Who Is The Financial Institution Handling My Retirement Account?

Question:  Please give me an overview of the  financial institution handling my plan deposits and my investment transactions. How do I know my money is safe?

Answer:  If you are a participant in The BEST of AMERICA^® Group Pension Series (a variable annuity), your money is handled by Nationwide Financial. (NFS).  Nationwide handles the deposits and investments for more than 31,000 retirement plans with more than 2.8 million participants. Nationwide is in the top ten of 401(k) providers in the country relative to the number of 401(k) plans handled.   If you are a participant in The BEST of AMERICA^® Trust, then Nationwide Trust Company, FSB, is the entity handling your investment accounts.

Nationwide Financial and Nationwide Trust Company, FSB are part of Nationwide Insurance Enterprises which employs nearly 28,000 people in over 50 companies. Nationwide has more than $45 billion in retirement savings assets (401(a), 401(k), 457, 403(b), and IRA programs).

Nationwide is extensively audited each year by CPA's.  Plan Design Consultants, Inc., the independent administration company that is involved with forwarding your deposits to Nationwide, is bonded for its cash handling.  Your account is valued on a daily basis, so you can check-up on your account balance at any time.

If you have questions about the above, please call Paul Carlson of Plan Design Consultants, Inc. at (650) 341-3322.