Advisors can help clients prepare for all market environments with
enhanced investment lineup from Nationwide

Updated investment platform includes new specialty and international
investment options

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2010

Contact:

Jeff Whetzel (614) 249-6354
whetzej@nationwide.com

Chad Green (614) 677-1679
greenc28@nationwide.com

Columbus, Ohio — Today’s investors are more concerned than ever
about balancing their need to manage risk with the need to seek
consistent returns over time. To help consumers achieve this goal,
Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. today announced changes to the
investment lineup for its variable annuity and variable universal life insurance
products that include expanded options in the specialty and international
fund categories. These changes are effective May 1, 2010.

“As advisors look for ways to help clients protect their assets and
position themselves for future growth, they need to have a diverse
selection of investment options from which to choose,” said John Carter,
president of Nationwide Financial Distributors, Inc. “We’re committed to
making it easier for advisors to do business with us and the changes
we’ve made to our investment platform will help ensure that they can find
options that will help their clients pursue their financial goals through
all market environments.”

Carter said changes to the investment platform include:

New third-party investment options – Four new third-party underlying
funds were added to strengthen Nationwide’s specialty and international
lineups.

• Janus Aspen Series Global Technology Portfolio provides investors with
a global technology investment option

• MFS VIT International Value Portfolio was added to give investors more
options in the International Value category

• T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Portfolio gives investors a health
sciences option

• Van Eck VIPT Global Hard Assets Fund provides investors with a global
hard assets option

Reopening investment options – Based on feedback from advisors,
Nationwide has reopened the Franklin Templeton VIPT Global Bond
Securities Fund to new investors.

New third-party investment options in America’s marketFLEX® Series of
annuities –Nationwide has added options from ProFunds to complete its
lineup of alternative asset classes and offers access to previously
unavailable asset classes with new underlying funds from PIMCO and Rydex.

With the latest changes, Nationwide’s standard investment menu for its
variable life and variable annuity products now includes:

• 84 underlying investment options

• Coverage across 33 Morningstar categories

• Access to 33 money managers

• 21 asset allocation investment options

• 59 options with a 3-year performance track record

• 55 options with a 5-year performance track record

• 41 options with a 10-year performance track record

“When an advisor recommends a Nationwide solution to their clients, they
can feel confident that every option in our investment platform has
passed our rigorous screening process,” said Carter. “By carefully
selecting and monitoring money managers, we help ensure that investors
can find solutions that will meet their unique needs and help protect
what’s valuable to them.”

About Nationwide

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest
diversified insurance

and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M.
Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and
financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat,
homeowners, life
insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services,
annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and
health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

The underlying fund prospectuses can be obtained from your investment
professional or by writing to Nationwide Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box
182021, Columbus, OH 43218-2021. Before investing, carefully consider the
fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. The product
prospectus and underlying fund prospectus contain this and other
important information. Read the prospectuses carefully before
investing.

_{Variable annuity and variable life insurance products are issued by
Nationwide Life Insurance Company or Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide Life Insurance Company is a
subsidiary of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. The general distributor
is Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA. In MI only:
Nationwide Investment Svcs Corporation.}

_{Funds of Nationwide Variable Insurance Trust are distributed by
Nationwide Fund Distributors LLC, member FINRA, 1000 Continental Drive,
Suite 400, King of Prussia PA 19406.}

_{Nationwide, Nationwide Custom Portfolio, the Nationwide framemark,
Nationwide Financial and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide
Mutual Insurance Company. NVIT Cardinal is a service mark of Nationwide
Life Insurance Company.}

_{Nationwide, Nationwide Financial, the Nationwide Framemark and On
Your Side are registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Company.}

_{John Carter is a registered representative of Nationwide Investment
Services Corporation, member FINRA. In MI only: Nationwide Investment
Svcs. Corporation.}