Goldstein Scorecard: B- (dated October 4, 2026). See how it is graded.
Nationwide Peak 10 with the Bonus Income+ Rider: 25% Income Base Bonus and 10% Roll-Up, Reviewed
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, EA, Independent Licensed Insurance Producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Admitted to practice before the IRS
Facts verified against Nationwide’s Peak 10 product profile and Bonus Income+ Rider guide (10/26), the 10/01/2026 rate sheet and AM Best on October 4, 2026 · Updated
The “bonus” on Nationwide Peak 10 is the optional Bonus Income+ Rider, not a premium bonus.
Per Nationwide’s October 2026 product profile, it adds 25% to the Income Benefit Base at issue, rolls that base up at 10% simple interest for up to 10 years, and costs 1.00% a year single life or 1.30% joint, charged on the base and deducted from contract value.
The base sets lifetime withdrawals (for example 6.45% single life at ages 70 to 74); it is not cash.
Correction (October 4, 2026): An earlier version of this page described a “Peak 10 Bonus” with a 5% premium bonus that vests over 10 years and an S&P 500 cap of about 7.5%.
Nationwide’s current Peak 10 documents show no premium bonus on contract value; the bonus is the Bonus Income+ Rider’s 25% credit to the Income Benefit Base. The October 1, 2026 S&P 500 one-year cap is 6.25% (M1 states, $100k+).
The carrier was also listed as “Nationwide Mutual”; the issuer is Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company. Unverifiable ratings (Weiss, KBRA, COMDEX, service and renewal tiers) were removed.
CD vs MYGA, after tax
What $100,000 earns in 5 years: CD vs MYGA, after tax
Rates used: CD 5.00%, the top nationally available 5-year CD (Bankrate, October 14, 2026); change it to the rate you are offered. MYGA 5.95%, the best A-rated rate we track as of October 13, 2026: Delaware Life Pinnacle Plus 5-year (AM Best A-, negative outlook, 7/31/2026), $100,000 and up, effective October 6, 2026 (Delaware Life rate sheet).
| CD, interest taxed every year | $121,081 |
|---|---|
| MYGA, tax-deferred, before tax | $133,507 |
| MYGA after paying tax on all the interest at withdrawal | $126,136 |
| Tax deferral alone adds about | $674 |
| MYGA ahead of the CD, after tax | $5,055 |
Assumes 22% federal and 0% state income tax, no withdrawals, rates held for the whole term. MYGA interest is taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw it, not as capital gains. Gains taken before age 59 1/2 can owe a 10% IRS penalty, and cashing out early can cost a surrender charge.
In an IRA both grow tax-deferred, so the edge there is the rate alone. Bank and credit union deposits are FDIC or NCUA insured up to the limits; a MYGA is backed by the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability and your state's guaranty association up to its limits, not the FDIC. General education, not tax, legal or financial advice.
Bonus Income+ Rider terms
| Bonus Income+ feature | What Nationwide publishes |
|---|---|
| Bonus | 25% of the purchase payment, included in the Income Benefit Base at issue; no vesting schedule; not added to contract value |
| Roll-up | 10.0% simple interest on the original Income Benefit Base plus the 25% bonus, for 10 years or until the first lifetime withdrawal |
| Annual cost | 1.00% single life; 1.30% joint life; charged quarterly, calculated on the Income Benefit Base, deducted from contract value |
| Fee changes | Nationwide may raise the charge, but not above the Guaranteed Maximum Charge on the contract specifications page (not published) |
| Issue ages | Owner 45 to 85 |
| Election | At contract issue only; replaces the built-in Guaranteed Income Solution |
| Withdrawals | Lifetime withdrawals can start any time, no waiting period; one nonlifetime withdrawal allowed after the first rider year without stopping the roll-up |
| RMDs | RMD withdrawals above the lifetime amount do not reduce the Income Benefit Base (not in the calendar year of issue) |
| Base reset | Each anniversary the Income Benefit Base becomes the greater of contract value or the roll-up value |
| Restrictions | Not available with beneficially owned contracts |
Lifetime withdrawal percentages by age
| Age at first lifetime withdrawal | Bonus Income+ single life | Bonus Income+ joint life | Built-in Guaranteed Income Solution (single) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 to 49 | 3.50% | 3.20% | not available (owner 50+) |
| 50 to 59 | 3.50% | 3.20% | 3.50% |
| 60 to 64 | 4.90% | 4.60% | 4.00% |
| 65 to 69 | 5.95% | 5.65% | 4.00% |
| 70 to 71 | 6.45% | 6.15% | 4.00% |
| 72 to 74 | 6.45% | 6.15% | 4.50% |
| 75 to 80 | 6.70% | 6.40% | 4.50% |
| 81+ | 7.00% | 6.70% | 4.50% |
Also see: Navy Federal (NFCU) CD Rates
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What the 25% bonus and 10% roll-up do, in dollars
| Hypothetical, $100,000 premium, no withdrawals | Built-in Guaranteed Income Solution | Bonus Income+ Rider (single life) |
|---|---|---|
| Income Benefit Base at issue | $100,000 | $125,000 |
| Roll-up per year | 4% of $100,000 = $4,000 | 10% of $125,000 = $12,500 |
| Roll-up value after 10 years | $140,000 | $250,000 |
| Lifetime withdrawal at age 70 | 4.00% = $5,600 a year | 6.45% = $16,125 a year |
| Rider charge in year 10 (1.00% of the base, from contract value) | $0 | about $2,375 to $2,500 |
The underlying contract is the same Peak 10: 10-year surrender schedule (10%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 0% in the M1 states), $25,000 minimum, and the October 1, 2026 crediting rates of 6.25% on the one-year S&P 500 cap and 3.55% fixed for $100,000 or more in those states. The rider does not change the rates.
Goldstein Scorecard (dated October 4, 2026)
| Dimension | Grade | Basis (sourced fact) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength | A | Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company: AM Best A+ (Superior), affirmed November 7, 2025 (AM Best). |
| Rate or cap competitiveness | C | Same crediting as base Peak 10: 6.25% S&P 500 cap and 3.55% fixed account (M1 states, $100k+, 10/01/2026), below the 5.50% to 6.05% 5-year MYGA benchmark; the rider charge then comes out of contract value. |
| Guaranteed floor | Incomplete | Rider roll-up is contractual (10% simple for up to 10 years) but applies to the income base, not cash; minimum caps and the rider’s maximum charge are not public. |
| Liquidity | C | 10-year surrender schedule (10% start in M1 states), MVA, 10% free withdrawal; a withdrawal before income starts can end the roll-up unless it is the one allowed nonlifetime withdrawal. |
| Costs | C | 1.00% single / 1.30% joint each year, calculated on the Income Benefit Base (which grows toward $250,000 per $100,000 in the hypothetical), deducted from contract value. |
| Transparency | A | Rider guide, withdrawal percentages, fees and dated rate sheets are public on nationwide.com. |
| Guaranteed minimum cap | Not publicly disclosed | Nationwide puts minimum caps, participation rates and spreads on the contract specifications page, which is not public (checked October 4, 2026). |
| Overall | B- | Weighted toward financial strength, guaranteed floor and liquidity for a buyer who wants a known result. |
How these contract minimums compare across products: guaranteed minimum caps across FIAs (October 2026).
Pros and cons
Pros
- The 25% income-base bonus has no vesting schedule and is included in every income calculation.
- The 10% simple roll-up on $125,000 per $100,000 builds the income base by $12,500 a year for up to 10 years.
- Withdrawal percentages are published by age, so the income math can be checked: 6.45% single life at 70 to 74.
- RMDs above the lifetime amount do not reduce the base, which matters for IRA money.
- Lifetime income is backed by the claims-paying ability of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, rated A+ by AM Best.
Cons
- The bonus is not cash. Surrender in year 5 and you get contract value less any surrender charge and MVA, with no 25%.
- The fee is charged on the income base, not the contract value, so the dollar fee rises as the base rolls up and the contract value can fall in low-credit years (Nationwide says this in the rider guide).
- Ten years of surrender charges apply to the underlying Peak 10 contract.
- Joint life costs 1.30% and pays a lower percentage than single life.
- Only worth the cost if you will take lifetime withdrawals.
Who it’s for, and when to look elsewhere
Fits: someone 45 to 85 who has decided to turn on lifetime income later, ideally after several years of deferral, and who is comfortable that the bonus and roll-up only raise the withdrawal amount. For the base contract, rates by state and the built-in 4% income benefit, see the Nationwide Peak 10 review.
Look elsewhere if: you want the money to grow and stay available as cash, or you want a known rate. A MYGA locks a declared rate for the term with no rider charge.
For comparison, A-rated-or-better insurers were paying about 5.50% to 6.05% on 5-year MYGAs and the best nationally available 5-year CDs about 4.70% to 5.00% APY (MYGAs: public carrier rate sheets, October 14, 2026; CDs: Bankrate and Popular Direct, October 18, 2026). Current rates: MYGA rates.
Also look elsewhere if you would rather have income start now: an immediate annuity quote is a cleaner comparison than a deferred rider (see the income rider vs annuitization calculator).
Questions to ask your agent
- Is the 25% bonus in my contract value at any point, or only in the Income Benefit Base? Please show both columns of the illustration.
- What is the guaranteed maximum rider charge, and what are the guaranteed minimum cap and participation rate on the strategies I am choosing? Please give them to me in writing from the contract specifications page.
- What is the full surrender schedule by year for my state, how does the MVA work, and what does a withdrawal before income starts do to the roll-up?
- At my age and planned start date, what lifetime withdrawal percentage applies, single and joint?
- How are you paid on this product with the rider? Commission comes from the insurer and is built into pricing, not deducted from my premium. What is the percentage, and does adding the rider or a longer surrender term pay more? (See how annuity commissions work.)
From my desk
When a Peak 10 illustration with Bonus Income+ lands on my desk, I check the start age first. The 10% roll-up stops at the first lifetime withdrawal or year 10, whichever comes first, and the withdrawal percentage depends on age at that first withdrawal. An illustration that assumes income at 70 tells you little if you will actually need money at 63.
The number buyers most often misread is the “25% bonus.” It sits in the Income Benefit Base only. I also show people where the fee comes from: 1.00% of a base that can reach $250,000 per $100,000 is charged against a contract value that is often smaller. That gap is the price of the income guarantee.
Against a MYGA, the question is simple: do you want lifetime income, or a known balance? If the answer is a known balance, the rider is cost without use, and a MYGA or the base Peak 10 without the rider fits better. Run surrender scenarios with the annuity surrender charge calculator and growth with the annuity calculator.
Hans Goldstein, independent licensed insurance producer, CA license 4273294, NPN 20602398. Questions: 213-414-2808 or [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Does Nationwide Peak 10 have a premium bonus?
No premium bonus is added to contract value. The bonus is the optional Bonus Income+ Rider, which adds 25% of the purchase payment to the Income Benefit Base used for lifetime withdrawals.
How much does the Bonus Income+ Rider cost?
1.00% a year for single life or 1.30% for joint life, charged quarterly, calculated on the Income Benefit Base and deducted from contract value, per Nationwide’s product profile dated 10/26.
What is the Bonus Income+ roll-up rate?
10.0% simple interest on the original Income Benefit Base plus the 25% bonus, for 10 years or until the first lifetime withdrawal, whichever comes first.
What income does Bonus Income+ pay at 70?
The single-life lifetime withdrawal percentage is 6.45% for ages 70 to 74 (6.15% joint). The percentage is applied to the Income Benefit Base, not the contract value.
Can I cash out the 25% bonus?
No. The Income Benefit Base is not a cash value. A surrender pays contract value, less any surrender charge and market value adjustment during the 10-year surrender period.
Is the Bonus Income+ income guaranteed?
Lifetime withdrawals are contractual and backed by the claims-paying ability of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company. They are not FDIC insured.
Related reviews: Nationwide Peak 10 (base contract and rates) · Income rider comparison · Income rider fee vs payout math · Account value vs income base · Annuity second opinion
Get a second opinion before you sign
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A fixed indexed annuity ties up your money for 7 to 15 years. Cap rates renew annually and can drop. Income riders have separate benefit bases that aren't cash. Get an independent review before you commit your retirement savings to a multi-year contract.
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Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer appointed with multiple A-rated carriers
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Sources (checked October 4, 2026)
- Nationwide: Peak 10 product profile (FAM-1169AO-AL.11): dated 10/26
- Nationwide: Bonus Income+ Rider guide (FAM-1166AO-AL.8): dated 10/26
- Nationwide: Peak 10 rates as of 10/01/2026, M1 state group (FAM-1183M1-AL): effective October 1, 2026
- Nationwide: Nationwide Peak 10 product page: read October 4, 2026
- AM Best: Affirms Credit Ratings of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Its Key Operating Subsidiaries: November 7, 2025
- public carrier rate sheets and DepositAccounts (MYGA and CD benchmark): September 24, 2026
Disclosure
This review is based on the carrier's public product materials and rates as of the date shown above. Annuity rates, caps, participation rates, payout factors, crediting methods, and long-term care benefit structures change often, sometimes monthly. Confirm current figures in the latest carrier disclosure and the contract before you buy. This is general education, not a personal recommendation or an offer of any product. Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (CA license 4273294, NPN 20602398) appointed with several A-rated carriers. His appointment with the carrier reviewed here may vary, and this review is not an endorsement. No carrier paid for this review. Always read the actual contract and consult a licensed advisor before purchasing any annuity or long-term care insurance product. Past index performance does not predict future credited interest. Annuities and hybrid life+LTC policies are long-term contracts with surrender charges; they are not suitable for funds you may need before the end of the surrender period. AM Best ratings and tax treatment are subject to change. Tax discussion of IRC §7702B, §1035, and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 reflects law as of 2026 and is subject to change.