Nationwide serves as recordkeeper for California Savings Plus and New York State Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP), both of which were Top 3 finalists for 2026 Plan Sponsor of the Year in the Government DC>$1B category.

California Savings Plus was recognized for its sweeping modernization effort and investment lineup reforms that save participants more than $24 million annually in fees.

NYSDCP’s nomination stood out for the scale and precision of its major fund lineup review and a $16.3 billion transition affecting 175,000 accounts with no reported downtime or incidents.

Also during the awards program, Nationwide Retirement Solutions associates Lauren Kime, Zack Sharp and Jake Sours were honored as 2026 PLANSPONSOR Service Stars. The Service Stars program recognizes retirement plan account representatives and relationship managers who, according to their plan sponsor clients, have demonstrated exemplary service.

“Congratulations to California Savings Plus, NYSDCP and our Service Star associates Lauren, Zack and Jake on earning these prestigious industry recognitions,” said Kevin Jestice, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions. “All of these honors reflect our collective dedication, innovation and participant-first focus to help drive stronger retirement outcomes every day.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide Retirement Solutions helps secure financial futures for approximately three million participants in 30,000 retirement plans with $250 billion in assets, across full-service recordkeeping, investment solutions, and pension risk transfer¹. Nationwide remains No. 1 in public 457 plans (based on the number of plans)² with an average tenure of 29 years¹. The company also continues to maintain significant presence in private 401(k), nonprofit 403(b) markets, and pension risk transfer.

For 50 years, Nationwide has remained committed to continually improving its retirement solutions and service experience to better support individuals preparing for and living in retirement. The company offers a diversified portfolio of solutions that complement its traditional recordkeeping and education services. Nationwide’s goal is to help participants prepare for retirement by providing investment solutions and services designed to support long-term growth, risk management and income planning. These offerings include mutual funds, managed accounts, pension risk transfer capabilities, fixed and stable value solutions, and lifetime income options.

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 

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¹ Nationwide Financial (Dec 31, 2025)
² PLANSPONSOR 2025 Recordkeeping Survey

In addition to recordkeeping and administrative services, Nationwide will provide participants with holistic financial planning services and access to the company’s online My Income & Retirement Planner℠, a personalized, guided experience that can help users clearly understand their savings and how it translates into retirement income.

“Nationwide is honored that the City of Newton selected us to handle their recordkeeping and support their plan participants with the tools and resources necessary to achieve their retirement goals,” said Kevin Jestice, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions. “The Nationwide team is already working hard to help the City’s employees prepare for and live in a dignified retirement.”

“Our team appreciates the extraordinary care Nationwide provides to participants,” said Ron Mendes, City Treasurer/Collector, City of Newton. “We trust that Nationwide’s vast expertise and integrated approach to retirement planning will serve all of our employees well, regardless of where they may be in their retirement journey.”

Nationwide Retirement Solutions is a business within Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, that is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide Retirement Solutions helps secure financial futures for approximately three million participants in 30,000 retirement plans with $250 billion in assets, across full-service recordkeeping, investment solutions, and pension risk transfer¹. Nationwide remains No. 1 in public 457 plans (based on the number of plans)² with an average tenure of 29 years¹. The company also continues to maintain significant presence  in private 401(k), nonprofit 403(b) markets, and pension risk transfer.

For 50 years, Nationwide has remained committed to continually improving its retirement solutions and service experience to better support individuals preparing for and living in retirement. The company offers a diversified portfolio of solutions that complement its traditional recordkeeping and education services. Nationwide’s goal is to help participants prepare for retirement by providing investment solutions and services designed to support long-term growth, risk management and income planning. These offerings include mutual funds, managed accounts, pension risk transfer capabilities, fixed and stable value solutions, and lifetime income options.

Visit nrsforu.com for more information about the tools and services Nationwide provides to retirement plan participants. 

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¹ Nationwide Financial (Dec 31, 2025)
² PLANSPONSOR 2025 Recordkeeping Survey

More than half (55%) of recent retirees (those retired in the last five years) say they have regrets about how they saved for retirement. More than a quarter (28%) wish they began saving earlier, and 13% wish they contributed more to their retirement savings and investments each year.

Immediate, tangible financial challenges are fueling these concerns. Just 40% of recent retirees say they're on track with their original budget and decumulation plan, and 21% say they’ve had to be more conservative with spending compared to their pre-retirement expectations. Only one in five (20%) have avoided the need to tap retirement savings by relying solely on the guaranteed income of a pension and/or Social Security, resulting in a majority who may need to lean on their self-invested retirement funds accumulated in their working years. 

“Many recent retirees told us they wish they had saved differently, highlighting a critical truth: retirement planning isn’t just about setting a number—it’s about building a strategy that anticipates life’s changes and regularly revisiting that plan as life happens,” said Kevin Jestice, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions. “Thoughtful, comprehensive planning before retirement can make the difference between uncertainty and confidence in your future. A great way to do this is by working with a trusted financial advisor or leveraging planning resources offered through your workplace retirement plan. For those already retired, it’s not too late to take steps to enhance your retirement strategy. Reviewing your budget, exploring additional income opportunities and working with a financial advisor can help you feel more secure and in control.”   

Market Volatility Hits Recent Retirees Harder
Recent retirees are especially vulnerable to market turbulence, and those new to post-career life are facing more significant headwinds than their peers who retired more than five years ago (longer-term retirees). As a result, recent retirees are more likely to make changes to their portfolios in the early years of retirement. Half (50%) of recent retirees made at least some changes to their retirement portfolio due to market turbulence, compared to just one-third (33%) of longer-term retirees. Additionally, 15% made significant changes to their portfolio – nearly double the 8% of longer-term retirees who did the same.

The impact extends beyond portfolio adjustment and into real-world spending decisions. Nearly half (47%) of recent retirees say recent market volatility has impacted the way they approach managing their portfolio and withdrawing or spending down their savings in retirement, compared to 35% of longer-term retirees.

This market uncertainty is also driving interest in guaranteed income solutions. Thirty-six percent (36%) of recent retirees said they are more likely to put part of their portfolio in an annuity given the events of the last 12 months.

Advisors Recognize the Unique Challenges of Early Retirement
Financial professionals understand the first two years of retirement require heightened attention and strategic adjustments. Based on what they see with their own clients, top challenges for recent retirees cited by advisors include:

• Adjusting to life without a paycheck: Six in ten (60%) advisors say adjusting to not earning active income or not having a job is a challenge their recently retired clients face in their first two years of retirement.
• Managing anxiety about market volatility: More than four in ten (42%) advisors say dealing with anxiety about market volatility while living off investments is a challenge.
• Staying within budget: Four in ten (41%) advisors say maintaining their desired lifestyle within budget constraints is a challenge.

Market conditions are driving advisors to take action. The vast majority (85%) of advisors say recent market conditions caused them to recommend changes to clients' decumulation strategies, and nearly half (45%) made significant changes across most of their recent retiree clients’ decumulation strategies.

Recent Retirees Stay Highly Engaged as Advisors Refocus
Instead of a “set it and forget it” planning approach, advisors report that their recent retirees are monitoring their portfolios closely. 

More than half (56%) of advisors say their recently retired clients review their portfolio and financial plan at least monthly. Nearly one in five (19%) review continuously, with access through digital platforms and periodic advisor contact, and 16% do weekly brief check-ins during market volatility periods.

Financial professionals are adapting their approaches to meet the investment needs of their clients. Notably, 93% of advisors increased their focus on addressing healthcare costs over the last year, and 87% increased their focus on identifying guaranteed income solutions.

“The first few years of retirement are critical, and we’re encouraged to see recent retirees lean on their advisors to navigate a changing market environment. Advisors play an essential role during this period, helping retirees navigate new financial realities, manage spending and adjust strategies as their next chapter begins to unfold,” Jestice said. “Advisors can help boost confidence by reviewing or exploring guaranteed income solutions or other strategies to address longevity risk. With expert guidance, retirees can feel confident their plan supports both today’s needs and tomorrow’s possibilities.”

The Nationwide Retirement Institute offers resources to help advisors facilitate conversations with Gen X clients.

For more insights on this survey data, see our infographic.

Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
Provisions of these options may vary based on plan selection and/or by state regulation. These investment options may not be available in all states.

Nationwide’s eleventh annual Advisor Authority study, powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute^®, explores critical issues confronting advisors, financial professionals and individual investors—and the innovative techniques that they need to succeed in today’s complex market.

About Advisor Authority: Methodology
The Harris Poll, on behalf of Nationwide, conducted an online survey in the U. S. among 510 advisors and financial professionals and 2,007 investors ages 18+ with investable assets (IA) of $10K+, August 19-September 2, 2025. Among the investors, there were 180 recent retirees (those who retired in the last five years) and 274 longer term retirees (those who retired more than five years ago).

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval.  For this study, the sample data for advisors is accurate to within ± 4.3 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For investors data is accurate to within ± 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.  For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact news@nationwide.com.

About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com.

According to a new survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute, just two in five (40%) investors who have retired in the last five years say they’re on track with their original budget and decumulation plan, with another 21% saying they’ve had to be more conservative with spending than planned since retiring – meaning less financial freedom to enjoy retirement the way they envisioned.

The reason for the shift? Market volatility is proving to be especially problematic for recent retirees compared to their longer-retired peers. Nationwide’s survey found half (50%) of those retired in the last five years made changes to their retirement portfolio due to recent market turbulence, compared to just one-third (33%) of longer-term retirees. Additionally, 47% said market volatility has impacted the way they approach managing their portfolio and withdrawing or spending down their retirement savings income, compared to 35% of those who have been retired for more than five years.  

As a result, more than half (55%) of recent retirees say they have regrets about how they saved for retirement, with 28% wishing they began saving earlier and 13% wishing they contributed more to their retirement savings and investments each year.

“Retirement planning isn’t just about setting a number and aiming to achieve it; it’s about building a strategy that anticipates life’s changes and regularly revisiting that plan as life happens,” said Kevin Jestice, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions. “However, it’s not too late for retirees to take steps toward greater financial confidence. Review your budget, explore additional income opportunities and partner with a financial advisor to align your investments with your goals.”

Financial advisors understand retirees’ concerns and can help tackle key issues, Jestice said. In fact, according to Nationwide’s survey, nearly all (97%) advisors agree that rising living costs are making it harder to retire comfortably. As a result, they are shifting their focus for their clients to address the increased burden from healthcare costs and other economic pressures, as well as identifying guaranteed income solutions.

“Advisors play an essential role during the first few years of retirement, helping retirees navigate new financial realities, manage spending and adjust strategies as life unfolds,” Jestice said. “By openly communicating your concerns and goals with an advisor, you can feel more confident your plan will evolve with your needs regardless of changing market environments.”

Jestice shared the following topics recent retirees may want to revisit with their financial advisor:

1. Contributions: Talk with your advisor about tax-efficient ways to boost savings, like Roth conversions. If you’re still working part-time or have earned income, consider catch-up contributions to IRAs or 401(k)s.

2. Withdrawal and Spending Plan: Create or revisit your withdrawal strategy that balances income needs with longevity risk. Bucket expenses into essential versus discretionary spending to prioritize necessities.

3. Investments: Ask about strategies to hedge inflation, like annuities.

4. Healthcare and Long-Term Care: Work with your advisor on estimating Medicare premiums, supplemental insurance and out-of-pocket costs. Explore long-term care insurance if possible.

“This data should also serve as a wakeup call for younger savers to review their savings habits and strategies before they reach retirement,” Jestice said. “The sooner you address potential challenges to your financial security, the more options you have.” 

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