Press Release, Mar 15, 2005

U.S. Secretary of Labor Appoints Richard Landsberg to the 2005 ERISA Advisory Council

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard Landsberg, JD, LLM, CLU, was recently appointed by Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao to the 2005 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans. He will serve a three- year term, representing the insurance industry. Landsberg is a benefits lawyer and a senior advanced sales consultant with Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS - News).

The duties of the council are to advise the Secretary of Labor and submit recommendations regarding the Secretary's functions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974. The ERISA Advisory Council consists of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Labor. The members represent various stakeholders in the employee benefits community.

"I'm looking forward to serving Labor Secretary Chao on important policy issues that affect many Americans," said Landsberg. "This is a great honor for me and for Nationwide. I've been active in the life insurance and employee benefits field for more than 25 years, and this is certainly one of the highlights of my career."

As a senior advanced sales consultant, Landsberg consults with financial advisors on implementing solutions for their clients on life insurance, annuity and pension issues, and investments. He also provides consulting services to banks, securities broker-dealers and independent financial advisors in the employee benefit plan and executive benefits areas. He joined Nationwide Financial in March 2001.

"Rich has been a strong insurance industry advocate for more than 15 years," said Peter Golato, senior vice president of Individual Protection for Nationwide Financial. "His background includes positions in public accounting, institutional trust and sales, all of which makes him an excellent match with the needs of the ERISA advisory council and the important work they do."

Landsberg previously served as counsel in financial services firms and has taught employee and executive benefits at The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School in Columbus, Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Purdue University and Iowa Law School. He is on the board of editors of four academic journals dealing with insurance and employee benefits. He is an executive panelist for the McKinsey Quarterly on human resources topics.

Landsberg holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Tulsa; a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law; and a master of laws degree in Financial Services from the Chicago Kent College of Law. Landsberg is active in industry organizations, including: American Bar Association, Association for Advanced Life Underwriting, National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, Society of Financial Service Professionals and the American Society of Pension Actuaries.

About Nationwide Financial®

Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS - News) a publicly traded company based in Columbus, Ohio, provides a variety of financial services that help consumers invest(i) and protect their long-term assets, and offers retirement plans and services through both public- and private-sector employers.

It's part of the Nationwide group of companies, which offers diversified insurance and financial services. The group is led by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, which is ranked No. 118 on the Fortune 500 based on 2003 revenue(ii). For more information, visit www.nationwide.com .

For information about the ERISA Advisory Council, visit the Department of Labor's Web site at :
www.dol.gov/ebsa/aboutebsa/erisa_advisory_council.html.

(i) Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member NASD. In MI only: Nationwide Investment Svcs. Corporation.

(ii) Fortune Magazine, April 2004

Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and Nationwide Financial are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. On Your Side is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.