Nationwide

Defender

D+
Composite 51.8 / 100Range 44–56

Strong insurer credit (95) offset by weak net value (growth + guarantee) (43).

Best suited for: growth-seeking buyers who can tolerate buffer breaches.

Methodology v1.5.2 · May 23, 2026 · 3/3 segments verified · 

Contract terms

Flexibility & exit terms

Surrender period6 years
Surrender scheduleY1 6% · Y2 5% · Y3 4% · Y4 3% · Y5 2% · Y6 1%
Free withdrawal10% per year
Hardship waiversnursing-home, terminal-illness
Scoring segments (term · cap or par · buffer/floor · published weight)
1-year term · S&P 500 capped at 18.0% · 10% buffer · 10% of premium3-year term · S&P 500 capped at 85.0% · 10% buffer · 30% of premium6-year term · S&P 500 capped at 100.0% · 20% buffer · 60% of premium
Allocation ruleTerm-weighted (longer terms get more)
Full strategy menu (beyond the scoring segments)
IndexBuffer1-yr3-yr6-yr
S&P 50010% buf18%85%Uncapped
S&P 50020% buf12%45%100%
Russell 200010% buf21%UncappedUncapped (105% par)
MSCI EAFE10% buf15%——
Nasdaq-10010% buf19%——
S&P MidCap 40010% buf24%——
Fixed strategy: 4.00% for 1-year term · minimum 0.25%
Carrier rate-sheet effective 2026-05-01

Empty cells = combination not offered.

Allocation choice & historical performance

Pick an allocation; chart updates. Balanced is the published rating.

Regime
Lost decade (2000-2009) · Balanced allocation
$250,000 starting AV · S&P 500 monthly replay
2000-012001-052002-092004-012005-052006-092008-012009-05$120K$160K$200K$240K$280KStart $250K
Terminal AV
$181,188
After 10 years
Terminal multiple
0.72×
Of starting $250,000
Max drawdown
52.2%
Trough 2009-03
Fees paid (PV)
$18,101
M&E + rider fees
Fee drag (annualised)
0.7%
PV(fees) ÷ starting AV ÷ years
Single deterministic path. Annual cap/buffer crediting applied year-by-year; intra-year shape interpolated from actual monthly S&P 500 returns.

Standardized scoring scenario details ↗

PV(rider claims)$0
PV(all fees)$42,938.39
Terminal AV (p50)$533,865.62
Terminal AV (p95)$1,439,435.56
Value delivered (p50)$164,600.74
Advanced details (for advisors)

Each axis runs 0–100. The composite is a weighted average — Net Value 80%, SF / IC / BF 6.67% each (v1.5.2). Net Value itself blends expected growth (65%) with guarantee value (35%). See methodology v1.5.2 for the formulas behind each axis.

💰Net Value43 / 100
How much wealth this contract actually builds for you, after fees
Growth 48Guarantee 34
Net Value = 65% growth + 35% guarantee. Growth 48/100 — Value delivered $164,601 (terminal AV + income drawn). Cohort median $178,897 anchors 50; 3× median anchors 100. Guarantee 34/100 — PV(buffer+floor absorption) / PV(M&E+cap-drag) = 0.68x. Buffer PV $26,727; floor PV $0; cost-base PV $39,361. Closed-form lognormal (μ=7.00%, σ=18.00%, r=4.00%).
🔒Surrender Flexibility75 / 100
How easily you can get your money out
6-yr surrender schedule (max 6.0%); 10% free withdrawal; waivers: nursing-home, terminal-illness.
🏢Insurer Credit95 / 100
How likely the carrier is to pay claims 10–20 years out
AM Best A+; not PE-owned; Level 3 assets 14%.
⚖️Behavioral Fairness90 / 100
Track record of treating existing customers fairly
0 major / 0 minor cap-rate cuts in 5yr; NAIC complaints index 0.50; 0 regulatory fines in 5yr.

Reported for transparency — not part of the v1.5.2 composite (TCO weight = 0).

Total Cost of Ownership60 / 100
Annualised explicit fee (M&E + rider): 1.10%. Cohort best: 0.00%; cohort worst: 2.75%.
For the buyer

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