion as to whether or not this is the right annuity for you.Annuity and Retirement Income Planning Information That You Can Trust
If you have never visited our website in the past, then please allow us to welcome you to AnnuityGator.com. We make up a team of annuity experts who focus on providing highly comprehensive, yet non-biased, annuity review. We’ve been at this for quite some time now, far longer than our competitors have, and we’ve become a trusted source of annuity information online. If you’ve spent any time researching annuities via the Internet, then it is likely that you’ve come across many conflicting details about these products. This really is not all that surprising, though, as there are numerous opinions about annuities – from consumers and financial advisors alike. You may also have attended an annuity seminar in the recent past where, in return for a “free” lunch or dinner, the presenter provided you with a lengthy array of details about the Nationwide Life MarketFlex Advisor, or some other similar annuity. If this is the case, and you set up a time to meet with the presenter afterward, you may have come here to our website in search of more information prior to moving forward. In any case, in your quest for more info, you likely have come across other websites online that promote their annuity provides. Yet, even though there are some very good websites out there that provide this type of information, a lot of them are really only after your contact information – and they tend to lure people in by making some pretty bold claims about the annuities they offer, such as:- Lowest Fees
- Highest income payouts
- Guaranteed lifetime income
- Top-rated companies
Nationwide Life MarketFlex Advisor Variable Annuity at a Glance
Product Name | MarketFlex Advisor |
---|---|
Issuer | Nationwide Life |
Type of Product | Variable Annuity |
S&P Rating | A+ |
Phone Number | (800) 882-2822 |
Website | www.nationwide.com |
Opening Thoughts on the Nationwide Life MarketFlex Advisor Variable Annuity
Nationwide has been in the business of offering financial and insurance solutions for more than 90 years. The company is listed on the Fortune 100, and it offers a long list of products, including annuities, life insurance, mutual funds, and retirement plans. With more than $26 billion in operating revenue in 2015, Nationwide has a long history of financial stability – and the company has earned high ratings from the insurer rating agencies, including:- A+ from A.M. Best
- A+ from Standard & Poor’s
- A+ from Moody’s
Before we get into the gritty details, there are some required legal disclosures here…
This is an independent annuity product review. It is not a recommendation to purchase or to sell an annuity. Nationwide Life has not endorsed this review in any way, nor do we receive any type of compensation for providing this review. This annuity review is meant solely to be an independent review at the request of our readers so that they may see our perspective when breaking down the positives and the negatives of this particular annuity. Prior to committing to the purchase of any type of insurance and/or investment vehicle, it is critical that you do your own due diligence, and that you also talk with a properly licensed professional if you have any questions that relate to your specific situation. All of the names, materials, and marks that have been used in compiling this annuity review are the property of their respective owners. For additional information on how to compare annuities so that you can decide which may be the best one for you, click here in order to obtain our free annuity report.How Nationwide Life Describes the MarketFlex Advisor Variable Annuity
Nationwide Life describes the MarketFlex Advisor variable annuity as an individual deferred variable annuity. As a tax-deferred investment vehicle, investors can protect their gain from taxes while still in the account, which can also help the account to grow faster, as these funds can be reinvested and thus compounded. The annuity also offers some additional features, such as a standard death benefit – which offers the return of the contract’s value if the annuitant should pass away – or an enhanced death benefit option, which offers spousal protection and pays on the death of either spouse and allows the surviving spouse to continue the annuity contract at the death benefit level. In addition, there is also an optional Extra Value Rider which offers the choice of either 3% credited to all year-one purchase payments, or 4% credited to all year-one purchase payments – depending on which option is chosen by the annuitant.How an Insurance or Financial Advisor Might “Pitch” this Annuity
Because the MarketFlex Advisor is a variable annuity contract, it could be well-suited for long-term investment management strategies. The returns could also be enhanced due to the tax-deferred nature of the contract. And, like other annuities, this vehicle offers lifetime income. With that in mind, an insurance or financial advisor might pitch this annuity as a way to continue receiving tax-deferred growth, even if an investor has already maxed out his or her IRA and/or retirement accounts. Due to the underlying market investments, the annuity allows the opportunity for additional market-related growth – provided that the investments associated with the contract perform well. Unfortunately, this can also work in reverse, incurring added risk to principal during market downturns. For that reason, those who invest in this annuity should ideally have a higher risk tolerance. It is also important to keep in mind the plethora of charges and fees on this annuity – which include fees for various options in the annuity itself, as well as charges within the mutual fund investments that are associated with it. Because of these fees, returns could be negatively impacted.Fees Associated with the Nationwide Life MarketFlex Advisor Variable Annuity Contract
As with most other variable annuities, the MarketFlex Advisor from Nationwide Life has a list of fees and charges that are associated with it. These include the following: Recurring Contract Expenses Mortality and Expense Risk Charge – 0.25% Administrative Charge – 0.20% Return of Premium Enhanced Death Benefit Option Charge – 0.20% Extra Value Options:- 3% Extra Value Option Charge – 0.40%
- 4% Extra Value Option Charge – 0.55%
The Annuity Gator’s End Take on the Nationwide Life MarketFlex Advisor Variable Annuity
Where it works the best:- For those who want the opportunity for higher, market-related returns
- For those who are seeking a lifetime income
- For those who want to continue depositing funds into a tax-advantaged vehicle, even after they have maxed out their IRA and/or employer-sponsored retirement plan(s)
- For those who don’t want to endure market-related risk
- For those who do not plan to use the lifetime income feature