Nationwide earns top rankings on Barron’s 2026 Best Annuities list

Market volatility, elevated interest rates and the threat of a potential recession have driven investors to seek out guaranteed income solutions like never before. According to a recent Nationwide Retirement Institute survey, more than half (57%) of non-retired investors say recent events have made them more likely to put part of their portfolio in a guaranteed income solution like an annuity. Nationwide is well positioned for this growing demand with several annuities recently named to Barron’s list of the 100 best annuities.

Best Traditional Variable Annuities
Monument Advisor® and Nationwide Advisory Retirement Income Annuity® (NARIA®) earned top spots in Barron’s Best Traditional Variable Annuities for Tax-Deferred Savings category. This recognition reinforces Nationwide’s leadership and depth in the Advisory market, where its fee-based annuity platform continues to stand out for delivering competitive, advisor-focused solutions that support tax-deferred growth, investment flexibility and retirement income planning. The publication calculated the rankings by comparing annuities used for accumulating assets on a tax-deferred basis and invested in underlying mutual fund-like subaccounts. Barron’s analyzed features like annual contract fees, average subaccount expenses, surrender charges, total options and five-year annual returns.

Best Variable Annuity Income Guarantees
Barron’s also recognized Nationwide Destination® Navigator 2.0 with the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider+® Core (Nationwide L.inc+® Core) in the Best Variable Annuity Income Guarantees category. The product’s key strength is its ability to pair investment flexibility with guaranteed lifetime income, helping clients create protected retirement income while maintaining exposure to market-based growth opportunities. The publication selected products on this list based on those who offered the highest payout for contracts with no more than a seven-year surrender period.

Best Annuities for Guaranteed Income
Additionally, Nationwide’s single premium income annuities (SPIAs) ranked among the top products in the Best Annuities for Guaranteed Income category, demonstrating how immediate annuities have evolved beyond simple income guarantees. In addition to converting retirement assets into lifetime income, the product offers features that support broader retirement and estate-planning objectives. For example, flexible payout and beneficiary options can help clients balance income security with legacy goals, while liquidity provisions provide flexibility not commonly associated with traditional SPIAs. Barron’s determined rankings in this category by comparing annual income for life, annual payout rate and total income by age 90.

“Today’s volatile economic landscape can create uncertainty for investors, but it’s also highlighting the power of protection, predictability and long-term planning,” said Kush Kotecha, president of Nationwide Annuity. “Annuities’ combination of tax-deferred accumulation, income guarantees and protection from market uncertainty are resonating with investors, helping them stay focused on their long-term goals and creating financial resilience as interest rates and market dynamics continue to shift.”

Nationwide is a top 10 seller of annuity products in the United States¹, offering advisors and their clients a range of solutions to support accumulation, income and long-term retirement planning goals. Learn more about Nationwide annuities at https://www.nationwide.com/personal/investing/annuities/.

¹ LIMRA U.S. Individual Annuity Sales Survey, 1Q 2026
Guarantees and protections are subject to the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

AAM-1938AO
07/2026